The world in conversation project at Penn State University

      My older brother Habib once told me that his high school English teacher stated a "valid" comment on the ability of students to write based on their race. Her exact words were, " I can tell the difference between an English essay written by a black student from an English essay written by a white student." From a technical perspective, how many black or white students has this high school teacher had, for her to base and reason the capability of the prose and language of her particular students essays, and generalize it as the same capability of racial groups all over the Nation? She is effectively rational indeed. Her reason for black students not being able to write effectively was because blacks usually communicate in ebonics. Therefore, Asians, Latinos and Caucasians do not speak in colloquial terms. Before, I continue to enumerate the reasons this teacher deserves praise, I want to discuss an interesting project that was done at Pennsylvania State University which highlights the ambiguities in stereotypes.
On September 14, 2011 the communication classes at Penn State met together to discuss the topic of race. At the beginning of the conversation the students were afraid to speak up. However, as the conversation progressed the emotions and conflicts that each us had to face with our experiences of racism began to illuminate. One of the African American females in the room explained how she felt when she was the only African American in an English class. "I felt like I had to prove I was educated to represent blacks in a  positive way," she stated.

the vitality of Forgiveness

Imagine, a time when you were entering your job and as you walked in you accidently bumped into a co-worker exiting the building. What did you do next? You most likely apologized, however the person you bumped into responded with anger and tells you they do not forgive you.  What did you think of that person?  We may do wrong upon others and automatically expect them to forgive us. However, when something is wrong done to us we tend to bear grudges.  Robert Frost once stated "Nothing can make injustice just but mercy." There are various examples of people who have fought injustice through having mercy on the opposer.  For example, Prophet Muhammed was born in Mecca, Medina and was a messenger during a time when the Middle East had a battlefield struggle with the Persian Empire. During this particular time the message of Islam was unfamiliar to the people of Medina and the task of Prophet Muhammad was to spread the message.
Many horrific acts were happening in Mecca, Medina during this period. Little girls were being buried alive merely because they were girls. Drinking and drugs were common activities being done by mankind at that time similar to present times. According to the holy Qu'ran, Muhammed (pbuh) was sent by Allah (swt) the creator of mankind, to profess his knowledge of the oneness of God and help mankind better themselves spiritually and mentally. However, the new message was rejected by the people of Medina and Muhammed  (pbuh) was ridiculed throughout the city and accused him of telling tales and myths. Children would throw rocks at him and stone the messenger of God. He would still remain patient and never retaliated.

Hearts conflict

        If we constantly look for love we will never be successful in finding it. We have to let love find us. Similar to how the bee finds the flower even though the bee holds the sweet honey. Have you ever realized that the flower does not try to find the honey as sweet as it is? The flower remains patient and as soon as the bee comes to it, the flower leans naturally like a lily flower facing the sun. There is something special about good things that we have to wait for, it makes it all the worth while and us more appreciative when we receive it. Easier said than done, right? As frank as the singer Jazmin Sullivan asked "Why do we love love when love seems to hate us?" Her question is definitely interesting to think about. Many may not know the answer to this question right away and that is okay. However, if you really think about it our hearts have a conflict naturally built within us fighting against being alone. Most of us have the fear that if we do not have a companion we are not complete. This is not only thought of typically in a romantic relationship, but as well as having the need to make friends in order to feel worthy. Of course we should not be loners and isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. I believe we should understand the difference between the desire to be in love and the actuality of being in love.
In the story titled "What we talk about when we talk about love," the author Raymond Carver creates a contrast on our  modern day conception of love in distinction to the understanding of love in the past. Carver defines the love of modern times as physical, lustful and sentimental. Whilst he offers an example of an old couple who miss each other to the extent  of them becoming depressed because they were apart.
     

The leaves fell in Spring

     My New Jersey suburban house is always filled with family members from New York to Chicago. When you walk in my brown maroon house your nose will be politely welcomed with the smell of pot roast and sweet potatoes. My house is the neighborhood house because everyone is welcomed to come in. It is like a  bird's nest in the winter time. Evan, the ragged newspaper boy persistently stops by my house every friday to eat my grandma's famous sweet potato pie. I would watch him as he licked his fat fingers from his palms to his dirty fingernails after he devoured the meal.  My mother Shade' constantly advised me to be polite to Evan but he was so greedy and annoying, that is why I never let him in when I was alone in the house. Saturday mornings when my parents went to work he would come at 8:00 am to drop off the New York times newspaper. He would ring the bell numerous times so that I would answer it and say good morning to him. Instead I would heavily swing the door open and yell what in his face. Evan would admiringly smile and hand me the newspaper, "Have a beautiful day Ayinke," he would say . This kid was abnormal. Evan stands at 5'2, which is shorter than me and something I never thought was possible. He has a  round belly and basically reminds me of a hippopotamus. The headline of the New York Times inscribed "The leaves fell in spring." The headline was peculiar and I was never interested in reading the newspaper but this article instantly caught my eye. The article read: In New Jersey today the winter of 2025  it is so hot that a couple went outside to buy some ice cream and it melted before the money was handed to the seller. I licked my lips and my saliva burnt my lip. The weather seems very surreal these days.

The Scream From the alley

I heard the old mans voice screaming from the alley sounding like a dying cat. The alley was pitch black, and I just left my lonely footprints from the alley a mile back. The wind was angry. I was walking home alone after my high school Warriors football game. We won 20-7 and the football players threw an after party to celebrate the homecoming game victory against the Lions. It is 11:00 pm, my mom does not know I snuck out the house to see the game and my boyfriend Jay left me to go to the after party. Ugh, he makes me feel like crap at times. I am so scared. What if someone murdered the old man in the alley? What if the person tries to murder me? All I have is pepper spray and my lips are chapped from the harsh wind. I hear foot steps about a quarter mile behind me. I hate being alone. I call my boyfriend for security and I hear "Yo, it's Jay I couldn't get to the phone so leave a message." Of course at the scariest point in my life I get smacked with his voicemail. The foot steps are getting closer, I hear two guys talking  in the background. Blood rushes to my heart and I begin to walk at a faster pace. My foot gets scuffed in leaves and I trip over a twig. I am such an idiot, now I have caught the attention of the two guys.  One of the guys has a butcher knife in his hands and he walks pompously with an evil grin. I get up and try to run but it is a dead end road. I am breathing at one-hundred miles per hour and the creepy guy looks at me like I am his next victim. The other guy has a wolf on his back with a knife jabbed on the head. These guys are not normal I need to get out of here. There is no way out, I am looking left and right but there is no way to turn. The only thing I can do is face these ruffians. My step father is president Obama and he will have your  butt's in jail if you come any closer to me, I shout. They laugh, that is why you were with Sasha and Malia during inauguration? Epic fail, I think to myself.

First week of school as a college freshman

Hearing thirty voices at once whilst walking through the hallways, feeling lost, confused and anxious.  As a college freshman the new world can be so exciting and also overwhelming. Within the first week alone, I missed three buses to get to school and bugged my roommate for a ride everyday. Each day I meet like thirty new faces and I never remember anyone's name even after having full blown conversations with them. The routine of high school compared to college is completely different. What is my purpose of attending college?  In English class I have learned about American history, how to find my voice and how to reflect on my past which molded me into who am I today. In Mathematics, I am learning about the roots of words and prefixes such as penta, which is the prefix for five and septa which is the prefix for seven derived from Latin and etc. In African American history, I am learning how to be more open minded, speak with confidence, project my voice and be proud of who I am. In a nut shell, each class I attend does not teach me what it is actually intended to teach. I believe the material I am paying 30k + a year for can be learned in normal everyday life.  However, in these two weeks, it has hit me that you are really on your own  in college. I mean everyone tells you this, but it does not really sink in until your parents drop you off with the hugs, kisses, goodbyes and you're in class the third week with a quiz in front of you. So far I have learned that YOU are responsible for your own education, no one is behind your back begging you to do your work. Networking is key. If you try to kiss your professors butt he or she will know and it will not boost your grade but you should also attempt to develop a relationship with them. Even Albert Einstein has to study if he is trying to pass with an A at least. My new friends have saved me from turning in a late paper and they have motivated me to get involved. You do not have to be afraid to speak up, because almost everyone feels the same way. You will probably do the most reading you ever did in your life; well if you decide to do it.  Therefore college is an essential experience when it comes to maturing and growing.  Everyone is so welcoming at Penn State Abington, I love it here.