Making A Difference Response

   The clips I viewed from NBC's Making a Difference tell me that service in America is something that many people do not forget. In one clip, there was an older man who had worked in the Peace Corps when he was younger, who said that after he had left the Peace Corps, he has been trying to recreate the experiences that were very meaningful to him. Another man said that when trying to good, you need more than good intentions, you need to gain some knowledge. Throughout the multiple interviews, people who were interviewed said that the Peace Corps changed their lives and allowed them to travel to different places they would not have been able to go if they were not in the Corps.
      In another clip, a man who was in the Army was interviewed on how his participation in CrossFit helps those left behind after a soldier dies. He is doing his part to help make sure that the many men were killed when the American Helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, would not be forgotten. One of the children of the men killed, requested that a picture of his father would be shown as well as the many other pictures of those killed. Two people from a sports grants foundation dedicated their largest fundraising event to cover the cost of college for the children of fallen soldiers. This may not seem like something that is huge, but to a family who has lost a loved one, it is a relief. It is knowing that they have one less thing to worry about in the future, and it is a gift of hope that things will get better.
         Service in America today, comes in many different forms. There is serving in the Peace Corps, volunteering in a children's wing at a hospital, participating in beach clean ups, helping families of fallen soldiers, and so much more. I feel that service in America should become greater since there is so much stuff to do. If I do not enjoy volunteering in hospitals, then I can volunteer at a school and help tutor children. I feel that there are endless possibilities in terms of service today. There are many people in need, and if I can help one person, I feel I have made a difference. I also know that there are many definitions as well as interpretations of service, so there is not just one way to serve others. In both clips several people made a difference, but they did not do just one certain thing, they did different things to help out others.

Social Protest in Music

           The song, “Beautiful,” is produced by Eminem. The song is about the hardships faced by many different people from poverty to discovery of oneself. Despite some of the wording, I feel that this song helps to create a positive message to listeners. The writing of “Beautiful,” is magnetic in the way that people are drawn into the ideas expressed by the song. There is not a straightforward political message delivered, but is aimed to help encourage people to conform to the past, but to embrace being in the shoes they are in now.

“And to the rest of the world, God gave you the shoes
That fit you, so put 'em on and wear 'em
And be yourself, man, be proud of who you are
Even if it sounds corny,
Don't ever let no one tell you, you ain't beautiful.”

           The artist's story is different than mine, but I feel that the views expressed in this song itself, help express how I feel about staying true to who I am. I know that I am not perfect,nor will I never be, but if I accept who I am and who God made me it does not matter what other people think of me. The media tries to tell people that they have to be a certain way or do certain things to be accepted, but in reality people have to stay true to who they are and not conform to the standards set by others. This makes me want to help others be proud of who they are.

           I feel that the song, “Beautiful,” is protesting against the beliefs that people have due to society's definition of a 'normal' person. Society sets rules that many people follow, if they don't then they are considered weird. In the music video, people who don't have much are shown by their houses and sitting on the streets. Society has defined people who are different as people who are unworthy and not beautiful. This song is saying that the shoes you are in, the life you are living, the person you are, is all from God. The shoes you are wearing fit you, nobody else. It inspires people to be proud of who they are and where they come from no matter what they have been told otherwise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgT1AidzRWM

Social Protest Song

Lyrics:

"Beautiful" Eminem

[Intro:]
Lately I've been hard to reach, I've been too long on my own, Everybody has a private world where they can be alone, Are you calling me? Are you trying to get through, Are you reaching out for me, like I'm reaching out for you?, I'm just so f------' depressed, I just can seem to get out this slump
If I could just get over this hump, But I need something to pull me out this dump, I took my bruises, took my lumps, Fell down and I got right back up,But I need that spark to get psyched back up
In order for me to pick the mic back up,I don't know how or why or when I ended up in this position I'm in, I'm starting to feel decent again, So I decided just to pick this pen Up and try to make an attempt to vent, But I just can't admit Or come to grips with the fact that I may be done with rap
I need a new outlet, I know some s--- so hard to swallow And I just can't sit back and wallow
In my own sorrow, But I know one fact I'll be one tough act to follow One tough act to follow
I'll be one tough act to follow Here today, gone tomorrow But you'd have to walk a thousand miles
[Chorus:]
In my shoes, just to see,What it's like, to be me I'll be you, let's trade shoes Just to see what it'd be like to Feel your pain, you feel mine Go inside each other's mind Just to see what we find
Look at s--- through each other's eyes But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful, oh They can all get f-----. Just stay true to you So don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful Oh, they can all get f-----.
Just stay true to you I think I'm starting to lose my sense of humor Everything is so tense and gloom
I almost feel like I gotta check the temperature in the room Just as soon as I walk in It's like all eyes on me So I try to avoid any eye contact 'cause if I do that then it opens a door for conversation
Like I want that... I'm not looking for extra attention I just want to be just like you Blend in with the rest of the room Maybe just point me to the closest restroom I don't need no f------ man servant
Trying to follow me around and wipe my a--   Laugh at every single joke I crack And half of them ain't even funny like "Ha!, Marshall you're so funny man, you should be a comedian, god d---" Unfortunately I am, but I just hide behind the tears of a clown So why don't you all sit down?
Listen to the tale I'm about to tell H---, we don't gotta trade our shoes And you ain't gotta walk no thousand miles
[Chorus]
But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful Oh They can all get f-----. Just stay true to you so
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful They can all get f-----. Just stay true to you so
Nobody asked for life to deal us With these b------- hands we're dealt We have to take these cards ourselves And flip them, don't expect no help Now I could have either just Sat on my a-- and p----- and moaned Or take this situation in which I'm placed in And get up and get my own I was never the type of kid To wait by the door and pack his bags Who sat on the porch and hoped and prayed
For a dad to show up who never did I just wanted to fit in At every single place Every school I went
I dreamed of being that cool kid Even if it meant acting stupid Aunt Edna always told me "Keep makin' that face it'll get stuck like that" Meanwhile I'm just standin' there Holdin' my tongue tryna talk like this 'Til I stuck my tongue on that frozen stop sign poll at 8 years old I learned my lesson then cause I wasn't tryna impress my friends no more But I already told you my whole life story
Not just based on my description 'cause where you see it from where you're sitting Is probably 110% different I guess we would have to walk a mile In each other's shoes, at least What size you wear? I wear tens Let's see if you can fit your feet
[Outro:]
Lately I've been hard to reach, I've been too long on my own Everybody has a private world where they can be alone... So are you calling me, are you trying to get through, oh? Are you reaching out for me, I'm reaching out for you? So oh oh Yea... To my babies. Stay strong. Daddy will be home soon
And to the rest of the world, God gave you the shoes That fit you, so put 'em on and wear 'em
And be yourself, man, be proud of who you are Even if it sounds corny, Don't ever let no one tell you, you ain't beautiful

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/beautiful.html

Senior Capstone

The first few weeks of school have gone by quickly! Senior Capstone has been such a different experience than most classes, but it is a very good experience. The way technology is combined with English, Science, and Social Studies lets me learn different things within one classroom environment. I am enjoying using the Samsung Galaxy Tablets, they are so cool!! I appreciate the way we can use technology to do assignments because it creates a different way to do things. Another thing I am excited about is how the class is structured allows me to see what a college class may be like as well as being more involved in the classroom environment! I am volunteering at a nearby school and helping out however I can there. It is awesome to get to see kids and how they participate in a classroom environment and see how teachers adjust the curriculum to fit their classroom.