Curve Balls

Do you ever just have the feeling of the need to write something? You don’t know what it is, but you just have the need to write about something? You are just grasping for that “Aha moment”. You are striving to be enlightened in some mystical way. How else can I describe it?

Life is a challenge, we can all agree on that. No hiding from that fact. You know, I always feel like I talk about myself… granted, it is my blog about myself. So, isn’t that the way it should be? I think so, but I’m always curious to know what is going on in your lives. What are your ups and your downs? Have you recently moved on from something or is something nagging at you? Now, I know we all can’t become bloggers and express everything, but I encourage you to write about your days. Talk about what is bothering you, or just talk about why you still feel life is good, even though you struggle to find that little bit of hope.

Well, wasn’t that refreshing? Let’s get back to me now, seeing as you’re here to read Nick Pensari’s blog… Ha ha. How do I put this in simple wording? Hmm… lets see. Today was defiantly not how I imagined it to go. Life ever throw you those wicked curve balls that through off your whole plan? Like the Joker in Batman, “We’re all schemers, you introduce a little anarchy and disrupt the established order and everything turns to chaos”. We all have this plan to follow, call it our “pre-destination”, but every now and then, your plan gets a little mixed up and you feel yourself off of the course and into new and unexplored territory. Well folks, this is your captain speaking, it is time to buckle up. We may experience some turbulence. These curve balls can disrupt everything. You begin to question your own existence and wonder if everything is just a dream. But, oh the big ole but. But, isn’t that what makes life great? I mean, it isn’t the greatest thing to encounter these curve balls, but they are what help you to decide your character and lead you to bigger and brighter things. Sometimes these curve balls can help you realize what are the most important things in your life and why you have them. Sometimes the biggest times you feel enlightened is when you are faced with a challenge. Do you give up or do you scale the mountain? I would hope you scale your mountain and face your problems.

For me, I’ve thought about giving up on climbing the mountain, but I didn’t. Why didn’t I? First off, who is going to fix Washington? Without me, humanity is hopeless. Not to be all high and mighty, but I’m going places. No doubt about that. (U mad, Bro?) Next, It honestly isn’t worth it. Why let the game be over when you haven’t even taken off your warm-ups. The ball hasn’t even been pitched yet. We’re still on the practice field. Now, a lot of things can happen on this practice field, but that is the point of it. You learn from your mistakes and figure out how to solve them.

Even if practice becomes too tiresome, remember your teammates and your fans that count on you. Your teammates are there to keep you going when the going gets tough. There is a reason why there is no “I” in team. Together, Everyone Always Matters, right? Use them to your advantage; they are there for a reason. Nobody always has to be the hero. Sometimes it is nice to know you have backup. Your fans look up to you. To them, you are almost a god. You are their role model. Who is your role model? Why are they that? What are your fans going to think when they see you throw in the towel? They are going to be devastated if their hero gives up. what about their hope? People count on you. Now, don’t let that be too much of a burden, because you are still doing things for yourself, but your actions can affect everyone and everything around you. Think before you do something. Is it worth it? Just remember that you always have your team to count on if things get tricky. When we send in the Navy SEALS, we send a whole team. Not just Charlie Sheen… You don’t have to be alone in the operation. Next, remember that you have people who look up to you. You will always have fans. They will keep you up even when you can’t make a single run. They look up to you, and you rely on that to keep you going strong.

Life is good, and it will forever be good. Keep climbing your mountain. Don’t throw in the towel after a few bad innings. Use your team, don’t do it alone. They will always be there to lend a helping hand. Your fans will keep you motivated to finish strong. Watch those curve balls, and when they come at you, hit them straight out of the ballpark. 

Letter to our Senator

December 11^th, 2011

Senator Hatch:

Hello, my name is Nicholas Pensari. I am your constituent in the State of Utah. I am currently a junior at Alta High School. I serve as our school’s Junior Class President. I also represent our debate team as Public Affairs Officer.  I hope to pursue a career as a lawyer, practicing civil rights law. Eventually I plan to run for public office to give back to a community that has given much to me.

The Reason for writing this letter regards your recent comments regarding the Payroll Tax debate. You were recently quoted stating “It’s hard for the majority to call this a compromise when the other side hasn’t been involved.  Frankly, the only thing bipartisan about this latest political gambit is opposition to the permanent tax hike on small businesses to pay for temporary one-year tax policy.  With the long list of things Congress has to get done by the end of the year and the clock ticking, it’s pretty mystifying that the majority is pursuing more political show votes that won’t go anywhere.” I’m writing this letter, because I feel that as your constituent I should have a voice and be able to voice my opinion. That is what I hope to do here. I want my voice heard on Capitol Hill.

I would like to respectfully disagree with your position on the current payroll tax debate. Belonging to a middle-class American family, this tax-cut has been an added benefit to struggling families. Even though it isn’t a large amount, $1,500 dollars back in the pockets of Americans is a great thing. The Republican rhetoric of not raising taxes, in my opinion, is hypocrisy. Why is it okay for taxes to be raised on middle-class Americans, but as soon as somebody wants to tax the upper 1%, it becomes a rallying call against Democrats? Being in the middle of the political spectrum, I am able to see both sides of the field. I would love for our elected officials in Washington to stop with the game playing and actually work for the good of the American people.

In your own quote, you say that there are a lot of things to get done before the end of the year. What are some of those things? Isn’t getting Americans back to work and keeping this country strong the most important thing? What about the gridlock with the Debt Super-Committee? We gave them months to come up with a plan and they couldn’t. What about the debt-ceiling incident in the summer? Our elected officials almost brought this country to the edge. You, as my elected official are responsible for keeping this country strong. You have let me down, Senator.

Why can’t we all work together and finally get something done? What ever happened to the principle of respect and working for the greater good? I know for a fact that both sides have no problem throwing punches to the other side. Most Americans know that both sides are guilty in the situation. We don’t need our officials pointing fingers are each other. We get that everyone is in trouble. For me, I feel that Washington is like a kindergarten classroom. Everyone has spilled the paint on the classroom floor, but blames everyone else. As the teacher, you aren’t mad, but you just want them to be accountable for their actions. I want our officials to be accountable for these current problems.

With compromising, I feel that we should extend the tax-cut and allow taxes to be raised on the upper 1%. Everyone needs to pay their fair share in the group. If you make more, I feel you should pay more. Life isn’t fair, but it is the best we have. With the issue of the Oil Pipeline, it is irrelevant in the issue. How do you argue that we need compromise when the thing Republicans want doesn’t even relate to the subject at hand? These are the games that I have discussed earlier. They are unnecessary.

To close, thank you for your time in reading my letter. I hope to hear a response back from you in the coming weeks.

Respectfully yours,

Nicholas Pensari

Junior Class President