‘Twas an ordinary Tuesday in the rural city of Rubiataba, Brazil. The people leaving for the plantations already left, and José, with his little picolé cart made the same trip up the road by my private school. As he walked he would belt out in Portuguese, “Ice cream, get your ice cream!” Students upon students watched as he walked by them in his dirty ragged clothes. Some looked upon him with the utmost disgust, while others simply ignored him. As he walked, he would greet us with the warmest of smiles a little boy of twelve could muster. José, or Joseph in English, is one of the many unfortunate children in the world, and he specifically taught me one of the most important lessons that changed my life forever. Joseph is a little boy who …show more content…
That person was Michael Bentkowski, the author of this very essay. I was an inexperienced individual who took for granted the luxury of attending school, or even coming home to a family that cared about my well being. Eventually through careful self-analysis, I began asking myself, “Do I really appreciate what I have?” This realization that I did not appreciate what I was given, became an even greater part of my life. Furthermore I concluded that an apology to Joseph would be necessary for all of the criticism I directed towards him. Joseph humbly accepted my apology, and soon after this event, we became the best of friends. As our relationship grew, I found out more and more about Joseph’s mournful past. Time passed me by, and I began seeing things in a more humble perspective because Joseph’s personality was beginning to rub off on me. Over the course of many weeks, Joseph helped me mature an extra five years. This newfound maturity is what taught me discipline. Eventually my stay in Brazil came to an end, and Joseph left me with an inspiring statement. On the last day of my stay in Brazil, he uttered one last statement, “you never know you have something until it’s gone.” I brought this lesson back to the United States, and major changes in my “new” life began to sprout. I took my academics more seriously, I challenged myself with every opportunity I was given and I learned
He also relates this memoir to his success and the struggles that he faced along his journey. If Jose hadn’t have struggled or faced difficulties along his way to the top, then I believe this memoir wouldn’t exist. “It is a story that I tell others and myself that gives hope that success is possible. I do not believe in giving value to hardship. All humans have suffered or do suffer…
In "Joyas Voladoras", Author Bryan Doyle catches the readers attention with an unique, different, and original approach. Throughout the story there are noticeable techniques used here that John Trimble have taught. The compare and contrast between the story and teachings may be hard to understand at first glance, but with more thorough reading and a better understanding of the information, it is clearly visible. "Joyas Voladoras" has a special meaning. It shows that no matter the size, strength, human or animal, you are never immune to any situation.
(Krakauer 121). When he found out that his father had done that when he was a child he was furious, but who wouldn’t be?
Focusing on Salvador a city within the state of Bahia, it has a population of over 3 million people which was previously the capital of Brazil and has many historical influences, such as it “…was the largest and most important port for the trafficking of Africans and other goods on the transatlantic trade route.” (pgs. 5,8). Importantly, Salvador is the most the largest Black population outside of Africa, and is 77 percent Black with 2.3 million Black residents, and is a major factor in determining the projection of living standards and conditions, that re cast in negative commentaries throughout the other parts of the country. (p. 7). This plays a significant role in the social and economic hierarchy as the idea of the country not being influenced by racial distinctions is contradicted by the actual living conditions of Afro-Cubans verses that of other ethnic groups.
In the story, “The Ravine”,Vinny and Joe-Boy are two of the main characters. The boys are both fifteen and best friends. Vinny and Joe-Boy are similar in many ways, and they are different in many ways. Vinny and Joe-Boy have many differences. From the story,Joe-Boy seems brave.
In the Latin American culture, especially during a period of violence boys were raised to be “machisomo”which means tough in Latin American. Many of these men, including the character Captain Torres in “Just Lather And Nothing Else”, demonstrated rebellious behaviour because of it.
Angie Cruz’s novel, Let it Rain Coffee, tells the story of the Colón family and their experiences with immigration and identity. Their experience proves that for many people in America, especially immigrants, society has a hand in influencing your life based on factors such as your race or class. This is summed up by Santo when he says, “We might want something, Esperanza, but the world wants something else. I’m just saying that it don’t matter how good we are, you go out into the world and people will try to beat you up and take everything you got” (57). This theme of individual efforts being tossed aside for societal oppression, is seen in many instances throughout the novel.
Racial disparity in Brazil is best explained in Abdias Nascimento article, Quilombismo: An Afro-Brazilian Political Alternative. “I believe that the Black and mulatto the Brazilian of colour must have a racial counter-ideology and a counter position in socioeconomic terms. The Brazilian of colour must strive simultaneously for a double change: socioeconomic change in the country, and change in race and colour relations.” In 1968, through these words, Afro-Brazilian scholar, artist, and politician Abdias Nascimento called attention to the potentially divergent but essentially related nature of the two main objectives of Afro-Brazilian activism: first, to effect concrete change in the distribution of social and economic power in Brazil, and second,
In the short story, “Mericans”, written by Sandra Cisneros, there are many underlying conflicts that surface throughout the story. The conflicts, in short, evolve around two very distinguished cultures. Furthermore, the clashing views regarding the two cultures cause a great amount of problems for many individuals in a society. The cultural differences can tremendously affect a society, as the clashing views can lead to a wide array of issues such as ethnocentrism, gender discrimination, stereotypes, as well as the health of many personal relationships. Cisneros begins to develop this conflict when the story’s narrator, Michele, describes the altar to La Divina Providencia in which the “awful grandmother” worships.
The schools in undeveloped communities, such as the community Esperanza lives in, are not funded as much from poor families which means they don’t have as many resources as other schools in richer neighborhoods have. Esperanza’s neighborhood consists of a “laundromat, junk store, drugstore, windows and cars and more cars” (Cisneros 16). In essence, it is evident that the school in Esperanza’s neighborhood is likely not as developed either and is meant for kids whose families cannot afford private schools. In such communities, teachers may also not choose to work in schools because of the salary. Since education is not a priority for Esperanza’s family, Esperanza is sent to any random school without taking into consideration the quality of the education.
I am Jesus Vazquez and my struggles. I believe that my biggest achievements derive from my biggest failures. My struggles as a kid growing up without a father, an unemployed mother, no permanent home, all worked to shape both my character and I. Early on, I realized my hardships, and my struggles would always be a part of me, however it continued to be up to me how I would let them define me. One particular struggle for me growing up was soccer and along with it comes one of my most vivid memories that depict just how I learned to trust in my struggle. As the ball sailed way over the net, I lowered my head and slumped my shoulders as I jogged back to my position.
Nevertheless, I received from Him the strength to move ahead with my life and the patience to resolve problems with confidence. By His grace, I am not the same person that I
Poverty is “...the most savage of all human afflictions” (1). It “...[spreads] like a cancer” through generations that become ever more powerless to “...mobilize their efforts against it” (1). Nowhere is this more clear than in Gordon Parks’ essay, “Flavio’s Home”. Parks vividly retells the story of a young boy, Flavio de Silva, and his family as they struggle to survive on grossly less than the bare minimum in the slums of Rio.
Although his writing can be engaged to an audience who reads the situation the boy is encountering with his neighbors ,but to analyze themselves instead of another person. Therefore the intended purpose of this writing is to not analyze or criticize how a person live, but to analyze themselves , as they could be living their life differently such as being greedy. ”You should look at yourself. I mean really look at yourself ” .Therefore the author notifies the audience of the situation he was in throughout his life,through the use of emotional appeal using personal experiences in his life and humor
My most rewarding accomplishment consists of my ability to overcome the fear and weakness that was conceived upon my arrival to the United States from Mexico, in addition to a newly evolved character which allowed me to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. Nearly seven years ago, my mother and I immigrated from a harsh economic climate in Mexico that was plagued with unemployment. Additionally, our family faced bankruptcy. While holding onto our faith, we left our hometown with only what we could carry and bought two one-way bus tickets. With nothing more than fear, two bags, and $50 in each of our pockets, we set out for what would be the most challenging journey of our lives.