Use of ipods in School

There are very few teachers that allow ipods in their class. Most of the students in my class have that an ipod and enjoy listening to music when they work. Recently, one of the teachers usually let us use them said we couldn't, compelling me to write about this.

Perhaps the biggest distraction we have when we work is each other. We are always talking and socializing. I noticed that there is very little or no talking when we are allowed to use our ipods. Even if some people are slightly distracted by the music, it is only one person isn't focusing instead if he or she started a conversation with another person.

Another reason we were introduced to was that it was we wouldn't be able to hear an alarm. Many friends share an ipod or don't like to listen at all. Instead of completely getting rid of ipods, why wouldn't the teachers just tell the students if they are playing them too loud? I doubt that the ipod could make more noise then the fire alarm, let alone if it's quiet enough that the teacher can't hear it.

I believe we should be able to listen to ipods in very many more classes, because I think ipods help us focus more than distract us.

Eva Olsson

Millions and millions of lives, gone, all because of the Holocaust. For so long, I just knew about lots of people dieing, never being realizing or completely understanding it. Eva Olsson showed me much more than I could have ever imagined. Concentration camps, gas chambers, and plain inhumanity.

Eva Olsson showed and explained the Holocaust to me more clearly than any other person. One of the things that I never realized before was the pain she had trouble with most, family. The thought of being forcefully separated from your family so suddenly is unbelievable. In such a terrible experience, all they had was their families. After realizing this terrible experience she went through, it is easier to be thankful for my family.

I think the thing I will remember the most of her presentation is the reason why the Holocaust started. Hate caused the deaths of millions. Everyday people say that they hate someone even when they are just joking, or if they are just annoyed. I don't think anyone fully understood this word until Eva's presentation. This is the most important part and also the hardest to control for me.

Norval

During the team building day at Norval, my team did well on climbing a fourteen foot wall. At first it seemed impossible, but as we worked together it was easier and easier. As the group worked together, almost all of us made it up the wall.

The other activity, "Mission Impossible", I think our team had trouble with. I think we weren't communicating enough so it took very long for the person to get the balls. I don't think we were organized enough for the activity.

Most of the activities were impossible for one person, but as a team were fairly easy. It only worked when the whole group worked together. I think the team building day was a good experience.

Amazing small things

People are constantly talking and communicating in different ways. A major important thing humans can do people all around the world take for granted.

There are hundreds of languages spoken everyday effortlessly everyday. It's amazing how we can write, talk, and show gestures to give others a clear understanding of what we are thinking or feeling. Humans can speak so fast, people say, "think before you speak". This line shows how much people are able to communicate what they feel so fast.

There are so many things people take for granted or don't notice the importance of. Having the ability to communicate is one of the ones I think is the most important.

William Shakepeare wrote, "Be great in act as you have been in thought". This quote means that even if you think of the right thing, you have to act on it. Everyday, people see opportunities to do good things.

Most of the time however, people are too focused on themselves or are too lazy to act on it. This is involved with everything in everyday life. One example is a school project. You could have an amazing idea, that would need some work. If you were to not act and procrastinate, you would never get to do the amazing project, and would have to do a normal project. There are so many examples in everyday life, but so many people ignore them. Think of what the world would be like if people acted on these hunches most or all of the time.

Everything is made by smaller things, so if everyone did these little things everyday, can you imagine what amazing things we could do together?

poverty

Poverty affects millions of people worldwide. 800 million people go to bed everyday. It’s impossible to understand how many people have so little. When I get hungry, without thinking and grab something from my shelves of food, while so many people have no access to any food.
It’s interesting how many people don’t know the horrible living conditions of people in different parts of the world. Many people in Kenya don’t have access to clean water, if any. People in poverty have had to use the same water throughout the whole community for everything. Using others people bath water to drink is unthinkable.
I believe that children younger than I have to deal with such unthinkable things and still smile are remarkable. I have a rough time dealing with such little selfish matters when millions of people are dying of starvation and thirst. It’s so frustrating when I see someone yelling and getting upset because of not getting a new toy, or a new $50 shirt. People that are so fortunate seem to look at someone who has more, instead of looking at people in places like Sierra Leona and Kenya who are barely surviving.
This topic has really changed the way I look at life. I hope I won’t take so many things for granted, let alone get jealous of someone who has more than me. There’s always someone in a worse position, so why won’t people help? Why do so many people spend thousands of dollars on stuff they don’t need? Why wouldn’t they save lives? These are some questions I want whoever reads this to think about, and do something about.