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Reedley College Reading & Writing

Center presents...

Spring, April 2019

Spring Celebrations By Ronnie Coates

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Earth Day By Paola Valenciano

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Titanic Remembrance By Evelyn Felipe

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Librarian Day By Maddie Dominguez

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Memoir By Iman Alamri

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Grammar Corner By Elizabeth Kleinkramer

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Comic Con By Stephanie Duarte

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Creative Non-Fiction By Savanna Duncan

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Memoir By Lucio Rodriguez

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CalWORKS By Brandon Cooper

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Fiction By Rosa Corocles

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Crossword 15

Poetry By Laura Hand

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RC Men’s Golf By Isaiah Tigler

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Safari Days By Monse Hernandez

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Clubs, Services, &

Calendar 18-

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Table of Contents

By Ronnie Coates

Spring Celebrations From Around the World

March 20th, 2019 is the date that

marks the end of winter and the begin-

ning of spring. The weather is becoming

warmer, and flowers are beginning to

bloom. People are embarking upon ad-

ventures with friends and family mem-

bers ranging from road tripping across the

state to hiking to the top of Yosemite

Falls. Some are cleaning their homes and

are getting rid of unused items to honor

the tradition that is spring cleaning. Chil-

dren are looking forward to decorating

hard boiled eggs and going on egg hunts

with their families. While spring cleaning

and egg decorating are common in the

United States, other cultures and religions

have their own unique celebrations to

mark the beginning of the spring season.

It is common for people of Catholic

and Protestant faiths to celebrate Easter

during this time. For them, the holiday of

Easter represents the day in which Jesus

Christ was resurrected. The Catholic

Church and some Protestant denomina-

tions will reenact Christ’s death and res-

urrection during the early hours of Easter

day. Some individuals even choose to

give up something sentimental to them

for a tradition called Lent. Lent is a way

to pay remembrance to the forty days Je-

sus fasted in the wilderness before begin-

ning his ministry.

Jewish individuals celebrate the holi-

day of Passover during the spring. This

celebration typically spans seven to eight

days, depending on the branch of Judaism

that is practiced. Passover is a time where

Jewish people pay remembrance to the

Hebrew people that were freed from slav-

ery in Egypt, a movement thought to have

been led by the biblical figure Moses.

Jewish individuals share a meal with their

families and recall stories of the struggles

their ancestors faced while being held

captive in Egypt.

In India, people of the Hindu faith

have a spring celebration known as Holi.

Participants of this celebration will splash

each other with water and coat each other

with colored powder to signify the idea

that good supersedes evil. In addition,

participants will consume sweets and

dance to folk music. Holi takes place on

the day of the last full moon of the Hindi

Lunisolar calendar month, which usually

falls in March.

Many people living in the Middle

East and parts of Asia celebrate the holi-

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day Nowruz, or what is sometimes referred to as the

Persian New Year. Typically, celebrators of Nowruz

will clean and declutter their houses and will proceed

to eat a meal with their families. The meal consists of

seven foods, all of which start with the letter “s” in the

Persian language. Each of the seven foods are symbol-

ic for a specific value, such as rebirth, that Nowruz

celebrators hold dear. Some families will exchange

gifts with one another or attend festivals as a means of

celebrating.

People residing in Thailand ring in the Thai New

Year by celebrating Songkran. Celebrations of

Songkran begin on April 13th and typically span three

days, but the length of the celebrations may vary de-

pending on local customs. Thai people also place em-

phasis on renewal and cleansing during Songkran cel-

ebrations; the cleansing is represented symbolically

using water. Water is poured over statues of Buddha,

in the hands of seniors, and may also be used for

house cleaning or water fights.

These are just a few examples of celebrations that

occur in the spring. Spring celebrations are common

across the world, but the customs that are practiced

vary greatly depending on the region. No matter how

you plan to celebrate, we can all look forward to

warmer weather and spending time with our families!

Spring Celebrations Continued...

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“Only when the last tree has died, the last river

has been poisoned, and the last fish been caught will

we realize we cannot eat money” -Native American

Proverb.

Earth Day is held on April 22nd every year. The

purpose of this event is to promote environmental

awareness and to advocate for the protection of our

planet. One can celebrate this day by being outdoors

and performing acts of service to the earth. Such ac-

tivities include planting a tree, picking up garbage,

conducting programs to recycle and conserve, and

even petitioning our representatives to take action to

lessen the pace of global warming through regulation.

However, people caring about their actions to-

wards the earth’s preservation for just a single day is

not effective. For example, Valentine’s Day consists

of people in relationships treating each other extra

‘special’ for just one day and are less appreciative the

rest of the year. Universally, partners should treat each

other with respect, care, and love year round and thus,

it must be this way with how we treat our earth. We are

living in this planet and simultaneously destroying it. It

is important for everyone to be aware of how we are

destroying it. Did you know that something as simple

as lighting a candle for whatever purpose causes small

amounts of air pollution? Beyond that, there are also

pollutants from vehicles, fires, and even water waste

that deteriorates the ozone layer. This is why Earth Day

should actually be every day. We should not do some-

thing just for one day and ignore these problems for the

rest of the year.

This day should ultimately remind us that we are

only here for a short amount of time, and we should be

the generation that takes control and responsibility over

the treatment of our planet.

We need to show political leaders that we care

about our earth, what is being done to it, and that we

want mindful behavior to stop. We need new policies

and legislation to be passed that lessen our footprint on

the planet that we should be cherishing.

By Paola Valenciano

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Earth Day should bring everyone together. Race, gender, age, or economic

status does not matter when it comes to giving life back to our planet. One should

come in this life with a purpose and leave with it, and this purpose should be to

keep our beloved planet habitable for the future generations to come.

Whenever you are about to litter, light a candle, or even just go for a drive for

fun, you should consider the impact your actions can have on the enviornment. Do

you want to live in a planet filled with air, soil, and water pollution? If not, then

remember: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

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Titanic Remembrance Day By Evelyn Felipe

Titanic Remembrance Day is celebrated on April

15th. This ship is very memorable because of its size

and the unfortunate event that took place. This day is

dedicated to the 1,500 individuals who lost their lives

on the Titanic.

The builders of the Titanic took pride in the interi-

or and exterior look of the ship. It was the largest

ship built at that point of time. It reached almost 900

feet in length. In total, it carried 2,240 passengers and

crew members. To board the Titanic, the price of the

ticket ranged from $2,500 for first class passengers to

$40 dollars for the third class. The Titanic gained a

lot of attention, which led a lot of people to buy a

ticket to board the ship. The inside of the ship was

known to be luxurious for first class passengers be-

cause it included a grand staircase, contained the Ritz

Restaurant, and had many more features. The ship

was powered by steam, utilized 600 tons of coal each

day and released 100 ton of ash every day it ran.

While the Titanic was very lavish for first class pas-

sengers, the third-class passengers saw a different

environment. There were more than 700 third class

passengers who had to share two bathtubs.

The ship was on its first voyage from England to

New York City, however no one expected the trip to

be unsuccessful. Since the ship was deemed unsinka-

ble by its creator, those in charge of the ship did little

to prepare for sinking possibilities. Late at night on

April 11th, the ship hit an iceberg which caused it to

sink in the early morning the next day. About 1,500

people died due to a lack of lifeboats on the ship.

This event was so memorable that there have been

several movies and books created about the Titanic

and the unfortunate events that occurred. For exam-

ple, one popular movie Titanic shares a love story of

a man, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and a woman,

played by Kate Winslet, who meet on the ship but are

separated at the end due to him sacrificing himself to

save his beloved after the ship began to sink.

There are many ways that you can observe Titanic

Remembrance Day. You can bring attention to this

day by going on social media and using the hashtag

#TitanicRemembranceDay. You can also search for

stories on the web and artifacts that were recovered

by survivors. The story of the ship still offers a cau-

tionary tale about the real danger that accompanies

grand human design.

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In the United States, we celebrate School Librarian Day

every year on April 4th as a token of appreciation from stu-

dents everywhere to their school librarians. Throughout the

day, school librarians are recognized for all of the hard

work and passion that they put into their job. A few weeks

ago, I had the privilege of meeting all three of our school

librarians here at Reedley College. They work hard along

with the rest of the staff to keep the library functioning in

an orderly manner. Each librarian is there to help students

feel welcome as they help students search for resources

more efficiently and effectively. Not only do they take the

time to give us suggestions of what books can help us on a

specific topic, but they go out of their way to visit class-

rooms to talk about the many resources that are available

with just the click of a button.

Reedley College Librarians also create strong bonds

with students by showing how much they care for our fu-

ture. Being able to communicate and get along with our

librarians is very important because they are here to help us

reach our educational goals through the knowledge that

books provide. Not only should we appreciate them on this

day, but whenever we see them, we should take a moment

to get to know them more and thank them for all of the

work they put into their job. So, if you have spare time,

stop by the library and give our school librarians a big

thank you for all that they do to make our college a better

learning environment for everyone.

Interview Questions

Librarian-Shivon Hess

1. What has been the most memorable memory you

have had while working as a Librarian?

My most memorable memory would be from several

years ago (at another library) when I helped an important

figure in civil rights history. I was new to the area and did-

n’t know who this person was until a colleague informed

me afterwards. I was in awe so, of course, I did my re-

search and learned something new! I will never forget this

experience or this person and how close I was to a living,

breathing historical figure. You never know who you’re

going to meet or help in this lifetime.

2. What do you love most about being a Librarian?

It’s a great feeling when I get feedback from students

and faculty who let us know how much our services, tech,

or collection have helped them achieve their goals. This is

the fuel that keeps me learning new innovative ways to fit

the needs of our ever-changing, ever-growing community.

3. What would you tell students to encourage them

to visit the library more often?

We don’t bite! I’ve said this in several classes, but it’s

true! Libraries often have the misperception of being life-

less, cold buildings full of dusty old books. Furthermore,

libraries are staffed with mean librarians who read all day

and shush their patrons. We are so far from that! Our main

goal is to support the information needs of the campus and

curriculum – which is a big job considering how many

classes and departments there are! We collaborate with fac-

ulty to ensure we have relevant resources to support student

coursework. Students – you’re not bothering us at all! We

want you to ask questions! Or just grab a seat and hang out

or study!

By Maddie Dominquez

Nance Espinosa Shivon Hess Mai Soua Lee

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Adjunct Librarian-Nance Espinosa

1. What has been the most memorable memory you

have had while working as a Librarian?

All the student workers, and co-workers, I have had the

privilege of working with.

2. What do you love most about being a Librarian?

Helping people find information and catching up on their

progress.

3. How many years have you been working here at

Reedley College as a Librarian?

March 17, 2007. Twelve years.

Adjunct Librarian-Mai Soua Lee

1. What has been the most memorable memory you

have had while working as a Librarian?

The most memorable memory for me while working as

a Librarian here at Reedley College was when a pair of

doggie-buddies casually strolled into the library from one

end of the circulation room out through the other side of

the library. This was memorable for me because at that mo-

ment, I realized that not only students, faculty, and staff

found the RC library to be a wonderful place to learn, ex-

plore, and hangout; even our four-legged friends found it to

be a very enjoyable facility too.

2. What do you love most about being a librarian?

What I love most about being a librarian is being able to

support and impact students' educational aspiration and

success. I love spreading knowledge and ensuring that stu-

dents receive the highest quality of library support, ser-

vices, and resources to maximize learning and exploration.

3. What makes Reedley College a good working envi-

ronment?

I love working at Reedley College, because when I set

foot on campus every day, I feel a sense of belonging - of

coming home. It is a feeling of being part of a large family

and learning together as we navigate the academic ship to

reach the goals, dreams, learning outcomes, and mission of

the college.

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Being born in America but being raised in a Mus-

lim household has granted me the opportunity to expe-

rience life with two different lenses. My parents were

born in a third-world country and immigrated to

America at different times in their life. After immi-

grating to the U.S., they lived on opposite sides of the

country, but then, my parents moved from New York

to California after being married in the year of 1986.

My parents always kept their Muslim traditions

while raising their children in America. Every year we

fasted during the holy month of Ramadan, even

though it fell on the hottest month in the summer. Eve-

ry year we attended each Eid-al-fitr and Eid-al-kibr

with our extended family even though it was chaotic

trying to find my huge extended family where every-

one in our Muslim community was doing the same.

Every year we met at one family member’s house to

celebrate the Eid as we exchanged gifts and sat down

all together on the floor because the table was too

small to fit all of us. It was the little things, like my

cousins and I playing with the dough my grandma

used to make a common Middle-Eastern pastry known

as “Fidra,” that made me appreciate and love not only

my Muslim culture, but my Yemeni culture as well.

It is common for my Yemeni culture to be misper-

ceived as it is not in the best shape right now. The way

my culture is perceived on mainstream media is not

the exact picture I live in every day of my life. I be-

lieve that the way my family celebrates our culture is

one of the most euphoric experiences I’ve ever had.

When someone in our family is getting married, it is

one huge family contribution with one party after an-

other until the day of the wedding. Two days before

the wedding, we have what’s called the “Henna Party”

where all the girls of the bridal party and the groom’s

family get temporary henna tattoos on their hands and

arms. In Yemeni tradition, the bride gets henna on

both her arms and legs with henna on both sides of

their palms and all the way up to their forearms. Hen-

na also covers their feet all the way up to their mid-

calf. It is also Yemeni tradition for the groom to get

henna on his palms because it is viewed as a sign of

good luck before the wedding.

If it was not clearly stated above, family is a huge

part when it comes to my Yemeni culture. In my inter-

mediate family, with three older siblings and two par-

ents, we never let each other fall behind. We help pick

each other up when we’re down and dust off our

shoulders. Most Yemeni families like mine give tough

love. This meant that we were never pampered and we

were taught to strengthen our inner-confidence. Let’s

just say it wasn’t easy to explain to our father why we

were crying or hurt because he knew that as, a Yemeni

father, he was the one to constantly remind us that we

are not just American, but we are also Yemeni. Mean-

ing that he knew that the Yemeni blood coursing

through our veins overlapped our American blood.

Our Yemeni blood is thicker than ever, and it courses

through our veins every single waking day of our

lives. But of course, he didn’t want us to take the lives

we are given in America for granted.

Stemming back to my grandparents on my moth-

er’s side, my life would have been so much different if

they hadn’t moved to America in 1965. They took the

By Iman Alamri Life of an

American-Muslim

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Ethos, pathos, and logos are three strategies that

many writers can use to influence their readers; here’s

how you can use them in your own writing.

Ethos is the use of ethics or credibility to convince

a reader. Ethics can be an extremely influential tool

for writers. The credibility of an author, or the ethics

of an idea, person, business, or debate can help sway

readers in a writer’s favor. An example of using ethos

would be to cite a person’s credentials in order to

prove their reliability. For example:

George, a small business owner and respect-

ed committee member, writes that business-

es should be managed well to avoid failure.

Listing George’s credentials helps readers realize that

he has experience, and they should believe him, which

strengthens the argument that business should be well-

managed.

Pathos is the use of emotion to influence readers.

Tugging at someone’s heart strings is a great way to

convince them that an argument is valid. For example:

Alan’s daughter died in a car crash last

year, and in order to deal with his grief, he

turned to strengthening his town’s auto

laws. In this way, he can ensure that no

more children will perish in car accidents.

Alan’s situation makes the reader feel that his views

are noble and helps strengthen the writer’s argument

that traffic laws should be more restrictive.

Logos is the use of logic to persuade readers. Log-

ic can be a powerful tool. If an idea makes sense to a

reader, they are more likely to trust that the idea is

right or true. Logos often uses facts and evidence. For

example:

Samuel L. Jackson is the highest grossing

actor of 2019, making 5.867 million dollars

to-date.

The use of statistics in this example helps prove to the

reader that Samuel L. Jackson is the most popular ac-

tor of 2019.

Using ethos, pathos, and logos in your writing can

help convince your readers that your thesis is correct.

biggest opportunity to not only change their chil-

dren’s lives but the future of their grandchildren and

great-grandchildren as well. With Yemen being a

third-world country, my life would have been the

complete opposite of how I live now. Most girls my

age are already married with at least one child by

now with not much of an education. Everyone in my

family makes sure that our lives here in America are

never taken for granted as we further our education

more and more to prove that the reason our grandpar-

ents immigrated is still thriving through our bettered

lives.

If I were to explain my pride and admiration for

my Yemeni culture, I would express it through the

five senses. I could smell the bakhoor incense sur-

rounding the room. I could feel another one’s cheeks

on mine as I was greeted with multiple side kisses. I

could hear the sound of the Oud amplifying my ears.

I could visualize the bright and eye-catching colors

draped on one’s head. I could taste the spices and

traditional foods that fill the air.

You can live without one or more of the five

senses, but having all five completes the overall

package of living a life as an American-Muslim.

By Elizabeth Kleinkramer

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Do you like anime? Comic books? Manga? The

Marvel universe? Are you more of a DC person? Do

you belong to a fandom (another term for a

“fanbase”)? If you do, it is almost a guarantee that

your fandom can be found at Comic Con in San Die-

go. This convention is dedicated to all things fandom

and will be held on July 18-21 at the San Diego Con-

vention Center. It was founded in 1970 and has grown

to have up to 130,000 attendees every year, and the

convention continues to draw large crowds of fans

from all ages and backgrounds. It features panels of

famous actors, directors, writers, and artists. It is also

the go-to place to see some of the best cosplayers in

the world. ‘Cosplay’ is the term for fans dressing up as

their favorite characters in elaborate costumes

(Costume+Play). Fans have the opportunity to get an

autograph from their favorite stars, attend screenings,

attend art exhibits, take their kids to kid friendly

zones, see special previews of upcoming movies, and

much more. Tickets (which, for Comic Con, are called

“badges”) are already sold out, but do not fear, there

are still local events here in the Central Valley that

you can attend for a much lower price (badges for

Comic Con are usually $66 for one day).

On Saturday, April 6 at the University Student Un-

ion at Fresno State, Fres-Con will be held from 10AM

to 6PM. It is free entry, and there will be relaxed park-

ing. If you would like to, you can even cosplay as your

favorite character. Fres-Con is a family-friendly event

and will also include a community fair.

Another local fan-event is the yearly Ani-me Con,

which was held at the Fresno Fairgrounds on March

16 and 17. The convention features all things Anime

but also includes other fandoms. It is quite the sight

to see: you will see professional cosplayers, voice-

actors, hundreds of vendors, and so much more. A two

-day pass is $19.99, or a one-day pass can be pur-

chased at the door. There are also VIP packages that

include merchandise. More info can found at ani-

me.com

If you would like to attend a smaller scale conven-

tion run by Comic-Con, check out WonderCon in An-

aheim, CA. at the Anaheim Convention Center. It was

held on March 29-31, and badges range from $24-$40

for a single day; info is available online at comic-

con.org/wca.

What is great about these conventions is that they

are a place where fans can be themselves and share

their love of their favorite movies, tv shows, video

games, and anime, as well as make new friends, and

perhaps,even meet their favorite celebrities. If you

have never attended a fan convention of any kind, you

definitely should try one out. It will be quite adven-

turous and memorable.

If you are interested in local shops that sell comics,

manga, anime, and fandom merch, check out some of

the following stores: Silkroad Gallery (anime) at Sier-

ra Vista Mall and Heroes Comics next to Sierra Vista

Cinema 16.

By Stephanie Duarte

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Welding: to join together metal parts by heating the sur-

faces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc,

or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering,

etc. While the definition may be new for some, the reality is

that welding plays a huge role in most people’s lives. With-

out welding, we wouldn’t have long-lasting fences, automo-

biles, buildings, appliances, or even space travel! In fact,

70% of the world’s manufactured products are created

through some sort of welding process. However, I recently

had the opportunity to attempt welding myself. It proved to

be a very physically demanding activity that required a lot of

practice to even begin to perform, or let alone, master.

Before I was given instructions or even introduced to

any of the tools, I was immediately fitted with a leather

apron, gloves, and goggles. Quite honestly, the level of per-

sonal protective equipment I was given made me realize ra-

ther quickly that perhaps what I had signed up to learn was

potentially dangerous. Being a natural klutz, I began to ques-

tion what I had gotten myself into, but none the less, I con-

tinued. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen? Or at

least, that’s what I thought to myself. I was then promptly

told stories of professional welders lighting themselves on

fire and continuing their work without realizing they were on

fire due to the intense UV protection the welder’s shield and

goggles give off: these masks essentially blind you to your

surroundings. Still, there was no need to fear. There were

two fire extinguishers on hand in the perfectly safe wooden

shed we were working in as well as a bucket of water on

hand.

The first tool I was taught to use was an acetylene cut-

ting torch. The main purpose of this tool is to cut chunks off

of large pieces of metal or to split a piece of metal to the

shape you need it to be. This was actually the harder of the

two tools I used because it requires an extremely steady

hand. First, you have to adjust your flame using the gas and

the oxygen. Then, you have to heat the metal wherever your

starting point is for the line you’re going to be cut-

ting. When the metal is hot enough, you then hold

down the handle that releases an even more concen-

trated dose of oxygen that melts the metal and cuts a

line through it. Once the main integrity of the metal

in this line has been melted through, you can simply

take a hammer to it, and the chunk will ‘pop’ off.

The second tool I used was the main form of

welding that people often think of when they hear the

word. I was given access to a 220 watt arc welder

which ultimately conducts high levels of electricity

into a grounded piece of metal that creates a spark

which melts metal on contact. The goal of this ma-

chine is to combine two pieces of metal by heating

them with the electric rod and using the end of the

rod to swirl their two “puddles” of metal together to

fuse them. I chose to weld old horseshoes together

into a four-leafed clover pattern. It turned out just as

I had wanted it too— just so long as one does not

look on the backside where my welding bonds are.

On a last and grateful note on my personal expe-

rience, I did not light myself on fire during my first

welding experience. However, there is a much re-

spect to be had in regards to the men and women

who do this for a living as well as for the training

they go through beforehand to prepare for a career in

this field. They, quite literally, build the foundation

of essential tools we use every single day.

Written and Performed by

Savanna Duncan

Personal Narrative:

National Welding

Month

Check out RC’s

Welding Technology

Program here on

campus!

Faculty Advisors: Mr.

Robert Fransen and

Mr. David Tikkanen

10

Memoir

Don’t Grow Up, It’s a Trap!

“You find sometimes that a

thing which seemed very thing-

ish inside you is quite different

when it gets out into the open

and has other people looking at

it.”

—Winnie the Pooh

If I was given a book for every time I heard the

phrase “grow up,” my house would have contained a

collection much greater than the Library of Alexan-

dria. A grown up is simply defined as an adult; an

adult is simply defined as someone who is fully grown

and developed. There’s a common belief that the brain

isn’t fully developed until one reaches the age of 25,

and when discussing life itself, no one is ever done

evolving and developing themselves as a person. This

makes it odd to hear any “grown up” telling a student

that it’s time to grow up. The student’s idea of a

grown up is most likely going to be reflective upon

their world.

At a young age, my parents divorced, and I was

told by both parents that it was time to grow up. My

father told me that I had to grow up and be “the man

of the house” now, making sure I take care of my

mother and younger brother. My mother told me I was

going to have to grow up a bit and take on more re-

sponsibilities around the house: help my brother get

ready for school, wash dishes, vacuum, and other

common household chores. These all seemed like sim-

ple tasks but growing up and hearing both parents

complaining about these responsibilities perplexed my

younger self because they thought the best solution

was to split up and give me, the nine-year-old with a

stutter problem, the job.

I always thought my dad did a great job of taking

care of us, but he was always exhausted from work yet

still made time to play with us. I didn’t know how to

work, and my brother would annoy me after 5 minutes

of playing. How was I supposed to do the same job as

him and maintain a decent GPA? I always thought my

mom did a great job at cleaning the house, but she was

always exhausted after and yet, she still made time to

cook for us. How was I supposed to clean the house

when I could barely reach over the counter to turn on

the sink, and the only thing I knew how to make was a

cup of water? This all made me confused and made

my schoolwork seem unnecessary. I thought if the

teacher couldn’t teach me in the class and I had to take

work home, they weren’t doing their job and should

be fired.

When it was time to move on to middle school, I

had already become disenchanted with school itself.

After a bit of math and studying all my syllabi, I dis-

covered exactly how much effort was needed to main-

tain a passing C average in order to spend my time on

what I thought to be better distractions. Those distrac-

tions consisted of games, friends, girls, and all things

that were common in my small, slightly dysfunctional

world. The pattern would continue throughout high

school, and the only thing I put any effort in was

maintaining a stupid, immature 69 ranking within my

graduating class. On paper, I was just an average stu-

dent, but in my high school I was just an average rebel

that the staff had to deal with for four years. Many stu-

dents end up realizing this, although they may have

got to this point from a different story as mine, they

end up here none the less; stuck, wearing the same cap

and gown as everyone else, feeling average.

Many of my friends work with children and the

number one thing they can never stop talking about is

how creative their students can be. It’s that creativity

that springs life into the students and their classrooms.

Unfortunately, by the time students reach college, all

their creativity will have been squeezed out or sup-

pressed by life or those in their life who thought that it

was time for them to grow up. This causes many stu-

By Lucio Rodriguez

11

dents to lose themselves or even worse, to lose all in-

terest in school. Many students are intimidated into

thinking that creativity has no place in the “real

world,” and they are cursed into mediocracy if they

don’t act like the top students. This leaves many stu-

dents wishing that people just took the time to see

where their genius truly lies instead of rushing to pull

them out like a weed. A class is an educator’s garden,

each student following their instructors’ guidance until

it’s time to blossom. Some students will blossom be-

fore others, that’s expected, but what about the stu-

dents who are struggling to blossom? Should they be

labeled as a weed because they don’t respond to the

same conditions as the rest? Winnie the Pooh once

said, "Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know

them."

I now understand that many students just need to

be reminded that they are different, and different is

normal. Everyone is one of a kind. I try to talk to as

many student’s as possible; I tell them not to be dis-

couraged if they feel stuck or feel like they don’t have

what it takes to advance to the next step in their educa-

tion. I also try to occasionally have writing workshops

with high school students that consist of poetry and

short stories. I try to get their creativity flowing and

hopefully help them resolve a few personal things via

their writing.

For the freshmen out there who are crushing mid-

terms, keep up the great work! For those who feel like

they weren’t prepared enough, don’t worry. There are

many of us who have been in the same predicament

and are willing to take the time to help you shine.

Here at Reedley College, there are many professors

who are waiting for students to show up to there office

hours. They want to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask

for it. If professors scare you, there are many tutors at

the Reading and Writing Center who are more than

eager to help you with any school work you are strug-

gling with. For the students who feel like you’ve been

here a while and never leaving, remember that in

2016, 5.8 million students were in enrolled in a com-

munity college. All of them taking their own pace and

discovering their own path. The next time someone

tells you to just grow up, to suck it up and get your

work done, don’t worry about not doing anything right

away.

“Doing nothing of-

ten leads to the very

best of something.”

– Winnie the Pooh

2nd Annual Tiger Pageant (Sponsored by RC Safe Space Club)

Friday May 3rd, 2019 at 6 pm in the Reedley College Cafeteria

Meet this years contestants…

BreAnna Trejo

Katie Walker

Preston Ward

Brit Witton

Osvaldo Copado

Savanna Duncan

Omar Estrada

Carlos Fuentes

Si Gonzales

Laura Hand

Alexiz Molina

Marie Lopez

Come support your fellow Reedley College students!

12

What is CalWORKS?

CalWORKS (The California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids Program) is just one of many ser-

vices that Reedley College students have access to. CalWORKS aims to help parents that accept cash aid

(Fresno, Madera, and Tulare counties) with achieving vocational skills, educational goals, and access to jobs

that lead to financial stability.

How Does CalWORKS Do This?

CalWORKS offers a wide variety of services that help student parents succeed while attending college. Cal-

WORKS does this by providing services such as:

Childcare Assistance and Transportation Services

Financial Aid and Assistance with Textbooks & Supplies

Priority Registration

Job Placement and Job Training Programs

Life Skill Courses (Courses in Life Strategies, Financial Literacy, Healthy Parenting/Family Relationships)

Academic, Career and Personal Counseling

And Many More Services!

Anything Else?

CalWORKS has also helped to organize many important events that benefit all students, such as job fairs, dis-

cussion & support groups, and healthy relationship forums. You can do your part to help these events succeed

by donating your time! To find out how you can attend future events and/or donate your time, please utilize the

contact information below.

How Do I Get More Information?

Phone: (559) 637-2504

Website: www.reedleycollege.edu/student-services/calworks.html

Visit Us: The Center for Student Success Building 2 (CSSS2), Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-2504

By Brandon Cooper

13

Additional Services You Should Know About

Who: EOPS (Extended Oppor tunity Programs & Services)

What: Services offering educational support to historically disadvantaged students.

How: CSS-1 Room 3, Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0340

Who: EOPS/CARE (Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education)

What: Further help with educational goals for students that are the single head of

household & receiving TANF/CalWORKS benefits.

How: CSS-1 Room 3. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0340

Who: NextUp (a component of EOPS)

What: Offering a case-management approach for extended support services to former

and current foster youth that are community college students.

How: Second floor of Student Services Building. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-

0340

Who: TRiO/SSSP

What: Helps to give first generation, ESL, low income, and disabled students aca-

demic guidance and support in accomplishing certificates, a degree, and a

transfer to a four-year college.

How: Located in CSS 1. Mon – Fri, 8am - 5pm. (559) 638-0300 x3526

Who: Love is Respect

What: A support resource for individuals that may be in an abusive relationship. This

resource provides information as well as live support through chat, text, and

phone.

How: Chat and find info at: www.loveisrespect.org, text “loveis” to 22522, or call 1-

866-332-9474

Who: Marjaree Mason Center

What: Marjaree Mason Center supports and empowers adults and their children af-

fected by domestic violence, while striving to prevent and end the cycle of

abuse through education and advocacy.

How: www.mmcenter.org, 24 Hour Confidential Hotline: 559-233-HELP (4357),

Address: 1600 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721

14

Fiction

Nightwalker By Rosa Coroles

At first, there were small inconsistencies here and

there that tipped him off to the fact that something was

wrong. Every morning, he would wake up to find

things and furniture were moved from their usual

spots. Other days he’d wake up sore or with unex-

plained bruises. Later, he found receipts and ticket

stubs to places he didn’t remember going to and

weirdest of all, a shirt that isn’t his with “Limbo King”

written on a name tag in large blocky letters.

Dan didn’t think much of it at first. He was much

more focused on keeping up with the increasing work-

load he’d been giving since his promotion. Years of

arduous work was finally paying off and he was mov-

ing up the chain of command at work. However, this

also led to more responsibilities and longer hours.

These days Dan barely had time to sleep and keep

himself functional. He didn’t have the time or energy

to do much of anything outside of work anymore,

which is why it didn’t make sense to find anything

indicative of a social life in his home (a sad fact he’d

rather not dwell on too much on).

“I think someone is living in my house,” Dan con-

cluded on the drive to work. By now, lunch had rolled

around, and Dan was taking his lunch with a couple of

his friends. A rare and much needed break from the

stress from both at home and at work. Said friends

stared at the tired man with varying levels of confu-

sion and concern as he shared his findings.

“I want to call you crazy but that seems kind of

rude. So instead I’ll go with, Dan that sounds crazy.

What’re you talking about?” Marcus, Dan’s coworker

and closest friend, was the first to speak up. Lately

they hadn’t spent much time together, so he was una-

ware of the weirdness going on during the late hours

in his friend’s home. Any other day, Dan would appre-

ciate his brutal honesty, but now, those words struck

too close to home. With how things were going lately,

the mystery of what was going on in the late hours of

his home was eating at his already frayed nerves. Go-

ing crazy was seemed to be a more and more probable

explanation.

Dan gave them a quick rundown of what’s gone

down in the past few weeks.

“—which leads me back to my previous conclu-

sion: someone’s living in my house. Or it’s haunted.”

He added as an afterthought.

“So, this is why you’ve been so twitchy lately? I

thought it was all just stress from your new job.” Con-

nor, their other lunch companion admitted. “Man, I

have to say this sounds pretty crazy. It's like the begin-

ning to a horror movie.”

“Well I’m more than open to a recasting because

I’m tired of all this crap.” Dan sighed.

“Go to the police,” Offered Marcus, in between

bites of his sandwich.

“I’m pretty sure that if I go to the police with all of

this, they’d think I’m crazy too.”

The three friends sat in silence, pondering what to

do with the situation.

“How about we stay the night with you. Either we

15

catch whoever’s doing this, scare them off, or we get

enough evidence to get help.” Connor nodded in

agreement, also offering his help.

Dan accepted the offer and immediately felt more

at ease knowing he had his friend’s support in the mat-

ter. He was willing to try anything to put a stop to the

strangeness in his home.

The two friends had set up camp in Dan’s living

room that night while Dan slept in his own bedroom.

They planned on taking turns staying up and having

the element of surprise should anything happen. Con-

ner said to Marcus, “I hope this doesn’t end up being a

horror movie. Everyone knows the two side-character

best friends are always the first to go.” He joked, ges-

turing between themselves.

It was past midnight when Marcus and Connor

heard the creaking of a door break through the solemn

silence of the sleeping house. As quietly as they could,

they got up and slowly creeped out of the living room.

Marcus armed himself with a baseball bat while Con-

ner lifted a golf club, ready to swing. The muffled

thumps of footsteps were the only sounds in the house

other than their own hushed breathing.

‘Dan?’ Conner mouthed the question to Marcus, un-

willing to make a noise.

“I don’t know…” the other whispered back, his

voice barely audible. They snuck towards the kitchen

where the sounds were now coming from. After they

took a moment to gather their courage, the two rushed

into the kitchen, ready take on the intruder, only to

stop in their tracks at the sight of their friend….

Sleepwalking.

****************************************************************************************

Across

1. The winner has the most of this

4. Mosher Butts Creator of Scrabble

6. Richards Best Scrabble player in

the world

7. It has the letter and points you

earn

8. Rack Holds the the letters for

you

Down

2. Keeps track of how fast or slow

you go

3. Board What the game is played on

5. Helps you discover new words

Created By Alexiz Molina

16

Rejoice Dawn breaks softly on a silent spring morning.

The sun’s warm rays glisten in dew drops like precious gems;

Pure, joyous light dazzles and awakens the world.

A multitude of blooms lift their heads towards the sun;

They delight in the promise of life that the radiance brings.

Palms raise their fronds to the sky in proud exaltation of the sun’s majesty.

Birds begin to sing, and the drone of bees humming accompanies their hymn;

The breeze carries their harmonious chorus throughout the world.

Yet darkness gathers in the distance.

Clouds, once pure and white, turn black as their anger grows;

Their fury begins to destroy the light, and the heavens turn cold.

Thunder crashes through the sky;

Lightning rends the peace that the sun brought.

Wrath pours down from above.

Petals fall like tears as delicate blossoms are ripped to pieces;

The palms bow in forced reverence to the storms mighty power.

The earth quakes as the storm rages;

Tremors shake the rock until it crumbles.

Broken and battered boughs are ripped from their roots;

Destruction and desolation reign.

The torrent is unrelenting;

It drowns the joyful birdsong in waves of despair.

The earth howls in torment;

With a final thunderous shudder, darkness settles over the land.

Dawn breaks solemnly over a sorrowful spring morning;

Dark clouds linger in the sky, reluctant to depart from the destruction they wrought.

Forlorn flowers hang their heads in grief as they lament the loss of the light;

Palms stoop under the weight of their sadness.

The gloom begins to fade as glimmers of hope pierce the clouds;

Brilliant beams of light break the darks hold on the world.

Elation spreads through the landscape, and once more, a joyous song resounds;

Rejoice! —for the sun is risen, and blessed are all that the light touches.

Poetry by Laura Hand

17

The Reedley College Men’s Golf team has been hav-

ing incredible success this season. After coming up

short of winning the State Championship last season,

Coach Stark has the Golf team on route to reaching

their goal of winning the State Championship this sea-

son. The team hopes to relive the same success that

helped the team win their most recent State Champi-

onship back in 2016. The individual efforts by some

of our Tiger’s have been exceptional as the team nears

postseason play. Returning sophomore and central val-

ley native Dylan Otto has helped lead the team along-

side fellow sophomore Adam Nelson. Adam has been

exceptional in his two years leading the Tigers. As a

defending first team all-conference player and individ-

ual state champion, he knows the expectations for the

team as well as himself, are high. When speaking with

him, he emphasized how well the team has been play-

ing, He also made a point to highlight that the team

can not become complacent. He stated, “There’s al-

ways more work to be done. We need to focus on our

weaknesses and not get comfortable with how we are

all playing.” Freshman Tom O’ Rourke and Beau Wil-

lett have been following in the footsteps of their fel-

low Australian teammates such as Adam Nelson. On

the other hand, the team also has good local represen-

tation as well. Freshman Jarred Hernandez and Soph-

more Xavier Coreno are two Central Valley natives

from Visalia and Fresno who are carrying on the tradi-

tion of excellence.

****************************************************************************************

It be can hard to keep up with the multiple events

happening at Reedley College. They all represent im-

portant topics to attend and learn from, but if there is one

particular event that you should keep an eye open for, it

should be Safari Days. It represents Reedley College as a

whole, showcasing to the community what the college is

always trying to exemplify: “Cultivating the student

life.” Hosted every year in the Springtime, Safari Days

was established in 2014 by Jim Mulligan after being in-

spired by Vintage Days at Fresno State. When it was

first created, it was known as Kaleidoscope Days, which

involved a weekend-long event that featured local musi-

cians and provided face painting for children. Through

the years, the event morphed from the weekends to a

three-day event on the weekdays at Reedley College’s

main lawn. Last year, not only did they feature a Car

Show and coordinate with local high schools and ven-

dors, but they also introduced a Comic Con hosted by

the Library and Art Department for students to dress up

as their favorite characters.

Safari Days to offers the utmost variation of events,

services, and activities imaginable packed into the three-

day event. This year, Safari Days will take place from

April 2nd through the 4th, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Certain

days will offer opportunities for Job Fair, clubs showcas-

ing themselves, and vendors in the local areas promoting

their businesses. As mentioned before, this is one of

those events that is not just for our campus, but for the

whole community of Reedley (and beyond) to get in-

volved in. It’s hard to pinpoint what Safari Days will be

offering every year since it’s constantly improving and

expanding. But one thing we can count on is community

involvement, student engagement in multiple events, and

encouragement for everyone to visit Reedley College.

Finally, don’t forget all the delicious local cuisine

that will be there. If nothing else, come for the food!

Reedley College Men’s Golf By Isaiah Tigler

By Monse Hernandez

18

19

20

Present this coupon for

One free Print

At the

Reading & Writing

Center in Hum 58

*Limit Two prints per person*

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

1st April Fool’s day

3rd Tweed Day

4th School Librarian Day

5th National Dandelion Day

7th Caramel Popcorn Day

10th Golfer’s Day

12th Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

13th Scrabble Day

14th Palm Sunday

15th Titanic Remembrance Day

16th Save the Elephant Day

20th Husband Appreciation Day

22nd National Jelly Bean Day

24th Pig in a Blanker Day

26th National Pretzel Day

30th National Honesty Day

Month Events

International Guitar Month

National Welding Month

The next Wednesday at One reading will

be April 3rd in the staff dining room, when

RC Fiction Writer/Instructor David

Borofka will read from his work. Mr.

Borofka will be retiring at the end of this

semester.