My Thoughts About A Class I Took At CCSF (extra credits)

What did I learn from this class.

As a young child, I have always been fascinated by new media and performing arts. I find it very enjoyable and entertaining, and that is why I am planning to pursue that particular field as my career path. To be honest, I had neither experience nor any knowledge about the business world. I was basically put into this class with an open mind to learn as much as I can. I was not use to the three hours long sessions at CCSF. It was sort of bored in the beginning but now I find it quite interesting. I learned a lot in your class. It was clear when I asked so many questions in your class about the business side of management in your class.
At first I thought that art and business could have nothing in common. However, they have a lot of similar qualities when it comes to advertising a product or service. I understood the key facts of owning a family business. You made the chapters much more approachable when discussing it. I learned that there are many ways to get help from the government when you want to open a business. You talked about the risks that ones need to be prepared of. Make a wise decision of what kind of business you want to open. You gave us three options which was sole, family and inc. We discuses about the limited and unlimited liabilities that a owner or a partner have when it comes to lawsuits. This was all new information to me because at first I thought that all business were all the same.
We also talked about where and how your customers will get your product. Your detailed examples were pretty cool. You explained the success stories of people when they followed the rules. Business is a tricky and dirty field. You can only make money if you know how to target your demographics and advertise your product or services.
We had the option of choosing what kind of business we want. Like the brick and mortar or the internet business. I also learned that there are many ways to pay instead of cash. You mentioned about companies coming up with new product to compete with their next door competitors. We went through a whole sessions about a product’s life span and how new innovation of the same line will try to kick it off the shelf.
Besides working for yourself, I also learned that there are many rules that an employer or employee must follows. This is very strictly enforced when it comes to incarnated companies like fast food franchise. Because, they have so many stores in different locations. Communication is the key factors in making profit. That is why companies are willing to spend a lot of money to have conventions for mangers to get together and talk about their stress or success stories.
If I was able to own my own business, I will choose a small incorporated family business rather than a large company. Large companies have a slight flaw when it comes to addressing their customer’s needs. This is different because small business can change and adapt to their mistakes quickly.
Overall, business is business. It does not matter what kind of business you have. We all must understand how to manage money and capture our customers to stay afloat.

My Future and My Investments (extra credits)

My Background: I am currently a high school senior at Phillip and Sala Burton. I will be graduating soon in the month of June. So that means that I need to start investing soon. I have started saving around $50 a month for the past 3 years. So far in my savings account, I have around $1,800.00. I work at a fast food restaurant that pays $12.50 and hour. I am not planning to work at my current job for a long period time however, I will continue my occupation because it helps me get the basic necessities.

My Goals: After high school, I am planning to go to the college of my dreams. I’m not sure if financial aid will cover all of my tuition because, it’s a private college. A semester there will cost me around $15,000 with housing. So that means that I would need to have some reserve cash at hand in my bank account. If I don’t have enough money to cover for my schooling then, I would need to take out student loans.
I am also planning to get a job that pays well. I want to use the money I earn and buy a decent house in an upper class neighborhoods to raise my children and open a family own corporation.

My Investment Strategy: After seeing so many of my family and friends lose their money in stocks. It sort of scared me because I would not want my life savings to disappear. This experience had made me into a conservative investor. The key fact of investing would be investing in companies and corporation within my circle of confidant. Below are the top 5 companies that I am planning to invest in.

Apple Incorporated (Electronics) I own 132 shares
Last Trade: $85.00 / a share
Div/Yield: n/a
Growth Investment.
Pepsi Corporation (Beverage Company) I own 175 shares
Last Trade: $50.54 / a share
Div/Yield: 1.70 (3.30%)
Income Investment
Google Incorporated (Search Engine, Adverting Company) I own 12 shares
Last Trade: $300.35 / a share
Div/Yield: n/a
Growth Investment
Microsoft Corporation (Electronics) I own 186 shares
Last Trade: $22.15
Div/Yield: n/a
Growth Investment
Sony (Electronics) I own 86 shares
Last Trade: $22.18
Div/Yield: .37 (1.60%)
Growth Investment

In my stock portfolio, I tried my best to invest in companies that I know best. Also I did not put all of my money “eggs” in the same basket. By combining my knowledge of electronics, I know what these companies offer and what they do for their communities.

My Insurance Plans:

Car Insurance: I am 19 years old now and I am planning to buy a new car. That means that I need to get a decent insurance company that will not issue me high rates. I pay $1,000 every six months for my car’s insurance.

Health Insurance: Being a single individual I am paying a low premium of $250.00 a month for my health insurance. However, if I am planning to raise a family I am looking at $3,000 a month. The reason the rate for my health insurance is low because I am part of my company’s workers union.

My Everyday Expensive

I really don’t have to worry about the mortgage payments because my parents offer me to leave with them rent free. However, I still need to pitch in a buy food and basic needs for the family. Below is a break down of what I do every month when I get my paycheck.

I am a workaholic and tend to stay at work for a long period of time. I earn $12.50/hour. A week I would work 40+ hours. I get my paycheck every two weeks. I make around 1k every two weeks before tax. Means I earned around $2,000 a month before taxes.

Per Month: (My Responsibilities in the house hold)

Savings: ~$50.00
Food: ~$550.00 (Six people)
Clothing: ~$50.00
Utilities: ~$250.00
Internet, TV, and phone: ~$100.00
Rent: $0.00


Money left over: $1,000.00 = goes back to savings and bank.

Debts: Student Loans

Since, I am not millionaire. I had to take out student loans with no interest until I graduate. I decided to borrow around $50,000 for schooling. I am planning to pay it back after 8 years. Until then I am still working at IN-N-OUT. I hope that my job can get me into a better paying career to solve my debt problems.

Overall, my yearly income is around $43,000.00.

JUMPING INTO THE FUTURE!

It’s quite hard for me to continue my dream of owning my own company with this rate of income. Over the years my stocks went up and thrived. However, I am not planning to withdraw the incomes because I am saving that up for my retirement. By this time I am in my late early 30’s. Since my income was not representing me well with my MFA degree. I decided that I will leave my beloved IN-N-OUT company and pursue a better job career in LA.

With a short amount of time I was able to make enough money to open my dream store. I am still single and is making a lot of money in my prime years. I jumped from 43k into 100k with my degree. This allows me to buy the house in that nice neighborhood as well. I also paid off my student loan my now. Life is good.


My Timeline:

June 2009: My graduation
Spring of 2009: I enter college (Academy of Art University of San Francisco)
2014: Just recently received my BFA.
2015: Decided to take year off to find a job in the multi-media field
2018: Renter College and tries to get my MFA in Multi media
2020: I finally got my MFA
Spring of 2020: Just got an offered a job in L.A. as a graphic designer.
2023: Bought a new home…
Continue…..

My Community Services Since my Freshmen year. (extra credits)

(Outside of school) Blind Vietnamese Children Foundation 2006-2008
Helped raised money for blind children in Vietnam through non-profit charity events.
2 hours a week = 204 + hours in 3 years

(Outside of school) Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center 2006-2008
Help organized events in promoting Music, Dancing and knowledge of the Vietnamese’s Heritage.
3 hours a week = 306 + hours in 3 years

(Outside of school) San Francisco Food Bank 2005-2006
30 minutes to 1 hour a month = ~40+ hours in 2 years
Helped sort and packages donated canned food for families in need.

ASB Student Government 2005-2008
2 hours a week = ~272+ hours in 4 years
Served as former 10th grade president, in charge of school wide activities, events and school’s policy.

Journalism Network (The Burtonian) 2007-2008
1 hour a week= ~68 hours in 2 years
Contribute information and news throughout school and local community.

BwB Building with Books 2007-2008
1 hour a week = ~68 hours in 2 years
Helped raised money for third world country to build schools.

Science Club 2007-2008
Helped make posters for science related events like Blood Drive.
1 hour a week = ~68 hours in 2 years

NJROTC 2007-2008
Helped organized leadership training workshop for cadets in the program.
3 hours a week = ~102 hours in 1 year

Prom Committee 2007-2008
Participated in organizing PROM for graduating seniors.
1 hour a week = ~34 + hours in 1 year

Red Cross 2006-2007
Helped raised money for families in need. Canned Food Drive.
1 hour a week = ~34 + hours in 1 year

Triple A (Asian American Association)
Promoting Asian awareness to different communities throughout school.
1 hour a week = ~34 + hours in 1 year

German Club 2007-2008
Learn to embrace the unique language through cultural arts and performances.
1 hour a week = ~34 + hours in 1 year

The Importance Of Being Earnest (extra credits)

When I was in MS. Savin's English class. We study many books and plays. However, there was one play that I enjoyed very much. And this is what I think about it.

The Importance Of Being Earnest
Thoughts On Satire

The idea of marriage during the Victorian Era was more focus on social status than anything else. The short play, “The Importance Of Being Earnest,” truly exposes the false idea of marriage and people's intentions of pursuing happiness. Homosexuality is an occurring theme within hidden messages from Oscar Wilde's writing. It is unclear if he is trying to convey a mutual connection with himself and the cryptic character known as Algernon.
During the Victorian period, people were expected to be confined to society in certain ways. It was obvious that women were below men in many occasions. Young ladies were more interested in marrying a gentlemen with a romantic name and deep pocket than a person with a passionate heart. Celebration gatherings were often planned in advanced to avoid confection with society. Education was considered worthless because money was an object. “Satire is... the weapon of the powerless against the powerful”. It was intended by liberals like Oscar Wilde to exposed people practicing materialistic values over their very own judgements.
Besides the idea of marriage as being a joke. Oscar discovered a way to make things funny from ironic situations. Satire is the idea of finding humor from existing situations that are serious. It is a constant battle between honestly and actuality. The play was pretty much about “honesty (Earnest)” and how people react to it. The amount of lies that was embedded by Jake (Ernest) were actually true towards the end of the play.
Algernon a very well groomed individual, tend of exclude himself from the Victorian era. Doing the opposite things of what his society expects. He thinks that marriage is a joke and thinks that it does not make any sense whatsoever. However we are unsure of his sexual preference as well. The play itself was bombarded with phallic symbols such as the “cucumbers” and “muffins”. These terms have deeper interceptions relating with the male and female's genital area. This can be considered as a satire experience because when someone reads a passage from it. They may not understand what it really means and consider it funny. Pretty much its about Algernon and his fascination in marrying someone to cover up his true identity as a homosexual. “Satire does not look pretty on a tombstone” because when the meaning is gone. It is no longer considered funny. Different interceptions might arise from it.
Overall, the goal of changing a lifestyle is quite hard and “nothing needs reforming as much as people's habits.”

What I think about Stomach or Gastric Cancer (extra credits)

After reading this article it was clear that many people around the world are suffering of a very deadly illness known as Stomach or Gastric cancer. It is the second most common of cancer related death. Many people that are affected does not even know if they have it or not. However there are symptoms that can help you detect this cancer sooner.
These symptoms are pretty common within people throughout the world. If you have one of these symptoms there is a chance that you might not have stomach cancer. But, you should go see a doctor anyway. Cancer comes in many shapes and forms. People that are suffering from it may have bleeding in the lining of the stomach, losing weight without trying, nausea or vomiting, bloating after eating, and changes in bowel movement.
Like most cancer there are treatments but no cures at the moment. The sooner you know the better it is for you to survive. Throughout the world the race that gets mostly affected would be countries like Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. It’s quite clear that Asians have a higher rate in getting this illness.

My thoughts and views

After reading this article, I was really shock to know that Asians in different countries have a very high rate of getting this form of cancer. I also find it interesting that many of the symptoms are quite common, so you may never know if you have this illness or not. I feel quite sorry for the people that have this form of cancer. I bet it's really hard to eat.
I cannot imagine going through something like that because the pain will be unbearable. Just reading about the fact that your stomach is bleeding is too horrible. My stomach is too important to me because I use it every single day. Without it I will not be able to break down my food and retain my nutrients.
I have a deep respect to people that are suffering form this illness much more.

-Minh Tran