An Inconvenient Truth: Unconditional Love

The three word sentence I love you is often thrown around on a daily basis.  This phrase is used mostly friend to friend, boyfriend to girlfriend, husband to wife, human to pet, and in many other ways. But one way that it means most is parent to child.

It is said that parents should love the children unconditionally. This statement is an inconvenient truth. The reason I believe this is because from my person experiences.

My biological father left my mom when I was six months old. Ever since then he has not contacted me which just mind boggles me and my mom. I always wonder how my “dad” could know he has a kid out there but not even care to make sure she is doing alright. Since I did grow up with my step dad it made things a lot easier but on the other hand it bothers me that my father by blood can’t even provide and care for me like my step dad does could that mean he doesn’t love me?! To me that is not love. Now I have found him on facebook, and to see him happy with another child proves he doesn’t love me unconditionally or else he would have been there for me my whole life.

We all would love to believe that parents will love you no matter what. Although, in most cases it is true there are a lot of unspoken situations where the parents don’t love their child unconditionally. One example is when a parent who leaves the child at a very young age. Another example is when a child comes out about being gay or lesbian. Sometimes the parents will no longer acknowledge the child because they do not believe in homosexual relationships. Another example could be marriage of another religion. Also, has silly as it sounds pregnancy or abortion because either the parent disagrees with early or teen pregnancy and/or is against abortion can cause the parents to no longer want to be in contact with their child. These are all examples where the statement parents should love their children unconditionally becomes an inconvenient truth and I’m sure there are many other examples.  

Get Organized: My Closet

When I first read the prompt for this blogging assignment it was really hard for me to decide what to organize.  The reason it was so hard is because I am a neat freak and so is my mom so in my house  there really wasn’t much I thought needed 30 -45 minutes of organizing.  Then my closet came to mind. This was something I have been trying to organize for a long time but it is simply just to complex, I dread thinking about it. 

The moment I opened the closet door I knew it had all started. I really didn’t want to clean out my closet because I know how hard it is for me to get rid of my clothes. I thought that by the end of organizing and cleaning it that I wouldn’t have improved it at all.

As I looked through my clothes I decided to organize my tank tops by colors, put all the long sleeves together, same with my short sleeves, my sweaters, and then my nicer shirts.  But while I was doing this I realized there were a lot of clothes I forgot I had or that I haven’t worn in years.  It was very hard for me to let go of these clothes. Even though, I could give them to my little sister I just always feel that “I might wear this someday”.  But this time around I decided I was going to get rid of all the things I haven’t worn in the last 6 months. Not only did I go through my shirts I went through my pants as well. I found so many pairs I thought I had lost.  Even after going through my pants I was able to let go of pants that were once my favorite but don’t fit me anymore.

After organizing and cleaning out my closet I felt refreshed and relived that it was finally done with. I had been dying to do this for a long time now. What I learned from doing this project is that I like to clutter and I am a pack rat. It made me think about how there are probably more things in my room that could use some organizing. Also, next time that I’ m organizing something I’m going to have an open mind to getting rid of unnecessary things.  After doing this project my mind felt good and happy because now I don’t have to constantly think about organizing my closet every time I open those doors. I also feel very good and proud because I gave some of the clothes to my sister and the ones she didn’t want I gave to a thrift store near my house.   

This project was a very fun and useful project. Thanks Mr. Allen for finally helping me organize my closet.

Change of Mind: Sophie's World

Before being in humanities I had asked other students from previous years about taking this class and one of the responses I got was the book Sophie’s World was very boring.  So when Mr. Allen told us to bring this book to class my first feeling was ugh.

But as I started reading this book I was amazed. It was one of three books I have read and actually liked and understood throughout high school. This book as actually changed my perspective on a lot. Before this book I have never really understood why things existed, if there was actually a god, do we have a soul that lives on after death and many more questions like the ones Sophie is asked to think about.

Learning about all these philosophers, what they thought about and their reasons for existence really opens my eyes to a lot I had never known before. I haven’t figured out what I believe is the correct answers to my questions but I have a very good feeling that by the end of this book I will have a better feeling about my own beliefs, and the answer to my questions.

Although, I haven’t found all the answers to my questions, I have figured out that I might be agnostic.  Throughout my life I felt that I was forced to believe in “god”. But one day I had asked my mom where he came from, and she couldn’t really give me a good enough answer. I then formed all sorts of questions about god. Ever since then I have questioned his existence.  But by reading this book so far and by my own reasoning I think I am agnostic.

Knowing where I stand religiously really makes me happy because it has been something I have stumbled on for most of my life but I will continue to explore this belief and to see if it is right for me.

Sophie’s World has been really helpful for me and has changed my mind or opened my mind to a lot of new ideas that I have never thought about or gave me answers to questions I have been pondering for quite some time.

Best of Today: Atoms

Today in class we didn’t get into the book that much but we did cover some of the major topics from the book.  One of them being atoms. 

Every day I don’t really think much about what makes up my surroundings. I just take everything for granted. Democritus is the guy who thought of the idea about atoms just out of his own knowledge. He had no scientific equipment like we have today to figure out, that instead of there being one major substance that forms into everything like most of the other philosophers believed; there are multiple substances such as atoms that combine together in order to create everything.

What really amazes me is how this guy could possibly think of a thing as complex as atoms just from his mind.  When it wasn’t until years later there was scientific evidence that this guy was right about atoms.

An atoms structure contains about 99 percent of space or air, Mr. Allen said something relatively similar today in class. Then he pounded on his desk and asked if 99 percent of an atoms structure is air or space how come we cannot break through the desk. This got me really thinking, I never even thought about such a thing, it got me thinking all sorts of questions about how atoms are made and how they stick together and what makes the break or if u can even break them with your hands.  I once thought I understood atoms in chemistry class but now I’m just confused.

After today I’m going to start paying more attention to my surroundings and I’m going to be more aware with what actually makes up the things I use every day. I will remember this guy Democritus because he thought of something incredible just by his own mind. He inspired me that technology is not always the answer.

iMedia: Four Seasons

When looking at this picture you automatically notice the different seasons. The Four seasons might not matter to a lot of people but it matters to me.  Each day the weather drives my emotions. Of course it’s not the only thing that affects me but it is the first that that affects me when I wake up in the morning.

The moment I wake up I look outside to see what the weather is like outside.

When I look outside and I see snow falling gracefully and my dad outside shoveling.  This feeling of coldness hits me.  I hate winter more than anything. There’s nothing about it I like, you will never catch me outside during winter unless I’m walking to my car or inside.  This weather puts me down, it makes me feel sad. During this weather I often feel more moody than usual.   

When I look outside and I see flowers blooming, my grass turning greener and maybe rain drops every now and then. I know that spring is here, this type of weather makes me feel graceful. I’m not totally crazy about this weather because of the rain but at least flowers are blooming which add color to our world. I know that in the near future summer will be here.

When I look outside and I see the sun shining bright, a bunch of green leaves on the trees, my brother and sister playing in the swimming pool, and my mom outside in her garden. I feel happier than I have ever felt during any other season because the sun gives me energy. It encourages me to go out and do stuff rather than sitting inside.  During this season most of the time I’m in a very good mood. This is my favorite season.

When I look outside and I see the leaves have turned red, orange and yellow as they fall a couple at a time, and my brother and sister jumping in a pile of leaves. I feel refreshed because the air is cooler than the air in summer.  It feels good to have breeze verse humidity.  This season is for the most part a pretty joyful season but near the end I begin to feel sad because winter is coming my way.

But looking at this picture what it expresses to itself is the trees circle of life. That throughout a period of a year it goes through four different changes. The tree is able to be someone new every time a new season has come around.  But for others trees don’t mean that much. We take advantage of trees we cut them down like they can grow back the next day.  What people don’t realize is how long it takes a tree to become big and strong. Not to say that everyone doesn’t appreciate trees, there are some people that do. They take walks through the forest and they put bird feeders in the trees to give it more life.  When looking at this picture you should try and dig deeper and grasp a feeling for the trees and our seasons and how they do affect us every day.

Blogging Around: New Ideas

            While reading this Collette’s blog it was like she stole the words right out of my mouth I couldn’t have said it any better. She got the same feeling I got after watching Born into Brothels. She talked about the idea of creativity and how it is an escape for people when they are stuck in a challenging situation much like the kids in the movie. She also talked about how creativity has no limitations and that it is a very powerful and important thing that people often over think.   

My comment: I really liked this idea and how Colette expressed creativity in a way many people don’t really see it. Most of the time people see it as a way of only art and uniqueness. But it’s much more than that it is a way for people to get away and express themselves in many new and exciting ways. This was an idea I really thought about too because I got the same feeling, that when I’m sad or lost ill try and turn to creativity for help as well.

            Jason’s idea of having a music less world was something I never even thought of. While reading this I started to wonder my own curiosities about living in a world without music. He brought up example and explained moments that he has had and that people often have while listening to music. Even though sometimes we don’t realize it but our ears are noticing how beautiful the music is. Maybe that is because we have been listening to it since we were babies. This idea also made me think back to my “what if we lived in a world of dullness and simplicity”. Also, how if we lived in a world of dullness and simplicity and music less we would be a very confused and lost society. This shows how much we really need creativity in terms of music and sound to building our communities.    

My comment: I never thought of this what if?! I realize how much music is involved in my life and I didn’t even know it. I have been listening to music ever since I was a baby. Everyone does like music but we all seem to take advantage of it. I like how Jason expressed this by giving us many examples.

Best of Week: Structures

I never think about what I’ve actually learned over the course of a week or even a day. But something I never thought about before was how much of a difference it makes when you figure out the structure of a book that you’re reading. Talking about how Marianne Wiggins structures her book; I think it would help a lot of students when reading and comprehending the book at the same time because most of the books we read in school are often hard to follow.

If you actually focus on how an author sets up a book it changes the whole meaning of the book and the way you understand it. For example In the things they carried by Tim O’Brien he tell us multiple stories to make up his novel.  The reason he does this is because he is trying to express to us how going to Vietnam really was for him and his troops. By him telling us different stories from different points of view; it allows us to gain deeper thoughts and connections to the text. This is very smart because by the end of the book all the short storied make up one whole novel and all of a sudden it isn’t just short stories it’s a whole.

There are different ways to go about this. One being the way Tim O’Brien did, or the way Marianne Wiggins has so far in her book The Shadow Catcher.  She uses a different technique; she uses a “shadowing” technique being the essay at the beginning can relate to the whole book and the chapters “Take Fountain” and “Reds” help set up more background and details for the reader to fall back on when confused. Another thing she does is she showed us her narrative self, character self, and now we get to see other characters like Edward and Carla. This enables us to gain deeper thoughts and connections to the book.

If teachers always took the time to help lay out the structure of the book with the students I think that the students would understand the book and maybe think the book is more pleasing to read. I can back that up from my experience because I know that in some books we read like In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez it was very hard for me to understand who was talking when; because all the characters talk the same and the tone never really change drastically like it did in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Over all take the time and look deeper into how the author is trying to set up the book because they do this for a reason so it is of big importance to the book itself.       

Connection: Convergent and Divergent thinking

In Mr. Allen’s humanities class we read an article called The Creativity Crisis. This article discussed how schools now a day’s don’t focus on creative learning or convergent and divergent thinking. The author gave one example that stuck out to me. The example was how a school gave a class a prompt and they had to figure out how to solve it using both types of thinking. The prompt was how they could reduce the noise in the library.  This prompt got the kids thinking out of the box because there wasn’t an exact answer they were looking for .Then this school took the state achievement exam as other schools did in the state and the school that did the project got higher test scores. This is because this project got the kids thinking outside of the box because there was no exact answer. This plays a big role in how schools are today around the world.

Schools in America a lot like Glenbrook South, have a curriculum that’s focus is on a specific grading system and having higher test scores. What schools in America don’t realize is that because of what their main focus is they unconsciously warp the students in the always needing an A+ or 100% and to always thinking there is one correct answer. Even though those are important things this draws away from the focus of using convergent and divergent thinking together. A lot of teachers don’t encourage their students to think out of the box or use divergent thinking; because of this it sets a routine that students always have to follow.

In other countries the focus is different; a lot like that school that did the project. Other countries like China focus on the arts and the creativity in learning as well as the correct and straight forward was of thinking. The schools there realize how important it is for the students to constantly use both types of thinking because that only makes the students smarter and gets their brains thinking outside of looking for “the right answer”. These schools encourage the students to take risks in learning which in the end makes the more successful as a person.

Although, convergent and divergent thinking works in other countries it is hard for American schools to change. The school systems wouldn’t be the hardest thing it would be trying to break the habits and desires of needing 100%’s and always getting the correct answer.  This has happened in a class at Glenbrook South. In Mr. Allen’s humanities class he changed up the grading system into his own where kids can only get 95, 85, 75, and 65 percent and so on.  This really threw the students for a twirl, the first question asked was, “How can I get a 100%?” the answer was simply you can’t. Many students didn’t like that but what they did like was that you can’t get a 60 percent or even a 70 percent. Another component to Mr. Allen’s class is that he gives the students assignments that aren’t graded for a percentage but graded to give the students feedback. This gives the kids flexibility with trying new ideas and ways of thinking but also learning to use both convergent and divergent thinking together without being punished. On the other hand it is hard for the students to loosen up and think out of the box because they aren’t used to doing that because it hasn’t always been accepted. But Mr. Allen does a great job at encouraging his students to take risks and to try and be creative.

The schools in America should try and make both convergent and divergent thinking more a focus in their curriculum like other school around the world do; because it would only help the students in the long run be more successful. It goes back to The Big Shaggy; in our societies we need and have the irrational side of humans which needs humanities to explain that for us. So having a good sense of using both convergent thinking and divergent thinking will make not only people themselves but the world as a whole a more successful place.  

what if?: Our World

This week in class we discussed the poem “The Angels” by John Updike. This poem goes in depth about composers, artists, and writers and how without them our world would be something so simple and boring. These angels are our guardians protecting us from a world of dullness. Mr. Allen referred to it as “cinder blocks and uncomfortable desks”; if it were up to him we would have a class room with couches, a full kitchen, awesome lighting and even a fire place. But that is only thinking in terms of a classroom, what if the world was made up of the most simplest, colorless and emotionless  things?

Now imagine no existence of: Mozart, Bach, Scarlatti, Handel and Brahms as mentioned in the poem.  Without these angels take a second and think of the world. The world would be the complete opposite as today. Our cities would be full of rectangle buildings; there would be no incredible unique architecture. Our environment would be nothing but grass, deserts and water. The fun in exploring would be taken away from hikers. The amusement of shapes and sizes would go back to its simplest form. Our world would become dull and harsh.

What if we then took all those things and made them colorless? An average person normally doesn’t pay much attention to how important color actually is. But if you took color away our eyes would turn on us because our eyes rely on color and change. We like to see a change in the way things appear to us; we like to see differences with in one object. Our life then turned into a sheet of paper, simple and colorless. Our world would contain a loss a perception.

Feel the emotion you would feel when living in a world so dull. There is not even an emotion you can grasp because living in a world of rectangles, same shapes and sizes and then no color leaves us with no room to express ourselves. The feelings of love, hate, fear, sadness, happiness would be gone. Our world would become a “Plane of silent compromise”.

Grasping a quick feel of how life would be without structure, color and emotion everything in life would be corrupt. Everybody should take a moment and welcome these guardians into their life to prevent dullness. Our world needs complexity, rainbows and expression to become a place like heaven where these angels are today.