As part of my Leadership 210 class, I had to complete 10 hours at the HJDC and therefore I had additional time spent as an individual with other students. The atmosphere was really different because we did not follow any specific guidelines, so we just spent time with them talking and drawing. Our conversations were ironically mostly about them asking questions about our experiences as college students and then us reflecting on our first year. They were mostly pointing out their similarities/differences. One of them shared how they had a different childhood growing up with not so much time and energy to spend on academics. Another one shared how they immigrated from Mexico and the challenges that they and their family faced. Overall, we ended up having nice discussions and I think they were more willing to share information because we did not come as “instructors” or from a “special programs” rather than students spending time with other students. The conversations were more natural.
Category: Angelos Page 1 of 3
As someone who deeply admires Angela Davis, reading the first three chapters of “Are Prisons Obsolete?” has been incredibly thought-provoking. Davis challenges the conventional wisdom about prisons, highlighting how they often fail to address the underlying issues that lead to crime. This aligns with broader discussions on the societal impacts of maintaining illiteracy among prisoners and dismantling educational programs behind bars. It’s clear that denying education to inmates not only undermines their chances of rehabilitation but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and crime, which ultimately burden society as a whole.
At the Northwestern Human Rights Conference in Chicago, similar ideas were shared about the importance of adopting correctional strategies that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. Davis’s insights resonate with this perspective, emphasizing the critical role of education in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration into society. The historical context provided, including the closure of college programs like the one at Greenhaven Prison, underscores the detrimental effects of shifting away from rehabilitative approaches within the criminal justice system. Davis’s call to rethink our reliance on prisons and invest in alternative forms of justice further motivates me to advocate for change and work towards creating a more equitable and humane society.
Reading “Small Things Like These” was a book that made me understand more deeply the complexities of human relationships, societal expectations, and the often overlooked struggles of ordinary people. The narrative captured the essence of everyday life, highlighting moments of joy, sorrow, and resilience, something that I often struggle dealing with. Through the lens of Furlong’s experiences, I found myself reflecting on the intricate balance between duty and personal fulfillment, as well as the relentless pursuit of stability in an ever-changing world.
One of the aspects of the book that resonated with me the most was the portrayal of family dynamics and the sacrifices made by parents for the sake of their children’s well-being. Furlong’s internal struggles and his longing for something more beyond the monotony of his routine left a profound impact on me, making me to reflect on the meaning of contentment and the pursuit of happiness. Overall, “Small Things Like These” offered a mirror through which I could reflect on my own values, aspirations, and the significance of the small moments that shape our existence.
The last time was one of the most fun for me. My group was talking constantly and was bothering me with questions about how my life was, and how my life was in Greece wishes generally about ourselves, and they told me how much they wanted to leave and continue their schooling. One of them told me how she got stabbed in his forehead because of a fight he got in and the other one told me how he struggled in his childhood going from place to place. Overall, though they were laughing a lot with their own responses and I think that’s a coping mechanism because of their traumas.
This time I had a quite significant experience. We started in big groups by introducing ourselves and sharing some information but the real discussion started when we were in 2 groups. I was with 2 young boys who were about to finish high school and shared a lot about their future and past. They shared how much they want to get out of the center, collaborate, and create their own music industry. They were so passionate about their goal indicating they don’t just want to achieve it, they will! Something significant is that they wanted to create lyrics with meanings to prevent young people from making the same mistakes they did following their dad’s life decisions. The thing that they regret the most about life is making that mistake that made them end up in the center. One of them chose as a superpower to know all the information that exists to prevent future mistakes. Similarly, the other person would like to travel in time to change his behavior in the past and not end up in the center. I was surprised at how passionate they were about their future, how much they wanted to graduate high school and go to college as well as how they wanted to help other people through their passion; music!
It was fascinating! There are so many things that surprised me and made me reflect yesterday. First of all, I was concerned that the teenagers would not be willing to share information with us but in reality, they were really curious about listening to our stories from people from the “outside”. Moreover, I had the preoccupation that they would not be willing to change their lifestyle, and to a large extent that is not true. On one hand, they do have a really specific lifestyle that is different than ours but that does not make it less valid or less normal. In reality, they also wanted to have more freedom like traveling, being outside, and studying but not have the same lifestyle as us, we grew up different, we have different values, and priorities in life and that is ok.
Regarding the stories that one of them shared, I was surprised how quickly they would reach serious topics in depth. One of them shared how she used to have arguments with her mother and escape the house late at night and once she got caught and run over by the police who stopped her with electric shock since she was carrying a knife. She wanted to focus on how the police were treating her, how unfair and scary it was but I kept wondering how did she end up there? Why would she have the need to fight with her mother, threatening her to leave the house and carry a knife? She also shared how she was homeless for a while, transferring from hostel to hostel and shelter to shelter and eventually, she grew up because of her siblings. She is so close with them that she would get into physical fights with other kids to protect her little brother. She also shared one attempt of kidnapping that she experienced while she was young.
One of the most surprising things was the attitude toward their sayings. The laughter was loud and constant even during serious topics like kidnapping, family abuse, fights, and policing. They would switch from laughing, to sharing something serious and then laughing again. My assumption is that this is their coping mechanism that is developed to protect themselves especially when taking into consideration how young they started being involved with crime. Overall, I was reflecting on how different life can be a few miles away from us, how privileged we are, and how context like family and environment is significant!
The book provided me with many different insights regarding trauma and healing especially for the younger age that is determining for the development of character. One of the most fascinating characteristics of the book was the explanation of different behaviors and characteristics through the use of social sciences and mostly psychology. Moreover, all the claims were supported by real life examples that did not just make the book more appealing but also provided a better understanding to the reader. Through the use of examples, studies and scientific approach, behaviors that are hard to be approached through logic or common sense are explained with details providing useful information not only to people suffering from traumas but everyone!
In Thursday’s lesson, we analyzed how to tell a story, shared our ideas with a partner, and created a grading rubric for the storytelling project. Drawing inspiration from the book Moth, Mitch highlighted the metaphor of “stepping stones” in the narrative process. Recognizing the challenge of navigating the middle of the “story puzzle,” we’ve identified three essential elements for a compelling story: scenes, summaries, and reflection.
We embraced the principle of “show, don’t tell,” and the inclusion of examples to portray characters or events. We also discussed the fine line between humor and stand-up, and we’ve explored the potential of humor as a storytelling tool, referencing Hannah Gadsby’s “Nanette” comedy special.
In our collaborative groups, we’ve delved into refining our stories, using strategies like detailing every aspect to enhance narrative impact. Looking ahead, we’ve set goals for the story project—aiming to learn more about our classmates through active listening and engagement. Our rubric includes assigning points for listening skills, story quality, and overall effort, with potential assessments like a brief test or reflective notes after each presentation.
The essay workshop for really helpful overall. I find it significant to hear from others their perspectives on my creation because it is challenging to identify any flaws by myself since I am biased. Sometimes, it is not even about the flaws, there are just different opinions since writing can have so many different forms and different ways to be interpreted. The feedback that I received helped me gain different perspectives and see my essay more holistically, Now, I feel much more comfortable with my version of my essay.
I really enjoy reading comics in general especially the one of Persepolis. I really like the way the author introduces ideas that can be approached by any audience from teenagers to old people. Their language is simplistic, yet powerful, the black-and-white use of colors highlights the contrast and creates a dynamic image throughout the whole book. I find the language really strong and emotional because it is simplistic and innocent and that’s what a reader is expecting from a 10-year-old girl to write. However, within this simplicity really powerful and complex ideas like War religion identity and innocence are conveyed throughout the first four chapters there is a combination of a first and third person which is a really nice balance between giving context and informing the reader to have a better understanding but then use of the first person to give different inside from every Iranian family and specifically from a 10-year-old girl that is experiencing everything in Iran overall it is a really unique and powerful way of communicating ideas that I would like to see being used in more media.