Jordan's+Reflection

The best piece of advice i have ever been given is to never take anything for granted. I got this piece of advice from my mother when i was about 10 years old. This piece of advice is extremely important to me because in our modern day society, we often take things like walking and talking and moving as if it is not important. However, there are some people who unfortunatly cannot talk, walk or even move their fingers, and they are often very grateful that they aren't in a worse state then what they are already in. They have it tough, but they still manage to find motivation and gratitude to help them get through their daily lives. I think that some people should feel lucky that they have the ability to do these things, as others can't, and they should be grateful that they are living a normal life while others suffer. Overall i think this piece of advice helps me see that i shouldn't take things for granted and to be grateful for what i have, because there will be a time where i might not have those gifts.
 * Week 1 What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?**

Week 2
If i threw a piece of trash on the ground, i would pick it up and put it in the bin. I would feel guilty that my actions caused everyone to think that it was ok to throw trash on the ground and just leave it there. I would tell people to pick up their rubbish and then i would tell them not to make my mistake. I would also tell them how that one piece of trash could effect the enviroment around us. It could wash into the storm water drains and end up at sea, poisoning and choking the marine life and polluting their habitat. If my friends did it, then i would tell them definitly to pick it up. I wouldn't shout at them because they would not appreciate that. I would be calm and reasonable and tell them calmly that what they are doing is wrong. In the end they wouldn't throw trash on the ground if i didn't, because my actions impact on others.
 * What would happen if you threw a piece of trash on the ground? What if everyone did?**

Week 3
If i saw my frined cheating on anything whether it was a test, a girl/a boy or a game, i would be very disappointed and i would tell him/ her. This person is my friend and it is kind of my responsibility to help them make the right choice, even if it menas argueing with them. I wouldn't report it, because it would probably be a personal mean. I think courage is having the strength to stand up and defend your beliefs. Their are many famous people and history who really worked up the courage to stand up and defend whats right such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandella. I think these men are really inspirational. I think a good friend is someone you know you can trust with anything. A true friend would be there for you through thick and thin, and no matter what, they would never judge you.
 * What would you do if you saw a friend cheating - report it, confront the friend or nothing - and why?**
 * What do you think courage means?**
 * What do you think makes a good friend?**

Week 4
My most indespensable possession is defininetly my guitar. I got my first acoustic guitar when i was eight years old. It was a great turning point in my life and has impacted me deeply and my actions. After a while, i grew sick of playing guitar, and i quit. It was only until i decided to start again in year 7, determined to learn everything there is to know about the instrument. By the start of semester 2, i was at a level that i had dreamed about as a young child. I bought my first electric guitar and continued learning up until today. I am now able to play most of my favourite songs, and i am also starting to become creative and attempting to write my own songs. I guess to sum it up, guitar is a massive part of my life because i have a general love of the instrument and i couldn't imagine life without it.
 * What is your most indispensable possession and why?**

**Week 5**
When i think of everyone polluting the enviroment, i feel guilty because that includes __EVERYONE,__ along with me. The main problem about pollution is that no one seems to actually care about our enviroment, which is really sad. The earth is not to be taken for granted, but still we do take it for granted. I think you don't need to be an extremist about recycling and stuff like that, but maybe if we all did our small bit to save the enviroment, it could make a massive impact. For example, we do this by taking public transport instead of taking our cars to work/School. This is a cleaner way to travel and it also reduces petrol consumption. Another great thing we could do to lower carbon emmissions is recycle. If we recycle, then the paper won't get throw into the sea and marine life will continue to live.
 * What do you think about people polluting the environment?**

Week **6**
When i know i've done something wrong, i either feel guilty or uncaring. If i get into trouble about something small where i get yelled at i usually think "Oh yeah whatever", which is actually pretty stupid because i often do make that one same mistake often. However, when i get in trouble for something big like detentions and responsibility, i often take time to reflect upon those actions and think about how i'm going to make things better. When i know i've done something thats good or helped someone, i feel really good about myself (especially if i do this after i've gotten in trouble.) I feel that i've done something to redeem myself from my idiotic actions and that i've made someone or myself really happy.
 * How do you feel when you do something wrong?**
 * How do you feel when you do something that is very good?**

Week 7
I wish there was law were you could take justice into your own hands instead of relyling on the authorities. You know what that person did to make you mad, so you should be able to smack them one or yell at them. Plus, the authorities have too much stuff to do. Do you honestly think they will leave a robbery just because someone did something wrong to you? Obviously not. The authorities also charge you for trying to defend yourself against attackers in some cases, so that law would come in handy towards the attack victims.
 * I wish there was a law that said... This would be a good law because...**

Week 8
Some of proudest moments are usually when i acomplish something that is important to me, such as a test or sporting activity. I take grea t pride in my efforts but i also remeber to be humble about it. I am at my most happiest when i am with my friends. It doesn't matter what were doing or were we are doing it, but i really enjoy having a laugh with my mates anywhere. I am angry whenever i've been stabbed in the back or lied to. Those two things make me extremely angry.
 * When you are angry, how do you look? When are you happiest? When have you felt lonely? When do you feel proud?**

Week 9
I dislike my laziness. I am extremely lazy and i don't often do much around the house or at school or anything in general. This affects everyone around me. My mum is often telling me to take some initiative and do stuff without being asked, and i have to say i am slowly improving. My laziness is probably due to my unwillingness to work and do my best when i actually work. I can improve myself by actually working to my best effort and take some intiative and start doing stuff by myself.
 * Which quality do you dislike most about yourself - laziness, selfishness, childishness - and why?**

Why do you think prejudice exists in the world?
I think prejudice exists in the world due to facism, racism and fear of others. For example, the Holocaust was designed to eliminate the Jews because the Germans saw themselves as the Arayan Race, and led by Adolf Hitler, they began their terrible campaign to eradicate not ony the jews, but everyone else. That is not only racism, but facism at it's worst. It's sad to think that racism and facism still exists even after WWII. Today, gangs have formed and they target different ethnic groups just because they don't like them or the fact that they are scared of them. However, we can also be accepting. Barrack Obama, the first black president of the United States was elected in 2008. He has made it his goal to create equality all around the U.S and others are following his example and starting to accept other ethnic groups.

1. How were you feeling prior to this experience? I must admit my feelings prior to going to camp left me feeling slightly uneasy, but none of the less excited. Most of the activities seemed to be fun and scary.
 * Portsea Camp Reflection**

2. What were you nervous about? What were you excited about? I was mostly nervous about the high ropes due to my fear of heights. I was mostly excited about the giant swing because it looked like great fun and a good thrill seeking activity.

3. What do you think St Mary's is trying to achieve by taking you on this experience? I think St. Mary's was trying to get us to build our leadership and team work coping skills by giving us activities where most people needed to communicate wih eachother in order to get things well and running.

4. Do you think these experiences achieved these things? Why/ why not? I think that what we experienced has greatly affected our relationships with one another because they challenged our team work skills and our leadership skills.

5. What was your favourite activity? Why? My favourite activity was the canoeing because it was a great day to be in the water, i enjoyed paddleing around aimlessly with my partner and the overall activity was just good fun.

6. what was your least favourite? Why? My least favourite activity was the initiative games because people weren't listening and it was getting hard for us.

7. Do you think this experience will help your time at St Mary's? Explain. I think this experience will give me an open mind as to whats to expect from st. mary's, it has prepared me to face whatever obstacle that comes my way.

8. Discuss something you learnt about yourself while on this experience. I learnt that i'm actually willing to take some risks when i apply myself and calm myself down.

9. Discuss something you learnt about someone else while on this experience. I've learnt that my friends are always gonna be there for me, i learnt this from doing the high ropes activity when they encouraged me and helped me to overcome it.

10. How do you think you contributed to this experience? I think i have contributed by putting my best foot forward and enjoying everything that portsea camp had to offer us.

11. What do you think could be improved for next year’s portsea experience? I think that the actual time allocations and the actual time you get to do the activities could have been improved.

__**Community Links Journal Entries**__ Today me and Jayden were at Werribee Child Care Centre. The teacher, Karyn, had us interact with the children and help them with their activities. I thought this was great. I also got to read the children a story and play the acoustic guitar for them. After that, we went outside for lunch. Me and Jayden left the premises at 11.50 to go get lunch. We returned at 12.30 to resume our activities. Jayden had to leave early, so it was only me there. I helped the children with their counting and playing until finally, it was time to go home. I had a wonderful experience helping out the kindergarden.
 * __Friday The 11th of March__**

Today, me and Jayden helped out at Wayaperri Education Centre. In the first half of the day, all i did was cut sheets out, which was very dull and boring. After our first snack break, me and Jayden went around cleaning the windows. It was actually pretty time consuming and kind of enjoyable. After lunch, me and Jayden helped out in the kitchen. I cut a chunk off my finger by accident while i was trying to grate the carrots. Me and Jayden had to wash dishes and clean the kitchen, which wasn't that bad. Towards the end, we were relieved of our duties and we were given hot chocolates as a reward. Finally, home time came, and i went home feeling tired but satisfied.
 * __Tuesday the 15th of March__**

Today, we were at the administration office. We had to help some senior citizens with computing skills. There was only one, and she was actually progressing well with her computing abilities. It was fun talking to her and teaching her how to buy a legitamate firewall. Next, We had to go through a pile of papers and sort them into piles of rubbish or paper to be shredded. This was very long and boring. Finally, we finished and went out to lunch. We got back and helped cut paper sheets out with the guillotine. We had pretty much finished everything so we just sat and waited for the end. Finally, we went home, and our community links experience was complete.
 * __Friday the 18th of March__**

On the 24th to the 25th of march, the year 9's of St. Mary's all went to Melbourne to do our Melbourne Experience for school. My group was Jayden, Connor and Sean and myself. We were in group C, with another group of students. our first tour was called A Walk In The Park. We took photo's of the park and it's memorial statues of JFK. Towards the end, we stopped and had a cookie. It was the most delicious cookie that i have ever had in my entire life. Eventually, we all met back at Federation Square and went off to lunch. After lunch, we went to the Victorian Market. We had churros when we got there. They were good, but to fattening. Then we roamed the market looking for good bargains. Me and my group all bought posters from the Market. I bought two, one for me and one for my brother. Soon, we left the market only to be stopped by two crazy guys on drugs. We were scared they would mug us. We met at Federation Square, and then departed to go back to school. I had a Great day, and i was excited about the second day.
 * __Melbourne Experience Reflection__**

We met at the train, same as on the first day and took it all the way to Federation Square in Melbourne. Our first activity of the day was Lanes And Arcades. We went down all the ally ways and saw all the shops that were their. Some shops were way overpriced, and i was annoyed at the ridiculous prices for a cake at the Lindt Store. We went into a creepy Witchcraft store with Bianca, Trent and Maddison. As we climbed the stairs, i played a eerie song on my ipod to set the mood. The store was very scary. There was a massive Pentegram on the wall, and they had many objects to do with the illuminati. We quickly ran out the store, eager to get away. We then had soft serves at McDonalds. Jayden set a record by eating 3 soft serves. We went back for luch afterwards. After Lunch, we went along the Waterfront. There were many interesting shops and events, such as the Grand Prix opening, Buskers and Crown Casino. Unfortunatly, Ryan Sequira kept annoying us and complained to the lady selling V Ice Cofees because they wouldn't give him one. Afterwards, we had to go home. I was really sad, but kind of relieved. I had an awesome time on this experience, and i hope the next set of year 9's enjoy it, otherwise they are a bunch of Sad Sacks. I would recommend this to everyone who's going to Mackillop.