Blog Entry Week Eleven – School

The truth I posted last week was number two: I’m really into Alfred Hitchcock films.

            I’m currently enrolled in eight units at Oxnard College, consisting of a statistics class and an English composition class. This is my second part time semester at OC. Prior to attending OC I attended Ventura College from 2007 – 2009 then graduated in 2009 with my A.S. in Accounting. I’m really regretting not following the correct curriculum, at VC, in order to transfer to a four year school. When I started in 2007 I was very motivated but towards the end I just wanted to finish. I was over it but didn’t want to take a semester off because I felt I would never go back if I did. I neglected to take to necessary courses to transfer so as a result, now that I’m interested in transferring, I was forced to enroll at OC to finish my transfer requirements.

            Although, I wish I could transfer to a four year school already, I feel good to be back at school in general. I hate that at times I allow my personal life to take a major toll on me because it affects my school work so much. I’ve had to teach myself not to over think things in my life so that I can focus on what matters most, like my education. What bugs me the most about school right now is the amount of homework I have. I know it’s beneficial for me to do it so that I can get the most out of the class but sometimes it’s very difficult to juggle it with family and other personal things I would like to make time for. I also hate how understaffed the counseling/transfer center is at OC. Just about every time I’ve had to see a counselor I’ve had to wait over an hour and a half. I know all the homework and practice will be more than worth it in the end.

My parents could not be prouder of me for wanting to pursue more than a high school education and for setting an example for my brothers and sisters. I feel getting an education is going to open many doors in my life and I feel it’s the greatest investment I can make. My parents and feeling that way is what keeps me motivated. 

Lie or Truth? You decide.

1. I collect Star Wars memorabilia.
2. I'm really into Alfred Hitchcock films.
3. I have a one year old daughter.
4. I was adopted.
5. I enjoy eating delicacies.
6. I got engaged at the age of 21. 

My Future Duckling!

              I chose to comment on this video of a duckling chasing a man because I had a similar encounter. My encounter took place almost 5 years ago near Bubbling Springs Park in Port Hueneme. I was dropping off a friend at his house down the street from Bubbling Springs when all of a sudden we notice something peculiar in the middle of the street walking. I stopped right in front of his house then everyone in my car got out getting a closer look. As we got closer we realized it was a duck. We all looked at each other and wondered what it was doing in the middle of the street all alone. We decided it was most likely just walking back to the pond at the park which is inhabited by many other ducks. As we began to walk back to my car we heard a quack right behind us. The duck was following us to my car and even after we got in he tried to jump in. We all sat there in my car in shock and excitement. I finally said “Josh help him in”. He sat on Josh’s lap quacking non-stop as we drove him back to the pond. When we got to the park Josh put him on the ground near the pond and we began to walk away but once again there came the quacks. It turned out he didn’t want to stay; He wanted to stay with us.

                We tried a few methods to get him to stay, even running away, but nothing would change his stubborn little mind. After feeling bad we ended up hanging out with him until 3 A.M. It was such a great experience. He was such an amazing duck, full of so much character. All three of us took turns holding him and he walked on our laps as if he knew us since birth. He looked at us with such curiosity and even pecked lightly at our clothes and rubbed his head on us.  I almost want to say he belonged to someone since he seemed very domesticated and affectionate.

                The hours I spent with him were enough hours to convince me to want a pet duck. Unfortunately where I live now I don’t have a yard but one day I plan on moving to a place with a yard and when that happens I will own my first pet duck. The video I displayed off of Youtube.com was just super adorable in my opinion. I hope it made everyone smile. 

Blog Wk 8 - Change of Heart

Change of Heart

            I absolutely hated whenever my parent’s argued over money or over my dad not being there enough. There were countless times that I would wake up from a deep sleep due to the shouting of curse words flowing out of my parent’s mouths and doors slamming. As a child I lay there in my bed wishing and hoping it would all come to an end for good. I despised my dad for choosing substance abuse over the well-being of his family. Always promising us the world knowing he would turn around and continue on with his binge. I was tired of not having him there at such a crucial age. I wanted him to stay out of prison for good, to stop with his heroin addiction and to stop being a thief. Every time he was released from the county jail or prison, after not having seen him for so long, it put a smile on our faces. My brothers, sisters and mom would run to him full of joy and excitement. He would stay loyal to us for a while then end up back on the same old route eventually. I loved him when he was sober; He was so much fun and very smart.

            I was somewhat of a latchkey kid since my mom usually worked to pay our rent and my dad was hardly there. When I hit my teens I began to rebel against my parents. I recall one day in particular when I came home drunk at the age of 15 and my dad was furious with me. I shouted at him “Why do you even care?! All of a sudden because you’ve been out of prison for a year you think you have a saying in what I do?!” At this very moment my relationship with my dad changed forever. My words stung him so bad that I could see him deteriorate before my eyes. I think he saw how much of an example he was setting for me and the rest of his children. I’m not going to say our interaction that night motivated him to change but I like the idea of thinking that it pushed him a little.

            My dad stayed out of prison and gave up his old gang member and drug addict lifestyle since I turned 14. There were some days I could see he wanted to give up because his transition from the negative lifestyle he had to a productive, positive lifestyle was not an easy task. Seeing his struggle and seeing him not give up has inspired me so much. To get back into the work field he took a minimum wage job in Camarillo as a janitor but has worked his way up in their quality assurance department. Now he makes triple the amount from when he first started and works 6 days a week. I’m not making up excuses for all the wrong he did but I do feel he has been rehabilitated.

My change of heart didn’t come smoothly and right away but as I matured I was able to understand him more. We now are closer than ever and I go to him with every problem I encounter. In my opinion he couldn’t be greater. For any people out there that has someone in their life that lives a similar lifestyle as my dad once did just know that my dad is living proof that it is never too late.