MEMORIES
Rachel
I’m not going to miss this school. I came back thinking that it was going to be ask great as it was last year, but it didn’t even compare. I’ve met very select few people that I think I’ll stay in contact with. If I had to pick the very best memory, it would be Clear Creek. It was one of the best things that has happened this year. It challenged me with some of my fears, emotionally, physically and mentally.
As the year comes to an end, there’s a part of me that’s sad. I’m going to be a senior next year and my life is just beginning. I know there’s tons of things ahead that I’m going to have to do throughout life that are going to be hard, fun, etc. It’s all how I look at it I guess.
The staff is just amazing. You are truly heroes in my eyes. The way you strive to reach out to kids is outstanding. I don’t know if I could do the job.
I’m not going to be coming back to Summit next year. I think that my senior year should be spent in a mainstream school, so I can experience what I’ve been waiting for since I was a little girl. I wish the best to all of you. I truly hope that your life takes you where you want it to go. You can have the life that all desire and the life that everyone envies, you just have to want it bad enough. Be willing to step out there and help others to the top.
Showing posts with label Rachel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel. Show all posts
Thursday, May 28, 2009
TOLERANCE
Rachel
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space.” –Albert Einstein. We are part of everything. It’s sort of like cause and effect. We choose to do something whether it is good or bad for us or others and it sets off a chain reaction to all these other things. Everyone has a limited time on this earth to find out what they’re meant to do; to find their true purpose. In the graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane-the main character- finds herself in a country she doesn’t know. She is very young and becomes interested in some bad habits. She gets to “experience herself, her thoughts and feelings”, without anyone really telling her that she can’t do this or that. I know that it’s good to have some kind of direction in your life, but it doesn’t always come from the ones that should give it to you.
“This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.” I flash back to all of the goals I’ve wished to accomplish in life, all the people I’ve loved and all the people I thought loved me. It’s hard to be hurt so many times and still have that thought in your mind that there’s still another boy out there. It’s hard to give someone your heart and trust them not to break it, and then after they do, try again. It’s hard to fail time after time and keep pushing on to achieve what you want. If some of us weren’t stuck in this “delusion” as Einstein puts it, think how much better our lives would be! Marjane is sent away from her family to keep her safe from war, she is in and out of homes of people she’s never even met! I think of myself and all the other children I know in Foster Care and how much it hurts to be taken from the ones you love. Even if it ends up that you being taken were truly the best thing for you it doesn’t take away that pain and the longing you have to actually belong somewhere, to someone.
“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” From the beginning of this book I’ve thought about how strong she must be to live on her own at 17 on the streets. She is forced to become independent until she can return home. I believe that she did free herself from the prison of delusion and she saw the people of our world for who they really are. She started developing feelings for her boyfriend Markus and she thought she loved him. They broke up after a devastating scene Marji walked into. But she got out of the prison. She expanded her compassion for others and found her husband. That relationship didn’t work out either, but it definitely proves the point I think. We can all do as she did, and become tolerant of the world we live in.
Rachel
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space.” –Albert Einstein. We are part of everything. It’s sort of like cause and effect. We choose to do something whether it is good or bad for us or others and it sets off a chain reaction to all these other things. Everyone has a limited time on this earth to find out what they’re meant to do; to find their true purpose. In the graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane-the main character- finds herself in a country she doesn’t know. She is very young and becomes interested in some bad habits. She gets to “experience herself, her thoughts and feelings”, without anyone really telling her that she can’t do this or that. I know that it’s good to have some kind of direction in your life, but it doesn’t always come from the ones that should give it to you.
“This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.” I flash back to all of the goals I’ve wished to accomplish in life, all the people I’ve loved and all the people I thought loved me. It’s hard to be hurt so many times and still have that thought in your mind that there’s still another boy out there. It’s hard to give someone your heart and trust them not to break it, and then after they do, try again. It’s hard to fail time after time and keep pushing on to achieve what you want. If some of us weren’t stuck in this “delusion” as Einstein puts it, think how much better our lives would be! Marjane is sent away from her family to keep her safe from war, she is in and out of homes of people she’s never even met! I think of myself and all the other children I know in Foster Care and how much it hurts to be taken from the ones you love. Even if it ends up that you being taken were truly the best thing for you it doesn’t take away that pain and the longing you have to actually belong somewhere, to someone.
“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” From the beginning of this book I’ve thought about how strong she must be to live on her own at 17 on the streets. She is forced to become independent until she can return home. I believe that she did free herself from the prison of delusion and she saw the people of our world for who they really are. She started developing feelings for her boyfriend Markus and she thought she loved him. They broke up after a devastating scene Marji walked into. But she got out of the prison. She expanded her compassion for others and found her husband. That relationship didn’t work out either, but it definitely proves the point I think. We can all do as she did, and become tolerant of the world we live in.
Friday, May 22, 2009
PERSEPOLIS
Rachel
I actually enjoyed reading this “graphic novel” more that I thought I would have. You shouldn’t even consider this a comic. It helped me see the world we DO live in rather than the world that I thought we lived in. It informed me about the different laws and traditions of other countries. But it also seemed a little sexist if we were talking about clothes. The women would have to wear drapes pretty much and not show a single part of their body other than their face, while men could wear clothing so tight that you could see everything.
I think that this book can really relate to kids in Foster Care. Marjane-the main character- is forced by her parents to move to Austria because of the war that is going on in Iran. In Austria she lives with old friends of her parents. She, like all other teenages, makes mistakes and is kicked out and has to find other places to live, but messes up that living situation. So she leaves to another home. That is totally like Foster Care if you think about it. Kids in the system mess up so they either go to another home or DT. She spends about 3 months living on the streets and then after she caught her boyfriend cheating on her she returns home. It’s her 18th birthday and she was finally an adult. The age that you leave care is normally 18 also.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. I guarantee that it will make you value the people that love and support you in all that you do just that much more.
Rachel
I actually enjoyed reading this “graphic novel” more that I thought I would have. You shouldn’t even consider this a comic. It helped me see the world we DO live in rather than the world that I thought we lived in. It informed me about the different laws and traditions of other countries. But it also seemed a little sexist if we were talking about clothes. The women would have to wear drapes pretty much and not show a single part of their body other than their face, while men could wear clothing so tight that you could see everything.
I think that this book can really relate to kids in Foster Care. Marjane-the main character- is forced by her parents to move to Austria because of the war that is going on in Iran. In Austria she lives with old friends of her parents. She, like all other teenages, makes mistakes and is kicked out and has to find other places to live, but messes up that living situation. So she leaves to another home. That is totally like Foster Care if you think about it. Kids in the system mess up so they either go to another home or DT. She spends about 3 months living on the streets and then after she caught her boyfriend cheating on her she returns home. It’s her 18th birthday and she was finally an adult. The age that you leave care is normally 18 also.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. I guarantee that it will make you value the people that love and support you in all that you do just that much more.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Clear Creek
Rachel
I missed some journals when I was at clear creek, so I’m going to write about some stuff that happened while I was there. The first night is never fun. I remembered that from last year. We ended the day with a 3 _ hour blind hike. It was the worst thing mentally that I’d done in a long time. The separated out group and placed us by various trees. A voice told me to sit down and to stay. I was alone in the woods. I was so freaking scared out of my mind. I hate being alone in the dark. If you read about my worst fear you’d understand why. I sat there and started thinking about home, my parents, and my life. I lifted my blindfold to peek out to see where exactly where I was. I looked around at the trees, the depth of the woods and the darkness. I listen to people screaming out to be found by our group leader at the time. He is still far away from me. I almost started crying. Then as time passes, it feels like hours. I put my hood on because I was cold and lay my head on my knees. I started drifting off. I thought I had fallen asleep! Oh no. Was I really lost? Have they been searching for me? A million thoughts race through my mind. About 15 seconds later, “Here I am!” a big wave of relief came over me. I’m still being looked for. In the end, they never found me. I was told to follow a voice. It lead me back to my family. While there, we processed the communication and connection we were lacking. It was a good experience, but it didn’t help me at all with my fear of the dark.
Rachel
I missed some journals when I was at clear creek, so I’m going to write about some stuff that happened while I was there. The first night is never fun. I remembered that from last year. We ended the day with a 3 _ hour blind hike. It was the worst thing mentally that I’d done in a long time. The separated out group and placed us by various trees. A voice told me to sit down and to stay. I was alone in the woods. I was so freaking scared out of my mind. I hate being alone in the dark. If you read about my worst fear you’d understand why. I sat there and started thinking about home, my parents, and my life. I lifted my blindfold to peek out to see where exactly where I was. I looked around at the trees, the depth of the woods and the darkness. I listen to people screaming out to be found by our group leader at the time. He is still far away from me. I almost started crying. Then as time passes, it feels like hours. I put my hood on because I was cold and lay my head on my knees. I started drifting off. I thought I had fallen asleep! Oh no. Was I really lost? Have they been searching for me? A million thoughts race through my mind. About 15 seconds later, “Here I am!” a big wave of relief came over me. I’m still being looked for. In the end, they never found me. I was told to follow a voice. It lead me back to my family. While there, we processed the communication and connection we were lacking. It was a good experience, but it didn’t help me at all with my fear of the dark.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Adversity and Challenges
Rachel
We got a list of quotes in English about overcoming the challenges that you’re going through in life. One of the quotes was “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” This was personally my favorite quote. It’s saying that when you’re going through something that’s really difficult, you can not give up. There’s no way that things are going to ever get better for you if you just give in. You’ll stay in hell forever if you don’t try to get out of it and overcome the challenge.
The second quote was “The robbed that smiles, steals from the thief.” If someone is trying to make you mad, sad, or just irritate you, and you can just shrug is off and smile, to not let them get to you. They will be robbed because they are failing at the one thing they’re trying to do.
Both of these quotes relate to my life. My life seems like hell almost every single day. If I was to give up, my life would be over. I couldn’t handle all of the stress if I really took the time to look at it all.
I always look to other people that I look up to when I need to overcome a larger challenge that I can’t seem to get through by myself. Others can help me see what I need to do to get out of the predicament and to see the larger view and a different perspective of the issue. I’m thankful for everyone that’s there to help me. I know I couldn’t do all the things I have without the help of others. Being independent isn’t always easy or fun.
Rachel
We got a list of quotes in English about overcoming the challenges that you’re going through in life. One of the quotes was “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” This was personally my favorite quote. It’s saying that when you’re going through something that’s really difficult, you can not give up. There’s no way that things are going to ever get better for you if you just give in. You’ll stay in hell forever if you don’t try to get out of it and overcome the challenge.
The second quote was “The robbed that smiles, steals from the thief.” If someone is trying to make you mad, sad, or just irritate you, and you can just shrug is off and smile, to not let them get to you. They will be robbed because they are failing at the one thing they’re trying to do.
Both of these quotes relate to my life. My life seems like hell almost every single day. If I was to give up, my life would be over. I couldn’t handle all of the stress if I really took the time to look at it all.
I always look to other people that I look up to when I need to overcome a larger challenge that I can’t seem to get through by myself. Others can help me see what I need to do to get out of the predicament and to see the larger view and a different perspective of the issue. I’m thankful for everyone that’s there to help me. I know I couldn’t do all the things I have without the help of others. Being independent isn’t always easy or fun.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I get asked the question “What power would you have if you could have one?” I’m always kind of iffy on what I would really want to have! I think I would choose to make everyone happy, no matter what they were going through.
Everyday I come to school there’s at least one person that could be cheered up, but I don’t know what I could do to make everything better. I know that it’s really not my responsibility to make people happy and do everything I can, especially when it doesn’t have anything to do with me. But, it’s the kind of person that I am. I car for others, and I want them to be as happy as I am. I’m a very empathetic person. I feel the pain that others are feeling, most likely not as intense and exactly how they are feeling, or what they’re going through; however, it makes me feel so sad. Think of all the things I could do if I had this power. I could just simply go and talk with some of the leaders of the world, make them happy, make them understand that we don’t have to hate each other and go to war. We could have world peace. One person could change the world.
I’m afraid that all of this is just a fantasy though. There’s no way that we can have world peace. There’s always going to be one person that needs to have more control, power and money than they already have. We just need to fight and be the better people.
Rachel
Everyday I come to school there’s at least one person that could be cheered up, but I don’t know what I could do to make everything better. I know that it’s really not my responsibility to make people happy and do everything I can, especially when it doesn’t have anything to do with me. But, it’s the kind of person that I am. I car for others, and I want them to be as happy as I am. I’m a very empathetic person. I feel the pain that others are feeling, most likely not as intense and exactly how they are feeling, or what they’re going through; however, it makes me feel so sad. Think of all the things I could do if I had this power. I could just simply go and talk with some of the leaders of the world, make them happy, make them understand that we don’t have to hate each other and go to war. We could have world peace. One person could change the world.
I’m afraid that all of this is just a fantasy though. There’s no way that we can have world peace. There’s always going to be one person that needs to have more control, power and money than they already have. We just need to fight and be the better people.
Rachel
Friday, April 10, 2009
Britney Spears
You all know who Britney Spears is, but do you know who she really is? People seem to think that the paparazzi are 100% correct. You most likely think she’s crazy just because she shaved her head. I know I sound like a little girl when I say I’m going to her concert on the 14th of this month, but I truly admire her.
One night when I was 5, I was having a really hard time falling asleep. My dad had happened to have her CD and said to put it in my stereo and it might help me, so I did. I don’t even remember listening to it, but ever since that night, she’s always brought the memory of my dad back. It’s like when you think of something, and it reminds you of an amazing memory of someone or something you love.
Throughout all my Christmas’s and birthdays I’ve gotten all of her CD’s, gone to concerts, bought posters, books, etc. As I started reading them, I noticed that she had a really hard time trying to pursue her dreams. Her family was barely making it, but Britney really wanted to enter a competition. Her parents were hesitant, but entered her. Her winning led her to getting on the “Mouseketeers” and started her career. Look where she is now: making millions and millions still, even after her divorce, break-ups, custody battles, and sicknesses. Don’t judge someone from the magazines and act like you don’t like her, because you don’t really know anything about her.
Rachel
You all know who Britney Spears is, but do you know who she really is? People seem to think that the paparazzi are 100% correct. You most likely think she’s crazy just because she shaved her head. I know I sound like a little girl when I say I’m going to her concert on the 14th of this month, but I truly admire her.
One night when I was 5, I was having a really hard time falling asleep. My dad had happened to have her CD and said to put it in my stereo and it might help me, so I did. I don’t even remember listening to it, but ever since that night, she’s always brought the memory of my dad back. It’s like when you think of something, and it reminds you of an amazing memory of someone or something you love.
Throughout all my Christmas’s and birthdays I’ve gotten all of her CD’s, gone to concerts, bought posters, books, etc. As I started reading them, I noticed that she had a really hard time trying to pursue her dreams. Her family was barely making it, but Britney really wanted to enter a competition. Her parents were hesitant, but entered her. Her winning led her to getting on the “Mouseketeers” and started her career. Look where she is now: making millions and millions still, even after her divorce, break-ups, custody battles, and sicknesses. Don’t judge someone from the magazines and act like you don’t like her, because you don’t really know anything about her.
Rachel
Friday, April 3, 2009
Narrative Rough Draft
Family
Have you ever felt like you don’t have anyone to turn to? When you need someone to talk to, do you ever feel alone? This used to be a problem I had every single day. I felt like my parents were just some friends that occasionally dropped by to see how I’m doing and what I’ve been up to. I have some amazing friends that I know will be there when I need them, but a lot of the friends I had growing up were really fake to my face.
When I turned 11 I was taken away from my parents. I felt like it was the worst thing that could’ve happened to me, even though they were never really there for me. I left all of the good friends I had as my supports to move to another family. A few months passed and I ended up going to live with my aunt and uncle. Going to live with them meant I was living with at least some family and I got to go back to the school with my best friends. Well turns out that my so called “family” disowned me and wanted nothing to do with me. I once again had no where to go, no one to turn to.
I fell into a deep depression and just decided to give up on thinking people could actually love me for the person I am.
A few more months dragged on. One rainy day, a very kind woman came to the group home where I was staying to meet me and see if I would like to go live with her in Eagle Mountain. We spoke for actually a very brief time, but I felt like she was caring enough that I could maybe give having a family one more shot. I know that it’s a foster family and it never crossed my mind that I, Rachel, could have a family that’s always there for me, cares for me, and doesn’t expect me to change the person I am to fit better into her family. Jen Miles is honestly the best thing that’s happened to me.
I’ve been living with her for a year and a couple of months, and she’s in the process of adopting me. I am so happy. I’m so very excited to have somewhere to belong and someone to belong to. My advice to you, “Never give up. Never think that there’s no one in this world that will love you and no one that you can belong to. You’ll all find a family some day. It may take sometime. It took me 16 years, but keep your faith and hope strong.
Families are the compasses that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter and fall. I know why families were created with all their imperfections. They humanize you. They are made to make you forget yourself occasionally, so that the beautiful balance of life is not destroyed. “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.” -Anthony Brandt
-Rachel
Have you ever felt like you don’t have anyone to turn to? When you need someone to talk to, do you ever feel alone? This used to be a problem I had every single day. I felt like my parents were just some friends that occasionally dropped by to see how I’m doing and what I’ve been up to. I have some amazing friends that I know will be there when I need them, but a lot of the friends I had growing up were really fake to my face.
When I turned 11 I was taken away from my parents. I felt like it was the worst thing that could’ve happened to me, even though they were never really there for me. I left all of the good friends I had as my supports to move to another family. A few months passed and I ended up going to live with my aunt and uncle. Going to live with them meant I was living with at least some family and I got to go back to the school with my best friends. Well turns out that my so called “family” disowned me and wanted nothing to do with me. I once again had no where to go, no one to turn to.
I fell into a deep depression and just decided to give up on thinking people could actually love me for the person I am.
A few more months dragged on. One rainy day, a very kind woman came to the group home where I was staying to meet me and see if I would like to go live with her in Eagle Mountain. We spoke for actually a very brief time, but I felt like she was caring enough that I could maybe give having a family one more shot. I know that it’s a foster family and it never crossed my mind that I, Rachel, could have a family that’s always there for me, cares for me, and doesn’t expect me to change the person I am to fit better into her family. Jen Miles is honestly the best thing that’s happened to me.
I’ve been living with her for a year and a couple of months, and she’s in the process of adopting me. I am so happy. I’m so very excited to have somewhere to belong and someone to belong to. My advice to you, “Never give up. Never think that there’s no one in this world that will love you and no one that you can belong to. You’ll all find a family some day. It may take sometime. It took me 16 years, but keep your faith and hope strong.
Families are the compasses that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter and fall. I know why families were created with all their imperfections. They humanize you. They are made to make you forget yourself occasionally, so that the beautiful balance of life is not destroyed. “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.” -Anthony Brandt
-Rachel
Friday, March 20, 2009
My views on poetry have changed. After reading all of the different styles of poetry, I’ve learned a lot! Sequence, rhyming scheme, and all that jazz. When I write poetry, I always seem to struggle with finding words that rhyme. I start to think that only those words would do and get that meaning across.
Poetry is the expression of feelings in a sequence or pattern.
We should read poetry because it is a good way of learning to understand and see people’s different views and perspectives on a lot of really neat things. Love, life, poverty, etc.
We should write it because it’s an amazing way to express you. When feelings build up inside of you, it isn’t healthy. There needs to be some way to tell people what you’re thinking, especially if you aren’t good at talking to others. I love writing when I’m in a sad or angry mood, even though I’m not scared of talking in front of people, some certain subjects are touchy. I don’t really like crying and trying to talk at the same time.
Rachel
Poetry is the expression of feelings in a sequence or pattern.
We should read poetry because it is a good way of learning to understand and see people’s different views and perspectives on a lot of really neat things. Love, life, poverty, etc.
We should write it because it’s an amazing way to express you. When feelings build up inside of you, it isn’t healthy. There needs to be some way to tell people what you’re thinking, especially if you aren’t good at talking to others. I love writing when I’m in a sad or angry mood, even though I’m not scared of talking in front of people, some certain subjects are touchy. I don’t really like crying and trying to talk at the same time.
Rachel
HAIKUS
HOME
Trying to get back
Home isn’t where the heart is
Want to run away.
Dream
In a dream last night
I dreamt of my perfect day
The day I am free.
Snowboarding
While on the mountain,
I watched the valley below
The people ride fast.
LIMERICKS
There was a young girl in search of good luck
Everywhere she went was dirt and muck.
She asked and she found
That no one was ‘round
So she flew away like a duck.
There once was a house with a face
Who was covered in pink lace.
Everyone was staring,
So intensively glaring
And then they ran away with haste.
There once was a sliver ring
That was so pretty it could bring,
Happiness to all
When they started to fall.
It could make anyone sing.
Rachel
HOME
Trying to get back
Home isn’t where the heart is
Want to run away.
Dream
In a dream last night
I dreamt of my perfect day
The day I am free.
Snowboarding
While on the mountain,
I watched the valley below
The people ride fast.
LIMERICKS
There was a young girl in search of good luck
Everywhere she went was dirt and muck.
She asked and she found
That no one was ‘round
So she flew away like a duck.
There once was a house with a face
Who was covered in pink lace.
Everyone was staring,
So intensively glaring
And then they ran away with haste.
There once was a sliver ring
That was so pretty it could bring,
Happiness to all
When they started to fall.
It could make anyone sing.
Rachel
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Lonely Straightener
As I sit in the drawer all lonely and cold,
I say to myself, as my cord chokes me.
“When will she come unwind my cord,
And plug me in to get warm?”
I don’t like this cold dark drawer,
I don’t like it at all,
So until she comes again to talk me out
Forever will I mourn.
Summit
The doors wait, anticipating, until they’re opened.
They sit sadly, solemnly in silence.
The buses arrive and release the vicious tigers waiting to attack.
Like a tornado touching down on a glass building.
It is torn, shattered and destroyed.
I sit and think about the true
Meaning of summit
To offer students another chance,
To better their lives
But the meaning I see is deeper.
People fight, other comfort those fighting,
People hate, others love those hating,
In the end, everyone has ONE to rely on for love and support.
We need to strive to be that one.
To be the one not hating.
The end of the day come, the doors close.
Locked. Waiting. Anticipating for tomorrow
Rachel
As I sit in the drawer all lonely and cold,
I say to myself, as my cord chokes me.
“When will she come unwind my cord,
And plug me in to get warm?”
I don’t like this cold dark drawer,
I don’t like it at all,
So until she comes again to talk me out
Forever will I mourn.
Summit
The doors wait, anticipating, until they’re opened.
They sit sadly, solemnly in silence.
The buses arrive and release the vicious tigers waiting to attack.
Like a tornado touching down on a glass building.
It is torn, shattered and destroyed.
I sit and think about the true
Meaning of summit
To offer students another chance,
To better their lives
But the meaning I see is deeper.
People fight, other comfort those fighting,
People hate, others love those hating,
In the end, everyone has ONE to rely on for love and support.
We need to strive to be that one.
To be the one not hating.
The end of the day come, the doors close.
Locked. Waiting. Anticipating for tomorrow
Rachel
Friday, March 6, 2009
Compassion
By: Rachel
Compassion is a feeling that everyone
Feels at least one time in their lives
It is the trust you feel with someone close
And you wouldn’t need to question them
Or yourself
You feel the pain coming from someone you love
All these events can be an emotional tug
The power that ONE individual can bring
It makes the person you’re helping want to sing
Praises and joys of how you’ve saved,
Everything they’ve ever gained.
To care and to love is what this word means
To help and to rescue what you’ve seen
Not to feel sorry for them,
But to make them think again
By: Rachel
Compassion is a feeling that everyone
Feels at least one time in their lives
It is the trust you feel with someone close
And you wouldn’t need to question them
Or yourself
You feel the pain coming from someone you love
All these events can be an emotional tug
The power that ONE individual can bring
It makes the person you’re helping want to sing
Praises and joys of how you’ve saved,
Everything they’ve ever gained.
To care and to love is what this word means
To help and to rescue what you’ve seen
Not to feel sorry for them,
But to make them think again
Friday, February 27, 2009
I have a BIG problem with procrastination. It’s always been a big issue I’ve tried resolving, but the problem is so bad that I’ve procrastinated fixing my procrastination problem. It’s actually kind of funny though. Sometimes I actually think I’m going to do my work on time and once in a great while I do! Deep down I know that I’ll hold it off as long as I can. You always think to live in the moment, but with a lot of things in life I’ve come to learn that you have to think about the future and whatever your goals may be. Think of the steps you need to take to achieve whatever it is you want. Procrastination doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Not knowing what’s going to happen next is exhilarating to me. I’m more of a spur of the moment kind of girl, and I love it. As much as I have my serious problem that someday I will fix, I still love living in surprise.
Rachel
Rachel
Friday, February 20, 2009
Royalty
As much as we would like to think that being rich, loved and admired by everyone in the town could be the best thing ever, there are a lot of downfalls in this also. King Hamlet was favored by many. He was a very good man, until his brother decided to kill him to gain the power that he held. Who wouldn’t want the power that he had and who wouldn’t be jealous of a sibling that was loved by everyone more than you? Hamlet, the son of King Hamlet, begins to put the pieces together and plans revenge against his uncle Claudius. Most of the time, we only see the good parts of being king and queen. Let’s focus on some of the parts that could convince you that this isn’t the best position to be in.
The disadvantages definitely make me proud to be a normal citizen and not to have any power to overthrow different decisions. We can compare the new king Claudius -who was killed by young Hamlet in a fight for revenge for killing his father- to the current president. Everyday they had a high number of threats for their lives. The pressure they had would be unbearable for most people to even start to handle. Also the enemies that you would have just for being in that position would be people that you don’t even know, and how fair is that to you?
Being king or queen would work to your advantage in a number of ways. You would have power over everyone below you, which is everyone. The security you get would make it pretty hard for someone to kill you in the first place, and the loyalty and admiration you get from everyone would definitely be a confidence booster in many ways. But at the same time, if everyone begins to hate you, security would do nothing for you. An example of this is when Fortinbras gets an army together and they were trying to over through the king, but he was already dead from the battle with Hamlet earlier. He winds up being king in the end and Hamlet dies. He made his funeral very respectful and I think that made a lot of people in the kingdom respect him more. It shows that he is noble and cares about others. Like I said in the beginning, there are a lot of pros and cons to being royalty.
Rachel
The disadvantages definitely make me proud to be a normal citizen and not to have any power to overthrow different decisions. We can compare the new king Claudius -who was killed by young Hamlet in a fight for revenge for killing his father- to the current president. Everyday they had a high number of threats for their lives. The pressure they had would be unbearable for most people to even start to handle. Also the enemies that you would have just for being in that position would be people that you don’t even know, and how fair is that to you?
Being king or queen would work to your advantage in a number of ways. You would have power over everyone below you, which is everyone. The security you get would make it pretty hard for someone to kill you in the first place, and the loyalty and admiration you get from everyone would definitely be a confidence booster in many ways. But at the same time, if everyone begins to hate you, security would do nothing for you. An example of this is when Fortinbras gets an army together and they were trying to over through the king, but he was already dead from the battle with Hamlet earlier. He winds up being king in the end and Hamlet dies. He made his funeral very respectful and I think that made a lot of people in the kingdom respect him more. It shows that he is noble and cares about others. Like I said in the beginning, there are a lot of pros and cons to being royalty.
Rachel
Friday, February 6, 2009
Be Who You Are.
In Hamlet Act III scene 2 before the play Hamlet tell his actors “Don’t overdo your acting because it’s against the reason for acting. Whose purpose, now and forever, was and is to hold. To reflect real life, to show what good qualities look like and what bad qualities look like, and showing how out lives are throughout time.”
I think we need to understand the good and bad qualities of our lives and the people in them. To understand, you need to read about real life stuff and things that actually happen. You can also get insight from movies, not only books. When watching the movie we can visualize what they would do in a situation that we may find ourselves in someday. We can learn from both reading and watching.
Furthermore you need to learn about being yourself. Not “overacting” to impress certain people. We should know the good and bad of everything. We need to not dwell on the bad so much, but still know them deep within you (ourselves).
Rachel
In Hamlet Act III scene 2 before the play Hamlet tell his actors “Don’t overdo your acting because it’s against the reason for acting. Whose purpose, now and forever, was and is to hold. To reflect real life, to show what good qualities look like and what bad qualities look like, and showing how out lives are throughout time.”
I think we need to understand the good and bad qualities of our lives and the people in them. To understand, you need to read about real life stuff and things that actually happen. You can also get insight from movies, not only books. When watching the movie we can visualize what they would do in a situation that we may find ourselves in someday. We can learn from both reading and watching.
Furthermore you need to learn about being yourself. Not “overacting” to impress certain people. We should know the good and bad of everything. We need to not dwell on the bad so much, but still know them deep within you (ourselves).
Rachel
Friday, January 30, 2009
School Uniforms
There are a few positives of having uniforms. For example, there wouldn’t be as much inappropriate clothing, kids wouldn’t have trouble finding outfits in the mornings and people couldn’t really talk bad about the way other students were dressing because they would look similar. Even though these ideas seem great, I don’t agree. Here’s the way I see it. Uniforms would eliminate originality, it would start to cause more separation in school and the standards of the schools dress code would still be violated. I’ll expand on these ideas.
Originality is a huge deal to teens. We don’t feel like we’re understood in general, so clothing is just an expression. How you dress represents how you feel. To give a personal example, when I feel sad, I usually dress in sweats or comfy clothes to make me feel better. If I had to dress in an outfit I disliked and I was having a bad morning, it would just add onto everything that seemed to be going wrong. A lot of people tend to follow trends, but there are select few that strive to be different in the world. You don’t want to take that away, do you?
Let’s talk about separation. Kids want to be popular, have a lot of friends and be liked and admired by as many peers as possible. What is popular? Expensive, high end clothes, rich, nice houses? Yes. Exactly. Even if you decided to go through with putting uniforms into schools, it would definitely not even begin to solve this problem. Parents would buy their kids the highest end brand clothes they could get so their children would still look good in their uniforms and be confident that they do. Tan pants with a polo. You can buy that at the DI, and the kids with the nicer clothes would notice and let you know they noticed.
There are many violations of dress code everyday, and I know you think uniforms might solve this problem. You’re wrong. Girls can still pull up their skirts a little higher and higher each day. Students will alter and add accessories to these uniforms and it will be just as inappropriate as if it was normal dress. The administration needs to be stricter on what they allow, not try to change the dress policy.
I know it seems like adding uniforms would be a good addition, but it would take away all that the high school students have. We don’t have control over how we’re supposed to behave, homework or what teachers we have. Please let us choose what we’re able to wear and how we express ourselves.
Originality is a huge deal to teens. We don’t feel like we’re understood in general, so clothing is just an expression. How you dress represents how you feel. To give a personal example, when I feel sad, I usually dress in sweats or comfy clothes to make me feel better. If I had to dress in an outfit I disliked and I was having a bad morning, it would just add onto everything that seemed to be going wrong. A lot of people tend to follow trends, but there are select few that strive to be different in the world. You don’t want to take that away, do you?
Let’s talk about separation. Kids want to be popular, have a lot of friends and be liked and admired by as many peers as possible. What is popular? Expensive, high end clothes, rich, nice houses? Yes. Exactly. Even if you decided to go through with putting uniforms into schools, it would definitely not even begin to solve this problem. Parents would buy their kids the highest end brand clothes they could get so their children would still look good in their uniforms and be confident that they do. Tan pants with a polo. You can buy that at the DI, and the kids with the nicer clothes would notice and let you know they noticed.
There are many violations of dress code everyday, and I know you think uniforms might solve this problem. You’re wrong. Girls can still pull up their skirts a little higher and higher each day. Students will alter and add accessories to these uniforms and it will be just as inappropriate as if it was normal dress. The administration needs to be stricter on what they allow, not try to change the dress policy.
I know it seems like adding uniforms would be a good addition, but it would take away all that the high school students have. We don’t have control over how we’re supposed to behave, homework or what teachers we have. Please let us choose what we’re able to wear and how we express ourselves.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Protien!
So, I’m sitting here trying to think of something to write about. Although I have parts of some journals, they aren’t long enough to write _ of a page. Ryan and I are eating this protein bar that I brought from home. He told me that it was really powdery, but I was eating such little bites I thought it tasted great. I ate the rest of it in one big bite and he was very right about how it tasted like powder. It also gets caught in your mouth, like up in the corners. It’s actually kind of really disgusting. That’s probably because there’s over 30g of protein.
Let me give you some reasons why you should eat them. They are gross. However, they can give you most of your daily vitamins that you need. There’s calcium, fibers, sugars, potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Calcium is essential to maintaining total body health. Fiber stabilizes blood sugar levels within you. There isn’t a need for any sugar in your body, so I guess that really doesn’t matter. Potassium can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, diabetes, kidney disease, being overweight, and some cases of paralysis. Iron is a part of blood cells that carry oxygen to all of the other cells. It’s a very mandatory mineral to have. Finally, let’s talk about phosphorus. 85% of phosphorus is found in the bones. The rest is found in the blood, around the cells and in various organs like the heart, kidneys and brain.
To kind of review, I’m not telling you that they are the most delicious things to eat, but they can be extremely healthy and prevent possible diseases. They also count as a meal and are very filling.
Rachel
Let me give you some reasons why you should eat them. They are gross. However, they can give you most of your daily vitamins that you need. There’s calcium, fibers, sugars, potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Calcium is essential to maintaining total body health. Fiber stabilizes blood sugar levels within you. There isn’t a need for any sugar in your body, so I guess that really doesn’t matter. Potassium can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, diabetes, kidney disease, being overweight, and some cases of paralysis. Iron is a part of blood cells that carry oxygen to all of the other cells. It’s a very mandatory mineral to have. Finally, let’s talk about phosphorus. 85% of phosphorus is found in the bones. The rest is found in the blood, around the cells and in various organs like the heart, kidneys and brain.
To kind of review, I’m not telling you that they are the most delicious things to eat, but they can be extremely healthy and prevent possible diseases. They also count as a meal and are very filling.
Rachel
Friday, January 16, 2009
Listening To Your Heart
When in any relationship, problems will arise. No matter how good you think it’s going, there is always one problem. Whether it be concerning you, him/her or someone that isn’t even supposed to be involved. People tend to intrude in on other peoples’ lives, start drama and try to break people apart. This I really don’t understand. If the two seem happy, I don’t see why anyone would want to end such a beautiful thing that could eventually happen. It gets really difficult to just listen to your heart and ignore all of the others talking. But you have to think about what would be best for you and your partner, and possibly others around you.
Relationships are tough. People get their hearts broken, lose friends and start thinking that there isn’t any other person they could love as much as the one that messed up or broke their heart. That is far from true. There is always going to be someone else. As hard as it is to realize and get past that break-up, and it may take time. You can do it though.
You will find someone out there that will treat you with respect and will never break your heart. They will love you so much, that that would be the last thing on their mind.
Rachel
Relationships are tough. People get their hearts broken, lose friends and start thinking that there isn’t any other person they could love as much as the one that messed up or broke their heart. That is far from true. There is always going to be someone else. As hard as it is to realize and get past that break-up, and it may take time. You can do it though.
You will find someone out there that will treat you with respect and will never break your heart. They will love you so much, that that would be the last thing on their mind.
Rachel
Friday, January 9, 2009
Last year was crazy. So many different things have happened. Today is my birthday! J I remember my sweet 16, it wasn’t the best I’ve had. It was my first birthday away from any of my real family, so it kind of made me really sad. But this year will definitely be better.
I’ve been dealing a lot with a court case concerning some incidents with my step-dad. It’s been really hard on me. I know I have people I can turn to if I need to talk or cry though. That’s really reassuring. While this case is being processed, there’s one major thing I have learned. Sometimes you have to do things that are really painful to yourself to help others. Right now is a hard time for me to be dealing with pressing charges. This court case has been going on for two years today, and I just want to give up and say, “Just let him go.” But honestly, I would rather go through the pain instead of having some other little girl or boy go through the exact same thing when I could’ve done something to prevent them from feeling the same thing I am. You have to fight for what you think is right.
My sister Amy (20) got pregnant last year. She is due in February with a boy. I’m going to be the best Aunt ever! Especially after living with my aunt and uncle.
I got to see my little brothers Matthew and Jeffrey after two and a half years of not seeing them. I was the happiest I’ve been in a really long time. I love my brothers; they are my life. When I was living with my dad, they were the only reason I stayed and never ran away. I was the one that had to take care of them. Just call me Mommy Rachel. It’s really good to be able to be JUST their sister though.
I went through a really tough heartbreak with an ex boyfriend. He ended up getting into drugs. Drugs really make me angry. If drugs were a person, I would hire a hit man. It seems like everyone I start to love that I end up losing; drugs are usually what end our relationship. I’ve learned a lot about love though. I need to stay strong, and stay close to my true friends and the people that truly do love me, and would never hurt me.
I hope everyone has an awesome 2009!! Make it the best yet!
Rachel
I’ve been dealing a lot with a court case concerning some incidents with my step-dad. It’s been really hard on me. I know I have people I can turn to if I need to talk or cry though. That’s really reassuring. While this case is being processed, there’s one major thing I have learned. Sometimes you have to do things that are really painful to yourself to help others. Right now is a hard time for me to be dealing with pressing charges. This court case has been going on for two years today, and I just want to give up and say, “Just let him go.” But honestly, I would rather go through the pain instead of having some other little girl or boy go through the exact same thing when I could’ve done something to prevent them from feeling the same thing I am. You have to fight for what you think is right.
My sister Amy (20) got pregnant last year. She is due in February with a boy. I’m going to be the best Aunt ever! Especially after living with my aunt and uncle.
I got to see my little brothers Matthew and Jeffrey after two and a half years of not seeing them. I was the happiest I’ve been in a really long time. I love my brothers; they are my life. When I was living with my dad, they were the only reason I stayed and never ran away. I was the one that had to take care of them. Just call me Mommy Rachel. It’s really good to be able to be JUST their sister though.
I went through a really tough heartbreak with an ex boyfriend. He ended up getting into drugs. Drugs really make me angry. If drugs were a person, I would hire a hit man. It seems like everyone I start to love that I end up losing; drugs are usually what end our relationship. I’ve learned a lot about love though. I need to stay strong, and stay close to my true friends and the people that truly do love me, and would never hurt me.
I hope everyone has an awesome 2009!! Make it the best yet!
Rachel
Friday, December 19, 2008
As I sit and think about the changes that I have seen in the world, I see changes everyday. Even if it’s something really small, there is one. The world as a whole needs to be an idealist. We cannot give up. Where would all of us be if we chose to give up in tough situations that we encounter everyday? And give up all aspects of hope.
We are privileged to know how to read. Many people never learned, let alone have a school to go to.
A lot of people think they have had a lot taken away from them. Those same people think when other people that have a lot more than them think the same thing as them, their life tends to suck even more. Especially comparing it. In the end, they start getting it in their mind that everybody else has it better than them.
We need to love people the time when they are down because that is the time when they need it the most.
Rachel
We are privileged to know how to read. Many people never learned, let alone have a school to go to.
A lot of people think they have had a lot taken away from them. Those same people think when other people that have a lot more than them think the same thing as them, their life tends to suck even more. Especially comparing it. In the end, they start getting it in their mind that everybody else has it better than them.
We need to love people the time when they are down because that is the time when they need it the most.
Rachel
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