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.