The Pursuit of Kindness--Kristyn

 

When was the last time you helped someone carry their groceries? Held the door open for a

stranger? Or even simply gave someone a genuine smile? At first glance, these may seem like minuscule,

meaningless interactions but they hold the immense power to unknowingly change the trajectory of

someone's entire life. Take Kevin Hines for example, on an average Monday he decided that he would

take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge unless someone, anyone, asked if he was okay or

simply gave him a smile. He didn’t hide his struggle from the shallowness of the world as he openly cried

on a forty-minute bus ride. All it would take was just a glimmer of human connection, a lifeline to pull

him back from the brink. But as he walked to his final destination, only one woman had talked to

him–only to ask him to take a photo, highlighting the scarcity of genuine human connection and the lack

of simple kindness our society has. Fortunately, Kevin survived and with the help of a seal, was held up

until the Coast Guard arrived and took him to the hospital. Why did the salvation of hospitality arrive

after this man's harsh, final decision? In the form of a creature that some may argue isn’t even close to the

level of consciousness of a human being. In that moment of despair, it wasn’t the grand gestures that

mattered, but the simple acts of compassion that held the power to rescue a soul from the depths of

despair. Animals most certainly don’t hold themselves to the same harrowing expectations of society and

yet this seal exhibited an instinctual act of kindness, solely by innate compassion, which another human

soul was not capable of doing. It’s difficult for humans to genuinely connect with one another or even

show a glimpse of compassion without believing that they must gain something in return, instead of

simply showing love just because we’re blessed with the capacity to do so.

You don’t necessarily have to donate thousands of dollars to charity or donate a kidney, but

simply just show someone that you are there, that you see them. In a world where negativity and cynicism

often cloud our perceptions, it's easy to succumb to automatic judgment and let the rain of pessimism

drench our spirits. However, we must trek through the storm to see the sun–and remember our innate

nature of empathy, compassion, understanding, and love. Whether it's offering a listening ear to a friend in

need, lending a shoulder to cry on, or simply offering a smile to a stranger passing by, each act of

kindness ripples outward, touching lives in ways we may never fully comprehend. It's these moments of

connection, born out of genuine care and empathy, that remind us of our shared humanity and the

profound impact we can have on one another's lives. Bolster the warmth of your heart, allow others to

experience your kindness, allow yourself to experience your kindness, let that “minuscule” action change

someone’s life. In the end, it’s love and compassion that truly make life worth living–so give kindness,

because you are love.

Kevin Hines' Story

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988

February Collection

Hello, it's February!!!

Welcome back to our blog.  We are slowly rounding out the 2023-2024 school year with only two months left of writer submissions.

This month we have eleven students writers. Please make sure to read ALL of the posts. Then choose 3 of them and write your feedback and comments.  The Canvas Discussion Board is open until Friday, March 8.

Remember that this is safe space for reading, commenting and reflecting. Make sure to explain what you like or enjoy about the post. Let the reader know that you took the time to read their piece.

Have fun with these. We have quite a few abstracts ideas this month that I think many of you will enjoy.

Spring Break is around the corner!

I will see you in class :)

As always love and hugs,

Mrs. Solano 

Fitting Everywhere & Nowhere All At Once--Anne

 

Growing up, I discovered that fitting in everywhere often meant never truly belonging anywhere.

Acting as both the participant and the bystander, the feeling of being caught between acceptance

and estrangement tore my self-identity. As periods of my childhood found these dim moments, I

constantly found myself finding disconnection within social relationships. However, my story

did not begin here in the US, but in my homeland.

Davao, Philippines.The story of my life began here. Although I did not grow up in the bustling

city, my area was fairly clamorous. The sounds of chicken fights occurring on the corner of the

street, people playing basketball, children playing tumba lata (kick the can), a man yelling “taho”

to let others know of his arrival, and loud uncles enjoying their time with alcohol would fill the

air with their noises. The air is surrounded by the aroma of delicious homemade cooking, the

disgusting smell of cigarettes, fresh fruits, and more that is carried with the gentle breeze. Even

though it is not ideal for some, this is what I used to call home.

My life was accustomed to these types of sights, noises, and smells as it was an everyday

occurrence. Everything I knew from culture to language was connected to the people who I am

surrounded with from classmates, neighbors, friends, and my loved ones. I never felt excluded.

Everywhere I go, I feel like I belong to this community that is full of life, love, friendship, and

happiness.

However, in a blink of an eye, everything that I knew changed with that one text message that I

read from my dad stating,“Come. Move here in the States this month, it will get the kids enough

time to get ready for U.S. school next month.” As I showed my mom the text, she was excited to

move to the states to be reunited with my dad. We packed our belongings and spent the rest of

our days in the Philippines with our loved ones.

My last days went by like a flash as in the summer of 2014, I soon found myself inside the plane

crossing the Pacific ocean. I was going to be living in the states, fulfilling the dream of many

Filipinos. I told myself during the trip that I shouldn’t be ungrateful for this opportunity given to

me as many work hard to get where I am. In return, I ignored the aching feeling of my heart

yearning to go back to the place I called home.

Upon my arrival with my family, I expected to feel excitement for what America has to offer, but

everything started to sink in as I realized that everything had changed. I used to be surrounded by

my people, culture, language, and loved ones that made me feel like I belong. Now, everything

changes as I venture into a new world where all is different. A new language needed to be

learned in order to communicate with others. The culture being the opposite of what I am

accustomed to. A distance of a few feet turning into a thousands of miles of land and sea that

separates me from my loved ones in a span of a few hours.

The feeling of estrangement, grief, and loneliness lingered around me like whispers in the air that

only I could hear as I adapted to my new life. Sub-urban America differs significantly from the

Philippines that I grew to fall in love with. There was a continuous monotone color that

surrounded the buildings, the surroundings were more hushed and quiet, and life overall was at a

slower pace. Although it is not what I am used to, I tried to adjust to the new lifestyle.

Moving into a new country became a nightmare for me as now I can recognize my differences

from everyone else. I did not speak their language nor grew up the same way as they did. I did

not know about a lot of pop culture which baffled others as they did not understand how a person

would not know anything about the hottest trend. I was always too late and slow to catch up. I

tried to conform to their standards in order to make new friends, only to be made fun of by my

accent, food, and mannerism. I became the laughingstock of the group.

In the process of fitting in, I lost my sense of my original culture and language in order to

become one with everyone else. I stopped bringing the food from my culture and started to eat

popular meals, like lunchables or plain sandwiches. My parents forbid me and my siblings to

speak my native language so we can learn to speak English fluently at a faster pace. I changed

my cultural wardrobe to dress up like everyone else. In a year or two, I was able to make some

friends.

I finally felt like I was accepted and that I belonged. With this new social group, it became my

new home. But is it really home? Is this truly acceptance? I was disregarding my background in

order to feel included with others. Then, after nine years, I finally realized how drastically I

changed after visiting the Philippines.

I was not able to communicate in my native language with my loved ones as I was used to

speaking English. I did not know about the latest trends or events which excluded me from most

conversations. It was weird to be welcomed in the family despite not having the feeling that you

are truly accepted. Even though I grew up with them as a child, I was not Filipino enough for

them anymore. I was distraught. I realized that I erased my differences rather than embracing

them to please other people. In return, I lost my connection to the people who I loved, my

community, and my culture.

In the process of adaptation, I lost my sense of identity for the connection of others. Although I

was young and naive, self-realization does not undo the damage that has built up for years. I

have learned that embracing my uniqueness and celebrating what makes me different gives

harmony in life. Contrasting the endless efforts of changing myself to conform to people’s

standards which has lost my sense of self. The ability to fit in everywhere is not an

accomplishment when there is no sense of belonging anywhere. Authenticity is vital to the

journey of self-discovery. Although I cannot go back in time and replace my story, there is one

thing I can change now: to consistently embrace my identity. After all, true acceptance is

acceptance of oneself.

5 in 1 Body Wash--Sarah

 

The Town--Aiden

 

As soon as you walk into the town, you start to sweat. Your leg starts to shake and the

goosebumps on your neck stand up. Your eyes get heavy like you’ve been there for eternity. Your

eyes dart around trying to find the invisible eyes staring at you. To only realize that it’s all in

your head.

Ages ago, it was a civilized and friendly place. Travelers would stop here for a night or

two being showered with hospitality. But now… If you were to stumble by it by accident, you

would quickly leave back into the forest. For the forest was colorful and beautiful in its own

right. The wind elegantly blows through the trees and around midday when the light shines upon

the trees just right, you are transported to [heavenly] land. The smell of sunflowers and nostalgia

blessed you. But, the beautiful forest hid a dark town where a secret beheld. Washed away with

any color or creativity, the town crushes you with despair. The longer you stay here, the more

you envy the comfort of the forest. It felt like this shouldn’t be here, like it fell out of space by

accident. And the universe is in a tug of war trying to take it back. The houses were decayed, and

the walls were cracked like an old man’s face. The town had lost in fight against time. The

houses were covered by moss and plants. One of the houses was entirely colonized by the

environment. Grass and grime overgrew even farther than the roof. The only hint of a house ever

being present was a pretty little door. You could still see the beautiful carvings on it. Its design

set you back in time to when you were a baby. That door was probably handworked by a caring

old woman, who probably took nights to complete. Masterpiece surely, but through the natural

process, nobody will ever find it.

This little village had the opportunity to become grand. To become a kingdom and its

children the kings. This sweet village did not ask to be stripped away of all its commodities. It

was like a tree falling n the forest. A snow leopard. A ghost. With no stories to pass down, how

do we know if it was really there? Or how the most elegant photos in history were never taken.

Or much rather seen. If a tree falls in the forest with no audience, did it really fall? If a man dies

but there was no body, did he really die? If an entire village goes missing, were they really ever

alive?

In the center of the town lay a church with a missing bell tower. It was once praised for

its unique architecture but now, a tall tree was found in the center and the church’s windows were

boarded up extemporaneously. There were about a dozen chairs haphazardly pushed to block

anything from opening the door. The chairs were heavy and would’ve taken at least 4 men to

push one of them. Markings left on the ground hinted at a struggle. The strangest part, the bell

that was supposed to be hanging 30 feet above the church, instead, sat in the living room of a

cabin, on the other side of the town.

A quaint mystery lied in the town, but nobody will ever find it, and so, it never mattered.

Validation--Melina

 

As humans, we all strive for validation in our lives. We are designed to seek validation

from the people around us as a source of joy or need. Junior year of high school was filled with

restless days sleeping at 2 am studying for AP classes, while having to wake up at 6 am for

school. Those days were full of anxiety and depression desiring to keep straight A’s while my

social life was drained. Each day spending hours in my room barely seeing those around me.

Many may ask why stress out for school; they are just grades that can always be made up. As a

student who came from parents who immigrated to the U.S. for a better life I did not seek

validation for myself, but from my parents feeling the need to prove to them their hard work paid

off. Nothing could make parents happier than their children exceeding in school. Indeed my

parents were happy with the good grades I achieved while I could only think of what else I could

do. Of course who wouldn't be happy with the grades they achieve but not when your validation

was on the line? Not only did validation affect me with grades but also with my choice of major

and career for the future. Many of us are pressured into careers involving the medical field or

law being more prestigious and high-paying careers. As a way to live our parent's dreams or

feel successful around others. Although my interest was in fashion it was a dream far from

reality not a secure or high-paying job. Ultimately I stuck with the pathway of becoming a lawyer

while I find political science interesting Is it something I see myself doing for several years?

According to Merriam-Webster, validation means “To recognize, establish, or illustrate the

worthiness or legitimacy” The meaning of validation for me is feeling the need to achieve more

than what you can to content those around you. Academic Validation is a topic normalized in

today's society, especially toward teenagers and young adults feeling that school is the only way

that can lead them to success. Validation is something that tends to lower people's self-esteem

and strength, not making them see what they value and want—leading to comparisons between

peers. Education systems emphasize the importance of grades for students to succeed putting

pressure on many. As a current senior applying to college academic validation has been very

common these past months for students trying to take as many AP classes and extracurriculars

as they can. This can be seen in many social platforms such as TikTok where many students

talk about their GPA, grades, classes they have taken, and even colleges they have gotten

accepted to. While scrolling through TikTok these videos would make me think I didn't take

enough AP classes or that my GPA wasn't great for schools I've applied to, making me feel

discouraged.

As a student who sought after academic validation, I have slowly learned that overworking

myself for others' opinions and happiness will only consume me, leading to disappointment with

what I have achieved. Validation is something toxic that consumes us into an unhealthy

environment and bad state of mind. Although validation motivates us in the beginning it is a

vicious cycle that causes us to overwork ourselves leading us to lose the determination we once

had. Ways that have slowly helped me overcome academic validation are focusing on what I

can control and what is out of my reach, learning that mistakes mean room for improvement,

and most importantly a grade doesn't define how smart you are. Everyone has weaknesses and

strengths. Smartness comes from people's abilities, critical thinking, creativity, and practical

skills, and not grades. We should not compare one another or pressure ourselves with more

than we can handle.

Citations-

“Validate Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster,

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/validate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.

Nostalgia--Akansha