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EDHS Contemporary World Affairs -> Discussion Topics, Week 8 -> This You Believe - a FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!
Post Info TOPIC: This You Believe - a FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!
MrsCavalluzzi


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This You Believe - a FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!
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We've talked a lot this semester about ideas and opinions.  Hopefully you, as a thinking evaluating analyzing Smarty McSmartypants are starting to develop a core philosophy/world view that is the basis for all of said opinions.  As a final topping/culimnation of the semester, please participate in an international project devoted to exploration of those core views:

Submit your This I Believe as a reply to this thread so that your classmates can read it ON OR BEFORE THURSDAY, JUNE 10! 

Consider also submitting it to the actual This I Believe project (directions for how to do so can be readily found at www.thisibelieve.org)

DIRECTIONS:

This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 70,000 of these essays have been collected by the This I Believe project (and are available online at the above website if you want to look at some samples!), and yours will be the newest 35!

The task is simple: Write an essay explaining to me exactly who you think you are (a princess, a jock, a basket case, a brain, a criminal...).  And by essay,  I mean essay, not a single word repeated hundreds of times :) (RIP John Hughes)!

breakfast-club-400a010907.jpg

This I Believe Essay-Writing Guidelines

We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting your own statement of personal belief. We understand how challenging this isit requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:

Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenchingit can even be funnybut it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.

Be brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words (you can use the "Word Count" feature in the Tools menu of Microsoft Word to check). Thats about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.

Name your belief: If you cant name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do believe, not what you dont believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial we. Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.

Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.

For this project, we are also guided by the original This I Believe series and the producers invitation to those who wrote essays in the 1950s. Their advice holds up well and we are abiding by it. Please consider it carefully in writing your piece.

In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent. We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. We are eager for your contribution.


The Original Invitation from This I Believe

This invites you to make a very great contribution: nothing less than a statement of your personal beliefs, of the values which rule your thought and action. Your essay should be about three minutes in length when read loud, written in a style as you yourself speak, and total no more than 500 words.

We know this is a tough job. What we want is so intimate that no one can write it for you. You must write it yourself, in the language most natural to you. We ask you to write in your own words and then record in your own voice. You may even find that it takes a request like this for you to reveal some of your own beliefs to yourself. If you set them down they may become of untold meaning to others.

We would like you to tell not only what you believe, but how you reached your beliefs, and if they have grown, what made them grow. This necessarily must be highly personal. That is what we anticipate and want.

It may help you in formulating your credo if we tell you also what we do not want. We do not want a sermon, religious or lay; we do not want editorializing or sectarianism or finger-pointing. We do not even want your views on the American way of life, or democracy or free enterprise. These are important but for another occasion. We want to know what you live by. And we want it in terms of I, not the editorial We.

Although this program is designed to express beliefs, it is not a religious program and is not concerned with any religious form whatever. Most of our guests express belief in a Supreme Being, and set forth the importance to them of that belief. However, that is your decision, since it is your belief which we solicit.

But we do ask you to confine yourself to affirmatives: This means refraining from saying what you do not believe. Your beliefs may well have grown in clarity to you by a process of elimination and rejection, but for our part, we must avoid negative statements lest we become a medium for the criticism of beliefs, which is the very opposite of our purpose.

We are sure the statement we ask from you can have wide and lasting influence. Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent. Your belief, simply and sincerely spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it. We are confident it will enrich them. May we have your contribution?

Adapted from the invitation sent to essayists featured in the original This I Believe series. Excerpted from This I Believe 2, copyright © 1954 by Help, Inc.

My Favorite TIB that I've heard:

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude

by Sarah Adams

May 16, 2005

Listen

 

Sarah Adams

Sarah Adams has held many jobs in her life, including telemarketer, factory worker, hotel clerk and flower shop cashier, but has never delivered pizzas. Raised in Wisconsin, Adams is now an English professor at Olympic Community College in Washington.

If I have one operating philosophy about life it is this: "Be cool to the pizza delivery dude; it's good luck." Four principles guide the pizza dude philosophy.

Principle 1: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in humility and forgiveness. I let him cut me off in traffic, let him safely hit the exit ramp from the left lane, let him forget to use his blinker without extending any of my digits out the window or towards my horn because there should be one moment in my harried life when a car may encroach or cut off or pass and I let it go. Sometimes when I have become so certain of my ownership of my lane, daring anyone to challenge me, the pizza dude speeds by me in his rusted Chevette. His pizza light atop his car glowing like a beacon reminds me to check myself as I flow through the world. After all, the dude is delivering pizza to young and old, families and singletons, gays and straights, blacks, whites and browns, rich and poor, vegetarians and meat lovers alike. As he journeys, I give safe passage, practice restraint, show courtesy, and contain my anger.

Principle 2: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in empathy. Let's face it: We've all taken jobs just to have a job because some money is better than none. I've held an assortment of these jobs and was grateful for the paycheck that meant I didn't have to share my Cheerios with my cats. In the big pizza wheel of life, sometimes you're the hot bubbly cheese and sometimes you're the burnt crust. It's good to remember the fickle spinning of that wheel.

Principle 3: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in honor and it reminds me to honor honest work. Let me tell you something about these dudes: They never took over a company and, as CEO, artificially inflated the value of the stock and cashed out their own shares, bringing the company to the brink of bankruptcy, resulting in 20,000 people losing their jobs while the CEO builds a home the size of a luxury hotel. Rather, the dudes sleep the sleep of the just.

Principle 4: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in equality. My measurement as a human being, my worth, is the pride I take in performing my job -- any job -- and the respect with which I treat others. I am the equal of the world not because of the car I drive, the size of the TV I own, the weight I can bench press, or the calculus equations I can solve. I am the equal to all I meet because of the kindness in my heart. And it all starts here -- with the pizza delivery dude.

Tip him well, friends and brethren, for that which you bestow freely and willingly will bring you all the happy luck that a grateful universe knows how to return.



-- Edited by MrsCavalluzzi on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 06:10:03 PM

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Lego, Cav (the Lego brand name was derived from the Danish expression "leg godt" - play well - and lego also translates in Latin as "I study" or "I put together"...really, one of the world's most perfect words!)

 
MeganTrent


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Do Not Be the Shadow
-Megan Trent

For those of you who know me, you know I am not the quiet type. I am very social, and interact with anyone who crosses my path. If I sit next to someone in class that I do not know I am not afraid to create a conversation. I love to make people feel comfortable around me.

Well as a child I was quite different. I did not have the confidence that I possess now. From 3rd to 7th grade I had a best friend who was very strong headed for a child. She bossed me around, and I let her. I did whatever she wanted to do, and went with her wherever she wanted to go. She always told me how to look and how not to look, how to act and how not to act, and who I can and can not be friends with.

Back then I did not know any better. I thought she was cool, so I wanted to be cool as well. She made me very insecure and I thought I needed her so I could fit in with everyone else. As a result I became her shadow. She was my leader and I was her follower.

But when I reached high school everything had changed. We went to separate schools and I joined the water polo team. I gained a new selection of friends who treated me completely different as if I were an equal. It was then that I realized how horrible my best friend had been treating me.

Over time I began to mature. I chose to hang out with my water polo friends more because I loved the way they treated me. I stood up for my self and my feelings, thought how I wanted to think, did what I wanted to do, and became friends with who I wanted to become friends with. After a while, my old best had realized I had changed, and we had grown a lot apart. Eventually our friendship was nonexistent.

Today I still believe that that best friend had made a huge influence of how I am today. I know how it feels to be put down and I know how if feels to feel lower than someone, which is why I am as open as I am today. I am open to all different kinds of friends. I do not believe in making people feel insecure, and diminishing their self confidence. I believe everyone should be respectful and let others be who they want to be.

 

I believe that no one should be the shadow of another person. Create your own life instead of following behind another's.

 



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WED


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This I Believe Essay

I believe that life is a precious thing and can be taken away from you at any given moment. That is also why I believe that we should live life without regrets. There shouldnt be any I could have done that or anything like that there should be I want to do that and I am going to do it. In 7th grade I was a shy person and hadnt stumbled upon my belief that life was a short gift yet and not living life to the fullest. I didnt do a lot of things that I wanted to do because I was scared to or didnt no what people would think, but that all changed after I had a life threatening experience. It was on Spring break and I had what is called a hemiplegic migraine. It has similar symptoms to a stroke and I couldnt talk right, I would say my head hurts hot instead of my head hurts a lot. I pointed at my ear and said my eye hurts but to me I was speaking normally and my parents couldnt understand me. My right side went numb and I was hospitalized. I couldnt remember my birthday but I knew how old I was and what school I went to. I said my birthday was in 3991 instead of 1991. While in the hospital I had what seemed like an endless amount of tests run on me because they couldnt figure out what had happened to me. They gave me a spinal tap, EKG, CAT scan, MRI, and a couple of others I cant really remember because it was all kind of a blur. For the MRI on my neck though the hospital kept it in the archives because I was almost completely still through the whole thing and gave them a picture with high resolution. They thought I might die the first night, but I pulled through and was able to make a full recover with no relapses. I havent had another migraine like that one since and in order to prevent it I have to eat three square meals a day get 8 to 10 hours of sleep and stay away from certain foods. From this point on I vowed not to have regrets and to do what I wanted no matter what people thought and to live life to the fullest. This is why I believe that life is a precious thing because it can be taken away from you in an instant like mine almost was.

Eric De Board


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Briana Anita Hudson


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I believe in love, in every form
by Briana Anita Hudson

        Growing up I was given everything you could possibly want. I nice home, every toy imaginable, gorgeous clothes but, the most important thing was my loving family. Through the knowledge my family has bestowed upon me throughout the years I have learned what love really means to me and where it is in my life. To me, love can be found in your family, day to day life, faith, and yourself. And to this day I try my hardest to keep these beliefs as my core values as well.
Every family wants to be that perfect 1950s style family that has no flaws, but its not possible. I was lucky enough to grow up with a large family that was very close knit. I was never acting out or begging for attention because to me, my life was perfect. As you age things get more complex and that image of a perfect family seems to be farther and farther away. But, if you are lucky enough to realize how to maintain a happy family all will be well. Love in a family is the thing that holds it together. Acceptance, honesty, and kindness are just parts of that oh so important love. If you can say to your family I love you and really mean it, I feel thats an accomplishment. Being a family is hard, but if you have love in your lives it makes it so much more worth while.
        When you are standing in line at the grocery store and a person with only one thing walks up behind you what do you do? Well, I let them go ahead of me. Little random acts of kindness are a key part of love in the day to day life. Whether its just giving someone a smile or letting a car pull in front of you. Being able to make someones day by doing something so small is amazing. I really dont see the benefit in cutting people off or giving dirty looks. Whats the point? Showing love for others is so much for fulfilling that only thinking about yourself. My best friend showed up to school one day with a bag of homemade brownies and candy and surprised me with it. It wasnt my birthday or even a holiday. She said it was just to show her love, which completely made my day so I try to do the same for others.
        Christianity is one of the most important things in my life. I am who I am because of my faith and what God has done for me. The love that I get from my religious beliefs is so fulfilling that it makes everything better. Even at all the hard points in my life just knowing I am not alone and that Jesus loves me has helped me so much. And using that faith to show your love to others through missionary work is definitely in my future when I become a Dental Hygienist. I know that I can help others and spread the love of God, that helped me so much, to others.
        One of the most important types of love is love for yourself. And not being vain though. It is impossible to have a strong, successful life without believing in yourself. Also, acceptance of yourself physically is so important. I never liked my natural hair or my freckles but throughout time I have learned to embrace it because I know this is how God made me. I am an individual and no one else is just like me. How can you love another if you dont love yourself?



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Mojo_Rising


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So Liberal its Conservative
Samaan Landon Hanania

I strongly believe in a world where everyone lived together and in peace. A world where there was no governemnt running us, no terrorists threatenning us, no money corrupting us, no logos representing us, no hate consuming us and no lust taunting us. A world where human beings lived together in harmony and lived everyday for the next day. A world where no science was thought of, no math was needed, and only one language so we can all be able to communicate together. I believe in a world where people shared each others posessions with one another and just traded items instead of having a currency system. In this world no technology would be needed, no religions would be created, no groups will be formed, just everyone together. It is funny because I like communism, but I hate big government. I don't think it should be run by the government but by the people and there shouldn't even be money involved just what people have to trade. In this world there would be no room for ambition, no money system could be allowed, weapons and drugs could not be a part and once again there will be no government which mans no leaders, rulers/dictators, etc. I do appreciate some socialists governments out there but not too many. I do not appreciate any communists ones at the time, though, because they aren't doing it right. You can not have a war-torn world like we do now and have a communists government because you aren't supose to be spending money on military but on citizens. If the world was destroyed and only a few people survived, me being one of them, I would start my vision of how humanity should live. I do not believe this could just happen. Something big would have to happen that would stop everything or restart everything and that is the ONLY way it could happen. People will think this belief is way too liberal and can never be done. I do not agree it can be done but only after a reset like I have said before and besides, this how life was before technology, science, math, ambition, money and religion. So if this was how life was before all this stuff, wouldn't that make it conservative? I strongly believe so.

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Samaan/Landon
AndreaMcHugh


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I Believe in God, the Ultimate Faith

Faith is the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, concept or thing. Believing in something or someone you cannot see, is faith. Everyone in the world today believes in a god or something that keeps them going from day to day. I am a Christian and by being one I have accepted God to live in my heart and to take over my life. I have been a Christian since I was in kindergarten and I dont know what I would do without God in my life. I believe that letting someone take over your life and letting them help you along the way, is the ultimate faith.
From the time I was born until now I have been raised up in a Christian home. My parents, although they arent prefect have shown me how adults should be acting and living their lives for Jesus Christ. They would take me to church every Sunday and we would go to church events. I was already being involved with the church from the time I was young. When I was in kindergarten I decided to let God into my life for good. I wanted to be changed and to live for something bigger than this world. Little did I know what God had in store for my life.
I started playing volleyball when I was in 8th grade for a club called Impact. Ever since then volleyball has been apart of my life. By playing volleyball, it has opened many doors and opportunities that I thought would never happen. This past summer I played in the world championships for the USA youth national team in Thailand. It was an amazing experience and not only did my love and passion for the game grow, but it also showed me how blessed and fortunate I am to live in the US. By believing and trusting in God I was able to be apart of the team and be apart of an experience that changed me life. I am also going to be playing volleyball in college next year at Notre Dame, which is a huge blessing for me and my family. I get my education paid for and I get the chance to be apart of the Notre Dame community.
God is present everywhere and can do amazing things in peoples lives. As anyone can see God has blessed me in so many ways, which deepens my faith and love for Him each and everyday. I think that faith is an important thing to have in life because it keeps people living their lives from day to day. I truly believe that God is the ultimate faith and I love Him with all my heart.
Andrea McHugh

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CBKSBA


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I belive in Magic.

I believe in magic. Everyday we all have some kind of stress or something to worry about, and there is one place I go to forget about it all. The dirt of a softball field is better than fairy dust. When I step out onto that field for practice or a game the problems I've had that day disappear, at least until I step off the dirt. The field is my safe haven, when I'm there I know what I'm suposed to do. I know how to play my game the best I can. I go there because I want to not because I have to. I play my hardest because I want to and no one has to make me. I play because I love the game. I play because when I play everything that was bothering me five minutes before is gone. The weight is lifted and I can just be me. The bat, a perfect extension of your arm. My glove fits my hand perfectly, like a second skin. The uniform is the symbol that you are part of team. To me it doesn't matter how good you play it just matters that you are there because you want to be, that you play because you love the game and you come to the field because it takes the stress away. Nothing feels better than going out and making an awesome catch or hitting the ball right over the fence. The field is magic. Sliding and diving covered in dirt I smile, the dirt on my skin is better than fairy dust. I am my happiest when I'm in that dugout with my girls cheering them on. On the field it doesn't matter what city I'm playing in or who I'm playing against, I am at home. I am at peace. When I am on the mound or in the batters box or even at first base, I am in the zone. Bring it, because I'm ready and I am having the time of my life. I believe in the magic of the game. I believe in the magic of being myself at home on that field. I believe in the magic of softball field. I BELIEVE in magic. 

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~By Katie.

Dayena


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Love Never Fails
Dayena Campbell


I believe that God is love and that love never fails. This is what drives me to wake up in the morning and put one foot in front of the other. This is what allows me to forgive, when forgiveness hasnt been asked, allows me to love the unlovable and causes my heart to break when people I love are in pain. It is the driving force for why I am alive and why my life has a purpose. I believe that if love never fails, then through love, all things are possible. This isnt a love that comes from the world, this is a love that comes from a person, who sacrificed their life on a cross and took all of our pain and disappointment on them self so that we may truly live. There is no other love then the love that God offers us. Without that, I am nothing. I live with the confidence that everyday, no matter if I get hurt, no matter if I am abandoned, disappointed, and let down, my life is not my own, I owe it entirely to the God who gave it to me. Like Alexander Hamilton said, Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything. I choose to stand for what is true and pure, and this to me is love. Love for a God who gave us life, who thinks we are worth it when no one else does, who carries us through the toughest of situations and through them makes us stronger, and who brings light into dark world.

I know I am not perfect and that I fail in so many ways when it comes to loving my neighbors, but I know that it is okay because I dont live for the world, I live for God and He has already forgiven me before I have even asked. I know that I will experience my times of doubt, that what I am living for is not worth it, that the pain and suffering of this world is too great but knowing right now, this very second, that I do have a purpose in this life, makes it alright. I will have to take those challenges one day at a time. No one is worthy of the love that God offers, but when we ask for it, He gives it to us anyway because He believes we are.


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Lauryn Owen


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 Life is so Valuable
Lauryn Owen

I believe that when you are born, you are put on this earth for a purpose. We each are made to do something great with our life. I believe that God has so many plans for us but lets us choose our own direction.

My whole life, i have not lost anyone that i loved. Until December 3rd 2009, my sister in law was pregnant with her second child (a girl) i was very excited because i already have 3 nephews, ages 8, 5, 1, it was her 24th week into her pregnancy and she went into labor. Everyone knew that it wasnt going to be good. But our faith in God really came out and prayed each night that this little baby girl that only weighed 1 pound would make it through this. we spent as much time as we could with her while she was in the neonatal. But as for me i couldnt go see her because i wasnt a parent or grandparent. I was very upset and didnt know how to deal with this. by the 3rd week since her birth, she was breathing on her own and kicking all of her tubes off of her. We were so excited and knew our prayers have been answered. By the 4th week Keyra's (the baby) mom got to hold her for the first time. But week 6 we found out tat one of her lungs collapsed and she was going to have surgery. As they were opening her up, the doctors found that all of her intestines were rioted. And the parents had to make a decision whether or not to let their little girl live in pain for the rest of her life or have her go to a better place. But before they could make their decision, our little keyra passed away. All i remember is how i never had the chance to meet her and let her know that her aunt loves her. All i remember is seeing her little casket and knowing that she was in a better place but i was mad at God. But Than i realized Our prayers were answered and she survived 6 weeks for her mom to meet her.

It was 1 month after that, that my grandma passed away with Cancer. and she was diagnosed 6 months before she passed. I have not lost anyone before these horrible times in my life.

but i know if i didnt believe in God than i wouldnt have made it through this hard time. I know God have me the strength to understand why life is so important to us all. He made me realized that life is so precious and even though things dont go our way, they are always in a better place. I am so glad that i believe in God because he can get me through anything.





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Rabiya


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Faith with Good Character

I believe that a person is not complete without faith and good character. Faith quenches the thirst of the soul while good character with good deeds makes me happy by doing things with my hands.

My faith is in God. There is nothing that gives me more satisfaction than the fact that I'm not in this alone. God is always there to guide me through the toughest times and will never leave me. When I see some people get what they don't deserve, like poverty, freedom when they committed a crime, or even being an orphan, my faith in God keeps me sane even after seeing all these atrocities.

Faith in the afterlife reminds me that justice will one day be fulfilled. Where some world leaders commit atrocities without getting punished, I believe there is no such thing as a free ride; they will be punished later on. There is nothing the satisfies my soul more than the faith in God and afterlife.

Good character puts my mind to good use. My morals keep me in check everywhere I go. The world, society, or my friends might change, but my morals are a constant. They are what give me success, which might have a different definition with others, and happiness.

No matter where I am, or who I am with, I will never stop helping those less fortunate. My character is made up of humanitarian work. Every where I go there seems to be a body or two crying out for outside assistance. I would never be able to be satisfied if I saw them and didn't do all that I could to help them. My good character is made up of humanitarian work.

Faith and good character are two foreign concepts, but they still very much alive in my heart today.




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"Actions are based upon intentions"
AndreaRenee


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Your Mouth Will Get You In Trouble

Ever since i was a little girl, my dad always instilled this phrase into my head: "Your mouth will get you in trouble."

Now, when i was little, i didn't understand what he meant by that. It didn't  make sense to me. But as i got older, i would get into trouble with friends and he would always tell me to watch what i say. On Myspace or Facebook or even in real life. He always told me to not gossip because it will always come back and bite you in the butt.

So the way i see it is that its all karma. You get back from life what you put into it. If you want to talk and say bad things about someone, its going to come back to you. Someone is going to talk bad about you as well and you arent going to like it...but what do you expect? You get what you deserve, as bad as that sounds. That's why i think you should ALWAYS be nice to people. Be genuine, give compliments, dont talk smack, surround yourself with good and genuine people and just go with the flow. if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say it at all.

Overall just try to be the best person that you can be. It will all pay off in the end.



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Mariah


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My Family!!

I believe that family is very important in a persons life. My family has given me the morals and values that I need to be a good person in the world as well as love and support. My family has also taught me how important and loving a family is. Without my family, I do not know what kind of person I would be. Joyce Brothers once said, When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. This quote completely sums up the way I feel. I have great memories of my family!
My family is very tight. We are a very close knit family and we do a lot of things together. My parents really stress the importance of a family. We do as many things together as we can. My parents set one night a week to going out to dinner and catching up with each other. Also, about once a week, my immediate family gets together to have dinner and talk about the week. Also, my grandparents and aunts support me and my sister at all of our school and sports events. My grandma (the typical Jewish grandma) calls almost every night to see how my sister and I are doing and how school was that day. They try to come to everything that they can and they feel really bad when the can not make it to events. This closeness to my family makes me feel very loved and appreciative.
My family has made me feel like I can go out into the world and be okay because of what they have taught me. I have the support and love I need to be successful in this world. I thank my family for shaping me into the person that I have become. I feel very blessed that I can have such a great family. I hope to be able to spread the values that I have learned from my family to my future family and we will be able to be as close as we are now. I cant wait to make new memories.
I could not imagine having a different family.


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danielle garcia


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Getting labeled and Getting Judged

I believe that I am not better than anyone else and nobody is better than. This is because despite where you come from despite your job or your family or how much you family makes we all are here together in the same place and world and have to put effort in to what we want in life.

When i was alittle girl my father use to tell me don't let anyone make you feel like your not good enough or they are better to you and you don't act or treat anyone as if you are better than them too. This i have remebered most because when i was younger like in elementary and even now i have friends that think they are better than other people just becasue they are either more fortunate than they are or smarter or whatever the case may be and it upset me to see them treat other people as if they are a lower life form.

I have gotten in to numerous fight with my friends because of the way they can treat people and sometimes it has resulted in me not being friends with a certain group of people or a certain individual. I try and look at everyone as if they are my equal no matter race, income, family,language etc anything you can name. I no i hate being judged or labeled as something im not so why would i want to do that to someone else who i might not know. I try and be friends with everyone and give everyone a chance and i return i hope they do the same for me.

So thats my world view i try not to judge or label anyone and i try not to act as if i am better than anyone else:) i try and give everyone a chance

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BeeHughes7


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My Addiction
By: Brooke Hughes
I believe that everyone is born for a reason, whether its to make something of their life, make a difference in the world or to just be there for a friend or family member. Everyday is a learning experience for me. When i was younger i used to say the typical "When I grow up i want to be" phrase that changed every other day but as i grew older the things  I wanted to be lasted longer than a week and started to last for a month or sometimes longer. I look back now and i can see my stages of growth and how one little decision when your young can change your entire future for when you grow up and get older. When i was i chose the sports route in my life. I played soccer, basketball and softball. I started off playing soccer when i was 4 and then added on more sports. I chose to play softball because my sister played and basketball cause my brother played it. As i grew up i narrowed it down to just one, softball. Softball is where i met pretty much all my friends. I have been playing since i was 6 and i am still currently playing. It has brought so many irreplacable memories that i could never forget, whether i was traveling all over the country or i was just at practice around the corner memories were be created. Over the years it gets more competitive and now practice isnt as fun as it used to be. So now softball became one of those love hate relationships. I remember when i had to quit for 2 years, my 7th and 8th grade year, because i was injured and the doctor told me i should stop playing because of my arm. The break was pretty nice but when i went and watched my friends play it was very hard because i just wanted to play and say " Coach put me in." I knew i couldnt go through high school not playing or doing anything so had to start back up and play. I didnt care what the doctors said now i couldnt not play. Softball became my addiction that i could never get away from. It is my go to place and the field became my second home.When i step on the field i am not think about anything but where the next play is going. I have played all four years in my high school career and it has been the best experience of my life and i highly recommend it to others. Not only have i learned alot aabout softball but i finally found out i am. It bettered me as a person and was a huge learning experience. Last year which was my junior year my coach always told up to "fake it till you make it" i just thought she was talking about softball life if your not feeling good at practice then just act like you are feeling fine and you will be. But i soon figured out that it is a life quote whether you are in school or working you can always use it. If you think you cant just trick your mind in thinking you can my faking it and then your mind will soon believe it and you will then make it.

Life is an experience itself and one should always enjoy it and be happy.
"lifes a lesson that needs to to be learned but ou wont learn it till you finish it all the way to the end"




-- Edited by BeeHughes7 on Monday 7th of June 2010 06:09:49 PM

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Trevor Sebuliba


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We should appreciate what we have.

Its always bothered me how some people are privileged, and how others are not. Life is so unfair, most people say that all of us as human beings are equal and are born free but I dont believe that to be the case. I believe that its important to be thankful and grateful for all that you have, and to be content with your life. There is so much cruelty, starvation, unfairness, and struggle in the world. My family is from Uganda but I was born and raised in England. I have visited Uganda many times to see my Grandparents, and every time I go there I appreciate all that I have, and how lucky Im to have basic necessities such as food, water, security, and even a loving family.
Every time I visit Uganda, I like to do voluntary work and help families in poor villages by providing them with extra food. Even though these families are poor they are so happy and thankful for what they do have, they never complain about their circumstances, and seem really content with their lives, even though each day is such a struggle. Its amazing how those with hardly nothing, appreciate life so much more than those who are privileged. We have so much, but yet we arent content with what we have, we are constantly looking for more and it seems like nothing is ever good enough for us.
Uganda really makes me appreciate what I have, and how great my life is. I will never forget the time I went to a village to help a family, and they invited me in for tea and rice, this family didnt have a lot of rice left, and that could have been the only food that they had, but despite them having little food they insisted that I eat with them. I was amazed by there generosity, how could you have so little but yet be willing to give it away. That moment changed my whole perspective on how I viewed the world, and really made me into a better person. Its hard to appreciate the little things in life when you have so much already, but you should always remember that the little things that you may take for granted, may be considered essential big things to another family who are not as lucky as you are.

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vinnyb


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On the Road...
My parents love to travel. They were both were born in Kenya and raised in England and moved out here in 1984. As they grew up they traveled a lot with their families and experienced so much, and they wanted my brother and I to share the same experiences.

Every year my parents travel to see their families back home, and it is a great experience. When I first visited Kenya I was so excited to see the environment that my parents grew up in as kids. When I finally got there I was shocked to see everything was so different to the life I had back in California . It was dangerous to go out at night and everybody there was living a slow-paced life.

The more places my parents took me, the more I realized that my parents had to work hard and sacrifice so much to get to where they are today. I am thankful that I have been able to travel around so much and see another side of the world at such a young age.

I have learned to not judge people by the way they dress, their culture, rituals, the food they eat, or the accent they have. I have learned to celebrate everybody's differences and be thankful for the simple necessities I have. I believe that the more a person sees of the world, the more they will learn to appreciate what they already have, and help others in need.



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Atmosphere


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I believe in Karma.

I believe in karma for a numerous amount of reasons, and it started ever since I was a young boy. I was believe the saying that if you do something good, then something good will happen to you. Also, that bad people will you usually get what they deserve which seems true to me. Karma always seems to get me, escpecially when I make fun of someone or tell someone their bad at something, then usually I do worse. Although I believe in karma, it doesnt mean that I love or like, in fact, I hate it because I have a good conscience so I feel like even if I litter than something bad will be headed my way. But I realize that this is a good thing because without karma, mainly all criminals will still be on the streets commiting crimes, and if I didnt believe in karma, I would probably be a worse person than I am today. The first time I heard of the term, was when I was about 9, and my grandma told me if I am the one who starts fights with my older brother or tease my younger siblings, than karma will get me back for what I deserve. I really didnt believe what she said, because I thought she was just saying that to make me behave better. But the first time I actually experienced karma is when I was about ten or so, and the story goes like this, I went to a 7/11 by my house with my mom and brother, and as we left I stole a candy bar, and when I returned home I ate it and I was happy and felt on top of the world. Then I proceeded to my bedroom, and found that my dog had left me a suprise on my bed, and thats when I remembered what my grandma had said. So from that day foward, I have been really careful from doing bad things because I know now that it will usually come back to haunt you. So now I truely understand how karma works, well most of the time, and that Good things happen for a reason.
-Chris McInturf



-- Edited by Atmosphere on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 05:20:59 PM

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CHRIS MCINTURF.
OBSERVE CLOTHING.
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UmmeHani


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I believe in laughter

As a child I was continually bullied and I never really had those really happy moments in school where you laugh with your friends and just have fun. When I entered high school I became more confident as a person and I really looked at myself and thought what do I want to do and who do I want to be and I came to the conclusion that I want to make people laugh.

Everytime I make someone laugh I really get this amazing feeling, I love to make people happy because that makes me happy. People always tell me that to be happy I have to make myself happy first and then think of others and I really just think of it oppositely. I believe that if I make other people happy and make them laugh it will make me happy. The feeling that I get when I make a person laugh is indescribable.

I have a very strong faith in God and I also believe that in life you need to be a good person to succeed. I like to appreciate the little things in life and I think happiness is one of those. I think that making other people happy is just as important as making myself happy.

I love to laugh and I love to make other people laugh as well.

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omar


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I believe in Luck.

 

I believe in a lot of things, but the main thing I believe in is luck. I believe that things dont just happen for a reason, and luck has an act in most miracles, or happenings. For example I see significant accounts of luck almost every time I watch sports, when a half court shot goes in or when a no look shot goes in during a game of basketball, thats what I call luck. My parents and family try to tell me that there is no such thing as luck and that I should just get over myself, but they dont realize that Ive experienced luck so I have a different perspective of it. When I first actually believed in luck, I was around twelve years old. And it all happened when this new game that I really wanted had just came out, but my parents wouldnt buy it for me, so I just walked to the nearby game crazy. As I was walking to the game store to just look at the game and awe, I noticed a wrinkly green paper in the parking lot. I picked it up and gazed upon it, and it was in fact a hundred dollar bill. I was so excited, but at the same time I felt bad for the person who had lost it. I rushed over to the game store, and purchased the game, and when I returned home my parents asked me where I had gotten it, and I told them my complete non-fiction story. And they still didnt want to admit it was luck, but ever to this day they call me one lucky kid. This story is completely true and I will never forget about it, and now I truly believe stuff doesnt just happen, luck does. Although skill does become a factor during sports when a crazy buzzer beating shot goes in. I believe that something lucky usually happens to everyone at least once I their life. Well just last week while on my way to school I again came across money on the ground. I guess these things just happen or maybe im just lucky.

 

- Omar Mendoza

 



-- Edited by omar on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 05:55:41 PM

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Grace


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I believe in family
Ever since I can remember my family has been very close knit. In hard times I have always found my family to be my strength. About three years ago my family hit a rough patch (like many others do) and my parents got a divorce. I felt like my life got snapped into a million little pieces. Lucky for me my parents blessed with me with an older sister and two brothers. We all helped each other get through the divorce and leaned on each other. Family is very important especially when you feel alone. I know that no matter what I will always put them first and be there for them whenever they need me. Family is important because when it feels like the world is against you; your family will always be on your side. I thank God everyday and know that I am privileged to have the family that I do. We arent what youd call the perfect family, we fight just like any other but I wouldnt have it any other way. Your family is where you grow up, who you become, and what you learn, so never take them for granted. They love you...this I truly believe! Even with the divorce I have found it has only made my brothers and sisters closer to each other. There is a saying that I love Families are like fudge, mostly sweet, with a few nuts. I believe in caring for my parents and siblings no matter what goes wrong. My parents have raised me in a good home and have always taught me to have a big heart. I believe god put us together for a reason. I count on the memories ahead and even the hard times we may have in the future. I believe you can always find strength in your family and it is a true blessing to have one that really cares for you in spite of everything. We only have so much time on earth and it is a fortunate thing to be able to spend it with the ones you love. Never ever take them for granted no matter how upset you may be with them. They will love you when you think no one else does =] I love my family they are the best!


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HaleySpitz


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What Could You Give?

Have you ever had one of those days where you are just in a little bit of a funk? Of course you have... What pulls you out of that slump everytime? Maybe its the huge bowl of ice cream that you know you'll make for yourself when you get home. For me, its the smiles that I see from someone I don't even know randomly throughout the day.

One day I was out riding my bike with my sister. I live in Yorba Linda, Ca, a wealthy town in Orange County. When people all around me are able to give so much with the money that they have. Out on that bike ride, my sister and I saw a homeless man waiting at a bus stop. He had one backpack, probably the only property to his name. And he just looked at me and my sister and simply, smiled.

That man was homeless. He had near to nothing. What could he give to anyone?
On that summer day, that homeless man gave the only thing he could to me and my sister: A smile. It made my day knowing that someone who had practically nothing could give so much.

A smile is free and it brings so much more happiness than any other object could.
I challenge you to smile at at least one stranger every day. Give a stranger a gift everyday. Think about how this world would be if everyone smiled at a stranger everyday. I believe in smiling, because a smile could change the world.



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Aaron


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"Joy wouldn't feel so good if it wasn't for pain"

I believe if you havent gone through something that causes any amount of pain in your life, then you will never really know how good it feels to be happy. If I had never gone through bad times in my life, I wouldnt care as much about the good times. I like remembering the times I had with my cousins. Before I moved over here I spent everyday with them. They were the closest thing to a real family I could get and I loved it. I like remembering good times I had with my dad no matter how many times he did something wrong like times he got arrested or did drugs. I believe no ones life is perfect. I think people who dont take time to realize all the good times they had arent really happy. I think music can help you feel better through bad times. It helps me a lot. I can always find a song that reminds me about something good that happened to me. I heard the quote at the top from a song called Many Men by 50 Cent. I've thought about that line everyday since I heard it. I believe in it because its true. That one line is what makes me feel better any time I feel any kind of pain.

-- Aaron Villegas

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xavi


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 People needs to believe.

People in this world always have to believe on something or things to keep them going. I too believe in different things, my mom always tells me to believe on me and I should fight for what I want. Since I was a little kid my mom taught me to do my best, it is not her fault that I do not always follow her advice. During my life I have had rough times that I have to work my self out or through. Now that I am graduating and I have to choose a career for the rest of my life I know that whatever I choose I have to not like it but believe that I am doing it right and that it is what is meant for my life. I know that right at this moment I do not look as good of a student as I could look on my grades. I know too that when I decide to do something and believe in it I will succeed, I do my best. I am glad to be in the situation I am, some times believes can fail, when that happens i get upset, but i know that i have to keep on trying. I am a quite boy most of the time, but when I have to speak for my self I do it without hesitation. I am a hard boy to break down and no matter how hard of a challenge is ahead of me, I fight it.  I believe in other things as well, I believe that Spain, my homeland has one of the best soccer teams this year and has the biggest possibilities to win the world cup. Believing in things  gives people a meaning to what they do on their life.



-- Edited by xavi on Thursday 10th of June 2010 12:56:21 AM

-- Edited by xavi on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:06:28 AM

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JEAN


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I belive Life is a bunch of choices

I believe that your choices are what keep you in a direction. There are many directions to go in and after you make a choice, their is another ahead of that direction. Even the smallest choices can have huge impacts affecting your life or others. I have made bad decisions costing many rewards and only leaving a consequence for me to handle, for example when I decide to not do one assignment it does not affect me much, but when I do not do a few assignments it affects my grade. There are times when I do good choices like helping someone I might not even know for no reward but just to help. Even after choosing a few bad choices you can still redeem yourself by changing. Most parents tell their children to always make good choices and that lessons stays with most of us. Luck may play a small part in the results and could drastically change it depending on what type of luck it is but Life is not a game for you to rely on luck all the time. You only get one life. The outcome of a decision is not always you expect even as an adult we will all still make good and bad choices but you still have to live your lives no matter how frustrating it gets. Life can be cut short at any given time also A life time might not be enough to experience the things you want to experience, so you should not waste anytime. Good morals are a big influence in decision making which is why your parents teach you to do what's right. If you do not think something is right you do not keep going, even if a friend is pressuring into doing something. You do not have to be apart of anything if you do not want to. Many things can influence your decisions such as where you will go to college, what religion to choose, There are many questions in the world and a lot more answers in the world but none of those matter. It matters what your answer is to all these question being directed at you.



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Kelsie Roell


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I Believe in Friendship

by Kelsie Roell

I believe that friends are the backbone of every person. They hold us up no matter how down we are, and vice versa. I believe that everyones worldview should include friendship. When I am deciding on what my opinion is on a certain issue, I always bring friendship into account. When reading about people in a news story, or people that are going to be affected by a certain issue or law, I try to think of those people as my friends. I do this for two reasons. The first is because no one in the world can be helped if everyones only looking out for themselves. I believe that we should be trying to help out the suffering minorities, as long as they are trying to help themselves as well. The second reason is because our world view should take everyone in the world into consideration, and not just our immediate friends.

My true friends are the ones that have always been there for me. I met my oldest friend in pre school and we have been friends ever since. Her name is Shelby. She is my inspiration for my belief in friendship, because we have grown up together. We went to the same pre school, and we went to the same private school from kindergarten to 8th grade. We went to different high schools, but still hang out a lot. Because of this we have been through a lot together. We are each going our separate ways for college, but true friends will be forever.

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JonathanChua


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God is my everything

I have always believed that God has brought me into this world and everything in existence in the universe. Everyone has their own beliefs in life, we may all have different religions but still we all believe in a higher deity, a God. I always believe that God is the source of everything, he is the only reason I am still alive today, the only reason I never lose hope. It is only God who motivates me. There are times when I fail on things and that I give up, everyone does, but then I talk to God and come and think that there is always a reason for things. Sometimes things does not come your way all the time, there is also a reason why. Like when my aspirations are not fulfilled, I will wonder why and blame God. But I know a day will come that the reason will come to my mind why was my aspiration was not fulfilled. I never give up because I have God to motivate me, to give me the strength to start a day positively. There are times when I am feeling down, and when those days come I just talk to God. I can tell him everything that I feel and want. Even though of God does not answer what I tell him, I know that he is listening. And I also know that God is listening to me when my prayers have been answered because God works in mysterious ways. There may be times then I feel that God did not answer my prayer but still I do not blame him. I still think that there maybe a reason why my prayer has not been answered. God also wants to be adored, so I go to church on Sundays to give thanks and praise to him. I think it is not right to pray to God only if something is needed. I always keep in mind that God loves everyone and that he will always protect me from evil. I just trust in him and I know that I will be safe.


--> Jonathan Chua

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meJ0n

Mestizo Chino.
karen_cairne


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Dream On

I'm going to straight out tell you one of my main beliefs. I believe in dreams. 
Don't get me wrong though, not those dreams you have at night, whether
if it's some nightmare about zombies eating up your face or that dream about
that special someone you've been crushing on for years.  It's the dream everyone
has about their future. My dream has always been becoming the successful
artist in the future.  This dream motivated me for years. I've never stopped drawing
and I never will. Why do I believe in my dreams? They have showed me the
correct way. Honestly, I think no one should ever stop dreaming. Dreams are
what make people share their passions and emotions. Dreams make what we are.
My dreams have made me into what I am right now and I'm sure it's going to
take me up towards the next level in the future. I believe in dreams and dreams
make me believe in myself.

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Donovan


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Evil Shoes

I believe that shoes are evil. These crude bindings, which shackle our feet, are

simply evil. Why must we wear shoes to purchase food at a restaurant? Why must we wear

shoes to enter stores and boutiques? If people in the United States are expected to wear shoes

to dine, shouldn't we be expected to wear gloves to cover our bare hands like old English

noblemen?

Your average shoe is quite vile, but the boot is utterly atrocious. The boot, usually

made of thick, heavy leather, is your poor foot's worst enemy. The narrow cut of the average

boot transforms the contour of the foot into mutilated, alien-like shapes that should be reserved

for only the most abstract of artists. On top of the constricting design, the accumulated

perspiration within the material of the footwear can lead to the growth of bacteria and a very

foul odor. Not only will your shoes yield a poor scent, your feet linger with the odor long

after your feet have been freed.


While shoe designers have made attempts at freeing the foot from the grasp of the

shoe, sandals are clumsy, and also make obnoxious popping noises when walked upon. So,

why not let your toes feel the fresh air for a change? However, I will warn you. Because once

you do, you will believe shoes are evil too!

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