Freshman Year Reflectiom

Last year I was shy, timid, and I wasn’t as outgoing as I am now. I had friends but not as many as I have now. I didn't express myself around people and I was scared to meet new people. I also didn't have a lot of confidence in myself I never was the type of person to try new things and do stuff outside my comfort zone. Now I have a lot of self confidence and I believe I can do anything I put my mind to. I’m more open minded than I was before, to new thing. I’m more outspoken and that gained me some of the many friends I have now. I stay outside my comfort zone all the time and I can be myself almost around anybody now. Some expectations I had coming to Parkway West was to meet new people and to start finding who I was as a person. The people I’m friends with now haven't really changed me that much, but they've affected me in a positive way. For instance, Omar is a new friend I've met at Parkway, and he's the funniest person I have ever met. It's like he can always find a way to put a smile on my face or brighten my day up. Another example is, when I hang with my other new friends Destiny, Nadirah and Briyanna we always find ways to have fun and a good time in our shabby school. My grades have changed a lot coming to Parkway, before in middle school making honor roll wasn't a problem. But making honor roll in high school is hard and a challenge. Everything in high school is new to me, but over the year I have adjusted to my school and everything that goes on in it. Overall my year has been full of experiences and unforgettable memories. The change from me being shy to the most outspoken person you know has been a great change. It's great because it changed me in such a way that it made me a better person and it built my character up. The change also helped me realize I’m growing up and more changes are to come and I've started to find myself and realize who I really am as a person.

True value of life(thisibelieve.org)

In True value of life Sudie Noland mainly talks about how she forgives the man who caused her to have chronic pain injuries for the rest of her life. The man was a drunk driver and he hit the car Sudie was in and she suffered chronic neck and back pain, migrane headaches, and part of her kidney was missing. Even though 10 years had past Sudie said that she was still in pain because of the accident that happened to her earlier in life. The man name was Eddie Joe and he was sentenced to 25 years in jail for drunk driving. She believed that even though Eddie had caused her great pain in her life he deserved to be forgiven and she forgave him.Sudie believed that what Eddie had done was simply a horrible mistake and he didn't mean it because he was so intoxaicated that he didn't know what he was doing.Sudie also believes that her accident has changed her life in a good way and showed her the true value of life. I think that what Sudie believes is true and meaningful,because there are going to be some bad things that will happen to a person in life.But that person has it in them let something positive come out of their situation .Sudie probably took her situation and used it as a guide for her life since she said her accident changed her life in a good way. This makes me think that people can come over any obstacle in life and they can come out stronger than they were before.

Broadcasting a World of Whiteness

In" Broadcasting a World of Whiteness" Jon Caramanica points out how most television shows and just television in general isn't really that diverse. There a lot of television shows that are not diverse and mostly stick to one race the whole time.This article includes some facts and quotes on things dealing with this problem that is talked about in the article. One detail that stood out was that "whiteness is too often invisible on television, so much that this fact is hardly ever pointed out, and for whatever advances." I think that there is not enough diveristy on the television and that shows that some things involving race just haven't changed that much over time. Many people don't really realize how undiverse television is. I think that this show is just a show of many shows that shows that the television networks would rather be undiverse and stick to one race rather than be diverse and have many different races. I guess television will never really be diverse if people don't start to press for a change and want things to change. This article makes me thinks that even though the show is all white women the show will be open to change since Ms.Dunham had said " if their is a second season she would address that there should be more women of color on the show." This article did make me think a little deeper about what is going on in the television world and how it seems as there is no need for more things to become more diverse. Will there be more and more complaints on the show "Girls" making the show change the way it is?

New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun

In "New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun" Matt Ritchel points out how packing a gun without people knowing, in your clothes is starting to become the new style trend. This article includes quotes from companies and people on this topic. One fact that stood out was that a lot of states are starting to allow people to carry handgunans. I think this new fashion trend is pretty cool, it's not a trend that you would see people wearing as a trend statement. I also think that this is a different change in fashion, meaning it's something new that has happened fashion wise. This article reminds me of fashion designers and how some of them try to come up with clothes that are different but something that people would wear. This article makes me think that the fashion world is changing and more and different styles are starting to come out. I think more people( who own a gun) would wear these type of clothes on a regular basis since that's what the clothes are meant for. I also think people who carry guns everyday will like this brand of clothes since it can make thier guns not seem so obvious. I wonder if this style will be something that undercover cops would wear? Will these clothes stop being availible to any and everyone? Will more and more clothing companies take in this style trend? Would this clothing style ever get played out? Will all types of clothes be turned into gun holding clothes?

Afghan Girls, Scarred by Acid, Defy Terror, Embracing School

In "Afghan Girls, Scarred by Acid, Defy Terror, Embracing School" Dexter Filkins illustrates how Afghan girls are mistreated and living in fear of the people(mostly Afghanistan men) who do not want them succeed. 1,300 girls had returned back to their school after they were wounded and threatened not to come back. The article includes quotes and information on the situation that is happening with the girls in Kandahar, Afghastnistan. Dexter points out how many f the girls have to walk 2 miles from their homes to get to their school. I think what happened to the girl Shamsia was wrong and unfair and she didn't deserve such a cruel act just for going to school. I think that it is good she still continues to go to school even though she has been scared for the rest of her life and threatened to stop doing something that she enjoys. Many people don't know how lucky they are to be able to go to school and have the opportunity to be able to learn without being assaulted and harassed. This article reminds me of how black people weren't able to go to a white person school because of the color of their skin. When they started to let black people attend white people schools they were harassed and taunted and teased because they were unwanted in the white school, just how Afghan girls are treated when they aren't allowed to go to school. This article starts to make me think differently about school, I just think Im lucky that I can come to school everyday without worry about someone trying to harm because Im trying  to learn and be successful. Why do the girls continue to got to school when they know they're lives are in danger? Why do the Taliban want women to be uneducated, do the think that's a way for them to have some type of power over women if they illiterate?

Cut in E-book Pricing by Amazon Is Set to Shake Rivals

In Cut in E-book by Amazon Is to Shake Rivals its talking about how E-book prices are going to be cut down by amazon since people are saying that the price for an e-book is a lot. It said in the article that Amazon will probably cut the prices down  from 10 to 15 dollars. This article includes quotes from book publishers and information on this topic. One detail that stood out was prices were getting high out of no where because it's said "no book seller can undercut Apple." I think that amazon should just do whatever they think is right for their business and not what other people think. Maybe amazon's e-book is high because they probably need more money for the product they are selling. This article reminds me of gas prices that rise and how they went down because they're were complaint on the gas prices and how too high they were. This article makes me think that more things will have higher prices later down the line and it also makes me feel that people are getting cheated and they're not paying fair prices. The e-book maybe is nice but I don't think it's worth the price it's selling for. I wonder if e-book will follow out with their plans to lower their prices?

Free Lolita?

In the article"Free Lolita?" Achieve 3000 points out how animal activist are trying to free the killer whale named Lolita from the sea aquarium she is currently living at. One thing that stood out was that activists were suing the federal government because it was said they were suppose to protect Lolita, which they did not do. This article includes facts and quotes about Lolita and people who are trying to help be set free so she can go back to her natural habitat. This article reminds of the movie Free Willy. The whale named Willy was being mistreated in the amusement park that he was staying, and some boy noticed that he was on a mission to get Willy to be set free. I think that what the boy was doing for the whale was right because the whale doesn't belong in a amusement park, it belongs in the ocean. Free Lolita and Free Willy point out how its not right to keep animals away from where they belong. This article makes me think that maybe it's better for wild animals to be kept in their own habitat where they belong, and that maybe animals like the killer whale shouldn't be used as an entertainment tool. I think that some animals shouldn't be domesticated and put into shows and performances because that's not what they are suppose to do. Will Lolita ever be set free, or will she have to live in her sea aquarium forever? Will more people step in to help the animal activist who want Lolita to be set free?

For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage

In" For Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage" Jason Deplare illustrates how most women under 30 nowadays are starting to have children without being married first. Two-thirds of children are born to mothers who are under 30 and are not married.The article includes has facts and quotes from experts and people who were aksed quetions on this topic. One fact that stood out the most was that 92 percent of college educated women have children when they are married.This shows that women who are highly educated mostly have their children after they get married. I think that there is nothing wrong with women under the age of 30 having children when their not married. I think when the woman has a certain amount of kids and she's not married then that's when she should really be married. I believe that most women don't want to have the married life or be married that's why the rate of unmarried women is so high now. This article reminds me of shows when women spend all their money on their wedding and a few years later them and their husband wind breaking up. This article makes me think that people are starting to careless about being married and more about having money to spend on I guess things they think is more important. Where did the person who wrote this article get all their information from? Why did the person who wrote this article write this article, was it to get a point across?

Meet number 7 billion

In" Meet number 7 billion" Achieve 3000 points out how one child named Danica in the Philippines was the 7 billionth child since she was born on October 30,2011. She was born 2 minutes before midnight,  her birthday would've been close to a Monday, if it she were more 2mins later. This article includes some background of the child parents and what they get for having a 7 billionth person. One fact that stood out was that UN officials gave the child parents gifts since she was the 7 billionth person. I think the baby is very lucky because many babies come in this world and they don't get rewarded for being born, and this baby didn't have to do anything nor did her parents for her to get rewarded. I think that many people would wish something like this could happen to their child, with no cost being involved. This article reminds me of somebody getting rewarded a scholarship or trophy for doing something that led them to deserve it. But in this case a baby just gets attention since she was pointed out as the 7 billionth person in the world. This article makes me think differently about what people are getting noticed for. I never knew that people can get noticed for being a specific number when they're born, it's just a little surprising to me. I believe that what this baby got was a little unfair and i feel like other people should get something for just being born into the world no matter what number they say you are.

Facebook is using you

In "Facebook is using you" Lori Andrews illuminates how people need to start being more careful of what they put online because Facebook and some other popular internet sites could go into your personal business. A lot of people use facebook so that gives businesses a chance to market their stuff to people using some of the peoples private information. The article includes information on how much money facebook be making and percentages. One fact that stood out was that facebook made 3.2 billion in advertising revenue and 85% of it's total revenue. I think that what facebook and other popular websites are doing is wrong because their invading peoples privacy. What was the point of the creator of facebook putting up privacy settings for facebook users if their privacy would be invaded anyway by unwanted people. It's good that facebook is making money and helping other businesses get money but they way it's being done isn't all the way right. This article reminds me of a movie I watched and a girl had a internet profile and someone hacked into her account and put all her personal business out that wasn't meant to be put out. This article make me start to think more on what I should put on the internet and how websites that are presumed to be safe are really not. So basically I'm going to be more careful online. I wonder how the writer of this new article found out all this information on how facebook and other popular websites be doing this stuff to people online? Would facebook and other popular websites be a little angered by this article?

Whitney houston death(wikipedia)

Whitney Houston had passed away on February 12, that was on a Saturday,she was found unresponsive in her bathtub. According to the article Whitney had taken a lot of sedative pills which put her to sleep and she drowned in her tub since she was unconcious from the pills. Whitney Houston was only 48 years old and she had made many accomplishments in her short life.Whitney was first noticed when she was in a new york city nightclub singing with her mother by Gerry Griffifth. That day that her talent was noticed was the start of a career that led Whitney to known as one of the greatest singers of all time. She was in the guiness book of worl records for being the most rewarded female of all time. Whitney was the worlds best selling music artist, she also over 170 million albums. But behind all this success was whitneys struggle with drug addiction, it was said that whitney was struggle with drugs for quiet some time before she became sober. People believed that bobby brown had introduced her to drugs but I disagree with that, I believd Whitney just had a some problems in her life which led her to the choose of doing drugs.Even though Whitney has had an absolute bad downfall in her career, it she has shown many people through her music success that something bad like bad like that wouldn't hold her down from succeding in life. No matter what Whitney Houston struggles in life may have been she will always be known as the greates female singer of our times.

I'm a criminal and so are you

In " I'm a criminal and so are you" Michelle Alexander points out how criminals are being treated equal since they have been convicted of a crime. In the United states millions of criminals are categorized in a second class status since they have committed a crime. This article includes facts and opinions on this topic. One statement that stuck out the most was when she said that most of the people she work with and most of the people in her neighborhood only think criminals are in the ghetto. This means that most people don't believe a criminal can exist a functional neighborhood. I think that criminals who commit minor felonies shouldn't be discriminated against as much. I mean if you stole money from a store you shouldn't be accountable for it for the rest of their entire life. Many people think since you went to jail your bad for the rest of your life and that's not entirely true for some people. This article reminds me of a lesson on the holocaust and how the Jews were being discriminated against because they were Jewish. That's the same thing as people who were imprisoned, they're discriminated against since they went to jail. This article makes me think that people are not very open minded about criminals even though they have a bad name , it's like the people who believe they're better then them don't want to gave them a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance even criminals, they're human too.

Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell

In "Photoshopped or Not? A Tool to Tell" Dr. Farid and Erick Kee " are proposing a software tool for measuring how much fashion and beauty photos have been altered a 1-to-5 scale that distinguishes the very  little from the fantastic." This  article included quotes from experts on this topic. One quote was from feminist leaders and they said "discourage the altering of photographs in a manner that could promote unrealistic expectations of appropriate body image. This shows that these women do not really appreciate how the people edit superstars bodies and give fans and people the wrong image. I think that photoshopping someone is  okay as long as it's minor things they are photoshopping. For instance if a superstar has a bad pimple and the photoshop person fix it that's okay. But if a photoshop person almost changes a superstars whole look then that's kind of unacceptable and unrealistic to people who would see these pictures.  I also believe that if I were a superstar I wouldn't want someone to photoshop me, I would want to be me with no edits. This article reminds me of facebook and how a lot of people on there take pictures and edit it because sometimes they might not want someone to see their true self. This article makes me think that some people do not like their feature a lot so they use photo shop to cover themselves. It also make me think that no one wants  to be human anymore, they rather be perfect. How long has these professors been doing this research?  Are there other people out there who are doing research on this kind of topic?

In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad

In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad  Charles Duhigg and David Barboza point out how workers that work in the apple factory  are being abused, and treated unfairly, and they are doing harsh work. Workers  work long hours and they stand so long that they're legs swell and 137 workers who worked for apple were hurt after they used a poisonous chemical to clean the iPad screen. This article included quotes from workers and advocates. One quote that stood out was former chairman  of the National advisory committee on occupational safety and health when he said "What's morally repugnant in one country is accepted business practices in another, and companies take advantage of that". This shows that companies could care less about the working conditions for the workers. I think what these big companies are doing to their workers is very wrong and unfair. I say that because no one should have to work long hours, be in contact with poisonous air and chemicals and be treated like dirt. I think that companies should have should care more for the workers since they are the backbone of the company. This article reminded me of a TV show on Ethiopian girls and how they get treated unfair and it's like their cry's for help is always ignored by the people who are suppose to be the ones who are suppose to help them. The girls in Ethiopia and the workers are similar in a way by them all suffering from unfairness and people turning the other cheek on them. This article gave me a new thought about what it would be like to work for a company and the conditions I would be in. It also let me know a little more on how companies that I thought were good aren't so good when it comes to their workers. I wonder why no one has tried to find a way to make better working conditions for the people who work in the apple factory? What other companies treat their workers unfair? Overall I think this topic won't be looked over if more people stand up for the workers that work in harsh factories.

Cracking teenagers online codes

I agree with Dana Boyd’s opinion that teens should be having more freedom to do whatever they want. I agree with that because I also think the same thing, I think that parents try to keep their kids from everything and that's impossible. Parents should let their children have more experiences throughout their life so they'll know how to cope with certain things. Sometimes I don't understand how some parents can be like that, I mean they were kids once and they probably wanted to do the same things as their kids want to do. So why is it so hard for them to let kids to do something’s on their own if they did the same things as well when they were a kid. If you keep a child from everything than what life experiences do they have? What downfall do they have? What new people will they meet? What might they learn? Kids need fresh air and places to go to entertain themselves. My mom is a little over protective at times and sometimes she is not because she understands that I have a life that I need to live and I won't really learn anything from life if I just stay in the house all day and be blocked from everything. Dana Boyd’s to be seems like the person who can speak on teens behalf and let people know that we kind of deserve to be able to breathe, without parents trying to block us from any and everything.

5 year old pyscho

A 5 year old boy had to be taken out of his home because he had stabbed 3 people over a juice box, it's still unknown if it was a knife or not.. No one knows really what happened but they know that the 5 year old stabbed two kids and one adult over a juice box that he was fighting over. When i first saw this on the news I was shocked, I mean I never heard such a thing in my entire life of living. I've heard of a lot of crazy teenage assaults but never an assault involving a 5 year old child. I think the kid who did this has a mental disability because no kid in there right mind would pick up a sharp object and stab a smaller child and an adult. I also think this child maybe hasn’t had proper discipline. I hope that this little boy gets help because if the little boy doesn't get help then he will go around thinking what he did was okay and he could harm somebody. I think this news story is one that should be know and looked upon because this is starting to tell people how children act now; they are starting to not be as innocent as they seem anymore. The child's identity is unknown and i think the mom did one thing by doing that, she was protecting his privacy like a parent should. Even though this little boy stabbed 3 people and put them in the hospital I believe he didn't fully do it on purpose since he still is a child.

Teaching Kids how to break up nicely

The main idea of the article"Teaching kids how to break up nicely" is teens finding ways to break up the healthy way, and exploring the unhealthy ways of breaking up. Also how teens be breaking up on Facebook. This article has quotes of teens sharing their opinions on what a healthy and unhealthy relationship is. Also quotes from teens from teens sharing about their relationships on and off of facebook. It also has examples using the super stars on who either had a healthy or unhealthy ended relationship. For example they said Kayne Wests  ended relationship with amber rose was unhealthy because of the mean ways he handled the break-up. I think this article is interesting because it shows what some teens are doing relationship wise. Like teens would race home just to delete or unfriend a boyfriend or girlfriend that they either broke up with or got broke up with. I never knew their was a health commission that helps teenagers know about healthy relationships and the right way to break up with somebody. I kind of know now some healthy and unhealthy ways of breaking up.This article reminds me of a show I saw and teens were talking about the different ways of having a healthy relationship and whats an unhealthy one.This article makes me think that teens dedicate more time to relationships rather than the important things like school. It also makes me think that some teens do not be very serious with their relationships. I wonder if teens use facebook as a way to show off their relationships and all of their business? How long has the Boston Public Health Compassion been around? Where is the Boston Public Health Commission at?

2011

3 major things happened in 2011 in Japan, one is when they had that really bad earthquake, another one is when they had that tsunami and the nuclear meltdown. The earthquake japan had an 8.9 magnitude and it destroyed mostly everything, buildings, houses, it made the power go down,made the buses and trains stop working, and streets and it killed hundreds of people. The earthquake had atleast 100 after shocks.The earthquake was the worst earthquake japan had so far. Then another deadly natural disaster happened to japan and that was the tsunami that happened because of the earthquake happening. That killed even more people in japan, it was said in some news articles that the death toll was the highest ever recorded from the earthquake and tsnuami. But japan was somewhat prepared for these natural disasters that were happening it was said in some news articles as well. Then another horrible thing happened to Japan was the nuclear meltdown. People who lived near the nuclear poewer plants had to evacuate because toxins were going to be released in the air and that wouldn't be good for the people to be exposed to that. Even though Japan had faced many disasters they still seemed to pull through and fix what was damaged or thought to take years to fix. I think everything that happened to japan was really crazy I mean Japan has suffered 3 disasters that most places would be able to recover form at all. I also believe that Japan is a strong country that probably can get past anything if they put their minds to it and in these devastating situations they faced they did just that.