Basketball 2011 Edition.

So I have been playing basketball since I was in second grade or so, and this year I don't think i'm going to try out for the team. I keep getting yelled at by my friends to play because we're getting a new coach, but they don't get it. The coach wasn't the reason I quit, I really don't like the sport anymore. My friends want me to play because it's my senior year but i don't know what to do. My choices are be with my friends and be miserable or join track and try something new. My uncle told me that I should do whatever I want but i shouldn't regret it. I think I am too stubborn to go back to basketball because I already told people I was quitting. This decision is really hard and I only have a few more weeks to decide my fate of becoming a trackie or ball for one more year.

RSA Animate Video- Ken Robinson

In the video we watched yesterday, I found out that kindergartners could find 100 ways to play with a paperclip, while older people have a hard time figuring out more than 10 ways. The public education system has seemed to stop expanding our creative minds, but just focusing on getting us to graduate. Our creativity is what shapes us, and as we get older, we are losing our creative ideas because of school systems. The video showed me that we need to focus on what we love. In twenty years, if your doing something you hate, who can you blame it on?

Helpful Links

Today in class we were looking up helpful links and new blogs. I found another blogging website called Weebly. Like blogger, it is also free and you can design it to your liking. Also what I learned is that it doesn't do pop ups, so there is no advertising. Another website I found was Dolnk. It helps you make animations to make your blog more interesting. The last website I found was called Zoho. It is more focused on businesses and helps organize events and projects. It almost seems to act like an email account. These may be helpful to me in the near future. If you have any more helpful web sites let me know!

Bullying at BHS

Severe bullying is almost non-existent at BHS. Yes, there are those kids who make rude remarks, but I wouldn't consider that bullying. The most bullying I see is from people making fun of their friends. Yes, this could effect the person's self esteem, but they should be able to tell their friends to stop. Most bullying comes from girls in my opinion. From "stealing boyfriends," to "going behind backs," girls are BRUTAL when it comes to bullying. We blame it on being too emotional, but I think that girls know when they've crossed the line, and still do it. Teachers and administration are not the only ones to blame in not stopping bullying. Students are also at fault. Truthfully, if I saw someone being bullied, I don't know what I'd do. Yes, just to make myself feel better, I would say I'd stop it...but would i really? I think students need to start helping eachother and the bullying may be put to rest.

Get a Voki now!

College Applications.

I am applying to colleges this month and it is just rediculous! To apply to my colleges I have to do a common application. If the school I'm interested in doesn't have a common app, I have to do their own application! Let it be known that only 1 of my 8 schools does the common app. That means I have to fill out 8 different applications! Yes, I am complaining and I know all seniors have to do this but WHY does this process have to be so long and difficult? Why do schools need to know where your parents and siblings went to school? They're not applying to the school! I get that they need extra curricular activites and volunteering bits, but why should I have to fill the same application out 8 different times?! I think all schools should do the common app. It would make my life so much easier. Also, my friend Sam has to sign up for financial aid. She was telling me that she can't apply for it until January even though she is doing early action. Why is it that we have to wait to apply for it? It's just a hassle and I am getting so stressed trying to do all my homework, get my recommendations, activites list, and applications done. I wish applying for a college was so much easier, but I guess this is the burden I must bear for now.

News that grinds my gears

Alright, so everyday at 5 o'clock, the news comes on. I do watch it a lot because I like keeping up with the current news around the world. Truthfully, some of the news stories REALLY grind my gears. It bothers me so much that I am not hearing about the current war or international issues but instead get to listen to how a cat was saved after an electrical storm. I think news stations waste their time talking about stories that are not very beneficial to our country. I would rather be hearing about our current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan than people that got into a car accident on route three. Yes, I understand that it is sad and important to the family, but I do believe their are more important things going on out in the world. The government shields the media and only tells us what we want to hear and that is not very good. I want to know all the facts, good or bad. It isn't helping America when we are lied to and not know about what is going on around the world. During the Vietnam War, we weren't showed pictures of the innocent people we were killing Southeast Asia, but rather the media showed pictures of the United States Army doing good things like destroying enemy bases. This is still happening today! Half the things happening in Iraq are not told in the media and it leads to bad images of the opposing country. Yes, there are bad people, but there are still innocent people in Iraq that are still seen as enemies because of where they live. I believe that media outlets should tell the hard cold truth, whether we will like it or not.

Top 10 Things I Learned in Highschool

Coming in as a freshman, I was nervous about highschool. Throughout the four years I have been here, I have learned a lot and hopefully this list will help upcoming freshman!

1.) There is no third floor or pool at BHS.

2.) Despite what people say, our school lunches are actually good! (I still don't know about the hotdogs)

3.) Dismissals are NOT like middle school; you can just leave once you get the pass. WAY more lenient!

4.) Sports do help you make friends! One of my best friends was met through softball

5.) Don't care what people think how you look or act like.

6.) Technically you don't need a pass to walk the halls. The "crazy hall monitors" idea is fake, I have never
been yelled at or even asked for a pass

7.) The librarian is protective over her books and "home" don't mess with her

8.) Skipping= ISS. don't be dumb!

9.) Low grades freshman and sophomore year will get you when your applying to colleges TRUST ME.

10.) Everyone goes to the football games and dances. They are not lame so go!

High school is awesome and if I knew these ten things as a freshman, it would have been even better. So I am here to let the freshman know that high school is not scary and is the best time of our lives!

How to attract people to blogs

Having people follow your blog is easier said than done. I have been researching the internet and have been trying to find ways to have people join my blog. I came across a website that gave me three ideas on how to get followers. The first idea was that you need to be active on the internet and comment on other blogs and eventually others will follow you. Another idea is to label pictures with Alt text. Doing this will link you to that picture, so when someone tries to find that picture on the internet, it can be linked to your blog. The third way is to connect to YouTube. Since so many people go on youtube, it will help you gain followers. Other ways to have followers is promote your blog on facebook or twitter. Your friends can see it and tell others to look at it. These ideas could have you going from 5 followers to 50.

Halloween

Okay, so I have gone trick or treating since I was a baby. When I was in ninth grade, my mom told me I wasn't allowed to go anymore. I get where she's coming from because she doesn't want me to get in trouble, but seriously...FREE CANDY. Halloween is my favorite holiday besides christmas...obviously I like getting presents. Having my mom tell me I was too old to dress up and go door to door and get candy was really depressing. Halloween connects me to old memories and having my mom say I wasn't allowed to go was like ripping away my freedom and rights! I still like trick-or-treating because it reminds me of the times when I was younger and was only allowed to go through my neighborhood. Even though my mom is right( I'm a little old to go out), I still like reminiscing about past times and how much I have grown. This year I will probably go around with my sister...unless she goes to another neighborhood :( It's time to let go of my favorite past time.

What students think of when bored in class

When has a student ever not been bored in a class? If you're thinking to yourself, "Oh, I'm always interested in class discussions," YOU ARE LYING. Seriously though. I do get distracted easily and I am going to tell you the top ten things I think of while daydreaming in class.
1. Do I have any texts? ...probably from my mom.
2. What am I doing after school?
3. I wish it was summer
4. What am I going to eat for lunch?
5. Looking at what everyone else is wearing
6. What's the weather like?
7. Why didn't my friend say hi to me when I walked by ?
8. I wish I was home sleeping
9. Sporting events
10. What am I doing tomorrow?

At one point I think everyone has thought of at least one of these...If you know any more i missed let me know!

Rutger's student committed suicide due to facebook video!

I read this article about the Rutger's boy that committed suicide and it was so sad! His roommate had no right to video him and his "friend" and he really should face the consequences. Not only did he video it, he posted it on facebook! Facebook is supposed to be used as a way to connect with friends and family, not post unnecessary videos or comments. I think facebook should not allow any videos that show any inappropriate content. They should monitor what they allow people to upload. As for using facebook in school; I believe it is not needed. The only time I go on my facebook, is to check notifications or friend requests. Kids do not need ANOTHER distraction in school (Our attention spans are short enough!). College students should be mature enough and not post things that will get them in trouble. I blame the idea that facebook allows you to do whatever you want on your own terms. Facebook is a privilege not a right, and in this case, we learned that the hard way.

Students+cell phones= ?

What is the method behind using cell phones in class? Yes, it might be easier to text a survey answer back to your teacher, but what other use can a cell phone be in class. In my english class, my teacher makes us put our phones on the wall in pockets so we don't get distracted in class. Yes, I admit, I have texted in class, so not having my cell phone on me in English is annoying. My teacher is smart because she knows no one will get distracted in class and that is really good. Cell phones could have a purpose for being used as calculators or going on the internet. But since there are so many other gateways to contacting others, cell phones are not necessary in school. Cell phones should be turned off before school or left at home. Unless you have crazy parents that need to know your whereabouts at every second, there is no point for cell phones in school. Your friends are already there and if there is something important to tell them, find them in the hall or wait until you see them at lunch!

 http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2010/09/should-students-be-allowed-to-use-cell-phones-on-all-assignments-and-assessments.html

My Best Friend Raghav

My friend Raghav has been bothering me to blog about him. He has asked me about a million times to mention his name in his blog, but I haven't and he has been getting really aggravated. So today, I am blogging about Raghav Tanna. He is a senior and quite the nuisance. My nickname for him is Rig Ragz. He hates it, but it has become suprisingly popular- our english teacher even calls him that! He plays tennis, but he's not that good. He told me if i blog about him he'll go to my field hockey game. Well today is the day Raghav will attend his first game. Even though he has no idea how to understand the game, we had a deal and he is GOING! Alrighty, well it's been real, but I have to go. Hopefully you know a little more about my best friend!
Thanks,
Jillian