Reflective Essay - My Blog & I

During the past few weeks, I realized that my writing structure have changed a lot from last year. My work is not the same as last year, I think am able to show what I am best at now because of the freedom my blog have given me as a writer and I want to take full advantage. So, I have realized my difference with formal and blog writing and how I get my ideas for my blog.
I do not write as formal as I used to, my writing at the moment is free and it expresses my feelings more. In formal writing, I am held to a structure that I have to follow and words that I have to use because that is what the reader want. Now, that we have been writing blogs I started to have my own kind of writing.

My writing now, I am able to call my own because I am free to write whatever I want and say whatever I want. As, a writer I feel that I have succeed because I realized that I know how my writing is and how it is different from formal writing. Writing in partial is really hard for me but on my blogs I find that when I express my thought about social concerned I have more to write about and my mind is more clear. Also, I am able to challenge myself as a writing because I always write about a need topic every week.

On the other hand, in formal writing I have to be trapped into a box where I have to connect my thoughts to a book or the prompt. That is not very easy to write because I have to be open minded but realized that I still have to stay on topic and have to connect my writing in one simple theme. For some people that might be easy but for me I have a difficult time and I will not have much to talk about. In my formal essay, I talk about the same theme or have the same prompt every time I am writing because that is the only idea I have. I have to trap myself and thoughts in a box because I have to connect with everything and keep it formal, I do not have to do that in my blog.

My formal and blog styles are very different. In the beginning I was kind of skeptical of the blogs because I wonder what am I suppose to talk about every week. I questioned if I have to stay in the writing structured I learned my love life or am I free to say or do whatever I want on my blog. I realized as I keep on writing my blogs every week that it is my blog. I am capable of doing whatever I want on it and still do a good job. The blog is free me to express my feelings about anything I want in a couple of paragraphs. I do not not have to trap myself in a box anymore because now, I have the ability to have a free space to write and have it be my grade. It is a stress relief. The best part I have learn is that I have my own style of writing that, I like to use.

In addition, to finding my style of writing, I have to find what am I going to write about every week. I get most of my ideas from the media. I want my work to have a meaning and show that I am paying attention to what is happening in our world and what can the youth do to help. One of my blogs I wrote about the 6 boys that died from suicide and that was a very emotional topic but I thought it was needed to be said. I found that story on Tumblr and it got to me and I wanted to say how I feel and just get the word out there so, I decided to write my weekly blog about it. That is how I found most of my idea.

Sometimes, I might find my ideas from my classmate. For example, a group of the sophomores where talking about English class last year and on Friday, I was thinking about what topic to write about and Ms.Valdez popped in my head. Then and there I decided it was the best time to give mt thanks to Ms.Valdez and show that she is missed at ASTI. Even though her class was a pain it was a good pain I guess. That is another way I find myself writing about a blog because it was the best way to show what I was thinking at the moment. And I was hoping that people would agree with me about the topic on Ms.Valdez. These are some ways I find my topics for my ideas.

My goal for the new quarter is being able to connect my blogs to bigger themes. I do not want it to be something small because no one would can I want it to be more inspirational. So, maybe getting deeper into my work would be a good idea I should think about writing. Also, I want to have a new ways of writing because it would be nice to change it up a little bit and have something that will stand out to the people.

I like where I am at right now with my work and how I am improving in every new blog I post and how I am able to get my feelings out more effectively. I have found my ability to write and how it is different from formal writing. Also, I have realized that most my ideas for my blogs just popped in my head or it had come form the media and I am using my voice to tell my peers what is going on in our society and what they can do to help. My goal is next quarter is just to improve my blogs every week and have a new topic that everyone is interested in so, people can be educated. I hope I will reach what I am trying to accomplish.

Night: God, Y U NO HERE FOR ME? ( Eli's conflict with religion and God)

Religion most the time is something you inherit from your family. You do not know why you pray or study your religion , you just do. In the memoir, Night by Elie Wiesel, the author is faced with questioning is religion. He is does not know why or what the cause is what what he is studying for and what is the power of God. Throughout everything he has faced, he tries to question his religion and God in general, so, he can truthfully study his religion or just lose faith in everything.
In the beginning of the memoir Eli is faced with a difficult question about his religion. He had no response to the question when the men asked him, “‘Why do you pray?’ he asked me, after a moment, why did I pray. A strange question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe?”(3).  This shows that Eli does not understand the reasoning for religion. He tries to figure out why he prays and study God but he does not know, Eli praise because he was born into it. In addition, when when people grow up into a religious home then inherit the religion that is what happening with Eli. Furthermore, Eli was raised in a Jewish home, growing up knowing that pray and studying God was the right thing to do and was never explain why. Religion is never question in the family, it is just something you go like breathing or living, Eli was not raised not to do it. He had to, there was no other choice but now that he was asked that question. He starts to question the thing he do for God and why does he do it? What is it for? He starts to question and rebel in his head but he knows he has to believe and pray for God, but he will never know the answer to why he does it.
In addition, Eli starts to lose faith in the power of God and questions his justice again. For example, when Eli and his family are put in a concentration camp, he tries to ask God for help but there was no use. God did not do anything to help him and at the point he did not understand why God is not responding. His journey inside the concentration camp he starts to lose all will in practicing his religion, he starts to revolt, “For the first time I felt revolt rise up in my. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?”(31) This explains that Eli does not agree on what God is doing, he does not understand God. Also, God has done nothing for him therefore God is nothing for him to waist him time on. Eli keeps on thinking what he should do about his religion and if the power of God is even useful. He does not know what to do but question God and his use of his power if he has powerful at all.
After a couple years in the concentration camp, Eli starts to work and once in awhile pray to God but when he does turn back to God, he questions him again. For instance, “Where is He? Here He is- He is hanging her on the gallows” (62) This demonstrates that Eli still has faith in the power of God but only when he needs him. Also, when God does not follow through with what is asked of him, Eli give up. He tries to question why or where God is but why is he letting his people suffer, and is God suffering with them. Eli only questions God because there is no one else to blame for his misery, the problems he cannot solve, God is always the person to blame because Eli gave him faith to him but nothing comes out of it. Eli is still faced with his problems and still wondering where God is.
In conclusion, Eli had a conflict with God and  his religion because he is trying to firgure out the purpose. He wants to know why everything is happening but there is no help at all. So, he starts to question God throughout the memoir and wants to know the  reasoning but can never find out. He is faced with the struggled that he was born into religion with forced and can never leave it, religion will live with him no matter what even if he tries to revolt because he find a way to run back to God to blame him for his problems. In the end, Eli struggles to find his relationship with his religion but realizes that there will always be something there for him.

Teen Pregnancies Response.

Teenage pregnancies has been a massive social concern in our society and people are turning it into a reality show. That is ridiculous. I was reading through Gina’s blog and I agree with her quote,

“I have no idea why this show is aired on national television. What is its purpose? Does anyone know? I sure don't. This show is just a way to make money off of these poor girls who have made bad life choices. MTV  is not helping these girls nor are they helping the thousands of girls who are in the same predicament, they are simply using them as cash cows so that we can be entertained as we sit in front of our television sets. If MTV really wanted to help these girls, they would give them the resources to be able to continue on with their lives and be the best mothers that they can be.”

In my opinion, Teen moms should not be given a show, it just shows that teenagers are able to get away with anything and are given a privilege to be on T.V. That does not teach anyone anything. It  causes a bigger problem because it give teenagers a reason to get pregnant so, they can make easy money by getting on T.V. Teen moms should just keep their business to themselves and take care of what they need like taking care of their kids instead, of caring about getting on T.V. In a way, they are using their kid and that is not fair on their kid behave.

I agree that MTV should stop trying to make money off the teenage moms, instead they should be giving them money and helping them with their life. Also, what is it going to help if we are watching these girls struggle in a daily bases wouldn’t it be more effective if MTV go out and talk about teenage pregnancies. Use their voice and inform teenagers about the problem and show them how they are able to get help. MTV has the power to do a lot with their voice so, they should stop making Teen moms famous and inform more.

Finally, to everyone that is reading this, if your going to have sex, use a condom and be safe. So, my last sentence are, wrap it before you tap it. I do not want to see any of you on Teen Mom.

Bullying. Discrimination. Suicide.

Over the past 3 weeks or so, 6 gay teens have committed suicide because they were being bullied because of their sexual orientation. That has to stop now. No one should be teased or discriminated to a point where they are willing to hurt themselves. Those boys had hope and dreams, they had a future a head of them and people who loved them and so many opportunity. But due to the harsh circumstances they had to face in their daily life, they have taken their own lives to stop all the pain. Those boys and all homosexual are staying true to themselves, staying loyal to the concept of love, and using their constitutional right to be who they are. They are not in any way different, they can not help who they love, we love who we love, at least they are able to love someone and should not put down for that.

Bullying and Discrimination. Why do we do it? Does it make us feel better? It is a fight for power? I don’t understand. How can people just hurt others because they believe or have feelings that are different from us? Everyone is unique in their own way. We should not judge people cause they love people from the same sex. There is nothing wrong with that. They have every right to love that person. It is their chose in life and we have no right to say anything about it. Bullying and all the hate needs to stop because it leads to suicide like those 6 teens boys and many more. They have to suffer everyday because of other’s stupidity and everyone as a nation did nothing to stop them. Where were the teachers? The adults in there life? How can we be a ‘United States’ if we are not even united. United people do not use harsh comments and hate for each other because we have different beliefs and feelings. We need to accept it and understand from their point of view and give support. Not judge someone. Bullying needs to stop. Discrimination just go away. Just stop all the hate. What are we even hating for?

Something has to change right now. Stop using words like ‘gay’ fag’ ‘dyke’ or anything that has to do with people sexual orientation or anything in general. It might be funny to you but those words hurt and it can cause someone to take their own life. If you know someone is dealing with bullying help them. Don’t stand and do nothing. Help them. Everyone has to stand together and fight this battle we call bullying. So, we won’t have teens committing suicide because they hate who they are and tired of living a life of hell.

To those family that lost a child because of bullying. My hearts goes out to you. I am sorry for your lost. I am sorry we were not able to save them. I am sorry your family have to deal with others ignorance. I am sorry...

Stupid Questions

As, I was though posts, I started to read Amber’s blog got me really thinking about asking questions and agree with what she has said,

“If you don’t understand something, then ask someone else about it and you can learn by asking the question, even if it sounds ridiculous.  Asking questions to try to understand things you don’t understand is the equivalent of opening new doors to new explorations and opportunities.”

I agree with what Amber has said because everyone has to be able to ask a question even if it is the stupidest thing ever. If you can not understand then speak up and say something about it. Dont be scared to hold it in and not know what is going on. Exploit your voice that is what it is made for and ask as many questions you want. Everyone might get annoyed but it does not matter just ask it because someone in the room might be having the same question but are not saying anything because they might feel stupid for asking and you are doing them a favor. So, to the people that ask stupid questions thank you.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as a stupid questions. Everyone has a questions that needs to be answered. Also, people do not understand things that quickly and need a reminder so it just need to be repeat so they should ask. Never be embarrassed of asking anything because there is always an answer and like I saw before someone out there will  have the same question. In addition, teachers, adults, and etc always say asking questions is the best way to learn so you should just ask away cause you are learning something. Either it is to knowing, doing, exploring, ot anything you are able to learn. Without stupid questions some people might be confused plus if the question is stupid then people will have a good laugh out if it. So, everything is able to benefit from a stupid questions.

To all the people that ask stupid questions or ask too much questions, I would like to say thank you. You are able to be brave enough to ask something that people are unable to ask. You are asking for the shy people even if you don’t know it. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Puppy Please

Dear Mom and Dad,  
        You guys know how I am the youngest child; Vu and Nhi are all grown up so I cannot really hang out with them. So, I have no one to hang out with and I get bored easily at home. Mom, you are always working and coming home late at night, and you have no time to hang out with me. You have to cook dinner when you get home and by that time you are tired. Dad, you are also always working, go fishing or too tired to do anything. What I’m trying to say is that I need someone that can be around me when I am at home and have time for me. You know I am very responsible and I can take care of others. So, I want to ask you guys something that I really want and please think about it. Can I have a puppy? Please?

Mom and Dad, I know you think that a dog is a very big responsibility and that I will not be able to take care of it. Also, I am going to need to give it a lot of attention and I will have to clean up after the dog. Mom, I understand that you think dogs stink, and that it is a lot of. Dad, I know you think that we have no room to have a dog in the house and I respect what you think about that. A dog is going to need a lot of attention and need someone to clean after it. You are my parents so I have to understand your reasons for me not to have a dog.  

I understand that a dog is a lot of work but you need to acknowledge that I have no one to talk to when I am at home. Mom and Dad, I have to stay home all by myself every day for at least 5 hours a day and it is very lonely. For instance, the reason why I am always sad or depressed is because I have no one to talk to or someone that is there for me but a dog can change that. Adding a dog into our family will make me happy which will make you happy in the end because you love seeing me happy. A dog will make me happier because I will have someone to talk to and someone who is always there for me when I need them.

        Also, children with dogs are shown to be more responsible because they are able to take care of something and love it like it is their baby. Both of you want to me to be more responsible so this will be a great way to teach me. If you give me a dog then you will definitely see change in me and my responsibilities. Besides, I will learn to not care of myself as much and look after others. I will have someone that I can take care of on my own and take responsibilities for. You both want me to be responsible and grown up so this is a great way to teaching me how to be in charge and act more like a grown up.
        In closing, please think about what I have been telling you, how I need a dog in my life. I want you guys as my parents to think about my happiness and realize with a new member in our family would make me a lot happier. Besides, it will teach me a good lesson in life about taking care of others. Please just think about it. You do not have to answer right away; you can take your time and think about it. Remember, you are my parents and your goal is to make me happy in life, and a dog will make me very happy. You need to make an inclination that I am do not have many people to talk to.
Love,
        Your favorite child, Vy.