My Sophomore Year.

Sophomore year has been the most exciting year for me. Despite all the drama with friends, stressing about grades, and simple little problems, my sophomore was the best. I met some new friends and lost some old ones but, in the end it all worked out.

My friends are what kept my sophomore year alive. They helped me stay focused on school. They’ve helped through some rough patches in my life. But, the best part of my friends is they were always there to share a laugh, joke and smile with me. I remember this time when Cassandra, Exzandra and I were walking to lunch and for no apparent reason we just all busted out laughing. I guess the joy and dead silence within us was just to unbarring and we just had to laugh. I’m not sure of much but one thing I am sure of is that day was proof that we were all connected and we were and still are the best of friends. Alex, Cassandra, Exzandra, Estrella, Odalys, Jonathan, Sadaf, Jesse, Jerome, Jimmy, Andres, and Raylene thank you for everything you guys have done for me and for being there for me through the good and the bad you guys will always be my best friends.

My sophomore year has also brought me some wonderful teachers and classes. I’ve learned so much in this past year from all of my teachers. My French teacher Mrs. Degani has taught me to speak more fluent in French and taught me how to carry on a conversation with someone without missing a beat of French. My English teacher Mr. Leh has taught me so many things that I never thought I’d learn, from Latin root words to writing a proper essay. My world history teacher Mrs. Cox , and for a short time Ms. Padilla, who have taught me not only the importance of the past but of the importance of what is going on in the world today and how to act upon it. My geology/astronomy teacher Mrs. Hoose who has taught me so much about our solar system, atmosphere, and the little thing about the structure of earth and how to maintain that structure. My geometry teacher Mrs. Harding who has helped me get through geometry without complaining or fussing. My Leadership teacher Mr. Trapiedie who has helped me excel in student government and who has taught me something so important, not everybody is fair at times, but just keep your head up and as long as you know you did something good others opinions didn’t matter have faith in yourself and never let yourself down. Last but not least my digital media film teacher Mr. Nord he was a bit much to handle but he has taught me a lot about angle shots, how to film, how to edit and how to become a good movie producer. All in all my sophomore year has brought me great, amazing teachers that I am so grateful for.

           Surprisingly I have learned a lot about myself this sophomore year as well. I have learned that at times I’m a little bit too much to handle. I have learned that I depend on my parents way too much. I have learned not only academic but of myself. I have learned that if I push myself I can go very far a complete all that I want to complete. I have learned that the only person to get me to the top is me. I have learned that as I grow my feelings grow too. I have learned to believe in myself and to give myself encouragement even if other people don’t. I have learned that I am a strong, intelligent, and outgoing person.

My sophomore has been absolutely amazing. Through the ups and downs I’ve stayed strong and will continue to stay strong. I’m always going to remember this year and never stop learning because, like the movies, my life is........

LIfe in its true form.(wisdom quote)

“Life is life and you just got to take it day by day, take the good and the bad and appreciate everything you have because in a blink of an eye it could be gone and your life will never be the same. Leena Villegas, May 25, 2010.” 

This is a quote i wrote in memory of my uncle, Homero Guillermo Romero. To me it speaks a lot of truth. It speaks of what people are afraid to speak of. It speaks about life, the world, the environment, and if you dig deep enough its speaks of mysteries of life. When i was writing this quote i was thinking about my uncle. I was remembering the tale of his life and his unfortunate end. I thinking about everyone in pain, everyone who is suffering, and everyone who takes advantage of what they have. Something as simple as life its self. Something like having a shoulder to cry on having love to share or even a person to tell tour secrets with. From now and until i pass i will remember him, remember his jokes, remember his love for his family, and remember that your life and the  life around you is a gift. A gift you must cherish, a  gift you must uphold and a gift you must never let go.

Betral in its worst form!!

                       My uncle Guillermo May you rest in peace       

          Betrayal is something not taken lightly. It is an unfortunate thing. It can tear a person’s life apart. It’s this indescribable felling of disbelief, shame, and most importantly anger.

           In my life I don't think I’ve ever been betrayed or have betrayed someone. I'm one-hundred percent truthful I won’t hurt or intentionally harm anyone I love. But, for some people that’s not always the case. I’m going to share with you, what to me is the most horrible act of betrayal the worst of the worst and an example that is very close to the betrayal example of Julius Cesar. Well here it goes.

           May 16th 1:00 am my uncle was brutally murdered by his brother in law, believed to be cousin and friend. His day was going fine, just same routine since he went to Cuidad Madera Chihuahua. See my uncle was awaiting approval for his "mica"(green card), which he was approved for all he had to do was wait to go pick it up the day of his murder, that being the reason for him being in Madera in the first place. Anyways back to the day of his murder. My Aunt Victoria, baby cousin Jade, and uncle Homero, went on with their day, May 15th, as normal they got up, got ready, went to the "Central Mercado" to buy things’ for the family, and went back to my uncle’s house in Madera. My uncle and his brother in law were sitting outside, meanwhile his brother in law had being drinking, and they were talking about my uncles’ plans once he went to get his "mica". They had a long conversation time passed and before they knew it was already night time. By this time my uncles’ brother in law was drunk. He became angry because of two reasons one he ran out beer and two because my uncles’ sister wasn’t home yet so he left to go find her and buy more beer. You see Madera is a ranch/city in Chihuahua that is filled with mountains and plains, so in the little town everyone pretty much knows everyone. My uncles’ sister finally arrived home about five minutes after his brother in law left to find her. His brother in law got home with his friend and cousin about an hour after. By this time it was already 11:30 p.m. My uncle, aunt, and cousin were sleeping when my uncle heard his sister and brother in law arguing and fighting outside. My uncle then went outside to calm them down and tell them to stop fighting. He said to them "ok ya sera orta dia" which means "ok stop fighting save it for another day." But then the unexpected happened, My uncles brother in law went up to him and started fighting with him and my uncle was just telling him calm down just stop fighting and let go to sleep its late. Then my uncles’ brother in law started to beat up my uncle, my uncle tried to defend himself by fighting back, but then, my uncles’ brother in law, his friend, and his cousin jumped in the fight and proceeded to jump my uncle. They beat him to the point where my uncle was crawling to the house because he was unable get up to walk. Then, note my uncle was already down on the floor bleeding unable to protect himself, he pulled himself up on the fence so he could stand up and his brother in law, with great force, threw a rock at my uncles face and my uncle fell to his knees put his hand on his forehead around his temple saw the blood then fell to the floor. My auntie then ran to his side she pleaded and pleaded to him to wake up because they to go home all she said over and over was ” wake up memo we have to go home tomorrow wake up please wake up” but by this time my uncle was already dead. He was pronounced dead at 1:30 am May16th 2010. He died as a man he was protecting a woman in her weakest. He went out knowing for that night his sister wouldn’t get her daily beating. But, he went and left my auntie alone my four cousins’ father-less and our family left with a gaping hole of sadness, anger, and disbelief.

          My uncle was a good man he cared for his family deeply. He brightened up every ones day with his jokes that only he thought were funny. He cured my aunts’ loneliness, cleared up her stress, and gave her a father to her three kids from her first marriage and to their daughter that they had together. He didn’t see a difference between his step children and his daughter. When anyone would ask him how many kids do you have he’d say four two girls Jasmine and Jade and two boys Robert and Eduardo. He was an awesome uncle a best friend to my parents and an all around good person. It kills me every day to wake up and know my life’s the same but my aunts and cousins life isn’t. My uncle didn’t deserve to die, nobody deserves to die, but life is life and you just got to take it day by day, take the good and the bad and appreciate everything you have because in a blink of an eye it could be gone and your life will never be the same.

"Golden Gals" The Remake

If I was hired to make a remake episode for RuPauls drag race, I would remake the season 2, episode 8, Golden Gals episode. In the original episode the main girls, Pandora Box, Tyra Sanchez, Jujubee, Tatiana and Raven, have to turn old men into beautiful drag mothers. In this episode of RuPauls drag race the drag mothers and the drag queen daughters have to get all dolled up, look-a-like, and perform one of RuPauls famous songs, “Main Event”. Each drag and her drag mother have their own style and own flare but the trick is to conjoin both styles and flares to create the ultimate drag daughter and drag mother combo. Pandora Box and her drag mother, Litterboxx had a show girl chic look, Raven and her drag mother, Golda Lame had a night club ware look to them, Jujubee and her drag mother, Contessa Touche had a disco glam ball look to them, Tatianna and her drag mother, Annalisha had a Jungle safari look, and last but not least Tyra Sanchez and her drag mother, Big Tyra had a 80’s day ware look. The ladies had to go through meeting the drag mothers, transforming them and themselves, a runway walk and finally dancing and lip singing duet. In the end Raven, the winner of the challenge, Tyra Sanchez, and Tatiana were the finalist who were safe and Pandora box and Jujubee were in the bottom two. Before Pandora Box or Jujubee could be eliminated they would have to “lip sync for their life”. In every competition RuPaul makes the bottom two contestants “lip sync for their life”, which means they must lip sync one of RuPauls songs better than the other girl. After the judges consulted with each other they made the choice to unfortunately eliminate Pandora Box.

For my remake of the episode I would have the girls first, play a game to see who the winner is and they could pick first from everything and pick the order that the ladies pick their makeup, wardrobe, and theme, then the ladies would proceed to pick a time in day for their theme, for example the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s, then I would have them pick one of RuPauls most famous songs to lip sync to, then I would have selection of makeup, wigs and outfit choices from them to pick from. The ladies would have to go through rehearsal, showing their drag mother how to walk like a beautiful drag model, showing their drag mother how to lip sync, and ultimately fighting for the gold in the end. For a little twist I would, go into the “Glam Room” or dressing room and throw them a little twist by having them pick out a ball with a time in day, if they picked their own era then they would luck out but, if they picked out a different era they would have start from scratch again and pick out a different makeup selection, wardrobe choice and different RuPaul song to lip sync to. In the end I would have a panel of judges, RuPaul of course, a series of designers that the wardrobes came from, makeup artist that provided the makeup, a few fellow drag daughters and drag mothers and as a special guest judge I would have Kathy Griffin to bring some spice and humor to the judges panel. I would have the ladies do a runway walk, introduce themselves to the judges, have them lip sync their song, give a brief explanation on why they chose the era they chose and how they pulled it off. And ultimately, like in all episodes, the choice would be up to RuPaul to choose the winner and the bottom two. After RuPaul would make her choice on the bottom two, the bottom two drag daughters would have to “lip sync for their life.”

Courage, Bravery, LIfe.

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Letters to Lucilius.

In my life I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced a time of bravery. I guess we could say I’ve had some small acts of bravery like, going down slide for the first time, trying a weird looking food, or talking to that cute guy across the room. I mean I’m an outgoing, not afraid of very much kind of girl but in my mind I’ve really never shown an act of courage.

I believe that the quote by Lucius Annaeus Seneca reflects on life today. As a young adult living in a lower class neighborhood i hear stories about death of young kids all the time. the quote says "sometimes even to live is an act of courage", for some that is very true, a large amount of kids in minority groups have to fight to survive in their life today. Many people in the world see the glass half empty instead of half full. 

my family ( not finished)

My name is Leena Michai Villegas-Hermosillo, daughter of Luis Fernando Villegas and Carmen Susan Villegas-Hermosillo. I am the granddaughter of Luis Omar Hermosillo, Laurie Hermosillo-Sedillo, Elvia Villegas and Juan Villegas. I have a huge family. My mom’s father’s families, the Hermosillo family, make up a big part of my life. My mom’s mother’s families, the Sedillo family, also make up a big part of my life. Unfortunately I don’t know very much about my fathers’ side of the family, I pretty much just know about the immediate members of his family.

The Hermosillo and Sedillo family are my biggest influences. Since I see them almost every day I’ve learned mostly about their heritage and past rather than my fathers’ family whom I see every now and then for holidays or birthdays. What I’ve learned about the Hermosillo’s is that they were very attentive people. They took care of everyone in their ranch in Mexico and that they were known as very successful people. I learned that my great-grandfather and great-uncle of, the Hermosillo family were successful men owning their own businesses and running half of San Isabel Chihuahua, the Hermosillo’s home town. The Sedillo family that I know of is made up of six beautiful women. The Sedillo women, from oldest to youngest, are Socorro Chavez, Flora Colunga, Irene Gutierrez, Laurie Hermosillo, Joann Abeyta, and Elizabeth Buruato. What I’ve learned about the Sedillo part of my family is that they were poor people who climbed up to the top and became successful after marriage. Both Hermosillo and Sedillo family are Mexican descent and Mexican-American descent.

The Villegas family is not that much of an influence to my life. I know only the immediate members of the family. The Villegas family is made up of my grandmother Elvia Villegas, my grandfather Juan Villegas, my uncle’s Juan Villegas and Jesus Villegas and my aunt Yazmine Villegas. I don’t know very much about the Villegas family but what I do know is that they are hard working people never stop working. Most of the Villegas family lives in El Paso, Texas the rest live in Cuidad Juarez de Chihuahua and in other parts of Texas.

Time machine..

If I were to build a time machine I would go to the past and the future. The past is the past, but maybe, I have missed something. The future is destiny, but maybe, I would like to find out my destiny is before it happens.


I would go to the past because I would like to relive the good times. I would like to see my mom as a child. I would like to see the hardship my father undertook as a child. I would like to see what my family had to give up for me to have a successful life. And most importantly I would like to see and relive my childhood. If I could go to the past and see how my family came up from nothing to amazing and successful people, would be the best thing I could get from being able to travel to the past.


I would travel to the future to see what I’ve become in the past years. I would want to see how my parents’ life was affected by some of my choices. I would like to see my children, grandchildren, and families’ lives. I would like to see if my dreams of becoming a vet came true. I would like to see if I had a big or small family. I would like to see how my life has unfolded throughout time. I would like to ask my grandchildren if I was a good grandparent. I would participate in “the future activities”, only if it didn’t alter the future in any way.


If I could travel to the future I think I would see cars that do not cause pollution. I think I’d see more students graduating from high school. I think I’d see middle class people getting higher up in the economy. I’d see Cassandra and I as veterinarians with our own clinic. I see my future foundation for rescuing lost and lonely pets coming together. I see my mom and dad running the family business. I see my aunt working in a high class restaurant as head chef. I see our house on a huge piece of land. And I see my family getting what they finally deserve.


There wouldn’t be anything much to see in the past, but I’d love to relive the good memories and even some of the bad. One memorable time I would want to relive is the time when my cousins and I were very close. We were the best of friends, going to play basketball together, hanging out with each other, sharing secrets, and being real family. I miss those days so much but I guess as time changes people do to. I’d like to relive the time I had with my grandfather in Mexico. I’d like to relive my middle school days, when drama wasn’t really an issue and when nobody really cared who you were or where you came from. I’d even like to relive the time I spent with my old friend before his passing.

I believe that reliving the past would help me let it go a bit easier. I believe knowing the future will answer some of my questions and make me prepared for the rest of my life.

The Starfish Story.

        One simple single act of kindness can change the world. Giving a homeless person change, returning a lost pet to their owner, and even throwing a couple starfish back into the beach.

I believe the moral to The Starfish Story is, even though there is a million little things to change, one person with the confidence to change a problem, could make a huge difference. For example if I see a lost dog sign in my neighborhood and I find the lost dog and return it to the owners I know I’ve made a difference in the world. Even something as small as signing a petition, could influence the world magnificently.

The wisdom in “The Starfish Story” is, as a human being you have to strive to do your best at improving a fault in the world today. To never let your guard or voice down, to do the right thing, and to make an effort to change what you believe should be changed in our life as well as in others.

“The Starfish Story” plays a great role in my life, because, I am a person who tries to make a difference. I am a strong believer that one person can make the whole world change.

“The Starfish Story” is an example of two groups of people, the ones who see that a little change could make a huge difference and the ones who see that you have to make a huge change to make a difference.

Change? I Say "Yes!!!"

It’s time for a change! Immigration is getting worse by the minute. Coming from a family of immigrants from México, I feel like immigrants are being treated unfairly, as if immigrants are another species of creatures. Stastics show that in some odd years, immigrants will be the majority of people living in the U.S. I believe that those statistics scare most Anglo Americans, because, they feel like they are losing power to “their” country. I question the fact that a lot of Anglo Americans say quote on quote “It’s our America.” But, doesn’t the Statue of Liberty express the fact that EVERYONE is welcome here? By being a Mexican-American citizen of the U.S, I feel like a very fortunate individual. I have rights most people in the world don’t have. I have access to “the better things in life” such as freedom, schooling, and good paying employment, and as many call it, “the good life.” But, in reality, freedom isn’t really freedom when a person is excluded because of their race, color, or economic status.

The Great Debaters Movie Review.

The Great Debaters Movie Review.

In my opinion, the movie "The Great Debaters" is a very influential and inspiring movie. I would give "The Great Debaters" a rating of five stars out of five stars. The reason why I would give "The Great Debaters" a rating of five stars out of five stars is because I realize that this movie displays the way life that existed in 1930’s. To me, "The Great Debaters" displays the good and bad in people. It shows how inequality not only affects the person, but the people and community around them. Unfortunately, inequality and racism still exist, but, I’m a strong believer that in time, most people will come to their senses, and grasp the fact that everyone should be treated equally, in every and any way possible.

Las Manos del Doctor Moore. A Diego Rivera painting.

When I look at this photo, I see a delicate and preserved object being torn apart. In the tree, I even see attributes of a woman or a person spreading their arms out to the world. I see within the tree, a trapped or lost spirit wishing it could be free. To me, this painting feels spiritual, sacred, and has its own description of beauty. It feels like the artist created the concept of this painting out of deep internal feelings. What I especially like about this painting, is the fact that in some ways, it explains that same sense there is a feeling of mystery. This painting speaks to me, because, it’s saying that as a person, you need to cut all the dead, bad things out of your life so that new and better things will come in and replace the bad.

The Wonderful Beautiful Statue of Liberty .

   

The New Colossus

By Emma Lazarus, 1883

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

To me, this poem is inspiring. It makes me feel welcome, safe, and makes me feel lucky to be living in the United States. In my opinion, this poem is saying that everyone is welcome, and no one is excluded from the United States. The poem makes me wonder how the times use to be. When times were unfair, when times were rough for immigrants, and when you had to be a certain way in order to be accepted.

Quotes! Not words but, inspiration for life.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees (Zapata, Emiliano, 1919)"

"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something (Villa, Pancho, 1923)"

"We go through them hard time’s man, Just gotta keep our heads up, Keep on walking ( Ese Lil Rob, 2008)"

"Wonder how I face years and I’m still chillen easy let go and let god deal with it (T.I.P, 2007)"

"Live your life to its fullest, Laugh at all the things that don't matter, Love with all that you have and more, Life’s too short to live with regrets (Author, Unknown)"

"Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow (Miramontes-Landeros, Fernanda)"

"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end (Author, Unknown)"

"Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts (Dickens, Charles)

"He who spends time regretting the past loses the present and risks the future (Quevedo, de, Francisco)"

"A man of honor should never forget what he is because he sees what others are (Quevedo, de, Francisco)"

World History Power Point

Concerns About The World And All That Inhabit It!!

Today in my English class, my assignment was to research something that I believed in, something I felt strongly about. The topic I found was about dog fighting. Dog fighting is a something that hits home. There was, and still are dog fights in my neighborhood. The guys in my neighborhood fight dogs for money, pride, and fun. In my opinion, dog fights are disgusting, horrible, and sad. The dogs I see usually getting used for dog fights are pit bulls, bulldogs, or any big tough dogs.

In a dog fight who wins?!?! The answer..... NO ONE!!! Dogs are being made to fight for human pleasure and amusement but, shouldn't dogs be man's best friend? Would you make your best friend fight to their near death just for your pleasure and amusement? I know I wouldn't. This picture is an example of dogs who fought to their death just for someone's amusement.

The Mystery Of The Unknown.....

I see a door, a door to an unmarked place, door too endless possibilities. Maybe even a door to enter, a hide out, or a calm relaxing place to vent. A place where there is no direction, no rules, and limited amount of control. Someone’s home or someone’s getaway destination. A place that's been alive for a long time. Maybe not alive in the sense that people have inhabited it but, alive in the sense that it’s there to serve a purpose to someone or something. I also see inspiration. I see maybe the light of god seeping through the cracks. The visibility of ancient inhabitants. The tales or stories that might have been shared. The unforgettable times and special moments that occurred. I feel a sense of family, love, friendship, and acceptance. I see little children running around and a mother and grandmother getting dinner ready for the family. I see the father enter the room and he has a sort of ruling and strong look to him. I see the death of a grandmother and the grief the family is going through. I boys turning into men and girls turning into women. I see, who used to be children, mothers fathers and strong individuals carrying on the tradition they had when they were young.

Sunshine at its best.

Sunshine makes all of life's happiness become real.