Community Reflection Essay

When I first got accepted into Stuyvesant High School, I heard countless of rumors stating: “Oh the workload is terrible”, “The competition is so fierce” or “Out of schoolwork, extracurriculars, or sleep: you can only pick two.” I found it hard to let it faze me, since I graduated from one of the most prestigious middle schools. However, the rumors transformed into reality when I stepped into Mr. Nieves’ Freshman Composition Class. The workload at the beginning of the year was brutal, coupled with assignments from other core classes that seem unaware of the workload of other teachers. Reading assignments were a regular, and there were journal entries and occasional quizzes to keep us in line. What made it bearable was the friends I made in that class; everyone had their own opinion about the topic we were talking about, and listening to other perspectives really broadened my horizon and enriched my learning experience in Stuy. Another thing that this class has taught me is the importance of time management, a skill that I will carry on for the rest of my high school career and life. When I choose to sign up for Mr. Nieves’ AP American Literature class in my Junior Year, I was hoping to relive the discussion-based lesson plans and meet more outstanding peers. I was not disappointed, to say the least, reflecting through all the experiences at the end of the course. The lesson plans he laid out for us were an interesting mix between small lectures and class output, and what I

It is still so surreal to reflect back on my first semester as an incoming college student in the ENC1101 course, analyzing at my progression as a reader and writer in literacy. Since the first day of class I set in stone my goals for this class: receive a 4.0 GPA, develop my connecting theories skills in writing, and become more aware of objectives for each Unit throughout the course. All of these goals became achievements that not only make others proud but most importantly give me self pride. In order to earn the grades and achieve these goals, I went after every opportunity that I was given as an incoming college student, such as office hours and extra credit. By taking this course I have gained confidence with the utilization of literacy, and made an addition to my group of impactful literacy sponsors. Once students are finished with high school they assume that there is nothing else to learn beyond the stereotypical five paragraph essay, but they are so wrong. I was able to obtain so much knowledge about numerous course concepts from Writing about Writing, articles, and my professor. These concepts will carry on with me throughout a bright future of writing courses, job interviews, and any other skills that require literacy. The four outcomes listed below will help illuminate how I improved as a writer, by being a driven college student and going out of the way to earn my achievements in this course. In the first outcome I improved comprehending scholar texts,

As a Gay in two process, first to be an Ordained Elder and second to identify my voice as an empowered as a Latino man studying the homosexual/queer theology to reconcile my theology and the people of marginalization from the sin and abomination to soteriology perspective in the church and society. I suppressed for so long my real feeling and sexuality to pursue my spiritual gifts and God’s calling to be a pastor and the leader of a denomination. My family and some relatives accepting myself as I am with respect and admiration. My social location is a challenge to balance my conservative, liberal side because I considering myself in a “walking closet”. Each person of these social locations empower my voice or disempower me; they allow me to speak or they silence my voice, they allow me to be heard or not heard my voice, depending on where I am and who I am with my voice would be in harmony with

There are certainly various points in history that can be construed as trailblazing for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. One event in particular, however, sparked awareness and a call to action that previously could never have been conceptualized in the United States. This unforgettable incident, the Stonewall riots of 1969, altered the public’s view of the gay community and arguably jumpstarted the next revolution in an entirely new civil rights movement.

Oppression of minorities has had a detrimental aspect in the associated individual’s lives. History has demonstrated that as a western society, we devalue minorities’ rights and values through legislation and societal views. Today, this remains to be an issue for many individuals of many stigmatized groups. Although efforts to reach a more unified community have been taken, many minorities still fight oppression. Through activism, social and political movements, the LGBTQIA community have progressed immensely throughout the past few decades. History has demonstrated a slow, yet vast amount of success in this marginalized group. Activists endured a long journey toward gaining rights for the community which lead to a modern day civil rights movement for the LGBTQIA community. Although there has been a great amount of successes, non-heterosexual individuals still do not have full equal rights as their heterosexual counterparts. There are still adversities that are being faced in this population that hinder these individuals from thriving. The issue is even greater when the individual has an additional identity that is also marginalized. Specifically, individuals who identify as people of color (POC) and LGBTQIA still encounter prejudice from society.

Hate crimes amongst the LGBTQ community have been a product stemmed from prejudices for centuries. The Stonewall Riots were the true catalyst of the Gay Rights Movement, and without it, many laws that affect LGBTQs would still be enforced. The Stonewall Riots were a congregation of events that garnered much attention during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. As many people were fighting for equality for African-Americans and an end to racial segregation, LGBTQ people were inspired “throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights” (2). The Stonewall Riots erupted at a well-known bar, Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village as police were wrongfully discriminating against and harassing crowds.

After 13 years at a private, Christian school, walking onto campus each morning begins to feel like stepping in front of the camera with a mugshot placard reading, “Queer, Agnostic Socialist. Approach with Caution, Attack on Sight.” I’ve worn the sign proudly, refused to cover it up or put it away and even shoved it in peoples’ faces as a sort of challenge. As a boy twice my size confronts me in the doorway to class, I only turn my rainbow-painted cheek. Homophobic teacher? I’ll write and sign him a letter even after he’s gone. Rude questions about my identity slinging through the halls, and I’ll answer with a challenging smile.

LGBTQ+ representation and rights have recently become a large epidemic in America, and some parts of Europe. Since the new millennium, the world has become more and more accepting. In 2005 gay marriage became legal in Canada, In 2008 the United States elected their first black president, in 2015 gay marriage became legal in the U.S, and so much more happened within the past 17 years of this new millennium. All of this shows how far we have come since the early 1900’s. This epidemic has intrigued not only LGBTQ+ people, but non LGBTQ+ people as well. In this essay, the following two questions will be answered; Does equality for LGBTQ+ and non LGBTQ+ people exist today in Canada? and, How far have we come? These questions will be answered by

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my kitchen going over my “to-do’s” for the week and I realized I hadn't figured out what to do for my second reflection paper for my SW 333 class. I told my roommate that I was troubled by the assignment since I didn't want to “interview” one of my friends and talk about the same old same old “highs and lows” of being an lgbtqia+ identified individual in today’s society. We all know how that paper would read. Luckily, my friends mom overheard my conversation and suggested I meet up with her old co-worker as he would be a great person to interview. Suffice to say, she was more than right. A week later, I met up with Tommy Allen and had a great open discussion about a variety of issues and topics that not only effect both the local and national communities. A little background info about Tommy Allen: He is the publisher and lifestyle editor at Rapid Growth Media, as well as a Commissioner for the city of Grand Rapids, which is a mayor appointed position.

By the time my group decided to go to Ozone (in Coral Gables) one Friday and Elements (Wilton Manors) this next weekend for gay pride week in Ft Lauderdale, I was more receptive to being around straight people. I'm not embarrassed to say that I would rather not have much contact with heterosexuals, because I have pinned up anger towards the society that says I don't have a right to life, liberty and justice; the self same liberties that my father fought for in Vietnam for me to have. On the other hand, I want to not be so angry because it doesn't help any cause. Once I was in the club with my group mates and their boyfriends, I was very uncomfortable; I even arrived late because I was afraid they would back out at the last minute. I didn't want to drink or dance I wanted to get as far away from them as possible, but I remembered that I set out to show them that we are mostly (not all) alike. We drink, eat, sleep, use the bathroom, go to school etc. we are humans and deserve respect as such. I was surprised, the boyfriends were talking to the other men, the girls were getting hit on and they didn't ask disrespectful or disgusted. Overall, it was an enlightening and awakening experience because I crossed boundaries that I had set up for myself as a "true Lesbian". I thought that

Last year Orlando, Florida had the most tragic discriminating case against the LGBTQ community. There was a massive and deadly attack in a gay night club called Pulse. Many members of the community were shot down and murdered by a man who didn’t accept them for who they were. This was a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened. His wasn’t just an attack on the LGBTQ community but an attack on humanity. These are the types of discriminating acts that the LGBTQ community has been struggling with for a long time. The topic of the LGBTQ and their rights has always been a touchy subject for many people.

San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the US, especially around supposedly controversial issues like gay marriage. My middle school was situated in the Castro District, where gay issues were openly discussed and taught. Empathy and open-mindedness were encouraged if not required. I also was struck by the dichotomy between this loving environment and the homophobia I encountered in my neighborhood and even in my own home. I heard same hateful rhetoric quietly uttered in the halls at school, and easily imagined the alienation and fear experienced by my gay friends. I knew I wanted to change this about my community, and help create a space where LGBTQ and non-gender conforming could feel comfortable being themselves, even for

On February 14, 2017, I decided to assign myself with that task of finding a site I could observe. Because my topic was LGBT rights, I went on an expedition to find a place related to this topic, place that I could easily access and be comfortable going to. Luckily I had an extremely helpful friend that recommended to come over to Gay and Straight Alliance on Friday. I was skeptical at first because I did not know if it was a good choice to go to, but either way I chose to go. On friday I was in a frenzy to try and find someone I would walk into GSA with just so I could talk to someone I felt comfortable with and not be awkward around. Although when I did find a friend to walk into GSA to I walk into Room 35 and join the assembly.

When I first arrived I knew straightaway that this visit was going to be difficult. As the days progressed, I would witness the family talking about the news and not recognizing why they were making such a serious issue of the numerous deaths of African American’s by the police and I tried explain that the slaughters were unjustified and that they police were in the wrong because the victims were unarmed. They just couldn’t get out of their own way to be aware of the real problem. As the days turned to weeks they became increasingly more verbal in their obvious racism, and nothing I said or did would change their minds. Then the United States legalized gay marriage across the country; and I was ecstatic, finally we had gained a colossal victory for all of the LGBT community, and then I realized where I was and that I still had quite ahile with my grandparents and relatives. During that last remaining week they talked so much criticism about this new law and how they government was being unreasonable, and no amount my persuading would sway their opinions. When my time to leave finally came I don’t think I had ever been that relieved, and on the car ride back home, I began to ponder about the month spent with my

For the service learning project, I teamed up with three of my classmates to volunteer at a lady’s conference at Imani Restoration Centre church (IRCC) on the 16th of September, 2017. IRCC is a non-profit organization which is a Kenyan community founded that focuses on bringing African immigrants together to support and learn the things of God. Samuel Mwangi, the senior pastor of IRCC, said that through the counseling sessions that he holds at the church every Thursday, he discovered that most ladies go through the same challenges. Therefore, he thought it would be great for him to organize a lady’s conference, so that ladies could come together to share and support each other (Personal communication, September, 16, 2017)