The Meaning of Work

This is an incredible, moving story by Rodrigo Rodriguez.  He talks about growing up in a small town in Texas, where his family works inside factories.  This is the lifestyle that he grew up in.  None of his family members went to college and got a degree.  He decided it was time for a change.  Rodriguez did admit that he "never had good grades in high school."  But, that didnt mean he wasnt smart enough to move onto college and even graduate school.  His father states that "doing work means doing physical work, not sitting before a computer screen."  I agree and disagree with this statement.  I agree to the fact that you do need to do some physical work in order to succeed and work hard in life.  I do disagree to the fact that it is hard work to do well at any type of job there is out in life.  I think that no matter what, Rodriguez's dad should be very proud of his son for achieving something so great in life -- a college education.  

After reading this story called "Bricklayer's Boy," seemed like it had a lot about what I am going through in college.  After going through college and paying boat loads of money for an education that will benefit you, it seems like you are broke.  Having this education does benefit you in the end because you will get a successful paying job that pays well.  I envy the father in this story for going back to school at such an old age.  I know that I couldn't go back and get an education that I always dreamed of, if I was that old.  Having grown up in a household of four girls, my parents werent going to pay a dime for my education because there is no way they could do it for all of us.  I had to get a job and pay for my own tuition and books.  I am grateful and fortunate for my parents to chip in and help me through it all

In the story called, "The Mother Tongue," By Amy Tan, she describes her experience about what the English language is to her.  It seems to me, after reading her point of view, that other minorities might have a struggle in writing and talking the English language.  I didn't realize how tough it would be for others.
In my high school, I had to take a foreign language for credit.  Of course, I picked French, but really why not because Canada is only a couple hours away anyways, and also I have a Canadian Heritage.  Honestly, it was a great deal of struggle to learn a different language.  Getting the right wording, the right verbs, whether or not its feminine or masculine - - really the list goes on and on.  As years past, I stuck with the French.  It came time to take a speaking portion of a state test, that I really needed to pass for the college credit.  I got in the room, and froze.  It seemed like I didn't know a lick of French.  As time passed, I could spit a few words out here and there... really not complete sentences though.  It sounded like I was speaking a different language.  By the third try, I was making the sentences make sense.  The feeling I felt was awkward, shame, and disappointment in myself all throughout the test because I know that I could of done a hell of a better job if it wasn't in French and it was in English.
I know where Tan was coming from when she says that the English language is tough on state tests too.  I know I couldn't take a state written and speaking test again for French.  I can't imagine taking a test like the ACT or SAT and not doing well because of your ethnicity background.  I think that maybe those state tests should look into having different languages in these tests formats so, that people like Tan can actually do well on the writing portion of the test and maybe get placed into a high percentile.