ilearn-i-AP-Advanced Pressure

The next six days of my life: Today (Friday). AP US History Exam.  Writing assessment en français.  Tomorrow. Try to catch up on lost nights of sleep due to all of my late night study sessions. Sunday.  Try to catch up on the last few US History assignments.  Study for the AP Lang exam.  Monday.  Take a practice test for my next math test (to see how well I wont do).  Study for the AP Lang Exam.  Tuesday.  Take math test. Take AP US History final (I’ve got my fingers crossed that it really is the final final).  Study for AP Lang exam.  And Wednesday.  Take AP Lang exam.  As you can see, my next week is jam-packed!  And this list doesn’t even mention all of the fun little end-of-the-year tasks that completely consume my next week, but it does cover the things that I am most worried about.  Take both of the AP exams for example.

I’m worried.  I’m worried that I have not prepared myself well enough to take either of my AP exams.  I’m worried that I might not do well on either of them.  I’m worried that colleges will look at my scores and realize that I’m just not good enough for them.  I’m worried that my parents will look at my scores and feel disappointment because they know I could have done better.  All of this worries me.  But, what can I do?  I’ve got to take the exams and I’ve got to give it my best shot.

The pressure is on (actually it’s been on for about a month now).  This pressure is like nothing else I’ve ever felt before.  I have never worried this much about any assessment.  Instead of calling AP classes “Advanced Placement,” I prefer to use the description “Advanced Pressure.”  This latter description is much more suitable, especially around this time of year.  I’ve taken multiple practice exams and have done a lot of review inside class, but to be honest, all of this practice has actually discouraged me because I’m getting a taste at just how difficult the actual exam is going to be. But, again, what can I do?  I’m committed to taking the test.  And even if I had the choice to opt out of it, I wouldn’t because this is what I’ve been preparing since August.  The only choice I have is to take it.  So that’s what I’ll do.  I will take it. And whether I get a one or a five, I’ll know that I gave it my all.

ilearn-r-”On Dumpster Diving”

Lars Eighner is a Dumpster Diver. Don’t worry, this is not a name that I have attributed Eighner with (that would be quite rude of me), it is actually a term that he titles himself with…proudly. Throughout Eighner’s piece, “On Dumpster Diving” (clever title, eh?), he talks about Dumpster Diving as if it were not only past time, but a living. But not only a living, a lifestyle. He addresses the pros, the cons, and everything in between. After reading the entire essay, one might even venture to say that it would make a nice addition to “Dumpster Diving for Dummies” (if such a thing exists). But, behind all of the tips and the informational stories, Eighner is sending a much more powerful message than lies on the surface: Life is Life. It is what it is. You get what you get. And you work it.

Lars Eighner used to have a white collar job. He used to have a home. He used to have the money to buy the necessities of life. But now he’s a dumpster diver. And he’s happy. Most of us would not be able to maintain such a positive attitude if we were placed in this same situation. We would spend virtually all of our time worrying about how to make ends meet and feeling sorry for ourselves about the cards that life has dealt us. But this isn’t the right attitude to have. It will get us nowhere. We must take what life gives us, whether that be a white-collar job or no source of income at all, and to use it to our advantage to make it work. This is exactly the message that Lars Eighner is sending in his bold essay “On Dumpster Diving.” More simply said: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade or, in Eighner’s case, when life hands you dumpsters, make a living.

ilearn-i-Technology Takeover

If you have an ipod and you know it, clap your hands (got ya singin’, didn’t I?) I bet about 90% of the people reading this post right now are clapping their hands–or at least acknowledging the fact that, yes, they do have an ipod. I mean, who doesn’t have an ipod these days? Even my totally technologically unintelligent dad– someone who prides himself on his recently acquired craigslist skills– has one. But this piece isn’t about ipods exclusively, its about technology as a whole.

Let’s face it: technology is one of the most prominent features in the modern world. Think about it: Where would we be without technology? Personally, I don’t know what I would do with myself if I didn’t have technology. And I would venture to say that many of you feel the same way, whether you’re willing to admit it or not. Without technology, my life would be nothing like it is today. My education would be different. My home life would be different. The relationships I maintain with my family and friends would be different. Almost everything would be different. The point Im trying to make is that, throughout the years, we have let technology completely take over the way we live our lives. Don’t get me wrong, technology is not a bad thing and I’m glad to see that we have come so far with it, but there comes a point where enough is enough. We don’t (or shouldn’t, rather) have to let technology dominate every aspect of our lives.

Technology is great. It’s great for the advancement of the health system. It’s great for the education system. And it’s great for many other aspects of life. But, when technology leaks into family time, for example, then it’s not so great. What ever happened to good ol’ family time? In some cases, it has completely vanished. Gone. We shouldn’t have let technology get this far. My advice to the world: let’s keep on advancing in technology, but let’s pay close attention to where it goes.

ilearn-i-Internet Saftey

Myspace. Facebook. Twitter. And pretty much any other internet blogging site. These are all sites in which countless amounts of people sign up for to “express” themselves. Sounds great, right? But it’s not fun and games all the time. Personally, I do not advocate such sites. I am aware that a lot of people do sign up for such sites with good intentions (for expressing themselves and for keeping in touch with friends over the internet), but I am also aware that some people sign up with completely the wrong intentions. More simply said: there are some real creepers out there on the world wide web. But, regardless of whose out there, everyone can easily keep themselves safe while using the internet. It’s simply a matter of knowing when to stop placing personal information on the internet. For example, giving out your cell phone number on Myspace and Facebook, whether it be through a posted bulletin or on a comment board, is giving way too much information.

The internet, im sure, started out as a safe place; the founders of sites such as Myspace and Facebook surely did not have the intentions of creating harmful environments for its subscribers. But things have changed. Let’s face it: the internet is a dangerous place. It’s a place where we all need to be safe. My advice for anyone who is involved with internet sites in which they write personally about themselves is to know when to say “when.” The internet doesn’t have to be such a scary place. But, unfortunately, that’s what we make of it.

ilearn-n-GM is Pullin’ the Plug

 

If you’ve ever watched any doctor show (I would bet on the fact that we all have at one point), then I’m sure that you are probably familiar with the situation of pulling the plug on someone who is being held on life support.  It’s pretty self-explanatory in case you are one who is not familiar with such a saddening situation.  Generally, we all think of pulling the plug as something to do with humans in hospitals, but it really can happen anywhere.  Did you ever venture to think that just maybe automakers might be faced with the same kind of situation?  Such a situation is happening right now with one of the biggest automakers in the whole automobile industry, GM. 

Though GM president Jim Hopson refuses to comment on the situation, a source familiar with the decision insists that GM will pull the plug on its “excitement division,” Pontiac.  I know what you might be thinking:  it was bound to happen, something had to give.  But why would GM cut Pontiac?  Pontiac was GM’s third best-selling brand of car in 2008 only behind Chevrolet and GMC.  And it did top five other brands in sales: Saturn, Cadillac, Buick, Hummer, and Saab, respectively.  So, why not pull the plug on Hummer or Saab, two brands of cars that Pontiac outnumbered in sales by almost ten times?!?!  The decision doesn’t make any sense at all to me.  But in this economy, things don’t ever seem to make any sense anymore.

You might be thinking that I chose a strange analogy to try and explain the action of GM, but it does make sense.  I promise.  Think about it this way: the automobile industry, represented by the sick person in the hospital, is ailing and is in need of great assistance from the government, which is represented by the life support machine.  You see, perfect sense…hopefully.

The reason that I chose to report on this specific news topic is because it reflects the time that we are all currently living in.  Unfortunately, were going through a recession (duh!), and this situation illustrates that fact perfectly.  I know that reporting on a good thing would make this piece so much more pleasant to read, but that’s not my purpose in writing.  My purpose is to report the facts.  I’m not going to sugarcoat the depressing situation that America is experiencing.  I’m in it for the truth.

ilearn-r-”On Being A Cripple”

Crippled, queer, colored. These are just a few of the innumerable derogatory terms that flood the modern world. Usually, such words are certainly not acceptable to be used in addressing a certain individual or even an entire group. Such an act would be deeply frowned upon by anyone who has any morals at all. But what if someone was referring to him or herself using one of these derogatory terms? Would that still be unacceptable or would it be okay?

Nancy Mairs in her essay titled “On Being a Cripple” addresses this very inquiry by consistently referring to herself as a “cripple.” Throughout the essay, Mairs embraces the term “crippled” simply because she is accepting of the fact that “crippled” is what she is. She also talks about other words that are commonly used when trying to politely address someone who is at a physical or mental disadvantage such as “disabled,” “handicapped,” and worst of all (according to Mairs) “differently abled.” The reason that Mairs dislikes such terms is because they are so vague and do not accurately describe a distinct disorder. When comparing the terms “disabled” and “crippled,” Mairs talks about how the term “crippled” is a clean word meaning it is very accurate and provides a definite description of her condition. On the other hand, when one uses general terms such as “disabled” or “handicapped,” he or she could mean anything. Is he or she referring to someone as one who is crippled? One who has autism? Downs syndrome? The possibilities are endless.

The only reason that Mairs prefers the word “crippled” is because crippled is her. She is crippled. And she accepts and embraces that fact. She does not want to hide herself from the world behind terms that simply sound better. She wants the world to see her for what she is: crippled. And the first step in being seen for what you are is accepting yourself for what you are and being proud of it.

I think that the message that Mairs expresses in her essay “On Being a Cripple” is beautiful. All throughout life, I have been told to never be afraid of who I am, but in as many times as I have been told this message I have never heard it quite like I have heard it from Mairs. The biggest distinction between my mom telling me to embrace myself and from Mairs conveying the exact same message in Mairs’s insight. Mairs talks about her own personal experiences, something that my mom does not. Hearing the moral from my mom is kind of like reading an essay with no support for its facts. But hearing the moral from Mairs is like reading an essay loaded with proof for the facts presented. I get it. I know who I am. I’ve certainly got flaws. I’m not perfect. And I’m okay with that.

ilearn-i-The Self

What constitutes the self? In regards to that very question, I have often heard one common response: appearance. Many people say that what constitutes the self is expression through appearance–clothes, shoes, hairstyles, etc…. But, how true is that statement exactly? Not very. I think that through one’s appearance, he or she is expressing themself as they want to be perceived by others, not who he or she truly is. And I also believe that, deep down, we all know that appearance really is not a true perception of one’s self.

 

So what is, then? What constitutes the self is a very complex mixture of one simple thing: the personality. Each and every person has a different personality. And within that personality there are many components that contribute to the self such as one’s background and family life, one’s present stance in life, and of course, one’s interests and hobbies.

Because each and every individual is different, it is impossible for a person’s “self ” to be expressed through their appearance because, if you logically think about it, most clothing is not one of a kind. So, how can someone’s individual personality be expressed through clothing and appearance when most, if not all, of one’s clothing is not original and is worn by countless other people?

ilearn-l-The Most Important Part of Life is Life Itself

What exactly constitutes a life lesson?  Is it something that is found within the lyrics of a song? A book?  Is it a famous quote?  Sure.  It could be all of those things, but there are so many more places in which one can learn a life lesson.  Life lessons can be presented to any one at any time in any place, even through tragic events.  And, sadly, it took one of such tragic events to teach me, or remind me rather, of an immensely important life lesson: the value of life.

A baseball.  Thirty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents by the dozen.  A wooden baseball bat.  Forty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents.  An MLB baseball cap.  Nineteen dollars and ninety-nine cents.  The value of life.  Priceless.  Every material object in one’s life costs something, but life itself is something that you cannot place a price tag on.

Throughout my life, I have been very fortunate in terms of being sheltered from tragedy.  It’s like I have been living in a bubble filled with bunny rabbits and cute puppy dogs. I have never really gotten a taste of tragedy.  And for that, I’m thankful.  But something did happen recently that gave me a glimpse of what tragedy really is behind all of the stories while also reminding me of a lesson that should never be forgotten: the value of life.  Something tragic.  Something that hurt.  Something that still stings (although a week later) when I think about it.  Something unjust.  Something that claimed the young life of an innocent person who had just begun to live out his dreams not hours before his life ended.

Last Thursday, Angels starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver who, in fact, was driving on a suspended license due to numerous other DUIs (see my previous I entry for more details).  It hurt.  I hurt to see the pictures. It hurt to hear teammate reactions.  But what hurt the most was seeing how easily one’s life can be snatched away from him or her.  All of this hurt was felt by many, I’m sure.  And while I am, in no way, glad that such an event took place, I must say that I did benefit from it.  I learned that, when given the precious gift of life, one must live it to the fullest. Don’t take anything for advantage.

We were all given family.  We were all given friends.  We were all given the ability to make ourselves all that we can be.  We were all given life.  And life the greatest gift that any individual will ever receive.  It’s something that we all possess.  It’s something that we build upon.  It’s something beautiful.  It’s life.  And it’s priceless.

 

 

ilearn-i-Three Strikes and You’re Out

Strike one: lack of consistency.  Strike two: lack of bullpen.  Strike three: tragedy.  And they’re out.  My Angels are out.  This past week, for me (and for any major league baseball fan), started out on a high; it marked opening day in the world of baseball.  On opening day–Monday for most teams–some teams won, some teams lost. Some fans were happy, some fans were not.  But regardless of whether one’s team won or lost, us fans were all happy to finally hit the season off.  I, for one, was happy with the performance of my Angels– who shutout the rivalry Oakland A’s–on opening day.  However, as the week progressed, things just got worse and worse day by day.

Monday was good. My Angels, as said before, shutout the division rival Oakland A’s.  Tuesday was okay.  The Halos (Angels) lost by losing control of the game in the middle innings and just not making it back in time to get the “W.”  Wednesday was a little bit worse than Tuesday because the Angels started off great, but then completely fell apart in the late innings of the game.  And Thursday was awful.  Thursday was the day that I found out that one of my Angels was lost forever.  22- year old pitching prospect Nick Adenhart–the one who pitched a brilliant game just hours before– lost his life in a car accident in the wee minutes of Thursday morning.  Just thinking about the incident makes me wonder about how completely unfair life can be sometimes.  One minute I was watching the exuberant pitcher perfectly pitch only his fourth MLB start and the next…he’s gone.  Nick Adenhart was a young man who was described by his teammates as a “competitor,” a “best friend,” and an “outstanding young man.”  It shouldn’t have happened to him.  He was someone who was just starting to live out his dream that had consumed his mind ever since he was a little boy.  Completely and utterly unfair.  I’ve heard that everything happens for a reason, but to be quite honest, I’m not seeing the reasoning behind this crude act.  I know how horrible I feel about the whole thing: I spent all of Thursday holding back tears that were screaming to get out (I actually shed a few doing the research for this piece), but to think about how his family is taking it; I can’t even imagine the excruciating pain that they are enduring right now.  Pain.  Shock. Regret.

My week started out good, but then faded into the darkness that it is now.  Not only did my Angels lose the series, but they, we rather, lost someone who was a huge part of the entire organization. We lost a brilliant pitcher.  We lost an “outstanding young man.”  We lost #34, Nick Adenhart.  But that just makes for one more Angel in heaven.

 

ilearn-e-The Crazy World of Animals

This past Saturday, I spent the entire morning pondering what I could do to fulfill my “e,” educational experience, entry of my ilearn blog. I must have come up with millions of different activities, but my lack of luck kicked in again and each of those potential experiences found their way down the drain. But, by the time the afternoon rolled around, I had finally figured it out. I would go to the zoo. Since I had not been to any zoo since I was probably five years old, I was shocked by how many different animals I saw. I saw birds. I saw reptiles. I saw monkeys. And I even saw lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! My intention for going to the zoo was just like that of any person who goes to the zoo: to learn about the animals. I learned a whole lot. And to be honest, I had no idea that some of these animals even existed. For instance, did you know that a Mandrillus sphinx–a bizarre type of monkey–has pouches on the sides of its lower jaw where they can cram as much as a stomach load of food in? I learned many fascinating facts about the animals at the zoo, but the most fascinating thing that I learned was about not about any of the animals. It was about the humans. I learned that, even in places as carefree as the zoo, humans (even adults!) alter themselves so much just to make sure that they fit in with everybody else.

I know that this concept of changing for others is generally only seen amongst middle school and high school students, but it is also holds very true almost anywhere. I know what you’re thinking: How does the zoo help someone to figure this out? The answer to that question is because, by going to the zoo, I saw the difference in interactions among the zoo animals and among humans. The different zoo animals did not appear to care what the others thought of them. They went about their daily business just as they would any day. There were no female animals making sure that she looked good for the male animals. There were no packs, or cliques. They just mingled amongst each other as if they had not a care in the world. Humans, on the contrary, are exactly the opposite. We care what others think of us. As much as some of us want to believe otherwise, it is still very true for all of us. I will be the first to admit it. I do care what people think of me. And, of course, my opinion of myself overrides that of any other person’s opinion, but I still do really care what others think of me as well. It is only natural. But I could have realized this anywhere, not only at the zoo. I guess I just haven’t paid enough attention. I t shouldn’t have taken a zoo to make me realize something like this of my own kind. From now on, I ll just have to start paying more attention.