Freshman Year Reflection

At the end of middle school, I was happy to graduate and not to have no more drama and move on in life. From middle too now, I see a big change, I Now handle situations more maturely and learned not to let little things affect me mentally and physically.

     In the summer, I really didn’t used to anything, but go to my friend house every single day and enjoy the outside. The closer it got to high school beginning, the more I began to think about how it would be.

     My expectations of coming to Parkway I didn’t think I would have any friends. Also, I thought it would be a real quiet school and I would get easy grades. From the beginning of the school year, to now the end, my view changed.

     Coming to high school, I learned to leave drama in the past and worry about my future. I met many new cool people that I never knew I would meet. During this first year, I have lost a couple friends. I’ve noticed who would be there when I’m down, and who’s a real friend and a fake friend. Also since high school, I have gained a lot of freedom from my parents because they trust me and know I’m mature enough to handle my own problems and situations. My relationship with my parents haven’t changed, I think they treat me better because they’re not as hard on me as they were when I was in middle school.

     Now since I’m in high school, I consider it the real world, because no one is guiding like in middle school anymore, I’m on my own. My view of the world changed because from last year, I learned that life isn’t as easy as I thought it was.

I’ve now begun to pay more attention to my future career. After high school, is college, where I can major in a specific subject that I want to be when I get out of college. I became more optimistic about my future because college isn’t to far away, and I cant go there not having a clue to what I want to be and what I would like to do.

     I think since coming to Parkway I have changed as a student because I always used to think I was right about everything and didn’t use to listen to what teachers said. I was hardheaded and didn’t care about anything. Now as a student I will listen to people and teachers and know I'm not always right.

   Coming to high school experience changed a lot about me. This experience made me more mature, more of a learner and listener. From high school, I’ve mad new good friends. I learned just to get out there and be you. Be who you want to be.

Man puts boy in Laundromat washing Machine

On May 11th in Camden, NJ a man, playing a trick on his son went wrong. At Federal Laundromat, a man was supposedly playing a prank on his child, putting him into a washing machine, as it was Auto-locked. Both parents tried to rush to rescue him but the door wouldn’t open. They started to panic and run for help leaving him by himself in the moving washer. They attempted multiple times to open the door but parents couldn’t get the door open to the washing machine. They both went and got a worker, and the worker cut the power of the machine off and the door still didn’t open. Seconds later, it finally opened and the young child parents check to see if he was okay, and immediately rushed home. I think it was a stupid prank that the parents did this because who would play a joke on their child, and put them in a washing machine and start it. It seems weird because the video was posted on YouTube and there were many pictures. They should of never did it in the first place because if there was no worker their who could help them, there child could of got badly injured and been in a life and death situation. I found it odd that after they got him out the washing machine, they rushed home. If it was me I would have took my child to the hospital to see if he had any injuries. That one thing they will probably never ever do again.

Being Angry Can Be a Good Thing

I don’t agree with author of this article because anyone can have an outrage and not really let it get to them. She believed what her friend said that mad her very angry and affect her perspective of life. Since this really frustrated her this got her to become an advocate and helping immigrant families now. Another reason I don’t agree with this because she let someone thought and opinion get to her; I can see if it was said on the news but it wasn’t. For example if someone said something to me that made me really upset, I wouldn’t be upset and affected by it for the rest of my life probably for a day or two. Everyone is different, this shows how people let what other people think really get to them. I think if her mom would of herd it she wouldn’t be as upset as her. When someone told me my sister was academically smarter than, me I didn’t let that upset me because that’s an opinion. I didn’t get mad at all because I’m still smart and I will be successful later on in life and I still am academically smart.

Televison Isnt as Diverse as It should Be.

Television isn’t diverse as it should be. One example is the show “Girls” that is shown on HBO. When you see the title of the Show, you don’t think there will be all white girls. The show is based on was it going on in their life. (Jemima Kirke) who is playing Jessa on the television premiere said, “I want to have children with many different men, of different races”. People noticed no different race was on the shown on the show and was critized. I think there is not as many diverse television shows because since a big percentage of America are whites people probably think other little percentages doesn’t matter and more Europeans will be watching TV than any other race. I agree that television is nowhere near diverse enough. Many shows on TV are filled with Europeans and that isn’t right. Just because most of American is whites doesn’t mean other races are not important. I think it is a from of racism that TV isn’t as diverse as it should be because it makes it seem as though people wouldn’t want other races on television but whites. Television producer have some responsibility on having a diverse cast. They may have a diverse cast for racial reasons or popularity. For example if a whole cast is only whites it’s possible that the producer(s) are racist because why not have at least one other person from a different race? Many moving that have crime drama or violence, many of the actors are African Americans and I think that is a stereotype that people think African Americans are violent. On movies with a lot of violence and cursing I noticed they are always playing that role of “being violent”.

New Fashion: Stylishly Hiding the Gun

Many different clothing companies are starting to make clothes/garments that are stylish but also have features that allow them to carry a weapon and no difficulty trying to pull it out. I think this trend will continue and more clothing manufactures will create it because since America allows people to carry guns, people may not want anyone to see their guns because they may look like a threat, so they’ll hide it. If more and more people buy it, more companies will try to create it because they will notice it is trending and popular and they can make good money off it. Americans that have license for a gun should be able to carry it because for self-protection. The crime rate in America is high and people need to defend their selves. Many people are killed or injured from weapons and people threaten their life. I don’t think this will keep everyone or most people safe because the robber could buy the clothing too and get someone when they’re least expected. Criminals can buy the clothing and look like everyone else, so if a robber robs a person it will not be expected. In addition, having a gun in your pocket can be dangerous. Plaxico Burress, the NFL player was at a club and accidently shot himself in a leg with a gun. This shows that it can be dangerous to have a gun in your pocket.

Afghan Girls not Allowed in School

Over in Afghanistan, people believe women should not go to school or work, they should stay home, cook and clean. When Shamisa Hussiani was walking down the street a man asker her was she going to school. When she answered yes, he sprayed her whole face with burning acid. They’re doing this to force girls to stay home and not go to school. At Mirwais School for Girls there’s about 1,300 total. On November 12, men were surrounding the school on motorcycles with a jar, a spray bottle & a squirt gun with acid in it. Luckily, they only hit 11 girls and 4 teachers. I don’t think is fair because women & girls should be able to go out because they’re just like everyone else. It’s harsh that men are spraying them with acid that burn. Doing this to females is not a good idea. Back in the 17^th century, women were not allowed to have any word in government ideas or able to vote. This is similar to that because that long time ago, women weren’t allowed to do anything, and now women/girls aren’t allowed to go to school. I don’t understand why girls aren’t allowed to go to school because of their gender. Even though in Afghanistan women are smarter than men are. The literacy among men in the country is 57% and women’s are 87%. So I don’t think they should stop women from going to to because they’re clearly smart than men.

No phones, Safer Roads

Many people talk on the phone while driving even though it’s against the law, and dangerous. Many states had forbided the use of holding and using your cell phones while driving. According to NTSB, research shows that talking on your phone while driving is distracting and risky. Also, it was found that drivers are more likely to get into an accident while using phone and driving. I don’t think people should talk on the phone at all while driving because it can be a big hazard. People are addicted to their cell phones; they might not be looking where they’re driving and just crash. I agree with states prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones while driving because many people can die from that. When I was in a car with my friend Aunt, she was trying to text while driving and I was scared because the car was kind of swerving to the side. That was dangerous because I felt as though we were going to get into a car accident. Only 10 states including D.C and Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones when driving. I don’t think that’s enough and more states need to prohibit it to. Many people can die and be killed doing that and in the states where it has not prohibited from all drivers will still do it even though it’s dangerous and risky. According to NTSB, people using handheld phones while driving are 4 times more likely to be in a car accident than without the use of cell phones.

http://portal.achieve3000.com/article/?g=11318&c=1&sc=26&ssc=0&a=152295&asn=1

Trayvon Martin's death made hoodies a political statement

     17-year-Old Tryavon Martin was killed walking home from the store buying a drink and skittles. He was killed because he had on a hoodie, which made him look ‘suspicious’. Organization all over the country and walks was held making a statement about racial profiling. Chuck Williams stated that, “A white boy wearing a hoodie he’s a college student, a black boy wearing a hoodie is a professional thug”. This shows that black males wearing hoodies are being judged automatically as criminals or suspicious. On Friday when I went downtown there were so many people down there. At Love Park they had protesting against hoodies being a sign. There were people wearing hoodies that said on it “Do I look suspicious?” and having skittle wrappers taped on it. I think its unfair that they didn’t arrest the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman. It is a sign of racism because people always think black males in hoodies look suspicious but white males don’t. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. It was good and nice that they held protest all over the country for Trayvon wearing a hoodie when he was killed saying he looked suspicious but people and children get killed everyday and it isn’t even paid attention to. All over social networks like Facebook and Twitter many people were posting up tweets about Trayvon Martins death. Last week all people talked about was Kony 2012, now this week is Trayvon, what is going to be next weeks? I think that people are just jumping from topic to topic that’s in the news.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120326_Trayvon_Martin_s_death_made_hoodies_a_political_statement.html

Women Under 30, Most Births Occur Outside Marriage

More women under 30 are having babies without being married observations shows. In the article it says that from back then in the 50’s there wasn’t birth control or condoms like today and people though having a child and being married was the right way. Now possibly the shirking of paychecks for men mad women not want to be with them. In addition, women became more of hard working mothers. I think less people are marrying before having because the age of having sex is starting to become popular to a younger crowd and since they’re still young they maybe still be looking for love or they might not be that interested in them. It is bad that more women are having kids out of marriage because it could because I would have many problems with the baby father and paying child support. It could lead to going to court. I would want a man by my side. This trend is a bad thing because it would make males look bad. Women taking care off all there children and the father is not even in there life. My parents are married, they got married before I was born and a year later had my sister and me. They have been married for 16years being 17 in July. It would make a difference if they weren’t married and they had us because it could lead to depression. For example many teenagers don’t like that they’re parents aren’t today was a big happy family. I expect to get married when I get older. I would want to raise a family, get married first then have kids because I would want my kids to experience a big loving happy family instead of always asking me “where is my daddy?”

The Down and dirty on the "New iPad"

     The new iPad is going to come out on March 16^th. The prices will be $499 for 16GB’s and Wi-Fi, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB. The size of the new iPad screen is a 2048x1536 resolution. The features on the new iPad are more updated and visual. The new iPad that is coming out will probably get sold out because people love Apple and everyone buys it. Even though it is pricey. The iPad 2 will now be the price $399 when the new one comes out. I think the new iPad cost a little bit over budget because everyone wont be able to afford it. If the lower the price the more buys it will get. When another iPad comes out after this one the price will be lower and people wouldn’t like that because they bought it for a lot of money and now its lower. Just like the iPod, when it first came it costs a lot of money, now that’s its not as popular no more its cheap. I just think its ripping people off because apple computers run slow. In school not only Mr. Petro, (Journalism Teacher) Apple computer run slow but a lot of other the same computers around the school do to. Apple is too high because they sell earphone for $50, which shouldn’t cost that, much. I can buy a pair earphones for $5 dollars. Apple will be mostly likely at selling out of the new iPad but it is very costly.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/tech_gaming/141794246.html

Facebook Can Be Using You

When people post things on facebook advertisements related to the subject can come up and colleges , schools and Jobs can look at your information of facebook if they want to know about you. They can use what you post on the Internet against you. I don’t think what I post online ca be used against me because I don’t post personal things on facebook and when I tweet on twitter its things that will catch people attention. I would post certain things because I don’t want people knowing my business. I also think what I post online cannot be used against me because I don’t start problems with people. They could probably have things to say about me without going online. I am more concerned because I only thought your facebook friends can see what you post but actually people can watch over you. What I write online can affect the views colleges and jobs have on me. If you post pictures doing illegally things online its possible you can get into a lot of trouble and they may not want you. They shouldn’t see people personal info because we need our privacy. It sounds like they are being stalkers towards use. They wouldn’t want people trying to be nosey and see what they do in their spare time. . So people need to be more aware of what they post online because business works or interview people can see it and think bad about you. But I don’t think it really should matter.

Man loses legs on Train tracks in S.J.

Being sent to Cooper University hospital in Camden, New Jersey a 29 years old man was found lying on the train tracks after losing both of his legs. The police officer says he heard the train form for about 30 seconds straight. It happened aroudn11am. He figured that there was something wrong and somebody was on the tracks. 29-year-old John Curson Jr was found lying on the tracks screaming for his life. I think it is very sad that he was found like that because no one was there to help him. It is so bad that he had to lose both of his legs and will be in disability or handicap for the rest of his life. I would never want this to happen to me because I wouldn’t be able to do regular things I would like to do. It’s also good he still alive because his legs could of been bleeding to death to the point were he wouldn’t had enough blood in his body and died. I wonder why he was even on train tracks. How was he even hit by a train? This is sad, that a person would lose two legs worse than one. I do not know what I would do without my legs. I would probably cry all day everyday. I would not be a regular person anymore. It would be good for him because he would get money from the government. For example if someone in a wheelchair the government gives them checks because because employers and society discriminate against them so they can't earn a livable wage.

Im a Criminal & So are you

   Many people have broken the law, and so did people in jail. But regular people don’t think of their selves as criminals because they haven’t been caught. Criminals in jail get discriminated against when they get out of jail. Little things that people do everyday that is breaking the law, people have years in prison for it. I don’t think that it is fair that people gets life in jail for little things they may do. Everyone committed a crime or broke the law before, even if they didn’t know it was breaking the law. The rights of convicts is not fair like they may not be able to vote, or work at certain places or not even buy their own house. They still are citizens of the U.S. Just because they have committed a crime before and did jail time doesn’t mean citizen privileges should be taken away from them. Like if you went to jail at 17years old and got out when you were 20yrs; and the age of 40 or even 50 you still would be banned from doing things according to your record. It is not fair. Some people may even go to jail and when they get out they get treated unfairly, for something they didn’t do. Like on a TV I was watching, these teenage boys got accused of raping a lady and they kept saying they didn’t do it but no one believed them. About 15 years later a man admitted that the teenage boys didn’t do it and it was really him. The people just go by what people say and not by evidence. Honest people get put in jail mistakenly for things they didn’t even do.

Photoshopped or Not? A tool to Tell

In many pictures of celebrities in advertisements and magazines pictures are touched up or photoshopped. It removes wrinkles, blemishes, and pimples, takes off weight and lengthens height. But are they touching up the photo a little too much? Dr.Farid was interested in it after reading photo-labeling proposals. He wants to be able to start using a measuring tool to tell how much a photo has been touched up. I think overly perfect images of women in a magazine and on TV can cause eating disorders; they may see their self in a magazine, online and on TV and see how much smaller they look. They would want to try and stay that size or be the size they look in pictures that are touched up.  I don’t think altered images should be labeled to know how much the picture has been changed because it would mess up the person’s reputation by them being popular about how they look. Its suppose to be done so it looks real and if the tell how its been edited people would get the impression that most people in magazines don’t look how they look in real life. Many people already edit their pictures to look better on a lot of other websites than Photoshop, you’ll never know until you see them in person. I think retouching photos can help a person mentally. It will have you feeling good and boost your self-esteem up because you may think you look bad. In magazines, looks and body size matter. If it didn’t, all kinds of people would be in it and many readers wouldn’t like it. So touching up photos is good and for trying to get that look that everyone wants.

In China, Human Cost Are Built into A iPad

Worker making iPhones and iPads are working hazardously and harsh conditions. A few explosions have happen with there worked in China. The substance that is a poisonous chemical to clean the iPhones screen. In China, people take advantage of what good and hard work they do. The article says,”Employess work excessive overtime, in some cases seven days a week. In addition, live in crowded dorms. Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly work”. They also said that the people who supply for the company “improperly disposed of hazardous waste and falsified records”. A couple explosions have happened in different factories working on iPads and iPhones all over China due to the poisonous chemical they use. I do not know why they would continuously still use it. It keeps causing more and more explosions. Since people, working in the company knows the bigger the business the more workers and hard working it is not fair. Physical problems are happening to them like swellings. I wouldn’t want to work in factories like this because they’re getting a lot of work done for lesser then they should earn. It seems like the Apple Company is feigning for money. To me it kind of sounds like there working for free even though there getting paid. Apple Inc makes a lot of money but wont even push there payments up. Being treated like crap and working hard for long days and lesser money isn’t right. They’re not even treating these people fair. If I worked there I would demand for a raise, and if I don’t get it I would quit. This Apple company sell nice devices and behind the work of it is torture.

Cracking Teenagers' Online Codes

I agree with Dr.Boyd that parents should give their teenagers more freedom. I agree because parents are to over protective over their children and don’t let them experience life. When there children get older and start doing things by their self they wont know how to handle real life situations because there parents never gave them that freedom when they were younger. Even though Dr.Boyd is quite older than us, she still observes and understands teenagers. Dr.Boyd proved the crime rate as from 1990. Decreased about 35%. This shows that the streets are safer. However, I don’t agree that a teenager expressing their feelings online is such a bright idea. It is very dangerous. There are psycho predators online. Cyberbulling online can occur everyday and chatting online to people you don’t know can be harmful because you don’t know who the person is. For example, on a crime show I was watching, a older teenager girl was talking to a male stranger online for a very long time ; she though that the person care about her. When she went to go meet up with the person he duck taped her mouth and raped her and hand cuffed her legs and arms to the bars on a bed and left. Talking to a counselor online is unsafe to because you can think that your talking to a real person but its fake identity the whole time.

Italian Cruise ship Capsized

The 450million dollar Cruise ship ‘Costa Concordia’ had hit a reef off an island name giglio. Staff told passengers on the ship it was just a problem with the generator and to stay calm. After, plates starting falling and tables started rolling to the side. There was no safety drills given if something like this was to happen. At this time, the captain was no where to be found. I think that this is the captain’s fault because when they happen he managed to escape and disappear. This is sad because even though many people got out, about 11 people were found dead and 21 were missing. If I was on the boat I would cry because I would have to go to the deck immediately leaving everything in the room like my clothes and packages. I wouldn’t have anything left. This makes me scared to get back on cruise ships after only one time. I wouldn’t want to leave all my belongings in my room, I would have to go back to get it. It would feel like a disaster. I would probably have a panic attack and pass out. The captain of the ship was put on house arrest because he abandoned the ship. Researchers think the ship tipped over from it being to close to land. This is very weird. On all cruise ships, they have safety drills, but this one didn’t. Many people probably went into terror not knowing or getting instruction of how to handle this kind of disaster.

Teaching Kids About Healthy , Unhealthy break ups

n the article “Teaching Kids how to break up Nicely”, many teenagers think rushing to change your relationship status on facebook after a break up is unhealthy. They explore the unhealthy and healthy things about break ups. Many teenagers think there relationship break up shouldn’t be all over facebook because or bought back to facebook. I think that when teens break up in a relationship involved with facebook it’s unhealthy because they share what’s on their mind and everything starts on facebook such as problems.  It is more likely to me that ex’s may get into a argument on facebook about what one another posted about each other. It is also likely that they will try to make each other jealous by jumping into another relationship on facebook right after the break up and posting unnecessary statuses. From this article, I can tell that when teens break up, they will try to make one another jealous over facebook and also check on there wall. I think it is important because teenagers don’t have the best ideas and ways of how to or handle a break up an a adult point of view may help because they’re more mature and know how to handle break ups because of more experience. Adults giving advice can help because teens with unhealthy break ups and can look and listen to what a adult say about how to handle it maturely. Unlike younger people doing a lot of extra things to make each other jealous. I cant tell from the article that after relationship break ups, they will most likely unfriend you because they cant stop viewing your profile because they still have feelings for you. 

Biggest Story of 2011- Osama bin Laden's death

I think the biggest story of 2011 was the killing of Osama bin Laden. He made an attack of terrorism on the U.S.A September 11, 2011. Since that day he been hiding and war with Iraq started and they’ve been looking for him. It is an honor and great celebration in America and also all over the world that he has been killed because he’s a very dangerous man. He is the cause of over 1million deaths. People all around he world was excited that he was killed, when he was killed by U.S. army sergeants they found papers planning another attack to America. His death has been talked about many months after his death and still being talked about. I think the killing of Osama bin Laden was a big story in 2011 because first, he was very dangerous and no ne ever knew when he was going to attack. Second, he was a threat to the even and even the Obama family. Last he was on the FBIs list of ‘Ten Most wanted Fugitives'. His death is important because it was the nations significant achievement so they can now defeat al Qaeda. Also, AOL’s top story of 2011 was Osama bin Laden’s death according what people voted. That day and couple of days after his death there was billions of newspapers everywhere all over the world talking about it. I think his death was the biggest story of 2011 because he was great that he was killed.