Winter Poem

Oh winter, how I dread the days upon your arrival,

I immediately rely on my hats and mittens for survival.

As the wind howls during the long cold night,

I rush to my bed with my blanket snuggling tight.

Even though your freezing temperatures cause a stir,

There are some pleasant things that I can endure.

The snow falling from sky above,

Reminds me of a great, peaceful white dove.

Snowmen take over the front yards of homes,

Replacing the once very well gnomes.

Icicles are a form of natural art,

And then they disappear as fast as a dart.

The smell of hot cocoa fills the air,

While children are in the giving spirit and share.

As the eggnog makes its way around the room,

The old grandparents begin their stories about their platoon.

Holiday songs put everyone is the mood to sing,

And some may even give their significant others a grand ring.

Grand Christmas lights makes the city all that more bright,

While spectators stare at a tall’s trees height.

Christmas gifts are stacked up and block one’s sight,

as the stars are shining and oh so very bright.

The winter season is full of happiness, laughter, and families being brought together,

There is no greater gift then spending  the holidays with loved ones. 

Globalization

Globalization seems like an avoidable trend in today’s world. As we take a look around every neighborhood in the United States, we can quickly recognize familiar restaurant slogans, car shops, mega malls, and name brands on everyone’s clothing. As we take a bigger picture of the world, we can see that the items that we associate America with are popping up all over the world. This ranges  from a Starbucks in India to Facebook in China. Thanks to advanced technology that has improved communication and transportation, ideas, politics, and cultures have diffused throughout the world, from one country to another. Globalization may be spreading multiculturalism, advanced technology, and consumerism but in reality it may be doing more harm than one is led to believe. Globalization has encouraged the use of sweat shops in less developed countries where the poor work long, hard hours while the rich get even richer. Brain drain has caused intellectual people to leave their homelands in search of economic opportunities beyond their borders, leaving their homeland with the uneducated to fend for themselves while trying to beat the wealthy that have taken over their country with McDonald’s signs and Nike shoes.  One of the worst parts of globalization is that countries that are rich in historical monuments, cultural centers, and local cuisine are being shoved into the corner by large corporations trying to sell their politics, ideas, and values to people in every country. Every country has something unique to offer and it shouldn’t be overshadowed by the selfish corporate world. 

Sports in My Life

During my eighteen years of existence, I have tried to play many sports but I have come to a realization….sports are not exactly my calling. The first sport that I was really fond of was volleyball. It was the first sport that I was actually good at and enjoyed. I played on a volleyball team for three years and really enjoyed the strong bond that I created with my teammates, the excitement of the game, and the satisfaction of winning.  Being on a team built my character, sportsmanship, and team work skills.  After my short lived volleyball career, I started playing numerous sports for fun. I was on a dance team for seven years too so when I quit that I wanted to try a little bit of everything. My favorite sport of all time has to be badminton because it is the only sport that I am actually very good at and enjoy. My love for badminton led me to tennis which I am less enthusiastic about but playing is always fun, especially with friends.  

I enjoy watching sports and going to games. I love going to football, basketball, and baseball games where the Chicago teams are playing. The feeling of sitting in the stands at a game surrounded by fans is amazing, especially at Bears games when they’re winning. Dressing up and supporting my hometown is always fun and I will always attend a game with great enthusiasm.

                

Thankful for a Classmate

As we walk into school every week day, we all have at least one person that we are excited to see or thankful for. Our classmates, each and every single one,  makes up the classroom and it is the way it is because of each individual opinion and presence. Everyone’s comments are always welcome and fun to listen to. We all have to be appreciative of those around us in our learning environment because we all learn from one another, especially in English classes like Philosophy in Literature. If we didn’t have each other, learning the subject would not be as opinion based or thought provoking.  Class is also supposed to be fun, so it is always nice to have a few close friends in a class that you can joke around with or talk to. Thanksgiving is a holiday meant for realizing what you are grateful for and I am thankful for all of my classmates. I am thankful for all of my great classmates but the one I really like forward to seeing is Araceli. I love seeing her on Fridays because during the Jersey Shore season we always comment on how amazing the episode was  and how beautiful and funny Pauly D is. We always end up complaining about AP Human Geography and asking ourselves why we took a class full of freshmen.  Our conversations are always interesting and make sixth period interesting. Being in a school full of interesting people doesn’t happen very often so, we should be thankful for being at a great school like Whitney M. Young. 

A Letter to Cormac McCarthy

Dear Cormac McCarthy,

The Road was a very interesting book that I honestly had a hard time putting down once I started reading it. I fell in love with the characters and their courage and strength throughout their journey. Their determination to find a new home as well as a better life (if one did indeed exist) was kind of a slap in the face. It made me realize something; I honestly have nothing to complain about. I complain about every little thing possible throughout my day that makes me unhappy.  While reading the book I imagined myself in the boy’s situation and I probably would not have gotten as far as he did.

The boy encountered so many horrific sights and situations as such a young child and yet he still had the courage to continue on with the journey. I was amazed at what the father taught the young boy, such as how to shoot a gun and even when to shoot it and at who to shoot at. The fact that the man wanted to kill the son if anything were to happen to him made the book so much more heart wrenching and it kept me on edge. Also, when the mother left the man and the son, I was extremely mad at first but then I took the time to think about it and I realized that she sacrificed herself so that the man and son would ACTUALLY have a better chance of survival. I wonder how the book would have been if she had stayed though. Anyway, I enjoyed your book very much! 

Defend the Poet! Charles Bukowski

In Charles Bukowski’s poem,” Dinosauria, we”, he expresses his thoughts on society and how the world will end up if humans continue on their path that they are currently traveling on. He presents very interesting ideas about the human population being born into a world that is full of cruel behavior. This behavior includes hospitals bill that are impossible to pay as well as death, disinheritance, violence and drugs. Bukowski exposes his thoughts on the terrible future that will befall on society. He states that radiated men will eat one another’s flesh for survival…I do not know if humans will one day resort to cannibalism for survival but everything else that he writes about in his poem has already happened. There have been explosions that shook the earth during wars, jails are already full and crimes go unpunished because of the connections that people have, there have been a handful of oil spills that have killed fish and ruined water, plants, and beaches, and lawyers charge the common man unreasonable prices that it is indeed cheaper to plead guilty. So, is Bukowski right about the future if most of the things that he has written about are already happening in society? Bukowski’s ideas may seem a tad bit outrageous today but the future of our society can take a turn for the worst at any moment. As sad as it may seem, the world’s ending may come sooner than expected due to the greediness of humans. 

A Direction the Class Needs

As we walk into Philosophy in Literature class every day, we do not expect to be lectured nor do we expect to take lengthy notes that we will never look at again. Instead, we walk into class expecting a discussion with our teacher and our peers about literature that we have read that reflects society’s beliefs and actions both in the past, present, and future. The discussions enable students to express their opinions as well as listen to other people’s points of view. These discussions may lead into disagreements which is great because students get an opportunity to look deeper into their opinions and they formulate an even more extensive approach to literature. They begin to question the author’s intentions and they relate the authors words to what is going on in the world. Relating literature to our lives enables us to look at the society that we belong to and we discover its flaws and maybe even a few good things about it. Relating literature to our lives also allows us to predict our future and how society is going to function in the next few years.

Group work is a great way of getting to know our peers on a personal level based on their thoughts on certain social and political issues. It allows everyone to share their thoughts with each other and when a disagreement arises, it gives students an opportunity to defend their positions on an issue  by examining it from different perspectives. 

Father & Son, Mother & Daughter, Mother & Son, Father & Daughter

Children and parents have a very special relationship that is characterized by certain features that are different in every relationship. Parents are seen as role models for their children and in some situations, parents are considered heroes in their children’s eyes.  While children are at a young, vulnerable age, their parents try to teach them what is best for them which includes but is not limited to behavior, habits, and religious as well as political beliefs. Children also rely on their parents for unconditional love as well as protection from the evils of the world.

Fathers and sons and mothers and sons have very strong relationships but they differ from one another. Fathers and sons usually go on expenditures and engage in manly activities that brings them close together. Sons look up to their fathers and have respect towards them. They also learn how to be men from their fathers.  Mothers usually have a more sensitive relationship with their sons, such that a son can come to his mother for advice or love.

Daughters and fathers and daughters and mothers also have very strong relationships that differ from one another. Daughters look up to their fathers as the patriarchs that keep the household together and they see them as protecting the home as well. Mothers and daughters have a very close relationship because a daughter learns how to be a woman from her mother. A mother is always there to give a daughter loving, thoughtful advice that she can benefit from.

How Do I Know What I Know

Life is a composition of experiences, realizations, successes, as well as failures. Through all of these adventures in life, we come across all sorts of knowledge that we may either find very useful or worthless. The knowledge that we acquire comes from an array of sources that includes teachers, preachers, parents, friends, the media…the list is endless. People obtain a lot of knowledge through reading books, magazines, and newspapers and so on. These sources may at times be biased and may alter our previous knowledge about a certain subject. By being exposed to these sources throughout our entire lives, we obtain a vast amount of knowledge that we know is in our possession. But where did all of this information originate from? A lot of findings that were discovered by ancient Greeks and Romans still have an influence on our lives today. Would our lives be different if they hadn’t come up with theories and ideas? Would we be learning different subjects in school? The questions are endless and the answers are very vague and debatable. People in today’s society seem to accept what we learn in school and we apply our everyday lives to the knowledge we obtain. I know what I know because of the various experiences that I have had in my life. While on my life path, I will discover for myself whether or not the knowledge I have is useful, how I will use it, and who I will share it with.

God in 2010

As we look around in today’s society, it is hard not to notice the extent to which people thank God for various reasons. People’s belief in a God is based on their religion and faith in something greater than themselves. God’s name is frequently mentioned in prayer, when asking for something that is needed, or when something grand occurs in one’s life.

                Today, in the year 2010, God resembles a concept, a faith, a belief that we tend to either consciously or unconsciously thank when we attain what we previously thought was unfeasible or when we cry out for help in desperation when there is no one left to hear our pleas. Who do people really think of when the word “God” is released from their lips? Do people hold a constant belief in God, something greater than themselves, or do they only turn to God when they are in need? The possibilities are endless due to the different perceptions, experiences, and influences that impact people’s lives and opinions.  There are some people who hold a very strong religious faith whose belief in God motivates them to do well in life. There are others who believe in God, but do not exercise their religion on a regular basis and then there are those who do not have a strong faith in any sort of religion. Of course, there are those citizens of the world who are able to classify themselves in between the three categories. But the question is, who are they basing their belief on? The answer to that lies in each individual’s belief and strength of faith and how they perceive something greater than themselves.

                

Candide's Punishments, Do They Fit the Crime?

                Candide, a naïve and vulnerable, young man embarks on an adventure after being thrown out of the Baron’s castle. After he had an encounter with the Baron’s daughter, Cunegonde, Candide’s luck runs out while he ventures around the world with several companions. Candide’s vulnerability often got him into a lot of trouble but his wit and surprising turn of events save his life.

                Candide’s misfortunes began at the gauntlet, where he was being punished by the army for taking a walk. This was an innocent move and Candide did not deserve a flogging. He was unaware of the strict rules of the army. After the Portuguese burned people alive to prevent future earthquakes,  they hanged Pangloss and flog Candide. Pangloss was hanged because he publicly announced his ideas and Candide was sentenced to a flogging because he listened to Pangloss with an air of curiosity. Candide did not deserve this punishment once again because listening to another person’s ideas is curiosity, not an illegal action that should be regulated by the government. Candide’s tendency to get involved in a certain situation at the wrong place at the wrong time causes lot of trouble. He gets sentenced to punishments that he does not deserve because he doesn’t know how to react to certain surroundings. Living in a castle and being taught by one philosopher, Pangloss, does not give  Candide a good understanding  of the functioning world. Therefore, his susceptibility  for getting blamed or fooled is not fair due to his lack of the malevolence in the world. 

Who is the Modern Gadfly?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

These are the words of Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress known for his lifelong struggle against apartheid and being the first African American president in South Africa. His encouraging words emphasize the importance of being brilliant, beautiful, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. Mandela preaches to listening souls about the consequence of manifesting the Glory of God that is within us. He stated that there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. He wants people to let their own light shine because that unconsciously triggers others to do the same. “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” He wants the human race to be confident and to stand up for what they believe is right. He encourages the citizens of the world to be strong and that strength will diffuse onto others which will create positive change and peace in my parts of the world. The philosophy he follows states that “I am what I am because of who we all are” which shows how much he believes in people working as a whole, united,  toward one goal.

I have a lot of respect for Nelson Mandela due to the fact that he stood up for what he believed in and was sentenced to prison for it. His main concern was the people and their futures, not his own. He preaches to this very day about the importance of people uniting to create a positive change. 

The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living?

Socrates studied scientific theories that led him to construct the principle which states that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” We were put on this Earth as human beings with not only a body, but also a mind that is meant to question our existence. I agree with Socrates and believe that in order to be a part of this Earth; we have to ask ourselves the purpose of our existence. Everyone has a path that they create for themselves in life, whether it is a positive or negative one. Every person has an impact on others, whether they realize it or not.  Everyone is significant to this planet, which is why we must question our every move and the objects around us.

                We, as people, are born into different environments that contain racism, sexism, and discrimination. We develop a certain self awareness after being faced with racism that alters our behavior and the way we see ourselves. When someone views us in a certain way, after a while we convince ourselves that we are who that person says we are. Humans tend to obsess over their negative features in order to be more motivated to fix them in order to please not themselves, but the people around them. Du Bois thought deeply about the experience of being an African American in a nation that consigned nonwhites to second class citizenship. He discovered that he saw himself both as he was to himself, inwardly, and how he was seen by the white people. In my opinion, when you are seen as inferior in another race’s eye, you too begin to see yourself as they see you because of the constant reminder of their view of you. We then begin to question ourselves because we do not know who we truly are because on one hand, we see ourselves as regular people living out our lives while others see us as inferior. Are we inferior to the entire nation? How do others perceive me? What am I doing in this world? In order to feel a part of this world, we must question and find the answers that we seek. 

Eulogy

Samantha Kania, loving daughter, sister, and friend, will forever be remembered as a polite, responsible, optimistic young woman who lived her life to the fullest with no regrets. Samantha devoted her precious time to family and friends whom she cared very deeply about. She was a young woman who focused on the people around her; she valued the love, care, and companionship that they provided her with. She loved her family and was an excellent role model for her younger brother who was following in her academic footsteps, climbing up the ladder of success. In her mind, there was nothing that could not be achieved; she pushed everyone around her to do their best because she believed in their potential. Her friends saw her as one that brought them all together, looking to have a new adventure whether it was at the beach, in the city, or in the neighborhood. For her, there were no limits on the things that an adolescent could experience while they were still able to. Seeing the ones she loved with a huge smile on their face was of the major things in life that made Samantha happy.


The thing about Samantha that struck people the most was the fact that she cared so much about her loved ones’ well being. There was never a problem that she couldn’t address and try to help solve. If a family member or friend was ever in need, Samantha was certainly ready to assist them in whatever they needed. She was never selfish and wanted the best for everyone. Her generous, warm heart was always willing to give. Friends and family could trust her with problems, secrets, and the latest gossip.

Aside from probably being one of the world’s worst drivers, Samantha was a very responsible young adult who dreamed of succeeding in life. Throughout her entire academic career, she strived to do her best at all times. Samantha worked very hard, believed in herself, and soaked in all the positive encouragement that her family and friends provided her with. She always wanted to make her parents proud of their only daughter and that motivated her to be successful in both the academic field and the field of life.