Teen Murderer? (Revised)

According to the article "Locked Away Forever" by Adam Liptalk in Upfront Magazine, about ten-thousand Americans are serving time in jail because of the crimes they committed before they were 18 years old. The author wants us to know that these teenagers are serving life sentences for crimes that they have committed before the age of 18. More than 350 teens have done a crime such as murder at age 15 and are behind bars. "I was like a magnet for the wrong crowd," says Rebecca Falcon a 15 year old girl that got drunk and was accused of shooting a cab driver with an 18 year old boy she hailed a cab with. She did this just because she was upset with her boyfriend....

Adam Liptalk has used many craft moves throughout his article such as using statistics. He has clearly shown me about how many teens have committed crimes before the age of 18 in different parts of the world. In the article "Locked Away Forever" Liptalk mentions "In the U.S. more than 2,200 are serving life without parole." Giving statistics helps readers to understand and visualize clearly what is going on. Another craft move the author has used is including quotes that other people have said. By including others quotes, I am able to understand their opinions and what they feel. Liptalk wants us to feel pity yet disappointment towards the teens underage who have committed a crime because it is not expected from them, and they clearly don't understand the difference between right and wrong.

Before reading the article I thought the teens were definitely guilty for what they have done. But as I kept reading my mind was changing about the issue. They are no longer completely guilty for what they have done. They must have a reason that has been upsetting them, so they took action in a way that affected them.  I personally agree with the Supreme Court about the fact that youths under the age of 18 are less mature.They don't have the full knowledge on the harsh conditions when they commit a crime. I feel as if adults have a better knowledge and know what they are doing when the teens don't. They are young, wild and crazy. These kids are underage and shouldn't be put behind bars for a life time. "Ninety percent of teen offenders do not become adult criminals" says Laurence Steinberg a psychology professor of temple university in Philadelphia. Youths under the age of 18 shouldn't be punished for longer than five years in my opinion (depending on which type of crime they have committed.)

"To ensure that kids are protected we have to recognize that they are actually different from adults." Marsha Levick says. Yes! I completely agree with her!!! Kids are way different from adults depending on their maturity. They are naive, sensible and young and think whatever they are trying to accomplish is right. I have seen many students under the age of 18 go by the term "YOLO" which means you only live once, so they are convinced that you should do whatever you want since you only have one life to live.

"In teenagers, scientists have found that part of the brain that guides impulse control and weighs risks versus rewards is not fully mature. Research has also shown that a persons actions at age 13-14 are poor indications of the kind of adult he or she will become." The article includes. Committing a crime at the age of 15 may also be a poor indication of the kind of adult the kid might become. I would like to know why kids commit these crimes in the first place, like what is there reason on doing this besides being upset with their boyfriend? Though teens committing crimes are horrifying, they shouldn't be punished forever.

Citation:  Liptalk, Adam. "Locked Awat Forever." Upfront Magazine Not given. 15 Jan. 2013 <http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f0130a>.

Teen Murderer?

According to the article "Locked Away Forever" by Adam Liptalk in Upfront Magazine, about ten-thousand Americans are serving time in jail because of the crimes they committed before they were 18 years old. The author wants us to know that these teenagers are serving life sentences for crimes that they have committed before the age of 18. More than 350 teens have done a crime such as murder at age 15 and are behind bars. "I was like a magnet for the wrong crowd," says Rebecca Falcon a 15 year old girl that got drunk and was accused of shooting a cab driver with an 18 year old boy she hailed a cab with. She did this just because she was upset with her boyfriend....

Adam Liptalk has used many craft moves throughout his article such as using statistics. He has clearly shown me about how many teens have committed crimes before the age of 18 in different parts of the world. "In the the U.S. more than 2,200 are serving life without parole." Liptalk mentions. Giving statistics helps readers to understand and visualize clearly what is going on. Another craft move the author has used is including quotes that other people have said. By including others quotes, I am able to understand their opinions and what they feel. Liptalk wants us to feel pity yet disappointment towards the teens below the age of 18 who have committed a crime because it is not expected from them.

Before reading the article I thought the teens were definitely guilty for what they have done. But as I kept reading my mind was changing about the issue. They are no longer completely guilty for the crimes. They must have a reason that has been upsetting them, so they took action in a way that affected them.  I personally agree with the Supreme Court about the fact that youths under the age of 18 are less mature.They don't have the full knowledge on the harsh conditions when they commit a crime. I feel as if adults have a better knowledge and know what they are doing when the teens don't. They are young, wild and crazy. These kids are underage and shouldn't be put behind bars for a life time. "Ninety percent of teen offenders do not become adult criminals" says Laurence Steinberg a psychology professor of temple university in Philadelphia. Youths under the age of 18 shouldn't be punished for longer than five years in my opinion (depending on which type of crime they have committed.)

"To ensure that kids are protected we have to recognize that they are actually different from adults." Marsha Levick says. Yes! I completely agree with this!!! Kids are way different from adults depending on their maturity. They are naive, young and don't fully understand the difference between right and wrong. "In teenagers, scientists have found that part of the brain that guides impulse control and weighs risks versus rewards is not fully mature. Research has also shown that a persons actions at age 13-14 are poor indications of the kind of adult he or she will become." Committing a crime at the age of 15 may also be a poor indication of the kind of adult the kid might become. I would like to know why kids commit these crimes in the first place, like what is there reason on doing this besides being upset with their boyfriend? Though teens committing crimes are horrifying, they shouldn't be punished forever.

Citation:  Liptalk, Adam. "Locked Awat Forever." Upfront Magazine Not given. 15 Jan. 2013 <http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f0130a>.

A Day Where Everything Changes

Have you ever been judged? Maybe because of something small or stupid that you have done? Have you ever been judged just because of some other person's mistake?

I am currently reading  "The 9/11 Report" by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon and it is based on the Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The book has many pictures along with the words that are very intense and get readers to think. This book is basically like a comic book with words and pictures at every corner.

It truly breaks my heart pondering these actions on what terrorists did. It actually sickens me that we have a society like this.

I am really upset of what happened in 9/11. There are no words to describe how hard it was for me to take in the fact that thousands of people were killed. That morning mothers and fathers aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers expected to return home safely just like any other day, but it hurts knowing that they all lost their lives. Honestly my heart goes out to all the families who lost their dear loved ones. I can't imagine how hard it must've been for them. The terrorists not only killed people in the buildings but people in the hijacked planes as well. They killed people who were supposed to land safely. They killed people who had families waiting at home. I don't understand what the terrorists got out of this. How does killing people help make this world a better place? You just killed thousands of generations. You killed parents whose kids were waiting for them at home. You brought the end to people who were so young. Everyone deserved to continue their life. I don't believe anyone's life should end so tragically. It's such a disappointment knowing that people exist in this world would kill for the pleasure. But what pleasure?!?!

Many Muslims in America these days are accused of being a part of the 9/11 bombing. People believe that every Muslim is accountable for the deaths that occurred. I find this very unacceptable and rude. But all those Muslims that were accountable for the deaths should be punished for their actions. My heart is broken because I know that all those innocent lives were taken for no reason.

I myself am a Muslim, and I AM PROUD to be one!! I don't care what anyone thinks of me because this is my life. There is no reason on why people should judge me based on my religion and where I am from. So what if I am Muslim? Shouldn't I be treated the same as everyone else? The bombing mistake was someone's who was careless and didn't think of others or their own nationality they were putting a scar on. The mistake was not mine....

I am tired of hearing stories of people being judged based on the fact that they are Muslim. Like are you seriously gonna do that??? What benefit are you getting from this? Not all Muslims are terrorists, and I just wanna get the fact out to everyone out there who thinks that we are accountable for these actions. :(
I know many people who get accused of being a part of the 9/11 just because they wear hijabs on their head. No one should go through the horrific event that occurred at 9/11.

This impact remains in our lives forever....

An Education Gone Wrong???

Have you ever wondered how other people live their lives? Without education? How they find happiness in little things such as lemon seeds? Well, I have. Its actually heart breaking once you find out how other people live. Filthy places, barely any food, no diapers and only one pair of shoes...all this, just because of no education. When kids think about it, education is just a bore. No use in their life when its time to have fun. But when adults think about it, it means everything. "AHH I HATE THIS STUFF, WHY DO I NEED TO LEARN IT?!?" as a kid can simply turn into "Man! I wish I learned that!" as an adult. A good education plays a very important role throughout the lives of students, it might not seem like it at first, but at the end it really pays off.

In the book "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolff an education is a very serious matter. An education provides a high school diploma. An eduction provides a meaningful job. An education provides a roof over your head, food on your plate, and warmth in your souls of what is complete in your life. Jolly a seventeen your old teenage mom doesn't have that warmth. She lacks having a good education and a high school diploma. Though she has food on her plate and a roof over her head she doesn't have what she actually needs to provide herself and her two kids with... a job.

A job to me is truly necessary if you have a kid, especially if you have two. You need to feed three mouths including your own, and that is not possible if you don't have enough money.  Although I haven't experienced this myself paying rents and bills is a serious pain, but it needs to be done when you are living on your own with absent fathers of not one, but two kids. Jolly had asked LaVaughn to burrow money to pay the apartment rent, but LaVaughn isn't able to give Jolly it because she doesn't make money herself for baby sitting (since Jolly is fired) and her mother sure won't give her the cash.

I can't relate to this idea of being in Jolly's situation, or having a friend that was in Jolly's shoes, but I sure can feel sympathy for her. I honestly do feel really bad knowing that most of her time, Jolly searches for jobs, tries to gather up money and most of all she tries to take care of her beautiful kids.♥ If you have the opportunity to go to school under any circumstances, don't waste it. Take a moment to appreciate the amazing education you have because it will really pay off in the end :)

If school is a responsibility you can take, take it.

The Wings of Flight

"Fox" by M. Wild and R. Brooks is a fantastic picture book. It is very detailed and written in a creative way! I think that Fox is a great children's book with important themes throughout the story that should be shared with children. I had many themes going on in my mind as I read the story and some of them are listed below. There is also one character in the story that relates to me that is also stated below.

One theme that occurred to me was that "Never judge a person based on their physical appearances."  Dog had bad vision in one eye, and Magpie had a burnt wing, even though these are bad qualities that both of them have, they never judged each other, but cared what was within them. They were basically best friends and loved each other.

"I will be your missing eye, and you will be my wings." Magpie had said once to Dog. This quote to me actually has so much meaning, because this quote describes true friendship. "True friendship is always faithful" is another theme that has stood out to me.

Then comes along a fiery red fox who tries to ruin the relationship between dog and Magpie. I feel that fox did this in both triumph and despair.  I can also relate to this because I have also have been through Fox's stage of friendship before. I was jealous that my two best friends were hanging out with each other and excluded me from many activities they did. I was a lonely child, so I decided to ruin the friendship of my two best friends'. I know, crazy right? Fox was also jealous and couldn't stand the relationship the two best friends had together so he manipulated Magpie in running away with him. This is triumph.

Fox also tried to ruin the relationship between dog and Magpie in despair because he was always sad and he didn't have anyone to be with his entire life, or to play around like dog did with Magpie...just like me. I didn't want my best friends to be together, and exclude me when I introduced them to each other. -_- It just didn't feel right to me.

These are some of the themes that stood out to me, and how Fox relates to my situations in the past.

I'll Take Care of You :)

I have recently started reading the book "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Although I haven't got far in the book, I am still able to visualize a few conflicts going on in the story. One problem I noticed was that LaVaughn the protagonist in the story comes from a single mother who can't afford for LaVaughn to go to college. Another thing I have noticed is that Jolly a seventeen year old single mother takes care of two kids when she can't handle her own self. The two kids are Jilly and Jeremy who come from two different absent fathers that Jolly has been with so that's another problem. The last conflict I have seen so far is that Jolly had almost been raped by her boss and she has recently lost her job for stabbing him with a pencil. I know, disgusting. There are also a few differences between LaVaughn and I that I seem to find a bit interesting.

LaVaughn portrays the picture of being a girl who has internal strength. She is a strong young girl who loves Jilly and Jeremy. She cleans up the repulsive mess around the house, even the filthy roaches. I honestly admire that about LaVaughn, she doesn't give up so easily even if the place looks like garbage, isn't in a good building and from a single mother who is only seventeen. She also tries to keep up with school and homework/projects.. The difference between me and LauVaughn is that I wouldn't have been able to do what she has done for Jilly and Jeremy. Though she has been doing her homework and projects she isn't maintaining a good status on tests. Her grades are slowly decreasing from the lack of studying, that is because she has been so busy on taking care of the kids. I know that with my school work and the future ahead of me that I plan of living doesn't involve babysitting any kids like LaVaughn.

I have a mother and father, along with an older brother when Lavaughn has only a mother. She has no one to argue with in the house for going on the computer or watching TV when I do. I know that if I were an only child I would have been pretty darn upset because I was all alone. Lavaughn has made it through and she doesn't give much thought on having a sibling. I keep pondering to myself that if I were in LaVaugns shoes, how would I have taken care of myself? How would I keep up my grades while taking care of two kids? My mind remains blank.


"Can I go to college when I am big?" Lavaughn asked her mother.
"Nobody in this building"-"ever went to college in my family." says the mother.

I can't really relate to this idea because my parents want me to go to college and they have been to college before, when Lavaughn's mother hasn't, so this is actually a major difference between me and Lavaughn.. The thing that really gets to me is that how shocked the mother was when LaVaughn had spoke of college. Just the word "college" probably frightens the mother because she doesn't have the money for her daughter to go to college. That is the only reason why LaVaughn took the babysitting job, to earn a little cash to save for college fees. I think that whatever she is doing to get her dream of going to college is a great idea. She is trying her absolute best and I just really admire that about her!

These are the conflicts I have noticed so far in the story along with a few differences between LaVaughn and I.

I Didn't Mean for Anyone to Die...

 So far in the book "The Hate List" by Jennifer Brown, Valerie the main character has to overcome the conflict of guilt. She has such a hard time to get the idea of the hate list out of her mind. Nick Levil, Valerie's boyfriend has shot many people at Garvin High School's common area which is the cafeteria, and I think it is the wrong way to solve any problems you have with a person you dislike.

"For about the millionth time since the shooting, I felt an enormous pang of guilt." This quote basically describes how Valerie feels so far.

Nick Levil had problems with many people, so he created a list of people he hated. He called it the Hate List. Honestly, I think that Valerie was involved in it as much as Nick was because she also helped him create the book, and she wrote down the names of people that she hated. Usually the people in the hate list involved the people that bullied, or bothered them. But there is no reason to go around and shoot the people you don't like. That just makes matters worse and creates more drama. People are always staring at you in shame, they are trembling with fear whenever they are around you, because they think you will shoot them as well. That's exactly what happened to Valerie.

I think the right way that Nick should have solved the problem was by ignoring the people that bother him. Also, Jeremy one of Nick's friend isn't the greatest role model. Nick shouldn't have followed Jeremy around and he wouldn't have gone crazy and shot the students in his school. Jeremy was an older guy in the story who abused his girlfriend when he wasn't with Nick. I think Jeremy stuck the ideas of shooting the people in Nick's head, because Jeremy is obviously a bad influence... I mean he ABUSES his girlfriend.

I admit, throughout my life I have hated MANY people. But I didn't go and kill them like Nick did. I just ignored them and it helped. I especially did not create a list because if that page or book got lost, I would be in big trouble. I also don't really think I have any friends like Jeremy. I hope I don't.

Valerie thinks that she also killed the people in the list because she involved them in it. She literally hates herself for creating that list, because it killed some of her friends and put herself into depression. She doesn't want to go to school and face anyone, not even her own mother. If I were in Valerie's shoes I would of probably did the same thing. I would be to ashamed knowing I made a hate list, and my boyfriend killed most of the people on the list. It's just not right.

This is why I think Valerie and Nick did the wrong thing on making the list and shooting the people on them.