"Last Blog"

Music, now that is a genre i love to talk about. Although i'm not a musician and could not carry a key to save my life. I enjoy listening to music and the power it has. Your mood usually decides what you listen too.

For me, the type of music I  listen to can go from,  80's pop to alternative rock to oldies but goodies to worship music  to 50's rock and roll to dance music.... and well you get the picture. Your mood has a big part of what music you listen too. If i feel down i don't play Adele and cry in my car...i listen to worship music to get my spirits up. Getting close to the end of the semester and losing motivation.. i listen to Christmas music... more specifically Mariah Carey Holiday Radio on Pandora.. to remind myself that when im done  it'll finally be time to dedicate my time to the holidays.

Anyways, i was not expecting to rant about music. I did want to talk about when i wrote my first resume. Which i was not to hard  because it was for a ceramic store that my best friend worked at and she basically told me everything that i should include. therefore when it came to applying to the YMCA, it was a bit easier because i was able to include a "'real" job along with my experiences.

It was such a long process and overwhelming but in the end i beat the odds and got hired. Out of over 80 people who applied only 40 got a phone call interview. From their only 24 were selected to at tend a group interview. the following week only 8 had one on one interviews and in the end only 4 got hired. When i did and since than, i have been reassured that one of the reasons i awes hired was because " the qualities you have not only match up to what we look for in someone who represents the Y but what they could do for the Y community."

It was a big help that i included very sold references, my pastor and his wife, an old manager and they asked for a family member so i included my mom. During the whole process i just keep saying for me to be myself and just show her what i was about.  I felt like i did great and was reassured when i got hired and was asked to start right away.

Work, work, work

When i think about graduating it is bittersweet. Although, technically i am considered an adult, it a weird stage to be in as a college student. Yes i am going to school full time and working part time. But it wont really compare to when i get the job i desire. Which is to become a teacher  

Luckily i'm getting experience with kids. Not only with screaming, wobble walking toddlers, and random conversations with kindergartners about bugs. But with my high school growth group, where i can meet and talk to 14-18 years old once a week and be present in their day to day struggles. staying current with what high schoolers find difficult at the age. It hasn't been that long since i was in high school but you forgot stuff. So being in communication with them helps me to better understand how to talk to them and one day to future students. 

But when it comes to everything else, the way the principal will see me, other teachers, students parents... i start to panic and realize i have no idea about how a teacher is expected to dress ad talk and carry herself. of course with a level of professionalism and responsibility for the students and all that. The bigger picture i understand but its the day to day stuff that will built up to that. 

Establishing relationships not only with my students so that they are motivated to learn but with my collages so i can have someone who understands work talk and not bore my family with things they don't really understand because they are not part of that circle. 

It wont be easy jumping in to the teaching environment but with time and experience i will built up my authority in the class room and my place among the other staff.   

Restaurants

My grandparents own a Mexican restaurant in downtown, and my aunt is an event planner. I may not know the complete lingo but i have experienced how difficult it an be at times. Since it is a family business, from time to time when there is more than one event my family is always there to help out in any way.

 Over the years, i have learned that it is easier to help my aunt decorate a location, fix center piece arrangements and invitations. Than to take orders at the restaurant. Although i am a people person, there is a proper way of taking orders especially during a peak hour... which at times is not only 30 minutes of a full house but sometimes over an hour close to two hours.  

The register for one, seems impossible to understand. I have literally sat there and practice, ringing up fake orders but its not the same when you have someone rushing you and substituting parts. And the language that is use in the kitchen by the cooks. This has been a great example of discourse community.

However, looking back at my experience helping with my aunt plan a wedding or any other special event. I notice there is a lot of skills and experience that you need, in order to make it a successful event. There is definitely a need to solve problems and the ability to think on your toes, coming up with a great solution to whatever it is and fast. All the while remaining calm and collected as to not upset the Bride and have her worry about small details. 

Like anything you need experience, with event planning not only do you need to know about center pieces, invitations, table clothes, flowers, color schemes and all that jazz. But have the ability to get the job done and keep the customer happy along the way. 

Discourse Communities

Its weird because lately i have been talking a lot about community. For me, community is important. Depending on the situation i know which community to go to. Whether it is family, close friends, friends from church, work friends, or classmates. I can always find someone that can relate to me based on what the topic is. 

After looking at the six different characteristics. i started comparing the characteristics to the communities i am a part of. My work community seems to have several of the characteristics. 

 

Working at the YMCA not only our their common public goals that The Y stands for as a whole but there is also regional, local and branch goals that they freely publicize to their members and staff.

Working for such a large organization... ( i mean our regional staff meeting next month.. which is all employees just from the south county of California.... well be several hundred if not a thousand or so staff attending)  there has to be a great flow of intercommunication. Set up in a way that not only is everyone held accountable for their work but have someone to go to with questions, comments and concerns.

I work for the Child Watch Department and to better serve the families at the YMCA we have Year Subscription to a thing called Kid Interaction Training. Which allows us not only to do online training but once a month a staff training with an instructor. Learning about a variety of topics such as communicating and understanding kids with autism, kids in a foster family, kids with anger issues.. the list goes on and on. 

At the YMCA there is more then one form of communicating and getting things does. the process varying based on the circumstance 

There is specific abbreviations and "lexis" in the Child Watch Department and throughout the YMCA departments allowing us to communicate with other employees quickly and efficiently. 

Not everyone can work with kids just like not everyone can be a wellness coach at the YMCA. Depending on the department they look for certain experiences that well help you do well in your position.

The work community was great example of a discourse community. Some of the other communities i am a part of had one or several of the characteristics missing.  

BLOG #4..... Opinions greaaat

One of the things i dread when heading to a family gathering having conversations. I admire having heart to heart conversations. Going beyond the surface level.  But... family gatherings that go from catching up to very opinionated discussions... leads me to sitting far away enjoying the yummy food and hanging out with the kids. Only because i am a peacemaker and i have  learned that i cant reason with an unreasonable person. 

Don't get me wrong i understand that everyone is going to have their own onion and not everyone is going to agree with what i say. I'm open to hear what they have to say and what lead them to think a certain way on a given topic. It's when they start shoving down their thoughts and are not open to hear your side/onions.. where it gets messy and tends to lead to someone wanting to argue.. so i avoid certain conversations with certain people due to the results that it may lead too. 

Therefore reading these different sources was a bit hard.. considering the way they were constructed. Most very opinionated based with the agenda to convince and persuade you to feel a certain way. Common Rhetorical strategies that were used authorities, description, exigency, identification and exemplification. Authority was used to prove that someone we know or famous has the same outlook our supports their opinion. where as description and exemplification is used to illustrate the main idea in way that seems convincing and a great use pathos. 

Devitt and Genre

I find interesting when assignments brings out  different perspectives. Prior this blog i didn't think much about genres and the influence it can have. When i think of a movie or book genres i think of science fiction and fantasy. Like Harry Potter or a Disney Princess. For music the list can go on and on. Jazz, County, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Rock, alternative.... 

I understood that genres had different audience along with tone. But i did not take into consideration that genres had the potential of so much more then what you read or write. 

However reading Devitt's article it puts into perspective that genre is not just simply a theme or style but has certain intentions. Genre becomes a representation of certain values, beliefs and assumptions. which will promote particular worldviews. Becoming its own language. Genres come with a  type of persona, being structured based on certain ideology. Different genres can be used based on your audience.

  

For example, at SDSU some writing genres I have used include speeches, essays and autobiography. Speeches being molded on what you are presenting. Whether it is to be informative, persuasive, or take a stance. Each type of speech will be addressed differently. Genres in class tend to be more formal. When i took communication, i was more concerned on how i was going to address my speech. Well i was also terrified on the fact that i had to get up and talk in front of the whole class. However what made it easier is defining my audience and what i was presenting. If i was giving a speech on the research i had done about couch surfing and convincing the audience that its a great idea. Then i related to the fact that we are broke college students with desires to travel. The genre being a contributing factor on how my speech was developed and presented. 

Where as at work the genres that tend to be used are picture story, fairy tale, fantasy, short story. Working with kids changes the type of genre that is used to grab their attention. With the hopes of not only entertaining them but teaching them something new. With using theses types of genres it alllows me to connect with the kids. When kids coming in they are being left in our care and out job is to make them feel comfortable and connect with them. I wouldnt sit down with a 3 year old and start talking about politics. They would look at me weird and then cry because there parents have left them in a unknown place. But if i start talking about things they are interested in. Such as dinosaurs or the new Finding Dory movie. i able to have a conversation and relate to them all because i am communicating in a type of genre they are familiar and comfortable with. 

  

Each genre that is encounter whether it's in class, at work or just during the day to day is unique. the reason each genre is unique is based on the environment. Based on your audience, you tend to select the appropriate genre. In class you are there to learn and show what you have learned so far. So you want to appear knowledgeable and be assertive and interactive. At work it's a professional atmosphere so its more polite, respectful, team worker. Not that you shouldn't treat others with respect.

 Different settings call for us to use different types of genres. This allows us to adapt to an atmosphere and the way we communicate.through the use of different genres.  Which allows us  to appeal to our audience at hand. With the ability to build a a better connection with our audience. As well as  being more efficient in getting a goal or task done. Whatever that may be to who ever it is we are addressing . 

Hello! My name is Ensephany Estrada. I usually like going by my first name but i also go by Ensy. So feel free to call me by whichever. If your not sure you are saying it right just ask (: I am currently a 22 year old junior at SDSU.  I wish i was already done with school but life happens and we can get into that story at another time. 

I am a Spanish major in hopes to become a teacher. I absolutely love kids. They are adorable to be around and have such a unique way of thinking. I currently work at the YMCA taking care of parents kids while they work out. Ages ranging from infants from as young as 6 weeks old to 12 year old kids. There's good days and bad days but i enjoy working there and I am learning more about kids. 

I come from a big family. Depending on what you define as big. My Dad has 5 brothers and 3 sisters. My Momma has 3 brothers and 1 sister. I am the oldest and have two younger sisters and several friends who call my parents mom and dad. My parents got married young and had me in their early 20's. That did not stop my mom from going back to school. She also attended SDSU and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Going to school full time with three daughters under the age of 7, a husband, house, dogs etc. I admire my mom in many ways and is someone who constantly supports me and keeps me going. 

I have four dogs. Yeah i know, its crazy four dogs. I was born and raised in this beautiful city of San Diego. I'm not sure if I would ever move to another city but i definitely want to travel. So if you have any suggestions i would appreciate it. i have always wanted to go to Bora Bora. It looks beautiful. 

I love watching movies. i wont watch scary moves though i cant handle. it gives me anxiety knowing something might pop out at any moment and leave me paranoid for a week. I like to read. I read the Harry Potter series complete. More then once. I wish i could read the series for the first time. J.K. Rowling is a genius and it blows my mind how detailed and creative she is. If you haven't read the series i definitely recommend it. 

I love to talk and getting to know new people but hate talking in front of people. i get really nervous. Writing a blog is very new to me. So i hope this didn't totally suck and that i get better at. Ill try to be a bit more artsy next time and so dull without pictures and that other cool stuff. Look forward to getting to know you guys throughout this semester!