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Homelessness vs. a Life of Privilege

This article narrates how two completely different women set out to attend an
Ivy League school. Dawn Loggins was a teenage girl who craved support from her
absent-minded parents. They became drug addicts that neglected to raise their
daughter. Loggins beat the odds and was very successful in school. She was an
honor roll student and landed a job as a janitor at her school. Loggins wound up
doing so well she was offered to attend a summer camp program; but was
devastated her parents had vanished upon her return. She was left with nothing.
Only a young teenage girl, she is now homeless. Trying to keep on the honor roll,
Loggins had to complete her assignments by candlelight. Noticing something was
wrong, her teachers reached out to help her through this troubling time. They not
only provided her a place to live but eventually helped her get into Harvard.
Weiss, much like Loggins, also strives to get into Harvard; but didn't have
anyone to guide that path for her. Although from a wealthy family, her parents were
discouraging when she showed her emotions. To relieve this stress, she kept her
thoughts and feelings in a journal. Sure enough, The Wall Street Journal soon
published her piece. She received a lot of publicity; even made an appearance on
Good Morning America. Later on, we learn that Loggins, once homeless, receives
admission to Harvard; unlike Weiss, the daughter of a wealthy family who strives to
be perfect in every aspect of her life. Although Weiss is disappointed that she did
not get into her ideal college, the publicity she received from the publishing of her
journal and her appearance on Good Morning America, did allow her to get into
some pretty decent colleges.
This article really hits home to me. Everyone seems to have some sort of
troubling times growing up. For me, Id say, it was more than others. It started with
my weight; it held me back from making friends at school and being accepted by
my family. As I grew older it only got harder to deal with. My family was atrocious
with how they treated me. My younger brother bullied me to the point where I would
cry myself to sleep every night. To my family he was the golden child. He was
placed on a pedestal. He was successful throughout school, acceded in
extracurricular activities, and the man has no enemies. This made him the apple of
my parents eye. He was my biggest competitor. I would even have to compete with
him for the support of my own parents. After graduating high school, he received a
full scholarship to the University of Kentucky and I received loans to even go to
Northern Kentucky University. He works for the football team with free tickets to any
game and I was working on an Associate degree in Criminal Justice. No matter how
hard I tried, my brother was always going to be the best in life, according to my
parents. As time passed, I had achieved some self-oriented goals. I found the love of
my life, transferred to the University of Cincinnati, landed at job as an officer at
Campbell County Detention Center, and now live on my own. This past year alone
has made me realize that sometimes life doesn't turn out the way we want but if we

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work hard, keep pushing, and stay determined then we might be surprised to find
that we can still be happy where it leads us.

The Power of Optimism

Its all about being optimistic in the face of adversity. Just when things get so
bad that you think nothing will ever go your way, things get better. Many times we
have nothing to do with our fortune; it just happens. Studies have shown that a
generally positive attitude is healthier than a pessimistic one. Sometimes having a
positive attitude can be easier said than done. Instead of asking yourself why,
resulting in answers you have no control over, ask yourself the more proactive
question how. Next time you feel down and out, fed up with the way lifes treating
you, redirect your thoughts completely in a positive direction. Consume your mind
with so many positives that you dont have any time to think about the negatives.
It really does pay to be optimistic. The benefits include enhanced health and
longevity, happiness, career advancement, athletic performance, team building and
financial success. Being positive is not just a nice way to live. It is the way to live.
Optimists experience less stress than pessimists. They believe in themselves and
their abilities and hope that good things happen. They see negative events as
something that can be overcome and see positive events as evidence that more
things will come good. By believing in themselves, they are able to bringing more
positive events in their lives.
I never would have made it in life if it wasnt for this philosophy. In spite of
everything, I still believe people are really good at heart. Anne Frank. Having to
constantly remind myself of this quote everyday can be a struggle; but after a
certain period of time you start to understand and truly believe it. Overtime, it was
apparent to me that if I changed my attitude towards life, it gets a lot easier.
Relationships amend, accept a rewarding job, or pick up a fun new hobby, are a few
ways to say the least. If being optimistic can vastly improve every aspect of your
life, then that is definitely the boat I want to sail.

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38 Who Saw Murder Didnt Call the Police

The events reported took place on March 14, 1964. For more than half an
hour 38 law abiding citizens in Queens, New York watched a killer stalk and stab a
woman on three separate occasions located in Kew Gardens. The killer was
frightened during the first two attempts by the chatter and sudden glow of the
neighbors bedroom lights leading him astray. With each attempt, he sought her out
and stabbed her repeatedly. Not once did the citizens phone the authorities until
after the final, fatal, attempt. The detectives were stunned. They stressed how
simple it would have been to have gotten in touch with them; quoting a phone call
would have done it. Today, witnesses from the neighborhood find it difficult to
explain why they didnt call the police. Detectives reported the people finally arose
as the ambulance came to escort the body of Kitty.

Deadly Chatter
In the early hours of January 12, a young man named Brandon Vedas was
sitting by himself at his bedroom computer, but he was hardly alone. He was logged
on to an online chat room filled with devoted drug users. They would cheer each
other on to take as many drugs as it would take to pass or black out; it was now
Brandons turn. As they cheered him on, he downed one prescription pill after
another while smoking marijuana. As dawn approached, the dangerous game was
taking a toll on Vedas; with a half dozen other chatters watching via Webcam.
Minutes after gloating about how hardcore he was, he lost consciousness. This
time it was fatal. According to the transcript of the chat room, several of his online
pals did send some warnings during the two-hour binge, but yet not a single person
actually called the police. What is the world coming to when people are watching
someone die on a Webcam? asks Vedas mother, Nancy Russell. If only someone
had encouraged him to get help, then maybe he would have just overdosed.
Brandon would be in counseling right now, instead of dead she stated. Late that
morning, Russell found her late son spread across the bed with prescription bottles

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lining his body. I was so oblivious to what he was doing says Russell. Nancys last
statement reported Were hoping his death will make people more aware of whats
going on around them.

Interview with Ishmael Beah

Naveed Malik had the pleasure of interviewing Ishmael Beah; once a boy
soldier fighting for his freedom to working for the Human Rights Watch. The
first part of the interview consists of relevant topics to Beahs everyday life
living in New York. Following were a series of questions concerning his recent
trip back to his homeland of Sierra Leone. As the interview progresses,
questions asked by Malik brings Beahs struggling past to light. After treading
through the haunting memories of his childhood, Malik concludes the
interview by consulting Beah about the Ishmael Beah Foundation; an
educational and vocational program for children whose lives have been
affected by war during and after the rehabilitation process so as to prevent
them from reentering a life of violence.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, written by Beah, was a key
essential in this interview. Malik rediscovered the struggles Beah was faced to
endure in order to survive; asking him questions such as Did you learn the
whereabouts of any of your friends mentioned in the book? and Do you still
have flashbacks about the war? Beahs responses were heart felt; A lot of
them didnt survive the war, but some did and I have been able to reconnect
with them. Some live abroad and others still back home in Sierra Leone,
where I was able to find them during my visit and I still carry memories
from that war that bring me flashbacks and nightmares. But I have learned to
live with them, to fully understand and transform them so that they no longer
disturb me as they used to. I have come to use my memories and
experiences from that war as instructional tools that guide me to live in
peace and appreciate my second life, as I like to think of it. Malik also
tapped into if Beah was going to start writing again. Beah mentioned already
having a few chapters of his first novel, but it is still too early to discuss it in

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much detail. He states there is a tremendous interest in a sequel and is not
sure which will come first, the novel or the sequel.
A Long Way Gone and Interview with Beah go hand in hand. After reading
the novel written by Beah, a new light emerges when hearing him speak
about his journey to freedom with Malik. This interview is very personable
and intimate. The novel is heartbreaking, but, to hear him personally speak
out about his story and how far along he has come is truly inspiring. Then, to
further the inspiration, Beah announces he has already started working on a
second book. I am encouraged by Beah to continue with perusing my dreams.
Beah did not truly live until he reached his destiny; something I am looking
forward to as well.

The Struggle of Girl Soldiers Returning Home

The definition of child reintegration is a process in which
children transition into civil society and enter meaningful roles and
identities as civilians accepted by their families and communities. This
unruly struggle is explained throughout the article The Struggle of Girl
Soldiers Returning Home. The author, Joy Brooks, outlines young
females, abducted as early as nine years old, held in captivity and
forced to fight with armed forces for months to years on end returning
to their original social communities. Brooks describes this process as a
long and difficult journey. Struggles the girls could have to endure on
a daily basis include protection from human trafficking, sexual
violence, and finding necessary health services. The stigma that is
attached to girl soldiers and the culture in which they return can be
hostile during the reintegration process and can cause devastating
effects on the physiological healing of the child already traumatized by
war Brooks stated. She goes on to discuss the nature of producing
functional reintegration systems for these distraught young women.
Brooks believes that establishing such systems could help break the

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cycle of violence around the world, and promote gender equality within
those communities. She also noted her belief that without a successful
reintegration system for these girls returning home, it limits their
ability to develop a sustainable future for themselves and their
children. Her plea to help these women is introduced by defining them
as victims of a crime and must not be seen as unvalued by their
communities and families. Brooks commands that bold steps must be
taken to ensure the future of the most vulnerable.
As Brooks highlights the problem of the government not
establishing a better system for this struggle, it also hints on the fact
that these girls, taken as early as nine years old, having to fight to stay
alive; much like A Long Way Gone. These girls are forced to fight in a
war they dont agree with. Similar to Ishmael and his story, these
young women have only one option-fight to survive. They do
everything they can to overcome the most difficult atrocities.
This article only touched base on the initial kidnapping of these
girls and not what they had to endure during their fight for freedom,
unlike A Long Way Gone. It is mainly narrated by Brooks as what
happens to them after they are released back into their original
communities. When the girls return, their problems have been
compounded by war and rival conflicts. They have a daily battle for
survival, dignity, and basic human rights. It saddens me that this act of
violence and cruelty is happening around the world. With this article
and the story of Ishmaels fight for freedom in A Long Way Gone, are
just two of numerous cruel and inhuman examples of what people can
do to one another. These girls and Ishmael are only trying to survive
what they have become victimized to. They cannot change their past,
their lifestyle, their parents, or even where they were born; they are
only trying to change one thing-their futures.