The song Antivist by Bring Me The Horizon uses vulgar but moral words. The singer/songwriter Oli Sykes, expresses his rage towards society during the song. There are lyrics that talk about religion, people, and the singers own personal experiences. The song is giving the message that who ever doubts you, isn't worth your time. The lyrics also aknowledge the negative things people are saying. Antivist: fed up with society's definition of how life should be.

"If you really believe in the words that you preach, get off your screens and onto the streets" This line states that people have intellectual ideas but can use them negatively (use hateful slurs online). "Give up 'cause your making it so much worse" this line is what most teens hear when they have thoughts for the world. "The ones you think guard you are out for your blood"this line shows a moment of backstabbing. Oli compares guards/soldiers to his friendships and others in general. "There will be no peaceful revolution, no war without blood" This line is comparing society to a war. No matter what decisions you make, it'll effect you in a negative way. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

I believe everyone can relate to this song. It's a song about overcoming the world and just doing what you love without the constant fear of judgement (although it's still there). Society is doing more harm than help and thats exactly what the song expresses. This song reminds me of the time I started to get music influences. It's not very common for a 13 year old girl to like rock/metal, but after listening to songs like this, I stopped caring what people said. I learned to enjoy the little time i have on this earth and I believe this is what the song symbolizes.

Favorite books of 2013

  I read amazing books in the year 2013. It was so difficult to pick my favorite so I decided on my top 3. Looking For Alaska By John green, The vampire academy by Richelle Mead, and The Fault in Our Stars also by John green. Although these books are all different, with different plots and different messages, they all left me viewing the world in a different perspective.
  In the book Looking For Alaska, Miles, encounters a journey (just a boarding school really) and finds out who he really is a person. He meets and be friends Alaska who introduces him to new and bad ideas. Miles then realizes what he wants to accomplish and portray in life. In The Vampire Academy, Rose is a vampire guardian. She's been looked down upon because of her age and gender. She goes through the book embarking love and adventure and proves herself wrong to everyone who doubted her. Finally in the book The Fault in Our Stars, Hazel Grace has a terminal illness and doesn't know what to do with the remainder of her life. She then goes to a support group and meets Gus who has cancer. Gus and Hazel go on dates and adventures and make the most of what little time they have left.
  All there of these books have something in common but the one thing that stuck out for me was the characters finding who they are as a person. Although each of their journeys were different, the protagonists each had someone (typically a friend) to guide them into solving their internal problems not just external.

In the article 'Reading fiction 'improves empathy', by The Guardian, shares the idea that books can influence a person's personality. It quotes "Burying your head in a novel isn't just a way to escape the world: psychologists are increasingly finding that reading can affect our personalities." They used the 'Twilight' series to show that the books make us feel like vampires. The description Edward gives Bella on being a vampire, influences our daily behavior. Also, vampire related questions are often asked. Psychologists studies, prove that these popular books are read for social acceptance and are being taken too literal. The article then closes by saying reading fiction helps you understand other people and try to make the world a better place. 

The Guardian uses statistics and studies to prove their point. They took an extremely popular book and had multiple studies on it to prove their theory. It also used the Harry Potter series and compared it to the Twilight series. Both books ended in the same results, personality and influence wise. The authors also used words like 'limited' and 'constant', which gave you a feel of how they measured what they're talking about. 

I actually agree with the author's claim. I do think that books influence a person and how they behave or treat the world. When I read 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green, for a while I would treat each day like my last and I would always say goodbye and hug and kiss everyone when I was leaving. Sometimes I get so lost into my book I imagine myself as the character. The line "its a clear psychological effect on reading fiction" stood out to me, because the author is saying it like its an obvious thing. 

The God Box

Have you ever sat in a room, surrounded by people, knowing that they’ll judge you if they ever found out your secret? Dakota in The God Box by Alex Sanchez taught me that if you strongly believe in something, regardless if what others say, you should express it and stand behind it. Manuel is a new kid that arrives from Texas, and he’s been neglected and ignored by many churches and people because he’s gay. He’s been called “fag” and “queer” in the halls and at lunch, by exceedingly religious students. When Dakota was in Bible group, she stood up for gays and supported them throughout the discussion.

            In chapter 5 (pages 22-27) there was a Bible group session going on. There was soon a conversation about gays and who supported them. Dakota used both the bible and common human rights to defend gays. For example, “Jesus loves us all.” “The bible also states that Jesus was known for hanging out with outcasts and sinners. “ Dakota then states that if Jesus is accepting all of us, what makes same-sex couples different? Also, during school Manuel kept getting threats and excluded from the students. Dakota would allow Manuel to sit with her at lunch without questioning it, despite the strange looks and rumors going around. This is important because Manuel is a new student who is comfortable with his sexuality while Paul is still confused about his. If someone can accept gays, then Paul can see how paranoid he was and come to grips with who he really is.

            What I’m really trying to say is if you are passionate about something and believe that others should know about it, you shouldn’t feel bad for feeling the way that you do. Dakota stood up for Manuel in bible group, and allowed him to sit with her at lunch, regardless of what people were saying. Dakota is inspiring for teens because of her strong character. Hopefully Paul can accept himself once he realizes that people will accept him for being him, just like me friend. Going back to the very first sentence, Paul doesn’t have to feel alone in a room surrounded by people. He doesn’t have to feel ashamed of his secret of being gay. He should embrace it with the people he loves. I have a friend who’s been accused of being gay. People made fun of him and made him feel really bad about himself. Although there’s some curiosity in me to know his sexuality, I want him to know that there’s always going to be acceptance for him. Paul is still in the denial stage, just like my friend- but if I can take the role as Dakota, then maybe there wouldn’t be questions about social acceptance.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, is about two cancer patients who fall in love. Hazel, is 16 and is forced to go to these cancer support groups by her parents. She hated them until Augustus (who's 17) started going to them. Augustus and Hazel became really great friends and eventually started dating. Augustus used his wish, from the make a wish foundation on Hazel. Together they went to Amsterdam to meet Hazel's favorite author and finally get an end to her favorite book. While in Amsterdam, Hazel found out that Augustus's cancer came back. Although there was an 80% survival rate, Augustus passed away in a few months. The time that Hazel had with Gus, she didn't feel different, or like a freak, but like herself. Having cancer made her feel restricted and insignificant, but Gus didn't remind her of any of that.
All in all, Gus and Hazel were inseparable and adorable. Gus made Hazel feel beautiful, and Hazel made Gus feel as if he was important. They taught each other to do what made them happy, and to enjoy the short time they had on earth.