On the stage next to Eddie Van Halen is how the dream began. We both jammed out to the guitar solo in Billie Jean.
With classic 80s hair and attire, an audience of thousands stood and cheered us on waiting for Michael Jackson to come out on stage.
Preparing for bed can be a difficult task, it takes some a glass of milk, a run, or watching a boring TV show. Music, doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
As I lay in bed, I snatch my ipod and headphones from my nightstand and begin to select a track of music to play.
Depending on my mood from the day, I choose a song. A bad day would consist of lighter rock music, and a good day would be composed of heavier rock tracks.
When in a bad mood, I would suggest songs by Journey like “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Any track by Journey will make you calmer. A few bands I would suggest are Boston, Kansas, Michael Jackson, and Elton John
Although lighter music sounds like a good idea when in a good mood, I prefer the heavier classic rock. Bands such as Def Leppard and Bad Company are regulars that I listen to. Some tracks in my library are Photograph, Shooting Star, The Stroke, and Round and Round.
Being able to become an idol for a moment is great, even if it’s just a dream.
Whether anyone knows it or not, every day when they walk into school they are being stereotyped. In other student’s minds they may just be “that goth girl” or “the kid who thinks that he is funny but he really isn’t.”
Characteristics such as how people dress, the people they are friends with, and the way that they act in public reflect on how other people see them. In reality, one should look past the stereotypes.
The fact is when we see another person whom we are not familiar with, our brains automatically file them away under a category.
Just one glance can provide enough information for people to make quick and often incorrect assumptions.
Seeing a student surrounded by friends all the time, does not mean that they do not feel alone or depressed.
According to the World English Dictionary, a stereotype is defined as: a set of inaccurate, simplistic generalizations about a group that allows others to categorize them and treat them accordingly.
This means that when someone is calling a group of students “preps” for wearing Hollister brand clothing, or “emo” because they wear mostly dark colors and listen to a certain style of music, they are treating them by what they see at just a simple glimpse of their life.
Even if stereotyping people is bad, every so often these premature assumptions could very much be true. Not everyone is a nice person; occasionally people will come across someone who is exactly how they predicted. Don’t let an experience like this change your point of view though, confirming your prediction always will be beneficial.
From personal experience I am aware that someone that appears to be really weird or too cool to talk to, can truly be nice and someone that could be a great friend.
Having a different variety of people as friends are what make life interesting. Judging people before you get a chance to know them is a missed opportunity.
What is patriotism? If you are anything like me, you cannot even spell patriotism. Sad, but true. Perhaps patriotism, to you, means pride in your country, maybe devotion in a cause. In my opinion, patriotism is the act of supporting your homeland. It’s a part of you, and should make you want to change it for the better.
I do not know if you remember how old you were or even what year it occurred, but I know you remember where you were when you heard the towers had been hit. I was in my first- grade class. I didn’t even know where the twin towers were at the time. I remember wondering why my teacher suddenly left the class and gave us busy work. Then later on in the day we watched the news channel, and had a moment of silence.
This event causing great patriotism was Sept. 11. When a disaster this momentous occurs, it brings a nation closer together. We mourned together, prayed together, rebuilt together and got stronger together.
So why is that not the case now? Don’t give poor excuses like the economy or our government. It does not bother me if you do not particularly care for something about our country. Believe me, I am the same way at times. But, I do believe as a whole our country’s patriotism is greatly lacking.
We live in a country that has been blessed beyond belief. Whenever I think of Sept. 11, it makes me reconsider all I have. This country is safer than a lot of places, we have a trustworthy government and a place I can sleep without worries. It’s going to be our generation’s nation soon. Our generation is the future of America. It’s our responsibility to see what is coming down the pike and do something.
We are in an economic crisis. Yeah? There was one in the 30s. Are we going to all starve and die? Nope, I am not planning on it anyway. We are going to struggle through, make it, survive, and then prosper.
Our nation needs to be restored back to a humble, hardworking yet proud country, just like in the 50s. We had just been on the winning side of WWII. We were in some economic trouble, yes. But we were proud of the soldiers that had fought and died fighting for our country. We were ready to start fresh and be better than ever.
We are not in the best of times economically and socially speaking, but we need to stand up for our government, back them up even if you do not always support their ways. It is a matter of pure respect.
We should respect our leaders, even if we cannot stand them. Probably a hard pill for most of us to swallow. I know you are thinking, ‘Well if I don’t like them I’m not going to give them the time of day.’ But we have to play the hand of cards we are given, even if that means shooting for the moon.
There are always going to be good guys and bad guys. Leaders are always going to make some bad decisions. This doesn’t mean we give up and scorn our country. We strive to be proud Americans with pride for our country.
Here are a few songs to get your patriotic blood flowing and inspire you to become more loyal today.
“Made in America” by Toby Keith
“Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson
“American Soldier” by Toby Keith
“God Bless the U.S.A” by Lee Greenwood
“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Lee Greenwood
“Where the Stars and Stripes And the Eagle Fly” by Aaron Tippin
After the Sept. 11 attacks, one phrase could be seen everywhere. It was plastered on bumper stickers, printed on patriotic t-shirts, and could be found at memorials across the country. That phrase was a promise: we will never forget.
On Sunday it will have been 10 years since we made that promise, but can America really say we never forgot?
Yes, television specials that analyze every aspect of the event will be everywhere, terrorism is sure to be a hot topic on all news channels, and President Obama is bound to make a speech addressing the attacks, but what will everyone else do?
At FC there will not be an assembly in remembrance of the 366 servicemen who lost their lives saving others or the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks. The only attention the day will receive will be a moment of silence before the announcements.
In a survey done by Rasmussen Reports in September 2009, 49 percent of Americans said their fellow statesmen had already forgotten about the attacks.
Obviously, the day has not been forgotten in the manner that someone forgets where they put their keys, but many would rather forget about that day than remember it or discuss it.
For many, Sept. 11 is a reminder of just how vulnerable our country really is, and is therefore more convenient to forget than to keep fresh in our minds.
To remember that day means to remember the chaos and the lack of control we had over the events taking place on our own doorstep.
Although the topic may be difficult for some to discuss, it is a necessity. It is the responsibility of all who experienced Sept. 11 first hand to share their stories and memories of that tragic day with the next generation.
Sept. 11 should not be pushed to the side. It is a crucial event in our nation’s history and culture, and its effects can be seen anywhere from the New York skyline to airport security.
Instead of labeling it as a painful memory, Sept. 11 should be remembered not just to honor those who died, but to honor what makes our country what it is today.
We all know what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, but what will you do on Sept. 11, 2011?
reck·less [rek-lis] –adjective -utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless; how the cool kids roll (usually followed by of ): to be reckless of danger.
I am not reckless.
I am boring. Annoying. Irritating. Some might even say platitudinous.
I’m the person who won’t even answer your text during class because I know I’ll get caught.
That is seriously lame. At the rate I’m going, I better start buying cats to prepare myself for a pathetic lonely life.
But then I realized, hey maybe if I start now, I might actually have friends. Who my mom doesn’t have to pay to hang out with me; a radical concept. Because for now, these are my “friends.”
Friend 1: “So anyway, I was telling Meghan that…”
Friend 2: “Omg Meghan Poff? She is so monotonous, have you ever noticed that?”
Friend 1: I know, I honestly just hate myself every time I have to talk to her. But her mom pays good money so I struggle through it.”
Me: “Hey, umm guys. I’m standing right here.”
And so the bucket list was born. But not the usual cliché, “Give money to charity, see a national monument, bike across the country.” I already did all that stuff. And besides, something tells me that the lady at Yellowstone National Park wearing the neon fanny pack is not very reckless.
So I thought of every cool thing I have always wanted to do and made it into a list of about 100. Then I took out everything too embarrassing or inappropriate and it left me with about 15.
If all goes according to plan, maybe someone might actually text me back on the weekends. I have it all planned out in my head.
Friend: “Ugh, okay, I replied what do you want?”
Me: (A few hours later) “Oh sorry I couldn’t text you back right away. I was busy.”
Friend: “Doing what?”
Me: “Stuff. Crazy stuff.”
I worked out the times, and I’ll put that text conversation at about three hours total. That is a new record for me by about two hours and forty-five minutes.
I feel like this bucket list thing is really going to open some big doors for me.
So now, if I go off to college and still end up socially awkward and weird, at least I can say I tried. I’m going to have to make up some stories though. I don’t want all the cool kids think I’m weird.
I think it’s going to be a good year.
The Bucket List
1. Drive a Barbie Jeep through a drive-through
2. Mud wrestling
3. Cover myself in glue then roll in colored glitter
4. Free hug day
5. Hit on every guy I see at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m.
6. Not get on Facebook for three weeks
7. Fail something
8. Go up to the hottest guy in the school and ask him to marry me
9. Write a message in a bottle, leave it on the shelf at Target, and see who replies
10. Write a complaint letter to a place I’ve never bought something from to see if I’ll get some free stuff
11. Follow a stranger around for an hour
12. Make 50 grilled cheese sandwiches
13. Go mudding on a skateboard
14. Walk up to someone at a party and kiss them
15. Be nice to everyone I talk to for an entire day
16. Give up sarcasm for a week
17. Prank call 100 people
18. Jaywalk in front of a police station. Oh yes.
19. Glue money to the street, hide behind a bush, and when someone tries to pick it up, jump out and yell PSYCH!
20. Laugh at everything anyone says for a whole day
21. Not be a friendless loser
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