Hey guys! I hate to say this, but this will be my last post as the end of the year has finally come...:( 
Anyways, I have a few lessons to share to with you guys....

1 - Stay Young. 
     I think this is one of the most important things to keep in mind as you grow up. Don't let the stress and daunting thought of school and college push you down.
2 - Live your life 
     Yes, school should be a priority, but it shouldn't control your life. Put effort into your schoolwork, but allow yourself some time to enjoy your life. Don't isolate yourself in a bubble of school and grades and totally miss out on some of the most exciting years of your lives. 
3 - But Do Keep up
     However, you shouldn't give up too much time to socializing. Falling behind now means falling behind forever, and it will be hard to make up and get prepared for college and jobs. 
4 - SLEEP 
     This is the biggest mistake I made during Middle school. Get enough sleep - it will make the biggest difference than anything else. Because trying to listen to a teacher when all you want to do is pass out is the hardest way to learn - and you will be miserable. 
5 - Step up and Be a Leader 
     When the time comes and your class is in need of a leader, be the one to step up and lead them. Getting used to leading now will help in a huge spectrum of jobs and life experiences - as long as you dont overuse your leadership and start to get bossy. 
6 - Take a Break 
     Dont be afraid to sit back and breathe for a moment if you feel overloaded. The best thing you can do is take everything at an even pace - don't stress yourself. 
7 - Appreciate your Friends 
     Your friends are the best support you have throughout middle and high school. Be kind to them - learn to trust them. But also, let go of people who are bringing you down, and dont hang out with people who make you feel uncomfortable. Dont hate them, but dont let them control your choices and actions. 
8 - Appreciate your Parents and your Families 
    Yes, right now most teenagers want to 'be independent' or whatever, but seriously guys, your parents pay loads of money for you to go to school and they devote their entire lives to you. So give back to them - dont ignore them, dont hate them. They deserve your love as much as you deserve them, and they will always be there for you. Dont be afraid to talk to them - trust me - they are the best friends you can have in sticky situations. 


So yeah, good luck with school you guys and dont forget to HAVE FUN! I am going to miss all of you guys a ton! 

Night - Essay Introduction Paragraph 


"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other”- Walter Elliot. When Elliot make this observation, he was speaking the truth. Whenever people are forced to complete task after task until their breaking point, their resilience is the motive that keeps them going. Perseverance is a trait that is often played with in stories and novels, authors using it to shape their characters. What better than to mold a character that people learn to care for and relate to than to show how they deal with problem after problem? Examples of this are seen in three different books - Night by Elie Wiesel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and Oblivion by Sasha Dawn. When forced through each wave of rigorous work and torture during his time in the holocaust in Night, Elie Wiesel never gave up, always pushing on. Similarly in Mockingbird, young Scout witnesses multiple life changing events that aim to push her down. However, Scout stays strong, learning and growing from each hardship. Finally, in Oblivion, Calliope's severe condition of graphomania leaves her struggling through her high school life - but despite the hardships she is forced through, she stays focused and determined to find a solution to her struggles. Throughout each book, the characters Elie, Scout and Calliope are pushed and pushed to grow strong skin and persevere through their troubles. As seen in Elie, Scout, and Calliope’s stories, their sense of perseverance is stronger than ever and can help transform the world for the better.

Hey guys! How are all of you doing today?
Have another quick question for y'all...

What innovation has most transformed the world? Why?

I personally think that the idea of helping others is the biggest innovation. It isn't exactly a product, or even a certain invention or thing, but it is an idea that has been transformed over the ages. And it has made one of the biggest impacts. Charities, organizations, benefit events and parties, financial aid, and everything along those lines have been aiming to help those who cannot help themselves. And I think that makes the biggest impact. How can we build our world up when some people are unwilling to help those with less then them? Fortunately, people put time and effort into helping others, into giving people opportunities and aid. That, to me, has transformed the world the most. 

Hey guys! Haven't talked in a while...
Anyways, have another quick question for you...

Out of all the issues that muckrakers focused on during this time period, (Farming monopolies, oil monopolies, election/political reform, factory worker's rights, FDA regulations, child labor protections, women's rights, African-American Rights, environmental protection, philanthropy, education reform.) which 3 do you feel are the most pressing issues today and why?

I think that nowadays, the biggest issues would be African-American rights, environmental protection, and education reform. Even to this day, there are still issues with unequal rights for people of color, immigrant or citizen. Also, people tend to ignore the rising threat of global warming and other environmental issues like the loss of water and more radiation from the sun slipping through our atmosphere. Education is still an issue as well, judging by the fact that there are still kids in other countries that can't pay for school, or doesn't even have one in their town. I say this because these three issues are growing bigger ever year - especially the issue of uneual rights for immigrants with the growing situation with ISIS and muslim immigrants. So I think that these three are the three that need the most attention and most thought to solve them. 

Hey guys!

What is it you hope to transform in the world? Why? 

   For me personally, the main change I wish to see made in the world is the quality of living and working for those stuggling with poverty. There are still millions of families in our world - our contry alone - that struggle for dinner every night. This needs to change. How is equality valid if we are still not allowing equal pay for women or immigrants in our country, if we still dont allow finacial aid for those who cannot pay for the insurance. How is this equality? 
   I don't personally know exactly how to make this change, but I know that the first step would be to create organizations that reach out to families that struggle and offer them help with no cost. Many of the organizations out there already do this, but they withhold information to try and wiggle their way into earning some cash for themselves. These families cannot pay for help - thats why they need it. So helping them and then expecting them to pay you back? How is that going to change anything?

Hey guys!
I have another quick question for y'all...

Who is the most courageous person you know? Why?

To me, one of the most courageous people I know is my mom. Actually, she is the most courageous person I know. She is always ready to take chances, and face her fears to accomplish her goals. She doesn't let other's opinions get in her way, and she never ever gives up. To me, these are all things that can make someone courageous. Willingness to do what you set out for yourself and never giving up are key to taking chances and having this notion of 'bravery'. Also, when you forget about what others might think of you, it takes the weight and worry of judgment off your shoulders. My mom doesn't have this weight - I don't know if she ever did. She is strong, brave, and will not give up on her hopes to bow to someone or something else. Also, she is always willing to help others and reach out where others might not. This is what makes her, undoubtedly, the most courageous person I know. 

Hey guys?
What two factors do you think aid justice? What about impede it?

For me, I think that the two main factors that aid justice are morality and the idea of redemption or forgiveness. The whole idea of justice is built off of what is right / wrong, and without the idea of redemption or forgiveness, most people wouldn't've be given 'just' trials. Two factors that I think impede justice are inequality and being bias. When people aren't treated equally, their basic rights are ignored just because of their race, economic standing, culture, religion, etc. This creates an unsafe environment for others because they see that their basic rights are thrown out the window. Also, biased judges and rules break down justice because they focus only on one category, whether it be skin tone, religion, or riches.
 

Don't do war

Hey guys!
This is a poem about A Confederate Soldier's Boot writing to Future Generations about Lessons Learned from the War


All I see is mud
And blood
There's a corpse
And look
I can see a dead horse

I am a boot
Leather and soft
Splattered with my comrades blood
Spilled by the Union

My owner runs fast
I pound against the ground
Thump, Thump, Thump
I jumped over another dead soldier

Kids, don't do war
Don't fight your brother
Or your mother
Or any of your family
It's just not right

I wish we didn't have to fight
To paint with blood
To stain the earth
I just wanted to live a sweet boot life

We didn't want much
Us Confederates
Just to keep our businesses running
And yes
I guess
We did need our slaves

But now I know
And kids, trust me
Stay in school
Be nice to your brother
And don't hold slaves

- An old boot

   Hey guys! How are all of you guys doing? I have a quick question for you...

What do you think being a "witness" means?

   For me, "witness" is a word with many definitions. Most people associate the word "witness" with the act of being present when something happens; either watching or glancing or stumbling upon accidentally, etc. However, I feel like there is more depth to the word than just that. 
   You see, witnesses can range from just people who saw or experienced the event directly, to people who have seen, heard, watched, or learned of the event through the direct witness(s), social media, the news, or anything like that. Just because someone wasn't there at the moment doesn't mean they aren't a "witness". However, they could have heard twisted stories or untrue facts, thus compromising their role as "witness". Therefore, it is difficult to fully sift out a true definition of "witness". 
   Personally, I think that both of these scenarios apply to witnesses. However, I do think that people who are directly involved with the event are more direct witnesses, rather than a secondary witness like someone who learned about the event through a different outlet. 

   During our trip to LA, many things changed about my look on the Holocaust and the Japanese internment. First of all, I had barely known about the Japanese internment at all, so I was very thankful I was able to learn about that. Second, I had learned about the holocaust in the past, but never in such depth as the museums tour explained. The unbelievable events of the holocaust were actually very interesting to learn about, despite the fact that they were one of the lowest points for mankind and truly inhuman and devastating to the Jewish religion. So I do feel like I transformed, at least, a bit, from not knowing much about either event, to knowing more than I ever expected and hoping that we can prevent anything like those events from happing ever again. 

“60 Acres” by Raymond Carver

     The protagonist, Lee Waite, in the short story “60 Acres” by Raymond Carver is faced with making two important decisions that change his way of thinking quite drastically. Waite, during the story, finds two boys trespassing and hunting on his land, but rather than punishing them severely, he decides to let them go with just a harsh warning. The other decision Waite makes is to lease his land, thus allowing the trespassing hunters to hunt without fear of being caught and punished. 
     These decisions reflect two traits in Waite that he might not have known about himself. In the beginning of the story, he is alarmed and enraged that others are constantly trespassing on his land, willing to bring violence upon the trespassers without a blink. However, once he finds out the trespassers were and could have been for a while, young boys, he realizes that he doesn’t want to punish the boys too severely. This shows that he is rational enough to let the boys off with a warning, but it also shows his sense of fatherhood. Waite himself had two young sons, and it appears that his sense of fatherhood broke through his inner barriers and kept him from punishing the young boys. When Waite decides to lease his land, it shows how he is finally able to let go of an old bug causing him too much stress to bear. He loves his land, yes, but he knows that by just protecting it from outsiders and not actually using his land will be useless and untimely. Therefore, he shows that he is able to manage and let go of his past fears, opening up new opportunities for many others. 

     In my life, there is one clear decision that I have made that has shaped my life forever; starting Hapkido. When I was 7,  my mother had joined a kickboxing school which offered Hapkido classes for all ages. She immediately wanted me to join, but I was unwilling to. However, after finally giving in to her wishes, I started up classes and ever since then, my life has been constantly changing. Now, I have been training for almost 7 years, already having earned my Black Belt and my Second Degree Black Belt. But, even though with every class I improve, I know that if I hadn’t decided that day to sign up for my Hapkido classes. Hapkido has changed my mindset; I think more of self-control, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and having an indomitable spirit. Every day after class we repeat those five tenants, and every day they morph my mind into a more mature way of thinking. 

Hey guys! How are you doing?

I have a quick question... 

If you had to pick four items to put in a time capsule, four items that represented your family/childhood, heritage/culture, accomplishments/achievements, and legacy, what would you choose? What container would you put them in?

For me personally, I would definitely store all of my items in a leather backpack, but as far as the items themselves, I don't exactly what I would choose. As for the family/childhood item, I think I would choose a set of old Crayola markers. When I was younger, I always drew and colored with markers, and ever since, I have considered art as one of my higher skills. For heritage/culture, I think I would pick a small model of the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty to represent my four years in New York City when I was younger. I was born in Utah like I mentioned in an earlier post, but I consider New York more of my culture, just because my memories of Utah are scarce. For my accomplishments/achievements, I guess I would choose a sketch book full of fashion designs as I have always wanted to become a fashion designer. For my final item, the legacy item, I suppose I would choose a book, hopefully one that I write. Besides being a fashion designer, I have always wanted to write my own book, hopefully one that tells my personal story in different ways. 

Anyways, that's just me. What about you guys?

Hey guys! How are all of you? 

I have a question for you... Are you a child of the West?

There are more than one ways to interpret this. Some may think that it just means 'were you born in the west' but there is also the potential meaning of 'are your ancestors from the west or somehow associated with it'? The way I interpret it is as both. Unfortunately, I don't have a set answer for either. I wasn't really born in the west, and my ancestors didn't come from the west. I was born in Utah, but I guess that could be considered west. But I also lived most of my childhood in New York city, so I have more of a city-girl mindset. But, to counter that, I am living in California currently. However, the way I personally interpret the question leans a bit more towards where my roots are, and even though I love where I live now, I don't consider myself a child of the west. 

California beaches- another one of my favorite places to hang out

What about you guys?

NYC- One of my favorite places in the world

What's Behind My Mask?

At first glance, I might seem quiet, thoughtful, and considerate. However, if you were to look closer into my personality, you may find more layers than a cake. On my mask, the front side shows my love of art, my 2nd-degree black belt, a piano, books, a snowboard, no chocolate, and a stack of papers with an apple. I know that my peers are aware of my love of art and books, my tastes in music and my enjoyment of playing the piano. I find myself basing my own personalities on those of characters in the fictional worlds in which I read. My traits range from my hatred of too much chocolate to a very fierce drive to protect others. I love to involve myself in extremes things like Karate and snowboarding. Another layer of myself I reveal to others is my love of learning. I am not the type of person to hate school and despise the academic environment, and I actually find myself calmer when faced with problems I know I can overcome. However, there are even more layers than just those few that I listed. 

On the inside-the side I don't often reveal to others- I feel like I am more creative and optimistic. My mask reflects the inside of me. On the back side, you can see a baseball, the matching haircuts of some of my favorite idols, the Tumblr Logo with the word "Fandoms" written above it, the movie reel and DVD, the existential crisis bubble, and the symbol for my zodiac sign. These things directly represent my personality on the inside. My secret love for baseball, my obsession over YouTubers, my yearnings for weekends of binge watching movies, my desire to write and construct my own stories. The existential crisis shows that I often ponder large questions like "why do we exist" which ultimately results in me sitting on my bed looking out a window for 4 hours. The Tumblr logo and "Fandoms" represent the idea that I like to spend time creating and admiring things about topics I enjoy conversations about, and the Wattpad app logo signifies the writing world I submerged myself in. 

The one thing I would choose to sum up my personality in one icon would be the symbol for Capricorn, my zodiac sign. I know that most zodiac posts and research articles are just based off myth, but I characterize with other Capricorns. We are smart, kind, but quiet and not totally open. We hide behind other triumphs to conceal past mistakes, but we learn from them. I love the descriptions of Capricorn traits and I find that almost my entire personality is summed up with that one word. 

And that's about it for what's behind my mask. 

What about you?

Hey, guys! I have another quick question that I was asked that got me thinking...

In you imagination, transport yourself 75 years into the future. What are 2 things you would like your great grandchildren to know and/or remember about you?

If I had to transport myself 75 years into the future and be interviewed by my grandchildren, I actually don't know what I would want my grandchildren to know. I would definitely want them to remember me as a fun grandma, I guess. 

I would definitely want them to remember me as artistic and creative. I love to be able to call myself and others creative because it shows that we have the creative capacity for things other than just art. People who have that capacity can think their way out of tricky situations, and that to me, it a very important skill. I would like to tell my grandchildren how to create that creative capacity, and be able to teach others how to think creatively as well.

I would also want them to remember me as a teacher. I would love to be able to teach my grandchildren how to live life fully and enjoy it. I would feel very accomplished to know that my learnings and lessons were being passed down through generations.

"Say cheese grandma!" 

Sydney Soufflé - A Meal Made of Me 

If one desires a delicious treat full of uniqueness, emotion, and a zesty taste for adventure, then follow this recipe for the creation that will delight your tastebuds. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of artistic extract 
• 1 1/2 cups of musical love 
• 3 cups of academic 
• 3 tablespoons mood swings 
• 2 teaspoons Tumblr 
• 2 1/2 cups book nerd 
• 1 cup kindness 
• 1/2 teaspoon jealousy
• 3 teaspoons of adventure seeker 
• and if one desires a little bit of a spiced up flavor when the treat is heated, add 1 cup of hidden sass. 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Make sure oven can heat inside of treat and keep the hidden sass warm 

2. Mix together artistic extract and musical love as well as Tumblr and book nerd in a large bowl, and stir well. 

3. In a smaller, separate bowl, mix together academic, and kindness, and make sure it is fully liquidated before moving on.

4. Pour the academic and kindness mixture into the larger bowl, and stir together until fluffy. 

5. In a final, tiny bowl, mix together mood swings and jealousy, but be careful of pouring too much of either. 

6. Mix in mood swings and jealousy into the larger, fluffy mixture and stir until the mixture becomes a light brown color. Now would be a great time to taste test. 

7. After one has deemed the mixture tasty, pour into small round cups and bake for 35 minutes to ensure the center of the mixture is still molten and sassy. 

8. When complete, pull soufflés out of the cups and set them in a nicer bowl. Pour a little more artistic extract and Tumblr over the top, and sprinkle a little more sass to get the best results. *

* Note best consumed while warm 

Tips : 

The best occasions for Sydney Soufflé are rainy days at home, while reading, at fancy restaurants, and while exercising artistic abilities. Other occasions that would be complete with a Sydney Soufflé is a pre-testing treat or an after-presentation desert. 

Bon Appetit! 

  In "The Waxworks" by A.M. Burrage, the protagonist, a young journalist named Raymond Hewson, is searching for a way to earn money for his family. Raymond is trying to get his articles in the paper, but finding work as a journalist can be hard. However, when a situation arouses, and a spooky one at that, Raymond will do anything to get his articles in the paper, including spending one night in the Marriner Waxworks Murderers' Den. Raymond accepts the challenge, but during his night in the den, his mind and fears play tricks on him, causing him to see things and hear things he doesn't want to. In the end, after a particularly eerie illusion of fear, Raymond is able to survive the night and achieve his pay, but the events of his night in the Murderer's Den will stick in his mind forever. 

   Some of the traits I personally share with Raymond is the daring streak to pursue a dream and overcome obstacles preventing me from achieving that dream. Raymond is desperate to make enough money to support his family, and if I were ever to trade places with him, and be submerged into the life of living without money, I too would look at every opportunity closely. The other main trait Raymond and I share is the lack of superstition. I have always laughed at the idea of ghosts and supernatural beings, and as clearly stated in the story, Raymond has the same feeling. For me, whenever I watched movies or gone through haunted houses, or anything of the supernatural sort, I enjoy the effort made to create that feeling of eeriness, but I do not worry about supernatural beings roaming the world. Raymond shows that he is brave enough to endure that night in the Den, and even if the idea is created to scare people. I bet I would be able to endure the night as well, perhaps minus the odd hallucinations. 

Hello! How are you guys? Quick question...

   If given the chance, would any of you change something about the world? Be part of a revolution? What would you change?

After reading this prompt given to me earlier today for my history class, this is what it turned into...

   If I were given the chance to change something about the world, the first thing I would change is bring everybody out of poverty. Nobody deserves to live in the slums and pray everyday for even a cracker for dinner. I would start homeless shelter and either create laws to limit the amount of money allowed to one person while another is scraping for coins or regulate the income of already wealthy families. Once the rest of the world has risen out of poverty, then money can be dispersed widely and spread evenly, to allow those post-poor families the chance to live in most luxury than before. I'm not saying that we need to hate and take away the money from the already rich, but we should distribute and help the poor climb out of the bottomless hole of poverty. 

What would you do?

In a Perfect World  

3:24 A.M.

October 8 2078 

DREAMING- 

   As I walked towards the my large house, I eyed the sleek walls and modern architecture. Tall windows from floor to ceiling faced towards me, the walls a cool mix of cool grays and browns, with a few hints of blue glass and white or black marble here and there. My ideal house. All of the buildings in our town, and even our country, look more or less like this, with super hyped up tech and amazingly safe neighborhood. 

   I reached the steps and lightly climbed up to the mahogany wood door lined with dark glass and held my hand up to the small scanner on the wall. Lights flashed beneath my hand and made my skin light up. I heard a soft click and pulled my hand away, facing the now sliding away piece of wood that revealed the grand entrance. Stepping over the threshold, I walked through my house, passing my brother doing his homework on the glass table that was grafted into the wall near the kitchen. He was listening to music with a small computer chip in his ear with his homework stored on his laptop as he worked on a creative writing project. At our schools, kids aren't forced to do anything. Everything is a choice. But you have to do something. I, for instance, take quite a few classes that most people wouldn't expect school to hold. Characterization, Book Analyzation, Human Design, Architecture, and 3D Virtual Drawing. Our schools offer thousands of online programs and specializing teachers are able to take a Trans to get to the class and teach. For another example, my brother takes Lego Design, Engineering with 3D Virtual Design, Nerf Gun Strategies, and a few others. 
   Seems like a great world eh?
I was about to reach my room when I woke up.