Constellation of Thoughts

Sophomore No Longer...

2009-05-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

The origins of the word "sophomore" are Greek, "sophos" meaning wise and "moros" meaning foolish. "Wise fool". I find this label most appropriate for most tenth-graders, including myself.

Despite reading Sean Covey's Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Teen, I found myself slacking off for a majority of the year. Without a doubt, procrastination was my toughest challenge, and I would be lying to myself if I said it was a problem of the past. I wish putting things off until the last minute was a habit I would grow out of, but for some reason, I think a lot more effort will be required to change my poor study habits. I can already tell that, as a junior, self-discipline is vital.

I remember being in second grade and thinking about my older cousins ...Seventh grade?! Wow, you are old! Now seventh grade seems a lifetime ago, when really, it was only about four years ago. (I don't feel that old!)

Now, I only have two years of highschool left. Two years until I graduate. Two years until I step out into the world outside of BHS. Just two. Amazing.

Of Mice and Men...In Review

2009-05-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men...

Hmm.What to write?

I cannot figure out why, but this was one of my favorite books we have read in class this year. This particular novel takes place during the Great Depression near Soledad, California. The drastic difference between the way of life for Lennie and George, the two main characters, and how I live intrigues me. I am unfamiliar with the challenges of managing money so that expenses for living space, food, and other necessities fit into a $50 a month budget. I have never had to worry about finding or keeping a job, or looking out for an over-sized, trouble-prone "kid" who means well but always ends up causing harm.

So, without completely understanding all the hardships he faces, I sympathize with George and the monsterous kid Lennie.

House On Mango St.

2009-05-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, is a collection of descriptions of a neighborhood and life in general through the eyes of Esperanza, a hispanic girl, as she grows from pre-teen to young adult.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the writing style used by Cisneros. While the reading is not a challenge, the inferring and connecting required to comprehend some of what Cisneros is portraying is difficult. The racial descrimination against hispanics was evident, but I did not realize, until I was nearing the end of the novel, that Esperanza was getting older. The end did not come together as well as I hoped it would, leaving me slightly unsatisfied. Although I was not fond of this book, the unique writing style was a pleasant change from the norm.

I would only recommend this book for someone who is specifically looking for books about different cultures/social groups...not for just leisure reading.

The Giver

2009-05-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lois Lowry's The Giver caused me to think about government control. The way the society in the novel is set up makes for a perfect community, or so the members believed.

These are just a few of the "checks" their government had on the community:

Job Assignment-though requesting a different assignment was allowed
Family-choice of spouse or children were not allowed, though a request for up to two children could be made (only 1 boy, 1 girl per family unit)
Responsibilities-bikes were given only when a child became the "appropriate" age
Meals-food was delivered at the same predetermined times each day
Grandparents-did not really exist, no one really met their parents' parents
Curfew-was against the law for people to be outside during certain hours (unless job-related)
Clothing/Hair-the way children dressed and wore their hair was mandated according to age
Social Conduct-certain behaviors were considered wrong and rude and apologies for these transgressions were standard

Climate-while not a social aspect of the community was also controlled by government

Reading The Giver changed my perspective on many aspects of life. Everyone would benefit from reading this thought-provoking novel at least once in their lifetime.

Modeled after Wheelbarrow

2009-05-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

So much depends upon

the devoted piano teacher

aged with experience

from the clueless students.

Well...maybe not. I don't know why I wrote about a piano teacher. The last time I took piano lessons was in fourth grade. I barely remember my piano teacher, but I know that she was always thoughtful. I guess this subject was just the first that came to mind.

NINETEEN MINUTES in Review

2009-04-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes captivated me with the novel's constantly changing plot. The story is a collage of flashbacks leading up to the nineteen minutes it takes for Peter Houghton, a seventeen-year-old student at Sterling High to kill ten students.

Josie.The main character in this novel is Josie Cormier, former best friend of Peter. As she grows up and realizes that Peter will always be an outcast, Josie ends their friendship. In highschool, Josie is picture perfect; she is the kind of person every girl would kill to be like. She is book-smart also, and she keeps her grades up. To top it all off, her boyfriend Matt Royston is a starter on the varsity hockey team. Throughout the book, Josie has to make choices involving both Matt and Peter, constantly struggling to make the right choices and live with the consequences of her actions.

The Judge. Alex Cormier, Josie's mother, was the judge assigned to the Peter's case. Alex is an excellent judge; no one could carry out her duties better. When it comes to parenting, however, she is clueless. When the two most important parts of her life (her job and her daughter) are intertwined, Alex almost falls apart.

Nineteen Minutes is a fantastic novel for anyone who enjoys a combination of mystery, criminal justice, and a little bit of romance.

*464 pages*

Favorite Techie Tool

2009-04-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

Email is hands-down my favorite techie tool. The ability to send a message to anyone I know in a matter of seconds is a great convenience. I also value the ability to send myself an email with an attached project, so I can work at any computer during or outside of school. Also, I can get assignments from teachers or help from classmates without having to disturb them, because unlike a phone call, an email can be answered at anytime and is often more practical.

Manor-- no Animal Farm

2009-04-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

George Orwell's Animal Farm frustrated me. I could not get over the animals' ignorance. They blindly follow the inconsistent laws created by their "Leader, Comrade Napoleon", a selfish, sly, yet incredibly intelligent boar.

The whole novel parallels the Russian Revolution, with characters such as Napoleon and Snowball, another power-hungry boar, representing the corrupt leaders Stalin and Trotsky, respectively. Having no prior knowledge of these leaders' roles in history, reading this book gave me insight on their strong personalities.

My favorite character of all is Benjamin, a cranky old donkey who, for the most part, keeps to himself. He is more intelligent than he leads on, and knows better than to trust anyone other than Clover and Boxer, two horses to which he is infallibly devoted.

Animal Farm constantly involves dramatic irony. Knowing the animals' were constantly being tricked and lied to caused me to dislike reading this book. While I did learn quite a bit about history, I would not recommend this book.

Spring Break '09

2009-04-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Despite having homework, I managed to enjoy a majority of my break. I spent the first few days with my older sister in her college dorm. Somewhat reluctantly, I attended one of her classes during which I almost fell asleep. (She later confessed that this particular class ranked among the more boring courses) Later we went shopping and stopped for ice cream, which made up for the prior boredom.

The next several days were reserved for lounging and relaxation at home, all alone, with peace and quiet.

When the weekend came, my mom and I drove down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to pick up my younger sisters from my grandparents' house. We stayed for dinner that night and breakfast the next morning before making the long trip back. No more sleeping in; the next day we were back at school.

Spring break never begins too early and always ends too soon. Especially since, this year, we don't have any more weekdays off from school. Only thirty-one days left, but who is really counting??

Anthem

2009-03-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

In her novel "Anthem", Ayn Rand creates a Utopian society that is really not a Utopia at all, but instead this world illustrates dystopia. The philosophy taught to the members in Equality 7-2521's society stressed the importance of collectivism and living solely for the benefit of others.

Preference was a major transgression. Having a preference could turn into interest and the desire to make individual choices.

In this society, where individuality is unacceptable, all distinguishing traits were frowned upon, and superiority was forbidden.

Working every day of their lives, these people had no chance for renewal. Mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted, by the time they reached forty one does not wonder why they are sent to the "Home of the Useless".

Antigone

2009-02-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

"You want to bury him although it's forbidden in the city!"

This quote shows Ismene's surprise when her sister, Antigone requests help to perform her brother's burial, a main right of Greek women, a right stolen by their own uncle, the general, Creon.

The characters of this play are distinct, all having their own personal struggles.

Antigone- brave, independent young woman struggling to find her place; takes a stand; unafraid of being caught and sentenced to death.
Ismene- finds herself in a struggle to simultaneously maintain loyalty to her family and obey the law.
Creon- tyrannous ruler who abuses his power to declare unjust laws and proud to admit mistakes.
Haemon- son of Creon betrothed to Antigone; promises loyalty to his father yet he eventually takes sides with his soon-to-be wife, trying to reveal to his father the faults of his edict.

I dislike that Antigone is in book format. A story loses important detail when it is told through dialogue. Sophocles' Antigone confused me by leaving much to the reader's interpretations. Unless you are truly interested in Greek culture and dramas, I would not reccommend this play.

"The Call of the Wild"

2009-02-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

"Buck refused to move under the rain of heavier blows which now fell upon him. Like his mates, he was barely able to get up, but unlike them, he had made up his mind not to get up.(pg.112)"

Buck would have never experienced the love he had for John Thornton, a "love that was feverish and burning, that was adoration, that was madness"if he had not taken a stand. His refusal to obey his ignorant master saved Buck's life. This act was just one of the examples of the underlying theme of taking a stand.

The Call of the Wild is set during the Klondike gold rush, which caused thousands of men to migrate into the arctic conditions. The novel is presented through Buck's eyes, presented as the experiences of an abducted, southern-born dog who fell back on the ways of his ancestors in order to survive hardships on the trail.

Jack London's The Call of the Wild intrigued me through events described so vividly that they seemed like personal experiences. I encourage you to take a step into this unknown world; journey with Buck over thousands of miles of arctic trail and the accompanying toil.

Taking a Stand

2009-01-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

For some individuals, taking a stand may be as easy as tying shoelaces. A shy, soft-spoken seventh-grader, I personally found taking a stand extremely challenging. In English class, I sat in the back left corner of the room with my best friend Tia, at a rectangular table that comfortably seated two. She sat to my right. On Tia’s left, in a desk about five feet away, sat Nick, a typical, self-absorbed jock. During a class discussion one day, Tia asked a simple question to which, apparently, most of the class knew the answer.

“You’re stupid,” Nick laughed. Tia immediately fell silent; I could read her expression. She winced in pain that was not physical, but emotional. She wanted to disappear at that moment to another place, any place where she would not be forced to endure Nick’s thoughtless comments. He realized he was hurting Tia, yet his verbal abuse was relentless.

“Tia, you are so stupid!” he continued. I fought internally with myself, knowing I should speak up to defend Tia but unable to find the courage. Then I wondered how I could sit there and not say anything. I knew I had waited too long. My best friend visibly struggled to contain tears, and I sat right beside her as though I was oblivious to the entire situation. I should not have had to think about it that much; my duty was clear.

“No she’s not,” I argued, “She’s not stupid.” Nick shut up instantly, not because of what I said, but because of the fact that I had spoken up at all. Tia looked at me with eyes that were both grateful and relieved. Even though I hesitated for too long, I was proud of myself for finally supporting my friend. Sure, a lot of bravery and initiative is involved, but taking a stand is definitely worth the cost.

Looking back, I find this situation pretty insignificant, but at the time I thought it was a big deal.

Sophomore year

2008-12-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

At the sophomore meeting, before the school year even started, I felt completely lost. I had no idea how to get to some of my classes. By the end of the first week, I knew my way around and I couldn't believe how lost I had been. Now I wish the school campus was larger.

Compared to last year, my math and science classes are harder, but my Spanish class is easier. Another main difference is that I am driving now. As soon as my parents let me take the driving test, I can finally get my license, not that I have a car or anything....

The highlight of my year so far has probably been playing tennis and volleyball. This was my second year playing tennis, and I played much better this year. I played volleyball for the first time, and even though I have a lot of room to improve, I really enjoyed myself. My main sport is soccer though, and it is killing me that we haven't started yet! Last year, we were already conditioning by now.

In general, I think I like the High School more than the Junior High. This semester has gone by so quickly, yet it seems like a million things have happened.

Fate is Permanent

2008-12-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

It is evident that Shakespeare believed that your fate was set; you couldn't do anything to change your destiny. He illustrated his beliefs through his play, Julius Caesar.

At one point, when the conspirators were doubting if Caesar will even come to the Senate House, Decius assured Cassius that he would able to persuade Caesar to come. Even when Caesar had planned to stay home, his fate took charge and brought him to the Senate House. Despite even the warning from his wife Calphurnia, Caesar, according to his fate, went to his the Senate, to his death.

Also, Brutus had the opportunity to agree to Antony's murder, which might have saved him in the end. Antony would not have been able to give his speech that moved the Romans so greatly.

Qualities of a leader

2008-12-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

Leadership plays a huge role in Julius Caesar, a play by William Shakespeare. Each trying to gain power and recognition, the politicians turn their backs on what being a responsible leader truly means.

Mark Antony used his leadership capabilities throughout the play, Neglecting to consent the other politicians, he assumed the authority to offer the crown to Caesar. Also, through his speech at Caesar's funeral he turned the crowd against Brutus, bringing also, whether intentionally or accidentally, the death of Brutus.

Caesar led the defeat of Pompey, and he was so anxious to be crowned king that he didn't listen to Artemidorus's attempt to warn him of the conspirators' plan to kill him.

Caius Cassius had an astounding talent of persuasion. He was perhaps the most influential leader of them all, gathering a group of conspirators including Brutus, one of Caesar's most beloved friends, to murder Caesar.

If the above are examples of poor leaders, then what makes a great leader?

COMMUNICATION. A good leader collaborates, listens as much or more than he/she talks, and makes decisions with the consent of others, not single handedly.
RESPECT. Good leaders are bestowed authority by other people rather than assume it for themselves;they do not just take charge and dictate what others are allowed to do.
HUMILITY. A great leader does not have their position for glory or to benefit themselves. Sometimes a leader is not the person in charge, but a person willing to follow orders instead of give them.
INTEGRITY. Leaders need to recognize when they have made a mistake and have the integrity to fix whatever they can.

Brutus may have been the only great leader among them. Even Antony agreed in Act 5, Scene 5 saying "[Brutus] was the noblest Roman of them all." Brutus only took part in the murder for the good of Rome, not for power and personal gain.

Outstanding leaders aren't just world known politicians, army generals, or religious leaders such as the Pope or the Dalai Lama. Librarians, coaches, team captains, camp counselors, teachers, youth pastors, parents, even older siblings, just everyday people are the outstanding leaders
of today.

2008-11-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

Reading further into Sean Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, I have found that my communication skills are not up to par. I become really frustrated when I am trying to talk to someone and they think they already know what I am going to say. They do not listen; they just sit there and pretend to listen. When I finish talking, they respond to what they "heard", which does me no good. Even though I am aggravated by this poor listening, I frequently and unconsciously do the very same thing. I need to be a little bit more open-minded when I am listening to people, so I catch what they are really trying to communicate.

I, like everyone else, crave to be understood. Often times, life would be so much easier if my parents used the "mirror" listening Sean discusses in his book. When I tell them things, I feel like I am talking in a different language, because they just do not understand me. I hate repeating myself, and I usually don't have the patience to try to explain it a different way. My mom also has a problem with probing. The fact that she asks so many questions is not as annoying as the way she asks the questions. She asks looking for a specific answer, and so she does not listen to the answer I give her. When she does listen, she listens selectively and often twists what I say. I think my whole family could benefit from a lesson in communication.

Time Management :/

2008-11-06T19:07:00.001-08:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, a book by Sean Covey, encourages adolescents to take control of their lives and futures. This book identifies problematic situations and different types of peoples' responses to these situations. Also, at the end of each section, Sean provides "baby steps" to assist teens in dealing with issues or changing their bad habits effectively and responsibly.

One area of my life that needs dramatic improvement is the way I manage, or rather fail to manage, my time. This relates to Habit 3, putting first things first. Sean advises to identify your big rocks, the most important things you want or need to accomplish. For me, identifying my minigoals for the week is easy enough. The hard part is following through by working to complete these goals in the time I have set aside for them. I know that I will eventually get around to doing whatever it is that absolutely has to be done. I allow myself to procrastinate, to do other less important things first, and I force myself to stay up late to complete the big rocks. In the end, it costs me valuable sleeping time. As soon as I can attain the will power to accomplish the important goals first, I will become considerably better at managing my time.

Thoughts on Sci-Fi

2008-10-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

Before studying about sci-fi in class, hearing the term sci-fi made me picture a waist-high, metal robot with a digitally displayed mouth and eyes, which did not interest me in the least. Now, having escaped that stereotype, I find most science fiction acceptable, however, reading some sci-fi seems like a huge waste of time.

At first, reading the novel The Time Machine by H.G. Wells was unappealing to me. The beginning was hard to follow; I kept having to read the same paragraph to remember what I had just read. As the plot developed, the reading got easier and the story became intriguing. The novel captivated my attention, and I no longer had to work at staying focused. For me, The Time Machine is an example of the better kind of science fiction.

I had opposing thoughts on "The Machine That Won the War" by Issac Assimov and "The Water Trader's Dream" by Robert Priest. I might have appreciated "The Water Trader's Dream" slightly more if it had not been written as a poem, but I found "The Machine That Won the War" to be thoroughly distasteful.

2008 Presidential Election

2008-10-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

I am not saying I would choose McCain if I were to vote next month in the presidential election. I agree with both McCain and Obama on different issues. However, when I started researching, I found that McCain had more viewpoints similar to mine than did Obama.

I support senator McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. She is an amazing leader who would make an excellent Vice President.

On the other hand, I do not agree with Mc Cain's plan to drill for oil in the Outer Continental Shelf, where thousands of aquatic species live. The moratorium that forbids drilling for oil and gasoline off the coasts was created for a reason. I believe the answer to the issue of dependency on fuel from other countries lies in production of alternative fuels from renewable resources.

I agree that being a leader in green economy is extremely important for our country. We need to lead by example instead of just discussing the issues. I support McCain's plan for creating new power plants. I believe that with all the natural disasters and high cost of living, this source of power, currently providing only twenty percent of our energy, could expand greatly to our benefit.

Jade...set apart by her power

2008-09-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

The weather changes like Jade’s mood. Actually, Jade’s mood determines the weather. Abandoned as an infant, Jade grew up in the village of Clemming unclaimed and alone. She was found sixteen years ago along Clemming’s main path swaddled in a soiled, threadbare piece of cloth. Other than what her family provided her with, the villagers gave her only a basic education as required by law. Jade was different from the villagers, making her an outcast. She stood five feet and six inches, a good four inches above the tallest villager. Also, her skin was ghostly pale, greatly contrasting the natives’ once bronze tan. Their complexion had faded, though, with the scarcity of sunlight ever since Jade was found. Crops had suffered from this lack of sun, giving the villagers another reason to dislike her besides her physical differences. And when crops suffered, the livestock starved. When the livestock starved, the people struggled to survive. Jade had blue eyes that changed with the weather and her mood. Normally they were grey like the overcast sky, and when night approached, they darkened to a navy only a shade off black. On the rare good days, her eyes turned a fresh blue matching the sunny sky above. Disliked and avoided by the only community she knew, Jade mostly stayed angry at the world. She knew she had the power to change the weather, but she assumed that her power was, like her mood, out of her control. She was not to blame for any weather disasters. After all, the way the villagers treated her was the deciding factor of her mood and thus the weather.