45th Post

Hi.

Its me. Williamsburg Kid. And guess what? This is my 45th post on eatsleepandswim. This is also my last year at my school. Then it will be over. I will leave Williamsburg Academy. I know for a fact that I will have seperation issues.

 My Mentor has asked me to participate in a QandA session with the new students. They ask me what its like.. and I give it to them straight. :) It was then that it really sunk in. Im a veteran of Williamsburg Academy.

The first book I read at WA was "The Dream Giver" The story of Ordinary, a Nobody, who gets a symbolic feather from The Dream Giver. The Dream Givers feather shows Ordinary that he has a Big Dream and that Big Dream gives him the opportunity to become a Somebody.

My story is strikingly similar. Its the story of Jacob, an Average Kid who gets accepted to Williamsburg Academy. Williamsburg showed him that he has a Mission in Life, and it started him on his path to change the world.

It was at Williamsburg that I realized I *could* be somebody. Ive always been an achiever, reaching for perfection. But when I was put around other kids like me, I saw that I needed improvement. And I have been striving to improve myself ever since.


Part Two

When I was ten, I went to Washington DC with my mom. Just her and I. I assume that the trip was set up as bonding time for her and I, but it also opened my eyes to how great this country really is. I went to DC again two years later, with my brothers, I thought I knew so much more than I did at ten, and I actually stared at  The Constitution this time. ;)

Almost two years after that second trip, I started Williamsburg Academy. My mind and heart were opened to the great history of this country. Now my younger brother is in DC with my mom. Its his turn to see how great America is.

But this time, he is in a different position than I was.

My brother made a comment about our current president, I laughed and joined in. (The Freedom of Speech is one of the great freedoms we have [and take for granted much too often] in the U.S.  We can say whatever we want about our country and its leaders.) I said to my mom "Its going to be different in DC this time, because of the changes" And then I realized that I was wrong. The capital would not be different because of our nations leaders and their ideas.  Because no matter how bad it gets, America will always be the greatest country on earth. America is protected against absolute change because of the balances. In 30 years, this earthshaking and scary change will be seen merely as policy change. I do believe that the current crisis is led and guided by a higher power. We are protected by him.

America is just stuck right now. A battle is growing. Sides are being chosen. The outcome of that battle will determine the kind of war I will fight.


Part Three

Oh how I wish I could spend my entire days studying. (Many of you might laugh because that is exactly what I do. But I'm doing it for someone else. Someday, Im going to be able to study for me. Someday I'm going to learn the hard things so that when my children have questions, I can sit them down and explain, instead of telling that that when they get older, they will have to deal with my generations problems.)

 If I could just sit at the base of the Washington Monument reading Locke and Montesquieu, The Bible, The Federalist Papers, and De Tocqueville, I would. I want to immerse myself in the world of the Founding Fathers.

Not enough people are willing to do that anymore. I laughed when I saw a book of dumbed down federalist papers written by Glenn Beck. Someone had to do that, because the general populace didn't learn how to read the real stuff. :/

Mandy do not understand how bad we have gotten because they haven't studied how good we were. People dont have answers for today because they don't know what the answers of yesterday were.

I see the changes that have occurred since I was a young thirteen year old, anxious that Mr. Ure wouldnt accept me to his wonderful school. Now, I have learned how to study, I know exactly when and where to push myself so that I can get the most done. I have begun to lead others. Im preparing now, because the next time I go to Washington DC, I want to be able to understand exactly why the founders said what they did.

I have a testimony of Education. Of Freedom. Of America.

 Through my freedom, I can gain any education I want, and with that education and with the help of my Heavenly Father. I can help make America better,


I was an average kid. Now... I am powerful beyond measure.

American

I’m proud to be American.




I may not agree with its politics, I may make snide comments about its leaders, I may be unsure of its future, but I am American. It is who I am.



I was raised to stop and hold my hand to my heart when a flag passed. I was raised to stand up for freedom.



I was raised to honor the men and women who have died so that I can say what I want to say, be who I want to be, and work to better my own position.



Thank you.



To the fire fighters who saved the helpless souls. To the troops who rose to the challenge and fight for my freedom. Thank you to those of you who work hard so that my posterity and I can say that we are American and we are proud of it.

Love Hate Relationship

For me, the summer of 2011 will always be remembered as the summer I spent solving mathematical equations. For hours. I have spent 150 hours (nearly seven full days worth) logged into my math program, slowly chipping away at the big mean nasty Algebra 1 course.

At the beginning of last week I finally decided I wanted to quit. I had enough of the Aleks. (My math program) It continually set me back, showing me that the past day of work had been a waste.

But then I returned to a website (www.khanacademy.org) I had used when I first started Williamsburg. Long story short... I fell in love.  Never before have I *wanted* to study math. Especially considering this summer and the hatred of math that had slowly kindled inside of me. But all of that hate melted away. I sat captivated by geometric Angles and Sine, Cosine, and Tangents.

So now I have regained the energy that I lost after a week of not doing any math. I have successfully filled 10 pages of my notebook with pencil lead smeared linear equations.

Needless to say... Its been a love hate relationship. Or rather.. a hate love relationship. ;)

On another note, Mom and dad will be back from hawaii soon. It will be nice to have them back! High school swim season starts tomorrow. I am extremely excited. :)

Progress has been made on the pre-planning stage for my Eagle Project and hopefully I can get that knocked out before winter comes.

Ill be heading to Elevation (Possibly my last) in a couple of weeks!

I should probably get back to Math. I forgot to mention that I have to have it done before Elevation. eek.

Poems....

This is a poem I wrote during my reading of "Animal Farm" I DO NOT consider myself a "poet" but I feel something, a passion, a fire when I read and write poems. So... I write poems... usually about my generation. Some of them cant even be called the classic poem, they dont rhyme or match but I love them anyways.

Our Fate. Our Leader

Watching the world in this burning state

I don’t think this generation has a fate.

We burn the lands we love

This planet sits and becomes sick of

Our dumb excuses

Its gonna fight back, so be prepared

I walk down this road, I see the hate,

And now I realize, we do have a fate.

We’re gonna save this place

We gotta use our fingers to trace,

The words of the fathers, but that’s ok,

As long as we aint just sayin “lets play”

We must stop the blood

The darkness

The blindness

Of the past generations

We are going to give the founders those salutations

They so long deserve.

With my friends beside me, we are gonna rise and smash these pigs

We aint gonna fall for their tricks

All Humans were born equal, but some are more equal than others.

That is their chant.

Come, Come, and lead! Become who you were born to be! Reevaluate, realize, and return!

This is ours.

God is the true leader.



My Sore Brain

This chapter I dread

Ill mark it all in red.

Virtue, monarchy and laws!

Can’t James just push pause!?

My eyes strain, my head aches

I am going to slam the breaks

Then I see it! circled in yellow!

My voice cracks! “Midterms!!” I bellow!

So tomorrow Ill just have to push

I’ll get up off my little tush.

All I think is “Honors! Honors. Honors?”

But for now, I’m at the doctors

You see, If I’m sick

James won’t use his fine toothed pick

On this sore brain of mine.





Tears of a Nation-


As we work night after night,

In this seemingly endless fight

Our souls take flight

As the end comes in sight

In these small hours

We build the towers

Of the rest of our lives

We decide now to work

We cannot, do not, think to shirk

The responsibilities of a generation.

When do we train

To combat the rain

From the tears of a nation

That has lost its elation?

We are holding our breath

When will the others realize we are scared to death?

Help us learn!

Cause we are in a fourth turn

It’s the first time

Anyone has ever cared

We truly are scared

Of the tears of a nation

From where do they come?

When will it be done?

The tears of a nation,

Splashing on our salvation.




Who we are-


What is the purpose?

Why isn’t life courteous?

We want to find out what our mission is,

But the world is all about bliss

What about soul?

Or is it too regarded as “Just dull?

Life is about finding why we were born

If it wasn’t, life would be just forlorn!

Join me and we will find the mission

Don’t stoop to contrition

Let’s make changes to this world


Life isn’t about bliss!

Have none of you learned this?

Find who you are!

You won’t have to go far

Let’s help each other

I’ll be your blood brother

As we make this oath

We promise to give our soul growth


Find who we are

I’ll be your shining star

As we all try to change

We will rearrange

This place of ours

Even if it takes hours I don’t care

We will swear

To make the world a better place

Our humanity we embrace

As we’re becoming who we are


When we are becoming who we are

We shout “We are the leaders!” loud and far

We’ll try to fly without wings

As we find we are more than just things

As students

We make movements,

In the scheme of things


We will bring a renaissance of kings

Led by mentors who care

Our arms are at the square

When you believe in mission

You gain cognition


We will lead by love

And with help from the man above

We became the generation

Who will help the Nation

Become who it is

When we are… Who we are.

John Locke. And My Life.

Man this guy (Locke) was awesome! The Second Treatise is kinda easy to read once you work through the first 5 pages. but, its only like 75 pages long. Yeah, but WOW. I understand government like never before. Im still working through Montesquieu. Hes a bit tougher with his 700 pages... :) I HIGHLY sugest you read it... and then either come to williamsburg if you are a teen or f you're an adult, take Mr. Ure's Constitution Seminar this summer.

Just finished Midterms... I did pretty well if I say so myself.  I got my grade yesterday a High Pass. (Williamsburg Terminology for 90-100%)

My mom is starting to get to the part of life (after clearing her scheduele of photo shoots) that she loves best. Teaching others. Shes doing a Photo Workshop to start other photographers out. She will also hold a Tjed Intro class. (Thats tonight! So excited. I LOVE Tjed. Im kinda a geek, I listen to Oliver Demille and Dan ralphs on my iPod more than most songs...)

Ive come to the conclusion that Williamsburg is NOT what it used to be, but then again "The grass of memory is always greener" - James Ure...My mentor

So, now im gonna get of my butt and really press my nose to the grindstone. I want an education, not a diploma.

I started planning today. Im sliding into a "transition to production phase." (More on that later)

I need to read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Monday! :)

Of A Revolution!

One month ago, almost to the day, I wrote this poem. I think it goes to show that when Americans want change they will bring it. Not when a candadite for president wanted it. So. Heres to America. Heres to Freedom. Here is to the youth of today, who are ready to stand up and be leaders NOW.

Once upon a while ago


The president seemed like a pro

Saying all those fancy things

But it was just a jinx

He really wanted war

We don’t want it anymore

He’s got control,

And we are full

Of the lies

That we constantly buy

No more!

Not today

Go away!

”Let’s leave!” is my creed,

Get rid of the lead

How about you

Does what I say ring true?

We are those of a revolution!

Let’s all start provin’

That life is led by us

And not those politico fluffs

We are of a revolution

Life

As I sit here, Pandora sits in another tab, playing John Mayer, Colbie Callait, and Mat Kearney. It plays while I plan my next year. I had a mentor meeting 2 hours ago. My Williamsburg Mentor, Mr. Ure never ceases to amaze me. Williamsburg has filled 500 seats this semester. (about 150 students) Last semester we had twenty students. Today in my Personal Leadership class, we studied personality, to see how it affects leadership. I took a personality test and found I am a "Peacekeeper" It was interesting, and enlightening to see my friends, and the new students leadership styles.

At elevation two weeks ago, I sat for four hours, alone, in the woods, meditating and pondering life. I solidified the idea that, like I said in my Class President Speech that, "It is my duty. My mission, to help my peers develop the integrity, ideals, morals, leadership, and genius buried deep inside every one of you. We are a chosen generation, A hero generation, I want to be a Friend who helps you on your path to greatness."

Williamsburgs Mission Statement is “To prepare promising students for meaningful lives as principled leaders.” Its rough, and I believe that without the older students guiding me, I would have crashed and burned my first year. I took the shoes of my heroes in WA as I watched them graduate and go on to Harvard, George Wythe College, and Life. I have friends from all over this Country, and this year there is are students from Canada, and Japan getting the same education as a young man from Alaska. We need more youth like my peers. More youth who care. Who don't fit the description of a modern teenager. We need future leaders of the world.

We read Animal Farm last week along with Montesquieu and Locke. In Animal Farm, there is never talk of a God, and yet the first sentence in John Locke's Second Treatise talks of God. Which one did the Founding Fathers use as a foundation for the Constitution? You bet! Locke.  Animal Farm is a parable of Socialism, and Communism. It reflected Stalin.
Last semester's class president was asked, in his graduation oral exam, "If you could send the world one message, what would it be?" He responded, in three powerful words, "Come unto Christ"

That is the kind of youth America needs.