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8/27/24 Reflect on how your family, community, or culture has influenced your worldview. How has your background shaped the way you think about and understand different aspects of life? Provide specific examples from your experiences.

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8/27/24 Reflect on how your family, community, or culture has influenced your worldview. How has your background shaped the way you think about and understand different aspects of life? Provide specific examples from your experiences.

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I grew up in an Irish-Catholic family in a small part of Cleveland called West Park. My dad was a firefighter and owned his own grass-cutting company, where he drove a huge orange pickup truck around. Obviously, growing up in a small suburban middle-class neighborhood everyone knew each other. Everyone's dads worked together. Everyone went to the same two schools. West Park is a neighborhood that I will appreciate forever though because it wasn't a suburb like Avon or Westlake because it was still in Cleveland, so it was always very chill. I could ride my bike 5 minutes away to my friend's house every day. It wasn't until I started getting older and I could understand politics that I realized that many of these other Irish-Catholic firefighters/police dads had a very terrible view of the world—a conservative, and close-minded view on how we should treat others. I mean not everyone in West Park was like that but it is a good handful. When I could fully learn and understand what was truly going on in this country, that is when I realized I didn't share those same close-minded values as him. I thank social media for existing because I learned so much on what political views I fall under, which are very different from my dad.

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09/03/24 - Reflect on the following quote: “Here I am under your gaze, obliged to you, your servant” ~ Emmanuel Levinas

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09/03/24 - Reflect on the following quote: “Here I am under your gaze, obliged to you, your servant” ~ Emmanuel Levinas

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At first, when I read this quote I got a little weirded out because when someone is referring to another person or themselves as a servant who is obligated to serve someone else I think that is unjust. When I read it in a way that refers to us serving God, it has a whole new meaning. We choose to serve God and continue Jesus' mission worldwide. It is an honor to be one of Jesus' followers. You are not just serving directly to God when you serve God. It is about your everyday actions and how you treat others and also yourself. Spreading love to others and choosing kindness is how we serve God.

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09/09/24 - Reflect on your future aspirations and career goals. Are they primarily motivated by your personal interests and the pursuit of self-fulfillment, or do they also include a desire to contribute to the greater good of society?

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09/09/24 - Reflect on your future aspirations and career goals. Are they primarily motivated by your personal interests and the pursuit of self-fulfillment, or do they also include a desire to contribute to the greater good of society?

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I don't know what I want to do out in the world, but I know I have so much potential to truly mean something to society. My dream job would be a music artist or movie director. I feel like I can put so many meaningful messages out into the world. I can write and create these ideas that I know people can relate to. I see people for who they truly are and I can understand so many different perspectives people obtain. The biggest part of contributing good to society is to understand how our society works first. We as people are constantly changing and growing every single day. Our society as a whole is just going to keep getting more and more open minded about this world. Some people hate that idea but it's just because its the truth. I know I have the potential to share messages to the world through my creativity I just don't know how yet.

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9/16/24 - Think about an issue in our world or country that you believe is truly unjust and absolutely unacceptable — something that fuels your anger, makes you feel outraged, and leaves you demanding change. In your journal, describe this situation in detail. Why does this injustice infuriate you? How does it harm individuals or entire communities? What would need to happen to bring about the change that’s desperately needed? 

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9/16/24 - Think about an issue in our world or country that you believe is truly unjust and absolutely unacceptable — something that fuels your anger, makes you feel outraged, and leaves you demanding change. In your journal, describe this situation in detail. Why does this injustice infuriate you? How does it harm individuals or entire communities? What would need to happen to bring about the change that’s desperately needed? 

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I truly think abortion rights are one of the main problems in the United States today. No woman should be forced to give birth. No woman should have anyone tell them what they should do with their bodies. It is insane to me that Roe v. Wade ever got overturned. People tend to mix their religious beliefs with abortion when this country shouldn't rule this based on whether or not they believe abortion is right or wrong.

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Think about a situation where you witnessed someone being unfairly treated or judged. How did you react? Did you feel compelled to step in, or did you stay silent? Explore your thoughts and feelings about that moment. What does mercy mean to you in situations of injustice? How can we cultivate a culture of mercy in our schools and communities?

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Think about a situation where you witnessed someone being unfairly treated or judged. How did you react? Did you feel compelled to step in, or did you stay silent? Explore your thoughts and feelings about that moment. What does mercy mean to you in situations of injustice? How can we cultivate a culture of mercy in our schools and communities?

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One time I was at a party and my friend just found out she couldn't go to our school anymore that day. Obviously, we crashed out and got all sad throughout the night. But then in the middle of the night these two girls who we used to be friends with who disliked the one girl leaving our school, started to mess around with her and make her feel bad about herself. I stepped in and yelled at them and protected the girl leaving our school. I could not imagine how she must felt and it hurts my heart to know how vulnerable she was in that moment.

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10/21/2024 Think of a family member, friend, or mentor who has made a lasting impact on your life—someone you deeply admire. Write about what makes this person so special to you. What are the qualities or actions that inspire your admiration? Reflect on how your relationship with them has shaped who you are today.

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10/21/2024 Think of a family member, friend, or mentor who has made a lasting impact on your life—someone you deeply admire. Write about what makes this person so special to you. What are the qualities or actions that inspire your admiration? Reflect on how your relationship with them has shaped who you are today.

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Someone who has made a deep impact on my life is Rollie Shepard. Rollie played on my t-ball team in kindergarten, but I didn't start being friends with him till halfway through freshman year. It was like an invisible string tied him and me together. He is one of the funniest people I have ever talked to in my life. We connected strongly straight away and ever since then we have been best friends. He has seen me in my best and worst times in high school. I deeply admire his way to always have a sarcastic remark to anything anyone says. I also admire his passion for his music taste and how knows almost every song lyric of Lana Del Rey. He is the person I know will make me smile on a horrible day and I love him so much for that.

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11/04/2024 - What aspects of today’s political climate make you feel anxious, worried, or unsettled? Consider the issues, divisions, or events that weigh on you. Why do you think these aspects affect you personally, and how do they impact your outlook on the future?

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11/04/2024 - What aspects of today’s political climate make you feel anxious, worried, or unsettled? Consider the issues, divisions, or events that weigh on you. Why do you think these aspects affect you personally, and how do they impact your outlook on the future?

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I hate how both parties are so divided. There is no middle ground, so this election you really have to decide what you truly believe in. Abortion, immigration, and the economy are the most important topics this election. If Donald Trump wins, I firmly believe that this country will progress backward. He helped overturn Roe v Wade which had been installed for over 30 years, so who does what else he will help to overturn. Immigration reform is a huge problem in this country that needs to be addressed. We have to look at which politician we truly believe will HELP them and not send them back. Kamala Harris has plans to help them. I also think the economy will be ran better with Harris than Donald Trump because he wants to give tax cuts to the rich and not the middle class.

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11/13/2024 - Think about a social issue that you believe is one of the most important facing our world today. What makes this issue stand out to you? Why do you think it needs more attention? Write about what you know regarding the causes of this issue, its impacts on people or communities, and any possible solutions you think could help address it. How does this issue relate to your own life, values, or experiences?

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11/13/2024 - Think about a social issue that you believe is one of the most important facing our world today. What makes this issue stand out to you? Why do you think it needs more attention? Write about what you know regarding the causes of this issue, its impacts on people or communities, and any possible solutions you think could help address it. How does this issue relate to your own life, values, or experiences?

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One social issue that I believe is one of the most important facing our world today is the justice system. To be more specific, the unfairness of trials and the unjust system that puts innocent people in jail for life. There have been many cases in U.S history that have put people in jail based only on skin color, gender, and etc. The justice system is discriminatory against marginalized people. I'm not saying all cases are discriminatory but a root problem has been growing for decades. This issue needs more attention because the reality we are facing here is that the next United States president who has 34 felonies gets to run this country and a person of color has to serve 20-plus years for marijuana possession. It is complete unfairness. It isn't just about race or gender either. It is about the more money you have and your class system. You can get out easier if you have more money.

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12/13 Pope Francis has spoken out. Reflect on these quotes and consider:What do you think Pope Francis means when he calls rejecting migrants a “grave sin”?Why is it important to treat migrants with love and compassion? Have you ever witnessed or experienced situations where people were treated unfairly because they were seen as “outsiders”? How did it make you feel?

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12/13 Pope Francis has spoken out. Reflect on these quotes and consider:What do you think Pope Francis means when he calls rejecting migrants a “grave sin”?Why is it important to treat migrants with love and compassion? Have you ever witnessed or experienced situations where people were treated unfairly because they were seen as “outsiders”? How did it make you feel?

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I think Pope Francis saying "rejecting migrants is a grave sin" shows us the importance of acceptance and what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. Rejected people coming to this country to start a better life is like denying people the dignity they deserve to have a better life. It is a heart-wrenching thing to think about the struggles migrants go through every single day. They risk their own lives coming to this country to give future generations a better life. I have experienced firsthand others getting left out. It physically makes me cringe and uncomfortable when I see others getting left out. One time in grade school, one our friends sat alone at lunch because are other friends were mad at her. I left my big group of friends and sat next to the girl sitting by myself. It made me feel good about myself, but I was also sad because I could feel the emotions the girl sitting alone was feeling.