American Dream can be elusive
April 30, 2008
A big part of the American Dream is access to higher education leading to greater opportunity in life. Many leave their homes and come to the United States in search of this opportunity.
But language and cultural barriers, along with unfamiliarity with the system, can make that dream elusive.
Here’s one Incline High School girl’s story:
By Karen Duran
”What are you going to do after high school ends?” It’s a question often asked. Well, for me the answer for that question is, “I’m going to college.”
My junior year, I finally realized that I had to start thinking about my future. As my senior year rolled around, I was thinking this is going to be a breeze.
I figured out later that it was going to be a category 5 hurricane.
Applying to college was where everything started. I didn’t know what to do.
It was a new thing for me. My parents could not help me in the process because it was new to them too. I did not know where to even begin.
I called the only person who I thought could help me and that was Katie. Katie was like a mentor to me. I had participated in a leadership program that she had created. It had been about two or three years since I had participated in the program, but we had stayed in touch. Katie save me from the confusion I was in.
Katie ended up telling me about Emily. Emily was the college master. She knew where to start applying for college and how to write a good essay.
Emily taught not just me but my parents about applying to and paying for college. Coming from a hurricane to a calm, sunny day of now having more knowledge of what to do.
Related posts: [ Telling their own stories ] [ Student overcomes obstacles to go to college ] [ Freshman sets sights on graduation ] [ Site set up to encourage Hispanic participation ] [ Talking about immigration ]
Student shares story of hard work
April 29, 2008
I spoke this week with one of the students participating in my program. His name is J.J. Rodriguez. He’s 16, and he works about 40 hours a week in addition to being a sophomore at Incline High School.He works 12 hours on Saturdays bussing tables at the Biltmore. During his hour-long lunch break, I interviewed him in the woods behind the casino.
Related posts: [ Telling their own stories ] [ Student overcomes obstacles to go to college ] [ Get to know us–read our blogs ] [ Ways of going green ] [ Tour the Cedar House ]
Off the couch and onto the river
April 29, 2008
South Fork Yuba River, Calif. - I’ve heard about California kayaking for years now. “It’s the best there is…there’s nothing like it,” they say. While I’ve had the opportunity to paddle a couple of California rivers, the ones I have boated are more closely akin to Oregon’s boating than the classic Sierra Mountain streams that California is world famous for. Yesterday afternoon I finally got a taste of what the spring season holds for Golden State boaters. Read more
Related posts: [ Future of airport still up in air ] [ Tahoe Summit: 10 years later ] [ A wild ride at South Lake ] [ Clarity focus of Tahoe Summit ] [ Impact of the Angora fire on water clarity ]
Community meeting to discuss solutions for BMPs - Live streaming video available
April 29, 2008
The final recommendations of the BMP Talks team will be available live on this Web site Thursday night, May 8, beginning at 6 pm. The direct link is:
http://208.96.4.228/15834-33563
You are also invited to attend the meeting in person Thursday, May 8 at 6 pm at the North Tahoe Conference Center in Kings Beach. The public is invited to hear the recommendations of the forum and to provide feedback and comments. Online participation is also encouraged on the OurTahoe.org BMP Talks Forum. Read more
Related posts: [ First meeting of BMPTalks highlights policy challenges ] [ Second BMP Talks meeting adds to solutions ] [ BMP Talks participants present their BMP solutions ] [ BMP community conversation to begin soon ] [ Hispanics attend landscaping class ]
Cinco de Mayo Celebration in South Lake Tahoe
April 29, 2008
Here’s a link to my blog with information about this week’s Cinco de Mayo celebration at Heavenly. I hope to see you there.
Related posts: [ What would you do if you were TRPA? ] [ Is there missing information? ] [ Most connected groups ] [ Community meeting to discuss solutions for BMPs - Live streaming video available ] [ Fire fund extends deadlines for Angora victims ]
Tahoe Latinos confront garbage problem
April 29, 2008
North Lake Tahoe residents were talking trash at the last Nuestro Tahoe community meeting — some even took pictures.
Identified at an earlier meeting as one of the problems confronting Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista, members of the new citizen action group Nuestro Tahoe recently documented the pile up of garbage around Kings Beach through photographs and stories. Read more
Related posts: [ Site set up to encourage Hispanic participation ] [ Hispanics attend landscaping class ] [ Community meeting to discuss solutions for BMPs - Live streaming video available ] [ From morals to economics, poverty is everyone’s problem ] [ Sitting on a park bench ]
Forum points actions to resolve BMP problems
April 24, 2008
BMP Talks reached the final stage in which participants decided on the best solutions and actions for BMP problems. On May 8th, they will present their conclusions and recommendations to the officials and press in a public meeting.
Participants selected these solutions from a list that they had created during the previous BMP Talks meetings. This community conversation started in the beginning of April, as a OurTahoe.org community self-help project. Read more
Related posts: [ Second BMP Talks meeting adds to solutions ] [ Second BMP Talks meeting adds to solutions ] [ First meeting of BMPTalks highlights policy challenges ] [ BMP Talks participants present their BMP solutions ] [ Community meeting to discuss solutions for BMPs - Live streaming video available ]
Spending time with family makes a difference
April 23, 2008
A second Incline High School student submitted a blog this week. Like Alex, he is concerned with parents who spend a lot of time at work and little with the family. However, he writes that his parents are involved, and he’s grateful for that.
By Johnny Luna
Incline High School
Many teenagers have parents who always work and barely spend any time with their children. It is not that the parents don’t want to, it is just that the parents need to work in order to maintain the family.
In my family, my dad makes time for me and my family by planning camping trips or going to the park. Doing these activities really makes a close relationship.
I always enjoy spending family time and am grateful. I know that there are many teens in Incline that don’t spend enough family time. I just wish there was some way I could help those people.
Sometimes, when I want to go and do activities with my friends, they say yes. But they get sad when they see that I always do fun activities with my family.
Some parents don’t really know their kids because they don’t spend enough time with them. Some kids get involved in many problems, from gangs to drugs.
I wish there was a way that parents or people could help these kids.
Related posts: [ Talking about immigration ] [ Telling their own stories ] [ Student overcomes obstacles to go to college ] [ Freshman sets sights on graduation ] [ Student blogs about working parents ]
Celebrating Earth Day
April 22, 2008
Reno, Nevada - Despite the chilly temperatures, the sun was out and so were the people of Reno for the 2008 Earth Day celebration. Individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations congregated en masse at Idlewild Park along the banks of the Truckee River for the Sunday Celebration.
A solar powered stage provided the center piece as seven different bands kept the cool air filled with warm vibes. More than 100 booths were set up for shoppers and information seekers alike. People picked up plants, shirts and knowledge about how to compost, use solar power and even support local farmers. The Reno Bike Project had a bike valet for those that peddled to the event. Read more
Related posts: [ Environment takes center stage leading up to Earth Day ] [ Green tour highlights Tahoe homes, values ] [ In quest for gold, Olympic skier seeks to help Reno youth ] [ Tough winters, tough people ] [ Announcing Green Rewards ]
Environment takes center stage leading up to Earth Day
April 18, 2008
Reno, Nevada - Thursday’s greenUP! news conference at Patagonia’s Reno Distribution Center, brought together politicians, business leaders and community members to kick-start the the greenUP! springtime promotional campaign.
“Achieving sustainability is one of the hardest goals to achieve,” Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said. “We must all work together to achieve that goal.” Read more
Related posts: [ Celebrating Earth Day ] [ Tahoe Summit: 10 years later ] [ Announcing Green Rewards ] [ Angora homeowners going green ] [ In quest for gold, Olympic skier seeks to help Reno youth ]
Latest Headlines
- Hearing planned in Incline tree-felling case - The federal trial for an Incline Village woman charged with hiring a tree-cutting company to chop three Ponderosa Pines from her Lake Tahoe property has been canceled and a change-of-plea hearing scheduled May 1.
- Truckee man takes torch to North Pole - A Truckee man who reached the North Pole this week carrying an unlit torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games plans to discuss his experience and environmental issues Saturday by audio and video transmissions with participants at a Lake Tahoe festival.
- Quake pattern watched closely - As earthquakes continue to shake Reno, two reports released this month give new insight into the likely characteristics of a temblor at Lake Tahoe.
Winds are North at 6 MPH. The pressure is 30.17" and the humidity is 23%. The heat index is 75. Last Updated on Jul 5, 10:55 am PDT.
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