This was my first speech that I gave for my American Studies class..

     When you were young, did you ever follow any transcendental ideas? I know that I did. But when I entered
my first year of School, I quickly learned that my opinions were not needed and often downcast. Not understanding, I went
along and acted as I thought was the best. I am rebirthing my previous actions now that I have discovered this class upon a
free will. Let me discuss these topics in further detail.
    "Insist on yourself; never imitate," was one of Emerson's famous quotes. Even though I was not aware of this
during my younger years, I rested my belief firmly in or along this line. Partly because my parents taught me to be
myself, and partly because I thought there was no other way. Well, from the time I entered school to about seventh grade,
I greatly disliked school, because I was always doing my thing and not flowing along with everyone else. Around the
beginning of sixth grade I found a way to solve my problem, and I took note of Jared Hancock's actions. He seemed to
never speak up, and only spoke when someone asked him a question. In the past, I had tried, with some difficulty, to
go along with the crowd, but my efforts usually failed and I would resort to trying another method.  So after about 5
months of imitating Jared's behavior, I noticed that I wasn't picked on as much, so I concluded I would continue the
actions with greater effort, and eventually it paid off. To this day, I am still aware of my personal opinions, I just
don't share all of them with everyone around me.
    "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" was one of Thoraeu's more complicated quotes. Many find it hard to grasp
the action of being "simple". In today's modern society, very little is simple, and much is complicated, therefore
complicating our daily lives. I have a terrible obsession with computers. Even if the word `computer' is said in class,
my ears immediately perk up, and I intensely eavesdrop on someone's conversation. Computers complicate our lives to no
end, and if you don't believe this, they are the things that other people use to complicate our lives by methods such as
sending e-mail telling us what to do, or making us organize things.  Ever since I read the book "Huckleberry Finn," I
yearned for the simplicity of life. The thought of going to school and having the rest of the day free is very enticing
to me.  Although I catch myself sometimes and think "Now none of that can be used as computer time." Both of these things
are very opposite and I can only live with one.  Right now, I'm still not sure on which way I would rather have it. Would
you stick with today's technology, or rather live a simple life in the mid-1800's without having to keep up with today's
technology?
    I now bring to you the two transcendental beliefs: individualism and intuition.  Watch how you express your
individualism among a crowd, but at the same time, practice your beliefs and don't be to shy to say what you think. And
use your intuition to decide what you think is right or wrong; nobody can make you do something that you don't think
is right.