The Colegio Blogporter

My name is Mario Pérez; I am from Carolina and have lived there since I was born. I’ve been in English classes since I was four years old and have developed a very strong liking of the language. If I had to mention the most important things that go on in my life, the first one would have to be my passion for music. I have been listening to music since I was very young. My father used to sit me down to listen to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and I obviously hated it. Ironically, I grew up and fell in love with music and the rock genre being one of my favorites. I started playing musical instruments five years ago and have developed significant ability with the guitar and some talent with the bass guitar and keyboards. I’m studying electrical engineering and hope to one day work with alternate methods of producing and distributing energy to make Puerto Rico a more eco-friendly place. During the Nov. 2008 elections, I paid close attention to what was going on and started thinking it was not a that president they needed to elect, it was a miracle. I have to say that if someone can be a big part of said miracle, it’s Barack Obama. This man stood with pride, dignity and dedication during every one of his speeches and debates. Not once did he use his race to his advantage, although he did not have to say it for his race to play with him, and against him. He spoke of change and apparently that is exactly what America needs. Obama’s election shows that the change is already happening. This shows me that America is not a country with limits: they’ve come a long way since slavery was abolished in 1865. It took them a long time to realize that change was needed, but maybe now the doors have opened to changes, and it could be for good. Indeed, I doubt it could get any worse.

My name is Carsen Ott and I am an exchange student here in Puerto Rico from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.  After this semester I will have obtained my bachelor’s degree with a major in Global Studies (governance, peace and justice in Latin America) and a minor in Spanish Studies.  Graduation is scary to me right now because I have no idea what I plan to do with my life!  However, I think that’s pretty normal for someone pending graduation.  I am originally from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but after studying the majority of my college career in a big city like Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a semester in Mérida, Venezuela, I don’t see myself ending up in a small city again for quite some time.  My favorite thing to do in life is to travel to a completely different place to simply meet and talk to people.  One day I hope to backpack all of South and Central America. 

To me, and in congruence with my exhausting yet undeniable interest in politics, Barak Obama’s inauguration as the 44^th president of the United States of America is and will be one of the top historical events of my lifetime.  I voted for him last November, so needless to say I was inexplicably excited and surprised when he won.  To finally have a president that I respect is a colossal change after eight years with George W. Bush.  Obama’s poetic rhetoric proves his intelligence, but only his actions to come will prove his sincerity.  I am very aware of the corrupt and neo-liberal tendencies that have been ubiquitous in Washington, and I hope that Obama can repair at least a fraction of what Bush has done.

Smile at life and it will smile back!

My name is Wendy Eliz Maldonado and I am an English major in the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. I enjoy reading about civil rights movement since I was a child, but I have never been a fan of elections. The only reason I vote is because I believe many women fought for this right and I appreciate it. In Puerto Rico, as in the United States, people had set their eyes strongly on the candidates for presidency, more than on the candidates for mayors and senators. From the beginning, I placed myself in the situation of whom I would vote for if I could. The first time I thought about it my answer was not former senator Barack Obama. What I didn’t like in many debates was that he avoided important issues such as abortion, and didn’t give straight answers about topics that interested me. I, like many people, judged him by his background and skin color and even related him with Muslim issues. Based on what I could see from the media, mostly television, I saw that his candidacy was challenged by a conflict; he would become the United States first black president. From a glance to me he is just an ordinary hard working man. His approach was sincere, he had nothing to hide or fear during his campaign.

The fact that he is now President Obama gives many people a reason to have hope. I also feel hope because people set aside misjudgments and voted consciously. I find that Martin Luther King’s teachings are today a reality. He was right about how we had to be patient to show the world our intellect hoping one day people look beyond the color of one’s skin. As a citizen I see how we now suffer a social crisis that seems unsurmountable. I hope that where there is hate, terrorism, war and injustice this administration leads the way to forgiveness and hope for the next generations.

Just me...

           My name is Noelia Jenette Méndez Barreto. I was born on July 6, 1984, in Moca, Puerto Rico. Although I was born there I´ve always considered my self to be a “pepiniana” because I grew up in San Sebastián. I study industrial engineering at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus and this is my last semester. Uff! It feels so good to say that. Since 1999 I´ve being working for Tiendas La Gloria, Inc. This is a retail shoe store and it has 60 stores all over the island. I started as a floor sales woman and when I graduated from high school and moved to Mayagüez I was transferred to another store. It was then when I began to thrive professionally; I was promoted to cashier and then given the opportunity to transfer to the central offices. Now I work as a graphic artist and I’m responsible for almost all the company’s advertising. I coordinate with the agency all the campaigns and events, I write all the guides for the radio stations and do all the printed work. Although my work is not related to Industrial Engineering, I do like it and, more importantly, it has given me a lot of experience and the opportunity to be independent.

            Because I’m a senior student and this semester my goal is to find a job, I’m concern about the political, financial and cultural problems all over the world, especially what’s going on in the United States. On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44^th president of the United States. His election as president and his inauguration brought days of hope. Although I know he has a great amount of work to do in a time when the economy, the environment, and many other things are not good, his inauguration meant hope, a chance for change and a revolution. It felt so good to watch an African-American man a member of a minority racial group swearing that he would en the Iraq war, find a way to improve the economy, and make a better way of living; it made me want to cry. In his speeches it has always shocked me how deep his messages are and he has inspired me by the way he communicates with the people. I know that his presidential swearing meant to many, as it did for me, an anticipation of better times.

By: Félix G. Rijos

This man should have been VP.

My name is Félix G. Rijos Claudio and I am a 22 year old English major here at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. I am originally from Toa Baja, but currently I’m living in an apartment here in Mayagüez. For the record, I’m not big on politics. Let me rephrase that; for years I had become so disillusioned with all the politicians that only looked out for themselves and didn’t care at all about those that put them in their nice, comfy seats that I simply gave up all hope of a better future. Yet, something happened a couple of years ago. In 2004, while I was watching the Democratic National Convention on TV, I heard Senator Barack Obama from Illinois speak for the first time, which was when he delivered the keynote address at the event. As I heard him speak, I kept thinking to myself: “This guy is different.” His speech talked about the “Audacity of Hope,” a theme that many Americans, as well as many people around the world, related to. Slowly, but surely, the words spoken from him became much more than just another political speech: they became a movement. People from all walks of life, from all races, religions and political affiliations, came together to prove that, indeed, prosperity can only be achieved through unity; that the only way we can live in a better world is by coming together to forge it. President Obama spoke, and not only did the people listen, they stood up, and at the top of their lungs yelled: “Yes, we can.”

“Yes, we can.” That just about sums up what Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States means to me. What he was been able to do before, during and after his historic campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has lit a fire in everyone who has heard his words, who has witnessed his actions; a fire fueled by hope and the idea of a better tomorrow not just for ourselves, but for generations to come. He has become an inspiration not only to me, but also to millions and millions of people in the US and around the world. He’s a man that came from humble beginnings, and through hard work and determination became president. I look at that, and ask myself: “what can’t I do if I work just as hard? What can’t we all do if we work just as hard?” Unity and hope, that’s what his inauguration means to me.

By: Krystal R. Martínez Souchet

I was born in December 4, 1988 in Yauco, Puerto Rico. I’m twenty years old. Currently, I live in the town of Jayuya, where I moved to when I was nine years old. I live with my parents, my sister and brother. I have studied in different schools during my life, and I’m am presently studying chemical engineering in the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. I chose this profession because I’m very interested in sciences and mathematics, and I think that engineering combines both of them and allows creating new instruments that can contribute to the progress of society. As a person I am sensitive, curious, and impulsive. My favorite hobbies are drawing, writing, reading and listening to music. I enjoy writing because for me it is a healthy and creative way for expressing my thoughts, feelings and ideas. Since I was a little girl I used to write poems and stories; now I still write every time that inspiration comes to my mind. As for my experiences I have had several that are worthy to name. I have travelled two times to Florida. The first time was a family trip to Disney World, the second time I visited Disney again in an educational school trip in which I had a great time. During this year an important historic event has occurred, the first of the United States black president was inaugurated. He is not only a new president; he is a man with revolutionary ideas; for many he brings a message of hope and peace .I personally trust that this president will bring the United States a new and more peaceful policy. For me this is a new era, one that I hope will be better for humanity.

Me "Obamanized"

By: José Figueroa Figueroa

Hi, my name is José Figueroa and I am nineteen years old. I was born in Ponce but I live in Guayanilla. I have an older brother who belongs to the Armed Forces of the US. I rent an apartment on Bosque Street in Mayagüez, which I share with a friend. I do not like this town much because I came from a small and calm town that is the opposite of Mayagüez.

I am studying in the field of electrical engineering, but this semester I am not taking any class of my concentration. I chose to take this class because it was something new to me. I think the material that the class covers can help me in the future. This is my second year in the university and I really enjoy it in all aspects.

The inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the US means freedom and racial equality to me. These meanings are not only to the US, but also to the whole world. Obama represents the progress of a racial group. This inauguration will not end racial discrimination, but it can change the minds of the people and help create a better world.

With this inauguration, the dream that started with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be realized. If Obama guides the nation without major problems, this era can be historic to humanity in terms of racial acceptance. If the contrary happens, all the doors and opportunities will be closed to the African American community and the fault will drop over their shoulders.

By: Joann Rodríguez Suárez

I am 20 years old and a chemical engineering major at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus. I was in shock last November when Barack Obama, an African American man, was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America. I really think this should have happened years ago; it’s just that nobody had the courage to confront a society that thinks that an “American” is not a person who was born in the United States. For them an American is represented by blue eyes, light skin and blonde hair.

Racism has always been present in this society. I have family living in New Jersey and I travel there for vacation almost every summer. I have noticed people are divided in small groups: small communities of Afro-Americans, small communities of Latinos and, in the other cite, just “Americans”. When I say “Americans” I refer to a person with blue eyes, blonde hair and light skin. But this is not a subject that affects just the neighborhoods. In the history of the government of the United States, its presidents have had these “necessary” physical traits but we can see that we are in the same place, or in worse conditions than the past. For example, we are in unnecessary wars, with thousands and thousands of people dying, just for money. My uncle is part of the ARMY and I fear that one day he will be one of those thousands of dead people for a stupid reason. Another example is how Hispanic people are separated from their family, doing this sacrifice just to find a better quality of life. But they are treated like things, and not like people, because they were not born there or because they don’t have these physical traits of a “typical American”.

I think it’s time to change this. It’s time to think about America, Europe, Africa and the other continents just as places; to think about Americans, Europeans, Africans and the people of other continents just as humans, who have feelings, ideas, thoughts and ideals. They are people who need a place to live, water to drink and food to eat, family and friends to love, schools and universities to educate themselves and work to support their families. I believe in Barack Obama because he can finally do something that I’m sure other African Americans like him have wanted to do. He has had the courage to confront this society, which, has been living with racism. He already took the first big step to change this so I believe that Obama can do whatever commits to.

By: Shaimir Berríos Rodríguez

I’m a psychology major, and also plan to major in art beginning August, 2009. I love everything that has to do with art, music, photography and creativity. This is my second year at RUM and so far I love it. I always wanted to be a clinical psychologist but now I’m not very sure about that, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Last year I began singing in a band called “Scar- Driver”. We just got our demo last month. I love it, I love the style we play and I love my band members, they’re like brothers to me. Besides art and music I’m very interested in photography. I am always taking pictures or everything. I also want to be a photographer one day.

I am kind of shy, yet hyper and creative. I love making people laugh. I also love to read and to write songs. I believe that happiness is a simple thing that makes you smile for just a few seconds. Many people believe that someone else can give you happiness and I think that’s not true. You can be happy by having someone you love by your side, but true happiness comes from within yourself.

On January 22, 2009  Barak Obama’s inauguration as the new president of the United States of America took place.  I couldn’t watch it because I was at the University, but people told me it was great, everyone was so glad that he became the new president. Me too because he seems to be a person that is going to bring change for the US and for Puerto Rico too. I think he’s going to put things in the right place and to clean up the mess that George W. Bush left. All the chaos is going to change. I think he’s going to be a great president by the way he fights for everything, the way he talks to the nation and the good things that are already being done because of him.