My personality

Believing that I’m worthwhile and valuable, being happy and proud of all that I have and all I can do gave me an excellent measure of my self-esteem level.  I can use behaviors in my daily life that support and increase my level of self-esteem, such as take a positive attitude toward myself, in critical situations, and in stressful moments thinking that these kind of situations are just for short time and then become better.  Using goals as a challenge is a good way to do or approach them, if something doesn’t have our expected wishes, as fail in test, I think that I have to learn of this and use it as lesson to be better in the next assignment or test. 

Using my parents advises and values have contributed to my self-esteem, they transfer to me a lot ways to manage myself in situations that demands high emotional feelings.  Experiences such as move to another country, leaving school, job, family and friends somehow have increased my self-esteem level, putting a big goal as the adaptation to the new society as achievement. 

But as the same time the fact of move to United States have made me more vulnerable and hypersensitive with some criticism, specially if these criticism come from my husband, which is my only buddy here. I often feel very depressed and hopeless, victimized, lonely, or invisible to others when we argue. These traits could just be low self-esteem, but I've discovered that they are also symptoms of hypersensitivity due my happiness and positive attitude with other areas of my life. I think the cause of this hypersensitivity is the feeling of being unsupported and far from my parents and being belittled and criticized by my only affection support hurt my feelings and make me feel defenseless. I know that I have to learn to solve conflicts in my relationship. I am very concern and I am taking action to solve this issue.

I have had intense moments of personal and professional stress with others; overall I am able to remain calm in most situations. For example, I don’t experience road rage, I usually smile at people who cut in line in front of me, I generally react with patience when things don’t go as planned at work, or at school and I have the opinion that overall life is good. Optimism is an excellent characteristic that is usually helps me handling difficult or stressful situations even in the face of adversity.

Red Light Cameras are saving lives

Living in a community with high volume traffic increases the risk of accidents for drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike. There are hundreds of accidents at light intersections everyday and many of them fatal accidents.

A Red Light Camera is a traffic enforcement device that captures an image of a vehicle, which has entered an intersection against a red traffic light by automatically photographing vehicles that run red lights. With the arrival of Red Light Cameras, accidents are decreasing because drivers are modifying their behavior when they know Red Light Cameras are watching.

Proponents of Red Light Cameras argue that the devices deter would-be violators and reduce crashes at intersections with signals. They argue that drivers modify their driving behavior in cities where Red Light Cameras operate.

Detractors of the Red Light Cameras argue that they are an invasion of privacy typically found in a “Big Brother” police state. Others argue that the Red Light Cameras are nothing more than a ploy by cities to fill their coffers at the expense of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

Many traffic violators that receive citations in the mail complain that the cameras are a violation of privacy and a way to drain the public of much needed funds without raising taxes.

The fact is that Red Light Cameras are saving lives. 

Acc­ording to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (a non profit organization funded by the insurance industry) an estimated 20% of all accidents are caused by drivers running red lights. Every year, these accidents kill a substantial number of people and cause billio­ns of dollars in property damage, medical bills, lost productivity and increase in insurance premiums.


For the next generation of these cameras are certain to become more accessible and less expensive for the authorities to install. The success of the cameras in decreasing accidents while earning much needed revenue for cities will cause them to grow.

Motion sensors and recording technology will continue to improve making enforcement a sure object.
Roads will certainly be safer while big brother is watching and accidents at intersections may become as rare of an occurrence as a plane crash.

Drugs legalization

The drug prohibition has had disastrous consequences very similar to that experienced by alcohol in the twenties in America. But rather than acknowledge the failure of this policy, most governments around the world have committed to spend more resources and more attempt against the liberties of its citizens in a futile effort to stop the illegal trade in narcotics. Legalization of drugs is one of the models proposed by activists and human rights institutions and pro individual rights to amend laws prohibiting the possession, consumption, supply and production of drugs. The central argument is based on the fundamental right that every person has the right to choose how you want to take your life, including the state's obligation to respect the citizens decide on substances that decide to use. Other supporters of this measure based his defense on the belief that it would be an important means to eradicate drug-related gangs or Drug Cartels.

Proponents of drug legalization support a variety of reasons (economic, moral, ethical, medical) with different objectives. Legalizing drugs would eliminate or significantly mitigate the dire consequences we face under the current prohibitionist approach:

• Legalization: Assume that drugs are consumed and need to establish a legal framework that regulates. 
• Decriminalization:Try to collect taxes and prevent political corruption and police that drugs cause. 
• Reduce the number of violent deaths: In Central America, the drug cartels are responsible for more than 60% of violent deaths in countries that bridge in the drug trade to Europe and America. The war against drug trafficking in Mexico through 2011 has left more than 45,000 violent deaths, including many civilians and immigrants. 

Decriminalization and regulation aims to defund the cartels and thereby make it easier for governments to combat crimes like kidnappings, extortion, money laundering, etc, the result of such illegal activities. Who wants to use drugs will use it, no matters are legal or not. Once drugs are legalized can be regulated and even can collect taxes. And those taxes to educational campaigns against drug use as prevention. I do believe that is the solution.


The most affected by the legalization of drugs are the drugs cartels, which benefit from the astronomical profits that leave the drugs business for being illegal and risky. If the drug is legalized big gains becomes for the nation.

Should Illegal Aliens be admitted in Colleges and Universities in the United States?

Admitting undocumented students in higher education institutions has become one of the American most controversial topics in the last 10 years. In my opinion allowing illegal scholars to incorporate to the U.S. educational system should be accepted because it will benefit the state’s economy due to the high tuition amounts these students have to pay, then these undergraduates will pay more taxes and make greater economic contributions to the USA making a favorably impact in our society since the percentage of professionals and more competitive people will increase.

The reason why higher education institutions should accept illegal aliens is the big economic benefit the states get through the high tuition amounts these people have to pay to be part of the system. It is very well known that students who attend to colleges or universities from another state or a foreign country must pay a very high “out of state” tuition fee.  For example, if an undocumented individual decides to become a Miami Dade College student, it is mandatory to pay an out of state tuition fee of approximately $6,246.24 per term (12 credits) vs.  $1,399.68 residents pay. This extra income will allow the College to earn an average of extra $4,846 for each enrolled undocumented student.  With these higher revenues, schools may be able to improve their budgets despite a struggling economy, expand their facilities and contribute more with the state’s economy.

On the other hand, the country will be directly benefited from all the new taxes not only the educational institutions will make, but also from the new professionals’ contributions if the DREAM Act is enabled. This is a proposal first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001, and most recently reintroduced there on May 11, 2011. It basically consists in providing conditional permanent residency to certain illegal aliens of good moral character who graduate from US high schools, arrived in the US as minors, and lived in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment. By letting these people to become a resident, and later a citizen of this country, the numbers of taxpayers increases considerably and, therefore, help to improve the economy. These students would increase the number of competitive people in the workplace. Their parents brought a lot of these immigrants to the United States as young children, which mean that their mother tongue language is different from English and it might still be the only way to communicate at home and/or with the rest of their family members. This will develop them into bilingual professionals, which is what the current globalized and multicultural workforce demands. Accepting illegal immigrants to enroll in college courses will provide generations of individuals with many opportunities to improve their lives and expand their futures; and why not offering a legal status to those who only hope and wish to become a proficient individual in this country?

The debate regarding enrolling undocumented immigrants into community colleges and universities will certainly continue growing up and bringing more polemic. Allowing all undocumented students access to higher education will definitely benefit the economy of educational system, the 50 states and, therefore, of the country in general.  Plus, it will provide generations of individuals with a lot of opportunities to get better and expand their future and, consequently, contribute more to the society as professionals. Denying students the chance to continue their education would be seen as an unjust punishment for a crime that many never chose to commit, despite that be an illegal immigrant is not a crime.

The Secret Power of Time

This short video focuses on the substantial impact that time has on values and decisions. In a future oriented society, people are consumed by spending too much energy and focus on work or business. Leaving behind family and social experiences, which in my opinion is the most important need of a human being, is the main goal in a world with so much competitiveness.  In a future oriented society, people must sacrifice some of our principal needs such as family, social networking or even sleeping in order to succeed as an individual. 

The work ethic of a society does play a role in productivity of a specific city or country, but the idea that it is impossible to remain close to family by sacrificing sit-down dinner is a stretch. There are other ways to be close to family and not necessarily at dinner. This does not have to mean the failure of family values. In fact, a higher workload can increase work ethic and personal responsibility within a family.

I do not totally agree with the assertion that the information age has made education boring for kids that are addicted to engaging and interactive forms of media.  School children are more interactive than in previous eras, but not specifically because of video games. Our children have been born with special learning faculties that are more advanced. Children are able to handle computers and video games as well as learn science and history, while maintaining an outstanding GPA. This is more of an evolution in human development than something to fear in education.

“Barrios” in Caracas, Venezuela

The city of Caracas has grown enormously in the last forty years, attracting people from all over South America, filling its narrow valley and climbing up the steep sides of the surrounding hills.  The influx of people has created new districts known as “barrios” or “ranchos,” which are the equivalent of “slums” or “ghettos” in the United States.  These areas are home to more than fifty percent of the 3.8 million inhabitants of Caracas. As in São Paulo, Brazil or Bogota, Colombia; private militias that have created war zones control entire streets.

Everyday hundreds of people are killed from gunshots between gangs as well as stray bullets because of irresponsible individuals seeking the thrill of the thunderous sound of bullets fired in the air.  Fighting between gangs occurs at any time, day or night. The gangs have no regard for children or innocent bystanders. The neighborhood thugs typically shoot bullets into the air without regard for other people, causing danger without limits. During festivities stray bullets increase because of increased consumption of alcohol and drugs. Many gang members are consumed by hedonistic pursuits.  This results in shooting gungs for entertainment.

This is the story of a celebration of New Year’s Eve in a “Barrio” of Caracas, five minutes past twelve, midnight.  Stray bullets were everywhere and my cousin ran to her house. She just wanted to see her mother, hug her and says “Happy New Year.” When she finally made ​​it to the street where she hoped to find her house, she saw on the ground a body already lifeless. It was the woman who bore her and raised her and whom she loved dearly.  She died because a stray bullet entered her chest and exited through her back.  A single shot killed two lives: the mother, whose physical existence has disappeared from the face of the earth, and my cousin whose soul has been forever scarred by the tragic event.  This is how I lost my favorite aunt just five months ago. A stray bullet that came from a gun of her drunken neighbor, still unpunished, killed her. The event devastated our hearts and caused so much pain to all of her family members and friends who loved her dearly. Regardless of the loop or the relationship itself, the death of any loved one is a tragedy difficult to bear.

A single shot killed two lives:
the mother, whose physical existence has disappeared from the face of the earth,
and my cousin whose soul has been forever scarred by the tragic event

Because my aunt used to work at the local hospital in the heart of on the most dangerous “Barrio” in Caracas as a nurse, she lived in the same area. Despite her parents advice to move to a safer area, she always refused because she was involved in several programs to serve her community. She always was willing to help people in this poor area and ironically she was killed by a member of that community. My aunt left two children, Aurelys and David, twenty-nine and eighteen years old, respectively, who are devastated and inconsolable by the tragedy.

These “barrios” are the most negative places imaginable. There are criminals always waiting for any opportunity to rob or kill without any regret.  Criminals are everywhere. Poverty is evidently at every corner along with alcohol and drugs. Children and teenagers are forced to act like adults to survive.  They use profane language, smoke cigarettes and carry guns.   There is nothing more similar to hell as a “barrio” in Caracas.

The Mixtape of the Revolution

Since 1970’s, hip-hop/rap had been a very popular music style and has become today a highly commercial and capitalistic enterprise raising billions of dollars in the United States where hip-hop music videos are filled with scantily clad women who dance provocatively to obscene and derogatory lyrics.

Contrary to the style of Hip Hop and Rap in United States, in other countries, rap artist use their music to express their views, opinions, and how they are feelings on behalf of resistance toward political corruption and injustices in their songs. Hip-hop/rap seems to be a great mobilizing force of its audience. A New York Times article points out that in protests in some African and Arabs countries, “rap music has played a critical role in articulating citizen discontent over poverty, rising food prices, blackouts, unemployment, police repression and political corruption.” This suggests that the rap music not only motivates its listeners to take action, but also is another outlet for the views of the collective. The fact that music in one part of the world can be listened to by others thousands of miles from the source via Internet is of great advantage to the people who have enclosed a message within the song. Everyone can hear their troubles and goals, become enlightened to the situation, and congregate for the good of everyone.

In my opinion, rap music addresses in a creative way public yet rebellious issues and as social and political protest is a better choice rather than graffiti or “Pinchao” as is the case of Brazil, because this detracts from the streets. Whether it is by calling out repression and corruption, sustaining the popular energy of the movements or, in some cases, even helping promote community development and political alternatives, hip-hop has been instrumental in the ousting of repressive regimes and dictatorial control.