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I am here to acknowledge how off track I am and all the things I have been taking for granted all my life. I have been moving for the past week, starting a new job and balancing a 12 academic unit semester. I would like to acknowledge the fact that I am off my game and need to step it up. On a more positive note I wanna reflect back on a lot of the good things I have done these past couple weeks. I want to acknowledge the accomplishment of finally moving ut of my parents home, semi smoothly moving into a new place, and getting an awesome new job that is going to bring me good in the future.

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First off, I'd like to acknowledge how weird the word 'acknowledgment' looks. I had to triple check to make sure I hadn't misspelled it.
Jokes aside, I'm glad that in a time where so many people are struggling, especially after extra unemployment benefits have run out, that I'm still capable of living relatively comfortably. While the pandemic is definitely not a good thing, it's given me a chance to step back and restructure my life and goals. I'm no longer working upwards of 80 hours a week and I've never realized until now exactly how stressed I always was.

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I am thankful to myself. I have learned that I only need to rely on myself and I am grateful for my strength to do that.

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I wish to acknowledgment that even though so much horrifying events that occurred through 2020, that there are people out in the world trying their best to help others to help brighten their life
It might be something small like a friend trying to talk to someone over call to make their day better or the people that gave money towards the workers who lost their jobs. It's very good to know that many people are doing their best to make the world better even in the darkest of times.

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I would like to begin acknowledging my family. I will always be eternally grateful for my family for always being there for me whenever I need anyone or anything. They never let me feel alone.
I would also like to acknowledge my health, especially in these rough times. My health isn't perfect, mentally nor physically, however I am still grateful I wake up every morning and I am able to work and go to school.
I would like to acknowledge the privilege I carry of being who I am, which has not been so clear to me until this year. 2020 has been very eye opening for many reasons such as the BLM movement, the terrible treatment of the immigrant children and families at the borders, all of the sex trafficking, etc. I am grateful for not having to experience what others go through, and I will continue to stand for justice and equality for all.
My last acknowledgment will go towards myself. I would like to acknowledge the person I have become and the growth I have experienced. I would like to acknowledge the personal struggles I have overcome and the lessons I have learned and allowed to shape me into who I am today. I know I have more to learn in the years ahead, but I am proud of how far Iv'e come.

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I would like to

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I am grateful for all the strangers I've met, but one in particular. Recently, I left on a road trip with my partner and met different people from various backgrounds along the way (from San Diego and up the coast to Washington towards South Dakota and then back home). We had the best pizza in Eugene, Oregon and we also met the first person that acknowledged our relationship there which was just as amazing. My partner and I are often confused as friends, even when we hold hands or embrace each other - this is extremely frustrating. This person was the first person on the entire trip to accept the truth. She didn't have to specifically state anything or look at us in some odd way, she just simply saw us for what we are. I am specifically grateful to this stranger.

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California is by far the most important source of fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy, meat, and other products of the U.S. food system. California growers employ one out of three of the nation’s farmworkers. Some 70 percent of these workers were born in Mexico. I want to acknowledge the worn hands and backs of the men and women that feed America, many of them here illegally. As a child of an immigrant, and as a first generation immigrant in this country, I want to bring attention to the stigma of migrants, and their value to a modern society.

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These past few months have been some of the most eventful in my life, and something I have come to acknowledge is the passing of time and how growing up comes whether or not you are ready. Since March, like many of us, I was furloughed by my job and all my classes went online. I was able to go home for a month and a half, which I have not been able to do since I moved to San Diego three years ago. After coming back to San Diego, I got a full time job. I did not know that that month and a half at home might be my last for a while.  Life has hit me like a bus in this past month, I had another depressive episode and I felt like I was being suffocated by all my responsibilities. I am so grateful for the fact that I have a job right now, which in this climate is very hard to get. I am grateful that I got to be home with my family for that long, not even knowing what was to come in the following weeks. Once I acknowledged that time was passing, but that did not mean my life was passing by, I was able to breathe again.  It sounds overdramatic and it was, but I acknowledged my feelings and fears and through that I was able to grow in them and calm down. Without that acknowledgment and validating my feelings and thoughts, I would still be in the same stuck place I was a month ago.

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First of all, I'd like to acknowledge this assignment for helping me remember how blessed I am for all the wonderful people in my life and amazing opportunities and things I have had as I forget to be grateful at times.
I would love to acknowledge my parents for being supportive throughout my years and letting me be my own person.  This also goes to my best friends who have talked to me throughout this quarantine and helped me not feel so lonely as I had in beginning.
This personal time to myself has helped me learn and realize the person I want to be and even though I am still confused on what I want to do with life and what are my ultimate goals, I have a better perspective on the type of person I want to be.  I also would like to give myself some acknowledgement as that is something I rarely do and I have been making progress on having self love and realizing my worth.  I feel very blessed to have had these 18 years of life as not everyone gets the chance to and it inspires me to make something out of my life in order to make a difference. (:

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My parents, especially my mother, who left everything in their own country to be able to provide a better life for their children, even if it meant being alone in a foreign land.
I would like to acknowledge my sisters, who are constantly battling the "machismo"  and gender norms that has been imbedded into our culture, and who have been fantastic support systems.
I am grateful for my brother, who has shone light into my life and who has given me a purpose.
I am grateful to live a comfortable life thanks to the sacrifices of two people who were once immigrants.

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It is important to always remember the many factors that contribute to our success and happiness. Of course, the support of family members it's important, but the planet in which we live it's also full of non-human life that makes our happiness possible.

Everyday of my life I will be thankful for my mother, I express this very often.

Today I wish to express my gratitude to the night sky. We go about our life so fast, moving on to the next thing in order to survive, that we remember small details that makes us who we are. As I admired the night sky from my window, I noticed that the constellations above us are the only things that have not changed since my childhood, I even think of them as my friends. The night sky holds many of my memories, and I want to properly express my gratitud to the beautiful shinning stars,

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I would like to acknowledge myself and my achievements; although this sounds selfish, I was able to flourish out of a depressive state from 2018- beginning of 2020. In 2019, I also developed an anxiety disorder. These issues interfered with every single aspect of my life. However, I have used quarantine to focus solely on the self care I lacked during those years. I was able to regain the confidence I once had, and was able to overcome many fears and worries. I also developed a completely new perspective in life in a spiritual way as well, which was pretty enlightening. This post may come off as vain, but I am proud sharing it just because I am proud of overcoming the mental Hell I was inducing on myself. I love to write, so I am looking forward to class!

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I give gratitude to the experiences I have endured to lead me to the person, mindset, and the morals I value today. I grew up a certain way where I could have gone down one path or the other and I am very grateful I feel as strong as I feel from where I came from. Facing certain challenges may not have been ideal but without them I don't think I would be the person I am today. I do have bad days where I feel I have less than I could have imagined but, without comparing myself to others, I know I could be in a worse place. I'm thankful I have my goals set up even though they may not be concrete, I'm thankful for my drive and strength even though I may procrastinate. Then I'm thankful for the people around me because without them I would not have someone to look up to and feel motivated or inspired.

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The US Navy. When I was around age seven, my mom married my step-dad very soon after he enlisted in the Navy. Before this, my mother, my sister, and I were still living with my Gramma in the middle of Nevada. Through the Navy, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and benefits they have given my family. Through the hard work of my dad in the Navy, he has made it to where I can attend college for free using his GI Bill, therefore giving me a free education. Also, I have always had difficult health issues growing up and the healthcare the Navy provides has been helpful with that as well.
I would also like to acknowledge the internet. Without the internet, we would not be able to do any of the online schooling we can do now along with the multiple ways to keep in contact with loved ones.

- Hannah Hindman

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I would not be who I am without my parents—all four of them. A young couple many years ago made the decision that they couldn't take care of an infant, so they gave me up for adoption—to an amazing couple who could not have loved me more. Who I am is as much a result of the life I had with Frank and Eleanor as it is of the DNA I received from my birth parents. From my parents (the parents who raised me), I inherited integrity, compassion, and a fierce sense of fair play. I learned to work hard for the things I wanted; and to be loyal to those who love me.  It's fascinating to me that one huge part of my personality—a love of animals—seems to have come from both of my sets of parents. It is my goal to make them all proud—the ones still here, and the ones in Heaven.

I would also not be who I am without my husband of 31 years (yep, I'm THAT old). We grew into adults together there is no one else I trust more.

Lastly, I am grateful for the existence of the community college system, which allows me to continue to expand my outlook and challenge my brain because I want to. I think once  you stop striving to learn, you start to get old.

I hope the world heals and sanity returns, and that love wins.

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I am only 21 years old, but I feel as though my short life should have been cut about 2 years ago. I was hit by a car while on my bike, cracked the back part of my helmet, and was told by a surgeon that I was very lucky to have walked away in the condition I did. Due to that experience I have developed a great feeling of gratitude when surrounded by the natural world; moments of watching the sun peak over Himalayan Mountains, waterfalls beautifully exhibiting their power as they crash water against cliff sides. I feel a large amount of gratitude to walk the paths of nature that embody the idea of solitude, but to also witness the jovial sense of humor that Mother Nature has. One of those situations being, a monkey stealing a grapefruit from a Sri Lankan vendor, and to be met with a cheeky grin as one peers up in the trees.
I am incredibly grateful to have experienced the true fragility that is mortality. An experience that has allowed me to feel the empathy towards the vulnerability of the natural world that provides an endless amount of a beauty, love, pain, and resources to all who walk amongst the elements.

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My loving, supportive community of family and friends for encouraging my academic path. I’m thankful for the US Navy and all branches of the armed forces, comprised of brave individuals who defend our country and which also caused my family to locate here in beautiful San Diego. I’m thankful for books and literature and every individual who contributes to their powerful and inspiring messages. I’m thankful for my professor and my classmates who make this class possible, and I can’t wait to get started!

Kaitlyn Garber

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I am grateful to be able to live in California and provide for myself as well as go to school.  I am thankful for this because I have had so many meaning experiences and relationships that have blossomed. I am especially happy that my best friend moved her with me. I am able to share all these memories with her as we start this new chapter in our life. The support that I get from her is amazing and I would not still be here without her.

Evelyn Sager

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Hi...so according to the definition provided, acknowledgement is the acceptance of the truth or existence of something. I acknowledge the fact that I will not be treated the same as some of my family members. Since I can remember, I have always proudly identified as Hispanic/Latina and never felt embarrassed or ashamed about my ethnicity. However, I will never be racially profiled by the police like my little sister or yelled at by some stranger to go back to her country like my mother all because I was born white with blues eyes ("guera"). Growing up I always wished I looked like my mom or anyone of my relatives with darker features. I always stood out and people questioned constantly if we were related. As I have gotten older, I have come to understand this horrifying reality.  I acknowledge that  I will never be able to truly understand what it means to experience discrimination/prejudice because of my white privilege and that I must take accountability for my own behavior conscious or otherwise. It is not enough to admit there is a problem, but take a conscious step in fixing it within ourselves and others so that this type of treatment does not perpetuate.
PS: Sorry if that got a little too heavy...was the first thing that popped into my head. Anyway looking forward to this class and getting to know you guys!

Marie Hope :)

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I would like to acknowledge my parents. I have seen my immigrant parents work very hard since I was young. They taught me what it means to work for what you want in life. I am in this class today because my parents have sacraficed a lot so I could get an education. I would also like to acknowledge my highschool ap english teacher for sparking my interest in literature

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I am incredibly grateful for my parents that immigrated from Vietnam to the United States. We don't always see eye to eye, but I want them to know that their sacrifices aren't in vain. I acknowledge how important it was for them to leave and how important it is for me to be successful. I acknowledge that they are my support beam and the stem of my motivation. I acknowledge that I shall be resilient and strive to make them happy and myself happy.

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I acknowledge my grandmother for raising my siblings and me. I acknowledge my grandfather for stepping in and being the father I needed in my adolescent years and for walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. I acknowledge my husband for supporting my decision to quit my job of 12 years and pursue my education. I acknowledge my daughter for being the ray of sunshine on my cloudiest of days. Lastly, I acknowledge myself, for persevering through all that life has thrown at me and using those troubles as motivation for better and and not as an excuse for less.

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I am grateful for having a family that loves me and supports me in the choices that I make. Truthfully, I wouldn't be the man I am today without their guidance. They both committed sacrifices so that my sister and I can succeed, and have the life that they never could. Family is essential , it's important. But that love, that support doesn't always have to come in human form. I would also like acknowledge my love for another family, the Orcinus Orca. They are wolves of the sea that hunt in packs, glide underneath the waves, and are a driving force for why I write.

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I am grateful for my eighth grade teacher, Mr. Ranoa, for being the first person to say I was smart and that he believed in me. He helped me see my self worth and inspired me to be a teacher. I am also grateful for my dogs who make life a lot easier to get through and my boss at work who is always so supportive of me.

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I am grateful fr my parents. They evacuated their home country to seeking a better life for my siblings and I. They still continue to support us.

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I would like to acknowledge the heat of the room that I sit in, which is over 90 degrees (although the stuffy air feels makes it feel much hotter). I would like to acknowledge the piles of poorly packed corners, and the roaches that are certainly living in the little crevices under the kitchen counter. Mostly, though, I would like to acknowledge my luck at having been able to find the place that I now call home with my fiance, and my excitement at our future together.

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The odds of being born are about one in 400 trillion. From the opportunities the universe continues to grant me to being able to wake up as the sun rises, I am grateful for being able to live. It’s a blessing to be born in this vessel I call my body and to climb this staircase that is anything but crystal (as Langston Hughes described). Although I have wanted to give up many times, the people in my life have encouraged me to keep going; and what a wonderful journey it’s been so far.

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I acknowledge that I am thankful and grateful to be alive. I acknowledge my health and my happiness. I acknowledge the upbringings of my loving family. I acknowledge my belief in my faith. I acknowledge my education and my focus towards my career. I acknowledge my supportive friends and all my peers. I acknowledge the earth and its beautiful resources.

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The universe as we know it, all those who strive humbly for success and the betterment of the environment we live in. Also those in our corner pushing us to be our  best. Me personally, most thankful for my mom and my dog,  I wouldn't have got this far without them two; along with others who gave me the opportunity to explore/share life as they know and see it.

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My partner, Alex. When my parents moved states away and disowned me, when two consecutive best friends did things to me that destroyed our friendships, when my brother (who is the only immediate family I can speak to) stopped talking to me for weeks, when I spontaneously changed my major and my life goals, Alex was my foundation. He's the reason why I'm taking this course, and the reason why I'm here today. I'd also like to acknowledge my friends, who have been sounding boards for the years I have known them and been invaluable assets in my personal growth.

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My family, for the most part chosen, and especially my husband, as their support is why I can do as much as I do.

My dogs, a subset of the above-mentioned family, for their goofy contributions to my daily routine and regular laughter, which are the backbones of my sanity.

For this class in particular, Richard Shea and Laurel Amtower, both of them now in that less-distinct form we all are headed toward, for the embers they tossed into my latent academic interests, and the fanning they still do of the resultant fire.

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My 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Sanchez.  She is the person who has made the greatest impact on my life outside of my friends and family.  If not for her intervention and reccomendation, I would never have been able to read the Harry Potter series when I was a kid.  However, I did, and that lead me to a lifetime of wonder.  It is only thanks to her small action all those years ago that has allowed me to fully explore thousands of different stories and worlds.  She definitely deserves some recognition

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My children, who are the reason I decided to pursue higher education. Since I was an orphaned, little girl, I always told everyone if I ever have kids, I will do everything in my power to give them the life I never had. I have a smart, spunky four-year-old and two-year-old. My two-year-old has undergone two open heart surgeries and has one more coming in the next year as well as a possible heart transplant in the future.  Her, and her sister, have shown me
strength I never knew was possible. The two-year-old for bouncing back and proving her strength and perseverance to surgeons, cardiologists, and the world, and the four-year-old for showing patience and love for a small, sick baby beyond what a toddler herself should fully have to grasp.

Although I am not
perfect, they have shown me unconditional love and they remind me that if they can thrive after such a rocky beginning, I can do anything I set my mind to.

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My parents, who are immigrants from the Philippines. I am who I am because of their love, support, the faith they instilled, and the sacrifices they made.

The faith I have. I am a Christian and it's a very personal relationship that has taught me how to love, trust, and what it means to be humble.

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In this post, I will be acknowledging my dad. The way I would like to do so is to write as if I were talking to him. 
I want to tell you thank you. I really appreciate everything you did for my sisters and I. I know it wasn’t easy raising three girls and the divorce on top of that didn’t help. Being a kid, I didn’t understand what was really happening but now as a grow up I can see how hard living is and how expensive it is. I’m really grateful for how much you loved us and how much you did for us. I keep going to places (like Grossmont or areas around there) and remembering little things we used to do like go to Blockbusters, McDonalds, or to get frozen yogurt when I passed a spelling test. I think about the past a lot now that I’m able to recognize how much I miss it and the childhood you’ve given me means a lot to me. You moving to Utah has forced me to mature and grow a lot (though it may not seem that way) I know I have a long way to go still. I’m fortunate to have had a father like you. You always motivated me, whether it was during my hardships I faced in math or with my interest in the Arts. It definitely led me in the direction of attending college despite growing up surrounded by disadvantages. I love you a lot and I miss you. 

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My amazing team at CBP. I had the best management team I've ever had- and I have had quite a few. The officers and management were awesome people who taught me that there are positive work environments out there, with positive people and positive energy overall. I had to move on, but I will never forget my experience there.

(Not to mention the work we did- from tending to passengers to special projects- were incredibly cool.)

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The Kumeyaay Nation . We are here on their land, now called San Diego. They have occupied this land for over 12,000 years.

The legacy and history of Black Americans and their continuing contributions to the building of this nation. Black lives matter.