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I would say I am the same person I was at the start of this class but with a different outlook on things. I learned a lot of new things that I didn't know before. This class has made me aware of my surroundings and how different people view different things. I became more aware of others from being in this class. I learned that each person can make a difference even if it is small. Helping one person can go a long way.

race part 2

This we we watched a movie called Crash. This movie follows the lives of different people with different ethnicities. The movie shows how each character is effected by what race they are or look like. One character who works on locks was called a gang banger because he is latino and has tattoo's. He is later shown going home to his daughter, and the women was stereotyping him. There was a Persian family that was accused of being Arab and for that their store got broken into. This shows that you don't know exactly who someone is by just looking at them. This unit along with watching the movie made me realize to not judge anyone that I don't know.

race

This week we talked about race, and how it doesn't exist biologically. I always assumed that race existed because I never thought anything of it. I also never knew that if I go somewhere else I might not be called white. I also thought that I was white no matter where I went. We think this way because of the social construction that our society has created. In class we talked about how in Japan they only have two races. You are either Japanese or foreign. In America we group people on how they look either by their skin tone or nationality. This could cause a problem because many people "look" a certain race but are actually something else.

community service

This friday I volunteered at the Just Harvest soup kitchen. Before going I was unsure about what I would have to do and what it was going to be like. I never volunteered at a soup kitchen before so I was excited to help out. It definitely made me step out of my comfort zone. Everyone was very friendly, and wanted to talk. One man I talked to was going back to school to get a degree so we talked about going to college. A lady was reading a book, and as we started talking we liked many of the same books. It was inspiring to see that everyone had a good attitude and it made me realize that when I'm having a bad day I should really just try to get over it. These people are in a bad situation, and they still make the best out of their day. These people seemed more positive then some people I know in the area I live. When we got there we were split into different groups of things that needed to be done. There were servers, cleaners, people who distributed the food, and people who went around with drinks. Many of them came to say thank you when they were done eating and even said happy mothers day. They had gone through some difficult things but they were still more friendly and positive then most people I know.

Social Class

This week in sociology we continued to talk about social class, and what exactly it means to live in that class. We watched a show about a guy who took the life of someone making minimum wage and the struggles that come along with it. He did this with his wife and with the combined salaries they were hardly getting by. It was a struggle for them to do this for thirty days while some people spend their whole life dealing with this. It was eye opening to see how they were living from pay check to paycheck and how much of a struggle it is. I think the people who work pay check to pay check should be given more credit because they work very hard.

community service

I volunteered at Bernies Book Bank in Lake Forest. At the book bank I sorted and packed books to be given to at- risk children. We had to put stickers on the books and place them in the age group they belong. We did this for about half an hour. We then moved on to packing books to be sent. There was a specific way they needed to be packed. Each bag needed six books. There was a container of new books and each bag needs one of those. Each bag needs an "anchor book" a heavy hard cover book at the bottom followed by the new book with three other soft cover books.  Jessie works at the book bank full time and she was in charge when I volunteered. There was another girl in high school who was there and two boys in middle school with their mom. I went on a Wednesday which is when you can walk in and volunteer from four-thirty to six. I went with my mom which was very nice because I don't spend that much time alone with just her. While we were sorting the books she found some that she used to read to me when I was little. It brought back memories and it was good bonding experience. I would definitely go back and volunteer.

Social Class

This week in sociology we learned about social class. We define people by what occupation they have an how much they make. There are some factors that go into social class like: education, income, prestige, and where you live. There are three main classes: upper, middle and lower. The middle class divides into upper and lower, and lower divides into working class and underclass. Only 1% of America makes $500,000 or more, and most Americans are in the lower middle or working class.

These were all things that I knew but I never really took the time to think about. Going to Stevenson and living in Buffalo Grove is something I shouldn't take for granted. I go to a school where I can get a better education then most because of where I live. I can live here because my parents have the money to be able to live here and because of that I go to this school, and go on to a four year college.