Team Building

Team building day at Norval was amazing for me, I learned a lot about my classmates and myself. My team worked really well together and I think it was really great how a bunch of totally different kids came together and helped eachother climb a 14 foot wall! Our group was really good about giving other people a chance to speak and having a leader to follow.

Of course our team had a few struggles here and there, but we always fixed our problems. We took a pretty long time to figure out a plan to get people over the wall, and there was a lot of trial and error. I think next time we should listen to other people more and be open minded. We also had some people fall off the wall but the team caught them, before they could hit the ground, and that shows really good teamwork.

I learned that it is good to have one or two leaders in a situation, and that we shouldn’t fight and argue because that doesn’t get us anywhere. I also learned a lot about being a member of a team, and trusting other people.

This day showed me that achieving goals is really possible when everyone works as a team and makes decisions together. You just have to plan it right and cooperate with your teammates.

At the end of the day I was really happy with my accomplishments, and I think this team building day brought our whole grade together and made us all friends. I also think the drum circle brought the whole middle school together, it was a really awesome experience.

Katie. xoxo

Small But Amazing Things

People always tell you to stop and appreciate small things in life, but I never really have. Until I got this assignment and i started thinking about it. I realized that there are SO MANY small but amazing things in life that no one really appreciates, and I had a really hard time deciding what to write about.

I decided on writing about my dog, Jenny. I see her every day, pet her, but I've never actually imagined life if she wasn't there. She's a pretty good dog and always comes when we call her. I realize now that if i ever lost her I would be devastated, and I'm so lucky to have a dog because it is a good friend and shes always there when i need her.

Katie
xoxox

Tell Me Why Quotes

“Be great in act as you have been in thought” –William Shakespeare

This quote is really meaningful and applies to a lot of people in everyday life. It means that you should do what you say or think you will do, instead of just talking about it and not following through. It means to take action, and not just think about doing something, get up and do it! It could refer to something small like promising yourself that you will do something and making sure you do it, to something big like going out there and making a difference in the world, instead of thinking about it and putting it off.

What Shakespeare says makes me think about when I’m in Chapel or have learned a lesson, I think about putting it into action but I always put it off. I also think about when I’m supposed to do homework and I keep thinking I will, but I never actually do it.

I also see every day people with the ability to help the world, no matter what issue or how big or small, and he or she don’t even bother, they just think everyone else will do it. Or they think of something and believe they can’t pull it off, so they don’t. So next time someone you look up to tells you to help the world, go and do it! Everything you do makes a difference no matter how small, and remember, don’t ever think that an idea is to big for you to accomplish, always give it a try!

xoxo
Katie <3>

Poverty in Africa

I was really surprised by the fact that kids in Africa get sick, and don’t get any medical attention. Then they go to school and all the kids treat the sick one so badly and ignore him.

It also really surprised me when I read about a teenage girl having to leave everything she grew up with, including her friends and school and house, because rebels decided to destroys everyone’s life. Can anyone imagine doing that? Or having someone do that to you? I can’t.

My first reaction when I read stories like this was, how did people handle poverty? I learned that kids in Africa learned to just appreciate the good things in life, like that they had a small water tap, or that they got to go to school, and forget about all the misfortune.

Kids of our same age in Africa are totally grateful to be able to go to school. We just complain about going, and say that it's a waste of time. We take water and food for granted and just waste it all, taking more than we need and throwing away the rest, when people living in poverty are walking for kilometers for water, and working hard to get 2 meals a day. When we get sick people help us and we get immediate medical attention, or medication, but the poverty kids get nothing. Why do we get all this help and attention when we already have so much, and all the sick kids in Africa have so little.

Everyone is aware of these problems, you've all heard it before. But if everyone knows about it and everyone has the ability to help, why don't we? Why doesn't everyone step up and do their part to help stop poverty?