“What sets physical geniuses apart from other people, then, is not merely being able to do something but knowing what to do-their capacity to pick up on subtle patterns that others generally miss” (Gladwell, 269). Malcolm Gladwell used examples of specific physical geniuses in diverse professions to convey the attributes needed by any person, no matter the career chosen, to categorize them as a physical genius. Even though the other two essays made very valid arguments, The Physical Genius was my favorite for several reasons. Gladwell’s comparisons of Charlie Wilson, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and Yo-Yo Ma made perfect sense to me. People think that neurosurgery has nothing in common with basketball, hockey or music. I can understand that, but the physical geniuses in each of these professions are similar in many ways.
Gladwell describes three things that separate physical geniuses from the ones that are “merely very good”: coordination, practice and imagination. Before any of these layers of expertise can be achieved, however, one has to be happy with what he or she has chosen to do. This is nothing new to us. We continue and work hard at what we love to do. Like I said, though, it is just the beginning of the process to becoming a genius.
During the discussion today, I feel like we drifted off topic several times. I don’t think that Gladwell concentrated much on the practice or education needed to becoming a physical genius nearly as much as he did on the talent and different mindset (intellectual benefit) that these special people carry. Whether or not I think neurosurgery and basketball are similar in any way, I get goose bumps watching Michael Jordan play basketball like it was no problem and watching a neurosurgeon perform a procedure with such ease. It is an unmistakable skill and talent. Like Gladwell says, they have a “feel” for it, an ability where they use the four components of imagination to take care of the situation before them (image generation, image inspection, image maintenance, and image transformation).
It is also important that the physical genius knows what to do in a time of crisis or when a problem, big or small, occurs. They need to know, first, that a problem has actually occurred. When they can’t see a mistake, they can’t fix it and, therefore, they can’t improve. Improvements are the result of constant practice. Here we can see that these events go hand-in-hand. One that can’t see his/her mistakes can’t be considered a physical genius. Gladwell did an amazing job depicting the qualities of a physical genius and providing examples that show us how an obsession slowly turns someone talented into a physical genius with the right ingredients.
Comment by sejla kulaglic — June 2, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Rebecca Whisenhunt
ENG 3010
Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Physical Genius” makes me realize something about myself. I am definitely not a physical genius. This reading describes physical genius as coordination, practice, and imagination.
Coordination consists of actual athleticism and having a “feel.” I have never been very athletic. The reading talks about a sports star hitting a ball in the exact same spot over and over again and a neurosurgeon cutting away a tumor with one sweep of his hand. I have never struck a ball to the same place even twice in a row. Nor is my hand steady enough to sweep across anything without nicking what I am not supposed to. The “feel” is knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. I have never just had a “feel” for what I was supposed to do.
Practice consists of compulsiveness and obsessive repetition. The reading tells about how one doctor thinks what makes the best neurosurgeon is realizing the smallest mistakes and wanting to fix them. Being compulsive keeps you in check from ever overlooking an important or seemingly insignificant step. I consider myself compulsive about some things. I am not compulsive to the point where I have to do things over again until they are perfect. If something is good enough, I usually just leave it as it is. Repeating the same act over and over is what made those sport stars be able to hit the ball in the exact same spot over again. I do not have the patience or drive for that.
Imagination consists of “chunking” and practicing in your mind. “Chunking” is putting blocks of information in your long term memory in a specific sequence. That does not make any sense to me. I do not think I have ever “chunked” anything. The reading tells about the neurosurgeon running through several surgeries in his mind before performing them. He watched them like a movie in his mind and then made sure each surgery played out like his mind movie. I definitely cannot do that. An example from my own life is drawing. I have drawn out a very specific picture in my mind that looks perfect. Then when I try to draw it out on paper I cannot do it. The lines do not curve right. My wrist does not twist right. The movie in my mind never played out on paper correctly.
The reading describes physical genius as coordination, practice, and imagination. There is one more thing that these physical geniuses have that I do not. They have passion for what they are doing. They have found something that intrigues them. They are driven to perfect their task no matter how long it takes. I definitely do not have anything that powerful for myself.
Comment by Rebecca Whisenhunt — June 9, 2009 @ 11:37 am
I am responding to a question on page 291 following the reading “Work Makes Life Sweet” by Bell Hooks. “Do you know anyone who has followed the advice, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow? Did their experience bear out the advice? Explain.” I actually do know more than one person that followed what they loved and it was completely the opposite of that advice. My brother’s friend went to school for social work. She loves the field and absolutely loves the work she does at her job. Despite that, she says that she makes just about as much as she did when she was a waitress during college. She doesn’t see herself making much more than she does right now. We all know social workers are very underpaid, but all during school, everyone told her just to do what she loves. Although she loves her job, she feels as though she works way too hard for such a small paycheck and she is unhappy a lot of the time due to the amount of money she makes. She has had a chance to help children, drug addicts, and many more types of people. It is something that has always wanted to do, but in my opinion, she could have just involved herself in charity work. There are many options for helping people that is in an area other than social work. Her main goal in life is to help people. She could have become a psychologist or psychiatrist and she could have been making much more money than she does now. The point I am trying to make is that I think if people are really passionate about something, then they should make that a main hobby they have. To me, occupations and college degrees are more about job security, pay, and the atmosphere you work in. I am doing an accounting degree because I know that it will give me a stable job with good pay. Although it won’t be thrilling, I will still enjoy it because I know that I will be making enough money to fuel my other hobbies. If my brother’s friend could go back and choose another major, I’m sure she would just based on the fact that she can barely afford her bills. In my opinion, when you select a major or a career, you should pick something that you know you won’t hate and something that you know you will be able to live with.
Ryan Lim
ENG 3010
Everyday we subconsciously apply certain skills to solve problems. Obvious? Maybe so, but have you ever thought were you learned some of these skills, these acts? Maybe you were taught, or you just simple observed and learned. Regardless of how/where/when we learn these skills, they allow us to seamlessly follow through work, making some of the most difficult tasks that would take hours only minutes. Many people pick up these skills from previous jobs. This was an idea introduced by Daniel Levine. Levine interviewed Herman Cain, the CEO of a major pizza enterprise. What Cain believed is that he learned things from every job he has ever had. Things that could be applied to his future jobs that followed. Furthermore he applied these skills in the real world, and allowed him to immerge from the lowest of economic levels to the top. This is a perfect example, that low level jobs are more important than just a source of income, but a source of knowledge.
When considering the American society, we first enter the work force during the teenage years. Many of us begin at the bottom with the minimum-wage jobs, from pizza delivers to baggers at the local grocery store. These teenagers work for a source of income, as many of us do, but what they do not realize is that these jobs serve as more than just a paycheck. Essentially these young adults are being groomed for the real world via these occupations. These first jobs are important to these kids. This is when they begin to develop a positive work ethic. Things like promptness, politeness, people integration, just to name a few, are learned through working. These along with many others are also used in the real world, in the non-working world. These are important skills that can be only learned in a work setting.
Jobs provide us with life skills that we use for our entire lives. There are many teenagers who choose not to work, or are in a position where they do not have to. To these teens it may seem that the road ahead will be easier. It may or may not be the case. Regardless, of when people enter the working life, it’s still important to consider what can be learned from working, navigational and driving skills for the pizza boy and speed and organization for the bagger. The development of skills is from working is undeniable and important. One could say that they paycheck is an added bonus.
These two readings reminded me of my first job and how grateful I am for that experience. My first job taught me a lot and didn’t pay me very much but it was totally worth it. Since I was little I attended a horse camp every summer for two weeks called Black River. I was a camper there for five years. I was asked to come back as a Counselor in Training when I was sixteen.
We, C.I.T.s were paid about $114.00 for our month of work and training; we had actually received a raise that year. Black River was able to get away with paying us with so little because the camp provided us with food and board. My summer kicked off with an intense weekend of training. I returned later that summer to do my shift, which was a month long stay. You were given every other night off and once a week you got a “24” meaning that you were off for twenty-four hours and allowed to go home for the night.
Our days begun bright and early around 8am when we raised the flag. That was the official start of the day but it was your responsibility to get yourself ready and your campers ready before the 8am flag ceremony. The campers were broken down in two shifts that alternated daily. You either got to eat breakfast first; you went riding first, and then did your activities. Or you fed the animals, had breakfast, and did a series of activities before going off to your riding session. The activities included grooming instructions, vaulting, barn chores, and etc.
Then came lunch time and after lunch time came the beloved “rest hour.” It was an hour of peace and quiet that could be used for reading but more importantly an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, as a C.I.T. you often missed out on rest hour because you were busy cleaning up the kitchen from lunch time. Oh yes, did I mention that it was the C.I.T.’s responsibility to serve the meals along with the kitchen staff.
After rest hour there was free time for the rest of the afternoon for the campers but that meant more work for the staff; activities included anything from life guarding, crafts, manning the trampolines, vaulting practice, free riding, barn chores, etc. Then it was dinner, the nightly event, time for the general store and then finally bedtime.
My summer working there was exhausting but extremely rewarding. It felt really nice to give back to a camp that game so much to me during my five years as a camper. In the end, I never made any money, I actually lost money. My bill at the general store was about $50.00 more then my paycheck. While the work was demanding and strenuous it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will forever look on my time at Black River with very fond memories as both a camper and a staff member.
Comment by Alexandra Hutting — June 10, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
First jobs are never easy. Ask anyone, and they will shudder at the thought. However, without many realising it, first jobs have given most of us one of the most valuable lessons in our lifetime. Some parents also like to recommend their children to apply for jobs so they earn the experience of what it is like in the ‘real world’. Being too sheltered is never a good idea, for then we will never be prepared for what is really out there. Some are fortunate enough to go to school and earn a degree and get ‘high-level’ jobs. Some are less fortunate and never really climb that ladder due to many reasons including poverty, lack of education, etc.
Reading this ‘Black Hair’ had left me feeling sympathy for the narrator. It is pretty easy to step into his shoes and feel the thoughts he has described. Sure, most of us have all gone through those ‘bad’ jobs, but to be stuck at it without much choice and no given shelter and protection can leave one feeling immensely helpless. Especially since those ‘low-jobs’ require lots of muscle work rather than brain work, which can tire out anyone pretty easily, also leaving them feeling fatigued and discouraged.
However he is also to be admired; for he began with basically nothing, and unlike many, he steadily worked without many negative thoughts. This hard experience had probably left him a valuable lesson earned that other ‘more fortunate’ ones may have not earned even in their fifties, at a young age of seventeen. This reading also proves that no matter what kind of wealth you were born with, the individual and its character determines the outcome of their work and the consequences for their lives.
This may hopefully inspire teens and other youths out their who have it a lot more easy, and have them feeling thankful and give deeper thoughts about what can be earned by an individual’s determination and willingness to work. Rather than complaining about rude customers and poor pay, we should all accept the position and the status we are in at the moment and try to make the best out of it. Just think – there is always someone less fortunate than you, with a stronger will to not only work, but to survive.
Work- it’s something that everyone has to do or will have to eventually do. It is our only means of being able to support ourselves in order to survive. The reasons of why we want a job now, versus why we wanted it when we were younger are significantly different. When we were younger the reason we wanted a job most likely was so that we could eat out, watch movies or go shopping and we wouldn’t have to ask our parents every time for money. However, now, as college students, many of us are living on our own and we need to make money to pay bills and we need money towards college education. Also, when we are past the age of retiring, we may want to work for the sole reason that our life seems meaningless without it. So, the need for a job differs throughout the course of one’s life. Often times, the first job you have is critical when it comes to developing skills and such, even though it may be low-paying. Our first jobs are often low-paying because we don’t have credentials, experience or the education needed to pursue higher-paying jobs, so we have to settle for what we can get. As the article, ‘Take This Job and Love It,’ states that although you may hate this job because it is low-paying, it will actually benefit you more in the long-run. The author, Daniel Levine, makes an important emphasis on the fact that it doesn’t matter how much money you make from this job, but the skills and the experience that you take away from this job are the most important. Regardless of what kind of job your doing, some way or another, you are mastering some kind of skill through this job. These skills increase by the different jobs you have and the different responsibilities associated with each job. Levine talks about the myth that low-paying jobs destroy confidence. It may destroy your confidence if you don’t move on from that low-paying job. However, if you keep moving on up, you’ll realize that the money that you are receiving for the work you are doing now, is more than you were receiving for a previous job. Levine, provides many examples of how successful men and women first started with low-paying jobs. As you can see, obviously they did not think that their first jobs were dead-end jobs, rather they saw these jobs as the first step to getting a better job. Also, these low-paying jobs did not destroy their confidence, because they have obtained the position they have today because they had that low-paying job. In conclusion, our first jobs may not be the job that we want to have for the rest of our lives, but it is the stepping stone that is needed to get to the job that you have always wanted.
Comment by Therese Kochuparampil — June 10, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
Amal Nahhal 06/11/2009
Chapter 4 is talking about the artworks that represent the individual broad images that describe the nature and the value of work. Some artworks focus on worker’s physical actions. Broader social issues of work are seen in two murals and a painting. The panel from Ben Shahn’s “jersey Homesteads Mural” portrays the entry of immigrants. Diego Rivera’s large mural depicts the physical labor of factory workers in a complex series of images intertwine machinery and human forms in a factory work environment.
To analyze the artworks the viewer needs to ask many questions. There is a list of steps that can help us analyze the work of art: 1- Identify particular visual elements such as: figures, background, objects, color, shape. 2- consider what these elements suggest about the nature of work such as: a central contrast in the painting, the harmony in views, ideas …..
Analyzing of a painting is very important in the art work. Edward Hopper’s oresents a women standing and reading and two other women stand away and cut off. That’s show every thing like it is true. Her work was lonely, anonymous, and scrutinized. The work world in this essay appear in the nature and value of work. Gladwell addresses a special kind of work calls “physical genius” he analyze nature of this genius. “ Work Makes Life sweet” it is an essay that shows what makes one happy in work. Other writers portray the texture of daily lives in a variety of low-paying jobs. Other writers describe the texture of work in a variety of business and professions.
“In every job that I’ve held, I have learned something that helped me in my next job. If you look hard enough, you can learn from every job that you do” says Herman Cain, CEO of Godfather’s pizza. This chapter talks about the value of work, not just its monetary value but also the skills and knowledge obtained from work that allows one to move up the corporate and social ladder. These skills and lessons that we learn from all our jobs, no matter how big or small are applied to everyday life. Hard work and surrounding one’s self with positive energy not only teaches us how to keep moving forward in life but also teaches us to be responsible and even boosts morale and gives an immense amount of confidence that gives us the motivation to climb. Success is not only prevalent among the privileged, it emerges from every socio-economic class from those that are highly determined and push themselves every day. In the article “Take This Job and Love It” by Daniel Levine, he tells the story of Roberto Suarez who came to this country with no more than five dollars, found a job that he knew nothing about, he worked honestly and diligently everyday until he slowly moved up and became the president of the company (Miami Herald Publishing Co.). The readings for this chapter were extremely humbling and gave me a great sense of appreciation for what I’ve had and have accomplished, I feel that my life & job skills (no matter how big or small) that I’ve experienced thus far are very valuable. Growing up in a highly educated society, I’ve never witnessed people my age growing up NEEDING to work in order to survive, and I think many of the people I’ve grown up around are spoiled because of this and sheltered. Some of these people have never had a part time job because the money is too “petty” or just unnecessary – they don’t realize what exactly they’re missing out on. They’re losing all the skills they would need to get a professional job after university and are wasting any chance of being a well-rounded individual.
Dan Czartoryski
My response is going t be about the first article we had to read tilted “Take This Job and Love It,” written by Daniel Levine. I really enjoyed this article and I agree to a certain point about what we get out of our first jobs. For the most part yes I do believe our first jobs are great learning experiences and we do need to work when we are young. There are many lesson that can’t be learned and responsibilities working in a low paying first job. The four myths that were proven to be wrong in the article are great examples of how these first jobs can excel workers to better higher paying jobs. The involvement of government I believe should be limited but in some cases does help other workers that do not have such good experiences in their first job. I believe we need to focus on things that help the individual alone and not as a whole group. Different things work for different people, if someone learns best from a fist job and really do not get much from the government training then so be it. You also will have people that really benefit from government training because they did not have a good first job experience or maybe did not even have a first job when they were younger. I also really enjoyed haring how all these famous and very rich people started off. It is nice to know that these people all started off working somewhere small and not getting paid much at all. It really put more emphasis hearing about how all these famous people and how their first job really helped them get to here they are now. This article was very good and brought out many great points that I did not really think about.
Comment by dan czartoryski — June 11, 2009 @ 11:29 am
As I read the essays entitled “Take This Job and Love It” and “Black Hair”, I could not help but recall my past experiences working in an auto plant making minivan bumpers – sounds fun, doesn’t it? I worked six days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., so my social life was basically non-existent for four months. Some nights, when I was really lucky, I was able to work overtime until 3 a.m. My only prior job experiences were all on a volunteer basis (and believe it or not, coaching soccer and arguing with parents does not prepare one for factory labor); I was reluctant to begin and rightfully so. For at least eight hours a day, I would perform monotonous jobs and sweat profusely in a warehouse-like building with no air conditioning.
Like the individuals in “Black Hair”, I would get extremely filthy and carry the stench of the factory floor back home with me. There were many days in which I felt like beating myself over the head with a rear-end bumper, but I was able to keep my composure and work even harder. The one significant difference between my experience and the one mentioned in “Black Hair” was the fact that I knew I would be able to leave the job after four months to continue my education, here at Wayne State University. I was completely out of my element in that factory; knowing that I was going to get back to learning soon was the only thing that allowed me to maintain my position for the entire duration. Many of my co-workers knew of my plans. Surprisingly, they treated me well, despite the fact that they knew I was going to leave as quickly as I came, off to pursue bigger and better things. As I prepared to terminate my employment, I promised I would not forget about them (perhaps their kindness was due to a desire for free meds someday down the road).
I will not forget any of my experiences over those long, gruelling months. I met many hard-working people during my time installing “L-brackets” and fog lamps, many of whom were of Spanish origin similar to those in the essay. Although I may not have taken the job and loved it, I definitely gained a lot from my time in an entry-level job. I obtained a great respect for those who do the everyday “dirty” jobs, a respect that I will keep as I look forward to a career in medicine.
Comment by Stanley Wandeloski — June 11, 2009 @ 11:35 am
I am doing my second response on the writing by Daniel Levine. I chose this writing because the title struck me as something I could get behind and upon reading it I was justly interested. The article is referencing many myths about having that quintessential first job, and then giving examples of that which proves the myth wrong. The article initially drew me in with the talks of a government program to help people get jobs. What is with that? I think that if a person has respect for themselves and the people around them they would find a job and while at that job be respectful and glad that they even have a job, especially today.
The first myth suggests that low-paying jobs are dead-ends, I think that this myth is based on a person’s willingness to put forth effort in the work place. I mean if you go a job thinking that there is nothing you can do to achieve greatness at that job then you most likely will not find yourself in a position to get paid more, on the other hand, if you go to a job thinking that you will do your best and work so hard that everyone in the place will know you are a hard worker then I think that bigger and better opportunities will present themselves to you. Therefore I believe this myth to be not a myth at all and more people that fall into the category first mentioned have started this rumor.
The second myth suggests that a job that does not pay a lot will crush your confidence levels. I think that I can agree with this myth, but only in the instance that I had a good paying job and from their moved to a job that didn’t pay as much. I feel that when I had a better paying job I was more confident because I was less worried about money. I can also see this myth as being situational rather than unconditional.
The third myth suggests that without entry level training programs new employees will not succeed. I think that this myth is wrong, because I feel that in my experience I have learned more about the job from the people who have been working there for a while rather than from the various training programs I have been through. A training program can only give you the information that it was programmed to give, and if something, say an extraordinary situation, was left off of the program then you have no idea what to do when the time comes, while someone who has done the job for a while can give you that insightful information on what to do and when to do it so that it will be easier for you to handle.
The fourth and last myth suggests that employers look to take advantage of their low paid employees. I have two opinions on this myth. I do think that some managers will look at you and think to themselves “how much more can I have this person do without paying him/her more money?” but I also think that not all managers are like that. So although I have had experience that would lead me to believe this myth true, I still think that it is a question of what kind of person your employer is.
Overall I think that this writing was very insightful into the minds of people working in low end jobs. Levine covered four important myths and although I believe some of them are false, I think that there may be some instances where all are applicable. Also reading the examples that he used of people succeeding in adverse conditions gave me more insight into the type of work I have been doing and how I can succeed in any situation and perhaps earn more than I am now.
Comment by Kyle Mueller — June 11, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
In the first reading “Take This Job & Love It,” the author mentions four myths about low paying jobs. In my opinion, these myths are only myths depending on the situation. For example, like someone mentioned in class today, low paying jobs are potentially dead ends and confidence killers for someone who is 30 years old and holding this job as his/her main source of income. On the other hand, a student that has the same job won’t feel the same way because it’s just a part time job until he/she finishes school. It’s a way to gain experience and skills in the work field that they can apply later on when choosing a career. The fourth myth mentions that employers look to exploit their workers. I don’t necessarily feel that employers intend to exploit workers, instead I feel that some may take advantage of their higher position. It has been my experience through my job that management has their ‘favourites’ as well as people they do not approve of. They treat people differently and seem to go out of their way to cause trouble with those they don’t like.
“Black Hair” was the second reading assigned and I found it to be very interesting. It was a little sad to hear about the troubles and hardships that the author had to experience because I could never imagine being in his position. It goes hand in hand with the first reading because for many of the men at the tire yard, their job isn’t going to lead to anything and isn’t giving them any confidence in themselves. It’s clear that they don’t enjoy their jobs and the author even talks about what he thinks some of the men do when they leave the job. It’s almost as if they have become too comfortable in their positions and that no one wants change. For those who are immigrants with no documentation, it is going to be hard to find another job that will cover for them when the patrols come along. However, the author was a different story as he went on to make more of himself and leave his job at the tire yard.
I decided to write a response to the reading “Take This Job and Love it” by Daniel Levine. He writes about four myths in the work place and the first one is the myth about low-paying jobs are a dead-end. I really enjoyed reading this myth because it is just a myth. Most low paying jobs teach certain life values and how to interact with other people and this will help you out in your career later on. The next myth is that low-paying jobs destroy confidence. That really depends on the person and the job but for most people that are determined then the job doesn’t destroy anything it only strengthens character. He also goes on by giving great examples about how low-paying jobs strengthen character and responsibilities in a person to help them later on. The third myth is that entry-level employees need the guidance only job-training programs can give. That is a complete myth and I love the examples he gives about the parents teaching the children how to develop other skills outside of work and also while working. Parents do need to teach children about money management and they need to know that when they try hard enough their work will be recognized and rewarded. Now, the last myth is employers look for ways to exploit their low-paid workers. Ha, I laughed at this one because for some people it may be true but I really believe this is 100% myth! His examples here show that the owners do help the workers and tell them how to be courteous (in certain work places) to customers. My first job was the best I worked as a hostess and was taught many things about people and interacting with them and I learned what the real world is about. I learned great work ethics. I absolutely love this essay and it’s one of the best I have read thus far.
Nathan Missler
Response 2
I am in responding to the second question on the connecting personality to the reading for “Take this Job and Love it” by Daniel Levine. The question asks, “What jobs have you held that taught you self-respect? Did they necessarily pay well? What were the key ingredients of each job that enabled you to gain self-respect?” I really like this question due to the fact it is asking about self respect. Even though I have only worked in one job so far in my life, I have definitely learned some valuable life lessons and one of them is self respect. I work in the industry of retail where customer service is the number one priority so you would have to treat customers kindly and respectfully. Even though at certain times you would like to kill that one customer that will not leave you alone and would complain to everything you say and do to reason with them, it’s your job to be friendly and just grit your teeth. They would pay me minimum wage and customers would treat you like dirt, but it’s a job and it is my first job. First jobs are never a walk in the park and if you ever do plan to quit that job it would be hard as hell to find a job in these times where the economy is hurting. I feel that your first job should be some type of starting point in your road of work experience and where you gain basic life skills that can be valuable to you later on in your career. Even though you would hate your job either getting up and to be at work at seven am or that the management is very unreasonable, in the long run it is teaching you self respect and life lessons that you need to learn sooner or later.
Comment by Nathan Missler — June 11, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Diana Daghlas
Kimberly Lacey
ENG 3010
6/11/09
Response #2
Working is the essence of life and gives people the ability to have life, because as we all know, this world is all about money; hence jobs provide money. Since working and having a job are so important, the last two sections of reading that we focused on were about working. One of the essays that caught my attention, not only because of my discussion lead, but because of the title was “The Physical Genius.” I thought this essay was a really good piece of work because the author, Malcolm Gladwell, used many different approaches in aiding to the capturing of his readers attention. For example, he compared a surgeon’s skills to that of an athlete’s skills. He considers such people as Charlie Wilson and Wayne Gretzky, “physical geniuses,” because of their above average abilities. I believe that the word “physical genius” is a great word to describe people such as this, because although some of the fields require an ample amount of intelligence, a person still has to be good with their hands, or physical abilities. So I thought that that was pretty interesting because as I stated in class, I never thought of surgery as being physical, only intelligence oriented. What also caught my attention was how Gladwell illustrated that sports require athletes to be intelligent so that they can strategize. That was a big surprise to me because when I think of athletes I do not really expect them to be that intelligent, however, to be able to strategize like that is amazing. Gladwell uses Wayne Gretzky as an example of this by talking about how he sees everything in front of him rather than imagining what is behind him; this gives him the ability to take a better shot or make a better play. Gladwell really changed my perspective on this topic and truly brought me over to his standpoint of thinking.
The next essay that caught my attention was “The Working Like of a Waitress.” Although I have never been a waitress, a lot of my friends have and they have told me stories about how difficult it was. What really got me reminiscing was when the author, Mike Rose, mentioned how his mother “especially” noted if “somebody is giving me a rough time.” This was because I remember when one of my friends was working as a waitress, she came to me crying her eyes out because one man had given her an extremely rough time that day. He kept on making her run back and forth because whenever he ordered something he said it was not made right, or that he did not order that and wanted something else; and then after all of that he gave her a two dollar tip. I remembered thinking that that was horrible and that I could only imagine how that would feel. So after hearing about my friend’s experience, I know that waitressing is an extremely tough job and that is why I can relate a little to this essay.
Comment by Diana Daghlas ENG 3010 — June 11, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
In “Black Hair”, Gary Soto gives us an account of himself as a seventeen-year-old picking himself up off the streets and getting a job at a tire shop. The entire narrative focuses on how dehumanizing the job is, and in turn, how the conditions at work affect himself and his fellow co-workers in life outside of work. Soto poses the question, “How we arrived at such a place is a mystery to me. Why anyone would stay for years is even a deeper concern.” The essay seems to be pushing towards the idea that the co-workers have developed such a defeatist attitude working in this sort of environment for so long that they have no hope left to get up and go find another job. Although this defeatist attitude has absolutely developed amongst these workers, what’s holding them back isn’t necessarily a loss of hope, but their own circumstances. Many of these workers are illegal immigrants, more than likely with little-to-no education or work experience that would have translated over the border. With such little qualifications, there aren’t many other options for these men to pursue. Even if they decided they were going to get up and find another job, they wouldn’t get farther than another labor job. The money they’re making is barely enough to get them by, let alone pay for an education to pursue a high career. Unfortunately, these workers are stuck in this position. There is definitely a defeatist attitude affecting their lack of movement and motivation to make a change, but this attitude isn’t as much a cause of their working conditions as much as it is a cause of their own educational/economical circumstances.
This in turn addresses an argument posed by Daniel Levine in “Take This Job and Love It”, assuming that low-paying jobs destroying confidence is but a myth. As I touched on earlier above, low-paying jobs absolutely destroy confidence. Not only are working conditions poor, with hardly any room for internal improvement, but their financial situation limits them even more. With such a low income, just enough to get by with basic necessities, it becomes a virtual impossibility to hope to attain an education to better their vocation, and in turn, their livelihood.
“Take This Job and Love It” by Daniel Levine is written around the value of a low-paying or entry-level job. Levine outlines four statements that he believes are myths associated with low level jobs, and then attempts to dispel the myths through the testimonies or experiences of successful people, who gave very positive, enriching, and gratifying experiences about their low paying jobs. They all pretty much concluded the same thing – that through those jobs, they learned many valuable lessons including great worth ethics (punctuality, politeness, hard work), life lessons (honesty, responsibility, appreciation), and were introduced to the real world. A lot of the people he interviewed practically said that they got as far as they did on the foundation that was built through these low level jobs. I think that there is a lot of truth to the statements being made and they’re very inspiring stories, but I also think that the myths are probably myths when it comes to a certain group of people and under certain conditions. The work place itself has to be one that allows for opportunity, which has great employers who do reward great work and give great guidance. However, the truth is that there are places where working hard and contributing well results in being in the same position for multiple amounts of years.
However, it’s really odd because after I read “Take This Job and Love It” I read “Black Hair” and felt like “Black Hair” got its point across more effectively. I believe the essay by Gary Soto struck me as more convincing because he was speaking out of personal experience and gave a lot of personal details, whereas in “Take This Job and Love It” there were only a few sentences in regards to each successful person’s experiences. The interesting thing is that Gary Soto’s essay practically dismissed a few of the myths spoken about in “Take This Job and Love It”, but he also overcame the hardship that went along with those statements. He ended up moving beyond the Valley Tire Factory and now teaches at the University of California, which is a long way from where he was placed in his essay. This itself shows how Levine’s essay has truth to it. It is true that there are employers who look for ways to exploit their low paid workers and don’t treat employees as well as they should. But I think the important thing is the self-confidence and persistence. It is something that you have to instill in yourself – if you aren’t satisfied with the job you have, then do what is possible to find another one. The amount of government and social help is outstanding. With hard work, one can worth through all the pressures, downfalls, and even prejudice as long as that persistence is there.
I think most values are taught to us starting from a young age. The personalities we have are developed as well as our morals and ethics. Most people get their first job in high school. This is the time for a person to begin gaining their independence to prepare them to go off on their own one day. The values most people already have are built upon and cemented into our self through a first job. Most people learn the true value of work. They learn to put a value to money and realize that their parents have always worked hard to provide the money they used to spend before they made their own. My first job was in a restaurant as back of house. There is not much customer interaction back there so basically I built upon my “working as a team” skill. I eventually made it to the front of the house. That itself is a whole new world out there. Customer interaction with many makes you realize that there are some people out there that truly believe that “low-paying jobs” such as waitressing, mean that the person is “lower” than them. It makes a person realize that everyone should be treated the same and that it does not feel good to demean another person. That is the values I learnt at my first job.
In response to the two readings that were discussed in class Take This Job and Love It by Daniel Levine and Black Hair by Gary Soto they were in a sense, moving to me. These two articles portrayed the thankfulness and appreciation these people had for their jobs, even though they weren’t anything to brag about. Regarding the first article by Levine, he discussed what these people learned at their minimum wage job which helped them succeed to the level they are now at. I believe in today’s world, we aren’t as grateful as the people discussed in these two articles. People now feel that they are better then flipping burgers at McDonald’s or washing dishes at a restaurant, but these low end crappy jobs are the jobs that teach us the most and help us strive for better They aid in making us better at our desired field of work whether it be accounting, engineering or medicine. Before, you were fortunate to have a job at all whether it paid a lot or only a little but now, a person seems to be only measured by the income bracket they are in, not by the toughness of their job or what they do. For me, the job that taught me the most is my most recent job at Chrysler Canada. I work on the assembly line and have learned many life long lessons by having this job. In order for myself and all the other employees to get into work we must “swipe in” through a gate which allows us to enter the facilities. This is so they can clock in the time arrived and also that way employees are the only ones getting through the gates. Having to do this daily has taught me to be punctual because if we are late then our supervisors become very displeased. I have also learned to be good at time management because minivans pass by us every 43seconds. Within this allotted time, I must finish my job prior to another vehicle coming up. Failure to finish the job can result in faulty parts of the vans such as a malfunctioning sunroof or seat belt which in the end, is a huge problem to fix. Although this job is not a low paying job, I do work extremely hard for the money that I make and have learned a new appreciation for those who work at these places. From working in this field, I know myself, that I have learned many lessons to take me through my career of choice in the many years to come.
Comment by Michelle Fillion McLean — June 11, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
In Black Hair by Gary Soto, the narrator describes the typical days working at a low-paying job like Vally Tire Factory. He explains how he and other workers continued to work there even though the working condition was horrible and the pay rate was extremely low. Since the workers were unskilled, some undocumented and fearful of deportation, they believed that this job is the only job that fits them. They think no other job will hire them; therefore, they stay at the job where they know they are needed. Working at a job like Vally Tire Factory requires lots of physical and mental control. For example, the narrator picked up tires that were about 20 pounds for eight hours every day and then after work, people would look at him in disgust while he walked miles from work to home. This job lowered his confidence. In fact, he even said that he knew that there was a good possibility he might have to do such work for years, if not for a lifetime. If a person thinks this way, than more than likely it will come true.
Any kind of job/career can affect a person physically and mentally, especially if the person doesn’t like the job/career. In this essay, Iggy, the old Mexican guy, is humble enough to deal with this low-paying job. Unlike the other workers, he has dignity and doesn’t complain about his job. He knows that he has great skills in choosing good and bad tires. Therefore, he keeps doing what he does best.
As you can see, an unskilled worker can turn into a skilled worker within weeks. Gary Soto explains that he learned a lot about tires while working at Vally. Working hard labor might be frustrated, however, good things will follow, such as a paycheck and/or better skills.
Comment by Christina Anagonye — June 11, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
I am doing my response on the reading “Take this job and Love It” by Daniel Levine. I chose this article because this article really caught my attention. This article is mainly about the four myths that the author talks about.
The first myth is about “Low-Paying Jobs are a Dead End.” This myth kind of deals with the fact that if come to work on time, try your hard every time you work, then your boss will know that you are a hard worker and may give you a promotion or a raise. If you decide to be lazy then you are not going to get that raise or maybe even promotion. You have to be motivated in anything you do; no matter how much you hate the job. If you always demean yourself about the work you do, then you can never go higher in your job. Therefore, in my opinion, this myth is not really a myth at all, it’s the absolute true. If you don’t push yourself to work hard, never attempt to do a better job then you cannot go any higher in your position.
The second myth is about “Low-Paying Jobs Destroy Confidence.” I can agree with this myth in one way. I used to work in Meijer, so I used to get paid about eight dollars, but then I quit because I did not get along with my managers at all. So the next job I had was in a Party Land store, here my pay started with about six dollars and twenty-five cents. After this, I started to think that why did I not just stick to my old job, at least it was way better than this job and the pay was much better. Here I had to work more hours to make my paycheck to come up the same as before, which was very difficult to do. Therefore, I will also say that this in a way is not a myth both because it depends from person to person and the situation they are in.
The third myth is about “Entry-Level Employees Need The Guidance Only Job-Training Programs Can Give.” I do not necessarily agree with this myth, because I never went to a training program and there is a lot I learned from the places I worked at and from the people I work with. Whenever my boss in part land is in the store while I work, he explains to me a lot of things that will come in handy in the future for me. He teaches me every time I work, what is the best way to work with customers, how to talk to them or behave around them. So, if I make a mistake, then he tells me right away so I won’t make the same mistake again. This in a way has helped a lot because my major is pre-nursing. In nursing, you have to know how to interact with your patients. So not only do I learn to be more conversational towards my customers, I can take that with me to my job in nursing. The training program won’t always be there telling you what is that you are doing wrong or how to further react towards your customers, you have to learn by yourself or with the help of a co-worker or boss.
The fourth myth is about “Employees Look For Ways To Exploit Their Low-Paid Workers.” This myth can be leading both ways, in my opinion. There are some managers and bosses that will take advantage of you; they will get you to work more for less pay. However, there are also a lot of others’ out there also that don’t take advantage of you. It all depends on the work condition and the place you are working at.
This essay is greatly written. The point the author is trying to make gets across to the readers. It makes sense and the information that is provided is very helpful. This is a very perceptive essay on the low paying jobs that people work at.
Comment by Sukhreet Sandhu — June 11, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
This is a response to question one of focusing on the argument of the title “Black Hair”, by Gary Soto.
The description that Soto delivers is remarkable. He describes to great detail even the very scars of another man that he had worked with. Hearing his testimony of the late 1960′s helps define what life for a poor Mexican or a poor African was really like (at least in Valley Tire Co.). The way Soto explained even with the way his “snot” looked like as he blew it out was captivating. He captured all the areas of what to hate about a low-level labor job. He also included some of the illegal events that would occur and be covered up. It was really interesting learning what it was like for him as he was homeless and scrounging for food. The way he could bring the reader to his life and make the reader feel as if they were there was more than enough of an essay. He would use abandoned buildings and cars, he would search for scraps, and he powerfully explained how painful he ended up feeling through the terror. It is amazing for a 17 year old to go through all that and never giving up for one moment. It is a true test of a human’s nature to survive. On top of that, he learned so much from such a “pathetic” crew. These were men he described so well to be stereotyped as “lost causes” and hopeless. It seemed his most valuable lesson learned from these men was that that life was not what he wanted. He couldn’t fatham how such a person could continuously work at such a demeaning, worthless job. As it turned out, he got himself exactly where he wanted to be. He is now a teacher at the University of California for writing. Ironic, isn’t it?
Comment by Jason Trefil — June 11, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
After reading the three stories, I found that I can relate to some of the events that occurred in the people’s life experiences. In the first story, I like how Daniel Levine broke down the story into the four myths. The first myth, “Low-Paying Jobs are a Dead-End,” talks about how low-paying jobs helped to shape everyday people into successful people. I can relate to this. I have had jobs in my life that have helped me get to where I am presently at in life. I really did not like the jobs or tasks that the jobs consisted of, but I did what it took to get them done and in the end I would say that it has paid off. The second myth, “Low-Paying Jobs Destroy Confidence,” shows how life experiences at low-paying jobs help teach life lessons that can be put to use later in life. These stories are inspirational to those people that are working jobs that they dislike. It inspires people to continue working these jobs because one day it will help them get to possibly a better job later in life. Myth three, “Entry-Level Employees Need The Guidance Only Job-Training Programs Can Give,” displays through the experiences of the young people, how everyone is shaped by the people around them. People can create better jobs for themselves by listening to the people teaching them and following their advice. Finally, the fourth myth, “Employers Look For Ways To Exploit Their Low-Paid Workers,” helps to instill values in to young people entering the work force. These four myths show how hard work can take you a long way. I am still working jobs that I don’t really like, but I know that one day I will finally get the job I like and that everything I have done up to that point helped me get it.
The articles assigned, “Take This Job and Love It” and “Black Hair,” really struck a nerve with me because I currently work a job that isn’t much more than an entry-level wage and I work everyday. I agree with Daniel Levine on many of his points. Specifically, the point about low-paying jobs being dead-ends. I know many people who started working in restaurants as cooks or servers and wound-up becoming the general manager. Now those people are making a decent living and helping create jobs for other cooks or servers. I do, however, disagree with Levine on his point about myth number four, employers look for ways to exploit their low-paid workers. The reason I disagree with this stems from being at the bottom of the ladder and being taken advantage of. I have worked jobs where my employers knew I needed the job and money so bad that they had me do all the grunt work and do 10 to 12 hour days.
Much like Gary Soto, I also feel there are two types of work. Both types are very different, but both also have one thing in common; they can completely drain a person. I can’t say I’ve experienced what Soto experienced at Valley Tire Factory, but I do know what it’s like to do work that relies solely on muscle. Physical labor has a certain way of humbling a person. Even the most in-shape, physically fit person can feel weak and devoid of all feeling at the end of a day full of physical labor.
In today’s class, we discussed about the sample draft, she posted online. I choose the essay about dance evolution because it seemed very interesting and knowledgeable, especially a person likes me who knows nothing about the dance art. This is a good essay if you know a little about the terminology of dance or if find some help to understand them. Otherwise, you will be lost like I was because author used many new terms, which are needed to be define. Besides this, by lack of proper transition between paragraphs, author failed to connect the flow of information. That’s made it harsher for readers who are not familiar with. Moreover, the thesis statement was very unclear, author’s tone in the first paragraph sounds like each sentence as thesis statement. Even though, citation sources are the essential component of any research paper to make it acceptable. In this essay, author used Wikipedia several times, which is not considered a credential site as a citation source. This was a good practice for us to find out the weaknesses of a research paper to avoid them into our’s final draft.
Furthermore, we had discussion leads on two readings. I would like to talk about one by Daniel Levine’s ‘Take this job and love it’. I agreed with 2nd myth: Low paying jobs destroy confidence. This is actually more than true, it doesn’t mean I oppose their role to build confidence in young, school or college kids by first job of their lives. However, this is a fact that the positive or negative effects depend upon which stage of life you get low-paying jobs. For example, I would feel myself lucky if I get a job in a store as a cashier. My 15 years old brother would love to work with city workers as a student helper during summer. In contrast, the people who already had a carrier, who spent golden time of their lives to struggle for a good profession, and they succeeded. For some reasons, if they have to work on these jobs so it reflects negatively on their confidence. While they already have a valuable life’s experience and won’t build their confidence any more.
Comment by summera kanwal — June 11, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
It’s obvious that working is a crucial part of life. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience to be had from any job. For me, the act of working with and around other people has been one of the most rewarding experiences. My first job at a liquor store showed me first hand how a business and its employees should not operate. Being in the presence of poor leadership only improved on mine. Witnessing and working through the shortcomings of that job had also made me a more conscious individual in the workplace. This goes to show that even the negative things we may take on through our jobs can be beneficial. The relationship between co-workers is also unique; far different from friends, classmates and teachers. Being depended on by others and having their trust is very important. No matter in what field or what pay your job is, this relationship will always be present and it is vital to your development as an individual. Working in retail is one area where you can really learn how to read into people. A persons approach, tone, and overall demeanor are things you constantly observe and respond to. Sometimes you may even have to gives bad news, something nobody likes to do but is necessary from time to time. Those who do not work miss out on a very big part of their development. Having a job early on, even though it may not be necessary, builds a great foundation in character. The social skills you learn along the way enable you to be more confident and experienced to continue on your career path.
Comment by David Pietrusa — June 11, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
“What sets physical geniuses apart from other people, then, is not merely being able to do something but knowing what to do-their capacity to pick up on subtle patterns that others generally miss” (Gladwell, 269). Malcolm Gladwell used examples of specific physical geniuses in diverse professions to convey the attributes needed by any person, no matter the career chosen, to categorize them as a physical genius. Even though the other two essays made very valid arguments, The Physical Genius was my favorite for several reasons. Gladwell’s comparisons of Charlie Wilson, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and Yo-Yo Ma made perfect sense to me. People think that neurosurgery has nothing in common with basketball, hockey or music. I can understand that, but the physical geniuses in each of these professions are similar in many ways.
Gladwell describes three things that separate physical geniuses from the ones that are “merely very good”: coordination, practice and imagination. Before any of these layers of expertise can be achieved, however, one has to be happy with what he or she has chosen to do. This is nothing new to us. We continue and work hard at what we love to do. Like I said, though, it is just the beginning of the process to becoming a genius.
During the discussion today, I feel like we drifted off topic several times. I don’t think that Gladwell concentrated much on the practice or education needed to becoming a physical genius nearly as much as he did on the talent and different mindset (intellectual benefit) that these special people carry. Whether or not I think neurosurgery and basketball are similar in any way, I get goose bumps watching Michael Jordan play basketball like it was no problem and watching a neurosurgeon perform a procedure with such ease. It is an unmistakable skill and talent. Like Gladwell says, they have a “feel” for it, an ability where they use the four components of imagination to take care of the situation before them (image generation, image inspection, image maintenance, and image transformation).
It is also important that the physical genius knows what to do in a time of crisis or when a problem, big or small, occurs. They need to know, first, that a problem has actually occurred. When they can’t see a mistake, they can’t fix it and, therefore, they can’t improve. Improvements are the result of constant practice. Here we can see that these events go hand-in-hand. One that can’t see his/her mistakes can’t be considered a physical genius. Gladwell did an amazing job depicting the qualities of a physical genius and providing examples that show us how an obsession slowly turns someone talented into a physical genius with the right ingredients.
Comment by sejla kulaglic — June 2, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Rebecca Whisenhunt
ENG 3010
Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Physical Genius” makes me realize something about myself. I am definitely not a physical genius. This reading describes physical genius as coordination, practice, and imagination.
Coordination consists of actual athleticism and having a “feel.” I have never been very athletic. The reading talks about a sports star hitting a ball in the exact same spot over and over again and a neurosurgeon cutting away a tumor with one sweep of his hand. I have never struck a ball to the same place even twice in a row. Nor is my hand steady enough to sweep across anything without nicking what I am not supposed to. The “feel” is knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. I have never just had a “feel” for what I was supposed to do.
Practice consists of compulsiveness and obsessive repetition. The reading tells about how one doctor thinks what makes the best neurosurgeon is realizing the smallest mistakes and wanting to fix them. Being compulsive keeps you in check from ever overlooking an important or seemingly insignificant step. I consider myself compulsive about some things. I am not compulsive to the point where I have to do things over again until they are perfect. If something is good enough, I usually just leave it as it is. Repeating the same act over and over is what made those sport stars be able to hit the ball in the exact same spot over again. I do not have the patience or drive for that.
Imagination consists of “chunking” and practicing in your mind. “Chunking” is putting blocks of information in your long term memory in a specific sequence. That does not make any sense to me. I do not think I have ever “chunked” anything. The reading tells about the neurosurgeon running through several surgeries in his mind before performing them. He watched them like a movie in his mind and then made sure each surgery played out like his mind movie. I definitely cannot do that. An example from my own life is drawing. I have drawn out a very specific picture in my mind that looks perfect. Then when I try to draw it out on paper I cannot do it. The lines do not curve right. My wrist does not twist right. The movie in my mind never played out on paper correctly.
The reading describes physical genius as coordination, practice, and imagination. There is one more thing that these physical geniuses have that I do not. They have passion for what they are doing. They have found something that intrigues them. They are driven to perfect their task no matter how long it takes. I definitely do not have anything that powerful for myself.
Comment by Rebecca Whisenhunt — June 9, 2009 @ 11:37 am
I am responding to a question on page 291 following the reading “Work Makes Life Sweet” by Bell Hooks. “Do you know anyone who has followed the advice, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow? Did their experience bear out the advice? Explain.” I actually do know more than one person that followed what they loved and it was completely the opposite of that advice. My brother’s friend went to school for social work. She loves the field and absolutely loves the work she does at her job. Despite that, she says that she makes just about as much as she did when she was a waitress during college. She doesn’t see herself making much more than she does right now. We all know social workers are very underpaid, but all during school, everyone told her just to do what she loves. Although she loves her job, she feels as though she works way too hard for such a small paycheck and she is unhappy a lot of the time due to the amount of money she makes. She has had a chance to help children, drug addicts, and many more types of people. It is something that has always wanted to do, but in my opinion, she could have just involved herself in charity work. There are many options for helping people that is in an area other than social work. Her main goal in life is to help people. She could have become a psychologist or psychiatrist and she could have been making much more money than she does now. The point I am trying to make is that I think if people are really passionate about something, then they should make that a main hobby they have. To me, occupations and college degrees are more about job security, pay, and the atmosphere you work in. I am doing an accounting degree because I know that it will give me a stable job with good pay. Although it won’t be thrilling, I will still enjoy it because I know that I will be making enough money to fuel my other hobbies. If my brother’s friend could go back and choose another major, I’m sure she would just based on the fact that she can barely afford her bills. In my opinion, when you select a major or a career, you should pick something that you know you won’t hate and something that you know you will be able to live with.
Comment by Chris Henien — June 9, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Ryan Lim
ENG 3010
Everyday we subconsciously apply certain skills to solve problems. Obvious? Maybe so, but have you ever thought were you learned some of these skills, these acts? Maybe you were taught, or you just simple observed and learned. Regardless of how/where/when we learn these skills, they allow us to seamlessly follow through work, making some of the most difficult tasks that would take hours only minutes. Many people pick up these skills from previous jobs. This was an idea introduced by Daniel Levine. Levine interviewed Herman Cain, the CEO of a major pizza enterprise. What Cain believed is that he learned things from every job he has ever had. Things that could be applied to his future jobs that followed. Furthermore he applied these skills in the real world, and allowed him to immerge from the lowest of economic levels to the top. This is a perfect example, that low level jobs are more important than just a source of income, but a source of knowledge.
When considering the American society, we first enter the work force during the teenage years. Many of us begin at the bottom with the minimum-wage jobs, from pizza delivers to baggers at the local grocery store. These teenagers work for a source of income, as many of us do, but what they do not realize is that these jobs serve as more than just a paycheck. Essentially these young adults are being groomed for the real world via these occupations. These first jobs are important to these kids. This is when they begin to develop a positive work ethic. Things like promptness, politeness, people integration, just to name a few, are learned through working. These along with many others are also used in the real world, in the non-working world. These are important skills that can be only learned in a work setting.
Jobs provide us with life skills that we use for our entire lives. There are many teenagers who choose not to work, or are in a position where they do not have to. To these teens it may seem that the road ahead will be easier. It may or may not be the case. Regardless, of when people enter the working life, it’s still important to consider what can be learned from working, navigational and driving skills for the pizza boy and speed and organization for the bagger. The development of skills is from working is undeniable and important. One could say that they paycheck is an added bonus.
Comment by Ryan Lim — June 10, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Alexandra Hutting
Response #2
These two readings reminded me of my first job and how grateful I am for that experience. My first job taught me a lot and didn’t pay me very much but it was totally worth it. Since I was little I attended a horse camp every summer for two weeks called Black River. I was a camper there for five years. I was asked to come back as a Counselor in Training when I was sixteen.
We, C.I.T.s were paid about $114.00 for our month of work and training; we had actually received a raise that year. Black River was able to get away with paying us with so little because the camp provided us with food and board. My summer kicked off with an intense weekend of training. I returned later that summer to do my shift, which was a month long stay. You were given every other night off and once a week you got a “24” meaning that you were off for twenty-four hours and allowed to go home for the night.
Our days begun bright and early around 8am when we raised the flag. That was the official start of the day but it was your responsibility to get yourself ready and your campers ready before the 8am flag ceremony. The campers were broken down in two shifts that alternated daily. You either got to eat breakfast first; you went riding first, and then did your activities. Or you fed the animals, had breakfast, and did a series of activities before going off to your riding session. The activities included grooming instructions, vaulting, barn chores, and etc.
Then came lunch time and after lunch time came the beloved “rest hour.” It was an hour of peace and quiet that could be used for reading but more importantly an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, as a C.I.T. you often missed out on rest hour because you were busy cleaning up the kitchen from lunch time. Oh yes, did I mention that it was the C.I.T.’s responsibility to serve the meals along with the kitchen staff.
After rest hour there was free time for the rest of the afternoon for the campers but that meant more work for the staff; activities included anything from life guarding, crafts, manning the trampolines, vaulting practice, free riding, barn chores, etc. Then it was dinner, the nightly event, time for the general store and then finally bedtime.
My summer working there was exhausting but extremely rewarding. It felt really nice to give back to a camp that game so much to me during my five years as a camper. In the end, I never made any money, I actually lost money. My bill at the general store was about $50.00 more then my paycheck. While the work was demanding and strenuous it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will forever look on my time at Black River with very fond memories as both a camper and a staff member.
Comment by Alexandra Hutting — June 10, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
First jobs are never easy. Ask anyone, and they will shudder at the thought. However, without many realising it, first jobs have given most of us one of the most valuable lessons in our lifetime. Some parents also like to recommend their children to apply for jobs so they earn the experience of what it is like in the ‘real world’. Being too sheltered is never a good idea, for then we will never be prepared for what is really out there. Some are fortunate enough to go to school and earn a degree and get ‘high-level’ jobs. Some are less fortunate and never really climb that ladder due to many reasons including poverty, lack of education, etc.
Reading this ‘Black Hair’ had left me feeling sympathy for the narrator. It is pretty easy to step into his shoes and feel the thoughts he has described. Sure, most of us have all gone through those ‘bad’ jobs, but to be stuck at it without much choice and no given shelter and protection can leave one feeling immensely helpless. Especially since those ‘low-jobs’ require lots of muscle work rather than brain work, which can tire out anyone pretty easily, also leaving them feeling fatigued and discouraged.
However he is also to be admired; for he began with basically nothing, and unlike many, he steadily worked without many negative thoughts. This hard experience had probably left him a valuable lesson earned that other ‘more fortunate’ ones may have not earned even in their fifties, at a young age of seventeen. This reading also proves that no matter what kind of wealth you were born with, the individual and its character determines the outcome of their work and the consequences for their lives.
This may hopefully inspire teens and other youths out their who have it a lot more easy, and have them feeling thankful and give deeper thoughts about what can be earned by an individual’s determination and willingness to work. Rather than complaining about rude customers and poor pay, we should all accept the position and the status we are in at the moment and try to make the best out of it. Just think – there is always someone less fortunate than you, with a stronger will to not only work, but to survive.
Comment by Julie Lee — June 10, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
Work- it’s something that everyone has to do or will have to eventually do. It is our only means of being able to support ourselves in order to survive. The reasons of why we want a job now, versus why we wanted it when we were younger are significantly different. When we were younger the reason we wanted a job most likely was so that we could eat out, watch movies or go shopping and we wouldn’t have to ask our parents every time for money. However, now, as college students, many of us are living on our own and we need to make money to pay bills and we need money towards college education. Also, when we are past the age of retiring, we may want to work for the sole reason that our life seems meaningless without it. So, the need for a job differs throughout the course of one’s life. Often times, the first job you have is critical when it comes to developing skills and such, even though it may be low-paying. Our first jobs are often low-paying because we don’t have credentials, experience or the education needed to pursue higher-paying jobs, so we have to settle for what we can get. As the article, ‘Take This Job and Love It,’ states that although you may hate this job because it is low-paying, it will actually benefit you more in the long-run. The author, Daniel Levine, makes an important emphasis on the fact that it doesn’t matter how much money you make from this job, but the skills and the experience that you take away from this job are the most important. Regardless of what kind of job your doing, some way or another, you are mastering some kind of skill through this job. These skills increase by the different jobs you have and the different responsibilities associated with each job. Levine talks about the myth that low-paying jobs destroy confidence. It may destroy your confidence if you don’t move on from that low-paying job. However, if you keep moving on up, you’ll realize that the money that you are receiving for the work you are doing now, is more than you were receiving for a previous job. Levine, provides many examples of how successful men and women first started with low-paying jobs. As you can see, obviously they did not think that their first jobs were dead-end jobs, rather they saw these jobs as the first step to getting a better job. Also, these low-paying jobs did not destroy their confidence, because they have obtained the position they have today because they had that low-paying job. In conclusion, our first jobs may not be the job that we want to have for the rest of our lives, but it is the stepping stone that is needed to get to the job that you have always wanted.
Comment by Therese Kochuparampil — June 10, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
Amal Nahhal 06/11/2009
Chapter 4 is talking about the artworks that represent the individual broad images that describe the nature and the value of work. Some artworks focus on worker’s physical actions. Broader social issues of work are seen in two murals and a painting. The panel from Ben Shahn’s “jersey Homesteads Mural” portrays the entry of immigrants. Diego Rivera’s large mural depicts the physical labor of factory workers in a complex series of images intertwine machinery and human forms in a factory work environment.
To analyze the artworks the viewer needs to ask many questions. There is a list of steps that can help us analyze the work of art: 1- Identify particular visual elements such as: figures, background, objects, color, shape. 2- consider what these elements suggest about the nature of work such as: a central contrast in the painting, the harmony in views, ideas …..
Analyzing of a painting is very important in the art work. Edward Hopper’s oresents a women standing and reading and two other women stand away and cut off. That’s show every thing like it is true. Her work was lonely, anonymous, and scrutinized. The work world in this essay appear in the nature and value of work. Gladwell addresses a special kind of work calls “physical genius” he analyze nature of this genius. “ Work Makes Life sweet” it is an essay that shows what makes one happy in work. Other writers portray the texture of daily lives in a variety of low-paying jobs. Other writers describe the texture of work in a variety of business and professions.
Comment by Amal Nahhal — June 11, 2009 @ 1:54 am
“In every job that I’ve held, I have learned something that helped me in my next job. If you look hard enough, you can learn from every job that you do” says Herman Cain, CEO of Godfather’s pizza. This chapter talks about the value of work, not just its monetary value but also the skills and knowledge obtained from work that allows one to move up the corporate and social ladder. These skills and lessons that we learn from all our jobs, no matter how big or small are applied to everyday life. Hard work and surrounding one’s self with positive energy not only teaches us how to keep moving forward in life but also teaches us to be responsible and even boosts morale and gives an immense amount of confidence that gives us the motivation to climb. Success is not only prevalent among the privileged, it emerges from every socio-economic class from those that are highly determined and push themselves every day. In the article “Take This Job and Love It” by Daniel Levine, he tells the story of Roberto Suarez who came to this country with no more than five dollars, found a job that he knew nothing about, he worked honestly and diligently everyday until he slowly moved up and became the president of the company (Miami Herald Publishing Co.). The readings for this chapter were extremely humbling and gave me a great sense of appreciation for what I’ve had and have accomplished, I feel that my life & job skills (no matter how big or small) that I’ve experienced thus far are very valuable. Growing up in a highly educated society, I’ve never witnessed people my age growing up NEEDING to work in order to survive, and I think many of the people I’ve grown up around are spoiled because of this and sheltered. Some of these people have never had a part time job because the money is too “petty” or just unnecessary – they don’t realize what exactly they’re missing out on. They’re losing all the skills they would need to get a professional job after university and are wasting any chance of being a well-rounded individual.
Comment by irene — June 11, 2009 @ 8:27 am
Dan Czartoryski
My response is going t be about the first article we had to read tilted “Take This Job and Love It,” written by Daniel Levine. I really enjoyed this article and I agree to a certain point about what we get out of our first jobs. For the most part yes I do believe our first jobs are great learning experiences and we do need to work when we are young. There are many lesson that can’t be learned and responsibilities working in a low paying first job. The four myths that were proven to be wrong in the article are great examples of how these first jobs can excel workers to better higher paying jobs. The involvement of government I believe should be limited but in some cases does help other workers that do not have such good experiences in their first job. I believe we need to focus on things that help the individual alone and not as a whole group. Different things work for different people, if someone learns best from a fist job and really do not get much from the government training then so be it. You also will have people that really benefit from government training because they did not have a good first job experience or maybe did not even have a first job when they were younger. I also really enjoyed haring how all these famous and very rich people started off. It is nice to know that these people all started off working somewhere small and not getting paid much at all. It really put more emphasis hearing about how all these famous people and how their first job really helped them get to here they are now. This article was very good and brought out many great points that I did not really think about.
Comment by dan czartoryski — June 11, 2009 @ 11:29 am
As I read the essays entitled “Take This Job and Love It” and “Black Hair”, I could not help but recall my past experiences working in an auto plant making minivan bumpers – sounds fun, doesn’t it? I worked six days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., so my social life was basically non-existent for four months. Some nights, when I was really lucky, I was able to work overtime until 3 a.m. My only prior job experiences were all on a volunteer basis (and believe it or not, coaching soccer and arguing with parents does not prepare one for factory labor); I was reluctant to begin and rightfully so. For at least eight hours a day, I would perform monotonous jobs and sweat profusely in a warehouse-like building with no air conditioning.
Like the individuals in “Black Hair”, I would get extremely filthy and carry the stench of the factory floor back home with me. There were many days in which I felt like beating myself over the head with a rear-end bumper, but I was able to keep my composure and work even harder. The one significant difference between my experience and the one mentioned in “Black Hair” was the fact that I knew I would be able to leave the job after four months to continue my education, here at Wayne State University. I was completely out of my element in that factory; knowing that I was going to get back to learning soon was the only thing that allowed me to maintain my position for the entire duration. Many of my co-workers knew of my plans. Surprisingly, they treated me well, despite the fact that they knew I was going to leave as quickly as I came, off to pursue bigger and better things. As I prepared to terminate my employment, I promised I would not forget about them (perhaps their kindness was due to a desire for free meds someday down the road).
I will not forget any of my experiences over those long, gruelling months. I met many hard-working people during my time installing “L-brackets” and fog lamps, many of whom were of Spanish origin similar to those in the essay. Although I may not have taken the job and loved it, I definitely gained a lot from my time in an entry-level job. I obtained a great respect for those who do the everyday “dirty” jobs, a respect that I will keep as I look forward to a career in medicine.
Comment by Stanley Wandeloski — June 11, 2009 @ 11:35 am
I am doing my second response on the writing by Daniel Levine. I chose this writing because the title struck me as something I could get behind and upon reading it I was justly interested. The article is referencing many myths about having that quintessential first job, and then giving examples of that which proves the myth wrong. The article initially drew me in with the talks of a government program to help people get jobs. What is with that? I think that if a person has respect for themselves and the people around them they would find a job and while at that job be respectful and glad that they even have a job, especially today.
The first myth suggests that low-paying jobs are dead-ends, I think that this myth is based on a person’s willingness to put forth effort in the work place. I mean if you go a job thinking that there is nothing you can do to achieve greatness at that job then you most likely will not find yourself in a position to get paid more, on the other hand, if you go to a job thinking that you will do your best and work so hard that everyone in the place will know you are a hard worker then I think that bigger and better opportunities will present themselves to you. Therefore I believe this myth to be not a myth at all and more people that fall into the category first mentioned have started this rumor.
The second myth suggests that a job that does not pay a lot will crush your confidence levels. I think that I can agree with this myth, but only in the instance that I had a good paying job and from their moved to a job that didn’t pay as much. I feel that when I had a better paying job I was more confident because I was less worried about money. I can also see this myth as being situational rather than unconditional.
The third myth suggests that without entry level training programs new employees will not succeed. I think that this myth is wrong, because I feel that in my experience I have learned more about the job from the people who have been working there for a while rather than from the various training programs I have been through. A training program can only give you the information that it was programmed to give, and if something, say an extraordinary situation, was left off of the program then you have no idea what to do when the time comes, while someone who has done the job for a while can give you that insightful information on what to do and when to do it so that it will be easier for you to handle.
The fourth and last myth suggests that employers look to take advantage of their low paid employees. I have two opinions on this myth. I do think that some managers will look at you and think to themselves “how much more can I have this person do without paying him/her more money?” but I also think that not all managers are like that. So although I have had experience that would lead me to believe this myth true, I still think that it is a question of what kind of person your employer is.
Overall I think that this writing was very insightful into the minds of people working in low end jobs. Levine covered four important myths and although I believe some of them are false, I think that there may be some instances where all are applicable. Also reading the examples that he used of people succeeding in adverse conditions gave me more insight into the type of work I have been doing and how I can succeed in any situation and perhaps earn more than I am now.
Comment by Kyle Mueller — June 11, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
In the first reading “Take This Job & Love It,” the author mentions four myths about low paying jobs. In my opinion, these myths are only myths depending on the situation. For example, like someone mentioned in class today, low paying jobs are potentially dead ends and confidence killers for someone who is 30 years old and holding this job as his/her main source of income. On the other hand, a student that has the same job won’t feel the same way because it’s just a part time job until he/she finishes school. It’s a way to gain experience and skills in the work field that they can apply later on when choosing a career. The fourth myth mentions that employers look to exploit their workers. I don’t necessarily feel that employers intend to exploit workers, instead I feel that some may take advantage of their higher position. It has been my experience through my job that management has their ‘favourites’ as well as people they do not approve of. They treat people differently and seem to go out of their way to cause trouble with those they don’t like.
“Black Hair” was the second reading assigned and I found it to be very interesting. It was a little sad to hear about the troubles and hardships that the author had to experience because I could never imagine being in his position. It goes hand in hand with the first reading because for many of the men at the tire yard, their job isn’t going to lead to anything and isn’t giving them any confidence in themselves. It’s clear that they don’t enjoy their jobs and the author even talks about what he thinks some of the men do when they leave the job. It’s almost as if they have become too comfortable in their positions and that no one wants change. For those who are immigrants with no documentation, it is going to be hard to find another job that will cover for them when the patrols come along. However, the author was a different story as he went on to make more of himself and leave his job at the tire yard.
Comment by Alyssa Lopez — June 11, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
Christina Bekris
ENG 3010
Response #2
I decided to write a response to the reading “Take This Job and Love it” by Daniel Levine. He writes about four myths in the work place and the first one is the myth about low-paying jobs are a dead-end. I really enjoyed reading this myth because it is just a myth. Most low paying jobs teach certain life values and how to interact with other people and this will help you out in your career later on. The next myth is that low-paying jobs destroy confidence. That really depends on the person and the job but for most people that are determined then the job doesn’t destroy anything it only strengthens character. He also goes on by giving great examples about how low-paying jobs strengthen character and responsibilities in a person to help them later on. The third myth is that entry-level employees need the guidance only job-training programs can give. That is a complete myth and I love the examples he gives about the parents teaching the children how to develop other skills outside of work and also while working. Parents do need to teach children about money management and they need to know that when they try hard enough their work will be recognized and rewarded. Now, the last myth is employers look for ways to exploit their low-paid workers. Ha, I laughed at this one because for some people it may be true but I really believe this is 100% myth! His examples here show that the owners do help the workers and tell them how to be courteous (in certain work places) to customers. My first job was the best I worked as a hostess and was taught many things about people and interacting with them and I learned what the real world is about. I learned great work ethics. I absolutely love this essay and it’s one of the best I have read thus far.
Comment by Cristina Bekris — June 11, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
Nathan Missler
Response 2
I am in responding to the second question on the connecting personality to the reading for “Take this Job and Love it” by Daniel Levine. The question asks, “What jobs have you held that taught you self-respect? Did they necessarily pay well? What were the key ingredients of each job that enabled you to gain self-respect?” I really like this question due to the fact it is asking about self respect. Even though I have only worked in one job so far in my life, I have definitely learned some valuable life lessons and one of them is self respect. I work in the industry of retail where customer service is the number one priority so you would have to treat customers kindly and respectfully. Even though at certain times you would like to kill that one customer that will not leave you alone and would complain to everything you say and do to reason with them, it’s your job to be friendly and just grit your teeth. They would pay me minimum wage and customers would treat you like dirt, but it’s a job and it is my first job. First jobs are never a walk in the park and if you ever do plan to quit that job it would be hard as hell to find a job in these times where the economy is hurting. I feel that your first job should be some type of starting point in your road of work experience and where you gain basic life skills that can be valuable to you later on in your career. Even though you would hate your job either getting up and to be at work at seven am or that the management is very unreasonable, in the long run it is teaching you self respect and life lessons that you need to learn sooner or later.
Comment by Nathan Missler — June 11, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Diana Daghlas
Kimberly Lacey
ENG 3010
6/11/09
Response #2
Working is the essence of life and gives people the ability to have life, because as we all know, this world is all about money; hence jobs provide money. Since working and having a job are so important, the last two sections of reading that we focused on were about working. One of the essays that caught my attention, not only because of my discussion lead, but because of the title was “The Physical Genius.” I thought this essay was a really good piece of work because the author, Malcolm Gladwell, used many different approaches in aiding to the capturing of his readers attention. For example, he compared a surgeon’s skills to that of an athlete’s skills. He considers such people as Charlie Wilson and Wayne Gretzky, “physical geniuses,” because of their above average abilities. I believe that the word “physical genius” is a great word to describe people such as this, because although some of the fields require an ample amount of intelligence, a person still has to be good with their hands, or physical abilities. So I thought that that was pretty interesting because as I stated in class, I never thought of surgery as being physical, only intelligence oriented. What also caught my attention was how Gladwell illustrated that sports require athletes to be intelligent so that they can strategize. That was a big surprise to me because when I think of athletes I do not really expect them to be that intelligent, however, to be able to strategize like that is amazing. Gladwell uses Wayne Gretzky as an example of this by talking about how he sees everything in front of him rather than imagining what is behind him; this gives him the ability to take a better shot or make a better play. Gladwell really changed my perspective on this topic and truly brought me over to his standpoint of thinking.
The next essay that caught my attention was “The Working Like of a Waitress.” Although I have never been a waitress, a lot of my friends have and they have told me stories about how difficult it was. What really got me reminiscing was when the author, Mike Rose, mentioned how his mother “especially” noted if “somebody is giving me a rough time.” This was because I remember when one of my friends was working as a waitress, she came to me crying her eyes out because one man had given her an extremely rough time that day. He kept on making her run back and forth because whenever he ordered something he said it was not made right, or that he did not order that and wanted something else; and then after all of that he gave her a two dollar tip. I remembered thinking that that was horrible and that I could only imagine how that would feel. So after hearing about my friend’s experience, I know that waitressing is an extremely tough job and that is why I can relate a little to this essay.
Comment by Diana Daghlas ENG 3010 — June 11, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
In “Black Hair”, Gary Soto gives us an account of himself as a seventeen-year-old picking himself up off the streets and getting a job at a tire shop. The entire narrative focuses on how dehumanizing the job is, and in turn, how the conditions at work affect himself and his fellow co-workers in life outside of work. Soto poses the question, “How we arrived at such a place is a mystery to me. Why anyone would stay for years is even a deeper concern.” The essay seems to be pushing towards the idea that the co-workers have developed such a defeatist attitude working in this sort of environment for so long that they have no hope left to get up and go find another job. Although this defeatist attitude has absolutely developed amongst these workers, what’s holding them back isn’t necessarily a loss of hope, but their own circumstances. Many of these workers are illegal immigrants, more than likely with little-to-no education or work experience that would have translated over the border. With such little qualifications, there aren’t many other options for these men to pursue. Even if they decided they were going to get up and find another job, they wouldn’t get farther than another labor job. The money they’re making is barely enough to get them by, let alone pay for an education to pursue a high career. Unfortunately, these workers are stuck in this position. There is definitely a defeatist attitude affecting their lack of movement and motivation to make a change, but this attitude isn’t as much a cause of their working conditions as much as it is a cause of their own educational/economical circumstances.
This in turn addresses an argument posed by Daniel Levine in “Take This Job and Love It”, assuming that low-paying jobs destroying confidence is but a myth. As I touched on earlier above, low-paying jobs absolutely destroy confidence. Not only are working conditions poor, with hardly any room for internal improvement, but their financial situation limits them even more. With such a low income, just enough to get by with basic necessities, it becomes a virtual impossibility to hope to attain an education to better their vocation, and in turn, their livelihood.
Comment by Khurram Wani — June 11, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
“Take This Job and Love It” by Daniel Levine is written around the value of a low-paying or entry-level job. Levine outlines four statements that he believes are myths associated with low level jobs, and then attempts to dispel the myths through the testimonies or experiences of successful people, who gave very positive, enriching, and gratifying experiences about their low paying jobs. They all pretty much concluded the same thing – that through those jobs, they learned many valuable lessons including great worth ethics (punctuality, politeness, hard work), life lessons (honesty, responsibility, appreciation), and were introduced to the real world. A lot of the people he interviewed practically said that they got as far as they did on the foundation that was built through these low level jobs. I think that there is a lot of truth to the statements being made and they’re very inspiring stories, but I also think that the myths are probably myths when it comes to a certain group of people and under certain conditions. The work place itself has to be one that allows for opportunity, which has great employers who do reward great work and give great guidance. However, the truth is that there are places where working hard and contributing well results in being in the same position for multiple amounts of years.
However, it’s really odd because after I read “Take This Job and Love It” I read “Black Hair” and felt like “Black Hair” got its point across more effectively. I believe the essay by Gary Soto struck me as more convincing because he was speaking out of personal experience and gave a lot of personal details, whereas in “Take This Job and Love It” there were only a few sentences in regards to each successful person’s experiences. The interesting thing is that Gary Soto’s essay practically dismissed a few of the myths spoken about in “Take This Job and Love It”, but he also overcame the hardship that went along with those statements. He ended up moving beyond the Valley Tire Factory and now teaches at the University of California, which is a long way from where he was placed in his essay. This itself shows how Levine’s essay has truth to it. It is true that there are employers who look for ways to exploit their low paid workers and don’t treat employees as well as they should. But I think the important thing is the self-confidence and persistence. It is something that you have to instill in yourself – if you aren’t satisfied with the job you have, then do what is possible to find another one. The amount of government and social help is outstanding. With hard work, one can worth through all the pressures, downfalls, and even prejudice as long as that persistence is there.
Comment by sarahgorgis — June 11, 2009 @ 8:37 pm
I think most values are taught to us starting from a young age. The personalities we have are developed as well as our morals and ethics. Most people get their first job in high school. This is the time for a person to begin gaining their independence to prepare them to go off on their own one day. The values most people already have are built upon and cemented into our self through a first job. Most people learn the true value of work. They learn to put a value to money and realize that their parents have always worked hard to provide the money they used to spend before they made their own. My first job was in a restaurant as back of house. There is not much customer interaction back there so basically I built upon my “working as a team” skill. I eventually made it to the front of the house. That itself is a whole new world out there. Customer interaction with many makes you realize that there are some people out there that truly believe that “low-paying jobs” such as waitressing, mean that the person is “lower” than them. It makes a person realize that everyone should be treated the same and that it does not feel good to demean another person. That is the values I learnt at my first job.
Comment by Jill — June 11, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
In response to the two readings that were discussed in class Take This Job and Love It by Daniel Levine and Black Hair by Gary Soto they were in a sense, moving to me. These two articles portrayed the thankfulness and appreciation these people had for their jobs, even though they weren’t anything to brag about. Regarding the first article by Levine, he discussed what these people learned at their minimum wage job which helped them succeed to the level they are now at. I believe in today’s world, we aren’t as grateful as the people discussed in these two articles. People now feel that they are better then flipping burgers at McDonald’s or washing dishes at a restaurant, but these low end crappy jobs are the jobs that teach us the most and help us strive for better They aid in making us better at our desired field of work whether it be accounting, engineering or medicine. Before, you were fortunate to have a job at all whether it paid a lot or only a little but now, a person seems to be only measured by the income bracket they are in, not by the toughness of their job or what they do. For me, the job that taught me the most is my most recent job at Chrysler Canada. I work on the assembly line and have learned many life long lessons by having this job. In order for myself and all the other employees to get into work we must “swipe in” through a gate which allows us to enter the facilities. This is so they can clock in the time arrived and also that way employees are the only ones getting through the gates. Having to do this daily has taught me to be punctual because if we are late then our supervisors become very displeased. I have also learned to be good at time management because minivans pass by us every 43seconds. Within this allotted time, I must finish my job prior to another vehicle coming up. Failure to finish the job can result in faulty parts of the vans such as a malfunctioning sunroof or seat belt which in the end, is a huge problem to fix. Although this job is not a low paying job, I do work extremely hard for the money that I make and have learned a new appreciation for those who work at these places. From working in this field, I know myself, that I have learned many lessons to take me through my career of choice in the many years to come.
Comment by Michelle Fillion McLean — June 11, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
In Black Hair by Gary Soto, the narrator describes the typical days working at a low-paying job like Vally Tire Factory. He explains how he and other workers continued to work there even though the working condition was horrible and the pay rate was extremely low. Since the workers were unskilled, some undocumented and fearful of deportation, they believed that this job is the only job that fits them. They think no other job will hire them; therefore, they stay at the job where they know they are needed. Working at a job like Vally Tire Factory requires lots of physical and mental control. For example, the narrator picked up tires that were about 20 pounds for eight hours every day and then after work, people would look at him in disgust while he walked miles from work to home. This job lowered his confidence. In fact, he even said that he knew that there was a good possibility he might have to do such work for years, if not for a lifetime. If a person thinks this way, than more than likely it will come true.
Any kind of job/career can affect a person physically and mentally, especially if the person doesn’t like the job/career. In this essay, Iggy, the old Mexican guy, is humble enough to deal with this low-paying job. Unlike the other workers, he has dignity and doesn’t complain about his job. He knows that he has great skills in choosing good and bad tires. Therefore, he keeps doing what he does best.
As you can see, an unskilled worker can turn into a skilled worker within weeks. Gary Soto explains that he learned a lot about tires while working at Vally. Working hard labor might be frustrated, however, good things will follow, such as a paycheck and/or better skills.
Comment by Christina Anagonye — June 11, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
I am doing my response on the reading “Take this job and Love It” by Daniel Levine. I chose this article because this article really caught my attention. This article is mainly about the four myths that the author talks about.
The first myth is about “Low-Paying Jobs are a Dead End.” This myth kind of deals with the fact that if come to work on time, try your hard every time you work, then your boss will know that you are a hard worker and may give you a promotion or a raise. If you decide to be lazy then you are not going to get that raise or maybe even promotion. You have to be motivated in anything you do; no matter how much you hate the job. If you always demean yourself about the work you do, then you can never go higher in your job. Therefore, in my opinion, this myth is not really a myth at all, it’s the absolute true. If you don’t push yourself to work hard, never attempt to do a better job then you cannot go any higher in your position.
The second myth is about “Low-Paying Jobs Destroy Confidence.” I can agree with this myth in one way. I used to work in Meijer, so I used to get paid about eight dollars, but then I quit because I did not get along with my managers at all. So the next job I had was in a Party Land store, here my pay started with about six dollars and twenty-five cents. After this, I started to think that why did I not just stick to my old job, at least it was way better than this job and the pay was much better. Here I had to work more hours to make my paycheck to come up the same as before, which was very difficult to do. Therefore, I will also say that this in a way is not a myth both because it depends from person to person and the situation they are in.
The third myth is about “Entry-Level Employees Need The Guidance Only Job-Training Programs Can Give.” I do not necessarily agree with this myth, because I never went to a training program and there is a lot I learned from the places I worked at and from the people I work with. Whenever my boss in part land is in the store while I work, he explains to me a lot of things that will come in handy in the future for me. He teaches me every time I work, what is the best way to work with customers, how to talk to them or behave around them. So, if I make a mistake, then he tells me right away so I won’t make the same mistake again. This in a way has helped a lot because my major is pre-nursing. In nursing, you have to know how to interact with your patients. So not only do I learn to be more conversational towards my customers, I can take that with me to my job in nursing. The training program won’t always be there telling you what is that you are doing wrong or how to further react towards your customers, you have to learn by yourself or with the help of a co-worker or boss.
The fourth myth is about “Employees Look For Ways To Exploit Their Low-Paid Workers.” This myth can be leading both ways, in my opinion. There are some managers and bosses that will take advantage of you; they will get you to work more for less pay. However, there are also a lot of others’ out there also that don’t take advantage of you. It all depends on the work condition and the place you are working at.
This essay is greatly written. The point the author is trying to make gets across to the readers. It makes sense and the information that is provided is very helpful. This is a very perceptive essay on the low paying jobs that people work at.
Comment by Sukhreet Sandhu — June 11, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
This is a response to question one of focusing on the argument of the title “Black Hair”, by Gary Soto.
The description that Soto delivers is remarkable. He describes to great detail even the very scars of another man that he had worked with. Hearing his testimony of the late 1960′s helps define what life for a poor Mexican or a poor African was really like (at least in Valley Tire Co.). The way Soto explained even with the way his “snot” looked like as he blew it out was captivating. He captured all the areas of what to hate about a low-level labor job. He also included some of the illegal events that would occur and be covered up. It was really interesting learning what it was like for him as he was homeless and scrounging for food. The way he could bring the reader to his life and make the reader feel as if they were there was more than enough of an essay. He would use abandoned buildings and cars, he would search for scraps, and he powerfully explained how painful he ended up feeling through the terror. It is amazing for a 17 year old to go through all that and never giving up for one moment. It is a true test of a human’s nature to survive. On top of that, he learned so much from such a “pathetic” crew. These were men he described so well to be stereotyped as “lost causes” and hopeless. It seemed his most valuable lesson learned from these men was that that life was not what he wanted. He couldn’t fatham how such a person could continuously work at such a demeaning, worthless job. As it turned out, he got himself exactly where he wanted to be. He is now a teacher at the University of California for writing. Ironic, isn’t it?
Comment by Jason Trefil — June 11, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
After reading the three stories, I found that I can relate to some of the events that occurred in the people’s life experiences. In the first story, I like how Daniel Levine broke down the story into the four myths. The first myth, “Low-Paying Jobs are a Dead-End,” talks about how low-paying jobs helped to shape everyday people into successful people. I can relate to this. I have had jobs in my life that have helped me get to where I am presently at in life. I really did not like the jobs or tasks that the jobs consisted of, but I did what it took to get them done and in the end I would say that it has paid off. The second myth, “Low-Paying Jobs Destroy Confidence,” shows how life experiences at low-paying jobs help teach life lessons that can be put to use later in life. These stories are inspirational to those people that are working jobs that they dislike. It inspires people to continue working these jobs because one day it will help them get to possibly a better job later in life. Myth three, “Entry-Level Employees Need The Guidance Only Job-Training Programs Can Give,” displays through the experiences of the young people, how everyone is shaped by the people around them. People can create better jobs for themselves by listening to the people teaching them and following their advice. Finally, the fourth myth, “Employers Look For Ways To Exploit Their Low-Paid Workers,” helps to instill values in to young people entering the work force. These four myths show how hard work can take you a long way. I am still working jobs that I don’t really like, but I know that one day I will finally get the job I like and that everything I have done up to that point helped me get it.
Comment by rich9884 — June 11, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
The articles assigned, “Take This Job and Love It” and “Black Hair,” really struck a nerve with me because I currently work a job that isn’t much more than an entry-level wage and I work everyday. I agree with Daniel Levine on many of his points. Specifically, the point about low-paying jobs being dead-ends. I know many people who started working in restaurants as cooks or servers and wound-up becoming the general manager. Now those people are making a decent living and helping create jobs for other cooks or servers. I do, however, disagree with Levine on his point about myth number four, employers look for ways to exploit their low-paid workers. The reason I disagree with this stems from being at the bottom of the ladder and being taken advantage of. I have worked jobs where my employers knew I needed the job and money so bad that they had me do all the grunt work and do 10 to 12 hour days.
Much like Gary Soto, I also feel there are two types of work. Both types are very different, but both also have one thing in common; they can completely drain a person. I can’t say I’ve experienced what Soto experienced at Valley Tire Factory, but I do know what it’s like to do work that relies solely on muscle. Physical labor has a certain way of humbling a person. Even the most in-shape, physically fit person can feel weak and devoid of all feeling at the end of a day full of physical labor.
Comment by Ryan Hearld — June 11, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
In today’s class, we discussed about the sample draft, she posted online. I choose the essay about dance evolution because it seemed very interesting and knowledgeable, especially a person likes me who knows nothing about the dance art. This is a good essay if you know a little about the terminology of dance or if find some help to understand them. Otherwise, you will be lost like I was because author used many new terms, which are needed to be define. Besides this, by lack of proper transition between paragraphs, author failed to connect the flow of information. That’s made it harsher for readers who are not familiar with. Moreover, the thesis statement was very unclear, author’s tone in the first paragraph sounds like each sentence as thesis statement. Even though, citation sources are the essential component of any research paper to make it acceptable. In this essay, author used Wikipedia several times, which is not considered a credential site as a citation source. This was a good practice for us to find out the weaknesses of a research paper to avoid them into our’s final draft.
Furthermore, we had discussion leads on two readings. I would like to talk about one by Daniel Levine’s ‘Take this job and love it’. I agreed with 2nd myth: Low paying jobs destroy confidence. This is actually more than true, it doesn’t mean I oppose their role to build confidence in young, school or college kids by first job of their lives. However, this is a fact that the positive or negative effects depend upon which stage of life you get low-paying jobs. For example, I would feel myself lucky if I get a job in a store as a cashier. My 15 years old brother would love to work with city workers as a student helper during summer. In contrast, the people who already had a carrier, who spent golden time of their lives to struggle for a good profession, and they succeeded. For some reasons, if they have to work on these jobs so it reflects negatively on their confidence. While they already have a valuable life’s experience and won’t build their confidence any more.
Comment by summera kanwal — June 11, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
It’s obvious that working is a crucial part of life. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience to be had from any job. For me, the act of working with and around other people has been one of the most rewarding experiences. My first job at a liquor store showed me first hand how a business and its employees should not operate. Being in the presence of poor leadership only improved on mine. Witnessing and working through the shortcomings of that job had also made me a more conscious individual in the workplace. This goes to show that even the negative things we may take on through our jobs can be beneficial. The relationship between co-workers is also unique; far different from friends, classmates and teachers. Being depended on by others and having their trust is very important. No matter in what field or what pay your job is, this relationship will always be present and it is vital to your development as an individual. Working in retail is one area where you can really learn how to read into people. A persons approach, tone, and overall demeanor are things you constantly observe and respond to. Sometimes you may even have to gives bad news, something nobody likes to do but is necessary from time to time. Those who do not work miss out on a very big part of their development. Having a job early on, even though it may not be necessary, builds a great foundation in character. The social skills you learn along the way enable you to be more confident and experienced to continue on your career path.
Comment by David Pietrusa — June 11, 2009 @ 10:53 pm