Reflection Post # 3

Over the four years of High School I have made so many good friends that I can’t even begin to describe how thankful and happy I am that I have such amazing friends. Throughout the years I have kept many of the same friends, and have made many new friends too. I have gone on many trips with my friends in and out of school in high school and have loved every minute of it!
Freshmen year I was still adjusting to the new school, and had many of the same friends as I did in eighth grade, but because of the big school and all of the students, I made many new friends. A special memory I remember from freshmen year was with the band when we went on our Spring Trip to New York City, where we toured New York City, and performed against other bands that were on the trip too. I hadn’t been to New York City before the band trip and had only seen New York from pictures, and from the television, but seeing the lights at night was definitely a sight to see. We also toured the NBC studious, went on a dinner cruise, walked in Central Park, and saw the set of Saturday Night Live, which was very interesting!
My most memorable time during sophomore year was when I went on a marching band trip to Atlanta, Georgia with my friends. There, we marched in the Georgia Dome with many other high schools bands. Although we didn’t place high in the awards we still had a lot of fun. The hotel we stayed in had over twenty-one floors so we all had fun going to the fifteenth floor to take pictures looking down. Another great part of Atlanta was when we toured the Coca-Cola factory, and we were able to try different flavors of their products that were not sold in the United States!
My most memorable time during junior year was the spring trip to Disney World, in Orlando, Florida for band. Going to Disney World with my best friends was the best trip. Although on the bus ride to Florida the bus broke down three times, it was a lot fun.
Senior year has been amazing! Senior year has been my favorite year by far!

Senior Reflection # 2

My favorite high school memory has been the entire time I’ve spent with all my friends in the band. I am so grateful that I have passion for music which has led me to meet many new people that have become my best friends. Over the past four years of high school I have met so many friends in band and I can’t even imagine band without them. Band has given me many traveling opportunities too. Just in high school I’ve traveled across the United States with the high school band to New York City, Bush Gardens, Disney World, and Myrtle Beach.
Outside of school I was able to travel through seven different countries in Western Europe with my former band director, Mr. Bergman, and some of my fellow school mates in band. Band gave me the opportunity to go to Europe to perform concerts with a group of 180 talented students and faculty to citizens of those countries. I went on the band Europe trip twice with numerous friends from Herndon High School’s band. The seven different countries that we visited and or played concerts in were England, France, Germany, Lichtenstein, Austria, Italy and my favorite, Switzerland. The first time I went on the summer band program was with my best friends from band, Eric Menatti, Katie Cleveland, and Karina Solis. My second time going on the band Europe trip was amazing because I was able to go with one of my oldest, best friend Kathryn. My favorite high school memory has definitely been in band because without band I would not have met the best and kindest people in the world. I am truly thankful I met my best friends in a happy, welcoming, and thoughtful community.

Senior Reflection # 1

Throughout the four years of high school I believe that I have matured greatly from my freshmen year. When I was younger I was very shy whether I was in the classroom or out ordering off of a menu at a restaurant. I used to be afraid to raise my hands and ask questions in class because I didn’t want my answer to be wrong, and have classmates make fun of me. I believe I have always been a very nice, cheerful person who is very respectful but still enjoys having a great time with friends. As the high school years passed by, I noticed that I have changed tremendously in a good way.
During high school I was able to break out from under my “shell” and become more open to new ideas and learned not to be afraid if my answers are incorrect, and that someone else most likely would have a similar question as me, they’re just afraid to say it too. I have become more confident in myself inside and outside of school, especially while I was looking for a job. I used to get nervous ordering food at restaurants but I realized that people working at restaurants are just like us, people who are working to support themselves and their families, and they usually aren’t that different than me. I became a lot more confident in myself because as high school progressed I learned that I’ve been given many more responsibilities and I have to take care of myself and stand up for situations that I believe are right and wrong.

Current Event # 4

For my fourth current event I chose an article titled, " Forever Young." This article is about an ecncylepeida book that has photography and illistrations that show the teens growing up in today's decade. The pictures depict the many emotions people go through as they transition into their adult lives and as they leave childhood behind. The article was interesting because it talked about how different people are, and how alike they can be too. The pictures that are with the article are amazing!

Current Event # 3

For my third current event for the fourth quarter, I decided to look in the style section of the Washington Post for some interesting topics. The topic I chose was about the hit series, " Jon and Kate plus 8." This show just started its fifth season and has many people following the drama and the entertainment. Jon and Kate have eight children, two twin girls who are now ten years old, and sextuplets who are three girls and three boys. Kate, the mother, enjoys the spotlight that is constantly on her family, and enjoys commentating on her everyday activities. Kate has written a best seller book about handling her chaotic family and travels the country for her book tours. However, Jon is not happy that their show is continuing. At first he didn't mind having a life in front of the camera, but once he had to quit his job and become a stay-at-home- dad who was always been bossed around, his mind-set changed. Newspapers, magazines, and television shows try to amp up the drama in their lives, but who really knows what's happening behind the scenes? I thought this was an interesting article because I watch this show.

Current Event # 2

The topic of my second current event was the Swine Flu and how it is spread, and what it really is. I found artile online on the CNN website. It was interesting to see what the definition of the swine flu was and how it was spread. The most common way that it had been distributed throughout the states was through contagious stages. At first the swine flu hit the United States with a big scare when people were noted having the flu, and many news stations did reports on the symtoms. The flu did jump from animal to human, but the scare has been decreasing over time.

4th Quarter Blog Post # 1

For my first current
event post for the fourth quarter, I found an interesting article in the
Washington Post, page A12. Although I was looking for an interesting article
in
the Style section for last weeks current event, I found another
interesting
article. The current event that I chose to talk about was
one
about a soldier
who decided to start a charrity group that
collected
and
donated new wheelchairs
for disabled children in Iraq.
This was an
interesting article because
throughout the article it talked
about the
solider's life and hardships and how
he wanted to help others.
He said
that
many soldiers helped with his effort and
shipped over
200
wheelchairs to
Iraq. The soldier has transformed his life to
helping
others.

Editorial # 5

For my last Editorial Post, I chose one titled, "Bring the Boys along," written by Kathleen Parker. This editorial is about Obama's actions towards creating more equality between men and women in the working force. Over the years women have worked just as hard as men but have continuously been paid less on average, (For many years). As the new President with two daughters, Obama wanted to begin an age where equality is more prominent and that those who have worked hard would get recognized. Ms. Parker added the facts that today on average more girls are entering college and continuing with education longer than boys at 58%. She also added that boys had a higher rate of dropping out of college or schooling, as well as been down the wrong "paths." I agree with the author that it is about time for equality among genders and the workforce/wage. I learned in Human Geography that world-wide, the wage, independence, and overall moral for women is less than men. Hopefully with Obama's efforts, new, good results for women will occur.

Editorial # 4

For my fourth editorial I chose "The Cost of Bailout Rage" by Ruth Marcus. I found this editorial in the Washington Post. This editorial was about the anger that emanates from many citizens of the United States who are be affected by the economy financially. Marcus states that Obama said that he was going to decrease bonuses, trying to reduce the amount. However, many people are for and against his decision. Some people are for it because they believe that some of the higher workers don't need all the money that they are guaranteed which could help the economy. However some people disagree and believe that cutting the pay could increase more problems. A few believe that the worst has been over, but the author is skeptical. I believe that our economy will continue to go up and down in the next month, to year and that any action towards a better economy, even with a slight fall-back, is the right way to go.

Editorial # 3

For my third editorial, I chose one that was written about President Obama's speech, given last week. The editorial was called, "A Limited Dose Of Reassurance," written by Michael Gerson. The editorial was about Obama's speech and how reassuring it was to the viewers. Gerson called Obama's speech a "Rooseveltian, active, upbeat, and unadorned." He talks about how Obama's speeches are filled with confidence which is important and with "intellectual mastery." During his speech, Obama touched upon three factors that are important to the United State's economy at the moment. Obama first talked about the banking system and promised the public that he would whatever he could in power to make sure that the "flow of lending" from banks will happen again soon. The second issue he talked about was the economic growth situation. Obama noted that some viewers would be skeptical of his decisions but promised that they were doing what they can do heighten the employment of jobs again soon; he mentioned that he will "jump-start the job creation." Some self-employed workers are still unconvinced of his proposal but follow in faith of change. The last main topic Obama talked about was the great debt issue that has undertaken many Americans. Obama told his audience that he was going to get rid of the "waste" in the federal budget to help the economy. Gerson noted that while Obama talked about the debt issue, he was "timid" and not convincing. Overall Gerson believes that Obama's speech was reassuring to the public. We can only hope that what Obama said in his speech will continue and lead the U.S.'s goals and wishes in the right direction.

Editorial # 2

I found my second Editorial in the Outlook section of the Washington Post on February, 15th 2008. Wooo haha. My second editorial was titled, "Just the Start" by David S. Broder. The editorial is about how Obama has already had some road-blocks in his process to help better the economic problems. The author, David Broder, many times states how the role of President for Obama will continue to get harder now that his Stimulus bill has been approved and how President Obama will have to go to great heights to accomplish his goals that he established. Broder wrote that Obama must think about the future and how we (as a collective body) will be able to pay for the finances that are going into place right now to help our problems. Broder also wrote that many Republicans are not for Obama's actions and that their votes are important as well for further bills. Obama had to campaign for the bill "from Capitol Hill to Indiana, Florida and Illinois, reaching out to Republicans as well as Democrats." Many Republicans (says Broder) believe that the Stimulus bill will fail and that all the money will go to waste. However, Broder then mentioned that former President Bill Clinton, created a first budget and tax package without "a single Republican vote...and the economy soared under Clinton." Broder believes that the outcome could be similar to Cliton's. I found this pretty interesting.

Editorial # 1

For my first editorial post I decided to focus on the financial problem that the United States is going through and how it is affecting other parts of the world globally. ,The title of the editorial was, “America’s New Rescuer: Japan” written by David M. Smick, located on B7 of the Washington Post. The author believes that the United States will have around 3 trillion dollars invested into debt trying to help companies, and bail out other groups in a sense to try to revive the economy in any way. Mr. Smick wrote that the United States will eventually have to rely on another source of finance to accomplish its goal, given that Obama's bill would pass, (which it did). It was heard that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, stated that he believes that the United States should ask China for help in this time of need since China is financially strong, but Mr. Smick believed differently. Yes, it is true that China has indeed shown a strong system but it too has its financial problems. Mr. Smick believed that instead of going to China for help, that the United States should look into help from Japan who has a "strong, predictable government." Mr. Smick stated, “Japan is a mature, predictable, structurally stable economy," which will help the United States. The only problem he mentioned was the size of Japan, and could it's economy be stable enough to support their country as well as the United State's. After reading the very interesting editorial, I was somewhat persuaded by the author. I really liked this editorial! :)

Political Cartoon #5

I found my 5th political cartoon in the Washington Post once again. The political cartoon I chose for this week depicted three elderly men in a classroom frowning, facing a teacher grading their papers. The teacher in the cartoon is telling her students (the elderly men) that she's surprised that they are still in school and thought they should have been done earlier. Each man had a symbolic word on the back of his shirt that had to do with the economy money-wise; for example, social security finances. The political cartoon was about the lessening social security money being saved and how some elderly have to get jobs and educations again so they're eligible to obtain jobs to help support themselves in today's economy. This brings awareness to the public that the elderly now are living longer than previous years which results in a strain on the economy.

Political Cartoon #4

For my fourth political cartoon is from the Washington Post. I did an analysis with Barack Obama entitled, "PETS" trying to find a puppy for his daughters but his only choice was a huge, drooling pit bull with a spiked "Economy"collar. The cartoon has Obama saying to the man who's selling the dog, "Got anything Else?" The significance of this political cartoon is that Obama promised his children that if he won the Presidential election then they could get a promise, and with him winning the election he also was given a huge task of trying to fix the economy. This cartoon was pretty simplistic!