YOUTH OUTLOOK ECONOMiC FORUM

Today i went to a forum held by the Youth Outlook Program. During this program we got to meet new people, tlak about issues in the social lives and in the economy. We heard other people's thoughts about the economy being in a recession, but we also got our voices and our thoughts heard by other people as well. We discussed all the affects of the recession towards each person's life and how every person is hit hard in different ways. This program really inspired me today because it made me want to be a part of trying to help out, and it made me want my voice to get heard. During this session, we got split up into different groups with new people we had never met before. During these group discussions, it felt really good to be able to express myself and my thoughts and my particular situation because of this recession. Before I never really cared much about knowing what's going on and the affects in the world. But this program really changed my whole point of view about things. It made me want to get involved.

Interview Skills Workshop

Today we had a guest speaker come to our class and teach us interviewing skills, giving u tips, etc. He is a professional journalist. Out of all the information and help that he gave us I really learned alot about interviewing people. I learned that the key to a good interview is always start off asking easy or simple questions and move along towards the harder questions after because it keeps the interviewee interested. You also have to keep trying when the interviewee is being difficult, you never give up. You have to say things that will make them want to talk. You always have to be prepared ahead of time because if you are not prepared then you will look very unproffesional, and stupid. You also have to take control and don't let the interviewee try to take control of the conversation. There is plenty more that I learned today, but it's a little too much to write =p

The Dream Finally Came True

The day that nobody ever thought would come true, finally came true this morning at 9 am. Barack Obama is now officially our president of the United States! This day is one of the most special days in the years of history that will never be forgotten. It has inspired so many people in this world to know that anything is really possible. You can do anything you put your mind to. And this will be passed on through generations. Nobody ever thought that we would ever have an african american as the president of the United States. Well we just proved those people wrong today. Change really has come to America and I believe that change will keep coming throughout the years of Obama's presidency and hopefully even after. I am proud to say that Obama is my president because I believe in him and I know he will make a great president and he will bring hope and channge to our country.

Can We Trust Them?

On the night of New Year's Day, a 22 year old african american male was shot and killed by a 27 year old white male bart officer. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, was called in about a fight on one of the bart trains. Mehserle and a couple other bart officers removed all the suspects to the train platform, including the 22 year old, Oscar Grant. All the young suspects were on the ground, face down, and restrained. Grant was on the floor being completely cooperative, even though he did nothing wrong at all. Mehserle pulled out his gun, and shot Grant right in the back. Soon after this incident, he turned in his badge and quit his job as a bart officer. Days later, there were numerous protests rising in Oakland for Mehserle's arrest. That Tuesday night, Mehserle was arrested and issued a homicide warrant. Thursday, in the courthouse, Mehserle pleaded as not guilty. But he is still locked up in Santa Rita jail, with extra security, and check up. This whole incident really bugs people for the fact that this 22 year old man did nothing wrong, and was shot and killed by an officer. The incident brings back the Rodney King incident in L.A a few years ago. This makes people think about whether we are really safe or not behind the system. Can they really be trusted?