Plan of Action Letter

This class has been so enlightening to me, I truly cannot think of another EWU course that has created the same energy as this one. The topics discussed, projects presented, and rich conversations we all had made this less of a college classroom, but more of a community of learners. As a learner in this community I was exposed to complicated subjects to analyze and study. The broad and immense topics we discussed of culture, family, geography and borders, and war and peace carried me to a new understanding on so many levels. We discussed the varying meanings or definitions we connected with this topic and how we see it in our world today. We spent several class periods gazing into the lives of the characters in our books and putting ourselves in their situations. This was probably my favorite aspect of this class, just delving into the literature and exposing ourselves to the heart wrenching events created through the pages. It is an eye opener and has pushed me to want to read more multicultural texts. The various projects we partook in the classroom opened my eyes to the wide range of people we encounter in our everyday lives. For example, the museum displays showcased every individual in our class personally. Just as one person in this large world, I feel that my participation and knowledge that I gained from this class will open many opportunities in my future success. Just being aware of new perspectives and canceling out prejudices towards others allows me to create a brighter and more open future.

 

My plan of action is to keep my place in the organization CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. The premise of this organization is to take court cases involving abused and neglected children and represent them in court by conducting home visits and phone calls to make sure the children are in the best care possible. At the beginning of the quarter, I was struggling to make the time commitment it took, yet I really needed to stick it out for the best interest of the children I was working with. I realized in this class, there is nothing more important than being a part of something bigger than yourself, so I have decided to take on another court case. It will be hard, seeing as I just got a new job, but I feel as if the commitment can keep me thinking about all the unfortunate cases around the world that we have spoken about this quarter. Overall, I am really appreciative of this course. It has been an eye opener and I am extremely fortunate I have been able to be a participant in this class.  

Artist Statement

 

 

In this blog post, I was able to find various pictures of graffiti depicting struggle and innocence, which in my opinion were a couple of the themes in this class. I was able to find pictures on Tumblr, which is a blog posting website. I decided on including the pictures with my artist statement, so people are able to see and understand why I picked the pictures I did. 

 

 

 

 

This is a picture that reminded me of all the lost families we create by putting up borders between our countries. This picture of a family fleeing the area they were in for a new one can dramatically change by adding a kite. By adding a simple children’s toy into the picture, the illustrator transformed the image of a frantic family running for their lives to a joyful family running towards their dreams. Everyone should have a chance at their dreams, no matter where they live or how they were brought up. When I looked at this picture, thoughts of Sold came to mind, as well as Crossing the Wire. All the children were doing was trying to find a better life to support their families, just like this picture depicts.

 

 

 “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence” is a phrase everyone has heard a countless number of times. This picture represents that quote with the representation of borders. Crossing the Wire is the book that came to mind when I saw this. The side that you’re standing on is dusty, full of weeds and remorse, but the other side is clearly where you want to be. Blue skies, nice water and a beautiful island. We have learned in the class that something like that isn’t what is always welcoming you on the other side though. Unfortunately it can be extremely backwards and something as horrible as never seeing your family again could be the outcome.

 

This one struck me, because I think it can fit with every single book we have read this quarter. The phrase “money makes the world go wrong” is the main focal point in this graffiti, but also in the books we’ve read. From Kampung boy, where they were trying to raise money for their child to go to a nicer school and receive an education, in Sold where a child was sold into sex slavery for money to “help” her family, in Revolution is not a Dinner Party when having money wasn’t something that was okay in the Cultural Revolution and you were beaten and taken away from your family, in Crossing the Wire where making it in the United States was going to save your family because you could send them the small rates you were making, and finally in A Long Way Gone where a child was to succumb to fight for a corrupt military revolving around the diamond industry. In every one of these stories money seems to be what everyone needs, yet has a very hard time achieving. Does money solve all of your problems? Or just like this graffiti, is it just wrong?

 

 

         With this piece of graffiti, I see the innocence of children. The child drawing the quote, “You’re never too young to dream big” looks to be very young with her stature and characteristics. I feel as if children need to remember this phrase and keep it with them always. This also correlates with the innocence of children, which I think is ripped away too easily, especially with all of the stories we have read this quarter.

 

           I love this quote. It is one of my favorites, even before this class. At this particular time, it reminds me of all the children we read about in our stories this quarter, who have had all of their goodness taken away from them. In my opinion, these children did not survive. They will have something haunting them for the rest of their lives. They will always be cautious on what they do, and when they do it, rather than have the free spirit like this quote implies. I could also see this as maybe speaking to the children who grow up too fast, like a most of these children in the stories as well.