UNEMPLOYED

BY KENYON MACDONALD

     In the personal essay "Unemployed", by Kenyon MacDonald, (2016), MacDonald claims that his termination that he viewed as one of the worst experiences in his life, to be a pivotal moment where he changed job careers and went back to school.  He asserts that this termination gave him a new appreciation for what he has and he develops this idea by giving us background concerning his job employment.  He then tells us what led to his being fired and how it made him feel.  His purpose is to let young people know that in this world of change, it is important to appreciate what you have because it could change at any moment.  His intended audience is other young people.

     MacDonald's essay show that in the end he was able move past the most embarrassing day in his life onto better things.  I found illuminating that he was also able to recognize the fact that he did play a part in the loss of his job.  Sometimes, I've noticed that young people tend to want what they want right now, and feel if they are completing a task they should get immediate results.  They often do not react well when they don't get their way.  When MacDonald didn't get the results he was expecting, his work ethic changed and his job performance declined.

     MacDonald enlightens us to the fallacy of thinking a job will always be there. Change is constant and that applies to the job market also.  Maturity is an important quality to exercise when engaging with your coworkers.  His recognition of the fact that he was sometimes "a bit hot-headed", (141), is an acknowledgment that he contributed to his demise.  He also points out that though this was a bitter moment, he learned from it and was able to move on to better things.

     His intended audience speaks to other young people entering the job market, and he highlights some mistakes they could avoid.

Swiss Miss

     In Amanda Thompson's personal essay "Swiss Miss" (2015), she announces that being a loner isn't amiss, and that one's desire to be alone should not be considered negative or positive but just a persons choice.  Thompson develops this by giving us some personal background into her personality, she states as a matter a fact that she is aloof at most times, and how this affects her interpersonal relationships with family and others she comes in contact with.  Ms. Thompson's purpose seems to be to inform the readers that being a loner should be associated with negative traits.  The author takes on the role of a mentor to individuals who may happen to be aloof also and are in an environment outside of their comfort zone

    This is the first essay that I actually found annoying.  The writer comes across as kind of bratty, but to her credit, she is very comfortable in her skin.  She has a desire to be alone, not out of fear, or social awkwardness, its just her preference.  I found it annoying because I like applying the personal essays to real world situations, and to think that a person would choose to isolate themselves and prefer to have no contact with other humans is a sad choice.  The fact that even when she discovered that she actually could have a good time with others when she was forced, her preference was to be "non-feeling", and I find that distressing.

Throughout the passage Thompson, reveals a time where she knew her classmates stayed away her because of her personality. (Because I was so aloof most of the time, my classmates and peers generally steered clear of me, with a good chunk of them talking about me behind my back page 134). In the story one of the girls from the group referred her as Switzerland. The name confused Thompson, but after it was explained that the country didn't participate in any wars and is prosperous she being to see that there are people who understand her mannerisms.  She goes on to share why being a loner isn't bad at all. Its a personal choice, and she's content with her decision.  

    

Watch Your Language: Teaching Standard Usage to Resistant and Reluctant Learners

     The personal essay "Watch Your Language: Teaching Standard Usage to Resistant and Reluctant Learners", by Mark Larson, (1996), suggest that there is an alternative way to teach standard English so that students are more receptive to the lessons being taught.  Larson develops this by first giving an account of his experiences as a student in a remedial English class while in high school, and how it impacted him, he then transitions into his experiences as a teacher at the same school and how his style of teaching changed to meet the needs of the student.  His methods encourage students to write their truth, but also recognize that errors can jeopardize their intention, and he also wants them to be able to function in the real world.  This is a great essay for teachers and students alike, for teachers it provides a different perspective that can assist them in their efforts to connect with students; for students, it gives understanding to knowing what you bring to the table has value, but you need to be able to communicate outside of your community.

     This thought provoking essay cause me to reflect back to my junior high school days when I was placed in a remedial reading class.  I ended up in there due to the fact I did not like reading aloud and the teacher assumed it was due to poor reading ability.  Often times, too much emphasis is placed on the method of standardized teaching and not the student.  These methods are often employed without any thought to the issues students are dealing with at the time.  Larson gives the impression of a teacher who has a passion for not only teaching the lesson, but also assuring that the student is aware of their own value and that they have a voice.  He stresses the importance of being an "effective" writer, making informed choices about which language code is best suited for whatever particular audience they may be speaking to. 

     Larson's essay challenges us to rethink the conventional ways standard English is taught in the classroom.  Just teaching the rules and regulations without allowing for the different variations of application and implementation of said rules can and does at times put students on the defensive.  Larson suggests that we should "support the language each student brings to school", (93), according to Larson, each student is a expert of his own language code.  He takes the focus off the prescriptive rules of grammar and places it on the descriptive rules of what people actually say.  He recognizes the importance of the prescriptive rules so that the students have the necessary tools to properly analyze their work, but to also appreciate and explore the many differences in writing and observe the effectiveness of it.

   

A Visit to the Library

        Richard Wright's personal essay, "A Visit to the Library", (1945), chronicles a period in his life when reading opened up a whole new world to him, and gave him a new perspective as to how he would proceed with his life.  He develops this assertion by recounting the story of how he used a white coworkers library card to gain access to books, the new found knowledge gained from his reading changes him in ways he did not know was possible.  The revelation he obtains gives him purpose to move beyond the constricted parameters that the society of the times had dictated for his life.  Considering the time it was written, this piece could be a clarion call to other blacks to understand that your existence does not have to be limited by what others think of you.

     We found this essay to be very compelling, in that it resonated on a personal level, being an African American.  To think there existed a time when the act of reading a book could be viewed as threatening, when we think about it today, segregation seems so far off.  The author's story of determination and perseverance is inspiring.  I think we take so much for granted these days, these types of essays are reminders of the sacrifices that have been made by others to ensure that I and my children's children are able to enjoy all the privileges of being an American citizen.

     Richard Wright's essay gives us a peak at what life was life for the average black citizen in the 1940's.  He describes the inequities that played out in everyday life that when you read it today you wonder how people could have tolerated such treatment.  He points out how he gained new insight with each book, and how it caused him to look at people differently, " My first serious novel was Sinclair Lewis's Main Street.  It made me see my boss, Mr. Gerald, and identify him as an American type."(132)  It also change the way he looked at himself, "My reading had created a vast sense of distance between me and the world in which I lived and tried to make a living, and that sense of distance was increasing each day."(133)  He understands that knowledge is power, and chooses to live life on his own terms outside of the confines of his surroundings. 

“We Are the Same”

            In the personal essay, “We Are the Same,”written by Emily Renie (2015), Renie reflects on a time when she worked as a medical assistant in Zimbabwe, and she proposes that even though people may be separate because of their differences, they are still basically the same due to common experiences.  She develops this idea by first giving us some context for her story, she recounts a memory of a compliment she received from her employer, she tells us about her experiences with the village children.  Renie’s essay highlights the fact that physical differences and language are obvious characteristics that people tend to gravitate towards when making an assessment of someone, but when we look closer at what really connects us, we find we’re more the same than different.  Her audience is other students, or persons who travel abroad and come in contact with people of other cultures.

            I really enjoyed the flow and arrangement of the essay, the way the author began the story by giving us context to her experiences in Zimbabwe, how she felt about herself versus how other saw her was telling.  So many times people live their lives based upon what others think or say about them.  The essay is a story of self confidence from a person who is comfortable with who she is.  She sees the beauty in herself and does not let her image be defined by the opinions of others.

            The purpose of Renie’s essay enlightens us to the common human experiences that connect us all.  When encountering someone new, especially someone from a different culture we tend to initially go to the physical.  Renie states “ Its is sad how the first thing we notice about other people is often our differences.”  When the group of village girls point out that she is same as one of the other girls (146), the girls were thinking the same due to a similar physical characteristic.  When the author looked into the eyes of the young girl she knew it was deeper than that.  It took her back to a time when someone tried to make her feel shame because of how she looked. “We both felt the same insecurities and the way it picked away at our source of courage,” she was able to be empathic because she had been in her shoes.  Renie ends the essay by contemplating the hope that this young girl would not let her personhood be defined by what others felt about her, but that she could see she was beautiful because of how she felt about her self.

Talking in Color: Collision of Cultures

            In the cultural criticism piece, “Talking in Color: Collision of Cultures” by Tiffany Hendrickson, (2013), the author discusses racism in one of its many forms so that other that find themselves in similar situations can become empowered to discover their own voice and speak their truth.  Hendrickson establishes her assertions by giving us a glimpse into her personal background, her relationship with her mother, how she learned to talk, and how she was treated because of it.  Hendrickson’s essay reveals a bias prevalent in a part of our society today, how some people are judged on the way they speak when that way is associated with being African American; she highlights the fallacy of this position to encourage others to look past the judgement of people who don’t matter.  Her intended audience is aspiring young writers, young college students.

            This was a powerful piece for the group.  Code switching has been a part of the black experience forever.  We not only do it with other races, but with each other also.  It’s all a part of how we communicate with each other.  The way Hendrickson pointed out the different dialects being spoken from different parts of the country, but yet when it came to that dialect being associated with the black race its described as sounding like a nigger.  No thought was given to who the person was as whole, or the potential they contained, just judgement based on the way they sounded and preconceived notions about the connotation of that sound.

            Hendrickson’s depiction of the pain she suffered as a result of racism and her ability to push past it and find her voice validates the notion of a purpose inside of each of us.  Her quote “ Though the journey has sometimes be painful, I cherish it, but more than the journey, I value most the power of my voice”, shows that even in face of constant rejections you can still find your destiny knowing we all have value.  Sometimes it takes a while to find that voice, Hendrickson spoke of initially being ashamed of the way she spoke when she was exposed to other white college students.  Being partnered with a Big Sister for a mentor helped her to discover the power of her voice that led to her seeing herself for the writer she is.  Hendrickson appeals to our sense of compassion to understand that our differences only separate us if we chose to.

         

CONTEXT 

The personal essay “Context”, written by Dorothy Allison, (1994),  explores the importance of context when looking at different situations, and that making a presumption without proper context can lead to irrational fears that cloud our own perceptions.  Allison demonstrates this assertion by taking us down memory lane with a vivid depiction recounting the time she brought her lover to meet her family, she shares her fear, doubts, and how she assumed her lover would react to her family.  Allison’s essay purports the significance of context and its impact on our understanding of one another.  Her intended audience, members of the LGTBQ community, or the general public at large to gain a different perspective at understanding one another by placing things in their proper perspective.

          This essay elicited a variety of responses from the members of this group.  For one, the response was invoked memories of her own childhood and reminders of how she was raised.  I found it interesting how a misunderstanding in the context led the author to assume how her lover would react to her family.  She became fearful because she was basing her assumption from the perspective of her own life experiences and not her lovers.   Her fears were more revealing of her personal feelings about her family than her lovers.  Her statement, “Don’t go deaf and blind to what this feels like, remember it” (119), stood out for me in that even as a child she recognized that this behavior was wrong, and she wanted to remember so that she would not be guilty of treating someone in that manner.

          Dorothy Allison utilizes her personal experience of taking her lover to meet her family and childhood memories to asserts the relevance of context to our understanding of one another.  Fear can cause us to act irrationally, to make assumptions not based in facts.  Allison assumed that her lover would look at her differently based upon how she felt about her family, “I was afraid that she might see me through new eyes, hateful eyes, the eyes of someone who suddenly knew fully how different we were.” (118).  She was right in that her lover did see her with new eyes, just not in the way she thought.  Later, when she reflected on meeting her lovers family, she began to see that she gained an better understanding of her lover by meeting them, “ Seeing where she had grown up, meeting some of her family, I had understood her better” (119).  Allison ends the piece by reminding us that our experiences, even the shameful ones are a part of who we are, but do not define who we are, we can choose to be different from our experiences.  Placing things in the proper context encourages growth and maturity, as the author said, “Context is so little to share, and so vital.”(120).

The Beat (Up) Generation

In the cultural criticism piece, The Beat (Up) Generation, written by Abby Ellin, (2014), Abby compares the differences between generations in the work place regarding their work ethics, and these differences have changed how businesses function and manage employees.  The author support this claim by focusing on the millennial generations’ addition to the work force has changed how things get done, she cites several studies (205,205), and research professors as evidence as to how this change occurred. Abby’s purpose in writing this piece is centered around the fact that change is constant in the work place, so she enlightens us by pointing out that not all change is bad, especially if it improves the function of the office.  The author wants these persuasive arguments to inform business executives, employers, and baby boomers how to understand and work with millennials in todays society.

            Reading this piece was very entertaining.  It’s message is so relevant and informative, because change is so constant in the workplace businesses have to adjust to keep up.  People tend to be creatures of habit and resistant to change.  With the advent of technology, old business models can ruin a company that refuses to see the handwriting on the wall.  Conflict resolution have become an important to the viability of workplace function.  With the different generations working together, you also have different life experiences and perspectives that govern how we act in the workplace, conflict resolution helps with that.

            Abby’s essay contains quotes and surveys performed in a variety of different business environments.  Most of which focuses on how the millennials approach and performance in the workplace is being perceived by the baby boomers and their reaction to them.   She begins proving this stance by using the example of Steven Clarke, (205), and how he was going to become a millionaire in one year.  She cites Professor Jeffrey Arnett (205) when referencing the reaction to millennials as being one of anger. There are several pros and cons to change in the workplace, and there is one thing that is consistent, change is inevitable and if we are to survive we have to change also.

In the personal essay, "Mother Tongue", written by Amy Tan (1990), the author asserts that growing up in a "broken English" speaking home caused many hardships and challenges that many immigrants have to face due to the way they speak.  She illustrates this reality by giving examples of her personal interactions with her family and the community at large, and the responses that were received from the community because of it.  The development of Tan's essay implies that immigrants are often misunderstood when speaking the English language, it informs the reader of the hardship and consequences those individuals and their families face because of how they speak in order to enlighten them so immigrants will not continue to be stereotyped. Tan is targeting other writers, scholars, especially those in the literary field as her audience, her relationship to them is the use of language and the understanding of it incorporated in their writing..

  

Reading Tan's narrative, we were able to see a descriptive visual of the challenges immigrants face in everyday life. I faced a similar situation this past holiday when I traveled with my family to Nairobi, Kenya.  My wife's father is Kenyan. His English is still very difficult at times for me to understand, because of the accent. I have to listen very closely. Tan wants to change our perception of how we view our interaction due to language and treat each other with respect.  The alternative is misunderstanding sometimes with negative results.  Tan tells the story of how her mother had her translate a phone conversation with her stockbroker by pretending to be her mother.  Not because she couldn’t understand or speak for herself, but because she recognized that people were rude to her because they could not understand.  She had cashed out a stock portfolio and had not received her check, and she wanted answers.  Another example, a hospital visit that did not go very well.  Vital information was lost, a diagnosis was not properly explained and a patient was left confused all because people were too impatient to take the time to understand her.  Tan also illustrates her point by citing a survey that asserts Asian students always do significantly better in math than in English.  She proposes that this may be due to the English being spoken in the home may be also described as "broken or limited".  "And perhaps they also have teachers who are steering them away from writing and into math".  It seems misunderstanding can also lead to stereotyping

Language is a very powerful and useful tool.  Effective communication is vital to our very existence.  Having command of the English language can make life easier. For immigrants, having someone effectively listen to them makes life easier.  To gain understanding where you can respond, one must critically listen to be able to decipher the intent of the speaker.  I loved how Tan ends this essay by stating how she envisioned the readers she would write for, one being her mother.  She stated how she would utilize the different Englishes she grew up with in her writing. All of this in a effort to preserve essence of the language, not a English or Chinese structure. She states, "I wanted to capture what language ability test can never reveal, her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech, the nature of her thoughts".  This sentence resonated with me because it takes being able to look past what we perceive what something looks like or sounds like on the surface, to see the true beauty of a person and all that they have to offer. 

Non Traditional Students

  


          Being non traditional students, we bring a different perspective to the college experience. Having work experience, has encouraged us to further our education, to better our future. Our goals with this blog is to improve our writing skills. To the point where we ensure our academic success in all our individual endeavors. Education and communication are vital components necessary to become competent writers. We are expecting great results, watching this process develop!