October 23rd, 2010
Last night I shared an amazing dinner downtown with one of my dearest friends. She is insightful and always has an opinion on topics, and with her I can tell her anything and I know she will listen. She is probably at the top of my 'trustworthy people' list. Regardless of the trust I have in her, we discussed so many unbelievable topics last night. Although we did discuss our friend problems, we mostly discussed ideas. The reason why I chose to bring this dinner up was just because it reminded me of GLW so much. Every topic, every word, every pause reminded me of GLW.
Our later discussions revolved around the topic of suicides/self harm, eating disorders, equality for sexual orientation, and how flawed our world is. Although we had met three weeks prior for our now regular dinners, what we had said about some of those things (ie religion) did not reach the magnitude of last night. About suicides we discussed how difficult one must be feeling to come to that conclusion. When one has never experienced the desire to harm oneself, it is so hard to get in that mind frame. I can barely reach the level of stress and sadness that would be involved, and I wish it wasn't that way.
And then I think of GLW and how amazing everyone there was. Nearly everyone had had something bad in their past happen, yet they were the most insightful and happiest girls I've have ever met. I can't help but admire everyone who overcomes hurt. I can't help but admire their strength and efforts. It is absolutely beautiful to me when someone can do that.
How flawed our world made us discover how changing would be such a challenge. Not everyone can be happy with a change, but if only we were all more open to trying change. I've made an effort to try change, not only with experiences but with food as well. I'm trying to be more open, because it's one thing to say people should be open to change and to actually practice what you believe in.
I feel like my thoughts around this entry are totally scattered, and I continuously find myself wanting to explain more about my school's fight in the entire thing. For example, for the past few days we've had videos on the morning announcements trying to persuade us to not say "that's gay." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IcRQssVllA
I agree completely that it's a degrading saying, as seen in the video. The only thing that I'm concerned about is that more people are seeming to say it as a result of the videos. High school didn't change - it's still just as it was months and months ago. Sometimes that upsets me greatly. Is it really necessary for our world to function as it does?
With Love and Apologies for the Scattering of Thoughts,
Becca
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The GLW Tumblr
October 16th, 2010
Hey lovelies,
So I figured I'd just post this link even though many of you may already have it. Malaika and Rachel had the brilliant idea of making a GLW tumbler where we can all post to eachother and stay in touch better. Check it out: http://glw2010.tumblr.com/. If anyone needs the username and/or password just email me or comment here and I'll somehow get it to you.
Special thanks to Malaika and Rachel!
With love,
Becca
Hey lovelies,
So I figured I'd just post this link even though many of you may already have it. Malaika and Rachel had the brilliant idea of making a GLW tumbler where we can all post to eachother and stay in touch better. Check it out: http://glw2010.tumblr.com/. If anyone needs the username and/or password just email me or comment here and I'll somehow get it to you.
Special thanks to Malaika and Rachel!
With love,
Becca
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Into the Wild
Monday October 4th, 2010
(Published rather late)
Today in my English class we finished discussing the novel "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. For those who are unfamiliar with the novel, it is a nonfiction book based on the life of Christopher McCandless. Following his college graduation he left home for two years where he "leather-tramped" across the country. Eventually he made his way to Alaska, where his overconfidence led him to an undesired death. Although many argue that he was crazy or possessed some sort of mental illness, that was never proven.
The irony of his story is that before leaving he donated all of his savings to OXFAM, an organization which supports ending hunger, yet he starved to death. McCandless was one who cared about the world around him. In college he took classes specifically targeted at worldly issues. In my opinion, he seemed to deeply care for humanity, and he took interest in Africa's current issues.
Why I bring this book up is actually because of the movie "Into the Wild." Although I think the book was better, the movie brought his hardships in Alaska to life. Having watched McCandless starve to death brought so many thoughts to life. Some people spend all their lives starving themselves to nothingness for personal satisfaction, where a man, not only limited to McCandless, suffered and perished from undesirably starving himself to nothing. Just watching him shrink really hit me to the core, and influenced my thinking towards that topic. There was a time when I wasn't eating, and at the time I really didn't notice it but it was there. Just having experienced something like that made McCandless' death hit home.
The other day my friend told me of her friend. Her friend and I are acquaintances, but barely at that. She told me that she had stopped eating to shrink back to her "normal" size. Whenever did a normal size become existent? Nevertheless, that brought me pain. She's so beautiful without being a size 0. What's a size? I feel sizes should be measured like age should be. Age shouldn't be a number, but measured by experience. Although clothing sizes and experience don't mesh, I wish it was seen as what feels good and what fits well instead of that "perfect" size.
Anyways, I completely recommend the book. I found it very interesting and well-written. The book, unlike the movie, presents Krakauer's personal experience in the Alaskan wild which proved to be also very interesting. What made me truly like this novel was not only the presentation, but the accounts from the people McCandless had met. Whether or not he realized it, he changed so many people's ideas and lives with his visits. Sometimes I think that's what many of strive for; to make a change in someone or in a group of people, yet he did effortlessly. Food for thought: what changes an opinion; the one who overstates their reasons and over tries and overburdens the situation or the one who honestly presents their facts, whether that be lazily or brilliantly?
With Love,
Becca
(Published rather late)
Today in my English class we finished discussing the novel "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. For those who are unfamiliar with the novel, it is a nonfiction book based on the life of Christopher McCandless. Following his college graduation he left home for two years where he "leather-tramped" across the country. Eventually he made his way to Alaska, where his overconfidence led him to an undesired death. Although many argue that he was crazy or possessed some sort of mental illness, that was never proven.
The irony of his story is that before leaving he donated all of his savings to OXFAM, an organization which supports ending hunger, yet he starved to death. McCandless was one who cared about the world around him. In college he took classes specifically targeted at worldly issues. In my opinion, he seemed to deeply care for humanity, and he took interest in Africa's current issues.
Why I bring this book up is actually because of the movie "Into the Wild." Although I think the book was better, the movie brought his hardships in Alaska to life. Having watched McCandless starve to death brought so many thoughts to life. Some people spend all their lives starving themselves to nothingness for personal satisfaction, where a man, not only limited to McCandless, suffered and perished from undesirably starving himself to nothing. Just watching him shrink really hit me to the core, and influenced my thinking towards that topic. There was a time when I wasn't eating, and at the time I really didn't notice it but it was there. Just having experienced something like that made McCandless' death hit home.
The other day my friend told me of her friend. Her friend and I are acquaintances, but barely at that. She told me that she had stopped eating to shrink back to her "normal" size. Whenever did a normal size become existent? Nevertheless, that brought me pain. She's so beautiful without being a size 0. What's a size? I feel sizes should be measured like age should be. Age shouldn't be a number, but measured by experience. Although clothing sizes and experience don't mesh, I wish it was seen as what feels good and what fits well instead of that "perfect" size.
Anyways, I completely recommend the book. I found it very interesting and well-written. The book, unlike the movie, presents Krakauer's personal experience in the Alaskan wild which proved to be also very interesting. What made me truly like this novel was not only the presentation, but the accounts from the people McCandless had met. Whether or not he realized it, he changed so many people's ideas and lives with his visits. Sometimes I think that's what many of strive for; to make a change in someone or in a group of people, yet he did effortlessly. Food for thought: what changes an opinion; the one who overstates their reasons and over tries and overburdens the situation or the one who honestly presents their facts, whether that be lazily or brilliantly?
With Love,
Becca
Friday, October 1, 2010
September's Update
October 1, 2010
In this past months, I have learned a lot. On my return to the dramatic life of high school where friendships either thrive or crumble, and where what you say can teeter until it plunges you into trouble. I fortunately haven't experienced either one of these in the past month, yet I've seen it occur even in the proximity of my own friend group. There has been a mass amount of ignoring people, and the cause of it is still unknown, but as of today things seem to be clearing up.
I joined humanitarian club last week, and I must admit that I am loving it. We're getting ready for our first fundraiser, which is to sell stickers (for $3) that both raises awareness to human rights but also donates money to those causes. The three causes the stickers are focusing on are animal adoption, immigration reform, and equality of sexual orientation. The last one is what I am pretty passionate about, so I'm excited to buy one. Since I am a strong supporter of equality of sexual orientation, I plan to join our GSA club. I never knew we had one until about a week ago.
Social Justice Project Update: I have further researched for this so when I go to my Principal's office with the proposal of eARTh club, I will have all the answers. I plan to make an appointment to meet with him this following week and see when I can start the club. I chose to wait a month to start working on it for this specific reason: we have a new schedule this year, so everyone is a little crazy. Luckily, things are slowing down and becoming routine so everyone is back to normal, or whatever normal is. The funny thing is that through this I've noticed certain people who would be interested in joining this club. In fact, there is a girl in one of my classes who loves both art and helping the environment. How perfect is that? I'm going to suggest she comes, but if she doesn't that will be fine as well. The bad thing about having waited is that I will probably only be able to have meetings on Fridays. It's times like these where I wish Tuesday's weren't half days.
This has pretty much been my overall September. I encourage you to comment and keep me updated about what you all have been up to.
With LOTS OF love,
Becca
In this past months, I have learned a lot. On my return to the dramatic life of high school where friendships either thrive or crumble, and where what you say can teeter until it plunges you into trouble. I fortunately haven't experienced either one of these in the past month, yet I've seen it occur even in the proximity of my own friend group. There has been a mass amount of ignoring people, and the cause of it is still unknown, but as of today things seem to be clearing up.
I joined humanitarian club last week, and I must admit that I am loving it. We're getting ready for our first fundraiser, which is to sell stickers (for $3) that both raises awareness to human rights but also donates money to those causes. The three causes the stickers are focusing on are animal adoption, immigration reform, and equality of sexual orientation. The last one is what I am pretty passionate about, so I'm excited to buy one. Since I am a strong supporter of equality of sexual orientation, I plan to join our GSA club. I never knew we had one until about a week ago.
Social Justice Project Update: I have further researched for this so when I go to my Principal's office with the proposal of eARTh club, I will have all the answers. I plan to make an appointment to meet with him this following week and see when I can start the club. I chose to wait a month to start working on it for this specific reason: we have a new schedule this year, so everyone is a little crazy. Luckily, things are slowing down and becoming routine so everyone is back to normal, or whatever normal is. The funny thing is that through this I've noticed certain people who would be interested in joining this club. In fact, there is a girl in one of my classes who loves both art and helping the environment. How perfect is that? I'm going to suggest she comes, but if she doesn't that will be fine as well. The bad thing about having waited is that I will probably only be able to have meetings on Fridays. It's times like these where I wish Tuesday's weren't half days.
This has pretty much been my overall September. I encourage you to comment and keep me updated about what you all have been up to.
With LOTS OF love,
Becca
Thursday, September 16, 2010
New Eyes
September 16th, 2010
Dear GLW Newsletter Editors,
I wanted to personally thank you for the chance to write a piece specifically tailored to GLW, and I really appreciate having been shoe cased like that. The session 1 writer did a lovely job, and I found a lot of truth in her writing. Once again, thank you.
For those who haven't yet read it in the newsletter, here's a copy:
"New Eyes"
Written by Rebecca Stark, 2010 GLW Participant
The commencement of my GLW experience began one February afternoon when I found myself writing. Writing and editing, rewriting and reediting efforts became a vicious cycle until I was satisfied with what I had created. It wasn't necessarily a long essay, but I was content with the outcome. My topic had been based around the idea that every effort matters, no matter the size. Before arriving at GLW, I had thought that I knew the full meaning of that idea. I thought that my eyes were capable of seeing the smallest of difficulties and the fine details of life's obstacles, and then following that, could see possible solutions, but my sight was not fully clear. Sure, the basic ideas were there, but they were still too underdeveloped to really see any completion. This realization never occurred to me until I came to GLW.
Even in my first moments, I noticed a difference. Though initially said differences were invisible to me, many things became apparent upon delving into the world of GLW. My eyes changed the most in those first few days. They were becoming clearer and clearer until I finally felt that I could see. No longer were the days of only seeing the bigger picture; finally the details were perceivable. What captivated me, though, was the fact that only days before Session Two began, I had been so sure that my vision of the world was fine; I had been so sure that I was able to pick apart the details of worldly and communal issues. GLW turned my world upside down, yet in doing so it began to make sense. What further captivated me was that every single GLW participant influenced this change. Each person contributed something that further opened my eyes to the world around me.
Upon my return to my small-town Connecticut reality, it was easy to see my transformation. All throughout the week I had kept a detailed record of our daily events, and in rereading them I noticed that as the week went on, the entries became more and more insightful. Not only could I see it in my writing, I could see it in my thinking as well. It was something intangible that I observed when venturing into the harsh honesty of the world. As I began to open myself to life's various perspectives, I found that my eyes were new - they were bright, they were aware, and they were open. In the midst of summer, these struggles were more difficult to see, but with the beginning of my junior year, it was easier to see the quiet struggles of high school. The best part was that I felt more willing to give my help, and for once I felt conscious of my surroundings.
New eyes not only help in identifying life's details, but they also intend to influence a change or a difference. They are meant to make history and change the world in beautiful ways. They no longer focus on whims or self-oriented issues, but they focus on both the bigger picture and the details at once. All who participate in the GLW experience obtain these eyes, ones that Eleanor had always possessed, and these eyes give hope to the future. A remarkable woman once said "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," and with new eyes, one's dreams can become a reality. To all who influenced the obtaining of my new eyes, I sincerely thank you.
With Love,
Becca
Dear GLW Newsletter Editors,
I wanted to personally thank you for the chance to write a piece specifically tailored to GLW, and I really appreciate having been shoe cased like that. The session 1 writer did a lovely job, and I found a lot of truth in her writing. Once again, thank you.
For those who haven't yet read it in the newsletter, here's a copy:
"New Eyes"
Written by Rebecca Stark, 2010 GLW Participant
The commencement of my GLW experience began one February afternoon when I found myself writing. Writing and editing, rewriting and reediting efforts became a vicious cycle until I was satisfied with what I had created. It wasn't necessarily a long essay, but I was content with the outcome. My topic had been based around the idea that every effort matters, no matter the size. Before arriving at GLW, I had thought that I knew the full meaning of that idea. I thought that my eyes were capable of seeing the smallest of difficulties and the fine details of life's obstacles, and then following that, could see possible solutions, but my sight was not fully clear. Sure, the basic ideas were there, but they were still too underdeveloped to really see any completion. This realization never occurred to me until I came to GLW.
Even in my first moments, I noticed a difference. Though initially said differences were invisible to me, many things became apparent upon delving into the world of GLW. My eyes changed the most in those first few days. They were becoming clearer and clearer until I finally felt that I could see. No longer were the days of only seeing the bigger picture; finally the details were perceivable. What captivated me, though, was the fact that only days before Session Two began, I had been so sure that my vision of the world was fine; I had been so sure that I was able to pick apart the details of worldly and communal issues. GLW turned my world upside down, yet in doing so it began to make sense. What further captivated me was that every single GLW participant influenced this change. Each person contributed something that further opened my eyes to the world around me.
Upon my return to my small-town Connecticut reality, it was easy to see my transformation. All throughout the week I had kept a detailed record of our daily events, and in rereading them I noticed that as the week went on, the entries became more and more insightful. Not only could I see it in my writing, I could see it in my thinking as well. It was something intangible that I observed when venturing into the harsh honesty of the world. As I began to open myself to life's various perspectives, I found that my eyes were new - they were bright, they were aware, and they were open. In the midst of summer, these struggles were more difficult to see, but with the beginning of my junior year, it was easier to see the quiet struggles of high school. The best part was that I felt more willing to give my help, and for once I felt conscious of my surroundings.
New eyes not only help in identifying life's details, but they also intend to influence a change or a difference. They are meant to make history and change the world in beautiful ways. They no longer focus on whims or self-oriented issues, but they focus on both the bigger picture and the details at once. All who participate in the GLW experience obtain these eyes, ones that Eleanor had always possessed, and these eyes give hope to the future. A remarkable woman once said "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," and with new eyes, one's dreams can become a reality. To all who influenced the obtaining of my new eyes, I sincerely thank you.
With Love,
Becca
Friday, September 10, 2010
"[Stererotypes] are incomplete"
September 10th, 2010
So far I've been loving my English and french class. In both we've been discussing worldly issues, and I absolutely love learning and talking about them. Today in English we watched this speech, and I instantly thought of my GLW girls. It's a great speech; I really enjoyed it, so I hope you will too!
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
There is some great information and insight within this video. Chimamanda Adichie titled her speech "The Danger of a Single Story." In it she covers the topic of stereotypes, not only in the world but also in her own life. I really enjoyed how she presented the information. She used humor and self incrimination to bring her speech down to earth and more captivating. Enjoy!
With Love,
Becca
So far I've been loving my English and french class. In both we've been discussing worldly issues, and I absolutely love learning and talking about them. Today in English we watched this speech, and I instantly thought of my GLW girls. It's a great speech; I really enjoyed it, so I hope you will too!
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html
There is some great information and insight within this video. Chimamanda Adichie titled her speech "The Danger of a Single Story." In it she covers the topic of stereotypes, not only in the world but also in her own life. I really enjoyed how she presented the information. She used humor and self incrimination to bring her speech down to earth and more captivating. Enjoy!
With Love,
Becca
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Dear GLWers
September 2nd, 2010
Hey lovely GLW alum! So it's my second day of school, and I got my first AP English 11 assignment, and it is about none other than women's rights in the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s. Well, we were handed this reading (that I attached as pictures below) and it is the Declaration of Sentiments from the Seneca Falls convention. I recognized the name, so I checked in my handy-dandy notebook and it was in my notes from the History of Feminism with Julie! It's a really cool document, so I thought I'd post it.
And here are the notes on this particular reading from my notes:
(1848) The Seneca Falls Convention takes place and the declaration of sentiments is ratified by 68 women and 32 male abolitionists. Based on the declaration of independence, the declaration of sentiments states "all men and women are created equal."
With love,
Becca
Hey lovely GLW alum! So it's my second day of school, and I got my first AP English 11 assignment, and it is about none other than women's rights in the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s. Well, we were handed this reading (that I attached as pictures below) and it is the Declaration of Sentiments from the Seneca Falls convention. I recognized the name, so I checked in my handy-dandy notebook and it was in my notes from the History of Feminism with Julie! It's a really cool document, so I thought I'd post it.
(1848) The Seneca Falls Convention takes place and the declaration of sentiments is ratified by 68 women and 32 male abolitionists. Based on the declaration of independence, the declaration of sentiments states "all men and women are created equal."
With love,
Becca
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