August 17, 2022
Acceptance, Not For You, But For Your Life
I do not see ‘acceptance’ as a complex concept or idea, but rather something that is so small, that can still benefit me in grand ways. I go through everyday problems frequently, problems such as finishing my work later than I would have liked, having trouble comprehending an assignment, or arriving home late. These issues are small, my day may be delayed by perhaps 1 or 2 hours, but I always find myself in complete stress, worried that I might not get all of my work done, that I may not get adequate sleep, that I may not have time to study for a test, and other bouts of school problems.
I have realized that instead of worrying about these issues, I need to gain acceptance instead, and realize that I just have to adapt to a new schedule now. When I find acceptance, instead of wasting time worrying about my school work, I spend more time figuring out how I will manage all of my school work and I am always able to find a way to make it all work. Therefore, I become less stressed and over think less about my schoolwork, I feel less negative emotions and overall just am in a better mood. I am able to enjoy the moment, instead of wishing that I was on time with my schedule. Something as small as just accepting that my day didn’t go the way that I wanted it to go affects me in a large, positive way, not just on that day, but overall.
Now, acceptance is also not as simple to complete for others. Acceptance can occur in more complex situations, for example, accepting that your friend is growing to be a different person than you, accepting your child for who they truly are, in terms of identity, and so on. But I have also found that the mere act of accepting gives way for a calmer and happier sense of life. In the first example that I stated, instead of worrying that you and your friend will grow further apart, you just need to accept that that is a normal part of life. Sometimes, you just need to realize that things will not always be perfect.
Word Count: 372
I have realized that instead of worrying about these issues, I need to gain acceptance instead, and realize that I just have to adapt to a new schedule now. When I find acceptance, instead of wasting time worrying about my school work, I spend more time figuring out how I will manage all of my school work and I am always able to find a way to make it all work. Therefore, I become less stressed and over think less about my schoolwork, I feel less negative emotions and overall just am in a better mood. I am able to enjoy the moment, instead of wishing that I was on time with my schedule. Something as small as just accepting that my day didn’t go the way that I wanted it to go affects me in a large, positive way, not just on that day, but overall.
Now, acceptance is also not as simple to complete for others. Acceptance can occur in more complex situations, for example, accepting that your friend is growing to be a different person than you, accepting your child for who they truly are, in terms of identity, and so on. But I have also found that the mere act of accepting gives way for a calmer and happier sense of life. In the first example that I stated, instead of worrying that you and your friend will grow further apart, you just need to accept that that is a normal part of life. Sometimes, you just need to realize that things will not always be perfect.
Word Count: 372
August 24, 2022
The Ways of Life: Development and Respect
Quote of the Week: “Make improvements, not excuses. Seek respect, not attention.”― Roy T. Bennett
I believe that this quote intertwines with personal development and the image that others have that is created by their actions. To be able to develop as a person, and I don’t mean only in an academic sense, but with your feelings and overall well being, you cannot make up excuses for yourself all the time. You need to be willing to hold yourself accountable for mistakes that you have made, to realize that making mistakes is perfectly normal. You can always learn from your mistakes, and try to figure out how to approach things in a different way. In this way, instead of dwelling on the past or ignoring that you have made a mistake, you will improve as a person and positively affect others around you and yourself.
Making excuses for your problems and mistakes does not fix anything, but only contributes to harmful effects that can damage you and stunt your development. If you always excuse yourself for your mistakes, you will quickly see how your standards of yourself will get lowered because you are not growing as a person. This might even cause hurtful people to come into your life since you will become a target for them and will not see how many detrimental effects they are causing for you.
The second part in the quote relates back to your personal image created by choices that you make. If you are making questionable choices, engaging in illegal activities, hanging out with the wrong crowd of people, being disrespectful to others, you will not get respect. You will only get negative attention from respectable people and you are inviting more questionable people into your life. The only way that you can gain respect is by being an honest and hardworking person, helping others, and by being a leader. By being a considerate person, others will see your impactful character, your positive way of thinking, and would want to be validated by you in some way because they deem you to be a respectable person.
Word count:338
Making excuses for your problems and mistakes does not fix anything, but only contributes to harmful effects that can damage you and stunt your development. If you always excuse yourself for your mistakes, you will quickly see how your standards of yourself will get lowered because you are not growing as a person. This might even cause hurtful people to come into your life since you will become a target for them and will not see how many detrimental effects they are causing for you.
The second part in the quote relates back to your personal image created by choices that you make. If you are making questionable choices, engaging in illegal activities, hanging out with the wrong crowd of people, being disrespectful to others, you will not get respect. You will only get negative attention from respectable people and you are inviting more questionable people into your life. The only way that you can gain respect is by being an honest and hardworking person, helping others, and by being a leader. By being a considerate person, others will see your impactful character, your positive way of thinking, and would want to be validated by you in some way because they deem you to be a respectable person.
Word count:338
August 31, 2022
Dolores Huerta- A Woman Of Power
Dolores Huerta is a labor activist that worked with Cesar Chavez in fighting for civil rights for farm workers. When she was younger, she visited the houses of some farm workers and saw that they lived in very poor conditions, for example, in their house, they had dirt floors and used orange crates as furniture. Huerta then decided to protest to further the very little rights that these farm workers had, and was able to create changes to labor laws that would give farm workers more benefits like disability insurance. She also was able to give the farm workers toilets to use, which goes to show that the farm workers were not being treated in a humane manner. Dolores Huerta is proven to be a strong woman, someone who rose up to fight for those in her community.
I believe that this story revolves around a lot of things, most of which, I believe are race, gender, and equality. I think that it is very important to include the fact that most, if not all of these farm workers, were people of Latino descent, mostly Mexican. I believe that this is an important fact to include because much of the discrimination that these farm workers received was because they were Latino. They were thought to be inferior, to be uneducated, to be uncivilized, to be dirty, and therefore deserved to be treated in such inhumane ways, that they did not deserve to have basic necessities such as toilets on the farm grounds. I feel like I also can relate to this story on a deeper level because several of my family members have been offered farm work, such as my father when he came to the United States, and it is devastating to think that someone that I am very close to could have been treated in this way.
I think that it is also very inspirational that Dolores was able to rise up as a woman and have her voice be heard, to be able to strike change, even though she might have faced misogyny in her journey towards equality. She was so strong that she was able to prosper, she did not let herself be put down by people who might have claimed her to be weak.
However, surrounding equality, there is still no complete equality for farm workers. Currently, there is a protest for the rights of farm workers because they are still not being treated in a humane manner. I hope that someone like Dolores Huerta can rise up, be strong, and call attention to the racial and systemic inequalities that farm workers are still facing.
Word Count: 431
I believe that this story revolves around a lot of things, most of which, I believe are race, gender, and equality. I think that it is very important to include the fact that most, if not all of these farm workers, were people of Latino descent, mostly Mexican. I believe that this is an important fact to include because much of the discrimination that these farm workers received was because they were Latino. They were thought to be inferior, to be uneducated, to be uncivilized, to be dirty, and therefore deserved to be treated in such inhumane ways, that they did not deserve to have basic necessities such as toilets on the farm grounds. I feel like I also can relate to this story on a deeper level because several of my family members have been offered farm work, such as my father when he came to the United States, and it is devastating to think that someone that I am very close to could have been treated in this way.
I think that it is also very inspirational that Dolores was able to rise up as a woman and have her voice be heard, to be able to strike change, even though she might have faced misogyny in her journey towards equality. She was so strong that she was able to prosper, she did not let herself be put down by people who might have claimed her to be weak.
However, surrounding equality, there is still no complete equality for farm workers. Currently, there is a protest for the rights of farm workers because they are still not being treated in a humane manner. I hope that someone like Dolores Huerta can rise up, be strong, and call attention to the racial and systemic inequalities that farm workers are still facing.
Word Count: 431
September 7th, 2022
BTS- The Youth's Voice
My favorite music artist by far is BTS. a South Korean band that rose to fame due to their personable members, meaningful music, and amazing performances. I started listening to BTS in the middle of fifth grade, in around 2017, by watching their Blood Sweat and Tears music video. Funnily enough, I believed that I wouldn’t like them. Now here I am, bedroom walls covered in posters of BTS, BTS figures lining my desk, BTS albums perched atop my wardrobe cabinet, BTS notebooks and pens covering my desk, BTS stickers placed everywhere, and even the BTS McDonald’s meal bag hidden in one of the drawers in my wardrobe. I sit at my desk, seeing the smiling faces of the BTS members looking back at me. How did I manage to become such a fan?
BTS is my favorite band because of how much I have connected to them over the years, especially during my middle school years, such as to their music or even the members’ personalities. I find their music to be meaningful, carrying messages of self love and prospering through all difficulties in life. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not that I was able to find a music artist like BTS during difficult times of my life. As soon as I got home from school, I would be immersed in everything BTS, listening to their music or watching updates about them on social media. It was a good distractor from everything else that was going on in my life, their music was my personal therapy. This is how their music helped through difficult times in my life, by reading into the lyrics and understanding the messages, I became more empowered.
You should start to listen to BTS because of the meaning of their songs that range from yearning for a lost one, loneliness, overcoming challenges, and self love. Their music also has a wide variety of genres, from rap to ballads, so you should be able to find something that will suit your music tastes. The performances of BTS are also spectacular, they put in much effort for every performance, which you can see through their dancing and singing.
Some of my favorite songs by BTS are Spring Day, which I believe has the best lyricism and speaks about missing and yearning for someone, 134340, which is sort of a pop/alternative song that speaks about loneliness, and Black Swan, which speaks about the members’ relationships with dance. If I would be able to meet BTS, I would most likely thank them for all that they have done for me, for being able to console me during tough times, for creating music that I can relate to and enjoy. I would be really excited to meet the members, to see what they are like, because I feel like I know so much about them and their personalities and I feel like I would be able to bond with them.
Word Count: 496
BTS is my favorite band because of how much I have connected to them over the years, especially during my middle school years, such as to their music or even the members’ personalities. I find their music to be meaningful, carrying messages of self love and prospering through all difficulties in life. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not that I was able to find a music artist like BTS during difficult times of my life. As soon as I got home from school, I would be immersed in everything BTS, listening to their music or watching updates about them on social media. It was a good distractor from everything else that was going on in my life, their music was my personal therapy. This is how their music helped through difficult times in my life, by reading into the lyrics and understanding the messages, I became more empowered.
You should start to listen to BTS because of the meaning of their songs that range from yearning for a lost one, loneliness, overcoming challenges, and self love. Their music also has a wide variety of genres, from rap to ballads, so you should be able to find something that will suit your music tastes. The performances of BTS are also spectacular, they put in much effort for every performance, which you can see through their dancing and singing.
Some of my favorite songs by BTS are Spring Day, which I believe has the best lyricism and speaks about missing and yearning for someone, 134340, which is sort of a pop/alternative song that speaks about loneliness, and Black Swan, which speaks about the members’ relationships with dance. If I would be able to meet BTS, I would most likely thank them for all that they have done for me, for being able to console me during tough times, for creating music that I can relate to and enjoy. I would be really excited to meet the members, to see what they are like, because I feel like I know so much about them and their personalities and I feel like I would be able to bond with them.
Word Count: 496
September 15th, 2022
Banned Books- Limitation of Not Only Speech, But Knowledge Aswell
I do not think that there should be any instance in which books should be banned to students, even if the nature of the book is deemed to be too mature for high school audiences for whichever reason, I do not think that means justifying novels. Books can be used as a source to expand your knowledge and worldview, you can investigate different perspectives just from novels alone. That is why I believe no book should be banned, because you are limiting the knowledge that students can gain. There are dangers regarding limiting texts that students are able to read because you are disregarding their rights, and creating detrimental effects to their education.
The books that have been banned in the past were banned for reasons that cannot be defended, in my opinion. Some parents speak about how the topics involved within the novel make them uncomfortable, like violence, racial discrimination, or graphic language. I think that those parents shouldn’t protest to ban those books for every student in the school, but rather exempt their own child from said lesson if they really are that uncomfortable. I think this issue also surrounds the issue that parents don’t want their children to be influenced by the schools, to read on issues that may lead them to lean to a certain political view. In general, people just believe that high school students are too young to view these sorts of things, but that is very untrue.
In the First Amendment, our freedom of speech should be protected. Why are we limiting the freedom of speech for these writers then, if they happen to just be writing about topics that make us uncomfortable? Everyone deserves a right to write about whatever they want to write about, and the topics that are discussed in banned books are important most of the time. For example, in “To Kill A Mockingbird”, issues surrounding race are the main point of the novel, and I believe it is important for students to know about these issues.
Word count: 338
The books that have been banned in the past were banned for reasons that cannot be defended, in my opinion. Some parents speak about how the topics involved within the novel make them uncomfortable, like violence, racial discrimination, or graphic language. I think that those parents shouldn’t protest to ban those books for every student in the school, but rather exempt their own child from said lesson if they really are that uncomfortable. I think this issue also surrounds the issue that parents don’t want their children to be influenced by the schools, to read on issues that may lead them to lean to a certain political view. In general, people just believe that high school students are too young to view these sorts of things, but that is very untrue.
In the First Amendment, our freedom of speech should be protected. Why are we limiting the freedom of speech for these writers then, if they happen to just be writing about topics that make us uncomfortable? Everyone deserves a right to write about whatever they want to write about, and the topics that are discussed in banned books are important most of the time. For example, in “To Kill A Mockingbird”, issues surrounding race are the main point of the novel, and I believe it is important for students to know about these issues.
Word count: 338
September 28th, 2022
The Voting Age- Perfect as it is
I think that there should be a minimum voting age, which should stay the same, at 18, because I do think that it would be good to allow young teenagers to vote. I also do not think that expanding the right to vote to children in the country will improve our political system because they are simply too young and immature to know how much their vote can affect other people. This reason is the same reason for why I think that 16 or 17 year olds should not be allowed to vote, because even though they aren’t too young, they still do not fully understand the implications that their vote could have on our country.
Technically, the age that your brain fully develops is 25, but I think that is too old of an age to be the minimum voting age. I think that you already can make smart decisions before you are 25, and you should have the responsibility to make those smart decisions and weigh in on how you should vote. You also are a member of your community, therefore you should be able to vote to be represented in that community. If you are able to be of the legal drinking age or are old enough to buy firearms, then I think that you can be ready to vote. But how young is too young?
Voting rights should not be extended to children, such as elementary school students or even younger. They would not understand what they are voting for, what that would even mean, and would most likely vote for fun or at random since they do not understand. They lack immaturity, which is not their fault because they are children, but they should not be allowed to vote. As for older kids that are 16 or 17, while some of them would understand how important their vote can be for our country, I think the majority of teens in this age do not care enough about politics to even vote in the first place, or would make an uninformed vote because they did not do the research. Teens this age are more mature, but more than half of them lack the maturity to care about what is going on in the world around them, they will just simply not understand the breadth of problems that plague our country. The only pros that I can think of is that they would gain more representation and there would be added variability in our country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is good variability. Besides that, there are many more cons that can create a negative effect on our country.
Word count: 444
Technically, the age that your brain fully develops is 25, but I think that is too old of an age to be the minimum voting age. I think that you already can make smart decisions before you are 25, and you should have the responsibility to make those smart decisions and weigh in on how you should vote. You also are a member of your community, therefore you should be able to vote to be represented in that community. If you are able to be of the legal drinking age or are old enough to buy firearms, then I think that you can be ready to vote. But how young is too young?
Voting rights should not be extended to children, such as elementary school students or even younger. They would not understand what they are voting for, what that would even mean, and would most likely vote for fun or at random since they do not understand. They lack immaturity, which is not their fault because they are children, but they should not be allowed to vote. As for older kids that are 16 or 17, while some of them would understand how important their vote can be for our country, I think the majority of teens in this age do not care enough about politics to even vote in the first place, or would make an uninformed vote because they did not do the research. Teens this age are more mature, but more than half of them lack the maturity to care about what is going on in the world around them, they will just simply not understand the breadth of problems that plague our country. The only pros that I can think of is that they would gain more representation and there would be added variability in our country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is good variability. Besides that, there are many more cons that can create a negative effect on our country.
Word count: 444
October 5th, 2022
Cable Cars, Skyscrapers, and Bridges
My favorite place to travel to is by far, San Francisco. From what I have heard from other people, many do not enjoy San Francisco as much as I do because they focus on all of the negative aspects of the city. While there are some downsides to San Francisco, I believe that it has such a charm that can overpower all of its faults and makes it enjoyable to travel in. I go with my family, sometimes my extended family such as my aunts or cousins may come along, so I see San Francisco as a place where I can bond with my family and spend quality time with them. We usually go to the same area over there, such as Pier 39, visiting the Boudin Bakery restaurant and eating clam chowder. We take walks along the pier, reaching all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, we stop at the beachside and watch the various ships and cruises that are on the dock.
What I enjoy most is spending time with my family, but also going out to restaurants and visiting stores that aren’t close to where we live. I also enjoy the overall atmosphere in the city, it feels vibrant and distinct, almost like I can feel and see the history of this city. I used to go pretty often, almost once every month, but that has gone down to less than a trip per year because of the pandemic. The last time that I visited was 2 weeks ago, and before that, I hadn’t gone in around 2 years. It is my favorite place because I just love how the city looks. I love walking around and seeing the different types of architecture, hearing the bells of the cable cars, smelling the food from the restaurants as I walk past them.
For food, we usually go to the Boudin Bakery and I usually love to get boba as well. For our entertainment, we just go around and shop in the malls and visit different types of stores. For example, I love going into stores that sell things like crystals and incense. When we go to San Francisco, it usually is just a day trip, so we don’t worry about where we will be staying.
Word Count: 381
What I enjoy most is spending time with my family, but also going out to restaurants and visiting stores that aren’t close to where we live. I also enjoy the overall atmosphere in the city, it feels vibrant and distinct, almost like I can feel and see the history of this city. I used to go pretty often, almost once every month, but that has gone down to less than a trip per year because of the pandemic. The last time that I visited was 2 weeks ago, and before that, I hadn’t gone in around 2 years. It is my favorite place because I just love how the city looks. I love walking around and seeing the different types of architecture, hearing the bells of the cable cars, smelling the food from the restaurants as I walk past them.
For food, we usually go to the Boudin Bakery and I usually love to get boba as well. For our entertainment, we just go around and shop in the malls and visit different types of stores. For example, I love going into stores that sell things like crystals and incense. When we go to San Francisco, it usually is just a day trip, so we don’t worry about where we will be staying.
Word Count: 381
October 12th, 2022
Quote of the Week: “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” –Thomas Jefferson
Is Hard Work Worth It? You'll Find The Answer Later On.
When I read this quote, I immediately think about the fruits that hard work brings to those that put in the effort to do so. While there is a sort of inequality in life, for example, there are some people who are just blessed with riches and anything they could ever desire because they were born into that life, there are more people who have worked hard and have “gotten lucky”. I believe, when Jefferson speaks about “the more luck”, he is speaking about the gifts and success that you are bestowed with after working hard. Being able to relax, go on vacations, visit family, and have fun, is all a part of the luck that you attain if you work hard and don’t slouch off on your work. It is also important to have this mindset so you can remind yourself every now and then of the reason why you are working hard. Many people may be discouraged from putting in much effort because they haven’t seen the true benefits of being this way, but as Jefferson stated, as they continue to work harder, they will see how they can grow to be successful. Even on the way to success, by working hard, you get bits of luck here and there, like recognition and attention for what you have done.
On the other hand, people who don’t put in the effort, who may think that school is just a waste of time, who don’t challenge themselves by taking difficult classes live the opposite life. At their present time, they certainly find luck, they have all the time in the world to play video games, ignore school work, or do bad activities. But as they grow up, they will see that life does not work in this way, and they will be unprepared if they go into college because they aren’t used to working hard. I believe that the option of working hard is an opportunity that should be taken by all for the betterment of ourselves.
Word count: 337
On the other hand, people who don’t put in the effort, who may think that school is just a waste of time, who don’t challenge themselves by taking difficult classes live the opposite life. At their present time, they certainly find luck, they have all the time in the world to play video games, ignore school work, or do bad activities. But as they grow up, they will see that life does not work in this way, and they will be unprepared if they go into college because they aren’t used to working hard. I believe that the option of working hard is an opportunity that should be taken by all for the betterment of ourselves.
Word count: 337
October 19, 2022
Kindness and Courage Can Change Ones Life
Challenge : Write about a teacher who has changed your life. Who are they? What did they do to show you that they cared about you beyond the classroom?
A teacher who has changed my life is Mrs. Merchant, my fifth grade teacher from when I went to Weston. I really enjoyed that year because of how caring she was, she put in so much effort for us each and every single day. Once I look back at this, it really shows her true character and vibrance that she carried. She would give us “Merchant Money” which served as the commerce in our classroom. We would get it if we did something good, like helping out a student or completing an assignment or test with high scores. This felt really rewarding, and I remember I felt so proud when I could show off the piles and piles of money that I had acquired, I would always have around a thousand dollars, or close to it, which made the other kids around me feel jealous.
At the end of every trimester, we would have an auction, where she would buy things with her own money and auction it off to us in exchange with our Merchant Money. I remember, if another student tried to get something from me, I would always bid more and more money because I had so much and I could throw it all away. I remember the feeling of bidding a high amount, such as raising the price of something from $90 to $200, and hearing the gasps from students next to me, and being satisfied as my teacher handed me my prize. Other than this amazing experience, every trimester she would also take us to McDonald’s during lunch if we got 100 AR points during the trimester. This felt amazing, as I was able to get 100 points every trimester, and I still have memories of going in her car to McDonald’s with my friend, Fiza, and getting a kid’s meal.
She changed my life because of her generosity. I felt her kindness, her selflessness, and I only wish that I had been more mature to really understand how much she did for us. When I was younger, I did not think about how much money that she spent on us, but now that I realize it, all that money that she spent on the auctions, on the trips to McDonald’s, must have come up to a lot of money. That is true selflessness right there. I wish I could go back and tell her how thankful I am for her.
Word Count: 406
At the end of every trimester, we would have an auction, where she would buy things with her own money and auction it off to us in exchange with our Merchant Money. I remember, if another student tried to get something from me, I would always bid more and more money because I had so much and I could throw it all away. I remember the feeling of bidding a high amount, such as raising the price of something from $90 to $200, and hearing the gasps from students next to me, and being satisfied as my teacher handed me my prize. Other than this amazing experience, every trimester she would also take us to McDonald’s during lunch if we got 100 AR points during the trimester. This felt amazing, as I was able to get 100 points every trimester, and I still have memories of going in her car to McDonald’s with my friend, Fiza, and getting a kid’s meal.
She changed my life because of her generosity. I felt her kindness, her selflessness, and I only wish that I had been more mature to really understand how much she did for us. When I was younger, I did not think about how much money that she spent on us, but now that I realize it, all that money that she spent on the auctions, on the trips to McDonald’s, must have come up to a lot of money. That is true selflessness right there. I wish I could go back and tell her how thankful I am for her.
Word Count: 406
October 26, 2022
The Story that Music Tells
Full of different genres, such as pop, alternative, k-pop, corridos, and more, I feel completely immersed as I plug in my earbuds and do everyday activities such as completing homework or cooking my dinner. I have this playlist that I use every day and it's not one of those playlists where I play it at definitive times, depending on my moods, but I just play it whenever and go along with the feeling of the music. This playlist consists of my favorite artists, such as BTS and Lana Del Rey, among other k-pop artists. I do use this playlist to inspire myself, to get through the day, and to have something to calm me down as I try to tackle my homework. While this playlist may seem random, I think it is anything but.
It is an accumulation of myself. How my music taste has expanded over time, how I have grown to love certain genres from when I used to detest them, and the different feelings I experience per day. BTS, who makes several appearances on this playlist, has been with me since 5th grade, back in 2017, and represents the dedication that I have towards people that I care about. Lana Del Rey, someone new that I discovered around a year ago, represents a new growth in my personality and maturity that I have possessed over the years. Various corridos represent the change that I have gone through from being a younger child to me now. I used to almost loathe it, not because I disliked the sound of the music, but because I was embarrassed of who I was, including my culture. I knew that the other kids around me didn’t listen to corridos, they wouldn’t know prominent Mexican singers such as Vicente Fernandez, a drastic characteristic that I viewed in my home as my parents listened to various Mexican genres at home, with Vicente Fernandez making casual appearances in some of the songs. I thought this was wrong, and that I should reject it, so that I can fit in with the other kids. But growing up, more recently, I have realized that there is nothing wrong with my culture, which allowed me to enjoy the music that comes from my culture unapologetically.
I believe this description of my playlist can apply to other things as well. While things may seem like they are surface-level, they can be deep and complex.
Word Count: 405
It is an accumulation of myself. How my music taste has expanded over time, how I have grown to love certain genres from when I used to detest them, and the different feelings I experience per day. BTS, who makes several appearances on this playlist, has been with me since 5th grade, back in 2017, and represents the dedication that I have towards people that I care about. Lana Del Rey, someone new that I discovered around a year ago, represents a new growth in my personality and maturity that I have possessed over the years. Various corridos represent the change that I have gone through from being a younger child to me now. I used to almost loathe it, not because I disliked the sound of the music, but because I was embarrassed of who I was, including my culture. I knew that the other kids around me didn’t listen to corridos, they wouldn’t know prominent Mexican singers such as Vicente Fernandez, a drastic characteristic that I viewed in my home as my parents listened to various Mexican genres at home, with Vicente Fernandez making casual appearances in some of the songs. I thought this was wrong, and that I should reject it, so that I can fit in with the other kids. But growing up, more recently, I have realized that there is nothing wrong with my culture, which allowed me to enjoy the music that comes from my culture unapologetically.
I believe this description of my playlist can apply to other things as well. While things may seem like they are surface-level, they can be deep and complex.
Word Count: 405
November 9, 2022
Zeus, To Be, or Not To Be
For the Greek God quiz, I got the result that I am Zeus, which surprises me because I do not think that I am an outgoing leader like him, but I can see some elements in myself that reflect his qualities. I honestly think that it would not be the best for anyone to see that they got Zeus for this test since Zeus is known to be one of the most narcissistic gods, but I see this and examine it in a different way. I hope that I am not all the way as similar to Zeus, but I hope that I have some of the more positive traits about him that people can admire and look up to, for example, his leadership.
I am involved in the Leadership program, and I decided to be in it in my freshman year because I wanted to challenge myself for my sophomore year and see what skills I could develop. I also knew that many valuable life lessons were learned in this class, which allowed me to become more interested in this class. I value the classes that teach things that are not only important academically, but also that are relatable to your life, lessons that you can use later on. This is also why I enjoyed Spanish Heritage II last year, because if we did not have any work to do, instead of sitting there and letting the time pass by, Sr. Saenz taught us professional life skills, by showing us how to script a professional essay, showing us resumes, and having us email our teachers about fixing our grades. I think that this was a very valuable time for some because I know that some of the kids in the class probably did not even know how to script an email.
Zeus is the leader of all of the gods, he is strong and powerful, and this allows him to be narcissistic. I do not want to be like this, but instead, I want to become a stronger person, someone with thicker skin, so I am not struck down so easily by words that people might say to me. I have had a large problem with this all of my life, I think some people would refer to me as being more sensitive because of how easily I react to certain situations. I want to get stronger so that I am less distracted when people say rude or mean things to me.
Word count: 413
I am involved in the Leadership program, and I decided to be in it in my freshman year because I wanted to challenge myself for my sophomore year and see what skills I could develop. I also knew that many valuable life lessons were learned in this class, which allowed me to become more interested in this class. I value the classes that teach things that are not only important academically, but also that are relatable to your life, lessons that you can use later on. This is also why I enjoyed Spanish Heritage II last year, because if we did not have any work to do, instead of sitting there and letting the time pass by, Sr. Saenz taught us professional life skills, by showing us how to script a professional essay, showing us resumes, and having us email our teachers about fixing our grades. I think that this was a very valuable time for some because I know that some of the kids in the class probably did not even know how to script an email.
Zeus is the leader of all of the gods, he is strong and powerful, and this allows him to be narcissistic. I do not want to be like this, but instead, I want to become a stronger person, someone with thicker skin, so I am not struck down so easily by words that people might say to me. I have had a large problem with this all of my life, I think some people would refer to me as being more sensitive because of how easily I react to certain situations. I want to get stronger so that I am less distracted when people say rude or mean things to me.
Word count: 413
November 28, 2022
Alex- A Man of Determinism and Resilience
My dog is an 8 year old purebred Pomeranian, so naturally, he is very bossy and always gets his way, as he is the favorite child out of everyone in my family. He will not stop at anything to get whatever he wants, he is very stubborn, but is very charismatic at the same time. I think that if he were to be a person, he would be some sort of top level executive, perhaps the CEO of a company, who works tirelessly and is driven to have his company succeed. He has also grown up getting everything that he has ever wanted, so he would be someone that is hard to please as he already has everything that he wants and more. He would also have some sort of sense of humor, messing around from time to time, and having a softer side to him, like towards his family members, because I just know that he would secretly be very grateful for everything that he gets.
In his day to day life, I would say that my dog would wake up at whichever time that he wanted to wake up at, considering that my dog just sleeps whenever he wants to and gets up whenever he wants to. Most of the time, my dog wakes up with the rest of my family in the early morning, and he is able to rise up quickly and be so full of energy. I think that this would translate well into how he would be as a person because he would be energized to go to work and do all of the other things in his life.
In the workplace, I think that my dog would be a good CEO because he would be very hard working and driven, but I think that my dog would mostly mess around once he achieves his goals and would celebrate with feasts and parties since he loves food so much. I would also think that my dog would go to the gym every day, since he loves going on walks everyday when I offer them to him, I think that they’re the highlight of his day since he gets so happy. In general, I think my dog would be an extrovert, outgoing, and driven.
Word count: 379
In his day to day life, I would say that my dog would wake up at whichever time that he wanted to wake up at, considering that my dog just sleeps whenever he wants to and gets up whenever he wants to. Most of the time, my dog wakes up with the rest of my family in the early morning, and he is able to rise up quickly and be so full of energy. I think that this would translate well into how he would be as a person because he would be energized to go to work and do all of the other things in his life.
In the workplace, I think that my dog would be a good CEO because he would be very hard working and driven, but I think that my dog would mostly mess around once he achieves his goals and would celebrate with feasts and parties since he loves food so much. I would also think that my dog would go to the gym every day, since he loves going on walks everyday when I offer them to him, I think that they’re the highlight of his day since he gets so happy. In general, I think my dog would be an extrovert, outgoing, and driven.
Word count: 379
November 30, 2022
Is Competition for the World Cup Too Cutthroat?
A celebration of cultures all around the world, endless celebrations and chants, a wide array of colors to represent different countries, and the shared love for football. This is what the FIFA World Cup should be about, human unity and friendly competition with playful banter, filled with happiness for every one of our home countries. The World Cup is a competition that occurs every four years in different countries, which places around 32 different nations in brackets to compete in football games against each other, eventually eliminating countries as losses prevail, leading one country to win. What the World Cup has turned into, however, has been violence between countries, cruel punishments, and several controversies surrounding the players and fans. In the game of Iran versus the United States of America, Iran lost to the United States 1-0, causing many Iranian fans to celebrate. These fans had been protesting the government of Iran and their actions, such as the fact that they had killed a woman who was not wearing her hijab correctly. Some of these fans were then killed in the midst of their celebrations, indicating that the competition of the World Cup had turned sour. This reveals that competition is worsening in the world cup that people from certain countries are not able to use their losses to celebrate as a form of protest. The Iranian government, in this example, does not want this loss to be a sign to other countries that their country is falling apart at the moment, so they are trying to punish and hide the celebrators. The government is actively putting down any protests, but also do not want their losses to be celebrated because of how high the stakes are for this championship.
Source: Article: (https://www.foxnews.com/sports/friend-iran-midfielder-killed-security-forces-celebrating-world-cup-loss-us-report)
Date aired: November 30, 2022
Source: Article: (https://www.foxnews.com/sports/friend-iran-midfielder-killed-security-forces-celebrating-world-cup-loss-us-report)
Date aired: November 30, 2022
December 7th, 2022
The Power of Choosing Wisely
I think that single-sex schools are a good idea, and although I can see some of the cons that can come from it, I do think that are really an issues that could come from same-sex schools that would cause harmful effects in society. Although it could be classified as rare now, differences circulate sometimes because of the differences between gender that cause students to be distracted with drama and may even cause them to ignore their studies. Same-sex schools could be a good option for students to focus solely on their studies in the most important years of their life, and they still have the possibility of making new friends in their schools. On the other hand, however, there is not a long list of cons for schools that include different sexes, as students can still be focused and make many friends.
While friends can be made across different genders, girls can still feel intimidated by boys or even feel threatened by them. Therefore, they would want to be in a girls-only school so that they can feel the most comfortable and feel like they can be themselves. Being with people that are similar to them can remove all of the tension that comes with differences in sex. The general problem that boys bring is also changed because they are not even involved within the schools anymore, so girls would be able to feel calmer and more relaxed as they do not have to worry about boy issues. Also, with teachers, some of them might even slightly favor boys, but with the removal of them, the teachers have no choice but to pay more attention to the girls in their classrooms and help them to succeed further.
At the same time, schools that have integrated genders are not horrible, they offer girls the opportunity to make even more friends with people who are complex and diverse. This can also teach them a lesson about the real world since there are people of all genders in the real world, so it is better to get them accustomed to everyone. Girls also have the ability to create drama and gossip, so it is not like an all-girls school would eliminate those kinds of things. Since this issue has many defenses on both sides, I feel like it would be best figured out by asking your child what they would like best, so choose wisely.
Word count: 403
While friends can be made across different genders, girls can still feel intimidated by boys or even feel threatened by them. Therefore, they would want to be in a girls-only school so that they can feel the most comfortable and feel like they can be themselves. Being with people that are similar to them can remove all of the tension that comes with differences in sex. The general problem that boys bring is also changed because they are not even involved within the schools anymore, so girls would be able to feel calmer and more relaxed as they do not have to worry about boy issues. Also, with teachers, some of them might even slightly favor boys, but with the removal of them, the teachers have no choice but to pay more attention to the girls in their classrooms and help them to succeed further.
At the same time, schools that have integrated genders are not horrible, they offer girls the opportunity to make even more friends with people who are complex and diverse. This can also teach them a lesson about the real world since there are people of all genders in the real world, so it is better to get them accustomed to everyone. Girls also have the ability to create drama and gossip, so it is not like an all-girls school would eliminate those kinds of things. Since this issue has many defenses on both sides, I feel like it would be best figured out by asking your child what they would like best, so choose wisely.
Word count: 403
December 14th, 2022
The Gift of College
I feel that higher education is something that is still a sort of privilege for some people, but thankfully, higher education has grown to be something that is expected of everyone, meaning that more people have been able to gain money and more time to be dedicated to higher education. Higher education is a great resource for people who are still curious and aim to have careers in all sorts of fields, like law, medicine, or anything in between, which is why I aim to go into higher education. No matter what career path I end up taking, I know that whichever one that I choose, I will need to go into higher education so that I am more knowledgeable on that subject, and so that I can enter the graduate school needed for that job, such as law school or medical school.
While I am excited for college because of the abundance of possibilities that are associated with it, I am also nervous because of how different it is and its difficulty level. I feel like I would really miss my parents and my dog while I’m away in college, which is why I would like to go to a college that is nearby so that I would be able to visit them frequently. College is completely different from high school, there aren’t 7 periods a day, the schools are usually much larger with even more diversity, and the classes are more specialized to your liking but they are also much more difficult as they are actually college classes. However, I am still excited because I would be able to meet with new people and go out for lunch with them.
I care greatly about the next phase of my education because I believe that that is the source of where my success would come from, I need to do well in high school so that I get int a good college, and I need to do even better in college so that I can enter the top graduate schools, get my degree, and enter a high paying job. I would say that there are times in which I enjoy school, like when we have fun projects where I can talk with my friends, but there are difficult times like finals which stress me out.
Word count: 386
While I am excited for college because of the abundance of possibilities that are associated with it, I am also nervous because of how different it is and its difficulty level. I feel like I would really miss my parents and my dog while I’m away in college, which is why I would like to go to a college that is nearby so that I would be able to visit them frequently. College is completely different from high school, there aren’t 7 periods a day, the schools are usually much larger with even more diversity, and the classes are more specialized to your liking but they are also much more difficult as they are actually college classes. However, I am still excited because I would be able to meet with new people and go out for lunch with them.
I care greatly about the next phase of my education because I believe that that is the source of where my success would come from, I need to do well in high school so that I get int a good college, and I need to do even better in college so that I can enter the top graduate schools, get my degree, and enter a high paying job. I would say that there are times in which I enjoy school, like when we have fun projects where I can talk with my friends, but there are difficult times like finals which stress me out.
Word count: 386
January 11th, 2023
The Crime of Being Lazy
Laziness is painted as something that can never be excused, as if it is the worst thing that a human can do since they are not actively contributing to society. Laziness does not always have to be something that is harmful, it is simply a state of someone when they are feeling like they just want to relax or have nothing to do. Of course, it is important to only be lazy in moderation, you know yourself best, so you know the limit to how long you can waste your time and how much time you deserve to relax. Now, society has placed a withstanding pressure on being productive, on getting started on your work immediately, without understanding basic human natures. Humans were not meant to work all the time, to be constantly doing work or creating projects, which is why laziness can be a good thing. In fact, sitting around and doing nothing would help you ease your mind to get back to work at a steady pace.
I try my best to not sit around and do nothing, as I see the piles of work that I must do and realize that it would not be best for me to do such a thing. Still, if I ever feel like I am getting tired, I take a break and do something “lazy”: take a nap, go on my phone, or maybe even eat. If I really feel like doing nothing, then I do nothing. I find that these breaks of laziness are what helps me to stay concentrated and motivated on my work. But, I do feel guilty if I see that I spent a lot of time on my break, I always get so worried that I am behind, but I realize more and more that it is okay to take a break.
My laziness comes in moderation. I try not to spend whole entire days where I do nothing, but I believe that if a person is so burned out that they just want to be lazy for a whole day, so be it. People deserve to take breaks and take their minds off things. What matters most is that this comes in moderation so that their laziness does not get in the way of their work.
Word Count: 381
I try my best to not sit around and do nothing, as I see the piles of work that I must do and realize that it would not be best for me to do such a thing. Still, if I ever feel like I am getting tired, I take a break and do something “lazy”: take a nap, go on my phone, or maybe even eat. If I really feel like doing nothing, then I do nothing. I find that these breaks of laziness are what helps me to stay concentrated and motivated on my work. But, I do feel guilty if I see that I spent a lot of time on my break, I always get so worried that I am behind, but I realize more and more that it is okay to take a break.
My laziness comes in moderation. I try not to spend whole entire days where I do nothing, but I believe that if a person is so burned out that they just want to be lazy for a whole day, so be it. People deserve to take breaks and take their minds off things. What matters most is that this comes in moderation so that their laziness does not get in the way of their work.
Word Count: 381
January 25th, 2023
Birria, A Dish Like No Other
One of the best meals that I have ever eaten was birria. Birria is a spicy stew that is created with a handful of dried peppers from Mexico, such as chile guajillo, ancho, and more, and is mostly made with beef. However, I like birria in the Jalisco style, where my dad is from, in which the stew is mostly made with the same ingredients, but the beef is swapped out for goat meat. I love the goat meat version because I think that the overall flavor of the soup is enhanced, and the goat meat can be much, much more tender than the beef. Birria has been a staple for many Mexican homes and it has much variation and complexity within what seems to be a simple dish.
The stew is usually deep red, colored with the dried peppers that are used within the dish, which shows you how spicy this dish can be. The peppers give it a flavor that is like no other, but it is still not so spicy that you would have to be constantly drinking water every time you take a bite. Birria is extremely hot when it is served, so it feels very nice to eat when you have a sore throat as if it completely takes away your sickness and heals you. The meat is tender and almost melts in your mouth, making the experience much better.
My dad and I would go to the flea market every Saturday or Sunday before COVID and go to a taco stand, in which I would always order tacos, and he would always order birria. I remember that I tried a taste of his meal, and I didn’t really like it. However, I ended up liking it more and more and would eventually order it every time we went. Thus, when I think of birria, I don’t only think of the delicious flavor that it has, but the memories that I have had with my father.
Word count: 331
The stew is usually deep red, colored with the dried peppers that are used within the dish, which shows you how spicy this dish can be. The peppers give it a flavor that is like no other, but it is still not so spicy that you would have to be constantly drinking water every time you take a bite. Birria is extremely hot when it is served, so it feels very nice to eat when you have a sore throat as if it completely takes away your sickness and heals you. The meat is tender and almost melts in your mouth, making the experience much better.
My dad and I would go to the flea market every Saturday or Sunday before COVID and go to a taco stand, in which I would always order tacos, and he would always order birria. I remember that I tried a taste of his meal, and I didn’t really like it. However, I ended up liking it more and more and would eventually order it every time we went. Thus, when I think of birria, I don’t only think of the delicious flavor that it has, but the memories that I have had with my father.
Word count: 331
February 1st, 2023
My Time, Now and Then
I cannot pinpoint one specific period that I would love to go back to because when I was in AP World last year, I learned about so many different eras in history where great inventions were created, new ideas were being established, and periods in which the style was impeccable, like the ’80s. However, I think I would have to take into consideration that my role as a woman would probably not be in the best in the past, so I will take willful ignorance of this fact and try my best to enjoy myself in ancient civilizations.
I would like to go back to the Aztec civilization at its height. I think that I would be treated fairly as a woman, and I would marvel at all of the structures that they were able to build, especially the capital that they built over a lake. I hope that I would be an empress of some kind, treating myself with all of the luxuries that are available in the empire and being able to immerse myself in the culture of the Aztecs, seeing how some of my ancestors lived. I also would enjoy the food since it would be most similar to what we have now, but with distinct traces of Aztec culture. When I learned about the Aztecs in AP World, I saw that they had such complex systems of government and society, so I was entranced the first moment I heard about them.
I would also like to visit the Mongols and see the rugged lifestyles that they had while they were conquering different nations all over the Eurasian continent. Mongols were known to be fierce fighters, and if they ever tried to come to your village, you would be done for. Thus, I would love to have this kind of reputation. I believe going back to the 1950s would be interesting, I would most likely face some issues regarding my race and gender, but I love the aesthetic so much. The patterns, colors, coke bottles, and cars, are all so beautiful and I would love to pop into a world like that one day.
I would like to go back to the Aztec civilization at its height. I think that I would be treated fairly as a woman, and I would marvel at all of the structures that they were able to build, especially the capital that they built over a lake. I hope that I would be an empress of some kind, treating myself with all of the luxuries that are available in the empire and being able to immerse myself in the culture of the Aztecs, seeing how some of my ancestors lived. I also would enjoy the food since it would be most similar to what we have now, but with distinct traces of Aztec culture. When I learned about the Aztecs in AP World, I saw that they had such complex systems of government and society, so I was entranced the first moment I heard about them.
I would also like to visit the Mongols and see the rugged lifestyles that they had while they were conquering different nations all over the Eurasian continent. Mongols were known to be fierce fighters, and if they ever tried to come to your village, you would be done for. Thus, I would love to have this kind of reputation. I believe going back to the 1950s would be interesting, I would most likely face some issues regarding my race and gender, but I love the aesthetic so much. The patterns, colors, coke bottles, and cars, are all so beautiful and I would love to pop into a world like that one day.
February 8th, 2023
The High School Years
Ever since I have started my high school career, I thought that by the time I reach graduation, I would become a wise and intelligent person, mature enough to make decisions in the adult world. I did not realize that even though I would have gone through 4 years of highschool, I would still be a 17 year old with no experience in the real world. This does not mean, however, that all these years of high school would be a waste, but rather, they have given me the experience to be ready to go into the next stages of my life. These years have taught me to have anticipation for the future, to be ready to learn in environments that will be more diverse, such as in college.
Many people, such as myself, would think that high school is the end all, be all, that it teaches you everything that you would need to function in the real world. People become disillusioned by this because they go through many different experiences in high school that they would have never thought of when they were in elementary school, such as leaving their group of friends or even finding themselves very lonely at times. The truth is, the life that occurs after high school is not even comparable to the lessons that you can learn in high school. If you go to college, you have to adapt to a new environment, a new group of people that are not just from your small town, but could possibly be from all over the world. You have to deal with professors that are going to be completely different from your high school teachers, you have to deal with independence and being away from your parents and family most times. But at the same time, you are not completely inexperienced.
High school does have a meaning, it is not just simply filler, but it provides some insight on what this world can be like. From classes that can teach you about personal finance, to classes that allow you to make your own websites that you could show off in your college applications, you can still learn. But what is most important, is not that you learn to overcome the change that will be brought upon you in life after high school, but that you learn to learn.
Word count: 393
Many people, such as myself, would think that high school is the end all, be all, that it teaches you everything that you would need to function in the real world. People become disillusioned by this because they go through many different experiences in high school that they would have never thought of when they were in elementary school, such as leaving their group of friends or even finding themselves very lonely at times. The truth is, the life that occurs after high school is not even comparable to the lessons that you can learn in high school. If you go to college, you have to adapt to a new environment, a new group of people that are not just from your small town, but could possibly be from all over the world. You have to deal with professors that are going to be completely different from your high school teachers, you have to deal with independence and being away from your parents and family most times. But at the same time, you are not completely inexperienced.
High school does have a meaning, it is not just simply filler, but it provides some insight on what this world can be like. From classes that can teach you about personal finance, to classes that allow you to make your own websites that you could show off in your college applications, you can still learn. But what is most important, is not that you learn to overcome the change that will be brought upon you in life after high school, but that you learn to learn.
Word count: 393
February 15th, 2023
When Knowledge is Outlawed
The act of Florida banning the course of African American studies to be taught in high school seems like outright censorship and the only arguments that are used to defend the state of Florida follow faulty thought processes and the idea that the College Board wants to push certain narratives on students. The truth is, yes, the curriculum for African American studies was going to include the names of African American writers that are associated with Critical Race Theory, but is this really important? You cannot pick and choose which figures from history should be spoken about just because of what they supported, but the focal point should be their impact on their communities. Did these writers allow for an enlightenment of ideas within their communities? If so, why are they not worthy to be spoken about? Unfortunately, the College Board has removed the names of these authors ever since Florida tried to ban this class in their state.
The reason why I believe all of this is because I believe in the importance of education. Education, whether it is about learning about evil world leaders that contributed to detrimental world wars in the past, or peaceful negotiators who united people together, it is important to know about our history. We learn about presidents who owned hundreds of slaves, women who stood up for their right to vote, senators who accused each other of being traitor communists, and hippies who hoped for peace all in the same class, APUSH. Learning about these figures does not gravitate me to follow their mindsets, but rather, I become more aware of the past.
Thus, African American studies should be allowed because this class is not going to brainwash students to believe in critical race theory, but it will give them further awareness about the plight of African Americans in this country. They can have debates in which they discuss different ideas that were brought about by figures, look at both sides, and think further about the world in which they live.
Word count: 338
February 24, 2023
Long Lines: Do They Actually Hold Weight?
In the summer of 2021, after the pandemic had died down for a bit, my cousin invited me to go with her and her family to Great America and visit the rollercoasters and waterpark. I waited with anxiety until the day in which I would leave for Great America because I had never gone to a theme park before or ridden any roller coasters as big as the ones that were in Great America. Also, this was essentially my first time going out on a trip ever since the pandemic started. But once I got there, I realized that the lines were so long, taking more than an hour for any given ride at the park. Because of this, I only got to go on three roller coaster rides and spent most of my time in the waterpark since the lines there were much shorter. But, was it actually worth my time?
In a way, my excitement of these roller coasters died down after I waited and waited in line, for a ride that would only take less than a minute. I felt as if this hour-long wait wasn’t worth my time and I even got frustrated because I wondered why it was taking such a long time if there weren’t even that many people at the park. I came home thinking of the long waiting times instead of the overall experience that I had, because I could not get over how long I waited and how I only got to try three different ones. Instead of focusing on the positive, I just became negative and unhappy about this new experience.
But now that I look back at this experience, I realize that it was not that big of a deal. My life wasn’t set back by how long I had to wait and I didn’t experience any serious issues because of how long I waited. Instead, I was truly happy in the end, because I was able to try out new things and spend quality time with my family as we waited in those long lines. I try to take this and apply it to my life to realize that it’s okay to have setbacks, to not always have everything done in time, because that is just what life is about. Instead, I should focus on the good in these instances and think about the positive impacts that they had on me.
Word count: 403
In a way, my excitement of these roller coasters died down after I waited and waited in line, for a ride that would only take less than a minute. I felt as if this hour-long wait wasn’t worth my time and I even got frustrated because I wondered why it was taking such a long time if there weren’t even that many people at the park. I came home thinking of the long waiting times instead of the overall experience that I had, because I could not get over how long I waited and how I only got to try three different ones. Instead of focusing on the positive, I just became negative and unhappy about this new experience.
But now that I look back at this experience, I realize that it was not that big of a deal. My life wasn’t set back by how long I had to wait and I didn’t experience any serious issues because of how long I waited. Instead, I was truly happy in the end, because I was able to try out new things and spend quality time with my family as we waited in those long lines. I try to take this and apply it to my life to realize that it’s okay to have setbacks, to not always have everything done in time, because that is just what life is about. Instead, I should focus on the good in these instances and think about the positive impacts that they had on me.
Word count: 403
March 1st, 2023
Being on Top of the World
I feel almost as if this question is asking the same thing, but it all depends on how you would define intelligence. In my opinion, I believe that intelligence is about the amount of knowledge you have and how you can apply it to develop yourself further. It is a concept without emotion, without taking into account human guilt and sympathy. Now, if you use your intelligence to benefit yourself to be on top of the world, then you would have to step on others every now and then. Only one can prosper, and if you believe that it is you, then you fight for it. This is why I believe that someone that is the richest person in the world is also the smartest person in the world, because they use their intelligence to get what they want. But what would I choose?
I do not believe that it is right to step on others to get what I need. I do not think that I could live with myself knowing that I might have abandoned a friend because I needed to outshine them or even play a trick on them so that I can be number one. What is truly honorable is someone who was able to make it to the top by continuing to be a kind, honest person who sticks by the people that care about them most, but this is sadly rare. All of the richest people in the world have stepped on others in some way, and there is no way around that, because in a greedy system that is powered by materialistic needs, there will always be exploitation. However, I would say that I would like to be the richest person in the world.
My dreams would be to treat my parents to vacations, gifts, anything they would need, because they deserve it for working so hard all of their life. I would also love to treat my friends and travel to different places with them because I love spending quality time with people. I know that it is a bit hypocritical to go against the richest people in our world and then claim that I would love to be like them, but my hope is that I would use my money for good.
Word count: 381
I do not believe that it is right to step on others to get what I need. I do not think that I could live with myself knowing that I might have abandoned a friend because I needed to outshine them or even play a trick on them so that I can be number one. What is truly honorable is someone who was able to make it to the top by continuing to be a kind, honest person who sticks by the people that care about them most, but this is sadly rare. All of the richest people in the world have stepped on others in some way, and there is no way around that, because in a greedy system that is powered by materialistic needs, there will always be exploitation. However, I would say that I would like to be the richest person in the world.
My dreams would be to treat my parents to vacations, gifts, anything they would need, because they deserve it for working so hard all of their life. I would also love to treat my friends and travel to different places with them because I love spending quality time with people. I know that it is a bit hypocritical to go against the richest people in our world and then claim that I would love to be like them, but my hope is that I would use my money for good.
Word count: 381
March 8th, 2023
What My Younger Self Needed
Dear Gabby,
You are going to face challenges further in life that you wouldn’t even think about now, friends that you will eventually break off your relationship with, and new people will come into your life that you are going to become very close to. School is going to get exponentially harder, middle school work is nothing compared to the amount of homework that you get with your AP classes, but this doesn’t mean that it is impossible. You will learn to be strong, hardworking, and productive, to be able to survive in all of these classes and still have time for friends and yourself. But what is important for you now is your mindset and how you will push through all of your challenges.
I wish you were stronger. I wish you had the guts to stand up for yourself. I wish you didn’t care about what other people said about you. I wish you weren’t so shy and scared to speak your mind. However, it is pointless to be full of regret, because you at least learned to step out of your comfort zone and not care about what others think. All that you knew at this time was embarrassment for your interests that were considered “different” at the time, and shame for liking such artists such as BTS. Looking back at yourself, you’re going to realize how much of a help BTS was to get you through these times, and although it might seem cheesy and whatnot, you needed this positivity in your life.
Life will get better, you will get out of this hole that you feel that you are falling into more and more each day, you will meet new friends that will make you laugh and feel welcome, you will meet teachers that encourage you to do your best, and your parents will continue to support you every step of the way, as long as you tell them everything that is going on. You are strong, even in these tough times, because you will make it far.
From, Gabby
Word count: 346
You are going to face challenges further in life that you wouldn’t even think about now, friends that you will eventually break off your relationship with, and new people will come into your life that you are going to become very close to. School is going to get exponentially harder, middle school work is nothing compared to the amount of homework that you get with your AP classes, but this doesn’t mean that it is impossible. You will learn to be strong, hardworking, and productive, to be able to survive in all of these classes and still have time for friends and yourself. But what is important for you now is your mindset and how you will push through all of your challenges.
I wish you were stronger. I wish you had the guts to stand up for yourself. I wish you didn’t care about what other people said about you. I wish you weren’t so shy and scared to speak your mind. However, it is pointless to be full of regret, because you at least learned to step out of your comfort zone and not care about what others think. All that you knew at this time was embarrassment for your interests that were considered “different” at the time, and shame for liking such artists such as BTS. Looking back at yourself, you’re going to realize how much of a help BTS was to get you through these times, and although it might seem cheesy and whatnot, you needed this positivity in your life.
Life will get better, you will get out of this hole that you feel that you are falling into more and more each day, you will meet new friends that will make you laugh and feel welcome, you will meet teachers that encourage you to do your best, and your parents will continue to support you every step of the way, as long as you tell them everything that is going on. You are strong, even in these tough times, because you will make it far.
From, Gabby
Word count: 346
March 15th, 2023
How I Can Be
I want to say that I don’t agree with my results, but I think I would be running from the truth. I do believe that I made the results faulty because I made some of the responses too over-dramatic. I think that I am not an extrovert, because for me, it always depends on the context of the situation that I am in. If I’m in a classroom setting where I feel comfortable with my classmates, then I’m more likely to raise my hand or talk to my classmates if we have a group project. But I know that I’m more often shy than not.
I have many more classes where the atmosphere is just awkward, people don’t talk to each other often, and it’s so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. That is when I’m quiet. I notice that I usually match the environment that I am in. However, in my advisory class, there is a lot of conversation going on, but I never speak because I don’t know any of the people there, and thus, I feel uncomfortable.
I would hope that I am emotionally stable, but I am not. I can feel a whole range of emotions in just one day, from extreme happiness, to deep anger, to pitiful sadness. I don’t know if it’s normal. However, when I talk to my friends about it, we all sort of relate to one another. As with agreeableness and conscientiousness, I wish that those scores were higher because I would hope that I do not come across as a rude person that’s intimidating.
I am very happy that it shows that I have a high imagination, because of it, I love writing about different experiences in my life because I really want to pull the reader into what I went through. I want to use imagery and other literary devices to create pieces that move people and my imagination is perfect for that.
Word count: 326
March 22, 2022
Overcoming Overthinking
“I over analyze situations because Im scared of what may happen if I'm not prepared for it.” AU
I find myself often worrying about situations within my personal life, about things that my friends might say to me, or about relationships that might end. However, I always feel so relieved when the events actually play out and I realize that I wasted too much time overthinking. Similar to the quote, I’m scared that I will not be prepared for life changing events, but if I think about it in a logical way, I should realize that I actually am equipped. I know that I am young, so I have not had that much life experience, but everything that I have gone through so far has helped me prepare for these events. But I tend to forget that.
I cannot come up with a sure idea of why I am like this. I would think that I might have just bottled up a lot of anxiety within myself or that I am never really sure of myself. I notice that I cannot make decisions myself, even simple ones. For example, if someone asks me what I would like to eat, I just go along with what the other person says. Although this is a small act, it shows how I just want to go along with others, because I’m too scared to be a leader in a way.
However, I am trying to find ways to fix this issue. I try to find my confidence within myself, and understand that I need to have reassurance in others. I also think about how the other people that I speak to or surround myself with aren’t on a higher level than me. In fact, we’re all struggling sometimes within ourselves or might even think lowly of ourselves. I also believe that viewing this issue from a different perspective could help.
Word count: 299
I find myself often worrying about situations within my personal life, about things that my friends might say to me, or about relationships that might end. However, I always feel so relieved when the events actually play out and I realize that I wasted too much time overthinking. Similar to the quote, I’m scared that I will not be prepared for life changing events, but if I think about it in a logical way, I should realize that I actually am equipped. I know that I am young, so I have not had that much life experience, but everything that I have gone through so far has helped me prepare for these events. But I tend to forget that.
I cannot come up with a sure idea of why I am like this. I would think that I might have just bottled up a lot of anxiety within myself or that I am never really sure of myself. I notice that I cannot make decisions myself, even simple ones. For example, if someone asks me what I would like to eat, I just go along with what the other person says. Although this is a small act, it shows how I just want to go along with others, because I’m too scared to be a leader in a way.
However, I am trying to find ways to fix this issue. I try to find my confidence within myself, and understand that I need to have reassurance in others. I also think about how the other people that I speak to or surround myself with aren’t on a higher level than me. In fact, we’re all struggling sometimes within ourselves or might even think lowly of ourselves. I also believe that viewing this issue from a different perspective could help.
Word count: 299
April 4th, 2023
What My Future Holds
I find this question rather tricky to answer, because when I look at both sides, either the past or the future, I want to change both. But, I am reluctant to pick the past, because I know that my future holds a much greater weight than my past. My past has only been for around 16 years, whereas my future is quite literally the rest of my life. Therefore, I think that I am going to change my future.
I look back at my past with regret, for how I acted, for how I never stood up to anyone, how I just would be so scared of ever speaking out. My biggest wish is that I could go back to those times and change everything about myself. So, this is why I would want to change the past, so that I don’t look back with shame, and instead, happiness, because I knew that I did the best I could. But my past only makes up a small part of my life, that only the things that can happen in my future will impact me more than what happened in my past.
My future isn’t only longer than my past, but it will shape who I will become, what I will do, and how happy I can be. If I could change my future, I would want to know that I will become successful, that I will be able to take my parents out to luxury experiences, and travel to places far away. The fact that the future is somewhat unpredictable scares me, but knowing what would happen in the future would give me some sort of solace. I always think about what my future holds for me, because I just get scared at times that I won’t have the future that I want. I think these nerves are the outcome of seeing what my family has gone through, but I know that it’s useless to worry so much because I have a very supportive family who has helped me through so many things.
Word count: 343
I look back at my past with regret, for how I acted, for how I never stood up to anyone, how I just would be so scared of ever speaking out. My biggest wish is that I could go back to those times and change everything about myself. So, this is why I would want to change the past, so that I don’t look back with shame, and instead, happiness, because I knew that I did the best I could. But my past only makes up a small part of my life, that only the things that can happen in my future will impact me more than what happened in my past.
My future isn’t only longer than my past, but it will shape who I will become, what I will do, and how happy I can be. If I could change my future, I would want to know that I will become successful, that I will be able to take my parents out to luxury experiences, and travel to places far away. The fact that the future is somewhat unpredictable scares me, but knowing what would happen in the future would give me some sort of solace. I always think about what my future holds for me, because I just get scared at times that I won’t have the future that I want. I think these nerves are the outcome of seeing what my family has gone through, but I know that it’s useless to worry so much because I have a very supportive family who has helped me through so many things.
Word count: 343