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Columns, Forum

Columnist says goodbye to Class of 2014

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By Danielle Sheally

Having two hundred brothers and sisters is a lot but in reality it can happen.

Every year a new round of seniors come in, and every year hearts get broken. The reason we get so attached to the upperclassmen is because we look up to the individuals. We create a bond that can be everlasting because some of these students have been with us through a lot of ups and downs throughout high school. We admire them because they’re about ready to start their journey in the next part of their lives but, we have only begun. Every student wants to be in their position, about ready to graduate and leaving high school forever.

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Columnist emphasizes importance of understanding others

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By Brooke McAfee

It seems to me that people are so often caught up inside their own minds they forget to truly see other people. They may listen to the words others say and notice what is on the the exterior, but true understanding of what is going on in another’s mind frequently escapes them.This does not necessarily mean someone is uncaring– everyone has been guilty of this form of blindness. We become so entangled within the complex maze of the mind — and all the worries, excitement, and responsibilities that preoccupy us — that we forget to look for what is concealed beneath the surface of other people.

I am constantly aware of how little I truly reveal of what is going on in my mind. It is a part of my personality I have struggled with for years. When I keep my thoughts silent, misunderstanding and disinterest inevitably follow me. Yet I am equally guilty, because I often retreat too far into my mind and become distant with those around me. All it really takes is for us to listen harder and look deeper. Yet sometimes this can be the most difficult thing in the world, with all the layers of false sentiments, hidden feelings, and insecurity which often lay upon the surface.

We encounter countless numbers of people in our lives, but how many do we really get to know? Knowing a person goes beyond simply chatting with them on a daily basis. There are people I may have known on a basic level for years, but I cannot honestly say I know them. When I get to know a person, I want to learn what makes them who they are and what they think and believe, not simply the day to day events of their life, their plans for prom, or the latest gossip they have overheard. I want to understand people, rather than just be acquainted with them.

Without understanding a person, I believe we are more naturally inclined towards judgment or indifference. Perhaps the person who comes across as obnoxious only acts in such a way because they are too accustomed to being ignored, and the person with an unpleasant attitude is the victim of depression. Ignorance and misunderstanding can only lead to harm, whether intended or unintended. Compassion, which is rooted in understanding, is something we need much more of in the world.

Humans will always wish to hide their flaws and weakness, and people will always be perplexed about how to accurately express themselves. We will never fully know another’s mind, but we should certainly make efforts to do so. The people who say little often are the ones who have the most to say, and it is essential that we show interest in hearing what is on their mind, and seeing what may not be immediately obvious. If we do not make attempts to understand one another, there are many who may go through life believing they are not worth listening to. We simply need to take the time to notice what is right in front of us.

Columns

Columnist urges readers to write their feelings out

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By Danielle Shealy

A piece of paper can take us anywhere, but it’s deciding where we want to go that’s the hardest part.

Writing is the best addiction to ever have because it’s like our own personal psychologist. We can write down how we feel and then if need be, we can throw it away after.  Writing lets us be who we are without any judgement.  It also lets us feel how we want to feel without any opposing views on certain issues.  A pencil can turn into our own private airline and take us anywhere in the world we want to go. Although my writing is messy and my process is also unconventional, I write my best pieces this way.

I would describe my writing as word: puke.  When I puke my words out on paper, I tend to over-compensate by adding more words than I need to get my point across.  Also, I tend to use a single word, multiple times, throughout the paper.  These tendencies are fixable but if I didn’t have these mistakes in my writing, then it truly wouldn’t be my voice speaking through the page.

I have always wanted to go to New York City, but never had the money or time, so I made up my own New York.  In the New York I imagined, it’s not quite as busy and people are a little friendlier. There are more businesses that give job opportunities to people with disabilities and less buildings that aren’t accessible to wheelchairs.  Most importantly though, there are more people willing to help others in my New York.

There have been so many times when I was writing either for myself or others that I didn’t realize how I really felt about something until the words were right on the paper. As people of society we feel like everything we have to write about has to sound formal and proper, but that’s not the case at all. Writing is made for free expression, but I do understand sometimes where we would need to make our writing proper for research papers, an argumentative essay and anything that has to do with professionally presenting a point.

People shouldn’t be scared to share their opinions if it helps them become stronger and more empowered.  We should accept others and their opinions because views of the world should never be one-sided.  Writing is the best way that I can show my opinions and views of the world to others and I hope people look at my writing as being well-rounded.  As a writer, I want to make my opinion heard, but I also want others to understand that writing could be a good way for them to express their feeling and opinions too.

Writing is absolutely terrifying and I understand that completely.  It’s like falling from a cliff without knowing what to expect at the bottom.  Not all prying eyes will like what you put out there, but if it matters to you, put it out there anyway.  Some of the most famous writers were told that their pieces would never go anywhere, but are any one of us the kind of person that just gives up?

When you are inspired to write, please do it.  You never know who will be reading.

 

 

Columns, Forum

#SPEAKOUT: Columnist reflects on self-help book

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By Danielle Sheally

One of the most despised books at Floyd Central by far is the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I can understand why students feel this way, but if they actually read in detail I feel like the response would be different.

The career information class in which we read this book is required for every FC student. The 7 Habits book is actually stemmed from a book the author’s father wrote called The 7 Habits of the Highly Effective Adult. I don’t know about the adult version but, in the teen version it covers things from being the best person we can be, to what we can do if we’ve been in an abusive relationship. The books passages aren’t very long but if we get bored with that there’s always pictures or quotes from people on every page. What makes this book so effective, is that it gives personal accounts from people who are going through a certain situation in each section. This helps us feel like we’re not the only ones going through a certain problem.

Even though this book is required at Floyd Central in taking this class, students learn how to take a rough situation and turn it into a positive experience. Also, this books helps teach time management and gives us tools towards managing out time successfully throughout life. The book gives us suggestions like making charts so we can see how much time we’re spending on things throughout the day. He suggests to us to get the important stuff out of the way first so we can do the things we want to do later in the day. With this book I’ve been able to implement several of the tools he teaches into my life.

The 7 Habits have taught me to get over things I can’t control in my life. When I am in control I need to find something like my reaction to problems or how I do in school to focus on. Something that really affected me was when he talked about the differences between proactive and reactive people. I learned that a proactive person thinks through problems and goes after what they want. A reactive person never thinks ahead and waits for things to happen to them (I’m about 80 percent proactive and 20 percent reactive).

So, after you hear the mixture of negative and positive about this book, I challenge you to see what side you’re on.

 

Brooke McAfee, Cartoons, Columns

Columnist discusses introverted characteristics

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By Brooke McAfee

I am an introvert. I do not feel compelled spend my free time in the constant company of other people, but the idea of spending a few hours in solitude, reading a book or listening to music, seems to be the perfect way to unwind after a stressful week. Time spent among a crowd, exchanging mindless small talk with unfamiliar people, may seem to drag on and on for hours, but hours spent engaging in meaningful conversation among close friends cannot be wasted. And I do not see the need to fill every silent moment with my voice.

It is not that I am shy or antisocial. Introversion is simply a different way of thinking.

The main difference between an introvert and an extrovert is the way they become energized. An extrovert will find energy by exposure to people and social situations, while introverts recharge by being alone with their thoughts for a while.

Introversion is a commonly misinterpreted personality trait. Though the majority of people tend to have extroverted personalities, introverts are not abnormal whatsoever. It is ridiculous to stereotype us, because we rarely fit perfectly into a category.

We can be quite social, talkative, and vivacious, contrary to the common opinion. And just because we do not want to be around certain people all the time is not a sign of dislike. It is simply difficult for us to have prolonged exposure to socialization. To us, solitude does not have to be synonymous with the terms bored or lonely. It can be easier to feel bored or lonely in a massive crowd of people we do not feel a true connection with.

Many introverts participate in social situations with ease, and we are certainly capable of enjoying the company of people we find interesting. We can even tolerate the sort of dull, meaningless chit chat we find so excruciating, because silence is often perceived as rude or awkward, and a conversation about things that actually matter can be difficult to initiate. And around friends or family, we may be among the loudest and most talkative in the room.

But at the end of the day, we need to be alone with our thoughts, away from the chaos of the external world. Because, let’s face it, people can be exhausting.

There are many ups and downs to being an introvert. We prefer listening to frequent speaking, and we are less likely to act impulsively, preferring to thoughts before action. We can easily concentrate, especially upon matters we are passionate about.

However, with such a personality, there are many complications. We often keep our thoughts locked up inside of us, which can make it quite difficult for people to truly get to know us. Our minds and imagination might be overactive with tumultuous activity, but little escapes from the brain into speech. That’s why many introverts turn to writing as a means of expression.

Perhaps, to the extroverted mind, what I have described seems like complete misery. Yet many people simply do not understand how introverts work. We cannot change who we are: our introversion is lodged deep within our psychology. And that is fine. Sometimes, all I need is the people I care about, meaningful conversation, and some peace and quiet.