LMNOP tests.

Every student dreads them, for we all have to take them. The test that's basically going to tell us what we can and cannot do in our lives. The SAT and the ACT. You get to sit down, rush through amounts of questions, and then be graded on it so someone else can tell you how intelligent you are. In most cases, these test scores are what colleges look for in applications. And I think it's absolutely ridiculous. 

I refuse to believe that tests such as these can determine one's mental capacity, for someone could be one of the greatest thinkers, artists, writers, etc., but if they are bad at taking tests, they are suddenly deemed slow, or unready for college. 

This being said, it would be nearly impossible to organize individual tests custom fitted for each student, but I do think some system that would let a student shine in a subject they excel at would be better. If you're wonderful at history, what good is a math/reading/writing test to you? How would that let a college know how good at history you were, if it does not even include the subject? 

Children believe in magic.

Small children always posses a certain quality that I have envied since my age has grown. The mischievous glint in their eyes when a small idea arrives never ceases until another equally crazy thought comes along to replace it. Their ability to dream and act as if nothing is impossible is a attribute to the small, smiling, round-faced people that scamper around that many seem to grow out of. 

Children believe in magic. They believe in Neverland, and Santa Claus. In flying off of the roof and digging holes to China. And with these drastic ideas, comes passionate enthusiasm. 

They will do whatever it takes to get this fantasy to work out, and never give up when trying. They hold on to their commitment so fervently, and never hesitate to report their progress. They try another method, another strategy, to get it to operate the way they need it too. They aren't afraid to try, or believe in anything. They aren't afraid of disappointment, or failure. They have the courage to believe the impossible and stick with their vision.

I don't understand why most of our excitement for invention and creation lessens as we age. Why people can no longer jump up and down with energy and happiness, and be satisfied and proud with the final result, or once in our pajamas, call it a day and try again tomorrow. To have the vigor to pursue something and feel ardently doing it should be a daily occurrence; To inspire others to accomplish miracles, and make them smile. A child's bravery and creativity so often inspires me to do the same in whatever I'm doing.We should think as children do, for any obstacle in life. 

Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for I find that things I consider beautiful is often not considered so to another.  Beauty, I feel, is often an aesthetic problem that so many struggle to meet. Many change to impress, to live up to expectations, to feel beautiful. Despite this, I can’t help but feel those who go through such modifications were lovely before, in their own way.  I find that in people, the most attractive to me are those who have a unique feature. For me, everything about them cannot be so perfect, because then it is almost to the point where they are too attractive that they aren't attractive at all. Everyone knows humans aren't perfect, and in my opinion they should look as such. With that being said, I find there is an un-perfect perfectness to that, which is what attracts me to these strange aspects of their person. 

Is this so for everyone? It can definitely be stated that what I find unattractive may be attractive to another. One man's trash is another's treasure, after all. "...From the lover's point of view many things are beautiful which are unbeautiful from the point of view of him who is not a lover, and the greater the degree to which the lover is swayed by his passion the greater the extent to which his normal aesthetic standard is liable to be modified." - Havelock Ellis. One's personality attributes to their beauty, especially when viewed from someone close to them. To a stranger, judgments are based on appearance, and often rumors. However, to someone more intimate, their view could be completely altered. 

Beauty is often so trivial when compared against one's other qualities, yet the world in which we live in weighs so heavily on it. It is something which every person has in one form or another, though too many are focused on the physical facet. Beauty is a geometric gem and can be pulled from any side. Still, should we really insist on primarily pulling from the physical side, or will we ever be more than that?

Nine.

After seeing the movie 9, it has left me constantly thinking about the future of the planet.  The movie presents a setting in which “man’s endless pursuit for technology” made them blind to the resources that were being swallowed up more and more. A totalitarian government turned to scientists to create an artificial intelligence robot that will help the nation prosper, and before it’s finished testing it is taken away to build more machines like it. Unfortunately, the machine buckles under the government’s pressure and turns against humanity, ensuing chaos until no one is left. 

This movie, like Wall-E, made me feel particularly nervous about what will happen to the planet.  The human race is constantly expanding and overpopulation is an issue, as well as nuclear power, and our depleting resources. Granted, the possibility of this happening in my lifetime, I’m finding to be very slim, but to me, it is still very worrying.  Even so, is there a way we can possibly avoid this end, or is it eventually inevitable?

One's Pain is Another's Pleasure

There is no one I know who can honestly say they have never had the feeling of satisfaction knowing someone else was being thrown under the bus. Every person has someone in their life that they would probably not mind never seeing for the rest of their lives. Anyone who says differently is being hypocritical.

The simple fact that there is constantly the occasional time when another’s horrible day provokes a chuckle from our lips is truth.  We can’t help it. Often enough, perhaps to ease our conscience, we settle to think they have deserved whatever nasty fate their enduring. But is it up to us to judge? There are often times I get a perception that we have no place judging others, for no one can hardly be considered perfect. It is possible that we judge other’s faults in order to temporarily feel accomplished or successful. I can confirm that to know of someone reveling in my misfortune would definitely disappoint, but each time I consider, should I be understanding, or offended?

 Although, sometimes having that momentary thought of, “Well…glad that’s not happening to me,” may often cause people to reevaluate their lives, and possibly make them feel grateful or thankful. With that being said, if we were all more willing to be more compassionate to our enemies, it is possible that the small elementary tip, to treat others the way you would like to be treated, could help us let go of said judgments?  Unfortunately, one man’s pain is another’s pleasure, we are human, and certainly do not all think the same.

 I think many people are resistant to change who they are or how they act, but I have certainly found, that the more I’ve attempted to understand, the happier I’ve been, all together contradicting the very statement that brought this on.