Interviewee Fernando Diaz

            My interviewee’s name is Fernando Diaz. He is 18 years old and has lived all his life on Oxnard, CA. He has three brothers and three sisters. His favorite hobby is horse racing and he has been working with horses for 10 years. Because of their passion for horses, they own six of them. His favorite kind of music is Spanish music and especially corridas. He is very close to his family and is single at the moment.

            His motivation to go college is because he is the first in his family to go to school and he wants to continue to work with his horses as a veterinarian. His college schedule is, going to his classes from Monday through Friday in the mornings. At night he works part time at a liquor store. Any free evening or time he gets, he spends it at the stables with his family’s horses. He has dinner with his family almost every night. So, he tries to balance his time between school and work so he can help his family as much as possible. He evens goes grocery shopping with his mother on any free evening.

            His role model is his dad. He has taught him the value of hard work and how to manage his money efficiently. He considers himself a role model to all his nieces and nephews. He makes sure they do all their school work and helps any way he can with their homework. For his nieces and nephews that are in high school he makes sure they have the right classes in mind to be prepared to continue their studies in college.

            Fernando has described himself as, outgoing, funny and adventurous. He wants to see himself graduating from Cal Poly Pomona University to get his bachelor’s in biology. His belief in completing his goal is, “Grab any opportunity to benefit your goals.”

            His favorite thing about Oxnard Collage is that it’s close by and down the street from his house. All his friends attend the school and he is glad to have familiar faces in class. The only complaint about the school is the parking. He mentions that his culture has always dealt with horses and has been a great influence to him to study veterinary medicine. His biggest surprise has been coming from high school with good grades and finding out how hard the classes are in college.

            Fernando Diaz has mentioned how his family is very close and we can all agree that our families have encouraged us to go college. We know that one day with hard work and dedication we will achieve our goals.

ESSAY 1

The Central Intelligence Agency is one of the most secure places on the planet. Not many people have had access to it especially walking around in it and eating at their cafeteria. It was exciting at first but then I realized how violated one could get if you were trying to advanced in a career working for them.

 Before I decided to move out to California, I was just your average 21 year old man who’s only worry at that time was to make money. I am originally from Arlington Virginia and I moved out to California in 2001 to get married. Before my move out to the west coast I was attending George Mason University and for 2 years I was unsure of my major or career choices. My parents helped me a lot with tuition and books and I was tired of wasting their money, so I decided to take a break and look for work to pay for all of my expenses for a change.

My part time job at a kitchen store was just not cutting it. Marvin, a friend of mine mentioned to me he just got a new job and he knew I was looking for work. He said the job consisted of office renovations in government buildings. I was very interested and asked him to ask his supervisor if he could hire me. In a couple of days he had an answer and he said that I was hired. I was the youngest employee of Dimension Construction. “You can start Tuesday,” Marvin said. He also mentioned that we were going to start a new project but it was at night from 4 pm until 10 pm. “Edgar, be at my house at 3 pm and bring proof of citizenship and bring any construction tools you have,” Marvin said. So the next day I get to his house and he went over the type of work we might do and he said he would train me along the way. My new boss’ name was Jim Parker and he was the site supervisor we were going to meet at 4. One thing about Marvin he was the kind of person that loves for you to get surprised. I would ask him where the building was or what type of building it was and he wouldn’t answer me. All he would say is.”You’ll see.” So he continues going over some rules: follow the speed limit in the facility, pull over to the lanes to the right when we enter and be prepared to mention your social security number, pull out your driver’s license, show your citizenship document, and state your purpose to the security check point. “Security checkpoint, where am I going,” I thought to myself. 

So at 3:30 pm I followed Marvin and we drove for about 25 minutes until we reached an overwhelming security checkpoint. I followed Marvin and we both pulled over to the right lanes and I could hear Marvin talking to security. My turn comes up and I pulled up to a speaker box with a camera. “State your business,” a voice mentions out of the box. “My name is Edgar Torres and I have come to work for Dimension Construction,” I blurted out. “What is your social security number, and please pull out your driver license to the camera,” the voice said. I said my social and showed my driver’s license and the voice asked me to pull into the parking spots just ahead and to go into the building’s checkpoint. I did as I was told and I saw Marvin out of his car talking to a really big and tall man. Marvin said, “Don’t forget your citizenship paper.” I got my paper, walked to Marvin, and was introduced to Jim Parker. “What’s your name boy?” Jim asked. I said, “Edgar Torres sir,” I replied. “How old are you,” he asked. “21 sir,” I said. “You’re just a baby!” he yelled.  “I’m going to call you ET,” Jim said. I laughed and said sure. I followed Jim into the building and he introduced himself to the Security Protective Officers (SPOs). They ran the security of the building I was going to. The officers asked for my documents and Jim’s. I needed a sponsor from the inside of the facility to grant me access. After 20 minutes of them checking my id’s and filling out paperwork they handed me a red badge with a big letter V on the front and I saw Jim and Marvin get one as well. The SPOs said to me, “Obey all rules and obey your escorts.” “Escorts,” I said out loud, “where am I?” I said. Jim replied, “You in Langley boy!” As we were walking out I asked Jim, “Langley like CIA Langley?” Both Marvin and Jim answered yes. I was excited and scared at the same time.

 We got into our cars and were allowed to pass through the automated barrier and armed SPOs. We drove slowly and I was looking around like a kid, it is a huge facility! We arrived at a parking area and we got out with our tools in hand. Jim tells me,”No cell phones ET.” So I go back to the car and leave my phone. We continue to walk down to a huge loading dock and went up the stairs. There were SPOs and other security people there. Our escorts were dressed in red shirts with khaki pants. They all have badges but the SPOs and some of the escorts have blue badges. The rest of the escorts have green badges. I asked Marvin what their badges meant and he says, “They have top secret clearance.” I already in my head decided I wanted a top secret clearance as well. We finally passed the loading dock check point. We were asked again what our purpose was even tough Jim and Marvin had been working there for a while now. Our tools were checked to make sure no unwanted items were sneaked in. We were padded down and had the security hand waved all around us. We were done passing through security and we were finally led to our job site.

The job site blew my mind! It was right next to their miniature spy museum. I was so excited and wanted to look around but I was in a very serious building and was there to do a job.  Our escorts followed us everywhere; we were never out of their sight. If we needed to use the restroom we didn’t go alone. I was glad that there were toilet stalls or else they would have seen me poop! At the end of our shift they led us out to the dock and they would be there again the next day for us. That first night was not long enough for me; there were so many things to see and a lot to learn at my new job. When that night was over I couldn’t wait to tell my family, but then I really thought about it and decided to only mention a few things, it was the CIA! I was already scared that the government was already checking up on me.  That was my first day in the CIA and I will never forget it.

The month of August was very exciting for me. Every work day the routine repeated itself. I would pull up to the security check points, mentioned my social, stated my purpose, pulled over to get my badge and was let through to the loading dock to repeat it all over again. The escorts would walk us back and forth to where we needed to be. I found out that some of our supervisors for our company had top secret clearance. The green badge was given to contractors that did not actually work for the CIA but had construction contracts. The government has to by law provide equal work opportunity to outside contractors to remodel their facilities. They actually have their own remodeling company inside their buildings but the work load is too much for them to complete and they also need to follow the equal work enforcement law. That’s why we were allowed to work there, but just with escorts watching everything we did. Our cleared co-workers had the power as well to escort us around and were responsible for what we did or saw. Again, I mention that I wanted that clearance. 

Then on September 11, 2001 things changed. As we all know our country was attacked by cowards that tried to break our American spirit. The security measures at the CIA changed dramatically. Since I still had a red badge, I was considered a threat and needed be watched more vigilantly. The day after 9-11, I pulled up to the check points and was welcomed with bomb sniffing dogs, a lot more SPOs with weapons and had to have my vehicle searched. That continued for a while and it just made me persistent to get that clearance. I had asked Jim and Marvin about how the process worked and they told me that they were in the process already. First the owner of the company had to agree with the process because it was a huge investment he would make to clear me. I learned that the owner pays a lot of money to have us escorted. If we were all cleared, then that was money in his pocket.  It takes about a year for all the paper work to go through and about $50,000 for the investigations they would do. Background checks and polygraph tests were part of the process. After 9-11 they were more thorough and extremely strict.  If you failed the process you might have been asked to leave the facility. The government was very strict and if they found something they didn’t like you were not allowed to come back. My bosses and co-workers all had witnessed it. I was confident I would pass so I bugged my bosses every other day for half a year to do it.

 Finally they gave in and started the process. I knew that getting the clearance meant I would triple my pay and if the US government offered me a position with them, then I would certainly take it. You could travel the world to work in military bases and many other government buildings where a clearance was needed.  How many people in the world have a top secret clearance? Not many so I knew I would be very important asset.  During that time Jim Parker finally got cleared and he told me it was hell. ”ET, get ready for the worst experience ever,” Jim said. I asked Jim “Is it that bad?” The questions they were going to ask me are very awkward and strange he said. “You will do fine since you are young,” Jim said. Younger people have a better chance because of the fewer years they wouldn’t have to investigate. Marvin was already half way through and had a polygraph date set almost set. During my year of waiting I had a meeting with 2 US Marshalls. Their purpose was to conduct a personal interview and tell me ahead of time that my friends and family would be contacted. They would ask questions about me and the investigation can go across US borders if needed. They were very serious about it. They wanted my bank statements, contacts, copy of my passport a lot of things I can’t remember. They wanted to know if I traveled where I’ve gone and why. In those months I had friends and family call me and ask what did you do?  They said they had someone either show to their homes or call and ask about me. “It was a US Marshall!” they would say. I’d explain to them that it was work related. I couldn’t say anymore. All that time waiting I behaved excessively good. I followed all the traffic laws, paid my bills on time and I was never late to work during that time.

Marvin’s polygraph test was postponed several times for reasons unknown. You do not t ask the CIA why. So I was going to take the polygraph test before him. A lot of things happen during the process and the most important was when I met my future wife. I met her about half way through the process and she knew what I was doing. From that moment on I was thinking of being with her more than making money. We had a long distance relationship. She was in Oxnard I was in Arlington. So as we got more serious eventually we ended setting a wedding date. Meanwhile at work my day finally came polygraph day. Now in the movies they make the polygraph test seem so horrible with specially train people to break you down. The polygraph test is designed to catch you when you are lying. So I thought just tell the truth you will be fine. It is much worse than anything I ever seen or heard. The location I cannot disclose and much of the questions I cannot disclose either. My test started at 8 am and on my way to the appointment I was talking to my fiancé. She wished me good luck and I thought I was ready to pass. When I entered the building for my test I was greeted by very nice man. He introduced himself and went over how the test would work. The chair I was sitting on was probably the most comfortable chairs I ever sat in. The only difference was the many connections all over my body to measure heart rate, breathing and sweat. Was I ready? NO!!! Immediately the agent asked me very personal questions. Examples I can give you are, “When did you buy your car? How much were your rims? Why were you late on this credit card bill? Who is that young lady you were just on the phone on?” My heart started beating fast. “How did they know?” I thought.  All I can do was answer the questions. What I hated the most was the very intimate questions they would ask. “Have you ever used the internet for adult research,” The agent asked. You can imagine how specific the questions and what other questions that lead to. I was embarrassed and scared.

 It continued with accusations such as, calling me a drug user, a terrorist, in unfit American citizen. I was angry!! If I can’t tell you everything that happened but that day I ended being so angry. Things from my past were brought up; friends and family were talked about. My appointment that day lasted for 8 hours and it was the worst day of my life. The agent told me you have failed miserably but that I do have the opportunity to take it again. “Again,” I thought. No was my thought but then I thought about the money I would be making and where I would travel. I thought about my upcoming wedding. So I agreed to meet again in 2 months. At work the nest day everyone was telling me that a lot of people always get a 2^nd test. “I passed it on my first try,” Jim Parker bloated. The whole day I was asked about what they asked me and I was too embarrassed to say. So now more than 2 years have passed if I put all the time and effort put into my clearance and I had to take another polygraph. I was getting married in 3 months and started to wonder if it was worth it. I dreaded my appointment but if I was given a 2^nd chance I figured it was a good sign. At least I wasn’t escorted out yet. Work on the other hand started to get bad, the owner started being terrible with the employees. People were getting fired and contracts were being lost to the competition. My favorite supervisor Jim got fired. Even Marvin wanted to quit. His turn came up as well and he said it went for him. “What the hell,” I thought. Is it because I am young, because of my past, I answered everything truthfully. Marvin told me that his agent was very nice all the way through the test. My second test finally came and unfortunately my polygraph agent was much worse. Did they want me to beg? Ask them for forgiveness if I ever stole a grape from the grocery store and ate it? No clue to what they wanted. I failed again but instead of taking the test again I was told to meet with two agents in a private meeting in a week. Now please think about the most personal moments in your life, things that you regret doing and having someone treat you like crap and judging you with anger.  Going through it again with two agents was again a bad experience. They focused on specific answers I gave in regards to loyalty to the US. By the time the meeting was over I have had enough! “It is not worth it,” I thought and by then I was really thinking of moving to California. They told me I would receive a letter to see if I was granted the clearance and I waited for 2 weeks. I failed again but I was asked if I wanted to restart my process again. “Hell no,” I decided.  

My wedding was approaching and I made the decision to move. My boss was very upset with me and from then on work for me was hell. It didn’t matter to me though, that process of getting a clearance absolutely pushed me to move and start a new life with the woman I love. The government has very specially trained people to protect and preserve our freedom and I after everything I realized they were just doing their job. Whatever reason I didn’t pass it happened for a reason. I knew deep down I was a good person and no machine would ever change my mind about it.

Texting

Texting while driving, I absolutely hate people that do it. When ever I am in my car I only focus on driving. People should understand that driving is very dangerous enough and it is a privilege. We have all seen the consequences of people not paying attention. In news we always hear or read about accidents involving texting. The state of California and many other states have passed the no cellphone use while driving. Obviously they have done investigations and reports on the matter and have come to the conclusion that is very dangerous. I understand that sometimes important messages may be received but I think if it is an emergency, a phone call is probably your best way to communicate what has happen. If you really need to answer a text then pull over finish your texting conversation and then drive to your location. I cannot tell you how many times I have avoided someone merging into my lane while they were texting. Then what really gets me mad is that they get angry at me for honking at them! Again I will say,"I HATE IT!" Please don't do it and please drive safely.

Reality TV

    Reality TV shows, I have never watch any of them. I may have clicked through some channels and stopped for a brief moment to stop and watch some part of it but they never really interest me. I remember my wife's best friend was addicted to The Hills TV show and I never understood why. One time I tried to watch an episode just to see why people would say it was entertaining and all it was two girls arguing about some guy and what they are doing that night. I was like, what the hell. During their conversation, there were a lot of awkward pauses and strange looks from both girls. "This is garbage," I thought. It was not entertaining at all. Why would I care about some one's problems from a TV show? These TV shows are just a waste of time and I believe the way they are harming society is by stealing their precious time to do more productive things.
    When I do watch TV I prefer the history channel or discovery. At least I can learn something that's interesting other than boring young adults whine about their life's to others. I don't know hwy people are so into these type of shows. The Jersey Shore is another show people rave about. I never heard of the show until my sister in law asked me to change the channel so she could see what was going on. Again it was weird and boring. The TV show is about young adults complaining about their lives and partying. I asked her,"Why do you like this crap?" She would tell me it's funny and entertaining. It there some sort of hidden brain washing message that make people watch? I had to idea how it was funny or entertaining.
   There was a report on TV a while back mentioning that most reality TV shows should not use the word reality. All of it is scripted and and planned out. An example I saw on the report was about how the writers on the show knew how certain people would act if alcohol was given to them on purpose. That meant that they planned on a character on the show to get drunk and make scene and use that to get better ratings. It's like what the say about a train crash you just have to look. Many scenes on most of the reality shows were scripted to happen a certain way. Not much of a reality TV show anymore. Most of these shows are very successful and I sometimes think to myself."Maybe I should write a script about my dog and have cameras follow him around?" I would probably never get rich for it but I think my dog is much more entertaining.
   

Fast Food

    Fast food has been a part of my life since I first came to the US. I remember the first time I had McDonalds was when I was reunited with my dad again. My mother and I were hungry and the airport was just three minutes from McDonalds. I had my very first Bic Mac. My parents both always worked and barely had time to cook for us. When my brother was born it was even harder for them to take care of us. The babysitters we had were given an allowance to feed my brother and I. For them buying us food was faster then cooking for us. One of my brother's first words was, "fry fry." That was his way of asking for french fries at the age of one. So with our parents working long hours and with no time I knew Ronald McDonald very well. For me it was alright getting McDonalds. I loved getting a free toy with my meal. My favorite choices were always a happy  meal with a cheese burger, fries and a coke. When I stared going to school much of the choices for lunch are fast food. Burgers, fries, chees steak, etc. The only differnce was the milk or chocolate milk offered as a drink. Later in junior high and high school the meals offered then become a little healthier but not by much. During those years growing up my parents got better and secure jobs and had a some time to cook at home. Eating out was then changed to week ends only. The only problem now was now two growing boys are bigger and hungrier. So with my brother and I getting an allowance we some money to feed ourselves when we wanted. Getting older our choices of food were more demanding. We tried different places of course like Popeyes, Wendys, Burger King, etc. McDonalds to us was always our favorite.
    Now I will admit I still do go to fast food places but not as bad as I use to. It still is fast and cheap but now I tend to crave great tasting food other than its rapid service. My wife works for a natural products company. Ever since then she was made me change my eating habits. Like I mentioned before I will prefer a great tasting meal from a great restarunt than a cheap burger. My wife now mentions everything bad about meats, milk products, non organic fruits and vegetables. I am really picky about what I eat now. We now go grocery shopping at Trader Joes, Sprouts and farmers markets for for fresh produce. We prepare more meals at home and if we do need to go out to eat we really look at our menus to find good choices. Again I admit that fast food is fast and cheap and I still do stop by occasionly but I am trying very hard to watch what I eat now because I have learned that the best food is always will be home made. Even though I sometimes over cook some things but I like the fact that I made it.