Thursday, December 15, 2011

Let Me Be Free

Winter Break could not come at a better time. Almost everyone at Sunset is getting on my last nerve. It's the holidays, for crying out loud. Shouldn't we all be spreading the cheer rather than the gossip and drama? My word. I'm actually embarrassed. I thought Sunset was better than this.

A few weeks ago, we would pride ourselves on the fact that we all get along with one another, we don't have big drama, and we support one another. There were comments on how talented students at Sunset are, how athletic they can be, how proud we feel to walk the halls with the nicest, most genuine people in the Metro League. Now I'm embarrassed to say I go to Sunset with all this unnecessary drama. I mean, HONESTLY Sunset, get it together.

First off, social networking sites are not a place for drama. Besides, the drama on social networking sites is pathetic. If anyone had a serious problem, it would be a million times more beneficial to work it out in person. Especially since it's not something that everyone wants/needs to be part of.
Second, why are people arguing about some of these things, anyway? I can guarantee you that there will be people in your life that you won't like. There will be people that annoy you, people who do things that bug you, people who offend you with what they say. But what's the point in trying to argue with them on everything? You'll never win all the arguments, and if you do, what does that get you? Fired. That's what. There will be coworkers who irritate you, but you need to learn to deal with it. You can't have everything in life. Pick your battles wisely, and pick the ones that will help you to succeed, rather than the ones that will weaken your opponent.

It feels good to get that off my chest. I'm ready for a break from Sunset. It will be a chance for everyone to cool off and hopefully return as the loving, caring family of Apollos we were in September.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Average, yet Above

I wouldn't go as far as to say my life has been extraordinary, but it has definitely been the best 17 years I could have wished for. Sure, I've had some bad times, but I've had some really great times too, and every experience I went through made me the strong individual I am today. I wouldn't change it for all the money in the world.

There have been a lot of experiences that have definitely left an impression on me, but few that have truly changed my life. Though I think it is safe to say that each experience that left an impression did change my life in one way or another, they didn't immediately change the way I looked at things. Very few things have done that.
One thing that changed my life was an episode of One Tree Hill, (which is the best show ever) called "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Sleep". It is about teen bullying. I suggest you go watch the episode, now. But if you decided not to, I'll give you the gist. It's about this guy who brings a gun to school and holds seven kids hostage. He talks about how he walks into school and gets bullied, every day, never ending. He brought the gun because he was tired of it, he just wanted it to stop. Unfortunately, the bullying got to him, and he committed suicide.

       "You really think I'm the only one? Ask yourself this: Have you ever treated someone like crap in this school? Ever left someone out? Ever broken up with someone in the time it takes to pass a note and disappear? Or talk trash behind their back? Maybe you just ignored it all. While you worry about the big game, or the prom, or the bake sale for the pep club, you ask yourself that, and then you tell me, is anyone else out there"
      "Whats wrong with you? He's just a kid. We're all just kids. We have this life, and the things you say and do, we feel that. How can you have so much hate in your heart? How can you act like it doesn't matter? It does matter. What happened to us? We're just kids, we can't be like this. It's not possible.
     "So what? All this because you didn't get into college? All this because you're not popular?" "No. All this because I'm tired of it."
     "I guess that's the upside to not being there in the first place, right? Nobody misses you when you're gone" "It's not supposed to be this way. The artists and scientists, none of them fit in at 17. You're supposed to get past it. Adults see kids killing kids and they know its a tragedy because they used to be those kids. The bullies and the beaten and the loners. But you're supposed to get past it. You're supposed to live long enough to take it back."
     "I want to tell you something. It gets better. It does. That pain in your stomach, that pain in your heart, it goes away. That voice in your head that says there's no way out, its wrong. Please, believe me, it gets better."

It is quite possibly the most inspiring and quotable TV episode I have ever seen, and every time I watch it, it makes me cry. Not only because it's sad, but because it happens all around the world. The episode was made in 2003. Kids brought guns to school then, they bring guns to school now, and they brought guns to school long before 2003. Unfortunately, it's a cycle that never seems to end. Things like this happen because kids are bullied. And who bullies them? The ones in the school that hold the power. The ones that want to be popular. The ones who pretend to be brave, strong, and powerful, yet inside are weak, pathetic, and lonely.
School shootings happen way more often that we think, and what is so heart breaking about it is that nothing is being done. It is a problem with a very simple solution: stop bullying. But that seems to be harder than expected. Bullying happens every day, and even with anti-bullying week in schools, it doesn't change the fact that it happens. Sadly, bullying seems to have become second nature. When we feel threatened, we bully someone weaker to boost our self esteem and make us feel better. But why? What good does that do? You bully someone, who, in turn, bullies someone else in order to feel better. The cycle goes on.

Maybe we can't avoid being bullied, but if we avoid retaliation, bullying can end. It's simple, really. Bullies are only powerful if you let their words and actions hurt. Nothing destroys them faster than ignoring them. It may be difficult, but it works. All a bully wants is a reaction out of you. If you ignore them, and continue to ignore them, they'll give up. Don't stoop to their level. You're better than that. Brush it off your shoulder, keep your head up, and move on. There will be people in life who will constantly try to bring you down, but the most important thing is to show them that you're stronger than you look.

I can't wait to get out of high school. All the bullying seems to happen here, because people are sheltered. It doesn't happen in college because the bullies get a big slap in the face from reality. Don't be that person who gets slapped by reality. It's unfortunate to see.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Why?

Apparently, everyone at Sunset forgot that last week was "Random Acts of Kindness" week, and just one month ago was "Anti-Bully Week". Just because the week has passed doesn't mean its okay to bully again, or be rude again. What is wrong with high school these days? A lot. That's for sure.

I'm not sure what's worse; the fact that someone made a "Gossip Girl" twitter account, or the fact that 85 people follow it, and it's only been up for one hour. Following them is exactly what they want. Tweeting at them  saying how pathetic they are is exactly what they want. Its adding fuel to the fire. The things posted clearly aren't true, but the fact that people read them and talk about them makes them true to some people. The entire thing is just pathetic. It's weak, and the person who did it should be ashamed. I feel bad for whoever it was; they need a serious self esteem boost, not to mention a big old slap in the face by karma. Who's the bitch now?

A couple days ago there was a Facebook "Sunset Slut" Page. Really, I mean REALLY? First off, that's not even original, second, its incredibly rude. I don't think people understand that words can hurt. We all know the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" but in high school, they do hurt. More than we should let them, but we're insecure and we worry too much about what other people think. Making accounts that bash on other people is one way that causes teen suicide. It's why there are school shootings and why kids bring guns and knives to school.
Does that make you feel safe? Does knowing that by creating this account to bash on the "populars" or the "sluts" or the "douche bags" makes the risk of a school shooting that much bigger? Does that make you want to go to school? I don't know about you, but it makes me scared. I don't want a school shooting. I don't want someone from my school to commit suicide because of this. I don't want anything bad to happen to my school, because, believe it or not, I like it. I like everyone that goes there. I may be annoyed with people at times, but I'm old enough and mature enough to know when to let it go. It doesn't do anyone any good to bash on other people, and if you never learn that lesson, I feel really sorry for you.

To whoever made those accounts, I can't begin to explain how sorry I feel for you. There's no need to create negative attention to get noticed. Maybe being noticed isn't all it's cracked up to be. There are more important things in life than being noticed in high school. What people remember most about you is what they learn about you in high school. Before you do anything too stupid, why not think, "Do I want to be remembered like this?"

Think twice before you do something, especially something on social networking sites. Karma's a bitch and always has a way of coming back.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hope for the Hopeless

I'm a girl. That means I'm a hopeless romantic, like all girls at one point in their lives. Every girl dreams of the fairytale wedding, the Nicholas Sparks romance, and the happily ever after fireworks. It's romantic, heartwarming, and entirely Hollywood. Yet we still believe, hope, and pray that we are the exception to this heart crushing reality. It's depressing, really. When I think about it, reading Nicholas Sparks books or watching romantic movies just puts me in a downer mood. It's cute and makes me smile, don't get me wrong, but it just makes me sad. It makes me jealous more than anything, which is silly because the entire idea is fake. Someone, somewhere, came up with this perfect idea, this dream, and wrote a script or a novel about it for others to enjoy. I don't enjoy it; I envy it.
Its stupid that I put so much thought into perfection. It can never be reached. Ever. Which makes the world we live in beautiful. Everyone has their flaws, their troubles, their frustration. It makes us human. Yet too many people strive to be perfect, altering their natural self with plastic surgery, pounds of make up, or designer clothes. What people don't seem to understand is that behind all that, there is still a perfectly imperfect human, waiting to be let free.
I've come to the realization that it is completely pointless to strive for perfection. I've already known its impossible, but now I realize it's just a waste of time. I'd rather rock my flaws then hide them. At least I'm being honest with the world about who I am and there are no secrets. Secrets can be really ugly, especially ones that have been kept hidden for a while. Which is why the truth should just be told.

I can't help that I fall for the fairy tale romance, the movie dreams, and the forever and always love. I'd be lying if I said I'd never dreamed my life was a movie. There are those moments in life where you just wish your dreams would come true and something romantic would happen, whether it be the guy of your dreams traveling hundreds of miles to find you and tell you how much he loves you, or simply going on a perfect date like one that only happens in movies. We all wish we had spontaneous romance in our lives, but unfortunately, that's not always the case.

If you are lucky enough to have a relationship like that, cherish it. Everyone wants one, but you are lucky enough to find one right now. And for the rest of us who have yet to find this perfection, have patients. It hasn't happened because it hasn't been the right time.

Timing is everything, and if something is meant to be, it will happen in good time.

Hot and Cold

I don't know if it's a severe case of senioritis or what, but lately, I've been really on edge when it comes to colleges. If someone tries to talk to me about it, I get incredibly irritated and snappy. I don't know why and I can't help it. I assume its because I feel so much pressure when it comes to choosing. A lot of people have had their lives planned out since freshman year. They know where they are going, what to study, who they will be rooming with. That's the thing that stresses me out. I had a plan, but it's nothing like what I'm thinking now. I don't know for a fact where I'm going, I've dipped my toes into countless programs to find my true calling, and I think I've yet to find one I really love. I don't think I'll know until I get to the school of my dreams. Which may be never, considering I'm facing the toughest decision of my life.
It's silly, really, to be so stressed about what college to go to. It's not like I'm signing away the next four years of my life; I can always transfer. I guess I just don't want more than one freshman year. Freshman year of high school was rough enough, now I have to have a second freshman year, this time for college. Two is more than enough, but if it comes down to it, I'd much rather be happy at the school I go to, even if it means moving around, than to be miserable for four years.
Even writing about this is making me irritated. I've just been that way lately.

Even some people are irritating me. The way they are acting just doesn't make any sense. Friends are supposed to support one another, right? But I've been seeing the complete opposite from some of my friends. I'm not trying to be hypocritical, I know I was doing the same, but seeing it from an outside perspective made me realize it's not okay. I believe in the fact that at some point, you're opinions only go so far, and your friends have to make the ultimate decision for themselves, whether it's one you approve of or not. It's a lesson for them, it's their life, let them live it. Besides, it may turn out completely opposite of what you expected. Friends are a support system, the opinions of them are always valued, but they aren't the ones who get to decide how to live your life for you. I understand if the intentions are purely to protect you, but at some point, as hard as it may be to do, friends just have to let go, and let mistakes be made. They exist for a reason; to make you stronger.
So for those of you who are facing difficulties in life, I guess all I have to say is do what your heart tells you. You only live once, so make it worth it. Take every chance that comes your way, you may never know what you'll end up regretting. That is one lesson I've quickly learned this year.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Religion?

Now I don't mean to offend anyone with this, and I'm certainly not trying to attack anyone's beliefs or views. These are simply my thoughts. If you take offense easily, I would suggest you stop reading. I won't take offense, really. I don't care if you stop. And if you continue, I warned you. So don't complain about it.
Moving on...

A lot of people went to Breakaway this weekend. Scratch that, almost everybody who's anybody went. I didn't, for multiple reasons. One being that I was out of town, but another being I'm not entirely sure I would have wanted to go. I'm not too familiar with what Breakaway is exactly, but I know it is some sort of religious camp put together by Young Life where other high school students gather at the beach for a weekend? Don't quote me on that, but that's my general understanding. Personally, I think it's great that so many people want to get together and discuss their common interests and beliefs in God and religion. It just doesn't seem like its for me. I don't know, I'm not really a religious person, so to speak.

I don't consider myself to be a specific religion, I don't go to church every Sunday, and in fact, the only time I've ever been to church is on Christmas Day in New Zealand a year ago. And I felt uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it was because I'd never been before, or if it was because it was Christmas Day, a very religious day to some, or if it was because I felt as if I was being forced to believe something I was completely unsure about. I'm not sure I'll ever fully understand. All I know is that I felt vulnerable and uncomfortable sitting in that church on Christmas Day.

I don't know what I believe, and to be completely honest, I've never really thought about it. I guess it just didn't seem all that important to me. I'm not an atheist, I'm just not sure what to believe in. I think there is definitely some form of something out there, but I'm not sure I'd put myself under the umbrella of a religion. I'd prefer to be my own sort of religion and believe exactly what I want to believe, rather than put myself into a group of people telling me what I should believe.

I guess the reason I've thought about this lately is I feel as if I've been forced to believe certain things. There has been so much going on around me that seems so religion-based and it is really making me think about things. There are clubs, Young Life, and even people who are always talking about God and religion and I feel as if I'm being brainwashed. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing, I mean some people love their religion and their faith in God, which is great. I just feel like it's not really for me, and I would much rather discover it on my own rather than feel as if it's being forced upon me.

I believe what I choose to believe, but I respect everyone else's beliefs. We are individuals, and our personalities represent who we are. Don't let anyone take that from you, and don't let others persuade you into something you're unsure of.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Greedy Americans

Normally, I don't blog like this, but I'm just so heated and I need to vent.

I was just talking with someone about the NBA lockout and how ridiculous it is. Why can't they come to an agreement? I get that the players don't really want a 40% pay cut, but when their salary is in the MILLIONS, I think they will be able to survive. They should have been saving some of their money in the first place. But at the same time, it's the owners faults for being in this predicament in the first place. It's the owners who agreed to the current terms back in 1999 when the last lockout was going on. The owners dug themselves into this ditch, it's not fair for them to demand an easy way out.
In all honesty, I just want to march into the negotiations and scream at everyone. Why can't these two sides come to an agreement? Because they are greedy and narrow minded. Don't get me wrong, I love my basketball, and I miss watching it and going to Blazer games, but really, the players and owners need to open their eyes and see each others point of view.

If that was the way more people were, the world would be a much more peaceful place. We wouldn't have the NBA lockout issue, there would never have been an NFL lockout issue, this whole "Occupy" trend wouldn't be such a big deal. Americans are so narrow minded. (Mind you, when I say Americans, I'm talking about the general, stereotypical American. Not everyone is this way.) They refuse to see the other point of view. Who knows, the other side might have some good ideas that could be used to form a compromise.
That word, compromise, is one that doesn't seem to be in the American dictionary. It seems that no one knows how to compromise. Things can't always be perfect, you can't always get what you want, and everything comes at a price. Life is a give and take sort of thing. Why can't people understand that.

I think everything needs to be redone. Wipe the slate clean, start over. But that is clearly not going to happen. These are Americans were talking about.

I guess my point to this venting ramble is that we need to find the true meaning to a compromise. Life is full of them, and we need to learn that nothing is perfect, and there is a price to pay for everything.

Also, we need to bring back the NBA. I'm having withdrawals.