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| Me in my new uniform, please ignore the open closet and the empty box on the floor |
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Crusade
So I've finally managed to get a job, and it's a pretty good one. I am now officially a member of the PSU Auxiliary Police, Officer Behr does have a nice ring to it doesn't it. I got my uniform today and I go through some training tomorrow evening, and then at some point I will go through a whole shift of training with an experienced officer. Now I just have to hope that it's true what they say about women liking men in uniform. =)
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Ice Warriors
So I have come to the conclusion that all people in relationships should have to wear something that identifies them as such.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Fear Her
The other day I was sitting in my management class and this very interesting chick sat next to me. She had a tendency to just say out loud the answers to rhetorical questions, and then about half way through class she started going through her datebook, writing on the days that had already gone by. If I didn't know any better than I would think that she was some kind of soothesayer or time traveler gone awry.
Then the oddest part is she made a particular point of showing me January 23, but never said why. For all I know it could be that it was meant to be my last day on Earth.
If that is the case then this post will show up after I've gone, but that's ok I hope it was a good death. Not that I'll every really stop existing as long as people remember me. If not which seems to be the much more likely option, then this is just another rambling post from a silly old man and more of these daft old posts will follow =).
Then the oddest part is she made a particular point of showing me January 23, but never said why. For all I know it could be that it was meant to be my last day on Earth.
If that is the case then this post will show up after I've gone, but that's ok I hope it was a good death. Not that I'll every really stop existing as long as people remember me. If not which seems to be the much more likely option, then this is just another rambling post from a silly old man and more of these daft old posts will follow =).
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Frontier in Space
Right so this semester has been going great so far. My classes are awesome, well the Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes anyway, my management class on Tuesday & Thursday is taught by a rather dull woman who blinks far too much for a normal human being. Perhaps she's an alien...or not who can say for sure?
I have a new room mate, a chap from Brazil named Felipe, and I could not have asked for a better room mate, I guess its true what they say, third time's a charm.
Life is looking good right now, I'm currently working on finding a job to help pay for living on my own next year, hopefully one comes through.
Now that the blog is caught up I doubt posts will be coming in every day though I promise I will try to post at least a few times a week whenever something interesting happens, even if they are not the longest posts in the world.
Thanks for reading
I have a new room mate, a chap from Brazil named Felipe, and I could not have asked for a better room mate, I guess its true what they say, third time's a charm.
Life is looking good right now, I'm currently working on finding a job to help pay for living on my own next year, hopefully one comes through.
Now that the blog is caught up I doubt posts will be coming in every day though I promise I will try to post at least a few times a week whenever something interesting happens, even if they are not the longest posts in the world.
Thanks for reading
Friday, January 20, 2012
Pyramids of Mars
Right so now that you know the more dreary aspects of last semester let's cheer it up a bit.
Despite what was going on with the room mate, it was otherwise a very good semester. It was my first full semester as a non-meteo major (I won't technically be a psych major till this semester but that's just a paper-work thing) My classes were great, and I ended up getting 4 A's and a B+ which finally brought my cumulative GPA up above a 3.0 which is what I have been working towards since my colossal mistake of a first semester.
But college is so much more than classes isn't it. I made some great new friendships and rekindled some old ones. Oh and Paula, Blake, and I began to look for apartments for next year and it does look as though we found one in Toftrees. It is one of the quietest, most peaceful, and all around nicest neighborhoods that you could ever want to live in. Plus it's a 3 bed room so we'd all have our own place to call our own, while still being able to hang out all of the time. It's the best of all worlds really and I can not begin to explain how excited I am to live there. It's going to be spectacular.
Over Christmas break I got to hang out with most of my favorite people at least once. I even managed to get coffee with my favorite coffee mate Angela on more than one occasion. For some reason just talking to her for the brief periods in which we meet up seems to make the world a better place.
Tomorrow:
I finally catch up and begin to talk about this semester
Despite what was going on with the room mate, it was otherwise a very good semester. It was my first full semester as a non-meteo major (I won't technically be a psych major till this semester but that's just a paper-work thing) My classes were great, and I ended up getting 4 A's and a B+ which finally brought my cumulative GPA up above a 3.0 which is what I have been working towards since my colossal mistake of a first semester.
But college is so much more than classes isn't it. I made some great new friendships and rekindled some old ones. Oh and Paula, Blake, and I began to look for apartments for next year and it does look as though we found one in Toftrees. It is one of the quietest, most peaceful, and all around nicest neighborhoods that you could ever want to live in. Plus it's a 3 bed room so we'd all have our own place to call our own, while still being able to hang out all of the time. It's the best of all worlds really and I can not begin to explain how excited I am to live there. It's going to be spectacular.
Over Christmas break I got to hang out with most of my favorite people at least once. I even managed to get coffee with my favorite coffee mate Angela on more than one occasion. For some reason just talking to her for the brief periods in which we meet up seems to make the world a better place.
Tomorrow:
I finally catch up and begin to talk about this semester
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Creature from the Pit
So last night's post took place around October-ish, and I never really talked to him after that. And to be entirely honest I didn't really care. I have no time for anyone other than those who actually require it, I had given up hope on someone for the first time in a long time came to a point to total indifference, I couldn't have cared less if he let his new found drinking ruin his sad little excuse for a life.
Around late November, I received a checkout form in our mailbox, figures since I was the only one who ever got the mail but I digress, it had his name on it, but he never even had the decency to tell me that he was moving out of the room. But as soon as I read it I could not stop smiling, I actually starting laughing, I would soon be free of this creature that had plagued me for months. So I took it back to the room and laid the form on his desk. He still never acknowledged it to me.
Nothing more would come of it until a few days before semester's end when he began loudly packing up his side of the room at 11 at night. Naturally this was also the first time he opened the window (which he would always close and crank up the heat when he saw I had it open) and opened the door as well, since this was a particularly cold December night the room temperature was dropping quickly, I could soon see my own breath at my desk, so I shut the bloody thing with as much spite as he had used to open it. And then the next day I had gone to hang out with Blake and by the time I got back he was gone. I think that may have qualified as one of the happiest moments of my life.
Tomorrow: The happier parts of last semester...I promise
Around late November, I received a checkout form in our mailbox, figures since I was the only one who ever got the mail but I digress, it had his name on it, but he never even had the decency to tell me that he was moving out of the room. But as soon as I read it I could not stop smiling, I actually starting laughing, I would soon be free of this creature that had plagued me for months. So I took it back to the room and laid the form on his desk. He still never acknowledged it to me.
Nothing more would come of it until a few days before semester's end when he began loudly packing up his side of the room at 11 at night. Naturally this was also the first time he opened the window (which he would always close and crank up the heat when he saw I had it open) and opened the door as well, since this was a particularly cold December night the room temperature was dropping quickly, I could soon see my own breath at my desk, so I shut the bloody thing with as much spite as he had used to open it. And then the next day I had gone to hang out with Blake and by the time I got back he was gone. I think that may have qualified as one of the happiest moments of my life.
Tomorrow: The happier parts of last semester...I promise
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Sontaran Experiment
Note: The particularly revolting parts of this post are invisible, just highlight over them if your curiosity get's the better of you.
Right so last semester I had this "brilliant" idea to room with an acquiescence from high school. Unfortunately, in my desperation to room with someone that I knew in order to avoid a room mate like I had the first time around, I actually found a room mate who was worse. I had not though it possible but this individual contained absolutely no consideration. He would come in late at night drunk and switch on lights.
He quickly became known around the entire floor for singing late into the night, and I'm not sure if he's ever heard himself, but his singing voice sounds a bit like what I've always imagined the screams of the tortured in hell to sound like. Not to mention he was a complete and total slob with clothesand assorted bodily fluids and parts scattered all over his side of the room.
Well one day we got into an argument, and anyone who knows me knows that I am not a person who is easily angered, but for the first time in a long time I hit that point. So I ended up yelling, nothing physical, just me screaming for a bit. Well he went off sulking for a bit and I received the following email soon after.
"Dear Michael Behr,
You have told me in the past that it was extremely difficult to get you angry, and that only a few people have successfully been able to push you to becoming close to angry. Unfortunately, today I have become one of the people who was able to push you to becoming close to angry. All of the shenanigans that I do are purely out of immaturity and in no way shape or form was meant to be a weapon of malice against your tolerance or sanity. The things I say about you, your mother, and other things originates from my desire from wanting to have a conversation. Usually I am able to joke around and become "bros" with every guy I meet, but it is rather difficult with you. I can sense that you are truly annoyed by my antics and it frightens me that I was able to get you close to being angry today. There are many things that obviously we both cannot tolerate, but some of those things cannot be helped. Whether or not it is within our power to do something for the convenience for the other seems to escape us as we annoy one another. Soon the ambiance is magnified to such an extent where the atmosphere is dominated by that of a selfish, egotistic child (not directed towards you completely). Thinking abut college I have always wanted my roommate to be my friend, my pal, my bro. I know absolutely nothing about you, but that is alright, as you know absolutely nothing about me. Speaking honestly Michael, I really wanted to have a random roommate. Back in high school I could not say no to your offer and disappoint you. HONESTLY, I did not even know I would end up going to Penn State, I assumed I would get into one of the ivies and end up there, so I could care less whether or not I said yes or no to your offer. Speaking sincerely, If I had known that I would end up in Penn State (which I love very much) then I believe that I would have rejected your offer so that I could broaden my horizons and fully experience college by having a stranger as my roommate. Whether or not the stranger becomes my bro, my rival, my simple roommate, or my enemy is all part of the college experience. I feel as if our friendship is jeopardized by my selfishness and I apologize for that. Attached to this e-mail is the "Direct Room Exchange Form" where we can swap roommates. I have taken the liberty of checking eRoomExchange and there are many gentlemen who are wiling to exchange rooms. If it comes down to it, I will be the one to move so that your convenience is not effected. If you do not want to swap, then in order to preserve our "relationship" (notice I did not say brothership or friendship) then I shall present to you a choice:
1) We can be friends.
- I have tried my best to becoming you friend but you are very close-minded. Whatever it is that happened in the past you cannot let shackle your life. If you do so, then you are letting the negativity bind you. We can live together and be bros. Be open to each other,jack off to porn comfortably in eachother's presence, Have the lights on at night, be loud, not plug in headphones, etc.
2) We can be roommates.
- I will go in and out of the room, not speaking to you, or asking for favors. We will be roommates until the next semester or year, but that is all we will be - roommates. I will not take your water, use your television without permission, step on your side of the room unless it is to exit or to throw out a piece of garbage, and basically not do anything that affects you without your permission. If you want to talk, then I will speak back to you, but I will not initiate any conversation with you if I see that you are busy or simply not in the mood. I will not come into close contact to you as to interfere with your comfort zone. I will simply be another man in the room (it may not be the same as friendship, but I have tried the friendship route and it has backfired against me). Finally, you do not have to look out for me, as I am just your roommate and whatever I do is my responsibility that you can disregard. You no longer have to lie for me about my drinking habits. We are not brothers, so it is not necessary for us to help one another.
Whatever choice you pick I am perfectly fine with.
If you choose to still be my roommate (if you reject the exchange proposal) and go along with either choice 1) or choice 2) listed above, then we will need to develop a system of laws as to not drive one another to insanity. I sincerely apologize Michael, I really did not want to send you this e-mail but it cannot be helped. I have spoken to Mr. Frank before moving up here and even he predicted that we would not be compatible for each other because he stated that I am way too dynamic of an individual for your conservativeness. I am way too liberal for your static aura. Mr. Frank advised me to refrain from sending you this e-mail saying that it could jeopardize our friendship, but I believe that we are mature and civilized enough as to not hold grudges against each other. You may reply to this e-mail or simply speak to me once I get back to my dorm.
Cheers,
Your Roommate,
Michael Tran"
Now call me crazy but the whole email seems as though it is framed to make me appear to be the bad guy. Some parts of it particularly creep me out (see invisible part of option 1) and frankly the idea that he felt the need to send an email (and later get the RA involved) instead of just confronting me face to face really pissed me off. So when he came back I told him he could move out. Naturally this had been his bluff to get sympathy from me for his insane antics, so he got all mopey for a bit. Needless to say he never moved out and we continued to live with each other for the remainder of the semester.
The rest of this post will be up tomorrow.
Right so last semester I had this "brilliant" idea to room with an acquiescence from high school. Unfortunately, in my desperation to room with someone that I knew in order to avoid a room mate like I had the first time around, I actually found a room mate who was worse. I had not though it possible but this individual contained absolutely no consideration. He would come in late at night drunk and switch on lights.
He quickly became known around the entire floor for singing late into the night, and I'm not sure if he's ever heard himself, but his singing voice sounds a bit like what I've always imagined the screams of the tortured in hell to sound like. Not to mention he was a complete and total slob with clothes
Well one day we got into an argument, and anyone who knows me knows that I am not a person who is easily angered, but for the first time in a long time I hit that point. So I ended up yelling, nothing physical, just me screaming for a bit. Well he went off sulking for a bit and I received the following email soon after.
"Dear Michael Behr,
You have told me in the past that it was extremely difficult to get you angry, and that only a few people have successfully been able to push you to becoming close to angry. Unfortunately, today I have become one of the people who was able to push you to becoming close to angry. All of the shenanigans that I do are purely out of immaturity and in no way shape or form was meant to be a weapon of malice against your tolerance or sanity. The things I say about you,
1) We can be friends.
- I have tried my best to becoming you friend but you are very close-minded. Whatever it is that happened in the past you cannot let shackle your life. If you do so, then you are letting the negativity bind you. We can live together and be bros. Be open to each other,
2) We can be roommates.
- I will go in and out of the room, not speaking to you, or asking for favors. We will be roommates until the next semester or year, but that is all we will be - roommates. I will not take your water, use your television without permission, step on your side of the room unless it is to exit or to throw out a piece of garbage, and basically not do anything that affects you without your permission. If you want to talk, then I will speak back to you, but I will not initiate any conversation with you if I see that you are busy or simply not in the mood. I will not come into close contact to you as to interfere with your comfort zone. I will simply be another man in the room (it may not be the same as friendship, but I have tried the friendship route and it has backfired against me). Finally, you do not have to look out for me, as I am just your roommate and whatever I do is my responsibility that you can disregard. You no longer have to lie for me about my drinking habits. We are not brothers, so it is not necessary for us to help one another.
Whatever choice you pick I am perfectly fine with.
If you choose to still be my roommate (if you reject the exchange proposal) and go along with either choice 1) or choice 2) listed above, then we will need to develop a system of laws as to not drive one another to insanity. I sincerely apologize Michael, I really did not want to send you this e-mail but it cannot be helped. I have spoken to Mr. Frank before moving up here and even he predicted that we would not be compatible for each other because he stated that I am way too dynamic of an individual for your conservativeness. I am way too liberal for your static aura. Mr. Frank advised me to refrain from sending you this e-mail saying that it could jeopardize our friendship, but I believe that we are mature and civilized enough as to not hold grudges against each other. You may reply to this e-mail or simply speak to me once I get back to my dorm.
Cheers,
Your Roommate,
Now call me crazy but the whole email seems as though it is framed to make me appear to be the bad guy. Some parts of it particularly creep me out (see invisible part of option 1) and frankly the idea that he felt the need to send an email (and later get the RA involved) instead of just confronting me face to face really pissed me off. So when he came back I told him he could move out. Naturally this had been his bluff to get sympathy from me for his insane antics, so he got all mopey for a bit. Needless to say he never moved out and we continued to live with each other for the remainder of the semester.
The rest of this post will be up tomorrow.
The Ark in Space
Blimey, it has been awhile since I've been here hasn't it, well it was last September in fact, far too long an absence in my opinion so I thought it was time to come back. A few people I've talked to even said they've missed my blog, they know who they are ;) So thanks to them I have finally gotten off my ass to make my return.
Now obviously quite a few things have happened since I was last here so I think I will break up the posts to cover a few days, the first one will come in a few minutes since this has almost no real info in it. No worries it'll probably be up by the time you read this, unless you are very on the ball and much clever-er than I.
Now obviously quite a few things have happened since I was last here so I think I will break up the posts to cover a few days, the first one will come in a few minutes since this has almost no real info in it. No worries it'll probably be up by the time you read this, unless you are very on the ball and much clever-er than I.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Pilot
Two weeks back in Penn State and far too long since I have posted. My time back has been awesome so far, after the summer, its nice to get back to cooler weather and reconnect with some of my favorite people. There's just nothing like the freedom of college, it's invigorating.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Colony in Space
A lot of things have happened recently so I think I'll just put up a few at a time.
First I ran into an old friend of sorts last week. He was always like a mentor to me, but when he left Philadelphia for Florida last year, he left on somewhat awkward terms. So I was a bit hesitant at first to accept the invitation to dinner, but I am glad that I did. We met up and reminisced about old times while discussing the new. Then we went to our masonic meeting and it was almost as if things never changed. All in all I'm glad I decided to accept the invitation, just goes to show that you should always try to take risks in life, you'll always learn something from them.
First I ran into an old friend of sorts last week. He was always like a mentor to me, but when he left Philadelphia for Florida last year, he left on somewhat awkward terms. So I was a bit hesitant at first to accept the invitation to dinner, but I am glad that I did. We met up and reminisced about old times while discussing the new. Then we went to our masonic meeting and it was almost as if things never changed. All in all I'm glad I decided to accept the invitation, just goes to show that you should always try to take risks in life, you'll always learn something from them.
The Daleks
Haven't had much time to write lately, must work on that, been busy with work and ebay sales mostly. I'll try to write again soon, sorry for the delay...
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day
I wrote this post a while back but I thought that this would be the appropriate time to post it.
I have never gotten along with my father, and as far as I am concerned, he has never been a father to me. I won't go into the reasons, in fact I've never really told anyone why (well one person but she knows who she is). And to be entirely honest I don't get along with my paternal grandfather either.
My maternal grandfather sounded like a great man, but he unfortunately died before I was even a thought, cancer claimed his life back when my mother was only 7.
But throughout my life I have had several surrogate father like figures.
The first was an elderly man, and my next door neighbor for the first 15 or so years of my life. He was a little Italian man, and one of the nicest people that you would ever want to meet. He taught me many life lessons, probably more than he ever knew, he was truly a friend to me, and always will be. Sadly around the time I was 16 he had a heart attack, and his family decided to move him into an assisted living home, I only saw him a couple more times after that. Within a year he passed away. His was the first funeral I ever attended, and the first loss of a friend that I ever experienced. But I would not be the person I am today without the influence of the man that I have always known as Tony. It is partially because of him that I am as kind and empathetic as I am today.
The second of my surrogate father figures came into my life when I joined SPARC, he donated more time and equipment to the project than it had ever seen before, and he brought the program back to its former glory. It was he, who helped me earn my place in the Freemasons, and he who taught me how important it was to make connections everywhere. He taught me to be more outgoing and gave me the pointers that helped me become the public speaker that I am today. He was with me through my entire process of becoming a Freemason, and when I received my third degree I could see an immeasurable amount of pride on his face, and that made me feel fantastic, just for those few moments that void that has always existed in me from not having a true father like figure was filled. But then he moved to Florida towards the end of 2010, and I haven't heard from him since. I can only hope that he is doing well.
The third and most recent of my surrogate father figures is one whom I still keep in regular contact with. I met him as I was inducted into the National Honor Society and he helped me through the process of becoming the Junior Vice President and eventually the President of the NHS, it is him who I have to thank for helping me gain the skills that I would need to become a good leader.
Without these surrogate father figures in my life I do not think that I would be the person that I am today, but in a sense that is true of everyone that I know, each person that has crossed into my life has effected me in some profound way, no matter how short they may have been in my life, they all have a great effect on shaping who I am.
I only hope that someday I can inspire people in a positive way and help to shape them into the people that they will become. And I hope that one day I can be a great father to my children, and instil the qualities of kindness, confidence, leadership, and many more that I pick up throughout my life.
I have never gotten along with my father, and as far as I am concerned, he has never been a father to me. I won't go into the reasons, in fact I've never really told anyone why (well one person but she knows who she is). And to be entirely honest I don't get along with my paternal grandfather either.
My maternal grandfather sounded like a great man, but he unfortunately died before I was even a thought, cancer claimed his life back when my mother was only 7.
But throughout my life I have had several surrogate father like figures.
The first was an elderly man, and my next door neighbor for the first 15 or so years of my life. He was a little Italian man, and one of the nicest people that you would ever want to meet. He taught me many life lessons, probably more than he ever knew, he was truly a friend to me, and always will be. Sadly around the time I was 16 he had a heart attack, and his family decided to move him into an assisted living home, I only saw him a couple more times after that. Within a year he passed away. His was the first funeral I ever attended, and the first loss of a friend that I ever experienced. But I would not be the person I am today without the influence of the man that I have always known as Tony. It is partially because of him that I am as kind and empathetic as I am today.
The second of my surrogate father figures came into my life when I joined SPARC, he donated more time and equipment to the project than it had ever seen before, and he brought the program back to its former glory. It was he, who helped me earn my place in the Freemasons, and he who taught me how important it was to make connections everywhere. He taught me to be more outgoing and gave me the pointers that helped me become the public speaker that I am today. He was with me through my entire process of becoming a Freemason, and when I received my third degree I could see an immeasurable amount of pride on his face, and that made me feel fantastic, just for those few moments that void that has always existed in me from not having a true father like figure was filled. But then he moved to Florida towards the end of 2010, and I haven't heard from him since. I can only hope that he is doing well.
The third and most recent of my surrogate father figures is one whom I still keep in regular contact with. I met him as I was inducted into the National Honor Society and he helped me through the process of becoming the Junior Vice President and eventually the President of the NHS, it is him who I have to thank for helping me gain the skills that I would need to become a good leader.
Without these surrogate father figures in my life I do not think that I would be the person that I am today, but in a sense that is true of everyone that I know, each person that has crossed into my life has effected me in some profound way, no matter how short they may have been in my life, they all have a great effect on shaping who I am.
I only hope that someday I can inspire people in a positive way and help to shape them into the people that they will become. And I hope that one day I can be a great father to my children, and instil the qualities of kindness, confidence, leadership, and many more that I pick up throughout my life.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Invasion
Just because I we are, by no choice of my own, related by blood, it does not give you the right to show up unannounced on my doorstep. Odds are if I had wanted to see you, I would have. Don't just pop in and expect us to start entertaining you. Especially when I never could stand you.
Out of all the hundreds of people that I would like to see turn up at my door, why did it have to be you. Do me a favor and don't pop back, you pompous arrogant know-it-all.
Out of all the hundreds of people that I would like to see turn up at my door, why did it have to be you. Do me a favor and don't pop back, you pompous arrogant know-it-all.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Company of Friends
I meant to post this last night, but I just never found the moment to write it. Seeing all of my 170 friends graduate was an interesting experience. When I first came I was reminded of my own graduation. It seems like just yesterday that 169 was gathered together to reflect on our time at NE. I can't believe that its been a year all ready. So much has changed since that time. Certainly the company that I keep is not the same, but in all honesty I prefer it this way. Penn State has helped to strengthen/form my friendships with my favorite people in the world. And being away has let me see who really cares, by who actually bothered to stay in touch. It's nice to know where you stand in people's lives, though it may be bitter-sweet to see how some have changed.
The speeches at the graduation were amazing each in its own style, Gurinder's was reflective and concise, Gah's was funny and poignant, and Mike's was simply touching, he even managed to bring a tear to my eye when he spoke from the heart about how Gah was like the brother he lost so long ago.
Seeing everyone after they got their diploma made me realize just how quickly time can pass by. But I think that I will be able to stay in touch with 170 more, partially because I've learned what not to do from losing touch with some of 169. But only time will tell for sure, till then I can just hope for the best.
The speeches at the graduation were amazing each in its own style, Gurinder's was reflective and concise, Gah's was funny and poignant, and Mike's was simply touching, he even managed to bring a tear to my eye when he spoke from the heart about how Gah was like the brother he lost so long ago.
Seeing everyone after they got their diploma made me realize just how quickly time can pass by. But I think that I will be able to stay in touch with 170 more, partially because I've learned what not to do from losing touch with some of 169. But only time will tell for sure, till then I can just hope for the best.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Time and the Rani
I'm rather excited to see all of my 170 friends graduate this Wednesday, I just hope that I can find someone to go with, I'd rather not sit through the whole ceremony alone. Of course, I will if I can't find anyone, nothing will stop me from being there for my friends. But it would be nice to have some company...
Friday, June 10, 2011
Full Circle
So I thought I'd post that NHS speech that I gave later this evening. I think it turned out well. The funny thing is I remember being inducted, and who the NHS president was who inducted me, I remember being the President and inducting new members, and now here I am giving the speech as the alumni speaker, and watching some of the people I inducted as they run the show. Funny how things have a tendency to come full circle.
Good evening everyone, for those who do not know me, my name is Michael Behr. This evening I have
been given the honor and privilege of giving the alumni speech at this year’s induction ceremony. To me
the National Honor Society was more than just an organization; we were and always will be a family. I
have formed some of my closest friendships with my NHS family, a bond that has endured and I know
will continue to thrive, no matter where we all end up on our life paths. I learnt much in my time with
NHS, I learnt how to be a good leader, but even more importantly I learnt the importance of helping
others. I am proud to say that I would not be the person I am today without the influence that NHS has
had on me.
To the newly inducted members you are embarking on what will be one of the greatest times in your
life. You are now not only part of a prestigious organization but part of a family upon which you can
reach out to any of the past members for guidance, as we never really leave NHS behind.
To the current members you still have time with NHS, make the most of it, don’t just focus on getting
your minutes for the sake of putting NHS on your college resume, there’s so much more to be done, so
much more to be seen, make the most of it while you still have the chance.
To the seniors, I can say in full faith that you will never be forgotten. You have made a great impact on
Northeast, as we had in the past, and it is all the better for your influence. Most of you are now on your
way to college, you’re going to love it, maybe not instantly, but once you adjust to this entirely new way
of life, you’re never going to want it to change. You’re probably going to have to endure a few things
along the way, insane roommates, bad professors, horrible weather, but for all these dire events, there
is ten times as much good. Your friendships will strengthen to levels you never thought possible and you
will have more fun than you have ever had in your life. Don’t spend too much time stressing over the
future, make sure you stop to enjoy the present.
If you’re not sure what you want to major in don’t worry we’ve all been there, even if you think you
know what you want to do with your life, and trust me here I speak from personal experience, it’s not
set in stone, feel free to change your major if you find something that you will be happy doing for the
rest of your life. In fact I encourage you to try as many new classes as you can, who knows you might
just stumble onto your future career. And don’t worry you won’t be alone, you’ll have your friends to
turn to for advice, and if you need someone with more experience with college, there’s NHS members
in almost every college that you’re going to. Any of you, especially those of you that are going to Penn
State can feel free to come to me for advice, you won’t be bothering me, I’m a psych major, if anything
you’ll be helping me get ready for my future career.
And on that note, I’d just like to thank Mr. Frank and everyone else here for letting this alum come back
to make this speech.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Frontios
I just finished writing my speech for the NHS induction. I must say I'm quite proud of how it turned out. I hope its well received. The way the induction keeps getting pushed back, I hope I get to make it. I'll be posting it on here sometime after the NHS induction, just in case anyone wanted to read it.
It's been a pretty good day. Thought I must say I cannot stand this heat wave, I despise the heat, I long for the days of snow and ice at times like this. Good thing I live at PSU 75% of the year and I'll be getting plenty of snow and ice before I know it.
It's been a pretty good day. Thought I must say I cannot stand this heat wave, I despise the heat, I long for the days of snow and ice at times like this. Good thing I live at PSU 75% of the year and I'll be getting plenty of snow and ice before I know it.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Everything Changes
Ghost Machine
All this thinking of writing this speech for the NHS Induction Thursday has gotten my reminiscing. I was looking through some of my past works for some inspiration and I came across my Salutatorian Speech. So partially for archival purposes, but mostly because I just really liked that speech I'm posting it here, where it can sit in its little corner of cyber-space for all of eternity.
Good morning ladies and gentleman. My name is Michael Behr and I have been awarded the privilege and honor of giving this speech today at this the graduation of Northeast’s greatest class, 169!
William Hartnell once said, “Our lives are important - at least to us - and as we see, so we learn... Our destiny is in the stars, so let's go and search for it.”
I have always found these words to be true. Our own lives are important to each and every one of us as well as those who care about us, those who would give anything to ensure the protection and simplification of our lives. These people are our families who raised us to the point in which we can stand here today not only as the children they raised, but as independent free speaking adults. These people are also our friends whom we have either met or strengthened our bonds with during our time at Northeast. It is these same people whose lives are important to us, and it is these relationships that will last a lifetime and be there for us in even our darkest moments, inspiring us to press forward and be all that we can be.
As we see, so we learn, this is true no matter where one finds them self on the road of life. From the time that we are infants we explore the world around us, constantly searching for something new, something that will inspire us to learn, whether It be something as simple as learning the names of your new neighbors or something complex such as memorizing pi to the 169th digit. Our time at Northeast has helped us immensely with this learning process, we have been given the opportunity to witness and take part in so many wonderful events. We have not only been taught the traditional subjects of math, science, and English, but also the more complex lessons, such as compassion for ones fellow man, and how to remain positive in even when all hope seems lost. These lessons will remain with us forever and help us just as long.
Our destiny lies in the stars, our time here at Northeast has helped us expand our horizons greatly, increasing not only our knowledge but our imaginations and aspirations as well. It is here that many of us have drafted the blue prints through which we plan to shape the rest of our lives. But now comes the bitter sweet moment when we realize that we must move on from our comfortable surroundings at Northeast and take the next step in our lives, whether that be college, trade school, a career, or even the armed forces. And it is because of our time at Northeast that we are ready to succeed in the next stage of life, our time here has prepared us for any challenge that may come our way. I believe I speak for the entire class of 169 when I say that we will always be thankful for this preparation.
We have gone through a lot as a class here at Northeast, and have made the memories that will last a life time. As we journey into the next stage of life where we will form new friendships, we will never forget our Northeast family. And as we bid a fond farewell to our time together may I simply finish by saying that while we may be miles apart, in our hearts we will always be CLASS 169!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Dalek Cutaway
Just a brief note, if you ever want to, or you suddenly get the urge, feel free to comment on anything on this blog, or hit that new little +1 button that Google has added. I love reading the feedback on my posts =)
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