# data[].attributes.headline
Ricky, I really enjoyed reading your Padlet thoughts/reflections on the books of the semester. You responded to each of the sections with honesty and self-reflection that said a lot about you as a person…that you are open to learning more about who you are and who you are becoming! Exciting possibility! This openness extended to our class discussions as well…you added a lot to them and through this allowed others to learn from you!  You are a person who has a great future ahead…I think you will enjoy graphic design.  You are a creative person and this field will allow you to express this!   

# data[].attributes.subject
Ricky, I really enjoyed reading your Padlet thoughts/reflections on the books of the semester. You responded to each of the sections with honesty and self-reflection that said a lot about you as a person…that you are open to learning more about who you are and who you are becoming! Exciting possibility! This openness extended to our class discussions as well…you added a lot to them and through this allowed others to learn from you!  You are a person who has a great future ahead…I think you will enjoy graphic design.  You are a creative person and this field will allow you to express this!   

# data[].attributes.body
Even though this semester feels like it has flown right by, I feel like I have had numerous areas of self-growth. At the beginning of the semester I thought I had it all figured out. I was telling my professors, peers, and myself that I was going to graduate from Dominican University as either a civil or mechanical engineer. But, I have made a drastic change towards my major. Now I'm telling everyone that I'll hopefully be graduating from Dominican University as a Graphic Design Major. I feel like this shows major growth in my life because I'm now open to change on major life decisions. I have had people tell me that my decision to do so was a mistake, but I am confident about it so I try not to let others convince me otherwise. Another area where I feel like I have grown is acceptance. Acceptance not only in myself but others as well. I believe because of Tattoos on the Heart; I have developed the ability to accept all other and everything they have been through in life. Professor Miller and my classmates have had a big impact on this as well. Our class discussions have allowed me to share my own personal experiences with others. This is a major transition in my growth because before this semester, I was not comfortable sharing anything from my past. But now I've grown to accept what others might think, and still be open to their thoughts and opinions.

# data[].attributes.body
All three books had many themes, but each had at least one that stands out the most. For Tattoos on the Heart the major theme that stands out is forgiveness. Although forgiveness is not a labeled chapter in this novel is still plays a major role in the novel entirely. "My own falsely self-assertive and harmful, unfree ego gets drawn into the expansive heart of God. It is precisely in the light of God's vastness and acceptance of me that I can accept the harm I do for what it is," (Boyle, 44). God always finds the good in people. This tells me as a reader that God will accept anyone even if they make mistakes.

For Fire in the Ashes, the theme that stands out the most is support. I discovered this not only because of the book but because of a personal experience with my sister. In the book Christopher lacked the support he needed growing up, and his life had a sad ending. Benjamin’s life started out sad but now he lives full life, because the love and support that Martha gave to him as he grew older. In my life, my brother and I gave my sister the support she needed growing up, and now she’s doing just fine.

The major theme in Living Buddha Living Christ is mindfulness. In the text, Hanh’s idea of mindfulness is the connection we make to our surroundings. Hanh uses the example of the monk stating, “The monk practices mindful breathing while performing daily tasks… and looks deeply at each object he comes in contact with.” This is important because mindfulness is more than being aware. It’s about being considerate; it tells us to reflect and think before we act. All three books share a similar theme to the one of Living Buddha Living Christ, and that is that all should avoid selfishness.

# data[].attributes.body
“Father G” gets through many of the homies that come to Homeboy Industries. What he does is special. He touches people’s hearts and possibly saves lives. He looks for the good, hidden by the evil, in the homies. He gives them the chance of redemption that they desperately desire, and because of this, is why Tattoos on the Heart has resonated with me the most. An example that stood out or was pivotal to me was after a visit to Pritchard a homie named Memo states, ‘“G, I don’t know what’s happening to me, but it’s big. It’s like, for the first time in my life, I feel, I don’t know, what’s the word . . . I feel compassion for what other people suffer,”’ (Boyle, 82). This was a pivotal point in the novel to me because I can actually relate to the homie. I feel like after this point in the book I gained agency. I would consider myself more aware and considerate of others because of Tattoos on the Heart.

# data[].attributes.body
Reflection and mindfulness have developed in my life greatly over this semester. I've been able to look back at everything I've been through not just this semester but everything I've been through since I could even remember. I feel like I have become more mindful of everything I’ve done since our class finished reading Tattoos on the Heart. To be mindful, to me, is to be aware or conscious, and I feel like I have considered how my actions not only affect me but those around me as well. Something that helps me do this is when I take a second to think about my actions before I do them. I notice I stop and breathe which usually helps me think as well. What hinders me in enacting this in my life is when people pressure or provoke me consistently into doing something. I always reflect on my actions whether they were right or wrong and I feel like this has helped me grow as a young adult.

# data[].attributes.body
Some areas that I hope to reflect and develop on are acceptance and success. I have already got a head start on acceptance but I still wish to better understand success and what it means to me and others. Ways I can continue to grow in understanding success is reading more books like Living Buddha Living Christ and Tattoos on the Heart. Both books did an excellent job of telling the stories of many different people and how change has influenced them towards their success. Another way is to keep in contact with my peers and my professors and engage in conversations about what I learned from this class this semester.