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.