Being an Original

You will all be embarking on the greatest journey in about a month.  High school will be over and you will have many paths to choose from.  Some of you have already accepted that your life is your own and that you make choices everyday that will propel you forward.  Others may blame everyone else for your life and the choices you make. What we do not see is that the world requires us to think.  There will be no multiple choice test for you to fill out at work or before you buy a home.  You will have to think.  Be an original in all aspects of your life.  I want you to watch this TED Talk and tell me how it applies to you.  Are you a pre-crastinator, a procrastinator, or an original?  Does he say anything in this talk that you can take with you as you prepare to head down your next road? 

The people we meet

The people we meet in life leave a profound impact on who we are currently, as well as, who we will become.  Look back over your four years in high school and think about those people who have impacted you.  Write your post this week as a thank you letter to that person.  Remind that person how you met and then go on to explain how they have impacted your life.  If you wish to change the names to protect the innocent, go ahead.  

New Beginnings

The 4th quarter begins today and this is the beginning of the end.  After this quarter, you will be leaving not just a grade, but high school.  Your days as a high school student will end, and you will assume the responsibilities of an adult.  Life only gives us so many chances to start over.  When those chances present themselves, it is imperative that we embrace those chances and make the most of the opportunity.

For your blog this week, think about how you will use this new beginning to make changes.  Think about what new beginnings mean.  What do you need to do before the end of the year to help you enter the adult world confidently and ready?  Tell us where you will find yourself after high school and the steps you need to take to make it happen.  

Revenge

I am sure you have heard that The Lion King is closely connected to the storyline of Hamlet.  We see the idea of revenge in both stories and the outcome of what happens when we seek revenge.  For this week's blog, I want you to think about revenge.  How do you see revenge?  Is it justifiable?  Think about your world and how this idea of revenge emerges?  What is the result?

Explain your definition of revenge, where you have watched revenge play out, and what the result of revenge is.

Betrayal

Betrayal is a powerful word.  It is about disloyalty and about breaking trust.  We will see betrayal in Hamlet.  Think about why people betray others and what that says about the state of trust in a relationship.

In this week's blog, think about how one character is betrayed in Hamlet and what that causes. Then connect that betrayal to your world--pop culture wise.  Look at how betrayal is portrayed in film, television shows, books.  What is the result of betrayal and how do people in the pop culture pieces feel about the betrayal?

Roles of Women

Each generation sees a change in the roles assigned to women.  When my mother was growing up, the expectation was for women to grow up, get married, have the 2.5 kids and the house.  My generation had different gender expectations.  

For this week's blog, think about the expectations being put on your generation.  Examine how those roles are conveyed: television, movies, songs.  

Your post should include the following information:
1. What roles or expectations are placed on women today?
2. How do you see those roles/expectations being conveyed?
3. What are your thoughts on those roles?

Loyalty

We often hear people say that we live in a "dog eat dog world."  With this in mind, we need to look at where our loyalties sit.   What makes a person loyal to another?  How do we know if someone is loyal to us?  What happens to break that loyalty and how do we feel when we are disloyal?  

Think about this idea.  In your post, explain how and why you are loyal.  Who are you loyal to and why does loyalty matter?