Confidence--Mankaran

 

“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.” –Truman Capote

     I was never the most popular or social kid in middle school as I struggled with depression and constantly had to deal with bullying and harassment. When the pandemic began during the end of eighth grade I believed that it was a blessing in disguise. Next year I thought that I would begin high school with a blank slate but as the lockdown progressed into the 2020-2021 school year I began to lose social skills and the ability to communicate with others. Eventually my freshman year of school ended and it had come to my attention that sophomore year would occur physically at school. Learning this was a bittersweet experience as I was finally going to be able to make friends and communicate with my peers but I also experienced stress as I did not want high school to be mirror middle school. 

     Merraim Webster suggests that confidence is a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances. Although I agree that confidence can supply one with the ability to perform actions, I also believe that it allows you to fully embrace yourself and become a person you are glad to be. During middle school I lacked the confidence to express myself and voice my opinions as I feared backlash and others disapproval. In high school I wanted to be able to gain the confidence to be comfortable in my own skin. 

     Throughout sophomore school year I was able to excel at many of my classes which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and make friends with many people in my classes. Towards the end of the school year I began my driver's education classes. After sophomore year had come to a finish I gained a little more confidence in myself but I still was not the most social person. During junior year I continued to be proficient in my classes which allowed me to continue making friends and I also got my license which gave me a sense of accomplishment and independence and I no longer had to rely on my parents to drive me around. In the summer of junior year I was able to start going to the gym and experience the world on my own. The gym allowed me to put some muscle on and gain confidence in my self image. I had also begun to experience the world independently through volunteering at hospitals and other internships. My involvement in the community allowed me to begin believing in myself and my abilities to form tasks. 

     Throughout high school I believe that I have successfully gained the confidence to behave as myself in front of my peers. I have also come to realize that people will always judge you for who you are and what you do, but you should not let that stop you from living your life as you wish. Although I have a long way to go, I am on the right path to fully building my confidence.

“Confidence Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidence. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.

Taking On Challenges--Ahniah

 

All my life, I've been encouraged to take on challenges. Most of us have. When you demonstrate a sliver of proficiency in any subject, you are immediately prompted to take it to the next level. We do relatively well with an average course and are later told to have a schedule full of the most challenging classes. And we typically do just that; we listen to their advice and embrace more challenges. Yet, when we fail to remain in these confined expectations of perfection, we are made to feel awful. Self-deprecation takes over when we don't get that perfect score on a test or when we don't manage our time well. Shame and stress are the emotions we feel most due to challenging ourselves. Collins Dictionary, similar to most people, recognizes that "taking on challenges" is "something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination." We realize it is a tedious affair. Yet, it's pretty ironic how we mitigate others when they fail to demonstrate consistent proficiency, even though failure is expected. These negative perceptions undermine most of the hard work we put in or the time we dedicate. Thus, many view accepting challenges as unbeneficial and are discouraged altogether, labeling our potential unfulfilled. 

I'm not too fond of the detrimental notions we set when seeking risks. How are we to go on and achieve success when we are ripped apart for any mistakes we make while trying to improve? A shift in mindset is needed regarding challenges, a more optimistic and inclusive approach that acknowledges struggles and embraces imperfections. We should find solitude in the prospect of leaping into the unknown, risking failure and hardships. Of course, we will only sometimes ace every test or understand all the content instantly. We may struggle and not perform as well as we want, but we should recognize that we are growing. Progress may look different for everyone, and we should be content with that. All challenges should stand for improvements and growth within the individual. We must recognize and appreciate all our time spent learning and perfecting our understanding. Our putting in the effort and work ethic needed, even sacrificing our health and social outings along the way, were all valuable. Simply attempting challenges and seeking improvement in and of itself is an accomplishment. Progress is inevitable as long as we put in valuable time and effort and learn to criticize certain habits along the way. Challenges should be seen as opportunities to be content with feeling inferior at times. Difficulties are bound to arise, contradicting our previous notions of ourselves as "perfect" and "intelligent" people. Being uncomfortable with your current self is crucial to reaching new heights. These humbling experiences are necessary for us to desire to challenge our current limitations and seek improvement. Accepting challenges should be seen as a means of problem-solving. Not to mention that the desire to take on challenges should stem from a genuine interest in learning and gaining insight. Truly grasping a complex concept should be gratifying, as progress is most rewarding. In the end, challenges should be seen more constructively, emphasizing the significance of mistakes and establishing self-confidence through a growth mindset. 

Works Cited: 

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/accept-a-challenge

Shifting Perspectives--Brayden

 

Diapers--Ahmed

 

In the calm moments of a nursery, surrounded by the baby's sweet sounds and gentle environment, there's a little and underrated hero, the diaper. Imagine a tired but happy parent, carefully putting on a diaper with tired but content eyes. This simple act is a nonverbal way of saying, "I love you". Parenthood, just like a diaper, is made up of lots of little moments which may seem like a hassle at first, but parents will miss these moments such as the nights without much sleep, the first laughs, and the small victories. With every diaper change, there's a promise to take care, protect, and enjoy the wonderful mess that comes with having a new baby. 

In parenthood diapers play a big role. According to the famous diaper company Pampers, a new baby needs a new change every 2-3 hours which is about 12 diapers a day, which adds up to around 4,380 diaper changes in the first year. Now this just might seem like a number but its actually more than that, it shows how much attention and care parents give to their children. The diaper becomes a sign of commitment almost like a badge that parents wear happily while figuring out how to raise a child. Diapers also show us something important about how we see moms and dads. Back in history people thought that taking care of babies, including changing diapers, was mainly a mom's job because they would stay home and provide for the family while the dad worked, but things are changing. In todays society, many people believe that both moms and dads can share these tasks. This adds on to the diapers symbol because now it is a symbol of fairness, breaking old ideas and showing a more equal way of raising kids. 

The diaper is also a sign of being strong. Parents have to fight the disgusting stench that come from babies when they are getting their diapers changed. Parents keep on going no matter what obstacle they face because they love their children. Even though the action of changing a diaper seems disgusting to many people, parents will miss the days of changing diapers when their child starts to grow and become more independent. My mom often shares how she misses the times when she used to change mine. It's a simple reminder that even the everyday moments become special memories in the adventure of being a parent They learn and grow right alongside their little one, and the diaper is there through it all. Parenthood is like a journey of discovering yourself, and the diaper, always there, is a reminder of how love can transform and make everything worth it. 

At the end of the day the word, diaper isn't just about keeping babies clean. It's a powerful symbol of parenthood, filled with sweet moments, sacrifices, and a strong bond between parents and their children. Parenthood, just like changing a diaper, is a constant cycle of care, love, and strength. The next time you come across a diaper (if you ever do), take a moment to appreciate it because a diaper is more than a diaper, its a symbol of being a parent. 

https://www.pampers.com/en-us/baby/diapering/article/how-often-to-change-diaper

"On Transience"--Marsh

 

The Misconceptions of Love--Genoveve

 

October Writers!!!!!!

 

We have a new collection of submissions to share for this month.

There are 10 pieces. Please make sure to read ALL of them.  Use the navigation bar to the left to see all of the posts.

Once you have read the submissions, select 3 or more of your favorites and leave helpful, positive comments and feedback.

Complete this portion of the assignment on Canvas. Go to Discussions and submit to the discussion board. Comments are due on Monday, November 13 at 8:30 AM.  

As always have fun with this assignment.  Take the time to be thoughtful in your feedback.  Remember that this a writing safe space for all of us!!!!

If you wrote this month, you don't have to complete the assignment.  Only if you wish and I'll give you some extra credit.

I'll see you all in class!

xo,

Mrs. Solano