I Think It Is What It Looks Like

In the book, " This Isn't What It Looks Like", by Pseudonymous Bosch, I believe that Cass and Max-Ernest aren't as similar as everyone thinks in their school.  Everyone thinks there just the same typical "nerds and weirdos", but in reality, their just as different as anyone else. Also, I believe the author WANTS us to notice how different the two main protagonists are, not to believe what everyone says. They think their only the same because they hang out with each other, but that's wrong. They hang out with each other because their friends and opposites attract.

Cassandra  (Cass) is a very sarcastic, witty young girl who loves to study natural disasters such as volcano erupts and earth quakes. She is very fun and likes to focus on the Terces society ( a secret society they interact with) rather than reality. She tends to overwork herself sometimes on a thing that has a simple task. Cass is very positive and likes to reassure everyone that everything is going to be all right.

Max- Ernest is a know it all who doesn't really like to brake the rules, but since Cass is his friend her must. Anything for the Treces society. He tends to worry a lot, whether it's about his friends or all the infections, sicknesses and allergies he has. He likes to correct every ones mistakes and to be precise. M.E. isn't really social and really only likes to hang out with Cass and Yo-Yoji (M.E.'s other friend who is ALSO in the Terces society.

Yo-Yoji has a TOTALLY different personality, but lets not get off topic.


But, In a way, Cass and Max-Ernest are similar. They never stop trying and they never are in doubt. They do what they do best, work for the Terces society.

All in all, the people in Cass's and Max-Ernest's school are only half right. Sure their they have similarities, everyone does. What they don't think about is how they are different. What about them is different? Many things, but the only thing that matters is they are friends and they are happy at the moment.

To Bee or Not to Bee: Following the right path

In the book "To Bee or Not to Bee", by John Penberthy, Buzz, (The protagonist) has trouble finding his own way through life, making his own decisions. He feels that he is the only bee who is different, the only one that believes things most don't.

During the story, Buzz is taught to think spiritually, though he cannot understand spirituality at all, or so he thinks.

Since he is so 'different' from the others, he is often talked about and is known as the 'rebel'.

Buzz is angered, angered by all bee's because he believes they are hypocrites. He turns all their words into lies that fuel to his anger, and then he loses his temper.

Buzz is tired of doing the same thing everyday. Wake up, collect pollen, go to sleep. Wake up, collect pollen, go to sleep.

He's tired of everyone believing what the leaders think, he believes they should believe what they themselves think.

"Great spiritual teachers speak not of learning more, but of letting go, of surrendering".

I think buzz feels that he is the only one who think life is imperfect. All the other bees agree with the leaders, that life is perfect just the way it is. Well, Buzz disagrees.

That all changes when Buzz comes across a wise bee. He teaches Buzz everything, from life, to beliefs.                                                                                                            

"It's perfect that we think life is imperfect".

Buzz had a hard time believing that everything was perfect.

My opinion is that Buzz doesn't need to learn from Bert in order to learn himself. I believe that you don't need someone to tell you what you should believe, you should choose what you believe yourself.

"We're all each others students and teachers".

When you think you have nothing, you don't notice you have everything.
When you think you have everything, you don't notice you have nothing.

I believe this saying relates to Buzz because he thought he had everything, while not noticing that he didn't know what he believed in or who. Also, this relates to Buzz because he thought he had nothing, when in reality, he had someone who had faith in him, a friend.

"Life is a journey from I to we".

Soon Bert died leaving Buzz devastated.

"Bee here now".

My opinion is that Bert dying was a good thing on Buzz's behalf, because his death made him rethink about everything, and choose his path to follow.

"The power of the mind lies in perceiving differences,
  The power of the heart lies in perceiving similarities".

I think this connect to us all because not everyone of us can choose what we believe in right on the spot. We have to learn, to be taught, and to teach what we think and what we believe. Just because someone you are close to believes something, doesn't mean you have to believe in what they think too.

No. That is for you to decide, and for you to think about.

To be Blue

 In the passage, " Am I Blue?", by Bruce Coville, I feel that Vincent goes through character development without noticing or ignoring the fact. During the beginning, Vincent felt self-conscious for being openly 'gay' even though he wasn't sure and couldn't make up his mind, he still was bullied for being 'different'. All of a sudden, a man appears out of nowhere claiming his name was Melvin and that he was Vincent's 'fairy godfather'. Vincent acts churlish to the man, not believing what he said, but once Melvin shows him some 'magic', he instantly shuts-up and watches in awe. Then Melvin takes Vincent to a coffee shop and explains his life story and that Vincent is his first case to collaborate with. Finally, after Vincent decided he should save his 3rd wish, he understands that its okay to be different, that it's okay to be gay.

Vincent was gay. Vincent was not gay. Vincent couldn't make up his mind, and although he was dumbfounded as to what he was, he was still bullied and teased. He felt like the only one who was gay, and the only one who was picked on because of it.

Later on, Melvin appears, announcing that he was Vincent's "fairy god-father". Vincent stuck to being realistic, and disagreed with the man. Oh, but Vincent was wrong, and he knew it too, for her found out that his "fairy god-father" was indeed magical. Soon, Melvin starts explaining to Vincent that there are many people in this world that are gay, including himself.

"Me being your first case. Does that mean I'm gay?"

"You may be, you may not, The point is, you're getting picked on because people THINK you are..."

Vincent is surprised, and shocked. He didn't think there were that many gay people in the world, but once Melvin lends Vincent his gaydar (a special ability whether to see if people are gay or not), he stares at everyone in amazement.

'I opened my eyes and gasped'

There were blue people everywhere around him! Melvin explains that if you see a blue person, then you know that their gay.

Finally, Vincent understands. He gets it. It's okay to be gay, you don't have to hide the truth. There are many others just like you, you just don't notice.

VINCENT EVOLVED into someone who wasn't afraid to be who they were. He wasn't sure if he was gay. He wasn't sure if he was straight. But either way, he was okay with it.

In the fifth grade, when I was 11, I hung out with four girls who were my closest friends. Or so I thought.

One day, three out of the four came up to me and asked me to talk to them in private. Of course I followed, trying not to be rude. As we arrived in a more private location, they began to converse.

They told me to stop being who I was, who I am.

According to them, I was childish, loud, unfocused, and it embarrassed them. I was to different.

They asked me to become more quiet, more serious, less talkative.  I was weird, and they didn't like it.

I was shocked, hearing what what was coming out of their mouths.

They didn't like the real me. Hearing that crushed me inside. I was destroyed, broken.

But even though there was a blazing fire burning my heart, that there was pain inside, I covered my true feelings with a smile, a sad smile. A smile that said " How could you? I thought we were friends!".
Still, I ignored everything my mind screamed at me, and I said that one word that I regretted so much at that very moment. That one word that crushed me more than the words they told me.

"Sure."

I did it, I did everything they told me to, until my closest friend from the group, the one who did not come up and hurt me with their words, told me something I was shocked to hear.

My three closest friends were in the girls bathroom talking about me.

Why?

Did I ever do something to them to make them treat me in such a way?

Was I just toyed with all along?

Of course I cried at the time. Hey, who wouldn't?

As I thought over the week why this happened to me, I came to a conclusion.

Screw it, I didn't care. Their opinions didn't matter to me. I was better then them. You want to know why?

Because I was different, because I AM different.

And I wasn't afraid to show it.

Now that I'm at M.s 51, and I have a group of friends who love me for who I am, I'm happy. I learned that its okay to be different, it's okay to be me.

At the moment, I do not regret this event that happened in my life, for without it, I wouldn't understand that its okay to be who you are.

And now that I'm brave, and I've experienced that moment, you can't break me. Nothing can.

Knowing that I have a loving family and friends, I am protected from any ones hurtful thoughts.

Everyone in this world likes to hide the truth, because they think it makes them different. Well, they're wrong. Just because you are something some one else is not, doesn't mean you both aren't human beings, the same kind.

No.

Your special when you show you are different. Why? Because you're not afraid to show your true colors.

And neither am I.