7th Grade

When I first arrived in August, I expected 7th grade to be exactly the same as 6th grade but with less work as last years 7th graders told me that. But I soon realized 7th grade was a lot more fun than 6th grade but was a lot harder. 6th grade was not nearly as demanding as 7th grade and was kind of a warm up for middle school. By October, I’d figured it out and life was pretty normal. Everyday was the same, you wake up, to through school, come home, and the get ready for the next day. Eventually, I figured out how to deal with the work that school gave you. I always got caught unprepared but I got myself back into the system just like I do every year.

In 7th grade I learned to expect the unexpected, things won’t always go your way, and stick with your friends. As the year comes to a close, I’ll miss all my friends but summers only 3 months anyway and school will come back quicker than I think. If I had to do it over again, I would do my work ahead of time rather than waiting until the last minute to do it. My advice for next years 7th graders is don’t do your homework at 10 every night. It’ll make you very tired especially if you’re going to play sports. Waking up at 6 to go tire your body out even more isn’t going to work out so well.

Donald Sterling

Recently, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, was caught making racist comments about minorities and African Americans. Sterling was caught on tape during a conversation with his girlfriend where he complained about her bringing African Americans to the Clippers games and the tape was later broadcasted by TMZ and spread through the internet so the whole world could hear the racist comments made by Sterling.

Adam Silver, the NBA’s new commissioner, was very pressured about this topic. Fans everywhere were demanding justice for Sterling’s comments. Even teams in the NBA were wearing their warm up shirts inside out, so that the logo of their team and the NBA wouldn’t show. The Clippers changed their website so that when opened, the screen reads “We are one” on the front page with the clippers logo below the large words. Silver knew that something had to be done about the issue so he stood up for the NBA boldly. On April 29, Silver made a public announcement to the world. Silver banned Sterling for life from coming to any NBA games, practices, or any NBA facilities. Sterling was also fined 2.5 million dollars, the most anyone can be fined under the NBA constitution. Sterling was also forced to sell his team.

With Sterling gone, the league can now be relieved of all the comments Sterling made and the league is back to normal. The playoffs are still going on and we can all enjoy basketball like we should.

A Song from the Suds

Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,
While the white foam raises high,
And sturdily wash, and rinse, and wring,
And fasten the clothes to dry;
Then out in the free fresh air they swing,
Under the sunny sky.

I wish we could wash from our hearts and our souls
The stains of the week away,
And let water and air by their magic make
Ourselves as pure as they;
Then on the earth there would be indeed
A glorious washing day!

Along the path of a useful life
Will heart’s-ease ever bloom;
The busy mind has no time to think
Of sorrow, or care, or gloom;
And anxious thoughts may be swept away
As we busily wield a broom.

I am glad a task to me is given
To labor at day by day;
For it brings me health, and strength, and hope,
And I cheerfully learn to say-
“Head, you may think; heart, you may feel;
But hand, you shall work always!”
-Louisa May Alcott

Media and a Memory

    
When I was little, I loved my Thomas the Tank Engine train set. It was one of my many prized possessions, but I favored this train set over the others. It was the simplest of the toys with 2 battery operated trains running on a loop. I got it one Christmas morning and as usual, I woke my parents up at 6 am to rush to the Christmas tree and see what Santa had left for me. I tore the wrapping paper off like an animal and ripped open the cardboard box. I played with my train set for the rest of the day and I wouldn’t let the two trains out of my sight.
The trains were green and blue and the track was a sandy color with little bits of chipped paint from me dropping it after I rushed to open the box. That’s why I still think about my train set and sometimes get flashed back to when I was a little kid when I look at it in the attic. Without it, I probably wouldn’t know how to have fun now or even in the future when I’m all grown up.

Terrific Texas

It’s one of the greatest states in the whole wide world. Texas is a wonderful place to live and to visit because of its livelihood.
Texas is very friendly and lively every where you go. One example of why Texas is lively is Austin City Limits every year. ACL is a fun filled event that happens in Texas every year. There’s music and concerts all over Austin. People can go see their favorite bands and just have fun with their friends. Everybody is having fun and there are food trucks with delicious food during ACL, so everyone can go see their favorite bands and eat their favorite food as well.
Another example of how Texas is lively are the rodeos, one of Texas’ trademarks. The rodeos have everything that you could think of when you think about Texas. There are cowboys, bull rides, boots, horses and so much more. Everyone is watching the rodeo and having a good time in Texas. The rodeo is the probably the most upbeat and lively event in all of Texas which makes it a great place to visit.
All in all, Texas’ livelihood makes Texas a great place to live and visit. Anyone can come visit Texas and find something awesome to do here in the lone star state.

Rumors Expository

“Psst, did you hear?” Rumors are spread everyday behind peoples back. They don’t always cause physical pain but rumors can still be very harmful.
​ One reason rumors can be harmful is the fact that they can easily be blown out of proportion, including even to the point of homicide. A shocking but true example are the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Women were being unfairly killed because false rumors had been spread about them being ‘witches’. I cannot believe how dramatically rumors can affect someone’s life. The trials show rumors can be insanely over exaggerated.
​ In addition, rumors might not always be true. For instance, I had heard a friend attending another school had been expelled. Though, when I consulted him, he had only been suspended. I had believed this rumor and was rather worried for him. Therefore, I know not everything I hear is completely true.
​As a whole, rumors can be harmful for multiple different reasons. Sometimes it pays to not be influenced. Just because you hear it, doesn’t make it true.

Last 5 Seconds of the Game

5 seconds. 5 tiny little seconds parched on the clock. We’ve run this play 1000 times and I know where I’m supposed to go but this is where it counts. Time freezes as I glide into position. Sweat trickles down my face as the inbounder and I lock eyes. The ball floats into my hands as I realized I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. My form tightens as I split-secondly check everything. “What if I don’t make it?” “What if I lose the-
Swish.

Snow Day

Last Friday, we had a snow day in Austin. That’s right, a snow day in Austin Texas. Well the snow was really just I’ve but it was close enough to snow for us. I woke up thinking that it was just gonna be another day, despite the weather forecasters saying that there was gonna be snow.
The “snow” covered my driveway and the net of my basketball hoop was frozen. I had forgotten to take the ball inside the night before and now my ball was covered in ice. Before I went outside or even knew that we had no school that day, I woke up frantically thinking that I would be late for the bus and late for school. As I dressed quickly, I stopped to look outside only to see the ground covered in “snow” and thought, “What is that doing in Austin?” As the day went on I watched as the snow slowly melted only to remember that we would have to make this day up.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Last Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I asked some kids why we had school off and a lot of them had absolutely no idea why that day was so important. I was surprised that no one knew the importance of that day. King changed history for everyone but I don’t think we recognize him enough.
Dr. King earned equal rights for everyone, no matter what color they were. He believed that everybody was equal in a time where segregation was huge in the US and it was illegal to speak up for what’s right. Not only that but he also did it peacefully and encouraged his supporters to be peaceful and said that violence is not the answer. After he won equal rights, he was assassinated while standing out on his balcony. Dr. King did great things and without the efforts he gave, we might still be living in a segregated world. So just remember you can sleep in and dream on MLK day because he had a dream.

Texas Temperature

The weather in Texas is crazy, and I think we all know that by now. Last week the temperature was in the 20s. Everyone was bundled up and ready for snow and winter. But then overnight, the temperature rises 40 degrees! In one night! I’m not kidding it was in the 60s the next morning. And with that, the hopes for snow in Texas have vanished and it almost feels like spring might as we’ll be happening tomorrow.