A provocative example is when she writes about how her mother is being treated differently in multiple scenarios because of her “broken” English. As she puts it, just because the way she expresses herself is imperfect, it does not make her thoughts less worthy or imperfect.

This has made me insecure, but Amy Tans essay has opened up a new perspective for me, where it is okay to be different and it is okay to not have perfect English. My thoughts can still be valuable and perfect.

I was hugging each one of them for what felt like an eternity, but there was still not enough of time. I looked up to the sky in the middle of one of the hugs and saw all the amazing stars shining as bright as only stars can do. I then realized that no matter how separated we would be in the world and how far apart we are, there would always be the same stars that shine so beautifully down on us during the night all around the world.

It was one of the most beautiful summer nights Sweden had ever seen, with the sun starting to fall on the horizon and the sky switching to an orange color.

We raced around a lake that was one mile long at our summerhouse up in the northern parts of Sweden. It stood beautifully in the forest with the lake just a throw with a rock away.

I could smell my mother’s fresh baked bread combined with her famous meatballs and macaroni. My favorite food. We drank my favorite type of soda for that meal. I could not have asked for a better last dinner at home, to be in that time and appreciate the people I love the most. We ate my last Swedish home cooked meal for several months. Food had never tasted that good.

The time shows 04:55, military time. I am sitting in the airplane totally exhausted and had not slept a single second during the night. I decide to check the notifications on my phone one last time right before take-off. The tears that had streamed down my face for the past few hours have given me a headache and made me feel ill. I see a message from my sister, which makes me break into tears once again. She tells me how much she loves me and reminds me what a wonderful time I will have living my dream. I try to hide my red eyes and tears from the woman beside me while reading the message. The one thing I do not want to do right now is start explaining why I am sad, although I feel like a shoulder to lean against is probably what I need right now. I had already cried enough these last few days. I send one last message on Swedish soil for now before I turn my phone to airplane mode while the captain speeds up the airplane for take-off. I realize as I look down at the beautiful white clouds from the sky how much my family means to me and how much I have taken them for granted during my time at home. This family culture is something I started to appreciate only when I was leaving them.

Besides less food waste,healthier meal plan is also one of the reasons why students chose not to use tray.Lucy, a Boston College student says that: “With the trays,I can’t help myself filling the tray with whatever I see,including a lot of desserts and fast food .It will lead me to consume much more than I need for a healthy diet.” Not using tray clearly contributes to the control of the food intake because as Janet Olivieri, who frequently eats at the dining hall and has lost 10 pounds since the change says:“This way they can only get what they can carry on one plate.”

Furthermore, doing Facebook is entertaining because I get to read what my friends have uploaded and can even build stronger relationship by putting comments and keeping the conversation flow.

October 14th, 2015. 3:20 in the afternoon, McGuinn Hall, Boston College.

“Did you check out Drake’s new music video? I retweeted it.”

I found two articles that take an opposite stance at this issue of whether social media enhance/thwart students’ learning process.

Is spending money becoming symbol of having fun?