Public School

The PSAT, SAT, ACT, and SOL are just some of the tests that make up each of our futures. These tests determine our fate. Isn't this a lot of pressure, put upon the testing systems for each student to succeed? In the same aspect of it is this is all we are learned to prepare for. When the society is solely biased upon passing these tests or scoring in the highest percentile, we forget the purpose of the actual learning. Do we even learn in the end or do we just shove facts upon facts into our brains that eventually disappear in a few years to come.

In one of my classes a few days ago, my history teacher exclaimed that for the next two weeks we will be running a sprint for obtaining information for the midterm. In fact he said "it doesn't matter that you learn, what matters is that all of you pass the midterm." This is what the school system is composed of, tests, tests, and more tests. We are so prepared to memorize information that we "need" to know instead of understanding any of it. If this is the purpose of the schooling system, something needs to be fixed.

Standardized testing has been a part of the school system for centuries. Michelle Rhee published an article in 2010 on the fact that public schools and teachers make the system only based upon tests that will determine our grade, eventually determining our GPA and then our colleges we may attend. In a recent study done on standardized testing, it is proven that scores have not improved students achievement. Standardized testing in the public school system is the focal point in the understanding of knowledge in each subject, but do we actually obtain information. In some ways the test can prepare the students for college and advanced level classes but in the way we approach these tests, it can be misleading to both the students and the teachers.

Although these tests are the only way we have ever done anything in order to determine the placement and understanding of each student. This has been a long standing controversy and I feel the tests are beneficial, but sometimes the ultimate goals of the teachers are only to get each student to pass, when ideally the ultimate goal in the end should be how much each student was able to actually learn in the class. When something is tried to be done in mass amounts, there will always be flaws in part of it, but some flaws are much bigger than a simple fix, but a truly messed up side of it.

Everlasting Love

Storm

Devastation consists of shattered windows, broken doors,  and silence. The real beauty, is watching this happen backwards. Boarded up homes are taken off, nails are pulled out, shattered windows fly up and put their pieces all into place. Dents in the cars are pulled out and fixed, lost dogs find their homes. Flooded roads become lower and lower and canoes are put back in the sheds,  Slanted rain pouring starts to straighten up and slow and grow quieter and quieter, dark death wearing clouds covering what is left of a community begin to fade . A quiet buzz of electrical wires tangled beneath trees fallen over lift themselves up and root themselves back in the ground. Thunder booms and then lightning, cars sliding down the roads, without their owners begin to light up and park in driveways with homes. The howl of the wind disappears. There are sirens, blaring so loudly, that it becomes hard to hear, and then they begin soften to a quiet hum of the television. Families return to their homes, lights turn on and children are tucked into bed. Peace consists of glass windows, wooden doors, and laughter. Looking backwards changes your perspective on everything.

Watching recovery can be uplifting while seeing destruction is electrifying. People often try to force a puzzle piece into the puzzle, when they know it doesn't fit, but they will keep trying because some of us cannot let go of an idea. Even though we are destroying the piece by trying to make it fit into something it doesn't. Think about this before you watch a storm come, remember every storm has an end. Devastation doesn't need to define us, what happens on the path back does. Watching a storm backwards is just a minor look at our interpretation on life. If we had watched 911 or hurricane Katrina backwards maybe the world would be seen in a little bit bright light, because we would see how a community will fix itself after the unthinkable.

"Owl Babies"

Behind dusty cupboards and broken cobwebs, there is a memory. It's tucked away from sunlight, hidden beneath the shadows. Only the holder knows where to look for it. That is exactly how I ended up finding it, Owl Babies.

My memory happens to be Owl Babies, this is a book that I remember my dad reading to me every night before I went to bed. When I found the old book hidden beneath all the dust I immediately received chills throughout my body. It’s not too often some memories from under the age of 4 come back so when they do, it only seems to be only in little bits. Like the spin of my nightgown, light-up slippers, stuffed animals, and princess nightlights running through my head as I looked at the book. I remembered  my dad carrying me to bed, tucking me in and letting me hear one story. That story for me would always be Owl Babies. The book seemed to be a comfort item for me something that I clung to before I went to bed. Even when my dad wasn't there to tuck me into bed that Owl Babies story was a security blanket I needed to have before going to bed. When I looked at the book I remembered all the memories. The time seems to fade so quickly, but in that moment I suddenly felt 4 again asking for daddy to tuck me in and read to me. It amazing how we can remember some things in such detail that it actually feels like you are there again. I wish to relive this memories and all the memories in my life at some point, whether it may be the good or the bad, a memory is something that we should cling to. Memories make up of who we are and I felt that Owl Babies was a major part of me when I was little.

We look at memories after they happen. Some are sweet and some aren't. Many memories we choose to remember matter to us. The scary part about our lives is our ability to remember the little details. There seem to be little reminders that trigger a memory like a street sign might bring back memories of corner lemonade stands, or maybe a brand of soap reminds someone of warm baths at the beach every summer. Whatever it may be, it is a memory, and it is special to each of us. Take a step back go through the little things in your life and reach towards the little memories and try to trigger the things that make it special.

The Paw

We usually see the imprint of the paw, and rarely analyze the tiny grooves that make up the paw. Full of tiny bumps coiled collectively connecting a web to form a pad, that cushions the step of the animal. Velvety hair is grown between each digital pad, and surrounding the metacarpal pad.The paw may look broken and dry around the edges, but it has internal beauty. 

The paw is resilient, and capable to walk across blistering pavement. It is hurried, making fast movements to chase creatures out of the yard. It is gentle when walking towards it's owner. It shows comfort, willingness to forgive just to be loved. Unlike the human, the paw will follow even after you are the one at fault. It loves to no end, doesn't criticize you for your faults. They show a tough exterior yet they become pliable when touched. Sort of like humans, we build up walls to show our strength yet show weakness when touched. 

Warm and comforting a paw holds together a family or a group of people. A paw makes paths cross. It can be taught to shake and high five. It encourages love; it is so simple, yet complex. The power a single paw can do towards a human is incredible. I find beauty in the paw because it tells a story. It tells us how the paw has walked through, and touched many lives. 

Introduction

Puzzle Pieces.

Ever since I can remember, my mom and my brother have been doing puzzles. I often would watch them patiently pick out each piece and try to figure out where it fits. I would become frustrated with the slowness of the task and often bail after 10 minutes into it. This seemed to change, when my brother went off to college last year. When he finally came home for winter break my mom had put a puzzle out. I had just wanted to spend anytime I had with him so I decided to join in on the puzzle experience.

I realized later on that something about doing puzzles makes me feel full-filled. As we sat in silence for over 2 hours working on the 1,000 piece puzzle I learned how special this moment was. We didn't speak much in the time, but I felt that so much had been said. When we finally finished that puzzle around 1:30 in the morning, I felt accomplished. When I went to sleep that night I realized one thing.

Our lives are just one big puzzle.

And that we are constantly trying to fit together the pieces. Because in the end we know that the picture will be well worth it. The feeling of completing a puzzle that you have worked so hard on is incredible. I can only imagine what that would be like compared to our lives.

I want my blog to be full of puzzle pieces, for me and you to find.A blog that shows how each piece we earn is crucial to complete the picture.And that sometimes in the blur of things we often forget how important the little pieces can be, I want to learn how to put them all together.