Clark Cultivate Garden Essay
- 1. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark CULTIVATE YOUR GARDEN Caitlyn Clark
- 2. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark We can each be a new life to someone who thought they were already gone. And if you are there, being torn apart by some unforgiving evil, please know there are lives that will love every broken part of you. -ISIS, ANNY MINER
- 3. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark DEDICATION For my mother, who taught me everything I know about being a woman. Special Thanks to: 1. Patrick Clark 2. Shannon Clark 3. Halmoni Soon-Ok 4. Youth Speaks 5. Michelle Mush Lee 6. Dennis Kim 7. Brandon Santiago 8. Simone Crew 9. Susie Lundy 10. Sarah ONeal 11. Chinasa Porter 12. Ivori Holson 13. Jesse Crawford 14. Charle Bishop 15. Mara Guerin 16. Isa Nakazawa 17. Gabriel Cortez 18. Billy Cruz 19. Barbara Clark 20. Patrick Clark Sr. 21. Anne Amann 22. Don Amann 23. Ployprajan Loprasert 24. Kyla Stowell 25. Karli Kissling 26. Madison Ordiway
- 4. TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ 2 .......................................................................................... 2
- 5. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark TABLE OF FIGURES
- 6. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Chapter One ver since I was young, Ive known that the one thing in this world that will make me feel like I have lived my life to the fullest is looking back on my existence and knowing that I somehow improved the wellbeing of others. My mother taught me that the greatest virtue is to be able to find joy in helping others. When I started thinking about how my future will pan out, I didnt know from the start that I wanted to be a poet and/or a social justice lawyer. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to spend as much of my life as possible being happy. I have finally come to the conclusion that the best way for that dream to come true is to follow my dreams of being a freelance spoken word poet, published writer, and social justice lawyer. In order to become a lawyer, one must have excellent oral and written communication skills, be highly self- motivated, and pay attention to detail, et cetera, as described by online resource Cypress. Additionally, I have acquired a generally knowledge of the practice of law through a law class for high school students within UC Berkeleys Academic Talent Development Program that I attended in summer of 2014. The class taught me the proper way to represent your client in court, filing or defending a suit in both torts and criminal law. This summer, I can apply for an internship at a law firm. The Social Justice Collaborative, located in Oakland, focuses on immigration rights and accepts high school interns ("Human Rights Organizations around the Bay Area"). Additionally, I have previously been in contact (through poetry) with members of the Equal Justice Society, a law and social sciences firm based in Oakland that focuses on racial justice (Legal Program). I greatly admire the work that they do and hope to get in touch with my contact in the EJS to see if I would be able to intern there. The Equal Justice Society was the first firm that got me interested in social justice law, and I hope that I may one day get a job as a trial lawyer there. In preparation for my career, I hope to first get my bachelors degree from Stanford University with a major in Political Science and a minor in either Comparative Studies of Race and Ethnicity or Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, all which would tie in with both law and poetry. While I do believe that college is an essential launch pad for a successful career, I want my college education to teach me what I am passionate about and want to learn more about, not something that will only allow me to get a high-paying job. I chose Stanford because it is a great place for opportunities to rub elbows with the innovators of Silicon E
- 7. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Valley and get a great education. Additionally, I am enrolled in a financial program through the U.S. military in which the government will pay for about 75 percent of my tuition to undergrad school. After that, I plan to attend law school at either UC Berkeley or Columbia University ("Diversity in Law School"). Both of these schools are among the top law schools in the country and are in living locations that are close enough to home for me to feel comfortable, but not so close that I am not able to have my own experiences. According to Columbia Universitys website, the average yearly salary of their employed graduates is $135,986 (Employment and Salary Information). While many people accredit many lawyers to have selected their careers based on salary, the money is the least important part of why I want to become a lawyer. I want to do something I love--give a voice to those whose words have been drowned, and bring justice to as many people as I can. Figure 1: Law Career Progression Stanford UC Berkeley Equal Justice Society
- 8. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Chapter Two n the 8th grade, I performed slam poetry for the first time at the Youth Speaks 18th Annual Teen Poetry Slam. I placed first in the preliminary bout, second in the semifinals, and first in the grand slam finals. I became the youngest person to ever win the slam and the first person to win the slam on his or her first time. Every time I touched the stage and shared my work with thousands of hungry eyes, a rush shivered through my body like no other. The happiness that slam brought me is something that I never want to sacrifice in my adulthood, which is why I plan for slam poetry to become a big part of my future. Many of the skills required to be a lawyer are very easily transferrable into the field of poetry, such as writing comprehension and expression, public speaking skills, critical thinking, and fluency of ideas. According to Forbes, journalism or creative writing is one of the top alternative careers to do with a law degree (Sylvestre- Williams). Because I have already began to establish my career as a poet through the Bay Area nonprofit organization Youth Speaks, I plan to continue working alongside them as I go on to publish a book of poetry. Many of the skills needed to be a spoken word poet, I already have. I am comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, shown by the many poetry performances that I have done, including a feature performance with Grammy Award- winning singer John Legend in front of a crowd of 18,000. I also plan to enter my chapbook manuscript to the Button Poetry Annual Chapbook Contest, in hopes of publication and a cash prize. Next summer, I am going to coach the Bay Areas representative I Figure 2: Audre Lorde Quote
- 9. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Brave New Voices slam poetry team, which I was on last summer. I will be able to guide other young poets like me as they compete in an international poetry slam in Washington, D.C. In adulthood, I could work at Youth Speaks in either San Francisco or Seattle. I plan to continue working with Youth Speaks throughout my high school years doing whatever odd job opportunities they would be able to offer me. Youth Speaks has had many students who have become restorative justice lawyers, and those who do not go on to work for law firms are able to return to Youth Speaks and put their skills to work. Being a published author and an outspoken performer is something that I have strived towards ever since I first learned to read, and it is something that I am serious about pursuing. Assata Shakur Audre Lorde Park Geun- hye
- 10. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Chapter Three rom a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of exploring new places and being adventurous. My dad has been active duty Air Force personnel for over twenty years, resulting in my family frequently moving houses all over the world. I was actually born in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result. My family and I lived in Europe for the first year of my infancy, and ever since then my mom and I have always wanted to go back together, now that I am old enough to truly experience the rich culture of Europe. My mom and I recently decided to plan a trip to travel the Mediterranean for my high school graduation present. We want to visit Mykonos to view the beautiful white and blue architecture and watch the sun set over the beach in Santorini (Lim, My Greece Diary). The way that architecture and artifacts can give us information about cultures that died out thousands of years ago constantly amazes me, and to see the Pantheon and the Roman Coliseum with my own eyes would be a surreal experience (Italy). In college, I plan on attending a Korean language school in Seoul for Korean- American students who want to visit their home country and learn more about the culture of their ancestors. The program is an enrichment class in which you learn Korean and travel the country. This is an important journey that I would like to take because I place a lot of importance on learning more about the culture and history of my Korean ancestors. Much of their history has been erased through genocide and war during World War II and the Korean War. Sometimes, I feel a severe longing for a country that I have only visited once, and it would mean a lot to me to truly F Figure 3: Santorini, Greece
- 11. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark understand where I come from and what it means to be Korean-American. Another place that I would want to visit is the tropics of Southeast Asia--Bali, Singapore, India, Thailand, and the Maldives. Tropical countries have beautiful landscapes and rich, bright cultures that would never grow dull. Each country has a unique story to tell about the journey of ancient spiritual traditions within their culture and how it still plays a role in modern practices. While visiting countries in this region, I could see the Damnoen Saduak floating market in Thailand, the temples and palaces in Bali, and visit the Taj Mahal and Lotus Temple in India. One thing that has been on my bucket list for years is to visit the many beautiful swimming pools in Southeast Asia, such as the Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool in Singapore (25 Stunning Infinity Pools Around the World). When I am older, I think it would be an amazing adventure to go backpacking in Iceland. For years, I have been fascinated by the breathtaking natural scenery of Iceland, its small villages, and its amazing modern architecture, displayed in manmade landmarks like the Harpa Concert Hall. Of course, the biggest attraction of Iceland remains its undisturbed nature, like the Gullfoss Waterfall and the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa whose water is naturally a very bright, almost opaque blue. In certain parts of Iceland, like Kirkjufell Mountain, you can see the aurora borealis at night (Top 10 Things To See and Do In Iceland). Traveling the world is my biggest goal in life. I want to engage in the cultures of as many different countries as possible. I believe that in doing so, you are given a new perspective on the way that you live. Some people never leave their home countries, and to me, that is the saddest fate imaginable. To never become a stranger, to never find yourself while getting lost, seems to be an unbearable life to live. If life is less about the destination and more about the journey, what better journey than one that spans the entire world? Figure 4: Alila Abud, Bali, Indonesia
- 12. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Chapter Four he patriarchal society that we live in teaches little girls to dream about their weddings before they can dream about growing up and being astronauts, or writers, or people who can change the world. I think that this idea that the most important role that women play in society is to raise children is completely absurd. Honestly, if I ever became a stay at home mom, my brain would slowly melt inside my head until my insides are all mushy goop made out of crushed dreams and regrets that I was never financially independent. However, I am a strong believer in the ability for women to raise children and support a family both financially and emotionally. My mom has a full-time job as a business professor at St. Marys College, and still manages to take care of my sister and I. She constantly inspires me to be the best woman I can be. An interesting concept that I have come across recently is the idea that while romantic relationships are generally helpful and fulfilling in nature, marriage as an institution is more destructive than it is helpful. According to a TED Talk by Merav Michaeli, marriage is an outdated practice that is incredibly sexist in its origins that it was created as a contract between the womans father and her future husband, basically transferring the woman from one man to the next as a piece of property (Michaeli, Merav Cancel Marriage). Whether or not I want to get married and have children is not something that I have decided yet because I dont think its something that you can decide at this age. You can never tell who you might meet in the future and what turns your life will take. Relationships are messy and unpredictable, and trying to determine how they will turn out ten years down the road or more is completely unrealistic. Getting married and having children is definitely not a priority for me, but if I get older and realize that that is what will make me happy, then I do not want cynicism due to my own familys experiences to keep me from doing what will make me happy. T Figure 5: Austin, TX
- 13. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark I have always been fascinated with big, urban cities, where you can look up at buildings in wonder and be amazed by every street corner. When I grow up, I want to live in a loft apartment with huge windows from which you can see parts of the city, exposed brick walls, and industrial design. I don't think that I would be very happy staying in the same place for too long. I find the most happiness in travel and seeing new places, so I would want to live in many different cities in the U.S. or abroad, as long as I have a stable job there. The top four places that I would like to live are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, Austin, TX, and Portland, OR. All of these locations have unique factors that make them great places for young adults to live, according to Business Insider (Stone, The 35 Best Cities For Young Adults). In young adulthood, I think its important to spend time with yourself to truly find who you are. I would like to live by myself for at least a couple of months just so that I can ensure that Im able to be comfortable with only myself as company. Being by yourself is the best opportunity to understand who you are and who you want to become. I think the best places for me to live alone would be Austin and San Francisco because they both have a plethora of activities for single people and I have spent several years living in areas around both of those cities. I would also like to move to new places like Seattle and Portland with a significant other. If I were to ever settle down and start a family, those two cities would probably be good choices for me to do so. Much of my future is uncertain. Family choices is one of the most unpredictable parts of life, but I know that no matter where I go, who I fall in love with, and what I do, I will hold on to my values, beliefs, freedom and goals and never compromise my own happiness and wellbeing for someone else. Figure 6: Dream Apartment
- 14. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark Lack of Mental Stimulation Ennui Mental Health Problems, i.e. Alzheimers Physical Health Problems Chapter Five once spoke to a family member who told me that he felt that retirement should be backwards; when you are young, you should be able to not worry about working and should try living in a way that you think will make you the most happy, regardless of outside forces, and once you get older, it should be time for you to settle down and truly get to work. The conversation that I had with him resonated with me and made me realize that I would much rather be having fun when Im young as opposed to when Im older, because when you are older your options for adventure are more limited because of health problems, family obligations, etc. I have made the conclusion that retirement is not necessarily the best option for my personality type, and I should consider other options (Skerrett, Patrick J. Is Retirement Good for Health?). One option that I have thought about the most is opening my own cafe. I realize how stressful that could be, but I also know that the work will be well worth the satisfaction. Being my own boss would decrease any job discontentment and stress. When many people retire, they can easily become depressed because they dont spend their time wisely and can begin to feel like their days are pointless (Participating in Activities You Enjoy). Running my own business would ensure that I have something to do every day that results in visible pay off. Other things that I could do in retirement are try to learn a new language, take art classes, and volunteer. Retirement is important to me because I think it determines the way that you live, think, and feel in the last years of your life. Having a happy retirement or later in life plan will allow you to close the final chapter of your life on a high note. I Figure 7: Retirement Downsides
- 15. Word Count: 3,114 Caitlyn Clark "25 Stunning Infinity Pools Around the World." TwistedSifter. N.p., 20 July 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. "Diversity in Law School." Applying to Law School. Law School Admission Council, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. "Employment and Salary Information: Classes of 2013, 2012, 2011."Columbia Law School. Columbia University, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. "Human Rights Organizations around the Bay Area." FSI. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. "Italy." The New York Times. The New York Times, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. "Legal Program." Equal Justice Society. Equal Justice Society, 27 Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. Lim, Chriselle. "My Greece Diary." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. Michaeli, Merav. "Cancel Marriage: Merav Michaeli at TEDxJaffa." YouTube. TED Talks, 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 08 Mar. 2015. "Participating in Activities You Enjoy-More Than Just Fun and Games." National Institute on Aging. National Institutes of Health, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. Skerrett, Patrick J. "Is Retirement Good for Health or Bad for It? - Harvard Health Blog." Harvard Health Blog RSS. Harvard University, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 05 Mar. 2015. "Social Justice." Social Justice. Berkeley Law, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. Stone, Madeline. "The 35 Best Cities For Young Adults." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 07 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. Sylvestre-Williams, Renee. "Nine Jobs You Can Do With A Law Degree." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 22 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. "Top 10 Things to See and Do in Iceland." Places To See In Your Lifetime. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.