Globalization in Philadelphia.

Here is my project.

What i found most challenging about this project was figuring out an idea for a picture. the first thing I did in order to get ideas for taking pictures was asking questions and looking at every detail of everything that I walked by. I also googled ideas as well. My favorite image would be the event that took place for the "Education" section because it was my capstone and it incorporated well within this project. The use of globalization in Philadelphia is very prevalent. I think it is more evident in the U.S because we started off as a country of different people from everywhere. We are a melting pot. 

Life and Death

Life and Death is a short film, of about 7 minutes. It is about a teenage girl who gets kidnapped by her father's assistant, because her father's assistant wants more money. It is the reflection of the kidnapper after death, and shows how she has no remorse, even after dying.

Short Reflection on the year

What do you feel your portfolio says about you as a 9th grade English student? What are we as viewers supposed to "get"/understand about you when we see your work?

 

It was a great year working with Mrs. Dunn, she taught me very well. I feel as the year progressed I have become a stronger writer in the way that I can now write longer passages without complaining or telling myself I can’t do this. In my writing I think you will find my views on certain things and also my writing shows I’m not just your average 9th grade student I’m something more  

What do you consider to be your strengths in English? What are your weaknesses? What would you still want to work on?

 

My strengths I would say that I have many stories and ideas prepared before I write which I think help me go along as I write


What is the piece you are most proud of, and why?

 

My quarter 3 benchmark, because It shows the writer that I’ve become throughout the year.

Introduction

​         As a 9th grader, I feel that my portfolio says that I have a lot of potential when focusing on my work. To me this is a great thing, also, when I get older and more knowledgeable, I could look back at the hard work that I was able to do in the 9th grade and look at what I could do now. When viewers see my work, they are supposed to “get” that my work shows that I strive for the best and work my hardest to get the best grade possible.

         I consider my strengths in English to be spelling and comprehending. My weakness is presenting my work, the reason why is, when all eyes are on me I sometimes get the Tinker bellies, butterflies, stage fright there are many names for it. I would still want to work on presenting in front of a big crowd. I really do not like that feeling I get inside when I am presenting. I want it to go away and the only way to get that out of me is by facing my fears and practice presenting in front of many people.

         The experience I had when making this portfolio is, when looking at the work I did in the beginning of the school year, I realized that I could have made certain changes in the way I said things and the words I used. Therefore, it was just amazing how when I looked back at what I did, since I have been learning new words, I changed it to the words the words that I learned this school year.

         The piece I am most proud of is my Me Magazine. The reason why is, it is colorful, beautiful, and full of what I love and me. It describes me and what I am made of and it also shows my creativity; also because it shows how much hard work pays off. Even if you do not read it, you can tell that I still worked hard on it because of the designs, and pictures, and the advertisements.

Q4 BM- Macbeth Character Analysis

Overview- Students had to read the book Macbeth in our English class. When the reading of the book was over, there was a project/write up being done with quote analysis. Quote analysis was the way we found quotes and gave evidence and supported the statement. Starting off ten quotes was chosen to also support your hypothesis.

                      Character Analysis (Macbeth)

Lady Macbeth’s change during the book Macbeth was very evaluated in order to portray her growth. She starts off as a very strong woman who knew what she wanted in the play and by the end her strength turns into weakness.

Lady Macbeth says, “ Under my battlements. Come you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” In Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 39-41 the speaker is Lady Macbeth. This is one of the first times Lady Macbeth is first introduced in the play. It shows that she wants to be seen more than women, with more power, and maybe even seen as something that is non-perishable or not of the human race. Lady Macbeth seems to possibly want the power that men do in her era because they were more heard than the women. But what does she want this strength for? She seems to be robust but longs for recognition, longing for what her husband Macbeth has, but she doesn’t.

“To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eyes, your eye, your hand, your tongue; like th’ innocent flower.” is what Lady Macbeth spoke in that passage. More of Lady Macbeth’s character is shown when she says” it is portrayed that she can be very devious, slick, and sneaky. “Act 1, Scene 5, and Lines 62-64. With this in mind, it shows that Lady Macbeth is pretty much capable of anything, but does it so that she is not easily suspected. In this point in the story she is hatching a fraudulent act with her husband, which is killing the King Duncan.

“But screw your courage to the sticking place”, Lady Macbeth stated in Act1, Scene 7, and Line 61. When Lady Macbeth says this she is having a conversation about killing King Duncan. This quote is revealing that at this point and time Lady Macbeth is very serious about King Duncan’s assassination. It also makes her a person who is very confident in her plan. When Lady Macbeth says this she is talking to her husband, trying to boost his confident that the plan of killing Duncan will work and that everything will go well.

In Act 1, Scene 7, and lines 48-49 Lady Macbeth says, “That made you break this break this enterprise to me? When you drust do it, then you were a man.” In this part of the play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are disputing over their plan, which was killing King Duncan. This time it seems like Macbeth can’t come through with his part of the deal. Lady Macbeth is very upset, which reveals a lot about her character. She seems to be dismayed that her husband doesn’t want to go along with his part of the deal. It also shows that Lady Macbeth has a way with words to makes try to get her way.

In Act 2 of the play the attempt of the death is done. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill Duncan. “Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, and tis’ not done. The attempt and not the deed” (Act 2, Scene 2, and Lines 9-10) When Lady Macbeth says it is shown that she is a little unsure of this because she is scared that her and Macbeth will get caught, which is why the attempt and not the deed would be done. This also represents that she still decided to go along with killing Duncan as she planned with her husband making her of her word. In fact when she says this quotes she is speaking to Macbeth trying to make sure that everything goes right, it shows her fear and worry to what will occur in the future as well.

Act 2, Scene 2, Line 9-10 is where Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers”. They are doing the deed, but Macbeth brought the daggers with him and is feeling guilty. This reveals that Lady Macbeth is a little controlling. She also seems powerful and shows her power by demanding the daggers and putting them in their place herself. Lady Macbeth seems pretty assured that things will go right and it also reveals that Lady Macbeth helps her husband get back on track when he is not mentally strong.

As the play goes on Lady Macbeth’s state of mind begins to change. Now in Act 3, Scene 2, and Lines 7-8 Lady Macbeth says, “Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy”. This is showing a little bit of fear, sadness, and doubt on Lady Macbeth’s part. Basically when she says that Lady Macbeth is saying that she is scared that one day she will be discovered. Also, it is revealing that Lady Macbeth seems to start getting weaker as the play goes on because now that the deed is done she is no longer as confident as before. When Lady Macbeth says this she is having an aside/ soliloquy, which is her basically expressing her emotions as to what is happening.

As the story is started to end, it is visible to see where Lady Macbeth is starting to loose her strength. This is shown where Lady Macbeth says, “What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that” in Act 5, Scene 1, and Lines 43-44. This means that Lady is feeling the guilt from killing King Duncan. She feels as though she feels weak and her ways. Lady Macbeth is showing that she is getting a little mentally unstable. When she says this quote she is not conscious she is saying it because of the fact that she is sleep walking out of guilt.

There is also evidence that that Lady Macbeth is pretty unsure of herself when the gentlewomen in the play says, “She has spoken what she should not, I am sure of that. Heaven knows what she has known”. {Act 5, Scene 1, Line 48) In this part this is where Lady Macbeth is sleep walking and can’t hold her guilt. This tells about her that her weakness has taken over. Also, it tells the others now that she is possibly capable of anything now that they know that she has leaked what she has done. With this in mind, Lady Macbeth is now on her weakness point.

“ Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”, is what Lady Macbeth says in Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 50-51. She is most likely turning insane with the fact that she can’t handle she has murdered a human being. It is reveals that her motives were most likely different from before. She was most likely thinking about the fact that she wanted to be royalty, but the fact that she is now royalty she realizes that she was definitely power crazed. This is before the scene ends and right before Lady Macbeth decided to end her life.

In conclusion Lady MacBeth went from someone who was prevailing to someone who was weak. She was very determined to kill. Once Lady Macbeth and Macbeth killed King Duncan and she because royalty over time she wasn’t able to cope with her decision.

Q4 BM- Memoir Vignette

Overview: “As Life Goes On” is what my assignment was titled. The book “The House On Mango Street” inspired this memoir vignette. The purpose was to take an important moment or moments in our lives where we can recap details that are pretty vivid. This moment had to be important and so that is exactly what went on in my piece. I expressed myself, in a manner that was never thought possible, which is the purpose of writing in general.

                       As Life Goes On(Memoir Vignette)

I was miserable when I was young. (Opener) I didn’t always live in the northeast portion of Philadelphia. I did in fact live in North Philadelphia. My sanity seemed to end at the age of eight when I was exposed to things I felt no one should ever be. No child, no sinner, no parent (magic three). No one at all.

Almost everyone was smoking, drinking and getting high. (Magic three) People shot each other, fought over unnecessary things, and thought it was okay to rob others just for the hell of it. (Magic three) Most people thought that they were cool if they did those things, but for me the word cool meant fool. As I walked alone in the dark as the shadows lurk behind me, I didn’t feel safe. I saw other people get jumped and hoped that I wasn’t the next victim. Everyday I was susceptible to fear every single moment of the day. I was only eight, maybe I didn’t quite understand everything that was going on at the time, but I knew what drugs and violence were and that they were one of those things people should stay away from. (Imagery)

All I can possibly recall is feeling anguish, anger, and confusion. (Magic three and vocabulary) I felt that feeling where I didn’t know how to feel, my heart seemed to beat faster as each beat went on. It was in those moments where I wanted to help the situation at hand, but felt helpless. Being in a room full of people, it always seemed as though I was the only one there. These feelings seemed to have evolved because my neighborhood in North Philadelphia was full of gang violence and drug addicts. (Imagery)

Day after day after day (rep for effect), it seemed as though these things just weren’t going away. I never expected that anyone in my family would ever fall under the influence of either gang violence or drugs, but I guess I should have expected the unexpected. My brother Raymundus (Ray) ended up falling into the influence of both things actually. As each minute passed I felt like my brother was slipping away from the grasp of my mother’s hand. Of course she tried helping him, but my mother seemed to be as helpless as I was. What my mother was trying to do just didn’t seem to amount to enough. (Part of my realization)

So everyday I seemed to go to my room at night and just lay under my covers. The months seemed to pass by and still no hope. In the summer and spring I could feel the gust of the winds feeling against my walls and slapping me in the face. (Personification & metaphor) The chills seemed to run through my body and it was as cold as a winter’s day, but the only thing I knew to do was pray for salvation and cry. In the winter and fall time I felt the heat of my tears warming my face up as the tears rolled down my cheek. I began to feel hot, angry and frustrated. (Magic three) There was frustration that didn’t seem to leave my alone. It wasn’t something that anyone could just brush off, but at the same time being eight it was hard to confront. I cried and cried and cried, but that didn’t seem to help the situation at all. (Personification, magic three and rep for effect)

As the time went by my family seemed to move up to the Northeast portion of Philadelphia. We hoped that things would get better, since we would be away from being in North Philadelphia, but we were wrong. That sister and brother bond that we had before, that I seemed to see again just never came back. Before he fell victim it was like a big happy family my sister, brother, and I were all best friends. After drugs took over his life we wouldn’t even say a word to each other.  In fact the situation seemed to get even worse. Nothing seemed to help, no talking to him, no leaving notes, my sister and I seemed to loose hope. Confrontations between my mother and brother seemed to occur everyday, yelling and screams is all that ever happened when my brother was there.

These confrontations led to my brother just walking out of the house. He wouldn’t come back until random times in the night it could be one o’clock and he still wasn’t home. All I could possibly do was hope that nothing happened to him and that everything was okay. I figured that with some time that I would possibly get used to it, but I never did. Every time I saw my brother his eyes were red.

My brother’s body was always as bruised as a tomato, from gang fights. (Simile) My family was never really ever to process this considering that my brother is so intelligent, but decided to waste his talent. My mother always seemed to lecture him about it, but it never ended well. Then again I can’t imagine anything worst than losing a child considering I’m not even a parent. My mother tried speaking to my brother because she knows he has the potential and she didn’t want her child to end up in jail or in a grave before his calling.

Ray never really seemed to understand the pain and agony that my mother was going through and indeed it seems that we end up hurting the people we love the most.  I can remember this situation like it was yesterday. My mother picked up the house phone and busted out into tears. I was scared and thought my brother was dead. I then find out that his drink had been spiked and besides that he had been given “angel dust”, which caused him hallucinations.

In that moment I was beyond frightened; seeing my mother heart broken always seems to make me heart broken, and feel beyond helpless. All I knew in that moment, like always was to cry. We hopped in the car, rushed to the hospital, and ran into the E.R. (magic three) Finally after a long wait we got to see my brother. He was on the verge of death, his skin was beyond pale, and besides that he was throwing up everywhere. (Magic three) The fact that he was throwing up didn’t stop me from my first instinct so I just I grabbed his hand, looked at him, and told him I loved him. (Magic three) It was in that moment we connected as brother and sister; it was like we were two chemicals whose bond could not be broken. (Simile)

Of course I knew that drugs could end someone’s life, but never did I think it could affect a family member and my relationship with them or with someone I love. All I could think of in that moment was how glad I was that Ray was alive. From that day on I made a vow that I wouldn’t ever do drugs or try to do anything that would hurt the people around me. (Realization)

The intelligence that my brother had, never left him being caught up with the wrong people at the wrong time is what happened. Also, Knowing that he needed help, but was too hard headed to admit it is another thing Ray lacked. My mother got him help one day and I recall it being the best day of my life. It hurt to know that although my brother and I didn’t even exchange words I wouldn’t be able to see his face everyday, though I knew it was for the best.

 

My brother made a vow to change his ways, but who knew if he would stay true to what he said. It took some time, but with time everything fell into its place. Currently, my brother is away at a school, un addicted to drugs (Magic 3) and striving to be the best he could possibly be. Soon he will be in college, and realizes that his actions weren’t the smartest. Our relationship hasn’t been the same like when we he was about 12, considering we just starting talk again about 2 months ago. Although, everyday that we talk it seems like its something we build up.

Q4 BM- The Odyssey Compare/Contrast Essay

Overview: For this assignment in particular, everyone had to compare two characters to each other and show how the two were distinctive as well. With doing so, we had to have a thesis and analysis in order to back up our thoughts towards both characters and their well-being

Odysseus vs. Everett Final

Throughout the world characteristics of leaders are courageous, smart, and usually very tactical. There are many aspects that define leaders beside the fact that they always do everything correctly. There is evidence in the movie “ O Brother, Where Art Thou? “, written by Jeff Martin and also throughout the book The Odyssey by Homer. The main characters, and leaders, from these stories are Everett from and Odysseus from the book, respectively. While Odysseus and Everett are very strong men and tactical leaders that have their flaws; Everett was more willing to not only accept the fact that he makes mistakes, but also apologize to his crew members about said mistakes. This makes Everett a better leader.

As heroic leaders, Odysseus and Everett took very similar missions throughout their voyages in order to get back home to their families and normal lives, especially back to their wives. These two leaders had to overcome all the obstacles that came in their way of returning home to their loved ones. For example, throughout both stories the men had to pass the mystical and strange Sirens, which seemed like an impossible task. Odysseus is told to tell the crew members by Circe” But if you plead, commanding your men to set you free, then they must last you faster, rope on rope”(Book 12, page 273, line 59) Meanwhile, too occupied of the task trying to get to their destinations both lose men, losing sight of reality, honesty, and concentration. Since, they are “leaders”, they attempt to disguise their weakness and remorse in order to move on with the situation at hand, which is where there cockiness comes into play. Everett decides to say, “Where is my hair treatment”, while the crew is in a desperate time of need of food and shelter, just as Odysseus did with his men by saying” And if someone were to ask you who blinded me tell them my name is Odysseus raider of the cities”(Book 9, page 227 line 561) and when he did this he put the lives of his crew members at risk of not only getting home, but getting there alive.

Odysseus ends up loosing all his men and going home alone because he doesn’t want to tell his men his plans, to warn them because of his pride, unlike Everett who goes home with his two men he came. Even though Everett didn’t tell his men the ideas he knew that his men weren’t in danger at those moments. Odysseus risks his men life when they are near Scylla by saying “No mention of Scylla-how to fight that nightmare?”(Book 12, page 278 line 241)

 Although, both characters take similar missions, Everett’s wife is not faithful to him & instead of taking the time to kill the man like Odysseus did he finds the way to get him out of both of their lives. Throughout the book Everett and Odysseus find ways to deceive their men or make them angry, Everett unlike Odysseus realizes that he is only human and swallows up his pride in order to apologize to his men by saying “I know that I have made tactical mistakes”. Odysseus doesn’t apologize, but shows grief by expressing how he felt when he saw his men die such a terrible death. He says “I could see their hands and feet already hoisted, falling, high, higher, over my head, look wailing down at me, comrades riven in agony, shrieking out my name for the last time….Of all the pitiful things I’ve had to witness”(Book 12, page 279, lines 266-280) Everett has two other men on his side that he has to lead, but Odysseus has many men, which is a result of him having to be more secure of himself and of his actions. For ex. when Odysseus furls the rock at the Cyclops, it could have ended some of his crewmembers’ lives as well just because of his pride.

 Pride and selfishness are not best characteristics. Everett displays himself as a cocky leader, while Odysseus displays himself as both selfish and cocky. Since Everett was able to put his characteristics aside, unlike Odysseus who never really owned up to the fact that it was his fault that his men never made it back with him, he was able to make a better leader.

Four top journal entries from the year

We write to express ourselves and to kind of get your ideas and feelings down on paper. We write to influence and help teach others on our experiences. The point of writing is to express yourself and your ideas throughout paragraphs, poems, or songs.

 

If you really knew me…

If you really knew me you would know that I really care about my family

And that I’m a great athlete

Also you would know that I try to make others live better by making them laugh

If you really knew me you would know tat I want to be great someday

And still haven’t planed out a route to get there

Only if you really knew me…

If you really knew me you would know that I come from a family that strives for greatness

And for me it hard to follow in their footsteps

If you knew me you would know I try my best to keep up the juggle between friends, sports, and schoolwork

If you really knew me you would know that I love music because I come from parents that also love music.

If you really knew me you would know that my dad is my best friend, because he’s been there for me through thick and thin.

If you really k new me you could see that im always going to be me and none will change that.

Only if you really knew…

 

I feel like a person needs their family to survive the world. Our family is there trough holidays and birthdays and can be helpful in or life to get that advice you need. Holidays like thanksgiving could help you because every one giving out thanks to each other and sharing a meal and also you can experience them because you don’t see them throughout the year.

On birthdays this is true also, your family could give you advice about the future because

They have experienced things throughout their lives and don’t want you to make the same mistakes.

 

In today’s world it is very important to fit in with the crowd, through social networks, celebrities, and friends influence them to become a person they are not. While being you self is important the world is creating a new generation of followers and no one is becoming a leader. So really the importance of fitting in is key to a social life in today’s world.

One Independent Reading Review Project

My book review of Monster by Walter Dean Myers 

Roger Bracy                                                                                                            1/11/11

Book Review

 

            The book I read this semester was Monster by Walter Dean Myers. This book has won many awards such as:

·                Coretta Scott King Honor (Author)

·                ALA Best Book for Young Adults

·                ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

·                Kentucky Bluegrass Award

·                ALA Best Book for Young Adults

·                ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

·                New York Times Notable Book of the Year

 

The story of Monster follows the court trial of Steve Harmon and James King, Who are being charged with the murder of drugstore owner. The story is told as if it were a movie from Steve’s point of view. This Murder was not Steve’s fault, but because he was near the crime scene as a supposed look out Steve was found in the wrong place at the wrong time. As the movie rolls on the life of Steve goes with it, seeing that when the trial end for the day he goes back to the cell where he feels uncomfortable and doubts himself in a way that he mite loose this trial.

The main conflict was between Steve and him self as he dealt with the fact that he was being labeled a monster. Steve didn’t want to believe that he was monster, but the fact he watched out as a James took another persons life must have been hard to swallow. Even though the conflict still is still in his head, Steve sets morals for himself to become a better person after this trial. Unluckily, James is charged with murder and Steve is sent out to begin his new life.

  My favorite character throughout this story was Steve Harmon, he shows the strength and courage to believe that he is not something that people label him as, a monster. That shows that the moral of this was just that, if people label you as something, would you let people decide who are; or will you decide who you become? I could relate to Steve the best because he went through something that I

 Have dealt with when I was in grade school, I was stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.

            I would recommend this book because Walter Dean Myers is a good auther and can relate his topic with many people.

Journal entry 4#

Quarter 3, January 3rd 2011

If I pulled off a great trick, I wouldn’t tell people who would tell the people that the trick was pulled on. But I wouldn’t keep it to myself either. I would probably tell 2 of my best friends and then I’d wait a little while until the reaction to the trick had blown over or if I was far away when I played the trick on someone, I would wait until I got home to tell people about the trick. I would do this to ensure the people I played a trick on didn’t find out, and to keep myself out of trouble. Also, I’d have to take into consideration what the trick was, and who it would effect before I considered telling people about it. I think that this all depends on who, what, when, and where. 

Quarter 3 Benchmark (The Odyssey Compare/Contrast Essay)

​This was about comparing the story of Everett and the story Odysseus 

Roger Bracy                                                                                                             3/6/11

 

Everett vs. Odysseus

 

The Odyssey and O’ Brother Where Art Thou featured two adventurers who went down similar paths and confronted several dangers during their journey to get back home. O’ Brother Where Art Thou spotlighted Everett, a criminal who wants to get back home to his wife and kids.  He had to take two men with him to escape the chain gang, a group of prisoners working along side the road. Likewise, in The Odyssey, Odysseus was a leader in the Trojan War, and was trying to get home to his wife back in Ithaca with his crew. Even though Everett and Odysseus had a long journey, full of anguish and battle, one crew returned intact because of one man’s leadership skills. This great leader was Everett.

Odysseus and Everett both spotted one-eyed creatures in both their quests. However, when they confronted the beasts, they had different outcomes. When Odysseus first met Polyphemus, the Cyclops was a huge obstacle that he had to conquer. Odysseus, a man of pride, wasn’t going to let his men be trapped in the Polyphemus’s cave, so he made a plan to get the barbarian drunk and opened up the cave so his men could be free. “Hoisting high that olive stake with its stabbing point. Straight into the monster’s eye they rammed it hard.” (Book 9: lines 427-428) Odysseus not only makes the beast pass out, he outdid himself by piercing the eye of the Cyclops, blinding him forever.

This reflects Everett’s journey where he encountered a man of one eye, Big Dan Teague. While eating at a fancy restaurant, Everett and Delmar are confronted by a holy man, by the name of Big Dan Teague. He then took the men outside to eat and teach them the rules of selling the bible, and as soon as they weren’t paying attention, Big Dan pulled a branch off of a tree and beat the men with it. Dan took their money and car and left them stranded, but Everett would encounter Big Dan again. He made his second appearance when he chased and stormed after Everett and his crew while they interrupted the Homer Stokes KKK clan. Once the men got away they cut the rope of the burning cross the end the life of Big Dan Teague. Although Everett and Odysseus both faced a Cyclops the after math was very different.

Everett and Odysseus’s journeys are comparable by their Knowledge of their last obstacles. As Odysseus met his last challenge the advice from Circe aided his quest forward and helped them reach the island of Thrinacia. Her advice was “First you will raise the island of the sirens.”(Book 12: line 44) “Once you crew has rowed past the sirens a choice of routes is yours.” (Book 12: lines 61-62), talking about the routes between Scylla and Charybdis, and don’t eat the cattle, “Leave the beast unharmed, … and you may still reach Ithaca.” (Book 12: lines 148-149) Odysseus’s knowledge of the situation helped guide his men past the sirens and the two routes. To conclude his task, Odysseus’s men ended up eating the cattle leaving him to return without his crew intact.

Identical to Odysseus, Everett while at the end of his journey remembered information that was crucial to his crew’s survival. While facing their death, Everett and his men were going to be hung and killed off for all the crimes they have committed. Everett stood strong, as he knew that the dam was going to brake and flood the county by the lake. The men were saved from their death by the knowledge of Everett and they soon returned home. The ending of both men’s voyage was very similar as they both got home safely, but only one of these men came home with his crew; Everett was a better leader then Odysseus because he was able to get his crew home safely.

Furthermore Everett and Odysseus encountered similar quests and faced identical obstacles along the way, but only one man showed great leadership and got his men home. Everett has proven, multiple times, that he could save his men in his passage to get home; he wouldn’t leave his men in any situation that he wouldn’t overcome with them. As for Odysseus, he was hesitant to save his crew throughout his Journey because he had one task in his head; to go home. Everett and Odysseus, who come from different centuries, both found their way back home, but one man’s journey proved to his fellow crew that he could conquer all tasks that he was faced with to get his men out of trouble.

 

Quarter 2 Benchmark (Memoir Vignette)

​This was about telling a story about our life through our eyes.

Roger Bracy                                                                                                            1/7/11

 

The Ride of My Life

 

            Forty-two stories of solid medal of stood in my way, and I wasn’t backing down from a challenge. (Interesting opener) That day at six flags changed my life; (Foreshadow) and the sign had stated “Kingda Ka”(dialogue) was my death ticket.

       I was wondering why my friend had chosen this route to the other side of the park seeing that it had no outlet filled me with curiosity. Then I looked up, there stood the tallest coaster in the World, they called it “Kingda Ka.” Standing there trying to scare us on to this monstrosity was my friend Frank. Even though Frank is a loyal friend he has a way to trick you into doing things, such as, making you say stupid things, practical jokes, or things like getting on a scary ride.(magic three) As my sister and my cousin shied away from the ride I felt a little sorry for him seeing that it was the only ride that he enjoyed the most, and I gave in.

            Walking through the maze of the line (metaphor) I questioned myself by saying, “Am I really going to risk my life over a friend.” Next I noticed that we were moving through this line really quickly was there absence of people. This had to be a mistake because this was the most popular ride in the park. We continued on to find that the ride had stopped temporally; this was my chance to leave. Having second thoughts about a ride made this experience even worse and frank wasn’t having it. Watching the ride load up, go up, and come down (magic 3) the ride got more and more intense.

            The line finally caught up to us at the bridge, an area where the coaster was very clear. The train slowly would pull out onto a long track, STOP; shift back an inch and “CLICK” (onomatopoeia). Speakers shouting phrases of “don’t do it!” and “there’s no turning back now!” (Dialogue) The riders are consumed by terror as if they where a little kid waiting for a monster to jump out of a closet. (Simile) Like a rubber band, the coaster was ready to be released (simile) and the riders flung out at speeds of 85mph to climb the 42 stories which is known to be Kingda Ka.

As we approached the front of the line I was overwhelmed by fear buy some of the sights I was witnessing. There were foreigners, who had thick accents, they where very excited and had traveled all the way across the world to ride this giant piece of metal. Then religion started to show as I found people praying before the ride the left, right, up, and down hand motion of the cross gave some the strength to go on. Noticing that the line was beginning to congest, it was because of the exiting area, many people where exiting I guess felt a little like me.

Frank and I were next in line so kind wanted to get rid of my fear so I decided to ask people in the line some questions. I found a kid who was about my age and was very excited to go on, “what the hardest part of this ride?” I asked, (Dialogue) He answered going up this gave me the idea that if I can make it through to the top the rest would be pretty easy. Next Frank and started to count how long it takes to reach the top, it took about 14 seconds.

We were next; we hopped into our seats and waited for instructions. The worker told us to strap the harness as far as it could go down on our bodies. At this moment in time I was regretting that I had ever made fun of a fat person because they were the only people who could be held down properly on this ride as I was skinny and could shift all around the car. As we left the loading station the car slowly move us forward we stop the speakers were all around us shouting “No, No don’t do it!” and then all of the ride shot out like a cannon and we coasted our way up to the top. The ride became slower as everyone could now see that we hung over the parking lot and the view of black and white confronted us as we dropped down. It felt like an elephant was dancing on my stomach as we when down as it caved in. when it was over I was full of relief ans gave Frank a high five.

The ride ended, and I felt on top of the world and I thanked Frank for taking me on Kingda Ka. I figured that the only thing that held me back was the fact that I saw a challenge and I shy away and let my fear guide my mind. I never backed down and found that I would get through this nightmare. 

Quarter 2 Benchmark (Memoir Vignette)

This was about telling a story about our life through our eyes.

Roger Bracy                                                                                                            1/7/11

 

The Ride of My Life

 

            Forty-two stories of solid medal of stood in my way, and I wasn’t backing down from a challenge. (Interesting opener) That day at six flags changed my life; (Foreshadow) and the sign had stated “Kingda Ka”(dialogue) was my death ticket.

       I was wondering why my friend had chosen this route to the other side of the park seeing that it had no outlet filled me with curiosity. Then I looked up, there stood the tallest coaster in the World, they called it “Kingda Ka.” Standing there trying to scare us on to this monstrosity was my friend Frank. Even though Frank is a loyal friend he has a way to trick you into doing things, such as, making you say stupid things, practical jokes, or things like getting on a scary ride.(magic three) As my sister and my cousin shied away from the ride I felt a little sorry for him seeing that it was the only ride that he enjoyed the most, and I gave in.

            Walking through the maze of the line (metaphor) I questioned myself by saying, “Am I really going to risk my life over a friend.” Next I noticed that we were moving through this line really quickly was there absence of people. This had to be a mistake because this was the most popular ride in the park. We continued on to find that the ride had stopped temporally; this was my chance to leave. Having second thoughts about a ride made this experience even worse and frank wasn’t having it. Watching the ride load up, go up, and come down (magic 3) the ride got more and more intense.

            The line finally caught up to us at the bridge, an area where the coaster was very clear. The train slowly would pull out onto a long track, STOP; shift back an inch and “CLICK” (onomatopoeia). Speakers shouting phrases of “don’t do it!” and “there’s no turning back now!” (Dialogue) The riders are consumed by terror as if they where a little kid waiting for a monster to jump out of a closet. (Simile) Like a rubber band, the coaster was ready to be released (simile) and the riders flung out at speeds of 85mph to climb the 42 stories which is known to be Kingda Ka.

As we approached the front of the line I was overwhelmed by fear buy some of the sights I was witnessing. There were foreigners, who had thick accents, they where very excited and had traveled all the way across the world to ride this giant piece of metal. Then religion started to show as I found people praying before the ride the left, right, up, and down hand motion of the cross gave some the strength to go on. Noticing that the line was beginning to congest, it was because of the exiting area, many people where exiting I guess felt a little like me.

Frank and I were next in line so kind wanted to get rid of my fear so I decided to ask people in the line some questions. I found a kid who was about my age and was very excited to go on, “what the hardest part of this ride?” I asked, (Dialogue) He answered going up this gave me the idea that if I can make it through to the top the rest would be pretty easy. Next Frank and started to count how long it takes to reach the top, it took about 14 seconds.

We were next; we hopped into our seats and waited for instructions. The worker told us to strap the harness as far as it could go down on our bodies. At this moment in time I was regretting that I had ever made fun of a fat person because they were the only people who could be held down properly on this ride as I was skinny and could shift all around the car. As we left the loading station the car slowly move us forward we stop the speakers were all around us shouting “No, No don’t do it!” and then all of the ride shot out like a cannon and we coasted our way up to the top. The ride became slower as everyone could now see that we hung over the parking lot and the view of black and white confronted us as we dropped down. It felt like an elephant was dancing on my stomach as we when down as it caved in. when it was over I was full of relief ans gave Frank a high five.

The ride ended, and I felt on top of the world and I thanked Frank for taking me on Kingda Ka. I figured that the only thing that held me back was the fact that I saw a challenge and I shy away and let my fear guide my mind. I never backed down and found that I would get through this nightmare. 

Journal entry 3#

I didn’t really feel anything when the “N word” was said to us from the book we are reading in class. We are getting older and becoming more mature and there are words we’ll have to encounter as we grow older. It’s an important thing to encounter because the world isn’t always going to be rainbows and butterflies. No one has a perfect life, and people who try to avoid these words are avoiding the real world. In the real world there are sometimes people who don’t think about their actions, or they’re bad and disrespectful people. You will come across all sorts of people in your life time, And I know that isn’t something we have any control over. People are going to use fowl language and it is more important to know how to react, than to be angry or disappointed with them because that isn’t always the best approach. The word is awful, but inevitable. And in my mind words are only what you make them out to be. I also think that it’s inappropriate because nobody should be insulted in that way but unfortunately people will use that language.

Q4 BM- Creative Piece

Overview: This assignment was done in the beginning of the school year, possibly the first couple weeks of school. For this assignment, it was about us as well as and incorporating who we are throughout our writing. The purpose was to be able to distinguish who we are, and what makes us unique from others as well as seeing what we had in common with others as they presented their interests and hobbies.


Click picture to view:
Me Magazine , Bm

Q4 BM- Independent Reading Project

Overview: This independent reading review project consisted of us reading a book that interested us and righting a review on it. In the review, personal opinions were accounted for as well as if we would recommend this book to another person. The main purpose was to talk about the book, but mixing up some spices without adding in the entire flavor before the meet starts to cook.
In other words keeping the reader entertained was the main purpose as well as making the book sound interesting without giving away all the details. This is now my edited version of the assignment, since slight adjustments had to be made.

 

Book Review

Jason and Kyra is a book that has been written by Dana Davidson. The book was published in December 2005 and has reached a sales rank of about 31,000 books. Jason and Kyra won a couple awards, which are the Virginia’s choice award, National book award, and the Michael L. Prints award.

In Jason and Kyra the main characters are Jason and Kyra, hence the name of the book. In the story they seem to live in totally separate worlds, although they are both seniors at Cross High School. Jason being the totally popular jock that everyone wants and Kyra being the quiet girl that just doesn’t seem to stand out to many.

Their worlds seem to collide when they are both assigned to be partners for a project, of course Kyra didn’t seem too excited since she didn’t expect that Jason was smart. On the other side Jason looked forward to working with Kyra. As time goes by Kyra realizes that Jason is truly smart and has such potential when it comes to being in the classroom. They both start to gain a small connection for each other and Jason tells Kyra things that he isn’t even comfortable telling to his best friend.

Sooner than later, Kyra and Jason began to bond and end up becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. Only there is one problem, since Jason was known to be and jock and the popular one and Kyra was the silent girl that was mainly into the books, Jason’s ex girlfriend would do anything in her power to see them apart. Like Jason’s ex many people didn’t want them together asking them why they were together and on top of that Jason’s ex was trying to get him back, which many could say was hard. But Jason and Kyra found in each other beauty, confidence, and with that they learned to love one another and get past societies thoughts.

Throughout this story Jason was my favorite character. He was able to live above what others thought about his relationship and smarts, and decided that being himself was the best thing to do in his situation. Also, another reason that Jason was my favorite character was because he was able to thrive in his path to success and what was on him mind usually became the prize.

With that in mind, I believe that readers will be able to take away a lot from this book. Many can learn that confidence can lead a good path and that sometimes other people’s negative opinions don’t matter. Also, some people will take out of this book that in life you have to learn to be willing to surpass those little things in life that wont better your well being. Lastly, this book teaches you to chase after your dreams because your dreams surely wont chase after you.

Personally, from this book I am able to relate to Jason and Kyra because they were both confident when it came to getting what they wanted and they seemed to be the outcast of the school, which isn’t always bad. Of course they were known as outcasts because not many people wanted them to be together, but the fact that they fought through it is what made their love stronger for each other. Like Jason I wasn’t always able to speak to the people that I thought were close to me, so that is probably what made me enjoy the book even more.

The book to me was well written and I surely enjoyed the way that the author portrayed the character’s feelings throughout the story, which made me attracted to the book as a reader. Although, I feel as though the book could have talked more about Jason’s ex girlfriend and her feelings toward Kyra. Also, the author could have possibly written more about Jason’s ex girlfriend and let her speak throughout the book; therefore I found that portion too be a weakness of the piece. Even though, this book had its weakness’ like any other book, I would definitely recommend this to other people because it teaches others the benefits of confidence, unconditional love, and inner & outer beauty.

Q4 BM- Journal Entries

Overview- Everyday during English class there was a prompt or it said “free write” on the board. In these 15-20 minutes of class everyone was able to have a moment where they could write about anything they wanted whether it was something amazing or tragic. These 6 entries that will be showcased are the work that have been written on my part whether well done or poorly written. These entries just show my growth in general.

Journal 1- There has been moments throughout my life where there are things that were difficult to get. The struggle was to find in which manner would be best to go about pursuing what it was that was difficult to get

 This often happens to me and from personal experience, although it is difficult it is best to pursue it directly rather than indirectly. For ex. when my friends invite me to places and there is no doubt throughout my mind that the idea is amazing but the problem is asking. When I really want something though, there is no doubt in my mind that I will strive for that certain something until I get it.

Journal 2- To fit in isn’t much important from my personal perspective. Fitting in is bland, boring and the same old stuff. When being yourself there is room for you be who you are; unique, creative and most importantly you. Putting yourself in a position where you act like something you’re not, is mainly glib.

Journal 3-A time where I have felt where I could drop my racial, cultural, or gender identity is when people feel the need to judge me. They feel as though just because I look a certain way I’m expected to be “ghetto” or not be as educated as I have been so far. With that in mind, another time I wish that I could drop my culture is when I’m beyond hungry and my best friend asks me for some of when I’m eating.

 It picks a nerve because I want to say when people ask me for food but sometimes the words don’t come out and even if I say no I still give in and give her some. Its all because I can imagine my mother saying “Katherine no se le niega la comida a nadie”. In other words my mother is saying its not good to deny others food. I mean I’m not a greedy person, but when it comes to sharing and im starving that’s when it becomes a problem.

 When people look at me they automatically think I am of African American descent, but they thought wrong because I am not black I am Dominican and Puerto Rican. When people ask me what race I am proudly I can say “I’m Dominican and Puerto Rican”.

Journal 4- There hasn’t even been a moment in my life where there has been an impossible task. Although time get rough, in my mind there isn’t a situation that as a human that is impossible to surpass. Considering that the easy way out isn’t always the best thing to, so when doing things that are difficult it really helps to learn more. With this characteristics that end up defining myself are hardworking and determined.

Journal 5- Your environment shapes who you are and who you become because you usually are influenced by your experiences. This behavior can be influence people in a negative or positive manner. When seeing terrible things you can either flow with it or live above the influence. When seeing things on a daily basis, you can assume that it isn’t terrible if you haven’t had background information on the concept.

Journal 6- When encountering the word “nigger” there was a pause throughout the reading. It seemed to be insolent behavior on Rufus’ part (he’s from the book). In this time he is a child and his father was using this word as well as many other people in his surroundings. Therefore, from his perspective the word “nigger” was okay to say.

Rufus didn’t seem to understand the power behind the word “nigger” . He didn’t understand how much hatred, agony and hurt lies beneath it. Therefore, I wondered if Rufus ever encountered his father whipping the slaves and hear their brutal screams the way that Dana had to.

 

Journal entry 2#

 

 

December 9th, 2010

 

 

I can’t remember anyone exceeding my expectations. This kind of upsets me, because I think most of my childhood I spent dreaming about fairies, being a princess, and stuffed animals being real. I was a dreamer, and I guess nothing can live up to those expectations. Wait. I just remembered one… When I used to go down to my grandpa/great aunt’s house I had these neighbors. I don’t remember them that well, but I remember they had a son. Their son and I would always play in the neighborhood. He taught me how to boogie board and we would play detective looking for interesting things with his “detective dog” in our backyards.

I remember one morning I woke up really early and went to knock on his door, I didn’t think that he’d be awake but his mom opened the door for me and smiled. “Wait right here” she said letting me in to sit down at their breakfast table, she ran up the stairs and woke him up. She had been making pancakes and invited me to stay for breakfast. I guess because I don’t remember spending much time with both of my parents and brother, it felt very homey and nice. They asked me about myself, and only having known me for 2 weeks or so; they invited me into their home life. It felt so nice. That boy and I spent what was left of my time there at the beach on boogie boards, or playing with his and my grandfather’s dog Winston. It’s such a fond memory because every time I think about it I remember the beach, laughter, people caring about me, and happiness.

 As for me I don’t really feel like I’m exceeding anyone’s expectations often. I go out of my way to make certain people happy sometimes, and they act grateful and happy but I just do it to see them smile. Also, I don’t know what anyone’s expectations are for me, and I think it’s more important to live up to my own. Sometimes I exceed my own, but my parents’ praise seems so paper-thin. I just think I don’t live up to what they expect, my mom’s very loving and stuff, and my dad always wants us to do well in school. I feel as if I haven’t really exceeded their expectations, and I used to mind it a lot but now I think it’s more important to live up to my own goals. On the other hand, My little brother makes me feel like I exceed his expectations all the time. I like the feeling of having him look up to me, and he always seems more genuinely impressed when I do something I’m proud of than my parents do. I guess I love him more than I realize…. my cousins are that way too. Not that I don’t love my parents. They just don’t ever seem as genuinely impressed as I’d hope for, but they still praise me.

Journal entry 1#

My environment has shaped me. I didn’t want my environment to ever affect me but it has as I’ve grown older. I can’t change that because I didn’t plan it but it’s just the truth. Many of my friends do bad things and I thought they’d never change. I know everyone and everything from 15 year olds on acid and speed, kids who’ve done cocaine, kids who have piercings all over their bodies, kids who have sex like it’s a hobby, kids who cut, throw up, kleptos, drinkers, smokers. Everything. And I never thought I’d ever even associate with it. I thought I was better than those people, that I’d never even be their friend. I hate society for not finding a better way to teach us about reality because it’s a lot scarier than anybody ever warned me. When it hit me that drugs and violence, and people throwing their lives away were everywhere around me I just felt overwhelmed. Because of this I just sort of get frustrated with the way people deal with things. Everyone’s gotten MORE immature due to these things if you ask me. I just get upset with how people deal with things, and that makes me a hypocrite because I don’t always deal with things in the best possible way either. When people are hurt, or upset they do horrible things to themselves to self medicate, and make themselves feel better. It’s something that everyone is going to see at some point in their life, and some people will get trapped by it. I think that even so? What really matters is that I try. What hurts me the most about seeing my friends fall into these dirty, dark, habits is that they begin to forget everything that ever mattered to them. And even scarier they begin to forget themselves. That’s what separates me from them, is that no matter what happens in my life and no matter how hard or painful it is? I won’t let it affect me negatively. I’ll only keep getting stronger, better at dealing with these situations.  I would never purposefully hurt myself in any of the ways that my friends do. I just couldn’t let something consume my life before I’ve had my full chance at becoming everything I can.

            

Book Review on The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Isabela Aznar

Book review

Red stream English

Mrs. Dunn

                                                            Mitch Albom

                 The Five People You Meet in Heaven

 

The book The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a very interesting book about life and death and the possibilities of afterlife. The Five People You Meet in Heaven opens your eyes up to a whole new level of things that could possibly happen when you die. This book was on the New York Times best seller list for 95 weeks straight in 2003 when it was released. The novel was also turned into a movie in 2004, staring John Voight.

The book starts out with the main character Eddie (an old man) who has worked at Ruby Pier the amusement park for almost his whole life. He dies trying to stop one of the rides at the park from falling and killing the passengers inside, but once the passengers are safe, the carts of the ride fall and Eddie gets killed.

When he arrives at heaven, he notices that the sky changes rich, beautiful, colors and he feels his youth come back even though he is still inside his old worn looking body. He meets one person at a time in his or her own heaven and they explain to him certain events in his life, how it affected them, and why his life had purpose. When he is done in the first heaven, the sky begins to change beautiful colors again, and he arrives in his second person’s heaven. He feels his body growing older every time he reaches a new heaven as the people explain their relevance to his life. When he is done meeting all five of the people, he gets to choose his heaven, and then the book ends.

            The main character in the story is Eddie, but some of the other characters that played big roles in his life where is wife Marguerite, his father,  a little girl named Tala, Ruby, the Blue Man, and the Captain. Marguerite is Eddie’s first and only love in the story. He comes home one day and tells his brother that he met the girl he is going to marry. And one day, he does. His father played a big role in his life because his father was hard on him, and pushed him to follow in his exact footsteps, working at Ruby Pier. This is something that Eddie regrets and resents his whole life, as it is the life he wishes he had escaped. The little girl named Tala, Ruby, the Blue Man, the Captain, and his wife Marguerite are the five people that Eddie meets in heaven, all of which somehow played an important role in his life, weather he knew it, or met them, or not.

            This story has many conflicts, because it focuses on Eddie’s life as a whole, and throughout his life there are many things that weren’t right like his relationship with his abusive father, and the way that when he came home from the war he was a broken man.

My favorite character in this book was the Blue Man, because I leaned about the way silver nitrate was used as medicine long, long ago and how this man drank so much silver nitrate to help ease his tension and his jumpy behavior that he turned blue. After he turned blue, he had to change his name to “The Blue Man” and his father never spoke to him again because he saw him as an embarrassment, so he went and joined Ruby Pier’s freak show. He is my favorite character because I think his story was the most interesting one, and he seemed very relaxed, and okay with himself the way he was.

            The most important thing to take away from this book is the fact that life isn’t something that we can label or define, we can’t fully understand everything that’s happened in our lives until they are over, and we really don’t know what comes next, if anything. An important theme in this book is that we don’t know what happens when we die, and the form of life after death in this book makes you really think about the fact that when you die, anything is possible. Regardless of what you believe in.

I could relate to Marguerite (Eddie’s wife) in the story because she was the type of woman who was always happy with what she had. She loved children, and when problems like being infertile came up, she thought of alternate options without feeling upset or depressed for very long. I am similar in the sense that I try and make the best out of every situation as well.

            Eddie always felt like he could never live up to his father’s expectations. Nothing he ever did was enough for his dad. When I was younger, I remember wanting so much to live up to the rest of the world’s expectations. I think back to it now, and I’m glad that the only expectations that I live up to now are the ones I want to live up to, and my own. I don’t think it’s good to live doing what someone else wants you to do your whole life. Living up to a stereotype or doing things that influence your life to please someone else isn’t smart, and it won’t make you happy although completely understand what that feels like.

My opinion on this book is that it is really keeps you interested. I liked it a lot because it was a different style of writing than the kind I am used to, and because it had a lot of valuable lessons worded perfectly. One of the strongest things about this book is that it was very well composed, and Mitch Albom is great at setting scenery in your mind. Another thing that I think Mitch Albom did very well is that he created connections to everything in the story, and in the heaven he created he decided that everything important in your life would get explained. This book was very well written, and I honestly don’t think that there were any weaknesses. If I could change anything in the book I’d change the ending to find out what Eddie’s heaven looks like, but at the same time I think that might be hard to do since it was a great book.

I would very much recommend this book to people because it really gets you wondering about how things work. We don’t know how many things are going to happen and when they’re going to happen, so it’s nice to have that subtle reminded to keep our minds open to the many possibilities.

Creative piece

Me Magazine!!
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Top Journal Entrees

Introduction
I chose 6 journal entrees, that was from the middle and beginning of the school year. They are mainly form the book Freedom writers, that was my favorite book this year. These journal entrees are true and very expressive, I think you all would enjoy these.

Journal 1

I write because writing is am addiction. I’m addicted to the way the pen makes music too the paper. The way it balances between two lines. The way my soul and thoughts just fall out of the pen. It tells all of your inner thoughts, the intertwine between the paper, pen, and your soul is a match made in heaven. I fein for the way the pen races across the line paper, it never gets tired. I don’t write because a teacher told me or because it is an assignment. I do writing freely, just the way my small chocolate hand grabs a pen and my soul just opens up though the pen. It’s almost like I’m conversing with someone. I don’t need a clinic or hospital, but with out writing I would be sick. I love my addiction.

 

Journal 2

They say I’m cocky, I will never be anything. Coming from the deep dirty streets of south Philly, I’m just another black girl. Trouble only come from girls like me, well at least that’s what they think. Their looks cut me; I can hear their thoughts screaming so loud. She going be pregnant by the age of 16, she going be addicted to boys. Only if you really knew me, no question is do you really know me? I’m the girl who had to grow up to help her mother. I’m the girl who smiles to make others happy. I work my fingers to the bone to have a great education and to try to satisfy my insatiable appetite to learn. I’m the girl who’s scared to step her foot out side her door, or to even watch a movie with shooting in it. I’m that girl you people think so bad of that helps her sick dad. The girl who doesn’t believe she is conceited but confidant enough to walk with her head held high, never looking down. That same girl who loves her family. Yes, I’m a black girl and from south Philadelphia, but also this girl if not a whore, and I’ll not be pregnant by 16. I’m glad you don’t know me, because frankly I do not want to know you.

 

Journal 3

I feel sorry for you. They spit in you face and treat you like dirt. They look at you like you’re a piece of dross. They look at you like you’re a piece of gum on the bottom of shoe. They spit on you when you’re down; you slice your arm and the red pain leak from your skin. You will have sex for attention. You are insecure and feel your self-esteem is at a low. Now you wear tight clothes, and show off the little you have on your body. Suicide won’t be the answer. Show people you are a human just like them. I never thought we would hate people for what they like. Race, creed, nationality yeah maybe, but not for what they like. You hide who you are for friend’s bullies, and families. You cry at night, because you don’t want to like what your heat like. Be proud of your self; be proud to be gay and who you are.

 

Journal 4

The S sounds funny when people say it; it rolls off there tongue in a stumble. They spell it so wrong; my family says it means something special. People joke about it all the time, but I still yet to see what’s so funny.  My name seems so sudden and scary, like the color grey. Grey is not to dark and not to bright, but dull and unfriendly.

            My name is a mixture of my aunt and grand mom name. My aunt name is Trina, my mother youngest sibling. My grand mom name is Sarah my mom’s mother. She feels I remind her of them in some way, but I don’t think so. My grandmother is so loud and rambunctious. Her attitude frightens people, and she has a problem with listening to stuff people has to say. My aunt on the other hand has attitude that people walks away from. She thinks she is still a young girl, and her character seems like it should be forbidden off this earth. She feels that she is better than every one; she doesn’t help with our family most of the time. She takes responsibility for stuff that’s her, but not others. She fun to be around and has the ability to relate teens.

My grand mom appearance seems so young and sassy; her hair color is a shimmery gold. Moles on her face, and perfect square bright teeth. I love knowing my grandmother she is spontaneous and full character. My aunt dressy fun and sexy, her butt attracts much attention.

            I have a mixture of two names that has two personalities. That’s probably why I act the way I do, I don’t know weather to be shy or jus have outburst. Does my name say anything about me? Does it even mean anything special? These the questions I think of, like why did my mother think of this name? But I know the answer to that question it’s because I’m special to her, just like my grandmother and aunt.

            When I get home my real name is never said, its always Re or Re Re. At Home it’s like my name doesn’t exist, unless it’s a serious occasion. They throw Re around but its only two letters from my name, the two letters smack dab in the middle. I don’t love my name but I like my name sort of. Does it define me? Watch when I try to say it, Sarena the S rolled off my tongue in a stumble to.

 

Journal 5

I’m scared; I’m afraid, and petrified. They do it but not me; I got a mind of my own. When it comes to this one specific topic, my skin, and tummy, does a cartwheel. I’m on my own as I walk with a straight posture; they stare and can smell the virgin on me. Girls got gaps between their legs you can tell they been poked before. We are so young in high school, and me having the attitude I have. I know for a fact that Sex, won’t be for along time. I hope my scent lingers. But sometimes I wonder does my mature ways and strong personality cause me to be different. I hope the smell of my virginity makes them insecure and jealous.

 

Journal 6

I would gravel on the ground and eat dirt. I was in my own unknown world, fresh meat. I seen this one group, they were it. They seemed special, amazing, I would love to be part of that group. I realized being fresh meat, means you are not ready to be tenderized yet.