Maya Angelou Reaction

 {"Did you want to see me broken?" Well, that is just too bad.}

     This is a woman with a natural talent and a genuine sense of honesty. Someone who knows who she is and where she has come from. Although she cannot see the future and know where she will go, her truthful and beautiful words pave her road of life. This road is filled with difficult obstacles and critiques but because it is built with honesty it is clear it will only lead to good. It is like she said "But just like life, I rise." We are bound to have our ups and downs throughout life but our good intentions, actions and sincerity will be rewarded with an eternal "Up"; an eternity of peace.

Phenomenal Woman

     Some would call it pride, other would call it selfishness and some could even think it is purely lies. Others, less ignorant perhaps, would know it is pride, it is self-esteem, the true one, how it is supposed to be. It is exactly how we should all see ourselves, not just women, but all humankind. It is not about how fashionable we are, if we have the "hottest" hair cut or how ridiculously skinny we are. The only thing that really matters and can give us this true confidence is respect. Respect for ourselves and of course love ourselves for who we are. Unless we love the person that we are and respect it we will never be able to love another human being entirely. This will not only hurt us, it will hurt the person you are trying to love, pushing yourself to love. In order to be happy and not make another suffer we must be clear on who we are. It is important to know what our best and worst qualities are, embrace them and like ourselves knowing this truth.

To go or not to go...to college.

     "So, you do not want to go to college? You are not sure?" "It is hard!" he told me. I smiled and shook my head. He told me he enjoyed high school. He had fun, friends and easy-to-get-through courses. It could be a convincing argument, but not for me. For me it is just a mediocre excuse and excuses are always the easy way out. College is not easy that does not make it impossible. In my opinion anyone who puts their mind to it can do it and gain a lot of knowledge in the way.

     This kid was basically telling me that he did not want to grow up. He just wanted to keep on being that same irresponsible and innocent kid he had always been. He liked himself that way and so did his friends. The question is waht would happen to him when all his friends were growing up and getting jobs. The sad truth is that he would probably find new friends, some as irresponsible and innocent as him who also would like to stay this way. Mediocre people who like bringing others down with them. "If this is the case two things can happen: one the leave you behind because they also grow up or they pull you down with them." I told him this and he remained silent.

     Finally, I told him "You will meet new people who will like you for who you are now and also who you will be in the future". An intelectual, an open minded young man, a thinker. "This is what you will be after you recieve a higher level of education." "The knowledge you will acquire will not only give you a job, it will provide you a better social life, a new way of thinking, more indepente." By this time he was nodding in approval but I could tell he was not entirely convinced. It got me thinking until I said: "Hey, did you know there are three out of every one guy in the UPR at Cayey?", to which he answered: "I am in!"

Financial aids from my point of view.

     Financial aids help a great number of people, not only students, in a variety of fields. The question that we ask ourselves is; are they given because of an authentic feeling of helping those in need or is it just pity? Minorities are viewed as poor, small and in need of help, but by others thay are seen differently. Some people, maybe smarter people, see them as lazy and as persons who take advantage of their disadvantages. This does not apply to everyone, it is wrong to generalize and include pepole who do not act this way.

     In the movie "V for Vendetta" the main character, "V", gives his opinion about the world he finds himself living in. "There is something serioulsy wrong with this country and if your are looking for someone to blame you need only look in the mirror". This is so right! I would not go to the extreme meassures he went to restore his country to what it once was but I do agree that there is something very wrong with the world I live in. Of course it is also true that we are the ones to blame but this is precisely the reason why we are the ones who need to do something about it.

     Puerto Rico is not going to just change overnight and become a better and fairer place to live in. We have to make it happen. Men and women need to stand up and fight for their jobs. Teachers need to get up and defend their work, schools and students. Students need to fight for their educational institutions because education is a right, not a privilage. Like all privilages they are obtained through hard work and the sweat of one's brows. It is not fair that students who worked hard to get into a good university and filed their paperwork sincerely should pay a high amount of money for their education versus the families who lied on their tax forms. Integrity comes first. That and hard work will eventually pay off. Sincerity will be rewarded, so let us watch out for our souls and conscience above all.