Today, I dropped off my brother and sister at school for their first day.  Until I leave the house, I'm going to get up every morning to drive my siblings to school and once in a while pick them up in the afternoon.  For the first time since I was four, there will be no classes for me to take this fall.  This semester I have off no matter what and I want to take full advantage of it.  When I went to school, I was limited to that little area where the school was at (don't talk to me about online classes, I hate them) so when I was invited for an interview in San Francisco or in Florida, I couldn't go, I didn't have a chance to, or I didn't have time to go.  Now I have the time, the flexibility and the yearning to work where ever and whenever I want. 

      The problem is that I can't get a job.   I don't want to blame it on the fact that I have a CREATIVE WRITING degree.  I don't want to blame it on anything.  I just gotta keep looking for a job and keep coming up with ideas to write about.  On craigslist, I found so many people complaining about having a useless major, but it's not the major that is useless, it is the mind that is useless.  The school one goes to can only do so much for students, but it's the students that have to go out there and find their way for a life and for a career.  For everyone that are tired of the huge job search engines, there's craigslist.

I felt like posting something.  Anything.

So, I got to apply to several more jobs today,  making my grand total to 34 jobs I have applied to in the past 2 1/2 weeks.  "If you can find a job out of state, take it," is what my father advised me.   Really, they love me but nothing is worse than realizing that the so called college grad can't land a job.  It is something my family cannot comprehend.  "Even doctors wouldn't be able to find jobs in this economy," my grandmother humors me with.  Maybe she thinks I'm lazy.  Not only do my cousins on my dad's side not believe in education, the fact that I have yet to find a job confirms the fact that college is a waste of time and money and they won't stand for that shit.

I need some sort of hope.  I need more time or something I could believe in.  Maybe the trip to L.A. in less than two weeks will clear my head.  Yet I get so close to signing my soul over to the military or selling out to Target or Wendys that I've lost that hope in education and that I have indeed wasted the last 4 years of my life.  Not only is the promise of an education a waste of time, even if it isn't, one small mistake or the overlook of one small detail tosses the whole R.V. off the cliff.  Proving to the family members that never even set foot on a university campus that education and enduring the struggle of four years is worth anything is a wild goose chase; the bird won't just sit there and take notes, it will just live its life and not listen to you.

Certain people I know can get away with applying to jobs in Wendy's and Burger King, but what is the point of going to college if you end up doing the same jobs that those do right out of high school?  Why did I bother taking all those classes if I wind up back in Hanford?  Even if I did go on to grad school, all the decent jobs would demand experienced individuals.  "Sure, but you could do internships..."  HELLO!  Internships are just a way of employers of saying, "Hey, do you want to do the same work as that other guy but that guy gets paid and you get zilch?"  Might as well keep on going to school!  Nothing pisses me off more than an entire job fair and all the "jobs" available are internships.  So it leads me to one thing, getting into credential programs, take the GRE and cross my fingers that I do get to finish the program in 3 semesters.

In some ways, a creative writing major makes sense.  Any major that involves writing makes sense.  You get exposure by sending in works into the deep ocean of editors and hope that one editor bites.  Even if they only pay you five bucks, it'll be something.  If you get a rejection slip, you'll know  you just need to work at it again.  It is a specialized job that requires all the skills you learn in the classes you took in college like taking notes, writing essays and doing assignments.  Moreover, many, many jobs demand some sort of writing.  Maybe my degree is a bit too specialized, and I may not have any specialized interests, but I'm still looking for an interest I like.  If I found a writing job that involves going to car shows or to concerts and raves that would be the best.  So late to continue this thought so I will finish with this...

Now it is up to the dissolution of the Cal Grants program to show who is really dedicated to the promise and far away dream of education.  Now it is up to future college students to figure out ways to pay for college.  That should be my next examiner article, Think outside the FAFSA, ways to pay for college.  Look for it.

P.S. I got a new novel idea.  Anybody who wants to see a chapter or two, leave a comment with your email address.

Ciao

Adriana

User submitted data
First Name : Adriana
Last Name : Gallegos
Email Address : moonhippie@gmail.com
Phone Number : 559-XXX-XXXX
Best Time To Call : 9 AM - 11 AM

City you live in : Long Beach
State you live in : California

What's the URL? :
URL: http://moon-hippie.livejournal.com/
Select your edition : Los Angeles
How long? : About 2 years
What's your insider knowledge? : The Cal State Long Beach library becomes packed at about 10am and 3pm.

When the signs say "No Parking" and you park, you will get a ticket in no less than 5 minutes. The tickets are $40 minimum at the C.S.U.

If one needs to find parking, one needs to drive around 4-5 times in order for someone to get out, especially around apartment complexes and downtown.

The homeless veterans are really friendly here.
Category : Education & Schools
Specific Topic : Cal State University Examiner
What would you like to write about? : I want to writed about the current news in and around the California State University system and the California Community College system. I am a first generation college student so I want to extend my knowledge towards people that really want to know everything they need to know in order to succeed.

What qualifies you? : I do not have a lot of writing or publication experience, but I do have a lot of personal experience. I want to reach out to readers and maybe get new readers to your esteemed publication. My experience going to the computer labs in my high school, the local community college and the public libraries made me realize that there is so much information out there. I feel I am more than qualified because I not only have access to this information through websites and through some of the schools students, but I also know what I would need to know if I were a reader of my articles.

What makes you different? : I've recently experienced the college experience. I'm still in school for the next 2 weeks and I want to know that there are people out there that have the urge to know and learn what I learned about the system. I'm the "2 or 4 years from now" perspective of my prospective readers.

Article 1: Creative Writing: Obsure Majors Your High School Counselor Did Not Know About.
Article 2: Where Is My Money Going, Anyway? Fees That Are Actually Used to The Student Body's Advantage
Article 3: I Know This Already: Interesting Classes To Fill in your GE Credits and the Schools That Offer Them.
Preparing, uploading photos : 5
Creating Hyperlinks : 5
Embedding Videos : 1
Online promotion through sites like Digg : 1
Your article : A Proposal by Adriana Gallegos

As my fellow English majors and colleagues, I too have suffered the “I hate that subject” face and/or the “you don’t have a good chance to get a well paying job from that” face from every person that just discovered that they are in the presence of English majors. I do not know about you, but I for one am getting pretty tired of those faces that people have the horrible habit of making. So I suggest a proposal for each level of our education that contains some sort of an English education that can be as fun as science and as direct as algebra.

ABC’s after Naptime
We can expose young children to a whole world, a world that’s beyond finger painting and naptime. Literally, each classroom will be equipped with world maps, maps of our neighbor countries and language tables of common words and phrases not only in English, but in Welsh, German, Latin, Greek, Old English and Middle English, and each student will get their very own copy. We also must expand the alphabet so they can better understand it. Not just letters in their most commonly used form but in form kindergarteners probably don’t usually think about. “A” will not just stand for “apple” anymore. A picture of a red juicy apple will be accompanied by a picture of a big, hairy primate. From now on, in every kindergarten classroom, A will stand for ape and apple. Children at this age are very vulnerable and they are sponges of the most absorbent kind, so we must stick to the original idea. All the stories will stick to their original format. No censoring of any kind, with the exception of the overly gory, (no Titus Andronicus, yet). We don’t want these kids confused and duped when they are older. They should know what really happened to the little mermaid and Goldilocks from the start.

Reading after Lunchtime
The list of books that are available out there is very, very long. As our national literary cannon grew with more books by modern writers, our students must not fall behind. So I suggest that after reading skills are taught in First through halfway of Second grade, student can start on literature from the 1940’s and by the time they are in Sixth grade, they have been exposed to pieces from the 1700’s. Writing will be a leisurely activity and students will learn basic writing skills starting in the First grade. The 5 paragraph essay, the outline, MLA and APA format writing will not come in until about the second grade.

Writing in 45 Minutes
This is where students will enter Seventh grade. In most cities, this means middle school. This is where students have multiple teachers and one teacher can focus themselves on reading and writing. At seventh grade, students will be freed from reading classics and go into writing. As students, they will read their peers work and absorb different writing styles that their fellow classmates have attained. Also, they will learn a new word, analyzing. They will compare each other’s work and the promotional requirement into secondary school will be a portfolio of what they wrote to prove that they were not just sitting around in middle school doing nothing but complaining in their English classes.
Lit/Comp in 50 Minutes
This is the best part. In high school, students will combine both forms; what they read in elementary school and what they wrote in middle school and they will study throughout high school what is known as the Literature and Composition class, or the nickname lit/comp. Here they will discover, analyze and compare all of what they have done. Here they will learn grammar terms, different parts of speech and what exactly happened between Romeo and Juliet the night they got married. Students will make a quick run through of the literature they were exposed to and go even farther into literature to discover writings like Beowulf and The Exeter Bible. Very religious and the very curious students can stay over after school and discover old religious texts such as the torah, the Koran and the Scriptures and learn about their history and how they are viewed today.
English will also be a language class for our ESL students as an option for their foreign language requirement. Also, at least one of the languages that made up English such as Welsh, German, Latin and Greek should be offered at all schools.
English in 90 minutes
“It’s time to go to college!”
“What do we do in our college English classes?”
“I am glad you asked that, Jenifer.” Humming
“Hello?”
“What?”
“You did not answer my question.”
“Oh yeah, you are right.” Continues humming
“Adriana…?”
Basically, college courses stay the same because they are not mandatory. English Majors get to pick out the classes they want for their major. What I would propose is certain changes for the English for Creative Writing Emphasis, like putting back some classes to the menu *FEA 380*.

English Classes Helped Me Stay Sane At My Workplace!
No, it did not. I am just helping my reader stay awake while s/he is reading this.
And in conclusion
The subject and degree programs of English should be revered as much as many other subjects and degree programs out there. It should not be shunned away or restricted to the education environment. Yes, I agree that the language is complicated and often times difficult to maneuver around, but isn’t that the idea behind going to school to learn it? So we can learn about it to understand it and to be able to maneuver around? These are my ideas in how we go about this common hatred for our subject. If the student is going to fall behind, let him fall behind with integrity, if the student succeeds, then let them be successful of something they can really be proud of.

Your Bio : I have experienced more than my fair share of disapproval. Not only do I want to write for a living, I want to succeed. No, I do not demand that any of my future works be considered best sellers, but I want my writing to change people's views and further advance their knowledge. School is all I have known throughout my entire life, but gosh, it is something I am good at. I have been in that desk in the classroom everyday since I was four years old. I am graduating in May and the younger section of my generation (the youngest being 5) will see me walk across the stage, point and ask, "How can I do that?" My writing will be the legacy I leave behind, like the many embroidery and doilies past generations left. My mother knows how to write to an extent. She stopped after high school. My grandmother could berely write her name. My great grandmother could only draw an x. etc. My generation is change, and I'll be the black sheep because I'm not a teacher or a doctor, I'm a writer.

How did you hear? : Linked In
Other? Please specify :

Cleaning my House on a Rainy Day

A lightning bolt splits the sky in half

The rain pitter pattering on leaves

While my hand grips a towel;

A ritual I have repeated since

I learned to pick up my toys;

Spraying a window down till it shines.

The rain is a source of cleansing

As it swooshes down the veins and blades

Of leaves of trees of grass of

The yard in my father’ garden.

spritz, spritz spritz, 2 windows down.

The rain makes the roads slippery

as cars and trucks skid down the freeways

and small roads, especially

by my neighborhood while I

wipe the windows facing the streets.

my little dog, loses it, leaping under foot

a smile slips into my lips

as I wipe the table down

rinsing the towel in the washtub.

The storm continues cleansing my

mind of troubles, cleaning my

Soul of impurities, cleansing my

heart of negativities, leaving me with

a list of chores to do

and homework that is yet to be finished.

As I rest under the closed curtain

The glowing becomes noticeable, I open

the curtain, bathing my dog and me in a warm glow

as we rest under the cascading waterfall of sunrays.

Lucy on my lap, licking my face

Smoker[i]

Cough, smoke, cough

Wouldn’t you rater have a coke?

But one pack isn’t enough

And still you just smoke and smoke.

My father hates it more than I do

My mother sees no joke

In smoking with black lungs and guts (eww…)

And still you just smoke and smoke.

Can’t you take the hint?

Can’t you see the facts?

Smoking is worse than gin

And still you buy four more packs…

Now I see you in clear plastic

Hooked up to an air machine

Now isn’t that fantastic!?!

For another smoke you whine!

I loved you as you can see

While I stand next to your box

You lie there as your ciggie

Buds are outside thinking you’ll

Come back when the clocks strike one

From what? Buying more packs

At the joint on freeway 41

Adriana Gallegos

Writing Exercise #1

9/8/08

Train Trip Home

Response to “The Things They Carried”

     A young lady anxiously awaits the arrival of the burgundy sedan that usually comes from around the corner to pick her up for the usual date.  This was not an ordinary date, it was a train ride to her hometown.  She mentally listed all the things in her bag: the black jeans with all the zippers, the plaid cotton pants, the flowy skirt that he liked, the green pants that are easy to wash, the brown and white polka dot shirt, the white tank top that had “The Bay Area” in bold black letters, the fuchsia baby doll with the big white checkerboard heart, the white blouse where the same button falls off when she twists a certain way, the flip flops for the pool that she got at a department store, three pairs of undies, two bras, the bikini that she got in an impulse buy, the Halloween costume she made for the party awaiting them and the bean bag doll she received when she went into surgery.  In her purse were the train tickets, her inhaler, her notebook along with various pens, her wallet, her medication, his boxers, a book to read on the train, the emergency sanitary pads, their lunch and a water bottle. 

     When the burgundy sedan finally came around the corner, she picked up her polka dot bag and as he opened the trunk, she asked him if he forgot anything and he said maybe let me check.  He went on to list off his pair of shorts, two pairs of pants, four shirts, two boxers (I believe you have the other one my dear, he chuckled) three pairs of socks, his swim trunks, his store-bought Halloween costume that he was too busy to make, his toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, shampoo and face wash with an extra towel and his eyeglass repair kit.  Are you sure you didn’t forget anything? She asked and he said let’s go already.  They walked to the bus stop, took the 173 and the D buses to the Amtrak bus stop, waited and waited, took the Amtrak bus to Los Angeles, waited and waited on the bus, went to Glendale and finally headed to Bakersfield.  The 5715 bus got to Bakersfield earlier than expected so they both took a restroom break.  They cuddled in the chairs of the Bakersfield station until it was time to get on the train, whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears all the way into the train and up the steps to the second floor.  Then they rambled through the stops of Wasco, Corcoran and when Hanford was announced, they quietly unloaded their things and headed off on an afternoon and a day of meeting new people, exploring new things and playing new video games for him with familiar faces and places for her.  When Sunday morning came around, they packed and headed for the train station going through the inverted trip of two days ago.

Hit me up






.....

Yes, I am one of those girls.

Yes, I am going to the Kings Fair.

Yes, I did get an unlimited ride bracelet coupon.

Yes, I am going to ride the rides,

and yes, I am going to do what I always do when it gets dark; buy a large lemonade packed with sugar, and during my sugar rush, I'll ride as many rides with as many strangers as I possibly can.

What I like about the Kings County Fair is the atmosphere.  It's the warm small county feel that you could only get from Kings County.  Okay, during the day, it is so fudging hot but when that cooler breeze comes in, you know that the ride seats are a bit cooler therefore okay to ride in.  I like the fact that you run into people you haven't seen in a long time and talk and catch up with eachother's lives.  I like to see all the livestock and all the children's faces when they proudly display the livestock.  I love to see the smiles in toddlers when they ride the bigger kiddy rides and the couples that introduce the younger generation such a wonderful tradition of riding rides that were put together only hours or days ago.  I love watching fellow Kings County inhabitants get sugar highs and/or intoxicated and ride all the rides as the children and/or adults are weary and want to go home.

I especially love it when it's over and we all get kicked out and that is where the real ride begins, dodging all the drunk drivers to get home safely. 

It's been a little over a month since I came back to Hanford.  Sometimes I wonder what my life will be like 2 or 3 years from now.  Yes, I still daydream about what culture demands of us, steady money flow, a spouse, a decent dwelling of our own and small humans with the genetic makeup mix of my spouse and myself;  but my mind is filled with other sorts of fantasies.  It is not filled with large and vain weddings where a white dress walks down a church aisle, rather I find myself planting, developing, test-driving and fulfilling.  It is not filled with the perfect husbands and significant others on bended knee giving me everything I have ever dreamed of; rather I find myself side by side with a person that is the complete opposite of me giving me the time of day and demanding that I treat him the same in return.   It is not filled with the standard 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1 story house; rather I find myself gazing out into a cozy studio apartment and tons of pillows or acre after acre of land heavy with fruit trees and vegetable vines.  

However, sometimes a mini half-mexican and half of whoever knocks me up pops into my mind but however much it may pain me, I must look away from his or her eager face until I see them in reality.

Nope, I'm pretty much done.  

See you when I see you,
Adriana