My genius hour has been going great. I’ve been researching the muscles involved in a vertical jump, and I have a better understanding of them. This will be useful, because I am planning on creating a workout plan soon.

My childhood dream has always been to dunk.

For my genius hour project, I will be creating a workout plan for people who have dreams similar to mine (typically involved with vertical jump). First, I will be researching the muscles involved with a vertical jump-how they work, how to keep them healthy, and most importantly, how to work them out. Once I do that, I will then create a workout plan and post it.

It should be helpful to those who want to increase their vertical jump.

There are a lot of things I would like to do this year, but it boils down to two things.

First, I need to stay on top of my assignments at school. Nothing that I’ve done is particularly difficult, but it is my own laziness that gets me into difficult situations with grades.

Second, I want to have a double figure game in a basketball game this season, maybe even a triple double. If I can do that, then I might be able to make the school team next year, if the opportunity presents itself. If not, then it will still earn me more minutes for the rest of this season and in years to come.

It’s easy to make goals. Everyone does it every year. The hard part is sticking with those goals and reaching the end successfully. My final goal is to stick with my other goals… if that makes sense.

I’m running through a forest. It is seemingly endless. I’m trying to avoid the sharks. Yes, sharks. In a forest. They’re swimming… no, flying? They’re floating through the air, but at intense speeds. The last time I encountered one, I barely escaped. I don’t think I’ll be so lucky next time.

But I keep running. There’s nothing else to do. At least when running, there’s the hope you’ll eventually find your way out.

Something darts around a tree; I barely notice it out of the corner of my eye. Another one. Hopefully it didn’t notice me. I crane my neck to get another look. This time, it emerges from behind the tree. The speed is astonishing. It is already halfway to me before I can make myself start running again. I notice something different about this shark. There is something stained on its teeth. I turn around yet again to get a look at the beast. I stare at the teeth of the shark.

Blood. And it looks fresh.

Is that what happened to James? “No. Don’t even start thinking like that. You will find him, and you will make it out alive.” I’ve realized why people talk to themselves. Its comforting. In a strange way. Even when you’re doomed to be killed in a forest full of sharks.

I push myself ahead. I can keep up the pace for a little while longer. I just need to find James.

Winning is something everyone wants to do. But how do you do it? There are a few keys to getting it done.

1. Be on top of your game. You can’t win if you don’t know what you’re doing.

2. Look ahead to the goal. Make sure you are keeping the end in sight to motivate you.

3. Stay cool, calm, and collected. You can’t lose your head under pressure.

4. Trust others. You don’t have to get the job done all by yourself.

5. Remember that even in losses, there is something you’ve already won. Winning can be different than what you thought.

I have a lot of dreams. I dream to be the MVP of an important basketball game. I dream to be rich (who doesn’t, come on now). I dream to publish a book.

Everyone dreams of something. The difference between people is the fact that some people aren’t willing to work to reach their dreams. To be rich, I need to get a high paying job. To get a high paying job I need a degree. To get a degree, I need good grades so I can be accepted into a university. To be the MVP of a basketball game, I need to play well, and to play well, I need to practice. To publish a book, I actually need to write.

Do I do these things that I need to? Not always. But the important thing is that I know what I need to do to reach my dreams, and I try to do those things.

A dreamer can’t become anything without working hard.

When the world looks down on you, you have only two options. Give in to all those who don’t believe in you, or get up off your butt and show them why they should.

Just like anyone has, I’ve been knocked off my feet. I’ve had to fight the odds.

50 miles on a bike takes its toll. After being out in the middle of the desert with no civilization for miles, getting back into the city came a little fast. I rode down center street in Lehi, trying not to think about my sore legs. A red light stopped me, and soon, I was separated from my group. Then I hit the curb.

Riding at fifteen miles an hour, the impact sent me flying at least a yard. Twisted ankle, road rash, darkness. I came to quickly, seeing that not very many people had noticed me yet. A few however, saw me lying there, and started walking over slowly.

Pain dulling my senses, I realized my two options. Lay on the sidewalk, cry, and pray, or stand up and carry myself to my destination. Praying wasn’t an option, because it didn’t work for my sore legs, and crying wouldn’t do much good besides rub salt in my wounds, so I decided that getting up would be my best option.

I rose to my feet, and immediately, people started clapping for me. One guy even patted me on the back. Limping, I picked up the remains of my busted bike and carried it the last mile to the end of the ride, where my group found me, glad that I had made it.

Coming to school this year, I threw myself over a very big curb. I chose to take five AP/Honors classes; it was a large burden to take on. The end of the term is approaching. It will be tough to keep up, but the only way to do it is to stay on my feet and carry myself through.

Kakorrhaphiophobia. We all have it to some degree.

We fall on our first bike ride. We miss our first shot. We lose our first game. Our fear is the fear of failure. Failure is so easy to be afraid of, but it isn’t impossible to conquer.

The question is, do you have the strength to pick up the pieces, to look back into your opponent’s eyes and make them feel uncomfortable? Can you try again, risking repetition of what has gone on before?

I can. That is what helps me carry on. Life is full of failure, but I can push through it. I can strive for better. Can you?

I like writing fiction novels, so this is new to me. I’ve never done a blog before, but I hope it works out. Hopefully my writing is useful or at least somewhat entertaining. Here goes.