Nobody likes to admit they made a mistake. In our society, professing your failure has become a deadly option. We believe it is best to sweep as much under the rug as possible, focusing only on our victories. Maybe this is because of how easy it is to point out another person’s error. Maybe if we could learn the process of forgiveness, people would own up to their actions. But until we do, it will be nearly impossible to have a truly honest society.
I used to live strictly by this system, hiding all shame. I have been raised under the argument that anything less that 100% success is ultimate failure. This applied to every aspect of my life: grades, sports, friendships, family, and anything else I was involved in. If I wasn’t the best, it seemed like the effort was worthless. I have come from a very competitive background, and this was just the way it has always been.
However, I have been leaning towards a new perspective lately. What if people admitted their mistakes, and moved on? What if, instead of trying to hide their problems, they were able to work through them with people who really cared? If someone had proposed this to me a few months ago, I would have laughed in their face. What a ridiculous idea. But now, I’m starting to like it. I’m not going to lie, a lot of this has to do with our new basketball coach, Coach Colter. He has challenged our team in so many ways to be better individuals. I used to think what I did was not important, and that even if I made mistakes, they only affected me. And I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It took Coach Colter for me to finally realize that we, as seniors, are the leaders of this school. Everyone looks up to us, imitates us on a regular basis. As a senior captain of our girls’ basketball team, I hold several very crucial futures in my hands. I have two options. One, I can be like the seniors of the past. I can run over those girls and put them in their place, show them the true meaning of being a freshman. Or I can take the higher road, and be their friend. I can help them through their issues, one step at a time. I can listen when they need me. When it seems to them like nobody else really cares in the world, I can be the one person to prove them wrong. And that starts by admitting that I screw up sometimes myself. I may be a senior, but I have my rough moments as well. After all, it is much easier to admit your problems to someone you know shares them. This has made me realize that I can either be a friend these young girls look up to, not just an older member of the team. I finally have the power to make a difference in many impressionable lives, and that’s what I intend to do.

Give all to Love

“Give all to love;
Obey thy heart;
Friends, kindred, days,
Estate, good fame,
Plans, credit, and the muse;
Nothing refuse.”
From “Give All to Love” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think that many times we are too afraid to “give all to love” as this poem says we should. We are too afraid that we will be rejected or hurt, or that our love will not be returned, and so we do not give love everything we have, and therefore many of us will never know what it is like to love with everything we have and be loved in return just as much. I believe that some of the best things in life cannot be obtained without risking a little of yourself.
You must sometimes put your feelings for another out in the open in order to gain a good relationship with them. You must risk the possibility of looking like a fool every time you try something new. You must embrace the chance that you might fail any time you take on a difficult task, but if you do not risk these things and put a little bit of yourself out there, then you will never achieve anything worthwhile.
You see, life, and I mean true life lived the way it is supposed to be, is not about just sitting back, being comfortable, and making sure that you are always safe and sound in your little bubble. It is experiencing new things, learning the joys of helping people, and risking a little in order to make a big achievement, that really comprise a life lived to the fullest.
A baby crippled by the fear of falling will never learn to walk. An athlete who doesn’t shoot for the fear of missing the goal will never win the game. A lover afraid to share their feelings with the person they love may miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Everything worth anything comes with a little risk. And I am speaking to myself here as much as anyone else. I am probably the worst about not wanting to risk anything, even if I have everything to gain. However, this year I am going to try to overcome that fear and just take the leap into something unknown, and I encourage you to do the same.
-SarahBeth

The Most Majestic Language

“It was well said of a certain German book that ‘er last sich nicht lesen’ – it does not permit itself to be read. There are some secrets which do not permit themselves to be told.”

First thoughts on the quote? No, not tonight. Tonight, we will go with the second thoughts. “Er last sich nicht lessen.” The Most Beautiful Language.... is NOT German. Now, tell me, how graceful was that message? German – the only language that murder can be committed through speech. May I just say that German has to be the most unattractive, unappealing, unharmonic, uneverything language that has ever existed. Even the peoples of Africa, with their combination of clicks, claps, whistles, and giggles have a more intuitive sounding language than that of Germany.

Now, when I would like a hot dog, why would I ever ask for “Un Veinershnitzel!” Let me analyze what is wrong with this statement FOR you. First, “hot dog”, as opposed to “Veinershnitzel!”, is thousands and thousands times more beautiful. Second, those two words have entirely too many syllables. Third, I did not make a mistake, nor did I place it for emotion, but the exclamation point (!) was necessary because almost EVERY aspect of the speech is yelling! They just go on and on with their voices raised to the rooftops (and you wonder why no other countries like them? It’s because their table manners are HORRENDOUS! No one wants to spend the time to truly get to KNOW them, so they just kinda stay away). And for my final point as to why this language is humanely inhumane, is that in order to say ANY German, like the one listed above, for example, you must make a face that resembles a sick cat. With the emotional emphasis and combination of untimely placed consonants, German facial expressions are priceless. Were I to ever go over there, the ONLY way I would enjoy myself is if I brought a camera and took pictures of people while they were talking. Can you say “Candid Camera every single second of my visit?!” Here is how conversations would go –

Noa – Do you speak ENGLISH?

German Broshnitzel – UN GORBONSTEIN BLITZKREIG VEIBEN...[interruption]--- *snap! (picture taken)*

Noa – Peace! *walk away*

And people wondered why Hitler was so terrible…. He went crazy over his fowl language! (Not cursing, it’s just that the language is so fowl, as a whole, it drove him insane.) Well, except for the whole “Holocaust” thing… That was probably a big reason, too. But the latter of the two reasons should not trump the previous one! Sorry to offend, by the way.

The Prayer

Change. It's such a bittersweet thing. So many things change: the weather, fashion, technology, etc. Sometimes, the changes are good, and other times, we hate the fact that things must change. We're going to go through a lot of change this next year. Graduation is going to start a new chapter in our lives. As we go through these changes, we're going to need a lot of prayer and encouragement. This is the prayer I pray for all of us:

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for all of the good times that have encouraged us to get through high school. Thank You for all of the rough patches that have molded us into what we are today. Thank You for the teachers who have helped us get where we are. Thank You for letting us be so close-knit with each other.
Help us not to take our last months in high school for granted. Help us to live everyday to its fullest and try to reach out to the younger people in the school - to be their heroes. Help us to know where You want us to go to college and what You want us to major in. Help us to know who You want us to fall in love with and marry. Help us to know where we need to build our homes. Help us to live Your love everyday for the rest of our lives. Please protect us as we are still at MJCA and as we graduate and move on with our lives. Let us learn from our mistakes but not let them dictate our lives. Help us to forgive others and forgive ourselves. Help us to love You and know that You love us...more than we could ever imagine.
Amen.


--Lindsey.

Plastic People

What a world of pretty little people we are, so pretty we are perfect, and so perfect we are flawed. We are plastic people. We all melt in the fire.
Every single day we wake up and paint on a new face, and every single day we grow further from who we were. What is our purpose? To be just like someone else. Looking like a Barbie does not make me one. Looking pretty does not make you an object of beauty and acting smart does not make you so.
We sit and watch as placid expressions are drawn onto our faces as our hearts cave in, crushed by our own hands on a daily basis… for what? Because you don’t want to be what you are and everyone knows. Your face changes every day and now you believe that you are someone else. You have found what you created as fitting, but everyone knows it isn’t you except for yourself. Now you are melting by the flame with the multitude, but we have not felt it yet.
Hey, Sweetie, could you take off your mask please? Its cut no longer suits you.

-Jillian

Save Me

Walking, fast. Running, running through the pangs of her past, turning her head away from the ugly truth. She is not at rest, never a moment of peace. She wakes from a sleepless night and finds a stranger looking in the mirror. Again, running away, she puts on a mask to cover the secrets, to shadow the truth. But, the mask doesn't hide everything- for her eyes still hold true. Deep, roaming, dark pools that serve as a reflection of her past, her thoughts, her darkest secrets. She doesn't run, but she walks. She waves to her peers, hugs her family, smiles at her mentors, laughs with the ones she loves, yet stares blankly at the ones she hates- the ones she truly fears- her eyes still holding true. Everyday she makes an impression, whether it be good or bad, and she waits. She doesn't turn one corner or walk in one direction without questioning every step. She is waiting for answers. Reasons for circumstances that constrict her boundaries. Explanations for the things she cannot comprehend. Resolutions for questions she cannot answer. All the while, these questions wander in her eyes. It is only when she is alone that she can finally catch her breath and take a look at who she truly is. She removes the mask, shocked at what is left. Her flaws revealed, secrets exposed, every comfort and reassurance stripped away, and she washes her face, washing it all away. The only thing that's left are her eyes, the eyes that have held the truth the whole time. The girl behind the mask is finally free. I am the one looking in the mirror, and my deep brown eyes are staring back at me.

"Save me, I'm lost. Save
me from being confused. Oh Lord, I've been waiting for
you. Please show me what I'm
looking for.."

--Carolina Liar.

--Riley Hammond.

Love

Love. Everyone wants it. Everyone needs it. Everyone does anything for it. Why do we all want and need love SO bad? We crave it from the outside all the way to the deep “nitty-gritty” bone. We can't live without it and once we have it, we take it for granted.
We all say things we don’t mean when we are angry or upset, but most of the time, we forgive and forget. We get close to a specific person and pour our hearts to them. We all make mistakes, and do things we regret, but the beautiful thing about it is, there is grace.
If love were compared to an ocean, we would swim in the tears we have cried over our love until we get to the other side. Love is great, but also not. It can be the best feeling you have ever felt, but also the worst. In a song by the Afters, they refer to love being at its worst. Apparently someone was wronged and hurt, and the words are telling how they felt through it. Love is powerful and patient. If you truly love, then you will conquer all things, even in “raging seas.” Love will get you through. If there is a will, there is a way.
Love makes you go crazy. It’s a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing. Love is the most important thing, even Jesus said that. Sometimes you just get caught up in it with someone. Everything feels so right, and like nothing could touch the love you have. You just want time to freeze so you can feel that perfect feeling forever.
Love is what we were made for. God did not put us here on earth to be alone, yet to have companionship with Him and others. It is universally known to "Love one another as you would love yourself," ...right? If this statement is true, then God not only wants us to love others but OURselves as well. I can name a couple in our class right now that already do that very well :P
But seriously, God is our Creator. The next time you look in the mirror just look at yourself, look at how intricately you were designed. God made EVERYTHING about you. We are all special to Him. Therefore, we should love others completely but also love ourselves. Be happy in your own skin and just realize how blessed you are to have so many things.
If you are striving to be the person you want to be, enjoying life with all your heart and doing God's will completely, then you need to love yourself. But above all else, others come first. Learn to serve the people you love.

Poetry Response: Ode to Neptune

I chose Ode to Neptune for the same reason that I chose every poem I write these about, it was short. Coincidentally, I also chose to write about a poem from Phillis Wheatley for the same reason I choose every one of these poets, her name makes me giggle. To start off my analysis, I would like to begin by saying that I have no idea what she was saying with this poem. I am assuming it had something to do with Neptune and what I’m guessing is some kind of weird obsession she has for it like Judd Nelson with flaring his nostrils, or Mathew McConaughey with having his shirt off, or James Earl Jones with playing voiceover roles, or even _______________________ with _____________________ (I’m leaving you blanks to put in someone who fits this description in your opinion (which makes this what I am assuming is the first ever interactive poetry response/blog post!)). Anyways, that is about all that I got out of this poem.

For the rest of this poetry response/blog post I have decided to say one word or phrase and then type the first word or phrase that comes to mind that has some kind of connection to it, and somehow end up going from Phillis Wheatley to…. well, wherever I feel like stopping. Let us begin. Phillis Wheatley, wheat, bread, muffin, banana-nut, banana, fruit, pineapple, perfectly harmonized flavors, perfectly harmonized voices, Boys II Men, Boyz N Da Hood, Robin Hood, Kevin Costner, cost, money, the root of all evil, UT fans, UT football players, prison, Alcatraz, The Rock, Sean Connery, James Bond, Roger Moore, Mr. Moore, trigonometry, big words, Pekwachnamaykoskwaskwaypinwanik Lake (yes, that’s an actual lake), Canada, French people, hairy, Chewbacca, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Ford Explorer, Dora the Explorer, “Swiper, no swiping”, stealing, pick- pocketing, me, awesome, Legos, small yellow people, “dwarf” with liver disease, and I think I will end it there. So, to recap, I went from Phillis Wheatley, to Boys II Men, to “dwarves” with liver disease. Now, in the immortal words of one of those Looney-Toon characters, “That’s all folks!”

My Parents

This blog is dedicated to the two most important people in my life: Dad and Mom. You both are the reasons I am who I am. Man, I can still feel those spankings from back in the day, but you know what? They shaped my accountability and disciplined me to live the right way. It also gave my butt a higher pain tolerance level. So thanks. Guys, I wish you could truly grasp how proud it makes me to say that I am your son. Never do I hear anything remotely negative about either of you. The way you have conducted yourselves throughout your lives has shaped my life for the better.

Our family name has lived long because of the character and dignity of Vanmali Dada and Amarat Dada. Dad, you have equally lived up to them, and I promise you that I will do the same. “Friends will come and go, but your family will always be here.” That’s a quote from you that I will never forget, and I will pass it down to my own children. You’ve showed me where hard work can bring you. Many parents may give their kids motivation by saying that they can do whatever they want to do by putting their mind to it. You, on the other hand, completely missed the traditional parenting memo. You’ve taught me that change is inevitable and to take care of your family, your demeanor and mentality must remain steadily confident to help you survive. Changes are a part of life. Don’t let them break you, rather let them shape you.

Mom, I honestly don’t even know where to start with you. I can feel myself tearing up, and I don’t understand why. I love you more than you could ever imagine. You work so hard, and I sometimes take it for granted. But I promise you this, it has not been overlooked. When Dad has shown me the tough and serious aspect of life, you have taught me to do that in a loving manner. You are the hardest working woman I know, and you do it all with a smile on your face. You have so many responsibilities, and you finish each job with diligence and totality. I may have to blame you for why I am chubby, but hey, you cook some dang good food too.

I know you guys aren’t the type of parents that like to hear this kind of stuff, but I thought I would show you how much I really do appreciate you. You have given me the keys I need to living a successful and rewarding life. I know you both have told me that you don’t want me to live the life you do because you guys work 24/7 with a ton of stress. Let me simply tell you why I think your life is rewarding—you have raised a son who is family-oriented, dedicated, loving, hardworking, and ready to face the real world. Thank you.

in Your arms.

“It's been so long since I have met You here
Since I have said these words or cried these tears
And like a child would come I run into our secret place
And as the music fades, the tears are rolling down my face

I am alive in this moment
In this moment I am found
I am alive in this moment
In this moment I belong”
- Starfield

Dirty, torn, beaten, heavy laden, burdened, bogged down, stressed out, filthy, distraught, shattered….broken. Recently, I have felt all of these, but mostly shattered and broken. Like a desert in the middle of an oasis, scum on a clean surface, darkness in a lighted room, or just a weak and pathetic person. I have been chained to my sins and was content with that. That’s when a reality check came in. I needed it. Badly. It had been so long since I met with Him, talked to Him, and just poured my heart to Him. I had forgotten I was His child. All He wanted was to wipe my tears away, make me smile, hold me, comfort me… BE there for me. I had forgotten I was a princess to the Most High King. Instead, I was acting as a lonely orphan lost in life when He came and took me under His wing.
I was broken . . . He put the pieces of me back together.
I was dirty, and He made me clean.
I was beaten and heavy laden, and He took my profound load.
I was stressed, and He comforted me.
I was distraught, and He relieved me.
He has picked me up off my feet to carry me through. I am finally alive, because of Him. No longer an orphan, in THIS moment I am found. I AM alive in this moment, because of Him, ONLY Him. No longer broken, I am mended. No longer in chains, I am free. No longer finding somewhere to belong, I am home, in His arms… right where I belong.

-Faith Fallin

Come on, baby, sell it! Sell it well!
Why is it that in life you are constantly returning back to the things that hurt you the most?
You have made your own personal businesses, selling
yourselves out to everyone you deem that you can trust. You pull people closer and closer just to feel “loved,” and you say the words because you like the way they sound, in love with the idea of being infinite. Making yourselves weak, you grow numb exposing yourselves completely to one another only for a feeling, a temporary feeling that will inevitably never last. You are over exposed, your wounds have now become fatal, and all of your scars are from yourselves, though you still wonder how they got there…
WHAT-HAVE-YOU-DONE?.. You have sold your souls… You pawned them, for a 30-minute feeling, and every waking moment you give more and more away. Then you find yourselves thrown out into the world with everything that you never wanted placed before you for the population to see and again you grow weak. You have become so numb that you have mutilated the meaning to unrecognizable refuse, so numb that you cannot even feel the blade you have placed in your own hearts. Now you have nothing left to give, but you do not know. Not yet.

<3>

Hero

What is a hero to you? See, when I hear the word hero, I think of a little skinny dude in tights running around with bulging muscles, a flowing cape, and sometimes no neck, due to their very large trapezius muscles…just kidding. Or sometimes, heroes are wanna-be’s, and they are only evil and hungry for power, like Sylar from the show Heroes or the Joker from Batman or Gargamel from the Smurfs.

But seriously, what is a hero to you? This word has different definitions, but I think it has been misinterpreted and redefined. What people don’t remember about the real definition of a hero is that anyone has the ability to be one. A hero is “a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength,” according to Webster's.

Military people are definitely heroes. They sometimes get disrespected and taken for granted, but they deserve so much honor and reverence for what they are doing for us. If you’ve ever seen the movie The Guardian, I’d hope you feel the same way. They risk absolutely everything they have to save other peoples’ lives. It’s amazing to me that they are that willing to serve other people.

However, military men and woman aren’t the only heroes in the world today. Ordinary people can be superheroes everyday. Giving up your seat for an elderly or disabled person might be considered a heroic act to them, even though it may seem really insignificant to you. Just saying something nice to someone may make their day. You could be their hero for giving them a smile or saying their jacket was pretty or whatever. I once heard a story about this boy who had cleaned out his locker, and he was on his way home from school one day carrying all of his books. He dropped them and another guy from the same school saw him and helped him pick them up. Come to find out, the reason that boy cleaned out his locker was because he was going home to commit suicide. He felt like no one cared for him, but when this other boy showed him kindness, it changed his mind. And how simple was it for that boy to help him pick up some books? Not that hard. Yet, he chose to be a hero.

Jesus was the biggest hero ever, though. How many of us would give up a home of perfection and go live with people who hurt us constantly? I’d say that none of us would. But Jesus not only came to live with humans; He also died for them. That, to me, is true heroism.

Anytime we hear the word “hero” and simply think of a cartoon character running around or a guy driving his Batmobile, we need to remember that the word “hero” has a much deeper definition and can apply to any of us, anywhere, at any time of any day.

We should look at everyday as a battle to be won, a challenge to be faced, or an obstacle to be overcome, and we should work our hardest to seize every opportunity to be someone’s hero. As seniors, we have such a huge leadership role. We should take advantage of our “seniority” and make every effort to be the hero in someone’s life each day of our last year of high school. Don’t worry so much about what other people are doing. Fight your own fight, do what you know is right, and sooner or later, other people will start to follow you. Go, fight, win, seniors!




--Lindsey Kolbe

Sphere of Influence

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. -Carl Gustav Jung

The moment we have all been waiting for is almost here. We are finally seniors and soon we will graduate and go our separate ways. Have you ever stop to think how many people have made our graduation possible? There is a group of people who impacted us so greatly and we hardly ever stop to think about it. Our teachers have poured their heart and soul into teaching us not only the curriculum but life lessons as well. I'm not just considering our high school teachers, but rather the teachers who laid the foundation of our education.

To build a strong, sturdy house there must first be a strong foundation. Our elementary teachers have the laid the foundation for us to achieve success. We have all seen a math problem on Mr. Pickle's board that we thought we would never understand. Bu we would never be able to understand it if we didn't know that two plus two equals four. We wouldn't be able to paint a masterpiece in Mrs. York's class if we didn't know our colors. If we never learned the simple structure of a sentence, we would not be able to enjoy the magnificent stories in Mrs. Christensen's class. There would be no interesting discussions about religion in Mr. Spence's class if we didn't know the basics about the Bible. The elementary teachers are sometimes overlooked or taken for granted. Yet, they are the teachers that lay the foundation for all the middle school and high school teachers. When we stop to think about all the people that have made our graduation possible, our elementary teachers should be first in line.

Once the foundation is laid, our middle school teachers take the job of laying the framework. They build off of the foundation and prepare us for the challenges of high school. This is the point in our lives when we are unsure of who we are and what we want in life. These teachers keep us in line and help us stay focused.

Finally, we have our high school teachers who push us through the final stretch of our school days. They challenge us to think outside the box and find our own opinion. We become more aware of who we are and who we want to become.

When we walk across the stage, we should think about not only how long it took us to get there, but who helped us get there. Graduation is not only a year of preparation, but rather a twelve year preparation. We should take time to reflect on all the many faces that contributed to our success and who ultimately become a part of us.

-Danielle Miller

How to: Improve a Horton Haven in (almost) 10 ways

As we approach our final Horton Haven, I am left wondering two things. 1) "How can we make the best of this year's retreat?" and, 2) "Am I too old to be craving chocolate milk?"

Now, the answer to the second question is pretty simple: "Of course not, don't be an idiot; I'll never be too old for that." However, the answer to the first question is not so straight forward. It requires a lot of deep, intellectual thinking, but lucky enough for all of you, I have already devised a brilliant plot that is sure to let us have fun at Horton Haven this year. It also might help us take over the world, but that's for a different day (can you say senior prank?).

Here is how the plan goes:

• First and foremost, we are going to have to find some kind of way to smuggle Chuck Norris and Mr T. into the campgrounds.
• Second, we are going to need a small monkey from southern Malaysia.
• Then we will have to take control of a large robotic panda, preferably one with a stubby tail.
• After that is where it gets tricky though, the next thing on the list is a wide screen TV, with a HD sports package.
• Then, someone is going to have to catch a blind butterfly using only their left knee.
• We are also going to need all of the supplies used to build the raft in Cast Away, including Tom Hanks and Wilson.
• After that we will need sugar, spice, and everything nice.
• And finally, though this one may be impossible, we are going to need Noa to keep his shirt on the entire time.

If for some reason we can't get any of these things though, I do have a back-up plan. And that is to just spend as much time with each other as we can.

-Beau

graduation.

Generally speaking, this blog post is supposed to be about holding onto now, living it up- savoring every moment of my last year in high school. While it is important to hold on to the present, especially at this crucial point in all of our lives, I really can’t help but look forward to the future. I think the term “senioritis” started applying to me early sophomore year. Instead of “no mores,” my mindset consists of “can’t waits.” I can’t wait to finally turn 18 and finally get a tattoo. I can’t wait for the senior trip, nonetheless, I can’t wait for my last Horton Haven. I can’t wait to write senior letters and completely spill every emotion I have ever felt towards that person onto a piece (or a few pieces) of paper. I can’t wait to sit down and make my senior board and fill it with tons of memories. I can’t wait to hear Mrs. C’s graduation speech for every person in our senior class. I can’t wait to throw my graduation cap into the air. I can’t wait for all my friends and family to surround me with love for accomplishing the one thing I’ve wanted for so long. I can’t wait to fill albums upon albums with pictures of countless great times with my friends during my high school career. I can’t wait to dress up and take my senior pictures. I can’t wait to pick a college to tour. I can’t wait to apply to my NEW school. I can’t wait to pick out furniture to go into the foreign place I’ll soon call home. I can’t wait for my first day in college. I can’t wait to become a “professional.” I can’t wait to do what I love to do every single day. I can’t wait to settle down. I can’t wait to get married to my one true love. I can’t wait to have kids. Well, really I can wait on that- but I am looking forward to it. I honestly can’t wait to grow up. I can’t wait to fulfill my life. But first thing’s first- I can’t wait to GRADUATE!

-riley.

Impossible

“Most look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one.”
-HJB
Impossible. This word is found in everybody’s vocabulary. All of us at one point or another have said “I can’t do this” or “I could never do that.” We dream about changing the world but tell ourselves that it is impossible. We spend our lives wishing that we could do something significant but are too scared to try. We are afraid of failure, ridicule, and what others think. But why? Why should we care about what someone thinks? Why is it that we are so afraid of doing what no else has done?
We get only one shot at life, so why not give it our best? When we die we are not going to care about what others thought. When we look back at our lives are we going to feel regret for all the things we could have done but didn’t, or are we going to look back and know that we gave it our best shot? Within each and every one of us lies the potential to change the world, to go where no one else has ever been, but only a few actually do it. We hear the stories of the great heroes like Daniel, David, Paul, Joan of Arc, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, but we don’t realize that with God’s help we could become the next great hero that will go down in history. These heroes were just ordinary people who decided to take that first step into the unknown, and as a result, changed the world. Here is a list of ordinary heroes:
Benjamin Franklin- one child out of seventeen, educated himself, wrote under a false name and was beaten by his father when he confessed. He also ran out of money. Franklin kept on trying. Thanks to him we have one of the greatest inventions ever created, electricity.
Abraham Lincoln- his parents died when he was young, had four kids (three of which died young), ran for senator and lost, and got assassinated. However, Lincoln did not know how to give up. Thanks to him we are still the United States of America and slavery is abolished.
Albert Einstein- as a child he was not considered to be intelligent and as a result was asked to leave school (because he was a negative influence on others), was not granted admission to the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (because he failed the botany, zoology, and languages exams), and was divorced. Thankfully Einstein did not listen to what others told him; at the age of twelve he read a geometry book from cover to cover. He became the greatest scientist of the twentieth century.
Nobody can ruin your future except for yourself. In this life you have two choices, you can either face life already defeated, or you can face life as an obstacle waiting to be overcome, a challenge made just for you. If you think you are a nobody, then you will be a nobody, but if you think that you are a champion, then you will be a champion. We have more advantages today than these heroes of old, so what’s stopping you from being the next person to do the impossible and adding your name and story in the gallery of those who laughed at the word “impossible” and proved it too.
-Ivanna Johnson

Perspectives.

The defining point of life is perspective. Sometimes you’re the bug; sometimes you’re the windshield. As I was driving home from work one evening, I was thinking about how many people compare life to a winding road. There are many famous quotations on looking forward, never back, and living life with no regrets. As much as I would like to say I never look back, I know I’m only lying to myself. This got me to wondering. How often do we press on too quickly, never once stopping to enjoy the scenery around us or even memories recently made?
Well, I decided to take my own advice for once, and what I witnessed was breathtaking. I knew it would be ridiculous to try to turn around and look behind me in my car, considering I was on the interstate. So I compromised. I took a quick peek into the rearview mirror. What I saw? The most beautiful sunset I’ve experienced within the borders of Tennessee. It was like the entire sky had been streaked with every rich shade of the rainbow from north to south and east to west; all of it just for me. Utterly breathtaking, this moment was truly a changing experience.
Witnessing that display of incredible beauty really changed my views on life. Is it all about the destination? Or is life merely a matter of chance and luck, stumbling our way through heartache and love, sadness and joy, falling and rising to our feet again? Either way, we’re probably going to reach the same outcome. But this is my challenge to anyone who by chance stumbles upon this passage: why not make it all worthwhile and enjoy this journey we like to call life?

-Leanna

My lost youth

When exactly do we go from being kids to adults?? I do not know for certain, but my guess would be when you turn a certain age or when you graduate from high school or college. It happens when you least expect. We go from playing with our friends to playing with people's feelings. Without us knowing our childhood slips away into oblivion.... and then we wake up one morning as someone who when we look in the mirror we do not know!

When I look in the mirror now a days I have no idea where the time has gone. I honestly do not feel like I should be turning 18 today. I feel like I should be back in preschool with my mom packing my lunch, taking me to class everyday, and kissing me goodbye. I have been think about the past lately reflecting on everything that has happened to me and honestly I wish I could go back and re-live the past 17 years of my life. I would do so many things differently. I would not worry so much about what other people think about me: I would hug my parents everyday three times a day so they would know how much they mean to me, and most importantly I would not have slacked off so much when it came to my school work. I know everyone is always saying not to wish away your life, because you only get one chance at it and thinking back now I wish I would have listened to them.

You only get one shot so why not live the life that you have always dreamed. People are always going to try and tear you down and make you feel like your worthless. This is just part of life, but honestly who cares what those people have to say. One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Eleanor Roosevelt and it says "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." When I think back on all those bad days I had, because of some drama it all just seems pointless now. Why did I spend so much time worrying about something that in the end turned out fine? I now see as I look back how pointless it was for me to worry about all the things in life that I could not change.

Now that I am a senior, I want senior year to be about something more than just who's dating who and who won homecoming king and queen. I want it to be about leaving my mark or legacy at MJCA. Honestly, how many people in 10 years are going to remember if you were on homecoming court or if you were the most beautiful in the entire school? I doubt anyone honestly will! So why is it that people strive to be these things then?

Our culture has told us that beauty should be the most important thing we worry about. This is why people go out and get plastic surgery to fix what they think is broken, but in reality nothing is actually broken. God made us the way that he wanted us to look and he made us in his image. So basically when we go out and get plastic surgery we are dismissing God and the way he made us. In 1 Samuel 16:7, it says "....Man looks at the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart." All throughout high school, I have spent so much time worrying about how I look when in reality all I needed to do was have confidence in myself and see what others see in me everyday. For the rest of my senior year I vow to worry about things that mean something instead of worrying about the stupid drama of everyday life!

-Jordan-

"Chill Bumps"

"On Looking Up By Chance At The Constellations"

by: Robert Frostie

Sometimes in life, we fall. And when I say we fall, it seems as if the very cliff upon which we stand erodes beneath, sending us into an emotional dive into peril. When on an express route to pain and sorrow, we often look for big changes to help us. In many different situations, our thought-processes turn into desperation mode – meaning, we look for complete 180 degree turn-arounds. Returning to the topic of the slow slip into sorrow, we pray and beg that we are dreaming, or someone is waiting to catch us, or even that we will land in marshmallow fluff at the bottom.

But often, that doesn’t end up switching the gravity. We fall, just as hard, just as fast. Sometimes even faster if one of our unrealistic thoughts before-mentioned fails us as well. So what do we do? What is there to do in a situation where we seem to be carrying the world on our back, all the while falling into deeper angst? And let me tell you, when falling off of a cliff, carrying things on your back surely does not help – ESPECIALLY if it is the whole world. But what do we do?

What I have come to realize is that we look for change in too much expectation. We don’t need a soldier to jump out of a plane, swoop in, attach a parachute to us, and fly off wishing us a good leisurely fall! What we need to do is look for the little things around us. Look for the roots, limbs, rocks, branches – anything that we can grab onto to slow down the fall. Trust me, if you can grab on and slow down the fall for just a second, another situation is going to become available. Suddenly, after falling so swiftly, it all turns around.

Not because of SpiderMan, but because you took the time to grab onto something small and hold on for dear life. Real life examples can be friends, teachers, prayer, sports, anything. Just hold on for dear life, and soon enough, other changes will come. What I find most magnificent about this theory is that when applied to real life, not only do we grab onto hope to slow our fall, not only do we find more reasons to completely stop the fall, but even MORE “branches” will become available for us to actually climb back up the very cliff we fell from. And how rewarding would it feel to conquer the mountain that sent you tumbling down?

Very.

-Noa

"No More" by Rahul

No more counting on Noa to compare answers on homework to make last minute changes. No more “pssssstttss’s” at Sarah Beth to get her attention so I can copy the last note that went over my head. No more greeting Weston with a handshake and listening to how funny he says my name. No more seeing Faith with that enormous white smile to start my day off on a good note. No more seeing Dylan go “beast mode” and go crazy down the hallways, screaming in the faces of innocent little middle-schoolers just to see them cringe. No more hearing Beau’s timely and clever jokes when I am starting to have a rough day. No more of Riley’s hugs that absolutely make my day. No more random conversations with Phil, reminiscing on the fourth grade, and how we were best friends. No more comments to catch me off guard from Jill. No more sheepish smiles from Woo when I tell him that he needs to holler at a chick. No more Ivanna, and her thirst for knowledge. No more getting to know Lindsey and how awesome she is behind that quiet front. No more Todd, and his hair illuminating my day. No more Danielle, with her great writing that inspires us all when read aloud by Mrs. C. No more Jojo and her remarks to just about everything. No more reciting rap songs to capture on video with Leanna. No more of those gross, but hilarious belches from Holly. No more throwing up the X, and having Aalia being the only one to follow. No more talking to Steven about his El Camino and his new ice cream paint job. No more trying to give Kelsey “dap,” and her just giving me a high five. No more listening to Hannah comment on the fact that Noa and me sing all the time.

All of these “no mores” honestly make me sad. It hurts to know I may never see where the people I have grown so accustomed to may go in their life endeavors. You guys provide me the optimism to say that it will be okay, and we will all still keep in touch. I just want this Senior Class of 2010 to know that every single one of you will be missed, but for now, I will savor each and every moment I have with you. You will all be irreplaceable to me, and I hope that you can say the same about me.

senior thoughts (by SarahBeth)

What is life but a blur, or a moment that passes away and is gone? Many people end up wishing their whole lives away, and only as their life is about to end do they realize that they should have made the most of each day as it came along instead of anticipating events yet to come or pondering over things that have already been done. We can only hope that we will learn this lesson before it is too late.

This year we are seniors, and it seems as if we have been waiting for this year our entire lives! Yet many of us are already counting down the days until graduation, and it seems as if it could not come soon enough. However, we must take the time to sit back and enjoy our senior year and truly savor these last moments of high school, because in the blink of an eye it will all be over and we will be on our way to various colleges, and even if we keep in touch, we will never all be together again as the Class of 2010.

This is the only shot we have at life; the last try we get at high school; our only chance to make a difference. I know this speech is typically made at graduation, but I think it is better heard now so it can be put into practice. So, as a fellow senior, here are my words of wisdom to you: Live life to the fullest, cherish every moment, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Most importantly of all, don’t come to recognize too late that you have wished away some of the best moments of your life.

A Thought

Why are we here? Who are we really? What is the true purpose of life? And what difference do we make? These are all questions that must be answered at some point in our lives. And although all of the inquiries are immensely philosophical, and the answers are amazingly detailed, and potentially life changing; in all honesty what difference do we truly make? Is the world really affected by every individual that graces its surface?
As hours, minutes, seconds, and mere moments pass life as we know it continues. And although a person may be doing “nothing” their life march on and their time on this earth becomes gradually shorter. Although this is a dark and depressing thought, it is true. This is why everyone must make the most out of their time on this earth. My opinion is that no matter how big or small the event or decision we make happens to be every “difference” affects the world to a certain extent.
As people, we seem to think that our time on this planet is somehow all the world is about. By this I mean, most individuals are under the misconception that everything that happens on this great planet revolves around our lives, and once we are gone the world somehow ceases to exist; like we are somehow in direct correlation to the cosmic lifespan of the planet. The years of our life are as moments to the world. And although some of these lives may consist of numerous great times, earth has seen and is yet to see ones just as great.
In conclusion, the faces of youth have gradually morphed into something that is hardly recognizable as once being young. And our lives are a collection of years that we began to borrow on the day of our birth and cease borrowing as we take the final breath of life. As this breath is released into a world with many last breaths and just as many firsts all we can really hope for is to have made even a small difference.

- Kelsey

Welcome to Dual Credit Blogging!

My name is Mrs. C, and I am a Dual Enrollment instructor. I have the responsibility of teaching high school juniors and seniors each year and the great privilege of reading their writing. That is what you will see in the posts to come . . . great writing. Their thoughts, hopes and dreams all given shape by the written word. I also will include pictures of these students in action, and I hope you are as inspired as I am when you get a chance to see what is going on in their hearts and minds. Read on, enjoy and feel free to comment!!