Progress! Chelsea H.

Yes! Today I decided to do a test run to see if I was able to do my set goal of pushups from the physical assessment (1 full, 15 half, 10 knees, 1 min) and I did with 9 seconds to spare! Woohoooo! The only drawback was I think I was forgetting to breathe so when I was done I was dizzy, out of breath and a little shakey. I will have to be more mindful of my breathing while exercising.

Some other great news! I went for my first training run with a friend this week on some trails. Like the pushups I really need to work on my breathing. Learn how to focus and control it. I have not figured out how I am going to accomplish this yet, maybe practice? I think I may seek guidance.

Favorite act of kindness performed this week: staying busy nursing my sick husband and dog back to health.

Favorite act of kindness gifted to me this week: my friend taking time to invite me on a run and patiently teach me.

Jason Mai 5/11/14

Jason Mai
5/11/14

     Today I've been thinking a lot about family, because it's mothers day. I love my family, I hate them too. I hate how my dad is never there for me when I need him, I hate how he works so much, I hate how because of that I never see him, I hate how he has to go to Korea for a business trip and he has to miss the film festival and my film that I worked on all year. I hate how my mom got laid off because of her lack of English, I hate how her health is going down the drain. I hate my grandma who can't hear me, who doesn't make any sense that I use to be close with and I feel like we slowly slip away. I hate my alcoholic uncle who doesn't do anything with his life, but mostly I hate myself. I hate how I don't appreciate my mom, or my dad. I hate how I don't appreciate everything they do for me, how much they've dealt with me, and how they took care of me for so long. I hate how I bully my sister and my mom needs to deal with it. It kills me when my mom talks about when she passes away if I'll be able to take care of myself, It kills me having them worry about me, it kills me when they worry about me, worry about if I'll make it in life. All I want to do is to make them proud, make my dad proud, make them understand I'm not a failure, that I can do something with life, that I want more than what they have. I just wish they understand that I do love them, and they mean the world to me, because in the end they are family, they are blood.

     When growing up I thought all I've wanted was to be normal, to be like the rest of the kids, but as I grow up I understand I am different, and my culture is different and instead of pushing that away like I did before, I embrace it. Maybe no one will really understand, but the ones who can are the ones I keep close. I love you mom and dad.

Olivia Blog post week of May 4

HEEEELLLOOOO  ALLLL!!!! I have had a good week, but boy, am I tired! Let me explain.  I had school on Monday, and we canoed and biked to school. Then on Tuesday we cannoed/biked again, then I had school and met with my math tutor (because  I’m taking honors math, and god do I wish I wasn't.)(Ignore that, I’m just griping) then karate. On Wednesday I had a half day, but I stayed out with my friends running around town until 3:00. Then I went to karate and practiced my fan form  for half an hour.(Update: the tournament is the 18th! Coming up!!) Then I did homework. On Thursday I had MCAS. Enough said. I also had MCAS on Friday, then  a cappella group practice. We are singing at the State House next Friday and I don’t think we’re ready. We have an extra rehearsal next week and I still am not sure that will be enough.

 Afterwards I had a giant meeting at my house with my church confirmation group. We discussed God and faith and what we each believe in as a first step in writing a Statement of Faith, which is our personal ideas about what is important to us when it comes to religion. Then we drove out to UMass Amherst to watch my cousin graduate on Saturday.  And the Bruins won! Whoop!

So that is my week, and that is why I am tired.*Yawn* That’s my weekly update. I’m going to bed now. See you next week.

Jason Mai 5/6/14

Jason Mai
5/6/14

     Today I think I will talk about influence and how I view influence in my life. I believe it is important to surround yourself with positive people because life is better with good people around you. Having supporting friends, family, mentors etc around you can help with your life and goals, holding you responsible and encouraging you to do your best. For me, these people include my family, my script to screen teacher, sensei Paul, and some friends. Other things the people around you can do for you is make you happy. They can bring joy, connection, laughter all things related to happiness.

     Now lets talk about bad influences, bad influential people are people who take and never give back, they are people who put you down, you aren't and shouldn't be your friends. These are people you need to take away from your life, because they do you no good. I hate using those terms though, how certain people provide you with certain perks. Which leads me to my next topic.

     Angles, a term I've heard recently and I ABSOLUTELY HATE, someone recently told me that everyone has their "angle" what that means is that each person has certain perks if you play them right. A form of mind games, and I see it in certain people as well. There are people you can friend to get rides, to get free food, etc etc. There are certain ways you can play people to make them do certain things, and I hate that. However it is absolutely true, and I feel like we do it subconsciously, which is messed up. You treat that kid a certain way so he doesn't talk to you, you talk to that kid just so you can get his snack, I feel like we are in a generation where real friends are a hard thing to find, and finding one is something you should never ever take for granted. Also people change, people will use you, people will take advantage. People suck.

Self doubt, self talk. Chelsea H.

Some of my big flaws that I have to be mindful to catch and avoid are self doubt and negative self talk. Sometimes as I train I catch myself thinking negative self talk (that kick was terrible, you are weak because you can't do as many pushups, etc...) I do my best not to believe my thoughts and self correct them in a positive manner. Although I find it really important to look at my training and exercise routines closely and seek improvement I find it equally important to look back at where I started and how much I have accomplished.

I still have not heard back from my old college roommate who I tried to make amends with. I feel maybe the address was incorrect. I will talk with Sensei Paul to see if I need to reach out to someone else.

After helping a fellow student this afternoon practice her purple belt requirements I felt downtrodden as some of the material i did not realize at the time I was teaching her incorrectly. Luckily Sensei Paul was there and able to clarify my mistakes. I worry that in my practicing with her I have mixed her up on those techniques. My self talk got the best of me as I bashed myself for forgetting material that I showed knowledge in for my current rank a year ago. As a result of today I decided that this week I am going to make a list of every technique I know along with each move verifying that they are correct with higher rank students and use it as a guide for more structured practice.

I have started reading "Savor" this week and will update as I finish.

My favorite act of kindness this week: helping a friend practice
My favorite act of kindness I received: my husband taking the day off work to take care of me when I got my tooth pulled Friday.

Chelsea H.

Jason Mai 4/29/14

Jason Mai
4/30/14

     Wow school year is almost over and I am anxious and everything is crazy. Right now I am working a job with a family who wants me to film lacrosse, I also need to work on my movie, schoolwork and also trying to come into the dojo becomes a handfull. I keep getting random filming jobs because I am one of the few students in our school who can actually film. For example I am filming the musical this upcoming friday. However the movie is almost done, and I am on the ending proccess of the class and it is getting very fun. I got to make a trailer, I am making a poster with a friend of mine who is AMAZING at photoshop, I made a trailer and I am working with a few friends to get the score of the movie as well as the trailer. Over its a huge project. I cannot wait until the film festival on may 29th at the Wayland High School autitorium

Anways heres a link to the website, check it out ;)
http://animalsmovie.weebly.com/

Last thing I want to talk about this blog post is the mastery program. I am sad but I understand I won't pass this year, I am not quitting but because of my absent during wrestling season there is no way to pass. I still do the requirements I can do, and try my best on what I can do. However this year was more testing the waters I guess. This year I bite off more than I could chew with everything I've occupied myself with. So for next year, I am changing a few things to make sure I pass. For one I am not going to do wrestling again, I was a good experience but I need to focus on the mastery program. I will still be doing film because it is my passion and part of my life now. School may be slightly harder but I will work with it, and SAT's will be next year but I feel as if I can handle it. Mostly I just to balance my life around these few aspects: School, Movie Making, Mastery Program, Friends and Family. If I can do that, I'm golden

Uhh other than that, I'm just glad school is almost over, Then I can relax more, I want to make another short film. I will be going to Peru, I have lot planned. I feel as if 2013 and 2014 have been great years for me, even with the setbacks. Hopefully 2015-16 will be even better!
   

Olivia Eburne Blog post week of 4/27

This is something I wrote for a History journal that I wanted to share here, too.

Olivia Eburne

Identity

I am a 14-year-old girl from Wellesley, Massachusetts. Many people immediately assume that that makes me a rich, spoiled, Swellesley girl. But it doesn't. I am kind, caring, and I try to give back to the community. I don't live near the center of town, but rather on a beautifully charming pond called Morses pond. Because I live there, I don't live near any of my friends. But I wouldn't move for the world, even if it means being with the "in crowd" or getting richer. I'm not defined by what society thinks I am. I am not a Swellesley girl, just because I live in Wellesley. It is as if I don’t even live in Wellesley, living where I do. I love the pond. Growing up, it has shaped me. I swim in it every day in the summer, paddling out on my stand-up paddle board, then diving in once I have passed the weeds. Some of my friends think that it is dirty and gross, but I love it. I paddle over to the town beach across the way, and swim there too. I go out for canoes, swatting the bugs, checking for turtles in their favorite sunning spots. Sometimes I see a muskrat, or a great blue heron. Mostly I see ducks, geese and swans.

In the winter, I skate on the pond and the entire community appears. In the winter, the pond connects everyone on it. Go out for a skate, and you’re likely to meet at least four other people doing the same thing, or any other ice activity, such as kiting, ice-boating, ice-fishing, or cross-country skiing. In the evenings, everyone is out. There are parties, and if you’re on the pond you’re invited. There are cookouts and exploring and hockey games, organized out of the rag-tag team of kids who happen to be out skating that day. When it snows, we shovel rinks—giant ones, bigger than hockey rinks. We create paths to connect the rinks, and through them flow easily from one house to the other, stopping to say hello, and maybe get hot cocoa. Perhaps I'm romanticizing it a bit, but skating on the pond is my favorite thing in the world: To feel the wind in your hair. To look back and see the vine-shaped imprints your skates leave on the ice. That’s the most graceful thing I can imagine, and I’m so proud that I can count it as my identity. Because I don't think my identity is defined by what I look like, or what I own. At least, not just by that. I believe that it is also created out of the memories that you possess—the bouquet of good smells, and salty tears, and joyful hugs. The breathtaking things that you have seen, and the amazing things you have experienced. These are the moments that make up your true identity. These are the things that make you who you are, that influence your personality and disposition. And I think they are the only things that matter.

Some people might want to hide some of their memory bouquet, feeling ashamed of some of the things. And that is completely okay. You can choose whatever flowers from your bouquet that you want everyone to see. Because it won’t matter—in the end, you will still be that whole bouquet on the inside. And as long as you are alive, you can keep adding to that bouquet, and making it stronger and better, and lovelier every day.