Standing Up

Image courtesy of DesiValley

We all have our beliefs in life. However different these things may seem, they are all based on the same main subjects. These are our values, our ideas, and our influences, and those are just the main of the many effects that the lives we live can have on what we believe in. Who we live with and relate to can also effect our thoughts. It is actually shown that when you are around a person/group for a while, their mannerisms and personality traits start to rub off on you. As social beings, we adapt to what works the best in a society. This acquisition of traits also effects what we believe. But, contrary to what some people might think or say, beliefs aren’t just about religion or faith. Although they can have holy ties, they don’t all have to.

In this country we are extremely lucky because we have amendments. Particularly, the first amendment. This means that as we all have our own beliefs, we also have the right to exercise and fight for those beliefs. We are very lucky to live in a country where we have this right. But I think that we don’t use this right enough. We shouldn’t just sit around and let all the decisions be made for us. If the decision of a group effects us, our lives, or the people around us we should check it out. If that decision effects in a negative way, or a way we don’t agree with, we shouldn't just let that pass by. We have a right to fight for the things we believe in and we should use that as much as we can. Too many people just sit around and let other people take charge of their future. You shouldn’t. Just remember that your life is your life, and that you can take charge of your life. We only get one chance at a life, so we should make it an amazing one.

Again, there is a huge range of things to believe in. You can believe in the existence of something, whether or not a goal will be achieved, or what value certain things have. You can also have cultural, political, and educational beliefs. Examples are that a God exists, that you can get an A on a test, that a doll have more value, or that a candidate is perfect to be president. Your beliefs may even conflict at times, or be a mashup of many. It can also be uncomfortable when what you believe in conflicts with the beliefs of others who are close to you. But you still need to fight through it all, no matter what. Once again, you need to stick with what you believe in because it is your life.

Stay with, and fight for, what you believe in and grab life by the horns.

Image courtesy of Indian Country

Family: Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

Christmas pictures with my little brother (C.J.) and little sister (Rachael).

Since the dawn of time, there have been families. How long you stay with your family depends on your species. There are animals who never know their parents and have to strike out on their own, to others who stay with their families for life. Humans seem to have variations of these times. Some of us never get to know our parents, some of us stay with them for only a little while, some of us stay with them until adulthood, some of us stay past adulthood, and some of us stay even longer than that. Although we are able to live without our biological families, for at least the starting period of our life we need that  close group of people. Like with people who are adopted. They don't have their biological family, but they have a group of people showing them the world and helping them to learn about and explore it.

Can't live without 'em:
Families help us grow up and explore the world. They create a safe, educational, and compassionate environment in which we can grow up. They help us develop physically, mentally, and socially. Physically by showing us how to do things like eat, walk, go up stairs, run, etc. Mentally, they teach us how to speak and think. They read us stories and give us puzzles to strengthen our quickly developing minds. They also teach us how to function in the social world. By telling us what to do in certain situations and reprimanding us if we don't act well in others, they show us how to act in our society. They prepare us to have lives of our own with our own friends and relationships.

Can't live with 'em:
FAMILY CAN GET REALLY ANNOYING. When you have to live with a group of people, you see it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And the really ugly. You get to know the little things about them, like disgusting habits, weird rituals, and all around odd behavior. There are also the fights. Long road trips, sharing, or just being in the same room for too long can start an argument. You might not even know what you were arguing about the next day!

It is said that you always have to love your family, but you don't always have to like them. This is so true! Yet, it is all worth it. This is because these people will help and care for you throughout life (and if they don't they look bad). But seriously, be glad to have a family and you will realize that, in the end, they do more good than harm.

Image courtesy of My Repurposed Life

Impossibilia

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

We hear crazy stories all the time. Some are clearly real, but there are some that we aren't sure about. It can be hard to believe someone when what they're saying seems utterly ridiculous. Here are a couple stories that can be true or false. Try and guess for yourself, and then highlight the black space under it for the answer. Good luck!
1. Mike Stewart, 31, of Dallas was filming a public service movie in 1983 on "The Dangers of Low-Level Bridges" when the truck he was standing on passed under a low-level bridge -- killing him.
True
2. U.S. custom agents seized 900,000 gummy bears that were loaded with Aye Caramba Beer.
False
3. In a case of "one thing leading to another", seven men, aged 18-27 years, received jail sentences of 3-4 years each in Kingston-On-Thames, England in 1979 after a fight that started when one of the men threw a french fry at another while they stood waiting for a train.
True
4. In 1983, a Mrs. Carson of Lake Kushaqua, N.Y. was laid out in her coffin, presumed dead of heart disease. As mourners watched, she suddenly sat up. Her daughter dropped dead of fright.
True
5. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, they were both eaten by a killer whale.
False

Scoring:

4-5 correct: You have a knack for catching lies, good job!

2-3 correct: Ehh, you're alright at this. 

0-1 correct: Haha, you must be gullible (but it's okay).

Credit to: The Spoof

                Less Smith

Here comes my crazy story. You guys can determine if it is true or false!

During the time that my dad lived in Alaska, he and a friend decided to go on a trip and fly around in a small plane they owned. After flying for a while they decided to land and spend the night. They went to sleep and, in the morning, they woke up to find that they had been visited by a grizzly bear. It had eaten the slide of the plane and the horizontal rudder on the plane. Being stuck in such a predicament, they had to use what was available. To replace the side of the plane, they used layers upon layers of duct tape. To replace the horizontal rudder, they used a piece of broom handle, then covered it with more duct tape to secure it. My dad flew it back successfully and got it repaired professionally.

Is it true? Is it false? If you would like to stick with your opinion, then good on you! If not, and I totally understand, you can either email me at nhaerter18@pcstudents.us, and if you know me, just come talk to me and I'll tell you. Good luck!

My Little Bro

C.J. showing off some of his artwork.

As some of you may know, I have a little brother. His name is Christopher James, or C.J. for short. He is eleven years old, and he has Down syndrome. Down syndrome is an affliction where someone has an extra chromosome. This results in a bit of a slower learning pace and a little slower development. It may be thought of as a disability, but I've never really thought of it in that way. Having C.J. as my little brother has actually been incredible in so many ways.

Image courtesy of Calm Down Gifts

Here's a little background on him. He's had eleven surgeries. Yes, you read it right, eleven. One on his heart, one on his tonsils, and nine on his ears. He is a trooper! He always bonds with the nurses and doctors and is way more brave than I could ever be.

At his first surgery.

A later surgery.

He went to the PC CoOp for preschool, to McPolin for first through fourth grade, to Trailside for fifth, and now he's at Ecker! I still can't believe he's in middle school. He's growing up too fast! He knows everyone in his grade, and whenever I see someone from school I'm usually asked, "Wait, are you C.J.'s sister?" I'm very proud to say yes every time. He's hilarious, crazy, and always happy. No matter if it's Monday morning getting ready for school, leaving for a trip at five in the morning, or at dinner, he's always super excited.

One thing a lot of people have asked me is, "Is it hard living with a special needs brother?" It really isn't. It's way more of a blessing than a curse. Even if I'm having the worst day of my life, he can make me laugh. If I have something wrong he will put all of his troubles aside to help me. He is an amazing role model to me. He's shown me how to laugh so hard I can't breath, to dance even when people are staring, how to dream the biggest possible, and especially how to live every day to the fullest. C.J. is an incredible kid who will never stop loving anyone, no matter what they do. I love you C.J.!!!!