Interview and Transcription

                                                          Natacha Cohen

     Intro: Natacha Cohen is an African American woman, who works at the N.Y.U Medical Center as a P.A. She is the mother of 3 girls and one surprise child on the way in her 30s. She is married to a lawyer named David Cohen. Her interview consists of coming of age questions based on family and her teenage years.

1) ONE IMPORTANT CHILDHOOD MOMENT THAT YOU HAD:"The one important childhood experience I've had, I've have to say was when I... left, my family left Haiti to come to the United States. It was a huge moment in...in our lives...in...history of our lives, in,that brought us... that brought us, you know, to the United States to give us a better life, better opportunity. I'd say that was the biggest childhood moment I can think of.

2)SO DO YOU THINK IF U DIDN'T MOVE TO THE U. THAT U WOULD BE A DIFFERENT PERSON: Probably. Ummm Idon'tknowabout different person, but differenT life style, for sure. I'd, I'd be the same person, just a different life style.

3)WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU USE TO FEAR:........... Uh... getting really sick, getting cancer... and not being able to see my family, see my children.

4) HOW DID YOU GET OVER THAT FEAR:...Umm...Iguess beinggg inthemedicalfeild, seeing, you know, how people cope with different diseases of cancer helped me deal with it better. And knowing that there's different hope out there, that there's different cures, different medicines out there, and,you know, how people battle certain things, I mean it's still a fear, It's not as bad as it use to be.

5)HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR PARENTS AFFECTED YOUR TEENAGE LIFE: Uh. I think I had a rough teenage life with my parents, um we didn't see eye to eye(smiling). Both my father and my mother, I didn't see eye to eye because I was a such different person, a different personality... (breathes in) and I didn't follow my culture, the Haitian culture the way, the way that they did, so because of that, um we had very difficult times, when, growing up because I wanted to live the "American Way" and they wanted me, to still live the "Haitian Way," though we were living in the United States. And we fought a lot on that. So uh, to answer your question, as far as how my, what was the question again, sorry I lost track. (How your parents affected your teenage life)... Um, I don't think they were good role model, unfortunately, um. I became an adult at an early age where I had to learn things, things on my own, made a lot of big mistakes, that affected my life... but I learned from my mistakes and grew from those mistakes and I it made me a better person, and now I can teach my kids from what I learned. I can teach them so they don't make the same mistakes, that I did.

6)WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR KIDS: Yeah, um, don't ever give up no matter what happens in life, whatever goals or dreams you have, always do whatever in your power to reach them, no matter what the opsticales are, yeah if there may be obsticales, it makes things takes longer, take longer to reach, but don't ever give up on those dreams, because... we're blessed that we're in a country where there's so much opportunity, you could be whatever you want, um all you have to do is work hard at it. Nothing is for free nothing is easy, everything that people, you know, you get, you have to work hard for it. So basically it's just not to give up on your dream and don't underestimate what you can and can't do. and don't let people tell you that you can't do anything...

7)WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER AND HOW OLD WERE YOU:...Skinny dipping, I was 19, at was at the University Of Miami , that's the university that I went to school and me and my sorority sisters one saturday night,  well actually one weekend we went away on a trip,um I don't remember where the trip was, some where around Miami beach and we all went skinny dipping

Final Draft Of Romeo AND Juliet

  

           

 “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes / a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” In the story of Romeo and Juliet their families hate eachother. The only way thay can escape hate and enter love is by taking their lives.  Romeo and Juliet’s love is known all around the world, but some teens in our world deal with the same tragedies. Romeo and Juliet's love story is similar and different to Amerian teens today because of their dating norms, the way that parents and teens deal with arguments and forbidden love.

  Long ago in Verona love had different dating norms compared to today. The ages were much younger to have kids and get married. In the play Juliet is around the age 13. In lines 10-15 on pg.27 Paris, (the man Juliet is suppose to marry) says, “Younger than she are happy mothers made” (1.2.12). This shows that girls could have been mothers before the age 13. Girls in America today are usually ages 18 and up when they get married and have kids. That's the way that the society was built to believe Younger than that doesn't seem right.

   Even though the dating norms are very different, the way that teens and parents responded to arguments were similar. Parents and children don’t always see eye to eye, the way they dealt with it then in Verona is similar to how they deal with it today. In the play Capulet said, “Thursday is near. Lay had on Herat; advise. An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend. An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die on the streets…” (3.5.202)He threatens and frightens Juliet so she can listen. Now and days when there’s a disagreement parents act the same way, some parents are just harsh or they threat children. This way of life hasn’t really changed since that time in Verona.

  As you can see the way that arguments were dealt with were very similar when you compare then and now, so is forbbiden love.Forbidden love has been around for centuries and still hasn’t changed. Forbidden love always has to do with family history, culture, or simply because of parents not approving your lover. In the love story of Romeo and Juliet, the couple’s families were enemies to each other. This caused their love be forbidden because, no one wanted them to be together. Especially their parents. In America today friend and family don't approve becaue they don't think your love is real. Like a figment of your imagination. What I mean by this is that maybe you think that the person that you love, love's you back, but your friends and family see other wise. That's why your parnts forbid you to see your lover.

   I have discovered that love is very complicated when no one approves. If no one approves your love than it ccould leave you to do what Romeo and Juliet did. The bad thing about this is not only the idea of suicide, but also the affect it will have on your family. If you know well enough, you should already know that your family loves you and was just looking out for you. Relationships can cause confusion and big problems for family. Something that many teens should know is not to let their relationship get in the way of family, because fmily is blood and that is what should come first. No matter what family has your back and you should remember that.

Crimes:Punishment or Not (Extra Credit)

 When are crimes good to be unpunished? Some might argue never, but others might look deeper into the case. In this response I will be looking through two article to argue both side.

  In the article "Crime and Punishment," by Patricia Smith, Smith explains the story of Rebecca Falcon's accused crime. One night when Falcon was really ddepressed about her ex-boyfriend, she got dunk. When she hailed a cab with her 18 year old friend, he was carrying a gun. By the end of the night the cab driver was dead with a gun shot to the head. Falcon ended up taking the blame and was sentened to life. Thankfully the court realized that this was cruel and unusal punishment because , she did't do it!  Therefore it's good for her to not get punished, but for the person that killed the person should.

  In the article,"When is it Ok to Kill," the author tells the story of Trayvon Martin. Martin was a teenage boy living in florida on his way home from the store, when he was shot. His killer was known to be police officer Zimmerman. Many people believe that Zimmerman killed him for no reason. This is why (also based off investigation) that Zimmerman was punished.

  Crime is wrong and should be stopped. Crime can be punished or should be if it was based off of what Zimmerman did. If  it was the case of Falcon, you shouldn't be punished. There's a lot of crimes done, but not everyone is guilty. Think about that next you read an article on crime.

Romeo and Juliet outline

INTRO:
Hook- What love is tragic love?
Thesis- Romeo ad Juliet love is known all around the world, but teen in our world deal with the same thing.

BODY 1: topic sentence-back then love had different dating norms compared to today

-boys are usually 15-18 and girls are 11-14 (pg 27 line 10-15)
-when girls are wed now they are usually 18+
-capulets can only marry capulets, same for montague
-now its wrong to marry the same blood line , it causes medical problems

BODY 2: topi sentence-age played a big role in descison making back then and now.

-girls have no choice in who or when they marry (pg 167 lines 165-170)

BODY 3:topic sentence-parents and children don't always see eye to eye, but the way they dealt with it then is different than now.

-parents react harshly pg.165-167
-parents don't act as bad

CONCLUSION:

-recap

Step one of Romeo and Juliet

          My topic is our world of romance compared and contast to Rome and Juliet. I chose this topic because, well I'm a teenager. Also since I'm a young teen, I want to have a deeper feel of teen romance. In this description I want to explore the way that teens react to difficult romance situation. I would also want to take a look at and see if I can explain Romeo and Juliet's love tragety.

The New York Times,Upfront: The Gun Debate

                The death of many was caused by a gun, it can happen again if the government doesn't do something. After the kill at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, people were left worrying if they were safe. Guns should be taken away from everyone, but the police.

               Are we safe. In the Sandy Hook shooting 20 children and 6 adults were killed. These children were killed by a mentally ill 20 year old named Adam Lanza. He also killed his own mother.This left many parents and friends in pain, but this isn't the only shooting that caused people to fear the use of guns. The story of Trayvon martin also struck fear into people. Trayvon Martin was black boy in Florida, age 17, was killed by a police officer. This police officer claimed that Martin had attack him, so he shot. Most people believed that because of Martin's race he was killed. Guns may be able to be used in a good way.

              Guns can protect if in the right hands. If your a single mother that just wants to protect her family in a bad area. That situation can start off in the right hands, but end up in the wrong. Two things. One, one of her children can try to act cool in front of their friends. So they take the gun, show it to their friends and sell it to a drug dealer Two, the mother might pull out the gun for protection, but the person she's protecting herself from can some how get the gun and shoot her. Eventually for each situation, the gun will end up in the wrong hands.

              Guns should only be accessed by the government and police should learn how to fight in combat. Guns have cause too much pain, hurt and murder. Guns should be taken away by everyone so we can prevent all these problems.

Nonfiction "The New York Times, Upfront: The young an the Reckless?"

      Is your sex the reason why you people look at you different. In the "New York Times" magazine, a girl gets her story shared. This girl gets a spot on the boys football team. Some people think it's crazy, others find it cool. What do you think? It's interesting how sexism affects a persons mind set.

      17 year-old senoir of South Plantation High School in Florida named Erin DiMeglio, is the third string quarter back on her football team, She is 5'5 and 140 pounds. When DiMeglio tried out in 2011 spring, the coach knew she was good. He worried for her saftey. If DiMeglio was  boy, the coach probably would't worry, If a boy was good, the coach would throw him on the team. Who says girls can't be as strong as boys.

      Those who are sexist believe that only boys can play sports and men can work. They believe that women are suppose to stay home so that they can cook and clean. What sexist people haven't realized yet is tht we don't live in the olden days anymore. It's 2013! A lot has happened since then. Women have their own businesses, make their own money and live on their own. But there are some people who aren't sexist. These people believe that if you are a women or man, and you really believe in it, you can do it.

     There are a lot of closed minded people in the world. Not only sexist people but racisted people to. So do yourself a favor and the world. Don't be closed minded and teach your kids to be open minded.