1 assisgment Lynn Hunt – Intro
My name is Doris Estevez. I have been at CWE for 3 years. I went back to school in 2014 after almost 11 years without being in school. I am a single mom to 15 year old son. I was a teen-mom and had to work and put my education on hold for a while. I currently work at Grand Street Settlement (non-for-profit organization) under a contract from the DFTA (Department for the Aging) as a caseworker for a senior center (Grand Coalition of Seniors). I enjoy my job very much. It brings me a lot of joy and happiness that I can help people in need. It could be just reading and translating a letter or applying for benefits & entitlements for a senior. I am hoping to one day becoming a social worker. I would be the 1 generation to complete college and obtain my bachelor’s degree. My parents are both immigrants from the Dominican Republic. My mom came to the US when she was 7 years old. She speaks and write English well. My mom only finish high school and my dad has only 5th grade education. Both my parents work very hard to provide me and siblings a good life. They both always pushed and enforce us on getting an education. So, today I strive to finish my education for my parents and son. I want to set an example to them and my family that getting a degree will help you move forward in life.
While reading Lynn Hunt “Introduction” I found that the Declaration of Independence” was written at a time when people were becoming aware of their actions as human beings. Thomas Jefferson “We hold truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (pg.15), he made a permanent mark on recognizing human rights in today’s society. This spark a worldwide opinion on human rights good and bad. But the Declaration of Independence did not included slaves, free blacks, some religion minorities and women. During this time, men did not consider these groups of people equal. It was only considered for “white men”. The concept of “equal human rights” took some time unfold to what is in present time. America evolve as times were changing. As I start this class, I observe how many young women are in my class. It was amazing to see the change in times. Women during the 18th centuries could not go to school. It took many centuries to see what is in place today. The Declaration of Independence (1776) was implemented but also had a lot of amendments added to it. I agree with Lynn Hunt’s opinion on how new kinds of readings, experiences and empathy all played an important roles in “brain changing individuals”. It took people to think beyond what was going presently. People need to understand the change that was coming.
