I chose the song Home by Phillip Phillips because it is extremely inspirational. The words encourage people to not give up and keep pushing forward. He really gets the point out that someone will always make you comfortable and be there throughout the tough journey. This song was also used in the London Olympics which is a very good pick, because if the athletes hear this song it will motivate them to keep battling and if they get knocked down then get back up. Phillip Phillips was also the winner of American Idol and sang his famous song on New Years Eve. I think everyone could learn a few things like how to believe in yourself.

      In Home a line that really stands out to me is when he says " The trouble it might drag you down, if you get lost you can always be found." I think this is probably the strongest line in this song. Its basically saying that if your struggling at something then you can always regain yourself. This could also help the Olympic contestants, because if they didn't do their best at one part of the competition then it would push them forward to do better next time. Another strong part is when he says "settle down it will all be clear, don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear" this kind of telling people not to pay attention to the people that don't believe in you, just cross them out of your mind.

     Not only does this relate to the Olympics but to real life as well. If you were ever made fun of then what the song is saying is that you should ignore them because all they do is put you down. This connects to the Olympics because for all of the contestants there are a lot of critics for the competitors and often they see newspapers or articles that could offend them or put them down in anyway. Another way that you could describe this song is if you get knocked down then you should prove critics wrong by getting back up.  Which is why in the chorus he says " I'm going to make this place your home."

     Overall this song means a lot to me and I'm sure a lot of other people, it can help regain self esteem and build up confidence as well.

   

    I just started reading the Book Looking for Alaska, I am predicting that it is going to be a very dramatic book. The main character Miles seems like he is kind of lonely and is in need of company. Miles just went to boarding school and had a dramatic exit with his parents. He has a new roommate who walks in while Miles was in the shower so it was not the best greeting. I think that Miles might be in a depressed stage because he seems like he is really not happy with his life and wanted to desperately get away from his parents so I hope that Miles does not end up wanting to commit suicide.

     When Miles first got to his cabin he imagined talking to a person. This made me feel like he just wanted to be popular. I think that maybe Miles will meet someone in camp that he will love so much that he will become happy and not feel like he has no place anywhere. This could be Chip but personally I think that this character will be released more halfway through the book. I think Miles thought that he had too much of an easy life at home where he was cherished by his parents so he felt like he needed to got out on his own and explore and also follow in his dads footstep by going to boarding school.

     I have not personally had a situation where i have wanted to desperately be part of a group, but i know someone who has and I have definitely seen the affect over the years. This person had a lot of confidence but was not rude about. Now he is more stubborn about it and he wants to show off and be funny. I think if you have talents then you could brag if you're desperate for attention but keep it to a minimum, because then people will not want to talk to you anymore because all you would talk about is your talent. I think Miles might try to lie about it. I think Chip might ask him if he plays any sports and Miles will lie and brag about his fake football career.

     In conclusion I think this is going to be a great a book and it has already gotten me interested. I hope Miles does not become conceded and just keeps calm and be himself which could be a lesson for everyone who reads the book.

     When I was reading the article Up Front, there was a main passage about minorities, it really got me thinking and interested in the topic. In the passage there was this one girl named Jessica. She went to a school which was for the most part Hispanic and she quoted her self saying " I felt normal". Soon after Jessica said this she found herself having to be moved to another state. When she entered her new school she felt not included and almost out of the picture. This proving that it could be tough moving to another school and also mixing with other races.

     In my school i feel like everyone is included and that it does not matter what race you are, either way you are accepted. I think being a minority would feel completely awful because you would have no friends and would have to struggle through the same routine every single day. I think that if I was in this situation i would want to go back to my home where i would have friends and loved ones. But overall all of the races are equal and know one should ever have the horrible feeling of being a minority.

     I think that in this article they make a very good point out to children that they should always welcome in new kids and never think of someone as a minority or smaller than you because that could make someone so hurt. And to be honest racism should not be happening every one should be working and collaborating to make a better society. So i thought this article had a really nice meaning and can send a very good message out to everyone.