“My Life Just Couldn’t Get Any Better”

So um yeah, more disappointing news, my knees failed me again this Tuesday. I went to the meet, but I wasn’t able to run during warmups and I wasn’t able to compete. It was the worst feeling because I woke up that morning so happy and pumped to go and I literally got on a bus to go to downtown (which was about an one hour drive to and from with all this crazy Miami traffic, even though I fell asleep on the way back) and I felt hopeless when I saw everyone else run and I was stuck watching. So now I won’t be able to make it districts. And I wasn’t able to make the meet on Thursday. But I’m still going to go to practice, try to go to the rest of the meets, and train for next year because I’m no quitter and I’m committed all right. So yeah, there we go with commitment. Any who, I input my thoughts for a discussion we had in Ethics, so I guess that was an “improvement”. For thankfulness, I just went back to square one all over again. On Tuesday, the day of my meet in which I couldn’t compete in, I wanted my dad to pick me up because I didn’t want to stay and waste my time while I was in pain. However, he was in a meeting for work and he couldn’t come. So when I came home I got mad at my parents for not understanding me and not thinking about me. I was really unthankful to them and I agree with what I did was wrong. I’ll work on my attitude. Good news is that I went to practice today, even though we only did a mile I still got through with 9 minutes and 45 seconds, for not running in 9 days I guess that’s pretty good. Good bye, hopefully running this weekend won’t kill me. 

The Worst Ending to the Best Beginning

Yeah my title might seem confusing, but wait until I explain this crazy week. So as I told you guys before, I joined cross country and it was great until Wednesday hit. On Tuesday I had a meet, which I did really well in for my first time. I got 33 minutes and 10 seconds. However, the next day my knees were in pain and I thought this might just last for a little while. But this pain has been going on for two days and today it felt worse than it did on Wednesday. Today there was a meet and I missed it due to my injury. So now, I have to compete in all the upcoming meets to reach the requirement of five to make the sport count. So that is my commitment virtue right there. I did commit to the sport and it wasn’t that I was irresponsible, I was actually hurt. For my other virtues, I was really thankful for my dad being able to drive all the way to downtown to come to my first meet for cross country. He gave me courage, cheered me on, motivated and supported me. I was really glad and shocked to see him there because he surprised me by coming. I have been a bit more assertive in AP, I ask questions and answer some but there been minimal progress. Hopefully I feel better by Tuesday, no I better feel better by Tuesday, no actually Monday. Anyways, bye. 

Wow It’s Just Week #3

     Well this week felt like the longest week of my life. We had all five days of school without a break (it was terrible). The worst part was getting 6 quizzes/tests, plus daily homework. Anyways, I guess one good thing happened, I worked on commitment and joined cross country. It’s only been two days but it’s an improvement. I also “participated” in AP (I just answered some questions that required one word). However, I felt that I at least got over my doubtfulness and raised my hand. For thankfulness, I guess I said some thanks here and there to my parents. Overall, I need to really practice for cross country this weekend, to catch up to others. I need to keep saying thanks and actually mean it and not say it for the heck of it. I also need to participate more in each class even if I am wrong; I want to let the teachers to get to know me more by the reflections I give. See you next week with an update. Comment if you can.

My Virtues Put to their First Test

Hello again viewers (probably just one),

This week felt pretty short to me, mainly because Monday was off and Friday I had a fieldtrip. So for my first virtue that I talked about in my previous post, (which was extremely long, don’t worry from now on though) was commitment. Something that I want to commit to, that I signed up for with my friends, is SECME. I really want to stick with that and Science Olympiad. My second virtue is assertiveness, which I really have to work on. I have to start participating more, because I found out that participation actually counts as a grade and if I don’t, I will end up lowering my GPA by a huge chunk. I haven’t really worked on thankfulness as much, because I am used to my lifestyle and find everything normal that I get. Well that’s it for this week, talk to you next Friday (unless something “interesting” happens before).

"The Character Experiment": Experience 1

           The first virtue I chose to make a serious attempt at practicing is commitment. Commitment is an agreement or promise to do something in the future. Basically, commitment is when you say you will take responsibility of something, and sticking with it. I tend to say I will do something, and then when I face it I don’t want to do it. When times get tough I just want to quit. Do you ever ask yourself this way, that way, which way should I go? I’m constantly asking myself what I should do next because of this commitment issue. The opposite of commitment is lacking direction which totally describes me. I just can’t make up my baffled mind. There are just so many paths to take and I don’t want to be the one who takes the wrong turn. That’s why I try to take as much time as I have to choose something.

            I am obviously picking this virtue to focus on because it needs “some” working on. I need to commit to things because I won’t find out what I like without sticking to something and I will be considered a quitter or disloyal. Not only that, but I can’t quit everything I do because eventually there will be nothing left for me to do.  People are already asking me what I want to be when I grow up, and I’m thinking that I can’t even decide what character I want to be in Classcraft. Like how does anybody expect me to decide what I want to be when I’m still a freshman? Commitment is especially difficult when you are new to something and you don’t want to adapt to it. Like a sport, the first month of training is tiring and gruesome and your body just wants to crumble away and fall to the floor and vanish from the face of earth (yea I’ve done it before, I know the feeling).

            I do have a couple of plans for growing in this virtue; let’s just hope I can commit to them! First off, I selected the elective Research A in which you study different fields of science and compete against other schools and so on. This elective requires a lot of determination, commitment, hours of studying and practicing, which is why I choose it. I really plan to dedicate and devote my time, and prove to myself that I can do it if I try. Also, as many of you know you have to work diligently in Archimedean, and you can imagine how long it took me to decide to get out of Coral Reef and come to this school. I definitely made the right decision and I don’t regret it, because I know that if I stay committed my hard work will pay off.

            My second virtue has the most significance to me in particular, which is thankfulness. The literal definition of thankfulness is a conscious of receiving benefit or expressing thanks. I really take what I have for granted, and since I’m an only child my parents can provide me what I want(*not all the times, but when my parents say no, my grandparents step in and spoil me). There is so much to be thankful about which I seem to miss at some points. I tend to get accustomed to goodness that it becomes regular. Thankfulness should come from the heart and be expressed fully to show appreciation. There is always something to be thankful about, whether it is something “simple” like getting clothes or whatever you feel casual about, or getting a brand new car. Saying thanks isn’t hard (its only one word) and it really can’t harm you.

I am picking this particular virtue because I don’t want to get used to not being grateful. I’m always hearing on the news about how many people are suffering around the world and I compare that to what I have. I see how much I have that I don’t even take into consideration. According to (www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-global-poverty), “Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population — more than 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty — less than $1.25 a day.” It is sad thing to think about (and here I am at home sitting in front of a laptop complaining about homework, when half of the world can’t even afford water, let alone food). I don’t want to focus on the stuff I don’t have, but on the numerous things I do have.  I really want to be more grateful and I feel that this virtue should be practiced by everybody.

            As always you need a plan to succeed. Don’t worry I have one (starts thinking about a plan). Since I constantly tell my parents that I don’t have enough and that others have what I want, I’ll stop and think twice about how much my parents already do for me directly and indirectly. Whenever I get something I ask for or something I didn’t ask for, I will show that I am appreciative and say thank you to whoever it may be. In general, I will try asking for less and be more thankful. Like, saying thanks for dropping me off to school and picking me up, and having my breakfast, lunch, and dinner ready for me without me having to ask, or providing me a house and a safe environment to live in, and pure water to drink and shower in. Honestly I could go on forever. So stop and think about what you have, and keep calm and say thanks.

            Finally, we are at the last one. Trust me your part is easier. Reading nine paragraphs takes two minutes; it took me ten hours to write this. Anyways, my last virtue is assertiveness. Now if you don’t know what that means, too bad (just kidding). When you are assertive, you have or show a confident and bold personality. But in my case I just doubt myself. I’m not shy, however I don’t trust in myself and then I end up being right and regretting not sticking with my first choice. So I’m basically doubtful and regretful (wow, what a good match)! It is actually a really terrible feeling to be honest, and you tell yourself that you will be brave the next time but you end up backing down again. Being assertive helps people to stand up for themselves in a positive and serene manner.

            There are many reasons for my attempt to seriously practice this virtue. The number one purpose I need to become assertive is because I want to be brave and answer the question to how I see it, and give my input to participate more often. Even if I’m wrong, it is better for the teacher to correct me, rather than thinking about why it shouldn’t be what I originally thought. I also need to break out of my turtle shell or conch shell, and just speak out. And maybe, just maybe, if I express my thoughts, I might make a good point to help expand on the topic which will add to the discussion. By me being confident, but not cocky with my answers, I can connect with others and my classmates to develop on our ideas and rule the world!
            My final plan (thank god, I can see the sigh of relief on your face and you can probably imagine mine). So my plans relate to what I put for the paragraph above, but I’ll explain more. I obviously need to get over my fear and raise my hand. I need to be brave and not be afraid to get an answer that might not be right. Group debates and group work will help me to participate and get more involved. Also, as you get to know the class overtime, I feel that you can express yourself more and more as you get comfortable and adapted to the people in it. I will convince myself to respect my first choice and stick with it. As most people say, the first choice is the best choice. I’ll try to live by that motive, at least most of the time.

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