The Trajectory of My Life by Alyssa R

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 03:34:29 UTC

Picture of my Great Grandmother with her mother a little before they left Germany or after

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 04:24:44 UTC

A picture of my Great Grandfather with his mother.

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 04:36:08 UTC

A picture of me and my grandpa as he was in the Rehabilitation Center/ Nursing Home

The National WWII Museum

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 04:50:28 UTC

The article from The National WWII Museum talks about how the Nazis carried out the mass murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. It also explains that other groups, like Roma people, Poles, and those with disabilities, were targeted too. The piece stresses why it’s so important to remember these events and the people who were affected.

The Holocaust

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 05:01:30 UTC

Back in the 1930s, as things started getting worse in Germany, my great-grandmother and her family began to fear for their lives. The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime brought with it a terrifying wave of antisemitism, violence, and discrimination that affected daily life in Germany. Knowing they could no longer stay in a place that was their home they made the incredibly difficult decision to leave everything behind. They wanted to get away from the murder and horrible discrimination they faced everywhere. It was hard leaving Germany but thankfully they succeeded. They travelled to the United States in hopes of safety and sanctuary. My Great-grandmother arrived in Fresno and had her daughter (my grandmother) years later, which now established my mother's side residing in Fresno.

Black out Poem

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-05-30 05:52:50 UTC

I was in Poland

With my own eyes

Cruelty

I see in my mind

suffering faces

torture and murder

They do not harbor hatred,

they are simply

doing their jobs

in cold blood.

Extermination

Systemically Starving

to death

One conclusion

The Germans are trying

to exterminate

the whole.

The Korean War

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-01 05:50:12 UTC

My grandpa used to tell me stories about his dad and what he went through after fighting in the Korean War. He said the war never really ended for him; it just followed him home. Some nights, my grandpa would wake up to his father screaming in his sleep, trapped in nightmares about the things he’d seen and done. The sound of it stayed with him.

During the day, it wasn’t much better. There were times his dad would have these episodes like something would take over and his mother would have to calm him down, hold him, remind him he was safe. My grandpa remembered seeing his dad curled up in his mother's arms, crying and begging God to forgive him for the things he’d had to do in combat.

He talked about how his dad would describe how it was during battle; walls of men coming at him, and how he’d shoot them all down just to stay alive. And when there were too many, he’d hide under the bodies, pretending to be dead, hoping he wouldn’t be found. What really stuck with my grandpa was how hard it was to see his father, this strong, brave man, slowly become a shadow of who he used to be.

70 Years After Korea: Tales of the Forgotten War

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 04:39:38 UTC

This article shares personal stories from American veterans who served in the Korean War. Often overshadowed by World War II and Vietnam, the Korean War is sometimes called “The Forgotten War,” but for those who fought, it was anything but forgettable. The article highlights the extreme conditions these soldiers faced like freezing cold weather and rough terrain and the emotional weight of combat. By telling these veterans’ stories, the piece aims to honor their sacrifices and make sure their experiences aren’t forgotten.

Black out Poem

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 05:35:04 UTC

mile by mile and

day by day

abandoned, lost

washed with

humanity flowing south away

The impulse to escape

the terrible cold,

the mountains

overwhelming

most of the Eighth Army fell apart

collapse

reduced to hysterical laughter

rumor of every kind

held sway over

we knew of the Chinese

different

submissive

but they themselves

ran by units

six feet and over

wreaking havoc

fighting a large-scale

guerilla war

a triumph not merely

of communism

COVID 19

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 16:13:21 UTC

The transition from sixth grade to fully online school for the remainder of sixth grade and all of seventh grade was incredibly challenging. I remember being so excited for sixth grade camp, it was just a week away, and I had heard so many great things about it from my older siblings. But out of nowhere, we got a notice that school would be closed for two weeks due to a spreading illness. We were told the camp would be rescheduled when we returned. Everyone was excited to hear that we would be off school for two weeks until the realization of the severity of this sickness. We never returned to school. By then COVID-19 was in full bloom. Suddenly, masks became the norm, school was entirely online, and I found myself constantly washing my hands after touching anything. My family stocked up on supplies; hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, soap, everything. People around us were getting sick, and it was terrifying. The scariest moment was when my brother got COVID, and one by one, the rest of us caught it too. My dad and twin sister even developed pneumonia. Being stuck inside every day made me more reserved and withdrawn. I lost touch with old friends and kept to myself throughout all of seventh grade. When eighth grade came and we were told we'd be returning to in-person school, I was filled with anxiety. I didn’t know anyone anymore, and it felt like everyone else already had their friend groups. Slowly throughout the year I began making friends, but it wasn't until sophomore where I began putting myself out there and breaking out of this box, I put myself in.

Impact of COVID-19 on adolescent health and use of social media

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 16:20:13 UTC

This article shows the effects that COVID-19 had on children. It explains how isolation caused the decline of mental health to many adolescents during these tough times.

Teens in America: How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Shaping the Next Generation

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 16:59:00 UTC

The article explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected teenagers in America, especially their mental health. With school closures, social isolation, and more time online, many teens have experienced increased anxiety, depression, and other emotional struggles. It emphasizes how important it is for parents, educators, and mental health professionals to support teens as they try to cope and heal from everything they've been through.

Cento Poem

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 17:15:32 UTC

Suddenly we are all aliens,
in this new enforced silence,
crossing the road
when we spot a person
indiscriminately.

We’ve woken up foreigners
on a planet we believed
belonged to us,
but today has been declared
off limits.

We scold our children
for running up to the postman,
reminding them, Two metres! Two metres!
Trying to keep
the smile on our faces.

We envy our children,
so quick to adjust
to playdates on Zoom,
oblivious (of course)
to the real situation.

From our windows,
we observe the carrion crow
as it sits on a branch
bejewelled with buds,
this new life we cannot touch.

My Grandfather's Knee injury

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 17:27:38 UTC

I've always been close to my grandpa for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I watched him slowly age. He stopped coming downstairs as often, no longer made me breakfast, and our morning talks faded away. His body ached constantly, and the stairs became too much for him to handle. Then one night, he pushed himself to make it down the stairs one more time, but his knee gave out. He had an old military injury that affected his back, knees, and neck, and that night, it finally caught up to him. He fell. It was late, and I stood outside my room worriedly, as paramedics placed him on a stretcher and took him away. After a short hospital stay, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center for older adults, where he could begin the long process of learning to walk again. Those first weeks were hard. He missed home terribly and would call me crying. Worse, he was mistreated by a nurse who intentionally caused him pain. I was heartbroken and angry, but we didn’t have the means to care for him at home. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of compassionate care and first sparked my interest in occupational therapy. Over time, things began to change. My grandpa made friends, adjusted to his new environment, and slowly started walking longer distances. He lost over 80 pounds, regained his strength, and eventually moved in with my uncle. Now, he’s walking and working on publishing his own book about his experiences when he was a child. My grandpa has always been my role model. Watching his journey, the struggles and the strength, has been both inspiring and life-changing. I’m proud of him, and he continues to be one of my greatest inspirations.

Abuse of Older People

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 20:46:14 UTC

About 1 in 6 people aged 60 and older experience abuse, with rates even higher in institutions like nursing homes. Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, financial, and neglectful harm, often leading to serious consequences. Cases have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and are expected to rise with global aging.

Occupational Therapy

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 20:48:23 UTC

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare practice that assists individuals in improving their ability to perform daily tasks, particularly when these activities are hindered by injury, illness, or disability. The therapy process typically involves assessment, intervention, and evaluation phases, aiming to improve the patient's quality of life.

Found Poem

alyssarodarte506 — 2025-06-02 21:04:55 UTC

Take me

to the therapist

who yearns for more

though bound

by broken systems

The one who moves

with moral compass,

despite

suffocating constraints,

insurance schemes,

profit-driven models.

The one who returns

to the spirit

of occupational therapy

true,

whole,

in a fractured world.