Significant Event

The most significant event in the past four years of my life has to be the entirety of my senior year. It was the year in which I took steps to secure my future. I got my driver’s license, began talking to an Air Force recruiter, and studied in my classes so that I would graduate. All of these events compiled together make up an extremely significant time period for my life, because it is filled with accomplishment and pride in myself. That seems important to anybody, to feel like they’ve done something that actually matters, and that’s how I feel about my actions during my senior year. It is impossible for me to choose any one event because they have all been a part of a bigger plan!

                My senior year has shown me that I am mature enough to continue on in life, that I’ve grown enough to take on the challenges that will be presented to me. Even if I’m not, I have grown to be steadfast and I will push through any obstacles in my path. This is my resolution.

Integrity Essay

My father taught me about ethics and morals when I was very young. He shared his own views of right and wrong, and I found myself modeling my own values after his, from sheer respect. I believe the first time I was actually put to the test in regards to my values was in kindergarten, when a close friend of mine was being bullied. I stood up for him, which led to a fight… I ended up getting in trouble for sticking up for someone else, and it didn’t bother me, because I knew I did the right thing, and my father was on my side! I learned that if you do what is right in your own mind, then the consequences don’t matter, because you will be at peace on the inside.  My sense of honor was an impossibly important in aiding my growth into who I am today, and what I think is important.

                I like the fact that my friends and I have similar moral views. It allows us to get along easier, and we can agree on most controversial social issues, which I think is great. For instance, we share common belief in valuing each other, and protecting each other, that everyone is important, no matter the circumstances, that honesty is important, but there are situations in which a lie is more appropriate. There are, however, rare instances in which we have a disagreement, like in regards of personal preference of interests. When these happen, I simply sit back, and listen to them. I don’t interrupt, and when it comes time to air my own thoughts, I do so in a calm, level manner. I think this method is most effective, because nobody feels accused of something, so everyone remains calm and open.

                With my parents, we all share extremely similar thoughts, values, and morals. However, the difference comes when it is time to practice or voice these. I try to remain calm, and simply explain my side while taking into account what the other person believes. This is my preferred method. My father, however, more typically tries to get the other person to see that he’s right, in a calm fashion. It usually works, because he believes in very understandable things. My mother aggressively tries to convince the opposition that they are wrong, which is definitely not the way to go. That method simply makes you appear to be a prideful person who is unwilling to acknowledge another point of view.

                Generally speaking, I have been able to uphold my own personal values very well, and I am proud of myself for it. I know that there will soon be a time in which my conviction will be truly tested, but it has not yet come for me, and I am prepared for it. The closest I’ve ever come to testing my convictions is when religion is broached. It takes willpower to not blurt out whatever I’m thinking, even though it might directly contradict what the other person believes. These religious “debates” often times let you see how a person talks to another and how they express their viewpoints. Lucky for me, I have always been able to keep a level head in these conversations, being able to voice my opinion without stepping on any toes.

                Seeing the road that I have already walked, and looking forward to the future, I know for a fact that I’ve done a great deal of maturing in my life, but as long as there is another day ahead of me, I will continue to grow. I have developed significantly in just the short time I’ve been in high school, from freshman to senior year. I’ve learned to cherish what I have, and to let go of the small things that slow me down. I know there is one or two areas in which I need to grow, and that is sticking up for myself. I have always been there to defend a friend, but I recognize that I should protect myself as well. This is why I don’t think I should be a model of integrity, nor should anyone, because if we look at others to become inspired to become better people, then our individuality will suffer. It is better that we look to ourselves to see that we should become better people. 

The Theme of "Sweat".

I firmly believe that this theme is a strong and truthful one. "Sweat" Is a pheonix metaphore, where a woman in a abusive marriage, who endures physical as well as mental torment at the hands of her good for nothing, cheating husband, rises up and makes a stand for herself. She grows to reject her tormentor, and this shows nothing but strength and finality in it's core. That is the theme, and it's one a great deal of people should come to understand. Nobody should have to live with that which hurts theme. Nobody should have to live in an environment that is diseased, virulent. Delia grows to understand that, and she takes the matter into her own hands, and becomes active in her retribution, instead of passive in her abuse and neglect. This speaks to me, as a wake up call for anyone who has ever been in this situation, or a similar one. Rise up from the ashes, and realize that there is always a choice to end the suffering.

I belive Essay

This, I Believe

The day would seem much longer and much more laborious without smiles or laughter. I believe that the biggest contributors to happiness are the things that seem too small to notice, and that is what makes them important. When we don’t see what makes us happy, that is when we are truly at ease. The little things, however small, are as plentiful as atoms in the universe. That makes them stronger, and much more important than finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk. The smile you received or the high five with a friend. The full night’s sleep or the moments of calm relaxation. These are all little things that we take for granted, and it’s better that way. It’s true that without the other things to fill our lives, the world would seem bland and boring, but a healthy balance is just as important. When everything meshes together in the cogs that make up our lives, then it becomes clear that the little moments, they are the oil that sustain us, and keep us from grinding into one another. There are countless happenings in as short of a time frame as even one day, but they’re there. It’s just hard to tell, because as implied, the little things are little, but they matter.

                It was once said to me that one shouldn’t “Sweat the small stuff,” and I know that that was directed at the trivial little issues that also present themselves to us. Personally, I like to change that just a bit. I prefer, “Take the good with the bad, even when it comes from the little things.” That just makes me feel like im prepared for a good or a bad day at the same time, and that makes me feel more comfortable. Thus, I believe in personal comfort and preparedness as well.

                I believe in whatever makes you happy.

I read some stuff

The theme i chose to read about was good and evil. This is because, like many others would agree, goodness and evil are very fundemental concepts. They cannot exist without each other, and where there is evil, there is goodness. They are two sides of the same coin, and while you may land on tails seven flips out of ten, the goodness is always there, even if it's heads down! That's why i chose this theme.

The titles i read were:

1.Fresh Strawberries, Rich, Dark Chocolate, and Generosity
2 The Seven Second Connection.
3. The Art of Bouncing Back
4. His Gravestone Read...
5. Be The Person Your Dog thinks You Are

The one that who's message i took most to heart was "His Gravestone Read..." because not only are his words true, they are sincere and heartfelt. The message is that without caring, the world would be a desolate, lonely, and utterly pointless world where nobody smiles and nobody loves. It's an apathetic place, and i recognize it as awful. However, as humans, it is in our very nature to care! We care about big, important things, we care about the small stuff. We care. Since we care, we are more unified, and more valuable as a whole. Therefore, in my eyes, the human race is inherintly good, rather than evil, as so many others believe.

This, I believe

I believe in equality because prejudices, hatred, and bigotry are plagues on this world that we are inching towards a cure for.

I believe in expression because otherwise, we would be trapped in a cage of uniformity, a cold and gray place where its prisoners hold colors in their hearts with no release.

I beleive in the simple pleasures because while it may be harder to notice the little things, the build much faster than you can imagine.

Muisc

My life has been dependent on music since i was a very young boy. It has shaped me and guided me, through words that were said via CD  or YouTube. While they may not have been meant for me specifically, they had a profound impact on my development. It started with a sweet melodic voice and a catchy guitar riff, the traits of my first favorite. However, as i began to discover more and more, i grew along with my tastes. I was attracted to the darker, heavier side of music, where anger and sadness took refuge. I found a home there, comforted by the experiences that i hadn't had, learning from others' lives. It was nice. The music didn't change me into a self-loathing creature, but rather opened my eyes to another side of life that wasn't all rainbows and ice cream. That was okay with me, i never wanted to be misled or kept in the clutches of naivete. As a bonus, of course, the music was fantastic! I had never felt as comfortable in my skin as i was when i was dancing lightheartedly to a great song. As time progressed, i became exponentially more aware and informed about the subject of genres, artists, mechanical terms, touring dates, etc. My tastes also flew into more dangerous waters, i began to prefer the heaviest of genres available to me, Metal. It's really a wonderful genre. There are many sub-genres like black metal, deathmetal, metalcore, and more. The message that the artists bring are also varied and spectacular. It isn't all anger and doom, there is uplifting and  righteous verses as well, which i think is just great. While i had a fescination with Metal, that does not mean that i was limiting my self to a diet of screaming and fast guitar playing. I also discovered Dubstep at about the same time, which i grew accustomed to after a short while. This genre is definitely more modern and diverse, catering to both the club scenes and the more esoteric peace and harmony style of life. The modulation and remixing of songs and sounds is a very interesting innovation, only made avaiable with the technology that today can offer. This, i also learned, described myself in a way. My personality had two different sides that wanted different stimulation. And, as lucky as i am, i found two radically different music genres to satisfy both. That's all i really need.

Boston Marathon bombing

I believe that what happened yesterday was an astounding tragedy that has resounded across the nation with it's utter horror. The fact that somebody, or a group of people, would orchestrate the pain, suffering, and death of innocents brings disgust and loss of faith in humanity to my heart. However, on the other side of that same coin, there are people who have been rushing to aid these people, whether it be relief efforts or normal citizens who want to give blood for a good cause. That shows that, while there may be awful people who do awful things, there are also good people who will try to pick up the pieces every single time. The city of Boston itself has responded well to the situation, deploying bomb squads throughout the city and shutting down cell service for it's inhabitants' own safety. My only wish is for situations like this to be dealt with in the future, before they harm anyone, by being extremely careful and aware that we are put in dangerous situations every day, and it takes everyone to ensure our safety as a country.

The Pianist post #3

It seems very clear that there are significantly more moments of kindness and compassion in Szpilman's experience with the holocaust than in Wiesel's. I think this is mainly because Elie actually got sent to a concentration camp and was forced to endure cruel treatment from the nazi guards, whereas Wladyslaw was rescued from the camps and thrust into a life of survival. Szpilman was given shelter and sometimes food, so he was able to wait out the majority of the war. Elie's only tether was his father, who drained more than he supported. It is truly a miracle that either of them survived.

Vocab Story-time

I was a very young child when it happened. I grew aware of my mother's seemingly omniscient knowledge of my activities. I was playing in the yard, nonchalantly of course. I was a smooth four year old, if anything. It was then that dark, malevolent rain clouds began to converge overhead. I recognized that this could signal a rather large storm, but i played anyways, believing myself to be invulnerable to the rain. My self esteem was obviously misplaced, because as the water started to fall, i grew wetter and colder by the second. All of the other children had dispersed to their respective homes, and i was left to fend for myself! When i walked through the door, my mother held a towel in her hands, a supercilious expression on her face. It was utterly uncanny how she knew that i would need one! However, i was more worried about being punished for having soaked my clothes, which as it turned out, was a rather venial situation. I then skulked to my room, waiting for the coulds to unblock my view of the sun.

Pianist blog #2

The experiences of Elie Wiesel ans Wladyslaw Szpilman are very different, and yet, the same. It must have been more difficult for Elie, considering that he was younger,  and that made him almost helpless. Szpilman was forcibly torn from his entire family, left with no anchors other than the few small ties he was able to make that he clung to for dear life. They were both left alone, like so many others were during this time period. They were both forced to relocate from their original homes. In essence, they both suffered much of the same discrimination, with little to no control over the situation. In contrast, while Elie simply survived, trying to create as few ripples in the water as possible, Szpilman actually attempted to fuel a resistance by providing weapons to rebels. This is incredibly courageous in my eyes, because he could have been tortured and eventually slaughtered like so many others. It makes sense that he would aid this kind of cause though, because Wladyslaw is a man with nothing left in life.

Pianist blog #1

We were all crowded together, all the Jews of Warsaw, shuffling with what our arms could carry towards the open train cars. We would be shipped away today. The gestapo and other officials lined the crowd, directing us and figuring our numbers. One officer, one whom i could call freind, recognized me. He called my name and pulled me from the crowd, and then pushed me behind the line of uniformed men. I attempted to keep up with my family, even though the divide between us could not be bridged, however the same man, my old friend, told me to run, that he had saved my life. I believed him. I walked away, and turned a corner, keeping myself discreet by aiding a man who was pushing along a cart of bodies. Then, as the train finally pulled away, carrying almost all of the Jews in Warsaw, and my own family, I finally realized that i was now alone.

Reflection

Night, by Elie Weisel. It is a heartbreaking work of non-fiction that breathes first hand experience into the terror and turmoil of the concentration camps during the holocaust. Elie's survival story is a gruesome one, not sparing us a single detail as to what he had to endure. I haven't necessarily learned anything new from this book, as the horrors of the holocaust were already explained to me, and the knowledge is already there, but the colorful vocabulary and writing style of Wiesel definitely gives new insight as to the facts. The most interesting theme i've seen in this book is his loss of faith, hope, and will. Elie witnesses the cruelty of the SS and loses his faith in God's benevolence. The time he spends in camps robs him of his future. His pain numbs his vitality to near non-existence. That is no longer humanity, it is slavery.

The One Post To Rule Them All

Pt. I

The Holocaust is an immense travesty orchestrated by Adolf Hitler, the Austrian Leader of the Germans in the third Reich. He led his troops on a crusade throughout Europe, their mission; to eradicate all of the Jewish people. Though he succeeded in the massacre of over 6 million, he would not have stopped there. Adolf Hitler, most likely, would have conducted a mass genocide of all races he deemed unworthy.

Pt. II

Photo 1
I see inevitability. These are children in a concentration camp, waiting to be slaughtered, and there's absolutely nothing they can do to fight back.

Photo 2
I see desperation. These men are forced to lay over and under each other, emaciated and neglected. Abused and without hope. These men are prisoners of a genocidal and heartless dictator.

Photo 3
I see massacre. This photo shows the possessions of all of those who were killed.  Mostly glasses and small things that they wore.

Video 1

In this video, there is a vast amount of sadness and hopelessness, injustice. Death and horror, pain, suffering. Despair is overflowing through the videos and music.


Pt III

The holocaust was a massacre of those who were desperate to escape tyranny and injustice, though it was inevitable for most, death was the only option that they were given.

Reflecting Time

So far this semester, i feel like I've been doing maybe half of what i could be doing. My effort is what's in question here, and i plan on mending that immediately. At first, in my narrative essay, it felt like this class would be a breeze if i kept up the pace, but then as the next vocab assignment came into view, i lost the willpower to get it done. Almost the same story with my scholarship stuff, i wasted a lot of time and turned in sub-par quality work. The answer to boosting my grade is to work, and to remember to work! As for the helpfulness of the class blog, i'd say that it's only usefulness is a quick link to the assignments, which is pretty big. i give the class blog a 6/10 on the usefulness scale.

An introduction to me

My name is Alex Nettles and I have experienced seventeen years of life.  I have many interests, and many quirks, but that's what makes me who I am, I suppose, other than my experiences. I am currently a Senior in High school and am looking at joining the Air Force once i graduate. It's an opportunity that i embrace with open arms, because it is a chance at furthering my education and maintaining a steady career at the same time. I have a few close friends, some of them out of state, but all of them valued for the relationship between us. I tend not to interact much with many of the kids whom i see daily because their interests and their mannerisms do not mesh well with my own. In short, i find them extremely off-putting! Hence, I remain close to the few that share my mindset, and am all the happier for it. Tumblr is where i spend most of my free time, because the eccentric behavior of the bloggers there are so endearing and funny, it's like paradise. I guess I could have made that a bit more brief, but now you know more about me!

Topics

So, here is a small list of topics that i can and enjoy writing about.

1. music
2. Video Games
3. Social Justice
4. The Internet
5. A few television shows, like Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Being Human.
6. A web comic called Homestuck
7. Adorable animals
8. Actors
9. Movies
10. My irritation with normal people
11. Cars, i guess. I dont really know a lot about how they work but i can appreciate the aesthetic aspects
12. Books
13. Psycho-Analysis
14. The Bachelor (posts about this will be laced with sarcasm and malevolence)
15. Outdoor activities
16. Nostalgia
17. My closest friends
18. Relationship stuff
19. Nature in general
20. Comedy
21. Sleep
22. And dream analysis.