Society & US
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![]() By: Kayla Wong This year, KSJC has required all students to complete at least fifteen hours of volunteer hours before the end of the school year. It is required by the school that at least five out of the fifteen hours required must be community service hours. Many are wondering where they can get their community service hours. The difference between regular volunteer hours and community service hours is that community service helps a group of people while volunteering means offer your services for free. One student said “I’ve been getting some volunteer hours from volunteering at my old school, but it’s hard to schedule with my old teacher because of the times.” Another said, “I wasn’t even aware that we were suppose to get volunteer hours this year. I should start working on this.” Clearly students need to find a quick way to book some volunteer spots. I recommend two places that are great places for students to find their next volunteer spot. The first place I would recommend students to go to volunteer is their local library.. As a normal volunteer at a library, you would shelve, organize, or display books, and help with special projects. Most of the San Jose libraries require volunteers to be at least fifteen, able to work independently, able to sort alphabetically, and follow directions. It will depend on the library you want to volunteer at, but from my own experience, the library can get booked up quickly, especially the volunteer spots on the weekends. As a teenager, you can also join teensReach, where they meet about once a month. The group takes part in library activities and contribute ideas for the libraries’ selections of books. The only requirement is that you have to be between the ages of 13 and 18. These are not the only opportunities students can get volunteer hours from the library. Other jobs include helping younger students with homework and teaching children coding. If students are interested in other options, then they should visit the San Jose library website for more information on those jobs. Another great way to gain community service hours is through a non-profit organization. Habitat for Humanity is one of the many non-profit organizations. Students can volunteer at their restore or help work at some of their building projects. Though to be eligible to volunteer, you must be sixteen or older to work in the restore or building sites. Students who are fifteen or younger will help with fundraising, making lunch for other volunteers, or handing out fliers. Students will not need to have an prior experience or take a part in any orientations. All training will be given by the staff on site. All you have to do is make an account and sign up for a time and date for your volunteer shift. The San Jose location restore has two shifts, morning and afternoon, each shift is four hours long. The restore sells gently used or new home goods and building material. There students will help sell and accept donations. If student aren’t the ones who want to stay in a store and want a more hands on experience can volunteer at some of their building projects. This can be from helping building something new or repairing an existing one. All supplies will be provided for you and no experience is required. The projects lasting to the end of the month are not in the San Jose area, but in Milpitas, Fremont, Berkeley, Martinez. Each session do last longer than the restore shifts, they can last for three and a half hours to seven and a half hours. I advise students to be aware of the start and end time of the work. The website advises that volunteers bring lunch, if it makes sense, and a refillable water bottle.
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![]() By Tracy Nguyen The “MeToo” movement was made for the millions of people who were sexually harassed or assaulted, especially in a workplace setting. The term was created ten years ago by activist and founder Tarana Burke. She had created it for young women who weren’t able to share their story just yet. After blowing up on social media, it became a huge relief for women in the workplace setting to be able to share their story about sexual harassment and assault. Before it blew up on social media, it had started as a way to help young women of color recover from being sexually assaulted and harassed. Burke started this because of a young girl who tried to tell her what her mom’s boyfriend had done to the her body. About five minutes in, Burke cut her off, sending her to another person who would be able to help the young girl better. As she left, Burke wanted to whisper, “Me too,” but couldn’t. That’s what started the movement. She had written, “On one side, it's a bold declarative statement that 'I'm not ashamed' and 'I'm not alone.' On the other side, it's a statement from survivor to survivor that says 'I see you, I hear you, I understand you and I'm here for you or I get it,' ….When you experience trauma and meet other people that have a similar experience, and you show empathy for each other, it creates a bond.” It took a whole decade for people to really know what the MeToo Movement was about. And some people still don’t know what it is. Throughout the years, the MeToo Movement had gained some attention, but it still wasn’t as blown up as it is today. The massive blow-up is thanks to the actress Alyssa Milano, who was sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein. She had tweeted out, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” This was when it all blew up, and thousands of women went on to post a #MeToo story, and many have shared and showed empathy to those women who put themselves out there. This shows those women out there that they’re not alone, and they have others to lean against. This is what some people feel about the MeToo Movement. Mr. Monagle, a teacher at KIPP San Jose Collegiate, had said, “I think it’s long overdue, and it told me that even if I was a long ally to women’s rights, I still have a long way to go.” When asked how he feels about females gaining more power he had said that it was still long overdue, and the fact that many people still believe that women can’t have power is stupid. He had also said, “Now we have a way to hold people accountable socially, but not legally… It gives people a voice no matter what.” Another person, Vivan Ha, a freshman at KIPP San Jose Collegiate, also shared her thoughts on the MeToo Movement. “I feel proud about it because people are finally speaking up about their sexual harrassment and they’re not ashamed about it.” When asked how she feels about females gaining more power, she had said, “Once, again, I feel proud about it because sexism has been around for a long and we’re finally changing our views on feminism.” She had also said, “I think our generation is more advanced than past generations and we’re not as afraid to speak up about it.” The purpose of the MeToo Movement is to inspire young women to stand up for themselves. It is for those women who feel alone, like they can’t trust anyone. They know that there are thousands out there like them and ready to support them, because they went through the same thing. If you would like to support the #MeToo Movement, then you can go to the below website to donate, or just simply join to support it. (https://metoomvmt.org/) by Alyssa Becerra
by Jessica Flores
![]() The 19th of February is well known for being Presidents Day, it’s a day meant to honor past presidents. Which was originally not the intention for the day. Despite being called President’s Day now, it had originally started off as George Washington’s birthday. He was the only president that had his own holiday, there’s Lincoln day, John Adam’s day, or anybody else’s day. In all honesty, we shouldn’t even have a President’s Day. Sure the break for students is nice and all, but considering some bad things that our presidents have done, there really shouldn’t be too much of a celebration of it. Many have argued that the presidents are just people and that they’re bound to make mistakes, so why not just highlight the good things about them. I’m all for a three day weekend as much as the next guy, but February 19th is supposed to be a day of celebration for George Washington. Although he was the first president, I still find it random to celebrate his birthday. I read an article containing people’s opinions about the topic and a person commented saying, “there shouldn’t be a president’s day because it will lead to people wanting to skip more days at work, announcing that they want Obama day or some sort”. I understand what he means, and I agree with it. Despite how great it would be to have a break whenever it’s a president’s birthday, there still isn’t really a reason to be celebrating. However, that point is irrelevant as the break is now meant to remember the deeds that the presidents have done. Everybody remembers the good things that some presidents have done; Abraham Lincoln ended slavery, George Washington founded a nation, etc. Yet some presidents have committed terrible deeds. Such as; Andrew Jackson’s Indian removal policy, James K. Polk starting a war, etc, which led to consequences for the nation. Their greatest achievements are what they are remembered for, and it seems as if no one remembers all the terrible things they did.. Yes, they’re presidents, but they’re still human, they have all done something wrong in their past. Whenever we’re celebrating how one man had created a nation or ended slavery, we are simultaneously celebrating a man who had started a war or created an act that led many people to their death. Whether people decide to celebrate it or not, it should not be considered a national holiday. Keeping it as Washington’s birthday would make more sense as that was the original intent of the day. The rest of the forty-four presidents shouldn’t have anything to do with it. Unless it was changed to celebrate the forty-five presidents. Which would mean we’re only looking at the positives and not some of the atrocities some had committed. James Tran |