Life is a Journey

Life is a mystery
It is like none no other
I am free to be me
Where life's journey gets only tougher

I wake up each day
With a smile on my face
Nothing is easy; I can say
As I search for my unique place

Some think it's a walk in the park
But there is no turning back
You will get eaten by the sharks
If you don't make an effort to attack

There are times to have fun
There are times to study
Get the work done
And make some new buddies

Explore the possibilities
See what's ahead
Don't waste too much time
Just sitting in bed

Keep an eye on the prize
The future looks bright
Don't get discouraged
There's a new day at the end of each night

Star-Filled Eyes, Moonlit Skies, and Fireflies

As I stand here outside
I look up into the sky
There is no place to hide
From these small, bright fireflies

I watch the moon in the dark
I hear the frogs croak
And the drumbeat of my heart
I can’t deny it; tonight was no joke

I believe in true love
There is a soul mate for me
God is standing right above
Controlling my destiny

I met a girl on a soccer team
I thought she was the one
Maybe, she’s sill the somebody for me
Maybe, things are not quite done

I don’t know what happened
But things fell apart
No matter where she goes
There is always room in my heart

I walked by her side
Holding her hand
It was a magical night
It was a wonderful plan

I wish the night lasted forever
As I gazed into her star-filled eyes
The time we spent together
Made me wonder about another try

I think I’m falling in love again
I believe in fate and destiny
I wish special moments never end
Like on the bridge, when it was just you and me

I look at her beautiful face
And see a bright, clear smile
The memories will never be erased
As I think of only her for quite awhile

In the moonlight
On a bridge next to a stream
It was a spectacular night
With the girl of my dreams

Detailed Biography of Philip Stubbs

I am Phil. Philip is an English word but from the Greek name it is "Philippos," composed of the elements, "philein," to love + "hippos," horse. I write, play piano, play soccer, baseball, and basketball. I am a sophmore journalism major at the U of M. I have a 4.0 GPA. Physical attributes: blond hair, hazal eyes, 5'11'', slightly crooked nose. I like to run. I don't watch R rated movies. I think people who hate the yankees for lame reasons need to get a life.


I enjoy rollerblading, biking, long walks, taking random pictures, going to baseball games, going to the movie theater, writing, reading, running, playing soccer, playing piano, sitting around a fire, watching sportscenter, composing music, subway sandwiches, having fun with friends, swimming, playing basketball at the park, traveling, road trips, walking my dogs, learning new things, challenges, helping others, worshipping God, mysteries, and much more...

Some of my nicknames that I have been called (good and bad) are Phil, Philly, Philly Cheez, Philly Dawg, Philadelphia, Felipe, Dr. Phil, Phil of the Future, Tuna...haha... but please just call me Phil or Philip.

Honors I have received: In fifth grade, I was district 191's top 5th grade chess player. I have been on the A honor roll every semester in Jr. and Sr. High. I am a member of the National Honor Society, National Society for High School Scholars, and National Society for Collegiate Scholars. I made the Dean's list my freshman year at the U of M.

My favorite things: Favorite fast food restaurant is subway. Favorite pizza restaurant is Pizza Hut. Favorite song is Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. Favorite radio stations are 98.5 and 91.5. Favorite candy bar is kitkat. Favorite male athlete is Derek Jeter. Favorite magazine is Sports Illustrated. Favorite board game is chess. Favorite bird is the cardinal. Favorite color is green. Favorite number is 13. Favorite drink is skim milk. Favorite dessert is cheesecake. Favorite desert is the Gobi. Favorite male celebrity is Michael Jordan. Favorite actor is Will Smith. Favorite bible verses are Philippians 4:8 and John 3:16. Favorite card games are UNO and War. Favorite hang out spot is anywhere outside.

My passion :
What is your passion? I thought my passion was music. Then, I thought it might be math or engineering. Now, I think it might be writing or Spanish. I really do not know where I am headed in life. I have no idea what I want a be. I still have no clue on my major. I am so confused about my future. But, something is tugging on me. Writing is my true passion. I love to write. I write music, stories, research papers, blogs, compositions, letters,... Writing is one thing in my life that I am extremely good at. All my teachers, friends, my parents, and anyone who has read my writing has said what a good writer I am. Since I am extremely shy, writing allows me to express my ideas, values, emotions, thoughts, desires, and wants without having to say a single word. I know I am a very passionate writer. When I write something, I do not hold back. I believe that if I can keep improving my writing, I can truly change the world with what I have to say. Writing is my hope, future, adoration, love, peace, and so much more. Writing relaxes me. Writing makes me feel free and content. It gives me a voice in this dark and lonely world. It gives me a way to communicate with others. Writing is my special talent. I cannot believe it took me so long to figure out. But, I still have a long way to go on my life journey. I live to write.

Before I die: I want to see every MLB stadium. I want to shake Derek Jeter's hand. I want to write for the Star Tribune. I want to write more music. I want to get into the Guinness book of world records. I want to travel to Spain and Mexico. I want to have an interesting conversation with a native Spanish speaker. I want to go to China. I want to live in New York for a little bit. I want to retire in Colorado.

I have traveled to Ireland, Canada, Chicago, Wisconsin Dells, and Duluth.

I plan to travel to the Caribbean, Peru, Panama, Venezuela, South Africa, Argentina, Colombia, D.C., Australia.


Why did I choose the University of Minnesota? I love big places with lots of people from many backgrounds. It is one of the top academic schools in the U.S. It has a huge diversity of people. It has one of the best journalism schools in the nation. It is one of the largest schools in the country situated in the great city of Minneapolis. The sporting events are fun to watch. The campus is safe. It has a cool mascot. I feel accepted there. I am a somebody down there. The U of M is where I belong.

Interesting facts about me: I got stitches when I was 5 or 6 for jumping off the bed. I was in the spelling bee in 7th grade and misspelled the word "counsel." In 11th grade, I got beamed with a fastball and the laces of the ball were tatooed to my arm. I needed an ice pack for almost a week. In 6th or 7th grade, I got stung by bees three times in a row up at camp. Two of them stung me in the back of my left knee. I am afraid of rollercoasters. I will give someone $10 if they can get me to go on the wild thing. But, I am not afraid of heights just falling.


My motto is to have no regrets. Move on and move forward without looking back. Don't be afraid to make mistakes tomorrow. Life is too short to worry about the little things. Have fun, don't hold back, and be yourself. Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery. enjoy life to the fullest.

Bible Verses

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
--Matthew 19:30

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
--1 Peter 1: 14-16

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
--Psalm 147: 10-11

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.
--Psalm 147:3-6

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
--Matthew 19:26

Millions of Miles Apart but Still in My Heart

It was March of 2007
When the world lost a woman full of peace
God took her up to heaven
And prepared her a glorious feast

I remember the days
When I saw her face
The memories never fade away
Even when she taught me how tie a shoe lace

She had a heart filled with love
Always trying to help others in need
She prayed to her Father above
To see her grand kids happy as can be

She was a caregiver and a mother
She attended church every Sunday
Always talking to friends and others
Cause she always knew the right thing to say

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving
I never really knew why
Until I remembered the smell and the taste
Of her fresh apple pie

In the final years of her time on Earth
She got diagnosed with cancer
I will always remember how much she was worth
If you had a question, she would be happy to answer

My grandmother is still with me
She has always been in my heart
She helped me find my true identity
Even though we are millions of miles apart.

I wrote a piano composition entitled: "Still With Me" that is dedicated to my grandmother: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYWgSFvScc

Courage.......Mark 9:14-29

What is courage? It is not something that you just have. It is something you learn through life experiences. Courage is having the guts to do something that is right, even when you know nobody is looking. Courage is the power of believing in yourself with the abilities you have. It is the realization of looking past a difficult situation and overcoming it. Having courage means not being afraid to fail, and it means always finding ways to improve.

Courage takes faith. Everything that happens is God's work. Nothing is impossible with God. The more courage you have to tackle new things, the more you trust in God in allowing Him to work through you. The more you trust in God, the more you grow in your faith. A lack of courage is not always necessarily bad. If you find yourself having a lack of courage, you should get to the point where you need to admit that you cannot do something. This is where you need to realize that you should drop on your knees and pray to God. If you do not pray, how are miracles going to happen? How are you going to be able to move mountains? How are you going to be working inside out for Jesus?

If you have courage, you have a humble dependency on Jesus for everything in your life. What does humble dependency mean? It means that you come to Jesus. He is your Savior. You are on this Earth to do his will of bringing others to Christ, but coming to a realization that you cannot do everything. You are humble in the fact that you have to decrease, so that Jesus increases. When your self-image looks bad, it makes Jesus look good because no one is greater than Jesus. No person on this Earth is perfect or a savior. Jesus is Savior and Lord, and you must not forget that.

You need to realize that you need God's help, even if you do not want anyone else's help or advice. You need to become poor, so that you become rich in Christ. When you become humble, you learn the power of becoming lowly and of prayer. It takes courage to become a true follower of Jesus. Many find difficulty in taking that step and dealing with some of the suffering that comes with that next step. You need to have courage in order to have faith. Then, you can use that courage to find hope, and try to glorify and honor God in everything you do with all your heart.

As a disciple of Christ, you cannot worry about what you cannot do, but instead, you should focus on all the things God can do through you with his almighty power. In Mark 9:23, Jesus says, "Everything is possible for him who believes." It is that simple. Come to know Jesus as your personal Savior, and you can do anything.

There is evil in this world. It is all around. Evil and demons can only be driven out by prayer (Mark 9:14-29). It is perfectly normal to have doubts about your faith when you come to talk to God. Doubts are what make a person so human. God wants you to come to Him no matter what your current circumstances are. He wants to hear from you because the more dependent you become on Jesus, the greater and the more plentiful the harvest is.

God has the power to do miraculous things in your life. He is the one who gives you courage to face the dangers, darkness, and sadness of life. He gives you courage to spread his marvelous light on this world. Here is a quote from one of the better movies of all time, The Blind Side: "Hope for courage and try for honor." So, what is courage? Having courage is coming to the point in your life when you understand that there is no giving up because you know that God has the power to provide for you and make things possible through prayer. You never have to say never because the power of God is on your side.

The Air I Breathe

I dream of being a writer
Where I can touch many lives
That would sure make my smile brighter
To see God's purpose right before my eyes

I dream of a family
That I can provide for
But there will be uncertainty
Like a tidal wave coming to shore

I dream of meeting someone
Somebody who I can love
I want to hold her in my arms
As I look at destiny from above

Broken Hearts took the air I breathe
And pain caused me to suffer more
I know better days are ahead of me
Where God will open up another door.

I live in the moment
Past, Future, Who really cares?
I can stand here confident
That life is too short to be scared

Goals and dreams fall apart
But I will never say never
I will search for that star
That burns bright and forever

I made some mistakes
That I will never forget
But second chances are fate
Which make life better yet

Suffering is here to stay
It is hard for me to understand
I have been tested by faith
So that I may see the true happiness of God's plan

I have a dream filled with hope
To find my true identity before I leave
Life is like a mountainous slope
Cause the uphill climb is the air we breathe

Bible Verses I found today that really touched me

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
--Psalm 42:1

Put your hope in God.
--Psalm 42:5

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
--1 Peter 3:8-9

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
--1 Peter 3:13-15

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
--1 Peter 3:17

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
--John 7:38

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
--Philippians 4:19

We have come to share in Christ if we had firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
--Hebrews 3:14

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
--Hebrews 13:5-6

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of the salvation perfect through suffering.
--Hebrews 2:10

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
--Matthew 19:14

Beautiful, Soft-Spoken Melodies

Music. It is all around us. All we have to do is listen. I love to play piano. Piano has had such a huge impact on my life. Piano has taught me so much about myself and who I am as a person. Piano has taught me to express my true self and not to hold back. Piano has given me the opportunity to become creative with my ideas, words, and melodies. Playing the piano makes me feel free. I truly do have a special gift, and I want to share that gift with others. Piano has touched my life in ways that I cannot even describe. I am a gifted writer, and words on paper cannot explain the beauty of the piano. I practice every single day. Sometimes, I practice for an hour, two hours, or maybe three. Some might call it an obsession. I call it a passion. The piano has given me air to breathe. It has given me a heart of affection and kindness. The piano has made me the person I am today.

The Future of the Newspaper Industry

One early afternoon, I was taking my dog for a walk. I remember buying a Star Tribune paper for fifty cents. When I looked at the paper, I started to think. What is the future of the newspaper? Will we even need printing presses and journalists in ten or twenty years? Newspapers are making their way to the Internet. Who needs newspapers when there are millions of blogs out there to get news from? People are using networking sites like Twitter to stay up to date with events since people's lives are busier than ever before. Why travel to a store or a newspaper stand to pay for a paper when you can read the Star Tribune's or New York Time's online editions for free? Don't get me wrong. The newspaper industry is going to be around for a long time. The question is: for how long? Newspaper sales have been declining ever since the advent of the radio in the 1920s and the television in the 1950s. Now, this industry is being threatened by the World Wide Web. With the web, anyone can be a journalist. You just have to have some great ideas, and the cost is free. Over 70 million people have blogging sites. Anyone in the world can access these sites for news, information, entertainment, videos, photos, and more. Many news organizations have created blogs to interact with their audiences. Also, these organizations have received many of their news stories from blog posts. You do not even need to go to school to become a journalist anymore. The number of citizen journalists who work at home while entering blog entries into their computers is augmenting. Traditional forms of media like the newspaper are declining and are having a hard time making money. Some have argued that newspapers should charge for their sites. If they start charging, will people really begin paying? There are so many alternative news locations besides the newspaper. Many people see the newspaper industry fading because of the massive entrance this world has taken into the 21st century with the Internet, blogs, twitter, facebook, cell phones, and citizen reporting. I am one of those people who still likes to pick up a hard copy of The Minnesota Daily or The Star Tribune. The future of the newspaper is brighter than ever. Journalism is one of the fastest growing career paths in the future with all of the technology emerging that creates platforms to get the word out. What is the future of an industry in the 21st century that has been around since the 1400s?

Oil Spill in the Gulf: A Sign America must Start Deeply Considering Alternative Fuel Sources

So, I have been finding difficulty of something to write about lately. Writer's Block does happen. It happens to all writers. I thought I would talk about a current event. Every American by now knows about the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico down by the Louisiana coast. This incident could be one of the biggest ecological disasters in U.S. history if not world history. Who is to blame for this mess? Is is BP? How about President Obama and the federal government? This is the problem with America. We should not be trying to point any fingers at anybody. Blaming someone for the problem is not going to fix anything. It is just going to cause more problems. Oil continues to leak into the Gulf at an enormous rate of 2.52 million gallons a day. The oil has already reached shore. Whales and other sea creatures have been affected as well as many birds and land animals. The oil is very hard to get off the animals. What should people use to try to remove this substance from animals without hurting them? Many have been using Dawn dish washing detergent to treat the many birds and other animals. Surprisingly, it seems to be working, but is it hurting the animals? There are some critics of Dawn saying that Dawn is a petroleum-based soap, and people are just using oil to get rid of oil. If the oil spill does not get cleaned up, we are going to have to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Black Sea. People should remember that oil is a natural substance. So, the damage is far less severe than what most people think it is. No one is at all happy with these recent, unfortunate series of events. Americans need to forgive and forget. Americans must come together as one nation to fix this problem, so the United States can move forward and provide a better, cleaner future for the children. This oil spill happened for a reason. The leak is a sign that America needs to seriously start considering alternative sources of fuel.

College Life 1001

Last year, I attended my first year at the University of Minnesota. If you ask anyone who has been to college, they will tell you that college is totally different from high school. The transitional stage will be tough. College is a whole new chapter in a young person's life. It does not matter who you were in high school. College is a brand new beginning. It is a place to explore opportunities, possibilities, skills, talents, and abilities. It is the perfect opportunity for someone to find an identity. College shows you what you are made of. The journey is not at all easy. The important thing is to not give up no matter how difficult it may get. You have to constantly keep swimming. Otherwise, you will get eaten by the sharks. College teaches you so much that you can never learn in high school. You can gain significant life skills. It is the perfect place to be yourself, to step out of your comfort zone, and to gain valuable life experiences. Based on my freshman year, I will enlighten you about the college life. I am not perfect, nor am I an expert on college. I still have a lot to learn and understand about college myself. Hopefully, what I have to say about college will help and benefit you in the future. First of all, make sure to get involved early and often. A college year goes by quick. Do not sit on the sidelines. Be active. Join a club or a sport. Also, college is no doubt expensive. So, take advantage of events and other stuff that are free. Find new friends in your classes in order to make study groups for tests and finals. If you live on-campus, try to keep your dorm room door open as much as possible. This way you can meet tons of people on the same floor. If you are a commuter, you can still get involved with college life and activities. Make conversations on the bus. Find locations on campus where the commuters like to hang out at. Another thing that is important in college is professors' and teaching assistants' office hours. Take advantage of office hours as much as possible. It is a good way to meet professors, ask questions on difficult material, and to catch up if you are ever behind. Professors and Ta's like it when students come to office hours because these people want to see students succeed in their classes. Plus, professors love to talk about themselves. Most professors are really friendly. During my freshman year, the most important skill I learned was time management. College is like one big balancing act. Spending time in college is nothing like spending time in high school. In high school, more time is spent inside of class. In college, students have more time outside of class. It is important to manage time because no one is going to look after you when you get to college. Most college students like to be active. So, it is important to decide how much time you are going to study. A good rule of thumb is that for every hour you are in class, you should at least spend two to three hours outside of class studying. You only have so much time. Perhaps, you want to socialize, work at a job, and work out. It is important to balance out and organize your schedule to fit in everything including classes. The most important part of college is that you always attend classes. When you arrive at college, your parents are not going to be there to take care of you. It is to your advantage that you go to classes because you (or your parents) are paying big money for each separate class period. Skipping classes is equivalent to throwing money down the drain. When you are in class, make sure to take detailed, organized notes. Some of the class material you will not understand right away in lecture. So, you will be able to look back at your notes later to try to make sense of class information. This is why it is critical to read assigned readings from the textbook or articles because these are meant to supplement the material you learn in lecture. Also, keep track of your spending. Live life like a student now, so you won't have to later. You want as little as debt as possible when you leave college. Do not let money get in the way of your education. Make smart shopping and buying decisions. If you track where your money goes, you are more aware of how much you spend and where you spend it. In college, it is also important to have fun. Enjoy your time in college but make sure to do it safely and responsibly. Make smart choices because your parents are not at college to make them for you. There are many ways to have fun but at the same time be mature about it. Now, there are many more things to learn about college. These were all things I learned from the University of Minnesota. I thought I would share my college experience so far to give people an idea of what college life is all about.

Destiny: What Faith Can Do

Destiny. It exists in this crazy, powerful universe. Our lives are mapped out before we are even born. Everything has been planned out from the very first day we arrive on Earth to the very final moments we leave. God created each one of us so uniquely in order that we can fulfill his perfect purpose for us. God is the master of my fate. He knows everything about me. He knows my every thought. He even knows what I am going to ask Him before I even say it. God is the pilot of my destiny. He is the captain of my future. He knows exactly what will happen in my life. God even knows the exact time and place of my death. So, why do I get scared of the future sometimes? I need to learn to fully trust and rely on God, and only then, will my fears leave me. Besides, I am living on this Earth for one being and that is God. I absolutely need Him to show me the way and to provide a light on my path. God has purposely put trials, tribulations, and struggles in our lives in order that we might come to know, love, and follow Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. Troubling and depressing times have a purpose in life. These times are when we are tested the most. They help us to trust God with everything he does in our lives, good or bad. The decisions we make ten minutes from now or the ones we make thirteen years from now come from God. God already knows what decisions we will make for the rest of our lives. It does not mean to blame someone else or God for something terrible that happens in life. Bad things are meant for us to reflect on our identities and who we are as people. If someone asks you, "Who are you?" and you cannot answer the question, you have not been pushed hard enough during depressing times. Who are you? It is not a question of what you have done, accomplished, or achieved. It is a question of what you are doing right now. I have always tried to find my true identity. I have just realized that the only identity that matters is that of a follower of Jesus. The most important thing I can say to people is that I follow Jesus 100%. I want to be clearly identified with Christ before I leave this Earth. I want a perfect relationship with Him before it is all said and done. Life is about sacrifice. We are destined to meet people, friends, partners, and strangers. However, we are destined to let people go and let them move on, so we can allow fate to do its job and introduce us to different friends and people. I believe God does not want us to stay in the same place with the same people for very long. I think God has plans for each one of us around the world. When God finishes one chapter in our lives, He wants us to move forward into another chapter where we can meet, touch, and influence others. God is in control of my life. So, I must be obedient to Him. If He tells me to move on, it is important for me not to hang on to the past in order to obey Him, fulfill His purpose, and to continue to grow spiritually. That is why I believe God has picked or chosen a certain soul mate for each one of us before our lives ever began. God just wants us to live life to the fullest, and not to worry because He knows the perfect time to reveal the perfect someone to love us. I just have to trust that He knows what He is doing. Breaking up is one of the hardest things to do in life. If you love somebody truly, let them go. Let them be free. Breaking up does not mean giving up, it means time has come to move on. Do not look at breaking up as something that always has to be negative no matter how much it hurts a broken heart. Breaking up is God's way of letting me know that I am one step closer to my someone that God has chosen for me. Breaking up could also be God's way of telling you to find new people. If God brings two people back together after a break up, perhaps, God made something truly special between those two. Breaking up with someone is a challenge and a struggle. It tests faith. Do not stay on the ground. It is important to get back up on your horse and keep going. Sometimes, letting someone go could mean you love them even more when they return to you. God is the center of human relationships. Most important, destiny is in the hands of God. God is in the driver's seat. He does not care about accomplishments. At the end of the day, it is about relationship. To conclude, I believe in destiny, and I believe there is a light at the end of each tunnel for everybody no matter where fate takes them. Just gotta have faith. Take a listen to the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless.

Phil's Keys to Winning a Soccer Match

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and it is one of the most physical. With the World Cup taking place, I am curious about how coaches and players go about trying to win a match. How does the United States come into South Africa with a winning mentality when they are one of the biggest underdogs in the tournament? At any level, how does a team win a soccer game? There is no right or wrong way to go about winning. There is no mathematical formula that tells a goalie how to move or how a striker is supposed to shoot. I have been playing soccer my entire life. I have watched lots of soccer games on television and in-person. I have been on the losing end of games more than the winning end, but knowing how to lose a game helps me better understand how to win one. Losing is beneficial to become a winner because improvement and success comes from figuring out and focusing your energy on weaknesses. I play mostly left forward and center midfielder. My strength is in those positions. My weakness is at defense, but I have teammates who are better defensive players than me to help me out. Now, I am going to tell you my keys and advice to winning any soccer match. I am not perfect. My advice is very general. No team can win every game. Every team is unique in their abilities. These are just my thoughts on the success on the soccer field. An important key to winning is a high accuracy of passing percentage. The best way to achieve this is by practicing with one other person. The game of soccer is about movement. It makes no sense trying to practice hitting a still target. Players, especially midfielders and defense men, should have proficiency in passing on the run. Midfielders and defenders need to be able to pass the ball up ahead to forwards in order to score. It is very hard to find an open target on the soccer field. So, players must be able to execute give-and-gos. They must be able to "thread the needle" between two defenders. A good pass should be crisp, smooth, and the person on the receiving end should be able to handle it without too much difficulty. Passing is one of my strengths. So, I can get a lot of assists because I have almost pinpoint precision to get the ball where it needs to go. Plus, my passing works better when I am under pressure. If a team obtains a high passing percentage, then turnovers and mistakes can be potentially avoided. Thus, there are more opportunities for shots. This leads into my next key. It is always important to take as many shots as you possibly can. You never want to miss a golden opportunity because soccer is a low scoring game. The more shots a team takes, the more likely they are to score. When a team gets past midfield, they should have an all-out offensive mentality to score. Take the ball up the sidelines, bring it into the corner, and cross the ball in front of the goal. Most of the time a player will not be in front of the goal to put the ball in. Do not be discouraged because persistence pays off. Be sure to take advantage of some of the easier shot opportunities like corner kicks, free kicks, and penalty kicks. You practice these over and over again going for quality and perfection. So, when game time comes, you won't miss your valuable chances. Corner kicks and free kicks should be worked on almost every time a team practices. Sometimes, it is even a good idea to design certain plays that fit specific situations. Accuracy in shooting takes dedication to master. When I first started, I was never good at it. Today, I am still not that accurate of a shooter. Shooting takes lots of patience because eventually the ball will make its way into the back of the net. Another key to winning is the goalie. A goalie can see the entire field, so he/she needs to be a vocal leader, especially for the defense on where to go and who to cover. The goalies need good communication with their defenders in order to clear the ball out of the danger zone, and so the opposing team does not get any easy openings or shots. Goalkeepers know where everyone is on the field, and they must use that to their advantage to take charge. Goalkeepers should also be quick, flexible with their body, have fast reflexes, and have good instincts in where the ball is going to go. Another key to winning is communication. Teammates must constantly talk to each other in order to help one another and to work together. Communication helps limit the gaps on defense. Good communication allows the defense to be unstoppable like a wall. Good communication gives the offense more to work with when trying to find ways to score. Communication is key because you cannot see the players behind you. It is not something you can practice on the field. The best way to get better at communicating is to get to know your teammates as much as possible. I gave a lot of information so far. So, I will leave you with two more pieces of advice. First, play your respective positions. Do not try to score if you are a defender. Scoring is what the strikers are for. Midfielders need to play up on offense as well as fall back on defense to help when necessary. Some midfielders will only help on the offensive end, and then, the defense is left struggling by itself. Play your positions, but make sure to spread out. A successful team uses the entire field to win. Spreading out can confuse and separate the opponent's defense, and it can allow for quick breakaways for perfect scoring chances. When players stick to their positions, then the strongest weakness turns into the greatest strength. However, the most important key to winning is to respect everyone around you and to have fun. Respect coaches, teammates, opponents, spectators, and referees. Soccer is a game no matter if you win or lose. Winning is fun, but keep a positive attitude when you lose because you just might win the next one. I just shared with you my thoughts, opinions, and ideas about winning a soccer match. If you do not like what I have to say, you probably would not still be reading this. If you are still reading this, I am no expert on soccer. I am just commentating on what I think is the best way to go about winning at the World Cup level or at any level. Everyone has their opinions, and this is mine.

Room for One More

No one wants to feel left out. Everyone wants to be included in something now and then. It feels good to fit in. It feels even better to reach out to someone who may need help getting back up on their feet because you know they cannot repay you. I think it is a bigger honor to reach out to someone who could really need the help and support than to reach out to someone who always gets invited to go places with their friends. A kid does not like to be excluded from the adults' table at Thanksgiving. The shy person in your classroom does not want his feelings hurt when you invite everybody in the class to the party except him. It is important for us to make efforts to see that people around us feel loved because that is the Christ-like thing to do. Sometimes, it is a simple invite to the house for dinner. Other times, it is a bit harder, and one must step outside of his/her comfort zone. Most of our good actions go unnoticed by other people. Our actions are most likely not going to be turned into a movie like the Tuohys and Michael Oher in "The Blind Side." However, God sees everything we do, and we will be rewarded in heaven for our silent actions on Earth. It brings honor to God when we make time to help someone else. God has room for everybody at His table. It is important that we always make room for one more at ours.

Movie Theaters: Powerful, Communal Experience

If there is one thing you should know about me is that I love to watch movies. I love to spend time with friends viewing a film at home or in theaters. I prefer to watch movies in a theater. It is the ultimate experience. The movie theater is my favorite place to go. I can relax and enjoy myself. Once I enter the theater, all my worries, troubles, and stress leave my mind and my body. I can turn off my phone not worrying about calling or texting people. There are no distractions from life and the people around me. The theater has such a calming, soothing effect on me. Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in a movie that I think it is real. Other times, I will think the events are actually happening that I will show my emotions. Music plays a huge part in making the movie seem so real and alive. Some good examples of movies that I have recently seen where music has a big role include, "The Last Song," and "August Rush." In the "Last Song," music was used to create emotion. Music played a similar role in "August Rush," but I really enjoyed this movie because the entire film was about music. Another thing I like about the movie theater is that it is a communal place. Once I enter the auditorium, I sit down and watch the movie just like everyone else. Everyone around me purchased the same ticket as I did, and everybody will experience the same effects from beginning to end. The movie theater is a community experience. Most people in the room will laugh at the comic parts, cry during death or love scenes, and be frightened at violent, horror films. Most people when they enter a theater room enter into a whole new world. They enter into something I like to call a suspension of disbelief. Movie goers get so caught up in what is taking place in the movie that they lose focus on reality. People have the belief that movies are a reality. It is like they enter a trance-like state, and then when they leave the theater, reality hits them like a tidal wave. This is probably why I enjoy seeing movies so much because I am one of those people. I feel like I am actually in the movie. I forget that I am just sitting in a stadium seat eating popcorn and drinking soda. There is one movie that I have seen in theaters twice that has had a powerful effect on me. That movie is "Blind Side." I saw this movie the same weekend it came to theaters. The theater room was packed both times I saw it. This was truly a communal experience. Everyone laughed when SJ said or did something hilarious. People started crying when Ms. Tuohy gave Michael a bed for the first time in his life. For me, this was a powerful scene in the movie. During the entire film, I let go of reality, and entered into an alter-reality. Another movie I really enjoyed was "Invictus." This movie was awesome because all of the South Africans, despite past experiences, came together as one nation to cheer on their Rugby team to victory. It was inspiring and breath-taking. Normally, I do not comment on actors, but no one else could have played Nelson Mandela any better than Morgan Freeman. Also, Matt Damon was the perfect choice to play the role of the captain of the team. All of the movies I have mentioned so far would be considered personal favorites and recommendations for other people who have not seen them yet. In the end, besides playing sports, watching movies in theaters in one of my favorite pastimes. I will admit that the price of admission and concessions can be quite high. Also, the pre-show ads can get quite ridiculous. Once the movie starts, I forget about all that and have a good time with friends. Movie theaters relax the soul, create a bond between strangers who have never met before, and give us a dimension to a whole new world where we can have multiple adventures with limitless possibilities and opportunities. Viewing movies has helped me become more of a creative writer both for my music and for my writings. Movie theaters are the ultimate experience. They help remind us to have fun in this short life. Wherever you travel to, theaters are all around the world. Sit back and enjoy movies. The movie theater is my favorite place to go.

Magic of Destiny

Here is a poem I wrote about destiny. I am still quite unfamiliar with this whole meaning of destiny concept. After writing this poem, I understand a little bit more about the power destiny can have in some one's life. I have realized that fate is controlled by God alone, and I have to learn to fully trust in Him always. This poem is dedicated to God, the pilot of my fate. Destiny applies to everyone. Everyone can relate to it. At the end of the poem, there is an alternate last line because I could not figure out which one sounded better. This poem still needs some work, but I just wanted to share my thoughts about this topic.

Everyone has a destiny
That leads them to a soul mate
It must remain a mystery
Cause someone else pilots that fate

I am no superman
I can never read minds
But I will do whatever I can
To search when I am blind

I don't know where the future leads
Or in what direction I will go
I am never alone when I'm weak
Cause I trust God in what he knows

Love is the most important key
To unlock my main purpose here on earth
There is an exquisite, sublime plan to seek
In order to show us what we are worth

It was no accident when we met
It was no coincidence when we let go
Please do not worry or fret
Cause the Magic of Destiny is out of our control.
(Alternate last line: Cause the magic of destiny can lead us down different roads)

Good quotes I found

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

"Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake."
-Henry David Thoreau

"Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others."
-Plato

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-John Wooden

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
-Mark Twain

Bible verses I found this past week that really stood out to me

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
-Revelation 21:4

"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;"
-Philippians 1:23

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
-John 14:2-3

"The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation."
-Psalm 145:8-9

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."
-Isaiah 45:22

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
-Matthew 17:20-21

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
1 John 4:11

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
-1 John 4:18

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
-Matthew 18:2-4

"Life is chaos personified"

I agree that life is chaos personified because everybody makes mistakes, and nobody is perfect. All human beings have a sinful nature from when they are born, which causes them to do bad things to create chaos. Human nature makes people make decisions that are not always good decisions.

"Fate sends us little signals and how we read them determines if we're happy or not."

I agree with this quote because everything in our lives happens for a reason, whether we like it or not. Our fate is not in our control. We have to deal with the things in our lives. The signals we receive will tell us about our fate and destiny, good or bad. The signs tell us what might be next, not what is next. So, signs can mean different things for different people in different situations.

"What's the point of living and making decisions if all of life is some part of a master plan that is all designed to lead us to our soul mate."

I agree with this quote because life is mapped out and planned from the day you were born. Although, everyone still has a purpose in life, whether you know it or not. We really do not need to make decisions because we will find our soul mates through fate and destiny controlled by an outside force (God).

America's Game

I sit here on soft, green grass
On a bright, sunny day
Listening to the chatter of the ump behind his mask
And wishing I was on the field ready to play

I grew up watching Punto, Mauer, and Span
Hoping to be just like them
Doing everything I can
But instead I found myself with a paper and a pen

Peanuts, Brats, and Crackerjacks
Man, what a wonderful day at the park was that
I love seeing Carlos Gomez steal a base
Cause it always puts a smile on my face

I write and write until the day is gone
About defensive web gems and powerful swings
The power of America's game is so strong
What else can it possibly bring?

Broken Heart

I remember I used to be in love with you
Now, it hurts to even say your name
I thought you were the one to get me through
all the tears, sadness, and pain.

We shared some pretty cool memories
Going to the church, theater, and park
I guess everyone has a destiny
And I am here alone sitting in the dark.

I loved seeing your smile when you walked into the room
It seemed like there was something special for you and me
Perhaps, maybe things ended too soon
I just wanted to see you happy.

I loved you, that is why I had to let you go
As I sit here at Nicollet Commons Park,
I can only think of you and so
Nothing is bigger than the loneliness of my broken heart.

Biography

Hello, my name is Philip Julian Stubbs. I am currently eighteen years old. I am a Burnsville class of 2009 graduate, and I am currently attending the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. I just finished my freshman year. Next fall, I will be a sophomore. I am at the moment undeclared with my major and undecided about everything in my life right now. However, I plan to major in either Journalism, Mathematics, or Scientific and Technical Communication. I love to write. I dedicate my life to writing. I have already completed six compositions (all for piano). I keep a journal that I try to write in every day to organize my thoughts and reflect on my identity. Since I am a writer, I prefer to be alone in my room or at the park to write, write, and write. I also enjoy playing a wide variety of sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and football because I value health. I have been playing soccer my entire life. I started playing piano when I was about six or seven. I also play clarinet. My biggest musical inspiration is God. Famous musicians/bands that inspire me musically include Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Remedy Drive, Beethoven, and Billy Ray Cyrus. Before high school, I attended Nicollet Junior High School and Vista View Elementary School. At Nicollet and Vista View, I took part in chess club. I started to attend in second grade. In 5th grade, I won top 5th grader at a chess tournament for district 191. I was so proud of myself. In junior high, I played chess with the Metcalf Junior High team down the road since there were not enough people that signed up at Nicollet. Metcalf was fun. I met lots of people, and I learned a lot about the game of chess from the coach. In high school, I was pretty much a straight A student. At graduation, my GPA was about 3.9, and I was in the top 10% of my graduating class. I have so many memories. I cannot wait to share them with future generations. I love to journal and take pictures because they serve as wonderful memorial stones to remind me of some of the good times I had in my life. Peace.

Goals

Setting goals is probably one of the most important things a person can do in life. Everyone should have goals for themselves no matter if they are short-term goals, mid-term goals, or long-term goals. Setting goals is critical to life because everyone should have something to look forward to in the near future or the distant future. No matter what life is like right now, the future will be brighter and filled with hope, joy, and peace. The tears will be eventually gone, and everything that is happening right now will disappear. It is important to start making goals as soon as possible. However, they must be realistic. I cannot say I want to be president in thirty years if I hate public speaking in front of large crowds, and I dislike politics. Find something that you are passionate about and set your goals around your passions. My passion is writing. So, my goal is to become a newspaper writer. My soul is in playing the piano. Therefore, one of my goals is to continue playing piano for God and others and to continue to write music. In addition, goals should have time frames. This helps give a sense of achievement. For example, I want to graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Journalism major in four years, and after that, I plan to start working for the Star Tribune. There are exceptions to the rules though. Sometimes, it is okay to have life-long goals. To illuminate, another one of my goals is to exercise daily and to eat healthy by avoiding fatty foods as much as possible. Another life-long goal I have is to continually develop a personal relationship with Jesus on my daily walk with Him. This last goal is specifically significant to me because it has many goals wrapped up in one. To develop this relationship, I want to read through the entire Bible fully understanding what I read. Plus, I want to play, as well as write piano compositions in order to praise God's name and to spread the Light of Jesus Christ. Accomplishing goals helps build confidence, and it helps me to see myself grow as a person. If I do fail in meeting one of my goals, even if it is a simple one, I do not give up. Failure is a natural thing in life. Everyone fails at something once in awhile. Failure is a learning experience. It is a way to prove to myself that impossible does not exist if I give things my best and try my hardest. No matter how skilled I may think I am, everyone needs practice. I think the only way to practice something is to practice, practice, and practice. Repetition is key. If I figure something out once, I do it again and again and again. This helps construct confidence and benefits my self-esteem. I remember in high school and junior high I was not the best of a writer. I made many grammar mistakes, my wording was hard to understand, and my writing structure was unclear and rough. In high school, I wanted to improve my writing more than anything else in the world. I wanted to be this magnificent writer. I payed extra attention to teachers' comments and to ideas from my peers. I gave extra time to proofreading and revising the spelling and grammatical mistakes. Even during the summer, I went to the park down by my house just to sit underneath a tree and began writing. In high school, I did whatever it took to become a writer. I made every effort to show myself that this is my special talent. To this day, I constantly look back at what I wrote, and I can see my improvements over the years. It is an amazing feeling to know what I am capable of. Now, I am in college. I admit my writing skills need a lot of help, criticism, and improvement, but that is why I came to the University of Minnesota. I needed help from some of the best professors in the country from one of the top academic schools in the nation. I never gave up on my writing, and I never will. Writing is my passion, my desire, and a part of my soul. This is why I am interested in the school of Journalism at the U of M. This school has a lot to offer, and I feel like I have a lot to gain from attending the Journalism school. I have much to learn, but I am willing and open to the possibilities and the opportunities that become available to me.