The Race Game...

In the video that we watched, A Girl Like Me, I was really shocked when they did an experiment with young black girls and how they are socially constructed about race. Race has changed dramatically throughout the years accepting other cultures and traditions and just accepting people for who they really are. In the experiment when they placed 2 dolls of different races, one black and one white on the table in front of the girl and asked which doll do you play with, almost everyone chose the white doll. When asked who is thud nice one and who is the mean one almost everyone chose the white doll as nice and the black one as mean. The world and people have socially constructed race all different types of ways making us believe different things and not just think what we want to believe. What even threw mw for another loop was when one of the interviewees stated that her aunt and started her daughter into lying in a bath full of bleach to change their race. The way that we think about race is going to keep changing wether we like it or not.

Pushing the Limit....

While reading and watching the video about social classes, there are some people who just take it too far. While the poor are working multiple jobs at minimum wage, there is the rich upper class who is spending their money on ridiculous things. The part that made me shocked was how the upper class want to carry on their traits to thier children through making sure their children and anyone else for that matter know that they have money and are part of the upper class. The upper class were pushing the limit the most when I read that they spend over $15,000+ on their child's preschool. That is insane! The upper class are putting their children through such high class schools just so they keep on the family money and show it. What's the point when they are going to need that money for college. Plus, your child might not even get into that preschool without an exceptional interview. We are socially constructed into thinking that we need to show what we have wether it's through our cars or clothes so people treat us the 'right' way.

The Game Of Social Class...

While we played Monopoly in class the other day, I never realized how it is based on social class. You have the game pieces of the Money Bag/Horse, representing the wealthy upper class, then the Car, for the middle class, and the Wheelbarrow, for the working class. Monopoly is basically the game of life. Once we started playing it got me thinking. Which class am I in? Do I let others know what class I’m in? Do I hang out with people in different social classes? It all started coming to me. I never really thought about whom I associate myself with until now. I think that because of our school being one of the most diverse schools, you really are not in one particular social class. There are cliques and groups, but for me I hang out with who I am friends with. I have multiple friends from different social groups and I’m glad I do. Being with the same group of friends that are in the same clique again and again would just get boring to me. You talk about the same people and do the same things. You aren’t expanding your horizons and aren’t exploring the other people who you have been within the same school for almost 4 years now. There isn’t anything wrong with being friendly or friends with people outside of your social circle. People pick on people. People judge other people. But for what reason? If say the ‘popular’ kids who never associate themselves with the ‘geeks’ are never going to learn about who they really are. They are judging them by the outside not the inside. So if they have not so nice looking clothes, one assumes they don’t have money. While if one dresses in Polo and designer jeans, then they are automatically popular and on the higher end of the class stick.  Assuming gets you nowhere in life. Expand your horizons and live life better with no Social Class.

Service Experience #2

Special Olympics- Bocce Ball

Barrington

April 14, 3:30- 4:00 (Training) and April 17, 7:30 - 3:30

Before going to the Special Olympics I felt super excited. I have always wanted to volunteer for it before so I was glad to have the opportunity with the class. My expectations for the Special Olympics were different then what actually happened. I didn’t think that you had 9 games to play; I thought you only had like 3. I was a little nervous if something were to go wrong like fighting between players or maybe I forgot a rule that I would have gotten in trouble for. I had never been to that Carriage Park before so I was very excited. The open field that we were on was amazing. The worst part was the weather and how muddy the grass was. Hey, it could have been worse. The people who played at our station were the nicest people. They were having fun and were enjoying the game. The beginning of the day was rocky. The only problem we came into an encounter with was when some bad sportsmanship happened, when a team lost they wouldn’t shake the other team’s hand which surprised me. Otherwise the rest of the day was a breeze. My job was to keep time, take measurements at some times and hold the flags if they couldn’t hear me say who was up to throw, all in all I found so much fun. I really enjoyed talking to the players when we had a little downtime. I found out that it was one of the boys we had, Jacob, was his first time at the Olympics. It was the coolest thing. He had his family come and support him and they were cheering him on through the whole game. He lost his first game, but won in a landslide his second and his family was going crazy. It was like he won the whole entire tournament, it was honestly the best part of my day, just to see the smile on their faces both the players and the families. Also another interesting part of my day was when we had 2 blind competitors and instead of holding up the yellow flag for the palina I got to clap where the ball was so they could try to throw it better than before. After our games ended, we got help to put the court away. While on the way home I kept thinking how good it felt to help out. The appreciation of the players and the helpers should make anyone feel proud, I know I did. I can’t wait for the next one!

Are You a Saint or Roughneck?...

The reading this week was really interesting and fun to read. In the beginning I had a feeling that the Roughnecks were the 'good guys' compared to the Saints. The article helped me understand the differences of how people perceive others, by ways of being deviant. I found it interesting how social class can make you or break you. It wouldn't matter if you had good grades or you were very polite, just on how much money you have it a deal breaker for making that person a 'delinquent' or 'criminal'. Having a cop stopping a Saint on a Friday night when the Saints just vandalized somewhere or where recklessly driving either drunk or not, it didn't matter. As long as you were dressed nice, had an expensive car, and were polite, you could talk your way out of the night in jail. But the Saints wouldn't know of any of that because the cops thought what they did was just a 'mistake', not a crime, just because of the way they look and what they have. While if a cop were to pull over a Roughneck who were on the streets, because they weren't able to afford a car, were dressed less classy, had a bad mouth and seemed lower class than the Saints, the cop was more likely to question the kid and most likely send him to jail for the night.

A lot of people say they don't judge a person, yet in reality everyone does at some point in his or her life. Assuming that the teenager doesn't have money must mean that he does drugs, drinks and gets into trouble all the time, compared to a better looking teenager who has the car, money, and good grades and is respected in the town, one can see that making assumptions gets us nowhere. I think that it's sad that we judge people on appearances, class level and money, when in reality we should get to know the person before making judgments.

I think that at our school we do have the Saints and Roughnecks. Not all are Saints that's for sure. Money sure does help cover up the deviance and it is a key factor. You have the teens that use their money to get out of situations. Say someone gets into trouble with the law, which would never happen to the Saints in the article but here they do, they would have lawyers who could get them out of that situation in a flash. When on the other side of the tracks you have the Roughnecks, don't have as much money, not as many fancy cars or clothes, but are careful about the law. They are more likely to commit a crime like stealing because they don't have as much. You can expect that from Roughnecks, but perceiving them as downright criminals is plain wrong.

Pushing The Limit...

Everyone knows that young chlidren always look up and want to be like the older more mature people. Either adults or teenagers, you are setting an example for them. Soceity does make it hard for teenagers and young children (or tweens) to be who they want to be. Teens know that from an early age that they need to go to high school, college, and get married. While it is hard to keep up with the standards, everyone needs to be themself. But how can you be yourself when you expect to be mature and 'old' for your age. The younger you are the  'more mature' you are. Look at all the options you have to become 'older.' The newest way that you can become 'older' is by the new scandal that just breached. Abercrombie & Fitch is no stranger to scandal when it comes to their advertisements and clothing, but abercrombie kids is now under fire for their line of push-up bikini tops aimed at girls as ages 7-14.

Can you believe that instead of aiming at teenagers for ads, they are now heading towards second graders?! Just the thought of selling anything with the word 'push-up' in a store with the word “kids” at the end of it seems more than a little odd. Having the option of this bikini style not only seems to say that girls need to boost their busts at a young age, it also makes young girls a target for often unwanted attention. While the average age of puberty is 12, advertisers are now hitting it hard that young kids can reach that 'independence and older look' by wearing this. People need to realize that society really shapes us and it is really hard for teens and even kids. 

Do You Trust The Media?...

Everyone has heard that the Media basically takes over our lives. The biggest impact that the Media has is on women. Almost all of it is negative and sending a bad message from tweens to teens to women in general, damaging their confidence and body image. With commercials, magazine ads, billboards, and even ads on computers are degrading women and telling them that they have to look a certain way to have the 'perfect life.' Either by picking up guys, having wealth by being beautiful or by just having a social life. Being happy doesn't mean to have that 'perfect body' or 'life', but being happy with the way you are and being confident and comfortable in your own skin. Take Kim Kardashian for example.

  

 Kim said that she liked the body she had before they Photoshopped her. People are to believe this? Not everything is as pretty as it appears. These ads are supposed to make us want their product, but what's the point of having it if it basically isn't even real. The media is telling/showing women to become just like the models either on the runway or in the magazines, when we all know that's not possible with all the retouching they do. The 1st Season of American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, also too stated, "just to let you know everyone in the magazines is Photoshopped! Beyoncé is one of the most beautiful girls in the world but she gets Photoshopped too. We're all human!" Women, even young girls, are seeing more and more fake ads everyday and keep saying "I want to look like that" when in reality the models don't even look like that. You think you're not perfect and aren't like those models, but really you are the same. If the models were so pretty and perfect they wouldn't need to be digitally altered to be made perfect. Women need to step back and realize that being comfortable in their own skin is being 'perfect'.

The Un-TV Experiment...

When Sal first announced the Un-TV Experiment, I was excited at first, but then I thought to myself, "What am I going to learn from this? What am I going to get out of watching a blank TV screen?" Well at the end of the experiment I answered those 2 questions. From the video in class on how TV is changing the world for young kids. The TV makes us feel connected to one another, take American Idol for example. If some of your friends watch it, to have something in common or something to talk about, you watch American Idol for that reason. So you sit there, just staring at the screen, feeling connected to society, when really we aren't.

Now children at younger and younger ages are being targeted by marketers. From toys to food, it never ends. Children are the driving force in profit for businesses and that's why children now are learning to watch TV before they even read. While I did the Un-TV Experiment, I realized the answer to my questions. Learning that the televison basically controls us humans. From knowing exactly what time our TV show is on makes us like robots. Also, almost always having the television on in your house is like the lesson about Silence. We need to fill the air with noise because we are uncomfortable with silence. Watching a blank TV screen is just what your doing when you are actually watching the television. You are so zoned in that you aren't even paying attention. From the fade-ins to the cut scenes, it doesn't bother you, but when you are paying attention and are counting the cut scenes and zoom-ins you get a headache and maybe have to leave the room. Not everyone knows it, but the television basically controls us.

The Thought of Nothing...

When I did the nothing project I decided to go to a well populated area. Target. Before going I thought how people would react of me just standing there in the middle of an isle, doing nothing. Maybe someone would talk to me, ask if I'm okay or ask me to move out of their way. Maybe nothing would happen. Once I found my 'nothing spot' I went between the most populated section I could find. I started the time and left the rest up in the air. People started to pass by, not noticing me. 5 minutes pass and I feel like I might not be doing nothing. I pick a sign to stare at so I don't look at anyone's faces or clothes to almost judge the person and think to myself, "Do they think I'm weird just by standing here?" Then I realized I was doing something. Staring and Thinking. It really is hard to DO NOTHING. When you first hear the assignment of doing nothing, you think that it is the easiest assingment ever, then realize once you do it or in the middle of it that it really is hard. I feel like doing nothing could almost be impossible. We are so caught up in time and thoughts that we have no time to clear our minds. After some people have passed, I realized that this lady kept passing by me. She looked at where I was looking and walked by slowly with her cart. Maybe she would have done something, but she never came back after 2 times. I was really hoping someone would take action and do something, but that's how we are, we go to get things done.

Dependency...

In the movie, Tuesdays With Morrie, there is a sense of dependency on others or on one another when it comes to the main character Mitch. He is always so caught up in work; he doesn't have enough time to live a 'real life.' By never having time with his girlfriend to not even keeping in touch with his past friends, take Morrie for example, Mitch said he would keep in touch with Morrie after college while in the end there wasn't any contact until Mitch saw Morrie, his old college professor, on the T.V. in a special on Lou Gehrig’s disease, showing that he was dying.

Americans generally believe the ideal person is self-reliant. Most Americans see themselves as separate individuals, not as representatives of a family, community or other group. They don’t like being reliant on other people, or having others depend on them. Some people say this is a trait of selfishness.  Dependency is related to our value of both independence and freedom. Independence because a lot of people don't like having people depend on them because what if they slip up or make a mistake, that could ruin a relationship with the other person. Some people like to stay by themselves being individualistic, either by just looking out for themselves or like to do things by themselves. Having others see it as a freedom from the constraints of family or social class.
I see myself dependent on others in some ways. Maybe by working in a group or partner project depending on the other to do/finish his or her work on time so we both don't get penalized. Or maybe being dependent on the other person on keeping a secret that I told them, knowing that I can trust them not telling anyone from a long time relationship. It doesn't bother me so much to the point that I can't stand it and have to be individualistic. I'm not going to isolate myself from others; it just bothers me when say there was a group project when the other(s) let you down. You are dependent for a reason. Whether it's freedom, individualism, or just to be so.

Subcultures...

In class how we discussed different subcultures based on our school for an example really got me thinking how different we really are. I thought the language, mores, and folkways really played the biggest factor into making our school more different than others. With some of our language, (LOP, New and Old Building, Traveler, The Link, LC or RC) our mores, (fighting, walking on the right side of the halls and stairwells, not stopping in the middle of the halls- these actions violate the norms) and our folkways (being tardy to class, not wearing school colors on spirit days, not having food or drink in class- norms that are often not followed without trouble in the school's subculture) brought to my attention really opened up my eyes to see that our school is totally different in a ton of ways. I see how other schools or other people who come here think that our school is 'rich and huge' but honestly it's not that different. Yes we do have a lot of opportunites given to us but that doesn't mean everyone uses it to their advantage. There a TON of clubs and sports at our school that I know a lot of other schools don't have and some people don't even bother to simply join a club that they could or are interested in. Our language, mores, and folkways really do shape us here because you see mostly everyone use our 'school language' either in the halls or in class, our mores by seeing people standing in halls talking to friends, and our folkways by seeing people having food or a drink in class. I am a part of sports subculture and a fine arts subculture. I think that the unique part of my subcultures are that it's not just school sports or fine arts, it's also out of school. 

culture SHOCK...

While playing the card game in class, I knew that there was something different bound to happen with all the different groups. When the first game was over and someone new came, the new game started out fine until she was getting confused. I saw the looks on her face and tried to help with hand gestures since we weren't able to talk. She just went along with it (our table way) and kept going. When the game was over and realized that different directions for different tables were handed out, we were considered 'different cultures'. I thought it was interesting to see everybody's reactions when they realized what happened with the game. I felt bad because our table or 'our culture' made the new people who came over basically conform into our own culture. Even though one did wonder what was going on and why our game was different, she went along with it like most do when they come to a different culture. She respected our way of playing and kept going. I didn't judge or have much of a culture shock when playing, maybe because I stayed in my same culture and didn't have a different experience. I liked this experiment because you got to see the differences in culture and how people treat it and respect it.



When after the game we talked about toliet paper and how in different countries and cultures that you sometimes have to BYOTP (bring your own toliet paper) which was a total culture shock to me. It made me think of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine doesn't have any toliet paper in her stall and asked the person in the next stall for a square, but apparently there was no "square to spare." So if in a different culture you had to BYOTP you would have been fine. I thought that it was cool that you would never end up in that situation in a different country. I think now I will have a more open mind to the different cultures and how they do gestures to BYOTP and have a better understanding that everybody doesn't have the same traditons as me. 

Groups: You're Either In or You're Out...

In a Bronx Tale, there are a ton of different groups in the movie. With the main character Calogero, he starts off in the group of his friends and family. By taking the bus with his dad because of his job of a bus driver and with his friends they goof off and have fun. Once Calogero sees someone get shot while he is sitting on his stoup, he is questioned by the police if he saw anything. When he said no the 'MOBSTERS' befriended him and his family. Sonny, the leader, took Calogero under his wing almost as his right hand man. Calogero started to change groups when Sonny gave him the nickname 'C' because everyone has a nickname. I would put C and Sunny in their own group because Sonny always looked out for C like a son. C never really hung out with the other people part of Sonny’s crew. For example, when Sonny dies, C is the only one who really pays respect because he was the only one who didn’t fear him. “It’s just like Sonny said it would be ‘Nobody cares’.”

C belonged to a lot of groups in the movie such as the interracial group, by dating Jane who is African American. Sonny’s group, his childhood friend(s) group, and his family he also belonged to. C’s master status would have to be an all around ‘Good Guy’ because he puts aside the racial aspects and goes for what he believes in. I do think that his status changes throughout the movie because at first he joined along with his friends and gained up on the African Americans while later on when he grows up he practically saves them from being beaten to death. He grew as a person in and out of his groups. My own master status would have to be ‘Friend, daughter, sister’ at the moment. It hasn’t changed throughout my life so much that I would have to change my status right now, unlike C. I am still a sister, friend, and daughter. Those will never change.

My Service Experience

236 U.S. 45
Indian Creek, IL 60061
(847) 362-1005

Supervisor in Charge: Jim or Jane, February 10^th, 2011- From 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Well, I always wanted to get involved at St. Mary of Vernon because my friend goes there to help with P.A.D.S. Now with Sociology this gave me that extra boost I needed. I’ve never been there before so I was excited. I went on February 10^th, 2011 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. with my mom because she has always wanted to do it too.

On the drive there, I was starting to get a little nervous, but I knew that it would be an experience I wouldn’t forget. I have done this kind of stuff before so I thought to myself “Why are you working yourself up for something you know you’ll have fun with and love to do?” I expected a ton of people there helping out already by getting everything together. I was worried about some people getting angry at me for some reason, like if I didn’t do something right.  We arrived a little early just to get situated and my expectations were totally wrong. There were at least 4 people not including my mom and myself. We signed in, introduced ourselves to the head honcho of the night, Jim. I also expected the place to be small, well I was wrong again. You walk into the kitchen which was huge and then walk out to the dining room which was just 10 tables of 6 and then you look out to this HUGE room waiting to be set up with beds and chairs. Jim got us to work right at the get go and had us separate sheets and blankets for the beds. While we were doing that we met a nice man named Kyle. He told us not to worry about anything since we told him it was our first time. While we were separating, a lady came running in telling Jim that the bathrooms weren’t working. Also to add to that, they were completely short staffed. There were less than 20 volunteers working that night. They said they usually have around 50. Nothing was going their way tonight. The next person we met was Barbara. She appointed us and helped us make beds. While making the beds and putting them out, we didn’t realize how tiring the work was. It really surprised me when about half way done with making the beds, some guys who were staying the night helped out after trudging in the snow and being exhausted from the long haul of the train station in the bitter cold. They helped make beds, put out chairs and were very helpful and nice. I was thinking that I would have never expected them to just help out right when they walked in. They were so generous and thankful of us volunteers to help them out. Once they started to help out things started to move a lot quicker. After we made beds, we started sorting out clothes that they put out for everyone to take. The coolest part while we were hanging clothes on racks in a room was when a HUGE shipment of Timberland Boots came in. There had to be at least 100 shoeboxes of all different sizes. A manufacturer donated all those shoes! I thought it was amazing and generous of them because when we were setting out clothes, I didn’t see any shoes. All of a sudden Jim has a new job for us; we got to take everyone’s bus card at the door to make sure they are eligible to come in. It was a REALLY COOL experience to see their smiling faces that they had a warm place to sleep for the night. I almost freaked out because we almost didn’t get a guy’s card, but thankfully I got him in time. After taking everybody’s cards, we headed to the kitchen. We put on our aprons and were ready to serve dinner consisting of a 4 course meal. For starters they had a nice small salad and I helped serve the dressing. Then they had a nice bowl of hot chicken noodle soup, which was to everyone’s liking. For their main course they had, chicken enchiladas with a side of Spanish rice and beans. For dessert, they had apple pie and cookies. While I was on the floor, I started to make conversations. This one lady in particular really liked my name that night. She ONLY asked ME for a ton of hot sauce on everything she ate, ice, water and lemonade. I didn’t mind going back and forth for her, I enjoy keeping busy. Another AWESOME thing was when Kyle had people sign their names on a clipboard for whoever wanted a free haircut. Isn’t that amazing!!  After everyone was finished, we took out the clothes on the racks out of the small room out to everyone so they can choose what they want. The one item that went away so quickly was the nice warm blankets. While everyone was ‘shopping’ I made sure everyone who was still sitting at their tables was taken care of. I would have to say putting out and making the beds took the longest almost an hour and a half. Then setting the tables didn’t take long almost a half an hour. While we left, they were just about to sit down with some popcorn and watch the movie ‘Taken’ on a big flat screen TV they had in the room.  We were always working non-stop, and I loved that. Then it was the end of our shift, and we started to head home. While on the ride home I thought to myself how amazing people really are out there who will do anything to help out. My favorite part of the night was seeing everyone laughing and smiling, knowing they have a safe place to sleep for the night.

All About Cliques...

Almost everyday I hear a quote from the widely known and popular movie, Mean Girls. This movie shows how female high school social cliques operate, and the effect they can have on girls. Like we did in class today with the In- and Out- Groups, it all breaks down into judgments against one another. Like Cady, played by Lindsay Lohan, when she starts public school for the first time she feels like an outcast by sitting alone at lunch in the bathroom to not fitting in. But once the Plastics start to give her attention, they start to form her into someone she's not. Once she's in the in-group she is 'apart' of them. She has 'membership' in the group because of that she feels associated to them even if it means making fun of others and judging them based on looks or what group they are in and it becomes easier to do so. I don't think there is anyone who hasn't judged someone in their life. By coming from such a small school to a huge school really changed me. I didn't know a lot of people, or at least I thought I didn't until I came here. From sports that I played in house league (community) I realized I knew a lot of people, but quickly noticed not all were in the same 'group' or 'clique' here. Even though I have different in-groups, I still bond with them through what we like and what we do out of school. I think that Mean Girls really changed society and how others think because they nailed it on the head with the different cliques and how people judge, I see it everyday at school, even out of school. Society is shaped around our everyday life from news to magazines to celebrities, it never ends. We need to see past the judgements and see people for who they really are not just on how they look or how they dress, more on what you have in common with the other and see if you click*

The Social Construction of Reality...

There is no argument when it comes to one of the best T.V. shows ever made. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. has changed a lot in the real world. The once great Chandler Bing said, "You just sit there stewing in your own filth," referring to taking a bath. Once Sal brought up the Social Construction of Reality and how the Japanese think it's insane that we don't shower or wash off before our baths, I thought of the episode where Chandler Takes A Bath. He is resistant at first to taking one because he, himself, thinks it is gross and disgusting to sit in your own filth, just like we think spitting in public like the Japanese do is wrong and repulsive. But once Chandler did try to take a bath, he realized that is relaxing and melts your stress away. If the Japanese and us Americans changed places for a day, we would see the world in a whole new different way. From their point of view and how their society has affected them in life, they perceive us and our antics out of this world, same goes for us on how we view their ways. It is unique and interesting from looking at their point of view on us to see that how we do take baths is actually sort of  gross. By how we get grossed out by the spitting on a spoon is the exact same way. The society that we live in has changed our way of thinking and our lives. By simply changing a few things here and there can reconstruct a new reality in life and maybe be more different. For me I felt the same way as Chandler when he thought it was disgusting, but it is the way society has made it 'weird' to do so. So by changing your everyday routine and make some changes here and there that wouldn't be normal by society or you, do it and now you've created your own new reality.

The Service Within

When Sal brought up the Community Service portion of class, I went from a slouch to an instant perfect posture. My attention shot up and I knew this is what I love and live for. I am very passionate about community service and always have been. In the past I have done soup kitchens, food pantries, and have done Best Buddies (which I recommend to anyone interested). At my Church, we went Downtown and it was an all day event for the soup kitchen. While we were on our way up there, I had no idea what to expect because it was my first community service I have done. When we got to our destination, the realization set in. There were hundreds of people lined up around the building as far as the eye could see in the freezing cold. I knew that there are people out there in the world that are less fortunate than others and that they don't have a lot, but just seeing it for the first time really hit me hard. I took it upon myself to make these people have the best night yet. So when we walked in to the building I made sure the heat was blasting in the huge dining room. While in the kitchen we started to take the warm food and set it out while the people were pouring on in and taking seats. While we were serving food on the floor, I made sure to make conversation with as many as I could. Learning about these people's stories makes me have a new outlook on life and having that just helps you grow as a person. The best part after everthing was over was seeing their smiling faces or just to see a laugh. Seeing is better than believing and the feeling is incredible. Being mindful of others and how you act towards others is a big part in life and you have to see that to become a better person. By going through community service helps you to see the world from a different point of view and helps you grow. I can not wait to get more involved and help others by just seeing a smile goes a long way.

Awkward Silence...?

Yes, starting off first class for second semester in silence was different from what I am used to, but was it awkward? I don't believe so. I thought it was sort of  funny at first, but I knew Sal wanted us to start off the class and I fell that I understood the point of the silence. To me the silence gives us, the students, a chance to get out of our shells and out of what we have been trained to do for most of our lives, when the teacher teaches and we sit and listen. It explained to me that different is a good thing for us and allows anyone to take a chance. Change is good. Having silence in our lives gives us a chance or time to have reflection, time for ourselves, and thought. Silence is good to have once in while to gather up either what you just heard or thoughts that you've been having. People usually avoid silence by having the need to do something 24/7 like watching television or listening music or just socializing in general. Some are scared that once they have silence they will have a need to fill it and have a hard time to think about questions in life. You need to have silence in life and less technology that revolves around your life all day every day to have time for yourself. Just the other night I asked for some quiet for homework in my house while the T.V. was on. No one ended up turning off the T.V.  and still stood talking around me. Just to fill the silence in the room they were talking and watching T.V. I understand that football is very important to you, but so is me getting into college. By having noise, we drown out the important and now are brainwashed with not just having the teacher starting the class but now having noise and technology around us all the time. 

Who Am I?

You ask who I am. And I would have to tell you that I am still figuring myself out. I would say I am outgoing, funny, and down-to-earth. I love all kinds of sports and like to be around family and friends. I love the outdoors, animals, and physical activities (even though I am competitive). I would rather give back to the community and help others rather than go and hang out with friends on a weekend. Even though I love to read and watch some reality television here and there, that doesn't mean I don't like to have fun with friends. I like to be friendly with new people either at school or while I'm out and talkative to them to make them feel welcomed. I am an enthusiastic and energetic person who loves to be surrounded by people and activity. I have very strong values such as ways to behave or be polite and consider myself to be responsible, even though my parents tell me my room is a mess, I know where everything is and almost never lose anything.  My parents are who influence me in life and same goes for my older brother. My older brother is because he's following his dreams already at the young age of 19, and working other than going to college. My goals in life are almost the same as my brother by following my dreams. While I keep up my values I tend to impose my beliefs on others being the outspoken person I am. Taking everything into consideration, I strive to the goals I want to reach and to my dreams that I'll never give up on. All in all, I think that sums up Who I Am.
-Kelsey