Embedded Files
Freshman year, the year that one commences college. Personally, I did not know what to expect after enrolling into TAMIU, one of Laredo, Texas’ two colleges. There were many great memories that I shared with others in this first year of college as well as in Univ, a class dedicated to assimilating high school students into college curriculum.
The silence of the computer lab, a usually bustling area, was eerie but somewhat comforting. It almost felt as if I was being invited to work.
Rigorous study is often done in isolation and away from any distraction. That is what I was thinking when I took this photo. This is a computer lab in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Building in Texas A&M International University, where many science classes and lab experiments take place. This was on a Sunday, when I arrived in TAMIU to use the gym. After doing so, I thought it would be best to go to the computer lab and take initiative to do my work rather than procrastinate. This experience detailed to me the perfect method of studying to empower oneself, complete isolation.
In Univ, it was required that we read a book issued by the “Reading the Globe” competition. Marie Mockett Mutsuki’s “Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye” was a book that I connected with on a personal level as I share the same half-Japanese heritage as the author. Seeing as I had just come back from a trip to Japan a few months ago from this photo, I was excited to read it. After some time, the author came to TAMIU to give a presentation and a Q&A session. Attending this with the friends I made this year helped me connect with them, as I had a chance to listen to someone else’s view of my own culture with them. The studying in the photo before this one showed the kind of work ethic I needed to exhibit to ask questions to the author, which I will show next.
My friends being with me brought comfort, as I felt that I was not alone in the endeavor to ask Mrs. Mutsuki questions.
“How did you feel growing up as a Half-Japanese in the U.S.”, the nerve-racking question
Mrs. Mutsuki coming to TAMIU was a rare opportunity in Laredo to ask questions regarding the culture we share so that others in the crowd would be able to listen. Unfortunately, after one student before had asked two questions, the rest of us were prohibited from doing so. However, I was still satisfied with my question: “How did you feel growing up as a Half-Japanese in the U.S.”. This would be like another anecdote to the life that I have lived in this country. She answered that though others would make fun of her at times due to her being biracial, she still relished having both American and Japanese culture. Listening to this made me feel assured that I would feel the same way in the future. This made me feel more connected to myself and the culture of those around me and made growth in my character, meaning becoming accepting of both cultures.
In Laredo, the coming of the rainy season is like a checkpoint in the year and a sign that we will soon be relieved of the intense summer heat. This photo captures the exact time when it started raining. It carried symbolism, as the rain being a checkpoint was around the same time as midterms which is also a checkpoint for the middle of the semester. A strange feeling then came upon me, a feeling which stated “TAMIU is like your second home”, a testament to the connection I was making with not only other students, but the campus itself.
The pitter patter of the rain translated to, "You're almost there!"
"Blue Bossa", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado", and "Morning", oh the wonders of Jazz.
In this last photo, I attended a Jazz recital by several TAMIU music professors, one of which I knew as a child. As soon as my friend, Alexis, told me about it, Jose, briefly mentioned in my ePortfolio, and I swiftly made our way to the best seats. Enjoying time like this with friends outside of class and mandatory events helps remind me that college is not purely about studies and rigor, but about the connections that you make along the way. This also empowered me to keep doing the activities that I love, like piano and exercise, to achieve a sort of self enlightenment.
LINK TO ESSAY DOCUMENT:
LINK TO ESSAY DOCUMENT:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bInUXYnsWwqquJoyZzVg12d7n3eTbiiDQ8P9O5fBaxQ/edit?usp=sharing
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse