This is my Mandala. It is split into three sections by a peace sign. In the top right section there is a rose that symbolizes love, a mockingbird that symbolizes sound, and a gecko that symbolizes all the miniscule things in the world. In the bottom section there is an oak tree standing on a lone hill. I actually messed up on the bottom section, there was supposed to be strong wind behind the tree but it is barely visible through the sky blue background. It was supposed to symbolize standing strong. In the bottom left of the bottom section there is a small gem. A sapphire to be exact; it is not worth as much as other gems but it is every bit as alluring. In the top left there is a script that is a tribute to all of the time my parents and I have put into the dramatic theater. The bible symbolizes my baptism and the cross symbolizes my conformation. 

These are my goals for the winter term.
Don't Rush
Go Above and Beyond
Sit Up
Use Advice

            Love is when a person shows outstanding affection for another person. A loving person protects those who that person loves, a loving person shares, and most importantly, a loving person will provide help for loved ones. Moms love their children with everything, a dog protects his or her master, and a soldier fights for his or her country. They do this not because they are forced to; they do it because of love. Sodapop Curtis, in the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, has love to spare.

            Now, Sodapop is obviously loving. When his brother Ponyboy runs away and hides out for a while, Sodapop worries himself sick. Next, when Pony resurfaces after receiving burns on his back from saving children from a fire Sodapop and his other brother Darry stayed in the Hospital day and night. Then when Ponyboy got out ,and was sent on strict bed-rest, Ponyboy heard Sodapop say, “…the doctor told us we were going to end up in the hospital ourselves if we didn’t get some sleep,” [pg. 160]. Ponyboy who was having family problems could see that he is still loved like heck by his cheerful brother Sodapop.

            Now, Sodapop has lots of stories about his past including one about his favorite horse: Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse isn’t legally Sodapop’s but Sodapop is the only one the Mickey Mouse allowed to ride him. Sodapop visits the stable every day and rides Mickey Mouse up and down the rodeo. His family can tell that Sodapop loves that horse more than anything, and Sodapop is saving up to buy him. Upon telling the story, Ponyboy says, “…I thought that Mickey Mouse and Soda looked alike and were alike,” [pg.39]. Sodapop is horse-crazy but Mickey Mouse is sold away and Sodapop loves that horse so much he cries himself into a stupor. He still demonstrates love in things that aren’t human.

            Also, Sodapop is madly in love with a girl named Sandy. Sodapop bragged about everything he can but never about Sandy. Sandy is one of the main principles of Sodapop’s life. Sandy gets pregnant, and in those days it is expected for you to be married before you have a baby. Sodapop doesn’t get Sandy pregnant, so it is obvious she cheats on him, but he still offers to marry her so she won’t be disgraced. Sandy runs away, moves to Florida, and returned Sodapop’s letter unopened. When Sodapop got mad Darry says to Ponyboy, “When Sandy went to Florida… It wasn’t Sodapop Ponyboy. He told me he loved her. But I guess she didn’t love him like he thought she did…” He still loves her with an undying passion though.

            In conclusion, Sodapop is loving throughout The Outsiders. Sodapop realizes how much he is appreciated and tries hard to keep up his happy-go-lucky attitude. Sodapop shows love by taking care of Sandy, keeping his horse well-fed, and staying at the hospital with Ponyboy. If Sodapop didn’t care so much about Sandy, he would have kept his emotions bottled up and never had a heart-to-heart with Ponyboy and Darry. If Soda didn’t take care of his horse, Ponyboy wouldn’t have been able to engage in a deep conversation with Cherry, and she might not have helped them. The story would have changed if Sodapop wasn’t there when Ponyboy was at the hospital. Ponyboy might have run away again. I try to love and have fun but regretfully, sometimes I am not. I think of everyone I know as a friend, and if they need help, I love to give it to them. There is a new kid in a play I am doing, and instead of leaving him out I invited him to come with my friends and me. It made me feel great knowing I had done something good. I try to make the best out of everything, even if it’s not fun. Even if you think you have no love, I can guarantee you do, and someone will return your love if you show it. Love is all around us, in the loving spring air to our friends that surround us. Love is everywhere.

To be an outsider means no to be in a certain group. Ponyboy is an outsider because he is not a Soc but at the same time Randy is an outsider because he is not a greaser. I don’t like the term outsider because you are never really on the outsider, even if you aren’t in the most popular group in school. Think about who you are and who loves you. If you know the answer to those two questions you are never and outsider.

I don’t think the saying “Nothing gold can stay” is true. I have had a knack for singing and acting since I was little; if you want your gold to stay, you have to make it. I get yelled at by my peers for singing; I could never sing again but then I would lose my gold. Instead, I stop fir that specific time period and then I practice again. I work hard for my goal to stay, and as time goes on I believe my gold will shine even brighter.

The lessons I learned from the book is that family counts, and to never give up hope. Pony has to rely on his family even when they don’t get along, and even when he ran away, he still had hope. Hope kept him going until family came back into his life, but if someone can harness both, he or she is a beacon of shining light.

Fear, A pale man wearing ebony clothes
Spiky hair and a black jacket
He walks slowly, never faster than he needs to
Backed by his pet snake, named Death
And legions of undead, spiders, and rats
 
Living in a large city where many are on their toes
He find you after you watch that horror film
Or turn off the nightlight
He sneaks behind
You never see his face
You hear his and if you turn around
You look at his snake, Death, in the eye
Fear stares and says, "Are you sssssssstartled?"
 
“I’ll lull you to sleep”
And when you finally fall into that endless void
He glides into the only place you hold dear
Your dreams
He destroys them and replaces them with fantasias of himself
Allowing you to relive his attack
Then when you wake up he follows you… forever
Reminding you of the dream with every turn you make


Oh, and look behind you, he might be there, waiting

Is the world a puzzle
Are we all pieces
Is there a bigger picture
Can we see that picture with our eyes
Where is the sun
According to the box it’s in the top right
Or is it in the center of the solar system

Can we move
Or are we moved
Are we helpless humans
Or are we the perfect puzzle
Are we toys for the puzzle to play with
Can the puzzle forget about us
Put us away on a selfish shelf
That will never return us

Can we be lost forever
Never to be found
Or are we free of fraud
We do what we want
Or do we
You get to decide

Welcome to English! We started out the year with a poetry section where I had to excellent poems which are listed above. Then we read an excellent book written by S.E. Hinton. The book was "The Outsiders" which is on the banned book list but still makes an excellent read. It is about friendship, love, family, and trust. It was written in a time where women were deemed unfit to write books so S.E. Hinton disguised her first name with an initial.  We are currently reading The Diary of Anne Frank which is incredibly good.