20 Questions for my Mentor

For internship, I am required to interview my mentor about her life in relation to the workplace.

1. Where did you go to college?
2. What was your major?
3. Why do you work here?
4. Where were you born and raised?
5. How were you inspired to dance?
6. How long have you been in the Dance Industry?
7. How did you first start out?
8. What were some difficulties you had starting out?
9. How did you end up being the owner?
10. How did you start out with teaching choreography?
11. What was your favorite dance choreography?
12. What are your inspirations/ influences when coming up with choreography?
13. What is your greatest memory concerning dance?
14. What part of your job do you like the best?
15. What part of you job do you not like the best?
16. Where have you displayed your productions?
17. What do you enjoy most about having high school interns?
18. What do you always look forward to?
19. What are your next future steps?
20. How does dance impact America?
    

San DIego Dance Theater Internship Experience

Today I had my first internship at the San Diego Dance Theater. I got there in 10 minutes walking because it was such a short distance. As soon as I arrived I got put straight to work. Firstly I went around the whole building picking up the old flyers that were outdated and threw them away. By doing so I also got the chance to introduce myself to other workers there and get a feel of my environment. Then I was stuffing envelopes and writing down the address to where it would be sent, and after I put them in the mailbox and checked the mail. Jean then asked if I could run down to the Postal Anexx and pick up some stamps which I did. After that my mentor and I discussed the plans for my project that I would be contributing. She already had an idea of what I could do and that would be to help her with the next production that would showcase in May. I am actually pretty excited for that and its definitely something to look forward to. When it ended my mom came and picked me up, it was a good day.

Kennedy and Obama's Connection

John F. Kennedy was only in office from 1961-1963 before his assassination. As a candidate and President, he managed to win over the hearts of many through his speeches and great leadership. John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech is relevant in modern society because it was abundant with hope, motivation, and change, which continue to inspire even today's generations. Now in 2008, Obama is our forty-forth President and like Kennedy, both of their inauguration speeches were very identical.

The Vietnam War and civil rights movements affected many Americans in the 1960’s. What the people needed most at that moment was hope and security, in which Kennedy made the promise in his speech “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.” Even years later, America needs hope more than ever to continue on. With depression, war, and massive unemployment it feels like our country is slowly falling apart. Obama knows that it’s going to be a long hard journey to fix the chaos but in his inauguration he said “With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come.”

The most famous line ever said from Kennedy’s inauguration was “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country...ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” There is only so much the government can do and control, but it’s the “faith and determination” of the people where the heart of the country really lies, because no matter how many years go by, that will never change. In Obama’s speech he says “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.” The connection between Obama and Kennedy is once again there. That it is as well our duty to make a difference.

We needed a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960. Back then, the country was still in segregation, everyone wanted his or her rights, and America was screaming for change. “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change.” We wanted Kennedy for the same reason of change that he would bring us, just as we wanted Obama who said, “For the world has changed, and we must change with it.” While campaigning, Obama’s famous line was “Yes we can!” Kennedy’s line was “We’ve got to get this country moving again!” Both as candidates focused their campaign on change and turning America along a better path.

Like Kennedy, Obama has changed the way America sees itself and the way it is seen by the rest of the world. They both inspire the nation in ways other Presidents never managed to do. They are both Presidents who understand that it’s their responsibility to create a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds themselves, and those around him, to the highest standards; who brings up the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved. “Let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” – John F. Kennedy.




Sources

Kennedy, John. "American Rhetoric: John F. Kennedy -- Inaugural Address." American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States. 23 Jan. 2009 .

Obama, Barack. "Transcript: Barack Obama's Inaugural Address : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts. 23 Jan. 2009 .

"Following in Lincoln's footsteps - The Irish Times - Wed, Jan 21, 2009." The Irish Times – Irish News, Business News, Sports News & Ireland Weather Online. 23 Jan. 2009 .

Rich, Frank. "Ask Not What J.F.K. Can Do for Obama - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 3 Feb. 2008. 23 Jan. 2009 .

Reeves, Richard. "Kennedy’s Words, Obama’s Challenge - 100 Days Blog - NYTimes.com." US Presidencies - 100 Days Blog - NYTimes.com. 9 Jan. 2019. 23 Jan. 2009 .

Kennedy, Caroline . "Op-Ed Contributor - A President Like My Father - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 27 Jan. 2008. 23 Jan. 2009 .

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

“America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

The passage I chose is the conclusion of Barack Obama's inauguration. The reason I chose it is because I found it the most powerful part of his entire speech. What I like about Obama's speeches is that he doesn't “sugarcoat” issues at hand. He says that he knows that we have to be able to endure “what storms may come”. That we have to come together with “hope and virtue” in the face of the coming dangers. That we shouldn't give up just because the journey is hard, but that we continue on as a Nation, together as one.

The reason I feel that Obama's words relate to the everyday life that I know is because I know what hardships are. I know what it feels like to struggle, to give up, to endure, and prevail. His speech lets my life connect to what he is promising us, that with “eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations”. That by keeping our eye on the goal and never turning back, we can reach it, and make it an even better future for our children.


Transcript: Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

Outline Draft 2!

Thesis: Christopher Reeves would know what its like to be a superhero, yet he says that it doesn't take super powers and a cape. All it takes is the bravery, selflessness, and confidence that firefighters and citizens demonstrated on September Eleventh. 



Body Paragraph 1: On September Eleventh, fear struck the hearts of many across the country. While citizens ran away from the flaming towers, firefighters ran towards them and because of there bravery, 343 firefighters and paramedics passed away saving the lives of others.

John McCole was an actual firefighter who arrived at the World Trade Center Complex on the morning of 9/11 to rescue survivors. McCole was racing to the site as he watched the second tower fall. Watching as the twisted metal and shattered glass fell on top of the firefighters on Ground Zero. It came down so fast that they never had the chance to get away.


Body Paragraph 2: Christopher Reeves was more then an actor, but as a hero to many. With his selflessness he has been able to help the lives of many with disabilities a spinal cord injuries. Superman is known for being one of the greatest super heros of all time. While Christopher Reeves played his role in the movie, it helped him realize who a true hero is. When asked in an interview, “Who is your hero?”, he replied with “I believe that the real heroes today are ordinary people who persevere and endure against overwhelming obstacles”.

On May 27th 1995, Reeves fell off his horse causing a cervical spinal injury that paralyzed him from the neck down. Reeve was taken to the Kessler Rehabilitation Center to recover. Many months after he left Kessler feeling deeply inspired by the other patients he had met. Because he was constantly being covered by the media, he realized that he could use his name to the benefit of everyone with spinal cord injuries. Reeve was elected Chairman of the American Paralysis Association and Vice Chairman of the National Organization on Disability. He was also the co-founder of the Reeve_Irvine Research Center, which is now one of the leading spinal cord research centers in the world. His foundation to date has given more then $65 million for research, and more then $8.5 million in quality-of-life grants. Uc Irvine even once said, “in the years following his injury, Christopher did more to promote research on spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders than any other person before or since.”



Body Paragraph 3: Rescue and recovery efforts took months to complete after September Eleventh. Many of the citizens volunteered and helped with the cleaning of the destroyed towers. With their confidence they were capable of finishing by May of 2002. They recovered many of the dead bodies, and fragments pieces everywhere. They used courage to strive forth, and continue on through the dense clouds of smoke from the 1.5 million tons of debris produced of the World Trade Center which caused a lot of problems for the clean up effort.




Conclusion: Why its important to be hero in our lives, to help the ones in need and do the best of our abilities for others. That it requires the hard work, but that its not impossible, where we can find a hero in anyone from teachers, to doctors, to even our parents.

Artist Statement Outine

Thesis: Christopher Reeves the original Superman in the movie would know whats its like to be a superhero, and yet he says that it doesn't take super powers and a cape. All it takes is the bravery, courage, and selflessness that the firefighters and everyday citizens in our great Nation have demonstrated through the September Eleven tragic event.

Body Paragraph 1: Christopher Reeves and his connection to Superman and why he feels the way about his quote.
Body Paragraph 2: Firefighters and 9/11, that they ran towards the burning buildings while everyone else ran away.
Body Paragraph 3: Why it only takes bravery, courage, and selflessness to be a hero, that it could be anyone.

Conclusion: Why its important to be hero in our lives, to help the ones in need and do the best of our abilities for others. That it requires the hard work, but that its not impossible, where we can find a hero in anyone from teachers, to doctors, to even our parents.

September Eleven Information
Quote
Christopher Reeves

Bush's Environmental Contradictions

Many know Bush as the President who didn't do anything except for sending people off to war, and destroying our environment. In the article “Deadly Sins” by Katharine Mieszkowski, it clearly states all the actions Bush upheld or approved of that hurt our planet. For example, Sin 1 says that Bush “blew the hot air” that is global warming. Since he refused to the greenhouse gas emission reductions it, the atmosphere suffers. “The most shameful thing we've done of all is to walk away from the international debate on climate, which has crippled the debate and caused everyone else in the world to think that we're hypocritical and deluded”. We can't expect other major countries such as China and India to not use their coal, get rich, and ruin the atmosphere especially when we are practically doing the same thing.

Sin 4 in the article mentions how Bush abandoned the endangered species. “All the high-profile listings, such as polar bears, have come about after the government has been sued or petitioned by environmental groups and citizens.” The Bush administration “destroyed” the adequacy of the government biologists to “do their jobs”. They forced many scientists out, took money from their budgets, stopped the research they had to be shared, and prevented the scientists from “commenting to the media.” On another note the administration also tried to force on their regulations about allowing the government to build roads or start mining projects without having to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about if it would “harm endangered species”.

Bush’s sin number 5 has to do with the drilling that has been taking place at the onshore federal lands during the past seven years. Or number 6 where he would “thin” the forests by cutting down many trees and paving roads through the wilderness. Even with the negative image of Bush and the environment, he still was able to have a good impact on the world in the end. “Bush's decision to safeguard far-flung areas totaling 195,280 square miles, which comes just two weeks before he leaves office, underscores his contradictory environmental record.” In the article “Bush to Protect three Areas in Pacific” by Juliet Eilperin, she writes about the major success Bush achieved through conserving the greatest portion of ocean anyone every had. Bush restricted oil and gas exploration, while also restricting commercial fishing around the multiple remote islands in the central and western Pacific oceans. “Bush has matched the record of some of the nation's most conservation-minded presidents” which is a breakthrough for him. Bush was able to save and preserve the sea and island ecosystems because of his three new marine national monuments. By the end of his term of president, he would have saved and protected more ocean then “any person in history”.

My Internship Experience

What I hope to learn and gain from the internship experience is the responsibility that I’ll need when I end up in the “adult” world. I am motivated at times and I am responsible, but only to a certain extent. I am used to high school expectations and high school work and I want to have a taste of what there is in the future. I hope to discover that the “adult” world is more then just busy work and making money. I don’t want to grow up focusing on a paycheck, but doing my work to benefit others.

What I hope to discover about myself is that I can do anything that they can throw at me. I want to be able to realize the importance of a future career and how I have to commit myself to what I do if I want to become a success. I want to learn what I am capable of and how far I can be pushed and still continue on. I already know who I am and who I want to be, but I want to discover all the potential I have if given the chance.

The goals I have for the internship experience is that I want to have a good project that I can contribute to the business. I want to be able to come up with a plan thats original and beneficial and something I can actually come through with in the end. Another goal was to find my own internship that I was able to actually accomplish this afternoon! I am happy to say that I am now officially going to intern at the San Diego's Dance Theater in NTC. Another goal is just to make the best of this experience and soak up every minute of it. I just wanted an opportunity that I wouldn't be able to get in the future so that I would at least have the chance of checking it out.