reader response to Walljasper

Len Lai

Prof. Laura Sheehan

ESOL 0360

April 11, 2015

Reader- Response to Walljaper

In the essay, “Our Schedules, Our Selves” by Jay Walljasper explains how we manage to become slaves of our schedules, and the way we think about our schedules. Walljasper says, “We are not leading our lives, but merely following a dizzying timetable of duties, commitments, demands, and options” (260). This essay was first published in 2003. The author develops his thesis by explaining the reasons and giving the solutions.

The problem that is more common now than it was in 2003 is “Our own human desire for more choices new experiences” (261). Nowadays, the technology is growing very fast such as cell phone people want to have more time to explore something new than the past. For example, Walljasper writes, “An expanding choice of cultural offerings over recent decades and the liberating sense that each of us can fully play a number of different social roles (worker, citizen, lover, parent, artist, etc.) has opened up enriching and exciting opportunities” (261).

The solution that Walljasper discusses which is unrealistic is “time can make a big difference in how you feel about your life, as other articles in this cover section illustrate” (262). Making our schedules or plans helps us to manage our time to have organized lives, but time cannot make a big difference in our lives.

Lost and Pound

" I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly." by R. Kelly. As the lyrics, I started to plan my dream in the US when I heard that song named " I believe I can fly" two years ago. Because I was born in a small town of South Vietnam, I had very narrow view, and I could not image my life in the future. I had a hard time to make a decision for studying aboard because I had nothing such as English or education. However, I tried to keep my plan in the right track day by day. Ultimately, I come to the US with all my passion and my goals. However, as Tang says in the essay "Polite but Thirsty," (p.39) "Life is never smooth sailing. It requires a continual series of adaptions to new environments." yes, it is. Being a newcomer in another country is very hard, and usually face with many undesirable things. For example, Tang has experience on being direct, calling name, or tipping; however, I find my perspective has broadened by being strong, solving  problems, and communicating with people.
   
     I see myself becoming more stronger. Before I came to the US, I used to afraid of everything. For example, I could not ride a bike, but my friend could do it very well. I did not like to speak up in class because I thought my classmates were laughing on me. Moreover, I also have not had my own opinion because my parents took care me everything. I could image myself such as a doll with nothing special. Coming to a new country which is growing very fast, I have to change myself to adapt with this new environment. Sometimes I get stuck, and fight with different opinions because no one can help me out; therefore, I must be strong to face with everything. I feel unadaptable in the beginning, but I become more comfortable now.
   I have learned how to solve the problems by myself. I solve the problems by facing with them. Sometimes I think I cannot do my best, and I will need some help from family or friend; however, I can achieve by my own. Because I am growth, I am independence person, so I need to have the goals for myself. Day by day, I am proud about myself because I can solve my problems than before.
    Being a foreigner student, I need to communicate with people. In Vietnam, communicating is kind of unusual class, and it provides for college student because that course helps them how to communicate with each other effectively.