My Inspiration...

 

Carrie Underwood inspires me.

1. She is a country singer and I LOVE country music.
2. She is a christian and lives a different life than those that aren't. I envy her for that.
3. She has never gotten into big trouble. She didn't let her fame go to her head.

My real dad's whole family plays the piano and when I was four, I "wanted to play like daddy." My mom got me signed up and I've been playing ever since. My family inspired me to play piano and now I've taken that inspiration and done something with it. I currently teach piano to beginners and I make money to do something I love. It doesn't get much better than that.

Cheering wasn't always my favorite sport in the world. I used to play every sport possible besides cheerleading. When I got to high school, I decided to make cheerleading my main sport. That's when I fell in love. Cheering has changed me in a great way. Competitive cheerleaders inspire me. They work so hard and look so amazing. I wish I had gotten into cheer earlier in life and had had the chance to work extra to be that good at something. I'm still working and I plan to do cheer in college. I'm a base, though and being a girl base is hard because of all the boys. 

My biggest inspiration are the people that fight for our country and freedom. I especially inspire women that are, excuse the term, "man-enough" to get through the training it takes to join the military. When I grow up, I want to be in the AirForce, and seeing all of these women succeed gives me so much hope for my future in the military.

Reading Response 2: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

In the next section of Dreamland, Caitlin decides to tryout fr cheerleading with her best friend, Rina. When she made the cheerleading squad, her mom was so proud and excited. Her mom was more excited than Caitlin was herself. She hated cheerleading. The only reason she continued it was because it made her mom happier, having something to do with all of her free time. After games they always had parties to celebrate. At one game, Caitlin fell off the top of the pyramid and got a concussion, but her parents still allowed her to go to the after party. On her way there, they stopped at a car wash so another cheerleader could better clean her boyfriend's puke out of her backseat. The girl driving's name is Kelly and she asked Caitlin to go switch a dollar for four quarters.
          As Caitlin walked over to get the quarters, there was a black BMW convertible parked at the end of the lot. As she turned around with the quarters she saw Rogerson Biscoe for the first time. When Rogerson noticed her staring at him, he introduced himself to her. They talked a little bit and then Kelly yelled for Caitlin to come back because they were going to miss the whole party. Kelly, Rina, and Caitlin discussed Rogerson for a little bit and then they drove by him to get a better look.
          After they left the car wash, they went to the party where Caitlin met up with the guy she was currently talking to, Mike. They all sat there and when Mike gave Caitlin his letterman jacket, meaning he wanted her to be his girlfriend, she rejected his notion when Rogerson mouthed, "Come on," from across the room. Caitlin left Mike standing there and went with Rogerson.

What will happen next? I'm curious...

I Believe In...

Why Believe in Love

I used to believe in an ever-lasting bond; a mutual feeling that connected two people with such intensity, one could barely imagine. I used to believe everyone had another half; a half that completed their very existence. I used to believe there was someone out there made just for me. Someone He had placed in the world knowing we would someday cross paths.

In America, the amount of couples getting married and divorced completely devours those that actually work out. I’ve watched so many people “fall in love” and fall right back out of it. Was this strange falling out their fault? Of course not.

From the time we can watch movies and comprehend what’s going on around us, we’re taught about this thing people call, “love.” From fairy-tale endings to our grandparents’ old pictures, we’re told this thing exists and that it is what everyone should strive for; perfection.

Although I’m only a senior in high school and a mere seventeen years old, I feel like I’ve had quite the experience with this wise tale. Through countless relationships and more “broken hearts” than I thought possible, I have come to the conclusion that love does not exist.

One year ago, I fell in love. He was perfect. We told each other everything and trusted each other with our lives. I just knew we were destined to be together forever. His family was amazing, he was amazing, and we were amazing. What more could a girl ask for, right?

What more could a girl ask for than a guy who lied, told her she wasn’t good enough, made her change, and made her hate herself? What more could a girl ask for than a guy who was embarrassed to introduce her to his friends? A guy who couldn’t remember her favorite movie, quotes, or childhood memories? A guy who stole two years from her and a guy who left her for dead, but claimed he loved her the whole time?

When two months passed and he returned, I was the girl that took him back. When he promised he was different and regretted his mistakes, I believed him. I allowed him to steal back my heart and not think twice about it.

When he tore me down to nothing and left me wondering why I was alive and when he told me he was sorry the next day, but repeated this the day after, I believed him, trusted him, loved him; but I felt trapped under this “love.” When I realized this wasn’t right, he let me go willingly. A figment of my imagination I let control my life until it came dangerously close to its final journey.

All along my friends were there for me, though. Holding me while I cried, telling me he didn’t mean the things he said, and staying with me when I had to hide our friendship from him.

I believe in friendships that can last a lifetime and I believe in arguments being worked out. I believe in enjoying one’s company more than others and that two people can learn to tolerate, and grow to even appreciate, the littlest flaw in each other.

I may not believe in love, but don’t think I am completely heartless and oblivious to the couples out there that have lasted for what seems like forever.

I believe in mutual companionship.

Reading Response 1: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

After Cass ran away, Caitlin's best friend practically forced her to tryout for the cheer leading squad with her. They both made it and Caitlin's mom was so relieved she had something besides worrying about Cass to fill her time with.

 

This book does a great job at grabbing your attention right from the start. Caitlin is the main character and the book starts with her life being torn apart. Caitlin's mother is so involved in her sister, Casssandra's, life that she didn't have time for anything else. Caitlin had always looked up to Cass and when her sister ran away with the love of her life on Caitlin's sixteenth birthday, Caitlin's world fell apart. Cass left behind her huge college dreams and plans causing her mother to sink into a deep depression and her father to go crazy trying to find her.
The first few chapters go back and forth between the past and present life of Cass and Caitlin and their relationship. They tell about her sister's hobbies and everything she was involved in in high school. Caitlin and Cass were very different. Cass was involved in every activity she could possibly manage. When she left, their mother had nothing to do anymore because she had spent all of her time keeping up with her schedule.
The first few chapters also introduce a huge part of their family. Their neighbors, Boo and Stewart, have always been close to the family. Boo and Stewart live a very different lifestyle than Caitlin's family, but that works for them. The two families are very close and share a lot of memories together.