The year is 2010. A year where we have equal rights, some legal gay marriage, acceptance, tolerance, etc.
Today I felt like it was 1950. A time of prejudice, hate, intolerance, and racism.
I was at work and an employee came up to me and asked me to deal with a concern in a theatre that a customer had. So I walked over and a couple were outside of a theatre telling me how a black man was in their movie. He walked in while previews were starting, sat his backpack down on a seat, and walked outside for a few min. He then walked back inside a minute later. They were concerned he was doing something bad. At this point, I really didn't think anything of it and just took the concern seriously and walked in to check it out. A single man in workout clothes was sitting near the front watching the movie (as it had started by this point) not bothering anyone. He had a normal backpack on the ground next to him. I stood in there for a few min just to make sure that nothing would happen. As you would guess, nothing did.
I walked back out into the hallway and informed the couple that nothing seemed to be wrong. The woman told me that the man had glanced at her and she just didn't feel comfortable with him in the theatre. She asked me if I would kick him out for it. I explained to her that he was not bothering anyone. And that it is very common for people to come in with backpacks and to use them to save seats and walk outside to use the phone or smoke. She said she knew for sure he wasn't doing either of these things and he was up to no good. Obviously no point in arguing here...
She continued to tell me how since he was black, he would do something bad. And she was threatened as a white woman. She compared him to a terroist, saying that they carry backpacks too. (I refrained from saying elementary students carry them as well). She continued on for quite a while. It took every ounce in my body to not say very mean things to her. I was shocked that people are still this racist and ridiculous. It made me feel sick to my stomach. I finally told her she could go get a refund if she felt that way, but I was not kicking someone out for no reason.
It sickens me that there are still some people out there like this. And had no problem voicing their concerns. Has America really changed? Seems we still have quite a ways to go still....
And God said... all men were created equal.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Ignorance: not always bliss
Posted by asshley at 11:36 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Fall semester
Is it weird that I am excited for fall semester to begin? I just sat through an orientation and got the low-down on the rest of my career here at ASU. I also got my class schedule for the fall. My boss is gonna be mad because I will be working Thursday nights again... no more meetings again! Oh well!
Tue:
1200-250 Instruction/management in Inclusive Classrooms
3-4 Field Experience Meetings
440-730 Childhood and Adolescent Development
Wed:
540-840 Educational Technology in the K-12 Curriculum
Thur:
1-350 Classroom Assessment
430-720 Language Arts Methods, Managment, and Assessment
Also, I have to intern 6 hours a week for a total of 65 hours this semester at a school. 4 of my 6 classes are taking place in the Kyrene School District. That will be a drive for sure! But I have heard good things about it, so I am looking forward to it!
2 months and 3 days til the first day. Let me tell you, I am looking forward to graduation!
Posted by asshley at 4:45 PM 1 comments
Monday, June 14, 2010
Why does my heart tell me that I am?
Posted by asshley at 4:52 PM 0 comments
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Accident
I got in my first car accident last night. It just as scary as I ever imagined it would be. I honestlty have a huge fear of dying in a car accident. I think that is why I always am such a grandma driver. So let me start at the beginning.
I went to dinner last night with a couple friends from work. They invited me to go out with them afterwards, but I said that I needed to be up early so I skipped out. I still needed to run to Walmart to finish some grocery shopping. I really did not want to go that late because it is scary by me and I didn't want to bring the groceries up alone at night. But I knew that I needed something to eat and would not have another opportunity for a while. So after a thrilling time at the wally world, I start to head home.
I am driving north on Country Club Dr in the middle lane. I come up to Southern and it is a red light. I sit there for a min and then the light changes to green. I start to go forward and the next thing you know there is a white car directly in front of me. I slammed on my breaks but it wasn't in enough time. Impact. I t-boned them on the passenger side. My head bounced forward and my glasses flew off. I wasn't sure what had happened at first. Then I realized, oh my god. I just got in a car accident. I immediately felt panicked but surprisingly was calm on the outside. I took out my phone and called 9-1-1 and pulled into a dark parking lot on the corner where the car I hit had pulled into as well. As soon as I park my car, I get out, while still on my phone, and the girl that I hit walks towards me. I don't even get a chance to say anything and she is in my face, screaming numerous cuss words into my face saying how she was going to kill me for hitting her. She was about 300 pounds, hair slicked back, 21, huge t-shirt, and baggy jeans. I am in a scary part of town and I honestly thought that I was going to get beat up or seriously hurt. I held back saying anything at all and tried to remain calm. Thank goodness a police officer came up right at that moment. He pulled the girl away from me and told her that if she didn't calm down, she would get arrested.
I give all of my information to the police officer. I then find out that the driver did not have a licencse or insurance. She also did not have any papers for being a legal immigrant. Of course, right? There were 2 other people in her car. One of them was injured and they called an ambulance. So we had to wait for them to get there. She had only a few bruises but they took her in for precautionary reasons. Come to find out, the car did not even belong to her. It belonged to another lady... who thank the lord had insurance on the car. So we waited an hour for her to come.
Now, during this time, this chick is saying that I ran a red light and hit her. Now, I am telling you, I had a green light. And who comes to my rescue? A dominos pizza delivery guy! He witnessed the whole thing and said how she ran the red light arrow and was going extremely fast and I definitely had a green light. Because of this, I did not get any ticket or citation! Whew!
Unfortunately, the front of my car is badly hurt :( I have to wait until tomorrow to find out what my insurance company will be able to provide for me. I just really hope that I will not have to pay anything for this. I filed a claim with them and this lady's insurance. I am just so frustrated that all of it happened!
I am so thankful that I am okay for the most part though. My neck is sore and my head has been hurting. I also broke a nail (I know), and have a seat belt burn arcoss my chest. But that is probably the best situation that could have happened. I definitely know that I have an angel watching over me and protecting me. <3
As I drove away, I believe that the girl who hit me was being arrested. And let us hope deported back to Mexico.
Posted by asshley at 10:37 PM 1 comments
Thursday, June 3, 2010
I Never Told You
Posted by asshley at 1:06 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Black and White
Most things in my life are gray. It is not just white or just black. Usually a mixture of things, I fall someplace in the middle. I am never fully sure if I am doing the right thing, or even what the right thing is. I believe that this has a lot to do with growing up. When I was younger, my entire life was basically gray. For instance, what do I want to do when I grow up? I went from being a professional musican, to sports agent, to lawyer. My career future was gray. I was nt sure what I looked for in life. Where did I see my future? How did I feel about certain issues and events? How did I feel about love? How did I feel about school? How did I feel about myself?
I have gotten to know myself much better over the years. I now have a pretty clear idea of who I am as a person, from what I stand for and believe in, to how I feel. Obviously I am not fully there, and I hope to never fully be there. I still want to learn new things about myself and others, otherwise life would get dull. I was pondeing some things that I knew for sure today. Things that I knew I felt for sure, and things that I know I want out of life for sure. Thought I would share these black and white concrete things for me.
1. I want to be a teacher. I am so passionate about teaching. I have loved everything that I have learned so far about it and cannot wait to make this my career. I was unsure about it at first. This was very different than being a lawyer. But all of my doubts were washed clean from me when I started taking the classes and actually looked forward to them.
2. My family means everything to me. I know this sounds very generic and something that you would think that everyone would have. But I almost feel like this is different for me. I have had a lot of things happen in my family life that have changed me. They have made me look at life a lot differently. I value my family. I value how they feel and their opinion. I know that I will always have a strong relationship with everyone in my family.
3. I always want a close relationship with my girlfriends. Girls night out is so important to me. I have a few groups of close friends and they have been there for me through a lot of things throughout my life. I do not know where I would be without their support today, and I know they will always be here for me. No matter where life takes us, I know that we will always stay in touch. I want to make it a point to have get togethers. Just to catch up about life, and have a fun night out. They always make me smile.
4. I want to find true love. Not just someone that I like. I want to have passion. Someone whom I can go out on the town with, someone I can take around my friends, someone who will lay on the couch with me and watch old movies. I want someone who loves me for me, little quirks and all. I want to fall in love with someone who has similar values as I do. Someone who respects and asks for my opinion. Someone I can have a partnership with. Someone who has goals in life. Someone who encourages me and my goals. Someone who wants a family. Someone who loves and is great with kids. Someone who wants to travel with me. Someone who wants to marry me. Someone who still belives in a happy ending. Someone who wants to grow old with me.
5. I will not settle for less than I deserve. I am better than that.
6. I will not compromise myself, values, or beliefs for someone else.
7. Music will always be a part of my life. In form of listening, playing, and dancing.
8. I am an independent woman. And will remain that way. Even after getting married and having a family. I have worked very hard to be where I am at today. And I would not throw that away. I do eventually want the support and team of a husband and family, but I will still have my own life. I am still my own person and need that independence.
9. I will no longer keep people in my life who bring me down. If you are not good to me, then you do not deserve to be in my life. I have put up with enough of that in my life and am done.
10. I will live everyday to its fullest. You never know what the future has in store for you. Today could be your last, or your friends last, or your family members last. How do you want to remember that last day? That last moment? That last conversation? That last goodbye? Live with no regrets.
11. I will remember that God will never give me something that I cannot handle.
12. I will grow and learn from mistakes and things that happen in my life.
13. I will never go to bed angry.
14. I will forgive.
15. I will be open to love and new adventures in life.
Here is just a few big things on my list. This is always growing. Some bits of it can and I am sure will be altered as I grow and mature more throughout life. But I do hope that I keep most of these. I do not want to regret any more choices that I am make in life. These are things that I know for sure right now. All I can do now is live everyday to its fullest. Try to be as happy as I can be. And remember that I need to do things for me that make me happy and successful. And that gives me hope and makes me smile. :)
Posted by asshley at 1:48 AM 1 comments
