Personality Defines Us

            The book, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, is about how an adolescent, Naomi, falls and injures her head. Within this injury she forgets anything from the sixth grade and backwards. She forgets many important parts of her life. She forgets her parents' divorce, her best friends, and the ones she can relate to. When she "comes back" into her life she realized that the ones that she heard were her friends aren't really her friends. She also realized that the ones that she didn't pay attention were really the ones that should have been her friends. Before this accident, she was hidden from the truth. Sometimes we don't accept the truth even it is what we experience every day. 

            In the book for example she sees that the boy she goes out with doesn't like her for who she really is. In a scene in the book after homecoming, ace asks Naomi her if she want to do something. Naomi says no because she knows it is inappropriate. In the book it says," 'But honestly, you've been acting so weird lately,' Ace said quietly.  Maybe because I can't remember anything? I thought bitterly. 'Like yelling at Alex in the car, what was that about? And now you're in this play? And your hair!'" Naomi no longer has this prospective of doing everything every girl does. She "comes back" as a decent person, but mostly as herself. Her boyfriend liked her because she portrayed herself as someone that he liked, but not herself. In the book Naomi is having trouble with just being herself and ignoring what other people tell her to be. Sometimes some people tell a person to be a specific way in order to be liked, but sometimes just being yourself is what leads you to greatness.

            Another example in the book is when Naomi and her dad go to meet her dad's fiancée, Rosa. Naomi does not acknowledge her. She doesn't accept her because she is not someone who she can relate to and someone that she doesn't know. In this scene her dad tells her,"' Because sometimes, when someone wants to give you a gift, the best thing to do is accept it.'" With this the dad is trying to say that sometimes people should be a certain way to give "the right impression". The dad is forcing Naomi to like Rosa, even though she doesn't like her. She is being forced to like her, when doing things by force usually doesn't result positively. We shouldn't portray someone that we are not because if not we wouldn't be liked.

            In conclusion, this book tries to tell us how we should not change for a person. If a person doesn't like us for whom we are then they shouldn't do anything to change us because that is who we are. Our personality is who defines us, and if we change our personality; then we are someone else. I realized that sometimes we act like other people because some people want to fit in. This usually happens to new students or to people who have amnesia. They seem to do this because they want to feel that they can be appreciated also, but they are appreciated for whom they are. We shouldn't be forced either because then we are not ourselves, but we then seem like a doll. Dolls are toys that are portrayed to be perfect. Even then they aren't perfect because they don't have the opportunity to be who they really are. We aren't perfect either because if we were, then we are not human. 

I Can Cross Any Obstacle Because I Am Me

     The poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is about a person who knows that can overcome anything. She knows that she can overcome anything because of her personality. In order to define a person we need to know who they are, which is their personality. Also many people live almost a double life; at school they are one person and at home another. Many people don't like others because of who they are, but they can't do anything about it because it is who they are. Some because they don't like a person, they treat them like dirt. So the ones that aren't being liked have to be strong and overcome anything with their personality.  We can't do much to change who they are so we have to deal with the fact that they are themselves.

     In the poem, the author says that no matter the way they are they can overcome anything and if not they have to deal with it. In the poem, for example it states "Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries." Here in this stanza, Maya Angelou is trying to say that if people wanted to see them fall and treat them like dirt, they are the ones that will weaken with their tears. They will be weakened because they are strong and overcome any obstacle. Another example in the poem is when it says, "Up from a past that's rooted in pain. I rise. I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide." Here in this part of a stanza Maya Angelou is trying to say that the person was past all the pain and able to overcome it. All the troubles are left on the past. Now this person is strong; they learned from their past and knows who she is defined as a person. Overall a person can overcome any troubles with their personality.

     The way I can relate to this poem is because even though I know I am not like the others I can surprise them. I can surprise them because I have my own personality who defines me. Another way I can connect to this poem is because some people have been treated like they are nobody, but now they are the ones that are weak. They are weak because they thought they could become superior by destroying others. People can be superior by being themselves and not worry what others think about them. The ones that are being "crushed" can overcome anything, but mostly it starts with confidence. Confidence is usually the key to do anything a person wants in life. Also personality is the key to anything also.

Less Stress with Dogs By Your Side?

     The article, "Take Your Dog To The Office And Stress Less" by Nancy Shute was about how some employees in north Carolina took their dogs to work and felt less stressed. For the people that don't own a pet or the employees that did not bring their pets felt even more stressed. Though the stress level decreases when the dog is not interrupting the employee; which makes perfect sense. Anyone would feel less stressed when they are able to do their work without being disturbed. For the non- pet owners they found the dogs pleasing somewhat also. They were able to have fun in their break. It helped them be much more relaxed, but it also depends if they are the type of person that actually like dogs.  For a person that detests dogs well then the fay would dread be be filled with stress the whole day. Dogs do make you relax because they just make people want to have fun.

     The main idea of this article was that when even there is too much work there has to be time to relax. I mean what is the point to over stress. There would not be that much stress if people would not procrastinate. Procrastination can lead to a lot of stress, but sometimes there is a lot of work unexpected. The author also wanted to state that dogs are your best friends. Dogs make you want them to want to spoil them; in which helps you relax somehow. They are your best friend because they know the way a person feels today and everyday. When a person feels down they somehow start to "show-off" what fun actually looks like. Actually the only thing they usually want to do is play the whole entire day. Dogs are like humans, but only better. They are better because they are loyal and would always stick by your side whenever a person is in danger.

     This article made so much sense to me. It made sense because since I have a dog that is always where I am, I understand. Usually when I am overstressed with homework, he always comes by by side and starts to roll around, or would bring one of his favorite toys to throw. He knows when play time starts and ends, but there are times when they want people to be content. I don't feel as stressed as I was. It actually makes me look forward to play with him. It makes me want to finish my homework faster in order to play with him. He is also like my best friend because even though he is still new he knows what goes on. He helps our whole family relax and have fun.

Love, Life & Family

     The article, "This Woman Lost Her Legs in a Tornado to Save Her Children's Lives" was about how a woman decided to risk her lives for her children. Her children meant so much that she covered her daughter and her son with her body. Her children were okay, but her house was destroyed just like her legs. Both of her legs were hurt really badly, that one of them was only half attached to her body. Her children called for help and thankfully she got medical rescue on time. Her children saved her life just like their mother had saved their life. Love between this family was so strong that they would do anything to see that they are each alive.

     The main purpose of this article was to show that a family should love each other at any moment and help the whenever they need help. Love between families should be so strong that they would care for each other no matter how bad the situation is. They should hold on together through moments of happiness just like in the moments of anguish. For example, in the article it said that, "...she kept her promise to her kids: They all made it." This line means that they would hold on together like a family should with all their love and keep each other safe. Family is like a promise. You promise that every member should come out alive each day with health and love. Family involves more than just a person; it also involves children that came from a mother, and they have a greater value. So the children should be happy that their mother had them, if not they wouldn't be alive; that is why there is love. Love is the fuel to keep a family together today and every day. 

     The way I can relate to this article is because my family always has stuck together. Thank god nothing bad has ever happened to us such as a tornado in which our lives are at stake, but I know that when a tragedy, such as death has occurred, we stick together. We help each other relieve that anguish inside of us. Just like something good has happened, such as a new year, we celebrate that together. As people notice that a family should risk everything that they have to save a loved one; something as small as clothing or even something as big as life. (Hopefully no one gets to risk their life for their family because nothing bad will happen to them.)Love helps tie a family together no and forever. How is is that your family loves and cares for one another?

     

     

Song and Book: Opposites

    

      The song "Set Fire to Rain" by Adele is a song about a relationship that is not successful. there are lies that have not been sen yet, and when they are seen, it ends the relationship.The book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins is book about two people from each district to compete and win. Katniss and Peeta are chosen to be part of  the hunger games. Along the way they start to develop feelings for one another. The Hunger Games and the song are opposite from each other and shows that not all discoveries lead to something bad.

     The song talks about how when she finds out that her partner had been cheating on her the relationship starts to fail. Yet in the Hunger games Katniss slowly starts to understand who Peeta is and the type of personality he has. For example, in the book when Katniss discovers that he is with the Careers she starts to think that that is  not possible. he seemed so nice when he risked his life to give her food when she needed it, then why is he part of them now. Eventually he is just doing this to find where Katniss is and how to protect her. The thing is that Katniss doesn't know this. Eventually she does, she knows that he would do anything to keep her alive even get himself killed. So they start to have feelings for each other In the song however, when she finds out that he has been cheating on her and taking advantage of her the relationship falls instead of growing. So they both have a different view.

     So in the real world we all see different sides to people. We never know exactly their personality. They act a certain way because of their life. We need to "research" them in order to find the reason why. I now have friends that I never thought I'd be friends with. I used to think they had a i-know-everything type of personality. Now I see  that they are different, they have a side that has never been yet discovered. I mean also I think certain people would be great friends, but hey I was wrong. They are the worst people to be friends with. They ask and ask and never let you ask. They boss you around and never let you be who you are.

     

SAT's and life?Too Much stress?

***SPOILER ALERT***     
     In the book "The Taker" by J.M. Steele the main character, Carly, takes the Sat's and desire to go to Princeton. She has been anxious to know what her results were. When she hears her results, she is devastated. One she won't be able to go to Princeton, and two who is the mysterious guy that calls her. In the book the taker is a person, most likely a guy according to the clues given, who tells her if he would want to get a better grade. She accepts, but now lets see if she can keep her secret. I think that sometimes not everybody gets the dream to go to the school they want to. I think that Carly is to over confident about herself that thinks that she can ace everything, but doesn't know who she is yet.  
     I think that Carly is to over confident and does not know who she is yet because in the book there is a part where she and this character Ronald are supposed to study, but end up going to a party. Anyways during those thirty minutes of studying, she keeps on asking how do you solve this problem. Ronald says it is so simple and tells her the formula on how to solve that type of problem. She then tries to show off that she knew that, but she really did not know it. Since she is the popular girl at school she also thinks that she has to be a perfectionist. She completely bombed the test and now has to cheat in order to pass it. Also she does not know who she is completely because when she goes on a "date" with Ronald, she didn't have this weird hatish feeling towards him any more. She started to like him as a friend. And now is starting to feel uncomfortable with the guy that she thinks she likes at least.
     I can connect to her life because there is somebody that I now that loves to be a perfectionist, but didn't pass the SHSAT. She know who she is,but now she has to show her true self. I can also connect to this because neither did I pass the SHSAT and couldn't get into Stuyvesant. I honestly would never cheat and I know who I am. It is just that sometimes I don't like the fact how sometimes many people think that I should be a perfectionist and I know Ia m not because I am human. Humans make mistakes and they are not perfect. Also there are people that I talk to that I thought I would never talk to. I also realized that life moves on no matter  what. So there is always hope at the end.
   

Music & Romeo and Juliet

       In the movie "Romeo and Juliet" by Baz Luhrman, There are two lovers, Romeo and Juliet. They love each other even though their families are enemies. In the end both of them kill themselves because they can't live without each other, which I thought was sweet, yet sad at the same time. Love is something not everybody gets to have. Well eventually everybody does if it is in the family or someone you are not even related to. One thing in the movie that you could hear could actually make you feel what is going on, or what can happen next. This is music. I think that in the movie music was really powerful because it changed its rhythm according to what had just happened in this scene or what can happen. Music helps the viewer comprehend what he/she is feeling.

      In the movie there were many scenes in where the music felt dark yet joyful at the same time. For example when Romeo was at the party and Mercutio was partying; the music was really loud and dark, yet like I have said before joyful. This helped the viewer foresee what would happen. Eventually this continued on how Romeo and Juliet met. Well this music was also really dark because they, Romeo and Juliet, never thought that they would have fallen in love with their enemies. I fell that this music was also joyful because they overcame the rivalry and continued to love each other. They overcame their obstacle. Another reason why music helped foresee or explain what was going on was when Romeo was getting back at Tybalt for killing Mercutio.  The music was dark and intense. It wasn't as soft as other scenes. This helped the viewer convey the feeling of anger that was going on in this scene.

      Overall I think that music helps a person understand what they are feeling or convey a feeling. I thought that the movie of Romeo and Juliet was very intense. I would have never had a mind such as Shakespeare. I also thought that the love story was so touching because i doubt that anyone would ever find love at first sight and for them to kill themselves for you. I thought it was sweet yet at the same so sad because I would also feel bad if someone did that for me. I loved Romeo and Juliet and actually keep on reading in the book.

Know What You Eat and You'll Understand!

**Bits of spoilers**

    I am reading the book "The Omnivores Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. In the book he undergoes a "quest" to find out what is our food mostly made out of. Almost every single food has corn, even in juice! Amazing isn't that!! Why is it that many people are so ignorant and don't even care about what is going on in our surroundings? I think that the author wants to make a difference in the world because many people are so ignorant and don't care.

    In the book, Pollan undergoes and mystery and finds out that everything that we eat has corn. From the meat to the candy! When he finds out he was so shocked how many things people use in their daily lives to go and the main thing is corn. We can't live without corn, it is just the truth. Corn hides in every single type of way, we just don't see it. If many people are so ignorant about what they eat then how can we deal with each other each day?

     The way I can connect this to the world is that we can eat all we want and trust what seems true, yet can we handle each other? I see in my everyday life how people treat one another. Many people don't realize that they behave or act a certain way because you don't know their story. Many people can be so ignorant that we just care what is on the outside, but not for their personality. Many people look repugnant on the outside, yet have a wonderful personality on the inside, or the other way around. we can only judge by who the personality of the person is.

“If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool.”

Carl Gustav Jung

I Dream Light and Peace

I look and see
nothing to worry.
I see 
the bright stars that lead me to
Peace.
I sleep and dream.
Today
and
forever.
Something walks
passing me me.
Brave and secure,
yet without a worry 
in mind.
I dream the fortunes of others.
They all
seem dark,yet someday they will
light
up.
Soon.

Understandment Leads to Peace

The Sleeping Gypsy

     In this picture there is a women sleeping on the ground and a lion getting close to here while she sleeps. The colors are dark yet light at the same time. The women is dark skinned and sleeping;the lion is awake and conscience of what is surrounding him.The sky of night is clear with just a couple of stars.When I see this picture I see how life can be is we were all friendly and no one fought with one another. I think that if everyone opened their mind to other options this world would be at peace.


     I think this because this women I feel that she let herself be who she is. If it was destiny to be eaten in a lion it would be, but she slept without a care in the world. The lion is roaming by without the fact that she is there. The lion passes attentive yet calm. Usually when a lion is aggressive, his his face is different, but here he seems calm yet "awake" at the same time. I also think this because the night is calm, there both mammals are there with no sign of worrying.


     I think that if we opened our heart and brain to the world, it would be a better world. i mean the person next to you might not be mean, but have a different personality than you. We can't always understand someone a hundred percent of the time because they go through different situations than us, but if we try they wouldn't be our enemies.So many people want power and popularity, but if we try to understand them they are usually insecure about who they are. If we all try to make all of theme feel equal then none of this would be happening.

My Nomination is..

JOANNA  WAGNER

       I think that Joanna's post shows a good representation of what an "ideal" post should look like because when she starts her post, it doesn't sound like a boring post. It sounds as if it was a conversation. Also, I think that it is a good post because when she talk about her  theory, she makes it seem a daily moment. I also liked the way how she extended and interpreted her idea. Based off what happens in the book, she relates that moment in to a big topic and explains it. Like in the post for example, she talks bout how people do things because others are doing it. It shows me how many people do  things to  make themselves look better, yet not feel better. It also talks about life and the fact that we all have guilty pleasures and relates in to a topic. I feel that even though the post doesn't talk a lot the book, but the idea of it seems very interesting.

When it Happens (Click HERE!)

Friends- What if they die?

     In the book "Winter Girls", by Laurie Halse Anderson Lia's best friend dies so Lia starts to hurts herself. She starts this off by first not eating She believes she is so strong she can over pass anything, but can she? We are strong, but we all have a weak point. I think that Lia is behaving like this because even though she still can't accept the fact that Cassie, her best friend, died so she acts as if she can overcome everything.  We all are strong, but we aren't permanently strong.

      In the book, Lia starts to become "strong" by first not eating. She is becoming anorexic. When Lia does this, she always remember the words "...body found in a motel room, alone...". I think these words really impacted her because she starts to hurt herself just like her friend. I think that Lia would do anything for her friend Cassie. For some reason I feel that Lia is going to try to kill fer self in a room alone. It seemed like it, but I am not so sure. Earlier in the book, it says that Cassie ditchedLia when she was almost dying. I think that for that reason Lia is trying to stay strong. It syas that her brain is controllinh her, but I think that it is herself doing the damage. Instead of healing, she is falling apart.

     I realized that we would anything for a person that we loved. I think that we should care for the people we loved, but is it worth killing yourself for someone that you know won't come back? I think that people should try to accept the fact that the person they cared for died and that they need to move on. Many people now a days think that hurting themselves is the right thnig, but it isn't. I feel that you shold see if you are okayand then care for the others. It does sound kind of selfish, but you sometimes need to think in your self rather than others when they leave you, even when you are on the verge of dying.

-Life-

   In the book, "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Nizzini there is a teenager named Craig. He is bulimic and has thoughts of suicide.He has now ended up in a physciatric department and realizes how bad he has ended up and doesn't find a reason to be the way he is. He is in the best high school, has an awesome best friend, and most of all has a family that loves him. I think that he has thoughts of suicide because he isn't confident of himself; he worries too much of others and his appearance towards others.
   I feel that Craig has thoughts of suicide becaus he isn't confident enough. In the book when Aaron got a girl, he wanted the same one. He wanted her. Also when he was trying to get in to the good high school he extra prepared, even though he was ready. He didn't believe that he could do it in himself. Aaron,lt that he was prepared and he took a shot at the test. I realize that Craig likes to be sure of himself. the biggest differencr between him and Aaron is that he wants to be sure; the other just guesses. Life isn't supposed to be guessed at. Life isn't a game, it is real. One little mistake could ruin your whole entire life, unless you don't care where you are headed. Everything is important in life and we shouldn't ruin it.
   In life, many people take life as a game, yet so many people take it so serious that they start to freak out about life. It think that this is what leads to suicide and other physcological problems. Many have to do with life and not knowing how to handle life. Life is almost like a glass ball, and if you make one mistake you can drop it and your life can end there. We should worry about life, but not exaggerate because it can lead to bigger problems.

**People should DEFINTELY read this book, even though it is kind of boring. Yet it is awesome**

Feeling Different Towards Someone

*Spoiler Alert*


In the book 13 Reason's Why, by Jay Asher Hannah Baker had committed suicide because she felt that the world was too heavy on her. Clay received audio tapes that Hannah made before committing suicide. When he had received the box, it said that you would appear the audio tapes and that you might have even caused her death. Blaming someone is harsh for why they died. On tape 5 side B, Clay finds out that he is on that tape. Though he realizes that it is for something that could have helped Hannah live, which is love.
Now a day's people say that love is the strongest power in the world and can stop everything that is evil, but does it really. In the book, Hannah's first love was one of the causes of her death, yet she didn't realize that love isn't liking someone because of their appearance, but for the way they connect. In the book at a certain point Hannah and Clay are at a party. Hannah realized that she truly liked someone for the first time and Clay too. Hannah pushed him away and Clay didn't do anything to stop it. I think that when we have the chance we should take the opportunity. Many of us take moments for granted, yet we should take advantage of it, in a good way, and not let it escape.
We end our lives for many different reasons, yet the gift of life is one of the most important. We shouldn't take it for granted. Another thing that we should never let go of is love. Love helps us bond together and survive. We all see that there is no point in ending our lives because we always regret it. It is okay to make mistakes that we can fix, but there are some that we never fix, and that is dying and losing someone you love.

Growing Up

     In the book Crank by Ellen Hopkins, a girl named Kristina Wagner gets addicted to meth and does some umiaginable things. Now she is pregnant and is about to give birth, yet she is still addicted to the drug and can't give it up. Kristina is undecided of what to do with a baby of her own at 17.We always say we would grow up someday, but when? When is it the right  time to grow up?
    
     I think that the best time to grow up is once you now how to start thinking logically on your own, yet still ask for help when you need to. Many people in our live grow up until we face the moment and sometimes we just leave it behind. Many people don't know what to do in that situation so they either hurt themselves or others. There are many things in life that start to set boundaries of where your childhood ends and where adulthood starts.For example in the book the time Kristina leaves her childhood is when she meets Adam in Alburquerque. When Kristina starts adulthood is when she is going to do it with Brendan. She knows she isn't supposed to do it yet she still does it.

     All in all I think that it depends on what you have been influenced by. Many people do things because of what they see in their surroundings.  Kristins started drugs because of her father and Adam. Also we need to take precautions in order to not cause terrible things, just like what happened to Kristina. We need to grow up at certain points.