INSPIRING THE MINI US- Mckenzie Junior High Presentation

Today Tina, Java, Erik, and I went to Mckenzie Junior High to speak to the 8th graders! We spoke for about 30-45 minutes. Seems like a long time, but we actually wanted more time! We also spoke to an intervention class and were able to motivate the students from that class as well. We spoke about the  transition between Junior high and high school, how to get involved, and how to stay motivated. Going back was a surreal experience. I felt so lost...yeah in a school that only has about 350 students. WHAT?! Flashbacks were taking over my mind! The only words that came out were "Oh my gosh, remember that?, wow! it looks so different!, They are so tiny?" Speaking to our fellow community's children/teenagers was a great experience. I can not express how near and dear to my heart the experience was. As I glanced around the room, the same room I once had class in, and the desk the students sat at, the same one I once sat at while listening to seniors give an AVID presentation I thought these students are no different than who I was four years ago. They too yearn for success. They too, will be successful! :)

*The ride to Guad (Mckenzie Here we come!)

Thanks Mr. Blanco for the ride :)

*Preaching ;)

* Getting a giggle from past experiences :)

*We got to cut in front of the line...Mckenzie alumni privilege :) 

School lunch...mmm

* One of the classes we presented to! :) 

So adorable!

*Mr. Blanco chilling after his introduction :)

*Done with our job...Now Mr.Reynoso giving some last minute advice :)

Preach it! 

Resource of the day!

After becoming a virtual cow, will you feel more empathy (and change what you eat)?

READ ARTICLE HERE: http://www.splendidtable.org/story/after-becoming-a-virtual-cow-will-you-feel-more-empathy-and-change-what-you-eat

We would be more understanding if we were AVATARS...

A sneek Peek of the article: 

Virtual avatars are one thing. But what about real bodies? Would identifying with another person's body make you behave more like that person? If the body belongs to a different gender, age, or ethnicity than yours, would you become more empathic to others in that group?... TO KEEP READING CLICK HERE: http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/07/31/avatars-and-the-mirrorbox-can-humans-hack-empathy/

Mirrorbox: The Story of How Art Became Science

VIDEO on Empathy!

 http://vimeo.com/38138351

Another reference :)

Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab:  http://vhil.stanford.edu/mission/

LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLIES!

I have frantically been trying to read as much as possible through every passing period. This novel has got me hooked!

"IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES" BY JULIA ALVAREZ

It is a novel based on a true story. It speaks of the women heroines (Their underground name being the butterflies) behind the revolution against Dictator  Rafael Leonidas Trujillo of the Dominican Republic. Throughout the novel the reader is taken through the lives of these women, the men behind them, their children, and the threatening and torture that goes along with the Revolution. The novel takes place between 1938-1960. It is such an amazing, inspiring, and raw story!


The last sister to survive speaks of the revolution and her sisters. She has now passed away (2014)

The Movie Trailer

10 QUESTIONS

1. Describe what compassion is in five words.

2. When did you realize that compassion is a necessity?

3. How did you learn to be a compassionate person? Did someone teach you?

4. What are your thoughts on this quote by Albert Schweitzer?
 "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others."

5. If you were to die tonight what would be your last wish?

6. How much is giving too much?

7. How do you deal with people that you give everything to, but they seem to be ungrateful, or perhaps unaware of your efforts?

8. What is the difference between giving up on someone and letting them go?

9. How can we better aware our community about compassion and kindness?

10. What would be your number one advice to someone who is working to be a more kind and compassionate person?

Our Website = Our MASTERPIECE aka Benchmark proj.

My Compassion Project + Miranda's What's Stopping You? = MASTERPIECE!!

CHECK OUR WEBSITE HERE: 

http://erimarquez16.wix.com/whatisstoppingyou#!home/mainPage

Or here

http://erimarquez16.wix.com/whatisstoppingyou

I too, am conditioned

In Huxley's Brave New World chapter 17, page 234 Mustapha Mond mentions this: "One believes things one has been conditioned to believe them. Finding bad reasons for what one believes for other bad reasons-that's philosophy. People believe in God because they've been conditioned to believe in God."

I have always wondered "What if I was not of Mexican descent? Would I be Catholic? What if I was conditioned to believe in another religion?"

Now I realize that all of the visits to church on Sunday were part of the conditioning that has now become a habit. Reserving one hour of my time of Sundays for God is now a habit. I do not complain, because I have known no other rituals.

I have been conditioned for the past 12 years. The school districts have conditioned me to do school in hopes that I actually learn in school. I was conditioned to think that I had a limited amount of time to learn and master something. The bell is my ruler and I do not complain, because it has always been that way.

Society has conditioned me to think that I should weigh as least as possible, that I should buy their products and play the roll of the consumer (the one I was born to play).

I have been conditioned in many ways, but like Helmholtz I refuse as much as possible. I do not refuse just so I can be claimed a rebel, but do so that others may be able to see through our blinding world. Of course I cannot always refuse I can sometimes be as vulnerable as Bernard, but I sure am persistent just like the savage.