Traditions

     Traditions are everywhere in the world. There are the simplistic holiday traditions that are celebrated every year. Plus there are everyday traditions or various other traditions celebrated at different times. Traditions are kept alive by different people throughout different countries and the whole world. Traditions are a good thing, because they keep alive different cultures and beliefs. Plus they usually bring people together happily for at least that time period. However, I would be curious to see how many people in America do not know WHY some of the traditions are done, but have always followed along because that is what society does. For example, Christmas, I wonder how many people celebrate Christmas to be religious vs. the amount of people that could care less and celebrate because they get gifts or because everyone celebrates it. Traditions are good because it forces others to recall parts of their lives or teachings, but they are slowly becoming irrelevant as more and more people could care less about why they are celebrating but as to the more materialistic side of the matter. 

Feminism/Being Single

     My parents are divorced, and my custodial parent is my mom. My mom and my dad have been divorced for quite a while now, and so my mom has been trying to date again. I put her on a online dating site, with the hope that she could meet somebody nice. She goes on dates, but she always comes back disheartened. My mom has trouble at times, getting along with my friends parents too. Both of these situations though, were caused by my parent’s divorce. My mom had to work hard to support my sisters and I, causing her to only believe in herself and us. She is an atheist, because of what God doesn’t do, leading her to not believe in one. She fights so hard every day against society, because some people do not like the fact that she is a very independent and strong woman. She now considers herself a feminist because of who she is. Yet, a lot of people do not care much for her because she is unafraid of voicing her opinions on a subject. She knows when to bite her tongue, but she is usually pretty brutally honest. I admire her for it. She doesn’t enjoy asking for help unless she needs it, and I respect her for it because I know that she is part of the small like-minded minority in America. Feminism is a slow growing movement, but it really needs to hurry up because women need to band together and voice their thoughts to stop the judgment of others!

A World Without Emotions

     A world without emotions would be quite emotionless. Obviously. A world where people don’t express their feelings would be quite interesting. The question however that would come next would be if whether or not people still had feelings and they just didn’t express it, or if they have no feelings at all. If they had feelings and couldn’t express them, I feel that there would still be some form of society left. There would still be a working society because nothing could emotionally affect the people that they could verbalize. However they can still interact with each other. If the world was completely without feelings, I think that everyone would walk around like zombies, not caring what happened to them. If their hand was accidently cut open, for example, I don’t think that that would affect people without emotions. Yet if the society was taught to do certain things if they ever saw blood, since they couldn’t feel it, then humanity might have a chance at survival. If not, then humans would get killed off really fast because they would not know their limits. In general, a world without emotions would be a very boring place, that would eventually die off. 

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol, I feel, are more prominent in today’s society than previous older societies. Drugs are all over the news, as talks about finding drug stashes in schools to people growing and selling. Drugs are now seemingly common in our everyday lives. Alcohol is part of the growing trend, because it is not as big of a deal if you drink compared to previously. Alcohol is almost a prerequisite or a must for every major and “good” party. To me, it seems like society is lowering their standards or people in the world just stopped caring about the welfare of the next generation. However, the younger generations of kids are looked down upon by their elders because they rebel against society and are not always conforming to what is “correct”. What causes the defiance of these rules is that there are so many different ways to portray your inner self in these times than before. There is something for every type of person. By having this though, causes kids to disobey what others say because they want to be different. Alcohol and drugs are just the number one way to be cool and different at the same time, yet that is still not an excuse for using either. 

Popularity and Conformity

     Popularity is one of the most common words heard in today’s world. Kids want to fit in and be cool, so idealizing what’s popular is the best thing to do. Whether or not they agree with what it is, or if they actually like what they are pretending to like is debatable. I don’t usually like things that are popular, because it seems to consist of too much conforming to society for me. When I was little, I recall how everyone was different, but as they slowly grew up, people changed to fit more into society’s view of how the world should be. I remember thinking how everyone is like a clone of each other. I think that conforming to society is alright, but to a point. I enjoy standing out, but yet there are times when conformity is the best way to go, just because it’s something important and you don’t want to be judged off of how you act or look. Conforming to society is one of my fears though, because I think that each person needs to retain their individuality.    

What is the Point of Working Hard?

     All throughout elementary school, kids are told to learn the basics and do well in school, while still having fun. In middle school, kids are told to strive harder for better grades, and to not get too involved in the drama of other kids. Also, to work on building good study habits to be prepared for high school. Plus, middle school classes affect the classes taken freshman year of high school. Then finally, the long awaited four years of high school have finally come. High school is made out to be the best four years because everyone is attending parties and maintaining good grades, while still having a social life. Everything leads to these four years. Then those notions of good times are slowly replaced during freshman year, with the concept of hard work. High school ends up being one of the most stressful times in kids’ lives. The student is expected to get good grades, do what’s right, participate in extracurricular activities and/or sports, volunteer, take care of responsibilities, and have some sort of a social life. Everything leads up to college then, where everything becomes tougher then in high school. There’s time where I wonder what the point is. Why do we strive so hard to achieve? It just seems like a never ending cycle, which causes me to wonder why humans put up with it, beyond feeling like they did something with their lives.    

Music's Affect on Moods

     Have you ever listened to music and have become more depressed, happy, sad, or angry, because of that music? Music changes the moods of humans because music is proven to relieve stress and help people relax. Music is also used for motivation and there is such a thing these days known as musical therapy. Music is a great elevation of one’s mood because it also alters one’s brain waves so then the mood becomes happier even after the person is finished listening to the music. I think that also what type of music listened to helps with moods. For example, screamo music helps with anger, while orchestral music is soothing. Plus the perception of the music playing, I feel also, affects one’s mood. I can make this conjecture because if someone is listening to music that they don’t like, then it’s going to put them in a bad mood because they are bored and dislike the music. The opposite will also occur. I just believe that music can be uplifting for one’s mood based off of that person’s perception of the taste of the music. 

Twenty Years Into the Future...

     To think that in twenty years, I will be thirty-six years old. The amount of things that can change in that time period is amazing! To think that sixteen years ago, a lot of what is considered normal today, would not have existed back then. For example, email and iPods had not even been thought of back then. I remember the popular thing back then was to own a Walkman, or a ear clip, where a song cartridge was place in it, and you listened to the same song over and over again. To think of how far and more advanced society and technology as a whole, has become, is mind blowing. Then, to imagine what 20 years in the future will be like is almost impossible. I feel that in twenty years, it could be highly possible that we have flying cars or that scientists are working on the concept of living underwater or on other planets beside Earth and the moon. It's amazing how more and more advanced humanity becomes each year. I wonder if we will hit a limit on the amount of advances that we can have, or when we discover everything about everything, if a full circle will be created and we will go right back to where we started. 

Significance of Our Lives

     What is the significance of our lives? Why are we living in the world that we are living in? I have always wondered the answer to that question. I mean, what is the purpose of humans on Earth? Were we put here to provide some entertainment to some higher being? Or were we just an accident that started with a speck of dust on a miniscule planet, but then slowly evolved to the human beings of today?  I mean, people work their butts off in their everyday lives to change the world and make an impact on it. They want to leave an impression, so that they will be remembered when they die, however by working so hard, are they really getting a chance to live their lives? To spend time with their families and enjoy one another’s company? I wonder how many people just take the time to relax and enjoy themselves, others, and their surroundings. I feel that our lives are significant in the lives others, but in doing what we do to live our lives, I think that we often forget to love living life, which in itself is the significance of our lives. 

Weather and it's Affect on Mood

     I am the type of person who loves rainy days. On rainy days, I just feel like going back to bed or spending the day indoors. It basically is the perfect excuse to not do anything. However on sunny days, if there is no homework to be done, then I love to go outside and do something. The sun causes me to be more energetic and feel like doing something with my life. One time, it was a little before nine o’clock in the morning on a day off from school, and I was walking to school to help with set construction for the play, and when I had gone outside, I noticed something. It was one of those mornings where I just wanted to go back to bed and sleep, however once I had walked outside, my whole mood changed. Granted there was a slight rainy drizzle, but there was a rainbow! I had never seen a rainbow like that, so I was so happy and excited that I woke up my sister so that she could enjoy it too. She wasn’t as happy with me, but it changed my whole outlook on my morning. It almost was like a sign that the day would be a good one. Just seeing the rainbow really affected my mood, which displays how the weather affects moods and energy levels.  

Time Flies!

“Time flies when you are having fun” is how the old expression goes. I feel that what the old expression says is completely true. Not to the point that time is literally flying, but that time seems to go faster when you are having fun. For example, IB History class vs. IB Physics. When I’m in history class, time seems to go by a lot faster than when I’m sitting there in physics class. I think that it’s because when you are doing something that you don’t care much for, time just seems to drag on and on. However others might disagree because time does not speed up or down. Which I agree with, but how fast time goes is all based off of perception of that person. Plus whether or not time flies, also depends on whether or not you like and want to continue what you are doing. I remember excitedly waiting for holidays that seemed to take forever, yet when the holiday actually arrived; it seemed to go by too fast. I felt like I was being unfairly cheated out of time by someone, when I had to go to bed.  To me, time is an irritating concept that is annoyingly based off of perception of events. 

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a debated piece of politics that I have been frustrated with every time that I hear about it. I feel that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (otherwise known as DADT), should not even be debated about. There is such a large controversy surrounding it, yet to me I just can’t seem to understand why. Currently before the DADT, lesbian and gay people are not allowed to come out of the closet if they are a part of the military. People who have come out of the closet are not allowed to join the military because they are openly gay. The DADT would allow closet gays and lesbians in the military to come out of the closet. However, the people against this are claiming that they don’t want their butts to be stared at or to suddenly start seeing pink boas all over. They keep claiming about how offensive that would be to them. However since gay people are in the military, then butts have probably already been stared at, and it is highly unlikely that someone would bring a pink boa to war or training. To me it just seems unfair that there is so much prejudice against those who like the same gender, when they are people too and have the same rights as heterosexuals.

Opinion on Facebook

Facebook. An internet sensation that has slowly taken over the world. It is impossible now for most kids, teenagers, and adults to live without it. It had a great idea behind the creation of it; however I think that has grown out of control. What is a great site for chatting with far away relatives or friends, has become a website where everything is posted. Nothing is private anymore. Instead everyone knows everything about everyone. Yet nobody finds that notion creepy or disturbing? Why would people want to know if you had brushed your teeth or got a haircut? It’s fun to go on occasionally, but it’s overwhelming with the information overload about stuff that before people would not care about. Facebook also owns anything and everything posted on there. It seems like a violation of rights to me. It wouldn’t be that bad if the whole world was not obsessed about it. If people used it less and for more significant things, I feel that the Facebook would be a better site.

Online Schools

Online schooling is becoming more and more popular these days. I find the concept of it at great one, but I don’t really care much for it. It’s perfect for kids who can’t go to public or private schools or just can’t manage the atmosphere at the schools, but kids are missing out on a major part of public schools. A social life. Having a social life is an important part of growing up and maturing from a kid to becoming an adult. Kids also gain responsibilities as they grow throughout high school.  Without the interaction with other kids, parents are raising the chances that their kid might be socially awkward as an adult. Children need the interaction with others so that they can learn how to cope with the world, as well as reinforcing what’s considered good and bad in society. Plus, things are taught differently online, and there is not interaction between student and teacher, causing the student to not be as much of an open minded thinker. I think that the concept of online schools is a great one; however kids that do attend online schools appear to be more sheltered and more socially awkward then kids who attend public/private schools.

Kids of Today vs. When I Was a Kid

When I look at younger kids today, and how their growing up, I feel that the world is changing so much. I remember growing up and playing outside after school and riding my bike and having fun with friends. Now, kids these days are always playing video games and they are very technology orientated. There is no more board games, but instead games played on the computer. I feel like they are almost missing out on a vital part of being a child. I feel like the world is becoming too technologic, causing kids to miss out on the traditional, what it’s like to be a kid, stuff. Kids are just so different. Even parents discuss how they used to walk or ride their bikes everywhere, where now instead everyone is driving or parents are constantly driving kids everywhere. I know that when I would tell kids during the summer that I walked to school, to the movie theater, or to a friend’s house they look at me like I’ m insane. As if I had just told a huge lie, because for anyone to walk anywhere these days is considered to be crazy. I just feel that the times are changing so much, and that maybe not all of the technologic change for younger kids is for the best.

The Perfect Age

The perfect age…when I was young, I remember thinking excitedly about being older. Old enough to drive, old enough to make money, old enough to do and eat what I want, and be the boss of myself. I remember my parents telling me to slow down and enjoy life. That I would be older soon, and that I should enjoy being young. Back then, I thought that that was the stupidest thing to say. However, now that I am sixteen years old, I look back at my younger self, and wish that I could go back. I wish that I could go back to a time of no worries, but to just have fun. Back to when homework took an hour tops, and then everyone would be outside in the neighborhood playing. Back to the good old days. I’m not sure now what the perfect age is. I love being sixteen because I’m a teenager and I get to go out and have fun with more freedom. Although I have at least double the responsibilities that I had when I was younger. I think that the perfect age cannot be determined. It is based off of everybody’s perception on when they most enjoyed their life, and what is more important to them.