Gulliver's Travels

There are many people who travel. Travel millions of miles away for what? People sacrifice lots of their time exploring. Dreams I think are one of the main reasons people travel. I think dreams are one of the main reasons because it gives them something to look forward to. Something to achieve and aspire.
Now with that there comes the sacrifice of time and family. Some get so wrapped up into what they want that they lose sight of what they already have. I titled my blog post Gulliver's Travels because thats what inspired me in writing this.

To tell the Truth or tell a Lie

Truth vs. Lie

               Most people in extremely difficult time have trouble choosing between a truth and a lie. I however believe in this saying “the truth will set you free.” So, I believe in telling the truth at all costs. I have been in lots of sticky situations where I did not know whether to tell the truth or tell a lie.

  I lost my grandma to lung cancer and then 2 months later I lost one of my best friends. Things were very rough for me. I honestly did not think I would ever get through it. But I tried and tried and eventually my pain became dull. It will forever be there but I am at the point where I can talk about them and not want to just shut down, cry and be by myself.

 Everything started going by well and the next thing I knew my grandpa wanted me to meet this lady he had been talking to. I was a little hesitant but I did it anyway because I love my grandpa more than anything, so if it made him happy I would do it. Well I met her and things went well for a couple of months and then one day I over hear my mom yelling at him because they were going to get married. It had only been a year since my grandma had been gone. He did not ask any one of us what we thought, he asked her family and they were okay with it. He called me the next day and asked me if I was okay with it, and of course I went off on him like my mom did and told him I did not approve of it and I did not want him to marry anybody. It is really hard when you grow up with your grandparents being married and only having eyes for one another, to burying my grandma who I cherished so much, and then seeing my grandpa acting like he had never even been married. So then I told the truth and it was probably the best thing I have ever done, because if I had lied I probably would be one angry bitter teenager.

Telling the truth is not just about being honest with somebody else it is about being honest with one's self, and having the courage to express how you actually feel about something. I used to never believe that the truth will set you free until my grandma died because that is when I stopped being afraid to tell people how I am feeling. Having that courage has been a blessing but it has also been a burden because now I am honest and tell the truth where ever I go or whatever I am doing. I think I am too blunt on some subjects which has gotten me into a lot of trouble especially at home.

Truth is the best way to go no matter what.

Struggles, Achievements and Aspirations of High School

Ambra Rhoads

Mr. Juarez

English 10/Period 8

10 February 2013

                                          High School Experiences

            During my High School experience I have encountered many struggles which have led to my accomplishments and have helped me create aspirations. To some people High School is the easiest thing in the world. I used to think that, but I do not anymore. I have had many struggles that I did not think I would. That is because throughout middle school I was a straight A student and as soon as I came to Early College High School that was no longer the case. I went from straight A’s to mostly B’s and C’s. In my house those grades are frowned upon. So I had to figure out what I needed to work on and what was okay.

            I am not a perfect student. I never really thought I was; I just got decent grades. I am like every other student, I have struggles in school. I have probably the worst procrastination ever. I always do things last minute. Especially things that are important like major essays and class projects. Paying attention has also been a big struggle too. I have the attention span of a cat. I get distracted so easily. I could be in class listening to a lecture but then I look out the window and just zone out. That is a terrible habit to have especially taking college classes. Talking has been more of a problem than struggle I would say. I talk in almost every single class, and I think that annoys most of my teachers. I just cannot help it sometimes, especially when somebody starts the conversation with me. But I have been working on all of this and that is why I do have accomplishments.

            I have accomplished more than I would have thought possible. I have acquired a good study habit. I used to never study before, but I quickly realized that with some of my classes the tests are not a joke. I have to study at least three days before the test in order to pass them. Good organization was a key to how I have accomplished what I have. When I was not organized I was all mixed up. I had different assignments for different classes in all of my folders. Nothing was where it should have been. It was just very hectic. But once I got organized I became more successful in my studies. I am a really good test taker now. Since acquiring my good study habits and my organization I rock most of my tests. I have my moments when I could have done better but I always try my best. With good academic accomplishments I started thinking of what could happen in the future and what I could aspire to.

            My aspirations now are nothing like what I used to aspire. Before I used to not care if I got distracted, now I do everything possible so that does not happen. I do not sit next to windows anymore and I do not sit next to people that I know I will talk to and socialize with. Since all of that I really want to do is get above a 3.0 this semester. Most think it is far fetched but I know I can do it. Once I set my mind to do something I do not give up. One thing that I really hope to keep up with is HIV/AIDS research with Dr. Kestler and my lab group. I was one of five kids last year to be accepted into this group. It was a great honor to me, to be able to work with a famous Microbiologist. That is probably number one on my list of aspirations.

            It took me to years to figure out where I needed work and where I was fine. Two years may seem like a lot of time but I know people who still have not gotten it together yet. I love having my aspirations and my accomplishments; it just shows me how much I am worth and what I have do to improve on myself. But I think I cherish my struggles the most because without them I do not think I would be where I am. I probably would have been kicked out of Early College High School a long time ago. And since I have not I am going to keep doing my best and keep climbing for my dreams.

Are there bullies in the world?

One of the main causes of teen death is suicide. Teens commit suicide because of bullying and other factors. The question I and many others ask : "Why do people bully online?". I think people bully online because it is easier to hide behind a computer than to be a jerk to some one's face.
I personally would stand up for someone who is being bullied. I think most people would would but there are those people who do not like confrontation and also do not like to put themselves out there even though they know it is wrong. I would stand up for people being bullied because I have been bullied. It is not fun at all. I have blond hair and most people think I am dumb because of it. So they would say stuff like I am incompetent and slow, which is completely inaccurate.
If I stood up for somebody it would be to give them the support and confidence that I never had. However, I think that is is okay that I never had that support because I am the type of person to hold everything in until I explode. This is why I am the way I am.

Rights

Do people have the right to take things that do not belong to them? I was shown a picture about a family whose house was being torn down because it was built on "illegally" sold land. I believe that the family should not have been reprimanded because the house was built somewhere that they did not have any control over.
Though there always two sides to things. The first would be it is NOT right to take things from people especially if has not been given away or bought. To me that is like when the Native Americans got their land taken from them by the White man. This land had been in those families for generations and then in a blink of an eye it was all vanished. NOBODY had the right to take it.
The second would be the exception. It IS right to take things from people when they have borrowed the money to get them. When people get loans from the bank to buy a house, they have to pay that money back. If there has been continuous non-payment then I think it perfectly LEGAL to take it away.
There are going to be people who think this is completely contradicting but I do not think so. I think that unless you have the legal right to take something away, then it morally is not right. When I say morally I mean it is not a humane thing to do. I do not know if that makes sense, but I hope it does.

Would I risk my Life?

Many sacrifice their lives for complete strangers. Why? I think many people sacrifice their lives because they feel like it is the right thing to do. I think they feel like it is the right thing to do because if they did not then they would have to live with the " what if's ". That is probably worse than dying.
I have talked to my mom about this because I was having trouble writing this paper. My mom thinks it is absolutely crazy to die for somebody you do not know. My opinion however, think giving my life for somebody would be probably one of the greatest honors.
I am the type of persont that if I see somebody hurting I have to help them. So if giving my life helped them then that is something I would give up. If I was walking past a house and I saw somebody in toruble like a couple fighting and a weapon was pulled out I would be there in an instant trying to help fix things. I have always been the person to try to fix things.
I think it is different for police officers and firefighters. They risk their lives because it is for the people of their country. That would be their pride part of it. Firefighters and Police Officers protect people not only because it is their occupation. They protect people because they want people to be protected and for no harm to be done. I think not just anybody can be a Police Officer or Firefighter, somebody trying for that occupation has to genuinely want to help and care for people.
I no doubt would give my life for somebody. Now there is only one question that YOU can answer. Would YOU risk your life for someone?

This is for you ♥ A day with you

There are not very many people that I would want to spend the day with. But, the one person that I would love another day with, the one person I would give anything to see again, would be my grandma. Most people would think that is crazy because I should want to spend the day with someone famous.

My grandma died on August 26th, 2011. She had been a very important person in my life. She is the reason why I am the way I am. She was very important even when my mom was pregnant with me. My grandma had always given me the love ALL children should have from a grandparent growing up.

My grandma was the type of grandma that whenever we had family get togethers she would always be with the babies and kids. Being with the adults was not something she cared to much for. Nobody understood why, but I did. She based her life around her family and I think that is the most important think somebody could want. Family.

I loved my grandma more than words can desribe. I never really got the chance to show and tell her before she got sick. Now that she is gone, I feel even worse because now I will never ge the chance to. I am still very, very angry that she was taken from me so soon.