Ritual

My Quinceanos
Many Hispanic girls have a tradition to have a big elegant party when they turn fifteen years old called a quinceanos. Having a quniceanos is not just throwing a big party where all your family and friends come, its an emotion and spiritual process which takes the girls from childhood to adulthood. I had my quniceanos during my summer of 10th grade. During my preparation I had went through many emotions and changes.
I started getting ready for my quinceanos about nine months before the party. I had to choose who I wanted to be my godparents, my chambelans, and where I wanted to have it. During the whole nine months chaos happened. Problems over everything occurred. About a month my quinceanos occurred I had to plan my baile de honors, which is where I dance with my father (in this case my brother) and my mother as while as with all my chambelans. I worked hard with all of my chambelans until the day of my quniceanos.
My quniceanos came on June 30; I was a hot dry day. I was tired from all the hard work I put into the party. I had to go to church, to the park to take my photos and finally to the party where I would do my baile de honors and have fun with my family. Everything went smooth and I enjoyed every part of it.

Girls on the Verge

This story is about girls who celebrate their quniceanera and how the traditions have changed. Some of the girls want the tradition qunice which consist of the church and the party. Other girls want to just have the modern tradition of just taking the pictures.

Versus Essay

Women of Today and Tomorrow
How can someone tell if you are a “beaner” or a Mexican from just looking at you? I have gotten many “So what part of Mexico are you?” or “Do you go to visit your family in Mexico?”. To start off I’m not Mexican, yes I am Hispanic but my family is not from Mexico. I sometimes wonder if people know there are different places other than Mexico.
Coming from an immigrant parent I was taught as a small child to always represent my culture and stand up for my culture. Hispanic culture varies from American culture. Hispanics are taught to always respect family and stay with family. On the other hand American culture promotes for their teens to leave at age 18 and become independent. As strong Hispanic women, I have the most pressure though. From the start, since I am a woman, I was taught that my place was in the kitchen. As a Hispanic woman my place is and always been in the house serving the men in the house.
I am determined to change this though. I am an American Hispanic woman who is strong and free willed. I have the right to change the way both Hispanic and American women live their lives.

American Born Chinese

In this story Jin, is like many other boys at his age. He has hid first crush and is scared to find out if the girl likes her. After his girlfriend tells him to take a chance and shows him if he can go after the girl he likes so can he. Jin takes the chance and funally has the chance to go out with his crush.

Persopolis: The Story of a Childhood

In this story, Marjane goes through many girls nightmare. She is taking away her identity by wearing a veil and limited to what she may do. Believing she is the last last prophet she starts thinking of why to change her life and everyone else's.

Mindmap

Sterotyping

Wordle

Norms: Individual vs Society

Casey Carcamo, 17
Fences
“So you can jump fences right?” What is someone suppose to answer to that? Being from Hispanic origins it is expected of me to automatically now how to jump fences and jump them faster than anyone else. Being from Hispanic origins and a teen in the 21-century is much harder. Teen life isn’t as easy as most people think it is. Teens have to worry about fitting in society because its either your in with the in crowd living the good life or your by yourself wishing you had such a good life.
Starting high school was the easiest thing I could have ever done. I was with my old friends, going to school, and playing pranks on one another. It was if we were all in a club no one was allowed to enter. We all grow up together and come from the same heritage, Hispanic, and proud of it. No one picked on you because you were Guatemalan, Salvadoran, or Mexican. That all changed though when I changed when I moved school.
Now instead of being judged by who I am, I’m judged by the color of my skin and where my parents came from. Since when do teens care where your heritage comes from? Why should I even matter? I don’t mind being asked where my parents are from but for me to be judged on that hurts. I plan on moving past that though. I plan on getting over the stereotype of me being able to jump fences (even though I can, but doesn’t ever one else?) and prove beauty comes from within in not from the outside.

Red: The Next Generation of American Writers- Teenage Girls- On What Fires Up Their Lives Today By: Olive Panter

In this story, an American-Mexican struggles through her childhood. She moved to Mexico when she was 2 and back to New York when she was 13. Sh was very popular in Mexico but started to struggle when she went to school on New York.

Entering New Territory

In this story, Alexander wants to be something other than a boy form the projects. Being from the projects, he is already thought to be hard core and from a gang. In reality he is a sweet guy who wants people to stop stereotyped.

Our Boys Speak: Adolescent Boys Write About Their Inner Lives

Some boys seem to have the ability to fall into peer pressure more than other boys In this story, Abe is a boy who knows what his moral are and doesn't let anyone change his beliefs. Chris, the writer of the letter, admires Abe for his ability to stick to his belief no matter if society does not accept him.

Our Boys Speak: Adolescent Boys Write About Their Inner Lives

In this story, the author explains how boys seem to have it harder than girls. Boys from a young age are taught to be independent, hide there emotions, and live as nothing others them. But in reality boys have the same hardship as girls, but they tend to hide it more than girls.

Red: The Next Generation of American Writers- Teenage Girls- On What Fires Up Their Lives Today By: Olive Panter

This story is about young girls expressing themselves. Girls in this story do not limit themselves to who they are and what they think. By doing this the girls are able to grow and let others now who they really are.

Red: The Next Generation of American Writers- Teenage Girls- On What Fires Up Their Lives Today By: Olive Panter

In this story Alison SMith is a 16 year old girl struggles with fitting in. She is known as the skinny girl who has the perfect body. She struggles to it in with everyone because people believe she is happy with her skinny body when she really isn't. Alison wants to have curves like everyone else.

Mind Map