Last words

This blog can’t possibly describe how ready and excited to have almost completed my sophomore year.  Since this is my last blog, I have decided to make it fun.

 This year has definitely been one of a kind.  While it has had plenty of obstacles and struggles, it’s also had its fair share of life lessons and wonderful memories.  In all honesty however, sophomore year has been my worst year with stress.  Despite this though, I've learned so much about myself during this year and I will list these things below:

1.       I’ve learned that there will be many incidents that test your relationships with others.

2.       The person who you never imagined would change does. 

3.       No matter what a person does, they’ll always be one of your most treasured friends. 

4.       There are only a few people who you can actually depend on.

5.       Responsibility and managing your time wisely is a must in order to stay on top of things.

6.       No matter how hard and strict your teachers are, they really do want the best for you. (Some of them)

7.       Having your mom teach a floor below you is actually quite fun and enjoyable.

8.       I’ve been able to overcome every paper, math test, chemistry test, history test, etc.

9.       Deadline writing is not very easy.

10.   Your weekends are literally what get you through the week. 

As I sit here writing this blog on my deck soaking up the sun, it makes my want for summer even greater.  I can’t wait to spend every day with my family, Sam and his family, my friends, and my animals. I can’t wait to be down at the lake riding the jet-ski and wake skating.  I can’t wait to train Layla, my puppy, and make her the best dog possible.  I can’t wait for our annual beach trips and so many more trips.  There is one negative thing about sophomore year ending and that’s the fact that I’m growing up.  Soon, my friends and I will be graduating high school, which is such an unreal feeling.  We’ll be off to college and then facing the world on our own.   As much as I want to finish sophomore year, a part of me would like to freeze time and absorb every little detail about my life.  I love thinking about the future, but it’s scary at the same time.  I guess that’s life though- Yes, you don’t know your future, but God does.  He will never give you too much to handle and He’ll always be your backbone through everything that comes your way.  THAT is the most important thing that I have learned during my sophomore year.  

Forever

Forever

Definition: For all future time; for always. 

Is there really such thing as forever?  Is it nonsense to think that you and another person may last forever?  Or, is it scary to think that you may or may not have a, forever, with someone? 

When I think of forever, I think of spending the rest of my life with one particular person.  Many people say nothing lasts forever and many people think it’s ridiculous to believe that two people may actually have a forever, but to me, it’s a feeling of comfort.  I love thinking about the future when I’ll have my family, my home, and my animals.  It brings me joy and gives me a goal to work towards. 

With my forever has to come a person and in my life it would be my boyfriend, Sam.  With Sam, anything is possible and forever doesn't seem as difficult as people make it out to be. We're practically the same person, except for the fact that he is a boy and I'm a girl.   I wouldn't mind spending everyday with him because it would mean spending everyday with my best friend.  When I think about my future, he’s always in it.  A lot of people would probably say things like, “You two are way too young to think of a future together,” or things of that nature, but to us, it would be abnormal to picture a future without the other.  I see us growing up and growing old together; him being a major league baseball player and me having my own television show.  I see us living a happy life filled with things that bring us bliss, like cats.  I see us cooking together every night and finishing off the meal with a batch of brownies cut into fourths.  I see us watching Nicholas Sparks movies or re-watching our annual Thursday night Glee episode and catching up on a Braves game. I see us having a movie night with his family and watching, "Rain Man," for the first time.  I see us making our own forever and I couldn't have it any other way.  Spending time with him is easy.  There are no lies or secrets.  Simply being with the other is enough for the both of us.  Whether we have a fun filled day or a day where we watch movies, it’s always perfect.  My definition of forever is a life filled with my best friend, my confidant, and my other half- Sam.  

What is the number one problem facing teenagers?

The number one problem facing teenagers would have to be teen pregnancy and the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases.  It is a sad, but true realization to say that this generation is experiencing things a lot younger than they really should.    

It is said that 52% of high school teenagers are already sexually active. More than half of all twelfth grade students reported being sexually active compared to 20% of ninth grade students.  Although teen pregnancy rates have declined over the years, they are now climbing their way back up the percentage chart.  According to, “Teen Pregnancy Statistics,” 820,000 teenagers in the United States become pregnant each year, meaning 34% of teenagers become pregnant by the age of twenty.  40% of teenagers who reported having sex at the age of thirteen and fourteen say that it was unwanted. Not only this, but 80% of teenage pregnancies are unintentional. 

North Carolina is not only among the fifteen worst states for teen pregnancy, but also for STD’s, AIDS, and HIV.  It is estimated that in 2011, 8,300 people ranging from the age of thirteen to twenty-four in forty of the fifty states report to have an HIV infection.  Every day, 1,000 children are infected with HIV.   Many children who have AIDS or HIV do not receive treatment, in fact, it’s only 23%.  One in five people living with HIV are unaware of their infection and over one million people in the U.S. suffer from this disease.  Many cases of HIV not only occur in the US, but sadly, occur in third world countries, which lack many of the resources and medicines to treat the symptoms of this incurable disease.  Comparing heterosexual relationships to homosexual relationships (MSM), the percentage varies immensely with homosexuals rating a lot more.  In fact, the comparison was 27% to 61%. 

A possible solution to such distressing and ingenuous statistics would be to require all public schools to offer a sex education class.  With this class, it would inform teenagers the dangers of premarital sex and sexually transmitted diseases.  Even though sex education is covered in parts of health classes, it is only taught for a week maximum.  Also, 16% of high school students reported never being taught about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.  With this solution, it would offer the chance for high school students to learn more, which could possibly help lead to less teen pregnancies and HIV rates. 

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1956645,00.html

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-statistics.html

http://www.unicefusa.org/work/hivaids/?gclid=CNiw98CJlLYCFQYFnQodInEA1w

http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/

Lines of love

In Allyn Rosser’s poem, I found many of his ‘final lines’ to be the most powerful.  I was able to pick out five lines that I was able to understand and connect to.

 The first line was, “We watch the puppet show to spot the strings.”  When I read this, I began to think that what Rosser meant was that we often look for such minor details that we miss the most important part.  So often, we lose sight of what actually really matters because we’re so distracted by such minute and unimportant situations and incidents.  

Another ‘final line’ that I thought was very powerful was, “Success occurs when you forget to fail.”  This should be a quote that everyone follows.  I think that Rosser was trying to say that once you forget that there’s even the slightest possibility of you failing, you can do anything. 

“He dreams about the smiles she suppressed,” is very relatable.  I think that this ‘final line’ is speaking of a man who would love to see a certain girl happy.  He knows who she really is, but can’t seem to understand why she hides her happiness.  He longs to see the day where she actually feels genuine and doesn't have to fake a smile. 

When Rosser said, “Some stones bleed if resolutely pressed,” I think he was saying that if you constantly push and expect someone to do something, it will eventually lead to their downfall.  Some people have so many expectations that are placed upon by them by their selves and others, that they become overwhelmed and fail miserably.  

The last line that I understood was, “The bay leaf is never served with the stew.”  A bay leaf is a type of leaf that is very hard and rough and never softens even when cooked.  You’re not supposed to keep the bay leaf in the food that you cook it with because it can damage your body if swallowed.  I feel that he said this in order to contradict life.  Throughout your life, you’ll constantly be challenged with difficult obstacles that may affect you, but it’s your choice on how you respond to it. 

“Lines of Love” 

By: Hannah Lunsford

Love, the word over used by so many. 

A rare thing finding the one who is true.

People treat love like finding a penny,

And other times, some under use it too. 

It is a wondrous and beautiful thing,

But can break you in the blink of an eye.

An angel that has a halo and wing,

Or an evil spirit that feeds on lies.

A soft kiss on the cheek in the moonlight,

Or an awakening after so long.

A perfect ending to a Sunday night,

Or the tears that never end until dawn.

It is a risky adventure to take,

Though definitely worth the heart break.

Fraction friends

Jim Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

I find what Rohn says to be correct.  I think you are shaped from the environment that you are grown up in and the people that you surround yourself with.  It’s your innate ability to learn the habits and qualities that others possess.  While this can be a wonderful thing, it can also be a negative thing, depending on if these people have positive or negative impacts on your life.   

My family, my boyfriend and his family, my friends: Brooke and Jennifer, and my other friends: Myranda, Peyton, and River, are the people that I spend most of my time with.  These people have made me who I am and have definitely had an impact on my life.  I choose to not be surrounded by negative people, so everyone that I surround myself with is nothing but positive attributes to my life. 

Since day one, my family has taught me to be kind to the people I meet and be wise when making choices.  They have taught me right from wrong and to know the love that Christ has for me.  These qualities have become a huge part of my personality.  It doesn't bother me one bit because I know these are qualities that all should possess.  I’m very lucky to have been brought up in such a loving and friendly home. 

My boyfriend and his family are definitely my second family.  I know that I could come to them for anything and they’d take care of me.  From the very beginning, my boyfriend has been my best friend.  He’s always been there for me, along with his family.  You could say that we have, “rubbed off on each other.”  He’s taught me to not worry so much about the little and pointless things in life, but enjoy everything that comes my way.  He’s also taught me what it’s like to smile for no apparent reason.  My favorite part about us two is that we can act foolish with the other and not be embarrassed.  This is a part of him that I have accepted as my personality.  I feel like we have both made the other a better person. 

My friends, Brooke and Jennifer, have always been there for me, no matter what situation tries to step in our way.  We three have the type of friendship where even though we don’t hang out a lot, it’s like we never went a day without talking when we do.  I know I could tell them anything and trust them to keep it between us. Brooke is definitely the most carefree one of us three.  Jennifer is the one who will always keep a smile on her face, even when times get rough.  I have accepted both traits from these two as parts of my personality. 

My other friends and I are complete opposites, but somehow mesh so well.  Myranda, Peyton, and River are truly the best of friends that I could ask for.  Myranda would be classified as the, “hippie,” of us four.  She has her own world and creates her own trends and ways of life.  Peyton would best fit under the, mother figure category.  She’s the one who always makes sure we’re all okay.  River is our little singer and song writer who could make anyone laugh with her corny jokes.  We four together form one person.  Even though we all have our ups and downs, I wouldn't trade them for anything.  I have accepted these qualities as my personality.  

What deserves our fears?

Fear: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

There is such thing as rational and irrational fear.  We as humans have different amounts of each.  Yes, deer kill more people annually than sharks do, but how could you not be afraid of sharks?  We base our fears on what we see as scary traits and the things that haunt us in our nightmares.  We base our fears on what we find different from the norm.  We even base our fears on people or events that happened in our past. 

Irrational fears- the ones that control you.  They stay in the back of your mind and affect everything that you do.  I think that most people’s fears are irrational.  People, including myself, worry about pointless things such as heights, their reputation, shark attacks, snakes, what kind of car that they’ll drive, what college they’ll get accepted into, etc.  The fears that are less important in the scheme of life, but play a key role.  Sometimes, fear is overrated.  We allow our mind to play tricks on us and before anything has even happened.  We begin to think, “What if?”  This then leads to the domino effect that causes an unnecessary amount of anxiety. 

A rational fear has a strong verifiable, basis in reality.   These are the ones that can keep us alive at times.  For example, my mother could have a rational fear of getting breast cancer when she is older because her mother had it.  However, she doesn't let this control her life.  Much less, she’s not sitting around waiting for it to happen either.  That’s the thing though; it’s what you decide to do with your fears.  Do you let them control you?  While some fears are necessary, majority of them are not.

If you’re a Christian, this is where your faith plays a key role in fears.  You have no control over your fate, but you do control how you spend the time that you have.  As teenagers, we don’t know our exact future, but we know what we want to do in order to make a great one.  We don’t know when we’ll die, but we choose not to worry about that and let it control our lives.  We don’t know who we’ll end up marrying, but spending our time wisely with the one who makes us happy in our lives right now.  If you think about it though, why is it that we understand all of this? We lean on God, not our fears and reality.  Even though I choose to understand the fact that God has my life in his hands, I still have my fears.  I have plenty of fears.  It's normal for human beings to have them.  

Of course, crimes and the abuse of drugs deserve our fears.  Losing a friend or a loved one deserves them as well.   Most importantly, what deserves our fears is the fact that hate, not love, is on the rise.  People are fighting with each other more and more every day.   Taking prayer out of public, institutional events is now a debate and the rate of Atheism is growing.  Basically, anything that blocks our ultimate goal in life, which is getting to heaven, deserves our fears.   

Whole Person Score

If life were to have a Whole Person Score (WPS), attributes that should be included should be spiritual, physical, and academic qualities.  These could be divided up in 33.33% each. These three qualities complement each other.  One without the other makes less than a whole person.  

Spiritual qualities 33.33%

- Involve their faith in a higher power

- The ability to be kind to others 

- Treating others the way that you would want to be treated

* The spiritual qualities are very important to me.  It shows that they are strong Christians and believe in treating everyone with respect.  

Physical qualities 33.33%

-  Being active, enjoying the outdoors, and exercising 

- Keeping up good health 

- Taking care of one’s self 

* Physical qualities are important because it shows that they have respect for themselves and believe in staying healthy. By taking care of yourself physically, you are enabling yourself to take care of those that you love and care about. You are also contributing to society because you are doing your part in keeping down health care costs. 

Academic qualities 33.33%

- The ability to do the very best that they can for their selves and their family 11

- Helping to educate others about bettering themselves instead of relying on others such as the government to take care of them 11

- Staying thirsty for knowledge 9

* Academic qualities are very important. It shows that one has the intrinsic desire to always do their best and learn more in life.  There's no limit in learning. 

Rating myself

- When it comes to spiritual qualities, I would give myself about a 28% out of 33.33%.  I need to work on my faith.  I gave myself a 9% out of 11 % on this one because at times I tend to forget that God is in control and has a plan for me.  On being kind to others, I gave myself a 10% out of 11%.  When I become stressed and angry with my life, I tend to take it out on others.  For the most part though, I try to be nice to everyone.  On treating others the way that I would want to be treated, I gave myself a 9% out of 11%.  Sometimes it's hard to remember that others have it a lot worse than me.  I need to work on realizing that if I was in a bad position, I would want someone to be nice to me.  

- When it comes to physical qualities, I would give myself 31% out of 33.33%.  I love being outdoors, exercising, and staying active.  If I'm not doing something constantly, I become bored.  I gave myself an 11% out of 11% on this one.  Keeping up good health is a number one to me and my family.  At times, I will eat unhealthy, so I need to work on that.  I gave myself a 10% out of 11%.  I do fairly well at taking care of myself.  I try and keep up a good appearance and eat healthy.  I gave myself a 10% out of 11%. 

- Academic qualities play a huge role in my life.  I gave myself a 30% out of 33.33%.  I put 110% in everything that I do.  What keeps me motivated is that if it's not an "A," then it's not good enough.  On doing the very best that I can, I gave myself an 11% out of 11%.  When it comes to educating others and bettering themselves, I gave myself a 10%.  I believe that I lead by example.  Even my friends know that I do all of my homework, I stress out if it's not perfect, and I try to influence them in a positive manner.  On staying thirsty for knowledge, I gave myself a 9% out of 11%.  I'll be the first one to admit that it's easy for a teenager to become lazy, especially when it comes to learning.  I need to work on this, so that I can keep my motivation up for learning more.  My generation is responsible for tomorrow's society.