Summer 2012 Newsletter - LaGuardia Community College - CUNY

were the black shirts given to poolees when they signed in which said “Pain is temporary, pride
is forever”. Once in boot camp your set in stages. In phase one you wear your uniform in a
ridiculous way, to show every one that you were a 1 st phase recruit. Once you reach phase 2
and 3, you then begin to earn those rights and privileges that marines have such as earning your
name tags and wearing your uniform the proper way. Here begins a sense of pride in your uniform
as well as your status. Drill instructors pound military knowledge into recruits minds to
instill pride in our history and those who came before us. Sacrafices made and the agreement to
carry on those traditions no matter what the cost instill pride in what we do. We drill for hours
on end to compete for a coveted title against other platoons and our drive to win is great because
of our pride in our platoon and drill instructors. In a business article I read a while back,
author unknown, the author stated that to instill pride, or for pride builders in companies to gain
ultimate success, one must focus on a few things. The primary concern when instilling pride is
to create a clear vision that is awe inspiring, create proper motivation, show that the work has a
purpose and have them take pride in what they do. Only then will you instill pride and create
the change needed for success.
Basic training is the beginning of the drastic changes that will occur in a soldiers life. In their
career they will begin a journey through many ups and downs that will continue to affect and
develop their character for better or worst. There is no doubt that boot camp is in the fore
front of this change. Is this change a permanent one? That’s a good question. But day in and
day out, military members have proven to accomplish tasks in an extreme manner of professionalism.
They continue to set the bar high and be the example for others to emulate, with character
traits that were clearly instilled in basic training. Many continue to possess these traits far
beyond their time of committed service. The change created in basic training may not be a permanent
one but it has shown to stand the test of time.
“Traveling the New York City Subways: A Conduit of Change,
Contrast and Diversity”
Dane Antoine
Change is everywhere! It can be seen and discovered in all aspects of life. Change is a process
that affects inanimate objects, animals, people and places. It is can be the result of many things
such as a modification in one’s behavior, or one’s environment. Change can also be expected and
very obvious or it can be unexpected and subtle. As a native New Yorker, I have seen and discovered
dramatic change, contrast, and diversity in the most unlikely and subtle ways traveling
the many subway routes of one of the world’s largest subways systems. Traveling the diverse
routes of the New York City subway system is an excellent way to discover and see dramatic
change, contrast, and diversity firsthand. Furthermore, it is also a useful way to learn about the
city’s inhabitants, standard of living and its geography.
Many people would argue that it is obvious that utilizing public transportation will provide them
with the opportunity to experience what New York City has to offer such as sightseeing and
entertainment. However, few can appreciate or will notice the subtle and dramatic changes within
the city because many people, mainly tourists, do not utilize the New York subways to venture
beyond the traditional attractions in Manhattan and explore the other areas of the city. Even
some New Yorkers themselves tend to stay within their own boundaries, neighborhoods or borough
(with the exception of work) and never explore the other boroughs by subway to fully
experience all that New York City has to offer its inhabitants. My own mother has never been or
seen the northwestern neighborhoods of Queens such as Bayside. The city subways offer people
an opportunity to explore and learn more about New York and how and when it changes its
geography, standard of living and ethnicity from place to place.
One can see dramatic change and contrast in a neighborhood’s wealth and standard of living in
New York City by riding on the subways. For example, if one were to ride the 4, 5 or 6 train
routes that travel along Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, one will find him or herself stepping off
the train and into a pinnacle of power and an epicenter of wealth known as the Upper East Side
of Manhattan or 5 th Avenue with a vast amount of expensive designer stores. The Upper East
Side was identified as one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods by the 2010 U.S. census with a
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