Social awareness project

Observe your surroundings

            Each day many people get picked on for many reasons, some for race, some for looks, and some for different reasons. This issue is called bullying, bullying can happen in many places especially in schools. Sometimes bullies pick on random classmates in schools. The person getting bullied is considered the victim. The victim can get picked on anytime even everyday. Sometimes the victim gets hurt physically or emotionally when they get bullied.

            The problem with bullying is people can get seriously hurt. Some people take it as a joke but others can’t handle bullying and reach their breaking point. Breaking points are usually when people can’t take something anymore and have had enough. Some people get depressed from being bullied and kill themselves. It’s not fair that people have to kill themselves or feel depressed from bullying.

            Sometimes a bully is made by their surroundings. One way a person can become a bully is that their parents treated them bad and now the person wants to take their rage out of others.  Another way is the person was bullied in their past and they feel the need to bully someone else. A third way is the person may be playing a joke on someone but start picking on the person. The effects of bullying can hurt someone of even take someone’s life away. A solution to bullying is the victims tell someone about the bully. Sometimes the victim is too nervous because they think the bully will get them back later after they tell. Other kids don’t tell adults because they think adults can’t help in the situation. Some kids don’t want anyone to know so they just keep it to their selves.  Telling someone can help lots of people and even ends lots of problems. Bullying is a major problem that has end and hurt many people but there are solutions around bullying.

Write a reading response on a social issue

            Many people in this world are afraid of being gay, lesbian, or bisexual. In the story “Am I Blue” by Bruce Caville, the main character Vince isn’t sure of his sexuality. In the beginning of the story Vince meets his fairy godfather named Melvin. Throughout the story Melvin tries to show Vince that you can accept different sexualities. In the story “Am I Blue” the main character Vince learns its ok to like the same gender.

            The story “Am I Blue” takes on the issue of being gay. Being gay, lesbian, or bisexual can mean a lot of things in this world.  Most the time when someone is gay, lesbian, or bisexual a lot of people will judge them. Kids in school like Vince could get picked on for being gay. For example in the beginning of the story Vince had been slammed into a puddle by a boy named Butch because Butch thought Vince was “jumping his bones”. This shows how Vince got picked on by other people because they thought he was gay. “Am I Blue” also shows how people are afraid to admit being gay and hide it. Later on Vince ask himself  “How much trouble is it going to give me to be seen with this guy?” when he walked with his fairy godfather Melvin to a café. Melvin walked in a certain way that made Vince think people would consider him gayer for walking with someone like Melvin. This also shows how being gay can be a big thing to other people and how they judge you.

            “Am I Blue” may be a short story but it sends the reader a message. The message the author is trying to send is its ok to be gay. The author shows this at the end of the story when Vince saves his last out of three wishes. Vince says he’ll save it for the girl of his dream or his Prince Charming. This shows how Vince has accepted liking the other gender from Melvin. This is not like the beginning where Vince was afraid and undecided. Melvin was showing Vince the message while at the same time the author was showing the reader the same message. Like Vince wasn’t sure and undecided he started deciding it was ok. This tells the reader that it’s ok to like the other gender.

            The article "Am I Blue" made me think more about the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community. It made me feel sorry for the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community because they had to deal with people calling hating on them. It doesn't seem right that gay people have to hide their true identities from people. Some people would be friends with someone who is gay but some people wouldn't talk to them if they found out they were gay. Many people don't support liking the other gender and hate on the people who like the other gender. That doesn't seem right, maybe a person who likes another gender can be the nicest person or a really good friend. It also made me think what would happen if everyone really did get gaydar, would people still act the same or different? Overall I don't think it's right that people have to hide their true identity to get other people to accept them.

            The story “Am I Blue” makes a statement that’s its ok to be gay. People shouldn’t hide their true feelings and being open about themselves. Those people who are gay and afraid to open up shouldn’t let others judge you about it. People should be themselves and don’t care about what people think about them. People like Vince were afraid at first but ended up accepted to be gay.

Write an original literary piece

It all started one day with my friend
 He pulled out a cigar one day and
 asked if I want some.

I said naw and he called me a wuss
so I tried it. It was horrible and I didn't smoke again for a while. Next month I didn't know but I was giving it a second chance. It was better than the first time but that was my mistake.

I started to feel like I needed to smoke. I had a little erg to keep smoking so I did. Later it became a bigger erg that told me don't stop.

I cough up more storms every day and I look like crap. I knew I should have stopped but I can't no more.
It's now part of my life. If I stop for a day I'll feel empty.

Later in life I found myself in a bed. I can't remember what happen but I saw a doctor. He was approaching me waiting to tell me something. He told me I had lung cancer. Was it really worth it...

I wrote this poem on the social issue of smoking. Smoking is a big issue that can kill a lot of people and people close to them. An upfront article inspired me when I was looking for a social issue to write about. I also used “Please don’t steal my air jordans” as a mentor text for my poem. I wanted to use the style “please don’t steal my air jordans” used, more of a short story than a poem. A decided to make my poem about a person who was pressured into smoking and ended up paying the price later.

Work Cited

Kicking the Habit by  Robert K.Elder

Please don’t take my air jordans by Reg e. gaines

Am I Blue by Bruce Caville