Final Blog

My experience with blogging I have to say was a good experience. I personally enjoyed posting things and seeing what people had to say about my posts. It made me feel like I had a voice some where else and received a lot of good responses and I enjoyed that cause at times I expressed myself in my blog posts and people and saw and took the time to acknowledge it. I also liked to see what other people had to say. It told me a lot about some people and got to know a little bit about them. Many people posted personal things that I enjoyed reading and found it amusing, sad and felt for those people. It shows that a lot of us are the same and have a lot in common and have been through a lot of similar situations. I think I will continue to blog, maybe my post’s and words might help some one else out there.

Advise

One advise that I give students who will be taking Mrs. Croker in the future is definitely not to procrastinate. At times her class can get overwhelming with all the work that comes at you at once and can give you a huge headache. But it will help you grow and improve your writing skills. As long as you stay on top of your essays and blog you should be fine. Also read Fast Food Nations is she assigns it, it’s a very good book with lots of useful information and will help you in you research paper. Over all she is a great teacher and very funny person to be around. She is very helpful and willing to give advise and will give you that time for questions or to make corrections.

3 peps in my life

The first person I would like to talk about has to me my Old Coach, his name is Ernesto Diaz. Coach Ernesto was my coach at the age of 8 until I was 12. There was just something about him made him different from all the other coaches I had. He loved soccer and loved coaching; I have never mead anybody who was so passionate in coaching. One thing that I will always remember about Coach Ernesto is how much he made you feel love. He loved all of us like if we were his own kids and wanted only but the best. I can honestly say he thought me everything I know about playing soccer, whatever position he made you play, he made you feel like you where the best and had faith in you no matter what. I think about him every time I step on that field.

Next I would like to talk about a man who was treated me like family from day one, he also was my coach and his name is Juan Gutierrez. Juan is one of the people who I have the most respect for because he understands me and is a loving and caring man even if you haven’t known him for to long; he always makes you feel like if your right at home.  Juan is a very inspirational man to me and I very good man. I have known Juan for about 8 or 9 years and has always encouraged me to do my best in soccer and always knew I had potential. I can say that this man I consider him as a father figure and I hope to be like a son to him.

Lastly I would like to talk about the one man you I can say is the most important man in my life. He has thought me more than what I can ask for and has honestly made me the man I am today, his name is Moises Mora who is my grandfather. My grandfather is the wises, most respected and most loved person in my family and everybody what’s to be like my grandpa. He is the most funniest, carrying, outgoing, friendliest person I have ever been around. Growing up he use to call my older brother “his boy” and every time he would say that, I always thought I wish I can be grandpa’s boy some day. He was the person who I always tried to impress and tried to get his attention by any means necessary. Words can not explain how much I love him, I hope I have not let him down and hope he is proud of me.

"A Child called It"

“A child called it”, by Dave Pelzer; I sure some of you have heard of this book and maybe some of you haven’t. If you guy’s like true stories this is the book for you. This book is a great story about the author Dave who was beaten and treated cruel by his mother as a young kid forced to steal food at times and battled to survive his mom’s cruel punishments. “A child called it” changed my point of view in many things, life being one of them. I read this book when I was a sophomore in high school and I always seem to go back and think about this book. In beginning of the story it talk’s about his life and how perfect it was having his parents and brother there all the time. Until his father divorced his mother telling Dave that he will be the man of the house. With his father no longer there to defend his child, his mother took on violent and horrifying actions against her own son. He states that at times he would go weeks with out eating and would ditch elementary school and began stealing from super markets to satisfy his hunger. In one chapter his mom stab Dave in the stomach on “accident” you may say and was left in a bathroom with a bucket full of Clorox so he can breath all the ammonia from it. Dave have many encounters with life and death at such a young age that sadden me and keep me reading the book to see what would happen next. In the end his states now a grown man and with a family he states sits with his son looking at the sunset and says his not mad at this mom and forgives her. This made me think when I have kids, I will make sure to give them the best life. To always be there for them and to have fun and have them enjoy their child hood; at times I cant wait to be a dad.

favorite artist RETNA

this is my favorite artist also known as RETNA, his LA local. And what i've really appreciated about his art is this style, its different a i have not seen many others like his and its just him

Change

Change? I’ve asked myself through the good and bad, why is this happening to me? Was it never meant to be? How can I change what’s going on? Is this a good thing?. To me a time that was a big change for me was going to a different middle school. Through out my elementary years, I had two best friends and hanging out with them was all we did during and after school. Six grade was coming to an end and we were excited to go to Jr high together and build new memories was what we all would talk about. Till the day came when my mom told me I would be attending a different school. It was heart breaking to be honest. I didn’t want to go, I was scared and didn’t care meet new people or much of the other people that I might of known that would be attending the same school as me. I only wanted to be with my close friends, to meet girls and go to our first party’s and have fun was all I cared about. And like any mother would, of course I was forced to go and start over in a new school. The first day was a nervous wreck, I felt out place, shy and didn’t know where to start. Till I meet Johnny a person who would soon be a close friend of mine. Because of him, I got out of my comfort shell and began to be more social with others. I still hung out with my best friends. But what I learned from that experience was starting over is not a bad thing. Sure we are all scared and shy around people we don’t know at first,. But this thought me to have better people skills and thought me how to socialize with others and start a conversation. My people skills was something I embraced and look for other ways to improve on it. Since that day I wouldn’t and didn’t have a problem attending different places and things with other people. I have meet some great people and I am very proud of the skill I guess you can say that I have carried on till this day.

Jessica Mendez

Its true when people say never judge a book by its cover. But people is this world are quick to assume and judge what kind of person some one is by the way they look, dress, what type of music the listen to and how they carry themselves. Jessica Mendez reminded me how taking the time to exchange a few words about yourself can tell you and help meet new and interesting people. Jessica look like the quite kind and intelligent women who as a bright future ahead of herself. But little did I know of how outgoing she was and how much of a daredevil she can be. Jessica enjoys wake boarding, Patel boarding, and show boarding up in Utah . She would counselor herself a water person and enjoys being active which is something I can relate too. She currently work at Oxnard High School as a student counselor =, giving advise to students about college life and what to expect. To her she considers herself a mentor to some of her students. But a person who she personally admires and sees as a mentor is her old Chemistry teacher, Mr. McQuaid. Failure is not an option for her as she plans to follow in her older sisters foot steps in graduating and receiving her master. Pursuing an master in chemistry is what Jessica looks forward in doing like her old and mentor figure Ms. Mcquaid. From working from Mondays- Fridays from 8am to 4pm schools comes fist for Jessica as she plans to finish soon and establish herself with her career. But she does try to make time from her busy schedule for her family over the weekend. I asked her if you had to describe yourself is three words what could they be, and with out thinking she said adventure, carrying and responsible. Jessica sees herself in 10 years working at Oxnard High School as a chemistry teacher, living locally here in Oxnard were she has grown up and possibly starting a family.

THE FINAL!

Jose Pulido
09-19-2012
We can all say we’ve had a special moment or event that has occurred in our lives. Whether if it was your first day of school or receiving your first car; these are the moments that have stuck with us over time and that will follow us over the years to come. Thinking of the different emotions, tears and hard work that one went through to reach that point in your life is what we all cherish the most. One event that has followed me till this day has to been winning the champion ship with my soccer team. It was difficult for many of us. With only a few months to prepare for our first season, we faced many difficult obstacles staring with mentally, physically and with ourselves.
The year was 2005, I was 15 years old and was offered to opportunity that would change my life in the end. Joining an up coming team with new players and coaches or staying in the team I had been with over the years. The decision ate me up day in and day out. But refused to turn the offer down and I was off to a new beginning to join Oxnard pride. Oxnard pride was founded at Haydock middle school, with a group of my classmates who had an idea to form a soccer team with only the people from our school to compete with the best in the county. Our coach, PE teacher and friend Ralph Garcia who helped us make this possible, believed in us and stuck with us in this unknown quest to be the best.
Sure anybody who says they can play a sport can put on a jersey and play. But the post important thing in being an athlete and playing a sport is being mentally prepared. For any athlete, going to a new team and transitioning to others style of play and adapting to the coaches style of coaching can be difficult.  With our coaches back ground consisting of mostly baseball, first thing was first. Establishing one another’s names and positions. I myself played defense and when being a defender you must be we aware of everything and mentally prepared to go up against the best. At time I began to question myself as well as others did with them selves, as our confident level was not at a high level. Mentally when I was on the field, I wasn’t 100% sure with myself and would enable me to play to my full potential. Manny of us had questions and some doubts in whether we can be successful with each other as well as the other teams. I remember every Tuesday after noon @ 5pm before official practice would begin, we would study film with all us present. The films consisted of much of the top soccer clubs like Barcelona and real Madrid. Watching their style of play and studying their understand was what we tried to imply to our style of play to gain confidence with each other. Trying to apply that top style of play into ours raised questions within ourselves for example, can we play like them?, can play like the best?, can I be the best?. Every day of practice was a challenge for us. Gaining confidence with yourself and your teammates and adapting to each other was difficult. But with only 7 months away from the season opener, we worked hard and stayed focus.
As practice went on with hard training and beginning to find our rhythm and build an understanding with each other. Our nest step was becoming physically prepared. From AYSO league to now playing in our local PAL league was a big transition for myself physically. The PAL league was were most of the top teams in the county played and much were a lot older, faster and stronger than us. Being at the top shape is what I wanted to accomplish. To gain more strength, power and agility was my focus if I planned to perform with the best. With film on Tuesdays, our Wednesdays was our weight room day. Our focus was not to bulk up but to gain muscle endurance. I had never lifted weights nor had ever trained is a weight room. Physically my body would be challenged and pushed to its full potential. After the weight room and also every Thursday our focus was on foot work, speed and agility. In the beginning it was hard, being gassed quick and constantly searching for the nearest water fountain was tough. It would frustrate me not being ale to finish drills. Instead of using this negative energy against myself I used it as motivation. As time went by I felt a change with my body and endurance. I was able to finish through my drills and felt stronger and healthier.
As the days got closer to the season opener be became more achiest, nervous and excited. Proving ourselves to everybody that we can play with the biggest, strongest  teams out there was what we intended to do. First game on the season was a total nervous wreck. We over smaller than our opponent and very intimidated. Our captain Guillermo Cortez gave us a bit of encouraging words before the game and he said “there is nothing to be worried about, we are going to win this game!?. We won our first game, and with so much excitement and joy with in us, we knew we had long ways to go. The season went on and as we worked harder and harder each week, we stayed consisted with our game preparation and continued to win. In the end we ended with a more than satisfying  11-3 record. With a few lost to some best talented teams and a disappointing loss, playoffs were about to begin and we felt ready. Coming in to the playoffs with the top 3 defense and top 5 offence, provided us with a confident boost. Our coach Ralph could not stress how proud he was and how encouraging we were to him. Playoffs were was a win or go home game. It didn’t tak long for us to make a name for ourselves after cruising through the first round and with a 3-1 victory. But semi finals weren’t as smooth sailing as we thought. It was close throughout the whole game. As the pressure sat in on us ;we knew that we had to win to make reach our goal. With a close 2-1 victory over one of the top teams in the league. We knew we were a force to be wrecking with. With joy and smiles in all of our faces we had reached the final.
With two weeks of rest and enough time to prepare well for the final game, we took advantage of this time. Not much changed as our preparation went. We still studied lots  of film and trained hard on the field and off the field. Those two weeks have had to be the quickest two weeks ever. It felt as if we just won the semi final game. That Friday of the final, much of our classmates were congratulating us and wishing us good luck. That Saturday nigh, I could not sleep. Thinking about how hard we all work to reach this point of the season was all that was on my mind. That Sunday morning was a very cold and gloomy day. The sky was filled with clouds and with a bit of chance of rain from the night before. I remember my mom trooping me off at the field as she went to go find a parking place, and walking up to the field and smelling the scent of wet grass. Through the wet and moist filed, I could feel the cold water going through my socks. I came up to field one only to see a crowed full of people on the side lines waiting to watch the defending champs Alianza Fc go up against the under dogs Oxnard Pride. As the game before us ended and as we got to our positions you can see the nervousness in some of the players faces. The game began and the first half was a total nightmare. Being down 3-0 at the half was a total shock and disappointment. The look on our coaches face had a sense of panic. With the encouraging words from our best player Moises he said, “we must keep our heads up!” “ we can still come back and win”. As we all encouraged one another and bummed ourselves up, Alianza knew they were playing a whole new different team second half. The whistle blew and with all eye on us, we all fought to make a come back. Things began to go our way. Goals started  hit the back of the net and our defense was playing better than ever before. Half way through the first half we founds ourselves tied with each other and the impossible began possible for us. Trying to avoid penalties, we applied pressure on the defense trying to score. And with a miracle we scored with only a few minutes on the clock. We all now were playing defense as we tried to hold them off till the final whistle blew. Its seemed like an eternity, and when the final whistle blew we all jumped in the air and couldn’t believe it. Running to one another hugging and screaming at the top of our lungs we are the champs was the most satisfying feeling ever.  Being able to hold that trophy up and jump around with my teammates with joy and happiness is something I will never for get.
For the nest tow years we stuck together and continued what we started. De defended our title as champs and we where now the team everybody wanted to beat. Our recognition grew bigger at the seasons went by. We were offered to stay as a team and join an official club soccer program called Royal Puma Fc, who we would now be representing instead of Oxnard Pride. I learned first handedly that anything is possible. If you work hard to accomplish your goals anything is possible and to always leave everything on the field.

texting

Most people have a habit of texting. Whether is during class or at work, everybody text’s each other now. To some it can be fun, or easier to communicate with other. Or some might prefer to text some one because the rather not get on the phone with that person because they are nervous or intimidated by them. I personal do text, and I do find it fun at times. I like the funny group messages that I get from time to time and find it very funny. But like most things now, there are some negatives with texting. One problem that kind of caught me by surprise, and  it was how texting to some people can actually be an addiction to some, causing them to lose contact with the outside world and can cause joint problems with in the hand and thumbs. Another reason and probably the biggest problem with texting it texting while driving. It shows that in 2011 about 1.6 million car crashes in the US where caused by people texting. Now I understand that we all want to reply to that person as soon as possible. But I do not get why people will risk the lives of themselves and others to reply to their text message. So when ever your driving and decide to reply to that text, think twice about it and make better choices while

Reality TV shows

     Growing up, reality shows where a constant thing in my house hold. From 5pm sometime to 10 or even 11 pm was nothing but crying, fighting and lovers kissing and talking about how much in love they are. These reality shows where more like Spanish TV shows, or soap operas. These shows or soap operas where viewed by most of the women and even some of the men in my family. Soap operas to me are like reality shows because they are always on, it catches the peoples attention and even though there scripted , they try to me real. I personally don’t watch Spanish soap operas, because I think their all the same and consist of the same story line over and over. The man and women cant be together and have to forcefully be separated and some how they find away to be together and live happily ever after. I personally do watch some reality TV shows, that might consist of some reality and maybe some scripted scenes, but who knows what their doing now in these days. I find some to me very amusing and entertaining, do to the acts and conflicts some get into or how clue less one can be. But not all are as entertaining as some, for some reality TV shows to me can be a waist of time and pointless.

I personally think that reality TV shows can be a good and bad thing on society, depends on how people goes about their acts and the way they decide to carry them selves. I think some reality TV shows are good because it helps people interact with each other and easy to start a conversation with a friend or family member. Between my family, all I hear is, “oh my god did you see what she did to Pedro?”, “oh my god yes I cant believe she choose him over Alex”. To me it’s a way to keep the family entertained or even to have them over for a night and watch shows all night and hang out. Or, to some, they see ones struggles and what they do to succeed and can have a positive influence in one and encourage them to pursue a goal of theirs and be successful in the future. But they can also be bad to society, for some people are very easily influence by what they see in peoples actions and act out for attention and what not. I think reality shows now have a huge influence in kids now in these days. I see kids trying to dress up and sometimes act older and carry them selves like adults. Some I’ve even seen disrespect their elders and have no sense of respect or boundaries for some.  They think its cool to act like what they see and do the things they do.

In the end, TV shows can have a positive or negative influence in society. It all depends on the person whether they want to be somebody they see on TV and decide to act, dress and carry them selves like that person. Or they can be encouraged by a person they see on TV and help them make better choices and can help them be their own person.

Fast Foods

Fast food to me was a enjoyable and satisfying reward that I would look forward at the end of the week. Also a time for the family to sit around and watch a movie and spend quality time together. Fast food was also a way for rewarding of for example good behavior, getting good grades or for doing your chores around the house. The taste of that first bite to the burger or pizza was so rich and fulfilling, you would say to yourself that there was nothing better than this ever. I remember going to chucky cheese every other Sunday after church, and asking my mom during mass is we can go to chucky cheese after. Playing around in the arcade and coming back to where my parents were sitting to take another bite of the cheesy pizza and refreshing Pepsi was do die for. Fast food was not an every day thing or every weekend, daily home cooked meals where an everyday thing at home. But when it came to having a nice hot burger or juicy burrito, I was a roller coaster of flavors and satisfaction that was worth the wait.

Total I have a total different point o f view in my fast foods life style and in fast foods today. Don’t get me wrong I still love it enjoy a hot In N Out burger once in a while. Or a hot slice of topper pizza as well. But now that I’m older and more aware of what fast foods now is these days and the life changes and effects it can take on somebody, my fast food habits have changed dramatically. Then I was able to eat anything I wanted and not have to worry about gaining any weight or anything. Now my metabolism has changed a bit to where its easier to gain weight than is was before. I like to eat pretty healthy meals that consist for meats veggies and proteins now, and see a difference in the type of energy I have now in my daily life then when I eat out. Life risk are also something that I have become more aware about now as a young adult. Having some family member’s diagnosed with diabetes and weight problems is also a reason for healthier eating habits I have picked up. I am not some crazy person who watches their weight all the time or feels guilty for eating that burger or drinking that soda at night. But I am more aware of how much fast food I consume on a daily and weekly bases.

Past, present,future

My past consists of many good memories, funny moments and great places. They  say with the good and bad people and experiences you had in the past, make you the person you are today. Sharing good time with friends and family is what It was all about and all that matter to me. Being a kid and no worrying about anything but what your going to eat and what your going to do the next day was how I lived my life at the time. Growing up with my friends was something that I could have not enjoyed any better. I remember going to my friend Manny’s house every day after school on those warm summer afternoons, skating and doing all the childish things from getting to trouble to just hanging out in front of his porch and listening to music, that was the life. And of course my family. Looking back I always remember how united we were at the time. From the BBQ’s we would have at the beach, or just spending the whole day at the soccer park jumping from one game to another watching my brothers and cousins play as they did the same for me. One thing I will never for get would be the trips we would all have. From all the camping trips we took on those long summer vacations. To the car shows we would go to and the smell of that BBQ on the hot grill and the refreshing watermelon going down my throat. Times where good and I can honestly say I could not have enjoyed my childhood any better.

My life today from then, of course like all of ours have changed. Adjusting to the adult life is hard, and still the thought of being on your own can be overwhelming for some. Going back in time and being that kid is what I believe most of us wish we can go back and live again. From being outside and playing with my friends and having fun all day, my life now is more busy and time consuming. I’m currently employed with a medical group called Med3000 working full time and juggling  school full time as well. I been attending Oxnard College for about a year and half now and have been working full time for about two years now. You can only image how my week days and even weekends my look like. Nothing much but doing homework and catching up on some sleep. But don’t get me wrong we all have to make time for others and some time for yourself. I still like to hang out with my friends and family and spend some time with my girlfriend. I still play soccer on local Sunday leagues and like to go to the gym on my spare time.

Even though non of us can predict the near future ahead of us, I do see myself being a successful and hard working family man. I hope to be done completely with school and not having to open another book again. We all see our selves living in a nice home and having a family and of course who doesn’t want that. I hope to some day stay local to Oxnard and move in to a nice home by the beach with a beautiful view of the ocean. One of my dreams has always been to go professional I soccer as some of my friends have but the one thing I hope in the future is to own a 1967 mustang. Having a family and getting married is always a thought and hope some day I can take that step. I see myself with friends and their kids running around and us standing by the grill and enjoying a nice cold one and talking nothing about the past and how it was growing up for us. The future is unpredictable but I know that there is bigger and better things coming my way.