“Be Happy”
Gabe Chavez
This I believe happened when I was a child, I have always believed if you want to do something, just go out and do it. When I was a little boy, I have always doubted myself. I was overweight for my age and small for a child. On the other hand, Dr. Howard my fifth grade teacher would always have a positive attitude when I came into class. He wouldn't care about what people said about him, he would tell the whole class silly stories about his experiences in life, and sometimes they're were depressing. He’d also playfully make fun of us. He would always say speeches in the begin of class to get us in the zone. But on this one day, he said “ If you're not happy in what you are doing, then what is the point of doing it?”
This speech didn’t hit me at first, but after a couple months, I realize that if he didn’t say that speech I would not be the same person I am today. For example, this one time I volunteered to play baseball. I had to attend practice constantly, and I got so tired and didn't enjoyed it at all. So I quitted and decided to play basketball. So till this day forward, I play basketball for that reason. And now I'm one the best basketball players in my school. If you doing something doesn't make you happy, don't do it.
I believe that people should do something that they are happy to do. Do what makes you happy in life and not what people want you to do. Be excited when you're doing the activities that makes you happy.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017
2nd Trash blog
One essential question that I came up with Trash, by Andy Mulligan, is that what was the significance of having the suitcase and why is the police trying to hunt it down? As I kept reading more into the novel, I then realized, the importance of the bag. The suitcase lead the three boys (Raphael, Gardo, Rat) to find a locker key with a code. This code leads to six million dollars, it was stolen by the vice-president. The police find out and they ask some question about the bag to Raphael, but he doesn't cooperate.
Both the article and book are about child property. In the article “Child poverty in the U.S. is among the worst in the developed world”, by Christopher Ingraham, he talks about the child property rates in the US. In the article it explains that, “Nearly one third of U.S. children live in households with an income below 60 percent of the national median income in 2008 - about $31,000 annually. In the richest nation in the world, one in three kids live in poverty. Let that sink in… With 32.2 percent of children living below this line, the U.S. ranks 36th out of the 41 wealthy countries included in the UNICEF report. By contrast, only 5.3 percent of Norwegian kids currently meet this definition of poverty.” Then the it says, “ More alarmingly, the share of U.S. children living in poverty has actually increased by 2 percentage points since 2008. Overall, 24.2 million U.S. children were living in poverty in 2012, reflecting an increase of 1.7 million children since 2008.” Both of these quotes explain a lot about the United States of America, it shows that we are barely doing anything to help these kids.
Trash, has many people talking about the story. Raphael talks about his city(Behala), “... there’s a lot of things hard to come by in our sweet city, and one of the things too many people don't have is toilets and running water. So when they have to go, they do it where they can” (1). This quote is from Olivia, “ The Behala children are beautiful, and to see them on the rubbish tips all day can break your heart. If you come to this country, do the tourist things. But come to Behala too and see the mountains of trash, and the children who pick over them. It is a thing to change your life” (84). Both of these quotes explain explicitly about the city of Behala. But the government system is really broke.
Mulligan, Andy. Trash. London: Definitions, 2015. Print.
Both the article and book are about child property. In the article “Child poverty in the U.S. is among the worst in the developed world”, by Christopher Ingraham, he talks about the child property rates in the US. In the article it explains that, “Nearly one third of U.S. children live in households with an income below 60 percent of the national median income in 2008 - about $31,000 annually. In the richest nation in the world, one in three kids live in poverty. Let that sink in… With 32.2 percent of children living below this line, the U.S. ranks 36th out of the 41 wealthy countries included in the UNICEF report. By contrast, only 5.3 percent of Norwegian kids currently meet this definition of poverty.” Then the it says, “ More alarmingly, the share of U.S. children living in poverty has actually increased by 2 percentage points since 2008. Overall, 24.2 million U.S. children were living in poverty in 2012, reflecting an increase of 1.7 million children since 2008.” Both of these quotes explain a lot about the United States of America, it shows that we are barely doing anything to help these kids.
Trash, has many people talking about the story. Raphael talks about his city(Behala), “... there’s a lot of things hard to come by in our sweet city, and one of the things too many people don't have is toilets and running water. So when they have to go, they do it where they can” (1). This quote is from Olivia, “ The Behala children are beautiful, and to see them on the rubbish tips all day can break your heart. If you come to this country, do the tourist things. But come to Behala too and see the mountains of trash, and the children who pick over them. It is a thing to change your life” (84). Both of these quotes explain explicitly about the city of Behala. But the government system is really broke.
Mulligan, Andy. Trash. London: Definitions, 2015. Print.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Trash Blog
In the book Trash, Fourteen year olds Raphael and Gardo, have been knowing each other the longest, and with a younger boy, Rat. To figure out the mysteries bag Raphael had found during their daily life of sorting through trash in a third world country's dump. One day, Raphael finds something very special. He came into a conclusion to keep it, even when the city police offers a reward for its return. All three dumpsite boys have no education, no parents, no home, and no money. The book is also in different people's perspective through out the whole book.
Out of the two weeks that we have been doing lit-circles, I've noticed many things Trash that could happen in reality. This might be one of my favorites books that I have ever read. This book has taught a lot of things, like you might have to do everything yourself in reality. Trash, is a different is something else, when you compare the books that I have read to Trash. All in all, Trash is the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time).
If the author was here, I would like to ask Andy Mulligan that how did he come up with the whole plot. After that, I will tell him what amazing job he did with Trash, and how it changed my thinking in a whole different level. Then, talk about who helped him to create Trash. And when did he come up with it.
I commented on Erik
Out of the two weeks that we have been doing lit-circles, I've noticed many things Trash that could happen in reality. This might be one of my favorites books that I have ever read. This book has taught a lot of things, like you might have to do everything yourself in reality. Trash, is a different is something else, when you compare the books that I have read to Trash. All in all, Trash is the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time).
If the author was here, I would like to ask Andy Mulligan that how did he come up with the whole plot. After that, I will tell him what amazing job he did with Trash, and how it changed my thinking in a whole different level. Then, talk about who helped him to create Trash. And when did he come up with it.
Friday, March 31, 2017
3rd quarter blog
My biggest improvement in English Lanuage Arts was that I started to finishing my assignments with some effort and without cheating. During 1st and 2nd quarter I used to not finish my assignments and I ask people "what's the homework for ELA" then tell them to give me the answers. Now in 3rd quarter I learned my lesson by just doing it on my own, and its so much easier to do it on your own than asking people. Another improvement I've made this quarter is that I haven't had any problems with the teacher (Mrs. Larson). Back in 1st and 2nd quarter Mrs. Larson and I use to have trouble understanding each other. She usually pick on me in front of the whole class or take me outside of class to have a word with me. Now in 3rd we understand each other and why she was picking on me.
One accomplishment that I've made this quarter that I'm proud of is that I have improve my grades. In the last 2 quarters I was being lazy and my grades were down, my parents were telling me, " You grades better go up or else you will not be going out with your friends and you will not be playing basketball." after I heard my parents say that I was on my game. I was doing my homework like Terminator trying to hunt down Sarah Connor.
The most challenging part of 3rd Quarter for me was that to managing my time. I mean that to find time to do my homework for ELA because once we run out of time to do homework in ELA and I haven't finished the homework, I barley have time do it at home because I have other homework for other classes too. I overcame this by using my time in the Youth Crossroads, in this program I usually finish my homework for all my classes, and this program helps a lot with my homework especially ELA.
One accomplishment that I've made this quarter that I'm proud of is that I have improve my grades. In the last 2 quarters I was being lazy and my grades were down, my parents were telling me, " You grades better go up or else you will not be going out with your friends and you will not be playing basketball." after I heard my parents say that I was on my game. I was doing my homework like Terminator trying to hunt down Sarah Connor.
The most challenging part of 3rd Quarter for me was that to managing my time. I mean that to find time to do my homework for ELA because once we run out of time to do homework in ELA and I haven't finished the homework, I barley have time do it at home because I have other homework for other classes too. I overcame this by using my time in the Youth Crossroads, in this program I usually finish my homework for all my classes, and this program helps a lot with my homework especially ELA.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Night Blog
Elie Wiesel was a very pious man until he went to the concentration camps. Start of the book he is explaining how his life was before he started going camps, “One day I asked my father to find me a master to guide me in my studies of cabbala” (Wiesel 1). This is explaining that he is trying to look for a master that can teach him more about his religion. A few pages after Wiesel say, “Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul…” (32). Elie is thinking that he’s the lowest that he is ever been. Then he saying that his God is gone and will not come back.
Now he is starting to lose his faith on God. In the book Wiesel says, “During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple” (1). Which shows Elie is very passionate and emotional about Judaism. Then he announces that, “Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?” (31). Elie is beginning to question his faith in God.
Elie and his father always had a strong father and son connection until they go to the concentration camps. Elie says, “They're bombing Buna! Someone shouted. I thought of my father. But I was glad all at the same time” (57). This is showing that Elie is carrying for father and he's worried about his father when something is going to happen to the camp that someone can be killed. When Elie is about to finish with misery camps he's starting to pass over his father. The novel says, “ Our first act as free men was to throw ourselves onto the provisions. We thought only that. Not of revenge, not of our families. Nothing but bread” (Wiesel). This is analyzing that Elie was questioning about when he was free he didn't want to kill the people who killed his father that shows he has given up on him.
Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York : Brighton books, 1982
Now he is starting to lose his faith on God. In the book Wiesel says, “During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple” (1). Which shows Elie is very passionate and emotional about Judaism. Then he announces that, “Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?” (31). Elie is beginning to question his faith in God.
Elie and his father always had a strong father and son connection until they go to the concentration camps. Elie says, “They're bombing Buna! Someone shouted. I thought of my father. But I was glad all at the same time” (57). This is showing that Elie is carrying for father and he's worried about his father when something is going to happen to the camp that someone can be killed. When Elie is about to finish with misery camps he's starting to pass over his father. The novel says, “ Our first act as free men was to throw ourselves onto the provisions. We thought only that. Not of revenge, not of our families. Nothing but bread” (Wiesel). This is analyzing that Elie was questioning about when he was free he didn't want to kill the people who killed his father that shows he has given up on him.
Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York : Brighton books, 1982
Monday, February 27, 2017
Butterfly project
ON A SUNNY EVENING
On a purple, sun-shot evening
Under wide-flowering chestnut trees
Upon the threshold full of dust
Yesterday, today, the days are all like these.
Trees flower forth in beauty,
Lovely too their very wood all gnarled and old
That I am half afraid to peer
Into their crowns of green and gold.
The sun has made a veil of gold
So lovely that my body aches.
Above, the heavens shriek with blue
Convinced I've smiled by some mistake.
The world's abloom and seems to smile.
I want to fly but where, how high?
If in barbed wire, things can bloom
Why couldn't I? I will not die!
--Anonymous, 1944
I commented on: Christian's, Erik's, Melanie A, Juan's, and Kiana
Friday, February 10, 2017
Berlin Memorial Activity
I learned loads of things when Hitler became leader of Germany. I learned that the Reichstag was starting to dissolve when Hitler started becoming the dictator of Germany. Another that I learned he made lots of rules/restrictions and the jobs away from the Jews. He made over 400 restrictions/rules. Examples are, Jew are expelled from sports clubs, Jewish actors and actress prohibited from performing, Jews to hand in drivers licenses, Jews are not allowed to have pets, and etc.
I believe the monument was built because to overcome the discrimination that Jews faced during the Holocaust.
I noticed that there were a lot of laws passed in certain years, like in the very first year there were more than five laws maybe even ten passed against the Jews. Then, the next three years there were 7 laws passed in total, it keeps going like a pattern. I believe I know why this was happening, I think that they started off big then gave it some time so the Jews would get use to it, then go back to big, the doing that as a pattern so the Jews don't panic as much because they're getting use to it.
Out of all the restrictions laws , the one that I'll have trouble dealing with is not having pets. I say this because I have a dog named Yoshi and he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. He's been with me since I was in fifth grade. Without him is like losing a family member to me. He always puts a smile in my smile face. Like the the time I got detention on Monday and I came home all depressed, but when I saw him he was very eager to see me waving his tail uncontrollably, that one moment made my day.
I believe the monument was built because to overcome the discrimination that Jews faced during the Holocaust.
I noticed that there were a lot of laws passed in certain years, like in the very first year there were more than five laws maybe even ten passed against the Jews. Then, the next three years there were 7 laws passed in total, it keeps going like a pattern. I believe I know why this was happening, I think that they started off big then gave it some time so the Jews would get use to it, then go back to big, the doing that as a pattern so the Jews don't panic as much because they're getting use to it.
Out of all the restrictions laws , the one that I'll have trouble dealing with is not having pets. I say this because I have a dog named Yoshi and he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. He's been with me since I was in fifth grade. Without him is like losing a family member to me. He always puts a smile in my smile face. Like the the time I got detention on Monday and I came home all depressed, but when I saw him he was very eager to see me waving his tail uncontrollably, that one moment made my day.
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