Biases in a small scale

             “Prejudices is a learned trait. You are not born prejudiced, you are thought it”

    Prejudices are some of the main causes of conflict in the world. So to ignore and fight them would we making the world better as a whole. Adam Aronovitz came to our school and presented his views on biases. Adam Aronovitz showed us that prejudices can be stronger than we think. And can have a great effect on the our futures and growth. This presentation opened our minds to some realities of predilection in economy. 

   Adam Aronovitz set up an activity were we split the class into two small countries in South America. Mara and minia. We each were given a paper with our countries situation and biases towards the other country. Minia described the Mara in words like arrogant, selfish, controlling, mean, and oppressive. When Mara described themselves as helpful, kind, caring, and selfless. Mara described the Minia as vain, rude, self-serving, rebellious, and egotistical. Minia described their own country in words like impoverished, oppressed, brave, and as freedom fighters. 

    All these different opinions and biases towards themselves and their nationalism clogged each countries open mindsets. And when Adam read each countries own description to both groups, many people changed their minds when they found out more information. However some people’s opinions didn’t change even a bit when hearing the other countries opinions. Showing that they were too involved in their hatred and biases towards the other country to even consider other opinions. 

   This activity was with a class who formed these stubborn biases nearly ten minutes before sharing. Imagine how much stronger these opinions and prejudices would be if you grew up with these views. Over time solidifying these opinions into your beliefs. How much harder it would be to open your mind and to forget your grudges and hatred for them. 

    This activity showed us that even small scale prejudices can show us a lot about big ones. That we need to forget our biases and have an open mind. Keeping away from stubborn prejudices blinding us from the truth. And stop us from poisoning the world with hatred.

Fear in the Odyssey

“And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it,neither brave man nor coward, I tell you--it's born with us the day that we are born.” -Odyssey 

    Fear can be your biggest danger. Fear can determine whether or not you survive. Sometimes it makes you think twice when you don’t even need to think once. It 

    Telemachus fears the danger of the voyage ahead of him. He fears his father may be dead and he fears nothing will ever be the same. Throughout the book Telemachus has visited many of his fathers friends palaces and feasted with them. They told Telemachus of their war stories and about how harsh the gods can be. He gets worried for his voyage ahead, for the dangers ahead of him will be unrelenting and cruel. Penelope is afraid of her husbands death or survival and can’t push the suitors out as a result.

    Fear can have a major effect on your decisions and success. It plays into whether or not you are willing to do something. And the risks involved with it. Risking a lot for a little is the theme of fear. However it can be somewhat questionable whether or not the worries are realistic. 

    The theme of fear in the first couple books of the odyssey is seen in both Telemachus and Penelope. It’s a great theme to add to this symbolistic story.

The Power of Tradition

“Remember that life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes”

     Community’s grow on the vine of tradition. It forms community’s and makes them stronger. Traditions are a way to remember the past and learn from it. They are often essential to the survival of a community as more people come and go. The members leaving their mark on the community as well as members subsequent to them.  

    Fenn is a community that has survived along time. Almost a century now. Fenn as well as many other schools have been striving away from traditions because of the changing of curriculum and culture. However as a result we have abandoned some essential traditions. Traditions that mean a lot to the  students even if they are undemanding of time or work.  It makes everyone feel more included and part of the Fenn community. 

    One tradition I would like to keep is Senior Pen and Paper, where members of the Senior class hang out in the headmasters garage on Fridays. This tradition is very important because it helps bond the class and bring the students closer together because their is no teachers telling them what to do. Students bond with one another much easier if they are alone. And feeling responsible for themselves and others. This aspect of school life that has gotten more and more scarce throughout the years. And that is why senior classes have had a harder time bonding. One switching the class bonding trip to Belknap, which is known to be strict. And second, declaring all these rules around school and students being alone with their peers. 

    These new rules are voiding class bonding and growth as people. Kids are supposed to learn from their mistakes and be scolded by their peers.  But when the teachers only do it these students will never grow up. I’ve seen this for myself, so we must make a change.

The Bad Days

“I think that you just gotta have the bad days so that you can just love the good days even more.”    -Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,  No Good, Very Bad Day

     Hard times are a necessary part of life. They shape who you are and form your future. Make you wiser, stronger, and live the good days even better. You won’t realize how strong you are until it’s your only option. You won’t realize how happy you are until you’ve experienced sadness. You won’t know yourself until you know the power of suffering.

    When I hear people talking about optimism as if it’s a great skill to have I stop to think if these people really know what they’re talking about. Theses optimists you only see from the outside. You can’t see the pain and suffering in their life which is essential part of humanity. Pain shapes who you are, makes you a better person. I believe in being happy. But not living without pain. Suffering actually makes you happier in the long run. Because you will never be able to know happiness is if you have never experienced pain. You can’t have one without the other. 

    What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Hard times make you who you are. They reveal your inner strengths as well as weaknesses. You can only find yourself in the midst of a hard time. In which the experience can reward you forever. 

    When you do something wrong, don’t forget all the things you’ve done right. For I’ve become stronger because of hard times, wiser from my mistakes, and happier because I’ve  known sadness.  

What is a place?

“Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness”

      A location is a feeling, a memory, all in a place. All aspects of it form and store memories and story’s. Causing feeling and reaction. And whether it’s good or bad, it has a vital effect on you. Making you feel emotion and bring back memories from history and past actions. When you leave a place you come out altered and changed. Every place you go will have an effect on you which lasts forever. 

    I try to spend my time in places I like so they have the most positive effect on me. Places where I can relax and than leave feeling better than before. I personally like to spend time outdoors, in nature. Exploring, working, or just relaxing. Because it’s even what you do there effects your image of the place and your image of the world whether you want it to or not. So try and spend time in places you like and not places you don’t. Because it can change you forever.