Essay #10 My Favorite Movie & Why

One of my all time favorite movies is “The Prince of Egypt”. It is captivating story that depicts the life of the Hebrew prophet Moses. The animated film is a more decorated version of the actual biblical story but it captures the message none the less. The movie focuses on the life of two brothers from born in two very different worlds. One born into a royal family whiles the other born into slavery. In a desperate attempt to save her child from mass murder of all newborn male babies, the biological mother of the child born into slavery prays and puts her child in God’s hands and sends him floating down a river away from their village with faith that he will be protected and have a better life style than what she can provide.  Her prayer is answered as God protects the young boy and sends the basket in which his mother placed him in right to the royal palace. An unlikely and seemingly unsafe place to be for a newborn male who would have been slain if found in his own village by the same Pharaoh whose palace he floated to. The boy is found by the Pharaoh’s wife who loving decides to adopt the boy and name him Moses. He grows up knowing no other life but a royal one. As any child does he gains respect and love for family he unknowingly thinks is his own. Until, one day he figures it all after being held responsible for killing a man. Frowned upon and framed for murder he becomes scared and runs away from “home”. Wondering the streets of Egypt he then begins to find missing pieces to his background and finds that the life and family he grew into is not really his. He hears from God and begins to understand who is and where he is from. God calls him to be a leader and defy his royal roots. Moses does as God orders hurting those whom he once called his family. Some of the acts God does are amazing, some being turning water into blood and parting the seas. Throughout the movie I saw so many examples of God’s greatness. One of God’s callings for Moses in this movie was deliver the Ten Commandments. Upon doing so, Moses faced many trials and seemingly impossible circumstances but he prevailed because he had faith in God. This movie took me on a journey and an example a completed purpose. Upon painting such a vivid picture of the biblical story, it shows God’s love unpredictability and power. God had a plan for Moses journey and was there for him every step of the way. All that Moses had to do was have faith. Seeing this movie at a young age, taught me that faith is the substance of things hoped for but not yet seen. I cannot read into the future but I have faith that, just like Moses I will complete my calling because God will guide my footsteps.

Comparative Analysis of "Out of Our Fathers House" and "For Colored Girls"

Plays are theatrical performances that entertain and inform the audience. Often times, the author use rhetorical appeals and devices to bring the audience to a desired veiwpoint or call to action. The author of both plays uses logical and emotional appeals to adress the issue of gender inequality and the fight against discrimination. The characters fight as women grow as individuals using their past to influence their futures. Both plays are set in urban areas howeverin different times periods. The movie For Colored Girls took place in Harlem, New York, after the Vietnam War. Out of Our Fathers House took place  in Chicago during the early 20th century womens rights movement. Both are gender based and linked in discrimination of not being equal to men and seen as insignificant figures in society. The largest comparision I found between both stories was the display of womens menatl, spiritual, and verbal growth. The women though different race were no longer afraid to speak against their opposers. The characters in the play also displayed similar qualities.

Weekly Essay Prompt (12.10.2010) on Importance

I feel blessed to grow up in a household with both of my parents that have instilled in me the value of hard work, education and service to others. My church has further taught me the value and benefit of volunteering my time through community service. As President of the Young Willing Vessels youth group at my church, I oversaw the planning and organizing of our first ever mission trip to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, this past summer. In Brazil we did mission work in the poorest part of town. We worked with a foundation school to keep young girls off the street called Bahia Street Program. They were enthusiastic about understanding our culture and what it meant to be an African American Baptist Christian in the United States. They practiced the Afro-Brazilian religion called Candomble and were surprised to know that we could legally display our religion publicly through song or dance, as they are unable to.

One of my many talents is singing. I have a deep passion for music and vocal expression and I was grateful to express it to the girls in the program. I did a solo performance of a gospel song that speaks on empowerment and dedication to ones faith in God. After I sang, I saw their faces light up and some cried. I then further understood the power and effect of my talent and ability to connect with others.  I realized that though we didn't speak the same language or have the same religion, we could connect and be a part of each other’s culture.

My experience at the Bahia Street Program reminds me of when I met an extremely talented young boy who was deaf, mute and blind. Thrown away by a poor and drug addicted mother, he was left to fend for himself on the streets of Salvador. He was later given an opportunity to learn Brazilian drumming by a struggling Capoeira teacher. At first people doubted the boy and his talent, so he went into a shell and did not want to express his talent. I once had similar doubts about my singing until I found encouragement from my choir director.

Somewhat like my choir director was for me, the Capoeira teacher was a role model and support system for the boy. Even in his blindness she allowed him to see his talent and gain joy in expressing it. That's who I hope to be, someone who creates opportunities and inspires others to find optimism.  He played drums with a rhythm and passion I've never heard before or sensed. With each stroke to the drum I felt the pain and power he expressed. I even questioned at times if he was blind. I thought, with his talent, he must have been able to see the exact points to beat the drum to make such a sensational impact. Like the boy, I have found that my singing has a strong impact and I hope to have such a strong impact on others as the boy had on me. In the trip I learned more about myself as a person and grew to respect and understand another part the world. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to display my tenacity, hone my leadership skills, and explore my passion for inspiring others. It is a true privileged to give and I strongly believe that to whom much is given much is required.

A place in my house

I have lived in my current house in Inglewood California for twelve years. I live in a one story house located on a hill overlooking Briarwood and Carlton Square, two gated communities. When I first moved to my house at age five I was scared at times because it seemed so big but as time has progressed, my house has seemed to shrink in some sorts. My room in particular seems to get smaller and smaller as I get older. Possibly because I have accumulated more things and take up more space it has seemed to get smaller. I have many special memories in many of the rooms in my house. One I particular is our Living room. We entertain our guest in the living room and hosts many holidays, birthday, graduation and special celebrations in it. The most recent event we hosted in my families living was our annual Thanksgiving dinner. After going to church and passing out meals to the people in the community I went home to help prepare thanksgiving dinner for my family and I. Having dinner in our living room creates a warm and comfortable feeling because the beige walls and cranberry colored sheer curtains and candles are the perfect accent colors. I love going in my living room. When the meal was all prepared the room smelled of all of the southern food dishes that I could imagine from greens, to yams and cornbread to my favorite macaroni and cheese. My family and I ate around the fire my dad lit at the glass and marble fireplace. The glow of the crystals on the outer rim of the fireplace shinned beautifully and nativity set standing right in front of the crystals made me feel the holiday spirit. My family played games and ate for the rest of the night. I look forward to the next holiday celebration in my families living room.

Cats and Dogs

They say that dogs are a man’s best friend. I for one am not necessarily familiar with this phrase. The only pets I have are the fish my families aquarium. I have observed having multiple pets from my friends who are pet owners. Many of them either have cats or dogs. I do not have a preference but I have noticed that dogs and cats are similar and different in many ways. Aside form the apparent differences of cats and dogs being totally different animals size wise, and the difference in what they eat and do there are many other ways they differ. I have seen that dogs are more people friendly pets and like to have attention and be around people. Cats on the other hand seem to be less people friendly and seem to be more independent and dominant animals. They wander and roam as they please and return when they want to their owners. Cats seem to be freer to do as they please. Dogs seem to be attention grabbers and want to be around people. They are more playful and energetic then cats. They seem to be more concerned with them were as dog need to walked and played with and taken more care of. There differences make them interesting pets to own. Depending on the person, you might prefer a certain pet over another. If you are the type of person who is often busy and does not have time to take care of a animal, you might want to get a cat instead of a dog. It would be a pet that does not involve as much care and attention as having a dog that you would have to take time and effort to take care of.

Raw and Well Cooked Foods

People have many different preferences when it comes to food. Some people like there foods raw, some well done, and some even like there food to be over cooked. There are health benefits and hazards of having you food prepared raw and or cooked. Some foods like fish are healthy for our system. When they are raw, we get the essential nutrients directly from the animals we eat before they are cooked out. While providing some pure nutrients, raw foods can be harmful to our body. If certain foods like chicken and beef are not fully cooked, then our bodies can not take it and we become sick. Eating foods that are well done sometimes kill’s nutrients that we would get if we did not burn them away when cooking them. I prefer my food to be well cooked. I do not like eating things that are not fully cooked, I am aware that some nutrients are killed when my food is well prepared but I still know that some nutrients will still be there when the food is done. I would rather be safe than sorry in eating foods that are not fully prepared. I do not like to risk getting sick just to save a few nutrients. I do understand the importance of a good diet with as many nutrients as possible but I know there are other ways to get nutrients that are killed in the process of preparing my food. I can get necessary nutrients form other foods or take vitamins to get the ones I do not get when eating fully cooked food.

Spicy or Sweet

People’s taste buds and flavor preferences are all different. I like sweet foods more than I do spicy ones. Too much of these spices and sweeteners can be harmful to the body. Too much spicy food can tear and damage our intestines and internal system. Too many sweet foods can harm our bodies and produce to much glucose which results in diabetes. If you are to spicy or sweet foods you should do so in a balanced proportion so that you remain healthy. I like sweet foods more than spicy ones. My taste buds adjust better to foods that have a sweet flavor then with ones that are hot. I find most spicy foods to be too ho to handle. Foods like spicy chicken, hot cheetos, peppers and more do not appeal to me. I like foods that have a sweet flavor to them. The foods that are too spicy are too hot to truly enjoy. When I eat spicy foods my mouth is so consumed with the feeling of a burning sensation that I can not focus on any of the other flavors in the food. I think spice throws of the eating experience and when eating things that a really hot you reach for the water or something cold to drink instantly instead of trying to enjoy the food. The taste of food is important to how we enjoy our food. I like being able to savor the flavors of food instead of reaching for ways to erase it by chasing it down with cold liquids.

Weather & My Mood

Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows and sometimes it is sunny outside. I become accustom to the weather conditions here in California where I do not necessarily have the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons. In living in California I have become used to the weather and realized how it has affected my mood. I enjoy sunny weather the most because it is beautiful and clear and bright. It puts me in a happy mood because when the weather is right and the weather temperature is reasonable that adds less frustration to my already busy daily schedule. The warm weather allows me to get out enjoy different activities with my family and friends. Doing relaxing things like going to the beach, playing tennis or going to the park and riding bikes are just a few things that I like to do when the weather is warm. When the weather is rainy and gloomy it creates a more saddened mood for me. I am not as upbeat and energetic as I am when the weather is hot. My focus is on getting dry and out of the nasty rain or wind when the weather is not as pleasant. My mood is not as calm and carefree when weather conditions are turbulent. People have certain types of weather preferences that allow them to function and feel calm and at ease. Some of them are more rainy conditions others like sunshine. As for me, I prefer warm weather where I can get out and enjoy the day.

Home school and Public School

The type of school we attend as children affects the way we learn and gain tools to understand the world around us. Public schooling and homeschooling are two types of learning environments that differ in how they prepare you for the world outside of school. Home schooling shelters students. People who choose to put their children in home schools may do so because they do not feel like public or private schools will provide the best learning experience. They may feel like they can teach their children better then other teachers can. I feel that by sheltering your children you hinder them from real life experiences and take an important part of teen adolescence in going to school with people there age. Once they get into the real world they will not know as much as kids who attend school with other children their age as of how to adapt and socialize. An important part of learning is based on your interaction with your environment. You learn from people more or so than you learn from books sometimes. Through interactions and real life experiences with people your age and younger or older you learn how to express yourself and hoe to get what you need to succeed. Sometimes in life it is not always what you know but who you know. I feel that going to public school has allowed e to broaden my experience and prepared me to be able to interact with people I society. I not only have academic skills but I have social skills that will allow me to go far in my future.

Understand and Knowledge

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom”. This is a famous quote from author Charles Haddon. He believed that knowledge was powerful and important and that is was vital to not become arrogant but rather to know how to put what you know to effective use was truly wisdom. To know and understand something is not be wise, for wisdom comes with the true use of putting your knowledge into action. The difference between understanding and knowledge is simply that knowledge does not require understanding. Plenty of people can know something but their ability in incapability to comprehend and further understand it is a total different thing. For example, I can know how that when I put I put cookies in the oven they will come out golden brown but if I do not understand what it takes to get them to be that way then my knowledge is of no use.  I believe that a full intelligence comes from a combination of understanding and knowing something. Both requires that someone has seen or heard the information before and has some familiarity with it. Understanding something is a building block to using your knowledge of it in the right way. Both are very important and key to a strong intellectual mind.

Interesting People

I find people to be very interesting. People are often highly unpredictable and while that sometimes frustrates me it also intrigues me. People’s unpredictable behavior provides a certain mystery to their personality and makes me more interested to know them better.  Someone that I find most interesting is my dad. I have grown up with him and in my seventeen years of life I surprisingly still do not fully understand who he is. He is interesting because he is not so much of an open book like my mother, my sister and I. He is a puzzle in some sort and I cannot always predict what he will say and do. This is not a bad thing and it is often quite fun to watch but sometimes I wish I understood him more clearly. He is a nice person and is sometimes quiet. He sometimes makes an effort to tell jokes that are not very funny; I guess I get my joke telling skills from my dad. He is more funny when he truly just being himself and I think that is the best type of funny. I think the mystery about my father is the interesting thing. I feel like I learn something new about him each day and at times that is a pretty cool experience. I have come to understand the beauty of not knowing everything about a person. It helps you appreciate the unknown and have faith that you may not understand them and everything they do but you still love them know that one day you will be able to understand.

Teacher Infulence

In my twelve years of education thus far I have had the fortunate opportunity to have some very influential teachers. Of them, my fifth grade teacher was the most influential. She not only taught me the academics but she allowed me to see the and understand the world around me at a young age. She taught me to care for myself and others and even animals. In our class we did a lot of projects that had us go out in our community to understand what was going and how we fit and could better it. We did group projects where worked as classmates and friends to solve issues and grow a collective viewpoint on topics we discussed in class. Throughout my fifth grade year, my teacher had many pets and taught to not be afraid of them but to love at them and care for and respect them. We had fish, turtles, hamsters, and dogs just to name a few. We learned to be responsible and respectful having to take turns in caring for the animals throughout the year. We even took fieldtrips to places outside of Westchester where the school was located and worked in cleaning the environment. We did fundraisers to help our environment as well and in that we learned how to market things and manage and spend our money wisely. I do not think I had the ordinary fourth grade experience. I was so fortunate to go to a free multicultural school with an influential teacher that taught us how to be a positive influence in the world. My teacher taught me how to analyze and understand the world around me and grow a greater a appreciation for who I am and I make a difference in the world.

Sleep Importance

 Lack of sleep truly affects how you function throughout the day. There is so much that goes on within 24 hours that sometimes we forget how important Is for us to get a balanced amount of sleep each night. I am currently proof that lack of sleep affects your day. As a senior in high school I am currently very busy doing scholarships, college applications and regular school work. On top of that I am in a number of organizations and clubs like Girl scouts, NAACP, and church events that keep me very busy throughout the week. Keeping a social life in the midst of all of my activities does not give me too much time to find sleep a priority. I have read and even done research on it and found that when I don’t sleep I do not function as well I can when I have had more time to sleep. In finding that I do not get enough sleep that often, I have also found that too much sleep is not good either. If we get too much sleep it makes us sleepier and somewhat sluggish throughout the day. I have to find the right time to go to sleep and how many hours of sleep allow functioning properly throughout the day and getting what I need done on time without stressing out. Sleep is important and without enough or with too much of it throws off everything that I have to do during the week. Thus, I must take time to do the things I can within twenty four hours and structure my time better so that I can get more sleep.

The Prince of Egypt

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Prince of Egypt. It is an animated movie that tells the story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt. The vivid images and the directors choice of words and scence structure paint a beautiful picture that leaves the audience or at least left me on the edge of my seat and at some points in tears. If I were to tell the plot of the movie I would begin at the beginngin of the movie when Moses mother, in a desperate effort to protect her son from the pharaoh who was throwing male babies in the river to fed to the alligators, flees to nearest stream and prays that God will protect her child and send him to a place that is safer then the environment she can provide for him. She sings an angelic song about how young Moses will always remember his mother when he dreams, which he later does. She sends him off down the stream, and hers prayers are answered. The boy ends up in floating to a house of royalty. The basket his mother had placed him in floats right to the Pharaohs wife and she decides to take the Moses in and care for her as her own. Now adopted, Moses unknowingly grows up as the son of the very man who put all of the Egyptian babies to death; the one almost killed Moses if it had not been for his mother’s love to protect him. For years he lives a royal life and watches as those who are born into slavery suffer and are mistreated. One day he accidentally kills a man protecting a slave and decides that the treatment of his people is enough. He then runs away from his royal home and later learns that he has a biological sister and brothers are slaves that live not too far from where he grew up. He is angered that he never knew of them and at first resents them. He hears a message from God that tells him to lead his people out of Egypt and into the promise land. He does as he is told and is met with adversity when he must face the man he grew up calling his brother, who became Pharaoh. He wants his “brother” but he does not listen and Moses goes on as God instructed him, and God deals with the Pharaoh and his family. Moses and the people of Egypt travel for years to the promise land and finally make it. They are all tested and some grow in greater love for God for bringing them for where they once were.

Learning the language

I love to travel and have fortunately had the opportunity to travel abroad already. Prior to traveling outside of the country, I had to learn the Portuguese language.  Learning a new language allowed me to grow intellectually and I truly enjoyed the difference in Portuguese from English. I was even able to find similarities in Portuguese to Spanish.  I plan to study abroad in college as well. I know that I will have to learn the language of whatever country I visit and I plan to use similar steps I did before going to Brazil to prepare for the other countries I visit. I will take classes either online or in a live classroom setting. However, that may not be the quickest way to learn the language unless I took class everyday or for long periods of time. Another way to learn the language quick would be to talk to others who already are fluent in it. For example, before going to Brazil I practiced Portuguese with my sister who is already fluent in it. That really helped me learn the pronunciation and correct way to use the words I did not understand online or in the books. Though books did not help in pronouncing the words correctly it served as a spelling quiz and study to learning the language. I was able to take it everywhere and even look at it on the plane ride to Brazil. Once I Got there I was familiar with what wards looked like and was able to reflect back on what I saw in the book and understand what different signs or menus or directions read.  In traveling out of the country again I plan to use a multitude of sources to help me learn the language as fast as I can.

Music Videos

Music is universal and a form of entertainment that all people can indulge in. Music artists have gone even further then just producing songs but they further entertain us by making music videos. Music videos are a way for us to further visualize the story behind the song. Music videos are sometimes a creative display of the story that we may not have seen when we listened to it. I love watching music videos and connecting the story to the original song. Sometimes the videos portray a whole different viewpoint of the story. For example, a music video that I really enjoyed watching was Knock You Down by Keri Hilson featuring the artist Kanye West and Ne-yo. The video was set up in a creative way, were the main artist Keri Hilson told a story of falling for a guy and still being in love with a guy from her previous relationship. The video started with Keri falling and continued with her and her ex boyfriend being knocked down and shattering likes glass. I like the video because I went through a similar situation myself. The words in the song display a message that many girls go through. The significance of the song is that it can also relate to men. Sometimes men become stuck between deciding on whom to be in a relationship with. When comparing two people it is sometimes hard to make a final decision. The artist talks about how she goes through a cycle that she does not want to repeat. It is a good song and the music video just adds to the effect the song has its listeners.

Teen Fad's

Our teen society is influenced by many of the latest trends and fashions. Some of the popular fads today are things like skinny jeans, baggy pants, having the latest cell phones. The desire to having the newest and best looks out and being called cool is something that almost all teens want. It is hard to keep up with trends but teens manage to find the funds and creativity to keep up with them. Fashions and certain trends just go in a cycle and I have realized that the same fashion trends that are so popular now were also very popular back then. A particular teen fad that is more then popular right now is skinny jeans. A trend that started out just for women’s jeans spread to male fashion and now teenage guys wear them to. They are jeans that crunch and become skinnier as you approach the ankle level. They come in all colors and can go with almost any out fit. You can dress them up and down. Though you can buy some of the best quality and more decorated jeans, most skinny jeans that are less decorated and are more or so plane colors are inexpensive and they are easy to find. I enjoy wearing them from time to time. I find it interesting when I see new colors of the jeans that I did not think were possible. Skinny jeans are popular now and I am just interested to see how popular they will be years from now.

Animals And Humans

Many people spend a great deal of time with animals. People treat animals as well as they treat humans. Animals like dogs and cats are popular pets and people take great care of them as if they were their own family. Some people take the time to groom their pets and make sure they are fed good meals and walked often. Some people even go as far as to put clothes and shoes on their animals. We even have cemeteries dedicated just to animals were people burry their and hold funeral ceremonies just as they would for humans. In times like these it is apparent that people have a lot of love for their pets have become very attached to them. There is a saying that goes, “a dog is a man’s best friend”. Man has grown to look at pets as more then food. People have come to consider pets to be their close friends and family members. A human to pet relationship is a very close one, and is sometimes closer than ones between humans. People treat their pets like royalty and have special houses and toys and clothing items for there pets. For example, my mother takes very good care of our aquarium. She gives our fish some of the top of the line fish food, and dedicated a lot of time and money in making the fish tank look like a real under after environment for the fish. When I enter our living from time to time I almost for get it is not real.

Decadent Dessert

In my family I am known as the baker. I bake cookies, cakes and brownies for my family and in the summer time I have bake sales and sell baked good to my family and friends. I enjoy baking from time to time because it taste, looks and smells good. If I could think of any dessert to make I would make my famous cookies and cream cupcakes. It is one of the most decadent desserts I have ever had, and when I first made it I was surprised by my own talent. The cake mix was golden brown with dark specs of Oreo pieces throughout the mix. It was topped with glittering vanilla frosting and bits of crumbled Oreos sprinkled on top of each cupcake. It smelled of an Oreo cookies and vanilla bean cake factory all in one. The smell was so strong that it made my nose tingle with a tease that had me almost in tears that I had not been able to eat one yet. The smell of it is almost enough to make you feel like you are on a fluffy cloud floating right toward heaven. With a bite of the cupcake, it sends your taste buds with a tingling sweet shock. The cake mix melts in your mouth ever so lightly and the texture of the hard cookies gives the perfect crunch to the small snack. After all of the flavors and textures are chewed and swallowed your hands instantly go grasping for more because m desserts are just that good.  

Cell Phones

Technology is forever advancing. Cell phones are one of the latest electronic devices that have allowed us to advance in technology. Modern life without these small devices would be very different. Communication would be less covenant and we would have to go back to using landlines, sending emails, and writing letters. Communication would not be as fast as it is now. It would actually require us to do some work. We would not be able to get in contact with our family and friends with the simple click of a button or touch of a key. Children might actually pay more attention in class without the distraction of text messaging on cell phones in class. People might have better social skills if there were no cell phones. If people were not so attached to their cell phones and did not depend on them to have conversations with people rather then actually holding face to face conversations people might actually have better social skills. If people didn’t have cell phones, there might perhaps be fewer accidents on the road. Cell phones have become a major distraction while driving, and the act of just checking a text message on a cell phone has caused fatal accidents. It might be best if there were no cell phones. Though they do make things a lot more accessible in a faster way, cell phones are not a necessity. We did fine as a society without them and I am sure that we will be able to function without them.

A new country

Over the past five years I have come to realize my passion for traveling away from my everyday environment. I am an adventurous person and I enjoy exploring the open world around me. Just recently I traveled on a mission trip to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil and if given the chance to travel to any country I would go back to Brazil. I loved being in a whole new area with people that all spoke a different language and dressed and acted different then what I was used to here in Los Angeles. I was excited to explore the city and its traditions and found everything about it intriguing. The styles of dance, music, the instruments, and games, everything about their traditions and customs made me excited to be there. I was somewhat overwhelmed by being around such a unique environment but I enjoyed every second of finding new things to indulge myself in. All of the people were kind and generous, something that I found very surprising because people are not as nice here. While in Brazil I learned about the Afro- Brazilian history of the country and found that it was closely related to African American history. It was interesting to compare my history to there’s and find out that even though I live I another continent I have so much in common with people the Brazilian people. Traveling is fun and I enjoy doing it when I have the funds to do so. I hope to travel all around the world but I think that I will always enjoy visiting Brazil.

Moving

The thought of going off to college next year worries me at times. I have applied for colleges outside of California and when I honestly think about moving out of the state, I worry if I will be prepared and will be able to handle the change of moving m life to a whole new state. The unfamiliarity of moving is what scares me the most. I have lived in California all of my life and most of my family lives here as well. So, the thought of leaving to an environment that I have become so used to a place where I would have to adapt to a new environment all on my own. If I did have to leave the state for college I would make sure I was well prepared first. I would make sure I had all my paper work and information sent to the college already. I would ensure that I had a safe place to live, and a way to get around while there for four years. Before leaving, I would make sure I had clothes, supplies, furniture, and anything else I would need on campus. Or I would just go shopping once I got to the state I was moving to. I would make sure I said my goodbyes to my family here in California and try and spend as much time with them as I could. Moving away to a whole new state would be hard but not impossible. I would get homesick at times but I would make sure I had a strong communication system to contact my family and friends in California when I wanted to.

My best friends birthday

My friends and family are very important to me and, they are always there to encourage me and keep a smile on my face which is why I love finding ways to make them happy. Taking the time to find special ways to keep a smile on there faces is one of the ways I show my love and appreciation for who they are to me.  On special occasion like birthdays celebrations, I always try and make it fun and memorable.  For one of my best friend’s birthdays last month, I planned a surprise birthday party. I started by talking with his family and some of our friends. We discussed dates and places to hold the event. I then went and researched prices and available times to have the party. After that I talked to his family about reasonable prices and covenant places to hosts the party. After much research and discussion we finally had a place to hold the event, a time, and all of the other party plans made. I made the invitations and sent them out to our friends. I then made a Facebook invitation and sent it out to our friends whose address and contact information I did not really know. Almost everyone invited reserved a spot in advance, the party was a true success and on the day of the party my friend was so surprised. We had gone out to eat ad taken a detour on the way home to the place were the party was held. When we walked in he almost fell at the roar of everyone screaming surprise. He had a great time and thanked me after the party. I truly felt happy to be able to do something special for him where he could feel as happy as he makes me feel each day. I am so thankful for my best friend and always take the opportunity to make him fee happy.

Decades

I love living in this current decade, and feel that I was placed in this one for a strategic reason. However, If I had to choose from all the previous decades and pick just one where I think I would fit best. If I could live in any decade I would live in the 60’s. Things were a lot cheaper then and you got a lot for your money. I was talking to my mom one day and she told me that when she was a kid she only paid a nickel or tens cents for thing like ice cream and cookies that now cost one dollar. Aside from the financial benefits of living in the 60’s, it was a strong political era, the Vietnam War started in this decade and Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous “I have a dream speech in this time. The sixties was a time of empowerment of the black voice. We as people stood as union supporting each other and did not breaking each other down with arrogance, hatefulness, and rudeness. Black people embraced intelligence and did not tolerate ignorance as so many do in this and time. The sixties was a time where people searched for who they were and expressed themselves freely. For example, hippies were a major part of this time period as they expressed themselves freely and found their oneness with the earth. The sixties was a l so a very fashionable time period. Clothes were of many different colors and being someone who likes a variety of colors I think I would have really liked growing up the sixties.

Parents

Parents are something that we should always be thankful for. They are there from the beginning, supporting us with faith and dedication in making us all that we can be. They encourage us and enlighten us and protect from any and everything they can. Parents are there to even before birth when we are protected and cared for in our mother’s womb. Our parents are there through the good and the bad times and in all of that support us and love us the same. I for one am truly grateful for my mother and father who were there for it all. I was born a premature baby weighing only a pound and a half. The doctors had no faith that I would live at all. My parents never lost faith and there were times when the doctors wanted them to sign my death certificate. They knew it was not time for me to go yet and I am so thankful that they had hope and faith in me and were not encouraged by the doctor’s doubt. That’s why we should appreciate our parents, because they support you and have faith in when no one else does. They even have faith in you when you don’t have it in yourself. Too often we as children overlook or fail to realize what our parents to provide our necessities and desires. We misinterpret their loving protection for rude unfairness and we challenge their judgment and authority. Children should take the time to appreciate all that their parents have done and continue to do each day loving.

Welcome

To whom this may concern,

If I were asked to write an article for a person newly arrived in America I would first welcome them to America, “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. I would first explain to them while being in American might allow you to have more freedom than if you lived in other countries, we American citizens are not that free. Our rights have limits and loop holes and our country was built on the bases of war and greed. I would write a compare and contrast article about their lives in their country to their new life here in America. I would begin by asking why they chose to come to America, asking does our country offer something theirs did not or did they simply come to America just for a vacation. I would then explain who they are and what particular country, state and city they are from. I would discuss their language traditions, and culture in relation to ours here in America. In the article I would explain their purpose for moving to the United States and what they hope to achieve while here. I would discuss how they feel about living in America thus far. The article would also contain information on their likes and dislikes in our society and how they plan to be a benefit if any to it. I would then explain to them that America is not all it is cracked up to be.

My Elders

In order to know your future you must first embrace your past. Our elders are a great link to learning about our past so we can better our future. With the hope of preserving things like our ancestry, it is imperative that we ask questions, and communicate with our elders. We should ask questions to gain knowledge and get advice about the things we do not understand. My grandmother always has words of wisdom and is always able to help me understand the different social or religious issues I face even with our huge age difference. She has been through many of the same things I have from relationships, to high school, and more and I have a lot to learn from her experiences. If I want to know about my past I ask my grandmother who my ancestors are. What I am mixed with? And where did we come from? I am so interested in knowing everything about my people and hearing their testimonies and advice about life. The last questions i ask my grandmother is what advice she has for me based on what she learned in her life. What can she do to help me? Can I learn from her experiences?

RIght College

Choosing the right college is a scary choice for many high school seniors and transfer students. There are so many factors that play into picking a school. For me they included the costs of tuition and living, if the school had my major, student services, and what type of area it was in. I also considered the atmosphere at the school. Other factors that I considered were the weather, being from California I have been somewhat spoiled with beautiful weather conditions and to have to move somewhere like the east coast or down south where weather is an extreme might be a bit of a shock. I chose a school that would allow me to thrive as student in my intended field of study. I chose a school that offered programs and a good network for when I needed a job after graduating. I have already applied to schools and hope that I get into the all of them. I just pray that I make the right decision when need be.

Community A Better Place

I aspire to us it toward bettering the community I grew up in. My environment has allowed me to see the increasing health decline of minorities. African Americans are statistically ranked among the highest at risk for diseases like diabetes. My family has a history of health problems, one major one being diabetes. My grandmother struggles with type two diabetes, a problem that could have been prevented or better managed with proper diet and exercise. I have observed the devastating physical and emotional effects of this disease and I aspire to use my degree to educate others on the value of being healthy.

In school I already work toward promoting better nutrition by writing the health and fitness articles for our school newspaper. I discuss ways for teens to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating right and exercising. I feel that if you reach people at a young age you can lessen their chances of being at risk as adults..  My church community has had a further influence on my aspirations teaching me the biblical benefits of a healthy diet. I have gotten involved in spreading my knowledge about the importance of healthy eating by participating in nutrition workshops, emphasizing the vitality and beneficial effects of healthier lifestyles. I was able to help promote nutrition by preparing healthy meals and serving them to the people in the workshops. I have furthermore promoted healthy living by working in my churches food pantry that encourages a balanced diet. I truly value that I have had the opportunity to serve my community hands on by participating in organizations and workshops speaking on the scientific and biblical benefits on diet. Whether through writing, speaking, giving or cooking my family, school, and church community have all encouraged my dream of seeing my environment become healthier. For this reason I aspire to give back to a community that has given so much to me. I plan to do this by creating programs and fitness centers. I would love to open a restaurant or gym and be able to promote my dream even further.

My Day

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I want is to go back to sleep. I wake up to my classical music ringtone alarm clock playing one of Bach’s famous symphonies. It is way to soothing to keep me alert. My sheets are always entirely too comfortable to fathom getting up.
I always take five more minutes of sleep; it really makes a difference in my day. In the morning I generally always hit the snooze button a couple times but eventually end up going back to sleep for another ten minutes instead. I wake up suddenly realizing that too much time has passed. I snatch off my covers and jump off my bed. I then head to the kitchen to eat breakfast and then begin making my lunch. My lunch generally only consist of two or more snacks, some apples, a few cookies, a handful of peanut butter crackers, and a bottle of water. Then I place my lunch in my bag and with my books and binders. I then head for the bathroom and take a shower and get dressed. I have a tendency to turn on the shower and leave the room. This waste water and money, which my parents often tell me. After I get out of the shower, I finish getting ready for school. This generally takes up a lot of time but I try my best to finish quickly.  Every day I arrive at school just in time and take a seat in class. With a slight yawn I pull out my materials for the day and close my bag.

Vegtables

Growing up I truly despised vegetables. I did not like the way they tasted or looked. I loved fried foods and more so many other dishes that unhealthy for me. Most vegetables I had never even tried but assumed they were nasty based on what I had heard and seen from my friends or family members. I eventually tried them for myself and grew to like almost all vegetables. Before I was afraid to try them and now I feel like I cannot have a meal without them. I like all vegetables from carrots to water chestnuts, asparagus, zucchini, coli flower and more. I think that I had a bad experience with certain dishes possibly because they were not prepared in the right ways and it made me have a bias opinion toward them all. As I got older I found restaurants what made good vegetables. I even learned how to make them for myself. I often make vegetables with every meal.  One of my favorite to make is baked carrots. I wash them, cut them up, sprinkle them with salt and pepper and olive oil and let them bake. They come out of the oven with a soft and crunchy texture and always leave my mouth melting.

Sasons

Some California residents do not have the opportunity to truly experience all four seasons. Weather conditions on the southern west coast do not enable us to experience things like extreme heat or snow. Just recently cities like LA hit record high heat waves reaching in the hundred degrees. We have yet to experience snowfall but i highly doubt that will occur because of our low elevation. Even though I do not experience the hottest summers or winters I do enjoy the seasons we do have the chance to experience. Of the four my favorite is fall. The fall is mixture of our hot and cold weather. I enjoy fall l because of the weather temperatures but I also enjoy the fall because it is the time when I can enjoy all of my favorite holidays. We celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in the fall. I especially enjoy being able to spend time with my family and friends in this season and indulging in all of the fun activates that this season brings like ice skating. I travel the most in the fall and weather out of the state or somewhere local. I enjoy seeing my family that lives in Alaska, I always have fun being able to enjoy a real winter there. My cousins and I play in the snow and go snowboarding, skiing, have snow ball fights and go ice skating. The fall is a very eventful season and I enjoy spending it with my family.

Brother &SIster

It is common for siblings do not always get along. Siblings tend to bump head when they are in close age or in close proximity. Siblings argue for things like toys and games, space and attention whether young or old.  Brothers and sister in particular seem to fight and argue the most over minor and major issues all the time. This is probably because they are so different from one another; one is female and the other is male so they different interest and concerns in anything from relationships to daily chores which definitely stirs up controversy. This can create problems the entire family if it is not addressed in an effective way. Families become distant physically and socially because petty disagreements or arguments. Family relationships should be some of the strongest and sadly in today’s society they are not. People go years without speaking to their families because they cannot learn to get along with one another. People need counseling and guidance and family time to build on relationship and piece together what went wrong in them. I myself do not have a brother, I have an older sister rand she and I do argue but we always find a common ground. We do not let petty things and arguments and the fact that we do not always see eye to eye stop us from being close or even more importantly harm our family. Sibling bonds are important people should always take the time out to ensure that those bonds stay strong

New & State of the Art

Technology is forever advancing and no one wants to be stuck with outdated versions of items. Things like computers, televisions, and phones are just some of the most popular items on the market that are newer and improved each year, sometimes even monthly. I have the advantage of having two computers. One is a pc and the other is a laptop. My pc is newer than my laptop and runs a lot better than my laptop does. It is so frustrating dealing with my outdated laptop when it constantly shuts off because it cannot hold a battery charge for long. It is also frustrating when I have to complete important school, college, and work assignments and do not have the correct documents or installed features to finish what I need done. My pc on the other hand is very reliable. I can do all of my work on it without worrying if I will have the applications or software to open documents or presentations. I also do not have to worry about files being deleted or it arbitrarily turning off in the midst of completing a project. I chose my pc by doing careful research in newspapers, online websites, and even visiting at different software stores.  I looked at the features it had and at the ones it did not to make my decision. I then made my choice off of what seemed price reasonable for what I was getting with each if the computers. My decision was not hard because I  took my time, did research and knew exactly what I wanted.

Tests

People are always quick to say” I am not a good test taker”. Yes, I have and still do struggle with tests from time to time but I have come to learn that it is all up to me whether I succeed or not. In the past it was not that I was not a “good” test taker, it was just that I did not know how to take tests.  Last year in Physics class I learned that this statement is not true. My teacher had given us numerous tests and some of us had done poorly, we used the common excuse of not being good at taking tests.  As the year went on, our teacher gave us test taking strategies and different work dealing with how to take tests effectively. Our class improved and our tests grades began to all are very high. One day after instructing the class he said that it was not the fact that we could not take the tests it was that we did not have the proper strategies to taking them.  As a senior in high school I am very busy with completing all of the requirements for the different universities I am applying to. The complete application requires that I take certain tests to qualify for admissions. I n order to get the highest score I use the test taking strategies I learning in my previous class and study the material to that will help me understand all the different subjects. If I apply time and effort in studying how to take these tests, I can reach my goal of getting the bests possible scores on them.

BreakUps

Ending relationships do not seem like an easy task. When people get into relationships they let others in on a special part of their lives and in doing that they become vulnerable most times not even noticing it. In the event where someone feels like they must breakup a relationship for whatever reason, I feel like there are certain ways they should go about it. Honesty is the most important factor in a relationship and still is even when breaking up. You must be sure to be honest with the person but not to honest as to where you hurt them by using rude remarks or violence. Too often people feel the need to have dramatic breakups just to get revenge on those that hurt them. When breakups occur it is hard emotionally and I have heard that it is sometimes people become violent. I personally think that is a terrible way to break up. If you can’t be together then just agree that the relationship will not work and stay friends so that you can move on with your life. People only change if they want to themselves. If I want to end I relationship, I talk to the person and let them know that there is a problem that was not resolved and I can no longer wait around for them to want to change. In ending I relationship I would be honest and straight to the point. Relationship endings are only hard if you make them that way. If you have a positive approach toward things and were wise in picking who to be relationships within the first place, then you should have no problem breaking it off.

Friends

I am so blessed to have so many friends. Making friends can seem like one of the hardest things to do especially when you are introduced to a whole new atmosphere. When we feel foreign to something or someone it makes it harder for us to adapt. Children and even adults suffer with ways to make friends. Children tend timid and awkward when it comes to meeting new people and making friends.  Even adults find it hard to make friends, possibly because they get preconceived notions of particular people or they assume what others will think of them. I can remember my first day of 3^rd grade. I was going to a new school in a new neighborhood and was very nervous about making new friends. I wondered about whom I could find something in common with; who I could find that was loyal, supportive and friendly. Eventually I made friends by stepping out of my shell. The group assignments and interactive class games helped in getting to know who people were and understanding how I related to certain people. I made friends by simply being myself and not being afraid to communicate. Now that I am a little bit older it is has not changed much as to how I make friends. I just pick them more wisely now. I analyze carefully of who I allow myself to get close to. There is a saying that goes keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I have learned that sometimes you “friends” are your enemies. I have made friends by getting to know the people around me, asking questions when necessary and looking for the signs that allow me to see just who a person is. People will tell you just who they are; all you have to do it pay attention.

Games

As a child I remember always enjoying games I knew I could win. Things that came as a challenge were not as appealing to me then. Now that I am older I have come to love being challenged. I enjoy interactive games that challenge me to think critically. I love the intense feeling of having to compete to get across the game board or finish before a timer runs out.  I am a very creative person and I enjoy thinking outside of the box. Some of my favorite games allow me to challenge myself to solve problems or phrases. A game I like playing the most is called Scattegories. It is a word game that challenges you to be creative and think of whatever comes right off the top of your head. You play the game with a total of three other people and work within only three minutes to complete a twelve category list of answers. The loudly ticking timer makes the players anxious.  Whenever I play I am always on the edge of my seat trying my best to finish my list. Once the timer suddenly stops everyone usually jumps up. One of my favorite parts of the game is when we go over everyone’s answers.  Answers range from some of the brightest to some of the most bizarre. When I play this game I feel like I can grow intellectually and am amused. There are many games to choose from that challenge me intellectually but playing Scategories is one of my favorites.

Cause and Effect of Prejudice Behavior

They say do not judge a book by its cover. Too often people judge others by what is on the surface and do not take the time to truly get to know people. Having preconceived notions is a way of shutting yourself out to the beauty that lies within people. Too often this is more easily said than done. We judge people on their appearance from near and afar. We criticize people on first impressions before we even truly know the person.  Pessimistic views or prejudge mental behaviors are bad character traits and people have to be careful to not display these actions. Prejudice behavior is caused by ones action to judge. The bible tells us not to judge others, and even for those who are not religious no right from wrong and judging others is definitely wrong. Too often people are quick to analyze the wrong in others before they analyze themselves. I personally do not see the use of taking the time to build up an assumption on someone I do not know or on a topic I have little or no knowledge of because usually assumptions are wrong. There is a saying that goes, “if you assume you make a donkey out of you and me”.  WE have to be careful not to allow ourselves to prejudge others based on what little information we may have whether right or wrong. The only way to truly know the truth about someone or something is to find out for yourself and truly get a full understanding. People shouldn’t judge because prejudge mental behavior affects our ability to further understand the world around because we tend to be arrogant or insensitive.

Impulse Buying

Shopping is a exciting experience for many but some people take it too far and buy unnecessary items. It is nice to be able to purchase the necessities but one must have self control. Too often shoppers buy more than they need and there desires become larger than their bank accounts can hold.  The National Institute of Mental Health calls impulsive buying is a borderline psychological disorder. Impulse buying is defined as someone spur of the moment, unplanned decision to buy an item, made just before a purchase. This sudden desire to purchase more items is a psychological problem triggered just by seeing simply the product or seeing a very persuasive and convincing item. The act of just walking past advertisements cause people to buy things they don’t need.  Product advertisement is one of the most persuasive methods in our society. Companies have such creative ways to phrase or decorate items to catch customer’s eyes and persuade them to purchase their products. Sadly, people just are not smart or strong shoppers. Too often we do things like go into a store with the intent to only buy one or twp items and come out with bag loads of things we had not originally intended to purchase. This shows how unnecessary some of the things we buy are. Impulsive shopping not only affects people mentally but it puts an economic strain on people. Impulsive shopping leads to buying more then one needs and when that occurs people end up going over their budget. Getting debt and having bad credit are all possible affects of impulsive shopping and we just have to learn to be smarter and stronger shoppers os that we don’t harm ourselves or our bank accounts.

Pollution

Pollution is undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities. In simpler terms it is when water, land or air becomes dirty. You may not have it on your planet but earth is full of pollution. As humans we create a lot of waste. We create more waste now than we ever have before. We pollute our air with things like cigarette smoke, airplane jet fuel that fly in the sky, oil refineries, or automobiles that all create toxic gases. These gases kill our plants and animals, and even humans because when we breathe in the toxic gases it damages our lungs and some of our other organs. It creates multiple health problems and if not properly treated eventually death. We have places called landfills where we group large piles of trash that wait to be burned and recycled if possible. We as humans do try to recycle, a process that preserves resources we already use. This process is not working as well as it should be. The problem is that too many people do not recycle enough or even at all. Earth is not the most environmentally friendly place. We live in our own trash and the sad thing is that we create it. WE are trying to find environmentally friendly ways to advance in society without causing harm to our planet. Maybe when you visit you can give us some tips of you guys do it on your planet.

Computers

Technology is forever advancing. We have gone from inventions to make things possible to inventions that just create a lazier society. The computer is one of the biggest technology advances of my time and it is still advancing. Computer technology has evolved from large machines the size of a large bedroom to light hand held computers small enough to hold in one hand. Computers now have some many more features on them than the earliest computers did. We can do important work, access books and videos, and even communicate with the computers we have now. Some of the newest computers are thin laptops like the Air Mac or the iPad. One of the major differences in computers is there connivance. We can take them almost anywhere with exception of worrying if they will get stolen. Life without computers would thus be of less connivance. Since computers serve as work stations and entertainment   systems, it would be fewer covenants for people to get what they needed and wanted done. Computers serve as a fast way to display and deliver information. Without them modern day life would be very different. For example, this paper that I am typing on my computer would have to be hand written. In order to write get the information that I found to support my position on this topic I would have had to get it out of a newspaper, or go to the local library. Overall computers make life a lot easier. As we continue to advance in technology we find short cuts in completing everyday processes.

Good drivers

The number of good drivers on the road is seemingly increasing as time goes on. Too many people are in too big of a rush and careless with their driving skills. Good driving requires that you follow and understand the rules of the road. You must learn to use good judgment when behind the wheel of a car because you do not just have you to worry about but you almost must consider the safety of others around you. In order to be a good driver you must not only be aware of your surroundings but you must have good listening skills. Too often drivers make the mistake of having their music blasting while driving, and do not hear sirens or the warning signals around them and they end up getting in car accidents. A good driver must most importantly be able to focus. Too often people like to multi task when driving not understanding how significant it is for them focus on operating that piece of machinery. For example, the effects of people texting while driving have increased so much and become tragic that laws have been made to make it illegal to drive and text in California. A good driver has to encompass all of these things while behind the wheel to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.

my favorite artists

My favorite artist of all time would have to be Kim Burrell. She is an African American female world renowned gospel artist. She has an extremely beautifully unique and powerful voice that’s brings me to tears each time I hear her sing. She has a true passion for ministering to people and spreading the gospel vocally. Born in Huston Texas to a pastor and evangelical mother, she was destined to do something wonderful in ministering to others. As a child she displayed a true passion for vocal expression and joined the choir.  When she got older she began her career the Greater Emmanuel COGIC Choir of Huston, Texas. Early in her career she was featured on well known gospel groups and artist like Donnie McClurkin,  Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark-Sheard,, the Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas, Texas; along with and The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston, TX. Kim later went on to record her own albums including Everlasting Life, Try Me Again and No Ways Tired. Those albums have been a true success and have touched many hearts and souls all across the world. Kim is a Grammy Award nominee and Stellar Award winner.  Kim Burrell’s music has definitely had a strong impact on my life. It inspires and encourages me and lifts me up in times that I feel let down. Her songs remind me of God’s grace and mercy and most importantly his love. I only wish there were more artists like Kim Burrell in the music industry.

College right after high school

As children we are taught that education is a necessity. In secondary school we learn the basics tools to understanding, communicating and expressing our opinions and the opinions of others clearly. We learn basic methods to analyzing our environment and the world around us. We begin to understand a little bit of who we are, and sometimes who we want to become. Post secondary education is what I believe allows us to grow as individuals just when we are at the pinnacle of our being. In college you grow an even more broad view of who you are and how to analyze your world through furthering your education.   While in school we are told about the level of difficulty and responsibility that each grade level brings. The bridge from high school to college is perhaps the biggest of them all; a time where you become an adult, responsible for yourself and for your own education. Some graduates are ready for this change while others aren’t ready just yet.

There are multiple factors that play in a person’s decision to not further their education past high school. Possibly they’ve found a job that they love already or maybe they takes to get a valuable education understanding the world around us school we gain the discipline it takes to get a valuable education. We are influenced by our teachers as they instill in us methods to learning and analyzing the world around us in ways other then strictly academic. It is up to us as students after we graduate from high school that we decide if we will further our education and build on what we have previously been taught. Some choose to stop; others choose to take time off for various reasons. Others like myself who are dedicated and fortunate enough to get a valuable education go on to further their education in college. I personally feel that there would be so much time and knowledge lost or wasted by stopping right when I’m at the pinnacle of my success and education. Education is important and the very bases to our success as a people. As students we are pushed and gain the discipline it takes to get a valuable education. I personally feel that right after high school is the best time if any to go to college. I have come this far and feel that it is best for me to continue on my journey without cease. Also, being someone who has a job, and might be getting another one this upcoming semester and already having had the opportunity to travel often and even out of the country, I don’t feel the necessity to take a break after graduating this year. Research in the United States suggests that taking time off can be detrimental for eventual completion of a postsecondary credential in that many youth who take time off simply do not return.

A recent six year national student survey from Stanford Universities Bridge Project on school education showed that 88% of students nationwide intend some postsecondary education. A secondary education is important, especially in today’s society because simply having a GED is not enough anymore. A Bachelor of Arts degree is required for simple everyday stores we go to run errands in each day. The demand for a broader education has gone up from what it once was. I know that if I want to get far in my career of choice and be successful I need a valuable education. Thus, I intend to go right into college after high school.

 

Why Recycle

“Carpooling, recycling,, and planting trees are all good activities for the environment. Write an essay convincing readers to actively participate in one of these activities”

In1958 in the novel called More in Anger, Marya Mannes stated that “the earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future”. This quote is so prevalent in today’s society as we have become so careless about our environment. Taking care of our environment is vital. Participating in environmental health activities is a great way to help ensure we keep or planet healthy. Doing things like recycling finding more green ways to do everyday things are activities we can partake in to do so.  How hard is it to take a few second or minutes out your day to recycle? Simply throwing a plastic bottle for example into a blue bin for recycling is not that time consuming.

According to Proctor Simone, writer for the U.S Environmental Agency, “Between 1960 and 2008 the amount of waste each person creates has almost doubled from 2.7 to 4.5 pounds per day”. The article went on to say that recycling is one of the best ways to ensure we do not create more waste because “recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources.”  It is vital that we take care of our environment or we will soon be living in our own trash if we do not learn to clean up after ourselves and participate in activities that will benefit the environment. The article went into further depth to explain the essential benefits recycling, such that it reduces the need for costly land filling and incineration. Recycling conserves our natural resources, and protects and expands the U.S jobs, increasing our nation’s competitiveness. More importantly, recycling saves energy and helps to sustain the environment for future generations.

Many of the items we see and use daily are recycled without our knowledge. Recycling is beneficial and significant to our environment. It is a cycle of good judgments to take care of our environment. It is not very time consuming as it only requires a few simple steps.  The first step includes finding and collecting recyclable materials such as plastics bottles and aluminum cans. The next step includes processing them, which requires that you take or crop them off at recyclable drop off stations, or storing them in blue trash cans bins for the sanitation system to pick up later in week. These processes only take a matter of minutes and truly help to reduce pollution and environmental effects of just allowing the waste we create to build up.

We as humans living in on this earth should respect and take of it. Too often people become careless and do not do what is necessary to create the best environment for themselves and those around them.  We should recycle because it’s healthy and beneficial, and it also looks pleasant. Recycling is a way to ensure that we do not surround ourselves in our own trash. It is not hard to clean up after ourselves and would only create a better future for ourselves and for the generations that come after us.

Bullying

“Elementary and secondary schools around the country are beginning to actively address the problem of bullies. In your opinion, is bullying an issue that should be addressed by school officials or left to parents? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position. “

It is never okay to take advantage of another person mentally, physically, or emotionally.  Bullying is an issue that should never be ignored and too often it is in our society. As early as elementary and middle school children experience being bullied consistently and erratically. Children who suffer with this growing issue are turning to drastic measures to stop it, going as far as to end their lives. An immediate action plan needs to be taken on this problem within schools both by schools officials and parents. They must collaborate to ensure that the problem does not continue or increase in our society.

Victims of bullying are most often insecure kids, who display weakness and intimidation toward other students for whatever reason whether size, intellect, or fashion. Bullying can take many forms, as it can be verbal, physical, or cyber bullying. It causes short and long term physical, mental and emotional health issues for those are victims of it. According to a 2009 Harvard Mental Health Letter school bullying has “long-lasting psychological ramifications for victims as well as for bullies”. The article went on to say that,” Victims of chronic childhood bullying are more likely to develop depression or think about suicide as adults compared with those who weren't bullied, while former bullies are more likely to be convicted of criminal charges”. A recent CBS News reported that Asher Brown and Seth Walsh were just 13 when they killed themselves last month. Both were allegedly targets of anti-gay bullying. According to the British Columbia Ministry of Education in 2000,” There have been enough incidents' of children committing suicide for this reason that a new phrase has been coined: bullycide.”

Often people believe that child bullying leads to criminal records is a myth but According to a study done for National Resource Centre for Safe Schools (1999), bullies who have been identified by age 8 are six times more likely than others to be convicted of a crime by the time they reach the age of 24. They are five times more likely to end up with serious criminal records by age 30.

Sadly, many victims of bullying are too afraid to speak up about their situation in fear that telling others will not help but only make thighs worse. While some bottle their emotions and problems inside waiting for a release, others retaliate doing such things as mass shootings at school. Is it possible that school officials could have done something to stop this issue before it came to this? Or could the parents of the child have addressed the issues their child was facing if they even knew? The answer is yes. Something can be done to prevent these tragic acts from occurring. Parents can take recognition for the issue and help counsel their children, talking to the parents, and school officials to stop it before it gets out of hand. School officials can take action to stoop it by monitoring student behavior more carefully and making sure that students are safe.

Disappointment Personal Essay

In life we all face many disappointing circumstances. Sometime when we take chances and step outside of our comfort zone, we are met with disappointment. A particular time in my life when I faced displeasure was when I sang a solo performance for a Christmas Program a couple years ago. I was only thirteen at the time and had not yet gained complete confidence in my voice, and range of vocal capability. I was on program to sing Midnight, a gospel by collaborating artist Brent Jones and Coco. The song always reminds me that I can and should call on God in the good and bad times because he more than just a way maker. It is one of my favorite songs and I was more than excited to be able to sing it for a church audience that would understand and appreciate it. At the beginning of the performance and slightly before it, I truly felt prepared. I had been to the multiple rehearsals and had practiced with the audio CD I was to use on the day of the performance as a background track because the pianists hadn’t been able to make it to rehearsals and was said to not be coming to the program. Thus, I was shocked on the day of the performance to see him rush into the pianists chair and begin to play the melody of the song. In thinking that the track would begin I waited to perform. I later looked back and saw his signal to begin singing. Fearful with the feeling of unpreparedness, I began to sing. The disappointment didn’t stop there. It was a very cold night and cold weather harms your vocal chords. He played the piano it tunes I was unable to reach and I felt myself going out my vocal range to match the key notes. I squeaked at the bridge of the song and felt my heart sink. Knowing my own capability, I knew that I could have and have already sung better than that.  After the performance I felt so disappointed, both in myself and the failing communication system of the program directors to let us know that they would not be playing the audio track I had brought.

"Don't judge a book by its cover" Memoir

They say you should not judge a book by its cover. Too often this is more easily said than done. We judge people on their appearance from near and afar. We criticize people on first impressions before we even truly know the person.  I myself have judged someone without fully knowing the real them. A particular time I can recall doing so, was in the eighth grade. There was a new boy at school who I incorrectly categorized as being the same as the young men who he hung out with. He was tall and slender and often wore baggy clothing and silver chains with a cross on the end. He hung around the boys at school who were known for being what we all called “bad news”. The boys were known for being disrespectful to teachers and had been said to have stolen before on more than one occasion.   After already passing judgment on who I thought the new guy was I later found myself extremely mistaken. I saw him a few months after his arrival at our school once false rumors had circulated at a church youth conference..He was a youth leader representing his church and more than enthusiastic to preach about the goodness of God. He spoke on how people often judged him without knowing his purpose.  I approached him later on that day and apologized for judging him to be like the boys he hung out with. He thanked me and explained that his purpose in going that was to help guide the young men into a better lifestyle. He had to make them feel comfortable around him before preaching to then on better ways to live their lives. He was successful in his efforts to show the boys a new lifestyle and the next day I spotted all of them at the youth conference. On the last day of the conference the boys dedicated their life to Jesus.

Should Students Get A Weekly Allowance?

“Many parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give their children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why. “

                 There is no step by step rule book to parenting. Reflecting on my parents and family members or family friends who are parents I believe that good parents discipline and teach their children to be prepared for the real world by encouraging a positive mentality, physical, spiritual and financial strength to succeed. Some parents feel that rewarding their children by gift giving or financial allowances further encourages them to understand how the real world works with the concept that through doing work you earn a reward. However, in teaching their kids about financial responsibility the can hinder them from reality, because in life good deeds are not always acknowledged and this may prove to be a rude awakening for kids so accustom to receiving them.

Paying your child for good behavior and doing chores around the house is a rather ridiculous parenting system in my opinion. A parent should not have to pay their child to cooperate and be manner able, as things that should come natural through parental discipline not financial rewarding.  My mother always says, “I should not have to pay you to do help out around the house or to descent grades as these things should come natural, you should want to help out around the house, being that you live here, eat here and live with all of the other perks that I pay for”. She also has always taught me to aspire to get a valuable education so that you can get a job you love that pays well. Doing chores is a disciplinary action that has allowed me to see that you have to work for what you want and some work does not always require a financial award. Parents should instill in their children the value of hard work without pay, so that they can truly understand the essence behind real work, not just because it makes a large sum of money. Parents should never have to bribe their children.

Sometimes rewarding children is not always the best way to ensure they cooperate or understand how the real world works. For example, what good would disciplining a child to behave by giving financial gifts do in the event that they get older and are no longer awarded for having manners and being cooperative? What good would rewarding children financially because of simple house hold chores do in the unfortunate event that when they get a job and do a superb job and receive fair pay or any pay at all do? Things like this cripple children and do not fully teach them financial responsibility. Giving children money at young age and showing them that with work, there’s pay does not necessarily teach then financial responsibility.

A child could grow and still make poor financial decisions, not knowing how to manage it properly. To ensure that children understand financial responsibility, parents should instill in their children should effectively discipline their children to behave without pay and should encourage their children to work hard in every aspect of life to receive financial rewards. Giving them a slight glimpse of financial pay is not terrible, but making it a trend could cripple children, rather parents should encourage their child to get a job when old and mature enough to experience real world financial responsibility.

Figure of Speech

1) Time runs out the door
Ever slipping and disappearing
It is too quick to catch
Like hiding go seek and tag mixed
I find it at times and catch up for a minute
Then it goes away again and tries to fly out the window

2) Life is like the beautiful beach in Brazil
Pretty colors of blue and beige; complexions that touch and play in the sand
Turbulent and unpredictable with rain
Then sunny and warm bright
There is laughter and love as people play
Serious and minor waves brush against the surface and smooth across the shore

3) Piano screams loudly
In the choir room
Grand piano black and white keys
Hitting different octaves hard to match vocally
Deep breaths
Harp angelic melodies with the intent to success.

Pride

One must always have self confidence. If you do not believe in yourself no one else will. You must have pride in your accomplishments and the work you strive to complete, so that it is done to the best of your potential. While having pride is in your work is a necessary trait, you must be careful to not be overly confident in your work, as to the point where you offend others through an arrogance or rude attitude. The significance of pride is reflecting on who you are in a positive manner. It is healthy and mentally stimulating. It is good to have confidence and believe in your capabilities because that is one of the things that’s drives us to fulfill our many goals and aspirations. When you make an effort and succeed in certain aspects of life, you gain a certain confidence in who you are and what you can achieve in life. For example, if I am an excellent swimmer  and I work hard and win medals and awards for swimming, I can gain a confident attitude and pride in myself because I know not only know that I have the ability but that others see my strength as well. In instances like these pride is often taken for arrogance or egotism, but it depends on the person and their ability to stay humble while recognizing their talents or gifts and being able to express them without a conceited attitude. Having pride is an essential step in success, but you must be careful not to become too prideful.

Diversity

No one person is the same. We are all diverse because we come from an ancestry of a great mixture. The beautiful thing about the world we live is that we are all creatures of many different shapes, sizes, colors, and tongues.  Diversity is the one thing that distinguishes us and makes use interesting people. Diversity to me is the complex characteristics of personality and physical features that exist amongst us all. The things that divide us from one another as a whole make us a diverse people. For example, living in Los Angeles I have come to understand that it is a large melting pot. It is mixed with different cultures, races, and social statuses, which are all things that make us diverse with the similar environment we call home. To me diversity is one of the best and most interesting things about humans. The various things that make us who we are because we come from different backgrounds, that speak different languages, and carry all together different customs and beliefs about life. That makes life and growth as individuals more interesting because as we learn who we are as individuals we learn about other people’s ways of looking at life that help us better define who we our as an individual. Diversity means the broad things that distinguish us and allow us to better understand the world around us. Diversity is beautiful that allows us to mix together. Sometimes diversity brings peace instead of interest. Some people cannot except the diversity for themselves and others and have a biased view on how the world and their environment should be. Diversity is the acceptance of the rare and differences between all humans and the appreciation for that I n everyone.