What makes California special?

Everyone has a dream; everyone will choose to settle in a place best for their development. California is a special place; it means something unique and dissimilar from different standpoints. Many people come here to strive for their goals, creating anecdotes about the successful stories that happened on this extraordinary land. Thus, many poet and writers have borrowed various ways of art and literature to express their feelings towards the Golden State, and some have combined the beauty of poetry and music to express their sentiments to the place. “Sinaloa Cowboys” is one of the most famous poems about California, sharing an important message about California, telling tales how California has changed people and prompting people to think deeper about this place of opportunities. 

California is a place where people come in hopes of making their dreams and goals come true. It is a place rich in opportunities and advantages that helps Californian to become successful, a place where people can start afresh. In the poem “Sinaloa Cowboys” by Bruce Springsteen, it reads: “Miguel came from a small town in northern Mexico. He came north with his brother Louis to California three years ago. They crossed at the river levee, when Louis was just sixteen. And found work together in the fields of the San Joaquin.” This implies that people try their best to come to the blessed California. Through the simple account, it gives people a sense that California is a good place where they can find a better life, and enjoy higher living standards. California is famous of the availability of opportunities, supported by the numerous examples and legends from Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Similarly, in James J. Rawls’ article “California: A Place, a People, a Dream”, the writer stated: “The California Dream is a love affair with an idea, a marriage to a myth, a surrender to collective fantasy. Unbounded by time or space, the California Dream is transcendent, creating a unity, a whole, a merging of past, present, and future in the total California experience. It is quite impossibly everything- and quite impossibly nothing at all.” The writer suggests that the ample opportunities in California is a major reason for its large influx of immigrants. It is an edge rarely present in any other countries, making the Golden State a top choice for those who would like to try their luck.

California is a place that can urge people to grow and learn. In the poem “Sinaloa Cowboys” it mentioned: “They left their homes and family. Their father said, ‘My sons one thing you will learn” It can be understood that California can cultivate people to learn and mature.  The lyrics can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, California is famous for its education system, and when people consider their options of studying abroad, many will prioritize schools in California for pursuing their studies, and for benefiting from the new, welcoming environment. Secondly, California is a place where people can learn from the challenges they face in life, in work, study, life etc. As the old Chinese saying goes: “People who learn from mistake will grow faster than others.“ This hints that people who are here in California would probably receive more challenges from different aspects of life. They may have tough lives when they first start. However, they will learn more and will grow mature in a relatively short period of time comparing to those who grow up in their home countries. The “Sinaloa Cowboys” can be illustrated with an example of an international student who left his pampered life for further education in California. Without all the luxuries and conveniences of care from his family, he must learn to fend for himself while maintaining academic balance, urging him to grow into an independent person. These stories of Californian immigrants or international students have exhibited how the Golden State has greatly aided the intellectual and psychological growth of many.

California is a place where hard work will pay off. People can earn what they want if they are willing to put in effort in their work. The effort and the return will be on a relatively balanced scale. In the poem “Sinaloa Cowboys”, it says: “For everything the north gives, it exacts a price in return. They worked side by side in the orchards. From morning till the day was through. Doing the work the hueros wouldn't do.” These words imply that California provides people with adequate opportunities, but people need pay in their own devotion and diligence in order to develop these opportunities into success. It is impossible to take success for granted, and there is no shortcut to realizing dreams. As mentioned in “Notes of a California Expedition”: “the whole country is full of gold, which can be had for the digging of it. But those who come here, as many do, and imagine that it is easily to be picked up, will be disappointed.” This shows that in California, people cannot just sit there and wait for the fruit, but must invest effort in order to harvest gain. The idea of the poet can be easily found in the real world, as California has legislation on minimum wages. This makes sure workers can receive a fair return for their hard labor to support their lives. Thus, yield is promised to those who work hard to grasp the opportunities given.

There is always a price for success in California. It is a concept of give and take.  There is always some risk involved in improving one’s life. In the poem, it says: “There in the dirt he dug up ten-thousand dollars. All that they'd saved. Kissed his brothers lips and placed him in his grave.” This verse mentions how Louis sacrifices himself in hopes of bringing a better future for his brother or even their family. There is always some cost for achievement in California. Hard work is the prerequisite of attaining success. The price can be big to some, costing them their money, time, childhood, or even life. Success is not as easy as people think. It is common to see people giving up something in return for success in California. For instance, people need to leave their entire family to come to California. Many computer engineers from various states or countries have traveled long ways to come to the Silicon Valley to make a better living, and to look for more fruitful developments in their career. They have given up a large part of their lives in exchange for occupational opportunities. California may be a place of chances, but one can only succeed if one is willing to pay a price for it.

California is an extraordinary state, as shown in the poem “Sinaloa Cowboys” by Bruce Springsteen. It proves that California can provide its people with something that otherwise cannot be given in other places. It provides the opportunities of success, and the opportunity of learning and growing at a faster pace, given that people are willing to grasp these chances and strive for their goals. However, one should not underestimate the risks and challenges people may face in California, for it is the price to pay in order for one to excel.

Reflection

Looking back, the first out class essay is a better essay comparing to the first in class essay. There is a improvement in both grammar and the way I constructed the essay comparing the first and the final draft.  In the final draft, the word choice, the sequence of the paragraph is good, but I think I can still improve in the future.

However there are still some rooms of improvement on how to constructing the essay with the concept of PIE, PIE is a good method to give a basic structure to any academic essay. It provides a good flow for readers to follow, but I think my essay have not fully make use of the PIE, the connection between some P and I is not solid enough. Moreover, the explanation part can create more depth and better understanding; interact in a better with the poems

The Dream Place

 Since the nineteenth centuries, California has become an extraordinary place where nothing is impossible to happen. In the past few decades, California boasted some of the greatest pride across the nation-silicon valley was home to the smartest technologies and inventions of the twenty-first century, and Hollywood had created more theatrical talents than any other place. California is a place where impossible is nothing. It is a big promise to many foreigners—a promise of possibilities, success and comfort for those who are willing to strive and labor for it. As a result, people try their very best to immigrate to the beautiful California for the pursuit of their own dreams.

“Possibility” is a big word that California proudly boasts. There may be numerous personal understandings and expectations to the term, but “The California Dream” has been generally perceived a hope of dream come true. In James J. Rawl’s article “California: A Place, a People, a Dream”, the writer stated: “The California Dream is a love affair with an idea, a marriage to a myth, a surrender to collective fantasy. Unbounded by time or space, the California Dream is transcendent, creating a unity, a whole, a merging of past, present, and future in the total California experience. It is quite impossibly everything- and quite impossibly nothing at all.” There are a myriad of descriptions of the California Dream, all of which are very encouraging and optimistic. There are no limitations as to what one can achieve on this piece of Promised Land that realizes the famous motto “Nothing Is Impossible”. Physical factors such as time and location are non-existent obstacles to hinder anyone’s dream, and this can be understood that California is a place where people are looking for something better here. Taking my uncle as an example, they originally live in Hong Kong, in a small flat, as Hong Kong ‘s flat price were extremely high and the social benefits were not as good as California. They came to California eight years ago. He started his own business here, in a short period of time, due to his hard work. He successfully made much money and bought a big house and a nice car. This showed that California is a place can makes you better. Definitely, California dream is a synonym to improvement.

The California Dream is commonly connected to the ideals of quality lifestyle. Its moderate subtropical climates as well as the liberal manners have provided the easiness of life without much physical discomfort or mental oppression. In the past few decades, many people enjoyed high quality of life and better living standard in the Golden State. In “California Dreaming: Myths of the Golden Land”, it states: ”the promise if California has been one of the easy life – easy climate, easy money, freedom under sunny skies, paradise.“ California is known to offer an unparalleled place for its inhabitants, allowing a decent lifestyle for everyone without restraints. The simply “easy” has many implications on the California, suggesting that it is a haven with political stability, civil liberties, social acceptance and adequate resources. A place like California is hard to come by, since there are few places that can offer all the same, if not better, living qualities. Eastern China is known for its abundant resources and favorable climates, making it undoubtedly a good place to live. However, despite its natural advantage and recent economic success, many people are being oppressed by archaic legislations, and are vulnerable against the corrupted legal systems. In addition, they enjoy few privileges and their mindsets are controlled by the government. Hence, part of the essence of “being Californian” is the easiness and privileges of leading free and comfortable lives.

Furthermore, the Californian dream usually equates to the availability of opportunities. The West Coast, especially in its early stages, is a place where there are plenty of chances for people to explore and excel in various aspects. This is an attractive factor encouraging people to immigrate to California. In “ A New Perspective on the Dream” by Denise S. Spooner, she mentions how the migrants “identified California with risk, danger, excitement, and the chance of acquiring a fortune. This was exactly what some of the migrants had in mind when they imagined southern California as a land of adventure and opportunity”. California is a place providing different chances hardly found in other countries, where the commoners’ opportunities are often being seized by the strict adherence to the social hierarchy. The absence of an apparent social barrier makes California an attractive option for those who are willing to push their luck. Many Chinese immigrants entered California in the 19^th century in hopes of better lives and more opportunities to succeed. They saw the profusion of chances to become successful in their own trade, and opportunity to climb up the social ladder, and the possibility of giving a better life for their descendants. In short, California provided a second chance for all those who were previously restrained by the their social standings.

Nevertheless, the California dream is not merely about success; there is also the implication of the existence of risk. While opportunities are offered, not all that seize the chance are bound to be successful. Many people have failed in their journey of striving their own goal. As mentioned in “Notes of a California Expedition”: “the whole country is full of gold, which can be had for the digging of it. But those who come here, as many do, and imagine that it is easily to be picked up, will be disappointed.” Successful is part of, but not the complete, picture of life in California. One cannot be certain about prosperity, and can only hope for luck. The California Dream can only go so far as to provide a chance for some foreigner to try to lead different lives, but it does not guarantee anything.

The California Dream is a hope to abundant possibilities and chances to create a new life. The people’s work ethics and skills are like the seeds of plants, while the two main ideas in the California Dream, opportunities and success, are like the water and soil. The diligence and efforts alone does not guarantee fruitful results, like plants alone cannot grow without the necessary conditions. There must be a place, like California, which offers the critical conditions necessary for growth. 

Reflection 

This is the first in class essay; I had learned a lesson by a careless mistake, as I did not proofread much on my essay, there were many grammatical mistakes in it. The readers were proofreading it but not reading it. This is a reminded me that proofread is a very important process in writing an article.
            I think this essay can be improved in different ways. First, the sentence structure are similar, do not have much variety, it is quite boring to the readers. Moreover, the choice of vocabularies, the limited vocabularies in my mind had also limited the message I can express. I hope I can learn more through reading others’ paper and practice more to improve my writing skills.