Self

Sometimes what is best for you will not be best for everyone. It's a tiring job to fit your life around everyone else. There are going to be several times where you just have to go with what you want. Coming from experience, that is easier said than done. This is not saying discard everyone else and go by what you want, but it is okay to put yourself first at times. Self care is important and is something that should not be forgotten. As long as you do not destroy people and things, do what makes you happy. If other people do not agree, then they can choose not to do that in their life.

Lows and Highs

The greatest efforts may seem small in the eyes of the overseers. They sometimes do not see how hard someone works, or how much work is put in. The most important thing to keep in mind is how you see your accomplishments. For example, some people see certain jobs as being too "low" for them. For the person next to them, that job could be their ultimate goal, for which he or she works hard to achieve. Just because your low is too low for you, does not mean that the same low is not someone else's high. That being said, when you judge people--because we all do-- understand that where they are may not be as bad as you think it is. One person cannot dictate what is deemed good enough for the world. Tolerate and move on. Sneering and snickering at others while you sit in the same spot, will get you no where. Take pride in what you do so you will not have the capacity to compare yourself to others.

Deserving vs. Earning

People think that they always deserve something. There are the constitutional rights that are automatically given, but that is as far as it goes. When we reach a certain age, things that are wanted and needed are not given--they are earned. When we deserve something, it is because we have worked to earn it. If no work is put in, how do you expect to get anything out? So, to all of the princes and princesses of the 21st century, there will come a day where you will not get the world handed to you. Understand that there are people who work hard and still do not have what they need. The things that you have will feel more special when you work for them.

Who You Really Are

Actions speak louder than words, especially when those words were never said.

People are quick to judge a person on what they say they believe. The truth is that who you are is not determined by what you say or believe, but by your actions. Many things are easier said than done, but when it is done growth happens. One important lesson I've learned over the past week is to not judge people by what they say. People say the wrong things all of the time. That being said, do not base your feeling towards a person only on what they say. When you observe a person and what he or she does, you can see a better view of who that person is. Take time out of talking and do more than listen. Observe people. Take everything in. You would be surprised by what you learn.

"Happy Holidays"

Growing up, I have noticed that my schools have always taken off for certain holidays. I have mostly gone to schools with no religious affiliation. That being said, I still do not understand why I was not in school. The reason for this is because when Jewish, Muslim, and other holidays came around, I was still in school. I have not researched why I was in school for those holidays and out for Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas yet, but i will. When I was enrolled at schools with a religious affiliations, I understood. At a public school, with many ethnicities, nationalities, and denominations, I wanted a day off for every holiday. I am not saying this because I do not want to go to school; I am saying this because I respect everyone. When there are holidays that are affiliated with religions other that Christianity, more than 25% of the school is absent. That is a substantial amount of students, and sometimes teachers, missing. This is something that I still need to research more, but I also believe that it is something that needs a magnifying glass to see clearly.

Violence in Chicago

I live in a city where violence is desensitized. It has become the new normal. It seems that no one wants to come to Chicago because they are afraid. I found this video on nowisthetimechicago.org

Hopefully soon, we can work as a city to stop violence.


http://www.nowisthetimechicago.org/media/68

The American Classroom

One of the many problems of the American school system is that it only holds the "top" students up. At the school that I go to, if you are not a straight 'A' student with a ground breaking science fair project or a top athlete, then you get lost in the shuffle. People only pay attention to who is first. That is where the equally extraordinary, but misunderstood kids get left behind. Since all students are tested the same way, the results wanted are not achieved. Everyone learns differently, and appealing to everyone is a great challenge. At the same time, if there is no effort made, the this school system can only go down. I am no expert in schooling, but that does not mean my ideas should be shut out. Another problem is that CEO's and officials cut out all of the opinions of students because we are assumed to be clueless. The fact that we go to these schools, means we have more experience about what works, what does not, and what the schools need. American school systems also need people who want to teach kids and love what they do. That goes for administrators too. There are many adults in schools who do not teach. They do other jobs around school and they disregard the students. In order to make a school system work, everyone needs to want it. As seen with the teacher strike in Chicago, there were countless groups and individuals against the Chicago Teachers Union. What these same people did not see was that these teachers really cared about their students. If these people understood that, they would work with the CTU rather than yell at them from their cars. One last thing that I believe we could fix, is the process of improving. If we are working toward improving the schools, taking resources away and closing schools is not the way. Although people claim that education reform does not need more money since it will not fix the problems, it is a great place to start.