Superwoman

In the dictionary the meaning of the word mentor is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.  Everyone has someone who they look up to.  It can either be an author, an actress, a sport athlete, or in my case my aunt.  Basketball was something I loved.  I was good at it and loved every minute of every game.  So I decided to try out for my High School basketball team.  I made the JV team as a starter and was having the time of my life.  It wasn’t until picture day when I found out that they decided to go in a different direction.  They decided I would be on the Freshman team.  I was so confused and most of all hurt.  My aunt was waiting for me until picture day was over and once I saw her I started to cry.  She told me that everything was going to be okay but in the moment it didn’t matter.  I was too hurt to think that I can overcome this.  From that moment on it was a battle for me to know how good I truly was, and it was my aunt’s determination and self confidence that helped me fight back.   

My aunt determination was the fist step to help me get through this difficult time.  I looked at my aunt and said, “Auntie, I don’t know what happened”  She told me that, “It’s okay Kelly.  We will get through this and show them that they made a wrong decision.”  A part of me knew that everything will be okay but I felt alone.  No one really knew what I was feeling.  I still couldn’t wrap my head around on why I was on the Freshman team.  I couldn’t turn to my friends because they were happy that they will be able to play with me.   I wasn’t saying that I wasn’t happy about that, but right then and there I felt betrayed by all three coaches.  Being my aunt she knew that I needed help.  She started practicing with me and helping me to improve my basketball skills.  She signed me up with clubs teams and pushed me to the best of my ability.  I soon started to improve but I wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for my aunt.  Honestly I would’ve kept complaining about not being on JV and not doing anything about it.  My aunt’s determination got me to play Varsity my Junior year.  

My senior year was the time for me to shine.  I was team captain and had a lot going for me.  Being the team captain has many responsibilities.  You have to lead the team to victory and hardly make mistakes.  But my coach didn’t understand that we are human and we do make mistakes.  My coach would yell at me constantly for things I thought I was doing okay at.  But in his eyes it wasn’t good enough.  It brought myself confidence down and soon enough I started dreading games.  I would be more afraid to make mistakes instead of playing because I love it.  My aunt notice that his actions and words were really affecting my playing.  She pulled me aside after one game and we sat down and just talked.  She told me about her experiences at her job and that her boss never gives her praises.  He takes her work for granted as my coach does for me.  She told me that yes it feels great to be praised but sometimes its not the case.  You have to turn his comments into positive and not take them too personal.  And remember you are suppose to be having fun.  You love this game and he shouldn’t bring you down. 

If it wasn’t for my aunt, my senior year would have been horrible.  I let the things my coach say affect my playing.  I saw her determination and self-confidence being qualities that I wanted in my life.  I will never forget my basketball years.  And although they were hard times but made me into the person I am today.  I am more determined to succeeded in the things I do and more confident in myself.  I can’t thank my Aunt enough for the things she has taught me.  She is someone I look up to and admire.  She is my mentor.  

The Gift of Cuento

1.  I liked how Cofer compared herself to Cinderella because I feel that every teenage girl is waiting for that “prince” to save them and live happily ever after with them.  I like how her uncle then said that you necessarily don’t need a prince to have fun.  Like in her other essay “Taking the Macho,” us women think we need a man to have fun.  But in this essay Cofer and her Uncle show to just enjoy life in the moment because you never know where it can take you.  

3.  I found how Cofer’s Uncle impacted her life interesting from a writer’s point of view because he influenced her into the kind of writer she is today.  His lifestyle was something she wanted and most of all his acceptance.  When she expressed how he finally accepted her in the end of her essay it really made me feel for Cofer.  She was Her writing made him satisfied at the end of his life and she did a lot for him with out of knowing it.    

5.  Nothing in this essay really bored me.  I found each story that the Uncle told was very interesting.  It was nice to see what an impact her made on Cofer’s life.  She was intrigued by his lifestyle and wanted his approval.  And she got that at the end of her essay when her Uncle told her that her stories gave her pleasure.  Cofer took this that he accepted “her gift of words.” 

Taking the Macho

1.  I liked the story in the beginning of the essay because it was nice to hear that the woman on the island were people of value.  The woman didn’t let the sailors in the story walk over them.  They demanded for them to go away and when they didn’t the women took charge.  The women didn’t let the men walk over them but instead they 

2.  Overall I really like the essay so it it hard to pick something I do not like.  But what I can say is that I didn’t like was how the men were surprised that the women could play ball as well.  Cofer writes that it was “disturbing to see the macho Conquistadors to see women and men going into battle together and playing pelota on the same team.” I didn't like that because men always think they are better then us women, and to me that is disturbing.  

3.  I found when she talked about how much courage is put into writing interesting from a writer’s point of view because I never really thought about that before.  I have always read fictions stories so I have never really been exposed to books where authors talk about their life.  It made me realize how much courage it does take for authors to tell the world what they feel and what they’ve been through.  

4.  I found how some cultures shape women roles interesting from a reader’s point of view because I see that in my family today.  My cousin’s mom is always doing the chores around the house and making sure that her husband is satisfied.  She does a lot for the family and doesn’t get a lot of credit.  It is hard to see this especially because no one has ever taught her that she also has value and doesn’t need to always play that “feminine” role. 

7.  I learned a couple of important things from reading this.  The first was that we don’t need men to determine how we live and I think that’s important because I feel that us women can be too dependent on men.  We think we have a certain role and it shouldn’t always be that way.  It is great to see that it is slowly changing through out the world. The second was when the men thought women being “macho” is contradiction in terms.  That is important because “macho” is defined as the male of species.  However women can be confident and can do things men do such as playing ball but that doesn’t mean they are “macho.”  It just means that women don’t have to be so dependent on men.  

True Inspiration

In the book Woman in Front of the Sun Judith Ortiz Cofer writes a memoir “My Rosetta” about her leaving childhood and transitioning into the woman she is today.  She starts her story in her classroom.  Her first impression of Sister Rosetta was of an unattractive woman who had to be here only to be under the watchful eye of Father Jones.  Cofer had no idea that Sister Rosetta would be the true reason why she is the person she is today.

Sister Rosetta was the one who introduced her to the world of writing and how to expand one’s horizons.  When Judith was caught reading about sex Sister Rosetta thew away that “trash” and gave Judith books with actual meaning.  Judith read books like The Odessy, some of Emily Brontes’ stories as well as Katherine Porter.  Judith was then drawn into the beauty of writing and what it had to offer to her.  Sister Rosetta was that person Judith needed in her life.  Judith did have her two parents to look up to but to her, Sister Rosetta was someone special.  Someone that taught her about life and how to stand up to what you believe in.  Sister Rosetta inspired Judith in a way that she will never forget.

I think Judith wrote her story, “My Rosetta”, to give thanks to Sister Rosetta and how she truly made a difference in her life.  She wanted to let us readers know how much of an impact she was and that she will never forget what Sister Rosetta did for her.  I enjoyed reading how Judith Cofer transitioned into the woman she is today.  She listened to what Sister Rosetta had to say and actually took those words to heart.  That really encourage me to really listen to what people have to say.  Either from a teacher, a priest, my parents, or just a friend and see how I can use their ideas into my life.  Cofer made me realize that I can take their ideas and yet still know who I am. 

Today I am doing a reflection of Judith Ortiz Cofer’s book, Woman in Front of the Sun, and how I found her essay “And Are You a Latina Writer” interesting and meaningful to me.  She has a lot of valuable points on how she became the writer she is today.  In respect to Judith Cofer I have a few reasons on how her essay made an impact on me. 

I like when Judith Ortiz Cofer talks about what it is means to her being a Puerto Rican American writer.  I like this part because she is claiming her heritage and knowing her real country, Puerto Rico.  She knows who she is and the way to balance both her cultures.  This is a what makes her the kind of writer she is today.  I can relate to her because me parents come from different backgrounds and it is great to grab certain characteristics and have those make me the person I am today.

I found that she doesn’t need others to “authenticate” her work interesting from a writer’s point of view.  I found it interesting because I would have thought most writers would want other opinions instead of keeping to themselves. I usually just have someone look over my writing to check for grammar and spelling.  I believe Judith knows what she is talking about already and doesn’t need someone to tell her or suggest something that she already knows.

I found when she questions her language interesting from a reader’s point of view because she is able to isolate herself and write about things that truly mean to her from both cultures.  I found this inspirational.  She doesn't ignore a part of her but educates herself herself and educate the world through her writings.

My very favorite part of her essay was when she stated “I know what I am because my puertorricannes was not awarded to me , it is apart of me.” It is my favorite part because she knows who she is and stands proudly against her heritage.  She doesn’t hide but embraces her culture and shows us readers how proudly she is to be the person she is today.  She didn’t have to earn her heritage and how they are but she shows it by the way she acts or writes.

As you have already read Judith Cofer shows us readers to be proud of our culture and to find who we really are.  Not only as a person but people who know their heritage and come to learn about it and themselves.  It makes me want to educate myself on where I come from and how my heritage reflects myself today.

Writing Problems (Errors)

1.)  Semicolons.

2.)  better vocabulary.

3.)  embedding quotes.

4.) not using "to be" words as much.

5.) adverbs.

Two questions regarding the syllabus

1.) Will the quizzes/tests ever be opened book?

2.) Are we allowed to have food or water in class?