The film that the students presented this past Thursday to the fellow faculty and students
was quite entertaining. The plot was based upon the real life of a college student; this
involves family life, personal life, studies, etc. I feel that the randomly selected group of
students did a fantastic job at illustrating theses common day-to-day challenges that are
faced by us; individuals striving to make time and the money for an education. Other than
the age groups all being similar, there was a variety of unique characteristics possessed by
each individual documented. For one semester the real challenges of each student seemed
to vary. Communication isn’t at all a strong point for a large percentage of students at a time
of learning that one experiences in a classroom. To keep quiet and preserve your opinion is
ultimately a tie breaker between a passing and failing grade in my opinion. I see that the
active, involved, opinionated students excel in their studies due to their alert sense of
interaction. Hence the video documentary when the ones not succeeding are the ones
trapped inside the shyness of their own personalities. I liked how the discussion afterwards
involved present students, teachers, the filming crew, and even friends of students who
were involved in the production. The opinions of others being shared in a health
environment were a clean way of letting each individuals voice be heard. I have to say the
pizza and muffins at the discussion really spiced things up. The marijuana subject went on
clearly to long, talking about cannabis for an hours time is irrelevant to the subject being/
attempted to be projected from the film. You would think a group of college students would
be more mature as to notice that marijuana wasn’t the highlight of all problems being
addressed by the plot. Anyways the event was my pleasure to of attended and an experience
ill always remember and have something to consider when trying to get classes/ attend
college.
I found this film to be very interesting even though it was very different from my personal
college experience. Since I went to a four year University many of the struggles I faced were
different from those faced at Chabot however, there were some topics I could relate to. In
one scene a student spoke about his mother who "brought breakfast to his room every
morning". I found this to be extremely surprising for many reasons. It reminded me more of
a freshman in high school rather than in college. It made me question how successful this
student will be in the future if he never acquires the skills necessary to live on their own,
like making breakfast.
In addition, I was surprised when the students discussed how "easy" there classes were.
Since anatomy is the only course I have taken at Chabot, I was not able to relate. However,
halfway through the semester they showed that the majority of the students had dropped at
least one class. I was shocked by this! These students have to fight to get into classes and
then they give up when the course starts to challenge them. I have personally noticed that
this is an issue specifically in the community college setting. Classes start out so full that the
teachers are forced to turn students away but by the end of the course it is only half full.
This problem needs to be carefully evaluated because with the current budget cuts and the
drop rate it will begin to take students even longer to finish at Chabot.
I was glad to see part of the film touched on the biggest issue facing college students today:
budget cuts. This portion of the film was extremely important because few people realize
how drastically these budget cuts are effecting our schools. Learning is a right, not a
privilege. With all the cuts to education, it has become extremely difficult to enroll in the
courses you need. If you can not get into these classes, the students will not be able to
accomplish there long term goals. I believe this issue is very important and I am so glad the
film highlighted it.
I was very interested in the portion of the film that discusses marijuana use. I was especially
surprised to see that so many students would openly discuss there drug use in front of the
camera. It also made me realize that these students view drugs as there outlet instead of
pursuing healthier forms of relieving stress. I also believe that many of the students who
were questioned on the topic have an issue with drug dependency. I wish the film had
touched on resources for these issues so that audience members who could relate would
have a solution.
Overall I really enjoyed the movie and thought it was very interesting way to expose the
triumphs, obstacles and every day life of a student at Chabot College.
I am really glad I had the opportunity to see the film “Tuning the Voice”. Initiallly I thought it
was solely to be a social commentary but as the film progressed I felt compassionate and
connected to the students featured.
I come from a similar background as these students. At our most prosperous times
my family was middle class. Few of us have graduated from college. I can relate to waking
up at ungodly hours to study. I also relate to procrastination. I never thought of
procrastination the way it was described in Tuning the Voice” as the level of stress being
“constricting”. I also feel this pull to have the empowerment that comes from an education.
I also don’t always trust my mind.
I have a family, two kids. I envy the students who are brave enough to chuck
comfort, health and sanity to go to school full time. That is such a big sacrifice, to live like
the eight do. At the same time they should not have to suffer so much. “School should be
free”. A student should not feel homeless when entering a classroom.
I really enjoyed that the film embraced the positive factors in these student’s lives
and what did work to motivate and inspire them. The teachers who made learning
interactive, the family, teammates and friends made them want to continue on.
It definitely makes one motivated to become active in regards to the cuts in funding.
We expect individuals to overcome adversity. But how does somebody overcome situations
like wasting money on a book that won’t be used instead of eating properly or not able to
get into a class you need (English 1a????) because of overcrowding. How does it get to the
point where a student is willing to travel far to go to school but once he’s there is not being
reached. How much is his responsibility to feel connected?
“Tuning the Voice” made me think a lot. Thank you for helping to get the
information out there.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this film at first but the more I watched it the more I could
relate to what was going on in their academic lives. I have experience many of the same
things that they did during the filming and even watching them go through it reminded me
of how it made me feel. One of the teachers made a comment about one student’s failure is
another student’s success and it is completely true. Each semester I register for classes and
some I have to be put on the waitlist. I check it every day hoping that that someone had to
drop the class so I could get in.
I liked in this film how they brought up the cost of books and the resale value of those
books; how some teachers do not require you to have the book listed on their syllabus or
teachers that do expect you to have the book but lecture from the book and never assign
reading. Last semester I wanted to be a good student and get all my books early just to find
out in one of my classes the teacher does not use the book at all and the exam material come
100% from his lecture. With the costs of books it’s hard to buy them if you’re hardly going
to use it.
An interesting article came up during the film saying that the average community college
student works 23 hours a week to pay for college and is left without enough time to study. I
wasn’t sure if I should feel sorry for people or tell them to suck it up. I work 40 hours a
week during the day while taking 4 night/online classes worth 15 units and there are
people out there doing more than I am. There isn’t enough time to study for everything and
my grades aren’t perfect but I’m doing the best I can.
Overall I liked the film and how it showed “the 8” progress through the semester. The
optimism at the start to becoming bored in class to realizing how challenging the work load
is; everyone is guilty of procrastination. It was interesting to see how their lives outside of
the class room affect their lives at school; everything is related. Couple side note, the
blockbuster that Miguel wanted to apply to is now closing so it’s good that he didn’t get a
job there and were there some clips from one of Morin’s psychology classes? I loved his
class!
This was a great documentary film. I am glad that I had the opportunity to hear
about it and watch it. I felt that the film was relatable to many, as a student, and as a young
person struggling to succeed, despite life’s obstacles.
This film captured the realness of student life, and didn’t hold back in any way. The
rawness of it made it believable and didn’t sugar coat anything. Most people that watched
this film could relate in some way, because we have all been students, and all know what it
is like to start college. All of us have procrastinated or struggled with juggling multiple
classes, and have suffered the consequences in not paying attention to detail. Following the
individual stories of these eight different students spoke to a large audience of people that
could relate.
Besides relating to the student aspect, this film really showed what other factors
play a huge role in succeeding and creating obstacles along the way to reaching your goals.
The sharing of the students personal lives was amazingly touching. I appreciated their
vulnerability, as far as their family lives and as well as their “coping” habits.
In the discussion a lot was talked about the one student’s Marijuana habits. I was
glad that was not taken out, as it is a big factor in many students’ lives. I think it showed
how it had become an obstacle in that student’s academic achievement, and I hope that he
was able to reflect on that from watching the film himself. It is not something that should be
practiced while at school, it should be separate because it clearly conflicted with his
performance. I felt what should have been discussed more was the fact that all of the
students, except for one had a single parent household. I come from a single parent
household and I know it can create some difficulties. Unfortunately it has become a norm in
our community, and it would have been nice to have discussed that topic further.
This film was enlightening in many ways, and refreshing to know we all may be
different but we are more similar than we think. We all have struggles and can help each
other especially during those crucial first years of college and growing into young adults.
Thank you to the students and staff for allowing this film to have a voice!
I personally enjoyed the movie and I connected with how the students felt the first
time they came onto campus I had such high hopes for myself and I was able to get all of my
classes the first time around because I made sure to talk to a counselor the day after the
school expo I would recommend that anyone going to this college or any college to attend
the tour or welcoming to the school. By attending the welcoming I had a better
understanding of how the school worked and where everything was on campus.
I know with the budget cuts many programs are being cut and sometimes it feels as
if the first things to go are the arts. I personally have taken many art related classes;
photography was the first art class I attended in college. This class and the people in the
class helped me with the transition into college life. I found a sense of community in that
class, I did make friends in my other classes but, I was able do something that I found
creative and I didn’t have to worry about my work being “correct”.
During the discussion the director had asked everyone how the movie would have
been if they had different students, I know for a fact it wouldn’t have been the same if I were
in the movie. I was surprised to see how majority of the students had parental issues that
one or both parents weren’t involved with their lives. I have both of my parents supporting
me and seeing these students struggle with everything from food and just getting to school
truly opened my eyes to how luck I am.
The introduction to the movie was alright with a couple of the students exercising around
the field but I find astonishing that Chabot College has a fifty percent drop out rate. That’s
atrocious and embarrassing to hear that a community college has a high drop out rate. What
I do not find astonishing is people saying they are bored in class because class occasionally
is boring and since it is 2012, cell phones are constantly used to text others or go on the
internet as well as bring the laptop to class to surf the web. The reactions of the students
after taking an exam and/or quizzes and saying they did bad after saying they thought
classes are easy in college are what most students say. They think they don’t need to study
in a community college because it is like high school and they believe they can pass without
studying in college but it is not true. Even though it is a community college, it is still college
and studying is key to success. At one point where there was a student who say he smokes
everyday, I shake my head to that because you are practically throwing your life away so
early in life and making your brain cells deteriorate because of drugs. It will never get one
through life. This video explains exactly the same things we, as students, experience
everyday through classes and personal life and what not. We put a lot of pressure onto
ourselves and overestimate the capabilities of each and every one of us. I do it myself too
and it has made my body so tired and sleepy and unable to perform better each day. i think
this video can show how real life of college is and what to expect for incoming freshman and
to not take life granted. The value of education and doing well is important to the point
where a lot of pressure is put on an individual from family, friends, or other factors. I also
agree with that person who said society is based on
inequality because it is true. Society is unequal and unfair. Everywhere you go or do or see,
there’s always inequality being displayed. And life is too hard to do it alone. Everyone needs
someone in their life to support them and be there for them. Without that, everything starts
to crumble to pieces.
Tuning the voice turned out to be similar to what I was expecting from a
documentary about student life at Chabot. In the movie, cameras followed eight students
who were picked at random to be in this film. There were five males and three females,
each of varying ethnic and economic backgrounds. The cameras filmed the students in their
first semester I believe, participating(or not participating) in their classes and also showed
some of their activities outside of school and even in their homes. In saying that it was
similar to what I expected, I mean that in the general sense it showed some of the trials,
tribulations, and successes of average students going to a community college. Outside of my
expectations though, it was a new experience watching a documentary about a school that I
happen to attend, even though anatomy is my first course here(I usually attend Las Positas).
I think the film was edited well, sometimes jumping between the beginning, middle,
and end of the semester to get a point across. I found that some of my experiences and
issues as a student seem to be universal or at least very common, a list that includes say bad
study habits. Watching that made me reflect on my own experiences and motivated me to
improve myself as a student. Hopefully this motivation leads to action :) I enjoyed how
they put a lot of humor in the movie, as opposed to making it some sort of ultra drama,
although there were dramatic moments in the movie also. I was a little “shocked” by the
inclusion of the marijuana smoking scenes but only because I didn’t expect them to show
that, and definitely not as much as some of the people in the discussion seemed to be. I
mean in California at least, college students smoking marijuana is not a big deal, but on the
other hand the particular student they emphasized seemed to be smoking it everyday
resulting in it disrupting his schoolwork. All in all I enjoyed the movie and seeing my fellow
students trying to find their path at Chabot Community College.
In all honesty, I didn’t think that I would find much interest in this film. I only wanted to
watch it to gain extra credit points. Once I was into the film the first 5 minutes that all
changed.
This film was put together very well. I enjoyed it so much! I found myself laughing,
saying “I know what you mean,” learning about different cultures, learning about how to
study better or how the education system works. I learned a lot from these young students. I
even cried at the end because of the heart felt stories about these students. Chabot is
definitely a diverse community college. Because I go to work all day and only can attend
school at night, it seems like I don’t have the full sense of what college can be all about.
These students helped me see that. They helped me feel like Chabot IS a community.
I think that the students were all on point about how the education system really is.
I immediately was able to relate with them on not being able to get into the classes they
want, which is something I am currently going though, and how when trying to add they can
be turned away. This happened to me and it’s extremely frustrating! I don’t understand how
in the working world an education or degree is a requirement, but yet it’s so difficult to
attain one. The costs of college are insane. The universities and state colleges are the worst!
This is why many students come to community colleges because it is more reasonable. But
because of many students who come to community college for the better deal, we have to
suffer and deal with the fact that there is just not enough room for all of us. There can be, if
there weren’t so many cuts on classes. It’s ridiculous on how messed up the system really is.
It didn’t really dawn on me on how messed up it really is until watching this film and
realizing that I’m not the only one who can’t get financial aid or can’t get into classes
because they’re too full.
Today I tried to get into some classes for the fall and they’re already full and you
must be on a waiting list. I then noticed that the amount of classes they are offering are so
few. The times available aren’t even accommodating to the students who work. This is such
a set back in our education goals.
Tuning the Voice was a great idea. I think that every student should take the
time to watch this. It was very educational, but yet real life. I was able to connect and share
common experiences with some of the students. I was also able to learn from some of them,
for example- the consequences of not studying or not preparing yourself. I appreciated how
all of the eight students were all so different and had all different life experiences. I learned
that even though we may come from different backgrounds or have different curve balls in
life we all have one goal and that is to just get an education to become something we want
to be: to succeed in life. Education is something that has become key to succeed, but why is
it so hard to attain it?
I really enjoyed watching the documentary about the eight freshmen Chabot College
students. The documentary made me think back to the year that I started at Chabot, which
was back in 2008 after I got out of high school. I remember feeling lost. I was unsure about
what classes to take what I wanted to major in; all I knew is that I wanted to make sure that
I kept going to school. What I like about the documentary was that in some ways even if
they were small, was that I could relate to some of the other students that were filmed.
What surprised me during the film was how many of the students did not have a
relationship with their fathers. I am super close with both my parents and cannot imagine
what I would do without either of them. I also really enjoyed the long discussion after the
film was over, the only real complaint I have if that the discussion focused too much on the
student in the film that smoked weed. I would have liked discussing something else. For
example, making a stronger connection with our professors and classmates in order to feel
more comfortable in class and to possibly help get better grades and hopefully make new
friends. A good point was also made during the discussion that we as students sometimes
forget that our professors are people too and have their own lives that yes I know it is hard
to believe do not revolve around us. Yes, there can be the occasional bad teacher, but so far
in my experience at Chabot I really have not had a bad teacher. So I would just like to end
this little page of extra credit writing by saying thank you Professor Lange for going above
and beyond for me and other students to help better our educational experience at Chabot
College, I truly appreciate your hard work and I am sorry if that does not always show
through with my actions or words. So I will say it again, thank you.
The film, “Tuning The Voice,” was about eight freshman students, trying to make it through
the first semester of college. The film showed the trials and trivials’ the students had to face
outside of school and during school. Overall, I thought the film, “Tuning the Voice,” was good
and informative. The film seemed to be relatable to the average student. It was also clear on
what message the film was trying to make.
There are many aspects about the film that I enjoyed. I liked how the film included all the
challenges students face at Chabot College. Some of the challenges students’ face that they
included in the film is full classes, and as a result of the full classes, the students at times are
turned away from being able to take a certain course. Another aspect of the film that I
enjoyed is when they talked about procrastination and boredom. I thought it was funny how
they included ways student ward off boredom, like “the switch,” eating, listening to music,
or sleep. The most important aspect, and the one I thought was interesting was the stress
and the lack of sleep students get, and what it does to the students. The film showed a little
bit of what students go through while attending Chabot College, And while it can be fun at
times; it can be stressful as well.
I went into the film with no knowledge of what to expect. I preferred it that way. I really
didn't have high expectations. First year students with flip cameras all chosen at random,
how can that be made into a film? Yet, i was curious, and within five minutes I had my
answer. From the start the people all proved to be unique. Which by end of the film had
helped to give me some new insight as well as some new ideas about college life.
Since this was a new experience for the camera crew and editors, I have to first congratulate
them on successfully capturing compelling footage that built a story around each of the
students. I feel they successfully teased out common ground amongst the participants. Since
this is an urban college it is sometimes difficult to understand that we, as a student body,
can have similarities even with such diversity. The use of drugs as a getaway, the sometimes
unstable household, the procrastination, and the difficult work schedule are just a few
things that we as students deal with in college life.
A reoccurring issue that I noticed was that each student had problems with the material and
assignments. Some felt it was too difficult and sometimes needed more time while others
felt the overall curriculum could have been more challenging and faster paced. I have
encountered both situations in school and it can be extremely frustrating for different
reasons.
First there is the problem being too difficult. I generally like a good challenge. Yet,
sometimes I feel like no matter how many different ways I study, I can never fully
comprehend the material. Now, to me this falls into two categories, my learning style and
the teaching style. Only recently have I truly begun to understand what learning methods
work for me. Usually it is as easy as taking notes, then actually spending time applying the
concept. It is kind of like in elementary school when you are taught cursive. The teacher
shows you how to write out the letters and even gives you a template to follow. The only
way to improve is to simply practice your penmanship. In math and science that is the only
way I feel I learn, through mechanical repetition.
Now, my method of learning is not unconventional and rests on me actually spending the
time applying myself. But, if I am not given a clear template to follow, then that is almost a
sure fire path toward failure for me. So, in the end, my success is strongly linked to how well
I can learn from someone.
Now, the other issue is a teacher being too easy. Sometimes I feel as if I am wasting my time
with an easy teacher. I even go as far as to question why such a class exists during a fiscal
crisis.
After watching the film, I think some school-wide changes can be made to alleviate the
issues mentioned above. My first idea is to have an example lecture and assignment listed
for each class a teacher offers. For example, if the class was Trigonometry, an example of
that weeks homework, a sample lecture, and brief introduction from that teacher can be
extremely beneficial. Some people may gravitate toward the "easier" teacher, but there are
already places like rate my professor that give you a rating of the teacher. There are also
faculty pages setup that sometimes have a profile setup. I think this can help students find a
more suitable teacher for their learning style.
My other idea, which may benefit newer students, is to have the faculty share, during class,
extracurricular events that students can participate in that will relate to the lecture. For
example, some of the easy classes I take offer no outlet to apply my knowledge. What I
would like to see is more chances to be involved. So in the case of an art class, telling
students of any gallery or museums that they can check out to further their knowledge. As
professionals in your given field, you may come across more events that may be interesting
to the more advanced students. The reason I even say this is that some teachers are terrible
about letting students know about anything outside of the class. As a new student, just being
told that there are other things going on besides the class can really pique my interest,
especially if it is an easy class.
The film itself is a great starting point to create a campus wide discussion, but there is still
the challenge of making changes. I feel that Chabot does have the chance to become a
successful community college again, but there will need to be changes made across the
campus. Creating that community on campus is the first step. Teaming up with clubs, the
ASCC, the newspaper, and and radio station can help to promote awareness across the
school. Finding consistent methods to spread information is crucial. As a new and returning
student being made aware of everything available to me is just as important as the class
itself. In the end, building a solid school takes a strong framework, and according to the film,
over the years ours has weakened.
First of all, I have to say that Tuning the Voice was excellently scripted. I expected poorer
video quality from those Flip cameras handed to students but I was pleasantly surprised.
The 8 represent a diverse group of starry eyed and highly motivated freshmen from various
disciplines and intended majors - including music, art history, math, premed to psychology
and of course, “undeclared.”
The movie starts with the stark reality of public education - teachers being forced to do
more, take on more students, assume the responsibilities of laid-off coworkers - all with
lower wages and budget cuts from the state. This is a threat to the future of the education of
our young people. It seems like it's only gotten worse the last couple of years and there
doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Students are unable to get into the classes they need. I,
for one, was one such student who almost didn't make it into my required class. I'm
surprised that many students show up on the first day of class full of drive and motivation.
A few weeks in and after those who really need the class have been turned away, these ones
also drop the class either from the building stress from the workload they have to deal with
or for another reason. Either way, someone, somewhere is getting the short end of the stick.
I have to commend teachers for what they do - every single day they are in class and outside
of it. That poem was especially poignant - the fact that it is not about the salary that
teacher's make but about the difference they make in the lives of so many young people.
They prepare lesson plans, grade papers into the night and on weekends and somehow they
try to motivate students to do more and be more. I was touched by the English teacher's
comment about playing her role in activism by teaching. Making the students
knowledgeable and aware of what's going on in the society is something that is not to be
taken lightly. A sound education cannot be overemphasized.
I especially like how well rounded the students are. They take classes, some had jobs to put
them through school, extracurricular activities (orchestra, swimming, running, basketball
etc) to keep them active, siblings at home that look up to them and a strong support system.
I noticed that a key component of a strong support network is friends and friendship. I did
not see a lot of friends that The 8 keep outside of school. Besides their mothers, with whom
almost all of them had a good relationship, I think only one had something good to say about
his father and this is deeply concerning. Another disturbing part of the video was the drug
content. While I realize that this is the reality in the lives of some students, I did not see the
merit of including it in the video and the message it portrays to other students.
The movie ended on a good note. The 8 seemed more mature than they were in the
beginning. Procrastination was a word I heard quite often and when students are pressed
for time and resources, something has to give. Most times, it is the very education that is
supposed to give them a shot at a promising future that gets put on the back burner just to
make it through the day. Effective time management is what would make the difference
between those who are maximally efficient and those who are marginally so. I think I heard
one of the students say that we are all born into this world with nothing. But what we make
of it comes from the little decisions we make everyday. In a space of 24 hours, some people
manage to do more than so many others. Cues can be taken from such people.
I would love to see a follow up on The 8 a few years from now. Hopefully then, they would
have transferred to 4 year colleges of their choice, are studying what they planned to (or
have taken strong enough an interest in a subject) and are thriving wherever they are. I
hope that they, in the words of Steve Jobs at the Stanford University Commencement Speech
a few years ago, "stay young and stay foolish" enough to ask the right questions and seek
answers that will improve their lives and give them a better opportunity for a great future.
Indeed Tuning the Voice is about taking the naïve, inexperienced and unrefined and
watching them mature to become a force to be reckoned with.
First off, I really liked how the documentary began with statistics of how Chabot College was
ranked as high as 13th in the nation in the 1990’s and how the drop out rate has increased to
50% now. It was shocking to hear actual facts and numbers of how “well” Chabot is doing
now compared to it was before. I’m sure all of us all had an idea due to the budget cuts,
decrease in the amount of class sections offered, as well as the increase in students not
being able to get into classes; but when you have everything broken down into statistics
rather than a simple picture you painted in your head, it puts everything into perspective.
Following, they introduced the 8 incoming Chabot freshman that were randomly
selected to be filmed/document their entire semester. The students that were introduced
were in my opinion, somewhat relatable. They all came to college with uncertainties and
doubt that I’m sure all of us had, and only sure of one thing: higher education will allow
them to have more opportunities in their future. As the semester went on, some students
that were planning on being full-time became part-time due to the unexpected workload,
not being able to add into classes, or lack of motivation. Having gone through being a
freshman straight out of high school, I have to admit that I had a hard time transitioning to a
different style of learning, expectations from teachers, workload, and time management so I
understand very well how hard their first semester must be. What I find that many students
including myself didn’t know was that there are plenty of resources to help and guide you
through this transition such as: teachers, peers, counselors, etc. I think this documentary did
a really good job in showing that teachers can be a great resource and they do try to help by
being more lenient with class work. Little do they know, their lenience is only pushing
students to procrastinate and put little effort in the stuff they turn in.
Additionally, I find that many students take the easy route to stop showing up or
drop the class rather than to put that extra effort in to push through the class. The
difference between the students that actually stick it out and the ones that drop out when
things get hard may sometimes depend on the environment and values instilled in them
since they were young. There are other factors that make it hard for students to put in the
amount of time and effort into school like: transportation issues (many don’t drive and take
public transportation), jobs that help pay college expenses, lack of sleep or meals, etc.
All in all, I thought this documentary was great and very eye opening to those that
are clueless to many of these issues students have. It showed that a lot of the problems
students faced were normal, and are not alone. There is a chance that students will become
less reserved and push through these obstacles that many of us start out with. I loved the
documentary (from the parts I was able to watch), and I would definitely recommend it to
any incoming freshman to get a sneak peak of how college is like through the eyes of 8
incoming freshman that have been in your place.
This is an interesting movie, and tells us lot about the life of a student in college. I liked how
8 different people were chosen, with different personalities and ambitions, and yet we
found lot of similarities between them.
The beginning of the movie was good and interesting. It is good that we are
presenting the idea of how budget cuts are affecting the students, and that we are doing
something about it. I have also gone through the experience of attending the class even if I
was not able to register in the class, just hoping that some registered students might not
turn up and I would get their seat. We need to spread the word for prop 1522 to the wider
group, which would help all of us a lot.
The part where some of the students were shown enjoying the weed, was not very
pleasant, and give a wrong impression that usually all students enjoy doing pot/drugs,
which is not the case. The movie could have shown the other types of students who oppose
the idea of doing drugs/pots, etc. Also, I would have loved to see what other students have
to say about their experiences, i.e. if the movie could have had a section where someone
could have asked lot of students about their experiences and could have shared some oneliners from other students as well besides these 8 students.
The movie correctly shows the stress that students feel due to working part time
and also studying in college. But I didn’t like the idea that students blame teachers if they
don’t get good grades, but again what was shown was correct.
Overall I really liked this movie, I also got to know a lot about other student’s
opinions and it was a very informative movie. I would love to watch more of these kinds of
movies again.
I really enjoyed the movie. I felt like it showed a really good representation of
students with different backgrounds, educational pathways, and motivational statuses. I feel
like the most interesting part for me was really getting to see what it would have been like if
I had gone to a community college right out of high school instead of going away to a 4 year
school. I knew it was hard to get classes pretty much everywhere but getting to see their
reactions and experiences was cool. I was worried that if I had gone to a community college
it would have seemed too much like high school and I might not take it seriously and lose
motivation. By watching it looked like that happened with some of the students. On the
other hand, the great thing I noticed was how motivated students were that came from less
than perfect backgrounds. They were paying for school themselves and determined to get
the classes, grades, do the studying, and ultimately get the career they wanted. I know that if
my parents hadn’t helped me pay for college I don’t think I would have gone. I think the
most frustrating part was the budget cuts. Even five years ago when I first went to college
there was a small problem with too many students and not enough seats. It is just ridiculous
now though. It just seems like there is so many other things that could be cut before
education. Overall the movie was well done and addressed so many of the issues that
students deal with.
The film “Tuning The Voice” is an interesting, and compelling story of eight students who
were new to Chabot College. The film presented a variety of topics that are both relevant
and relatable to numerous people that attend Chabot either through experience or
observation. The subjects ranged from enrollment, financial issues, class life, homework,
budget cuts, all coupled with their personal life issues. This film showed how each student is
simultaneously similar yet different in they way they are feeling about school and the
different ways they approach/handle it.
The movie began with getting into classes. Enrollment is so competitive at Chabot. Just
trying to register for your classes is painstaking. Countless people have not been able to get
into the classes they need even with a high priority number. Most classes are filled during
the first week of registration making it that much tougher to continue higher education. If
you don’t get into the course you expected, you must show up the first day of that class to
try and secure a spot and it’s not guaranteed. Many keep coming for weeks hoping for a
spot just to be turned away. Then you’re back to square none and feeling hopeless and
discouraged. I’ve experienced this, as well as my fellow peers.
The movie talked about the students feeling like some teachers make class time
boring and uninteresting. I can attest to that. You’re supposed to come to class to learn but I
agree, “learning has to be fun.” It’s more rewarding when you can interact and engage with
the classroom and your classmates. It can be quiet boring when the teacher is just talking at
you the whole time and not actually involving the students in some type of way.
Another thing I noticed, the government has made it extremely hard to pursue college. Not
only are they cutting programs but they are cutting funding too. Raising taxes on
everything, and making it almost impossible to pay for school. Many feel financial aid helps
but it isn’t enough. On some occasions, the money isn’t received till the end of the semester
leaving you dry to pay for essentials. On top of not having enough money, publishers along
with the school, price books at a surprising high rate, making it more of a challenge to stay
on the right track. To make it even worst, when its time to resale the book back you’re
offered pennies.
They all procrastinated when it came to their homework and waited to the last minute to
complete it no matter what level of intelligence they were at. Homework was not a major
priority for any of them. It was funny to see that in the beginning they all said their high
school workload was much easier, but towards the 5th wk, it was becoming too much to
handle and most dropped out because the seriousness isn’t there. It was encouraging to
see, that no matter what they had going on in life whether it be work, stress, no money,
hunger, no sleep, they still made a way to get to school, get their assignments completed and
pass.
I seriously do agree that we need to fight for our schools, and teachers because it’s our
future. How is the next generation going to be the leaders of the world if we are not
receiving the proper foundation to make us better because the people in government
decided to cut the very thing that helped mold them.
At first, I thought the movie was just going to be a typical documentary movie where they
would show how one person lives their life making little connection to the audience. I was
wrong. The documentary was very successful in not only showing how we live our lives
outside of the school, but also it showed how we feel about the progress we have been
making or made, that is if we felt like we really have made some progress while we are in
school.
The fact that the documentary was based on 8 incoming freshmen coming to Chabot
college really made some connection to me. I felt the same way they have. I did not know
what I wanted, what classes I should take, whether I feel like I belonged in the community,
and more questions and expectations popped into my mind as I started my first day of
college. In the discussion part of the movie, there was great emphasis on the feelings of
some people about that one student smoking marijuana. I think that part was a complete
waste of time. I’m aware of the fact that this drug is illegal, but we have forgotten the fact
that that student isn’t the only one that’s going through something rough. We have failed to
think about the fact that some people are doing worse things to themselves because they
have certain issues they don’t know how to handle. Whether if it’s doing more intense
drugs, being in a group they should not be in, or worse, physically inflicting pain to
themselves.
There might have been some disappointments in the discussion since we could have
discussed better issues, however, I don’t think there’s anything disappointing in the movie,
nor should there be anything cut out from it. It clearly shows how we feel, that not all of us
live the same “perfect” lives. It shows that every student goes through some issues, whether
they’re rich or not, we are all going through stuff. It shows how selfish society has become.
To further explain why I have claimed that our society is selfish, in the discussion, it was
said that students don’t really care about those people who dropped the class, but instead
they see it as an “advantage” because they get to move on. We have left the traditional
values of being helpful to each other. Regardless if it’s the staff in the school, the
government, students, everyone. We all have forgotten about everyone and only care about
our own benefit now. There’s not only one person to blame, but I guess it’s all our fault
because we allowed this change to happen. We allowed ourselves to become self-centered
and think how we ourselves have been through the “worst” and that no one would
understand us, hence why the lot of us are so locked up and end up doing things that we
wouldn’t normally do just to give ourselves some sort of relief, in which the documentary
showed plenty enough proof.
In conclusion, the documentary was really impressive, and as I have said, it really
hits home. I remember Mr. Macfarland asking if the outcome of the documentary would
have changed if they had 8 different other students. For me, I don’t think it would create
less impact but either just as much or maybe an even bigger one. Every person has different
lives, and whether they are rich or not, we are all going through stuff especially us college
students. We all have similar issues we are dealing with.
My overall reaction to this documentary was yes school is stressful.
However, I keep going back to Corleone and the whole “weed” controversy. As a person who
has overcome the grips of addiction( alcoholism) but by living in a residential rehab for six
months of my life, living, breathing, and eating sobriety, having to learn a structured life all
over again like a newborn baby. I KNOW for a fact that weed is the gateway drug, and
anyone who has NEVER been in rehab is uneducated in that regard. The day I sat down to
my first meal away from loved ones, the counselor told us (all 29 of us ) to take a look at the
person to your right, now take a look at the person to your left, only one of you will make it;
I was THAT one. Corleone is addicted and he himself said, that the reason he is in college is
to appease his mother. The reality of it is , she probably told him either you go to school, or
your out on your own. It pisses me off that he is taking up space in a class that another
student needs and sits on a waiting list for, while he shows up physically but is not sincere.
An addict will do or say anything to keep their habit going. They will justify it by saying their
life is so hard. Guess what, everyone has a story ! I was molested for years as a child, I was
beaten severely for 9 years in a domestic violence case, I have been date raped. I have
Bipolar disorder, I have attempted suicide twice , but I am one of the few who have made it
out of the pitts of hell, and turned my life around ( four years sober ) Trust me Corleone is a
statistic, he WILL drop out. And as far as that “hippie” teacher saying that weed is a road, an
open book or whatever other BS that came out of his mouth. I want his name, because I
don’t think that people should be spending their money being taught by a Timothy Leary
wannabee. The audacity, he was stoned while we were having the discussion. His license to
teach needs to be revoked. You wanted my reaction, here it is !!! I was appalled. The fact of
the matter is this, some students come to college to go through the motions. Others, myself
included, are focused and determined to fulfill a goal. I have been told that I have a learning
disability, but I refuse to be put into a box. I refuse to believe that I have had limitations put
on me. I think students need to be encouraged to believe that they CAN succeed, and not
enough teachers take a PERSONAL interest in the success of their students, You Miss Jenn,
have proven to be one of the exceptions. It is a sad reality that most teachers, are burnt out
and are merely putting in their time until retirement. Ok, I have vented. If nothing else, the
documentary opened up a forum for dialogue to be exchanged between students and staff.
Thanks for opportunity
On Monday, April 30, 2012 I watched the video “Tuning the Voice.” I was very excited to see
what the movie was all about. This was my first semester attending Chabot, I had been
attending Las Positas before. So I was curious to see how well it depicted the first semester
experience.
Overall I thought that the movie was great. I was really surprised by how well it was
done, and how much of the students’ lives I got to see in just a short hour and a half. I felt
like I really got to know each one of them very well. One of the girls was harder to
understand cause the only time I saw her was at school, so I never got to see what her life at
home/work was like. I liked that the other students took advantage of using the flip-cams
that were provided. This really gave me an insight into their whole life. The life of a student
at home has a huge effect on how they perform in school.
As we discussed in class, I liked that they left in the marijuana scene. Some may say
that it was inappropriate, but we are in college, it surrounds us on a daily basis. It made the
film more real, and I could really understand why he was behaving the way he was. And it
showed how drugs can have a huge effect on how you perform in school, even the teacher
talked about it.
The students who made this movie did a great job selecting the students to use for
the film. They really got a good variety of people to look at. It did a great job of showing how
the first semester of college really goes for the majority of students. I think that starting
college is really not what people expect. This may be a different experience at a UC or CSU
level. But starting at a community college is just like continuing high school. The only
difference now is that you have to compete to get into classes instead of just having the
required classes handed to you. But the atmosphere is just like high school, which I could
tell was a big surprise to the students in the film.
Great movie! Sad that I was not able to make it to the showing at school, I think that
the discussion would have been great to be apart of.