Monthly Archives: January 2010

Hope

no title by mzffTwo recent posts from Huzzahnian bloggers: Lizzie and Eric:

Haiti!

As most of you know Haiti has just had an enormous earthquake that has changed the lives of many people. All you need to know is that we can help! The Red Cross is collecting money, so that is a great place to donate to.  Our class is  working on doing the best we can to make a difference. When you think about what has happened… you feel powerless!

And I bet the people in Haiti want our help. As Rebekah said yesterday in class “If the earthquake had happened where you lived… wouldn’t you want people to help?” And I totally stand by that! Think. If you got someone half way across the world that was thinking about you, praying for you, sending money for your benefit…wouldn’t you want it? People you didn’t even know existed are now sending money to help you and your country. That’s amazing and it is all happening! You can be one of those people who can help save the lives of many. There is still Hope.

Everyone is trying to make a difference with telethons and fundraisers. This is going to stay here for a lot of time. It’s not quick as in a few months,  this is a long time shock that will affect people forever. It will always be stuck in their minds and it may never go away. With missing limbs it’s not something you can forget… it will live with them till the day they die.

Please help all the people in need!

Eric did not say that this poem was specifically about Haiti–but somehow it feels like could be:

Hope

I sit in the dark
Waiting for something that will never come
As I stare into coal-black darkness
I  see the shadows dancing ominously
They sneer and cackle at me viciously

I heard the eerie silence speak to me
Luring me deeper into the empty abyss
Where I finally see a spark of light
That lit up the whole world
And everything became clear—

I was staring at hope.

What gives you hope when you are feeling hopeless? When others are suffering, how should we respond?

Image (no title) by Mzff®


I’ve got choices…I’m not bored.

bored children zenWe have started DARE. It’s a 10-week program designed to help students explore strategies and decision making options around personal safety and peer pressure, particularly in the areas of smoking, alcohol, and drugs. A “big idea” in the program is that we are in charge of our choices. Having options for ways to have a good time makes life fun and rewarding, and is an insulator against drifting into unsafe choices.

Huzzahnians know they have lots of options, which you can read on their blogs. Here are just some ideas from their 10 Cool Things To Do posts:

  • Biking through the woods, bushes and trees flying past as you speed down a rocky trail, you fly past a man walking his dog and realize that you’re free. —Tyler
  • Swimming at lakes, rivers, beaches and pools is a great way to spend summertime or go to indoor pools in the winter. —Rebekah
  • Riding my bike to Co-op and buying a Slurpie. — Riley
  • Play badminton with my family in the back yard. — Priya
  • Karaoke: you get to sing and it is a super fun time. It is a great thing to do with family and friends. — Payton
  • Play on my Wii game system. —Matteo
  • Read graphic  novels that have some pictures because the pictures let me know what the characters look like and the background looks like. —Mark
  • Pat a dog. Dogs always appreciate it! —Rosa
  • Listening to music (that you like, of course) because the beat, rhythm, and lyrics that make you want to listen to the song all day. Eric
  • Photography:  it is not fast-paced but it is a good activity to calm yourself and it is peaceful.  —Easton
  • Writing is an activity that can also make my mood come back to normal if I’m really excited or really tired. I like to write songs and poems. Blogging–I love blogging! —Sierra

We think we have come up with a pretty thorough list of activities. What do you think? Have we missed anything? Let us know!

Image: Bored Children by zen (Thanks to Rebekah for finding this image.)