Pro-Con Formative Assessment ;

Topic "Homeless"

Link to Article:

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Hawaii-legislators-seek-feedback-from-the-homeless/Qh1bvUtPy0ixlc3mRxTqdA.cspx

Summary: State representatives want to help the growing homeless population out, who live across the street from Aala Park. They are trying to come up with solutions and are hoping that the homeless themselves can come up with solutions also. The homeless who live there feel mistreated by other people. A solution that came up was to create "safe zones" where homeless can stay without being harassed. In addition, they are trying to make one of the 100 unit buildings in Chinatown, a housing area for those with drug problems and mental illnesses.

Proposition: I agree with the representatives that we should have safe zones for the homeless because they are away from where tourists may be and it would make the place look a little bit cleaner. In addition, they would also have a place to live without being harassed by people passing by. Besides safe zones, the housing idea in Chinatown sounds like a great way to help those with mental illnesses and drug problems.

Coming of Age; Finding Myself.

Thinking about the past and all the things I have gone through, I can see that I have indeed "come of age." Coming of age to me means to take responsibility of your own actions, feel more independent and to have more confidence in yourself.

For me, my "coming of age" experience began when I started high school. Coming from a private school, I knew public school would be a challenge for me. I was used to a small campus, with only 46 students in each grade. In private school, no matter what grade you were, we would get along. I could name everyone from kindergarten to eighth grade, I was that close with everyone. As the first day of high school began, I could see everybody chatting and laughing with their friends. I felt almost like a loner. I was so used to everybody knowing me. I had to gain confidence in myself and make new friends. I had to change my personality from shy to affable and vivacious. Doing this, made me make new friends. As freshman year flew by, other things started changing about me besides my personality. I started to dress and talk different. I went from slippers to shoes, jeans to shorts and short hair to long hair. I even went from shirts with awful kiddy designs on them to ones with nice designs that match my age. In addition I even started listening to more hip-hop and alternative music rather than r&b music.

As the beginning of sophomore year began, I yet to come across another “coming of age” experience. Couple days before school began, I went to the DMV to take my permit test. I finished the test in exactly 10 minuets. As I turned in my test, the lady slowly corrects the test in front of me. Once she was finished she looks at me with a nice sweet smile and says “ You passed! “ I was so happy, from there I felt like a new person. It made me feel like a grown up and that I have new responsibilities to follow. I knew from there, I was not a kid anymore, I was starting to become a young adult.

Coming of age can happen at anytime. We all mature at our own pace. I still have many challenging years ahead of me, and many new things to learn and accomplish. My ambition in life is to see me for who I truly am, I cannot do that until I fully “come of age.”