Impacts.

“To the whole world you might be just one person, but to one person you might just be the whole world.” -Pablo Casals

You may be told by adults that just one person can make a difference in the world. Although true, this doesn’t mean that everyone will make a worldwide impact. Not everyone can be a world leader or prime minister. There was only one Napoleon Bonaparte, one Genghis Khan, and only one Bill Gates. The average person rarely makes an impact upon their cities or country, let alone the whole world. But did any of those people really change your world? They may have changed history and could be the reason you live your life a certain way, but did any of those people make you feel love, pain, or happiness?  Think about it. Who makes a bigger impact on your life, your friends and family or a leader of another country? Although your life could be altered by an important figure far away from you, your everyday life is changed by those around you. That cute boy you bumped into and shared a smile with today could make you think more than a foreign policy made by a European politician. I’m not saying that what the politician did wasn’t important or that it didn’t change hundreds of people’s lives, but your world wasn’t changed. 

Although you may not be in a position of power or have a lot of influence on the world, that doesn’t mean you should brush off the idea that you don’t make an impact on the world. You may not make a difference globally, but you can change someone’s world. 

When you were born, you had already made an impact on your family’s life, even without being able to speak a word. Ever since then, every action and every thought made a difference in someone’s life, including your own. So why not make it a positive difference? Instead of brushing someone off when they try to have a conversation, why not give them a few minutes of your time and have a conversation with them? Don’t ignore the girl whose papers fell on the floor, all you have to do is pick a few papers up for her and be on your way. 

In that same sense, don’t go through life not committing fully to relationships, whether it be relationships with family, friends, or even a significant other. Spend time with your family, love them and take time to talk to them everyday. With your friends, help them through anything you can. Be there for them through thick and thin, don’t shy away from helping them just because it inconveniences you. Take relationships seriously. Don’t shy away from a date because it means you’re risking something. Take that risk, even if it means you could get hurt or people would start talking. You owe yourself the chance to be happy with someone and to love them. If you’re already with someone, don’t take a single second for granted. Enjoy every single happy, sad, angry, or frustrating moment with them. Love them with all of your heart if it feels right, don’t be afraid of being left behind or hurt. Change someone’s world for the better and they might just change yours at the same time.

Anatomy.

The structure of the human body. We are all made of essential parts that make us who we are. Femurs. Pelvis'. Skulls. What blows my mind away though, is that I have discovered that a multitude of high school students have learned how to survive without one very important part of our structure, a backbone. 

One may think it is impossible to survive without such a crucial element of oneself, but trust me, I meet more and more of these interesting specimens every day. Squirming in situations that contradict with what they believe in, never really saying what they feel. Never count on one of these creatures to side with you when you are not present. The are not the ones to back anyone up, the spineless ones. A warning I must give to you is that in high school, you must have a back bone or else you will be trampled on by others. Because of the rarity spines are in high school, if you are able to grow one, you will gain much respect amongst your peers. 

One my think that standing up for what is right is just common sense. In high school, however, you discover that this is not the case. As high school students, we tend to assimilate and do just as everyone else does, making it seem like doing the right thing is going against the grain, and is something that cannot be done. On the surface, assimilation is difficult to see. It becomes most prevalent when individuals are placed in situations where they must pick a side. Sadly, these are the situations that determine who truly values you as a friend, and who values the opinions of others, over you. 

Instances where one must prove they have a spine are not easy. It takes a large amount of courage to stand up for the right thing when the odds are not in your favor. Although one may think the outcome for doing what is right would be a reward, or something of that nature, it is often the opposite because of those blinded from what is good and bad. 

Friends turn on friends.

Rumors are spread. 

Reputations are tarnished. 

If you are allowed the chance to prove to one person, that you have a back bone. Do not hesitate. People will change in high school, your friends will not be who they say they are, and people will say bad things about you. But if you can show one person, that you are among the last of those who have a spine, no matter what consequences occur, it will be worth it. Your character speaks volumes regardless of how many are in the audience. That is what is really important in high school, your character. Without a back bone, nothing is there to hold your character. As long as you are actively attempting to improve your character or establish what your character is, you can just start laughing at the spineless who claim false statements about you. They just want what you have and they do not. 

Privacy.

Why do we feel the need to plaster all of our information and whereabouts on the Internet? Are we ignorant enough to believe our "private" will only be seen by a selected group? One day, when we are in the process of competing for a position amognst others, are we not going to let our possible future employer follow us on twitter or instagram? Thankfully, I have strict parents who look at every post I make on any form of social media. Any bad choices I make that end up on social media will be the end of my social life. Thank you Iphone family plan. Yet I still know of all the bad decisions my friends or other high school students have made because I see them as I scroll through my timeline.
Choices in general, regardless of peer pressure, are made by that individual alone. Whether the choice they made was the right one or not, is not up for me to determine. As I have stated before, judging is something we all do, and I attempt to refrain from it, but it is really difficult to prevent myself from judging when people post their decisions, practically presenting it on a silver platter for everyone to take an opinion on. Some may say that they do not care about the judgment of others, kudos to them. But I would want to hear them say that again if I were to let them know that the parents of their friends were able to see what they post. Or be able to see them after being questioned on a decision they made now, in a few years when they are being hired for a job.
The fact that my generation will not hesitate to post things on social media, but then hesitate when their parents ask to see their phone bewilders me.
JSL

Why you can not be nice.

 When I think of a nice person, certain qualities come to mind. I see them smiling down the hallway, or maybe going out of their way to help someone with homework or holding the door for someone. People who are no afraid to have a polite conversation with someone they just met, and are the ones always giving compliments. I feel as if this species of high schoolers are on the verge of extinction. In high school, individuals are criticized for being nice, or even civil to others. Girls in particular. Words such as "flirt" and "tease" are thrown around with no other goal other than to take someone down. Because of this, the nice people are forced to adapt to their new surroundings and become curt, and almost rude to others. 

Talking to someone has taken on a whole new meaning. Originally, talking was simply an action word, used to describe an interaction between two persons having a civil conversation. Now, as described on Urban Dictionary, is the stage between friends and having a relationship with someone. Now much like other homonyms such as address, nail, cool, and jam, the word "talking" requires context to determine its meaning. However, the context for both uses of the word is often the same, and is often defaulted to the newer meaning in high school. This is what creates the problem I stated earlier of the dying out of nice people.

Social media is also assisting to their extinction. "Hitting someone with that no reply" is rude, but replying to someone and, heaven forbid, having a conversation with them, is perceived as a sign of interest. Most people are just being nice. Why can we as high schoolers not allow ourselves to believe that is the case? Are we already convinced their breed has gone extinct?   If our overall goal in this world is to be good people, people who are nice to one another, why do we force others who have achieved that to convert? 

I blame hormones. Our teenage bodies are filled to the brim with hormones that make our brains desire for affection. We jump as the slightest signs of affection or interest. Personally, I think we all need to take a deep breath and relax. Just because and individual is interested in another individual, does not make the feeling mutual. This is something that needs to be realized by both the ones involved, and also the other hundred watching with their popcorn because they are more concerned with their peers' lives than they are with themselves. 

You can be nice in high school, I encourage you to be, but good luck. By doing so, and being able to not mind others' comments is something I wish to be able to do one day. For now, however, I am going to continue and tell others to not care what people say, but myself care about every word. Hypocritical, yes, but I never claimed I was mature yet. 

Teachers.

The educators, the ones who determine our future, the ones whom you must suck up the most to, and more individuals who can make or break your high school years. Now some may say, "don't let the bad days bring ya down", but when you have to see the same awful teacher every, single day, it becomes difficult to keep the clouds from covering your sunshine. Cheesy, yes, but it gets the point across. Even the best of days can be drained of their light when the ominous clouds are forecasted to appear during second hour. However, there are also rainbows, which sometimes follow the clouds during third.
Now one thing to remember about judging your teacher, they are individuals too. they have a life outside of teaching, and most importantly they might not like you either, but hopefully, they will be mature and you will never know that you are one of their least favorites. Everyone has bad days, including them, and as much as it seems to be the right thing to do when you wish to arrogantly point out where they are wrong, it is probably not a good idea. In some of these cases, with the teachers who are not at their maturity level yet, this may end up in your grade suffering.
There are many things that may cause your disdain for the teacher; such as harsh grading policies, monotone speakers, too much homework, inflexibility. All of which can make your life less stressful if they would be removed. Those rainbows that I spoke of earlier are the ones who make you dislike other teachers more because, as humans, we constantly compare things, including other humans. The rainbows that dazzle up your depressing days really get us through high school. In my opinion, most (not all) teachers strive to be a rainbow, but some try too hard and get judged for going "over the top". Some teachers may have already tried to be a rainbow, but they let the student clouds block their sunshine, and by the time you have them as a teacher they have just given up on trying to please everyone. Which I believe is a real act of maturity which we should all strive for.
Regardless of how many clouds and rainbows you have throughout your day, realize that you have to suck up to all of them. Do what they tell you to do, do not back sass, and know that they are the ones who will aid you into the next stage of your life. 

Family.

In the country of Norway, sports teams are not held through the school system, only through clubs. Now granted, schooling in Norway is free of charge through college, but not having activities run by the school takes the, as one may say, "nationality" of a school away.

In my opinion, the extra curricular activities are what makes students have pride in their school. Of course, academics come first, and it is always nice to know that you are getting a great education, even without an outdated banner to prove it. Cougar Nation, would not be a nation without the sports it cheers on. The foot ball team refer to themselves as a "family", and while some people make fun of them for it, I fully support the idea behind it, and it must be working for them, we are 6-0. No matter what sport you are in, knowing that you have your own personal fan club of peers behind you makes people better people in my opinion. Everyone has their own interest, whether it is a specific sport or show choir, and as a school, we should be supportive of each other in every aspect, regardless if you have the same passion. I believe that Kennedy High School has many families, which, in turn, creates a larger one that we are all apart of. Many of us will not go on to do the things we feel so passionately about now, after college, and our time is running out to do the things we love. While in high school, some of the fondest memories I feel as if most will remember, are the ones where they are cheering their school on. Having the biggest student section at football games, standing ovations at plays, making it all they way to the well in basketball, having a show choir ballad bring you to tears. These are just some examples. When speaking about any sport, whether I am or am not involved, I use possessive articles when referring to Kennedy "We are 6-0." "Our swimming team won last night." So even if you are not involved in any extra activities at Kennedy, (even though I would strongly recommend it, there is so many things to choose from) do not be afraid to support the people who are involved. They are not just playing for themselves, they are playing for the school, for us, our family. It bewilders me to see people making fun of that. All we want to do as high school students is to be a part of something, to feel included. It does not always have to be exclusive. Those are the ones who make me just start laughing because they are the ones who are missing out.

How To Go Far In Life.

Now keep in mind that I am not able so solve all life's problems for you, but I can let you in on a little secret that will solve many of them.
Politeness.
Some have never heard of it, some think it is an urban legend only old geezers believe in, but I am here to confirm the rumors. Politeness is in fact, a real thing. Many across the land have long forgotten about this gem of a personality trait and it has been lost in the layers of generations that have neglected to recognize its beauty. Now we must mine deep in ourselves to find what will solve a lot of our problems. Here are some ideas that will help you make the world a better place and will make you feel like a better person:
Holding the door open for someone
Smiling
Laughing at someone's jokes
Supporting someone's opinions
Know where the line is
Know that not everyone has a thick skin
And here are some things some may call "don'ts"
Do not ignore people
Do not purposely make someone feel lesser of themselves
Do not criticize one's opinion
Do not fail to read the body language of someone
Now these are just a few minor suggestions, and they may be difficult for some, especially those who have never heard of the crazy idea of "politeness". Politeness will take you far in life, and solve many problems, I would say you would have 99 that it would solve and the one left over would be solved by growing thicker skin. In high school, sensitivity is something that can not be taken lightly. There are subjects you have to be very careful when referring to them among certain individuals. It seems as though the topics you can have a conversation on with others is narrowing every day. Some people, choose to disregard other's sensitivity and just speak their mind, not seeing and or caring about the feelings they hurt. Which goes along with the politeness characteristic they lack. However, you cannot be overly sensitive and not allow people to speak their mind around you. Having a "thick skin" is a must in surviving what high school throws at you. Of the problems high school presents you, imaginary ones made up in your head will make up the most of them. In all reality, you should not lose sleep over the majority of them. It all situations, regardless of where you are or who you are with, you can always make the most your time by finding the politeness I am confident we all have, no matter how buried it may be. That is how you will go far in all aspects of your life.
JSL