Personal Philosophy Statement

Don't worry so much, just relax and enjoy life. Growing up I have realized that life does not always go the way as planned. It throws you with obstacles and challenges that your not ready for. Unfortunately, we only live once and a lot of us instead of focusing on the more important things in life, tend to focus more on others or "What will that person think of me?" type of lifestyle. Its not our fault, were humans and this is how society has raised us to think. We have been brainwashed to think that the only way to "fit in" is to go along with the crowd. From my own experiences, I truly believe that you shouldn't worry about what other people think of you, you need to do what makes you happy and benefits you the most.

During middle school I was in choir, I loved to sing constantly and whenever I had the chance to get a solo I would take the opportunity to do so. At first, I was really shy because I barely knew anyone in my class. It was a different type of environment that I was not used too. My teacher gave us the chance to sing one song to show him what we were like so of course I chose Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood. Once I finished singing everyone was in complete shock, considering that I was so quiet. My choir teacher came up to me afterwards and told me what an amazing voice I had. And I thanked him but denied what he had told me. I didn't believe that I was good because I only sang for fun, I didn't do it to have people judge me or congratulate me. A couple of weeks had went by and opportunities for solos had came up and I had thought about doing one, so I did. And after that solo I did another one and a couple more after that. Soon after, I over heard some of my own classmates say that I didn't sing well or that I never gave anyone a chance to sing. This then made stop singing for a while. I remember I hated going into choir class each day. I felt as if I was stuck in a deserted area all by myself with no one to turn to. I told my grandpa what was going on because he had realized that I wasn't really myself. He explained to me something that I'll never forget. He told me that if I constantly let people stop me from doing what I want to do, then I will never be happy. I won't ever do anything for myself, I will always constantly do things to please others. And in this moment I realized how foolish I was to let people stop me from doing my passion.

Today, I still look back at that experience that went on for a few weeks. I'm proud of myself that I was able to move on and be able to overcome and not care what people thought. From freshman year until now I always try to remember what my grandpa told me. There's still times today that I do let people get to me and I worry too much, which is normal for everyone. But there's times when I need to stop and look at why I worry so much because if those people in my life are truly my friends then they should be able to support me in whatever I do. Everyday you need to be happy and do what makes you happy. Don't worry about what other people think of you, live your life the way you want to live.

Travel Journal Letter C: Theme Poem Ch. 16-19

The two themes that I've focused my poem on is hunger and fear. The reason I chose these two themes was because from my point of view the Joad's and migrant farmer's journey suffer from fear and lack of food. They have fear in the unknown, which in this case is California. The family's knowledge of California is that there will be jobs to give them enough profit to get food and other necessities. Along the way they don't have enough food to keep themselves well nourished and they tend to starve. Fortunately, from time to time they're able to get food from others traveling to California. But, while on their journey many migrants are turning back from California because there weren't any jobs they had hoped for. Since the Joads have hope in California they don't see the actual possibilities that can come in the near future. Their American Dream is so close into reach that they tend to brush off the hidden truth, which is that California might not be as great as they thought it would be. 

When we travel down to the West 

We don't like to be pests

Even though we don't have food 

Were not snobby and rude

One day we'll make it to this green land 

We'll have to work hard until we have sore hands

We need food to eat so we share

But sometimes we get in despair

Were migrant farmers thinking were on the right path
We travel all day long 

But in the end where do we all really belong?

*Travel Journal Letter D: Family and Unity Ch. 16-19

"In the evening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became one family, the children were the children of all. The loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the West was one dream." (193)

The idea of family and unity is heavily expressed throughout chapter 17 with the idea that when you become one as a community you are stronger. Just like as "twenty families became one family", meaning that the migrants all share the same dream by going to California, making it easier to join as one and become closer together.

Before, while the Joads were making there way westward towards California, they all had the same vision which was creating a new and better life in California. They all had the idea that California would give them better advantages at supporting there entire family and having better opportunities for jobs. The Joads all decided to not leave each other because they felt that sticking together would make them stronger as a whole. If they stuck together than they would be more likely to strive farther and survive. After, when embarking on their journey their views on the idea of sticking together and continuing to go forward change drastically. Instead of sticking together as they had originally planned, some of the Joads decide it is better to go separate ways along the journey or once they arrive to California. By doing this it could weaken them and lead them into not having a good support system because the lack of having each other around. This could also lead into less financial stability because there will be a lack of people working in the house to provide for everyone. All of the Joads don't seem to let this bother them with the fact of everyone wanting to leave. The only one who gets bothered by everyone slowly leaving is Ma Joad because she wants the family to stick together and be close like they always have. When you stick together you can accomplish more, rather than fending for yourself.

*Travel Journal Letter D: Identify a Touching Quote Ch. 11-15

"Movin' 'cause they got to. That's why folks always move. Movin' 'cause they want somepin better'n what they got. An that's the on'y way they'll ever get it. Wantin' it an' needin' it, they'll go out an' git it." (128)

This quote has given me a better view of what the people during the Great Depression went through. Majority of people move because they feel they can have better lives in the future. This made me remember when my dad used to live in Manteca; closer to me. Eventually, he had to move because his job was transferred to Sacramento, which instead of an hour difference from here, it's a two hour drive. He either had to move or lose his job. In result of this our "father daughter relationship" weakened from there. This opened my eyes to how unfair it is considering that he had to leave family and go continue on with his life and career just to have a well paying job. But sometimes in order to survive you need to make these types of decisions. Unfortunately, that's how a lot of people are now, they decide to leave a home or place that they've been in there whole lives just for a certain job. I feel that that's a really hard decision to make, but a lot of people surprisingly would rather leave their own family than lose their job and their potential future. They try there best to succeed in what they do for a living so that they can not only give themselves a better life but provide for their families. Then there's people who can't find jobs here because of the economy and it's even hard to get one resulting in not having a job at all. Connecting all of this made me realize that even though the Great Depression happened in the 1930s people are faced with the same type of situations even today.

Travel Journal Letter B: Highway 66 Ch. 11-15

Highway 66 or otherwise known to John Steinbeck as the "Mother Road", started in Chicago which ran through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and ended in Los Angeles during the time of the Great Depression. Many farmers and their families used this long extended road to escape from the harsh times of the Dust Bowl and move into the green land of California. The severe droughts which caused bad dust storms resulted into not properly being able to landscape the crops. Farmers got worried and decided to move westward into California believing that they would get better jobs and homes for them and their families.

For the people who had small businesses along this road had great advantages and made profit when the highway became more popular. During this time there was a high demand for automobiles which triggered problems for the migrants because a lot of the cars weren't running properly due to the cars not being built correctly.

The reason this route is so significant to the Joads and all migrants is because it gives them great advantages to get to California. They are able to travel in a shorter amount of time through eight states instead of taking a much longer route. Also because of this short time advantage many shops opened up to give all families traveling supplies to fulfill there needs.







Research:
Route 66 History
Route 66: Dust Bowl
Route 66: A Brief History

Travel Journal Letter H: Passage Including Repetition Ch. 1-10

"When the night came again it was black night, for the stars could not pierce the dust to get down, and the window lights could not even spread beyond their own yards. Now the dust was evenly mixed with the air, an emulsion of dust and air. Houses were shut tight, and cloth wedged around doors and windows, but the dust came in so thinly that it could not be seen in the air, and it settled like pollen on the chairs and tables, on the dishes. The people brushed it from their shoulders. Little lines of dust lay at the door sills." (3)

The repeated words throughout this passage that are used are "dust" and "air". From my knowledge and research, this contributes to the time period when the severe dust storms took place, known as the Dust Bowl. This repetition is used to describe the harsh conditions that were endured by the farmers and their land. The wind and storms were so powerful that not only did it destroy the lands of farmers, but it also got into their homes and covered furniture with dust. Dust would heavily fill the air and it would be hard for people to breathe because of the pollution. People during the Dust Bowl knew what challenges they had to undergo the next time a dust storm would come around because of how frequently it would happen.

Travel Journal Letter B: Oklahoma Postcard Ch. 1-10

 There are many symbols that represent the state of Oklahoma. Postcards were used as one way to display these main symbols.

On this postcard to the right, the blue flag is the Oklahoma state flag. Right on top of the flag is a gold shield which has an olive branch and pipe, both of these symbolize peace. There seal is the great seal of Oklahoma, the star has five points and each point has one of the five civilized tribes. Many famous landmarks in Oklahoma such as the Oklahoma State Capitol are found throughout the state. Just recently the state capitol got a dome added onto it after years of financial trouble. Some of Oklahoma's state animals are the Buffalo(Bison) and there state bird is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The state has even adopted their own fruit which is the watermelon. Also, shown on this flag is the state's flower which is the beautiful Oklahoma rose. This state has plenty of unique symbols that make up Oklahoma, but these are just a few that are the main ones that caught my attention.

Dear great state of Oklahoma,

This is hard for me to say but unfortunately it's my time to go. I've finally gotten out of jail by doing my time and paying my way. I've traveled in search of my family that I've missed so dearly and I'm joining them to move westward to the great land of California. Oklahoma has been good to both me and my family in the past, but we need to have better lives. In California we're able to start new, get well paying jobs, and live on new land. Bye Oklahoma, hopefully one day I'll be able to come back and visit this dusty land once again.

Sincerely,
Your Friend Joad

Research:
Oklahoma Symbols
List of Symbols

Picture:
Oklahoma Postcard