To say I've been stressed lately would be the understatement of the century. The end of the quarter means extra tests, extra projects, extra homework...extra stress. Sometimes, it seems like it's never going to end, and I wonder why I ever joined Academy, or how I manage to stay alive through all this.
Recently, when I was having these overly negative thoughts for about the thousandth time, I remembered a saying my mom used to tell me. "This too shall pass." It sounds simple and obvious, but, as I reflected on the phrase, I found deeper significance. Isn't it true that almost every cause of stress eventually ends? For me, marching band just finished, which is a huge relief. After this week, the TED project will be over. That's another thing to cross off my list. Of course, more stresses will appear. Pessimists may call it, a "vicious circle". However, if you come to accept that stress is unavoidable and emphasize the fact that every worry, every burden, will eventually dissolve, life seems much more bearable.
I'll admit that at times I can be more of a "glass-half-empty" kind of person, so I'm going to try to remember this saying every time I feel overwhelmed with demands. For instance, tonight I have about ten different things I have to do...but now I get to cross my English blog off the list!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Metacognition: TED Presentation Project
I'll admit, when I first heard about the TED project, I was less than thrilled. I remembered the confusion associated with the project last year, and I expected the same to be true this time around. Whatever little excitement I had was dimmed further when I found out my topic, "Building a Commodities Market in Ethiopia", which wasn't any of my three choices. My video focused on the economy, something I've never understood or had an interest in. The other members of my group only made things more complicated, since it seemed some of them had no intention of committing to the project.
Of course, I was disappointed in myself. I wanted to care about the project beyond my own grade. I wanted to find the deeper meaning, but I was just so hung up on having a topic that didn't even slightly interest me or seem relevant to my life. As I struggled to focus on doing the best I could to prepare for the presentation, I realized how ridiculous I was being. School isn't all about doing the things you like to do, it's about learning, and in life, you don't always get what you want. So, now I'm just going to do the best I can to do my part and give a good presentation. Maybe, somewhere along the way, I'll even learn to appreciate the subject matter.
Of course, I was disappointed in myself. I wanted to care about the project beyond my own grade. I wanted to find the deeper meaning, but I was just so hung up on having a topic that didn't even slightly interest me or seem relevant to my life. As I struggled to focus on doing the best I could to prepare for the presentation, I realized how ridiculous I was being. School isn't all about doing the things you like to do, it's about learning, and in life, you don't always get what you want. So, now I'm just going to do the best I can to do my part and give a good presentation. Maybe, somewhere along the way, I'll even learn to appreciate the subject matter.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blogging Around
This was my response to Kyle's 360 degrees post about the ethics behind weaponry. He brought up some questions to think about such as how the world would be if weapons were never invented, and whether there is a way to control the use of weapons today.
Kyle-
Your blog post was very interesting. I've seen Iron Man too, and although I can't honestly say I made the connections you did, you've really made me think about the moral questions behind weapons. I personally think we'd be much better off if weapons were never invented, or at least not so advanced. Of course, the ideal situation would be that nobody would have the desire to harm others...but, we all know this is ridiculous. The fact is, weapons do exist, and they have advanced rapidly and will continue to advance, causing more and more destruction. The sad thing is that there is no simple solution. Otherwise, it would have been discovered. People are going to do what they want to do with whatever's available to them, and if nuclear bombs are available, then there's no way of getting them out of the wrong hands. It's just going to happen.
-Kate
My next response was to Emily's 360 degrees post on different thoughts she had about the academy and how it is perceived. It really caught my attention because I had been wondering a lot of the same things!
Emily-
Great point! I wonder about this all the time too! So many people have wrong stereotypes about the academy...I've had people say things as ridiculous as, "Academy kids shouldn't be able to run for class board because they're at South for half the day." Not sure how that relates, but anyways, the point is that people just plain don't understand what the program is! I've also met people for the first time who were like, "I've never seen you before." Jokingly, I reply, "I'm in Academy." The typical response is, "Well that explains it." Seriously, it's almost like we're invisible to the rest of the student body! It makes me angry sometimes, because we're not all the super-intelligent, socially awkward people that others assume we are.
But anyways, great job! You really summarized your thoughts well, and definitely thought about the topic from "360 degrees" :]
-Kate
Kyle-
Your blog post was very interesting. I've seen Iron Man too, and although I can't honestly say I made the connections you did, you've really made me think about the moral questions behind weapons. I personally think we'd be much better off if weapons were never invented, or at least not so advanced. Of course, the ideal situation would be that nobody would have the desire to harm others...but, we all know this is ridiculous. The fact is, weapons do exist, and they have advanced rapidly and will continue to advance, causing more and more destruction. The sad thing is that there is no simple solution. Otherwise, it would have been discovered. People are going to do what they want to do with whatever's available to them, and if nuclear bombs are available, then there's no way of getting them out of the wrong hands. It's just going to happen.
-Kate
My next response was to Emily's 360 degrees post on different thoughts she had about the academy and how it is perceived. It really caught my attention because I had been wondering a lot of the same things!
Emily-
Great point! I wonder about this all the time too! So many people have wrong stereotypes about the academy...I've had people say things as ridiculous as, "Academy kids shouldn't be able to run for class board because they're at South for half the day." Not sure how that relates, but anyways, the point is that people just plain don't understand what the program is! I've also met people for the first time who were like, "I've never seen you before." Jokingly, I reply, "I'm in Academy." The typical response is, "Well that explains it." Seriously, it's almost like we're invisible to the rest of the student body! It makes me angry sometimes, because we're not all the super-intelligent, socially awkward people that others assume we are.
But anyways, great job! You really summarized your thoughts well, and definitely thought about the topic from "360 degrees" :]
-Kate
Saturday, October 4, 2008
360 Degrees: Soulmates
You know that theory that for each person, a perfectly compatible person exists? Someone who understands you, who knows what makes you happy, who loves you despite all your faults...a soulmate, if you will. Well, most of my life, I've been a firm believer. I don't know if it's because it actually makes sense to me, or simply because I want to believe that some day I will find that "perfect" person. As I've thought more about the possibility, though, I've become more and more skeptical. Actually, I know a lot of people who question this belief, and with good reason.
Think about all the marriages that end in divorce. I don't know any exact statistics, but I'm fully aware of how prevalent divorce is in today's society. Considering how many people think they're in love at some point (whether they actually are or not), and then later fall out of love, or realize they never were in love to begin with, I just don't know if the whole soulmate theory fits.
On top of that, there are thousands of nice, attractive people who never get married. I guess it's possible that marriage just isn't something they're interested in, but if they really found that ideal person to spend the rest of their life with, wouldn't they want to?
Another fear I have is that I might one day find someone I think is my soulmate, and they won't feel the same way. How frustrating would it be to meet a person who possesses all the qualities you've ever wanted, and it seems like you're destined to be together, until you find out that they're in a serious relationship, or just not interested?
Or, what if that "perfect" person exists somewhere, but your paths never cross? What if the person lives in China, or Italy, or Mars? Ok, maybe not Mars, but really, isn't it too much to expect if you truly think that you'll just happen to run into your soulmate randomly on the street?
There's a song I know by Natasha Bedingfield that's entitled "Soulmate". The lyrics of the chorus go, Who doesn't long for someone to hold, who knows how to love you without being told? Somebody tell me why I'm on my own, if there's a soulmate for everyone. This song really touched me when I first heard it. It's filled with emotion, a desperate cry of loneliness, and I can't help but wonder, if a beautiful, famous person like Natasha Bedingfield has these concerns, what are the odds of an ordinary person finding their "other half"?
Another song that touches on the soulmate topic is "Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback. The chorus goes, 'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there. 'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares. Someone to love with my life in their hands. There's gotta be somebody for me like that. 'Cause nobody wants to go it on their own, and everyone wants to know they're not alone. Somebody else that feels the same somewhere. There's gotta be somebody for me like that.
These songs make me think that I'm not the only one who wonders about this, or wants to believe that their soulmate is out there somewhere. Though there are countless reasons not to agree with the idea, I try to focus on the positive. For one, there are so many happy, lasting relationships. I look at my parents, and many of my friends' parents, and it amazes me how these couples have been able to stay together for so long. Personally, I think it would be difficult to do so if they weren't made for each other.
I also look at the ways married couples first met...at work, at parties, through mutual friends. Isn't it comforting to believe that God (or maybe fate, if you're not religious) determines the course of these events, leading you to your true love? The Rascal Flatts song "Bless the Broken Road" goes, Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars, pointing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true: that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.
Maybe that's a naive approach. Maybe it's stupid to think that I'll stumble upon that "perfect person" one day. Maybe. But I hold onto that belief.
Think about all the marriages that end in divorce. I don't know any exact statistics, but I'm fully aware of how prevalent divorce is in today's society. Considering how many people think they're in love at some point (whether they actually are or not), and then later fall out of love, or realize they never were in love to begin with, I just don't know if the whole soulmate theory fits.
On top of that, there are thousands of nice, attractive people who never get married. I guess it's possible that marriage just isn't something they're interested in, but if they really found that ideal person to spend the rest of their life with, wouldn't they want to?
Another fear I have is that I might one day find someone I think is my soulmate, and they won't feel the same way. How frustrating would it be to meet a person who possesses all the qualities you've ever wanted, and it seems like you're destined to be together, until you find out that they're in a serious relationship, or just not interested?
Or, what if that "perfect" person exists somewhere, but your paths never cross? What if the person lives in China, or Italy, or Mars? Ok, maybe not Mars, but really, isn't it too much to expect if you truly think that you'll just happen to run into your soulmate randomly on the street?
There's a song I know by Natasha Bedingfield that's entitled "Soulmate". The lyrics of the chorus go, Who doesn't long for someone to hold, who knows how to love you without being told? Somebody tell me why I'm on my own, if there's a soulmate for everyone. This song really touched me when I first heard it. It's filled with emotion, a desperate cry of loneliness, and I can't help but wonder, if a beautiful, famous person like Natasha Bedingfield has these concerns, what are the odds of an ordinary person finding their "other half"?
Another song that touches on the soulmate topic is "Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback. The chorus goes, 'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there. 'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares. Someone to love with my life in their hands. There's gotta be somebody for me like that. 'Cause nobody wants to go it on their own, and everyone wants to know they're not alone. Somebody else that feels the same somewhere. There's gotta be somebody for me like that.
These songs make me think that I'm not the only one who wonders about this, or wants to believe that their soulmate is out there somewhere. Though there are countless reasons not to agree with the idea, I try to focus on the positive. For one, there are so many happy, lasting relationships. I look at my parents, and many of my friends' parents, and it amazes me how these couples have been able to stay together for so long. Personally, I think it would be difficult to do so if they weren't made for each other.
I also look at the ways married couples first met...at work, at parties, through mutual friends. Isn't it comforting to believe that God (or maybe fate, if you're not religious) determines the course of these events, leading you to your true love? The Rascal Flatts song "Bless the Broken Road" goes, Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars, pointing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true: that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.
Maybe that's a naive approach. Maybe it's stupid to think that I'll stumble upon that "perfect person" one day. Maybe. But I hold onto that belief.
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