Socialization Project
Sam Kidd
“Be the Best”
Socialization starts at the tender age of around two or three, when children begin to speak and comprehend words. At that point the people closest to them, usually the parents, will shape them into the image they want their child to portray. For example, if a young boy wants to wear a dress, it’s likely that the mother or father will disapprove and say: “That’s for girls.” This is when the child realizes that wearing clothes of the opposite gender is frowned upon in our society. Soon after, authoritative figures in a child’s life will teach the child what to value and begin to form their beliefs and morals. In a case like mine, I value religion, education, and family. I have been socialized to be the “man,” but the thing I value most is religion. My parents exposed me to religion when I was 3 years old, when I went to a religious day care. However, because of the standards I feel I have to live up to, I am unfortunately constantly dwelling on my and others’ imperfections.
An example of socialization and stereotypical roles: Men are usually looked at as the “heavy lifters” and the “providers.” While the women traditionally stay back, cook, take care of the children, and clean. I came to believe this when my dad would come home from work and my mom would ask “how was work?” She said this as she made dinner. Even though my mom worked as a lawyer and had a good career, she was still the one that did the “woman’s” jobs, and my dad did the “man’s” jobs (making money, taking out the trash, coaching our sports teams, etc.).
I am not sure when we developed these stereotypical roles, but I do know they don't exist within the Agta tribe in the Philippines. In that tribe, the men and women will switch roles. As far as I am concerned, this doesn't happen very often. If you're wondering where this is going, I am trying to say I have been socialized by my parents, friends and media to always leave it up to the men. I sometimes wish these stereotypes did not exist.
Like I said before, children are taught to value certain things more than others. Like me. Not in order, but the three things I value most are: religion, family and education. These few things are usually valued by people in the same culture and subcultures I belong to. But not all cultures agree. For example, let’s say there is an anarchist counter-culture person that may put religion, family, and education out of the picture, and only focus on anarchy.
Another thing is, men and women traditionally value different things. Like, a man might value athleticism and strength. While a woman may value beauty. Values are taught at a young age. For example, when I was three years old I went to a religious day care. And therefore, I learned to value religion. However, others may have been told the most important thing is to be the best at what they do. So then they will grow up thinking, “I need to be the best.” So now they think being the best is all that matters. From what I can see, value is taught by the ones closest to you.
Being concerned and self-conscious about imperfections that we and others have, is a major problem in modern day society. “Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.” -J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye. Look at this quote and replace money with society. What I mean is, people will never meet society's standards and be “perfect.” It makes me sad to think that no one is perfect. I feel like one of the reasons behind this is how media displays the image of a “perfect” person. For example, when I look at a Barbie doll, I notice the long legs. If women see this they may think they need to have long legs in order to be perfect. But then a girl with long legs will see a woman with a perfect smile in a magazine, and automatically think she’s not beautiful because she doesn’t match the women in the magazine.
In the end, there really isn't a way to evade imperfections or self-consciousness about those perceived imperfections. And the same rule applies for boys as well. A boy may see a muscular man in a professional sports ad. Then he thinks he needs to be extremely muscular in order to play a professional sport.
Most imperfections can be fixed, but not something like ADHD. I have dealt with this, but I call it being a boy. As teenage boys, we will always be getting into trouble and causing problems. The people that try to teach us to be perfect kids, have always gotten into the same, if not worse, amounts of trouble than we do or did on a daily basis. We need to stop worrying about imperfections, and realize almost everyone has the same problems. No one is perfect.
In conclusion, it seems like socialization is a trap that people cannot avoid. When you look at something, or someone, you immediately look at the imperfections it/she/he has. Wouldn't it be better to look at the good things? Wouldn’t it be better to believe in what you want to believe in? Not what your parents believe in? Is it better to rely on others to do the work for you? It seems like people just want the easy way out. “Death gotta be easy, cause life is hard.” -50 Cent.
My mask will have three sections. On the top section, I will have a Christian cross to show how I value the religion, and how I look at things through a religious eye. The lower right section of my mask will be a word describing my imperfections. It will say ADHD. Then finally, on the left side of my mask, will be an A+ to show the standards I am held to as a young man, but have not yet reached.
“Be the Best”
Socialization starts at the tender age of around two or three, when children begin to speak and comprehend words. At that point the people closest to them, usually the parents, will shape them into the image they want their child to portray. For example, if a young boy wants to wear a dress, it’s likely that the mother or father will disapprove and say: “That’s for girls.” This is when the child realizes that wearing clothes of the opposite gender is frowned upon in our society. Soon after, authoritative figures in a child’s life will teach the child what to value and begin to form their beliefs and morals. In a case like mine, I value religion, education, and family. I have been socialized to be the “man,” but the thing I value most is religion. My parents exposed me to religion when I was 3 years old, when I went to a religious day care. However, because of the standards I feel I have to live up to, I am unfortunately constantly dwelling on my and others’ imperfections.
An example of socialization and stereotypical roles: Men are usually looked at as the “heavy lifters” and the “providers.” While the women traditionally stay back, cook, take care of the children, and clean. I came to believe this when my dad would come home from work and my mom would ask “how was work?” She said this as she made dinner. Even though my mom worked as a lawyer and had a good career, she was still the one that did the “woman’s” jobs, and my dad did the “man’s” jobs (making money, taking out the trash, coaching our sports teams, etc.).
I am not sure when we developed these stereotypical roles, but I do know they don't exist within the Agta tribe in the Philippines. In that tribe, the men and women will switch roles. As far as I am concerned, this doesn't happen very often. If you're wondering where this is going, I am trying to say I have been socialized by my parents, friends and media to always leave it up to the men. I sometimes wish these stereotypes did not exist.
Like I said before, children are taught to value certain things more than others. Like me. Not in order, but the three things I value most are: religion, family and education. These few things are usually valued by people in the same culture and subcultures I belong to. But not all cultures agree. For example, let’s say there is an anarchist counter-culture person that may put religion, family, and education out of the picture, and only focus on anarchy.
Another thing is, men and women traditionally value different things. Like, a man might value athleticism and strength. While a woman may value beauty. Values are taught at a young age. For example, when I was three years old I went to a religious day care. And therefore, I learned to value religion. However, others may have been told the most important thing is to be the best at what they do. So then they will grow up thinking, “I need to be the best.” So now they think being the best is all that matters. From what I can see, value is taught by the ones closest to you.
Being concerned and self-conscious about imperfections that we and others have, is a major problem in modern day society. “Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.” -J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye. Look at this quote and replace money with society. What I mean is, people will never meet society's standards and be “perfect.” It makes me sad to think that no one is perfect. I feel like one of the reasons behind this is how media displays the image of a “perfect” person. For example, when I look at a Barbie doll, I notice the long legs. If women see this they may think they need to have long legs in order to be perfect. But then a girl with long legs will see a woman with a perfect smile in a magazine, and automatically think she’s not beautiful because she doesn’t match the women in the magazine.
In the end, there really isn't a way to evade imperfections or self-consciousness about those perceived imperfections. And the same rule applies for boys as well. A boy may see a muscular man in a professional sports ad. Then he thinks he needs to be extremely muscular in order to play a professional sport.
Most imperfections can be fixed, but not something like ADHD. I have dealt with this, but I call it being a boy. As teenage boys, we will always be getting into trouble and causing problems. The people that try to teach us to be perfect kids, have always gotten into the same, if not worse, amounts of trouble than we do or did on a daily basis. We need to stop worrying about imperfections, and realize almost everyone has the same problems. No one is perfect.
In conclusion, it seems like socialization is a trap that people cannot avoid. When you look at something, or someone, you immediately look at the imperfections it/she/he has. Wouldn't it be better to look at the good things? Wouldn’t it be better to believe in what you want to believe in? Not what your parents believe in? Is it better to rely on others to do the work for you? It seems like people just want the easy way out. “Death gotta be easy, cause life is hard.” -50 Cent.
My mask will have three sections. On the top section, I will have a Christian cross to show how I value the religion, and how I look at things through a religious eye. The lower right section of my mask will be a word describing my imperfections. It will say ADHD. Then finally, on the left side of my mask, will be an A+ to show the standards I am held to as a young man, but have not yet reached.
Reflection
Reflection Questions
1. What are you most proud of about mask? Why?
I am most proud of the symbolism on the mask. The mask has three sections on it, and each section resembles something different. One of the sections has ADHD written in it. That section resemble imperfections, and I wrote that because ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactive disorder . A flawless person, or thing doesn't have any disorders. That is only one of three sections. The two others also have very detailed backgrounds.
2. Quote the section of your essay you are most proud of and describe, in detail, why you are proud of it.
“Being concerned and self-conscious about imperfections that we and others have, is a major problem in modern day society. “Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.” -J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye. Look at this quote and replace money with society.” This part of the essay I am really proud of because of the quote I had put in the essay. Last year I read this book, and the things I learned will stick with me forever. I did not only want to incorporate the book within the essay but I wanted to encourage people to read the book and realize some of the thing I realized. For example I learned nothing lasts forever. That is one of many things that altered my perspective on things, while reading the book.
3. What will you remember from this project? Why?
I think I will remember the things I learned about myself. Mabey how I am privileged as a white person. I also learned about the cultures and subcultures I belong to. I think those things I learned will carry over into more projects, because I love finding out new things about myself.
4. Which habit of heart and mind do you need to work on in your next project to get better at project based learning? Why do you need to improve and how that habit of heart and mind will help you?
I definitely need to work on revision. Before I turn things in I will usually revise it once, but that is an extremely bad habit to get into. Especially within project based learning revision is a key part of beautiful work. Not only will this habit of heart and mind help me to acheive better grades, but it is a good life habit to get into, no matter what the situation is.
1. What are you most proud of about mask? Why?
I am most proud of the symbolism on the mask. The mask has three sections on it, and each section resembles something different. One of the sections has ADHD written in it. That section resemble imperfections, and I wrote that because ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactive disorder . A flawless person, or thing doesn't have any disorders. That is only one of three sections. The two others also have very detailed backgrounds.
2. Quote the section of your essay you are most proud of and describe, in detail, why you are proud of it.
“Being concerned and self-conscious about imperfections that we and others have, is a major problem in modern day society. “Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.” -J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye. Look at this quote and replace money with society.” This part of the essay I am really proud of because of the quote I had put in the essay. Last year I read this book, and the things I learned will stick with me forever. I did not only want to incorporate the book within the essay but I wanted to encourage people to read the book and realize some of the thing I realized. For example I learned nothing lasts forever. That is one of many things that altered my perspective on things, while reading the book.
3. What will you remember from this project? Why?
I think I will remember the things I learned about myself. Mabey how I am privileged as a white person. I also learned about the cultures and subcultures I belong to. I think those things I learned will carry over into more projects, because I love finding out new things about myself.
4. Which habit of heart and mind do you need to work on in your next project to get better at project based learning? Why do you need to improve and how that habit of heart and mind will help you?
I definitely need to work on revision. Before I turn things in I will usually revise it once, but that is an extremely bad habit to get into. Especially within project based learning revision is a key part of beautiful work. Not only will this habit of heart and mind help me to acheive better grades, but it is a good life habit to get into, no matter what the situation is.
Tragedy Project
Script
Travis VonTersch
Sam Kidd
Helping Mrs.Nick
Prologue
(Phil, a hard working parole officer that has been on the force for 13 years, his mother has had multiple heart attacks and is on expensive medication that is not covered by health insurance. Phil is talking to the doctor in his living room.)
Phil: (To the doctor) 500 bucks a month?! C’mon doc moneys tight.
Doctor: (Sitting in an armchair in Phil’s living room) Sir you act like I can change the price. I’m sorry Mr.Nicks, this medication is guaranteed to treat your mother's condition.
Phil: (Phil getting aggravated) Can you guarantee she lives a while longer?
Doctor: Sir, I can guarantee she gets better if you pay for her meds.
(Phil sighs and agrees to the medication expenses and the doctor leaves his home, the scene then closes)
Chorus:
(as Phil’s conscious)
You’re right
The meds are very expensive
But family comes first
You must provide for your family
This will be better for your entire family
Your wife and Celia will stop worrying
Your mother will be in less pain
Its one less thing to worry about
Scene 1
(Scene opens in the morning of Philips house and everyone is getting ready for school and work, his daughter packing her backpack, and his wife making a sandwich for Celia (his daughter) and Philip is sipping coffee while reading the newspaper.)
Phil:(To Phil’s wife, Rachel) I have been thinking...
Rachel: What's on your mind?
Phil: I think I should quit my job because my mother just had another heart attack and as you know she can't work anymore she is too old so I want to find a job with a good healthcare deal. I can't afford all her medication with my job now its to hard and I need to provide for my immediate family too, what if one of you have an accident what then?
Rachel: I'm not sure what would happen, but i’ll tell you this that whatever you choose I will support you. Now take Celia to school before she is late.
Celia: (Shouts from the other room and enters the kitchen) I’m ready!
(Both Celia and Phil leave the house)
(In the car on the way to school)
Celia: (Worried) Daddy, are you getting fired, is grandma sick again!?
Phil: Everything will be fine just dont worry about it. Just have fun at school.
Celia: (As Celia gets out of the car) okay, i’ll try. I love you daddy.
Phil: Love you too now hurry and run before your late.
(Phil leaves the school parking lot and make his way to his office in the middle of town, the scene then closes)
Chorus:
(as Phil’s conscious)
Your family is starting to worry
Let them know that things will be okay
Even if they won’t be
Keep your family for worrying
Even if it means lying to them
Keep things under control
Thats all that matters now
Try and stay happy
Scene 2
(When Philip gets to work)
Phili: Oh, I don't know what to do boys should I quit to find a job with some good health care?
Parolee: The way I look at it is if you wanted it do it just, you might want to find a job before you quit this one. Health care bankrupts hundreds of thousands of people annually and will even kill them sometimes. In a case like yours, it's crucial that you find the money to take care of you mother.
Philip: You know I was reading this article “The most efficient healthcare systems In the world” and it was talking about how we have one of the worst health care systems in the world and we spend the second most on it in the whole world.
Parolee: Wow, well then you probably should get a new job then.
Phil: Yeah it also said that If you apply for health insurance you can get denied for really stupid thing like ADHD or even just like acne.
Parolee: Now remember if you get health care at your next job, if you get a new job you get really good deals like my friends wife was pregnant and when the baby came it was only five dollars because his health insurance covered a majority of it.
Phil: Oh well thats good, I did not know that.
Parolee: Think of it this way. Do you enjoy your job? Do you really deserve this kind of pay and with no health insurance benefits? As opposed to a worker at Home Depot? Now you are probably telling yourself “yes, I am doing just on money and I will help my mom out with her medication” but some thing else is telling you different, something is saying “you need more money” and you are believing that. I'm not the one to talk obviously but you need to start scraping together more money or find a new job if you want to keep your mother around for longer.
Phil: I'm going to tell myself that you are wrong, and you’re just a stupid thief.
Parolee: Yea? And you think your mother will be okay huh? Saying your mom will be fine is like saying OJ loved Nicole. Your mother needs help, and you are oblivious to it. You may be able to pay for her medication but what happens when you can't pay for food? Or you run out of gas?
Phil: I don't care about your beat down on myself and family! At this point we’re doing better than you. Now you best shut up or i’ll accidently find something illegal on you and put you in jail.
Parolee: Why don't you do it then? Health insurance is free in there. As opposed to someone like you who has to pay 700 dollars a month, or whatever the big number is. It’s funny how we use fear to help you through a crisis isn't it? You would think that we would be supportive in a situation like this. Why would we be caring and compassionate, all you’re doing by waiting for more money to come in is digging a deeper hole for yourself and your family. Let me tell you one thing, the longer you sit around and put off all the health insurance stuff, is making your mom sicker every minute. You may be able to pay for her medication and insurance, but what happens when Celia needs money for herself? Then Mama Nicks is in trouble. Phil listen, go home and look for low paying jobs that provides health insurance, I’m going to be silent until you come back tomorrow with three possible jobs.
Boss: Phil please come in my office you have a phone call.
Phil: Yes sir i'll be right there.
Boss: It's the hospital they need to talk to you about you mom
Phil: Hello? Is everything okay!?
Doctor: Well Philipp your mom had another stroke, we are going to need to put her in a assisted living home where professionals can look after her or I'm not sure how much longer you will have her.
Phil: No! She is perfectly fine living with me! Thank you very much but I have things completely under control. I will not send her off to a home where I won't be able to afford plus she deserves more than eating oatmeal for dinner every night for the rest of her lonely life.
Doctor: Look sir I understand what you’re going through but we need to do something or I don't know what will happen.
Phil: I have everything under control! (slamming the phone back on its dock)
(Phil’s day carries on as any other an the scene closes)
Chorus:
(as Phil’s conscious)
Things are getting serious
You may want to look into a new job
That way you don’t devote too much money on health care
But why take advice from a felon
He don't know anything
Why would he want to help you
There isn't an escape from it
America’s health care will always be a problem
Scene 3
(5 weeks later before phil returns home after a long day at his new job with health care he first goes to the local pharmacy to pick up his moms medication, when he get home he sees an ambulance outside his home, Phil’s stomach drops and tears come to his eyes as he rushes to the back of the ambulance, paramedics inform him that his mother has as had her third stroke, he fears the worst and his tears flow like rivers)
Doctor:(outside driveway) I'm sorry Sir but she is…dead (as he hangs his head in sorrow)
Philip: But…but...this can’t happen to me…not now…not as soon as I
Phil:(at home talking to his wife) It makes no sense I have been a perfectly good guy I mean I got a job with health care I can afford moms meds now. Wasn’t she suppose to be getting better?
Rachel: It doesn't just happen like that, Phil. Health care does this to thousands of people each year.
Phil: You don't understand do you! I devoted so much time and money into her and she just……. dies.
Rachel: Im sorry.
Phil: I know it's just I loved her, she never left me as a kid unlike my deadbeat dad who left me at 12 years old mom didn’t even have a job at that time but she was always there when I needed something and I promised her when I was a little boy that I would take care of her when she is old and I would never leave her side and i would buy her a house and I just didn’t want to give up on her yet. (Tears roll to his eyes as he tries to hold back from crying of the thought of is mom not being for there for him any longer.)
Chorus:
(as Phil’s conscious)
Everything will be okay Phil
You did all you could and thats all that matters
She is in a better...happier place now its okay
Just know she loves you
People will look to you as a hero
You invested time and money into your mom
Just as she did to you as a child
There’s no need to worry
Graphic Novel
Reflection
1. What are you most proud of about your project?
When asked this question a few thing come to my mind but one thing that really sticks out is the clay figures. It may seem childish and vague, but I feel like the characters bring a comical sense to the play with their disproportionate bodies. Making the figures also to took up three full project work time, which are very valuable days in Sara's class. They may not look like much but sculpting the figures and making them high quality is a difficult task. Of course there is room for refinement but I am proud of the final outcome of the characters considering mine and Travis’s limited resources and time. I could have chosen many other parts of the project but the characters have a special place in my mind.
2. What advice would you give a student next year about how to be successful with this project?
A good piece of advice I would give to an incoming student about to do this project is pace yourself. This could be interpreted many ways but when I say it I am meaning set goals for yourself and use time wisely. Travis and I did not do this while working on the project. If I could redo this project I would make self goals such as: on tuesday I plan to finish my script and refine it multiple times. Travis and I were all over the place with our project. One day we might have worked on the clay figures then the next we would be refining the script. And I’m sure I will regret doing that when I get the final grade. But again to answer the question, don’t waste time and set goals for yourself and partner.
3. How do you feel working in partners went? Did it work out well? What was challenging?
Working in partners was a great benefit in this project and I think it went extremely well with Travis. I thinking having travis there is something to lean on and rely on Being able to rely on things is a great gift, especially in school. I don’t think Travis and I had any challenges. If there had to be one it would be the communication when working outside of school. We had to make sure the script matched the graphic novel so that would be the one and only challenging part when working in partners.
4. What proved to be the most challenging task for you personally and how did you overcome it?
When I glance at this question my eyes go right to the aord personally. “Personally” I struggle with procrastination and putting my work aside then telling myself I will get it done later. This problem definitely started taking a toll on myself and Travis towards the end of the project. Now I don't think I completely overcame the procrastination obstacle during the project, but like I said before, setting goals for yourself is a great way to get work done. So as days counted down, I began being more on task and focused on my work, as opposed to five days before, where I would use my time foolishly.
When asked this question a few thing come to my mind but one thing that really sticks out is the clay figures. It may seem childish and vague, but I feel like the characters bring a comical sense to the play with their disproportionate bodies. Making the figures also to took up three full project work time, which are very valuable days in Sara's class. They may not look like much but sculpting the figures and making them high quality is a difficult task. Of course there is room for refinement but I am proud of the final outcome of the characters considering mine and Travis’s limited resources and time. I could have chosen many other parts of the project but the characters have a special place in my mind.
2. What advice would you give a student next year about how to be successful with this project?
A good piece of advice I would give to an incoming student about to do this project is pace yourself. This could be interpreted many ways but when I say it I am meaning set goals for yourself and use time wisely. Travis and I did not do this while working on the project. If I could redo this project I would make self goals such as: on tuesday I plan to finish my script and refine it multiple times. Travis and I were all over the place with our project. One day we might have worked on the clay figures then the next we would be refining the script. And I’m sure I will regret doing that when I get the final grade. But again to answer the question, don’t waste time and set goals for yourself and partner.
3. How do you feel working in partners went? Did it work out well? What was challenging?
Working in partners was a great benefit in this project and I think it went extremely well with Travis. I thinking having travis there is something to lean on and rely on Being able to rely on things is a great gift, especially in school. I don’t think Travis and I had any challenges. If there had to be one it would be the communication when working outside of school. We had to make sure the script matched the graphic novel so that would be the one and only challenging part when working in partners.
4. What proved to be the most challenging task for you personally and how did you overcome it?
When I glance at this question my eyes go right to the aord personally. “Personally” I struggle with procrastination and putting my work aside then telling myself I will get it done later. This problem definitely started taking a toll on myself and Travis towards the end of the project. Now I don't think I completely overcame the procrastination obstacle during the project, but like I said before, setting goals for yourself is a great way to get work done. So as days counted down, I began being more on task and focused on my work, as opposed to five days before, where I would use my time foolishly.