My Sister's Keeper summary:

My Sister's Keeper is a wondrous adventure that takes on an emotional roller coaster. It's a page-turning book that I couldn't put down for one minute because my mind was captivated by the way Jodi Picoult crafted the intriguing plot and used intricate detail. The story's formation is very similar to The Poisonwood Bible's. Each chapter is a part of the story that is told by the characters of the book. Basically, the Fitzgerald family is in a major crisis. All their lives, they have had to make life or death choices in order to save Kate, Sara and Brian Fitzgerald's daughter. At a very young age, Kate was diagnosed with APL, which is a terminal cancer. In desperate attempts to save Kate’s life, Sara and Brian "created" a baby that would be a perfect donor for Kate. Whenever Kate needed a blood transfusion, platelets, or bone marrow, Anna was the one who donated these things.
Although Kate was slowly dying, it was almost as if Anna was never really living. All her life, she accepted the fact that she was only created to save her sister. It didn't matter if Anna wanted to play hockey, which was her hearts desire, or interact with friends like any normal child should. She was trapped within the hands or her parents that only used her whenever Kate needed to undergo medical procedures. But enough was enough. At one point, Anna couldn't take all the hospital trips, needle incisions, and blood withdrawals. She didn’t have any control of here body and thus filed a lawsuit for medical emancipation. Anna hired a straightforward lawyer named Campbell who was always accompanied by a service dog. They spent a lot of time together to create arguments that would free Anna of her own state of being “trapped.” But this process was very difficult. All throughout the book, Anna couldn’t make up her mind because as much as she loved her family and wanted to do the right thing by giving Kate any part of her body, she was tired of going through such procedures. Anna’s heart was constantly torn and in order to save her from being persuaded into donating a kidney, Campbell requested if she could be under the supervision of a temporary guardian. But what Campbell didn’t know was that the chosen supervisor was his ex-girlfriend Julia whom her always loved but drew himself out of the relationship because of his condition.
In the past, Julia and Campbell were madly in love. They shared intimate moments together and exemplified the true meaning of love, the kind of love that you only see in fairy tales. Sadly, after Campbell's 18th birthday, he got into a tragic car accident and began a life of unexpected epileptic seizures. Because he loved Julia and didn't want her to life with such a burden, he broke up with her so that she could have a life of happiness a freedom. However, all these years, Julia believed that there was always something wrong with her; that she just wasn't good enough for Campbell. It was fate that brought them together on this particular case.
As each chapter passes, you learn about how each character views the situation. You realize that this entire case is very difficult because although the Fitzgerald family is doing everything in their power to save Kate, they have to come to an end. This case was mainly brought up because doctors claimed that Kate now needed a kidney transplant and they would proceed with surgery if the kidney were donated from Anna. A long battle with torn decisions and opinions continues to happen until the Judge finally makes his decision. Judge Desalvo has finally decided to let Anna have control over her body in addition to Campbell assisting to all medical procedures. You may have thought that this entire upbringing was a result of Anna's weariness of going through a lot for Kate. But in the end, there is a twist. Deep down, Anna was always willing to do what she needed for her sister because she loved Kate. In return, Kate persuaded Anna to file a lawsuit because she couldn't stand seeing her in such misery and was convinced that it didn't make sense to go through anymore when she was already dying.
After all the frustration, stress, and emotional burden the Fitzgerald's went through, the book ended with a tragic accident. From the first page, you could tell as a reader that someone was going to die. The obvious choice would be Kate because of her condition. However, this wasn't the case. The day right after the trial had ended; Anna was brutally hit by a car. When she got to the hospital, doctors announced that she was brain dead and was only breathing through a respirator. Knowing that Kate still needed a kidney, Sara and Brian agreed that they would proceed with the transplant. Miraculously, this transplant is a permanent cure. Kate has not had a relapse since and forever carries her sister in her heart.
There are many connections that one can make to My Sister's Keeper because it deals with issues of family. Every family has conflict and unfairness, but this is mostly a result of parents trying to protect you. It is understood that they ultimately want the best for you and also want you to have a better life than they did. Sara and Brian did these things to Anna because they loved Kate so much that they couldn't bear to live life without her. I am sure that if Anna were in Kate's shoes, they would do the same thing. There is also an issue of when parents don't listen to their children. All my life, I have been an obedient daughter to my parents. But sometimes, I find their rules and restrictions extremely unfair because they just don't understand the life that I currently live in. I know that they just want to protect me and do what's best but sometimes I eat myself alive with all my frustration. In fact, I sometimes wish my parents didn't love me so much so that I could be free to make my own choices and learn from the mistakes that I made. Another theme of this book is sacrifice. When you love somebody unconditionally, you are willing to do anything to keep him or her happy or in this case alive. Even though Sara and Brian didn't literally sacrifice Anna to save Kate's life, she did have to die in order to save Kate. If Anna didn't get into that car crash and continued to live a normal life, Kate would have probably died within a couple of months. It all seems unfair but then again, who said that life was ever fair?
I can't explain how this book has really changed my view on life. Before, I was really frustrated with my parents for their over protectiveness but I realized that's all they know how to do. They only want me to know how much they love me because when they were kids, their parents never expressed unconditional love. I am grateful for my parents and shouldn't have been so self-centered. Instead, I should live a life of love and acceptance. I have to accept the fact that my parents are doing everything in their power to express their love. In return, I just have to respectively obey because that's the only way I know how to love them back

quitessential quote: My Sister's Keeper

"Water never stops moving. RAin falls, and runs down a mountain into a river. The river finds its way to the ocean. It evaporates, like a soul, into the clouds. And then, like everything elses, it starts all over again" (402).

jamba juice:

Out of all the fruit smoothies that you could possible think of, Jamba Juice takes first place. You could be a planet smoothie admirer, Orange Julius buyer, or homemade smoothie kind of person, but nothing can beat the refreshing taste of this heavenly concoction. It may be a sin for something to taste that good and be good for you. One of the main problems in America is weight. There are not enough people being perfectly healthy. Most people are either on the obese side or anorexic side. So how can we maintain this healthy lifestyle? By eating healthy foods. Jamba juice is the answer to this entire problem. It's fast, healthy, good tasting, reasonable, and wonderful. It comes in dozens of different flavors from A-Z. You can name any fruit in the world and there will be a Jamba that has it. The creators are always coming up with new flavors and ideas to promote a healthy lifestyle. So they will always keep you guessing. But what's most interesting is that they have secret flavors that's not on their ordering board. This is what keeps their business intriguing to customers. Some of theses secret flavors are blue fruity pebble, white gummy bear, and pink starburst. Whatever you favorite may be, Jamba is the king of all smoothies. No other franchise can compete at the level of goodness that Jamba has. It's a wow factor and will always be consistently wonderful.

discussion

After discussing Exodus as a class, I really feel that I understand all the big ideas of the book and how they connect to other motifs and and symbolism's. WE all agreed that moving to the Congo resulted in totally messing up their lives. They are no longer a family. Each child is on their own and separated from each other, except for Adah. It was interesting to see how Leah is kind of living the life of Orleanna. Anatole went to jail, and Nathan went away to war. Orleanna had four girls, and Leah had four boys plus a new born at the end. In the beginning of the book, it was clear that Leah wanted to be just like her dad. But in the end, even though she doesn't purposely try to be like Orleanna, its a big coincidence. It was difficult to get the flow of our conversation at a consistent pace, but I feel that it was productive. Kayne made an interesting point. He shared how he was surprised about what happens to Nathan at the end of the book. Kayne thought that Nathan would go on living his life. Personally, I thought that his punishment for breaking up his family would be living a life of painful regrets. Instead, his misery ends fairly quickly. I honestly don't think that he learned his lesson and got what he really deserved. However, perhaps is was a good thing that Nathan passed away because now, they can live their lives without such a big burden on their shoulders.

lexicographer:

avarice: insatiable greed for riches.
billowy: surging.
damask: a reversible fabric or linen.
idly: not working or active.
imminent: likely to occur at any moment.
irreverence: the act of not being respected.
languidly: lacking in vigor or vitality.
meticulously: taking or showing extreme care about minute details.
plaiting: anything that is braided.
presentiment: a feeling that something bad or evil might happen.
progeny: a descendant or offspring.
quizzically: odd or queer.
semblance: outward aspect or appearance.
shroud: a cloth or sheet that is used to wrap a corpse.
surmised: to guess.
thatched: to cover with.
unabashedly: not embarrassed or disconcerted.
unfettered: to set free or keep from restrictions or bonds.

exodus movie:

This is a video that a student made which summarizes the next book, Exodus. Since I read Bel and Serpent, I was really curious to know what happened next without reading the entire book. It leaves some questions that remain to be answered. But when I go back to read the rest of the story, everything will hopefully be cleared up. :]

blaming:

Blaming one side of a party does nothing but reflect bad character. If we do have problems that need to be resolved, then we have to initiate the problem but then meet them half way. Svi Shaprio believes that schools must help students understand moral choices and social issues. He is absolutely correct. On average, students spend at least five hours of schooling everyday, sometimes even longer. But this is just the education part. After school there's sports, extra curricular activities, or time to kill because parents usually get off at five. If you think about it, you spend majority of your time at school than home. Most reasons for going home are to sleep and eat; basic shelter needs. Because of our lifestyle, teachers are kind of like our second parents. They teach us things that will be useful in future years, they arrange time to talk to us when we have questions or don't understand something, and they pit our best interest at heart. Why give any reason not to trust them? They put in the time and effort to help us grow in all aspects of life and without them we wouldn't be able to reach higher levels of knowledge and understanding. We will listen to what they say and in most situations come to a conclusion that their teachings are correct. Since they have gained our respect, they should be responsible for introducing moral choices and social issues. Honestly, if you hear these things from a parent, you might listen but not actually commit yourself to doing it. On the other hand, when you hear these things from someone that you respect differently from your parents and want to be on their good side, then you will do whatever it takes. From experience, I know that I probably have more respect for teachers than my parents. When my parents tell me to do something and I don't do it, I'm not worried about it because they won't stop loving me unconditionally. There's sort of a connection/understanding that doesn't make me freak out when I don't do tings their way to some extent. However, when a teacher tells me to do something, I will do it with haste and full effort because I want to have a consistent appearance of being a good student. Having that motivation of getting a reward such as an "A" really sparks ones attention. In situations, listening to your parents only makes you feel good because you did what was "acceptable" in their eyes. Teachers are not the only ones to have full responsibility though. The students must meet them halfway and take what they're teaching us into consideration. It's all about the choices we make. When a teacher is going out of their way to guide us down the right path, we have to step out of our comfort zone and do it. There is no excuse for being disrespectful because they are only trying to help us and make our lives better. But no matter what kind of things people say, you will always have that little voice in your head that will be influential. Our conscience never goes away. With wisdom, we must know hot to agree with our conscience to make the right choices. Making better choices makes a better world to live in. :]

perspectives:

The quote that I chose was from page 302, "I was thrown right into the mud. Before I even realized what had happened, my precious mirror had slipped from my hand and cracked against the side of the boat. I scooped it up quickly from the river's edge, but as I stood up the pieces slid apart and fell like knives into the mud. I stood up in shock as the boat sloshed away from the shore. They left me. And my mirror, strewn all around, reflecting moonlight in crazy shapes. Just left me flat, in the middle of all the bad luck and broken sky." This incident happened when their village got attacked my ants and made everyone evacuate. What Rachel's saying really captures the essence of who she really is. Out of all the objects that she could have saved from her house she chose a hand mirror. A more practical thing to bring would probably be something that could be used for ones benefit for survival such as food. But as we all know, the only thing that Rachel seems to care about is herself and more importantly her appearance. Her mirror is the only way that she can have her daily views of herself. Clearly, Rachel is so consumed with herself and doesn't do what a missionary should be doing. When her mirror broke, you can tell by her reaction that she was devastated. That mirror meant so much to her and when it was destroyed, she was stripped away from her first love. In a way, Rachel is kind of like a mirror, you can only see ones beauty from the outside. You can't see Rachel's good heart because she doesn't really have one. When you look into a mirror, you can't determine what kind of personality or characteristic that a person has. Actually, I can see right through Rachel. I feel like there's really no substance to her and she doesn't care about anything past skin-deep. Perhaps this quote is a foreshadowing too. Rachel says that she was left behind. As the book goes on, I think that she will be on her own and kind of detached from her family. I'm excited to know what is going to happen :]

pictures:

parallels

Between the Mosquito Coast and the Poisonwood Bible, one can see many parallels. It is interesting that both Nathan Price and the father of the family in the film have a strong passion to go to place with a paucity of resources to help make improvements and changes. Nathan drives to influence the religious aspect of people. He wants to save that Congolese out of the dark depths. His purpose for being in the Congo is more like a life investment. He's putting all this work into preaching the bible and spreading the news about God so that in they end, the Congolese can be rewarded with eternal life in heaven. Harrison Ford in the Moquito Coast is an inventor that strives to improve the life of poor villagers living in a remote area. He strongly denies the concepts of the bible because of his scientific mind set. However, he does have good knowledge of the bible. Ford's inventions and creations indeed improve the lifestyle of the poor villagers but how civilized does he want them to become? Although both thier intentions are ultimately for the better, they tend to convey their ideas in a more forceful way. Instead of making change by leading through example and gentle actions, they tell people what to do and what would happen if they don't follow their orders. They both have this state of mind that their decisions are ALWAYS right and there is no other way to do it better. But if you really want people to follow your actions shouldn't you be more approachable and flexible? Despite thier personal beliefs, it's very funny how many physical characteristics/ family simmilarities they share. Each family has four children each with a pair of twins. Only, the Price family have all girl siblings and the other family has all boys. There is one child in both families that adores their father and wants to be just like him one day. In addition, they are also of the caucasian ethnicity. Both of their wives don't seem to have much power. Ultimately, it's the men who have the final say no matter what the wives may think. Kind of like the husbands appropriate the power to themselves. I know that they want to help others but are they thinking about the best interest of their family before their passions? I don't know how to explain if what they are doing is right or wrong. It's a never ending question.

a Kilanga 180:

Think of Kilanga, the lush trees stretching towards the blazing sun. Its rays spread across the dry lands choking its cool waters. Red dirt blows in the air like ashes released from its laquer vase. An endless realm of jungle systematically lives the circle of life. Creatures loom in dark crevices and feed off of each other. Life bleeds as new ones grow. It's a never-ending story. Swampy rivers are infested with deceased animals. Scaly crocodiles patiently wait under the murky pools, waiting for a foolish soul to fall into its trap. Kilanga is hell, but I dare not say it in public. When I see this place though, it is heaven. No more living in the pit of fire. No more dangers lurking about every corner. No more Belgian army holding back many secrets to tell. This is heaven. Intricate sidewalks seem together tall buildings where learning takes place. Friendly faces of young adults move like herds of animals all together. We are humans here unlike back in Kilanga where we were the animals. Children learning everyday. Fresh water. Security. Freedom. How can you not want to be anywhere else? If my family only knew how much I hated Kilanga. I didn't want my children to take one step out that door because then I took a chance at never seeing them again. NO. This is where we will be; HEAVEN.

krumping:

Since I have all this spare time, I realized that there are so many other things to do in this world other than volleyball. Before, volleyball used to be EVERYTHiNG to me. Now, I'm really starting to enjoy different things. I have more time to experiment and figure out what I like to do other than volleyball. One of the things that I just started to like is krumping. Ever since I saw Stomp the Yard, I thought that krumping and clowning was the coolest thing ever. Check it out.

lit circle #2: [character analist]

Orleanna price:
Since Nathan Price seems pragmatically value his job more than his family, Orleanna appears to compensate that empty feeling that her children are missing. She actually cares about her children. However, she mentioned that "the hardest work of the day was deciding, once again, to stay with my family" (91.) In Genesis Orleanna was the mom who seemed to really love her children but now, it's like she secretly can't stand then. So, being a mother to her is just going through the motions. Orleanna is a very interesting character because she has a worrisome mentality. For instance on page 95 she said "I couldn't stop imagining the deaths of my children. I dreamed them drowned, lost, eaten alive." To see her children dying is a very disturbing image which then leads me to a conclusion. I think that Orleanna is scarred from somthing but I don't know what it is. In addition to her secret life, she mentions that shes not quite clear on how to live a religious life. My geuss is that she is only following what her husbands telling her to do. This side of her only becomes evident when she is telling the story from her point of veiw. Sadly, from the kids point of veiw, she sounds like a great mom. Oddly, when Orleanna talks I don't quite understand what's going on at first. I have to read the whole book and then go back and read Orleanna's passage to get it. It's very strange that the author would put her foreshadowing voice at the begginings of each book instead of the ends.

Leah Price:
Leah is the only character that resembles an ideal "missionary girl." She is kind and initially looks up to her father as a role model. She doesn't complain about living in the Congo and realizes that she must put her childish actions behind her so that she can mature into a Christiam lady. Leah knows the general "wrong verses right." Apart from her "good girl" side, she has a side that has a penchant for seeking adventures; something that a typical tomboy would want to do. Because of her friendly atitude, she has befriended a young boy named Pascal. They exchange knowledge with each other and enjoy their companionship. In regards to her realationship with her father, they don't seem as close anymore. I think that because her father isn't giving her the attention that she would like, she rebels.

Ruth May Price:
Although she is the youngest of all her sisters, she seems to be "growing up" at a faster pace. In Genesis, Ruth portrayed a typical little girl playing with her monkey-sock-monkey and doing things that are expected from a child. However in Revelation, she seems to have a more mature way of talking from her point of veiw. Occassionally, she mentions her childish pranks and doings. Ruth sounds like she is preparing to mature but her mom still has a protective hand over her; especially when the Belgian army is present. Ruth still has a "young chld" mentality of thinking she knows alot. The thing that shocked me about Ruth May was that she wanted to see Nelson naked. Ruth is just a little girl and yet she a boy in his bare skin already? That tells me that she must be exposed to bad ideas from her sisters. My geuss is that Rachel is the "bad example" but I really don't know.

Rachel Price:
Rachel's personality remains the same as before. Only this time, I think that she has a crush on an African boy names Anatole. She claims that she wouldn't like him even is she were Congolese but he's all she talks about.

Adah Price:
Adah also seems to have a consistent personality. She is truly a genius and knows how to sculpt a vivid image in the readers head so they can see her story in theri head. Adah has a very interesting side to her because you know that she's a genius but you don't know what her mind will think next. It's kind of like she's taking the reader on a journey. She starts us at one point but you never know what the next step is going to be. She still likes to write things backwards and fowards but I sometimes I can't really understand what she means. In fact, sometimes I think that when Adah sounds too smart, she sounds kind of wierd at the same time.

celebrities:

Recently, I've been really addited to reading People magazine. It's kind of funny how it relates to the practice essay that we wrote two classes ago. I really don't know why I', so hook onto that magazine though. Honestly, some of the material in there is ridiculous but I think it's cool at the same time because that's what the celebrities do. Before, I was never so hung up on trends styles; it didn't really matter to me. But recently, it's become like an obsession for me. In a way, it's like the magazine is imputing these extreme ideas into my mind.I know that I'm not being forced to think like that but at the same time I really can't help it. Celebrity influences are very interesting because you know that your not obligated to copy them but you still do. I know that it's just because we want to "fit in" but that explanation doesn't seem to completely answer why teens do it. Why do we copy them?

annalyzing SAT practice essays:

After reading other peoples practice essays, I realizes how important it is to have a main idea and back it up with solid examples. Despite given only 25 minutes to complete the essay, that doesn't neccessarily mean that you can't write a well organized piece that flows from one point to the next. I think most people kind of spoke what was on their mind and didn't really think it through with accuracy and precision. In fact, my essay mainly consisted of my thoughts and not reliable examples. Organization is another important aspect of writing. A good writer will have examples from two ends of the spectrum but can incorporate them together to make it flow well. In addition to organizations, grammar and sentence pattern is good to have. With impressive vocabulary and different types of sentences, you can keep the reader interested in what you have to say. As for me, I honestly think that there is much room for improvement in essay writing. With practice, it will become easier and hopefully when the real SAT's come around, I will be completely prepared. :]

this i believe podcast:

Click here to get your own player.

practice SAT essay:

In life, people are influenced by other people. Whether at school, in the tabloids, on a sports team, or in a movie, we are constantly surrounded by influences. Usually, people determine what is important to them based on its popularity. If alot of people are doing it, then it probably means that it's fun or good. However, if not alot of people are doing it, then it's probably boring or not a good thing to do. One of the biggest influences on peopl are celebrities. Dur to their popularity and fame, many people want to be just like Chris Brown, Beyonce, or Tom Hanks. All of them are rich, successful, and have the stereo type of a "perfect life." The things that they find important is what we find important. For example, one of the most influencial person in the world is Oprah Winfrey. She has so much power but channels it towards doing the right think. Because being a good person is somthing that is expressed through actions, regular people want to help out a poor family, build a strong community, or donate money to a 3rd world country.
These celebrities can't be seen merely by spotting them at a local cofee shop or park. That's why the media is there to capture these moments. The media is the publics eyes and without them, we wouldn't know the things that celebrities find important.
Although celebrities determine what is important to a certain extent, the media doesn't have such a powerful influence on people living in 3rd world countries. In these places, they are not developed enough to have television, magazines, radios, movies, or the internet. In fact, they might not even know what those things are. With this lack of development, the things that these people find important are passed down from thier elders. For young kids, its the granparents, anties, uncles, and parents that raise their kids according to how they think is the right way. EAch culture has different things that they hold valuable. For instance, Japanese people believe that honnor and respect is the most important factor of life. Americans believe in freedom. Africans believe in the survival of daily life. Hawaiians believe in the spirit of aloha. Every culture is different and can think that the other cultures are wrong. But the truth is, no culture is wrong. Just because Americans don't think that honnor is something worth dying for, doesn't mean that the Japanese have wrong thinking. These different values all work together because without them, we wouldn't be unique as a whole. Influences are always around us whether you realize it or not. Ultimately, we decide what's important to us, not others. We arn't forced to do what others do but we tend to do it anyway.

lit circle [moderator]

Leah Price:

1. Why is the Price family bringing so many cooking things? Is there some kind
of symbolism that represents the comfort of food?
2. What does the father mean when he said "Where we are headed, to make things
perfectly clear, not so much a piggly wiggly?"
3. Why didn't the airlines wiegh the passengers?
4. How does religion play a key role in this book?
5. Why did the Underdowns ditch the Price family?
6. What is this families main goal in Africa? What are they trying to accomplish?

Ruth May Price:
7. According to the quote "God says the Africans are the tribes of Ham." does
that mean they are bad people since Ham was the worst son of Noah?
8. Does this author seem racist?

Rachel Price:
9. Why would the Price family be "calling the shots" in Africa?
10. Why does Rachel have a contumacious attitude?
11. Why does Rachel seem to criticize everything she sees?
12. What kind of deadly weapons would the father have on him?
13. Is there a purpose for the father's prayer's to be so dramatic?
14. What did Rachel mean by "I wept for the sins of all who had brought my family
to this dread dark shore?"

Adah Price:
15. Why doesn't Adah speak when her thoughts are so brilliantly intellectual?
16. How did the family nearly come to the ends of the earth?
17. What did Adah mean by "Leah cannabalized me?"

Leah:
18. According to the father, "God created a world of work and rewards." What do
you think the Price family should be rewarded with?
19. Who is Mama Tataba?
20. What does the Poisonwood tree represent?

Rachel:
21. Why did they organize a pageant on Easter Sunday for the men?
22. Why don't the Africans want to be baptized?
23. Why does Rachel feel that it's her parents responsibility to tell the
Africans to stop touching her hair?

Ruth May:
24. How is it possible for the Africans to have big bellies when they have a
limited amount of food?
25. In this situation, do you think that it is bad for the Africans to steal from
the Price family?
26. Should a missionary father be dieciplining his children in such a way
that "the razor strop burns so bad?"

Adah:
27. Why does the father punish his kids so oddly?
28. Why is the dad so mean to the mother? Do you think he abuses her?

descriptive writing:

Imagine a place where majestic beauty is disturbed by ruin and choas but still lives in harmony. We depend on it for survival and yet abuse it for a thanks in return. First, think of the its power. It roars like thunder in a storm then calms its waters with a soothing, melodic song. The waves rock the soft sand back and forth while green sea kelp dance in sync. A thin layer of white foam flows onto the the shoreline, reaching for higher ground but gets pulled back by the seas hand. A cool breeze drifts through your hair and fingers. You can taste the bitter salt crystals flowing in between the corners of your lips. It causes the green palm trees to shimmy and shake until a plump coconut has been released from its mother. After performing a welcoming hula, a pure seagull perches ontop of the leaves to rests his wings. Under the busy surface is a vibrant colony of life. Coral that are dyed by the colors of the rainbow glistened under the warm rays of the golden sun. Flounders burrow themselves under the soft bed of grains. Orange crabs walk among the ocean floor, looking for things to do. Grungy eels poke their heads in and out of dark crevaces to spook its neighbors. Tropical fish swim in unison searching for a comforatable place to eat algae. Dolphins backflip in happiness and screech for the joy of life.
Life at sea is a beatiful one; one that provides us with eveything we need. Sadly, we abuse it after all its done for us. You can't tell by just looking at the surface of its beauty, but look a little deeper. Its heart is pure but we have polluted it with intoxicating debris that gradually suffocates every breath that it takes. Greasy oil clogs its vessels while chunks of garbage have to be broken down into cleaner substances. The ocean has be sustaining itself since the beggining of times but its tired and worn out. It can't do it alone so we need to help. It has supplied us with wonderful activities, a place to stay, and food. We have to take care of it for a thanks in return. If not, the ocean will die.

reflection:

As I look back and read through my previous posts, I noticed that I related every one to my experience in how I'm trying to cope with my injury. Perhaps my writing reflects this certain experience because it means the most to me and is always on my mind. Average girls would probably be more concerned about their boyfriends, or the way they look, or other social clicks. But thats what I used to be. I used to be so hung up on the things that aren't that important and didn't realize that life by itself should be the main concern to everyone. The little things that give us happiness for a few seconds mean nothing compared to the big stuff. Going to a school like Punahou, we take it our life for granted because we have the money, facilities, and the "best" of the "best." I never really realized how much I had until I lost it. My posts express how much volleyball meant to me and how God is teaching me things through the experience. I can't tell you how hard it is when you are told that you can do something because of a physical reason. I hated being told that I was short and had no chance of being an outside hitter for college. I hated being told that I wasn't good enough. I hated not being the best. That's why I constantly spent most of my life around this sport; I wanted to be the best. I really hope that other people will never have to go through what I had to go through. Ultimately, I'm trying to tell people to put God first in your life because that is how to be sucessful in life. By succesful I don't nessicarily mean rich or popular, but satisfied because you did your best and God will always love you. No matter how bad you think you performed in your life, if you gave it your best shot, then you are successful in God's eyes. I always thought sucess meant being the best, but it's not.

sadness:

This whole week has been so sad. On top of my personal depressing issues, my chemistry teacher's son was in the hospital, and Mr. Johnson died. I found all of this out on teusday and was shocked. I couldn't believe any of it. I mean, I just saw Mr. Johnson last friday all happy and alive. He was such a great Biology teacher, I really liked him. All this tragic news has really got my thinking about life; it's just not fair. My chemistry teacher's son didn't deserve to be sick and Mr. Johnson didn't deserve to die. I just don't know why these things happen to good people. It's just no fair. :[

having patience:

Yesterday, I went to go watch my friends volleyball tournament at Manoa. I knew that it would be a bitter-sweet situation because even if I would be around the awesome volleyball atmosphere, I would have to resist temptation. It wasn't too bad in the begginning but when it came to the championship game, I think God was REALLY testing my temptation. I couldn't stand sitting down and watching because the intensity was so hify and contagious. Well, contagious for me because when I play, I get super intense and loud; I just love being it those situations. I love game pressure, most people don't like it because it lowers their self confidence. But for me, I feed off of it, but I can't even play! Other than having awesome entertainment, I got to see my really good friends that were on my club team last year. I miss then so much and they kept telling me how much they miss our old team. Ultimately, I really do believe that God is trying to teach me how to be patient so, I just have to trust him.

this i believe draft:

I believe that God has a purpose for everything that happens in your life, even the bad ones. About 1/2 a year ago, I was enduring the most nerve-racking try-outs for the varsity volleyball team. I didn't make it the year before, and after the heart breaking new I cried for days. There was nothing in the world that I wanted more than to be a freshman varsity player, but sometimes you can't get what you want. I trained very hard the next season and was determined to make vars as a sophomore. A year had past and the coaches needed to cut two more outside hitters from the team. I felt pressure from every inch of my body and constantly thought that in order to prove myself worthy enough, I had to play perfect volleyball; no errors, all kills. That's how I felt for every suicide, weight lifting session, practice, and game. It was all-out perfection or failure. One mistake and I started to break down mentally. But luckily, I pulled through and made the team; it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Things seemed to turn around and go great; I had an awesome team, great teammates, we all got along well, and I got good playing time (something that I honestly thought that I wouldn't get as a sophomore.) September 8th came around and we were having a hitting competition. The next day was going to be our first season game against UH lab. I couldn't wait and gave everything I had in practice. I was winning the competition, went up for a kill, and got it. Unfortunately, when I came down, my right leg went left while my body leaned right. I heard a "pop" and my whole right leg felt numb. After all the trainers tested for if I tore my ACL, I came out negative. It was a relief because ACL's are the worst ligament to tear. Even though the trainers said that turning out negative for the ACL test was good news, I knew that I would be out for some time and was immidiately sad. Two weeks later, I took an MRi to confirm that I did something to my MCL which took about three weeks to heal. Then a month later, I got my MRi results and found out that I COMPLETELY tore my ACL. I couldn't believe it, all these trainers and people told me there was no way in hell that my ACL could have even be slightly sprained and there it was in black and white. That was the worst day of my life. I couldn't keep it together, not even at school because all my friends and teammates were going to ask me what it was. Life wasn't fair, I hated life, I hated God. But in the end, all of this was my fault because I didn't put God first. Volleyball was my God and I didn't let anything interfere with my passion, not even family. I just wish that I learned the easy way than going through this whole experience. Although I regret having torn my ACL, I am learning alot through this experience. I'm sorry God, I hope you can forgive me.

question:

whats the purpose of each persons life?

this i believe:

music makes me come alive:
Joan Tower believes that music nourishes out inner souls, gives us public permission to share things, connects people to others, and expresses yourself in different ways. It was interesting how she connected music to politics because I always thought that music was a way to display your current emotion. Other than that connection, I do agree with her that music is a very important part of life because it makes me feel in a way emotionless. Every sad thought, angry thought, happy thought, and whatever is going through my mind can relate to different types of songs. If I am feeling depressed, then Emo music is what I would listen too. But, if I feel really hyphy and excited, then Hip-Hop/R&B is right for me. Like Joan, I honestly don't know what I would do without music. Honestly, it's everywhere we go, in the car, bags, heads, schools. It's my life saver and best friend.

utterly humbled by mystery:
Father Richard Rohr believes in mystery and multiplicity. He is a very religious man that trusts in god and knows that everything happens for a reason. This particular essay was of interest to my because I am religious and don't always know why God does things in my life. He believes that faith will keep us motivated to go through the mysteries of life. But I have a hard time to cope with difficult situations. Since my knee injury, I was very angry at God because it seemed unfair for him to allow this to happen to me. I really thought that I didn't deserve it because I was being a good person. Not knowing what would happen to me in the future after my surgery has always been and will continue to be one of the biggest mysteries in my life.

failure is a good thing:
Jon Caroll believes that failure is a good thing because it teaches us important lessons and we should not dwell within our unsucessful goals. It is true that alot of students at Punahou are always striving to do their best. One bad grade, and they think that their parents will yell at them. In fact, some people think that a B+ is bad. [I'll be honest and say that I am one of those people who think a B+ is bad] But you know, I can't help it. Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to do better than my best. If I made one little mistake, then I would get upset at myself and didn't realize until after my ACL situation that this mindset makes my performance worse. Tearing my ligament was a huge dissapointment and failure in my life. Maybe even my biggest failure. However, I have learned alot from this experience and in a way thankful that I got it because now, I'm working ten times harder just to get back on the court. I have never been so disciplined in every aspect of my life and I give all the credit to god.

HiStoRy: matthew west.

you've had a bad day, you've been looking back
and all you can see is everything you wish you could take back
all your mistakes, a world of regrets
all of those moments you would rather forget
i know it's hard to believe
let me refresh your memory

chorus:
yesterday is history
and history is miles away
so leave it all behind you
but let it always remind you of the day
the day that love made history

you know you can't stay right where you fell
the hardest part is forgiving yourself
but let's take a walk into today
and don't let your past get in the way

repeat chorus

would you believe that you are history
in the making, in the making
every choice that you are making
every step that you are taking
every chain that you are breaking
history is in the making
every word that you are saying
every prayer that you are praying
every chain that you are breaking
history is in the making history is in the making.

water buffalo video:

After watching Robert Thompson's video, I felt very touched. Every aspect of it had a very warm and kind atmosphere that reaches out to the viewer; particularly the song. I don't really know why but the song in the video made me feel very sad throughout the whole thing. I didn't realize how much a Water Buffalo is of value in China because in America, we take animals for granted. Despite house animals, we usually put them in cages and admire them for entertainment purposes. America is so fortunate that we have advance technology to help us with our jobs. But in China, animals are their technological aid. It's sad to see poor people that have to work so hard to get a little in return. Working hard in America is nothing compared to working in China. In fact, I don't think I go live the rest of my life working that hard. As for the poor family that recieved the Water Buffalo, I couldn't imagine living in such a condition. My heart felt very bad for the little girl and father because the mom committed suicide. It made me curious to know why she killed herself. Was it because living in China was to hard to handle? Or was there another reason that could lead to ending her life? Ultimately, no matter what the reason was, I think that it was very wrong of her to kill herself because no child deserves to be left without a mom. Sadly, this situation isn't a rare one; it happens all throughout China. Something must be done to help others because living like the poeple in China seems like hell. Robert Thompson's kindness made me feel like I should do something for the needy too. His way of conveying his message was more welcoming and causes people to follow. Unlike Singer's essay which was very demanding and harsh. Even though I felt that I should help out after reading his essay, I didn't really like the tone in which he conveyed it. I didn't want to do anything extreme like not going out to dinner or watching a movie because those lines were too extreme. However, Thompson's message made me feel like I should donate my money to charities out of the goodness of my heart and not because he told me I had too. It would be my own choice to help and in the end, giving from the bottom of your soul is more rewarding than giving because someone told you to.

questions: Singer's sollution to world poverty

1. What does Singer consider a nessecity?

2. Why does he so strongly feel that others must give to the overseas organizations?

3. What can we do to help besides financial donations?

response:

In reaction to Peter Singer's essay, his way of expressing each argument made me feel guilty about the way I live my life. He keeps stressing the fact unesscesarry expenses should be eliminated. This statement is quite extreme because in America, there is nobody that doesn't spend just a little bit of money one themselves. In fact, I don't even believe that Singer spends all of his money for nessecities and donates the rest to overseas organizations. Also, not only is his statement extreme, but his examples that support it sounds a little bazaar. While explaining the story about Bob and his decision between his car and a boy stuck in the tracks, Singer paraphrases, "Thinking of his joy in owning the car and the financial security it represents, Bob decides not to throw the switch. The child is killed." That kind of situation seems highly unlikely and he appears to over exaggerate to prove his point. Although I agree that we should donate money to overseas organizations, I think that the donation should be moderate and reasonable. We don't have to send all of our allowance to UNICEF every week, but perhaps a few dollars each month would do the trick. Donating to save peoples lives is something that everyone should do from time to time; it should not be a nessecity as Singer expresses.

preguntas

i don't understand WHYYY things happen in LiFe.

i didn't believe in karma until i got my knee injury.

i kept thinking that it was bad luck, but maybe not. :[

WHY do bad things happen to people and can we prevent it from happening?