Chapter 1: Abandoned but Not Alone- Thomas Oliphant

In the shorty story, Abandoned but Not Alone by Thomas Oliphant talks about a special program called “The Point Foundation.” The purpose of this organization is to help children who have been abandoned by their parents because of reasons such as being gay, etc. Oliphant gives various examples in the text about the type of kids who has been accepted into the foundation and how their lives have been changed. The Point not “provides financial assistance” (Anderson 20), but it also “provide and adult to be there on the first day of college, so that one of the most joyous rites of passage doesn’t take place in solitude” (Anderson 20).  That is probably one of the best things being in programs such as that because having someone to mentor you is something those children needs especially since their parents no longer want to be apart of their lives. Having a various mentors in my lives has been beneficial. There have been many situations that have occurred to me and some I could not tell my parents, which is where those mentors come in to help. They help by giving me various suggestions to fix the problem. I actually do now know what I would do without the mentors have had throughout my life because they have been that extra support system that I need. 

Chapter 1: The Meaning of Work- Rodrigo Joseph Rodriguez

In the short story, The Meaning of Work by Rodrigo Rodriguez tells us what it means to work and the struggles that Rodriguez’s father faced. Rodriguez reflect back to when he was a child and how his father would say, “Had you been born during my day you would have known the meaning of work.” (Anderson 22) His father struggled to raise them growing up because his father was not given the opportunity to go to school and get an education, instead he had to work. Rodriguez reflect on the academic privileges he was given, as he pursued graduate study. His father told one of his co-workers that Rodriguez would one day “work in air condition.” (Anderson 23) Rodriguez’s father wanted his son to achieve more than he did. He gave his son the opportunities he was not given in life such as a good education. His father knew that the true meaning of working is when you do something you enjoy doing and in other to attain that you had to get a good education, which his father was not given. When he referred to that statement about Rodriguez working some place with an air condition he meant somewhere comfortable and relaxing. Rodriguez is reminded that his father had paved the way for him through physical labor, so he that he could "shape his space in the pursuit of academic success."(Anderson 24)

Chapter 2: Universities Seeing a Gender Gap in Enrollments- Erin Mallants Rodriguez

In the excerpt, Universities Seeing a Gender Gap in Enrollments by Erin Mallants Rodriguez talks about the percentages of men that attend various universities and how the numbers are very scarce. There are way more women attending colleges right after high school than men. Just like Andre Lightbourn, director of admissions at St. Thomas University say,“College does not appeal to many of the male high school students...”(Anderson 59) in which I completely understand. The downside about males not going to college is that they end up with hardly any jobs and also low pay rate.  I believe that special programs or incentives are a clever way of drawing more males to enroll into college. If these incentives include more financial support or scholarships more men will apply because majority of the reason why people do not apply for college is because they cannot afford it. Incentives such as those will definitely draw more males to enroll. If special programs such as a All Male Support group for incoming students is created maybe it can help guide these men on a journey of success and actually help them remain in college rather than dropout.

Chapter 2: Focusing on Friends- Steve Tesich

Steve Tesich in his short story, Focusing on Friends, talks about how he felt about his good male friends and the reasons he could never express his feeling toward them. He also talks about how easily “he can tell a woman he loves her, but he can’t tell a man that.”(Anderson 41). When Tesich’s friend, Louie dies in Vietnam, he tries comforting his friend’s mother by telling her how much he loved her son, but the way it was coming out just did not sound right. He later says how he wished he would have told Louie himself. The reason he could never tell any of his male friends how much he loved them was because he believed it might ruin their relationship. Tesich thought the only way to show his male friends he loved them was by “looking for ways to prove it.” (Anderson 42). At the very end when Tesich says, “It is time to make adjustments.” (Anderson 43). I was surprised because throughout the story he talks about how he wished he had told his friends he loved them, but now he changes his mind. It really baffles me and makes me think something is wrong with him and his emotions.