Flags.

This isn't my normal blog topic and it has nothing to do with my plan to change the world but after a ten month season flags has come to an end. Being that it was such a huge part of my life for such a long time I had to give it some time.
The girls (and Hector) that I spent the majority of my year with became my family. I dont think I've ever been on a closer team. We just clicked. After the season ended, even after a third place finish at state, we were sad. Not that we wouldn't be giving up our afternoons at hours of practice but that we wouldnt be spending time with each other.
Other than the team itself being on flags boosted my confidence. Usually I go through my day doing well but just average. The only awards I got were being on honor roll, which didn't really take much. Being part of a team we won a number of first place trophies, two excellence plaques, and one beautiful chunk of glass. It made me realize that I'm worth more than just good grades, I'm a key component of a winning team. It's not just me either. It's all 16 of us that wanted to be winners.
Going through the season I watched everyone grow in a different way. Some people became more confident. Others learned they can do more than they think they are capable of. Some of us finally found somewhere we fit in and were accepted. Everyday brought a new moment that stayed with us. In the long run it made us such a great team.
Next year it won't be the same. Three seniors are graduating, others can't try out and of course we bring up people that were on JV. I'm sure I'll love the new team just as much but this year will always hold a special place in my heart.

--michelle(:

Adaptability.

After freshman year you get a choice of which gym class you want to take. A choice between life guarding, leaders, regular, or adapted/integrated. I chose adapted/integrated. It was probably one of the best choices I've made so far in high school.
You may be thinking "Michelle, what exactly is adapted/integrated p.e.?" Well, kind friend, adapted/ integrated p.e. is a gym class that combines the students at Palatine with regular abilities with those that have different abilities, or the physically handicapped. Let me tell you though, they are not handicapped at all. My class is on the smaller side. We only have 13 leaders and 4 buddies.(Leaders being those with regular abilities and buddies being those with different abilities.)
Last semester one of the buddies was so funny and always said what was on her mind. Everyone loved her and didn't think of her as different or lesser, but just as a classmate. Another one is a pretty cool dude. Earlier in the year when one of the leaders was having some boy troubles he threatened to run him over with his wheel chair or trip him with his crutches. Whenever i see him in the hall he tries to teach me a new handshake so i can be cool.
I don't like to say they have disabilities because for what they lack physically the make up for in personality. Also the R-word bugs me. Don't substitute is for stupid. Don't even say it referencing someone with different abilities. It's mean and if you really get to know someone like the buddies in my gym class you can learn a lot.
I love everyone in my gym class and would encourage everyone to get involved with or even get to know someone with different abilities than yourself.

--Michelle(:

Simplicity.

Its the little things in life that make me happy.
When i got home today, I decided i wanted to make brownies. So I did. That alone is enough to make me smile, but while making said brownies I made a song. To the tune of "The Yellow Submarine" its called "Making Brownies in a Bowl". Its a chart topper, let me tell you.
Other things that can make me happy, and I'm sure many others, are :
Hugs. A simple hug from anyone, a stranger, a friend, your significant other, can be rather delightful.
Receiving unexpected letters. A text, an e-mail, or a Facebook notification doesn't mean as much as a nice hand written letter. It doesn't even take that long to write. I wrote one today in English class.
Adele. What a woman. Her songs just make me want to sing. Sure some are about heartbreak but they are SO powerful.
Making someone laugh. There is nothing better when someone laughs at my jokes.I don't even think i'm that funny, but when I make a stupid comment and someone truly laughs it makes my heart smile.
Emoticons. Adding a simple "(:" to a text just makes everything seem brighter.
Those just being a few examples, i want to challenge everyone to go out and make someone smile big with a little thing!

Smile.

Sometimes people don't understand the power of a simple smile. It spreads joy to yourself, as well as others. Whenever you are down, or have had a bad day, think of something that makes you smile and smile. You will automatically feel better.
When other people are sad, sometimes words aren't enough. A hug and a smile, I have found, are the best things for someone.
I like to make people feel better and I'm really not any good at it. Actually, I'm really awkward when I try. As part of my movement to change the world, I'm going to try to make people feel better using just a simple smile. No matter if i know a person or not, I'll smile. Sometimes i get caught in the world inside my head and show no emotion, but I am going to try my best to smile, no matter what.
This post is kinda short but the message, I feel, is worth a million words. Just remember, smile no matter what. (:

How this whole thing got started.

After I finished my freshman year of high school, I was excited. I mean, I had survived freshman year. That in itself is something to be proud of. Shortly after that I was, like every other summer, going to summer camp. I thought that this year was going to be the best one yet, and I was right.
That session started off like any other. The ice-breaker games, and awkward run-ins with people you have never met in your life but will be living with for the next two weeks. It wasn't until the second night when two counselors that my friends and I had become fairly close with over the years came in to talk with us. We started talking about Jesus and His love for all of us. That night i decided I wanted to find out more about Him and what He can do for me. Throughout the session I tried to figure out as much as I could and be just a little more positive.
When I got home I had three days until I was forced back into the real world of high school. Well, summer school. Some of the kids in my class were pretty cool. Others were the kind of people that I did not want to be around. They were judging, clique-y, and down right negative. I decided that something needed to be changed, and I was going to take it upon myself to do it.
I had gotten involved in a youth group that I really liked. One night we had guest speakers from the Night Ministry. The Night Ministry is an organization that help homeless teens in Chicago find places to sleep, eat, and get health care. I walked out of that presentation more motivated than ever before.
In November I attended the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) with my youth group. Let me tell you, sharing a weekend with 23,000 catholic teenagers from around the country is pretty powerful. Some of the speakers really got to me. They said that if you don't make a change in yourself, you can't make a change in the world. So, I decided to change myself.
My New Year's resolution was to be a more positive, happy person. I think I have changed, and am continuing to try to be positive no matter what, and just promote a positive attitude.