Redefining Home

It hit me all at once. I was upset over something so insignificant that I cannot even remember what it was. But that night, this insignificant thought lead me to the realization of something really important. My home was no longer my home. My family has always been really important to me, and since I have been in college my days spent relaxing at home have meant more to me than ever. Since I was very young I have been used to sharing my home with members of my extended family. My parents were always taking in my cousins at any time of need in their lives and I never minded, since it was always nice to have their company. But this fall my cousin moved in with her husband, their five year old and their newborn. Since I was in college my little cousins took my room and all of my things were packed up in boxes. Now when I go home I don’t have a place to go to do anything. When I came home crying that night there was nowhere for me to have privacy—I felt lost in my own house. It still is upsetting for me to think about my living situation, however I have realized more than ever exactly what home means to me. I have found home in both my family and my friends. Just because I do not have my own room and am not necessarily at ease in my house as I was before, does not mean that I cannot be comfortable around my family. I enjoy spending time with my little cousins and still feel at home just hanging out with my parents and siblings. It doesn’t matter that my actual room isn’t mine; all that matters is that I am with the people that I love. This also applies to my friends. I do not have to be at my house at all to feel at home. Just being with those I care about is enough for me to have those feelings of home.

Word Count: 345

Point: Realizing that home is not something tangible, but rather the feelings associated with it.

Living my own Dream

The combination of film and writing would make me incredibly happy. Because of that, I think my dream job would be a movie reviewer. I was in a film career track in high school, which made me more critical and analytical of movies. I also totally appreciate film and would love to be in a career associated with it even if I am not involved in actually making them. Ever since I was little I have loved writing. I would read everything and write my own stories, letting my imagination run wild. Getting paid to watch movies and write what I think about them sounds amazing. I think that this relates to the ‘American Dream’ because I would be doing what I love. I think a big part of the elusive American Dream is doing something that you enjoy and that makes you happy. Having this career would definitely live up to that criteria.

Word Count: 154

Engaging v. Confusing

I would have to say my best classroom experience was my 10th grade world history class. I think the best quality of a class is when the subject matter does not interest you but the teacher draws you in so that you want to learn it anyway. My teacher was completely engaging and creative when it came to lesson plans. We had long discussions of current events and did fun activities to demonstrate event in history. I love when a class is both challenging and approachable so that you are able to succeed.

My worst educational experience was my 11th grade physics class with a teacher who had taught for a year at a community college. The biggest problem that I ever have in the classroom is when a teacher is not confident or completely knowledgeable in the subject. We often had to correct him or he would tell us too completely opposite explanations for the same thing. It was so confusing. The second worst problem is lack of control. Since the class had little focus, students did whatever they wanted and the teacher could not do anything to control them.

Family Ties

When I reminisce about my childhood what I remember most is fighting with my older brother. We were at odds since before I was even born. He was jealous of all the attention I was getting in my family as the new baby girl. We were always arguing or brawling in some way, usually about the most trivial things. I never played the right way or built the forts we would make with our other siblings correctly. By the time we were teenagers we had absolutely no relationship and continued to not get along.

When I was sixteen, he was twenty one and managing at a restaurant and reluctantly got me a job. Although I wanted the job, I was not looking forward at all to spending any more time than I had to with him. But an amazing thing happened: the more time we spent together, not so much in our brother and sister role, but as coworkers, we were able to relate more than ever. We bonded about all the things we did not like about the restaurant, coworker gossip, and finally about our family. A friendship with my big brother developed for the first time in my life. He lives in Louisiana now, but we have remained close, rarely fought, and have actually taken on the sibling relationship that we missed out on while clashing all of those years.

With my other siblings those relationships were not so strained. My sister and I are two years apart and, ever since we were roommates and played Barbies for hours on end, have been the best of friends. We could escape from the boys and just hang out with each other. My younger brother by four years has always been a source of laughter for me, lightening up any mood with a joke or just acting out of his lack of common sense. As we have aged and matured, our ages seem irrelevant as we relate to each other more and more, feeling as though we are all equals.

I will never take for granted the special relationship that only a sibling can provide. Through everything—successes, disappointments, breakups, friendship problems, the best of times, or the worst—family is what will hopefully always be there. Not everyone I know is lucky enough to be so close to their family, and I will forever cherish the tight knit bonds that I have with mine. I believe that the love and support that we constantly give to each other is incredibly important and valuable. No matter who comes in or out of my life, I will forever appreciate my brothers and sister who will always be there. They make me want to be a better person so that I can always be a positive role model and friend in their life. My siblings have helped mold me into the person that I am and will always be a guiding force in my life.

(493 words)

Generation Carefree

Compared to other generations, ours is completely carefree. We are completely desensitized to both violence and sexuality. We dress, talk, and act much less conservative than any previous generation. Putting our personal lives on display through the internet, to both strangers and our peers, is not something to worry about. No problem is important enough to cause stress, even those that will negatively affect us in our lifetime, such as the state of the economy or depletion of natural resources. On the positive side, we are also much more open minded, uncaring of the differences between us.

(97 words)

Secondhand Brand

(420)
“A hand up, not a hand out” was the message that Reverend Edgar J. Helms proclaimed when he started the first Goodwill in 1902. At a time when brands were taking force, learning how best to get customers roped in, and make tremendous profit, Helms saw the needs that were not being adequately fulfilled. He started a brand that would defy the purposes of all the others, with his intent on increasing welfare rather than bank accounts. He not only aimed for inexpensive goods, but for work opportunities. The positive impact and growth of the company makes it still successful today, not only in America but around the globe.
Edgar Helms began this endeavor by collecting goods from the more affluent areas in Boston. He then turned to the poor areas where he trained and hired unemployed people to fix these goods. The donations were then either given to those workers, or resold for a very affordable price. This system is the foundation for how this company still runs today. Goodwill has continued to run on donations that are in good condition which are sold at such reasonable prices that most people can afford to shop there. They also provide a huge number of jobs that are dependable with a decent income. They employ many people that might not be hired at other places, such as special needs or older people.
Goodwill helps to alleviate many of today’s issues, such as the environment and globalization. Instead of disposing goods to continue to pack landfills, this company recycles these goods to get the maximum use of them. The impact of human waste on the environment has degraded a lot of our land and resources, and Goodwill is doing what it can to help prevent further harm. Also, with the impact of many other brands globalizing and effecting people across the world, Goodwill is making a positive impact on that front as well. Goodwill has put stores, and made connections with similar companies to give assistance to other communities across the world who are in need of inexpensive goods and reliable jobs.
Goodwill is a nonprofit brand that stands to only benefit others and provide for the less fortunate. It attempts to help with whatever social, economic, and environmental problem that is happening. A brand with such a positive message is something that I can relate to. While other brands are in the business for their own benefit, I am happy to support a brand that does so much good for others.

My Relationship With The Media

I would like to say that I stay up to date with current events, but I really do not pay as much attention to the news as I should. I am usually pretty aware of what is going on, but I definitely would like to improve my habits so that I can be more conscious of the world around me. I would not consider myself a Luddite. I like reading the news on the internet. However, there are some newspapers that I enjoy reading, like “City Paper”, which covers local news in Baltimore City, which they unfortunately do not have around campus. I am a media addict, but unfortunately to the wrong type of media. I spend way too much time looking at celebrity gossip and I do not even know why. It has just become a guilty pleasure of mine to frequent Perez Hilton's celebrity blog. If I could improve on my relationship with the media, it would be to devote more time to media that matters, and focus a lot less on the tabloids.

Who are you and what does America mean to you?

My name is Jessica Manzo and I have grown up and lived in Baltimore, Maryland, about 30 minutes from campus, my entire life. I love my family, my best friends, live music, being involved, fun activities, learning, good stories, volunteering, sushi, and Baltimore City. I grew up with two Conservative minded parents who, while steadfast with their beliefs, wished for me to take my own stance, allowing me to grow up with a lot of freedom both with my mind and my actions. They have always wanted me to experience things for myself, instead of trying to control or shelter me. I am still trying to figure out what America means to me, but I know that it is a place where I can appreciate living. Not only do my parents grant me freedom, but so does my country. As I find my place in this world, I am confident that America will give me the freedom to form my own views and and choose a lifestyle that will make me happy.