COD Borderline

Note from the Editor - Fall 2019

 

 

Dear COD Community, 

My name is Jay Lewenstein, and I try to write something every day. We all have our anxieties about writing essays, but if we really think about it, we all have something to say. My students are unique individuals that come from diverse backgrounds.  In classroom workshops, my hope is for students to develop the confidence and skill to freely express themselves. 

At the end of the semester, none of us offer any definitive answers to what we have read, but we all see the progress in our writing from where we started.  We write about what we know.   We lay out our fears and hopes and dreams.  If we can write with a compassionate understanding for our subjects and topics, that’s pretty good.  Below I’ve arranged and framed excerpts of our most recent writing.

*  In English 61, We read a sixties novel, and my students explored the turmoil of the decade.  They wrote research papers on Vietnam, Women's Rights, Martin Luther King.  In their discussions, they detail how far we have progressed as a nation.  In many cases, not so much.   

*  In English 1A, we developed community profiles.  Students reached out to their communities in  search of people they knew with interesting stories.   They combined personal interviews of their subjects with online research from our college databases. 

*  To expand the size of the type for easier reading, please CLICK twice.

*  To read the complete essays, follow the links provided underneath. 

We hope you like what you see.  Don’t hesitate to leave a comment.  Join in the discussion.  You’ll be with COD Friends of the Earth

Paz,

JL

Underground Tragedy: The 33 Chilean Miners Miracle Rescue - by Alejandro Acosta - English 002

Alejandro chose to base his research paper on the incredible story of 33 Chilean miners that were trapped underground for more than two months. The 120-year-old mine they were working had suddenly collapsed, forcing these workers to find refuge in a small, remote area with little food or water.  Temperatures in the mine in certain places reached as high as 122 degrees with up to 98% humidity.   By all accounts, they didn’t stand a chance.  The movie The 33 depicts the spirit of the miners, how they worked together to survive the ordeal.  Alejandro’s writing details both the political and technological challenges of the rescue effort.  For two weeks,  millions across the globe stayed glued to their television sets for any word on the 33.  If you didn’t watch it, you can now read about it.

To read Alejandro's complete research paper, please click on the following link: https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/underground-tragedy-the-33-chilean-miners-miracle-rescue-complete-essay-by-alejandro-acosta-english-.html 

To watch the official trailer from the movie The 33, please click on the following video:

 

 

Selena: Taken Away but We Keep Her Forever - by Karen Deniz - English 002

Early on in my teaching career, I learned Spanish and began teaching bilingual education in San Diego City Schools. Now that I think about it, this has to be around the same time the movie Selena came out.  It’s the music form this soundtrack, I remember coming out of the houses, shops, and cars. You couldn’t escape the beat.  “Como la Flor” was huge.  “El chico de apartamento 512” was funny.  Every time I heard “Bidi bidi bom bom,” I just had to smile.  I mean everyone else was.  In English 002, Karen Deniz recaptures the event of Selena’s murder in her research paper.  Karen says she grew up listening to Selena’s music.  Her writing reflects her inspiration for a young woman who followed her dreams.  Karen believes Selena is, and always will be, a true historical icon – someone we can all learn from in life and death.

To read Karen's complete essay on Selena, please click on the following link: https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/selena-taken-away-but-we-keep-her-forever-complete-essay-by-karen-deniz-english-002.html

To see a scene from the original film, please click on the following video:

 

 

The Titanic: “The Unsinkable Ship” - by Paola Bojorquez - English 002

In English 002, students were asked to write research paper based on a historical film of their choice. They were to compare what they saw on screen with what they discovered in the college databases.  Paola wrote about the sinking of the Titanic.  Not only did she describe the tragedy in detail, she cleared up some of the myths and conspiracies that have endured for over one hundred years.  Paola’s history paper reflects a commitment to the facts and key testimony.  She left out the “fake news.”

To read Paola's complete research paper on the sinking of the Titanic, please click on the following link: https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/the-titanic-the-unsinkable-ship-complete-essay-by-paola-bojorquez-english-002.html

To learn more about recent investigation for the sinking of the Titanic - Paola reports that the ship was on fire long before it hit the iceberg -  please click on the following video:

 

 

Survivor Advocate: A Life Dedicated to Support Victims of Sexual Assault - by Berenice Reyes - English 1A

For the subject of her community profile paper, Berenice found someone with the courage to  speak truth to power. Sexual assault has become a national epidemic on our college campuses.  Berenice grew up with a friend who went from becoming a sexual victim to a sexual advocate. Recent statistics show that 35 of every 1000 women on college campuses will be raped, but many of these victims are fearful of reporting an attack.  Berenice’s paper is about helping victims of sexual assault, abuse or domestic violence come forward to seek the support they need.

To read Berenice's complete community profile on Sexual Assault, please click on the following link: https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/survivor-advocate-a-life-dedicated-to-support-victims-of-sexual-assault-complete-essay-by-berenice-r.html

To learn more about rape culture on our college campuses and what we can do to stop it, please click on the following video:

 

College Graduation: When the Expected Becomes the Unexpected - by Daniella Cuen - English 110

Although Daniella is only just begun her journey to graduation at College of the Desert, she can already see far enough that the future isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.   For many it’s a long and winding road.   Will all the hard work, anxiety, and writing these crazy papers in English 1A pay off in the long run?  Daniella believes, “Yes!”   But, it will require each individual student to make a plan.  In her community profile, she shares the sad truth that only 27 percent of college graduates find work in their field.   Her research subject is her boyfriend Giovani.  She details his career challenges in her paper.  She shares hard lessons learned. Whatever he has experienced will make them both stronger.

To read Daneilla's complete community profile, please click on the following link: https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/college-graduation-when-the-expected-becomes-the-unexpected-complete-essay-by-daniella-cuen-english-.html

To find out more about appropriate planning for post-graduation, please click on the following documentary video, "The Fear of Graduation." 

 

 

Public Transportation: The Truth about the Ride - Vanessa Serrano - English 1A

For her Community Profile Project, Vanessa extended her research to a 816 square-mile space in Coachella Valley.  Her writing focuses upon Sunline’s challenges of providing accessible transportation to COD students.  She combines important academic research with her own personal experience.  Woody Allen once said that 80 percent of success in life is just showing up.   I’m probably dating myself here with the mention of Woody Allen, but Vanessa is a dedicated student and an insightful writer.  (And, she always shows up to class!) Her Community Profile reflects her ideas of making our public transportation system safe and reliable for everyone who uses it.

To read the complete version of Vanessa's Community Profile, please click on the following link:

https://www.codborderline.org/2018/06/-public-transportation-the-truth-about-the-ride-complete-essay-by-vanessa-serrano-english-1a.html

To share in Vanessa's varied and extensive research, please watch the following video:

 

The Story Behind Your Food: The Work to Get it to Your Table - by Cynthia Ramirez - English 1A

Fifty years ago, Cesar Chavez came to Coachella Valley to unite poor and exploited  farmworkers.  He challenged growers to provide a living wage and basic human amenities such as clean water, decent housing, and adequate medical care.    Cesar  believed in non-violent struggle to achieve social justice, but most of all, he believed  in education as the best tool for the poor to defend themselves. 

Cynthia is the daughter of a life-long Coachella fieldworker who came here from Mexico in search of the The American Dream.  For this project Cynthia discussed the hardships of this journey with her mother.  Working the fields can be brutal and dangerous.  Cynthia combined personal interview with research from our college databases.  Like Cesar, her goal is to seek better ways to protect the rights and dignity of the hardworking people who put food on your table.

To read Cynthia's complete essay, please CLICK on the following link:

https://www.codborderline.org/2018/07/the-story-behind-your-food-the-work-to-get-it-to-your-table-complete-essay-by-cynthia-ramirez-englis.html

To see more background of migrant worker struggle, please click on the video below:

 

 

Undiagnosed Condition: Postpartum Depression - by Estefania Valenzuela - English 1A

Few  little girls who dream of becoming  mommies know about postpartum depression.   Some of them will grow up and have healthy babies, but they won’t know how to control the flood of emotion that follows.  According to Estefania,  a simple case of the fatigue or depression can grow to a level of psychosis.  Nothing in a mother’s life will ever prepare her for these type of feelings. And, there is a stigma involved: Many new mothers afflicted with postpartum depression find themselves having to prove they are not “crazy.”  They feel more alone than ever.

Here in her community profile,  Estefania, a mother herself of two, writes with great understanding and compassion.  She has explored postpartum depression with the help of a friend and coworker who herself suffered after having her first baby.    Estefania’s feels strongly that we need to reduce the stigma associated with postpartum depression.   Her writing provides information and encouragement for women to get the help they need.

To read Estephania's complete essay, please CLICK on the following link:

https://www.codborderline.org/2018/07/undiagnosed-condition-postpartum-depression-by-estafania-valenzuela-english-1a.html

To learn more about postpartum depression, please click on the following video of famous author and movie star Brooke Shields discussing her own personal struggles:

 

 

Our Struggle with Mental Illness: The Fight of the Mind - by Emily Diaz - English 1A

In many of my classes, students choose to write about mental illness.  They explore depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts.   Yeah, I know, I know, I teach English, but their writing here inspires important discussion in the classroom.  We know more and more people out there who are struggling to control their emotions.  We also are learning that they are challenged to seek help.

Below, Emily writes about the stigma associated with mental illness.  People who need the help are afraid to come forward for fear of letting anyone know.  They deny the problem.  They isolate themselves.  They hide.  No one wants to be considered “crazy.”   In her community profile, Emily writes with great empathy about a close friend she tried to help and support.   She believes we all are in this together.  The more understanding we can develop for mental illnesses, the more we can help.  No one needs to feel alone.

To read Emily's complete essay, please CLICK on the following link:

https://www.codborderline.org/2018/07/our-struggle-with-mental-illness-the-fight-of-the-mind-by-emily-diaz-english-1a.html

To learn to "Break the Stigma" please CLICK on the following video: