What kind of Friend are YOU???

In my last blog I discussed music, but eventually that led a little bit into not following the crownd and a tiny bit about friendship. Well, I am going to expand a little bit more on those two subjects. What does a friend mean to you? To me, a friend is someone that knows you really well because YOU told them about you and they didn't hear it from someone else in a gossip line or just guess becasue they THOUGHT they knew you so well. My freinds are the people I trust. I tell my friends about me because I trust them. A friend should never tell another something about yourself or another that is hurtful or something that shouldn't be shared. I once had a friend that shared a story with another girl that I had trusted would be safe with her. However, she told another girl and I was hurt. This may sound childish and girlish, but I still felt betrayed in a way. Not because this other girl found out a big secret about me, but becasue I couldn't trust this friend anymore. I don't tell her anything anymore. On the other hand I have a friend whom I tell everything to. She is a trustworthy friend and that is not only important, but I can have a lot a fun with her because I trust her. Freindships need to be chersihed not taken lightly. The only way to do that is to respect eachother fand that is what makes best freinds.

MUSIC

Rap, opera, hiphop, classical, etc, etc, etc. it is easy to tell the personality of a person by the music they listen to. Smart brainiac people tend to listen to a lot of classical and opera because they say it "enhances" the thinking system. Walking the halls at school can be a great way to determine a persons character. The "Goths" might be listening to rap, heavy metal, or something else that nobody can understand. It is possible to read into this to the point that "Goths" are not understood. People judge them to early like they might judge rap, heavy, metal as terrible music. Another example might be the kind of music the "Cheerleader" type might listen to. Now, think Cheerleader. What's that, Britney Spears? Hilary Duff? Yes, it's true. When people think cheerleader they think popstar, American Idol, girly singer. BUT, how does that determine their personality? Well if it's thought about then a conclusion might be, that Cheerleaders are popular, (in most cases), These popstars are pretty darn popular, and cute, and well-liked, and pretty, and stylish, and I think you gor the point. Cheerleaders are desperate for attention. In order to recieve this attenetion they will follow the crowd and their crowd is the movie stars, and popstars, and fashion designers from New York. they will only do and dress and listen to what they are told. Even if they might nor like it the best. For exmaple, a cheerleader may listen to Kelly Clarkson because her friends do, but maybe what she really likes is country music or broadway. Therefore, the music that a person listens to can greatly determine the kind of person he/she is. Maybe one that follows the crowd and cares too much about image, like our cheerleader friend.

Designer Clothes: what am I willing to do?

A very good friend of mine wears some of the cutest jackets I've ever seen. I decided to ask her where she got her very cute jackets. I expected a reply along the lines of, "Areopostale, American Eagle," etc. Her answer was somewhat differnent. She told me, "Susie's Deals". Now I am guessing that none of us have ever heard of this store. She continued on and told me that it is a store where the large department stores and designer stores send all their unsold designer clothing. Apparently everything is five bucks and she gets all her designer clothes there. I would like to give my friend a pat on the back and say, "Good for YOU!" In this twenty-first century, especially in highschool, everything is based on money. That may sound a little off topic, but let me tell you why. Looks are everything. If we don't look a certain way than will not fit in. Our appearance is so important that many of us are spending THOUSANDS of dollars a month on clothes, shoes, and accessories. The reason I give brownie points to my friend is because she has found another way. Why should anyone spend that much money on something they will eventually grow out of or throw away? One serious problem is that the media has such an influence on us, that people are strating to believe it is okay to spend that much money. All of the movie stars spend too much money on their clothing and they are never seen in the same thing twice. Many people have this idea of, "Oh, I got my paycheck, time to go shopping." Has anybody ever heard of a Savings account?? It seems to me that we spend money as fast as we earn it. money is valuable and can be used for greater this like college. Even people who don't have cold cash go and spend money they borrow form the bank. Please! Save your money. It's not worth that thirty-five dollar shirt at Aeropostale.

Homework

Most highschool students complain about homework. Why shouldn't they? Nobody likes to take home math problems and english essays home and do it for the next day. They already go to school, they don't need things to do at home. Isn't that there relaxation time? I used to agree with this philosophy that these students have, but now, it is my understanding that homework is a very good idea. Not only does it keep their minds invigorated, but it is preparing them for the world after highschool. A world where popularity doesn't exist and it doesn't matter if this guy was student body president, or this girl was captain of the cheer team. I know what your thinking, "This girl is just saying this and she wants to impress her English teacher." Yes, and No. Homeworks teaches lessons on responsibility, responsibilty, and responsibilty. As you see, responsibilty is very important. Students cannot always depend on their parents or teachers or friends. Because, they wil not always be there. Homework is only preparing them for the work field. In the "real world" life is hard. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. Having a job is hard and requires a lot of effort. It takes earning and RESPONSIBILITY! There's that key word again. Teachers are smart to give out homework each night, even if it's just a little bit, then they need to make sure thay check for the homework. The students that truly care will always have it there, they are the ones ready for the "real worl". If they take responsibility now, they will take responsibilty later. Responsibilty doesn't just come to a person, it is hard and also takes effort. Homework helps me stay on top of things and try my very hardest. I am preparing know for the life after highschool. Life takes responsibilty (life takes visa, ha ha, just kidding) Anyway, through homework, students can learn about working hard and receiving a reward whether it's a paycheck or an "A" in English.

I recently saw the movie, "The Work and The Glory III". Now, having read the books I thought they did a lousy job of covering the story. I know that they can't make the script every tiny detail in the book, but they could hit some important ones. Having seen the first one and loving it, then not seeing the second one, maybe I'm not the best judge; but to me it felt like they rushed to the end becasue they were bored and got tired of it. Not only that, but many characters were missing. and these characters are important in the book. How can a screenwriter change the story to where people are missing. One the up hand I thought the actors did an excellent job. Especially Caroline. She was one of the strongest to me, because i know her from the books and I felt like she knew her character. I also noticed that soem of the charcters were not played by the same actors/actresses. this made it hard for me because I saw them in the first one and it seemed like a different character in the third. Does that make sense? For example, Lydia McBride Steed was played by a beautiful actress in the first one. now in the third one, she was played by a different person and they changed her look. The whole time I didn't consider her Lydia. She just seemed like a another girl. If they wanted to make it better, they should have not rushed through it and tried to keep the characters the same. Over all, I didn't like it as well as the first.

Les Miz

I recently performed in a musical at Mt. View called Les Miserables. This story is amazingly crafted. There are many small storylines that all tie into the larger plot. Numerous characters enhance the story and grow in their own personal experiences. One thing about Les miz is that there is a moral to the story. The trials and personal experiences that the audinece connects to are everyday things we can learn from. For example, Eponine has to face the fact that Marius does not love her the way she loves him. What girl hasn't felt that way about a certain guy? Eponine has to learn to face the facts and deal with the truth. Even though all of us may not have to deal with love truths; we still are faced with opposition and we need to look it in the eye and not dream up fairytales, because they won't take us anywhere in life. Another example is when Enjorlas, the leader of the revolutionaries, gathers the citezens of paris and build a barricade in the streets. Enjorlas believes in what he is fighting for. What are we fighting for? Many of us have standards and beliefs. If the revolutionaries are willing to give their lives for what they belive in, then what are we willing to sacrfice? We need the courage to take a stand and not fall easily into peer pressure. Although going with the crowd might be the easiest way, it is not always the right way. One particular song in Les Miz is called, "One Day More". This is a song about freedom, love, and second chances. Enjorlas and the revolutionaries are fighting for freedom and rights. Eponine is yearning for the love that Marius and Cosette share. And Valjean and Javert are given second chances. Valjean has another chance to escape and Javert has another chance to find them. The characters may not be sure about tomorrow, but they know that tomorrow brings another dawn and another chance. That is how it is in our lives. There are always second chances for love and freedom and standing up for what we believe in. "Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store. One more dawn, one more day, One Day More."

When did you start decorating?

Christmas time, Christmas cheer! Christmas comes but once a year! (Okay, so the rhyming was a little cheesy.) Lights are shining and credit cards are maxing out. It's the holiday season. Dec.1 first was yesterday and today, Dec. 2, christmas lights are going up at my house. Of course, we're not the first. I saw lights up the day after Halloween. Now, to me, that is just a little extreme. It's like they skipped a Holiday. (you know the one with the turkey and the thanks, yeah that one) Now, if I were to put up my tree and lights the day after Halloween, I would get sick of it and by Dec. I would be wishing for Valentines. The twinkling lights and the wrapping paper are supposed to be squsihed into one month. That it what makes it fun! I enjoy the holiday cheer cramped into four weeks. (maybe "cramped was the wrong word to use, more like, I want the fun to be all together. I like the spirit of December, and it shouldn't be the spirit of oct.-Jan.) If it's spread out over several months, then wouldn't you get tired of it? I know that I would! On 0ct 31, a major holiday in America, I was going to a Halloween party to watch a SCARY movie. In the car I turned on the radio and suddenky I heard the popular Christmas jingle, "It's Begininning to look a lot like Christmas". Now, unless I'm going insane or blind, or the station is being broadcasted from Greenland, I didn't think it looked a lot like Christmas. Why so early? Why not playing that music around turkey day?? I know we are all soooooooooo excited for the Christmas season, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Okay? Good, now, go trim a tree.