The Remedy

The visit to the Liwanag Cultural Center was very interesting. I found the ED they had presented on 1968 to be informative. I had known some information already, but I was surprised as to how much I didn't know. In high school, the information that was taught to me about the 60's was very selective. There would be times while sitting in class I would flip to the index and search for the word Philippines. I would never find the word, but for some reason I did this a lot expecting to actually get an answer each time I did it. When I came to San Francisco State I had a reality check. I had never heard of Asian American classes and I didn't know what the college of Ethnic Studies was. I thought what I had already known was enough, but I was wrong. After my first Asian American Studies class I knew I wanted to learn more and that I didn't want to take the information for granted. Although I am a Kinesiology major, I am an Asian American Studies minor. I plan on opening my own physical therapy clinic one day, but the help I will offer will be aimed towards Asian American communities who cannot afford hollistic health care. I also want to focus on how culture and gender can effect the movement of the human body. The college of Ethnic Studies has helped a number of people and it has helped me realize what I want to do with my life.

I really enjoyed the lesson on 1968 because it reminded me of high school and how much I didn't know. If I could change one thing about the day it would be to have more time because there was a lot of information to take in just a short amount of time. However, I found everything that I learned to help me realize that I should be more open minded to different perspectives about issues I already know.

So while I was writing this journal I kept thinking about high school. I'm going to share with you guys a poem I wrote in high school when I was confused about life in general.

The Remedy
As I take a deep breath and exhale fog rolls out like morning weather
shivers run down this spine of mine as the cold seeps through my sweater
In a trance like state I repeat the systematic routine
Wake up, school, work, sleep
Same grind Same time
I am programmed like a robot, this diobolic process just won't stop and I need some relief
No, I'm not talking about that medication that helps you fall asleep
Something that can rock my world and divert these eyes from the daily grind
So I popped a CD in and started to listen
Went through 20 tracks Felt the vibe from within
I was met by something so beautiful and sweet kinda like that first kiss that knocks you off your feet
Overcome with so many emotions its like gazing as the beautiful stars up above or looking into someone's eyes and falling in love
It took me to a place where no one else goes
Suddenly became lost in rhythm and tempos
Snares and drum kicks Soul groovin to synchronized base hits
I couldn't stop the audible odyssey
It was poetry in motion
Tangible enough to taste like an elixir / mad doctors potion
Felt everything so fluidly like the roaring waves of the ocean
The stressfulness tried to get the best of me but I kicked it to the curb saying, "Yo, you wanna piece you gotta take the rest of me"
So as I walk down the street with a bounce in my step
It's simply because Hip Hop beats within my chest

From The One and Only,
Kristina Nagales