First blog post

Hi everyone! The idea to create this blog came from me needing a project for 20% time (Genius hour) at my school. I had always secretly wanted to created a blog, but never really knew how, so I never got around to doing it. With me being enrolled in 20% time it was the push that I needed to start the process of creating my own blog. Then I was faced with the dreadful question, “What will my blog be about?” After much thought I decided the blog would be about something that I have a lot of, due to me living all over the world, Life advice. Thus the idea for my blog was born! I came up with the name of my blog “Life Fravors,” due to my last name sounding a lot like life favors, which is what the blog would be about. The life advice or life favors will range from travel advice to school advice, and everything in between. So that’s the history behind this blog. Enjoy!

 

Moving

Moving. A tedious process of picking up everything you own and moving it to a new location. Sometimes that location is a mile or miles away. With my father being active in the Air Force, moving is a thing that is all too familiar, with a total of moving six times.

So why is the moving process hard? The simple answer is, change. Change is something that some people can handle really well (sometimes even welcoming it), or for others change is something that wants to come in and destroy everything that they have known and loved. Change is just one of many trials in moving, other trials include: finding a new house, making new friends (if you are moving to a new part of a country), finding a church (for me personally), fitting into a new job, learning the local language (if you are moving overseas), and dealing with the grief and stress of moving.

What good can come out of moving? Well, if the move is because of a job it means that a new door has opened to grow in the business. Losing friends can be extremely devastating, but luckily in this era of technology, keeping in touch with people is much easier. Meeting new people and forming new relationships is a new adventure that can help someone grow as a person. If the move takes you to another country this is an awesome chance to experience the unique culture of the country.

In the end, moving is something that is just part of life, and complaining and moaning about it won’t get someone anywhere. Even though failing and falling is part of daily life, learning to get back up after each fall is essential. So in life, even if it is moving, try to look through the trials and focus on the gifts it brings.

 

Frozen Smile

I decided to do something different for this post. I’m recognizing someone who has helped me with my blog numerous times. Be sure to check out his own blog neongreeneverything, where he gives advice and tips for “any average teen.” He also writes poems with darker meanings, which dive into the hidden emotions people often hide. Below is one of his recent poems “Frozen Smile.”

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Froze on a smile now I can’t get it to melt,

Putting on a front not letting people know the way I felt,

Cutting marks on my body that are full of regret,

This was my life before we met.

 

Have you ever wish you could just get your life together,

But those dreams get stomped on by stormy weather,

Now just thinking of you, the memories so sweet,

Now I think the frozen smile is there to keep.

 

-Neon Green Everything

The Road to Improvement

When it comes to improving your life, the first step is to want improvement. If you are already researching or looking for ways to improve your life, then that shows that you really want to change. Some people will talk about how they want their life to get better, but then when they get the chance they reject it because it’s too hard or they don’t feel like it. Changing or improving your life can be a hard thing, but how hard is dependent on what or how much improvement you want to happen.

You also have to be ready to grow up. We can get into a lifestyle or habits that is comfortable for us right now, but in the long run, it will lead to nothing. It’s scary to go off into the world, I understand, I am a senior in high school who is about to go off next year to a college in another state. Growing up and entering a new stage in your life is a happy, scary, and intimidating time in life, but it means that new opportunities have opened for so many great things to happen.

Emotions are amazing things, they allow us to feel love, happiness, contentment, and so much more. Emotions can also hold us back. If you start to let emotions rule your entire life then that can inhibit your ability to improve and change as a person. That isn’t saying that you should get rid of feelings altogether, but it does mean that we shouldn’t use our feelings as our main source of facts. We need to have balance, which is something that we should apply to all areas of our lives. If emotions control your life then find out what emotions are the main ones you rely on. If you’re always having a bad attitude then its time to get rid of that bad attitude.

Additionally, getting to know yourself better is an important step in self-improvement. If you know yourself better, then you will know how to take the right steps that will lead to definite change and improvement. There are tons of tests and quizzes online that can help you discover yourself. My personal favorite is the MBTI test.

 

“One of the greatest discoveries a person makes is to find they can do what they were afraid they couldn’t do.”

-Henry Ford

 

 

 

Off To See The World!!!

Recently, people who went to England through a school trip, came back. This inspired me to write about things that I have learned from my many travels around the world. There are specific things to know about every country, but I will just be covering the general tips to know. Let us begin!!!

1.) Learn the language

If you are unfamiliar with the language of the country you are visiting it is always wise to learn a few basic words. Some of the basic words or phrases that you definetely want to know include: Hello, goodbye, thank you, please, your welcome, which way?, where is ____?, and finally bathroom.  Knowing at least these few words will help you with blending in with the locals a little better.

2.) Pack according to the weather

This is a very popular tip to give, and the reason for that is because it is the most common problem. There have been a few trips where I haven’t pack according to the weather, and let me say it isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world.

Another helpful thing when packing is to make a checklist for things you need to pack. It really helps to make sure that you bring everything that you need.

3.) Do some research on dress

Also do a little research on the dress of the people, so you don’t look like a tourist.  For example: people in Europe and Asia dress nicer than people in America.

4.) Know the weight limit for baggage at airports

If your trip involves flying then it is very important to know the weight limit for your bags/suitcases.  Airports will charge a fee if your bag/suitcase goes over the maximum weight limit.

5.) Have a carry on bag

It it always a good idea to have a carry on bag, it allows you to carry  extra stuff you might acquire on your trip. If you are bringing a backpack or any sort of purse, make sure to have these necessary things for these specific countries. All the items listed below are things that you definitely want to have on hand.

1. England- umbrella
2. Germany- spare money for the bathrooms
3. Japan- translator app or book
4. China- toilet paper
5. Ireland- Jacket (the temperature can change fast)

6.) Have fun!

Traveling to foreign countries is an amazing experience, that I believe everyone should experience one time in their life. It’s a trip that you will remember for your entire life, so have the most fun you can have.  For first time travelers, going with a travel group is always a great way to start out. It lets you experience the culture of the country, while not being completely alone, it also frees you of having to plan the entire trip. If you’re not a first time traveler then I dare you to go outside of your comfort zone, and try something completely new.

 

School Life

School again…..

School has officially started! Which means stress, homework, sports, fine art, friends, enemies (Hopefully not), and much more. With this officially being my senior year in high school I am looking back at the lessons I have learned over the past three years and compiling them into a list of things I have found makes my year go smoother.

Get organized

1.) Have a planner

Having a planner for those who have lots of classes is essential. It allows you to write assignments down, so you don’t have to keep them in your head all day. You can always find a wide range of planners, so finding one that fits you is not that hard. The key to finding the right one is: 1.) Find out if you will be using the planner everyday or just for certain occasions  2.) Look for a planner that fits inside your budget  3.) Finally, see if the planner has enough space for you to write down what you need. Once you find the perfect planner then its up to you how you use it.

2.) Have folders to hold homework in

I found that using a folder to hold homework really helps in keeping track of all the papers. It allows for homework given back to be quickly put away, and kept safe for later use or study. Having a folder also allows one more option to express your style.

Make Friends

In my freshman year of high school I came into the new school with the mindset that I wasn’t going to make any friends and just focus on my studies, since I had been bullied my middle school years. How wrong I was! I’m not a very social person, so I don’t need to be around people that much, but not more than a week into school I came to realization that I needed some friends. The good thing about being a new student is that normally everyone is curious to know who you are, meaning that more people come up to you and introduce themselves. Luckily, within a few days time I had already settled into a group of girls. It helped me sooooo much! They showed me around the school, taught me how things worked at school, and showed me where all the activities are held on campus. Having friends also helped school to be less of a drag for I knew that they would be there to help me through it. When I had been at the school for more than a year I was able to show new students how things worked at school, which is information I learned from my friends.