Its Always Darkest before the Dawn

And now its official. The Class of 2011 has lost every Spirit Week in High School. Should we hang our heads in shame at such a feat. Should we blame each other for not cheering loud enough or for not buying more cans. I say no. Our class has overcome so many obstacles during this year. And it is safe to say that this was probably the most difficult second semester any Senior could hope for. But we made it through. Losing Spirit Week is by no means a representation of our class spirit. Our class has the biggest heart and the most unity regardless of what the judges saw this week. And lastly I like to end with a mantra that President Obama has recently adopted as his own. The Class of 2012 may have won Spirit Week, but we the Class of 2011 will win the Future. We have the smartest and most talented class that has ever gone through Buckley. We are all individuals with our own bright futures. This is only the beginning.

Conformity at the Heritage Festival of San Diego

This weekend at San Diego Buckley walked away with many awards. The Spirit Award is by far the most prestigious award we won this year. I can not remember the last time we won the Spirit Award at Heritage. Nevertheless, the purpose of this blog is not to reflect on our numerous rewards but on a specific performance that I was forced to witness during this three day event. Though I have forgotten the name of the school I will never forget the overwhelming visual that was presented before my eyes. Not only was this one of the biggest full orchestra's I have ever seen but the intense homogeneity of the group was even more staggering. This group was comprised of only Asian performers with two or three individuals of other races and they all played string instruments. However their racial homogeneity was made even more ostentatious when one heard the skill with which they all played. Now, we all know that off stage these are all individuals in their own worlds, with own ideas and personalities. But when they were all on that stage together playing in such unity such conformity, each sacrificing their sound for the enhancement of the group, it was truly impressive.

MARCH MADNESS!!: And the METHOD behind it

Every year there comes a time when we are all consumed by an omnipotent force. Whether we know it or not, our lives and thoughts succumb to....the madness. We do not know why or even how it has come to this. None of us follow college basketball throughout the year. I mean, we're in high school and have not even reached the insanity that is college. And yet there is just something that draws you to such a tournament. Something that makes you want to forget you ever cared about anything else. Is the many wondrous memories that arise when 68 teams representing 68 different schools compete together in one final battle. Or is it the immense heart-wrenching drama that comes from filling out one's own bracket. The many days that some commit to attaining the perfect bracket leads them no near....madness. As we speak I am checking the scores of 4 different games. And as Utah St. begins to drive me towards near insanity, I shall conclude that March Madness is the ultimate form of conformity.

Intro Parargraph

In order to lead a fulfilling and rich life one must seek out one's personal balance between societal conformity and complete individualism. Total societal conformity leads to a loss of the individual and complete individualism can lead to chaos and lack of direction. Freud states that the instincts of man are primarily characterized by greed and lust which society must curtail through societal norms and values. However, there is also an individualism that is innate within every person that is in jeopardy of fading as these norms invade individual pursuits and desires. What's more, to understand the ideal balance one must take into consideration the many forms and types of conformity and individualism. For this balance can be achieved through education, family, media and even through sub-conscious fulfillment. Therefore, everyone gains their individual balance in their own way. Gregor in Kafka's Metamorphosis was unable to attain his own balance and his outright conformity lead to his ultimate demise. While Kurtz in Conrad's Heart of Darkness died trying to fulfill the desires of his id while abandoning society all together. Finding this balance is a life-long struggle and many may never  truly find it. The pressures of society may be too strong or an individual may get lost in the rapture of his own desires. But once this balance is attained, one can thrive as individual within society.