Speaking briefly about the history of San Jose State University, in 1857 San Jose State University was founded and formally known as Minn’s Evening Normal School, located in San Francisco instead of San Jose. Named after Principal George W. Minns, Minn’s Evening Normal School focused was on providing education for grade school teachers. By the late 1860’s, Principal William Thomas Lucky thought it was “the best interests of the school and the pupils attending will be promoted by locating where there is more quiet and fewer temptations” (Nellen, 2011). There were several cities that were eager to offer California State Normal School a location. They ultimately decided to settle in San Jose in December 1869. On October 20, 1870, the first building to be built was Washington Square, which was donated by the City of San Jose. The building was not finished until 1871. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a fire in 1880 and it was deemed unsafe after the 1906 earthquake. Washington Square then was rebuilt and also given a new name, Tower Hall. A flash-forward to today, many things have change about San Jose State University. First, it is now known as San Jose State University, and not California State Normal School. Next, they now offer over 130 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Back in 1870, the population of the city was approximately 9,000 people. Modern day San Jose’s population exceeds 900,000 people, with 28,000 students enrolled in San Jose State University.
I asked my parents why they were willing to leave their families behind to migrate to United States and their response was, “To give you an opportunity and education that we can only dream of.” Their emphasis has always been on education. My father was originally ...
... middle of paper ...
...ademic year or what?" In the Spartan Daily, Associated Students President Shokouh said, "beginning a new chapter in [their] lives," and "only you can achieve your potential" (2003). Through all the ups and downs, which includes the campus’ budget cuts and the suspected gunman last fall occurring near the Sweeney Hall, I without a doubt still believe that San Jose State University is the school for me. While walking around San Jose State University’s campus, I was mentally checking off the list of things I was looking to write about. It came to realize that the campus has a history behind it—more than what meets the eye. The people, the groups, and the surrounding architecture made me realize all the potential San Jose State University has to give. It now holds a significant meaning to me, more than a place I am being educated at; instead it is where I now call home.
At the time, San Francisco State College had an enrollment of approximately 18,000 students. Characterized as an open campus, San Francisco State was known for its innovative approaches to teaching and the development of courses in conjunction with students.
A potential incoming college freshman struts with confidence through the sliding doors of the Student Center, inhaling the freshly prepared pizza ready to be served at Sbarros, and sees the smiling faces as Pride Leaders try to convince each individual to enroll at Hofstra University; yet fail to admit that every university has its limitations and failed expectations. A journalist from U.S. News reports, “Hofstra University 's ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 135.” (Hofstra University)
During the course of America's lifetime, million upon millions of people left their homes and families in other countries and traveled to America in the hope of securing a better life -- the American Dream. What they often found was an unwillingness on the part of those already established in America to share society's benefits with them. For many segments of our American society, people substituted a reliance on family, or friends, or even faith alone, to secure these benefits for themselves and their children that was denied them by those possessing economic and political power.
Affected by my family, my background, and everything around me, I was born in a family who is the first generation to get here. My grandmother, and my parents, along with some other relatives, moved here in search of better opportunities, like those from other countries for the same idea. They started out fresh but had a hard time to get started, when I was little, I assumed it had to be somewhat easy, but for people who do not know English it is like starting from scratch, but they did well, they’ve made it.
Since the 19th century, America became a place where millions of people aspire to immigrate intensively. In order to pursuit a better life, freedom, and equality, people have to leave their hometowns and family, deal with uncertainty. Why were so many people willing to leave their family and go to the United States for pursuing their American Dreams? The most important reason that people chose to immigrate to America was they believed that they had opportunities to earn a better life. No matter how hard they tried, their lives are barely improved. Therefore, people were dissatisfied and despaired with their own countries since their efforts did not pay off. However, reality was cruelly destroying the path to the dream, additionally; people
There is no denying that immigration will always be a factor in the development of the United States. Whether it is due to religious beliefs, economic problems or even war in their native country, emigrants will always come to America with hopes of starting a new life in the “Land of the Free”. Fortunately, the people who do choose to legally migrate to America are generally motivated for success and well-educated. Even the immigrants who are not well educated are motivated to succeed, work hard and take jobs in areas where labor forces are low or jobs that a native-born American may not even consider, effectively making them a contributing member of society.
I was raised in an encouraging household where both of my parents greatly valued education. Although they were high school graduates, neither could afford to attend college; a combination of family and financial woes ultimately halted their path. As a result, my parents frequently reminded me that getting a good education meant better opportunities for my future. To my parents, that seemed to be the overarching goal: a better life for me than the one they had. My parents wanted me to excel and supported me financially and emotionally of which the former was something their parents were not able to provide. Their desire to facilitate a change in my destiny is one of many essential events that contributed to my world view.
As a daughter of immigrants and being an immigrant myself, I knew I had to work hard to become somebody in life to prove that my parents’ struggles were worth every second. My journey began at the age of eight years old, I had to pick up everything and leave my life behind in El Salvador to begin a new one in California. The transition was not easy though what made it possible was learning English and being able to adapt. The idea to continue my education after high school involved my role models who planted in me the importance of education and encouraged me to go through the enrollment process; although there were financial challenges, I have found my way into college.
Jealous, Benjamin Todd. "Lessons from an HBCU’s Demise." The Conversation. N.p., 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
In my younger and more vulnerable years, my parents and I immigrated from the Philippines to America in search of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It wasn't until I started maturing did I notice the obstacles I overcame, the accomplishments I achieved, and the objectives I set for myself that significantly contributed towards the achievement of my dream.
them. My parents often told me that they decided to move here because of the educational opportunities,
"Immigrants and the American Dream." Society 33.n1 (Nov-Dec 1995):3(3). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale University. 26 Sep. 2006.
My grandparents never went to college because they had to help out around the farms of which they lived on and could not afford to go to college. College could have helped them get ahead of the world; they could have been more than just a farmer and a farmer’s wife. Although they did not have a college degree, they still wanted their children to go to col...
When I was born, my family had just migrated to California from Mexico. In a new country, my father worked in landscaping earning less than $4 dollars an hour, while my mother relied on public transportation to take her newborn child to and from doctor visits. In the land of opportunity, my family struggled to put a roof over our heads. But never discouraged, my parents sought to achieve their goals and worked tirelessly to raise my younger brother and I. From a young age, I was taught the importance of education; this became a major catalyst in my life. My desire to excel academically was not for self-gain, but my way of contributing to my family’s goals and aspirations.
At first, my very first experience in the United States is so bored, depressed, and hopeless. It was a new journey for me, I learn a language that I had never learned before, I get bullied just because I am the only one Asian who do not speak English. However, my life has become better when I realized that the “American Dream” is possible. Well, for me, the term “American Dream” is fitting for the one who attends at school, who has confidence and hard work. It might be a dream for my generation but not my parents. I saw my parents struggle to keep my brother and I fed. They worked more than two jobs, just to help us finish our education, paying our rent, and everything. I saw them suffer in tears, to sacrificed their future to let my brother and me to get a better education and opportunities to