SPC1017-Group2-Zachary Saenz-Blog Post #2

 

              

Blog Post #2

                When we look at the world around us, we start to realize that there are various factors that move everyone farther in life. Whether it be the small things such as how we think, the people around us and how that affects the careers we decide to pursue, or even the education we receive throughout the adolescent years of our lives; all of our lives are different from one another. In SPC1017, I was lucky enough to learn more about these three topics in depth and reflect on not only my own views, but my classmates’ views as well. In this blog, let’s explore what I’ve taken away from the presentations presented to me and relate the things I’ve learned to the real world we all live in currently.

Mental Health and Fun Social Life

               Firstly, I’d like to begin on the topic me and my group members were tasked with completing. We went over multiple topics, but the ones that stood out to me the most were “How does mdc provide for students?” and “How has mental health changed in the last 5 years?”. When I go over what me and my classmates went over, I can’t get over the fact that sometimes we take a lot of things for granted. For example, when it comes to the support mdc provides for students, we found ways to improve and critique the services provided to us. Although I do agree that most services can be tweaked to provide more efficiently, sometimes we tend to overlook what we have right in front of us. Me and my classmates are lucky enough to be provided resources for our mental health and our social lives compared to colleges/universities in other states. I mean, we have libraries, clubs, organizations, free tutoring, aid in students with disabilities, and honestly anything you can think of. I realized that I don’t use what is given to me and instead of playing a victim, I should earn to take what has been offered. Additionally, when we say “how has mental health changed in the last 5 years”, I can’t begin to reminisce on my past. Back then, all I had to worry about was a spelling test, or completing iready. I was given a sheltered but curious life from the start and my hand was luckier than most. Now however, I see how mine and other perspectives have changed. We’re so focused on how we look, on external validation, and how we can be the best, that we never get time to sit and understand what we want. Something that I’ve learned throughout time is that I’m going to be. I have my flaws, but I have my strength that no one can take away from me. I think it’s about time that people start learning how to channel that energy into themselves instead of others and stop stressing over the mundane things. That is something that I think we all take for granted.

Family and Potential Careers

               Talking about the cards we were given at birth, our futures look different depending on where we come from and our backgrounds. When it comes to what we want to do in the future, is it really our choice or other people’s choice? I believe that sometimes we place our values and our morals in a box based off what others have shown us. Furthermore, this is extremely dominant in potential careers and family and ultimately shape how the rest of our lives are going to turn out. However, we can take charge and lead our lives instead of gliding through them. When you ask a kid “what do you want to do when you grow up”, you’re going to get a vast majority of unique responses. This can range from “I want to be a marine biologist” to “I want to fly”. This is because we haven’t dealt with significant societal pressures or specifically, pressures placed on us in our family. Although I feel like we’ve evolved in the U.S. to expand our horizons and try to explore potential careers, this definitely isn’t true when it comes to family. We can look at this at an economic standpoint or even a social standpoint, but the point is that this will ultimately lead us down different paths. I was lucky enough to live in a family that supports me in any way. Whether that be my decisions, my sexuality, or my religion, at the end of the day I have been honored to have people who love me for what my goals are, my dreams, and my idolizations. However, I feel different when it comes to society. When we look at the world we live in right now, especially the economy, that has changed dramatically. Now I must think about what gives me more money and what tool I have to be for others to make it out in this world. And to be honest, what I’ve realized is that no one will make me a tool and that although I’m 1 person, I’m able to live my life the way that I want it. So, if things don’t work out, it’s okay. I have my family, my dog, and me. And that’s all I could ever ask for and I hope that other people can find that as well. To be blunt, I’ve been lucky. Although family is important in our career life, I tend to believe that our social life is what hinders our growth.

Economy and Education

               If we make education more difficult to obtain, we hinder our growth and advancements. A struggling economy amplifies this issue, especially for marginalized communities who already face systemic barriers. When young people are denied access to quality education, they’re not just losing out on academic knowledge—they’re losing hope, opportunity, and the ability to participate meaningfully in the future. This creates a cycle where the rich get richer, and the rest are left scrambling, often turning to short-term survival strategies rather than long-term aspirations. The result is a generation disillusioned by promises that no longer hold weight, caught between the ideals they were taught and the harsh realities they face. If we don’t address these disparities now, we risk creating a future built on frustration, inequality, and social unrest.