Pumped About New Dawkins Book and Recent Revelations

Above is Richard Dawkins new book. I just got it, but don't know when I'll have time to read it. I am a huge Dawkins fan and will post reviews soon!!! (unless I re-read the God Delusion first, very possible, in which case it will take a bit longer)

In my first post I made reference to Socrates’ quote: “I would rather be bold, ask questions, and examine my beliefs rather than sit by and let others think and decide for me.”

I got to really thinking about how important this quote is. High school has been an interesting ride (to say the LEAST!). I have grown so much over the last four years, and my opinions, thoughts, feelings, and even friends have all changed as well. Had I read this quote my freshman year, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. (had the quote been something from a Taylor Swift song, I might have)-(no hate on Taylor just making the point that I’ve matured since then)

Back then it was all about being cool, and fitting in. I guess I was compensating for the time I lost in my awkward, dorky middle school years (yikes!). It’s weird when I look back on it now. My life revolved around one small group and the opinions of three other people whom I thought were my whole life/school/world. Who would have though life goes on, the world is a big place, and there are SO many people out there. Why didn’t I know this then? This is how old people feel, I bet!

I guess basically I feel like I’m moving in the direction of this quote (if that makes any sense?) Instead of being scared or worrying what others think I’m beginning to trust myself, ask questions, be bold, and look for myself instead of blindly follow others (and just in time too!). I have no doubt that this new way of thinking will make college some of the best years of my life (if it’s possible to get better than high school that is).

This quote has really helped me out in this past week getting over some personal stuff that’s been going on. I guess I (and maybe other people too?) just need to remember to just keep thinking, and most of all not living for others, but for themselves, and keeping in mind that people will come and go. I think everyone leaves you with a part of them, and change you in some way. Is that all people are? How they influence you, or in what way they affect your life? (topic for next time cause this post is already longer then the government essay I’m supposed to be writing :P!)

This is probably one of the most confusing posts ever, and I don’t quite know WHAT exactly I’m trying to say, but basically the quote about = YES!

What I did Instead of my Homework

I'm no artist but....

...see and awesome artist

Bucket List Item: write a graduation speech

Of all the shows and movies we watched when we were younger that attempted to exemplify the typical high school experience; my favorite was Ferris Bueller’s day off. I loved to watch it and think of myself encountering all the typical high school clichés like the ever faithful best friend, the attractive, out of you league, significant other, and the cranky principal who always tried to ruin the fun but was always outsmarted. Most of all I wanted to be that carefree, fun loving kid, whom everything always worked out for. Honestly, what kid wouldn’t want to skip school, drive a Ferrari, be the star of a parade, and get away with it all? When I finally got to high school I was surprised and disappointed to learn that high school (and possibly the real world?) is nothing like what you see on TV. Things don’t always work out, people aren’t type casted, and the thought of endless piles of makeup work outweigh any desires to skip school. I don’t believe being irresponsible, or fostering a false image of high school was the point of this movie. Instead, Ferris pretty much says it all in his famous quote, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t look around once in a while you might miss it.”
I stand before you today as a daughter, a friend, a classmate, and a graduating senior of Geneva high School’s class of 2010. I stand with my classmates at the place that marks the beginning of many of our adult lives; a place where many of you have already stood. I am not here today to ramble off inspirations quotes, or advise you on how to live the rest of your life. What I can tell you though is what I have learned in my last four years here, as well as congratulate you, and remind you of why you should be proud to be a Viking.
I can’t tell you what the future holds. I can’t even give you any genuine advice as I am in the same place as every graduating senior here. What I can tell you are some of the important lessons I have learned over the last four years. First, be yourself. I know I said no clichés, but this is one worth hearing as it is often overused and rarely applied. It wasn’t until my junior year that I began wearing, saying, and doing what I wanted without worrying about what my friends thought. My biggest fear then was losing my friends, but instead the opposite happened. I made new friends who liked me for who I was. I realized that my true friends would always be there, and those that aren’t there anymore weren’t my true friends to being with. I discovered another important lesson at the beginning of my junior year. It was seventh hour and I was to take my first physics test. The room was filled with anxious students hurriedly skimming through notes and study guides trying to cram in a last formula or obscure physics law before the tests were handed out. Before we started the teacher turned to us and said “don’t worry by the end of the semester you won’t even remember this test.” Well Mr. Bevans, I proved you wrong. While I don’t remember the grade I got on that test, or most of the material we covered I do remember the message those words taught me. Instead of worrying about the small things like one bad test grade or a silly fight with a friend, I realized how important it was to keep moving forward. I learned to not dwell on things, but instead to work harder and be positive about the future.
Before I finish I would like to say thank you to all the people who made this day possible. By giving your time, care, support, and encouragement we have all made it here today. Thank you, to the moms and dads who always believed in us and proofread our English papers at eleven thirty at night. Thank you to the teachers who stayed with us after school to make sure we understood what was going to be on the test the next day. Thank you for believing in us even when we sat in the back of the class gossiping during lectures. It is that faith in us that has brought us all here today. And to my classmates and fellow graduates of Geneva high school’s class of 2010: congratulations, we did it, we survived. This is a huge accomplishment. The reason we are all gathered here today is to celebrate this huge achievement.
Not only should we be proud of ourselves, we should be proud of each other, and of our school. We have accomplished so much these last four years in both sports and academics. Our strong sports and academic teams, state titles, and perfect ACT attendance exemplify the Viking spirit. When you think back on your years here at Geneva High School you may think fondly or not so fondly of them, but no matter where life leads you I hope you always remember where you came from, and the true spirit of a Geneva Viking.


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deaf kids who love opra and drawing pictures for Himalayan men

PARTY 1:
(i misspelled part and spell check changed it to party... i think i like this better)

Yesterday I went to the Opera (classy i know)to see Donizetti's The Elixir of Love. Brief Summary: (Opera buffs skip ahead) Basically its about two men who are in love with the same girl (why can't we all be so lucky?). One of the men is a Sergeant, the other is a simple man from her town. One day a charlatan comes to town and promises to sell the countryman the same powerful elixir that brought together Tristan and Isolde. The countryman buys the "elixir", which is really wine, and believes it to be a love potion. He then drinks the bottle of wine, and tells the beautiful girl he loves her. She plays hard to get and he thinks the elixir is not working. During this time the countryman's rich uncle leaves him a large fortune. This becomes the talk of the town amongst the young women and they begin to feign for his attention. But, he only wants the one beautiful girl mentioned before. After a few more songs, a party scene, and about ten minutes of playing hard to get the two admit their love for each other and live happily ever after.
(An ever depressing plot considering I can't even get a prom date. Maybe I should take up drinking? lol I am clearly not mature enough to handle a play that promotes substance abuse. Oh school board won't you put an end to offensive art?!? I am being corrupted! )

The opera was surprisingly entertaining considering it was all sung in Italian. The music was beautiful and the singers were all extremely talented (FACT: opera singers don't use microphones). I even enjoyed the plot as it reminded me of some sort of happily ending Shakespearean drama.

While this wasn't an item on my bucket list I am glad to be able to say I tried it. I had a lot of fun with my friend Kayla who, after some convincing, decided to come too. We definitely had some interesting experiences... there were boys who sat behind us who sounded like a bunch of gossiping girls. Maybe I'm stereotyping boys but all they talked about were their girl problems and then about how society views them based on their race and relationship status. There was also a group of deaf (or hearing impaired) kids. I don't know why they were there (opera = singing which is usually meant yo be heard, and the setting didn't even change so I don't see how it could have been very visually appealing either). They had a teacher there who had to sign everything the speakers said, and I even saw them signing to each other. Sign Language = cool.


PARTY 2:

Today, after a normal day at school I went dress shopping with Kayla at a local dress store. It was really fun, and Kayla found a beautiful yellow one that she looked BEAUTIFUL in (and she should definitely buy it!!!!). After dress shopping we went to my favorite restaurant: Taste of Himalayas. The food was delicious (and spicy...) and the service was as usual, spiffy-ly decked out: Indian style. While waiting for Kayla to figure out how to correctly put a tip on a bill (most pathetic moment of my life was witnessing Kayla cross out the total section on her receipt because she couldn't correctly figure out a tip or how to subtract six dollars) I, like a five year old, began drawing on the paper tablecloths. When the waiter asked me if I had done that the last time I came. I shamefully admitted that I had. See picture 2 above: I spilled rice, drew a circle around it, and wrote messy with an arrow pointing to it and then wrote sorry (awkward smiley ). I was beyond embarrassed that he had called me out until he came back with the receipt. He told me that he had put a surprise in there for me. I opened it up to find the scrap of paper pictured above! I couldn't believe it! The paper I had written on the last time I came! I was so surprised to find out that they had kept it for at least three weeks!

Anyway, tomorrow is a big day: UIC GPPA/honors college (wish me luck as this is what determines whether or not I can get into the UIC medical school as an undergrad -easy, less stressful next four years- or if I have to work my but off against some serious competition in the next four years) interview, essay, and tour then St. Patricks day parade, river greening, and St. Patrick's day party!!!!

Living the Examined Life

2400 years ago Socrates, an ingenious Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of western philosophy, was put to death at age 71 for heresy against Athens. While pleading his case he uttered these infamous words: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” In the aftermath of Athens’s humiliating defeat by Sparta (yup, the ones from 300) many people were upset by his words and ideas that questioned much of what Athens was trying (unsuccessfully) to rebuild. He responded: “I would rather be bold, ask questions, and examine my beliefs rather than sit by and let others think and decide for me.”

Being senior year I decided this quote was truer now than ever. I feel like everything is changing faster and faster right before my eyes. I feel like if I put ideas, feelings, events, people, and adventures down they will stay real and with me for longer. By writing about things I have to think about them… and while thinking examining? Thus, I am (I’d like to think) living the examined life.

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