The Removable Mask

An invisible mask is worn to hide your feelings.
It can always be present,
Or just at certain times.
It is a barrier from the real world,
Protecting yourself
From what might happen if you were to express your true thoughts.

I have a removable mask.
Sometimes I put it on to hide my thoughts.
But other times I have no mask
And let my true feelings shine through.

The mask can be a security blanket
Used when you are afraid your ideas may be rejected or ridiculed.
It can also be a barrier
To keep your feelings silent when they differ from others.

When the mask is gone, ideas and expressions flow freely.
I have no worries about my ideas being judged
And even feel my ideas might be approbated.
To remove the mask, I have to feel safe.
I must be comfortable with those around me,
or sometimes, completely alone.

The mask is a good thing,
Protecting me from saying something I might regret.
I think before I remove the mask,
Making sure my feelings are appropriate to express.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's is a fun holiday when people can dress up. Most people wear green to symbolize their love for Ireland. If you don't wear green you might get a pinch from a friend! There are many parades and the Chicago River is even dyed green to celebrate this holiday. On this day, people remember Irish ancestors. It is also just a fun holiday to celebrate with people at school, work, and in the community.

To me, St. Patrick's Day is a day to wear green to school. It is fun to see everyone's ideas and some people even wear fun hats or bring candy. I love hearing about how people all around the world celebrate in different ways.

Call of The Wild

Have you ever gone thousands of miles in the freezing Alaskan winter? Buck and his friends did. Buck is a big dog who was sold because gold was found in Alaska. Many people were rushing there to collect their fortune and were getting there with a dog team and sled. Jack London's Call of the Wild told a great story about standing up for what you believe in.

Spitz was an older dog on Buck's first team. Although he was old and wise he was incredibly strong and cunning therefore, he was the leader of the team. This bothered Buck because he knew he should be the leader. This caused lots of tension and Buck and Spitz always seemed to be quarreling. Finally, one day it came to a head. Buck and Spitz knew it was a fight to the death and the remaining dog would rightfully be the leader. They began to fight with all the other dogs around watching. Spitz came off strong, but in the end, Buck used his intelligence to win the fight. Buck took a stand for himself because he knew he was the rightful leader even when others doubted him.

The setting of this book was in Alaska. Most of the book took place during the bitter winter. Everything was frozen including all the rivers. Snow covered the ground and the dogs buried themselves under it to keep warm at night. Towards the end of the book, spring began to emerge. All the ice slowly started melting and life was once again moving around.

Buck is sold many times throughout the book. He once finds himself owned by men named Hal and Charles. They also are accompanied by Charles's wife, Mercedes. These people are not prepared at all for the harsh Alaskan environment. They don't realize all the work and preparation that must be done before heading out to find precious gold.

At first on the trip, the dogs were fed well, too well. The food supply ends up running out before the trip is anywhere near over. This caused the dogs to start losing lots of weight and become really weak. On top of that, Charles, Hal, and Mercedes made the dogs travel extreme distances with little or no rest. The dogs were in horrible shape and a few even died. One stop they made was at the camp of John Thornton. When it was time to leave, Buck was called to get back in his harness at the front of the sled. Buck was so weak he could barely move so he decided it was time he took a stand against Hal and Charles. When he refused to get up, Hal started beating Buck severely. Buck was already in so much pain that the blows from the club barely bothered him. He just stayed on the ground and took the punishment. Then, it was John Thornton that took a stand. He told Hal that he needed to stop beating Buck. He stood up for Buck and as a result, Buck got to stay at John Thornton's camp.

Call of the Wild was an interesting book. I learned information about dog sleds, Alaska, and dog behavior. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about dogs or overcoming obstacles. This book was an easy read and fairly short. It would be great for either boys or girls.

Persuasion

I use persuasion all the time. I persuade my parents, friends, and teachers. First off, I state the facts. By doing this, I make myself seem more believable and knowledgeable. People try to convince others into almost anything, like less homework, going out somewhere, or to borrow money. Persuasion is always a very helpful technique when you want to get your way.

Persuasion is used extensively on television. The Home Shopping Network is the worst! They tell you their product is amazing and know exactly how to make you feel like you need it. They also use a sense of urgency with their "limited time offers" that make customers think it is a once in a lifetime chance.

Persuasion can also be harmful. If a great persuader has a wrong idea, that person may be able to convince others they are right when in fact, they are wrong. Everyone should be careful when letting someone persuade them. Make sure the facts are right before you let someone change your mind.

Commitment

Training and attending the Olympics is one huge commitment. These athletes have dedicated their lives to one particular sport. It is an honorable thing to do because these people give up so much to go and represent their country.

One thing I have committed to is trying my best to be a good person. This might not seem like much but it affects almost everything I do. Every important decision I make I take time to think about what is right and wrong and the consequences I might face. Commitment is something many people have trouble with. It takes a very mentally strong person to fulfill a difficult commitment.

Winning

Being a winner can mean so many things. A winner can be someone who gets first place at a sporting event, science fair, or any other type of competition. A winner is also someone who tries their hardest. Winning isn't always about BEING the best, but KNOWING that you did YOUR best.

Sometimes winning can have draw backs. The winner might have to deal with jealousy problems. Also, to achieve their win, some competitors might have had to make harsh personal sacrifices in order to complete or prepare for their event. The thing that I am most proud of winning myself is first place at a gymnastics meet when I was ten.