STUDENT WRITING: POSITION by ROMAIN HERNANDEZ

SHOULD GAY COUPLES BE ABLE TO MARRY?

Homosexuality has indeed moved out of the closet and into the mainstream. This is demonstrated in the proliferation of homosexual characters on television, in movies, and the current violent debate and manifestations about gay marriages in France. This issue has even affected Christianity in that many homosexuals are seeking acceptance from Christian churches and even positions of leadership within Christian organizations. Not only that, many within those organizations are seeking to facilitate the acceptance of homosexuals by attempting to mitigate or remove the Scriptural barriers against its acceptance. Although I’m not concerned about the law that will allow marriage for gay people, in so far as it does not remove or change any of my rights, I’m definitely against this law for many other reasons. Before starting my argumentation, I want to state the obvious fact that I’m not homophobic before being suspected of being so. Indeed, nowadays we cannot be against this law without being insulted by the advocates for this bill by labeling those who oppose them as “hatemongers” and “homophobes”, which naturally prevents dialogue and further debate. Having clarified this point, let’s go back to the topic.

While it is true that homosexuality in various forms has been accepted in many cultures in the history of the world, even significant cultures such as the ancient Greek one, whose impact on modern western culture is unmistakable, did not attempt to redefine marriage. (Incidentally, this means that the arguments of proponents that the teachings of Scripture are nothing more than the products of morally narrow cultures are not true.) Perhaps it took the entitlement culture of the 21st century United States or perhaps it was simply a newfound boldness resulting from homosexuality’s acceptance during the last few decades; either way, these recent events mark the first time that so fundamental an institution as marriage has been redefined by a special interest group.

Contrary to what many activists repeat, the issue of gay marriage is not one of equal rights since unmarried partners have more options and freedom than do married partners. For example, unmarried partners, whether gay or straight, may divide their property however they choose and if the relationship dissolves, they may split their property however they choose, without requiring the courts to get involved (Courttv.com). Many homosexuals have recognized this and do not seek marriage for this and other reasons, although it is difficult to know how many homosexuals want to marry even though the activists are pushing hard for them (Sowell).

Thus, we mustn’t put all homosexuals in the same bag. Indeed, most of them don’t want to marry (as much as heterosexuals) and are against this project. Therefore, the purpose of the gay lobby, which represents a minority of the heterosexual population, is to show that heterosexuality is not the standard anymore, and has been replaced by the gender theory where everyone chooses their sexuality (Martinet). However, this is completely false because it is not the reality with children and families because in traditional marriage, which nobody cares about, there is inevitably assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy, which are not yet in the current law project. Regardless, we have to stop this confusion that has already happened once in 1998 with the PACS, which is a contract between two adults of opposite sex or the same sex, in order to organize their lives and get the same benefits of marriage. At this time, it was said that marriage for homosexuals would never be allowed because marriage is the link to the affiliate and previous generations. Then 15 years later, they said that society wasn’t ready to hear that. Thus now, the same move is made twice and 6 months or 2 years later, they will say that society wasn’t ready for assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy. Hence, marriage for gay people isn’t a matter of love or equality because they already have the same advantages of marriage with the PACS. Furthermore, from the moment one says that love is the only criterion for marriage; we can intellectually accept anything like polygamy, incest, marriage between members of the same family, etc. In fact, it is the first step before assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy.

Moreover, homoparental families don’t actually exist; it is an ideological myth because all gays had children with a woman and all lesbians had children with a man whether they wanted to or not. Concerning education, which is not the substance of the debate but is linked to it, everybody is obviously capable of educating children whether two women or two men. On the other hand, the matter is an almost philosophical or symbolic link with previous generations, which contemplates only two persons of different sex. For same-sex couples who deny reality and would have an educational or affiliation project thanks to these techniques, as some heterosexual couples who cannot have children used, they must not forget that these couples are suffering from conditions like sterility. Given these facts, one must decide that either one should not have these conditions to use these techniques, or it is necessary to consider that homosexuality is a disease, and there will be a new controversy!

Consequently, this project which is called “marriage for everyone” in France is actually a trick to satisfy the whims of people who do not accept the laws of nature. Besides, it will create a new business with women renting their womb, transforming children into consumer products, which is very disturbing morally.


Works Cited
Courttv.com. “Judge Refuses to Marry Two First Cousins.” . March 2005.
Martinet, Laurent. ""Il est très peu question d'amour dans le mariage"." L'EXPRESS. N.p., 23 Nov 2012. Web. 12 May 2013. .
Sowell, Thomas. “Gay Marriage Rights.” December 31, 2004.

STUDENT WRITING: PROPOSAL by PATRICIA ROMAGOSA

Removing Soft Drinks from Schools

Controlling what our children eat and drink at school is not an easy task, especially when teachers and parents accept and tolerate all the junk food and drinks that are available to our children from the vending machines that most schools provide. Today, when I look back at my experience with my own little ones, I notice that there didn’t used to be really a major problem in elementary school, perhaps because during that time my children were more dependent on me and I was able to prepare lunch for them most of the time and be aware of what they ate and drank. Nevertheless, some parents cannot be involved in their children’s eating habits for different reasons. I propose an experiment or trial in which unhealthy food substances, i.e. junk food and soft drinks, are replaced by better and more nutritious choices to demonstrate the correlation between the former and weight and body fat (obesity).

According to Behrman and Vaughan, “obesity or over nutrition is a generalized excessive accumulation of fat in subcutaneous and other tissues. Obesity may result from increases in number or in size of fat cells, adipocytes. Adipocytes appear to increase in number when caloric intake is increased” (168). Therefore, with this in mind, it can be reasoned that to a certain degree obesity can be prevented. It may also be inferred from the above that some students who follow a diet in school high in carbohydrates and fats will have more possibilities to be obese. Carbohydrates are found in desserts and sweets, so children at an early age should condition themselves not to have access to this kind of food at school. In addition, parents must be educated also to support this health issue and the government should enact a law to replace sodas, sugared drinks and junk snacks by water bottles, milk, low sugar drinks and snacks low in carbohydrates and high in proteins. Having mentioned this, it is important to know that “Resistance to insulin may occur in the obese and result in an increase in levels of circulating insulin. Insulin decreases lipolysis (fat breakage) and increases fat synthesis and uptake. The obese have an increased response to a carbohydrate meal and a decreased utilization of free fatty acids” (Behrman and Vaughan, 169). In fact, it is necessary to be aware that some schools that have already removed the soda vending machines but still offer other soft drinks to the students have not seen a noticeable change in sugar consumption, another reason why I suggest high sugar drinks also need to be removed to make a difference.

Indeed, even if the schools start removing just the soda machines, it will still be beneficial to the students’ health because it will encourage them to drink water more often, which is the best drink someone can use to quench the thirst and at the same time avoid loading the body with lots of sugar and too many calories. In addition, it would be of remarkable help that parents at home reinforce this issue and educate their children to know that the consumption of soft drinks must be controlled and allowed only on special occasions. “According to the USDA, the per-capita soft-drink consumption has increased almost 500% over the past 50 years. Soft drinks include soda, fruit-flavored and part-juice drinks and sports drinks. Soda is the soft drink most frequently consumed. The availability of soda in the U.S. now exceeds that of milk. This is a growing concern for children and adolescents” (Soft Drinks and School-Age Children).

It would be great if we could start a trial in our town schools where the soft drink vending machines would be replaced by water, milk, natural juices and low sugar sports drinks vending machines. Besides, the unhealthy snacks would be removed and replaced by healthy ones, some with good protein value and low carbohydrate content. Many times obesity in children is associated with excessive consumption of soft drinks and unhealthy snacks, so it would be important to follow up on this new experience in specific schools and report the results. Attention should be paid to encouraging students to drink milk in schools. According to Pillows, Claudia, and Annalise Roberts, “Soft drinks have replaced milk as the drink of choice for these children. As parents, we willingly comply, but the health effects on our own children and the financial burden on our health care system will be enormous. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes sodas are a major source of daily excess calories and a major cause of the increase in obesity rates in children and teenagers” (Health effects of Drinking Soda).

Due to all the above reasons, including not only research but also many well known facts, I believe strongly that my proposal should be taken into consideration as one way to do something to control this correlation between the consumption of soft drinks and obesity. We have to think ahead and try to avoid more serious consequences that may affect our children’s future. We all should know that “idealized weight is desirable not only for esthetic reasons but also to prevent such complications of obesity as diabetes, shortness of breath, and early death” (Behrman and Vaughan, 169).

STUDENT WRITING: POSITION by MAYELA PEREZ

Why Women Need to Be Independent

Being a strong, independent woman doesn’t necessarily require that you be a die-hard feminist. Rather, it means learning to express who you are inside, whether you are shy and soft-spoken or loud and assertive, without trying to fit a certain mold implied by your being a female.

Women should not base their happiness on being in a relationship, women need to have a man to love and enhance their life, not define it.
Nothing is forever. Even the perfect relationship might end one day, so women need to be sure that they have a stong enough cushion to land on after a break up or divorce. Women need to stay eduated. Being educated not only gives you the skills and knowledge you will need to pursue your career, it also makes you more well-respected by people you encounter in your life.

On the other hand, women need to take care of their bodies. Personal strengh is manifested physically, mentally and emotionally. If you want to be a strong, independent woman, you need look no further than your own body. Additionally, if a woman wants to be truly independent, she must learn how to pay for her own life so that she doesn’t have to rely on other people, but she needs to spend her money wisely and avoid wastefulness on unnecessary things.
Finally, the most important thing in a woman’s life is to give to others. One of the best ways that women can use their strength is to give back to those who are less fortunate than they are. You don’t have to be rich or affluent to make a positive impact on another person, only practice acts of kindness.

STUDENT WRITING: PROPOSAL by JANETT AMORES

A Good Habit and Useful Skill

During the time that I have been at the English Language Institute, I have realized that note taking is a valuable skill to improve my learning. In my current class, nobody knows how to take effective notes. I propose that everybody should take a class of taking notes in middle school. Note taking is not only useful in school, but it also helps a lot when people work.

Taking notes is important for retaining, remembering, and repeating information. If you know how to take notes, you can focus on the key and new concepts using symbols like boxes, diagrams, and abbreviations in order to remember the information. This information helps students to study better and faster. Besides, the students won’t be bored during the class because they would have to pay attention. For example, in my listening class I have to listen to a passage, reading another passage, and then summarize them. Therefore, if I had learned to take notes in middle school, the listening class would be easier. Teachers assume that taking good notes comes naturally or that someone should already have taught students how to take good notes.

On the other hand, workers could do their job more efficiently. I firmly believe that children have to develop the ability to take good notes of class lectures, reading assignment and research materials. If they have this skill and make it a habit, they will be better professionals. Solid note taking requires preparation. Consequently, it is important that middle school students learn a good system of note taking.

STUDENT WRITING: PROPOSAL by ARTURO GARCIA

A SIMPLE PROPOSAL
April 23, 2013.

An ELI Building

UTEP has a program which helps foreign people to learn English. This program is named ELI (English Language Institute).
UTEP is an institution that provides a lot of majors. However, it doesn’t pay much attention to its own ELI. As ELI students, we don’t have a specific building, so they give us classrooms wherever they want. Consequently, we have to walk a lot and in addition, do not have enough time to buy something to eat if we want to do so. We also don’t see the students from other levels. We are isolated from the rest of the Institute. Moreover, if we have to pay for the course or talk to someone in administration, we have to walk to the principal office.

I propose that UTEP have a building where everyone from ELI is together. Furthermore, this building should have a parking lot for teachers and students close by. If we are all in the same building, every activity that the administration would want to do could be done in their own building. An ELI building would help us to meet people from different cultures and would help us to interact with each other. This would also help to enhance our vocabulary and speaking skills.

I realize that for UTEP it is not cost effective to build a special place just for ELI. However, I am not talking about a big and expensive building, just something useful for everyone. UTEP has a lot of buildings, so maybe they could select an area where we (the students of ELI) could take our English classes and have more interaction. For instance, when we have a lunch or an ELI party, we have to move to the dormitories where there is no parking for our cars, and also some of the students don’t even know where that area is.

The ELI academic program is well designed. We practice every day and we take good classes, but I think a different building for each class and sometimes a different building for the same class is not convenient for anyone; including teachers, students and administration staff. We are not in contact and I think this is not a good situation for an international program.

STUDENT WRITING: Cause / Effect by ROMAIN HERNANDEZ

Causes and Effects Essay: Environmental Pollution

Nowadays, people use different methods of mass media to express their concern about which sources cause pollution and which consequences will result from it. Indeed, pollution has become a serious environmental and societal issue that nobody can deny or ignore anymore. Above all, pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. We will examine three main parts of pollution: water, air, and land.
The factors that contribute to water pollution can be categorized into two different groups. Firstly, the point sources which include the waste products from factories, the waste from sewage systems, the waste from power plants, the waste from underground coalmines, and the waste from oil wells. They are called point sources because they are direct sources of water pollution and can be reduced and monitored. The term non-point source encompasses a large range of sources such as when rain or snow moves through the ground and picks up pollutants as it moves towards a major body of water or the runoff of fertilizers from farm animals and crop land. Another example is the air pollutants getting washed or deposited to earth and the storm water drainage from lawns, parking lots, and streets (Leed).

Concerning the air pollution, one of the main causes is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which happens because of deforestation and fossil fuel burning. Furthermore, Sulfur dioxide is another air polluter that is released into the atmosphere by the burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels. Another cause of air pollution is the Chlorofluorocarbons that also contribute to air pollution by reducing the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. This organic compound comes from a variety of places such as the burning of plastic foam items, leaking refrigerator equipment, and spray cans. However, air pollution isn’t necessarily linked to humans, but can also be natural. For instance, smoke from wild fires, methane released from livestock, and volcanic eruptions (Hill).

The latest form of pollution that we will develop is land pollution that results from four main causes. The first cause is the construction of buildings that take up resources and land; the trees are chopped down and used to make buildings. Besides, it takes away from places for animals and other organisms to live. The second cause is agriculture. As there are more and more people inhabiting the earth, food is in higher demand and so forests are chopped down and turned into farmland. In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and animal manure are washed into the soil and pollute it. The third cause is the tons of domestic waste that are dumped every day. Even though some waste from homes, offices and industries can be recycled or burnt in incinerators, there is still a lot of garbage, such as refrigerators and washing machines that are dumped in landfills simply because they cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled. The fourth and last cause of land pollution is industrial waste such as plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste disposal activity, large animal farms, coal-fired power plants, metal production factories and other heavy industry that all contribute to land pollution (Causes).

Because of the causes mentioned above, our environment is changing. The air becomes less clean than ever before. With the introduction of petroleum to replace coal economies in countries, photochemical smog has become predominant in many cities which are located in sunny, warm, and dry climates with many motor vehicles. Consequently, many people wear masks when they walk in the streets in these cities. Moreover, the temperature becomes higher, the air in the cities becomes hotter, and water in oceans becomes warmer. Indeed, CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the so-called greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the Earth during the night. Therefore, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere reinforces this effect and is expected to result in a warming of the Earth's surface.

Many old green forests are like a bald hill when you see them from an airplane. The effects cannot be good for the environment itself and neither for the people. Indeed, land pollution exterminates wild life, acid rain kills trees and plants, and the vegetation that provides food and shelter is destroyed. Land pollution can seriously disrupt the balance of nature, and, in extreme cases, can cause human fatalities. In addition, pesticides can damage crops, kill vegetation, and poison birds, animals, and fish. Most pesticides kill or damage life forms other than those intended. For example, pesticides used in an effort to control or destroy undesirable vegetation and insects often destroy birds and small animals. Nevertheless, some life forms develop immunity to pesticides used to destroy them.

There are many efforts which are being started to protect the environment. However, there is one more important thing which must be performed. We must stop causing harm to the environment by our actions before making any effort to protect it. Ways to stop or reduce pollution are multiple. We can help to reduce global air pollution and climate change by driving a car that gets at least 35 mpg, or by walking, biking, and using public transportation. Buying only energy efficient appliances, recycling products (newspaper, aluminum, etc.), planting trees, and not purchasing products that contain CFCs are many solutions to start the reduction of environment pollution.

Works Cited
Causes Of Land Pollution." Knowledge Galaxy. N.p.. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .
Hill, Adam. "What Causes Air Pollution?." wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. N.p., 14 Aug 2009. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .
Leed, Mauro. "Causes and Effects of Water Pollution." Go Green Academy. N.p., 06 Jun 2012. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .

STUDENT WRITING: Concept by PATRICIA ROMAGOSA

Migraine headaches

It is Wednesday morning, one of those typical days when once again I am not able to perform my regular activities. When I wake up early in the morning to go to the bathroom, all of a sudden I start seeing ill-defined lights and realize that I cannot see my husband’s face clearly. Alarmingly, my vision becomes very blurry and at that moment I know I must run to take my prescription medication before the throbbing headache starts and increases its intensity. I have to go to bed and remain quiet in a dark place. It seems that most of the time sleeping helps. After two hours, I try to get up to go to school, but it is one of those occasions when the pain is still there. In addition I have nausea and vomiting as well. Sometimes the pain subsides the same day, other times it comes and goes for several days. I have been having migraines since I was nineteen years old. It is important to know what a migraine is and what causes it. It is also important to be familiar with the two main types of migraines, the symptoms and treatment.

A migraine is a very interesting headache that most of the time becomes chronic and is manifested by particular or unique characteristics, including a neurological presentation in the classic migraine. Raymond D. Adams and Maurice Victor are the authors of the book Principles of Neurology. According to them “migraine is a familial disorder characterized by periodic, commonly unilateral, pulsatile headaches which begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adult life and recur with diminishing frequency during advancing years” (152).

Even though the causes of migraines are still not clear, it is well known that they occur in multiple members of the families. Adams and Victor support this statement, mentioning that “clearly, the familial occurrence of migraine in the majority of patients implicates an underlying genetic factor.” They also mention that “tension and other emotional states, which are claimed by some migraineurs to precede their attacks, are so inconsistent as to be no more than aggravating factors” (157). It is also a fact that many migraine sufferers are more prone to have an attack after they eat and drink certain foods and beverages. According to Migraine.com “the foods that trigger migraines overwhelmingly contain high levels of tyramine, with chocolate at the top of the list, accounting for 75% of all migraine food triggers. Some food groups that contain high levels (6 mg or more) of tyramine are: processed meats, poultry, and fish, aged cheese, fermented foods, condiments, yeasted dough, fruits and vegetables and alcoholic beverages.” In my personal experience, chocolate and red wine have led to migraine headaches with red wine producing the most intense and prolonged headaches. On my 10th wedding anniversary a glass of red wine resulted in a debilitating headache at the worst time possible. Other products including medications such as contraceptives or estrogens can increase the risk of migraine headaches in women. Even without this medication, women are at increased risk of migraine headaches during the premenstrual part of their cycle. Affected women can continue to experience migraine headaches during their reproductive years. I had a gynecological condition requiring treatment with estrogen or contraceptives. This medication in combination with any emotional stressors increased my risk of migraine headaches.

There are two main types of migraine headaches which are manifested in two different ways. The classic migraine headache, also called neurological migraine and the common migraine. The first type is characterized for being accompanied by an aura, usually preceding the headache. On the other hand, the common migraine is characterized by the headache, but not by the aura. The aura is caused by blood vessels around the brain vasoconstricting or tightening their diameter decreasing the blood flow to the visual centers of the brain. That is then followed by the second phase in which the blood vessels dilate or increase in size resulting in pressure on the brain or nerves, which leads to the pain and nausea, vomiting. According to Rafii and Cohrane, in their text First Aid, the symptoms of migraines headaches should be “more than five headaches lasting 4-72 hours, with at least two of the following: unilateral. Pulsating, moderate to severe intensity (inhibiting daily activities), aggravation with routine physical activity, and at least one of the following: nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia.” Photophobia is defined as hypersensitivity to light and phonophobia is hypersensitivity to sound. One can experience these two symptoms when the migraine headaches are severe.

The treatment of migraine headaches involves several steps. In the classic migraine it is very important to attack the pain once the aura starts. In the common migraine, the pain should be addressed immediately with the onset of presentation. There are several different medications prescribed depending on the patient’s type of migraine headache and response to the medication. Occasionally, it is also important to prescribe for the nausea, vomiting. When migraines headaches occur often interfere with the patient’s daily activities, then prophylaxis is recommended. Prophylaxis medication on a daily basis and other migraine medication as needed had been shown to be helpful. There are also some non-medication measures to take. According to a Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter:

1- Seek a calm environment: at the first sign of a migraine, retreat from your usual activities if possible.
a) Turn off the lights.
b) Try temperature theraphy.
c) Massage painful areas.
d) Drink a caffeinated beverage.
2- Sleep well: migraines can keep you from falling asleep or wake you up at night. Likewise, migraines are often triggered by a poor night’ sleep. Here is help encouraging sound asleep.
a) Establish regular sleep hours.
b) Unwind at the end of the day.
c) Minimize distractions.
d) Don’t try to sleep.
e) Check your medications.
3- Eat wisely: your eating habits can influence your migraines. Consider the basics.
a) Be consistent.
b) Don’t skip meals.
c) Avoid foods that trigger migraines.
One can figure out from the previous suggestions that the best way to control migraines headaches is following both the medical treatment and healthy habits.

We now know that migraine headaches have been recognized to have a genetic predisposition with two main types, including the classic migraine and the common migraine. The presentation and symptoms can lead to temporary physical disability. As mentioned, the classic migraine headache is preceded by the aura while the common migraine is simply the throbbing headache. Again, there is no a specific cause of migraine headaches but many risk factors as cited. From the recommendations described above, one can build up a plan to minimize and better treat migraine headaches through medical control and a careful life style.

STUDENT WRITING: Evaluation by MAYELA PEREZ

The Circus

I have never forgotten the times when my mother used to take us to Circus Atayde’s Brothers in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, when we were children. In those days, circuses commonly traveled around performing in different places.

The circus performed in a ring that was about 13m in diameter but large circuses had multiple rings. They also had a system of tiered seating around the ring for the public. Their capacity was maybe 800 people. The performances included a variety of acrobatics, gymnastics, including tumbling and trampoline, aerial acts such as trapeze, aerial silk, tight rope walking, and contortion. Juggling was one of the most common acts in the circus as were balancing acts and the rolling globe with motorcycle riders inside. Clowns interacted with the public and a variety of animals such as horses, elephants, tigers and dogs were used in the acts. Some of the things that have stuck in my mind forever are the smell of popcorn, the flavor of Coca-Cola in a glass bottle, the sawdust on the floor and the opening music which was “Entrance of the Gladiators.” Sideshow acts were part of the circus. Their activities include fire eating, knife throwing, magic shows and, of course, the strongman. I really enjoyed the traditional circus, but suddenly the circus changed and a contemporary genre of circus was born.

These circuses tend to focus more attention on the overall aesthetic impact, character and story development, the use of lighting design, original music and costume design to convey thematic or narrative content. Music used in the production is often composed exclusively for that production and aesthetic influences are drawn as much from contemporary culture as from circus history. Animal acts appear less frequently in these circuses. The best example of this kind of circus is Cirque du Soleil and if I had to evaluate this circus in one word, this word would be “awesome.” Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company. Each show is a synthesis of circus style from around the world with its own central theme and storyline.

The first performance that I saw from this circus was Mystere which was presented in the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, in its own theatre. The theme of Mystere is an exploration of the origins of life in our universe. The show is a conglomerate of mythologies from multiple cultures. Its music relays ethnic music of Peruvian, African, and East European inspiration. Cirque du Soleil has expanded rapidly, going from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on every continent. The shows employ approximately 4,000 people from over 40 countries and generate an estimated annual revenue exceeding us$810 million. The multiple permanent Las Vegas shows alone play to more than 9,000 people a night, adding to the 90 million people who have experienced Cirque du Soleil’s shows worldwide. I have seen several of its shows and I can only say that Cirque du Soleil is a fantastic circus with plenty of talent in its creators, performers, musicians and all people that collaborate in its creations.

STUDENT WRITING: Evaluation by JANETT AMORES

“Fifty Shades of Grey”

“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a topic of conversation across the country. This erotic novel was written by E. L. James, arrived in 2011 and has become a best -seller with more than 40 million copies sold.
E. L. James, a British author, describes a relationship between Anastasia Steele, a 21 year old, virginal college student of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington and Christian Grey, a 27 year old, rich, business man.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” is a narrative story in which Christian Grey, one of the main characters, is a person economically and psychologically dominant. When Anastasia, a journalism student, goes to interview him, she realizes that he is handsome, intelligent, and intimidating. Once they get to know each other, he tells her that in order to continue the relationship they have to sign a contract which designates her as the “submissive” and him as the “dominant” party. The contract allows Grey to have complete control of her life, besides having to fulfill any desires he has in the bedroom. The book has many explicit sexual scenes involving pain, discipline, dominance, submission, masochism and sadism.

I firmly believe that it is a great responsibility to educate my children to respect them-selves and to establish limits in their relationships. This book raises the question of how sexual submission, especially when pain is involved, can be such a turn-on for many young, well-educated women, Today the statistics of violence are alarming. According to Domestic Violence Resource Center, “One in four women (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime” (Domestic). Also the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that, “Among victims of intimate partner violence, about 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (e.g., hit with a fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) at some point in their life” (US--). I think this book explains the reality of many women who are in a dangerous and abusive relationship. All of us should read this book because it is educational and helps in our daily life.

Nowadays in the developed world, technology has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it has been helping human progress scientifically and medically. On the other hand, technology such as cell phones and computers take time away from face to face interaction. The Internet is the most important tool for working but it can be a monitoring device in a relationship between human beings. Modern technology like Facebook, What ‘s-up, and text messages can be used as forms of surveillance. For instance, Christian Grey gives Anastasia a Nextel and an Apple Computer. So, he knows where she is and what she is doing wherever she goes. He expects her to always be available. She does not have a private life.

There are other control forms that Christian includes in the contract. She has to wear clothes that he approves for. The submissive which is what he calls Anastasia has to drive an Audi. Christian also chooses her doctor and the birth control she takes. He authorizes the beauty salon where she is allowed to go. Anastasia has to do exercise at least four times every week with a trainer that he provides for her. She eats foods only from a list that Christian supplies. She also gets eight hours of sleep a night. The Submissive does not drink in excess or take drugs. So you might think that all these rules above are safe, but she has to agree to any sexual activity in which he uses methods of pain such as spanking, caning, and biting.

E.L James captivates her readers with adventures and suspense. She hooks her readers in every chapter in which she mixing feelings and providing rollercoaster action, so readers are always eager to read the next chapter. Falling in love with someone is a feeling that really cannot be described. As a woman, I was educated to believe that a romantic relationship should be like a fairy tale, but this is not reality. “Fifty Shades of Grey” reminds one that no one is perfect. All of us have a dark side. Everyone has his own emotional baggage. When Anastasia realizes that Christian is a person who controls everything around him, she hesitates. Later, she falls in love with him, so she wants to know why Christian acts that way. It is a long process. Even though she knows that it is difficult for him, she starts to ask. Because of he was abused by his mother, he has a lot of scars. His sadistic acts come from the pain he felt when he was a child. Consequently, he enjoys hurting his submissive because it helps him to release his anger. Christian Grey grew up with the idea that he could not inspire love. Suddenly, Anastasia appears in his life and he realizes that there is a true love and he dares to live it.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” is an example of woman who loves a man for his strengths and vulnerabilities. When Christian starts sharing his vulnerabilities, he strengthens his romantic relationship with Anastasia. Also this book describes how a person can change his life if he really wants to. Even though Christian does not forget his pain, he learns how to have a better life. He falls in love with Anastasia and she becomes his motivation.
I read both positive and negative comments on the Internet. One of the positive ones was that thanks to this book, some readers have explored their sexuality and feel more freedom with their partners. I think sex is an important tool in a romantic relationship. Sex is not only a mechanical act. It is a way partners communicate their desires. Some couples admit that the monotony in their sexual relationship was what ended their romantic relationship. However, I also read some negative comments about the book being badly written. Also, today I understand why people look at me strangely when I say that I am reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.” For me, as an English student, this book is easy to understand and I find a psychological side, which makes it interesting.


Works Cited
Domestic Violence Resource Center | Domestic violence statistics www.dvrc-org/domestic/violence/resources/C61
US -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov official site

STUDENT WRITING: Reflection by ARTURO GARCIA

Learning from my Mistakes

Peter Piper Pizza was the first franchise of pizzas which arrived in my city. This chain had two places where they sold pizzas in different ways. One was the restaurant and next to it was a small place where we made pizzas for delivery. It was my second home when I was seventeen years old. I became a worker because I had to wait for my semester at university to start. This unforgettable place changed the logistics of how people could buy food without leaving their home in my city. In a very short period of time, its sales increased surprisingly. We sold almost a thousand pizzas every weekend day. We had approximately thirty motorcycle drivers delivering in every part of the city.
The wave of pizzas was huge in the city, so the owner decided to bring a manager from Chicago because he wanted someone qualified to control his business. This manager had worked in Domino’s when he was young. Bryan was a typical American who spoke Spanish with a special accent. However, he knew how to speak understandable Spanish.

He had a very strong character. His face looked angry all the time. His mood was tough. He never demonstrated appreciation for anyone. He just controlled the business and never left until the store closed.
I made pizzas on the line of “toppings.” Every day in the morning, I had to review the orders and make all of them on time. However, it was unpleasant work when our leader was so strict. Therefore, I tried to do my chores perfectly in order to show him that I was a good worker. Little by little I gained his confidence.

One day the business looked like a madhouse; every worker was running. The orders were more than the people who controlled them could handle. Bryan was upset due to the fact that a lot of pizzas were waiting for a driver to take to deliver, so Bryan yelled at me, “Raton, (a little mouse in my country) do you know the name of the streets?” I did so he and I went to deliver some of them.

He had a new Honda Accord and he drove like a teenager. That day we finished with the demand of pizzas and this day was the first time that I heard Bryan laughing. When we were in the kitchen he always treated me like he did the others.

However, he couldn’t hide his appreciation for me, so the workers realized that he treated me differently. I became the youngest boy of the family. I had the responsibility to tell Bryan everything that my co-workers needed at work.

Due to the fact that the restaurant outsourced the tortillas, we couldn’t choose the best ones. Bryan was tired of getting the worst tortillas, so he brought a special machine to produce our own tortillas in the little kitchen. He decided to give me training because he trusted me.
This new assignment made me look like a typical baker with a lot of flour on me. One day, Bryan invited me to select another machine which was in El Paso. Before we left the city, we went to pick up the person who was offering us the new machine. I moved to the back of the car and I saw maybe a dozen work caps like mine. They were new and my cap was very dirty, so I took one of them and put mine on the floor. The entire day I had a new cap on my head, but before I got out of the car intended to return the new cap and get mine back, but I didn’t do it.

A bad thought came to my mind, so I put my dirty cap under my shirt and left the new one on my head because I had convinced myself that Bryan had enough caps. I didn’t feel nervous about my action. I was passing in front of the windshield when suddenly my old cap fell on the floor. Bryan got out of the car and began with his sermon.
“Why did you do that? I put all my trust in you. I invited you to my home. You were my best worker. If you want another work uniform, I would give it to you. My best friend failed me. I cannot believe it. Now I understand why people call you raton (it is a nickname used for people who steal things in my country). He left me and I couldn’t say anything. I felt very bad. My action was embarrassing. I felt I was in a dark place. I was wondering all day why I did it.

Then, I understood that my action gave me a lesson. It was good that I was discovered by Bryan. What would have happened if he had not found out? What would be the next thing that I would steal?
Maybe I am not a good person today but I am sure that I know that stealing is bad. I understood that everything has a prize. If I want to obtain it, I need to pay for it.

STUDENT WRITING: Reflective by ROMAIN HERNANDEZ

Reflective Essay – The Meaning of Life

When I was fifteen, I started to go to sleep late whereas everybody else at this time had already been asleep for hours. Although it was 1:00 AM, I was always awake in my bed, waiting to fall asleep for at least two hours. Although my body was tired from my long day that started at 8:00 AM in high school and finished at 8:00 PM after an intensive course of taekwondo, I couldn’t get to sleep because my mind kept thinking. I wasn’t thinking about something in particular, but my brain was on and ready to reflect about anything.

Then one winter night, around 1:00 AM, I turned on my TV hoping it would help me to sleep and ended up watching channel “France 3” that was broadcasting a very old episode of “Tintin au Tibet.” I was captivated by this animated movie that had been part of my childhood along with many other things. Everything started from that episode of Tintin. When it was finished, I turned off my TV and began to see my childhood flash before my eyes. A lot of memories, sometimes insignificant, that I had forgotten suddenly came back to my mind. From that night, I couldn’t fall asleep before 5:00 AM the next day, even if I was exhausted and overwrought. I was focused on the past and was nostalgic about this period. Will I feel the same nostalgia about high school sooner as I think too? Will I look always to the past while growing as an adult? Sometimes, looking too much behind you are prevented from advancing. However, it’s good to determine what mistakes were made in the past so as not repeat them later.

Later, always during the night, I would reflect about dozens of questions, like how and why I arrived where I am today and how and where I would go in the future. What would I become? What would I like to become? I had to find the answers to these questions before it was too late because I hadn’t noticed how time passed so fast. I was scared because when I found one possible answer; I immediately found ten new questions. I was overwhelmed by various unanswered questions like the creation of the universe, paranormal activities, extraterrestrial life, etc. Therefore, I started to think about the existence of God who might be able to answer all my questions. Why was I born? What should I do? What would I become after death? However, I knew that I wasn’t the only one not to find answers. For thousands of years, humans have sought answers to these questions.

After thinking about this I have tried to develop some answers to these questions, like for instance, the existence of God. Since the dawn of time, prehistoric men have always been afraid of the darkness of the night and of what they didn’t understand like lightning, which was long interpreted as the wrath of God until we were intelligent enough to understand this physical phenomenon. Today, this belief is still justified because it reassures men when they face questions that science cannot solve all existential issues about life and especially death. Indeed, men are the only living beings who know that they will die, and this is what most frightens them. The fact of imagining a paradise after death helps many people who have a miserable life (like the majority of men) which allows them to believe in a better life after death and gives meaning to their lives. Moreover, it has been the means to establish the rules of living in our society to avoid anarchy. The Church has always maintained a semblance of peace and harmony by scaring men who didn’t follow its rules with the threat of going to Hell after death for eternity. However, a few thousand years after the onset of religions, we can see that it has caused millions of deaths instead of bringing peace and tolerance (as advocated at the base of all religions). Instead, many wars and many immoral acts are still committed to date on our planet. Nowadays, especially in France, we see that people believe less and less in God. I think that the development of our country and education makes people less gullible in this regard. Therefore, also being Cartesian, rational and pragmatic, I am an atheist.

Regarding paranormal activities and having had no experiences, I don’t believe in this either. At the same time, how can we believe in something that we have never seen? Of course, we hear a lot about it, but why believe it when we know the bragging and exaggeration of men. There may be things that are true in these stories, but I remain perplexed. Men always try to find explanations for phenomena that surround them and that they don’t understand. Firstly by science, then by any means if the solution isn’t obvious. Phenomena called supernatural are only those that we cannot explain! The solution may be too complicated for our simple minds, so we invent all sorts of causes that are more and more wacky. But the worst is that in the end, we begin to believe them! Men don’t like the unknown, it scares them. This is why they are willing to believe in their own inventions, such as God, in order to reassure themselves.

Concerning the existence of aliens, this is definitely not paranormal! Why should we be alone in the universe? Why would there be life only on earth and not anywhere else? According to me, there's a good chance there is life elsewhere, but it can be very far from here because the universe is infinitely large! Maybe we will never see aliens. However, to say that they don’t exist is ridiculous. Scientists keep saying that life is not here or there because there is no oxygen or no water. Why wouldn’t a different life form from ours exist; a life form based on different molecules with a different cycle of energy storage that allows living.

The only certainty I have is to be in doubt...there are so many things I don’t understand about the meaning of life and our universe. Why should we worry about something as frivolous as to perpetuate its kind? When I observe the climate change and ecological issues that are so often reported, I don’t really feel concerned. Maybe men are going to their extinction, they will not be able to breathe or eat anymore…but life will take over and the most adapted species will survive, evolve or die. So another era will begin, nothing catastrophic would happen. What about if the earth explodes? The universe is so big! There are so many planets! There are some that regularly die naturally; it doesn’t change the cycle of life and the laws of the universe. In other words, life will continue even without us.

Consequently, why should we continue to get up every morning at 6:00 AM to be hassled all day at work? In so far as it adds nothing to the world except our satisfaction and personal enjoyment? Only that remains. Thus, we must enjoy life without asking too many questions about the purpose of our existence. Life may be valuable, we don’t know, but in doubt we should take care of it. For those who have a hard life or who are depressed, tell yourself that you are not less useful than your neighbor who seems to have a fulfilling life. Having a hard life may be better after all because it is a kind of challenge; it spices up our flat life. We have to enjoy the present moment, then we will have eternity to think about it.

STUDENT WRITING: Reflective by PATRICIA ROMAGOSA

A Different Culture

“Mom,” my son told me, “try to remember not to get so close to the American people when you talk to them and especially be very careful about not touching them.” I said, “I am aware I need to restrain myself from doing it, but it is difficult for me to act differently, it just comes naturally.” I know Mom,” he said, “but some of the Americans may not understand that you come from a different culture.” I recall having this conversation with my oldest son several years ago. At that time, I tried to follow my son’s advice to certain degree, yet it was still hard to change my attitude completely. Well, I have to admit that it has been a little bit challenging to get used to the American culture and way of life.

There were some things that I had to change when I started living in this country. For example, in Colombia, you can be more expressive when you talk to acquaintances. We get very close to them and very often we touch them, grabbing them by their arms or padding them on their backs. We feel very comfortable showing them demonstrations of sympathy and trusting since most people there are very warm and friendly. We are also allowed to get very close to someone else’s babies. The culture even allows us to admire them close up, talk to them and caress them. Parents are usually very proud of this attention. In this country, I really need to restrain myself. This was true, especially when I lived in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where people were less friendly and more suspicious. Living in El Paso as a foreigner, has giving me a little bit more freedom to be myself because many of the residents here come from Mexican ancestors and in general are more friendly and trusting. However, I still have to study the occasion carefully when I approach some of them and respond according to the situation.

As mentioned, my son gave me guidance regarding the American culture. It took a while to assimilate his recommendations, but eventually, I yielded. I assume now that my son was probably embarrassed of the way I acted. Even though I might had responded a little bit defensive to my son’s observation in the past, I had to recognize that he was born in the USA and was more familiar with the American culture. It was interesting to notice that once my son became a teenager and I had the opportunity to take him to visit my family in Colombia more often, he told me one day, “Mom, now I understand more your culture and the reason why you are the way you are, I can tell your Colombian family is very loving and likes to hug others all the time.” After this comment, I felt much better because I knew I had given him the chance to get familiar with my culture and to know some of the reasons why I was somehow different to the American culture. I could observe my son felt very happy spending time with my family and was always looking forward to seeing them every summer. After these experiences, I noticed he started to have more freedom to express his affection and feelings to his American friends in a more open way. Today, I remember very vividly the day when he approached me and said, “Mom, now I had realized that I am in some ways like you and I honestly enjoy getting closer to people and showing them my feelings with some touching and hugs.” After listening to him, I sighted, smiled in approval, and gave him a hug.

I also remember another experience my son and I shared when we moved to Colorado. He had started his first year of high school and was part of the basketball team. One of the team members did not care for either one of us. He was indifferent and unfriendly. This situation really bothered me and I thought to myself, “I have to do something about it.” Then I decided to look for an opportunity to talk to this young man after one of the basketball games. When the day came, I told him a few kind words to break the ice. Although, he didn’t respond friendly to my approach, he seemed okay with my action. Nevertheless, some days later, to my surprise, my son told me that this boy had told him that his Mom was a weirdo. My son had tried to defend me, short of fighting with him. In spite of attempting to ignore that comment, I was very affected by the whole situation and my feelings were very hurt. At that point, I just decided to let it go and pray for peace. I told my son how I felt and after several days he told me that I didn’t have to worry anymore about what this boy said because the school's directors had found out that he was a bad boy and was in a lot of trouble. This individual had been caught not only using drugs but also selling them to other students in the high school. After being discovered, his penalty was expulsion. At that moment I was able to understand why it wasn’t worth worrying about this person’s opinion. Sincerely, I was sorry for him and asked God to bring him to the right path and keep protecting my son from bad influences. My son had confessed me later that this student had been offering him drugs a few times. I learned from this anecdote that some people have very difficult challenges in their lives and first need to learn how to like and love themselves before they have the capacity to accept and like other people who in some way may look and act differently.

Today, I feel I have become more mature and more accustomed to the American culture and also know how to respond better to these differences. These experiences involving my son’s life have given me a great and remarkable opportunity to teach him something new about my own culture and had given him the fortune to understand and feel more comfortable about certain behaviors, including his own.

STUDENT WRITING: Autobiographical by MAYELA PEREZ

My Brown Skin

When I was a child, my world revolved around two people whom I believed were firm and important for me; these people were my parents, Enrique and Martha. I grew up in a family of one boy and four girls. Their names are Carlos, Anna, Elizabeth and Erika. We lived in Parral, Chih., Mexico, which in those times was a small town. My surroundings were happy and comfortable but without any big excesses. I never had any fears nor concerns.

I was raised on a street where everything was close to my house. There was a park where we used to enjoy playing, riding a bicycle, skating, and jumping rope. The Virgin of the Ray Church was where we went to mass on Sundays and we presented flowers to the Virgin in May. At my elementary school, Federico Stallforth, we attended classes. There was also a market which sold fruits, vegetables, meats and groceries. We had a lot of neighbors.

My Mother was an only daughter and she is a beautiful white-skinned woman. My Grandmother lived with us and she was a beautiful white-skinned woman too. Her name was Adela, but we used to call her Guegue. Even though my Grandfather and my Grandmother were separated, they never got a divorce, but I think that for my Grandmother this situation was hard.

Writing about this makes memories of my childhood come to my mind, and I remember my Grandmother as a person that never loved me because my skin was brown like my father’s. I was about six years old when I began to notice that my Guegue always made a distinction between my sister Anna, who is one year older than me, and me. As if it were yesterday, I remember my mother used to dress us in the same clothes but different colors. My Grandmother always had flatteries for Anna. She would say, ”You look pretty, Annita, with this pink dress,” but she never said anything nice to me. Another memory is when we came home with our grades. She always congratulated only Anna for her grades although my grades were always straight A’s.

Time passed and when we were teenagers her feelings for me got worse. When Anna and I went to a party, she always said nice words to Anna, “You look beautiful and your hair is gorgeous, Annita.” She never had any compliments for me, but at the parties I was the one who danced with the most popular or handsome boy. I thought that my dark-skin was a strength to me. Different things such as getting good grades, learning to play piano, learning to dance, painting and helping my father in his work were more important to me than thinking of what was beautiful.

Sometimes under her breath, I would hear my Grandmother say, “I hate dark-skinned people.” She knew I could hear her but instead of resenting this or being sad, I thought, ”Why is my Guegue an unhappy, bitter person?” I never said anything to her, but my sister Anna always stood up for me. She often told my Grandmother that she was a bitter person.

Even though I never received any kind words from my Grandmother, my father and my mother always gave me good compliments. I think that the security I got from my parents shielded me from any negative feeling I might have felt.

My relationship with my Grandmother was always complicated, and I never spoke about this with my parents, but when I grew up my feelings for her definitely changed. I finally came to love her and forgive her because I understood that she had a lot of sadness in her heart.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.

STUDENT WRITING: Observation by JANETT AMORES

Take a Look!

Tepoztlan, also called Town of God, mixes mystical and Mexican tradition. Tepoztlan is located in the state of Morelos is an excellent destination to relax and take a break. Arriving in this magical town takes only one hour from Mexico City. When I visit Tepoztlan, I immediately feel myself transport to another land.

When I arrive in Tepoztlan, the highway left behind, and I get a fantastic view. In front of us appear the Tepozteco Mountain and its impressive cliffs full of trees. This hill is the opposite of Franklin Mountain in El Paso, Texas. While the Tepozteco looks charming and peaceful, Franklin Mountain seems strong and cold.

Narrow streets whose pavement and fences are made of precious natural stone lead to a hotel called “La Posada del Tepozteco.” The building is an old manor house of Mexican ancestry and now turned into a beautiful hotel. After I register at the front desk, I tell the receptionist that I am interested in a “Temazcal.” “The hotel has a Temazcal area,” she replies. We make an appointment for 6 p. m. Andres, who is my husband, asks several questions, such as how long it takes, and what kind of clothes we need. She says, “the Temazcal takes one hour and a half. Wearing cotton clothes is advisable.” “This sounds exciting! “ I say. After that, we go to our room and prepare to go downtown. While we are walking in the main place, we realize that typical clothes are sold at some of the stands of the Saturday market. This market also offers Mexican food like quesadillas, tacos and fresh fish. We really enjoy visiting the Saturday market in Tepoztlan. On this beautiful summer afternoon, the sun is shining covering the entire valley of Tepoztlan. Some people enjoy only walking, Others are having the delicious ice cream which is made of natural fruits.

It is about 5 p.m. so time to go to the hotel and prepare for the Temazcal. A charmin hostess leads Andres and me to the Temazcal bath. As soon as we get to the “Temazcal” area, a couple of hippies appear and welcome us. Someone is carrying lighted volcanic stones into the Temazcal. The Temazcal is a little circular room built of bricks and cement, and it only has a small door in the middle. It is like an igloo or dome. After a few minutes, Carlos our guide says “please stand up.” While he is praying, he is bathing us with a bouquet of herbs and a bowl full of incense. Andres looks at me and seems to disagree. When I enter the little building, I see a rustic cement bench on which fit four or five people comfortably seated. I notice that it is dark but after a few minutes I can tell that in the center are the lighted volcanic stones, two buckets of aromatic water, herb leaves, a little plate with aloe vera pieces, and maracas. There are no windows and the air is scented with aromatherapy oils. Carlos advices, “When I throw water on the volcanic stones, it will produce steam. So you must cover yourselves with herb leaf.” He tells us that Temazcal is derived from ancient Nahuatl, an Aztec dialect; Temaz is Steam- and Calli is House. He also says that the Temazcal was used widely among the Aztecs and Mayas as a therapeutic instrument.

The little door is closed with leaves. Now I really have no idea what to expect. I feel nervous and anxious. The Temazcal ceremony begins. When he sprinkles some aromatic water onto the volcanic stone, the heat in the room intensifies. Carlos swirls branches with leaves around the room. I almost stop breathing when they touch my face. The prayers and singing begin. The energy in the room intensifies and I feel a little dizzy. I get the herb leaf, I drop some water and rub my body with aloe vera. I start to feel better. Carlos prays for the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Carlos and we focus on giving thanks to God. During the ceremony, I really want to leave but I feel a sensation of heat, humidity, and relaxation. When the ceremony is over, we go outside. A friendly hippie lady wraps me in a towel and I admit I feel very good. I realize that my beautiful clothes are stained by water. I rest sitting on the floor for about fifteen minutes. A lady offers us a delicious tea. The Temazcal is an excellent spiritual and therapeutic experience,

STUDENT WRITING: Observation by ARTURO GARCIA

UTEP’s Library

When I hear the word “library,” my mind automatically registers: tranquility, peace, silence, and books. However, now that I am in UTEP’s library I notice that the concept that I had is wrong.

When I was in my university, you could see just smart guys in our library whereas here everyone is different. They do not have a specific pattern. I can see people who look like smart students but others look as if they were going to a rock concert. A kind of peaceful place it is not exactly.
Some people seem to think that they are in the Chamizal Park. For example, there is a young couple of students behind me who think that they are on a park bench. They are watching a movie on a library computer. Every thirty seconds, they kiss each other, and the man is sharing food as if she were a baby. Maybe they have forgotten that they are in the library.

I also notice that this library is not a silent place because everybody talks a lot. Instead of whispering, they are talking however they want. For example, there is a help desk in front of me where a female worker stands up every time that she sees a chair or table in the wrong position. She walks in front of me wearing a pair of brown boots with big zippers that sound like bells and she has a large amount of keys hanging from her belt loops. Can you imagine this kind of person working in a library?

It is funny to see how we disrespect the purpose of the library and we do not respect the rules, not even the employees do. For example, there is a sign on the wall that says: “Please use cell phones outside the center,” but everybody is talking on the phone inside. It looks like an AT&T customer service center.

In addition, this library is divided into two sections. One is the park that I have already mentioned and the other is where the books are. In this specific section, there are no people. Nobody wants to take a book when they can use a computer which has the same information. Obviously, some students have to check out some books, but most students go to the computer room to enjoy their time in the library.
I like the library. It is very organized and everything is clean. It has a lot of very nice details. However, I think that the name “library” is a misnomer; I would call it “The Fun Library.”