Email Exchanges

From the Core Curriculum Personal Component: "My Hero" email exchange

Dinko [Mentee]

Hey Curt!

What's up? Not much here. I just decided to drop that program I
go to at BAM. It's just too much for me. Besides, I don't really learn a
lot about writing over there. As a matter of fact, I learn a lot from you
than from the teacher there. I'm currently working on my college essay.
I'm sending it to you as an attachment just to look at it. We haven't
started the school newspaper yet. This is so frustrating! We haven't even
met as a new government. Forst, they need to imtroduce us to the
principal, but every time something else comes out and we can't do it.
We're losing time in this way. We could've done so many things already.
And the students get pissed off.

I have already mentioned my hero --- Duncan Macleod. He's a fictional
character from the "Highlander". He's immortal. Do you remember him? He's
my hero because he has trav elled so much around the world. Most of all,
because he likes learning. There are a few episodes, in which he goes to
certain people and asks them to teach him what they are good at. He's
from the good guys :))) He fights for justice. That's why I think lots of
other people can find their hero in Duncan. He also has vulnarabilities,
and I think this is exactly why I like this character so much. Just for
comparison, if you think of batman or super man, or even spiderman, these
guys seem to be 1000% perfect. They have no weaknesses or any
disadvantages. Whereaas Duncan Macleod seems more like a human being,
more like one of us.

Looking forward for your next email

Peace,

Dinko

Curtis [Mentor]

That's a shame about the BAM. But I am glad to read that you've learned something from actually speaking to me :)

Man, things have been bad. Most everyone at my job has been sick with this flu bug going around. This has made things very busy at work. I actually came back into after some peace it because I went away the week before last. Speaking of, I went for a week for my birthday, which was on the 8th! I'm getting old man...

Anyway, getting back to your email:

Yeah, now I understand why Duncan MacLeod is such a hero to you. I never knew all those things about him. I think you've got the right mind scape going characterizing heroism with a person with such integrity, sensitivity and spirit.

For me, a hero has to have all those qualities too. Intelligence is a big quality for my hero to have too. It may sound corny, but my hero is a writer. His name is Donald Bogle and he writes primarily about the history of black people in Film and Television. I've been reading his books since I was 13 years old (man, I am getting old!). Here's a list of his work:

http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?S=R&wauth=Donald+Bogle&siteID=PmFI5OlCKw4-ALaNmqQOyeZp57JPHJm54Q

I'd love to meet and do a project (or book) with him. I've been toying with contacting him to do just that one day (soon).

Okay D, I read your college essay. It's very heartfelt and reasonably well written. I easily pictured all that you were describing - even the argument with yourparents :) I love where you're going with it. There are some issues that I need to address though. Firstly, I think you should define better just what it is that you want to do with your life. Make me understand if I'm wrong, but from what I read it's stating that you want to be a freedom fighter of sorts. Although its fine to not know exactly what you want to do with your life right now, I think they'd like to see some type of direction of where you might want to go. Last thing, stay away from all the heavy politics. You can mention certain things, but you don't know who is going to read your essay so try to tone down all the Bush-talk. Get into the school first, then you voice your opinions as loudly as you like! LOL The whole Tibetan mentions and arguments are fine, but be careful with the Bush/war bashing. If you need to, give me a ring and we'll go over the essay some more.

Speaking of government, that's messed up with your school government situation. Well, hopefully after the New Year everything can be pulled together. Maybe they need you to rally them to make it happen.

Chat with you soon...