'S' Comes Before 'W' Only in A Dictionary

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary" - Donald Kendall

Does 's' come before 'w'? Why, of course it does! According to Donald Kendall's words about effort, 'success' starting with 's', will only be before 'work' starting with 'w' in the dictionary. Effort is physical or mental power. You cannot do things without putting forth effort. To succeed you first need to work to get there, not the other way around. To be successful, you have to have effort. Without it, all things in life would be handed to you. Success is not served on a platter, nor is it just given to you. Therefore, it is true that the word 'success', will only be before 'work' in an alphabetical order, like the dictionary. Remember Donald Kendall's words, success requires effort. This is my favorite quote.

Friendship
Without friendship where would our world be? Would we all be in one giant war? Whenever we get upset or mad the first people we go to are our friends; they understand us an seem to keep us from falling apart when we crack. Just like President Woodrow Wilson said, "Friendship is the only cement that keeps this world from falling apart." Friendship holds us all together, no other thing in the world will glue you to a person the way friendship will. In true friendship you know you can mess up an your friend will still be there for you no matter what. Imagine if our world leaders had no friends in other countries or had never made peace with each other. We would all be stuck in in one giant war. Sure, there will always be fights and wars but, when this happens friendship will help put it back together. People think that they can fill up these cracks with alcohol, drugs, and lies but, these things only fill the cracks temporarily and then they deepen them. There is no substitute for the way a friend can make you feel like they can fix everything. So when life gets crazy an everything feels like it is falling apart go to a friend, because " Friendship is the only cement that will hold this world together."

Champions

Muhammad Ali once stated, "Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-- a desire, a dream, a vision." What this means are that champions are made by how they think about things. How they picture things happening and acting upon that thought. When you plan big you go big. That is what Muhammad Ali did to make it where he is today. I could not agree with him more. You must want it to get it. You must conclude in your mind that you want to succeed more than anybody else. if you cannot see yourself prospering there is no point. Your heart must desire that champion feeling and accomplishment if you want what muhammid got. A great amount of confidence is required to succeed in anything in life. Including championship. I have a great amount of respect for Muhammad Ali.

The Purpose of Life

My favorite quote is "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." ~ James Dean. The part about dreaming as if you'll live forever represents the younger version of me. Being naive, I believed everything was possible and nothing could hold me back. I had no regrets and no doubts. The world was just a magical place to me. Now, reality has sunken in and life can be disappointing at times. However, dreams give us a purpose to stay motivated. Why not try to achieve the impossible? The worst thing I could do would be to watch my dreams slip away. Live as if you'll die today reminds me to never take my life for granted. Many people don't appreciate what they have until they've lost it. We should be going out into the world, doing the things we have delayed, saying the things we haven't said, and experiencing life to the fullest. Every second counts so make the most of it.

phillippians 4:13

Phillippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.
This is my favorite bible verse. It is kinda self explainatory. But it means I can do anything because christ gives me strength. I can do anything along as its through christ. I think paul means that as long as he keeps preaching about Christ anything is possible. I think this is a great quote. I also think it means as long as you believe in christ he will help you through things. He is always with you even when you are struggling. It also means you must try to do things in your life through Christ because he knows whats right. Just like how the only way to heaven is through christ. That is what i think the quote means. This is my favorite quote.

Change We Want To See

The quote that I chose is, “We must be the change we want to see.” This quote comes from Mahatma Gandhi, a political and ideological leader of India. He was also an influential philosopher. I chose this quote because I feel that it shows the dilemma of people wanting things to change, but won’t stand up and say something about it. There are so many people who say the things we need to do but don’t want to be the example. We can be the change by standing up to the little things in life. To see change we must take initiative for that change. We must become that positive force. Become what it is that we want to see. If you want to see more kindness in the world then go out of your way to be nice. Don’t be that person who stands in the back wanting to do something but not doing it. So next time be the change you want to see.

Real Fishing

"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot" ~Steven Wright is my favorite quote. Obviously, if you do not know what you are doing or saying, it makes you look like an idiot or dumb. It is quite easy to tell the difference in someone who does not know how to do something compared to someone who does. This quote can aply to anything, even doing math work. Not just fishing. A real fisherman makes very few mistakes that only he/she knows about but an "idiot" makes thousands of mistakes in just one cast. I consider myself a "real fisherman." This is the perfect quote to describe me in my eyes. I live for fishing, I consider it my #1 hobbie in life. I am very competative when I fish and try to succeed at catching the most, which happends about 99% of the time. According to this quote I would label myself as the person actually fishing, not just standing on shore like an idiot. This quote has impacted me on not being an idiot but striving to be the one that stands out, knowing what their doing.

Moments That Take My Breath Away

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away." - Anonymous

The quote “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away” has several meanings to me. When I first read this quote, I thought about the times my grandparents told me about the experiences of their lifetimes. The stories were not about the times they were at work, but the times they did and saw things that were unforgettable. We have to do remarkable things everyday because it is only the special moments that you will remember. I believe that people should not wait for these moments but seek out these moments everyday. When people realize they only have a year or a few months to live, they decide to go ahead and do the things that may "take" their breath away. They may choose to go sky diving or take that long plane ride to visit a foreign country to see breath taking views. Someone may live a long time and have many breaths, but many of them may not have taken their breath away. Another thought that comes to my mind, is that it isn’t how long a life you live, but how meaningfully you live life. It means that I must focus my life on what I enjoy and the important things in life that mean the most to me. Life is full of magical moments that will take my breath away. I must have an open mind and seek these moments that will take my breath away by reading, traveling and communicating with others. I hope to always be curious and have wonder about the world so that I can continue to have moments that take my breath away. If I am successful in accomplishing this goal, then I will live a meaningful and happy life. I hope my life will be full of moments that take my breath away!

Does This Really Help?

“Every little bit counts,” –Unknown. This quote means a lot to me for many reasons, it helped me realize facts about life, it helped me into the right club, and it helps others. If you turn on your television anytime of the day you will see something happening in the world that is unfathomable. For example, the BP disaster or a young child being kidnapped. Young children being kidnapped is one of the more current things going on. When I first heard this quote, I realized how many things in this world are going wrong and how hard it is to help with it all! Yet this quote, “every little bit counts,” helps me to realize that putting posters up of that little girl/boy might help them get found ; going to schools and collecting things to help clean up the oil spill would help too. That is one of the reasons I am in BETA, because it is not just a club, it is a group of young citizens that want to help the world. No matter what, we will always know that whatever we do for our community will count. For example, recycling is a big one. You might think it doesn't do much for you to recycle one can, but that one can will help to make a new one. So, next time you are doing something for your community and you start to wonder if it means anything to anyone, think of this quote and its meaning.

Do something you love, never work a day in your life.

A saying that stuck with me was "If you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life."I was never sure where I first heard it, but i still trust it all the same. My perception is that if you like your job that it will not fell like work. It sounds like the ideal way to live your life. However, I also know that for that to be true i will need to work for it. This gives me the drive to work hard and better myself. It gives me the motivation to percivere. So when i hear someone ask me why I am working so hard I have only one response. So that I do not have to work this hard when I am older.

You can't win without losing

"You can't win without losing," is spoken by a close family member. I have done this day in and day out. To be a student- athlete, you have to commit to good grades, good behavior, hard work, and to the hours of practice you have to do to get better at. You might be wanting to do something for the weekend, but you have to work on your blocking technique instead. Also, you could have a job you have to do on weekends, so there goes playing xbox at your friends house(I don't play xbox anyhow, just trying to make a point). Eventhough you have to stay after school everyday to sweat your but off and hit, it is all worth it once gameday comes. When you are about to play, and you are listening to the fans cheer and the band playing just as you run onto the field. You will know that all that time you lost was worth it. The blood, sweat, and tears are all worth having afterschool if for that one day everyweek, you get to be under the lights of Jacket Stadium. You can't get to that point without losing time in the first place afterschool. In the end though, it is my favorite thing to do on weekdays when we don't have a game. Many people know what I am saying, and understand how it is worth it.

"Keep Moving Forward"

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things. Because we are curious..and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”–Walt Disney

This quote has a very important message to it. A lot of people,mostly teens, hold grudges or live in the past. We are too afraid to try new things and open new doors. To me this quote can really help a person move on and continue on with life. It is telling you to stop living in the past and move forward. Go explore and try new,crazy things! It's alright to be curious! That curiosity can lead you down better and brighter paths! This quote is my favorite quote and can always make me smile!

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. -Confucius

I picked this quote because I believe it is something people, especially teenage girls, should think about. People have a tendency to focus on flaws, whether they are their own or belong to someone else. The teenagers in this generation only seem to care about appearances. Suicide is growing ever more popular with teenagers that are uncomfortable with their appearances. Maybe we should look at this quote and realized that we are all beautiful in our own way. If you ever really think about what people say to you, you would probably realize that you mostly remember the negative stuff. Therefore, next time you have something negative to say about someone, think about how you may not see their beauty. Also think about how what you are saying could affect them. It is amazing how someone from centuries ago can grasp something so simple, yet so misunderstood by society today. But what do you expect when we are taught from birth, that beauty is what you see, when in actuality beauty is a person's whole self. This quote is beautiful and it explains everything and everyone in the world. Even the thing you are most terrified of, has beauty you just may not see it.

Reflection of Chocolate

I decided to chose the quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your going to get."-Forrest Gump. This quote means a lot to me because it describes my life and everyone I know. It describes all our lives because in life you never know what is going to happen to you or to someone next. Life is also like a box of chocolate because on most boxes the lids have guides to tell you which piece is which. The guides are important because you may rip it off and throw it to the side and then grab the piece you may not want. This is just like in life when you do not take the time to think about consequences or to read them guides or rules set out for you. Life is like chocolate in the boxes because I personally do not like coconut and if I rush into the box I may accidentally grab the coconut. The reason this is significant is because at first I am glad I got chocolate but then as I start to eat it I realize it is coconut and I regret my decision quickly and I know that if I would have taken the time to look at the guide and think about my consequences I would not have this nasty taste in my mouth. Life is like the taste it leaves in your mouth because you can always spit out the chocolate or stop doing what your doing but the taste or consequence will still linger there. Life is also like chocolate cause you may not always like your options and you can choose not to take any of them or make a decision you may not like. Finally, I believe life is like chocolate because someone may offer you something like chocolate like in life when someone offers you something or gives you a decision to make and on your own you can make the decision to take it or do it. So, in conclusion I believe that life is very much like a box of chocolates and that Forrest Gump is a very make man.

Friends

A good friend is a connection to life- a tie to the past , a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insaner world.~Lois Wyse.
" A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." is the quote I chose. I chose this quote because it was the most meaningful to me. My interpretation of this quote is that without friends we would not have any connection to life To me, this is so true. Friends give us the memories that we can treasure forever. Friends also give us memories to look forward to. The meaning that this quote has on me is that friends are everything. If I didn't have my friends, I would be living a plain and boring life. A friend is a person we can trust, talk to, and have fun with. If I am feeling down I can go to my friends, and I know they will be able to cheer me up. This is a quote that I will always think about when I think about my friends. Those are the reasons why this quote is meaningful to me.

A Quote of Gandhi

"Be the change you want to see in the world." -Mohandas Gandhi

I was drawn to this quote because it's something we can all relate to. So often in life, we complain of how our world is an unethical place. How it is full of greed, hatred, and selfishness. When was the last time you made a difference in someone's life? When was the last time you made an impact so profound on someone that you had to stop and wonder how great life was? Better yet, when was the last time I made that change. It is easy to judge others, or blame others for the world's faults, yet it is difficult to be that change you want to see. If our society placed more emphasis on changing ourselves, becoming a part of that utopian image world peace, then we must start with ourselves. We must realize that we are all able to make the changes for the better, but must be willing to put forth the effort. Just think of how much this world affect the world. The possibilities are endless. All of this may happen, as long as you start with yourself.

My Quote

Everyone is given a talent, but it is our choice to use that talent or to disregard it. Mark Twain has inspired me to use my talents to my advantage by his quote, "A person who will not read has no advantage over one who cannot read." If you are blessed with a gift and choose not to use this gift then you have no more leverage over a person who does not obtain this gift. Even though you are able to accomplish a task, if your skill is abandoned through life then you have no favored position over anyone else. You can never know the limitations of your strengths until you use them to your extent. I believe you should use your talents to better yourself. Some people never realize their true potential because they choose to limit themselves by not trying. Use your ability to your advantage and others' as well. Otherwise, you would be the same without possessing your capability in the first place. In other words, if you do not use your talent, then you are as equal to a person who is unable to acquire the same talent as you. Have the advantage, and use your skill! You are given a talent for a reason!

A Gift Back to God

God made everyone uniquely different. And while all of us look different and have different personalities, we are also given different talents. One of my favorite quotes is by Leo Buscaglia. It says, “ Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” God doesn’t just give us talents; he gives us the choice of how we use those talents. We could use them for our benefit or we could use them to glorify God. For example, if God gave someone the talent of having a beautiful singing voice they could have the goal to become rich and famous or they could have the goal to use their voice to encourage others and spread God’s word. You can use any talent to glorify God. If you are talented in sports, you can publicly give God credit for your talent and use any opportunity to share your testimony. Most of us, as freshman, are at the point in our life where we are realizing what some of those talents are and it is important we think about what we plan on doing with those talents. This quote is very important to me because it reminds me to use the talents I am given for Him. I love thinking of it as giving God a gift every time I make the right choice.

Joshua 1:9

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. Every time I read or hear this quote, it puts a smile on my face. In my opinion, this quote has several positive meanings. I see it as God telling me to stay positive, and not to be negative. I see it as God telling me not to be afraid to be myself no matter what other people say. I also see it as him telling me to stand up for what I believe in. When, and if, I ever feel discouraged, this quote lets me know that the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go. It makes me feel safe. All in all, keeping a positive attitude, being myself, and staying firm in my beliefs is what this quote means to me. Joshua 1:9 brought me to be the person I am today.

The Power of Words

“By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life.” - Jean Baptiste Girard

“Let there be light!“ with these words, God created the world. After man was created, a form of language was made through pictures and sounds. Stories were spoken and written to be passed down for generations to come. Then, as stated in John, “The word became flesh.” Jesus’ life was written down so we would be able to read his spoken word and better understand his life. Today, the words spoken before us and the words of our leaders, families, and role models echo through our lives, molding us into who were are. Words also come in many forms. They can create a fantastical world in the books that we read. Words can create feelings of joy, sadness, hope, love, or remorse through the movies we watch or the songs to which we listen. They are our driving force and encouragement. They can inspire or cut people down. Whatever the case, words have a lasting impact. So, our words should used be wisely. If used wisely, then our words and the words of others can explain the very purpose of this all-so-unpredictable life.

"Life is Like a Box of Chocolates"

The quote that I chose was "Life is like a box of chocolates." This quote was said by Forest Gump. He said this quote in the movie "Forest Gump." The first time that I heard this quote was when I first saw the movie. When I heard this, I was like wow this is so true. This quote, to me, means that your life is like a box of chocolates. When I say this I mean that unexpected things happen everyday in your life. This relates to a box of chocolates because when you open a box of chocolates you never really know what kind your going to get. This quote is significant to me because you should live your life not mad about what you don't get, but appreciating what you do get. There are some people in this world receive a lot less than most people. To me more people should live their lives this way because it would make them more appreciative about what they receive instead of what they do not have. So, this is why I chose this quote.

Life Without A Bestfriend

I chose the quote, "Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a true best friend."-Anonymous. This quote is self explanatory, but I believe it means without having a best friend by your side, life can get pretty tough at times. If there are any difficulties in your life, your best friend is going to be there for you. Whenever life takes a turn for the worst, you'll be able to fall back on your best friend and know that they can and will make it better. They won't mind ever helping you, and they will be willing to everything within their power to help you out. This quote has special meaning to me because I've had the same best friend since first grade, and I know she is there for me no matter what the situation may be. My friends mean everything to me, and without my best friend, I honestly don't know what I would do. This quote is also special to me because I would do this for my friends. Whether they are my best friend or just a friend, I will always be there to listen and help. I know life can be hard for not only me, but everyone else as well, so I will always be a good friend because you never know just how hard your friends' lives can get. I chose this quote because it's one of my favorites, but also because I believe a best friend is a necessity in life.

The Best Quote

The quote,"You can't gain what you can't lose", is a every inspirational quote to me. I looked up the quote and came away with no origin of it. I am going to assume that I came up with it and it is original. This quote is true in every prospect that you put it to. It could be used toward an emotion, object, or feeling. An example would be that you could lose confidence as soon as you gain it by commiting a mistake. This quote could be seen in sports in many occasions such as when a quarterback threw an interception, he lost the timing that he had before that mistake. This quote might have different meanings to different people. An example of this quote in my life is when i lost my first dog only two months afterI had it. The dog was a poodle named Sassy, which was beaten as a puppy, and was the most loving dog ever. This quote is one of the few quotes in which it is true almost everyday. I can personally guarantee that this quote has played out in your life at least once. This quote should be expressed way more tha it already is.

A Team or An Indiviual

I picked the quote" The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't together,the club won't be worth a dime." This quote was by Babe Ruth. The first time I heard this quote was from my tournament basketball coach. When I hear this quote I think of when a team doesn't work together,then the team will lose,because everyone is trying to do their own part to become a star. The teams with the least amount of talent will always win if they work as one team.So if the team is torn apart by people trying to be the big star,then that team is no good,and will have problems down the line. My tournament basketball team had awesome players,but the problem was that everyone wanted to be the hot shot,or big man of the team and tried to do it their self,instead of playing team ball. We lost our first 6 games,and coach told us the quote and let us sit in the locker room in silence and think about what to change.This quote has helped me many times this football season. Every time I didn't touch the field or play that much,I wanted to quit the team. When I had these negative thoughts I always thought about the quote and keep on working my hardest and try to get more playing time and be a team player and not think about myself.

The Present

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." -Bil Keane

I chose this quote because it has the most meaning to me. The first time I ever heard this quote was at a wedding. It had a huge impact on me, and I have tried to live by it ever since. The portion of the quote that refers to "yesterday is the past" symbolizes for me to not look back if I make mistakes, but to learn from them and grow stronger. What is in the past should stay in the past and we should not think about something we cannot change. "Tomorrow is the future" makes me look forward to what is to come. It is a way of looking towards a new day, which brings new opportunities, goals, and dreams. The next part of the quote, "today is a gift", allows me to reflect on God's gifts to me, my family, and friends. We should appreciate God's grace and the fact that we have another day to make the world a better place. The remainder of the quote, "that is why it is called the present", means to live each day as if it was your last. You must always live life to the fullest and have no regrets. This quote is truly remarkable because of the meaning behind it.

Going around the fire.

I chose the quote "I don't go around fire expecting not to sweat" by Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. in his song "No Love" because it speaks volumes to me. In my opinion, this quote means you have to accept things as they happen and every decision anyone in the world makes has an effect on other things. Whatever you do, it will effect someone, somewhere. It also means that you have to not only acknowledge, but also take responsibility of the consequences that one's actions bring about. Every action or choice we make changes something in the future. We may not realize it, but it is true. If we choose to be brave and make a bad decision, we must also be brave enough to step up and handle the consequences. You must acknowledge the outcome of a decision before we make it, not after. It also means to do the right thing, and if you know something will not turn out well with the decision you are making, you must bring yourself to make a good choice. I believe this is an amazing, meaningful quote by Lil Wayne.

Be Different

" Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
                                                                              - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this quote, Emerson mentions a path. This path is very wide, and you can clearly see countless people down it. It seems only logical to take this path. You think it it safe and that it is the best way for you, simply because everyone else is going that way too. You are afraid to go another way because of what they may think, what they might say. On top of that, you do not even see another path. So, you start walking down the path that countless others have walked, making the same mistake they did. For, you see, there is no other path because no one has gone another way! Every single person before you thought the same exact thoughts you did. They went down that same path because they too did not want to be judged. I think the point Emerson is trying to make is that everyone has a different way or path for their life. This path leades them to an amazing and prosperous life. But you are the one who has to make your own path. No two people have the same path for their life. But when you go down your own unique path, you will leave a trail. You will make a difference in this hostile world we live in. This world that tells you that it's okay to do something simply because "everyone else is doing it." When you are different, go a different way, down the true path for your life, you will make a difference.

Life is a Canvas

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." ~Danny Kaye
This quote by Danny Kaye has great meaning to life. There is so much reason and truth behind it. This quote means a lot to me and the way life should be but does not always turn out. The quote means that it is your life and you should live it to the fullest. Everyone makes their own decisions in life and they are not always good ones. When you make good decisions and live your life to its fullest, when you live in compassion for all that you do, the picture in the end is going to be bright, wonderful and full of all the colors. It will be your life's art and masterpiece. If you make the wrong decisions and life choices, your picture's end result is going to be all shades of black and gray. Life is about taking chances to be great and covering your canvas with the many colors and shades of success. To reach goals and be successful you have to take chances;take risks to meet these life goals. Nothing is handed to you in life, you have to work for everything and want it more than anything else. How will you fill your canvas if you do not take the risk to be great and to do great things? You will not. It is up to you to determine what shades will cover your life's canvas.

Be Thankful

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." -Epictetus

This quote explains itself. People have always, especially today, wanted more than they have. Though, more is not always better. With all of the new appliances nowadays, people have become more and more reliant on technology and always want the newest items. If we do not get the appliance we want, we envy those who do posses it. Which means that we are "grieving" for what we do not have. Instead of being unhappy for what is not in our lives, we should be happy for what we do have. Several people in this world, do not even have a place to call home, money to buy food, or people in their lives who love them. When we beg for that new phone or that car that everyone has, we do not relizes these things. The second part of the quote is stating that, when someone is truely statisfied with their life exactly the way it is, they are wise. Even if your life does not seem the best, it could always be worse. So, be thankful for what God has given you in life and do not take any of it for granted.

Every Child an Artist

My favorite quote is, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up," by Pablo Picasso. I feel this is extremely true because every child has the potential to become great at something, with the proper determination. Each child looks at the world with the belief and imagination that anything is possible. They daydream of being superheroes or princesses and they think it is completely possible that a kindly man will deliver presents to every child on Christmas or that a fairy will give them money because they have lost a tooth. Painfully, the jolly saint and the kind fairy are revealed to be but a fable, told by their parents to preserve the innocence of childhood. One this childhood innocence is lost, the world is seen for what it truly is: a place full of tears and joy, but mostly tears. The few who have somehow kept their innocence are the artists, poets, and writers who seem to travel back in time by doing what they love. They write or paint with the vision of a wondrous world. Others may call them immature or simply not understand. This is because they cannot remember what it was like to be young with the hopes and dreams of the impossible."Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up," explains the defiance of age. This is how you can tell the difference between children, adults, and artists. An adult would look at a trampoline and scoff at the idea of actually being on it. A child or artist would be jumping high and aiming for the sky.

My Education

"I never let my schooling interfere with my education." -Mark Twain

To me, this means that he did not let what he was taught in school interfere with what he thought personally. In other words, he did not think that life's greatest lessons could be learned inside a classroom. This quote has meaning to me because I personally think that most of the important things in life are learned outside of a classroom. Yes school is important in life, but there are many other lessons to be learned. Being a good Christian, being trustworthy and honest, and being a good friend are important things to learn in life. In order to become a well rounded person you need to follow many paths. You may not receive a grade for these lessons, but they can be as significant as any formal math, English, or science class. In my opinion, people can go through difficult times that can test their faith, dignity, and character. How a person gets through those tests will mean a lot more than any other A, B, or C that they receive on a report card. A person can go to school and make straight A's and be successful in the classroom, but if that person is mean and disrespectful to others, they will not live a happy life. Learning to be kind and respectful to others around you is a more valuable lesson than something learned in a classroom. So do not forget to keep learning, even outside of school.

He Will Always Be There

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Life is hard. Many times in life, we feel like we cannot go any farther, that there is nobody out there that can help us. Or, that no one cares about us. I feel like that sometimes. But, this verse reminds me that there is somebody we can turn to, God. He loves us no matter who we are or what we do. God is always here for us. Deuteronomy 31:6 provides a clear picture to people to understand that, whatever happens, we can always look to God for help because he never leaves us alone. In the darkest moments of life, remember that God loves you and he will not abandon you. Whenever you feel depressed or lost, all you have to do is pray. God is there with you and he is listening.

Letting Go

"Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go," Herman Hesse once said. This quote has meaning to me. This quote reminds me that it is okay to let things go. That it is not wrong to forget and forgive. It does not mean you are cruel when you let someone or something go. It just means that you are strong enough to realize that they may hold you back from being the best you can be. Yes, it is important to always remember good times. Memories are important. However, you cannot live in the past and cling to those memories. Let go. You just might feel more alive and free. There is nothing holding you back when you just let go of things. You will have a happier life when you learn how to let things roll off your shoulder. You will accomplish more when you have nothing holding you back. This quote reminds me to just let go and accept change.

"Behind each victory is a long train of suffering!"

"Behind each victory is a long train of suffering," was by an unknown author. This quote to me has a great deal of meaning behind it. To me, it means that you cannot get what you want without doing anything. You have to suffer through the hard part to get the good part. I personally have lived this quote. I am sure that other athletes have also. I hate having long hard practices being out in the sun and trying to give one hundred and ten percent every time. It is very stressful and people get aggravated. People begin to fight back and forth and things turn bad. But, once you hear the drum cadence on a Friday afternoon and start leading the band and color guard you forget everything bad that happened that week. It is the most amazing feeling. Having little kids look up to you and smile is the most incredible feeling. You get onto the field; hold your pose and you are so thankful that you practiced all those hours. You see the stands packed and know at least one person is watching you. You know every move perfectly because it was drilled into your brain. When you end and know that you did the best you could possibly do, you get a feeling of satisfaction. I think back and see how I pushed myself through everything I had going on that week and I feel so good. I know I can improve. So, when the next game week rolls around, I try to be as prepared as I can so I can experience the feeling of victory.

Getting Back Up

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get back up." This quote is by Vince Lombardi, an ex-Greenbay Packers coach, sometimes considered the best coach of all time. It's a quote that coaches use often. They use it because in sports you can't win all the time, but when you lose the best thing to do is to get back up. This quote was used to talk about football,but I believe it is also talking about life. It is saying that there will be obstacles in life. And some may be big enough to push you down, but you always have to remember to stand back up and keep going. It is a very special quote to me. I think of it every time something in life doesn't go my way. It helps to motivate me to keep going forward and always get up. It's a quote that we can all use in our day-to-day lives to help us pushing forward also. I hope this quote has inspired someone like it did me. And remember to always get up.

A Castle in the Clouds

There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds. ~G.K. Chesterton

To me, this quote means that imagination has no limits. A castle high in the sky has no restrictions. I find this special because I am a writer, and my imagination sometimes gets ahead of me. I am glad that imagination is limitless and is whatever you want it to be. Like an artist’s blank canvas, imagination can create anything your heart desires. Unlike architecture, your imagination can run wild and infinitely as long as you let it. Each person sees things uniquely, and one cannot be confined in what one sees. I am not one for many rules. Who is? Imagination is your own and cannot be restricted. I love that this quote means all of these things. Whether I want a mythical world deep in Earth’s center like in Journey to the Center of the Earth or a “castle in the clouds,” I can have it, as long as I imagine it. I am going to build my castle in the clouds in whichever way suits me.

Loyalty's Treasure

Charles Jones once said this, "Loyalty is something you give regardless of what you get back."
I believe that you should always show loyalty and give respect to people, regardless of the predicament you and that person may be in. My grandmother used to repeat this quote to me several times when I was a child. Being loyal is not only being there for someone, it is keeping promises and staying faithful. You should be loyal, and respect people, no matter what you will receive, or earn, in the end. It could make an impact on someone without you or that person knowing. Showing respect and faithfulness may cause another person to do the same. You gain respect from others by being loyal to every person, place, and thing. Treating others the way you want to be treated is one of the main rules I live by. That, I think, shows great respect, responsibility, integrity, and loyalty in yourself, and others, which relates to my quote. I try to repeat my grandmothers voice in my head saying this quote everyday. It gives me a sense to look at what I can do to change things in my life, and others'.

The Wise Director

"There are no good band directors, only great band students" is a quote by a person that gave me the key elements of music. Music is a major part of my life on a daily basis. Mr. Denis Vellier at Southside Jr. High. The band at Southside Jr. was one of the best in the state. He always said this , but i never got it until i was in eight grade. In the band we all thought it was him giving us the talent to be as good as we were, but we were wrong. The talent that we had was ours. He only showed us the way to success. Without him and his guidance, I would not be were i am today in music. I am very grateful of what he taught me and many others. It is true, "There are no great band directors, only great band students". I am very grateful to have had him as a teacher.

Time is the Coin of your Life.

The quote, "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you," is only one of the many quotes that have meaning to me. This one in particular was by Carl Sandburg. Through this quote, he illustrates how precious our life is and that we only have one chance to get it right. We have authority over our destiny. We should guard it so others can't rob us away from what we would really like to be doing with ourselves. Imagine yourself when you get old, looking back, feeling lonely and sad that you allowed for instance your job to control your life instead of you taking authority and investing yourself more with your family. It also illustrates how quickly time (our life) can be spent as fast as money. We should value it and care for it because we only have one chance at life. We don't get a redo. In caring for our lives, we care for ourselves. When caring for oneself, you are not only investing in your own happiness, but also the happiness of the people around you. It goes back to the saying "if you love oneself, you can better love others because you are happy." Guard our lives and our lives will be good.

My Favorite Quote

There are lots of quotes throughout the world. Most of them were said be famous or well known people. My favorite quote is "The price of greatness is respnsibility". This quote was said by Winston Churchill.This quote means that if you are going to be great, people will look up to you and you always have to do the right thing.Greatness is a gift. You are not born with it; you have to earn it. It is just like you have to take responsibility. Responsibility earns you trust. Nothing is harder to earn than responsibility. When you take responsibility, you put your loyalty on the line.All great players and people have to pay the price of responsibility.

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return"

The quote " True love begins when nothing is looked for in return" was spoken by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. True love is not something that one looks for rather than finds. It is a powerful feeling the one experiences right away. It means that they want to be with that certain person forever. True love is standing beside the one you love no matter what and cherishing the moments spent together. One finds true love by not looking for anything in return. When true love is found, it feels almost instant. To me, this means that falling in love is the easy part. Not getting hurt is the difficult part. When true love is found, pain will not matter. When love is strong enough, someone will go through anything to be with the person they love. Love is not an easy thing, but it can conquer all.

Quote for Me

My quote that I think describes me is,"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music" by Angela Monet. In my opinion this quote says that when people see things differently they are thought to be insane by people who do not see the way they do. People often are threatened or wary about people who think or act in a different manner than they themselves do. I think this quote describes me because people often think that I am odd and different, but honestly they just don't think they way I do. I believe that everyone is insane in their own personal world,but they like to think that they are like everyone else. They prefer to believe that they are not so different and that everyone else thinks the way they do as well. I prefer to believe that I think my own way. I see things differently than most people. I see opportunities

and dead ends when others do not . People also think someone is insane when they do not conform or adjust to others around them. When someone is not timid and shy people often react defensively to people who are outspoken. I think this quote describes me because I am dancing to music not many people can hear.

Three L's to the Head

The quote I chose is "Three L's to the head, live, love, laugh, then I'm dead." Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. spoke these words. He is also known as the famous rapper, Lil' Wayne. To me, this quote means to live life the way you want. It also means that life is short and there is no time for regrets. Take chances and risks as they present themselves. Life is about being happy, so have fun with it. Start off every day with a smile on your face. Live each day like it may be your last. If you only ever lived life by doing what was expected and not what your heart desired what a waste that would be! This quote speaks to everyone, anyone can understand it with just a little thought. In my opinion, Wayne is a lyrical genius for coming up with this wonderful quote.

Shoot for the Stars, You might get Lucky

I picked a quote that means a lot to me. This quote is from Brian Littrell. It says,"

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." This quote speaks to me in a major way. I think it is because I believe that something can mostly be accomplished by pure determination. I believe that if I put my mind to it I can get close which is what this quote means. This quote is saying that if you try your hardest you will accomplish more than most people even dream of, even if you don't get to your goal. The first time I heard this was during track. I said I wanted to Pole Vault 7 feet and I don't even remember who said the quote to me. I set my mind to it and made 6 and a half feet. Since then I just remember to keep shooting for the moon. Even if I miss I will land among the stars. This quote is extremely important to me and before every football game, soccer game, and track meet I say this to myself. This helps me remember that everyone makes mistakes and if I try to be great, I will at least be good.

Be a Leader

The quote I chose is the last three lines of my favorite poem, “The Path not Taken”, and by my favorite poet, Robert Frost. The quote is, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” The poem is very good and very inspiring to me. What it simply means is he was walking along and came to 2 roads. He did not know which to take, but he chose to take the one no one took. He chose to be an individual and not follow what others have done. This quote relates to me because I am kind of like him in the poem. I like to be my own person and not follow what others do. Following what others do can lead to many problems. What they do might not necessarily be the right thing to do. If you choose to follow the crowd you may live life unnoticed, and that’s just not me. I’m not an attention queen, but I do choose to talk to people and let them know who I am. I don’t live life unnoticed, I like to be involved in everything. The last part,” and that has made all the difference,” whether he means a good difference or a bad difference no one really knows. Sometimes the path you take is the path less taken and isn’t always right, but life is about taking risks and living. No path you take will be right or wrong. Like everyone says everything happens for a reason. If something is not okay right now, in the end everything will be just fine. God doesn’t give you any situation you can’t handle. The first time I heard this poem was in seventh grade. My English teacher, Mrs. Vona, made us memorize it and everything because it is also her favorite poem. When we read it I fell in love with it. It teaches us all a good lesson on not to follow the crowd, but to stand out, and be a leader. That is a life lesson that everyone should learn and stick to.

No Matter What, Just Have Fun.

It is not uncommon for adults to complain how bad they want to be able to go back to their childhood. Adults also often complain that they are to old to be joking around or to have fun. The quote "Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional", by Chili Davis, is something that every person needs to live by. I chose this quote because no matter how old someone gets, they still need to have fun. A person is never too mature for something. If they love what they do then how can they think to themselves that they cannot do something anymore because of their age and think that they are too mature. A person grows older with age and age can cause some differences in physical appearance but should never change the feelings inside. Who a person is comes from their heart. They don't grow old because of age, they grew older because they let themselves. People always think that they cannot accomplish something because of age but everyone can do something if they put their mind to it. I am growing older as the years go by, but I am the same hyper, joyful kid I have always been. As I get older, I plan on living my life by this quote. I am not going to stop doing something I love just because I think I am to old for it or because someone thinks that I am immature for doing what I enjoy. Everyone needs a chance to enjoy their childhood and as they enter older age, they look back on it but never realize that their childhood never really ended with older age. They ended it themselves.

Do your own Work!

"Nothin's given to you on a silver platter." This is a quote from my grandmother on my dad's side. Basically it means that you do not get anything immediately just because you want it. You have to work hard for it. A story told by my dad was that Maw-Maw took care of eight kids with very little help. At one point in time they were living in a two-room shack. She got my dad and his older brother to get cardboard boxes from a local store and help her nail them to the walls to keep the wind out. Her family was poor but she knew how to make their life more comfortable. The shack was a share-cropper's shack that her dad let her live in until she could get on her feet. She worked hard for her dad in his strawberry fields when my dad was a little boy (as did my dad and some of his siblings). This helped buy groceries to feed her family. she expected to work for her dad to get whatever help he gave her. She was already instilling in my dad's head the importance of hard work by setting an example.

Consequences of Avoiding Reality

The quote that I have chosen is a quote by Ayn Rand that states, "You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." To me this quote means that no matter how much you try to avoid your surroundings, you may still have consequences. In our society, there are many people who try to avoid what is occurring around the world. It is easy for people to turn their heads and try to disregard what is going on around them. Although they think they are shielding themselves from facing reality, they may still have consequences to pay. For example, consider the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Many American citizens thought we would go and fight these wars, win easily, and be back in no time. To this day, we are still fighting wars that we thought would be simple victories. These wars have cost us billions of dollars and the lives of many brave Americans. When a crisis is going on in another country, people like to pretend that nothing is happening because they do not personally experience any consequences. However, the end result may be higher taxes or an increase in the prices of goods. I think this quote is important, because it reminds people that even though they are ignoring what is going on around them, they are still subject to the events that are occurring in their surroundings.

"I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham. I Do Not Like Them, Sam I Am."

Personally, I would have to say that my favorite quote is “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities," by Dr. Seuss. This quote is saying that fantasy is more exciting than reality. Nonsense makes you think differently; makes you see the world in a completely different way. It can enable you to see beauty in the most unexcpected places, humor in the most serious places, happiness in the saddest places, and acceptance in the loneliest places. This quote is absolutely one of my favorites because I would prefer fantasy over reality any day. To me, nonsense is the best thing in the world. That is why I believe children have the most beautiful minds-because they do not know fantasy from reality. They are creative and have an imagination the size of the solar system, which is why I believe children are so carefree and happy. Who would not adore if unicorns, dragons, princesses in distress, and brave knights were all nonfiction? Everyone is out to find their "happily ever after." If fantasy were real, no one would have to worry because no matter what happens in the fairytale stories, they always end with a "happily ever after." Honestly, I believe this world would be a better place if it weren't so real.

Changing the World: One Lyric at a Time

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” –Bono, U2
For centuries, music has allowed people to express the words that cannot be spoken. Music gives people the power to change a person, to change a group, or to change a nation. Among the ways music can change us, quite possibly the most important is the way that music can raise awareness about something that needs to be changed in our society. “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a popular song performed and written by U2, criticizes the war in Ireland and was released in 1983. This song is considered to be the most controversial of U2’s songs, but was well received by critics. More recent artists have taken to criticizing modern society and the way that America is today. “Calling All Angels” by Train, “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer, and “Big Yellow Taxi” by Counting Crows are all songs criticizing modern society but different aspects of it in each. “Calling All Angels” expresses the need for good to come back into the world, and that it is not what it used to be. “Waiting on the World to Change” criticizes the war and the media and defends young people’s helplessness in our society. “Big Yellow Taxi” assesses the busy, urban areas that consume our society today, and the way we take everything for granted. Every once in a while, music can be so powerful to even start a revolution. Beginning in the 1950’s, a nationwide teenage rebellion began as Elvis Presley took the world by storm. With the beginning of rock n’ roll, teenagers began to have more freedom to express themselves and their opinions. Elvis Presley created a new genre and began a new era that has continued to today. When music starts a revolution, it helps people to leave the past behind and move into the future. In addition, music can start trends and fads. Lady Gaga has influenced people more so with her fashion and style than with her music. She has helped to change the way that people view fashion and has made usually risky choices seem harmless. Beginning in the late 90’s, Britney Spears greatly influenced pop culture. Not only with her fashion, but she set a precedent for all pop music, one in which many current pop stars have followed. Spears also established an expectation for live performances, leading them to be known as wild and entertaining, with the focus not entirely on vocals. But above all, music’s greatest ability is the power to inspire people. It can motivate listeners to change the world, to encourage others, to create art, to learn something new, to take risks that they normally wouldn’t. Among the most influential bands of the last few decades is the Beatles. They were listed under Time magazine’s compilation of the 100 most influential people and with reason. The Beatles greatly influenced people’s opinions on many issues such as women’s liberation and environmentalism. John Lennon, as well, inspired millions with his single “Imagine.” Though our society is steadily moving forward and changing, music remains intact for the same purposes that it always has. Music is the one thing that is universal, the one thing that everybody can relate to. It transforms people one by one, until eventually, it has changed the world.

Not Every Man Lives

The quote i have selected is "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." I believe that this quote speaks for itself, but i will try to communicate the importance of it to myself. The first sentence says "Every man dies." This is a harsh fact of life we all must accept, parents, dogs, family, they all die at some point in time. The second line is where it really speaks to me. I would be considered shy, it is a fact that i cannot change, as much as it pains me. Because of my shyness I am not an out going person, i struggle to talk to my neighbors in class. I do not know what its like to really live, so I can not communicate that to you. However this quote does give me hope for the future, it makes me want to be a better person. It makes me want to be one of the few that truly lives. It helps me in my internal day to day battles and makes me look forward to chances in which i can enjoy life. This is a quote of William Wallace. William Wallace never struck me as a man of great insight, but i guess he knew about the struggles of everyone. That is why that this quote speaks to me, i can not even guess how it affects you.

Living in the Moment

I would have to say that my favorite quote was written in a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks. The poem is called "Speech to the Young". It states in the last three verses of a poem to "Live not for battles won. Live not for the end of the song. Live in the along." To me, "Live not for battles won," means not to live in the past. It also means not to reminisce in the past too much, and not to dwell on it either. I think when Gwendolyn Brooks said, "Live not for the end of the song," she means not to be too focused on the future and what is to come, because then you will miss what is going on right in front of you. I think the last verse, "Live in the along," means to focus on what is going on right now. It means to appreciate the things God has blessed us with. Each day is its own blessing, and if we worried about tomorrow, we will miss out on what is going on now, in the present. This quote, for me, means to take each day as it comes. I try to make the best out of every day and everything that comes my way. If we don't appreciate each day God has given to us , then that days seems wasted, in my opinion. That is why I live in the moment, or the along, as Gwendolyn Brooks said.

A Good Man is Not A Perfect Man...

The quote I chose that has meaning to me is, "a good man is not a perfect man; a good man is an honest man, faithful, and unhesitatingly responsive to the voice of God in his life." This quote is by John Fischer who is a christian author, singer, and song writer. Some people think that in order to be a good person, they have to be perfect, but that is not true. To be a good person you should always be honest and never lie. An honest person is far more important than trying to be perfect. When our life here is said and done, I would like to be known for being an honest person and not as much for being perfect. When I think of being a "faithful" person, I think of my dad because he has been married to my mom for almost 19 years and has been a faithful husband to her. That is something that is very important to me in this world today, being faithful. Not only faithful to my family, but to being faithful to the voice of God in my life. I want to strive to be a person who does not hesitate to listen to the voice of God in my life and follow what he tells me to do. No one is perfect and I think God looks for those who are not perfect so that we can rely on him to be made perfect. So instead of trying to be perfect, I will try to be honest, faithful and respond to the voice of God.

Me And My Big Mouth

" Dear Lord, please put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth,"-Anonymous. This is the quote that I have chosen. Mostly because-as my Momma told just moments ago-it has me written all over it. To me this quote points out something I have struggled with all of my life,and will continue to do so for the remainder of it. I am constantly in trouble for being too loud.Though, honestly my parents should have thought about that before they gave me a name that literally meant loud. Seriously, I looked it up in the dictionary and under my name it actually said loud. Not only that, but I am forever cursed with the fact that I talk way to much,this includes arguing. My parents are always telling me that I could argue with a fence post. Once when I was seven I actually tryed it....but I ended up getting mad and yelling at it. To me this quote means that I will always need God for support, love, and sometimes....a hand over my mouth telling me that I just need to shut-up.Moreover to love me anyway, and help me with my babbling problem. Which I know he can and will because,no matter how big my mouth gets, or how high my temper flares, God's soothing hand will always be bigger...and filled with his love. So I know, that he will forever be by my side with his arm around my shoulder, and his hand over my mouth.

Words of Wisdom

My favorite quote is, " Every situation, good or bad is always temporary." The person who said this was my grandmother, Phyllis Hogan. The quote means that whether or not you are in a good situation or a bad one it will always pass. To me this is very meaningful. I have gone through tough situations and when my maw maw told me this, I really did not understand it. But now that I am on a better track I personally know that all situations are temporary. Also I have seen good situations last for as long as I have been alive and just recently our economy has hit rock bottom. This proves that situations will never last forever. I may be wrong. Looking back I cannot remember any situation, for me, that has lasted. Although I have no idea as to what my future holds in store for me, I can say that thus far, I believe in this quote 100 percent.

Savannah Lois Edmonston ;)

My Musical Chauffeur

"Driven by music" is my chosen quote. The author’s name is unknown at the time. There are numerous ways to explain this quote, but my interpretation of it is, to complete a task or take a risk, you must have a drive! For example, to do your class assignments, your drive is to achieve acceptable grades to graduate from high school. My drive to get through every sharp and flat in life is musical therapy! It gets me through my lowest of lows and makes my highest of highs more of a memorable adventure! My days at school can be rocky and sometimes a roller coaster of enjoyment and frustration, but music keeps me excelling down the right path. If I am ever having a crumby attitude, I am full of anger, or I doubt myself, I think of songs, and play them on my mental iPod. Music is my relaxer and it helps me to elaborate on events that have had an impact on my life and understand the reason for their happening. Music is a world of heartache, tragedy, love, happiness, and confusion. My addiction diagnosis is music. The good news is there is no treatment to cure its melodic enchantment!