What happens in Vegas...

Born and raised in Arkansas I've lived a life of black and white.. and now..brown. I've lived a life of frog gigging, mudding and fishing. . . . or rather I watched everyone else live that life. I've been... completely my own person. . Everyone here... they aren't...themselves..Not in my town. People here think this is .... all there is....

I've always.. always...wanted to leave arkansas..I don't fit in here. I'm not like this. I spend all my time.. singing.. dancing.. acting..even writing.. I want to be an actress. I want to inspire people. I want to change the world.

I pride myself in how I can tear apart a movie and determine the quality of the actors. How I can see the deeper meaning and notice the little things producers slip in that no one else notices..

But how can you "make it big" living in small town arkansas? Exactly...

So I'm moving...

Oh happy day..(:

To where you ask??

haha. Vegas.

Night by Ellie Wiesel broken down

Holocaust- Any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.

^ Door to a gas chamber

The Author

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928. He was only fifteen when he was taken to a concentration camp. By the end of the war his mother, father and litter sister had all died. He was set free in 1945.

Symbolism

Darkness was used as a symbol in Night. Darkness is a representation of night. When it is night time you expect it to be dark. Therefore Darkness= night. Second, darkness symbolizes loneliness and sorrow because black/dark is a somber color. Elie/the Jews felt very alone in his/their struggles especially after his father dies..However, darkness doesn't have to stay so sad and hopeless. What always comes after the dark? The light. (:

Courage: Taking responsibility as we make choices....

Dictionary.com says "The Quality of mind or spirit that enables a a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc without fear; bravery."

But can we do tasks completely without fear? I mean we ARE only human. Eliminating all adrenaline claims. . is it possible to be completely without fear. Isn't it only fitting that we fear some things.. Should not the knowledge we've acquired throughout our lives lead us to fear certain tasks in life? So IF we face a problem head on but still are afraid.. according to the definition we STILL aren't courageous.

How about "Being able to PUSH ASIDE the fear that would normally hold us back and face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. Fully aware of what could happen but willing to risk it. Not recklessly.

Therefore proving the aforementioned theme. Courage is taking responsibility for the choices we make. Fully aware of what could happen but willing to risk it.

That one person. . .

Have you ever met someone that changed your life?
When you first saw them you knew they were special,
whether they be a friend, a significant other or a family member....

That one person that makes you look at the world differently.
That one person that makes you see everything in a different light.
Someone who accepts you for who you are.
Someone who makes you want to be better.
That one person that inspires and encourages you.
That one person you want to spend all of your time with.
That one person that changed your life.

Or.. Are YOU that one person?

Emily

Emily Lowery. . . .

Emily Lowery is. . .an old friend of mine.. We go to church together..

She is a senior this year and is a VERY lovely person. (:

She lives a very comfortable life but DOESN'T feel the need to flaunt what she has around.

Emily Lowery is NOT materialistic.

..All mimsy were the borogoves...

I love drama. Musical Theater. Acting. Singing. Dancing

I was watching America's Best Dance Crew. On the very first season of ABDC there was a dance crew of men who always wore masks and they won the ENTIRE show. . . They were called the Jabbawokeez. .

When I first heard this.. it didn't register... Jabbawokeez. They are creative.. Cute name..NO. What was I thinking.. Anyone who loves theatre and acting should know that word no matter how it is spelled or pronounced... Jabbuhwahkeys, Jabarwokays, ect. (Google It)

The Jabbawokeez come to the floor, kill all the other competition [with their dance moves] and leave... Just like a real Jabberwoky. (:

Drama is Love.

Gwen Stefani on the roof??

My Drama class is venturing into the history of musical theatre..We know about Oklahoma!, and Sound of Music. Now we are watching The Fiddler on the Roof.

Now, mind you I have never seen this movie however, I was still extremley excited to see it.

I am enjoying the crazy dancing and catchy songs. My friend Jennifer says " Hey this is the best part. Watch his dance." So my eyes are GLUED to the projector screen and I am ready for something gut busting. I hear the song begin to start. " If I were a rich man. Dada dada da da dada dada da da dadada..." What?! And I hear it again.. " If I were a rich man. Dada dada da da dada dada da da dadada..." NO!

I am trippin. My head begins to play its own song. "If I were a rich girl. Nana nana nana na na nana nana nanana... Where had I heard this song before... "See I'd have all the money in the world..If I were a...." *Gasp* Gwen Stefani.

Gwen Stefani *bit that song. I can never look at her the same again..





*Bite-To rip off another person's style, especially with respect to music or fashion. From early hip-hop culture.(Urban Dictionary)

Chynna in the 20's

(I realize I made mistakes.. they are intended) heh heh

Hi. I'm Chynna an' I live in Arkansas.[1920's]

I'm 16 an' I go ta Dunbar High School e'ryday I ken get thur.

One day I hope God'll bless me with enuff smarts ta go ta Philander Smith College.

I live in a ALL black neighborhood an' my family is the poorest. I neva get made fun of for havin' less cuz ain't none of us got much of anythin'. So I'm happy wit our money situation.

The KKK don't like my street much. Sometimes I find myself awake at night starin' at a burnin' cross thru my window. I get scared they'll steal Pa away an' Lynch 'em like they did MaryEllen's dad. She cried fo' three days straight. Sho' nuff, I would too. . .

I wanna grow up an' be jus like Josephine Baker.... 'cept wit more clothes on. Ma' always says why buy the cow when yew ken get the milk fo' free. Alls I'm sayin is I wont people ta know my name in otha countries too!

And jus think.. Duke Ellington went ta Dunbar like me an' look wur he is now. . . .[End]

NO! I do not think I would enjoy living in the 1920's for the simple fact that I am a BLACK WOMAN. That is two strikes against me. True, life for black people had improved a little but not enough to want to experience it. I do not want to attend an all black school, be in fear of the Ku Klux Klan and not have any white friends.. I love diversity.

I have been spoiled by the 21 century and would DIE if I had to give it up.

Spring Breakkk 2010

Spring Break 2010

At first SB started off very very bland.

Go to sleep. Wake up. Babysit. Go to sleep. Wake up. Babysit.

Facebook. Facebook. Facebook. Babysit.

Blehhhhhhh!

Then on .... Thursday. No...Friday. On friday...

My churches youth group had a random get together at the church where we just hung out and chilled.

Breanna Bray, Camille Reyes, Wendy Miya and I stayed in the youth room the whole time singing with the mics and dancing around. Then we all hoped in Breanna's car,Crist was with us then, and went to Mi Ranchito.

After Mi Ranchiton we went to Walmart and sang in three part harmony for everyone there. That was awesome.

The next day Wendy, Crist and I went out with the church to hang stuff on doors.. Slightly creepy. Very fun.

Well basically. It turned out to be awesome.. Then it was time for school again.

St. Patrick'sDay is. . . .

What is this day?

St. Patrick's Day is to celebrate Saint Patrick. He was Irish. Traditionally it was only celebrated in the Catholic Church. In the 1600's a feast was cooked on that day as well. However, now it is a secular holiday celebrated by Irish AND non-Irish.

The original color was blue. However, over time the color green snuck its way into the the holiday and becoming the main color because it was said that St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the trinity to people. The custom is, wear green or be pinched "lovingly".

What is this day to ME?

St. Patrick's day is nothing. It is a day used to reinforce the fact that people who are different should be "punished". I know what you are thinking. "Whoa, Chynna. You are reading way too much into this." But think about it...

If someone does not wear the "color of the day" everyone is allowed to pinch them. Because they are....different. I know it's not meant to teach bad values but nonetheless it is almost like a subliminal message in our lives.

So it may be a "fun" holiday for some people and a horrible holiday for others.

WHAT IF GREEN JUST IS NOT YOUR COLOR??!

Happy National Hurt Your Neighbor For Being Different Day. :)

Making the Hard Choices

Making choices in life is just not fun.

It puts so much stress on me.

What if I make the wrong decision.

That one mistake could alter my life forever!





Worry no more because I have a full proof guide to making choices as a teenager.



Step 1: What are your choices?

-Think of (or write down) what all your choices are.



Step 2: What are their consequences?

-Think of (or write down but that could take forever) the possible consequences to each of the choices you have.



Step 3: How will each of these choices make you feel?

-Which choices make you happy, sad, angry or are you just complacent?



Step 4: How will each of these choices make those around you feel?

-Which choices do you think will make your peers feel bad or upset?



Step 5: Action!!

-Now choose and put your choice to action!!





Now I know that nobody wants to sit down and follow these five steps for each choice they make.



No!- I am thirsty. Orange juice or Apple juice? Let me look at my steps....



Yes-He cheated on me. Key his car then break up with him or just break up with him? LOOK AT YOUR STEPS!!!




FUN FACT: People that never weight their choices are typically BULLIES!

Civil Wars

My definition of a civil war- a war between two groups in one larger group.

I was once on a team. This team will be called. . . . Dashers.

On the team there were twelve girls. Two of the twelve girls were "in charge". However there were three other girls that wanted so bad to be friends with the two girls in charge they would do anything.

Everyone on Dashers got along very well. . . . for a while.

One day the girls disagreed on a topic. The girls in charge and their three lackeys agreed with each other. Everyone else was on. . . The other side. No one wants to be on the other side really because the girls on the other side were TORTURED by the leaders.

DO IT AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN! I'm tired!
HORRIBLE!!! Whatever! THIS IS YOUR SECOND YEAR!!?? Yes!!!
I'M IN CHARGE. YOU DO AS I SAY. DO YOU WANT TO RUN?? No!!
RAWWWWWWRRRRRR. . . Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Needless to say this cycle went on for an entire year.
One side was constantly pulling the other side.

This team was having a civil war. Within the group were two smaller groups constantly fighting with each other for control and to have everything go their way.

If this team had looked past their differences and attempted to work together then there would have been NO limits on what they wanted to do.

Moral.
Civil War=Bad

Speak

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a novel about a girl named Melinda who becomes an outcast in her school.

Melinda snuck out to a party and hooked up with an upperclassmen at her school named Andy Evans. Melinda gets drunk and ends up calling 911. The police come and break up the party and arrest some of the students.

When Melinda returns to school no one will talk to her. All of her friends have ditched her and split up to join separate cliques. Melinda is all alone and forced to deal with her problems head on.

Melinda's only escape is her art class. Where she can express herself freely because ever since the party incident Melinda doesn't speak.

Somehow Melinda must find herself, get her friends back and save Rachel, her ex-best friend, from suffering the same fate she did.

This book was so real. This happens to so many teenagers all around the world today. I give this book four stars. I do recommend it. The movie is pretty good too. (:

Boo to Bullying

Bullying.

I say BOO to bullying.

I believe you should always treat a person the way you want to be treated. That is The Golden Rule.

23% of Elementary School students admit to being bullied one to three times a month.

50% of Bullying incidents go unreported.

77% of the students questioned say they have been bullied

14% of the 77% say they experienced bad reactions because of the abuse.

Nobody fully understands what bullying does to a person until they have experieced the abuse first hand. If you see a case of bullying. . . Do something. Do not stand and watch because that makes you a part of the problem as well.

Bullying can be prevented.

Being Thankful

Thankful. . .

What am I thankful for?

I am thankful for my friends and my family. I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful for too many things to name!

People sometimes forget that you should ALWAYS be thankful and not just on Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for my mother who works so hard to give me everything I want or need.

Thanksgiving is everyday of the year for me. My mother always taught me that I should be thankful on my birthday. Thankful on Christmas. Thankful on Friday, Sunday AND Monday.

Everyday should be Thanksgiving.

The Breakup Bible

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor is a book about moving on.

Jen Lewis,a junior, is dating the editor in cheif of the schools newspaper. . . or should I say was dating. Jen thought everything was fine between her and Max until he said the dreaded words. . "Maybe it would be better if we were just friends." Just friends. Just FRIENDS?



How could they be just friends after he told her he LOVED her? How can she walk through the hallways at school and see him? More importantly, why did he dump her?


Jen cannont function for all the grief she is going through. So her Nana buys her a book called The Breakup Bible by Dr. Emerson.

Can the book help Jen move on from Max?

A True Pioneer

A pioneer never quits. . .

My Little Brother

My youngest brother, Chauncey, is a true pioneer. When he was born he was put on a monitor. The monitor told us when he stopped breathing , and when his heart stopped beating. Eventually he was taken off the monitor but the doctors decided he was not fully healthy.

They ran tests that showed when he ingested liquids they went straight to his lungs. My little brother was put on a feeding tube for six years of his life. The doctors told us he was not aloud to drink orally. The only way he was aloud to drink was thru his stomach.I cannot imagine what it feels like to be four years old and not be able to drink juice with the rest of the kids at my preschool.

My little brother is a prime example of a true pioneer. He was never down about his situation and he never gave up hope. Even at such a young age he believed God would heal him and he would be able to drink again. Two years ago he was saying his prayers and said " Oh and thank you Jesus for taking my feeding tube away." The very next day the doctors told us he no longer needed it. He has been drinking ever since.

iJERK

The "JERK" movement.

The jerk is a dance that has THREE separate dances inside it.

Most people do not know this.

The Reject- What is commonly mistaken as the jerk. However it is not. It is the reject. It is basically a backwards skipping motion..

The Jerk- A simple movement of the legs. You bend at the knees and sway your legs side to side. Away from and then towards each other.

The Dip- Drop down to a complete squat and pop back up sticking out your feet in different orders and styles.

Right now the largest jerking crew/rappers is the NewBoyz. The NewBoyz consists of Ben J, Legacy and the hype man. They made it big with the songs "You're a Jerk" and "Tie Me Down" in 2009.

Wanna learn how to Jerk? Contact me(:

So much depens upon...

So much depends upon
dreams wide as the sky

and reaching
for the highest point

never letting go

Sophmore year reflecton 2

o
oh
ohm
ohmy
ohmyw
ohmywo
ohmywor
ohmyword....

The end of my sophomore year. In my head I feel like a ninth grader still because that is the grade almost all my friends are in. However, outside my head I realize the truth. I am one year from graduation...

Wow. That is kind of scary...I like the thought of getting away from all my tenth grade drama and moving on. Even though I am sure there will be eleventh grade drama as well. I do not know what to do with myself.

This year has been pretty amazing despite the drama. Let me tell you there was loads and loads of drama. However it was needed. Sometimes bad things have to happen for you to realize the truth about people.

A way to explain my actions and everything that happened to my friends and me through the course of this year is by a quote from Ferris Bueller's Day off :

I am not going to sit on my butt as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to defend it. Right or wrong, I'm going to defend it.

Junior year here I come..

The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is a collection of very short stories called vignettes. This book is about a young Latin girl living in Chicago and its only one hundred and ten pages...I know what your thinking -" Boy, a book full of short stories and its only about a hundred pages! I would love to read that!"
NO! I thought that too.

This book was so BORING. I thought I could read it in one night no problem and be done. However I read the first couple chapters and I nearly pulled my hair out from the horror. She tells little stories of her life but she NEVER explains fully. You never know what happens after. You never know how things start. It is so incomplete.

I would say don't read this book. However, if you are an eleven year old boy.. this book is awesome because my little brother LOVED it.