14. Response to quote

Since I was young I have always dreamed of being wealthy. My great performance in school was due to my goal of being a wealthy man with no problems, but quotes like this have reminded me that money isn't everything. Making money is important, but it's not everything. Technology has driven us to the point where commercials are longer, ads are bigger, and products are life savers. Money can't buy true happiness, another saying that has erupted due to all the suicidal effects of being alone with plenty of money. Some who do attain plenty of wealth spend their money on planes, cars, watches, clothes, all that cost more than a year supply of food. Food that can feed starving mouths in many countries around the world. It's sad to see money spent on things that won't even give you any warmth in your heart from doing a good deed. Paparazzi following you around, people only knowing your famous title besides your family, and never getting peace of mind, all apart of living a famous life. Fame provides wealth, and "He does not possess wealth, it possess him."

15. Valuable Contribution

The most valuable contribution I can make to a college campus is my determination in success. Growing up being told that anything is possible I took every chance to make my self better in sports and education. My grades are not perfect, I make mistakes, I have hard times, but giving up is no option. I let my haters be my motivaters and never give in till my last breath. Sports have gave me strength, discipline, and responsibility. Family has provided encouragement, health, and love. These two provide fifty percent, but a coach can only do so much, the player has to want to take charge and never quit. My life is just beginning and my confidence keeps rising. People will try to bring me down mentally, physically, emotionally, but I will not collapse and I will not try, just do. College is for everyone, but that president position of a large corporation is not. Hours reading, notes taking, study planning, will be building blocks to get to the top. Any college would be honored to have me as a student because i'm going to the president position no matter what anyone says. Failure will break you, but don't ever let it make you. My determination will change lives and the school, forever ;)            

16. Significant Experience

Two years ago I went on a Catholic church retreat with my cousin. No electronics, new people, and a environment I wasn't familiar with. I was told that the four day retreat was crazy fun and an experience I would never forget and little did I know it changed my life. The first day leaving my house without my phone I felt naked, unusual to the fact that technology has change me to feel lonely without it. The cabins were old, but refurnished and everyone looked forward to the first day. The teenagers listened and took notes while instructors talked about the word of God for 4 hours a day. Breaks in between were 30 minutes, but we did this for three days leaving everyone to complain and be disruptive. I thought to myself, this is suppose to be fun not another four days of school. The first three days were terrible, but as the teens of today judge a book by its cover we tend to give up or stop caring. The last day of the retreat was one of the most emotional days of my life and for the other teens as well. Three days passed of note taking and the fourth day surprised us all. We played games, ate tons of junk food, and talked about what we look forward to in our lives. Sunday was our last day and we needed to go back to the cabin to change for service. Finally, everyone walked down to the main room awaited to see our parents sitting there applauding to have seen us complete our retreat. When we finished service, our coordinators walked up to the stage and began to explain what we were going to do next. I listened as my heart sank, we were suppose to walk up to the stage with our parents as our named was called, take the microphone, and explain from the bottom of our hearts why we loved our parents and say sorry for any problems that we might have caused. The parents were to do the same after their kid. Seven teens before me with tears falling, and forgiveness in their hearts led me to see how and why we all need to express our emotions. "Carlos Curiel" my name is called out, I take a deep breath trying to hold in my tears knowing that I haven't been the most perfect son as well. I began and in the middle I stopped, tears were falling like raindrops and I ended telling my sorrows. My parents began and I now felt better to see that they had a hard time as well showing me forgiveness. The night ended with hearts relieved and family ties stronger than ever. This night did turn out to be unforgettable; my phone was now history.   

17. Issue discussion

I have a personal issue with kids and teens disrespecting their parents. I grew up with a loving family, but i have witnessed close friends with a family as well as mine or even better, but treat their parents with the greatest disrespect. Watching my brother get spanked due to the ungrateful words spoken back to my mother showed me how wrong it looked to treat someone with no respect. No ones perfect, we all make mistakes, but it's up to the parents to raise their children up right. Kids who start talking to their parents with grotesque language end up being teens with more terrible effects. Last year, I again witnessed a friend bad mouthing her mom when she had taken me and another two friends all the way to Disneyland. Her mother willing to miss work, drop chores, and waste gas in order to be yelled at by her daughter made me feel disgusted. I wanted to speak, but was it in my place to do so? Did i have a good enough relationship with her to not lose her as a friend? These questions flowed through my mind and I ended up keeping my mouth shut. I felt like it was something that needed to be dealt in a controlled manner not when she has invited me to go have a good time. Some parents treat their children horribly leading their children to do the same to their kids, but that cycle needs to stop or else no one ends up happy. Discipline is needed, but love is key :) 

18. High school change

I believe that our high school campus can use changes in the security staff and better lunch food. The security at our school needs way more improvement. Eighty percent of the time when I walk into the restrooms the smell of drugs lingers. I want to be able to use the restroom and come out without smelling like a disastrous chemical. Our security needs to improve or the students will take advantage of every opportunity they get. Food is energy, power, and a delicious item that everyone dies for. At the school the food served during lunch is not even close to these descriptions. The salad is the only thing that seems well suited to consume, but the pizza and the cheeseburgers are to gross. Pizza with way too much grease and burgers with weird meat have given me reason to bring lunch from home. The economy is terrible and good food is hard to provide, but if we would have made smarter decisions with sport financing then better food may have been possible. Security and food are problems, but the way are school uses money can lead to every Castle Park students downfall.

19. School Attendance

School attendance should be mandatory because intelligence is POWER. School is more than education, it brings friends together and creates family bonds that last forever. Sports for example gives way to a brighter school with a mandatory GPA being higher than a 2.0. A fail in attendance forbids a sport achievement from being accomplished. In school we may feel alone at times, but friends are there to help you succeed. Study groups can be made to help anyone in need, because everyone has more knowledge in something you may lack. If we are able to capture different ideas from many scholars the possibilities are endless. The average student becomes bored of what education has to offer, but for many others who wished they had freedom or money to become useful with their lives it's sad to see students complain of what POWER is being given. Intelligence is POWER, but the power we receive determines the nation we live in. Europe's great sculptors would cease to exist, Asia's education with economics would decrease slowly, and the United States would have more fast food joints open up. Our nation is known as the most overweight nation in the world, but our achievements speak louder than our stomachs. From the creation of the Declaration of Independence to invention of the Cotton Gin, America has been moving forward with new inventions and equal rights. Our founding fathers, among them one of the most brilliant men who contributed to our nation with philosophy and free thought, came together and used their POWER to make our nation as best it can be. Right now schools are being closed and people are losing their jobs because of our economic issues. Soon i fear education will be closed off and books will be our masters, mentors, professors, and POWER containers. A new generation is upon us and as the past fades, knowledge will not. Our nation, our home, our POWER will prosper if we take advantage of what is offered before us. No education = No Security, No Security = No LIFE 

20. Animal Communication

If I had the ability to communicate with one specie of animal it would be birds. Birds have the ability to travel to many different places around the world. I would ask how some cities are like. Once I get a car there is another advantage of not getting poop on my car. My car would stay cleaner than any one else's. I would also be able to have a bird's eye view during school fights or any crazy event outside. I would ask "Hey whats going on?" and then they would be like "The guy just punched him in the face and here come the teachers. You better get put of here." This would be awesome to have a new friend from above. My favorite birds are the Eagle and the Cardinal. Talking to one of these two birds would be cool to see how they live their lives in two different habitats. Eagles are a very aggressive bird and know when an opportunity presents its self. Cardinals are a easy going bird with lots of energy. Communication with the eagle would be funner because there is not that many around and I believe that their lives are less dismal. Cardinals are my favorite baseball team, but i bet the bird has no clue that they are a mascot haha. With benefits comes disadvantages and with the ability to communicate with birds there can be a few. Since they always eat at out schools they will start bugging me to feed them. We all have friends and birds role the same way so if u piss one off than they can get their homies and BOMB your butt haha. I hope to never be in that situation, but with this power who knows we might actually get along.... or not xD