Thankful

Who am I thankful for in class? I don't know, that's a hard one. I know many people in our class, but I'm not necessarily close to any of them. I guess I would have to say I'm thankful for Noemi. I've known Noemi since last year, when we were in the same English class. She and I struggled with that class together, and adapted to the ways of our teacher and grew somewhat close.

Because of Noemi, I rarely faced that awkward not-having-a-partner-or-group situation, since she would frequently ask me to be her partner or in her group. Because of Noemi, I felt wanted and accepted, which was nice. I'm thankful for Noemi because she included me, and didn't leave me to be out casted.

Noemi and I often communicate outside of class to discuss homework or assignments. If one of us misses a day, we'll text each other to find out what we missed. It's really convenient to have someone you can count on to help you, and I'm grateful for having Noemi, because I know she has my back when I need information or help.

Noemi has also been a good friend to me; she and I can make jokes and just talk and it’s not super awkward. I can't say she and I are super close, but I know I can call her my friend. She is someone I can count on, and if I ever wanted to talk to her, I know she wouldn't turn her back on me. I hope that Noemi can see me as someone she can count on as well.

It's weird to say that am I thankful for a classmate, but in the end, I know I'm thankful for Noemi.

I Celebrate Myself

In today’s society, we are very distinct from nature. Most kids would prefer to spend their days hanging out with their friends or on the internet instead of sitting and admiring grass. We live in a very fast moving world, where if you don’t move fast, you’ll fall behind. But is this a valid excuse for separating ourselves from nature, and most importantly, our inner selves?

                Another thing we often don’t do is celebrate ourselves. We’re raised in an environment that pushes you to achieve, to do better, to never settle. I was raised to push myself every day, and to do and be the best I could be. While I would often receive compliments for my hard work, I rarely complimented myself. “I can do better,” I would constantly think, and often still think. It’s helped to achieve what I have, and allowed me to be in the place I am now, but every now and then, I should allow myself to relax, and reconnect with myself, my real inner self. I’m so caught up in all my work that whenever I feel my immune system weaken and myself getting sick my first thought is, “I don’t have time to get sick.” When I do get sick, I don’t give myself time to recover until the weekends, when I finally have the time. Why do I do this? So that I can go to school and do all my work and not fall behind. Why? To succeed in school and enroll in a good college. Why? To get a good education and allow myself to succeed. Why? Because success leads to happiness. That’s what we’re fed at a young age: hard work will lead to success, success will lead to happiness, and happiness is what should be achieved. When are we ever told to sit down and admire grass, because grass is almost as complex as humans are? For most of us, never.

                Transcendentalists believed in going against the social norms, and doing what they believe is morally correct and what makes them truly happy, not what they’re told will make them happy. They believed becoming one with nature, and going back to our roots, to our real old selves, before society developed and become a place that told you what you liked and who you were the moment you were born.

                I believe we should all have a little of transcendentalists in us, and learn to celebrate ourselves for what we truly are and what we have achieved.