[ESSAY] Diversity

The world has many different regions, religions, and cultures. What makes a human a human being?  I am not sure that there is one single thing that a person can say that makes a human, a human. Although there are so many answers to the given question, I believe the definitive characteristic of a human being is the ability to be diverse from one another.  

Each person is their own individual self.  No single person is the same in how they act, think, and look. You could say that identical twins look the same; but it's impossible for people to say that they think the exact same on every topic one is approached with. People can have the same opinion on a certain subject but that doesn't mean that they think about it in the same manner. Some may not be able to catch a ball, but they can do hard math problems in their head like it's nothing. Humans are not the same but they all have the same basic components. Everyone has their own opinion, their own mind. People may think differently but they all do think.

The world is broken up into different religions. All of them are different; yet some of them agree on certain topics. There is Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism. There are so many more and even within these three religions there are specific sects. For instance, all three of these religions believe in one main God. Although they all have the same belief that there is only one God, they do not all think it is the same one God. Even if you are in the one religion, that doesn't mean that you have to have the exact same beliefs as a fellow member of that religion.  If everyone thought the same thing, life would be no fun. There would be no point of talking if whatever your opinion was was exactly the same thought of the other person.

Regions in the world differ from each other as well. There is no way that people from Los Angeles or New York are exactly like us from the Bay area. It is impossible.  People are hella different. That's an example. No place, but  in the Bay area, are people  using the word "hella."  I have friends in Los Angeles and whenever I talk with them, they make fun of me because they say I talk weird. Personally I do not think I sound weird using the word hella. In Alameda, everyone uses the word hella. I know what my L.A. friends mean though because no one they know in L.A. uses that word around them. It's kind of like the use of the word "mad" on the East coast. You don't hear very many people in the west using the word mad, just like you don't hear the word hella other places.

Having said that, "Can you picture yourself living in a totally different environment?" Like in a different state? Or country? Or continent?  Imagine if you lived in Spain. I am not an expert at the lifestyle in Spain but I do know a few things about them. First, their main meal is the middle of the day. Businesses and shops along with school close down so everyone can go home for their lunch. They work and go to school later in the day since they get off for lunch. It is not uncommon for people to be out later in the evening too. Many people start their night at 10 o'clock p.m. and go out for a couple hours. Many people are out at 1 a.m.  Here in Alameda, everything is shut down around 10 p.m.. Only a very few of our fast food places are still open late. It is also not uncommon for people in Europe to know many different languages. I'm not saying that everyone here in the U.S. only knows English but I'm just saying that people in Europe know many languages. My cousins that live in Italy know 4 languages: Italian, English, French, and I think German. Here it's a big deal if someone knows more than just one language.  We are sure different because of our geography.

Along a similar thought process, my English teacher Mr. Sutherland wrote something that really caught my eye. He said,

"Then there are multiple intelligences within a single person, multiple personalities we display over time and even simultaneously (are you "the same person" in front of your friends, your teachers, your parents, and a cop?)."

I'm not exactly sure about how I would measure up against this idea.  He didn't expand on this idea very much in his post. I am going to have to agree with this idea of multiple intelligences. I think that he is saying that within one's self we each have different identities. What that means to me is that each of our personalities will change (neither for good nor bad reasons) depending on who we are talking or interacting with. I don't know what you have noticed but I realize that a lot of teens act differently from when they are in front of their teachers than when they are just hanging out with their friends. I personally tend to be more serious when I talk to my teachers. When I am with my friends, I joke around and say sarcastic things.  I only sometimes act jokingly near teachers. I don't really know why but I think that a lot of students do the same. I am not exactly sure if that is what it means to have multiple intelligences.  But that's how I interpreted it.

What does being a human mean? I can honestly say that at the start of writing this essay, I was freaking out. I thought that this topic was going to be the hardest prompt a teacher has given me. I mean it is such a huge idea. How could you expect a kid to have the answer for this? Then I figured out that Mr. Sutherland didn't want an exact answer. He just wanted to hear our thoughts on this question. Well, diversity is one huge topic.  No human being could ever be the same.  It's just impossible to think that. Don't get me wrong.  Other biological species are different and show lots of variation.  But I don't believe those differences to be greater than those of humans. We are one crazy species.

[CE] New meaning of Recycling

Wow. How innovative. I don't know many people that would even think of recycling water bottles to make a bigger class room. This solves the problem of a lack of classrooms in the Philippines. Apparently every town in the Philippines makes enough waste to make a classroom like this every 2 weeks. THAT IS CRAZY! There are so many bottles there and they are saying they can make a building like the one in the video every two weeks. This is the first building made out of bottles to be completed but many hope that it won't be the last.

This classroom was twice the size as there older room. That's a huge plus. More space equals more students. If the students are in school they are getting an education that I believe everyone in the world needs.This building is made so that it can withstand gail force winds. If you guys didn't see, they made lights from drums. The drums light up the space by refracting the light from the sun. Engineering students are coming to see how the buildings are made to hopefully learn and teach other people. This building is a great idea, it is twice the size of the last building but costing half of the price. And I mean everyone can use more money for other things. Everyone can use money to develop other things. To be honest, I don't really know what the economy is like there, but every nation could use more money so having a bigger building yet using less money is always a good thing.

[RE] Hygiene

I think that hygiene is a  key component in life..I just wish that everyone would share my ideals. Honestly if there was ever a day where i didnt brush my teeth or clean my body in the morning then i wouldnt go to school.

Well I'm going to have to agree with my boy Jonathan Fifer.  You guys have know idea how much I agree with him. I feel so gross if I smell bad, I'd like not want to go to school that day. I brush my teeth a lot for a kid. I absolutely hate if I have bad breath. It rarely happens, I think, but I would seriously think about going home if I forget to brush my teeth that day. For me, smelling bad is horrible.

For me, smelling bad or having bad breath is possibly the biggest turn off a girl could have. I wouldn't want to talk to them at all that day. I just don't see why people can't shower and brush there teeth. I mean, is it really that much to ask?

I get that during pe people won't smell the best since they are in pe cloths. But if pe hasn't even happened yet and they smell horrible I don't see how that possible. The people new my pe locker smell so bad. Everyday I either go in early n go hella quick, or I go and wait till some of them are already done. I also look to see if any other lockers are free other places. I found one, but Sulaiman found the locker first so got out of that area. I just don't see why people can't shower daily, I'm not saying that they have to smell like beautiful or anything, just not hella bad.

[Free] Friday Night Dilemma

Well its friday night. The Island Bowl is tonight. Where am I? At home, I can't go anywhere tonight. It is my sister's birthday and we r having dinner together. I am not exactly sure how I feel about this. I mean ITS THE ISLAND BOWL. So many people are there. I really want to be there. I mean really want to see all my friends play. It is the biggest game of the season. I want to see my boy Biruk play in the game. I also have some friends on the other side of the field. Not that I am rooting for the jets, but I just want to see one of my good friends play. I think it will be funny to see him get smacked.

On the other hand, it is my Sister's birthday. I believe she is turning 19, but I am not totally sure. I want to go to the games, but I would feel bad to miss my sisters birthday dinner. It only comes once a year, but so does the Island Bowl.

Well it ends up that my opinion doesn't even count in this subject. I am not going to be attending the Island Bowl. I am not exactly in the best mood. My mom made the decision for me. Today after school was not fun. I had a lot of people come up to me and say, "how are you getting to the game". Then I had to say that I couldn't make it to the game. Just hearing myself say those words come from my mouth, gave me an awkard feeling. Well anyways, I am at home well everyone is at the Island Bowl having a ton of fun. One thing is for sure though, I will be having way better food that all them tonight.

[BC] The search for his iPod

The night is dark. A blackout has hit the city. Rowland is trying to find his ipod. His mom took it away and she normally hides it somewhere in the basement. It's hard for him to get downstairs in the dark, slipping on basketballs and stepping on random papers that crinkle under his foot, and tripping on his pets' little stupid toys. He struggles to find his way to the door of the basement. Rowland tries to turn on the light switch; "click" nothing happens; the power must still be out.

Rowland hasn't been in the basement in quite some time.  He is a bit nervous for some awkward reason. He opens the basement door slowly.  It makes an eerie, creaky noise. Rowland starts down the stairs. They are old, wooden, and seems like they could break at any moment. It's pitch black in the basement. I think it would be easier to find a needle in a haystack than the ipod in this basement. He makes it down the stairs and trips on a deflated football. Rowland's fall made a colossal bang. After resting on the cold ground a bit, he rises. Making it to his feet, Rowland had an idea as to where the ipod could be. His mother would normally hide his stuff in the desk drawer in the middle of the room.

Rowland has a slight idea of where he is located in the basement.  Just from memory of the past when he was there before. He starts to move in the direction that he thinks the desk is. He is taking microscopic steps so he doesn't hit his feet against some obstructive thing potentially in his way. The slow gait didn't protect him. Rowland steps on a long straight pin and the sharp little point broke the skin, initiating a bit of blood.  He feels the warm, somewhat sticky liquid running down his foot. He puts pressure on it with a tissue in his hand, trying to stop the bleeding. With no vision possible  in the dark basement,  he can't see how bad the bleeding truly is. With obviously no band aid in hand, he thinks about going back upstairs. He laughs that idea off because he was already so far. He needs his ipod and feels like he can't live without it.

With his foot still bleeding, he continues on. He is walking slowly, leading with his hands because he doesn't want to run into anything. Making some good progress, Rowland finally runs into the desk he thinks the ipod is in. He opens the first drawer, it makes a weird gliding noise. Nothing was in the drawer but a ton of dust. He feels around to get the handle to the second drawer. He opens the drawer quickly. IT WAS HIS IPOD. He has finally found his beautiful ipod.

Rowland was very excited, until he realized that he had to find his way out of the basement too. He is nervous about hitting something again, chills are running down his spine after thinking about the pin. Is it gone? Is it still there?  He starts his walk, slowly. If he and a snail were racing, the snail would be dusting him.  He is leading with his hands, as usual. He makes it past the deflated football that he tripped on earlier. He feels the bottom of the stairs with his bare feet. He races up the stairs, finds the door knob, and opens the door. He is finally up  in the main floor, with his iPod. His mission was successful.

[CE]Gaming is a part of life

Gaming is a part of life. On all the continents, people are playing video games. They may be good, may be bad, but they are there and there is nothing anyone can about it. I hear many people, mostly adults, say that video games rot you brain. I don't really see how that could happen. I mean I get how the people are just staring at a screen, but the gamers brain is still working. There are "strategy" games that make you use your brain.  In my personal opinion strategy games aren't very fun. If I'm going to play a video game I am not going to get a game that has me thinking a lot. Its just not that fun. I only play sports games. They are the best. I think it's because I like sports.

I wouldn't call myself a "gamer" but I do play video games, mostly Madden. I serve people, like Biruk. Biruk isn't the best madden player. He thinks hes good, but only when he plays the computer. Anyways, Im not so sure that these new games will be as good a profit as normal. America is in a bad economic time, so parents are not out buying kids the new videogames that they want and say that they need. Videogames are fun but i dont play them during school because after homework, I'd much rather get some sleep. I love sleep. It the best thing in the world.

[RE] Basketball is a part of me

Ask any player, most of them fear it. But they couldn’t imagine life without it. Its a part of them, the love/hate relationship. It’s what they live for.

This piece of writing is from Deja's Blog. Deja happens to actually be a good friend of mine. We both play basketball. This statement as actually really true. I play basketball. I don't like how it takes up all my time. There are practices all the time. A couple of times, I have thought able quitting basketball. But when it comes down to it there is no way I could. I know that once the basketball season would start, I would be mad at myself that i quit the game that I love so much. Basketball is a huge commitment. There is no way I could be able to see myself without basketball in my life. Even though i hate going to practice, running, and staying up late because i had practice that night.

Even though I constantly think of ways that could get me out of practice. When it comes down to it, I still play the game because it is a part of me. The games are so much fun. Just the seeing the other team walk off the court after you beat them, its priceless. The absolutely horrific smell in the locker from all the guy in there. Getting yelled at by the coaches at halftime even though we are winning the game.  The practice after the game when the the coach yell at us for all the stuff we did wrong. Walking into study hall late, and getting the maddest look from your coach.

Basketball players dont like all of these things, but its wat makes them. Deja and I are the same in some ways, we couldn't live without it. Most sports players will have the same thing with there sport that they play. The sport is apart of them.

[Free] And the football season is underway

With the NFL lockout over, preseason over, the start of the 2011 NFL football season is upon us. The first game to the 2011 season was the defending champions Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints. Oh boy, what a great game. It literally went down to the wire. Both quarterbacks played a great game with Aaron Rodgers of the Packers having a slim edge. The Packers ended up winning on a great last second defensive play.

 The Cowboys and Jets played Sunday. Everyone already knew that the cowboys would lose, except for a certain one of my friends. She was clearly delusional. Dallas actually came out looking pretty good, completing 3 early passes to Dez Bryant. My friend was juiced and talked a little bit too much shit! I stayed true to my call in the beginning of the game with the jets winning the game. I turned out to be correct, AS ALWAYS. Let’s just say my friend wasn’t the happiest she has been. The Cowboys CHOKED by not getting off a punt and throwing an interception to Darrell Revis.

The Raiders opened there season with a game against the Denver Broncos. The Raiders were too much for the Broncos to handle. The defensive line of the raiders pushed the O line back so the broncos couldn’t run the ball. Darren McFadden of the Raiders rushed for 150 yards on 22 carries. There were way too many penalties for the Raiders. They must become a little bit more disciplined. It was a good start to the 2011 season for the Raiders with a 1-0 record.

[CE]Messi in India

Indian is hosting there first international match with Argentina. Messi, the arguably the best soccer or futbol player in the world was there. This may not sound very big, but i beg to differ.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the whole world, by a far margin. Every continent plays it. Okay, maybe except for Antarctica. Anyways, in Indian the number one sport is cricket. Having the "best" soccer player could make the sport of soccer, come back in play in Indian. Having soccer games in India with players like Messi because they will make a huge profit. The profit will give India more money to help the government and there people. If you think about it as just a soccer game, it doesn't mean much. But if you think about it as a way for India to make more money to help the people, that's a big deal.

The love affair between India and cricket is tight. Yet many people want soccer to come back as the main sport. There is know particular reason why people want soccer to come back as the sport of choice. India somewhat reminds me of America. We both have sports ahead of soccer. I believe that soccer could start getting more attention in America. More kids are starting to play at a younger level. There must be some reason to why soccer is so popular. I mean the whole world watches and plays it. I'm not exactly sure as to why i decided to write about this but as i was looking through the videos, this one stuck out to me. I don't exactly know why, but i think that it was very interesting to see India so excited to see such a big star, like Lionel Messi.

[Free]Remembering 9/11

Today in class, Mr. Sutherland had us talk about our thoughts regarding 9/11/2001.  I didn't say very much. At the time I didn't have anything to say. But the quick write that we did today actually got some words out of me. I tend to not like remembering bad stuff from the past. I mean, if it's bad why should you keep it in your mind? That's how I feel. Then again, I was so little when it happened (I think I was in kindergarden) that I don't fully remember how I felt at that time. I just remember seeing it on tv and  seeing all the adults crying over the horror. Only now, looking back on it over the past few years, is it that I remember the details.

I realize that, since that 9/11, the world as we knew it had changed. I think that America has become a lot more "racist",  I guess that's the word. Whenever anyone sees another person that could maybe be middle eastern, just from their physical look, some people get nervous. I'm not saying I do, but I'm just saying I think people do in general.

We watched a video in class about how after 9/11 an INDIAN person was killed just because he looked middle eastern. He wasn't even middle eastern! Even if he was middle eastern does it mean he is any different from you or me. I feel bad for the people that are being discriminated against because they could be just like me. But just because of what they wear and what they look like, they are being "picked out" in a crowd as a "terrorist."  What I'm trying to say is that since 9/11 the discrimination towards middle eastern people has skyrocketed. I think that America is a sad place if people are being "picked out" in a crowd just for what they could be perceived as. I don't think it's right. I mean... didn't immigrants come to America to have a free and better life? I bet that the people that are being targeted don't feel like they have having a better life. Just saying.

[RE]There's always a first

 I mean really is texting more important than your life or someone else’s life?

So I don't exactly know what I'm doing because this is my first response post, but there's always a first for everything. I'm not sure if i did this right but this quote is from Biruk's blog. Well anyways, this question really stuck out to me because I text all the time. I text all day,  during school, in class, and during passing periods. Texting could be considered a habit.

I don't drive yet, but i know that I most likely will be tempted to text when, and if I get a car. Of course I know that it's a really bad and dangerous thing to do, but it's a habit. If I hear or feel my phone start to ring, it's just an instinct to look to see what the text says. I know that's really bad but it is just how it is. I think it is kind of how a lot of teens are now a days. They can't live without there phones. People think that there lives are all on there phones. I have to admit, I am kind of the same way. I guess that when I get a car I'll just have to have someone else hold my phone so I am not even tempted to use it while driving. I think it can be done because I mean there is nothing the text could say that is more valuable than your life or the health of someone else. That is why I actually agree with Biruk.

About Me..........

Hey. My name is Rowland. After being born in Minnesota, I moved to California when I was 4 years old. First, I moved to  Orinda with my uncle and aunt. Somehow I eventually ended up living in Alameda.  I went to Lincoln Middle School and now am at Alameda High. I’m currently a sophomore in Mr. Sutherland’s English class.

I’m a very active guy. For as far back as I can remember, I’ve always played some sport. I play basketball for the high school team now. Basketball is a very complex sport. It involves being athletic, yet there is also a big mental part to the game. During games the other competitors will try to get into your head, mostly by talking shit. Of course you also have to give it back a little. The mental part of the game is as important or maybe even more important than the physical part of the game. If someone gets in your head, they put you off your game and most likely will cause you to do poorly. On the other hand if you get into the head of the other player it gives you an advantage and could help you get the upper hand on your matchup. Even though the mental part of basketball is very important, you still must have some skill. You must be able to get up and down the court quickly. Basketball takes a lot of strategy and its a very exciting game. Anything can happen.

I currently only play one sport for the school team, but I play all kinds of sports when I hang out with my friends. Alameda is a bit boring. There isn’t a whole lot to do so I like to go hang with my friends a lot. We like to play a ton of different sports, whether it’s basketball, football, soccer, or golf. It’s just something to occupy our time so we aren't always just sitting in front of a television all day.

When it comes to my school work, I’m a bit of a procrastinator. For instance, this essay was done last minute. I have no idea, why it happens this way but even if i plan on doing something early, it never happens. This year I would like help in getting a broader vocabulary. I think it might have to do with the fact that I don’t really like to read. Reading often bores me. When I write I’m not very good at picking a topic. If the teacher gives me a topic, I do fine but once it’s a free write I have no idea what to write about. I hope by the end of the school year, I get better at deciding what I want to write about.

After high school I’d like to go to college. My first preference is San Diego State University. I’m not sure if I will be able to get in but that’s my hope. I’m not exactly sure what I want to study. All I know is that I’d like to go to San Diego State. 

Well that’s me. I don’t really know what else to say. I’d also like help with ending my writings. I have trouble with starting and ending my pieces of work. I hope that I will get better with writing by the end of the this school year because we have to do some much writing in this class.