Isn't Jane Gullickson great? My hope is that she infects us with her enthusiasm, abilities, and concern for others. Our loosely-planned agenda: 1) examining college life--at USD or any institution; 2) taking Spring Break to East St. Louis; and 3) working in government at Pierre.
Do these children have chances to be like Jane? What are the answers to making sure everyone in America truly has all the opportunities they deserve? And did you see the Challenger newspaper article about Jane (this week)?
72 comments:
Jane is the best kind of person: one who has a lot of ability and energy and employs both as often as she can. It seems to me that she doesn't waste a moment.
Jane is probably one of the coolest people I know. Im looking forward to listening to her speak. =]
Jane was an excellent speaker! i enjoyed listening to her today. She knows exactly how to word things, which is a good thing when talking about E. St. Louis.
i really enjoyed listening to jane speak to us, she is a very good speaker. I like how she defended the people of east st louis and how they think the book is bogus.I like how she said how the people there will probably never remember her but they left a huge mark on her and her life.
i really enjoyed Jane speaking on Friday! i thought it was really nice to get another persons perspective on E. St. Louis from someone that has actually been there and experienced it.
listening to Jane speak was very enjoyable. when we first read about E. St. Louis i didn't believe that things could be that bad in America, but after listening to Jane i know that things truly are that bad.
Jane is an excellent speaker! That was really nice of her to come and speak to us on her only free day off from her busy schedule. One thing that really caught my attention from her speaking was that the people of E. St. Louis dont like the book surprised me. They oviously are in denile about how poor living conditions there are. You would think that they would like the book and the attention it brings to them and that attention leading to more people knowing about their situation and then some of those people wanting to do something about it and change it.
I enjoyed listening to Jane speak. She made me understand what people in East St. Louis live like and what they go through everyday. Until Jane came, I did not know that people living there do not see a problem with the city. It also shocked me that all the kids where asking if she had kids but not if she was married.
I liked Janes visit but i was a little let down that we didn't get to talk to her about her collage life and what she is actually doing with her life i was left wondering.
AndyK--you might work with her someday if you do indeed go into surgical assisting. One of the options Jane's considering is hospital/clinic management (I think that is a good way to describe her interest). She'll be great at whatever she selects, undoubtedly.
AndyK--sorry you didn't get to ask her more. I'm thrilled you wanted to know more about her. It shows that you have the motivation to match her energy in college, which is no easy feat.
I was surprised about the terrible conditions of East St. L. and it is amazing the Jane was trying to help but i found it interesting that they believe the book is a lie, I understand why they do, that is the best they have, that is what they are used to. Then the book makes their homes, their lives, look like crap. That is why that young girl is flippin off the camera. But i only wished that they had better
It was neat to hear from Jane. I had seen one side of what was going on and not much of the other. We all can learn more things by listening to others and their knowledge of what they have done. Everyone can use an eyeopening experience that can help others and your self. There is always a need to help.
I also thought Jane did an excellant job. I do agree that everyone should take time out of their lives and visit a place with less than we have. It helps you to realize how good you really have it and teaches you to appreciate what you have. When I was 11 my family and I took a trip to Arizona, and while we were there we decided that we wanted to go to Mexico. So we drove down to Mexico and just went to a town right accross the border. It was amazing to me how a mere mile could have such a cultural difference. The people that lived there were living in runned down shacks that had tin roofs and had cockroaches, and dirt all around them. I even remember seeing people that were in back alley ways trying to sell things. My family also got approached by small children trying to sell us little nick nacks, and they were all by themselves and looked like they hadnt eaten for a couple of days. I also remember when we went there it started raining, and when it rains there it really pours. They streets were floodes and I remember people going out in the streets trying to sweep the water into the rain ducts in the streets. After out trip to Mexico it made me really appreciate what I had and made me think that I could be worse off.
I admire Jane to spend her spring break in East St. Louis...she could have traveled somewhere more exotic or relaxing. It is tempting to spoil ourselves into doing something fun. I guess it is a "break" instead of "free time"... After listening to Jane, thought, I had to stop and reconsider what I did in my free time. It seems America tempts us to life for pleasure and comfort and safety...in what we do after school or work is recessed. But, if we strive for fun after work, what is our initiative for work? My father, for example, has been a respectable lawyer for the past two decades. Once, I asked him his reason why he chose his career. His answer was to make enough money to support a family (and buy nice things). I was hoping he would reply something superhero-worthy, like "For justice!" or "To help those who can't defend themselves". Nope. It just seems that too many people have the wrong initiative in life. Work for pleasure, not work because it is meaningful or you love it. But Miss Jane Gullickson appears driven for something more. She took her own time to dive deep beneath America's dirty fingernails. That is so wonderful and refreshing...I pray she can continue...and someday I can experience a similar culture shock (or a culture slap-in-the-face).
I thought that it was great to have Jane come because it opened alot of thoughts and perspectives on the situation down in St. Louis.
I think that Jane's visit was very nice, and thoughtfull of her. It was nice to hear the experiences of her trip from her first hand, rather than read about them. It emphasized to me how bad of a problem they actually have there. I hope that I can take what I learned from her and use that enthusiasm to make someone elses life better. I dont think that i will take a spring break to some where like that, but I do want to make an effort to influence someone in a positive way.
I really enjoyed listening to Jane speak, she answered a lot of the questions I had and gave me a good perspective on what East St. Louis is really like. I learned that most of the teachers there don't even keep grades because they assume the kids can't do the assignments. Jane also informed me that even though she had spent a good amount of time there a person from East St. Louis would most likly say that she knows nothing about the way they live. I find this interesting because it seems as though people there are naturally angry with the rest of the world and think that everybody is out to exploit their lower quality of life.
I believe Jane was an excellent speaker. I am glad she took time out of her busy schedule to come and talk to us about East St. Louis. She told us everything she was and we got to ask questions. I was surprised about the kids condition in school. The teachers just get them ready for the big major tests, not just everyday subjects that they should know. She influenced me to not take things for granted.
I believe Jane was an excellent speaker. I am glad she took time out of her busy schedule to come and talk to us about East St. Louis. She told us everything she was and we got to ask questions. I was surprised about the kids condition in school. The teachers just get them ready for the big major tests, not just everyday subjects that they should know. She influenced me to not take things for granted.
Jane did a great job speaking to us last friday. I was very impressed, not just every college student would go and spend their spring break in a dump. I think it was great to have her back at BV.
Jane really surprised me because she explained East St. Louis so well, I thought I was actually there and I could relate to what she was talking about. Its weird to because I found out last week that Jane has been working at my Moms work for the past four years.
Jane is a great person and will do many good things for people once she is out of school. Anyone who would be willing to give up thier spring break to go and try to help underpriviledged kids should be commended for thier commitment to helping the underpriviled kids.
The picture of East St. Louis surprised me. From the description of the city in our reading I pictured it being much worse than the photo shows. I was expecting to see the sewage and chemicals spilling from the Monsanto plants... I suppose many of the problems will not be visible in a single picture; problems such as no jobs, poor schooling, no garbage disposal, and lack of sewer system.
Another thing that surprised me was the stories about her friend from E. St. Louis and how they didn't understand that the publicity about their living conditions would help to improve them.
Listening to Jane speak really makes you think about what you do with your time. I like how she respected the East St. Louisians and stood up for them when people make books on how dirty they are. Her trip reminds me of the 2 times i went to Mexico. The people in mexico were very smart they just had low incomes. We built them 10 by 20 houses with 2 rooms and and ceiling fan and they had one of the nicest houses intown.
I thought it was interesting to hear about East St. Louis. I think it would be a culture shock to go there because things we would do here wouldn't be things people do their. I think it is hard to beleave that this is happening in America. Hearing about it makes me Appreciate what I have at home.
I really enjoyed having Jane come and speak to us. She really put East St. Louis into perspective, people there have practically nothing and they are proud of it because they dont know that there are way better conditions out there for them to live in. It makes me sad to think about all the kids running around in the smut, the chemicals and such. I would really like to go to East St. Louis sometime and do what Jane did. Giving up your time off to help someone other than yourself ranks high in my book. Some day I would also like to befriend some families in East St. Louis. I would love to go and hang out with the kids and try to give them a positive influence. Before this class I didnt know anything about East St. Louis, I didnt know a place like that even existed in the U.S.
Jane really did an amazing job at trying to convey her emotions about East St. Louis to us. For a while I wondered what it would be like to go on one of those trips. I confess that one of the reasons I did not want to go is because of how I would feel after...seeing people with so little in such a horrible environment. Jane made me rethink the whole situation. It made me realize that my way of thinking was selfish and it would be a great experience to try and do some good. Now I will totally jump at an experience like that!
I think she did a wonderful job. She is a great speaker and a great person. I think it would be a very interesting experience to be able to visit some place like east St. Louis. Because of her speech, I am interested and will look more into it. It's so weird to think how we all live in the same world yet we all look at things differently. People grow up in different environments and it affects how they are and how they see things. Like Jane said, when she brought someone who lived in east St. Louis here, they were just as shocked as Jane was to see their environment. Her friend asked where Brandon's trailor parks were, and was amazed to find out that we didn't have any here and that pretty much every house in Brandon is nice. Our environment is clean and it's a much different lifestyle than many other lifestyles around the world.
I think that Jane was an excellent speaker. She gave me and others a better look at what it is actually like down there. Its amazing how different it can be and how sad that they don't know how we live up here.
I enjoyed listening to Jane. Like alot of people, I was shocked to hear how the citizens of East St. Louis hate the book. I think we defititly do something to help the people of East St. Louis and other communities like this. But what if they don't want our help?
I enjoyed listening to Jane speak about East St. Louis. I learned a great deal of information regarding East St. Louis and how they live over there. It was a great experience and I think everyone should know about that area so people can help it.
I thought having Jane in our class was inspiring. It helped me take a step back and think about these oh so simple lives we live without thinking of those that may have it worse then us. Whether its eating all your dinner and throwing some of it away. Or just deciding your not going to play that game because its out dated there are many ways i now think of how greatful i should be. thanks for the experience.
If there were more people in this world like Jane i know there would be change becasue her Passion to make this world a better place just came flowing out of her when she was talking to us. She is walking her talk because is talking to the government in Pierre to try and make change in this world for the best.
It was very interesting to hear about what the current E. St.Louis is like since the handout was from 1989 i found it interesting how the residents didn't like the book even though it would bring knowledge to people who would try to help
I didn't get to hear Jane, but I was really bummed that I had to miss it. I really wanted to hear about her stories from St. Louis. I was in drumline with her and she was a great girl. She was always extremely nice and very willing to help. It is amazing that she decided to have her spring break there, she easily could have gone to some relaxing, sunny beach, but instead she decided to be a great person and make some changes.
If there was like 1000 people just like Jane Gullickson then i think that they would be able to change something in the world. I say that because she said she tried to make a difference but she really did;t because the kids where used to people coming and going trying to help out and nothing happened then. So if there was people there all the time then something would happen.
I think that one of the most interesting parts of Jane's experience was that when she took her friend to brandon, she said her friend couldnt understand the fact that we dont have very many trailer parks etc. It reminds me of some of the older band members who talk about going to phoenix and having people ask them if they lived in a teepee or if they knew what a computer was.
I'm glad Jane came to talk to us. She did a great job and is truely a great speaker. I work with her occasionally, and she never fails to say hi or talk to me. She is so congenial. It takes a special kind of person to give up their college spring break to try and make a difference in the world, or just in someone's life. There is no doubt that she will go far in life.
I definitely was a little bummed that I missed out on Jane speaking on Friday. From being around her in drumline my freshman year, I know that she is someone who has a lot to offer to not only the less fortunate, but taking that knowledge that she gains from them and informing people of what others have to suffer through. By reading what others have to say, I think I have a general understanding of what she all had to say when I was gone. She is someone who feels the need and will help many people during her lifetime.
I thought that Jane was an excellent speaker and was very interesting. The most interesting part of her story was when she was talking about the students trying to learn probability in math class. The students didnt understand probability until the teacher made a comparision to the lottery. This told me that many of the children were familiar with the lottery because their parents spent the little money they have on a "dream". I glad that Jane was able to give me a different prospective of life in East St. Louis.
I am so glad that I was able to hear Jane speak about East St. Louis. She seems like a very interesting person who has great morals and aspirations. I commend her and the others that spent their spring break helping others instead of treating themselves. Jane inspired me to try to start doing more for others who need things more than myself. To think that people are actually living in those conditions and that police wont even work in that area is incredibly sad. Although the people living there hate the book, I think it is a good thing because it is attracting people to the problems in East St. Louis. Even if the problems aren't the same as they were in 1989, there is still many things that need fixing. While Jane believes that she didn't leave a mark on anyone in East St. Louis, she certainly did on me.
i thought it was a great experiance, she spoke with passion and knew exactly everything she was talking about. its great to hear from her perspective about what life in east st. louis is like and how they really dont believe how bad they have it because how accoustomed they are to the way they live. by having her speak it also helped put things about my life into perspective a little better such as how well i have it through my families good as well as bad times.
Jane is a wonderful speaker and a great person. I had the opportunity to get to know Jane during the Rounds for Governor Campaign and ever since then, Jane has been a very good friend. I really liked her talk about East St. Louis because it helped me visualize the actual conditions these people are living in.
hearing jane speak, made me appreciate my life and everyone it. jane is a wonderful girl and has seen alot. her stories of east st. louis really showed me how good my life was and how grateful i should be. i doubt that i will ever do anything as great as jane, however i do hope that maybe some day i can make some ones life just a little bit better.
I was sick the day she spoke but i met her when we were in the musical in '05. I got to know her well. She is very nice and very cool.
I enjoyed listening to Jane. She told us things that I couldn't believe were true when I read the handout until I heard her talk about it. It amazes me. I would like to take a trip like that over spring break one year in college. She could be a professional speaker I was very impressed.
jane is a very established young woman. i am glad she came in and opened our eys to the possiblities that are out there in our own section of the country to better someones life. i was amazed.
I am glad that jane came to speak to us...by her speakin really showed us that east st. loius is really as bad as it said in the handout. She really put a new perspective on how i look at things.
I liked hearing Jane speak. She made me think of what I'm going to do during spring break. She did make me want to go to East St. Louis or some place like it to help people who need it. I wished we would of had a little more time to talk to her about things. I felt like she was cut kind of short by the bell.
I agree with aaf in that it was nice to have jane come and speak with us. It does make me think about my life and how fortunate I am. I take things for granted alot when I shouldn't. Jane was inspirational coming and talking to us about East St. Louise.
pd 5
I am very enjoyed to listen Jane. I am agreed with her many things. One thing is McCain pay 50 to 60 million! unbelieving if he use those money and give to people who need then he will save so many, thousands kids. I feel guilty to have many things like nice big tv, car, and cellphone. when East St. Louis kids and humane society and many other need help. Sometime I don't understand why so many people really need buy fancy things when people really need help. like East St. Louis or humane society or starve kids or many other.
period 1
Jane Gullickson was an outstanding speaker. She hit all of her main points without any hesitation, with doing so, we as a class didn't have very many questions to ask. As for me, growing up in the "slums" of Stockbridge-Georgia, I truly understood what she was saying. Going to school (Eagles Landing Middle School) that was over-populated and limited in space was a normal thing to go through down "South". At many times, students and teachers, gave up on the curriculum and student work necessary to make us educated. Leaving many others with confusion and failure. Without a doubt, Jane is a very brave individual for doing what she did. Many of us, including myself, have it so well-growing up in a middle class environment-that we take things for granted. I believe we are obligated to help others in need of assistance, but not very many people are willing to do so.
Period 7
I really enjoyed listening to Jane, and also talking to her after class. She seems like a great person, and really made me interested in going on the yearly trip she was talking about. I'm definitely going to try to keep in touch with her.
Good for you, Kelsey! I noticed you were interested last night--and you're likely attending USD, right? It is astonishing to predict what would be gained from an experience like Jane's.
Period 7
I thought that Jane was a very good speaker who got to the point quickly. I also think that kids who live in East St. Louis have a much smaller chance to be like Jane and help out others. But, according to "Savage Inequalities" the chemistry teacher has had two students graduate from MIT. Those two kids show that if your determined enough, you can accomplish almost anything.
Those two students who did well at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology must have been like Chris Gardner of Pursuit of Happyness: highly ambitious and extremely talented.
3 These children do not have a chance to be like Jane. It is just that simple. There have been studies done that see what is more important, up bringing or genetics. Even though genetics has been proven to be more of a determining factor, the place in which we are raised has a large affect on what we become. There is no perfect fix for the people of this region. Many people think money fixes everything. Money can be a huge help but it must be used properly on improvement. It cannot fall into the wrong hands of greedy leaders or be used by parents for lottery tickets, instead of on their children. The process of fixing the region must be taken slowly one step at a time.
Jane was a great speaker. She was a real eye opener. I think everyone has a chance to be who they want to be. Growing up with a great amount of money doesn't mean you are going to be rich for the rest of your life. People who grow up with no money doesnt mean they are going to be poor all their life. It is all up to the person and their determination to be who they want to be. Everyone has a chance at being whatever it is they want to be.
pd 3
I don't think many of these children have a chance. Whether kids want to or not, they turn out a lot like their parents. I know I have many similar qualities that my mother and father have. Most of the kids in E. St. Louis are most likely going to turn out very similar to how their parents turned out. There are, however, a few kids who will take the opposite direction of their parents' and try to salvage a new life of their own.
Jane Gullickson was very inspirational. After reading that story about E. St. Louis, I was in shock. We should all be thankful to live in such a nice community. I know I have the ability (and support from my parents of course) to do whatever I want with my life. I feel lucky considering some people do not have these kinds of opportunities.
period 1
I think jane was a great speaker, I know personally what it is like to work with people who are less fortunate then us. It has a greater impact on us then it does them, but it still makes a little bit of a change in thier lives, so it's definitly worth taking time out of your life to help someone who doesnt have what you have.
These children dont have the opportunities that we do, they dont have the option of going to college or getting the education we do, some get lucky and make it further with thier education but not very many. We need to stop paying our government officials as much as we do and stop spending money on pork bills and add-ons to bills and put the money into the education system. We have been cutting back funds for too long now and taking too much from them. Our educating of our younth is far more important then anything else we have in america. We pride ourselves on being the best, and making sure our future leaders and basically the future of america is and has only the best minds and education possible.
I don't believe there is a solution that can allow all Americans to have equal chances at opportunities in their lives. Some people, even when given the opportunity to change or get an education just choose not to and would rather be the way they are. They are too stubborn or don't see change in their future because the dreams of their parents never worked out and kids usually end up the way their parents do. When growing up in a community like E. St. Louis many kids don't see the good side of an education to better their lives like we in Brandon have, I just feel fortunate to have opportunities and support here.
In order for these children to have chances like most of us, it would require an enormous amount of self-motivation along with a lot of luck. No matter how bad these kids want to get out of their lifestyle, it still seems nearly impossible. Besides having no motivation from their school or families to encourage them, they also do not have the academic quality or financial status to undertake a brand new lifestyle. Some of these kids may be motivated enough to go to college and change their lives, but will have to teach themselves what they need to know in order to be accepted. I believe it is possible but very unlikely.
These children could have chances to be like Jane, but it all depends on how much motivation they have. It would be hard and people may have no faith in them, but it could happen if they try hard enough. Schools should have more opportunities to help their town or state or even churches could have opportunities for the kids surrounding them. The kids have to want to change and help their future, people can't change that for them. College can help them with opportunities, but then comes the factor of money, which they most likely don't have. Or simply people like Jane, could come to their city and try ot make a difference and try to effect atleast one kid living in East St. Lious. It may not happen or be very challenging, but if it did, the gratitude from that kid would be enormous.
Hearing Jane speak really opened up my eyes that many of the kids in poverty never had a chance. They are born into a world with little or no money, so they don't know what having money means. None of them know how to break the habit of living in poverty, so it just keeps going down from generation to generation. We need to make a difference even if that doesn't mean going down to East St. Louis. We have the resources that are needed to do something. Just as Jane said people are in need all around us, even in Sioux Falls. The point I am trying to make is you don't need to travel or spend alot of money to change someones life. Step out and make a difference, you might not know how the littlest thing could change someones life.
Bravo for introspective, intelligent, opinionated bloggers! Everyone, with this blog, is able to think more because they read and write (or just respond mentall) to what they see. Again, Bravo!
Remember to keep typing your class period number before your comments.
5
I thought Jane was a great speaker who expressed her points very well. I think it is amazing that she would spend her spring break helping these kids of East St. Louis. However I dont think those kids have the same chance of becoming succesful as she or I do. They are in a tough situation and will have to work very hard to overcome it.
I thought Jane was a great speaker. She covered everything really well, right when I was about to raise my hand she'd anwser my question. I feel like a really selfish person ever since she spoke. Like "oh man mom's not making me supper tonight, I might have to do it myself." When those kids are just hoping they can get something to eat 2 times a week.
4th Period
I also think that Jane is a wonderful speaker. She never ran out of things to talk about and she kept my attention the entire time. It was rather upsetting to hear about the children and other people of East St. Louis, and how they have basically no chance of ever becoming something successful. It is sad how some of them cant even afford to eat when I sit around my house and when I'm bored, I just go to my easy-access cupboard and get something to eat. I could eat all day if I wanted to, and these poor people are extrememly lucky if they get any food at all in one day. It makes me feel selfish. Jane is a great person and I can tell that she really enjoys helping others. She has made a great impact on me and I hope that some day I can also make that big of a difference.
It's really sad to hear about places like East St. Louis. What i do not get is why would you live there in the first place???? I know some people can't because they are born there. You can go far in life if you want to and its sad because the kids are brought into this city and community that is "hell." And cant do anything about it. They are raised in this city and the people in it don't care about anything for the most part. How are you supposed to do something in life if you don't care. Why would you live here? Find money and go somewhere else and start a new life where you have a chance for you and your family. Sounds harsh but that's my opinion. You can go far in life if you want to.
1st period
Jane was a great speaker. She explained everything about East St.Louis perfectly. To take a trip down there for spring break would take alot of heart, especially when your really not taking a break and instead helping people that don't have it as good as we do here. For the people that live there either need to buy a TV and see whats out there or work harder to get smarter.
Speaking in front of a bunch of judgemental high schoolers is a challenging thing to do and extrememly nervewracking at the same time. I think that Jane handled it extrememly well and she is a great motivational speaker. I was happy to listen to her talk about a variety of things and I hope that the classes yet to come will get the same experience.
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