Getting the experience to study abroad has been a lifetime dream of mine. Growing up in Sunnyside,where the resources and educational opportunities are limited, I never would have imagined it would be possible to travel to another country. I’m a daughter of immigrant parents and because of their undocumented status, I’ve never had the opportunity to travel outside the United States without the fear or risk of never coming back to the place we call home. I come from a low income household and because of that I focus on providing for myself and my family.
Unlike most kids my age, I did not have the typical summer vacation. Even though the idea of sleeping in, enjoying the hot sun, and watching TV all day seemed desirable, I always knew that was not my reality. Every summer since the age of 7, I worked in the fields with my parents. I would wake up at 4 am, pack my lunch, and help my mom get my younger siblings ready for the day. To this day, my family and I pick various fruits from apples, cherries, pears, blueberries, and grapes in the scorching sun. As farmworkers, we know our job is only temporary during harvest, so my family and I work multiple jobs during the summer to ensure efficient income during the winter. Now that my sister is also attending college I try and work as much as I can so my parents can focus on helping her and my younger brother. This summer was the first time I went to school and worked two jobs in order to have money for fall quarter. Even though the Rome Enrichment Program is not a vacation, but rather an educational opportunity, I believe this would give me a break from work and textbooks to learn through a first-hand experience.
Being a farmworker from a young age made me become aware of the importan...
... middle of paper ...
...our small town, state, and even our country. The apartment complex my family lives in is only for families who have kids and work in the fields. When I do visit my family many of the children ask me a lot of questions about college, if it’s hard, what am I learning, and what do I do. I enjoy talking to the kids about my college experience because I hope it inspires them to go to college and experience life outside of a small town. To be able to share my experience in Rome with these children and my younger siblings would inspire them to continue going to school. When I do go back to Sunnyside, I enjoy talking to the kids in my community about my college experience. Without this opportunity I could financially afford to leave the country to experience another culture. I strive to be a good role model not only to my younger siblings, but to the children in my community.
Family vacations, pool memberships, and corn de-tasseling; these have been the experiences of traditional Midwestern summers. For centuries young American children have attended school during the winter months, during farming off seasons when their families could afford to be without them. Families have grown accustomed to a traditional school calendar that provides time for bonding throughout the year. Students have grown accustomed to an eight week break during the summer months where they are allowed to refresh their minds before returning for a new school year. Unfortunately, these traditional experiences and practices are now in jeopardy. In today’s race to improve student achievement, traditional school calendars have become a point of contention. Today more and more school districts and parents alike have begun to debate the pros and cons of an alternative school calendar.
The summertime is when kids play outside and do whatever they want. Some kids even go to day care or their friends’ house to do something different, “Many children go to summer camps where they learn many of important skills not covered in school” (Cooper 3). Doing work in the summer that does not interest them will make kids despise summer. It also will not let the kids do want they want to do in peace, because they will worry about the huge assignment they still have to finish, “…the backbreaking obligation to read Charles Dickens blighted June, ravaged July obliterated August” (Queenan,1). Some might argue that the long summer will make the children forget what they learned, but if the students cannot relearn what they already knew in a month or less, that means that they are not being taught correctly. In general, summer reading makes a students' summer into more school time, which is not helpful to them.
As school comes to a closing, children start to get excited. They get to play outside, sleep in, and also not have to worry about tedious school work. But for some, summer vacation isn’t such a good thing. In Anna Quindlen's essay “School’s Out for Summer,” she explains how summer can be a struggle for some families. When school is in session, kids get lunch and if they come to school early, breakfast too. When school ends, families that can’t afford to feed their kids, have to find different way to get food. Quindlen does a great job persuading the readers as to why summer break isn’t such a good thing. In her essay she uses statistics, provides solutions people are trying to do, and she also uses pathos in her essay.
A sojourner is often described as a short term visitor to a new place or culture, where permanent settlement is not the eventual purpose of the trip or sojourn. Bearing this in mind the term sojourner has been applied to many different groups throughout the years; military personnel, aid workers and students or scholars all fall under this broad umbrella term. In the literature concerning students there is some confusion, as various researchers have failed to make the distinction between ‘International Students’ and ‘Student Sojourners’. The term ‘International Student’ , particularly with respect to American, Australian and Asian research,is often used to describe students that have roots in a minority group (such as Asians or Latino Americans) but have actually been born in the ‘host country’. These students are usually resident in the host country for the duration on their academic program and longer. ‘Student Sojourner’ on the other hand is a term that describes students who may move to a new place or culture for the purpose of academic ad...
The summer vacation students on a traditional schedule receive could be very beneficial since summer gives time for the students to attend camps or other activities that would allow them to learn. The camp may not be like the learning in school, but students would be able to get a different style of education while having fun. Lynn-nore Chittom and Jeff Klassen, two authors who wrote about year-round vs. traditional schooling say, “Critics also cite year-round school as an obstacle to summer enrichment programs such as youth camps, and note that the balanced calendar model can hurt students and industries dependent on short-term summer employment” (Chittom). If students are going to school all year with only some short breaks, when would they have time to go to camp? Even if their camp is during one of their breaks, the students would have homework to complete, thus eliminating the educational effects of the camp on the student. Also, teen...
Ideally, extending the school schedule into the summer equals more learning. Because students are not dedicated to their studies, often they do not retain the information they learned over the school year during summer vacation. According to the article “Will Longer School Year Help or Hurt US Students” Smyth notes that, “Proponents argue that too much knowledge is lost while American kids wile away the summer months apart from their lessons” (Smyth). Smyth argues that students clearly do not retain their lessons over the period of their summer break. However, opponents of the extension of the school schedule say, “summer breaks are needed to provide an academic respite for students’ overwrought minds, and to provide time with family and the flexibility to travel and study favorite subjects in more depth” (Smyth). Smyth’s observation not only protests taking summer away from families but also describes summer as a time needed to rest student’s minds.
Although this may be true and the students may be increasing their intelligence, the absence of a true summer can be a negative for all concerned. Summers off have long been a light at the end of the tunnel for teachers after an intense school year. And students need time to relieve themselves from a constant social setting where bullying and harassment can be hard to get away from while still at school (Pros and Cons of Year Round School). Summers are very beneficial to everyone. Teachers and students get a break, but also parents get more quality time to spend with their
When certain texts are read, different messages can be taken from it. Also, more arguments and ideas can be branched off of that one particular theme. The poem of “Summer” by Walter Dean Myers plays out a very happy scene of the overall joy of summer. This poem shares all the happiness that occurs and can occur throughout and during summer. Memories come rushing back to many who read this and reflect back on their childhood summer days. Yet, one issue that could be branched of this poem and could be noted is the increasing problem of children now days not having such an enjoyable and memorable summer. Kids all over spend their time differently and have many reasons why they do not play outside during summer more often than a few years back. It makes those who have good summer memories of being outside sad that children now aren’t enjoying summer outdoors as much as they could. In “Summer” by Walter Dean Myers, an argument that could be talked about would be that which of children not playing outside in summer as much as before and the main problems that led to this occurring is that technology is a huge distraction, some environments are scary to be in, and just pure laziness.
Visiting Europe has been a long dream for me, especially visiting Italy. Italy has fascinated for as long as I can remember. Italian history and culture has always been intriguing to me ever since I learned about the Roman Empire in elementary school. I’ve always had Rome as my number one place I want to visit in the world. However, due to my financial status, I never had the chance to go to outside any country except the United States and my native country, Peru. Being in college has given me the opportunity to study abroad in a place I’ve always dreamed of. My university, Loyola University Chicago, have their own campus abroad in Rome, Vietnam and Beijing. Being already enrolled in the university, choosing to study abroad is facilitated as all my financial aid, including the university’s, and credits will transfer. I actually never planned on studying but the opportunity my university gave me to study in a place I’ve always wanted to go was too good for me to pass on. I
Learning about new cultures is my favorite thing to do. I interact well with others and enjoy networking with new people. I have found that my ability to meet new people is a trait that makes every visit I have taken to different countries an enjoyable visit. I wish to participate in this program because it has always been a goal of mine to study abroad. By participating in this program I hope to learn about another culture, make international contacts, and gain valuable international business skills.
When I was a kid, there were few things I looked forward to more than summer vacation. I couldn’t wait to laze around in the sun, sleep in and play all day. I got to spend time with my friends and my cousins at our family’s lake cabin up north. I had the opportunity to attend a Christian summer camp one year. I spent a week at Flaming Pine Youth Camp where we were not allowed to wear shorts, sleeveless shirts or walk to the beach without a cover up.
Summer vacation is legendary. An integral part of American culture, it is loved by students and loathed by parents. Its influence stretches as far as the economy and media of the country. Nevertheless, such a famed part of American educational customs is unnecessary and even detrimental to students. Its institution hinders learning and it can have a damaging effect on the families and students involved.
Have you ever thought about studying abroad? No, not just for a few months for your work-experience, but a whole year (or longer) as a transfer-student. Of course, you don’t make such a decision from one minute to the next. It needs to be thought over well. Going to college is a big change in your life because it usually means living on your own for the first time, but as a foreign student it is even a bigger change because you are on your own in another country. This is often the greatest concern for students to go abroad: to leave everything behind. They have trouble leaving their family and the familiar environment. They think this price is just too high. But if they only knew how rich they will be when they come back.
Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a college’s students career. For many colleges, having their students can mean an increase in tuition, higher application rates, and overall better reviews by their students. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, by Scott Olsen, “The Wall Street Journal reported last month that several small colleges are requiring students to pay full tuition even if the programs cost less, setting caps on the amount of financial aid sent abroad, and limiting how many students can participate”(5). Also, Olsen tells us “In the 2003-2004 school year, 7,208 students from Indiana universities went on study-abroad programs, according to the most recent statistics available from the Institute
Mastroianni, Adam J., and Deborah L. Kelly. "Undergraduate Study Abroad Experiences: Changing Attitudes Towards Cultural Diversity And Careers." Insights To A Changing World Journal 2013.4 (2013): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.