Voice

Often times those around us say hurtful words to those who are perceived to be an "easy target"; Even though we may not feel comfortable with what these people might be saying or doing, we go along with what the group is doing.
Otherwise we might get persecuted for what we say.
In away the person who is getting bullied voice is constrained, anything they say or do could result in mockery from their peers.
It's up to you to be their voice speak up for them, and stop the situation before it gets any worse.
When you stand up for them you must believe in what your saying, because the person who is being bullied is counting on you to stay true to your word.
If you decide to stand up for that person, just know that your making an impact on that persons life and by the end you should feel proud of what you did.

So Far Away, Yet So Close

No matter where you are in the world, whether it be a thousand miles away from home, or just in the town over, home never leaves your side.
Home is a place that never disappears, it is always with you when you need it most.
It's a place where you are always welcomed, no matter what is going on in your life.
For it is within your heart that home lies, never to be forgotten nor lost.

 

The Speed of time

Before my school day begins there is a lot that I have to get done in the morning to prepare for the day. Each morning I help set up flyer news, which at times can be tedious but never boring. Whether it be setting up the cameras or working in the control room my mornings are usually busy. I often times work in the control room on the technical director’s board. The technical director is in charge of changing the shots. I have the script out in front of me and I have to be constantly aware of what’s going on so I know the appropriate time to change the shots. Often times due to the earliest of the show I feel drowsy which has an impact on my performance, but most of the time I am able to focus and get out a consistent product.  I also feel responsible for the product of the show if it does not come out right I feel guilty because I messed up a shot. When I am doing this position I have a huge responsibility put upon my shoulders if I do not perform my tasks up to speed the show will be affected, but if I’m constantly paying attention and switching the shots when appropriate than the show will not be effected. Ultimately by  the end day all it comes down to is a learning curve and all I know is that if I tried my hardest and still made a mistake, I will learn from them and try harder next time.

The constant echo of a ticking clock makes my math class seem like an eternity. Each echo reminds me of a heartbeat, gradually getting louder as the class goes by. At the beginning of each class we get a warm up and by the time I finish the warm up I think that it took me five minutes to complete when in reality it’s only been two.  There is a sense of anticipation that builds up inside of me. It’s almost like an inner self wanting to escape and roam free. Do not get me wrong it’s not that I do not like the class it’s just this sense of longing for something that is more interesting and elusive. After the warm up we precede to go over the homework. By this point it feels like it’s been a long time when it’s only been ten minutes. When we finally go over all the homework we either practice problems or take notes. If we are taking notes class seems to go by much faster and the class is not that bad. It is when we practice that time seems endless. I often find that I can finish the problems in a timely manner; the only problem is when I have a question it seems like it takes a while for the teacher to come over. I will finish all the other problems and raise my hand once again but the teacher is still preoccupied by the same student, I will sit there and listen to the sound of the ticking clock until the teacher comes.  Over the course of the year we have been given so many worksheets that to a point it becomes overwhelming.  The physical weight of each worksheet is not heavy it is the number of worksheets that I accumulate over time. Although I have a binder and I am able to keep everything relatively organized. I often feel over loaded with material, and I have trouble keeping track of everything.  Often times when I take out my math binder from my back pack, I feel as if it is the heaviest item that I haul around. It is only when I do not have math class that I consolidate and do not bring my binder.

            Following math class I have U.S. History which is my favorite class of the day. The reason being Mr. Coleman is always effervescent when it comes to history. He has a dogmatic way of being concise when presenting new ideas. He makes the class enjoyable for everyone connecting history to the students and making sure everyone is out of their seats experiencing what history has to offer. Most days, time seems to slip by and class is over in a flash. No longer do I hear the constant ticking of a clock or the need for challenge. Rather I feel a sense of connection that I do not feel in any of my other classes. Mr. Coleman brings us back in time and shows us the perspective of the people, almost as if we were there with them experiencing their world. For in class activities Mr. Coleman gives a wide variety of projects that allows all of the students to shine. Sometimes we have creative assignments were we have to do some research about the time period, and using the knowledge we gathered we have debates about certain issues of the time period. Other times we do a project that are straight to the point that is factual. But regardless of the project Mr. Coleman always makes the class enjoyable for everyone.  In this class all the physical items that I carry have an impact on me during class. Well they are not as much of a burden the emotional weight I carry they are always there. Whenever I have history my back pack never feels as heavy as it does during math class. In history my back pack is like an accumulation of knowledge, it contains all of my subjects that are divided up into folders and binders. I know that I can always reference my folders from my back pack; it’s an easy way of organizing all of my subjects.  During class I always look forward to learning more about history and the way it has shaped us as human beings.  Mr. Coleman always keeps everyone engaged, and even though there are times when he gives lectures they are ephemeral and before you know it were up and out of our seats. Ultimately by the end of each class, Mr. Coleman always leaves us on the edge of our seats wanting more, and there is never a day that were not up and out of our seats experiencing history through the eyes of those who came before us.  

           

 

 

Mr.Garretson

Prior to my sophomore year, history never really interested me until I met Mr.Garretson.
Mr.Garretson changed my outlook on history completely.
History use to just be read, take notes and memorize the material, however Mr.Garretson changed all of that.
Mr.Garretson had us experience history rather than just sitting and taking notes.
We would do different sorts of activities such as write journal entries, from the point of view of a person in the time period we were studying.
This not only allowed us to engage our knowledge about the topic but also put in our own creative side to the story.
We would also role play famous historical events making skits that we would do in front of the class.
Mr.Garretson made me want to come to class, he made the class enjoyable and memorable.
Everyday I'd anticipate for the next, curiosity building up inside of me.
But most importantly Mr.Garretson had a major impact on my life, he inspired me to do more with my life and go on to do bigger and better than ever before.
We all have someone who has changed our lives drastically.
Never the less, don't ever be afraid of standing out among the crowd because you never know whose life you could change.

The Sons and Daughters of Liberty

We are the sons and daughters of war and liberty; life and the pursuit of happiness.
Together we shall prevail, and together we shall stand.
In love we shall prosper, and in death we shall stand hand in hand.
 

Who Casts the Vote?

The objective of most mainstream media is to persuade the audience to change their views or opinions. Information is communicated to the masses through media and propaganda. Media gives power to the press to persuade voters and influence the outcome of elections. Over the course of history, from the FDR to the Obama election, media has not only shaped the way we think, but has also swayed people’s political choices. These influences have had a negative impact on society. Media and propaganda have a detrimental effect on politics because they not only influence the voter’s decision, but prevent individual thought concerning politics.

The way we communicate has changed drastically over the past century, evolving into three main types of media. These include broadcast, written, and social media. Broadcast media entails television and radio where news is communicated by a reporter. President Roosevelt demonstrated the power of radio in the 1930’s and 1940’s. TV showcased Kennedy in the 1960 election during the debates. Written media consists of newspapers, and magazines. President Obama was the first president to use the internet. He used the live internet “ask me anything” AMA session at Reddit.com. In this forum individuals submitted questions and President Obama answered them. He was able to pick and choose questions that would get his views across to those online. (Press 1)  Social media on the internet ranges from Facebook to Twitter, to blogging.  Politicians often court these major media sites to push their agenda’s forward.  Each forum of media has had an effect on the way we vote; the choice we make ultimately comes down to how well the media has been able to persuade the undecided voter.

During this election it was evident that media played a role in influencing the voters’ decision, mainly through televised broadcast. The political campaigns were able to orchestrate what the viewers saw and heard about each candidate. President Obama aired an ad against Romney’s “47 percent” remarks. This ad talked of Mitt Romney dismissing these Americans for not pulling their weight. Yet Romney paid only 14% tax on his 13 million dollar earnings. Romney never said these people did not pay income taxes but it was implied in the ad. Romney ran ads highlighted his business expertise that would bring change to the economy, something president Obama didn’t have. Depending upon which news station you watched the Monday before the election; newscasters would either focus more on Romney or President Obama. During the election Fox News strongly supported Romney, “Fox has given Romney speeches unprecedented coverage a near four and a half total hours. Obama’s speeches, meanwhile, have been aired for just 35 minutes total (Media Matters 1).” Therefore the more you watched Fox news the more often you were exposed to Romney and the more you knew about what he stood for.  In contrast, MSNBC focused more on President Obama than Romney. “MSNBC aired the first three of Romney’s speeches on Monday for a total airtime of five minutes, but covered all three of Obama’s speeches for a total of 44 minutes (Media Matters 1).”The more you would watch MSNBC the more you would know about President Obama and what he stood for opposed to Romney. Politicians use different types of persuasion to make us believe in their views and influence how we vote.

 

When you’re trying to persuade someone to either follow you or believe in what you’re saying, a common technique politician’s use is a testimonial. A testimonial is when either a celebrity or someone important to the public eye sells the candidate. In late August actor Clint Eastwood sparked much controversy after his speech at the RNC (Republican National Convention) where he spoke to an empty chair that symbolize  President Obama and how he hasn’t been there for the country. Eastwood attacked President Obama saying that he was responsible for the high unemployment and he should not be reelected. Eastwood said,

“I haven’t cried that hard since I found out that there’s 23 million unemployed people in this country. Now that is something to cry for because that’s a disgrace, a national disgrace, and we haven’t done enough; obviously, this administration hasn’t done enough to cure that” (Lee 1).

 

Clint Eastwood is a true American icon, and when he expresses his political views his testimonial influence those around him.  If Eastwood endorses Romney’s campaign those who admire him will be influenced by what he says because they want to be just like him. In addition, Eastwood used what is known as loaded words to persuade the audiences to vote for Romney. For example, he used key words such as high unemployment and disgrace.  People hear these words and they associate them with bad connotations. However a Romney campaign spokesperson supported Eastwood’s performance by issuing this statement: “Judging an American icon like Clint Eastwood through a typical political lens doesn’t work. His ad-libbing was a break from all political speeches, and the crowd enjoyed it. He rightly pointed out that 23 million Americans out of work or under employed is national disgrace and it’s time for a change.” (Lee 2) President Obama also used a testimonial to help support his campaign. “Obama is endorsed by George Clooney, one of the most successful and popular actors in the country. I know people who couldn’t tell you whether Obama is a democrat or republican; they only know that Clooney supports him so they are too.”(Ink Paper Pen 2) Clearly there is some discrepancy between the political parties and what they see as right. Both parties are based on different ideals and campaign managers need to choose the appropriate media and techniques to communicate them.

            One of the most successful American communicators was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who used radio to reach millions of people. He would have heart to heart conversations about issues that people really cared about and he would use simple terms that everyone could understand, through his fireside chats.

 “On March 12 the day before the first banks were reopened, Pres. Roosevelt boosted confidence further through the first of his many fireside chats. These were radio talks that Roosevelt gave occasionally about issues of public concern, such as explaining in clear, simple language his new deal measures. Informal and relaxed these talks made Americans feel as if the president were talking directly to them. In his first chat, Pres. Roosevelt explained why the nation’s welfare depended on public support of government in the banking system.” (Danzer 666)

 

The president explained that when there are an exuberant amount of people demanding their deposits in cash, banks would fail. As a result of this message many Americans returned their savings to the bank over the course of the weeks that followed. President Roosevelt had struck home with the common American and had persuaded them to do what he asked of them. He believed in the power of media to move them towards believing his ideas to move the country forward.

           

The media does have a great deal of power in American politics. One may ask are we seeing what we need to know or is it what the media wants us to think? The media can sway people who are skeptical or have no strong opinion in the first place. Since these voters often decide the election results, the power of media can be substantial (US History 1). Next time you go to mark your ballot, make sure that it is your choice verses who the media told you to choose.

 

Work Cited:

Danzer, Gerald, Klor de Alva, J.Jorge, Krieger ,Larry, Wilson, Louis, Woloch, Nancy The Americans Evanston, Illinois: McDogual Littell, 2002. Print

Lee, MJ “Clint Eastwood delivers rambling RNC speech” Politico 30 August 2012 Web. 26 November 2012

Media Matters Blog.” For Every Minute Of Airtime Fox News Gave Obama Speech, Romney Got Seven” Media Matters.org. 6 November 2012 Web.21 November 2012

Press, Larry” Politicians using media, from Roosevelt’s fireside chats to Obama’s Ask me Anything” CIS 471 1 September 2012 Web. 5 December 2012

N.a “Obama & Persuasion: How to become President” Ink Paper Pen 25 September 2012 Web. 6 December 2012

N.a “5d.The Media” US History n.d Web. 5 December 2012

A Greater Tomorrow

Live for today, work for a better tomorrow.

In life we often over think what we deem as a necessity.

We don't break down the possibilities to their fullest extent .

We center upon certain ideas without drawing to conclusions .

If we separate out what we need, over what is a luxury, we are one step closer towards a better tomorrow.

Holiday Season

With the holiday season approaching countless amounts of people go about shopping buying gifts for family and friends.
However one of the most important lessons I've learned is less is more.
The holiday season isn't about how much you spend on another person or the amount of gifts you receive, rather it is the people who surround you that are the greatest gift of all.
Family and friends are the most important part of our lives, both have their benefits, and both serve as an equalizer.
So next time you go out holiday shopping stop and think before you buy something expensive, money isn't what determines if a person respects you it's the thought that you put into it that makes all the difference.
 

The Heart of Champions

A champion is not born when he wins, but when he has to work to achieve that win.
Some people may argue that a win is a win, and irregardless of the circumstances that their a true champion.
However I would ask them what there definition of a champion is, I'd almost guarantee it would be different.
To me being a champion isn't just about how much points you score, rather how you score them.
If you have one person who scores all the points and doesn't share the ball that isn't a champion.
Rather it should be a team effort, were everyone gets the opportunity to shine.
Even if the team doesn't win, as long as they worked together and tried their best to me that's more meaningful than winning itself.
If they can accomplish that as a team and continue to embody those traits outside of life, they then will have the heart of a true champion.

An appreciation of friendship

A friend of mine once told me that if by the end of your life you can count out on a single hand, your true friends from your friends then you will have lived a good life.
In life you can have two kinds of friends, one who knows your name and respects you, the other is the one who knows your first and last name and will be there with you until the very end.
Over the years I've learned to appreciate both for what they're worth.
A friend is always willing to hang out with you, and will be the person who will go to all the parties with you.
A friend will also always be up for a chat, whether it's fooling around or just talking in general they've got you covered.
On the other hand, a best friend will always be there for you no matter what, even in the hardest of times, despite what might be going on in their own lives.
A best friend is also a person who you can confide with, a person who you know you can trust and will help you find what's best for you.
However I have came to the realization that you need both in your life because without each other your lacking the other half from your life.
Having said this I don't agree with what my friend once told me, while it is important early on to distinguish your true friends from your friends, both have their benefits and flaws and together balance each other out.

Halloween Dance

A sense of mystery instilled within the night as the students gathered for the dance.
No one knew what maybe in store for the remainder of the night.
As the dance began ghosts and goblins alike gathered together.
Songs of past and present filled the air, as the students danced the night away.

Charity

You could be the richest person in the world but that money doesn't mean anything if it just sits around in a bank, it's what you do with your money that defines who you are as a person.
Strive for change, if you don't take it upon yourself to make a difference in this world nothing is going to change.
You have within your power to do so, all it takes is a leader to emerge for the rest to follow.
Don't just sit around, be that leader the one who takes a stand to change the world for the better.

Drawbacks define you

All the drawbacks in my life haven't hurt me as much as they defined me. I remember one time in particular that changed me as a person. I was in history class, we were writing a research paper. We had taken a couple of days of class time to do some research and writing. Well I did do some research and a small amount of writing it wasn't enough. Before I knew it, it was Friday afternoon and the research paper was due on Monday, up to that point I had barely done anything. So on Friday afternoon I stayed after with my study teacher and he helped me compile all the information., Saturday and Sunday I spent researching and practically doing the entire project which became very stressful. I was worried that I wasn't going to do it right and that I was going to get a bad grade because I waited to the last minute. I ended up not getting that bad of a grade,  but I learned a valuable lesson not to procrastinate. If I did my paper earlier the outcome would've been much better as well as grade. Ultimately I've learned not to put papers off, and get them done ahead of time versus waiting till the very last minute and having to rush the whole process.

Come with me

When my mind is open my eyes are closed, I dream of a world were imagination is it's creation.
It's a paradise far from here where one's imagination thrives, and dreams become a reality.
So come take a look, don't be shy, for the only thing holding you back is you.
So come take my hand, and I'll take you there to a world of pure imagination.
 

A Real Victory

Have you ever achieved something and it was not until afterwards; that you realize the significance of this achievement or the impact it would have on your life or future?
For me getting my eagle scout award was just that.
At first I was glad that I had finally completed the project and it hadn't yet occurred to me what this achievement really meant.
Yesterday was when I realized the significance of this award, and it was not until then that my eyes were opened to a whole new world.
At the court of honor itself; there were many people but there was 120 people more than I had expected honestly given it be to a holiday weekend.
When I saw the amount of people who had came not only for me but for the other scouts was when it began to occur to me how much this eagle award really meant.
I don't really know why it took so long for it's significance to sink in, but I think it was just because I was so overwelhmed with emotion that I hadn't really thought about what it would mean for me in the future.
Everything you do in scouting has a greater purpose than what it was originally attended for and before you know it you'll be using a skill you acquired through your scouting career without knowing it.
As for the future I have plans to take on leadership positions and share what I've learned in scouting with those around me.
Also in the future if I ever have a son I want him to be able to experience scouting and get his eagle so that he to can get out of scouting as much as I have.
Ultimately scouting has changed me as a person and if weren't for scouting I wouldn't have became as a strong of a leader as I am today.

 

Eagle Court of Honor Speech

First I would like to thank my mom and my dad, my sponsor Verizon Pioneer, my coach Mr. Longden, and all the scouts and adults who assisted in bringing my project to a completion. When I look at my boy scouting career as a whole I often look back to when I first joined the troop. I remember being shy and I often didn’t say very much. But as I began to mature and increase in rank I began to feel the need to share what I had learned with those around me. As time passed by I became much more comfortable with the troop and began to take on leadership positions. At first I wasn’t entirely sure of how I would help lead a group but I began to realize that this all came from experience. There are many ways on how you could chose to lead a group some ways might not work were as others may work out well. Before I knew it I was a life scout ready to take the next step onto becoming an eagle. The night before I began my Eagle Scout project I found myself amidst a nerve racking feeling. I was worried that I was going to screw up somehow, or not enough people would show up to help. I had some perspective on how I was going to approach the project to a degree, but I was still uncertain about different aspects of the project itself. Before I knew it morning came and I could feel butterflies filling inside of me.  When I arrived at the site I began to unload the supplies and a sense of relief filled inside of me and I knew everything would turn out fine as long as I lead the group to the best of my ability. After the project commenced I soon realized that I had psyched myself out to much the night before and the project was much easier to lead than I had expected. Ultimately from this entire journey I’ve learned the value of leadership and what it takes to lead a team.

Fighting

I often wonder what drives us to fight one another.
I feel like it seems pointless to yell at another person.
We can express our opinion with emotion but yelling isn't getting us anywhere, it isn't strengthening our point nor is it weakening our point.
 I feel like we should have a more civilized conversation and come to a mutual agreement versus resorting to violence because, then again what does that prove?
Just because you might have been the victor doesn't mean your points is the better argument, both sides have valid points and both sides should be taken into consideration.
So next time you feel like fighting someone take a step back from the situation and think to yourself is it really worth it or is there some other way I can resolve this problem.
I promise you , a war on words is a whole lot better than a broken nose.  

Violent Video Games Should They Be Banned?

It's no doubt that violent video games have an impact on our society, and many have debated whether or not they should be banned.
Respectively I believe that both sides have valid arguments and I can see where they are coming from when they say what they believe.
Personally I don't think they should be banned because it's the parent's responsiblity to raise there kids not the government.
Then on the flip side the parnets aren't always in control of this because sometimes older siblings of younger kids play these violent games infront of them which infulences their interest in these games.
But then again I think parents can notice a diffrence in there childs behavior and if they start acting out its either out of infulence of violent games or something else.
In some cases however I believe they should be banned because well they do sometimes show the realitly of life they often over exaggerated the reality of what really happens.
Take for example a shooter well your not killing someone literally it promotes the idea and then you come back to life which in real isn't what happens.
Some people may say that they want to shield their kids from violence but in reality they can't because it's all around us from the news to in the movies you can never truly stop its influence.
But ultimately I think it really all comes down to is to common sense and how you raise your child.
Your beilefs and morals will influence your children and will ultimately reflect upon you as a parent how your child turns out.

Brown Eyed Girl

In the beauty of day her beauty shines brighter than it ever does.
When she smiles the whole world stops and admires her for who she is.
Her artwork is genuine every piece is like a dreamland.
Everything she does is beautiful in its own way.
Whenever I need a helping hand she's there for me willing to listen and give me advice.
If it weren't for her friendship I wouldn't be the man that I am today.

Questions

An aspect of life that I feel is often overseen is why we ask questions.
We ask questions because we need clarification on what's going on or if we want to know were to find the resources to get that answer to our questions.
In a group setting we often wont ask that question because we feel as if those around us will think less of us or tease us because we don't know what's going on.
Is out of our pure pride or our ambition to out perform one another?
It's a little bit of both, we all have a sense for achievement and we all have the wish to live successful lives.
So we feel rather than asking a question it'd be much more easier to look it up than risk asking a question around our piers.
But in reality questions are what keep this world going take for example Christoper Columbus he questioned if their was land outside of Europe then no one would've ventured in search of new land.
Questions lead to new ideas, and new discovers so next time you have a question don't be afraid of asking it because that question could make a difference in your future.

 

I don't mind spending every day waiting for you to come around, even if I have to wait out their for you in the freezing rain.
I've always felt so insecure I was afraid of opening up, all I ever wanted to ever do was make you feel beautiful.
To see that light in your eyes is all I would've ever wished for.

 

The Social Foundation

In our society we are highly judgmental on a persons rank or title and we often see past the reality of our lives.
Realistically it doesn't matter were you come from, or were you stand within society we should all be given equal opportunity.
The man who lives in poverty is just as much of a man as a successful business man the only difference is the man who lives in poverty didn't have as much of a chance to prove his worth.
But then on the flip side everything in our society comes down to money whose going to pay for those who cant afford a college education?
The soultion is making college more affortable for everyone regardless of who they are.
We have built a nation upon common princpals of Life, Liberty, and The Purist of Happiness; regardless of who you are, you should have the same chance for econmic oppurtinty as everyone else and all it will take is one persons voice to make the diffrence and a nation to change.

Going to College

In this moment you are destine for success, your pathway has laid out in front of you.
You may chose to follow this path, you may not it really all depends on you as a person.
You've worked so hard to get this far some may say that this the end, but I believe that this is just the beginning of a new dawn.
Throughout high school you were challenged academically across all boards whether it be from art to theater or history to math you experienced it all.
This is your journey to tell the world and only you can make your mark.

Life's Ever Flowing River

Life is much like a flowing river it can twist and it can turn and it's up to you to guide yourself until the very end.
There are points in our lives that life seems to be flowing in a single direction which is always bound to change.
We can't allow ourselves to go into shallow water because we'd hit land and we can't just pull ashore and not continue on.
You've made it this far in your life so why let one obstacle stop you from doing something with your life?
Life is meant to have obstacles they're what keep everything else in balance, they challenge us to overcome the inevitable and leave everything else behind looking towards a brighter future.
 

Words

Depending upon the context of another persons words they can become iron fists beating you up lowering your self esteem.
You just have to know that anything that other person says isn't true and you've got to prove them wrong even if it doesn't mean anything to the person who said it.
By far it is more important that you prove to yourself that you can do something than anyone else because the long run yourself will be the most important person that you'll ever know.

A Dream Campsite

 August 11, 2012 Canoe Base Day 7

Today by far was the best we've had and this day I will distinctly remember for the rest of my life. At sunrise a thick fog had settled making the lake appear very ere.  Eventually the fog dissolved and we were off. The day was calm and it was perfect weather I couldn't have asked for a better day to spend on the lakes than today.

Earlier in the week I tried portaging with a canoe but found it wasn't easy to carry the canoe it wasn't the weight that was the issue rather it was balancing the canoe on my shoulder. Today however I was able to balance the canoe on my shoulders easier than before. One of the aspects of life that amazes me the most is how quickly we can adapt to our environment like before I couldn't even carry the canoe without having the other end hit the ground but with a little bit of practice I became much better. Even with the backpacks at first they seemed also heavy to carry but as time passed by they felt as if they were becoming lighter each day. This whole experience ties into a learning curve as each day passed we learned what techniques worked, and didn't work and refined them. By the end of the week we knew how to pack our bags more efficiently. We learned how to share responsibility amongst a group. We learned how to make every stroke count without exerting more energy than we needed to.  But most importantly we learned the value of teamwork.

The best part of the day arrived when we got to Ima Lake. There was a particular campsite that our guide had passed by many times and he always  wanted to stay there but the campsite was always taken.  However this time we were in luck for the campsite was open. When we arrived it was absolutely hysterical seeing his reaction. The moment we landed and set foot claiming the campsite our guide jumped out of the boat walked up and through the campsite like he had just won the lottery. On the edge of a campsite there was a cliff that we could dive off of which as soon as we got the chance we all part took in jumping off even the adults. On the way down the world stopped for a moment it was almost as if the world had stopped just for you to take in the thrill but as soon as you thought of it gravity kicked in and you were in the water. 

As I write I gaze upon the sun set for one last time. It's funny how when I look upon the sun set I ponder on what those before me experiences were like or even my other troop members.  Overall I am grateful that I had the chance to experience this once and a lifetime journey that changed me forever. This journey has taught me more about myself than I've ever gained from anything. This journey has taught me that although your mind might become an obstacle at points you can always overcome these obstacles as long as you have the will power to do so you can overcome anything.

Trying Something New

As a new school year comes under way it gives us the opportunity to take it upon ourselves to try something new.
Whether it be joining a club, sport, or even just how you study new material its all up to you to take advantage of whats offered.
These new opportunities present themselves to you and their not going come and find you you've got to pursue them to be apart of them.
So for those of you out there who are reading this I challenge you to get involved this year.
Get involved if your not already ,and if you  are apart of something take a greater part in whatever it is your doing.
There are so many people out there who say about doing something and don't act upon it.
Be the person that does do something its up to you to make a difference in this world and its only you who can change it.


 

Emotions

As with any emotion to truly understand them you first must be able to experience them.
One can imagine what emotions are like without even experiencing them, however ones imagination has its boundaries and can't account for what the real emotion feels like.
One could wonder is this the reason why we  try to experience new emotions?
 Is it out of purely our curiosity that makes us strive to accomplish happiness?
Or is based upon the people around us and how we interact with them that will determine how we feel at the end of the day?
All it adds up to is life in general their isn't just a single factor that will effect us emotionally it's all apart of a bigger picture that as we mature we get a greater understanding of.


 

The Key to Sucess

Teamwork at it's core is by far one of the most valuable skills you need to have in order to succeed in life.
You can't always expect that every time you're assigned a project that you always have to do yourself there is always opportunities for collaborative work.
A truth about life is personalities don't always mesh and although you may not always like the people your working with you got to learn how to cope with  them.
Be punctual if your always arriving late to work then your not going to have a job for very long; its better to be early than late even if it means having to get up earlier than your use to.
In addition you are being considerate of the people your meeting and you don't want to hold them up from going somewhere else that they may need to go.
Be a leader as well as a follower, lead your coworkers by sharing what knowledge you have acquired when they need guidance or vice versa.
You always need to put your best foot forward because when you produce something it should be your best work and you shouldn't have to redo the project over.
This all comes from experience so don't worry if your first few attempts aren't the best you'll learn what works and what doesn't it'll just take some time to figure out how everything works.


 

A Strenous Day

August 10, 2012 Canoe Base Day 7

Today amongst all others was by far the most strenuous and longest.  Breakfast was simple we had cereal with dried fruit. When I first saw the fruit in the cereal I thought the cereal wasn't going to taste very good, but to my surprise it wasn't half bad.  Then we were off and the sun was shining and it was a hot morning. At our first portage we stopped along the way to check out Eddy falls which was a waterfall that was about sixty feet tall with roaring rapids. As we were admiring the falls our guide started walking towards the falls at first we weren't sure what he was doing until he went right into the water falls. We all followed suit and I was surprised by how warm the water was and I'm glad that I went into it because it made me feel refreshed and gave me a sense of strength that helped me throughout the day. By lunch time we had done about five portages and canoed eight miles. The portages varied in size some of them where long where as other  didn't even seem like it was worth getting out of the canoe because they were so short. For lunch we had peanut butter and jelly on Hudson Bay bread which I didn't like at all the bread tasted like I was biting into a cinder block. The rest of the afternoon we did another five portages and nine more miles and by the time I we reached the camp sight everyone was exhausted.

As for dinner we had pasta and corn it was delicious. For desert we had mouthwatering brownies which were by far the best snack we had yet. The journey is coming to an end as we have a day and a half left and I'm disappointed that its coming to an end. But the way I see it, I got to experience this once and lifetime opportunity and I'm glad that I was given the chance because this trip has taught me so much about myself and the people around me. Most importantly I learned that the only person who holds you back is yourself. If you don't take advantage of  the oppurnities given to you and don't make the most of what you have, your going to being missing out on your experience and not gaining as much value if you had acted.

Lifes Obstacle Course

August 9, 2012 Canoe Base Day 6

Today was by far the most challenging day I've had on this trip. Early in the morning I was awakened by my tent mates crushing me. The way we had set up the tent the previous night was on a slant which caused us to slide and crush one another. I tried numerous times to wake them up but with no avail they were out stone cold. Finally when breakfast time came I was able to slip out without disturbing them. The morning air was cool goose bumps lined my arms. To the east the sun was rising and it's beauty was astonishing I was overtaken for a while as I sat and watched it rise. Once everyone had gotten up I got to cook breakfast which was maple brown sugar oatmeal with fruits mixed in. After breakfast was when things started going downhill. As usual I was doing my regular morning routine checking the campsite for trash, making sure all the bags were packed. However this morning when I was helping carry down the canoes into the water I slipped and became bitterly cold. We quickly packed everything up and headed out so that I could warm up, however the weather didn't help much. It soon turned from a sunny morning to an overcast of clouds with an occasional breeze which made me feel miserable. Once we had gotten to our first portage I was relatively dry. This portage was mostly uphill which made it very challenging to carry an eighty pound bag on you or a canoe. After climbing up the hill for a short distance I slipped again scraping my arms up against the rock. I got up and shook it off and kept pushing through. Finally we started going down hill for a bit but as I continued to walk I ran into a gigantic puddle over a foot deep. As I was walking through it my foot caught a rock underneath the water and I landed face first in the water and yet again I was soaked. I tried numerous times to pull myself back up but I was unable to support the weight on my back and get up at the same time. One of my other crew members had to help me get back up on my feet and then I powered through the rest of the portages without getting wet. What lied ahead of us proved to be the most challenging obstacle we had to overcome it was a test of  not only ones strength, but of ones willingness to achieve.

From the east a powerful wind started blowing right at us making it much more challenging to canoe. The waves began to forum into white caps and our canoes began to rock back and forth. My heart began to beat faster as we tried powering through the waves. Pretty soon the canoe was in the air and I was praying that we wouldn't capsize. Our campsite was a mere three tenths of a mile away and what seemed like an eternity was only a matter of minutes as we arrived at the camp sight safe and sound. We broke out lunch and I ate like a mad man I was so overcome by today's obstacles I just wanted to put them behind me and look towards the days ahead. We had already at that point canoed a considerable distance that day so we made the group decision that we'd relax for the rest of the afternoon. At the end of the day just getting to relax for the afternoon was comforting it gave me a chance to unwind and reflect upon the day. Even though today might have been a obstacle course it taught me a lot about myself. It showed me that even though at point your whole world keeps crashing down you can always get back up. You have to take control of your'e life and pull yourself back up because if you don't your going to be on the ground going nowhere.

The Journey to the Scenic Lakes

August 8, 2012 Canoe Base Day 5

Last night was an interesting experience for me I slept in a five person tent and it was very difficult to sleep because it was too crowded. Despite it being crowded I still got a decent nights rest and was ready to take on  the next day. At sunrise we all got up and we started to prepare breakfast. We had bagels with peanut butter and jelly which tasted odd at first but then I got use to it. After cleanup we embarked yet another journey with the goal to make it to The Scenic Lakes which is a region of the lakes we were in. Once we were out on the water a sense of tranquility instilled  the moring air and all my thoughts were directed to admiring the world around me. Eventually after we had paddled for a few hours we made it to this place known as thunder point. Thunder point is an overlook of the region, as far as the eye could see there was vast landscape ranging from lakes to hills to forests. Shortly after we  left thunder point we came across our first portage and just along the outskirts on the other side was an open campsite were we would be having lunch. For lunch we had eggs and hash browns which were scrumshish. What came next proved to be the most challenging part of the day.

The wind picked up speed as we continued to canoe each stroke became more strenuous than the last. Eventually the wind had died down and we  had canoed 2 miles in a very short amount of time despite the wind. I had thought that was going to be the end of the wind but sure enough it picked up speed once again. We escaped the wind for a short while as we did a short portage but as soon as we went back out onto the water the winds raged on. We arrived at yet another portage but this portage wasn't like the rest we had done it was mainly all up hill and was by far the longest we had done so far.  At that point I was purely exhausted and was ready for some much needed rest.  But in the end of the day our hard work had paid off and we had made it to The Scenic Lakes.

As for dinner we cooked macaroni with tuna fish which at first didn't sound to appealing but wasn't half bad. One of the most important lessons I've learned so far is that you got to make do with what you have because to be truthful your'e not going to always like the food you have but your limited on what you can bring and you'd have to wait till the next morning to have some food.  In the middle of dinner it began to rain lightly at first each drop was like a tear drop falling from the sky but then it started picking up speed and we quickly made a shelter were we spent a few minutes until everyone decided that they'd go to bed. The way I see it I'd rather it be pouring buckets tonight than raining during the day. Hopefully tomorrow will be a much more easier day than today till then we relax awaiting tomorrows challenges.

And So The Journey Begins....

August 7, 2012 Canoe Base Day 4

The day had finally come the day that I had been anticipating for months. Before we set out we double checked to make sure that we had all of our supplies and then we made our way down to the waterfront to get our canoes. Every canoe was inspected by a waterfront advisor to ensure that there was no damage prior to giving you the canoe. After the canoe inspection was complete we went and got our paddles and our life jackets and then we were off.

Today's goal was to head east to the Canadian border and stop for lunch and then canoe a few more miles. After about five minutes of canoeing we were stopped by the forest service they were checking to make sure that all the adults and the guide had their permits. Once we got that cleared away we were off the lake was as smooth as glass which made it easy to canoe. When we got to the Canadian border we broke out some cold cuts for lunch and relaxed for a bit and then set back out into the boundary waters. After canoeing for about a half hour we came to our first portage. A portage is when you walk along small trails that connect the lakes together carrying either your gear or a canoe. By the end of the day we had done four more portages and everyone was exhausted we had canoed about 14 miles.

Today was a new start for me this experience is truly like no other.  I went into today thinking  that it wasn't going to be hard, granted its only the first day and it makes sense that were all tired. My dad said that our experience was going to play out like this that the first day we'd be totally exhausted, the second day we'd still be tired and the third day we'll power through it like it's nothing. At this point it's too early to tell if this will be true we'll just have to see how we feel by the end of each and every day and see how far we want to go the next day.  Most of all I am hoping to encounter some more wild life we didn't see much today but one never knows what they'll see you just have stay quiet and hope that you see something. When and if you do encounter wildlife enjoy it while it lasts because it might not be here for much longer and admire wildlife for its natural beauty.

The skyies are the limit

The feeling of the wind rushing passed my feathers as I soar across the sky gives me sense of freedoom.
The skys are my domain and I have the freedom to go anywhere the only thing that limits me is myself.
From miles away I can spot my prey as I soar in the sky.
I swoop down rocketing from the sky only to miss, and try again.

Into the Sudan Mines

August 6, 2012 Canoe Base Day 3

Today we visited the Sudan Mines which use to be a quarry deposit that got shut down because it was found that it would cost more money to operate the mine than the incoming profit. When we arrived we were given hard hats and we were told that we'd be going down into the mine. Eventually when the time came we fit everyone into two mineshaft elevators and it was tight. At first we were going down slow but then we picked up speed and all you could hear is the sound of rolling thunder. As we got deeper underground the temperature began to drop and soon became very chilly.When we arrived on the bottom floor there was a sign that said you are on the 27th floor which is 2,789 feet below the surface which surprised me I didn't know that mines went that deep underground. We all got into a mine cart and drove deeper into the mine where once we got to the center of the mine we all got out and were given a tour of how the mining system worked. After the tour was complete we stopped at dairy queen for lunch once again which was starting to become redundant.

Finally we made our way to canoe base and we hung out for the rest of the afternoon. Once the other troops had arrived we all conjugated into a small field and played various sorts of games and activities while the adults filled out paper work. My favorite activity was the tom hawk throw although most of the time I missed the target completely it was still fun just to be able to throw it. Another fun game we played was cat and mouse. Basically how it is set up is you have two stand alone stumps horizontally from one another and one person stands on each stump with and end of rope and the objective is to make the other person lose there balance or lose their end of the rope.  Amongst all things the history staff impressed me the most by far.  They were acting as voyagers who were the first people from the outside world to explore the boundary waters. They were able to keep up a french accent the entire time which made me convinced that they where really French Canadians but they weren't really.

Once the adults had finished all the paper work we planned out our voyage with our guide and decided that we'd be going on the scenic lakes route as discussed the previous night. Tomorrow we set out for a journey of a lifetime who knows what wonders may lie ahead of us or what we may encounter. I wait in anticipation for this voyage to start I can hardly contain myself I'm so excited. Tomorrow starts a journey  that I will truly never forget.

Lake Superior

August 5, 2012 Canoe Base Day 2:

At morning light we went out for break feast at a local diner that was a few blocks away from the Church where we had spent the night. The morning air was cool an occasional breeze sent chills down your spine. When we arrived at the diner I was surprised to see that it was much larger than I had imagined the place to be. Once everyone had settled in we ordered break feast. I ordered to cakes and I'd have to say they were the best cakes I've ever had. Each bite was sweet and savory and was a truly a one of a kind taste. Just as we were about to pay our bill we were surprised to find out that the priest of the Church we had stayed at, had already paid for us. We owed much gratitude and thanked him immensely then we set out for Duluth.

Duluth is a relatively small city that is encompassed by Lake Superior. Lake Superior is a part of the great lakes in Minnesota and happens to be the largest. We arrived in Duluth and split up into groups and spread out around the city. Most of us stayed together however and walked along a board walk that surrounded Lake Superior. For lunch we stopped at Dairy Queen for a quick bite to eat then headed off to see the cargo ship leave the harbor. We waited about fifteen or so minutes before it passed by and when it did I was astonished by its size. The ship spanned over a thousand feet and was five hundred feet wide it was truly a captivating sight.

Later in the afternoon we went to the Maritime Museum which is a museum that is dedicated to the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald was a ship that sank on Lake Superior; the ship was caught amongst a horrible storm. There were no survivors and many speculate on what exactly happened to the crew and the ship but what is known from the wreckage is that the boat split in half  and they believe that  the ship sunk partly because of the structural design of the ship.  Only time will tell and further investigation of what really happen to the Edmund Fitzgerald.  We were then off to have dinner at Olive Garden and then we'd be proceeding to the Giants Toe hotel which is a ski resort during the winter.

When we arrived at the hotel virtually no one was there the place was like a ghost town. We are sleeping in dorm style rooms with two bunk beds and a shower.  We have the place to ourselves which means it's going to be a long night for some reason everyone likes staying up all night and partying hopefully I'll get some rest.  Tomorrow we are off to the Sudan Mines we are going to have a tour of some sort. I'm not exactly sure what it may entail but I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

 

As each day passes I become closer and closer to canoe base. I've been anticipating this voyage for a long time now and I just know that it's going to be a blast. Who knows what I'll get out of this experience. The only thing  that I can say for sure is that by the end of this voyage I'll have learned more about myself. This trip is a test not only physically but mentally it will test my ability to overcome challenges and cope with the results. But the end it all goes down to my other crew members we work as a team to accomplish a goal and if we don't give it our all then we wont make it very far. 

Off to Minnesota We Go

August 4, 2012 Canoe Base Day 1

                The day was young as we set out on a journey of a lifetime. We are heading to Minnesota to canoe in the boundary waters.  I’m uncertain of what to expect along this voyage, however I do know that this experience is going to be one that stays with me for the rest of my life.   Every day I plan to make the most of and make every moment count because if my spend my time paying attention to every little detail I’m going to be missing out on the scope of my journey.

                In total we had twenty four people going along for this trip. Each person was divided into groups of eight people plus a guide.  I am the crew chief of my group; my responsibility is to assign various tasks to be done by my other crew members. These tasks consist of fire set up, cooking, cleaning, and tent set up and fetching water.

                Today when we arrived in Minnesota we went to the Mall Of America, which is the largest mall in America.  We looked around for a couple hours and explored what the mall had to offer. Before going on this trip I had been to this mall before so its size didn’t faze me as much as the other people in the group. After the mall we drove for about an hour and a half and stopped at pizza hut for some dinner. We then headed out to a church where we would be spending the night. Once every one had settled in we had a crew meeting to discuss how far we wanted to canoe.  We had some print outs of already set out treks that we could choose from that gave a brief description of the route, the difficultly and the amount of portages.  We all shared a similar interest in the scenic lakes route which was seventy miles and had about forty portages however we had an alternative if that route we planned on didn’t work out we’d go on the bear loop which was only fifty five miles and we could add more miles if we wanted to. Tomorrow we are off to Duluth to see Lake Superior and the Merit Time Museum. Who knows what may lie ahead of us in the coming days, but the way I see it every day brings on a new adventure and it’s up to us to explore the possibilities and endure the world around us.

Purpose

In life when one's purpose comes into question they become doubtful of whom they are.
One defines them self their definition is their purpose.
What one does with their life and how they resolve conflicts is their purpose.
All your actions and morals compile together and forum a purpose and without them you'd be lacking motivation to take control of your life.
We all have purpose it just takes time to find it and when we do we'll have taken one step closer into discovering who we are.

He who faces his fears prospers with success.
He who let's his ambitions guide him, conquers his own fears.
He who is knowledgeable gains respect from his peers.
He who is trustworthy is notable for his actions.
He who is caring is known by many.
He who works for his pay lives honestly.
He who portrays these qualities is an everyday man just like you and me.

The Perspective

I am often amazed on how much power words can have on another person.
To me there is two different perspectives there the readers and the writers.
As a writer I may have intended on my words to implicate something far more different than what the reader made out the words to be.
Writing is truly all based off of opinion and some piece's might make sense to some people but not everyone.
When someone writes they are telling a story,  their goal is to be able to relate to the readers and develop a connection with them that will entice them to keep reading.
Pharsing is key in writing and how you put your words together will determine if people will read what you wrote.

Seed

To me a woman is like a seed in the ground.
When you first meet her a hole is dug and a seed is buried.
As your relationship begins to strengthen roots expand into the ground and start forming something much more than what you had to start.
As your trust builds a bud forms from the ground and only through time does that bud start to become a flower.
Eventually you'll reach a point in your relationship when it's the strongest it'll ever be and that's when she'll blossoms like a flower.

Procrastination

One of the many challenges that people face is procrastination.
Many people often tend to push a goal aside and wait till the very last minute to finish it which in reality isn't their best work.
Personally I'd rather have at least attempted to complete a goal ahead of time and know that I at least tried then waiting till the very last minute and rushed everything.
That way I'll have more time to review my work and make sure that all the requirements are met and have time to revise if necessary .
Take a hoby for example, if you don't put in the time learn the hoby then your not going to get any better , but if you take the time to pratice the hoby eventually you'll become better.

Heart

If there ever comes a time or place in which we can't be together, then keep me in your heart and I'll be there forever.
I've always admired your partnership through out the hardest of times we always supported each other no matter the cost.
Whenever I'm with you I know that I can truly be myself without having to worry about a thing.
You've made me become a better man and for that I'm truly grateful.
Despite what obstacles may lay ahead of us I'll always be here for you no matter what.

Definition

As time passes on one will learn to count each day as a separate life.
Rather than spending each and every moment thinking about your future, look at each day as a new start.
You have a beginning but no middle or end, let each day give you the chance to define who you are.
Ultimately don't regret anything you do, because in the end that says who you are.

Invent yourself

You're only what you allow yourself to be.
You could be the kid who sits in the corner and doesn't have any friends, and then the next year you could be the most popular kid in school.
Although its easier said than done its possible to reinvent yourself.
If your the shy kid in school and don't talk with anybody then your not going to make any progress at making very many friends.
It's up to you to take the initiative to change it might be hard at first but in the end it will be worth it.

Live More

Live today because tomorrow will always come.
If your spending all your time worrying then your not making the most of your life.
In life there is an abundant amount of opportuinties, and its up to you to take advantage of those opportuinities while you can.
Life just doesn't stop when you want it to its always moving, and if your spending your time worrying you might overlook life.
But needless to say there is a time and place to worry just not all the time.
It might be true that you only live once however its what you do with your life that makes your life worth it in the end; so rather than worrying live more.

What the media says

In our generation we are constantly bombarded by all sorts of media that says we have to look a certain way or be someone were not.
We constantly allow ourselves to be influenced by the changing trends around us and we seem to loose track of who we want to be and who we actually are.
Beauty among all things is one of the most controversial topics covered by the media.
What a person defines as true beauty has been influenced greatly by the media.
The media reflects an image of what is believed to be true beauty, when in reality the media's views and beliefs shouldn't necessarily be your own.
In my opinion your only as beautiful as you allow yourself to be.
 If we rely on media to make our every decisions whether it be on fashion, things to buy or whatever it maybe, than were portraying their image not our own.
As an individual we should  making our own decisions and ultimately based off those decisions that we make reflect who we want to be.

For a relate article that I wrote check the following link out:
http://crooldogg5.blogspot.com/2012/04/minds-perception.html

The invisible Wall

I walk across an empty land leaving only footsteps behind.
I knew this pathway as if it was my destiny.
As I take each step a vague but distant memory draws me closer to a greater understanding of my life.
But I get to the point where I want to turn around and go back to where I came from but I can't it almost as if there is this invisible wall preventing me from turning back to my past.
This gave me a chance to reflect upon my life as I continued to walk.
 I began to realize that the invisible wall symbolized something more than just a barrier, but rather a foundation in which I've built my life around.
All throughout my life I've had a numerous amounts of failures but also I have achieved success.
In a way my life centers around my achievements and it was my pride and respect that gave me the willingness to achieve and gave me determination to climb my way up the latter to success.

I'll be there

When the light of day fades away I'll be there.
When you need a friend the most I'll be there every step of the way.
When you become old and gray I'll be there.
You wont ever have to worry about a thing because I'll be there holding you tight and never letting you go.

Summertime

Take a moment and close your eyes and reflect upon your school year.
Ask yourself did I do the very best I could do or could I have done better?
As summer approaches ones endeavors are lessened and ones mind tends to wander off into oblivion.
But needless to say no one wants to put in that extra effort when summer roles around which I don't blame you for not wanting to.
Summer is a time to relax and take a break from life's demands.
It's a time where you can truly be yourself and do what you want when you want.

Reading and Writing

Reading and writing are fundamentals parts our lives that we can't avoid.
Reading is like opening a window it allows us to see beyond the text and out into the world beyond.
Writing on the other hand allows us to formulate all of our thoughts into a common basis and share that knowledge with the world around us.
When reading and writing work together they open a window of opportunity allowing us to see reality in a whole new perspective.

A lone man's story

Writing is like a lone man's journey at first he is uncertain of where his footsteps will take him.
He has a beginning, but no middle or end.
He is like a kite entangled in branches.
Each branch symbolizes parts of his childhood and only by putting the pieces that are unclear together does he begin to untangle the kite from the branches.
As he continues to walk he comes to a fork in the road, each road leads down a different pathway that will ultimately determine what will happen to him.
This is his climax, his turning point either pathway that he could take will have a different resolution and each resolution will affect him for the better or for the worst.
His fate lies ahead of him which path he'll take is really all up to chance and his willingness to achieve.

A writers mind

When I was younger I kept a journal and I wrote down random thoughts. I never really thought much of writing until I showed my teacher Mr.Wolfman and from that moment on writing became a major part of my life. At first I was skeptical whether or not my writing was good or not and if I were to start writing more often whether people would actually read what I wrote. I began to start a writing journal where I put down ideas and as time went by I started to forum those ideas into poems and short stories.

When I first started to write my ideas where rather vague and incomplete and I wasn't quite sure if I was going to keep writing. But then one day this idea popped into my head that I'd start writing about different experiences that I've gone through and how I dealt with them. To be perfectly honest most of the things I write about didn't actually happen to me a lot of things that I write about are experiences I've heard about from others. This type of writing I enjoy the most and I plan to continually write about it in the coming future.

Often times when I look back at my older pieces of writing I can't believe that I actually wrote it, a lot of the times when I write it's not till after that I realize the full meaning of my writing. It's like if you ever been concentrating on getting something done and you want the best possible outcome without realizing the full potential of your work. I just tend to see past what I write often times. I'm not quite sure why but perhaps its just because I'm so deep within my thought process that I forget what I'm doing.

Ultimately when I write I like to bring the reader into my imagination, I don't want it to be something boring but rather something enticing, something that connect with the audience. Granted sometimes I do write for older audience's but that's besides the point. My goal is to provide a variety of different types of content that interests a variety of audiences.

Many people ask me how I come up with things to write about and there is really no definite answer sometimes I'm inspired by an event that occurs in my life other times it's just the spur of the moment but what ever I do write about has a significant meaning to me. The most I've ever spent on a single piece of writing is a little bit over a month, but typically I usually have an outline of a poem or short story written with a half hour or forty five minutes. Writing is my life and without it I'd be a much different person than I am today. Writing has opened up a door way into my future what will the future of my writing be? Well I'll just have to wait and see where it takes me.

Focus

As summer draws closer and the school year nears the end, many of us tend to lose focus and become lazy and stop doing our work.
 Which in reality to stop doing our work is pointless because in the beginning of the year we set a goal that we make it through this year and that accomplish goal.
Micheal Jordan once said "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. "
Just because it is the end of the year doesn't give you any accuse to lose focus from your goals.
In my opinion if you worked so hard to get where you are today why let all that work go to waste?
If you are going to finish something finish it strong.
 

 

Discovering True Love

When we first experience love it's not a certainty that we will fully understand all of it.
Within love there are embedded layers and only through our experiences do we gradually get a greater understanding of love.
Love is like an inner self it has a meaning and as time passes by you become connected to that inner self until one day it's discovered.

At first peace we must make amends with the dawn of the new day and we must not forget our past but rather reflect upon it.
Each and everyday we learn new things about ourselves.
Within us there is an inner self waiting to be discovered.
A sound mind and a clear pathway will lead us into finding our inner self.
One may ask how they can have a sound mind and a clear pathway lay out in front of them, well the answer is really all up to you to decipher.
Reflect upon your past and separate out the good parts from the bad parts and figure out what you where doing that caused them to occur.
Once you've separated the two out you look for similarities between the two and start piecing them together.
Then all it is simply how you put that puzzle together and figure out what that puzzle means you'll have found inner peace within yourself which ultimately will lead you into discovering who you truly are.

Knots

Of all the aspects of life the most valuable is friendship.
Friendship is like a knot when you first meet a person your like two ends of a rope.
As your friendship strengthens those two strands of rope start to come together and become something far more meaningful than what you had to start.
The rope will eventually form into a knot as your friendship strengthens.
The knot doesn't only symbolizes your friendship, but of your trust for one another and only by knowing that you can trust that person does that knot tighten.

Diligence

Despite what obstacles maybe put in front of us if we try to work around them or work through them we can accomplish our goals.
Life presents us with obstacles, these obstacles try to create barriers around us by making our lives much more challenging.
In relationships conflicts are bound to occur and these conflicts can either hurt us but they also benefit us because it allows us to take a step back from our relationship and reassess it as a whole and it allows us to realize something more about the other person.
It's like Thomas the Train Engine he told himself that he couldn't do it and allowed himself to be believe it.
But as time goes on him begins to think, hey maybe I can actually do this, by thinking that he could achieve his goal he gained confidence and overcame an obstacle.
That obstacle made him weaker and lessened his judgment but as he soon began to realize that he could actually achieve his goal his ambition lead him the rest of the way up that mountain.

The American Dream

Many people in American want to live the American dream.
We as a nation have very diverse opinions on what we believe as the ideal American dream.
Some of us believe that the American dream should be based off of family and hard work.
Which is mostly the case,  however I believe that many people over look the American dream and analyze it far to deeply.
Couldn't the American dream be something as simple as just being yourself?
A dream can be anything you make it out to be and just being yourself is a dream worth pursing.

Life's Message

Come like shadows in fire and in rain.
Listen to the winds whispers as they tell tales from long ago.
Hide nothing that lies from within, because the truth will always come out.
Speak not of tall tales, but of your ambitions.
Invest within your life for if you do you will prosper.

Our lives are changed by us, not by some one else.
We determine how we want to live , our life style might be  influenced by another person's but that doesn't mean that we live exactly like them.
You always have a choice in life, don't go off blaming the other person for your own mistakes.
Just because they can do something and not appear to have any consequences doesn't mean you should try it yourself, because sooner or later the consequence of your actions will come back and haunt you.

Life's Test

Life is always challenging us to try our hardest despite what maybe going on in our lives.
Life is like a race, it just doesn't slow down and let you catch up you've got to be on top of your life because if you let your self slip you'll fall behind.
Even though life can be very demanding and fast paced we mustn't take upon ourselves more than we can handle, because if we do we'll become overwhelmed and not have any time to relax.
In life there needs to be a balance between work and relaxation, if we have to much work we'll be overwhelmed and start to lose focus of our main goals, but if we relax to much we allow things to slip by more easier than when we where alert and working.
Ultimately in life we must learn the right time relax versus the time for work and the only way we'll learn is through experience.

Stress

Stress is one of the parts of life that can't be avoided, and instead of letting stress take control of our lives   we need to be able  learn how to cope with it.
I believe that the best way on managing our stress is figuring out what causes us the most stress.
Once we have determined what causes us the most stress we need to figure out ways to deal or cope with our stress whether it be reading a book ,or going for a walk it's really all up to you.
To sum it all up my main point, that I'm trying to get across is don't let stress take over your life, because if you do stress will wrap itself around you and you'll soon find yourself trapped with no easy way to get out.

In With The New, Out With The Old

There is a well known saying, in with the new and out with the with the old.
I feel as if many people in our society misinterpret it's meaning.
I believe that to truly understand it's meaning you've got to consider it's full meaning rather than interpreting it literally.
No one knows what the future  holds in store for us, the world is a changing place.
New innovations are made and before we know it the things that where the hottest item become outdated and many people forget about that item and move on.
The reality of it all is that the items that become outdated are still able to perform similar task just not as fast.
So as a society I  think we need to take a step back in our lives and appreciate the older things we have.
Rather than just buying what is hot perhaps we should buy something older just because the newer products claim to be better that doesn't mean that they are.

The Story Of My Life

As each day passes I watch as the clouds slowly drift away into the far away distance.
I often wonder where they maybe heading and when they reach their destination what will happen to them.
Like anything in life, everything has a story that goes along with it and I often wonder what my story will be.
Will I become a writer and write editorials in a newspaper or will I drift away from writing and do something completely different?
The story of my life is still unfolding and it is rapidly changing, I can't just dedicate all of my time  to focus on one particular goal I have to look at a range of opportunities and explore what the world has to offer.
It's just like a cloud when you see one , the sky  you just assume that eventually rain will fall from it for all we know that cloud could have been up in that sky since the late 1990's.
The stories of our lives can never be predetermined because at any moment our lives could change forever, so I leave you with but a question what will the story of your life be?
Will you live an earnest life and be remembered for all the good you have done?
Or will you live a life filled with anger and be remembered for the bad things you do?

Sucess

If success was easy to come by then the world would be a very different place.
Life would be a lot easier for we wouldn't have to work for anything and everything would just be handed right to us.
As any person would, taking the easy way out of life would be a whole lot easier than making life to complicated.
Some people may argue that that's the way they want to live, and of course that's all up to them to decide how they live but personally I highly disagree with that life style.
For I believe that success shouldn't just be a given entirety  it's something far more meaningful than it is preserved to be in our society.
success is a monumental part of our lives and without it life would be to boring .
I mean when you think of it in the other perspective say everything was handed to us and we didn't have to do anything where would we be?
Say we wanted an iPhone all we would have to do is say the word and it would appear.
That's not who we are, wouldn't rather work for something and know that you accomplished it rather than just being given what you wanted to create?
There's more sense of pride if you accomplished the task yourself and in turn the feeling of success would endure in us throughout the rest of our lives.

On The Road To Becoming An Eagle Scout

The night before I began my eagle scout project I found myself amidst a nerve racking feeling.
I was worried that I was going to screw up some how, or not enough people would show up to help.
I had some perspective on how I was going to approach the project to a degree,  but I was still uncertain about different aspects of the project itself.
Before I  knew it  morning came and I could feel butterflies filling inside of me.
When arrived at the site I began to unload the supplies and a sense of relief filled inside of me and I knew everything would turn out fine as long as I lead the group to the best of my ability.
After the project commenced I soon realized that I  had psyched myself out to much the night before and the project was much easier than I had expected.
So ultimately I learned from this experience to not psyche myself out to much because if I do it effects not only me but those around me.

The Mind's Perception

Life is your guardian, it's under your command to decide where you go.
There are something's in our past that we wish to forget about; when in reality our past is what makes us stronger.
Sometimes when we look into the mirror we see past our reflection.
We become insecure about ourselves and feel as if we must change ourselves "to fit in."
Our sub conscience makes us believe that ugly is the compliment we deserve.
We are never willing to except who we are and we just live off of our insecure nerve.
 If look you  into a mirror and say that I want to be perfect and that I want to change myself just to fit in, your heading down the wrong path because why strive to be perfect when you can just be yourself?

Leave No Trace

A cold breeze swept across my face causing a chill to shoot down my spine.
In the distance I could hear the echo of ocean waves crashing onto the sea shore.
I look towards the sky and was blinded by the suns brilliance.
I observed my surroundings and noticed an object immersed beneath the sand.
As I got closer I could begin to make out what appeared to be a cylinder like object.
When I had gotten to the object I knelt down and started to dig the object out of the ground.
The grains of sand smoothly went across my hand as I continued to dig.
 The object  appeared to be some sort of jar like object, it was hard tell what exactly it was due to the fact that the sheathing was covered in sand.
I picked up the object and it was much heavier than I had expected.
I felt the around the object until I found a crevasse which I presumed to be a lid and open up the object.
In cased with in the  object I found a piece of paper with writing on it that read:
Take only photo's, but leave no footsteps behind.
At first glance I didn't understand what the saying had meant but as I began to think more and more about it I was shocked to realize its deep meaning.
From my understanding it meant that to leave no trace of you being there and that ultimately don't change the environment in which your in.
Ever since that day I always reflect back upon it, and wonder who could of left that jar there and why?
I have came to the conclusion that perhaps that jar was placed there on purpose and that one day  a person was meant to find it and share it's words of wisdom.

Running On Thin Air ( Remastered)

As I was running I could hear the whispers of the wind.

I could feel the air that surrounded me push up against my skin.

I could hear the constant beat of my own footsteps.

I could hear the heavy breathing of which was mine.

Everything became blurry as I focused for the finish line.

Behind each turn as I run, the air goes in and out of my lungs.

But it is the need for additional thin air that drives me to the finish line. 

Running with the thin air is like running with no air at all.

Your body feels light as you take each step fast, and at a consistent rate.

 The world around you seems vague.

Your mind is set on one goal, to win.

 If I don’t win, I will run faster next time.

 Winning isn’t essential to running.

 I believe just to improve over a period of time is an achievement in itself.

As you take that next breath remember you are running to get that feeling of Running On Thin Air.