Smile or Tears

We all remember those great moments in life where a smile immediately illuminates across our face. The disappointing part in that matter is when the smile is washed away like waves on a shore because that moment has come to an end. A brilliant writer by the name of Dr. Seuss once wrote, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Just because that great feeling has left us does not mean that we should cry because it is over. We should smile for the reason that we had the opportunity to live out that great experience. Sure we may never again live out that one great moment, but we can always remember how sensational it was.

Dr. Seuss' quote for example applies to the high school experience, something every teenager must go through. We have spent four years surrounded by people who come to school for the same reasons: to be educated, to socialize, to gain knowledge, to better ourselves, and even to cause trouble. Some students even attend school because they are forced to. Although pretty much every waking day we are forced to get up in the morning and come to that one same place, we have all at once said, " I wish I could just be a senior already and graduate so I can get out of here." We all say this now, but at one point in our lives we will regret it because after high school is when reality actually checks in and it can be a scary feeling. Most people do not realize that after high school we become more independent and the mistakes we make may have a greater impact upon us than they would have had before. High school can be annoying at times, but some of our most memorable events happen within our high school. Even my oldest sister has told me countless times that she wishes she could be in high school again because the memories are unforgetable.

Just think about all of the great moments that have been experienced in high school. Now imagine the day where it is finally coming to an end: graduation day. Being dressed in that cap and gown and recieving that one thing that we have worked for every year: our high school diploma. All of these feelings will bundle up inside and most likey cause tears. A smile will shine because of accomplishment, but tears will flow because of the great memories that have been experienced. Just remember what Dr. Seuss once wrote, " Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Memories are something we should smile about, not cry because they ended.

Courage and a Dream

What are our dream goals and how do we pursue them? A wise man, known as Walt Disney, once said "All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them." This quote is very true. Why have dreams or set dreams if we do not have the courage to pursue them.Whether or not we want to pursue those dreams are our choice. We all have dreams that at one point in our lives we want to accomplish. Whether, in the beginning, they were to become a princess or a prince and now in the present they are to become a doctor, a teacher, or a firefighter. Dreams that are made to be accomplished are what we strive for everday. We set our mind to a specific goal or certain goals and we work hard in order to get closer to those goals and accomplish our dream.

I know that I have a dream and the courage to pursue it. Although my dream may not be exact, for example what I want to be when I grow up; I still have an overall dream. My dream is to grow up and be a successful and courageous woman. I know that I can accomplish this dream without a doubt. I just have to stay focused and be honest with myself and who I really am. Sure there may be obstacles in my pathway that try to bring me down, but I just have to get back up and keep going. This is where the courage comes in. When you are bumped, bruised, and beaten to the ground trying to reach your dream, do you have the courage to get back up and keep working at it? No matter how many scars have been implemented trying to strive for that one particular goal, in the end it will all be worth it. Just imagine the feeling that will run through your body when you have finally achieved that one dream. That one dream that keeps you working day and night. That one dream that causes blood, sweat, and tears. That one dream that drives you crazy because sometimes you feel the urge to give it up. And that one dream that in the end will pay off for every little piece of work that you put into it. Having a dream is something we aim for everday in life and having the courage to pursue that dream is what will ultimately allow us to accomplish it.

Friendship

Robert Hall once wrote, "A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity." I strongly agree with this quote. A friend should be someone who we understand and whose opinion we can value. A friend is always going to be present for the best times in life and even the worse times in life. They are people who listen and give advice in order to make their friend feel special and feel like they will always have someone to talk to.

This quote is important and valuable to me because friendship is something I will always cherish. When I am going through a difficult situation and I need someone to talk to, my friends will always be there for me. They help me through the ups and downs and sometimes the biggest decisions in life. I do not know where I would be without them. They are some of the most important people in my life; they are my family and they will always be close to me and my heart.

Having a friend is a special gift in life that we will always love and remember. Imagine going through everyday life not having that one person who makes you smile or who even makes you cry. Without a friend we would not be the people we are today. Friendship can change an attitude, a perspective, and even an outlook on life. They are the people who we can trust and can tell almost anything to. The best part of having a friend is not being judged. They are here to guide and support any choice or decision you make and no matter what, they will always push you to be the best and to strive in what you believe in.

Not only are friends loyal and trustworthy, they are also the people who shine a smile on your face everday. Just think about it: How many times do you smile or laugh a day when you are around your friends? I am pretty sure the answer is countless. We laugh and smile so many times when we are around our friends that we cannot even count. Some of the best memories that we experience in our lives are with our friends and they are memories that are unforgetable. Friendship is a part of life that we will always have with us and it is something very special that people should not overlook.

Fitted to Overcome

Marcus Aurelius once wrote, "Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear." I believe and live by this. The universe is full of ups, downs, excitement, disappointment, and struggles, but how we act upon these events is our choice. The world hands us different situations, which we must live by. We do not ask or choose these situations we are merely placed in them. Whether we see them coming or if we are a complete fish out of water these situations may be for the best or they may also be for the worse. Although we may live through difficult struggles we are put through them because we have the ability and are strong enough to overcome them. If we were put in certain situations that we could not bear the world would not be as strong and united as it is, it could possibly be a destruction.

The reason I strongly live by this quote by Marcus Aurelius is because I have faced challenges that at first I believed I could not face, but learned to overcome them. It was at first difficult to grasp the situation I was placed in, but with time to reflect and act upon it I realized that I could face the situation and that I also did not have to do it alone. Although in the beginning, I blamed myself, my family, and others close to me, I learned that doing this was not going to slove the situation and that all I was doing was pushing away the people I love. How could someone push away the people who help them, suppot them, care for them, and most importantly love them? Although it took time, maybe longer than I expected, I realized that what was happening to me was not the best, but I had the ablity and strength to bear it. Now when I am put in a difficult situation I know that I must handle it calmly and I tell myself, "You were put in this situation because you can overcome it. It is just another bump in the road that you will need to drive over."

Although at first I blamed others for the difficult situations I was placed in, I look back and I cannot even imagine how I blamed them. I am sure other people have blamed others for their struggles and have come to realize that they made a mistake. That is why I strongly believe in this quote by Marcus Aurelius. Nothing happens to anybody which we cannot bear. We would not be put in difficult situations if we were not able to overcome them. Sure they may make us weak and vulnerable at times, but they also make us stronger, which is one of the best feelings anyone can ask for.