PavoneReadingResponse7

Life Is a Spiritual Struggle: I liked this reading because I could relate directly not from a teacher's perspective but as a student who took martial arts classes. In marital arts the instructor or master pushes their students farther and harder in everything whether it be a form you just learned or just doing regular tecniques, they push you to do your very best and to not give up and be lazy which is what Joseph Laycock was saying. Martial arts has pushed him to not be lazy and have despair and he uses that for in the classroom to get through his days to make his students successful. I used what I learned from martial arts to keep pushing myself and to not give up when I learned new things in school or when I just wanted to get lazy with schoolwork, I just kept pushing myself. I also liked from the reading how he connects the different types of marital arts to his history class to help his students possibly get a better understanding of the material.

Admittance to a Better Life: I enjoyed this podcast because it showed that people can make what they want out of their life. Before he wrote the poem about a girl he probably thought he'd be on the streets or in jail for his life or even dead. After the poem he had a way off the streets and was able to gain an education and create successful goals for himself. I thought of the activity and discussion in class about education and if parent's education had an influence on our education. This made me think of it when he was talking about going through the rabbit hole because he was the only one moving on to better and greater things in life and he did it by himself not by the influence of his parents or friends. It shows that parents aren't always the ones to help us and that shows that with enough determination people can make what they want out of their own lives.

This I Believe: I agree with this reading. I agree because just by going and getting an education doesn't necessarily mean you are smart, you have to apply the knowledge you learn to life experiences. People also gain knowledge through personal experiences and how they choose to deal with them. I can slightly relate because my Nonna only had up to an 8th grade education before she stayed at home and took care of her brother and the house, when she came to America she applied her skills for sewing and dress making and was able to get a job and create a successful life for herself. Having an education and having life experiences is what makes people knowledgeable.