Doodling in Math Class

 I don’t like school because it gets in the way of my learning.

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Sounds kind of absurd, doesn’t it? But that’s what has happened. I find myself trying not to learn from school that learning isn’t fun. I love to learn new things, but I really dislike going to school. This seems to be a common problem, which means the problem is likely not with teenagers; as many people like to think. The problem is more likely with education system its self.

You see, I spend most of my time in math class doodling, playing with contrast of color between pencil and pen. I actually really like some of the stuff I’ve done in math class, but it’s not math.

I happen to be good at math, I even like math, but my grade in math isn’t great. I don’t pay much attention to the lectures, because I already know most of it; and what I don’t I can pick up much faster than the time he takes to go over it. I also find myself not doing the homework, because I don’t have to practice these problems to know I know how to do it. When I don't do my homework, I get bad grades. The irony in this is, if my math class was harder, I would likely get better grades

Most people probably have at least one subject like this, even if it’s not math class for them. The problem is that teachers are required to teach in such a way that the slowest student will catch on. This seems great in theory, but it means that everything is being taught slowly to cater to the one or two people in class who don’t care at all and will probably have bad grades anyway.

The thing is it most cases, it’s not completely the teacher’s fault. They are required by the government and the district to teach in a certain way, and many are doing their best to continue to make it interesting. This means that there’s little to nothing we can do about this. We could petition the government, I suppose, but that's unlikely to get results. Or could also try to be teachers, but that's not for everyone either.

So yes, doodle in math class if it helps you pass the time. But also do your best to get the homework done (something I really need to work on). The better grades you get in high school, the better your chances of getting into a good college where the learning environment may be much better.

Good luck, and don't give up on learning.

All Out of Ideas?

            First of all, I would like to apologize to everyone who reads this for not having made a post last week. I could not think of anything worth writing about, and before I knew it, Friday had come and gone.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to write about this week either, so I figured it would be a good idea to write about not knowing what to write about.

Honestly, there’s no reason not to know what to write, because you can write about anything. Knowing what to write about is more about just writing and seeing where it takes you. This may be difficult at first, but with a little practice it can be very easy and a good way to open your mind to new ideas that you didn’t realize you had.

Really, writing is like any other thing; you have to practice in order to get better. Many people have exercise routines that they follow everyday. Writing should be no different, whatever kind of writing you do. Make it an important part of your schedule and it will get easier, and you will get better.

Getting up at 5:30 every morning to write has become an important part of my daily schedule. It makes me feel better, it’s a way to clear my mind and start my day with a little success and creativity. You don’t have to get up at 5:30 in the morning—because most people probably value their sleep a little more than I do—you don’t even have to write every day if you don’t think you have the time, but you should definitely try your hand at it, try to make it a regular part of your life.

Anything can be an inspiration to write, don’t wait to come up with a great idea before you write, write simple things into greatness.

I’m sorry about the shortness and lack of structure of this post, as I said; it was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment idea, but if you like what I write, please share it with your friends.

I’m considering doing a creative writing based post on the second Friday of every month, things that might possibly be included in future posts would be: Writing prompts, Writing/Editing advice, Possibly examples of my own creative writing attempts, challenges. Would you like to read any of this? Comment below what you think.

Also, I’d love to read what you have written. Feel free to put poems, prose or nonfiction either in the comments, or send it to me through another medium. I would be happy to read, comment, or critique your work.

The Importance of Stupid Decisions

First off, I want to tell you that high-school is a monster. It takes large bites out of your life, swallowing you down until you begin to think that there is nothing left, that this may be all there is.
It turns out there actually is more, and I, as a High School Senior, am just beginning to realize that.

A few days ago, one of my classmates, with whom I had not spoken much in the past, said he was going to drive to California for next summer, and invited me to come with him. Me? The stiff, quiet kid who wears button-up shirts to school, and has never been anywhere or done anything 'crazy?' Of course, I treated it as if it were like a joke, and sort of blew it off.

But then I got to thinking...
Lately, I've been bombarded by one college after another sending me mail. 'Come to our college,' they all say, 'We've chosen you. We have the best options. You should definitely choose us.' If I believed all of them, I would end up enrolled for classes at about twenty different Colleges and Universities, and I don't even know how I will afford college in the first place.
I'm not easily bothered by much, but I have to say the pressure was beginning to get to me, especially since I don't even know what I might want to major in.

So, one night I was unable to sleep because of the thoughts and worries in my mind, and my sleep depraved mind began to actually consider this idea. And the odd thing is, the more I thought about it, the less crazy it began to sound. Here I was, trying to make the biggest decision of my life up to that point, and I was actually considering running off to California for a few weeks instead? And with someone I barely knew, no less.

But it's not quite so crazy as it might sound. Whatever college I choose could easily affect me for the next ten years or more, but before I make a life altering decision, I want to know what I'm giving up. Before I commit my foreseeable future to any one thing, I want to live, do something reckless, something I've never really even considered a possibility. I want to do something that will vary my life experience, and give me a framework to build the rest of my life off of.
I am still going to be trying to make a decision, but I'm not going to let the decision own me. I will no longer allow this to keep me up at night and steal my peace of mind.

I encourage everyone to do the same. Try something different, imagine something crazy, impossible, and make it happen. Get out. Live your life and don't tie yourself down until you have to. It doesn't matter if you have no real plans. We're just going to save up some money and see where the road takes us.
Anywhere, Everywhere.
It's incredible how freeing the decision to do something ridiculous can be.

So what are your plans? What's something that you would like to do, but have dismissed it as crazy, or impossible? If you don't have anything right away, think of something. Don't be afraid to be creative.
Tell me about your crazy, reckless ideas, I'd love to hear them.

-The Man Behind the Curtain

This is a first.

Hello, I am The Man Behind the Curtain, and this ...is my world

I am not quite moved in yet, so things may be a bit unstructured as of yet  but please, make yourselves comfortable. Look around. Enjoy yourselves. I am always ready to welcome guests.

If you happen to have any suggestions, or if you just want to say hello, I welcome you to do so in the comments section. I would be very pleased to hear anything you have to say and I will entertain all ideas, though I can make no guarantees.

Now, if you'll excuse me while I get back to work; this place is far from being perfect.

Until next time,
- The Man Behind the Curtain.