Sports in My Life

Growing up I was always influenced by sports. Whether I was watching them on t.v., playing them with friends and family, or playing sports video games I was constantly surrounded by some type of sport. My favorite sport to this day is football. I loved, and still do, watching NFL games and predicting, based on my knowledge of the game, what would happen and how. I used to brag about how much I knew about the inner workings and strategies of football and football teams. As I got older I began to be interested in and understand, as well as respect other sports. Even though I didn't quite understand or particularly like these other sports as much as football, i still tried to learn and give these other athletes some credit for what they did. These other sports included basketball, baseball, and mixed martial arts. Even though I try to culture myself by watching and learning about these other sports, football will always be my favorite. GO BEARS!!!

Thankful for a Classmate

Though many of my classmates impact my life inside and outside of the classroom, there is one person who stands out in my mind as to who I am most thankful for. She is always there to greet me with a hug and smile (when she's in the mood of course). We see each other throughout the day. We've had a class together every year in our high school career in addition to being in the same division. We connect on many levels in and out of school. I believe that she makes me who I am as well as make my life what it is. I'm sure that without this person in my life, I wouldn't be the same person and I would be poorer for it. This person I am talking about is in fact one of my very best friends, Jasmine Nicole Hoskins. SHOUT OUT TO JUICE HOTSKINS!!!! (she'll get it LOL)

Open Letter to Cormac McCarthy

First off, I would like to commend you on your work with the book, "The Road." Did you ever think that it would become a major motion picture. I'm sure you didn't even think that that would be a possibility. You wer probably more focused on the acutal book, which is why I think the book turned out as great as it did. The story line is very exciting as well as the connection between the characters throughout the story. I would like to know what your inspiration was for such a book. I imagine there would have to be some dark thoughts to be able to think of some of the rather morbid occurences in this story. Hopefully, you don't think that this is a real possibility for our world. Also, I would like to know if you had any help with formulating your ideas, and if so who were they. Do any of these characters represent anyone in your daily life? I have so many other questions, but I fear that posing them all here would cause my computer to spontaneously combust, so I'll leave it at those.

Father and Son, Mother and Daughter, Mother and Son, Father and Daughter

The relationship I've always identified up until just recently is Mother and Son. I was raised up until I was about 10 by a single mother. I never knew, and still don't know, my biological father. My mother, however, always let me know that our relationship was strong enough to get through it. There are some things I may have missed by not having a father in my life, but didn't want for anything that I needed. My mother made me feel like I had a mother and father in my life. After a few years my mother met a man who she really seemed to like. This man eventually became my step-father. We began to build a Father and Son relationship. I got a second chance on all the things I missed in life by not having a father there. I believe that this relationship is very similar to the situation with the man and boy in The Road. However, not on such drastic levels. All the necessary components are there nontheless. These components include love, trust, and reliability. I know that I have these things and more with my step-father as well as my mother.

How do I know what Iknow?

There are three majors factors that go into education and knowledge life-wise. The three factors are: what you are told, what you see, and what you do. The first is the most common. People are told what to do and what not to do from infancy. Either your mother of your father always told you to stop doing something that they did not think you should be doing. Clearly you counld not understand what they were saying at the time, but you somehow knew that there was a problem with what you were doing by the impression that your mom or dad showed. This understanding eventually leads to actual recollection of knowing what is and is not allowed. The second factor is what you see. Many people in the world learn best by visual interpretation. You remember and register what you see better, rather than you are told or what you hear. If you see someone walk into the street without looking and they are either hit or close to it, then you realize that you could possibly have the same outcome if you were to duplicate those actions. This can also go back to the first factor. Sometimes parents use visual depictions when trying to explain something to their new born baby or young child. Finally, the third factor is what you do. Experience is the best teacher, because there is no way to think that something will change with the same variable if you, yourself, saw it happen. You know that no one can rightly dispute something you saw if they didn't see it themselves. Naturally, what you know has happened will be the ultimate determining factor in making a decision. This is how I know what I know.

Our Meaning

In the book, "Candide" the main character, Candide himself wonders what the true meaning of mankind is. He goes searching high and low for an answer that will suit him and be in agreeance with his own views. However, this is the wrong way to go about it. You can't always think that the answer to a question will benefit you or you will have a very unhappy and dissatisfying life. Anyway, Candide asks an old man what he believes is the meaning to mankind. This man tells him that he should not be asking such questions and slams the door in his face. Needless to say, this was not what he expected. Then, Candide comes across a family of an old man and his young son and daughter. When Candide encounters them on his journey they are tilling their farm uncessantly. Candide asks the old man why they insist on constantly working. The old man tells him that it is the only way to keep from becoming content with life. This, the old man says, is the meaning to life. It is to never become content with life so as to always have goals in life and to never be overcome with eternal boredom. I believe this to be true to a certain extent. Some people find joy in endless inactivity. I, however, need some kind of stimulation every now and then to be truly happy with life. Once again, your meaning to life will always depend on the type of person you are and your personal mentality.

God In 2009?

Every new era or generation, the question of God's existence arises again and again. No matter what has happened in the past, proven or not, people will always wonder if there is a God or not. This question will arise despite what people have said before and what people will say after an event has happened that will get people talking about God. Personally I don't know if there is a God or not. I'm not saying there is a God and I'm not saying there isn't one. There haven't been any significant events in my life that has pushed me to either side of the question. This usually necessary in someone's life in order for them to answer the question themselves. However farfetched it may sound, it happens a lot. It can either be a natural disaster or something as simple as a personal "sign" that someone has seen in their life. A lot of people say Hurricane Katrina was enough to determine God's existence. However, you have the topic of whether or not God wants to punish us or protect us. I believe that this continuous back and forth questioning keeps people from living their natural life instead of them constantly thinking of their spiritual one. A lot of people would probably think that what I just said is wrong, but they will be saying it with a troubled conscience. They will always be wondering if God is really watching them or not.

Candide's Punishment

I believe that Candide's punishments do adequately fit his crime. He disgraced the honor, as well as the trust, of the Baron by deflowering his daughter. I'm sure that anyone would react the same way. I know I would. It's even more degrading, in my opinion, because of the fact that they're related. If I were to hear about my daughter having relations with any male without my permission, or at least my approval first, then I would be pretty upset and want to banish that person too.

Who is the Modern Gadfly?

I believe the most common gadfly would be teenagers. We are constantly looking for ways to do things different and "go against the grain." This embodies the definition of a gadfly because, if you tell a teenager not to do something, more times than not, they're going to do it. Teenagers are notoriously known for getting into trouble for doing something that they weren't supposed to be doing. A reason, in my opinion, would be that we always think that we are right. Teenagers don't care who tells them what, they will most definitely challenge it to see whether or not they really want to do it that way. Actually, in a way, all people have been gadflies sometimes. Nobody who is self-respecting would just go along with everything they see and hear (unless of course you're Candide). LOL

The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

This statement is very true. You cannot truly live life by just going with what you are told or what you hear. You should always challenge things in your life as well as your life itself. No matter who you are, your life is not perfect and completely true in any way. Only the truly ignorant would believe that it is. Examining your life is not only expected, it is the right thing to do. No one wants to be associated with someone who believes that they can do no wrong. This is Socrates' entire life's work. To show people that they do, and always will, have room to improve. Only then can you live a truly good life, as stated by Socrates.

Anthony Larry Jr. (1992- 2009)

Anthony T. Larry Jr. (1992- 2009)

Anthony Larry was born on March 17, 1992. He was born to Dianne Powell and Anthony Larry Sr. In Chicago, born and raised, on the playground is where he spent most of his days. He would have enjoyed that little excerpt from "Fresh Prince", which was his favorite show as a young boy in the 1990's. Anthony was always willing to make new friends and completely cut you off if you didn't make the cut. He always put everything into his emotions, as far as friends and family went. Though he didn't have everything growing up, Anthony made due with what he had and was glad with it. In high school is where he really broke out into the social world. It seemed like everyday he would make someone laugh or hate that they even talked to him. No matter who you were, Anthony always left an impression on you, whether you liked it or not. That is what he should be known for in the years to come.