Something Indigenous About The Midwest

There are a lot of things that make a place unique. This can also depend on the person that you ask. What one thinks is special to the area, might not be special to another. I think that this area is special for multiple reasons. Depending on the area that you live in, somethings will be special are indigenous and somethings aren't. According to Webster the word indigenous means, "having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment indigenous plants the indigenous culture." One thing that is special to this area is the intense farming (and yes I would call it intense). I think that it is something that I take advantage of because it happens every year. I mean it is true, if you have or see something repetitively it gets old and we start to ignore it. But when I come to think about farming for this blog I realize just how blessed we are to get to see the corn grow. The people that live in the west see cattle and the desert. When one thinks of the desert they think of barely any life, blazing hot, and no water!! But we, we, the people in the Midwest get to see the constant cycle of life.
Sometimes in the morning during the summer about mid-August when the corn is dark green and when the crow is at max height it is absolutely beautiful.The sun hits the corn just right and it is especially wonderful when the corn is on both sides of you. It might sound crazy, but something about that is special and you would only know if you lived here.
Some people consider the corn or beans drab, but really if one puts thought into it, it is very beautiful and also if you have a quiet moment, its a great picture to look at. One can see the beauty of God's work when one sees the crop.
Farming is one thing that makes this area what it is, but there are other things as well, but to me the farming is my favorite.

My Memoir...

A memoir according to Dictionary.com is "an account of the personal experiences of an author.", it can also be an epiphany. A memoir is more than just learning about an experience that happened to an author...it is actually a glimpse into the heart of the author as they open themselves to a memory/experience that they learned from. Sometimes these experiences are bad ones, sometimes they are good ones, but either way the author is letting you in on an episode in their lives that would otherwise be left untold.
Over Thanksgiving break I had a sort of epiphany that I have decided to tuck away in my mind as an experience of learning. It's an important thing to me...and it is family. The things and people in this world are temporary, so family needs to be cherished. I learned over Thanksgiving break to appreciate and cherish my family because they are the type of people that through my journey of life will see me grow up and have known me since I was small.
Another epiphany was I learned how blessed I actually am. People all the time say to "count your blessings" or around the family table the popular statement is asked "why don't we go around the table and say what we are thankful for". Though that is good, is it really getting to the heart of the matter. How blessed are we really? This summer I was fortunate enough to go to Haiti. Upon getting to go to Haiti and then sitting around a table full of food here at home, I realized that I am so thankful for the things that God has blessed me with. I think when you are little the teachers cram into your head all the things that you are thankful for. One most popular item is food, which I thoroughly enjoy!! On the other hand, this year I realized that it was not the festive food over break that made me enjoy it, but instead the people I spent it with and the memories that we created. That is the memoir or epiphany I had and in my mind...it was a good one :)

Critical Reviews of The Red Badge of Courage

Most of the critical review was positive things about what the book was like. Something that I definitely agree with is the figurative language of Stephen Crane's story. Its figurative language was mainly imagery. Imagery is when a story is descriptive. It makes the person feel as if they are actually in the story with the characters. I agree with the critic when he says, "Much of the impact of Red Badge arose, then, from its powerful pictures of war, the images that leapt off the page into the mind of the reader." I think he puts it perfectly when he says that "the images that leapt off the page..." The battle scenes in the book make you feel as if you have a gun yourself and are shooting at the enemy. You feel what Henry is feeling. At the beginning of the book Henry is debating whether to run from the battle or not. As he is going through this psychological debate, the reader feels it as well. Another critic says, "...Frederic expressed admiration for the emotional power of Crane's work..." In the book a good example of this is "Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds" (Crane 100). Human nature is also used in Stephen Crane's book. Critics says, "...his later willingness to do so, punctuate his change in character.", "Henry ultimately finds himself a deeply different person for his experience.", and "Unquestionably, Henry has changed by the novel's end; unquestionably, he had become more courageous and more selfless." All these critics say that Henry's personality changed from the beginnning of the book to the end. One quote in the book says, "He has been to ouch the great death, and found that, after all, it was but the great death. He was a man" (Crane 99). One other thing that the book includes is government. An example is "Come, young man, get up into ranks there. No skulking 'll do here" (Crane 18). This shows how the government is very controlling and dictates what the regiments every move is.
Overall I agree with what the critics say. The book is full of imagery, which is probably my favorite part. It also has other things such as government, human nature, nature, a hero, and an American dream.

Dreams...

Dreaming is something that some people remember and that others do not. Some poeple even claim that they do not dream at all, which I think is very sad. I love to dream. Dreaming can be good, yet it can also be very bad as well. It can be bad because daydreaming can take place when you really need to pay attention. Otherwise, dreaming is a good thing that can generate imagination and creativity.
I have had multiple dreams. Most of them are either about the future, or about something that has already happened. One dream that I had was that I re-experienced state finals for soccer. I dreamt that it was again in the finals seconds of the game and a girl on the other team scored to win the game. It was bad the first time it happened, but in my dream, I was absolutely devastated. I remember I fell to the ground and couldn't believe what had just happened. This dream was not the past, but the future coming up season. That this game was the seniors last game and that made me very very depressed. I remember crying and being in shock. That was one of my not-so-good dreams that I had. It was a memory of last years experience of losing in the last seconds and it was happening again. I hope it doesn't really happen.
Another dream that I had was that I was shooting free throws to win a basketball game. We needed two to tie. I made my first shot, and when I go to shoot my second shot, my alarm went off and I remember missing it because of a loud noise from the crowd/buzzer (that really being the sound from my alarm).
Not all my dreams are bad, so I do not want you to think that all I have is bad dreams. I have A TON of good dreams of being with my friends and family. These are just two dreams that I can remember some of the most details. So these dreams might sound bad and depressing, but really they are just dreams that I remember the most vividly I guess. Either way, I love to dream and enjoy it a lot.

The Red Badge of Courage Chapters 9-20

Things definitely start transforming in these chapters. Henry is finally finding hiimself and is taking a stand. You can see a sense of pride that Henry has, especially about his regiment, 304th. At one point a general says that he can afford to lose regiment 304th because they do not fight good at all. Henry and Wilson overhear this declaration and are very appalled and disappointed that they would say such a thing about their regiment because they were currently undefeated. So when they are commanded to attack, Wilson and Henry go into the battle with a new look and fight til the end just to show the general how good their regiment is, and they end up winning the battle. During this battle, Henry carries the regiments flag through the fight, I think that this is just the beginning for Henry as he is showing his courage in the midst of war. How heroic is it to carry the flag of your regiment through a battle that you are not suppose to win and fight it til the end?? This is a great example of the definition of a Hero in the Realism time period. Henry is an ordinary farmer boy, who is yet again doing something extrordinary by being a leader for his regiment and taking a stand. The government in these chapters is again the fact that each person has to follow strict orders given by their general. They really do not have a choice of they want to survive. Psychological it has to be extremely tough to see not only the enemy die, but your friends as well. That has to take a toll on you. Henry is still worried that someone will find out his secret that he did not really fight in the first battle.
Overall, most of the characteristics of Realism are repeated here in chapters 9-20 again, but the difference is that in these chapters Henry's personality, courage, and leadership really shows through. It was fun to read of his courage.

The Red Badge of Courage Chapters 1-8

One thing that I have realized while starting the book is that Stephen Crane is very discriptive. He describes the battle scenes and it makes you feel as if you can see the generals commanding their troops, the smell of sweat, and hear the guns going off in rapid fire. All the things that come on a battlefield, are distinctly described in the first eight chapters. Another thing that he puts in along with all the "senses" descriptions is his own thoughts on the matter of war. I have heard about the Civil War and read about it at school, but it was cool to get to see the war from the perspective of a young man/boy was one that I have never read about.
One thing that makes this story a story from the Realism time period is that the definition of a hero is similar to the Realism period hero. A Realism hero is an ordinary man that is put in an extraordinary situations. I think that that is exactly what is going on it Stephen Crane's book. Henry (the youth in the book) is an ordinary kid that works on his parents' farm and is trying to be a war hero, which is definitely not ordinary. It said in the book that when he was in Washington, people cheered for him because of his uniform that he was wearing. He was a war hero, even before he went to war. The type of government was that of the United States government. Multiple times throughout the book the regiment complained because they were being moved from place to place without seeing any fighting action. They were basically all pieces in a game of chess that the United States government was using. All the soldiers were following government orders and that was about it. The American Dream was to end or finish the war. To be a hero. At this time in history, America was divided, and there hope and dream was to bo united again.

Honoring Our Veterans

Veterans are heros, plain and simple. They are dedicated people who decide to sacrifice themselves for our country. To me, that is a big deal. America has fought many wars, all of them being just as hard as another. Just think, some of them did not even have a choice. I bet that some of them did not want to go, but did anyways and represented their country with honor. To me, a Veteran is as follows; a hero, a person who sacrifices themselves for the duty of their country. They are people who fought for our freedom and independence. Talk about sacrifce.
I definitely think that Veterans deserve a day of honor. It is the least we can do for people who made the choice of putting their life on the line. I disagree with the type of people who decide to blow off Veterans Day just for a vacation. This is one day of the year where we are supposed to thank our Veterans, not take a personal day off because we feel like it.
I know of a couple Veterans. My grandpa, my cousin, my uncle, my great uncle and my neighbor. My cousin is a Veteran of Iraq and is currently in Korea. I most definitely respect him for the sacrifices he is making on my behalf. He has three children, and yet he is doing his job across seas. I am very thankful for what he does. One of my uncles was actually shot in the leg during the Vietnam War. He now walks with a little limp.
I think that Veterans are also people we can look up to. They have learned a lot with their war experience and deserve to be listened to, not ignored. I think that too often we right them off, just because they are old, but I think we could learn a lot from them if we just took the time to listen. They also deserve our respect.

My Favorite Tall Tale

Tall Tales are stories that as a kid we all love. Some Tall Tales are John Henry: The Steel Driving Man, Paul Bunyan: The Giant Lumberjack, Davy Crockett, and Pecos Bill. One of my favorite Tall Tales is Johnny Appleseed. That is probably because I have known that story since I was little. I bet that almost every kid by the time they are in second grade knows the story of Johnny Appleseed, how he wears a pot on his head, and plants Apple Trees everywhere he goes. That is a classic story. One of my other favorites is Davy Crockett. I am pretty sure that when I was little, I used to watch a movie on Davy Crockett and thought it was one of the coolest things ever. He would wear a racoon hat on his head and walk across the frontier protecting people, he was very heroic and very much a legend. Those two would definitely be my top two, the others I have read, but are a little less realistic. I remember reading some of them in English class in middle school, in seventh and eighth grade.
They were fascinating stories that are entertaining, but are clearly fictional. They are fantasies that attract our attention and are purely for the enjoyment of the reader. Though some are based off of true legends like Davy Crockett and Jonny Appleseed. That is probably another reason why I like them better than the others is because they are based off of a real living person, only maybe a little bit twisted in some areas. No matter how you shape it, Tall Tales are American Classics. They are stories that have been passed down and are told often. In some cultures they pass down stories in order to teach a lesson, so that later generations can learn from them and keep the tradition going. The American Literature Tall Tales are the types of stories that we tell in America. They might not hold any significant value, but all the same they are told for people to listen to and enjoy.

Vengeance

Vengeance...can be sweet. It is very similar to revenge, only revenge is the act of getting back at someone, and vengeance is twice as bad as that. I personally love vengeance, but one has to be careful with how they display their act of vengeance. The only instance where I like it is in a sport. When I am playing a sport, it is all fair game. Off the field, I am fine and patient with people, and I give very little support to vengeance. On the field...it is a completely different story. That is partly why I enjoy playing soccer is because I am competitive and enjoy competing. I like to beat people that have previously beat us in the season. It is a lot of fun. That is one way in which I am vengeful and one instance in which I enjoy it.

Some people (me included) can take vengeance too far. Sometimes I can get too competitive and things that should be fun, become not fun and I end up somewhat ruining it for myself. That is when you know that you have taken it too far. Also, when your main goal is to get revenge on someone, it usually comes back to hurt you more than the person that you were trying to get revenge on anyways. That is when people learn there lesson. In the story Moby Dick by Herman Melville the captain Ashab is out for revenge on the great sperm whale, Moby Dick. He wants to get back at him for making him lose his leg. Because of his pride, he endangers all of the sailors on board. They all end up dying except Ismael, the narrator of the story. That is a good example when your pride for vengence has gone too far and you need to take a step back and relook at the situation. Is getting revenge really worth it? Sometimes it is better to just forget about it and keep moving forward.

My Biggest Fear

This is a tough question to answer because it is hard to name your BIGGEST fear. I have a lot of small fears, and some of them are not just your regular, fear of spiders or snakes. I would have to say that my biggest fear is the fear of not living up to my potential. We all get one life on Earth and I want to make the best of it and live up to the potential that God has for me. I could also say that I fear the unknown. For me, it is one of those things that I struggle grasping. Its the unknown...scary. Even the little things like, not knowing what is on a test. I sometimes freak out because I do not know what is on it, all because of the unknown. I do not like not knowing what is going to happen, I tend to like to be in control. I try to remind myself that I am not in control and need to let go, but all these things are easier said than done. These fears can also be my greatest flaws, because they can bring out the worst in me. "Don't let your fears control you" is another little quote that I like.
I do have small fears, such as of spiders or even the dark if I am in some place that I do not know, but those are all fears of which are not as hard to get over. I do freak out though if I see a big spider. But the fear of missing out on something is one thing that I fear the most. Sometimes I just remind myself that if I am too worried about missing something...I probably am. I also fear making mistakes, but that is small as well. I like the saying "It does not matter that you make a mistake, it is what you do after you make the mistake that really matters".
Overall, I have many fears, some big and some small, and I think everybody has fears. It is just how you control them that really matter. How do you deal with them? It varies from person to person. Some people avoid them, others face them. It depends on the person. I try to face them, but I do still get scared. Then I just remember who is really in control of everything...and it makes me feel so much better.

Peaceful Protest

When looking back in history, you can see that there have been multiple protests. Some have been peaceful, while others have been not even close. Sometimes protests start out peaceful, and then turn out bad. If a peaceful protest works out, it can be very effective. One instance were peaceful protest went wrong, was with the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy was peaceful and sometimes a silent protest, when eventually it turned out violent, not on purpose.
I think that silent protest is the way to go if you are in the real need to protest. Violent protests can get out of hand very quickly and can turn out even worse. Where a silent protest is definitely more mild. People who silent protest tend to have more discipline.
I always wonder what goes through people's mind when they chose the route of violence over a peaceful conversation. I mean, what do they think they are going to accomplish when they bring guns and such into an already aggrivated issue?? I have rarely seen a problem where guns and violence have helped solve a problem. It can help end it, but not solve it the right way. In a war they are necessary to protect the soldiers, for policemen/women it is the same, but sometimes for other purposes, it can be bad. Violence changes lives and is usually not for the good either. That is why, I think that the peaceful protests are the best thing to do if one finds the need to protest against something.
If violence were to go down, I know for a fact that the world would be a better place. In a violent, or unsafe environment, it is harder for children to learn. A peaceful protest would make the environment a safe one and still getting the point across. Some people think that the only way to get their point across is to show violence., but this is not always true. I think that silent or peaceful protests can still have the same effect and is definitely more safe.

Self-Reflection and Relaxation

In life today we are constantly moving. We are going from one place to the next without even stopping to "pass go". As a teenager, you have to go to school, go to your extra ciricular activities, go home and do your chores, do homework, and then finally go to bed. This is a busy day, and we do it not just for a week, or a month, this can be a typical schedule for a teen for at least two months. That can get exhausting. Sometimes we do not even realize how fast we are going and wonder why we get sick all the time or fall asleep while doing homework. We usually make time for the "important stuff", but what about relaxation?
Self-reflection is something that I think we should do often. This is a self evaluation of yourself and is important. You need to keep yourself in check and make sure that you are living up to your standards. I think that too easily we get carried away with our busy schedules and forget to slow down to two seconds and just...breathe!! It is amazing what sitting on the couch can do for fifteen minutes if all you have done for the past month is non-stop activities. You can actually close your eyes and relax. Self-evaluation gives you a look at yourself. Sometimes in this busy world we are always thinking on something else, or someone else, but really, we need to stop...relax...and think on how we can better ourselves as well. Self-reflection can also help you in making big decisions because you have to evaluate yourself to see what decision is best for you. In order to do that, you have to know yourself and know what your goals are.
Now, there is a such thing as too much relaxation, but overall, relaxation can be just as important as anything else to a point. I just think that sometimes people get their priorities mixed up and put relaxation and self-reflection on the bottom of their lists.

Reading for Fun

I would have to say that reading is something that I love to do. If I am not playing sports, my second favorite thing to do is read. I have read many, many books, but I have my favorites. I believe that reading is something that every kid should do for at least an hour a week. Some people think that reading is boring, but I definitely do not think it is boring. I have read for a complete day, and woken up the next morning and finished the book. For most people, one either likes to read, or does not like to read. There is rarely an inbetween.
One of my favorite books is by Norton Juster called The Phantom Tollbooth. I have read that book multiple times and still enjoy it each time!! Most of the books that I like to read are fiction, but occassionally I will read a non-fiction book as well. One author that I have a collection of is Tracie Peterson. She is my all-time favorite author and my bookshelf can prove it. Most of the time I can not wait for her next book to come out. I get super excited when I get to make a trip to Barnes 'n Noble to go pick it up. It is kind of funny because my parents know that after I pick it up, they have lost me until I finish it. I am pretty sure that I could spend an entire week in Barnes 'n Noble and still not be sick of reading.
Most of the books that I dislike are books that we have to read in school. I am a person who loves to read, but I dispise reading school books that are required. To me, they are not very interesting, and I would much rather read books that I choose to read. In a way they almost discourage kids to read.
So basically....I really LOVE to read!! :) I find it very interesting and a lot of fun!!

The Ideal United States

Have you ever wondered what the perfect world or country would be? I find myself sometimes wishing that the country was perfect, but I know that that is unrealistic. An ideal United States is one that has equality. I think that that is a definite struggle in today's country. People are treated different by how much money they have or by what job they have.
In history class we are currently learning about the United States after the American Revolution. The republic government system was being created and the country was going through great changes. I think that this is a great start to an ideal country. The goal and purpose of the Congress was absolutely correct. People like Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, and Patrick Henry helped in the making of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. This was the major starting point of the country. Equality was a priority and I think that that would definitely make this country ideal.
Following the rules! That would be nice. If some people would just follow the rules given to us by the government, this country would be a much happier place. Today, our jails are almost overflowing with prisoners. To me, that is very sad. What is happening? If people would just be content with who they are and what they have, I think that the country would be much more ideal. Love your neighbor as yourself. That is a saying that everybody has heard with since they were in kindergarten.
I also think that if people were to get fully educated it would make things a lot easier. I think that if people were educated on political topics and cared about the well being of the country it would make things run smoother. I think that people are not educated enough on politics and government issues, so when it comes for their time to vote, they are lost and do not know what to do. This is also a struggle in this country.

My Favorite...

My favorite sport is definitely soccer. Out of all my favorites, that is the one that sticks out the most in my mind. It was hard to chose because I have multiple favorites. I have my favorite food, which I have a few, my favorite color (purple, blue, and green), and my favorite vacation spot (anywhere I can explore) just to name a few. Soccer though, is something that has been my favorite ever since I can remember. I have played other sports which I have enjoyed, like softball, tennis, basketball, and swimming, but soccer has always been at the top. I have played it since I was four and have never stopped. I got started playing soccer when my brother played at the YMCA and my dad was the coach. My brother did not really enjoy it, but I was on the sidelines watching and wondering when it was my turn to play. After that my parents looked into what age was the starting age, which was three, so they told me I had to wait one more year. I have played on multiple teams, each having left a mark on me in some way. I have loved meeting new people from all around the state. I would have never imagined that I would know people in Bloomington, Peoria, and even our rivalry schools like Rochester and Chatham Glenwood. I have definitely been blessed.
I first started at the YMCA. I played there until I was in about third grade. I had many coaches, some of which I will never forget and have greatly helped me be the player that I am. After that I went to competitive soccer at SASA (Springfield Area Soccer Association). I played there until I was in eighth grade, taking a break in between there to go play YMCA one more time. I also had multiple coaches there as well. I was blessed here as well with being on great teams. I thank God that I have been surrounded by such great people and coaches. That was a lot of fun. I then moved competitive teams to play for Five Star. I met a lot of people there and learned a lot. I am now currently playing for the Springfield Spirit and the Pleasant Plains Soccer team and having a blast!! The the Plains team I have definitely had the most fun and a lot of success. God definitely blessed me with a great team and coaches. My freshman year we made it to the Sweet Sixteen, while last year my sophomore year we went to State. That was unbelievable and a memory that will last forever.
Overall I think that reason soccer is my ultimate favorite is because I have been around it all my life and have loved it all my life as well. My favorite foods, colors, and such have changed since I have gotten older, but soccer has always been my favorite.

Declaration of Acting Our Age and Being Ourselves

I think that today is the day to take a stand on what we believe to be right. I also think that today is the day to act our age and not any younger. I mean, why not today?? If not now, when? It is time to put the past behind us and keep moving forward. I think that some people are in high school, but still think they are in middle school. It is o.k. to have fun and goof off with your friends and such, but there is also a time to be serious and act maturely. That is what I am talking about. I am not talking about when you are with your friends and are having a good time, but when it comes to taking responsibility and acting on it. Ever since we were little we were told to shoot for the stars, that anything is possible. What happened between then and now? Yes the expectations may have gotten higher, but we have also gotten older. I think that we should rise to the occasion! I myself struggle with it and think that now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity. You have one year to act as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, so take advantage.
Acting ourselves is important!! It is what makes us who we are and we should not only do it, but we should be proud of it as well. It is saying, "hey this is me, this is who I am, and I am happy with it!" Some people are scared to act who they are because of what others might say about them. I think that this is a great quote that applies to this type of thinking..."Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter won't mind, and those who mind don't matter." It is one of my favorite quotes that is so true. Be who you are and say what you feel because your true friends won't mind and your "fake" friends will and that will distinguish the two. So be proud and take a stand, for there is only one of YOU and that YOU is important and unique!!

Logical Reasoning and Emotional Support

When making a decision a person can decide two different ways. One way is logical reasoning and the other is emotional support. Making a decision off of emotional support, that means they are solely going off of what they feel. They are not really taking into consideration the consequences, but rather what would make them feel good at the moment. In some cases, this can be good and we should make decisions based off of emotional support, but other times it can be extremely hurtful because we do not look at the consequences. That is where logical reasoning comes into play. Logical reasoning is where you analyze the situation. One example is doing a list of pros and cons. You are analyzing the problem and trying to come up with the best scenario possible. Most people if they are trying to make a big decision will use logical reasoning instead of emotional support because of the importance of the situation.
That is where the hard part is, which method do you use? It is a tough decision and sometimes has to be decided under pressure. I think that teenagers can tend to use emotional support more than logical, but that does not mean all teenagers. When thinking it through, one sees the matter as a whole, rather than in bits and pieces. You lay everything detail out, and then evaluate the issue. I like that about logical reasoning because it makes me feel like I have some handle on the problem, were as emotional is just about how I feel, and that is not seeing the whole picture.
Overall, emotional and logical reasoning are two completely different methods, but both are good and bad in some cases. Emotional support is the matter of the heart and can be what you feel is right, but haven't thought through. It is your instinct and in some cases that is what you should base your decision off of is your gut instinct. Logical reasoning can stray you away from your instinct, which can be bad.

School Spirit

School spirit and school pride are very much apart of this school, especially during homecoming week. Homecoming week is my favorite week of the school year. All the classes come together and support their school (at least that is what is supposed to happen lol). Activity Day is my favorite day of the week. I love playing games and competing against all the other grades. Things like the egg drop, whip cream search, balloon stomp, and partner dress is what I am involved in this year. Every year I take part in the egg drop. It is awesome.
One thing about spirit week is that classes can get out of line in their competitiveness. The purpose of homecoming is different than just trying to beat out the other class, it is about supporting your school and having fun as a class. That is definitely something that I learned this year. It is one thing to compete, but it is another thing to take it too far and get too competitive. The fun can be taken out of it and it can become very hateful. Spirit day should be just that, showing your spirit for your school and coming to the homecoming games including boy's soccer, volleyball, and football. All of these should be packed with students supporting their classmates and representing their school with pride, but also in a manner that is nice to the other school as well. There is no need to demean the other school and their players. Same with the competition at school, you can compete, but still make it a positive environment for everybody involved. That is what makes homecoming fun, that is what it is all about. Things are so much more enjoyable when everybody is having fun and competing, but keeping in perspective why or what you are doing.
Spirit week can be a lot of fun supporting your school and class, but if it gets too out of hand then it can be ruined for everyone. I love Spirit Week.

Ethics and Values

Along with religion, ethics and values are a great part of people's lives and are apart of who they are. Also just like religion, it is what make people who they are. According to Merriam Webster, ethics are : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values. Values are values especially of a traditional or conservative kind which are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society.
I value many different things. I value family and friends, things that are important to me. Like for example, my rights, my hobbies that I like to do, or what I believe is right. These things are the things that I value. People's values can be different by how they are raised and what cultural environment as well. Some values can be taught by parents, friends, family, and other people that could influence them. I would have to say that the environment definitely influences people and their behavior because a person is not born with the knowledge of what is important and what is not important to them. Those are some things that they learn when they find out who they are and what the chose to believe and support. It is in a way, what defines us as a person. From my life experiences, I have learned what is important to me and why. It influences not only my decisions, but my decision process as well. My opinion of something might be different from somebody else's because we have different values. I have different goals then others, so I don't expect someone who wants to become a engineer to be taking the same class I am.
Our moral values shape who we are, therefore, in a way shape who we will become. My decisions that I make today, will affect who I am and what I become in the future. Values are very important to who we are as a person.

Working With A Partner

Working with a partner has its benefits and it has its downfalls...
Some of my favorite projects at school involve working with a partner. It can definitely make the project more fun and it also teaches you how to work as a team. It is nice because if one day you are booked and can't work on the project, but the other person can, you can still get part of the project done at least. Also you get to know the other person more. Having worked with different partners, I have gotten to know multiple people better. When partnering up with someone from Farmington, I get to meet someone from a whole different school. That is kind of cool. Also when working with a partner, if you both know the material, you can quiz each other which makes the test easier on test day. Plus I usually enjoy projects and that in itself helps me learn better.
What makes working with a partner bad is that if the partner does not want to do any work. That can be EXTREMELY frustrating!!!! What I hate is when you are with someone that just expects you to do all the work for them. That annoys me because they are taking advantage of having someone that actually tries. I do not like when that happens because I am usually the one that ends up having to do it all. The good thing about doing it all though, is that you learn more material, but not as well because you end up having to rush to get the project done. Another thing is that if you end up having to do the "partner project" by yourself, the quality is not as good and you end up getting a worse grade then what you planned on getting. That is one reason why I like to pick my partner. Either that or just pray I get to be with someone that will help out and want to work and get it done, just as much as I do.
Overall there are pros and cons to working with a partner. Working with a partner can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a pain and hard to deal with. So in conclusion I only like working it partners when we each work equally and get along, otherwise, the project can be a struggle and a battle.

Organized Religion

Throughout the world there are multiple religions. You have the Christians, Catholics, Lutherans, Atheists, and Calvinism. Religion plays a big part in the world today. It is the foundation of most cultures and influences people greatly. It's what people believe in, live from, and are inspired by. Even the ones named above are a very select few of the types of religion around the world. You have religions that are similar and religions that are completely and utterly different. Religions also vary on were the people live.

Some religions are based off of God, or gods, or maybe other materialistic things. Either way, whatever their religion, it is usually very special to them and is apart of who they are. We have had religion from the very beginning. Since the Puritans came over to America until now, the fact that religion has been a major factor in our history is true. One of the main reasons that people from Europe came to America was that they wanted freedom of religion, so that they could express themselves the way they sought fit. In doing so, America was beginning to be formed. Organized religion today is very much apart of our lives because every morning we say the pledge of alligence and we say "one nation under God". It is part of our Constitution and apart of the making of the country.
For me, my organized religion means a lot to me. It is what I base my decisions on and what I live for. Without my religion I would be completely lost!! No doubt about it. It shapes who I am and what I will become. Organized religion is not just the bases for individuals, but countries and government as well, which is something that we do not always think about.
People have different values, different beliefs, and different backgrounds, which is what makes each organized religion....different and unique. There are a ton of different religions out there.

Blame

How often do we blame others for something that we did? I think a word that goes along with blame, is ownership. If you are not willing to take ownership of your own actions, then you usually place blame on someone or something else. Placing blame on someone can cause a lot of problems. First of all you have the problem of what you are doing, and then you have the problem of placing the blame on someone else and lying.

That is another word of blame, lying. One of my pet peeves is when people do something repeatively wrong and never own up to it, but instead blame/lie about it, that makes me very mad. People that blame each other the most is a brother and a sister. There is always the classic story of "she started it" or "it was not my fault". Little kids especially love to place the blame on someone else, when they know that they are possibly going to get in trouble.

Most of the time blame happens when one is scared about a certain consequence that is about to happen. People hate getting in trouble, so they think that "it can not be me getting in trouble, so it has to be them". This mind set is wrong, but we all think it and it is hard to break the habit of thinking it. It starts at a young age in little kids and if it is not broken, then you see the pattern of lying and blaming others throughout the kids' lives.

Another place that blame happens is during sports. Sometimes, no matter what sport it is, people just can not own up to their mistakes and sometimes blame either another player, or a referee. It is hard not to get in the habit of doing so, and I even find myself blaming one or the other during a sports season, but sometimes it would just be better to keep my mouth shut and just let it go.

My True Colors

Upon taking the True Colors quiz, I got the results of the color blue and in a close second the color orange. In the True Colors category you have four different colors; blue, orange, green, and gold. Each of them stands for a different type of personality. The color blue means passion, compassion, tender, warm, and caring. The color orange stands for courageous, competitive, likes to have fun, playful, out-going, and risk-taker. The color green means logical, like to think everything out, and conceptional. The color gold represents conventional, organized, and follows the rules.
The color blue was what first popped up to define my personality. I think that the True Colors test was pretty accurate because I am both blue and orange. I am compassionate, passionate, and caring, but also competitive, out-goin, and I love to have fun as well.
It if fun to see what comes up about your personality just by taking an online quiz. Some of the questions were very easy to answer, while other ones were hard. I found my self wanting to answer both A and B for the questions because I thought that I was both. That is where I think that the quiz is at a fault because when taking a quiz about yourself, it is hard to know what you are like. Also, what if you are not more towards one answer than the other? For me I had that a lot and did not know what one to choose, which I think could have definitely messed up my score.
Overall, I think that the True Colors quiz was accurate, but also could be at fault with its method. It was fun to see what came up because when you look at it, you are like "Yea, I guess that is me". With my results being blue and orange I am very happy with that outcome and I think nails it to the point for the most part.

The Way You Categorize/Describe People

People categorize others in multiple different ways, sometimes negatively and sometimes positively. They look at things like appearance, characteristics, and hobbies, then categorize or describe them. They put that person in a certain group and leave it at that. It can be a good thing by the fact that you can steer away from particular people, but also bad because then you could miss out on meeting some really cool people that you otherwise would never have met.

The bad way that people categorize or describe people is that it can sometimes be very hurtful. When judging people and assuming things about them, you can sometimes be very wrong. The biggest mistake people can make is judging just on the looks of the person. What they wear might say something about them, but it doesn't tell you who they actually are. Stereotyping is what most high schoolers do just out of habit, but it is a bad habit that we all sometimes fall into. When you see a person dressed strangely or their hair is weird, it is hard not to make assumptions about them. It is sometimes just a natural instinct that we catch ourselves doing. Another bad thing about judging people is that by judging, you could totally miss out on a person that could have been your best friend or even just a friend. You have to be careful, but being too careful can be bad as well.

I usually categorize people by their personalities. Knowing each of my friends characteristics and personalities I always know who to go to for each situation. After knowing what the person is actually like, then you can decide whether or not you want to be friends with them. Too often I think people forget that step of getting to know them first and end up missing out on a potential blessing. I think everybody, including myself, need to work on not judging other people just by looking at them and making assumptions.

Losing It All

One of the most common phrases in American culture is "it will never happen to me". No matter what the situation may be, that is always the answer. When it actually does happen, we are usually shocked. What would it be like to lose it all? It's one of those things that no one likes to think about. What would you do if you lost it all?
It is very hard to wrap your mind around that question because it is something that we deem impossible. If I were to lose it all, I think my first response would be to pray to God and ask why? I know for a fact that I would be completely devastated as well. It would be so hard to go through something like that. The first place that I would turn, would be the church. Even if I lost all my possessions, I would first look to the church for support.
I would also wonder what lead up to the incident where I lost it all. What caused it? You see, I would also need time to sort out all the questions that I had stored up in my head. It would take me at least a day to get things straightened out in my head, and even then I probably would not have all my answers. In a way it would be like starting completely over. You would have to get new friends, new house, new things, new everything. I think that would be one of the hardest parts, adjusting to it all. Everything is new and that in itself is outside of most peoples comfort zones. A person would just have to keep moving forward. The good thing though, is that even if you lost it all (all possessions and such), you would still have God, which is really all you ever need in the first place. That would be the key fact for me. That would be what would get me through, and that is why I would run first to the church. Losing it all would be so hard that it is hard enough to try and put it into words. It would be a very terrible thing.

The Importance of Documented Rules and Written Documents

Documented rules can be traced all the way back to the Indians. Today, when we think of documented rules we think of documents such as, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and maybe even important treaties. Whether we know it or not, documented rules are a big part of our lives.

The first people to really start the "trend" of documented rules were the Indians. Some tribes even have their own Constitution. Without the written rules the Indians wouldn't have been able to "divide land" equally, or even establish their own culture. If you think about it, ask yourself, what was different about the culture of each Indian tribe? When I think about it, my answer is the rules. Each tribe had their own set of rules and that in itself distinguished the tribes.

Today we have rules that are as complex as the Declaration, that speaks to the entire country, and as simple as classroom rules, that every year we go over for the first week. Even though the Declaration is very famous and your classroom rules are not, the importance and meanings are the same.

We have even gotten some of our rules from the Indians and other groups that organized in America. Without the written documents that they wrote, our Constitution or Bill of Rights wouldn't be the same.

Written documents are not just rules written down, they can also be stories of what happened back in say the 1800s. Historians have gathered so much information, just by looking at diaries and stories from people back throughout history. Things like Anne Franks diary and stories from the Civil War have helped us gain knowledge of what it was like back during those time periods. With documents from the Great Depression we can try to learn from our mistakes and do better in the future.

So as you can see, written documents have in a way helped shape our history and our future by learning from our past mistakes and also learning of what life was like back before technology.

Native American Writings- "How the World was Made"

In the literary Native American writing "How the World Was Made" it shows great relationship between between the animals/nature, with the humans. The animals of the country acted as one with Mother Nature. It tells of the Great Buzzard sweeping down from above to make sure the land was ready for all the animals, and in doing so made mountains with his sweeping movements. The story shows their values of religion when they state that the "conjurers" (definition: one who performs magic) helped with the suns distance from Earth. That shows that they believed in gods who performed magic to help them survive. Animals acted one with nature another time when everything on Earth had to stay awake for seven days and seven nights. That decided what animals were nocturnal and what animals were not (animals like the owl and the panther). It also decided what trees would keep their leaves year round and which ones would not (like the holly, laurel, spruce, pine, and cedar). This proves that nature acted as one with the animals. Native American writings were about religion, nature, and human nature to just name a few. I think this story is a good example of those three things.

Knowing what trees stayed green all year long also helped the people know what trees where good for medicine, and if so, what type of medicine. Another thing that the story helped its people understand was the fact of how often women could have babies. Another things that the Native American writings did, was that it taught the people lessons, rules, and gave them advice. The two examples above prove that their story telling helped generation after generation survive when it matter the most. Not to mention that this story also tells of how the world was made to its people as well. The writing produced were overall a great help to all of the people that read them and gave them tips on how to live one with nature.

Symbolism: The Old Man and the Sea

I have never seen Christian symbolism used this much in a book as I have in The Old Man and the Sea. In Ernest Hemingway's classic book, he takes an old fisherman and his sad story and resembles it to familiar stories in the Bible.
Just like Santiago suffered much as he was out at sea, so did Christ in his passion to get forgiveness for His people. Santiago also went forty days without catching a fish. In the Bible most things that went on for forty days were incidents of trials and suffering. Stories like; Noah going forty days and forty nights in his ark, Jesus getting tempted by the devil, and the wandering time the Israelites spent in the desert. Like Santiago, the majority of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. They all left what they were doing to come follow Christ. Overall, the symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea is significant and often when it comes to resemble stories from the Bible.