Stereotypes !

     Our society is filled with stereotypes but is that really the right way to look at things? To judge people off what you hear? In class we discussed this quote. The lady saying this is a Caucasian blonde and has a shocked expression on her face. There is one big stereotype about blondes and it is that they are often called dumb. When someone is being slow about a situation it is said as you're having a "blonde moment" Even the way they worded the quote and used the saying "OMG" is showing how she doesn't know anything about writing and being a writer because she is using poor grammar. They have a blonde saying that quote because it is something that's common sense and they are trying to portray it as if she doesn't understand. If they were to have drawn a lady with a different hair color or different skin type, I feel as if people would have viewed the quote in a completely different manner. They probably would have more sympathy for her which is wrong. Society has changed the views of others for the worse and has made us judgmental. It is not right to change our opinions on others off of what we hear and or read. It is a fact that not all blondes are dumb because there are many successful women that happen to be blonde. I don't think we should judge a book on its cover but learn that book and what it has to offer. Then make our own opinions on it not off what we see or hear.

Admittance to a Better Life

          It's never too late to change yourself for the better. If you believe in yourself and work hard towards your goals, nothing will be able to stop you. Michael Oatman is a former gang member who at some point of his life realized that the path he was taking wasn't what he wanted for himself. He started to focus more on his education and enroll back in school. By getting back in school he practically saved himself because he got out of the streets and kept himself for either ending up in jail or dead. Micheal thought he was a no good looser and wasn't good at anything, this is a feeling that we all face at some point of our lives an it's up to us whether we fight it off  or not. He was the one who decided to do something about it and discover what he was good at which was poetry. No matter what you do in life education is a key point, it's something that you need in order to succeed. You can always overcome a weakness with education, because it can always help you improve yourself by practice. Talent is something that exists within every human being, it's just up to you to figure out what that talent really is. No matter how hard life can get it's never a good thing to give up on something that you truly passionate about.

The Stranger

  

         When I began to read Sherman Alexies stanza i got the impression that a woman was going to be involved in some sort of trouble at the prison. He writes about a woman that switched her career from working in corporate law to teaching at a prison. Everyone thought that she was being foolish for making this decision but she was interested in educating those in need. People often have bad thinking on prisoners because of their past and how they tend to harm people. But many people have their own stories behind what they did, sometimes they even get falsely accused. People in jail have feelings just like everyone else in the world. They do appreciate and understand when someone is taking their time to try and educate them. Since people tend to be afraid of them because of their background, no one really tires to get to know them and help them find a better way in life. In the stanza it looks like the prisoners are about to do something quite horrible to the woman like rape, because they take her and put her in a box while telling her to remain quiet. In reality they are doing this to protect her because they know that a riot is about to occur. By putting her in there was the only way to protect her. Sometimes the people that come off as the most dangerous can be the ones that end up looking out for you the most. That was their way of showing her that they really do appreciate her giving her time up and teaching them poetry because not that many people believe in them or have the strength to try and help the prisoners improve their lifestyle. Teaching them poetry will help them be able to express their emotions, therefore they will release any bottled up anger they may have. I believe that she made a huge impact on the prisoners because not everyone is willing to teach them the beauty of poetry or take the time out and help people who have committed crimes to make something better of themselves.

Being "Special"

         

        

      David McCullough gave a commencement speech at Wellesley High School. I felt as if that speech was very eye opening to the fact that it's unfair how some people get things handed to them while others have to struggle and work hard to get acknowledged. When he states "You are not special" I think he is trying to motivate the students by letting them that you have to do better than everyone else and make yourself stand out to get noticed and achieve your goals. He is trying to say that graduating high school isn't enough, you have your whole life ahead of you so stand up and take charge and make yourself known so you can be "Special." When he mentions weddings and divorce, I believe that he is trying to prove a point that life has it's ups and downs but it's up to you to pull yourself up and keep working towards your goal. Life has many possibilities and it's up to you whether you succeed or you fail. When He says "Before you scatter to the winds; I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in it's importance." This qoute is very important because when you love something you push yourself so you can get at its and that's what makes you succeed in life because your doing what you love with a passion not because you have to do it. His speech has great meaning to it and it makes you look at things from a different perspective, his words motivate you to do better and try harder not give up on something that's important to you.

Famous Failures

        "If you've never failed, you've never tried anything" this quote stuck out to me because it's very true, you have to fail at something once, twice or even more times to truly. It take a lot of practice and effort to get something you right and if you don't set your mind to it then most likely you won't get very far. You can't get everything right at the first try, you have to keep progressing on it to reach your final goal. When someone tells you, you will never make it i see it as a challenge not an insult because i would want to prove them wrong. For example who would of thought that Dr.Seuss first book was rejected by 27 publishers and now look at him, he is a world known author and all because he never gave up on his dream. Being rejected should never keep you from dong what you love it should motivate you to get better and show the world what you are made of ; not a quitter. Just because some people may doubt you, doesn't quite mean you're not good at your talent it just means they have a different view on certain things. Be proud of what you accomplished and fight for what you believe s best for you.