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. (: