Someday Soon

Someday soon we will shoot for the stars.
When we get there we won't ever stop.
Someday soon we will fall in love.
It could be today, tomorrow or in the near future.
Someday soon we will become one body; one soul.
Someday soon we will accomplish our wildest dreams and all it will take is me and you.
 

My Coming of Age

With summer vacation around the corner it's hard to believe that I'm almost a senior.
High school has gone by faster than I ever would have imagined.
One moment I was a freshman lost, dazed and confused and now my high school career is nearing the end.

My freshman year was my hardest year in high school, yet it marked my transition from childhood to manhood.
Reflecting back upon my high school experience, it was because of my teachers and my friends that guided me into finding my true identity.
On my very first day of school I met my homeroom teacher Mr.Wolfman.
I didn't know it then but he later would become a major part of my life.
Once a few weeks had passed I began to feel more comfortable in the new environment.
I had this idea about writing an article about my views of social media when I told Mr.Wolfman about my idea he loved it and told me that we could work on it together.
The next day, I came in with a rough draft and he sat down with me and we worked on it together.
Through the whole process he helped me realize what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, writing.
I don't think I could ever thank him enough for all that he has done for me.
It goes to show that sometimes even a simple gesture, might lead someone into realizing something about themselves.

In my freshman year, I also met Martwuan who had a major impact on my life.
Martwuan and I where like brothers we always had each others backs no matter what.
He taught me how to be more confident around other people.
I've always had a propensity to be a shy person and most of the time I have I spend alone.
However Martwuan made me more confident about myself.
One time in particular there was this random girl who was sitting all alone, he wanted me to go talk to her.
I told him there would be no way I'd go and talk to her.
Within a few minutes he had convinced me into  going over and talking to her.
As I walked over he cheered me on I felt so embarrassed.
He said "Let's go Matt" then he clapped his hands.
When I got over to her she said to me "Looks like you got a fan club over there."
"That's just my friend being a pain."
Then of course as we continued to talk he kept cheering me on.
The bell rang thankfully and I went over to him.
"Dude you made me feel completely embarrassed over there."
"I was just trying to keep you motivated."
Thinking back now I understand what he was trying to do but back then I felt that he was just being a pain.
I realize now that he was trying to have me meet new people, which by myself I wouldn't normally do.
To this day I still have some trouble meeting new people, however now I am more willing to give it a shot.
If I ever have any doubts, I just think back to that day when he was cheering me on and that's what motivates me to move forward in my life.

Sophomore year, arguably my best year of high school , I met Mr. Garretson.
He made learning history fun.
In prior year I had just taken notes in class and memorized the material.
Mr.Garretson however had a different approach.
He would have us do skits, write journals and protests on the time period we were studying.
We where always moving in his class which I thoroughly enjoyed.
At of all of my high school teachers he has had one of the influential impacts on my life.
He showed me what history can be rather than what it is.; he showed me history in a new perceptive that made my views change on history completely.
I believe that the most important thing he taught me was to embrace my inner creativity no matter what.
Even if it is as simple as writing a poem or drawing a picture we all need some way to express ourselves.

Midway through the year I met Josh.
Josh taught me the value of friendship and what it means.
On my eagle scout project he helped me with every single map.
In school he would always give me advice about life and much of what he told me I use to this day.

Also in my sophomore year I joined our schools TV production.
Through TV production I learned the importance of being apart of something no matter how small.
Down in TV production I found a place were I could fit in.
It's a place were everyone is like a family to me.
Mr.Devlen our teacher definitely plays into the chemistry of our family.
Without him none of this would have been possible.
I am grateful for the opportunity he has given us.
I am also grateful for him helping me realize that I have a passion for broadcast journalism and some day I hope to get a degree in it.

Junior year went by the fastest.
It seems like yesterday when I first started.
Although I can't choose one teacher in particular that had a major impact on my life in junior year there was one class that I matured in.
In English, I struggled initially because I wasn't understanding all of the concepts but after sitting down with Mr.Tarlin everything began to make sense.
In his class my analytical skills vastly improved.
When I first started my analysis were to long and too wordy, however I became a stronger analyzer through lots of practice.

In the beginning of my junior year I met Dante.
He taught me the importance of setting goals.
No matter how farfetched they might be.
You can always aspire to be the very best you can be.
I think what Dante taught me is the central meaning of high school.
It's true that through  high school  you obtain an education but I think it goes beyond that.
High school is the time were you get to explore your interests.
It's a time were setting goals, building relationships and embracing ones creativity become essential in what lies in the future ahead.









 

The Journey Beyond Eagle

Now that I have obtained the rank of Eagle, I've often wondered what will be next for me in scouting?
Until recently I wasn't sure what I would be doing.
I've realized that I want to guide others on their journey.
Whether it be in scouting or beyond.
Currently I'm working with one scout in particular who has a genuine interest in scouting.
He doesn't always understand all of the concepts but he tries his hardest.
I admired his growth as an individual and one day I see him becoming a leader of our fine nation.
He reminds me a lot of myself.
I did not always understand all the concepts right away but with the guidance of a mentor I was able to advance through the ranks.
I use to feel that it was my responsibility to take the lead.
However, now I don't lead because I have to I lead because I want to.




 

A World of Silence

Before you read consider the following quote:

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.  - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We live in a world were too many people live in silence.
The world is constantly changing around us yet we still remain silent.
We work on finding our voice in our society but every time we speak no one hears us.
Is it because we don't speak loud enough?
Or is it because our voice became intangible?
Or is it because  our silence became our inner most virtue?
The real question becomes whether or not we want to remain silent or whether we want to find our voice.
But how do we find that voice?
Is it something that falls from the sky?
From the moon?
From the stars?
From a whisper?
Or is it something that we find over the course of our lifetime?
When we find our voice though, does that ever really end the silence in this world?
Aren't there still people out there who haven't found their own voice?
What do we do then?
Do we wait for them to find their voice?
Or do we remain silent?
There is always more we can do for the betterment of others.
If you ever see someone who is silent in this world tell them about your voice.
Tell them how you were able to find your voice; your passion.
Then guide them through the journey as they begin to figure out their own inner voice.
Once you have done that, then the silence of this world will have finally been broken.

 

The Call of the Rain

Unlike most people, I enjoy the rain for what it is.
There is this sense of tranquility that soothes me when it rains.
When it's hot or cold, I find that I can't concentrate on my thoughts.
However, when it rains I find inspiration.
I don't know if it's the soft touch of rain drops upon my face; or the soothing echo of rain.
I sometimes find myself standing in the rain.
I close my eyes and I listen.
Each rain drop sounds differently.
Some rain drops sound louder than others.
Regardless, every rain drop sings its own song.
Some sing of knights who slayed fire breathing dragons.
Others sing of great men, who once walked this earth.
As the rain slowly fades away, these once triumphant songs become but a whisper of the past.

A World of Words

Every letter when formed together creates words.
Words create thoughts.
Thoughts on their own create individual ideas.
My life is surrounded by words.
I look left I see words; I look right and I see words.
What these words mean to me could mean something completely different to you.
What you see as a simple object, I see as a metaphor.
When you see an apple that's all you see.
When I see an apple I see an elaborate puzzle.
When I solve this puzzle, I transpose what I've uncovered.
When you find yourself stumped on what to write; I find myself lost in an array of words.
When you dream of chocolate covered streets; I dream of stories.
At the end of the day though, all that really matters was whether or not, I was able to make a long lasting impact on you that will stay with you, until the very end.

What Patriotism Means to Me

To me patriotism means a lot more, than just the American flag.
It extends further than just having pride in my country.
To me patriotism is all about accomplishing our dreams.
When I think of patriotism, it makes me think about Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
His speech shows us how far we have come, yet it still reminds us of whom we are.
I think it's from his speech, that the roots of patriotism lie.
He spoke of how that one day he hoped that race, would not be the judgment of our character; but rather who we are as an individual.
It's through this dream that patriotism is discovered.
Embracing who we are is what I think patriotism is.
It's not about how much money you have, or where you live,
It's about you as an individual, living your life the way you want to live.
Whether that means pursuing your dreams today, tomorrow or even in the future; as long as you stay true to yourself, your dreams will become realized.