No, I haven't been playing Russian Roulette. I just thought that the idea of putting your life on the line for no apparent reason is similar to my situation right now, just way more serious. My problems aren't life-or-death situations.
So I've been pretty out of it lately. I haven't been doing a lot of my work, and I'm just really over junior year. I even didn't do an assignment! Some of you might be thinking, "Haha, one assignment, I haven't done my homework since I was a freshman", but for me, not completing an assignment is pretty out of character. Why am I so willing to throw away all of my hard work because I am too lazy to do my work? That's not like me. I guess I've just been too focused on other things lately to really focus on school like I usually do.
I got a summer job this past week at a place that I really really like: American Eagle. However, my manager is saying that if I go to Boston for 4 weeks, which I would be doing at the end of June, I might not be offered my position again when I get back. One of the managers is going to talk to another one of the managers and then decide whether or not it will be okay for me to miss a month of work during the height of the summer season. I guess it was kind of dumb of me to get a job and then, only one month later, leave for a month, but I really wanted that job!
I now have to hope that my manager says that it's okay for me to go on my trip or not. That's going to suck: I finally get a job that I like, and I get fired for going to summer school in Boston. LAME! Now my job is pending, and it all depends on my manager. Russian Roulette must be the scariest game in the world, because that actually puts your life on the line. In my situation, only my job is at stake. All I can do is hope I get lucky and draw a blank because if I don't I will be devastated.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Done With Testing? I Think Not!
I am so excited! AP's are over for me! I took APUSH on Friday, and I took AP Biology on Monday, and now I am done with all of my AP's. I only have 3 classes now! And two of those classes don't have finals, so I only have to take one final this semester, and it's going to be on the first day of Finals' Week, so I end school on the 29th!
These next few weeks are going to be so fun. Now that I have no AP Biology (which had two hour-long lectures and two 2-hour-long labs) and no APUSH (which had four hour-long small groups and one hour-long large group), I have a lot of free time in my schedule. However, this in no way means that I get to slack off. I have a lot to do within the next two weeks, and it's going to be difficult to keep up. The relief I felt when I finished my AP's didn't last long, because when I pulled out my schedule I noticed that I have a math test once a week for the next 3 weeks! I also have a paper due this Thursday in one of my English classes, and another paper due next week! This is crazy.
I thought that after AP's were over I was going to be done with school. I thought I would be able to go on cruise control and go into summer mode. Well, that's definitely not the case; at least not for the next two weeks, that is. Actually, more like 3 weeks, because I have an SAT on June 2nd as well. But once June 2nd comes around and I finish my SAT I am immediately entering summer mode.
I am so rediculously excited for this summer, not just because it's summer, but also because this is my last summer as a high school student. By next summer I will be graduating and then moving on to bigger and better things, just like the seniors this year. But enough with looking into the future, I have to get through THIS year FIRST!
These next few weeks are going to be so fun. Now that I have no AP Biology (which had two hour-long lectures and two 2-hour-long labs) and no APUSH (which had four hour-long small groups and one hour-long large group), I have a lot of free time in my schedule. However, this in no way means that I get to slack off. I have a lot to do within the next two weeks, and it's going to be difficult to keep up. The relief I felt when I finished my AP's didn't last long, because when I pulled out my schedule I noticed that I have a math test once a week for the next 3 weeks! I also have a paper due this Thursday in one of my English classes, and another paper due next week! This is crazy.
I thought that after AP's were over I was going to be done with school. I thought I would be able to go on cruise control and go into summer mode. Well, that's definitely not the case; at least not for the next two weeks, that is. Actually, more like 3 weeks, because I have an SAT on June 2nd as well. But once June 2nd comes around and I finish my SAT I am immediately entering summer mode.
I am so rediculously excited for this summer, not just because it's summer, but also because this is my last summer as a high school student. By next summer I will be graduating and then moving on to bigger and better things, just like the seniors this year. But enough with looking into the future, I have to get through THIS year FIRST!
Friday, May 4, 2007
So Much To Do, So Little Time
Yes! The first week of May is OVER!! Well, after today it is at least. Then there are two weeks of killer AP's and then I go on cruise control for a week until the end of the year. Of course there are summer plans to make. Wait a minute, summer is only...3 weeks away (after today and not counting exam week)! WHAT?!?!! Wow, I guess I actually don't have much time to plan.
I haven't even decided what I'm doing for the summer yet. I could go to DC, or to Boston, and then I really want to go to Reno to visit a friend and San Fransisco for the same reason, and Cedar Point, aka roller coaster capital of the WORLD! Now how could I pass up that opportunity? But there is always the limiting factor of, can I afford it? So now it's not only a race against time but also a race to snatch up the few remaining cheap tickets so that I can do as much of the things that I want to do without going over my budget. It doesn't help that I will be paying for all of my trips this year (except for Boston and DC, but I can only do one of those).
With all of those summer options, I have tons of possible agendas for the summer. And what with my crazy schedule for the next couple weeks it is going to be hard to find time to sit down with my parents (as I am not 18 and can't book my own flights) and actually buy and book my flights. This is going to stress me out! Now that I think about how close summer is, I am getting more excited to be done with junior year, but I am also getting anxious because I haven't made my plans and booked my tickets! Worst case cinario: flights are all booked and I have to stay here. I guess that's not that bad. Spending a summer in Hawai'i: millions would kill to do that. I shouldn't complain about that being my fallback plan.
I haven't even decided what I'm doing for the summer yet. I could go to DC, or to Boston, and then I really want to go to Reno to visit a friend and San Fransisco for the same reason, and Cedar Point, aka roller coaster capital of the WORLD! Now how could I pass up that opportunity? But there is always the limiting factor of, can I afford it? So now it's not only a race against time but also a race to snatch up the few remaining cheap tickets so that I can do as much of the things that I want to do without going over my budget. It doesn't help that I will be paying for all of my trips this year (except for Boston and DC, but I can only do one of those).
With all of those summer options, I have tons of possible agendas for the summer. And what with my crazy schedule for the next couple weeks it is going to be hard to find time to sit down with my parents (as I am not 18 and can't book my own flights) and actually buy and book my flights. This is going to stress me out! Now that I think about how close summer is, I am getting more excited to be done with junior year, but I am also getting anxious because I haven't made my plans and booked my tickets! Worst case cinario: flights are all booked and I have to stay here. I guess that's not that bad. Spending a summer in Hawai'i: millions would kill to do that. I shouldn't complain about that being my fallback plan.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Who Killed The Electric Car?
Who did kill the electric car? The blame can't be pinned to one person and one person only. No no, it should be spread around to pretty much everyone that got in its way. Whether they were wrong or not in their reasoning, yep, they are guilty. I don't care if they were thinking of the bigger picture or not, they killed it and that makes them bad.
So it goes.
I never really understood why Kurt Vonnegut always said "so it goes" in his book Slaughter-House 5, and I still don't, but I now feel that it applies here. Yes, the electric car died, but this movie (Who Killed The Electric Car?) makes everyone out to be responsible for some horrible crime against humanity. In reality, however, they were twisting the facts to make it seem a lot worse than it was. Only until the end (and even then only for a short segment) do they even talk about the other side of the table: they actually let the accusees speak on their own behalf (amazing!).
That one guy who was in charge of CARB seemed to be smart and sensible and sure of his decision without being demeaning or snide. And I got this from his brief interview segment. Of course the editors would cut out the parts that didn't make him seem like a total loon or devil in disguise, but even without those clips he still seemed sincere as if he were actually looking out for the people he was serving (imagine that: a public service official actually doing his job).
This movie had an agenda, and after finishing it last night I got irritated. Yes, it would have been nice have the option of an electric car for the past 2 years (the last one was crushed in 2005 if I remember the movie correctly), but we should be trying to find ways to bring it back by changing policy. The major problem I saw was that big companies had a monopoly on the car business and enforced policy that would halt projects aimed at decreasing oil profits. But now there should be enough opposition to oil companies (what with oil prices rising and global warming becoming a major issue) that these policies can be changed and taken out of the control of big comopanies and put in the hands of the majority: the people of the United States.
Who Killed The Electric Car? did it's job when it comes to raising awareness of this issue and possible energy source for Americans and people world-wide. I only wish it hadn't been so coniving and blamed people that were just doing their job and looking out for the interests of the people to get there.
So it goes.
I never really understood why Kurt Vonnegut always said "so it goes" in his book Slaughter-House 5, and I still don't, but I now feel that it applies here. Yes, the electric car died, but this movie (Who Killed The Electric Car?) makes everyone out to be responsible for some horrible crime against humanity. In reality, however, they were twisting the facts to make it seem a lot worse than it was. Only until the end (and even then only for a short segment) do they even talk about the other side of the table: they actually let the accusees speak on their own behalf (amazing!).
That one guy who was in charge of CARB seemed to be smart and sensible and sure of his decision without being demeaning or snide. And I got this from his brief interview segment. Of course the editors would cut out the parts that didn't make him seem like a total loon or devil in disguise, but even without those clips he still seemed sincere as if he were actually looking out for the people he was serving (imagine that: a public service official actually doing his job).
This movie had an agenda, and after finishing it last night I got irritated. Yes, it would have been nice have the option of an electric car for the past 2 years (the last one was crushed in 2005 if I remember the movie correctly), but we should be trying to find ways to bring it back by changing policy. The major problem I saw was that big companies had a monopoly on the car business and enforced policy that would halt projects aimed at decreasing oil profits. But now there should be enough opposition to oil companies (what with oil prices rising and global warming becoming a major issue) that these policies can be changed and taken out of the control of big comopanies and put in the hands of the majority: the people of the United States.
Who Killed The Electric Car? did it's job when it comes to raising awareness of this issue and possible energy source for Americans and people world-wide. I only wish it hadn't been so coniving and blamed people that were just doing their job and looking out for the interests of the people to get there.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Prom Policy
So tonight is senior prom! It's a time to have fun and let loose after a year of hard work and four years of high school under your belt (almost). But it's that "almost" that is key. Drinking is common among those that go to prom, but some aren't careful and do stupid things.
My sister's school had their senior prom a couple of weeks ago, and a bunch of kids rented a school bus to take them to prom (wierd, I know, but there were apparently a lot of kids). Anyway, when the bus got there, all of the kids got off and the bus driver went through the bus to make sure no one forgot anything and what do you think he found? Yes, you guessed it, bottles and bottles of alcohol. He promptly alerted the chaperons and the kids that had been on that bus were sent home from their prom. A couple had to be taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning and at least three were suspended. The last I heard the authorities at the school were trying to decide whether they would have to expel those seniors. It was their senior year and because they made a bad choice at prom they might not be able to graduate.
I personally don't think it's a big deal what other people do at prom, but if it endangers others or themselves then I have a problem. I think it would be the worst thing in the world to be so close to the end and then be expelled for making some really dumb decisions. Sure, have fun in whatever way you want to, but don't draw so much attention to yourself that you ruin it for others and especially for you.
Prom is a time to have fun, and I hope that everyone going has a blast! I just hope that everyone is "safe and smart" (to quote pretty much every adult in the world).
My sister's school had their senior prom a couple of weeks ago, and a bunch of kids rented a school bus to take them to prom (wierd, I know, but there were apparently a lot of kids). Anyway, when the bus got there, all of the kids got off and the bus driver went through the bus to make sure no one forgot anything and what do you think he found? Yes, you guessed it, bottles and bottles of alcohol. He promptly alerted the chaperons and the kids that had been on that bus were sent home from their prom. A couple had to be taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning and at least three were suspended. The last I heard the authorities at the school were trying to decide whether they would have to expel those seniors. It was their senior year and because they made a bad choice at prom they might not be able to graduate.
I personally don't think it's a big deal what other people do at prom, but if it endangers others or themselves then I have a problem. I think it would be the worst thing in the world to be so close to the end and then be expelled for making some really dumb decisions. Sure, have fun in whatever way you want to, but don't draw so much attention to yourself that you ruin it for others and especially for you.
Prom is a time to have fun, and I hope that everyone going has a blast! I just hope that everyone is "safe and smart" (to quote pretty much every adult in the world).
Hang Out
We had an assignment in class to go to the place where we hang out. Well, my friends and I don't have one set place where we hang out. We use these mechanical devices called cell phones to find each other and hang out wherever we are around campus, because we are always doing something: eating, working on a paper or a lab report, in the jewelry studio finishing up a project, or trying to concentrate. I didn't know where I was going to go during the period we were given, so I made a bee-line to the silent section in the library, knowing some of my friends would be there during that hour.
As I entered the silent section, I looked at all of the people in there. Most of them had headphones on and were listening to their iPods and MP3's. Some, however, were hunched over their books deep in concentration. I saw one of my friends and parked myself right next to her. I'm not a big fan of the silent section when I want to talk, because usually when I'm in there the library ladies tell me to be quiet because I talk too much. I also leave my stuff in there when my friends and I go to the snack bar during those breaks, and Auntie Trudy gets mad (although Auntie Trudy is never really MAD). This time I just sat there and looked around. I observed my friend, and she was not paying attention to me because she came into the library to finish her math homework. I probably would have been doing the same thing had I not been in class (I can't do homework at home, it's too hard to focus there). I just sat there for a couple of minutes watching my friend and then looking at everyone else in the silent section. Everyone was so focused. I need that discipline, because I am never able to focus on my homework. It's a curse.
I soon left and went outside the library to talk with another friend. She had seen me in the silent section and wanted to go outside because one of the library ladies was eyeing us down because we kept whispering. My friend gave me animal cookies, which I begrudgingly accepted, and proceeded to devour. We stood outside the library and talked for a couple minutes until I had to go back to class. As I walked away from the library, I watched people go in and out of the doors. You couldn't tell that there were actually so many people in that building and what they were doing. From the outside it seemed just like any other building, but inside it was the haven for many overworked teenagers trying to make it though another day for whatever reason.
As I entered the silent section, I looked at all of the people in there. Most of them had headphones on and were listening to their iPods and MP3's. Some, however, were hunched over their books deep in concentration. I saw one of my friends and parked myself right next to her. I'm not a big fan of the silent section when I want to talk, because usually when I'm in there the library ladies tell me to be quiet because I talk too much. I also leave my stuff in there when my friends and I go to the snack bar during those breaks, and Auntie Trudy gets mad (although Auntie Trudy is never really MAD). This time I just sat there and looked around. I observed my friend, and she was not paying attention to me because she came into the library to finish her math homework. I probably would have been doing the same thing had I not been in class (I can't do homework at home, it's too hard to focus there). I just sat there for a couple of minutes watching my friend and then looking at everyone else in the silent section. Everyone was so focused. I need that discipline, because I am never able to focus on my homework. It's a curse.
I soon left and went outside the library to talk with another friend. She had seen me in the silent section and wanted to go outside because one of the library ladies was eyeing us down because we kept whispering. My friend gave me animal cookies, which I begrudgingly accepted, and proceeded to devour. We stood outside the library and talked for a couple minutes until I had to go back to class. As I walked away from the library, I watched people go in and out of the doors. You couldn't tell that there were actually so many people in that building and what they were doing. From the outside it seemed just like any other building, but inside it was the haven for many overworked teenagers trying to make it though another day for whatever reason.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Tired
So I am currently at school at around 1 in the afternoon and I haven't slept since Saturday night. I'm running on empty here. It's definitely not a good feeling. I can tell that there is a difference in the way I'm acting and in the way I am feeling. I don't feel that tired, actually, I just feel drained. I had lunch today and then I felt tons better, so the sleep isn't all that big of a deal. But then again, I had lunch about an hour ago and I am almost as pooped as I was before I had lunch already... maybe that's a sign?
There have been studies on how sleep is essential for humans to function properly. Apparently my school didn't get that message, because this is not an irregular occurrence! Why does my school put so much on my plate at once? I guess it's good practice for the "real world", where nothing is fair and sometimes a deadline can mean your job. I just wish that I didn't have to do so much. I feel so unmotivated, but that could be the lightheadedness talking there. I think it is, I think I am motivated, just not when I am not functioning properly. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel better.
Then again, who am I to blame my school for giving me so much to do? I signed up for these classes, I should have known what I was getting myself into. I guess it's no one's fault but mine, and now I regret trying to do so much, especially towards the end of the year when all I want to do is cruz. Next year I will be more aware of my inability to handle all of the work at the end of the year (especially next year when there is NO WAY I will be doing lots of work!)
I think today has been the hardest day of my life, even though it is probably one of my easier days in my schedule: 8:30 work, 9:30 math, 10:30 plato (1 1/2 hours), 1:30 US History, and 2:30 work again. Unfortunately I did have to go take a Bio test during one of my breaks, so that wasn't fun, and when I'm not even completely up to par either! I guess that's the price for not sleeping. At least I can say it was a learning experience.
There have been studies on how sleep is essential for humans to function properly. Apparently my school didn't get that message, because this is not an irregular occurrence! Why does my school put so much on my plate at once? I guess it's good practice for the "real world", where nothing is fair and sometimes a deadline can mean your job. I just wish that I didn't have to do so much. I feel so unmotivated, but that could be the lightheadedness talking there. I think it is, I think I am motivated, just not when I am not functioning properly. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel better.
Then again, who am I to blame my school for giving me so much to do? I signed up for these classes, I should have known what I was getting myself into. I guess it's no one's fault but mine, and now I regret trying to do so much, especially towards the end of the year when all I want to do is cruz. Next year I will be more aware of my inability to handle all of the work at the end of the year (especially next year when there is NO WAY I will be doing lots of work!)
I think today has been the hardest day of my life, even though it is probably one of my easier days in my schedule: 8:30 work, 9:30 math, 10:30 plato (1 1/2 hours), 1:30 US History, and 2:30 work again. Unfortunately I did have to go take a Bio test during one of my breaks, so that wasn't fun, and when I'm not even completely up to par either! I guess that's the price for not sleeping. At least I can say it was a learning experience.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Lack of Light
I believe it was St. John or St. Augustine that said that God is light, and darkness is a lack of God. This is true for many things. Not really in the sense that God is something else, but that light is the presence of something (in this case light waves that produce an image), and darkness is the lack of something. For example, colness is a lack of heat; boredness is the lack of something to do; hunger is due to a lack of food.
In one of my classes today, we were discussing opinions, knowledge, and ignorance. We agreed that ignorance is a lack of knowledge, and that knowledge is truth. Opinions are somewhere in between and are based on faith instead of truth. This was very interesting to think about because it can be applied to so many parts of life. We grow up by learning, but what are we learning? Are we learning truths, which is knowledge, or are we gaining opinions, which cannot be proven true? And if we are learning opinions, which I believe we are, who are we to believe them? Why must we learn the opinions of others? Why can't we learn the truths and form our own opinions?
What is math but a truthful set of solutions to numbers we created? We know that math is true because we created the system ourselves, so math is knowledge. However, science is math but it is based on opinion instead of fact. Everything you do in science and in most other subjects then, are opinions. In fact, isn't math an opinion as well because we have faith that the system we created is truth? How can we be sure that ANYTHING we hold to be knowledge now will not prove to be wrong, and therefore an opinion, later on?
In one of my classes today, we were discussing opinions, knowledge, and ignorance. We agreed that ignorance is a lack of knowledge, and that knowledge is truth. Opinions are somewhere in between and are based on faith instead of truth. This was very interesting to think about because it can be applied to so many parts of life. We grow up by learning, but what are we learning? Are we learning truths, which is knowledge, or are we gaining opinions, which cannot be proven true? And if we are learning opinions, which I believe we are, who are we to believe them? Why must we learn the opinions of others? Why can't we learn the truths and form our own opinions?
What is math but a truthful set of solutions to numbers we created? We know that math is true because we created the system ourselves, so math is knowledge. However, science is math but it is based on opinion instead of fact. Everything you do in science and in most other subjects then, are opinions. In fact, isn't math an opinion as well because we have faith that the system we created is truth? How can we be sure that ANYTHING we hold to be knowledge now will not prove to be wrong, and therefore an opinion, later on?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Make It Legal
So I just started writing my public interest paper yesterday in class and it got me all excited because I thought about all of the possible topics I could talk about. One of the topics that popped into my head (probably because I had just read a post by one of my classmates on the subject) was Teen Drinking. In class we read an article about binge drinking in colleges and our group discussed the problem together during that time. We came to somewhat of an agreement: that binge drinking occurred because the alchohol was illegal. MADD was the leading cause of raising the drinking age to 21, but what was the point of that? Wasn't the driver that killed that one boy in his 40's? What was the significance of 21? Does 3 years really make that much of a difference?
I think that this is a problem of inexperience: if young adults don't know how to drink they will abuse it and go overboard. But, if they learn how to drink and are able to manage how much they drink and know their limits early in life there wouldn't be this huge dilema. Take Europe, for example (although I believe it was Cameron who pointed out Europe has a slight problem with young drinkers abusing alchohol as well), where children are given alchohol (mostly wine, I suppose) from a young age and learn to drink it when they are still adolescents. This provides them not only with the opportunity to try different forms of alchohol and develop a better pallet for the varying levels of quality of alchohol so they can appreciate it more, but also gives them a safe environment to learn their limits and become responsible drinkers.
Teenagers in America have a severe problem with drinking, mostly because it is illegal. If drinking alchohol was legal, the thrill would be gone (except for actually drinking the alchohol), so most of the hype would disappear. It's the same with drugs, in my opinion: the fact that they are illegal makes kids want to do them more because they are "off limits". Like I said in class, in a smoking movie I saw in biology a young teenager said (and I believe correctly), "If you tell teenagers not to do it they're going to want to do it more". So, taking this to heart, drinking is only special and "cool" because teenagers know it's against the rules. They want to rebel against the world that they feel is unfair, and they take this opportunity to do that. If it weren't a big deal to drink, fewer young people would feel inclined to abuse it.
So why can't/doesn't our government address this issue? I hope that more is done to fix internal problems in our country and less is done to create problems abroad when the new president, whomever he or she may be, takes office in 2009.
I think that this is a problem of inexperience: if young adults don't know how to drink they will abuse it and go overboard. But, if they learn how to drink and are able to manage how much they drink and know their limits early in life there wouldn't be this huge dilema. Take Europe, for example (although I believe it was Cameron who pointed out Europe has a slight problem with young drinkers abusing alchohol as well), where children are given alchohol (mostly wine, I suppose) from a young age and learn to drink it when they are still adolescents. This provides them not only with the opportunity to try different forms of alchohol and develop a better pallet for the varying levels of quality of alchohol so they can appreciate it more, but also gives them a safe environment to learn their limits and become responsible drinkers.
Teenagers in America have a severe problem with drinking, mostly because it is illegal. If drinking alchohol was legal, the thrill would be gone (except for actually drinking the alchohol), so most of the hype would disappear. It's the same with drugs, in my opinion: the fact that they are illegal makes kids want to do them more because they are "off limits". Like I said in class, in a smoking movie I saw in biology a young teenager said (and I believe correctly), "If you tell teenagers not to do it they're going to want to do it more". So, taking this to heart, drinking is only special and "cool" because teenagers know it's against the rules. They want to rebel against the world that they feel is unfair, and they take this opportunity to do that. If it weren't a big deal to drink, fewer young people would feel inclined to abuse it.
So why can't/doesn't our government address this issue? I hope that more is done to fix internal problems in our country and less is done to create problems abroad when the new president, whomever he or she may be, takes office in 2009.
Writer's Block
so i have really bad writer's block right now as i try to write my public interest essay draft so i decided to leave another post on my blog and i think i'm going to make this just one long sentence because i don't want the period to stop me from writing so this is how i try to get those creative juices flowing it seems to help most of the time that or just listening to some music i have actually created some of my best work on the fly instead of making draft after draft of the same thing so this might just be one of those papers you never know i also think that multitasking helps or maybe it doesn't help at all and i am completely mistaken and it actually hurts my process i mean there are so many ways that it could hurt the process because it takes focus away from the writing of the actual piece so that would make the quality worse i guess but sometimes you need breaks to clear your mind and not focus on the same thing for a long period of time that's one of the reasons the SAT has breaks in between the sections because the kids need a break they can't think that hard for that long about that stuff my god what do they think we are a bunch of robots well we're not oh my class is leaving so i guess this is it hopefully i will work more on that paper later!
The Dalai Lama
In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Lamas form a lineage of allegedly reborn magistrates which traces back to 1391. They are of the Gelug sect of Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama to be one of innumerable incarnations of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Between the 17th century and 1959, the Dalai Lama was the head of the Tibetan government, administering a large portion of the country from the capital in Lhasa. The Dalai Lama is considered the supreme head of Tibetan Buddhism, and the leaders of all four schools consider the Dalai Lama to be the highest lama of the Tibetan traditions.
Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935, is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, and is often referred to in Western media simply as THE Dalai Lama. The fifth of sixteen children of a farming family in the Tibetan province of Amdo, he was proclaimed the tulku (rebirth) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama at the age of two. In November 1950, at the age of fifteen, he was enthroned as Tibet's Head of State and most important political ruler, while Tibet faced occupation by the forces of the People's Republic of China.
After the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, Tenzin Gyatso fled to India, where he established the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) and saught to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.[2]
A charismatic figure and noted public speaker, Tenzin Gyatso is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West, where he has helped to spread Buddhism and publicise the ideal of Free Tibet. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
I felt that this information on the 14th Dalai Lama was important to share because he is a predominant figure in today's society. Tenzin Gyatso is God, in some respects, to millions of people; his words are holy, his actions are always praised, and his decisions are law. He is the only Dalai Lama to make contact with the Western world, and he has made peace forever an ideal in human society by preaching his gospels of wisdom to the world.
It is unfortunate that he is not able to return to Tibet, and I believe that this is wrong. Why does China need Tibet anyway? No one lives there, and all of the their economic power comes from the east. They have no need to keep the Tibetan regions of the west. GIVE IT BACK!
I thought that this was a relevant topic because His Holiness is visiting in a few weeks and he will be speaking to people about peace and harmony, how to reach it and how to maintain it in life. I believe that it is very important to try to encorporate more peace in one's life because when you are at peace you feel more at ease and able to accomplish more good.
The Dalai Lama is the ultimate symbol of goodness and hope and peace, and his presence alone will impact people in a hopefully positive and strong way. I look forward to hearing what he has to say, because I feel that, especially now, with all of the violence in the world, we must learn to gain internal peace, and then spread that peace outward to create a harmonious world around us.
Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935, is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, and is often referred to in Western media simply as THE Dalai Lama. The fifth of sixteen children of a farming family in the Tibetan province of Amdo, he was proclaimed the tulku (rebirth) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama at the age of two. In November 1950, at the age of fifteen, he was enthroned as Tibet's Head of State and most important political ruler, while Tibet faced occupation by the forces of the People's Republic of China.
After the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, Tenzin Gyatso fled to India, where he established the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) and saught to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.[2]
A charismatic figure and noted public speaker, Tenzin Gyatso is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West, where he has helped to spread Buddhism and publicise the ideal of Free Tibet. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
I felt that this information on the 14th Dalai Lama was important to share because he is a predominant figure in today's society. Tenzin Gyatso is God, in some respects, to millions of people; his words are holy, his actions are always praised, and his decisions are law. He is the only Dalai Lama to make contact with the Western world, and he has made peace forever an ideal in human society by preaching his gospels of wisdom to the world.
It is unfortunate that he is not able to return to Tibet, and I believe that this is wrong. Why does China need Tibet anyway? No one lives there, and all of the their economic power comes from the east. They have no need to keep the Tibetan regions of the west. GIVE IT BACK!
I thought that this was a relevant topic because His Holiness is visiting in a few weeks and he will be speaking to people about peace and harmony, how to reach it and how to maintain it in life. I believe that it is very important to try to encorporate more peace in one's life because when you are at peace you feel more at ease and able to accomplish more good.
The Dalai Lama is the ultimate symbol of goodness and hope and peace, and his presence alone will impact people in a hopefully positive and strong way. I look forward to hearing what he has to say, because I feel that, especially now, with all of the violence in the world, we must learn to gain internal peace, and then spread that peace outward to create a harmonious world around us.
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake! Huckleberry Pie! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!! Are we in it?! Well I guess! *******! *******! Yes, yes, yes! No, that's not a swear word. This is a cheer used at some school somewhere in some place at some time. You know the one. Well, even if you don't (but I'm sure you do) it's the same for pretty much every high school. Does it matter to you? Do you care if your school has school spirit? I do.
I think that that cheer is stupid. I think that strawberry shortcake and hucklberry pie are the worst cheer lyrics ever. But that doesn't matter, because, no matter how I feel, those lyrics create comraderie (sp?) within my high school, and that makes the lyrics special. It gives them power. It makes them meaningful and important, although if said at any other time in any other situation people would think I was crazy.
School cheers like that give the students something to rally behind together. The team is there, of course, but if you were all cheering different things, how is the team supposed to know who you're cheering for? That's where the cheer comes in. They know it's *******'s cheer because we have specific cheers that only ******* students can sing with pride and not think we're a bunch of crazy backwards wierdos. When you go to the football games, don't you know that it's the ******* side that always jumps up and down like a bunch of crazy gorillas whenever the band plays that one specific song? Don't you know that it's that specific high school who sings "Go! Go Get'em! Go! Go! Go Get'em Get'em GO!" at the swim meets? You know it's that school because the whole school knows the song (or at least those that go to those events do).
What would a high school be without school spirit? Definitely not as lively, and definitely not as cohesive. High school is a time of growing and becoming an individual, but it is also a time to test the limits of how individualized you can become. Without something to tie all of those individuals together, to unite them, what would a high school be but a common meeting place where only certain people interact? No, I think that school spirit is a necessity. It is one of the few unifying things besides the snack bar that brings the entire high school together under one common banner.
So as they say at one specific high school:
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!! HUCKLEBERRY PIE!! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!! ARE WE IN IT?!?!? WELL I GUESS!! *******!! *******!! YES!! YES!! YES!!
I think that that cheer is stupid. I think that strawberry shortcake and hucklberry pie are the worst cheer lyrics ever. But that doesn't matter, because, no matter how I feel, those lyrics create comraderie (sp?) within my high school, and that makes the lyrics special. It gives them power. It makes them meaningful and important, although if said at any other time in any other situation people would think I was crazy.
School cheers like that give the students something to rally behind together. The team is there, of course, but if you were all cheering different things, how is the team supposed to know who you're cheering for? That's where the cheer comes in. They know it's *******'s cheer because we have specific cheers that only ******* students can sing with pride and not think we're a bunch of crazy backwards wierdos. When you go to the football games, don't you know that it's the ******* side that always jumps up and down like a bunch of crazy gorillas whenever the band plays that one specific song? Don't you know that it's that specific high school who sings "Go! Go Get'em! Go! Go! Go Get'em Get'em GO!" at the swim meets? You know it's that school because the whole school knows the song (or at least those that go to those events do).
What would a high school be without school spirit? Definitely not as lively, and definitely not as cohesive. High school is a time of growing and becoming an individual, but it is also a time to test the limits of how individualized you can become. Without something to tie all of those individuals together, to unite them, what would a high school be but a common meeting place where only certain people interact? No, I think that school spirit is a necessity. It is one of the few unifying things besides the snack bar that brings the entire high school together under one common banner.
So as they say at one specific high school:
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!! HUCKLEBERRY PIE!! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!! ARE WE IN IT?!?!? WELL I GUESS!! *******!! *******!! YES!! YES!! YES!!
Crunch Time
I's coming down to the wire here at the high school track, and what a turn out it is, Bob!
Yes, it seems that most juniors have turned on the boosters and most seniors have hit the emergency breaks, George!
Well, Bob, this might be the closest finish we have ever seen. Who will make it to the end: the over-it seniors or the just-starting juniors? We'll just have to wait and see.
I guess that's right, George. This is crunch time, ladies and gentlemen; it's time to put everything you can muster into this final stretch of school and get to the end! The pit stop is just around the corner, you guys can make it!
From what I've seen in previous years, Bob, the juniors save some gusto for their final lap around the track, but the seniors putter in and put everything they have into this last quarter (or at least those that have saved anything for this final period) of play.
That's too bad, George, because the seniors have another race starting almost right after this one!
And what's that one, Bob?
It's the college race.
That's true, Bob.
I know, George. I know. That race is just as intense as the high school race, but the stakes are higher and the rewards are greater. Or so I've heard, considering I have not competed in the college race yet. This is total speculation, George.
I think you're right, though, Bob. It is the same length as the high school race, but competition is more intense at the college race. Only the qualified racers go that track. Some clubs forget that when the majority of their racers qualify for the college track, but other clubs understand that only the racers that show potential and drive make it into the prestigious college track.
Well, George, let's hope that the seniors can muster up the same vigor they had as freshmen racers in the high school race so they can be just as alive and rearing to go for the four laps of the college track!
Well, Bob, before we get carried away with the college race coming up next for the seniors, let's focus back on the current high school race winding down here.
Good idea, George. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. Well, would you look at that, EVERY SINGLE RACER SEEMS TO HAVE SLOWED DOWN! Not just the seniors, George, but also the juniors! What kind of a strategy do you think this is?
Well, Bob, I think that they are all trying their best, but they've just run out of that gung-ho attitude booster that got them through the prior 3/4ths of this lap.
I think you're right, George. They seem to be frustrated at the length of the track. I think that we shouldn't have made the last quarter of the track the longest part; they seem to be noticing it now.
Yes, I think they are finding the extra 100,000 feet of track in the fourth quarter of this lap to be extra difficult. Maybe we should think about making the last quarter of the track the shortest part, and make the first quarter the longest?
I think that's a great idea, George! That way it will feel the same length all throughout the year! Brilliant!
Well, that's all the time we have, folks, but come back in about a month and a half to find out the ending to this exciting high school race! And to all those racers out there, keep it up, you're almost there! This is Bob and George, signing out.
Yes, it seems that most juniors have turned on the boosters and most seniors have hit the emergency breaks, George!
Well, Bob, this might be the closest finish we have ever seen. Who will make it to the end: the over-it seniors or the just-starting juniors? We'll just have to wait and see.
I guess that's right, George. This is crunch time, ladies and gentlemen; it's time to put everything you can muster into this final stretch of school and get to the end! The pit stop is just around the corner, you guys can make it!
From what I've seen in previous years, Bob, the juniors save some gusto for their final lap around the track, but the seniors putter in and put everything they have into this last quarter (or at least those that have saved anything for this final period) of play.
That's too bad, George, because the seniors have another race starting almost right after this one!
And what's that one, Bob?
It's the college race.
That's true, Bob.
I know, George. I know. That race is just as intense as the high school race, but the stakes are higher and the rewards are greater. Or so I've heard, considering I have not competed in the college race yet. This is total speculation, George.
I think you're right, though, Bob. It is the same length as the high school race, but competition is more intense at the college race. Only the qualified racers go that track. Some clubs forget that when the majority of their racers qualify for the college track, but other clubs understand that only the racers that show potential and drive make it into the prestigious college track.
Well, George, let's hope that the seniors can muster up the same vigor they had as freshmen racers in the high school race so they can be just as alive and rearing to go for the four laps of the college track!
Well, Bob, before we get carried away with the college race coming up next for the seniors, let's focus back on the current high school race winding down here.
Good idea, George. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. Well, would you look at that, EVERY SINGLE RACER SEEMS TO HAVE SLOWED DOWN! Not just the seniors, George, but also the juniors! What kind of a strategy do you think this is?
Well, Bob, I think that they are all trying their best, but they've just run out of that gung-ho attitude booster that got them through the prior 3/4ths of this lap.
I think you're right, George. They seem to be frustrated at the length of the track. I think that we shouldn't have made the last quarter of the track the longest part; they seem to be noticing it now.
Yes, I think they are finding the extra 100,000 feet of track in the fourth quarter of this lap to be extra difficult. Maybe we should think about making the last quarter of the track the shortest part, and make the first quarter the longest?
I think that's a great idea, George! That way it will feel the same length all throughout the year! Brilliant!
Well, that's all the time we have, folks, but come back in about a month and a half to find out the ending to this exciting high school race! And to all those racers out there, keep it up, you're almost there! This is Bob and George, signing out.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Down For Maintenance
Every now and then, websites go "down for maintenance". The websites do this for different reasons: improving the quality of the feed, fixing errors on some of the pages, or because the site needed to be updated. But when websites go down for maintenance they prevent anyone from using that site as a resource. I have experienced this many times in my life, and let me tell you, it is NOT fun.
For example, I recently tried to post on this space and it said that I couldn't because the site was down for maintenance for one hour. This was during the school day, so one hour from when I wanted to post I would be in class (most likely), which completely screwed up my posting. You see, I usually forget to post by the time I get home, so I try to do it while I am at school, or when I can remember (I have rediculously bad memory). But if I am not able to post when time permits, the next time I will be able to post might be two days from now. It's difficult to have to work your schedule around the timing of a site's maintenance hours.
Another example was not necessarily with a website, but it was the software on my computer. The software was out of date (what software isn't these days?), and my computer recommended that I update to the newest version. Because it was software I had used before, I decided to download the newest version to my computer. Of course, being the great multitasker that I am, I continued to run other programs such as Firefox, Word, and iTunes. But, once the software had been downloaded, it told me that for the new software to start working I needed to shut off my whole computer. That was very inconvenient, considering I had been researching information and writing a paper. So, I had to save my work, shut down my computer, and finish the process for the new software to take effect.
I understand that it is a necessary part of the updating process and it is beneficial to update software on my computer, but to get it and to be victim to the terms and agreements that come along with the updates is a pain! I wish there was some way that sites could update but not shut themselves down to the public. I also wish that software would automatically update and take effect when the computer turns off and on when it is convenient for the user instead of right in the middle of work. Maybe in a few years engineers or scientists could design computers and programs and sites that actually DO do that.
For example, I recently tried to post on this space and it said that I couldn't because the site was down for maintenance for one hour. This was during the school day, so one hour from when I wanted to post I would be in class (most likely), which completely screwed up my posting. You see, I usually forget to post by the time I get home, so I try to do it while I am at school, or when I can remember (I have rediculously bad memory). But if I am not able to post when time permits, the next time I will be able to post might be two days from now. It's difficult to have to work your schedule around the timing of a site's maintenance hours.
Another example was not necessarily with a website, but it was the software on my computer. The software was out of date (what software isn't these days?), and my computer recommended that I update to the newest version. Because it was software I had used before, I decided to download the newest version to my computer. Of course, being the great multitasker that I am, I continued to run other programs such as Firefox, Word, and iTunes. But, once the software had been downloaded, it told me that for the new software to start working I needed to shut off my whole computer. That was very inconvenient, considering I had been researching information and writing a paper. So, I had to save my work, shut down my computer, and finish the process for the new software to take effect.
I understand that it is a necessary part of the updating process and it is beneficial to update software on my computer, but to get it and to be victim to the terms and agreements that come along with the updates is a pain! I wish there was some way that sites could update but not shut themselves down to the public. I also wish that software would automatically update and take effect when the computer turns off and on when it is convenient for the user instead of right in the middle of work. Maybe in a few years engineers or scientists could design computers and programs and sites that actually DO do that.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Opposite Day
There never was not many nights not every year where nothing was the right way. That is not a tribute to this night. How do they not know where to go not being forward? It is not difficult. April Fool's Day did not get you thinking about that subject.
Okay, for now, we'll take a break from the backwardness. What does it mean to say the opposite? Is it just saying the opposite verb, or are we supposed to also say the opposite nouns and adjectives and adverbs and pronouns as well? Or can we be opposite on a grander scale, where the sentence has the opposite meaning instead of just having each word be its opposite? It would be so much easier if that were the case (unless that was a backwards sentence). Doesn't thinking about this make you paranoid? It makes me uneasy trying to distinguish whether someone was being opposite or not.
I hate how opposite day doesn't actually have a date. It can come at you at any moment. All of a sudden your friends start talking in gibberish and you know that it's opposite day. I think that this day is just a way to act ridiculous while having it be acceptable in everyday life. When the government or when a large group of people support the movement it becomes acceptable, even if it is not necessarily proper or right. That is what is wrong with this system. We cannot have this day just floating around in time because then large groups of people will not be able to support it like we support Chirstmas and Thanksgiving and Easter in the United States. Instead, we have sporadic outbreaks of Opposite Days every so often, but no real day that we can claim as a day of opposites.
I have realized how the system works! Wikipedia agrees with me, as they allow changes based on what the populous thinks is right. The way to get things done is to be a part of the majority. But to do this we must conform. But this goes against the American individuality code that we have in place in the US. So how are we supposed to get anything done if everyone has their own opinions and they are too stubborn to conform (because it's bad, naughty conformists!)? A problem in the system? Or maybe it's a good explanation for why we don't get more done. For example, the UN is notorious for not getting anything done because the leaders are too full of it to reconcile differences and work together to accomplish common goals. People need to learn to work together to make things work. That doesn't necessarily constitute conformity, it just means that there must be some give and take. For example, to make Opposite Day work, people need to agree on a set date, even though this date might not be the ideal time for everyone. It's a tough world, but that's how it goes.
Okay, for now, we'll take a break from the backwardness. What does it mean to say the opposite? Is it just saying the opposite verb, or are we supposed to also say the opposite nouns and adjectives and adverbs and pronouns as well? Or can we be opposite on a grander scale, where the sentence has the opposite meaning instead of just having each word be its opposite? It would be so much easier if that were the case (unless that was a backwards sentence). Doesn't thinking about this make you paranoid? It makes me uneasy trying to distinguish whether someone was being opposite or not.
I hate how opposite day doesn't actually have a date. It can come at you at any moment. All of a sudden your friends start talking in gibberish and you know that it's opposite day. I think that this day is just a way to act ridiculous while having it be acceptable in everyday life. When the government or when a large group of people support the movement it becomes acceptable, even if it is not necessarily proper or right. That is what is wrong with this system. We cannot have this day just floating around in time because then large groups of people will not be able to support it like we support Chirstmas and Thanksgiving and Easter in the United States. Instead, we have sporadic outbreaks of Opposite Days every so often, but no real day that we can claim as a day of opposites.
I have realized how the system works! Wikipedia agrees with me, as they allow changes based on what the populous thinks is right. The way to get things done is to be a part of the majority. But to do this we must conform. But this goes against the American individuality code that we have in place in the US. So how are we supposed to get anything done if everyone has their own opinions and they are too stubborn to conform (because it's bad, naughty conformists!)? A problem in the system? Or maybe it's a good explanation for why we don't get more done. For example, the UN is notorious for not getting anything done because the leaders are too full of it to reconcile differences and work together to accomplish common goals. People need to learn to work together to make things work. That doesn't necessarily constitute conformity, it just means that there must be some give and take. For example, to make Opposite Day work, people need to agree on a set date, even though this date might not be the ideal time for everyone. It's a tough world, but that's how it goes.
April Fools' Day!
I finished my homework; APRIL FOOLS!!
Hey what's that: APRIL FOOLS!!
Oh my GOD!! Britney Spears is sane: APRIL FOOLS!!
These are just a few examples of the jolly good fun that comes with April first. According to Wikipedia, April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, and originated in the celebration of the vernal equinox, which marks the time when the sun passes from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. When the sun passes into the northern hemisphere it marks the beginning of longer days and shorter nights. The equinox doesn't occur on April first every year (in fact it was on March 21 this year), but there used to be universal festivities starting on old New Year's Day (March 25) and ended on April 2, and April Fools is suspected to be a celebration in relation to that festival.
I've always been very cautious about what people say on April Fools Day, because it seems that pretty much everything people say is a lie. Sometimes people get out of control and make up hoaxes that actually cause others to do things they shouldn't be doing. I remember one year (I think I was 11 or 12) one of my friends called me and said that mom had just been hit by a car. I was so upset that I made my parents drive me down to the flower store so I could purchase 3 bouquets of flowers (one for the dad, one for my friend, and one for my friend's brother), and then I made my parents drive me to my friends house to deliver the flowers. But when I got there my friend started laughing at me and then her mom walked outside! APRIL FOOLS!!
There was also one April Fools' Day where me and my friend decided to pool a prank on our other friend, so we went over to her house really early on April Fools' Day and stuck dollar bills and coins in a tree in her front yard. I called her from my cell phone and said that I had found money growing from a tree at my house! And she went outside and found our tree and thought it really was growing money so she planted one of the dollar bills in her yard! APRIL FOOLS!!
In 2003 I forgot that it was April Fools Day, and back then my sister and I were super big fans of Harry Potter. There had been rumors going around that someone died in the 5th book, which was scheduled to come out that summer, and I tried so hard not to listen to any of them so I could find out for myself when I read the book. Well, on April Fools' Day my sister said that she had found a copy of the new book online and had read it and she told me that Serius Black died. I was crushed! I cried for about an hour, and I was very mad at my sister. Later on she told me that she had been kidding and that she hadn't read the book online. But, it turned out to be true in the book anyway, so that bummed me out! APRIL FOOLS!!
Sometimes the pranks pulled on April Fools hurt other people when they were intended as light-hearted pranks. I love pulling pranks on my friends on April Fools' Day, but sometimes it is difficult to know what is too much for someone to handle.
Hey what's that: APRIL FOOLS!!
Oh my GOD!! Britney Spears is sane: APRIL FOOLS!!
These are just a few examples of the jolly good fun that comes with April first. According to Wikipedia, April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, and originated in the celebration of the vernal equinox, which marks the time when the sun passes from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. When the sun passes into the northern hemisphere it marks the beginning of longer days and shorter nights. The equinox doesn't occur on April first every year (in fact it was on March 21 this year), but there used to be universal festivities starting on old New Year's Day (March 25) and ended on April 2, and April Fools is suspected to be a celebration in relation to that festival.
I've always been very cautious about what people say on April Fools Day, because it seems that pretty much everything people say is a lie. Sometimes people get out of control and make up hoaxes that actually cause others to do things they shouldn't be doing. I remember one year (I think I was 11 or 12) one of my friends called me and said that mom had just been hit by a car. I was so upset that I made my parents drive me down to the flower store so I could purchase 3 bouquets of flowers (one for the dad, one for my friend, and one for my friend's brother), and then I made my parents drive me to my friends house to deliver the flowers. But when I got there my friend started laughing at me and then her mom walked outside! APRIL FOOLS!!
There was also one April Fools' Day where me and my friend decided to pool a prank on our other friend, so we went over to her house really early on April Fools' Day and stuck dollar bills and coins in a tree in her front yard. I called her from my cell phone and said that I had found money growing from a tree at my house! And she went outside and found our tree and thought it really was growing money so she planted one of the dollar bills in her yard! APRIL FOOLS!!
In 2003 I forgot that it was April Fools Day, and back then my sister and I were super big fans of Harry Potter. There had been rumors going around that someone died in the 5th book, which was scheduled to come out that summer, and I tried so hard not to listen to any of them so I could find out for myself when I read the book. Well, on April Fools' Day my sister said that she had found a copy of the new book online and had read it and she told me that Serius Black died. I was crushed! I cried for about an hour, and I was very mad at my sister. Later on she told me that she had been kidding and that she hadn't read the book online. But, it turned out to be true in the book anyway, so that bummed me out! APRIL FOOLS!!
Sometimes the pranks pulled on April Fools hurt other people when they were intended as light-hearted pranks. I love pulling pranks on my friends on April Fools' Day, but sometimes it is difficult to know what is too much for someone to handle.
Pre-Senioritis
Recently a lot of the seniors have been hearing from colleges whether they were accepted or not. It's a very scary time to be a senior! Not so much for juniors, but it definitely sets the tone for next year. I have been able to watch the seniors all year, seeing them working hard, hardly working, and enjoying their last year in high school, all with a general decline in attention spans in class and limited homework-doing abilities. I can only imagine what next year will be for us juniors!
I am so happy for those seniors that have already been accepted into the colleges of their choice, but having seen some not get in really hurts. I try to put myself in their position and think of how I would feel. I have come to the conclusion that it feels like your stomach dropped about ten feet, your heart breaks because you thought that was the school for you, and you panic because now you have to psych yourself up for one of your fallbacks. I'm sure that it is much worse than this considering I haven't actually experienced this harsh rejection yet, but don't you worry, in only one year it will be my turn. Judgment Day is just around the corner.
What can the seniors this year do to help us pitiful juniors who have yet to experience such stress as the college application process and acceptance letter season? Well, for starters, you could write our applications for us and then maybe even bribe the admissions officers to let us in, but if that doesn't work out then I would settle for some pointers on how to put off senioritis until all of our apps are done. How did you guys make it through? Juniors still have time to prepare for the difficult first semester of senior year, but that also gives us time to slack off and freak out and blow off everything. We are in pre-senioritis territory, which is one of the most dangerous and important periods of junior year ever. It is the time we can use to get ahead of the game by starting to think about our essays for the college applications we'll be writing, and to start organizing papers and getting recommendations and boosting our grades. But, knowing myself, I won't start thinking about essay topics until well into August or September, I will scramble to find the Hindley papers tucked away in some random place in my room in December, and I'll be asking the right teachers too late and will have to settle for recommendations from teachers that don't like me. This critical time in high school may seem like pointless worrying to those who have already gone through the process, but show some pity: tell us what we can do to avoid as much of the worries and stress that comes with the first semester as possible.
I am so happy for those seniors that have already been accepted into the colleges of their choice, but having seen some not get in really hurts. I try to put myself in their position and think of how I would feel. I have come to the conclusion that it feels like your stomach dropped about ten feet, your heart breaks because you thought that was the school for you, and you panic because now you have to psych yourself up for one of your fallbacks. I'm sure that it is much worse than this considering I haven't actually experienced this harsh rejection yet, but don't you worry, in only one year it will be my turn. Judgment Day is just around the corner.
What can the seniors this year do to help us pitiful juniors who have yet to experience such stress as the college application process and acceptance letter season? Well, for starters, you could write our applications for us and then maybe even bribe the admissions officers to let us in, but if that doesn't work out then I would settle for some pointers on how to put off senioritis until all of our apps are done. How did you guys make it through? Juniors still have time to prepare for the difficult first semester of senior year, but that also gives us time to slack off and freak out and blow off everything. We are in pre-senioritis territory, which is one of the most dangerous and important periods of junior year ever. It is the time we can use to get ahead of the game by starting to think about our essays for the college applications we'll be writing, and to start organizing papers and getting recommendations and boosting our grades. But, knowing myself, I won't start thinking about essay topics until well into August or September, I will scramble to find the Hindley papers tucked away in some random place in my room in December, and I'll be asking the right teachers too late and will have to settle for recommendations from teachers that don't like me. This critical time in high school may seem like pointless worrying to those who have already gone through the process, but show some pity: tell us what we can do to avoid as much of the worries and stress that comes with the first semester as possible.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The Pollution Problem
They say a picture says a thousand words. But what is it saying? Sometimes a picture depicts its subject negatively and sometimes positively. This is exactly what advertising takes advantage of. Luckily, most of the time the advertising is positive, but there are some subjects (pollution, for example) that are shown in a negative light.
These pictures of smog and traffic polluting the air with exhaust makes me sick. It looks horrible, and I can't believe people would live somewhere where they are forced to breathe in that aweful pollution every day. I'm sure that the people living in smog-covered cities don't notice it (I didn't when I went to LA), but it probably affects them more than they know. The gases in the air are pollutants, so they are putting unwanted chemicals into the air we breathe. We breathe it in and then our lungs deal with the pollutants. It's like second-hand smoke!
Okay, so I'm sure that the pollutants aren't as toxic as cigarettes, but they definitely should be avoided and removed from our atmosphere. Pollution is a problem, and air and water pollution directly affect us because we need clean air and drinking water to survive. If we continue to pollute the atmosphere and water systems in one hundred years our grandchildren really won't have anything to live for. I hate to sound like Al Gore, but it's true. This is a problem, and I don't want to be responsible for wrecking the world.
The Hunger Strikes
I forget what I was doing when I heard this, or where I heard it from, or even why I was listening to this, but someone at some time was saying (I'm not even sure if it was to me anymore) that hunger in the world is due in part to the inability to spread the food around. This got me thinking: if it was possible to deliver food around the world, would countries do it? I think not.
There are too many political issues to just have any country give aid to any other country. Would we be willing to send starving North Koreans food now? ARE we willing to send starving North Koreans food? No. Or if we are willing, we will find some reason to send a minimal amount because we are on the fritz with Kim Jong Il at the moment. This is a perfect example of how we would put petty disagreements on political issues before saving the lives of millions of people starving in areas of the world unable to access fertile land.
I read all the time about starving babies in Africa and how they are so hungry that their stomachs are swollen due to some form of malnutrition. The pictures are horrible. I don't understand why we would not help these poor children! We are supposed to be a "Chirstian nation", and we are supposed to care about others, so why is it that we are only thinking of oureslves? Think about it: the only reason we don't send more aid is because the countries with starving peoples don't have anything to give us in return. Sure, there are some organizations that help regardless of what these people have to offer, such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, but why doesn't our government act? They should be leading us to bettering our world, yet they don't help those that obviously need help abroad.
I understand that we have our own problems with security and hunger in the United States, but it is insignificant when compared to the plight of so many others around the world. But if we have a surplus of food we should be willing to provide for others, even if the people are too poverty-stricken to give us anything but their thanks. That should be enough
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Spring Break
Is it just me, or does it not feel like Spring Break? Vacations always have that feeling. You know what I'm talking about: a calm comes over you, and you feel relaxed and have no problems to deal with. But for me, that feeling never came. Well, actually, that feeling never really left.
It's hard to explain. It's hard for me to differentiate between weekdays and weekends, which isn't good, because I can't really enjoy my time away from school. I've been on Spring Break for two days already, and I feel relaxed, but with mixed anxiety that I have so much to do. I sleep in, I eat like crazy, I do nothing, and I watch my dose of television (GO GEORGETOWN!!) But I can't seem to get that feeling of "This is not break, you can't do this, GET BACK TO WORK!" out of my head. It feels just like any other weekend.
Help me appreciate my Spring Break oh Spring Break GODS!! HEAR MY CRY FOR HELP!! Before I know it, it will be time for school again, and I will have waisted a whole week of my life without enjoying my well-deserved recuperation time.
It's hard to explain. It's hard for me to differentiate between weekdays and weekends, which isn't good, because I can't really enjoy my time away from school. I've been on Spring Break for two days already, and I feel relaxed, but with mixed anxiety that I have so much to do. I sleep in, I eat like crazy, I do nothing, and I watch my dose of television (GO GEORGETOWN!!) But I can't seem to get that feeling of "This is not break, you can't do this, GET BACK TO WORK!" out of my head. It feels just like any other weekend.
Help me appreciate my Spring Break oh Spring Break GODS!! HEAR MY CRY FOR HELP!! Before I know it, it will be time for school again, and I will have waisted a whole week of my life without enjoying my well-deserved recuperation time.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Bubble Boy vs. Racism
It's hard to imagine, but there must be someone in the world just like Jimmy Livingston in the movie "Bubble Boy". What is it like, I wonder, to spend over 17 years of your life in a bubble, and then realizing that there was no point to you spending your life in a bubble at all? This is kind of symbolic, I think, of being uneducated and stubborn. It's like saying to yourself for ten years that you will not eat any food that is purple, only to realize one day when you try grapes that not all purple food is bad, and you have been missing out all these years. I guess my point is, why limit yourself?
By telling yourself, no I don't like this, even though you haven't tried it yet, is dumb. You aren't giving yourself a chance to see if you actually do like it. This can be applied to more than food; it goes deeper. It covers racism as well. I don't see the big deal about different skin colors. It doesn't make sense to me. But there are some people out there that truly don't like people that don't have similar skin color to them. Many of them believe that they are different because their parents told them that people with different skin colors were different or worse, bad. But these children of racists weren't given a chance to try to see if they actually think people of different skin colors are bad, they were merely told this, and being young, believed their mentors.
Jimmy Livingston was brainwashed by his mother into thinking he needed protection from an evil and harsh world of people that don't understand him, only to discover the facade later in life. I can only hope that racists come to the same realization sooner or later.
Procrastination
It is painful to admit, but I have a problem. My problem: procrastination. I have been a procrastinator for the last two or three years. I can't really remember how I got started, but I do remember not thinking I was a procrastinator until very recently. I remember my friends telling me, "Katie, you have a problem, and we think you should get some help", but I wouldn't listen. I didn't think I needed help, I didn't think I needed anyone. I was enjoying my Saturdays not doing homework, and then getting it all done late Sunday night at the expense of my parents' electric bill and my sleeping patterns.
I can remember first entering high school and being a very studious young girl ready to take on anything. That was then. I remember that I had set a schedule for myself to get all of my work done before I got home. But there was one day in particular that I remember when I had a lot of homework assigned, most of it not even for the next day (you know the kind: a project due a week from now, a paper due in a couple days, and the like). I spent every single break I had that day vigorously working in the library to finish a lab report, an English paper, and my math homework, while still trying to find time to eat lunch and see my friends. This was early on in the school year, and I remember the huge amount of stress I had. It was too much. I gave in. I skipped lunch. This was the start of a downhill trend.
Ever since freshmen year, my studying habits have deteriorated into something resembling not doing work at all. Although giving up lunch that day back in freshmen year might not seem significant, take a look at my previous history. I never had a problem before this balancing time between the regular activities (eating, sleeping, exercising, hanging out, homework, and school), but that day changed everything. I could not finish everything I needed to in the time I had, a sad realization that soon came to fruit in my junior year of high school.
This past weekend, I think, was the worst case of procrastination I have ever had. Saturday was Junior Function at school, so I couldn't do any homework. Of course, that is just another excuse I tell myself so that I can deal with the fact that I procrastinate. Anyway, Sunday I ended up not being home until after dinner, so I started my homework then. But, of course, I needed some music, so I turned on iTunes and listened to a playlist I made. And then my foot fell asleep. And then Futurama was on, and then Family Guy, so I couldn't do my work then. I mean, who would not watch an episode of Family Guy, right?
To make a long story short, I went to bed at 3 in the morning not having finished my homework for the next day. I woke up at 6:30 to finish the unfinished lab report, and then came late to school because it took longer than I had expected. I then quickly scribbled answers to my math homework in my workbook and went to math, and luckily my math teacher didn't make us show work! This is not the way to do it. I am not supposed to be struggling to finish homework after having two days to do it! I am not supposed to be putting Family Guy before AP Biology homework. I am not supposed to be procrastinating on my work at all! I write to you as someone with a problem. I realize that now. I learned from my mistakes, and I want to change. I know it will be hard, but I want to change. I don't want to be a procrastinator any more.
I can remember first entering high school and being a very studious young girl ready to take on anything. That was then. I remember that I had set a schedule for myself to get all of my work done before I got home. But there was one day in particular that I remember when I had a lot of homework assigned, most of it not even for the next day (you know the kind: a project due a week from now, a paper due in a couple days, and the like). I spent every single break I had that day vigorously working in the library to finish a lab report, an English paper, and my math homework, while still trying to find time to eat lunch and see my friends. This was early on in the school year, and I remember the huge amount of stress I had. It was too much. I gave in. I skipped lunch. This was the start of a downhill trend.
Ever since freshmen year, my studying habits have deteriorated into something resembling not doing work at all. Although giving up lunch that day back in freshmen year might not seem significant, take a look at my previous history. I never had a problem before this balancing time between the regular activities (eating, sleeping, exercising, hanging out, homework, and school), but that day changed everything. I could not finish everything I needed to in the time I had, a sad realization that soon came to fruit in my junior year of high school.
This past weekend, I think, was the worst case of procrastination I have ever had. Saturday was Junior Function at school, so I couldn't do any homework. Of course, that is just another excuse I tell myself so that I can deal with the fact that I procrastinate. Anyway, Sunday I ended up not being home until after dinner, so I started my homework then. But, of course, I needed some music, so I turned on iTunes and listened to a playlist I made. And then my foot fell asleep. And then Futurama was on, and then Family Guy, so I couldn't do my work then. I mean, who would not watch an episode of Family Guy, right?
To make a long story short, I went to bed at 3 in the morning not having finished my homework for the next day. I woke up at 6:30 to finish the unfinished lab report, and then came late to school because it took longer than I had expected. I then quickly scribbled answers to my math homework in my workbook and went to math, and luckily my math teacher didn't make us show work! This is not the way to do it. I am not supposed to be struggling to finish homework after having two days to do it! I am not supposed to be putting Family Guy before AP Biology homework. I am not supposed to be procrastinating on my work at all! I write to you as someone with a problem. I realize that now. I learned from my mistakes, and I want to change. I know it will be hard, but I want to change. I don't want to be a procrastinator any more.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Technology Takeover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclX_HkMZao
That link leads to a funny spoof on the iMac commercials, where they make fun of PCs and compare them to the awesomeness of Macs. Just thought I'd share Leland's crazy video with others!
Basically, this got me thinking. At first I found this really funny (well, I still do, but I also thought of something else). This video got me thinking about how popular computers are becoming world wide.
So here is some background information I got off of Wikipedia: the first programmable mechanical computer wasd built in 1837, but it wasn't until the 1980's that computers became available and affordable for personal use (home computers).
Here's an article summarizing computer use around the world in 2004 (http://www.c-i-a.com/pr0305.htm)
PCs In-Use Surpassed 820M in 2004
PCs In-Use Will Top 1B in 2007
March 9 , 2005—The worldwide number of PCs in-use surpassed 820 million in 2004 and is projected to top 1 billion in 2007. PCs in-use growth is slowing as the industrialized world is approaching the top of the S-curve. Strong PC growth will continue in the developing countries for another decade. The U.S. has a large lead with over 220M PCs in-use—over 3X the number in Japan. The U.S. accounts for over 27% of all PCs in-use compared to 4.6% of worldwide population. PC usage is growing rapidly in China, which is expected to surpass Japan in 2007. PC usage is also growing strongly in many populous countries such as Brazil, India and Russia.
Top 15 Countries In PCs In-Use
Year-end 2004
PCs In-Use (#M)
Share %
1. U.S. 223.81 27.22
2. Japan 69.20 8.42
3. China 52.99 6.45
4. Germany 46.30 5.63
5. UK 35.89 4.37
6. France 29.41 3.58
7. South Korea 26.20 3.19
8. Italy 22.65 2.75
9. Canada 22.39 2.72
10. Brazil 19.35 2.35
11. Russia 19.01 2.31
12. Australia 13.72 1.67
13. India 13.03 1.58
14. Mexico 11.21 1.36
15. Netherlands 11.11 1.35
Top 15 Total 616.27 74.96
Worldwide Total 822.15 100.0
“Notebook PCs are growing rapidly and now account for 24% of total PCs in-use and nearly 27% in the U.S.”, says Dr. Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. PCs per capita in the U.S. have surpassed 76% and will remain higher than cell phones for a few more years.
These stats are crazy! The US accounts for more than one quarter of all computer use in 2004. Obviously this has a connection to internet access and use as well. I remember reading some other statistics saying that something like 70% of websites are based in America. I think that as time goes on and more countries become more developed, computers will become more prominent around the world. But for now, it seems to be that only developed countries are getting on the techno-train.
I wonder what it would be like to live in a country like Indonesia or Malaysia or another developing country and not have internet access at your fingertips? I've grown up in the computer generation, so I've become sort of nostalgic. I guess I don't appreciate computers and how much they do for me. I write my papers, listen to music, watch video feeds, read articles, look up words, and keep in contact with friends all over the world. Life without computers would be like living a day without my cell phone...wow, that's sad.
That makes me think, I've become WAY too attached to my gadgets. Seriously, I get anxious when I don't know where my phone is, or when I can't look at the time every five minutes. I guess this is the down side to living in a developed country: all of the technological breakthroughs become commonplace, and you don't appreciate them any more. I'm sure a family in Cambodia would be over-the-moon happy to have even an out-of-date PC, whereas having an old model of a cell phone in the US is an abomination. I guess this is a classic example of not appreciating something until you don't have it (except I DO have it, and i WON'T give it up).
That link leads to a funny spoof on the iMac commercials, where they make fun of PCs and compare them to the awesomeness of Macs. Just thought I'd share Leland's crazy video with others!
Basically, this got me thinking. At first I found this really funny (well, I still do, but I also thought of something else). This video got me thinking about how popular computers are becoming world wide.
So here is some background information I got off of Wikipedia: the first programmable mechanical computer wasd built in 1837, but it wasn't until the 1980's that computers became available and affordable for personal use (home computers).
Here's an article summarizing computer use around the world in 2004 (http://www.c-i-a.com/pr0305.htm)
PCs In-Use Surpassed 820M in 2004
PCs In-Use Will Top 1B in 2007
March 9 , 2005—The worldwide number of PCs in-use surpassed 820 million in 2004 and is projected to top 1 billion in 2007. PCs in-use growth is slowing as the industrialized world is approaching the top of the S-curve. Strong PC growth will continue in the developing countries for another decade. The U.S. has a large lead with over 220M PCs in-use—over 3X the number in Japan. The U.S. accounts for over 27% of all PCs in-use compared to 4.6% of worldwide population. PC usage is growing rapidly in China, which is expected to surpass Japan in 2007. PC usage is also growing strongly in many populous countries such as Brazil, India and Russia.
Top 15 Countries In PCs In-Use
Year-end 2004
PCs In-Use (#M)
Share %
1. U.S. 223.81 27.22
2. Japan 69.20 8.42
3. China 52.99 6.45
4. Germany 46.30 5.63
5. UK 35.89 4.37
6. France 29.41 3.58
7. South Korea 26.20 3.19
8. Italy 22.65 2.75
9. Canada 22.39 2.72
10. Brazil 19.35 2.35
11. Russia 19.01 2.31
12. Australia 13.72 1.67
13. India 13.03 1.58
14. Mexico 11.21 1.36
15. Netherlands 11.11 1.35
Top 15 Total 616.27 74.96
Worldwide Total 822.15 100.0
“Notebook PCs are growing rapidly and now account for 24% of total PCs in-use and nearly 27% in the U.S.”, says Dr. Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. PCs per capita in the U.S. have surpassed 76% and will remain higher than cell phones for a few more years.
These stats are crazy! The US accounts for more than one quarter of all computer use in 2004. Obviously this has a connection to internet access and use as well. I remember reading some other statistics saying that something like 70% of websites are based in America. I think that as time goes on and more countries become more developed, computers will become more prominent around the world. But for now, it seems to be that only developed countries are getting on the techno-train.
I wonder what it would be like to live in a country like Indonesia or Malaysia or another developing country and not have internet access at your fingertips? I've grown up in the computer generation, so I've become sort of nostalgic. I guess I don't appreciate computers and how much they do for me. I write my papers, listen to music, watch video feeds, read articles, look up words, and keep in contact with friends all over the world. Life without computers would be like living a day without my cell phone...wow, that's sad.
That makes me think, I've become WAY too attached to my gadgets. Seriously, I get anxious when I don't know where my phone is, or when I can't look at the time every five minutes. I guess this is the down side to living in a developed country: all of the technological breakthroughs become commonplace, and you don't appreciate them any more. I'm sure a family in Cambodia would be over-the-moon happy to have even an out-of-date PC, whereas having an old model of a cell phone in the US is an abomination. I guess this is a classic example of not appreciating something until you don't have it (except I DO have it, and i WON'T give it up).
Sunday, March 4, 2007
What's Going On?!
Okay, I've been a little confused lately. I don't know if I was late the day we discussed what these posts are supposed to be about (haha, joke), but I really am lost. I believe that they are supposed to be helpful to us in some way, but what way are they supposed to be helpful? Are we supposed to know?
Mr. Watson keeps saying that we are supposed to be establishing our voice in our writing, but I don't know how to do that. You see, I consider myself pretty level-headed, and I like to know how to do something before I attempt actually doing it. But with this class, there is no check list or rubric, you're just supposed to keep writing until you "discover" your voice? It doesn't sit well with me.
Are we supposed to ask questions? Are we supposed to understand? Are we meant to be completely lost and not know what's going on until it finally clicks with us? I am sincerely in the dark! I would love to find my voice, but I first want to know how others have found their voice, or I want to know the steps to finding it. I don't like stabbing in the dark, looking for a specific idea that I don't know what it is. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
If we are meant to find our voice through different outlets, are we supposed to write about different topics every time? Are the topics supposed to be open-ended question discussions, or just journals? How are these posts helping us discover our voices? I guess that is the underlying question: how does this help?
This is how I learn: I read, I practice, I study, I ask. That basically covers it all. So how does this particular exercise help me learn? Am I supposed to be doing a little of everything? How do these help me (personally) discover what my voice is? How will I know it's MY voice? How do I know it's not someone else's voice that I have totally just ripped off? Maybe a better question is, what is a voice and how do I know it's mine?
Mr. Watson keeps saying that we are supposed to be establishing our voice in our writing, but I don't know how to do that. You see, I consider myself pretty level-headed, and I like to know how to do something before I attempt actually doing it. But with this class, there is no check list or rubric, you're just supposed to keep writing until you "discover" your voice? It doesn't sit well with me.
Are we supposed to ask questions? Are we supposed to understand? Are we meant to be completely lost and not know what's going on until it finally clicks with us? I am sincerely in the dark! I would love to find my voice, but I first want to know how others have found their voice, or I want to know the steps to finding it. I don't like stabbing in the dark, looking for a specific idea that I don't know what it is. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
If we are meant to find our voice through different outlets, are we supposed to write about different topics every time? Are the topics supposed to be open-ended question discussions, or just journals? How are these posts helping us discover our voices? I guess that is the underlying question: how does this help?
This is how I learn: I read, I practice, I study, I ask. That basically covers it all. So how does this particular exercise help me learn? Am I supposed to be doing a little of everything? How do these help me (personally) discover what my voice is? How will I know it's MY voice? How do I know it's not someone else's voice that I have totally just ripped off? Maybe a better question is, what is a voice and how do I know it's mine?
Friday, February 23, 2007
Reflections on Blogging
Okay, so basically, this is cool. That's the bottom line. The summary. The end. But does it actually benefit the students? Is there a negative effect on the schoolwork or the mentality of the students if their class is focused solely on blogging? I beleive there is.
I think that blogging is a good way to try different techniques to get our creative juices flowing. I enjoy typing a lot more than writing because I type faster, so I can keep up with my thoughts. Also, there is so much more students can accomplish from writing on a blog on the internet than from writing in a journal. For example, Mr. Watson gave the example that if someone posts something on or blogs, lots of people can see our post. Therefore, more people can comment and/or give feedback to the work posted on the blog. If we write in our journals, our work is shared with a much smaller group, maybe only Mr. Watson. Bummers. Also, it is so much easier to copy and paste an article you found fascinating to use as a prompt than to either print it out and paste it in the journal, or copy it by hand. That takes so much time! Students get a lot of their information from websites now, so most of the information we would ever need could be found on the internet. If we are able to bring our writing to our resources, I believe our writing and our work could become much better, due to better ability to compare the original information to our interpretations of the text.
Although I am a fan of the blog, I also see a downside. I like the feeling of a small group of people able to discuss a certain topic in the comforts of a classroom. It seems to bring the class together, and they share that class and grow closer from their experiences in that class setting. If our class was based on the internet or on a blog, there is just so much going on that the students would no longer be focused on the same thing at the same time, and they would not form that closeness of a class in the classroom setting. Each student would get something different from the class, but not in a good way. Some people would focus on posting, some on commenting, and some on some other thing on the bog. But it would not be an experience that they would really share in common. I don't know, that's just my opinion though.
I think that blogging is a good way to try different techniques to get our creative juices flowing. I enjoy typing a lot more than writing because I type faster, so I can keep up with my thoughts. Also, there is so much more students can accomplish from writing on a blog on the internet than from writing in a journal. For example, Mr. Watson gave the example that if someone posts something on or blogs, lots of people can see our post. Therefore, more people can comment and/or give feedback to the work posted on the blog. If we write in our journals, our work is shared with a much smaller group, maybe only Mr. Watson. Bummers. Also, it is so much easier to copy and paste an article you found fascinating to use as a prompt than to either print it out and paste it in the journal, or copy it by hand. That takes so much time! Students get a lot of their information from websites now, so most of the information we would ever need could be found on the internet. If we are able to bring our writing to our resources, I believe our writing and our work could become much better, due to better ability to compare the original information to our interpretations of the text.
Although I am a fan of the blog, I also see a downside. I like the feeling of a small group of people able to discuss a certain topic in the comforts of a classroom. It seems to bring the class together, and they share that class and grow closer from their experiences in that class setting. If our class was based on the internet or on a blog, there is just so much going on that the students would no longer be focused on the same thing at the same time, and they would not form that closeness of a class in the classroom setting. Each student would get something different from the class, but not in a good way. Some people would focus on posting, some on commenting, and some on some other thing on the bog. But it would not be an experience that they would really share in common. I don't know, that's just my opinion though.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The Race
"Heet four, behind your blocks, please!" screamed a voice over the loudspeaker at the Manoa Recreation Center pool. The adrenaline rushed through my thirteen-year-old body as I played with the stray hairs sticking out of the back of my swim cap. I was nervous. I hated the two hundred meter freestyle, but my coach had entered me in it anyway. I quickly looked to my left and right and size up my competition: I saw some of them stretching, a couple talking to friends behind them, and the girl to my left looking down and shaking her legs to loosen the muscles. After looking at them, I felt better. I was seated as the fastest girl in the heet, and I felt confident that I could beat them.
The whistle tooted in quick birsts, signalling to the swimmers to prepare themselves. I quickly put my goggles over my eyes and took a deep breath. This is it, I told myself. The whistle again blasted from the official. I stepped up onto the block and carefully placed my right foot at the front edge. I rested my hands on my thighs, and tried to spych myself up: You can do this. You're better than they are. This will be over soon. I took another deep breath and concentrated on the official's voice. "Take you mark..." A short pause gave us time to poise ourselves for the start, and then, "BEEP!"
I pushed off the block with my hands and feet and dive into the water. The rush of cold water flowing past my body jolted my senses and I focus my attention on my body. Because it was a two hundred meter swim, I set a pace for the first hundred so I didn't burn myself out before the final hundred. As I made my way down the fifty-meter-long pool, I slowly began to pull ahead of my competition. I made the first turn and focused my attention on my body position in the water: left arm up, right hand in front, pull down with the right, spear the water by my head with the left and stretch it straight forward. I kept my kick quick, but I did not go as fast as I could because I knew I was winning.
As I came out of the second turn, which marked the halfway point, I noticed that the girl to my left was too close for comfort. She was practically level with me, and we were swimming stroke for stroke down the pool. This was dangerous, because I had not been paying attention to her before, so I did not know how hard she had been working, so I could not gauge how tired she was. I tried to speed up to get away from her, but she started to go faster, too.
The worst thing I could have done was panic. Panicking is a distraction and prevents swimmers from concentrating on their swimming. Instead of panicking, I focused my attention entirely on this girl to my left. My heart was beating quickly, not only because I was tired from swimming for so long at such a fast pace, but also because I was afraid I was going to lose. I felt that because I was seated first, I had to come in first. I wanted to beat this girl to prove that I was faster than everyone else in my heet. My competitive nature took over, and a new determination to win swept over me.
After the final turn, I started to go faster. The girl next to me started to fall behind a little more, but she quickly saw that I was pulling away and sprinted after me. As we made our way down the pool, she began to catch up to me. With only about twenty meters to go, the girl to my left had caught all the way up to me, and we were neck and neck. I began to sprint as fast as I could go, speeding up my tempo and pulling as much water as I could with each stroke. But I could not pull away from her. I wondered to myself, how had she caught up to me so easily? I could feel the pressure now. I needed to beat her. I was frustrated that I wasn't able to zoom by her like I had with the other girls. I used my frustration to propel me forward, a new motivator to go faster.
With only ten yards to go, I shifted my attention from myself onto the other girl. I saw that we were very close. This race was too close to call. I used all the energy I had left to sprint the rest of the way to the wall, kicking as fast as I could, and pulling with all my might. My heart was racing now; I heard it pounding away like a drum in my ears. The wall was finally within reach, and I put all of my velocity into one stroke to hit that wall first. When I felt my palm hit the solid metal of the gutter, I quickly looked up. I didn't breath, I didn't look at the girl next to me, I looked at the electronic board that showed the place and lane of the swimmers coming in. I looked anxiously at the board, and read, with a sigh of relief and happiness, that I had won. I looked at the girl to my left and she turned her head from the board to look at me. As the other girls were coming in, we smiled at each other in recognition of one another, and shook hands in congratulations.
I will never forget the emotions and feelings that I felt during that race. The competitiveness I exhibited that day showed me that I am a very competitive person. It also proved to my coaches and my friends that I was a force to be reckoned with, and I had heart. I put everything into that race to outtouch that girl, and my efforts payed off. I proved to myself that day that I could accomplish difficult tasks when I put my mind to them. I never forgot that day, and I never will, because remembering that moment gives me confidence to do things I never would have tried before. I look back on that moment and remember the fear, the dread, the anxiety, the confidence, the pressure, the competition, and the feeling of accomplishment, and I think to myself: it is all worth it.
The whistle tooted in quick birsts, signalling to the swimmers to prepare themselves. I quickly put my goggles over my eyes and took a deep breath. This is it, I told myself. The whistle again blasted from the official. I stepped up onto the block and carefully placed my right foot at the front edge. I rested my hands on my thighs, and tried to spych myself up: You can do this. You're better than they are. This will be over soon. I took another deep breath and concentrated on the official's voice. "Take you mark..." A short pause gave us time to poise ourselves for the start, and then, "BEEP!"
I pushed off the block with my hands and feet and dive into the water. The rush of cold water flowing past my body jolted my senses and I focus my attention on my body. Because it was a two hundred meter swim, I set a pace for the first hundred so I didn't burn myself out before the final hundred. As I made my way down the fifty-meter-long pool, I slowly began to pull ahead of my competition. I made the first turn and focused my attention on my body position in the water: left arm up, right hand in front, pull down with the right, spear the water by my head with the left and stretch it straight forward. I kept my kick quick, but I did not go as fast as I could because I knew I was winning.
As I came out of the second turn, which marked the halfway point, I noticed that the girl to my left was too close for comfort. She was practically level with me, and we were swimming stroke for stroke down the pool. This was dangerous, because I had not been paying attention to her before, so I did not know how hard she had been working, so I could not gauge how tired she was. I tried to speed up to get away from her, but she started to go faster, too.
The worst thing I could have done was panic. Panicking is a distraction and prevents swimmers from concentrating on their swimming. Instead of panicking, I focused my attention entirely on this girl to my left. My heart was beating quickly, not only because I was tired from swimming for so long at such a fast pace, but also because I was afraid I was going to lose. I felt that because I was seated first, I had to come in first. I wanted to beat this girl to prove that I was faster than everyone else in my heet. My competitive nature took over, and a new determination to win swept over me.
After the final turn, I started to go faster. The girl next to me started to fall behind a little more, but she quickly saw that I was pulling away and sprinted after me. As we made our way down the pool, she began to catch up to me. With only about twenty meters to go, the girl to my left had caught all the way up to me, and we were neck and neck. I began to sprint as fast as I could go, speeding up my tempo and pulling as much water as I could with each stroke. But I could not pull away from her. I wondered to myself, how had she caught up to me so easily? I could feel the pressure now. I needed to beat her. I was frustrated that I wasn't able to zoom by her like I had with the other girls. I used my frustration to propel me forward, a new motivator to go faster.
With only ten yards to go, I shifted my attention from myself onto the other girl. I saw that we were very close. This race was too close to call. I used all the energy I had left to sprint the rest of the way to the wall, kicking as fast as I could, and pulling with all my might. My heart was racing now; I heard it pounding away like a drum in my ears. The wall was finally within reach, and I put all of my velocity into one stroke to hit that wall first. When I felt my palm hit the solid metal of the gutter, I quickly looked up. I didn't breath, I didn't look at the girl next to me, I looked at the electronic board that showed the place and lane of the swimmers coming in. I looked anxiously at the board, and read, with a sigh of relief and happiness, that I had won. I looked at the girl to my left and she turned her head from the board to look at me. As the other girls were coming in, we smiled at each other in recognition of one another, and shook hands in congratulations.
I will never forget the emotions and feelings that I felt during that race. The competitiveness I exhibited that day showed me that I am a very competitive person. It also proved to my coaches and my friends that I was a force to be reckoned with, and I had heart. I put everything into that race to outtouch that girl, and my efforts payed off. I proved to myself that day that I could accomplish difficult tasks when I put my mind to them. I never forgot that day, and I never will, because remembering that moment gives me confidence to do things I never would have tried before. I look back on that moment and remember the fear, the dread, the anxiety, the confidence, the pressure, the competition, and the feeling of accomplishment, and I think to myself: it is all worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
