OMG!!! Joyce - my homie and bestie.... also made a blog!! omg ily joyce. First person to do that other than me<33 joyce's blog is http://joycekathryn.blogspot.com/. Check it out but dont abandon me!!!!!!!!!!! I Love Everyone who checks out my blog daily<33. L8er!

-Michelle<33

Labels: joyce

Sigh. Today was quite boring. I had to write an essay for my tutor...

Here is the question in mind..

On the one hand, it is important for people to have their own ideas and express themselves freely and independently. On the other hand, people also desire to belong to a group, and often receive their identities and ideas from belonging to a certain school, team, town, country, or other group. In your opinion, are people more characterized by the ideas think up on their own, or the ideas they get from belonging to a group?"

my reply - I believe people are more defined by the ideas they get from a group. One reason is influence from peer pressure. Another reason is you’re very loyal to your group so whatever ideas your group has, you automatically feel the same way. The final reason is usually, when you’re in a group, you have similar views. Then you really are defined by the ideas from your group. Peer pressure is hard. When you are in a group and you’re the only one that feels the way you do, you don’t want to be embarrassed so you don’t state your opinion(s). Although you might have a great idea, peer pressure takes over. After that happens many times, you just forget your own views and follow others. Although you might think that is fine if others have good ideas, what if they don’t. Then you wouldn’t be helping your group, but making it worse. I believe that makes you more defined by the ideas you get from a group. Loyalty is also a reason why people are defined by ideas from a group. Sometimes, you are too loyal. You support your group in everything. Although it might not be a great choice, you stand up for it without thinking. Then you might influence others to do the same. After some time, your group or town or whatever won’t benefit much from you. Loyalty might seem very important, but you might be too defined from your group ideas. Politicians are a great example of people who are really defined by the ideas their group makes. Democrats all feel the same way. Most of them want the same bills passed. Most of them want the same laws passed. Republicans don’t usually want the same things as Democrats. The two groups usually debate a lot against things like plans for the future. Take Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain for example. During their Presidential debate, the two were debating about whose ideas were better. Senator Barack Obama represented the Democrat’s views and feelings. Senator John McCain represented the Republican’s views and feelings. When you are in a group, usually you will all have similar views one time or another. If you didn’t, why would you be in that group anyways? People are definitely more defined by the ideas they get from a group. That’s not necessarily good, but it might be. People are definitely more defined by the ideas they get from a group. That’s not necessarily good, but it might be. At the same time, people have their own views or ideas. Sometimes, the boundary is not as clear as we hope. That’s why it’s become important to listen carefully to what people are saying. Every so often, you may want to have your own idea in your group so your ideas could become a group idea. What do you think?

-Michelle<33

Labels: essay

It's Monday and a whole new school week. I'm still reallly really tired, thank god for tomorrow and wednesday off. Today, in gym, we walked to the high school to practice the mile run. It was really tiring, mostly because im a bad runner. Finally, we went back to the middle school. Later, the day went on smoothly. We took a writing assesment in Civics class. It was a thing about cell phone ban. i wrote in favor of keeping cell phones. interesting?? the day passed by smoothly with a nice lunch. i take the bus home so i get home around 3:25. The school part of my day is over and now I have to play piano, do study island, and read chinese. haha i love my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Michelle<33

Its the weekend. I sleep late on Saturdays, and watch the morning cartoons or shows. Yes, I love watching Hannah Montana, Suite Life, and even Power Rangers! Afterwards I play half an hour of piano. By then breakfast is done and my whole family sits down to eat a good meal. Depending on what are that day's plans, I always have to read Chinese. Then I have to do studyisland.(http://www.studyisland.com/) Sometimes we go out to eat or go shopping. After I go on the computer and chat with my friends on AIM or have someone come over. On Sunday, I have Chinese school(ehh). My mom makes me do all the homework in one day. Oh! I forgot! I'm taking the SAT in January... YIKES!! Whatever.. that should be interesting. The weekends aren't the funnest... but I love hanging out with my Dad. Right now I'm watching Extreme Home Makeover. It's pretty emotional. I'll be back later.

-Michelle<33

This summer, I went to Camp Bernie(http://campbernieymca.org/), Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Beijing. I spent two weeks in camp. The days were filled with fun and excitement. I went with my friends, Sharon and Joyce to camp. We also made new friends like Francesca, Sofie, Emily, Hayley and Victoria. We also went on a 17 mile trip down the Delaware River. Now that was something! I went with my cousin to Hong Kong. He had come to America for a 3 week camp called CTY. Afterwards, we left together for Hong Kong. I stayed at his house there. Another 2 weeks were spent in Hong Kong, but days were quite boring. We stayed at home all day, with the few exceptions of eating out and Disney. I'm not exactly sure how I actually managed to pass all that time, but some things I did included reading, board games, and the laptop I brought from America. Finally we headed out to somewhere interesting with friends of theirs. We then spent days in our hotel(Sheraton), and went to the pool and beach often. 3 days wooshed by and soon we were going back to Hong Kong before heading out to Beijing. Once again, 2 weeks were passed in Beijing. The first week was quite boring other than going to a friend's house(she was also from America). Then, we finally got to see some Olympic Games. I saw Michael Phelps winning his 7th medal! That was swimming. I also saw basketball, athletics, and soccer. It was all over and I went back to America. I spent a month away from my parents in China, and two weeks away from my parents in camp this summer!

-Michelle<33

Labels: Beijing, Olympics, summer

Haha! I have some extra time so I'll do one more post. I have plenty of friends. I could use this whole post talking about them. Yeah, that's what I'll do. So... I have many bffls(best friends for life)... they would be Naomi, Joyce, Sharon, Amy, Katie, Maryssa, Maria, Melanie, and so many more. I've known Naomi since like 6 years ago. I'm definitely close with her. We laugh 24/7, talk nonstop, and have the best insiders! I've known Joyce for six years, too. We really know how to chill. Sharon has been my bestie for at least 3 years. She's been in my class since then. We have so many inside jokes, its crazy. Amy was my best friend for 6 years too. She is now going to a private school. Shes awesome. Always laughing. Haha I love all my friends<33.Katie hasn't been in my classes lately, but shes a great friend. She is sooooo funny!Maryssa is always needing someone to buy water with her. We laugh a lot. Haha with Maria... all she can talk about is erasers... don't even ask. Melanie and I were really close last year, but this year I have no classes with her. She's awesome. Great times at Rite Aid! I'll try to post often!

-Michelle<33

Labels: best friends are forever

Hey! I just started RDMS(river dell middle school) and the school's arrangement is really confusing. We have 10 periods in a day including lunch, and different teachers on different days. I guess everyone goes through the experience. We have to wear these annoying but cool i.d cards. I have gym first period everyday, and we play soccer outside. That means I have wet shoes and socks and feet all day. School's pretty good, other then the fact that it's soooo early! I wake up at 7 in the morning so I miss the bus to school. Oh, also. Our middle school is made up of two towns - Oradell and River Edge, so we got the name River Dell. We're having a nice fiesta in spanish class on monday, so that should be good. I'll post later!!

-Michelle<33

Labels: school