College Reading Reflection

During the 2015 Spring semester in Pasadena City College, in the College One class,
students read the book which name is The Madonnas of Echo Park written by Brando
Skyhorse. We not only did a Reading Response Journal that is called RRJ, but also we did
other free writing. These readings and writings influenced me in many ways. First, when I
read a book or an article, I always read actively; I talked to the context. It made a huge
difference for easily understanding, faster reading, and making it possible for me to guess a
word which I didnt know from the context. For the RRJ assignment, I needed to make a
discussion question. Through this question, I should understand what is going on in the
chapter and read more specifically to understand it. Also, it influenced the way that I thought
more deeply about this book. The RRJ assignment affected me positively for improving my
reading skills. For the freewriting during the class, it influenced me to write more
professionally and quickly make ideas. While I was reading The Madonnas of Echo Park, I
saw characters who made me think about my story. For example, in chapter 4, Rules of the
Road, Efren Mendoza is a bus operator and a main character. He is really a law-abiding
person. I am, too. While I was reading his story, I thought that he is similar to me. It made me
more focused on this chapter. Through the character of Efren Mendoza, my values changed
more pragmatically because people who are law-abiding in the world often experience
disadvantages. I just wanted to be more flexible for laws or rules. In chapter 2, The
Blossoms of Los Feliz, Aurora and her mother, whose name is Felicia, also reminded me of
the past. When I was a child, my mother worked as a cleaning lady because our family was a
bit poor at that time. Even though it didnt influence my life, when I saw that Felicia is a
cleaning lady, I thought about my mother. While I was reading this chapter, I thought that my
mother really had trouble when she worked as a cleaning lady. Through Felicias experience
as a cleaning lady, I made the decision to study more painstakingly and return my mothers

hard work. This made me study harder this Spring semester, and I want to get higher grades
this semester.
My reading has changed since entering college in many ways. As I mentioned, the
most important reading change is that I talk to the context. Before I entered college, when I
read a book, I just underlined some sentences that I think importantly and marked a word that
I dont know. Thats it. However, through entering college, I started to talk to the context. I
wrote what I think on reading stuff. In fact, there are many reading assignments, so it is
challenge for me to finish reading books and articles. For managing reading assignments, I
usually decided when I read this reading assignment and divided a time. For example, if I did
a reading assignment until next week, I would divide two times on Monday and Thursday.
Based on this reading assignment, I also made my time schedule for not only reading
assignments, but also other assignments. It is really helpful to manage reading assignments.
But never procrastinate the reading assignment. It will overwhelm me and you. When I read
the book which is The Maddonas of Echo Park, cultural aspects and slangs are really difficult
for me to understand it. Also, there are a lot of descriptions. I googled to find cultural aspects
for Mexican and slangs. For descriptions, I just read and read until I understood it. It takes
time, but it makes you understand what the story is going on and more deep side of the story.
Through many Reading Response Journals, I am sure that I am an insider in reading for
college. To be an insider in reading for college, just read everything that professors give you
and try to talk to the context. It will make an insider in reading.