Thornton Academy – AP Language 2018-2019

Though a strictly “U.S. 1st” mentality regarding foreign relations is a good idea in theory, this mindset will lead to more issues in the future. To start, if the U.S. has no regard for other countries it would lead to increased tension in global relationships, which would then lead to countries becoming more hostile and less likely to cooperate with the U.S.’s needs. Additionally, by only being concerned about getting ahead, U.S. leaders may partner with dictators and other dangerous totalitarian leaders which would hurt other global causes like human rights efforts. Also, by only worrying about current US issues, present issues are taken care of while there are no efforts being put into preventing possible future large scale issues.

Secondly, a cooperative and interdependent world seems like a step in the right direction, but too much interdependence can have negative effects. To start, the U.S. would be giving too much control/power to other already powerful countries (ex: China), which would further tip the power scale against the U.S. Also, U.S. values and cultural aspects are very different from other nations and trying to further push cooperation would lead to more hostility. Furthermore, by pushing interdependence and cooperation the U.S. would be strengthening some similarly run democratic governments, but also be greatly aiding/strengthening tyrannical dictators and unfair leaders.

Finally, although we want to keep U.S. citizens safe, protecting the U.S. homeland is not the only issue of importance. By solely focusing on security issues, the U.S. would be turning a blind eye to even more serious issues that can’t be controlled by borders, such as the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Additionally, part of the reason why the U.S. has the world’s largest economy is because of our heavy dependence on trade relations with other countries. By selfishly only focusing on the issue of security at home, those crucial relationships (and our overall economic excellence) would be jeopardized. By being so consumed by security issues the U.S. would have to step back from important global commitments previously made with other countries, which would anger those countries leaders and cause more ruined global relationships.

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I am gay I never see anyone like me at school dances. Maybe they’re there and I simply can’t see them amidst the throngs of bodies in the hot gym, but when the love song from ten years ago comes on over the speakers, there are no girls like me on the floor holding each other close. Instead, I stand with my back against the stage, jealous of those that don’t think about holding their lover’s hand while people are around, aren’t conscious of everything that they do together.

I am gay and I am scared, terrified that the wrong person will hear me talking to my friends about the girl I like and track me down later and hurt me for it. I have a creeping sensation in my belly that makes it hurt, one that tells me I will never be safe no matter where I go, not all of the time anyway. I am aware of the things I say when I am not surrounded by people I trust, and even then I fear someone vile will overhear. I am very aware of how I look, about how it is not hard to tell. I am afraid of people that want to hurt me, that could hurt me, of men who see me as an object and only push harder when I say “no, I like girls.”

I am gay and my own grandparents can’t even stand it, turning their own antiquated attitudes into something that is my fault, saying that I was keeping an incredible secret and lying to them. They say these horrible things and further turn it into a fact of a disrespectful young degenerate when I tell them I don’t want to sit down and have a meal.

I am gay and I am scared, scared that my loudness will get me into trouble, that my short cropped hair will give me away, that I might be left alone at the wrong time and something will happen. I have this hopeless feeling that things will always be this way but for me and others’ sake, I hope that I am wrong.

  “How are you?” asks a polite acquaintance.

       The answer is tired. Tired like always.

       “Good,” you reply with a smile, because, no matter how much it pretends to be, tired is not the right word. This feeling won’t be cured by a full night’s rest.

       Fatigued would be more accurate, medically. In some classes you struggle to keep your eyes open even though you got 8 hours of sleep the night before. Talking, walking, and working drains energy you didn’t think you had. Your good days are the equivalent of your younger self’s worst. You can’t remember what it feels like to wake up with more energy than you had the night before.

        A common side effect of mental and physical illnesses, fatigue has followed you like a shadow since your diagnosis. The meds that control your symptoms only heighten the feeling. Around you, the world moves at a speed too fast for your struggling mind and body to keep up.

      Eventually, you come across someone with the same illness, and the same side effects. Something that you’ve never considered comes to mind after you finish the conversation. In your battle against your fatigue and your illness as a whole, you are not alone.

       The next day, when someone asks you how you are, you smile. Though you’re tired, it’s genuine. In spite of the fatigue, you woke up this morning. You saw your family, and will be surrounded by friends for much of your day. You are tired, exhausted, fatigued: but you are alive. You know that there are others fighting with you. “Good,” you respond, and you mean it.

Some may argue that the our high school years are some of the most defining years in our lives. For many of high schoolers, we are looking to the future wondering where to go, and what we are supposed to do with our lives. While many adults consider the social and educational aspects of high school to be less significant as our lives progress, but at this point in time high school can be causing us the most stress both socially and academically.

For many of us we think that if we don’t receive good grades, we won’t get into a good university, therefore no decent job and that all equals an undesirable life. This is simply not true, however we often times have our perspective out of focus. So how can we deal with what seems to be an overwhelming amount of stress?

Many students will find themselves procrastinating, stretching themselves to thin or getting into physically bad habits like biting their nails. However, none of these things bring any solution to the table or relieve our stress.

Instead we should look to practicing several effective tactics. The first being our mindset. Although we should be striving to achieve our personal best, we must remember that it is just a grade and not the end of the world. A score or our popularity should not define who we are as people. The next tactic is that motion equals emotion. As soon as we focus in on the important tasks of the day we can eliminate procrastination and the build up of stress. As soon as we start working, instant relief is allowed to seep through us.

With these couple of simple tools, we can equip ourselves with what we need to achieve our best in school, while still enjoying living our lives. This is not to say that high school will be easy, but hopefully with a new mindset we can believe that we have what it takes to take on the challenge and ace it!