Seniors 2nd journal--Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Joyce Carol Oates's story provokes discussion on many levels, but for this blog, I'd like you to focus on how you see "your" world, separate from but inspired by the twisted predicament of Connie in her fast-moving relationship with Arnold Friend.
Choose one of these prompts.
1. Share with us an incident in which you lost a little of your childhood innocence and you learned the ropes of the real world.
2. Share with us parts of your “faith life.” Do you attend Church weekly? Read the Bible? Belong to a Church group? Etc. Discuss how this has benefited you and others.
3. Discuss a musical artist or group that promotes aberrant or immoral behavior.
4. Tell me about a musical artist or group whose songs promote meaningful thought or messages.
Remember, answer in a minimum of 25 blog lines or 200 words for full credit.
Post sometime this weekend to receive credit.
posted by JTF @ 8:38 PM
60 comments
60 Comments:
The first time I was lied to was in third grade. I do not remember much of the circumstances but I do recall the feeling I had when I realized what had happened. I was promised a trip to Disney World if I received an A on a science test. So I prepared for a week the best I could to do great on the test. When the day came to take it, I was the first one finished and I knew every answer. I achieved a ninety seven percent on the test and when I brought it home to my parents they were shocked and extremely happy for me. They kept telling me how proud they were but left no mention of the trip I was promised. I found out later that the trip was motivation for the test and was never thought to actually have to come true. I was absolutely crushed when I found that and my trust in others dwindled for a while and I had no faith in my parents for a time. This experience gave me a hint into the way things were outside of my own little perfect world.
My faith life has changed throughout my entire life. As a young child, I attended my church service every Saturday night. Along with this, I went to Sunday school class every week with my older brother and my older sister. I also belonged to my Church’s youth group. We participated in different activities together all of the time. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. I was baptized as a small baby, and I received my first holy communion when I was in elementary school. In seventh grade, I was confirmed with a small group of kids my age. As I have grown older my involvement in the Church has greatly diminished. I no longer attend church with my family or attend Church activities. I do not know if it is a question of faith or a question of time. I still believe in God and believe he has a place in my life. I go to a Catholic school so I pray daily in each and every one of my classes. We have mass at school once a month as well. I think that I may begin to attend Church on my own again later in life.
My summer going into Junior year was the time in my life where I really felt that I grew up. I went to Europe for about a month without my parents. While there were chaperones on the trip, it was basically like being on my own. I felt that I had to take care of myself and make important decisions. I was no longer an innocent child, but an experienced adult. I learned how to manage my time and money. No one was there to hold my hand and wake me up in the morning, I had to set an alarm and make sure I was out of the door on time or else I would get left behind. Also, it was my money that I was spending, so I had to make sure I was not throwing it away on useless things. Once I got back home I felt that I really grew up. I took everything I learned from the trip and put it into my life. I feel that this experience has also helped prepare me for college when I will no longer have my parents by my side, and will have to make all decisions on my own.
4. Tell me about a musical artist or group whose songs promote meaningful thought or messages.
One of my favorite artists is Jack Johnson. Having grown up in Hawaii, his songs are acoustic and have a very calming and care-free type of feel. With lyrics like "Makin' banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend now, and we can pretend it all the time," it certainly makes it easier for me to forget my troubles and relax. Although some of his songs are only concerned with the simple things, like pancakes and rain, some of his other songs are deeper having to do with love and loss. To me, a good artist leaves room for interpretation in his songs so that the listeners can relate. I think Jack Johnson does a great job of creating music that is simple and calming - allowing appreciation for the little things in life - something todays mainstream society just doesn't seem to do anymore.
3. Discuss a musical artist or group that promotes aberrant or immoral behavior.
I don't think that there are any bands that promote aberrant or abnormal behavior. I think it all depends on the perspective and culture of the listener. Most of society considers the majority of rap artists to talk about immoral topics in their songs such as sex, drugs, and violence. But to these artists, they do not see any of this as immoral or else they wouldn't write songs about it. Nobody would promote something they were against. It's like a Catholic singing a song about abortion. Sex, drugs, and violence are what these people have grown up with because this is the norm of the area they live in. This is their culture they were raised with, and were not influenced to think it was immoral. There are plenty of people that buy and listen the music, so obviously a good majority of society doesn't think this it is too immoral. If people didn't support the music then these artists would not be as successful as they are. I think most of the people that believe it is immoral are the older generation, because they were used to a different society and culture growing up. But i'm sure during their childhood, they did things that their parents frowned upon because these things were considered immoral in their generation.
I have been raised in a Christian home. The morals and values of Christianity have been instilled in me at a very young age. I have attended catholic school my entire life. I am, however, not Catholic but the beliefs of Baptist are quite similar to those of the Catholic religion. I have attended church for as long as I can remember. My family and I are at Fairwinds Baptist Church every single Sunday. I pray and read my bible regularly. However, I feel my personal relationship with God is more significant then the rituals I practice to show my love for him. My faith gives me strength and hope. I have seen God work in mysterious and miraculous ways and that helps me understand that there is a higher power working in my life. I grow everyday spiritually, and that has helped me appreciate my blessings and provide hope for my future. Life is full of ups and downs, constantly changing by the second never able to live any moment in time twice. We can never go back to before and never know what’s coming up ahead. That can be scary and exciting at the same time. But I my faith has helped me realized that every step I have taken up to this point has been the right one and I trust the every step after this one will be just as right.
I've been going to church ever since can remember and am still going as an 18 year old. Even though many teens don't attend church anymore, I feel it is pretty imperative to remember your purpose in life. I never like to "preach" to anyone because everyone is entitled to their opinion. Although if I am criticized, which usually is not the case, I will defend my faith. I am not one of those people who read the Bible everyday, which makes me feel a little guilty, but it actually has become my Lenten sacrifice. During Lent, I also try to focus more during mass, which has proven to be very beneficial. Besides sitting in the congregation, I play the drums for our youth band which has really touched me and the church community on a whole other level. We all fall sometimes and my faith and musical participation has made me a better person of God.
The date was October 1st, 2008. I had my license for a little more than a month. On my way to school that morning, I was running late so I took the back way through White Clay Creel State Park. The roads were soaked from a torrential downpour the night before and covered in wet leaves from the withering trees. My dad always told me that driving on wet leaves was just as bad as driving on ice, and after that day, I wish I remembered his warning. I was steadily cruising about 40 mph in my father’s brown Toyota Tacoma (my friends know this car as “the terd”). I was approaching a tiny bridge, barely able to fit two cars across. All of a sudden, a car came around the bend too wide and forced me off my side of the road. I slammed on my brakes, but there was nothing stopping me from hitting the bridge. The front of my car collided with the bridge and I flipped over the side. My pickup was upside down, and my seatbelt held be dangling in the air. Too summarize the rest of the story, someone stopped, cut me out, and called the police as I tried to gather myself. I was shaking uncontrollably. The picture of the accident is stuck in the back of my mind to this day, and this made me realize that teenagers, despite the myth, are not invincible.
In today's world, the music that our teenage mind is exposed to is considered to be disturbing to people who aren't necessarily fans. To our elders, our music is "pointless" and "meaningless"however, not all of it is. Kids our age have a wide variety of taste in music. For example, I like all types of music: rap, hip-hop, pop, R&B, rock, and country! All these different genres express different opinions about situations in our lives. Personally, I believe that the music that provides actual meaning is country. Country music sings abut the important issues in our lives , the things we can relate to the most. People stereotype country music as "twangy", but it has evolved over the years to become truly relevant. If I had to pick one country singer that relates to my life I would say Kenney Chesney. His song "Don't Blink" is my favorite because it talks about growing up and how it goes by so fast like a blink of an eye. That is how I'm feeling right now because we're getting ready to go off to college and it is scary. It came by too fast and I feel as if my childhood is gone already.
An incident in which I lost a little bit of my innocence was when I decided to drive to Pittsburg just to see one of my favorite bands performing. I thought I was so “cool” because my friend and I made a spontaneous decision just to take a road trip for the day, and into the night. We had everything planned out, down to the tee. We left right on time, but not before stopping for some coffee, and headed down the road. It was a 5-hour drive in my Beetle, with the sun shining and the windows down. Luckily we had some great mixed tapes for the drive. The concert itself was amazing. We had front row seats with a meet-and-greet and everything! But on the way back, things took a turn for the worse and I began to feel like maybe I was to young to be five hours away from my parents, after just receiving my license only a few months prior to the instance. It was pouring down rain to the point where I couldn’t see the road. My turnpike ticket accidently flew out the window when I threw a piece of gum out, which cost twenty-five dollars that was supposed to be used on gas. We had to stop at a 24-hour rest area to get a cup of coffee just to stay awake for the rest of the drive home. We finally got home at 5:46 in the morning, and I was supposed to be at work at 6:00 am. Needless to say, I absolutely had to call out. Overall, the experience was fantastic and my friend and I made the best out of the drive home, even though to everyone else, the idea seems foolish. I learned that everyone decision you make has an impact, and for my stupid decision to get home so early in the morning, also affected my job when I was aware of the responsibility I had. But, I still wouldn’t trade it for the world.
4. A musical group whose songs promote meaningful thoughts or messages is the John Butler Trio. Unlike a lot of modern singers and musical groups who only write about sex and drugs, John Butler Trio writes songs about meaningful topics. One meaningful song written by the group is "Media." This song is about how the media is having a bad influence on society. John Butler Trio refers to the media as "propaganda" and says that the main focus of the media is sex, drugs, and violence. The song also says that the media only tells half of the story and what you chose to believe is up to you. Another song written by the John Butler Trio with a meaningful message is "Better Than." This song is about how we should not be worried about what we do not have, but grateful for what we do have. Everyone always thinks that "the grass is greener on the other side," but it may be just as hard or not as great as it seems. We should enjoy life and not worry about things that we think are better than what we have.
I was in the third grade and it was early December. I was in the basement playing with my friend and we were talking about what we wanted for Christmas. I was saying that I wanted this new desk for my room with a big mirror that me and my mom were looking at in the Pottery Barn Kid's Magazine. Everyone in school had been talking about how Santa wasn't real and how they already found their gifts hidden at their houses. My friend was telling me how she found her gifts as well. I gave in and agreed that Santa wasn't real; however, I wanted proof. So me and my friend began to search, looking in cabinets and closets. Finally we looked in the door that led to under the staircase, it was locked. My parents hardly ever locked that door. I ran up to my room and took out the spare key I had found and unlocked the door. I peeked in to see a huge brown box with the words ''Pottery Barn'' on the side, along with several other gift bags. I shut the door and knew for a fact that it was all an act. The next day I asked my parents and they admitted that I was right, but to still play along for my little sister. I really never lost anything, I still receive amazing gifts every year. All I lost was the excitement and surprise of what Santa would leave under the tree on Christmas eve.
#4
An artist that i listen to on a daily basis is Colbie Caillat. she sings mostly pop but it is soothing and has meaningful words. she sings about her feelings, and experiences that have changed her. it seems kind of ridiculous to say that an musical artist has changed my life but she really has. i just recently discovered her this year. i knew of her most popular songs but i didn't really have a clue about the others. one day when am feeling sad i like to listen to music, and i was sick of the same old slow music i listen to when im sad. so i went on itunes and it recommend some songs for me to try. so i listen to the 30 second clip it gives you, and her words really reached me in that brief moment. the melody was slow yet upbeat. and the lyrics were what i was feeling so i felt like i could really relate. her music really helped me feel happier and now i listen to her all the time regardless.
she never talks about money or drugs or sex like most of the songs on the radio. she talks about life and love. my top three favorite songs by her are "I Won't", "Bubbly", and "Feelings Show".
here is a sample from "Bubbly" (so you can see what im talking about fio!)
"I've been awake for a while now
you've got me feelin like a child now
cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tinglies in a silly place"
I would not generally consider myself a religious person but growing up going to a Catholic school I have been in a religious environment my entire life. When I was younger I usually went to church with my mom and grandparents every Saturday night. Occasionally we would go on Sunday morning if we were busy on Saturday night. Once I started to get older I started to not go to church as much. I would always go while I was in school but outside of school I really didn’t go to church that much, except on church holidays I would always go. In school I always took religion classes, which informed me about the Catholic faith but I never really liked them. Now as I am getting older I am starting to see the importance of religion. I can’t say that I am a really religion now but I can definitely say that I appreciate religion more now then I did before.
Most current artists and music groups tend to write about promiscuity, gangs, and tend to avoid lyrics with meaning. On the other hand, one group whose songs focus on today’s biggest issues is Nickelback. Most of their songs are relevant to not just pop culture, but other REAL issues in our world. The song that caters most to these issues is “If Everyone Cared.” It talks about war, death, and respect for life, among other things. The chorus shown below is the theme to the song.
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
This song created a huge buzz when it first came out. The reason for this was the overwhelming message portrayed in it. It was the first time in a long time that such a powerful message was the basis for a song. People connected with the song and also felt the message behind it. Music is one of the best ways to connect with people, but unfortunately it’s not often utilized in a positive way.
One childhood incident that comes to mind in which I “lost a little bit of my childhood innocence” and learned a lesson of the real world occurred when I was about six years old. I was getting ice cream at Friendly’s with my mom and sister, and while we were waiting in line, I was playing with the pay phone. I didn’t put any change in the coin slot, so I didn’t think the phone would actually work when I dialed 9-1-1. When the phone actually started ringing and someone picked up, I got scared and hung up the pay phone right away. Next thing you know, a police officer shows up within two minutes, due to the fact that the police station was right across the street. The officer asked who had called, and my mom looked over at me because she knew I had been playing with the phone. I remember feeling really stupid for making a scene, and my mom probably felt equally as stupid because she was really mad at me. I definitely learned my lesson that day, and I never wanted to be in that type of situation again.
4. The artist Kenny Chesney promotes positive messages through his song lyrics. Kenny writes most of his songs and does a great job of promoting the celebration of life. One of his recently popular songs, "Im Alive" has the following song lyrics, "breathing in and outs a blessing can't you see. today's the first day of the rest of my life, I'm alive and well." These sound lyrics are very inspiring for listeners, encouraging them to appreciate the life that they have. Another one of Chesney's hit songs is "Never wanted nothing more". In this song he sings about only needing love and laughter to live a happy life. His lyrics include, "Well I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not. I'm sure happy with what I've got. I live to love and laugh alot, and that's all I need". These song lyrics have a lot of powerful meaning behind them. Kenny Chesney is the perfect example of a singer/songwriter who includes great messages behind his songs.
1. When I was young, I was a very good kid, but I sometimes liked to play jokes on my older cousins. These jokes were usually harmless, but one time I accidentally took it to far. I was five years old, and my parents were away so my cousin was baby sitting. She was really annoying me for reasons I do not remember now, so I decided to pretend to call the cops on her. I called her into the living room, dialed 911 and said, "Please arrest my babysitter." I then hung up, thinking my clever prank worked because I never pressed the "talk" button on the phone before I dialed. Unfortunately, my cousin knew I was bluffing, but somehow, my fake call for help really did get to the police. Within a short period of time, two policemen were banging on the door telling my cousin to come out with her hands up. She was terrified, but obeyed the police. I then had to explain to them how it was all just a stupid joke. I felt so embarrassed and stupid as the cops were lecturing me about how 911 is never a laughing matter. I apologized to my cousin and felt terrible about scaring her that badly. Since then, I have been much more cautious. I was so innocent and naive that I never really thought that any of my actions would have consequences that serious. This event did not rush me into adulthood, but it changed my perspective as a young boy.
1. When I was young, I was a very good kid, but I sometimes liked to play jokes on my older cousins. These jokes were usually harmless, but one time I accidentally took it to far. I was five years old, and my parents were away so my cousin was baby sitting. She was really annoying me for reasons I do not remember now, so I decided to pretend to call the cops on her. I called her into the living room, dialed 911 and said, "Please arrest my babysitter." I then hung up, thinking my clever prank worked because I never pressed the "talk" button on the phone before I dialed. Unfortunately, my cousin knew I was bluffing, but somehow, my fake call for help really did get to the police. Within a short period of time, two policemen were banging on the door telling my cousin to come out with her hands up. She was terrified, but obeyed the police. I then had to explain to them how it was all just a stupid joke. I felt so embarrassed and stupid as the cops were lecturing me about how 911 is never a laughing matter. I apologized to my cousin and felt terrible about scaring her that badly. Since then, I have been much more cautious. I was so innocent and naive that I never really thought that any of my actions would have consequences that serious. This event did not rush me into adulthood, but it changed my perspective as a young boy.
Throughout the history of music there have always been bands that ignites a certain rebellious spark in its followers. One such musical artist is the rock artist Marilyn Manson. Since his first album, AntiChrist Superstar, Manson has been encouraging rebellious behavior against religions, governments, and laws. During his concerts he allows performs some form of blasphemous or anti-patriotic act, such as tearing pages from a bible or burning an American flag. He allows does sexual acts on stage both homosexual and heterosexual, and most of the time invites some women behind stage for his band’s “after party”. Although many times, mostly in the U.S., Manson is arrested for something after his concert and spends his night there. Manson may speak the truth about society by picking out its obvious, sometimes major, flaws, but in doing so he causes his fans to break out against things most would never dare to question.
2. My "faith life" is a very important to me. I am a Catholic and proud of it. I attend church weekly with my family not out of spite like most people my age I go because i want to. Even though i go to church because i want to go sometimes i don't pay attention at all to the homily, and I don't really like to sing. Honestly i don't read the Bible but i have read a couple of passages. One passage that sticks out above the rest are Exodus 20:3-17" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This passage is my favorite because my whenever i visit my Grandma she always states this bible verse and when i heat it i feel close to her. I do not belong to youth group but i have been involved in a mass and a church play. Both of these activities have let me interact with my faith and make it stronger. My faith has benefitted me in many ways. It has made me realize the importance of helping those who are in need and try to figure out my true purpose in life. Because of my faith I am involved in many service organizations such as Z-Club and Blue Gold. I've have realized that without faith sometimes you can feel like a lost lamb of God but when you reconnect with him your heart feels full again. Being part of a Faith filled community helps me have me have a better understanding of right and wrong and the true sacrifice Christ made for us. Basically what I'm trying to say is that without my faith I would be lost because my faith has been a part of shaping who I am and the choices I make. Just remember when making choices just think WWJD. Although its cheesy it does work.
During the course of my life there have been multiple occasions on which I have lost some of my child-like innocence. One of the most memorable of these events happened a few years ago when one of my best friends slept over my house on the night before Easter. During the day, while wandering around the town through various streets and stores, my friend and I often made various comments on how we hoped a cop wasn’t lurking around a corner of the street if we were going a little faster than the speed limit. Or in the stores we made comments on how we hoped there wasn’t a manager or someone of authority around if we weren’t completely abiding by the customary rules of the store. Later that night after everyone except us were asleep, we decided that we wanted to go on a night-time walk around the town and maybe to a convenience store to get some food that we forgot to get during the day. After abandoning my house we made our way to the small convenience store on the corner of a somewhat well traveled road. After purchasing the food we wanted we decided to make our way back to my house, noticing it was almost dawn. On our way down the street however, we saw the well-known sight of a police car making its way down the street perpendicular to ours; sending our hearts racing. Under the false hope that he would just keep on going with his patrol and not notice the two lone young teenagers walking down the street, we decided to just keep walking back to my house. In less than a minute however the officer apparently turned around and started to make his way toward us. After stopping and explaining to the officer what we were doing and showing him what he had bought, he decided to give us a “courtesy ride” back to my house even though there was no curfew in the town.
4. The song The Good Stuff by Kenny Chesney is full of meaning about love and knowing what you have. The song is about a man who gets in a fight with his wife and goes to the bar to drink. He asks the bartender for "the good stuff" and he says that you can't find that in alcohol but in the one you love. Kenny Chesney has many more songs with meaningful lyrics about living life and love. In I'm Alive and Well,and Young, Kenny sings about being happy about life and remembering the good-old-times. Songs like When the Sun Goes Down and Out Last Night, are about having a good time with your friends and and living life to the fullest with no regrets. Kenny Chesney's songs are always possitive songs about love and life and will never bring you down.
My faith has always been a central part of my life. My family life is also very centered around my faith, which is why I think my faith is so important to me. I go to church every weekend and my family has fallen into the ritual of either going out to dinner on Saturday night or going to breakfast on Sunday morning with my whole family. When all ten of us show up at the same mass, we always sit in the same pew and in the same order. My uncle sits on the end, two cousins in the middle, then comes my aunt followed by my grandparents, my dad, my brother and I and the line is finished off by my mom. My grandmother has worked in the rectory for the past thirty years and because of this my cousins and I have spent many days running around there. My grandfather is a general contractor and has worked countless hours repairing many different things around both the church and the school. This closeness to my faith has had a huge impact on my life. Although my idea of God and my opinion of faith has changed over the years, my connection with God grows stronger every day. I am very secure with what I believe. I no longer question things I once did or fear that what I believe in is wrong. I think there are many paths to God and I have chosen mine.
4. Kris Allen sings a song called "live like were dying" it’s a song that totally surrounds the theme of living your life before you die. Keep your friends close; tell your family and the people, who you love, that you love them. It tells us that we have to be thankful we are alive, because were lucky enough to live. We are lucky to wake up very morning and see everyone we love. Live your life to the fullest, and know yourself. It also talks about how we never miss something until its gone and when its gone, it probably wont come back. We need to happy with what we have and stop being greedy, when every thing that we have is probably more then someone in a third world country or someone living on the streets has. It also talks about knowing who you want to be with before you die, keep that special person close because if you want to live with them forever than your going to want to die with them. The overall message is that you want to take charge of your life and make an identity for yourself. Your life is too short to be living in the shadows so just live it and be yourself. You never know when your going to die, no one knows, only God has the knowledge of that time and place, and the song also touches on the way our community wants us to know what were doing, how were going to live, and the way that our culture is always looking into the future and never stops to just appreciate the little things that we have just like the friends and family we keep so close, and that we really should tell them how much them mean to you everyday.
At some point in our lives, we all have to grow up. Many people gradually grow up as our lives age. However, some people are thrown into situations where they have to grow up. My situation involves my father. My parents met while my mother was a waitress. They eventually moved in together and then I snuck in. My parents were not ready to have a baby but my mom kept me all the same. While my mother was caring and kind, my father never really stepped up. He always stepped up when it came to having another drink or a hit though. Even though my mother feared him exceedingly, she protected me at all costs. After some time, my mother packed up our bags and left. As a single mother on a waitress’ salary, my mother had a hard time getting by. We lived with my grandmother for a while then switched into a town house. I learned that when Mommy wasn’t home, I needed to help her with chores and let her rest when she came home with swollen feet. I learned how to get dressed quickly and put away all my toys. I found that it helped Mommy if I put my dishes in the sink and feed the fish without her asking. I supported her with hugs and kisses and tried my best to make her happy. I wasn’t sure what happened or why Mommy was so sad but I figured out I needed to relieve her of her stress in any way I can. When she cried, I knew that I would have to wait to show her my drawing of a cat or the way that I drew my t’s. I was growing up even though I didn’t even realize it. While neither of us still hasn’t healed from the damage he caused, we know that we have each other and nothing can break us. In those few years after my father left, we grew together and that bond still grows to this day.
2.
I am Catholic and attend church almost every Sunday. I've been going ever since I was younger and look at it as something I just have to do. Do I enjoy it? Not really. I hate waking up early on the weekends and sitting in church for an hour, listening to the same thing every week. Every now and then there's a good priest residing the mass and it seems to go by a little faster. Even though I don't enjoy going, I feel weird when I don't. I guess it's because I'm so used to it I get thrown out of my routine when I don't. I also feel like sometimes I need that hour to just sit there and think about everything that I have to do in the upcoming week. This also helps me keep on track and start my week feeling like I'm on top of things. This is what motivates me to go every week. Even though I don’t feel like going and usually don’t enjoy it, I know in my mind that I have to or else I’ll start my week more stressed. I plan to continue to go through college and hopefully once I’m out of college.
Many country artists and groups promote meaningful messages. They always seem to try to teach a lesson. It may be Billy Currington talking about how people are crazy, Matt Kennon saying how a call can change your life, Josh Turner letting people know that everything is fine, or Jason Michael Carrol telling his daughter she can still come home no matter what she's done, they all promote lessons or thoughts that will really make people think twice. Some are very inspirational and can pick you up when you're feeling down. Others are just cute and may give some insight to something in life. They all sing about things they have been through in their lives. They also sing about events that have happened to them over the years. I love country music because of the things they sing about.
I think bob Marley produced music that had a meaning. Each song described the way he felt about life and the way he felt one should act in the world. Bob Marley believed in peace and love. His lyrics were charismatic and inspirational; they changed the way reggae music was perceived forever. He sang about ending violence, standing up for your rights, and how if people come and work together everything will be alright. He praised living and celebrating life to the fullest, winning your freedom and embracing it, and his belief that differences and injustices must be accepted internally. He spoke out against war. He did not believe it would end until there was no more first class or second class citizens and when the color of ones skin truly didn’t matter anymore. His music is a product of his culture, of his beliefs, and of his experiences. He tried to convey a message through his music and reach out to each individual who listened to what he had to say. He wanted to make a difference and an impact on the world and I think he really did that. Although he is not around today his spirit, his music, and his teachings live on.
I was born into a Catholic family, raised with Catholic beliefs, and have attended a Catholic school since preschool. As a child I attended church every Sunday with my family, and prayed before every meal. As I got older, my religious views changed dramatically. I no longer consider myself to be Catholic because I do not agree with much of what Catholicism teaches, and I have a hard time believing in something I cannot physically see. I do however greatly agree with and support the church’s stance on community service. I believe that all decent and capable human beings should try to help those less fortunate than themselves in any way possible. Although I am no longer a religious person, my Catholic background has made me realize how fortunate I am, and how important it is to contribute to the community. I strongly believe in volunteering for a good cause, and donating to those who have not been as fortunate as I have been. I also agree on the church’s views on war. I feel that it is necessary for mankind to help each other out in times of tragedy, rather than cause it for one another with war.
My "faith life" has been a roller coaster ride. When I was about five years old, I went to Sunday school every Sunday. It was one of the most exciting things I did over the weekend. I got to make new friends, play Bible games with them, and learned about the Bible. My teacher really made it fun to learn and rewarded us when we answered questions on stories we read. I continued to go to Bible school until I was about twelve and it just wasn't that fun anymore. We had to read certain stories from the Bible and remember quotes for mini quizzes we had the following Sunday. I felt over pressured and told my mom I didn't want to attend anymore. My mom gave me two options; One option was to go to Church with my Grandmother or continue with the Bible school. I decided to go to Church. Being a Methodist had it's disadvantages, I thought, when I was twelve. The church service ran for an hour and a half, and the Pastor, I felt, only talked to the adults. It was a big transition, but I stuck with it. With every passing Sunday, I began to feel a need, want, and desire to go to church. I started listening to the messages given by the Pastor, the chancel choir's message through song, and the gospel. Soon after, I made the choice of becoming an acolyte for the church. I was a bit nervous at first, having dreams that I accidentally burnt the church down. I have been an acolyte for seven years now and it's been wonderful. I also joined hand bell choir and have been doing that for two years. Being involved in the church life is a big part of my life. It's not something I am dragged into, or feel obligated to be a part of. Since I am older, my mom does not tell me to get up for church, or punish me if I do not go. I make my own decision to get up in the morning and make a commitment to God. One of the best parts of going to church is making people smile. Playing hand bells always brings a smile to the people in the pew and I wouldn't trade that moment for anything in the world.
Most rap artists today are considered vulgar, uneducated, and out to make music about guns, drugs, money, and the mistreatment of women. I however know of an artist that is not about all that. His name is Lupe Fiasco. An American Muslim rapper from Chicago Illinois. One of his songs that sticks out in my mind that he raps of a thoughtful message if called “Fighters.” During the chorus he says “So what's happening, what you rapping about? Little boy. Is it cars? Is it girls? Is it money? The world?” I think he is poking fun at the fact that most other artists songs are about these things. He then goes into a verse where he talks about his dad that has past. He talks how he hopes that he’s now in heaven with no more disease and pain. He talks about remembering his grandmother and asks her to look out for his Aunt Tweety, who presumably has also just past. His next verse is about life and hoping God forgives the sinners. He thanks God, his family, fans, and friends for their support. This is one rapper that I would consider to have a positive message in his music.
A musical group whose songs promote meaningful thought or messages is Muse. Muse has been around since the 90’s, writing songs about popular issues such as war, government, and even about mankind. They also have songs, which have mixed messages, much like any classic Bob Dylan, which attracts my attention to the band and their latest albums. One song that they sing is called “Resistance” and as I listen to it, I always think of the novel Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, which was a book with a powerful message in itself. If you listen to the lyrics in the song, they mention certain clues such as, “You’ll wake the thought police”, “They keep us apart and won’t stop breaking us down”, and also, “Take us away from here, protect us from further harm, resistance.” Another song they have, which has a powerful message is “A Soldier’s Poem”, which is mainly about the struggle soldiers have during the hardships of war and how they have to deal with the weight of evil on their shoulders. Another song they have with a powerful meaning is “Sunburn”. Even in their music video, you notice all the mirrors around, playing on the meaning, which is mainly about looking in the mirror and seeing all your insecurities. The song proves that no one is perfect at all and in order to accept that, you need to look in the mirror and see all your flaws.
I grew up in a pretty devout Catholic family. I began attending Church at an early age and have been attending regularly since. I received the sacrament of baptism at my mother's parish on Staten Island. After our move to Delaware, I went to school at St. John the Beloved and my family became active members of the parish. The same year as our move I received reconciliation and first holy communion. I truly benefited from my Catholic education at St. John's. They taught me Catholics values that I carried with me the St. Mark's and what I live each day by. During my freshmen year at St. Mark's I receive the sacrament of confirmation. To reach this sacrament I had to prepare thoroughly by volunteering fifty hours of community service, a confirmation class on Sunday mornings, and a reflecting prayer retreat. My experiences at St. Mark's have tested and strengthened my faith and values. All of my teachers have reiterated and encouraged Catholic teachings and how to make decisions based on those teachings. My faith has plays a huge part in the choices I have made and will make in the future. I intend to continue attending church on Sundays and following the ways of God throughout my life.
In february of my sophomore year of high school, I became very ill. I barely went to school everyday and sometimes I would not even be able to make it to school the whole week. I saw at least 40 doctors between February and May and none of them could give me an answer to my unexplained symptoms. I had severe abdominal pain, "headpains" (it wasn't a headache per say it was more like someone hit you with a baseball bat in the head), dizziness, insomnia, allergy to heat, and many other symptoms. The day I lost my childhood innocence was a normal school day, a day i actually planned to go to school the whole day, til the accident happened. I woke up that morning for school and got out of bed to straighten my hair. I was done straightening half of my head when my legs gave out and I don't even remember hitting the floor. I woke up in my bed to my mom shaking me asking why my lip was bleeding and split open, and why my straightener was still on but I told her to leave me alone I just wanted to sleep. I couldn't remember what happened to my lip and how I got back in my bed. I woke up two hours later and sat up in my bed to make sure I felt fine, got up, and walk to my door and i felt the feeling coming again, I was going to faint. I yelled for my mom, and she caught me just before I hit the ground. I was unconscious for about three minutes and my eyes rolled back into my head, so I was told. I woke up to my dad slapping my cheek for me to wake up. I sat up and my skin was blue and my mom was on the phone with the ambulance. The ambulance arrived a few minutes later and asked me how I felt, and they suggested we leave immediately for the Christiana Hospital. I was previously in the ER a few weeks earlier but for a differently emergency. I waited in the ER for 8 hours the first visit, so this time my mom asked if they could take me to the A.I. Dupont ER, the paramedics told her that I might not make it that far. In the ambulance, I was fading in and out of consciousness and woke up in a hospital bed with 3 IV's in my arm and the doctor standing in front of me. They told me I had syncope, a fainting disease and that my body had more salt in it than a normal person so I needed to drink a lot more fluids than a normal person with this condition, because my body absorbs water faster. I got home then next day after they released me and looked at my dresser to find teeth prints, my teeth prints, embedded in the dresser from when I fainted and smacked my face on it. I later learned that I have a sickness called Dysautonomia disease. My syncope, allergy to heat, heavy breathing, abdominal pain, "headpains" and rapid heart beat all are symptoms of this sickness. This experience has taught me to grow up and take care of my body on my own because of the condition that I now have to make room for it in my life.
A musical group that has inspired me since I was younger would definitely be U2, particularly the album "Joshua Tree". I have found a deeper meaning in many of their songs and a sincere bond to the album. Growing up, my family and I spent a lot more time together than we do now. We ate dinner at the table every night at seven, and shared with each other stories about the day we had. Looking back now, it didn't seem that important, it was habitual. After dinner we listened to music that we all enjoyed. My sister Chelsea and I are only three years apart, and U2 happened to be my mom and my older brother's favorite band. Chelsea and I used to spin around the living room to "Where the streets have no name." The sense of freedom that the song brought to me was exhilarating. This song reminds me of the bond my family and I shared when I was younger. It reminds me of the excitement that a song can bring to a child, and the fact that I have carried that song with me throughout my life. Now it has a different meaning to me. It's about finding myself and facing the fear of my future, and living life to it's fullest potential. The band U2 has inspired my family. The lead singer Bono is widely known for his activism concerning Africa and has played in several benefit concerts. He has been praised and criticized for his activism and involvement with U2. His spirit and his good heart are heard through his music while he sings about the opportunities life brings us. He has inspired me and many others, while he continues to contribute to the world with his creative music and advocacy.
To find an artist that sings who sings meaningful songs is rather rare to find. The only artist in my mind is Louis Armstrong. He has not come out with anything recent in some time but he songs always had some sort of meaning. The first, and strongest song that comes to my mind is “What A Wonderful World.” In this song he sings about how beautiful life is and the world around him. In these lyrics it describes how we are all connected, “Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.” Armstrong goes in a great description how wonderful and beautiful life truly is. It is so rare to hear a song on how wonderful life is, because most songs we hear about are how the artists’ songs. So it’s always a refresher to hear a great song on life, by a great artist. If more songs were more upbeat and happy and not about destruction maybe there would be less violence. I prefer listening to nice songs than music about war, drugs, alcohol, and sex. I just hope in the future artists will write about nicer topics.
When I was young, I attended mass every Sunday with my family and went to ccd classes. My parents are Catholic and taught me about God, so I believed there was a God and I believed in the teachings of the church. However, as I got older I started to question my faith and if there even really is a God. There was a lot going on in my life and no matter how bad things were for me, I knew that it was way worse for many others in the world. With all of this suffering, I questioned how there could be an “all loving” God. I thought that if I believed there was a Santa and then found out that that had been a lie, then why should I believe there is a God just because I was told so. I thought about how if there was no God, everyone would have wasted so much time on all of the church’s rituals. I guess you could say I’m agnostic, but I don’t really think about whether or not there is a God anymore. I just think that you should just be a good person and perform good deeds for others.
1. Child innocence..
I think everyone at some point in their lives experiences a “coming of age” or growing up. Nobody truly ever stays forever young. As we grow older, we are introduced to the reality and sometimes harsh truths of life. Everyone has that point in time when they stop believing in Santa or the Tooth fairy. For the young kids, it’s sort of a magical thing, but as you grow up you start to lose your child innocence. I have faced many experiences in my life that have forced me to grow up. Some have been tough and others not so difficult. One experience that I faced appears to be little, but yet I still have never forgotten it. When I was little my mom forced me to do karate. I didn’t really like it, but I stuck with it. For one of my karate tests, we had to punch through a piece of wood. I could kick through the boards, but I never could punch. I ended up not being able to, and when I returned to my seat I was so ashamed of myself that I started to cry. At the end of the test the instructor was giving a speech and he looked me straight in the eye and said, “if you can’t make something happen, you can’t cry... you looked like your mother has just died..” I was so embarrassed. However, I will never forget it and also it taught me to grow up and face life. I’m never going to get what I want if all I do is cry and do nothing about it. At some point, you just have to let things go. You have to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.
Faith and religion have always played important roles in my life. I have been raised as a Catholic since birth. I have been baptized, received the Eucharist, participated in Reconciliation, and most recently was confirmed. Being raised as a Catholic has led me to establish good moral values and beliefs. I believe my faith plays an important role in helping me make respectable decisions. High school is a time of growth and change, some for the best and other for the worst. My religion has aided me in making those good decisions. My mom has made it known that going to church every Sunday is an important part of our faith life. She says it is my decision whether to go or not, but I know I would let her down if I didn’t because faith is a big part of her life as well. As a result, I attend church weekly and go to mass on designated Holy Days. Many of my friends do not go to church and sometimes often ridicule me for going every weekend. But I know my decision is the right one to make, regardless of what others may think. Going to church every weekend and receiving the sacraments has made me understand my religion more completely and has had a definite impact on my life. It helps me make moral decisions and lead an ethical lifestyle.
Yeah, I go to church every sunday and sing along, and yes, ocassionally I do enjoy reading the bible, but that's not really the reason why I consider myself religious. I just got back from a weekend ski trip with my youth group, and while some people might think that sitting in a hard pew, listening to (sometimes) endless bible passages gets the job done, this weekend has changed that for me. I was able to spend a weekend with people that I see in church all the time, but never really got a chance to introduce myself to, and I realized that while finding God and religion in church is one thing, finding God in each other is far more rewarding. We stayed in a creepy farm house that kind of resembled that which might be featured in a scary movie and played corny games, and made up religious raps... and we saw and felt God in everything we did. I met people far more religious and intune with Him than I have ever been, and I learned from them, and I got the chance to make some really good, understanding people. I found a piece of God and heaven in everything I've done this weekend... So yes, I am religous.
2. Share with us parts of your “faith life.”
My faith life is very important to me. I attended St. John's from kindergarten to eighth grade and then on to St. Mark's to continue my Catholic schooling. I'm very happy my parents decided to send me to Catholic school; I believed it has taught me not only about God, but about morals, trust, love, and how to be a good person. My family practices our religion in many ways. One thing is that our whole family goes to Mass every Sunday at St. John's. It is something I have done since before I can remember, it is great family time to bond and pray. Also, we say a prayer before we eat. It's just a small quick prayer; however, it reminds us that we need to be thankful for what we have. We pray in school many times throughout the day also. I am proud of my Catholic education, and even though I am not continuing to a Catholic college, I know that I will keep my faith throughout my life.
I think one incident that made me grow up a little was when my neighbor, Mr. Mike, died from cancer a few years ago. I had been to funerals for friends’ grandparents but never a funeral where I knew the person in the casket. I just remember my mom coming in to my room one morning and telling me that he had died the previous night. He was younger than my parents were and his daughter was only 8 when he died. I just sat there trying to picture my life without my dad and I could still cry thinking about it right now. Just the fact that Mr.Mike wouldn’t see Elise graduate high school, or even eighth grade and he wouldn’t be the one to walk her down the aisle. I think everyone grows up a little when they have to deal with death for the first time, and it really gives you a new perspective on life; I’d say a more mature perspective. Since then, I’ve been to a lot of funerals through St.Mark’s and I would say I’m glad, and not upset, that I’ve been asked to do this. Sometimes it’s hard cause I’m usually a crybaby, but I leave every one feeling blessed by the family and friends I have in my life.
Througout my whole life, I have been raised in the Catholic Religion. I have attended Catholic schools my whole life. For elementary school, I attended Corpus Christi and then continued my Catholic education here at St.Marks. Going to a Catholic school was something my parents thought was very important. I am glad that they instilled the Catholic religion in me because I feel that I benefited from it tremendously. I go to church on Sundays and I have been doing that my whole life. My family and I try to get to church as much as we can. Through Catholic school and Church, I have learned many life lessons. It has taught me how to be a better person and how to live life in a positive way.
I have a different taste in music that not many other people my age would listen to. While I have my far share of rap, pop, and rock on my iPod, I find myself listening most to Motown. To me Motown is like a bridge from soul music to a more urban, contemporary style. What is not to like about its upbeat rhythm and happy tone? One of my favorite Motown groups is the Temptations. They consist of five male vocalists who made up one of the most successful groups in music history. One of the reasons in which I love listening to this band is their subject matter. They most often sing about love and girls, but it is hardly negative. The ballad "I Wish It Would Rain" is one of my favorite songs in which they sing about heartbreak. Not angry, hateful heartbreak. They exclaim their love and sorrow for a girl they have lost. In another song, "Ball of Confusion", they sing with a strong political message. They sang about what they believed in. I love Motown and the Temptations in particular. Their happy rhythm and clean subject matter is a nice change from what is mostly played on the radio these days.
Daniel Johnston is a schizophrenic and bipolar singer-songwriter and artist. He became most popular around the 1980’s and 90’s, gaining friends, fans and followers by handing out his cassette recordings wherever he went. Bands and artists ranging from Wilco to Tom Waits have covered his songs and his famous fan-base has ranged from Kurt Cobain to Johnny Depp. He was gone from recording himself on a boom box in a basement to a major record label and back many times. The music scene that he inevitably fell in to in the 1980’s was not the best thing for his mental state. He was introduced to various drugs during this time and his drug use, including numerous LSD trips, only acutely worsened his mental stability that was already in shambles for the most part. He was eventually sent to stay in a mental hospital, during which his following only grew and a bidding war between major record labels for his next record ensued. The majority of his songs are polar opposites of one another, some written about love, some written about experiences with the devil that were very much real to him. His lyrics range from things like “True love will find you in the end” to “I heard the voice of SATAN, Crying in the woods I saw my own heart Laying black with blood”. Although not all of his lyrics may be meaningful in the sense that they all give off positive messages, they are meaningful in the sense that they literally and metaphorically demonstrate the struggle between good and bad that all people go through, especially him, and how amidst negative circumstances and thoughts positivity can shine through here and there.
Today, it very rare to find musical artists who promote thoughts of peace, insight, and powerful messages, but there are a few who do achieve this. One of these types of artists is John Mayer. I believe not only does he have musical ability and talent but his lyrics and their meanings speaks to us. Whether his lyrics deal with heartbreaks, loss, or life in general John Mayer is able to connect with his fans in a way that many artists cannot. He shares his beliefs on world events through his songs. For instance his song “The Heart of Life” which he sung for Haiti and is donating the proceeds to benefit this poor country. His song “Waiting on the World to Change” is another example of his heartfelt messages.
Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could
Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change…
These words are reaching out to our generation and urging us to stand up for what we strongly believe in. Also even though he states we are waiting for the world to change I believe the underlying message is to tell us we can’t wait anymore. We need to take charge and make changes, for we are the next generation and what is happening now in the world affects us and the generations after. While other artists focus primarily on the beat and felling of their music John Mayer focuses on his lyrics and how they will inspire young people like me.
A time when I lost a little of my childhood innocence was when I was five. At that time my best friend Amber and I had just become really close. It was summertime so we would play with each other everyday and had sleepovers almost every night. We played hopscotch and make believe and don’t touch the lava. She was my first best friend. I was shocked and disappointed when I learned that Amber and her family were moving away. I cried for days thinking that I would never be able to see her again! We said that we would see each other but I knew that it was going to be very hard to see her as much as I usually did. The day she moved was a very sad day for me. And as I suspected I never really saw Amber again. This was the first time I realized that people in my life were not here to stay for forever. It made me grow up a little bit and cherish the moments I spend with people I care about.
A time when I lost a little of my childhood innocence was when I was five. At that time my best friend Amber and I had just become really close. It was summertime so we would play with each other everyday and had sleepovers almost every night. We played hopscotch and make believe and don’t touch the lava. She was my first best friend. I was shocked and disappointed when I learned that Amber and her family were moving away. I cried for days thinking that I would never be able to see her again! We said that we would see each other but I knew that it was going to be very hard to see her as much as I usually did. The day she moved was a very sad day for me. And as I suspected I never really saw Amber again. This was the first time I realized that people in my life were not here to stay for forever. It made me grow up a little bit and cherish the moments I spend with people I care about.
4. One musical artist whose work encourages meaningful thoughts and delivers positive messages is Kenny Chesney. Dozens of his songs involve discovering one’s self and realizing the important things in life. For example, his song entitled “Don’t Blink” tells a story of a man who is looking back on his life thinking of all the times he should have treasured. He describes how life goes by so quickly that if you blink you will miss it entirely. Another song of Kenny Chesney’s that encourages meaningful thought is the song “The Good Stuff”. This song describes a man who has had a fight with his wife then goes to his local bar and asks for “the good stuff”. Instead of pouring him a drink, the bartender simply talks to the man about his problems and helps him realize that the “good stuff” is really time spent with his wife. Kenny Chesney’s songs make the listeners think about the things that are truly important in life. Instead of encouraging wealth and accumulation of superficial things, his songs describe the necessity of family and friends in one’s life. His work encourages listeners to treasure the good times all throughout their lives.
I think that there is a lot of music in the world today that promotes aberrant behavior. Turn on the radio and listen to a few songs and I'm sure you"ll find something along those lines. I also think most artists don't mean exactly what they're saying in their songs. I believe that artists are leaving messages in their songs and are just waiting for people to discover them just like any painter, poet, or sculptor does. It's up to us to decipher what they are trying to say. I know that rappers talk about guns, sex, and violence but i also believe that most of that is just to sell records because that's what's "in". Yes they use curse words but I feel like that's only because that's what they have to do to be a hardcore rapper. They have to say they have guns, and yes some do (TI/ Lil Wayne), but I feel that the majority of them are just blowing smoke, no pun intended.
4. Even though I have never been a gospel or vocal music fan, there is one artist whose talent makes me willingly listen. Josh Groban has a voice that would make anyone look at the world differently if not for at least a minute. His powerful angelic vocals really project any meaning he feels, and does it well. He hits the high notes like a gong has been struck, and the low as softly as a whisper. His songs are directed to more of a holy audience, and mostly to God, like "The Prayer" and "You Raise Me Up." But just because they're religious doesn't mean they don't inspire and have meaning. His songs convey the message to help the world, and that you can accomplish anything "if you just believe." His tone of song helps spread these messages. He strongly feels and truly believes in what he's singing, which makes the meaning that much stronger, and it is easy to see in his performances and hear on his albums. His songs truly touch a person's heart, and at times I even tear up at his version of "Ave Maria" featuring a children's choir. His music is an awesome sound and is inspiring to everyone willing to hear his message.
DM Red
There are a booku of musical groups in todays society, some of which are very parent friendly. But there are also groups that promote murder and other heinous crimes. One such band would be Insane Clown Posse. More of a cult, these two so called "Juggalos" rap about anything from ax murder to rape. These two crazy freaks have an enourmous following, known as the Juggalo Family. Their avid fans paint their faces just like the group and wear big baggy black jeans with chains on them. A very shady group of people if you ask me. I feel as if a portion of these people see the Juggalo lifestyle as a way to rebel against their parents, and there have been numerous murders committed by Juggalos as well.
An incident in which I lost a little of my childhood innocence and learned the ropes of the real world is when my family told me that Santa Claus isn’t real. I know this is a typical story to tell and that you are looking for a more interesting one but I feel like my story is a little crueler than most. It is Christmas Eve in 1999, I am seven years old and I am too excited to sleep. This was going to be the year when I stay up all night and meet Santa when he comes down the chimney. I am so determined to meet him that I sat in front of the tree until about eleven o’clock. That’s when my parents said enough is enough and tried sending me to bed. They tried yelling at me to bribing me to begging me and nothing would work, I wouldn’t move. It wasn’t until about midnight when my oldest brother comes down and says, “Hey moron, Santa isn’t real mom and dad want you to go to bed so that they can put the presents under the tree and go to bed themselves, so stop being annoying and go to bed.” I was devastated and couldn’t believe that I was lied to my whole life. I cried myself to sleep that night, but everything worked out in the end when I realized that even though Santa wasn’t real there were still presents under the tree.
I would say when I got to high school is when I lost some of my childhood innocence and learned the ropes of the real world. Many things changed for me when I became a high school student. Coming from a small school to St. Marks was very different and overwhelming. I was faced with harder stuff in my classes than in middle school and more was expected of me. I have met many new people through high school and I learned who I can and can not trust. High school made me realize how mean and dramatic people can be, especially girls. I also got my license, which was a big part of losing my childhood innocence. Most of all, high school has prepared me for the real world. It taught me that people are not just going to hand things to you and I have to work hard.
Since its start in the 1950s, Rock and Roll has always been seen as taboo among the music society. Rock and Roll has been full of your typical “bad boys,” starting as far back with Elvis Presley in the mid 1950s right up to today with the so called “Death Metal” genre. Many people have gone to great lengths to try to shut down this growing genre, but their fire and brimstone tactics have been unsuccessful so far. During the late 1960s, Rock and Roll brought something new to the music industry, drugs. Many thought that the music was destroying their children’s morals and brain washing them with these psychedelic drugs, depriving them of all initiative and encouraging a lawless society. The epitome of such musicians was Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix rocked the musical world for many different reasons. He was one of the first black artist of his genre and was an outspoken drug user. Even though most of his music spoke of peace, love and happiness, often times people could not see past his drug use, making him a social taboo. Another prime example of a stereotypical bad boy of Rock and Roll would be Axl Rose from the infamous band, Guns n’ Roses. During the mid 1980s, Guns n’ Roses was the epitome of what Rock and Roll was about, drinking all night, endless numbers of girls every night, and heavy drug use. Despite all of these things, his audience loves him, maybe even because of all of these things. One thing is for sure, as long as people are willing to take their lives to the extreme, Rock and Roll will always prevail.
Since I can remember I have been attending church every weekend. For the past 18 years of my life I have been taught the values of Christianity and how to live a good life, a life like Jesus. We always go to 5:30 mass on Saturday night even when we don’t feel like it. Sometimes church can be mundane but I try to grasp the lesson being taught in the Bible to help me become a better person. I do partake in the singing and sometimes gets angry when they don’t play the songs I like, not very Catholic of me. I used to pray every night before I went to bed but have fallen away from the habit. I pray everyday mostly in school but I try to pray by myself when I can. I never read the Bible everyday but I used to read a book that had each days saints in it and their prayer that I would read. I believe I have a good faith life but I can definitely improve greatly.
Since I can remember I have been attending church every weekend. For the past 18 years of my life I have been taught the values of Christianity and how to live a good life, a life like Jesus. We always go to 5:30 mass on Saturday night even when we don’t feel like it. Sometimes church can be mundane but I try to grasp the lesson being taught in the Bible to help me become a better person. I do partake in the singing and sometimes gets angry when they don’t play the songs I like, not very Catholic of me. I used to pray every night before I went to bed but have fallen away from the habit. I pray everyday mostly in school but I try to pray by myself when I can. I never read the Bible everyday but I used to read a book that had each days saints in it and their prayer that I would read. I believe I have a good faith life but I can definitely improve greatly.
Since I can remember I have been attending church every weekend. For the past 18 years of my life I have been taught the values of Christianity and how to live a good life, a life like Jesus. We always go to 5:30 mass on Saturday night even when we don’t feel like it. Sometimes church can be mundane but I try to grasp the lesson being taught in the Bible to help me become a better person. I do partake in the singing and sometimes gets angry when they don’t play the songs I like, not very Catholic of me. I used to pray every night before I went to bed but have fallen away from the habit. I pray everyday mostly in school but I try to pray by myself when I can. I never read the Bible everyday but I used to read a book that had each days saints in it and their prayer that I would read. I believe I have a good faith life but I can definitely improve greatly.
When I was younger I always attended mass. It had gotten to the point where I actually liked it. I could remember as a young child I would love to go to the midnight mass on Christmas Eve. My family and I always had a tradition on Christmas. We would all attend midnight mass and then when we got home we were allowed to open only one present. It could be any one we wanted. As I grew older I went to CCD classes because at the time I did not go to catholic school. When I finally did go to Holy Angels grade school I became apart of the youth group program. That was always fun for me. We would go on field trips to the amusement parks and ski trips. By the time I gotten into high school I could tell that my patterns of going to church were starting to become inconsistent. I was not going nearly as much. I guess I haven’t really found the time when I try and balance school, working, and playing a sport. So one summer I decided I was going to go on a retreat. I went on what was called the Pitcher and Basin. It was part of the youth group program. It is very similar to Habitat for Humanity. That was such a rewarding experience because I knew for a straight week I was not only helping others and giving them a home to live in, but also I was able to reconnect myself with God. Since this retreat I try and make time to balance all the necessities in life with my relationship with God.
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