The neighborhood that I live in today would be described as a genafication area because it’s still being worked on to improve the living environment. In this neighborhood I was able to connect and network at an early age by attending Berkeley schools and having such a diverse class and neighborhood. To further explain the community that I lived in I was able to connect with all races and be able to communicate with them in a way that benefitted me the most. I also was in a community that explored the habits that are around Berkeley and also be able to understand what it would be like to explore nature in a way that fits me. I loved living in Berkeley because it was ways for me to learn how to be able to connect with professionals that attended Cal State Berkeley and understand what it would be like to live that life.

The community of Berkeley best fits me because it was a way for me to understand what it feels like to be in a neighborhood that was diverse and appealing to me. Without the experience of living in Berkeley I think I wouldn’t have understood what it would be like to be surrounded by positive people and a community that was supportive and caring. The community also inspired me to become a better in my ways meaning that I would have the understanding of what attitude fits in the environment of the community and also the professional environment. Without these experiences I wouldn’t be able to have the knowledge that I have now and be able to apply it to Year Up.

Education is power. Education goes a long way during the time in Year Up. Taking college course classes in Technology, Pro skills, and Business communication well test you in order to help you in developing your skills better.

For the class of Technology take notes and listen. It's easy for me to get lost if I don't take notes. For me taking notes in my own words from what the instructor is giving a lecture on helps me to understand what the lecture is explaining.

Learning a new language and skills can be a difficult thing to understand. Business communication is an example of this. By asking question help me to understand this new language and skills that I’m learning. To be clear on a subject that my instructor is going over helps me to clear up any confusing thoughts about the lesson I may have and to better understand what that topic may be about. Arriving on time also help me by begin able to ask question on the homework for that night or the following night. Arriving on time also helps you by giving you time to talk to your instructor about anything that you may have a question on and also to write down the agenda for that day.

For Pro Skills listening and understanding is the key to being able to understand how this class. Listening comes at a price and can either help or not help you in learn the skills that are in the lesson plan for that day. Listing helps me to understand the skills that are begin taught in lesson plan for that day, also it helps me to understand how to use these new skills. If I still don’t understand the content of the lesson plan then I would ask question to be able to get clarity on anything that I do not understand.

Also just a hint to adults that are signing up for class 9 maybe these tip will help you just how they are helping me.

Smoking cigarettes is a way for some people deal with stress or a way to fit in. Smoking cigarettes can lead to health problems and much more. There's an anti- smoking commercial that details the effects of smoking cigarettes. The woman in this commercial concerns me because it makes me really think about what I'm doing to my body. I don't want to end up like the lady in the anti- smoking commercial.

The commercial draws you in if you’re a smoker. For me how the woman is portrayed in this commercial is how sick she is and shows her raw face to world and the effects of smoking cigarettes. She gives you a perspective on her life and how she gets ready for the day. For myself getting up in the morning consist of me getting up picking out clothes, brushing my teeth, taking a shower, and getting dressed. For the lady in the commercial she has to put her teeth in first and put her wig on and put her hands free device in her throat and place a scarf around were it is to hide the whole. This is really freighting to me because I don't want to end up like that. I don’t know if I would be able to adjust the way she did to her new life style, and have my mornings change verses how they do now. It’s hurtful to see this lady. It appears to me that she's in pain about the situation but she has no choice but to adjust to her new way of life. If I had to go through what she's going through I wouldn’t be able to cope.

I really want to encourage young adults and even people of all ages to stop smoking. Smoking is a strong addiction and to even try to stop is a very hard thing to do. Asking for help and making a plan may be the way to go. Attempting to stop will also take the harmful health problem that comes with smoking away from your life. I want to give this message to make a person think that smoking cigarettes can be hurtful for yourself and others around you so take time to reflected and make the right decision.