Accept. Act. Accelerate.

We all know that SkyView Academy is a different school in itself, but one of its most unique qualities is the all-around kindness. From student to student, teacher to student, even student to teacher, there's an overall love that's being shared. Sometimes this is just a simple, "Okay?" assertion from Jillian or an, "Amino Sister-Wife Pants!" greeting from Claire. Other times it's one of Mr. Brehm's so-called "compliments" or Goettsch's "money!" feedback on daily quizzes. All of these tiny comments throughout the week, or even the day, add up to the wonderful feeling of mattering. What a great feeling; mattering. Wouldn't you like others to bathe in the cleansing feeling? This is where we must pass on the fact that others matter to us and we need to let them know.

The other morning, as I made my way down the staircase to the band room, I saw a lady walking up the stairs. I didn't know who she was but I said, "Good morning." She donned a great smile, and seemed genuinely happy, as she returned the salutation. It's simple acts like this that can make someone's day. Accelerate the message of mattering. Let others in your community know that they matter to you. Be it a sticky note that says "You're cool" or a nice phone call, the smallest things to you are some of the largest to others. Knowing that someone else thinks about you, that you pass through their mind for even a split second, is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Let others know you think about them, let them feel this great emotion. Let them know they matter.

Dying Print's Last Words...

If you wanted to read the news right now, you might just look it up online, tap your newspaper app, or switch on the tv. And if you wanted to read a book, you might grab your nook or your kindle or your kobo that's right next to you. That's how the print culture is nowadays. Our world have turned almost completely electronic. The internet holds anything you could possibly get from a newspaper or a magazine, and ebooks have taken books to the digital world. The realm of print is dying, and with its downfall follows the decline of jobs, socialization, health, and simple pleasures.

Think of how many people used to work in factories that created newspapers and books and magazines. As the years go on, all those jobs disappeared. With the use of technology, there was simply not as many people buying prints, and therefore not as many were selling. This simple shift created a huge dent in the lives of many workers. This will only increase as the years go by.

Not only are print jobs going down but so are social connections. No one sits at the breakfast to read the newspaper anymore. Now families sit around the TV to watch the news and all the commercials that come with it. Sure you're still getting the information you need but you're not getting time to chat to someone about it. Families are reduced to sitting on the couch and merely absorbing the information thrown into their ears. There's no learning, only perceiving for a minute or two.

Additionally, the print world turning electronic has a toll on health. Through scientific studies, its been proven that a higher use of technology can have a strain on eyesight and even give people headaches and migraines from the light of their devices. If turning digital is supposed to be easier, why does it affect health so negatively?

Finally, through technology, many pleasures of print are vanishing. No longer will you be able to smell the wonderful smell of an old book. And no longer will you be able to learn, unless you have a full battery and a strong WiFi connection. Sure you're saving paper, but you're using up a lot of energy at the same time, and that has a similar effect on the world as paper consumption does.

Through the print world turning digital, things like jobs, social interaction, health, and little pleasures are being lost. Unfortunately, there will be a time where they will be gone for good.

Free Blog: More Importantly, What Being A Nerd Is and Why It Rocks

I'm going to talk to you about something very close, and very dear to my heart; being a nerd. It's lovely and fun and I want to tell you all about it. Most of you know me very well, and understand that I am a self-proclaimed nerd. So, a great starting question here is "What is a nerd, anyway?" You could look it up and find a wordy definition if you'd like, but I'll boil it down and explain with a simple quote by the lovely author, Mr. John Green.

"Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘you like stuff.’"

Basically, nerds are people who just really, honestly, and passionately like stuff; be it computers, video games, books, British television shows, movies, comic books, music, whatever.

Okay, so, now you know what a nerd is. Congratulations! But it doesn't simply end here. Alas, no! There's so much more to understand about the being of nerds. You think it's just a bunch of superheroes and theme songs? Or a group people talking about computers and software?! You're so wrong! "Fine, then! What else could you possibly tell me about being a nerd?" you might be asking yourself. Well, son, allow me to tell you a little bit about why being a nerd rocks.

Firstly, it's super fun and brings you joy getting over-excited about the nerdiest things. Examples include, but are not limited to:

- Season (blank) of (blank) being added onto Netflix's instant watch list,
- Any movie trailer you've been waiting "forever" for,
- British guys,
- Books. Just- books,
- Someone reblogging a gifset on your Tumblr, (oooh nerd overload),
- Videos of cats doing adorable, and usually human, things,
- Japanese animated movies,
- Art!
- Etc.

If you're a nerd, and you're feeling a little blue, think of something to be over-excited about and I guarantee you, you'll feel so shiny that you'll want to start watching that Joss Whedon space-western series everyone's talking about. Nerd things bring joy to nerds. That's just how it is.

Secondly, you get to meet the nicest, weirdest, most enthusiastic, and most ridiculously nerdy people in the world. Trust me, it sounds like they're all creepy but they're not. Some Most of my best friends are nerds and they're my all time favorite people. Overall, nerds are funny, nice, accepting, and overall stellar individuals. I've never met one who's left me with a terrible impression of themselves. I've met some epic nerds through my friends, through other nerds, through the internet, too. Even in Bed, Bath and Beyond when this kid commented on the super cool Tardis t-shirt that I had just gotten and immediately the two of us were talking about Doctor Who and became the best of friends and my mom gave me the weirdest looks, but I didn't care, because obviously, this kid had great taste in British television and I wanted to talk to him. They're all just great people and I want to hug every single one of them

Thirdly, you get to participate is awesome nerdy things. Such as, Harry Potter movie marathons, reading an eight book series in a week, fun chat rooms, actually making fish fingers and custard (you were curious, you had to try it!), and let's not forget Comicon. These probably sound like the weirdest ways to use your time, but being active in nerdy things is great fun! Chances are, you end up meeting fantastic people, and having a blast.

Lastly, you understand that being a "nerd" isn't an insult. It's not about making someone feel stupid for liking something, or making them feel like they don't fit in. Honestly, being a nerd is about being a part of something much bigger, something wonderfully intangible! It's like being encompassed in this fantastical sphere where people understand you're references to "bowties", "okay?", and "I'm in shock." Not only that, but they respond with "are cool!", "okay", and "look, I've got a blanket!" Being a nerd is like always being in a hug. That's what being a nerd is. That's the only way to describe it. One huge, nerdy, accepting, really awkward, but loving hug, and it's beautiful.

So, go ahead! Tell me I'm a nerd! I'll love it, and chances are I'll probably say something like "ALLONS-Y!" or "BAZINGA!" and walk away with my sonic screwdriver, my fandom buttons, and my knee-high piano socks, because you know what? That's how nerds roll. And guess what, we love it.

Family Dinner?

Many define "family dinner" as an everyday occurrence where everyone gathers over a wonderful meal to share stories and laugh together. Most importantly, though, everyone sees it as the best way to connect as a family. That doesn't necessarily ring true though, as you'll see through the great example of my own schedule challenged family.

Yes, of course we gather to eat. (While we're on the subject of eating, I feel it's important to add that both of my parents are wonderful chefs, so the quality of food is not the issue here.) But, the definition of "we" has changed over the course of the last two years. My entire family used to be on the exact same schedule. My sister and I were at school, and my parents worked the same hours. We would all be home at dinnertime, and therefore we would always eat dinner together. Look at us, eating green chile chicken enchiladas and laughing about my sister's all-girl high school or the crazy people my dad worked with. It was a cliché family dinner, and it worked for us. Then my sister left to further her education. And then my mom got more night hours. And then my dad started a different job. As a result, family dinners soon became a thing of rarity. Now, with only three in our family home, and mom not being home until later, family dinners consist of my dad and I. Dinner had become a time where my dad tries new recipes and where we talk about art or the news or something else that interests my father. Don't get me wrong, I love my dad and he's hilarious, but he's often incredibly quiet or isn't hungry at the same time I am, so sometimes dinner is just with the fantastic company of myself (and our incessantly begging dogs). Hey, that's okay with me sometimes, but others, I miss those crazy people I call my family. I especially missed us laughing together and sharing those ridiculous stories that made us the strong family we wanted to be. Not to fret though, because we started to use different times to communicate. Now the 7:00 AM car rides to school are filled with the stories of stupid Yahoo headlines and updates from my sister. And now our Friday nights consist with us in the family room, listening to Bossa Nova: Around the World as my mother researches kennels (which, by the way, we are in the market for an Airedale puppy if you happen to know a good breeder). It's okay that our dinners are different.

I'm not saying that family dinners aren't important. No, I'm merely saying that you can achieve the same outcome of the great "Family Dinner" through different settings. And hey, when you find what works for your family, it doesn't matter if there's food or not.

Color Means...

"Red means love. Orange means enthusiasm. Yellow means happiness. Green means healing. Blue means peaceful. Purple means royalty."

These are some of the definitions given to color by those who think they understand was color truly is. But it must be asked; is purple really royalty? Or is yellow actually happiness? Color is not something to be defined, it's something to be embraced. It can be something of simplicity, like the appearance of a pillow or a shirt. But it can also be something complex, like a feeling or a memory. Color is to be perceived in every way it can be. That's what makes it unique.

The simplicity of color is that it's so easily enjoyable. When someone watches a stunning sunset, they see the rich hues and appreciate how naturally beautiful it is. Or when someone is looking at a painting, they see how the colors of the paint collide to create a masterpiece. Color can be as simple as anyone wants it to be. If someone likes the color blue because it makes them happy, they can love the color blue. And if a different someone likes the color orange because it makes them happy, they can love the color orange. It can truly be a simple concept of enjoying color.

Color can also be an idea that's so complex, it's nearly impossible to understand. Colors have the incredible ability to make you think, and remember. Just by looking at a color, you can conjure the most amazing memories in your mind. You can remember the vast, beautiful ocean, full of life, just by glancing at something blue. Or you can recall a terribly cold winter being vanished by an inviting fire, simply by gazing at the same color orange elsewhere. Colors can be that an amazing force of thought.

Whether color is a shirt or a feeling to you, remember to accept color with open arms. Color is wonderful, both in simplicity and complexity.

Freedom ft. MLK

When Martin Luther King Jr. said, "...freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed," did he mean for this quote to compel all? If so, then he sure succeeded. The question, though, is why is this quote so thought provoking? What makes it so relatable and important to everyone?

At a cursory glance, this quote speaks about freedom. However, it's much more than that. After reading the sentence again, the reader begins to think about human nature. Through the quote, it seems as though King is suggesting that humans are bad, but can show good. They're bad because they don't think of giving freedom immediately... but they are good because they can eventually give in. That's a tough point to defend, but at the same time, it has a certain degree of validity. Obviously, when people see those who are being oppressed, they speak out about it. But what about before? Are there people out there who promises freedom before anything else? There's no way to know. But if so, the percentage of those people is probably quite small. Of course everyone wants to claim that they would give freedom to everyone if given the chance. The truth is, though, is that many would be lying. Many people are power hungry and greedy for rule. Keeping people from freedom is just a way to obtain that power.

The second part of the quote says that freedom has to be asked for. How true is this? Whenever the word "freedom" pops up, it's usually because people are asking for it; religious freedom, political freedom, economic freedom, or even sexuality freedom. People want to be free, and when they feel like they are being oppressed, they will keep fighting for that freedom. If anything, King's quote reminds the reader that humans are incredibly strong and able. They will achieve that freedom eventually due to their determination and motivation. Humans, even though bad at certain aspects of life, as greed or vanity, can also be good when the occasion calls for it.

This quote is also quite compelling due to the ability to relate to it. Everyone has experience oppression in some way. Even though those instances could differ greatly from King's experience, people understand the feelings behind oppression. They understand the hatred shown, the longing for acceptance, the want of freedom, and overall, the feeling of being oppressed. When a simple quote can conjure up such strong emotions, it's obviously one that has strong importance.

Even though this quote by Martin Luther King Jr. is merely a few words, it is also a gate into the thoughts of human nature, and a path to strong emotions, that have to power to compel many. Well said, King. Well said.

I Challenge Against Your Challenge Stating You Can Ban and Challenge Books.

"Yes, hello. I'd like to be able to read what ever book I please, thank you."


This should be the response to the crisis of banned and challenged books in high school settings. Literary freedom is incredibly important and can't be avoided. Banning books shouldn't even be considered, for the consequences outweigh any possible good that could come from keeping these works of art in the dark. By restricting books, many miss the opportunity to learn, and misinterpret topics of reality.

Obviously, those who restrict books like to think they have good reasons for doing so, such as "protecting" teenagers from mature themes including strong language, violence, drugs, alcohol, and sexuality. But many forget that they've already been exposed to such topics through other mediums like television, the internet, and maybe even life experiences. Sure, they may not fully understand those themes, but keeping them from books with such topics are only oppressing teenagers from the opportunity to grasp that understanding. Books are a natural teaching tool. Why not utilize them for the purpose of which they were created? One can learn an infinite amount of knowledge from a book, and every time someone bans a book, that amount of potential learning greatly decreases. Books often teach people to do something a certain way, but they can also teach how to not do something. Many literary works use examples of evil to teach good. Don't ban people from reading something because you think they'll only understand the bad from it. Just because an eight year old reads Harry Potter, doesn't mean they'll try to turn into a wizard and practice dark magic. Just because a seventeen year old reads The Perks of Being a Wallflower, doesn't mean they'll start doing drugs and smoking. And just because anyone reads Of Mice and Men, does not mean they'll start using racial slurs. More often than not, they will learn incredible morals and lessons from stories like these. People can be trusted with learning from books. Do not deny them the opportunity.

Also, by banning and challenging books, those who don't get the chance to read them will often misinterpret the message of the topics being written about. Keeping people from reading books about drugs or alcohol lead people to ignore such themes. Alcoholism and substance abuse are both serious problems that everyone needs to understand and treat maturely. By not reading books with these themes, people don't apprehend the severity of alcohol or drugs and can be blind to the effects. They perceive it much better than it actually is. However, this is the opposite when it comes to sexuality. A lot of books are banned and challenged due to explicit sexual content in the story. It's understandable that some minds aren't ready for that kind of material. But it can teach the minds who are ready that topics surrounding sexuality aren't okay. If books with LGBT content are banned, wouldn't that teach kids that those sexual orientations aren't acceptable? People are supposed to teach and preach equality, correct? It's the same with normal sexuality. Obviously, it's a normal process, but through the act of banning books with sex in them, it acquires a negative connotation and becomes incorrectly perceived. It's true that sexuality should be dealt with in the most mature and smartest manners, but it shouldn't be avoided and looked down upon. Understand that even though these topics are touchy and edgy, they won't just disappear if you avoid them. So learn how to accept them, and treat them correctly.

Banning and challenging works of absolute art won't do anything good. It will simply leave confusion and ignorance. Please learn how to trust people to read books. They can read and agree, or disagree, with whatever book they want.


"Yes, thank you for allowing me to read what I want. That's really kind of you!"


This should be the response to the day when all books are allowed. That'll be the day.

http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics/reasons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_commonly_challenged_books_in_the_United_States

The Day of Introduction

Welcome to Those Thunderstruck Thoughts, composed by me, Carly Rodriguez. Here you will find weekly posts from my AP Language class. Hopefully they will be thought enticing, interesting-to-read entries. If not, sorry about that.
A little bit about me? Sure. 15, female, incredibly odd. That's me, folks. I enjoy guitar, apples, fun shoes, Doctor Who, reading, alternative music, ice cream, the color grey, sleeping, Sherlock, and loads of other things. You'll probably learn a lot about me from these posts so I'll just stop here. Enjoy!