Jesse George

English 121

Professor Palz

10 February 2019

Rolling With the Punches

It was December 27th, 2012. I was a fresh high school graduate. I had grown up in a small mountain town, eager and stubborn and naive, and I wanted to venture out.  I set my sights on the east coast. I packed up all my belongings and loaded up my Subaru. Following the 34-hour drive across the county, I arrived in North New Jersey. Dorming with some extended family at first to get my feet wet in the new area.

After initially getting settled at an Aunts house and established with the area., I ventured out from Aunt Karen’s and found the first apartment to call mine. At the age of eighteen and never having left my mother’s house, this was a huge step for me. I had never had any living expenses before, just a car payment and spending money. Having rent, electric, cable, and a car payment now was overwhelming. Not to mention cable, internet, sewage, and any other normal bill. I worked many miscellaneous jobs: grocery store cashier, construction, pool boy, and flood fire and mold crew. None of which getting me anywhere financially, and they didn’t fit my personality either. Shortly after experiencing the real world, I knew life was not going to be easy. I took on a second job to try to make ends meet, but even then, I was still coming up short. This is not the life I wanted to be living, especially at such a young age. My debt piled up and my young bright mind went dull. How could the real world, something I looked forward to so much completely defeat me?

Shortly after getting my first place, I knew I could not continue this lifestyle. Something needed to change. I could not just sit there anymore watching the ashtray pile up with filthy cigarettes butts, struggling to make ends meet, feeling defeated. I moved out of my apartment and wound up a little further south, in the outer Philadelphia area, after couch surfing for a few months. Living out of my little silver Subaru hatchback in vacant lots and abandoned spots. This took a toll on me, but it gave me just enough time to gather my thoughts, pick myself up and brush the dust off. Working odd end jobs just for money to live off of and if I could, set aside what I could for a new apartment.  I called Philadelphia home now.

Finding an apartment that was a third the price of my previous apartment helped. The apartment was nothing special.  a small apartment in a little complex just outside of Philadelphia.

Nice little 470 sq ft apartment, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and balcony. This was great for me at the time: cheap rent, a new city, and new friends. I was ready for the next chapter of my life. Shared with one of my best friends.

The city life was new to me. Densely populated areas, people humming around the sidewalks always appeared to be in a rush. The car horns honking, lights flashing, the smells of a dirty city. All these things amused me. Being the kid from a small mountain town in the Rocky Mountains and living in one of the most historical cities of the country, I wanted to take all of it in. I loved it at first, everything is open late, there have always been people around. We had none of that growing up. The east coast attitude of always being in a rush and aggravated at nothing was one of the first things that I realized. Swearing like a sailor, and the high paced city life. These were things I needed to adapt to. Adapting however was not difficult. I got a good-paying job as a cook at a restaurant and worked my way up from a line cook to a kitchen manager. I had been paying my bills on time and not having to be fronted the money for the first time in over a year. I felt accomplished. I felt as if I had done it.  was always hanging out with my friends, a close group of guys who still are the best friends I have ever met in my life. All our own bills are taken care of and gas in the cars, but not much spending money, nothing to go out in town and do anything fun. We would hang out and do things that did not cost much, because well we were financially challenged young adults at this time. I was living a fun and happy life at this point, but I wanted more. I tasted accomplishment, but I was not satisfied. I wanted a life where money did not dictate what I want to do. A life in which I could go out for a night on the town and not worry about the lack of gas in my car or the electricity in the apartment. I set my eyes on my next goal. While working as a manager in a kitchen, I applied for the Sous Chef position for Victory Brewery and I got the position. This gave me a raise and allowed me to finish my culinary degree through the company. I did it, I got the job, received a little more money. but most importantly had a degree.

After I received my degree and became financially stable (at least I thought so at that time.) I found myself constantly asking, what is next? Suddenly one day after about eighteen months of asking myself that very question day in and day out, a lightbulb went off and it became clear to me. This is where I am, I can spend the rest of my life doing what I’ve done over the past four years: miscellaneous jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, never going on vacations or enjoying life to its fullest. Nothing in the world is free and life is what you make of it. Anything you want to accomplish you can. All that is needed is some fire under your ass cheeks and some ambition. I knew what was next for me. It was time to move back home to my small, beautiful mountain town and get back on my own two feet so I could tackle the next thing on my to-do list. It was my calling to go back home, financially catch up and get on my own two feet and walk into CMC and continue my education so I can have a real career in a field that I am best suited for. A nursing degree was calling my name and anything I set my mind so I could accomplish. After about another eighteen months after the trek back to Colorado, I had paid off all my debt and established myself back into the county. Next on the list was re-enrolling in school to start my studies to get my BSN (bachelor’s in nursing science.) In December of 2018, I enrolled at CMC and was accepted. The next chapter in my book started in January 2019 which leads me to where I am with the. same mentality, checking things off my list.

It goes to show you that epiphanies happen to everyone at different points in life and it is up to everyone to makes something of it. My epiphany led me on an educational track of a successful life in a successful career that will help support family later down the road. It took me hitting rock bottom, where I struggled just to put food in my stomach to realize I needed change. Once I admitted that to myself things started to line up and the taste of success and accomplishment far outdid the taste of failure and defeat. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and apply yourself. Chase your dreams and they will come true. Life is what you make of it and what comes free in life usually is not worth it. Working for your own success is satisfying and worth it. Never sell yourself short.

Jesse George

Professor Palz

English I

March 31, 2019

Protecting A Nation’s Right’s

“In the years from 1999 to 2013, homicides, bicycle accidents, firearm accidents, falls ,and swimming pool drownings accounted for 31,827 of the total 32,464 reported deaths, while deaths in school shootings numbered 154, or fewer than 0.5%, according to James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology, law and public policy at Northeastern University”(Toppo).

Firearms are a divisive subject, and gun laws and gun control are two of the most controversial aspects of firearms. From politicians to the civilians, this is a topic whose flame will not burn out for quite some time. As any other debate, there are people whose beliefs lay on one side or the other.  It is also possible to be in favor of most freedoms involving gun rights while still believing that certain laws, rules, and regulations could be implemented to avoid firearms getting in the hands of those who wish to do violence or harm with them. “Throughout this process of federal gun control legislation starting and stalling, states have continued to have their own battles, at a seemingly much faster pace. Despite the countless gun tragedies that have marred this country, federal gun control continues to move slowly, as it struggles against party divides and the second amendment itself” (Gruskin). While the second amendment is without question in our constitution and having the ability to possess a firearm is a constitutional right, there are some who argue that the number of gun sales directly correlates to crimes or gun involved tragedies. The people who are against these gun laws and want more gun control make a valid point and have a reason to believe in more gun control. They may not know all the laws, rules, and procedures that are involved in legally obtaining a firearm. While every state has different laws of what specifications and individual can have within each state, every firearm purchase process is the same. One must apply to get the firearm, get a background check, the background check comes back, and be either accepted or denied.

A concealed carry permit has even more things to go through including fingerprints and background check. However, since firearms have been invented there has always been a way to get them illegally, and it will continue. More laws and control may help the situation; however, they will not take all firearms off the streets and completely remove them from society. Think about all the people who illegally buy a gun off the street, not registered or having any legal documentation. That will still occur for the remainder of firearms existence. Just like anything else on the black market, it could be harder to get but not impossible. “As it sits in the current day the number of firearm sales has dropped from a high of 78 percent in the 1990s to 44 percent in 2009 (Shipley).”

It is illegal to possess a gun in Colorado if any of the following apply to said individual: illegal aliens; • unlawful users of certain controlled substances; • those adjudicated as mental defectives or incompetents or those committed to any mental institution; • those dishonorably discharged from the armed forces; • any person subject to a court order restraining that person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner; and • those convicted in any court of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence hose convicted of (or under indictment for) crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year, except state misdemeanors punishable by two years or less; • fugitives from justice; • United States citizens who have renounced their citizenship. Explained by Jessica Shirley.

It is not as simple as turn eighteen years of age and can walk into the store and buy any type of firearm. There are already many rules and laws to control who is even eligible to apply for a firearm.

Now on the other side of the spectrum, there are people who believe that gun laws and control are fine just the way they are and shouldn’t be any harder to get a firearm than it already is. While some think they are bad and cause nothing but harm the people on this side of the debate make an argument that a firearm is a tool to be used properly and safely to provide safety for themselves and or their families. They view firearms as a way to protect themselves from burglary, robbery, rape, and other tragic events that are possibilities on this earth. Referring to the last paragraph, if you were to get robbed and the person robbing you illegally got a pistol from the black market on the streets and broke into your home wouldn’t it only be fair to “fight fire with fire.” Make it an even stand for the victim against the invader or threat. This view has people worried about their safety being taken away from them by laws or control that is taking the protection from those who are a responsible and safe gun owner. If they did nothing wrong, why should they lose permission to obtain firearms? They already had to go through the process to obtain it and had nothing on their record that prohibits them from owning a firearm.

While school shootings and gun-related violence is a terrible thing that we live with today on this earth. “Of the 31,672 deaths in 2010 by firearms, 11,078 (35%) were homicides; 19,392(61%) were suicides; and 1,202 (4%) were accidents, the result of legal intervention (e.g., a death in the course of an arrest), or deaths of undetermined intent (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control). Across all age groups, firearm suicide and homicide are the fourth and fifth leading causes of injury-related death in the United States”(Gold 4). I am not sure that there is a way to completely prevent any of this from happening. While more laws and more harsh control would certainly help it will not keep the trigger off the finger of those who really want one or want to create mass havoc and terror. These people will do whatever it takes to carry out their “mission.” While these missions are self-made there is no one that can tell them they can not do it. Look at the shooting in New Zealand here recently. Even if firearms were banned and illegal that individual would have done whatever it took to cause pain and terror to the Muslims on that day. It is not preventable by something written on a piece of paper. Like any other law or rule in our constitution, they are bound to be broken. Firearms in the correct hands can be used for good, to stop evil, protect one or one’s family, or eliminate a threat. Firearms in the wrong hands cause pain, death, destruction, crimes, terror, and other negative things. Taking firearms from the responsible people would be wrong however it would not be fair to solely take to one side without acknowledging the other.

In addition,  all these facts a common misperception is that it is also related to mental illness and mental troubles. “People with serious mental illness are rarely violent. Only 3%–5% of all violence, including but not limited to firearm violence, is attributable to serious mental illness. The large majority of gun violence toward others is not caused by mental illness (Gold)”.
Gun violence is gun violence and no matter what the rules say there will be those who break the rules. As some say rules are put in place to be broken. Not everyone complies. How would they put a law into effect to take guns from civilians?

The best path lies somewhere in the middle.  The second amendment has a great value and needs to be preserved and respected, however certain fail-safes could be set in place or administered to limit and make the access of firearms a little more in depth. Firearms are a source of protection from evil. Without access to firearms and defense evil has the upper hand potentially making a victim. Limiting where one may carry a firearm, what type of firearm and specifications one is allowed to have would be a great starting place. Followed by more control and protection in place for these unfortunate instances. Armed guards at schools to protect students from potential threats. This type of task is not just as simple as making a few rules and laws about it, put them into effect and call it a day. This is an extremely complex process that is only complicated by the subject itself.

Works Cited

Gold, Liza H., and Robert I. Simon. Gun Violence and Mental Illness. Vol. First edition,     

American Psychiatric Publishing, 2016. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=nlebk&AN=1610193&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Gruskin, Adena. “Does Tragedy Prompt Change? A Look at Gun Control in the Aftermath of

Mass Shootings.” DttP: A Quarterly Journal of Government Information Practice & Perspective, vol. 42, no. 4, Winter 2014, pp. 18–21. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=lih&AN=103544166&site=eds-live&scope=site.

MONTGOMERY, BEN, et al. “The Gun Divide.” Time International (Atlantic Edition), vol.

192, no. 2, July 2018, pp. 32–37. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=bth&AN=133085606&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Shipley, Jessika. Colorado Gun Laws. [Electronic Resource]. Colorado Legislative Council,

2009. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=cat03772a&AN=cmc.b35083542&site=eds-live&scope=site

Greg Toppo, and USA TODAY. “‘Generation Columbine’ Knows No Other World.” USA.        Today. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=f5h&AN=J0E173670720418&site=eds-live&scope=site. Accessed 7 Apr. 2019

Jesse George

Professor Mark Palz

English 121

1/27/2019

Response to Podcast

                Upon listening to the two podcasts on NPR I was initially thinking well, I am a nice guy and I am kind this should be easy. While it was easy to do, the more I paid attention to reactions of people or how kindness is perceived. How such a small act of kindness can transform into much more than that.

                First thing I noticed was how easy it is to be kind. Something as simple as holding a door open for someone else or saying hello and asking someone how their day was. Giving a complement is another example. This can-do wonders for people attitude. Can turn another person’s day around. The reaction is so rewarding. Putting a smile on someone’s face or just making them feel a little better about their day. You never know what kind of day someone is having or what kind of internal struggles people are dealing with. A small act of kindness can change one’s outlook of a day because of one simple action or compliment. This can carry on from you holding a door open for someone, then that person holds the door open for another person and so on. The world needs to spread kindness and be more helpful to each other. Keep everything positive and positivity spreads, keep everything negative and positivity has no room to shine in.

                Another thing I noticed during this assignment is how many different things can be a kind gesture. Most of the day was me opening doors for people, asking how their day was going and minimal interaction. More of a in the passing kind of situation. When I got home, I got to do a couple different acts of kindness such as cooking dinner for everyone in the house, helping my sister out with her car, and helping my mom with tasks around the house. All these acts and minor things all come back to the same theme of kindness. Helping others and being an ear to listen does way more then it seems it would do on the surface.

                Now while not everyone expressed gratitude there were only a few individuals throughout the day who shrugged off or ignored the act and carried on with their day. I do not feel bad about this though sometimes people have a lot on their plate and have off days it happens to all of us. Also, sometimes there are just those grumpy people who you cannot satisfy no matter how hard your try. If at the end of the day I can hold my chin high and be able to say I did my part and I can not control other people.

                While most reactions were very positive there were a few who did not show gratitude for whatever the reason may have been. After thinking about this for as few days I am still unable to understand how this assignment asides from being a better person and communicating has anything to do with English or literature in general. Had a wonderful time with this task though.

Jesse George

Professor Palz

English I

2/24/2019

Liberia Reflection

                Following watching the Vice video provided. I was just taken off guard and had to sit on my thoughts for a couple days and watch it a second time to process it all. It is a lot to process packed into a 54-minute video. From the opening scene to the closing scene and everything in between this video had me going back and forth with my emotions and reactions.

                The opening scene has a General (General Butt Naked) talking about killing innocent children and his “boys” drinking the blood of an innocent child. Well that is one hell of a way to enter a video. I’m sure that also had to do with the writing and video editing but that hooked me right off the bat. Now that this video had my attention it went on to start to talk about the war and what was taking place in Liberia and what was causing it. Giving the viewer a little back drop of the story and situation. At this point I was attached by how the video brought me in. All these crazy things going on, young children shooting ak-47’s, teenagers holding human hearts and talking about eating it, war, rape, malaria, prostitution, jail. I found myself asking what the heck is going on in Liberia!?

                After all this mass chaos it shows them interviewing the general from the opening scene, General Butt naked. It goes on to talk about how he was converted and a changed man. Preaching to churches and building a remote area for people to live at peace after the war. How is such a bad man doing all these good things? Throughout the interviews with Butt Naked he is going back and forth about all these terrible things he did while he was a general of the war and the good things he has done since he became converted. At one-point Shane Smith says pretty much exactly that. How are we liking and trusting this man who has killed tens of thousands of innocent people, eaten human flesh, raped and many other awful things?

                Most of this video was about General Butt Naked (Joshua Blahyi) after his converting to Christian but what was all that stuff in the beginning? Liberia is like heaven and hell on earth.  All these churches on every block the giant religious gatherings, yet all this death, disease and poverty. How could there be such a dramatic difference in one country? What was causing all these disputes that resort to war? Why has there not been anything done about it?

                Although I almost saw this as two separate videos in one, I did like this video. Dark and gruesome, but lighted up as it went.  With the beginning being all the shocking things, the dead people on the ground, cannibalism, etc. etc. Then the end being positive and religious, it made me thing wow that is good writing come in with all the things that will grab attention in the beginning like a hook then a lot of details in the middle then leading into the religion and the conclusion. Also asked myself where did the random white suites come from when they went to the cemetery that both Shane and Joshua were wearing from there till the end of the video?  The clip before that he was running for his life out of a brothel. Interesting to say the least.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton