Work

 The term work can be defined in a range of definitions; however, when a student speaks of work, they often relate work with homework and this was the first type of work I was introduced to as a student. Throughout each grade level, I learned the difficulty that homework differed in, but I also knew that this type of work helped me expand my thought process and the continuously repeated execrises called "homework" helped engrave the information into our heads. First off, it was because of all the subjects I had to accomplish which included math and science where I struggled the most with. Now that I love the subjects that I am taking because they all fall under my major for English, I cannot find the time to finish my work load because they are lengthy and I have other things to do other than homework because, as we all know it, when you get older we each receive different responsibilites we have to complete everyday and mine includes running on a team and a job that requires labor, everyone's favorite type of work. Overall the concept of work in terms of homework has always been a dreadful one, but I have always kept going because I know that I can get somewhere with an education and to get that education, homework or work has to be done. The ultimate goal is to live a peaceful, good life and work has to be a part of that life; everyone has to endure it, you just have to be strong and I believe that I have that strong mentality to keep going. Furthermore than the usually day to day take home assignments that teachers were unable to finish in class, work is something we all dread, whatever the age we are at because at any stage, work is something we have to put effort into to achieve a goal, whether its to learn or to make money at a job. My attitude towards my job is not the same as how I view my school work because of just the simple fact that my homework is much enjoyable than my job. A job, or what many call it "work" is rewarded with money you earn doing that type of labor for a reason. Labor is not always what you want it to be, but you need it to survive and as a student, I have to confirm with anything I can get at the moment to pay for college or atleast the little I need to survive in today's world. When imagining labor, two images come to mind which are complete contrasts of each other : one includes someone enjoying their employment and the other is stuck in a dirty factory with a blank expression. The reasons why these two images come to mind is because one can do what they love to do and some others cannot and while I want to be that person that enjoys their job, I know there are others out their without that chance that get stuck in those hard labor jobs that will continue on doing that until they cannot because it is all about survival at that point. Growing up, I have always been taught with the notion that education is everything, and it is. It may require work, but that is where the line divides the lazy people and the hard working people that want to succeed. My father always influenced me heavily on my beliefs on work because everyday he came home from work with the same answer when I asked him how his day at work had gone. His response, "well, I get paid mija, that's how great work is." The translation is a loose one, but you get the jist of it. Work is work for a reason and that is why if you are passionate in something, work hard to achieve it because that's what you want to do all your life and not the image of the factory worker. I first handly got to experience what it was like to work in a factory this summer and although I knew it was only a summer job, the feeling of waking up so early every morning to do a repetitive motion for 8 hours straight was the worse feeling ever and seeing young people like myself in that same position was awful; the worse part of seeing them there was that the job they were doing was their career because they had chosen not to continue in their education and start earning a wage of 9.50 an hour.

Work is just a four lettered word, but behind it, is an array of means. The definition of work involves effort to accomplish something even though sometimes we don't feel like we have accomplished anything. Work can be described as a punishment in many circumstances because of its long hours and repetitive state. According to the Conservatives in Lakoff's article, framing words, such as work, takes time to develope and through common use, the word sends many a chill up their spine when said because it has been connected to something bigger than just an "effort to accomplish something." Work is the kind of word that frames a tough image and makes me feel like it is unescapable, something you have to do to get to that "new level." The "new level," I would like to think is a better and richer life in the sense that I am happier and capcable of surviving, not needing to be a millionaire. Since we have spent so much time dreading work, when the time comes for it, we cannot resemble our brains into thinking positive and in turn, your efforts to accomplish those goals will not be to your full potiental.

Your social class, your economic state, and your cultural envionment, in most cases, help you perceive work differently because depending on where your grew up, you were taught differently. A child brought up in Hollywood will definitely not view work the same way as someone who grows up in the ghetto part of the south side of Chicago. For one, the child in Hollywood might not even get the chance to know what work is like because she or he will not need to earn any money since her parents have everything covered; however, the child living in the ghettos on the south side of Chicago sees work as a way of moving up the ladder to a better life. Work for this person can become a better oportunity if she or he lets it become that way since they know what being poor feels like. Different experiences make different view points because not everyone will know or have been through what others suffered or gained and because of this, work is framed as a good or a bad. If work reminds you of a better life, then work will be a tremedous opportunity for growth and for a great feeling of accomplishment, but likewise, if your view of work is disasterous, your outcome will be bad. Knowing this, I try to abolish the framing that work contains and I try to stay positive throughout my workdays because everyday will lead me to something greater. Although it matters the way in which you perceive work, everyone should understand that work is something that must be done in order to achieve in life and it may have various forms of labor, but only one goal, which is to succeed.