Rachel L's Blog

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Earth Day

Blaise Pascal:

Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.

Emily Dickinson:

Who has not found the heaven below
Will fail of it above.
God's residence is next to min,
His furniture is love.

Francis Bacon:

We cannot command nature except by obeying her.

George Santayana:

... everything in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, tragic in its fate, and comic in its existence.

Creationism vs. Evolutionism

John 1:1-5....In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Creationism is the belief that a supreme being with an intelligent mind is responsible for the creation of the universe. On the other hand, evolutionist believe over long periods of time, species change and modify in response to environmental conditions. Such modifications, or acquired traits, are passed on to the offspring of the altered organism, resulting ultimately in a complete transmutation of form. Evolutionist believe the present is the key to the past while creationists believe past is the key to the present. As a Christian, I believe in creationism over the theory of evolution. I have chosen to put my faith in God and believe in the words of the Bible.

In our biology class, we debated defending creationism against evolutionism. During and in preparation for the debate, our debate team learned alot about the subject. Although we lost the debate, our team learned the format of a debate and the differences in creationism and evolutionism.

Why AP

I am accepting the challenge of more rigorous coursework by taking an AP course next year because I believe that I can achieve more if I put myself to the challenge. I understand the higher qualified teachers that come with higher level learning. I believe the classroom environment of a more qualitative class is more professional with student who are interesting in learning and achieving. In AP World History, I understand there is much reading and studying. I believe myself to be a rather proficient reader and quite interested in the subject.

Who's to Blame?

Although many characters in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet play a role in the death of the two lovers, one could blame Friar Laurence as the main contributing influence. Being a wise priest of the city, Romeo and Juliet trust Friar Laurence completely, turning to him for advice and solutions. Seeing that the friar is the one who marries Romeo and Juliet, comes up with a plan to keep them together, and acts as a good friend throughout their tragedies, he appears often throughout their lives. However, Friar Laurence’s rapidity in marrying Romeo and Juliet, his shortsighted plan for rescuing Juliet from an unwanted marriage to Paris, and his fear of committing sin all contributes to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. 

What Does Love Look Like?

"The Way I Am"

Ingrid Michaelson

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine if you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.

My Paradox Poem

I am the ideal perfectionist.

I am the ideal imperfectionist.

I am very emotional.

I hate to show my true feelings. 

I love to be the center of attention.

I can sometimes be very shy.

I freely express myself.

I hold back a lot of my feelings. 

I am usually patient.

I can be very short-tempered. 

I am grateful for what I have.

Things could be so much better.

I don't care what others think.

Words can really hurt.

I don't rely on other people.

I strongly dislike for people to be undependable.

I try to be very honest.

I constantly find myself lying.

I love to try new things.

I am not too fond of much change. 

I am a huge person of initiative.

I tend to procrastinate.

I strive to be perfect.

I strive to be perfect.

paradoxes

For today's assignment, we were told to identify paradoxes, or contradicting characters, within ourselves. Here are mine:

1. emotional but I hate to show my true feelings.
2. center of attention but very shy.
3. freely expressed but I hold back a lot of my feelings.
4. patient but short-tempered.
5. grateful but things could be so much better.
6. I don't care what others think but words can really hurt.
7. don't rely on people but I strongly dislike for people to be undependable.
8. honest but I constantly find myself lying.
9. I love to try new things but I am not too fond of much change.
10. initiative but procrastinate.

Do parents know what is best for their children more so than the children themselves?

Romeo and Juliet Discussion of Themes

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Do parents know what is best for their children more so than the children themselves?

• Depending on the situation that a child is in, sometimes a parent may better know what is best for their child and sometimes not. If it is a situation that only the child would be exposed to, the child may know what is best better than the parent because they cannot experience the situation for themselves.

Evolution and Creationism

Today in our blogging class, we read another english class's comments about evolution and creationism. (This is the link)

seand said:

"Mr. Wallace seemed like a very knowlageable person. I have grown up believing in creationism because I went to a Christian school all my life. I though Mr. Wallace made some very good points about evolution. He really made you think about what you believe. I agree completely with him in that what you believe is a very personal thing. I don't think people should be a certain faith just because their parents want them to. I think everyone should choose what they want to believe and Mr. Wallace made it very clear that he feels the same way. I think it was good for him to come in and talk to us because it really got us thinking about what we believe."

...My biology class is soon going to be learning about evolutionism. Although I don't know much about the two theories, I have been raised believing in creationism and not evolution. I agree that everyone should be able to have a background of different ideas to choose from so they can have a choice of their beliefs.