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This I Believe…

8th grade Drama students at Jefferson Middle School speak about their beliefs.

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    Welcome to 8th grade Drama's "This I Believe" project. This project is modeled after NPR's "This I Believe" series and is a work in progress. We invite you to listen to the voices throughout this site and we welcome your comments.
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Archive for May, 2008

This I Believe–Terry

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I believe that young ladies have a way in life because men and boys look at us for others things, but it is time to show that we are something special and that we can make something out of ourselves. 

Boys always think that I am older then what I am because the way I dress and show off my body. I don’t think that that’s much respect for me when I do things like that. Now that I have a child of my own I have to be a respectful looking mother for her. I use to be ashamed that I’m 15 years old and I’m  pregnant, but now that I look like a respectful young lady it’s nothing to be ashamed of because I made that decision.

 I believe that all girls should finish school to be the best they can be in life, because waiting for a man to do what they can do is not a successful and reasonable lady. All ladies should want to be something in life by going to school everyday. We all can be very successful and not only that, but smart too. 

Ladies who don’t go to school is the ones who allow their men to beat and hurt them and tell them what to do. Then they have to work at them laid off jobs like McDonalds. When if they only went to school and college they could have a ten times better job then what they have now. 

I believe that we as girls and ladies should always have the say in our life, not what the next person thinks we should say.  This is why I say young women have a way in life and something very special about us and so it’s time to show it off instead of arguing and fighting with each other and for this I believe.

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | 1 Comment »

This I Believe–Dontrell

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I believe that I could be a good UFC fighter because I got mad skills I know jujitsu, tiger claw and tie Kwan do. I love fighting I love to watch fighting I love everything about fighting especially learning new moves my favorite move now is the osoto gory.   Another reason why I would be a good fighter is I’ve got speed precision, strength, technique and intelligence. So who ever comes up against me is going to regret it.  I have the discipline and skill to become one the best fighters ever. I have planes to travel the world and learn the best fighting skills.  Everyday my skills increase so when get to be about 25 I’m a be sick and that’s what I believe.

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Posted in Spring 2008--4th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Maggie

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I believe in family because my family is really important to me. My family is really organized. If something is going on with me, my family will always be there. They also tell me to do well in school. My parents tell me that school is really important and that going to school is best gift they could give me. Your family is the only people who understand, who love, and who care about you no matter what happens. That why my family is important to me. If I don’t have my family I don’t know what I should done.

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Devin C.

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I believe that I can make it to college because when I get to high school first I want to try harder than I ever have in middle school. Also because I want to go to college and if your mind is set to it, you can do whatever you want to do in life. If I don’t play sports it really won’t matter what college I go to as long as it’s a university and is a known college. All the teachers in middle school are always talking about how the teachers in high school aren’t going to hold your hand, that was the work is going to be way harder than it is now, and there would be way more work then what we get now. I’m ready for it because I know I’m going to have to do all that work just to get into a junior college and I want to go to a university. So from here on out I know that’s it’s going to get nothing but harder in school. When I get to high school I’m going to have to focus way more on my grades and just my work more than sports and my friends. I’m not going to just forget about them both but I’m just going actually care way more about my grades. So my plan was to get all my homework done right after school so then I won’t have to worry about going home  knowing that I have to get my homework done after I’m done with my sports and my friends. I can even get help from my friends if I need help and I’m not at school because most of my friends are smart and are actually willing to help me out with some school work. Also I’m going to take advantage of study hall next year so I can get even more work done to stay ahead on my grades because other people don’t like to work so ill be the good one and stay ahead. I want to talk to teachers about college early so ill know what I need to do in high school to prepare for college. I also want to talk tips for staying in college in case you’re having a hard so far in college. I really just want to know what it’s like and I don’t really know anyone that goes to a college so teachers I know have to go to college to teach at a school so I just going to ask them what it’s like in college.  So I know if I follow up on what I said for me to get into college I know for sure I can get into a university.

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Posted in Spring 2008--4th hour (4th quarter) | 2 Comments »

This I Believe–Chris F.

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I believe guns should be easier to acquire because every time something bad happens because of war and crazy people who shoot other people cause of mental illnesses the prices of guns go up.     People just look at the bad things about guns. When I was ten years old I saw a gun which now costs one hundred dollars more than it did five years ago. Plus there are new guns that are illegal for civilians to buy. Also cops in New York are paranoid and can pump fifty rounds into you and they don’t get in trouble by the court. It’s not fair that the military + police can have fully automatic weapons and civilians cant. What if a bunch of terrorists break into your home and they have M-16 assault rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, and G-36k assault rifles? But you only have a 9mm Glock-19 semi-automatic pistol with only one clip. Well you are dead. Shotguns are only good at close range. Plus civilians are only allowed to have a ten shot clip. A ten shot clip compared to a twenty shot clip won’t get you very good results.  Guns are not that bad as some people think they are. Look at people who use guns to hunt for food in the winter. They aren’t hurting anybody. The only thing they are doing is getting food. Plus the people who go out to a range and shoot are not doing any harm. This is why I believe everyone has the right to bear arms!

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Posted in Spring 2008--4th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Antowanna

Posted by jefferson8 on 23rd May 2008

I can’t really say what I believe in because in believe in so many things that I just can’t pick one.

But for now I’ll tell one out of some of things I believe in. I believe in being able to be yourself without being judged .I also believe in being truthful to people something that I just can’t do .Inside I want to be the mean person in school. But not to the point where I don’t have friends. For me all the way up to middle school friends has been a big role in my life until I lost a friend that I was so close to .I stated to push away people that I felt I didn’t want to hang with. I wanted to start out my year alone .Learning that family last longer than friends I had decided to start my year off my year alone. I started hanging out with one girl and probably about half the boys in the sixth grade. Then in seventh grade I hung out with at least three girls .And now I hang out with!!! Well I wouldn’t say I hang with all of them may one but the rest are girls that I talk to at the lunch table, in the hall, and in class if they are in my class. If I was to say I had a TRUE FRIEND I might be lying or I would say that I’m my best friend because I can’t let myself down like a person or an x-friend could do to me.

In order to have a good relationship between yourself and a friend or someone much more than you should follow these steps.

1.) Always be truthful

2.) NEVER get involved in he say she stuff

3.) Never go about what someone tells you

4.) NEVER change who you are for someone else

5.) NEVER get involved in a situation that you have NOTTHING to do with

Posted in Spring 2008--4th hour (4th quarter) | 1 Comment »

This I Believe–Chase

Posted by jefferson8 on 22nd May 2008

     I believe that there is no wrong within Hip-Hop music. In fact there are some rappers serving a justice to America with their music. In hip-hop there are life stories and struggles being shared with the listeners molding a bond with the artist unable to be found in most other forms of music. Not only are the stories inspirational, but the often called “abrasive” lyrics are usually worth paying attention to as well. Metaphors are often used in some songs today with a deeper meaning than most others.      Not all artists are bad, yet with this subject a stereotype has been formed. Though the way artists appear and share in their music may come off as a bit wrong their music is filled with inspiration. In various videos large amounts of money would be portrayed. How the money is obtained or spent is not said to often. In some odd way would you criticize that this leads listeners to want to obtain large amounts of money themselves. Also some rappers lead listeners to want to reach a high political status. Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean is a humanitarian, and an ambassador of Haiti.    Some rappers even speak of the world and its corruptness. Chicago rappers Lupe Fiasco and Common are two that quickly come to mind. In his hit song The People he talks about the people in the parts of Chicago he came from & how hip-hop needs his influence. Lupe Fiasco has been compared to Kanye West by some with political views and his style of rap. In his song Streets On Fire he tells of how the world has its faults and wonders who is to blame for this. Kanye West is also involved socially and has been known to criticize President George W. Bush on some occasions such as Hurricane Katrina.        To put in to place hip-hop music is a rare type of music used to express one’s self. It should not be labeled bad. In fact hip-hop should be viewed as a tool for other genres of music to improve. It is a building block for other types of music to build and grow and will be used for years to come.

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Usman

Posted by jefferson8 on 22nd May 2008

I believe that the race that I’m from makes me a different person, because me being Muslim, people sometimes look at me like a criminal because of where I come for. I was at school in 5th grade. I asked a kid for a pencil. I knew he had a lot of them. He looked at me like he had a reason to hate me and said “NO”.  Then another kid came and asked and he gave it to him. Another thing that irritates me is when someone will look at me and automatically say I am Indian. Indians aren’t the only people in the Middle East. There are Arabs, Muslims, Egyptians, and much more. I am glad that I am from where I’m from. It doesn’t mean I’m a bad person, it means that I’m better than everyone else who just blends in. Many things are unique about my culture, such as the sports, the holidays, and the beliefs. In America the popular sports are Basketball, Football, and Baseball. On the other hand in Pakistan the popular sports are Cricket, Soccer, and a little bit of Basketball. In the religion of Islam we believe that there is only one god and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger. We also believe that Jesus is not god’s son. We believe that he is his first prophet. So me being Muslim makes me proud and I think a better person.

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Eriban

Posted by jefferson8 on 22nd May 2008

I believe that we always rely on our beliefs to make something true to us. Children believe in Santa and Muslims in Allah .Something’s that we believe in, become false and react that we wanted to be truth, as children one day see that Santa Clause isn’t real, it’s a men in a jolly red suit, and the child Christmas spirit disappear. Once something it completely true , most people shall put  their trust that it going to be kept that way. Jesus did came to earth but I not sure about the second coming and don’t know how Easter is connect to him. Son of god send to Earth to die for our sins, only in my mind and I’m not sure of others. Jesus is the icon we us today for represent goodness in us. The truth will set you free, but believe is truth kept. Can we truly rely on the things we came across with. Believe on it and see how long it been kept to you in the mind. Believe is: accepting something as true, have trust, accept somebody as truthful, think that something exists ,think something is good, credit somebody with something, have religion faith. These are the definition we go by, with life. I believe that those are guidance we see and use on most people that they don’t realize their truth. Seeing is believing.

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | No Comments »

This I Believe–Tenesha

Posted by jefferson8 on 22nd May 2008

I believe that I am an incredible person because I try and do my best to stay on top of things and do what I am expected to do. I try everyday to get my work done in school and keep my head on my shoulders while I’m doing it. Because there are few many positive minds and a large amount of negative and I want to be positive. I don’t like violence I like to be far away from it as possible but when people push my buttons I can’t pull it in I have to let it out but I try to fix that to when people use violence as a result to their problems I really don’t like it because they would always use violence. Like my cousin one day got into a fight and she tried to get me to fight and I told her that violence is not the answer that’s another reason why I am an incredible person because I don’t like violence. I try my hardest in school I try to turn my work in my class when things get hard I ask my teachers for help and I don’t let people pressure me to do things I don’t  want to do I believe in myself I encourage others that cant encourage themselves. I am an incredible person because I do my best and try my best to stay on top of things and do what I am expected to do I try to get work done in school I don’t like violence as a result to my problems and I try to get my education instead of wasting it that’s why I am an incredible person I love to get things accomplished that’s why I am an incredible person.            

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Posted in Spring 2008--5th hour (4th quarter) | 2 Comments »