The Grand Rapids Times
8-22-2008
Marcel Gamble
It’s time for school once again; some people are moving up to elementary, some are advancing on to middle school and a number of individuals are stepping foot in to the world of high school.
Students everywhere are preparing for a new year.
They are shopping for school supplies, school clothes, dorm furniture and getting ready for another school year. There is one item that I know numerous of people are forgetting to buy and that is a new swag.
Some individuals just don’t care. They treat education as if it is not important.
Well, any student starting in 9th grade since 2007, and don’t choose to care, better pick up a new swag those who don’t choose to care better pick up a new swag because now there are two ways to end your high school career, either by receiving a diploma or a certificate of completion.
Your swag is the decision-maker behind what your future will look like.
It’s amusing how a person is quick to put on a new swag when a new year comes around.
It’s amazing that an individual can put on a new swag when things begin to go downhill in his or her life.
I find it funny when one puts on a new swag to attract people that he or she has interest in.
Some of us put on a new swag for everything else besides our education.
How are we advancing on to higher grades when our attitudes remain the same? We begin the school year with the same goals that we already met or failed to meet in previous years.
If I had the goal of becoming a “B” student last year, then I should have the goal of becoming an “A” student this year.
It should not take a new hair cut or some new shoes for us to have a new swag about our education.
If I were on the honor roll twice last year, then I should be on the honor roll 4 times this year.
If the teachers knew my name by heart from my being the problem child, then this year they should know my name for my being the problem-solving child.
An outfit doesn’t create a new swag; it is up to each and everyone of us to create our own swags.
Things are changing for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and as my peers, you all need to be aware. Starting off this school year with a poor attitude as a student will not be a good idea because GRPS has a new swag.
As a student if you don’t know about work keys, then you better find out. Maybe work keys can have an effect on what kind of job you get in the future. Your ACT scores matter for going to work and to College.
I’m just saying that it’s time for some of you all to start acting like you all care.
If you are a student that has many excuses as to why your performance at school is horrible, then this year you will have a youth advocate specialist help you find answers.
As the youth of this city you all have to realize that things are changing; and if you are a person that is not willing to change, then you will be left behind.
Some students already have their new swag and it’s time for you to get one too.
I’m going to leave you all with this: It’s time to be wise and thankful that you are able to have the opportunity to get an education. Don’t let anyone stop you from reaching your dreams in life.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Teens Talk - The Three Meals That You Need
The Grand Rapids Time
8-15-2008
Most people understand that in order to get through a day you need three nutritious meals for your body. After you wake up in the morning to get your mind stimulated and your limbs operating you need breakfast.
In the middle of the day when you feel stressed and burned out, you need lunch to help you function.
Finally at night before you go to sleep you need dinner to keep your body content until the next day.
Many of us are not healthy. Why?
We are not healthy because we are not eating three meals a day; some of us are skipping meals and some of us are just grabbing snacks. Individuals grab snacks because they say that they don’t have time to prepare a meal. People skip meals because they claim they are too busy to eat.
If millions of people are just grabbing snacks then how are we getting fed? We can’t get fed if we don’t thank God for life each morning when we wake up; we’re skipping breakfast.
We definitely can’t get fed if we don’t take time out of our busy days to praise God for allowing us to achieve what we achieve; we’re not eating lunch.
Before we close our eyes at night if we aren’t telling God of our worries and joys then we are skipping out on dinner.
There is no doubt that we are becoming unhealthy. We need to get fed and it’s up to us to take the time out to eat.
If we choose not to eat, where would the strength come from that we need to fight off temptation? We should take the time out to think about getting fed, because if we are not getting fed spiritually by God, then where else is our food coming from?
No matter your age or what type of relationship you have with God, everyone should be getting three meals a day.
I’m going to leave you all with this: “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13)
Marcel Gamble graduated from Kelloggsville High School.
8-15-2008
Most people understand that in order to get through a day you need three nutritious meals for your body. After you wake up in the morning to get your mind stimulated and your limbs operating you need breakfast.
In the middle of the day when you feel stressed and burned out, you need lunch to help you function.
Finally at night before you go to sleep you need dinner to keep your body content until the next day.
Many of us are not healthy. Why?
We are not healthy because we are not eating three meals a day; some of us are skipping meals and some of us are just grabbing snacks. Individuals grab snacks because they say that they don’t have time to prepare a meal. People skip meals because they claim they are too busy to eat.
If millions of people are just grabbing snacks then how are we getting fed? We can’t get fed if we don’t thank God for life each morning when we wake up; we’re skipping breakfast.
We definitely can’t get fed if we don’t take time out of our busy days to praise God for allowing us to achieve what we achieve; we’re not eating lunch.
Before we close our eyes at night if we aren’t telling God of our worries and joys then we are skipping out on dinner.
There is no doubt that we are becoming unhealthy. We need to get fed and it’s up to us to take the time out to eat.
If we choose not to eat, where would the strength come from that we need to fight off temptation? We should take the time out to think about getting fed, because if we are not getting fed spiritually by God, then where else is our food coming from?
No matter your age or what type of relationship you have with God, everyone should be getting three meals a day.
I’m going to leave you all with this: “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13)
Marcel Gamble graduated from Kelloggsville High School.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Teens Talk - Mama You Raised a Man
The Grand Rapids Times
8-8-2008
When a child is beginning to learn how to take his first steps they fall, and their mother is there to pick them back up. Well I’m about to take my first steps out into the world and I am going to fall, but I will be able to pick myself up.
Throughout life you told me that God is my strength: mama, you raised a religious man.
If you are an individual that has been fortunate enough to have a mother who has been there for you, then you need to be thankful. Not everyone has a mother who is capable of raising a child under the blessings of God.
When I was young you were the one who protected me from danger and kept me safe. Now that I am grown, danger approaches me daily and I am able to use discernment to protect myself.
Thank you mama, for raising a wise man.
Growing up you told me that my mind was one thing no one could ever take from me. As I am entering college I realize that education isn’t something that one should play with.
I thank you for raising an educated man.
As a child you would whoop my behind, to set me straight after I would do something wrong. Now I’m not constantly running from the law or living life behind bars.
Mama, I thank you because you have raised a free man.
When I began to get older you kept it real with me. Everyday now I keep it real with others and share my testimony.
You can smile now, because you raised a real man.
When I was younger we weren’t wealthy but we survived, you showed me that it’s not money that does it, but God is what makes the world go around.
You don’t have to worry any more, you raised an appreciative man.
I remember when we would cross, busy roads, and you would hold my hand. Well I’m about to cross some roads alone and it’s okay, because God has my hand.
19 years ago you held me in your arms as I opened my eyes to the world. Today I am able to open my eyes to the world once again as a man.
Mama I was once your baby, and I will always be your baby, but I want you to know that you raised a man.
Everyone should realize the things their parents have to go through in order to provide for them. If you have made it this far in life and you are blessed from God, then you should thank those who are close to you for making you who you are today.
I’m going to leave you all with this: A good man leaves what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.
8-8-2008
When a child is beginning to learn how to take his first steps they fall, and their mother is there to pick them back up. Well I’m about to take my first steps out into the world and I am going to fall, but I will be able to pick myself up.
Throughout life you told me that God is my strength: mama, you raised a religious man.
If you are an individual that has been fortunate enough to have a mother who has been there for you, then you need to be thankful. Not everyone has a mother who is capable of raising a child under the blessings of God.
When I was young you were the one who protected me from danger and kept me safe. Now that I am grown, danger approaches me daily and I am able to use discernment to protect myself.
Thank you mama, for raising a wise man.
Growing up you told me that my mind was one thing no one could ever take from me. As I am entering college I realize that education isn’t something that one should play with.
I thank you for raising an educated man.
As a child you would whoop my behind, to set me straight after I would do something wrong. Now I’m not constantly running from the law or living life behind bars.
Mama, I thank you because you have raised a free man.
When I began to get older you kept it real with me. Everyday now I keep it real with others and share my testimony.
You can smile now, because you raised a real man.
When I was younger we weren’t wealthy but we survived, you showed me that it’s not money that does it, but God is what makes the world go around.
You don’t have to worry any more, you raised an appreciative man.
I remember when we would cross, busy roads, and you would hold my hand. Well I’m about to cross some roads alone and it’s okay, because God has my hand.
19 years ago you held me in your arms as I opened my eyes to the world. Today I am able to open my eyes to the world once again as a man.
Mama I was once your baby, and I will always be your baby, but I want you to know that you raised a man.
Everyone should realize the things their parents have to go through in order to provide for them. If you have made it this far in life and you are blessed from God, then you should thank those who are close to you for making you who you are today.
I’m going to leave you all with this: A good man leaves what he owns for his children’s children. The riches of the sinner are stored up for those who are right with God.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Teens Talk - No Homie, That’s Not Black
What is black?
Like other colors black is a color that displays an expression that people identify as being the identity of the color. Since the color black has a dark appearance it is associated with melancholy, dark objects and thoughts.
Why do we associate such a beautiful color with negative and depressing things?
Did people begin to attach negativity to the color black after our people went through the horror of slavery? Our ancestors were beaten because their skin color was black. Great individuals before us were stripped from the families and deprived from their rights to vote and to have an education..
Are we out of our minds?
Our ancestors have gone through the ultimate struggle just to eliminate the burden of negativity attached to the color of black. Some say they are tired. Well I am fed up. I am ashamed to say that it has taken me 19 years to wake up. I am through with being a puppet to a confused nation.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., his dream wasn’t for African Americans to face horrible times and overcoming horrific times to just associate ourselves to negativity once again. Black should now be a glorious color and because we are living in a confused nation the color black is far from being glorious.
Why are we saying that being black is wearing jeans low and our hats every other way then forward?
Why are we taking pride in being thugs fully covered in tattoos, tattoos don’t fly in the professional world?
Why are we saying that being tatted up is being black?
Why are we proud to use profanity and take pride in being loud. Why do we call that being black? I feel ashamed of myself for doing it and I am not the only one.
Men, why have we made it acceptable to label our African American women as being bitches and hoes?
My black community, we should not be proud to attach negativity to our color. Other people in the world already place negativity on the color of our skin, why are we helping the haters in the world bring us down?
We all might as well drop out of school because that’s being black.
All of us might as well be imprisoned or slain on the streets because that is being black.
The color black was formed to give off negative expressions but that doesn’t mean we can’t create new expressions for our glorious color. You are not real if you are not being black.
No, you are not being real if you are not being yourself.
I’m going to leave you all with this: It is time to stay real to ourselves and our African American nation. To make our color be identified with positive expressions doesn’t mean that we are selling out, it simply means that we are creating a glorious color.
Like other colors black is a color that displays an expression that people identify as being the identity of the color. Since the color black has a dark appearance it is associated with melancholy, dark objects and thoughts.
Why do we associate such a beautiful color with negative and depressing things?
Did people begin to attach negativity to the color black after our people went through the horror of slavery? Our ancestors were beaten because their skin color was black. Great individuals before us were stripped from the families and deprived from their rights to vote and to have an education..
Are we out of our minds?
Our ancestors have gone through the ultimate struggle just to eliminate the burden of negativity attached to the color of black. Some say they are tired. Well I am fed up. I am ashamed to say that it has taken me 19 years to wake up. I am through with being a puppet to a confused nation.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., his dream wasn’t for African Americans to face horrible times and overcoming horrific times to just associate ourselves to negativity once again. Black should now be a glorious color and because we are living in a confused nation the color black is far from being glorious.
Why are we saying that being black is wearing jeans low and our hats every other way then forward?
Why are we taking pride in being thugs fully covered in tattoos, tattoos don’t fly in the professional world?
Why are we saying that being tatted up is being black?
Why are we proud to use profanity and take pride in being loud. Why do we call that being black? I feel ashamed of myself for doing it and I am not the only one.
Men, why have we made it acceptable to label our African American women as being bitches and hoes?
My black community, we should not be proud to attach negativity to our color. Other people in the world already place negativity on the color of our skin, why are we helping the haters in the world bring us down?
We all might as well drop out of school because that’s being black.
All of us might as well be imprisoned or slain on the streets because that is being black.
The color black was formed to give off negative expressions but that doesn’t mean we can’t create new expressions for our glorious color. You are not real if you are not being black.
No, you are not being real if you are not being yourself.
I’m going to leave you all with this: It is time to stay real to ourselves and our African American nation. To make our color be identified with positive expressions doesn’t mean that we are selling out, it simply means that we are creating a glorious color.
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