January 20, 2010
Greetings Students:
Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings a level of academic and personal competence you expect. I also hope this year has many residual pleasant surprises in store for you, the kind of surprises one finds when he or she works hard.
I am an easy person to talk to, and I am relatively flexible as long as standards are not compromised. Writing is a process which takes a certain level of practice; if students do not put in the time, desired results, like a passing grade, is impossible to achieve.
This semester we are looking at women who have accomplished much in the face of tremendous obstacles. There is only one assigned reader (I just added another book, read on).
I will pass out essays and poetry from time to time to augment this absence of texts you have to purchase. Each student will have the opportunity to read a book, an autobiography or biography about a woman they admire—preferably, the woman is alive and even living in Northern California. Students will write an essay about this person and make an oral presentation. This book can coincide with the social entrepreneur assignment, which looks at a person in the San Francisco Bay Area Community who as a business person is changing society in a positive way. This person can be an artist: performance or visual, an educator or a politician.
We will be reading and writing and thinking, and writing about what we are thinking, this semester. Get plenty of sleep; I expect you to be awake at 8 AM, 9 AM and 10 AM. I also don’t expect students who have the afternoon class to fall asleep. Lunch makes some folks sleepy and hunger in the morning does the same, so if you need coffee, bring it with you to class. Eat breakfast at home.
If you have taken my class before, we will be using the book: Stewart Pidd Hates English. For students who have successfully completed the book, they will write other essays and then use the SPHE model to critique their essays per my corrections. Such students will develop their own templates for the errors made, if any, of the essays written.
I usually have a theme, but outside of women, this semester will be about you. Each of us will set goals and develop plans to achieve these objectives. College is bigger than a passing grade; higher education is an opportunity I hope each of you is not too busy to take advantage of. Success in life is about developing relationships. So much of what we achieve is tied to who we know and the links we establish between the known and the unknown or what is possible. Another name for what is possible is opportunity.
I went to Dakar, West Africa, over the winter recess. I stayed with people I didn’t know; I knew someone who knew the person who knew the family and that person. In one instance, I met the person on-line. Of the three people, the only person I’d met before was Pape whom I’d met a year earlier at a conference. It was intuitive like this my entire visit. Without linguistic ability—no French and no Wolof, I was somewhat dependent on the kindness of a lot of strangers and it worked out. It was hard sometimes, and I got lost a lot when alone, but it worked and I made friends for life.
College is like that too. If this is your second semester and you don’t know any students, have any phone numbers or have any study buddies, then this is the semester to establish at least two relationships with peers. No one can get to the top alone, well maybe some people can, but it will be a cold and lonely walk on the moon.
We will look at personal responsibility and communication. We will also look at inspiration and how one stays motivated and inspired when it seems that you’re the only one who notices or cares. This is where the fan club or personal cheering section comes in handy.
I teach four classes: two English 1A –Monday-Thursday, 8-8:50 (meets in D206 4 Units 23043) and 9-9:50 AM (meets in D205 4 Units, 23044); English 201 A/B 10-11:50 MW (meets in D229 4 Units 230660; (201B 23074), and English 201 A/B MW 1-2:50 (meets in A213 4 Units 23067; 201B 23075). We will meet in a classroom with technology once a week, beginning in a couple of weeks.
I use technology a lot. For those students who are not technologically savvy; keep an open mind and you will leave the course more capable than when you entered. I’d also suggest enrolling in a basic keyboarding and/or computer class to get more practice. COA has computer labs which are free and available to students who enroll in a free course. Visit the open lab, in the L-bldg. to register for the course or see your counselor. Students cannot use the academic labs until enrolled, and it takes 24 hours for the enrollment to take effect, so don’t wait until the last moment like when a paper is due and you can’t use the lab to print it to enroll. The academic labs are on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC). The library is on the first floor.
What else?
I live in Oakland and have two daughters and a granddaughter whose birthday is Friday, January 22. She will be 7. I am going to her school for cupcakes. I am the eldest of four children and was born in New Orleans. Yes, my family was affected by Katrina. I lost family and all my family in parts of Mississippi and New Orleans lost homes. Most are back in their rebuilt homes in Mississippi and Louisiana.
I love to write and write professionally. While I don’t expect you to love it as much as I do, I hope you will come to find writing easier to accomplish and feel less intimidated by the end of the course. The plan is for each student to gain skills which will make him or her feel more adept at addressing the writing tasks students meet within and without the academy in their daily lives. Writing is communication.
Reading and writing and thinking are not limited to college. In western culture the text is the basis for all knowledge. If it isn’t in a book, information is assumed to lack credibility. The text is like a receipt for services. It is evidence that what you say exists. This is not true of all cultures. In some cultures, one’s verbal agreement is binding; not here. If one wants evidence or proof, it needs to be written down somewhere and at times, notarized (smile). When I was in Dakar last Friday, two men came flying out of a building, rushing to the mosque to meet with the imam to marry their children. There is often no license, just the agreement between the two heads of the family (fathers or male guardians), that their children can wed. The civic ceremony or paperwork happens later once the religious ceremony occurs. Oral contracts carry the same weight or perhaps more than the written word in this culture. I was raised this way also; what one said reflected one’s character—one’s word was one’s bond and I was taught that one should give her life before her word failed. Now I wasn’t going to kill myself, but just the idea made me stop and think before I spoke. I understood the importance of words, that one didn't throw them around carelessly. When I got older, I learned that this didn’t mean one was perfect and that retraction wasn't possible when one made an error. I learned that it was okay to correct statements uttered later when more information warranted a changed position.
My kids loved this—a mother who admitted she wasn’t perfect (smile).
That said, this is a portfolio based course, buy a travel drive and keep all of your work. Paper matters here. Do not throw anything away, especially graded work—keep all your drafts. Well before I start making this letter into a syllabus, which I will give you at the next meeting, let’s see, what else can I tell you?
I will not take it personally if you decide after this first class to take another one. We have many great teachers at the College of Alameda and in the Peralta College District, like Laney through the Tube, so don’t feel stuck. However, if you are stuck—this is the best time for you, as I said earlier, talk to me when you don’t understand a concept, if you are having difficulties in the class, or problems at home are spilling over into your academic life. I am not a therapist, counselors are trained in this field, but I can direct you to appropriate assistance if the problem is beyond my expertise. Dropping the class is always an option if you can’t give it 100 percent. I don't give incompletes.
If you are a returning student, let this be the last time you take this course. Complete it.
I know life happens, but life is going to continue happening. It keeps moving along whether you move or not, so set your goals, tell your family what they are, and ask for their support. Tell your family when you have a paper due, when you need to study, how to assist you in your short and long term academic goals, to keep the children off the computer, out of your hair and to respect your work.
It took me over ten years, I think 13 to get my BA because I got married, became pregnant and dropped out in my third year, then after having two children returned to college—from UC Berkeley to Merritt College and Laney and Contra Costa and Las Positas, then Holy Names College. I took my kids to college with me after I got off work, and then on alternative weekends I went to school as well. It only took me two years to complete the BA once I got back into a four year college, but I could have had a Ph.D. if I’d stayed focused and stayed single. But I like my children, they are good company and my granddaughter is a nice kid as well and I have friends who don’t have kids and they are lonely, so I am happy for the choices I made—since I can’t reverse them.
My choices are reflected in the population who attend community college. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to teach at this level--the other has to do with my commitment to adult and family literacy, but I am getting tired. I am tired of adults who want a free ride, who don’t like to work or apply the necessary effort to master the skills necessary to be a proficient writer. I am tired of students who tell me how they got As in high school or in their last college writing course and the teachers they had who lied to them and gave them grades which reflected a competency the writer lacked. I am also tired of students who think they can write and don’t read, who want to participate without doing homework who are not serious and waste valuable time, mine and yours and their own.
I am honest. I do not believe in social promotion and though I do not grade on curves, sometimes students work hard but lack the skills necessary to pass the class the first go round.
This is not a reason to give up. If you know you are not well-prepared or have areas or gaps in your skills, get a tutor, another free service you can ascertain with that course offered through the LRC. Don’t wait until half the semester is over, get help now. I am not a tutor or an editor. If grammar is an issue, take a grammar course or get extra help. Stewart Pidd Hates English, one of our books will help you identify errors in a character’s writing assignments and then you will use this skill to address your own errors, however for some students, SPHE is not a refresher, it is the first time they have addressed these concepts and the short chapters might not be enough practice. This is not cause for shame, the shame is not being honest with oneself and failing when one could have succeeded if he or she had asked for assistance. We move along at a certain pace and often students mistakenly think SPHE is easy and let the work slip and then get behind and find catching up almost impossible.
I wish I didn’t have to use SPHE. Some students hate SPHE, but so many students do not know how to write an essay which doesn’t contain: confused words, subject verb agreement or pronoun agreement issues, MLA or works cited problems, oh and the big thing, plagiarizing; a lot of students plagiarize because they don’t know the difference between a free and literal paraphrase. SPHE addresses all of this in nonsense essays written by a nincompoop, Stewart Pidd, who hates English. You get to grade him and then justify his grade ‘cause he just might contest it.
For the English 1A class we are going to use Half the Sky Ale House collection of poetry 2009. The books will be in the college book store. You can pick up Half the Sky at any good book store, like the one on Park Street or in Shoreline Mall. You can borrow Half the Sky from a public library, if money is an issue. I plan to get a couple of copies of SPHE toput in the library and Writing Center. The first edition is there already. I think there are 2-3 in reference. Just ask for them.
The third book is your choice, start looking now for a book about a woman you admire. For English 201, the books are in the college bookstore. Oral Lee Brown has adopted entire classes and put children through college. Isabel Allende is a wonderful writer and philanthropist. Favianna Rodriguez is a fabulous artist who is one of the founders of East Side Arts Alliance. Angela Davis has done tremendous work to abolish the prison industrial complex. Diana Block is a wonderful activist for women's rights, board member of California Coalition for Women Prisoners, especially women inside and has a new book out, Arm the Spirit, about her activism work and subsequent imprisonment (Weather Underground), Halifu Osumare, scholar has written a book about hip hop as a global movement. She teaches at UC Davis and started Citidance in Oakland. Then there is Alice Walker, and Genny Lim and Avotcja, not to mention the filmmakers, educators, retired revolutionaries--just kidding, I don't think revolutionaries retire, like Kiilu Nyasha former Black Panther Party member and journalist, and Gail Shaw, MD, also a friend to the Party (Honkies for Huey).
For my English 201 folks, you will also have to read another book about or by woman you admire. The book can be fiction or nonfiction. It needs to be good literature though. If you need a suggestion let me know. I just remembered that I wanted to use a graphic novel, but maybe I’ll do this in the fall. So as it stands, the second book is your choice. Today is the first anniversary of President Obama’s term in office. I remember last January 20—the year seemed to have passed very quickly.
I hope none of you has family in Haiti, if so, I want to offer my condolences and hope for more efficient and speedy aid. People are suffering unnecessarily. Students who have taken my course before need to purchase, Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers. Everyone needs a dictionary. Carry your dictionary and Hacker or SPHE to class daily. You also need Half the Sky. We will start the book immediately.
When the anniversary of the war, March 18-19 rolls around we will remember it with poetry which captures its bitter taste. I will give you handouts. We will read Lysistratra in the English 1A class, another handout (website). I encourage students to bring laptops to class. Hopefully we can go to a play or a film, a poetry reading, a lecture or an art show together. If you do any of these things and write about it, you can get extra credit.
For English 1A, SPHE is a refresher. I hope to breeze through it in six weeks once we start. We will also look at themes of love: agape, philia and eros as addressed by Martin Luther King Jr., in one of his speeches and then students will write an argument favoring one of the types of love over the others. Another notable occurrence this semester is the anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
For those students who have completed SPHE, I will have you work in groups, writing essays on other related topics, which students will then critique and analyze similar to the way Stewart Pidd’s essays were analyzed. I write for a newspaper (San Francisco Bay View) and have an Internet radio show, "Wanda's Picks," that broadcasts twice a week: Wednesday mornings, 6-7:30 AM and Fridays, 8-10 AM. I am here M-Th, not on Fridays. A good way to reach me is to call me. Call me after you have spoken to your classmate whose number you will get when we do our introductions next week. I don’t mind students calling me, but choose your moments wisely. I do not let others waste my time; it’s too valuable, more precious than gold. Sometimes people get their feelings hurt when I tell them so.
Textbook recap:
Stewart Pidd Hates English by Gary Politt and Craig Baker (both classes, those who haven’t already completed it)
Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers (English 1A and English 201B if you have completed SPHE)
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (both classes)
Alehouse Number 3 2009 “Poetry on Tap” (English 1A)
A college dictionary
A notebook
A folder for completed work
A stapler
Paperclips
Pencils and blue and black ink pens
A travel drive to save work on the computer
The class blog for English 201 is http://professorsabirsposse.blogspot.com
The class blog got English 1A is http://professorwandasposse.blogspot.com
My email address is: professorwandasposse@gmail.com (I have a peralta.edu account but I don’t check it regularly. My office number is (510) 748-2131. Don’t leave messages on the phone. Call me on my cell. I will give you the number in class.
Homework:
Respond to my letter on the blog. Tell me about yourself and your plans for this semester and how this fits into your overall plans for college and life. Don’t forget to tell me which section (time) your class meets and for English 201, whether you are in 201 A or 201 B, and what section for English 1A.
Monday, bring in a news article about something of interest to you (minimally 250 words). Read the article first. We are going to practice paraphrasing: literal paraphrasing and summarizing. For English 1A bring in a magazine length article—several pages. Read the article in advance.
Greetings Students:
Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings a level of academic and personal competence you expect. I also hope this year has many residual pleasant surprises in store for you, the kind of surprises one finds when he or she works hard.
I am an easy person to talk to, and I am relatively flexible as long as standards are not compromised. Writing is a process which takes a certain level of practice; if students do not put in the time, desired results, like a passing grade, is impossible to achieve.
This semester we are looking at women who have accomplished much in the face of tremendous obstacles. There is only one assigned reader (I just added another book, read on).
I will pass out essays and poetry from time to time to augment this absence of texts you have to purchase. Each student will have the opportunity to read a book, an autobiography or biography about a woman they admire—preferably, the woman is alive and even living in Northern California. Students will write an essay about this person and make an oral presentation. This book can coincide with the social entrepreneur assignment, which looks at a person in the San Francisco Bay Area Community who as a business person is changing society in a positive way. This person can be an artist: performance or visual, an educator or a politician.
We will be reading and writing and thinking, and writing about what we are thinking, this semester. Get plenty of sleep; I expect you to be awake at 8 AM, 9 AM and 10 AM. I also don’t expect students who have the afternoon class to fall asleep. Lunch makes some folks sleepy and hunger in the morning does the same, so if you need coffee, bring it with you to class. Eat breakfast at home.
If you have taken my class before, we will be using the book: Stewart Pidd Hates English. For students who have successfully completed the book, they will write other essays and then use the SPHE model to critique their essays per my corrections. Such students will develop their own templates for the errors made, if any, of the essays written.
I usually have a theme, but outside of women, this semester will be about you. Each of us will set goals and develop plans to achieve these objectives. College is bigger than a passing grade; higher education is an opportunity I hope each of you is not too busy to take advantage of. Success in life is about developing relationships. So much of what we achieve is tied to who we know and the links we establish between the known and the unknown or what is possible. Another name for what is possible is opportunity.
I went to Dakar, West Africa, over the winter recess. I stayed with people I didn’t know; I knew someone who knew the person who knew the family and that person. In one instance, I met the person on-line. Of the three people, the only person I’d met before was Pape whom I’d met a year earlier at a conference. It was intuitive like this my entire visit. Without linguistic ability—no French and no Wolof, I was somewhat dependent on the kindness of a lot of strangers and it worked out. It was hard sometimes, and I got lost a lot when alone, but it worked and I made friends for life.
College is like that too. If this is your second semester and you don’t know any students, have any phone numbers or have any study buddies, then this is the semester to establish at least two relationships with peers. No one can get to the top alone, well maybe some people can, but it will be a cold and lonely walk on the moon.
We will look at personal responsibility and communication. We will also look at inspiration and how one stays motivated and inspired when it seems that you’re the only one who notices or cares. This is where the fan club or personal cheering section comes in handy.
I teach four classes: two English 1A –Monday-Thursday, 8-8:50 (meets in D206 4 Units 23043) and 9-9:50 AM (meets in D205 4 Units, 23044); English 201 A/B 10-11:50 MW (meets in D229 4 Units 230660; (201B 23074), and English 201 A/B MW 1-2:50 (meets in A213 4 Units 23067; 201B 23075). We will meet in a classroom with technology once a week, beginning in a couple of weeks.
I use technology a lot. For those students who are not technologically savvy; keep an open mind and you will leave the course more capable than when you entered. I’d also suggest enrolling in a basic keyboarding and/or computer class to get more practice. COA has computer labs which are free and available to students who enroll in a free course. Visit the open lab, in the L-bldg. to register for the course or see your counselor. Students cannot use the academic labs until enrolled, and it takes 24 hours for the enrollment to take effect, so don’t wait until the last moment like when a paper is due and you can’t use the lab to print it to enroll. The academic labs are on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC). The library is on the first floor.
What else?
I live in Oakland and have two daughters and a granddaughter whose birthday is Friday, January 22. She will be 7. I am going to her school for cupcakes. I am the eldest of four children and was born in New Orleans. Yes, my family was affected by Katrina. I lost family and all my family in parts of Mississippi and New Orleans lost homes. Most are back in their rebuilt homes in Mississippi and Louisiana.
I love to write and write professionally. While I don’t expect you to love it as much as I do, I hope you will come to find writing easier to accomplish and feel less intimidated by the end of the course. The plan is for each student to gain skills which will make him or her feel more adept at addressing the writing tasks students meet within and without the academy in their daily lives. Writing is communication.
Reading and writing and thinking are not limited to college. In western culture the text is the basis for all knowledge. If it isn’t in a book, information is assumed to lack credibility. The text is like a receipt for services. It is evidence that what you say exists. This is not true of all cultures. In some cultures, one’s verbal agreement is binding; not here. If one wants evidence or proof, it needs to be written down somewhere and at times, notarized (smile). When I was in Dakar last Friday, two men came flying out of a building, rushing to the mosque to meet with the imam to marry their children. There is often no license, just the agreement between the two heads of the family (fathers or male guardians), that their children can wed. The civic ceremony or paperwork happens later once the religious ceremony occurs. Oral contracts carry the same weight or perhaps more than the written word in this culture. I was raised this way also; what one said reflected one’s character—one’s word was one’s bond and I was taught that one should give her life before her word failed. Now I wasn’t going to kill myself, but just the idea made me stop and think before I spoke. I understood the importance of words, that one didn't throw them around carelessly. When I got older, I learned that this didn’t mean one was perfect and that retraction wasn't possible when one made an error. I learned that it was okay to correct statements uttered later when more information warranted a changed position.
My kids loved this—a mother who admitted she wasn’t perfect (smile).
That said, this is a portfolio based course, buy a travel drive and keep all of your work. Paper matters here. Do not throw anything away, especially graded work—keep all your drafts. Well before I start making this letter into a syllabus, which I will give you at the next meeting, let’s see, what else can I tell you?
I will not take it personally if you decide after this first class to take another one. We have many great teachers at the College of Alameda and in the Peralta College District, like Laney through the Tube, so don’t feel stuck. However, if you are stuck—this is the best time for you, as I said earlier, talk to me when you don’t understand a concept, if you are having difficulties in the class, or problems at home are spilling over into your academic life. I am not a therapist, counselors are trained in this field, but I can direct you to appropriate assistance if the problem is beyond my expertise. Dropping the class is always an option if you can’t give it 100 percent. I don't give incompletes.
If you are a returning student, let this be the last time you take this course. Complete it.
I know life happens, but life is going to continue happening. It keeps moving along whether you move or not, so set your goals, tell your family what they are, and ask for their support. Tell your family when you have a paper due, when you need to study, how to assist you in your short and long term academic goals, to keep the children off the computer, out of your hair and to respect your work.
It took me over ten years, I think 13 to get my BA because I got married, became pregnant and dropped out in my third year, then after having two children returned to college—from UC Berkeley to Merritt College and Laney and Contra Costa and Las Positas, then Holy Names College. I took my kids to college with me after I got off work, and then on alternative weekends I went to school as well. It only took me two years to complete the BA once I got back into a four year college, but I could have had a Ph.D. if I’d stayed focused and stayed single. But I like my children, they are good company and my granddaughter is a nice kid as well and I have friends who don’t have kids and they are lonely, so I am happy for the choices I made—since I can’t reverse them.
My choices are reflected in the population who attend community college. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to teach at this level--the other has to do with my commitment to adult and family literacy, but I am getting tired. I am tired of adults who want a free ride, who don’t like to work or apply the necessary effort to master the skills necessary to be a proficient writer. I am tired of students who tell me how they got As in high school or in their last college writing course and the teachers they had who lied to them and gave them grades which reflected a competency the writer lacked. I am also tired of students who think they can write and don’t read, who want to participate without doing homework who are not serious and waste valuable time, mine and yours and their own.
I am honest. I do not believe in social promotion and though I do not grade on curves, sometimes students work hard but lack the skills necessary to pass the class the first go round.
This is not a reason to give up. If you know you are not well-prepared or have areas or gaps in your skills, get a tutor, another free service you can ascertain with that course offered through the LRC. Don’t wait until half the semester is over, get help now. I am not a tutor or an editor. If grammar is an issue, take a grammar course or get extra help. Stewart Pidd Hates English, one of our books will help you identify errors in a character’s writing assignments and then you will use this skill to address your own errors, however for some students, SPHE is not a refresher, it is the first time they have addressed these concepts and the short chapters might not be enough practice. This is not cause for shame, the shame is not being honest with oneself and failing when one could have succeeded if he or she had asked for assistance. We move along at a certain pace and often students mistakenly think SPHE is easy and let the work slip and then get behind and find catching up almost impossible.
I wish I didn’t have to use SPHE. Some students hate SPHE, but so many students do not know how to write an essay which doesn’t contain: confused words, subject verb agreement or pronoun agreement issues, MLA or works cited problems, oh and the big thing, plagiarizing; a lot of students plagiarize because they don’t know the difference between a free and literal paraphrase. SPHE addresses all of this in nonsense essays written by a nincompoop, Stewart Pidd, who hates English. You get to grade him and then justify his grade ‘cause he just might contest it.
For the English 1A class we are going to use Half the Sky Ale House collection of poetry 2009. The books will be in the college book store. You can pick up Half the Sky at any good book store, like the one on Park Street or in Shoreline Mall. You can borrow Half the Sky from a public library, if money is an issue. I plan to get a couple of copies of SPHE toput in the library and Writing Center. The first edition is there already. I think there are 2-3 in reference. Just ask for them.
The third book is your choice, start looking now for a book about a woman you admire. For English 201, the books are in the college bookstore. Oral Lee Brown has adopted entire classes and put children through college. Isabel Allende is a wonderful writer and philanthropist. Favianna Rodriguez is a fabulous artist who is one of the founders of East Side Arts Alliance. Angela Davis has done tremendous work to abolish the prison industrial complex. Diana Block is a wonderful activist for women's rights, board member of California Coalition for Women Prisoners, especially women inside and has a new book out, Arm the Spirit, about her activism work and subsequent imprisonment (Weather Underground), Halifu Osumare, scholar has written a book about hip hop as a global movement. She teaches at UC Davis and started Citidance in Oakland. Then there is Alice Walker, and Genny Lim and Avotcja, not to mention the filmmakers, educators, retired revolutionaries--just kidding, I don't think revolutionaries retire, like Kiilu Nyasha former Black Panther Party member and journalist, and Gail Shaw, MD, also a friend to the Party (Honkies for Huey).
For my English 201 folks, you will also have to read another book about or by woman you admire. The book can be fiction or nonfiction. It needs to be good literature though. If you need a suggestion let me know. I just remembered that I wanted to use a graphic novel, but maybe I’ll do this in the fall. So as it stands, the second book is your choice. Today is the first anniversary of President Obama’s term in office. I remember last January 20—the year seemed to have passed very quickly.
I hope none of you has family in Haiti, if so, I want to offer my condolences and hope for more efficient and speedy aid. People are suffering unnecessarily. Students who have taken my course before need to purchase, Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers. Everyone needs a dictionary. Carry your dictionary and Hacker or SPHE to class daily. You also need Half the Sky. We will start the book immediately.
When the anniversary of the war, March 18-19 rolls around we will remember it with poetry which captures its bitter taste. I will give you handouts. We will read Lysistratra in the English 1A class, another handout (website). I encourage students to bring laptops to class. Hopefully we can go to a play or a film, a poetry reading, a lecture or an art show together. If you do any of these things and write about it, you can get extra credit.
For English 1A, SPHE is a refresher. I hope to breeze through it in six weeks once we start. We will also look at themes of love: agape, philia and eros as addressed by Martin Luther King Jr., in one of his speeches and then students will write an argument favoring one of the types of love over the others. Another notable occurrence this semester is the anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
For those students who have completed SPHE, I will have you work in groups, writing essays on other related topics, which students will then critique and analyze similar to the way Stewart Pidd’s essays were analyzed. I write for a newspaper (San Francisco Bay View) and have an Internet radio show, "Wanda's Picks," that broadcasts twice a week: Wednesday mornings, 6-7:30 AM and Fridays, 8-10 AM. I am here M-Th, not on Fridays. A good way to reach me is to call me. Call me after you have spoken to your classmate whose number you will get when we do our introductions next week. I don’t mind students calling me, but choose your moments wisely. I do not let others waste my time; it’s too valuable, more precious than gold. Sometimes people get their feelings hurt when I tell them so.
Textbook recap:
Stewart Pidd Hates English by Gary Politt and Craig Baker (both classes, those who haven’t already completed it)
Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers (English 1A and English 201B if you have completed SPHE)
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (both classes)
Alehouse Number 3 2009 “Poetry on Tap” (English 1A)
A college dictionary
A notebook
A folder for completed work
A stapler
Paperclips
Pencils and blue and black ink pens
A travel drive to save work on the computer
The class blog for English 201 is http://professorsabirsposse.blogspot.com
The class blog got English 1A is http://professorwandasposse.blogspot.com
My email address is: professorwandasposse@gmail.com (I have a peralta.edu account but I don’t check it regularly. My office number is (510) 748-2131. Don’t leave messages on the phone. Call me on my cell. I will give you the number in class.
Homework:
Respond to my letter on the blog. Tell me about yourself and your plans for this semester and how this fits into your overall plans for college and life. Don’t forget to tell me which section (time) your class meets and for English 201, whether you are in 201 A or 201 B, and what section for English 1A.
Monday, bring in a news article about something of interest to you (minimally 250 words). Read the article first. We are going to practice paraphrasing: literal paraphrasing and summarizing. For English 1A bring in a magazine length article—several pages. Read the article in advance.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:04 PM
81 Comments:
Hello Professor Sabir.
My name is Brittany Tuazon one of your many students in your Writing and Composition 1A class at 9:00AM. You revealed important things about yourself and your class. I feel you must know what kind of students you have. It is my second year of community college here at COA. I finally realizing the importance of education and the value of time and money-which you mention in your letter. I have direction and the drive that fuels my heart and mind. I work for my education and my independence.
I thoroughly enjoy your feministic attitude that will guide me for future vendettas. Amongst many things you discuss, I believe the empowerment of woman is a must in this male dominated society. We as woman are just coming out after all this time. We must see that we are very powerful beings with an untapped potential. And I can’t wait to explore this material. I have a poetic heart that finds the beauty in everything. And Love the fact you are incorporating poetry in our curriculum.
Within your informative letter to all your students you discusses means of success, rules of your class, and upfront reveal who you are. I found your personally experience and things about your life refreshing. Your letter revealed to me what kind of teacher you are and I found comfort in that; you are here for us. Reassuring us that we are among friends. Consoling us about the comfortable learning environment and provide support for all your students. Allowing us to see that success is attainable in your class. I appreciate everything you shared and hold nothing but respect for you.
Along with personal facts about you, you include the curriculum and address the future assignments that we will partake. In addition to varies books needed for the course. I find your main focus of the class consists of Greek philosophy/mythology, woman studies, and poetry- Three of which tingle my curiosity. I am very eager to get started and learn anything and everything you wish to pass along to us.
You provide all the necessary information to guarantee our success in your class. Among the given information I find that this class will benefit me immensely and I remain to be a very eager beaver to start this semester with you. You possess great wisdom and an honest heart that will make our education worthwhile. I feel I can learn a lot from you inside and outside of the lecture. I thank you in advance for the hard work, honesty, and patience you possess for us.
Hi Brittany:
I loved your comments. I hope the class meets your expectations. Keep me posted on how things are going for you. You posted your comment on the wrong site. "Professor Sabir's Posse" is my English 201 class. Same letter, different class. I have reposted your comment here.
Have a great weekend. I am going to a poetry event on Sunday afternoon. Would you like to join me? Call me. It's in Berkeley at Rebecca's Books. There is an open mic as well, so you can bring poetry to share.
WS
My name is David Carlson and I'm in your 8am 1A class.
I'm a Business Major attending college for the first time at 37 after losing my job as a Retail Buyer for a local grocery chain. I'm trying to get through school quickly in hopes of having at least an AA by the time the economy turns around. Consequently, I'm taking a rather heavy load; I'll do my best to keep up.
I must admit that I'm reeling at the notion that three required books plus a fourth of our choosing can be described as, "this absence of texts you have to purchase."
Last thing - are we supposed to catch the errors in your letter as part of this assignment?
James Barker
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Assignment #1 Responding To Your Letter
Well there was around 30 years ago a man by the name of James Earl Barker and a woman whose name is Anastasia Ratcliff. These two individuals had an intimate relationship and though their relationship was a torn one (her serious mental issues and his drug addictions) they conceived three children. I’m the middle child and the only son of this union that is no more (and never really was). So here I am now, 29 years old focused on enjoying life and all it has to offer me against all odds. Without elongating into an autobiography of my life, I’m cutting straight to the chase (snip). My goals for this semester are to complete my four classes with excellent marks one of which I am a student in your 9-9:50am English 1A class. Also continue to grow my social resume’. In terms of my life aspirations and how my schooling fits into that are as follows: Graduate from school with my masters, become a successful politician, a professor of Government and continue my spiritual enlightenment. These goals that I have can be accomplished without a degree but I understand that school is much more than just grades. But rather an opportunity to network through building healthy relationships, with teachers and students alike in order that we may help progress this world/body for the betterment and inject the fuel of life into a dyeing world through what I call the “INSPITE OF LOVE”.
Hello Professor Wanda Sabir,
My name is Romina Sarmiento and I am in your 9am-9:50am English 1A class. I’m 32 years old and I used to be a single mother. I say used to because I was recently incarcerated in a state penitentiary and during that time I lost temporary legal custody of my daughter. That is reason #2 for me going to school. Reason #1 is because I want to have a better productive life for myself as opposed to the rough street life I used to live. I haven’t been in school for a long while. So it might take me some time to get used to it.
I am taking this class as part of the requirements before I take my actual major, which is, Dental Assisting. My goal is to successfully complete all my classes, obtain certification in that field, land a good job in the meantime, and further my studies in that field to obtain a degree. Although, my ultimate goal is to make changes in my life and myself to finally live the better life that I’ve always wanted and gain back custody of my daughter.
There were a few things in your blog that you mentioned that I think will be interesting to learn. Reading about women who have succeeded in life despite hardships catches my attention. I look forward to learning much from you.
To the student who asked me if catching the errors in my letter were a part of the assignment, knock yourself out if you like.
There is always room for improvement; however, at some point one has to turn it in deadlines you know.
I revised the letter I read to you. I think all writing is a draft,some more drafty than others.
To the student who is trying to get her life back on track and regain coustody of her daughter, good luck. I am a board member of California Coalition For Women Prisoners and know women who have lost custody of their children -in one case the child was adopted out,but the mother recently sued and won visitation rights.
I am impressed so far with the narrative writing. It looks like we will speed through SPHE quickly so we can get on with the deep conversations and substative writing.
Yes, four books is nothing. Wait until university where one can have 5-7 titles to read. SPHE doesn't really count (smile). When I was at UC Berkeley, in a Comparative Lit course (equivalent to Eng 1A) we had that many books to read,although I didn't really learn to write until graduate school where I learned about essay structure, including thesis sentences and formal arguments.
My graduate degree is in Writing from the University of San Francisco.
WS
Flora Diamond
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Assignment #1 Responding To Your Letter
I don't know really where to start or what to say. It's extremely difficult when your thoughts move faster then you can write down. I guess no answer is the wrong answer, it's what you say. Here it goes:
Sometimes I feel my life ended when I was sexually assaulted when I was 13. After that moment in my life I was flung into a downward spiral of depression. The next few years in high school, I secluded on purpose, refusing physical or mental friendships from others. I made myself a loser on purpose to make sure I wouldn't get hurt again. It only made things worse.
My junior year I met another sad soul whom I could relate with. She was into drugs. Thus starts a new chapter in my life, DRUGS. For a year and a half I snorted, smoked, shot up anything I could get my hands on. Along the way I met another sad creature who would become my future husband....yes, I'm married and 18.
My life came to a halt the day I was arrested for possession. Throughout my drunken mind state I kept thinking, "How the fuck do I get out of this?!" My escapist mind came to the conclusion that I should check myself into a rehabilitation center to appear honest to the judge. Then once I got out I would get my cannabis card, 'legally' grow marijuana and get rich. Little did I know that one month of detoxing would change my life forever..... again xD
I came out anew. Ready to be sober, but lost my sobriety date after one month clean to mary. I've had bumps and mistakes since then but I have kept my clean date since April 30, 2009.
As of now I am starting my first semester at COA, trying my hardest whilst battling depression and addiction. The drugs left me with a poor short term memory and a newly discovered mental disorder. It's hard for me to even remember yesterday and the mental disorder is rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Basically going from depressed to manic within a 24 hour period. Which leaves me in a state of a dreamworld. So as of now I have no plans for my future.
I can tell that this course will be a great challenge for me, something I wasn't expecting from a COA teacher; but I am going to try my hardest to FINISH this course with a passing grade. I think that will be my goal and motivation for this new year.
I feel for the woman how recently lost her child due to being incarcerated. Also the man who recently lost his job. If you come back to read this, know that my thoughts are with you and I wish you both the best. That was very personal information you choose to sure, most people aren't comfortable with doing that.
I appreciate you sharing your personal life with me and if this post is removed due to the personal content in it being too much, then I completely understand.
Safe Paths
~Flora
Chelsea Eomurian- English 1A 9:00am
I am a 19 year old 2nd year college student, but this is only my second semester in the Peralta district. After completing high school I went on to receive my Baking and Pastry degree at a school in Los Angeles, where I grew up. I have a deep passion for baking, but I have decided to put that off(professionally) in order to continue my education. Any other bakers out there, don't be shy! I could always use an extra pair of hands or another creative mind in the kitchen! I know very few people here but decided to move North after visiting my boyfriend in Sonoma in November 2008. I completely fell in love with the friendly people and cold weather. I started taking online classes last semester at Berkeley City College because I was still finishing school in LA and didn’t move here until October.
I used to consider myself an extremely shy person up until I started high school. I can’t find any particular rhyme or reason but going to high school helped me open up. As I was getting extremely comfortable with all my classmates and teachers, I lost one of the most important people in my life, my dad. I was lucky enough to be asked to join a group called TAG(TeenAge Grief) and found someone who changed my life. The woman who lead the group became like family to me and helped me through almost everything. An abusive boyfriend, problems with my mom and friends, my own feelings about myself—she was there for every second of it. I honestly don’t know what kind of person I would be today if I had never met her.
Now I am working towards my BA in Business Management and hopefully will transfer in 2 years to UC Berkeley or even San Francisco State. I hope to learn to express myself through writing in this class because it will be very useful in my field of study. A goal of mine is to one day put both of my degrees to use together and open a bakery. I am looking forward to finally starting this semester on campus so I can meet new people and finally make some friends.
Wow Flora! You certainly trusted us with a lot of very personal information. But if you are comfortable with sharing this microscopic view of your life with us, then I celebrate the challenge of helping facilitate your goal of completing this course. I presume you have talked to the folks in DSPS and have a team cheering you on from their vast array of support services. If you haven't checked out what's available there let me know.
I have a friend, Marvin X, who started a theatre company called: Recovery Theatre, and there launched his play, A Day in the Life which addressed the topic of addiction, how one could be at the top of his career, have a great family and end up on the streets. He has recovered, but the play also spoke to hidden addictions, socially acceptable obsessive behaviors and fetishes, like shopping and overeating...to name a couple. I'll let the class know when and if the theatre, which is located in San Francisco's Tenderloin District...where the winos hang out (smile). No seriously it's in the historic Black Hawk theatre district which has fallen on hard times and now looks like skid row. I think there is a website for those who are interested. Geoffrey Grier (sp) is the director and the founder Marvin X Blackmon is clean and sober and still famous.
I've got to run, I am trying to get to the theatre, one thing I missed in Dakar and Kotu--no movie houses. I am going to see Avatar. I went to a gallery in Dakar owned by an actress in Avitar. She is Caribbean ancestry.
Sideeq Islam
January 22, 2010
9:00 – 9:50
Greetings Professor Sabir :
I am a first year college student for the last time in my life. My major is business and I mean business. After 23 years of procrastination I'm finally doing it right. It feels so much better than the three previous attempts—Okay it was five times but the point is that I'm doing better this time around. I have five children ages 23, 21, 13, 9 and 5. My drive for continued education at age 41 is directly connected to the success of my four sons and baby girl. If my oldest who happens to be pursuing an acting career finds himself in need of making a change, he can say, “Daddy did it”, “So can I”. Married with one child can't be his excuse because dad's married with 5. The 21 year old, when wanting to drop out can look and say, “Dad isn't quitting therefore, I won't quit”. He'll also see that the sixth time being a charm rule is just not cool. However, if faced with the same challenge he'll know that there's still hope. Since fathers are perfect (smile), the three youngest will have even a better model to follow in their Professor Daddy.
Retuning to school is not the easiest thing in the world for me to do. I'm sorry to say but my list of complaints start with English. This language that I speak, but don't speak be drivin' me crazy (smile). I must admit that I argue internally with the English alphabet. Why do we need the letter C when we have a K and an S? Then we have the G that also makes the J sound. (The whole konsept gust suks. In grade skool this stough was tuff on me and should have been addressed). The truth is that I love to write. I am a poet and I am working on a book dealing with the struggles and triumphs of relationships. Along with my incredible skills, this English 1A stuff may just serve a purpose (outright laughter). Honestly, as I write this letter several grammatical questions haunt me. Among them are the use of the semicolon, the double dash, quotation marks, parentheses, when numbers should be spelled out and not numbered, and these three dots... If you've noticed, there are neither colons nor semicolons in the entire letter. I was so baffled as to when I should use them that I gave the final draft a complete colon cleansing.
I was a little extremely delighted to see that someone from my community was teaching the course. I was thinking, "Wanda Sabir, that name is familiar". Then I realized (my wife told me), "that's Bilal's ex-wife". The confirmation was in your letter mentioning two daughters. What sealed the deal for me was the NOI life for my word oath. Though I was not in "The First", I've heard the FOI back in the day speech many times.
My expectations to be educated here are heightened given the source. I've met some brilliant people among and associated with the NOI/Masjidul Warritheen community. I look forward to learning from you and have set my goals for success at a high standard. Teaching is an overall goal of mine and I intend to steal various methods from your teaching style. I look forward to this semester as I seek to build on my academic success.
Miguel Angel Guerrero-Gonzalez - English 1A MTWTh 8am - 9pm
Good evening Professor Sabir. So my name is Miguel Guerrero-Gonzalez, as established above. I am one of 3 children in my family and the middle child. Within my life, my brother has been an embellished motivator towards me. He is currently attending CSU Northridge for his master in Mathematics. My younger sister is a high school student and I am acting as her motivator, even though she dislikes what I am majoring in. I was a student at the UC Berkeley but due to financial problems at home, I ended up withdrawing from the University. But, during my time there, I was majoring in Psychology and I just started on Physics.
This semester, similar to last semester, I would like to master all of my classes and get a 4.0 gpa. Even thought that is a fairly difficult task, I take joy in the struggle towards the completion of my goals. Within English, I will devote my time to analyze, understand and achieve the mind of a creative writer. Hopefully, I will master some of these arts within the next 4 months and also in the future.
Since Academics have to be balanced out by the rule of fun, I am also the President of the Psychology Club, member of the Latino Unidos Club and a senator for Student government at the College of Alameda. These affiliations that I have created have really elaborated on my wellbeing and uniqueness by assisting in the decision making for student government, offering new and old student a place of safety and support and also a community of supporting individuals.
In terms of my life, my family has lived through very hard times and my mother has endured a lot of pain in the past, she was a political refugee who fled Chile during the 1973 coup led by Pinochet. My father also was a refugee from Peru. To me, I take the situations that both my parents were in and I adapt it to myself. Even though my mother and father did attend college in their countries but did not complete their bachelors, I have managed to adapt their stories on to me. Since they haven’t completed their education, they are my wings to my dreams.
Now that I look at my computer and the phrase, “Your time to Shine”, glows out of the monitor, I will most likely click the post button on the comment reply window for this reply, but hopefully, it won’t be the last time. ;)
Hi Professor Sabir,
My name is Carmella Montes and I’m currently taking your 8:00 AM English 1A class. I’m 18 years old and this is my second semester at COA. I recently graduated from high school and I am exploring options for my major, currently thinking I may major in psychology. I’m taking your class as a requirement to transfer to a 4 year university. My goals this semester are to improve my writing skills and succeed in your class. I hope to learn a lot this semester and am excited to read new books of interest.
My older brother graduated from UC Berkeley recently, which was a major accomplishment for him and I’m proud to be his sister. He wanted to fulfill his dreams of being a doctor not only for himself, but for our mom too. But, he’s not just my brother. He’s also my friend, and someone that I look up to. Having him in my life greatly influenced me and gave me hope that I could create possibilities for myself, and achieve more than I ever imagined. In the future I hope to have an established career possibly in psychology. Someday I hope that I can be successful enough to provide more financially for my future family than what my mom was able to provide being a single mom.
Life experiences and your family affect your entire life, everything that happens to you shapes your whole world. I believe you should be proud of the obstacles you have faced because you should never be ashamed of your life. I hope this semester will be one to remember and I’m looking forward to starting your class.
I am really enjoying the witty remarks, I don't know why those who have posted comments so far are in the class. Based on your writing ability I can see this semester I will be posting many As on the grade sheets. This promises to be a semester to remember!
I loved your play on punctuation Mr. Islam, and loved that you caught the reference to the Nation of Islam. There are many things I learned in the NOI that I am so happy I experienced, that "lesson" is one of them.
It's great that so many of you want to be role models for your family members and take encouragement from the accomplishments and triumphs of the same.
My ex-husband is a baker--the "No Cookie, Cookie" is his tag line: 100 percent vegan. His bakery is on Foothill and Fairfax: Delightful Foods Bakery. His cookies and other products have a red circle with a diagonal line across the middle like the "do not smoke" sign. They are in most health food stores in California and elsewhere, small neighborhood stores too.
My younger daughter's best friend went to the culinary arts school in San Francisco out of high school, and now is a pastry chef. Her husband is also a chef; together they have a catering business.
The student whose mentor helped her through some tough times like the death of her father, sounds really wonderful--a true blessings.
I remember when my father died. I went the cemetery every Friday after Juma and talked to him. My brother would say, "He's not going anywhere" and friends would think I was morbid, but I took comfort in visiting and sitting with him every Friday the first year following his passing.
Then one day I didn't have to go anymore.
We celebrated his birthday too for the first 5-6 years afterwards with cake and presents and his favorite music.
I think going back to school is a wise choice or option whenever possible when one loses a job. It's an opportunity to sharpen skills, try something new and often one gets paid to do so--this is how I ended up in higher education.
I was in property management, got fired just as I got my BA, volunteered for a while and that vocation turned into a full-time job, which ended after the grant ran out, so I worked as a consultant and went to school at night until I had a masters. A friend told me about Peralta Community College's mentoring program for minority applicants wishing to go into higher education. I went to an interview and was hired here at the College of Alameda. Wendy Williams was my mentor faculty member. This was 12-13 years ago.
Of all the folks getting laid off, so far, higher education, especially for those with tenure, seems to be secure. Although, I have heard stories of times when tenured staff was laid off.
I have to find time to get a doctorate degree (smile).
Avatar was soooo good. We should go see it as a class. I went to the 3D screening. Now I have to go see the Frog Princess, the film about Nelson Mandela, the one about the kid who was homeless and a white family adopted him--the kid played football, and maybe the one with Denzell. It sounds intriguing. I might go see them all before Monday, but I don't know if I have time.
Hello. My name is Marlena Ve'e but you can just call me Lena. I am a student in your English 1A class. I have tried to take your class a few years before. I don't think at that time I was ready to put the effort into the work, but now I am. I really do want to be better at writing and improve my skills in learning grammatics, writing and putting my ideas on paper. I get a feel that this course may be a challenge but I am willing to learn and not make excuses.
I haven't been in school for a while so I might be a little rusty at writing and critical thinking, but I'm excited to be back in school.
I like how you personally introduced yourself and shared some things about you in the letter. It's nice to know a little bit about who's teaching me.
Like your experiences in Africa, I can relate. About a few months ago I returned from serving a full-time mission for 18 months in Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I spent 3 months learning japanese before I headed to Japan to do missionary work. I didn't know the language well and got lost a lot but there were many people that I met that helped and turned into life long friends. I was also able to learn the language, culture and way of life in Japan overtime. I learned that things really aren't impossible as I struggled to learn the language therefore I am more focused about completing this semester of English 1A than I was before.
My major is education and I have a goal to return to Japan to teach english. I want to enjoy reading more and be less intimidated when I have to write an essay. I am looking forward to this semester and hope to learn and develop better writing skills.
Hi Professor Sabir,
My name is Mark Crvarich and I am in your 9am English 1A class. I am a 47, soon to be 48 years old, returning student. Last Thursday was my first time in a classroom in 29 years. You could say I feel a little rusty. I was born in Oakland, where I lived for 30 years. Then I moved to Alameda, got married, and had boy & girl twins.
Having worked for 27 years after high school gave me a great appreciation of the opportunities that having an education will give to you. I cannot tell you how many doors would have been open to me by simply having a degree. Having said that, I have been very fortunate in my life to be able to become a stay at home dad, and return to school.
Reading the posts before mine, I must say that I am very humbled by all the hardships that my fellow students have endured. That is one great things about being in a classroom is it brings people from all different walks of life together. I am looking forward to meeting some of my classmates, developing friendships, and perhaps sharing some of my knowledge of 47 years with my young counterparts.
My plan for this semester is to get back into school, starting with 2 classes, and use it as a springboard to complete an AA degree. If all goes well I will then continue on to get a bachelor's degree. Having 2 nine year olds has given me a greater appreciation of how important an education is. I cannot tell them how important an education is, if I don't make it a priority myself.
Mark Crvarich
I am loving the comments. Keep them coming! I am happy each of you is taking the time to read other posts before composing your own.
Hello Professor Wanda Sabir,
My name is Leonardo Martin and I am in your Writing and Composition 1A class at 9:00AM. I am 19 years young and I am the oldest of three siblings. I have two younger sisters that I love with all my heart. They are my biggest supporters. I was born and raised in East Oakland. Both my parents met in Mexico and immigrated here. I graduated from Fremont high in East Oakland in 2008. After I graduated I continued my education at UC Davis. I am a second year Economics major, and I have struggled through many ups and downs since I started my education there. Unfortunately my first year I was dismissed from UC Davis because of my grades. I was readmitted for fall 2010 and I continued with my studies there this past quarter. Both my parents lost their jobs recently and have been struggling to make ends meet so I made the decision to come back home in order to help my parents by getting a job. Now I am taking classes here at COA, but intend to return to UC Davis by this summer to finish my undergraduate degree there. I want to go to law school at UC Davis after and pursue a career as a lawyer. My goals are rather large, but they will become a reality.
I was defeated by this faulty school system once, but I was able to arise like phoenix a powerful, intelligent and wise person. I have gained the confidence in myself and in my abilities to conquer any task that I am up against. I was dismissed because of the lack of support from my faculty, I was faced with constant obstacles from my department I was told to leave the University but I retaliated by coming to summer school and raising my GPA to above the contract that was instated upon me. I think that with this great feat under my belt I can go beyond any expectations that were set for me. I am my own person, and I believe in the power of creating a higher standard from the norm. I believe that this class could help me reach my goals and further my strength with unity and wisdom.
In my mind I envision a prosperous life ahead of me and for those who I consider close to me. This vision could become a reality through the help of this class that provides to great extent resources to construct a leader a mentor and an example to those who need it. Through the principles of this class such as knowledge I think I could address those people from my community to strive for the best. Coming from East Oakland California I can sincerely see the faults of the system that is implemented upon society. I want to be able to cause substantial reconstruction to a faulty system that envelops my people. Through this organization I could gain the tools in order to follow my dream. I have been working hard throughout my life in order to reach the many goals that I know I am capable of achieving.
Knowledge is the foundation to everything including education. I believe there is no such thing as having too much knowledge. But many fail to realize the importance of reading including myself. Most of the reading that I have done in my life has been assigned to me through the classes that I have taken. But recently I opened my eyes and mind and began reading during my spare time. I want to improve my writing and I think this class will help me with that. There is always room for improvement. In your introduction you mentioned the importance of reading and I agree. You seem to be a very knowledgeable person with a lot of wisdom that feels passionate about her class. I look forward to attaining some of that knowledge that you may share with us.
Marielle Monsalve
Let me began with this “This is going to be a great year”. I enjoy the way you write, it makes me laugh, and it is inspiring as well. I am positive I will have fun in this class; I have to confess that I do have fun in all my classes, that is the only way I can give 100 percent, but I am double exited since this is the second time that I come to college and the last time too. I will mayor in business and I will become a CPA. I started to work on my degree on 2006 but I dropped, of course I wanted to get the rocky path, because I got married and had two kids, two beautiful kids a boy and a girl, by the way they love that mom is in college.
I am glad that we will be spending time reading about women who have accomplished much even with tremendous obstacles, and I tell you why It makes me feel good I think if they did it I can do it too.
I came to USA seven years ago from Venezuela were the political issues where making Venezuela a place very difficult to live in, but I still love where I come from, I enrolled in Contra Costa community college to learn English, which I really like , it was not so difficult for me to learn how to communicate but as you can see it has been really difficult to write, but I do my best, I love to read, my favorites writers are Paulo Coelho and Gabriel Garcia Marques, let see my favorite book is 100 years of solitude, I read the book tree times because it was complicated to keep track of “ who was who” I hope you understand what I try to say (smile).
I feel that I have accomplish a lot in my life since I am a better person every day, I like to listen what other have to say, I don’t mind being criticized I always will be looking for ways how to make things better, I have a lot respect for teachers and people in general that is the way I was though, I love to stay motivated sometimes is difficult, but for me is the best way.
I am 27 years old and I want to share a few of my goals: Graduate, open a business (accounting consulting company), publish a book, be the best grandma and the last one but the most important have my two kids graduate; finally I wish to get the best of what live has to offer and one of them is this class!
Marielle Monsalve is from your class 1A at 9:00am I forgot.
Hello Professor Sabir.
My name is Jennie Lo in your English 1A 9:00-9:50am class. I came to California in 1995 from Hong Kong (my home town) with my 5 year old daughter (she is a sophomore at USC now) and my husband because I accepted a relocation job offer in Oakland downtown. I worked in a shipping company until it moved to Arizona last October.
I like reading and always like to pick the happy ending fictions. I have joined a volunteer group and work in Oakland on Saturday morning. My educational goal is to transfer to a nearby 4-year college and get a BA.
I am happy I have joined your class. After I read the class-mates’ postings, I feel I have been attached to the group and I started to write mine.
Some students had trouble posting and sent their assignments to me to try, so here goes.
Gerren Franklin
English 1A (time?)
Response to letter
My name is Gerren Franklin. I’m a native to this here city named Alameda. I moved here when I was about 4 years old. To describe me I would have to say that I am somewhat of a laid back person. I like to go with the flow. This semester here is my fourth concurrent semester here at College of Alameda.
I dropped out of high school when I was 17 years old. To be completely honest I seen no reason for high school. It was more so about honing your social skills then school. Being so young I think it’s safe to say that my though process was a bit naive. At 17 you don’t really know the way of the world.
The older I got the more played out my everyday life became and I started wanting more for myself. It came a point to where I stared to ask myself damn is this it. English has never been one of my strong suits. I feel as if I’m learning a second language of sorts. At times it gets over whelming yet I’ve learned to not let it consume me.
To be completely honest with you it’s seldom that I write. I feel it’s due to lack of inspiration. It’s funny to me how I can have a conversation with just about anyone in which whom I cross paths with yet every time I sit in front the computer I seem to draw blank.
I’m looking forward to learning, and growing as a writer in your English 1A class. My goal is to become more comfortable as a writer, and to figure a way to get these thought out of my head and on to paper.
English 1A room 205@9am
Hi Professor Sabir,
My name is Abtisam Kaaid, for short friends call me Sammie.I am 20 years old, Muslim, and born and raised in Oakland,California. I attended Emery High School and graduated in June of 2007. This will be my first time attending College of Alameda or any other college for that matter. I did not attend college right after high school because of family obligations.
At first I felt that I was wasting my life by not going straight to college after high school, but during those three years of staying
home for my family I was able to fullfill family obligations and now,after convincing them to let me start college, I am more passionate than ever to begin this newchapter in my life. I really missed school and after starting my first English class I feel like I am living my dreams.
My plans for this semester are to make strong efforts to pass my
classes with flying colors. I feel like I might be a little rusty
since I last been in school,but
I’m willing to do my best and to
challenge myself with situations I struggle with such as presenting in
front of a class, but one has to live life to learn and grow from
mistakes and fears. I am looking forward to complete each and of my
required classes to get me closer to my goal of becoming a Registered
Nurse. During this semester I want to take full advantage of all the
opportunities at College of Alameda starting with my first
English 1A class.
Professor Sabir, you seem like a very cool and down to earth person. I like that. I especially like how you told your own kids that you’re not perfect. I think that was very brave, and personally- I think no one is perfect.
In this class I am hoping to accomplish a couple of things;
like having more confidence in myself, gain more knowledge, and expand my mind. I am ready to work my butt off professor. See you in class on Monday (smile)…
Dear Professor Wanda Sabir,
Hello. My name is Helena Ortiz. I am 18 years old. I just graduated from Encinal high school in June of 2009 and this is my first time attending college. I am currently in my first year working at Ruby Bridges elementary in Alameda, CA as a third grade after school teacher. I really enjoy my job because I love knowing the fact that I have an opportunity to make a difference in young children's lives. Also having the ability to fill their heads with beautiful knowledge. I have been living in Alameda, CA for over 12 years now. I have 2 sisters, one older who is 21 years old and another younger who is 16 years old and one 11 year old younger brother. I like to say I am very outgoing and extremely open-minded. I am incredibly open to trying and learning new things. I believe this world has so much to give and there should be no limits to where you go and what you experience. Time is a very valuable thing and we should not waste it, which is why I try to always keep busy to better myself and my knowledge. I enjoy going out, having fun and socializing. I love to meet new people because people are so interesting to me and every person is different in so many ways. I am a person who is always willing to listen to others and their problems. I would say I am very trustworthy. Growing up I have dealt with many changes and I didn't always have people to guide me or help me learn right from wrong. My parents were always working to support us and me and my older sister always had problems building a bond, so I feel I have become very strong in learning life on my own most of the time. I have really come a long way at such a young age. I have learned so much and taught myself good ways. I have become a role model to my family and a supportive member. Because of my actions towards becoming an adult i have really turned my family and our relationship around and I really pride myself on that.
part 1
Helena Part 2
In addition to being here in college for the first time, I have many goals for this semester. I really plan on expanding my knowledge and being able to share that knowledge with others. I want to be able to learn new things, have them stick and not struggle with tests, quizzes or papers. My goals are to be in school everyday on time and pass all my classes with high grades. Grades I believe I am very capable of. I want this semester to be a remarkable start to my future, a jump start to the rest of my college years. My energy, responsibilities, and achievements this semester should set my goal for each upcoming semester. My goal in which to become better and achieve more. My plans for this semester will definitely help my overall plans in college. I would set my goals the same each time which will make me come out higher on top each time before I graduate. I want to graduate from college with as much knowledge possible and with the thought that I have become more stronger having those responsibilities for my future. During my years of college I really hope to find myself and find a career in which i enjoy and will succeed in. Now, college will really have an impact on my life plans. It will really help me succeed. All i want in life is to be successful, have a family and not have to struggle. College will play a huge part in my success. Having degrees, the knowledge and the hope to be able to persue my dreams. If you can make it through college, I feel you can make it through anything. Its the first step to structuring my life and I am really glad i had the heart and opportunity to begin this chapter. Its been hard for me to be in school everyday and on time. It also been hard for me to get myself to study and really understand a concept, but I am willing to turn that around. I have set my goals and now there is nothing that is going to stop me from achieving them.
I would just like to add, professor Wanda, that you seem like a very open-minded person. I feel like you having kids may have slowed you down a bit in college but it never stopped you and I pride you so much on that. I have known a lot of people who have gone through struggles and gave up, but you seem like one of the many strong women. Your situation reminded me of a quote I seen recently in front of a church, "Never put a period where God puts a pause in life". I hold that saying to my heart because it reminds me so much of me and my older sister who is really a strong woman. I look forward to being in your class and learning you perspectives on life, woman and writing. I m very fond of writing myself although I don't do much anymore I do enjoy it. I could tell you one thing, I am good at expanding on a topic and taking one sentence and making it become three, but not in the sense of me dragging on. Anyways, I can't wait to see what this class has in store for me, it seems interesting. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter and i hope you got a lot of insight as to the kind of person I am. That and so much more.
Sincerely,
Helena Ortiz
Hello Professor Sabir ,
My name is Edith Gonzalez and I am in your English 1A 9:00 am class. I was born and raised in East Oakland and I am the second oldest out of four children. I am an open minded person who enjoys meeting new people and making new friends.
This is my first semester attending Alameda Community College or any of the other three Peralta community colleges. Last year I attended the University of California Santa Cruz as a freshman and did fairly well. However, Santa Cruz was not the environment I felt comfortable nor satisfied with. I felt very out of place. I disliked the UC system and its competitiveness. Nobody that didn’t come from the bay area was I able to get along with because we had absolutely nothing in common.
I disliked it so much but decided to go back after break to give it one more try, but about 3 weeks before finals, I gave up, withdrew, and came back home. But the thing is that my decision was not one that was made from one day to the next. I thought about it long and hard before I decided to throw in the towel. I had personal problems back at home that I needed to come back and address. My father had lost his job and I felt that it was my duty to come back home and look for a job to help provide for my family of 7.
After only attending 2 days in Alameda I know I did the right decision. School is very important to me. Not returning to college was never an option. I like the people I have met so far and I’m looking forward meeting many more great people. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Now I walk in a classroom feeling like I belong and that I’m not the outsider. I’m also looking forward to the courses I’ll be taking this semester. I love writing. I write whenever I can. I like writing in my diary and fictional stories. I know in my lifetime I would like to publish at least one book.
I’m looking forward to this course and getting the tools and help I need to better my writing. I am also looking forward to reading about the women that we are going to learn about in this course. I think that it can be empowering to hear about women that have overcome struggles in their lives.
My goals for the future are to transfer to a state where I can earn my BA and later go on to Grad school. I would like to major on either sociology or psychology. I know that whatever I end up doing in life I want to use my knowledge to help my community. I don’t like the fact that people get their degrees and run away from the place they were raised and go out to help others when the people they were raised with could also benefit from them. I believe that in order to receive you need to give. My goal is to see Oakland become a much stronger and organized community with educated civilians. Hopefully one day this will come true and I will get to see it.
Edtih
Jacqueline Garrido
English 1a
M.T.W.TH.
8:00am-8:50am
Wanda Sabir
January 21, 2010
I was born and raised in Los Angeles for five years. My mother is from Nicaragua, Leon and my father is from Mexico, a little town known as Xochinanacatlan. Even though I barely remember the couple of years I lived in L.A. The little memories I have in L.A. will deeply stay in my heart forever. From the few memories I have in L.A. I am honored to say, it brought my whole entire family together which includes around fifteen family members. Even though, we all lived in a small uncomfortable apartment, I can still remember the laughter, food, crying, happiness that surrenders my environment. I can remise the last Christmas I spent in L.A. My older cousin by one year, thrilled by his new star world toys, and I, by the huge Barbie size toy that my uncle gave me. Christmas for me, has never been about the toys but, about my whole entire family being together. My mother, grandmother and aunties talking in one corner about their marriage, children, work, and life itself. My dad, grandfather and uncles in another corner talking and drink beer as, the kids play and laugh with their new toys and enjoying each others company as it lasted. Unfortunately, my parents though it was time to start a new chapter in life.
My family, uncle and grandparents moved to Oakland while my auntie and her husband moved to Hayward but unfortunately, my other auntie and uncle decided to stay in L.A. Therefore, I have lived in Oakland for approximately thirteen years. As soon as we, moved to Oakland our whole entire life’s changed. I no longer had a strong relationship with my older cousin due to distance. My parents worked day and night shifts which left my lonely and with no one to play with. My grandparents basically raised me due to the circumstance until; my parents could find a steady job. My parents noticed that I was in desperate need for a sister or brother which concludes the new chapter of my life. Thus, my little sister practically is born and raised in Oakland because she is thirteen years old and as you can notice we are five years the difference. My little sister is all I have and is raised by two amazing parents and grandparents. As time flew, my auntie had two twin babies, a girl and a boy but unfortunately I didn’t have the honor to enjoy them due to the fact that they moved to Antioch. People change, times change, things change, unfortunately nothing stays the same.
Part 1
Jacqueline Garrido
English 1a
M.T.W.TH.
8:00am-8:50am
Wanda Sabir
January 21, 2010
Part 2
I always dreamed of having a brother, a brother to protect me from the good and evil, somebody to look up to. Even though, my parents refused to give me a brother, but nobody imagined the life changing experience that was going to occur in my life. I was thrilled due to the news that my uncle and his fiancé were expecting twin boys. Those two twin boys have changed my whole entire life, and point of view of life. I, feel so honored to have them in my life. Its funny how I wanted a little brother and through a miracle I received two little brothers. I truly feel blessed by what God has put, in my road.
Ergo, my plans for this semester are doable. I plan to pass all three classes with either an A or B. I know you have probably heard this goal so many times but, the difference between other people that say that and me, is that am willing to do anything. I, also plan to do all my assignments, stay focus, read, essays, and extra credit. Basically, everything in order to get a passing grade. I am willing to do the assignments, re-read it, edit and let the tutors see and edit my assignments because, I didn’t come to college just to waste my time and fool around. I came to college for a purpose and that purpose is to get an education and a degree. The career I plan to study is in the field of nursing. As you can notice, I love children, their the best thing that could happen, in some bodies life. Thus, I plan to get a degree in nursing, but that deals with children. Therefore, I haven’t found narrowed my choices but so far, I have thought of becoming a pediatrician, nurse that takes care of newborn babies or a nurse that deals with the sonogram, telling couple what their going to have, either a boy or a girl. I want to be this because my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties, sister and cousins have really touched my life, in the way that makes me want to be somebody. Somebody better, you know, somebody that won’t regret studying, and that I will enjoy doing for the rest of my life. In conclusion, I plan to be somebody but in order, to be somebody I have to have goals, education and a degree to succeed in life and overcome everything that heads my road.
Hello Professor Wanda, my name is Deja Gould. I am in your English 1A class at 8am. I rather enjoyed your letter although I'm a little sceptical about the presentatin we will have to make although I'm sure I will get through it. This is not my first time taking an English 1a class but I'm sure it will be my last. English has always been one of my strong subjects, so why would I have to take it over? For a few years I struggled trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to do trying to see which carreer path I would choose, I plan to work with children that have learning diabilites, mainly ones' that don't know how to read or write. I feel like I have planned this semester very carefully so as I am able to complete all of my classes with plenty of time for my studies. I look forward to being in your class this semester and learning new things about English that I'm almost positive I've missed out on. Thank you for taking the time to write us your letter.
Hello Professor Sabir, my name is Miriam Dominguez from your English 1A class at COA at 8 am. But I’m still waiting for you to add me to your class. I hope there is a spot for me because your class seems interesting.Im going to tell you something about me. I was born and raised in Mexico. I come from an honest family trying to get a better life than in my native coutry.I have a lot of dreams to achieve hoping to make them come true. I have been the first one to graduate from high school and the first one to go to college out of my family. I have a brother in high school he is currently in the tenth grade. He is an average student and I want him to get better opportunities than me. At this point of our lives we are facing really hard economy difficulties but we are still together looking for solutions. I study and work full time. To be honest sometimes I feel like quitting. But I remember that I have someone looking up to me as a role model. I want to get my AA degree in psychology. I love animals and I want to become a veterinarian, when I have enough money to afford I will transfer to UC Davis. For now I know this semester it’s going to be fun! I want to take your class to improve my English. I want to fight against my fears in the English language. I love women thoughts and I’m sure I will enjoy this class!
Mrinalini Manandhar
English 1A MTWTh 8am - 9pm
Hi Professor Sabir,
I just moved to the US from a small, beautiful and once peaceful country called Nepal. I say once peaceful country because more than a decade long civil war has left the country ravaged, torn and in pieces. Kathmandu, the capital city is where I spent the last 18 years of my life. I dropped out of high school to come to US and I’m currently working on my high school diploma in the Alameda Adult School.
English is my third language and to be honest I am really nervous about this class. I learned most of the English that I now speak and write (please forgive the errors I will make throughout this piece of writing) through novels and the television and movies. But I am also really looking forward to your classes. I think learning English will be more fun in a classroom. I also think that I will be unable to do well in any of my other classes unless I improve my writing skills. This semester I will dedicate myself to learning, exploring and understanding the English language. My goal for this semester is to walk out of all the classrooms at the end of the semester with a sense of achievement. I know a perfect gpa for me is overambitious but I want to give my 100 percent, work hard and hope for the best.
As far as family is concerned, I am the middle child of the 3 children in my family. My parents have given a lot to me and I truly appreciate and love them. I really look up to my mother for raising three children in the middle of a war and when my dad was away. In a war torn Asian country this is a feat in itself. Even though my father was always away from home he has always been there for us. The past couple of years have been really hard for us. Nepal was entering a new phase; we emerged victorious and finally the dictatorial monarch was defeated. We became democratic. After thousands of causalities of the bloody civil war, people were ready for a new start; everyone prayed for and dreamed of a “new Nepal”. But things only changed for the worse. The political condition was not and is still not stable. We lost our business and nearly lost our home. Moving to the US was probably the hardest decision that my father had to make. Meeting my dad after nearly 3 years and hugging him in the San Francisco Airport is one of the happiest moments in my life. I miss my mother now but hopefully we will be reunited as a family soon. My parent’s faith in me is what keeps me going and I want to transfer to UCB or SCIArc or USC someday to study architecture.
Coming from a country where women are treated little better than pieces of furniture and being a female myself, oppression of women is an issue that I strongly feel for. I consider myself lucky to have been born in the capital city where the women are given more freedom than in the rural areas. I want to share some of the stories of some women from my country who have been successful in “turning oppression into opportunity”. Reading some of the stories made me realize that hope is not lost and it is never too late to turn on a new leaf. After all isn’t hope and love that keeps us going even in the darkest of times?
Professor Sabir,
My name is Jeff Cornelius, and I am in your English 1A class at 0800. I have to admit I was a horrible English student in High School. And this is my first English class since then. I am 31 years old and kind of re-starting my life right now. I spent 13 years in the United States Marine Corps as a Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare defense specialist, and Combat Marksmanship Instructor. I was forced into an involuntary separation because I was not advancing along with my peers and had reached my service limits. I am going through the process of a legal separation with my wife right now and have a 5 year old son, both of whom live in Washington State.
Currently I am in my second semester at COA, for an Associates of Science degree in Automotive Technology (that may change). You may be asking yourself then why are you taking this class. Well I know the more education that you have the better off you are, and I would rather take classes that prepare me for further education than just doing the bare minimum. I also work full time as a private security guard for the community of Harbor Bay. Needless to say I am spread a little thin with being a full time student, and working full time. But I have to make it work, and I know I can.
I will freely admit after attending the first class I was seriously thinking of looking for another English class like you stated in your letter. I was thinking to myself. “Oh great. Women’s studies, and English!” These are two things that don’t really peak my interests. However I have found many pleasant surprises in my life when doing things that I at first didn’t really want to do. I have also had many unpleasant experiences too. Let us hope this will be a nice surprise rather than a rude awakening. I know from experience that you must bring an open mind and learn from all perspectives.
In closing I am looking forward to attending your class, and broadening my horizons, in English, and in life. I will bring an open mind, all needed supplies and a willingness to learn.
Kimthuy Tran
English 1A
Assignment : Respond to “ Greetings Students” letter
Hello instructor!
In the first class meeting, I worried and wondered whether or not I should take English 1A class, for I am not an English native speaker; my mother language is Vietnamese, and I was scared of having trouble with this course. However, from when reading your letter, I feel more confident in maintaining this class. I truly thank for your first meaningful advices; I also believe if we work hard and never give up with any difficulties, we will succeed.
By this letter, I more understand about you. Instructor! You are a good woman with a kind heart, and you have a great fortitude .Being a married woman, I also love and want to have children, but I am not happy with my marriage, and I think it will be hard for me to achieve my plan that is to get BA degree if I have children while I am studying. Even though life is not only simple and smooth, you can go through it. I am proud to be one of your many students.
There is a Vietnamese proverb saying that “ moi nha moi canh, moi nguoi moi tinh huong” it means that each house has a circumstance; each person has a situation. I grew up in an unhappy family; my grandmother raised my brother and I. When I was 22 years old, I had to get marriage. It is an arranged married, so I have no feeling of love with husband. Every time, I see a couple shopping together in the gift shop where I work, I feel sad for myself. Therefore, studying is the most happiest for me in this period, and taking this class is one of my first step to carry out my goal.
Finally, thanks for your letter, and I hope our course will end successfully, and all students will get good marks. I also wish you have a happy life.
David Atchison
1/24/2010
English 1A
9:00am-9:50am
Hello my name is David Atchison; I was born and raised in Oakland. I went to Peralta elementary then went on Claremont middle school and I graduated from Oakland tech in 2008. I’m the first to graduate from high school and go to college in my emitted family. I was raised by my grandmother Yvonne McGrew most of my life, my parents passed when I was young, my father when I was five years and my mother when I was fourteen. I have five sibling’s three brothers and two sisters. My brother David is in college, my second brother De Aante is in high school, my sister Malekia is in middle school and my youngest siblings Joi and Isaiah are in elementary school.
My plans for college is to get my AA degree business management and transfer to a four year school, I haven’t decided yet on what college I want to go to but am thinking of cal state east bay or a black college Howard, Hampton, etc. My plans for this semester is to get all A’s in my course and achieve a 4.0 the first in my school career. By me trying to achieve this goal, I want to prove to myself that I able to accomplish this goal with hard work and a lot of studying. By studying for long hours and learning how to say no to hanging out with friends and focus on my work will give me the work ethic I need to successed in life and in my career.
Victor Guerrero
English 1A
8:00am-8:50am
1/24/2010
Hello my name is Victor Guerrero and i been living in Oakland since i was born.I currently going to Alameda College,Laney College, and Merrit College.I am taking my prerequiste classes for my Radiology Program. I have a 1 and a half year old daughter and its amazing. My goals in life is the finish college and earn a BA in RAD TECH. I will apply to CSU Northridge and hope that college life over there will be fun. I want to be in a new environment and meet different types of people. I love to play basketball and go shopping in my free time when im not studying since im taking a full course load. I think this semester is going to be tough but i will manage.
Catalina Martinez
English 1A
8:00am- 8:50am
1/24/2010
Hello I’m Catalina Martinez and I have been living in Alameda for 18 years. I am currently attending school at Alameda City College in order to complete my general classes in order to transfer to a four-year college. My plan for this semester is to get a 4.0, and i am confident that with hard work and dedication i can make that possible. i love helping people, especially children that is why i plan to get my RN to become a pediatric nurse. I hope that i will be able to walk away from this english class with sharper writing skills.
My names Ryan Mah, im in your English 1A monday,tuesday, wednesday thursday class at 8:00am-8:50am. This is my second year at College of alameda. Right now I dont know exactly what i want to major in so im trying to figure out what interest me. The reason im taking this class is because i am thinking about majoring in psychology but not 100 percent sure if i want to yet. I was also thinking about doing something in the automotive field for a long time but decided against it because i was told that once you turn your hobby into your career it takes the fun and passion out if it.
For this semester i am planning on changing a few things up in my life. Right now i am working two jobs, and am planning on changing my hours of availibilty so i will have more time to study. Right now I am working two jobs I am currently taking five classes, English, Math, Biology, Anthropology, and psychology. I am really determined to transfer somewhere but im not sure where, all i know is that i dont want to end up stuck at college of alameda for four years.
Hello there, my name is Andrew Yount and I am enrolled in your English 1A class monday-thursday at 8 AM.This is my first year in college and am planning to transfer to USC with the next two years. I am currently majoring in film courses as I wish to be a filmmaker and simply love making movies. I hope this class can help write better stories for my projects in film and really further my writing skills. I look forward to this class and learning a lot.
Troy Moon
English 1A
8am-8:50am
Hi Ms. Sabir my name is Troy Moon and I'm one of your many English 1A students, I am 19years old this is my first year at COA, I am apart of the Mens Basketball team, and my biggest goal besides basketball is to be a great student, get a good education, and graduate from a University. I understand that before you are educated on the court it starts in the classroom. This semester in English 1A I feel I have the best teacher preparing for the next level I hear so many great things about you and also I hear the negative but I feel that the negative comes from your hardwork and success or which we would call "haters", I'm just looking foward to a great semester and living up to my expectations and this is a very good start for a teacher student relationship to build and progress as time goes on.
Zaidea Magpoc
English 1A
9:00am - 9:50am
Hi Miss Wanda! I am Zaidea Magpoc from your English 1A class that meets at 9am. The first thing I get after introducing myself is, "How do you say your name?". Here's how it's pronounced; idea with a Z = z + idea.
I am a single mom, raising a 6 year old boy (who will turn 7 on the 26th of this month). I have a younger sister who got her AA degree at COA. I have a close-knit family who's been there for me always.
Growing up, English is my favorite subject. I would get my highest grade in English. However, as time goes by, my writing skills, vocabulary and sentence structure weakened.
Right after I graduated from highschool, I entered the workforce. I was in the mortgage industry from 2001 to late 2009. I was laid off from work and I've decided that it's time for me to pursue my education. I am a full-time student here at COA.
It's my first semester and I know that it will be a tough and challenging one. But I am motivated and dedicated to finish what I started. I have a good support group as well. My family and friends are all excited and happy with my decision in going back to school.
I want to thank you for your honest letter. I am looking forward to this class because I feel that you are devoted in educating and helping us. Rest assured, that I will give my 110% in this class.
Francisco Davalos
English 1A
8:00am- 8:50am
My name is Francisco Davalos and I'm enrolled in English 1A 8:00am-8:50am. My major is computer engineering. I like math, physics, and science classes. To be honest I don't like to read that much but in my free time i like to write poems in Spanish.
I'm taking just 3 classes, English 1A in COA and the rest of them in Laney (Calculus II & Physics 4A). My goal for this semester is to improve my writing skills!
Corinne Williams
English 1A at 9:00 am M-TH
1st Assignment; response to letter
Hello Professor Sabir!
I am Corinne Williams. To start I want to say a Happy New Year to you and I hope it is a great one. Oh! And a very happy birthday to your granddaughter! I am excited and nervous about you class. I am not the biggest fan of English, I am more of a Math and Science person, but it sounds like you will make the class very interesting.
I guess to start I’ll talk a little about myself. I am an American Indian, from the Tshimsian tribe from Alaska. I was born and raise and still live in Oakland, I love it here and think it is a great place to live and be. The diversity here is so great, I know people who never saw, or interacted with a person of another race until they came to the bay area. I am definitely proud to call it my home. I graduated from Saint Joseph Notre Dame in Alameda in 2007. After graduating I went on to California State University Stanislaus. I went there for two years and left after not being able to receive enough financial aid and the tuition increasing another ten percent. I then came home and started at Laney College.
I am a swimmer. I love the water; always have since I was a baby. I work for the City of Oakland as a Water Safety Instructor, I teach swim lessons to all ages, and I also coach a swim team and took them to the city championships and won last summer. I love my job, nothing is greater to me then working with the kids [and adults] and giving them something they get to use for life and pass on and be able to use if for exercise, competition and best of all; to have fun and be safe doing it. I am excited for my new job this semester; I will be assistant coach for Oakland Tech’s swim team. Continuing with my love of water and swimming, I rowed for the Jack London Aquatic Center’s crew team and played Water Polo for the first time last fall for the Laney Water Polo Team. Both were the most amazing experiences and left me with great bonds with amazing women.
This is my second time taking a college English class. I took one at CSU Stanislaus with a teacher I did not care for at all. I felt she was not efficient in teaching English, barely taught any English at all, and I did not learn anything. Because of the way I felt about the teacher, I did not respect the work and had a possibility of passing but in the end we gave an evaluation essay and I spoke my mind about her and her teaching, and I feel she may have held that against me. :P I feel like I will get a lot more out of your class and will enjoy it a lot more as well.
part 1
Corinne Part 2-
Responding to some things you wrote in your letter, I liked what you had to say and I loved hearing about your experiences. I loved what you said about no one getting to the top alone. I even quoted you on my Facebook about it. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for all the people who helped me out along the way and even those who I have helped, helped me! I would love to go to Africa one day, I would want to go over and help in anything. Not only would I want to help in Africa, but anywhere, places in need like Haiti. Besides going to help, I would simply love to travel. I will be going to Germany this semester and I am very excited for that, I have my first passport and will be exchanging currency for the first time. :D
I hope this isn’t too long! I know you said about 250 words and I just checked and I’m at 660 right now. But I just wanted to end with a little business. I will talk to you about it after class on Monday but wanted to mention it right now. I am on the Laney swim team this semester and may a couple classes due to competitions, for your class it shouldn’t be too many since meets are mostly on Fridays. Also as I mentioned earlier I will be taking a trip to Germany. This was pre-planned before I was intending to take classes at the Peralta Schools, but was planned as if I was still going to CSU Stanislaus. It will be for about two weeks in February, from the 9th through the 18th. Luckily for me I have some people in the class I know, so I will be able to get work and you have an online blog I can check.
I hope to have a wonderful semester Professor Sabir!
-Corinne
Greetings Professor Sabir.
My name is Veronica Flores. I am currently enrolled in your English 1A 9-9:50 am class. I am 19 years old, and a returning student attending COA for my 3rd semester. High school was unfortunately, a big struggle for me. Not because I wasn’t capable of succeeding, but because I never applied myself. I now have a whole different aspect on life. I enjoy listening and learning from those who are older and wiser. I am very young, and still have a lot to learn. This is why I’m here. I realize the importance of education now, and what I need to do to get where I want. Reading your letter, I feel like I can work well with your teaching curriculum. As long as I am willing to work and learn, which I am, there shouldn’t be any problems.
As I’ve said before, I am 19 years old. I am a native resident of this small town, Alameda. As much as I complain about living here, I couldn’t imagine calling any other place home. I am one of two children. I have a younger brother whose 11; I love him very dearly. My parents are both from the Bay Area. I found it interesting that you mentioned your college life and it being a struggle because of marriage and kids. My mother too dropped out of college due to her pregnancy with me. She can’t stress enough to me each day that although she doesn’t regret the decisions she made, she wants the most for me. “There is nothing holding you back from going all the way “she says. My father also did not make it to college. I think my parents just want for me what they weren’t able to have. Although I feel like I have disappointed them and myself throughout my high school years, it isn’t too late to make them proud. My father is one of 12, my mother one of 3. Family is a huge part of my life. They are all very loving and supportive. A selected few have attended college and are successful beings. I hope to someday join them.
Currently, I’m still undecided on my major. I’ve considered psychology, sociology, communications, etc. It saddens me a little to know that most of my peers have at least an idea of what they want to do. And through these rough economic times, there isn’t any guarantee you will have a job after college. I feel I might be pressured to major in something that doesn’t really interest me. My worst fear is to wake up every day and dread going to work. I’d like to enjoy what I do for a living.
In all, my goal this semester is to successfully complete my classes, and gain as much knowledge as I possibly can. I feel you have been as clear as possible on what you can expect from us, and what we can do to guarantee success in this class and in school. I am looking forward to learning about important and successful women of our time. I am eager to learn a lot from you, and can’t wait to begin this class.
-Veronica
Lisa Huey
Response to Letter
9:00-9:50
English 1A
Hi Professor Sabir! I am actually both excited and nervous about being in your class. I don't know if it is going to be a class with a lot of homework or if it's going to be a chill class. You do seem like a nice person though. I hope your class lectures aren't going to be boring so i won't fall asleep because it's a morning class! I like to sleep in! Haha kidding!
Now introducing myself, my name is Lisa Huey and I am 19 years old. This is my first year at COA! I go to school fulltime and work fulltime. I am taking 16 units while working 35 hours a week! That doesn't leave me too much time to study and do homework or have any fun! It's alright though, I can manage. i got straight A's my last semester! My plans for the future is that I want to transfer possibly into UC Berkeley and major in business. I currently work at Lenscrafters as an eye consultant. My goal for one day is to own my own business or at least be the General Manager of a Lenscrafters. It's a great company and I love working there! But I know to get to my future goal, i have to get my stuff together and finish school. So I am looking forward to a great semester with you!
Ruby Holt-Roth
English 1A
9:00am-10:50am
My name is Ruby, I am 19 yrs old and this is my first college course. I am only taking one class this semester as I work full time. Although I am starting off my college career at a slow pace I hold myself to high standards and I posess the motivation and determination to reach my goals. I am not yet sure of the path I will eventually follow but I am excited at the prospect of exploring my options and discovering who I am meant to be. On my journey of self-discovery I hope to develop
and acquire tools and skills that will allow me to move throughout life with endurance and ambition. Ideally I would like to identify a career path that would be both uplifting to the community and personally challenging. Thoughout my life I have strived to push myself and those around me to excel in all endeavors; though I have faltered at times I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and no circumstances, no matter how seemingly hopeless, can keep a driven person from succeeding. I have learned the hard way that there is no excuse for inaction and happiness is a continuous state of mind, not a destination. Through pursuing a higher edcuation I hope to create a life of prosperity and joy for myself and those close to me.
Kyle Williams
January 24, 2010
English 1A 9am, Wanda Sabir
Hello Professor Sabir, my name is Kyle Williams. I am very excited to be in your class this semester. For this semester of English 1A, I have great hopes, in fact I need to. My previous semester I took an English 1Aclass and did not pass, so I see it in myself to do better this semester. I think it was my procrastination and lack of focus that kept me from succeeding last semester. I consider myself a bright person but with my learning disorder, Dyslexia, I can get easily mixed up or distracted. I am certainly more dedicated this semester versus last semester, seeing as I didn’t do so well.
English is a subject that interests me greatly because I enjoy writing poetry in my spare time and English will build on it and be a structure for my writings to get better.
I graduated from St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in the year 2009 and began taking courses at College of Alameda along with a few of my classmates. I seemed to be a better choice than paying a couple thousand dollars at a CSU or UC, when I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do.
Some hobbies of mine are Photography, Music (trumpet), and poetry as I mentioned before. I look forward to working with and learning from you this semester.
Thank you and God Bless.
Adriana Ultreras
English 1A 9-9:50 am
Responding to blog
I am glad to say that I am finally doing my first college homework assignment. My name is Adriana Ultreras and I am in your english 1A 9-9:50 am class. Well atleast I hope that I can be in your class. I will have to wait to see if people decide to drop the class so that there will be space for me to get added.
I am starting college for the first time and I am walking into this with an open mind. I'm taking it easy with only two classe just to get the hang of it, but I am planning on becoming a full-time student next semester. I want to make education my priority and start off in a positive way. I tend to get distracted easily, but I feel that I am mentally ready to commit to my education.
Ever since I graduated high school I knew that I wanted to go to college. Education has always been very important to my life. I feel that education makes a person wiser and stronger. Even though I knew this, I made a big mistake by putting college to the side for such a long time. Every time a semester would start I would say to myself "I'll just start college next semester". And next semester ended up being 3 years wasted without a college education. But it's never too late. And even though I feel that I am 3 years late, I'm glad that I finally made the right decision to start college.
My favorite subject has always been english. I've always felt like I was a pretty good writer. I enjoy reading too, but I tend to get lazy when the book that is assigned isn't of my intrest. I started writing poetry when I was 10 years old, and even though I don't do it as much as I use to, I still like it a lot. I liked where you said, "No one can get to the top alone, well maybe some people can, but it will be a cold and lonely walk on the moon". I found it to be very poetic and very visual.
I am hoping that I can become one of your students and be able to learn from you.
Hi my name is Tia Gusman and im in your 9am english class mon-thurs. I too stay in Oakland. I am also an easy person to talk to and do not let others wasting my time. I am the youngest of 3 and hate it. I enjoy learning new things and meeting interesting people.
You seem to be very succuessful, being that you have your own internet radio show, write for a news paper and are a teacher teaching something you enjoy.
I look forward to doing a good job in your class. I believe I will because I have taken a college english course before and received a B+.
Oh and I am willing to take the neccessary steps it takes to be a proficient writer.
I dont know if i could spend 13years in college as you did. You had to have been very determined and focused and committed to getting that BA. Congrats for your hard work and Congrats on the marriage as well.
I am engaged myself and plan on getting married possibly this summer.
As far as educational goals, I plan to become a Nurse. If that fails then I plan to find a profession working with children.
I dont have any children yet but I plan to have 2 maybe 3 someday.
I like your out-look on things. It seems as if nothing bothers you or upsets you. You seem really together. Thats good becuase if you weren't, i would have to drop the class. No im just kidding!
I can tell your class wont be a walk in the park but I know that i will do good.
Hello! my name is nico baquiran, i'm in your 9am English 1A class. I'm 19 years old turning 20 soon. I am the youngest of 3. My family is on the medical fields, so i am expected to be in it too. I'm a very outgoing and active person. Like sports a lot. I am currently attending your class in order to improve my english speaking and writing skills. The class is also required for most of the class i'm about to take. I am majoring x-ray tech and soon would love to study the course of computer science. As you can see, my writing needs improvement. I think that my main issue is about the terms. I would be honest that reading and writing is not my thing but most of the free time i have, i try to make something happen.
I have no job for the moment but im currently doing a part time job hunting right now. I need a job to pay off my classes. I dont like depending on my parents which makes me a very independent person. This semester is my 2nd year in college. I'm trying to finish two more semester and soon would transfer.
My goal is to complete all the requirements and the skills i need before taking my major classes. After finishing my english 201B, i just realized how to be a college student and how every class is to be taken seriously. I also realized how time is very essential. Finally, i think your class is very challenging, i'd like to stick through and try my best.
Hi, Professor Wanda Sabir
My name is Urangoo Batsaikhan, people usually call me UB and I prefer that. I am one of your many students from your English 1A class from 9:00-9:50am. I’m in my second year of college, and second semester at Peralta college district. This class is one of many English classes I took over the two years, which I hope will be the last one. English as a second language, I have difficulty when it comes to essay writings, and putting thoughts on paper in proper manner and language. Although some English classes, and teachers were very willing to help me get through the difficulty, I blame myself for not willing to give 100 percent. But I hope this semester will be much different from the others.
My plan for this semester is to pass all my classes, and start to get my life back on track. For a while my life has gone downhill right in front of my eyes, which I knew of, but did not do anything to stop it. So I have decided to wake up and stop wasting time and patience of others before its too late . For now, my goal is to graduate successfully from college with BA in business major specialized in accounting, and study to be a CPA. So that I can have a successful career and live my life my own way, and most importantly make my mother proud. XD
To be honest, i'm not much of a writer nor a reader, but in order to pass the class I'm willing to try my best to cooperate and participate fully to become proficient writer and reader. I'm looking forward to your curriculum.
-UB :)
Hello Professor Sabir,
My name is Shewit Michael and I'm in your 8am Eng 1A class. I would like to recieve my IGETC and transfer out to a University to continue my education.
I'm a really passionate and dedicated person. Being Eritrean has helped me gain these very important characteristics. I love everything about my country and I will stand by it no matter what. I've been to Eritrea twice, that I can remember, and it's a life changing experience. I learned a lot about myself staying at a military base, going on a tour of the country and interacting with several other people from different places. It's quite an interesting experience and I plan to go back.
English and I have a love/hate relationship. I do very well in one aspect of English such as grammar and revising essays, but I don't do very well with essays because of the small but important things that I miss which include, transitions.
In conclusion, I look forward to expanding my knowledge of English and Composition and working on improving my weaknesses.
Emmily Manown
English 1A
8-9 AM
Hello Professor Sabir,
My name is Emmily Manown, i am 20 years old, a full time student, and maintain a full time job. I work very hard at school and at my job as well, although my main priority is school and concentrating on my classes. I believe in working hard and always giving every assignment one-hundred percent.
I admire the fact that you dropped out of school as long as you did, went back and did what you needed to do. I know some woman who have kids and drop out of school, never to look back again. I know this because my mother did this and is currently a full time mother, which is a load of work to deal with. I think that you are a very strong woman for what you have accomplished.
I do not have much of a life between my work and school, but i have managed to keep the few close friends that i have. I am also very close with my family, which consists of a brother, two sisters, my mother and father. I enjoy going out and having fun like anyother person, but i always remember whats important to me, my education and family.
Hello Professor Sabir!
My name is Cortny Lozano and you'll be seeing me bright and early in your English 1A course at 8am. I just recently moved to Alameda to start my first semester here at COA. I've been extremely anxious for this semester to start and now it's finally here. I'm a bit nervous at the same time excited but I'm sure that's normal, I hope.
I moved here from a small town called Patterson, which is about an hour and a half from here. I've never lived anywhere else so it's an adjustment going from a small town to a city.
I'm 18 years old and I graduated from Patterson High School last year. After graduation, I wasn't quite sure what it was I wanted to do,up until November. That is when I made the choice to attend COA and live with my grandparents, just like my aunt did 8 years ago. Just like her, I didn't do as good in HS as I wanted to but I hope to follow in her footsteps and use this college experience to change my life.
I have an older sister,22,and a younger brother who is 14. My parents divorced when I was 13. This is when I began writing, I came to find out that writing out how I felt and expressing it out on paper made everything a little easier. I still write to this day.
Now that I have finally made the move to Alameda and I am a COA student, I expect to further my education and turn my weaknesses into strengths. My plans are to succeed in college and give it a 100 percent.
English 1A
9:00-9:50
M-Thur
Hello Ms. Sabir, my name is Peter Kortmann and this is my second and final year attending College of Alameda. I attended one other junior college before College of Alameda called Palomar College in San Marcos, San Diego. I have already applied to 9 four-year institutions for the fall 2010 semester and hope to hear back in March. English 1A is one of the final general education classes I have to pass in order to fulfill the IGETC requirements. My goal for this semester and English in particular, is to obtain the necessary study skills and habits to succeed at a four-year institution. I also hope to refine my writing and reading skills with this class.
A little bit about myself; I just recently turned 21 and live in Alameda. I live with my two parents and have a world traveling sister who is currently in Australia. Sports have played a pivotal role in my life since I was a kid, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, and baseball. I chose to pursue basketball which led me to North County San Diego where I played basketball at the junior college I attended. I struggled academically in San Diego my first year of college because I was not prepared for the rigorous time management and strict study habits needed. I feel like I have matured academically since then and am prepared to take on a demanding class such as this. I am looking forward to this class and hope to meet your expectations for students.
Hello Professor Sabir,
my name is mokhtar mohamed, i am one of your student from your 8-9 am class english 1A. this is my second year in the comunity colleg. i attend the colleg in the morning tell noon and i work 8 hours a day. i planed to achaive my general education an then transfer to the univercity to study biochmistry. i have another classis in this colleg such as precalcules, art history, and physic. i really like the way you are teaching, so that's convenced me to take E1A with you.
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Assignment #1 Response to Letter
Hi professor. My name is Leo Huey. I am 20 years old and I was born on Chinese New Year. I am in your English 1A 9:00am- 9:50am class. Some things about me are that I like tinkering with machines and electronics and I like finding out how things work. I also like solving all kinds of puzzles and that includes the puzzle of murders. I also have some interests in photography and filming.
My hobbies include fishing, racing, working on cars, paintballing, and the thing I do the most is Lion Dance. I’ve been in a team for over 3 years. If you don’t know what lion dance is, it is a cultural art where two partners go under the costume of a lion and perform for an audience to bring good luck. If you would like to know more, our team has a website that I fixed up and on the site there is information and even videos of our performances. The website is bayarealiondance.com.
I’m trying to become a mechanical and aerospace engineering major. I’m not that great at writing essays because it’s not really something I can get into. I feel that I can’t stretch my thoughts out. I like to keep things short and simple, to the point. I’m also not fond of reading. After a while of reading I get sleepy and because there is no challenge in reading something, it doesn’t catch my attention. My goals are to just pass this class so that I can go on to the next level and eventually complete my general education and transfer.
William Wong
Psychology 18
MWF 9-9:50a
Professor Wanda,
Hello, my name is William Wong. Although I did not personally receive
an email from you, I found out via classmate/friend that you had an
assignment for us over the weekend.
First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge your student greeting
in your blog on your website. It was a fun read. Technically, this
will be my 2nd year of community college, in general education. For
the past two years, I had found myself jumping from major to major,
without taking general educational courses. Even though I had a great
time and experience stepping away from homework/schoolwork and school
in general, I found out I had lost a lot of valuable college time. This is when
I told myself I needed to regroup and reconsider my time at a local
community college, and gather my thoughts and look forward into
transferring to a 2 year.
Although I do not have a clue as to what I would like to major in, I
now find myself trying to catch up on my general education classes. In
hopes to transfer, I figured I'd at least have the next couple of
semesters to figure out what I would like to major in. Keeping an open mind, I hope to find something of interest soon!
As far as this semester goes, I hope it will be a new and fresh
start. I would love to take every opportunity possible to make up for
the time I have lost in the past. Honestly, as vague as this may
seem, all I want in life; is to be successful.
--
Cheers,
William
English 1A class D205 9-9:50 Julian Shipnuck
My name is Julian Shipnuck I am nineteen about to be twenty. My birthday is on March 2, so I’m a pices. I have lived in Berkeley for my entire life, I was adopted at birth and two days later I was in my parents house in Berkeley. I have struggled in school since I remember; it’s not that the work is really hard; I just have had a tendency to procrastinate in the past. This semester however I am making it my priority and main goal to not procrastinate and participate in every aspect of the class. I am not sire what my over all goals in school am. I know that I want to go to a four- year university but I have no idea what to study. So I am trying new things and exploring hoping to find something that interest me. In my personal life I love playing sports, basketball being my favorite. Activity at all is fun, I also love watching sports on television, there’s something about watching a good game with friends that I just love. I recently moved out of my moms house and m roommate plays a lot of vide games, in the past I haven’t been a real big fan but I have started to play a lot more and actually really enjoy them. Another thing that I find enjoyment in is eating. I love to eat anything really from seafood to Indian food. I would have to say though nothing tops a good steak. That is about all I can think of, I hope this is a good year and a productive year in this class.
sincerly, Julian S
Hello professor Sabir,
My name is Constance Brown, I am in your 8AM English 1A class. Although we were not formally introduced, I had the pleasure of sitting in on Thursdays class. I was pleased to find out that our focus for the semester will be on accomplished women. I’ve always been afraid to take an English course because I am usually intimidated by the text books and lengthy papers due. I am not only interested but excited about the course ahead of me. For once in my continuous yet unsuccessful college experience, I believe in myself in that I will gain knowledge and pleasure from an English class.
While reading your letter, I felt a sense of encouragement through your words. I appreciate your honesty and straight forward expectations and I believe that from this class I will recieve more than a letter grade to add to my transcript. As I write this portion of my response, I cant help but feel this sentence belongs near the end, but I’ll continue writing in order to keep my train of thought. Im sure that with your help and my determination, by the end of this course i will get it together and write a decent paper. Throughout the semester, I hope to gain higher education and recieve a sense of direction which will lead me to a career path of success. I haven’t decided on my major but I am definitely interested in Sociology and Psychology. English 1A is a required course of study for the careers in which I am interested, at this point I’m hoping to work in the prison system as a counselor or as a social worker making a difference in the lives of those in unfortunate conditions/circumstances/situations. I can’t figure out which word fits best.
I believe this class will be a challenge.One reason being that it begins at 8am, I am a bartender and usually never put my brain to work this early in the morning. I have set 2 goals for myself in taking this class, the first is to wake up and be on time. The second challege would be to prepare myself to learn and appreciate the success and achievments of a woman other than my mother who I believe to be the most amazing woman IN THE WORLD. I agree that “college is bigger than a passing grade” and I am eager to walk away from this course with better writing skills,deeper comprehension of literature and a few new relationships/friendships with my professor and classmates. Education is a privlege and a neccesity and I am ready to succeed.
In your brief discription of your trip to Dakar, I can tell that you are a woman of strength and I admire your will to experience new people and environments. I myself have only been out of the state once but believe it is important to travel,meet new people and step outside of my comfort zone. I haven’t been able to do so in the past but I plan to visit Haiti and lend my hand to help. I know this is a huge step considering my traveling history but I know this will be helpfull to myself as well as others. If I am able to do this I will be achieving a goal of my own which is to experience something new that I never would’ve considered before. I will also be able to help others in a way that they may not expect or be capable of achieving on their own.
In my opinion, your letter to us students was a great way of opening up to and expressing yourself as a professor and as a woman. I found nothing but positive things in the reading and for once didn’t have to think for hours on how to respond. The realistic expectations and humor you added were a plus which kept me interseted and alert while completing this task at 2:55AM. As always I feel a sense of uncertainty in completing this assignment but I hope that will change upon completion of this course.Last but not least I couldn’t help but get excited when you told us we may go on field trips! I haven’t been on one in years and can’t wait...I wonder where we’d go, I feel like a kid all over again. Thank you for taking the initiative to make a difference in other peoples live by being an educator, I am willing, I am ready I am determined to pass this class. See you in a few hours
Hello Professor Sabir,
My name is Victor Ani. I am in your M-Th 9-9:50 ENG 1A course. I was born in San Francisco General Hospital but raised in Oakland, CA. I lived in Oakland for 15 years straight and have been moving around since. I am a 23 year old Nigerian American. My mother and father were both born in Nigeria. I have been to Nigeria twice. My first time going to Nigeria, I was too young to remember anything. The second time I went I was 18, old enough to see and understand what was going on out there. The people treated me like an outsider but when it came to my family, which is just what they treated me like, family. I have a large family and friends I consider family.
I am very witty and love laughter. My interests are playing basketball, music, and dance. In my spear time I go to the gym and capitalize on all of the festivities. I also enjoy traveling, especially since I work for an airline company. I played basketball in high school from my freshmen to junior year. I went to four different high schools for separate reasons. I began at St. Elizabeth High School, Candell’s College Preparatory School, Oakland High School, and then to Hayward High School where I then graduated. These schools were all in Oakland except for Hayward High.
I have attended five different colleges. I was a student at San Jose State University before I dropped out and began attending College of San Mateo. After attending College of San Mateo for two years, I transferred and moved to Washington D.C, where I attended Howard University for a year. I then became very tired of being out there so I moved back to the Bay Area. I never noticed how good of weather we had until moving out to D.C. I have been jumping around to different colleges because I was not sure what I really wanted to do or where to go.
My original major was computer engineering. I then changed my major to Kinesiology because I found a passion in that field. I attended Ohlone College under this major for a couple of semesters. I then found out they didn’t specialize in the field I wanted to go in and it was very difficult to get to class due to the location. When I finally realized what I needed to do, I switched schools and began at College of Alameda because it was more convenient. I have a very tough schedule this semester in which I believe to be my most difficult. My goals are to finish this semester at the College of Alameda and start at San Francisco State in the fall.
I think it is a wonderful thing hearing how you overcame your obstacles no matter how difficult it seemed to get. I admire you for that because my mother did the same thing by finishing school with children. Because she finished school with my siblings and I, I have always felt she was great. For these reasons, I strive to finish also. I do not want to make any excuses when there are strong willed woman like you and my mother. It was very interesting for me to hear that you visited Africa. I have run into many of my African American brothers and sisters who are so mind washed as to what life is like in Africa. There are many who say all kind of negative things about Africa and have never even traveled.
Well, after reading the introductory letters so far, I am excited and happy to meet everyone and hope we keep this communication channel open.
This week we will continue the "getting to know you" experience and hopefully get over to a digital classroom so that students who are technology shy can practice posting.
I suggest students develop an academic blog for their English assignments. Make it private and save all your assignments there, plus revisions. It will make the end of the semester portfolio easier to pull together.
This week we will practice paraphrasing and summarizing. There is a great section in SPHE on this. I'll make copies of the section for students, as the book is not in yet.
I hope everyone brings in an article this morning.
Later this week we will conduct introductions, so we can put names to the faces, plus have the opportunity to swap phone numbers and email addresses.
Time Wise is speaking next week in Oakland at a Speak Out event (visit their website). I believe it is Feb. 4. I will see about student discount tickets. Let me know if you are interested. I would like us to go as a class. No pressure. Tim Wise speaks about "white skin privilege" and has written a lot about the topic as well.
I host an annual poetry event Feb. 6, (Bob Marley's birthday this year), at the West Oakland Branch Library called, An African American Celebration through Poetry, 1801 Adeline Street, (510) 238-7352, 1-4 PM. It's free. We have a rehearsal this Sat., Jan. 30, 10-12 noon, same place.
Hello Professor Sabir,
Let me take a moment to try to introduce myself as well as I can in a few words. My name is Taiisha Davis and I am enrolled in your 9:00 am English 1A class. My life has taken many turns and detours, and ultimately led me to where I am now. Let’s start from the very beginning. I was born on June 29th, 1990 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, New York. My mom was raised in Berkeley, Ca. and my dad was raised in New Orleans, La. For many years he played the saxophone and moved to New York to pursue a musical career, while my mom loved the jazz scene and wanted to escape her small hometown in hopes of excitement and adventure. Two years later on June 27th, 1992 my little sister Desiree was born, and we became instant best friends. From what I remember, New York was a big, fun city with lots of snow, cars, and flashing lights. We lived in Manhattan until June 1995, when my dad decided to move our family to his hometown of New Orleans. At a young age, I learned about diversity and racism and wasn’t sure where I fit. My mom is half white, half black, and in the Deep South segregation and name-calling is common for non-black people. My dad’s family rejected my mom, which eventually made me feel unwelcome into the family. Eventually my parents divorced, and he moved away. My sister Desiree and I attended the local elementary school, and were constantly teased about our hair, skin tone, and our mom. School was never a challenge for me and I easily made the honor roll every consecutive year. This was also another reason for kids to tease me. I suffered this treatment until August 28th, 2005. Hurricane Katrina hit, and my mom, sister, and I lived in a shelter for a week until we relocated to California to seek refuge from both of my mom’s uncles.
First we lived with my uncle and auntie in Santa Cruz for a year, and once again I experienced more racism. I remember my first day of attendance at Aptos High School; I walked into my math class and saw “Kill Niggers” etched into a desktop. Oh the memories of girls asking about my hair, commenting on my “dark” skin, and having no attention from any boys. I grew deeply depressed and felt like I had no one to relate to, except for my sister. We became extremely close, and I knew she would always be there for me. Tension within my uncle’s house led to us getting kicked out, so we found a nearby apartment complex, where more drama ensued. Despite these problems, at the end of the year Desiree graduated the eighth grade (ahead of the class!) and I completed my sophomore year of high school on the President’s Honor Roll. That July we packed up the little remnants of what we called “home” to Oakland, and lived with my mom’s other brother and sister in law. It was challenging trying to once more adjust to a new city, new environment, and new school. I was very scared and nervous just thinking about entering my junior year at a school filled with unfamiliar faces. Eventually I sucked it up, and attended Oakland Technical High School with my sister. Once again I felt like an outcast and knew it would be hard to make friends this late in school. I found a few friends, or associates, to get me through the year. My mom found a new apartment for us to call “home” and found a new job at a real estate company. I ended my junior year with a 3.5 grade point average and entered my senior year more confident than my last. This time I had a group of friends, fun classes, and was motivated to graduate. Senior year came and went, and I graduated in June of 2008, at the top of my class, and with a 3.8 GPA!
part 1
Taiisha Davis part 2
I will never forget how hard my sister cried seeing me walk across that stage, knowing that all the hardships we endured in our short lives hadn’t slowed me down.
That summer I turned eighteen, got my license, and ironically bought my first car and landed my first job on the same day! I felt like my life was finally turning around. I had worked out all summer and lost weight, dyed my hair blonde, and had a newfound confidence. On my way home from work one night, I met this guy on BART. We talked for a few weeks and made it official on November 1st, 2008. The depressed state I had been in since a child seemed to fade away. Having a boyfriend that constantly complimented me made me feel even more confident, and I felt on top of the world. I took a break from school to focus on my job and make money to help out my family. During this time, I began to understand myself better and learn to love what people used to make fun of.
My life seemed to be perfect, and in August 2009 I enrolled in College of Alameda. I scored a 106 on the English part of the required placement test, and a lousy 70 something on the Math part. During this time, my boyfriend and I had some problems and I felt like we were falling apart. I requested Labor Day weekend off from my job, with the promise it would be spent with “him”, only to find out he completely forgot and partied with his friends instead. So on that Sunday my uncle and auntie invited my mom, my sister and some of her friends, and I over for a pre-Labor Day barbeque. There were lots of laughs and plenty of good food. In the middle of the festivities my boyfriend called me, and my day instantly got better. He spoke to my sister and made her laugh, and it made me happy to see such a big smile on her face. I drove home and dreaded having to go to work the next day.
Very few people have to work on Labor Day, but when working in retail one rarely gets a day off. My sister begged to use my car that morning since the brakes on her car were slowly giving out. I repeatedly told her no, but she wanted to drop off job applications to several places and promised she wouldn’t go anywhere. So I let Desiree drop me off at BART, and my stomach turned as I watched her and her best friend drive off. About two and a half hours into work I finally got my first break, so I ran to the break room and proceeded to microwave a pizza. I went to my locker and looked at my phone, noticing I had numerous missed calls and test messages. I don’t know what was running through my mind but I called Desiree’s best friend back, and when we spoke I knew there was trouble. She didn’t want to tell me what happened, and only said something happened to my sister. I thought they got into a fender-bender in my car and was scared to tell me. Moments later she blurted out that my sister had been shot and killed. I blanked out and only remember the BART ride home crying hysterically with a coworker to meet up with my mom, uncle, and auntie. Stepping out of MacArthur BART I fell to the floor hearing the news that my little sister was shot in the head and killed.
Taiisha Davis end
Around 5:07pm on Labor Day, Desiree was pronounced dead. Ever since that night my life has been gloomy. I have never experienced death and never experienced not having my little sister running around the house. For the first time in my life it was just my mom and I; no longer the three musketeers our family was used to. Nothing has ever compared to this pain, and I doubt anything will ever come close. In honor of Desiree, my mom, dad, and I got matching tattoos. And although that will never bring her back, my tattoo makes me feel as if she is still with me, next to me, and guiding me. My boyfriend’s best friend’s daughter is named Destiny Desiree, and her nickname is “Dezzy”. It’s a bittersweet reason to be a stronger person and work harder. Desiree was only seventeen, and I feel it is my responsibility to live for her. It has always been my dream to own a fashionable boutique, and one day it will become a reality. Just remembering how proud Desiree was to see me walk the stage, I know she’ll be proud to see me succeed in life; she is my motivation.
Hello Professor Wanda
My name is Summera Farooq. I am in your english 1a class at 8 am. I loved and enjoyed reading your letter.My family came to the United States about 4-5 years ago. We came here for a better education and better environment. I have two brothers , i have always wanted a sister but unfortunately i never got one. My younger brother wants to be a pilot and i want to be a doctor. I am not sure about my older brother. I need this class ato improve my writing skills.I hope i will accomplish alot in this class. This is my second semester in college of alameda. I am a hard working student but i am not very good at writng . May be because this is my third language and sometimes it is hard for me to translate exactly the same thing to english. I will do my best in your class and get a step closer to my dream.
My name is Crystal Cortez and I am in your English 1A class at 8:00-8:50am Monday-Thursday. I expect to learn a lot from your class this semester to help me not only in the future classes I take as I continue my college studies, but to also help me in my everyday life. What grabbed my attention about your letter, is the fact that this spring course we will be focused on woman’s accomplishments. I being a woman I would like to learn more of the impact woman have been making in today’s society as well as in the pasted.
As I persuade my college studies and reach my academic goal and become a pediatrician. I too would like to be looked upon by my peers as a woman that not only has achieved or accomplished something, but also made a difference in my community and others lives.
I am a little shy at first like most, but once the ice is broken I am an easy going person. English is my second language and sadly to say English is not my strongest subject, but I hope to put the effort I need to in order to over come the areas I lack in. I’m the second oldest in my family of four siblings. I live with my mother in Oakland, which I am very grateful of, since it is hard to live on your own in this economy.
I hope to make the best of this class this semester, in order to prepare me for my future courses I will be taking and for myself.
Mulugeta Mahray
English 1A 8:00 – 8:50AM
Hello Professor Sabir,
My name is Mulugeta Mahray , I born and raised in Ethiopia but my family is Eritrean. This is my third semester in community college and my first time in you classes. My major is accounting and I want to transfer when I finish at community college. I am not good at English but I work hard to improve my skill on writing and compose.
Writing is very important to me on my daily business. We work on side as self employed with my partner to be an agent for their products to sell in domestic or overseas. So we try our best the correspondences we make our profession. Based on our experience most companies make their decision based on your writing. As a result, before we mail in, we have to make sure that our writing is correct. In addition I will take business writing communication class. I committed to attend the class and hope this class will be helping me up some of my weakness in writing.
In response to your blog, you had quote interested life history and happy New Year to you too. I appreciate you and feel confidence about the time you committed to us talk to you even over cell phone at your convenient time.
Jade Hooker
English 1a
Wanda Sabir
8-8:50
Your blog is very interesting in an motivating and up-lifting sense. It makes me feel as if I need to want to learn in order to take in important information given to me. In your blog when you say “if students do not put in the time, desired results, like a passing grade, is impossible to achieve” (par.2). This statement makes me want to put my best foot forward and do what ever it takes to receive the highest grade I can achieve.
My plans at the College of Alameda are to complete my general education so that I may transfer to an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) just as a couple of my older siblings have. I have very high expectations for myself and so does my family. They constantly remind me of where I want to be in the future; an attorney in a huge accounting firm, but those are their dreams not mine. Honestly, I'm not completely sure where or what I want to be in the future, but as a student, I would like to explore many fields so I can make a decision that best suits me.
I like the blog because the instructor explained how she overcomes a lot of obstacles young adults and especially the African-Americans go through. Although she took 13 years to receive her BA she still got it. The entry explained how she came up in her family and at a young age had to stop school and begin her family. It talks about her personal pros and cons like her love for writing and how she writes professionally. This passage also states how making friends in college is also a good help because no one can make It alone
I’m Damian Jackson im a 201A/B student but I go by, “Dame” I was born and raised in east Oakland in a section known as the Dubs. I’m someone who is very intellegent, knowledgeable, caring, and thoughtful and a people person. I attended several high-schools because as younger man I had a lot of problems with my behavior and conduct. I graduated in 2008 and have been attending college since that year. My plans for this semester is to finish all of my classes with a letter grade of B or higher. I want to have a high grade such as that because I have two repeat classes so a B would mean a lot. English is a subject I’ve taken interest in but is not one of my strong points. I’ve always been able to write a good story but my understanding how to structure and complete are ideas are a little shaky. I currently do not have a major because I don’t want to rush into something I might be satisfied with down the road when I get my degree.
Respond letter on the blog
I am 36 years old. I have two old sisters at South Korea. Now, I live friend and my nephew. Five years ago, I came from Korea and I lived Berkeley and I moved Oakland. I am studied for four Peralta College Laney and Merritt. I got BA degree at Dongguk University and my major is Buddhism. I am Buddhist nun so I want to study continue Buddhism. I will study English language and culture at community College. I take class this semester; basic computer, humanities and pronunciation. I like study general education class. I hope to get AA degree, and go to 4yesrs College. Also, I always study TOFEL test for free time. Most of all, my goal is “Don’t give up all class”. Therefore, I will do my best studying English.
I work Korean Buddhist temple Borisa Zen Center. There is small Korean Buddhist community. They are 150 members. There served every Sunday 11 am. I’m CEO. I prepared temple event every Sunday. Today, I preach Buddhist teachings for fifty members. I am full time student and worker. I agree that Wanda said “Students have to make two relationships with peers at least”. I need to support another classmate so I want to make friend at class. Sometimes, I ask about homework and delivery massage to class peer and I want to talk about daily life. I like to class time why it is fifty minutes not long time and boring. I may be interesting this English 1A class for me.
Arely Razo
Professor Sabir
English 1A
21 January 2010
Response to Sabirs Letter
My name is Arely Razo and I am 20 years old. I am currently studying to become a social worker for children because I really like children. I am very family oriented and I am one of the few to actually attend college from my family. I want to be a role model for my little cousins and show them that anything they set there minds to can be accomplished.
I am now attending the English 1A class and have had Professor Sabir for English 201B. She was a good teacher and I liked the fact that if I had a question about homework, I was able to call her for help. The only thing is that if someone is going to call, it shouldn’t be late. I felt that her class was a little easy but that was because I always made sure that I was caught up and asked questions when I didn’t understand something. At the end of the semester there were only three people left in the class including myself. Getting the books right away is something that I am going to do this year so that I won’t have to wait really long for the book. With the Afeni Shakur book, I ended up getting it until it got to school and it was so late that it wasn’t needed after I bought it.
This semester I plan to do all my work and always try my best. I hope to get a good grade in this class. I am hoping to read a few more books and I ended up liking the person that we researched last semester. I am looking forward to not having to write essays from the Stewart Pidd book. Stewart Pidd isn’t a book that I liked, but I felt that it helped me improve my writing. The Stewart Pidd made it easier for me to figure out where I made mistakes. I decided to keep the book for refreshment.
This semester in college I plan to dedicate more time to my studying because I felt that I did not do the best of my ability in some classes. I am going to make sure that I try and not get as distracted this semester. Part of it, I felt was that some of the teachers were boring and I just couldn’t learn with them. The way they spoke was not intriguing to me and it made it hard for me to focus.
I plan to keep making friends in college and I have already met a few good people. Some of these people that I met, I feel that they are good friends. These people helped me when I needed help and I did the same when they needed me. I am going to try to speak up a little more in class and not be so shy,
I thought that your letter had a lot of information that was not said last year. I am sorry about what happened to you. I am looking forward to learning more about you in this class and being your student once more. I think that it was very good of you to have told people about your life. I am very glad that you are happy and have some of your family with you. Hopefully everything gets better.
John Rawson
Eng 1A
Hello my name is John Rawson. I am currently in my last year at junior college before I transfer. I am a father of two and have a very large family. My family is a very important part of my life. I work at two jobs, I work at my grandparents where I do the office work for their dentist office and I work as a bar tender at different events like weddings and concerts. I work a lot but I enjoy being busy and going to school. I enjoy hanging out with my kids and cooking. I am a fine art major and I like to paint and draw with my kids and watching sports. Homework is hard for me because I’m so busy but I try to keep up with it the best I can.
I like school because it gives you a different perspective. It’s not always easy but I figure I have the rest of my life to work. I have only started beginning to enjoy writing. I find it difficult to use words to try and illustrate a point or to convey an emotion. It is very difficult for me, but I feel I must try my best and hope for a positive result.
Sabah Said
Feb. 6.2010
Mon- Thurs
English 1A
Response to Letter
Your letter was interesting. You experienced a lot of things in life. It was nice about ,how your time was going to Dakar, in West Africa. It shows your friendly and social. You meet people and you want to get to know them. Also it struggled in your life years ago with school, husband and kids, but you’re an inspiration because you never gave up. You’re a successful person and you have people in your life you have to help you now. You had patients to do what your love which is show encouragement to others.
Im 19 years old going on to 20, and I have dedicated myself in school with help hand encouragement also from my loved ones. I sometimes picture my future of being a nurses and being with my loved ones. I would say I enjoy school and love learning. I want to go travel for fun. I love everything to be organized with what I do. I’m an outgoing person, I am social, I work with kids at after school program, which I look forward to everyday. My life is crazy , and always busy, I have a big family which is sometimes fun but tiring. But I love them. Also I like my life being busy instead of boring. Last but not least I’m looking forward to this semester in English 1A in your class MS. Sabir.
Joshua Duong
Professor Sabir
Eng 1a 8-8:50 am
Hi, my name is Joshua Duong, and I just graduated from Berkeley High in 2009. I am currently in the community college so I can get the courses needed to, hopefully transfer to UC Berkeley for computer engineering. I did not have the best grades in high school, due to all play and no work. I am coming to college with a new mindset: get what needs to be done now before it's too late. I am not here to mess around. I am paying for these classes with my own money, and I don't plan to waste my time here. I came here with goals to get a successful and well-paying job. I realized after graduating high school that how successful I will be in life depends on nobody but me.
Valeria Ramos
English 1A 8-8:50
I was born Bogota, Colombia. I came to the united states ten years ago as a refugee. My dad's Bank was doing dirty business, and because my dad turned his boss in, his boss tried to get people to kill him. We came to Oakland, California to live with my uncle and his wife. It was a one bedroom apartment so my whole family of five had to sleep in the living room floor.
I went to school with people who made fun of me for not knowing English, but after a year of coming to California, I was able to speak it with out even having an accent.
I am a very open minded person when it comes to people and their problems, only because i know what it feels like to not be understood.
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