Unit 1

What is everyone’s input on “standard english” in America?   (Adichie)

“English is no longer a specific matter of geography or an element of class privilege.” That is due to the fact there should not be a language that is dominant because of a privilege. (page 4, Jordan) 

In America, where there are many people who come from different cultures there shouldn’t be one language that is normalized. Everyone has their own language and voice. “Love it or hate it, that is your choice.” (3:41, Owens) I believe that you choose what voice you use.

And….. “Although it is a different task we do have the power to make a change” (page 12,Jordan) There shouldn’t be one specific language that represents every individual. (Jordan)

Every person has a different story based on their own inferences,knowledge,  and observations. Most people tend to believe a “single story” about every person, country, or things. “Because of America’s cultural and economical power… I do not have a single story of America.” (11:21. Adichie) 

So we can all agree that there is enough power among people to change the way “english” and people who don’t speak “standard english” are defined? (owens)

Yes!! There is room for change in America and we should use our power to develop a language that includes all voices among us people. (Adichie)

The Path for Me

How many seventeen year olds know what they want to be doing in 10 years? I can confidently say how I plan on living my life. I have a strong passion for helping others and plan on doing so in the future. I have always been an empath. Ever since elementary school, I wanted to do things that benefited other people-- whether it was my friend, mom, or even my teacher. At a young age I could only do little things, like run something down to the office for my teacher or make my bed so my mom didn’t have to. The feeling I got from doing  those little things made me feel a sense of fulfillment and warmth. Knowing I made someone else's day easier was a great feeling to experience, so I continued on a path to help the people around me. Offering my help to others is something I am very passionate about and I know I want to pursue helping others as my career. 

For my future years, I am determined to go into medicine. I think that going into the study of medicine will increase my chances of being able to help people in multiple ways. I would love to get a job in a hospital working with people every day. My plan for college is to gain knowledge on how to help others with their mental and physical health. I came across this quote, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” This leads me to believe that if I can help just one person a day, at least I will know that someone benefited from me and what I have to offer. 

I want to travel and meet as many people as I can. Being able to meet different people with divergent stories is a goal I have in life. I want to learn about people and their struggles, so that I can understand them and what kind of help they need. My choice of going to college for nursing, will allow me to continue on my path of empathy. 

I’ve always felt mature for my age. The feeling of maturity has gone hand in hand with the feeling of being empathic. As I have gotten older, I have been able to understand what empathy can do for others. At a young age, I realized that I can’t just care for myself all the time. When I was young, I started noticing what my mom did for everyone around her. I noticed how she helped others. I watched my mom work, raise a family, and still have time to help others, all while being hopeful and confident about the future. These qualities are the reason I look up to her so much. She’s the reason why I am an optimist too, which I think is why being an empathetic person comes natural to me; my upbringing and my role model of a mother has a lot to do with this. I believe these qualities of mine are necessary qualities of a person in medicine, optimism and empathy. 

I feel confident that I know how I want to spend my future years. I’ve started my path of helping others, but I want to continue on my path by educating myself to help others on a deeper level. Going into medicine and learning about humans and their behaviors will only give me the tools to increase my ability to help others. I am an optimistic, empathetic person, and I know that being able to learn and grow will open so many doors in regards to helping others. I’m excited for what my future holds and I am ready to continue on this path I’ve started paving.

I think the term “single story,” is something that everybody has for a different topic. Once you hear a single story about something, you compare everything you hear about that topic to the single story you heard. Most of the time, the single story you believe is what you will always believe because it never changes unless someone or something changes your mind. Your family, friends,teachers or even social media can form a “single story” about something in your life. I personally used to have some single stories about certain people or things that turned out to be not true. I do believe that when you're told something many times, then you start to believe it just because it is being repeatedly said. Adichie stated in her Ted Talk that America doesn't have a single story because we have the power to let one be told. That is a lesson that I have taken away from her Ted Talk because now I want to have enough power myself, so people can’t make a single story of me. 

When reading and analyzing the June Jordan story, it gave me more knowledge about how much power can also be in a piece of writing. In this piece of writing, you can “read” the power of the points that the composers were trying to get across. There were multiple “languages” explained and background given about their message to their audience. I would connect the June Jordan story to the “ 3 Ways to Speak English” video we have watched in the past.