And the March goes on...

 

The March Collection

Welcome back from Spring Break and hello to the countdown to graduation!  

This month we feature our March Writers.  There are 14 pieces in this collection.

Please make sure to read ALL of them.  We only have one more round of writers before the end of the year. 

Once you have read through the collection, select at least 3 of them and write your comments and feedback. Publish your comments to the Canvas Discussion Board by Monday, April 15.

Remember that this is a positive safe space for our peers. Be kind, helpful and courteous with your responses. Make sure to commend the writer, describe what you liked or found intriguing.

If you are a March writer and leave comments you will receive extra credit.

Have a great week and I will see you all in class.

Peace and Hugs,

Mrs. Solano

Ramadan Reminders of Resilience--Sarah

 

As the final weeks of my senior year in high school unfold, there has been a sense of uneasiness in the air. Not only does this anticipation come from the impending event of graduation and what the future brings, but also for the arrival of Ramadan, a month that has always touched my heart. 

Ramadan is a holy month where Muslims fast from dusk to sunset for the duration of thirty days of the lunar calendar. Fasting is not only abstaining from food and drink (yes including water), but also as a start for many Muslims to cleanse their souls of previous wrongdoings. It is a month to improve ourselves and our connection to our faith, disciplining our minds and bodies in a way that reaps innumerable benefits. 

Growing up in a Muslim household, I never really understood the importance of this religious obligation. I used to dread the long days of hearing my stomach fight itself and my throat scratch as I eagerly waited for the sun to set. As I have matured, I have realized not only the importance of participating in this holy month but also the effect it has had on me overall. I now see it as a time to cherish my family, my religion, and the blessings around me. Ramadan has been a profound journey during which I’ve gained invaluable lessons in patience, gratitude, self-control, the nurturing of personal character, and the essence of sacrifice for the collective good. 

On March 11th, the first day of fasting, I eagerly awaited the start of Ramadan. Despite the foggy haze clouding my mind and the persistent urge to go back to sleep, I remembered that millions of Muslims worldwide were joining me in this journey. Yet, amidst my anticipation, I couldn’t ignore the struggles faced by our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Their hardships reminded me of our collective responsibility as a global Muslim community, prompting a heartfelt prayer for their relief and freedom. 

Truthfully, I wouldn’t have understood the importance of this month without recognizing the suffering of my own people back in Palestine. For the past few months, they have been trying to survive through inhumane conditions, which has taught me what it really means to be grateful. I wake up every morning with a roof over my head, with food on my table, and without a fear that my life will come to an end at any second. I couldn’t imagine having to fight for my life while also trying to fulfill a religious obligation. For most of my life, I would wake up and complain about how thirsty or hungry I am without recognizing how fortunate I am to know where my next meal is coming from. The same can not be said about my family in Palestine who risks their life to pray inside Masjid Al-Aqsa surrounded by constant threats of being tear gassed and bombed. I have especially been humbled as I watch Palestinians in Gaza struggle to retrieve aid to even break their fast or watch childrens’ bodies shrivel up as they die of starvation. One story that truly resonated with me was that of Yazan Kafarneh, a 10 year old Palestinian who passed away from malnutrition. Seeing a picture of him in his last moments left me with a lump in my stomach as I was left to process how we could sit idly by and watch as children are forcibly starved by the very nations that claim to champion democracy and human rights. As a result, this Ramadan will forever hold a special place in my heart as I remember to reflect my blessings and my privileges. As a visibly Muslim woman that grew up in the shadow of 9/11, I knew that my religion was a grounding force in my life, especially when it came to proving who I was to my non-Muslim peers and preserving after Islamophobic incidents. However, in this political climate, I now understand that my religion plays a larger role in how I understand who I am in relation to other Muslims who live in worse conditions, but still somehow have the patience and strength from Islam to persevere in ways I thought was unimaginable. Now every bite I take, every sip of water I drink, and every prayer I make will be in remembrance of Palestinians and Muslims everywhere who truly embody the virtues of Islam this Ramadan. 

As I continue on this Ramadan journey, my heart is heavy with the struggles of my brothers and sisters in Palestine, yet moved by the lessons of gratitude and resilience they pass on. This Ramadan, I hope to honor their sacrifice by cherishing my blessings and embodying the virtues of patience, gratitude, and compassion in every moment of this sacred month.

Life goes on--Mikaila

 

As someone who grew up in a sports orientated family, sports was absolutely everything. From

my father who played college football at Cal State Fullerton to my older sister who played

college tennis, the expectations to be an exceeding athlete were high. As a child I knew I carried

athletic capabilities, but I had never been able to figure out exactly what sport I fit into and what

sport I enjoyed the most. I had bounced around from swim to basketball to tennis and finally

found love in a sport known as volleyball.

I was placed in my first volleyball club in around 7th grade in the summer to build up my skills. I

would practice day and night perfecting a powerful swing and perfect stance to pass a perfect

ball. I continued to practice these skills until it was almost second nature.My first game was both

the most encouraging and discouraging of them all. The feeling of your heart beating out of your

chest waiting for the whistle to be blown and the sweat that your palms accumulate as the ball

flies over the net is unforgettable. However, the car ride home after a lost match tops it all off.

The dreadful feeling of losing on top of your parents critiquing every wrong move you made is a

special recipe for self discouragement. However with the high expectations that I knew were

held over my head I pushed myself even further to get better at the game. Building my own

court in the garage and practicing everyday after school became routine.My club would have

numerous tournaments in vegas and the experience of hanging out with your teammates was

the absolute best. Having both a sense of comfortability and enjoyment with these people was

what built such a good foundation for our team and was the main reason we excelled in almost

every match. As I started to build my skill and agility, I started to receive numerous patches and

tags the more games that were won. Coaches started to talk to me about potential scholarships

during club tournaments and parents from community teams would ask if I could give their kids

lessons. It almost seemed like my life was falling into place and I had finally found something

that made me, me.

My club team was my glue at one point. In sports,especially volleyball,it is extremely important

to have team chemistry on the court If you want to win a game. However as time moved along

so did my passion for the sport. My teammates began to talk poorly about one another and it

was clearly reflected on the court, which also reflected on the team's advancement. I loved the

sport still, but the feeling once you stepped on the court wasn’t what it used to be. I was no

longer thrilled to pepper with my partner before a game, I was no longer bothered whether or

not I got playing time during a set, and I was no longer happy to drive to practice every Tuesday

and Thursday. Almost every practice and every game I remember thinking,” I can’t wait until this

is finally over.” I continued to force myself to play because I was stuck in a tunnel vision

mindset. I could not pinpoint what exactly was making me lose the love I once had for my sport,

and I also could not let my parents down.

As time moved on I finally made the decision to quit the sport, which was one of the most

difficult decisions I had to make. It almost felt as if I was losing a part of myself by leaving

volleyball and as life went on I began to miss it. I started to regret letting go and I started to sulk

in the possibility that maybe I could have pushed through and found a way to that dedication

that I once had. I soon realized that this isn’t reality and that it is okay for things not to be meant

for you. We as humans tend to gravitate towards validation and getting into a habit of stressing

things to work out for us even though they might not be. As many people say to not water a

dead plant, why continue to do something that serves no positive purpose in your life anymore?

It is okay to move on and leave things you once loved behind, it is all a part of growing into who

you are meant to be. As with volleyball I cherished the experiences I got from it, and although it

hurt to leave,it made me into the growing person I am today. Life is full of many opportunities

and one possibility should not determine your future. Not everything in life is going to work out

and it’s just as Mac Miller said, “People change and things go wrong but just remember, life

goes on.”

Perspective--Elias

 

Once upon a time. We’ve heard these four words hundreds of times, from the nursery

stories and fairytales that we hold so dear to our hearts. The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, and

even Batman, from our perspective we have seen as the good guys always prevail and defeat the

evil villains whilst overcoming their own obstacles. But the idea of good and evil is not rooted in

solid fact. What we believe is good and what we believe is evil is rooted based on our own moral

compass, our own perspective on things. In our world there are precisely 7.888 billion people

with 7.888 billion unique perspectives. Perspective is a little more complicated than just the

dictionary definition of “the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed,”

there are many factors, changes, and details we must take into account to come up with our own

view on things. Even the slightest changes such as the restructuring of a sentence or the

exchange of some words may cause one's perspective to change entirely.

Some people see the Big Bad Wolf as the big bad bully who blew the poor little pigs

houses to bits and pieces but, in reality he was just a safety inspector doing his job. Without the

Big Bad Wolf’s huffing and puffing, the ignorant pigs with their unbound engineering prowess

who decided to build their foundation with straw and sticks may have suffered an even worse

fate than simply having their houses destroyed. An earthquake, a fire, a flood, a swift gust of

fontana wind, any natural disasters could’ve taken down their two houses with them in it causing

multiple casualties. The Big Bad Wolf simply pointed out the flaws in the pig’s designs thus

saving them from severe future expenses, potential injuries, and other problems. But in the

beloved fairy tale, we’ve come to perceive the Wolf as the bad guy who preyed on the three

helpless little pigs. All because some words were switched and some minute details were left out,

one may now interpret a varying perspective on the same situation.

Take Batman for example, the masked vigilante that is seen as the world’s greatest

superhero, an inspiration to the hopeless and an enforcer on the wicked. However, in reality, if I

were to say that I’m gonna go to Party City and buy a costume so I can stay up all night beating

up bad guys, the police would show up at my door and escort me to the nearest insane asylum.

But Batman is praised as a man of the people, when he should in fact be in therapy, a lot of

therapy. He’s simply avoiding the traumas of his past by using his billions of dollars not for

philanthropy, but rather by investing it into illegal military grade weapons and unnecessary

upgrades on his car. What's even worse is he has put multiple children in danger, perpetuating his

violent cycle, by encouraging mere prepubescent teens to come and fight supervillains with him.

Not only avoiding his own past trauma, but also putting everyone around him in danger, all while

he wastes away money that could go to better use rather than endorsing his vigilantism. But

because he locks up villains that eventually break out in two to three business days, he is praised

as the defender of the night and savior of the city. Perspective is a powerful tool, one that can

either make or break someone's argument entirely. Perspective is an accumulation of one’s

feelings, thoughts, and interactions, and can be molded to accommodate any person’s argument.

My little cousin views Snow White as some fair and innocent princess who gathers the

help of seven dwarfs to escape her evil stepmother, while I see her as a tyrannical royal who used

her vanity to enslave seven physically handicapped individuals for her own selfish endeavors.

That is because we are two different people, each with our unique past and circumstances.

Different experiences, new information, and changes in our lives are all things that contribute to

this. A couple changes here and there and all of a sudden, the thoughts and feelings we have

towards a subject have now changed entirely. We as a society have established standards,

creating these ideas such as good and evil to guide others into thinking the same as we do. But in

reality, perspective is ever changing. Heroes and villains, good and evil, right and wrong, all of

these are simply figment concepts that are not set in stone. Perspective is at its core, a tool, one

that can be shifted to support any argument. It is up to you to choose how you will use it.

Sources

Wikipedia Contributors. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 Film).” Wikipedia,

Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Jan. 2019,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film).

Wikipedia Contributors. “Batman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2019,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman.

Steel, Flora Annie. “The Three Little Pigs.” Americanliterature.com, 2019,

americanliterature.com/childrens-stories/the-three-little-pigs.

Merriam-Webster. “Definition of PERSPECTIVE.” Merriam-Webster.com, 2019,

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspective.

Desire--Alec

Desire, a taboo word for most people. Desire is defined in Merriam-Webster as “to long or hope for; to express a wish for”. Desire, at its core, can be considered the driving force of human nature. It is the silent whisper of the soul, the urging that moves humanity forward towards new heights, previously unimaginable by generations of the past. Whether desire is used to pursue good, or bad, it is an intrinsic feature of every human being. 

Desire is a phenomenon that naturally pushes us towards a goal, whether it be material or a feeling, akin to a sense of accomplishment. From the human pursuit of material wealth, a desire for love and a sense of belonging, or even a desire to submit an essay on time for a good grade, desire is all around us and influences the path we take moving forwards in life. Desire can also be described as a double-edged sword, that has the ability to both help or harm the wielder of it, however it is to be swung. Desire can be used as fuel to push the boundaries of humanity further than intellectuals just only decades ago could ever dream of, enabling humanity to reach new heights and single-handedly shaping a better world for future generations. Desire can also be used to enable bad habits with instant gratification, like me wanting to check my phone to see a text message, or go scrolling through social media even as 11:59 approaches, keeping me in a cycle of what I call, a split desire. Two equally split conflicting desires, one to do my work and have the freedom to go to bed knowing I’m done for the day, or the other desire to have my instant gratification scrolling through social media, prolonging the inevitability of me needing to do my essay, but much less effort is needed. Desire can be wielded, both as a tool to push humanity past its human-bound limits to inspire and create a better world for humanity. Desire can also lead to ultimately falling flat in a cycle of reflection upon the past and the regrets it holds, desiring a previous experience or time. Regardless of how it is used, desire is an integral part of human society, for without desire, the world would be in a constant cycle of mediocrity, with no room for innovation, no desire to do your homework, no desire to push yourself to be better, no desire to do anything at all. 

In the history and entangled web of human existence, desire weaves its intricate threads all around us, shaping everyone’s experiences, desires, and ultimately, destinies. It is a relentless and unstoppable force that continues to drive humanity forward, even as we enter troubling times. It is the same force that has led us into this tumultuous period, and it is the ultimately same force that will push us out into the real world as we graduate and hope to succeed beyond high school, push us towards the 22nd century with new technologies and increasingly loftier desires, and even further beyond that past our lifespans and our children and grandchildren having their own individual desires, dreams and aspirations. Whatever obstacles await, some even as a result of misguided desire, it is ultimately our ability to harness this hidden desire that surrounds us all, that allows us to transcend humanity’s limits, and continue to push for the stars. Desire, whether or not it has its negative connotation in history, is needed. I think it’s the only reason I chose to wrote this, instead of sleeping. 

“Desire Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desire. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

 

Mother--Kara

 

     Every night while doing calculus, my mom calls for me outside my room. I reluctantly open the door preparing myself for either a tight hug or a reminder to clean my room when she sees the mess. “Come give your mother a hug!” she beamed and I am hit with “I love my baby!” a million times. I got lucky this time. However, everytime she does this I am filled with the feeling of dread knowing the fact she would hate me if I ever came out. I have seen her face of hatred and heard her unaccepting words and wondered what kind of a mother could feel that way to a child they have cared for so much. Is there more than just unconditional love that makes a mother? 

     At its core, the word “mother” is a female parent or someone who has given birth to or raised a child. Biologically, mothers play a crucial role in the creation of life, gifting us with a breathing body and a beating heart, and can take that gift away when you give her some attitude. Similarly, a mother is someone who provides comfort and security, rather than fulfilling basic needs like food. Although providing comfort may not seem like a biological definition for a mother, the Harlow studies prove otherwise. In this experiment, infant monkeys were separated from their mothers after birth and put in cages with two substitute mothers, one made of wire and provided milk and one covered in soft terry cloth with no milk. Every monkey preferred the terry cloth mother because of the comfort they provided, regardless of the presence of milk. Even monkeys know the difference between the traits of a real mother and someone that just provides sustenance. 

    However, this word transcends beyond biological ties. A mother does more than nurturing and caring for her children. A mother is someone who has made unimaginable sacrifices just so her child has a chance at a greater life than she had. A mother wakes up at the crack of dawn to make you breakfast so you have the luxury of sleeping in. When you call a mother to help you find something you had spent hours looking for, she will find that object in seconds and teach you to “look with your eyes, not your mouth.” A mother asks you where you get your pretty face from (she wants you to say you got it from her). When it is your first time driving, a mother will start screaming when you press on the gas. A mother is someone who will go out of their way to teach you her faith and values, hoping we live up to the standards society has set for us. She fears that you will throw it all away and forget your traditional values and pursue a life she does not approve of. A mother is someone who will be slow to understand. 

     Ultimately, a mother is someone who will show you unconditional love in her own way. Although my mother may take a while to love who I am, my mother is someone who is irreplaceable. I need to be patient with her as she had been with me, then maybe she can be someone who does not discard me like a broken doll, but finds something in me to love. 

Mcleod, Saul. “Harry Harlow Monkey Experiments: Cloth Mother vs Wire Mother.” Simply Psychology, 15 June 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/harlow-monkey.html#Conclusions.

Indecisiveness--Kimberly

 

At the age of six I wanted to be a singer.

At the age of ten I wanted to become a doctor.

At the age of thirteen I was convinced I would be a lawyer.

Now, at the age of seventeen when it really matters most, I have absolutely no idea what it is I

want to do.

Growing up, I have always envied people who had a strong passion towards a specific subject,

career path, or goal for their future. I envied the fact that they knew what classes they needed to

take in high school, or what volunteer programs they needed to join in order to work towards

their desires. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, or like I was not taking my life seriously. While

everyone was already advancing, it felt like I was falling behind.

When entering high school, they tell you that you don’t need to worry about careers because

“you still have time.” Of course, this is true. Many people don’t even figure out what career path

they want to take until they are in college. However, a part of me still always wished I had a

passion for one specific thing. I wanted to excel in one specific area just as all of my friends and

classmates did. I wanted to find the one thing that would help me stand out from the rest.

The medical field had always fascinated me, but never enough to where I wanted to pursue a

career in it. Criminal law piqued my interests, but I didn’t feel like it was the right path for me.

Every subject had captured my attention, but never to the point where I had an intense yearning

to chase after it. I wanted to do everything and nothing all at once. I wanted to be a doctor but I

also wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to become an engineer but I wanted to join international

business as well. I wanted to become a therapist, a teacher, a nurse, and an interior designer. It

felt unfair that I had to be tied down to just one specific career.

A huge part of this feeling had to do with my environment. As a person who grew up in a family

full of high expectations, I've lived my life being an observer of my siblings' experiences. I’ve

watched my oldest sister be ridiculed for not having good enough grades, and have been a

witness to the lectures my brother received for being “lazy”. I’ve seen how my family has

brushed over all their achievements and success, and have instead nitpicked at the tiniest of flaws

to bring them down. The only thing I had to offer was to become successful at a certain subject

so that I could set a path for my future.

Though I knew this mindset was toxic, I continued to live by it. I chose the subject I was best at,

and decided it would be the one I would pursue. I would spend hours on homework or projects

just for the one class, and though I ended up keeping a 98% for the entire year, I still did not feel

happy in it. Deep down I knew it was not something I could see myself doing for the rest of my

life.

Going into senior year, I decided I needed to break from the toxic mindset that was invading my

life. I took it easier on my classes, and I stressed way less about my future. I accepted the fact

that It’s okay to not know what I want to do yet, and focused more on the present. I realized that

I still had a whole life ahead of me filled with new experiences that would expose me to new

passions and desires. I started living a more “go with the flow” type of life and it has honestly

made life so much more enjoyable. I began to not let others influence what I felt I needed to do,

and instead just worried about myself.

To this day I am still not quite sure what I want my future to look like. All I know is that I want

to cherish every moment because I know if I don’t, I’d have many regrets when I look back on

my youth. I know that everything will play out the ways it’s supposed to, and so for now I just

simply take in everything as it comes.

Yes, it’s important to have a plan, but it’s also important that you enjoy the present and live in the

moment (cliche I know).