Thankful

I am first off thankful just for being in 6th period American Lit. Last year, English was not something I looked forward to...someone who had Mr. Tejano might understand. But this year I'm glad to be in a class where I can express my opinion freely, tell jokes, and be myself. 

As for classmates, I am thankful for Marcos and Lauren, for always listening to my rants or sorry excuses. They are very helpful, and give me a different perspective to some of our readings. I would have never pictured a fun group like us filled with very different people. Maybe we're just one and the same.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Trenati Baker. Before I met her, I sat with a few acquaintances that I thought I'd be safe with. But since we have a mutual friend, I decided that I wanted to get to know Trenati. So the next day I decided to sit next to her and befriend her. Because of her, I've not only gained one good friend that I can most likely call a best friend soon, but SEVERAL good friends. I was able to join her circle and was welcome with open arms. We have the best times after school, whether it be dancing, venturing, signing (yes, as in sign language), or partying. I love those girls now, and I owe most of it to Trenati. But even in class, Trenati and I help each other to be better students. I'm really glad I met Trenati, and I'm thankful for it.

I Celebrate Myself

If you asked someone today what makes them the happiest, when are they happiest, or what would make them the happiest they've ever been, more people would probably have a response that deals with the material world. Society today is so much more advanced from when the world was first created. With the evolution of the earth came the evolution of man, civilization, and technology. And with all of those came the evolution of happiness.

To humans thousands of years ago, happiness may have just been defined as being able to survive another day, or finding the largest loot of food for the whole clan. To humans today, being happy may come from having the most friends on Facebook, getting a new follower on twitter, buying the latest smartphone, tablet, etc. Society today pushes social networking as the way to stay connected to the world. The more you are involved in it, the higher you're ranked among other people. To be the best social networker you also need the best device. So the latest iPhone, newest tablet, fastest and lightest computer, etc. If you don't have the latest this and that, then you're poor. You're sad, depressed, and miserable because you can't afford to have something nice. But why does society say that you have to keep up with the Jones's to be happy?

We as human beings are so disconnected from our natural behavior. We originated as "savages" and have since turned into "civilians". We've tried so hard to stray away from the rural life that we forgot the true meaning of life, love, and happiness. Contrary to what many people think, some people don't own the fastest car or the most luxurious house not by default, but because of choice. Because they don't need those things to make them happy. Because they have more important things to do than to follow the status quo.  Because they are closer to being their own human beings than most others are.

I think there are some people who haven't even seen real stars in the sky. Sometimes we often forget about the simpler things in life. At the end of the day, material things will not always be here to make us happy-nor were they here to begin with. We spend so much time advancing that we don't focus more on our inner selves. For instance, a person so connected to social media might never discover that they're a really good swimmer, or someone that enjoys playing video games indoors might actually enjoy collecting seashells on the beach far more. Some people have already discovered this, but then some people think they are weird. 

There truly is more to life than the physical world. We spend so much time trying to please eachother and fit into society instead of doing what makes us happy, or what feels right to us. We need to break the bond between what's real and what's imaginary. One might enjoy spending time reflecting in an open filed more than watching other people's lives on media if they would break away from it. I say break the status quo and the stereotypes. Let the athlete bake if he pleases, or the intelligent person, dance. Put the phones away and look at the sky for once. See what nature has blessed you with and not what man is polluting it with by hooking you onto it's degrading contraptions. Find the true definition of happy, within yourself.

Poe

Poe...

Poe

Poe

Poe.

You suffered so much sorrow, which led to many interesting literature works of today. I couldn't imagine losing basically my whole family. I'd probably be a bit crazy per say. But your pieces express your mourning, pain, and forlorn-ing. And my rhyming has failed, so I'll end that tale, and continue with my regular adoring. 

Now that I have failed at writing a "Poe"m ...that was bad. Anyway, Poe has a unique writing style. He really knows how to create a nice flow. Although, I thought the beginning of "The Fall of the House of Usher" was not really scary, and then BAM! There's paranormal activity 5. But I do wonder if all his pieces are gloomy and eerie? I guess death weighed so heavily on his mind that he couldn't even imagine going to a happy place anymore-thus, no happy endings. His work will always be remembered, however. And if I ever need to put someone-or be put-in a bad mood, then I know where to turn.

Modern Slavery

I think there are many aspects of today's society and world that could be classified as "modern-day slavery", such as human trafficking, actual slavery present in other parts of the world, etc. I would like to talk about the slavery within our minds. I'd say that if you have a television at home and you watch it for an adequate amount of time, then you are under slavery. I think that the media uses propaganda and subliminal messages to get their messages across and make people believe certain things. Whether it's commercials, a music video, or a regular show, we are always being influenced to act a certain way, but something, or do something. For example, commercials use bandwagon, celebrities and other persuasions to make you but something or think you need it. Music videos may show you your favorite artist acting a certain way and make you think that's how you should act. I just think that media has an unconscious influence on our mind.

What is an American?

I believe that an American is just someone who decides that they want to live under our laws, virtues, and cultures. There are many people who move to America because we are the "land of the free". Also, America is called the "land of opportunities". When people immigrate to the United States, they are usually presented with more jobs and opportunities than their homeland or previous home. Not a lot of countries have the same leniency as us, so that's what makes us more appealing sometimes. Living in America means that you are willing to coexist with many other cultures and diversities. We are all equal under the constitution and that's what makes us America.

Who Are the Modern-Day Puritans?

I think that you could give various types of people the "modern-day Puritan" title. People like pastors, priests, celebrities, government officials, authorities, etc. However, I think it depends on the reputation one places on themself. For instance, if your reputation is that you're kind, benevolent, and caring, many people would be shocked if you were arrested for a crime. So I think it applies to people who want to be "America's sweetheart"; like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Amanda Bynes--people of that nature. They all started out as being the "good girl", sweet, nice, everyone's pictured sweetheart. But when they all got older they generally had an image change--intentional or unintentional. People agree that it's alright to grow up, but it's shocking when you have former role models like Miley Cyrus prancing across a stage with a provacative outfit on, twerking, and dancing on old man Robin Thicke. People are generally disappointed because of the reputation she'd already set when she was younger. When it changed, it disappointed and angered a lot of people, and opened her up for large amounts of criticism and ridicule. So some people really have to consider the image they made for themselves before they try to change--or "ruin" it.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor, in my opinion, was a hero. Some might look at all of the wrong he'd done in life and look down on him, but I believe that Proctor died with his heart finally at peace and content with his actions. But he wasn't able to reach this point without going through some stressful hardships.

John Proctor's two main struggles dealt with the two main characters: Parris and Abigail. With Parris, Proctor didn't attend his church services. This was because he didn't like the sermons Parris preached about, which lately had been about hell and damnation. He probably felt uncomfortable because he felt that the sermons were targeted at him, since he committed a sin that he was highly guilty about. This sin leads us to Proctor's next main struggle, Abigail Williams. He had committed adultery with her against his wife Elizabeth. After his wife found out, they had an estranged relationship. He tried to remain away from Abigail as much as possible. Abigail, who still had feelings for Proctor, made matters worse by doing everything she could to try to ruin Goody Proctor. After the Salem Witch Trials started, this included falsely accusing Goody Proctor of being a witch.

John Proctor is determined to not let Abigail cause anymore havoc in his life, and in the town. When trying to prove Abigail's guilt goes wrong, Proctor not only makes matters worse for Elizabeth, but gets himself in trouble as well. When given the chance to save himself by "admitting" he conducts witch craft, he says he does so that he can be with Elizabeth. First he has a hard time when they ask him to sign his name on the evidence document, but then he can't take the lies anymore and rips the document up, truthfully admitting that he has not actually committed any witch craft, and accepts being hung. He is tired of his life of lies and sin, and he no longer wants to suffer through it. I commend him for his grown-up act, and I think it was honorable of him to do. Therefore, he is a hero in my book.

Arrivals...There Goes The Neighborhood

This is modern twist on how the Native Americans felt when explorers stole their land.

There was a small town named Lonesville with a population of less than 2,000. People really knew everyone's name because barely anybody inhabited the place. It was a close-knit community, with everyone sharing a personal bond with each other. Although the town was small in population, it used less than 1/16 of the 234 square miles they actually owned. On their '50s-styled televisions, many of the "Loners", as they called themselves, would hear a lot of people comment on how "crazy they are for not taking advantage of all of that land," or, "if I ran that town then it would be the Los Angeles of the Midwest by now!" The Loners would simply shrug off their comments and continue to live their modest, simple life. This was more than than could ever be asked for to them.

A week later, a diverse family of five grandparents and seven adults-young and older-arrived in Lonesville. The townspeople greeted them with kindness and gifts, though they were baffled at how a family could contain Caucasians, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. More mind-boggling was the fact that there were no children. The family laughed it off and explained that they were adopted family members, and they weren't sure why there were no children in the picture. Nonetheless, the Loners welcomed them with open arms and seats at their finest diner. 

At dinner, the family told them they were called the Jones', and that they had come from a small town in Nebraska. Concluding that Nebraska was not the most popular place, the people of Lonesville were happy to meet more small-town people like themselves. After dinner, they let the Jones' stay in their best inn until a real living arrangement could be worked out for them. The Jones' thanked them once they got to their room and bid them goodnight. Behind closed doors, the "Jones'" each pulled out their special advanced technologies; their laptops, phones, tablets, Mp3s, etc. 

In the next few months, the people of Lonesville had really grown to like the Jones family. They liked their urban, yet modest outlook on life. It was change for the Loners. The Jones family had expressed that they specialized in shoe-making and had shown different townspeople all of their designs. From gym shoes to flats to boots, everyone was amazed and intrigued at their craft; all except the two oldest people in the town-whom happened to be the mayor and the mayor's wife. They were okay with their brown, black, and tan old shoes. They believed that feeding into this new style would eventually lead to modernizing in other areas, and the main goal for this town was to maintain a simple way of life.

The Jones' had expressed to the Loners several times that they could make everyone shoes like theirs if they would help them get their own shoe factory. The Loners grew more and more drawn to the idea of having new shoes. So they would beg and plead their mayor every day to allow the Jones' to build a new shoe factory, but they always said "no". Finally, the Jones' took matters into their own hands and made a personal visit to the mayor's office themselves. They sat down with him and his wife and pulled out a bottle of wine disguised as apple cider. The mayor and his wife took some, immediately enjoying the flavor as the Jones' talked about a new shoe factory proposal. They mayor constantly rejected it until he started feeling a little funny. Suddenly, he and his wife thought a new shoe factory was a wonderful idea. They thought, why not even a new city upgrade? So the Jones' pulled out a contract, in which the mayor hardly skimmed over and gladly signed. The Jones' all smiled at each other with a deeper meaning in their eyes. 

A week later, many people were awakened by the loud sounds of construction. People rushed out of their houses to see several plots of lands being constructed on. The sight was appalling enough to make some people cry. They thought that there would be a few people working to make a new shoe factory, not hundreds of men working on several different buildings. More and more workers were arriving by the minute. Suddenly, a few Loners spotted news cameras and a reporter standing in front of one construction site. They rushed over and saw that she was actually talking to the Jones family. They listened intently to their interview. 

"So I'm here with the chief developers of Jones' Oak Branch Development and Construction Co. from Manhattan, New York. How does it feel to be the group that finally convinced this town to urbanize?" The reporter asked. "Oh, it feels wonderful. For a long time we saw this place as a waste of precious land. We're hoping to be able to convert it into a major capital of the nation, maybe even the world!" one "Jones" replied. "And how hard was it to convince everyone to let you do this?" inquired the reporter. One of the Latino "Jones'" replied, "oh, the townspeople immediately loved the idea; it was the mayor that took some convincing. But all it took was a bit of "loosening up" and they eventually saw that our plan was a good plan. They wasted no time in signing our contract." The Loners all turned heads toward the mayor and his wife, who looked more shocked than any of them. "I swear," the mayor started, "I was not in my right mind when I signed whatever it was. Those bastards got me drunk off their fake apple cider and convinced me! I never wanted this to happen!" The Loners knew he was telling the truth and silently cried as they watched their modest, simple Lonesville being destroyed and turned into a major-scale city. Their classic lifestyles would never be the same, and they rued the day the "Jones'" first came into town for the rest of their lives.

"Me"

I read, sing, dance, and write. Social media + music=life. I'll listen to anything that has a good rhythm or melody, or anyone who has a voice worth listening to. Something crazy that happened this summer was that I got attacked by a blind and demented cat....Ouch. Thanks to that, I can't really call myself a lover of all animals as of now. If a squirrel is 5 feet away from me then I'll panic. But I love my friends, and I try to see them whenever I can. I'm looking forward to the month of Christmas, which is my absolute most favorite time of the year. After that, my 16th birthday--November 12th. Next year I can't wait to go to New Orleans for a family reunion, and Sweden for a choir trip. Mustaches and beards seem to intimidate me now....That is all.