Underdog (Mumbles Version)

This is for my folkers who got bills overdue
This is for my folkers, um, check, one, two
This is for my folkers who never lived like a hog
Me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog

Living in a world where the system puts us down
Trying to be happy, be good, but behind closed doors we frown
Work grind, school grind to put money in our pockets
But we're fucked unless we find a way to stop it
A 9-5, a day at school
Institutions making this class look like fools
We chasing paper for a better future
Trying to be winners, not the losers
In a race with the world where do we stand?
Trying to provide for the boy, girl, womyn, or man

This is for my folkers who got bills overdue
This is for my folkers, um, check, one, two
This is for my folkers who never lived like a hog
Me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog

It's all a competition for the top
But where do we know when can we stop?
The road to success is long, undetermined
But how can we? If we're not even learning
How do we teach our kids how to be happy and succeed?
If moms and pops walking out the door, time to leave.
Bills piling up, arguments on how to pay
Shit adds up one day after one day
Before you know it, homie be slanging
While another is locked up for banging
What's wrong with the world, why are we here?
Why does our society shed so many tears?

This is for my folkers who got bills overdue
This is for my folkers, um, check, one, two
This is for my folkers who never lived like a hog
Me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog

It, they, who they are, the people in power
Making paper, cutting down trees and flowers
We all hustling to stay steady, make ends meet
Trying put food on the table, make sure the family eats
I don't needs any coins, I need change
A change in society, a change in the game
I want our children to not know struggle, not like this
Not worrying about a paycheck or a bill missed
Enough on the table, enough in the bank
Not like now, how our finances have sank
We forget to live and work to death
But even then ends are not met
Impossible to survive on less than enough
Giving up and turning to drugs
System has got us fucked like we're cogs
But we're irreplaceable, we're underdogs

This is for my folkers who got bills overdue
This is for my folkers, um, check, one, two
This is for my folkers who never lived like a hog
Me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog

Recycling The Gift

Recycling the GIft: The Passion Project II

What I believe is said and true

Our world is changing

Our country is failing

“Education” changed out of control

It’s not right, not whole

It’s a competition, a capitalist factory

Of chasers chasing a social status and salary

Corporations and companies killing college

A necessity for the future, for something solid

We’re all players playing a game

Different careers, but the goal all the same

We want to succeed in the world out there

Enough cash flow, some extra here and there

We are all in it just for ourselves

Lack of knowledge of the self

Organic learning I believe

Is what education should be

Like a friend teaching you

It’s really beneficial and that’s true

But our learning isn’t even like that

It’s a something called banking, a hack

We’re just containers being filled

“Learning” and getting billed

Banking, an idea from the famous Paolo Freire

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, a work to be shared

We are taught there’s only one way

But there’s many I say

Teaching shouldn’t be for a test

It should be for making you your best

Math makes me feel like encouraged

Gets involved and not discouraged

Community and participation

Path to success, good motivation

Teaching one another really does help

Learning what you need and testing yourself

Stupid questions or answers, intimidation

Say it, ask it, I’m not playing

Be social and learn what you need

Don’t be scared of reality

Schooling, education are two different things

Schooling teaches to do the same thing

Don’t shake stuff up, keep it plain

Institutionalizing our brains

Education is to self analyze and understand

Your place in the world, as womyn or man

Schooling is an excuse for the broken to be fixed

But street smart in schooling don’t exist

Classroom

I believe that empathy should be part of the classroom. Empathy can help in many ways because then the instructor and student may be able to empathize with their lives. Student and instructor won’t feel like they’re getting a hard time. With empathy an instructor could also understand where their student is coming from if they haven’t completed an assignment or needs a rescheduling for a quiz or test. People can be cut some slack in their shortcomings. Awareness is another quality that should be part of the classroom because if all the people are aware of what’s going on and everything that’s going on then maybe things can move more smoothly and the dynamics of instructor and students work better. Students know what’s being taught and are paying attention while the instructor is aware of their students current mentality. I had an instructor before who would teach by sight and ear. If we weren’t all having a good day and just needed a break, he would give us a free period. He was still able to teach all the material he had to and our whole class passed his class with good grades. We, as students, also stayed aware of whether or not he was having a bad day. We were an overall good class and gave the respect deserved. Another that should be part of the classroom is choice. We should be able to choose whether or not to participate in the classroom. A study was shown that free choice was given to students and they all at first didn’t pay any attention in the classroom but eventually they calmed down willing to learn. I’m not saying that should happen but students should not get in trouble in class for not doing what is expected but just be on good behaviour. Instructors should also be able to manage their class however they see fit as long as it respects the students and empathizes with them. Compassion along with everything else should be part of the classroom because creating an appropriate relationship with your students can improve their performance in the classroom. What shouldn’t be part of the classroom is an authoritarian style of teaching. Classrooms with that style of teaching feel unfair and students develop an attitude of detestment of being in that classroom. It then leads to a drop in attendance of class whether it be high school or college. I know students will think about not going to class because they don’t enjoy being in the class because they feel their instructor is being disrespectful or mean. The learning environment ends us feeling like a hostile environment. Their motivation for success can falter because they feel like they’re being broken down by the instructor. Ultimately students do fail under a instructor like that. What should be part of the classroom also is getting the students involved with each other. They should be able to share their answers, their work, and communicate with each other. I love it when an instructor has their students talk to one another because this leads to possible friendships or bonds. It also stimulates the student mind as they share what they have and hear what others have to say. They learn something new and possibly even teach someone something they didn’t already know. I also do believe that a classroom should feel comfortable so students should be allowed to eat and drink as long as it’s in a clean manner and they focus on the work in front of them. The best classes I’ve had were the classes I could consume in. Sometimes we don’t have time to eat and we can’t wait until the next opportunity for food. Food is always healthy. You can’t work on an empty stomach, at least I know I can’t. Another that shouldn’t be part of the classroom is favorites. It’s one thing to be cut some slack and a whole other thing to just be favored and everything going your way.You could be the worst student but you get an A. That makes no sense and I’ve even seen it happen. It’s not fair to all those who are actually trying to pass the class.

About Me

Hmm... what to say about myself? Well to start I am Michael Francis Calub and I am an identical twin. I am the younger twin by an estimated hour and fourteen minutes.My twin's name is Joseph. We were born in Hayward on the date of February 23, 1995.We had moved constantly between Fremont, Hayward, and Union City until about the 7th grade. Our family had been able to find an affordable and convenient townhouse. Joseph and I had lived there up until we started college the year of 2013. We had moved in with our grandpa who owned a house down the street from Chabot. Well enough about my moves, let's start with my educational background. Kindergarten to the 2nd grade I had attended the catholic private school called St. Bede, then the family moved to Union City so I attended Kitayama 3rd grade to 5th grade, For middle school I attended Cesar Chavez for 6th and 7th then Alvarado Middle for 8th grade. For high school I attended James Logan and graduated 2013. So I am a sophomore in college now and I am currently balancing school, work, and the gym. Fitness is a big part of my life. It's been said when you see progress it becomes an addiction. I feel that way about going to the gym and I don't feel right when I miss the gym. It also ties into a passion and to what I want to make my career. I want to be a high school dance teacher. I love dancing and what it brings me. It keeps me on my feet and active. It's putting music into motion and I love doing that. I also have a passion for writing spoken words and poetry. Some of my work even turns into a rap over a track. I am also a very spiritual person and an active member of my church's community. There are weekly meetings on Monday for the youth of the community. I wasn't always the most spiritual person though. I became more spiritual when I lost my uncle this past September because he was someone who was deeply religious his whole life. We lost him to cancer but he lived longer than he was supposed to. He was given 3 years but he lived 17 years through the power of prayer. He never stopped hoping and never stopped praying. He may have not gotten better but he still lived a full life. He was the father figure in my life and it's hard to believe that he's really gone but I'm staying strong and doing all I have to for him. He's my guardian angel now and I know he's watching over all of us now. Joseph and I were his sons even though he never had any children of his own with our aunt. It's been amazing being a twin though. Let me put it like this, you practically live with your best friend. Someone your age, sharing the same interest, and just so much in common. Well that's what it's like for me. I could never imagine being an only child. Life would be too different and I don't even know if I'd be the person I am to this day without Joseph. I love him so much and I am going to miss him when he moves out to Davis when he transfers. I'm going to stay locally and attend  Cal State East Bay for my major and minor. If it goes as planned, I will be going to major in Kinesiology and minor in dance to pursue the career I had stated earlier of becoming a high school dance teacher. Honestly the only goal of my future I want to achieve is finding the special someone, settling down, and having a family of my own. I love children, I love falling in love, and being in love. Life just is amazing. Don't get me wrong I still find my life amazing now and I'm happy but I love giving myself to someone. I'm a very loving person. When you mean something to me, I do everything I can to make sure you know I appreciate you and you know I love you. Family is not just blood. Family is by bonds. It is not "blood is thicker than water". It is " The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb". In other words bonds forged are stronger than family ties. It doesn't mean family can't be close though. I have a cousin that feels more like a close friend than family. Even Joseph for example, he may be my twin brother but he will forever be my best friend. I may have not figured out life but I know how to get through it. 2 words, Transpersonal Psych but that's a whole other post. Just remember this, Choice is the life process.