aLvIN’S AwEsOmNeSS BLoG

Today, we had a contest there was a 1st 2nd and 3rd winner. I didnt win but maybe next time. Anyways I finished my drawing from the GIMP :

Have you heard of I.Q.? If you have, you probably know that it stands for Intelligence Quotient — it’s a simple measure that shows how well you are able to score on some intelligence test. It doesn’t exactly show what kind of intelligence you have or how intelligent you are. Intelligence is a complicated issue to talk about. We are all wired differently and we all have different kinds of things that we are good in. Some of you are good in writing, some good in math, while some are good in creating things, drawing, painting, and even acting and singing. Some of you are also good in feeling things — like perhaps understanding yourself or others.

You probably have a good sense of how intelligent you are — perhaps even telling others how high your I.Q. is. Together with understnading your intelligence, it is also healthy to understand yourself — your own feelings and emotions. By understanding yourself, you will be more able to understand others. There’s something called an E.Q. - Emotional Quotient. This is a scale of how well you know yourself — how well you are in tune with your own emotions. It can also provide insight on how well you can understand the feelings of other people.
Understanding emotions — your own and others — is quite important at your age because it is something that’s still developing within you. Perhaps you don’t know why you get mad at others so easily or why you blurt out curses when someone bugs you. Perhaps you don’t understand why your classmates get annoyed by your questions. Understanding your reactions to things and your own feelings could eventually make you more understand the feelings of others — and this understanding could be a key to better cooperation and peaceful friendships.

There’s an online “test” that has a few questions about emotions. Go ahead and try it out. It’s a shortened version of a longer test. Go try the short one first. Make sure you’re honest or the results will not be very true.

Click this link to go to the short test: http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/eiq_abridged_access.html

The following is a link to the longer test. Try it if you have time:

http://www.queendom.com/tests/access/emotional_iq.html

As almost teenagers, you’re all at an age when things are changing within your body and your mind. You’re no longer little kids, yet you’re not really teenagers yet. The way people (your teachers, parents, etc.) treat you is also slowly changing. You used to be more pampered and watched over. Now you’re expected to all be independent and responsible. You have projects to complete, assignments to turn in, practices to go to, friends to meet, and so many other deadlines and such to accomplish.
Given these expectations of you, think about the questions below and answer them honestly in your own blogs as a new post.

Do you think your parents can / should trust you with things that you do in school, at home, and else where?

• Yes, when we were little most of us had older brothers and sisters to look up to, they did their responsbilities, shouldnt we? And our parents should have high expectations for us and the chocies that we make…yo

Do you think your teachers can / should trust you with things that you do in school (regular schoolwork), at home (assignmentss/projects), and else where?

• It depends on your freinds, do they cheat and lie? If they do, you’ll probably get motivated to do the same thing and vice versa with good freinds. So choosing right or wrong freinds will make teachers jump to conclusions by the freinds you choose

What are your main complaints about school at this point in your life?

• Too much homework, teachers purposely hard work to bring down your grades

What are your main complaints about home at this point in your life?

• No tv or computer or any electronical device to have fun……even if I’m done with hw!  

What can you promise yourself that can make you a better person / a better student?

• Yea, maturing includes improving mentally so we can understand concepts of more things. I’ll promise to follow the rules as long as they arent too strict. Ill also show my parents that Im responsible, and I can take care of myself

Do you think your friends can / should trust you with things (objects, secrets, yo mama etc.)

• Not really, especially if their older and dont really know them that well, I dont trust them until I know about who they are or what they do

Do you think you need a lot of privacy in school / at home?

• Yes, especially with other people so I can talk to someone or by myself personally with any interruptions

Thy story:

In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the hero, Jean Valjean, is an ex-convict, living illegally under an assumed name and wanted for a robbery he committed many years ago. [Actually, no — he is only wanted for breaking parole.] Although he will be returned to the galleys — probably [in fact, actually] for life — if he is caught, he is a good man who does not deserve to be punished. He has established himself in a town, becoming mayor and a public benefactor. One day, Jean learns that another man, a vagabond, has been arrested for a minor crime and identified as Jean Valjean. Jean is first tempted to remain quiet, reasoning to himself that since he had nothing to do with the false identification of this hapless vagabond, he has no obligation to save him. Perhaps this man’s false identification, Jean reflects, is “an act of Providence meant to save me.” Upon reflection, however, Jean judges such reasoning “monstrous and hypocritical.” He now feels certain that it is his duty to reveal his identity, regardless of the disastrous personal consequences. His resolve is disturbed, however, as he reflects on the irreparable harm his return to the galleys will mean to so many people who depend upon him for their livelihood — especially troubling in the case of a helpless woman and her small child to whom he feels a special obligation. He now reproaches himself for being too selfish, for thinking only of his own conscience and not of others. The right thing to do, he now claims to himself, is to remain quiet, to continue making money and using it to help others. The vagabond, he comforts himself, is not a worthy person, anyway. Still unconvinced and tormented by the need to decide, Jean goes to the trial and confesses.

1. Did he do the right thing?

• Yes, because he didnt want the scapegoat to have his punishment. Sooooo, he confessed and went to trial.

1. What do you think?

• I think if someone does something wrong…they shouldnt let others to take the blame for it.

Sam knew something was weird the second he got to class on Tuesday morning. He saw kids whispering and pointing at him. Some were looking at him funny. He sat down next to his best friend and picked up the graded report the teacher, Mr. Crosby, had graded over the weekend. Sam looked at the ” A-“ and forgot about the rest of the class for a minute. He had worked hard at that report and was thrilled it had paid off. He looked up and saw a bunch of kids staring at him. While the teacher cleaned up the white board, Sam whispered to Dylan, “ What’s going on?” Dylan, looked down and said quietly, “Conner told everyone you copied your report from the internet.” “ But, that’s a lie!” Sam said. “I never cheat and everyone knows it.” He was hurt and angry. He couldn’t focus the rest of the morning in class.

At recess he went up to Conner and asked him if he had really told everyone he had cheated. “ It’s no big deal,” Conner scoffed. “ I only told a few people. Lighten up. It was just a joke.” Sam turned and walked away. He wanted to yell at Conner, or hit him, or something. He just wanted to make Conner feel as bad as Conner had made him feel.

For the next two days, Sam avoided Conner but Sam and Dylan made up as many lies as they could think of about Conner to get back at him. They told kids that he was jealous of anyone who did well in school because he almost failed fourth grade last year. They told the girl Conner liked that he still wet his bed sometimes. But it wasn’t helping. Sam was still just as mad at Conner. In fact, all he thought about now was Conner and what he had done.

On Friday, Mr. Crosby had all three boys stay to talk with him during recess. He told them they had until the end of recess to work out whatever it was that was going on between them. If they had not all forgiven each other by the end of recess, they had to go to the principal’s office. Then Mr. Crosby left the classroom.

The three boys stared angrily at each other waiting for someone to say something. Sam didn’t know what to say. All he knew was that he was tired of being mad and hurt. What could he do to make it stop? And what did Mr. Crosby mean by all forgive each other?

Guide questions:

1. Do you think all three boys need to apologize?Yes, they all did something wrong and have to apologive to each other
   
2. Who do you think is the most guilty of doing wrong. Conner, he started all this with his “lies”
   
3. Do you think it will improve their friendship if Sam forgives Conner?Yes, they will both learn to forgive each  other and be freinds again
4. Have you ever been in a position like this? What happened? Would you make the same choices if you were in the position again? Yes, it turned out all right. And we’re still good freinds
5. Is there someone in your life right now that you might need to forgive for something? No, me and my freinds are all having a great time together
6. What does it feel like to forgive someone? Why do you think that is? It feels reassuring, as if you accepted they did something wrong to you and they are sorry.
   

Maya knew she was busted as soon as she saw the school’s Assistant Principal walking toward her. She was at her friend’s school dance and they had gone to a “pre-party” beforehand. Maya wasn’t a big partier but she had shared a couple of drinks with some of her friends and now was about to be busted. The Assistant Principal approached her and said that she looked like she was unsteady on her feet. Maya tried the think fast and replied that she had played in a soccer game that day and was sore. The Assistant Principal then asked for her name and what school she went to, and commented that she smelled alcohol on Maya’s breath. Maya told her what school she was from and that she had not been drinking. The Assistant Principal began to explain that she would have to call Maya’s school the next day with her suspicions but was interrupted by a group of students. As she turned to answer them, Maya slipped out the door of the school.

Maya was panicked. She was pretty sure the Assistant Principal would have no trouble finding out her name. Her friend came out to find her and told her to stay calm. Her friend explained that the Assistant Principal probably wouldn’t even call and that she couldn’t be busted because she didn’t break any rule on her own school campus. This might have calmed another seventeen year old down but not Maya. Both teachers and peers respected her at her school for her academics and her integrity. She volunteered every weekend in her neighborhood Head Start program and was captain of the varsity soccer team. She felt like she would let so many people down if they found out what she had done. She already felt like she had let herself down. She had so far to fall. Why did she have to risk it all in such a stupid way?

Maya couldn’t believe this was happening. She felt like she was watching herself. She would do anything to take back those drinks now, but thinking like that was wasting time. If her parents found out, she could kiss her social life good bye. If her teachers found out, they would all look at her differently. Her friend’s advice was to do nothing and hope that Maya’s school wouldn’t get a call from the Assistant Principal. If she did, then she could either deny it, or come clean. But, there was no sense in turning herself in at this point. That seemed like a big gamble to Maya. Still panicked, Maya tried examining her choices and playing them out. For example, if she were to go talk to the Assistant Principal at her own school before she received the phone call, that action would be consistent with the character and integrity she showed her school community. That might lessen the consequences or, at least, alleviate the fear and guilt that was freaking her out. On the other hand, she had broken no school rules on her own campus or school sponsored event. Would she be creating drama where there might never be drama? Maya was confused and overwhelmed. She needed to come up with an action plan before school tomorrow.

1. If you were Maya’s best friend and had her best interest at heart, what would you suggest she do? I’d tell her to calm down and relax. Then ask her to think about all the consequences that would happen if she lied and they found out the truth. Then tell her to think what would happen if she told the truth and the good things that would come out of it. I would tell her, “of course things are gonna get rough in the beginning, but later things will be all right.
2. If you were her parent, what do you think you would suggest she do? I would say, “Maya, tell the truth or there’s gonna be harsh consequences from me, daddy, your school teachers, and most importantly your friends.”
3. What would she have to lose if she turned herself in? She would lose her favor of teachers, and maybe the trust of her freinds and parents. Plus her reputation.
4. What would she have to lose if she didn’t? She would lose her control of herself.
5. Have you or someone you know ever been in a similar situation to this? My brother. What happened and how did it turn out? It turned out alright because my mom approved of him drinking just once. Did you or that person feel regret or pride in the choice made? No, my brother is responsible. So he chooses his choices WISELY.
6. Do any of you feel Maya is over reacting to this situation? YES, she was freaking out, probably sweating under the pressure. But it’s like what I always say… “be above the influence! “

BE ABOVE THE INFLUENCE!!!!!

Today my comp took a long time to start. It was frozen when I got to it so I had to restart it. But the good news is that I got to level 11! Yahoooo! Haha, well I tried out the gmp becuase  I made a christmas tree. It was pretty cool. It’s almost Thanksgiving, and maybe, just ,maybe I’ll eat a turkey for dinner

~~Alvin

Be honest with your answers for the following: (of course I will! )

1. Do you like blogging or not? I enjoy blogging it keeps me busy and helps me remember what happened the day I wrote it
2. Is blogging for students like you an important thing to do? It isn’t necessary to blog, but it is helpful to learn more about yourself
3. What would you like to blog about? I would blog about my day —>what happned what did I do, and these quesions and ethical dilemmas
4. Why should we blog about your suggestions?You don’t need to, but these are probably the most common things to do
5. Do you like our blogging activities? Yes, It helps me learn and figure out more about myself
   
6. What should we do with our current blogging activities? Do more blogs than typing
7. What else would you like to learn about in this quarter of computer applications? I would like to do - atomix, blogging, gimp, guam, ourselves (culture and stuff)
8. How do you like our LINUX computers so far?They take awhile to get to the screens because everyone is doing the same thing at one time.But its alrite

The Story:

It’s midway through the spring semester, and you are taking a math test. You’ve been struggling all semester in this class, and you know that this test will form a big part of your grade. You feel like you are doing quite well on the test until you come to the last problem. It is worth 20 points and you just can’t remember how to solve it. As it happens, the class math whiz is sitting right in front of you and you can see he’s just finished it. You are close enough to see how he solved it, and you know that no teacher can see you if you cheat.

If I was in this situation, I wouldn’t cheat. Even if it’s tempting and I need to bring up my grade I wouldn’t! Because cheating is wrong.

If my brother, who iI have much respect for, was in this situation. He wouldn’t cheat because he has a good heart.

If I did cheat, and the person found out, he would be angry. So I would apologize to him and ask him to forgive me. But if he’s still mad, I would just have to accept it because it was my fault.

If he told the teacher I would confess.

I am honest because today I was talking to someone and he was alking to someone too. But the teacher only caught the other two. One of them called me a liar, i ignored it and when I turned in my test I told the teacher I started the conversation.

I had never seen anyone cheat before, so I take it my friends are honest.

Cheating is a very big issues in school, and you could get suspended, no EXPELLED!

~~Alvin