Norms: Individual vs. Society- Ritual

Family Ritual

Being an individual who is from Hispanic decent it is a custom to celebrate our rite of passage by having a Quinceanera. Traditionally a quinceanera is when the fifteen year old girl is presented to the community as a young lady. It is also when the girl goes to mass to give her thanks to god for the life she has and then there may be a small celebration with her loved ones after. This day serves as the beginning of the young lady’s rest of her life with the ability to wear makeup, date, and go out on her own.

These days’ quinceaneras have become more sophisticated and expensive. They have added the seven chambelanes and seven lamas to represent the girls past fourteen years of life. They added the last doll dressed in an elaborate gown that is a replica of the quinceanera’s. Then there is the switch from flat shoes to high heels. The quinceanera is also to wear a tiara and is given an elegant jewelry set. All of this can be seen at the over the top parties that are now thrown which are usually at a hall that is extensively decorated.

Because I am 100% Mexican most people would think I had a quinceanera. Well the truth is I didn’t follow through with this custom. It is not because I wasn’t given the opportunity but because I never saw it as an importance. I for one don’t like having parties where all the attention would be around you. Secondly I am not a very religious person where I would go to mass. Instead my twin sister and I had gone to vacation in Cancun. We thought the money was used more wisely this way because we got to learn more about one of the most tropical places. We learned the history behind the natives who lived in Cancun and more. The way I see it, party or not at the age fifteen I was still considered a young adult so why not use the money towards something I find more rewarding.

"Bikinis & Tiaras"- Girls on the Verge by: Vendela Vida

This personal narrative is an insight to those who aren’t Hispanic about the tradition of a quince. It describes how the tradition of a quince has changed so much over the year in America. Quinces these days are more about the party and having all eyes on the young lady as she entertains her guests. Originally a quince served as a way to thank god for the girl’s life so far and to show how they are now young women. It also signifies how the young lady now has the ability to wear makeup, date and go out on her own. Some girls no longer include mass in this ceremony; some only have a party, while others choose to only take pictures. For most of the Hispanic girls who choose to have this celebration say they have it for the party rather than the tradition. The parents see it as w=a way to keep the tradition alive and to show those back in there homeland how they have made it in America.

Norms: Individual vs. Society- Versus

Most Teens and I

I have been told many times by multiple people that I am a very responsible young lady for my age I never really had much thought about it. It wasn’t until the summer before my senior year that I took all these comments into thought. You see I had given up my last summer as a minor, to babysit my uncle’s children all the way in San Mateo. So I was five hours away from family, and friends for my entire summer. It was there that my uncle and his wife had asked me the one question I never had considered, “Why are you so different from most teens, how are you so responsible?”

Immediately I couldn’t help but compare myself to the one other teenager I ever knew, my cousin. I remember growing up with my cousin when she was a teen. I remember the countless times she went joy riding with my grandfather’s car. I remember the times she would sneak out the house to meet up with her boyfriend. She was my role model and I would be lying if I told you I didn’t ever follow her ways. I remember sneaking out one night with her because she told me it would be fun. This was the night that would change the rest of my entire life. I may have never done anything worth regretting but the fact that I was willing to climb out a window scared me. How could one person influence my life in such a way?

It was from this day forward that I had learned not to take life for granted that you need to fight hard for what you believe in and never let anyone influence your life. I guess I am different from other teens because I have learned from the mistakes my cousin has made. I learned not to be foolish and I learned that the strongest I ever was is when I was true to myself. I may not go out partying with the cool crowd, I have never done drugs and I don’t drink, not even wine.

Instead I have found it fulfilling being the best person I can be. I help others, I participate in a number of charities, I never mind being a helpful hand for teachers and I take my chances at new opportunities. For instance most teens wouldn’t be willing to babysit a whole summer without family, friends, internet access, and without contact to the rest of civilization. But I did, I figured it would be a chance for me to understand how my life would be when I left home. I learned how it would be to have a family to whom I would have to look after.

But then again I guess one of the major reasons I live my life this way is because I have my own morals. In which most I have been taught by family, but unlike others I take my morals seriously. If I ever were to break them, I would live in dread till I found a way to redeem myself. Teens aren’t always reckless; they can be young responsible adults to. I guess that’s what separates me the “individual” from most teens the “society”. I think over all my actions before taking them, always hoping for the best.

Persepolis By Marjane Satrapi

Through this personal narrative Marjane Satrapi describes the history of Iran, her country. She describes how she wants to become a prophet for her people. Marjane is teased and ostracized by her schoolmates for wanting to become a prophet. While Satrpi describes how she wants to fight for her freedom of her country with a revolution. In the end Majane's want for revenge causes her the loss of her god.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

This personal narrative is about an Asian-American boy named Jin who has a crush on an American girl named Amelia Harris. She is the girl that sits in front of him in his biology class. Jin is confused and doesn't know how to get Amelia's attention. Jin tells his friend Wei-chen about his crush who reminds him of the limitations boys had with girls where they come from. After Jin fails on making a move to get to know Amelia better he gains the guts to ask her out. Leaving him feeling accomplished

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Fired Up- Erica Barba,18

Northridge is No Better Than Sylmar
Teens are the same no matter the time period or place they live in. We all party, listen to music, rebel, and face high school with our clicks. The only difference would be the location, fashion, and trends of the era. With the passing of time it seems teens have become less and less conservative.
Now and days you can find teens rolling in there set of wheels with their stereos pounding to the rhythm of rap, rock, or maybe even R&B. The girls are usually dressed in revealing clothing that makes you think that the fashion statement they are working is “the more skin shown, the better”. The boys are no different they sag there pants so low that it is as if they are flaunting their boxers off to the world.
Personally, I am not like most teens these days. I don’t like wearing booty shorts, or shirts that show my stomach. I hate rap music, it sounds like a bunch of nonsense and I rarely go out to parties that aren’t with my family. I guess the only thing that keeps me sane and unique from the rest is my passion for old times, vintage attire, music, and other items. I love the past; young girls were more elegant than they are now. I choose to follow the ideas from the past but not all of them. Unlike the past I feel women have the right to work hard for themselves not for men. I also feel that all people are equal, where as in the past colored, and gender was treated differently. I guess I follow the fashion from the past while I follow the ideals of the present.
I for one consider myself privileged for not being apart of this distasteful type of teen fashion. Then again everyone has their own opinion, but what I find most disturbing isn’t their taste in fashion. I find it hard to believe that the teens in Northridge are completely different from the teen in Sylmar. I have been fortunate in life to live in such places. I lived in Sylmar for most of my childhood and have grown up in places like Pacoima, Arleta, and San Fernando. It wasn’t till I was going into middle school that my family and I came to live in Northridge. From experience I can say there isn’t much of a difference in the people who live in these places. Like I have said before, we all do the same things. I hate the stereotypes people give places like Arleta, saying “you will get shot just driving by”. I can tell you I have never been shot, never witnessed a drive by shooting, and I am not associated in a gang. I also can tell others that the teens from both places may not like each other because they believe they are all completely different. The only difference I see is better streets, more money, and a better education in the Northridge side. Other than that things aren’t much of a difference.

The Border by Cindy Morand

Cindy Morand narrative "The Border" is about her personal experiences as an immigrant from Mexico and how her life has changed in a city. Her family moved to America for a better life, even though there life back in Mexico was already great. Cindy had a hard time when she first arrived to her new home in New York City because she had to learn a new language and more.By the end of this narrative Cindy describes how she has learned hoe to be strong from this life changing experience.

My Brown Eyes by Alexander Amador

Alexander Amador's narrative "My Brown Eyes", is about his life as a Mexican American living in the barrio of the Eighth Street Locos 13 gang. In this narrative Alex describes how he loves his neighborhood and how the homies that live there always have his back. He then describes his family and how he shows respect to his mother by helping around the house before she gets home so she doesn't have much to do. Alex also describes how his brother has gotten into some drug problems, was put in jail and is now trying to change his life by going to college and getting a job. Alex's brother keeps asking his family to join him but they don't waont to leave the community they are used to being around.

No Laughing Matter by Chris Schmader

No laughing matter is a personal narrative written about a Friday night Chris had with friends. The boys decide to eat at a restaurant and as they wait for their food they tell their stories of the summer. Pete and Jeff, two of Chris’ friends describe how they were caught drinking by a cop on their trip to South Carolina. As all the friends laughed at the experience one boy Abe just sat in disappointment because not even his friends can change his morals.

Our Boys Speak By John Nikkah- Introduction

This personal narrative describes the journey John Nikkah had in pulling together his book on boy’s stories. In the beginning John struggled because no one else thought his book would sell. That was until he found an editor who felt that the boy’s views needed to be heard. It wasn't until John read the stories of the boys across the country that he learned exactly how difficult life had become for the youth of today. He realized that boys aren’t given the attention they need and with these incidents like the Columbine shooting has occurred. John doesn't blame the parents for this he blames the societies stereotypes of boys as being strong and doesn't need as much focus as girls. He thinks the boys of our nation just needs some more attention.

Introduction of Red by Amy Goldwasser

Amy Goldwasser the editor of Red describes how she has learned so much about American teens from the stories she receives from them. It is through the teen’s writings that she comes to realizing that no one ever likes being a teenager. What she found interesting in these teens is their ability to write about what ever they want without feeling the need to censor anything. It is the ability to do this that breaks the typical teen stereotype that they only care about shopping, celebrities; supermodel Dom, etc. because they take into account everything around them and write about it in multiple sites.

Curve by Alison Smith

Alison Smith describes how she is awkwardly skinny and how her family tease her about needing to gain weight. Alison's friends on the other hand can't seem to notice anything but her weight and get mad when they compare her to themselves. No one seems to notice that Alison personally doesn't like her body. The only thing she does like about it is her hips because it is the only curve she has on her body.

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