One Lesson From Joe Opatowski's Life & Death

Joe seems like a very influential person. He went from a very stressful life situation, with having problems at home and having his brother being taken away from him, to running away and making only meets end to rent out a place as an undergraduate. This was a touching story because Joe goes to a camp after talking to a guy who never usually talks to him and focusing on what the camp is there for. Rather than focusing on all the girls like his friend. After the camp he continues on staying with the Free the Children program. He got involved in his own town and managed to help out some street runners and others in need. Eventually he moved to bigger situations that were incredibly difficult to see and bare with but he managed to make a difference no matter where he went just be making people happy.

We're A Minga!

My group of friends and I were recently "Minga's" at my dad's house. We went there for a sleepover, girls night, and he was working on building a fence in his back yard. Before he knew it, it was Sunday afternoon and there was no way he was going to finish the fence before Monday. My friends and I decided if we all pitch in we'll easily help him finish it before Monday. So we all helped out whether it was holding wood together, moving all the tools or just cheering on, we got the job done and it felt great. My dad was so happy which made us feel even better about helping out. I think everyone could use more "mingas" whether they're personally close to you or just a group from the community people should always be willing to help others out for nothing in return. It's about giving not receiving!

Lindsay Avner And The Run For The Cure

This women is one in a million, who prefers to look her destiny straight in the eye. She took control of her future rather than being afraid the rest of her life. Now, she knows she will never have to live in fear of getting breast cancer again. She now is trying to help others who may become a part of this horrible, deadly disease. I think she's a very talented women. She could have helped herself and said good, my life is all set now, but instead she made her story heard and is out to help others! No one in my family has ever had breast cancer and therefore it doesn't scare me but there is always still that chance and it should never been forgotten. Even though I've never had it and no one in my family has doesn't mean I don't admire this women. This disease and fear is out of her life for good but she is still looking out for others. It takes a strong women to do that since she's lost family to it before.

Victor Frankl's Words Of Wisdom

He says "life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." I do agree with his definition of life. I think that life is about finding your purpose and doing what your suppose to do while overcoming obstacles. Some obstacles might be big, like death, or loosing a friend. Others may be small like falling off a bike, and loosing a friends number. This is a huge concept and to be completely honest I don't know my purpose in life, most people don't, and I don't know if I want to live for that or not. I'd rather live to have fun and do the most fun things I possibly can. I work hard at basketball and fitness but not so hard at finding a job and school. some things are more important personally to me, and others are more important in the wide range looks of things. Overall I think however you live your life, you have to live it to the fullest because you never know what could happen, and once it's gone, it's gone.

Cleanup/Brighten Up IDCI!

IDCI definitely has to be cleaned up and brighten up! When you are in a location that is clean and bright you automatically feel happy. More people will want to attend school if we have a bright cheery school that is fun to be around and very clean, with no garbage in the halls and nice bathrooms. Personally I think we need to do something different with the lockers, for instance paint them a brighter blue and have bombers written across 30 in white. Also, bathrooms and change rooms are a huge deal! For starters bathrooms are a place for girls to freshen up and do their business. No girl wants to shower at our school because we have dirty moldy showers and they are tiny! Why not have two or three nice, big, clean showers? Also, a change room is a place for teams to meet before the big game! This has to be a big, open, clean smelling place where it's comfortable and everyone has their own locker to put their bags in before the game so no one can steel their stuff and it doesn't have to be kept behind their bench. Lastly, everyone at the school hangs out outside the cafeteria. Teachers complain that we're in the way and they can't get through then why don't we open up that area with the stairs and hall and put in benches for students to sit and lounge while they wait around at lunch and break. These are just some things that could make IDCI a better place!

Oprah's Story

Oprah is an amazing person. I wouldn't say I'm a fan but I definitely think she's a great influence on people and I do idolize her. She works hard and her willing to give for nothing in return is unreal. I think her "big heart" definitely plays the biggest role in why she has such a successful show. She cares about everyone and that's why she has so many people following her show.

Belonging

I feel like I most belong to my social group in and outside of school. This group is a group of people who I can tell anything to and they won't judge me nor tell anyone. I can confide in them and they can do the same in me. We are always there for each other and if you have any problems their always there to talk or just listen. I will always stay in touch with these people when I'm out of high school because they mean the world to me.

Grade 8 Is Such A Difficult Time

I thought the grade 8 tours were a good idea to have the leadership class lead. I think we made out well because we didn't seem to have too many problems getting the grade 8's to cooperate. This event could have been better if it were a little more organized and more fun! By this I mean we should have had a scavenger hunt, where we were looking for an actual prize. That way when the sheet said to get somewhere the kids were actually interested in getting there and knowing where that place was. Also, we should have went outside to the fields and just got the grade 8's more involved. Maybe even had boys take boys and girls take girls around to show change rooms and bathrooms as well. For the way we did things and in the amount of time with the amount of students I think it went very well! I hope to help out next year too.

Back To The Book

I think in order to become "more We," we have to possess more gratitude. "Through gratitude we can shift from a mind-set of scarcity, in which nothing we have or do is ever enough, to a perspective of abundance, in which we can appreciate all of the blessings we have in our lives and gain an awareness of what we have to share. This seems most important to me because it also reflects the other three in some way. If we appreciate what we have and don't take anything for granite, then we are going to be happier! It also reflects empathy because it expands awareness of we. When you have a perspective of abundance you will have more awareness of we. Lastly, redefining our notion of community. A perspective of abundance will do just that, we can begin to create a more useful, meaningful, and inclusive vision.

Spring Clean-up

I did my spring clean-up in Vermont at my sister's University apartment. This was not easy because I had a cast on but I still managed to clean and organize my sister's apartment. I had to clean her living room, kitchen and bathroom! This included picking up LOTS of garbage, vacuuming, mopping, rearranging and organizing! Even though I hate cleaning, I still felt good about helping out my sister and her friends. It was a good experience.

The Amazing Erin Gruwell

Freedom Writers is one of my favourite movies! I think one of the points of the movie is change. Which in my mind fits very well with Me2We. This movie shows how it is hard for just one person to make a difference, who maybe doesn't see the otherside and doesn't completely understand. All though she's had experience from a different point of view. When Erin gets everyone to come together then it is easier for her to make a difference. She influenced the change but you can't enforce it without the permission of the ones you want to change. You need everyone to work together in order to make a full impression!

The Last Lecture

This show was so touching! It was really sad that Randy died in the end and it couldn't be a happy ending, but I think he was strong and courageous on the show. I'm glad his book was published in memory of him, and I will never forget his story.

Desmond Tutu's Story

I thought this story was good, because it was told from a completely different perspective, and way of life. I've never considered looking at things the way he explained them. I think my dad has had the most influence on my 'characteristic development.' He always tells me to try my hardest at everything I do and to always think positive, because he believes in me. When you hear that someone believes in you and think's you will be successful everyday, it makes you want to be just for that person. I always want to be a good person for my dad, and I want to succeed in everything I do.

What's a Minga!?

A Minga operates on an "all for one, one for all" basis. Caring, not competition, is the order of the day. We is as important as Me. I think it's important to have Minga's in the community and world because if every were completely about themselves and winning was everything then noone would get along. In a sense I think I have a bit of both characteristics. I'm very competitive andthat's why I play basketball, to win. At the same time, I only take out my competitiveness on my sports so I have an everything's equal side to me. Where We is as important as Me.

Community Adventure

I was unable to do the community adventure because I had a basketball tournament in Ottawa for the weekend. All though, I think the class did a great job on the community adventure because I have seen a lot of Me2We posters up around town! I've mentioned the program to a lot of friends outside of school and parents, because I think what we're doing as a school is amazing. If we could do this as a community we would be able to make an even bigger impact!

Me2We Assembly

The Me2We assembly was very good. I thought they kept the assembly interesting, because of the guest speakers and having them talk about their past experiencecs. Also, it was neat that the girl who came to talk about her job and experience, had pictures and a lot of grreat descriptions of what it was like. She made it obvious that it is an amzing once in a life time oppertunity! I thought it was cool, even though I couldn't understand him 100% that the guy came to talk about his life, and how he grew up in Sierra Leone, and ended up in the states. I would love to go to more Me2We things and get more involved. After hearing about the girls experience, I hope to one day be able to travel to a third world country and help out.

Suicide Awareness

This was a touching play, it not only made you aware that suicide is something that some people think of on the regular, but also made you think that it could be someone you're close to and know very well. I thought the play was done very well, and it was creative to get the audience involved. Also, I thought the groups we met up in after were a good idea because then you had the chance to talk about what you just saw and how you were feeling. That way if you were uncomfortable to get up in front of everyone to participate in the play, then you had the chance to speak your mind in front of people you knew and were comfortable with. It kind of scares me that people that I love and care about could possibly be thinking about suicide, whether they're actually considering it or it's just crossing their mind it still matters and makes me worried. At least now I know how to talk to someone about suicide if I have someone who has to talk. Instead of forcing anything I just need to sit and listen, it will make them feel good to have someone to talk to and get things off their chest.

The Happiest Countries in the World.

1. nigeria
2. mexico
3. venezuela
4. el salvador
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.
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16. usa

Poor, dirty, small, happy! These are the places that respect so little, and expect so little. It's amazing that a rich, free, big country like usa and canada could be so unhappy. Even though we have everything we want and need right in front of us. All of the necessities that third world countries have to walk miles, and miles for, we have in our homes at the turn of a tap! Also, we have shopping malls and money and nice cars, big houses, jobs that pay a lot of money, education, extracurricular activities. Things that the people who are "happy" couldn't even dream of. It all comes down to us, with money have now taken the little things for granite and are getting greedy where as in the third world countries they are happy because they found food to eat that day, and water to drink.

Me 2 We Question- only 10% stopped!

This story makes me feel like there's so much more change that needs to be persued in the world. People are in a rush to get to a lecture and can't take the time of day to help someone in need. It seems so pittyful that only 10% could give a care. I think it's ironic that 90% of people are so rushed, and so involved with their own lives that they either don't notice whats really come of the world around them or they just don't care enough to do anything about it. This is thhe reason I want to help, because I want to make a difference in the world for all of those people who can't get a little help. Also, to inform the people who won't take the time of day that they can make a difference but without them nothing will truely change.