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Post Info TOPIC: THIS YOU BELIEVE- A FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!


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THIS YOU BELIEVE- A FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!


We've talked a lot this semester about ideas and opinions.  Hopefully you, as a thinking evaluating analyzing Smarty McSmartypants, are starting to develop a core philosophy/world view that is the basis for all of said opinions.  As a final topping/culimnation of the semester, please participate in an international project devoted to exploration of those core views:

* Submit your This I Believe as a reply to this thread so that your classmates can read it ON OR BEFORE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24

* Consider also submitting it to the actual This I Believe project (directions for how to do so can be readily found at www.thisibelieve.org)

DIRECTIONS:

This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 70,000 of these essays have been collected by the This I Believe project (and are available online at the above website if you want to look at some samples!), and yours will be the newest 25!

The task is simple: Write an essay explaining to me exactly who you think you are (a princess, a jock, a basket case, a brain, a criminal...).  And by essay,  I mean essay, not a single word repeated hundreds of times :) (RIP John Hughes)!

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This I Believe Essay-Writing Guidelines:

We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting your own statement of personal belief. We understand how challenging this isit requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:

Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenchingit can even be funnybut it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.

 

Be brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words (you can use the "Word Count" feature in the Tools menu of Microsoft Word to check). Thats about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.

 

Name your belief: If you cant name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

 

Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do believe, not what you dont believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial we. Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.

 

Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.

 

For this project, we are also guided by the original This I Believe series and the producers invitation to those who wrote essays in the 1950s. Their advice holds up well and we are abiding by it. Please consider it carefully in writing your piece.

 

In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent. We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. We are eager for your contribution.

 

The Original Invitation from This I Believe:


This invites you to make a very great contribution: nothing less than a statement of your personal beliefs, of the values which rule your thought and action. Your essay should be about three minutes in length when read loud, written in a style as you yourself speak, and total no more than 500 words.

 

We know this is a tough job. What we want is so intimate that no one can write it for you. You must write it yourself, in the language most natural to you. We ask you to write in your own words and then record in your own voice. You may even find that it takes a request like this for you to reveal some of your own beliefs to yourself. If you set them down they may become of untold meaning to others.

 

We would like you to tell not only what you believe, but how you reached your beliefs, and if they have grown, what made them grow. This necessarily must be highly personal. That is what we anticipate and want.

 

It may help you in formulating your credo if we tell you also what we do not want. We do not want a sermon, religious or lay; we do not want editorializing or sectarianism or finger-pointing. We do not even want your views on the American way of life, or democracy or free enterprise. These are important but for another occasion. We want to know what you live by. And we want it in terms of I, not the editorial We.

 

Although this program is designed to express beliefs, it is not a religious program and is not concerned with any religious form whatever. Most of our guests express belief in a Supreme Being, and set forth the importance to them of that belief. However, that is your decision, since it is your belief which we solicit.

 

But we do ask you to confine yourself to affirmatives: This means refraining from saying what you do not believe. Your beliefs may well have grown in clarity to you by a process of elimination and rejection, but for our part, we must avoid negative statements lest we become a medium for the criticism of beliefs, which is the very opposite of our purpose.

 

We are sure the statement we ask from you can have wide and lasting influence. Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent. Your belief, simply and sincerely spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it. We are confident it will enrich them. May we have your contribution?

 

Adapted from the invitation sent to essayists featured in the original This I Believe series. Excerpted from This I Believe 2, copyright © 1954 by Help, Inc.

 

My Favorite TIB that I've heard:

Sarah Adams

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude

by Sarah Adams

 

May 16, 2005

 

(Sarah Adams has held many jobs in her life, including telemarketer, factory worker, hotel clerk and flower shop cashier, but has never delivered pizzas. Raised in Wisconsin, Adams is now an English professor at Olympic Community College in Washington.)

 

If I have one operating philosophy about life it is this: "Be cool to the pizza delivery dude; it's good luck." Four principles guide the pizza dude philosophy.

 

Principle 1: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in humility and forgiveness. I let him cut me off in traffic, let him safely hit the exit ramp from the left lane, let him forget to use his blinker without extending any of my digits out the window or towards my horn because there should be one moment in my harried life when a car may encroach or cut off or pass and I let it go. Sometimes when I have become so certain of my ownership of my lane, daring anyone to challenge me, the pizza dude speeds by me in his rusted Chevette. His pizza light atop his car glowing like a beacon reminds me to check myself as I flow through the world. After all, the dude is delivering pizza to young and old, families and singletons, gays and straights, blacks, whites and browns, rich and poor, vegetarians and meat lovers alike. As he journeys, I give safe passage, practice restraint, show courtesy, and contain my anger.

 

Principle 2: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in empathy. Let's face it: We've all taken jobs just to have a job because some money is better than none. I've held an assortment of these jobs and was grateful for the paycheck that meant I didn't have to share my Cheerios with my cats. In the big pizza wheel of life, sometimes you're the hot bubbly cheese and sometimes you're the burnt crust. It's good to remember the fickle spinning of that wheel.

 

Principle 3: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in honor and it reminds me to honor honest work. Let me tell you something about these dudes: They never took over a company and, as CEO, artificially inflated the value of the stock and cashed out their own shares, bringing the company to the brink of bankruptcy, resulting in 20,000 people losing their jobs while the CEO builds a home the size of a luxury hotel. Rather, the dudes sleep the sleep of the just.

 

Principle 4: Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in equality. My measurement as a human being, my worth, is the pride I take in performing my job -- any job -- and the respect with which I treat others. I am the equal of the world not because of the car I drive, the size of the TV I own, the weight I can bench press, or the calculus equations I can solve. I am the equal to all I meet because of the kindness in my heart. And it all starts here -- with the pizza delivery dude.

 

Tip him well, friends and brethren, for that which you bestow freely and willingly will bring you all the happy luck that a grateful universe knows how to return.





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Lego, Cav (the Lego brand name was derived from the Danish expression "leg godt" - play well - and lego also translates in Latin as "I study" or "I put together"...really, one of the world's most perfect words!)

 

BLU


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This I Believe

I believe in never taking anything for granted. People nowadays go through their lives not realizing it could all change in the blink of an eye. There are many times in my life where the things I hold dear could have been lost. An example would be the fires that were spread out across Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills in 2008. One of the fires was really close to my home and we had to evacuate. Driving away from a home, where I spent my childhood, the thought of never seeing it again tore me apart. Luckily my home wasnt hit and for that I am forever grateful.

This and other events in my life helped me by making me realize to enjoy all the little things while Im still in my youth. To take the time to appreciate and be grateful for everything whether it is your health, family, friends, etc. because over time, the things taken for granted in our lives will eventually be gone with no way of getting them back.

 



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"No matter how much we clean up or whatever the problem is still going to be persistent"




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I believe in Castle in the Sky

I believe that many people live in a castle in the sky. This castle is a place where we can act and behave as we wish, without the fear of being judged and tormented for our belief. The recent generations of people are inhabitants of the castle in the sky. Even though there are efforts to combine the castle in the sky with reality there are many that still face the social rule of what is the norm and what is unacceptable. Day after day we hear of the attention a homosexual person is getting whether its on the internet or the news. There are movements to help these people openly express themselves but with all the efforts, words are still assaulting the confidence of these people. We always have our castle in the sky to escape to when reality gets too hard. This is why people are spending more time on the internet or hiding away from society to live in their castles in the sky. I believe we need to change our mentality to accept the new generation, until then I believe many people are still living in the castle in the sky.



-- Edited by Widge on Friday 20th of January 2012 06:52:29 PM

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This I Believe
 I believe that ever thing happens for a reason. In every day life we meet new people and learn lesson. I believe that every incident in life we experience is meant to make us stronger and better people ,Sometimes these things come to us as death, injury or any other horrible event in our lives. The true strenght  in all of this to help us get over the event and make us stronger in the fact that we have experience  it and the ability to keep  pushing on through life.

 We meet people every day and the people who we meet change what we think and feel about events in our life. You may not realize why someone is in your life maybe it to help you through a hard time, maybe its to teach you a lesson and maybe its someone who will guide you and give you company for your entire life. People come in to your life for a reason , season or life time, so don't be sad when some moves on with there life either moving away or passing away just know that all of this happens for a reason to help you in the long run to help you become a greater person.



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This I Believe

I believe that God is out there watching over us, keeping a keen eye on his believers and a keener eye on his non-believers. I think that you should never back down and always remember to stay sharp. To me my life is a series of randomly connected events that won't have any true meaning until i'm in the big house, which is supposed to be heaven. To sum this paragraph up, i say being random is the way to go

I love being random and spontaneous it makes life more fun (or funner, which ever you prefer). I don't think i really have a set description of my personality, it's really just random.

Ever since middle school my randomness seemed to decline rapidly, especially when girls came on the scene in 7th grade. That's when super happines began to become monotone boringness, to others that is. The more normal, during school i became, the less fun i had. Now i realize more that life would be 100x better if i became random again.

My view of randomness is just do what you feel like. A lot of times i hold myself back from raising my hand in even my most favorite of classes, which contributes to my unhappiness. So what i say to everyone is that you should never be normal always be different and unpredictable. So by now if you've gotten this far you're probably lost and that's a good thing to me because my randomness has gotten you confused.

The art of randomness is to become unpredictable, even with your views such as my love for democracy, communism, capitalism, militarism, imperialism and Star Wars.

The world needs to let loose and be a little unpredictable sometimes.

So This I Believe: Be Random



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I find your lack of Faith Disturbing...

 

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This I Believe

I believe that we were given this world by God (or whatever/whomever you choose to believe in), and have a responsibility to take care of and make the most of it. I believe that the power of choice is a liberty we are lucky to have, and one we must protect and cherish. We tend to loose touch with reality and abuse our ability to choose, which often leads to some bad decisions. I believe that mistakes are meant to be learned from, and should be used to not only help teach ourselves, but those around us as well. It's easy to get lost in and think only of ourselves, which I think is one of the biggest problems in the modern world. By spreading kindness and thoughtfulness, we will not only be helping ourselves, but the world as well.

I believe in fighting for what you believe in, and not letting outside influence get the better of you. I believe that we should be gracious for everything that we are given, and should never take something for granted. Opportunities are meant to be made the most of, so I feel that it is important to not approach life so seriously, as risks can lead to great rewards and learning experiences. I believe that life is a gift, and we should always keep this in mind.

I believe in accepting the beliefs of others, and that rejecting someone because of their beliefs wrong. We should not limit our lives or the lives of others by dwelling over disagreements, rather we should use them as opportunities to expand our horizons and enrich ourselves with the knowledge of others.

I believe that judging people off of misconceptions or first impressions is wrong, but we are all guilty of it. We should try and get to know their story and see why they are the way they are, instead of limiting ourselves with a quick judgment. I believe that a life spent alone is a life spent in ignorance, and by surrounding ourselves with others, we can enrich the lives of all involved.

I believe that life is what you make of it.



-- Edited by Kevin Sullivan on Monday 23rd of January 2012 07:16:16 PM



-- Edited by Kevin Sullivan on Monday 23rd of January 2012 07:16:36 PM

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This is believe

 

I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe that all the bad happen for a reason because its going to help us some how in the future. If bad things have happen to you, I think its only going to prepare you for whats a head of you. Sometimes horrible stuff happens to good people and people seem to look at this negatively. Im sure at the time when you think of this, this doesnt make any sense. When I first had my leg injury I had a hard time accepting that this is going to help me for the future and I hate to say this but I felt very depressed all the time. This could be used as a learning tool for others; maybe some how I can comfort someone that has had a similar injury and help be motivating to them. I know when I has injured hearing positive feed back from others was very encouraging and help me see this.

Lucas kinan is my friend.



-- Edited by Seth Llorens on Tuesday 24th of January 2012 02:51:07 AM

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This I Believe.

I believe that want ever happens in our lifes, were goin through it for a reason. No matter what happens in are lifes God has us because he's the reason were even alive. The Lord doesnt give us what we cant handle.It might seem that things get tough but Gods always there for you. You just have to be the one to fully surrender to him. Being a Christian myself i have a confidence in anything i go through cause i dont have to worry about the problem at hand because Gods given me the peace to know that im secure with any hardships i go through. No matter how hard things can get he there. A lot of people i run into that are goin through hardships thing that im crazy beacuse i dont live in "Reality"  beacuse i live my life fully around God and his goodness. Like my mom always says"when the going get tough give it to God". So if your not secure with your realtionship with Jesus Christ....You better get Right before you get Left.

SOLI DEO GLORIA-(To God alone be the Glory)



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I strongly believe that everyone is responsible for their actions and the way they are treated by society. Everyone is responsible for their lifestyle, friends, and family. Everywhere, especially in school, people can either be well-liked by their peers or be ridiculed and shunned by them. Also, people are responsible for their actions in the way that one mistake can change and/or ruin your life forever. Why I strongly believe in this dates back to my middle school years. I had a "living hell" middle school experience. I was extremely young and wasn't aware of my actions and I was painfully shy. Shy to the extent that I would shiver out of scaredness. So because of that personality I was ridiculed, shunned, and ignored by my peers leaving me with out any friends to go to for help or advice. It got so bad that my 8th grade year I did something wrong to an innocent girl. I cyberbullied her mother in an email saying horrible and sexual harrasment words to her about her daughter. A few months after I was caught by the school and a private detective that the girls family hired to investigate who those emails were coming from. I was suspended from school for 5 days was given informal probation from the police, and ordered to spend a day in a Juvenile detention center. I have learned so much from this experience and it has changed my life, relationships with society, and most of all my personality. I understand there are much worse things out there but one decision or risk can have a big impact on your life. I have been so successful making good friends throughout high school because of a friendlier, and positive attitude. I believe in the saying " you change your attitude, you change your life".


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I believe that life goes on. Through the best and happiest of times, and through the hardest and worst of times, life stops, slows down, and speeds up for no one, and nothing. Despite the many difficulties and challenges we endure throughout our lives, life always continues on, and it is vital to remember that even when we feel like our world is being destroyed and crumbling before our eyes, and that nothing is going right, that is really not the case. It is important to appreciate what you have while you have it, and truly live in the moment, because as much as we want life to slow down sometimes, it never does, and the moment you are enjoying now will soon only be a memory.
I also believe that it is very important to realize that no matter how badly you feel, or think that you have it, there is always someone out there struggling just as much, if not more than you, and you are not alone in your fight. It is good from time to time really look and appreciate all the good things you have in your life and to realize how blessed you are. Once you read or learn about people in other countries, or even ones struggling in our own, it gives you a new perspective on your own life and it is then that you actually take in how much you take for granted.
Another thing that I believe is very important is to have a positive attitude in life, no matter what. It is understandable that sometimes when you are going through a hard time in your life it is hard to keep your head up, but being negative and feeling sad will get you no where. Being optimistic, and positive often leads to success, and will get you far in life and will make you a happier person, and a better you. Feeling sorry for yourself will only get you more behind, and it is a downward spiral leading to somewhere that you do not want to go. There is nothing to gain or no way you can benefit from being negative, or getting down on yourself and feeling like your world is over, because it is not, life will always carry on, with or with out your consent.





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I believe I live for others. I treat others how I would like to be treated. I wish to be treated with respect, and love. I respect and love my family. Any time with my family is guaranteed to be fun. Fun is having a sense of security and the knowledge of having people to be with you. My friends are always with me, whether physically or mentally. My friends keep me in check and help me to deal with my problems. My problems are roadblocks to success. Success can not be achieved without perseverance and determination. My family and friends guide me to success through their love and support. I believe fellowship of family and friends is a key essential to life.

I believe everyone has something to offer to their family, their community, their country. The smallest action of kindness never goes unnoticed. The little things in life make the biggest difference. THE LITTLE THINGS. Any kind gesture will be appreciated by someone, somewhere.

I believe what ever doesnt kill you makes you stronger. Any experience in life could be viewed by a positive outlook, although some are harder than others.

I believe you should listen to advice given to you. Yes, there are people out there that know more than you. They know what is better for you. Someone has already been in your shoes. I believe you should use all of your resources to the best of your advantage.

I believe we should all be thankful for what we have.

I could sit here and type what I believe for hours on end. I could tell you how I live, how great I am or how great those are around me. But it is in actions, not words, where ones core beliefs and morals are most revealed.


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This I Believe:

Ever since i've watched Hayao Miyazaki's films, such as Spirited Away, Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle he has inspired me throughout my life. I believe his simplistic form of art, shows the true beauty that lies within many of us. I believe that his films on the struggles between technology and nature foreshadow many events ahead. I believe his character development is not just for the characters inside the movie, but for the world to learn how we can all develop too. I believe his movie Spirited Away gave courage to all people to overcome whatever fears they may; if that young girl in the film could stand up for herself and what she believes in, I believe I can do the same. I believe his film Nausicaa taught me the importance of nature in a technological world. I believe Howl's Moving Castle inspired inner beauty, true love, and that war can tear us all that apart and make our hearts cold as ice and that we need to learn how to prevent it as best as we can. I believe that his film Princess Mononoke taught me to respect nature and animals by personifying them and by explaining their hatred towards humanity's over-industriliazation in this world

I believe in the purpose and beauty behind Hayao Miyazaki films and that we should all acknowledge the amazing qualities inside us no matter how old, how we look, how smart we are, or if we are talented or not, and that we should build up each other in what we lack as a society. Be a creator not a destroyer.

I believe in seeing the world through Hayao Miyazaki's eyes



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This I Believe

I believe in living a live filled with outside activities and sports. I strongly agree with having an active life because kids that live in the 21st century seem to be getting obese because of our new found technology with the Iphone, Ipad, Xbox and the computer.  When I was a kid my life was surrounded around hockey. Playing hockey did take away a lot of my childhood, but it has also taught me life lessons that I will never forget. When I see my younger cousin, I see someone who likes to sit and play video games and although he does play soccer I think he should do multiple sports because in recreational sports they might only practice once a week and have one game a week. I understand that some kids just cant do sports because they are not athletic, but they still should go something outside, even if that is just going for hikes or maybe playing pickup games with your friends. I cant image what I would have done with my childhood if I wasnt playing hockey. I had practice three to four days a week, a club game and usually a tournament every weekend. Having sports as your entire life isnt always the best thing, but I think all kids should play soccer, baseball, or hockey and if they have the ability, they should play at a more competitive league. When I think about the future one thought that comes to mind is WALL-E and the Fat Boneless people in that movie.  Another reason why people should play sports is because it will teach you life lessons such as: Teamwork, Respecting elders, How to overcoming obstacles, setting goals, time management skills, and how to understand commitment. I have noticed with some people that play video games think that they can do whatever they want such as disrespecting their parents. Teaching kids teamwork will not only help them be successful in sports but will also help in school when they have to work with other kids in their classes. Setting goals is one of the best lessons to learn because if your goals are to win and you arent the best it will make you work harder to become better and in school setting goals will help you progress in your studies. Time management skills is also another good lesson, this skill will allow you to be successful and will keep you on track. Right now I am a student and I also work, so having the ability to balance my schedule helps me be on time to work and at the same time keeps my focused on my school work



-- Edited by JIwanaga on Tuesday 24th of January 2012 03:51:28 AM

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This I Believe

I believe in being fair. I believe that any person, whether black or white, young or old, straight or gay, should be treated fairly. When I hear there are laws and ideas that threaten certain groups or people, I find it rude & unnecessary. The book To Kill A Mockingbird really influenced my view on how people should be treated.

One of my moms best friends is a lesbian, and Ive known her my whole life. I hear multiple issues regarding the LGBT community, such as being able to adopt, get married, or serve your country. To hear that there are people who actually want to pass laws that make gays and lesbians second-class citizens just makes me question why?, when I view them as normal, with a little bit of a difference. Butarent we all different?

A very current and controversial topic is illegal immigration, with almost all attention on the Mexican-American border. With me being half Hispanic, I can relate to this issue in one word: family. The immigrants crossing over to the United States arent here to steal our jobs, they want to provide a better life for their family. The families in Mexico are, I think, a lot closer together than an ordinary American family (ie: The grandparents dont go to retirement homes, the family takes care of them until the day they die). The parents crossing the border know theyre breaking the law, but are willing to in order to give their kids a better community, a better school, a better life. Most of them work the jobs, usually manual labor, that we Americans dont want to do. The problem isnt the people. Do I think its okay to break the law? No, but would you break the law for your family?

Fair treatment, this I believe.



-- Edited by BrandonErickson on Tuesday 24th of January 2012 04:57:27 AM

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This I Believe

 

i believe that we will win! what is this thing that were gonna win at you ask? ill tell you, i believe that we will win at this thing called "world peace" i believe that America can be the best and will be the best! one of these days... were everyone will be equal to one another. so people wont have to deal with racism or anything like that. see  i had a dream that one day everything will just be good. no stress for anybody, no wars, and just have peace. i also believe that everything happens for a reason. so what ever happens.. happens. in the words of the great John Lennon just "let it be" im Kevin "BIG MAC" Macias and this is what i believe. god bless everyone and god bless America! Macias out!!



-- Edited by KEVMASTERFLEXS55 on Tuesday 24th of January 2012 06:31:36 AM

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This I Believe

 This is what I believe that a positive attitude can get you any were in this world. This world is tough and there are struggles you face everyday but you can always overcome them whether you want to believe you can or not. This is what prevents people from accomplishing their dreams. Letting a struggle get to you or someone getting to you; making you lose your ability to believe in yourself. Which results in failure, I believe that keeping your head up high and ignoring the criticism that one faces day by day will let you finally accomplish your dreams.

I also believe that being nice or simply just smiling goes a long way for someone. You don't know what has happened during their day, fight with parents, losing a loved one, etc.  And being mean to them could just push them over the edge, or you could be simply nice and make the day not so miserable for the person.

I believe that you can't judge someone for how they treat you because like I said before you don't know what they have been through in their lives. You have to be able to look past their attitude to see the real person inside and know what kind of person they truly are.

I believe that no one should take life granted, it comes and goes in a matter of seconds.



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This I Believe


If I had to believe one thing, and have it reflect my personality, it would be the phrase "Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand" While a tad cliche, I believe it perfectly shows the way I lead my life... or at least feel I should. In the past I've always made promises to people I never kept, and apologized quite often for errors yet persisted in making them, eventually those words eventually lost their value because they were used so often with no follow through.

Because of that what I value the most is a thorough knowledge of what people discuss, and moreover, taking action and the ability to keep to their words. It is universally said, but very often such a saying can be irony at its finest.  I feel that too often I still see people around that don't really care much for things that happen outside of my community, Facebook, or things related to entertainment media. In the past, I even had my parents been told by my teachers in earlier grades to stop letting me watch the news and to watch American Idol (funny enough, that show is on a News Channel). I've always been interested in what happened around the world at a very early age in comparison to my peers as I recalled (I still remember that I got really interested in the News and World Events after watching Episodes of the West Wing). I feel though in order to be able to take effective action on some things, people need to have a better understanding of what is going on, which is why I often go looking up the issues that I want to discuss before I actually discuss them. Personal experience of something, I feel is often the best way to be able to truly understand what goes on. Talking about something and knowing it can be very different things, the latter being how we should all do before we express our opinions (an attribute I noticed few candidates running for nomination possess). For that reason that's why I believe the best mentality to operate on is to fully understand what they say and promise, and operate on that, instead of appealing  or parroting to other options to gain popularity or favor and not follow through on those promises (or make ones they know they cannot keep).

Other things aren't taken action on because they are often taken with a grain of salt because they aren't emphasized enough. Granted, it is true that some things are better off not said or taken action on, such as things that people would rather not hear (because they get offended easily), but I believe this compounds problems at times, because it keeps people in the dark of things they should be more concerned about and ultimately discourages people from trying to solve these problems and putting them off for later generations to fix, and so although a problem is acknowledged and talked about, nobody takes action on it.

I sincerely believe if everyone shared this mentality of valuing action over words and trying to actively participate to change things for the better instead of favoring the status quo, our world would be a lot more honest and things could be happier.



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I Believe

I believe helping others means more than the deed itself.

When I grow up, I want to become a fireman. That job is one of the most selfless jobs in the country. All firemen do is try to stop fires from taking over houses, villages, forests, and try to prevent fires from the start. But, when you stop a fire, you are risking your life to save another life, probably more. A home means more to people than a place they live, a town means more than the population that lives there, forests mean more than the animals that call it their home.

When someone asks for help, I try to be the first one to go over and help him. No matter how little the job is. Whether it is helping them on homework, or doing a little bit of labor. The time wasted is worth it in the end.

If I am the one asking for help; whether it is for homework, working, or if it is during baseball practice; I expect someone to come and help me out. If you had the choice to do something on your own, or doing it with the help of someone else, I would choose to go with help every time. Not because I am lazy, or stubborn, but because I think helping others is good for people, it makes people happier.

There are some people who think that teaching isnt a good career because there isnt good pay, and may think it is boring. But, when you think about it, what that job boils down to is that they want to help others. Give every student the best chance to succeed. Same thing with coaches, the coach wants the players on their team to play the best they possibly can. They also want the players on the team to learn to help the other players. This makes the whole team better because everyone is helping each other. Everyone wants to do well for the benefit of the team.

HELP. It could be a cry for help, or a need for assistance. But, none the less, I believe helping others means more than the deed itself.


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Jimmy Parisi


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This I Believe:

I believe in mind over matter, in more ways than one.

First of all, I believe that ones mind can either be their greatest enemy or their greatest ally. Its what tells someone to keep going after theyve fallen or to quit and never try again. In a way, the mind is what helped you learn how to ride a bike, how to read, and maybe how to step out of your shell and make a new friend at a new school. The mind is what tells you to persevere, to be confident, and to stay positive. Or, the mind can tell you the exact opposite. Either way, I believe that ones mind will always be their deciding outcome. In most circumstances, at least ones you control, a positive mindset produces positive results while a negative mindset produces negative results.
Theres a well-known quote: Life is what you make of it and I completely agree with it. In my 18 years of life, a positive attitude and the ability to believe in myself has allowed me to overcome a number of obstacles and reach success. Ive been raised to think that way. Whether its the small things like learning the ABCs or the bigger things like believing that you can write an amazing college essay for your dream school and then get in, I truly believe that your mind is what will push you to keep going. One cant succeed without trying, and often times, its the mind that will push you to even try.

Secondly, I believe that mind over matter also describes the idea of mind over race/religion/sexuality/age/etc. I believe that tolerance is key to living in a free society and that nobody should be judged based on image. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and everyone has the freedom to express them. They shouldnt be pre-judged based on appearance. Besides, sometimes it takes a new mind, a new perspective, to come up with a genius idea.



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This I Believe

I believe in kindness. No act of kindness, either big or small, goes unnoticed. Whether it be helping an elderly woman with her groceries, stopping on your way to work to give food to a homeless person, or simply giving someone a hug when you know theyre having a rough day. Its these little things that can make all the difference. We dont realize the affect we may have on people, so treat others how you would like to be treated. Make more of an effort to show people that you care. Because one random act of kindness can change a persons life. This I believe.

I believe in honesty. I would rather be unhappy living in truth than live life in a lie. Honesty is a quality I always look for in others, I love to see people who are REAL. People who arent afraid to show others who they really are, their good qualities as well as their flaws, their strengths as well as their weaknesses. In high school, I am constantly seeing so many people act a certain way in order to be accepted, but why would anyone want to be accepted for something theyre not? I know I wouldnt. I always show people my true self, no matter what their opinion may be, and I never let anyones opinion change who I am. I always try to refrain from judgment because there is so much more to a person than what you see on the surface. Anyone can put on a mask to hide what theyre really feeling. Everyone deserves the truth. This I Believe.

I believe that everyone has a purpose in life. From the very moment we were conceived, God has had big plans for us. We all have the power to achieve and do great things with our life, but it wont always be easy, there will always be challenges to overcome. Each day we face different struggles and need to make certain decisions, but we wont always make the right ones. We go through certain trials for a reason though. Everybody makes mistakes, so you can choose to beat yourself up for something you cant change or you can choose to use those mistakes and learn from them. Despite our differences, each and every one of us has a reason for being here. When I die, I dont want people to mourn, I want people to celebrate my life and my accomplishments and remember me for the impact I have had on their lives. I have grown as a person an incredible amount these past few months, and its all thanks to one person who is now a tremendous part of my life. I wouldnt be who I am today if it wasnt for this person, I wouldnt be in such a wonderful place in my life. I can honestly say Ive never been happier. So I hope to have that affect on others, because I personally know what it feels like for someone to change your life. God brings certain people into your life for a reason, so when you have someone who means the world to you, never let them go. Even if you eventually go your separate ways, always keep them in a special place in your heart. This I believe.

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I believe in living your dreams now, because someday they might not be there. My goal is to keep playing basketball competitively after high school, an almost impossible challenge for a 6'0 kid that weighs in at a staggering buck-fifty with very little basketball experience until up to his sophomore year of high school, especially in such a popular and competitive sport. However, I sometimes face adversity not through my own problems, but, through people trying to point me in directions, which may be easier for me, but seem as if they will always be there. My passion has a time frame, it could be the end of this basketball season, it could be in five years graduating from college, heck, it could be when I am thirty and lucky enough to be playing professional basketball in the Phillipines. This is why I would advise people to pursue their dreams while they are there because one only has one life, you can't go back in a time machine to get the years back. That's why I don't let the fact that I transferred to a huge school my senior year, with better competition than I have ever seen, which placed me in a situation with little PT get me down, because it isn't over til' the fat lady sings. I haven't been cut by a college coach yet. I am on the Varsity team right now, and I am going to keep working until I achieve my goal, or I can no longer do so. Because when I am fifty and have a fake knee, I will probably have to settle for the 40+ league at the YMCA.

There is the part when the time comes to put your dream to rest, time to hang them up, and come to grips with the reality that it is gone, and regardless of the time one had with your dream, you had it, or you had your chance, and whatever happens, happens because of your own decisions. But hey, everybody typically has more than one interest, nobody can tell me that they only like one thing, because if you liked one form of sustenance, you wouldn't be able to tell me, (you would be dead from malnutrition). So you must move on to your next goal, your next dream. Because what is life without goals and a way to better yourself in an area?

So to everyone who has a goal or a dream, put all you have into it, because unless your passion is sleeping, eventually, you are not going to be able to do it any more at some point in your life. So enjoy things while they are here, because you don't know when they will be gone.

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This I Believe:

I believe in making others smile. It brings great joy to me to have someone smile because of my presence. I feel that i could change someone's whole day by making a few compliments about them. When I make others smile and laugh, I feel good about myself. I know everyone has bad days, but I try to lift them up and show them the positives. Even I have some bad days and I absolutely cherish the ones who help me up when I am feeling down. The more people help others up rather than putting them down, the more the world will turn into a better place.
Helping others smile and have a good day should not be a belief. It should come natural to everyone. If you go around and make other people feel bad about yourself, that's tells us a lot about you. Putting a smile on someone's face and making their day should be passed around. I compliment people to brighten up their day and knowing that there might be a chance that they brighten up someone else's day makes me feel even better. People do not get that being nice to someone you will probably gain more respect. Cherish the ones who go out of their way to make you feel special!





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Alex Blokdyk


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I believe in being happy and making others happy. I think every day of your life should be cherished and enjoyable. I often run into people that are just bitter and not happy for sometimes no reason. Being surrounded by someone like that can ruin your day instantly. Their negative energy can rub off on you even if you were in a great mood an 5 minutes` ago. Although some people do have legitimate reasons why they are unhappy, I think moving past whatever is bringing you down is very important. It only makes you a stronger person, to be able to push through the challenges of life. A positive attitude can take you far in life. Even just a smile at someone else can turn their day around.
 Each day is a blessing and you never know when you will go. Every day should be appreciated by others and be grateful that they are even living on this earth. A life can be taken so quickly and unexpectedly. I learned this in my own life, when my favorite teacher and wonderful person a part of our school took her life on March 2nd this year. Mrs. Jacobson was by far the happiest person I have ever met in my life. Just like someone can bring you down, they can also bring you up. Every day anyone walked into room 902 they were bound to have a smile on their face. Jillian couldn't help spread her joy and happiness to her students. Even if I was having a not so good day, my mood would change instantly and I walked out of Mrs. J's class with a different attitude. I learned from this amazing woman of expressing your happiness and being able to make people's day. We meet people every day, and you never know what they possibly could be dealing with. Spreading joy and happiness can make them feel better even if it's for a short period of time. Every one deserves to be happy.  

 



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