Unexpected Things

It’s funny how amazing things happen when you least expect them. When I went for a run the other day, I didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary to occur. It was drizzling at the beginning, but since I was armed with a sweatshirt, determination, and two friends to distract me from it, we jogged along anyway. After a while, we had run out of things to talk about and were continuing down the road quietly, thinking about what to talk about next. We went on our usual route, which circled a football field. Suddenly, right in front of us, was a deer, grazing on the football field. Looking up at us, she quickly scampered off into the trees, gone.

When we finished our run, I was still thinking about the deer. The deer was so impressive in itself, but even more so because I wasn’t expecting it. If I went out running expecting to see a deer, I wouldn’t have found one. But there I was, focusing on trying not to trip and fall in front of my friends, when I saw a deer.

I think it’s like that with most things. Beauty is most thrilling when it’s something you never anticipated seeing. But that’s what’s so exciting. Seeing something beautiful, especially in nature, can take you where you never thought you were going. 

Windy Days

Truth can be found in the smallest ways.

I discovered this while in lacrosse tryouts. Though it was chilly and slightly misting, my coach sent everyone outside to stretch and warm up. As soon as we left the comfortably heated gym, the wind stung my cheeks and ears. My teeth chattering, I followed the seniors in our dynamic stretches. While we stretched, a couple of girls were talking, singing and some were even dancing to distract themselves from the painfully cold weather. Almost everyone else was comparing how numb their fingers and legs were, or restating the already stated fact that it was cold outside. However, I zoned out, as I usually do when I am in large groups of people. Then, briefly, for just a moment, the wind stopped. The weather became immediately bearable without the biting and stinging of the wind.

Almost as quickly as it left, a big gust of wind picked up and continued, in varying degrees, for the rest of our warm-ups. Thankfully, we were able to return inside and finish the rest of our practice in the gym relatively soon afterwards. When the wind stopped, I saw that the wind is just completely unpredictable. But getting upset over things you cannot control, like the weather, is pointless.

Instead, I remain positive and willing to persist through all situations. It’s the only way to go. Not only is it much less frustrating, it is rewarding to experience pain and remain in control by staying upbeat. American author F. Scott Fitzgerald summed this up quite nicely: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” 

On Walking

Though I love how fast-paced sports can be, I have come to really appreciate going for walks. After taking a break from homework, I decided to take a little walk outside. Breathing in the fresh air, I visibly relaxed. Nature can be incredibly calming and therapeutic, which became even more evident to me throughout the stroll.  As I walked, I couldn’t help but notice how quiet it was. It gave me plenty of time to enjoy the peace and quiet, but it mostly just allowed me to think of nothing at all. I returned to my house with the serenity that only comes from not thinking for a while.

As I entered my house, I became distracted almost immediately, thinking about math and when is our next test and what did I get on my history test and what are we having for dinner and do I still have to clean my room and how much more homework do I have and what time is it and what time do tryouts end tomorrow and will I make varsity and what kind of flower is that and--

Suddenly, I realized how quickly nature’s peace had left me. The impermanence of the thing which had so impressed me just a few moments ago shocked me. I sat down for a second. How could I keep the serenity of nature with me? At that moment, I was asked to take out the trash, so I went back outside without thinking about it much. But before I came back in, I noticed how relaxed I felt again. The peace and quiet of nature had returned, and I felt strengthened, even though I had only been out for a few seconds.

The best way to unwind by not thinking and enjoying peace and quiet is to go outside. The best way to remain serene with nature is to keep going outside. Taking that walk made me realize how important it is to take time away from the hustle and bustle and distract myself from further distractions.

Overcoming Challenges

I have always been in love with the outdoors. Biking, hiking, winter sports, spring, summer, you name it, I’ve probably tried it. So, in order to get into shape for the spring sports season, I chose the most deceptively simple sport out there: running.

Lacing up my shoes, I took off down a lovely path near the local elementary school. Passing a few joggers who were enjoying the nice day just as I was, I smiled to myself. So far, so good. Not only was I somehow remaining persistent through the run, I had yet to fall flat on my face. Slightly clumsy, my awkwardness manages to make an appearance at the most ill-timed of moments.

I stopped short. The path, which continued into the woods, had been blocked off. Because life is nothing without new challenges, I decided to take a new, backcountry route. Darting off of the path, I began to run with fresh vigor. At least, for a few steps, which reminded me of the rain we had had recently. The ground squishy and wet, my poor tennis shoes were taking a beating. But, for some reason, I didn’t want to go back to the trail and take the easy way out.

Finally making it back to my starting point, I stretched and thought about my journey. What if I had stayed home instead of going to run? My shoes wouldn’t be soaking wet, but then I wouldn’t have able to enjoy (and conquer) this new challenge. I am a firm believer in accepting life’s challenges as they come, and presenting new tests for yourself, for the chance to overcome them. I see problems not as crises, but more as puzzles posed for me to find solutions.

It could just be that I am incredibly optimistic. However, I prefer to think of it as the best way to look at difficult setbacks. Perseverance is absolutely essential to experiencing nature. So when your path is blocked off, find a new way to get around it. It will teach you something new about yourself and the importance of challenges in your life.

The Responsibility of a Teacher

Chris Lehmann's An Open Letter to Natalie Munroe writes that when Munroe wrote about what she did on her blog, her students do not need to treat her with respect. He reminds her that each student has value and worth and she ignored that when she disrespected them on a public blog. He criticizes her cruelty towards the teenagers and the fact that she did not apologize. Munroe failed to take the "moral high ground" and instead responded in a rash, inconsiderate, and even childish manner.  Encouraging her to rethink her decision to be a teacher, Lehmann's main argument of his letter is the responsibility of a teacher. A teacher is trusted to educate his/her students, while treating each one with equal respect and valuing their identity as human beings. It is essential that a teacher be humble and genuinely care about the students. He writes that the job of a teacher "should demand the best of you."

Lehmann's argument contains many rhetorical strategies, including appeals to logos, ethos and pathos. He addresses her cruelty to the students and that no student deserves to be treated with such disrespect, which appeals to her emotionally. When discussing the ethical obligation of a teacher and failure to take the "moral high road", Lehmann uses ethos, or ethical appeals. He uses logos when describing the frustration of teaching (especially kids) and how, as an adult, she should have handled the situation. Also, Lehmann uses syntax to drive his main point, such as using one-sentence paragraphs to emphasize emotional appeals.

Do you think Lehmann was correct in his idea of the responsibility of a teacher? Let me know in the comments.

The Power of an Image

This emotional argument combines the use of a visual and verbal claim. Showing an adorable and cheerful little girl, this shows the joy that adoption can bring to a child rather than a parent. In this way, the child strengthens the argument by encouraging its viewers to think of the child's happiness rather than their own. Generating a loving empathy, this image is powerful enough for the reader to consider adoption and yet not so shocking that the viewer must do so. It is especially persuasive because it does not use shock value to promote adoption, and yet it gently reminds observers of the power of adoption for a child.

The Effect of the Internet on People

As an intensely technological world, we are connected to people everywhere we go, using the Internet. However, what people say on the Internet has consequences, just like what people say in person. The Internet gives the impression that because the world is so big, people can write whatever they want and no one will ever read it. But the Internet itself shrinks the world and connects everything. It connects people to people, words to people, and most importantly, ideas to people. Someone may write or say something online just to vent, when really that outburst has been sent to hundreds if not thousands of people through social networking, and maybe those people send it to more people. Eventually that thought will reach people who don’t know the writer, and those people will judge him/her only according to one comment.

Because the Internet promotes angry outbursts, it is infinitely more important to refrain from doing so. Technology has reduced the size of the world, and the Internet especially endorses that a small comment has minimal effect. It gets angry people to ignore fellow Internet users, and see them only as the devices they use. This is wrong: people are your audience. Computers/cell phones are not responding to your comment; people are. Beyond that, there is an audience. Saying something on the Internet which you may regret does not come without consequences. Regardless of whether you know that person or not, someone will see your comment online. This cannot be avoided.

In conclusion, it is best to be cautious about what you post on the Internet. Your attitude and tone of voice cannot be deduced from anything on social networking, only your words can. If something you say may be misconstrued as something different, either do not post it or find a better way to say what you mean.