I Believe in True Friendship.
I believe in that moment when you look at your friend and you both know exactly what the other is thinking. I believe in the times when I’m laughing so hard at something they said, that we are both on the floor clutching our sides, as if we were about to fall apart. I believe in the times when you are so mad or hurt by your friend, that you convince yourself that you are still mad at them, but when you see them, that anger dissolves. I believe in the moment where a friend, as good as their poker face may be, looks into your eyes and you know there is something wrong. I believe in true friendship.
As much as I wish that all friendships were true, I know they aren’t. Sometimes people befriend other people because they have money, or they are extremely smart, or have something that they want. Not because they actually want to be “best buds”. With a true friend, you always know where you stand. There is never a question about who you are to them, you just know.
When something happens, it hurts twice as much when having to do with your best friend. My truest friend is the one I have the most issues with. Not because we are dramatic people, just because we know each other so well. She knows me like I was herself, so she knows that I am over something almost the instant it happens; but I still act like I’m mad because I still should be. She apologizes anyway, and is sincere about it. We talk about it, and within 5 minutes, are talking about something completely different, all the while a huge grin is slapped on our faces.
My truest friend is the one who I can tell anything to. The person I don’t even hesitate to send the awful picture of me on snap chat to. The person who gets me to admit things, even when I won’t admit them to myself. I much as I pretend to be reluctant about telling her things, I’m secretly relieved that one other person knows. It’s nice to know someone cares enough to pester you until you spit out what you were worried about. A true friend is also one who listens to all my seemingly endless and pointless stories about how I lost my pencil earlier that day. She nods and shakes her head at just the right times, even though I know she isn’t that interested.
Friendship is by no means perfect. We stumble and trip our way through so many relationships, we tend to fall through most of them. But the friends that are real and true, are the ones that, when I trip, they catch me and say “I got your back”.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Persuasive Essay: Why You Should Join Drama Club.
Dear Friend,
You may be hesitant about joining Drama club, but I would really appreciate it if you
would consider what I have to say. While Drama Club is full of opportunities, it is not just
plays. In fact, at Hoggard High School, there is only one drama club play a year. Just
because you are in drama club, it doesn’t mean that you have to get on stage in front of
everyone, you can help out backstage. I personally love acting, but I love the “behind the
scenes” stuff too!
Maybe you become shy when talking in front of an audience, maybe you want to get
over that fear of public speaking, I think joining drama club would really help you with that.
Getting over your fear of talking in front of people could be really helpful for when you have
to present projects or make a speech, it would be especially beneficial for when senior
project comes around. I am a perfect example of this, I always used to get nervous when
talking in front of people, but after I took drama, I didn’t even get nervous talking in front of
my classes. For instance, last year in world history, we had to do a lot of projects that we
had to present in front of the class. At first, I was very nervous and my hands would shake
and my voice would tremble slightly. But then, after just a few months in drama, my hands
didn’t shake anymore, and my voice trembled less. And that was only after a few months.
by the end of the year, my voice was clear, my hands did not shake, and I wasn’t anxious
about presenting anymore. Though you might be doubtful, you could be able to get rid of
your nerves too! In addition, it has helped me be able to talk to people I don’t know that
well and still be able to hold a conversation. This was very helpful at the beginning of this
year. I was put in classes with very few of my friends, but it’s only a month into the new
school year and I already have met so many new people.
Hardworking students tend to get stressed out with the work required of your classes,
but while it is important to do your work, it is just as important to be able to relieve some
stress. I have four honors classes this semester, all I do throughout the school day is think
about how much I have to do for homework and if I’ll have time to do it. Just sitting in the
drama room watching people participate in the numerous improvisational games is so
entertaining, you don’t even think about what you have to do when you get home, or how
you didn’t understand what they did in class that day. You watch all the great actors get up
on stage and make a scene come to life, not knowing where it’s going to go, or how it’s
going to end. Every time a new actor gets on stage, your on the edge of your seat in
anticipation, wondering what they will do now. You get lost in everything that is going on,
you don’t even realize how time is ticking by, you don’t think for one second about your
classes. I know, from personal experience, how beneficial this can be.
One thing that Drama Club offers is the opportunity to be a “techie” which is what the
students who work the play are called. “Techies” run the lights, sound effects, make the
set and the props, sometimes they even help out with costumes and make-up. “Techies”
do not act in the play at all. The only time they are seen is if they are moving the set on or
off the stage. Although, at times the actor might do that job. I love being up on stage
performing, but one of my other favorite things to do is create things, which is what
“techies” do. I know you are a creative individual, and I think being able to make things for
a play will help you express yourself, while having fun.
School may be your main focus, as it should be, but you should be able to relax and
enjoy yourself at the same time. You do not participate in after school activities because
you say you “have a lot of homework” or you “don’t have time”. The reason you work so
hard is to get in the college of your choice, but colleges look for diversity in applicants.
They want you to specialize in something, and they want to see commitment and
dedication. One source says that several qualities that colleges look for are put to use
many times in theater, showing your ability to be organized and even how well you can
concentrate on something and research it. Colleges are a lot more likely to choose a
student who has mostly A’s and a few B’s that participates in after-school activities with
leadership roles, than choose a student with all A’s. Colleges like to see something
different, as great as you think your transcript may be, they have seen it all before. Unless
you join a club, like drama club, you might not get into the college of your choice. (“Music
and Drama...”)
I honestly think joining drama club would be beneficial to you. So many good things can
come from it, I have had such amazing experiences and you will too! Sign up with the
Drama Club President, Drama Club will be glad to have you. It will be an amazing
experience. I really hope you will consider what I have told you.
Sincerely,
Cecilia
You may be hesitant about joining Drama club, but I would really appreciate it if you
would consider what I have to say. While Drama Club is full of opportunities, it is not just
plays. In fact, at Hoggard High School, there is only one drama club play a year. Just
because you are in drama club, it doesn’t mean that you have to get on stage in front of
everyone, you can help out backstage. I personally love acting, but I love the “behind the
scenes” stuff too!
Maybe you become shy when talking in front of an audience, maybe you want to get
over that fear of public speaking, I think joining drama club would really help you with that.
Getting over your fear of talking in front of people could be really helpful for when you have
to present projects or make a speech, it would be especially beneficial for when senior
project comes around. I am a perfect example of this, I always used to get nervous when
talking in front of people, but after I took drama, I didn’t even get nervous talking in front of
my classes. For instance, last year in world history, we had to do a lot of projects that we
had to present in front of the class. At first, I was very nervous and my hands would shake
and my voice would tremble slightly. But then, after just a few months in drama, my hands
didn’t shake anymore, and my voice trembled less. And that was only after a few months.
by the end of the year, my voice was clear, my hands did not shake, and I wasn’t anxious
about presenting anymore. Though you might be doubtful, you could be able to get rid of
your nerves too! In addition, it has helped me be able to talk to people I don’t know that
well and still be able to hold a conversation. This was very helpful at the beginning of this
year. I was put in classes with very few of my friends, but it’s only a month into the new
school year and I already have met so many new people.
Hardworking students tend to get stressed out with the work required of your classes,
but while it is important to do your work, it is just as important to be able to relieve some
stress. I have four honors classes this semester, all I do throughout the school day is think
about how much I have to do for homework and if I’ll have time to do it. Just sitting in the
drama room watching people participate in the numerous improvisational games is so
entertaining, you don’t even think about what you have to do when you get home, or how
you didn’t understand what they did in class that day. You watch all the great actors get up
on stage and make a scene come to life, not knowing where it’s going to go, or how it’s
going to end. Every time a new actor gets on stage, your on the edge of your seat in
anticipation, wondering what they will do now. You get lost in everything that is going on,
you don’t even realize how time is ticking by, you don’t think for one second about your
classes. I know, from personal experience, how beneficial this can be.
One thing that Drama Club offers is the opportunity to be a “techie” which is what the
students who work the play are called. “Techies” run the lights, sound effects, make the
set and the props, sometimes they even help out with costumes and make-up. “Techies”
do not act in the play at all. The only time they are seen is if they are moving the set on or
off the stage. Although, at times the actor might do that job. I love being up on stage
performing, but one of my other favorite things to do is create things, which is what
“techies” do. I know you are a creative individual, and I think being able to make things for
a play will help you express yourself, while having fun.
School may be your main focus, as it should be, but you should be able to relax and
enjoy yourself at the same time. You do not participate in after school activities because
you say you “have a lot of homework” or you “don’t have time”. The reason you work so
hard is to get in the college of your choice, but colleges look for diversity in applicants.
They want you to specialize in something, and they want to see commitment and
dedication. One source says that several qualities that colleges look for are put to use
many times in theater, showing your ability to be organized and even how well you can
concentrate on something and research it. Colleges are a lot more likely to choose a
student who has mostly A’s and a few B’s that participates in after-school activities with
leadership roles, than choose a student with all A’s. Colleges like to see something
different, as great as you think your transcript may be, they have seen it all before. Unless
you join a club, like drama club, you might not get into the college of your choice. (“Music
and Drama...”)
I honestly think joining drama club would be beneficial to you. So many good things can
come from it, I have had such amazing experiences and you will too! Sign up with the
Drama Club President, Drama Club will be glad to have you. It will be an amazing
experience. I really hope you will consider what I have told you.
Sincerely,
Cecilia
AP Essay: All Summer in a Day
1.
Writers often highlight the values of a culture
or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society
because of gender, race, class, or creed. Choose a play or novel in which such
a character plays a significant role and show how that character’s alienation
reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values.
What if you had
never seen the sun? If you had never felt it’s warmth on your face, if you had
only seen thunderstorms and endless amounts rain pouring down from the sky,
would you believe the sun existed? All Summer in a
Day by Ray Bradbury, script by Hoggard's honors drama class, depicts this situation.
Margot is
isolated and bullied because of her differences. She came from Earth to Venus
when she was young. Unlike the indigenous Venusians’, Margot remembers the
earth. She remembers it’s warmth and beauty, and how it is “The color of
flaming bronze.” Margot, the protagonist, is optimistic about the sun’s
“emergence” on Venus for the first time in 10 years.
The people on
Venus are cold, cruel people. The local children even bully Margot, because she
is so different than the rest of them. She is literally an “alien” to them,
because she was born on a different planet. The children’s lack of sun contrasts
with Margot’s remembrance of it. Since Margot’s arrival on Venus, she has
become washed out like the others, but she has not let that affect her enthusiasm.
Her spirit remains, even when it should have been broken long ago. She
continually fights and attempts to stand up for herself and is knocked down
over and over again. But in the end it just isn’t enough.
A.P. Writing Prompt: The Perks of being a Wallflower
In some novels and plays certain parallel or recurring events prove to be significant. In an essay, describe the major similarities and differences in a sequence of parallel or recurring events in a novel or play and discuss the significance of such events. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Throughout The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, the main character Charlie repeats one thing “I hope they are happy.” He says it in many different ways, shapes and forms, but he says it numerous times nonetheless. Charlie grows as a person, but you can tell there is something off about him, that something isn’t quite right. It’s not the fact that none of his friends are his own age, or that he seems to have been in numerous traumatizing experiences without major side effects. It’s the fact that he always wishes other people were happy, but not himself.
There are very few self-pity moments in this novel, if it were any other novel, it would be a good thing, but Charlie needs those moments. He is so wrapped up in what he thinks other people want, he doesn’t see what they truly need, and doesn’t understand what he, himself, needs. This is ultimately where things start to go downhill for him. If you just read the last sentence of every letter that Charlie writes, you would see how he starts to slip and can’t seem to keep himself from falling. By Charlie putting other people first and almost pushing himself aside, we see that Charlie is not acknowledging his abandonment of himself. It is slowly made clear he isn’t stable anymore.
It is a good thing to want people to be happy, but it is one of the most common things Charlie thinks about. By treading on the happiness of others so much, we start to see that Charlie isn’t happy. He has become depressed and almost unresponding. In this case, it is unhealthy. At the end of the book, things start to look better for Charlie; he even urges the reader to "beleive that things are good"(213). You can tell by his tone how honest he is, leaving the reader with a sense of resolution. While he still, once more, repeats "I want everyone to be happy," it is not the same way as before. He says it in the sense that he is happy, and wants everybody around him to be happy as well.
Throughout The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, the main character Charlie repeats one thing “I hope they are happy.” He says it in many different ways, shapes and forms, but he says it numerous times nonetheless. Charlie grows as a person, but you can tell there is something off about him, that something isn’t quite right. It’s not the fact that none of his friends are his own age, or that he seems to have been in numerous traumatizing experiences without major side effects. It’s the fact that he always wishes other people were happy, but not himself.
There are very few self-pity moments in this novel, if it were any other novel, it would be a good thing, but Charlie needs those moments. He is so wrapped up in what he thinks other people want, he doesn’t see what they truly need, and doesn’t understand what he, himself, needs. This is ultimately where things start to go downhill for him. If you just read the last sentence of every letter that Charlie writes, you would see how he starts to slip and can’t seem to keep himself from falling. By Charlie putting other people first and almost pushing himself aside, we see that Charlie is not acknowledging his abandonment of himself. It is slowly made clear he isn’t stable anymore.
It is a good thing to want people to be happy, but it is one of the most common things Charlie thinks about. By treading on the happiness of others so much, we start to see that Charlie isn’t happy. He has become depressed and almost unresponding. In this case, it is unhealthy. At the end of the book, things start to look better for Charlie; he even urges the reader to "beleive that things are good"(213). You can tell by his tone how honest he is, leaving the reader with a sense of resolution. While he still, once more, repeats "I want everyone to be happy," it is not the same way as before. He says it in the sense that he is happy, and wants everybody around him to be happy as well.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Video Post
Taylor Swift is one of my favorite singers, I admire her and what she stands for. She isn't famous by association, she started her career from the ground up and I appreciate that about her. Her songs are relatable and tell stories, if you pause and listen to the lyrics.
I absolutely love this music video. It's fun and quirky, and unlike most music videos these days, it actually tells a story and goes along with the song. The video to You Belong With Me never gets old, when it came out years ago, I said "It's the best music video ever!" while it may not be the "best" anymore, it is still one of my personal favorites. Yes, it tells that standard "I like him, but he's with her" story, but who doesn't secretly love that theme and that song?
Mark of Athena Book Project: Epilogue
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT
“Over here.” She called.
Percy rushed to her side and helped her up, her broken ankle was almost healed, but their long fall didn’t help their bruises and scratches. He knew she was exhausted, but they had to start moving before something found them. Just sitting there, they were easy prey for whatever was lurking in the shadows.
Annabeth winced, but continued stumbling alongside Percy. She could already hear cackling in the distance, it seemed as if they had already been discovered. She could still hear Arachne’s chilling voice threatening her, it wouldn’t long before she was on her feet and searching for them too.
“Hey, are you ok?” Percy asked. “Your just so quiet.” She could barley make out anything in the darkness, but she knew him so well, she knew the concerned look he would have on his face.
“I’m fine,” Annabeth said with as much courage as she could muster. “Just thinking.”
“We will get through this,” Percy replied, “I know we will. The others will meet us on the other side and everything will be normal again. We can even go back to school and take the kind of tests that don’t involve almost dying.” he joked.
Annabeth almost laughed, but stopped herself when she remembered what a dire situation they were in. She sighed and leaned her head on Percy’s shoulder.
“What are we going to do Percy? I don’t know how to get us out of this.”
“Well, we have to find the doors of death and close them, hopefully Leo can get the others to the other side soon so we can close them at the same time.” he said.
Annabeth frowned, “But you know it’s not that simple.”
“Let’s just pretend it is, for now.” Percy said.
Annabeth nodded, looking back at the empty darkness behind them. Tartarus really was endless, she could almost feel how vast it was. Though there was no one around for miles, Annabeth shivered imagining the thousands of eyes watching them, waiting for their quest to fail.
All of a sudden, a huge roar erupted from behind them, this time Annabeth knew she wasn’t imagining it. To most people, it might have seemed hopeless, but they had been to Hades and back, literally. If we can do that, we can do this, Annabeth thought.
“Run?” She asked
“Run.” he said, and they took off.
Epilogue
A moan echoed through the darkness. “Annabeth, are you there?” Percy whispered, afraid that anything louder would call attention to them. “Over here.” She called.
Percy rushed to her side and helped her up, her broken ankle was almost healed, but their long fall didn’t help their bruises and scratches. He knew she was exhausted, but they had to start moving before something found them. Just sitting there, they were easy prey for whatever was lurking in the shadows.
Annabeth winced, but continued stumbling alongside Percy. She could already hear cackling in the distance, it seemed as if they had already been discovered. She could still hear Arachne’s chilling voice threatening her, it wouldn’t long before she was on her feet and searching for them too.
“Hey, are you ok?” Percy asked. “Your just so quiet.” She could barley make out anything in the darkness, but she knew him so well, she knew the concerned look he would have on his face.
“I’m fine,” Annabeth said with as much courage as she could muster. “Just thinking.”
“We will get through this,” Percy replied, “I know we will. The others will meet us on the other side and everything will be normal again. We can even go back to school and take the kind of tests that don’t involve almost dying.” he joked.
Annabeth almost laughed, but stopped herself when she remembered what a dire situation they were in. She sighed and leaned her head on Percy’s shoulder.
“What are we going to do Percy? I don’t know how to get us out of this.”
“Well, we have to find the doors of death and close them, hopefully Leo can get the others to the other side soon so we can close them at the same time.” he said.
Annabeth frowned, “But you know it’s not that simple.”
“Let’s just pretend it is, for now.” Percy said.
Annabeth nodded, looking back at the empty darkness behind them. Tartarus really was endless, she could almost feel how vast it was. Though there was no one around for miles, Annabeth shivered imagining the thousands of eyes watching them, waiting for their quest to fail.
All of a sudden, a huge roar erupted from behind them, this time Annabeth knew she wasn’t imagining it. To most people, it might have seemed hopeless, but they had been to Hades and back, literally. If we can do that, we can do this, Annabeth thought.
“Run?” She asked
“Run.” he said, and they took off.
Quotes
- A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows you are slightly cracked. – Bernard Meltzer
- The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. – Mark Twain
- Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. – Ambrose Bierce
I really like the quote "Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret". I completely agree with it. Ambrose Bierce knew what he was saying when he said that, which to me is kind of ironic.
When I look at this quote, it makes me think of saying something you don't mean, or shouldn't have said, even if it was true. When people are angry and they are venting you can tell they are just blowing off steam, or you can tell they really mean what they are saying, because they are filled to the brim with passion from what they are fussing about. I find myself being more persuasive and effective when I'm talking in the heat of the moment, but then one person or the other says something, without even thinking it through, possibly ending a friendship.
This quote makes people think about the consequences of their word choices, good or bad. Because words are one of the only things-that once they are said-can not be taken back.
Another quote I like is from Mark Twain, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." Which, the more I think about it, the more I realize how true it really is.
When you are trying to cheer someone up, you don't use a sad, morose tone. You use the happiest tone you can muster, even if it might be fake. The person you are trying to cheer up won't believe you if you don't actually sound upbeat. The more you talk positively, the more you start feeling better and not as upset as you might have been earlier.
When I read this quote, I automatically think of my friend Hallie. Not just because Mark Twain is her ancestor, but because she is always the person to cheer me up and vice versa. I am not easily fooled, if someone is insincere I can tell. It's the same with cheering someone else up. If we are both in an upset mood, we can't cheer up each other up unless we are actually sincere about it. By meaning what we are saying to cheer each other up we are ultimately helping ourselves out, being we are not in as awful a mood as before.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Essay Test
Essay Question: The soldier’s identity has been slowly impacted throughout the war. Has their identity as individuals evolved positively or negatively as an effect of the war? How has this affected the soldiers?
The soldiers are no longer individuals, but a group, a system. They have been defaced by the war. But while the system is one main contributor to the loss of their identity, the men themselves are the main factor. Paul says “I often sit over against myself as if before a stranger.”(273) Paul doesn’t even recognize himself as a person anymore. A person’s identity is their whole entire being, their name, their religion, who they are as a person, even who they are to other people. To have that taken away from you, well, like Paul said, you become a stranger, even to yourself.
Before the boys were persuaded to enlist in the army, they were full of life, full of hopes and dreams. They knew where their life was going to go from the second they graduated. The boys knew what they were going to do as an occupation after they had served their term. Yet- amidst the blood and gore, the fallen comrades, and pure terror-they lost all of it. They started to feel “confused and hopeless” (87). They had no idea what they were going to do after the war, because they couldn’t even imagine anything “worth lying in the muck for”(87). This is the first point in the book where it is evident how hopeless they really have become. Paul says “We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life.”(87) Each solider is split into two different people, one is standing firm and the other is running away. The traits that they had in “peacetime” are fleeing as a result of the war. Everything they know is ripped out from underneath them, revealing their true identity is not who they used to be, but is who they are when faced with hardships and struggles.
A main part of a person’s identity is their individuality. In the army, in order to succeed as a nation, soldiers have to act as one, as a whole. Everyone has to be in time with one another, there has to be communication and drill. There has to be a system. The system is what makes the nation a success, but in this book, it’s ultimately a downfall for the soldiers. “This soldier……has forgotten all else but marching.”(95) The soldiers now don’t even know how to do the things the same way they did before. How could they go back home, sit down at their kitchen table, and carry on as if nothing had changed? All they know now is war. The way they think, act, even speak has been altered by their experiences at the front. Paul starts to think of everything in dark ways, he is surrounded by death and it invades his thoughts. The earth which he used to think of as warm and embracing turns him away. He no longer sees the light at the end of the tunnel, only the never ending darkness. The soldiers personality starts to become diluted; they fade to fit in with the rest of the soldiers. Paul writes, “It is as though formerly we are coins of different provinces; and now we are melted down, and all bear the same stamp.”(272) The soldiers have been made to fit the system. They are no longer individuals.
The soldiers, though their outward appearance might not have changed, their identity has, and not for the better. They are unsure of themselves now; they don’t know how things could ever be the same. Paul “believe[s] [they] are lost.” And they will never be found.
The soldiers are no longer individuals, but a group, a system. They have been defaced by the war. But while the system is one main contributor to the loss of their identity, the men themselves are the main factor. Paul says “I often sit over against myself as if before a stranger.”(273) Paul doesn’t even recognize himself as a person anymore. A person’s identity is their whole entire being, their name, their religion, who they are as a person, even who they are to other people. To have that taken away from you, well, like Paul said, you become a stranger, even to yourself.
Before the boys were persuaded to enlist in the army, they were full of life, full of hopes and dreams. They knew where their life was going to go from the second they graduated. The boys knew what they were going to do as an occupation after they had served their term. Yet- amidst the blood and gore, the fallen comrades, and pure terror-they lost all of it. They started to feel “confused and hopeless” (87). They had no idea what they were going to do after the war, because they couldn’t even imagine anything “worth lying in the muck for”(87). This is the first point in the book where it is evident how hopeless they really have become. Paul says “We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life.”(87) Each solider is split into two different people, one is standing firm and the other is running away. The traits that they had in “peacetime” are fleeing as a result of the war. Everything they know is ripped out from underneath them, revealing their true identity is not who they used to be, but is who they are when faced with hardships and struggles.
A main part of a person’s identity is their individuality. In the army, in order to succeed as a nation, soldiers have to act as one, as a whole. Everyone has to be in time with one another, there has to be communication and drill. There has to be a system. The system is what makes the nation a success, but in this book, it’s ultimately a downfall for the soldiers. “This soldier……has forgotten all else but marching.”(95) The soldiers now don’t even know how to do the things the same way they did before. How could they go back home, sit down at their kitchen table, and carry on as if nothing had changed? All they know now is war. The way they think, act, even speak has been altered by their experiences at the front. Paul starts to think of everything in dark ways, he is surrounded by death and it invades his thoughts. The earth which he used to think of as warm and embracing turns him away. He no longer sees the light at the end of the tunnel, only the never ending darkness. The soldiers personality starts to become diluted; they fade to fit in with the rest of the soldiers. Paul writes, “It is as though formerly we are coins of different provinces; and now we are melted down, and all bear the same stamp.”(272) The soldiers have been made to fit the system. They are no longer individuals.
The soldiers, though their outward appearance might not have changed, their identity has, and not for the better. They are unsure of themselves now; they don’t know how things could ever be the same. Paul “believe[s] [they] are lost.” And they will never be found.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
This I beleive
Favorite Essay:
Favorite Video Essay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av2jgY8c85E
Favorite Video Essay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av2jgY8c85E
This I Believe Poem
I
believe in true friendship.
I believe in wearing white after Labor Day.
I believe in wearing white after Labor Day.
I
believe in pursuing what I love, even if it might not work out.
I
believe in talking to people, face to face instead of over the phone
I
believe in getting so lost in a book you have no clue what’s going
on around you.
I
believe in going the extra mile to do what is necessary to get
something done
I
believe in watching movies, even if I have seen them a thousand
times.
I
believe in “stopping
to smell the roses” and not let life pass me by.
I believe
in being able to trust someone with all my heart
Monday, October 15, 2012
Comparison Contrast Essay
The optimist: a delightful person who always looks on the bright side of life, and doesn’t take it too seriously. They are often fun to be around and make great company. The Pessimist: a person who is never satisfied because “nothing” ever goes right for them, they are often whining and complaining about every little thing. While there are many different countries and cultures around the world, one thing remains the same; the people will always be either pessimists or optimists.
For the optimist, the glass is always half full. They appreciate the little things in life and don’t make things too complicated. They see things for how they really are, good or bad, and decide to look on the positive side. When surrounded by this type of people, I often find myself more carefree and even more hopeful. Though I would consider myself to be an optimist, I occasionally get very frustrated about things I shouldn’t get upset about. When I get a bad grade, I tend to freak out. I have always been told “If you don’t get all A’s you won’t get into the college of your choice” or “If you don’t get straight A’s you’ll have to work at McDonalds when you grow up”. Therefore, I put a lot of pressure on myself and it ruins my day if I get a bad grade. I go to lunch and sit there solemnly, and immediately ten different people jump on my case. Some concerned, and some just curious. They encourage me and tell me that everything will be ok. The optimists are always the ones to support me, they always know that things will work out for the best, even if it doesn’t seem like it will at that point in time. I also stress less when amidst the optimists. It’s almost as if weights have been lifted off my shoulders.
In a pessimist’s mind, the glass is always half empty. They are doubtful and judging even at the best of times. One of my dear friends is the most pessimistic person I have ever met; it’s almost painful to talk to her because of all my hope that is lost in the process. Any good feeling I had before talking to them, vanishes within the course of a few minutes. She assumes things without a better understanding of them, and makes snide comments and often calls things “stupid” or “weird”. I am a self-proclaimed book nerd; I love to read almost any type of book. One thing that I always do is try to share with my friends a great book or book series they would enjoy. I describe it; gushing about how good it is, smiling from ear to ear, so thrilled that they might be able to enjoy it too. “That sounds really stupid, who would even read that?” her sharp words pierce the air, and my excitement pops like a ballon. I try to justify myself, and convince her that it’s a lot better than it sounds, but she just stares at me, with the same expression indented on her face. If they aren’t happy, no one can be happy, they think of themselves first and put others down. Ultimately, they are missing out on life; they are so focused on what they won’t do, they don’t think about what they should do.
When you walk into a room, it’s almost easy to pick out the optimists and pessimists. The optimists will be the people sitting, smiling and chatting amongst themselves. The pessimists will be the bitter people in the corner of the room frowning, and not socializing, obviously not happy to be there. They are consumed with their displeasure and often take it out on other people. When I am excited about something, they immediately tear it down, while the optimists support me and encourage me to go on, just like I should have in the first place.
Unfortunately, there will always be pessimists in the world. No matter how far you go, there will always be people there waiting to tear you down. But, just as there are pessimists there are optimists, who will always be there to catch you when you fall.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Who I am
You know the saying “Every picture is worth a thousand words?” Well, it’s the same with people, except, people are worth a trillion words. You look at a person and think you know them by being able to describe them in five words, but human beings are more complex than that. If every person was worth a mere five words, each person wouldn’t really mean much. But a person isn’t worth five words, everyone has a purpose, and what they are meant to do has to do with who they are. Who they are is described by hundreds of thousands of individual words. It all comes full circle. I realized that no one can be described in just a few hundred words. If I tried to describe myself using too few words, you wouldn’t really understand who I am.
I am a bookworm, so, I love to read. To me, one of the best things is curling up with a great book. I count down the days until a new book in a series comes out. My parents even used to threaten to take away my books when I was younger because I would come home and immediately start to read, ignoring all the rest of my homework. I love reading because you become so lost in a story that are completely unaware whats happening around you. It’s as if you can escape from reality, if only for a little while.
Unlike myself, my sisters do not like to read. I have an older sister and a younger sister, meaning I am the middle child. Both of my siblings I argue with, but at the same time I love both of them with all my heart. I think I am lucky as a middle child. I am not the first to go through things, so I know what to do when it’s my turn. I have someone to look up to and tell everything to. A sister is different than a friend because you really can tell them anything and them understand, their your family, they won’t give up on you. I honestly feel bad for my younger sister, she’s so much younger than my older sister and I, that it’s almost not fair to her. She does not have the playmate that I had when I was younger, neither does she have the relationship that I have with my older sister. I know that she might not ever get that opportunity, because by the time she’s grown up enough for me to be able to talk to her like I would an actual friend, I’ll be out of the house. It’s not fair, but as my mom would say, “life is not fair.”
I am flexible, but at the same time, not really. I can do a split, but I’m not “flexible” in the terms that I don’t like to change things that I was planning on doing. I like order even though my room is a mess, it’s kind of an oxymoron if you think about it. It just depends on the situation. I guess I just don’t like surprises, at least the bad kind. That’s why I am always prepared for anything. I pack twice as much as other people, so I always have everything I need. I like to know whats going on around me, I’m observant. I can tell things about people just by watching them or listening to them, especially once I get to know them. I can tell what people are thinking when I see their expressions. I’ll ask their opinion of something, but I already see it in their face what it is, I don’t even need to know the answer anymore.
I have recently realized that I am a leader. I am always the person to make plans, even if someone else suggests it, I always end up doing to actual planning. Once, my friends and I went to see a movie, and we were trying to decide what to do after. I didn’t say anything, and they couldn’t make a decision. Finally I chipped in and told them what I thought we should do and they all agreed. Honestly, I don’t like to be the center of attention, but being a leader feels good.
I love to laugh, though my sense of humor is very dry. I am the type of person who likes funny people, especially because I’m not a “class-clown”. I have a very dry sense of humor, sometimes I say something, and people start to laugh. All the while I’m thinking “what’s so funny?.” I love it when people understand me, and know how to make me laugh, and what to say. No matter how upset I am, if you can make me laugh, I know everything is going to be alright.
I would consider myself to be a good friend, I like to talk, but I’ll listen too. I’m generally a pretty honest person, if somethings bothering me, I’ll normally talk about it with one of my friends. Friendship is one of the most important things to me. When I was younger, I always wanted that “best friend” who lived around the corner. The one you would always play with on weekends and grow up with, just like in the movies. As I got older, I realized how rare that actually was. I had, and still have, such good friends, I just didn’t even realize it.
My biggest pet peeve is hypocrites. For example, when the first time you tell people about something and they say it’s “stupid” and “weird” and they don’t even give it a chance. Then, half a year later, it’s one of the most popular things to read or wear, and then they go out and read it or wear it. I understand that people’s opinions can change, but if they had actually given it a chance in the first place, they would not have a change in opinion because they would have had their mind already made up. Also it bothers me when people say things like “I would never hate someone” and then go talk about people behind their backs in a hateful way. People shouldn’t say one thing then do another, to me, it’s not right.
I am modest, but I’m not talking about the clothing way. I don’t like to talk about myself, unless its a story that I was involved in, or a really great accomplishment. I do not like to talk about myself because I feel snobby. I feel as though I am being selfish and putting myself before others, and I don’t like that. While, lets be honest, everyone loves the temporary attention, I feel awkward and tend to direct the attention to other people. For example, sometimes I will say I only got this because of that. Maybe I don’t give myself enough credit sometimes, but thats just not my personality.
I think I’m tougher than people give me credit for. We do this thing with my youth group every year when we go to Caswell called “sock wars”. Basically, my friend said it’s “like the Hunger Games, but with socks”. Your goal is to get the socks off of the other people’s feet. People didn’t go after me last year because they didn’t think I was a threat. Finally, they started to realize that I was better than they thought, no one could believe I lasted that long. I was fourth, and this year, I was third. Maybe by my senior year I’ll even be first.
One flaw I know I have is getting discouraged easily, when something bad happens, like I get a bad grade or mess up something, I almost completely give up. Once I am more motivated though, I get back on track and work hard on whatever I need to. As long as I am determined, I can do anything.
I am extremely talkative, my mom always tells me that I could talk to a brick wall. In all honesty, I probably could, as long as I knew what the wall wanted to talk about. It used to be that I would only talk to people in-depth if I knew them well, but for some reason, this year is different. I became friends with people I would have never guessed I would have last year.
I am me, and nothing can change that. Not the clothes I wear, or the friends I have, not the good times or the bad. I’m me, and that’s all I ever need to be. I’m Cecilia, and I cannot be summed up in a few hundred words.
I am a bookworm, so, I love to read. To me, one of the best things is curling up with a great book. I count down the days until a new book in a series comes out. My parents even used to threaten to take away my books when I was younger because I would come home and immediately start to read, ignoring all the rest of my homework. I love reading because you become so lost in a story that are completely unaware whats happening around you. It’s as if you can escape from reality, if only for a little while.
Unlike myself, my sisters do not like to read. I have an older sister and a younger sister, meaning I am the middle child. Both of my siblings I argue with, but at the same time I love both of them with all my heart. I think I am lucky as a middle child. I am not the first to go through things, so I know what to do when it’s my turn. I have someone to look up to and tell everything to. A sister is different than a friend because you really can tell them anything and them understand, their your family, they won’t give up on you. I honestly feel bad for my younger sister, she’s so much younger than my older sister and I, that it’s almost not fair to her. She does not have the playmate that I had when I was younger, neither does she have the relationship that I have with my older sister. I know that she might not ever get that opportunity, because by the time she’s grown up enough for me to be able to talk to her like I would an actual friend, I’ll be out of the house. It’s not fair, but as my mom would say, “life is not fair.”
I am flexible, but at the same time, not really. I can do a split, but I’m not “flexible” in the terms that I don’t like to change things that I was planning on doing. I like order even though my room is a mess, it’s kind of an oxymoron if you think about it. It just depends on the situation. I guess I just don’t like surprises, at least the bad kind. That’s why I am always prepared for anything. I pack twice as much as other people, so I always have everything I need. I like to know whats going on around me, I’m observant. I can tell things about people just by watching them or listening to them, especially once I get to know them. I can tell what people are thinking when I see their expressions. I’ll ask their opinion of something, but I already see it in their face what it is, I don’t even need to know the answer anymore.
I have recently realized that I am a leader. I am always the person to make plans, even if someone else suggests it, I always end up doing to actual planning. Once, my friends and I went to see a movie, and we were trying to decide what to do after. I didn’t say anything, and they couldn’t make a decision. Finally I chipped in and told them what I thought we should do and they all agreed. Honestly, I don’t like to be the center of attention, but being a leader feels good.
I love to laugh, though my sense of humor is very dry. I am the type of person who likes funny people, especially because I’m not a “class-clown”. I have a very dry sense of humor, sometimes I say something, and people start to laugh. All the while I’m thinking “what’s so funny?.” I love it when people understand me, and know how to make me laugh, and what to say. No matter how upset I am, if you can make me laugh, I know everything is going to be alright.
I would consider myself to be a good friend, I like to talk, but I’ll listen too. I’m generally a pretty honest person, if somethings bothering me, I’ll normally talk about it with one of my friends. Friendship is one of the most important things to me. When I was younger, I always wanted that “best friend” who lived around the corner. The one you would always play with on weekends and grow up with, just like in the movies. As I got older, I realized how rare that actually was. I had, and still have, such good friends, I just didn’t even realize it.
My biggest pet peeve is hypocrites. For example, when the first time you tell people about something and they say it’s “stupid” and “weird” and they don’t even give it a chance. Then, half a year later, it’s one of the most popular things to read or wear, and then they go out and read it or wear it. I understand that people’s opinions can change, but if they had actually given it a chance in the first place, they would not have a change in opinion because they would have had their mind already made up. Also it bothers me when people say things like “I would never hate someone” and then go talk about people behind their backs in a hateful way. People shouldn’t say one thing then do another, to me, it’s not right.
I am modest, but I’m not talking about the clothing way. I don’t like to talk about myself, unless its a story that I was involved in, or a really great accomplishment. I do not like to talk about myself because I feel snobby. I feel as though I am being selfish and putting myself before others, and I don’t like that. While, lets be honest, everyone loves the temporary attention, I feel awkward and tend to direct the attention to other people. For example, sometimes I will say I only got this because of that. Maybe I don’t give myself enough credit sometimes, but thats just not my personality.
I think I’m tougher than people give me credit for. We do this thing with my youth group every year when we go to Caswell called “sock wars”. Basically, my friend said it’s “like the Hunger Games, but with socks”. Your goal is to get the socks off of the other people’s feet. People didn’t go after me last year because they didn’t think I was a threat. Finally, they started to realize that I was better than they thought, no one could believe I lasted that long. I was fourth, and this year, I was third. Maybe by my senior year I’ll even be first.
One flaw I know I have is getting discouraged easily, when something bad happens, like I get a bad grade or mess up something, I almost completely give up. Once I am more motivated though, I get back on track and work hard on whatever I need to. As long as I am determined, I can do anything.
I am extremely talkative, my mom always tells me that I could talk to a brick wall. In all honesty, I probably could, as long as I knew what the wall wanted to talk about. It used to be that I would only talk to people in-depth if I knew them well, but for some reason, this year is different. I became friends with people I would have never guessed I would have last year.
I am me, and nothing can change that. Not the clothes I wear, or the friends I have, not the good times or the bad. I’m me, and that’s all I ever need to be. I’m Cecilia, and I cannot be summed up in a few hundred words.
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