Ty's post

I will be moving onto williams next year, and so will some of my classmates but kindness from this school will follow me to the new school. It will be like restarting back at fifth grade but i know people and I will not be so lonely. I am sure to be kind to my friends at williams both the old, and the new.

Rashad's Post

A friendship between myself and my very close friend $ean was almost gone when we split schools as many are. We had come to the conclusion that it would be most beneficial for both of us if we were able to visit each other ever other weekend or so. So far this plan has worked out. $ean is like my Big Brother and I can't Imagine having to survive without him. He may not know it but he is one of my biggest role models and hopefully we can continue to share our awesome jokes and serious moments together.

Sarahs Post=]

Last September, my cousin and I were enjoying ourselves at the Ledyard Fair, when an unfortunate event occurred. We were standing in line for the Ferris Wheel when the man in front of us started talking to us. He seemed kind of "out of it," telling us there was a spider on the ground when clearly there wasn't. When we got on the Ferris Wheel, the man started yelling profanity and inappropriate things. My cousin and I knew something was wrong with this man, so we reported him to the police. The police arrested the man because he was an "unidentified pedophile" and was under the influence. The police man comforted us and told us he would be locked up for a long time. It was nice to have a shoulder to lean on, after being uncomfortable for an entire day. 

Kyle's Post

Pine Point molds each and everyone one of us into a well rounded person who is intellectually superb, morally independent, and active in his or her community by using compassion and kindness. Simple things that we are taught here since preschool like holding doors for others or smiling or always saying please and thank you are meant to go with us beyond leaving or graduation. I will do my best to represent my Alma mater and always act with respect, moral courage, integrity, and excellence for the rest of my life, not just this summer.

Scarlet's Post

A moment that I experienced an absence of kindness was last year during a lacrosse game. The girls of the other team were extremely unkind to us. For example, one player tripped Olivia. She did not apologize and on top of that the whole team laughed. This made me angry so I said,
"It's not funny. She could really be hurt." Their goalie replied with a harsh, "Yes it is." I was very irritated with these girls as were my teammates, my coach and the referee. When packing up my things after the game, one of my binders fell and all of the papers slipped out. A kind friend helped me pick them up and get my binder organized again. This was a moment where I realized that kindness is a wonderful quality. When you lose it for a moment it is beautiful when you find it again.

gabe's post

When I was about 9, my family and I moved here from Illinois. It was strange to me because I had lost my comfort zone. I was entering what seemed to be a whole new world. Thankfully, people were kind to me and I fitted right in.

Carolines post

When I think of all that I have lost, I mainly think of people. I have had many relatives die recently, and looking back, I realized that I barely knew any of them. I think the biggest loss is not the death itself, but the fact that I never got a chance (well I had many chances but did not use them) to actually get to know my aunts or grandmother. Don’t get me wrong, death is a terrible thing, but I feel that this is almost worse. Through these horrible experiences, I have learned that kindness is key. My shyness and lack of socialism kept me from meeting my family before it was too late, and in the future, this will not be the case. My thoughtlessness helped no one.

Olivia's Post

Most of what I have lost I have gained back, which might seem odd, except for the people that I knew that died and are gone forever. As for my confidence that was gone a long time ago, and I haven't gained it back. Everyone is always saying to be more confident, but I don't know how to, but I try. As for feeling not wanted or needed thats most of the time too. I can't explain it but that's how I feel, most of the time though one of my friends is there to help me through the tough times.

Zack's Post

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say that I do have a problem with crying. I do not have a problem with people showing emotion, be they man or woman; the person who cannot show emotion is either paranoid or recovering from such extensive trauma that they should be admitted Happydale Sanitarium. I have a problem with control. I have problem with the person who just has to wallow in their emotions and is just so absorbed with self pity that they cannot do anything. When I choke back my tears, I do not do it for your benefit, I do it for mine. I remain objective, rational. Those are the physiological effects of crying, many of parts of the brain stop functioning and "fight or flight" kicks in. Mabye it's just the things I do, but when I am pushed to the point of crying, I can't afford to, and I sometimes have to smack around the guy who is. When people cry they focus inward, on their own emotions; I do not care about these emotions, often I can respect them or try to emulate them; I just do not like to watch people who lose control.

Ty's post

I have never actually cried out loud since I was about eight years old. I think that crying is couragous for a man to do and should not be thought of as a weakness. In my opinion, it is a strength to have the courage to cry infront of people and i have no roblem with someone crying.

Tristan's Post!

I think men don’t like to cry because it shows weakness. Weakness is essentially admitting that you have a need for something. Crying is showing that you have a need for emotional output, a way of getting rid of all of the tears inside of you. Men try (as a gender) generally to appear strong and intimidating, and so they don’t like to show weakness through tears. If you think about it, you’ve never seen President Obama cry, you’ve never seen your teachers cry, you’ve never seen policemen or firefighters cry. They all need to seem as if they are tough brute people who need nothing. I personally am not ashamed to cry, but I just don’t. If I feel tears coming on, I don’t ever fight them, but I rarely ever feel them in the first place, and I’m sure this is the same for many other men out there as well.

gabe's post

I am not afraid to cry. I might not cry often but that is because there isn't a real reason to. As Parker said, I cry only when devastating things such as death happen. Overall, when there is a reason to cry I welcome the opportunity.

Parker's Post

I don't really mind crying when I have to. I prefer to shed my tears for something that's worth the emotion that comes with them. But in life there is little that does that for me. Death maybe, or if something truly devastating happened to my family, only then would my tears fall. That is all subjective of course, but those would prove to be valid reasons for me to cry.

Lydia's Post

Personally, I don't like crying. I don't like to cry and I don't like it when people cry too much. I don't mean to say that it is wrong to show your emotions; I support someone who is brave enough to leave themselves so exposed. I guess my problem is that to me, some things aren't worth being vulnerable for. I feel that I have to save my tears for something that really matters to me, not just let loose whenever life throws me something that I don't agree with. So I guess my answer is yes, I can understand why some men are afraid to cry.

Anna's post

It is strange to me tears have become associated with weakness. In my opinion, the ability to cry shows nothing but strength. To cry is to allow vulnerability to consume your mind, to open yourself up to sadness, to look pain in the eye without fear. It is not a sign of helplessness, but of a person looking to repair something within that was once broken. I know boys who are proud to say they cry and others who are not. Like Caroline said, I almost feel sorry for those who are unable to admit their tears, treating them as a frailty or flaw. Sometimes pain is unavoidable. As Scarlet said, no matter who you are or what you will face, its okay to cry.

Julie's Post

I don't think that when men cry, it should be considered a weakness. Crying helps let go of these strong emotions that everyone (girls and boys) experience in their lives. I don't think it's wrong for a man to cry and personally, I'd rather see one cry then seeing him holding it in, with more pain on his face. Crying is such a harmless action and no one should be judged for it. It doesn't take away from someone's strength. If boys are afraid to cry and show their pain because they think it is a sign of weakness, wouldn't ALL girls be considered weak then?

Timmy's Post

I agree with Kyle in that the Greek's saw crying as a natural part of life.  It is undeniable, but modern people have taken a different meaning to crying. They see crying not as sadness, but as a sign of weakness. This is not always the case. Men should be able to cry because of sadness and not be mocked for it.

Kate's Post

Men are afraid to cry because they are pressured to be manly, and they think crying and showing emotion is girly.  I don't think it is feminine when a man cry's.  I personally would rather be comforted by a man while watching a romantic comedy rather then crying together.  

Sarahs Post=]

As Eleanor said, men have been given a very strong stereotype that isn't right. Men are being held down everyday for showing their sensitive side, but little do most men know, women actually find sensitivity attractive (to an extent). When men are willing to sit down next to you and watch your favorite romantic movie (and actually cry with you at the scene, or at least comfort you), I find it very flattering. You can find a complete different side of a man when you see his sensitive side- a compassionate, loving and caring side. Its nice to see a different side to a guy, rather than him being "macho" and "mean" all the time. 

Eleanor's Post

For thousands of years men have been given the image of the "provider", the "strong person" or the one who is most important. It continues today and the guys of this generation have been given the implication that they aren't manly if they cry or show much emotion. This is the same in nature with wolf packs, and various other animals across the globe. It makes me a little sad, their lives are almost always a competition, but I suppose thats just how it is.

Kyle's Post

I think the ancient Greeks recognized that crying is a part of human nature and those that tried to deny it were simply unaccepting of a natural part of themselves. I think society, not so much recently, has made up the image of a man being the big strong provider of the family who isn't afraid of anything. However, I think that many of the youth in our generation are disagreeing with this and see that it's okay for men to cry. The testosterone in men naturally makes them competitive with one another and I think some people just make fun of guys crying simply because that is their testosterone speaking. I also think that some refer to crying as feminine because I think women as a whole are sometimes more emotional than men, but not necessarily cry more than men. In fact it's quite the opposite. There are actually many women who are strong willed and try to set an example for other women to show the world that they are just as capable and fearless as many men pretend to be.

Anna's post

So sorry this is late.

I have had a lot of trouble with this topic. For me, standing in the spotlight is pleasant, but I think I step down when the time is right. I do my best to put emphasis on the talent's of my friends, and I try to give up certain opportunities to more deserving people than myself. Still, it is something I wish to work on in the future. Most people this week talked about stepping back from a shower of attention so that others could bask in its glory, but I have found that there are times when the stage should be ignored. When tragedy strikes, it's unnecessary for attention to be given to an individual. Perhaps the stage of life should, at times, be emptied as a sign of acknowledgement or respect. Sometimes an empty theater is more effective than even the most worthy individuals.

Olivia's Post

I feel like guys are "competing" to see who can be the most manliest.I get it that they deal with their emotions a different way, but your not proving yourself to anyone acting all oooooooo I don't cry. Do they think that the girls are supposed to cry and thats why they have men for a shoulder to lean on. Well girls are there when a "man" cries too. I actually like it when I see guys cry. It actually shows they have some sort of emotion and aren't afraid to show their feelings. I find adorable actually.

Hannah's Post

In my short two years of being a teenager and dealing with many sad more intense situations, I have never been ashamed to cry. The girls I am friends with aren't ashamed to hide their feelings either. I find that when you cry, you release more stress and it's simply part of being a healthy human being. As for men, I think it's really sad that they can't share their feelings and release whatever is inside. One example would be when I was at Scarlet's house with a couple of friends and one of my male friends slipped and fell on the gravel driveway. You could tell that this boy was in pain due to the bloody scratches going up and down his legs but there was no way he was going to cry. Instead, he just got up and walked it off even though the pain was clearly visible in his face. I hope that as the boys and even some girls grow up they can realize how important it is to show your feelings whether it is crying in your bedroom alone or crying to a friend.

carolines post

Like Scarlet, I have seen many girls cry who are not afraid, but never any boys. I have seen boys cry and feel humiliated. They asked me not to tell anyone and I almost felt sorry for him. I don't think people should be afraid of something as simple as crying. On the other hand, I have seen men cry and not feel ashamed. I think the fear comes and goes depending on the reason for crying.

Scarlet's Post

I have never met a girl who had that much trouble crying. I have met many men who have had a lot of trouble crying. One day, a boy friend of mine fell down a flight of metal stairs and he refused to cry. I could see the tears welling up in his eyes but he continued to swallow them. I see things like this everyday. I hope that men will finally realize that we don't think that they are "girly" or  a "sissy" when they cry. It is okay to cry.

Ceilie's Post

I don't really have any opinion on this topic. I understand that society has created this stereotype that if you are a man and cry, you aren't "macho." I do think it's unfair that if a male were to shed a tear among his peers, he would be ridiculed. I don't think that if a boy were to cry, I would see him any differently than those who don't. I would probably assume that he's not afraid of his emotions and respect that he doesn't care what others think of how sentimental he is, but just because someone cries, doesn't mean that they have a heart made of stone. Some people express their feelings in different ways, some cry and some don't. But just because a man cries, doesn't mean he is less or more superior than his peers. 

Kimo's Post 4.20.09

This past summer. My grandfather died. And I cried. But more importantly, my dad cried. This was difficult for us all, but only the second time I'd ever seen my dad cry. My dad, the Xtreme Naval Commander with The Iron Will had broken down and cried 6 months earlier, when he told me that he and my mom were getting divorced. And then he did it again. My grandfather was a great man, who's death greatly shook me. but my dad is also a great man, and seeing him cry was a huge milestone for me, as I am coming into manhood. I remember when he said to me through tears, "Trust me son. It takes a real man to show such a powerful emotion." My father, my mentor, my rock, my unchanging constant had cried. And I know that the day he dies I will cry. And he will be proud.

Wendell's Post

I cry, but not unless it is very sad. If I am watching a sad movie, such as Armageddon or Ladder 49, I cry at the end of these movies. The characters really touch my heart. I usually don't cry if I hurt myself, unless I have really broken my body. I am at the age where pain can be tolerated. So, my answer to this question is yes, I know men who cry, myself. 

Kates Post

I have stepped out of the spotlight for people.  The times I have stepped out have been small but think they were important.  I have stepped back on the field and in the classroom.  

Lydia's Post

I often try to step out of the spotlight for the sake of my friends. When one of them has a problem and need to talk about it, I don't usually realize at first how important their problem is. However, after they have been subtly hinting at it for a few minutes, I realize that they really need to talk about it. I choose this time to step out of the spotlight and focus on them, because I know that however much I try to relate my own experiences, what they really need is to talk about themselves.

Wendell's Post

There have been several times that I have stepped out of the spotlight. A lot of the times its on the soccer field. Sometimes I have a chance for a goal, but I might have had a couple already that season, so I pass the ball to someone who can also get a goal. I feel better knowing that I made someone else's day.

[{(Kimo's post)}]

In my live there are specific times when I will be in and out of the spotlight. For those who know me, I can be very calm and quiet, and a voice of reason. And for those who really know me, sometimes I just flip out and go crazy. One such place for my latter attitude is at parties. I love to party, and this is one of those times the spotlight shines on me. But then, when I am practicing my calmer ways, I tend to encourage others to stand out more. I practiced this a lot on the Europe trip. I would often be the quiet one in my group, and would just relax and enjoy the trip. There are different sides of me, and different situations to bring them out.

Zack's Post

When I have a task to do, I like to just have it finished and I have a tendency to micromanage and do everything myself. In Boy Scouts I am the senoir patrol leader and have to run everything. I do though have five other boys in leadership positions with me and a whole bunch of other older scouts who can do things too. I often have to remember to step back and let them work in their expertise and telegate work to my patrol leaders. We all also have to keep in mind that we need to let the younger scouts do things themselves and learn. Sometimes this means letting them or all of us suffer until they can get it write.

Hannah's Post

In my life I have always let someone else step into the "spotlight." In fact, I would rather have them in the spotlight than myself. I'm not attention needing and I already know that the people around me are proud of me, so why would I need to make it more than it is? Not being in the "spotlight" is more appealing to me than being in the "spotlight" and I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Parker's Post

I can't recall a specific time where I "stepped out of the spotlight for the sake of others." I'm not really "in the spotlight" that much, but when I am, I tend take advantage of it, and keep going for a little too long. In my band I play the drums, so I'm not really the front man. Also, in lacrosse I play defense so I don't score goals, and I'm not the star player. However I help other people be the star by passing the ball to them in lacrosse, and keeping the beat for the whole band when I play the drums.

Teddy's Post

I have been almost completely "out of the spotlight" ever since fourth grade. I almost never say anything in large groups, and even in small groups I still don't say very much. I usually like to keep to myself most of the time, but this year, I'm beginning to step into "the spotlight" more often. I'm still pretty shy, but I don't have as much trouble talking to a couple people at a time. I'm still not sure if I'll be able to do my speech in front of the whole school though. I think I'll get too nervous and mess up a lot. 

Ty's post

I was always out of the spotlight for my first two years at PinePoint and I let other people take the spotlight. I was too shy to get into big disscussions and was afraid of the people that i was near. Now, I know every one but I am out of the spotlight a little less than I used to be, and I am glad of that.

Julie's Post

I don't think there has ever been a time where I wouldn't give someone else the chance to take the "spotlight". To be honest, I don't like being the center of attention and I would much rather give someone who will most certainly do a better job than me take the stage and give it their best. I am not a shy person but the thought of being in the spotlight doesnt appeal to me. If it makes a friend smile, then go ahead, take the stage, and enjoy! :]

Olivia's Post

I'm kinda always in the background. So I'm not in the spotlight that often. I usually let other people take it from me becuase I'm to shy and don't believe in myself, even though I might really want it. When I get my chance I'm too shy to speak or do whatever it is. I even have trouble sometimes reading my portfolio to my teacher and my parents. Probably the one time though when the spotlight was on me, was when we did the work shop at Shakespeare's Globe. I gave it my all and got a few compliments. It felt nice to get the compliments, but I just shyly said thanks.

Scarlet's Post

As most people can tell I enjoy being in the spotlight. I often find myself talking over someone else or completely ignoring a friend so I can say what I want. For example, Kate and I were watching our teammates play lacrosse today and Kate mentioned something. I had a thought so I began talking over her last few words. I then stopped and apologized because I had realized I just completely ignored Kate. That was the first time I have truly realized that I was being self-centered. I think this is something I need to work on and I will try to do more of this in the future.

Ceilie's Post

My house is often very hectic. The calendar's always filled with endless appointments and the phone is ringing off the hook. Sometimes when things just get too crazy with our colliding schedules, I lay low for the day. When I know my mom is running around, dropping on kid off and picking one up from various locations, I spend the day at home, hanging around the house and catching up on relaxation time. Even if I need a ride to a friend's house or something at the store, I take my needs and keep them to myself, while my family can fulfill their own. Although it is sort of disappointing to have my needs on the back burner of obligations, I think about all the times someone has had to do it or me.

Kyle's Post

Some of my friends that know me very well know that it really isn't in my personality to take the spotlight. Yes I can be loud and draw attention to myself, but that isn't for the sake of "taking the spotlight". I simply act like that sometimes because I'm with my friends and when I'm with my friends I'm like a stew of happiness that has been simmering all day and finally has started to boil. I'm someone who enjoys letting somebody else lead because it makes them happy. I'd rather somebody else get credit for something rather than me because I know that if I try my hardest and do my best then I don't need someone to aknowledge my deeds as long as I know I did them. One specific time I can remember letting someone else "shine" was in kindergarten. It was about the end of the year and we were all lining up to go outside to recess and I was the line leader. Callie had missed her day as the line leader because she was sick and she was really sad that she missed her chance. I really didn't care about being line leader so I offered it to her and she was ecstatic. I remember her smiling the whole way to the big toy and I couldn't help, but smile too.

Timmy's Post

When I play lacrosse, I tend to not run in and take the shot myself. I try to pass it off and let someone else take the shot. This is usually a good thing because they are closer to the goal than I am more often than not. Other times, I have the better shot, and shooting is the better option for me. This process lets other people step into the spotlight a lot while I shy away from it.

Tristan's Post!

I think that it is very important to always know when to step out of the spotlight. One time when I did this a lot was on a rock climbing trip I took last summer to Mount Desert Island. I was one of the most enthusiastic camper there for rock climbing, everyone else was motivated, but I was always the one to call "shotty first on the wall". Nobody else minded, they generally told me it was okay, but I started getting more and more guilty about it. Time rolled around that we were going to go climb Otter Cliffs, a 110 foot high, sea-side rock face. I had anticipated this for awhile, the aspect of either climbing or getting swept away by the tide was somewhat hardcore to me, so I (of course) wanted to go first. After we set up a top-belay, and chose our route, the counselor asked who was going to go first. My hand went up, along with one of my co-climbers', Liam. My first impulse was, "Bah! He can wait until I'm done." But my second thoughts told me better. Another belay was being set up, and I told him he could go. I ended up going first anyway, because he wimped out, but more importantly, I gave him the opportunity, and I stepped down for him.

Caroline's post

Once, at camp, my friend, Maggie, was having some issues. I kept trying to comfort her, but it wasn't working. I told her about my experiences with this problem, but nothing seemed to work. Soon enough, i realized that this was her problem, not mine, and though that sounds a little harsh, what i really meant was that the situation was about her. She didn't want to talk about me or anyone else, this was about her. As soon as i stopped and asked how she felt, she was doing better. Once i let her realize i was there for her, we became closer friends.

gabe's post

I remember a couple years ago a friend and i did a project for school. He did most of the written work and i was going to do the presentation. I eventually felt bad because he had worked so hard and it would sound like i was taking the credit so i let him do the presentation.

Parker's Post

Sorry this is late. My brother and I don't always have the best relationship. We're completely different, from the music we listen to, to the way we spend our free time. But still, we have our moments where we get along great, like on family trips, or when he gives me an exemplary introduction! We also have our similarities, we both play sports, we both enjoy T.V., and computer. Most of all, as much as I hate him sometimes, we're still brothers, and we'll be brothers to the very end.

Zack

My brother and I are very similar to each other and look at the other as a different version of ourself. I am the more down to earth one with all the cirtificates and credentials (beining older I've had the time to accumulate them). He is the wild, party man who just never stops doing something. This means that we hold each other to very high standards of what we want and end up arguing a lot. But there is nobody else who I know so well and nobody else who I spend so much time with every day. Most of the time I just love him because he's my brother, but like everyone else said: I couldn't live without him.

Wendell's Post

My brother is a tad on the frustratingly annoying side. He will sometimes go out of his way to make me mad, just to get a reaction out of me. Its always along the same lines, from standing at my doorway and clapping his hands and yelling for me to get up, to taking my stuff, to being oblivious of his surroundings (especially in my room) and general poking and prodding. Yes, I may provoke some of the obnoxiousness but it is mainly him. Even with all his bad traits, there are many good ones that I can't think of. I love him dearly. And you ask if I am sorry for anythings I have done. I'm going to have to say yes. I am sorry for repeatedly beating on you when its the last straw (though you do deserve some of it). I am sorry for making you watch I am Legend and making you get nightmares for a week. I am sorry that I don't pay as much attention to you as I used to. Like Scarlet said, I will love you more than you will ever know.

Kate's Post

My brother and I have a normal relationship. We fight and we yell but we don't hold grudges for long. Soon after the fight's we are laughing and making jokes. While growing up Robert has taught me a lot, important and useless. I'm really gad that I have had my brother to look up too and i hope that he will always be there for more.

Scarlet's Post

I have two sisters. One sister is older than me and one younger. I love Hayley and Shephered more than I could ever explain to someone. I would say we get along very well for three girls all in about the same age group. Hayley and I have a relationship that consists of late Saturday nights watching SNL and Sex and the City until one of us finally get enough energy to get off the couch. We also confide in one another when somethings been bothering us and often defend one another when my mom or dad is yelling at us. We also have our bad moments. Like when she want to sleep in "her" room in our Martha's Vineyard house. Or when I used her eyelash curler and she's sure of it. I would like to apologize for the times I haven't stopped talking when she really needed me too. For the times where I make fun of her boyfriend and it actually hurts her. And for the times where I borrow her eyelash curler and think I can get away with it. Shephered's relationship with me is a little different. It consists of playing with the TY Beanie Babies over the garage until I actually have to start doing my homework. Or getting up at 5 a.m. Christmas morning to go and sneak a peek at the presents under the tree. And me training her to absolutely love Harry Potter to the point where when she's angry at me she will shout, "CRUCIO!" We also have our sour moments. When I tell her she is a muggle and she'll get so angry she will start to hit me. And when I take up all the room in the backseat of the car. I want to apologize for the constant teasing. For making her believe there were gremlins in her closet. And for the times where I really can't play horse games with her. My relationship with my sisters is wonderful. Only sometimes we have a bad moment but the only last for a little bit. I love more than they will ever know.

Ceilie's Post

Me and my sister Millie's relationship is no different than any other bond between an older and a younger sister, but that doesn't make it any less special. From spending hours on the beach as kids, building sandcastles and watching the tide devour them, to endlessly quoting and laughing about this week's episode of "The Office", there is never a dull moment when we're together. Friday nights have become less than a night of freedom and more of an evening to recap each others' busy weeks in great detail. And with a close relationship like this one, we have our fair share of sour moments. In what seems like the blink of an eye, a pleasant conversation about clothing, can turn into a heated debate on who owns which pair of jeans. In the end, as much as I resent her sometimes, there's not a moment when I truly wish she was never in my life. She's been at my side through thick and thin and everything in between. She's a constant reminder of who I am and who I should never try to not be. She's my living scrapbook of my childhood. She's my sister. 

Lydia's Post

I have always had a good relationship with my brothers. Even when we were younger, we rarely fought, and when we did, there weren't any hard feelings afterward. What I do remember is the endless poking and teasing I endured from them and occasionally their friends. They were always the older brothers, I was always the little sister, and thats the way it always was. However, as we are growing older, we are becoming more like friends than we were before. I still get rat-tailed and tickled and called short, but now that we can all appreciate the same things, our bonds have grown stronger than ever. I am so happy to have Ian and Alex to look up to.

Anna's Post

Ever since I can remember, I have looked up to my big sister with envy and appreciation. I was about ten when I realized, to my dismay, how very different her and I are as people. However, over the years, I have realized that these opposite qualities allow us to compliment one another. Her tall, elegant features look nice with my smaller ones. Her honest, fun loving personality goes well with my spontaneous ideas of life. Sometimes Darcey acts as a mother, protecting and guiding me. Other times Darcey is simply my friend. someone to laugh with and talk to. On occasion, I am the older sister as opposed to her. Our positions seem to be on a constant rotation, and the ten-year gap between us grows smaller and smaller with every passing day. We have different plans for what we wish to accomplish in life, but wherever I may go, I have no doubt that she will stay by my side. Over the years, Darcey never fails to surprise me, but at the end of the day, i am the same little girl i was all those years ago, looking up to her beautiful blonde hair with envy and appreciation. I am proud to be her little sister.

Kyle's Post

My siblings are sometimes annoying, sometimes infuriating, and sometimes I just want to obliterate them.  However, they are ALWAYS passionate about what they believe in, they always care about their loved ones, and they always look out for me, no matter how much they try to deny it.  Of course we've fought and of course we've said things that we don't mean to each other after all we are siblings, but we've also worked together and we've also uplifted each other with our words.  My siblings are essential I need them to see life clearly.  They are both the dark and light that make up my vision.  They are the colors and hues that help me distinguish things from each other and I will always love them no matter how much I want to obliterate them.

Ty's post

Me and my brother get along well even though we don't see eachother very much. We have done the little things like calling eachother weird names when messing around, but that helps to create a bond between us. Currently, my brother is in Iraq and he is getting married next week so i am hopeful that our bond will blossom over the time that he is in the U.S. with us.

Timmy's Post

My brother James and I get along quite well. For the last four years, he has been away at school, so we hardly see each other at all. Whenever he does come home, we have to make the best of that time, however short it may be. We hardly ever fight because of this, and the only physical conflicts usually end with him pinning me down in a wrestling match of sorts - he as the winner. We have had many fun times together, and I'm sure there will be more to come.

Olivia's Post

My sister and I have a very good relationship. People say that siblings close in age are bound to fight more, but I don't find this true. We talk a lot and have a lot of jokes between each other and one of our friends. Although sometimes she does call me freak, a not so nice versoin of mentally challenged, and comments on my clothes, saying that they are stupid. She is mostly just a very critical person, who doesn't help me. When I am not mad at her for say these things, I love her. I remember coming home from D.C. last year and my mom told me that my siter had gotten run over by a car. I of course started panicking, but even before that I was in awe. I was thinking of all the horrible possibilities of getting run over by a car. Then my mom told me that she was alright she only had a few cuts and bruises, and it was just her spanish book and back-pack that got wrecked.

Julie's Post

My sister and I have been through a lot together and I cannot imagine life without her. We do everything together and I hope that never changes. The hard things we have had to deal with in the past have brought us closer and I can honestly say that she is not an annoying obnoxious little sister. Her presence only makes me want to laugh and smile. She’s my very own Lebron James, she’s the girl who cares about others before herself, she’s the girl who can stare at my face for 20 minutes and think it’s so funny, but best of all, she’s the girl who I’m proud to call my sister. She is a big part of me and I hope it can stay that way forever :).

Eleanor's Post

As many people with brothers would say, my brother is one of the strangest people ever. He is crazy, immature, annoying, but also one of my favourite people to be around. Throughout the nine years 'buzz', our nickname for him, has been in my life, I know that he regulary fails at staying up all night, he likes building tents out of blankets and cushions, and then labelling what each section of the tent is named. I know that he comes up with stupids comebacks, and that the day we moved to America he thought the plane ride was just a drive to our local grocery store. I know that he thinks its hilarious to burp into someones ear, and it's dificult to sleep unless the tumble dryer is on. And as weird as I sometimes find my brother, I love him, and the times that he is fairly normal, we're best friends. I know that next year I will miss him alot.

Caroline's post

As many of my classmates know, my brother and I do not always get along. In fact, our relationship is much like the one in the poem. We have our moments of fun and peacefulness, but three out of five times that just turns into something not so positive. Sure, as the older sister, I have picked on him a few times (constantly), but he just does the same things back at me. I don’t know about him, but I don’t remember the majority of the things he does to me and I am sorry, for the most part, for my actions.

Lydia's Post

This is supposed to be from last week:

Recently, I did something courageous. I signed up for a 3 week long sailing program in the Caribbean Islands for this summer. The scary thing about this trip is that it is open only to people coming out of grades 9-12. This may not sound very courageous, but for me, the prospect of possibly being the youngest member of the group is truly frightening. However, I am glad I decided to take a chance and sign up for  something that I think will be one of the most memorable trips of my life.

Gabe's Post

My sisters Eva and Helena and I have always had an interesting relationship. When I was little, they would constantly harass me, whether it would be not letting me use the Playstation or putting fake spiders on my pillow. While I still haven't completely forgiven them for this, I still love them very much. They have helped me so much in life so I really can't get mad at them.

Hannah's Post

Harrison and I have a very interesting relationship. Sometimes we can't deal with eachother and then other times we laugh until our stomachs hurt. Harrison has been there for me and I like to think that I have been there for him. I know that next year is going to be really strange without coming home to a loud, annoying, chaotic little brother, but I think that my absence might bring us closer. I honestly can say that Harrison is one of my best friends even though we may not bring out the best in eachother. But we are a team and that will never change.

Sarahs Post =]

My sister, Amber and I, have a very close relationship. Sure we have our fights and differences, but those little things pull us tighter than ever. On the other hand, my brother, CJ and I, don't have the closest relationship ever. We bicker a lot about fairly immature things, and I just don't feel all too close with him. This year I've been working on getting to know my brother better, and I think it's starting to work. He's starting to come and talk to me about girl problems, school issues and asks me for advice- this makes me feel very accomplished. I'm proud of the relationship I have with my brother and sister, Phishfood and Chum, and I hope it grows stronger and stronger as the years go on.

Shad's Post

One time that I had to show courage was not to long ago when I stood up in front of Pine Point School and gave my 9th Grade Speech. I may not have shown it but I was ready to sit back down before I even got up. I pulled through and delivered a wonderful speech and helped myself with my own courage.

Zack's Post

I'm not trying to be a devil's advocate or rain on anybody's parade but a lot of what people already talked about, standing up for people, public speaking, admitting mistakes, getting out of bed everyday, I just do it because it has to be done, I more afraid of the consequences there are if I don't or because I'm hungry when I get up in the morning and if I don't walk as far as the kitchen I will never eat anything. More often in my life courage is less about standing up to a fear as much as just being too stupid to know it's there. I love climbing and I love to cheat death when I climb, but as often as not when I come to a place that's at the edge of my ability and there's a pretty good chance of getting hurt I back down. The gutsy moves come when there is no risk, when I'm invincible. I will either be overconfident in my ability or just choose to ignore the risk. Prime example, a few minutes ago I repelled out of my bedroom window on a complete whim. I was fine, but I was stupid. I didn't tell anybody what I was doing and even when I was taking safety precautions, I really had no idea if my bedpost could take the shock of a fall or if a figure-eight not was really the best to make an anchor with. I didn't have a secondary safety line so if my grip slipped I'd fall all the way, and to top it all off I hadn't repelled with a figure eight device before. The reason I did it was because I was convinced in my own ability and that I probably wouldn't suffer more than a sprained ankle in a fall (wrong! I definitely would have broken something looking at it from below). So I guess if doing something this stupid was courageous to do it was because I had to not even let fear enter the picture. Subconsciously I knew what I was doing, but I was just so gung-ho that it never occurred to me to be scared. And now that I've done it once, I think I'll go try again.

Timmy's Post

To me, courage is being able to look ahead and not be afraid. It is being able to brave the new day, to stand tall, and take whatever comes your way. Living life takes courage because you have to take things as they come, and, if not be ready for them, handle all problems to the best of your ability.

Julie's Post

I have to admit I haven't been very courageous throughout my life and I agree with Anna and Scarlet, life takes courage. For me, the most courageous everyday challenge of life is living life to its fullest. I have learned that every moment, every smile, and every word with someone is special. It takes courage to live life the way you want it to be lived, but it is the only way we can become stronger. It takes courage to live in the moment and live day by day, without thinking about all the bad things that might be coming soon. It takes courage to live in the present, learn from the past but forget the future.

Julie

Parker's Post

A couple years ago Gabe, my friend Alex, and I opened for a band at Alex's parent's party. It was nerve-wracking, up there on stage. We were not half as good as we are now, and it took courage to get up there and play, no matter what people thought. We ended up getting a huge applause, and many "good jobs" as we made our way through the crowd. Last night we actually did the same thing, opening for the same band at the same party. We played much better, but most of all we had a lot of fun.

Kyle's Post

For me to have courage I have to know what it is right? What is courage to me? Courage is speaking in front of 300 people, it's defending someone you care for, it's meeting new people, it's parting with old friends. All of these things contain a small essence of courage and all of these are things that regular people like myself do everyday.

Tristan's Post!

I don't need courage to rappel off of cliffs. I don't need courage to have myself thrown off of a giant pile of sand with only a glider to save me. I don't need courage to ride a mountain bike through a part of the trail known only as "The Grand Canmyon" (It's supposed to be spelled 'Canmyon'.) I need courage to get up twice a week and purposefully embarrass myself to get people to come to the rock climbing club. I need courage to eat a banana on stage while dancing to Soulja Boy in front of seventy girls expecting something ghetto. The point being, that I like to try to make people laugh (it doesn't always work...). One occupational hazard of trying to do this, is that I will often get the "awkward silence" rather than the "roaring applause". Fortunately, I have friends that I find everything that they do funny, and they (hopefully) find everything that I do funny (Parker, I'm looking at YOU).

Anna's Post

Life requires courage. As Scarlet so rightly said, it takes strength to make your way out of bed each morning. Like food or water or the air that fills our lungs, courage is essential for a fulfilled life. I run the risk of rejection as I give my heart to the people I care for. It takes courage to love. I use my courage to imagine, letting my mind glide along the gilded passageways of the unknown without the fear of falling. I use courage to be honest with myself, facing the cold hard truths that life throws like bullets. In many ways, happiness requires bravery. I have to courage to smile.

Wendell's Post

One thing that I have done that is courageous is admitting to mistakes. Giving someone the truth about what you did, mostly not appropriate but sometimes good, is a courageous act. I have had many chances to admit to mistakes. Mainly at home I have done this, but school too. For example, in English class, we call forgetting to do our homework a mistake, and I have done this on occasion.

Ceilie's Post

I'm not courageous, in fact I'm the opposite. I'm scared. I have a long list of things I'm afraid of. I let people's harsh words get to me. I keep things bottled up because I'm too scared of feeling weak when my friends try to comfort me. I've done things for the thrill of it, but it didn't take a pep talk to convince me to do it. When being introduced to new people I put up a guard because I fear their opinions on who I really am. I'm not brave or courageous or fearless, but there's a large part of me that wishes that someday I can be. 

Hannah's Post

This topic has been by far the most difficult to think about. I have been courageous by standing before the class and giving a presentation, even though I hate public speaking and by going outside my comfort zone and going to a nursing home for the eighth grade assessment project. But for me, the most courageous thing I have done occured this year over the last few months. Over these last few months I have learned to voice my opinion no matter how difficult and intimidating it may be. I have realized that if you don't communicate and speak your mind, things may not go the way you planned. I have realized that communitcation is key wheather it's with your friends, family or teachers and that I have learned a good lesson.

Scarlet's Post

I have been thinking about this topic all week long. What have I voluntarily done that was courageous? I couldn't think of something. Yes, I've ridden a roller coaster but only because I had to. Yes, I've ridden an airplane but with my father next to me. And sometimes I stick up for people but not as often as I should. Then a thought came to my mind. Isn't living everyday courageous? Getting up in the morning requires a relative amount of strength. Going throughout your day and not being afraid of a car hitting you on your way home, of having your heart broken, or of you future. I do these things everyday. No, I am not fighting a war overseas or standing up for what I believe in. But I am living life fearlessly and that takes courage all on it's own.

Sarahs Post=]

Riding a roller coaster may look like fun, but staring up at the towering tracks for the first time is horrifying. Last year, Caroline asked me if I liked roller coasters, and I, of course, lied and said yes. The next thing I knew I was standing with her and Parker at Six Flags. I had made a promise to her that I'd ride every roller coaster with her, but to tell you the truth, I definitely knew I wasn't going to. I knew that Parker too was afraid of roller coasters, and that it wouldn't be so bad watching Caroline twirl from unimaginable heights if Parker was their laughing too. Caroline does take promises very seriously though, and dragged me onto Batman- a very large roller coaster. I was terrified out of my mind, but I kept telling myself I can do this. Within ten minutes, Caroline, Parker and I were swirling in the hot, sticky air and I was having the time of my life. My braveness lead to a wonderful outcome in this instance, and I'm glad that Caroline made me keep to my promise.

Gabe's Post

The one time i can really remember being courageous was when i used to have to fly to Illinois by myself. Even though flying solo isn't as big of a deal for me now, 5 years ago it was pretty frightening. Even still, i mustered up the strength to get on the plane without my parents and travel.