The Day of Happiness

Busy streets are the last thing that I want to deal with when the holiday season comes. It all a bunch of grumpy people trying to get their last minutes shopping done. When running into someone in a store you don’t get, “Oh sorry for bumping into you, merry Christmas!” it is more like, “Watch where you’re going!”

People do not get that Christmas is not about what you buy or the deals that you get, it is coming home from a busy day at work and having a family that you love to make your day seem great even if it wasn’t. They just put a smile on your face the minute that you walk through the door, and you can’t help but to just be happy.

When Christmas is mentioned, what pops into the back of your head is “I can’t wait to see all of the presents under the tree!” When what should really pop into your head is, “I cannot wait to spend time with the people I love and all of the delicious food that I enjoy making with my family.” This is what really matters during the holiday season.

Christmas Eve is when all of the little kids cozy up with their parents and watch all of the Christmas movies that they can find. It is a day where kids from college remember the days when they were home all day. And last but not least, is it a day of relaxation for the parents who are tired from working almost every day of the week.

For little kids, Christmas day is the day when you wake up and see the snow piled up on the ground, and you go pounce on brothers and sisters to wake them up so that the day can continue although sometimes they are too stubborn to get up. For teens, Christmas is a day of sleeping in until noon until someone drags them out of bed. Now for parents on the other hand, they just get to run around chasing after little kids, and making all of the food.

This day that is supposed to be about love for Jesus and your family has turned into a day of presents and money, and that is just not right. Be thankful for what you have, because chances are, somebody out there is wishing that they had as much as you did. (404 words)

Christmas

The feeling that I feel when fit snows for the first time is so joyful. It looks magical, soft, fluffy, and it makes you want to jump in a big pile of it! Is it just me or do others feel the same way? I think that snow makes Christmas ten times better. Maybe I just think that because I have grown up with snow for Christmas almost every year, but I think without it, it just would not feel like Christmas.

 When my brother were not in college we would all go outside and have a giant snowball fight, and of course, the girls were never good at them, so the boys would have to pick up our slack. Their was also this game called the fox and the goose that we would play but I can’t remember how to play it because it has been such a long time. All of the game that we would play made Christmas way more fun for me as a kid, and I will probably keep playing them with my family when they are home until I get old and I am not able to play them anymore.

When Christmas comes, all of the family traditions start and it is always a fun and amazing time. One of my family’s traditions is that watch the movie Scrooge on Christmas Eve right before we go to sleep. Another one is that we eat a Christmas Eve dinner with just our family and it has to include party potatoes and sparkling grape juice of course. These little things that we do that you would not think mean that much, actually make experiences more exciting and fun.

I hope that all families have little special things that they do, because I know I sure enjoy them. I will most likely pass them down to my kids later in life and my nephews and nieces. Christmas is all about family and without family traditions, it does not really feel like it is about family at all, and that is why I enjoy them very much. I also love spreading the Christmas cheer and singing Christmas songs all day long because I love seeing the smiles that I bring to other people’s faces. (378 words).     

Alone

Ever looked at someone and think, I wonder why they are the way that they are? I seem to ask myself this question quite often and I just wish I knew they answer all of the time. One day I saw a lady sitting by herself at a restaurant and I felt so bad for her and I just wondered what had happened to her that caused her to eat alone. Maybe she has no family left, maybe her and her spouse broke up, maybe she never had the chance to make friends, and I mean anything could have happened to her.

When eating lunch at Kennedy High School I always take the time to thank all of the lunch ladies and lunch men because I want them to know how much I appreciate what they do. Getting older causes you to not be able to move around as well and that is why sometimes I feel sorry for them. I know I probably should not do that because some of them might like working there but I can’t help but to feel sorry for them. Seeing them work so hard and to get little appreciation is just so sad for me to see. And when I see them there, I always ask myself that same question, what caused them to work here? One day I would like to ask someone that just to see what their answer is but I don’t want to make anyone feel bad so I probably will not.

All of these examples are reasons why I would just like everyone to take a second to thank them as they walk by and clean the table, or give you the food that you are going to eat. I am thankful that I do not have to work there but hey, you never know what is going to happen in the future! I most likely will not end up like that but I am sure a lot of people will. Everyone should be thankful for what they have, because you could end up like someone that eats alone all of the time if you are not thankful. Also, eating alone is not always a bad thing, so If you like to eat alone, then no one should be able to judge you or think of you as a weird person, and that is why I look at people that work at different places and eat alone the same as I look at everyone else. (419 words).

What Winter is All About

When fall comes, everyone raves about how pretty and beautiful all of the colors are. Yet, when winter comes, everyone’s emotions become different because the trees look brittle and cold. That is why I am here today to blog about how great the winter really is. To start off, I would like to say that snow is a main factor of the beauty of winter and without it, it just does not feel right.

Currently, the date is December 6^th, 2012 and there is yet to have one single snowflake drop on the dark and dead grass. This is why this winter has not fully become winter yet. If it does not come by December 21^st, I will be so disappointed. You see, having grown up in Iowa, you are so used to the cold freezing snow that covers your yard and house that not having it is unthinkable. I mean after all, who doesn’t like cuddling up inside with five blankets wrapped around while watching one of your favorite movies? I know I sure love it.

Winter is also a time to just go outside on a sunny day and play in the glittering snow. Some overlook how delicate and fluffy the snow actually is. One of my favorite things to do in the snow in just to sit in it, make snow angels, and just look deep into the snow. Earlier in life I realized that I think of the strangest things while looking at the snow. I see my dog running around trying to steal my nephew’s hat while he runs away screaming and laughing. I see my childhood, particularly my brothers and I making snowmen in the front yard so that everyone can see how awesome our creative snowman is. I see family from all around the United States, no matter how far away coming together, whether it is by phone, or in person. And lastly, I see myself, trying to kick a soccer ball in two feet of snow, when I know in the back of my mind that it is not going to work out very well.

Some people look at winter as such a horrible season, but to me, it means so much more than just snow and random ugly trees that have no leaves. It means that I get to spend time with the people and the things that I love the most in life, and I could not ask for anything more. (413 words).

Inspiration

The question that always seems to pop up is who is my inspiration? Well it is a very easy question to answer, my brother. He is smart, kind, and is a good soccer player. I wish that someday, I could fill his shoes and go to a division 1 soccer program and make it to the final four of the NCAA tournament. Friday will be his game and I am so excited to watch I could almost pee my pants. My other brothers are a big part of my inspiration too. They both go to division 1 soccer programs just like my other brother. Although they are not ranked as high as him, I am still proud of them for everything that they have accomplished.

At times I get a bit sad when thinking about my brothers; I still try to think positive. You see, I rarely ever get to see them anymore. Christmas is usually the only time because they do not have soccer going on during their three or four week breaks from school. I wish they were home more, but hey, they are doing the thing that they love so who am I to complain that they are not ever home. Two of my brothers are transferring next year, I am nervous and excited because I know they are going to end up at better colleges that have better soccer programs, but I am not sure how far away they will be. I hope that it is somewhere that is somewhat close so that I can go and watch most of their games, but I will not be too disappointed if they go somewhere far as long as it is somewhere that they will love.

So yes, I am jealous of my brothers and look up to all of them, but not only am I jealous, I am proud, proud to be their sisters, proud to have grown up with them, and proud that I get to say, “Hey! Those are my brothers out there playing!” when they are playing in a game. I can only pray that I will be half as successful as them. (361 words)

Indoor Soccer

Indoor soccer, sounds fun right? Well from what I experienced this weekend, it was not very fun to play at times. Playing three games when you are out of shape is rough but I will still always do anything just to play a game of soccer. My team is pretty good but it is a coed team and we play in the men’s league. Sometimes it is so fun just to be as dirty as you want and tackle and hard as you want, but other times, the boys are huge, they are wienies to girls most of the time, and they think they are the best team to walk on earth. Those three things just make me mad about boys, because they should play as hard against girls, as they do against boys.

I will admit that they do intimidate me, but I still play like they are tiny compared to me, because it really helps me when playing. Although this weekend was not as good as it could have been, because we lost two out of our four games, but I still had fun while losing. I know what you are thinking, how can you have fun while losing? Well the thing is, is that soccer is a big part of my life, and if you do not enjoy the struggles that you go through, then you will never go far in that particular sport. Whether it is basketball, football, baseball, or any other sport, you should enjoy every little moment of play because just think about when you are older. When you are older, it is going to become very difficult to play because you may not be as quick and healthy as you were when you were younger.

As you can see, my love for soccer is very strong, and I hope to play soccer for a very long time. Without soccer, my life would not feel complete, and honestly, I am not sure what I would do with my life. That is why I will always be a fan of soccer, whether I am playing soccer, or not playing soccer, my love for it will always be strong.  

Look at players like Lampard, Rooney, and Drogba. They are all inspirations to little kids and grown ups all over the world, and someday I want that to be me. I know that I will probably never get to such a high level of soccer, but that is my dream, and that will be my dream until the day that I die. (427 words)

Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

             Thanksgiving break was a joyful and jolly time of year for me when I was little. I loved it so much because it was the week of my birthday. Presents, food, and family were my three favorite things and I felt as though I was the happiest a kid could ever be. As the years went by I began to like Christmas break better because it is a time to just thank the Lord for all you have in your life. Your family is there by your side and supporting you in all that you do and that is something that I just loved having all around me. Liking Christmas break more does not mean that I do not like thanksgiving break, I mean, both of the breaks you do not have to go to school so both of them are really enjoyable.

Throughout the years I have come to notice that Christmas and Thanksgiving have many things in common. For example, during the time of break, your family comes home from wherever they were before, there is no school, it is really cold, and let’s be honest who doesn’t gain five pounds from eating so much food. On the other hand, they are very different. Thanksgiving is shorter, there isn’t as much snow, and if you have a big family like I do, all of your family members may not make it home. Christmas is a kid’s best friend, they get presents, food, friends come over, and you get to run around listening to Christmas music all day. When you get older, you realize that it is not all about presents and things like that, it is about coming together and having the best time you possibly can. My favorite part about Christmas is waking up on Christmas morning and seeing all of the happy faces.

Personally, my favorite part about opening presents is not seeing what I got; my favorite part is letting other people open gifts from me just to see their facial expression. For example, one year I got my brother a really nice jacket, I was really excited about it because it was the best thing that I had ever gotten someone before. When he opened it his face went from happy, to shocked. His eyes became wet, and he gave me a big hug because he knew that I put a lot of thought into it. This story is possibly the reason why I like Christmas the most, and I hope everyone enjoys Christmas as much as I do, as well as Thanksgiving. (431 words)

College

Thinking about college is a very scary thing, especially when you are only going to be sixteen years old when you go. I am fourteen at the moment and a junior in high school. That thought just gives me chills because it does not feel like I should being leaving for college in a year and a half. Some other people at Kennedy are a grade ahead and I wonder how they feel about it? Some may like it and others may not.

For me, it is a wondrous thing, but at the same time, it is horrible.  It is good because of the fact that it is challenging and you meet a lot of nice people along the way that gasp at the fact that you are so young. It is bad because you truly do not know very many people of the same age. Another bad thing would be that I play a sport, and probably will not be able to play division one soccer no matter how hard I work.

Being two grades ahead really did not take any time to get used to because being ahead at such a young age is often hard to remember. But trying to remember what it was like to be around people of the same age is frustrating because I cannot think of one time that I have had a class with someone younger than I am. Recently moving down to my own age group in soccer has helped me to make friends of my age and they are wonderful people to be around.

College has not hit fully yet but I know it will senior year. Not knowing where I want to go or what I want to do is terrifying, but hopefully it will get figured out soon or it could be too late. Vet school sounds pretty interesting, or being a teacher of some sort, but we will see where God takes things and that is all I have to worry about. (337 words)

Encouragement

When you play a sport, do you like when people encourage you? I feel like it encourages you to do your best and work as hard as you can, but others think that it makes them play worse and I just do not get it. Although it may seem like they are getting angry at you, they are just trying to make you better at whatever you are doing. That is why sometimes the more successful people are the ones you take criticism and use it to benefit themselves so that you can become the best player you can be.

Things like “play quicker”, “keep your head up”, and “don’t give up” and all things to take in because if you do not, then you will never be the player that you want to be. Letting something like that get into your head is very bad because you end up just playing even worse or you end up not liking the person saying it because you think they are doing it to bring you down, but that is not the case. Even if they are trying to bring you down just ignore it and let yourself shine.

If you take a look at all of the professional sports players out there you will see that they do not let what other people say effect them because if they did, they would not be where they are today. No matter how hard you work and how hard you try to be on everyone’s good side there will always be someone that will try to break you down but just take that gesture of hate and put it in your mind as a thing to work on so that you get better.

If you take criticism and work at it, you will be successful. You will feel good about yourself because not only does it make you successful, but it makes you the best you can be and a good player that a lot of people will respect. So do not worry if people are not supportive of you, just take what they have to say and make your life better as a player. Players of all ages can take this advice, but the sooner you do the better because if you learn at a young age, you will be able to grow as a player faster, and be ahead of all of the other players. (406 words)

Nature vs. Nurture

When you are growing up, you never realize how much your family influences you. Most people would say that you grew up in a normal household. But did you really? Although you may think that you did, everyone is raised different and everyone has that one thing that they say or do that is different from what other families do. You may talk differently, or dress different, or maybe even look not normal to some people. The truth is, is that each individual is different in their own way.

If you were born into a family that likes the dress and talk southern, then you probably will do the same.  Most people think their family is normal and the way they grew up is normal because they are used to it. You are raised to know your right and wrongs which is a reason that some kids or adults do things that most people would not approve of. To you that is normal, but do you see what I’m saying? If you were growing up thinking that all animals are bad and they bite and hurt you, then you will most likely think that throughout your life living in a house that people believe that in.

Who is really to judge what is normal? Maybe what you grew up knowing is right, but not considered normal in today’s society. Today, what is normal is wearing the trend of the year (which in this case is PINK, Miss Me, and Uggs) because it is the new “hot” style. But being normal is not always about that, it is doing what is right and what you grew up thinking was right. Although it may not be right, as long as it does not hurt anyone, that is okay.

As you can see, the way you nurture your kids in the future will have a big impact. Parents should teach their kids about what is right, because that is the way to get them to be successful. Growing up in a good home with good parents is a thing that some kids dream about, so if you have been raised very well then you should be thankful that they care for you. Even if you tell your kids the right thing, it may not be considered “normal” but that is the right thing to do because that is what parents are supposed to do. (403 words)

Real or Fake?

High school helps kids to figure out who and what is in their lives. Seeing who sticks with you and who does not quit on you when you need help the most is a very surprising aspect of it. Some friends are there for you no matter what you are going through, some are with you when you have good days, but not bad days, and some are just not there at all.

The ones that stay with you through everything are the people that we call best friends, the ones that are around sometimes, but not always are your fake friends, and the ones who are never there are just the people that you know, but do not really talk to. When you are in school, everyone wants to have the most friends that they possibly can, but what they do not realize is that when you go to college, three quarters of those people are not going to be there and you will not talk to them unless running into them at the store, or an event.

From a personal opinion, I feel as though the best of friends are made during sports. When playing a sport, you have to trust and depend on every single one of your teammates or you will not be successful, and that is why you become so close with them. It takes a while to get used to your teammates at first, but when you do, the friendships that you make are unbelievable, and you will most likely be friends with those people for quite a long time.

As you can see, just because you think you have so many people that will be there for you, it is interesting to find out who really is, and who is not. But no matter who is there and who is not, you should be thankful for all of the wonderful people you have in your life. (325 words)

Work

Some strive for greatness and others have to work for it. Although working for it can sometimes be hard, just remember to keep going. When you have a bad day you probably think “my life sucks” but really, it is just a minor set back of your life. You live many days so if one of your days is not working out you can just think of previous days or days that are to come. Maybe you are looking forward to holidays, birthdays, or just a get together with your friends.

Every person has a bad day at some point and that is just something that people have to deal with. Some examples of bad days are when you may have made a mistake and gotten in to trouble, or your parents yelled at you, or you got in a fight with a friend. These are all things that are quite easy to get over although you may not think so.

Apologizing, that word seems to be the most difficult word to say. It is the word that could make your day better. The reason that some do not like to say it is because it means that they are wrong, or that they did something that was not allowed and approved of. Parents are a good example of this because they like you to say sorry for being wrong and that make you feel like they are superior over you. Some also do not like it because sometimes, you are not wrong, they may think you are, but you know you are right.

Sports are another example of hard days. You may have a running day where all you do is run your heart out and you get no cheer for it, the only thing you get is the satisfaction of knowing that you worked hard and that you gave it your all. Maybe you had an easy practice, where you feel like you went for nothing because you did not learn anything new or get better at anything. And lastly, maybe you had a practice where you were just off of your game and you were making a ton of mistakes.

The truth is, is that everyone has these types of days at some point in life. You just have to learn to face it and try harder to make it better the next day because that is how you will succeed in most of the things that you do. (414 words)

Growing Up

Love. Trust. Friendship. These are all words to describe the relationship with a family. Although sometimes you may feel like they are not always there for you, they are. Fight break out here and there, you may say a few things that you wish you could take back, but just realize that you have grown up with these people, and they have never given up on you. Just think, did your family ever support you at games? If so, that is a thing that you should be thankful for because they took their time out of their schedule to come and watch you.

From the time you were little, until now, you have probably though to yourself, “wow, my relationship with my family has changed so much.” Whether it is a good change like getting closer and building a strong relationship, or a bad change like getting farther apart as the days go by. Growing apart from your family can be a good thing, or a bad thing. A good thing would be becoming more independent, but a bad thing would be not have a relationship with them anymore, knowing that you used to know what it was like to be close.

Most of your younger years are spent with your family. Holidays, going to sporting events, or just taking a road trip, these are the kind of memories that you want to remember for the rest of your life. Without those memories, you would not be the person you are today because the things that you have done with your family have impacted the person that you are today. Even the littlest of things can change your life and you should charish every moment that you can. Becoming you is the most azaming thing the think about and process because you have changed so much from when you were little. (330 words)

Just Be You

Have you ever heard someone say “be who you want to be, not who others want you to be”? Lately I have realized how many people do not follow this saying. Kids try so hard to fit in with the popular crowd because if they are not “cool” enough to be in that group, then they are judged because people wonder why they are not good enough for some kids. For some kids, it is a big deal to be a part of school activities because they like to be social, but others just like to keep to themselves. Neither of these things are bad, but some think you are weird if you are not in the group that they are in.

In high school, it seems like everything is a popularity contest. Whether it is how loud people cheer for you at games, homecoming king and queen, or how many people say hi to you in the halls. Even if you are the most popular girl or boy in the school you will always have people that do not like you or that do not want to see you succeed. The key to succeeding is not letting any of those people get into your head, and not letting them make you feel like you are not a good person.

Some are shy, loud, joyful, sad, to themselves, or just straight up annoying, but they are all similar to you in a way. Judging them is the wrong thing to do, just think about how much you would like it if someone did that to you. I bet most people would not like it. So next time you feel like saying something bad about others, don’t because they are just being the people that they want to be. (300 words)

Music

When you ask a teen if they can live without an ipod in school, the answer will most likely be no. In our generation, music plays a big factor in everyday life. Mp3s Became ipod touch screens and every kid wanted to have one to listen to music on. What kind of music do kids listen to? Well the thing is, is that you cannot really point out a certain kind of music for different types of people. Some like country, some like rock, pop, rap, or maybe even reggae music. Everyone has their own opinion and that is what you have to deal with.

From a personal stand point, I love all types of music, but that does not apply to all people. Pop and rap have become very popular over the years but country made a big gain on popularity. Country music is what people listen to so that they can get things off of their minds, relax and just enjoy the music that they are listening to. Country is also a thing that you listen to when you are feeling down and need to be cheered up, or of you need an inspiration.

To some people, rock music is an old kind of music that your parents and grandparents would have listened to back in their day, but rock is still alive today, just not as popular. Parents, especially dads, are fond of rock music because that is what they grew up listening to just like we grew up listening to pop and rap. Rock is a good kind of music to listen to when you want to dance, or just have a good time.

Pop and rap are very popular today. Sure rap sounds like a big mess of words that are being said, but in my opinion, rap music has the most meaningful lyrics depending on what artist you are listening to. Pop is popular because that is the most common type of music to sing, and people enjoy the way it sounds.

Reggae music has never been very popular, but some people do enjoy it. Reggae music has a certain “chill” factor about it. It just makes you want to sit and relax, and maybe even sing along. It has been sung on shows like American Idol and that was entertaining to watch, but still isn’t sung enough to remotely come close to other types of music. Sometimes I think that because it seems foreign, like it belongs in a different country because it sounds different, but it is still enjoyable. (430 words)

Beckham

Have you ever dreamed about meeting that certain famous person that you really want to meet? How about the person that you look up to the most? For many individuals it is a sports player like David Beckham. David Beckham is a role model for many soccer players. He is successful, fast, and he can shoot the ball any way that he wants and put such great spin on his shots and crosses. He is also known by many people, not just soccer players. A lot of women think he is very attractive as well. That is why people look up to him. They see passion, popularity, and Bravery.

David Beckham currently plays for the LA Galaxy soccer team. It is a professional soccer team that is called the MLS. David is very successful with what he does for that team and many come out to watch the team play because he is on that team and he is a fun player to watch. Meeting him would be an honor.

As I said before, not just soccer players know who David is. He has been on many magazine covers, he has done photo shoots, and he is on television all of the time. Soccer is a popular sport as well, and that is another reason why many people know of him. Soccer is not a simple sport, so people who watch him play are amazed at how good he is at the game, and how well he understands the game.

Beckham has faced many injuries, and that is why he is a brave player. Some players stop playing soccer because they get too many injuries, but not David, he is still going strong and he will keep playing for awhile.  When Beckham Retires, a lot of people will miss watching him, but that is just how age works, after you get too old, you just do not function as well as you used to so you cannot keep up with everyone else. (334 words)

 

Health

Ever wonder why you are gaining weight? Try looking at what you are eating, is it fast food? Fast food is very unhealthy, and it will continue to get more and more unhealthy. Even though it tastes amazing, you should try eating fruits, vegetables, and protein. If you play a sport, it is very important that you have a good diet because if you do not, then you will not perform as well as you are able to perform.

Some people eat super healthy, and others do not. Most of the people that eat healthier are older because when they grew up, they had better food than we do today. Teens on the other hand, have grown up in a world of fast food and it really is not healthy at all.

The movie Super Size Me is a great example of how unhealthy fast food is because he only ate fast food for a couple of months, nothing else, and he gained a ton of weight because of all of the salt, sugar, and all of the other ingredients that are in the fries, burgers, shakes, and nuggets.

Eating healthy would be a good idea because it would help you in the long run. For example, if you eat healthier, you have a better chance of living longer because your heart and all of your other body parts will work better then if you eat fast food.

Also, drinking alcohol and smoking are very unhealthy. Drinking and smoking affects your lungs, and your heart, as well as your liver and other things throughout your body. If you look at a heart that has been affected by smoking, and compare it to a heart where it has not been affected by smoking, the one that has not been exposed to smoking looks a lot healthier because it is. (310 words)

Curly vs. Straight Hair

If you have curly hair, have you ever wondered what it would be like to have naturally curly hair? Or straight hair and wondered about curly? A lot of people think that straight is easier to take care of but curly would be fun to have. The truth is, is that they are both difficult to deal with because curly hair gets in the way and is hard to brush, but straight hair is hard to do for dances because it is hard to make wavy or curly, and it never is perfectly straight so you may to need to run over it with a straighten iron.

From a personal view, I have straight hair and sometimes I think it would be nice to have curly hair because I really like the look of it but I cannot curl it very well because it will last about ten minutes before it turns straight again. Other times, I love having straight hair because it never gets frizzy and it does not get in your face.

For school dances like homecoming or WPA it would be helpful to have curly hair because it would not be hard to do. Straight hair on the other hand, would be difficult to do any other way besides straight and that could be a problem for some people. Straight hair is the most common way to do your hair these days so that is why a lot of people want to curl their hair or make it wavy for special events.

As you can see, curly and straight hair both have positive and negative things about them. Having either of them would be fun at times, but also frustrating at times, that is why you should be happy with what you have because they both look good and they are both cool to have. (310 words.)

We Are Family

When you are feeling sad, and don’t have anyone to go to, who is always there? Family. Family is the people in your life that will never judge you, never give up on you, and will always love you. Although you may fight with your parents and siblings, they always seem to forgive and forget. Families also support each other. For example, when you have some kind of sports games, they are always there at every game because they are proud to watch you and they want to support you.

After you get in a fight with your friend, or you do something stupid like crash your car, your parents and siblings are the first people you want to talk to about it with. Sometimes there are things that you do not want to talk about with your family, and that is normal. Some things are just meant to be kept to yourself.

All families at some point in life have gotten into a fight with each other. Even if it was big or small, it always seems to fade away after awhile because if you stay mad at each other then who are you going to talk to about things? Who is going to go to your games? Who will drive you places if you need a ride? That is the reason why family is so important.

When you are playing a sport, most people love to have fans there to cheer and support your team. That is why family is an awesome thing to have at a game, especially if it is for a big title like state, regional, or national tournaments. For example, my brothers are in college and I barely get to see them so when they show up at my games, I get so excited and want to play well to show them how much I have improved!

As you can see, without family, you would have a part of yourself that is missing. Family is the reason why you are alive, and the reason why you are the way you are today. Holidays are time to spend with family, and you should enjoy every minutes of it.

Cell Phones

Have you ever felt like you are missing something when you do not have your phone? Cell phones have become apart of teen’s everyday life. Between texting, facebook, twitter, and instagram, kids spend more time on their phones rather than homework, sports, and hanging out with friends combined. Cell phones are not bad, but they definitely have something to do with getting bad grades. If you took away a kid’s phone for a week, they would probably get better grades than they usually do.

Without phones, it would be very difficult to communicate because they are the most common way to communicate in today’s world. If teens did not have them, they would not be as social as they are because you would not talk to as many people because it would be difficult.  Life without phones would be like a trampoline without anyone to jump on it.

When cell phones were invented, they were used for talking and not texting. Then, texting was invented and people still talked on the phone quite a bit and texted a little. After awhile, texting got more popular as the days went on. It seemed like everyone texted and nobody called. Now, most people text but a phone call here and there is nice because you can get a tiny break from texting.

After texting, came internet. At first only a select few people had internet because of the type of phone they had, but now, almost all phone have internet. It started out as facebook, that was the thing that everyone had and that everyone was on every single day. After facebook came twitter. Twitter was like facebook but it mainly focused on statuses rather then picture and statuses. Instagram was the next big thing. Instagram was also like faceboo, but only the pictures and no statuses. I do not get why twitter and instagram are the most popular now because if  you put both of them together, you pretty much get facebook.

Some think that phones are a big part of why some kids get bad grades, and I agree. There is a large amount of time spent on a phone everyday. School does not allow them because of that reason, but kids still use them a lot. For example, they hide their phones under their desks so that the teacher could not see that they were texting. After the teachers caught on to that, kids tried to text when the teacher was not looking, and that still works sometimes today.
 

Give Me a Break

Most families enjoy holidays, I mean, who doesn’t?  There is no school, no work, and you can sleep in as long as you want. Sometimes teachers give out homework that you have to do and that is a killer. It is very hard to push yourself to get the work done on break because you are more focused on family, friends, and just having a little break from stress. Also, holidays re a time to feast, listen to music, watch movies, and sleep. Sleeping is the best part of break for teens because all teens do during the day is school, sports, homework, and all of the other extracurricular activities that they do.

Students absolutely love break especially if they have no homework, because if they do have homework, then it is always in the back of their heads and they just cannot stop thinking about it. On the other hand, others might forget about homework and just not do it and they could make their grades bad. During the school year, it is hard to get enough sleep. Some get up at 5 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 7 o’clock but do not even finish their homework because they had a practice that night or just had too much of it.

To help you concentrate, try locking yourself in your room for a couple of hours with no television, cell phone, or computer unless you need it for school. The sooner you get done with your school things, the better.

Break is not all about concentrating on homework though. It is about enjoying the time you have off. Family and friends are the main focus for break. Some of the best memories come from spending time with friends and family and you do not want to miss out on that! Memories such as Snuggling up by a fire and watching a movie, opening presents, telling jokes, and laughing at nothing are all memories that could be shared between you and your loved ones. Also, it is the best feeling in the world when you see your older siblings walk threw the door when they come home from college (if you have older siblings).

There are many reasons to not give out any homework and there are only a few that were mentioned. People are busy during holidays, and that is what teachers need to understand. If you did give out something to do over break, half of the students would probably forget to do it anyway. Kids get distracted easily, can you blame them? It is a holiday, and holidays are meant for fun.

Hungry As a Hippo

The worst feeling is being hungry. Everything on your mind completely goes away, and that is the only thing you can think about. Going to games, going to practice, and doing homework are all times that I get hungry. Although you may feel like you are going to starve to death, the best feeling is coming home, going to the fridge, and pulling out something to eat. At that point, it does not really matter what you are eating because you are just too hungry to think about what you want to eat.

Going on road trips to go see sports or family is always fun, but when you start to crave food, the road trip can turn to a horrible time. A fast thing to do would be go to a fast food restaurant. When your parents are in a hurry, and they want to get there fast, they will not even stop to go to the bathroom let alone for food.

Fridges are one of the best things to come home to, especially with a ton of food inside. The only thing that would stop you from going right to the fridge would be going to the bathroom.

As you can see, being hungry is not a good thing, because that can be the only thing that you are concentrating on. In school, you might even do badly on a test because you are hungry. That is why you should always come prepared and bring your own food to places.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Don’t you just love fall? The leaves are changing colors, it is getting colder, it is the best whether for wearing sweatshirts, Halloween is coming soon, and all of your friends are having bonfires. Although summer is usually people’s favorite season, it is nice to have a break from all of the heat and sun, but when winter comes, that is a different story. It is breezy and freezing. Fall is a great time to just pick a night and watch movies and snuggled up in a blanket. Fall is also the time that football season starts and that excites many individuals.

When the leaves change color, it is very beautiful to watch. Green, yellow, red, orange, and brown, theses are the true colors of fall. Although the leaves do fall off of the tree eventually, just think, next year, they will change again, and I will watch every second of it. Sometimes, the leaves get messy when they fall because the get all over the backyard. The best way to clean them up is to grab your brothers and sisters and go clean them up together.

As the whether gets colder, it is hard to stay outside for a long time without getting too cold. If you pile on the sweatshirts then that might help a bit. Sweatshirts are warm, cozy, and very easy to drift away, and sleep in. Also, when you go trick or treating, sweatshirts are nice to wear underneath your costume because when you go door to door, you are outside the whole time and it will get chilly.

Bonfires are the things that teenagers always have in the fall. They are fun because you get to spend time with friends, get bundled up in blankets, and be by a nice warm fire. Although bonfires are fun, if it gets too cold, then people will complain and your bonfire could be ruined, unless you bring out something hot like hot chocolate or apple cider.

The best kinds of nights are when you just sit at home, and enjoy the peace by watching movies. As you watch movies, get a bunch of blankets so that you feel safe, cozy, and warm so that you will have no interruptions during the movie that you are watching. Maybe instead of a movie you watch football. Football is a very intense game, but it is always fun to watch, especially with friends and family.

Change Is a Good Thing

Some think school is a great thing. Others do not. The truth is, is that school is not the greatest place, but it is a place to learn and to make friends along the way.  Yet, sometimes it just is not fun. That is why many people would like to change things in school. For example, at lunch, the line is so long that you can barely get your food with enough time left to eat it. Also, the foyer is the most crowded spot in the whole building, especially during passing time. Another thing would be that if you do not get to the bathroom quickly, you may not be able to go during passing time without being late for class.

There are hundreds of students in a high school at one time, which is why they split lunch up into four different times, a lunch, b lunch, c lunch, and d lunch. Most students enjoy a lunch the most because you can get your food faster. Although you can get your food faster, it is still crowded and if everyone ran to the cafeteria, then it would be a challenge to get your food fast no matter how close your classroom is. Even though there are six different food stations, it seems like everyone wants the same thing so one or two of the lines and super long.

The foyer is a popular place. Students go there because their classes are all the way on the other side of the building but they do not want to walk all the way around so they take the shortcut. You may think that it is a shortcut but in reality, it is probably the slowest way you can go because students walk at the speed of a snail. The foyer is also where seniors like to go because of the senior bench and that makes it even more crowded. Sometimes, students push the person in front of them so that they can move faster but it is not the person in front you that is the one making the people go so slowly.

Passing time is hard enough just to get to your class on time, but when you have to go to the bathroom, that is a whole different story. The line at the bathroom can go outside of the door. If you want to go before class you should ask your teacher first so that you do not get counted tardy or absent. Also, if you are a girl, a lot of times they like to check how they look in the mirror before class and that can cause some people to get angry because they have to wait to wash their hands. It would help if students used bathrooms for going to the bathroom so that some people would not get confused and frustrated.

As I said before, high school is not a perfect place, but it is the little things that help. Such as, Making more lines or getting better food at lunch so that people do not all go to one or two lines, making more back ways for people to walk in so that the foyer is not as busy, and lastly, having more bathrooms or more passing time so that people are not in a rush to go to the restroom.

Pride

The crowds are loud, hundreds of people, cheering for the pride of their high school graduating class. All of the students are dressed up in green and gold and are ready to win the pep assembly. Pep assemblies are always fun because they are full of little games and competitions. Some students do not think pep assemblies are a big deal, but others go all out and paint their faces or dress crazy because it means a lot to them. The ones who usually take it the most serious are the freshman and the seniors because it is the freshman’s first year and the senior’s last year.

To get the full feeling of the crowd, just imagine that someone is screaming at the top of their lungs, and multiply how loud it is by fifteen hundred! Some of the competitions that they do are most green and gold, the best air guitar, the most colorful hair, and the class that can sing a song and dance the best. People get so into what they are doing, sometimes they do not even realize what they are doing. For example, the freshman class had someone go up on the court to do the air guitar. He did not even look like he was playing guitar he just looked like he was dancing awkwardly!

As you can see, people get really excited for pep assemblies but they are really fun. Although you may not win, just the fact that you tried is what really matters because it takes a lot of guts to do that. I hope students continue to have fun like all of the people have in the past!

If Today Was My Last Day

If you could do one thing before you die, what would it be? That is the question I ask myself a lot. There are many things that I would want to do, not just one. I want an adventure, something dangerous but fun, such as skydiving or going to Vegas to ride on the scary ride on top of a building. I would also like to meet my favorite professional soccer player, Didier Drogba. Another thing would be for my whole family to go on vacation together, somewhere far away where we could all have fun.

The fact that I am extremely afraid of heights could be a big issue if I want to go skydiving or anything that is high in the sky. Although I would be freaking out, after I did it, I would be so happy that I accomplished something like that because I can barely go on a roller coaster without screaming my head off. Also, I have never even been on a plane so I would not be used to being so far up in the air!

Meeting Didier Drogba would be the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have looked up to him ever since I was four years old. Drogba plays for a team called FC Chelsea but he is originally from Ivory Coast. Although he does not play in the same position that I do, I still try to learn some moves from him when I watch him so that I can try them in games.

My parents have gone on many vacations but have not taken the kids because we have a big family so it would be too expensive to take all of us. My mom and dad have gone to places like Jamaica, Hawaii, and Mexico. I hope that someday, they will take our whole family there just for a week so that we can all have fun and spend time with each other because we do not get to see each other very often.

The Truth About Soccer

When most people think of the sport soccer, they think about running, shooting, passing, and dribbling, but what some do not realize is that there is a lot more to soccer than that. Soccer players have a lot of pressure on them and sometimes they cannot handle it. If you make one mistake you suddenly become a bad player. That is the reason why players work so hard just to achieve the tiniest little goal. To be successful, you have to eat, sleep, and breathe soccer.

Running is not very important in the early stages of sports. Later on, you find out that if you are not in shape, you will not be able to keep up with any of the individuals that you are in the game with. One of the main keys to soccer is running, but what people do not realize, is that it is a lot more than just running. It is sprinting, turning, and knowing when the right time is to make a run. Like coaches always say, “Timing is everything.” If you are early on a run, you could be called offside, but if you are too late, then the ball will most likely go to the opposing team, rather than your teammate.

Shooting is an important element in soccer of all ages. If you do not know how to shoot on frame, then you will never be able to score. Even if you do get the ball on frame, it is not guaranteed that you will score because the keeper can stretch and catch the ball. When you shoot, most people try to aim for any of the four corners because that is the hardest spot for the goal keeper to reach. Corners are not easy to hit because if you are a little off, you will not even get the shot on goal, or the keeper might catch it.

Passing is a good thing to be good at, especially when you get older because defenders will be harder to get by. There are a couple different ways to pass the soccer ball. One of them is a threw ball or threw pass. A threw ball is when one of your teammates runs on the outside of the defender, and you split the two defenders and then your forward is close to scoring. Another type of pass is a give-and-go. A give-and-go is when your teammate passes you the ball and you pass it back to them as they run forward. The last type of pass is a cross. A cross is when you kick the ball up in the air to a player on the opposite side of the field. Crosses are very helpful because it make the keeper confused and she can either go for the ball, or stay in the goal, but she cannot do both.

Dribbling is the basic thing in soccer. Right as you start soccer, that is the thing that you learn. Dribbling is important because you need to be able to carry the ball when your teammate is under pressure by a player on the opposite team. Dribbling is also important because when you know how to dribble, you can dribble past your opponent with speed and cross the ball so your team can score.

As you can see, soccer is not simple. It has things that branch off of running, shooting, passing, and dribbling. So the next time you see a game, just remember, it is not easy to do what they are doing because it is more complicated then you think.

Changing Cultures

In the early 1900s, our culture was very different. Back then, sports were just being invented. Baseball was the most popular. Many people liked to play piano and ragtime also became very popular. Communication was very hard because were not many ways to do it. Cell phones did not exist. Movies became popular as well because they began to use special effects. For example, being able to fly, or being half human and half animal. Some movies that they used to watch were in black and white and more of comedy rather than action. Television shows were the same was as movies only not as long. Ma and Pa Kettle used to be pretty popular. Woman’s rights were dramatically different because women were not even allowed to vote. Equality was an issue as well. Also, people used to read newspapers everyday.

In today’s culture, there are all kinds of sports. The most popular sports are soccer, football, and basketball. For soccer and basketball, uniforms are a lot different because they are longer than they used to be. Fans for sports are very dedicated to these sports and even dress up in the colors of the teams and sometimes even paint their faces! There are also a lot more teams than there used to be because sports have gotten more popular.

Music was very popular in the early 1900s as well as today. But, the type of music is not the same. Today, we listen to people like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber. Those artists all sing pop. Back in the day, they listened to mostly ragtime. Ragtime is piano, but at a faster tempo. Also, we now have Ipods to listen to songs.

In the current year, cell phones are essential. It is the way that most people communicate. Adults text for business, and teens use phones just to talk to their friends, and get on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you asked a random person “what would you do without a phone?” most likely, their answer would be something like “it would be very hard because I could not communicate or talk to people as easily.” Also, Ipods, Ipads, xbox, and email are now ways to communicate as well.

Today’s culture involves movies. The 1900s were when movies gained the most popularity, but, were still in black and white. Now, movies have color and you can pretty much do anything because of the effects. Although comedy was the popular thing back then, people today still enjoy comedy, but also action, mystery, drama, romance, and horror have become things that people like to watch or see in a movie theatre. For example, Step Brothers, The Notebook, Harry Potter, and The Strangers are all very well known movies.

Ma and Pa Kettle was a popular television show back then, but now, we do not watch shows like that. Most of the television shows are reality shows, but are they really anything like reality? Jersey Shore, House, Criminal Minds, Teen Mom, and True life are all examples. Jersey Shore is about partying and getting drunk. Is that really what they are putting in kid’s minds? Some kids do that kind of stuff now, and they never used to do it this much.

Woman’s rights were not very good in the early 1900s. Women were not even allowed to vote. Also, men and women were not treated the same way. Now, women are allowed to vote. Most people do not have a problem with it. Women are also treated better. Women can play all of the sports that men can play but in their own league. Women can even do weight lifting!

Today, magazines are very popular. People read magazines instead of reading the newspaper. The newspaper was where you got all of the information about what is going on around you. Magazines are like the information, gossip, and fashion and that is why people read them. They are also helpful for keeping up with celebrities and to see which person is in a relationship with another person.

As you can see, the culture has changed very much since the early 1900s. New things have benn invented, people start liking other things, and some people get bored with the same old things. Although our culture has changed, there will always be some similarities, such as sports and how popular they are.

The Life of a Dog

A dog has a very strong relationship with its owner.  Nothing can break that bond.  It starts when a dog is a puppy.  The first thing they see when they are born is their mother, but they do not always stay close to their mother.  That is why a puppy needs a loving owner.

When you first adopt a dog you think taking care of them is easy.  But, what people do not realize is that they need a lot of care, exercise, and depending on how big the dog is, a large amount of food.  Dogs also need to be groomed because some dogs shed very much.  Some people even clip their nails!

When you are feeling sad or alone, a puppy can always brighten your day.  Even the littlest lick on your face can make you happy.  No one can describe why we feel that way.  It is like when you are little.  Nobody knows what goes through your mind, or when you laugh at things that weren't even meant to be funny.

Having a dog as a pet also helps you because it makes you work out with them and it keeps you healthy.  It is also helpful because if you are in danger, they can rescue you.  On the other hand, untrained dogs can be dangerous because they could bite you.  Also, if you are not watching where you are walking, you could trip over them!

As you can see, having a dog can be a good or bad thing. Getting dogs when they are puppies helps them be better mannered. Although it takes work to have a dog, most people enjoy it. Dogs truly are a man’s best friend.

Who I Am

I am the wind in the tress, the light in your window, and the stars in the sky. You may not always see or notice me, but I am there. As the years go by, I wonder if I will ever get my chance to shine. Patience is my best friend; I rely and depend on it. I am the underdog and I am confident. Many try to bring me down, but I am strong enough to turn the other way.

I am a kick, a run, a pass, a dribble, and a shoot kind of player. The more you run, the better. The weekends are filled with trips, soccer, and more soccer. And I am the type of person who loves every second of it. I work hard to be the way I am, and I am proud of who I am.

I am a here, I am a there, I am an everywhere. I am a Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Minnesota kind of traveler. The door opens, the door shuts and I am finally home. But, the journey is not over yet! I am a chef, as long as you like mac n' cheese. I am the go. I am the stop. I am a hip and a hop. But, when I go to bed, that is a whole different slop. I am grumpy. I am a “don't talk to me” kind of sleeper. But, when I close my eyes, I am in my own world.