Author Archives: Lance Charles Sun

About Lance Charles Sun

Lance Charles Sun is a member of the New York Middlebury Posse 9 and Middlebury College Class of 2011. He is now pursuing his M.S. in Educational Technology at the New York Institute of Technology and passionate about all things social media and (higher) educational related.

Seeking Advice and Following It

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As told by Lance Charles Sun (NYMP9)

Life takes us on all sorts of unexpected paths and nobody could attest for this better than Sienna Chambers.  Sienna, a member of the Middlebury College class of 2007 and New York Middlebury Posse 5, has recently just started her first year as a New York City Teaching Fellow.

After nearly four years of working in commercial real estate, Sienna is now an English teacher at Mott Hall V, a public high school in the Bronx. “My last day of work was actually on April 1st and my co-workers made a big joke about it.” Not one to waste any time, Sienna dove right in and partook in the spring immersion program before regular corps training began in the summer. She spent 10 weeks observing in a special education English classroom before taking on the same position in the Fall when the teacher she observed left the school. Continue reading →

La Vida Madrileña: An Identity Constructed

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As Told by Carlos M. Beato (NYMP5)

“It was over five years ago when I first embarked on a study abroad journey that would change my life forever. While I matured in the most basic of aspects, I also had to learn how to deal with the issues of race, socio-economic status and culture.

In a country that claims to be so [civilly] advanced, the division of race and class in Spain was one that caught my attention. I found out in the very beginning that my not being white would not only affect where I could live but I was often granted access to certain neighborhoods only when I mentioned that I was an American student from the United States. Never in my life have I felt that I was not wanted and it was through this experience of searching for a “piso” in Spain that made these feelings a reality.  While it helped that I spoke Spanish well over the phone, it was not until I visited many of these potential living spaces that I experienced firsthand the Spaniard’s actual reactions to my darker skin color. Nevertheless, this experience prepared me for other similar situations [during my time in Spain] that would eventually warrant me to question my identity. Continue reading →

Snapshot of 9/11/2001: Angelika Ferguson

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“Can you still recall the moment when you first found out what had happened? Where were you? Who were you with? What did you think?”

“On 9/11, I was a freshman in high school in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. I was in my advisory (homeroom) and we were discussing a Core Value that someone had picked at random. It was Peace. As we were starting to discuss this value, someone from my advisory came in and said that he heard on the office radio that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I recall that I laughed a bit because I couldn’t believe that plane would hit the tower while at the same time nervous. I didn’t see how severe the damage was until I saw a television showing it in my school’s lounge.”
Angelika (MP7)

A Superhero Grows In [the] Bronx

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“I work at the Bronx Defenders. The Bronx Defenders is a legal non-profit public defense office. We represent our clients for criminal and family defense and some civil matters. My position is Parent Advocate and I work closely with Family Defense attorneys. I help parents accused of abuse and neglect charges involved in ACS (Administration for Children Services) proceedings and assist them with the services they need to help them reunite with their family.

Working at the Bronx Defenders is a great job. Life as a Parent Advocate can be emotionally challenging but I enjoy being an advocate for people in New York City. I’m a member of an organization that tries its best to counter the affects of the racially charged systems that have historically targeted people of color in the Bronx.

A simple arrest in New York City can lead to the removal of one’s children, eviction, unemployment loss of public assistance and many other collateral consequences that many people in the Bronx go through. Through a holistic model at the Bronx Defenders we have criminal attorneys, family attorneys, immigration attorneys, civil attorneys, social workers, parent advocates, investigators and community development coordinators who work together to fully represent our clients.

[It’s cool to be an adult in the working world but I really miss Middlebury. I hope everyone enjoys their time there!]

Love,
Meli (MP9)”

For more information regarding the Bronx Defenders and the work that Melida is doing, you can click on the logo on the right. 

Social Media Updates on Sept. 11th 2011

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On Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 there were more people that had “heard” about the earthquake on Twitter before the aftershock had even reached them. In the 10 years since Sept. 11th 2001, the world of social media has grown exponentially alongside the generation that experienced the said catastrophe first hand. Today I want to share with you some of the thoughts that other scholars have expressed back on the anniversary day.

 

Karen: 9/11 and Convocation. ‘Tis bittersweet.

Aya: today idk how i feel…but i’m proud to be a new yorker.

Yashika: This commercial with the little kids singing to the firefighters just gave me chills

Kelly: 10 years ago today… heard my media teacher say to our class, “This might be the most important day of your lives.”

Becca: Remembering 9/11 ten years later

Andrew: RIP to the victims, and live in peace to all the survivors.

Carlos: Can’t believe it has been 10 years….To think I was in my 11th grade AP US History class watching out the window as it happened.

Diane: Uncle Joe, ladder company 101, a hero and a loving father. We miss you and we love you. Gone but never forgotten.

Rana: My prayers go out to the heroes who lost their lives because of what happened ten years ago.

Naya: 9/11 ninth gr. Living environment class mom called me to the office-its world war 3 let’s go home!-mad scared :(