Algebra, first developed and written in the 9th century by Muhammed ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi in The Concise Book of Calculation by Restoring and Balancing, is a type of mathematics describing a series of unknown variables, typically “x” and “y,” with “y” being the dependent variable. Along with mathematics, writing goes back to at least the Babylonian Empire and originated with cuneiform. Algebra can represent graphs and, in turn, real-life situations, such as (but certainly not

Reedley College’s Reading and Writing Center (RWC) is relatively young (22 years of service), but many of its tutors left lasting legacies. One such tutor is Stephanie Duarte. Duarte teaches English C1000 here on Reedley College’s campus and shares some wisdom for current and aspiring tutors of all subjects.       Reflecting on that time, she recalls some struggles. Some students would book her for “a couple of hours,” which felt draining some days. Not because she didn’t lov

This year, we are celebrating a special event at our tutor expo: the 10th anniversary. Therefore, it is a good time to look back on our Reading/Writing Center’s history to find 10 Years of Legacy, Learning, and Success. This research has not only shown the passage of time but, more importantly, highlighted the lessons that, as a tutoring center, we have learned along the way. This research examined how being a tutor can equip you with the tools to follow your path and succeed

Drawing is one of my favorite hobbies. It’s an activity I used to indulge in often, when my creative spark was alive and burning. I remember how free and excited I would feel to be able to color a drawing that I sketched the day before, using the new Copic markers my dad bought for me. There is so much freedom in the realm of art, which is one of the things I like so much about drawing. In elementary school, I was inspired to create books with my own characters and little gra

For the longest time, to me, dancing was just movement. It was the idea that there were steps to follow, counts to learn, and, honestly, just making shapes with my body. Through time, somewhere along the way, it became something more. It was no longer just showing up, following the counts, going home, doing it again the next day. It became something that made me realize what I was feeling on the inside could truly live outside for people, for me, and I could do this through m

As Springtime arrives, the ground grows weak and can no longer hold back the creatures that flail their many arms or gyrate their limbless bodies to break through the surface to greet the Worm Moon. Consequently, in this sixth issue of Delectable Discourse, where I ask college students a scrumptious new question each month, I asked the following question: In light of the upcoming Worm Moon, which is the full moon in March, when was the last time you picked up a worm or other

In my essay in the Paper Jam ’s December issue, I reflected on learning that we only have limited time and what that means for communication and relationships. In the context of relationships, “…It would be easier to imagine anything else than not associating with the other person.” Recent events, however, mean that fully unpacking and elaborating upon its implied depth is both worth doing and necessary. As it stands, the description has an incredible amount of dimension, b

I have always wondered about the role I play in other people’s lives. Do they perceive me the way I perceive them? Do they think of me as frequently as I do them? I am often described as a selfless and responsible person, but I fail to see those qualities within myself. I do things for others without expecting things in return, however I always assumed this to be a common quality. As I have found out, it is a noble quality and is scarcer than I thought. I am responsible for p

"A pencil, just for the sake of being more sharp, has to go through blade. That's life we all had” - life lessons from a pencil. Drowning in The Daily TO-DO Our purpose in coming to class on time, attending tutoring to improve our reading and writing skills, or even studying for that difficult exam, is a clear objective we challenge ourselves with to help us fulfill certain goals that will benefit us in the long run. Although these accomplishments make us feel happy the momen

The arrow of time is a concept in theoretical physics that essentially describes the flow of time as occurring in one singular direction in our lived experience, despite the equations of physics being time-independent. We, too, can freely conceptualize both the past and the future, the former’s moments and the latter’s possibilities. Starting in mid-October, I had a realization initiated by the large number of friends I lost touch with, and, later, the knowledge that people I

Stories are invaluable resources to humans as a species. Stories are power, identity, and most importantly, memory. After reading They Call You Back  by Tim Z. Hernandez, I began to analyze the bloodied and bruised history of my family, the pain and perseverance I inherited. Everything that has ever happened to my parents and grandparents has made its way to me. By learning the stories of my parents' childhoods and experiences, I see how my father became the man who taught me

Every kid has two types of parents for Christmas. Those who try to pretend there is Santa and those who would give it to them straight(Fun Fact: Did you know Santa was inspired by Saint Nicolas?). My parents were the first example. However, it did not take long before I found out on my own. I remember that once I stayed up to catch the supposed fat man in red and caught my parents wrapping presents instead (Now that I think back, that was a better surprise. I would not have l