The Galactic Blog

End of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:32:00 +0000

This year wasn't so good for me. High school wasn't like I thought it would be. I thought we would have more independance but it seems as though I'm back in elementary. I am constantly surrounded by hipocritical idiots who think their intelligence comes from knowledge of gangs. Now I have to take a biology class over the summer because I was stuck in environmental science when I could have been in biology in the first place. Explain to me why you changed your mind and taught us crap I just learned last year! I could have been taking Bio and Japanese! What good is spanish grammar and knowing where the ` goes if you only have to speak it to have a bilingual business! "If you don't take Summer Bridge, you will not attend this school." This is what I was told when I first got admitted and yet countless students got in without having to go through that week in hell. I think to myself almost everyday, "Why did my mom have to sign me up for Animal Venice!" We're caged in this portion of an elementary's playground with a tarp around the whole school like we're little monkeys that cannot see into the outside world. If any of the staff (teachers, administrators, etc.) are reading this, I do not blame you. Maybe I blame myself for entering this cruel world. What's worse is that my parents do not appreciate what I do and I may never get what I want in life. Thanks for establishing this school. Too bad I can't imply sarcasm over this computer.

Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:26:00 +0000

1) Can you tell me about your past experiences? (a short biography of your life)
Born in Military family
Educated in British private schools
Commissioned in Pakistan Army as an infantry officer
Selected for army aviation as pilot
Received medal from President of Pakistan
Moved to America
Worked for United Airlines and Eastern Airlines
Opened flight school at Santa Monica Airport
He is now trying to re-establish a flight school and open a car dealership here in Los Angeles

2) What or whom in your past do you think shaped who you are today? (as in your actions or mindset)
The Pakistan Army

3) Who do you hope you are influencing? (in everyday life)
"I want to fulfill the lives of young aviators."

4) What do you think makes someone a leader?
Character
Clear-mindedness
Poise
Philosophy
Faith
Sincerity with people
Social Skills

5) Who were your role models or influences as a young adult?
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Teachers
Army flight instructor

Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 19:33:00 +0000

1) Can you tell me about your past experiences? (a short biography of your life)

2) What or whom in your past do you think shaped who you are today? (as in your actions or mindset)

3) Who do you hope you are influencing? (in everyday life)

4) What do you think makes someone a leader?

5) Who were your role models or influences as a young adult?

"WHO'S THE LEADER?"

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:32:00 +0000

Who in your life would you consider a leader? Why do you consider that person a leader?
My father. Because he is a very respected man in his community and has all the basic skills of leadership.

What strengths does your leader have? How has that person demonstrated those strengths?
He is a good speaker. He demostrates this skill when he lectures other people or participates in a heated arguement.

What weakness does your leader have? How did that person overcome that weakness?
He is a bit of a hipocrit. Sometimes he contradicts himself but others don't notice because of how fast he switches from one topic to another.

What have you learned about leadership from this person? How has this person influenced you?
This person has taught me about people skills and how to talk in public or in front of a large croud. He has also taught me about the history of certain things. (He is very knowledgable)

Monday's "Walkout"

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:28:00 +0000

1. Why are people protesting and demonstrating around the country? What issues about immigration are being debated?
People are protesting against HR4437. This bill will make being undocumented a federal offense, will make giving aid to an immigrant a crime, and will allow a wall of some sort to be built along the border (this reminds me of Israel or the Berlin wall)

2. What do you think the students who walked out were trying to achieve on Monday? What do you think was their point of walking out?
The students who walked out on Monday were trying to be heard. They wanted to protest, but they failed. The only thing they acheived doing was giving themselves Saturday school.

3. Do you think the walkout was effective? Why or why not?
Ofcoarse not! Because it was not organized and while on their way to City Hall, they were met by the other students who were on their way back!

4. What were some of the consequences of walking out?
They got Saturday school, detention, a call home, etc.

5. How was the protest in the radio story different from the protest on Monday?
The protest on Monday waas a pathetic excuse to get out of class. That's the difference! Why would we walk out on our education if that is the reason why immigrants come to this country. For a better future!

6. What could have been done differently to protest the proposed law on immigration?
Organize a protest. Not a walkout.

For more info about the debate, go to:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5303676

Myspace Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:22:00 +0000

What do you think about the article?
I think that this happens when ignorant children give out all of their information and expect to be perfectly safe.

What have people done on friends sites such as myspace that put themselves in danger?
Given out their phone number or address.

If you use a blog or myspace, what can you do to protect yourself?
Not give out personal information.

What do you think about Greendot’s efforts to block sites such as myspace?
It's pointless. They're just going to keep getting in through other sites.

Luis Rodriguez

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:08:00 +0000

1) I liked meeting Luis Rodriguez because it was nice to meet the person who wrote the book we read and he answered a lot of our questions about his life and life in general

2) I think it was a good thing that he started that cultural center because now people of all races have a place to meet and express themselves.

3) Luis Rodriguez's life taught me a lot about choices. He explains in his book that life is full of choices and making the right ones affect the outcome of your life. Luis made too many wrong choices anf that was what led to his jail time and gang life.

4) In my opinion, Luis is a leader. His participation in ToHMAS and the cultural center are both examples of how good a leader he is. He knows what former gang members have been through and he can lead them out of the pit they've put themselves in.

Health Class Workshops

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 18:31:00 +0000

a. What have you learned so far from the health class workshops?
I have learned about having safe sex and not doing drugs because of the negative effects.
b. What information has been useful to you?
The information about the effect of longteerm drug use and the consequences of having unprotected sex.
c. How can we improve these workshops?
Make them more interactive to get the students involved.

"What others are thinking about our school..."

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:50:00 +0000

a. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Chang? Why or why not?
Yes, I do agree with mister Chang because our school is constantly criticized by other schools and we have to set a good example for our school.

b. What can you do to make Animo Venice a better place in the eyes of visitors and of the
community?
We can stop throwing trash on the ground and stop breaking rules that keep us in line or doing unappropriate things.

c. What can the school do to make Animo Venice a better place in the eyes of visitors and of the community?
The school can let students know when visitors are going to come and tell students how to act or what not to do. They can also tell people to visit when we have a good day.

"It's Like You're Climbing Mount Everest."

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:33:00 +0000

a. From this article, why do you think these students dropped out of high school?
Because they crumbled under the pressure they put upon themselves. (Teen pregnancies, gangs, etc.) School got too hard and they got too lazy.

b. Which students in this article do you find most interesting? Why?
David is the most interesting for me because he was enrolled in honors classes and was involved in baseball, but gave it all up because he thought it wasn't worth it. He made a big mistake.

c. Based on what you read, what are the major differences between Birmingham High School and Animo Venice?
Animo Venice cares more about attendance and grades. It calls home if a student is truant or make sure students are "on the ball" with the new advisory classes.

d. Let’s say you were a member of the “Outsiders.” How would you want the newspaper to write about your high school story. Write one paragraph that you would add to the newspaper article. In that paragraph, show what you hope your high school experience will be like until the day of graduation.

Although most of his friends from the "Outsiders" failed and dropped out, Omar Khan kept his high GPA and graduated in June of 2005. "I just kept my head up and did all my work," Omar said when asked what set him apart from the others. "It really is sad." Omar tried to persuay his misdirected friends into staying on track, but says he "failed". "Hey, if you work your a** off now, you might not have to in the next 30 years or so."

The Vanishing Class

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 18:21:00 +0000

a. Write 3 sentences about 3 things that you found interesting in the article.
That of 18 studentsthat attended 3 or more schools, only 1 graduaded. How one girl lost her boyfriend after he was shot in the chest 7 times. Only 48% of students (in LAUSD) that started 9th grade in 1999, graduated 4 years later. All of these things are only interesting because they are tragic.

b. Why is dropping out of high school such a big deal for students? Why is it a big deal for society? What does the article say? What page do you find this information?
Because high school dropouts live harder lives, make less money, and require more public assistance. This info is on page 1. EDUCATION=BETTER FUTURE

c. Do you know of any dropouts? If yes, what were their reasons for dropping out.
Yes, my half-brother. He dropped out because he had to support himself and help pay rent.

d. What would be the most likely reason that you would dropout?
I would most likely dropout to take care of or support a family member.

e. What can Animo Venice do to help you graduate from high school and go to college?
Just keep doing what it's doing bacause my mind is set. I won't dropout and I will go to college.

The Vanishing Class

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:30:00 +0000

At this site I chose the picture of the girl at her father's grave. She loos sad and heart-broken. Maybe that's why she dropped out of Birningham High school. Beacause she couldn't habdle all the pressure put on her.
I chose this picture because it is the one that touched me more than all the other ones. It's sad how she dropped out, but she has recovered and is now encouraging her little brother to continue with his education.

You can visit this slideshow by clicking here.
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-012906dropouts_day1-f,0,407230.flash

My First Semester at Animo

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:17:00 +0000

I think I did pretty good in my first semester at Animo Venice. My grades were alwaysat "A"s or "B"s. I am really glad that I finished the semester with all "A"s and did good on my finals. I had a good time in Spanish and Technology class. Ethnic Studies was really tuff, but I got through it alright. For my grades, I think I'll do what I've always done and try to get 100%'s in every class. In 10 years, I'll be out of UCLA, entering Yale, with tons of offers from engineers and scientists all over the world.

Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 18:37:00 +0000

Over my winter vacation, I went to Mexico (specifically Jalisco and Guanajuato). I had a lot of fun blowing up action figures with fireworks and attending all the winter holiday parties my family had. I had a good time but telling you about it will take too long, so bye!

My Community

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 20:23:00 +0000

What do you consider as your “community?”
The area in which I live and the people in it.
What is a problem that you have noticed in your community?
Many crazed drivers drive through my little street (which is barely big enough for 2 cars to drive through at once) at very high speeds.
What evidence do you have about that problem?
Sometimes I play football outside with my friends and some maniac drives through like its a freeway (even at night)
Where can you get ideas about other problems in your community?
My Mom (Rosa) FOX 11 News
My Dad (Roger) My Music Teacher (Aaron)
My Brother (Amer) ABC 7 News
LA Weekly KCAL 9 News
LA Youth UPN 13 News

The Champions Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:22:00 +0000

I am happy to say that the retreat was worth it. It challenged my physical abilities and allowed me to make new friends that I had not payed any attention to before. It was a way to show my classmates that I could do things that they thought I could not do. I impressed my friends and myself. The rock climbing and the high-ropes course were tests for me. Tests that I easily passed and tried over and over again. All in all, this was a very good experience and I would defenitely do it again.

Joe R. Hicks

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 21:55:00 +0000

I think that Joe R. Hicks is a very open-minded person that is always willing to open himself to new ideas. He is very confident, but deals in absolutes.
I would consider him a leader because of his acheivements in life and his current job as the vice president of the SCLC in Los Angeles and his involvement in advocacy.
Joe's opinion is that anybody has the capacity to be a leader. I think that this is true because with the types of skills that someone might have, they can be fit to be a leader in a specific type of catagory or subject. Someone like MLK Jr., who was an eloquent speaker, is fit for leadership that deals with addressing a large group of people where as the leader of a STAR WARS group on Myspace.com might not be a leader because of his/her people skills, but because of his/her knowledge of STAR WARS.

Voting in The Jim Crow South

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 17:29:00 +0000

In this activity, I played the role of an African American who wanted to vote. The point that this activity was trying to get out is how hard it was for an African American to vote in those times. It highlighted all of the obstacles that would be in your way and actually gives you the type of literacy test you would have to take. I learned that it was very hard, even impossible at times, to vote in the Jim Crow south.

You can experience this activity as well. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools.html

Rosa Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 19:29:00 +0000

Rosa Parks passed away on Monday, October 24, 2005.Ms. Parks became famous for starting the bus boycott after she refused to sit in the back of a public bus. Most people think that she did this because she was tired and that was a reason but it was mot the real reason. the real reason why she didn't give up her seat was because she didn't want to "be mistreated or be deprived" of the seat she had paid for. Before she did this act of bravery, she was a seamsrtess at a local department store and after this incident, she became part of a major civil rights movement known as the bus boycott. Ms. Parks was the inspiration of the many movements Martin Luther King started and many other historical civil rights leaders. Without her, my school would probably be segregated and extremely poor without her; I probably wouldn't be writing this right now.

Japanese American History Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 20:45:00 +0000

Overall, I think the Japanese American History Museum was very interesting and it really got me hooked on Japanese American history. Two things I learned are how the Japanes call their first generation in the United States Ise, the second, Nise, and the third, Sanse. I also learned that Benjamin Franklin was a racist. My favorite aspect of the museum was seeing the Medal of Honor and all of the other medals(bronze star, purple heart, etc.)that the Japanese Americans in WWII and the model of Manzanar(an internment camp). Some of the similarities between the Asian American experience and the African American experience is that they both involve racism, unfair treatment, and civil rights struggles.

My Personality

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:53:00 +0000

According to the personality test I have just taken, my code is INTJ. This means that I am a very practical person that relies on logic and facts to prove something right or wrong and I do not do well with people.
According to http://www.personalitypage.com/INTJ_car.html, my personalityis this: "More so than any other personality type, INTJs are brilliant when it comes to grasping complex theories and applying them to problems to come up with long-term strategies. Since this type of "strategizing" is the central focus and drive of the INTJ, there is a happy match between desire and ability in this type. Accordingly, the INTJ is happiest and most effective in careers which allow this type of processing, and which promote an environment in which the INTJ is given a lot of autonomy over their daily lives."
The types of jobs that I am cut out for are:
Scientists
Engineers
Professors and Teachers
Medical Doctors / Dentists
Corporate Strategists and Organization Builders
Business Administrators / Managers
Military Leaders
Lawyers / Attorneys
Judges
Computer Programmers, Systems Analysts and Computer Specialists
The type of wife I would most likely have would probably be an ENFP or an ENTP.

My Learning Style

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 19:46:00 +0000

I have a verbal, logical, visual, kinestethic, musical, and intrapersonal learning style so basically, I can learn many different ways. My weakest learning style is interpersonal because I don't like working with people. I can improve this learning style by working with people but I don't feel like it!!!

Bill O'Reilly Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 17:50:00 +0000

I think what Bill O'Reilly is trying to say is that children these days have to be properly educated and have to work hard in order not to be poor which he says is "powerless". I agree that children have to be educated and have to try their best but I do not agree with what he says about poor people. They are not powerless and it was not their fault at all! They do need help and it was FEMA's job to do that. Just because he is rich and safe doesn't mean we have the chance to be. His narrowminded idea of what poverty is and how to prevent it is ridiculous.

You can see Bill O'Reilly's opinion at this link http://www.thislife.org/ra/296.ram

A Bit More About Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:20:00 +0000

My goals for after high school are to apply to many 4-year universities and hopefully get accepted into one of my choice. In order to achieve these goals, I have to pass all of my AP clases in high school and be determined to go to college. My mom is a very positive influence in my life. She has taught me to never give and always do my best in whatever I participate in. Her character traits include honesty, perceverance, loyalty, trust, kindness, and much more. If anyone talked about me, I would like them to say that I am an intelligent, caring, thoughtful, young man that will acheive in anything I put my heart to.

My Life

noreply@blogger.com (Omar A. Khan) — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 17:21:00 +0000

I was born in Los Angeles in White Memorial Hospital on August 23, 1991. I live with my Dad (Roger), Mom (Rosa), an older brother (Amer), a younger sister (Jasmin), a cat named Smokey, and a python named Medusa. My responsibilities at home are to vaccume the carpet, wash the dishes, and tidy up my room. In middle school, I was involved in soccer, softball, football, music, and art. My family helped shape who I am today.