Bye-Bye!

What is on my mind today you ask; well summer is of coarse! I am officially done with school after this hour, well kinda. I still have to go to 2 classes, but one is my science class where we are doing a student run project and the other is choir, and we're getting ready for Current Jam! I am also really excited for that too!

This summer I plan on playing outside alot and going to the pool. I also really hope I can find a job! I'm basically broke! I have applied to The Neighborhood Icecream Shop and Macy's. I also applied to Big Bowl but because I'm going to college next year they said they can't hire me, which is annoying, I eat there at least twice a week!

I also plan on attending many concerts! The first one I'm going to is in exactly a week! It's a music festival hosted by Rhymesayers Entertainment, a MPLS music company. It's 8 hours long and it's about 15 people performing, maybe a little less than that, but none the less alot of people I really like are going to be there! A perfect way to start my summer.

The main event of my summer is that I get to do workstaff at the camp i've attended the past few years. I am SO excited because workstaff is usually a really fun group of people. We basically do any busy work; wake up call, set up the activities, set up large group, and mess with the counselors and campers! That's the best part. I can't wait for that!

Other than that I can't wait to relax before I start my life, it's wierd, but I'm so excited!

SEE YA EHS!

In-Character

Barbie

Barbie can be two things to a little girl; either something they despise, or someone they want to be. Growing up I was more into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, My Little Pony, and a Power Rangers girl, more so than a Barbie girl. I know I owned one, maybe a couple but I guess I just don't remember my feelings on her. I probably wanted to be like her; pretty, skinny, perfect. I think for young people that's not necessarily a good role-model, but the company has made good attempts at making her a more positive role-model. Making her a pilot instead of a flight attendant, and a doctor instead of a nurse. Not that those career choices are bad, just it shows younger kids, more specifically girls, they can be more than what people tell them.

Bugs Bunny

Bugs Bunny for me as a kid was a loveable character. I think our nation learns a new sense of humor from him, one that isn't necessarily violent, well sometimes it is. He was first created in the 1930s, it brought humor to people during those times, especially during WWII. I don't think sarcasm would have ever taken off as a style of humor if it wasn't for Bugs the loveable bunny!

Mr. Incredible

Mr. Incredible is a superhero, but I think the American people can see him as more than that. Along with being a superhero he is also a husband, father, and friend. In most other movies and books, superheroes are a superheroes and nothing else; they save lives, and they save the world. Mr. Incredible is someone who little kids, dads, moms, and even teenagers can admire. He has a crappy job at an insurance firm, which I think really connects to parents because I know my parents like to complain about work! It's never fun, no matter if you do something you like. Let's be honest, work is work, the majority of the time it's pretty stressful. He also on top of that has a wife that nags him about helping around at home, which is a common issue in households around the country and even the world, even if they are in love. He also has to deal with his whiny kids, let's just say that's an obvious one for parents. I think parents are really like superheroes, just by that alone considering all they have to do, puting up with kids is really far more difficult than one would think! Once you add on saving the world, that truly is a hero! That is what kids look up to. They aren't satisfied with just their average dad yet, they want a superhero dad; one who can lift up cars and planes. And to teenagers, some may act too cool for the movie, but it's one of my favorites. I think anyone my age who doesn't like it is lying. It's a heartfelt adventure, how can you not enjoy it!

Characteristics Of A Well-Told Story

Part 1
Stories are a very important part of developing a childs' imagination. It helps them to develop a creative mind that can help with problem solving and help them develop a can-do-attitude. When parents take time to tell their child a story either from their childhood or completely made up, it can give the child the attention they need as a child. Parents are only helping their child to succeed later on in life by telling and/or reading their kids stories.

Part 2
When people get older reading stories serves a few purposes; It can be a hobby or even an activity for some. Some people really get joy out of reading, others it is just work. Many highschoolers have to read for school and alot of the time the books are assigned, but sometimes there is an opportunity to choose the book you want to read. I think this is more beneficial because it gives the student an opportunity to pick a book that they are going to enjoy reading and take something they may relate to out of. I think as you get older you take out various things from different books, and the reader finds the themes themselves instead of having it be obvious like when we were little.

Part 3
I think reading is a great tool to bring people together. So many people read the news each day and that helps to spark up conversation and adds to the knoweldge of an individual. Authors these days write about things that can relate to the readers which in the end is just one big circle. Writers write, then readers read, then everyone converses!

Part 4
I remember a story about a ballet dancer, one about a brown bear, The Boxcart Children, the story Olivia, and the Little House On The Prairie stories. There are alot more but those ones stand out. I remember these because they were my favorite and for alot of them I admired a character in them or wished I would be a character in them. I also remember stories my grandpa would tell me and my dad. They always had really great stories because they grew up in a small town on a farm. I also remember stories from my great grandma about the Titanic and imagrating to the US. Most these were fascinating to me and I always wished I could have experienced some of the things they had.

Part 5
1. One major theme, with underlying themes too.
2. Round characters, as well as some flat, but you need to get to know at least one character well.
3. Pictures! I still love looking at pictures, even if there is only a few.
4. A catchy title, let's be honest, that really gets people interested.
5. A climax, the story needs to get exciting somewhere.
6. A surprise ending, not always but it always makes a story that much better.
7. I think the author should have some inspiration to writing what they do, it attracts readers more I feel.

How Unpoetic

One thing I find myself talking about a lot with friends, family, and even people I don’t know is religion. Religion is a highly controversial topic that can fire up a conversation that seems to last for days on out. When I really think about it though, I’ve never had a controversial conversation about religion that has ended well. Most conversations I have ever had have ended abruptly and in all honesty because most the time I am the one that is sick of talking about it.

But consider this; if one is true to their religion, what is the sense in arguing about it? Most religions are based on faith. Faith is the idea that there is a nature and purpose to the universe we are a part of; so what’s the deal with all the arguments?

One thing that really makes me mad is a certain group of my friends. Though I love them and their goofy selves, they can really set me off at times. As we were sitting one night, having a ball, something led us to the religion talk. Now considering my friends are all extremely politically minded and very opinionated, (which I see as a good thing!) talks like these should be avoided. As we got to talking, it turned into more of an argument rather than a conversation. Now I am no preacher but when it comes to my faith I don’t want anyone trying to convince me not to believe in what I believe in. Under my roof, in my room, I don’t want to hear a bunch of my friends beleaguer me about God, faith, or what any Holy book says; I don’t care if it is the Koran, Bible, Torah, or anything. I just don’t feel like I should be pestered in my home. That is the first time I realized that it isn’t worth the argument. For everything I said, they had a counter argument, and for everything they said, I had a counter argument, and so on. That’s when I stopped. Though it made me angry for a while, I came to realization that I was contradicting my own beliefs.

Now if I am to get into any religious conversations, or should I say arguments, I simply leave it at the plain fact you believe in what you believe, you can’t define belief or what’s right or wrong. And to those who can have a decent conversation about religion, I respect that. I love to hear of what others believe; I just don’t like other’s to tell me I’m wrong. I respect others and their beliefs so I try hard not to offend anyone with different beliefs.

As Buddha said, “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

Poetry

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The title of this poem really is the overall idea of this poem. Robert frost uses imagery to describe these two paths that may be taken, and through his images is where he reveals this idea of taking the road less traveled. One is worn and rugged, the other seems to be grassy and the leaves are still intact. He also uses repetition to force an idea in our minds that there is much to be said about these two paths. Though to some this may seem a very simple decision, he is making the point that there is much to think about. These aren't just paths, they are a way of life; I think that is the main reason I like this poem. There is much more to the meaning than two paths that lead into the woods. It is a life lesson Robert Frost is revealing through his poetry in a light, happy, optimistic tone.

Writing Territories

2) My writing style depends mostly on the mood I am in. If I am energized and in a good mood, I usually write satirically. If I am tired, or upset about something, my writing usually refelcts that. My favorite writing style is short stories, especially if the story I am telling is non-fictional. Outside of school I usually don't write much. Sometimes I'll write a note to my friend but other than that I'm really not too into it.


3) Every fall, a few of my friends, along with myself, venture down to Lake Calhoun to take a stroll and grab a cup o' joe. I usually spend alot of time there in the summer and fall, but this specific time is special becuase it's now an annual thing we do.
The temperature is always just right; the warm front hits the cold, it's never too cold or too hot. We always start the day off at my friend Casey's house to make some coffee. After we've had enough coffee we head off to the lake. Once we get to the lake we usually park somewhere in a neighborhood so we can make an adventure out of actually getting to the lake. Climbing trees along the way, hiking through hills covered in brush and trees, it's always fun.
After making it to the lake, we walk around and take some breaks to play on the various playgrounds and swings they have lined along the pathway. Our journey usually ends at the large playground that is located near the bandshell. We take some time off to swing, climb, and jump around on the playground. When it starts to hit dusk we usually journey back to our car and head home. It's sad to think that next year we may not be around Minnesota for the fall weather. But hopefully once Thanksgiving break hits we are all back to take a stroll at Calhoun, one last time.

My Writing Will Never Last A Lifetime...

I could never even imagine something I write lasting for over 2000 years, let along more than a year! It will never happen and I’m content with that. I think the reason the plays, novels, and poems listed have last for so long is because some of them are the “first of their kind.” The Greek plays written are all remembered well and taught because the Greeks were the start of western colonization, architecture, and many other things. It’s not even that some of the things remembered are even that amazing; they have just been put on a pedestal for various reasons.

Advice for a 10 Year Old

If I were to give a 10 year old advice, I would go about it in a different way than most would. As a kid you typically hear the “do what your heart tells you”, “don’t fall under peer pressure”, “be who you want to be”, etc. Instead I would make a point that you need to learn from your experiences more than focus on not doing things. Kids are always going to make bad decisions, but if or if not they learn from those choices is another thing. More and more kids are being introduced to bad choices at a young age and they face peer pressure at a young age; being able to help kids learn from their experiences will help them more than telling them not to do things for kids are the best at being defiant.

Reflection on My Play

Writing this play was both an emotional and an exciting experience. It was like a child’s first experience on a Merry-Go-Round. The toughest part was deciding what I would write about. Although we did do some brainstorming in our past blog entries, I guess they all just slipped my mind. Through my struggle to come up with a theme, I decided to recollect some past experiences. Although the plot to my story is completely made up, the characters are actually people I know or encountered in my dance experience. Once I finally decided to write about a dance competition, the words just flew out of my mind and onto my page.

Conflict in the Bubble

Basing the conflict off of the theme I decided on, there are many options. The easiest way, for me, is to recreate an incident that has already happened. Being I live in Edina, the idea of “living in a bubble” has been brought up to me many times. I try to ignore that idea because I don’t want to think of myself in that way or be thought of in that way.

During my film class last semester we watched Spike Lee’s controversial film Do the Right Thing. After the viewing we had a class discussion on some of the overriding themes of discrimination, racism, and segregation. A kid in my class proved many of those who believe us Edina children are living in a bubble, right. He stated that “crime doesn’t happen in Edina.” Though the majority of the class was in shock at the statement he just made, he continued to go on and said if a black man came into a store he owned and demanded to put a picture on a wall (as seen in Do the Right Thing), he would be too afraid they had a gun. This is one conflict that I think would be interesting to put in my play. Not only should most disagree with this kid, but it would raise awareness to those who live “inside the bubble”.

Keep an Open Mind

A theme I would consider writing about in my play could possibly be the idea of keeping an open mind. I wrote about this topic in my earlier blog and I feel strongly about the topic. Considering I have a broad range of friends, I feel most of the time I have to keep an open mind. Being a part of a group that is very socially, politically, and emotionally different does make one realize the different sides of life.

Not only do my own friends enlighten me on this idea, but he people I encounter everyday. When given a scenario or situation, it’s really easy to go about it in one way, but when forced to look at it in a new way, which classes like science, sociology, and history have helped me do, it can change a perspective entirely. Overall, this theme is really important to me because I still encounter people everyday that refuse to approach situations at a new angle.

Writing Themes

Some of the key aspects of writing that come to my mind are plot, theme, and character development. When I read a novel or piece of literature, when it is without one of these elements, it doesn’t seem complete to me. From simple children stories to great masterworks by authors like Hemmingway and Steinbeck, they have all three of these elements.

In novels without a theme, which I can’t necessarily think of any, I personally don’t think they are as intriguing as a novel with a theme. Considering I, along with some other classmates around me, can’t think of any novels without a theme, clearly they aren’t as successful as those novels with themes.

The Athletic Side of Writing

I believe writing is a crucial tool for writers. Whether they agree with what the writer they may be reading is saying or not, to be exposed to different ideas, from a variety of people is a necessary means for any writer. It also can be inspirational. For instance, if one is to believe something very strongly, if they are able to see the various views portrayed by other writers, I think it can make their point become more evident. I also don’t see why a writer wouldn’t want to see what other writers have to say. To apply this to athletics, I don’t think there is an athlete that only cares about themselves. Whether they are the faster runner, best player, etc, inside they want to know the stats and who could be their possible competition.

Take a Walk Outside

One issue that currently affects me is people’s closed-mindedness. Not even speaking necessarily on a political scale, but in general, it is a constant issue in everyone’s lives. I see it mostly in the narrow hallways of this high school, and everywhere in the media. Whether it be everyday gossip, bashing a political standing, or ignoring world affairs that need attention. If people could step aside from what they are used to, step into some “new shoes”, and take a different stand every once and while, I think this world could be a very different world.

La Persistencia de la Memoria

One piece of art that really inspires me is Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory. Salvador Dalí was an artist of many surrealist ideas. He painted during World War II and so much of his work reflected war time conflicts.

This specific piece of art inspires me because it is based off of Einstein’s theory of relativity which relates to gravity distorting time. This painting, being Dalí’s most famous artwork, has been viewed by many, as well as interpreted by many. To me it is an idea of time being present in the most inopportune moments. The golden cliffs in the background are seen as the past, for Dalí that was his homeland in Spain. The drapes that seem to be covering a body of some sort can be seen as the presents. It all melts together with time. For me, the poetry to this painting is extremely inspiring in the cliché idea of time is forever changing.