Practice Post

I definitely agree with the last couple of sentences. We all kind of recognize that this society is greedy, but most of us contribute to that in some way. People do get in a vicious cycle which is good at first, but also a way, it's warping their minds that money is the only thing they will care about, and will do a lot to get up the pyramid. 

I realized reading this that money gets the best of us. I personally love money, and I think I do well with saving it, but I get nervous that  I won't have enough after I graduate, and it makes me frantic when I think about it. But taking a step back, I think about it more, and I realize I will probably be fine no matter what.

As you said, money is losing value every day, and that is scary. I wonder in 20 years how much $20 will get us. Will that be the price of bread? Looking around the world, some pay 1,000 dollars of currency to get bread. What will America look like in years? This post made me think! Good job!

I definitely agree that greed is a part of human nature, one will always want more than what is already obtained and more than those next to them. After all the very democracy we live in is based around money and those who want it can achieve any level if they are to endure the work to obtain the wealth. 

the reaction I got from reading was that people only care about money and nothing else, no happiness is had unless money is had. I agree to an extent, you need money to do anything in todays world, but personally I believe in being rich in memories and relationships, I don't want to look back onto my life realizing I wasted so much time chasing instead of living. 

I leave those reading with this question, what is it that in your life you consider wealth? as well as what is it you want to live wealthy in?

Your first vehicle does not always have to be something nice; of course having a nice car would be amazing. Having not to worry about the cost of a monthly payment, and any other type of cost a newer car can bring. The fear of getting into a bad crash can happen to anyone in any car. With it being a very small possibility its nothing to worry about. The more you worry the worst it will become, If you actually want a motorcycle the fear of driving those will be even worse than driving a car. 

The thing i remember most is we got our licenses on the same day and I remember watching you pass while i was waiting for my instructor person. After I got my license I went the route of getting a loan and getting into a bunch of debt, as I look at it yes my car was expensive but I really do enjoy my vehicle. Thinking about the future and how one item may change your whole life is a great to think of life. Keeping as many of friends as possible after high school is important. 

Having future plans are important and can have an impact on you for the rest of your life. Knowing what is a good and bad decision at 17 years old is awesome and can only be good going forward. The more you know now, instead of going into adulthood with unknowns will only make your life easier. 

When reading your piece I could easily understand where you are coming from. From the pros being about saving money and better gas, however there were also big negatives that could not only affect you but also your family. I realized while reading that even though you can want something and you think it's a better choice, the negatives of having a motorcycle outweigh the positives. Maybe instead of investing in a motorcycle really break down the pros and cons and decipher whether or not buying one, because they can be life threatening if abused. Also why do you think owning a motorcycle will make you egotistical and a narcissist? 

I really like the way that you analyzed the pros and cons of each of your ideas. Your train of thought was very relatable in the way that you considered not only the impacts on your health or finances but also the way you could be perceived. Although I doubt someone could view you as an "egotistical narcissist" for having a motorcycle, it shows that you care that people think you are a kind person!

Have you bought expensive cleats? From knowing you the time I have I didn't take you as someone who would spend a large sum of money on cleats, or anything for that matter. It is new knowledge to me that your puma cleats were so expensive. I do agree with your statement on skill, I have seen you juggle in rusty old hey dudes just as good as cleats before and it beats me as to how.

This has made me think about myself as well, years before I spent over 150$ on every pair of cleats and I have been pretty god awful at the sport. This year, my senior year I only spent 100$ on a pair of lace less Adidas cleats, and it is my best year yet. Thinking further Messi grew up using the cheapest boots he could find because it's what he could afford, It is not about the quality of the boot but the quality of the player filling them.

Do you think pricier cleats helped you step on the field with more confidence? I believe this is an argument who those who think the better the cleats the better the play. I would like to know across all sports not just soccer if the more money they put into gear if they feel there is benefit in comparison to cheap alternatives.

I can definetly agree that there isn't much of a diffrence between an expensive product and a cheap one. I honesly try my best to spend less money on certain things because most items are similar but have a diffrent price range. As much as it is nice to have something expensive, its not always the best option. I wonder if this is some kind of marketing stradegy, how companies make more money? Maybe the economy has an influence on products, overpricing certain items?

That is ironic they fell apart quicker than your old ones, haha. I love how you added that piece of funniness, but also at the same time telling the truth, which is... Most of the time, popularity is not 100x better than no name-brand items like everyone says. You are so right about that. At least this taught you a lesson though with something smaller, and not later on in life with a house for example!

I wonder as we get older if we will still fall into the trap of the thought process "if it's name brand and popularity, it equates to the niceness of the item"? Or maybe, it's just because we are young and naive still in a way. What you wrote about is an eye-opener for sure, great job!

This reminds me of growing up and playing soccer, having to change shoe sizes every year because I was growing. I always found them uncomfortable and tight, now that I'm older, even though I don't play soccer anymore, I don't buy shoes for the price tag, I buy them because they are quality. I find it ironic how your more expensive cleats wore out faster than the cheap ones! 

This anecdote is more than just about how you crashed your car and how the new car is expensive. Although, that alone is a bad story and interesting, I like how you said "it doesn't matter how expensive or fancy of a car you are in, it's about who is in that car with you and the destination you are going to". This is very true but in ways more than just in a car.

It made me think about driving with other people in my experience. My car is not the best, with lots of rust and scrapes. But it gets the job done driving-wise. And driving with people you enjoy spending time with, is way more rich than a nice car is. And this can apply to anything. Doing things we find boring, not fun, and chores can be some of the best times with a friend by your side. This is a great lesson you created! 

Getting a new car is an amazing feeling and sometimes looks get into the way of if you actually need that car. This seems that exact case in which you did all of the above. A Volkswagen looks nice and may drive nicely, but those European made cars when they need the most minor thing fixed gives everyone headaches. 

Being also 17 years old and getting a loan for a car I would fall into that same category. I was lucky enough to get a really good interest rate with my dads help and that made everything work. At a reasonable 200 dollars a month and also building my credit for when I turn 18 I do not regret it one bit. 

For both of us, we got our licenses at the worst possible time when all vehicle prices were through the roof. After analyzing this piece of writing I still wonder was this vehicle the first and only one you looked at? If not did you look through all of your options at the time in a horrible used car market? 

You know nstraw, you said something that I feel many have given up on and that's working your but off because you had too, and I respect you for that. It's certainly a way to learn lessons so it doesn't happen again, $4000 in 2 months is awesome, especially under all of the labor laws and restrictions. It wasn't a total loss, you now have a car that will last years!

This shows dedication, I really like how you mention that the garage hasn't been cleaned since you moved in. This made me realize that not only does it symbolize a place of storage, it symbolizes dedication and tenacity. This made me realize more about you, we have always been classmates and acquaintances, but this shows a lot about how you value yourself as a man. I think this could motivate others to get up and repair things in their lives, like you did with your car. Has cleaning your garage to keep your car maintained helped your car stay in better shape? Was it worth it? 

Snowstorms are tough but they can bring out the best in people. In your situation it made it so you had to do something to keep your valuables safe. It shows you are capable of keeping things nice and having good maintenance habits. You started out with the idea that you needed to keep your car in a safe space and you knew you had the garage even though it needed to be cleaned out. So after some time you made it happen which also shows you stick to your word. The traits that you used in order to make your car better maintained can be seen on a large scale as well. For example people like Elon Musk and other large entrepreneurs. They find a problem that needs to be fixed and they do the work. Even though they did not want to do the work, they still did it to achieve something better. What has this achievement done for you other than give your car a safe space?

I can totally agree that storage should be used in a useful manner. I hate junk everywhere and like to get rid of things that I no longer use or need. It worsens if you don't get rid of things because it causes insane clutter. It is important for people to know how to manage their space. I wonder if some people have clutter because they might have an emotional attachment to something? 

ES, I also moved a lot growing up. You talk about how you only live in a house, not a home. And that you see yourself struggling to find the perfect house to turn into the best home. I do understand this, choosing the right house is a hard decision. For me, I always thought of home as the things inside of a house. Memories, my bed, and people were the only consistent things in all of the houses I lived in. Not everyone is lucky enough to have people and things that make a house a home, though, which is why I loved your perspective/ story on a home so much. You talk more about having a house that fits you, instead of you trying to fit the house. 

I 100% understand the struggle of moving around so much. The idea of having this perfect home to be yours is so relatable. I love that you talk about how you are willing to spend a lot on a home, not because you need it to be "high-tech" or "fancy", but because it is a priority of yours that you absolutely love it. I am so glad someone else shares that perfective that you can't just "live anywhere" and that your house must feel like a home. 

Your piece is able to connect to people all around. When I was younger, I moved around a lot and I am very lucky to have settled in the house that I currently live in. You are able to explain what having a home would mean to you and many people can relate to that. In the end when you gave having a house a more symbolic meaning than just owning a house really resonated with me. It makes your audience think about what a house actually means to them.

I like how were able to convince your parents to get an iphone. I know for me personally it can be hard to convince your parents on certain things. I also like how you did not give up on what you really wanted because it is always great to get something new.

All parents are different but I think the number one thing they can all agree with is if they buy something for you, do they actually need it, are they going to use it, how badly do they want it? that might not be the case for everyone but that's how I see it as. I couldn't believe how much determined you were into getting this new phone. Making a slideshow shows how far you would be willing to go for it. 

For me getting my first phone was a struggle to get from my parents even though I got my first one when I was in 5th grade. I remember it pretty well and it was on Christmas day and it was a Iphone 6s; for some reason I didn't want the Iphone 7 even though it was the new phone at the time. 

The number one most important thing here is that you still cherish that Iphone you wanted for such a long time. The last thing anyone wants it to lose interest into something they really did like. Now having that phone for a long time now do you have any regrets from what you put your parents through? Would you do it again for something your passionate about? 

This is such a relatable post. It is definitely overwhelming to deal with the pressures of growing up, especially because we keep wishing for it but we don't even realize that it's already happening. However, I'm glad that you ended with a silver lining because even though it's stressful, it can be rewarding to be able to shape and have control over our futures! As seniors, I'm really glad we get to become adults soon even though it would be hard. Some questions I ask myself when trying to figure out what I want to do are, "What do I want my lifestyle to look like?", "Where do I want to live?", and "What are my priorities?". You are so talented that you could take any of your passions and make it a career 🙂

KM, this very relatable post and I couldn't agree with it more. it had me so touched by the way you expressed what it means to grow up. Getting old means more responsiblities and that can be terrifying for alot of poeple, me included. "i wish i could slow down time because now i feel anxious preparing myself for the 'big answer'. " This was talented peice and I am so grateful to have read it. 

When reading your post I could not relate anymore. Getting your license seems like the best thing that may happen to you, but with you and I, and many others... have siblings. When having to cart them around to their games or friends houses on top of working can make having your license a lot less enjoyable. When you say, 

You wrote that you learned a lot about responsibility after getting your license, that it solved all your issues from the past but created more for the future, and that it was everything you needed it to be but not everything you wanted it to be and I was one hundred percent on track with that train of thought. Every teenager has gone through that, I also wished and dreamed of the day I got my license so that I would have more freedom, responsibility, and more outreach with the world, and then when that day came, gas and needing to have a way to pay for it became an extreme annoyance and being a chauffer for everyone around me was definitely a major drawback. Growing up did not turn out how I thought it would, how I wanted it to, but how it's happened has definitely given me a brand new outlook on life, one that is fit for an adult and society and so it was everything I needed it to be. It was very relatable, and it made me wonder why does that childish view of adulthood, the magic of it all, and what we thought we wanted vs. what we really needed have to be so different from each other?

Some questions that might organically come out from this are; when did you get your license, and lastly, was there a reason your parents always said no to you when you wanted to go to a friend's house? 

I would like to hear someone else's opinion or experience with getting their license and what they learned from it, to see how similar each teenager's dream of adulthood is, and I think others can branch off of my comment by starting with their experience with their license, it'd be an easy way to connect. 

Your "sardines in a can" simile was awesome! I love the mental image that it brought to mind. Beyond that, though, there were so many aspects of your post that were relatable. Taking the bus saves a lot of gas, but in the end, it costs the valuable time you could use for sleep or recreational activities. Having a license solves those problems, but poses some of their own. That's the thing about wants...there are always two sides to them. We have to weigh both sides equally before deciding if it is truly what we want. In the case of having a driver's license, the "goods" far outweigh the "bads", since having a license is something we will need beyond our teenage years. Just don't crash!

KB, I like how you talked about how society is becoming less communicative. I know for myself I have trouble saying things in person. It is a lot easier for me to do things online like texting, applying for a job, and other things. I also like that you mentioned how we can learn on our phones. A lot of the time our parents blame phones for taking away from our learning and creativity. There are so many ways we can get creative or learn on our phones. For example, Duolingo and drawing apps are good for learning a new language and being able to draw if you don't have the supplies.

While I'm not a power user, I can see the effects first hand with people around me just like you did. While the argument is always "I use it for communication" or "It's a tool", people never use it that way. While these are true, phones are also really good at wasting time, causing drama, and spreading info far too quickly. 

We all have possessions that may have their faults, but we still treasure them regardless. In your case, it's your Jeep. It's the fact that we continue holding onto them despite their flaws makes them even more valuable. You mention that your car fits your personality uniquely. Are our wants a reflection of who we are as a person?

The Jeep wrangler is a sick whip. To me, I believe that it is worth it to deal with having bad gas mileage to be able to drive a vehicle you like. To step in your car and love it and be excited to drive cause truth is, you will have to spend many days of your life driving so might as well make it enjoyable. This can be looked at on a broad sense to everyone. If you have something you enjoy that may risk another thing, it can be worth it to just choose the thing that makes you happy. YOLO right? Was learning stick hard or was there any scary encounters with driving stick? Who taught you how to drive manual?

I really enjoyed how you started your piece with a broader understanding, then went into your personal example, and then ended it with a lesson. It allows for the audience to connect with you and think about a time they wanted something expensive or not worth the money and relate back to your lesson at the end. It definitely made me think about a time I wanted an electronic device or something expensive during Christmas time and even though I didn't receive it, it was more about the lessons and the happiness I felt on the holiday itself, not the gifts I received. 

Great work, lots of good turning moments that really exemplified how you felt while growing up. I too can understand how you feel about growing up, and I get anxious at times too. On the other hand though I also feel excited and exuberant to for the rest of our senior year.

Some questions you we might ask ourselves are; would our younger selves be proud? 

We must keep working hard to get through our senior year, and do it with as much fun as possible! 

You've really highlighted the truth about people's wants—it may be something that we desire, but that doesn't always measure up to our expectations. Reading this as a senior, I find your points to be very relatable. I remember when I couldn't wait to be a senior my freshman year, and all the privileges that came with the title. Now, however, I wish time would just slow down for us to enjoy the moment. It was as if the stressful and ugly parts of senior year were hidden behind the romanticizing facade. It makes me wonder...are our other wants also more romanticized than they seem?

I couldn't agree more! All throughout high school my mom has told me time and time again how as much as I keep stating I cant wait to graduate, that I sure enough, will mis high school. Of course the reality hasn't set in until this year, like you said I wish I could go back.

You have helped me realize that its not just me that feels this way, I didn't know if I was the only one starting to miss it all already, in fact I felt a little crazy for it.

A question we can all ask ourselves reading this is, is life anything like how you thought it would be when you walked through those days as a freshman for the first time hoping to be a senior already? Are you as ready to be done and enter into life after high school as we were way back when?

I really enjoyed how you used something so simple as an ice maker and was able to take it and show the bigger picture. All of the time, people take simple things for granted. It was really interesting to read about your take on it. It makes me, the reader, and even your audience wonder what small things in their life they take for granted. In the end, you were able to create the ice maker into a symbol without fully revealing it to your audience. But with doing so, it makes them think. 

DS, I really enjoyed reading your work because of the simplicity that came with something such as, an icemaker. it is true how these things can be idolized and almost make us feel insecure about something that other people dont even pay attention to.