Jordan's File

Mr. Goss has required his seniors to create a scrapbook that reflects who they are and what has made them be who they are. He wanted it to look fancy and creative and due to the fact I am a guy I find myself in left field when it comes to being creative. So I complained and complained until he finally gave in and said I could do ten blog entries with a couple pictures and he would count that as my senior scrapbook. I think this will be less of a hassle than putting a scrapbook together with pretty paper and glitter.

Posted by Jordan at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mr. Goss made it mandatory that students dedicate their scrapbook to someone who has had a great impact on their education. Therefore it is only fit for me to dedicate this series of blog entries to Mrs. Weyand, my personal aid who has been with me for five and a half years. She has helped me get through so many rough days when I know I would not have made it through that day if it wasn’t for her. Whether it’s running books I (she) forgot to put in my book bag up to my house or even staying after school for club meetings, she has been there for me. I know I would not have succeeded as well as I did if it were not for her, thank you Mrs. Weyand.

Posted by Jordan at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

I’m going to write the next blog entries in the order of importance to me. Therefore I am going to make this entry about God and what he has done for me. If one were to look at me on the outside they would probably wonder what great things God has done for me. They might see my wheelchair and the restrictions that come with it. Or they could possibly see my health and how a common cold can put me out for a week. However I find many gifts that he has blessed me with such as mad computer skills and the ability to learn things very rapidly. Also he has given me the ability to dominate video games. Finally the most important gift he has given me is a Mother and Father who care so much for me. So if you look at my life from my point of view one might see my great family, great mind, or my mad computer skills.

Posted by Jordan at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

My next entry is about my family. My family certainly is not the norm of American families. When I was five my parents divorced and there was only my older sister Ashley, my younger sister Skylar, and me. Then my Mom married Rich and they had a child named Rylan. After this about five years age my Dad married Paula who had three kids of her own from her previous marriage. These now becoming my step siblings including Alex, who is older than me by three days, Brendan who is two years younger than me, and last but not least Elizabeth who is seven years younger than me. Oh but wait I’m not finished because about two years ago my Dad and Paula had a boy named John, John is fifteen years younger than me.

I could spend at least all day telling the stories I have taken part in with my huge family, some good and some not so good. I do have one story that happened about two years ago. I was with my Mom, Rich, Ashley, Skylar, and Rylan. We were staying in a cabin at Letchworth State Park. Camping at Letchworth had become a sort of tradition and was a welcomed vacation. Around our third night there we were sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and singin’ “Koom Bye Ya”. Suddenly I heard Ashley scream and I looked over and there was a skunk. Everyone was freaking out and all the girls were screaming. Luckily it was a friendly skunk and it simply walked around the fire, ate a leftover burnt marshmallow, and he was on his way. This was a classic camping moment and I know I’ll always remember the look on Ashley’s face when she first saw the beast.

Posted by Jordan at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

If I was doing the scrapbook project one of my options would be to write about a certain place that I would consider mine. When I think of the place that I am the most comfortable at I immediately have a mental image of my den at my Moms house. It simply has all the essentials any man needs to enjoy a day off or just unwind.
At the top of this list of essentials would have to be “my” awesome computer. Flat screen monitor, over two gigs, and the all important cable Internet connection. Just doesn’t get much better than that. The ability to play games online and have a lightning speed connection (when working properly) is priceless.
Next on my list would have to be “my” TV. Now it’s not the biggest or brightest TV but it gets the job done and it comes with over 150 channels as well as HBO and Cinemax. HBO and Cinemax are also available on demand. And the most important attribute is the YES network which helps me catch all my Yankee games.
And the piece that makes my room is the PS2. It offers reliable entertainment that can make hours seem like minutes. The feeling of buying a new game and putting it in and playing it for the first time is euphoric. It also helps me get my mind off things that cause me stress, such as writing this series of blogs. This is most definitely my place and I would have a hard time surviving without it.

Posted by Jordan at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

If I were to try and think of a great high school memory at the current moment only one thought comes to mind. I have managed the Varsity baseball team for all four years and my last was the most memorable.
We had a very good baseball team this year and we were in our second playoff game. Now, ever since I can remember Fredonia High has been one of our biggest rivals in baseball. Last year they won the championship and they were again a great team this year? They were ranked fourth and we were ranked fifth because we lost a coin flip. Therefore we had to play our second game at their field.
The game started off good and we were ahead by three near the third inning. Then in about the fourth inning Fredonia scored four runs and took the lead by one. In the fifth inning we tied the game. Jamie pitched great from that point on and we went to extra innings. Finally in the tenth inning Levi Hubbard was up to bat with a guy on base. Levi blasted a shot to left-center and the center fielder dove to try and catch it but it landed in front of him and bounced over him. The runner scored and Levi was trucken it around the bases as fast as he could. He rounded third and slid home to earn himself a HR. Jamie then shut Fredonia down in the bottom of the tenth to earn a W and a complete game. It was definitely a great game and I will always have that memory.

Posted by Jordan at 5:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mr. Goss has also offered the option of writing about what the most important piece of literature is that one has read. In eleventh grade I read “Stuck in Neutral” by Terry Trueman and I have benefited from the experiences talked about in the book. The book is about a boy who suffers from cerebral palsy and what it might be like to endure this disability. The boy understands everything that goes on around him but he is unable to communicate in any way. His parents got divorced because his mom had to do so much for him his father couldn’t handle it. The boy believes that his father wants to kill him in order to get back together with his mom and daughter. The worst part is he can’t tell anyone what he thinks and he can’t defend himself. This book has helped me realize that there are many people that are much worse off than I am and I should be grateful for what I have. I’ve always known this but this book has given me a detailed example I can look towards when I’m not feeling the greatest. It certainly is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.

Posted by Jordan at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

When I look back on my senior year I can only think that I’ll remember the great season the Buffalo Sabres had and the disappointment I felt when they lost in the conference finals. The whole Western New York area united in support of the team and there was a magic fever that was in the atmosphere. It seemed as if everyone stopped what they were doing when the Sabres were playing and the next day either everyone was happy and talking about the win or if they lost everyone was talking about what they didn’t do right and how they could fix it. Even in school there was Sabre Fever. The teachers were wearing Sabres gear and students you never thought would be interested were wearing Sabres gear. When they lost it felt like the world had paused and suddenly I found myself wondering what I was going to do for the next five months. Even though they lost I had fun watching the team throughout the regular season and playoffs. I only wish the Buffalo area could win a championship in some sport besides indoor lacrosse.

Posted by Jordan at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

When I tell someone that I am graduating it seems I’m always asked if I know what I want to do in the future. At the moment I do have an idea in my head. In the fall I will be attending Fredonia State College and my major is computer science. There are many different areas of computer science I can choose to pursue such as systems software and computer theory. I am unsure what area I want to focus on but I know computers are the future and therefore it only makes sense that one might get a education in that field.

Graduating is certainly bitter sweet because I know I’m going to miss all my friends and I’ll never find any teachers that are more personable, more caring, and more compassionate about teaching than the ones in Gowanda. I feel like I am leaving something behind and I must go back and get it before it’s too late but I know I will never find it. I must say the best of the best teachers are in the Gowanda High School history department. I must also group Mrs. Furman and Mr. Bowmarige in that group because I would not have survived Math B without them and Mrs. Furman is the reason I have such a liking in computer science. I thank every teacher and I feel I have a little piece of them all in me.

Posted by Jordan at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

I don’t have any spectacular closing statements and I don’t think any words would do justice to my school years. If there is one thing you take away from this I hope it’s that no matter how bad your life may seem at some moment there is always someone who’s life is worse in that very same moment.

Posted by Jordan at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

Billy Collins is an award winning poet and has recently been named U.S. Poet Laureate. His other honors and awards include fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation. In 1992, he was chosen by the New York Public Library to serve as "Literary Lion". He writes a variety of poetry that is very intriguing.
I love the creative language he uses to express his ideas. My favorite poem of his is entitled “Flames”. The poem is about how arrogant people are with regards to fire prevention. He tries to add a bit of humor to the subject and I believe he succeeded. I hope to read more of his poetry and I highly recommend his work.



Flames

Smokey the Bear heads
into the autumn woods
with a red can of gasoline
and a box of wooden matches.

His ranger's hat is cocked
at a disturbing angle.

His brown fur gleams
under the high sun
as his paws, the size
of catcher's mitts,
crackle into the distance.

He is sick of dispensing
warnings to the careless,
the half-wit camper,
the dumbbell hiker.

He is going to show them
how a professional does it.

Billy Collins

Posted by Jordan at 6:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

The past year has gone by faster than any of my previous years. I have long been waiting for my senior year of high school and now that it’s here I’m not ready for it. It’s flying by and I’m going to try and live the days I have left to the fullest. I generally do not make resolutions because I know I probably won’t keep it for very long.

In this year I plan to graduate from high school and go to college. I do not know where I am going to go but I know it’s going to be either Fredonia or Canisius. I also plan on going for either computer science or accounting. What the New Year has in store for me I don’t know but I do know that I will make the best of it and enjoy everyday.

Posted by Jordan at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

There are many differences one has to take into account when discussing WWII and the Vietnam "Conflict". The enemies were different, the reasons were different, and the public view was vastly different.
WWII was a war against a two powerhouses (Germany and Japan), often referred to as the Axis powers, whose main goal was to take over Europe and destroy the Jewish race. The Vietnam conflict was a conflict against Communism and was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The U.S. was trying to help South Vietnam defeat N.Vietnam and prevent a whole Communist empire of Vietnam.
Public views of WWII were that the war was necessary to avenge Pearl Harbor and defeat the Axis powers. The whole country was in support of the war and the draft. However in the Vietnam Conflict the public view was vastly different. People protested the conflict and even called the soldiers "baby killers". There were many people who fled to Canada in order to avoid going to fight if they were drafted. Also there were hundreds or even thousands of peace-rallies to protest the war.
I believe that Kurt Vonnegut would not have believed in the Vietnam conflict the way he believed in WWII. He probably would have gone to fight if drafted he would not have liked it. I would have to say that I agree with both wars. I believe that if the government would have allowed the military more freedom in choosing their targets the U.S. could have defeated N.Vietnam. I don’t think there is anyone who doesn't agree that WWII was necessary.

Posted by Jordan at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

I've probably watched this video 10 times and every time i'm impressed. The video is so original and I love it. Please watch it and leave your opinions. And doesn't the guy in the brown cordroys look like Mr.Goss.

Posted by Jordan at 6:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

When we began the school year I had expected another year of reading novels in class and writing down our thoughts and oppinions. However much to my dismay I learned that this was not going to be. After we initially created our blogs I was somewhat enthused.
However after recieving assignments that were supposed to be completed in class I quickly became a leading opposer. Between the "slow as molassus" computers and the inability to concentrate, I was in over my head. Although since then I have completely given up on completing tasks in class and have resigned to the unfortunate conclusion that it would be much more convienent and quicker to do these task at home. So I have somewhat of a mutual agreement with blogging and am not as opposed to it as I was.

Posted by Jordan at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

I do agree with the quote when it discusses how war is often fought by young men and women. Also I think that movies can eiher promote movies or they can come across as an anti-war movie. I think films were more likely to promote war in the past because our society was much more conservative and it was more of a liberal belief to be against war. The movie Pearl Harbor was very pro war in my belief. However the movie Enemy at The Gates is fairly nuetral on the subject of war. Saving Private Ryan is another war movie that I do not believe glorifies war.

Posted by Jordan at 9:28 AM | Permalink | Comments