Freshman Year Reflection

     At the end of my middle school year I was still believed to be “young-minded.”  Before my big change developed in High School my only goals were to never  stay home, hanging with friends, and being un-stressful and free. My mind was also set to believe that my mom would take care of all my problems, lots and lots of boys and to make my mothers pockets empty. That was the Medinah from June-August of 2011. Then September came.

     It was my first day of High School my head was rumbling with mixed emotions of excitement, being nervous, and fun times that I may have. But instead it seemed to be the opposite. High School was mainly about work, work, work and learning things on your own from experiences of being independent, like a few of my 9^th grade teachers told me this year . As September turned into October my mind developed into work mood. Throughout my whole 9^th grade year all I received was pounds of work on my shoulders, and a few times I did struggle.

     The amounts of work I was given made me focused. And being focused made me realize a lot. Since my independence grew larger so did my “young-mind.” I was now able to travel around the city on my own, I began to find and search for ways to make my own money, my schedule was always full, and I stop depending on my mom to guide me the way through. My young-mind seemed to have matured. Which was a huge change for me this year. My experiences and situations that happened during this change were good and bad. But it turned out even better.

     From the beginning of my freshman year to now, June 2012 I’ve learned what I want to do after college as a career, I became more organized, I worked even harder and boys came along later. This freshman year was great for me, I made new friends, visited new places and  seen new things. All of this is only the embarking of the rest of my life.

     

Tickets For Jay-z's MusicFest Go On Sale This Morning

      As Philly is getting ready for its festivities this upcoming labor day (Made In America Concert), on September first and second to be exact, everyone is pretty hyped up about the popular artist Jay-z future performance. At 10 this morning the tickets for the concert were sent off to the Live Nation and Ticket Master box offices to go on sale. The tickets are being sold as passes, a one-day pass or a two-day pass. The tickets are costly with the lowest price of $99 up to the highest price $655.

     The array of genres that are to be played at this concert are classic and indie rock, a little taste of R&B, electronic and a mix of the usual Hip Hop. Some groups and artists that are scheduled to show are Skrillex aka DJ, Maybach Music aka Rick Ross, Wale, and Philly's very own Meek Mill, D’Angelo, Dutch DJ Afrojack, Dirty Projectors, Janelle Monáe & Santigold, Odd Future, and Passion Pit. Each artist represents one of the genres I listed. More artists and bands or DJs are yet to be announced. Philly's in for a huge party this labor day!

     Well I think that the Made In America concert this upcoming Labor Day was a good idea to bring more attention and visitors to Philly. But I think that since it’s on the Parkway that the tickets should actually be free. No event that was ever held on the Parkway ever cost a thing. And for the tickets to cost the lowest of $99 seems pretty ridiculous to me! I really don’t think its worth that much but Ill be viewing the concert from my home.

   

     

ThisIBelieve.org : Love Is Stronger than Death by-Opal Ruth Prater

     Opal Ruth Prater and her husband Dusty lived together in Virginia. Both raising four children on a farm something bad happened. Dusty had passed away from a bad heart condition that he was dealing with and which the doctors had predicted would go away. After that day, Ms.Opal began to grow sad. It all started after the funeral when she seen his shirt on the chair from the last time he wore it. Memories came back to her from that very day he wore the shirt. As she picked it up with tears in her eyes, she held the shirt towards her face and embraced his smell he left on it. Sadness became more tragic as the shirts smell went away after it got lost in the farm with the animals one day. Her only reason to move on from this tragedy was to care for her children and they comforted her and made her feel all right. Ms.Opal felt her life, her home; everything was empty and incomplete without Dusty there. Now that its fifth teen years since Duty’s death and the four children are all grown up to wonderful people Ms. Opal realized and learned something.  She believes that as long she is here Dusty is still alive. She believes her children and her grandchildren carry his spirit on earth forever. In addition, she concludes that love is stronger than death.
      I chose to listen and read this article because of the book Romeo and Juliet. The story of Romeo and Juliet has a similar belief that love is stronger than death as well. This story really made me think. Her story about missing her husband and feeling like she can’t go on, but her only motivation was to raise her four children made me realize the real things in life that I wouldn’t even think about. I enjoyed this story and learned a lot from it.

Broadcasting a World of Whiteness

     The show "Girls" shown on HBO has brought some attention about one certain issue. People believe that this show and plenty others have a lack of diversity in its T.V. shows and only show that there is a world with only just White people. Coming and bring this issue about has cause so much controversy and dispute about race and who is really paying attention to what is going on.  People come to know that not only the cast of different shows are not diverse enough but also the scriptwriters and even the back stage crew are not diverse as well. For example, two black men who they didn’t choose in an applying section of the movie tryouts have sued against the ABC T.V. network. Also with having all white characters on a certain show lures them into making mean and hurtful racial comments. Therefore, since this all white cast and crew has come to be such a normal thing on T.V. shows, productions have not found it offensive at all. This has led other T.V. networks such as BET, with an all Black cast and crew to become more competitive in the T.V. network world. But even most shows contain all white character; there are still other special shows that show not just diversity but also other things such as different lives and lessons. In addition, this issue has brought many positive changes along.

     This article reminded me of how my life isn’t full with any diversity at all. I go to a school that is mostly African American, my community is all African American and my friends I hang with are all African American. Reading this article made me think as to going out and trying to meet different people that I wouldn’t normally hang out with. This article indeed put me into a deep thought. I mean growing up my mom raised me around only African Americans. She taught me not to date White or Chinese men, which I don’t. So her raising me in that type of mind set did make a huge impact on me, but this article made me want to take risks about race and want to learn more and more.

    

New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding a GUN !

     In a 182-year-old clothing company they have created new pants called "Chino Pants". A special feature about these comfy and flexible pants is that they can hide a gun and other weapons such as knifes or flashlights. This came about because more people are getting permits to have and carry a gun with them because laws are becoming harsher on carrying around a licensed gun. These pants are sold at the price of $65 and are particularly made for gun owners who carry their guns with them and other weapons. They have also made shirts and other pieces of attire to hide a weapon in and also able to pull it out quickly. People wearing this clothing believe that it’s based off of clothing made for policemen and for soldiers. Many sports and other retail stores are trying to get a hold of there own "protecting clothing" but are making the clothes look very normal. They do this so a possible attacker may be afraid or unsure to do anything because its possible they may be "strapped". But everyone isn't a fan for just the fashion; they are only concerned with there protection.

     Well I do believe that carrying around licensed weapons is becoming more popular because people aren’t aware of who can do harm to them, now even more since they’ve made the pants and other stylish “weapon hiding attire”. I also do think Americans should carry guns for protection, but it also may lead to more deaths and injuries since everybody is armed.   

   

Parkway Haves a Health Fair

     On April 12, 2012 Parkway held a health fair with the seniors presenting information dealing with their senior projects that they worked very hard on. During the health fair it started off with one of the seniors presenting a PowerPoint presentation to us, and having a speaker come talk to our class. His topic was on drugs and he gave us plenty of facts, real stories, and situations about the topic. Then we headed down to the auditorium where about 7 seniors had tables set up showing us and letting us know about different things dealing with health.

    One table was on healthy eating. The girls told us information and facts about fruits and veggies, calories, promoting healthy eating habits and they even offered us a piece of fruit. Another table was on Abortion from sources to adoption, to DHS stations to send the children to; their goal was to stop abortion. One table was about having safe sex. They distributed free condoms going toward HIV and other sexual diseases preventions. One senior also went around to collect money going towards a stop to animal abuse. They health fair turned out to be a huge success informing other students about many things we should know for future reference.

     I honestly enjoyed the health fair here. I learned more information about doing my senior project and ways I can began earlier and get it done faster. I also learned more things on health that I didn’t know like when women get older they need to get more things checked out on there bodies more than young teens do. I would like to see another health fair held here. I want to learn even more.

The LAST True Stop for Trolleys

  Many of years ago, America was in love with trolleys. With having 15.7 billion trolley trips in 1929 everyone was satisfied until cars were invented. When cars were invented, it lead different trolley companies into Bankruptcy from the high taxes that had to be paid off with low carfares. After that tragedy trolleys were no more spoken of. 
     However, here in Philly trolleys are still used and operate mostly in one particular area of the city, West Philadelphia. The trolley that operates in West Philadelphia connects to different neighborhoods traveling under tunnels that pass through the western part of the Schuylkill River all the way to Center City letting out on 36th and 40th streets. 
    With starting off with 50 trolleys with plenty of routes, the NCL made Philadelphia cut down to only 14 trolleys. They had to choose carefully to make sure each trolley was the busiest in the city. Soon after SEPTA took over the trolleys only seven stayed strong and we soon made it to have the second largest trolley system in America. Philadelphia's trolley system became a big tourist attraction.
       Nevertheless, one day a fire broke out in a bus barn and destroyed 1/3 of the trolleys. Therefore, some trolley routes had to be turned to buses and the tunnel trolleys were the only that survived it. 
     Many cities all over the country are trying to get the trolleys going as well. With us dealing with financial problems the trolleys and buses and the best ways to go for peoples transportation.


     Well I do like the trolleys but I never knew they where such a big problem as the article made it seem like. I prefer the buses more than the trolleys because the move quicker so people will not have to stand at a bus stop to long. But trolleys hold more passengers. I would like to look to more into this trolley situation.