Senior Reflection #2

This past baseball season was one of my favorite high school experiences. While we didn't meet all of the goals we had set for ourselves in the beginning of the season, we were very successful. We finished third in the district, which is an accomplishment since in the past Herndon baseball has had to fight not to finish in last place. I also had a really good season. I was finally able to put everything together and play baseball with the success that I'd always hoped for. Being voted 1st Team All-District was a huge honor and really made me feel proud of all I had accomplished over the course of the season.

Current Event #2

Summary: This article discusses two new developments in the NFL. First, owners could vote to hold the 2014 Super Bowl in New York. This would be the first cold weather Super Bowl in years.

Tampa and Miami are also in the running. Some owners are not keen to give the site to New York, but it appears that New York will win when the vote is taken. Second, a vote amongst owners could potentially apply the new postseason overtime rules to the regular season. These rules make it so an overtime game can't be won by a team kicking a field goal on the first possession of overtime. Owners worry that this extra time could put too much physical stress on players.

Opinion: I think that both these should be put into place. New York is a perfect place for the Super Bowl. It is the biggest city in the US and a cold Super Bowl would bring back some history of the NFL. The new overtime rules should also be extended to the regular season. The current rules allow teams to win games simply by winning the coin flip. It subjects the winner of the game to chance. The new rules makes it so the winner truly has to outplay the other team.

http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2010/05/owners-set-to-consider-ny-super-bowl-new-ot-rule-in-regular-season.html

Senior Reflection #1

Next fall I am going to Virginia Tech. It was my first choice school, so I'm very excited to go there. I am going to major in engineering. I like math and science, so engineering seems like a field of study that will let me enjoy them. Engineering is also a career on the rise, so a lot of jobs will be available to me when I graduate. I'm also excited for the sports at Virginia Tech. I plan on going to as many football and basketball games as I can. I would also like to play club baseball in the spring. I can't wait to go to Virginia Tech because it is the beginning of a new chapter to my life.

Current Event #1

Summary: This article talks about the lack of sense the Phillies seem to have in signing slugger Ryan Howard to a five year $125 million contract. This contracts keeps Howard as a member of the Phillies into his mid to late 30s, when player's production typically begins to decline. This deal is questioned because it goes against the style in which the Phillies have built their mini-dynasty, with short contracts. The deal guarantees a lot of money to Howard for unknown levels of production.

Opinion: I think that the Howard deal is extreme and will eventually hurt the Phillies. While Howard is a great player, the Phillies can't be certain that he will continue to produce at the same level into his mid 30s. Because of this $25 million a year is too much. First base is a position that can easily be replaced due to a lot of talent, so locking up so much money in Howard is a bit ridiculous. This deal could either guarantee the Phillies success or cause them to lag behind the rest of the NL East.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2010/04/howard_contract_good_news_for.html

Editorial #5

Summary: In this editorial, the editor talks about how Obama's overhaul of education is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. Instead it should require all high school graduates to attended two years of college and for the government to make that financial accessible. He believes that this is necessary for America to keep up with other countries. While some may be skeptical because of our countries growing national debt, the editor shows that the trillion dollars that has been spent of wars could easily begin to fund this new education system and take the burden off of state and local governments.

Opinion: I think that the editor's idea of all high school graduates being required to go to college for at least two years is a very good idea. Having more college graduates will help make our country more productive and successful. However, I don't think that the editor's idea of how to get his idea to happen is very realistic. The wars we are currently fighting won't just suddenly end and we aren't able to get any of the money back that was spent on them, so that leaves the government without much of any money to fund this new college program. If Obama could find a way to create a program of this sort, he greatly improve the success of his presidency.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/03/column-obama-education-plan-doesnt-go-far-enough-.html#more

Source for Editorial #4

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/03/column-how-old-is-too-old-for-drivers-license.html#more

Editorial #4

Summary: This editorial talks about the dangers of older drivers being just as great as those of young drivers. The editor says that as a senior citizen he realizes that mental and physical dexterity diminishes. He says that this loss happens in a person's 60s and 70s. The editors solution is to require driving tests for senior citizens when they get their licenses renewed and for drivers licenses to be taken away at 100.

Opinion: I definitely agree with the editor of this article. Senior citizen drivers can cause just as much, if not more, danger as teen drivers can cause. As people age, they become less alert and their reflexes begin to slow, making them less effective and safe drivers. I think that drivers test for senior citizens is good idea. They would just make sure that the onsets of old age aren't effecting their driving abilities too much. While it would be unfortunate for some senior citizens to lose their license, they may not have the ability to drive in a manner that is as safe as it should be.