VOLUME 25 A Magazine of Student Essays 2012 Table of Contents A Publication of San Joaquin A Moment Most Sad ...... 3 Delta College 1VOU/H^RPUZYLÅLJ[ZVUOPZZHKKLZ[TLTVY`HUKOV^P[OHZJOHUNLKOPZ outlook on life. http://www.deltacollege.edu /org/deltawinds ,WPWOHU` ...... 5 +LUUPZAL]LS`ZWLHRZVMILPUNIVNNLKKV^USVZ[^P[OV\[HTIP[PVU^HP[PUN Editors MVYJOHUNL[VHYYP]L William Agopsowicz Robert Bini Hamlet: Anti-Hero ...... 7 ;`H*HTLSSPH(SSYLKSH`ZV\[[OLWHY[PJ\SHYZ[OH[WYV]L/HTSL[[VILMHYMYVT Division Dean [OLOLYVPJÄN\YLZVJVTTVUS`ILSPL]LK Languages, Library, and Learning Resources 0JL*YLHT*VUL ...... 11 Joe Gonzales 1\HU7PTLU[LSKLZJYPILZ[OLJOPSKOVVKKH`Z^OLUOL^HZMVYJLKPU[VHSPMLHZ HUV\[JHZ[ Graphic Design Susan E. Lovotti 7HYLU[HUK*OPSK*VTT\UPJH[PVU ...... 14 (THUKH;HTH`VHK]PZLZWHYLU[ZVUOV^[VYLMYHPUMYVTWHZZPUNVU Cover Photo Stan Rapada \UH[[YHJ[P]LILOH]PVYWH[[LYUZ http://community.webshots.com Sister to Sister ...... 16 /user/srapada ;H`SVY:[\HY[PUHWLYZVUHSSL[[LYJLSLIYH[LZOLYZPZ[LY»ZH[[YPI\[LZHUKVăLYZ RPUK^VYKZVMJH\[PVU

The Invidious Nature of Competition ...... 18 Delta Winds is a publication of student essays +VUHSK2V]PZHYN\LZ[OH[[OLL_JLZZLZVMJVTWL[P[PVU[YPNNLYTVYLULNH[P]L from courses at San Joaquin Delta College. human behavior than positive. It is published each year by the English Department of San Joaquin Delta College, ;OL3P[[SL.PYS6UJL*HSSLK-HP[O ...... 21 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, California *HYH9HWWO\UZLHYJOLZMVYHTPZZPUNTV[OLYHUKMVYHUZ^LYZ[VX\LZ[PVUZ 95207. The authors certify that their writing HIV\[OLYWLYZVUHSPKLU[P[` is their own creation. The views expressed in l`]k]]kkYqk\gfglf][]kkYjadqj]Û][ll`] The Peripheral Canal: What It Means for the Delta ...... 26 opinions of the faculty, the administration, ;HTHYH7PHaaHKPZJ\ZZLZ^H[LYYPNO[ZSL]LLMHPS\YLZHUKL_WVY[PUN^H[LY[V or the trustees of Delta College. All rights :V\[OLYU*HSPMVYUPH[OYV\NOHJVU[YV]LYZPHSJHUHSWYVQLJ[ reserved. No part of this publication may The Tenth Muse ...... 31 be reproduced for profit in any form or 4H_PTPSPHUV*HUHSLZHUHS`aLZH:VY1\HUHWVLTMYVT[OLZJYP[PJPaPUN by any means without written permission. PYYH[PVUHSHUKO`WVJYP[PJHSTHSLILOH]PVY

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1 Letter from the Editors

Working at a community college, we have the privilege of interacting with young souls, full of hope and heartache. We have the opportunity to cross paths with individuals, some on steep trajectories into distant arenas. During this momentary period when our paths intersect, we may be fortunate, at times, to identify in one of these individuals a skill, an accomplished gift—a talent yet to be clearly appreciated but leading perhaps to lifelong direction. In the fall of 2010, during an English 79 Mastery Exam reading, we went looking for exemplary essays. And we found one—an essay written in eighty minutes on a controversial topic. The essay, entitled “I Have a DREAM,” argued clearly and effectively in favor of The DREAM Act. We emailed the author for his permission to publish the essay in the May 2011 volume of Delta Winds. He agreed. The essay was published and later discussed in composition classes at Delta College. Six months later, we were contacted by another person in search of writing talent—a publisher’s representative from Bedford/ St. Martin’s. And she, too, wished to publish this essay—not locally but nationally—in a new edition of a textbook entitled Real Writing.

Soon afterward, when we phoned the student-writer to break the news, KHVHHPHGXQFOHDUDERXWWKHZKROHSURSRVDO+LVYRLFHUHÀHFWHGWKH photo he had sent in—that of a smiling young man with a baseball cap tipped high and to the side. He seemed to have a half-hearted interest in the essay he had written a year before. His attention peaked, however, when hearing that he might be paid a stipend for re-publication of the essay in a textbook. Sometimes, the tone of the voice can remind us of ourselves at that age—when we were twenty-one, anxious to spend more time with close friends and troubled by tedious college assignments. Sometimes, the voice adds a dimension but leaves some missing parts from the whole picture. And sometimes the rest can be found in what the individual has left behind. This individual, this student, had written with care and compassion about allowing illegal immigrants the opportunity to become citizens. In the essay, the author had quoted his brother, who was serving in the military. The author also had quoted his mother, who had worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital and who had praised an immigrant doctor for saving many lives. The author had revealed enough of his own personal values and beliefs to complete a picture, to make us appreciate who he was. Sometimes we are left with WKDW¿QDOLPSUHVVLRQ6RPHWLPHVZHDUHQRW

Sometimes we are struck by the abrupt break in an individual student’s trajectory. The author we were so impressed with was Dominic Deiro. In December of 2011, Dominic tragically passed away, after an automobile accident anyone of us could have been involved in. Now, we are left with what he has left us—a reminder of the kind of person he was. And we are reminded to be more aware of our crossing paths and to value the precious moments of life we share and the privilege we have to work with the students of Delta College.

2 A Moment Most Sad

By John Hawkins

Eveyone has a mother, but not which is synthetic Heroin. Knowing everyone is fortunate enough to be my mother’s time was limited, my blessed with motherhood. As my grandmother would incessantly urge grandmother acquired custody of me, me to see my mother. After all, she John Hawkins is 22 years old I was separated from my mom when lived behind our apartment. Instead and is majoring in culinary arts. I was four years old. My grandma felt I ignored the pain, a fourteen-year- These are his thoughts on it necessary to do this by and large old too young to process the reality, writing: “I used to be horrible due to my mother’s drug use—chie!y, and I went out to skateboard with my at writing, until I realized Heroin. Although my mother was friends. how awesome of a tool it is allowed to visit me, I would not see to know how to articulate her often. She came to visit when she Warm sunshine rays gleamed as the WKRXJKWRQWRSDSHU,ÀJXUHG found it necessary, as if there were chilling October breeze enveloped to enable success in school and in life I would have to hone an agenda. One time my mother the day. It was eight days before I the skill of writing. Turned out, came to visit my . . . a hotel that stood was to turn #fteen. when I learned how to write, I grandmother After the sixth discovered a great feeling, and and me. She on a block where drug period bell rang have enjoyed writing since. stayed for half dealers, drug users, and letting the students Ms. Nugent asked us to write a week. When out, my friend and a descriptive essay on our she left, I gave other destitute souls I bolted for the saddest memory. Instantly, the her a hug, a congregated. front of the school GD\RIP\PRWKHU·VGHDWKFDPH kiss, and told like racehorses. to mind. I told myself that I her I loved her. For, on this day would hold nothing back when writing the essay. My mother Subsequently, I found my video we were privileged with a ride from died my sophomore year in high games missing and my grandmother my friend’s mother, ten times better school, but my guardian has could not locate her jewelry; I than having to endure the school always been my grandma. She realized, then, why my mother had bus. During the ride, my friend’s has taught me how to use my come to spend time with us. Years mother told him it was payday. My heart. I am now a chef at a local passed, revelations were internalized, friend decided to take advantage of restaurant and in the process and my mom and I sustained a the situation and ask if we could rent of obtaining two degrees: AA in weary relationship. However, never movies. Gleefully, she one-upped baking/pastry, and culinary arts. have I felt more sorrow than when I him by adding to that the prospect I love Hip-Hop, reading books, returned the phone call that told of of movie snacks. “Munchies, too!” my DQGFRRNLQJIRRG/LIH·VVLPSOHµ my mother’s death. friend shouted. With eyes wide open and our mouths watering, we parked Although the phone call was the at the Albertson’s next to Hollywood instant that brought the pain, it was Video. We were the hawks, and the events hitherto that caused the the munchies were our prey. As we depth of the pain. What is requisite scoped out our victims, I could not to know are the months leading up help but be happy. With most, this is to the end of my mother’s time. She an ordinary event, but for two teens was su"ering from Ovarian Cancer, who grew up on the east side of the which was dubbed inoperable by the tracks, this was the treatment of doctors because the years of Heroin royalty. use had deteriorated her insides to the point where trying to stitch her up With candy packed into our pockets would be like tailoring a suit made of and movies in our bag, we were tissue paper. In these months she was chau"eured to the hotel where my routinely treated with methadone, 3 friend and his mother resided. $is to heaven.” She was trying to hold hotel was not glamorous, not worth it together, not for her, but for me. I bragging about by movie stars or hung up the phone. Walking home, I famous rappers, but a hotel that passed a tree that sat upon a ledge at stood on a block where drug dealers, a Buddhist temple. I sni%ed, holding drug users, and other destitute souls tears back, because as I smelled congregated. We pulled up to the the sweet !oral scent, it reminded hotel, and as I walked up to the door me of all the times I had chosen a man with a skateboarding face familiar at that ledge said I needed to over spending return a phone time with my call. I thanked mother. All I the man and could think of wondered who was how I had the caller could lost a mother I be. Inside I was had never built a engulfed by real relationship pungent odors— with. Medics stale cigarette had yet to arrive, smoke and un- so my brother bathed body took me into odors—smells I the room where was used to. But she had passed what alarmed away. Her new me was a frantic kitten rested on face telling me her chest. I sat I had to call with her sobbing my grandmother. My blood boiled, as her kitten’s purr catered to my and my heart churned with regret, sorrows. I was told she had died while for I suspected the purpose of the sleeping, and for that I was grateful. phone call. My friend’s room was on the third !oor, and on my way up I It is soon to be seven years since then. ran into a pale face also telling me I have grown beyond holding the of the phone call. My heart became regret next to my heart, for I know a lump in my throat, making it hard my mother and I loved each other. to breathe. Today, still, I see those Worrying about what I could have faces full of gloom, knowing that they done is no longer a matter. I have were relaying a message to a boy who learned instead to contemplate the was yet to know of the pain he was present. Now I treat others with a destined to face. consciousness of life’s volatility. Now I try to critique life positively, and with Rushing up that last !ight, I entered this adjusted perspective, I have been the room and called my grandmother. able to see the good in bad situations. She answered. My eyes watered and I have never been as sad as I was the my voice cracked. My grandmother’s day of that phone call, but I will add voice was solemn and loving. “It’s that ever since I have lived my life your mom. She’s gone. She’s gone with much intent.

4 Dennis M. Zevely, 24, is a full- Epiphany time student at San Joaquin By Dennis Zevely Delta College. Dennis recently came back to Delta after taking a few years off to “experience” Some people call it the daily grind, life. After entering the working my chair because it belongs to me— that “nine to five every day, five days world, he realized that it is and also the grossly ornamented table a week, fifty-two weeks a year for the pretty tough for people who do that sits awkwardly in the middle of rest of my life, or until retirement,” not have a college education to the room. The television sits in the which I would probably get bored succeed. Dennis has recently corner with piles of movies stacked with. My “nine to five day” does taken a strong interest in haphazardly on both sides. “This is not start at nine; it starts at 3 a.m. dietetics, and wishes to transfer my space, my life, yet I am not happy. when I wake up exhausted, rushing to San Diego State University, What am I going to do to change to shower and running out the door, where he will continue to this?” I say to myself. without even having a chance to eat pursue his goal of becoming a to get to my 4:00 a.m. to noon Fed Ex registered dietitian. “What are you doing with your life?” shift. Almost every morning, unless my dad interrupts, as if reading my my mind is just too mind. This is how he tired to function, I As the alcohol usually starts his probing, will have the specific not very subtly. thought of how kicks in, I start much I hate it, my “I’m not sure,” I say. life, and the way it is, to daydream “Is there something yet I do nothing to and manage more? I’ve been a little change it. mostly to ignore bored lately, and feel like I’m not really going “Take the shot,” my father’s anywhere.” My thoughts my father says to continue to myself, me, bringing me heckling. “What am I doing with back to the here my life?” It’s a tough and now. “When question. Is there anything more to I was your age I could take that, no life than what I am doing? problem.” We are sitting at the 856 Bar and Restaurant. It’s happy hour, I take stock. Clearly, I am unhappy. and my dad felt like going out and I’m a college dropout. My job is drinking, and I, against my better about the best I can manage without judgment, decided to tag along. “Yeah, some kind of a degree. I’m working like eighty years ago,” I quip. “You full time to support myself, plus one. probably couldn’t even take half of While I was attending school before, it now.” And so it begins. I’m getting it was fun, but I had no drive. My drunk with my father at 3:30 in the original thought about life was that all afternoon on a Thursday. Sadly, I have I needed to be happy was a spouse, a nothing better to do. As the alcohol job, and a home. But these have not kicks in, I start to daydream and brought satisfaction: The spouse is manage mostly to ignore my father’s demanding, the job is boring, and the heckling. home is slowly falling apart. I feel as if I am waiting for some kind of a sign, “Later, much later, I will be happy,” but I don’t know what the sign is or I think to myself. “Everyone is happy what it would look like if I saw it. I later in life. I just need to wait for have been playing the lotto religiously. something to happen.” For some It isn’t that I actually think I can win; reason I’m picturing my house, it is the dream of winning that drives looking at my living room as if it were me, the thought that perhaps one day in front of me. There’s my chair—yes, 5 I can change this situation. Slowly the now. His body looks weak. It is at this dreams have become the driving point moment that I have the epiphany: he of my life. “I could do anything” is isn’t young anymore. He is old, and the thought. “I won’t be greedy, just getting older. For the first time in my a couple mil.” I will travel, enjoy the life I see my father as the aging man world, have a bunch of promiscuous he is now, rather than the younger, sex; I could live the life of a movie star. stronger man that I had idolized as a But this never happened. child.

“Well, nothing will change I feel as if I am We continue to speak unless you change it,” my waiting for some of life and its changes. father advises me. He goes It hits me that this on, “I am happy how my kind of a sign, is the first adult life turned out, happy for but I don’t know conversation that I you children, the house, what the sign is have ever had with your mother, but one thing my father. Listening that I was never happy or what it would to his worried words, about was not finishing look like if I saw looking into his tired school.” It is the start of the eyes, I come to the “go back to school” talk; it. conclusion that I am how typical. “I know you the only one who can probably don’t want to hear change my situation. it,” he says, and I don’t, “but if you Dreams of grandeur and a lavish want something more, then you will lifestyle have their place, but they are need a degree.” still just dreams. Only I can change my situation; only I have the power I don’t know why, but for some reason to make myself truly happy. This is this time I listen to my father. It seems the starting point, this conversation there is suddenly more of an air of with my father in a bar at 3:30 in the concern in his voice, rather than the afternoon on a Thursday that sends typical bossy and demanding nature me back to school and into English that was my father. 1A, like my classmates, trying to make more of my life. “Dennis, at this point I’m sure you know that life doesn’t go on forever. You need to figure out what it is that you want, and how you want to get there. Your mother and I aren’t going to live forever—.” He pauses.

At this point I am wondering how the conversation has drifted so much. I know that he isn’t going to live forever. I closely examine his face. The fine lines that once showed his wisdom, grace, and strength, now show a fragile old man. His hair is grey

6 Hamlet: Anti-hero by TyraCamellia Allred

Humans are rational beasts, himself acknowledges that bestowed with a superior he has these flaws. The play intelligence. Yet even with begins with Hamlet’s learning this unique ability, humans of his father’s murder at are flawed. They experience the hands of Hamlet’s uncle TyaCamellia Allred was born complex and persuasive Claudius. Although the in Indianapolis, Indiana, but emotions that interfere murder of Hamlet’s father was raised in Stockton. She with their reasoning skills. and the marriage of his is 20 years old and currently Protagonists in mother, Gertrude, on her last semester at Delta comic books, plays, In short, Hamlet to Claudius are before transferring to UOP. She movies, and other obviously quite is majoring in psychology and English with plans to ultimately fictional works lacks the devastating, earn a doctorate in psychology. can be perfected FRQÀGHQFHDQG Hamlet’s reaction She loves fast food, cartoons, and turned into self-assurance to the situation horror movies and metal music. what are known as with those around “heroes.” Heroes that heroes and him seems rather can be described leaders need. cold, whiny, and as idealistic, over dramatized. courageous, moral, Instead of growing decisive, fair, and from a difficult selfless; they are “the good situation and overcoming guys” that are against evil. obstacles, like a true hero Hamlet, the protagonist in would, Hamlet constantly William Shakespeare’s play complains that he is unable Hamlet, does not fit into the to commit suicide because above description of a hero, God “fix’d / His canon ’gainst and should be labeled as an self-slaughter” (1.2.135-136)! “anti-hero.” Heroes by definition are brave, upstanding, and selfless; yet By a specific definition, an Hamlet does not have these antihero is the “hero” of qualities. In Act II, Hamlet the play or novel, but this states, “You cannot take from protagonist has negative me anything that I will more / attributes apart from the willingly part withal, —except classic hero figure. Such my life, except my life, except negative aspects may include / my life” (2.2.227-229). a violent nature or a tendency In short, Hamlet lacks the to use coarse language. An confidence and self-assurance anti-hero can be described that heroes and leaders need. as pragmatic, inconsiderate, greedy, rebellious, cowardly, When confronted by his insubordinate, reluctant, father’s ghost, Hamlet is told and morally suspect. Hamlet that “If thou didst ever thy dear 7 father love— / . . . . / Revenge His first opportunity to avenge his foul and most unnatural his father comes while his murder” (1.5.27-29). The late murderous uncle is praying. king is even denied the chance Hamlet refrains from killing to repent before facing God’s his uncle at this time because judgment: “Cut off even in Claudius would have the luxury the blossoms of my sin, / denied the late king. If Hamlet Unhousel’d, disappointed, had killed his uncle during unanel’d, / No reckoning prayer, his uncle would have made, but sent to my account been sent to heaven because / With all my imperfections he had repented his sins. on my head” (1.5.82-85). At Hamlet sees that if “A villain the meeting between Hamlet kills my father, and for that, and his father’s ghost, Hamlet / I, his sole son, do this same is given a purpose in life: to villain send / To heaven. / avenge his Why, this is hire father. But Though Hamlet’s and salary, not even with this courage is a bit revenge / . . . . newly acquired / Then trip him, information more present in this that his heels may about the truth scene, true heroes kick at heaven, behind the / And that his death of his do not take revenge, soul may be as father, Hamlet and surely do not damn’d and black hesitates to act / As hell, whereto on merely the encourage torture or it goes” (3.3.79- apparition’s gratuitous suffering. 98). In the scene, word, which is it is clear that Hamlet wants his incestuous understandable. Yet that does uncle to suffer horribly for not stop him from feeling eternity. Though Hamlet’s ashamed of himself: “(O! courage is a bit more present vengeance!) / Why, what an in this scene, true heroes do ass am I! This is most brave / not take revenge, and surely That I, the son of a dear father do not encourage torture or murdered, / Prompted to my gratuitous suffering. revenge by heaven and hell, / Must like a whore unpack The second occasion when my heart with words, / And Hamlet thinks of killing his fall a-cursing like a very drab” uncle is during a fight with (2.2.569-574). In an attempt his mother over her sins to reassure himself that what against her late husband and he plans to do is just, Hamlet God. During this argument, arranges to have traveling Polonius, while hiding behind players act out the murder some curtains, is alarmed of his father in a play called when Gertrude screams. The Mouse Trap while he, Startled by the unforeseen Hamlet, observes Claudius’ presence, Hamlet stabs reaction to it. When it is clear Polonius, assuming the that Claudius has a guilty figure to be Claudius. When conscience, Hamlet gains the discovering his mistake, confidence to kill Claudius. Hamlet feels almost no remorse and even places the 8 blame on Polonius, stating, Guildenstern, and again has “Thou wretched, rash, no guilt or acknowledgement intruding fool, farewell! / I of blame: “They are not near took thee for thy better. Take my conscience. Their defeat / thy fortune; / Thou find’st to Does by their own insinuation be too busy in some danger” grow” (5.2.62-63). (3.4. 36-38). Heroes do not kill the innocent, and if it were Throughout the play, Hamlet to happen by accident, there takes no responsibility for his would be obvious remorse, evil actions, yet curses the rest not a nonchalant and cold of the world for their faults. response as in the case of When Horatio offers to make Hamlet. an excuse so Hamlet will not need to spar with Laertes, Hamlet’s negative Hamlet ironically states, “Not characteristics a whit, we defy also include Throughout the play, augury; . . . / If his rudeness it be now, ‘tis towards others, Hamlet takes no not to come; / including the responsibility for his if it be not to fair Ophelia. come, it will be Young girls evil actions, yet curses now; if it not are vulnerable, the rest of the world be now, yet it and his cold for their faults. / will come: disposition the readiness towards the is all. Since woman who no man has loves him is not reflective of aught of / what he leaves, a hero. He personally lists his what is ’t to leave betimes” bad qualities and refuses to (5.2.209-213)? In other words, marry her: “I am very proud, Hamlet says that it is the revengeful, ambitious, / with will of God and the plan of more offenses at my beck than destiny that determine when I have thoughts to put / them a person dies, so one should in, imagination to give them not try to prevent it or be shape, or time to act them / in. upset when it comes. If he . . . Go thy ways to a nunnery” were true to his words, he (3.1. 131-136). Such heartless would not be as upset with abandonment pushes Ophelia his father’s murder, because to commit suicide. To further obviously since it happened, his offenses, Hamlet has the it is God’s will. Before starting nerve to confront her grieving the sparring match, Hamlet brother, Laertes, claiming that follows his mother’s good he suffers from her loss more advice and apologizes for his than Laertes. Hamlet states actions at Ophelia’s funeral, that he loves Ophelia: “Forty yet it is a hollow apology thousand brothers / Could not because he once again takes with all their quantity of love no blame. Instead, he blames / Make up my sum” (5.1.265- his “madness. / . . . Never 267). Along with the two Hamlet” (5.2.221-222). In the current deaths that involve climactic final scene, Claudius Hamlet, he later arranges plants poison in Hamlet’s for the deaths of his former drink, Hamlet inadvertently friends, Rosencrantz and kills Laertes, Gertrude drinks 9 the poison meant for Hamlet, In the play, Hamlet has many and Hamlet fulfills his promise soliloquies, which allow the to his father’s ghost by slaying audience into Hamlet’s state of Claudius. mind. They show the audience that Hamlet is not mad but During Elizabethan time, that he is well composed, revenge was widely accepted. eloquent, controlled in his Knowing the audience would thoughts, and very intelligent. empathize with Hamlet, Shakespeare I have come to uses revenge to the conclusion justify Hamlet’s Hamlet kills three that Hamlet is actions, thus people in the play, an anti-hero making him a encourages Ophelia’s because he is sympathetic weak, cowardly, protagonist suicide, and arranges hesitant, selfish, and for many the deaths of another indifferent, a hero. On the sadistic, and other hand, two people. hypocritical, Hamlet kills all of which three people are opposing in the play, encourages characteristics to what a hero Ophelia’s suicide, and arranges is supposed to be. Some may the deaths of another two consider Hamlet a hero. But people. Hamlet kills Polonius, the audience can see Hamlet mistaking him for Claudius; he for who he really is. He is a also arranges Rosencrantz’s man, obviously not a mature and Guildenstern’s death; man, of the same flesh and and at the end of the play, blood that everyone else is accidentally kills Laertes and made up of, yet one who would kills Claudius out of revenge. rather take the easy way out In place of remorse and guilt, and die instead of dealing with this anti-hero has denial and the obstacles in his life: “For apathy. Though he blames who would bear the whips and the victims themselves or the scorns of time, / . . . / When will of God, he adds insult he himself might his quietus by hiding behind others’ make / With a bare bodkin” assumptions that he is mad. (3.1.77-83)? A true hero would.

10 by Juan Ramon Pimentel

When I was nine years old, I me to ride bikes with them. I attended a small school in my did not understand why they native town, La Piedad, near stopped talking to me. One Mexico City. Everyone in school day after class I saw them knew each other because it going to the local store to play was and still is a small town. video games, so I decided to I used to hang out with my run home and ask my mom friend Frank and four other for money. My classmates guys. At that time, I weighed had not invited me, but I seventy pounds. During our thought it would be fine to Juan Ramon Pimentel was lunch my friends and I would meet them there since it was born in Michoacán, Mexico in play soccer on the school field. our hang out. I could hear my 1987. Even though he did not My life seemed to friends laughing finish his formal education be easy and fun I was excited inside. Frank was in Mexico, this has not then. After school, because I thought upset and yelled, stopped him from pursuing Frank and I and “Daaayumn I his dreams of earning a our friends played that they might tell almost got it!” degree in mathematics. After video games in the me something funny, When I stepped he graduates, he plans to local store. Our but the next thing into the video become a math teacher in a order was always a game area, middle school setting because wasn’t funny at all. It of teachers who inspired chicken sandwich everyone stopped was heartless. him and encouraged him and an orange talking. I said, to believe in himself and to soda. The six of us “Hey, guys, what’s never give up. played video games going on?” They until our money was gone. On didn’t answer. Instead they the way home, we would chat exchanged looks. Even though about how we almost reached I felt weird, I approached them. the highest score. Frank always All of them began to talk about said, “Next time I’ll get it.” me. They looked at Frank; Sometimes we cut class to ride “Are you going to tell him?” our bikes down to the river. We I asked, “What?” He looked loved to ride our bikes through at me and then kept playing. the river so we could feel the Then again they encouraged ice-cold water splashing our Frank, “I dare you to do it!” I legs. We were tight, like the was excited because I thought Three Musketeers, even though that they might tell me there were six of us. Life could something funny, but the next not have been better. thing wasn’t funny at all. It was heartless. However, things began to change after a couple months. They told me to go home— I began to gain weight. Over a that I was not welcome to play period of six months, I gained with them anymore. I laughed sixty pounds because of my thinking that they were joking. asthma medication. Personally, Then, I realized it was not a I did not mind, but it seemed joke. My friends were telling like everyone else did. My me to no longer bother them. classmates stopped asking I stared at Frank, hoping he 11 did not feel the same way, but asked me to stand up and he did not even bother to look solve a problem on the board, at me. Instead he continued my classmates said, “Open playing. After that I felt as if some space for Juan.” They my blood stopped circulating even put their legs out to try to through my body. I felt my make me fall. I felt ashamed. heart drop for a couple of seconds, and I could not speak. After that I never wanted to My eyes began to burn. I could be called on in the classroom not hold back my because I knew what would tears. I walked happen. I could home, depressed There I was on a not believe the and furious. hot summer day same individuals who one day I walked with running from my my head down had said they because I did not fears, running up were my friends want people to hills towards my were now my enemies. During see me crying. house. Soon I could taste lunchtime I sat by the salty flavor of myself next to the my tears. When director’s office, I arrived home, I continued knowing that if crying. I began to ask myself someone wanted to hurt me why they treated me that way, I could yell for the director. and I blamed myself. Teasing not only happened in school, but after school. Often I thought that they were the I had to walk home hearing only ones who did not want to all my nicknames. Guys from hang out with me, but soon no school who were not even my one wanted to be my friend. classmates called me “fatty,” I had never made any other “bowling ball,” “muffin,” friends because I thought that and “ice cream cone.” I did Frank and the others would not want to attend school always be there for me, but anymore. I pleaded with my I was wrong. They not only mom to let me stay home. stopped me from hanging out Many times I faked having a with them, but also began to stomachache. At night while make hurtful comments about I tried to sleep, I could hear me. My classmates made the all the mean comments about teacher stop me from playing me again and again. Soon it soccer. They told him that I all got out of control. Older was too fat to run and they guys from school began to did not want to lose. Their chase me home. Everyone took comments did not hurt me, advantage of me to have fun. but it did when my teacher did I felt furious because I could not defend me; instead he just not defend myself. There I was laughed. Soon everyone began on a hot summer day running to pick on me. Every time I from my fears, running up hills entered class, they looked at towards my house. Since I was me with disgust. They had overweight, for me running that look on their faces as if I was a punishment. Those guys was going to eat them. I tried made me run to my house not to pay attention but it was every day after school; I had difficult. Each time the teacher become their favorite form of 12 entertainment. I remember the issues stopped me. And I never sweat running down my face. went back to school in my My labored breathing made me native town. I still remember feel like a fish out of water. the chases and the hurtful Classmates stared at me like comments. I cannot believe I had a contagious disease. that my best friends turned Being alone made me feel their backs on me because of depressed. Soon, I decided to my weight. I would never treat stop eating because I was tired someone like that. Humans of being fat. I thought that if I can be cruel. People commit stopped eating I would become hate crimes because they do slender again. But instead I not like the nationality, color, became anemic. and look of someone else. But I, at least, have learned not After all that, I stayed only to judge others by their outer one more year. All the hurtful appearance. comments and my health

13 by Amanda Tamayo

Amanda Tamayo is a busy wife and mother. Passionate I was shocked the evening my questions about whether or not about education, Amanda !ve-year-old son had his !rst I was giving him an example I is pursuing her dream of violent outburst. It was as if a cork wanted him to follow. #e truth is teaching preschool-aged had popped—all at once he was I o"en exude stress; I’m sure my children through art and expressing so many emotions. I son is absorbing all the angst I let music. She is currently had no idea he had been keeping o$. When children see that their in Delta College’s Early all those feelings inside. It took parents lack coping skills, they Childhood Education over an hour for my husband and don’t wonder why; they simply Program. When not busy me to calm him, but eventually understand it as normal behavior. with school or home life, he fell asleep in Ever have road rage? Amanda devotes much of A child who is allowed to her time to reading and our arms. Still If your kids bore shaken a"er this ask questions and speak witness to that, I’m writing. Amanda aspires to openly will learn that it one day have a freelance event, I decided willing to bet they writing business as well to research ways is safe to express many have what I like to as run a small school to help children emotions rather than try to call “playground centering on the arts. deal with anger, contain them alone. rage.” In short, sadness, and children emulate not frustration. I have only their parents’ come to realize that there are three positive behavior, but also the important things parents can do negative. Now, when I feel stressed to help their child process strong I vocalize it in a positive way. I’ll emotions. #e !rst thing parents say something like “Mommy feels can do is remember that kids are like a prickly bear. I think a walk always observing what the adults will help!” I’m showing him that I in their lives do to handle their can help myself feel better and so own emotions, so lead by example. can he. Second on the list is to keep open lines of communication. Kids have Have your children ever asked a questions and a willingness to question that you were simply not answer them can make a world of prepared to answer? It’s tempting di$erence. And !nally remember to shut them down or even make that children will speak to others them feel guilty about asking. But the way they are spoken to. what’s the message your child receives when this happens? I I had to be really honest with think it’s something along the myself when considering how lines of “Be very careful when you to help my son. I had to answer express yourself; it’s not always 14 When I look at him, I see a little wanted” or “ Certain things are child who has so much energy bad to say; it’s better not to share.” packed into a small body, I realize Instead of refusing to talk to your it would not only be pointless to child about certain things, make it snap at him for !dgeting but also a point to be honest (while still age mean. Other parents might !nd it appropriate) and remove shameful helpful to remember being young feelings from communication. and how it felt to be a wiggly, little A child who is allowed to ask kid. If all else fails, force yourself questions and Other parents might to stay calm. Do speak openly will not show your learn that it is safe ÀQGLWKHOSIXOWR children what it to express many UHPHPEHUEHLQJ\RXQJ is to melt down; emotions rather instead, show than try to contain DQGKRZLWIHOWWREHD them how to them alone. ZLJJO\OLWWOHNLG calmly express themselves. Parents are o"en tired, stressed, #ere are many other things and overworked, a combination that can be done to minimize that makes it easy to become violent, angry behavior, but I short and snappy when speaking believe these three things are the to a rambunctious child. I used most important. Show your child to tell my son, “You are on my healthy coping skills, have an last nerve” until I heard him say honest open relationship free from it to a classmate, and didn’t !nd shame, and always remain stoic it cute. At times, I’ve also been when disciplining. Our culture known to be rather sarcastic (I is full of violence. Wherever you prefer “witty”)—again not a trait look, it’s present. Children will I want my son to possess. I’ve had be exposed to it no matter what. to change the way I speak in order I believe it’s more important to to raise a child who speaks kindly focus on personal interaction to others. For me, changing my between parent and child rather tone of voice was the most di%cult than censor the rest of the world. part. What helps me stay calm is to look at my son before speaking.

15 Sister to Sister by Taylor Stuart

'HDU6LVWHUÀUVWOHWPHVWDUW volume of hair (which you know by saying that even though we I have always been jealous of). Taylor Stuart is 25 years are only twelve years apart, the Recently and out of nowhere, old and graduated in JHQHUDWLRQDOGLϝHUHQFHVEHWZHHQ you have blossomed into a young Spring 2011 with an us seem enormous. Some of the woman and now have womanly Associates of Art degree things you tell me scare me more curves. Celebrate your new body by respecting it. Believe in English. She works than you will ever know. This is mostly because it or not, there are clothes that full-time for a contractor ,GLGQ·WKDYHWR are cute and not GRLQJSD\UROODQG¿QDQFHV deal with those You are thirteen revealing. Also, When she has free time, things until I always remember she enjoys hanging out was much, much years old for that any guy you attract solely with her two dogs, Lily older. You are crying out loud, thirteen years because of what and Polly, and watching old for crying out and you shouldn’t you are wearing as many Lifetime movies loud, and you is not worth she can get her hands VKRXOGQ·WHYHQ even know what NHHSLQJ2K,FDQ·W on. She plans to one day know what some forget. Please eat lunch. I get it; I get a bachelor’s degree of those things some of those are, let alone hear remember being in English and hopefully rumors that your things are. a teenager and teach at her old high best friends are feeling really self- school in Manteca. doing them. All of conscious about this aside, please people judging hear me and more importantly me based on what I was eating understand me when I say the DWVFKRRO%XWWKLVGRHVQ·WPHDQ following: you should starve yourself until dinner. Eat lunch so your body Dear Sister, you are beautiful. can stay just as beautiful and I know you are told this all the healthy as it is now. Respect your time by me, by mom, and even body by clothing and feeding it E\FRPSOHWHVWUDQJHUV,W·V appropriately. important to know that you DUHEHDXWLIXOLQPDQ\GLϝHUHQW Dear Sister, you are smart. I know ways and you always will be. we constantly joke that our mom On the inside (which is most ended up with the best of both important), you are truly a kind, ZRUOGV)LUVWWKHUH·VPHWKH loving, and generous person. I goody-two-shoes, smart, people- am really reminded of this when SOHDVHUGDXJKWHUDQGWKHQWKHUH·V I see you with our grandmother. you—the beautiful, popular, The way you interact and take RXWJRLQJGDXJKWHU,W·VLPSRUWDQW care of her makes me so proud to remember this is only a joke. of you. Then, there is your outer We both have a mixture of all of beauty from your gorgeous mixed these qualities. Sometimes I fear black and white skin to your full that our little joke has planted a seed of doubt within you. It is 16 important to know you are very you get nicer, but unfortunately smart. When you apply yourself, that tends to not be the case. WKHUHLVQ·WDQ\WKLQJ\RXFDQ·W However, as long as you keep your accomplish. I see this all the time head held high like you have done when I help you with your math so many times before and know KRPHZRUN$WÀUVW\RXIHHOOLNH WKDWRWKHUSHRSOH·VKDUVKZRUGV \RXGRQ·WDQGFDQ·WXQGHUVWDQG KDYHQRPHDQLQJLI\RXGRQ·WJLYH a concept, but once it is fully WKHPDQ\\RXZLOOEHÀQH

Dear Sister, you are strong. As Dear Sister, I hope you have heard you know, people can and will and understand all that I have be cruel. As long as you remain mentioned. I do, however, have strong and remember that only one last piece of advice before the truth matters, name-calling you completely tune me out, and DQGUXPRUVZRQ·WJHW\RXGRZQ this is the most important thing I wish I could say that as you I could ever tell you: Madison, I get older the people around could not be prouder to be your sister.

17 Donald Kovis, born and raised The Invidious in Stockton, California, went to Stagg High School before working in the circuitboard manufacturing Nature of industry. He then came to Delta College and obtained a Crystalline Materials Electron Compition 0LFURVFRS\FHUWLÀFDWH+H plans to pursue degrees in by Donald Kovis engineering and natural sciences at a four-year university. Since the dawn of mankind, GXHWRFRPSHWLWLYHQHVVSUREDEO\ humans have been competing RXWZHLJKDQ\JRRGWKDWFDQEH with each other over things such created from competition, given as food, resources, and mates. WKHZD\LWLVSXVKHGLQWRGD\·V Often, this competitive drive world. built into us has caused humans to go to war with one another— One of the most obvious killing each other in the process. negative consequences of the In the modern era, competitive drive competition has However, is the creation of EHHQVLJQLÀFDQWO\ competition still DORVHU,QÀHUFH tempered in its competition, an OHWKDOLW\5DUHO\ has the ability to individual who GRHVDFRQÁLFW GRHVQ·WPHDVXUH arise between two bring about the up to the other people where the worst behavior in competitors can, end result is a dead in the name of ERG\O\LQJRQWKH many of us. competition, ground. be labeled as a “loser.” While However, in the strictest FRPSHWLWLRQVWLOOKDVWKHDELOLW\WR GHÀQLWLRQRIWKHWHUPWKLVWLWOH bring about the worst behavior ZRXOGDSSO\WKHUHLVDFHUWDLQ LQPDQ\RIXV,QVWDQFHVRI stigma associated with the violence springing forth from word “loser.” Due to the bad trivial rivalries are splashed behavior that is often created from across newspapers and television competition, other competitors QRZDGD\V,QGHHGEDGEHKDYLRU might begin to taunt and tease resulting from competition the loser. Often, this mocking can seems to be commonplace in become quite vicious, ending in a WRGD\·VVRFLHW\*LYHQWKDWPRVW SK\VLFDOFRQIURQWDWLRQ/RRNLQJ Western societies thrive off of the EDFNRQP\KLJKVFKRROGD\V, competitive spirit found within recall several instances of students WKHLUSRSXODWLRQVLWLVQ·WWKDW getting beat up after class because surprising that some people might GXULQJSK\VLFDOHGXFDWLRQWKH\ go overboard with its application. fumbled a football or failed to But while some people state that catch a baseball. Often the effects FRPSHWLWLRQFDQRQO\KDYHD of a simple mistake out on the positive impact on our societies, I ÀHOGZHUHLQFRQVHTXHQWLDOWRWKH believe that the negative aspects outcome of whatever game was resulting from the bad behavior EHLQJSOD\HGEXWWRWKHRWKHU 18 SOD\HUVLQYROYHGWKLVPLVWDNH 3RVVLEO\WKHPRVWGHWULPHQWDO was considered more of a sin, a outcome of over-amped sin that marked them as much competition is the creation of as it did the one who committed bitter enemies. As was stated LW7KXVWKLVMXVWLÀHGUHWULEXWLRQ before, sometimes competition upon the “sinner.” This kind between rival sides or individuals RIEDGEHKDYLRUFDQEHYHU\ can become pathological. GHWULPHQWDOWRVRFLHW\DVDZKROH Perhaps one team has dealt an creating a class of winners and a overwhelming defeat to another class of losers, forever separate team, emasculating them in from each other. WKHSURFHVV/RRNLQJOLNHIRROV in the faces of their peers, this Another negative result from humiliated team wishes to strike harsh competition is the EDFN7KLVWLWIRUWDWW\SHRI ´DQ\WKLQJWRZLQµPHQWDOLW\ ULYDOU\FDQHDVLO\HVFDODWHRXWRI Some people have a complete control. For instance, in sports obsession WKLVHQPLW\KDV with winning, This kind of bad led to the theft RFFXS\LQJHYHU\ of the opposing moment of their behavior can be very WHDP·VPDVFRWWR existence. People detrimental to society the destruction such as Donald of the opposing Trump and Bill as a whole, creating WHDP·VSURSHUW\ *DWHVH[HPSOLI\ a class of winners DQGWRSK\VLFDO this phenomenon. altercations with These two people and a class of losers, members of the have clawed their forever separate from opposing team. A ZD\WRWKHWRS good example of KXUWLQJPDQ\ each other. this happened at other people who P\KLJKVFKRRO ZHUHLQWKHLUZD\,QRUGHUWRJHW ,QWKHODVWIRRWEDOOJDPHRIP\ IXUWKHUDKHDGWKH\KDYHOLHG ÀUVW\HDULQKLJKVFKRRORQHRI cheated, and wounded countless the offensive linemen from the rival individuals and companies, other team came too close to the all in the name of their greed and bench, where our offensive line GHVLUH7KH\MXVWLI\WKLVE\VD\LQJ ZHUHVLWWLQJ2QHRIWKHJX\V that it is a “dog-eat-dog” world sitting on the bench stood up and out there, and those who do not VOXJJHGWKHRSSRVLQJSOD\HUZLWK SOD\WKHJDPHZLOOEHUHPRYHG brass knuckles, sending him to from the sport. While this attitude WKHKRVSLWDO:KHQDVNHGZK\ does have some redeemable he did it, the attacker stated that TXDOLWLHVVXFKDVWKHDELOLW\WR KHGLGQ·WNQRZZK\KHGLGLW acquire wealth and take care of At that moment, he just hated RQH·VVHOILWDOVRIRVWHUVDVRFLR his opponent. After considerable pathological attitude towards contemplation, I believe it was others. People with this mindset done in the heat of the moment. see other people as objects to These two teams had been rivals be used, without giving regard for a long time, and due to the to their feelings and emotions. ÀHUFHFRPSHWLWLRQWKHGHVLUHWR Sociopaths created due to the VWULNHRXWDJDLQVWDELWWHUHQHP\ FRPSHWLWLYHVSLULWRIDVRFLHW\DUH became too great to control. This DJDLQVWWKHEHVWLQWHUHVWVRIDQ\ kind of bad behavior is repeated civilization. LQPDQ\RWKHUZD\VLQRXUVRFLHW\ often resulting in the violent 19 actions that lead to arrests and to expressions of bad feelings convictions in our courtrooms. EURXJKWDERXWE\SRLQWOHVV 2EYLRXVO\WKLVKDVDQHJDWLYH competition, and uncounted impact on our tragedies have occurred on the VRFLHW\ People with this individual level due to bruised Competition is mindset see other egos and a natural aspect damaged pride. of human people as objects ,QP\RSLQLRQ behavior. It to be used, without structure is KHOSVKXPDQLW\ WKHNH\KHUH survive in giving regard to their Structure can DUHODWLYHO\ feelings and emotions. provide a line cruel world. in the sand Competition to prevent is responsible GLVSOD\VRI for pushing innovation in the HJRVXSHULRULW\RUQDWLRQDOLVP ÀHOGVRISKLORVRSK\VFLHQFHDQG from becoming excuses to act religion. Without competition, we LQDSSURSULDWHO\6WUXFWXUHFDQ would be diminished as a species. DOVRDOORZIRUFLYLOLW\WRSHUVLVW +RZHYHUZKHQFRPSHWLWLRQ·V between rivals after a competition more negative aspects are ignored, takes place. Competition needs to WKHRXWFRPHVZLOOLQYDULDEO\ be well structured and regulated be disastrous. Numerous wars WRHQVXUHWKHVDIHW\RISHRSOHDQG DQGFRQÁLFWVFDQEHWUDFHGEDFN VRFLHW\DVDZKROH

20 by Cara Rappuhn

It was a cool, crisp day in late the man who would become my October, on the plains of Kansas. dad got a call from an adoption A baby girl had just been born, attorney, informing him that a and she was perfect and healthy. baby girl had been born in Kansas Her mother sat weeping, not from and needed a family. I can’t even Cara Rappuhn was raised in joy, but from sorrow. The dreaded imagine the joy he must have felt Mobile, Alabama, and recently decision had quickly approached, moved to Lodi, California, with when he hung up the phone. He her husband and children. She and she didn’t know what to do. could tell his wife she was going to is attending Delta College She said a prayer and asked for be a mom. Most expectant parents in hopes of completing her guidance. She had a sick toddler at have months to prepare for their general education, so she can home, she was recovering from a new arrival; my parents had a transfer to a university one divorce, and she was day. Cara is a down-to-earth _MMS

25 by Tamara Piazza

7KHFRQWURYHUV\VXUURXQGLQJ vital and diverse. The California a peripheral canal and the 'HSDUWPHQWRI:DWHU5HVRXUFHV Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ':5 UHSRUWVWKDWWKH'HOWD is not new to the people of provides a migration path for 8EQEVE4ME^^EMWQEVVMIH[MXL½ZI California. salmon; a home to incredible children: Cierra, Ned, In 1982, 8LISVMKMREPMRXIRX over 500 species of 7XIZIR0MRHEERH8ERRIV7LIFIKER California voters wildlife, 20 of which XEOMRKGPEWWIWEX(IPXEEXXLIYVKMRKSJ UHVRXQGLQJO\ FILMRHFSXL are endangered; EGS[SVOIV[LS[SYPHRSXEGGITX rejected a and water to ER]I\GYWIWJVSQLIVEFSYX[L]WLI ballot initiative TVSNIGXW[EWXS DSSUR[LPDWHO\WZR GSYPHR´X,IVLYWFERHERHGLMPHVIR LEZIEPPFIIRZIV]WYTTSVXMZIERH that proposed XVERWTSVXSRP] WKLUGVRI&DOLIRUQLD·V TVSYHXLEXWLIMWEFPIXS[SVOJYPP construction of a population. The XMQIERHQEMRXEMRE+4%7LIMW canal that would water that was Delta also supplies LEPJ[E]XSLIVKSEPSJXVERWJIVVMRKXS FRQYH\ZDWHU a recreational XLI9RMZIVWMX]SJXLI4EGM½GXSSFXEMR from Northern WYVTPYWXSXLI DUHDIRUÀVKLQJ E&7MR&YWMRIWWERHIRNS]MRKIZIV] California to RIIHWSJXLI(IPXE and water sports. QMRYXISJXLINSYVRI] Central and The U.S. Bureau Southern RI5HFODPDWLRQ &DOLIRUQLDE\E\SDVVLQJWKH'HOWD reports that Delta water exports What has changed in the last 29 to the south began in 1951 via \HDUVWKDWKDVFDXVHGWKLVLGHD the Delta-Mendota Canal, as part to be resurrected? Is it the best RIWKH&HQWUDO9DOOH\3URMHFW%\ VROXWLRQIRU&DOLIRUQLD·VZDWHU 1972, the State Water Project also issues? Most important, will a began water exports to the south SHULSKHUDOFDQDOXOWLPDWHO\KHOS through the California Aqueduct. or harm the Delta? It appears The original intent behind both that once again Californians SURMHFWVZDVWRWUDQVSRUWRQO\ will be asked to answer these water that was surplus to the questions with a vote on a needs of the Delta; however, over ballot measure scheduled for WKHODVWÀIW\\HDUVH[SRUWVKDYH the November 2012 Statewide LQFUHDVHGDWWKH'HOWD·VH[SHQVH *HQHUDO(OHFWLRQ:KLOHWKLVEDOORW ´&DOLIRUQLDDVZHNQRZLWWRGD\ PHDVXUHZLOOQRWVSHFLÀFDOO\IXQG ZDVEXLOWODUJHO\RQWKLVIDQWDV\ DSHULSKHUDOFDQDOLWZLOOOD\WKH That arid cities in the south could IRXQGDWLRQIRULWE\SURYLGLQJ LQGHÀQLWHO\VDWLVI\WKHWKLUVWRID WKHQHHGHGLQIUDVWUXFWXUH0\ JURZLQJSRSXODWLRQE\LPSRUWLQJ goal in researching this topic is ZDWHUIURPWKHQRUWKµ :HLVHU  to determine how to vote on this 7KHUHDOLW\LVWKDWWKHGHPDQG measure. IRUZDWHUSURYLGHGE\WKH'HOWD is unrealistic and has led to its The Delta is one of the largest decline; therefore, long-term remaining wetland areas on the solutions are needed to restore 3DFLÀF&RDVWDQGLWVIXQFWLRQVDUH WKHHFRV\VWHPZKLOHHQVXULQJ 26 DVXVWDLQDEOHZDWHUVXSSO\IRU water before it enters the Delta California. V\VWHP7KH7DVN)RUFHDOVR advocates the establishment of a In 2006, due to the crisis in the &DOLIRUQLD'HOWD(FRV\VWHPDQG 'HOWDDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\FRXUW :DWHU&RXQFLOWRUHSODFHWKH%D\ ordered reductions of exports, 'HOWD$XWKRULW\ *RYHUQRU$UQROG6FKZDU]HQHJJHU established the State of California :KLOH6DQ-RDTXLQ&RXQW\DQG *RYHUQRU·V'HOWD9LVLRQ%OXH other Northern California cities, 5LEERQ7DVN)RUFH7KH7DVN)RUFH counties, and stakeholders agree was assigned the responsibilities that the Delta is in trouble and of developing recommendations QHHGVXUJHQWDWWHQWLRQWKH\ WRUHSDLUWKH'HOWD·VHFRORJ\DQG GLVDJUHHZLWKWKH7DVN)RUFH·V preparing a strategic plan that recommendations. San Joaquin would recommend measures to &RXQW\·VSRVLWLRQLVWKDWD sustain the Delta peripheral canal while ensuring ZRXOGLUUHYRFDEO\ a reliable water 8LI8EWO*SVGI harm the Delta, VXSSO\,Q TVSQSXIWEHYEP and that other the Task Force more viable presented the GSRZI]ERGIJEGMPMX] alternatives could Delta Vision SVTIVMTLIVEP be completed Strategic Plan, quicker and at less ZKLFKLGHQWLÀHG GEREPIJJIGXMZIP] expense. In order seven goals with to gain a better VSHFLÀFVWUDWHJLHV HMZIVXMRK[EXIV understanding and actions. These FIJSVIMXIRXIVWXLI RIWKH&RXQW\·V goals were based opposition, I on the following (IPXEW]WXIQ interviewed Dr. core issues 0HO/\WOH6DQ and concerns -RDTXLQ&RXQW\·V surrounding the Delta and :DWHU5HVRXUFH&RRUGLQDWRU'U LWVZDWHUVXSSO\GURXJKW /\WOH·VNQRZOHGJHRIWKHSDVW increased urban development; SUHVHQWDQGIXWXUHRI&DOLIRUQLD·V the establishment of a new ZDWHUSUREOHPVVSHFLÀFDOO\ governance structure; urban and WKH'HOWD·VUROHLQWKHHTXDWLRQ agricultural pollution, resulting was invaluable. According to LQGHJUDGHGZDWHUTXDOLW\VHD 'U/\WOH´:DWHULQ&DOLIRUQLD OHYHOULVHUHVXOWLQJLQWLGDOVDOLQLW\ LVQRORQJHUMXVWDQHFHVVLW\ intrusion; catastrophic levee LWKDVEHFRPHDFRPPRGLW\µ IDLOXUHFDXVHGE\HDUWKTXDNHV This statement appears to be ÁRRGVDQGODQGVXEVLVWHQFH VXEVWDQWLDWHGE\DUHFHQWODZVXLW and extinction of endangered ÀOHGDJDLQVWELOOLRQDLUHV6WHZDUW ÀVKVSHFLHVVXFKDVVDOPRQ DQG/\QGD5HVQLFNRZQHUVRIWKH 'HOWDVPHOW DQDWLYHÀVK DQG QDWLRQ·VODUJHVWFRUSRUDWHIDUP steelhead. Although the goals and underground water storage appear to make sense, two of the IDFLOLW\ORFDWHGLQWKH&HQWUDO recommendations have caused 9DOOH\IRUDOOHJHGO\VHOOLQJZDWHU VLJQLÀFDQWFRQWURYHUV\7KH7DVN DWDSURÀWWRQRQPHPEHUVRI )RUFHSURPRWHVDGXDOFRQYH\DQFH WKHLUZDWHUDJHQF\7KH5HVQLFNV IDFLOLW\RUSHULSKHUDOFDQDOWR operate the Westside Mutual FDUU\ZDWHUGLUHFWO\IURPWKH :DWHU&RPSDQ\LQDGGLWLRQWR 6DFUDPHQWR5LYHUWRWKHH[SRUW controlling 48 percent of the Kern SXPSVHIIHFWLYHO\GLYHUWLQJ Water Bank. Between 2000 and 27 2007, the State of California paid of contention. Between senior WKH5HVQLFNVPLOOLRQIRU and junior water rights holders, ZDWHUWKDWZDVRULJLQDOO\VWRUHG there appears to be a “water war” in their water bank as part of a that has been waged in both the SURJUDPWRSURWHFWÀVKQDWLYH /HJLVODWXUHDQGWKHFRXUWV\VWHPV WRWKH'HOWD %XUNH 'U/\WOH Senior water rights holders are VWDWHGWKDWWKH5HVQLFNV·IDUPLQJ WKRVHWKDWZHUH´ÀUVWLQOLQHÀUVW operations were the last to be LQULJKWµDQGDUHJLYHQSULRULW\ GHYHORSHGLQWKH&HQWUDO9DOOH\ over junior holders; therefore, DQGDOWKRXJKWKH\DUH´ODVWLQ WKHMXQLRUKROGHUVDUHOHJDOO\ODVW time, last in right,” the State has in line for water during drought. promised them 0DQ\RIWKHODUJH ZDWHUWKDWLVQ·W 7ER.SEUYMR agribusinesses in available. Knowing WKH&HQWUDO9DOOH\ WKDWWKH\DUHDWULVN 'SYRX]´WTSWMXMSR have had their of not receiving water allotments their allotted water MWXLEXETIVMTLIVEP decreased in due to decreased GEREP[SYPH GURXJKW\HDUV exports from the causing them a 'HOWDWKH5HVQLFNV MVVIZSGEFP]LEVQ ORVVLQSURÀWV are one of the As a result, the major proponents XLI(IPXE agribusinesses must for a peripheral XVHWKHLUPRQH\ FDQDO$W'U/\WOH·VXUJLQJ, DQGSRZHUWRLQÁXHQFHOHJLVODWRUV looked to see which agencies and MXGLFLDORIÀFHUVDQGYRWHUVWR representatives comprised the change current law so that their membership lists of the various water allotments can be increased. task forces and committees 8QIRUWXQDWHO\WKHLUJRDOGRHVQRW advocating a peripheral canal. seem to take into consideration As he suggested, I found that the needs of senior rights holders WKHPDMRULW\RIWKHPHPEHUV or the environment where the listed were not representatives of water originates. stakeholders in the Delta region; WKHUHIRUHGRWKH\UHDOO\KDYH ,QDGGLWLRQWR'U/\WOH,VSRNH WKH'HOWD·VLQWHUHVWVDWKHDUW" to Mr. Brandon Nakagawa, 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHVRIWKH&RXQW\ 6HQLRU&LYLO(QJLQHHUIRU6DQ GLVDJUHHZLWKWKH7DVN)RUFH·V -RDTXLQ&RXQW\·V:DWHU5HVRXUFH UHSRUWEHFDXVHWKH\EHOLHYHLW Division. Brandon, whom I LJQRUHVWKHV\VWHPRIZDWHU consider a friend, scoffed at the appropriation and water rights arguments the Task Force used LQ&DOLIRUQLDDQGLWGRHVQ·W WRMXVWLI\LWVUHFRPPHQGDWLRQV acknowledge local governance He wanted me to recognize RURWKHUUHJLRQDOO\IRFXVHGZDWHU the recommendations as “scare UHVRXUFHVROXWLRQV)LQDOO\WKH WDFWLFVµ%UDQGRQ·VDUJXPHQWV &RXQW\IHDUVWKDWLIDSHULSKHUDO against a peripheral canal made canal were built, the removal of VHQVHRQDEDVLFOHYHOHVSHFLDOO\ IUHVKZDWHULQÁRZZRXOGGHJUDGH when he pointed out that some WKH'HOWD·VZDWHUTXDOLW\DQGWKHUH of the Delta levees have existed would no longer be a common IRURYHU\HDUVDQGKDYHQHYHU LQWHUHVWWRSURWHFWZDWHUTXDOLW\RU failed due to an earthquake. While to maintain levees. levee failure due to an earthquake LVDSRVVLELOLW\ZRXOGQ·WDVHLVPLF Water rights in California are event of that magnitude also affect complicated and a major source a cement canal running through 28 our state? The most troubling of a Delta Stewardship Council. aspect to me was that in the event The Delta Stewardship Council of a levee failure and subsequent is tasked with creating a Delta saltwater intrusion of the Delta Plan that will guide state and ZDWHUVXSSO\WKRVHRIXVZKR local actions in the Delta, making UHO\RQ'HOWDZDWHUZRXOGVXIIHU determinations on whether a as there is no provision for us to VWDWHRUORFDODJHQF\·VSURMHFWLV be able to access and divert clean consistent with the Delta Plan, water from a peripheral canal. DQGDFWLQJDVWKHDSSHOODWHERG\ In addition, the State as a whole if a claim is made that a project is would no longer be invested inconsistent. Critics believe that and committed the creation of a to ensuring *MREPP]XLI'SYRX] Council without the levees are representation DGHTXDWHO\ JIEVWXLEXXLIVI of Delta maintained or communities— repaired. [SYPHRSPSRKIVFIE along with GSQQSRMRXIVIWXXS DXWKRULW\WREH %RWK'U/\WOH MXGJHMXU\DQG and Brandon TVSXIGX[EXIVUYEPMX] executioner— explained to me clears a path that the water SVXSQEMRXEMRPIZIIW for building a in the Delta is peripheral canal supposed to drain without requiring out toward the San Francisco that the people of California %D\KRZHYHUWKHSXPSV approve the project. If this is true, XVHGIRUH[SRUWLQJDFWXDOO\ WKHRQO\VD\ZHZLOOKDYHLQWKH cause the water in the Delta to construction is whether or not ÁRZEDFNZDUGV'XHWRWKLV we will approve funding for it. DQRPDO\VDOWORDGVDQGXUEDQ 7KHÀUVWRSSRUWXQLW\WRPDNHRXU wastewater from the Central wishes known will occur with our 9DOOH\DUHEHLQJUHFLUFXODWHG YRWHLQWKH*HQHUDO(OHFWLRQ WKURXJKWKH'HOWDV\VWHPLQVWHDG of being discharged out to the $VDUHVXOWRIP\UHVHDUFK,ÀQG 3DFLÀF2FHDQ3HULSKHUDOFDQDO WKDW,DPDGDPDQWO\DJDLQVW VXSSRUWHUVLQVLVWWKDWE\SDVVLQJ the construction of a peripheral the Delta would eliminate use of canal. After reading numerous WKHSXPSVWKHUHE\UHVWRULQJWKH claims and opinions, and taking QDWXUDOZDWHUÁRZLQWKH'HOWD into consideration the enormous channels. Opponents counter that construction expense proposed diverting a large volume of the during a time of unprecedented KLJKHVWTXDOLW\ZDWHUEHIRUHLW ÀVFDOGHÀFLHQFLHV,KDYH enters the Delta would deprive it concluded that a peripheral canal RIWKHDELOLW\WRGLOXWHVWRUPZDWHU is not in the best interests of the discharges and repel saltwater Delta and those dependent upon LQWUXVLRQIURPWKH%D\ it. I have learned that there is just QRWHQRXJKZDWHULQGU\\HDUVWR ,Q1RYHPEHU*RYHUQRU support the current export levels Schwarzenegger called for a DQGVXSSO\WKH'HOWD,QDGGLWLRQ special session of the legislature the original concept of the State in order to pass the 2009 Water Project included additional Comprehensive Water Package. water storage projects that were The package consisted of four never completed, and this failure SROLF\ELOOVWKDWLQFOXGHGFUHDWLRQ KDVGLUHFWO\FRQWULEXWHGWRWKH 29 current water shortage. Several State of California. Department of VXJJHVWLRQVEHLQJPDGHE\6DQ :DWHU5HVRXUFHV´&DOLIRUQLD6WDWH -RDTXLQ&RXQW\RIÀFLDOVDQG Water Project-Sacramento San others should be evaluated and -RDTXLQ'HOWDµ':5-XO implemented before we resort to :HE0DUKWWSZZZ allowing our Delta to collapse. I ZDWHUFDJRYVZSGHOWDFIP MXVWGRQ·WVHHKRZEXLOGLQJDODUJH concrete structure, estimated to ---. ---. “2009 Comprehensive EHDVZLGHDVDODQHIUHHZD\ :DWHU3DFNDJHµ':51RY ZRXOGEHHQYLURQPHQWDOO\ :HE0DUKWWS IULHQGO\,MXVWGRQ·WVHHKRZ ZZZZDWHUFDJRYQHZVQHZVUH building a peripheral canal—large OHDVHVZDWHUSDFND enough for an oil tanker to travel ge.pdf down the center of our state— ZRXOGEHQHFHVVDU\,KRSHWKDW *RYHUQRU·V'HOWD9LVLRQ WKHYRWHUVRI&DOLIRUQLDUHDOO\ %OXH5LEERQ7DVN)RUFH´'HOWD look at the consequences and Vision Strategic Plan.” State of MRLQPHLQYRWLQJ´12µRQDQ\ &DOLIRUQLD2FW:HE and all bond measures or ballot 0DUKWWSGHOWDYLVLRQ initiatives that support building FDJRY6WUDWHJLF3ODQQLQJ3URFHVV the Peripheral Canal. 6WDII'UDIW'HOWDB9LVLRQB 6WUDWHJLFB3ODQBVWDQGDUGB resolution.pdf . Works Cited 86%XUHDXRI5HFODPDWLRQ %XUNH*DUDQFH´/DZVXLWWDUJHWV ´'HOWD'LYLVLRQ3URMHFWµ86%5 use of reservoir.” The Sacramento -XO:HE0D\ Bee on the Web. 11 Apr. 2010. Web. KWWSZZZXVEUJRY $SUKWWSZZZVDFEHH SURMHFWV3URMHFWMVS"SURMB FRP Name=Delta+Division+Project . lawsuit-targets-use-of-reservoir. html :HLVHU0DWW´7KH'HOWDGHEDWH 5HVXUUHFWLQJWKHFDQDOµThe /\WOH0HO3HUVRQDOLQWHUYLHZ Sacramento Bee on the Web. Apr. 2010. 0DU:HE$SU KWWSZZZVDFEHH Nakagawa, Brandon. Personal FRPWKH interview. 9 Apr. 2010. delta-debate-resurrecting.html .

30 The Tenth Muse by Maximilano Canales

One of the worst punishments one an “exceptional woman who had may have to endure in life is to be the temerity to value cultivation of unable to quench the constant thirst her mind above all else, including IRUNQRZOHGJHDQGWR¿QGWKHGHVLUH marriage” (5). She wrote an extensive to do so to be forbidden in the eyes of array of lyric poetry, some “centering society. This is what Juana de Asbaje on her connections with the viceregal y Ramirez had to face throughout her court, love poetry, poetry marked life. She was born in the town of San personal in tone rooted in her Miguel de Nepantla individual situation, 1E\MQMPMERS'EREPIW[MPPFISR and lived from 1648 &IGEYWISJ7SV light verse, [and] .YP],IGEQIXSXLMWGSYRXV]MR to 1695. While she .YERE´WEWXSRMWLMRK religious lyrics”(viii). PSSOMRKJSVEFIXXIVJYXYVIJSV is better known as LMWJEQMP]/RS[MRKRS)RKPMWLLI Sor Juana Ines de la WOMPPWLIVQSXLIV When I was in the IRXIVIHLMKLWGLSSPERH[SVOIHLEVH Cruz, in the literary third grade, I read IZIV]HE]XSFIGSQIEFIXXIVTIVWSR world she is referred WIRXLIVX[IPZI “You Men” by Sor ERHXSTYVWYIEJYXYVIGEVIIVXSLIPT to as “The Tenth Juana. At the time, I LMWJEQMP]FEGOMR1I\MGS,IWE]WXLI ]IEVSPHHEYKLXIV JSPPS[MRK±)ZIVWMRGIQ]QSXLIV´W Muse.” She lived in did not know much EWWEWWMREXMSRQ]PMJIGLERKIHERHQ] the Colonial Period in XS1I\MGS'MX] about her. Because [E]SJWIIMRKPMJIGLERKIH[MXLMX1] Mexico (1492-c.1800), of the sophisticated QSXLIV[EW[SVOMRKJSVETSPMXMGEP a time when women weren’t allowed language and complexity of the TEVX]FEGOMR1I\MGS&IGEYWISJ to pursue an education or to be poem, I wasn’t able to understand LIVFIPMIJWERHVIPEXMSRWLMTWWLI[EW considered independent thinkers. it. In college, I came across one OMPPIH7MRGIXLEXXMQI-EP[E]WOIIT of its translations and the seed of MRQMRHXSLIPTSXLIVTISTPI[LIR In Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Gerard curiosity germinated in me. I didn’t XLI]RIIHMXERHGEVIQSVIEFSYXXLI Flynn points out her desire, thirst, choose to write about her because TISTPIEVSYRHQI-XLMROIHYGEXMSR and her calling to God at a young she is Mexican as I am, but for MWSRISJXLIQSWXMQTSVXERXXLMRKW MRPMJI-EP[E]WOIITMRQMRH[LEXQ] age: “She had learned to read when other reasons. First, I admire the KVERHJEXLIVSRGIXSPHQI³-J]SYEVI she was three years old . . . . when timelessness of her thoughts as KSMRKXSHSWSQIXLMRKHS]SYVFIWX she was eight years old she wrote a presented in the poem “You Men.” MJRSXHSRSXIZIRFSXLIV´² dramatic poem to the Eucharist” (14). Second, I think highly of her because Because of Sor Juana’s astonishing of the bravery and determination she 1E\MQMPMERS[SYPHEPWSPMOIXSXLERO skills, her mother sent her twelve- constantly demonstrated by sharing 4EYPE7LIMPERH.IVV]1SVKERJSV year-old daughter to Mexico City her perspectives in a society where LIPTMRKLMQMQTVSZILMW[VMXMRKWOMPPW with her uncles. As a result of her intelligent and capable women like ;MXLSYXXLIMVLIPTLIFIPMIZIWLI intellectual ability, the viceregals her were considered unacceptable. [SYPHRSXLEZIFIIREFPIXSQEOIMX took her under their protection when Third, I identify with the constant XLMWJEV she was sixteen. In A Sor Juana suffering she went through in order Anthology, Alan S. Trueblood writes to obtain an education; she was a that Sor Juana, at the age of twenty, woman living in a society controlled “entered the Convent of Santa Paula by men, and I am an immigrant of the Hieronymite order, where she caught in the very long process of was to remain cloistered the rest becoming a U.S. resident. We have of her life” (5) in order to seclude each been kept from living up to our herself from the distracting and full potential. FRQÀLFWLYHOLIHRIWKHYLFHUHJDOFRXUW Trueblood explains that Sor Juana opted for this path because she was 31 Because of the unfairness in how LI>ZRPDQ@JUDWL¿HG>WKHP@´ OLQH knowledge was imparted, and the 27-28). The one who takes care diminished value women were of her honor is “ungrateful” while assigned, Sor Juana wrote “You the one who succumbs is called Men.” In this poem, she criticizes the “lewd.” In the end, no woman can Machismo of the society of her time be seen in a positive way with such and makes fun of the hypocrisy of expectations; one is accused of men who condemn prostitutes but use cruelty and the other of looseness. their services. She calls men “silly” “Who can understand man?” Sor for blaming womankind for the faults Juana may think. If a woman returns men are responsible for. Sor Juana a man’s compliment, he disapproves uses antithesis of her, but if denied, he gets offended. to make note Consequently, of the faults Sor Juana sees men assign it as a blessing to women’s from God for behavior. a woman not After winning to need a man. their trust and “God bless the breaking their woman who good name, won’t have “[men] still you, / no matter expect [women] how loud you to behave— / complain” (lines [they,] that 43-44). coaxed her into shame” (lines Sor Juana 7-8). Men speculates on expect women to be pure, but lure who has the greatest guilt by using them into sin. They hold womankind wordplay: “with the man who pleads responsible because it is “weak” out of baseness / or the woman when actually men’s persistency is debased by his plea?” (lines 51- to blame. Because of this, Sor Juana 52). Or who is more to blame, “the compares man to a child who “makes woman who sins for money / or the a bogeyman, / and then recoils in fear man who pays money to sin?” (lines and cries” (lines 15-16). In another 55-56). In her time, this was a bold example of antithesis, Sor Juana question to ask society, since men alludes to Thais, a famous prostitute ruled the church and society. She of her time, and Lucretia, an honest advises men to “either like them for and virtuous woman. She says that what [they’ve] made them, / or make men pursue Thais when they are of them what [they] can like” (lines courting, but want a “Lucretia once 59-60). If a man makes a woman sin, [they] fall [for them]” (line 20). She then he has to stay with her; but if a states that men lack common sense man wants a virtuous woman, then he for not accepting responsibility for should keep her that way until they their actions: “[they] cloud the mirror, get married. / then complain that it’s not clear?” (lines 23-24). Sor Juana expresses Sor Juana writes that men are like how men destroy women’s purity and spoiled children who are quick to virtue when they make women sin. judge and who don’t know what they want. She wonders about the kind of Then she declares that nothing can women men want. If they are easy, satisfy men. “They whimper if they are called ladies of pleasure, and [woman] turned away / [they] sneer if not, they are accused of cruelty 32 or lesbianism. Sor Juana compares metaphor, and wordplay, Sor Juana men’s arrogance to a mixture of the conveys her view of society in her ZRUOGWKHÀHVKDQGWKHGHYLOWKH time. Sor Juana was strong enough 7SV.YERE worst enemies of the soul. WR¿JKWDFRQVWDQWEDWWOHDJDLQVWWKH macho society for several years. But writes that In the foreword of the book A Sor LQWKHHQGVKHFRXOGQ¶W¿JKWDQ\ Juana more and had to men are Anthology, sign in blood a PMOIWTSMPIH Octavio Paz clerical contract. comments In this contract, GLMPHVIR[LS that Sor she agreed Juana’s “lot to renounce EVIUYMGOXS as a woman her pursuit writer of education. NYHKIERH punished Three years [LSHSR´X by haughty later, she died opinionated administering ORS[[LEX clerics aid to her fellow reminds us sisters affected XLI][ERX of the fate by the plague. that has befallen independent Works Cited intellectuals of our own Flynn, Gerard. century in Sor Juana Ines societies de la Cruz. ed. ruled by intolerant bureaucracies” John P. Dyson. New York: Twayne (viii). Because of the timelessness Publishers, Inc., 1971. Print. of her thoughts, determination, and bravery and the fact that I identify Ines de la Cruz, Sour Juana. “You with her in the battle to live up to Men” Trans. Alan S. Trueblood. one’s full potential, I declare myself Trueblood, 110-113. one of her admirers. I have become an admirer of “The Tenth Muse.” Paz, Octavio. Foreword. A Sor Juana Her mastery of poetry allowed her Anthology. By Alan S. Trueblood, to discuss issues such as machismo Trans. Trueblood, vii-x. and sexism, which are still prevalent in today’s society. Even after three Trueblood, Alan S. Trans. A Sor hundred years, we still retain some of Juana Anthology. Cambridge, Mass.: these ideologies in some parts of the Harvard University Press, 1988. world. Through the use of antithesis, Print.

33 What’s So Beautiful about It? by Evangelina Lomas

“Evangelina?” my English if there were an H and a K in teacher called while taking it because in Spanish the G is roll. “Here,” I replied as I raised pronounced as an H. When I my hand. Automatically, my ÀUVWEHJDQWRWHOOSHRSOHP\ Evangelina Lomas attended classmates’ heads turned name, I pronounced it the Merrill F. West High School and looked at the girl with Spanish way, but the reaction in Tracy and was a cheerleader the long, unusual name. The I received made me resort to all of her four years. She is person I was sitting next to saying my name in English. looking forward to her second turned towards me Everyone would say the same year at Delta College. Her and asked, “What’s So I’d try to thing: “But there’s goal is to become a registered your name?” “Evangelina,” I said, educate them no H or K in your nurse with a focus on labor but by his confused about how the name.” So I’d try and delivery. She also has a facial expression I to educate them strong passion for cooking. could see that he still G in my name is about how the She enjoys reading books and didn’t understand, pronounced as an G in my name is listening to music but writing so I quickly added, pronounced as essays and poetry has always “But I go by H, but that made an H, but that been her strong point. Eva.” Throughout them even more made them even elementary, middle more confused. school, and high confused. To make the school, Eva was the situation worse I name I went by. KDYHÀYHV\OODEOHV But as I grew older, I began and ten letters in my name. to dislike my nickname simply I felt as if my name gave me because Eva wasn’t my name. a disadvantage in school And I felt as if I had taken on because while all the other kids the identity of someone with had normal and simple names another name. WKDWÁRZHGQLFHO\ZKHQWKH\ were said, I was stuck with the The name Evangelina comes name Evangelina. from the word “Evangelio,” which means “Old and New Whenever one of my teachers Testaments” from the Bible. made us do group work, I knew In English, Evangelina means that my name would be the “good news,” which relates topic for a while. So when the back to the Bible and the person who was writing down testaments. I was named all the names on the top of the after my great aunt, who also paper always asked, “What’s went by Eva. In Spanish my your name?” I’d tell him, but name has an accent to it as after a whole lot of “Huh?” 34 and “What?” I’d just take the paper and write it down me Evangelina—a rare and myself. My name also gave me beautiful name. I felt as if I had a disadvantage on math tests. lost my sense of independence Every Friday my teacher would when I was going by the give us 60 seconds to answer name Eva. I would rather as many math equations as have a unique name with a we could. Since it was a race powerful and meaningful past against time, all the kids in my to it. I think that in my younger class were ready years I was and set, prepared uncomfortable IRUWKHÀQLVKOLQH I felt as if I had with myself, and Then BANG! The all I wanted buzzer went off and lost my sense of ZDVWRÀWLQ away the kids went. independence with everyone Of course, with my else. But in ten-letter name, I when I was going high school I was still at the top matured and of my paper while by the name Eva. found myself in the other kids were a large group already done with of students. I half the problems realized that because their names weren’t I would rather stick out than as long. I would go home and blend in with everyone else. complain to my mom about how long my name was and I have accepted myself as every time she’d say, “Why? well as my name. When I was You have such a beautiful younger, I didn’t appreciate name.” I would think to myself, my Spanish culture and “What’s so beautiful about it? background, but when I None of my classmates can matured I realized that my pronounce it correctly.” I found background was what made myself in a tough situation, at me who I am. Knowing that odds with my very own name. my name Evangelina means “good news,” which relates to When I was in high school, the Old and New Testaments, things began to change for I can take my culture and me and my name. Maybe it religion seriously. My middle had to do with my self-esteem name is Rosario, which is DQGLPSURYHGFRQÀGHQFHEXW “rosary” in English, so that also suddenly my name appeared has a religious sense to it. It’s to be beautiful to me. When amazing how all you have I was in elementary and to do to accept yourself is to middle school, I went by the simply look at your name and QDPH(YDZKLFKLVWKHÀUVW understand its background. three letters in my full name I can proudly say that my Evangelina, but in high school name is beautiful and that it the nickname Eva really got makes me who I am today. So on my bad side. Everyone at go ahead and ask me about my school had the typical my name and all the letters names, such as Brittney, Sarah, and syllables in it, because I’ll Kayla, Alex, and Kate, and speak loudly and clearly about I didn’t want just a typical what’s so beautiful about the name. My close friends called name Evangelina.

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