Okay, you've heard me mention my school's musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and how there are some cuss words that were being changed and all that. I'm not sure how much else I said would be changed, but I decided to share some of it.
In the original, one of the spellers has two gay fathers. We're changing that to adoptive parents. The cast and crew of our musical went to watch another production of the musical and ate at Braum's afterward (which was delicious) and as the production we watched was done by a college, they didn't change a thing.
While at Braum's I was sitting with one of the crew members and I told her that some of the things in that production, we were doing differently. In the original, one of the kids gets an erection...and it causes him to lose the spelling bee. Then he sings about his "Unfortunate Erection". Thankfully, the writers realized that some schools may not want to do that version and gave another version where he sings about his "Unfortunate Distraction", which was daydreaming about a girl in the audience. She was understanding of that change, because yeah, even though it was hilarious, a lot of people would find it inappropriate.
However, when I told her that we changed the two gay dads to adoptive parents, she became more defensive and asked why people were being homophobes (I have a lot of issues with that word, simply because it implies that people are scared of homosexuals...disagreement does not mean fear, nor does it mean hate....). When our music teacher told us about the change, she said that she personally didn't have any problems with gays and I told this girl that and told her that the teacher also said that it was changed because of how conservative this area is. She wasn't happy with that.
What I thought of later, that I should have told her, but couldn't, because I hadn't thought of it, was that...this is a high school drama. Not a college drama. Not a Broadway drama. This is high school. We are doing this for fun, not to take a stand on gay marriage or abortion or anything of the sort. There is no reason to have controversy in a high school production.
If a group of high schoolers got together and decided that they wanted to promote gay marriage or abortion or spanking or even take a stand against these things, that would be one thing, but for the fall musical, it is just unnecessary. For a college, go ahead. Broadway...go ahead.... But not a high school.
This is designed to be humorous and entertaining...not for promoting someone's views. Let it be fun, funny and enjoyable and forget the controversy...please....
~Katie
Monday, November 2, 2015
Sunday, November 1, 2015
IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown...part 2...
This is continued from IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown, which you can find...here.
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
Saturday, October 31, 2015
IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown!
So, I've been thinking recently about what would happen if there was a contest between the teachers at my old school and the teachers of my new school...who would win??? Here is how I believe the showdown would look....
Announcer: From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller, the science/history teacher, Brother Todd, the former English, now Bible teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher, Mrs. B.; the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last, but not least, the P.E. teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Mrs. Schlabach; the art teacher, Mr. Houghton; and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr. Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: To begin, we will have the music teachers stand up... Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Miller, come forward.
*they come forward willingly*
Announcer: Please, lead your choirs in warm-ups. Mrs. Fischer...ladies first.
Mrs. Fischer: *leads choir in the 'bottle pop' round*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Mr. Miller, can you and your choir upstage her?
Mr. Miller: *leads choir in 'Ho-ho-ho Hosanna'*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Excellent! You both have done very well. Mr. Miller, you appear to have a smaller choir, but despite that you've trained them well. Mrs. Fischer, your choir is larger, but you have also trained them well. We collected polls from students that have "served" under these teachers and out of three of Mr. Miller's students...previous or current...all three have stated that he is an excellent teacher and that they enjoy being in his class and doing choir tour with him. However...for Mrs. Fischer...out of three of her students...they also enjoy class with her! Congratulations! It's a tie! Now for the science teachers....
*they step forward*
Announcer: Please, demonstrate how you teach your students about the metric system.
Mr. Weilert: *condensed and fast forwarded* We use the English system which not even the English use. Here, look on these crackers...English AND metric. *tosses behind* Can of peas? English AND metric. *tosses behind* Cereal? English AND metric! *tosses behind*.
Brother Todd: *looks throughly stunned* I think something might get broken if he keeps doing that.... *condensed and sped up* The English and metric systems of measurement are both listed on everything except for--
Mr. Weilert: What?? There's no English measurement. That's because the scientific measuring system is the metric system.
Announcer: Perhaps we should have taken turns...it appears that while Brother Todd is a more laid back person--
Mr. Weilert: What now, Katie? You're sucking me dry girl!
Announcer: *clears throat* BROTHER TODD IS A MORE LAID BACK PERSON...however, though they have different methods of teaching are both good teachers. There appears to be a bit more chaos in Brother Todd's room...we have live footage of a stepfather of one of the students coming into the room with a whale puppet singing a song about...about...saving whales...I don't even know... HOWEVER...this tie, again...will be broken by the students...and again...unanimous on both sides! Congratulations, gentlemen.
Announcer: You notice that we only have four teachers that are competing...this is because some of the teachers Katie had at IBS, she only took those classes while attending IBS, such as math and others she's only taken at FHS, such as art. As such, these teachers automatically win against the ones from the opposing schools. Principals are disqualified as they are not technically teachers, but administrators.
...to be continued...
~Katie
Announcer: From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller, the science/history teacher, Brother Todd, the former English, now Bible teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher, Mrs. B.; the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last, but not least, the P.E. teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Mrs. Schlabach; the art teacher, Mr. Houghton; and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr. Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: To begin, we will have the music teachers stand up... Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Miller, come forward.
*they come forward willingly*
Announcer: Please, lead your choirs in warm-ups. Mrs. Fischer...ladies first.
Mrs. Fischer: *leads choir in the 'bottle pop' round*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Mr. Miller, can you and your choir upstage her?
Mr. Miller: *leads choir in 'Ho-ho-ho Hosanna'*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Excellent! You both have done very well. Mr. Miller, you appear to have a smaller choir, but despite that you've trained them well. Mrs. Fischer, your choir is larger, but you have also trained them well. We collected polls from students that have "served" under these teachers and out of three of Mr. Miller's students...previous or current...all three have stated that he is an excellent teacher and that they enjoy being in his class and doing choir tour with him. However...for Mrs. Fischer...out of three of her students...they also enjoy class with her! Congratulations! It's a tie! Now for the science teachers....
*they step forward*
Announcer: Please, demonstrate how you teach your students about the metric system.
Mr. Weilert: *condensed and fast forwarded* We use the English system which not even the English use. Here, look on these crackers...English AND metric. *tosses behind* Can of peas? English AND metric. *tosses behind* Cereal? English AND metric! *tosses behind*.
Brother Todd: *looks throughly stunned* I think something might get broken if he keeps doing that.... *condensed and sped up* The English and metric systems of measurement are both listed on everything except for--
Mr. Weilert: What?? There's no English measurement. That's because the scientific measuring system is the metric system.
Announcer: Perhaps we should have taken turns...it appears that while Brother Todd is a more laid back person--
Mr. Weilert: What now, Katie? You're sucking me dry girl!
Announcer: *clears throat* BROTHER TODD IS A MORE LAID BACK PERSON...however, though they have different methods of teaching are both good teachers. There appears to be a bit more chaos in Brother Todd's room...we have live footage of a stepfather of one of the students coming into the room with a whale puppet singing a song about...about...saving whales...I don't even know... HOWEVER...this tie, again...will be broken by the students...and again...unanimous on both sides! Congratulations, gentlemen.
Announcer: You notice that we only have four teachers that are competing...this is because some of the teachers Katie had at IBS, she only took those classes while attending IBS, such as math and others she's only taken at FHS, such as art. As such, these teachers automatically win against the ones from the opposing schools. Principals are disqualified as they are not technically teachers, but administrators.
...to be continued...
~Katie
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
League of Legends
As was mentioned a post or two ago, I've started playing this game called League of Legends. It's a team based game and is really very fun when you have people to play with. My ex, Josh, got me into the game and introduced me to two of his friends...well, four, really, but only two that played regularly, that also played League.
When you first start League, they have you play a tutorial game that really confuses you, but if you have friends that are playing, they then take you into Bot/AI games and teach you whatever it was that you misunderstood from the tutorial. You're given a set amount of RP (Riot Points) with which to buy skins or champs or other things of that ilk. When you play games, you get something called IP (Influence Points), with which you can buy champs with...maybe runes, but I've never bought runes, so I wouldn't know. Once you run out of RP, you're out...unless you buy some with real-life money...which I'm not planning on doing.
Every week you have...ten...(?) free champions that you can play, without having to buy and/or own them. These champions are what you play in the game and each one of them has five skills. A passive, which you can't control, and four skills that you control via the Q, W, E and R buttons on your keyboard. The R is known as the 'ult', or 'ultimate' and you can level it up three times; at level 6, 11, and 16. When in a match, your champion can level all the way up to 18 and you can level up your skills each time you level up, but only until each skill (other than R) has 5 points in it.
In a normal match, there are three lanes (top, middle/mid and bottom/bot) and a jungle. In a bot match, you have two top, one mid, and two bot. In a normal match (or a ranked match) you have one top, one mid, two bot, and a jungler. The role of the jungler is to kill jungle monsters and gank lanes. Ganking means that they come out of the jungle and essentially ambush the enemies that are being meanie heads to their teammate. The top laner is typically a bruiser (which means they do damage) or a tank (which means they can take a lot of damage without dying, the midlaner is usually a mage, who scales off of ap (ability power), the botlaners are a support (a champion who keeps other champions from dying and helps to set up kills, while usually not doing any killing at all), and an adc (attack damage carry), who is supposed to do a lot of damage and get a lot of kills.
When you first start League, they have you play a tutorial game that really confuses you, but if you have friends that are playing, they then take you into Bot/AI games and teach you whatever it was that you misunderstood from the tutorial. You're given a set amount of RP (Riot Points) with which to buy skins or champs or other things of that ilk. When you play games, you get something called IP (Influence Points), with which you can buy champs with...maybe runes, but I've never bought runes, so I wouldn't know. Once you run out of RP, you're out...unless you buy some with real-life money...which I'm not planning on doing.
Every week you have...ten...(?) free champions that you can play, without having to buy and/or own them. These champions are what you play in the game and each one of them has five skills. A passive, which you can't control, and four skills that you control via the Q, W, E and R buttons on your keyboard. The R is known as the 'ult', or 'ultimate' and you can level it up three times; at level 6, 11, and 16. When in a match, your champion can level all the way up to 18 and you can level up your skills each time you level up, but only until each skill (other than R) has 5 points in it.
In a normal match, there are three lanes (top, middle/mid and bottom/bot) and a jungle. In a bot match, you have two top, one mid, and two bot. In a normal match (or a ranked match) you have one top, one mid, two bot, and a jungler. The role of the jungler is to kill jungle monsters and gank lanes. Ganking means that they come out of the jungle and essentially ambush the enemies that are being meanie heads to their teammate. The top laner is typically a bruiser (which means they do damage) or a tank (which means they can take a lot of damage without dying, the midlaner is usually a mage, who scales off of ap (ability power), the botlaners are a support (a champion who keeps other champions from dying and helps to set up kills, while usually not doing any killing at all), and an adc (attack damage carry), who is supposed to do a lot of damage and get a lot of kills.
Below is a map of Summoner's Rift, which is the map that is most typically played on.
Then there's also the matter of items. Throughout the match, you will generate gold and you will also earn gold from killing minions, which are little things that aren't champions and don't do much damage, but love to have at each other and do little bits of damage to you. You earn gold from destroying turrets, which attack you if you go in without a minion wave( which is why you kill the enemy minions), which is generated after...I'm not sure how many seconds each, but the first minion wave spawns at 1:30. With the gold that you get, you can buy items to increase your armor, health, mana (which, for most champions, lets you use your skills that are on the qwer thingy, though some champs don't have them. It can be pronounce man-uh, or mah-nah...I've heard both.), ability power, attack damage, yatta yatta yatta...ask your skilled friends what to build on your champs, k? K.
Most items have smaller items that can be built into them and if you can't buy the entire item when you first back/recall (return to base, by pressing the b button, which takes 8 seconds to load you back there and if you sustain any damage your recall is canceled and you have to stay and fight. This also rejuvenates your health and mana), you can usually buy the little items that are built into it.
There are other game modes where you can play with three people...or six people...or have only one lane...or have only two lanes...it's a pretty in depth game, actually and I never realized how in depth before I started explaining it all.... I haven't even mentioned summoner spells or counter-jungling, or skins...wait, I mentioned skins, but I didn't explain them or anything. There's a lot I didn't go into, actually. There are a lot of champions to play and I own a grand total of...23...I think.
So, yes...this is my obsession, although I prefer to play with my friends. There's also a game mode that is like the normal game mode that I mentioned, although it's called ranked. For ranked, you play ten games and that's called your provisionals (I've played four so far) and then once you hit ten games, you can begin playing for something called LP (League Points...I think....) and once you hit 100, you get a rank. There's bronze, silver, gold, diamond, platinum...I think.... And I think they're in that order, as well. I am currently unranked. But, in order to even play ranked games, you have to be summoner level 30 and you level that up by playing more games, be they bots, or pvp (player versus player).
Again, this is my obsession. It is not the reason why I stay up until midnight every night...tonight it's not midnight yet and also, I blog and talk to people and stuff like that...sometimes I try to clean my room a bit....
To the people who hear about League all the time...I'm so sorry.
~Katie
Monday, October 26, 2015
To My Friend, Mike
I know I already made a blog post today, but then I went to my friend, Mike's, blog and read one of his posts. I had a comment all typed up and it wound up being rather long, so I asked if he would mind me sharing his post, with my reply on my blog and he said that that was fine....
Mike's Blog Post
And here is my reply:
Sometimes crying shows strength. The man is supposed to be the example for the woman. If her man always holds back his tears and refuses to let them show, she may feel as though she needs to do the same.
Throughout the Bible, men have cried…and not just because of deaths. Jacob cried when he was reunited with his son, I believe Jacob and Esau cried when they saw each other and were making peace, the father of the prodigal son cried when he saw his son…so much crying…all by men… If God didn’t want people (male and female) to cry, he wouldn’t have made people designed to cry.
When a person is born…usually, the first thing they do after taking a breath, is cry. When you fall down, you cry. When you laugh too hard, you cry. When you suffer a painful break up, you cry. When you grow older, when you’re extremely happy, you cry. If you’re moved emotionally at all, you cry. Crying is good and healthy and something that is perfectly okay for men, women, boys, girls, babies, teens, preteens, and any other humans I may have left out to do.
God KEEPS your tears. He keeps them. In a bottle…and in a book. Psalm 56:8– “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” That wasn’t just for the writer of that psalm…that was for everyone. Including men. Which includes you.
And besides all of THAT, there are plenty of healthy reasons to cry. When you cry, it releases proteins that can cause bad moods or health issues…and I know what I’m talking about, I wrote a whole essay on it my Sophomore year of highschool. If you don’t want to cry around people, that’s fine and completely understandable…but don’t force yourself not to cry or feel weak for doing so…because it’s fine. Biblically and…professionally? No, that’s not the word I mean, but you understand what I mean, I hope.
I’m very much a hypocrite for saying this, because I force myself not to cry a lot of the time…I first remember doing that when I was four…so it’s something I need to remember too. Crying is a-okay.
~Katie
Mike's Blog Post
And here is my reply:
Sometimes crying shows strength. The man is supposed to be the example for the woman. If her man always holds back his tears and refuses to let them show, she may feel as though she needs to do the same.
Throughout the Bible, men have cried…and not just because of deaths. Jacob cried when he was reunited with his son, I believe Jacob and Esau cried when they saw each other and were making peace, the father of the prodigal son cried when he saw his son…so much crying…all by men… If God didn’t want people (male and female) to cry, he wouldn’t have made people designed to cry.
When a person is born…usually, the first thing they do after taking a breath, is cry. When you fall down, you cry. When you laugh too hard, you cry. When you suffer a painful break up, you cry. When you grow older, when you’re extremely happy, you cry. If you’re moved emotionally at all, you cry. Crying is good and healthy and something that is perfectly okay for men, women, boys, girls, babies, teens, preteens, and any other humans I may have left out to do.
God KEEPS your tears. He keeps them. In a bottle…and in a book. Psalm 56:8– “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” That wasn’t just for the writer of that psalm…that was for everyone. Including men. Which includes you.
And besides all of THAT, there are plenty of healthy reasons to cry. When you cry, it releases proteins that can cause bad moods or health issues…and I know what I’m talking about, I wrote a whole essay on it my Sophomore year of highschool. If you don’t want to cry around people, that’s fine and completely understandable…but don’t force yourself not to cry or feel weak for doing so…because it’s fine. Biblically and…professionally? No, that’s not the word I mean, but you understand what I mean, I hope.
I’m very much a hypocrite for saying this, because I force myself not to cry a lot of the time…I first remember doing that when I was four…so it’s something I need to remember too. Crying is a-okay.
~Katie
Pros and Cons of Public/Private Christian Schools
I meant to do this a long time ago, so I'm sorry this took so long! Awhile back, when I switched from being homeschooled to going to the Bible school, I made a pros and cons list. I thought...well, why not do the same for private Christian school and public school? We'll start with what I left....
Private Christian School
Pros:
Private Christian School
Pros:
- Everyone knows everyone.
- Higher levels of freedom to worship God without being told to take it elsewhere..
- You don't have to worry about having Evolution crammed down your throat as a fact, instead of a theory, which is what it is.
- Smaller student to teacher ratio, so more one on one help.
- Christian songs and pretty hymns in choir.
Cons:
- Everyone knows everyone.
- Hypocrites (yes, you'll see them everywhere and it is a con everywhere).
- Strict dress codes.
- At the school I just left, being forced to wear your hair in a bun at school.
- If your doctrinal beliefs are different, you're looked at oddly.
Public School
Pros:
- A larger selection of electives.
- More opportunities to take the same class.
- Clubs! For example, I am in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
- Dancing is actually allowed....Psalm 149:3a.....it should be allowed in Christian schools too....
- A looser dress code...and yes, you can still be modest. No, not everyone will choose to, but you can be.
Cons:
- There's always that chance that you'll get told that Evolution is the only way the earth could have come into being.
- People may not always understand when you pray over your food or why you dress how you dress.
- Cuss words every day.
- A bigger student to teacher ratio (although my school is actually pretty small for a public school, so we do have a pretty good ratio)
- Having to awkwardly ask your Weights teacher if it's alright if you wear a skirt for your class instead of the required shorts...thankfully, he's also the sponsor of the FCA and understands why I wear skirts, why my mom wants me to wear skirts and why that's what I feel comfortable in, so he just nodded and said that it would be fine, so long as I had shorts underneath so no one would see my undies...actually, he didn't say so no one would see my undies, but it was implied.
So, as you can see, there are pros and cons to both schools...at least both of the ones I've attended.... And yes, I did, in fact, put 'everyone knows everyone' as both a pro and a con...because, honestly it is. Everyone knows everyone, so you don't have to worry about talking to strangers...but also...everyone knows everyone, so if there's something going on in your life...it's gonna be pretty dang easy for everyone to find out about it....
~Katie
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Goodness!
My goodness, it's been forever since I've regularly blogged! So...let's try a recap of the past year up until this point....
January--New Year, obviously...trying to remember specific things that happened that I want to share...not really any...actually.... That could have been when new management took over at the daycare I was working at, I'm not sure. I suppose I could go get my journal and check, but I haven't been journalling regularly either. Ahh, after reading back posts, I remember the most duh thing of all...I got my own computer! Which I still use.
February--I'm kinda in the same boat with this month as well, I guess. I've been focusing mostly on these recent months and working on school and things like that. My back posts don't help any with this, because it was merely musings. How in the world am I supposed to know things and little details that happened during this time period, if I don't write it down?? Again, I probably did in my journal.
March--...Okay, I'm not good at this....
April--I believe that this was the month that I felt a peace about switching schools. It was also the month of the Junior/Senior Banquet, where my cousin Andrew (who is now at boot camp :'( ) took me, because he's a sweetheart.
May--I was one of the flag bearers (grrr, I iz scary bear) at the graduation, which was lovely, as most graduations are. I also went to my uncle's niece's graduation and was favorably impressed by the school building and all dat.
June--I started Driver's Ed and either June or May I started playing League of Legends...if you want a life, don't start playing! I met Mr. Barnett, who is also now one of my favorite teachers. I also went to Abilene-not-in-Abilene-anymore Youth Camp, although I think I enjoyed it more my first year.
July--Makin' new friends through League all over da place--THAT'S A SHOUT OUT TO YOU WOLFIE!...and everyone else, but I talk to Wolfie the most....
August--Eep, school started! I was so nervous and initially, she had me in the alto section, but said that if we thought it was the wrong place, just let us know, so I did and I am now where I belong with my high notes and all that jazz.
September--Auditions for the musical and I got the part of Olive, which I was secretly wanting really badly, but not wanting to say.
October--Hey, that's this month! I think we did auditions for solos this month, but it could have been in September, near the end, and concert, which was awesome. I had two solos (one I was really nervous and I wasn't angling my head right, so I sounded kinda pitchy) and had a blast doing them.
Now, let's see if maybe I can possibly post once a week or something. Once a day is a little overkill...after all, you know, school, homework, things of that nature.... But, there's a recap of my year thus far!
~Katie
January--New Year, obviously...trying to remember specific things that happened that I want to share...not really any...actually.... That could have been when new management took over at the daycare I was working at, I'm not sure. I suppose I could go get my journal and check, but I haven't been journalling regularly either. Ahh, after reading back posts, I remember the most duh thing of all...I got my own computer! Which I still use.
February--I'm kinda in the same boat with this month as well, I guess. I've been focusing mostly on these recent months and working on school and things like that. My back posts don't help any with this, because it was merely musings. How in the world am I supposed to know things and little details that happened during this time period, if I don't write it down?? Again, I probably did in my journal.
March--...Okay, I'm not good at this....
April--I believe that this was the month that I felt a peace about switching schools. It was also the month of the Junior/Senior Banquet, where my cousin Andrew (who is now at boot camp :'( ) took me, because he's a sweetheart.
May--I was one of the flag bearers (grrr, I iz scary bear) at the graduation, which was lovely, as most graduations are. I also went to my uncle's niece's graduation and was favorably impressed by the school building and all dat.
June--I started Driver's Ed and either June or May I started playing League of Legends...if you want a life, don't start playing! I met Mr. Barnett, who is also now one of my favorite teachers. I also went to Abilene-not-in-Abilene-anymore Youth Camp, although I think I enjoyed it more my first year.
July--Makin' new friends through League all over da place--THAT'S A SHOUT OUT TO YOU WOLFIE!...and everyone else, but I talk to Wolfie the most....
August--Eep, school started! I was so nervous and initially, she had me in the alto section, but said that if we thought it was the wrong place, just let us know, so I did and I am now where I belong with my high notes and all that jazz.
September--Auditions for the musical and I got the part of Olive, which I was secretly wanting really badly, but not wanting to say.
October--Hey, that's this month! I think we did auditions for solos this month, but it could have been in September, near the end, and concert, which was awesome. I had two solos (one I was really nervous and I wasn't angling my head right, so I sounded kinda pitchy) and had a blast doing them.
Now, let's see if maybe I can possibly post once a week or something. Once a day is a little overkill...after all, you know, school, homework, things of that nature.... But, there's a recap of my year thus far!
~Katie
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Freedom!
People have many freedoms in America. I believe Miss Montgomery was talking about that in Geography last year...and one of the things she said is "You do not have the freedom to not be offended.". And that makes a lot of sense. After all, the freedom of speech cannot co-exist with the freedom to not be offended.
I can say whatever I want. I could call someone ugly and that would be perfectly aligned with my freedom of speech. Of course, it would most likely offend that person. *I* am offended when I read people talking about how abortions are "okay" because I don't believe that way. Guess what, it's their right. They have the right to their own opinions and feelings and I have the right to my own opinions and feelings.
If someone has a blog or a radio show or a book and they put their opinions and feelings into it, SOMEONE, somewhere, will get offended. There is a perfectly good solution to that...just don't read it. Don't watch it. Don't listen to it. Of course, if you don't like it, you also have the freedom of speech to tell them you don't like it and that it hurts your feelings. Does that mean they'll stop? If it's a personal blog or book or something like that, probably not. Because THEY have the right to put THEIR opinions and feelings out there, regardless of whether it offends you or not. And while that can sometimes wind up with hurt feelings...that is a wonderful thing to be able to do. Put your feelings and opinions out there freely....
~Katie
I can say whatever I want. I could call someone ugly and that would be perfectly aligned with my freedom of speech. Of course, it would most likely offend that person. *I* am offended when I read people talking about how abortions are "okay" because I don't believe that way. Guess what, it's their right. They have the right to their own opinions and feelings and I have the right to my own opinions and feelings.
If someone has a blog or a radio show or a book and they put their opinions and feelings into it, SOMEONE, somewhere, will get offended. There is a perfectly good solution to that...just don't read it. Don't watch it. Don't listen to it. Of course, if you don't like it, you also have the freedom of speech to tell them you don't like it and that it hurts your feelings. Does that mean they'll stop? If it's a personal blog or book or something like that, probably not. Because THEY have the right to put THEIR opinions and feelings out there, regardless of whether it offends you or not. And while that can sometimes wind up with hurt feelings...that is a wonderful thing to be able to do. Put your feelings and opinions out there freely....
~Katie
Monday, September 14, 2015
Update on New School!
Alright, so, if you've been reading my blog, you know that I had been attending a private Christian school and am now attending a public school...and man, let me tell you something. I love my new school. Love. With an L. And and O. And a V. And an E! Not eros...maybe philia...but...love. Yes.
When I went from being home schooled to going to the private Christian school, I made a pros/cons list about them. Perhaps I should do the same here? I think I'll put it in a post right after this one, that way this one doesn't get completely swamped, because there's a bunch of stuff I would like to cover here.
If I had continued attending IBS, I would have to take Algebra 2...because for some reason, my Freshman year, I was forced to take Consumer Math, yet it was counted as an elective, although I had no choice in taking it, therefore, it was not recognized by IBS as a math credit. Here at this public school, they recognized it for what it was: a math credit. Therefore, I do not have to sit in Algebra 2 every day this year. Which really leads to a much less stressful school year!
I am also one of the lead roles in my school musical, which is called the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There are some parts of it I don't care for, some parts that are going to be changed, and some parts (many parts) that are funny. My name is Olive and I am very shy and my only friend is a dictionary. One song that I sing for the Musical. Please feel free to come watch! It's the 20th and 21st of November. If you need directions or anything, contact me! And just a heads up, any cussing in the songs I post on facebook or on my blog, will not be in our production. The cussing is in the original/"professional" version and will not be used in the highschool reproduction that we are doing of it.
I may not have a ton of friends at this new school, but thus far, my experiences at this school can be summed up in these two pictures that my stepdad posted on facebook:
I had a pros/cons list written out, but then I copied something else and completely lost it, so I'll have to rewrite it later on.
I also had found out that a teacher (whom I admired) told the principal, in front of my stepdad, that I would be back after three weeks at this public school. This is the beginning of the fourth week and there is no way I am going back. I was also told by a fellow student, when I visited before my school had started, that I would hate public school. I love it. People don't know me as well as they think they do. And I hate that they think they do. But too bad! :D
~Katie
When I went from being home schooled to going to the private Christian school, I made a pros/cons list about them. Perhaps I should do the same here? I think I'll put it in a post right after this one, that way this one doesn't get completely swamped, because there's a bunch of stuff I would like to cover here.
If I had continued attending IBS, I would have to take Algebra 2...because for some reason, my Freshman year, I was forced to take Consumer Math, yet it was counted as an elective, although I had no choice in taking it, therefore, it was not recognized by IBS as a math credit. Here at this public school, they recognized it for what it was: a math credit. Therefore, I do not have to sit in Algebra 2 every day this year. Which really leads to a much less stressful school year!
I am also one of the lead roles in my school musical, which is called the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There are some parts of it I don't care for, some parts that are going to be changed, and some parts (many parts) that are funny. My name is Olive and I am very shy and my only friend is a dictionary. One song that I sing for the Musical. Please feel free to come watch! It's the 20th and 21st of November. If you need directions or anything, contact me! And just a heads up, any cussing in the songs I post on facebook or on my blog, will not be in our production. The cussing is in the original/"professional" version and will not be used in the highschool reproduction that we are doing of it.
I may not have a ton of friends at this new school, but thus far, my experiences at this school can be summed up in these two pictures that my stepdad posted on facebook:
I had a pros/cons list written out, but then I copied something else and completely lost it, so I'll have to rewrite it later on.
I also had found out that a teacher (whom I admired) told the principal, in front of my stepdad, that I would be back after three weeks at this public school. This is the beginning of the fourth week and there is no way I am going back. I was also told by a fellow student, when I visited before my school had started, that I would hate public school. I love it. People don't know me as well as they think they do. And I hate that they think they do. But too bad! :D
~Katie
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Update!
Basically, with this post, my last two posts on my blog have been about how I am switching schools. This makes a third. This...is an update! To read the initial breaking of the news, click this link: I Am Moving On.
I figured that there would be people who wouldn't want me to leave and people that wouldn't care if I left and people who would want me to leave. I also figured that there would be people who didn't want me to leave and would try to shove down my throat that I had to stay. And there were.
There have been people that I was quite surprised with, because they took it well and accepted the fact that it was my decision to make and my decision alone.
My friends aren't happy about me leaving and I understand that. I will miss them greatly. And I have some teachers that don't want me to leave and will tell me they are going to kidnap me and make me stay...but they aren't serious about kidnapping me...I hope. However, my principal...
Here is a whole paragraph for my principal. My principal came to me one day and told me that he thought I needed to come back. He has told me that I need to come back, because I will be valedictorian. I am aware that unless certain members of my class shaped up, I would indeed have valedictorian in the bag. Listen closely people...very closely; valedictorian isn't the most important thing about school.
Here is another whole paragraph for my principal. He also, at one point, when I told him that if he wanted me to come back, (is that two appositives??) he would need to talk to God about it, because I would not feel this much peace, if God was not on board with this, told me that he and God were on the same page. Same page does not equal same book. He proceeded to tell me that when God starts something he finishes (I agree) and when he puts someone at the Bible school, they are there to finish (I do not agree)!
However, there are some problems with what he said. The scripture he was 'quoting' says this:
But, off of the topic of my principal....
Today was my stepdad's niece's graduation, which we went to, of course. It was at the school I will be attending next year, so I got to have a tour of it! It is...well...huge compared to the school I'm presently going to! The lockers? I could fit in them. It's pretty cool. There will probably be several updates to my update.
I'm hesitant to say this, because I know that there are some people that will jump all over me and say that this is a reason for me not to switch schools...but I am nervous. People will tell you that I'm outgoing...but I struggle with communicating with people I don't know, that I will be seeing nearly every day. I just do...so, naturally, I'm scared about making friends. I mean, quantity of friends doesn't matter, but it would be nice to have one or two friends, that are, preferably, not just the teachers.
This school will be bigger than any other school I have ever gone to. This is actually going to be giving me the unique experience of having gone to three of the four main types of schools; homeschool, private, charter, public. I feel honored. I think.
Anyway, in order to keep people from jumping on me about my nerves being a sign: people are also often scared when they go into the mission field. Case closed.
~Katie
I figured that there would be people who wouldn't want me to leave and people that wouldn't care if I left and people who would want me to leave. I also figured that there would be people who didn't want me to leave and would try to shove down my throat that I had to stay. And there were.
There have been people that I was quite surprised with, because they took it well and accepted the fact that it was my decision to make and my decision alone.
My friends aren't happy about me leaving and I understand that. I will miss them greatly. And I have some teachers that don't want me to leave and will tell me they are going to kidnap me and make me stay...but they aren't serious about kidnapping me...I hope. However, my principal...
Here is a whole paragraph for my principal. My principal came to me one day and told me that he thought I needed to come back. He has told me that I need to come back, because I will be valedictorian. I am aware that unless certain members of my class shaped up, I would indeed have valedictorian in the bag. Listen closely people...very closely; valedictorian isn't the most important thing about school.
Here is another whole paragraph for my principal. He also, at one point, when I told him that if he wanted me to come back, (is that two appositives??) he would need to talk to God about it, because I would not feel this much peace, if God was not on board with this, told me that he and God were on the same page. Same page does not equal same book. He proceeded to tell me that when God starts something he finishes (I agree) and when he puts someone at the Bible school, they are there to finish (I do not agree)!
However, there are some problems with what he said. The scripture he was 'quoting' says this:
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"~KJVYes, when God starts something, he finishes it. What he is talking about starting, in this scripture, is the good work. I am an author, therefore, what I write is my 'good work.' But I do not always finish the good work in the same place I start it. Plus, I know that there have been people kicked out of that school.
But, off of the topic of my principal....
Today was my stepdad's niece's graduation, which we went to, of course. It was at the school I will be attending next year, so I got to have a tour of it! It is...well...huge compared to the school I'm presently going to! The lockers? I could fit in them. It's pretty cool. There will probably be several updates to my update.
I'm hesitant to say this, because I know that there are some people that will jump all over me and say that this is a reason for me not to switch schools...but I am nervous. People will tell you that I'm outgoing...but I struggle with communicating with people I don't know, that I will be seeing nearly every day. I just do...so, naturally, I'm scared about making friends. I mean, quantity of friends doesn't matter, but it would be nice to have one or two friends, that are, preferably, not just the teachers.
This school will be bigger than any other school I have ever gone to. This is actually going to be giving me the unique experience of having gone to three of the four main types of schools; homeschool, private, charter, public. I feel honored. I think.
Anyway, in order to keep people from jumping on me about my nerves being a sign: people are also often scared when they go into the mission field. Case closed.
~Katie
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Thank You
I just wanted to take this moment to say thank you to everyone who is respecting my decision of switching schools. Thank you.
Friday, April 24, 2015
I Am Moving On
Most of you know that I have been attending a private Christian school for the past three years. I am now a Junior. This will be my last year attending this school. Next year, my senior year, will be spent attending the public school in my town.
Why? Why leave a Christian school, with good teachers and wonderful students, to go to a public school with all those bad influences? Why leave a Christian school where I have Valedictorian in the bag? Where I have some friends? Why make my friends go through next year without me? I have many reasons.
One of my reasons, is that my step-dad doesn't go into the town my school is in every day, and my cousin, the person my mom is a PCA (Personal care assistant) to, has moved out of that town and my mom will be going to her new town. I don't have my license or a car yet and honestly, I'm not sure that I want to drive that far every day, by myself.
Another, is, I no longer feel like I need to stay. Even a week ago, if you had told me I would be 100% okay with going to the public school barely down the street from me, I would have raised my eyebrow, looked at you, and said, "Are you crazy? I have friends here! I gotta go on senior trip with my classmates! Think about Senior pranks! You are off your rocker!" But now, I am okay with it. Honestly, I think I was supposed to be there for a girl who is now also switching schools and going to a different public school.
A third reason is that I have more opportunities at a public school. Volleyball team, track, drama, a big choir, possibly more writing competitions, I could go to state competitions with my singing.... At the school I will be attending: Seniors can leave for an open lunch; students can eat pretty much wherever they want; there's a circle of lockers and benches, that is for Seniors only; they have a gym complete with punching bags and weights, for the students to go to even after school.
Will I miss anything at my current school when I switch schools? Yes. I will miss most of the teachers (the ones I have in classes mostly), Jessica, Angela, and sometimes I might miss Gavyn, but I'm not sure, I will definitely miss my Bible classes and my geography class, although next year, I will be taking government instead of geography. I'll miss traveling with my group and my little choir and hitting all the high notes Mr. Miller gives me. I will miss going to ISAAC Rally, and I'll miss being part of the programs.
But I feel like this is the right thing for me to do right now. My principal was telling me just yesterday, that it's a long time between now and August. My principal doesn't know me. My mind has been made up. My principal was also telling me, today, that he wants me to graduate from the right school. So do I. And I feel like this is the right school for me to graduate from. If it wasn't, I wouldn't just be a bit sad because of all I said I would miss or a little nervous because I know no one, I would be upset. I wouldn't feel good about it. I would feel sick. I don't. I feel like this is right for me. I'm sorry if anyone doesn't agree, but not everyone has to graduate from a Christian school.
Also...as my choir teacher said last year in his PR speech, "If the salt never gets out of the salt shaker, what good is it doing?" It's time for me to get out of the salt shaker.
~Katie :)
Why? Why leave a Christian school, with good teachers and wonderful students, to go to a public school with all those bad influences? Why leave a Christian school where I have Valedictorian in the bag? Where I have some friends? Why make my friends go through next year without me? I have many reasons.
One of my reasons, is that my step-dad doesn't go into the town my school is in every day, and my cousin, the person my mom is a PCA (Personal care assistant) to, has moved out of that town and my mom will be going to her new town. I don't have my license or a car yet and honestly, I'm not sure that I want to drive that far every day, by myself.
Another, is, I no longer feel like I need to stay. Even a week ago, if you had told me I would be 100% okay with going to the public school barely down the street from me, I would have raised my eyebrow, looked at you, and said, "Are you crazy? I have friends here! I gotta go on senior trip with my classmates! Think about Senior pranks! You are off your rocker!" But now, I am okay with it. Honestly, I think I was supposed to be there for a girl who is now also switching schools and going to a different public school.
A third reason is that I have more opportunities at a public school. Volleyball team, track, drama, a big choir, possibly more writing competitions, I could go to state competitions with my singing.... At the school I will be attending: Seniors can leave for an open lunch; students can eat pretty much wherever they want; there's a circle of lockers and benches, that is for Seniors only; they have a gym complete with punching bags and weights, for the students to go to even after school.
Will I miss anything at my current school when I switch schools? Yes. I will miss most of the teachers (the ones I have in classes mostly), Jessica, Angela, and sometimes I might miss Gavyn, but I'm not sure, I will definitely miss my Bible classes and my geography class, although next year, I will be taking government instead of geography. I'll miss traveling with my group and my little choir and hitting all the high notes Mr. Miller gives me. I will miss going to ISAAC Rally, and I'll miss being part of the programs.
But I feel like this is the right thing for me to do right now. My principal was telling me just yesterday, that it's a long time between now and August. My principal doesn't know me. My mind has been made up. My principal was also telling me, today, that he wants me to graduate from the right school. So do I. And I feel like this is the right school for me to graduate from. If it wasn't, I wouldn't just be a bit sad because of all I said I would miss or a little nervous because I know no one, I would be upset. I wouldn't feel good about it. I would feel sick. I don't. I feel like this is right for me. I'm sorry if anyone doesn't agree, but not everyone has to graduate from a Christian school.
Also...as my choir teacher said last year in his PR speech, "If the salt never gets out of the salt shaker, what good is it doing?" It's time for me to get out of the salt shaker.
~Katie :)
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