Blog 5 Tri 2

Now in Enders Game, the plot is starting to pick up. The government visited his house and met with Ender and had a very deep conversation about him joining the military. Ender is hesitant at first to join because he would have to leave his family and not see them again for many years so that he can train for the military, but then the government starts to talk about how they have had special people like Ender before to help save the human race from the "buggers".

Ender decides that he will go to the military because this is what he feels like he was meant to do in life. His parents first child, was too aggressive, their second, was too mild. So the government made them have Ender and they tried to make him a mix of the two. Ender goes with them and it is a very emotional split, but hopefully he can stay focused and save the human race.
Enders Game summary of the book.

Blog 4 Tri 2

This week I'll blog about Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I have finished part 1 of the book and it is very interesting so far. I like the futuristic society setting and how the setting really contributes to the story.

The setting contributes to the story because the society controls everything that they do. It controls the jobs that you can have and it doesn't let you read books.If they were aloud to read books and the firemen still burned the ones that people didn't want then Montag would have had the books legally, instead of having his house burnt because it wouldn't be a crime to have the books in his possession. It would have also killed Montag's curiosity towards the books.

The setting of the book is a very big part in the book, and is the reason that Montag doesn't have a house anymore and might not be able to be a fireman anymore.

Blog 3 Tri 2

I just started reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Caro. Even though I'm not that far into it, it is a very interesting book overall. It has a futuristic setting and their are things that are very different then what we have from society today.

Ender is 8 years old, and he just recently had a chip removed from the back of his neck. This chip allowed someone from the government to look over him constantly and see what he was doing from his point of view. The government removed this chip when they felt like the kid could function without needing someone to watch over them. Ender is the 3rd of 3 kids in his family. His older brother is a really big jerk and bullies Ender for having the chip when he is 8, because most kids get there's out a lot earlier than that. Ender also has a sister that tries to protect him, but the older brother is too big for both of them so she can't do anything about it.

I think in their society fighting is allowed, but with some rules. Like you can't hurt someone when their on the ground because that's what animals do, and humans aren't animals. But also because Ender was getting picked on by a group of kids and he beat up the leader of the group and he didn't get in trouble for it. Also Ender and his brother play games around the house that has them fight a lot and hurt each other and nobody cares.

The cover of the movie made about Ender's Game.

This book is very interesting so far, and I'm excited to get farther into the book as I keep reading.

Blog 2 Tri 2

Last week on my drive to North Carolina I finished, The Life You Imagine, by Derek Jeter. It was a very good, life lesson book. I would reccomend it to anyone looking for something to read no matter what genre they are looking for. Derek explains his road to greatness and how he got their. My favorite part in the book was when he was explaining his relationship with his dad. This is because I realised I have a very similar relationship with my dad as Derek does his. He's tough, but is supportive and postivie and he really cares for what I want to do and supports anything that I can do.

But now I have started a new book. It is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Caro. I haven't read into it or anything but I have heard of very good things of the book. I did read over the back of the book, and it's about a child named Ender, trying to save the human race from being attacked and killed by aliens. He was recruited for military training and he enters a new home. I am very excited to read this book, and really like the sci-fi genre.

Blog 1 Tri 2

My book that I am currently reading is The Life you Imagine by Derek Jeter. I am almost done with the book and will be soon.

Right now in the book, he talks about how you need to be a leader in life, but you also need to follow leaders too. You don't always have to be THAT guy, but you do need to be a leader too. He explains in his life that he has followed different leaders in his life and that he is a leader now, and has been in his life up to this point.

I consider Derek a very big leader in many different ways to many different people. He leads his professional baseball team, the New York Yankees, but he also leads little things. By hosting a charity event or having a team dinner. He leads his family, his team, and really anyone who looks up to him in life. Most look at him as being THAT guy, but he also steps back and let's others lead too. He explains that he did this a lot when he was younger and was still learning how to play baseball and in school. Derek is a great role model, and a very stong leader. I look forward to finishing the book soon and starting a new one.

There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do - and I believe that.
This is a quote by Derek, about leading the way, and hardwork. Thats something that Derek believes and what he also leads by.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/derek_jeter.html#vYbAJhT16jSI5iLy.99

Blog 14

Book Recommendation
I rate this book, 5/5. This book was amazing. Thats it, Derek tells a great story of his life, and teaches you life lessons along the way. You can, and I have learned so much from this book, about my life, what i want to be, and how im going to get there.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, or anyone who wants to read an inspiration book, teaching you how to reach your goals in life and how Derek got there. Derek explains his life, and how he got to the person he is today in this book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3SrggZb-JM
This link is a quick timeline of Dereks success in his life, and major leauge carrer.

Blog 13

The book, "The Life Imagine" by Derek Jeter has been a very good, quality book. It teaches you life lessons that you will keep with you forever. There are multiple themes throughout the book, from chapter to chapter. The main one though, is- You can do anything you want in life if you are determined, and put if the effort to get there. You can do this by having support of your family, friends, and peers.

The Life you imagine was a very good, and inspiratinoal book. Going through Derek's struggles, to his highs, and everything inbetween. I think most people will like this book, and if you don't have great parents like Derek did, you can learn from what he says in the book about them. The Life You Imagine, was a very good book, with a stong, meaningful theme.

Blog 12

As it gets later into the book, Derek starts to talk about role models. How his dad and his mom were two of his biggest, as well as older professional players and how they played the game. 

His dad helped him become the player he is, and used to play baseball too. Thats why he is one of Derek's role models. Also, because he was his dad, and he was a very good dad too.

But Derek watched professional, successful short-stops when he was working on his game so that he could be as good as them. Like working on grounders, hitting, and making routine plays on a consistent basis. Derek had a lot of role models, and you can see that they shaped his game, and his life.

Blog 11

Derek eventully starts to talk about his dad, and how he used to be very good at baseball too. He explains how this is a reason for why he is so good, and he is where he is today. Derek's dad could have been a pro player too, Derek says, and the only reason why he didn't go pro, was becuase he didn't have the exposure and the determination to get to where he wanted to go. His parents didn't sugarcoat what he was going to have to do to play professional baseball, they were very realistic with him, and made sure that he was serious about putting hard-work in, and being fully committed to becoming a spectacular baseball player. When Derek speaks to kids and to schools, he doesn't tell them that the road was easy and that he got their on pure talent, he tells them the truth, and how hard it was for him to go pro. Explaining that he had to out in hard-work and a lot of hours to get where he needed to be. This was because his dad supported him, and pushed him the right amount so that he would get better, and succed. His dad was like this, because Derek's dad, didn't have a dad. He explains that this is another reason for why he didn't make it father than college baseball. Derek's dad learned how to be a dad, becuase he didn't have a dad. If that makes any sense. But, im happy that Derek explains that the road wasn't easy and how his dad supported him through the way.

Blog 10

When Derek made his travel baseball team, he was a sophomore. I guess this baseball team was college and under, becuase he says he was the youngest ever to make the team, and that he was starting with other college kids.

Derek, going back to his highschool, to speak at an assembly.

He explains that when he made the team, there was this college junior, who played short-stop, like Derek. The Maroons coach, moved him over to second base, so that Derek could start where he wanted. He explains that the junior was fine with it, even though he was a lot older, and had been on the team for 3 years now. If I was Derek, I would be very glad that he was fine with it and didn't hold a grudge. But, if I was the junior in college, I would be furious that the coach made me move for a highschool sophomore, even if he might be good. Derek says that he was very grateful for him to be okay with the move, and that he might not have made it where he is today if he didn't get that starting spot, at short-stop.

Blog 9

Derek's coaches, from when he was very young, to his Yankees coaches, they have all said that he was an extraordinary player. I assume, that he played up when he was a kid, so he could play against better competition, and get better. But, his highschool JV coach, when he was a freshman, said that he new Derek wouldn't be on JV for long, just because of how good he was. The Yankees summer leauge coaches said, that with work in different areas of his game, he could potentially be a very good baseball player long-term. I think they were right.

Derek's Stats, from when he was in the minors to the majors

People probobly had very high expectations for Derek, but he did a very good job in focusing on his goals, and what he needed to do; instead of trying to please everyone else's goals for him. He stresses that you need to set your goals high so that they are a challenge, but not to high so that there impossible.

Blog 8

The book, The Life You Imagine, by Derek Jeter, is a very good book so far. It teaches you life lessons and guides you to where you want to go in life, while explaining how and why Derek did what he did. It also says that he did make mistakes along the way, and looking back on it, he says that he would do it differently, and that you should learn from your mistakes.

Right now, Derek is in his 3rd year playing professional baseball, and he is doing decent. Im glad that they explain how he did it, and makes him look human. By that I mean, sometimes celebraties look larger than life, and that they just got there because they were good, and they didn't have any problems and its the perfect hollywood story. But with Derek, he struggled his first few years, and he made a lot of mistakes, and probably questioned why he was doing this, but he stayed with it and never quit. It really lets me relate to it, and it makes me love the book even more.

Blog 7

This is a picture of the Kalamazoo Maroons, the travel team that Derek played on.

So far in the book, it has me asking some questions, like, why did he play basketball? Why did he tryout for a travel baseball team? Will he win state for baseball? There are also a lot more.

I predict that he will win state for baseball, because he was so good, that he would put the team on his back, and lead them to win. I can relate to this feeling of trying to lead your team through a long tournament, because of high school soccer, and other tournaments that I have played in with my teams.

I infer that he played for a travel baseball team, so that he could travel across the nation playing and getting more exposure, because he wanted to play professional baseball. Many others have done this in baseball and other sports. Some even quit playing high school so that they can travel around 24/7 and play across the country. Personally, I think thats crazy, but if you want to go pro that bad, I can see why someone would want to do it.

Blog 6

Now, Derek is starting to grow up and to figure out that he is really good at baseball, and that he wants to get better at baseball. He did end up making the AAU basketball team, and that was because he used hardwork and effort to do it. He hustled every play and ran his hardest in suicides. He said that because he made the team being a small school kid, it showed him that he could to anything.

His sophomore year in highschool, he tried out for a big travel baseball team, the Kalamazo Maroons. He says that he was playing with older kids, and that he was one of the youngest ever, so im not sure if it was a team who took all ages, or that he was playing up. But, he did make the team and he ended up taking a college kids spot at shortstop, and pushed him to second base, even though he had been on the team for 3 years. This showed me that Derek was very humble, because he didn't come out and say that he was very good and the best in Michigan, but he was very good, and most likely was. He started to talk about his highschool team tryouts, but i didn't read that far and im going to assume that they went well.

Blog 5

When Derek was a child, he didn’t only play baseball. He loved many other sports, and played basketball. He played for a local team and is church, St.Augestines.  After one season with the team, he told his mom that he wanted to play with an AAU team that got players from all over Michigan.

                His mom called the coaches to get the information about the tryouts, but the coach blew him off when she said he was from St. I’s. Derek’s mom didn’t take this, because she thought that he should get a chance. This shows the stubbornness of his mom, and how she would fight for what her son wanted. Parents are a big part in how our life develops, if they do what you want, and support you through it, you should do well if you do what you want. If you do what your parents want, you will not be happy, even though your parents might be. Derek stresses that parents should play a big part in your life, but they shouldn’t determine your life.

Blog 4

Derek has already changed a lot in the book, even if i'm not that far into it yet. At first, he was a cocky high school prospect, who had expected to get drafted this year. But when he got to the Yankees, he saw a professionalism about the organization, that this was a business and not just fun and games. He said that when you were in the Yankees clubhouse, you pulled your hat down tight on your head, instead of letting it barely sit on top.

But when he first started playing for them, he probably expected to do very well and to get moved up quickly. But when this didn't happen, you still see the high school kid inside him, calling back to his parents 5 times a day, and asking the Yankees if he could stay with his girlfriend a little longer before coming back.

Then, he started to grow up very quickly and ask help from his elders, and to try and work on his game instead of expecting that he would get better. After his first season in the Rookie League, he grew up a lot, but not nearly enough if he wants to play professional baseball.

Blog 3

On Derek's road to success he had a lot of set-backs on the way, and had to get a lot of help from other people. His parents, former players, coaches, and people in the Yankees organization. He had to overcome a lot of things in order to become great.

His first baseball card in the Rookie Leauge.

He thought at first that rookie ball wouldn't be that difficult to hit, and he was wrong. His batting average dropped his first season and he had over 50 errors. He was very stressed and made a lot of calls home, he said his phone bill was around $400 to $500 dollars a month. However, the Yankees organization helped him through this internal conflict between him, his mind, and the ball. They told him to stick with it and his talent would carry him through.

After the 50 errors in his first season, he studied other great shortstops that had played in the majors, and he had seen that there footwork was always consistant and that they had made the same arm motion with every throw, unlike Jeter. He had improved by his second year by a lot in batting, keeping his average around .300 and his errors got a little better, but he still made a lot. The Yankees said that even though another bad season in the numbers, he was improving constantly and this was a good sign.

Blog 2

     When Derek Jeter turned 18 he had signed a contract with the New York Yankees and they had invested almost a million dollars in him. Derek stresses in his book that in life, you will have set-backs and that you need to remember why you are where you are and that you made it there for a reason. In his first 14 at-bats in the minor leagues he didn't have a hit. But, he rebounded and made it to where he is today, getting payed millions of dollars and starting everyday for the Yankees.

Derek with his family, Mom, Sister, and Dad.

       Derek sounds a lot like my parents. Saying that you must work hard and that you can do anything you want in life if you are committed. His parents also stress these key parts and Derek says that they would have supported him 100% in anything that he did in life weather it was baseball or chess or writing poetry. This also reminds me of my parents. They say that they will support me in whatever I do and that it just-so-happens that it will be sports. My sister will eventually be more focused in school than sports. I see this when she gets home from school and automatically wants to do school stuff, while I want to watch the soccer match and shoot outside in my yard. Whatever we chose, our parents will support us in whatever we do no matter what. Like Derek's. He says that it is important that our parents support us and I am happy he says some of the same things that mine do.

Blog 1

The Life You Imagine 

Post 1

      The Life You Imagine, by Derek Jeter, is so far, a very good book. He starts off by telling you that you need to set your goals high in life if you really want to be successful. As a kid he tells his parents that he wants to play baseball for the New York Yankees and they told him that he could do anything that he wanted to and that they would support him in whatever he did. He set small goals for batting average, and errors, but he set high goals like get the high school player of the year when he was a senior in high school, he made that goal when he was a junior. But he slowly makes all of his goals and is put in the minor leagues by the Yankees, and starts to move up through A to AA to AAA faster than most. He gets called up and on his first game, he looks back when he was 6 and realizes he made his goal to play for the Yankees.

The Life You Imagine

The book I chose was The Life You Imagine by Derek Jeter. I chose to read this book because he is a very successful person, a great athlete, and a great role model. In the book, he tells you life lessons for achieving your dreams. He tells you why he wanted to be a baseball player, and how he got to the major leauges. Other people that I know have read this book and have liked it a lot and have said that I would like it.

I have not read a biography in the past and I don't even play baseball anymore but he is a great role model and a great baseball player. He talks about his childhood and how his parents play a role in his life throughout the book, and the people he met that made him the baseball player he is today. I am really excited to read this book and to start blogging about it.


http://www.travel-watch.com/lifeyouimagine.htm