Privilege is..

                When one thinks of privileges, they automatically link it with having a right that not many others have or an advantage. Opportunities come in many different forms, we often think of rich and fortunate people when we think "privileged" or people that have all the things we want and do not have because they either cost too much or not fit for our lifestyle. Examples that show many different levels of privileges is the way people during Hurricane Sandy. There were people on the street homeless and had to hurry and find shelter, some people didn't have food. Other people had shelter, but it got ruined by floods, others probably had a house full of people and ended up hungry because they did not have food. Also, people lost power and didn't have generators to back it up. Everyone who got advantages of having a home, food, and power got the privilege of not making it through the hurricane. I am not wealthy, but my family and I were very fortunate to have what we needed during the storm to be safe. Our home is located on a hill, so the water runs right off the street, the power did not cut off and we had an abundance of food and even when I realized I ran out of eggs I was able to get in my car shop at Wal-Mart for a bit and get back home. The privilege is that I have my own car, a lot of people do not I did see someone in the rain walking getting soaked.
        I honestly feel that everyone has at least one privilege, but we all have higher wants rather than appreciating what we have. Just to be able to have functioning body parts and being able to read and understand is all a privilege. Celebrities, millionaires, and billionaires are all very privileged especially their kids. For example, Kendall(17) and Kylie(15) Jenner are the daughters of Bruce Jenner and Kris Jenner, the girls are also a part of the whole Kardashian clan, but they really didn't do much. At these young ages, these girls had to get pulled out of high school because of work. Being on the show Keeping up with the Kardashians a mainstream reality show they have had a lot of doors opened to them. They are American socialites, tv personality, models, and brand ambassadors on the west coast for Seventeen Magazine.They can go to 5-star restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner buy the nicest clothes, get their hair and make-up done every day they don't have to do it. They can afford the best name brands and own $1,000 heels and handbags.  They truly are blessed or privileged to get the live this life of luxury. When I was 15-17, I was socially awkward in high school and confused. 

                Since they are in the public eye a lot of girls that are between the ages of 12-17 see their life on tv, twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and their website and strive to live they way they are and have the things they have. People need to realize that it is the simple things in the life and that they are already privileged others just were lucky fortunate enough to work hard enough and fall into fame or very very wealthy life.






A video of billionaires and their privileges 

This is a website inside some of Kendall and Kylie Jenner's life.

"The Story of Stuff"

           I have a lot of stuff, when I clean my room and get too overwhelmed on where to start I just yell "Why do I have so much stuff?" The thing I usually have are magazines, hair products, accessories, and make-up everywhere. What I have more than anything though are clothes and shoes. I even have so many plastic bags because there are just bags lying around my room with clothes in it that I have not worn. My items are nonperishable items. That I do end up giving away. When I clean out my closet and drawers which are about twice every season I give away about a trash bag or 2 of clothes and shoes. I donate it to my church, or I give it to my mother, and she gives to fa miles that she knows with daughters. I also sometimes give things to my own friends if I don't want something that I know they really liked. I use my clothes and shoes very frequently, but since approximately every week I bring home a bag, then I have more options. Since I have more options, I then wear the same item less, and when I discard, I usually tend to drop items that have only been used about a handful of times and wonder why I even got it. I definitely can do with less, I have improved much lately since school has started I don't even have time to go to the mall and make unnecessary purchases. Sometimes I would only get things just because they were on sale and those were sometimes the items that I would end up giving away first so now I stay away from sales. I won't go to get anything unless I absolutely need to.

           I never really thought about how my clothes and shoes were made. I know that they are made in a factory and sent over to the store. As ignorant as that sounds I don't really think that much about the before of my clothes. I buy them and wear, I just only really think about how they are going to look on me and where I could wear it or what I could wear it with. After watching the video's more than half of my stuff could have been made in a different country and been through more of a process than just being made and shipped off to the store. I know clothes are simply obtained in many parts of countries, but there are a lot of places where there are children and even adults who do not even have a simple shirt to wear or a good pair of shoes without holes in them. Some have the same shirt for more than a year or can only switch between two. My item is a need, and I think that the fact of my use I help others. I do give away a lot of clothes, and I know they are being given to less fortunate. I have decreased my use, but there will still always be things that I give away. 

The first two pictures below are ones that I took when I was clearing out my closet, the third is an after picture when I finished cleaning my clothes from my room.  I have a picture of leftover hangers from clothes I didn't want.

Short Response Two: Vincent Tinto

          After being a community college student for 2 years, I agree with Tinto's theory. I have finally become an active member in the International Honor Society at CCBC. I just joined last semester and I became an officer. Joining Phi Theta Kappa has given me an opportunity become much more involved with interacting at school and wanting to be more successful with my academics. The first two years I was here I really just took classes and was lost as to what I was doing for my future, after I joined and met new people I have found out so much more opportunities there are at the finger tips of all students at CCBC. Joining PTK is where I learned about honors classes, student ambassador, student life and many more clubs.
           Once I joined and became Vice President of Chapter History a lot more of my time became involved with being at school, meetings, activities, and events. I went to a few during the summer, but when the school semester started as a full time college student that is when the separation process started. I got completely separated from work. I would work 5-7 days a week and doubles, now I literally have gone down to 1-3 days a week. I am transitioning into becoming an involved student rather than a worker. I am now going through the incorporation process where I am getting used to coming to school 6 days a week, twice on Tuesday and spending an extra 8 hours with homework and an extra 4-6 hours doing things at school getting involved with meetings or doing things for Phi Theta Kappa.

A picture of me at the Get Involved Fair
with other CCBC Essex Phi Theta Kappa Officers.
Phi Theta Kappa Website ptk.org

         I agree with Tinto because before I really established myself with school the way that I am now I was just an average student. Being involved and around others that also have those same academic standards is a great influence I did the basics, now after being involved I feel like I am getting more out of school and put more effort into it and I am always trying to find new ways to be more successful with my academics. I feel like an actually college student, not just a girl with the label "student" that goes to school and just takes classes. Establishing myself this semester has made college my absolute number one priority, though it has always been I now look at it as a job and key responsibility that I want to strive to put in my best effort and try to rise to the top. 

Short Response One Name Game

     Katherine Marie Filippetti is my name. Katherine is a Greek name which is derived from different Greek names and goddesses. I have always looked up my name and I always seen that the meaning was pure. I don't hate my name because I respect the fact that my dad named me. He named me after a lady who would take care of him his brothers and two friends after class when they would walk home from school. Everyday she had juices out for them because it was a long hot walk in the mountains of Puerto Rico. She would also have fresh cut fruits, ham and cheese sandwiches, and sometimes even rice with beans for them to eat. He said she was the sweetest lady he ever met and one day she passed away he said that day that he wanted his daughter to be named after her and he will never forget her. So my name is special because it does have meaning and I respect the lady even though I have never met her and I do like the meaning is pure. I do not favor my name though for the sole reason that I do not think I look like a Katherine or a Kathy, which is what I am called by most. I would rather my name have been something with a little more flavor, or exotic. My middle almost everyone has, but I do not mind it kind of rolls in well when saying my name.
     My last name Filippetti I do not know much about. I know that it is an Italian last name and my grandfather was Italian. My father does not know anything about its origin also and my grandfather passed away. The latest I could track back someone with that last name was Egisto Filippetti born April 8, 1880. His last residence was known the be in San Francisco, CA. I love my last name, the way its sound how it is spelled, how I write it in cursive and how good it looks and mainly for how unique it is. I have never seen anyone with the last in the United States name except anyone was family. I know there is a lot of people in Italy with that last name, but that is the orgin I am not sure if they are related to me or not. Overall I would say my name is not too bad. I do not hate it, it could be worse and with the meaning and love for my last name I can learn to love it.