Scout and Aristotle's Differences

 Today when I was reading To Kill A Mockingbird, I found a great difference with the way Scout thinks and the great philosopher Aristotle's beliefs. On page 227 when Jem and Scout are discussing the meaning of "background" and comparisons with people, Scout says something that instantly catches my eyes and bring me to the summer assignment of World History.  In her arguement, she tells Jem," No.. everbody's gotta learn," and that ," nobody's born knowin'." Her idea is opposite with Aristotle's view. It may have to do with age, and the fact that they are of different times but Aristotle believes the complete opposite. His idea is that everyone is born with knowledge, and that all they just have to do is tap into it. This comes back to the idea that somehow history and english always work together.

Drug Dealing to ... High Living?

If I were that girl, maybe it would have impacted me even more. This young man had changed my life in a sense; in a way that I don't even know of, but he did. Going to my locker, I walked along the packed hallways, hugging tightly to unknown people shoulders. While strolling slowly along, I over heard a girl say to a fellow next to her, " So why do you do it, I mean not to be nosy, but...," lowering her tone she continued, " sell drugs?" He looked at her and chuckled before his response. "Well, it's just what I do. It's what I have to do for the money, ya know? ", he said having no sense of eye contact at all. She frowned a bit and said, " Man, that's just a bummer.... there has to be another way for you? There has to be something else? " He looked at her with a sparkle in his eye and said," That's just it though.. There isn't.. " His voice echoed in my head when I closed my locker and went to my next class. There isn't. There isn't. It really brings even more sadness to me when people my age believe there is no hope for them. That there are no other ways. It saddens me that this is a lifestyle exceptable for them. That there are no higher hopes for themselves. There has to be someone to encourage them, to tell them they can get that job, or even achieve those grades. Those kind of people need to come alive... And that's exactly what I think he did. He brought that hope and encourager to life in me.

My Life?

At this point in my life, I feel like all it is is one great big argument. It's like every corner I turn there is someone waiting there, ready to say something that I disagree with. It really does frighten me, and I don't know what to expect or do. I guess this is a time in my life that I am charted out to disagree and butt heads with my parents, but I feel like I have experienced this all of a sudden and really hard. They say never mix your feelings with reality, but it seems like this is really all my life is. There are of course other components like love, happiness, and hope but arguments have chewed up, swallowed, and used a cup of hatred to wash them down. They have disappeared for now, and all I seem to have sometimes is myself. It gets lonely, but in time things will hopefully brighten up.

Pan's Labyrinth Connections

I love when you watch a movie for a second time and come across a connection with something else you have never noticed before. When I was watching a movie in Spanish class called "Pan's Labyrinth, " I noticed a scene in the movie that correlated with the famous story of Adam and Eve. The main character Ofelia is in her own world within her mind of imaginary tasks and stories. One action she must do is go into a beast's feast, but is instructed not to  touch any of the food. God gives the same type of instructions to both Adam and Eve. He specifically tells both not to eat anything fruit from one tree he points out. Ofelia is tempted by the food too much, and plucking the smallest grape, she pops on into her mouth. The minute this happens, the beast is waken up and she realizes she has done wrong. Similar to this, Eve bites into the fruit, giving life to the sinful nature within both the minds of Adam and Eve. Both of these events show that, as Atticus says, " [ They] just [have their] blind spots along with the rest of us." Neither of these characters are perfect, for no one is but there are consequences to actions.

The Youth In You

 My aunt showed me a wonderful writer named Andy Rooney. He's one of the writers where he can say only a few words, but it has a great impact upon you and really makes you think. One of his metaphors are, " I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. " People always put such an emphasis on how important it is to live your teen life. This is the exact reason why. The older you become, the faster your life slips aways like grains of sand. Slowly but surely, you'll look at your face and it won't be so smooth anymore, that belly will be a little fuller than it once was, and your youth spirit will fade away into the adult mentality. ( Of course, everyone will always still have the kid in them. )

In Their Shoes

It is so difficult listening to another person tell you what your life is. I received an e-mail that my aunt had sent me, regarding the way I have been for the past six months or so. It is such a depressing thing when you hear and take a look at what other people see in you. I feel like when I read things about me and how people view me, I wish I could be in there shoes. I could be that kid at school that I never talk to, or that mom that tries her best to understand her daughter and why she distances herself from her. That sister who hurts when she hears and sees what her little sister is doing. That story book anonymous voice that knows everything that is going on in that person's life and head. But that is exactly it. I guess I do see how others see it, but I don't understand why I am so immune to it. Or maybe I am not?

Fear

I was flipping through some old notebooks and came across a really interesting quote. It stated," The fearless are merely fearless. People who act in spite of their fear are truly brave." ( James A. LaFond-Lewis ) It is impossible to believe someone is fearless. As a child I would look at my father or older brother and think," Wow, they aren't afraid of anything. " But now that I'm older I realize things are never what they seem. But within this quote it is saying that the people  that have no fear are just fearless. This really stands for nothing and proves nothing. But those that do fear things, which consist of my father and brother, and still continue on to walk into what they fear makes them brave and it counts for something. Everyone has always has a fear; it's the action that you take towards that fear that makes you who you are or what kind of characteristic you have as a person.

Life Changing

Not too long ago I saw one of the most impacting plays that I have even seen at my Grandmother's church. It made me really open my eyes and relieze a lot of things. The story line was a true event that happened to one of the men based off of one young woman he had seen within his college. This girl dedicated her life to god, and went to a missions trip in the Andes Mountains. The most bizzare way to even get killed would be to die by a struck of lightening, and this is exactly how she dies. Slowly but surely, the people around her were effected by it and one young man committed suicide. I took away from the play that through times of great grief, as the people around this young woman suffered, you should always love on people and encourage them. You never know what a person might be going through until you see through there eyes.

Friendship

This weekend was completely wonderful. It was a chance to re-connect with my friend, Brenda. Iv'e been so busy with school and volleyball, that it was nice when this friday my season ended. Yesturday was when she came over, and it was such a great time chillin together once again. We talked about old times and picked up on our friendship like there was never a gap or break at all. That's when you know when you have a true friend. It is when they never leave you; even if you fall short on your part of being a good friend. Our friendship is better than ever if anything stronger and it was beautiful seeing her again. I can't wait to share many more memories to come!

A Wonderful Thought

I love Spanish class and my teacher. He probably thinks I am the weirdest student when I pull out a paper and write down what he says, but I can't help but scribble down his meaningful statements. Friday he said, "Could you imagine how the world would be if we could all see each other's problems or were transparent? Like, we had x-ray vision or something that looked only at problems? There would be no respect for each other. Instead, we fake it; or not fake it but just put them way back and try and be the very best we can be. That's all we can do." It amazes me what other people can come up with and what they imagine. It really made me think what would it be like if everyone could see each other's problems. No one would be perfect, and you would know so much about a person. There wouldn't be problems like stealing, or lieing, so would that make the world perfect? A lot to think about....

Hope

Last night my brother said a beautiful thing. While sitting in my room discussing the disappointment my father left upon us, he sighed and said, "False hope is worse than no hope at all. " I completely agree with him. If you have no hope, there is no loss in whatever it may be. But if you put even the smallest amount of hope into someone and they do not follow through with their word, it hurts that much more. You lose not only the hope you once had, but the trust that you instilled within that person. The truth is better than being lead into believing in something that will not come into play.