Taking Control, the Imaginary Joystick

           Everyone of us needed a jumpstart somewhere in life, I got mine in early December 2010, when I realized that I wasn't going to let fear run my life for me. We all have the ability to take control over our lives, but a large amount of us choose not to. My name is Becca, and I am a 7th grader from the state of Indiana. Don't let my age fool you, I know as much about taking control of my life as anyone that I've ever met. I've also had the personal experience of setting my own priorities straight. On that happy note, come with me on the journey of your life into the world of taking control.

                                                              The Imaginary Joystick:

Imagine life as a game, and you are the players of it. You control your life with your actions just as you would controll your game with a joystick. Now imagine what happens when you drop that joystick...... you don't get anywhere right? This is the same thing that happens when we drop our control over our lives. We get nowhere. Life is a gift, and to let it be lived for us believe it or not is just the same as throwing it away. I know that it's soooo much easier to just go with the flow... I used to think the same thing. Like what your friends like and nobody gets singled out, nobody gets hurt right? The simple answer is no. By not showing our true selves to the world and standing up for our beliefs, we are hurting the most important person, ourselves.

Standing Tall



When I first tried to stand up and share my views, I was simply shoved back down by my teachers and peers. I didnt put up a fight because I was certain that I would lose. Then I looked back at the people who were supporting me and thought, wow, Im not alone at all. That weekend I spent 12 hours writing a paper that contained my heart and soul. When I turned it in to all of the teachers who cut me down, I honestly thought that I would start puking all over the place. I was so nervous! Then one of my teachers read it and admitted to the whole class that he was wrong in calling me out.

Remember, sometimes you dont have to be tall or be muscular to get your message acrossed. Never be afraid to stand up!