Author Archives: hdhunda

Hi.

I’m really excited that we’re going to be doing a charity event, because it gives me the opportunity to help one of my favorite charities: BuildOn.

I have been involved with BuildOn for a couple of years now, and I am fully convinced that their cause is a worthy one.

BuildOn (previously Building with Books), builds schools in developing countries. Building schools implies one thing: the provision of education.

Fact: “One in five adults in the developing world — almost 862 million people — cannot read or write” (do something.org)

BuildOn provides free education to the people of these communities, delivered to the community by the literate members, who are trained by BuildOn. There are both adult and student classes, which cover topics from reading and writing, to agriculture and hygiene: these are topics that benefit the people, as they work towards improving their communities, and hopefully breaking the cycle of poverty.

Fact(s):

(a) “Most illiterate persons are female. In more than 20 developing nations, illiteracy rates amongst women exceed 70% […] Social traditions and deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs are most often the barriers to expanding girls’ educational opportunities in undeveloped countries around the world […] Educated girls and women are less vulnerable to HIV infection, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, are more likely to marry later, raise fewer children who are more likely to go to school, and make important contributions to family income.” (do something.org)

Before BuildOn lays one brick, they enter into a covenant with the community that BuildOn will provide the supplies needed for construction, as long as the community provides volunteer days and a promise that an equal number of girls and boys will be educated in the schools.

The pursuit of education is one that will benefit these poor communities by teaching them to sustain themselves. People in these communities will learn better agricultural methods, better hygienic and health practices, and will live longer and prosper more.

In a nutshell, we should donate to buildOn for these reasons:

1. buildOn provides education, and education improves lives.

2. buildOn ensures that the benefits of education are supplied equally to both genders in the community

3. Education really can help these communities out of poverty.

To learn more about buildOn, go to: http://www.buildon.org/

*Facts found at: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-education-around-world

An ode to the ghost of English teachers past

From: [email protected]

To:      [email protected]

Subject: Question about the Story Book 123 Assignment

Hello Professor Goose,

I am working on my analysis of Mary and her Little Lamb, and I can’t fathom the symbolism of the teacher in this nursery rhyme—my intuition tells me that the teacher represents the institution, but then at the end she’s almost nurturing. Can you help me with this? Thanks!

Hannah Dhunda

Story Book 123, MW 3:00

A little bit less than six months ago, I was working on monologues—at that time, it wasn’t my own, but that of Shakespeare. I was the producer of the last Shakespeare class I would have in High School, and I was making the most of it.

I was working with one actor, who played Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, and he was doing the most amazing job. I remember very clearly, knowing in my head that this actor was definitely the one I wanted for Petruchio. He had the strength of an ox (perfect for carrying his leading lady), the work ethic of an over-achiever (good for memorizing lines), and the all the charm and charisma one could hope for in a leading man.

I have always been very much into the theater and music. 

When I was younger, my cousins and I were obsessed with boy bands. We would learn all of their songs and dances, and we put on insanely elaborate performances at family gatherings. I was the youngest cousin, though, so I always ended up having the crappy parts. 

Soon enough though, I got my part. Two of my cousins and I decided to form a band. We didn’t have a name, and we performed on the sidewalk using my uncles’ ukulele (or as we called it, a cuatro), a bucket with a string attached, and some maracas. We only knew one song—“Your Love” by the Outfield.

I was six years old, it was my absolute favorite song, and I got to be lead singer/maracas player. We made horrible, horrible music, but that’s okay because I was the lead singer.

Soon after that, I started making better music. I took lessons to learn how to play the steel pan. This is perhaps the coolest instrument I have ever played. My teacher thought that I was amazing, and encouraged me to become a professional player, but I was satisfied with just playing at school assemblies. Now, that I’ve stopped playing for so long, I definitely wished that I would have continued with that. I still crave the way the rhythms rolled through my wrists as steel connected with rubber and beautiful sounds resounded.

I stopped playing the steel pan because I moved here to America. I couldn’t really find a satisfactory teacher at the time.

When I moved here, I was entering middle school. Those were three wonderful years. In middle school, I was in the drum line. It was a weird afro-fusion drum line, and I played the jamblaya and the claves.

When I entered High School, I was overwhelmed. I was getting four-five hours of sleep a night, and didn’t have much time for anything. But, I started making time for things. Especially things I really enjoyed. In High School, I started doing things on my own. I picked up guitar and ukulele, and started really getting into theater.

I was in two bands—one, a temporary band made to woo a girl for my friend, and another one of my own, which still exists but is inactive (and extremely so). The other band members are at colleges in lands much too far away.

 I went to countless concerts, and made cool new friends at these concerts.

I’ve always been into Harry Potter, but I started getting into wizard rock, and made awesome friends who make habit out of touring the country, singing about Harry Potter (which I think is the coolest thing. Ever.) 

I started reading myriads of screen plays, and going to a plethora of broadway shows, and off-broadway shows, and off-off-broadway shows. Eventually I made a couple of friends in that business too.

 Overall, I have had a pretty good amount of years doing this, and I hope to continue with that, whether it be on my own, or joining in with an existing program. 

A. Who I think I am:

There are LOTS of things that I would say describe me. I am a very nice person, and I’ll be nice to you even if you’re not nice to me. Except, if you’re a creep I won’t be nice to you–I don’t like creeps.

I was born in (on?) the island of Trinidad, in the West Indies, and I lived there for almost 11 years. I can’t explain it, but that island is a big part of me. Most of my personality, my beliefs, my habits were formed there and I really love that place.

I am a music aficionado–though, not completely. I love love LOVE listening to music and playing music. I’ve never been professionally trained in any instrument really, except for the steel pan. I love the steel pan. It’s the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, I’ve been playing since I was 8.

I listen to a LOT of different music–if you go through my iPod you’ll find Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Kid Cudi, and Mozart.

Because I listen to music a lot, I like to attempt to play it sometimes. I’ve been stumbling my way across the fret board for quite some time–I play bits of guitar, and lots of ukulele. Lately I’ve been trying the harmonica–it’s not working out so well.

I also really love theatre. I’m no actor, but I think I know good theatre. I’m such a fangirl. If I could find a job that paid me to be a professional fan, I would be so in that.

I like to dabble in other things also. I like photography, a lot. And Mario Kart, I like Mario Kart.

B. Top 3 concerns entering Baruch, why?

1. Not being able to stay up to date with my tv shows: I forgot to mention before; I really like television.

Game of Thrones or IT Crowd, anyone?

2. Getting good grades: I’m a bit of an overachiever.

3. Not having friends: All of my friends are thinking of transferring! 🙁

C. So, far what do you think is going to be different between college and high school?

College definitely seems more relaxed in structure.

D. How do you think your first year at College will change you?

Honestly, I don’t know. But whatever change comes, hopefully its for the better.