11/29-12/3 Picture Reaction

This picture caught my attention because it is very pretty. There are tons of butterflies all piled up a tree in what looks to be a forest. The colors of this photograph are really neat. I like how some of the butterflies are really bright orange and colorful and the others are dull and plain colored. The bright ones are very vibrant and stand out to me. I also like the background in this photo. The trees seem extremely tall and I can picture myself standing on the ground looking up at them. The sky is such a pretty blue and I like how the sun shines through so brightly. The photo is captured perfectly. It makes me think of summer and seeing butterflies fluttering by. This summer, at the Alden Malachowski Memorial Ceremony, there was a release of butterflies. There were tons of butterflies in the box and although it was a bit too cold, the butterflies all came out. This picture reminds me of the butterfly release because rarely do you see so many butterflies in one place. It also reminds me of the Butterfly Conservatory. I went there when I was younger and it was amazing to see all the butterflies. I imagine a little forest just for the butterflies to live in, like the conservatory. Also, it seems to me as though monarchs are one of the most popular types of butterflies. I think they are really cool to look at which is probably why I was attracted to this picture. It is very peaceful and pleasing to look at. They look like they are in a place that never gets cold and is always that pretty. The butterflies seem to be connected like a family and they fly together and rest together. Their food could be on that tree which is why they all flocked to it. They surround the tree so that we can’t even see it. Butterflies seem peaceful and harmless and this picture just emphasizes that.

Fear builds walls.

“Fear builds walls”, is a pretty deep statement. It means that if you are afraid of something, you automatically put up a wall and are less likely to face it. Fear definitely takes a toll on your confidence. This statement can describe a lot of relationship problems. If people have been hurt or cheated on in a relationship, they might not be able to open up again because they are afraid of getting hurt. Fear prevents people from reaching their full potential. If they are scared to do something, they will never know the outcome. Even though fear builds walls, people are able to overcome their fears. The walls are like obstacles in their lives that they must face. For an example, someone who is afraid of heights and rides a rollercoaster faced their fear and possibly conquered it. Mostly everyone is afraid of something in life. A common fear is fear of failure. People who are afraid to fail might not try new things because they don’t know how or don’t know if they are good at it. How do you know if you never try though? Fear of rejection is another one that falls under that category. People want to feel accepted so they may not go outside of the box or feel free to express themselves because of what others may think. Sometimes, people don’t even realize that they fear something. It is a common emotion and many people may build walls to avoid it. This quote really could mean a lot of things but that is all I’ve got!

Top Ten Things About Nate Zobrest

1. his bleach blonde hair
2. his deep voice
3. his tallness
4. he’s my AP English classmate
5. he participates in Socratics…HA HA
6. he plays football
7. my fellow senior editor
8. he makes fun of Currin
9. he is funny
10. he is a very nice boy and I am happy to know him

YAY NATE! :)

11/15-11/19 What is winning?

Winning pretty much means succeeding at the task handed to you. This word is usually used in context with a competition. In sports, you always hear about the winners. The “winner” of the competition is the team or individual that comes out on top and defeats their opponent. Winners are people that are victorious. They are the people that are praised and honored for their accomplishments. Winners are people that are victorious. They also never give up. The line “winners never quit and quitters never win” is a good explanation. People who give their all and keep trying until they finish are winners. Even if they get defeated or beat, they can still be winners. I believe a winner is someone who does there best all the time. You don’t have to be THE best, but you have to be YOUR best in order to be a winner. Winning is not an easy thing to do. Most of the time, it would be easier to give up and stop trying. Winners shine through though because they are the people who step it up and are ready to take life on. Let’s take the Alden Varsity Football team for example. They just finished their season with a 10-1 record. Anyone in this town would consider them winners. They won ten games in row and lost the 11th game at the All-High Stadium which ended their season. In that last game, the boys played their hardest and left it all on the field. Even when they were losing, they kept fighting and never gave up. They are winners for putting their heart into it and giving their all to succeed. Winners are people that have the drive to succeed and can become victorious. Being triumphant in a contest all the way to never settling for failure is considered winning in my book.

11/15-11/19 Favorite Holiday

My favorite holiday of the year has to be Christmas. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays and I just love the spirit and hype that comes along with it. People prepare for Christmas for months in advance by shopping for presents or decorating their houses. I love decorating the tree and house while listening to Christmas tunes. Also, shopping for presents is so stressful but it’s fun and good bonding time. On Christmas Eve, we go to my aunt’s house to celebrate with my dad’s side of the family. This is a tradition and I always look forward to it. Later that night, we attend midnight mass at the church. Midnight mass is actually really cool. It is more elaborate with fancy decorations and Christmas music being played. December 25th is the day everyone waits for and it’s one of my favorite days of the year. My family and I wake up and gather into the living room to open presents. Who doesn’t love presents? I also love seeing my family’s reactions to the presents that I give them. Later on, we have the rest of the family over for dinner and more presents. It is so much fun to spend time with them and eat a delicious meal. We also do a Christmas exchange which is always a good time. Christmas overall is more than just one day to me. It is more like a season. The winter weather and snow that come along with it make it a beautiful holiday. There are so many Christmas traditions such as baking cookies, filling stockings, getting your Christmas tree, and more. All of these things appeal to me and I love this time of year. It is a religious holiday but can be celebrated by anyone and everyone. Christmas is coming soon and I can not wait!

11/15-11/19 I am thankful for...

I am thankful for so many things in my life. A lot of times, I take the things I have for granted and don’t realize how good I have it. Times like this and around Thanksgiving always help to open my eyes. One of the things that I am most thankful for is my family. I have the greatest family and couldn’t ask for a better one. My parents are so supportive and have helped me become the person that I am. They are always there for me no matter what and I don’t know what I would do without them. My brother, Derek, is also a huge part of my life. He is one of my best friends and always will be. I am thankful for the house I live in, and the simple things, like having food and clothes. Some people aren’t fortunate enough to have the basic necessities in life and I think to myself that I have all that and more. I am also thankful for my good health. So many people in this world are sick and suffering diseases and I’m a perfectly healthy person for the most part. I am thankful for so much whether it be the shoes on my feet or my life overall. My friends and relatives are really great too. The best times I’ve had and most memories I’ve made have been with them and because of them. I am really thankful for food because I LOVE food. Some of my favorites are fruit, chocolate, Honey Bunches of Oats, pasta, and more. I love sports so I’m thankful for them and that I am able to participate. Also, although it is a pain, I am thankful for my education. My education will hopefully lead me to be successful someday and continue to live a happy life. I could go on and on with things I am thankful for. I am a happy and healthy person and I’m thankful for the life that I have.

11/8-11/12 Motivational Quotes

Tough times never last, but tough people do.
Dr. Robert Schuller
This quote is pretty self-explanatory. Everyone encounters tough times in their life but no matter what, life goes on. Tough people are able to get through those times and move on. If you have the strength to push through even when times seem like they can’t get any worse, you’re a tough person. Those type of people are strong when times are tough and they don’t break down and quit. Overcoming obstacles and staying strong is the key to lasting life.

Life is just a blank slate, what matters most is what you write on it.
Christine Frankland
I really like this quote because it describes life. It is saying that life is what you make of it. When you are born, you start completely fresh and have a whole life to build. What you do and who you are is totally up to you. Those actions are “what you write” on the blank slate called life. This reminds me a lot of John Locke’s Tabula Rasa Theory. His theory was also called the blank slate theory and pretty much means the life is in control of the individual. How you live it is what matters most.

The power of imagination makes us infinite.
John Muir
This quote can pretty much be summed up by saying you can do anything that you set your mind to. We all have the power to dream big and imagine and with that right there, anything is possible. The word infinite can be defined as “having no limits or boundaries”. There are no limits when it comes to imagination because we can dream anything and everything.

11/8-11/12 Three People

Although it is hard to choose just three, three people that I would love to sit down and have lunch with are David Beckham, my great grandpa, and my old dog, Asti. David Beckham is not only a gorgeous human being, but an amazing soccer player. We both love the game and it would be really cool to hear some tips or experiences that he had. He seems like a pretty cool guy and I would love to meet him. Secondly, I would like to have lunch with my great grandpa. My great grandpa, George Klopfer, passed away a few years ago. I miss him and would love to get another chance to see him and talk to him again. He always had stories to tell and never fell short of making me laugh. He loved when we came to visit and I always enjoyed my time spent with him. Everyone loved Great Grandpa and it would be so nice to spend time with him just one more time. He was the first person who passed away in my family that I was actually close with and it really hit me. Lastly, even though she is an animal, I would love to spend time with my old dog, Asti. My parents had Asti before I was even born, so I grew up with her in my life. She was always there and a part of our family. I loved playing with her or just laying with her whenever I wanted. Eventually, she got old and sick and passed away. It was really rough on me and the rest of my family and I miss her. I would love to spend time with Asti and it would bring back many childhood memories.

11/8-11/12 Thanksgiving Tradition

Every year, my family celebrates Thanksgiving by going to my grandma’s house for dinner. My dad’s side of the family all goes to my grandma’s, hangs out, watches football, and spends time together. For dinner, we all gather upstairs in the dining room and eat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, gravy, and more. Everyone eats and laughs until they can barely breathe any longer. The women then clean up and wash dishes while the men and kids go downstairs and crash on the couches or floor. It’s pretty much a traditional family Thanksgiving. What’s more exciting though, is the event that takes place on a Sunday close to Thanksgiving. My dad’s side of the family has a tradition of making Christmas Candy each year. We go to my grandma’s and spend a whole Sunday in the garage making TONS of hard candy. We make peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, and cinnamon. The colors are red, green, bluish-green, and yellowish-white. Unfortunately, I can’t give away the family recipe, but it’s pretty delicious. The candy comes out extremely hot and gooey and we all have to cut it up into tiny pieces as it hardens. Then, we coat the candy with sugar and once it’s all finished, we divvy it up into tons of different jars for family friends, and ourselves! The candy is then ready to be eaten and we put it out for the holidays. This special Sunday is coming up soon and I’m looking forward to it. Although my cousins are all off at college, I still enjoy spending the day with my family making a treat that everyone loves!

11/1-11/5 Respect

Respect can be defined in many different ways. I think that respect means to act appropriate and be polite in certain situations. Respect can be summed up with the golden rule; treat people the way you wanted to be treated. Acting polite, being nice to others, being considerate, and being an all-around good person is what respect means to me. For an example, respect is a big part in school. As a student, we should be mature and responsible in class and not talk back to teachers or other adults. Respect is something that has to be earned. You earn respect by acting and doing things the way that they should be done. The people that I have a lot of respect for are usually role models in my life. One person that I respect is a wonderful woman, Mrs. Gramza, because of the person she is. She is polite, smiley, fun, loving, and a leader. For all these reasons, I respect her. Going back to the golden rule, in order to be respected and respectful, you must treat people fairly. If you wouldn’t want to be mistreated, then don’t do it to others. Most people have a pretty good idea of what is accepted as right and as wrong in this society. Good is helping others, using your manners, and just being a sweet person. Bad can be being nasty and rude, and doing harmful things. Respect pretty much falls under the good category which is how you should act. All in all, respect is a meaningful word that could be used in a number of different ways.

11/1-11/5 Dream Job

There are many jobs that I have considered for my future. One job that I’ve never really considered realistic, is hosting my own television show. I think it would be so cool to have your own talk show like Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey, or Rachael Ray. I am very outgoing and love to talk which is why the job would be perfect for me. Talk shows are not only interesting, but fun at the same time. Ellen, Oprah, and Rachael are all super rich because of the publicity they get from being on air. Also, how cool would it be to be famous? Everyone dreams of being famous when they are young, so becoming a talk show host would be a dream come true! I also love to help others and these talk show hosts usually do just that. They give away prizes and money like it means nothing to them. If you’ve ever watched a talk show, you are aware that a lot of things they talk about or do on the show are very interesting. I rarely watch them, but when I do, I always enjoy it. Talk show hosts also get to meet a lot of other famous people. They have interviews or just invite celebrities to come and sit down and talk. Being famous, and meeting other stars would be amazing. I am currently the anchor of our school’s news station and I love it. I’m not afraid to be on camera and love to make people smile on a daily basis. I would love to be a talk show host when I get older.