Abraham’s Lincoln’s Act of Integrity

                             

Reflection:

This video was about when Abraham Lincoln was traveling with a man, who offered him first whiskey then tobacco. Lincoln denied both and explained to the man that he made a promise to his mom since he was 9 years old. His mom was ill and was told she wasn’t going to get better, she told Lincoln to promise her that he would never use whiskey or tobacco. The man was surprised about his promise and apologized.

I believe that Lincoln had the courage to keep his promise and I admire him. Nowadays we make promises out of nowhere without an actual act of keeping them. We make a promise but since we keep it in our mind instead of our heart we easily forget and break it. Many make promises like Lincoln did about not smoking or drinking, but since there is more peer-pressure than courage nowadays it’s easy to break the promise and begin to drink and smoke. It’s all a matter of decision, it’s our choice to make promises and keep them and not just think about them one day and break them the next day. I myself have promised that I would not drink or smoke ever in my life, but I can admit that I have been offered but I’ve always said no because I need to keep my promise that I did not only for myself, but for my family. When I keep a promise I try my best to keep it, and most of the time I do because I want someone to promise me something and keep it as well. Choose the right.

  

Student Success Statement

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.” –William Penn

Reflection: I believe that doing what is right doesn't always satisfy every individual; maybe it’s doing wrong that satisfies them. I can personally agree with this quote because I have personally seen or pretty much been through this where sometimes I'm the only one that wants to do what’s right while everyone does wrong. I pretty much go against the crowd when it comes to choosing the right because I know the consequences that will turn out for me. Even though it may seem that no one is with you when deciding what is right, it’s usually the fear of other to get out of the little “popular” crowd because they fear what they are going to say about them. I don't know how I do it when it comes to not going along with the crowd because they might say I’m different but I know that I’m the brave one to be myself and to not let anyone else control my decisions. I try my best to choose the right and it doesn't bother me if I’m the only one choosing it because I know a God that has given me discernment to know what the right thing to do.

Student Success Statement

“Cowardice asks the question ‘Is it safe?’                                                              Expediency asks the question ‘Is it politic?’                                                 

Vanity asks the question ‘Is it popular?’

But, conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’

And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right.                      –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   

                                                                    

Reflection:

Sometimes we ask ourselves these questions in certain situations, but the real question we should ask ourselves is 'is it right?', ‘are we brave enough’. Are we really brave enough to actually do what’s right even if it’s not popular? We tend to go with the crowd just to be accepted but we need to know that what is popular is wrong and what no one does is right. We need courage to choose the right and ask questions that will uplift us and give us a feeling to keep fighting and moving forward. Keep walking forward and never look back. Choose the right.
 

Student Success Statement

“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.”

 –Thomas Edison, Inventor

Reflection: the world that we live in today has conditioned us to think that the value of an individual consists of what they have, when in reality it’s based on who they are. People see more value in money, cars, gold, diamonds, clothing, shoes, and houses. They prefer to live of the material of this world instead of a gift that God has given us, our lives. With so much distraction of wanting material, we tend to forget the true value in ourselves, which is worth more than any material or object. We are worth more than any money or riches can buy. Each one of you is a different individual with a different value and you show your value in the way you speak and act. Don’t forget the value in you, we are all princesses and princes’ of God and no one or anything can make us more or less than how God created us. Be yourself even if everyone goes against you, know that there is someone who accepts you and wouldn't change you, he made you who you are, don’t change for someone else, He is God. Be the true you J. Choose the right.

Student Success Statement

“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself.” –Henry Ward Beecher

Reflection:

Sometimes we have to stop depending on others to push us higher but now it’s our turn to do it. Hold yourself higher than you normally would even if you’re the only one trying too. Many people become followers instead of leaders when it comes to what level you’re in. Sometimes it’s hard to be a leader because not many will want to follow but always have in your mind that you’re leaving a trail for those that want to go higher. Don’t let everyone else’s expectations bring you down, be who you are, and if you want to go higher do it with a positive attitude.

   

Student Success Statement

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” –Mother Teresa

Reflection: Kind words are those that sound simple and short but the meaning to us is endless. Kind words can help someone to better their day no matter how bad their feeling. Kind words are those that lift you up when you’re at your lowest. Kind words all mean differently to a person but that feeling is never forgotten. I have personally have been at my lowest and someone says something kind to me that might have been simple to them but those words made my day. We should always try to be kind to everyone around us no matter if you know them or not because you don’t know the difference you can make in someone’s life with a kind word.

                 

      

Student Success Statement

“Your mind is a garden your thoughts are seeds

You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds…”

-ANON

Reflection: This quote inspires me to change the way I think because I sometimes doubt on my goals and if I doubt I’m just growing weeds in my future. It is really true that our mind is a garden because what we plant that’s what we will grow into. If you plant goodness, success, goals, and righteousness we will naturally grow into someone successful. If we plant hatred, anger, sadness, and bad decisions we will grow into someone who will never become successful in life, because of all the negativity in our mind. We should try our best to plant what we want to grow into not what others do, be yourself and plant good seeds in your mind. Choose the Right!!!

Student Success Statement

“We become what we think about.”-Earl Nightingale

Reflection: In those times where we can’t stop thinking about something, it could be god or bad. We might be worried about the future or stuck in the past. We should always think of goodness to bring happiness to our lives. Ignore those bad thoughts that will bring you no good and appreciate the good thoughts. We should have thoughts about succeeding in life and it will come true. Visualize yourself as somebody in life. For example i personally think and know that i will grauate high school and college and reach my goal and as long as i dont doubt i will succeed. Choose the right.

Student Success Statement

“I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences.” – Robert E. Lee

Reflection:

It’s better to do what’s right than to do wrong. When doing wrong it’s easy to do and even to get away with, but even though there might be a consequence you will never forget it, it’ll always be in your conscience, you’ll have that bad feeling that you will want to regret but it’ll be too late. If you choose the right then you will have a good memory of the right choices you made and a good feeling about yourself. It might seem hard at times to do what's right but everyone has courage. Always choose the right.

      “My Experience so far at HPIAM”

Being a senior at Linda Esperanza Marquez high school has been a really great experience because I’m part of the first seniors to graduate from this new school. I have made great friends and met many interesting teachers. I have learned a lot in all my classes. I enjoy coming to this school because it is closer to my house. Some of my classes that I have right now have been a little tough in certain ways but I know I will overcome and get use to the process. The one thing I like about this school is that it’s not huge so I didn’t have any trouble looking for my classes the first day at this school when I first started as a junior. I was glad with letting us the students being able to wear what we wanted to because it let us express who we really were. Until we had to wear our uniforms because nobody wanted to wear their lanyards and yeah I can confess I didn’t like it either and yeah I’m didn’t wear it but now I regret not wearing it because now we have to wear these uniforms shirts which I personally never liked polo shirts. I have been to some fieldtrips in these recent semesters, the one I remember the most is when all my history class went to USS Iowa with Ms. Arellano it was really interesting because we got to actually go in the ship and see all the rooms of where the sailors slept and where they entertained themselves like playing poker or simply discussing certain topics. At this fieldtrip I didn’t get a souvenir because everything was really expensive at the gift shop but the experience is still kept with me. I have made really great friends and I appreciate having them as friends because they accept me for who I am. I am proud of being part of HPIAM at Linda Esperanza Marquez High School.

- Yazmin Ruiz

                  *Student Success Statement*
                       "To know what is right and not to do it
                            is the worst cowardice"
                                      -Confucius
Reflection: Be brave when confronting a situation and knowing you have to make
                           the right choice.Have courage and step up to be the difference and don't 
                           let your fear of "what will others say or think of me if i do" stop you from
                           making those decisions.*

                       *Friends*
Friends are those who make you laugh when your sad, listen to your problems
 and give you advice. Their always their for you no matter the time or place.
 You can be yourself around them and they accept you.Friends are like sisters
 and flowers beautiful and blooming with joy everyday.
                                                                           - Yazmin Ruiz

*Student Success Statement*

     “Start with what is right rather than

             what is acceptable”

                                              Peter F. Ducker

Reflection: This quote helped me understand to not always do what everyone else does just so someone can accept you. I learned to be myself and make the right decisions that are best for me. Have COURAGE to not be a follower and be a Leader. Be that leader that can lead others through the right path and make the right decisions.