What do you believe in? That's a question that gets asked a lot and has so many different answers. There's an organization called This I Believe that encourages all different types of people to write about their beliefs. Writing magazine published an article about This I Believe this past year. We asked students to support this effort and tell us what they believed in. Well, some fine 8th grade students answered our call. You can read about their beliefs here. Then go ahead, write your own. Or check out some more examples at the This I Believe website.
Memories
"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich." That is a quote from a television show called M*A*S*H. I believe in having family time with my sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is important to spend time with your family. I have a very big family of about 30 cousins and I love spending time with all of them.
I see my entire family several times a year for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and many other special events. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my whole family comes over to my Grandparent’s house to make homemade ravioli. Then at Christmas, my whole family goes over to my Grandparent’s house to have dinner. We gather around a huge table and eat the homemade ravioli. It is fun to eat the ravioli and think of the memories we had making them.
After dinner, all of the cousins make up a Christmas play of the Nativity of Jesus for all of our parents. At Easter, my family and I go to my Grandparent’s house and we have an
Easter egg hunt. The older half of the cousins hide the Easter eggs for the younger cousins. It is always fun to watch all of my little cousins to go and find the eggs. After the egg hunt, my family and I go fishing and we walk around my Grandparent’s neighborhood lake.
I grew up making fun memories with my family. I know that I am a lucky person to have these memories. I love my family. I truly do think that having a family and having memories with them is being rich.
—George Dowdy
Family
What does it mean to believe? To believe means to have an opinion or a firm conviction. My opinion is that your family is something you should hold close to your heart forever. Family is so important.
Where would we be without the love and support of those we care about? I believe it is very important to stay close to your family, no matter where or how old you are. They will always be there to back you up, no matter what. I am a part of a blended family that consists of my mother, my stepfather, and three stepsisters. Even though they are not my real siblings, I know they love me. I would not want my life any other way. I truly think that no matter how mad or upset or hurt you are at any members of your family, you should always try to patch it up, because they love you.
I believe in sharing holidays and important events with family. I can’t even picture Christmas without my Grammy or my birthday without my cousins. Family should be there to celebrate all the important times in our lives. I think that we should put our family as one of our top priorities. Everybody, no matter who you are, deserves to have a loving family that they can go home to at night and look forward to seeing. Family, next to God, should be our main goal. This I believe.
—Lauren Milton
Music
I believe in the power of music. I truly believe that music can change lives. Many songs have a powerful message in them. Most teenagers listen to radio stations that have good music, but the message in the music isn't very good. It's usually rap music, and rap music usually tells you what you SHOULDN'T be doing, but its message tells the teenagers that it's okay and "cool" to do it. An exception to that is Eminem's "Mockingbird." That song is written for his kids, and it says "Sorry that I'm gone, I wish I was there with you, but I need to keep working to keep the food on the table for you. Your mom and I are having problems, but we'll try to work through them."
A lot of music with good messages is rock or alternative music. I really like Good Charlotte's music. The band's music has a great message. Another rock song that has a good message is Nickleback's "If Everyone Cared."
I believe that inspirational lyrics could be mottos to live by, such as Hannah Montana's "Life What You Make It", which says that how you live your life is up to you. "Why be sad, broken hearted? There's so much to do. Life is hard, or it's a party. The choice is up to you."
— Jennifer Lane
Other People's Feelings
I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion if it does not hurt the feelings of someone else. I also think people should stick up for themselves and what they believe in.
This year many of my friends have been made fun of because of something they wear or something they do, say, or eat. I don't think they should be made fun of because of what they wear or do or say. If someone doesn't have something nice to say, they shouldn't say it at all. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinion they should not always express how they feel.
Many people don't take into consideration that what they say may affect others, so they say things without thinking. I am sure everyone has gotten their feelings hurt at some time. Many people don't tell others when their feelings are hurt because they don't want to be made fun even more. So they just let that person keep making fun of them.
I believe that if someone is being made fun of they need to stick up for themselves and what they believe in. I don't think people should be made fun of because of what they wear, what they do, or what they say. If you see people being made fun, of you should stick up for them as well. I don't think anyone should be made fun of at all.
—Katie Millman
