Maybe...

Sometimes, if not everyday, I take some time to reflect on how much I have changed and just how much more I need to change in order to be that one person that everybody seems to like. But then I realize that I was not placed here to please anyone or be necessarily liked by anyone or everyone. I was placed here to be the person I was destined to be and reach for the dreams I am most passionate about. I was placed here with two hands (one to help myself and the other to help someone in need), a bright mind (to think of ways to help change the world) and other than that a fully functional body to help execute those ideas and get to where I'm supposed to be. So far, I have tried my best to help every person that has walked into my life in every way possible but even then... they still seem to walk out of my life just as easily. Then, I can't help but ask myself, "What else can I do to touch someone's heart in a way that no one has before?" "What else can I do to put a smile on a face that has nothing but frown lately?"

1. Pretend that you are talking to a blind man and have to describe for him what "red" is. You should use narrative and descriptive writing techniques.

“Red is the apple that you bite into every day. Red is the rose garden that we walk by on our way to church on Sundays. Red is the feeling you feel when you hear your wife’s voice. Red is the anger the fills you when you hear vulgar words coming out from your niece’s mouth. Red is the pain you feel on your knee on cold days. Red is the color you turn when the lady from the bakery compliments your different hats. Red is the treetops during autumn days. Red is your cane and the bracelet you wear. Red is the passion for jazz that fills your heart. Red is the medicine you force me to take when I am sick. Red is love. Red is anger. Red is frustration. Red is embarrassment. Red is passion. Red is life and the strongest emotions that one feels.”

2. How does competition function in our society? To what extent is it healthy/unhealthy?

Competition is found in every part of society, in schools, jobs, streets and even homes. Since the earliest of times competition has played a part in every person’s life. It is something that naturally happens between people, even animals. From having the best car to having the best Christmas light setup in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, while competition can sometimes be fun to have, it can also be unwanted for it can bring conflict. Some competitors are unable to admit they have lost and so that is when fights and conflicts begin to break out.. Sports would be a great example of such, especially football. During a game, everybody is excited and cheering on for their team or working their hardest to score a touchdown. However, when it comes to the end of the game, one team is bound to lose and so somebody is going to be upset for sure, especially if it were near the championship game. That person will then put down all whom went for the winning team and maybe even say a couple of insulting things. In return, a conflict is created and everybody is now upset. This is when competition can be unhealthy for feelings will be hurt and things left unsaid. Therefore, competition is only healthy when the competitors are mature enough to admit when they have lost. Otherwise, conflicts will arise and make the competition nothing but a burden.

3. How have you taken something that you have learned in the classroom and integrated it into your academic life?

Everything that I have learned in Theory of Knowledge this is year has been extremely useful in my daily life now. It not only helps me leave people speechless when they attempt starting an ethical argument with me but it also gives me facts to support my statements. TOK has opened my eyes in a way that no other class has for it makes the students think tremendously about problems that seem so simple. It has expanded my awareness on many global issues and has encouraged me to find solutions to them. I now volunteer at community cleanups, middle schools and events in order to raise my awareness even more and help the community out in the simplest of ways.

4. If you could go back in time and be someone in history, who would you choose to be? Why?

If I could go back in time and be someone in history, I would choose to be Margaret Tobin Brown. Margaret was a Titanic survivor whom was determined to break the rules that bound those of “high society.” I would choose to be her in order to be able to experience the feelings that all those unfortunate people felt as their boat collapsed. Also because, just like me, she chose to break the standards that forced her to dress and act a certain way, so, I would like to see the reactions that she got when she decided to break those rules. Although the dresses the women used to wear back then seem a bit painful and a burden to have on, I would still like to see how it felt to actually have one on. Due to the fact that she survived the collapse, I can just imagine the attention that she received once she was rescued. I just find Brown’s life to be a bit interesting and so I would love to be able to experience it firsthand.

5. If you had the responsibility to decide where $1 million should be soent to improve conditions somewhere in the world, what project(s) would you choose?

With $1 million, I would start my own organization that would give our senior citizens the time of their life. It would consist of planning road trips and events that would both take them back to their own time and expose them to new adventures. On the last day of their week of adventures, friends, family and volunteers would all join them on a Bingo Ball in which dinner, dancing and bingo would all take place in one night. Not only would the senior citizens be able eat, dance and play but they would also have quality time with those whom they love and those whom they just met. The whole idea would be based on giving back to our senior citizens and showing them that we still and have always cared for them. The reason as to why I would choose to spend the $1 million this way is because a couple of months ago, I volunteered at a retirement home and hosted Bingo Night with the Christian club at school. The whole experience was an eye opener me because all of the senior citizens showed great appreciation of our presence. Some even had tears in their eyes as they saw how so many teenagers cared and were willing to help them run their weekly Bingo night.  So, in order to continue showing them that the community cares, I would spend the $1 million on an organization that is dedicated towards making our senior citizens joyful.

6. How have you tried to effect change in relation to an issue of personal, local, or national significance?

In order to effect change in our community, I have attended events that support the GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transsexual) community. The reason to such is because many people tend to put down those whom are part of this specific community and even organize hate crimes against them. I find it extremely unjust and repulsive that people would even think of terrorizing others due to their sexuality. My cousin, whom defined himself as homosexual, was beaten and harassed at school for months before he was driven to committing suicide. The whole situation was devastating and frustrating due to the fact that the ones who beat him were not brought to justice. The detective called the bullying as “harmless” and stated that my cousin was in need of psychological help and is the reason why he killed himself. This angered my family tremendously and now when I hear someone is being picked on for their sexuality, I immediately jump in to defend them. The people who form the GLBT community are no different than those whom are “straight.” They have feelings, families and aspirations just like everyone else. Therefore, they deserve to be treated with respect and equality. In order to raise awareness about this concern, my family has been trying to form an organization that supports the GLBT community and seeks for peace within them and the “straight” community. In the meantime, I volunteer at events that raise awareness for this issue and think of new ways of building a bridge between the GLBT and straight community.