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My goal in life is to be myself and help others, and in my piece I explained that and other things I’d love to do. I am pretty proud of how I described my piece of how I really feel.. Areas for improvement can probably be my grammar.

Advanced Essay

Waking up to an bright light almost makes you feel like you’re in a better place. I can sense the heat on my sensitive skin, keeping me warm and comfortable. I told myself I heard the sound of sweet soul of music downstairs. It was within me today, I said as I was shuffling out of bed. The sheets were attached to me like a magnet. It was yet another Monday Morning about 7:21 am. I was only 6 years old when I started learning about my superiority. I took myself downstairs for a bite to eat as I made me some cereal. My step-mom made me eggs and a bagel. I took it to the living room and turned on the tv to watch some PBS. Sesame Street was on, but sadly went to commercial. An advertisement came on. It was at that moment my eyes started dwelling and my stomach was growling. I glared at the television listening to a man who had a voice of an activist. He stated, “You can accomplish anything, anytime, if you just put your mind to it.” I had to hear more to what this man had to say. He kept going on about accomplishments and achievements. At the time I didn’t know any of those big words he was saying, so I wrote them down on a post it note and gave them to my Dad. He defined them for me and it was all making sense. Leadership, control, management, desires were swarming on me. I told myself I wanted to go find these accomplishments because I knew I would need it. The rest of my life that is ahead of me. Not just that, but at that time, things weren’t going so well for me. You could say there was some family problems, or you can say there’s sadness that surrounds me and my broken heart. This happens at times, but it drifts away from me also, and returns when my emotions change. I was able to get out of the house and walk around for a bit with my mom. We went to the park, I got on the swings, went down the slide. It really helped me forget about the things I used to know. Just a simple commitment with Love and positivity can do that to a kid like me. I thought I could do that to someone too. To make them feel better about themselves, and put a smile on there face to let you know “Hey, I’m alright” I also thought, If life was simple like this that I can take a deep breath and start over, then this is something I can get use to. And so I did. And it was really helping a lot. Each day, I explore more and more and stopped worrying about the negativity that tries to surround me with sorrow and guilt. Because, I was already surrounded by the power of positivity. Everything I had was already on my side. My parents, friends, family. Because even though we always have our bad times, in the long run, we all love each other in the very end. This is my motto and still is today. As I keep growing and developing, I add more and more things to my notes. Always have a positive attitude, having faith, having hope, and believing in yourself. If I ever see my friends who are down, I’d do my best to pick them up. When I was 9, I told myself I want to make the world a better place, one by one, one step at a time. Helping people, help feed the homeless. Talk to my peers and to make them happy. Of course, I was gonna have my off days, of how much I wanted to keep it to myself. I couldn’t, people who were really close to me notice my troubles and they were there to help me. Raised in a church taught me how to be a better person. It did change me a lot, developing into a better me than before. This is where I started my roots. These were reasons why I was becoming a great kid. 7 years old and growing. When I accepted Christ into my life and began reading the bible when I was 8. The next year, I was understanding the passages, one of my favorites were Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. One of the best quotes in my notes, is to accept defeat. Of course when I was initiating to becoming a great kid, I realized that we are all not perfect, we will sin, we will do wrong And when that comes, I’ll be ready for it. My life isn’t over, it is just beginning. And I realize there is going to be times where I will do good and I will do bad. Sometimes, I won’t be able to realize the good and the bad. Or what I’ve done at times. But I am prepared for it. The only thing I’m not prepared for is what’s going to come later. I don’t know how and I certainly don’t know when. I could die the next day. But doesn’t mean every second I have to breathe it. Just to be alive is a reminder to be happy and to tell my story one day..

When I first saw the portrait, I said to myself: “This painting will go great with the atmosphere of my house”. When we got home we couldn’t figure out where to put the portrait. I suggested why don’t we put the portrait behind the dining table. My parents said “That not a bad idea because it fits the area around it. So we all agreed to put it in the dining area and when we stood back and looked at it, we all said “It looks perfect here.”

Quite a few months back I move into a small apartment with my parents. The area around seemed empty because where the apartment is, it is surrounded by garages. The apartment was small yet durable it had a deck so I can go outside and had a electric stove. First we got the heavy stuff in the way so it won’t be much of a hassle at the end. Next we got lighter stuff out of the way and then a week later we got the internet and cable up in the apartment.

During my life there was a lot moving and here I am going to tell you from the beginning. When I was born, I use to lived on Brighton St. near where there use to be a HESS nothing much happened at Brighton Street.

Next I moved to Frankford Ave where I lived most of my life. A lot as happened on Frankford, some good some bad. I call it a small apartment with a lot of memories, For example a squirrel came into our apartment without any notice and me and my mom were scared to go near it, so my mom called her boyfriend without telling him what the situation was. When he got there my mom just tells her boyfriend about the situation and her boyfriend got the broom with a nervous look on his face and he knock it down the stairs and it ran out the door never to be seen again. When I lived on Frankford Ave. I met two people named Alexis but people call her Lexi and a boy named Anthony but people called him Ant. after we became great friends as the when we started to hang out but as much because they kept coming and going for a while and all of the sudden we stopped seeing each other for a long time and we have not seen them since then.The reason we moved out of Frankford Ave was because a drunk man kicked our door open in the middle of the night and my mom called to police and nothing happened after the fact.

Next I lived on Disston St. Not a lot of has happened on Disston, but the only thing I remember is inviting my friends over and pool parties. I had a great time at Disston Street, but we had to move and I really liked it there.

Then a few years later, we moved to Tyson. There was really no memories at Tyson because we moved not even a year later because the neighborhood was a bit crazy.

When I moved to Marsden St. we had some memories there for example I made some new friends there, got my new pet there for Christmas, and met my uncle who I have never seen on the same day. I also graduated Austin Meehan Middle School and when to Lincoln High School and a year later I started my first year of Science Leadership Academy. When I first saw Science Leadership Academy, it looked like a office building from the outside. When I started to go to Science Leadership Academy, I was excited and nervous at the same time because it was great to be in a new school and make new friends and nervous because it was a new school, new neighborhood, and new faces. I was scared because I was afraid to make a bad first impression at my new school. When I saw the schedule I was so lost because at Science Leadership Academy they call them bands instead of periods and the letters were confusing because I did not know where any of my classes were. As I started to go there I started pick the pattern that was happening and after three months, I started to get the hang of it.

After that I moved to Vandike St. with my mom and her boyfriend and as we are living here at Vandike St., we are creating memories. So these are all of my past memories that I can think of on the top of my head.

Introduction:

My goals in this paper is to inform the reader about my struggles on figuring out what to paint for an important assignment I once had. And how that influenced me to not to listen to people who discourage me and to continue their passions. I am proud of the analysis towards the end where I express my feelings about what society expects of me but I do not what to follow what I was taught. Some things I would like to improve in the future, is to work on my transitions so the flow of my essays would go smoothly with no changes in tone.

Advanced Essay:

As I sit in on my bed, thinking about what to write, how to write about this. It stays sitting in my bookshelf, on the very highest shelf hidden behind all the happy family memories. It is something that holds my talents; a small painting created by my fifth grade self. Painting came easily to me and it was somewhere I could express my creativity and there were no limits. But this talent wasn’t satisfying the expectations of my family or the lifestyle I was grown into.

I drifted away from those thoughts and flashbacked to when I painted it. The memory was slowly fading away from my mind and it was getting difficult to remember every detail. It was an assignment every student in the fifth grade was given. We were to read, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry over the summer. We would be focusing on impressionism and by observing closely at different artworks we were to create a masterpiece by ourselves. To expand on our ideas, our teachers let us explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art which housed quite a few impressionist artworks. I anxiously walked through the exhibit, hoping some kind of concept of what I wanted to do would bloom in my mind. I stared deep into the paintings as if I were to be dragged into it like a black hole at any moment. I noticed how the painters used strokes to make the painting seem blurry but very subtle to lead the viewer to their imagination. I already had experience in painting but I wanted this to be something new and mysterious. This task was going to be unique and I was determined to make it the best I can.

It was finally time to paint and I chose the scene where the main character, Annemarie, found peace amongst the chaos during WWll. She was watching fireworks in the night sky. I wanted to start at an angle where the view was through her eyes like she was directly seeing it. I had to put myself in her shoes and painting the scene in that very moment. As we sat in class, I let myself go and let my mind and hands do all the work. I allowed my emotions get to me and tried to feel what Annemarie would have felt so that the scenery would be powerful. It screamed happiness and excitement but sadness all at the same time. It was like you would get the same thrill of watching fireworks and just looking at the painting and being there yourself. It represented that even during the darkest times there was light.

I started from one small sparkle to a massive firework like Annemarie herself, just a young girl with great ambitions. I painted some small, and some larger than others using bright, and alive colors that brings joy within us. I painted the dark black buildings, which were above the water. They stood tall, the pigmented color of black, as prominent as ever. I painted the water with ripples and reflections and look as if it was glistening, like you can reach out and touch it. If you looked close enough it seemed as if it is moving and you can hear the soothing quiet sounds of the water. I didn’t let myself stop until I felt as if there was nothing left to add.

This all came back to how everybody thinks art is just something you accomplish just for a leisure activity. It’s something that gives people joy, it’s something you can’t throw away or hide, it’s something someone should spend time on or make it their career. It allows people to express themselves whatever the situation you are in. Whether you are angry, emotional, happy, those moods allow you to produce different types of art and makes it meaningful. It is a way of finding peace. It is the positive vibes during the bad times.

Art is dependent on ourselves. It’s on you whether you want to express this talent of yours that other people may not have. A majority of people think that arts isn’t something you should focus and spend your life on or that you won’t get noticed for it and that doesn’t mean you have to stop doing it all together. Don’t let the negativity stop you. Don’t let it knock you down. Don’t give up. Let it motivate you instead to continue with your passion. “You have the control of your future. Control of you is all in your mind and your hands. Don’t let anybody take control of your future other than you,” states Dina Torkia (UK Stylist). It’s not just in arts but other subjects as well. People telling you what to be when you grow up or what to do. Today, it’s like society has your fate written, you have to be a doctor or engineer. As Dina said, your mind and your hands give you the ability to do what you want in your life so do not let what people say get to you. This is what I have learned from this experience; get past the barriers and reach for whatever you want in life. It may take time but you will eventually get it. I could not figure out what to do with the empty canvas. But I got passed it all and produced something that was valuable. It’s not just the tiny things like this assignment, but the larger things in life.

It was as if someone snapped their fingers and brought me back to reality, that I realized I had something to finally write about. I opened my eyes and smiled and let myself and my hands type away, like I was painting once again.

My main goal for this piece was to show my friendship with my bestfriend Saiyeh. I wanted people to see what friendship means to me. I think that I described how I feel about my friend well. I did lots of editing to my piece since my first draft so it has improved a lot. I feel that through the whole process of writing this advanced essay I did a good job, so I am proud of that. Something I can improve on is trying to find ways to use metaphors and other different writing skills in my writing.

Stuffing her life into three suitcases a guitar case and a box. It’s crazy when you pack your life it just looks so small. It makes you realize that was only the beginning of your life story. I said goodbye to my best friend that night. Blasting our summer playlist on Spotify as we danced around her mess of a room. Singing every song because every song brings back a memory from our perfect unforgettable summer. As I sit on her suitcase to close it with her, “Riptide” comes blazing through the speaker. We both stop and smile at each other. This was our summer song. As a tear crawled down her face, she realized this summer was behind her and it was time for the next chapter of her life. I took her hand and started singing. Music has always seemed to be our escape.

This moment comes in my mind when I look at the panting pinned onto my wall. I remember the moment that my best friend Saiyeh gave it to me. Looking at the sunset in the background of the painting remembering how beautiful that night was. This sunset is red, orange and yellow; all combined. When I look at this painting, so many memories float in my head. The sunset reminding me of the last day we were in Indiana together. After 4 days of looking at the sky, the last night was the most beautiful. Not just because the colors blended perfectly together but, the guitar in Saiyeh’s arms as we sang many songs made it the best night ever. Everything just felt right in that moment. We just soaked up the many memories. I never wanted to leave because “the sky is just so big” Saiyeh would say in awe.

The next thing that catches my eyes on the painting is a tree that is on the left side of the canvas. The tree is brown and you can only see half of its big trunk. This brings back all of the times we met at “our tree” at the park near us. We painted beautiful pictures and listened to music a little too loud. The tree is drawn with grass surrounding it. I remember the many grass stains that I still have on my jeans from laying in the grass at Rittenhouse or the park near us. We just were not able to stay away from parks. We just loved the wind blowing through our hair and the grass below our bare feet. Sitting on the grass, that is surrounding the tree, there is a girl. This girl’s body is facing the horizon, but her face is turned to the right. Looking at the beautiful view all around her. Her torso is a skeleton where you can see her spine and her ribs. This reminds me of beauty that comes truly from the inside. Her shoulders, neck and face are normal reminding me how we got over the many struggles and look deep within.

Friendship to me is a connection that can’t be broken. Friendship is one of the reasons I wake up in the morning. Knowing that I have people who care for me and that will always be there helps me keep my head up throughout the day. I have been through many things and my friends have came right to my door to comfort me. One time, when I just got off a serious conversation with my cousin that resulted in me crying, Saiyeh came right up to me held me in her arms as we swung back and forth on the porch swing. This sad moment didn’t last long though with her by my side the next thing I know we were both laughing so hard that are stomachs hurt. We can never stay serious when we are with each other. Another time when my dog passed away, she found out and her and I took a walk. We bought a tub of ice cream, then we sat on some random steps talking about the whole thing. Some people overuse the term “bestfriend.” They use the word very frequently for people who they don’t know much about. A best friend is someone who you have an unbreakable bond with; you can relate on a different level. Saiyeh and I have that relationship, we connect in every way. Art and creativity strengthens that relationship we can talk hours and hours about it.

The last day with Saiyeh before she went to college, had a bittersweet feeling. Sad, because I won’t see her everyday and knowing that she wouldn’t be near. I felt the grip loosening on the rope that held us together. I also felt happy because she is about to start the next chapter of her life where she will grow and become an even better inspiring, talented, and beautiful person. I may not be able to see her everyday but I’ll always remember the many memories that we shared and the many memories to come. “A strong friendship doesn’t need daily conversation or being together. As long as the friendship lives in your heart, true friends never part.” The fullness in my heart will always be there because of our deep friendship.

Hayley Barci September 14th, 2016 The masterpiece of my life: It was a fair-weather day, the sun rays shimmering between the falling leaves of the trees, standing tall throughout the park. The fresh smell of the air inhaling, and exhaling through my nostrils. The bright, white piece of paper, with lines, circles, and different kinds of shapes. The start of a new drawing, staring me in the eyes, speaking it’s own words of wonders, wondering how I should finish this masterpiece. My mother spoke,”It is a beautiful piece you have created, my dear.” Expanding my mind into all the geographic shapes, I could possibly think of. I, as a woman, thought of the hourglass shape, that every possible woman has. Thinking to myself,”maybe……..just maybe, I could put that idea into my piece. Somehow I could tell the story of my experiences through my sophisticated, yet simple drawing. My pencil began making wonders, from tear drops, to flowers. From skies to waters, and sights never seen. The tears of hope streaming down my face, within the past and present experiences. This is was a moment of hope and joy. The love and passion I had put into this piece, reflects all of the challenges and fears I had to face throughout my life. I was always focused on the destination, instead of the journey. I then, gained that faith that pushes me through all of the challenges I face.

As I began to get distracted through the nature that surrounds my body and soul, I decided, I want to capture these beautiful views. I then slipped out my camera out of my bag, began to capture the memories seen through my own eyes. My mother looked over my shoulder, then spoke,”What beautiful pictures you’ve taken”, I replied,”sure”. Not believing any comments that have come my way. Unsure of whether or not they’re true or not. Not realizing the true meaning of loving myself, and self care.

Reminding me of the day, My whole world was flipped upside down. It was the beginning of my freshman year of highschool, I was petrified, and afraid of myself. I’m in tears, staring down at the shimmering light, reflected on the knife, lying in the palm of my hand. Thinking that the whole world is against me, I began slowly facing the knife towards my chest. Until, I hear the soft, fearful voice,”Hayley, please, put, the knife, down. I turn my head towards the right. I can see the fear within her eyes, and the shakiness within her fingers. Blaming myself for what I had just done. My mind speaking,”It’s all your fault, your mother now hates you for what you have done to her.” I’m fighting with everything i’ve got in order to make it through these challenges, but I could never succeed. At least I thought I couldn’t.Within the next day, I ended up in the hospital, or better yet, hospitalized. I was hospitalized five different times within two years. While I was inpatient, I would color, draw, and do many things that made happy, and made me feel good inside. It didn’t really matter what other people think, as a long as it makes you happy.

Through my art, I was able to realize that life wasn’t just a terrifying dream, I was able to realize that these journeys are priceless, that it’s the journey that matters, not the destination. My strength grows every single day, I believe in myself more, as I go. Art is my reflection of those challenges, and journeys that come my way. I’m in control of my life now, and not one soul can change that, nor bring me down, because here’s one thing for sure, I will, get back up. I’ve learned to not care about what other people think of me, i’ve learned about my own self-care. You shouldn’t care about what other people think of you, their opinion is not important, only your own opinions matter. Just because you have self care doesn’t mean that you’re a selfish person. It just means that you are expanding yourself and your own being. I myself was bullied for eight years straight, after all of those years of being beaten down, I found my strength within art. Within all of the colors, and the geographic shapes. Lost within all of the wondrous words to describe the masterpiece, of my life.

Click Here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mP-YgB7eboFe_JYufLEaVVIblwHW-JnkeanUv7Tizc8/edit?usp=sharing