Journal 4 Cam Anello

Bums In The Attic
In the chapter Bums in the attic of  A House On Mango Street, there is a theme that stood out to me when reading it. This theme that stood out to me is memories. In the chapter Esperanza talks about the garden Papa works at and how she used to visit it but has stopped because she is ashamed. The reason I thought of this theme is because Esperanza talks about one day she’ll get a house but she won't ever forget where she came from and who she was with being homeless. A powerful quote in the chapter is when Esperanza quotes, “I don’t tell them I am ashamed-all of us staring out the window like the hungry. I am tired of looking at what we can’t have.”(Cisneros 86)

I played drums in band for 8 years, and my second year playing we had been told that we were going to get a new band director. But at the time I didn’t know he was going to influence me to be more confident and open to others. His name is Andy Doherty and he helped me so much with my life in Delaware and through high school. Mr. Doherty influenced me by being so open and he never afraid to be himself, he would do anything and wouldn’t be embarrassed. Before I met Doherty I was so shy and had a difficult time making friends and being comfortable with myself. After I met Mr. Doherty, he influenced me to be more confident with myself and make friends. This influenced me to try new things and opportunities in band such as Jazz band, Try out to be a section leader and lead the bass drums, and even do a solo at a OMEA event which I was awarded a 1 by the judges. Without Mr. Doherty I wouldn't be who I am today and he will be always someone I'll look up to in my life.

Doherty and I at my last Marching Band banquet