At some point in my life I think I have heard of all these privileges men had in some form or another. They are so simple, but when thinking about it in a woman’s view it makes such a difference on how people view you as a woman. I think it’s that privileges exist based on one’s sex. If there are going to be privileges it should be based on something equally fair for all, which is pretty difficult. So instead everyone should have the same privileges without the stereotypes and discrimination tagged along with it.

            The one privilege I envy that men have from this list is the one about how men can go to a dealership or mechanic can assume they will not get taken advantage of. I personally always go with my older brother or dad when I go get the oil changed on my car because I think they will try to rip me off because they will assume I am a girl and don’t know anything about cars. I don’t know about cars, but that doesn’t mean that just because of my sex I should be taken advantage of financially. Instead of brother or dad taking my car themselves, I go because I want to learn how be in a situation like that by myself.

            It’s so sad to see students criminalized for being undocumented. It just sucks so much that this country of opportunity would do something to people who have contributed to society. If they arrived at a young age and grew up over here, they’re pretty much American; it’s just that they weren’t born here. These are smart people who deserve the chance to advance in the United States if they so choose. It shouldn’t be robed from them. It’s like robing a child from his/hers innocence.

            I admire the bravery these young people have and the passion they have for their cause. I was reading the comments to the video and I just couldn’t understand how people could be so insensitive and cruel after hearing such emotional testimonies. They’re “reasons” were invalid and just plain out ignorant. I don’t understand what makes an American citizen so much more worthy of whatever the United States offers, instead of someone who is not a citizen but has grown up their whole life here and contributed to the economy. What is this big difference??    

Of the posts I read the one that stuck out the most to me was the one about the woman who did not get a job position because she was planning on getting married. I’m pretty sure that question falls under the list of questions future employers cant ask because it is illegal. And most important does not pertain to the ability of the future employee being able to do their job. It was sad that she was a victim of it. I think there is many people who aren’t aware of the questions employers cant ask. There should be a way to better inform people of these questions because ultimately impact their way of life. 

In regards to the post about how a female law school graduate was given the “wise” advice of dumbing her self down and losing weight was baffling. Mainly because the advice came from her mother. I would expect a mother to be extremely happy that her daughter was so ambiguous to pursue law school. Instead of instilling confidence in her daughter and telling her to be as ambiguous in her love life, she brings her down. As if she is the problem.

How can people make a joke out of a traumatic experience someone has gone through? Especially, something as traumatic as rape. I don’t think people would have been laughing had they talking about the Holocaust. Nonetheless, been making a joke about it.  It gets me angry the thought that people can be so careless/heartless. It gets me angry because even though, in my opinion, the right to do is not laugh about a situation like this, it’s ultimately the person’s choice.

The “18 Chances You Will Not Regret Taking in Life” seem simple and I heard about them in some form or another. And although they seem so simple, they are really difficult to practice. I know this because I have tried some. What kept me away was simply fear- fear of the uncertainty. But they are worth knowing about.

I had never really thought what it meant to be privileged. I had always thought of it being something someone or others had that resulted in others not having it. It didn’t even occur to me that it could be “based upon prejudicial and/ or discriminatory norms, attitudes and practices”.

Today I was on the bus heading home after school. The bus was crowded, so I had to stand. I happened to stand in front of a man who appeared to have a mental disability. There was on older woman standing next to me. The man was asking her if she wanted to sit down and she just completely ignored him. She didn’t even acknowledge him. Instead she turned the other way. I was just so baffled because I can’t understand how people can be so rude and just ignore others. I feel like a lot of people do that to those who are poor and/or those who have mental disabilities because they think they don’t make sense when they talk. I could tell on the man’s face he was either sad or disappointed the woman didn’t answer him. So when he started to talk to me I responded because I wouldn’t want someone to treat me like he was treated. It seemed that he just wanted someone to have a conversation with.

I think I was an ally to man because I am in the “dominant group” (those without a mental disability) and I choose to acknowledge and have a conversation with him on a bus when I didn’t have to. Which I would say “rejects the dominant ideology”.

The e-portfolio presentation gave me a lot of ideas to use in my e-portfolio. I liked how she offered the “schedule” in two different ways. I think she made me feel comfortable about my e-portfolio will probably ending up to be simple because that is who I am.

I’m very disappointed that Rohm Emanuel has let so many schools close but so many constructions of unneeded or non- benefiting projects, in order to build a “ New Chicago”.  I don’t understand why Mr. Emanuel is pushing for his blue prints of a better Chicago when Chicago Public Schools are struggling. Instead of helping to destroy apartment buildings and building condos, he should be giving money to schools so they can have the necessary materials for their students to achieve. If he keeps going with this “ New Chicago” poppycock, more schools are likely to be hut down. The money that should be going to schools is going to own unneeded projects. Schools never be shut it keeps kids off the streets, educates them, and molds their character for the better. How dare Mr. Emanuel cut education and yet still wonder why there is so much violence in the streets.

            Serving other people is one the most important things a leader can do. When you serve people they not only benefit but you as well benefit in many ways. One way is that it can help build character. People will respect more if you serve because you want to not because you have too. It also makes you feel good. Most famous are people who are serving others for a good cause. Many leaders take a stand for people who need it the most.  For example Martin Luther King Jr. was an exceptional leader. Martin served everyone who wanted equal rights. He was the voice of the little. As anyone can see being leader does not always mean bing in charge of something. It sometimes means sacrificing for others so that they can have better life.

It didn’t surprise me that a lot of the other mentors thought to list off descriptions when they think of leaders. Instead of listing descriptions, I listed actions leaders do, like help others. Dr. Green made me realize that being a servant leader takes practice and persistence.

Of the characteristics that a servant leader may posses I think I posses listening, empathy, foresight and commitment to the growth of people. I have always preferred to hear other people talk. It is just as important as being the one that talks. I don’t think you can help others if you’re not empathic. When I’m empathic I feel as if I learn more because I can learn to understand the situation from a different perspective. From this I can better predict outcomes. Having the commitment to watch people grow positively is important to me because it gives me hope for a better tomorrow. It keeps me optimistic.

I would find persuading people to be a very difficult characteristic for me to obtain, but not impossible. I tend to be very shy and reserved, which makes me hard to convince others. I think I could develop this characteristic by convincing my mentee to stay on top of her school work and not get discouraged by it when is not understanding.

I hope that someday I can be on the board of directors for a hospital. I would be serving others by improving the hospitals needs. But I do worry that because this job involves a lot with budgets for the hospital, I’m scared that I will make a decision that would go against doing what is best for the patients. A hospital only exists because of its patients. At times I worry that I would be too emotional for the job, that maybe I wouldn’t be able to make hard decisions. I volunteer at a hospital and I told the staff my major and one of them said to me “When you get there remember us, the little guys”. I think many workers in all types of professions feel uncompensated for their work. When I do get there I would want to improve the relationship administration has with other employees.

School-to-Prison Pipeline

It’s quite depressing to know that a child is far more likely to end up in a juvenile detention center because of education. Especially when education is supposed to be creating graduates. I can’t believe schools would rather give up a student’s future then help them gradate. I think this mindset is greatly influenced by the lack of funds that are available to them. I definitely think education has gone from caring about the students’ to it being about what school can get the most funding. Children shouldn’t have to go through this. It’s not fair that a child, who doesn’t have the opportunity to attend a good school, be put through this system. They simply do not have control over this. It’s so heart breaking to know how important a student’s socioeconomic status influences their education. And that shouldn’t be the case. A child’s education should not be influenced by how much their parents make, but by how hard they try in school.

In my opinion, I think there are to many teachers who shouldn’t be teaching. Teachers’ should want their students’ to succeed, not watch them fail. They should encourage the parents to be part of the student’s academics. But also I think teachers also aren’t given the necessary resources they need. Teachers have such an important role in a students’ life and I think some don’t realize that.

I think the best way to address the educational inequalities in Chicago is by informing the public. They aren’t going to want change if they aren’t aware of what is going on. As a STARS Leader I want my mentee to be aware of this. She has the right to know how the educational system works. I would hope that it would encourage her to try harder to prove to the system that it can be beat.