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👪"Parenting Restrictions: How Limits Shape Destiny in The Other Wes Moore "

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Parenting is one of the most powerful forces shaping a young person’s future — not just through love, but through restrictions, rules, and the limits parents try to set . In Chapters 7–8 of The Other Wes Moore , we see two mothers, Joy and Mary, doing everything they can to guide their sons. But their situations — and the restrictions they’re able to enforce — couldn’t be more different. Their struggles reveal how boundaries can protect a child, and how the lack of structure can leave someone vulnerable to the world around them. Joy’s Tough Love: Restrictions That Build Structure By Chapter 7, the author Wes Moore is deep into military school, a place he originally hated — so much that he tried to run away multiple times. But Joy’s decision to send him there wasn’t random. She knew her son needed structure, discipline, and a space free from the distractions and dangers back home. Joy’s restrictions weren’t meant to punish him. They were meant to save him . She limited his freedom ...
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🗣️😢"Constructive Criticism: A Key to Change in The Other Wes Moore"

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The best things to learn are sometimes not praised, but rather critiqued. In The Other Wes Moore we witness how feedback and correction are determining the lives of two men of the same name but who ended up totally different. It is not whether they received criticism but the manner in which the criticism was administered as well as who was behind it. The Correctional Method of Learning. Constructive criticism was a turning point to the author, Wes Moore. His mother Joy never allowed him to go too far. When his conduct began leading him in the wrong way, she never rebuked him, but she refocused him. He did not go to military school as a punishment, but as a wake-up call. Here, leaders and mentors helped him back up with discipline, responsibility and structure. The reason why the criticism was so powerful was that it was made out of love. The other Wes Moore did not get as much support as he did. His environment, the teachers, his family and even the police did not provide him with cons...
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🎭 “The Language of Survival: Code-Switching in the Black Community”

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 A subset that struck me in particular viewing The Other Wes Moore is the issue of code-switching, how Blacks tend to switch their manner of speech, behaviour, or identities, based on the audience. It is not only a matter of speech change but life, chance, place. In their own fashion, both Wes Moores demonstrate that code-switching is a key determinant of identity and door-opener (or door-closer). And having undergone such circumstances myself, this was a theme that was not far away and more relative to me as apart of the black community. The author Wes Moore has developed the ability to travel between worlds as seen in the book. He is raised in an adverse environment of Baltimore, however, being taken to military school, he understands how to represent himself in a different way at school and at work. He gets to know about the rules of conversing in proper English, dressing in a particular manner, and to carry himself with a degree of confidence among what enables him to blend int...
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Reflection page on my most connected topic.

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  Reflection and connection: “Is Pop Culture Good for You?” When I think about the course topics, the one that resonates with me most deeply is Is Pop Culture Good for You? . Out of all the discussions we’ve had—about higher education, liberal arts, speeches, or even whether fast food is like tobacco—pop culture stands out because it is something I encounter daily. Whether it’s through music, streaming shows, TikTok, or the constant flow of memes and trends online, pop culture is unavoidable. Unlike the other topics, which often feel more tied to institutions or long-term choices, pop culture reflects who we are right now, both individually and collectively. That’s why this question—whether it is “good” or not—feels personal and worth reflecting on. Pop culture is powerful because it shapes identity and provides a shared language between people who might otherwise have nothing in common. When I bond with someone over a favorite artist, a show, or even a viral video, I feel instantl...
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"Is higher education worth the price" BLOG

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  The Problems With Higher Education College has long been seen as the pathway to success, but rising tuition, mounting student debt, and growing doubts about educational priorities have forced many to question whether the investment is still worthwhile. While higher education can open doors, it often comes at a price that leaves students and families wondering what they are truly paying for. Authors Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus take on this issue directly, asking the essential question: is college really worth it? Their answer is complex—but often, it’s no . Hacker and Dreifus argue that many universities have drifted from their core mission of teaching students. Too many professors prioritize research and publication over meaningful classroom engagement, while underpaid adjunct instructors shoulder the bulk of the teaching. Meanwhile, families make enormous financial sacrifices to send their children to college, only for students to sit in massive lecture halls with little d...
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"Fast food blog summary"

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Fast Food Effects On Others Fast food has become a regular part of daily life. While it offers convenience, it also poses serious health risks. Decades ago, tobacco was widely accepted and heavily advertised, even as its dangers became clear. Today, fast food faces a similar debate in public health. In their essays, Radley Balko and David Zinczenko discuss who is responsible for these issues, how fast food is marketed, and its impact on health. Like tobacco in the past, fast food remains popular and under-regulated, even though its risks are well known. This essay will argue that fast food should be examined as closely as tobacco, especially in terms of advertising, consumer awareness, and policy. One reason fast food resembles tobacco is its marketing strategies, which make unhealthy consumption seem routine and appealing. Zinczenko points out that for many young people, “there are no readily available alternatives” when the nearest salad bar is miles away but fast food is on every co...
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“Why Pop Culture?

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Pop Culture and Its Influence Pop culture may not mean much to some people, but it is a strong expression of fashion, trends, music, films, and more. These examples show how different generations experience pop culture in their own ways. The older generation often finds today’s music, shows, and movies unfamiliar, while younger people embrace new trends that emerge every year. In truth, pop culture—both old and new—is shaped by the people who influence it. In the TED Talk “Why Pop Cultu re?” by Alexandre O. Philippe at TEDxMileHigh , Philippe shares a personal story and says, “I remember turning to my mom in shock, and she just nodded as if to say, ‘Yes, this is real.’ That moment filled me with wonder and left me speculating for three years about what would happen next.” This quote shows the powerful and emotional imagery he uses to express how pop culture shaped his imagination and creativity. That experience inspired his personal growth and helped him become a filmmaker, pushing hi...
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