Optimism

Jessica Duncan - 8th grade (first place entry in the Optimist Club oratory club contest):

'Positive things happen to positive people.' Quoted from Sarah Beeny. Likewise, a teacher of mine said, "A positive mindset leads to a positive result."

A perfect example of these quotes is studying for a test. When I study for a test, the pressure to do well can be, and most often is, excruciating. So much is riding on my doing well on this one test. If I don't do well, my entire grade for that subject drops, often to the point where it is hard to raise it back up before the end of the quarter. I have often found that when I tell myself that I am running out of time, the material is too much for me to handle, and that I'll never be able to memorize it all in time for the test I most often find myself giving up before I've given myself the chance to even try. Then the day of the test comes, and I am stumped on most every question. I can't even remember the answers to questions that I already knew. I can't concentrate on my test. My mind wanders back to what I had been doing instead of studying. I feel once again the frustration of not remembering what I have already learned. Then I start to play the 'what if' and 'if I only had' games. What if I was super smart like some of my other classmates? If only I had a photographic memory, then I would have no problems at all. What if I had the power to read minds, then I could read the mind of the smartest person in my class, and get all the right answers. It's hard to be positive after being negative for such a long time.

However, when I study, and I tell myself that the material is simple and that I can do well on the test, I find that I more easily remember the harder material. I find that it takes me a matter of minutes to memorize most of my note cards. I feel elated. I feel empowered. I no longer need a photographic memory, I don't need the power to read minds, and I don't need to be the smartest person in my grade. I am already equipped with a more powerful tool: positivity.

The day of the test, I wake up well rested and feeling like I could soar. I sit down at my desk, calmly waiting as my teacher passes out the tests. Others are fretting, trying to fit in a couple last minutes of studying, and I feel empathy towards them, knowing exactly how they feel. The story is always the same. I get my test, I calmly write my name, I look at the first question, and I'm on my way. Nothing distracts me. I am completely engrossed in my test and nothing can tear away my focus. I feel as though, with every question I know and answer, my spirit is lifted from my seat. Time seems irrelevant. Nothing else but completing my test seems important. The feeling of euphoria closes upon me as I turn my test in, knowing that I did extremely well. It was all because I was positive that I would do well, that I did.

So optimism is having a positive mindset on life.

Being optimistic helps you be happier in life. If everyone were optimistic, we would all have hope. Where hope is, what you are hoping for eventually comes to pass.

If you want something enough to will it to happen, it will. Through thinking and hoping that something will happen, through working hard to get to that something, you will succeed.
So optimism is hope.

For me such a hopeful experience was when I started Taekwondo. I started when I was seven years old and was in second grade. I began as a white belt, working to achieve orange, then yellow, and so on. It was grueling work. I had class two or three times a week, in which I spent my time conditioning, sparring, and working to memorize my form. After a time, testing would be held at which everyone in the Taekwondo School would perform their form, spar, and occasionally break boards in front of judges and in front of a crowd composed of friends and family of all of the testers. If you passed, you would receive the next belt. If you failed, you would try again at the next testing. I worked very hard, wanting to be like my instructors, and become a black belt. I joined the Leadership Group which performed at schools and other assemblies. I practiced at home. I wished every star and eyelash on getting to that black belt. I thrived in the environment. I was excellent at Taekwondo. It was my forte. My family tried to get into Taekwondo as well, but they eventually dropped out while I kept going. I was so excited that out of all of my family, of which I was the youngest, only I had been able to make it through.
Eventually, I was testing for my black belt. I was so nervous. I executed the form and sparred expertly. At this testing, I needed to break boards to pass. I had to break the boards using various methods: a backwards elbow, a front kick, and a side kick. Out of these three methods, a side kick was my weakness. It happened that I was not able to break it. I nearly broke down in front of everyone as I watched others break their boards and pass.

So it was then, when I got another try during class to break that board with a side kick and pass, with my friends cheering me on from the sidelines that I succeeded and broke that silly board. I was so ecstatic! I had passed! I was now a black belt. It was the hope that I would achieve my black belt that made me so determined, so aggressive. It was because of that hope, that my victory was all the sweeter.

Deepak Chopra said, "Miracles happen every day. Not just in remote country villages or at holy sites halfway across the globe, but here, in our own lives." Achieving that black belt was my miracle. It was my hope, my reason for being who I was.

I believe that optimism is having the strength to have a positive outlook on all things, that hope is at the heart of optimism, and that optimism can be achieved by anyone.

Catholic Schools Week Thoughts

Some of our 5th grade students recently submitted some thoughts on what a Catholic education means to them:

Catholic schools are important because they teach us about God. There are so many good people at Catholic schools. You always get a good education. The teachers are very nice.

My parents sent me to a Catholic school because they wanted me to be a follower of Christ. At Catholic schools there are a lot of good role models, not to mention how much fun we have. People should send their kids to a Catholic school.

I wish everyone went to a Catholic school. We get to talk about God, and we can pray whenever we want. At a Catholic school there is very little bullying. My favorite thing we do is field day. You get to do a lot of fun games and activities. It is AWESOME!
-Jacob Brune

This week all Catholic schools are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. We celebrate this to show that we are Catholic. There are a lot of unique details about this week, like Spirit Day, Teacher Appreciation day, etc… I enjoy going to a Catholic School because you can always pray or spread the works of Jesus. My friends and I, for example, always say a Hail Mary when we see or hear an ambulance or fire truck go by.

I have been going to a Catholic school for seven years. Over the time I’ve learned a lot about a ton of things, but what astonishes me is what happened in Jesus’ time period. There were a lot of miracles being performed then. That’s what’s cool about Catholic school: you can learn so much if you go here.

I go to EER, and I know a lot of people who go to public schools. Sure, they get to dress down every day, but they don’t get to learn about God as much as we do. Catholic Schools Week isn’t just about dressing down or doughnuts, it’s about expressing your faith. Public schools don’t go to Church during school, but we do. We learn a lot about God but we have fun doing it. So go to a Catholic school today.
-Sarah Luebbert

Catholic schools are important because they teach children the importance of having God in your life. Catholic schools let you talk about God. I have gone to Saint Joseph Cathedral School for seven years. I made my first communion and reconciliation here too.

You should go to a Catholic school because you get to learn about God. At our Catholic School there is hardly any bullying. You can always go to a teacher for moral help and support too.

It is a good idea to send your children to a Catholic school because it can have an effect on them for the rest of their lives. I have done a lot of growing up here. Most Catholic schools try to teach responsibilities and kindness. We get to go to church at least once a week, too.

-Lilli Buxton