The Podium
Disgruntled is not the word I'd use
As always, I'll try to weed out the duplicates, I may succeed, but it's a pretty long list.
1. Back up your opinions. If you don't, you'll sound like an arrogant jackass.
2. I learned basic wiring in a house.
3. Too much time is spent on trying to be politically correct.
4. Take time for yourself once in a while.
5. Trees suck.
6. Hot tubs + poison oak = not good. The chemicals don't kill it but rather spread it to your whole body and give it to whomever is in the hot tub with you.
7. Don't hang your punching bag up in the garage next to your mother's brand new BMW. The bag might fall and the chains will dent and scratch the car.
8. I spend a lot of money on useless crap.
9. TR is always right.
10. Start a Roth IRA as soon as you can.11. Don't chew tobacco on campus.
12. Getting into fights with 14 year olds is not good even if they assault you first.
13. Girls are not to be trusted. Even if they give good head!
14. Economics can be a lot of fun.
15. Appearances are not everything. TR may be bald, fat, and grumpy, but he is also funny, smart, and makes learning worthwhile.
16. Never argue with a cop with you are doing something illegal.
17. If your knee joints, hip bones, or any other bones are out of place you should get them aligned because it can cause arthritis when you are older.
18. If you don't floss your teeth on a regular basis and use flouride you'll get gingivities, which leads to gum disease.
19. Don't worry too much. Worrying about things that aren't life threatening is a waste of time.
20. Don't speed at night. Traffic school was the most boring eight hours of my life.21. Fitness personal trainers are a waste of time and money.
22. Never buy a Sony Ericsson T616 cell phone. The buttons are crap and so are the pictures.
23. Always have fun, even in the worst situations there's still a bright side.
24. Not to worry too much about mistakes, the world still goes on.
25. I learned how drugs can really screw up a person's life.
26. Class was pretty pointless. Not always, but sometimes it felt like a waste of time.
27. Work hard, play harder.
28. How to cook better.
29. Family is everything.
30. Move on, and it's ok to be mean.31. It is ok to be alone.
32. You can't always trust people.
33. Appreciate the surroundings you're in.
34. Get along with your parents.
35. Love those you love and let them know you love them.
36. I have learned to be happy.
37. I have learned to be honest.
38. Don't freeload off society.
39. Most things learned in class will never be used in real life scenarios.
40. How to critically think.41. Life isn't fair, get used to it.
42. All the "red tape" you have to cross is set up by public officials.
43. Working harder is not always the best way to get things done.
44. The better something tastes the more likely it is bad for you.
45. You can't drink a gallon of milk in a half hour and not puke.
46. Being a TA is the best class.
47. Being a Senior isn't like being a king.
48. Trees are evil.
49. Plaid is the best pattern for a material and everyone should wear flannel.
50. Common sense is a good thing.51. Don't procrasinate.
52. You have to take what life gives you and roll with the punches.
53. How to eat discreetely so if an administrator comes in TR has "plausible deniability."
54. Hooters has good chicken wings.
55. If your clothes are too tight you should buy new clothes because people are cranky when their clothes are too tight.
56. Lumberjacks are cool and trees suck. Oh my God I've been brainwashed.
57. TR with a wig would be the best prom queen ever.
58. In class it has to stay in class. We can only make fun of people in the class.
59. TR's class is the only class I didn't want to miss.
60. The importance of having an opinion that I can defend.61. BSing is a skill that everyone uses and should be good at.
62. Keeping a budget is important.
63. Sports Illustrated has a lot of interesting covers and when you get bored you can look at something on the wall that you haven't seen before.
64. Collecting ugly chairs can be a hobby.
65. Live life to the fullest.
66. This class was the most fun, most entertaining class I've ever had.
67. It is possible to be laid back and productive.
68. Getting burned by red hot metal sucks.
69. Always let the teacher have his way, it's much easier than the student way.
70. Life isn't fair and when you complain about it, it becomes less fair than before.71. Some people are unavoidably intolerable and stupid.
72. All sports have their good and bad seasons.
73. Some people don't get it and never will.
74. Even though The Rock is a fantastic action movie, it's not as good as Terminator 2.
75. Economics tastes good.
76. Lumberjacks are important.
77. How to avoid questions. You can laugh and laugh and then run away and most people will forget to ask again.
78. Buying stuff on eBay is usually better than in the store.
79. All women want is to steal a man's money.
80. Poetry sucks and is boring.81. Every Thursday is lumberjack day.
82. Jennifer Lopez is not hot and that to say so when identifying girls in the "Hot Girls Game" TR will disqualify you if you insist that she is.
83. TR dated the devil.
84. Don't procrastinate.
85. Take care of your responsibilities first.
86. Show up to class on time.
87. If you show that you care about your grade your teacher is more likely to help you out when you're having a hard time.
88. Don't show up to school functions drunk.
89. Don't sweat the little stuff.
90. Sometimes even teachers understand that kids need entertainment in class.91. Kids respect teachers who joke around with them and actually talk to them.
92. Everything you do will have an impact on someone.
93. Be true to yourself.
94. Don't ever ask a guy if he thinks you're fat, there's no right answer and it will just lead to the two of you fighting.
95. Don't be afraid of change.
96. Have fun, no matter what.
97. Cut your losses.
98. Girls have cooties.
99. Family comes first.
100. Don't worry about what other people think. Just live the way you're happy.101. TR has the idea of never getting married and there are pros and cons to this.
102. TR is nicknamed "Mr. Compassionate," but it's a load of crap.
103. When you combine (one student)'s face with Brittney Spear, and (another student) with Christina Aguilera, neither image is a pretty sight, and if they had kids they'd be ugly.
104. Any item costs only as much as people are willing to pay for it.
105. It's important to be smooth with your words, it will get you somewhere in life.
106. TR is pretty good at teaching poetry.
107. If I'm ever fat I'm going to blame TR.
108. If you don't pass TR's class you're stupid, you have to try to fail.
109. People change in two seconds flat.
110. Marriage is a death trap.111. I learned what a metrosexual is, and that I don't want to be one.
112. Some students don't like to be stared at, and if TR knows this he'll make sure everyone stares at you.
113. Bros before hoes, friends always first.
114. Don't focus your life around work.
115. Shit happens.
116. Time goes by fast.
117. Writing more is almost always better than writing less.
118. Poetry and art are stupid. You can become a great artist or poet just by going around and paying people to say good stuff about what you do.
119. English teachers only read the first and last essays of the year.
120. The media sometimes tries to control us.121. If you give kids candy, they will do anything you want.
122. Someone will always be offended by what you say, regardless of what it is.
123. It will always make you feel better if you make fun of someone else, but pick someone who can handle it.
124. Never trust anyone who looks like they live out of a shopping cart.
125. Flannel is not only the greatest fabric, it can make people happy.
126. Invest in the stock market early.
127. TR has mood swings. He can start happy, go into serious and sentimental, and then make everyone afraid, back to happy, all in the space of five minutes. I think it's because he's dating someone, but it might be because he's sad to see us leave.
128. I'm always learning something, even if I don't think I am.
129. High school relationships are a waste of time.
130. Don't try to impress people.131. What goes around comes around.
132. I am smarter than my English teacher.
133. Don't run stop signs, even at school.
134. Don't kill rattlesnakes with a shovel.
135. don't let people change in the back of your car, you can get pulled over for indecent exposure.
136. Don't wear a skirt on windy days.
137. Don't let (student) talk in the microphone when performing at a conecert, he runs his mouth off and says things that piss the crowd off and then everyone hates us.
138. Don't ride your bike through bushes.
139. Modal scales on a guitar.
140. How to work iMovie.141. Candy can be used as a bribe.
142. Conversation skills and defending my opinion.
143. TR is God, but better than that, he taught us how we can convince others we're god as well.
144. Helping others can actually mean helping yourself.
145. TR sometimes made us work hard, but it was always fun.
146. Life will screw you over if you don't screw it over first.
147. Everybody is human. All forms of authority can eventually be broken down to your level. It changes from person to person, but flattery works pretty well for starters.
148. The key to failure is trying to please everyone.
149. You cannot drive over 30 mph on dirt and be in control.
150. Always pay your bills on time.151. Karma exists.
152. If you don't do it today, it won't get done.
153. Whining never works.
154. Drugs are bad, and there are much better, legal alternatives.
155. Everything has a beginning and everything has an end.
156. TR is God and he wants to create a kindergarten army of kids that wear flannel and chop down trees.
157. Never answer the phone. It's probably not that important and if the person on the other end really needs to speak to you they'll send someone to get you.
158. The only good movies are those with nudity and explosions.
159. TR eats babies (I know it).
160. TR, prior to becoming a teacher, lived a colorful life that was turned into a movie called "Red Dawn."161. Don't play poker for shots with a bunch of guys that are bigger than you.
162. Never let your boyfriend and your best friend be alone in a hot tub together, even if you trust them.
163. Men don't know how to have sex until they are at least 20 ... at least that's what I'm told.
164. You'll never get over your first love.
165. There is a time and place where one must learn to shut up.
166. You need to learn to keep friendships and money completely separate.
167. Don't let other people take advantage of you.
168. People are mean, get over it.
169. Don't do something just because everyone else is doing it.
170. Fun is what you make of it.171. If you ask TR for candy, you might get it. If you ask God for candy, you won't.
172. Cutting down trees is good for everyone. Environmentalists have a job (complaining about it), and lumberjacks do too (cutting down the trees).
173. Only make fun of people who are there.
174. (Student) is stupid. We took a poll in class and the poll said so, and polls never lie.
175. TR is selfish. He isn't getting married because his money is his.
176. Crying gets you nothing but a wet shirt.
177. Organization isn't all it's cracked up to be.
178. Purdue is an awesome college.
179. The story of TR's life in movie form is awesome.
180. If you do the work in TR's class, you won't fail.181. You can't have too many chairs.
182. If you can't take an insult, then you're a target in life.
183. Complaining about things also makes you a target.
I don't necessarily agree or disagree with these. It's just a list. I try weeding out the duplicates, sometimes I miss them, sometimes I just include them because they are worded differently from one case to the next.
This list is significantly longer than last year's, I must have gotten tired of typing much sooner last year. That being said, last year's list was probably better. Nevertheless, one may still find some entertainment in the list.
1. Everything changes.
2. Apathy as applied to school.
3. The power of chocolate covered espresso beans.
4. How to ignore people.
5. Driving in San Francisco is not that scary.
6. Congress is too complicated.
7. I hate equations involving other planets.
8. I should put gas in the car when the tank is 1/4 full so I don’t need as much money.
9. Life is stressful.
10. Winning your last game is great.11. Calculus is frustrating.
12. Statistics is nothing like Calculus.
13. The NBA is not a sport.
14. I’m nothing without sports.
15. leaving home will be hard.
16. How to calm down and not be neurotic about homework.
17. How much your mood can affect relationships with others.
18. Not to be overly dreamy about the future.
19. How inaccurate my initial perceptions about people can be.
20. How much excercise changes my mood.21. How much luck plays in life’s choices.
22. What it means to have divided government.
23. AP tests are very long.
24. Breakfast parties are fun.
25. 1984 is an excellent book.
26. That (student) doesn’t know what a male prostitute is.
27. That not getting my first choice of college isn’t too terrible.
28. That I’m going to miss all my friends next year.
29. That taking five AP classes is too many.
30. Watching movies in class is the best.31. I learned how to make TR hate me without even trying.
32. Not to go on rope swings after it has been raining for a month.
33. I hate theatre kids.
34. I hate Jesus freaks.
35. How to cheat really well.
36. How to write a good college entrance essay.
37. Who my real friends are.
38. How to drive.
39. Procrastinating always catches up to you.
40. A goldfish has a three second memory.41. BSing with style.
42. Purdue University spawns excellence.
43. How to bullshit my way through anything.
44. How facebook changes your life.
45. That myspace is addictive.
46. How to put my makeup on in the car.
47. How to be happy.
48. How to manage my time.
49. That no matter how hard you work you can still fail.
50. That one of the most important things in life is to not care what others think of me.51. How much my family means to me.
52. How to change a tire.
53. Why the glove compartment in my car makes a dinging noise.
54. Family is more important than anything else in the world.
55. Things should be thoroughly thought through before being said aloud.
56. Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me is complete bullshit.
57. How to strategically use the snooze button.
58. Tea is better than coffee.
59. How to be a non-touristy tourist in Mexico.
60. How to get money from my parents.61. Backflip and frontflip on the trampoline.
62. Doing nothing after AP tests is pretty awesome.
63. That I didn’t really learn anything this year.
64. Disappointing things will happen.
65. How to say “Jack in the Box” in Spanish.
66. Pride and Predjudice is terrible.
67. Wuthering Heights is terrible.
68. How to make cinnamon rolls.
69. Don’t drink water upside down from the back side of the glass.
70. You get out of life what you put into it.71. Life is all about attitude.
72. How to ask for help.
73. To not judge people by their appearance.
74. The Bronte sisters are overrated.
75. French is 100,000 times more complicated than Spanish.
76. Poetry is only good for writing essays and not fun at any other time.
77. President Bush looks like a monkey.
78. Pig brains are squishy.
79. Where Croatia is.
80. How to play guitar.81. Staying in school gets you dog tags.
82. How important the news is.
83. That the world stops turning when TR doesn’t have time to check the news.
84. That TR lets his students eat in first period.
85. Some people don’t deserve to be forgiven.
86. Life is bittersweet.
87. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
88. Don’t waste time.
89. That you can turn any question into an essay.
90. That doing all the work isn’t enough.91. That we want the government to take care of us, but not too much.
92. That TR’s class was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.
93. I will probably not see half my friends ever again after graduation.
94. That you should not trust a Republican with a gun.
95. Going to prom without a date is more fun because there’s more to do.
96. Do not drive a tractor at the highest speed.
97. Time flies.
98. I have my own opinion and to know something about what I’m discussing.
99. Deadlines are inevitable.
100. Money does not grow on trees. It’s made out of cotton, which is a bushy plant, not a tree.101. How to balance my budget, which isn’t easy.
102. I am responsible for my own actions and have to deal with the consequences.
103. Memories last a lifetime, so make a lot of them.
104. You can’t believe what you hear, especially in a small town with big egos/drama.
105. How to make a paper football.
106. Senioritis is real.
107. How to play football under pressure.
108. How to cut hair.
109. How to piss (kid in front of me) off.
110. One has to work hard to get the things they want.111. Some people are lucky.
112. TR hates trees.
113. TR hates cats.
114. How to play 20 questions.
115. How (kid in class) crossed the border from Mexico.
116. How to make fun of (kid in class).
117. News can be interesting and entertaining.
118. It would suck to be the girls that collect the recycling in this class.
119. The president isn’t all powerful.
120. Don’t live to work, work to live.121. The Lakers suck.
122. Everyone makes mistakes.
123. Charles I was the first king to have his head cut off.
124. When (kid in class) isn’t around, I’m the one that gets made fun of.
125. Homecoming and graduation are the best part of school.
126. How to buy and sell stocks in the stock market.
127. I should start saving money for retirement now.
128. TR likes the Steelers.
129. TR’s class was a lot of fun.
130. New jibberish words made up by (kid in class).131. Don’t over-steer while driving.
132. TR is pretty funny.
133. Bald guys rule.
134. How to use all the tools in woodshop.
135. 20 questions is a hard game.
136. People love money.
137. Mexicans are people too.
138. How to win a Championship.
139. How to party.
140. How to accept a sports injury.141. Trees are evil and must be cut down.
142. Not to mix chemicals that explode together.
143. TR is God.
144. Not to go 120mph on the highway.
145. Lumberjacks are cool.
146. I spend too much money.
147. Senior year is pretty easy.
148. Some things taste better going down than coming up.
149. TR looks like Mr. Clean.
150. 20 questions may be the best game to play in class of all time.151. (Kid in class) is only funny about 1 in 20 times.
152. If you are going 50+mph down a dirt road that trying to fishtail your car is not a good idea.
153. Waiting until Senior year to get 80 credits is a bad idea.
154. TR has a very shiny head.
155. Drinking and driving is a bad idea.
156. Bottles break over a person’s head and it’s a felony to do it.
157. It’s pretty easy to run from the cops.
158. Don’t drink and climb trees.
159. Some people really don’t like being poked in the back of the head.
160. How to handle personal stress.161. TR likes flannel.
162. TR has no feelings.
163. TR likes bobbleheads.
164. You can’t trust your best friend and when she tries to beat your ass you should beat hers instead.
165. TR is even more petty than us.
166. Drifting your car on a hard dirt road with five people inside results in one of your front tires coming off the rim.
167. The attendant gets mad at you when you change your tire at the gas station.
168. If you park in a two hour parking spot from 5pm to 2:30am your car will be towed.
169. Getting your car back from the guys who towed it is expensive.
170. If you dress well at your speeding ticket hearing it helps.171. Rangers have really bright flashlights.
172. If you jump off a waterfall at night you don’t know when to pull your hands in so they don’t slap the water, and that hurts.
173. You cannot control an erection.
174. Vagina was not one of Chairman Mao’s advisors.
175. If you stop mid-urination, it stings.
176. Child pornography is not illegal in Bangladesh.
177. If you masturbate a lot you don’t get extra hair on your hands.
178. No matter how hard you try to avoid high school drama, it always finds you.
179. To burn off the calories from one plain M&M you need to walk the length of a football field.
180. Based on the news, there are a lot of sick people in the world.181. All men are idiots when it comes to relationships and I should become a nun.
182. TR is always right.
183. Prom isn’t worth the money.
184. According to my spending sheets, I am a lard ass because I spend all my money on food.
185. Everyone is stupid.
186. When someone makes you angry, it’s best to calm down before confronting them. Then they won’t expect it when you get your revenge.
187. You can accomplish a lot if you don’t dwell on what you’re required to do.
188. Worrying about problems is a waste of time. Deal with them and they’ll go away.
189. Money doesn’t make you happy, but it will buy you things that can make you happy.
190. Never eat twinkies with pizza.191. Welding is a valuable trade and you can make fun things out of steel.
192. Government is a constant struggle between power and liberty.
193. Everybody farts.
194. Teaching is a career worth looking into.
195. You will never win an argument with your monther or father.
196. Don’t fail a class.
197. Don’t put yourself in a situation where no good can come out of it.
198. Everything you have can easily be taken away.
199. Breaking bones really sucks.
200. Drinking and driving is bad.201. Laughing at another’s expense may be rude, but it’s always funny.
202. Running from the police is easier sober, because if you’re sober you don’t usually need to run.
203. Life with no hair is better than life with hair.
204. (Kid in class)’s ass never gets old to look at.
205. (Kid in class) can’t gargle and say the pledge at the same time. 206. Don’t see the movie The Omen because it sucks.
207. In Costa Rica the salt water crocodiles swim in the ocean after it rains.
208. Dealing with personal stress and how to work through it.
209. TR has a heart.
210. Governement and Economics can be funny.211. TR likes making fun of people, and that’s a good thing.
212. TR hates doing grades.
213. How to keep my head up when things are crappy.
214. Being French won’t get you far in life.
215. The English were stupid to put a king in charge who didn’t speak English.
216. Never trust people over 30 because they could be a rapist.
217. What to do in case of an earthquake.
218. Driving on the sidewalk will get you a ticket.
219. TR is one of the best teachers ever.
220. If something is worth fighting over then it’s not worth fighting over because it it was you would have already hit the person.221. I really and truly hate pandas.
222. I love being pissed off about something.
223. When teachers play favorites you’re always screwed.
224. The beach after 3:00 am is not fun.
225. Depression sucks.
226. Most kids do way more than their parents imagine they do.
227. People who have money run the school, no matter how badly their kids mess up.
228. Traffic sucks.
229. You can tell what kids will be in jail by senior year.
230. I should always stand up for myself.231. Always show up to TR’s class.
232. If a baby goes poo, if you wipe up you can give the baby an infection.
233. I am allergic to paint stain.
234. How to register to vote.
235. How to balance my checkbook.
236. How to cut class and not get caught.
237. That TR has been my favorite teacher since my Freshman year.
238. Purdue is the best.
239. (Kid in class) is always late.
240. Why they call it “firewater.”241. Where Montenegro is.
242. The word “hurry” is hard to draw in Pictionary.
243. Bald guys are awesome.
244. Converse All Stars are cool.
245. Plaid is fashionable.
246. I should have taken different classes.
247. Be careful who you trust.
248. We don’t live in the hood.
249. Sometimes it’s better to shut up and not ask questions.
250. Power rapes liberty.251. According to the news, 35 year old teachers like high school kids in bed.
252. History teachers are crackheads.
253. Phoebe spells her name wrong, it should be “Fibi.”
254. TR sucked during March Madness.
255. Girls are nothing but problems.
256. Trees are the devil.
257. Sleeping in class doesn’t seem bad, but is very bad.
258. I have no tolerance whatsoever.
259. Overachievers are annoying.
260. I have matured a great deal since two years ago. -- note: holy cow, I would have hated to see this kid two years ago.261. Doing community service makes passing TR’s class easy.
262. Just playing soccer without practice makes you lazy because then you don’t want to run in games.
263. Life goes by fast.
264. Money isn’t everything.
265. Jokes are not always appropriate.
266. Bongo drums have no place in the classroom.
267. Earning something is much more rewarding than having it given to you.
268. You can get into deep trouble for small things.
269. Just because you have the potential to succeed doesn’t mean you will.
270. Why my favorite color is blue.271. Lakers suck without Shaq.
272. It is fun sleeping with other people’s girlfriends.
273. Good advice is like sex. Take it from whoever and whenever you can get it.
274. Procrastination is like masturbation. It feels good at the time but afterward you realize you’ve fucked yourself.
275. If you tear three ligaments in your knee you can still play football.
276. If you can’t throw a change up, don’t pitch.
277. If you’re winning in the bottom of the 7th and the other team is up with two outs and the hitter has two strikes that doesn’t mean the game is over.
278. It is possible to only do homework and pass a class.
279. Cell phones don’t like water.
280. Most people are annoying but you have to deal with them anyway.281. Everything costs something.
282. Correct your bite problems early in life.
283. Sometimes it’s best to keep quiet.
284. Sitting in the back of TR’s class means more attention will be drawn to you.
285. TR is crazy.
286. Buying things helps the economy.
287. TR has a doctor in Las Vegas.
288. Don’t be over sensitive.
289. Take good notes.
290. When taking notes, it’s best to waste space and use lots of paper for adding things later.291. Don’t drink before school functions, especially prom.
292. Some people are a waste of my time.
293. The Russians were a big problem in the Cold War.
294. Being patient is the long run pays off.
295. Being honest is more important than telling people what they want to hear.
296. The importance of the news, and how stupid or funny the truth really is.
297. How to talk my way out of a speeding ticket.
298. TR looks like a screaming baby.
299. That (kid in class) is not very discrete when he stares at my ass. (see #204)
300. High school is more than just academic education.301. More in this class than I thought I would.
302. I really don’t like Math.
303. Most people care, even if they don’t show it.
304. Behind TR’s rough outside, there is a gentle, caring man.
305. Outlining essays is really pretty helpful.
306. People are shady.
307. Trust only yourself.
308. How to edit a movie with a firewire and DV connection.
309. TV screens are composed of blue and red flashing lights.
310. Don’t make stupid life changing decisions.311. Parties at your house are bad.
312. Look both ways when driving.
313. Always lock your car doors.
314. How to ride a bull.
315. Never leave kids home alone for 6+ months at a time.
316. A V6 Mustang can go 110 mph with your friend passed out in the back seat.
317. You can cheat, lie, and steal your way through school.
318. Save money.
319. Beer bongs are cool.
320. Don’t party too hard the night before you have to work in the morning.321. Never eat a plate full of pancakes and a milkshake before playing football with your brother.
322. Don’t eat more than four Eggo waffles.
323. How to deal with my anger.
324. Never drink on New Year’s Eve in (rural area)because you will drive your car off a cliff.
325. There is no god.
326. Unless money is backed with something, it’s worthless.
327. At some colleges you have to pay for parking or you’ll get a ticket. At others you can leave your car in the same place for four months and no one will care.
328. My dad wakes up at 2:30 am.
329. Martin Luther does not always mean Martin Luther King.
330. Ex-boyfriends always want you back right after you’ve decided to move on.331. Smoking pot isn’t worth the money.
332. I miss playing cowboys and Indians with army men and transformers.
333. Life isn’t fair, get used to it.
334. Life is too short to waste being pissed off all the time.
335. Lynard Skynard kicks ass.
336. Everything is ok in moderation.
337. If you’re nice to a teacher you don’t like it’s much more pleasant for both of you.
338. Organization and good notes can make or break you at the end of the year.
339. Surfing is the best therapy.
340. TR rules all.341. Teachers are normal people but can sometimes get pretty crazy.
342. What TR says, goes.
343. I will miss school.
344. Everyday movies that don’t seem to relate to what we’re studying can easily relate if they’re explained in certain ways.
345. The definition of voluptuous.
346. How to avoid work in school.
347. People think I’m older than I am and that can easily be used to my advantage.
348. Remember old friends.
349. Always drink water when partying.
350. The world needs more people like TR.351. When TR asks for a top ten, always write only ten. -- note: this was #11)
352. Hating isn’t worth it.
353. Money spends itself.
354. Being nice pays off.
355. Drinking isn’t always fun.
356. Save time for fun.
357. Families can get along.
358. Sometimes really terrible things like rape, molestation, physical abuse, Lou Gerhig’s disease, and kidnapping, happen to really good people.
359. Not to hang out with anyone more than 4 years older than me.
360. Not all bald and fat people are jolly.361. Weekends are way too short.
362. Everything is negotiable.
363. How to paint a car.
364. I hate Shakespeare.
365. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a horrible book.
366. I learned way too much about my classmates’ personal lives.
367. How to look busy for an entire period.
368. Always use a timer in a timed presentation.
369. Life is not fair.
370. Not to mix bleach with ammonia, ever.371. Now that I have a job, everything is expensive.
372. Beef is the best meat of all meats.
373. People like me but I’m unfriendly, so I don’t have any friends.
374. Halo and World of Warcraft are more entertaining than I am.
375. Bangs are not for me, and cutting them as a way to relieve a bad mood doesn’t make me feel better.
376. I shouldn’t let people take advantage of me.
377. Not to be tardy.
378. There are no stupid questions, only stupid people that ask questions.
NOTE: I don't necessarily agree or disagree with any of these, it is merely a list.
This year, I learned...
1. School is much less tedious when work is done with friends.
2. As long as I keep doing things a little at a time, I can accomplish more than I thought.
3. I can have a happier life through being an engineer than pursuing mountain biking.
4. It is extremely hard to organize bike competitions, working, school, and friends.
5. Being straight forward in the first place is extremely important, I could have avoided a lot this year if I had understood that.
6. Commercial news is all biased. Only security videos and audio recordings are completely objective.
7. Benzodiapine + alcohol = not a good idea.
8. There are no women on the internet. Period.
9. Rastafari is mostly black-supremacist jibberish and homophobic potheads.
10. China will be the next world superpower, over India.11. The Social Security system sucks and by the time we are old it will be useless.
12. People shouldn't make a big deal about steroids in baseball.
13. No matter what, if you get arrested, always be nice to the cops.
14. To be the better person in certain situations.
15. Not everything is fair.
16. Best friends are always there.
17. how much money I spend in a week.
18. it is ok to stand up for what you believe as long as you have something to back yourself up with.
19. My rights.
20. to be respectful to people and they will be respectful back.21. How to take responsibilities yourself.
22. how to not be selfish and not always expect things in return.
23. life is not always fair.
24. That some of the people that I thought I needed I really didn't and to get rid of all the unnecessary people.
25. What friendships are like in high school.
26. To take responsibility and do things myself.
27. To deal with my problems.
28. who the important people are in my life.
29. How statistics work in the world.
30. How to compromise.31. How to become a firefighter.
32. Life is way too short.
33. Things are a lot easier if you actually try.
34. Don't take your friends for granted.
35. The people I love won't always be here.
36. Never have a party at your house.
37. who my friends really are.
38. Love your mom forever.
39.
40. Not to cut TR's class.41. tell your teacher the truth.
42. You really do have the 'right to remain silent.'
43. Please yourself, then worry about others.
44. You're never going to see these people again, don't worry what they think.
45. Family is always first over friends.
46. It's not what you know, it's who you know.
47. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
48. cherish the memories, it all goes by way too fast.
49. living in extreme highs and lows is better than staying in the middle.
50. a team can be a family.51. eBay is awesome.
52. other people's opinions are not everything.
53. Not everything the government does is bad.
54. Most people are too stubborn.
55. The world is not black and white.
56. Sometimes you just have to live with what you get, if not for yourself, then for others.
57. How to prepare for the future.
58. The world does not revolve around me.
59. There are things more important than school.
60. Don't talk about people behind their back.61. Pay attention when you drive.
62. People need to learn to respect their peers.
63. It's ok to still have morals.
64. How to relax.
65. Everyone deserves a second chance.
66. There are some things I cannot do, despite how badly I want to do them.
67. Bush is not as dumb as I thought.
68. How to manage my budget.
69. How to handle a car accident.
70. Friends don't last forever.71. How to drive with my knees.
72. How to change the oil in my car.
73. Don't believe everything you're told.
74. Be happy with yourself.
75. The Bill of Rights, so now I can use them against the cops.
76. How to have fun in class.
77. How to defend my personal beliefs.
78. How much some families help out their kids and others don't.
79. Money does not satisfy everyone the same.
80. How to do the laundry.81. Age doesn't matter when it comes to friends.
82. Milk and watermelon don't mix.
83. People don't like you piercing their children's ears.
84. Good things in life you must work for.
85. Water gives you the runs.
86. Old people are always right.
87. If you are tall, look out for your head.
88. That being an all-around good team doesn't make you play well together.
89. Who my real friends are.
90. I am happy with who I am.100. to appreciate my surroundings.
101. Not to talk too much on my cell phone.
102. How to change a tire.
103. Not to leave everything to the last minute.
104. To tell people you care about them before it's too late.
106. Save money.
107. Never raise my voice in an argument.
108. To be careful when addressing people that are overly sensitive.
109. Enjoy life, it can end at any time.
110. high school really doesn't matter in the long run.111. People will listen if you talk to them rationally.
112. HERE is a good place to grow up.
113. The world isn't as bad a place as it sometimes seems; there are good people doing good things to change it.
114. As annoyed as I sometimes get with my family, they'll always be here for me, and I'll miss them next year.
115. How much TR doesn't care what people think of him.
116. How to make fun of people better.
117. Pass the class the first time so you don't have to make it up.
118. How to let other people talk and how my mouth can get me into a lot of trouble.
119. To respect the people that deserve it, and they will respect you back.
120. To cherish every moment we have with these people in school, because I probably won't see a lot of them ever again.121. You win some, you lose some, and only live once.
122. There are many things that our government thinks we are better off not knowing about.
123. You can't believe everything you hear, even if it seems to be a reliable source.
124. Things are almost never black or white.
125. People who are 'street smart' might be better off than 'book smart' people in this world.
126. It's who you know, not what you know.
127. Who my real friends are, who stuck by me through hard times.
128. Having a lot of stuff on the wall makes life fun and interesting.
129. to form my own opinion not based on what others think.
130. How to break a huge assignment down into smaller sections.131. How valuable real friends are.
132. Arguing with a teacher only leads to trouble.
133. kids rank coolness by the type of car you drive, not the type of person you are.
134. Every girl's hobby is to talk about other people's personal life and relationships.
135. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
136. The word of TR is final.
137. You can get a speeding ticket in reverse.
138. High school drama is only that: HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA, and not the end of the world.
139. Drunken wheelchair operation is still a D.U.I.
140. Cats suck.141. The principal's office is no place for a bachelor party.
142. There are things said by kid in the class that will never cease to amaze me.
143. How colorful Sports Illustrated covers can make a room.
144. That most everything can be called, "crap."
145. Mr. Clean makes the best cleaning products.
146. Bald guys are awesome.
147. In a fight between teacher and TR, TR would win.
148. That I should tell the guy I like that I like him.
149. There are bad friends.
150. To work hard consistently or else it will come back and bite you in the ass.151. When and when not to pay attention in class.
152. How to cut class without getting caught.
153. Don't put your car in reverse when going down a hill.
154. When someone tells you there won't be any cops at a party, they're lying.
155. there is only so much I can take of one person, place, or thing before I tune it out altogether.
156. French is a moronic language because they don't pronounce the ends sounds.
157. Drugs are bad because they lead to bad crap.
158. Sometimes you have to do stuff that seems dumb, but it's really not.
159. How easy it is to fail.
160. How hard it is to succeed.161. How to take criticism.
162. How pointless chemistry is for high school students.
163. How much money we spend on worthless crap.
164. The importance of getting a retirement fund.
165. How states can get away with certain things.
166. how to drive a tractor.
167. How to critically think.
I took the list from earlier that was compiled by the AP kids, alphabetized it, and passed it out to all my students, having them rank them from most important (1) to least important (10). Much like the "scoring" from before:
1 - 10 points
2 - 9 points
3 - 8 points
4 - 7 points
5 - 6 points
6 - 5 points
7 - 4 points
8 - 3 points
9 - 2 points
10- 1 point
There were 102 total students voting. Here are the results. I'll list them as follows:
rank. issue,percentage who had it on their list, Total Points (from above).
1. Need for Oil/energy,60.8%,417NOTEs: The percentage who had it on their list category gives one an idea of the percentage of kids who actually thought it was important enough to make their top ten.
2. Terrorism,45.1%,326
3. AIDS,46.1%,268
4. Overpopulation,43.1%,256
5. Overuse of Natural Resources,40.2%,229
6. Abortion,36.3%,218
7. Global Polarization,33.3%,198
8. Gay Rights,35.3%,190
9. Natural Resources,27.5%,185
10.Illegal Immigration,33.3%,169
This has been an interesting aside for the past couple of days. Next year I'll make sure I break it down from the category standpoint and make things a bit clearer. For example, "Need for oil/energy" and "Overuse of Natural Resources" and "Natural Resources" could all be interpreted as the same thing. When trying to combine issues, I didn't want to assume things that would lead to removing something someone thought was important. One's own biases, however much one can try to not have them, still leak into everything. This is not my list.
That being said, I'd be lying to say I didn't come up with my own top ten, feel free to ignore, or comment as well, as I think some of these things need some discussion.
Notables that did NOT make my list (in no particular order):
AIDS -- While I understand it's a big issue, over the next 60 (or so) years, I don't see it staying in the headlines. It has already been moved mostly off the front page. Much like the STD scare of the 70s, it's going to calm down significantly, not get worse. I'm not saying it won't be an issue, but top ten, no.
Abortion -- I know, this will never go away, but I honestly think both sides have figured out what the playing field looks like. Totally outlawing abortions will never happen, but neither will allowing them "anywhere, anytime, any reason," such as partial birth abortion. The fight will be somewhere in there. The whole issue of stem cells, etc., will come up, but I covered that elsewhere.
Illegal Immigration -- I'd like to have it on the list, but I don't see it continuing to be an issue. Mexico will annex part of the US (which WOULD be big, but I don't see happening), or something will happen (terrorist, e.g.) that will force some sort of hardcore patrolling of the border. I'd say in the next ten years.
Healthcare -- I covered with "medicine"
Threat of Nukes -- while this is HUGE, I see this threat more from a rogue nation, not one that will force a full scale war. I put it in with "terrorism."
Cloning -- "genetic engineering"
Technology -- this is just too broad a topic. Across the board, sure, this should be near the top, but it's just too broad to include on any top ten list. In retrospect, I probably should have removed it.
World War III -- I think it's possible we're already in it. No, we didn't start it, because I'm talking about the terrorist thing. We may have escalated it, but that's not my point. Either way, if something big happens I see it coming out of the "Middle East," which is covered.
Racism -- maybe worldwide, but I don't see it as a tremendously huge issue. Yes, there are racists, and yes, most people don't like them, and yes, there are laws that restrict it. Having a "more fair" system would require telling people what they can and can't think.
Elimination of US Middle Class -- I'm glad this is on the list, and I see the middle class shrinking, but I also see leadership somewhere (that we don't know of) showing up and fixing this probably rather soundly. Much like Teddy Roosevelt breaking up monopolies at the turn of the last Century. He was a Republican, supposed to support the corporations, but he did what was needed for the people, NOT for those who got him to power (granted, he was rich to begin with, but again, not my point).
So, my top ten, with explanations of some at the end.
1. Water
2. Middle East
3. Terrorism
4. Mass transit
5. Space/Oceanic Exploration
6. Need for Oil/energy
7. Environmentalism
8. Global Polarization
9. Genetic Engineering
10.Medicine
Water (potable) tops the list because everyone needs it. Overpopulation isn't on my list because at a certain point, there's only so many resources that can be used to support the population. I see the lack of water being an issue, which may lead to dealing with the problem of overpopulation, but lack of water will also lead to increased incidences of violence in areas where there is little (think Middle East), and there are already problems there to begin with, leading to Middle East as my #2. Problems abound, you name it. Leading to #3 as well.
Mass transit will become huge, which will help with the environmental problems that are created by newly developing countries that don't have the resources to keep up with the rest of the world if they have to be environmentally safe. Much like a smoking section in a restaurant, the smoke doesn't hover over only the smokers.
So ends another survey from my desk. I have a couple others I may throw out as well, part of the final included a ranking system, perhaps I'll include that one a bit later.
In order, from 1 - 5, identify the most important issues of your generation. They can be good or bad, just the top five things that will consistently be important during your lifetime.
Of course, there are the requisite questions, and some kids still misinterpret what is being asked for, but, without eliminating any responses, I compiled their list in the following way:
5 points for a response ranked #1
4 points for a response ranked #2
3 points for a response ranked #3
2 points for a response ranked #4
1 point for a response ranked #5.
One of the problems with these sorts of exercises is identifying what a kid means, and putting it together with something else some other kid said. One couldn't possibly require categories to be exactly the same, because then I would be stuck with five issues from each kid. What I could do (and what I would do if I were to make this an actual lesson) is make another list based off the list I've printed here, and have them rank those issues as well. Some of the items on here, such as the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky item at the end, would then receive no votes, while others that are close to the bottom (like the shortage of water) would probably move up significantly.
Items such as "deforestation" and "ozone depletion" end up being lumped together into one category of "ENVIRONMENTALISM." Realizing that's not a perfect category for it, it ends up being the best way to do this simply...thinking about it, I'll complete the list tomorrow by distrbuting ballots that include all these issues.
And yes, I'll post those results.
But for now, the raw report (rank, issue,number of "points"):
1. Terrorism 42
2. Need for oil/energy 41
3. Middle East 35
4. Environmentalism 33
5. Threat of Nukes 22
6. Overpopulation 17
7. Abortion 16
---Global Polarization (US vs World) 16
9. AIDS 8
10. Gay Rights 8
---World Hunger 8
11.Drugs 7
12.Natural Resources 6
13.Mass Transit 5 (had more responses than the other "5s"
14.Dot com bust 5
---Foreign Relations 5
---Malnutrition 5
---Technology 5
---Treatment of Mentally Ill 5
---US debt 5
---Women's Rights 5
21.Clinton and Lewisnky 4
---Genetic Engineering 4
---Medicine 4
---Overuse of Natural Resources 4
---Stupid Lawsuits 4
---World War III 4
27.Illegal Immigration 3
28.Church vs State 3
---Elimination of US Middle Class 3
---Weapons Research 3
31.Crime 2
---Democracy 2
---Medical Research 2
---Public Education 2
---Social Security 2
---Waste Management 2
---Widespread Ignorance 2
38.Career Politicians 1
---Cloning 1
---Degeneration of American Society 1
---Healthcare 1
---Racism 1
---Space/Oceanic Exploration 1
---Water 1
