Natasha Khoury's blog

Elizabeth Taylor

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Elizabeth Taylor was born in London in 1932. In 1939, her and her family moved back to the US, in Los Angeles. Her first onscreen appearance aired when she was ten, and soon after MGM contracted her. Not long after, her debuts became more and more popular, staring in Jane Eyre, National Velvet, and even movies with James Dean.  Elizabeth was nominated for an Academy Award twice, but did not win. Despite her shortcomings, she was still a hot commodity in the film world. Nominated a third time for an Oscar, she did not win. But in 1960, she received an Oscar for her performance in BUtterfield 8. Her role in Cleopatra, after her MGM contracted ended, was the most expensive salary, and where she met her fifth husband. Her role in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won her another Oscar, but since then, her film career was peppered with unsuccessful films but wonderful performances. Her personal life was a series of love affairs, unsuccessful marriages and multiple medical problems. In 1985, at the death of her friend Rock Hudson, she began her fight on the behalf of AIDS sufferers. In the 1990s, she also developed a successful series of scents. Her acting career has been relegated to the occasional tv-movie or TV guest appearance. She is a recipient of the 2002 John F. Kennedy Center Honors, overcame her severe and near death medical issues, and is ranked number seven in the American Film Institutes list of the 50 'Greatest American Screen Legends', the top 25 male and top 25 female.

Elizabeth Taylor is an extremely successful and influential actress. She is a wonderful friend and has a compassionate heart. She has donated almost and maybe even more than one million dollars to AIDS organizations and charities after the loss of her friend. She has overcome so much. Because she broke her back four times, standing for a long while is painful, and despite that, she had enormous success. Her streak of popular debuts had ended much too early for her and the publics liking, but because of her medical issues, productions would not properly insure her.

 

Dear Soldiers, your lives are risked daily for our country, you allow us to feel safe in our homes. I thank you for putting your best self forward for us, because the courage and strength required is more than appreciated. Your bravery and valor is so admirable, and I know that you are the best people possible to look up to and strive to be like. Be safe, and know that all hearts and prayers are with you always, especially during this holiday season. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Years :)

Whoops there goes gravity

    A life 101 class would be extremely beneficial, and I think it should have been enforced long before now. I can't count how many times people have been clueless about current news or things that are imperative to daily living. Leaving 8th grade, there were a few students who didn't fully understand what taxes were. Taxes are vital even when you're working in high school. Not only that but students are clueless as to what's going on with our country, from war to presidents and corrupt politicians. 50% of students do not know why we are even in Iraq and why troops are or are not coming home.  I think that a Life 101 class should include current affairs, most definitely and importantly. Stocks and taxes should also be included, and procedures on how to appropriately approach them.

    Current affairs are necessary because students, by the time they are 18, they are able to vote. I think voting is very important, and these students should be educated and fully  understand what is going on so that they can vote according to who they believe is the best candidate and why. The economy is not currently in the best position and students need to know why. Unemployment, gas prices, etc. are all issues that will eventually affect them. The are people who are being severly discrimated against, crime is getting higher in certain areas, and people are completely unaware. Stocks are also important to invest in because they can provide a better income. Taxes need to be understood, and properly executed because there can be consequences if not. Also, there are mortgages, loans and investments to understand. There are accounting classes but they are offered as electives rather than enforced classes. Students also need to learn about themselves. These required courses offer nothing to the undivudual, only electives might. High school is a time where students are doing some sould searching, and Life 101 should provide some guidance.

Social Networking

Reading and writing is just as vital to society as it always was. The business article "Literacy and Text Messaging" states that reading and writing has become more important because it is used for social networking. It is not more important, but it does become more important for adolescents who had no interest in reading and writing. They need to know both to allow for social networking. Literacy is on another level, though. I believe that proper literacy has more to do with reading and writing. Literacy gives you the ability to read a book, and when you see a word you have not seen before, you are able to sound it out, and in many cases learn what the word is by its different parts, like the stem of the word or its context in the sentence. IMing and text messaging do impact people's learning ability though, because people are IMing and texting at a younger age, developing bad habits that pertain to their reading and writing. I know that when I started IMing and text messaging, I would make shorthand mistakes in my school papers. I had to go back and fix those errors. I have learned to multi-task though, but with the advanced progression  in IMing and text messaging, this might not always be the case. Another issue with IMing and texting, or social networking in general, is how it does get in the way of academic performance. While students are doing homework, they are distracted by Facebook. At school, students are texting and it is something teachers now have to monitor and discipline. So, social networking has its benefits and negative impacts. It gives kids the desire to learn to read and write, and also teach them to multi-task. It is most definitely a distraction though. Not just when it comes to school work but while at the dinner table, or actually at work place, people are texting and being distracted. Its progression is instilling bad habits. Texting and driving has become a large problem. Negative and positive affects, but the cons outweigh the pros.

Cheats

Cheating is a problem I assume every school or educational establishment faces. Whether it's from homework to testing, action must be taken against it. Being a student at BCHS, or a student anywhere for that matter, students can validate that cheating is going on. Because cheating is so convenient, students turn to cheating as form of alleviating their work load while still receiving good grades. Another issue is that sometimes, students don't know that they are cheating. Group work and projects, or any work done in partners can easily submit the issue of cheating though the students aren't aware. When work is assigned to students, it immediately allows students the advantage. Once they leave the classroom they are left to their own devices, that teachers cannot monitor. Cheating is more than looking at the test one desk over. Eliminating the problem may as well be impossible. Work is not monitored outside of the class so there is no way of knowing how students will handle their work. Many are inclined to cheat. CNN's cheating article gives an example of why: "the pressure to do well academically and compete for good colleges has made cheating a way to survive high school." Student's inclination is driven by this, and the desire to have lives outside of their work. Though it is manageable, some students don't see how, or are disciplned to work with it.

Driking age

Should the drinking age be lowered? I think the drinking age is fine exactly where it is, at mature 21. Even though teenagers are positive that they are mature and responsible enough to handle being able to legally drink, they aren't. I know I certainly am not. Maybe those that can legally drink aren't either, but the line does have to be drawn somewhere. Another very important factor is how it affects others, younger and older. A common arguement that younger kids will be more likely to drink is valid, and probably most likely. A vital fact to consider, also, is driving. Drinking and driving is already an issue, for those that can and can't legally drink. For those that can't legally drink, they will drink more if the age is lowered, take advantage of their new privelege. Though that might not be the case a year or more after the law is passed, it will happen within the first year. That may put drinking and driving at a higher rate. Alcohol poisining may also be at a higher rate. A new drink came out, 4loko, and those who can and can't legally drink are quickly taking advantage of that. But look how many problems it's caused: it's already being banned from schools. So no, the drinking age should stay where it is.

Seniority

    Senior year is supposed to be the most exciting year in high school. I am always being told how important first quarter grades are, and how much fun senior year is. So far, it is not much different than previous years, besides the fact that I have been through much more. This year, I plan to have as much fun as possible with my friends and family, and get into Penn State University. Though it may be generic or vain, it is my last year home as a kid. After this year I'm going to college, away from my family, with all new people and a whole new spectrum of responsibilities. To make this year the best possible, I need to be open to new things. I want to participate in different activities, go on new adventures, accomplish as much as I can in school, and make the most of my time with my family. I want to make lasting memories with all of my friends, regardless of how close we are, because after next year I may not get the chance. I want to remeber my senior year and know that I made the most out of it.