Found Poem

Adapting to challenges,
good efforts, BAD results.

We can HELP

PLASTIC
don't toss it

review, lifestlyes

wishes, can come true!

My Bucket List.

Just as any other person, I have a few(too many) things that I would like to do before I die. First I am going to write the list and then I am going to explain some of the crazy weird ones.
1. Go to Greece
2. See a show on BroadWay
3. Finish you University.
4. Become succesful as an individual, with out relying on any other income
5. If everything works out, one day eventually become a midwife
6. Be the best mom I can be
7. Have the wedding that I've dreamed of since I was five.
8. Touch the Great Wall of China
9. Learn how to speak of a foreign language
10. Succesfully complete a mission trip
11. See a girafee in it's natural habitat
12. Cut an entire lawn with scissors
13. Build the ultimate snow fort, with windows
14. Taste Gelato
15. Complete the list of 100 books to read before you die.
16. Learn how to french braid
17. Go scuba diving in a coral rief
18. Swim with a dolphin
19. Own a home, and potentially have an indoor swimming pool (the pool is more a dream)
20. Have a weird family pet, like a pig or a duck or a squirrell
21. Get over my fear of thunder storms
and many more to come!

I felt that it was necessary to write this as a blog for many reasons. First of all, writting this blog allowed me to give myself the time to think about what my goals and secret wants in life were. For example learning to french braid does not seem like a major issue in life. But to me it's one of those things that I would just really lone to know how to do.

Some of the things I have on my list seem a little odd, but for some reason I really want to accomplish them. I also hope that I can continue to add things as I get older.

Digital Education

How do you feel about blogging now that you have had an opportunity to develop a history with it over the past two and a half months? Do you feel that you are more or less organized and productive than you would be "the old fashioned way?" What are some of the advantages? What are some of the drawbacks? What advice might you give to students starting the course next semester about how to get the most out of their blogging experience?

I deteste blogging ! I do not like the idea of computers as a class. I personally feel like I am in a computer class, and not and english one. I have never taken a computer class before, for the simple reason that I have no interest. I think that the whole everything submitted online thing is a little weird. What ever happened to pencils and paper. Or handing in a solid copy, then once its returned you can at least see your errors.

Half the time diigo does not work. There fore I have not recieved any feedback on any of my assignments. I don't like the idea of a teacher having to search down the blog for your assignments. I have had nothing marked in over 2 months. Which makes it very hard to show my curious parents how I am improving. Sure they can go online and look at my work, but that doesnt really change anything. My parents aren't english teachers so they cant tell me where I'm going right and wrong. The last time something on my blog was looked at was October 17th. Since then there has been nothing.

I feel that there is not a proper communication / relationship with student and teacher through the internet. I think verbal communication is necessary especially in a class like this. We are supposed to be learning to become better writers, and instead I have been learning to use the internet. I do not think that there are any advantages. Sure there is the whole idea of how no assignments are lost. But an assignment should not be lost anyways. It should be the students responsibility to hand it in, the teacher marks it, and then returns it. I miss getting an assignment back with visible corrections, and learning from my mistakes.

Half the time, the entire class is on facebook, or games. And I can't say anything because I am guilty of it too. But if the class was in an actual class room I do not think this would be as much of a problem. I could understand if we were in a class room, and then in a lab once in a while. But once it became an everyday thing. People started to get bored, and therefore ended up on facebook, youtube or MLIA.

I really hope for the benefit of future students that this whole class is not based on an online blog.

Free Verse

Summer . . . the time to let it all go.

To chase everything you feel, you want, you need, you desire.

It’s almost as though the sun gives you confidence.

It makes you believe just maybe this time things will work,

that all you could hope for would be right there beside you.

The truth is, I learned a hard lesson this summer.

I learned that even on the warmest day of July it could feel as though it were about to snow
It’s July, you feel as though these summer fireworks are going off everywhere

like nothing could get better,

but then that fireworks display is suddenly over, and all you're left thinking is,

"is it true things couldn’t get any worse?"
You come to realize people don’t always mean what they say

in the way you understand it.

And coming to terms with this reality might just seem impossible.

So now its August, and you’ve finally realized that fireworks display was a meer thunderclap in the distance,

That those things you believed,

The way you thought you heard them,

Were just misled fireflies fading off as the summer was ending.
Summers almost gone now,

You chased what you felt you wanted and needed.

You risked it.

You put yourself out there and you did it.

But the mission was completed. . . or was it?

If there’s one thing you learned this summer its that new friendships came easy.

And I'm not talking the short term, "hello-goodbye" kind.

I’m beginning to question that in this risk I took, I made this new. . friend.

A friend who had this smile, this laugh, this openness about him that made me feel as though I could explode with my deepest secrets and fears,

And by my own amazement they would be understood.
They wouldn’t be judged, they would be smiled at.

They would be considered rather than forgotten about.

I felt as though that original risk showed me what I really needed.

Its September

The weather is changing

The sun doesn’t exactly give you confidence, but the brisker winds find a way to give you strength.

There’s no question now,

That smile, that laugh, that honesty, is what I wanted more than anything.

I almost feel foolish to have made the wrong decision all summer,

But just like a small ant in this big world, I'm willing to fight for what I so deeply want.

Those smiles become the sunshine of your day,

Those laughs become the extra strength you need to fight for what you want.

In this moment I realized,

After all the years of people telling me that everything happens for a reason,

There was finally a time I could believe that.

I could have faith in the fact that everything that happened that summer, happened for one very clear reason.

To lead me to that smile, that laugh, that look, those eyes.

I’ve gotten everything I ever wanted and then some.

Nurturing your Inner Writer

To what extent are people born writers? How much are they able to cultivate the writer within through education and experience?
What activities and experiences can you engage i
n in order to develop your inner writer? What part of your past has best helped you become the writer you are now? How motivated are you to continue developing your writing ability over a lifetime?


People may or may not be born writers, we can not prove this to go either way. But we are entitle to our own opinion.

My personal opinion is that yes people are born writers, some of these "born writers" may discover this and some may not. And that is where the "nurtur" comes into play. To me what you become relies on your parents, and your schooling. As well as your self discipline and perserverance. A dream is just a dream until you take the leap into making it come true.

This may actually be the reason why some people don't believe in being born a writer, because some people choose to explore their abilities and others choose to not care at all. That is no ones fault but their own. a writer has many ways to practice just as a basketball player. They can edit other pieces of work. They could write poetry in their spare time, or maybe even a novel.

I would like to continue learning about writing. But I don't necessarily want to become a writer.

Sorry this journal is short ( I don't know what else to say on the topic)

Writing as a Lifestyle

What do you think about the writer's lifestyle? How much of it appeals to you? Which aspects least appeal to you? Can you envision yourself doing the job? Describe how writing might either fit into your lifestyle or become your lifestyle in the future.

I personally do not find the writing lifestyle to be very appealing. Spending my life writing would be kind of boring. I could never see myself sitting at home thinking to myself "if I want to pay for my kids this week, I have to write something." That would drive me insane. It would be the ultimate brain wrecker. Jobs in which thinking is necessary are the best ones. But once your at the point of needing to overcome all chances of writers block to make some money, now that would be horrible.

I don't think that writting would be able to fit into my personal lifestyle. When I think about my future a key aspect is family. I understand that a family is all about respect, and thats why I feel that me spending time at a desk writing is not fair. I would much rather be outside in my spare time.Or doing another activity. I enjoy writting on my own time, but I don't ever want it to feel like a pressure.

To me writting is something you should do only if you have the feeling inside of you to do it. Writing should never be a forced effort. Which is exactly why I have such huge problems completing the work in this class sometimes. I don't know how to make myself write. To me I either have an idea or I don't.

I also think that writing would be a stressful job. You have to first worry about writing, then editing, then publishing. And now that you have put all of this money time and effort in, who knows if it will even sell. Writing is the same thing as be a doctor or teacher or mechanic you either you like it or you don't. The difference is as a mechanic even if you don't you've been taught to fix brakes and you could do it over and over. But as a writer, you aren't able to just rewrite the same story. In each book you have to rediscover your ideas, feelings and interpretations. And I don't think that this would work out for me.

Immitation Poem

An Evening by Gwendolyn Brooks

A sunset's mounded cloud; 6
A diamond evening-star; 6
Sad blue hills afar; 5
Love in his shroud. 4

Scarcely a tear to shed; 6
Hardly a word to say; 6
The end of a summer day; 6
Sweet Love dead. 3


A Realization by Jennifer Reeb

he'd never been so proud;
never thought he'd come this far;
Thought that would have been it for the bar;
gone was the cloud.

he awoke and they said;
sir you need to go pray ;
there was a crash today;
your friend's dead

Dramatic Monologue/ Narrative Poem

Learn To Live Again

Why are you looking at me?
I still have eyes you know.
Seriously!
Just because I can’t move off this couch
doesn’t mean I’m not human anymore!
Everyone who comes into this house
sits in that chair
and looks at me the exact same way.
AM I A PUPPY IN A WINDOW?!
I don’t make profit,
I don’t charge at the door.
But maybe I should start,
10 dollars. Come one come all,
see what a truly depressed woman looks like.

She was only two years old,
and I know it wasn’t my fault.
Everyone who sits in that chair tells me this,
but yet I still can’t seem to convince myself.
There’s nothing you can do to control,
how quickly life can catch up with you.

She was only two.

I know that no one can ever be put to blame.
And that’s the precise reason I blame myself.
There is no way to prove what caused the leukemia,
but as long as I live, I will know it was me.
I should never have smoked while I was pregnant.
I should have cared,
I should have cared before it was too late.

I’ve failed as a mother.
I’ve failed as a daughter.
I’ve failed as a sister.
And greatest of all,
I’ve failed as a respectable person.

One day I’ll be able to get up.
One day I’ll realize she’s happy up in heaven.
One day I’ll understand that these things aren’t preventable.
One day I’ll be able to look at her picture,
smile and use her to guide my way.

And when that day comes,
maybe I will be able to believe.
That it wasn’t my fault,
and that I can move on with my life.

When that day comes, I’ll be able to
live and love again.

and they lived happily ever after <3

I am a firm believer in fairy tales. I love the idea of a princess and a prince charming. I love the idea of a magical love, and a magic land, with the most magical life. I love the idea of it and I have since I was a child, although when I was five I wouldhave never admited it. But that was only because I wanted my boy cousins to like me : ).

Anyways back to fairytales. I find it so sad and almost depressing how many people give up on this idea of a fairytale. One bad thing happens in their life and then bam, I'm done, my fairy tales over. I'm not going to get my happily ever after. This, my friends, is bogus. Did Cinderella start off happy? NO! Was Snow White poisoned first? YES! Did Sleeping Beauty sleep away part of her life? She sure did. Simba ran away from Nala, Jasmine had to wait for her Alladin, Ariel had to wish really hard for a pair of feet. Beauty fell in love with the Beast, and of course, Pheonia had to be rescued from her tower. People don't want to be patient anymore, they expect things to come flying at them with no problems attached.

One lesson I've learned in my life is to expect nothing and in return I will gain everything. Life wasn't made easy for a reason. If you don't learn to fight for what you believe in and follow your dreams you really won't live life to it's fullest. I've always wanted to get everything I could from my life, but I never wanted to be upset while doing so.

We sit around and wish for things to come to us, but we don't have the courage go out into the world and get them. This is why all of the princess' appeal to me. They were never given the best lives, but they learned how to deal with them. Pocahontas' village was being taken over, and Cinderella was a servant but they had perspiration. They had dreams! And most of all they had hearts. None of these characters where careless, they cared about the others around them no matter how badly they were treated.

I once heard a debate about how Disney princess' left girls with an unrealistic expectation of a prince charming who will come and sweep her off her feet. This uprise caused many parents to take these movies and stories away from their children. The whole argument is the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my entire life! Little girls are going to fantasize of a prince charming no matter what you do, and if you take that away from them you are rediculous. The movies and stories teach girls,both young and old so much more than that.

They teach morals, they teach self respect, and most of all determination. I am a Disney fanatic and I won't lie I still watch one of my favourites when I'm having a bad day. But I really feel the connection with the princess, and I thank my mom and my aunt for teaching the girls in the family the positive side of them.

Love is not a hoax, its a test. Of patience, determination, honesty and so many other things. But the biggest test is to be honest with yourself. If your patient someone for you will come. Maybe the first won't be the right one. So what? Now your supposed to live a miserable life. NOT A CHANCE! This is again where the lessons taught in fairy tales come in.

Why sit around mopping? Really it does you no good at all. Belle from Beauty and the Beast is such a great example of this. She meets Gaston handsome as can be, but she doesn't choose him. And we all are left wondering why. Its because she has learned she's more than just a pretty girl. She has dreams and hopes just like anyone else, and she wants someone who can agree with her wishes. So she ends up with a Beast, who cares she is happier than ever! Theres no expectations of a dazzling prince there.

I think its amazing that I get the chance to feel like a princess. I waited and I never tried to gain attention. When someone says just wait when you meet someone you know.They aren't lieing. There is no reason to go on a hunt for perfection I am so happy I have had the opportunity to experience all of this for myself. I have been in a relationship for a little over a year and I have never felt so amazing in my life. Although I know life can change unexpectedly, I've learned to live in the now. And right now I feel like Cinderella, I feel like Jasmine, I feel like Ariel.

Back to my original point, fairy tales do exist. It all depends on your perspective. If you look at things negatively, until you find a way to change that your going to be like an evil stepsister. No one can change that but you. When people claim that Princess are wrong for children, I think they may be wrong for a parent. If your living like an evil stepsister than maybe you should watch a few Disney movie. Look at them from the perspective of a child, who can still dream and imagine.I'll bet any money you will learn something, maybe even something about yourself.

Childhood

As your Children's Story writing draws to a close, consider that people haven't always felt the same way about children as we do now. The idea that childhood is a special time and that a child's innocence should be protected largely originated with the Victorians. Before that, children were sent to work in factories as soon as they were old enough, often working 10 hour days at the age of 7 or 8. Chimney Sweeps used to employ even younger children since they could be dangled from a rope and used to knock soot and highly carcinogenic coal dust out of chimneys. By the time these young people reached the ripe old age of 15 or 16 they were adults for all intents and purposes.Now, as a society, we have reached a point where we try to insulate children from the more unpleasant and laborious aspects of life but we have also delayed adulthood for many. Some "children" (perhaps you know some?) continue to live in their parents' basements until their late twenties. What do you think? How much (and from what) should children be protected? How well are we handling this issue now as a society? What kind of childhood will you try to create for your own offspring? What expectations will you have? What are some of the most valuable experiences and lessons from your own childhood that you will try to pass on to the next generation?

It is true, children live in their parents basements until their late 20's. But I don't think that this has anything to do with protection. I think that as children we are taught so much and so little all at the very same time. Personally my child was fantastic, I was lucky enough to do so many things and learn so much all at the very same time. I had a loving family and they wanted nothing but the best for their children. Realistically I think any parents wants the best for their child. With this is mind, I find that adults try and shelter us so much without thinking about the stuff we hear at school. I learned so many things that I probably shouldn't have at such a young age but my parents were oblivious to this. Where as there are other children who literally know nothing and then once they enter highschool its culture schock times 400.

I think that children/adults stay home so long now because of ongoing fears. In todays society everything is so much different than it has been in the past. I love reading and part of the reason I love it so much is simply because I can fantasize about the world before you had to fear playing outside. Todays society is so much different, from a young age we can see that our parents worry over everything. It's a scary thought for your child to play outside, it frieghtening for your daughter to walk to her friends house alone. My dad tells me stories about how when he was younger him and his friends would play hide and go seek outside until around 2 in the morning. And by this he means through out a neighbourhood not one back yard but a full on neighbourhood. I remember the first time he told me this I was about 10 and my response was wow Daddy that sound like so much fun can I do that one day. His response was well it's a little different now Jenny, the people are much different and many don't want kids running around. Also I'm scared that someone might take you.

When he said those words "someone might take you" I was tramatized. As a young child I really didn't want to think about this. I think that people are trying to protect children from to much, and as a result they are scraing their children. A child is supposed to have the most care free life. But now there are children who won't even play with their brothers and sisters in their back yard.

For my own children I want them to be aware of whats around them but I would never want to scare them. As a parent I feel it would be my job to protect my children. Part of protection means to allow them to live with out worrying. I feel that it will be my job to worry, and that once their old enough they can know. I do not believe that parents telling their children stay by me or someone will take you is ethical. I think that just scares a child. You have no left your son or daughter to think everyone is out to get them. I don't personally feel that I should have a child whom is afraid of the world. I would want my son or daughter to know how to explore or learn from their surroundings, but the way people are teaching their children there is no more joy in exploration. When at a play ground the child is fearing talking to other children. I think that we need to tone it down a little and let kids be kids. Yes, they do need to be safe but as a parent it is your job to handle that task. Teach them things like not to talk to a stranger when their alone. But another child should never be considered a stranger unless you want to have an antisocial psychopathic child!

I learned alot from my own childhood, and I think that is why I can say how I want my child to be raised. I want my own children to have a childhood such as I did, with innocence and freedom but yet a slight knowledge of the potential dangers within our society.

What is Poetry?

Reflect upon your past experience with poetry, as well as your idea of what poetry is. How useful, in your opinion, is the study of poetry? How open minded are you about our study of poetry?

I haven't even really had a past with poetry. It's almost as if teachers have a fear of teaching it to us, or if they do decided to present it, they do it on a very micro scale. I personally think that the most poetry I have ever learned was in elementary school, I know that sounds horrible but honestly. In grade 9 I learned a little bit then grade 10 a little more but in grade 11 I really didn't learn anything. I am really hoping that this course will provide me with the opportunity to further my knowlege.

To me poetry is an outlet. There is no deffinative deffinition of "what" poetry is. This is because poetry isn't really anything persay but at the same time it is everything. From an author standpoint I feel that poetry is a great outlet of emotion. There are endless possabilities when writing a poem and it can never be "right" or "wrong". Poetry is almost like an opinion / reflective piece but from your heart. Taking the time to write a poem gives an individual the opportunity to explode themselve. To put everything they feel on paper for others to enjoy. To me poetry is one of the greatest outlets.

One thing I find particularly difficult when it comes to poetry is sharing. Of course I write it at home late at night or whenever something of importance happens in my life, but personally sharing it with others especially on the internet where its open to anyone is hard. I don't like drawing attention to myself, and when people read about my feelings which are something I often with hold it makes me feel very akward. When others can relate to what I'm writing about I sometimes share but other than that I find it personal and would rather keep it tucked away.

To me poetry should be a greater portion of the english curiculum. I feel that if teachers made it sound good that so many students would have a new way to express themselves.

Lock Down

The world is a different place than it was prior to the shootings in Montreal, Columbine and any number of other places. How much do you pay attention to violent issues in the media? How safe do you feel in school? What suggestions do you have for finding our way (as a society) to a more peaceful state? Do you have any thoughts, comments, opinions, or suggestions about how the situation at Stamford on Oct. 14, 2009 was handled?"

Lockdowns are by far one of the scariest drill that we have in school. Yes that is a little dumb sounding, but honestly they are. In elementary school I had no clue what a "lockdown" even was. Nevermind was I scared of having a gun or bomb in my school. As a child my school was a safe place, and somewhere I trusted. But once you enter highschool the sheltered"ness" that you have in elementary is ripped away and your left face to face with reality.

Since I entered highschool about 3 years ago, I've been exposed to 2 real crazy events and a couple of drills. The first time something on around a lockdown level happened I was in grade 9. There was a note found in a desk about a "potential shooting" this is when my fairy tell sheltered from reality came crumbling to my feet. I didn't believe any of it I though it was just nonsense... until I heard teachers talk about it. And now 3 years later in grade 12 another one of these insane events takes place.

It is so crazy how much different schools are now than they were before Columbine. Even thinking about this now kind of gives me a weird feeling. It also makes me wonder, what was life like when you didn't have to worry about ever having someone shoot in a school. Or plant a bomb in, well anywhere actually. As a student hearing about these crazy events I really can't even describe it. I have no idea what I would of done if I was in the school when all this happened, and I don't even want to try to understand what was going through the shooters mind.

Schools are not as safe as they used to be. Students do not feel the need to comply with rules or really with adults. There is no respect for our teachers, and I think that is why students often times don't care about each other. When students don't care about the simple things it really makes you wonder. We live in a society where often times things are just handed to us, and we have such easy access to the tools we need commit just about any acts, and thats SCARY.

Before Columbine we all felt a little safer, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't going on before. Columbine was the first time that this had happened on a large scale so therefore it was publicized and WA-LA we have people living in fear all of the time. Of course there are always going to be terrorists, and crazy people. There is no way we can stop this, we physically can not scan each persons brain to figure out what they are going to do as they age. So allow it may be scary, that is what the drills are for. Lockdowns allow us to prepare for the potential of one of these acts.

I feel that for a potentially scary situation, teachers and adminstrations are trying to protect us as students to the best of their ability. And personally I think that they deserve our respect for it.

I'm 17 Years Old! I Don't Know What I Want To Be, Does This Mean I'm Going To Be A Hobo ?

It wasn't until a week ago that something dawned on me.

This something was, I HAVE NO STINKING CLUE what i am going to do with my life. I was sitting in the university presentation and everyone around me was filling in what program that they wanted to go into and I thought I had my mind set on something, but I think I thought wrong. At first I was thinking something science, then I thought english, the came the thoughts of just biology, and last but not least came the thought of SAVE ME!!

Leaving highschool, and having to literally begin my life, scares the crap out of me. Not knowing where to even start makes me a little bit uncomfortable. Furthering my education always sounds so good in "theory" but once reality hits me my gut twist into knots.

The crazy stories that make their way back from universities have the power to both terrify you and inspire you. As a grade 12 student you hear the all the crazyness about professors, assignments, and lectures. But on the plus side you hear about the new friendships and fun you have once you get comfortable in your school. Although I am terrafied of going off to the netherlands of university, I think that once I decide what I want to do and become dedicated to it. I will have the time of my life.

The Best When

If i could go ANYWHERE in the entire world, i wouldn't be able to decide where first. I would want to take a roadtrip of the world. I personally would LOVE to go to England, Greece, Costa Rica, Rome, Africa, Hawai, and so many other places in the world.

I have read so many stories of the people who get married and go on this crazy trips that last a couple of months. They take their time and visit all these places. I honestly think that this has been my dream since childhood. I would absolutely love to visit places with my husband. I would want to go around the time when we had just been married, and then again once we retire.

The first stop on my list would be Greece. I have researched this place so many times and I have fallen in LOVE with it. It is the most beautiful place, I find that their culture is magnificant as well as the simplicity. I also love greek food, so i guess that would be a bonus (lol), and I can only thank my Aunt's and Uncle's for that. After my first stop, I wouldn't want to plan anything else. I would want it to be a relaxing adventure. By this i mean, saving up money so that there is no chance of disaster and letting the wind blow me around.

So therefore if i end up in Antartica its not a problem. Actually it would never have been one since i love snow.

There are also so many different things i would enjoy doing in this crazy exotic places. These activities include, snorkaling, scuba diving, SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS! Flying a kite alongside an ocean, learning how to surf, and riding a horse on the beach. Go icefishing, see a polar bear, find bamboo in its natural surroundings, meet an islander with true island customs, swim in clear blue ocean waters, visit a volcana, find a sand dollar, go on a whale watching cruise, see one of those awesome trees with the roots on the outside and i could go on forever. As you can probably tell, I have thought about this alot, and yes I do have a list at home in a journal.

I also would want to retake my trip around the time of my retirement. And there is a reason that I want to do this. It is because our world changes on a day to day bases, I personally think that it would be extraordinarily intresting to be able to compare the world in my young adulthood to my old age. I also think that it is impossible to see everything the first time. I watch movies that I have seen one million times and find something different literally everytime. There is no way i woul not be able to find some new crazy thing to do. As well theres always the benefit of "seniours discount" just kidding.

Travelling is not an option for me, it is a must. And at the least i want to see Greece, Hawai, and one other exotic tropical area. This would be one of my life goals. Although I would never base my life around it, and i wouldn't consider my life to not be complete with out seeing them, I would still consider this one of my main goals. Not only a goal but a dream, I think about completely these things all the time, and if it ever became a reality it would be insanely AMAZING.

The Myth of Technology

In the 1950's, futurists predicted that the invention of labour saving machines such as the household dishwasher and robots in factories meant that the common worker would enjoy a 3-day work week. Ironically, improvements in technology have led to the disappearance of better paying skilled work and people working harder than ever before. What is your opinion? How much does technology improve your life and the lives of people in general?

Personally I do not think that technology is really helping the population in terms of work. Although so many new technologies are helpful to the world, other are only doing harm. Technologies in regards to medicines and saving our earth are fantastic but so many other things are unneeded.

In a realistic perspective it is not necessary to have robots doing jobs that humans can do. Robots take over so many jobs that any person is capable of doing, this is probably part of the reason that our economy blows. So many people are jobless, in todays society and if they aren't jobless their pay sucks. Why would companies pay a person when they can just buy a robot and end the story.

It is rediculous how many adults are getting laid off and lossing jobs. This is also very dangerous to our society, if our parents are loosing their jobs, what will the out come for us be. Especially since technology is advancing so quickly even cashiers are being taken away a grocery stores. Our society is becoming extremely unfocused on communication and positive atmosphere. Although technology is supposed to improve the quailty of life, but it does not do this for everyone. For some people it makes it so much harder and it makes like a living hell. It is impossible to maintain a life without a computer, and that is rediculous. As a society we need to learn how to not rely on all our "gadgets" it is okay to pick up a phone, or write a letter.

We need to work together to learn how our ancestors got through tough times. We need to learn that a computer or a robot, is not whats going to give us our money.

The Irony Of Education

Why is it that in North America we (as a society) seem to take education for granted? In other countries students will take any opportunity they can get to improve themselves. In our society, educators sometimes have to take extreme measures to perform their function.

Through out North America people take so many things for granted. North American's have a very different life style than any other country in the world. Although we still have jobs, and bills so many things are different here and yet we take them for granted every single day.

In places such as Africa, a child getting the chance to have an education is an amazing and very honored thing. A chance such as this would never be passed up and the child would do anything to be able to attend school. In North America the circumstances are extremely different. We are given the right to an education, this means that it is free up until post secondary. As well often times we are given transportation, and all the necessary things that we need to have a succesful time in the classes "we choose". A child in Africa would walk up to 4 miles to school, often times with no pencil and no breakfast. A child living in poverty has more ambition than almost all North American students.

I think that this happens for many reasons. A North American student is given everything that they need and this is the key problem. We are given EVERYTHING, but everything isn't enough for most people. So the fact that our education is free, and our parents are buying us pencils and driving us feels like second nature. There is no thanks or appreciation. Children are becomining more an more spoiled and their education is what is effected. It is not rare for a North American student to skip a class, if not more. And this is never going to stop happening, because they do not get punished, and if they do there is always something for them. A child living in poverty fights for things every single day. Whether it be food, school, or potentially their own life. I think that as North Americans we need to learn to be appreciative for the things we have. Instead of winning about the things we don't have because what we have is alot more than so many other people.

a keyboard and a mouse "vs" a pencil and paper

The on going thing lately seems to be how teachers want everything done via computer, or if you miss a class your work can be found online. There is not really anything very special about the internet, nor technology.

When i talked to my parents about this controversy they simply agreed that there is no need for everything to have to be done in such a way that it is broadcasted to the world. I personally agreed with this statement, although many students are now more inclined to complete work in which they can type out. Others really don't find an appeal to it. So many teacher are beginning to find new technology's and use them through out their class rooms. For example "smart boards", projectors, online websites. What ever happened to black boards and chalk, pencils and paper, or overhead projectors. Sure these thing may be considered outdated, but does that really make all these things necessary.

In the area surrounding Stamford, it is very unlikely that a student would not have a computer. But many teachers do not take this into consideration. With out a computer, a student is having to stay at the school until the very latest of times to complete work. Students also do not want to admit not having a computer. This would mean that even if they aren't they are now being looked at as the lower class students. In my home there are 3 computers, but I still feel that this is ridiculous. There is no reason that technology needs to be such a large part of a highschool program. In university it is completely reasonable, because there is so much accesebility to computers or any other needed technology.

Personally for where we are in our school careers, I thing that the technology should stay in the computer, tech and media courses.

The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword 2

Many specific texts have brought so many changes into our world. These texts include the Declaration of Independence, and the Communist Manifesto. These texts have not only changed the way we look at things but the way we act. Before the Charter of Rights was written the world was in utter chaos. There was no actual legal system and acceptance relied on the one in charge. The whole world still has not began using the charter of rights but i think that it should be more inforced for the entire population.

Since the writing of the Charter of Rights the world has changed so much, people are able to live much more freely, and have there own personal ideas, beliefs, and religions respected. The same goes in who is able to write now a days. Anyone is welcome to attempt writing a story, essay or anything else they can dream up. Although their work may not be published there are so many more opportunities for their writings to be seen and read.

A "want to be" author may write ten stories send them to publishers, and none of them may be published. But this does not mean that their dreams are over, there are still blogs and so many other outlets. A person writes not to be seen, but to be heard. A writer often has brilliant ideas that they want to share with someone and potentially even change someone. There are so many ways that writings can be shared now that it is almost ridiculous. A google search can lead you to so many different readings, and although not all of the authors are famous it is so interesting to be able to see a wide range of insight.

"your legacy" 1

Leaving " the third rock from the sun" is something that i have never ever really thought about. Nor is it something that I ever really want to think about. I guess when i think about how i want to be remembered there are so many different people that come to mind. They way your remembered by your family is never the same as how your remembered by your friends, co-workers, or children if you get to have them.
I guess when i think about leaving this earth there are a few key things that are EXTREMELY important to me. For one that would be fulfilling all of my goals and dreams. I would also want everyone i knew and know to be happy. Ever since I was a child i have dreamed of growing up and getting married, having a family, and living a happy life with a job i had worked very hard to get. I don't think i would ever want to leave with out this all happening. To me the way I am remembered by my family is one of the most important things. I would really want my parents to remember me as a responsible and well rounded person. As a child the have raised me teaching me everything that they know as well as giving me my personal space to find my own room to grow. My parents both taught me lessons and allowed me to learn some of them on my own. I would want my Aunts, Uncles, grandparents and cousins to remember me as that happy, outgoing crazy person I am. One thing that my family has taught me is to never judge, this may be due to them feelingits inappropiate or from them knowing that if they were to judge me they would be like OH WOW. If i get married and have kids, I would never want them to think of me as anything but caring, understanding, and grateful. One thing i have learned on my own is to be grateful for what I have and i hope that one day i can pass this lesson on to my own family. And by family i dont just mean children but a husband, i really would want to work hard at having an amazing relationship. In which my life partner could remember me as that special person, the one that made him smile or helped to brighten his day. As well i would like a husband to remember all the memories that we made together and to continue teaching if we have them children about me and the things i did and what i was like.

Another important group of people are my friends, and all the people i have met through out my life. The way they remember me is always important as well. Everyone has bad days, but i would really hope that they would be able to find a way to remember me as that one of a kind person I am. One thing I find very hard to understand about other people is how they can not smile and laugh. I always try my best to make sure the people i am around can smile at least once. Laughing is one of the most important things to me, if someone asked me what an unhealthy person looked like my answer would be no smiling and no laughing. I hope that all my friends and aquantinces could remember me as that kind of a person. I would love it if when someone thought of me they pictured a smile.

In short i would want to be remembered as a loving, hardworking, smiling, laughing, outgoing, spontaneous, overall crazy individual.

"write what you know"

I think that everyone knows alot of various things. We all learn things based on our own personal experiences, some things are learned through reading and some through hands on activities. Although i have only had 17 years of experinces, the amount of things i have experienced and seen are incredible. These things become comforts in which my own writting can fall back on. For example travelling, as a child I went all over Ontario. this have now allowed me to have a comfort in writting about the nature of the north, the difference in the economies as well as different personalities. Being shown all these different things gives you a great idea on how to both judge and create characters. Everywhere I look i am able to see different types of people, this becomes a fantastic thing when i can incorporate personality traits i have witnessed with the personal of my fictional characters. I have worked in numerous places and been in far more akward situations that i would ever dream of being in. But all the information i take of situations can lead to a genre of a story. The genre's i am most comfortable writing are romance, children, or mystery. I think that this may be due to the fact that i am interested in these topics. As well as that i am interseted in reading and talking about these style of genres.

There are still many more genres, characters, settings, issues, topics, and experiences that i would really enjoy researching to be able to write about them. The things i really would be interested in researching so i could potentially one day write about would be different countries. I would love to one day be able to write a story about the way people in England, Ireland or even Africa live. I would even be interested in travelling to these places so that i could get an idea of what types of charcters they may be. Many people in Canada are welcoming and i've always wondered would someone in Ireland have these same mannerisms. I think that the potenial for differences in amazing and I really would enjoy furthuring my knowledge on this. Another amazing possability for me would be leaning about different world issues that I could use to write about. I have never been big on following world issues but i always thought that they would put an interesting spin on my own personal writings. I think that if the struggles of the economy were incorporated in my stories that theywould almost have more life.

There always will be specific topics i should avoid when writing. I suppose that everyone has limitations, the hard part is noticing your limitations. Personally i feel that some of my largest limits are characters. Although i have and met so many people in my life it is very hard to create a character with out a good sense of judgement. I would never want to creat a character that someone else would read about and feel offended. My second limitation is setting. Creating a setting becomes difficult when you have not seen alot of places. Creating a setting involves mental imaging, and i hope that i never write about a place and the people who live there become angered due to my one sided view.