Sydney's Blog

Today, from a distance, I saw you
walking away, and without a sound
the glittering face of a glacier
slid into the sea. An ancient oak
fell in the Cumberlands, holding only
a handful of leaves, and an old woman
scattering corn to her chickens looked up
for an instant. At the other side
of the galaxy, a star thirty-five times
the size of our own sun exploded
and vanished, leaving a small green spot
on the astronomer’s retina
as he stood on the great open dome
of my heart with no one to tell.

Reflection: This poem was so touching a meaningful. Its very, very beautiful. I think I was introduced to my favorite poem so far!

Last week I went with the eighth grade to Washington D.C and had a blast! I’m glad I was able to go, and recomend that everybody can go see the beautiful city, home of the president, our father of freedom!

D.C was a very good expirience and I would be so excited to return someday and revisit the sights that i was so very fortunate to see. I was able to see the Washington Monument, World War 2 monument, and the Lincoln memorial. I was sort of dissapointed though because i was not allowed to sit on Lincolns lap.

Wow. When exploring the Holocaust Museum I was very, very touched. I felt responsible almost, like I should have been there to help. I feel bad for those who sufford and I’m glad that we are showing and respecting those in that beautiful museum.

Hoping that someday I could return, I would lke to thank all the teachers that made it possible for this experience. I had a blast!

Middle School. Where most treasured memories begin. Where you meet new life-long friends, teachers, and discover sports you love. It determines what choices you make for high school, definitely college, and life. Just from these three short years, it can determine your future. So, I’ve decided to make them the best, and revisit every memory I have made at Mariner Middle School.

In this school I would have to say that the teachers have impacted how I feel the most. They made sure that I was comfortable in the learning environment that I’m in. I laugh as I remember the overnight trip at the state park in the 7^th grade. My favorite teacher throughout my middle school years, Mr. Luciano, decided it would be funny to scare us half to death late at night in the middle of the wilderness! It was funny though, and really made my day. Now, I don’t only have the worry of leaving this school as I move on through grades, but also the worry of having to leave my social studies teacher, my physical education instructor, my coach, and my best friend; Mr. Luciano.

Without being motivated to play hockey by my family, peers, and coach, I don’t think I would have the skills and be where I am today. I remember the Mariner vs. Beacon hockey game which resulted in a tie. It was my best game all season! But I remember the worry on my face when about half way through the game, one of my very best friends, Samantha Broadhurst, got hit in the eye with a very powerful swing of the opponents field hockey stick. As much as she was determined to keep playing, the plum that was growing on her face forced her to end the game for herself and sit out. It was very close to her actual eye and it hit her bone and was very unfortunate. But with her bravery, she was able to finish the hockey season, and came out alive! And that’s one of the reasons why I look back on that day, and think “My God, I love that girl”.

Without my friends, I think I would dread coming to school every day. They keep me upbeat and keep my positive attitude up and running! I’m going to miss these days, and remember the memories that are impossible to erase from my mind. If I could, I would thank every single person that has inspired me through my middle school years, but I can’t because then I would have to walk up to every person in this school

Remember forever, MMS

What you are good at may come naturally for some folks, but others have to climb their obstacles to reach the top of their mountain and their goals. Gifted people are blessed with abilities through their roots, natural and pure. Others need to be nurtured and practice through their life to get good at what they are striving for. Their accomplishments are at their branches.

For me, I guess you could say hockey was a struggle. I never really stood out as ‘good.’ My skills were clearly at my branches; the tips of my branches. Hockey was not in my blood that much, and I was not strongly encouraged to look at it as a way of life, but I love it more than anything in the world, right next to family, friends, and faith. Therefore, I always practiced, ran, and showed determination for this sport, and the outcome was more than I could ask.

I am proud to say, this year I have completed my goal. Hockey, for me, is like my life, and to make the U-16 team Delaware Shore field hockey team at age 14 and being able to go all the way to qualifiers in Florida, is like a dream come true.

I watered my needy roots and made my branches reach for the sky, and for me, that is the greatest accomplishment.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune–without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Reflection: I didn’t really understand this poem, it was really confusing, but also really beautiful. I did like it, I just think I’m going to have to try and interpret it a little more better.

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do –
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Reflection: Wow! I loved this poem! I can really relate to it because it shows how all these things in life are being thrown at me but I need to stay focased and clim the moutain that leads to success and not stop on the way there. It tells how you need to keep your head held high and just keep on marchin’!

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory!

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

Reflection: This was a very confusing poem, but it had a lot of voice and was very meaningful. I enjoyed reading it

There are only one Sydney Smyk’s in the world!! Find out how many there are of your name! Check out this link!

<div style=”color: #000;”><br><table width=”350″ bgcolor=”#FFFFFF” cellpadding=”1″ border=”0″ cellspacing=”0″ style=”background-color: white; text-align: center;”><tr><td style=”background-color: #0066B3; color: white; font: 16px/1.1 Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;”>HowManyOfMe.com</td></tr><tr><td style=”border: 1px solid black;”><table width=”100%” bgcolor=”#FFFFFF” cellpadding=”0″ border=”0″ cellspacing=”0″ style=”background-color: white; text-align: center;”><tr><td width=”120″ style=”padding-top: 2px;”><a href=”http://howmanyofme.com” style=”text-decoration: none;”><img src=”http://extimg.howmanyofme.com/extimages/howmany-logo.png” alt=”Logo” width=”100″ height=”100″ style=”border: 1px black”></a></td><td><span style=”font: 16px/1.1 Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000;”>There are<br><img src=”http://extimg.howmanyofme.com/autoimg/J2mKvFV5Lhk1HmyNeOrL8Q%2C%2C/count.png” alt=”1″><br><b>or fewer</b> people with <span id=”hmpu”>my name</span> in the U.S.A.</span><br></td></tr></table><a style=”color: #0066B3; text-decoration: underline; font: bold 16px/1.8 Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;” href=”http://howmanyofme.com”>How many have your name?</a></td></tr></table><br></div>

The capitol is divided into 13 districts. District 13 was destroyed by the capitol a long time ago and this book describes Katniss Everdeen from district 12, a very poor district known for coal mining. Her father died from a mine explosion and she had to look after her Mother and younger sister, Prim. You were not allowed to go in the woods, but it was her family’s only food source, so everyday she would sneak into it with her friend Gale to go hunting.

Every year the district has Hunger games, where two people (one male, one female) have to go into an arena and kill other tributes to be the last one standing. Prim was picked to go into the games as one of the tributes from district 12, but Katniss refused to let her sister go and volunteered herself. Peeta was the other tribute from district 12. As they are in the hunger games, Katniss meats a girl named Rue, who is very much like her sister and they form an alliance. Then Peeta and Katniss get into a relationship, but Katniss is confused weather she really has feelings for Peeta, or if it’s just for the audience.

This books theme is live vs. die and life vs. love because Katniss has to stay alive in the Hunger Games, but also has to choose on whether or not it is worth hurting someone you develop feelings about. Katniss sees a lot of ungodly things in the Hunger Games, including killing others. Will this give Katniss permanent scars?

My opinion of this book was out of this world! It was absolutely the best book I have ever read, and I’m not just saying that! I am definitely looking forward to the second book “Catching Fire” and will most definitely catch up on this author.

I recommend this book to anybody! Don’t let the thickness of the book discourage you, and trust me, I didn’t even want to start this book because it looked so big, but I would never ever regret reading this! You don’t know how much I love it!!!!!!!!!!! Read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!