The idea that childhood is a special time and that a child's innocence should be protected largely originated with the Victorians. Before that, children were sent to work in factories as soon as they were old enough, often working 10 hour days at the age of 7 or 8. Chimney Sweeps used to employ even younger children since they could be dangled from a rope and used to knock soot and highly carcinogenic coal dust out of chimneys. By the time these young people reached the ripe old age of 15 or 16 they were adults for all intents and purposes.
Now, as a society, we have reached a point where we try to insulate children from the more unpleasant and laborious aspects of life but we have also delayed adulthood for many. Some "children" (perhaps you know some?) continue to live in their parents' basements until their late twenties. What do you think? How much (and from what) should children be protected? How well are we handling this issue now as a society? What kind of childhood will you try to create for your own offspring? What expectations will you have? What are some of the most valuable experiences and lessons from your own childhood that you will try to pass on to the next generation?
First of all, I think it is crazy when there are people that are in their twenties not doing much with their lives and living off their parents. By that age they should be out in the world trying to create a life separate from the ones they had with their parents. They should be out getting jobs and making families of their own. They should not be still living with their parents. My cousin is twenty two years old and has graduated from home school but is still living in his parents basement. He does not have a job and all he does is party. He is a really smart kid and could be making something of himself but instead he is just living with his parents still and having everything handed to him. I think that his parents should sit him down and tell him that he need to get a job and start making a future for himself. I think people like him need to smarten up and start living independently making a future for themselves.
As little kids, our parents try and protect us from everything and to a certain degree that is their job. Our parents don't want us to get sick or fall off our bike and hurt ourselves. Parents who are having difficulties in their marriage also try to protect their children form seeing that. But when a child becomes an adult, the parent can no longer protect their child as much whether they like it or not. The child needs to face the world themselves. If the parents have taught their child well, then the parent should not be worried to realize their child into the world. But if the parent did not teach their child well then they should be worried about what might happen to their children.
When I have children, I am going to teach my children all they need to know in order to be successful in life. I am going to install the good morals and values that my mom installed in me. I am going to teach my child to have good manners and to know right from wrong. I will make sure that my child is never exposed to some of the horrible things I have been through. I don't want my child to have to live through the same horrible things that I have been through. But I will let my child know that life is hard and sometimes they will have to struggle. I will make sure that my child is strong, independent and is a leader. I want my child to know that they can do anything that they can put their mind to. I will do all that I can to make my child a good person. But once my child reaches a certain age I can only hope that they keep the morals and values that I install in them.
As far as expectations, I would just hope that my child reaches their potential and that they never just settle. I hope that they dream big and reach for the stars. I hope that they will grow up to be well-rounded individuals. I hope that they will always respect other people and be a nice person.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Journal #12: Almost Eighteen and Confused about my Future
What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Teacher? Doctor? Actor? If you ask most people my age, they have a pretty good idea of what they want to do with their life. I mean most of my friends are now in university and working towards their desired career. But nope not me. I am almost eighteen years old and I have already graduated from high school. But instead of me being in university studying for a future career, I am still in high school. Its not that I don't enjoy high school because I do. But I really wish that I would have been as prepared as my friends and know what I want to do with my life.
I recently went to a university/college information session and I was given a sheet in which I was supposed to fill out what schools and programs I wanted to apply for. But how can I apply to schools, if I am not even sure what I want to do with my future. I was very discouraged leaving that presentation, especially when everyone around me seemed to know exactly where they were applying to.
I know what my passions are. I love drama, English, writing and sociology. I also really like working with kids. I want to help make a better future for the future children. I mean I sometimes think that I want to be a teacher and sometimes I think that I want to go to school to become a youth worker or something along those lines.
It is almost coming time (again) where I should be applying to university and I am totally unsure of what I want to even apply to. I am so worried that I will go to become a teacher and realize that I should have went and done social work.
It is such a hard decision at the age of seventeen having to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a hard time deciding what I will wear in the morning or eat for dinner. How am I supposed to decide what to do with my life?
I recently went to a university/college information session and I was given a sheet in which I was supposed to fill out what schools and programs I wanted to apply for. But how can I apply to schools, if I am not even sure what I want to do with my future. I was very discouraged leaving that presentation, especially when everyone around me seemed to know exactly where they were applying to.
I know what my passions are. I love drama, English, writing and sociology. I also really like working with kids. I want to help make a better future for the future children. I mean I sometimes think that I want to be a teacher and sometimes I think that I want to go to school to become a youth worker or something along those lines.
It is almost coming time (again) where I should be applying to university and I am totally unsure of what I want to even apply to. I am so worried that I will go to become a teacher and realize that I should have went and done social work.
It is such a hard decision at the age of seventeen having to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a hard time deciding what I will wear in the morning or eat for dinner. How am I supposed to decide what to do with my life?
Journal #4: Young Love
Love. What is it? Does anyone really know? According to the dictionary love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Well that may be true, all people define love in a different way. I believe that when you love someone you cant stop thinking about that person because they are always on your mind. Its when you know that you would do anything for that one person, including giving your life for them. Its when you feel like your life would never be complete unless you had that person in your life. To love someone is to let someone into your heart. To take a risk at getting your heart broken. Love can be beautiful and love can be painful, but I believe it is something that everyone wants to experience at one point or another. Who wouldn't want to feel love for another person. Who wouldn't want to know what its like to have someone love you? Everyone falls in love at one point or another.
But one thing that really bothers me is when people tell me or other young people that we are too young to fall in love. Is there a specific age in which people can fall in love? No, I don't think so. When you find that one person and fall in love, it could be at any age. So why do people say things like "no you cant be in love, you are too young". I believe that a person can fall in love when they are a teenager. There are many couples who have fallen in love when they were teenagers and who are still married to this day at the ages of sixty.
Love happens sometimes when you least expect it. I don't think that there is a specific time that you can say that you will fall in love. There is the people who fall in love from the first look or the people who after a little while together fall in love.
I know that I have been with my boyfriend for a while and I love him. But, my grandmother and mother say that I am too young to know what love is. Every time they say that it really bothers me. I mean how do they know? They don't know how I feel about him and when they ask and I tell them, they don't believe I could possibly love someone at the age of only seventeen.
I believe that love will happen when you least expect it. It is such an amazing moment when you find the person you love.
But one thing that really bothers me is when people tell me or other young people that we are too young to fall in love. Is there a specific age in which people can fall in love? No, I don't think so. When you find that one person and fall in love, it could be at any age. So why do people say things like "no you cant be in love, you are too young". I believe that a person can fall in love when they are a teenager. There are many couples who have fallen in love when they were teenagers and who are still married to this day at the ages of sixty.
Love happens sometimes when you least expect it. I don't think that there is a specific time that you can say that you will fall in love. There is the people who fall in love from the first look or the people who after a little while together fall in love.
I know that I have been with my boyfriend for a while and I love him. But, my grandmother and mother say that I am too young to know what love is. Every time they say that it really bothers me. I mean how do they know? They don't know how I feel about him and when they ask and I tell them, they don't believe I could possibly love someone at the age of only seventeen.
I believe that love will happen when you least expect it. It is such an amazing moment when you find the person you love.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Journal #5: “The Irony of Education”
Why is it that in North America we (as a society) seem to take education for granted? In other countries students will take any opportunity they can get to improve themselves. In our society, educators sometimes have to take extreme measures to perform their function.
Ever since we were five years old, we have been going to school. We all remember that first day we ever went to school, four or five years old, screaming and crying telling our moms we didn't want them to leave. But, after all the screaming and the crying we ended up having a pretty good day. We started to enjoy school and were excited when we got to go. As we got bigger and in the older grades, the teachers seemed to be more mean, the homework was harder and school wasn't so fun anymore. I don't know if it is us as teenagers or if the teachers actually did get more mean, but school was no longer as exciting as it used to be when we were in kindergarten. Each year, we go to school from September to June and hope that the years fly by. We would much rather be hanging out with friends than stuck inside of a classroom.
We, as north Americans, have always just been expected to go to school. We feel at times like we were never given the option as to whether we want to go or not. So many people don't see the point of school and think that it is a waste of time. In my opinion, i think that there are many classes that I have taken that i don't understand the importance of. But i do think that school is very important. I enjoy school, I like the extra curricular and I like almost all of the classes I have taken. I like being taught within a classroom setting and I like almost all of my teachers.
I cant believe the number of people that do not care about school and who just drop out. Or even worse the people who sit in class with the potential to do well but just don't care enough to try. We are lucky as North Americans to have such a great education system and it is sad that many people take it for granted.
In many countries, there are children that wish that they could go to school but they don't have the opportunity. But, if someone told them that they had to go to school they would be more than happy to go. There are some kids that would give anything in order to go to school. Then there is us, we go when we feel like and we skip if we feel like it.
Ever since we were five years old, we have been going to school. We all remember that first day we ever went to school, four or five years old, screaming and crying telling our moms we didn't want them to leave. But, after all the screaming and the crying we ended up having a pretty good day. We started to enjoy school and were excited when we got to go. As we got bigger and in the older grades, the teachers seemed to be more mean, the homework was harder and school wasn't so fun anymore. I don't know if it is us as teenagers or if the teachers actually did get more mean, but school was no longer as exciting as it used to be when we were in kindergarten. Each year, we go to school from September to June and hope that the years fly by. We would much rather be hanging out with friends than stuck inside of a classroom.
We, as north Americans, have always just been expected to go to school. We feel at times like we were never given the option as to whether we want to go or not. So many people don't see the point of school and think that it is a waste of time. In my opinion, i think that there are many classes that I have taken that i don't understand the importance of. But i do think that school is very important. I enjoy school, I like the extra curricular and I like almost all of the classes I have taken. I like being taught within a classroom setting and I like almost all of my teachers.
I cant believe the number of people that do not care about school and who just drop out. Or even worse the people who sit in class with the potential to do well but just don't care enough to try. We are lucky as North Americans to have such a great education system and it is sad that many people take it for granted.
In many countries, there are children that wish that they could go to school but they don't have the opportunity. But, if someone told them that they had to go to school they would be more than happy to go. There are some kids that would give anything in order to go to school. Then there is us, we go when we feel like and we skip if we feel like it.
Journal #6: "Technology: The Myth"
One of the great myths of modern times is the idea that new technologies improve a person’s quality of life. Yet no one has ever demonstrated that access to computers increases a person’s literacy or numeracy skills. Likewise futurists in the 50's predicted that we would be enjoying a three day work week by now since machines would be doing all the manual labor. What do you think? Is your life better now than it would have been 100 years ago because of technology?
Everywhere you look there is technology and every person uses technology in today's society. When we go to school we use computers for research and for completing projects and assignments. When we go home, we are surrounded by a ton of technology such as: televisions, stereos, fridges and much more. When we go to work there is computers there that we use, they are accurate and efficient. Almost everyone has a cellphone and an i-pod or MP3 player. There is technology wherever you go.
People have become reliant on their technology and some would even say that they could not live without it. I think that it is amazing how much our society relies on technology. I am not going to say that i don't appreciate how easy life seems with technology. It is just crazy to think that people actually believe they would not be able to live without their cellphone or without checking Facebook to find the latest news on who is dating who. I mean of course these people could live without technology. What do they mean to say, that if we took away their cellphone they would quit breathing and they would die? Of course not, we know that is not the case. People could live without technology. There have been many people before us who made it through life just fine without the technology that we have today.
As far as me, i don't really think that technology is terrible. However, I do think that some people have gotten far to lazy by using it. I think that it does make things easier and sure that's nice. But maybe we, as a society, are relying a little too much on it.
I believe that with the technology we have in modern day society, life is a lot easier than it was 100 years ago. Now instead of walking everywhere, we have the luxury of cars and now we can drive where we want to go. Instead of washing clothes by hand and putting them up to dry. we now have a washer and dryer that does that for us. Also, we now have computers that we can use to communicate with others and to use when we need to research something.
As good as technology is, there are many negative things that technology has done. One thing that technology has done has decreased the number of jobs available because now instead of using people to do manual labour, we have machines that do the work for us. Also, technology has made less people socialize with one another face to face. There could be a room full of people but they are probably texting or listening to their I-pod and not even acknowledging the other people in the room. It is kind of crazy actually. I hang out with my friends and we are all just texting away and not even talking to each other really.
Technology has definitely changed our society in many good and bad ways.
Everywhere you look there is technology and every person uses technology in today's society. When we go to school we use computers for research and for completing projects and assignments. When we go home, we are surrounded by a ton of technology such as: televisions, stereos, fridges and much more. When we go to work there is computers there that we use, they are accurate and efficient. Almost everyone has a cellphone and an i-pod or MP3 player. There is technology wherever you go.
People have become reliant on their technology and some would even say that they could not live without it. I think that it is amazing how much our society relies on technology. I am not going to say that i don't appreciate how easy life seems with technology. It is just crazy to think that people actually believe they would not be able to live without their cellphone or without checking Facebook to find the latest news on who is dating who. I mean of course these people could live without technology. What do they mean to say, that if we took away their cellphone they would quit breathing and they would die? Of course not, we know that is not the case. People could live without technology. There have been many people before us who made it through life just fine without the technology that we have today.
As far as me, i don't really think that technology is terrible. However, I do think that some people have gotten far to lazy by using it. I think that it does make things easier and sure that's nice. But maybe we, as a society, are relying a little too much on it.
I believe that with the technology we have in modern day society, life is a lot easier than it was 100 years ago. Now instead of walking everywhere, we have the luxury of cars and now we can drive where we want to go. Instead of washing clothes by hand and putting them up to dry. we now have a washer and dryer that does that for us. Also, we now have computers that we can use to communicate with others and to use when we need to research something.
As good as technology is, there are many negative things that technology has done. One thing that technology has done has decreased the number of jobs available because now instead of using people to do manual labour, we have machines that do the work for us. Also, technology has made less people socialize with one another face to face. There could be a room full of people but they are probably texting or listening to their I-pod and not even acknowledging the other people in the room. It is kind of crazy actually. I hang out with my friends and we are all just texting away and not even talking to each other really.
Technology has definitely changed our society in many good and bad ways.
Journal #7: "The Best When"
Assuming for a moment that you could transport anywhere you wanted, where and when would you rather live? No society that you know even a little bit about is off limits. You might want to consider your quality of life, societal expectations of men and women, health, access to education and recreation.
I used to think about what it would be like if I could transport anywhere. I used to wonder what places I would go and what I would get to experience. I would think for a while and then I would realize that there are many places that I would want to go. But, every time I would want to return to my home. I like the life I live nowadays, for the most part. I mean if I could change certain aspects of my life well then I would take full advantage of that. But this was the life that I was given and so I have to make the best of it. I cant let obstacles stand in my way of enjoying life. I like knowing that when I get sick I can go to the hospital and they will find a way to help. I like knowing that I can get a career and not just stay at home and have kids and clean the house. I like knowing that I can freely practice religion if I wanted to and I don’t have to worry.
There are places that I would like to travel to like: Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg and also I have always wanted to drive from one side of Canada to the other side. I would want to travel with my husband or even my mom.
The first place I would want to travel is Italy. I have seen pictures and that country looks really beautiful. I also have some family that live down there because that is where my biological father is from. We have studied about Italy and I have seen movies in which Italy has been described and I think it would be a great place to visit. This would be my first place that I would want to travel to because ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to go there.
The second place I would want to go to is Ireland. Again I have seen pictures of the landscape in Ireland and it looks really beautiful. I think that it would be a good experience to go and visit her. I also think it would be cool to learn more about the culture and living conditions of the people who live there. This would be the second place I would visit because I really want to go there and see what its like.
The third place I would want to visit is Luxembourg. There was an exchange from Luxembourg that had come to my school who I was really close to. He was a really amazing person and we learned a lot from each other. I was really upset when he left because we had been inseparable and did everything together. He had come to Canada for six months and he had not really known much about Canada so I taught him what I knew. He had turned eighteen when he was here and he had never Tim Hortons so I brought him there. But anyways, I would really love to go and visit where he had come from because I think it would be a great experience and I would get to see him.
The last thing I have wanted to do was drive across Canada and visit the beauty of our country because there are many nice places to visit. This might actually be the first thing I do before visiting other countries. But I guess I will have to see.
I used to think about what it would be like if I could transport anywhere. I used to wonder what places I would go and what I would get to experience. I would think for a while and then I would realize that there are many places that I would want to go. But, every time I would want to return to my home. I like the life I live nowadays, for the most part. I mean if I could change certain aspects of my life well then I would take full advantage of that. But this was the life that I was given and so I have to make the best of it. I cant let obstacles stand in my way of enjoying life. I like knowing that when I get sick I can go to the hospital and they will find a way to help. I like knowing that I can get a career and not just stay at home and have kids and clean the house. I like knowing that I can freely practice religion if I wanted to and I don’t have to worry.
There are places that I would like to travel to like: Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg and also I have always wanted to drive from one side of Canada to the other side. I would want to travel with my husband or even my mom.
The first place I would want to travel is Italy. I have seen pictures and that country looks really beautiful. I also have some family that live down there because that is where my biological father is from. We have studied about Italy and I have seen movies in which Italy has been described and I think it would be a great place to visit. This would be my first place that I would want to travel to because ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to go there.
The second place I would want to go to is Ireland. Again I have seen pictures of the landscape in Ireland and it looks really beautiful. I think that it would be a good experience to go and visit her. I also think it would be cool to learn more about the culture and living conditions of the people who live there. This would be the second place I would visit because I really want to go there and see what its like.
The third place I would want to visit is Luxembourg. There was an exchange from Luxembourg that had come to my school who I was really close to. He was a really amazing person and we learned a lot from each other. I was really upset when he left because we had been inseparable and did everything together. He had come to Canada for six months and he had not really known much about Canada so I taught him what I knew. He had turned eighteen when he was here and he had never Tim Hortons so I brought him there. But anyways, I would really love to go and visit where he had come from because I think it would be a great experience and I would get to see him.
The last thing I have wanted to do was drive across Canada and visit the beauty of our country because there are many nice places to visit. This might actually be the first thing I do before visiting other countries. But I guess I will have to see.
Journal #8 Important people
Sometimes when I think about all the things I have been through, I think about how it was possible for me to make it through it. I have been through many hard times. There have been times when I thought that life really sucked and that it couldn't possibly get any worse. When I think about how I made it through everything, I realize that without the amazing people in my life it wouldn't have been possible.
Of course, i have great teachers who help me within the classroom setting, they help me achieve good grades. They work with me everyday and make sure that I understand what I need to know in order to be successful. There have been many teachers who have helped me and have showed that they care about not only my grades but the hard times I was faced with at home. When I was at my old school, my grade eleven English teacher Mrs. Haaf was really the only teacher that I liked. But at Stamford there are many teachers that have been amazing with both me and my family like: Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Gaines, Ms. Mc Allister, Mr. Baty, Mr. Pierce, Mr. Martin and Mr. Mac Donald. All of these teachers have either helped me or helped out my family. But without the amazing teachers I have, school would not be that great for me sometimes.
Then there is my brother and sister. We don't always get along but I mean we are siblings and we have our little arguments from time to time. We are all different and have different opinions and think differently. My brother is big on sports and watches nothing but football. I cannot tell you how annoying it is when my brother is hogging the TV watching boring football. But other than his sports thing him and I are actually really close even though he is four years younger than I am. He is also really protective of my mother, sister and I because he feels he needs to be. My sister is a little more kept to herself unless she is upset because then she will let us know. We get along fairly well but she is involved in a youth group so she is busy a lot. But, I know if I need anything my brother and sister will be there for me in a heartbeat. We have been through a lot together and it is nice to talk to them.
There is also my boyfriend Drew. He has been really amazing when it comes to the things that I have been through at home. He has seen and heard things that I really wish he hadn't but he has been really supportive. He is very good to talk to even though he sometimes doesn't know the right thing to say. He is always there when I need someone to sit with me while I cry. He is also really good with my family. He hangs out with my brother and is a positive male influence on my brother. he takes my brother out and protects my brother like he would if he had siblings. He is an amazing person and I am so lucky to have someone like him.
But the most amazing person in my life is my mom. She has been through a lot and sometimes she just wants to be alone. But she has been staying strong for my brother sister and I. She is trying to do the best she can for my family. She is getting better everyday and I am really proud of her. She is the best mom anyone could have and I am lucky that I have her.
All the people in my life have been really supportive and without them, I am not sure that I could make it through the day.
Of course, i have great teachers who help me within the classroom setting, they help me achieve good grades. They work with me everyday and make sure that I understand what I need to know in order to be successful. There have been many teachers who have helped me and have showed that they care about not only my grades but the hard times I was faced with at home. When I was at my old school, my grade eleven English teacher Mrs. Haaf was really the only teacher that I liked. But at Stamford there are many teachers that have been amazing with both me and my family like: Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Gaines, Ms. Mc Allister, Mr. Baty, Mr. Pierce, Mr. Martin and Mr. Mac Donald. All of these teachers have either helped me or helped out my family. But without the amazing teachers I have, school would not be that great for me sometimes.
Then there is my brother and sister. We don't always get along but I mean we are siblings and we have our little arguments from time to time. We are all different and have different opinions and think differently. My brother is big on sports and watches nothing but football. I cannot tell you how annoying it is when my brother is hogging the TV watching boring football. But other than his sports thing him and I are actually really close even though he is four years younger than I am. He is also really protective of my mother, sister and I because he feels he needs to be. My sister is a little more kept to herself unless she is upset because then she will let us know. We get along fairly well but she is involved in a youth group so she is busy a lot. But, I know if I need anything my brother and sister will be there for me in a heartbeat. We have been through a lot together and it is nice to talk to them.
There is also my boyfriend Drew. He has been really amazing when it comes to the things that I have been through at home. He has seen and heard things that I really wish he hadn't but he has been really supportive. He is very good to talk to even though he sometimes doesn't know the right thing to say. He is always there when I need someone to sit with me while I cry. He is also really good with my family. He hangs out with my brother and is a positive male influence on my brother. he takes my brother out and protects my brother like he would if he had siblings. He is an amazing person and I am so lucky to have someone like him.
But the most amazing person in my life is my mom. She has been through a lot and sometimes she just wants to be alone. But she has been staying strong for my brother sister and I. She is trying to do the best she can for my family. She is getting better everyday and I am really proud of her. She is the best mom anyone could have and I am lucky that I have her.
All the people in my life have been really supportive and without them, I am not sure that I could make it through the day.
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