JYSEP

Today was such an incredible experience.  I took a step towards starting my own Junior Youth Spirital Empowerment Program!! Many people don't know what it is, but they are truly missing out! This program is about bringing 11-14 year olds together and teaching them about values, morals, and good deeds to make this world a better place while learning more about themselves.

Honestly, I was hesitant about going and even hoped that the weather would start acting up again just so my plans would change, but it didn't. Today is actually the first day after two days of gloomy and dark weather. It felt like it was God's doing by cleaning up the weather today for my adventures. 

It was truly special. I went with two friends who were a great help. The first minute out of the car, my oldest friend, Wendy, had already gone up to a girl to tell her about our program and plans. To my surprise, the girl was very interested and wanted to join! What a delight to hear. She when called me tonight saying I hope to see you again to start classes and learn more. It touched all of our hearts to see a junior youth so responsive to our quest. For this to happen, it gives me hope about the future good deeds I can do for my younger peers.

The best part of today was finding kids my age that wanted to so something about the negativity in the world. These boys were so interested that it inspired me to continue on this journey, and not give up when a junior youth rejects you. Now I am motivated by the words of acceptance from these junior youth and youth to continue to reach out to other kids to make an incident like Sparks Middle School never to happen again.

Self Act

It seems so surreal. Everyday goes by in a flash. Days can be counted in seconds. My English teacher wasn't kidding when he said that this year would be going by pretty fast. Everything is hitting me hard in the face. There are scholarships to be applied for, standardized tests to take, senior pictures to take, and cap & gowns to be bought. The pressure to accomplish every task makes waking up each morning more difficult, but there is one thing that keeps me going, and that is knowing this is the last year of high school. 

This will be the last year of having my class schedule picked for me. Fortunately for me, next year won't consist of college. I'm taking the year off! It will not be a year wasted on relaxing and not doing anything, but a year to learn more about the world and find myself. After high school, I'm going to participate in a year of service. This will be through the Baha'i faith, a religion that believes in the oneness of humanity and all religions. It is truly an experience many wish to take, but only a few have the ability to experience. I will be staying in Israel for a year, living a dream and serving my faith.  I will be leaving Reno, leaving Nevada, leaving America! I'm ecstatic about experiencing different cultures. FREEDOM!!! I can taste it.

To be or not to be

Since this is the most famous Soliloquy of Hamlet, it is a bit intimidating trying to analyze it because so many others have done a better job. What I first picked up from this soliloquy was that it was about death, more specifically suicide. Hamlet is contemplating whether to take his own life or not. Before, I assumed he was depressed through the entire soliloquy and just wish "to sleep." As I began to translate, I saw that there were a few problems. One of the problems was the fear of what will be waiting for him in the afterlife. This is shown when Hamlet says, "...but the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country...makes us rather bear those ills we have, than to fly others that we know not of." It is clear that he wishes to end his life, but cannot be sure of what will welcome him in the next world. He rather live in the hell he is living now, than to entire an unknown world. There is also the problem of getting revenge for his father's death, which means his life cannot end until that task is accomplished. Hamlet says, "For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time, the oppressor's wrong..." This addresses his uncle and how his deed of killing his father will not be forgotten. 

Stressors

In this time of the year, I am feeling a great deal of stress. There is so much on my mind that I only care to do a little. I have come to a conclusion that I fear to grow up. For so long, I put off looking at colleges and finding a college that suits me. Ever since I was in elementary, I have had this immense pressure put on me to become successful and really do something with my life. Well, this pressure is definitely grown to be a huge weight of worry on the back of my head. I feel like there is so much to do, but little time to do it. Giviing up would be less difficult than actually reaching my goals. Sometimes, I wish my record wasn't perfect, so that I had room to mess up, room to not care one day, room to not turn in my assignments because I didn't feel like doin them. Unfortunately, that is not who I am. In fact, it stresses me out even more if I didn't turn in an assignment or didn't study for a test or didn't follow instructions properly. I am feeling burnt out, but I won't show it. I have to keep my head high and continue looking at the goals I have planned for myself since the 1st grade.

Finding out the Truth- Act I

Hamlet does not think fondly of his stepfather/uncle/king. He wishes that he were not placed in charge to rule Denmark because he is making the country look foolish to other countries. Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop him... Or could there be?

I had a strong feeling that Claudius had something to do with King Hamlet's death and I was right. He was murdered by his own brother as he was laying asleep in the gardens of his castle! That is preposterous. Now seeking for revenge of his father'sdeath, Hamlet can finally put his mind at ease.

One line that really fascinated me "Taint not they mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven, and to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, to prick and sting her." This line is very powerful. It showed King Hamlet's deep love for the queen and how it made him want to take the blame off of her. He knows that she was driven into a relationship with his brother out of lust and that it could be understood. King Hamlet wants the queen to live in her mistakes and to take consideration of what she did wrong. He wants her to suffer based on. The choices she made and to come to her punishment on her own. 

Moist Star

I find Shakespeare to be very fascinating. Even though it can be extremely frustrating when I don't understand the text, I know that there is a message there, and I'm not trying hard enough to unveil it. 

This is my first time reading Hamlet, and I am already captivated by the writing. I feel that there is going to be a huge twist, that the deceased King of Denmark was killed by his brother or that the uncle did something to reach to the great heights of his brother. I am also a bit confused why the ghost of Hamlet's father has showed up. It could be because there is a message to give, either if it's something personal about the family, or it could be a warning visit.

Hamlet is a touching character. He is deeply hurt by his father's death and has yet ceased to mourn his death. His uncle tells him to stop mourning because a father is meant to die eventually, and it's natures doing for the life to end and a new one to begin. I love all the emotions being portrayed in Hamlet. It is relatable to how someone would feel if there father died. Hamlet definitely luminates this story and makes it interesting.

My Mistress' Eyes

This poem is brilliant. Shakespeare creates a spin to any love poem out there. He starts out by saying that his "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun," meaning that her eyes don't shine as bright as the sun. Most love poems create comparisons that magnifies the beauty of their lovers, but Shakespeare does the exact opposite. Then, he says that her breasts are dull and boring, which is not flattering at all. Also, there is the line that describes the color of roses and how alive they are, but that none of the colors are in his mistress' cheeks. All these lines that he compares his mistress to are very unflattering and negative. This is not your regular love poem that would win over a girls heart. It's one that would cause her to burn all his stuff and move away. That's why it is so fascinating to read something unique and truthful. In the end, Shakespeare does finishing by expressing his love for his mistress', a love to be as rare as any. This feels like a poem that is mocking love poems, but still compares to them.