Ted Talk

I really loved the Ted Talk I had, but watching it again I realized some of the things he says/does is sort of innapropriate, still watch it on your own if you'd like, here's another one for you enjoyment.



http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_chen_a_warm_embrace_that_saves_lives.html



I chose this link, simply because I love babies, and I found it to be a really interesting subject.

Injustice

Everyone has suffered from an injustice at some point in their life. Whether it was something that was truly unjust, or just something someone felt was so. Though in my life of course I’ve suffered from some form of injustice at one time or another, not many come to mind at the moment.

It’s not that I’ve never stood up for myself; anyone that knows me knows that I am hard headed, and unafraid of saying what on my mind. If something really upsets me or I see something being down that I think is wrong, bullying, stealing, cheating, things like that  I will stand up and say something about it.

It’s not that I’m out looking for a fight or anything like that, I really would rather everyone just get along, but I know reasonably that’s not likely. Injustices happen everyday, as long as I have a good head on my shoulders I will be able to judge what’s right and know when to stand up for myself.

This prayer always helps me in situations of injustice so I’m going to share it here today.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Animoto-ing it up

So as I mentioned in a few of my other posts I really love swinging. I can swing anywhere in any weather, so I made a show of sorts to show off all swings I enjoy!

On the Inside

There are a lot of different ways that people can express themselves. From painting, sculpting, performing their feelings in an interpretive dance, or anything that makes someone feel like they can indulge in their inner self. I have a couple different activities I partake in when I'm feeling the need to express myself. One is rather odd, the other is far more "normal" so to speak.

The first that I always do, and this is the odd one, is that I swing. Swing set are my favorite place in the world. There is one in my backyard, or I can go to almost any park, that isn't at a school, and find one. The park swings go higher than high, I feel like if I stretch just a little more I could touch heaven. The swings let me clear my mind, and create a world of my own. It's where I use my imagination, painting places in my mind, almost telling myself stories. When I'm swinging the world melts away and I can create one all of my own.

The other inner-self finding activity I do is writing. I love writing stories. Knights in not-so-shining amour, girls struggling with finding themselves, or best friends going on a road trip. Whatever the subject is, I always try to write something faced on what I'm doing at the time. It's a good way to get out my thoughts and feelings, being able to express them in another more useful way. I just sit down with a notebook and pencil and create. It's amazing to have the time to watch a character come to life on the page, or a setting take form and solidify in my mind. Writing stories is just a really great way that I express who I am and what my inner thoughts and feelings are.

All in all no matter how someone expresses themselves isn't what's really important, as long as they take the time to try to do it. I think everyday people should try to show a little bit of who they are and what they're really about by expressing their inner self. Making yourself vulnerable can be good at times, and it's never a mistake to try something new. The idea is to let your idea's run free, when they're free, it feels like you are too.

Googling the Problems Away

The question: If you could "google" any question in the world and get the answer, what question would you ask and why?

This question really baffles me. There are so many things I would love to know but how to choose a specific one to explain here. I can't even begin to think of something to write about. The information is zooming through my head. I want to know if there could be just a simple cure to all cancers, what happens next, why do they make more than two of any movie, do we really need follow ups to every Disney Princess movie? I can't begin to fathom how many things would be different if google just gave us a direct answer. As simple as two plus two. A response all could understand. It would end wars, it would make the world a completly different place.

I suppose a question I'm intersted in knowing the answer to is "What is the meaning of life" this is quiet a hackneyed thing to say, but I'm truly interested. Why am I alive? What is my purpose? What is God's plan for me? Is there really even a plan? So many questions come out of this one simple thought that I want google to just spell it out for me plain in simple. I feel it would go something like this "Hey Google, what's the meaning of life" and Google would say "Well, Chelsea, that one is easy the meaning of life is..." Then I would no longer have to worry about the meaning of life, and I could go on and do something else with my time, like learn to play guitar.

I realize there may be some downside to knowing what the meaning of life is. It may make me lazy if I know what the meaning is. Google may even not give me the answer I'm looking for, sometimes the right answer isn't the answer we really want. Like when your friend gives you advice, they tell you the right thing, but that doesn't mean you want to hear it. So though I think it would be interesting if google could just tell me what the meaning of life is, or what happens next, who will be the next American Idol, etc it doesn't mean I really want to know the right answer. Life is full of of the unexpected, but sometimes that's what makes it so sweet.

Ending on a High (school) Note

When graduating from high school there are many things I have to think about, reflect on, and evaluate. From what did my school do right? What did they do wrong? What is the most important thing for me to know when I leave? As well as what my school could do better for the kids following after me?

There are so many things I love about Central High School. I enjoy my classes for the most part, I've had experiences with absolutely amazing educators. Really I've learned a lot of information as well as many important life lessons. I know more than I care to elaborate about U.S. History, Government, and Politics thanks to Mr. Flaherty, I can speak French very well thanks to Mlle Weir, as well as tell you all the States in Germany because of Herr Kierblewski, & of course every Spanish speaking country, in song, thanks to my Spanish teachers, Senorita Day, Mrs. Trimble and Mrs. Preciado. Of course I've learned more than just these things, but all in all they are some of my most coveted memories and important information.

Though this is a great school with great teachers there are some weaknesses. There are times when I wonder "Why in the world do we have to have seven senior meetings, when all we do is talk about the same things?" Though I understand it's hard to fit all our information into one time, I get frustrated missing class for things that I have heard a million times before. There is also the argument with lanyards. I don't wear mine, I admit it, and I see why they may be important, but if it's not enforced why do we bother? There is a flaw in the system, unless everyone enforces it, it isn't going to make a difference to the school. Same goes for tardies. If it's not enforced no one cares. End of story.

When I graduate this June, it is very important that I know how to study. People often times underestimate the value of a good study session. In college it's going to be hard to show up to class, breeze through your homework and expect to get an A on the tests that you haven't even studied for. It just doesn't work, it's not logical. I really value my physics teacher, who wishes to remain unnamed, in my high school career. Yes he brought me to tears at times, and his class really challenged me, but it was one of the firsts that I really had to study. I've always been a studier, but physics was the class that taught me the ability to sit and really focus on what I'm doing. The study sessions that lasted all until all hours of the night really taught me that you need to succeed, but without working hard, you won't. When it comes to expectations, I always have high expectations, and believe everyone should. Even if the teachers don't have high expectations, it doesn't mean you have to have the same level of expectation that they do. The more you expect from yourself the more you get back.

I'm not going to be here next year, but I have plenty of friends who will be. I really hope that they are just able to learn what I've learned. I hope Open Campus gets worked out so that they won't have to wait weeks after midterms and finals to find out if they are able to go out again. Central is really doing well I believe, that could just be my optimistic outlook on life, but I really think it's one of the best schools in the Midwest, and I have no worry for the kids coming after me. We're all going to turn out just fine.

Inspirationally Speaking

I thought it would be fun to make an inspirational-esque "poster" with a cutsey French monument, seeing as lately that's been the theme of my blog posts. I should seriously think about getting my obsession with all things French checked out. For now though I'm going to let it flourish! Ciao mes amis, je vous aime :)