When I first arrived in August, I expected more work in and out of school than in 6th grade, but a never expected the life that awaited me. I soon realized that homework would consume my life; I’d cram it in from 4:30 to 10:30 everyday after school (not to mention the homework I did in the mornings and at lunch). By October my life was terrible, just a slur of homework misery. I was stuck in a perpetual loop of eat, sleep (just a little), school, homework… homework… homework… study.

After a lot of trial and error, I fell into a routine that worked well enough. Math right when I get home, Texas History before dinner, study after dinner, sleep just enough, wake up and do English, Science after athletics, Latin during lunch. Although it’s not exactly a well-oiled machine, this schedule managed to drag me through the year.

With the year so close to an end, everyday seems to take a lifetime. No matter how good this year was, I’m ready for summer and all of its pleasure. If I had to do it over again, I’d come more mentally prepared in August, and more ready to work hard. My grades suffered from my cockiness toward my classes, particularly Math, at one point my grade in Math was ten points below that of last year. My advice to upcoming seventh graders is to come mentally prepared for at least three times the work of Sixth grade, and to have a homework schedule that works well. Good luck!

Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
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Selling people as if they’re property, forcing them into hard labor, beatings— an unimaginable life. Thank goodness slavery is over— or is it?

Many people in America think that slavery is over for good, slavery isn’t legal anywhere, but the truth is, it happens everywhere. Slavery is the most rapid growing illegal business in the world-wide, making about 32 billion dollars every year. You may not have heard of modern slavery before because it goes by another name— trafficking. Trafficking is the exact same thing!— being forced to work without pay, under the threat of violence, and being unable to walk away. Sadly, most people associate trafficking with places around the world, but it’s not. There are 60,000 slaves in the US today, and at least 14,500 new slaves being trafficked into the US every year!

Also, the average slave is an innocent twelve year-old girl. This girl is sold for 90 dollars or less! She will join the 27 million slaves trapped around the world today. After hearing all this, you can’t help but to feel helpless, but don’t. Just spreading the word can help, go to http://www.enditmovement.com to join the cause, donate money at http://slaveryfootprint.org/ipad.html, and go to https://slaveryfootprint.org/survey/#where_do_you_live to see how many slaves work for you!

On one of my post somebody commented, wanting to know where to start reading, so I thought that I could give everybody some recommendations.

Coming in first place (in my opinion) as best, most widely appreciated book is Harry Potter. It all starts when a regular eleven year old boy finds out that he’s a wizard. He leaves the dreadful Dursley home to attend a wizard school called Horwarts. Through fun, adventure, and lots of magic Harry foils his worst enemy’s plans and saves the day. I do want to warn you that these books do have gloomy parts, so if you only read happy, avoid book five.

On a note a little bit less mainstream is a book called Skyship Academy. A boy is In a world where everything is run by pearls, little balls of energy. When odd things start to happen to him, at his school, he begins to to question the way the world really works. You’ll have to read to find out!

If nether of these float your boat, try on of these; The Magic Thief, Rangers Apprentice, Eragon, or The Books of Umber .

If anybody ever needs help finding a book that they’ll like, comment, I am determined to find a book that you’ll love.