Reflection on other peoples' blog posts

              After reading everyone's blog posts on whether or not love is  really worth it, I still stand by my opinion on the matter. Despite this, I still do understand and even agree with some of the points that the other people made in their posts. I definitely understand that love isn't always going to be perfect and that it isn't always going to work out. Love involves a lot of struggling and a lot of pain, but I believe that if you are truly with the right person and you both are determined to make your relationship work, then it can happen. I think that if you are in love, you should just take each day as it comes and try not to plan too far into the future so that you can save yourself from possibly being disappointed later on. Even though you think you are in love with someone, you always want to guard your heart and be aware that life isn't one big fairytale.

To Love or not to Love?

                      

           Love is debatably the most intense emotion a human is capable of feeling. It is a feeling that is so extreme and can come in so many different forms. There is always so much at stake when loving someone. What if they don’t love you back? What if something happens to make your love fail? Every person at one point or another in their lifetime will ask themselves the question: is love worth it? While the answer to this question really depends on the eye of the beholder, I have my own very strong opinion on the matter. I believe that love is a risk that is worth taking. Every person could benefit from loving someone because it gives them something to live for. Even if you only once loved someone, you are forever changed by it. It makes you more aware of the things in life that cannot be seen or heard, but only felt. Learning is a huge part of life so if being in love taught you anything, no matter how unpleasant it may have been, then it is not something to regret. I think that you should never hold yourself back from something that you want to do because that is no way to live. If you go about your life just sitting on the sidelines, then you are going to be left with so many what-ifs in the end. Isolating yourself from people isn’t going to stop you from getting hurt because you will ultimately be inflicting pain on yourself. If you go about your life solely on your own, then you are going to have a hard time trusting people and conveying your feelings for them. So what if you fall in love and then he ends up leaving you? Life goes on and you will eventually find someone else to be happy with again. Every human is born with the need for attention. From the moment you are delivered in the hospital, you are screaming and crying, wanting something from people. As much as anyone tries to combat those natural needs, they are still going to be there and they need to be met. So indulge yourself a little bit and fall in love.

Going Childless

  

          Upon reading the article None is Enough, many thoughts and questions flooded my mind as to what I want in my future and what my stance is on women not wanting to have children. Womanhood and motherhood are often mistaken as being the same thing, when in all actuality it is a choice for women. Many of them believe that they don’t necessarily need children in order to be happy in life and they don’t want to conform to society’s standards for women anymore than they already do. I believe that it is a great thing if a woman is confident and happy with her life, even if she does not have children. There are so many people in this world who are not happy with what they have and go their whole lives trying to find something to fulfill it. At the end of the day, if you are happy, then that is all that matters regardless of everything else. While I have respect for these women who choose to not have children, I certainly do not agree with them. I have always loved children and definitely want to have some of my own in the future. I understand that if I decide to do so, I will never get to do some of the things that I’ve always wanted to do. Once you have a child, you start to live your life for them and not for yourself. I personally don’t mind this, as I think that you are meant to live out your life for someone/something else; a greater cause. I tried to put myself in the shoes of the women who have chosen to go childless and I could not do so. I honestly do not understand the point in being able to travel to far-away places and getting to do adventurous things if you don’t have any people to share it with. Looking at the idea of going childless in a different light, I enjoy the idea of women standing up for themselves more in society. For centuries, women have been viewed as vessels to have children through and I believe that we should progressively be standing up for ourselves more and more to assert ourselves as valuable pieces to society. Many people find true joy in having freedom to do whatever they want with nothing tying them down, but I believe that anyone can find true joy when looking into the face of a child.

Interview

Me: Hi mom, thanks for letting me interview you even though you're trying to eat

Mom: Hi

Me: So you have three children, but what made you want to become a parent in the first place?

Mom: I just really wanted a family to share fun things with and to make memories with

Me: What is your favorite thing about us?

Mom: I love doing fun things with you guys like going on vacation to Maine

Dad: I have loved watching you guys grow and develop over the years

Me: Oh hi dad! Do you want to be interviewed too?

Dad: No, it's ok

Me: Alright, well mom, if you could change anything about the way we were raised, would you?

Dad: I would've made you guys play more sports

Me: Thanks MOM

Mom: I actually agree with him

Me: Ok, moving on. So far, have we turned out the way you expected us to?

Dad: We've never really had expectations for you guys, we just wanted you all to be happy. If there's one thing that I've learned as a parent, it's that you can't control everything. I learned that when you're mother was wheeled away in the hospital to give birth to your older brother.

Mom: Why are these questions so hard?

Me: They're actually really simple, you're just overthinking it. Anyways, what were your parents like?

Dad: They were hardworking, understanding and supportive

Mom: Yeah, so were my parents. They weren't too strict either

Me: How do you think they influenced the way that you parent?

Dad: I copy my parents a lot with the good and bad things that they did. I think I have my mother's sense of humor when it comes to parenting

Mom: I have learned a lot from their mistakes, but I also do carry on the positive things that they did

Me: Mr. Sheehan has told us in class how after you have children, you can't do a lot of things that you once wanted to do. Do you guys ever regret having kids?

Mom & Dad: No, never

Me: What have you learned from having children?

*Dad leaves room*

Mom: I used to be very quiet and passive, but since I have had kids, I have learned to speak up more quickly not just for you guys, but for myself and everyone else around me.

Me: I know you guys said before that you don't regret having kids, but it must not have always been easy. What is the biggest challenge you have had while raising us?

Mom: Being consistent with our parenting. We learned that if we said, "Don't do that again or you're going in time-out" that we would have to put you in time-out if you disobeyed us. If we didn't do this, then you would never learn to respect us and follow the rules

Me: How different am I from when I was younger?

Mom: Um, you got bigger, taller, older.... How am I supposed to answer this ?

Me: Like how has my personality changed?

Mom: Oh, well even though you are very quiet in school, you have gotten more outspoken and outgoing in other public places and at home

Me: Ok mom, last question: Do you want my teenage years to be anything like yours?

Mom: Yes! I had a good high school experience, participated in lots of activities and kept out of trouble. I definitely want you to have something like that

Me: Awesome! Well, thanks for helping me mom

Mom: No problem

Love

Daily Exposures

          As I am reading through all of my responses to the 'daily exposures' we have in class, I am coming to the realization that I am only skimming the surface of having deep thoughts. Upon reading my responses, I could come up with better things to add to the answer. This made me realize that I need to try looking at things in a different way. It made me think that maybe I should try to look at something as if I were in the mind-set of someone else, and then go back and see if I still agree with my original thought/opinion.

Flifferhuzza

             "Here's to the class of 2014!" the valedictorian sang out. The audience roared in excitement and the graduates jumped up, cheering for all of their accomplishments. Abigail looked around at all of her peers and former teachers, trying to commit their faces to memory. Even though she was well-prepared to move on into her future, she didn't want to lose the memory of all of these who were such a huge part of her life. In just a few short months, they would all be in entirely different places, doing entirely different things and they would all forget about each other. They would no longer re-live the memories they once looked at so fondly, it would all be left behind in the past. This saddened Abigail, to realize that 10 years from now, none of this would matter. Her days spent sitting in class and her nights spent hanging out with her friends would become irrelevant. 'Flifferhuzza' Abigail thought to herself. The feeling that you have lost something great even though something even greater is right in front of you.

Difficult Conversation

               The sun was shining, the air was comfortably warm and the birds were chirping. The beautiful day was very contradictory to the situation at hand with Mike and Ashley. They sat on a bench in the park with small children scampering past them, squealing in excitement and delight. But this was not a joyful day in the park for the young couple.
                "I want to break up" Mike said. Ashley's mouth opened in shock and disbelief. "But why? Why would you ever want to do that?" she questioned. "We have been together for so long and it's been great, but I just think it's time we started seeing other people" Mike confessed. "I don't want to see other people..." Ashley said. She stared at her hands, trying not to cry. "I'm sorry" Mike told her. "Don't you still love me? Or did you find someone else?" she asked. Mike took a deep breath. "Honestly? I met another girl. It's not your fault though and I still want us to be..." he tried to say. Ashley didn't want to hear it. She got up and ran off, leaving Mike alone on the park bench surrounded by all of the other happy people in the world.

Teens Can Change the World

            This generation's group of teenagers is often viewed as being immature and a disgrace to the society. We are often thought of as one whole, when we are actually all individuals put into one group. We all have so much to say and contribute to society, but are ignored and put to the side because we "aren't mature enough". Like Adora Svitak said in the video, kids dream big and aren't concerned with limitations while adults lack that ability. As teenagers, I believe that we are at the halfway mark between those two ways of thinking. We have the ability to imagine all of these creative and new ideas while still being somewhat realistic. Teens are also known for complaining about everything; especially their parents and other adult/authoritive figures. Teens complain about the way they run things and the way that they act. This leads me to believe that most teenagers want to be different from the adults around them. Therefore, when this generation grows up, we will have learned from past leaders' mistakes and will be a new society with a fresh perspective on things. To sum everything up, I just really think that if anyone ever wants anything to change, they have to allow it to happen.

Looking for a Best Friend

I am looking for a new best friend! This person must be good at listening and giving advice for when I need them. They must also know how to have fun and not take anything too seriously. My best friend must also be trustworthy and kind; not only to me, but to everyone in general. As a best friend, I will listen to you, be honest with you and always treat you with kindness and respect.

A Change of Perspective

        I open my eyes and look up around me to realize that I am alone again. The house is so still and quiet, I can hear myself panting. I pick myself up and stroll over to my bowl of water on the floor to get a drink. Through the window, I can hear the birds chirping outside and someone mowing their lawn down the street; I can tell that it's a beautiful day. I make my way down the hallway to Taylor's room and find one of her fuzzy purple slippers under her bed. I love to carry the slipper around with me all day because it has fur like me and makes me feel less lonely. I don't know where my family goes all day or why they have to leave me behind, but I don't like it. I hear noises just outside the front window, so I run barrel down the hall to the living room. I climb up on the couch which is something that my family would normally yell at me for, but I need to get a good view to see who is walking by my house. I see a woman walking on the sidewalk and on the other end of the leash she is holding, I spot Bruno. Bruno is a an old German Shepherd, and one of my best friends. I bark "Hello" to him and he stops in his tracks to say "Hi" back to me and to tell me to come outside with him. His owner tugs on his leash in frustration, wanting to continue their walk. I bark back that I can't; my family isn't home and I have to stay inside. We exchange a few more words until his owner finally can't take it anymore and drags him down the pavement. Eventually, the excitement of seeing my friend goes away and I am left again with my loneliness. I play with my toys for a little while and run some laps through the house until I finally get tired and decide to lie in my bed for a nap. I wake a few hours later to the sound of footsteps on the porch. I hear someone putting their key into the lock and I spring up from my spot on the floor to run over and greet whoever it is. Taylor walks in and I jump up to lick her face; I'm so happy to see her! She hangs up her bag and kneels down on the floor to scratch behind my ears. "I am glad to see you Rocky! How was your day?" she asks. It was better, now that she was here.

Courage

         Courage is something that everyone possesses inside of themselves. Although courage is often only recognized when it is used in extreme situations, people carry out acts of courage everyday; some big and some small. I think that as teenagers, we display a lot of courage by going on with our lives as normal, knowing that in a few years we have to grow up and become adults overnight. Besides that, I personally was courageous when my grandfather died a few years ago. I was very close with him and it was difficult for me to deal with his passing and go to his funeral, but I did it anyways because I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do. There is a quote from Mary Anne Radmacher that says, "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow'" (www.empowernetwork.com). I love this quote because it really sums up my idea that courage doesn't have to be something really outrageous, it could just be someone's will to power through the day.