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Guerrero A. Abril

CODES 121

Dr. DeSpain

25 August 2024

Analyzing “Where We Are”  From The New York Times

While reading the photo essays, I was amazed by the different things and how pictures can express more than words. All the photos express similar elements; some were inspiration, communities, and generations. The images show life’s creativity through color, freedom, dreams, hopes, love, and life. As I analyze the photo essay, I hope to have a different approach to life and color through them.

The picture essay “My First Car” by Adali Schell demonstrates young people’s dreams, the fullness of life in them, and their connection with the people around them. The youth generation of today, in the article of the photo, expresses “escape monotony fear” from the mentally dark pandemic and isolation from 2020. At the same time, the color of the images shows joy, the freedom to experience something new for the first time and not alone.

The overall pictures and writing displace the new experience of driving freely and having a sense of freedom when driving for the first time by yourself. In one of the photos, it gets my attention to see people driving in a car and the hands of a girl with her hair moving from the window open, feeling let go of responsibilities and just happy driving in the sunset. In writing, Kerry said, “It doesn’t matter where you are”  and “It’s just the company.”

            In life, a new experience is always fun and scary at the same time, but it feels better when you’re not doing it alone. In the writing, you learn that words help express the images. The people in the young community show color, as Kerry says, “You realize you’re not alone.” It shows the creativity of young generations and how independence is not Amazon but Amazon when experiencing new things with friends and people. 

Finally, the photos craft the beginning of creativity and show the physical geography of traveling and independence. The creativity of the different types of car rides with friends on the journey of the unknown with the freedom to explore the city, sunrise, and landscape. It inspires a new perspective on life to explore new experiences.

Guerrero, A. Abril 
CODES 121
Dr. DeSpain 
20 August 2024

Semester Goals Reflection 1 

In CODES 121,  my goals for the fall semester are to grow in the college life and learning environment with my peers in the program to build long-lasting skills. I plan to develop new skills in my everyday life to help me in my career and engage in my community and surroundings. 

 For my first goal, I want suitable supporting materials to give a clear central message and clarify my point through better communication. I will use my resources to have a better-supporting background and develop steps and plans for constructing a central message. I will also find reliable information in different areas of study to give out the right message. 

Secondly, I want to pursue more experience outside the classroom to gain knowledge beyond my school education. I intend to explore my new city and learn about my community inside and outside the university, whether talking to people in my town with recurring problems or visiting cities where the people or the community is being affected. In addition, I can acknowledge the new environment in which I am being exposed to view the problem to better understand it. 

Thirdly, I want to be able to devise different approaches to problem-solving, identify and evaluate problem-solving differently, and build lifelong skills. I desire to be more open about other opinions and points of view with my peers and classmates, evaluate problems with more than one solution, and talk to more individuals to be exposed to more ideas.

Fourthly, I want to be able to collaborate and communicate with my classmates while all working together. I want to not let anyone feel excluded but invite them to engage in our class group or collaborations. I would be more engaged in our group discussion and get to talk with every individual in our group to have better connections with everyone. I want everyone to feel included and engage in the activity, whether that be in class or outside of class. 

For my final goal, I can develop the skills to write skillfully and clearly while communicating through my writing using proper language and grammar. To improve my communication and writing skills, I will use my resources and tutoring to accomplish my goal. I will also take extra time to study on my own to be at a good college writing level. This will help me in future activities and develop faster skills. 

Finally, to end my semester goals, I hope to grow in all areas of my life and keep learning lifelong lessons that I can use in my education and future job while meeting my goals. Ultimately, I desire to gain the necessary skills to succeed as a student and future businesswoman.