What Grinds My Gears?

I can think of a lot of things I do not particularly like, but one issue that trumps all others is that fact that many people in this world feel like they "own the place."  I honestly hate it when I see kids at lunch finish eating and go to class and when I look at their table, they have left all their trash there.  They leave it as if the elect maybe the janitor or someone else to picket up for them.  Thats not there job and if you think it is, God help you.  That brings my rant to an end.  Please be more aware of your surroundings and pick up after yourself.

Connor J. Vosberg

January 12, 2015

Temple Grandin: “The most important thing people did for me was to expose me to new things.”

Henry David Thoreau: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

Dear Mr./Ms. ___________________________________:

One of my favorite projects we did this year that really opened my eyes to my life and others lives around me was the split face project.  At first, I thought to myself, “Why would I share with people I barely know secrets I’m not proud of as well as things I like about myself.”  It wasn’t until later after we had already completed the project that I realized this room was so non-judgmental.  I really ended up appreciating this project because it made me reminisce on my life around me and made me think that if there are things about myself I don’t like, why don’t I try and fix them, or try to reduce the things I don’t like?  

From doing this, I realized that I may have imperfections, but those imperfections make up who I am, so rather than trying to get rid of them, I embraced them and learned new things about myself. 

I remember just before middle school started, I was picking what classes I was going to take in 6^th grade.  After I had thought I had signed up for all my classes, my mom said if I wanted a ride to school in the mornings, I would have to take a zero period because she had to be at work early.  As a result, I had to choose another elective class.  My mom recommended choir to me and I thought that would be the last class I would ever take.  I didn’t have many choices.  It was either study hall or choir, so I ended up taking choir.  Much to my surprise, I really enjoying it and have taken it every year to this day. 

If I were to have done one of these split face projects back then, I definitely would have placed choir on the side that I didn’t want other people to know about me.  As I entered high school, I realized that peoples opinions of me didn’t really matter that much and that I should do what made me happy.  It was about that time in my life when choir switched from the “dark side “ of my face, to the “light side,” where I was proud of what I could do.  Honestly, I could not see myself without choir in my life and all the wonderful people that come with it.

I’m almost certain that everyone in this room has had at least one moment in their life where they were unsure about doing something.  I hope that all of you have tried something that you were unsure about at first.  Even if it turned out bad, at least you tried and that is an accomplishment in itself.  There’s a saying: “Regression to the mean.”  Basically meaning that no matter how bad, or how good things get in your life, things will always come around to the middle again and be neutral.  I think of this saying with many choices I make in life and I hope all of you will too.

Take care now, bye bye then,

Connor Vosberg

Activity: 

Think of a time when you are faced with a task that may have made you feel uncomfortable.   How did you go about your decision? How did it affect you today?