First, some holiday humor!
What do you call an elf who is afraid of Santa Claus?
CLAUStrophobic!!!! :) Tee heeeeeee :)
Ok, onward and upward.
So, as we all know, the holiday season is upon us. Theoretically, we know it is a time to bring tidings of great joy and all that, but you don't have to be Scrooge to recognize that Christmas & Hanukkah & holidays in general really, tend to get more commercialized and commerce-driven each year. There is an entire DAY dedicated to the notion of spending money on holiday gifts. Crazy, right?
So, this week, let's do something different and instead of focusing on THINGS we would give to people as holiday gifts, let's instead talk about abstract concepts, feelings or ideas we would like to bestow (look it up) on another person--or, in this case, on two other people in our Lang fam, and one or two of whomever you choose.
Here is the idea: choose any two people across all three sections (both people cannot be from your own class), and talk about what you would like to "theoretically give" them as gifts. I will give you an example of something I thought of earlier:
For Jana I would give the power of healing self-love--both the ability to pass on to others, AND to fully appreciate its remedial nature. I would want her to call upon this power in her darkest of days when she is caring for herself and when she is emotionally recovering from the trauma of caring for herself. Healing self-love would soothe Jana's spirits and allow her the time necessary to build herself back up. Healing self-love would bring the shine back to Jana's eyes, and her smiles would be real again.
You've got some time for this task-today is Wednesday and this blog isn't due until next Wednesday the 28th (it's not real work in the traditonal Lang sense), so naturally that means I expect you will have put some thought into this. By thought I mean supporting details, varied syntax, and impassioned diction. Comprende?
Have fun with it--spread the joy. Who knows? Maybe AP Lang can save Christmas and we'll get a movie made!
For my dear sister, I would gift the three virtues of confidence, patience and independency. Restoring her self-confidence in her body, personality and opinion will allow her to ignore all negative opinions. The criticism that gradually gnaws away at her confidence. I know the world compliments your perfect shape with no stomach, perfect bosoms and your toned butt. But, when you acknowledge the compliments they say you're too vain. They accuse you of not being humble. You find yourself torn between loving yourself too much which forces you to not love yourself at all. The things that the beauty that the world sees is the reflection you despise as you stare glowering in the mirror hating the behemoth social media has created. With confidence she see's the world in a new light that is vivid with color and clarity. She wears her confidence over her eyes like spectacles that enable her to see that her beauty goes deeper than the surface.
ReplyDeleteAlong with her confidence she will gain patience. To believe in her ventures and persevere throughout her endeavors. You business will not thrive overnight. No, you won't just wake up one morning and be the female bill gates in the making. However, if you have faith in yourself over time with consistency and hardwork your business will thrive. No one, supports the business that's here one day and gone the next you must stay consistent. You're time will surely come if you keep the mindset that it will.
I know as a women you feel pressure to marry and be the arm candy of a man. That you should aspire to be a housewive who can rely on a man for finance. But, that’s where society has shit fucked up. You have to depend on yourself you are the only one who won't walk out on you. You don't need a man to feel like you are important or to be there for you. You must instill a foundation in yourself that no one can come in between because, you'll always have your own. With this gift you will obtain happiness you will confide in yourself and gain financial prosperity.
I would give Lianna strength. By no means am I saying she isn't a strong girl because she certainly is. However, strength will give her confidence. It will ease her worries about schoolwork and testing. Honestly, we probably all need strength when it comes to this. I hope that with this, Lianna can realize that she is an amazing student that works hard to do great things. I hope she will realize that in a few years, a vocab test won't matter. I hope that with strength, she can understand that life goes on no matter what grade you receive. She has strength, but I hope with that maybe a little more she will realize how amazing not only of a student she is, but of a person she is.
ReplyDeleteTo Alexa, I give the ability to speak up. Trust me, when it's between me and her, she knows how to speak up and defend herself :). I am talking about in the aspect where she is not afraid to defend herself or her opinion when confronted by someone. I hope that with this, Alexa will come out of her “comfort zone” and express how she feels without the fear of hurting someone else.
To Hersiddhiba, you’re the only person that comes to mind when considering “bestowing” the gift of optimism. You’re always a pretty peppy person to begin with but there’s a fine line between happiness and positivity. It is as if you run into things that seem confined by time, not just friends, but boyfriend(s) too. I would bestow this upon you so when the time comes that you and your boyfriend can’t or aren’t going to be together you will know how to deal with it, and you will know how to fight the negativity with optimism that someone better will come along, someone who you’re parents might prefer. And even today when you have minor problems with friends or your boyfriend, you would be able to pull out the little bits of optimism and use them to guide you towards the right decisions, or decisions you’ll have to be content with.
ReplyDeleteSomeone other person I would bestow an abstract gift upon would be my oldest sister. She is one of my role models, and a beautiful women, sister, mom, daughter, etc, but she fails to see her beauty. I mean she knows that she is capable of being loved, and she gives out so much love herself but that all seems pointless, or counterfeit when she can’t truly love herself. I would give my sister the gift of self-love. She is constantly comparing and picking apart her body, like the mirror she sees in warps her into how she see’s herself and not how everyone else sees her. Whenever she feels as if she is lesser than who she really is, her self-love will tell her that she is so much more than that. That all of the things about her that she hates are exactly the things that make her who she is, which is unique, and my beautiful sisters.
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ReplyDeleteTo Sam, I would give him my love. For a man who faces the difficulties he does, I admire the fact that he manages to keep a smile on his face while worrying about putting a smile on someone else's. I find Sam, the only person who I can always depend on to bring optimism to any situation, surrounded by negativity. I find his happiness underappreciated. I find that people don't realize just how amazing he is in every aspect. And so, this Christmas, I give Sam my love, so that he knows that I not only acknowledge the effort he puts in to be who he is, but I appreciate it, and I am lucky to be acquainted with him. He gets my love--today and every day.
ReplyDeleteTo Taylor, I would give the power to heal. Taylor has gone through hardships that still affect her immensely everyday. Physically and mentally she has allowed herself to move on and better herself, however, emotionally, she is deeply scarred. Taylor does not need anyone to grant her strength, or courage, or happiness, for she possesses those characteristics naturally. But if there was anything that I could give her, it would be the power to heal so that I could finally take away that pain.
To my mother, I would give her the power to love herself. I see my mother blame herself for things that aren't her fault far too often. She feels that she is to blame for everything that is wrong in her life. And it's not fair. My mom is the most kind-hearted, hard working, beautiful person that I have ever met. And it baffles me to think that she can't recognize how amazing she is. So, for my mother, my entire heart, and my best friend, I give the power to love herself.
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ReplyDeleteTaylor, if there is anyone that deserves the ability to move on, it’s you. So there is nothing more I would want to give you than the ability to press play again and accept fate for what it is, and just live like the young, jaw-dropping girl that you are. You deserve to be happy again, and I wan’t you to take a plunge into 2017 knowing that you’re a bad bitch who freed herself from the anger and hate that has you tied up :)
ReplyDeleteTo Bernice, I would give the power of a loud voice. Girllllll you are SOOOO smart and intelligent and mature; use your voice to let those incredible qualities radiate through the halls of Oakcrest! I have a hard time speaking up myself, as taylor said above me ;) My friend Bernice, we all admire you and your kind heart and your wise soul. So I would give you the gift of a loud voice to show the rest of the world what your amazing self is capable of.
To my dad, I give the ability to just slow down and take a breath. For the very few of you that know my dad, you know that he is an extremely hard worker; he is the director of food operations at Bally’s and Caesar’s in Atlantic City, resulting in him always being at work. Not to mention he is also in the process of creating a coral reef fish tank dead smack in the middle of our family room, so when he is not at work he is spending a majority of his time downstairs tending to his coral, clown fish, or shrimp. Because of this hectic “go-to-work-for-over-11-hours-a-day-and-come-home-and-stress-about-why-my-anemone-keeps-moving” lifestyle, I would give him the ability to just sit down and breathe, something that he is in desperate need of.
For Alex Harley, I would like to give him my appreciation. There isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t stop to make sure I’m okay, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to express how much it truly means to me. I both appreciate, and cherish the friendship him and I have built over the last few years, and I couldn’t imagine being absolute best friends with anyone else.
ReplyDeleteFor Kaitlyn Scardino, I give her my thanks. I am so extremely thankful for her words, and her ability to take me out of the dark place I was in, and because of her, I now view certain things in a different light, and with more positivity. Her actions do not go unnoticed and I hope that she continues to be great in everything she does!
Karla: I would give Karla the gift of realizing her worth. Karla is a very sweet, yet reserved person. She is so humble, that I think she often forgets how valuable she is. She is an amazing tennis player, and she is also very smart. I want her to know how important she is, and her worth. When she does well in either a tennis match or a test, I make it a priority to congratulate her on her achievements. She makes sure that I know how much I mean to her and others, but I would give her the gift of realizing her worth, so that she may feel that same way towards herself.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: I would give Melissa recognition. I notice her sitting in the corner in 8th period biomed doing her work, and I am so happy for people like Melissa. She is quiet, and she also is very reserved. I have gotten the great opportunity to get to know Melissa better during tennis season. I know she is not as quiet as she is in school, which is what I love about her. She is so focused and detached from the rest of the loud, distracting class. I appreciate that, and I want her to know that her hard work does not go unrecognized.
Dad: I would give my dad motivation. He is so smart, and he never got the opportunity to go to college. He is naturally smart, and I think that he is starting to realize that. I would give him the motivation to go back to school, even if it is embarrassing to go to college at 42 years old. I am happy that he is happy with his job now, but I want him to work up to his full potential.
To Darren: I want to let you know how proud I am of you. When I met you all the way back in 6th grade, I was convinced that you were just another delinquent. You always got into some kind of trouble and always had small detentions. As we grew up, you proved me wrong. I knew when you wanted to join crew freshman year, you wanted to change. And you did. Freshmen year you proved to everyone you were a juggernaut and no one could stop you. Sophomore year, you broke 7 and had the fastest 2k for the boys. And for junior year: I give you nothing but the best for this season. Although I will not be rowing with you this year, please know I will always be supportive of you and I hope that you can show you talent at the collegiate level. Any school would be so lucky to have you. So Darren, I just wanted to let you know I am proud of your change and proud of the young man you are becoming. Thank you for proving to me that change can happen.
ReplyDeleteTo Ben Delano: Boy if I could give you anything in this world, it would be some damn motivation. Every time I ask you the question 9 times out of 10 the answer is “I’ll do that later” or “I’m just lazy”. I’ve known you for 6 years now, I’m getting tired of that answer. You are such a bright kid, please do not let that go to waste. Your natural intelligence is insane, anyone would die to have that. With the gift of motivation, I know you would excel in many things outside of school and you can show everyone how great you are. I hope in the future you find the motivation so your intelligence can be put to use.
To my birth mom: I would give you the gift of letting you know how I’m doing. I still love you. I am not mad at you. Many people see your actions as selfish but please know that I know your intentions were selfless. Because of you I am in a healthy and safe environment. Thank you, mom. For giving up your small bundle so my parents could have one. I hope one day that I can come see you and show you the young woman I am becoming. Because I know you would be proud of me.
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ReplyDeleteJess is someone who I can call “as bubbly as a tapioca” or the sunshine to my gloomy days. She always knows how to comfort me and the others and put a smile on our faces. Even when she is having a bad day herself, she still tries to brighten up the atmosphere. To Jess, I bestow her long-lasting, genuine happiness. The kind of happiness where she doesn’t need to try to be happy. The kind of happiness that she not only feels, but her loved ones as well.
ReplyDeleteTo Preston, I bestow him the power of optimism. Whenever I talk to Preston, there is always a point where he becomes Negative Nancy. Sometimes I try to tell him it really isn’t that bad and just look at the bright side, but it rarely works. So I’m giving him the power of optimism for him to handle the negatives he’ll encounter as good challenges that will better himself and as motivation to success.
To my stepdad, I bestow him good health and a life of luxury. From the time he graduated college until now, he took full responsibility of providing for his family. He has taken all that weight that sometimes I would hear him telling my mom that his shoulders, his knees, and/or his back are in pain or he isn't feeling well. My step dad makes sure his parents, brother, nephews, and his own family have what they need. In addition to that, he tries to find time just to be present in our school activities and events. My brother and I aren't even his own kids but he treats us as his own; his treatment with his kids and with us are no different at all. My stepdad is literally the person who would do anything for his family before himself. He is a super dad. I think it's his turn to spoil himself without worrying about us. This time, I want him to worry about himself first before anyone else.
Preston Phommathep:
ReplyDeleteFor someone who is smart and is the top of our class, Preston has a few flaws. Not only is his grammar bad, but his handwriting is sometimes unreadable; therefore, I shall enhance his English writing skills. With this, Preston would be able to speak and write properly and people would not have trouble reading his astounding yet interesting essays.
Etimbuk Ukpe:
As much as I love her, I cannot always praise Etimbuk. Even though she is smart, reliable, and someone I cannot help but have the biggest smile for, Etimbuk always blame me for being the interruption of her work. While I am able to finish whatever assignment I am working on, Etimbuk barely starts hers. We always somehow end up chatting away in the middle of our work and Etimbuk does not notice that she stops working, which is why I would like to bestow her the power of multitasking. With this power, she would be able to work and talk to me at the same time AND she would not have to blame me for being a distraction to her.
Jaron Zou:
I would give my brother the power of understanding. Already at the age of 13, my brother still does not understand the efforts my grandmother puts into him. He is unappreciative of the strict lessons my grandmother gives to him and always have arguments with her. I understand why he is frustrated with her, but I also see how hurt and frustrated my grandmother is. If my brother sees the way my grandmother is trying to express her love to him, he would at least be a bit more kinder towards her and treat her nicely.
I’ve been thinking about this blog for a while now and I keep running into a reoccurring issue, if I were to give someone an idea, or a power, or a trait, the person simply wouldn’t be themselves anymore. This made me upset thinking about it and it made me realize that with just a tad more of something, or a whole lot of a new trait, we wouldn’t be us. With that being said I just want to thank everyone for being the way they are and to remind you to never change yourself for anything.
ReplyDeleteThe first person I choose is Dom Ciro. For Dom I would like to give him the ability to focus. You can ask any teacher and they will tell you that he is a smart kid, he just has a tough time pinpointing his brain on one thing at a time (especially in school). I’ve only had one class with Dom before but I know that he is smart and has potential. At the same time it makes me frustrated in the fact that our education system is only fit for one type of learning style, so if you aren’t good at notes it’s extremely hard to succeed. Being able to see Dom prosper in a school environment would give teachers the ability to appreciate him more.
The second person I want to give something to is Kelsey Andrus. For her I would like to give her something a little different. I would like to give her a friend that is just like her. Sort of like in that episode of Spongebob when he creates his bubble buddy. This friend would listen to anything and everything she had to say, and would also share her undying love for field hockey. I feel like Kelsey having someone like that would make her more confident (not that she isn’t confident already). I would love to see Kelsey be happy and proud of everything she does and never doubt herself.
The final and third person I am picking is Mr. Thomas. For him I would like to give him just a dash of selfishness. Mr. Thomas is a very selfless person. He is a teacher that means a lot to me and is one of the very few people in this world who is able to inspire me to do great things. He is such a humble man and I admire him greatly for that, but at times he deserves things that he feels as though he doesn’t. Mr. Thomas will also put so many people before he puts himself. He is just such an amazing teacher and role model and I hope in time he gets everything he deserves and more.
Starting this blog post off strong I would like to gift my sister with the gift of patience. Although Haley is a very kind and lovely, she tends to lack in the patience department. Theirs nothing better than hearing Haley scream every morning "Max hurry up we're going to be late!!!!". Only for my response to be something along the lines of "Give me 5 minutes please". Give it 2 minutes or so and she will be yelling again about how i'm late.
ReplyDeleteThe second person in the Lang family that I would give would be Alexa. I would gift Alexa with the give of a stress free life. Now don't get me wrong, a little bit of stress to motivate someone to get something done is perfectly fine, but Alexa goes a little over the top. I have never seen someone stress out so much over homework in general. This gift of a stress free life would allow Alexa to take a step back and enjoy high school.
The third and final gift that I would give out would be to Sam. Sam is one of my closet friends, and hes really chill, but sometimes Sam says stuff without thinking. Its not an everyday thing, but their will be sometimes where Sam just says something that he later regrets. This is why I would like to give Sam the gift of thinking things through everything hes about to react to something. This will allow Sam to think through the reactions of others before he says something he doesn't actual mean.
I hope everyone is having a very happy and fun break from school. This break was well deserved.
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ReplyDeleteTo Matthew Carter, my gift to him would be appreciation. It seems when your last name is Carter at Oakcrest, you carry a great amount of talent and excell at everything you do. It's happened with Mitch whose graduated, Myles being a sophomore,and I just so happened to be in the same graduating class with the middle one. I've known Matt for about half my life now, and I can assure you, he is outgoing, athletic and just a all around talented human being. And you can say in a way, I strive to be Matt on some occasions. And I usually end up embarrassing myself or not doing it at all, but this blog is not about me. The message I am trying to get across is that every high school student should strive to be like Matt.
ReplyDeleteMy second gift is to Gabi Johnson and my gift to her is compassion. When you're around Gabi, she just has this giant bubble of energy around her that can't be broken. While I formally introduced myself to her only last year, I can say that last year in Mrs.Adair’s period 6’s English class was definitely full of a lot of laughs and giggles. And I just so happen to sit next to the one of the most outgoing girls in the class. Gabi has taught to me to be more social and to speak your mind much more about certain situations you're involved in. She is truly dedicated to her work ethic and her lifestyle and I can respect that and she will always be a friend of mine.
My final gift goes to my mother and that gift is a pair of wings. If you ever heard the song “Pair of Wings” by Justin Timberlake, that song relates to my relationship with my mother so much. I honestly don't know what I would do without her because she's my rock. This is the person I lean on during a time of need, grief and wisdom. And it hurts me day by day to see her struggle to provide for me and my sister by putting a roof over our heads, food on the table, and money for college while still being single. My mother isn't a person of greed, she just wishes for a time where she can be happy and relaxed and not worried about her kids. My wish is that for her, to be happy and fly away from the dangers of the world on a pair of wings. She is my best friend and my rock and for that, I will always love her and cherish her forever.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteArianna
Hersi
My love
Arianna has gone through so many difficult obstacles that left bruises. One of the bruises that was left was anxiety. Her anxiety stems from her fear and lack of a sense of security. Therefore, I'd give Ari, security. Whenever, she gets an anxiety attack it puts her in a bad mindset and it prevents her from perform certain tasks. Anxiety limits her happiness and puts worries at the forefront in her mind.Once Ari begins to feel safe it will make her anxiety attack stop and she will overall be a happier person.
Your health determines how well your body functions, the diseases/cancers you could face and how long you will live. Therefore, I'd gift Hersi good health. Hersi has hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. If not treated right this condition can result in worse conditions such as cancer. With this gift of good health Hersi doesn't have to worry about getting cancer or any other worse conditions in the future.
For my love, I’d love to give you ambition. You consistently vent about how fucked up your life is and blame the challenges and struggles you face for you not being able to do something. But, my love I want you to know that regardless of how many people push you in a corner and tell you that you’ll amount to nothing, you are EVERYTHING. I want you to find ambition and with it I want you to go back to school. Regardless, how many late bills and long hours you have to work. I want you to stop saying that I can’t do this because of this. I NEED you to look forward and know that things will get better. Even if you don’t believe it, I promise that you are NOT a fuck up. I promise that you are LOVED. I promise that you’re AMAZING.
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ReplyDeleteTo Aja, I would like to give her the gift of confidence.I can say without a doubt that Aja is definitely one of my prettiest friends.I love everything about her like her personality, sense of style, and the advice she gives. I’m pretty sure most people don’t have anything against Aja because she’s one of those people who doesn’t really bother anyone and if you’re around her then she’ll definitely make you smile or laugh. What a lot of people don’t know about Aja is she doesn’t realize how beautiful she is. I can’t tell you how many times she’s said “I look sick without makeup” and I just give her a straight face because if she didn’t put makeup on everyday she looks just as a beautiful. She has the beauty that comes naturally to her and I don’t think she realizes that whenever she looks in the mirror and instead she finds these imperfections that nobody else really even recognizes. Aja’s the girl that’ll gas all of her friends up, but she usually never says anything nice about her own looks. My lil jawn can come in on a outfit she just threw on and no make up and I can guarantee she’ll still look beautiful. You’re beautiful inside and out Aja, better start believing it!
ReplyDeleteTo cece, I would like to give her the gift of acknowledging her worth. She puts way too much upon herself whether it’s with school, friends, family, or boys. When I tell you she stresses a lot, believe me, it's A LOT. I feel like Cece doesn’t acknowledge how smart, caring and beautiful she is. I think the main reason behind this is boys and the stuff people have said around her or to her. I would like to tell her that if any boy is dumb enough to want you, it’s his loss. Who wouldn’t want a person who’s so caring,smart and adorable? Any guy you have/had a crush on wasn’t ever worth the stress because a guy who genuinely sees your worth is going to be a guy you’ll never have to stress about. The same girls that have ever called you names are only jealous of you. If anyone knows you, they can tell that you always strive for perfection and no matter what you do, you become incredibly great at whatever you put your mind to. Realize how much you’re worth and understand that anyone who has you in their life is honestly blessed, I know I am.
To my boyfriend, I'd like to gift him the ability to trust others. When you look at him you wouldn't really think he has a trust issues or that he's broken in the inside by any means, but you can't for a lot of people. He's been through stuff that makes it understandable for him to have trust issues, but I wish to gift him with trust so he understands that not everyone is going to hurt him and leave when shit gets difficult. Not everyone is out to get him and some only wish to see him happy just like his family, friends and definitely myself. Everyone comes into your life as a blessing or a lesson and it just so happens a lot of people in his life have been lessons. If he learned to trust people again he'd be so much happier and wouldn't always be thinking someone's out to do him dirty.
I wish for Nicole Morgan to be able to acknowledge her kind heart. She's one of the sweetest girls I've ever met. Going into my forensics class sixth period everyday is something I look forward to because she brightens my day. I wish for her to notice her kind heart because she should never think negatively about herself. She's a total sweet heart and I only want her to recognize how rare it is for me to come across such a sweet soul. I wish for her to see how sweet she is and how much I appreciate her presence.
ReplyDeleteI wish for Alex Harley to see his potential. I want him to realize he can do anything he puts his mind to. This AP Lang class may get hard but I wish for him to know he's got this. He has commented in class about the struggle the class can be but he should know
he's fully capable of succeeding in this class. I wish for him to know I believe in him.
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ReplyDeleteTo do this blog I obviously chose two people that I know well enough to gift them theoretically. So I obviously chose Brittany and Ben (Pham). And for my last person I chose my beloved mother.
ReplyDeleteMy theoretical gift for Brittany would be the gift to speak up, to speak her mind. Brittany is my best friend in the whole entire world and I can honestly say Brittany is one of the nicest people I've ever encountered (if not the nicest). I don't want to say Brittany is too nice because there's nothing wrong with that. But very rarely have I ever seen Brittany speak her mind, or in some cases stick up for herself. And when she has sometimes people would say she's been spending too much time with me. Brittany, being my best friend, I sometimes have spoken her mind for her (with her permission of course). But when Brittany is having a problem with someone I would like to gift her with the power to confront the problem to its face without fear of any consequence. If something is bothering her I would like her to not worry about any consequential “what ifs” and to not look back. It takes a lot for Brittany to get upset and when she does I would like her to speak her mind and stick up for herself. Brittany is also one of the smartest people I know, so if she had something to say I guarantee it wouldn't be something ignorant or irrelevant.
My theoretical gift for Ben would be the power to “let go.” To not let things such as simple little letter grades get to him. All the time I see Ben stressing over tests he's going to be taking, unfinished homework, etc. That if he doesn't get perfect grades he's not going to get accepted into a good college. I hate seeing people let school take over their lives. Not that Ben does that, but sometimes it seems like Ben let's his grades define him. No letter grade defines your level of intelligence or how smart you are (them not not being the same thing). Ben is smart whether his grades show it or not. You can tell someone is smart and if they're intelligent or not through their personality.. Ben had helped me countless times with my homework that I didn't understand, and I didn't ask him because of his GPA or anything along that nature. Furthermore, I would like Ben to not stress over his grades and not think of them as anything more as a letter on the internet or on a piece of paper you get in the mail. Because grades don't define anybody. I would like to give Ben the gift of letting go.
My theoretical gift to my Mom is nevertheless my appreciation for her. You might think I could easily show her how much I appreciate her but I could never show her how much I fully do appreciate her. My gift would be for her to see how my I really appreciate her (if that's even possible). How much I appreciate everything she still managed to provide for my sister and I even after my father passed. That she paid all the bills, held down the house, cooked for us, bought us stuff when we “had to have something” all by herself! How much I appreciate all she's taught me, the little tips and tricks that I will someday teach my kids. How much I appreciate her support, going to every single one of my competitions, band concerts, auditions that took all day even when I didn't even end up making it. How much I appreciate all the laughs we shared and our little mother-daughter conversations. How much I appreciate her driving me to school everyday and staying up all night when I need help finishing a school project. How much I appreciate having her as a mom. She will never know how much I appreciate her because no act of kindness or I love you could ever do it justice. My gift to my Mom would be to show her how much I appreciate her.
For Benjamin Delano, my buddy ol’ pal, I would give the power of dedication. I could probably give this to everyone, but this is a special case. Sorry to put you on the spot, but another word for lazy is Ben. I truly feel bad every time I see you doing work on your phone when its due the next period (Not for Lang though, you’re always on point for that!). When I ask “Why didn’t you do it last night?”, I get a whole variety of responses, varying from “I forgot.” to “I fell asleep.”. I know there is an intelligent mind in there, otherwise I would not even bother to write this for you. I know it is really cheesy to say, and it makes me feel like a whole parent, but you just have to apply yourself, and stay dedicated to any task you set your mind to. Once you are able to do that, a whole slew of options will present themselves to you. You can finally afford to own someone, which is your dream.
ReplyDeleteFor Louis DiFabio, I give the gift of a strong willpower. Now I know my grandson Hunter gives you a lot of sass, and quite often disrespects you. And I know the foul language he speaks to you with, and the contempt he holds you in is temporary. I am sure when he grows up, he will come to appreciate you as a father, but I know he will appreciate you even more if you stand up to him now, and show him who is boss. No amount of whoopings from his grandfather will fix his relationship with you, but if you take initiative, I am sure he will shape up. On a more real note I always notice that you tend to just accept whatever situation you are placed in , whether it is favorable or not. I know when some of your friends are around, you get loud, but that does not necessarily mean you are confident. In the other classes I have you in, without that someone, you are really quiet, and you always just shrug off whatever makes you mad or sad. I want to bestow the gift of willpower upon you so that you may make your presence known.
For Chris Lopez I would want to shove the gift of compassion in his face, and down his throat. I would make him eat so much compassion that anything he spews out is chock full of emotion, because that kid is something else. Now I know that deep down, like Mariana Trench deep, he is a kind kid, but technology has not come far enough to let others around him reach it. He is always so negative, and often downplays others achievements, or aspirations. Anytime he tries to compliment someone, it is obviously officious, and it just pisses the person off (excuse my language there). I like him though, and I won’t be petty and go into the nitty and gritty details, so I will make an effort to change him. He is a good kid, so I’ll let it slide for now. I would also extend this to a lesser degree for Hunter. Now I hear he is a sweet and loving child to most people, but there is always a flaw. I would prefer that he be kinder to me and Louis, his elders. I do not know what gets into him when he talks to us, and I am serious, believe me it gets nasty.
To Dom Ciro, I would grant the power of him to stop getting Louis and I in trouble in certain classes. I have known Dom for the longest time and he is one of the funniest people I know. While I know he doesn't mean to do it, Dom can sometimes (most of the time) find a way to get us in trouble in one way or another. This power would grant us more respect from our teachers but at the same time I laugh at half the stuff that comes out of his mouth.
ReplyDeleteFor Tobi, I would give him the ability to stop thinking that he is my grandfather and Louis is my father. Toby is a comedian but I mean come on we aren't family related. He has never beaten me and I have slapped him on multiple occasions. Louis in no way shape or form is my dad. lets be real if Tobi was anything he would be my son but that would be impossible and Tobi if you are reading this take notes on what your seeing. I have also never said nasty things to Tobi or Lou. They are both my friends but Tobi might get smacked when I come back from break.
For Sam, I would give him the ability to knit anything and everything. Sam has recently adopted a new hobby of knitting. Most think it's creepy while others (few) think it's cool. But I guess Sam enjoys it and as long as it keeps him occupied from saying stupid stuff in class and being quiet I guess it's good. So Sam, knit away and I give you this power to knit anything you want too.
For Taylor, I give you my confidence. Trust me, I may not have much either but I give you all that I have. You’re a strong and beautiful girl and you need to start realizing that! Don't worry and stress over the little things and start owning them. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to if you start believing in yourself.
ReplyDeleteFor Aja, I give you the ability to speak up! You're a very smart girl and you probably know more than you think. Don't be afraid to raise your hand and share your thoughts and ideas. Being partners with you a few times last year, I know you have a ton of knowledge.
For my mom, I give her the ability to relax. She is constantly either studying for school, or at work, causing her to be very stressed. She’s a real estate agent that works almost everyday and is going to nursing school on top of that. She works hard to keep a roof over my head and I can't thank her enough for all that she does. She is also very selfless and generous to her friends and family. She deserves a life long tropical vacation to equal the amount of things that she does for everybody.
I would give Dom Ciro the ability always have the right reads on his opponents in poker. Dom usually knows how to read his opponents well when it comes to playing, but like everyone he makes mistakes and makes the wrong decision. If he has this reading ability he will never be bluffed off hands and he will always know when people are trying to bluff him or if they really have the best hand. With this ability he will be able to win the Main Event in Las Vegas when he’s 21 and lend me a million or two. The problem with this that I will never be able to beat him when we play, but I guess it would be a good change since I always bluff him off with the deuce seven offsuit.
ReplyDeleteI would give Hunter Boney the ability to track the animals he wants to hunt. I know that hunting can take very long, be difficult, and take an enormous amount of patience. With this ability, Hunter would be able to see the highlighted tracks left by the animal. He would be able to easily track it and find it much easier. I would be a lot faster and more efficient. It would take away the traditional way of hunting, but it would be a cool change.
I would give my dad the ability to not overreact. My dad is a great person, but he overreacts about the littlest things that can easily be fixed. With this ability he wouldn’t freak out when I knock over a glass of iced tea or forget to take the trash out. It would make the house a lot calmer with a lot less yelling. Nonetheless, I love my dad even when he gets mad about unimportant things.
Jana: When I'm on my last leg and by myself, Jana cures me. She brings me back to Earth when I'm up to high, and shows me how great I am when I'm low. Everyday I tell her how much she means to me, and how much I appreciate her, but there is no way of explaining or showing how grateful and appreciative I am to have her in my life. I would give her the gift of knowing her worth. She doesn't realize the effect she has on people. She introduced me to new concepts and made me a better person. She's prevented me from going down dark paths, and I'll forever be in her debt because of that.
ReplyDeleteDom: Dom is one of those kids that is a lot different than what they seem. On the surface, Dom seems loud, annoying, careless, and selfish. Dom is the absolute opposite of all the traits I listed. Whenever something goes wrong, Dom steps up and either takes the blame, or becomes a leader. I would give Dom the gift of being understood. Dom is more than the loud kid who makes the class laugh. Dom is a leader, intelligent, and moralistic.
Sam: Sam is a kid that fights battles that you wouldn’t think he fights. However, he always keeps his head up and continues to be positive and make other people's days. If I could give Sam anything, it would be the gift of promise. I wish I could tell him that everything he’s fighting will go away, and that he’ll get the love he deserves. There’s not a doubt in my mind that his battles will end and everything will be okay, but I’m sure he doubts that at times, and has moments where he’s hopeless. He deserves more than he receives, and one day he’ll get the things that have been overdue in his life. He just has to keep pushing and being patient.
My first gift would be to Kayla. I would give her my appreciation. Kayla is one of the smartest friends I’ve ever had. She has taught me a lot of things and she has helped me get through a lot. Kayla has been by side not only as a friend but as a sister. Even when we became distant she was always there for me. She has been there to tell me my rights and wrongs. She is one person who has helped me become a stronger person. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to find myself when I really needed to. I would still be going through a phase that I should have snapped out of. I would also give Kayla the ability to realize how great of a person she is and that it’s okay to make mistakes. If anyone knows Kayla, they know that everything must be perfect. If she makes one little mistake she automatically knocks herself down about it. I would like her to realize that it’s okay to be wrong sometimes.
ReplyDeleteMy second gift would be to Gabi. My gift to her would be happiness. Gabi has been my best friend since the fourth grade and she has always been the outgoing and joyful one. No matter what she’s always hype even if she really isn’t in the mood. The times where I feel down and miserable she always knows how to put a smile back on my face. There’s never a time where we aren’t laughing. Although, Gabi and I have had our ups and downs a numerous of times, she’s always going to play a significant role in my life. She’s one person I can make dumb jokes with all day. I would love to see her just be happy no matter what. Also, I would like Gabi to realize her worth and that she’s a beautiful person inside and out.
For my Mom, I would give her the ability to care for herself. My mom has the tendency to put everyone else before her. My mom works extremely hard and she looks out for everyone and seems to forget that she must look out for herself. I want my mom to start thinking about herself more than others.
Merry Christmas Y’all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I would like to give the following people these abstract ideas.
For starters we have Kaitlyn. For Christmas I want you to know just how much I admire you. We grew up playing soccer together, but you were one of the few of us who stopped, to pursue and follow your own path of dreams. The rest of us were still on the field running around, actually probably walking to be honest, but you led your own future, not fearing the outcomes or the obstacles you would face on the journey. I admire your bravery and your confidence needed to participate in the musicals each year, but most importantly I admire how you view the world. You taught me to not care what others think, you taught me to do what I want to do. I admire that you’re so independent and that you don’t care about pleasing others, as long as you’re happy. I admire you for being you. Thank you for showing me how to be happy by being myself.
Secondly, I would like to give a Christmas gift to my good friend Lianna Granola Bar, or LiLi, or if you want to be formal, Lianna Graniglia, but that’s boring so let's just call her Liannis. Liannis, I would like to give you my respect, for Christmas. Wow, I didn’t realize how awkward this would be until until I started typing it, but it’s true. Anyways, I respect you and everything you do, somehow in Junior year you manage to have the perfect balance of everything. You can easily get down to business when it comes to schoolwork, and easily laugh your ass off whenever you see fit. I respect that you persevere through the hard times either during school or during sports. I respect that you make the best out of every situation. Whether you're crying over the stress of overwhelming homework or not able to pay attention in class because you have a constant case of the giggles you always put a smile on my face. Thank you for being the most well rounded goofball out there.
Lastly, I would like to give a Christmas Present to my surgeon. I know, it’s kind of awkward, but as I was on my way home from a Showcase today, I got to thinking. I am extremely grateful to have the skill and determination I have for field hockey. But in reality, I’m extremely grateful to even be able to play the sport ever invented. That is why I would like to give my surgeon, Dr. Holden, my gratitude for Christmas. My freshman year, I thought my life was over. I had had a history of terrible knees. No kidding, I hurt one of them every season (fall and spring) for about 4 years. The last time I hurt my right knee, I completely destroyed it, to the point that myself, my parents, and even my doctors questioned whether I would continue to have an athletic future. Dr. Holden did everything she could during surgery. She said that the MRIs and x-rays didn’t do the damage justice, my knee was torn apart. She extended what was supposed to be a 2 hours surgery into about 6 or 8 hours, just to make sure she got everything right and that I wouldn’t have problems in the future. Thanks to her, I know longer remember the days I sat depressed, crying on the couch in pain. She is the reason I am to run smoothly without hesitation or pain, she is the reason I can continue playing, she is who I owe all my gratitude towards. She is the reason I am thankful each and everyday.
I honestly adore Andy’s sweet and wise personality, which he keeps to himself mostly. The only way to really grasp a conversation with Andy is if you open up to him first due to his introvert personality. Because of this, I would give Andy the power of being an extrovert. He would use this power when he feels the need to gain new friendships or talk to the girl he has a crush on. Also, being an extrovert would come in handy when presenting things in class for boosting up his grade. I hope that with this “power” Andy can become more social and be able to make important relationships in his life.
ReplyDeleteTo Kyla, I would give her the power of anticipation. Almost every time there's an assignment due or a test coming up, Kyla and I have the same conversation. The conversation involves me asking her if she did it or if she studied and her replying “I'm almost done” or “No I just started”, on the same day the task is due. I would give Kyla this power to use when homework is assigned and tests are scheduled. The power of anticipation will help her so that she could finish and study for everything and anything ahead of time. I hope that with this power Kyla’s grades will increase and she will no longer be a procrastinator.
The last person I chose to give an ability or “power” to is my boyfriend. A lot of times my boyfriend struggles to find trust in people and because of that he’s shy and has little to no friends. In that case, to relieve any of his stress or worries about people, I would give him the ability to trust. He would use his trust to gain closer bonds with his friends and to never have the fear that someone is out to get him. The ability to trust is great for happiness and having more faith in life. I hope my boyfriend will never have to be paranoid and will be able to live stress free.
Im back, finishing my blog post from before. I misread it and didn't write about someone not in the Lang family, so here goes..... I would give my dad the ability to know his worth. My dad is always at work. He's a work-a-holic and as much as I appreciate that, I rarely get time to tell him that. He misses out on so many family events due to working. Sometimes he feels left out and lonely. I want him to know how much he means to my family and I want him to know that he has made a huge impact on all of our lives. Without him, we wouldn't have a house or food or a fun life. He means the world to me and even though I don't get the chance to tell him that often, I want him to know how much he is worth.
ReplyDeleteTo Hunter I would give him willpower for both life and school. Oh Hunter almost every single day at school, he always complains and complains about all the homework he gets. Although I wouldn't blame him for complaining it's just that the only day he doesn't is went he's absent. At almost every conversation I've had with Hunter he never fail to mention his topic of "Ugh why do I so much of this damned work". Don't get me wrong he doesn't complain all the time, its really just at this point I'm a little bit concerned when he gets a job with all the complaints I've heard from him. So with my gift of willpower to Hunter I hope he uses it to persist on with what ever work load he's given (even if it is a butt-load of work)
ReplyDeleteFor Louis Difabio I would gift him brotherly love. For as long as I knew Louis he always been a darn good friend to me. We would talk about lots of things from video games, school work, and even our day in general. Especially all those times where he reminded me of some homework I completely forgot to do. And also reminding for some tests I needed to study for. Then in turn I try to help him out on subjects like math as best I can. So I would like to give Louis brotherly love for being my friend and looking out for me, because I personally have a bit of trouble making friends so I try to cherish them all.
To start off this blog, I choose my good friend Matthew Carter to start off the gift giving. Carter is that type of person who is good all around. Reasonably smart, quite athletic, magnificently talented in music, and undoubtedly popular. He’s the type of guy that’s close to being flawless. But he does have one flaw. He’s sarcastic most of the time. While being sarcastic is not really a bad thing, too much of it is. At one point in time, Matt and I were walking in the hallways when one person had a question for Matt. It was a stupid question testing Matt’s comprehension and Matt sarcastically joked around about it. I kind of knew the guy more than Matt and I knew how he acted. While sarcastically joking about it, the person deems Matt as intellectually retarded and considering how high school life goes, rumours may have flied around. Thus, I wish Matt to know when to not be sarcastic because it can come around and bite him in the a**.
ReplyDeleteNext up would be my childhood friend Melissa Zou. What is the purpose of an inside joke when the person forgets the “inside” part. How are you going to make a serious point if the person forgets what happened in the past that makes it serious. I personally have terrible memory. I can remember events from the past and certain information such as, “The endocrine system is the body system that consists of glands…blah blah blah”. However, what I don’t remember is certain events that happen in the time period of last night to two days. Melissa on the other hand has a stronger case of forgetfulness. One example is when in Art Club, I made a joke in our own clique in the art room. It was an inside joke. It’s really embarrassing when no one laughs at a joke and Melissa made me a fool with the words “what are you talking about”. And right there, my dream of being a comedian died.
Finally I would bestow the final gift, only giving three presents due to a tight budget, to my friend from pre-school. Preston Phommathep. And his present is peace. He may be more innocent than anyone else and may be ignorant of other people’s emotions due to his innocence. He also has a bad habit of being evil. He can practically be the asian version of Dr. Evil. The things he says can either be really mellow or really harsh. Therefore I present him the present of peace. He doesn’t have to use this present all the time since his harshness is sometimes laughable, but he should know when to take the detrimental remarks down a notch.
I've realized that I have been a trend on this blog question. It's fine with me as I enjoy it. But I think I'm going to do the question too.
ReplyDeleteMacgyver: Like he loves to remind us no one knows who the real Macgyver is. And I would not give him a trait to open his true feelings or anything like that. But Macgyver is a kid that has so many good morales going for him. He is respectable responsible and bold. For Mac I would give him the great power of being more open. I think that there is a great deal things we don't know about Mac that would just add to his great list of details.
Louis Jean DiFabio: Is Louis the greatest kid I have ever gotten to call a friend, most likely. He is smart and athletic. And I could laugh with him all day. But a key I would give him is being more accepting. Not only towards others but towards my sense of humor. He is somewhat put on the spot when I call him out or anything like that. Once Lou learns to accept me, we will start to make a thousand dollars a day off of Texas hold and craps.
Jana: Jana is a brave smart and funny girl who I became really chops friends with freshman year. Now even though she talks all big and all that, she is still a great person to me and is very respectable. But what I would give Jana is the realization that she can't beat me. Now if you have Jana and me in biomed you know how she always is arguing with me. Now with this wonderful gift that I provide for her will now prove that she can't beat me. Still love her though.
Hear a happy New Years everyone.
Stay safe, have fun, and get lit!!
A white box with a sparkling bow sits waiting in her car. Once opened, she will find that she is relieved because she won’t have to worry about our family or any surrounding Vietnamese person judging her and her choices. It’s already stressful enough with trying to finish school in four years when it’s typically finished in five. But, she’s also always driving between two different hospitals and her house, working her butt off to pay off her loans, always looking forward. Luckily, she has her high school sweetheart supporting her and has been for seven years. But, that’s the problem. We’re not allowed to date in high school. Once they find out, they’re going to talk. Because that’s all they ever do, my parents included. As soon as she graduates, she’ll probably be engaged and be stressed out about the wedding. And, she’ll want to keep it a secret until the invitations go out. All the while, they will be talking about her because that’s what they do. But, with this gift, she won’t have to worry about them criticizing her every move. She looks at the tag: To my godmother and my cousin.
ReplyDeleteShe unzips her blue Under Armour duffel bag to find a blue box covered in wrapping paper with cats and dogs on it. She unwraps the box and opens it to find that her anxiety has gone down to a normal level. It’s not her fault that she stresses out too much over everything: what they think, what she wears, what her future looks like. It’s not like she wants to think about something that *might* happen to the point that it consumes her, her head spinning and she’s on the brink of tears. So much has happened to her. But, she continues. She dances and smiles, always there. With this gift, I hope she lives life a little happier because she deserves it. Underneath it, there’s a note: To my best friend and fellow crazy cat lady.
After opening the door to her cubby, she looks up and sees a golden box tied with a music note ribbon next to her flute. She unties it and opens the box to discover that she now has the strength and courage to speak her mind. She is kind. But, she’s too kind when she doesn’t want to say what they don’t want to hear. It’s one of her weaknesses: she can’t say no. And people take advantage of it. They are parasites feeding off of it. It drains her, but they just won’t stop following her or bugging her because they always want more. She tries to get them off, but doesn’t hit hard enough. With this gift, she can finally get rid of all the parasites and get on with her life. There’s a message written on the box: To my best friend and flute buddy
The first person I choose would be Kaitlyn. I would give Kaitlyn the gift of reassurance. Kaitlyn has been one of my best friends for a very long time now and I never really tell her how much I appreciate her for constantly being there for me. Therefore, I would like to reassure her that she is an amazing person inside and out. I don't think she sees this in herself either. I would also like to reassure her that she will always be loved, especially by me. She is one of the few friends of mine that I know for a one hundred percent fact that I will always care for and would always want to stay in my life no matter what. Kaitlyn is one of my best friends because of the kind of person she is. She is honest, trusting, respectful, and so much more, so she deserves to be reassured how much she means to me.
ReplyDeleteThe second person I would like to give a gift to would be Max. I would like to give Max confidence. He has also been a very good friend of mine for a very long time so I know him well enough to know he isn't too confident in himself when he should be. He has insecurities that he shouldn't have because they aren't necessary. Max is a good friend, funny, good looking, etc. Confidence is important for everybody to have because it helps them to love themselves more. Confidence is also important for opportunities that come your way. Not having confidence can cause you to miss out on things you want to do, or things you want to say.
The third person I would like to do is Tobi. Tobi may not come off as a hard worker, but he definitely is. So I would give him the gift of appreciating himself and all he does for himself. Tobi is one of the smartest people I have ever met, despite his constant goofiness and corny jokes. But I don't think he gives himself enough credit for all that he does and how hard he works for himself. I respect him a lot for this and he deserves to be noticed, especially by himself. So Tobi, continue to work hard and pat yourself on the back once in awhile for your achievements so far.
The first gift I'd give would be to Bobi. This gift would be courage. With this courage, comes independence and confidence. One too many times, Bobi's lack of courage has caused him to get into predicaments, or have kept him from getting out of predicaments. For example, I remember being told of a story where Bobi was accused of cheating but didn't have the courage to speak up against it or fight for himself. I personally know he's really not one to cheat so hearing how he just gave in like that kind of upset me. He in his heart knows what to do, he just doesn't have the guts to do anything about his situation.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I’d give Tobi true focus. By that I mean focus that is self inflicted, one that lasts and is not deterred. Too many times Tobi has started to take notes but then two minutes later started playing a game on his phone. Furthermore, when Tobi DOES focus, it usually is against what he truly wants and is only being done because of his parents. Seeing him lost sometimes actually makes me very upset considering he’s one of my closer friends so if I could possible gift him this trait, it would be a gift to me too.
Finally, Alfonso. Alfonso, as YOU(Bunje) know, has been going through some tough times recently. I can go the cliché and say I wish to give him strength, but I’m not. I’d give Alfonso the ability to trust his heart. One too many times I’ve seen a text pop up and it was him asking what to do about something. Constant doubt to himself, and constant doubt to his feelings. It breaks my heart to see him like this, doubting everything. As he slowly gets better, I’d still like to bestow upon him the ability to trust his heart. Being happy comes easier knowing and trusting that in your heart you made the right decision so I really do wish he could trust his own heart to do the right thing.
To Louis DiFabio I give the ability to not be so damn good at poker. My friends and I play poker almost every week and I seem to be the worst poker player in the planet. Week after week I lose money because I suck and I always lose against Louis. I have become broke because of these weekly poker events and because Louis takes all of my money. So I grant Louis this ability so I may actually win some money and support my family in my time of need. If you can't tell by now I was joking but Louis is pretty damn good. If Louis had this ability I could actually win for once and lose every week and not get roasted for me being bad.
ReplyDeleteThe next person I am giving an ability to will be Dominick Ciro. I grant Dom the gift of patience. Dom is one of the people we play poker with every week and he is also good as well. Dom tends to have a very short temperament in poker when someone takes two milliseconds to do something and acts like he has to go on a hot date in 5 minutes. His rage leads to fist fights and someone might bleed on the poker table a bit. Once again I was joking but Dom does tend to get a little impatient. Dom is a really good friend of mine but this would be the gift he needs in life and most importantly in poker.
To my Sister I would give her the gift of a filter and by filter I mean a filter for talking. I love my sister a lot but she tends to say or do things in the wrong place and at the wrong time. She speaks her mind a lot which is very good for who she wants to be but this might be her downfall one day. If she could control the things she said and not make the wrong people angry would be a huge plus for her in life. So to my Sister I give her this special speech filter to carry around and save her butt once in a while.
My childhood friend, Melissa Zou, may seem quiet at first, but once you truly get to know her, she is loud and very engaging when it comes to conversations. One thing that I can never fathom about her though is where does she get the surplus amount of energy to run on every day with only, on average, around two to three, maybe less, hours of sleep every night. How could such a small body hold that much energy with only a few hours of sleep on the night before? But sometimes, she would complain about how much sleep she got and how bad her procrastination was; which is why I would like to bestow upon her the power of not procrastinating, that way she could get the sleep that she needs. Not only does she procrastinate on homework, she would procrastinate on going to bed too by staying up to catch up on her Chinese dramas, reading her “interesting” manga, and watching anime. One of the few benefits of her procrastinating though is knowing that I have someone to go up to for help when it’s 1 or 2 a.m. in the morning and I have someone to talk to at that late into the night about certain topics. So I would give Melissa the ability to stop procrastinating since it would definitely provide many benefits upon her health and life.
ReplyDeleteKarla Pena, even though she is someone who I just started talking to last year, is a kind (sometimes mean though), funny, and a hard-working perfectionist who always strives to get things done in the most effective and efficient way possible. Most of the time, she is someone who I can rely on for aid on my English work and she is not afraid to criticize me in band class. But one thing about her that stands out is how quiet her voice is. Whenever I talk to her, I have to put all of my focus into trying to understand what she is saying due to the low volume of her voice. But in reverse, she always tells me to quiet down because I am too loud. So I would like to give her a (not as loud as mine) louder voice, one where she can voice her opinions louder and speak at a louder volume. For instance, let me just say that her voice is a two on the computer’s “adjust system volume” chart; all I am saying is to raise it up to somewhere around the nine to twelve range (my voice would be twenty-five at least).
My foreign cousin, Peak, was someone who was at the top of his class in Thailand and was seen to have great potential for his future career as an engineer. But he had the stage of being a NEET (an acronym for Not in Education, Employment, or Training) after dropping out of college, even though his parents worked hard to support his education by sending him to America for studying at a college there. He had the knowledge of three languages and had the reputation of being a great swimmer over at Thailand. But he dropped all of that to continue playing League of Legends in his bedroom and become a freeloader for his life. Now, he is forced by his family to go towards the career path of engineering. To him, I would gift him the present of motivation to strive towards a successful future as an engineer and not as a bum who would not want to do anything. He is innately intelligent and just putting it to waste would be disappointing not only his parents but all of my mother’s side of the family who had supported both him and his equally as talented sister in securing a prosperous future.
For Macgyver I would give him the gift of acceptance of what's in front of him. Macgyver never understands when he has something great going for him at that time and place, for example (not going to tell his business) but he has lady problems sometimes and don't realize that they could make him the happiest little kid on the earth. As a close friend I want to see my man with the baddest girl in the world because it would be me and my friends killing the game, and soon be billionaires.
ReplyDeleteFor Lianna I would give her the gift of a better face. (In a good way) Because every time I see Lianna she looks so upset with the world, and as her being one of my homies that I grew up with and made it out the hood with I don't every want to see her looking like she hates the world. But I constantly have to see that. And as the kids would say "I don't bangs with that". So for Christmas I would give Lianna a better face. (Not saying it's not cute now because she looked like a whole 10/10 back in the 5th grade).
To Julianna: For Julianna, I would give her the gift of invincibility. For the past two years since I’ve marched with the band, I’ve witnessed Julianna somehow mess up her leg near the peak of each season. Last year she twisted her ankle while jazz running. This year she hurt her foot by slipping down the stairs. Despite these injuries, she proceeds to work and practice. From my freshman year until now, I have never seen her miss a practice or sit out during one. Whether she's sick or not she always manages to show up. Although her entire leg may be messed up, she never takes a rest or sits out. She proceeds to stand up and finish the show. She refuses to miss a practice because of anything. Instead of seeing her in pain from practicing, I would gift her with invincibility so that she doesn’t have to worry about hurting herself.
ReplyDeleteTo Brittany: For Brittany, I would give her the ability to tune everyone out when she wants to. Poor, poor Brittany has Period 8 band class. This band class is full of irritating people. 80% of the people that surround her in that band class believe they are geniuses and talk more than they should. Outside of that band class and during marching band, she has to deal with 11 problematic children that complain nonstop. And outside of that, she has stupid friends like me that say stupid stuff. In spite of these things, she continues to have a smile on her face 95% of the time. Yet for the 5% where she's not as smiley, she would be able to tune out people. She wouldn't have to listen to the freshman in her band class complain over and over again. She wouldn't have to listen to 11 people jabbering on and on. She wouldn't have to listen to my stupid and insensitive jokes I make towards her. With the ability to tune people out, Brittany would be able to be smiley 100% of the time instead of 95%.
To My Mom: For my mom, I would give her the gift of immunity. My mom works 14 hours every day. She works 7 days a week since she has 5 kids. If you do the math, that would mean he works 98 hours a week. The average amount of hours worked by Americans weekly is 34 hours. That would mean my mom works approximately 3 times as much as an average American. Because she spends the majority of her time working, she doesn’t have sufficient time for her to get proper sleep. Without enough sleep, your immune system is weakened and you have a higher chance of getting sick. My mom also doesn't go to the doctor because she doesn't have health insurance. Unless she's unable to get up and work, she refuses to go to the doctor. She tells me it takes time away from her work and also costs too much. Since she almost never goes to the doctor, I would give her the gift of immunity so that she wouldn't need to. An apple a day is not proven to keep the doctor away but if you're immune to diseases, that would keep the doctor away, wouldn't it?
***Extra
To Bunje: My gift for Bunje would be the ability to control time. I first met Ms. Bunje my freshman year after I was scared into joining the mock trial team. Long story short some girl banged a gavel at me and told me to join because I was Asian and that mock trial would get me scholarships so I joined. Ever since I've been in room 204 frequently. I spend more time in there than I do a lot of places. I've also witnessed our great AP Lang teacher at her best and at her worst. Lots of times I've seen Bunje sick. If she had the ability to control time, she could slow down or freeze time so she can have a couple more hours to rest or recover. As a teacher, she also has to go to those stupid faculty meetings that every teacher has to go to. If she had the ability to control time she could fast forward it to make those 1-hour meetings go by a lot quicker. She could also use her time controlling powers to slow time down when she's having fun or have some more time to spend with her dogs.
Thank you , Ben <3
DeleteBTW--We are totally using that mock trial story at our banquet this year when we give out senior gifts! lol
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ReplyDeleteTo Hunter I give him confidence. I don't think Hunter realizes how far his kindness goes. As I got to know Hunter I sensed that he is unsure of himself at times. We live in a world where upbuilding words are few and in between while degrading insults are widely accepted. Hunter is proof that good people do still exist. I wish him confidence so that one day he might appreciate this aspect of his personality as much as I do. Hunter will no doubt be bombarded with ignorance in this world but with confidence he will never reflect it. Hunter’s precious quality of kindness is exhilarating. I am beyond thankful to have met a considerate gentleman like him.
ReplyDeleteTo Kyla I give her authenticity. To be authentic means to be genuine and real. I wish this for Kyla in a good way because she downplays who she really is. From growing up with her I know the real Kyla that not everyone sees. I want her to know that she is unique in her own way. No one will ever be like her and she should embrace it. It is so easy to be influenced by others expectations that we sometimes forget what makes us special. Although Kyla doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve I know that she is only acting on self preservation. Not everyone in the past has appreciated her originality as much as I do which has left her with some scars. Kyla can't let the past dull her inner light. Her beauty comes from deeper than what is just on the surface and it is time for her to let the REAL her shine.
To my sister I give her compassion. My sister finds it hard to feel what others feel. She doesn't understand that people have their own problems to contend with along with their own personality flaws. When going through hardships my sister is the last person you would want to talk to. On top of not comprehending, she doesn't necessarily care about anyone else's problems. I wish I could give her the ability to empathize so that even if she chooses not to help people this will help her in the future with every relationship she will ever have.
When most people are put into a situation they’re not fond of they say a simple, two-letter word; No. One person I know that can do this for the life of her is Brittany. Anytime she is forced to pick between “yes” or “no” she usually chooses “yes”. This can be kind of annoying to watch unfold because you know she really wants to deny whatever is being asked of her but miraculously she abides. Without being able to say the magic word she can't truly be herself, so the greatest gift I can think of bestowing upon her is the ability to use the word “No”. That should help with her biggest problems.
ReplyDeleteThe next gift I would give is parental love to Preston. If Preston was my parents child he would be the favorite (confirmed by my parents) yet his parents treat him like his life goals are to work at McDonald's and live in their basement. Preston is number uno in class and plans to be a pharmacist (legal drug dealer as he calls it) which should make 99% of parents proud yet he luckily got the not-do-loving 1%. From listing to the conversation he has with them they sound like they want a perfect son in their imagine but that just isn't reality. He does what they ask without any recognition yet he's told “you don't do anything around the house”. Growing up in a very loving, accepting family it's hard to picture having a relationship with my parents as he does with his. Hopefully having the support of your parents I'll happen one day but until then this is the best I can do.
My final gift would be to the youngest of my brothers, the gift of a level headedness. He has a short fuse which has lead to some anger issues in the past. I tend to think that my brothers and I were spoiled to much as children. My oldest younger brother and I luckily weren't affected by this poor choice but my youngest brother turned out how we should have. The way he acts makes me believe that he is a selfish brat. The only thing that negates this feeling is when I see little acts of love he does like writing about how thankful he is to have me as a brother. These acts show the kindhearted kid he really is underneath these emotions he can't control. I've been a very patient and slowly angered child my whole life and I hope that one day it will pass on to him.
My first gift which is for Etimbuk is the ability to stop second guessing and being doubtful of what you think is right. Everyone knows the expression always follow your gut which works out for them. They will follow or initiate the task without fear of the outcome, but for Etimbuk it's a petite problem. Etimbuk is wise, intelligent, and bright like an owl. She has the answers to everything but second guesses herself which leads to doubt and lack of confidence then confusion. This has happened a plethora of times. Examples are in math, gym, chem, and stories from other classes which even reveal you doubting yourself. In math when Mr. Adkisson utters, "What's the answer to 15?" You would note the answer then 2 secs later you would change the answer. Finally your battling back and forth with your two answers. In the end your first answer was right all along. I have known you for a year and a half and through that single year and possibly 4 or six months in addition, I can say that you should trust your judgements for they are right. This gift will be a perfect gift in conjunction with your brilliant brain. This will help you overcome obstacles and navigate difficult situations as swiftly as wind. In return, it will alleviate your stress.
ReplyDeleteMy second gift goes to Preston the gift of friendliness. Ye though you may be friendly in and out, but your hostile side nullifies it. You would say the most cynical things a human being would never think of or even yet. You would surprisingly chan a positive situation into a complex and bizzare one. This gift will counteract that negative aura and imbue you with a lively bright aura which in return will go along with/ compliment how bright you are.
Lastly my third gift goes to Justin the ability to be able to make a decision and stop being lazy. Justin P is a phenomenal, generous and well rounded friend. But he pretty much sucks at making decisions. His answers are "I don't know, I think, I'm not sure. Etc. The gift that I'm providing to him will assist him in making decisions left and right without fault or fail. Then there's his laziness. For school work he tends to wait last minute to do it. This gift will unlock his willpower and determination to do anything on time. ( I also might need this gift)
*you're
DeleteMy first gift goes to my best friend in the world. The girl who has been to the depths of the inferno with me and the girl who has shared the best days of my life with me. The girl who is the complete opposite of me, and at the same time, the exact same person as me. Now, with this gift, I wish to not change you because then you wouldn’t be you anymore. But, to only make you a better and happier person. With this being said, there is one major thing that distinguishes us; Julianna can hold a grudge until the Earth explodes. I would give her the gift to forgive more and not hold grudges for so long. And I know what she’s going to say, “If they were sorry they wouldn’t have said/done it in the first place.” On certain occasions I see where she’s coming from and it’s different for each scenario, but I just wish that she forgive people more easily. All in all, I just hate seeing her ignoring people when I know she is truly a nice person.
ReplyDeleteThis gift is a wildcard and out of the blue, but I hope he doesn’t return this present. I want to give Ben Delano the gift of sharing his snarkiness and inappropriate yet hilarious jokes, especially to people who need a little boost of happiness. Now, this came to me from personal experience when one day I was crying in the band room, and instead of being all mushy and comforting, he just started cracking jokes and laughing. Believe it or not, I’ve never had someone cheer me up this way, but you bet your bottom dollar it worked. Everything that comes out of Ben’s mouth is either sarcastic or wildly inappropriate, but the point is: that is something I believe he should share with everyone, and I give him the gift to do just that.
And my final gift is to the best music teacher I’ve ever had. I met him when he was single, then he got a girlfriend, later announced he was engaged, and finally I got to go to his wedding. I’m sure you can all guess what comes after that...a certain something in a baby carriage. I would give Mr. Schwartz the gift of being the best father to his little girl or boy. I’ve heard him countless times since Freshman year talk about how he’s going to make his kid the best trumpet player Oakcrest has ever had. I’ve witnessed how happy his nephew makes him, and I know how happy having his own will make him. I give him the gift to be the best parent he can be to that little one… or two.
My Gifts
ReplyDelete#1
To: Makayla
For Makayla, I would give her the power of being invincible. I just want her to know that despite all the negative experiences she has unfortunately encountered, there is absolutely no one in this entire world, even the ones close to her, who has the audacity to destroy her. For dealing with these issues alone, she is blessed with strength, courage, and value, and she consequently became one of the people on the list of those who I admire. The fact that she is here signifies that she has a purpose, and her best is yet to come. Though I only knew her this year, what I can say about her that I have the knowledge of is that she is incredible and intelligent. Being invincible will allow her to overcome any problem or hateful person, and despite all the abuse, she will not be affected at all by any derogatory comments, and she will prove everyone wrong by accomplishing whatever she puts her mind to. She embodies beauty, wisdom, and great character that she should not ignore, and quite frankly, she should not care about who tries to say anything against her because she will put those people to shame.
#2
To: Hersi
For my dear Hersi, I would give her self-confidence. Now, I am not saying that Hersi does not have self-confidence because I know she is one of the coolest, funniest, prettiest, most popular people you will ever meet. For her, I am talking about self-confidence academically. I’ve known Hersi since middle school, and many times, especially last year, she always tends to doubt her intelligence. When I hear others calling her stupid whether they are joking or not, it actually angers, annoys, and hurts me. I do not want her to feel bad about herself just because she feels everyone is smarter than her. Now she may read this and disagree with me, but I say that she is bright, not just academically but gifted in various other ways, like how she is so good at being an extrovert, something I wish I could do easily. I wish she could realize that just because she got that D on a test does not mean you are not bright. I want Hersi to have this confidence so she will stop degrading herself, thinking that everyone else is much smarter than her and she cannot do it, whether it is biomed, physics, or Lang, or thinking that she will fail a test because the “smart people say it’s easy”. Hersi, if you are reading this, I want to tell you that you are smart, and that’s why you are here, so keep working hard because regardless, you will make it.
#3
To: My Mom
For my mom, I would give her the power of being calm. I absolutely love my mom, despite the fact that the things she does sometimes annoys me. I am so grateful for her because she has dealt with so many rough experiences, and today, she is alright. Lately, she has been working crazy hours and stresses over work, and I want her to know that is is okay and she should relax and remain calm. She should take some time off and not constantly fret but take it easy, which will benefit all of my family.
For Bobi Thapa: I would like to give a gift to my boy Bobi. I have known Bobi since the 1st grade. On the outside he seems like a socially awkward and mean. But in reality he is a softy. Which isn’t a bad thing. He is super caring and understanding. He will never hesitate to help you out when you need it. This is why I would like to give him the gift of being outgoing. Most of his best traits are hidden behind his socially awkwardness. If he just got out their people could see the kind of guy he is and he would get the admiration he deserves. He has really helped me out when I needed some help. He deserves to get some spotlight for his kindness.
ReplyDeleteFor Cameron Mccoullum: I would like to give the gift of confidence to Roderick. He has always been a quiet, shy, guy but I have known him for sometimes. He’s really nice and means well. Super nice guy behind the curtains. I have seen his snapchat stories and they are funny and great. I can tell that that is the real him. He has a great, funny, personality that he doesn’t necessarily show in school. I think if he was the same dude he is on his cooking shows or his short stories he would be the coolest kid in the school. So I wish to give him the gift of coming out of his shell and showing his true colors.
For Myles Carter (brother): I would like to give him the sense of time. Sometimes he is constantly glued to the tv with video games and such. He tends to forget the world around him or how short his young life is. He tends to turn down great opportunities just to stay home and play a game that will be there. He would rather spend time with his tv than his own brothers like we did in the old days. So I would like to give him the realization that video games will always be there was as family may not.
For Bobi Thapa: I would like to give a gift to my boy Bobi. I have known Bobi since the 1st grade. On the outside he seems like a socially awkward and mean. But in reality he is a softy. Which isn’t a bad thing. He is super caring and understanding. He will never hesitate to help you out when you need it. This is why I would like to give him the gift of being outgoing. Most of his best traits are hidden behind his socially awkwardness. If he just got out their people could see the kind of guy he is and he would get the admiration he deserves. He has really helped me out when I needed some help. He deserves to get some spotlight for his kindness.
For Cameron Mccoullum: I would like to give the gift of confidence to Roderick. He has always been a quiet, shy, guy but I have known him for sometimes. He’s really nice and means well. Super nice guy behind the curtains. I have seen his snapchat stories and they are funny and great. I can tell that that is the real him. He has a great, funny, personality that he doesn’t necessarily show in school. I think if he was the same dude he is on his cooking shows or his short stories he would be the coolest kid in the school. So I wish to give him the gift of coming out of his shell and showing his true colors.
For Myles Carter (brother): I would like to give him the sense of time. Sometimes he is constantly glued to the tv with video games and such. He tends to forget the world around him or how short his young life is. He tends to turn down great opportunities just to stay home and play a game that will be there. He would rather spend time with his tv than his own brothers like we did in the old days. So I would like to give him the realization that video games will always be there was as family may not.
oops pasted twice sorry
DeleteMelissa: I would her the gift of rest, and I don’t mean the type of rest where you are laying on a bed. What I mean is tranquility, especially dealing with school. She stresses so much about her grades and homework. She also doesn’t get much sleep, to the point where there are times where she does not sleep an hour before getting ready for school. What that could do to her now and in the long run could seriously hurt her.
ReplyDeleteAndy: I would give him the gift of being able to say no, especially since he is graduating in about half a year. Even though I have only seen him not saying no to small matters, it could affect him in so many ways. The life changes that he could face in college all depend on a yes and no, as do the life changes that could happen in the rest of his life. There are so many people in the world that feed of others for themselves and I wish for him not to be one of the people used once he leaves high school.
My sister: I would give her the gift of compromise. My sister is an angry person who gets emotional about the smallest of things. My brother and I have thought about what would happen to her if she were to get upset with the wrong person. Honestly, I believe I don’t have to explain the consequences of what could happen to her.
I’d like to give Justice the ability to see herself in a different light. At times Justice sees herself as a number. She finds grades very important and I commend her for caring so much but sometimes she stresses herself out over little things.Health is also very important to her. She's constantly working out and on the scale. I just want her to know that she is more than her grades and her weight. I want her to know that the amount of minutes someone takes to text her back is not a measure of herself worth. That even though someone else might not see her beauty doesn't mean it isn't there. I want her to focus more on all the great things about her.
ReplyDeleteFor my brother I’d like to give him the power to finish what he starts. My brother has a crazy imagination and always comes up with some pretty cool ideas. He’ll talk about it straight for a week and starts off real strong but halfway through he finds something better and moves on. I can't tell you how many times he's come to me with a cool idea for a story and his eyes light up with excitement but later down the road it fades while he makes promises to revisit it later. He tends to do this with other things and I know if he would just put his mind to it he could not only create but be apart of something great.
Makayla and I have only gotten close this year and she's already one of my favorite people at Oak. If I could give her anything it would be the ability to be unapologetically herself. Now I only say this because at times she has to be strong for other people and sometimes that means toning down or having to restrain parts of who she is. I want her to be able to be herself without fear of judgement or rejection. She truly is amazing and she shouldn't have to ever edit or censor herself for the people around her.
To my sweet Darren, I would like to give you something you seriously lack, confidence. Darren you are so smart and amazing but you don’t think that about yourself and that kills me. When you come to me tell me you’re too afraid to speak your mind I feel so bad because you don’t understand how bright you are. You are always second guessing yourself and you never think that you’re doing good enough. I wish that for once you could just see how great you really are and how much you actually accomplish.
ReplyDeleteFor my lovely new friend Makayla I would like to give you the ability to see how strong you are. Makayla in just the short time that I’ve known you I can tell that you’ve been through some tough times. But you kick ass at whatever life throws your way and it’s so inspiring. I’m so happy to have met you this year and to be your friend because you’re just so easy to talk to and such a great listener. You have made this year easier for me and I am so grateful for that, which is why I need you to see how amazing you are. You have strength, to be who you are and to be proud of it. You don’t hide from your problems and all you ever do is shine. When we talk and I see that weight on your shoulders that you carry with you everyday it encourages me to be strong like you. I really want to give you the gift to see that strength because I see it everyday and you deserve to see the way I see you.
To my older brother I want to give the ability to see how much I love him. Me and my brother Zack have had some hard times. I’ve been afraid of losing him and never speaking to him again. Lately things have been getting better but I don’t really think he sees how much I support and love him. Anytime we fight about something I’m always trying to protect him, he just doesn't see it that way. All I ever want to do it make him happy so I’ve come to terms with the fact that I can’t make decisions for him and I’ll just have to accept whatever he decides to do. I just want him to see how every fight that we have had was started just because I love him and I’m afraid of him getting hurt.