Jim's Blog - YDEV501

YDEV 501 WEEK 9: Rethinking Ethnic Studies   Being someone who is a person of color and an immigrant living in the United States for only a couple of years, I don't have personal experience on how the (K-12) school system operates in this country. I am well aware how politics, racism, white supremacy and the likes are currently present and how even up to this day, people of color are still fighting for their rights as Americans in this country. Admittedly, this is one major thing/ issue that I'm still learning as I go through this program.   Reading this week's assignment and watching videos of teachers and students fighting for ethnic studies to be part of the school curriculum was eye-opening, infuriating and heartbreaking. It's mind-boggling how this is even an issue when the United States is such a melting pot of people with different nationalities, cultures and ethnicities. Speaking from my experience growing up in the Philippi...

YDEV 501 WEEK 8: Forum Theatre -- it's so COOL (with a purpose)!   I've always been a fan of theatre. I remember seeing my first play/ musical when I was in high school and up to this day, I remember that feeling of amazement I had seeing all the performers on stage with all the lights, sound effects, costumes and make-up. Seeing a play/ musical was always a form of entertainment for me. It's a way where I get to imagine and see live performances of shows and movies that I like. Reading the article about forum theatre -- what it is all about and watching a sample of it through the video assignment was another new discovery for me. I always knew that theatre is a powerful art form where you get to express what you feel. At the same time, it has this "power" to induce emotions from audiences and that's always one thing that draws me to it. Although I didn't expect (or imagined) how theatre can be or is being used to tackle social justice while havin...

YDEV 501 WEEK 7: An eye-opening realization on immigrants in the U.S.     Growing up being gay and Asian (Chinese) in the Philippines was very difficult. I spent most of my adolescent and early adult years living a double life. The first life was how I presented myself to the world -- going to school, forming friendships and relationships, working my first job, etc. and yet all that time, I've created and portrayed this facade that I thought I had to be in order to be respected and accepted by society. Then I had this entire different world that only me and very few people know about. A world where I can be myself. Sadly, there were only few places and avenues that I got to be the real me. This was when I started dreaming of the day that I get to go to the U.S., be "free" and live the 'American dream'. From that moment on, I made it a mission in life and by the grace of God, I am here in the U.S. and I'm living the life I've always imagined a...

YDEV 501 WEEK 6: Cross-Text-Conversations   Introduction   This week's reading and video assignments enlightened me on what it takes to become (or be considered as) expert youth workers and the power/ ability they have in making an impact on the individuals they work with and support. In addition to this, I learned how language is a powerful medium for teaching and depending on how we use it, can be seen as effective/ helpful but also harmful. Another interesting refresher I got from this week's assignments is being aware on how language, race and power are all interconnected and can be seen, used and highlighted depending on what language you use and what the color of your skin is. In this blog post, I've selected some key points and learnings I got from the different materials and how such selections and topics are aligned and related to each other.   What are the common points? 1. Personal...

YDEV 501 WEEK 5: RETREAT REFLECTION   Introduction This retreat and experience is definitely one for the books and one event in my life that I'll never forget. I will carry with me all the stories, teachings, and the rollercoaster of emotions I've felt in those 7 hours we've spent together. I look at this photo and I remember the openness, vulnerability, trust, pain, tears, joy and laughter we all shared with one another and it really fills my heart. With all the crying, at least we ended the retreat with us all happy and smiling. Learning that was familiar (or reinforced) People Having to work in the human services field for a couple of years now, I know based on experience that it takes more than just having a prestigious college degree and high intelligence to be successful and great in this line of work. From what I've seen, sometimes the people who actually care and have good intentions in their minds and hearts (regardless of their intellect o...