Parent Characteristics

Ever since I was a child, people have always told me that I am the splitting image of my father. I must conquer that I look just like my father and we have some similar personal traits. This may come off as a bit strange, but sometimes I look more like my mother, as well. I am a mixture of both of my parents physically and a bit mentally. But, I think I am most like my great grandmother.

I was born on December 27, 1993. Yes, everyone has a birthday, but I consider my circumstances to be a bit different than most, considering my mother had me when she was only 17. My mother was very actively involved in my life, but she still had to work in order to provide for us so we stayed at my great grandparents’ house. My great grandmother watched me as a child. She loves to make popcorn; she is somewhat soft spoken and the nicest person ever. Above all, she had a great relationship with God. Now, as a young lady, I still possess many of her traits. I love God with all of my heart and I know the importance of being kind to others, regardless of how they may treat you. It is not okay to be a push over, but you must try to be as kind to others as you can and pray for them to be kind.

Children are a mixture of both their parents, physically and mentally. But, the person that you spend the most time with when you are younger can greatly influence how you act when you are older. That is why I am most like my great grandmother.

Native Language in America

America is well known for having a culture unlike like any other: a melting pot culture. America is one of the few countries in the world that has a plethora of cultures, races, and ethnicities from all walks of life. With that being said, one would think that it would be quite simple to protect and ensure one’s roots. However, it is the complete opposite. Although this country is filled with so many different groups of people, there is still a vast majority who seek to destroy this special connection that some may have with their native lands. For example, some educators frown upon students who do not speak English. In my opinion, I believe that a student from another country should learn English, as well. But, they should still feel comfortable enough to speak their native language in school and should not feel great amount of pressure from educators to learn English.

Because American society is so diverse, I believe that everyone should be more understanding towards someone who speaks another language. In fact, I think we should make a greater effort to understand them, as well. It is ignorant of us to have such a one-sided view on this matter. In our education system, we have courses that are designed to teach us other languages. With that being said, we should try to help someone from a foreign country understand us, and we should also try to understand him or her. By instilling this idea in our students and teachers, everyone will be able to learn another language much faster.

No matter where you are, you should never feel ashamed or embarrassed of your culture. Schools need to be more understanding of others from different countries because the transition is not simple and everyone can get a positive learning experience from helping one another.

APUSH Five Page Paper

American politics was not egalitarian and antidemocratic from the time of the writing of the Constitution, and in the last 200 years the American polity and economy have become even more antidemocratic and not egalitarian. 

America’s political society was somewhat different from that of English Parliament, but it still exemplified some of England’s ideas, which generally disregarded some of the rights and opinions of its people. Overtime, the US Constitution began to expand its rights in regards to all groups of people. But, in the last 200 years America has expanded the Constitution in the best interest of all human beings, but has also limited the sovereignty as it corresponds to the people. From the time of its establishment to the current, America has become more antidemocratic and has not taken into consideration the rights of all human beings. For example, homosexuals still cannot reap the legal benefits that come with marriage, the Electoral College voting system limits the rights of the people to vote, and the establishment of the USA PATRIOT Act takes away one’s rights to privacy.

When the Constitution was being established, the American people did not have a say in what the contents of this documents, which would define their rights as an American citizen, would contain. Such decisions were made by a chosen few, whom we have come to know as our nation’s Founding Fathers. Delegates from every state met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, with the exception of Rhode Island, in Philadelphia. In my opinion, a document of such importance should be in the best interest of the people. Therefore, every state should have been represented at this convention and those who were present should have considered a democratic alternative that involved the citizens of this newly established country. The method that they chose to determine what the Constitution would consist of was similar to that of the English Parliament, in my opinion.

The Constitution has been revised several times to accommodate to egalitarian ideals. However, the constitution was not originally in favor of equality for all. For example, slaves were not considered humans, but property. They were a very small step above livestock. In fact, one can conclude that slaves were only counted as three-fifths of a free person to accommodate to plantation masters. This rule was put into affect, with respect to taxation without representation. The Constitution did not include the Bill of Rights nor did it have a true definition for citizenship. With disregard of the Bill of Rights, the people were unprotected and the government would exercise its full authority. Shortly after, sovereignty and limited power ideals were brought to the board’s attention. James Madison recognized the importance of limiting the power of the government and enforcing the rights of the people. However, slaves were still not considered and would not be for years to come.

Over the course of 200 years, Americans political system has both expanded and shrunken, severely. New additions have been made to the Constitution that limit sovereign authority and did not limit the power of the government. America was supposed to be much different than the unfair laws and regulations that were established by the English Parliament, before America was founded. There are many aspects of political life that many Americans do not have an opinion on. We are living in a society that is interested in protecting and honoring the elite, and disregarding the rights and opinions of the common man.

The Electoral College came into affect in 1964. US citizens do not actually elect their President; they elect officials in every state who make the decision for them. This is known as indirect election. The Electoral College system does not represent a democratic society because the people do not have a direct vote in the Presidential elections. The chosen officials do not truly represent the voice of the people because everyone should have a say in who becomes the next President of the United States. I would expect the Electoral College to be withheld during the establishment of the Constitution, considering the power of an American citizen was very limited, during that time. To limit sovereign authority as time progresses is taking large steps away from democracy and egalitarianism.  

The USA PATRIOT Act is a document designed to prevent terrorist activity, in America. It stands for the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. In order to protect this country, Bush Administration felt that some rights had to be sacrificed, such as privacy. To make sure the USA PATRIOT Act would be approved, “the Bush Administration requested that no public hearing be held in order to prevent public discourse” (Robert Barr). The USA PATRIOT Act “protects” Americans by violating Amendment 4 of the United States Constitution which states “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Basically, Amendment IV protects the American people from irrational searches of their home and documentation, without precedent. Since the Patriot Act is legal, The government can look through private and important documents and search your possessions, without probable or lawful cause, the right to unfair arrest, the right to enter your home without notice and ultimately invade your privacy. Because the people did not have a say in the USA PATRIOT ACT, its establishment could be considered antidemocratic

America has a long history of racism, discrimination, and prejudice against many different groups. Unfortunately, discrimination still plays a major role in our society, although the Constitution is supposed to protect any and everyone from it. Homosexuals are still facing many forms of discrimination. For example, if they decide to get married, they will not be able to reap the legal benefits that usually come with marriage. Americans are allowing their emotions and feelings about homosexuality to overshadow that fact that it is illegal and unconstitutional to deny them a proper marriage. This form of prejudice does not exercise egalitarianism because it is not in the best interest of everyone. We have no right to dictate how other people choose to live their lives.

In conclusion, America has been and will always be a very antidemocratic and non egalitarian nation. Government officials continue to find ways that limit the rights and authority of the people. One would think after 200 years, America would attempt to turn over a new leaf, but it continues to disregard the idea of limited governemnt.

                                        Cited

Dickinson, John, Morris, Gouverneur, Jefferson, Thomas, Adams, John, Paine, Thomas, Randolph, Edmund, Madison, James, Sherman, Roger, Wilson, James, Wythe, George. Morris, The Constitution of the United States, 1787

Unconstitutional, Nonny de la Pena, DVD, Journeyman, 2004

USA PATRIOT Act, 2001

McGraw-Hill, AP Achiever

Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, 19 October 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)

Wealth=Succes???

 For whatever reason, most of us have concluded that the only way one can achieve ultimate success, is through wealth. I personally believe that it is this mentality that causes people to be unsuccessful. Success isn't measured by materialistic, but by one's accomplishments. People spend more time obsessing over what they lack, rather than being appreciative of what they already posses. No, our possessions may not be much to others. But if we spend out entire lives trying to keep with our neighbors, we will be very unhappy, in the long run.
  
During my 16 years of life, I have come to the realization that we determine our own success. Why try to live up to someone else's standards of accomplishments, when we can simply live up to our own. We know ourselves better than anyone else, right? I am not saying that it is wrong to hope for things, or to have desires. We wouldn't be human if we did not. Take into consideration the people who do not have what you consider "little" or "not enough." It's time we start focusing on the things that count.
  
In conclusion, take a second and look around at all you have accomplished. I can not give you the questions to ask yourself, to determine your success. Just know that success isn't found in a lottery ticket, a house, or a car.

Autobiographical Personal Essay

In life, I believe that everyone has that one experience that will define who he or she is. The experience usually has a fork in the road; you can pick the path that will lead to success or the path that will lead to your downfall. If ever I am presented with a choice, I always make it my obligation to select the option that will benefit me the most. A time that I can recall making a decision like this was when I was in elementary school. Someone that I considered my friend was emotionally bullying me. One day I made a major decision that continues to define who I am.

When I was a little girl, I did not know the qualities of a friend, which contributed to the reason I continued to remain friends with this person. Everyday, I felt humiliated because she would often treat me like a puppy. Anywhere that she went, I had to follow. Anything that she did, I had to do the same. If ever I chose to go my own way, or even if I was absent from school, she would threaten me with the loss of her friendship. One afternoon, we were playing outside for recess. She told me to come follow her and I do not know what came over me, but I decided to go the other way. I chose to go in another direction because I was tired of following behind someone else. In that moment, I felt liberated and I knew that I wasn’t a follower; I was a leader. Ever since then, I have made my own decisions and have never let anyone alter my choices, to benefit them.

My past experience with bullying has encouraged me to become a much stronger person and has also motivated me to inspire others to find their own bliss. No one should ever feel inferior to anyone else. I believe that everyone has an opportunity to defeat the odds and use their negative experiences as motivation to progress in life. If I had listened to what others had said about me, I would not be the strong willed, highly motivated, go-getter that I am today.

Sometimes a negative experience can have a positive aftermath. I made a choice that now continues to play a major role in my life. I understand that it is imperative for me to excel in life, so long as I continue to make decisions that are in my best interest and are not influenced by others. I used the negative experiences as inspiration to excel in life. After all, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

Keep Me Warm For Winter (Short Story)

Click Clack Click Clack. The sound of small shoes hitting cobblestone, echoed throughout the cold and lonely streets. Little Anna Bell walked the streets alone in her worn down Mary Janes, an old coat, and tattered scarf. Her blonde her blew in the winter wind and was beginning to dampen from the snow. Winter in New York was the coldest time of year and the busiest. Christmas was around the corner so it was rare that the streets were ever as quiet as they were that night. As Anna Bell continued to walk down the street, she glanced at the windows alongside her. She looked at the families trimming Christmas trees, baking cookies, sharing stories and laughter by a warm fire. Anna began to reminisce about Christmas time in her home, and soon began to cry. She immediately turned her head to face the streets and kept walking. Click Clack Click Clack.

    Anna did not realize that she had been watched for quite some time. Not by a person, but by two magical stuffed animals. Their names were Wooly and Mammoth. They had brown and black fur that was as smooth as silk. Their eyes were black and they wore clothes like that of an elf’s. They were very thick and could withstand the unbearable cold. Wooly and Mammoth had been keeping close watch on Anna Bell and had gotten a hold of her Christmas list. Anna Bell had not asked for much. She only had three things on her list: to have a family, to have a warm and loving home, and clothes to keep her warm for winter.

 “How are we going to help her Wooly?” asked Mammoth.

“I feel so bad I really wish that there was something we could do now”.

“I know!!!!” Mammoth exclaimed. “We can take her list to Santa Clause and see if he can help.”

  “Mammoth you’re being crazy. Santa lives all the way in the North Pole. Don’t you think he’s be busy this time of year?”

  “Wooly, I’m surprised at you. You know that Santa is never too busy to help a child in     need”, said Mammoth.

  “Yeah you’re right, but how are we going to get there?’ Wooly asked.

  .“You ask too many questions Wooly. Just leave it all up to me.”

  Mammoth began to rummage through the empty boxes left in the store. He picked a box just big enough for the two of them to fit comfortably.

   “We’ll mail ourselves there”, Mammoth said.

Wooly and Mammoth left their store window post and carried the box all the way to the post office. Mammoth did all of the addressing and Wooly made sure they were packaged securely. They paid the Triple Express fee and were on the way to the North Pole. 

    The journey was pretty calm and relaxed. The extra money they paid made sure that they had the best care and the fastest service. The trip was only a day, which gave the two brothers plenty of time to find Santa.

    Boom! Wooly and Mammoth busted out of their packaging and scurried up the mail mountain. The pile of mail was about 15 feet tall and very dangerous. Any slip could cause an avalanche.

   “Be very careful Mammoth”, Wooly whispered.

   “Don’t worry I’m- WHOA!!”

   “MMAAAMMMOOTHHH!!!!!” Wooly exclaimed.

Mammoth was plummeting down the mountain. Wooly dove for Mammoth to catch him.

  “I don’t think I’m going to make it”, Mammoth said.

  “Yes you are! I need you to pull yourself up”, Wooly, said.

Wooly pulled and pulled and Mammoth finally found the strength to jump up.

  “That was scary”, Mammoth said breathlessly.

  “We must keep going”, Wooly said.

     Wooly and Mammoth entered the main hallway. To their surprise, Santa’s office was right down the hall. They ran down the long hallway as fast as they could. They knocked on the door repeatedly with excitement. The door opened slowly. It was Santa.

  “Ho Ho Ho. What can I do for you two shoes?”

  “Santa, my brother and I have come a great way to see you”, Mammoth said

  “There is a girl that we know of; Anna Bell. Here is her Christmas list, Sir. Her parents died and there is nowhere for her to go. Please, help her”, Mammoth said.

Santa began to look over the list and began to smile.

  “ I commend you two for doing this”, Santa said.

  “Is there anyway that you can help her Santa?” Wooly asked.

  “Of course”, Santa said.

  “Come on boys, we have work to do.”

 Santa gave Wooly and Mammoth a ride back to New York. As you can imagine, they were extremely excited to ride in the sleigh. But, they were happier to know that Santa could help little Anna Bell. Wooly and Mammoth showed Santa the alley that Anna Bell slept in. Santa parked his sleigh on a nearby roof and walked towards her.

  “Anna Bell”, Santa said softly.

  “Santa?” Anna said puzzled.

  “Yes, it’s me. I have received your Christmas list personally from these two little bears”, he replied.

Anna Bell immediately hugged Wooly and Mammoth.

  “Thank you”, she whimpered.

  “Close your eyes my dear and your lists shall be complete.”

Santa blew a magical breath of snow that surrounded Anna Bell. When she opened her eyes, she was in a nice warm home, with a loving family Santa had made all her wishes come true. She ran to her new family and hugged them. Ding Dong.

  “I’ll get it”, mother said.

  “Sweetheart, someone left a present for you”.

  “I wonder who it could be from”, Father said.

Father handed her the present.

  “From Wooly and Mammoth”, Anna read.

Wooly and Mammoth were inside the box. Anna’s eyes lit up with happiness and joy.

There was a note attached to Wooly.

  “To keep you warm for winter”, she read.

  “What lovely bears dear”, Father said.

Anna Bell looked at the window, looked at Santa and mouthed out thank you, as she smiled. He winked back and rode away.

    “Who are smiling at dear?” Mother asked.

    “No one Mother”, she said with a smile.

Bullying

Elementary and secondary schools around the country are beginning to actively address the problem of bullies. In your own opinion, is bullying an issue that should be addressed by the school or left to parents? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Bullying is becoming a very controversial issue, in American society. Although bullying begins at school, for most students, it does not end there. Students use social networking websites to verbally abuse each other or one particular person, which is known as cyber bullying. Realistically speaking, most teenagers do not like to discuss bullying with their parents, and are too afraid to tell an administrator or authority figure, at school. But, I do believe that school officials should address bullying, rather than getting the parents involved. Although parents do have the parental right to know what is going on with their child, parents do have a tendency to blow situations out of proportion, which can make things worse for their child. School officials should address bullying because the students are in their care, and when victims choose to take matters into their own hands, it generally ends in tragedy.

Children spend the majority of their day in school. With that being said, I believe that their learning environment should be one of the places they feel most comfortable. The staff and administration are responsible for the safety and well being of every child that attends the school, from the first bell, until the dismissal bell rings. Harassment from other peers usually takes place at school, which makes it the school’s responsibility to settle any disputes that occur on school grounds, before the situation reaches a climax. I am aware that teachers and staff are a small population, compared to their students and cannot be everywhere all of the time. But, if ever they suspect any kind of harassment, I think they should act on their instincts and talk to the victim. Teachers are more than educators; they are mentors and guardians, to a certain extent.

This country has seen some of the worst tragedies, due to bullying. In most cases, the victim decides to seek revenge on those who tormented them. For example, the Columbine High School massacre that occurred on April 20, 1999, was a result of constant harassment and bullying from other students. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a killing spree and held the entire school hostage for hours. 12 were killed, and some were injured. Not only was this a murder, but also a mass murder suicide. The two boys killed themselves, after all of the damage had already been done, leaving behind years of trauma and heartache for the victims and their families. This tragedy would have never happened if their peers did not constantly bully them. I am not trying to justify their approach to the situation, but the bullies are at fault, as well. The staff and administration at the school could have possibly prevented the situation from reaching that point. According to reports, their parents were negligent, which supports my stance on this issue. Some parents do not pay attention to their children, which is why the school should handle such situations, depending on the circumstances.

In conclusion, parents do have a right to be involved with certain situations, but I feel that the school should handle bullying because it more than likely takes place on campus. Children are in the school’s care for the majority of the day and when victims choose to take matters into their own hands, it generally ends in tragedy.

Favorite Film

A great and epic film comes along as often as a shooting star is seen streaming across the night sky. Some movies have the power to impact an entire generation, while others fail to rise to the occasion. With that being said, not all great films are given the recognition or publicity that they deserve. If you mention the film V for Vendetta, you will more than likely encounter a very puzzled expression, followed by the question, “what movie is that?” I know this because I used to be that person. After I saw this film, I fell in love with it and even felt a tad guilty for my ignorance of such a powerful movie. V for Vendetta is my favorite movie because it shows that the power of people as a whole, can overcome any form of oppression, even being oppressed by their government. It also stresses the importance of knowing and protecting your inalienable rights. I believe that everyone should see this movie so that they never fall victim to totalitarian rule and if they ever do, they will know how to address the issue.

The film takes place in England, in the future. In this time era, there is a war going that led to the collapse of America and England has been taken over by a dictator, who ensures the “protection” of the citizens of the country by using terror tactics and intimidation. This movie is very similar to George Orwell’s 1984. There is a man, who simply goes by V, trying to save the entire country from the totalitarian rule, by reminding them of what they have lost and what this country has become. In the film, V says, “People should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of its people.” This character is so eloquently spoken throughout the entire film. But, it is this particular statement that holds so much power. I cannot reveal the ending of the film, but what I can say is that this statement acts as one of the film’s many themes and holds great truth, as far as how people should view their power in society.

What our government tells us may not always be true. There are many conspiracy theories circling around, and there have always been. But, it is quite simple for government officials to create “epidemics” and blame them on someone else. Some people in power, or those who are trying to gain power, use this strategy so that they can be viewed as the savior. In return for salvation, they seek complete control and compliance from everyone. This is one of the ways that the dictator in V for Vendetta was able to control the people of England. Some people believed that George Bush used 911 to have more control over the people. The document that followed this was The USA PATRIOT Act, which violates our 4^th Amendment. This film is like a warning to all people. It is easier than it may seem to take control over an entire country.

In conclusion, V for Vendetta is a film that is completely underrated. It makes people realize that they are the most powerful force in their government, not the government itself. It also warns people by making them aware of the ways a totalitarian can come about and take over. This is a wonderful film and I highly recommend it.

Cats and Dogs

Cats and dogs are age-old rivals. Well, this is according to people. They are both animals, but they are very different. I have never owned a cat, but I have been around them and they seem very quiet. I have had a dog before, and they are much easier to play with and get along with.

Cats seem like they keep to themselves and are willing to play whenever they feel like it. Dogs are always willing to play with you, you can pet them and they are not very moody. Being around any moody person or animal is kind of nerve wrecking. Cats seem like they lay around a lot and they are very hard to get along with. They just seem really wrapped up in themselves and I like to play around and love and animal and for an animal to love me. I am not saying all cats are like this, and perhaps I will meet a cat that has different qualities than the ones that I listed. But, from what I have observed and from the stories I have heard, they just do not seem like fun animals.

I think that dogs really are man’s best friends. They are very loyal and energetic and I enjoy being around them. With a dog, I feel very protected and loved at the same time. I get closer to a dog and they are very fun to be around. Dogs are just wonderful and I love them very much.

Formal and Casual

The idea of formal clothing has changed within the last 50 years. Today, many people consider a nice evening gown or dress and a suit to be formal clothing. But, let us not forget that in the past, people wore this type of attire everyday. In the 1800s, people dressed extravagantly on a regular basis. Back then, this “formal” attire may have been considered casual. I do not think that today’s idea of casual is better or worse than the clothes that were worn, in the past. I do think that men look nice when they wear a collard shirt and tie, however. But, some people think that this type of attire should only be worn on special occasions.

People do look at you differently when you wear formal clothing. It is a sense of maturity that most people assume you have, just based on how you look. I do not think that this is correct, but this is how society thinks. Casual clothing would be considered a shirt with a pair of jeans, which I have to say, is very comfortable. But, I doubt that someone would wear this to a wedding. It is simply not appropriate for the occasion.

Formal clothes are not better or worse than causal. They are both a form of clothing and one is more comfortable than the other. I definitely think that there is a time and place for a type of outfit and casual clothes do not go with every occasion.

Raw and Cooked

Food is important, in order to live. If you think that you can live without food, you are a bit mistaken. Food comes in many different forms and many people have different ideas of what food is. Food could be bugs to some people, live bugs at that. Some people think that it is wasteful not to eat every bit of an animal. Some people believe that food is not food if it is raw while others believe that raw food is the real food. Raw food and cooked food is a very simple subject to compare. It is simple to scratch the surface and just say that one is cooked and one is not. But, it is so much more to it than that.

Some raw food is pretty good, while it is in its uncooked state. For example, vegetables and fruits are better for you when they are fresh. They still retain all of their nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. If you cook a vegetable, it may taste better, but that does not mean that it is still as good for you.

Some foods are better when cooked because you can get sick if you eat them raw. Some people do eat raw meat; I do not think it is very healthy to do so. Raw meat can have worms and since you do not get to see how your meet is processed, you do not know what kind of bacteria is in it. You can season raw meat and eat it, but I doubt it’ll taste the same and I really think it is unhealthy.

Spicy and Sweet

It is a flame that cannot be extinguished for a very long time

It can come from a pepper, or many different spices

Nevertheless, you send off a signal to the brain

My taste buds are numb, and my mouth is in pain

You have a taste, but you also have the potentially to numb the rest of my mouth

After I eat too much of it, I feel like I want to scream and shout

Spicy foods, you know you are just like a hot flame

Blazing without any ammunition to get you started

After that one taste of you, I do not know what to do

My mouth just hurts so badly

Many people love you, many people avoid you, and many people hate you

Many want you, but they cannot take the pain

Leaving me gasping for air and a tummy ache

It is just too bad you taste so great!

You are everyone’s guilty pleasure

You take many forms and shapes

Whether you are a pastry, a fruit or even a cold frozen treat

You taste so good to me

Sweet food, you have a way of making me want more and more

I do not love you, but I adore you

But just like the spicy, you sometimes leave me with regret

When I sit and rub my stomach, I fret

Why did I overindulge?

You taste sol good, like heaven and a dream

Kids, adults, and teens we all love you, but you don’t love us back

You can cause diabetes and are no good

But you taste so good

Yet, I feel so guilty

Weather (Poems that describe how it affects the mood)

The air outside is warm and seems to sooth my soul

The perfect temperature to loose the jacket but it would still be fine to have it

The wind seems to supply us with this gentle breeze, warm

This pleases me, and everyone around me too

There smiles seem brighter, their attitudes much lighter

What is it about the mid 70s?

The reason escapes me, but I do not try to seek this truth

It is one of those things that only God would understand

After all, He is the man with the master plan

This weather, warm, yet cool

The rain seems to be falling down from the sky

Heavy, you can hear it hit the window

When you breathe, it can be seen

Me, I am usually bundled up in a warm coat

How can I still be cold?

When I get in a warm space I feel the warm air beneath surrounding me

This warm air makes me feel very sleepy. How can I be?

By the time lunch hits, I am in the mood for homemade chili.

I wish we had a fireplace because I would bundle up and sleep there, for sure

This cold weather is so hard to ignore

It puts me in a sleepy place

This is unbearable

I feel like I am in a sauna

I dread stepping outside and I can feel the sweat run down my forehead

No jacket for me, even if it was cool this morning

The only words in my head are shade and AC

Everyone seems so grumpy

Could it be this blazing heat?

Probably, because I am in a bad mood to

Clouds, where are you?

Homeschool vs. Public

Public schooling and home schooling are very different. Almost anyone can be a teacher, if one chooses to be a home schooling teacher. They do not need degrees, there is no CST, and there can even be no test, if that is what they desire it to be. See, this is what homeschooling means to me. It is a life of ease. But there are different forms of such an art, most students wish they could take. Come, get your packets, then leave. I’ll see you in a week. It all depends on the teacher, the educator. But, just like public schooling, a teacher has the potential to lose their spunk.

Public school has rules but is not so sheltered. There are a cornucopia of personalities all mashed together in a somewhat spacious campus, with teachers from far and wide. All these teachers must have degrees and a will to survive. Why? Well, let’s just say this is a place like no other. It is not the jungle, but not peaceful, compared to other. But, what a better opportunity to experience a life outside of your perception of normality, this is what I think. Public school is like preparation for real life. Not everyone is going to like you, not all things will go your way. There is a whole world out there to see and that is why public school is for me.

The two share more differences, I must say. No one is better than the other; it just depends on your ways.

Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge and understanding go hand and hand. As a matter of fact, you cannot really have one without the other. How can you call yourself knowledgeable if you have not grasped an understanding of a particular subject?

In order to attain a good education, you must make an effort to understand. If you do not understand, you cannot sit there and wait for the answers to fall out of the sky. It is simply ridiculous to think that knowledge is something that just comes to you, without trying to grasp an understanding of a particular subject. The difference between the two is that knowledge relates mainly to school and education, while understanding can tie into compassion, education, or many other subjects. To be able to understand something is a great accomplishment because many people think they understand something, when they really do not. Pretending to understand does no one any justice.

Basically, knowledge and understanding go together, but they do have a few differences. When I think of knowledge, I think of school, but when I think of understanding, I think of many different things. I could think of emotion, etc. But, you cannot have knowledge without understanding.

Knowledge is the basis of a situation as it pertains to the know

So with that being said, how can one go?

Go, along the path of life being ignorant to the know

But, ignorance is based on a lack of understanding

Most people want to shut out what they cannot grasp

Instead of trying to break that barrier stopping them from getting to the other side

But, why?

Why be living with an empty mind.

Knowledge is the key and understanding is the door

Once you find the key, go!

What are you waiting for?

Interesting Person

Eminem is probably one of the most controversial artists of my generation. From his explicit lyrics and bold mentality, he definitely sets himself apart from the rest of the Rap world. Most people say that Eminem is crazy, but from my perspective, his sanity is in tact. I think his lyrics sometimes represent what most of us are too afraid to say. If I could have lunch with any famous person, I would choose Eminem. He seems to be a very interesting person and I would like to meet him.

I do not know him personally. As a matter of fact, I do not know him at all. But, based on his music, I find him very interesting. He has a very carefree and “I do not care what anybody thinks” vibe. I think that is very different from most people. He had a very rough childhood, which I think has something to do with previous affiliation with drugs. His mother, whom he often bashes in his music, appears to be a very unfit parent. But what I think makes Eminem so interesting is his attitude, in general.

There are few questions that I would ask, if we had the pleasure of meeting one day. I would not ask the typical questions that reporters ask. The last thing I would want to do is make him feel like he is in an interview. The only question I could only think of is how he learned to stop caring about how others perceive him. Eminem seems to be a very confident person and I would like to be as confident as he is. In my opinion, confidence is linked to courage.

Best Teachers

In my opinion, one of the most important professions in the world is an educator. We have all played the role of an educator at least once in our lives. The primary reason a teacher is so important to me is because a teacher gives his or her students one of the best and most important gives anyone can ever receive: knowledge. With that being said, a teacher should always be courteous, an expert in their particular subject, and should be wise and intelligent.  The best way to teach students is to make learning fun because I know that my peers and I grasp information much better when I am being entertained. A teacher that always went out of their way to make learning fun, the one that generally cared about all of his students was my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Palmquist.

Mr. Palmquist went above and beyond what it means to be a teacher. He did not just teach the basic subjects in school, but he went above and beyond and taught us about life. He was honest with us and that classroom was more than a classroom, it was like another home and everyone was a family. He taught us real experiences. The time I remember is when he taught us that when you say bad things to someone or hurt someone, it is not a reflection of God. I think that he is one of the best teachers that I have ever had. Mr. Palmquist, if you ever read this, I miss you and you are awesome.

Sleep

Sleep is a very important and vital part of life. I am one of those people that need sleep in order to function. Studies show that the average person needs at least 8 hours of sleep every night, in order to be completely rested and to be healthy. I think that everyone knows that sleep is very important. Here is an example of a day of my life when I do not get enough sleep. Today would actually be a very good example of what happens when I do not get enough sleep.

I only got about 6 hours of sleep last night and I did not even feel like waking up this morning. I found it very difficult to get out of bed and I ended up sleeping for an extra 30 minutes. I put on any thing that I could find and I packed my back. In the process, I forgot my composition book for chemistry and did not study for the potential quiz we were having. I felt so bewildered and out of sorts. During second period, I almost fell asleep and I was not as attentive as I usually am. Then during fourth period, I had a little bit more energy. By the end of the day, I felt exhausted and I wanted to take a nap. I was also very hungry because I only had a slice of toast for breakfast.

On the way home, I almost fell asleep on the train and I did fall asleep in the car. I still do not have enough energy to write this blog. My thought process has been out of sorts all day and will probably remain that way, until I get some sleep. Sleep is very important and should never be taken lightly.

My Favorite Movie

One of my favorite movies is A Walk to Remember. It is a love story that centers on the main characters, Jaime and Landon. Landon and Jamie have attended the same school since kindergarten, but they did not really interact with each other. Landon hung out with the “cool crowd.” Landon and his friends often made fun of Jamie, who has a very modest appearance and is very religious.

Landon gets into trouble with law and as a punishment, he has to clean up the school campus and participate in the school play, which Jamie is also in. He has trouble learning his lines and asks Jamie if she can run lines with him after school. She agrees to help him on the condition that he must not fall in love with her. He scoffs at the idea and guarantees that it will not happen.

After a couple of practices, Jamie asks Landon in front of his friends if they would be practicing after school, and he embarrasses her. Later, he comes to her home confessing that he has feelings for her, but she refuses to listen because he wanted their friendship to be a secret.

During the play, Landon kisses Jamie, which was unscripted. His ex girlfriend plays a cruel joke on Jamie, and Landon comes to her rescue. Their relationship takes off from there. But, something is going on with Jamie that she does not reveal into later on in their relationship. You have to watch to see.

Learning A Language

I had to spend a week in other country. I do not plan on having my own personal translator and I would not want to. If I am going to get around in a foreign land, I am going to prepare myself first. I need to know the essentials in order to survive in a foreign place. My grandfather told me that money is a universal language. I suppose this is true, but I would have no intention on pulling out a dollar everytime I need something. I think the best thing to do is to take a community college course, if they have it available. My friend takes Japanese at a community college, which is great. If I am unable to do this, then I will try to raise money to buy a language-learning program. I may buy Rosetta Stone because I heard that it is one of the most popular language learning systems and it is very affective.

One of the most affective ways that people used to do is send a child to live in a foreign home and eventually they would pick up the language. I am sure that this would work, to a certain extent. I may be able to understand what them, but I would want to be able to communicate with them in their native language. I think the best thing for me would be to buy Rosetta Stone or take a regular class, or get help from a friend who is a fluent speaker of Japanese.