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-Kaiti Wulker

The Beginning by Nicole Daley

The Beginning by Nicole Daley

 

My opinion may not matter

With my looks I do not flatter

My words cant express

How you can impress

So adorable, cute, and stunning

My mind stops running

The heart can't comprehend

These mixed messages you send

Since the introduction

My mind can't quite function

I think you are my crush

I know I should not rush

But how do I win your heart

When you didn't like me from the start

How do I begin

So that I end in a win?

When you look at me do you find interest
Or does your mind scream in distress
Do you need me to spell it out
Do you need me to shout out loud
You're the one I want to date
Even though your words intimidate
But you are out of reach
On a level I cannot teach
Will your passion rise higher
With my words do I inspire
So difficult to impress
It causes so much stress
This emotion burns my heart
How do I begin to start
How do I create a relationship
Mold your feelings with great craftmanship.

Books or Movies First?

Which do you prefer, to read the book and then see the movie or see the movie and then read the book? Personally, I’m a bit backwards, I prefer to see the movie and then read the book. I like this way because movies based on books give me a detailed plot summary of the story. If I enjoy the movie, chances are I will enjoy the book. (Except for with Les Misérables, as much as I enjoyed that movie, that book has like 1,000 pages! Truthfully, I just can’t see myself reading that.) However, I saw the movie Life of Pi before I had finished the book, and I think only after I knew where the story was going could I really enjoy the journey.  Ultimately, I ended up liking that book a lot more than I thought I would. Also, with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I saw that movie before I read the book, and I adore them both. Overall, I feel the reason I like this is that being able to see the characters before I really know much about them makes me care more about their stories than when I know everything about them right away. In other news, I am very excited for the new Gatsby movie, and I actually read that book first, thanks Ms. DeBlasio :)

 

Gatsby Trailer Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEzDvPLR_9M

P.S. Yes Gatsby, I do think it’s too much.

--Emmy

Public Speaking

For some people, just the name of this post would make their heart race and their hands get sweaty. For others, including me, public speaking is a nice opportunity for an easy A. However, no matter how you feel, you have to do it. So just take a deep breath, try to calm down, and prepare, prepare, prepare.

As any Boy Scout could tell you, you should always be prepared. Fortunately, you have a lot of different options for how to prepare. If your project is about a book or a specific topic, read the book or research the topic. You'll be a lot less nervous if you don't have to make stuff up on the spot. Next, organize your thoughts. Note cards are usually a good and permitted method that you can use in your speech. Remember to think about your introduction and conclusion, not just the actual content. I usually find an outline most helpful for that, since you can divide it up in advance. If you need to make a visual aid, only put your main points on there so you don't get reprimanded for reading directly off of it. The same should go for your note cards. You can use a little more detail on there, but you shouldn't just read through them. Know your topic well enough that you can elaborate on the ideas you've written.

The next step of preparation is practice. Practice articulating the material, and make sure it fits in any time constraints. Make sure you know the order of your points so you don't accidentally skip around and have to go back. If it makes you feel better, practice it in front of your family or friends. The only way to get more comfortable with public speaking is to do it a lot.

Once you're prepared, you might still be scared. That's understandable but unnecessary. You know what you're going to say and you know how you'll say it, and if you try to stay confident you'll be great. Plant yourself, look your audience in the eyes, and jump right in. Feel fabulous and you'll be fabulous.

~Jamie

How to Say No

In one of my favorite movies, 27 Dresses, James Marsden’s character attempts to teach Katherine Heigl’s how to say no. Although his efforts are futile, this moment in the film proves to be pretty funny. Katherine Heigl’s inability to say no to people reminds me of a certain blog post. One that I was talked into writing by a certain sophomore in the sixth period writing center. This experience in writing this blog post, that I’m sure no one will particularly care about, really made me realize something about myself: I really can’t say no. Of course, in obvious situations where someone asks if they can have a piece of my chocolate or other sweet and delectable dessert, I have no problem shutting them down with a sweet, and delicate “HECK TO THE NO!” In other cases, however, I am not as sweet or delicate. Cases such as when the lady working the Panera cash register asks me if I want to buy a cookie -  “Uh, duh” - or in more pressing matters, when the lady working the cash register at Orange Leaf asks me if I want to buy a points card. Usually in these situations, I stutter awkwardly until I finally cave and mutter a low and barely audible “yes.” Sometimes, however, I am blessed with the ability to say “no”, but then strickenly burdened with infinite guilt, like today when I was asked if I wanted to be an organ donor. I said no, but I feel really bad about it, because what if I die today and someone needs a heart, or some other organ that my dead body doesn’t need. What then? I mean, I plan to be cremated anyway, so why not give my organs to someone in need? Of course this fear of being an organ donor came from Susan at Drive With Pride, who expressed her deep fear of being an organ donor on her license because she’s a motorcyclist who is afraid that because doctors believe motorcyclists to be committing suicide while riding their motorcycles they’ll just quit trying to save her and then be blessed with organs for everyone. Of course I don’t ride a motorcycle, so I don’t know what I’m so afraid of. But, I digress. Something about saying no just sucks. Besides, if I would’ve said no to that certain sophomore in the sixth period writing center, this blog would be lacking this beautiful post, wouldn’t it?

-Jalana Phillips.

Appropriate Handshake Techniques

                While the art of handshaking is not as elusive as, say, the art of being a ninja, it has been practiced at least as long. Ancient knights used handshakes as a show of peace. Extending hands, palm empty, showed that they concealed no weapons, and gripping each other’s hands was a way to test each their strength. Although you’re not likely to cross paths with an ancient knight on your way to a coffee shop, handshakes are still important. They can be used to seal a deal, greet someone formally, or conduct the age-old contest of strength. So, here are some of the basics:

1. The Standard Shake: Both parties extend right hands perpendicular to the ground and form fingers into a mitten shape. Clasp mittens and shake one to three times.
2. The Overachiever: This is the same as the first one, but with a lot more shaking. If your partner tries to remove their hand, tighten your grip and keep shaking.
3. The Limp Fish: One of the parties has been properly trained in the art of the standard shake, but the other needs to go back to school. This person will approach the clasp slowly, and then let their partner do all the shaking as they hang on for the ride. You may want to obtain some hand sanitizer after this one, because his or her hand will inevitably be clammy.
4. The Lumberjack: Users of this handshake may be insecure in their own strength, so they have to prove it to every unfortunate soul that comes in contact with them. Warning: if he or she pauses to crack their knuckles before shaking your hand, politely revert to number five.
5. The Fist Bump: Popularized by germaphobes such as Howie Mandel, this is not technically a hand shake, but I still thought I’d include it in the list. Both parties form a fist and “bump” each other. Explosion noises are optional.

Now you know! 

~Jennifer Brown

What If??

• What if only one planet in the entire universe can have life on it at a time, and right now that planet is Earth. When life on Earth dies out, a new planet will adopt life.
• What if life is just a video game, or a dream, and we are the puppets.
• What if when we make animal noises, such as "meow", we are actually speaking in the language of the animal but instead of coherent sentences, we are just saying random words.
• What if hot is cold, and cold is actually hot.
• What if our pets own us, and we don't own our pets.
• What if the things we see are not what everybody else sees. For example, the green that I see may look to you like the blue that I see, but we both agree that it is green.
• What if we live life in slow motion, but time actually goes super fast.
• What if when people talk, no sounds come out and we are just reading people's minds.
• What if everything that happens is magic, and we are just so used to it that we deem magic as reality.
• WHAT IF

Earth Day? What's That?

Earth Day was started in 1969 at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, so it is a relatively new holiday.  But what is the purpose of the seemingly uneventful holiday?  Could it be another Hallmark holiday? Imagine receiving a card from your grandmother in the mail wishing you a "Happy Earth Day" with a picture of an anthropomorphized, smiling Earth on it.  Surely Hallmark isn't making much money off of this holiday.  So what is the significance to Earth Day if there is no celebration?  Well maybe holidays doesn't require a celebration, but bring about awareness.  According to wikipedia (the most reliable source on the web), Earth Day was created to support environmental protection.  In fact, it's a bigger deal than one might expect.  It is celebrated by 192 countries around the world.  The thought of 192 countries coming together in the desire to protect the Earth that we share is remarkable if you think about it.  Even if Earth Day seems insignificant, the basis behind it is just the opposite.  If nothing else, respect the Earth and respect the one day that we celebrate it in unity.

Webster's Dream
Hot sheets$
Cold nights$
Green linens$

Sulfide bubbling hot dog
do not eat.

Seriously!$
Some poetry coming at you from Joe Hansma.Senior year is supposed to be a time of happy lasts and growing up but for some they can't help but cause drama.  With 20 days of school left in my high school career I cannot help but notice the amount of drama that is going around.  It's prom and graduation and AP tests and everyhting else in between but we are never going to see each other again.  I don't understand it and probably never will.  With school coming to an end I am happy to be done and ready for college.  OSU is going to be so awesome next yaer and I can't wait to never have to have a hall pass again.  I won't have a class before nine and won't have to clean my room because my mo won't be there to say anything.  I have nothing left to say now so I'm signing off!

Yours Truly,
Margaret Gearhart

Senior year is

Social Networking

The social media is generally a negative thing. With an increased popularity in the recent years, it turned from an interesting, new concept to a consuming portion of many young and old people's lives. Many of the not-so-appealing qualities are recognized by those who use these sites daily, as well as those who stay strong and refuse to jump on the social networking band wagon, yet millions of people log on daily, wasting time that some cannot afford.
Specific reasons the social media is bad:

• It causes drama.
• It endorses cyber-bullying and harassment.
• Lowers self-esteem. While you're sitting home on the computer, you see lovely pictures and posts of people having a good time. Or, people can be a little too honest.
• Leads to isolation (in some cases, or every once in a while)
• It wastes time that could be spent doing schoolwork.
• No one cares about your updates, statuses, "tweets", etc.
• Even if they do, they shouldn't:
• If they were there, they were there. I'm sure they do not need to be reminded. 
• If they weren't there, it's none of their business. 
• If they need to know, you can/will tell them yourself. 
• If they want to know, they can ask you themselves.
• If it's about them, tell it to their face. Simple as that.
• Possible/current colleges and employers can acquire access to your pages. Bad news for those with some...interesting posts. There is no privacy and teenagers especially are not careful about what they post!
• Decreases the need for face-to-face contact, reducing social skills.
• Makes interactions with friends, family, co-workers, whoever less personal, less sentimental.
• Social networking is ADDICTIVE!

While Facebook, Twitter, tumblr., Instagram, or whatever are helpful with connecting with old friends and family, making new friends, or keeping in touch with "friends", your friends should already know how to contact you. There are many positives that have came out of this new age, such as business opportunities, spread of awareness on topics, and blossoming new love and friendships, I truly believe the negatives outweigh the positives of Social Networking.

Think twice about what you post. Resist the urge to get on the internet.

Julia B.

So I have been looking at the posts before mine, and listening to the people around me and realized life is mostly about preparing yourself. I remember all the teachers in Jr. High preparing us for high school, and then all of high school preparing us for college, and then college will prepare us for life. There is always something to get ready for. As of right now, college is a huge topic even for us juniors (though I’m sure it is a lot more stressful for seniors). Our classes are based on what college will be like, our jobs revolve around how to get into college, and even some of our after school activities are chosen because they look good to colleges. Sometimes it seems like we just can’t just focus on the present. I know that seems a little dramatic, but it’s true. We may be living in the present, but the future is pretty much looming over us where ever we go. This is really taxing because it never stops; there will always be a future. We will always be preparing for another day. And I know we should definitely be thinking about the consequences of our actions, but since we don’t know how everything will turn out, we should also enjoy the moment.

With that said, enjoy today because you can’t always count on tomorrow.

~Emily S.

I Wonder What Kobe Bryant Collects....

        As a new teacher this year, I've found myself answering all sorts of questions.  Undoubtedly, the two most popular ones are:

1) Did you really take a charge from Kobe Bryant?
2) Why do you collect typewriters?

        Here's my best attempt at #2, lovingly typed on my 1931 Royal Model P....

    

Writer's Block and How to Deal With It

By: Kelly Shelton

                                

Writer's block is a pain that every student and writer comes across when writing their research paper or creating the next classic novel.  I always get stuck in the worst possible parts of my paper like the conclusion or those super stellar attention getters and I've always wanted to find a quick way to get me back to writing. So, I decided to research some methods online and from other teachers for helping with writer's block and put them on here to be a caring person because God knows I will probably come back and read these methods myself on the next paper. So here you go world.  Let's be friends and get through this together.

1. The Claus Method: Write down your ideas on a separate sheet of paper and just follow your train of thought.  Don't worry about flow just write down your ideas as they come to you and go with it.  Once you feel you have written a sufficient amount of information that could be used in your paper, cut up the sentences and place them where you think they should go in order of your paper.  It may be a little tedious but it will get you somewhere in the end.
2. The Muscle Method: This method encompasses a couple different ones that I found.  This includes stretching and just getting away from your paper for a bit.  Stretch your arms and back then get down to business.  This refocuses your mind in a clear way to be more apt to write.  If this still doesn't work, go get a snack or walk around.  Save it and come back to it later when your mind is fresher and more ready to get your sweet writing skills on.
3. Talk About It: Sometimes it helps to go see a teacher and have them read it or have a friend read it as well.  Other people could give you a nudge into what you might want to write down next.  They might just have to point out another angle to consider and your thoughts will start coming faster than you can write them down.
4. Revisit:  Another method is to revisit the mental or written outline that you have for your paper.  Seeing where you want to go next can refresh your mind into how you want to make your paper flow.  The breakdown of it can give your mind a step by step way of trucking through your block.

Well these are just a few methods and I'm sure there are other specific methods like drinking tea or playing with your cat or someone else's cat or petting a baby bunny that could work just as well (THE BUNNY!!!). But those are more specific to the person so I just gave you the ones that the all-knowing internet talked about the most and that I've personally found helpful so enjoy it, live long and prosper and all that jazz.
... Bye!

College Decisions

College Decisions

By Jessica Mertens

    Senior year is by far one of the most stressful years of your life. You are expected to make decisions about your future career and acknowledge the responsibility you will be taking on. Although high school can prepare you for college in many ways, it may not help you decide on a career. Even if you decide to enter college as an undecided major, as many choose to do, the choice still preoccupies your thoughts. As a senior who has gone through most of her senior year already, here are some things that I have learned.

1. When you are applying to colleges, apply to places that you want to go because you actually like the atmosphere or education ect. Don't let others decide for you. You will make new friends and your family should always support you no matter where you are.
2. Think carefully about what you enjoy doing. This may help you decide on a future career and even help you select your future college.
3. Apply for FASFA and any other scholarships as much as you can. Any money that you can get for college only helps you in the long run. Especially those who cannot afford college. I hear so many people complain that they can't live on campus at school because they are too expensive and they don't want to take loans. Of course, that's a personal choice. But when you really want to do something and loans can help and be paid off in the future, I think you should take advantage of every opportunity you have.
4. ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL! It's the last time you will be with everyone. Everyone is anxious to move on to the next chapter of your life, but you still need to stop and "smell the roses".  Take advantage of your opportunities and maybe even try something new! Enjoy the time you have with your friends and make the most out of your experiences. Don't stress so much that you can't have fun. Everything will work out the way that it is supposed too! 

Prison

                       

     At 7:15, the bars lock shut. The guards make sure all of the prisoners are in their cells. Prisoners may only leave their cells when the alarm rings.

      Each prisoner is faced with a 4 year sentence for an unknown crime. Prisoners who fail to meet good behavior in 4 years are sentenced to more years in prison.

     At 10:20, the alarm sounds for the first level prisoners to eat lunch. If riots break out, the warden will send some prisoners to isolation while giving others a speech about respect. A strict dress code is implemented.

        Illegal substances like food are not permitted in the prisoners’ cells because they jeopardize the safety of other prisoners. Smuggling the illegal contraband is subject to severe punishment. Only the guards have permission to such privileges.               

      At 2:05, the final alarm sounds. Prisoners are under the illusion that the rest of the time is their own. However, the guards assign special recreations to keep prisoners busy and out of trouble. The nightly recreation is long and tedious. Once completed, prisoners have no more “free time” and must go to bed immediately.

You know… Just a typical day at high school.

-Megan Y

Seniors (Cayla Martin)

For 4 years we have been surrounded by the same familiar faces, some that we love and some, well not so much. Although my brain is screaming "I'm so excited to be done with high school and move on," I am starting to look around the crowded halls of Milford High School and realize that soon I won't be coming back here. I won't be seeing most of these people again. This bittersweet realization is opening my eyes to the changes that I'm about to experience in my life. All of us are heading out into a big world, one we've never really explored before. For the past 18 years, I'm sure most of us have thought at some point "I can't wait to get out of here. I can't wait to be on my own." But now that it's really happening, it's a little scary. We're about to encounter countless new faces that we've never seen before. It's finally time for the seniors to move on and figure out exactly what the future has in store for them.

College is an exciting concept. Have you ever thought about how different it will be? We don't need a hall pass to go to the bathroom anymore. We don't need a note from mommy to get out of class early. No assigned seats, no attendance records (in most cases). No curfew! We finally get to be independent adults...weird, right? Soon we will have responsibilities that a lot of us have never had before. This is the crucial time that we will find out who we really are but also how hard it can be to live on our own.  Most of us are moving to a campus somewhere; we are about to have a new home. All new friends, new teachers, new classes, a roommate. And most importantly, our parents won't be sleeping down the hall from us. So many changes are happening that it's almost hard to believe that this will be happening in the matter of months.

The future is bright my friends, it is what you make of it. So do me a favor...make it count! Have fun and enjoy all of the opportunities college has to offer. It's time to start making our dreams become a reality.

E-Readers versus Paper Books (guest post by Joel Keefer)

E-Readers vs. Paper Books

            Since the invention of the printing press in 1450, paper has established dominance over the written word. Anything worth remembering was typed or scrawled across dead tree matter. Then, the internet. The technology boom of the twenty-first century. Handheld e-readers are now all the rage. Why kill trees? Use Earth’s stronger, long-lasting materials instead. Of course, there are those who still cling to the old ways, destroying forests with their intellect and thirst for knowledge. I imagine when it comes down to it, there are two types of people: The E-Readers and the Tree-Readers.

            The E-Readers love information. They thrive on it. Nothing excites an E-Reader quite so much as a click of a button revealing the dictionary definition of some obscure three-syllable word previously unknown to all but the scribes of old. They can carry within their e-readers the weight of hundreds of books, yet hold a meek slab of metal and glass weighing ounces. The      E-Readers love to walk into a Starbucks and log on to the complimentary wifi on their Apple product and peruse the internet for vintage-style clothing before settling down to read little-known literary masterpieces such as The Great Gatsby, Anthem, or The New York Times. The E-Readers have the power to highlight, add notes, and underline in their books without lifting a single writing utensil to sully the book itself. How marvelous!

            Then, on the other hand, we have the Tree-Readers. These crude beasts lounge in ignorant bliss, unaware of their true despondency. They are unable to accept change and cling to their tree-flesh like a babe to its mother. They claim to love their books so much that they insist upon dirtying the pages with pieces of themselves. They leave coffee stains on page 43, so that there is a perpetual comforting stink of a steaming mug on a rainy day lingering behind the warm smell of the book itself. The Tree-Readers also break the spines of their ungrateful dead trees, and with them the hopes of all those suffering from OCD. They think themselves superior and leave in the margins messages for those who come after: trivial comments about an obscure motif, the author’s style, or “hahaha love the humor!” or a snarky quip at a minor character, or a tear stain. The Tree-Readers earmark pages and clutter the lines of Kant and Hemingway with their own personal insights. They underline those words they do not know, such as “superciliousness,” but are too sloth to search for in that larger, eponymous pile of dead tree droppings. Why struggle with Webster when you can have the whole of the internet at your fingertips? How absurd!

            The E-Readers value such things as cleanliness and facts. They obsessively wipe the grimy finger-paint of life left over on their screens to better see the pure white pages glinting at them behind the glass enclosure. They google “theme of lord of the flies” just to be sure they read Golding well enough. The E-Readers adore the sheen of the screen, the unflinching facts wikipedia provides them on the author’s illicit affairs, the clean feeling of reaching 100% completion of their intangible book. They adore when a passerby comments on the fabulous technology enveloped in their e-reader. They cringe monthly when a new and improved specimen is released, sending their beloved model of e-reader into the abyss of antiquity. How upsetting.

            The Tree-Readers value different things. They value the glimmers of inspiration found in the phrases, the raw emotions leaking from the print, the warm grainy feel of a page turned. They don’t mind so much when someone comments on the state of disrepair their book lies in; instead they laugh and say blabber something about “well-loved” before returning to the seas of imagination they were sailing moments before. The Tree-Readers value insight and ask others what they thought of that part when the main guy said that one thing but they really meant the other and you know? They discuss and discourse and understand their book in some misshapen form, rather than a straight line with SparkNotes attached at the end. How illogical!

            The Tree-Readers and the E-Readers balance each other. The Tree-Readers are an endangered species, loping about, unaware that they are in danger. The E-Readers come to the rescue with shiny new things, lab-proven proven to help the situation. The two meet, attempt to change the other, and then part ways, sure that their opposite will adjust their ways so as to adapt to the future. They both earn their merits and are awarded their medals for valour extraordinaire.

Between the two groups, however, there is no reconciliation. They silently grapple in a battle of the mind, each intent upon victory, neither sure what victory entails.

            With the world becoming so confrontational, I have decided to carry with me at all times both an e-reader and a paper book in order to eschew obfuscation as to my stance on the aforementioned issue. How clever!

Victory versus Defeat (guest post by Nick Prather)

Victory vs. Defeat

It is inevitable that in every competition, there will be a winner and a loser. If there is not a winner and a loser, you are probably not in a competition. 

If you have ever stood on a sideline at the end of a game, you know that there is a monumental difference between the two teams.

The first thing that you may notice is the difference in the two teams’ body language.

The winning team usually has their arms raised, much like Usain Bolt after winning a race or Tom Brady after winning the super bowl.

Also, you may notice that the winners have smiles on their faces, love and affection for their teammates, and a sense of pride.

If you were to look on the losing side, you would see a completely different story. Negative body language and negative facial expressions can be seen with ease. 

The losing teams’ players usually have their heads down, a defeated look on their eyes, and a dropped jaw in disbelief.          

 These images are prime examples of the negative body language that can be seen on the losing

sidelines. When comparing the two images with Brady, it is clear which side he is on in both situations. The image on the right depicts two Baltimore Raven players with a shocked look on their face.

The immediate differences between winners and losers are clear. But if the stakes are higher than a super bowl, like let’s say, war, the winner can change the course of history.

Major victories in the United States’ history that immediately come to mind are the revolution and the civil war.

Think about what could have happened if the colonists had not won the Revolutionary War. Would there be a United States? Would all Americans be British?

The Civil War resulted in the same kind of historical impact. Had the north not won, would slavery still be legal? Would there still be a Confederate States of America?

The point is that winning or losing can alter the way we live and life as we know it.

The same effect can be seen on a smaller scale. For example, Joe Flacco recently took his team to the Super Bowl and won. This was the final year on his contract, meaning that he would need to sign a new contract. He and the Ravens organization agreed to a six year, $120 million contract. That means he will receive $20 million a year (a gigantic step up from his $6.76 million rookie contract). The idea is that winning the super bowl suddenly made Joe Flacco worth almost $14 million more than before he was a super bowl champ.

Although victory and defeat can be so different, either result can have a strange effect on people. I will explain myself through two perfect examples.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. The coaches told him that he was too short, and that he was not good enough to play. Despite this setback, Jordan decided to prove the coaches wrong. He went on to be drafted in the NBA. He was drafted in 1984. He didn’t get his first taste of sweet, sweet victory until 1991. He led the Chicago Bulls to an NBA championship. I would like to believe that he loved the feeling of winning so much that he was determined never to feel the pain of defeat. The next two seasons the Bulls won NBA championships. Then, after a try at baseball, Jordan returned to the NBA and led his team to three more championships in the 96’, 97’, and 98’ seasons.

The moral of the story is that after Michael Jordan had lost (being cut from his high school team); he fought hard to be the best. He went on to win a total of six championships, and never lost in the NBA finals.

The other example is LeBron James. Drafted in 2003, James had little success in Cleveland. He led his team to the NBA finals in 2007, but came up short. After several disappointing team performances, James decided to “take his talents to South Beach.” He would team up with another one of the NBA’s all-stars Dwayne Wade. In 2011, the two all-stars led their team to the finals. LeBron once more felt the anguish of losing in the championship series. Finally, in 2012, The Heat, led by LeBron, won an NBA title. So after many heart wrenching defeats, James felt the pure elation that came along with winning.

 Seen here after victory was in sight, LeBron James celebrates on the sidelines of the 2012 NBA finals.

 The differences between victory and defeat are apparent: the body language, the facial expressions, and the historical effect. But both victory and defeat can breed motivation to improve, and ultimately become victorious.

UK vs. US

is there really a compettion? Is the US even in the race? the answer: NO!

many a day i sit in my terrible highschool class rooms counting the seconds of boredom i have left in a class that is teaching me absolutly nothing.
Meanwhile........
there is a girl living in london or whatever who is the same age as me, probly has the same intrests and wants to do the same things as me.

the only difference is that shes going to have the neccesary tools to do what she wants while in america i am stuck doing what adults think is best. im not saying that adults dont have there fair share of experiances that could contribute to aiding me in my future but theres adifference between helping me and telling me.

 The biggest problem with america is that we are over parented, over taught, and overcoached.

we dont get any time as the next generation to decide what we want to do, its already decided for us. sure we can choose which college to go to, but do we really even get achoice of if we even want to go to college? Once again the answer is: NO. we have to go to college if we want to be sucessful. we have to work out or play sports. we have to be perfect or we are told that we are going to fail. what kind of encouremnet is that? except in rare occasions, we are threatened in to our decisions and we dont even realize it.

Meanwhile in london this other girl can pick which classes she wants to take based on what she actually likes there are no requirements to take physics or chemesrty or gym. she takes what she wants. also she has more freedom. if she doesnt want to do a sport because shes bad, she doesnt have to work her but off to get better, instead shes told find somthing youre good at. if shes unsure if she wants to go to "university" as they call it she gets a gap year.

a gap year is one entire year that every student gets after they graduate highschool. a year to decide. a year to be stupid. a year to travel. a year to do absolutly nothing, and inlike in america because every student does it she wont be behind the race to suceed in college or go when every one is younger than her. sound nice?
 Now, im not saying that you cant suceed in america, you can, its just faster paced and it doesnt really give you a chance to stop and enjoy your youth because you lost it some night when you were up til three in the morning trying to finish a assignement that cant be late if you want agood grade, which you do because if you dont, thats going to lower your overall grade, and then your GPA, and then lower the money you get from college. its a vicous world we live in that doesnt offer slip ups so were are taught "dont slip."

Also in England the drinking age is 18. Nuff said.

in england your treated like an adult when you really are an adult.

doesnt anyone else find it wrong that at 18 you can vote but cant have a sip of youre mom's wine in a restraunt. SO WRONG. its like hey congradulations youre offically an adult! you can vote! but if you inhale a drop of your MOM'S maragrita your in trouble, make good choices!

also in England they dont give you a pill for every ailment you have.
in merica its..
Got heartburn? take a pill
depressed? take a pill
to happy? take a pill
to mad? take a pill
to unemotional? take a pill
cant focus? take a pill
cant not focus? take a pill

i digress...

did you wonder why we have so much illness? its cause we take to much pills in gest the wrong things and are way to worried about germs.

England does have illness and alot of the same things, but we americans say go big or go home.
WE HAVE THE MOST ILLNESSS. WE AHVE THE FATTEST PEOPLE. WE HAVE THE MOST HEAVILY MEDICATED PEOPLE! WE. ARE. NUMBER. ONE........but in all of the wrong chaergories.

ask us about our economy, our healthcare, our education. see my point?

i honestly dont understand why we faught so hard to get rid of the british. honestly we would have been better of if we stayed with them. 
im not saying americas bad, weve had our moments of sucess but in my opinion. the UK is better.

To an Inconstant One

This is one of my favorite poems by Sir Robert Ayton called To an Inconstant One.

I loved thee once; I'll love no more--
Thine be the grief as is the blame;
Thou art not what thou wast before,
What reason I should be the same?
He that can love unloved again,
Hath better store of love than brain:
God send me love my debts to pay,
While unthrifts fool their love away!

Nothing could have my love o'erthrown
If thou hadst still continued mine;
Yea, if thou hadst remain'd thy own,
I might perchance have yet been thine.
But thou thy freedom didst recall
That it thou might elsewhere enthral:
And then how could I but disdain
A captive's captive to remain?

When new desires had conquer'd thee
And changed the object of thy will,
It had been lethargy in me,
Not constancy, to love thee still.
Yea, it had been a sin to go
And prostitute affection so:
Since we are taught no prayers to say
To such as must to others pray.

Yet do thou glory in thy choice--
Thy choice of his good fortune boast;
I'll neither grieve nor yet rejoice
To see him gain what I have lost:
The height of my disdain shall be
To laugh at him, to blush for thee;
To love thee still, but go no more
A-begging at a beggar's door.

Keep Calm and Write On

Careers in Writing

Most students despise writing in High School. I'd like to let you in on a little secret however...

THAT'S NOT WRITING!!!

Now, it is writing in the fact that you are typing words. Yes. But it's not really writing.

Writing should always come from the heart. Writing a bland research paper on a couple poems or a summer reading book does not count. Not even close.

Real writing, expressive writing, should be written because you enjoy writing it.

Writing comes in many different forms. **Spoiler Alert** Writing is more than just books and English papers.

 Blogging, for instance is a sort of online journal. Catharsis in writing form. Many people find it very enjoyable to have a blog and write about their everyday life, attracting fans and followers.

Another great writing opportunity is a screenwriter. Ever thought your everyday daydreams and fantasized comebacks could make you money? Believe it or not, your favorite tv shows and sitcoms are made not by the actors, but by writers. It is writing and the English language that has you buckling over with laughter or sobbing with emotion.

Bottom line, writing doesn't always have to be painstaking. Real writing can be a fun and healthy way to relieve stress. Also, not procrastinating does help in making it seem more enjoyable.

I challenge you to take twenty minutes, thats 1/1440th of your day, and try a little bit of creative writing. See how you like it.

Write On my fellow students, Keep Calm and Write On

Procrastination

Procrastination is not merely a choice, it is a condition. As I pondered many topics to blog about, nothing came to mind until now, at 11:50, because I am a procrastinator. Being a procrastinator means you cannot simply do an assignment before it is due, there is not enough drive in your mind to do it. That pressure to get it done is what supplies that drive to do well; without it, the task simply cannot be accomplished. If you are not sure if you have the condition of procrastination, here are a few common symptoms: struggling to get tasks done days or hours before they are due, waiting until math class the bell before to do your science homework, starting your homework at night and not being able to focus so it's done in the morning before school. If this has been you in many situations, you probably understand what I am talking about. Another prime example of procrastination is me, right now, for instance. I could have gotten this done in class today, or at 7 when i got home, but eh, I took a nap. Then, I ate some cheesecake while still wondering what to blog about. After eating, I took a hot shower. Finally I realized what I was doing and I was of course procrastinating. Procrastinating is not necessarily a bad thing, some people can only work hard under pressure. It is understood that others feel pressure with the thought that something is due in the future and they feel the need to get it done as soon as possible, but they just merely have a different mindset and different needs for working conditions. This is when I am comforable completing tasks as when any other procrastinator would be comfortable, at midnight the night the assignment is due. Again, it is not a choice for procrastinators to complete tasks at the last second, it is necessary.