I can’t wait until Christmas. It is going to be so tight. I am going to go to my grandparents for a couple of days before to go snowmobiling, then I am going to go back to my proctor to spend Christmas with them. I really like Christmas it is a great time of year. I think that it is just cool to get together with family and just spend some time with them. I hope that there is snow up in Logan so that I can get out snowmobiling and have some fun. I also hope that I can spend some time with my grandparents and possibly see if my two sisters will even talk to so I can hang out with them to. That would be great. So I can’t wait to see what will happen. But I can’t wait until the 19th then I head up to Logan. So I hope that I can get my home visit approved.

Stephen

What if I was able to make people happy just by smiling at them? How many people do you think that you affect just by smiling at them everywhere you go? Well if I had to guess I would guess that everyone you meet. I have noticed that if you smile at one person you can change their whole day and then they can smile at someone else and change their day. So if their was one way to change one persons whole day how would you do it? I would probably do it by smiling at them. But some times it is not possible to change a person’s day just by smiling at them, so make sure that you always have a back up plan to help their day go by just a little bit better.

Sarah

12/12/08
Today I have decided that I am going to stop being so negative with myself and give myself a break when I mess up. I have noticed that I am very hard on myself when I make a mistake or mess up on playing the guitar, for example and it tends to make me mess up even more because I am so negative in my head that I degrade myself. A good example is today when I did my playing test with Tyler, the teacher in second period, I messed up in two ways: first I tried to be at the same tempo with the two other people that I was playing with, so it threw me off and second, every time I messed up I would get angry and have negative thoughts and say negative things in my head. The thing that confirmed my thoughts on whether or not I do need to change my negative attitude is that Tyler told me that I should fix it.

There are a lot of things wrong with this world. One is the fact that it seems that a lot of the world wants to fix the economy, but a lot of times doesn’t do anything to team up with each other to try and combine ideas; the separate countries try to fix it their own way. Personally, I find it very annoying that they don’t team up and work together. Sure they may exchange ideas every now and then, but for the most part, it is like butting heads and trying to prove what nation is the best.
I think that the world as a whole needs to pull their heads out (I apologize for the bluntness) and get together. We shouldn’t be close-minded. We need to at least try and see somebody else’s point of view on an issue, and see if their idea might be more plausible than their own, or see if there is some way to combine the ideas and work it out for the benefit of the world: Not trying to become the next “Isaac Newton”, get famous, get buried in London in an old church, and have praise over them for the next 500 years. It might not last that long anyways if we don’t get together to solve these issues and stop trying to solve them individually to try and get all of the credit.
It’s idiotic if you put your wants and desires of being rich and famous or whatever the obsessive ambition is, above the needs of mankind to survive longer. Survive longer or to be able to cope with hard times by themselves. At least some form of support to keep them on their feet and not down in the gutter to get kicked around without a concern by the people that are stable and (I personally would say selfish) get what they want on top of what their needs are. In conclusion, I think that we (the world as a whole) should help everyone and help keep the lower class people on their feet and get the world moving more efficiently.

Michael

Okay so when I was about five or six me and my friend Emily were talking she always had cuts and stuff. I was the only one that knew that her mom and dad were beating her. Well the only reason I didn’t tell my mom was cause Emily begged me not to. So I didn’t well while we were talking she said that she wished that her life would end. Of course I flipped and well me and her got into a huge fight the last thing I had said to her is that I wished she would die and that I didn’t care about her. She ran off I realized what I had just said and I tried to catch up to her to say sorry. The next day I went to visit her she was on her roof helping her dad. What the heck she was five and her dad was making her work on the roof? Well so she saw me and was mad. Of course she was going to come down to talk to me. When she was coming down she slipped lets just say I no she didn’t feel pain. That’s probably my worst experience.

Kirra

12-2-2008
The quote “seems like god didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing, but dreams, but he did give us children to make them seem worth while.” Relates to the play because it talks about how Beneatha, Walter, and mama want to for fill their goals and dreams. Mama’s dreams aren’t done because she is trying to get over how her husband died and the fact he’s gone. Walter’s dreams aren’t done because of his wife Ruth. Beneatha’s dreams aren’t done because she has no money for school. In the future I want to be a case-worker. I want to go to the U of U. I want to work in the office that my case-worker works in, which is Downtown Salt Lake City.

12-3-2008
Yes, women should get to be able to hold a job, except the fact that women shouldn’t be cops because it’s dangerous. Women don’t have the same rights as some people. I think woman should only be nurses because a boy nurse is just weird. Beneatha should be a doctor because it’s her dreams then she should follow her dreams no matter what other people say.

12-9-2008
What is heritage? Heritage is what your family left behind. It is also what one generation leaves the next. The first quote means that your heritage destroyed everything in the past. You have to try to exchange your and ideas to try to find what your heritage is. My heritage is from Ireland. I am Irish, but my parents don’t celebrate it. On Saint Patrick’s Day I can out drink a lot of my friends. With my heritage I want to leave success behind.

12-10-2008
Existentialism means human free will, it takes into consideration the under lying concepts: human free will, there are things that aren’t rational, personal responsibility and discipline is crucial and worldly desire is futile. She/ he would live their life in order. What motivates me to succeed is a girl named Aireal Steed and my case-worker Dani Dunn. Education is important because it helps you succeed. Beneatha is viewing school to prove her family wrong.

12-11-2008
Beneatha is going to try to work, so that she can go to her school. She might marry George so that he will pay for her schooling. She might just give up her dream of becoming a doctor. Walter will have to find Willy or get a job. If he finds Willy he better beat the hell out of him. If he decides to work that is the smartest thing to do. The Younger’s will move in their home regardless what that guy said.

Dani

The biggest thing that has been on my mind this week is relationships. I’ve found that if you don’t find a way to control your anger it doesn’t just suck for you. I’m the kind of guy that would never hit a girl and am always trying to be a good guy but sometimes I get really mad and just start yelling for stupid reasons. It’s made my relationship a little shaky lately. I guess I just took the good things for granted and I will not do that again because I almost lost one of the most special people in my life!

Lately all I can think about is how stupid I’ve been and how I need to make a change. I need to be the guy that knows what he wants and won’t take a second of it for granted. In my three years of being in high school I have had personal goals for myself and was doing really good up to this year. I guess I just kind of gave up on myself and stopped trying. Now its time for me to stop slacking and to get my butt into gear.

I need to learn to manage my time a lot better so that I can do my personal things and still make plenty of time for the people who mean the world to me. I’m sure everyone knows who I’m talking about but if you don’t than ill tell you. It’s my girlfriend. In about a week well have been together for six months and for me that is an extremely long time.

She means a lot to me and I am willing to do all it takes to show her how much I love her. We are both on the same page and I finally think that things will go back to normal after about two weeks of just fighting pretty much. No matter what happens I just want her to be happy and I will always be there for her. No matter what we will always at least be best friends. We both have never been as close to anyone else as we are with each other so I think that we’ll come over this stage in life and will end up being even closer to each other than we ever thought possible. I’ve figured out what to do and how to go about things. I’ve learned not to let my anger control me but to let my love for her take control of me. Things will end up for the best and I will always do what’s right for her.

If I won 10 million dollars in a lottery and I had to give 5 million away, I would give to the breast awareness foundation. The reason why I picked that foundation is because I have met a couple of people that have survived breast cancer and they are amazing. I do not see how they could survive and still look like normal. When I said that I met a couple of people I meant that one person I know was a teacher that I had in 7 grade and she was left with only one breast and no one could tell that she only had one breast.

The other person that I know is my sister. She has had three kids and she is a survivor of breast cancer. The only difference between the two women is that my sister was fortunate enough to be able to keep both of her breasts and she is still going. I look up to both of those women and if I ever had that kind of problem, I do not know what I would do.

Sarah

I have court next Thursday the 22nd. I am not excited. I don’t know what is going to happen. I hope that I do not get sent home with my dad, which would be the worst thing possible. I really hope that I can stay with my proctor family that I am with now. At least until my b-day in Feb. I really like the family that I am with. They are awesome. I really enjoy living were I am at. So I am very nervous for court but it will be fine. If can’t stay with this family until Feb. then I hope that I can go live with my grandparents. I just don’t have a good relationship with my dad and I don’t feel comfortable there. I don’t want to go back to his house. So I hope that it all goes my way in court on Thursday and I hope that I can come back to the family I am with now.

Stephen

I cannot wait until this Christmas. It is going to be tight. I am going to go my grandparents a couple of days before Christmas. On Christmas day I will be home with my proctor family. I think that it will be fun. My grandparents are getting me a laptop for Christmas. I really hope that they let me help them pick it out so I can get the one that I want. But if I don’t then it will still be cool that they got me one. My proctors are really cool. I hope that they are getting me the motorcycle that I want. I know that they have been looking really hard for the one I want. If I don’t get it for Christmas then I will have within the month after, so I am excited. I really hope that this Christmas goes well and that my dad will just stay out of everything.

Stephen

If I had one dream it would be where I had a picture perfect life. By that I mean I would have the kind of life that everyone wants to have. I hope that I have found the perfect guy for my picture perfect life. The reason why I hope that he is the perfect guy is because he has always been there for me, he is sweet to me, and he is always listening to what I have to say. But lately things have been going bad and I hope that we can work everything out. If we are not able to work everything out then I would feel terrible about hurting him the way I did. So to all you ladies out there if you get a man make sure you treat him right.

Sarah

My journal. To days date is December 5, 2008 and that I am writing about what I am going to do with my life when I get out of the system. So I am going to do is, I am going to start school and keep my grades up until I get out of school. But while I am in school I am going to work on the weekends and pay my fines all. After I am done paying all my fines. I am going to work on my 91 Camero rs and customize it and put it in to the car show. After I am done I am going to stay out of trouble and I will not hang out with the same friends again. I will listen to my mom and dad and I will do what they tell me to do and that I will do my homework when I get a homework. So when I am home I will not hag out past midnight and I will not do any drugs or alcohol and I will play football for my school. So that what I am going to do when I get out of here.

Melvert

Christmas is the best time of the year. Everybody is so happy and everywhere you go there are hundreds of colorful lights. It’s during the coldest time of the year but for some reason it’s still one of the warmest times of the year. I’m not talking about physically warm. I’m talking about heart-felt warmth. Everybody is just full of joy and wants to be nice to everyone. It’s the time of giving and your can literally feel the goodness in the air. I’ve always loved Christmas time because of the feeling it gives me. I remember waking up in the morning and running to the Christmas tree, just about dying in anticipation to open my presents. I grew up with my grandma so I just naturally fell into the position of putting the tree up myself. She would help decorate and I always loved putting all of the ornaments up with her. There is just a certain feeling in the air during Christmas time that makes every nook and cranny of a house feel nice and cozy. Spending Christmas with my grandma was the best. It was my favorite and I always loved that time of year. After I moved away from her I slowly stopped being excited for Christmas and after she died I lost all excitement. I still love all the lights and decorations but now when I think about putting up the tree or decorating I just don’t feel like doing it. It’s just not the same anymore. I’m pretty excited for this Christmas though. I’m excited because I’ll be able to spend it with my girlfriend. We’ll have been together for six months and four days on Christmas day.

Alex

Today is one of the best days of my life. It’s Friday, I’m in a good mood and the best part is my man gave me a promise ring. We both connect real well with each other and understand each other a lot. We were meant to be. That’s for real. One of the most important keys to having a healthy lasting relationship is having communication and trust. That’s exactly what we have. We feel comfortable around each other and make each other laugh. Another important part in a good relationship to me is showing affection towards each other and supporting each other. David and I have that with each other. I feel that I have nothing to worry about in our forever lasting relationship. He is the sweetest boyfriend I’ve ever had and will always have. He respects me so much and shows his feelings towards me and I love that. He’s perfect to me in every way. I can’t stop looking at the ring. Today I’m turning in my application for Victoria’s Secret. Tonight I’m going to party it up. I don’t know what I’m doing on Saturday yet, and Sunday I’m going to my Daddy’s. I’m stressing about not knowing what I’m going to do on Saturday. I have to kick it cause I can’t stand being in the house all day with nothing to do. I have to stay active like busy so I don’t get board and think to hard in to things to where I get all depressed. Lol! Well, I can’t think of any thing else right now so get out of here

Brit

What do you like about thanksgiving? I like that I can spend time with my family and friends. However, this year will be completely different. The reason why is because this year I do not get to spend it with my family. Instead I get to spend it with a completely different family. It is going to feel so weird because I will feel like I am imposing on a family on a holiday that they are spending together. However, I will eventually get use to it. Nevertheless, enough about me lets see what you have to say. What is your thanksgiving going to be like? Do you get to spend it with your family or with your proctor family? What kind of things are you grateful for?

Sarah

If I won 10 million dollars from the lottery I would donate it to the save Ricky Vivian foundation. He suffers from an empty pocket. The moths need something to keep them company. Then some to the Vichata foundation so Ricky and Ben can get help too. Then with what I have left I will get me a bunch of toys and shoot I don’t need but want just cause I could. Then some more fun shoot maybe I would buy Wal-Mart that would be cool. I could have some fun with that it would be cool. Though I aint counting on it any time soon.

Ricky

Yesterday I went to the eye doctor, I told him that I was having trouble seeing and he told me that we could get it fixed. Therefore, after that, he did some tests on my eyes and he told me that I am near sighted. I looked at him and all I wanted to say was no duh! However, I kept my mouth shut. When I came out of the room the girl at the front helped me find some glasses that would fit my face. We found some that were cute and then she got the receipt printed. Then she ordered my glasses and she then told me that it would take about a week for the glasses to come in the mail. So now, I have another week of not being able to see anything and it really sucks. I get bad headaches and I am unable to do my work in three of my classes because I cannot see the boards.

Sarah

I went to court yesterday and it sucked in a way but was good in another. I was happy because I did not have to go back and live with my dad. But I also hated it because my dad told the judge that he did not want anything to do with me. He said that it I am taking money away from my two sisters. I don’t get it because both of my sisters have their own jobs and they don’t even live with my dad either I don’t really get why he would do that. But in a way it is good because my dad and I never have really gotten along. Ever since my mom died it has been worse and he blames me for it. So in a way I am happy that he did what he did because now I don’t have to deal with him. So I am probably going to just stay with my proctors until Feb. 26th when my next court date is. That is good because then I will be 18 on the 27th.

Stephen

Today, during my forth period physical education, I was trying to tune my guitar by turning the knob that turns the “key”, and while I was doing that the key that turns the big E string all of the sudden the freakin’ thing chipped and golden dust shot up. I was so pissed off that I swore a couple of times saying things that I definitely should not have said out loud. Well, every time I tried to tune it up the string would pull it down and it would go even more out of tune. I was so scared and worried that I almost cried because I have had my guitar since I was about ten or eleven, and it is the only guitar I have access to because one of the other kids in my group home broke one of Tyler’s guitars. So the program director said that no one can take any of the school guitars back to the group home. But it ended that my guitar will be okay for awhile until I get it fixed by a professional.

Morgan

To day is Thursday 20, 08 and that I can’t wait tell the week is over because on Wednesday I am going on a home visit for 4 or 5 days depend on my Procter parents are going down to Moab on a vacation on thanksgiving day. I am going down to Moab on a visit and then I am going to have a great fun there because I am going to do lots of things with my family and my cousins. So I can wait to go down there and hang out with every body and that I am going to eat lots of Navajo foods and eat lots of turkey at my parent’s house. So I am coming back on Sunday or Saturday in the evening. To day is going good and the day is going fast. The week went by fast and that the clock go’s by fast too. So I am going to eat lots of foods at my parents every day while I am there. So my mom and dad are picking me up in the mourning and I am going to lots of fun with every body. So that’s what I am going to do on my home visit.

Melvert

Bad Habits

Bad habits range from nail-biting to overeating to procrastinating to gossiping. What are your bad habits? What can you live with, what would you stamp out all together?
My bad habits are procrastination because if you haven’t noticed I don’t really like doing what I should do. I really don’t like doing things when there supposed to be done because I would rather do what I want to do first. I’m trying to get out of that habit but its one of the hardest habits to get out of, like smoking and drinking. It just gets put into your mindset and you want to do it more and more and eventually you don’t do anything at all. And I quit drinking and smoking now I just have to quit procrastinating.

Ben

I love music. Music helps me get through life. It relates to my situations and can help give me advice on how to handle my situations. It gives me strength and helps clear my mind. Without music I wouldn’t be able to get through life. I love to just sit back and relax to while listening to music. It always helps me get rid of the crap going on in the outside world. No matter what’s going on in school or just life I can go to my room lay on my bed and listen to music. It makes me feel a ton better. There is music for every emotion. No matter if I’m angry, sad, or extremely happy I can listen to music and it’ll make me feel like maybe there’s someone out there that can relate to me. I know that there are tons of people in this world that feel the same way, and music is just a natural part of being human. No matter who you are or what you like, you’ll always love music. It’s also cool to see how other people think.

Alex

Driving is one of the most fun things I can think of. Right now I can’t really drive by myself when I do get to drive I love it and can’t wait to have my license. I don’t get it until April which kind of frustrates me but it’ll come faster than I think. It makes me kind of mad because my girlfriends birthday is in march and I really wanted to take her out somewhere nice but if I do I’ll have to rely on my aunt or something which is kind of lame. Driving gives me an adrenaline rush because I love to go fast and speed whenever I can. I know it’s not safe and will probably get a ticket but for right now I love it and can’t get enough of it. I love going on the freeway and anywhere that I can go fast. The roar of the engine makes my heart race. I love it even though sometimes I get a little nervous I still love that feeling of flying down a road.

Alex

Today I’m going to talk about two things. I want to talk about people. People who have an influence in this world. To me my biggest hero is my grandma. I was raised by her and she was my mother. She had a hard life but still found a way to come out on top. She was the kind of person that put her family first and never gave up on them. No matter what they did she would still always be there for them. I really look up to her because even though she made a lot of mistakes with family she still had faith that they could improve their lives. I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to watch my sons and daughters go through the things they are going through but she did it while raising me and my siblings. She was always a strong grown figure for me. She showed me how to be strong but also to love unconditionally. Even though she was in a lot of bad situations she over came them and was one of the strongest people in this world that I have ever met. She was never afraid to stand up for herself or let people ruin her family’s life.

Alex