Core Classes

A My Life Changed Forever That Night When I Heard the Knocking

It was a normal night, I was sound asleep. When I heard an aggressive knock on our front door, my biggest fear had always been someone breaking in at night. My dad ran to the door from his bedroom, I ran straight to my parents bed.

I was extremely scared, turns out it was my grandma who had been viciously knocking at the door. She had come to tell us the devastating life changing news. My mother came as the door opened.

 Then my grandma told them devastatingly, “Your father can’t get up.” My parents called emergency services and went over to my grandparents house. We were lucky to live only a few steps away from my grandparents.

Emergency services came and put my grandpa on a stretcher and loaded him into the ambulance. I can just imagine my moms hair blowing in her face, her eyes watering as she watched the bright red and blue lights cut through the dark black sky. When they finally got to the hospital room, the doctors informed my parents and grandma that my grandpa had experienced a stroke.

I can only imagine what was going through their minds, the back and forth questions, the thought of losing a loved one, those life changing thoughts going through their minds. The mental warfare of: Is he going to make it, what if he doesn’t, how will this affect our life, what is going to happen?

“How will we recover,” said my mom while on the phone with her sister. 

Her sister responded with a subtle, “I’m not sure,”

All the common discussion in my family for the next couple days was, “What are we gonna do,” 

My family was in a mode of focus trying their best to do what was best. Finances have never really been a struggle for my grandparents, although the hospital bills grew more and more expensive.

I remember my cousins and I being terrified while doing this. Although the thought of losing a loved one is not as terrifying as actually losing one, the anticipation and uncertainty of that grotesque thought is like a batter waiting for the ball to get close enough, their hands trembling, they wait for the perfect moment to release the tension, sometimes they hit, sometimes they miss. In this instance I hoped that life would throw a curveball and it would all be better.

A little while later my grandpa began to lose mobility in his hand. He couldn’t walk or do simple tasks on his own. He needed a lot of help. My tio’s helped him shower, use the bathroom, and served him his food. 

Helping and non-helping family members began to start drama. At this point  my moms brother and sister began to grow further apart, they cut off all communication. My mom was very neutral in the banter. It was like she was at the fork of a road. She evaluated the pros and cons of each side never coming to an overall conclusion and eventually just turning around.

Beside the drama my grandpa started physical therapy. This was very hard for him, his legs and arms grew a tiny bit more mobile, but grew back the same immobility every day. All it was was one step forward and three steps back. 

He didn’t want to do physical therapy, he felt forced even though it was for his own good.

Our family broke and repaired a ton but we are still family.

Nowadays, my grandpa has gained some mobility in his hand and very little in his legs. Although he needs help with most everyday activities he is mostly healthy. My uncles and father have helped him a lot. They serve him food, help him go outside, and go to bed.

My uncle recently got a sober house to help people recover from past issues. Due to this house he has had to move in with my grandparents. This is good because he can help my grandpa , but also bad, because it has caused a lot of drama.

Something that has changed me a lot is when my mom asks me if I want to go to my grandparents house then I will usually say no because it makes me uncomfortable and nervous. For this reason I don’t see him very often. I have missed the good old days when everyone got along. My life changed forever that night when I heard that knocking.

It’s Caused Issues in the Past, It’s Just Common Sense 

My Opinion on Performance Enhancing Technology in Sports.

“OMG have you seen the new Nike Vapor Flys?”, “Yeah! They’re supposed to make you faster!” Performance enhancing technology in sports has been a big thing and really came to notice when the Nike Vaporflys became a big deal. These shoes actually make you run faster and because of this they have been banned in most competition.This isn't the first performance enhancing technology we have heard of, in 776 BC-393 BC Ancient Greek used the first performance enhancing drug. 

Me being an athlete I don’t agree in allowing performance enhancing drugs and tech in sports. I think sports are about competition and showing off your skills. Sports allow younger athletes or even spectators to have someone to look up to and aspire to be like. Finally athletes don’t all have the same access to performance enhancing technology.

Sports give people role models

Many kids look up to sports athletes as athletic inspiration. Personally I look up to Connor McGregor. He is an amazing fighter and he brings me motivation and inspiration to keep going.I would hate for kids to look up to an athlete and realize it's all drugs or technology, not their actual mindset.

Some non-athletic kids also look up to athletes for motivation in any subject. When they realize that it's just tech and drugs they may think they can take shortcuts in life. Like cheating on a test, but it's ok because you're using your resources.

Sports are for showing off your talents and skills.

Let’s say you were working on an essay and you looked up an essay on google and turned that in. Your teacher assigned that essay for you to show what you know and show off your talents and skills, not for you to take shortcuts. The same is for sports.

If people use performance enhancing technology in sports then most athlete's talents will be belittled. People may think that the athletes are lazy and rely on their wealth rather than their abilities.

Not all athletes have the same financial status.

Some athletes are less fortunate than others. For example a runner may be very fortunate and has access to a pair of Nike Vapor Flys but one of his opponents is wearing a cheaper pair of shoes like Sketchers.

If performance enhancing sports technology becomes legal then some people may not be able to afford such technology. This can lead to discrimination towards the less fortunate people and towards people who came from less fortunate regions.

Using performance enhancing technology in sports is just wrong. Many kids look up to athletes for inspiration. Sports allow athletes to showcase their talent and skills. Also not all athletes have the same financial status. A quote I really like from Lexology is “ A sport remains competitive and fair as long as there exists a level playing field in all aspects of the sport.” I love this quote because it's  true! I agree with this completely! There must be struggle, there must be hardship, and there must be competition to be sports. Sports were created to be a competition of one's physical abilities not their access to performance enhancing technology.

Source Citation (Include your sources below the line.)

____________________________________________________________

Gale

New York Times

CNBC

Runner’s World

Procon.org

Lexology

Quotes and Truisms

This is your list of quotes and  truisms! If there are some that you don’t think are any good, take them out. Add some of your own favorites. Use this as a resource when you write. 

If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.

- Albert Einstein

Better slow going somewhere than fast going nowhere.

Those who criticize our generation forget who raised it.

Tough times never last, but tough people do.

A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

- Lao Tzu

Never wrestle with a pig--you both get dirty but the pig likes it.

50% of the solution is to put your hands on the problem.

The man who thinks he knows everything will eventually find he knows nothing.

Stand for something or you will fall for anything!

Anger is one letter short of danger.    

Character is easier kept than recovered.

A man who desires revenge should dig two graves.

Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue; to the end we should hear and see more than we speak.

--Greek Proverb

It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

It's the empty can that makes the most noise.

Dogs don't love people, they love the place where they are fed.

--Burundi Proverb

One grain of sand can tip the scale.

Life is a ladder -- some will climb up it, others down.

--Bulgarian Proverb

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

If a link is broken, the entire chain breaks.

--Yiddish Proverb

In order to get where you want to go, you first have to leave where you are.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

If you have planted a tree, you must water it too.

--Tamil Proverb

 Success is a journey not a destination.

The teacher has not taught, until the student has learned.

Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.

--Sicilian Proverb

 Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Many things are lost for want of asking.

Words are like spears: once they leave your lips, they can never come back

--Benin Proverb

Walk with your slippers until you can find your shoes.

--Sicilian Proverb

Men learn little from success, but much from failure.

Arabian Proverb 

Bad decisions make good stories.

All cats love fish but hate to get their paws wet.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Drink nothing without seeing it; sign nothing without reading it.

--Spanish Proverb

A rising tide lifts all boats.

It takes a thief to catch a thief.

A small house will hold a hundred friends.

--African Proverb

A thief thinks everyone steals.

Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.

Well begun is half done.

A wound inflicted by a friend does not heal.

--African Proverb

Bloom where you are planted.

A broken watch is right two times a day.

When you come back from a trip bring something for the family -- even if it is only a stone.

--Lebanese Proverb

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

It takes all sorts to make a world.

It takes two to tango.

Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald.

--Chinese Proverb

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.

A bad craftsman blames his tools.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

From those to whom much is given, much is expected. 

Fortune favours the brave.

A half truth is a whole lie.

Handsome is what handsome does.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns to you.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on.

Nothing to be feared in life, but understood.

Put a beggar on horseback and he'll ride it to death.

Slow and steady wins the race.

There are no small roles, only small actors.

What goes up must come down.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

--attributed to Goethe

Different,Yet Similar,Feelings of Being Lost and at War With Your Mind

A Comparitive Essay Between My Struggles and Brian Robensen’s Struggles, My Life Compared to Gary Paulsen’s Hachet

          In Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, Brain the protagonist struggles with many things such as his parents divorce, which many people also struggle with, and how he must survive all alone after being in a plane crash. Brian being lost in the wilderness is very similar to my experience of having my mother in and out of the hospital my entire life.

            My mother has a disease referred to as CF or Cystic FIbrosis. When I was little my mom was in and out of the hospital a lot. I know it wasn't half as hard for me as it was for her but at times I felt lost. Similar to Brian being lost in the wilderness, Brain struggles with feeling overwhelmed and being at war with his mind. I often felt at war with my mind as well. I felt that my mind was trying to make me sad or worried when I was trying to reassure myself. 

            When Brian States “Is that all you got?” it really showed a personality in him that I myself could not relate to. I wanted it to be over. Yes, I was happy when she got out of the hospital. I felt more grateful than boastful. I was glad she was no longer in the hospital.

           Brian eventually gets rescued. I myself feel I have been rescued as well. My mom got a new medication and it helped tremendously.  Me and Brian's feeling of success is similar and not at the same time. I felt success for getting through this. I felt gratitude that it's over and that this experience has made me stronger.

           Overall, Paulsen does a terrific job at making this book relatable. I at first did not think the book was very relatable, but now I know that all you have to do is dig deeper into your experiences and Brian's experiences. You are sure to find yourself relating more and more to the main protagonist of the book Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen.

THE EIFFEL TOWER OF PARIS FRANCE HAS DROOPED

THE FRANCE NEWSLETTER

Today, Monday Jan 30 2023 at exactly 1:01 PM the famous Eiffel Tower was seen dropping over! A witness drinking coffee at her favorite coffee shop reported that the Eiffel tower was drooping over like it was rubber!

Multiple witnesses have reported a man running in his underwear near the scene.Terrorists are suspected although  highly unlikely. Man in underwear is expected to be the cause of this droopy tower.

 The tower dropping cause could have been similar to that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or at least similar. Construction workers expected to work on scene shortly. Engineers and scientists are currently studying the drooping tower to find the cause of these incidents.

Here is a timeline of the events.

-A man in underwear seen near the Eiffel Tower.

-Eiffel Tower seen drooping over like rubber.

-Construction workers begin attempting to fix the Eiffel tower to its original height.

-Detectives begin trying to find the source of this problem.

This is Soliel Macias with The France Newsletter signing off.