Friday, April 16, 2010

Why You Should Control Your Destiny

As I read aloud Freak the Mighty written by Rodman Philbrick, in Chapter 21, Max questions his future.  He wonders if he too might become an accident of nature like his father.  He wonders if he might become violent like Killer Kane.  This brought out the discussion of destiny in Reading Workshop.

Students pondered questions like, do you control your fate?  Is your destiny in your hands?  Do parents and teachers have control?  What effect does making decisions have on your destiny?

The benefit of making good decisions, and working hard is control.  When students don't work, parents must get involved, and teachers are forced to discipline offenders.  The more good decisions students make, the more control they have over their destiny.  Good choices lead to success in school, which means a better and higher education.  This leads to more career opportunities, and a higher standard of living.

This leads to the question, do you control your destiny?  What are you doing to steer your life towards success?

55 comments:

Hannah C said...

I think as I get older, I control my destiny more and more, because I am getting freedom, along with responsibility. For example, I may not be able to control whether or not we move to a different school, but I can control what I do at that school, like get good grades.

What am I doing to steer my life towards success is just about everything I am capable of doing. Like paying attention in class, doing my homework, turning stuff in on time, participating in discussions, and many other things. But, as I get older and in college, I can take the classes that will help me become a photographer of anything, or whatever I change my mind to become. There, I will do the same things.

Josh J. said...

I think that you control your destiny if you want to. I think this because I have seen kids who just mess around and don't even try to do their best and control their destiny. I have also seen and know kids who work very hard at school and get good grades and don't give up.

What I am doing to steer my life towards success is trying my best at everything I do in school at home or any where I have to do something. I try to have fun while I'm doing it though and sometimes it gets too fun and have to bring it to a level where it is fun but still work that needs to be done and will be done. Like with the tests coming up I am trying really hard to do everything right and not to make any mistakes.

Hadley said...

I think I do control my destiny. I think that being a kid can sometimes get in the way of that, but for the most part, yes I do control my destiny. To steer myself towards success, I am working hard in class, because good grades means good college means good job. Like in math, when Miss Bowlby is telling us to write down the formula, it's good to do it, because that can help me on a big test later.

Kaitlyn C. said...

I think that I control part of my destiny right now. I can't control if I move or where I live right now. But I can control if I go to 7th grade or if I get good grades, or if I drop out in 9th or 10th grade. But I can't really control everything in my destiny. I think my mom controls half and I control half.

As I get older I think I will be able to control more of my destiny. But until I turn 18 I don't have all control of everything.

MakaylaK22 said...

I think that I control my destiny some of the time. I'm doing everything I can do to steer my life towards success. I give it my everything and put all of my effort in everything that I do. Every time I think about me and if my life is going towards success or not. I try to do everything that I can to get my life heading toward success.I never tell my self that I can't finish anything that I start. I never put my self down, I just do my best.

SavannahM said...

I think we do control our destiny and you don't control your destiny. Because like when you get older and you want to get married your parents don't tell you who you have to marry and who you don't have to marry thats up to you, you make that choose.They don't. Another example is when I get older and I want to get a job my mom and dad or my friends aren't going to tell me what job to pick because that's up to me not them. They might tell you what would be a good job but they can't tell you want your going to be or what your going to do.

How you don't control your destiny is if you turn in your homework and you try your best and you think your going to get an A on it and you end up failing it. You can't control what grade you got. But you can control it the next time like looking over it again or having your parents help you. Thats how you can control your destiny.

Rylee C said...

I believe that I can somewhat control my destiny. The reason I use the word somewhat is because if my parents told me to pack my bags because we are moving to Alabama, that could really mess up my destiny. Another reason I use the word somewhat is because my parents have control of me until I am eighteen. What I am doing to steer my life towards success is that I am giving everything all that I got. I am also getting smarter which can help out a lot.

Rylee C said...

I believe that I can somewhat control my destiny. The reason I use the word somewhat is because if my parents told me to pack my bags because we are moving to Alabama, that could really mess up my destiny. Another reason I use the word somewhat is because my parents have control of me until I am eighteen. What I am doing to steer my life towards success is that I am giving everything all that I got. I am also getting smarter which can help out a lot.

MicahL22 said...

Today I was asked to write a comment/post on do you control your destiny? Well it is Yes and No for me. I think that because, sometimes I control my destiny sometimes I don't. Why? Because if I make mistakes which everybody does a parent or teacher or even somebody that is just older than me comes along and takes control, takes control until they are sure that I can keep going on with my destiny.

I think that I control my destiny because like I said before I control my destiny until I mess up or can't figure something out. That's when the elders or the people come along to help out.

What am I doing to steer my life to my destiny? I am trying to do everything I can to steer my life to a better one. I am working as hard as I can to keep my grades up. Why? Because your whole career/destiny depends on your grades, because if I get good grades than I will probably get a better job and if I get a better job than I get a better house. The more right choices I make,the better chance I will reach my destiny. So will you if you make right choices.

Madison H. said...

Do you control your destiny? Is your destiny your choice or someone else's?

In my opinion I think I control my destiny. When you are a kid you can't always make your own decisions. I think if you earn your parents trust, keeping good grades, don't get in too much trouble, then you earn more trust than if you were a bad kid and you had bad grades and got in trouble 24/7.

The choices I make will be what determines weather or not my parents trust me and let me make some decisions on my own. I have to take control of my destiny by being a good kid. If I set that example then other people are going to see that I get to choose what I get to do, because I have a good attitude and I am a good kid.

Something that I am going to do to be successful is turn in homework on time. I'm going to follow directions and pat attention. All of these things can help me have a better destiny.

Ian L. said...

I think that I control my destiny. I think that because if I make good choices I will be able to make good choice in the future in life or in school.

If I decide to make one bad choice I might not be controlling my destiny the next day. My Mom or Dad could be there telling me what I have to do because when I make that bad decision I am giving up my freedom to control my destiny which is a privilege. So when there is a hard choice in my life I have to make the good decision so that I will have a higher standard of living. When I'm at school if I want to control my destiny I can't goof off or the teachers' will control it. To steer my life to success I will make good decisions so I can have control of my destiny.

Eric said...

I think I control my destiny because I have a good life and because my parents say that I will have a good destiny of the good choices I've made and that I'm doing good in sports in my life right now.

What I'm doing to steer my life to success is of what I'm doing in my life and what choices I make in life. For example: like when I try to do my best in sports and in school.

Calebw said...

I think my destiny I can and can't control it. There are some things I can't and some things I can control. Like if I want to get a job(I can control) but someone already took that open spot.(I can't control)

Rj.B. said...

Yes I think I have control over my fate. But I think it is about equal because I can lead my life to where ever I want if I try. Then again you have control too because if I would keep my mouth shut and you didn't have to tell me be quiet I would probably have more control over my destiny. And if I would actually be as quite as I can then you would not be on me as much and I would have more control because you wouldn't have to yell at me and spend class time waiting on me to be quiet.The effect of me talking is my grades I would probably have to say and I would also probably because I would not get yelled at as much and I think that I would be better off just to be quiet. If not always quite at least every now and then.

Texas w. said...

I think I do control my destiny. I think that being a kid can sometimes get in the way of that, but for the most part, yes I do control my destiny. but I think that I do control my destiny because I want to go to college and that is really good just like this school.I think that I have a good chance to go to college like the other kids in the whole school.

cassiep22 said...

I think I control my destiny because I want to push myself to the limit. I think if I do push myself I can do anything I want. If our teacher could do that for are OAA we would all pass but they can't.
I think that when I get a lot older I will have a job I will be able to buy things for me. All I know is everyone controls there destiny not only me everyone. If they didn't why would they be going to school if I did not I would not be even at school. But I want to be here to learn get a job not be in my 30 and be living at my grandmas house that would be embarrassing.

SavannahM22 said...

I think I do control my destiny and I don't control my destiny. Because like when I get older and I want to get married my parents don't tell me who I have to marry and who I don't have to marry. thats up to me, I make that choice. My parents don't. Another example is when I get older and I want to get a job my mom and dad or my friends aren't going to tell me what job to pick because that's up to me, not them. They might tell me what would be a good job but they can't tell me want I'm going to be or what I'm going to do.

How I do control my destiny is being honest and responsible. If I be honest and responsible then my parents can trust me and I will be able to do more things in life. For example if I am able to stay home alone I need to respect that privilege and not have a party and trash the house. I need to be honest and responsible of my actions. If I follow the rules I will get more privileges.

Karly said...

A few day ago I was asked if I control my destiny.Well my answer is yes and no because right now I am a little kid and I don't.But as I get older I get responsible, and I do control my destiny.

What I am doing to steer my life toward success is I try to get good grades in school,I work hard and I try to have a good life.So that when I get older I can be a veterinarian or whatever I do in my life to steer it to success!

codyj said...

I'd say that for example me, say if I could do whatever I wanted to do then I would control my destiny.But if I had some freedom I would still control some of my destiny.I think that I control some of my destiny,because I still have to come to school everyday.But I don't always want to come.I can still do some things I like though.

Hannah Hop. said...

I think that the person that you are is the person that controls your destiny! So yeah, I do believe that I control my destiny at least some of it. I think I can do things that will lead me to control my destiny for when I get older and now too.

Things that I am doing to steer my life towards success happens in and out of school.

In school I try to get good grades, listen to the teachers, be organized and responsible, do homework and classwork.(I think that helps me to be in collage, high school, get a job and have a good education.)

At home I do my chores, help out my parents, and do extra stuff around the house.(I think that helps me learn how to control my life when I am an adult.)

It may not seem like a lot but I believe these things steer my life towards success and help me to control my destiny and my future.

zachd said...

I think I control 1/4 of my destiny. My parents control the other 3/4. I think this because I can control how good I do in school. But my parents control where I live what school I go to. I think I only control 1/4 because when you are a kid you can only control how good you do at something. When you get older I think you have a lot more control of your destiny.

Codyk said...

Yes I have some control over my destiny.

I think I control half of my Destiny and my dad controls the other half of my Destiny . I think when I move out I will have the rest of my Destiny.

I think that for now its good that my dad has half of my Destiny if not I would go crazy.

Garrett said...

I do control my destiny some times but not all the time. Some times I get to choose if I want to go to a place with my parents or if I want to go to a friends house. As I get older I get new responsibilities to do and as I complete the new responsibilities I get more privilege.

As I'm getting good grades I'm steering my life towards success. As I keep going on with my life I control more and more of my destiny because I'm getting more new responsibilities and more privilege.

Cody L said...

I think that I can control my destiny sometimes because when I'm in school and my teacher gives me homework my teacher expects me to do my homework so I can get good grades and if I don't do my homework I will get some bad grades. If that happens I probably won't get a scholarship to go to college and if I don't go to college I can't make very much money at my job.

The job I hope to get is to be a veterinarian because I love animals but I won't be able to unless I am responsible enough to get the job.

Brandon C. said...

I control half of my destiny. My parents control the other half. I control if I get good grades or not but I don't control if I move. Every time I get good grades it leads to another good thing like getting a new game system or getting money to spend, or getting a four-wheeler. If I don't get good grades then it will lead to a bad thing like getting grounded from the things I have, not being able to go to a party, or not being able to staying out late with my friends. I control the good and bad actions that are school related. My parents control if I move, or if I stay.

AndrewS said...

I think I control my destiny because I choose the thing I do in life. This is because when I have to do something I need to do I choose if I should do it or not to. Even if my Mom says we are moving I am still controlling my destiny because I am following what I think I should do.
The thing I will do to steer my destiny is to the right thing to do from the bad things to do.

Destiny said...

I control my own destiny I say this because It is my choice if I work hard to meet my goal or work harder than hard to get higher than my gaol.

I want to be a singer or actress but to get there I have to work harder than anything to get It. That will be up to me.

If I want to be something then I have to clean up my act a lot and get my head out of the clouds but I have control on somethings others no. Like if I fail a grade I probably won't get a new CD I might get a month of stay in your room young laddie.

Kate R said...

I think that I do and don't control my destiny. I think that I control my destiny by making choices like studying for tests, doing my work, and listening to adults.

I think that I don't control my destiny because I can't control moving to a new school, my mom and step-dad getting divorce, or a death.

The things I am doing to steer my life towards success are trying to get good grades. Good grades lead to good colleges, and that leads to making more money when I grow up. I am also listening to my parents. When I listen to them they give me more freedom and responsibility.

Justin G. said...

I think I do control my destiny because I think that I can make a good choice and then I'll be able to do what I want but not always because if I try out for something and it's already taken then I don't have any control over it.

So I think it depends on whether I have a good or bad destiny.

I think I have most control on my destiny since I do almost everything I'm told and it may not get done right then but I'll work my way to it so I can choose to stay out of trouble or not.

The thing I'm doing to control my destiny is that I get good grades and make good choices and that eventually leads to college. Even though it may not float everyone's boat it's okay because I try to think my choices trough and try to do what's right at the moment and look at it when I'm in the future.

Kaylee M. said...

Do you control your destiny? Well it's yes and no for me. As I get older I have more responsibility and can be trusted more but I'm still a kid and some of my destiny I don't control.

What I'm doing to steer my life towards success is to do my best and get good grades. Then as I get older I can go to college, get a job and live my life in success.

Shaylee said...

I think I control my destiny more and more as I get older because I have more responsibility and I can be trusted a lot more than when I was younger. But sometimes I don't control your destiny. I don't get to control a lot of things but I can control the way I act or the grades I get I gust have to push myself to get better ones. When I get older I want to have a good job but I wouldn't be able to get a good job if I didn't go to school and get the education I need.

How I keep my destiny going is I go to school to get the education. I gain trust from my parents by showing them I have responsibility andobeying them.

Branden M said...

I control my destiny because I try my best in everything which has gave me more opportunities.
What I am doing to steer my life towards success is I am getting good grades in school which will later lead to a good education and I will get some where in life.

Nathan .N. said...

I control my destiny but at the same time I'm not. I do make my own decisions but somethings I don't control. Like school I make my guess I control what I guess but I don't control what the answer is and if I'm right or wrong.

Beth E. said...

To answer your first question I do control my own destiny. Well part of it anyway. My mom and my teachers control some of it. But I am getting to make more of my decisions as I get older.

What I am doing to steer my life towards success is I am working very hard in school, learning everything I can, and making good decisions. By the time I grow up I should be able to go to collage, get a job, and have a nice life. All because I controlled my own destiny. Wow. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it.

Kennedy said...

When it comes to destiny I think that me and my parents control the same amount. So we each control about 50 50. But as I get older my parents number will be getting smaller and mine will be getting bigger. One day my number is going to be 100 and my parents 0. I am steering my way to success by getting a good education and good grades in school, working to my highest potential. I will always be steering my way to success until I get there.

Jacob A said...

I think that I control most of my destiny but I do not control all of it. I think that as I get older I will be able to control more and more of my destiny.I think I control my destiny because I am becoming more responsible. I know that eventually I will have full control of my destiny.

The things that I am doing to steer my life towards success is getting good grades and making good decisions. This will hopefully lead to good things in life like going to collage and getting my degree.

JimmyC.22 said...

I control half and my parents control the other half of it.When I'm asked to do something I do instead of having an argument over it so that is what I do.I think that I mostly control my destiny though and my parents only control a little bit.
Do you control your destiny?

Nash C. said...

I think I control my destiny because I work hard in school and get good grades and make good decisions. If I continue to work hard and get good grades I know I'll be successful in life. I know next year it will be harder to keep my A's because I'll probably be in harder classes.
I suppose there are some things I don't control like if my parents decided to move to Melbourne, Australia, I wouldn't have much say in the that.

Kasi R. said...

I control my destiny most of the time. My parents sometimes try to help me when I have to make decisions but even if they know I will make the right choice they always tell me their opinion. Sometimes they know I will make the right choice and don't tell me their opinion and let me control my destiny and make the right choice.

What I do to steer my life to success is doing my best ability to learn and make the right decisions. If I ever go through bad times and don't do all of my ability I always have my family, teachers and friends to get me back on track so I can make the right decisions and control my own destiny. As I make the right decisions in life now I can go to college, get a good job and live life to its fullest.

Heather R said...

I think I have control over my destiny (most of the time.) I try my best for myself, like to achieve goals, and other things that I want. But sometimes I think I would go crazy, or do something I shouldn't do, if I didn't have someone by my side. The people who help me control my destiny, when I need them anyways,
is my parents. I can control a really big part of my destiny but, if I didn't have them when I need them I don't know what I would do. I think that right now in life, I am going to need my parents to help me through out my destiny but, later in life I will be on my own.

aldenw said...

Yes, I control most of my Destiny. My Mom and Dad also have a lot to do with it too, but that is not a bad thing because I probably could not do it on my own. I could not do it Myself because if I had a choice I would do what ever and that would not be good.

Beth .K. said...

I control my destiny more than 50%. My parents try to help me out in my life. Like they try to help me make the right decisions. and try to do what's best for me. They say that I should be whatever I want to be when I get older. My mom says that I should work for myself and no one else, but that is her opinion.

What I do to steer my life to success is that I try my best in school. I try not to make the wrong decisions. I want to do my best so I can go to college, get a job that pays good money and get a house.

terryw2222 said...

I control my destiny because I try my best in every thing I do even math which hardly no one likes but when I go in the class I work hard and do my best.Today at school when we went to math we had to do a 1/2 OAT paper today and I did my best I think I did good on it.When I get to high school I will have to work harder in the class rooms even if it is math.

Heather R said...

I think I have control over my destiny, (most of the time.) I try my best for myself, like to achieve goals, and other things that I want. But sometimes I think I would go crazy, or do something I shouldn't do, if I didn't have someone by my side. The people who help me control my destiny, when I need them anyways,
is my parents. I can control a really big part of my destiny but, if I didn't have them when I need them, I don't know what I would do. I think that right now in life, I am going to need my parents to help me through out my destiny, but later in life I will be on my own.

Cierra D said...

I control my destiny. I know that I control my destiny because I get good grades because I want to. I want to get scholar ships I want to get a nice house and a nice car. I work hard so I can have what I want and what I need when I get older.
I control my destiny in many other ways as well I decide when I want to do something and how I want to do it, if I want to go somewhere or not or if I should go somewhere or not. I think that I have been doing very well, but I still hope to do better than I do.
To steer my life towards success I am paying attention to all my classes I hope to be a lawyer when I get older but in order to do that I need to get good grades and hopefully a scholar ship. I am also studying at my own pace at home. I am looking at all the things that I can to achieve my goal and steer my life towards success. :)

Tyler.S said...

I do control my destiny. The reason why I know that I control my destiny is because I am trying to get good grades for myself not my family. Why would I have to get good grades for my family if my family has a job and they already went through college. Plus I try my best so I should control my destiny.

Hannah Hart. said...

I think that for the most part, I control my destiny. But my parents still have a little control towards it. I don't have full control because I'm not old enough and my parents still have to steer the way so that I don't get off track to much.

Some of the things that I do have control over is how I do in school, how my grades are, and who I hang out with. But other things that I don't have control over is like if my parents want to move, then I can have my two cents on it but, if my parents want to move then we are going to move.

I think that as I get older, and on through my life, I will get more and more control of my destiny. Soon I will have full responsibility of what happens to my destiny and were I go in life.

Destiny P said...

I control my destiny most of the time because I have gained lot of responsibility, from my parent's but I am not sure about the teachers. I do control my destiny about school most of the time because I try to get good grades, If I don't have good grades in school, If I don't get good grades for 7th grade and up I can't keep playing on with my soccer career. I also want to watch for my science grade because I am wanting to be a veterinarian so I got to push my self so I can get good grades through out the years of school.

Justin P. said...

I do not control my destiny most of the time. My parents usually control my destiny, and I am so glad that they do. Not everyone has perfect self-discipline.

I think that the older you get, the more of your destiny you control.

Alysha P. said...

I control my destiny because I get good grades for myself so I can have a good education. I choose who I am. I am aloud to do whatever I want as long as I have trust. If I lose that trust I have to gain it back each day.

Katie H said...

I control my destiny for the most part. My parents do the job of keeping me in the right lane to success in my life. I control my destiny in what college I will go to, and the career I will take up. I am deciding on the job I will have when I grow up and this is what I'm doing to steer my life toward success.

Jacob P. said...

I think that I'm in control of my destiny. One example of me being in control of my destiny is, I tossed aside the fact that I wasn't coming home before dark and I came home one night with my dad outside hand extended, flat palm upwards mouthing the words "Your grounded.". If I would have came home before dark I wouldn't have lost the trust in my dad.

I'm steering my life towards success by working on extra credit and not goofing off, in doing this I'm bringing my grades back up.

Brianna H. said...

Hey Mr. McGuire,
That was a really good book and movie. I want to see the movie again because it was so good. I hope the students enjoyed it, which I'm sure they did!

Mr. McGuire said...

Brianna,

We haven't seen the movie yet. I am excited to see it again.

Emma said...

I remember this book I loved it so much. I remember when we cryed during the movie.