Me at the end

Well this is officially the last blog of the year....wow. As I think about it, these four years have gone by so fast. I still remember the first day of high school, the stress and the excitement that I experienced that day was unbelievable. Now, high school has come to an end and college life is approaching. I feel as if these past four years have made me a stronger person and a stronger student. I now have the ability to stand up for myself, my ideas, and my opinions. I have formed friendships that will hopefully last a long time and the knowledge that I have gained from my peers will always be with me. I'm excited to move on in life, meet new people, and pursue my life goals but I will always hold the experiences from the last four years of my life close to my heart. High school is over and as sad as it is, we will create more memories and achieve our goals.

Letter to The Prospective Philosophy Student

Dear Prospective Philosophy Student,

You are very lucky to be in Mr.McCarthy's Philosophy class. It is a class that you will definitely learn a lot from but not through the traditional teaching methods that you have probably been exposed to during your years here at Whitney M. Young. This Philosophy class will get you thinking about real world issues that are present today and that have occurred in the past. Class discussions are a major part of this class and through them I discovered how much one can learn from listening to your peers ideas  instead of just reading the theories of philosophers. This class will not only be focused on just the classroom setting but Mr. McCarthy is really big on getting his students to go out into the world and explore and experience different cultures and new places and things. This is very beneficial because most students are hesitant to go into new neighborhoods and explore different cultures. Also, the movies that Mr. McCarthy chooses are absolutely amazing even though they are movies one would not typically choose to watch at home. The books are also great because they lead to discussions that tie in the plot of the book into real world situations and issues. Mr. McCarthy is a great teacher who has the ability to allow everyone to express their thoughts and opinions during class so I'm sure that you will enjoy his class and learn a lot from it. Just remember to stay on track with your blogs!

Thoughts about Earlier Thinking

As I reflect on the last few years of my life, I begin to realize how much my way of viewing things is today compared to a few years ago. My thoughts have matured and the consequences of my actions are much more evident to me than ever before. When  I make decisions nowadays, I do not think about the consequences that will arise from it right away, instead I think about the consequences that will have a large impact on my life. Senior year has been a year full of important decision making that will have a large impact on the rest of my life. The relationships that I have formed with people have impacted my way of thinking and my outlook on life. Nowadays, I want to enjoy life more, seize every moment of every day because now that high school is coming to an end, it finally hit me that moments do not last forever and the only thing that we have from the past is our memories that should be cherished. I tend not to sulk over bad decisions like I used to, now I learn from my mistakes and take advantage of the lessons learned. The greatest change in my thinking so far in life has been not to be upset over losses or mistakes, but to grow from them and take them in as a learning experience that will mold my future self.

Surrounded by Cuckoos, but I was the crazy one

Cuckoo....? What exactly do people consider cuckoo nowadays? There are so many types of people in the world and everyone has a different opinion on exactly what normal is. So who exactly decides what types of people are cuckoo? In the movie 12 Monkeys, a psychiatrists admits that it is the art of psychology that decides what is right and what is wrong and who is cuckoo and who is normal. So, is it really up to psychology to decide who is normal or not? This may be so. In my opinion, culture has a  lot to do with what people consider cuckoo or normal. Characteristics that are considered the norm in some cultures may seem absolutely absurd to other cultures. There are so many different people in this world that the idea of being normal sounds a little absurd to me. With such a diverse world that contains massive amounts of types of behavior, it is hard to narrow it down to how people should act because well, everyone is different in their own way. There is of course a fine line between being yourself and being absolutely crazy but I guess we have to decide who's on what side of the line by using our judgement and the outlines that society has provided us with.

Together

When I think of the word "together" a million images flash before my eyes. These images are of my life and the people that I have spent the days of my life with. The memories that I remember the most and cherish the most are always with my family and friends. My family will always be a part of my life, whether I like it or not. You cannot choose your family but I am more than happy with mine and I cherish every moment I have with them. Family is one aspect of my life that is constant and I know that no matter what the situation, I can always go to the members of my family for help or advice. My friends have also played a major role in my life. I look back at the greatest moments of my life that I will never forget and my friends are always present in those memories. Friends bring together social moments that shape people, especially young adults. I rely on my friends for advice and a good time.

Save the Earth, Do this!

As we take a look around the world today, the citizens of the world are attempting to save the Earth. Consumers and producers alike are trying to reduce the waste and pollution on the planet and they are trying to increase recycling and reusing just about everything that can be reused or recycled. There is a huge problem though...not enough people care about the Earth enough to go out and buy organic food, recycled materials, or environmentally friendly products. The efforts of some individuals to save the Earth are great but they are not enough to save the entire planet before pollution and waste take over. Hopefully in the near future, there will be laws passed that will require both producers and consumers to change their lifestyles in order to accomadate the Earth's needs. If everyone put in a little bit of effort everyday, by recycling or using reusable bags, that would make an enormous positive impact on the well being of the planet.

Invisible

Invisible. Who is invisible? I feel as if people will be invisible until they step out into the world and are self aware of themselves and have confidence in their existence. Now, there are shy people who do not go running around town expressing their feelings, but that does not mean that they are invisible. Invisibility to me means that one does not even believe in one's self and their own ideas. People have to accept themselves for who they are, unless of course they are a danger to themselves or society. There is always room for change in someone but the only reason for change should be wanting to change for yourself, not for someone else or society because that shows a weakness that many people exhibit as they live their lives. Acceptance is one key element of life that I feel is missing in society. How many times a day do people shun one another because of their race, religion, clothing, sexual orientation, music choice, etc.? The answer to that is too many times a day. If people accepted one another, self expression would be more evident and people wouldn't be ashamed of who they truly are.

A Book to Read

I have read many books thus far and the one that I enjoyed the most and will always remember and probably read again is The  History of Love by Nicole Krauss. I enjoyed this book a lot because of the plot, the themes, and I love Nicole Krauss' way of writing the book like a mystery that needs to be solved step by step. The History of Love is a novle in the form of a homage to things that have been lost and there is a novel within the novel also named The History of Love. There is a young girl named Alma who is growing up and figuring out the world and the people in her life. Leo Gursky is an old man who feels invisible to the world because he is alone and is afraid that after he dies no one will remember him. He has a son who he has not spoken to and he finds out that his son died. Leo lost everything he ever loved in his life, starting with his first and only love....Alma. This is a great novel and I recommend it for everyone.

Movie Review

Inception is a mind blowing movie that kept me entertained from the beginning to the end of the movie.  Leonardo DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, a skilled thief who has the rare ability of stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable.This skill has made him an international  fugitive and cost him everything that meant something in his life, including his wife. Cobb is offered a chance at redemption through inception. Cobb and his team of specialists have to plant an idea into someone's mind through inception, this task is extremely dangerous and Cobb's memory of his wife often interrupts the mission. The concept of inception is so mind blowing and the way the movie portrays this rare skill is quite unbelievable. The cinematography of the movie was very captivating and the actors performed exceptionally well.

Art Review

The artist that I have chosen to review is Claude Monet and his painting called Fishing Boats Leaving the Harbor, Le Havre.

I chose Claude Monet because he was a founder of French impressionist painting which I find beautiful and I wanted to see what kind of art pieces he created. As I look at this piece, my eyes wander from one end of the painting to the other. I am completely absorbed in Monet's use of color in this painting. The different shades of blue and green work so well together its almost unbelievable that one man could conjure up such a great mix that feeds the viewers eyes with awe. The people in the painting make it come alive because of  the way that they are positioned, some walking to a destination, others gazing as the boats and the water. The boats also make the painting come alive because they all seem like they have a mission that needs to be accomplished at the end of the day. Claude Monet is a true artist in my eyes because he took such a simple, everyday sight and turned it into a masterpiece which people can enjoy. This painting would definitely be my definition of art because of the colors, creativity, and emotion that it holds.

We Have the Right

Living in the United States, we are granted many rights that allow us to live out our lives the way we want to within certain boundaries of course. One of the many rights that we posses is the right to choose. We posses the freedom to choose where we want to go to school, what religion we want to practice, who we want to associate, and so on so forth. These decisions that we make impact our entire lives and we do not realize that there are a lot of nations that do not allow their inhabitants to make these decisions for themselves. We also have freedom of speech which allows us to be informed on what our government is doing, even though at times the information that the press has is not always complete. The ability to express our opinions without getting into too much trouble is one thing that we should appreciate because some societies do not let their inhabitants express any negative opinions about the state that they are living in because of fear of centrifugal forces. We also have the right to vote which a lot of people do not even want to participate in, but hey who can blame them...the government is not too popular among U.S. citizens these days. Living in a country with unlimited rights (sort of) can be a good thing and we should take advantage of those rights.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY !!!

Happy Birthday Mr. McCarthy

I sincerely hope that you have an awesome birthday and that you spend it with your family and friends! Thanks for being a great teacher filled with insight on great books and movies that have entertained me and educated me this year. I am so glad I took philosophy this year. Well all I have to say now is:

This is a Polish version of Happy Birthday....it is called STO LAT :) enjoyyy.

Sto lat, sto lat,

Niech żyje, żyje nam.

Sto lat, sto lat,

Niech żyje, żyje nam,

Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech żyje, żyje nam,

Niech żyje nam!

Translation: 

A hundred years, a hundred years,

May he (she) live, live for us.

A hundred years, a hundred years,

May he live, live for us.

Once again, once again, may he live, live for us,

May he live for us!

X is Known

After beginning to read The Biography of Malcolm X, I honestly believe that he is one of the people that I will remember for the rest of my life. His story is so bold, honest, and brave. My respect for this man skyrocketed as I turned each and every one of the pages in his biography. Malcolm X went from being a good student to a drug addict, burglar, and hustler to being a firm believer in the Nation of Islam and its founder, Elijah Muhammad. After being addicted to cocaine and reefers, he ended up in jail where he discovered his true religion and his meaning in life.

His name may be mentioned in history books, but it is not as commonly mentioned or remembered as Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King Jr. I have a lot of respect for him because his story is not only a unique one, but it is one that should be as known as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks and even Harriet Tubman. He is a person of courage, determination, and faith…who in my opinion makes a great role model and person.

He should be known for the triumphs that he endured because they are truly inspirational and can convince people that no matter what they have gone through in life, they can always turn toward a more positive route and make something great out of themselves while making a positive change in the world. 

X Marks the Spot

When I think of X, I think of something that has been discovered. Does that mean that someone was searching for something? Or that one was lost in a journey and they finally found their destination? Well, in my opinion it can mean a lot of things.
I think of life as a journey where one discovers themselves and the world around them through trial and error, laughs and cries, as well as disappointment and happiness. Its not the destination in most cases, it is the journey. On the way to your destination, you will encounter numerous objects, situations, and people. Everyone's destination is different....it might be spiritual, tangible, career based, or love based. X marks the spot. When you are on your journey, you might stop before you reach your X because you have discovered yourself and realized you are happy exactly where you are.
As time goes by, our destination changes or we might constantly be adding new destinations to our journey. My ideal X is happiness with the people that mean the most to me in life, tangible objects not included. My X is a time and place in my life where I can look out into the world and say with confidence that I am proud of my accomplishments, learned from my failures and mistakes, and found people in my life that I want to share my life's moments with.

Music!

The song that I chose to review is called "Desert Rain" by Edward Maya. Edward Maya is a Romanian artist and he teamed up with Vika Jigulina to create this song which I love. Desert rain has a light, atmospheric feel to it and there is a repeated and echoed accordion line that weaves in and out of the mix which makes the song great. Vika Jugilina's voice is whispery which adds on to the hynpotic feel of the track. Her voice is amazing and has the ability to  put one into a trance while listening to the song. The entire feel of the song is that of a memory drifting in and out of the mind. The song is extremely catchy as well. The lyrics are simple but they have a powerful message and they create an image of dreams. The song  is very uplifting and something I would imagine would make anyone want to get up and dance. It’s a clean song with no curse words or demeaning language which allows one to focus on the beauty of the song. This song is definitely going to be on repeat on my iTunes playlist for a while.

I know this means something

Hmmmm. Well we are used to being told that everything has a meaning, a purpose. We sit behind our desks, pens in hand, jotting down notes about what we have been told are the best philosophers. But, isn't everyone a philosopher?  We all look for the meaning of our lives, we solve problems, and create our own identity and philosophy. Our lives are where we display our philosophy.  In my opinion, it is okay to learn about the greatest philosophers of all time because they created what is seen as a great awakening to the philosophical world, but i think that we give them way too much credit for their thoughts.  They might have been the "greatest thinkers of their time" but its because they were scholars and there weren't that many people that could read or write so their thoughts stood out the most. If we glance at today's society, there are a lot more people that are educated and literate so they can all write down their philosophies even though they won't be taught at schools across the world for years to come.

A good food reviewww!!!

People need to be completely honest when reviewing a restaurant. Everyone has different tastes and preferences of course, but when reviewing a restaurant one needs to address a few things. First of all, the service at the restaurant has to be reviewed because no one wants to go to a restaurant and be served by impatient, rude waiters and waitresses. Commenting on the decor and the music in the restaurant is also important because it is necessary for people to know what kind of place they will spend their time in and if it will suit their tastes and preferences. The cleanliness of the restaurant also has to be exposed because a restaurant should be clean, the plates should be thoroughly washed, and the silverware most definitely has to be spotless. Now, the most important thing to comment on is the food. Now of course there are many things on the menu to choose from and the reviewer might order something that the person reading the review might not like so it is also important to comment on the content of the menu. Stating whether the ingredients are fresh and so on will give readers a chance to see if the restaurant is being taken care of and supplied with fresh food that goes into the cooking.

Is King Still King?

Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a prominent  African American  leader who played a major role in the advancement of the civil rights leader. He is best known for leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott and for his “ I have a dream” speech. He inspired African Americans to fight for their rights and to end racial segregation and discrimination.

Most Americans recognize the name Martin Luther King Jr. and majority are aware of his significance in American history. We have dedicated an entire day to remember his heroic leadership which is on his birthday. In my opinion, people in this country have respect for Martin Luther King Jr. and that respect  will not disappear overnight. We have learned about him and his great actions which have been turned into movies, books, and are mentioned in songs and other media context and even everyday conversation. His courage inspires many to follow their dreams and he is the symbol for achieving what one thinks is impossible. He will be considered a leader for a very long time even though society’s interests have shifted towards the media, social networking, and current events, we should always remember the people who have changed our nation for the better. We need to show the future’s kids how important it is to stand up for what you believe in and by teaching them about Martin Luther King Jr., they will hopefully see him as a source of inspiration. 

I'm a Shoe

Living the life of a shoe is not an easy one because as a shoe, I am always on the go, ready for the adventures that my owner will put me through. I am very obedient and go wherever my owner goes. I am such a good companion and oh so necessary to protect the soles of one’s feet. I enjoy going on long walks and occasional runs around the park. I prefer sidewalks over grass, mud, sand, and pebbles because the smooth surface doesn’t irritate my skin. I really enjoy being well taken care of and cleaned at least once a week because the city’s walking grounds aren’t the cleanest. I also appreciate it when my owner wears cleans socks that do not contain any sort of odor because the stench foot sweat is definitely not what I want to be inhaling all day long.

I take pride in the adventures that I encounter throughout the day, I travel so much without even realizing it and it allows me to form a connection with my owner. By getting to accompany my owner in their everyday activities, I get a chance to look into the life and trials of the person that I will be with for about a year or two. Being a shoe isn’t so bad, as long as I don’t get sand or rocks in me.