I want to thank my professor Dube for teaching me  how to properly write. In the beginning of the class we read stories decoding the strategies the author used , for example the author used specific details , time and tension in his story. We also learned another way of writing an hook to to engage the readers in our paper. I use to always start with writing a question but we could also start off with a story. I really like that way because it made is easier for me to writing a story I relate to than sitting there for minutes to come up with a life question. When we had our research lesson we were taught how to find a reliable source to use for our papers ( .com is not always true but .org is ) it was hard for me to find a source but it was all worth it having a truthful resource that paper was “Gender Differences In Playing Video Games”. For our critical analysis essay we read and interpret many three stories/ articles. The first article was about a man who has a problem with a Chipotle employee for not giving him the same amount of rice as he did for the customer in front of him. The author continues to show his frustration in hypothetical face to face situation. In a way he is making fun of the problem and people who can relate to this situation. Professor Dube introduced juxtaposition means the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. Giving us a chance to express ourselves the same way Professor Dube allowed us to go up in front of the class and tell a time where we faced the same thing the author to Onion. The other story we read was about a young black female who goes to college at a place where she feels different than most of the people there and she ends up meeting a white lesbian female. Throughout the story she and the friend gets closer emotionally and physically. Due to her mother passing she had problems letting people in and she somehow ends up pushing away her friend. We got to choose between an article we read or a song , because of the article “Drink Coffee Somewhere Else” I decided to pick a meaningful song that tackled sexuality and acceptance presented in my “You Can Be However You Want”. Unfortunately I did not get the grade I thought I was going to get but I understood the reason why I got it and it was because I didn’t follow the format; which is another thing I learned how to do. I got a higher grade on my Personal essay because I took in everything I was taught from the beginning of the class until now this included an interesting hook story , tension between me and the person, time ( the time spend in each year I was in the relationship)  and I was very specific with my feelings during an event. I was emotionally unstable while writing “Should’ve Been” it was all worth it. I felt that I grew overtime because of all the critical feedback I received from my Professor , my grade shows my accomplishment. Thanks to the patience Processor Dube had along with his availability after class hours either in person or through email everyone found it easier overtime in the class to critique each other’s works either fixing or helping them improve their writing. I believe that collectively the class grew as a whole , we matured and grew a bond with each other.

It was the year of 2015 I was a freshman in high school which meant a fresh start and a new environment. She was in this school since 6th grade so everyone knew her. She was a jock and I was the new girl . I use to always talk to about her “ I want her so badly“ but then I thought that she wouldn’t want me because of my insecurities. I was wrong. One day I was leaving class with my friends and she was waiting outside for her friends, I walked up to the doors window not knowing that she was there and I scared her. I opened the door and we both looked at each other and laughed, I closed backed the door , turned around and looked at my friends smiling My friends asked me what is wrong and I told them I scared my crush. I wanted to see if she was still there so I turned around and there she was but she tried to scare me back the only thing I could is shake my head” why can’t you be mine”.That was our first interaction but the second one is better “ Hey I like the picture you posted but I don’t think I liked it” she said. All I did was smile because she did I said thank you and she said you’re welcome walking away. My heart stopped I couldn’t believe that she talked to me but wait there’s more, shh The movie is about to start. This is a story about two girls and one broken heart a typical high school romance movie. Based on a true story.

Her name is Arianny Ventura the girl who changed my life without realizing. Now it’s too late for me to take it all back . R.I.P 3/17/16-7/29/18 don’t worry she isn’t dead but my heart is. We started of great with no problems , no arguments , no breaks , no tears. We were a perfect couple.. in fact we were that couple in our grade that everyone admired. We tried new things together , we went on dates either big or small , we laughed all the time. I don’t think you understand how deep our love was. We had our own world which consisted of me , her and our love.

All relationships had flaws and our flaws impacted me more than the perfection. The communication was not there. I would stay quiet and be petty towards her instead of telling her how I felt. I guess I wanted her to figure out what was wrong with me …just like my ex use to do.My ex. She was the reason why we would fight constantly that’s because  I couldn’t let her go. Now thinking back on our relationship I realized that was my first mistake. You can’t just throw away years of a friendship it doesn’t matter if we dated or not she’s been in my life since birth, neither of us wanted to leave each others lives and I wasn’t going to let something temporary end my friendship. Another problem I thought of our relationship as temporary, but it end up being my longest relationship. One year into our relationship we were both changing emotionally I knew that we were but she kept telling me how much she loved me but of course I didn’t believe her I wanted to and I had a lot of reasons to but my heart still wouldn’t let her in. Two years into the relationship and we were doing a lot better I knew this because there was a promise ring. Yes we were finally engaged ( I use to walk around saying that we were engaged when in reality it was just a promise ring)  and Arianny became my best friend and my only love because of how much easier it was for me to trust that wouldn’t leave me. Trust. It took me so long to trust her and I regret letting my past push me to do things I shouldn’t have done. I use to look through her phone when she was sleeping, I use to block and delete messages between her and another female “friend” off her phone, I had her password to her social media and I would look to see if she and the “friend” was texting. I know I know that’s creepy but it was itching me to know. literally. Most of the time she would catch me and then we would argue , she would leave and we wouldn’t talk for like and hour or two. That was the usual.

My father found out I was still biseuxal and told me that I had to end my relationship with her or I would have to leave. It was against his belief and Gods words. “I love her” I told him the day he found out , he looked at me like I was some disgusting creature and not his little princess. I rather be homeless and disowned than to break off the only thing that made me happy and proud to be who I am. Right there in the middle of an argument I thought to myself and I came to the conclusion that I loved this girl with all my heart , I would sacrifice everything in order to keep our relationship alive. That was another challenge we overcame together but that was the usual.

Last year around March Arianny got a bad injury during her basketball game and she ended up blacking out in the middle of the game. I was on my way to the game when a friend ran up to me and told me that something happened to her , let me tell you I ran so fast that I could be the next Usain Bolt. When I got there her eyes were barely open and she was moving around like she was drunk , her head kept falling back , her hand was shaking. I was scared. I didn’t know what to do, it was hurting me watching her like this I wanted to save her. I needed to save her , she was all I had. After the game I was barbered with questions from everyone asking me what happened and if she was okay. I tried to stay calm but in my head I was screaming I wanted them to leave me alone and I wanted to see her. Few minutes later as if God sensed my desperate need one of her friends came up to me and told me that her along with with couple of her other friends were going to go see her and she asked if I wanted to come me.  Without hesitation I said yes, traveling to the hospital me and her best friend broke down on the train in each others arms. I felt her pain and her worries…we can’t live without her. I started to shake as we entered the hospital because I hate them, my mother past away in the hospital before me and my brother could have made it to see her. I was ready to hear the same news but when we went to the lower level of the !68th Mount Sinai hospital for children there she was in a wheelchair smiling at me … my heart melted and my arms ached for her to be in it. I stayed with her , one of her other friend , her mother and sister until nine o’clock making sure she was alive. When I got home I texted her letting her know and that I love her , I fell asleep right after with a smile on my face despite the day ended with me being on an emotional roller coaster she was okay and alive nothing was going to stop her from leaving my life.

Arianny changed after her surgery , she become a whole different person. She was always sad , she turned to things that i despised to make her feel better and she stopped caring about what I did. She was numb is what she told me days before she went to D.R and I did nothing to change her mood even though she told me that I was her drug and her happiness. She lied and I was stupid enough to believe her. After two years and 8 months being together she finally got fed up and crushed our world. After the break up she treated me like shit , like I wasn’t by her side since day one … like I wasn’t the one who came to visit her everyday to see how she was doing. She blocked me because I was trying to save our relationship. I was nothing to her and I cried for days blaming myself for this break up. I had my best friend  and work to distract me but they didn’t help she was always on my mind and was missing from my heart. One day I got a text from her saying that she wanted her stuff back. This time wasn’t the usual it was the end of Arnavia. She found someone else , my fear became reality. I was replaceable , I wasn’t special as she made me feel, I was nothing. I hated my myself. I changed for her when I didn’t want to. I sacrificed so many other friendships for her and my relationship with my father. Yet she left me alone , in the dark to cry wanting to die. My life was over.

It’s been five months since the break up and I am a lot better now. It was hard to let her go but I had to wait no I needed to. This relationship taught me so many things and day by day I started to realize all the cons of our relationship. It wasn’t healthy for the both of us , I was glad that she ended it. My face is clearing up, i’m gaining weight and I’m happy HAPPY. Don’t get me wrong I still love her and still think about her but at times she is replaced by another female. That girl name is Davia Yakira Elaine Cooper she showed me more love than Arianny ever did. She taught me how to love myself which is something I was struggling with when I was with Arianny. Time can’t heal your pain, you can only heal your pain over time. Oh yeah before this movie ends I just want to say one more thing.

– Always trust your intuition.  

Thank you for coming, I hoped you enjoyed the movie.

 I learned a few things when taught about how to write a proper argument essay, such as the introduction and body paragraph. The most interesting way to start an introduction is with a hook, which is the first sentence that catches your readers attention. To me, I would start a hook with a question in order for my audience to understand my topic and argument. In addition, by asking questions towards my readers, they will have a better understanding of my essay because they will be more engaged when reading and relate to my essay. Recently, I was introduced with a new way to catch my readers attention, which is storytelling. Storytelling is more better than my old technique, although it’s personal and it helps structure the introduction paragraph. In my essay, “Gender Differences in Playing Video Games,” I talked about how my brother was addictive to video games and how he would rather play video games than doing other important tasks, such as homework and chores. By providing a real life situation in my essay, my audience will have a better understand of how addictive video games are because many of my readers can relate to my brother.You see there is nothing wrong adding a little spice of your personal experience for your readers to see.

  Another technique I was introduced was to be more specific when providing details. Going deeper with your details instead of being vague was what I struggled with in my writing. After hearing other people’s essays and my processor explaining with examples, I understood how I am suppose to tell my details.It’s all about describing, time and explaining my ideas further. The specifics on detail is important and gives the readers more of a visual on what is being talked about. Thanks to other people’s perspectives and hand helping techniques, I am now able to keep my readers entertained throughout my essay and wanting to know more. These techniques helped improve my writing and made my essay stronger for my audience.

Middle school was the time in my life where  I started to see change in my sexuality. I didn’t only like males ,but I was attracted to females as well. I went to a school full of judgmental people, so everything you do or say was judged and there are rumors spread around the grade about you. My parents are very religious, so going to church every Saturday , praying for everything and reading the Bible before I go to bed was a must. Imagine coming out to them that I’m bisexual. It was hard accepting who I was. Rapper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis presented acceptance in their song “Same Love.” Macklemore and Lewis uses rhymes and storytelling as a way to express the importance of being who you are and accepting yourself no matter how people view you. Finally, an artist who wants change for those who have no voice.

Society does not accept those with different beliefs they bash and criticize us making us feel like we are aliens. That’s what I feared most, being alienated from society. “ Our culture founded from oppression yeah , don’t have acceptance for em call each other faggots behind keys of a message board a word routed in hate , yet our genre still ignores it” , Macklemore and Ryan Lewis exposes the truth behind the unjust behavior of the culture that we worship showing the true colors of those who have trouble accepting the fact there is change in the world and everybody is not the same. “Ben you loved girls since before pre-k , tripping yeah I guess she had a point didn’t she ?, a bunch of a stereotypes all in my head , I remember doing the math like “ yeah i’m good at little league , a preconceived idea of what it all meant.” Stereotypes is another problem society expresses in the wrong way. Using the way a person dresses , talk , walk and act as a way to define their sexuality. It’s discriminating and wrong to just assume but we are taught growing up how to act , dress , talk and walk so even the slightest difference means you are not like us. It’s crazy how a boy can talk feminine and people automatically think that person is gay. When in reality that boy is straight.

Religion is another topic that is tackled in the song , they question god’s words and debates with those who claim to he is against gays. “Still we fear what we don’t know and gods loves all his children it’s somehow forgotten but we paraphrase a book written 3,500 hundred years ago” Macklemore argues how we are believing a book that was written many years ago with different perspectives but yet we still think stick to “his” words. People tend to forget that god loves all of us no matter the skin tone , weight cause at the end of the day if we pray and still obey his rules and confess our sins why can’t he loves us for being who we want to be? “ We have to change us. Whatever God you believe in We come from the same one Strip away the fear Underneath it’s all the same love” .  They are trying to make it aware that we are the same person we always been the love that was there is still there underneath our different beliefs in our sexuality. There can’t be any type of discrimination between us if we came from the same person. It’s like you disliking your sibling , no matter what you go through you can’t really feel that hate towards them knowing that you guys share the same mother and will cause the same pain.

Some lyrics in “Same Love” that has impacted me  is “For those who like the same sex had the characteristics. The right-wing conservatives think it’s a decision. And you can be cured with some treatment and religion.” I love these lyrics because it makes me think about how loving your own gender is still frowned upon and how people participating in politics makes certain decisions and laws about who people can love. In addition, some people still don’t accept that people are gay or bisexual and think that it is not normal and can be fixed with religion or treatment. When in my reality, it is normal to love someone, although it might be the same gender. Society tells us that we should fall and love and be with that person because we are destined to be be together, but how come when I love someone from the same gender, it’s wrong? If I ever have children, I do not want them to be scared to come out to me about having feelings for the same gender or both. Coming out should not be something to be scared about. I want to feel proud for who I love and for who I am. In some countries, people get killed or executed for being gay. I come from Jamaica, which is not a country that accepts being gay or bisexual. It breaks my heart that even in my own country, I can not be proud of who I am.

You can’t change who you are and even if do change, it’s not what you want to do. It’s what the world want you to. The warmth you get from your partner is what keeps you alive and the reason why you are who you are. Love is love whether it’s with a male or female. We are not different from those against the same sex. We should all come together and unit as a whole and fight against politics , gun violence, animal cruelty and racism  now those are the real problems in this world.

Work Cited

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Same Love , 2013

“David get off your game right now and do your chores!” yelled my mother. That’s right, it is the first thing I hear when I wake up on Sunday mornings. I grew up in a Caribbean household, so every Sunday is cleaning day. There will be old reggae and gospel music blasting that would immediately wake me up. David, my brother, knew what Sundays meant, but the first and only thing he does in the morning and throughout the day is play video games. We don’t get his attention unless it’s time to eat. David was 16 years old and still had to be forced by my mother to go clean himself all because of Grand Theft Auto (Liberty City). Kyle Smith, the author of “We’re losing A whole Generation of Young Men To Video Games”argued that video games become a substitute for living or in other words an addiction.Technology has grown rapidly throughout the centuries, which caused many people to become addicted to video games instead of focusing on other important tasks, such as school, house chores and relationships. Gamers will argue that videos games is a good thing, while parents will argue that’s it’s a waste of time. I agree with all including the gamer perspective, but I would like to add on the gender differences within the video gaming.

In October 1958, Physicist William Higinbotham created what is claimed to be the first video game. It was a very simple game of tennis, similar to the classic 1970s video game Pong.The idea of games developed and changed overtime. Technology advanced and the creation of video games, along with the system was born. This allowed children of all ages to play games visually forgetting the existence of the outside world. Now and days, kids tend to stay inside on their games system blowing off energy and sweat trying to beat a game they probably beat at least ten times. Not only has there been advanced developments on videos games and game consoles but , also mobile games , online games which caught the attention from both genders allowing them to each play a game based on preferences.

Both Female and Male Females play different game based on their preference. But out of both genders women wouldn’t consider themselves as gamer. According to Wiki “While 48% of women in the United States report having played a video game, only 6% identify as gamers, compared to 15% of men who identify as gamer.] This rises to 9% among women aged 18–29, compared to 33% of men in that age group. Half of female PC gamers in the U.S. consider themselves to be core or hardcore gamers. In 2012 a EEDAR survey found that nearly 60 percent of female gamer played on mobile devices and that 63 percent of these female mobile gamers played online multiplayer mobile games”.this data shows how a female’s preferences gaming is on her phone as for males its on a console online.played with others. The sexism on gaming is a label placed on both genders due the fact that most females play games that show femininity and a sense of creating something. Men rather play aggressive and masculine games that shows of their skills , aggression. Research shown in a date table in the A Literature Review written by Danae Romrell from Idaho State University.Researcher Age of Subjects Male Game Style Preference Female Game Style Preference Lowrie & Jogensen (2011) 10-12 years old Action Games “Other” Games (e.g. Brain Training, Buzz!) Quaiser-Pohl, Geiser, & Lehmann, (2006) High School Students (Mean age =14.9) Action and Simulation Games Non-players or Logic/Skill Training Games Karakus, Inal, & Cagiltay, (2008) High School Students (Grades 9 – 12) Car Race Sports Games First Person Shooter Action Adventure Puzzle Games Car Race Card Games Board Game.Though the data used in the research is old it still shows the different preferences and the age range that pertains to each gaming style

Games like GTA, Call of duty and Fortnite, involves Violence, guns , sex and profanity,  these are the types of games that males play. Although those games contain such negative role plays and has a negative influence , they help them express their emotions and demonstrate their skills if they are put into a situation where they have to put what they know from the video games they play into reality. Other games also played by the opposite sex doesn’t necessarily have a negative impact on their minds where they feel the need to curse whenever they make a mistake , have sex when they feel like it, fight someone when there is a disagreement between them and another person. You get the chance to pick up a gun when they feel stressed and feel the need to kill. In a way it helps males release all the anger they have been feeling with in the game and not physically. It also let them feel powerful like needed because they can protect not only themselves but people on their team. Other games played by males like 2k18 or Madden are sports games, For sport games you need techniques and sportsmanship in order to win the game. They help males get better at the sport they play and help with communication skills that they lack on a daily. Yes they rather play online with people they do or don’t know , It allows them to make new friends (another positive influence) and zone out distractions around them or take a long time to text back. They are only doing what they are passionate about to pass the time they don’t get to spend outside with friends / partners and boredom.

Other studies show that another reason why males feel the need to devote so much of their time and attention in video games is because of their insecurities.They may feel “unappreciated ,ignore , unimportant ,disrespected and unloved” stated in clinical psychologist Dr.Brent Conrad article My boyfriend and my husband is Addicted to Video Games.This study give a whole other perspective on the way parents and partner feels towards their sons or boyfriends spending so much time towards gaming. Gaming also helps males feeling like a whole when they don’t receive it from the other end.

Female gamer or should I say females that like to play games have a different approach as to why they spend their playing a video game. Video games played by females aim towards less aggression and more reality. For examples females play mostly mobile games and these games are like Candy Crush, make-up games , doctor games , fashion games cooking games and family games. I interview a female friends and I asked a couple questions as to why she plays These games. This is the result I got back from her. “ The mobile game that I mostly play is Sims and Episode”. She said the reason why she plays those games is because it gives her choice. In Sims you are allowed to make a character and build yourself a home. Throughout the game, you can meet new people and have babies. In Episode it’s sort of the same thing but in this case you are allowed to involve your sexuality into your love life. “When I play those games I can make my fantasy come true and I feel free without judgement”. I asked her how long does she play a day and she told me at least 4 hours a day so that’s like 28 hours a week where she feels like she can be herself and make her fantasy come alive. I wanted to see how it felt playing those games cause i’m not usually a gamer and the way she described the feeling she felt playing those games it persuade me. For a whole week I spent the same amount of time as Keandra on those two games and to be honest I automatically fell in love. I felt that freedom , I felt that love and I felt my dreams come true. Other mobile games mentioned before are also skilled based games where females can explore and develop as they get deeper into the game. They give challenges either real life or fake ones where they have to try and face alone which gives them a feel of independence. Cooking games helps females learn visually how to make things and shows them the consequences of failing to follow instructions. Make- up / fashion games helps females explore with colors and expression of their sense of style that they can’t normally strut on the runway because of the way society is today. Doctor games is a game that gives insights on the career which you can pretend to be one and help out a patient in need of help for any realistic reason.That proves females a better understanding and interests they might have on the career which can limit their career decisions in life.Games like Candy Crush Saga are a focus , technique skill based games that allows females to use their intuitions and self-love in order to get past the levels. Females are known to be the emotional , sensitive gender so games that allows them to believe in themselves so that they can succeed is great and helps a lot with self-esteem where teens – adolescents suffer with. Sports/ action games which is rarely played by females but for the ones that do play can get a taste of what’s it’s like to play a sport they are interested along with sportsmanship.Defend themselves in a situation where they have to fight to survive they are interested along with sportsmanship. Communication is what women also needs guidance with and all the games played by the female population impacts their voice , self- worth and expressions they have challenges with and can be faced easily visually than realistic because they “can be themselves” wisely said by Kendra.

Therefore video games does a negative impact and a positive impact on the gamers that participate. It also shows the preference differences on the male and female population and how bitter or sweet it makes them feel while they are in the game. Games in general helps a lot  with skills that are need in the real world and it helps takes a tool of off people who can overcome their fears visually and mentally.

                                                   Works Cited Page

Conrad, Brent. Boyfriend or Husband Addicted to Video Games? Help & Advice –

TechAddiction, www.techaddiction.ca/boyfriend-husband-addicted-to-video-games.html.

“Male and Female Gamers: How Their Similarities and Differences Shape the Games Market.”

Newzoo, newzoo.com/insights/articles/male-and-female-gamers-how-their-similarities-and-differe

nces-shape-the-games-market/.

Romrell, Danae. “Gender and Gaming: A Literature Review.” Descriptors: Gender, Gaming ,

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a08e/5b5a94fe9669470f52ab021217b8273516e3.pdf.

“Women and Video Games.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Sept. 2018,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_and_video_games.

Welcome to my writing world.