Category: Garfield High School

Podcast: Listen Closely – Everyone is talking but are we listening to one another?

While cleaning out his garage Hugo found an old poem his High School teacher assigned in the last days of Senior year. It made little sense to him then but twenty years later he’s lived a life and the puzzle pieces are starting to make sense. Hugo reads the poem and shares his thoughts on the importance of listening to the wisdom of elders and why we need to truly listen to each other more.
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Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

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The Don Quixote Episode

Just recently I entered into an on line conversation about a contemporary issue with a complete stranger. I did this on my own volition. 
I championed ethics, precedent, and a need for civility in how we dialog as a society. The stranger I willingly approached proceeded to visit my profile make inference about my person from some quickly gathered facts. He was even charitable enough to give me a “pass” because of the neighborhood I grew up in and where I attended High School. Education is drastically lacking in East Los Angeles in his estimate. I found all this mildly ironic and decided to exercise my Troll-Policy and cease to engage the person. 
What dawned on me is the lack of discipline to argue arguments on their merit. It also emboldened me with quixotic sense of purpose to not devolve to personal attacks when I engage others. It is a personal policy…feel free to disagree.

Cholo

Most each and every morning and even sometimes at midday my mama would perform an audit. Her threshold was clear…thou shall not wear clothing or style one’s hair in such a manner as to connote a resemblance to a “Cholo” for me or a “Chola” for my sisters. This meant that pants were to actually fit at the waist and underwears were meant to be kept under and never seem. Hair was to be cut by her and it mirrored my papa’s distinguished (old fashioned) look. No wild designs on clothes, no flashy brands. 
It is a testament then that in spite of all this I still had an unauthorized girlfriend in High School though mama Torres sure had plenty to say about that!

Inherit the Wind

While in a Prosecutorial state I stood among my peers and began to lay out my case. My voice cracked at first but one comforting look from Mr Bennett helped me get into my groove. In minutes I had mustered up my inner William Jennings Bryan and brought my speech to a frothy frenzy. I reveled at the crowd’s reaction when I sassed my opponent or professed & pontificated poignant points to ponder . Later the librarian who hosted our AP Politics class would tell me she had seldom seen such passion in all her years at James A Garfield High. 
I suppose that’s the moment when I fell in love with the sound of my own voice. Sorry y’all!