Amanda Jimenez

A Great Time

               The prom I attended my senior year was a very memorable and amazing event. I had never been to prom before, and neither had my date and that made it more special for the both of us. I was excited to go all month long. My dress was perfect, and I felt like I looked my best. My date was of course my boyfriend, and he treated me like a perfect gentleman would. He was absolutely stunning and it made the night that more special. He took me to a beautiful restaurant. Although it was expensive, he told me to order dinner and any dessert I wanted. I ordered the restaurant’s unique pizza and it was absolutely delicious. It had so many great tasting flavors I had never experienced before. Then, I ordered a small chocolate cake-like dessert. It was so rich and moist, it made my mouth water. After dinner, I was ready for more fun. We walked to the theater rented for our prom dance. It was spectacularly decorated and made me feel like I was entering an enchanted forest. My date and I took pictures and waited for the rest of our friends to arrive. Once they were all accounted for, we took several crazy pictures in the photo booth. I couldn’t help but laugh at every picture we had taken. We were able to barrow crazy hats and necklaces for our pictures, and that is what made it so hilarious. After our pictures, we all headed out onto the dance floor. Most of the songs were full of great rhythm, and therefore it prevented us from leaving to take a single break. Finally, it came down to the last dance, a slow song. My date put his arms around me, and gazed into my eyes. I was full of happiness, we both were. The song ended, and my date then drove me home. He walked me to my door and gave me a goodnight kiss. I walked into my house exhausted and ready to sleep. However, it didn’t matter that I felt tired and was in a bit of pain due to my heels. I wanted the feeling to last as long as it could. I wanted to always remember the great time I had at prom.

Amanda Jimenez The Importance of These Three People The people whom I feel are most important to me are my mom, dad and sister. My mom is kind, supportive, and wise. My dad is understanding, gentle, and strong. My sister is funny, crazy, and loving. My mother is a very beautiful woman. She has jet black hair, hazel eyes, and a thin waist. My mother is very kind and thoughtful when it comes to our family. She always asks about our day when she comes home from work, and makes sure to hug everyone in the house. My mother is very supportive in whatever I do. I remember my mother being uncomfortable with the idea of me joining the wrestling team in high school. But she never discouraged me in any way. She attended every meet and every out of town tournament without complaint. Moreover, my mother is a very wise lady. She does not give me advice directly, but only gives me the tools necessary to figure things out on my own. My mother knows what to say and what not to say at all times. She is very patient and accepting to all ideas, which she applies to her everyday life. My dad is five feet ten inches and at the moment very thin. He has extremely short hair, and black beady eyes. What I love most about my father is that he is understanding towards me. When I mess up at home, he can be very forgiving. For example if I shout at him out of anger, instead of getting mad, he questions me. He will often ask me, “What’s really bothering you,” or “ is there something you want to tell me.” He asks me this because he knows me, and has patience with me, so he can help me be a better person. My dad is a also gentle with me in the sense that he considers my feelings. If my dad is angry at me, he will often leave the room and come back later when he has cooled off, so he doesn’t say anything that hurts my feelings. Furthermore, my dad is very strong internally. He is not in the best health shape right now, but he still continues to live his life as if he is. The person I can relate to the most in my life is my sister. Her name is Sabrina and she is 16 years old. She has long brown hair, hazel colored eyes and light skin. She is five feet nine inches, with the stature of a beautiful runway model. Even though she seems quiet and timid on the outside, she is funny, crazy, and a loving caring person on the inside. Sabrina and I share the same sense of humor, therefore we get along almost all the time. We are obsessed with movies and always quote lines to each other at any given moment. It’s hard to explain our jokes, but the way Sabrina makes me laugh the most is by her silly facial expressions and her dramatic acting. She can be loud and unpredictable at times, which is why I consider her to be crazy. However, when she does wind down she can be the most loving person you know. My sister can read me like an open book, this is why she always comes to ask me to confide in her when I’m sad or angry about anything. I remember this one time, I threw out my back at practice and she offered to cater to my every need, and even offered to massage out the kinks. Sabrina is the kindest sister anyone could ask for, and she fills my life with happiness.

 

Amanda Jimenez

Movie Review

               The movie I am choosing to review is Red Lights, starring Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro. This movie is about a psychologist named Margaret (Sigourney Weaver), whom investigates in paranormal activity. Margaret has a son in a coma which he will not wake up from, and she is conflicted about whether or not to let machines keep him alive any longer. So Margaret goes on this journey along with her assistant Tom (Cillian Murphy), disproving announced psychics, and secretly hoping to find evidence of an afterlife for her son’s sake. However, there is one psychic Margaret has not been able to discover the truth about, Simon Silver (Robert De Niro). Simon Silver is a well-known blind psychic who hasn’t been proven to be a fake. Then Margaret suddenly dies, and as a result of her death Tom continues her work and tries to find the truth about Simon Silver.

               This movie is intriguing from the moment it begins. Margaret is a very talented psychologist and very observant. From the beginning of the movie she pulls apart fact from fiction, and catches every slight piece of evidence proving these so called psychics are phony. It isn’t until she comes across an announced psychic and can’t figure out how he does what he does. She warns Tom he is a tricky one, and to leave him alone. But Tom’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he goes through very bizarre adventures. Throughout the rest of the movie, you are trying to figure out if Simon is a real psychic or if he is faking everyone out. There are certain things he does such as bending a spoon in half using only two fingers, or imprinting his thoughts on pictures from a camera. Also, he has a gift of being able to see things, even though he cannot see. Tom goes almost insane trying to figure out what we, the audience, are trying to figure out. It isn’t until the end when Tom comes to his final conclusion. I do not want to spoil the ending, so all I can say is he finds out if Simon is a liar, or if he is telling the truth. But at the end of the movie, it makes you wonder if Tom himself was a psychic all along. This ending is what makes this movie worth seeing. Although this movie is about exposing fake psychics, you can’t help but wonder if there are real psychics out there. It makes you wonder how to be certain about an afterlife. Do we see only things we want to see? Or does the fact that we can prove them wrong mean there may not be a supernatural world?

Amanda Jimenez

Fast Food Nation

               The book Fast Food Nation was a great eye opener. It made me realize what I was really contributing to when I ate a fast food meal. I am glad to say I haven’t eaten at McDonalds in over ten years, and will continue not to do so for the rest of my life. After reading this book I will also not work at a fast food restaurant, nor have I ever worked at one before. I want to cut off my connection to fast food as much as possible after acquiring this information. I feel guilt and disgust when I think about fast food and it feels wrong to contribute to this industry. I am still not sure if I want to become a complete vegetarian, but I am leaning toward that option. Becoming a vegetarian seems like a good lifestyle because of the fact that it’s a healthier choice, and I won’t be supporting the slaughtering of animals. After reading how these animals are treated, I am unable to look at burgers and meat in general the same. It seems the meat people consume everyday is unsanitary and dangerous. Moreover, I am a big animal lover myself, and it is why I can only eat meat once in a while, if I don’t think of where it came from. Finally, I want to be able to support groups whom are against all the wrongful doings of the fast food industry. I will be on the lookout for laws that can be passed to protect Americans from the fast food industry. Also, I will do my part and vote for any of these laws, as well as pass along the information I learned from the book or any other type of research I find.

Amanda Jimenez

First off, the truth was that I attended a cruise on my sixteenth birthday.

My Semester

               The start of my semester was surprisingly easy and made me happy. All my classes end before one o’clock, and all my teachers are pleasant and are very good teachers. I am taking Philosophy, Math, and English. All three classes have a fair amount of work and homework, but different levels of difficulty. So far the class I seem to be having trouble with the most is my philosophy class. The title lead me to believe it would be easy, but the concept is hard to grasp. I am not used to thinking in several different ways, and find it hard to dig deep into my own thoughts and put them on paper. Also, the different types of philosophies are interesting to learn, but difficult to practice. In my class the objective is to try and find answers, and the truth. But to be honest, I’m not sure if and where it ends or begins. However, hopefully towards the end of this month, I can improve as a philosopher, and apply what I have learned to my everyday life. Another class I enjoy taking, and is a lot more relaxing for me, is my math class. Unfortunately the assessment I took for my math portion ended up placing me in an easier math then I needed. However, it is always good to review, so I chose to stay and better prepare myself for the next level. I am very glad I did so, because I really enjoy my math class. My teacher has a great sense of humor, along with my fellow classmates. Several students and the teacher crack jokes and make the class time more bearable. Even though there is laughter during class, my classmates and I know when to settle down and let our math teacher fill us with knowledge. He is a great teacher with a lot of enthusiasm, and it helps me learn better. Finally, there is my English class. I have to say I have learned a lot from my English class these past months. There is much more writing involved then I had expected, but I know it is for a good reason. I enjoy my English class because of the students and teacher. The students in my class are very open-minded and eager to learn. My teacher is funny, nice, and teaches each lesson very well. She has made writing less painful, and sometimes fun. This has encouraged me to learn all I can, and hopefully improve on my reading and writing skills for my future college courses. Although I am enjoying the classes I have now, the workload can be difficult at times when combined with work and family. It can get stressful and complicated, but I know not to quit and to keep moving forward. I always try to keep positive thoughts in my head, and keep in mind the goal I want to achieve. The most important thing I remember is that it will eventually pay off in the future.

Which is the truth?

1.      I have vacationed in Hawaii.

2.      I was named after my great grandmother.

3.      I have a pet hamster named Fluffy.

4.      I once attended a Maroon 5 concert.

5.      I went on a cruise for my sixteenth birthday.

6.      My birthday is on December 14^th.

My Favorite Poem

Annabel Lee

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Edgar Allan Poe

Change As a child, I spent a lot of time with my father. He was always playful, adventurous, and very funny. I remember at the end of most weekdays, after my mother left to attend school at night, my dad would create some sort of entertainment for the evening. Most days, my sister, my dad and I would watch the star wars trilogy while we ate rainbow sherbert and chocolate chip ice cream. Other times we would play board games, hide and seek, or have tickle fights in our living room. My dad always cracked jokes, and would constantly make us laugh. He had a lot of energy and was full of life when I was a kid. However, when I turned nine years old, things took a turn for the worse. My dad became very sick with a severe illness. He was always tired, and looked terribly exhausted. He was in the hospital for several days at a time, and I was unable to visit him until he eventually came home. Even then, he continued to receive treatment, and I only spoke to him a few hours out of the day, because he was so tired and would be asleep when I came home from school. I was heartbroken for most of the time just wishing my dad could get better, so things could go back to the way they used to be. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. After a couple of months of intensive treatment, my dad got better. Eventually, he became almost as good as new. He was still slightly weak from the intensive care, but none the less he was cured. But he was not the same Dad I once knew. He had less patience, and less than half the energy he used to have. He hardly spent time with my sister and I, and would often be alone in his room, or in the garage working on his computer. I did not like the person my dad had become. He was almost depressing to be around. I would often become upset with him, and wondered why he couldn’t just be happy and joyful like he used to be. I no longer looked up to my dad, and tried to avoid conversation between us. As time passed, my dad became tired again and looked unhealthy. We soon discovered that he had the same illness for a second time. I was furious and hopeless. I worried that my dad would not make it through this time with his new negative attitude. Soon I came to regret my attitude towards him. I should have tried to spend more time with him when he was healthy. Finally I came to the conclusion that I needed to apologize and communicate with my father. We had a long talk about what had happened in the past. Our conversation helped more than I could have ever hoped for. I was so incredibly happy and hopeful after that day. Now that I see my father’s point of view, I can understand more about why he is the way he is. I still respect him of course love him with all my heart. Even though he may not be the dad he used to be, I plan to get to know him again, bond with him, and help him in any way I can.

Amanda Jimenez

Crocker

10/9/12

Essay # 2

            During the fall of 2011, at Oxnard College, the student enrollment number was about 7,440. Within that number, the average age of students attending Oxnard College was 26.9. This average was concluded after the making of the student age chart. In this chart it revealed that students whom are 18 years old or younger have the lowest percentage out of all the different age groups (Fast Facts). After reading these statistics, I decided to interview Luke, Melissa, and Daniel. These three people are all 18 years old, attend Oxnard College, and are part of the low percentile age group.

            Luke Saucedo can be described in three words: explosive, thoughtful, and eccentric. He began his journey in life, in San Diego, California. There, he often spent his days at the beach. Luke was a very constructive kid, and would often dig large holes in the sand. To entertain himself, he would invite his friends to climb into his deep sand holes and bury them neck deep. As time passed, Luke began to show interest in music. This is what drove Luke to become involved in his friend’s girlfriend’s band. However, unfortunately they did not make it far in the music industry, but this did not affect Luke’s love for music. A few years later, Luke moved to Oxnard, California and attended Rio Mesa High School. At Rio Mesa High School, Luke joined a fishing club. He was very fascinated by the whole aspect of fishing, and enjoyed it very much so. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that he soon became the president of the fishing club. Luke graduated high school in June of 2012.

Now, he is attending Oxnard College, and keeping his future in mind. When Luke isn’t at school, or with family, he is having a blast at his favorite theme park. Luke likes to spend his free time at six flags. He often travels to six flags using his seasonal pass, several times out of the week. Comparing six flags to Oxnard College, I asked Luke what he enjoys most about the school. His response was, “I can buy a pie here for $3.00.” His love for pie keeps him content, and is something to look forward to. Then I asked “Are there areas in the college which can be improved?” He said, “It would be nice to have some kind of recreation center, where students can hang out.” Luke feels it could be a beneficial way for students to connect with each other. Luke’s motivation to attend college comes from looking ahead, “It just seems like the next step. I am unsure about what I want to do, but I know I need a college education to provide for myself in the future.” I then asked Luke if his culture had anything to do with his decision to attend college, and his answer was, “None at all.” This was a little surprising to me, and yet also intriguing. The philosophy or “motto” Luke has for succeeding in school is “Don’t worry about it, whatever is going to happen will happen.” Luke is taking five classes, Monday through Thursday, which is a total of sixteen units. During this time, Luke has been surprised with the cost of books for all his classes. He does not have any role models, and believes to be a role model for his brother about “what not to do.” However, Luke continues to push forward, and sees himself still in school within the next five years moving closer to his goals.

            Next, Melissa is a female student at Oxnard College. Melissa spends most of her time with her family. She has a twin sister and an older sister, and lives with her mom and dad, and they are all very supportive of her education. Melissa’s motivation to further her education is the thought of, “money and my future,” she says. Melissa has a very hectic and time consuming schedule. However, Melissa finds a way to balance family and school through organization, and finishing her schoolwork as fast as possible. Melissa’s role model in her life is her cousin. Her cousin is attending CSUN with a child she is raising on her own. Melissa explains her cousin was always studious throughout her high school career. This landed her cousin a scholarship to UCLA. However, during her first year at the university she became pregnant, and was then forced to drop out of school due to the work load, and new born baby. Her cousin attended community college a year later, and eventually transferred to CSUN. This is Melissa’s inspiration to keep going. “If my cousin can attend college and raise a kid, then I can definitely continue and finish my college education.” Melissa describes herself as hard working, blunt, and focused, yet she does not consider herself a role model for anyone. Melissa’s culture influences her by, “the way I can see how education affects their lifestyle. “I either see success or struggle.” Her “motto” or philosophy for succeeding in school is “what you work for today will pay off tomorrow.” This philosophy will hopefully get her to where she sees herself in five years. She hopes to be independent and still in pursuit of her education.

            Furthermore, Daniel is the first born child within a family of five. He has two younger brothers whom are ten and thirteen years apart from his age. Daniel works as a tutor for his high school avid teacher Monday through Friday and attends classes Monday through Thursday. He spontaneously finds a way to balance school, family, and work. Daniel is very observant and determined young man. This is why Daniel’s motivation to attend college comes from observing other’s successes, or failures in life. Daniel has grown up researching colleges and preparing himself mentally and academically for his ideal job in the future. This early preparation is a result of his parents’ influence on his decision to attend college no matter what he plans to do in life. Daniel’s parents have had a large impact in his life, and even though Daniel does not have a specific role model, he says “watching other people get through their education with their own individual struggles inspires me.” Daniel is referring to his family, as he compares the people who have attended college, and the people who have not. Moreover, along with his mom and dad, he says he is a role model for his brothers. They seem to always follow what he does, and constantly look up to him. So Daniel’s goal is to set a good example and encourage them to work hard for what they want. His “motto” to succeed in school is to “picture how the person you want to become would do the job that you want to do.” In five years, Daniel hopes to have a Masters Degree in the field he eventually chooses to pursue. Daniel describes himself as witty, determined and inquisitive. These are traits that will hopefully take him to a bright future.

            Finally, Luke, Melissa, and Daniel are well on their way to an ideal job and comfortable living. It seems more and more families are realizing how important education is. They have either learned from experience, or have watched other’s struggle in life from lack of higher education. This is why they are promoting a college education to their children when they are young, up until they graduate high school. There is now more support and encouragement throughout families regardless of culture. So even though 18 year olds are part of the lowest age group on campus, as they get older, there is more hope that they will continue.

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

“Fast Facts.” Oxnard College. Ventura County Community College District, n.d. Web. 25 Sept 2012.

Amanda Jimenez

Family

               In many cultures, including mine, family is very important. Family includes people you count on in your time of need and are always around when needed. However, this is only possible if you continue to keep in touch with your relatives, are able to communicate with them, and are able to forgive. This is a lesson I have learned from my own family the hard way. This is why I feel it is important for other’s to realize what they are losing when they do not see the importance of relatives.

               For instance, I have a large family with many cousins, aunts, and uncles. When I was younger I would see all of them every other weekend. We would get together for someone’s birthday, a barbeque during football or basketball season, or for any holiday or special occasion. Basically, there was always an excuse for the family to come together, and I was very happy and fond of it. At these meetings, I would often socialize with all my family members, and we would share secrets or personal information with one another. My cousins and several aunts and uncles were then not only family, but my best friends. However, as time passed grudges and disrespect grew within my family. Arguments about the past were held more often than not, and less and less people began to show up for our regular family meetings. Overtime, a couple of my uncles moved far away, and my cousins and our close relationship taken with them. Even though they will not admit it, I know they chose to move away to avoid the terrible history they had now created with their own brothers and sisters. It was very disappointing and sad to have to let go of my best friends.

               This experience has taught me many things about family. I realize family is important and should be valued due to the positivity it brings. With family, you are able to open up to them, and have someone you can count on. This way if anything ever goes wrong in your life, there are people willing to lend you a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on. The time I spent without my close relationship with family was very difficult. I had many hardships I had to often face alone. I had several friends, but they could not seem to understand, because they were not raised similar to how I was. Also, they just had a difficult time understanding my personality, where as my family members sometimes knew more about me than I did. I regret the fact that our relationship was pulled apart, and mostly that neither of us tried to fix it. However, a family relationship is delicate, and it needs love, communication and forgiveness. I appreciate the family I keep in touch with now, and therefore hope to reunite with my other relatives in the future.

Amanda Jimenez

Interview with a Classmate

               Luke Saucedo can be described in three words: explosive, thoughtful, and eccentric. He began his journey in life, in San Diego, California. There, he often spent his days at the beach. Luke was a very constructive kid, and would often dig large holes in the sand. To entertain himself, he would invite his friends to climb into his deep sand holes and bury them neck deep. As time passed, Luke began to show interest in music. This is what drove Luke to become involved in his friend’s girlfriend’s band. However, unfortunately they did not make it far in the music industry, but this did not affect Luke’s love for music. A few years later, Luke moved to Oxnard, California and attended Rio Mesa High School. At Rio Mesa High School, Luke joined a fishing club. He was very fascinated by the whole aspect of fishing, and enjoyed it very much so. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that he soon became the president of the fishing club.

               Luke graduated high school in June of 2012. Now, he is attending Oxnard College, and keeping his future in mind. When Luke isn’t at school, or with family, he is having a blast at his favorite theme park. Luke likes to spend his free time at six flags. He often travels to six flags using his seasonal pass, several times out of the week. Comparing six flags to Oxnard College, I asked Luke what he enjoys most about the school. His response was, “I can buy a pie here for $3.00.” His love for pie keeps him content, and is something to look forward to. Then I asked “Are there areas in the college which can be improved?” He said, “It would be nice to have some kind of recreation center, where students can hang out.” Luke feels it could be a beneficial way for students to connect with each other. “What motivates you about college?” I asked. He responded “It just seems like the next step. I am unsure about what I want to do, but I know I need a college education to provide for myself in the future.” I then asked Luke if his culture had anything to do with his decision to attend college, and his answer was, “None at all.” This was a little surprising to me, and made me want to continue to ask more questions.

               The philosophy or “motto” Luke has for succeeding in school is “Don’t worry about it, whatever is going to happen will happen.” Luke is taking five classes, Monday through Thursday, which is a total of sixteen units. During this time, Luke has been surprised with the cost of books for all his classes. He does not have any role models, and believes to be a role model for his brother about “what not to do.” However, Luke continues to push forward, and sees himself still in school within the next five years moving closer to his goals.

Amanda Jimenez

Crocker

English 101

9/11/12

The Journey of Wrestling

               The beginning of my junior year was difficult to adjust to. I now had to focus my attention on school and wrestling. This was my first year joining the team, which meant I would finally get to compete in a wrestling match for the first time. My goal was to win at least one match against a boy, and to receive at least some respect from my coaches and teammates.

               Over the summer, I had attended every wrestling practice held. However, the boys didn’t like the idea of another girl joining the team. They thought, eventually I would quit or slowly stop showing up to practices, and would never take the sport seriously. The coaches and the team felt that girls could never succeed in this sport because you almost have to make wrestling your life, and have it in mind 24/7. Since all the girls who have joined the team in the past demonstrated only lack of commitment, they assumed all girls were like this. Therefore, the boys developed a habit of ignoring any female on the team. Also, most of the coaches tried to avoid teaching or paying attention to female wrestlers as well.

In my opinion, there was only one coach that had compassion and treated the girls as an equal. We all call him Coach Ray. Coach Ray is a very tall man, over six feet, with a bald head and had the friendliest welcoming smile you could have ever seen. He is what I like to call “a gentle giant.” The other three were tough, difficult, and sometimes mean or harsh. There was Coach Buck; he was a tall muscular man whom could pass for a football player. He had a deep voice and occasionally wore glasses, but he still had the most intimidating appearance. Coach Shrope was the smallest, yet toughest and strongest for his size. He was about five feet and eight inches tall, made of pure muscle. Coach Ray, Coach Buck, and Coach Shrope were all in their late twenties, and knew each other from high school. So naturally, they all got along better than they did with Coach V. Coach V was the oldest of them all, and had taught wrestling the longest.  He was in his late fifties, and was still as energetic, tough, and competitive as the rest of them. However, Coach V had a mean streak, which made him the cruelest coach I’ve ever had.

That year, only I and another girl were on the boy’s team. The reason there wasn’t a girls team, was because there were never enough girls trying out for wrestling. Being one of two girls on the team made it really difficult. Crystal was unkind, and hardly ever spoke a word to me. This made me feel like an outcast, but I tried to just focus my attention on improving my wrestling skills. It was difficult getting used to the team. The workouts seemed tougher, and the coaches were very hard on all of us. Coach Buck would say, “We are only preparing you mentally, if you can push yourself beyond your breaking point now, then you can do so in a match.” I would try to keep this in mind whenever I felt insanely tired, or when my muscles felt so burnt out I almost wanted to cry. The only other saying that helped me stay strong, was when Coach Ray would repeat, “Don’t cheat the workout, because you’re only hurting yourself. You need to push yourself in order to improve. Make yourself better.” I kept these words and other positive thoughts in my head, the whole year. The team would tease me about being the worst person on the team. I was constantly insulted by Coach V about how terrible I am, and how it must be that all girls are terrible. He would tell my wrestling partners not to go easy on me, and kick the crap out of me if they could. Finally, he would yell at me from across the room that I didn’t belong, and hadn’t made any progress. After all this, I just continued to push myself even harder.

               Unfortunately, toward the end of my junior year not much had changed. Every match I wrestled against a boy, I had lost. The only matches I had won were against girls, and it was only because they were more terrible then I. This did not satisfy me at all. On top of being discriminated against, I began to lose faith in myself. My positive thinking began to dim, and I started to think wrestling wasn’t for me. I was disappointed in myself, and wanted to give up.

 The last match I had during my junior year was against a girl. She was a very good wrestler, and was known for being a tough competitor, which was why she had won many matches against boy and girl wrestlers. So obviously, I was incredibly nervous for my match. However, I just kept telling myself that it was only one match, and to just get it over with. As I stepped onto the mat, I was prepared to listen out for Coach Ray’s commands. In my head, I was prepared to lose. I knew she was better than me, and almost didn’t care to try. After the referee blew the whistle, I circled the mat with my opponent unenthusiastically. That year, I had not taken one shot in a match. A shot is an attempt to score a takedown, which is worth two points. I was afraid to shoot, because every time I did so at practice, it never paid off. Therefore, I did not plan to shoot during this match. Suddenly, I heard new voices on the sidelines shouting things like “set up your shot.” And, “C’mon Amanda look alive out there, make her move how you want.” I was surprised to realize these comments came from my teammates. For the first time, they were paying attention to my match. Confidence shot through me, and I began to move with the idea of taking a shot. In the third and final round, I jolted forward attempting to score a double, which is a two leg takedown, but she saw it coming. She sprawled on me, with her hip down on my shoulder blade. Then while I was buried deep into the mat, she shifted her body over mine to score those final two points. I was devastated to hear the whistle blow signaling the end of the match. I was filled with shame and frustration, but not for the reasons I would have thought. I wasn’t ashamed and angry because I had lost my final match of the year. It was because, for the first time ever, my teammates had supported me during a match; and I felt I had let them down and would never earn their respect.

That summer after junior year, I worked harder than ever before. I was lifting only ten pounds less than all the other boys in my weight class. I was drinking protein shakes, and running everyday to keep my weight down. At practice, I was asking for help on my technique, which helped me learn certain moves faster. I was preparing myself physically and mentally for the long and final wrestling season of my career. This time, I was determined to win most of my matches, and improve on my wrestling skills.

               Finally, most of the wrestlers who knew me last year, befriended me in an instant. They were often conversing with me in the weight room and in the mat room. The varsity wrestlers in my weight class didn’t mind going over technique with me, and seemed willing to help. The new members of the team automatically treated me with respect, after seeing how friendly the boys and Coach Ray acted towards me. We would make jokes, and have fun listening to music while working out. I started to look forward to practice, and for the first time, I felt like part of the team.

Unfortunately, I was the only girl on the wrestling team my senior year. However, because I was now accepted by the guys, it didn’t make much difference to me. Making friends wasn’t the only positive change for the season. I was still on the junior varsity team, but had improved exceptionally. Now, I was winning most of my matches, even against boys. It was getting to the point where I had an overall record of 11 wins and only 3 losses, during the first month of the season. This made me feel like a significant contribution to the team. The boys took notice to my transition and so did Coach V. Unintentionally, I caught Coach V’s eye, which would change the rest of my season.

Coach V had a goal for me. He told me there was a State Championship Tournament for girls wrestling. He said “by the way you’re wrestling, you can go far this year.” I nodded my head, but didn’t listen completely. Still, I had trouble letting go of the hate I felt towards him from last year. Eventually, I learned to somewhat forgive him, and focused my attention on the State Championships he spoke of. In order to receive that information, I simply asked Coach Ray. “The top eight girls that place at State, receive a medal and can qualify for Nationals,” he said. This meant that I could compete with female wrestlers all over the world. However, my main focus was only to place in the top eight. “Okay” I said, “What do I have to do to go?” “You have to place in the top twelve, at the girls CIF Tournament, in order to qualify for State,” he replied. That sounded easy enough to me. I had wrestled in a few girls tournaments, and it was a whole lot easier than wrestling boys. Since any female wrestler was allowed to compete in the CIF Tournament, placing in the top twelve should be no problem, I thought to myself.

The remaining month of January and beginning of February was brutal. Coach V ran private practices with me, when wrestling season ended for the junior varsity team. Also, I would sometimes have to practice with varsity wrestlers at different schools, whom were competing in the boy’s CIF Tournament. This made me start to detest wrestling practice. Either I had to spend the evening practicing with extremely talented and strong wrestlers, who threw me around the mat like a rag doll. Or I had to stay at Oxnard High School’s gym, and practice with only one other wrestler, with Coach V breathing down my neck. Also, he would correct any slight imperfection of my technique, and order me to lift weights during my partner’s breaks; and have me sprint until I haven’t a breath left in my body. That man pushed me to my absolute limit, and the only reason I put up with it was because I wanted it to pay off.

The CIF Girls Wrestling Tournament was held in Beaumont, California. To my surprise, there were about thirty girls in my weight class. However, I only felt a slight amount of pressure in placing in the top twelve. My goal was to place as high as I could at the CIF Tournament, so I could have a better chance at placing in the California State Tournament for girls wrestling. The tournament separated over a period of two days. On the first day, I won all my matches and left fairly early that evening to rest at the hotel. Unfortunately, I struggled the second day. I had won my first match but lost my second one. The girl who beat me, placed second at the Mexican Nationals, which I discovered after my match. So the highest I could place, was third.

The day was almost at its end, and I was determined to take third place. The girl I was going to face looked like a typical female wrestler. She was taller than most girls in my weight class, but did not have any knee pads on, which told me she did not like to shoot. Most of the girls, I noticed preferred to throw head locks and throw, rather than perform a single or double leg takedown. It wasn’t long before I was on my color at the edge of the circle, waiting for the whistle to be blown. Once again I began to circle the mat with my opponent, trying not to stay too close, or it would surely result in a head lock attack. I took a shot, but it did no good. As I began to stand back up, it was too late. She had snuck in an under hook, and threw me to my back. I fought to my stomach, but the damage was done. The score was five to zero, with only two minutes left in the match. In order to win, I would have to pin my opponent, which is an automatic win. Or I would have to score a takedown, and some back points. I quickly took a shot, and nailed her to the mat. She quickly turned onto her stomach, and I tried to turn her to her back frantically. I tried every move I knew to get her to her back, but she fought back intensively.  I was running out of ideas, until Coach V told me to let her up to score another takedown. Following his direction, I stood away and right when she stood up, I hurled my body at her for another double leg takedown. The girl sprawled hard on me, but I was determined to finish my shot. We were at a stalemate for the remaining thirty seconds on the clock, and I had failed to take third place. Even after that close match, Coach Ray and Coach V still congratulated me for taking forth place and qualifying for the State Tournament. This is when the most shocking words floated out of Coach V’s mouth, “I’m proud of you.”

A week later, I entered Lemoore High School for the California State Tournament for girls wrestling. At this point, I was extremely nervous feeling only knots in my stomach. The school seemed to be located in the middle of nowhere, but had a large campus. As I entered the gym, I was astonished to find six purple wrestling mats, with yellow trim. This was definitely a girls’ only competition, I thought to myself. As, I waited for my first match, Coach V had me warm up with him on the sidelines. The warm up quickly turned into a workout for me when he had me take practice shots on his solid immovable legs. Then he had me sprawl on him, while trying to move him away from me but it was no use. Coach V had the grip of a grizzly bear, and trying to push him away was like trying to move a wall.

               At last, I was minutes away from my first match, and extremely tired, but warmed up. However, my luck had seemed to run out. It turned out they had mistakenly kept a disqualified wrestler in the competition. The wrestler pointed out their mistake right away, and I won by a “forfeit.” Therefore, I had the misfortune of continuing to “warm up” with Coach V. By my second and last match of the day, I was more tired than ready, but winning would guarantee me a spot into the top four so I had to try.

               The match was very close, but in the end I lost by two points. After my match, Coach V seemed to be more discouraged than me. “There’s still a chance I can place tomorrow Coach,” I said sounding hopeful.  Coach V just sighed and we both walked back to the gym and went our separate ways back to the hotel. I was very surprised at how Coach V reacted. It seemed he was taking this tournament very close to heart. Then I realized I was too; mainly because it was my last year to wrestle and I wanted to finish as a State placer.

               Before I knew it, it was morning, and it was time to get ready for my final matches of my wrestling career. Once again, I warmed up with Coach V, in hopes I would be ready and win. It all came down to my first match; if I won I would be eligible to place in the top eight. If I lost, I would be sent home with only memories. Finally, I was called up ready to fight for a chance to receive a medal. The referee had us shake hands, and then blew the whistle. I dove into the bottom half of her body; making it look more like a tackle instead of a takedown. We scrambled out of bounds, and quickly returned to the middle. I was up by two points; so when the referee asked me if I wanted to stay neutral, I said yes. This meant we both would restart in the positions we were in at the beginning of the match. Since my shot paid off the first time, I took another. Only this time she anticipated my takedown, and swiftly reversed it, and wound up on top. She then hurled my body over with a chicken wing and a wrist and received three more points. The score was now five to four, with only a minute left on the clock. Out of desperation, I attempted a risky move to score back points, but failed. I managed to score one point, but injured my shoulder in doing so and had eliminated my chances of winning. She reversed me and was now scoring three more points against me. The referee blew his whistle, and the match was over. I had lost my chance of ever making history; by a score of ten to five. Emotions of devastation filled me with sadness and despair. As soon as I walked off the mat, tears ran down my face. “It’s all over,” I thought to myself. A little while after, Coach V walked over to me. “Amanda” he said, “you have nothing to be ashamed of. What you did out there was honorable, and you should be proud.” Coach Ray gave me a pat on the back and one of his famous wide grins of reassurance.

               Looking back on this journey, I learned a lot about myself. Wrestling, for me was never about trying to be the best. It was more about me accomplishing my dreams, and pushing myself to my fullest potential. In the end, I did not place at the California State Tournament for girls wrestling. However, I won the respect of my coaches and teammates. I have proven with the right motivation, anything is possible. This is what I feel was worth more than a medal.

Amanda Jimenez

Texting

               Texting has changed the world dramatically. Along with e-mail, it has encouraged people to communicate with friends and family often, without coming face to face. Also, texting has made people become way too attached to a materialistic object, the cell phone. In all honesty, I admit that if I don’t have my phone with me, I feel anxious and insecure. I feel like people have to be able to get a hold of me whether it’s an emergency, or not. The fact that we are so fond of texting has become dangerous and risky.

               The world we live in now would probably seem chaotic to the people who lived on this planet one hundred years ago. Nowadays, people use texting for anything, anytime, and anywhere. I see people texting in the following places: in the car, in the bathroom, at restaurants, stores, on the job, and even in meetings. This is an outrageous thing to realize. Has technology truly taken over our minds and bodies? I have to wonder if things will only go from bad to worse.

               The truth is people need to learn there are appropriate and inappropriate times to text. If you decide to text and you know it can endanger others’ lives, affect your career, or causes conflicts with your loved ones, then you know you have a problem. In order to stop this madness from getting any worse, it would probably be wise to stop and think, “Is this text really that important.” If we can ask ourselves this question on a daily basis, we could possibly free ourselves from becoming texting zombies.

Amanda Jimenez

English 101

Reality Television

               There are many reality television shows that play throughout the day. They have seemed to become very popular in this era. During high school, I have noticed that many teenagers watch reality television shows in their spare time. For example, conversations about “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, or “Jersey Shore,” would come up quite often. Girls were constantly taking about how pretty Kim Kardashian was, or how ridiculous Snookie behaved. I think girls were obsessed with these shows because they admired their way of living, looked up to them as role models, or found how celebrities lived far more interesting than anything else on television. I could never relate to these people because I did not have a tendency to watch any of these shows. I preferred to watch sit-coms or movies, instead of reality television. Part of the reason for this, was the fact that I couldn’t get into the show. I felt like everything was either planned out, or exaggerated. Also, I didn’t feel like reality television held any real celebrities, just people desperately wanting to seek fame.

Eventually, I became bored with anything involving reality television, which made me think of all the negative effects that could come from them. For example, I knew girls who wanted to party like the girls they saw on television. Unfortunately, when people on reality television become a role model to thousands, it can influence the wrong kind of behavior. Sadly, “Jersey Shore” reveals a life of drinking alcohol, and being constantly sexually active with others. I don’t know what would prevent others from engaging in this kind of life. This thought worries me, and makes me think of future generations to come. I miss the days when people were influenced by documentaries, superman movies, or inspirational speeches. I hope the world will come around and see past reality television. I wouldn’t want people to be influenced by reality television stars forever.

In conclusion, I do not enjoy watching reality television. However, I do know that a lot of people do watch these shows in their spare time. Reality television has become very popular in this era. Therefore, reality television stars have influenced many people in the world. Personally, I feel reality television has a negative effect on society. I feel like it encourages naughty behavior, and many people should not admire that. Also, I feel like the problem with these shows, is it leaves an impression that money and fame is the key to happiness. I do not believe in this theory, and that is why I try to avoid these television shows. However, I try not to be biased towards anyone whom finds these shows interesting. I understand that we all may have different ethics and beliefs. I try to respect other’s opinions, and try not to force mine upon them. At the same time, I have developed my own ideas about reality television. I do not know if I will change my mind about them in the future, but for right now these are my beliefs.

Amanda Jimenez

English 101

Fast Food

               I was exposed to fast food at a very young age. The place I ate the most fast food as a kid, was McDonalds. My mother would take my sister and me to McDonalds about once a week, or once every two weeks. However, my mother would never take us inside the fast food restaurant. She would often go through the drive-through, and we would eat our food at home. My mother would often take us to McDonalds after we helped wash her car, or finished cleaning the house, or performed any type of chore that took almost all day. Therefore, eating McDonalds for dinner was a sign of rewarding us for a long days work. My mother would buy thirty-nine cent hamburgers for the family. That way, when my dad came home from work we would all sit at the table and eat our hamburgers and French fries together. I remember loving the taste of a warm and soft hamburger. Tasting the extremely salty fries was mouth watering, and made a perfect addition to my meal. This made me love to finish my chores, because I knew what was to come shortly after. Overtime, I became used to the fact of being rewarded with McDonalds for completing my chores on time. It never entered my mind where the food came from, and how damaging it can be to the human body. I had just always assumed that because it was a reward, it had to be only good. I learned the horrible truth about McDonalds at ten years old. My mother had returned to college, and was taught about how all the fast food restaurants prepare their meat. This was life changing for my mother and soon became life changing for us as a family. My mother educated us about the awful truth. She showed us the documentaries she saw in school, and told us about books she had read. It all became so clear that year, and I was very glad to be educated. Soon after, mother changed our ways of eating drastically. She became a vegetarian, so there wasn’t meat in the house any longer. She bought many fruits and vegetables, which had to be organic. Then finally, she banned us from eating at McDonalds or any other fast food restaurant that served hamburgers. I understood her reasoning, and therefore didn’t complain or resent the changes she had made. It was a different lifestyle, but I had learned to accept it.

               Now that I am a teenager, many things have changed since 5^th grade up until junior high. My mother had changed isn’t as strict as she was. She is still a vegetarian, but she allows us to eat hamburgers only at in n out. I guess it’s because they don’t put hormones in their cows, and the food is a lot fresher than most fast food restaurants. Occasionally she buys meat, and packaged dinners from the store as well. I still don’t go out to eat much, maybe once every week or two, but when I do, I eat at subway. I have a job and am attending school full time, which makes it hard to find time to exercise. Therefore, I try not to eat out so much, and eat as healthy as I can. I know what fast food does to your health, and I want to live a long and healthy life. Therefore, I know I have to try my best to stay healthy in order to achieve that goal.

Past, Present, Future

The start of my junior year in high school was very nerve wracking. I had decided to join the law academy, and had taken wrestling instead of P.E. for sixth period. At eight o’clock, I entered my forensic science class. As I walked through the door, I saw many faces I had never seen before. The only person I recognized was my friend, Angel. So naturally, I took a seat right next to him. He was surprised, yet happy to see I had joined the law academy class. I was relieved to know at least one person for my first day of school. After my fifth class, I realized something terrible. I had the same law academy students for all five classes. I was so disappointed that I would have to see the same people all day every day. I felt Angel would be the only person I would get to know for the rest of the year, and never meet anyone knew. As the day went on I made it to sixth period, wrestling. There, I did not know a single team member. Since the wrestling team was coed, only one other girl and l were on the team. This made it even more difficult to fit in. At the end of the day I felt hopeless and depressed. I couldn’t see how the year would get any better.  Some time passed, and little by little I got to know most of the Law Academy students. Many of them were very friendly which made the year fun and bearable. My only problem was my sixth period class. Wrestling wasn’t easy to commit to at first, I had difficulty learning technique and making friends. The boys were very cold towards me, mostly because they assumed I wasn’t going to try hard, or truly commit, like most girls in past. However, as the year dragged on I improved my skills, and gained slightly more respect from the team and the coaches.

               My senior year was somewhat more satisfying. I was able to socialize with all the law academy students from last year. I had two of the same teachers I had my junior year, which made me feel comfortable, and I still had wrestling for sixth period. My last year of high school was very difficult. My law academy teacher had spent most of the year preparing us for the SAT, college, and work in the future. I had a large amount of work for that class, but I was able to gain practice and knowledge for the future. Also, wrestling had changed for good. Over the summer I had practices, which consisted of lifting weights, running, and wrestling. I was stronger, faster and more skillful then my junior year. This caught my assistant coach’s eye, which made him work me harder than ever before. He prepared me for the all girls CIF Wrestling Tournament. There, I took fourth place at the tournament which qualified me for the California State Tournament. I made it to the top twelve, but disappointingly did not place in the top eight. Therefore, I did not receive a medal. Both of these factors made my senior year one of the toughest years of my life. However, I was very pleased to be able to graduate high school and move on to college.

I am now working and attending college classes to fulfill my general education. I hope to receive my associate’s degree, and then transfer to a university. I am not certain what I want as a future career. Hopefully I can figure it out while I attend Oxnard College. Right now, I am interested in becoming a veterinarian, so next year I will be taking some classes at Moorpark College, because Oxnard College does not provide classes for this career. I hope to discover what I want to do as soon as possible

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