EXCERPTS FROM STUDENT PROJECT #3

Cathy Queen of Cats

Cathy was the girl in The House on Mango Street stories, and she had too many cats. She had all kinds of cats. The cats were very cute. They slept all over the house, curled like little donuts. Her house seemed like a cat heaven, because the cats were everywhere.

Cathy was Esperanza's friend, but only for few days, because Cathy moved away from the neighborhood. Cathy told Esperanza that their neighborhood was getting bad. Therefore she and her family moved a little farther north on Mango Street.

The reason Cathy moved was because she thought the neighborhood was changing. She meant people like Esperanza, Mexican people, kept moving into her neighborhood. She did not want to live with people who were from a different ethnic group. She did not like other people who made her feel uncomfortable. As she could not stop other ethnic groups from moving into her neighborhood, she moved out. Cathy was probably a racist person. She may be the kind of person who thinks herself better than other people.

No Speak English

When I was asked to stop speaking my native language in public, I was offended, because it was an insult to my inherited culture. I wanted to object because the request was rude, however I decided against it because I did not want to make a scene in public.

If I had responded, I probably would have said, please do not tell me not to speak my native language, because the request is disrespectful and very rude. I do not believe that anyone should comply with the such a request. I cannot think of anyone who would appreciate me for making such an insulting request. I also think the request is a violation of my human rights. Freedom of speech and expression is a human rights that we all share in America. Therefore, I believe her request is a violation of the freedom of speech and expression laws.

In conclusion, people should never demand that anyone cease speaking their native language. That kind of demand is really disrespectful. I would never violate another person in that manner, because I believe that everyone is entitled to freedom speech and expression.

Discrimination (Human Rights Essay)

Once I applied for a job. The manager asked my age, and then he gave me an application, and said, "complete this over there." I followed his instruction, by completing the application form. While I was completing the form, a man came in and applied for the some job. Later, I was told that the man had applied for the same job. After I gave my application to the manager, he said, "hum... you are only fifteen years old, and no work experience. Maybe when you're eighteen, come and see me. When is your birthday?"

I was thinking, I am fifteen. Of course I have no work experience. Come back when I’m eighteen? By the time I'm eighteen, I will have had many jobs. If he knew he wanted someone older, why did he want me to complete the application form? I went home, and tried to forget what had happened to me. It was embarrassing. The next day, I went to that store, and I saw the Cashier that I had spoken with a few days earlier. The Cashier told me the manager chose the man, because I was too young. Therefore, I lost the job. I felt that was not fair. Maybe the manager thought that an adult could handle the job better than a teenager.

The manager was wrong. I could have taken that job as seriously as an adult. He should not have judged me because of my age. I know children have rights, but some law says that a child must be sixteen or older to have qualify for a work permit. I am glad children also have rights. Therefore, I do not need to wait until I am eighteen to get a job.