Comments for week 7

http://sydneycochran7.blogspot.com/2011/10/we-were-given-right-to-freedom-of.html?showComment=1320025261526#c4843571098790232753

http://nathanefuller.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/mentor-text-2-to-sir-with-love/#comment-39

http://codydaveyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/10/first-blood-vs-call-to-war.html?showComment=1320025639469#c5299659833089032756

http://freelandjesse.blogspot.com/2011/10/walking-dead-season-2.html?showComment=1320025767617#c1590299678623423904

Mentor Post

My story, Problem Solving, deals with the main character Cody and his willingness to do whatever it takes to pass math. Never paying attention, he finds it difficult to focus and therefore do well when it comes to the tests. One day, Cody realizes there is no way he can pass the test, so he results to cheating. Through the course of the story, the audience sees the how desperate Cody is for a passing grade, but when things go bad, Cody cannot help but feel shame.

To help write my story, I thought of one of the most infamous cheaters who ever lived; Barry Bonds. Bonds was accused of taking steroids during his lavish baseball career. In an article written by Ewen MacAskill, he writes on Bonds' conviction and how he only made it worse for him by denying the truth and pleading innocent. I use his approach as a guideline to make the audience understand that it is the wrong approach to the situation.

Another source i used in order to help my story take off was an article published on foxnews.com. Mark McGwire, another baseball great, was accused and found guilty of taking steroids during his baseball career. However, instead of denying the truth like Bonds did, McGwire came clean and admitted to taking steroids. He was caught and owned up to it becuase there was no way to deny the clear evidence.

I am using these articles in order to show the importance of being honest and having good morals. If Cody had taken the Bonds route, he would have just gotten into more trouble than before because he lied about it. Instead Cody takes the honest route like McGwire and only benefits himself and eventually, gets a second chance.

Comments week 6

http://tucker-wheaton.blogspot.com/2011/10/much-to-blog-about-nothingexcept-bruins.html?showComment=1318814913150#c2366856744173361971
http://sydneycochran7.blogspot.com/2011/10/perseverance-key-to-success.html?showComment=1318815678148#c7126876306863856890
http://codydaveyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/10/waking-up-to-music.html?showComment=1318816113850#c7009988038576955523
http://adamferguson16.blogspot.com/2011/10/land-of-gweeblets-prologue.html?showComment=1318816397715#c3027276197279755255
http://alexjosephson.blogspot.com/2011/10/controversy-is-cheerleading-sport.html?showComment=1318816589819#c4550523591747222813

Comments for Week 5

http://freelandjesse.blogspot.com/2011/10/this-i-believe.html

http://tucker-wheaton.blogspot.com/2011/10/this-i-believe.html

http://nathanefuller.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/this-i-believe-essay-nanas-hugs/#comment-33

http://licensetobemorallyrational.blogspot.com/2011/10/blissful-blindness.html?showComment=1318288770192#c5403403494487613615

http://sydneycochran7.blogspot.com/2011/10/personal-narrative-shifting.html?showComment=1318289049254#c1985248584540693218

http://chandlermayberry.blogspot.com/2011/10/life-is-prize-live-every-moment-like.html?showComment=1318290841651#c591037349233559112

http://codydaveyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-path.html?showComment=1318291078380#c7580236738518859366

Success of a Man

When success is achieved, it usually comes with the price of defeat. In order to truly know the feeling of success, one must first go through a series of difficulties and failures, only to make them understand the sweet joy that comes with success. With failure, we as human beings are able to recognize the pain and sorrow that come along with it which makes us strive to further better ourselves in order to avoid the feeling of failure in the future. When one thinks success, a number of definitions may cross the mind. To some, success means being rich and living a life of luxury. However, to some people, success is being surrounded by loved ones and doing what makes you happy.

The true definition of success in my opinion is living a life that is filled with a plethora of happiness and joy and doing what you love, regardless of the material things in which one has. Growing up, I lived a life that was filled with careless joy. Running through the yard on a hot summer’s day I was able to make do with what he had. I was never a kid who thought about what we didn’t have, rather a kid who was relieved and blessed for having what we did have. With a roof over my head at all times, I was able to feel safe and secure throughout my childhood. I look back today and realize just how lucky I was. With people living on the streets, desperately in search for a job, or a meal, I understand the importance of being able to sleep in my own bed at night with a roof over my head, and a house full of people that love me right down the hall. As a young child, I looked around and noticed the unfair circumstances that surrounded me. I would go to school and listen to all of my friends bask in the glory of getting that new expensive item that was just ‘to die for’; and as I sat and watched I could not help but feel disappointed and ashamed. I look back now and reflect on the past, thinking of how ridiculous it was to be ashamed of my childhood. So what my parents didn’t get me everything I wanted, they got me everything I needed and still do to this day and for that I am forever grateful.    

                Looking back today, I realize that my childhood is what made me the young adult I am today. My views and opinion on success are based off of my childhood, making me understand that just because one does not have a lot of money does not mean they are not successful. Success is measured in whatever way one feels necessary. As a maturing young adult, I use my past in order to focus on my future. I did not have a lot as a child, yet I was a still a little boy full of joy. My parents made sure that I lived a happy life as a child because it was those years that would shape and mould my beliefs and opinions for the future. I reflect on the past and look at myself in the mirror today and realize, that no matter my economical circumstances and no matter my lifestyle, my life is my life and my opinions are my own. I am who I am and I am proud of that fact. I am successful.