Spring Celebrations From Around the World...Jewish individuals celebrate the holi-day of Passover during the spring. This celebration typically spans seven to eight days, depending
Post on 04-Aug-2020
1 Views
Preview:
Transcript
1
Reedley College Reading & Writing
Center presents...
Spring, April 2019
Spring Celebrations By Ronnie Coates
1
Earth Day By Paola Valenciano
2-3
Titanic Remembrance By Evelyn Felipe
3
Librarian Day By Maddie Dominguez
4-5
Memoir By Iman Alamri
6-7
Grammar Corner By Elizabeth Kleinkramer
7
Comic Con By Stephanie Duarte
8
Creative Non-Fiction By Savanna Duncan
9
Memoir By Lucio Rodriguez
10-
11
CalWORKS By Brandon Cooper
12-
13
Fiction By Rosa Corocles
14
Crossword 15
Poetry By Laura Hand
16
RC Men’s Golf By Isaiah Tigler
17
Safari Days By Monse Hernandez
17
Clubs, Services, &
Calendar 18-
20
Table of Contents
By Ronnie Coates
Spring Celebrations From Around the World
March 20th, 2019 is the date that
marks the end of winter and the begin-
ning of spring. The weather is becoming
warmer, and flowers are beginning to
bloom. People are embarking upon ad-
ventures with friends and family mem-
bers ranging from road tripping across the
state to hiking to the top of Yosemite
Falls. Some are cleaning their homes and
are getting rid of unused items to honor
the tradition that is spring cleaning. Chil-
dren are looking forward to decorating
hard boiled eggs and going on egg hunts
with their families. While spring cleaning
and egg decorating are common in the
United States, other cultures and religions
have their own unique celebrations to
mark the beginning of the spring season.
It is common for people of Catholic
and Protestant faiths to celebrate Easter
during this time. For them, the holiday of
Easter represents the day in which Jesus
Christ was resurrected. The Catholic
Church and some Protestant denomina-
tions will reenact Christ’s death and res-
urrection during the early hours of Easter
day. Some individuals even choose to
give up something sentimental to them
for a tradition called Lent. Lent is a way
to pay remembrance to the forty days Je-
sus fasted in the wilderness before begin-
ning his ministry.
Jewish individuals celebrate the holi-
day of Passover during the spring. This
celebration typically spans seven to eight
days, depending on the branch of Judaism
that is practiced. Passover is a time where
Jewish people pay remembrance to the
Hebrew people that were freed from slav-
ery in Egypt, a movement thought to have
been led by the biblical figure Moses.
Jewish individuals share a meal with their
families and recall stories of the struggles
their ancestors faced while being held
captive in Egypt.
In India, people of the Hindu faith
have a spring celebration known as Holi.
Participants of this celebration will splash
each other with water and coat each other
with colored powder to signify the idea
that good supersedes evil. In addition,
participants will consume sweets and
dance to folk music. Holi takes place on
the day of the last full moon of the Hindi
Lunisolar calendar month, which usually
falls in March.
Many people living in the Middle
East and parts of Asia celebrate the holi-
2
day Nowruz, or what is sometimes referred to as the
Persian New Year. Typically, celebrators of Nowruz
will clean and declutter their houses and will proceed
to eat a meal with their families. The meal consists of
seven foods, all of which start with the letter “s” in the
Persian language. Each of the seven foods are symbol-
ic for a specific value, such as rebirth, that Nowruz
celebrators hold dear. Some families will exchange
gifts with one another or attend festivals as a means of
celebrating.
People residing in Thailand ring in the Thai New
Year by celebrating Songkran. Celebrations of
Songkran begin on April 13th and typically span three
days, but the length of the celebrations may vary de-
pending on local customs. Thai people also place em-
phasis on renewal and cleansing during Songkran cel-
ebrations; the cleansing is represented symbolically
using water. Water is poured over statues of Buddha,
in the hands of seniors, and may also be used for
house cleaning or water fights.
These are just a few examples of celebrations that
occur in the spring. Spring celebrations are common
across the world, but the customs that are practiced
vary greatly depending on the region. No matter how
you plan to celebrate, we can all look forward to
warmer weather and spending time with our families!
Spring Celebrations Continued...
***********************************************************
“Only when the last tree has died, the last river
has been poisoned, and the last fish been caught will
we realize we cannot eat money” -Native American
Proverb.
Earth Day is held on April 22nd every year. The
purpose of this event is to promote environmental
awareness and to advocate for the protection of our
planet. One can celebrate this day by being outdoors
and performing acts of service to the earth. Such ac-
tivities include planting a tree, picking up garbage,
conducting programs to recycle and conserve, and
even petitioning our representatives to take action to
lessen the pace of global warming through regulation.
However, people caring about their actions to-
wards the earth’s preservation for just a single day is
not effective. For example, Valentine’s Day consists
of people in relationships treating each other extra
‘special’ for just one day and are less appreciative the
rest of the year. Universally, partners should treat each
other with respect, care, and love year round and thus,
it must be this way with how we treat our earth. We are
living in this planet and simultaneously destroying it. It
is important for everyone to be aware of how we are
destroying it. Did you know that something as simple
as lighting a candle for whatever purpose causes small
amounts of air pollution? Beyond that, there are also
pollutants from vehicles, fires, and even water waste
that deteriorates the ozone layer. This is why Earth Day
should actually be every day. We should not do some-
thing just for one day and ignore these problems for the
rest of the year.
This day should ultimately remind us that we are
only here for a short amount of time, and we should be
the generation that takes control and responsibility over
the treatment of our planet.
We need to show political leaders that we care
about our earth, what is being done to it, and that we
want mindful behavior to stop. We need new policies
and legislation to be passed that lessen our footprint on
the planet that we should be cherishing.
By Paola Valenciano
3
Earth Day should bring everyone together. Race, gender, age, or economic
status does not matter when it comes to giving life back to our planet. One should
come in this life with a purpose and leave with it, and this purpose should be to
keep our beloved planet habitable for the future generations to come.
Whenever you are about to litter, light a candle, or even just go for a drive for
fun, you should consider the impact your actions can have on the enviornment. Do
you want to live in a planet filled with air, soil, and water pollution? If not, then
remember: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
****************************************************************************************
Titanic Remembrance Day By Evelyn Felipe
Titanic Remembrance Day is celebrated on April
15th. This ship is very memorable because of its size
and the unfortunate event that took place. This day is
dedicated to the 1,500 individuals who lost their lives
on the Titanic.
The builders of the Titanic took pride in the interi-
or and exterior look of the ship. It was the largest
ship built at that point of time. It reached almost 900
feet in length. In total, it carried 2,240 passengers and
crew members. To board the Titanic, the price of the
ticket ranged from $2,500 for first class passengers to
$40 dollars for the third class. The Titanic gained a
lot of attention, which led a lot of people to buy a
ticket to board the ship. The inside of the ship was
known to be luxurious for first class passengers be-
cause it included a grand staircase, contained the Ritz
Restaurant, and had many more features. The ship
was powered by steam, utilized 600 tons of coal each
day and released 100 ton of ash every day it ran.
While the Titanic was very lavish for first class pas-
sengers, the third-class passengers saw a different
environment. There were more than 700 third class
passengers who had to share two bathtubs.
The ship was on its first voyage from England to
New York City, however no one expected the trip to
be unsuccessful. Since the ship was deemed unsinka-
ble by its creator, those in charge of the ship did little
to prepare for sinking possibilities. Late at night on
April 11th, the ship hit an iceberg which caused it to
sink in the early morning the next day. About 1,500
people died due to a lack of lifeboats on the ship.
This event was so memorable that there have been
several movies and books created about the Titanic
and the unfortunate events that occurred. For exam-
ple, one popular movie Titanic shares a love story of
a man, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and a woman,
played by Kate Winslet, who meet on the ship but are
separated at the end due to him sacrificing himself to
save his beloved after the ship began to sink.
There are many ways that you can observe Titanic
Remembrance Day. You can bring attention to this
day by going on social media and using the hashtag
#TitanicRemembranceDay. You can also search for
stories on the web and artifacts that were recovered
by survivors. The story of the ship still offers a cau-
tionary tale about the real danger that accompanies
grand human design.
4
In the United States, we celebrate School Librarian Day
every year on April 4th as a token of appreciation from stu-
dents everywhere to their school librarians. Throughout the
day, school librarians are recognized for all of the hard
work and passion that they put into their job. A few weeks
ago, I had the privilege of meeting all three of our school
librarians here at Reedley College. They work hard along
with the rest of the staff to keep the library functioning in
an orderly manner. Each librarian is there to help students
feel welcome as they help students search for resources
more efficiently and effectively. Not only do they take the
time to give us suggestions of what books can help us on a
specific topic, but they go out of their way to visit class-
rooms to talk about the many resources that are available
with just the click of a button.
Reedley College Librarians also create strong bonds
with students by showing how much they care for our fu-
ture. Being able to communicate and get along with our
librarians is very important because they are here to help us
reach our educational goals through the knowledge that
books provide. Not only should we appreciate them on this
day, but whenever we see them, we should take a moment
to get to know them more and thank them for all of the
work they put into their job. So, if you have spare time,
stop by the library and give our school librarians a big
thank you for all that they do to make our college a better
learning environment for everyone.
Interview Questions
Librarian-Shivon Hess
1. What has been the most memorable memory you
have had while working as a Librarian?
My most memorable memory would be from several
years ago (at another library) when I helped an important
figure in civil rights history. I was new to the area and did-
n’t know who this person was until a colleague informed
me afterwards. I was in awe so, of course, I did my re-
search and learned something new! I will never forget this
experience or this person and how close I was to a living,
breathing historical figure. You never know who you’re
going to meet or help in this lifetime.
2. What do you love most about being a Librarian?
It’s a great feeling when I get feedback from students
and faculty who let us know how much our services, tech,
or collection have helped them achieve their goals. This is
the fuel that keeps me learning new innovative ways to fit
the needs of our ever-changing, ever-growing community.
3. What would you tell students to encourage them
to visit the library more often?
We don’t bite! I’ve said this in several classes, but it’s
true! Libraries often have the misperception of being life-
less, cold buildings full of dusty old books. Furthermore,
libraries are staffed with mean librarians who read all day
and shush their patrons. We are so far from that! Our main
goal is to support the information needs of the campus and
curriculum – which is a big job considering how many
classes and departments there are! We collaborate with fac-
ulty to ensure we have relevant resources to support student
coursework. Students – you’re not bothering us at all! We
want you to ask questions! Or just grab a seat and hang out
or study!
By Maddie Dominquez
Nance Espinosa Shivon Hess Mai Soua Lee
5
Adjunct Librarian-Nance Espinosa
1. What has been the most memorable memory you
have had while working as a Librarian?
All the student workers, and co-workers, I have had the
privilege of working with.
2. What do you love most about being a Librarian?
Helping people find information and catching up on their
progress.
3. How many years have you been working here at
Reedley College as a Librarian?
March 17, 2007. Twelve years.
Adjunct Librarian-Mai Soua Lee
1. What has been the most memorable memory you
have had while working as a Librarian?
The most memorable memory for me while working as
a Librarian here at Reedley College was when a pair of
doggie-buddies casually strolled into the library from one
end of the circulation room out through the other side of
the library. This was memorable for me because at that mo-
ment, I realized that not only students, faculty, and staff
found the RC library to be a wonderful place to learn, ex-
plore, and hangout; even our four-legged friends found it to
be a very enjoyable facility too.
2. What do you love most about being a librarian?
What I love most about being a librarian is being able to
support and impact students' educational aspiration and
success. I love spreading knowledge and ensuring that stu-
dents receive the highest quality of library support, ser-
vices, and resources to maximize learning and exploration.
3. What makes Reedley College a good working envi-
ronment?
I love working at Reedley College, because when I set
foot on campus every day, I feel a sense of belonging - of
coming home. It is a feeling of being part of a large family
and learning together as we navigate the academic ship to
reach the goals, dreams, learning outcomes, and mission of
the college.
6
Being born in America but being raised in a Mus-
lim household has granted me the opportunity to expe-
rience life with two different lenses. My parents were
born in a third-world country and immigrated to
America at different times in their life. After immi-
grating to the U.S., they lived on opposite sides of the
country, but then, my parents moved from New York
to California after being married in the year of 1986.
My parents always kept their Muslim traditions
while raising their children in America. Every year we
fasted during the holy month of Ramadan, even
though it fell on the hottest month in the summer. Eve-
ry year we attended each Eid-al-fitr and Eid-al-kibr
with our extended family even though it was chaotic
trying to find my huge extended family where every-
one in our Muslim community was doing the same.
Every year we met at one family member’s house to
celebrate the Eid as we exchanged gifts and sat down
all together on the floor because the table was too
small to fit all of us. It was the little things, like my
cousins and I playing with the dough my grandma
used to make a common Middle-Eastern pastry known
as “Fidra,” that made me appreciate and love not only
my Muslim culture, but my Yemeni culture as well.
It is common for my Yemeni culture to be misper-
ceived as it is not in the best shape right now. The way
my culture is perceived on mainstream media is not
the exact picture I live in every day of my life. I be-
lieve that the way my family celebrates our culture is
one of the most euphoric experiences I’ve ever had.
When someone in our family is getting married, it is
one huge family contribution with one party after an-
other until the day of the wedding. Two days before
the wedding, we have what’s called the “Henna Party”
where all the girls of the bridal party and the groom’s
family get temporary henna tattoos on their hands and
arms. In Yemeni tradition, the bride gets henna on
both her arms and legs with henna on both sides of
their palms and all the way up to their forearms. Hen-
na also covers their feet all the way up to their mid-
calf. It is also Yemeni tradition for the groom to get
henna on his palms because it is viewed as a sign of
good luck before the wedding.
If it was not clearly stated above, family is a huge
part when it comes to my Yemeni culture. In my inter-
mediate family, with three older siblings and two par-
ents, we never let each other fall behind. We help pick
each other up when we’re down and dust off our
shoulders. Most Yemeni families like mine give tough
love. This meant that we were never pampered and we
were taught to strengthen our inner-confidence. Let’s
just say it wasn’t easy to explain to our father why we
were crying or hurt because he knew that as, a Yemeni
father, he was the one to constantly remind us that we
are not just American, but we are also Yemeni. Mean-
ing that he knew that the Yemeni blood coursing
through our veins overlapped our American blood.
Our Yemeni blood is thicker than ever, and it courses
through our veins every single waking day of our
lives. But of course, he didn’t want us to take the lives
we are given in America for granted.
Stemming back to my grandparents on my moth-
er’s side, my life would have been so much different if
they hadn’t moved to America in 1965. They took the
By Iman Alamri Life of an
American-Muslim
7
Ethos, pathos, and logos are three strategies that
many writers can use to influence their readers; here’s
how you can use them in your own writing.
Ethos is the use of ethics or credibility to convince
a reader. Ethics can be an extremely influential tool
for writers. The credibility of an author, or the ethics
of an idea, person, business, or debate can help sway
readers in a writer’s favor. An example of using ethos
would be to cite a person’s credentials in order to
prove their reliability. For example:
George, a small business owner and respect-
ed committee member, writes that business-
es should be managed well to avoid failure.
Listing George’s credentials helps readers realize that
he has experience, and they should believe him, which
strengthens the argument that business should be well-
managed.
Pathos is the use of emotion to influence readers.
Tugging at someone’s heart strings is a great way to
convince them that an argument is valid. For example:
Alan’s daughter died in a car crash last
year, and in order to deal with his grief, he
turned to strengthening his town’s auto
laws. In this way, he can ensure that no
more children will perish in car accidents.
Alan’s situation makes the reader feel that his views
are noble and helps strengthen the writer’s argument
that traffic laws should be more restrictive.
Logos is the use of logic to persuade readers. Log-
ic can be a powerful tool. If an idea makes sense to a
reader, they are more likely to trust that the idea is
right or true. Logos often uses facts and evidence. For
example:
Samuel L. Jackson is the highest grossing
actor of 2019, making 5.867 million dollars
to-date.
The use of statistics in this example helps prove to the
reader that Samuel L. Jackson is the most popular ac-
tor of 2019.
Using ethos, pathos, and logos in your writing can
help convince your readers that your thesis is correct.
biggest opportunity to not only change their chil-
dren’s lives but the future of their grandchildren and
great-grandchildren as well. With Yemen being a
third-world country, my life would have been the
complete opposite of how I live now. Most girls my
age are already married with at least one child by
now with not much of an education. Everyone in my
family makes sure that our lives here in America are
never taken for granted as we further our education
more and more to prove that the reason our grandpar-
ents immigrated is still thriving through our bettered
lives.
If I were to explain my pride and admiration for
my Yemeni culture, I would express it through the
five senses. I could smell the bakhoor incense sur-
rounding the room. I could feel another one’s cheeks
on mine as I was greeted with multiple side kisses. I
could hear the sound of the Oud amplifying my ears.
I could visualize the bright and eye-catching colors
draped on one’s head. I could taste the spices and
traditional foods that fill the air.
You can live without one or more of the five
senses, but having all five completes the overall
package of living a life as an American-Muslim.
By Elizabeth Kleinkramer
8
Do you like anime? Comic books? Manga? The
Marvel universe? Are you more of a DC person? Do
you belong to a fandom (another term for a
“fanbase”)? If you do, it is almost a guarantee that
your fandom can be found at Comic Con in San Die-
go. This convention is dedicated to all things fandom
and will be held on July 18-21 at the San Diego Con-
vention Center. It was founded in 1970 and has grown
to have up to 130,000 attendees every year, and the
convention continues to draw large crowds of fans
from all ages and backgrounds. It features panels of
famous actors, directors, writers, and artists. It is also
the go-to place to see some of the best cosplayers in
the world. ‘Cosplay’ is the term for fans dressing up as
their favorite characters in elaborate costumes
(Costume+Play). Fans have the opportunity to get an
autograph from their favorite stars, attend screenings,
attend art exhibits, take their kids to kid friendly
zones, see special previews of upcoming movies, and
much more. Tickets (which, for Comic Con, are called
“badges”) are already sold out, but do not fear, there
are still local events here in the Central Valley that
you can attend for a much lower price (badges for
Comic Con are usually $66 for one day).
On Saturday, April 6 at the University Student Un-
ion at Fresno State, Fres-Con will be held from 10AM
to 6PM. It is free entry, and there will be relaxed park-
ing. If you would like to, you can even cosplay as your
favorite character. Fres-Con is a family-friendly event
and will also include a community fair.
Another local fan-event is the yearly Ani-me Con,
which was held at the Fresno Fairgrounds on March
16 and 17. The convention features all things Anime
but also includes other fandoms. It is quite the sight
to see: you will see professional cosplayers, voice-
actors, hundreds of vendors, and so much more. A two
-day pass is $19.99, or a one-day pass can be pur-
chased at the door. There are also VIP packages that
include merchandise. More info can found at ani-
me.com
If you would like to attend a smaller scale conven-
tion run by Comic-Con, check out WonderCon in An-
aheim, CA. at the Anaheim Convention Center. It was
held on March 29-31, and badges range from $24-$40
for a single day; info is available online at comic-
con.org/wca.
What is great about these conventions is that they
are a place where fans can be themselves and share
their love of their favorite movies, tv shows, video
games, and anime, as well as make new friends, and
perhaps,even meet their favorite celebrities. If you
have never attended a fan convention of any kind, you
definitely should try one out. It will be quite adven-
turous and memorable.
If you are interested in local shops that sell comics,
manga, anime, and fandom merch, check out some of
the following stores: Silkroad Gallery (anime) at Sier-
ra Vista Mall and Heroes Comics next to Sierra Vista
Cinema 16.
By Stephanie Duarte
9
Welding: to join together metal parts by heating the sur-
faces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc,
or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering,
etc. While the definition may be new for some, the reality is
that welding plays a huge role in most people’s lives. With-
out welding, we wouldn’t have long-lasting fences, automo-
biles, buildings, appliances, or even space travel! In fact,
70% of the world’s manufactured products are created
through some sort of welding process. However, I recently
had the opportunity to attempt welding myself. It proved to
be a very physically demanding activity that required a lot of
practice to even begin to perform, or let alone, master.
Before I was given instructions or even introduced to
any of the tools, I was immediately fitted with a leather
apron, gloves, and goggles. Quite honestly, the level of per-
sonal protective equipment I was given made me realize ra-
ther quickly that perhaps what I had signed up to learn was
potentially dangerous. Being a natural klutz, I began to ques-
tion what I had gotten myself into, but none the less, I con-
tinued. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? Or at
least, that’s what I thought to myself. I was then promptly
told stories of professional welders lighting themselves on
fire and continuing their work without realizing they were on
fire due to the intense UV protection the welder’s shield and
goggles give off: these masks essentially blind you to your
surroundings. Still, there was no need to fear. There were
two fire extinguishers on hand in the perfectly safe wooden
shed we were working in as well as a bucket of water on
hand.
The first tool I was taught to use was an acetylene cut-
ting torch. The main purpose of this tool is to cut chunks off
of large pieces of metal or to split a piece of metal to the
shape you need it to be. This was actually the harder of the
two tools I used because it requires an extremely steady
hand. First, you have to adjust your flame using the gas and
the oxygen. Then, you have to heat the metal wherever your
starting point is for the line you’re going to be cut-
ting. When the metal is hot enough, you then hold
down the handle that releases an even more concen-
trated dose of oxygen that melts the metal and cuts a
line through it. Once the main integrity of the metal
in this line has been melted through, you can simply
take a hammer to it, and the chunk will ‘pop’ off.
The second tool I used was the main form of
welding that people often think of when they hear the
word. I was given access to a 220 watt arc welder
which ultimately conducts high levels of electricity
into a grounded piece of metal that creates a spark
which melts metal on contact. The goal of this ma-
chine is to combine two pieces of metal by heating
them with the electric rod and using the end of the
rod to swirl their two “puddles” of metal together to
fuse them. I chose to weld old horseshoes together
into a four-leafed clover pattern. It turned out just as
I had wanted it too— just so long as one does not
look on the backside where my welding bonds are.
On a last and grateful note on my personal expe-
rience, I did not light myself on fire during my first
welding experience. However, there is a much re-
spect to be had in regards to the men and women
who do this for a living as well as for the training
they go through beforehand to prepare for a career in
this field. They, quite literally, build the foundation
of essential tools we use every single day.
Written and Performed by
Savanna Duncan
Personal Narrative:
National Welding
Month
Check out RC’s
Welding Technology
Program here on
campus!
Faculty Advisors: Mr.
Robert Fransen and
Mr. David Tikkanen
10
Memoir
Don’t Grow Up, It’s a Trap!
“You find sometimes that a
thing which seemed very thing-
ish inside you is quite different
when it gets out into the open
and has other people looking at
it.”
—Winnie the Pooh
If I was given a book for every time I heard the
phrase “grow up,” my house would have contained a
collection much greater than the Library of Alexan-
dria. A grown up is simply defined as an adult; an
adult is simply defined as someone who is fully grown
and developed. There’s a common belief that the brain
isn’t fully developed until one reaches the age of 25,
and when discussing life itself, no one is ever done
evolving and developing themselves as a person. This
makes it odd to hear any “grown up” telling a student
that it’s time to grow up. The student’s idea of a
grown up is most likely going to be reflective upon
their world.
At a young age, my parents divorced, and I was
told by both parents that it was time to grow up. My
father told me that I had to grow up and be “the man
of the house” now, making sure I take care of my
mother and younger brother. My mother told me I was
going to have to grow up a bit and take on more re-
sponsibilities around the house: help my brother get
ready for school, wash dishes, vacuum, and other
common household chores. These all seemed like sim-
ple tasks but growing up and hearing both parents
complaining about these responsibilities perplexed my
younger self because they thought the best solution
was to split up and give me, the nine-year-old with a
stutter problem, the job.
I always thought my dad did a great job of taking
care of us, but he was always exhausted from work yet
still made time to play with us. I didn’t know how to
work, and my brother would annoy me after 5 minutes
of playing. How was I supposed to do the same job as
him and maintain a decent GPA? I always thought my
mom did a great job at cleaning the house, but she was
always exhausted after and yet, she still made time to
cook for us. How was I supposed to clean the house
when I could barely reach over the counter to turn on
the sink, and the only thing I knew how to make was a
cup of water? This all made me confused and made
my schoolwork seem unnecessary. I thought if the
teacher couldn’t teach me in the class and I had to take
work home, they weren’t doing their job and should
be fired.
When it was time to move on to middle school, I
had already become disenchanted with school itself.
After a bit of math and studying all my syllabi, I dis-
covered exactly how much effort was needed to main-
tain a passing C average in order to spend my time on
what I thought to be better distractions. Those distrac-
tions consisted of games, friends, girls, and all things
that were common in my small, slightly dysfunctional
world. The pattern would continue throughout high
school, and the only thing I put any effort in was
maintaining a stupid, immature 69 ranking within my
graduating class. On paper, I was just an average stu-
dent, but in my high school I was just an average rebel
that the staff had to deal with for four years. Many stu-
dents end up realizing this, although they may have
got to this point from a different story as mine, they
end up here none the less; stuck, wearing the same cap
and gown as everyone else, feeling average.
Many of my friends work with children and the
number one thing they can never stop talking about is
how creative their students can be. It’s that creativity
that springs life into the students and their classrooms.
Unfortunately, by the time students reach college, all
their creativity will have been squeezed out or sup-
pressed by life or those in their life who thought that it
was time for them to grow up. This causes many stu-
By Lucio Rodriguez
11
dents to lose themselves or even worse, to lose all in-
terest in school. Many students are intimidated into
thinking that creativity has no place in the “real
world,” and they are cursed into mediocracy if they
don’t act like the top students. This leaves many stu-
dents wishing that people just took the time to see
where their genius truly lies instead of rushing to pull
them out like a weed. A class is an educator’s garden,
each student following their instructors’ guidance until
it’s time to blossom. Some students will blossom be-
fore others, that’s expected, but what about the stu-
dents who are struggling to blossom? Should they be
labeled as a weed because they don’t respond to the
same conditions as the rest? Winnie the Pooh once
said, "Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know
them."
I now understand that many students just need to
be reminded that they are different, and different is
normal. Everyone is one of a kind. I try to talk to as
many student’s as possible; I tell them not to be dis-
couraged if they feel stuck or feel like they don’t have
what it takes to advance to the next step in their educa-
tion. I also try to occasionally have writing workshops
with high school students that consist of poetry and
short stories. I try to get their creativity flowing and
hopefully help them resolve a few personal things via
their writing.
For the freshmen out there who are crushing mid-
terms, keep up the great work! For those who feel like
they weren’t prepared enough, don’t worry. There are
many of us who have been in the same predicament
and are willing to take the time to help you shine.
Here at Reedley College, there are many professors
who are waiting for students to show up to there office
hours. They want to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask
for it. If professors scare you, there are many tutors at
the Reading and Writing Center who are more than
eager to help you with any school work you are strug-
gling with. For the students who feel like you’ve been
here a while and never leaving, remember that in
2016, 5.8 million students were in enrolled in a com-
munity college. All of them taking their own pace and
discovering their own path. The next time someone
tells you to just grow up, to suck it up and get your
work done, don’t worry about not doing anything right
away.
“Doing nothing of-
ten leads to the very
best of something.”
– Winnie the Pooh
2nd Annual Tiger Pageant (Sponsored by RC Safe Space Club)
Friday May 3rd, 2019 at 6 pm in the Reedley College Cafeteria
Meet this years contestants…
BreAnna Trejo
Katie Walker
Preston Ward
Brit Witton
Osvaldo Copado
Savanna Duncan
Omar Estrada
Carlos Fuentes
Si Gonzales
Laura Hand
Alexiz Molina
Marie Lopez
Come support your fellow Reedley College students!
12
What is CalWORKS?
CalWORKS (The California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids Program) is just one of many ser-
vices that Reedley College students have access to. CalWORKS aims to help parents that accept cash aid
(Fresno, Madera, and Tulare counties) with achieving vocational skills, educational goals, and access to jobs
that lead to financial stability.
How Does CalWORKS Do This?
CalWORKS offers a wide variety of services that help student parents succeed while attending college. Cal-
WORKS does this by providing services such as:
Childcare Assistance and Transportation Services
Financial Aid and Assistance with Textbooks & Supplies
Priority Registration
Job Placement and Job Training Programs
Life Skill Courses (Courses in Life Strategies, Financial Literacy, Healthy Parenting/Family Relationships)
Academic, Career and Personal Counseling
And Many More Services!
Anything Else?
CalWORKS has also helped to organize many important events that benefit all students, such as job fairs, dis-
cussion & support groups, and healthy relationship forums. You can do your part to help these events succeed
by donating your time! To find out how you can attend future events and/or donate your time, please utilize the
contact information below.
How Do I Get More Information?
Phone: (559) 637-2504
Website: www.reedleycollege.edu/student-services/calworks.html
Visit Us: The Center for Student Success Building 2 (CSSS2), Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-2504
By Brandon Cooper
13
Additional Services You Should Know About
Who: EOPS (Extended Oppor tunity Programs & Services)
What: Services offering educational support to historically disadvantaged students.
How: CSS-1 Room 3, Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0340
Who: EOPS/CARE (Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education)
What: Further help with educational goals for students that are the single head of
household & receiving TANF/CalWORKS benefits.
How: CSS-1 Room 3. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0340
Who: NextUp (a component of EOPS)
What: Offering a case-management approach for extended support services to former
and current foster youth that are community college students.
How: Second floor of Student Services Building. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-
0340
Who: TRiO/SSSP
What: Helps to give first generation, ESL, low income, and disabled students aca-
demic guidance and support in accomplishing certificates, a degree, and a
transfer to a four-year college.
How: Located in CSS 1. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0300 x3526
Who: Love is Respect
What: A support resource for individuals that may be in an abusive relationship. This
resource provides information as well as live support through chat, text, and
phone.
How: Chat and find info at: www.loveisrespect.org, text “loveis” to 22522, or call 1-
866-332-9474
Who: Marjaree Mason Center
What: Marjaree Mason Center supports and empowers adults and their children af-
fected by domestic violence, while striving to prevent and end the cycle of
abuse through education and advocacy.
How: www.mmcenter.org, 24 Hour Confidential Hotline: 559-233-HELP (4357),
Address: 1600 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721
14
Fiction
Nightwalker By Rosa Coroles
At first, there were small inconsistencies here and
there that tipped him off to the fact that something was
wrong. Every morning, he would wake up to find
things and furniture were moved from their usual
spots. Other days he’d wake up sore or with unex-
plained bruises. Later, he found receipts and ticket
stubs to places he didn’t remember going to and
weirdest of all, a shirt that isn’t his with “Limbo King”
written on a name tag in large blocky letters.
Dan didn’t think much of it at first. He was much
more focused on keeping up with the increasing work-
load he’d been giving since his promotion. Years of
arduous work was finally paying off and he was mov-
ing up the chain of command at work. However, this
also led to more responsibilities and longer hours.
These days Dan barely had time to sleep and keep
himself functional. He didn’t have the time or energy
to do much of anything outside of work anymore,
which is why it didn’t make sense to find anything
indicative of a social life in his home (a sad fact he’d
rather not dwell on too much on).
“I think someone is living in my house,” Dan con-
cluded on the drive to work. By now, lunch had rolled
around, and Dan was taking his lunch with a couple of
his friends. A rare and much needed break from the
stress from both at home and at work. Said friends
stared at the tired man with varying levels of confu-
sion and concern as he shared his findings.
“I want to call you crazy but that seems kind of
rude. So instead I’ll go with, Dan that sounds crazy.
What’re you talking about?” Marcus, Dan’s coworker
and closest friend, was the first to speak up. Lately
they hadn’t spent much time together, so he was una-
ware of the weirdness going on during the late hours
in his friend’s home. Any other day, Dan would appre-
ciate his brutal honesty, but now, those words struck
too close to home. With how things were going lately,
the mystery of what was going on in the late hours of
his home was eating at his already frayed nerves. Go-
ing crazy was seemed to be a more and more probable
explanation.
Dan gave them a quick rundown of what’s gone
down in the past few weeks.
“—which leads me back to my previous conclu-
sion: someone’s living in my house. Or it’s haunted.”
He added as an afterthought.
“So, this is why you’ve been so twitchy lately? I
thought it was all just stress from your new job.” Con-
nor, their other lunch companion admitted. “Man, I
have to say this sounds pretty crazy. It's like the begin-
ning to a horror movie.”
“Well I’m more than open to a recasting because
I’m tired of all this crap.” Dan sighed.
“Go to the police,” Offered Marcus, in between
bites of his sandwich.
“I’m pretty sure that if I go to the police with all of
this, they’d think I’m crazy too.”
The three friends sat in silence, pondering what to
do with the situation.
“How about we stay the night with you. Either we
15
catch whoever’s doing this, scare them off, or we get
enough evidence to get help.” Connor nodded in
agreement, also offering his help.
Dan accepted the offer and immediately felt more
at ease knowing he had his friend’s support in the mat-
ter. He was willing to try anything to put a stop to the
strangeness in his home.
The two friends had set up camp in Dan’s living
room that night while Dan slept in his own bedroom.
They planned on taking turns staying up and having
the element of surprise should anything happen. Con-
ner said to Marcus, “I hope this doesn’t end up being a
horror movie. Everyone knows the two side-character
best friends are always the first to go.” He joked, ges-
turing between themselves.
It was past midnight when Marcus and Connor
heard the creaking of a door break through the solemn
silence of the sleeping house. As quietly as they could,
they got up and slowly creeped out of the living room.
Marcus armed himself with a baseball bat while Con-
ner lifted a golf club, ready to swing. The muffled
thumps of footsteps were the only sounds in the house
other than their own hushed breathing.
‘Dan?’ Conner mouthed the question to Marcus, un-
willing to make a noise.
“I don’t know…” the other whispered back, his
voice barely audible. They snuck towards the kitchen
where the sounds were now coming from. After they
took a moment to gather their courage, the two rushed
into the kitchen, ready take on the intruder, only to
stop in their tracks at the sight of their friend….
Sleepwalking.
****************************************************************************************
Across
1. The winner has the most of this
4. Mosher Butts Creator of Scrabble
6. Richards Best Scrabble player in
the world
7. It has the letter and points you
earn
8. Rack Holds the the letters for
you
Down
2. Keeps track of how fast or slow
you go
3. Board What the game is played on
5. Helps you discover new words
Created By Alexiz Molina
16
Rejoice Dawn breaks softly on a silent spring morning.
The sun’s warm rays glisten in dew drops like precious gems;
Pure, joyous light dazzles and awakens the world.
A multitude of blooms lift their heads towards the sun;
They delight in the promise of life that the radiance brings.
Palms raise their fronds to the sky in proud exaltation of the sun’s majesty.
Birds begin to sing, and the drone of bees humming accompanies their hymn;
The breeze carries their harmonious chorus throughout the world.
Yet darkness gathers in the distance.
Clouds, once pure and white, turn black as their anger grows;
Their fury begins to destroy the light, and the heavens turn cold.
Thunder crashes through the sky;
Lightning rends the peace that the sun brought.
Wrath pours down from above.
Petals fall like tears as delicate blossoms are ripped to pieces;
The palms bow in forced reverence to the storms mighty power.
The earth quakes as the storm rages;
Tremors shake the rock until it crumbles.
Broken and battered boughs are ripped from their roots;
Destruction and desolation reign.
The torrent is unrelenting;
It drowns the joyful birdsong in waves of despair.
The earth howls in torment;
With a final thunderous shudder, darkness settles over the land.
Dawn breaks solemnly over a sorrowful spring morning;
Dark clouds linger in the sky, reluctant to depart from the destruction they wrought.
Forlorn flowers hang their heads in grief as they lament the loss of the light;
Palms stoop under the weight of their sadness.
The gloom begins to fade as glimmers of hope pierce the clouds;
Brilliant beams of light break the darks hold on the world.
Elation spreads through the landscape, and once more, a joyous song resounds;
Rejoice! —for the sun is risen, and blessed are all that the light touches.
Poetry by Laura Hand
17
The Reedley College Men’s Golf team has been hav-
ing incredible success this season. After coming up
short of winning the State Championship last season,
Coach Stark has the Golf team on route to reaching
their goal of winning the State Championship this sea-
son. The team hopes to relive the same success that
helped the team win their most recent State Champi-
onship back in 2016. The individual efforts by some
of our Tiger’s have been exceptional as the team nears
postseason play. Returning sophomore and central val-
ley native Dylan Otto has helped lead the team along-
side fellow sophomore Adam Nelson. Adam has been
exceptional in his two years leading the Tigers. As a
defending first team all-conference player and individ-
ual state champion, he knows the expectations for the
team as well as himself, are high. When speaking with
him, he emphasized how well the team has been play-
ing, He also made a point to highlight that the team
can not become complacent. He stated, “There’s al-
ways more work to be done. We need to focus on our
weaknesses and not get comfortable with how we are
all playing.” Freshman Tom O’ Rourke and Beau Wil-
lett have been following in the footsteps of their fel-
low Australian teammates such as Adam Nelson. On
the other hand, the team also has good local represen-
tation as well. Freshman Jarred Hernandez and Soph-
more Xavier Coreno are two Central Valley natives
from Visalia and Fresno who are carrying on the tradi-
tion of excellence.
****************************************************************************************
It be can hard to keep up with the multiple events
happening at Reedley College. They all represent im-
portant topics to attend and learn from, but if there is one
particular event that you should keep an eye open for, it
should be Safari Days. It represents Reedley College as a
whole, showcasing to the community what the college is
always trying to exemplify: “Cultivating the student
life.” Hosted every year in the Springtime, Safari Days
was established in 2014 by Jim Mulligan after being in-
spired by Vintage Days at Fresno State. When it was
first created, it was known as Kaleidoscope Days, which
involved a weekend-long event that featured local musi-
cians and provided face painting for children. Through
the years, the event morphed from the weekends to a
three-day event on the weekdays at Reedley College’s
main lawn. Last year, not only did they feature a Car
Show and coordinate with local high schools and ven-
dors, but they also introduced a Comic Con hosted by
the Library and Art Department for students to dress up
as their favorite characters.
Safari Days to offers the utmost variation of events,
services, and activities imaginable packed into the three-
day event. This year, Safari Days will take place from
April 2nd through the 4th, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Certain
days will offer opportunities for Job Fair, clubs showcas-
ing themselves, and vendors in the local areas promoting
their businesses. As mentioned before, this is one of
those events that is not just for our campus, but for the
whole community of Reedley (and beyond) to get in-
volved in. It’s hard to pinpoint what Safari Days will be
offering every year since it’s constantly improving and
expanding. But one thing we can count on is community
involvement, student engagement in multiple events, and
encouragement for everyone to visit Reedley College.
Finally, don’t forget all the delicious local cuisine
that will be there. If nothing else, come for the food!
Reedley College Men’s Golf By Isaiah Tigler
By Monse Hernandez
18
19
20
Present this coupon for
One free Print
At the
Reading & Writing
Center in Hum 58
*Limit Two prints per person*
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
1st April Fool’s day
3rd Tweed Day
4th School Librarian Day
5th National Dandelion Day
7th Caramel Popcorn Day
10th Golfer’s Day
12th Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
13th Scrabble Day
14th Palm Sunday
15th Titanic Remembrance Day
16th Save the Elephant Day
20th Husband Appreciation Day
22nd National Jelly Bean Day
24th Pig in a Blanker Day
26th National Pretzel Day
30th National Honesty Day
Month Events
International Guitar Month
National Welding Month
The next Wednesday at One reading will
be April 3rd in the staff dining room, when
RC Fiction Writer/Instructor David
Borofka will read from his work. Mr.
Borofka will be retiring at the end of this
semester.
top related