There Is A Life After High School

I chose this piece because it really spoke to me as a highschool student with my every day struggles and insecurities. I also think it's certainly worthwhile to post it because we can all relate. It's great to look forward to the future and hear an opinion that's a positive one. I hope you all read this and take something out of it :)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-rubin-gets-better-1019-20101018-27,0,2900641.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chicagotribune%2Fopinion+%28Chicago+Tribune+news+-+Opinion%29

Boarding Schools vs Cochlear Implants

The similarities are extremely evident between the issues of boarding schools and cochlear implants. In both cases, the pride of each culture is very prominent.

"They [The Boarding schools] still are a critical factor in why some American Indian parents find it difficult to communicate with public school system administrators and teachers – and even more difficult to trust them."

That was a quote from the Brainwashing and Boarding schools website, and in Sound and Fury the parents also found it frustrating and difficult speaking to people that were fully in support of having kids only learn speaking not sign. (Speaking school vs sign school seems to be a similar debate to the public school vs boarding school debate.) The Indian Boarding School website also declares that teachers should "have an awareness of past events" in order to teach their Indian students, and I think that deaf parents would really like it if their child was in a speaking school that also focused on having an awareness of their deaf culture.

The attempt by Pratt to "kill the Indian, not the man" seems much harsher than the pressure to get a cochlear implant. The students were taken away from their families and friends, so they felt a much stronger separation from their culture, whereas especially in Heather's case, if she were to get the cochlear implant she would still be surrounded by her deaf parents and a part of deaf culture. "To disobey meant swift and harsh punishment" in the boarding schools. This is obviously much more harsh than the pressure to get a cochlear implant. But the main difference is that not being Indian was actually forced upon the students attending the boarding schools, but getting a cochlear implant is an option and it is certainly not forced upon deaf children (unless they have eager grandparents).

(Fear of) Man in power.

He's in the hallways. He grades your papers. He reads your DBQs. He decides whether or not you fit the lead. He's bald, and he's intimidating. With all of this power, you'd expect he'd use it to scare you, but he doesn't, and that's scary in itself. When you walk in for your audition, you're greeted with a friendly smile and an encouraging nod. You continue on with ease, this is until you realize that-- oh wait, he's not simply a jolly man with wisdom beyond his years, he controls my fate. As far as you know, he looks at every move you make; he takes note of every word you say; he even notices the faintest rude remark or action you may make. Okay, he probably doesn't, but he might, and he could use that against you.
He's your teacher too? Don't fail. Don't spell something wrong. Don't you dare fall asleep in class. Don't you critique his opinions, or interrupt. Always smile. If he asks you to read aloud in class, make sure you project and if there's multiple characters, use different voices. Always play up your character in a likeable way. Be present every day. Don't be late. Raise your hand to say smart things. Turn your papers in on time. Don't even think about getting below a B+ on a test.

You see him walking down the hallway? Smile. Make sure you're with people who make good choices. Be surrounded by kids who have previously gotten leads or whom he's shown respect to. Date a lead from previous shows. Start acting. Recite Hamlet. Memorize Hamlet. Be hamlet.

Actually...be yourself. Just don't be afraid of Mr. Brehm.

Romeo and Juliet: A tale for all times and different genres?!

The famous story of Romeo and Juliet is one that we all seem to know. It's the tragic love story between two who were betrayed to love one another. Since it's release in the..well according to Wikipedia....it is "unknown.", but it's been revamped a number of times. The three most popular being the following:

Original: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet#Shakespeare.27s_day

Baz Luhrman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_%2B_Juliet

Taylor Swift's Love Story: http://www.metrolyrics.com/love-story-lyrics-taylor-swift.html

The original Romeo and Juliet play is, of course, fantastic because it is the story of the star crossed lovers as Shakespeare had intended. While this version is one that will be remembered forever, it may not be the most captivating-- especially to most audiences. I am personally drawn to Baz Luhrman's version of the story. He makes Romeo and Juliet come alive in a modern day setting with bright colors, guns, and more importantly-- Leonardo DiCaprio. The film still keeps Shakespeare's exact script, and hardly messes with the story besides changing swords to guns. While I prefer Luhrman's version over the original play, they both are about 855 steps above the alternative, and that would be Taylor Swift's popular song, "Love Story." It doesn't capture the passion, nor the story that Romeo and Juliet is meant to be told. Therefore, you should all rush out to the nearest movie store, or going with this new technology, go add it to your instant que on Netflix (it's on there), and rent Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet. It will grab you in a way that Shakespeare's original text couldn't, and definitely make you throw Swift's CD away.

Writing is like Awkward Teenage Relationships

"Uhhh...um...will you...maybe...if you want...to...um...be my girlfriend?" This nervous banter sounds quite familiar. Not only because it's how every relationship seems to begin, but also how the writing process does. It starts with a few out of control emotions, some plans, and one specific idea with loads of promise. Well maybe only some relationships are like writing; I'd say high school relationships.

Once the relationship moves on past its awkward get up, the great stuff starts happening--movies, dinners, meeting the parents. There's conflict, passion, and too many ups and downs to count. These moments are like the body paragraphs in writing. They keep you fixated, but also touch on a wide array of topics or...bases.

Every story has a climax, and every relationship does too. It's the part in the relationship when you know it's going to end. Whether the guy cheated, or the girl said the wrong thing, it's that unique moment, just like in a story, when you know it's all downhill from there. At the climax, you know it's time to wrap things up.

The downfall action comes next. In the story this is the time for everything to start resolving for its ending-- the same for a relationship. It's that awkward few weeks or so that you know will lead to the inevitable high school break up. In writing this downfall action, you sometimes don't know how much is too much, similar to in a relationship where you don't know how long to wait after her birthday before it's okay to just end things. But just like in writing, you have to end it when it feels right, because just like you can't fight the end of a story, you can't fight the end of a high school relationship.