"Not everyone's rich"

President Turner sent an email to all SMU students announcing that there is going to be an increase in the tuition for school. I was a little shocked I have to admit. SMU is already very expensive, and raising the tuition even by a few thousand dollars seems a little crazy to me.  In his email he said that it was mostly to cover the expenses of the new residential commons that are being built for the new "sophomores living on campus" requirement.


The students that will get to pay this increase in tuition probably won't even be here to enjoy the new residential commons, and that is upsetting. Why are we supposed to pay for something that we won't even get to use? I would be less disappointed if the increase would be to give more funds to the Student Senate, or organizations that will actually make a difference in the school.


The truth is, the school already gets a lot of money from the current tuition it charges their students, plus all the donations from alumni. I understand that we are part of a very prestigious school, but prestigious doesn't always mean expensive. I hope that some of these money goes to parts of the school that do need the increase, like the cafeteria, and some of the dorms. Otherwise, I am sure that many students will be complaining.

The Shadow Scholar

As I was writing my final paper for my english class, I kept thinking of one of the sources that I used for it, and how much I wanted to post something about it on my blog. The source was an article published by The Chronicle of Higher Education called 'The Shadow Scholar'.  It is about a man who works for an online company which writes all types of school papers and essays for students. It is written by Ed Dante ( a pseudonym for a the actual writer of the article) a writer for the company. In his article, Dante explains what he does, how much he gets paid (about $66,000 a year) for writing essays for students and how he gets the job done. I believe his audience are teachers as because uses phrases like "You would be amazed by the incompetence of your students' writing". I think he is somehow blaming teachers and grading pressures for why students buy papers online.

 I get the feeling that Dante believes that teachers don't motivate or understand their student's enough. He is right, but that doesn't mean that teachers have the fault of why students rely on cheating to do well on their classes. I agree that sometimes teachers are not understanding enough of students, so students think that their work won't be good enough for their teacher, so they cheat. That is not a valid excuse though for committing an act of academic dishonesty. I think that teachers vary from school to school, and class to class, but they shouldn't be a factor on why a student decides to cheat. You are never going to please every teacher. Some will like your work, others won't. Even though you know that you're work won't be as good as the one of your classmates, or as good as you teacher expects it to be, you tried your best, your work is honest. That is all that you should care about.


 I personally know how frustrating it can get to think that you're not at the same level as everyone else, but I wouldn't use that as an excuse to plagiarize. I wouldn't use that as an excuse to blame my teacher for my grades. I am content knowing that I did my best, and that if my grade wasn't as high as I wanted it to be, it was because I have some language restrictions, not because of lack of effort. 


Grades aren't always that important. We shouldn't be consumed by them. We shouldn't let them be the reason why we are academically dishonest. What is really important is to know that you did your best. After all, grades are only a number, but effort and dedication are a lifestyle that will pay off with time.

"Say what you need to say"

Coming back from home, where I spent the weekend with my family, attending my grandmother’s funeral, I was listening to my ipod with one song on repeat. The song was “Say what you need to say” by John Mayer. This song made me reflect on how much we have to say to our loved ones before they leave us. 

For me, that chance has passed. I lost my grandmother, and all the things I wanted to say she can’t hear anymore. I wanted her to know that she will always be everything to me, that I am who I am today mostly because of her, and that she is and always will be my role model. I wanted to say that she was the light to my gray days; I wanted her to know how grateful I am for having her with me for 18 years, to thank her for always being there for me when I needed her most. Most importantly I wanted to thank her for being my best friend. I took time for granted, and all these words mean nothing now, she's gone. Although I know she's looking after me from heaven now, the pain of not having her physically here is unbearable. I know she knows I love her, I told her and showed her by actions how much I did, but it is never enough. Hearing things like these would have motivated her to keep fighting, to stay with me for longer. It comforts me to know she is in a good place.I know for a fact that heaven just got one hell of an angel.

I urge you to be kind to those around you, and to speak your heart out. Tell those important to you that you love them and that you're always there for them. Doing so will save you lots of pain and regret.  Time flies by, and we often don't realize how we diminish the value on what is really important. 

"Born Selfish?"

As we approached the month of November I started thinking about our Mexican tradition celebrated this month, and it helped me make a connection on how I'm usually selfish, most of us are. November the 1st is celebrated as "Dia de los muertos" or Day of the dead in Mexico and some other Latin American countries. This day is to honor those who have left us and led the way to heaven.

Altar

I have to say, before my grandma's death two months ago, I thought this holiday was absurd. The only good thing about it was that we got to skip school for a day, but the reason was not something very relevant to me, I just saw it as a holiday. After experiencing someone's death, specially of someone very close to me, I realized that it is a very important day. What they typically do on this holiday is set up an altar for those who have passed way with their favorite foods, clothes and other stuff that they used to like. They set it up with candles and pictures of the deceased and it is a day to remember them and honor them. 

It upsets me to think that I've been selfish all along as I never thought there was a need to celebrate this day and the deceased. I had to have someone close to me pass away to feel for others and to feel the need to celebrate "Dia de los Muertos". I was so ignorant before, but now I see how great it is. It is a way to keep their memories alive, and to show them how much we miss them and love them. Eventhough I probably won't set up an altar or anything like that, I will honor her life and dedicate this day to her, and those important to me that have left earth. With or without the candy, altar or candles we can still honor them.

It is amazing to see how we are sometimes indifferent to important situations until we are in the shoes of others.Why is this? Why do we have to stop being ignorant until misfortune has happened to us? I reflect on this thought almost daily. When will we think of others just because they deserve to be in our thoughts? When will do good to others just because the world needs it, not because we have to? I believe we aren't born selfish, but we sometimes choose to be. From now on, I choose not to be, for my own sake, as well as for the sake of others. I will now sympathize with everyone and try to always put myself in their place.

Typical sugar skull candy

"You asked for it after 2am"

I was riding the elevator of my residence hall, when I noticed a big yellow paper with the words "Sexual Assault Reported by Student". I thought it had to be from another campus, SMU is the safest place. I decided to do some research on assaults and violence, not only on campus, but related to SMU students; I was surprised by how many articles I found.


Whether it was for stealing a purse, or sexually assaulting a students, incidents like these occur somewhat frequently at SMU. I'd like to say I was in shock, but I wasn't. All of these incidents happened after 2am. We all know that there is violence out there, there are crazy people everywhere.  Sexual assaults, stealing, assaulting at gunpoint, these actions are all unacceptable. But I believe though, and disagree with me if you don't, that if they happen after 2am you somehow asked for it. 2am is late at night, when streets are almost empty and the dark is the only witness. I am not saying that the victims of assaults have the fault for what happened, not at all. I am just saying that they didn't take the precautions needed, like never walking to your car alone. It is proven that attackers like to "hunt" for their victims at night. We all know that it is unsafe to walk the streets alone, and to travel by yourself at night.


My point is, if you know you are going to be out late, make sure it is with a group. Don't drive or walk by yourself. Statistics prove that you will end up loosing. Want it or not, attackers are everywhere, even in the places we least expect it (like Highland Park). 

Friend or Foe?- Roomate Relationships

This following article persuaded me to write this blog post.  About a week ago, a teenager named Tyler Clementi committed suicide after finding out that he was taped having homosexual sex with his male partner. What kind of roommate would do that? What would he gain out of it? I somehow thought that maybe Tyler Clementi's roommate was trying to get rid of him because they weren't happy living together. They annoyed each other.


This event caused me to reflect on roommate relationships and how it is implorable that all roommates make an effort to get along with each other. I lived in boarding school for two years, so you could say I have experience in the roommate field. My first year at boarding school I had a "not so good" relationship with my roommate. The reason was that we had the worst schedules ever. I liked to go to bed late and she didn't; I liked quiet for studying, she wanted loud music. We were honestly like water and oil, complete opposites. I truly believe though, that what got us over the point of not talking and finally making up was respect. I respected that she wanted to go to bed earlier, so I would turn off the lights and listen to my ipod if I couldn't sleep. She respected that I wanted quiet, so she would use headphones. It took a while for us to get adjusted to each other, but it was worth it. We are now really good friends. You have to understand that respect is the base for every relationship, especially roommates. If you don't have respect, the relationship will sooner or later fall apart.
Roommate relationship's come with compromises. It takes two to start and solve a problem. Work together to fix it until you know there is nothing left to do. If you do, I guarantee you that you can become the best of friends.


I am also aware though, that sometimes there are people who are not compatible with each other. Sometimes two people are just not meant to live together.  So if you know that there is no way you can live with your roommate, talk to someone about it. Don't just take the easy way and piss him off until he decides he's had enough of you and leaves. You never know how people will react when they get annoyed. We have Tyler Clementi as an example of a boy that got so sick of his roommate and all the crap he made him go through that he committed suicide.


Here are some helpful tips on how to deal with those little things that bother you about your roommate that will truly make a difference in your relationship. But remember the one and only thing that will help is RESPECT.
1. Set boundaries.
2. Rearrange the room
3. Create a cleaning schedule.
4. Vacate the premises.
5. Let go of the little things.
6. Become a better roommate. 
I hope his was helpful to everyone who needed it, and if you have any comments on how to ease these problems please post a comment!


Thanks!

Viva Mexico?

What I am going to talk about today is a topic which I am directly affected and moved by; the current drug war happening in my country, Mexico.

When I was little my favorite past time was to go out on Sundays with my family, walk in the central city “plaza” and eat my favorite street food “tacos al vapor”. As I grew older, these Sunday activities became a routine along with other activities like going out, and hanging out in different places of Monterrey Mexico; City in which I was raised. 

My grade eleven year of high school, Monterrey was not a place you wanted to live in. Streets were invaded with military men armed with large, intimidating weapons. Mexico, but Nuevo Leon in particular (a northern state in Mexico) was dealing with a drug war. Things started getting ugly, and all of us northern Mexican citizens were living under fear;  We didn't like it. My Sunday routine with my family started to stop happening, clubbing and partying with my friends was not an option, and living a normal life seemed impossible.  I was sent to British Columbia, Canada to a boarding school to finish high school. I can truly say I had the most amazing time and made the most amazing friends, but leaving my life behind was hard. I missed my family, friends and school, but I knew going back was jeopardizing my safety. I hated the fact that I had to leave not by choice but by an unfair situation. I hated reading the news and learning about a new fight, more death, and even worse, more kidnappings.

Mexico is awesome, I mean come on, everything is cheaper, the people are kind and friendly, the beaches are beautiful, the parties are amazing and the food is even better. I have always been really proud of my country and our achievements, until now. The situation has gotten out of control and we are in serious need of help. Over the years, the drug lords have become the new government. It is them who decide what is done, and they are the main authority. The rule with fear, and that is their biggest weapon. Citizens and politicians are scared of them so there is not much that we can do. I believe that the only solution is to get help from other major powers like the US. The U.S could bring an army, fight the drug lords.  It is only with the help of others that the drug war can finally be ended.


 It hurts to know that a place you loved so much has become a war and death zone and it only makes me think “how could this happen?”, “why us?”.

Since when did it become okay to kill innocent people, to take away someone’s freedom until you get their money? The situation disgusts me. It makes me feel helpless as there is nothing we can do to help. Corruption between the government and police forces overpower the goodness in the citizens, and an act of kindness and initiative can get you killed. 

I hope one day this will all come to an end, but for now the question is Viva Mexico! Really?