January Writers Are Here!

 It's a new year, and we've got a batch of new writers lined up for you!  Read, enjoy, then comment!  Dead line for this month is February 9  on the blog and in class.

Remember:
All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this month.  Everyone is required to comment on at least three different pieces of writing.  You must post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your comments, complete with dates and times, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by the due date.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"The Hunting Trip" By Jace A

      A few years ago there was an old man who went out hunting all alone. He was in the woods with an old browning bolt action rifle. This rifle was very special to him because it had been passed down from his great grandfather. he was excited to be able to go on a hunting trip for the first time in many years. He was sitting up on a rock cliff gazing over some trees looking for bears. He wasn't successful. For many hours he sat waiting and then he saw movement in the distance. He raised his rifle and saw a huge black bear walking towards him about 75 yards away. He squeezed the trigger, took a breath, and fired. Instantly, the bear ran away. In frustration, he fired a few shots in a random direction. He heard screaming so he got down from the cliff and started running towards the commotion. The screaming stopped. He looked around and found a little, yellow bird that whose chirp sounded like someone screaming. Now he is lost deep in the woods and trying to find his way back. The sun is setting and he has given up. He sits down and rests until morning. He is awakened to find himself surrounded by bears. He slips a round in the chamber of his gun and fires. The bears quickly run away. Now frightened, he gets his stuff and runs. He is lost, so far away, that it would be impossible for someone to find him. He is weak and hallucinating. He staggers towards a cliff and falls. He breaks his leg and can't walk, so he crawls and makes his way to what he thinks is water. When he gets to the water, he finds a cabin. He yells for help and crawls towards it and two people rush out and bring him in. They give him water and food. Looking around, he notices that there is a ton of hunting supplies and he asks why. They tell them that they like to hunt but there is at least 4 or 5 of everything that people would normally need to go hunt with. It doesn’t make sense. He asks how many other people live out here. Three, including you. The man replied, “What?” and one person pulled out a knife and chased him. He fell over and the person jumped on him. He fought back then all of sudden he woke up in his bed at home. He had a nightmare about his upcoming hunting trip. He went downstairs to get a drink of water and turn on the news. While flipping through the channels, something caught his attention. He saw that there was 2 men that had killed a man out where he was going to go hunting the next day. As he got a closer look, he realized that they were the men from his dream. The next morning, he canceled his hunting trip decided to wait until next season.

"Dissociation" by Megan Z.

            I remember everything froze. Faces seemed to blur and voices morphed into loud hums, though I realize that things still happened around me: a water droplet falls from the tree above me onto the notebook in front of me, the girl that always makes jokes in the hallway waves at me, the boy holds the door open for the hordes of students that file into their classrooms, the bell rings. The bell rings. Consumed in this separate plane of existence I’m barred from noticing the campus security asking me where I’m supposed to be. Here nothing exists. Jolted from this state by a hand on my shoulder, I notice there’s nobody around but the now irritated guard asking for my I.D. card for what is probably the third time.

            “Lola Manning, grade 11,” he reads aloud. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”

            I nod and pack my things, or more accurately shove them into my bag before I’m required to speak. I make my way to class and enter quietly without disruption. The teacher doesn’t even notice. Most of them don’t. The rest don’t care. I spend the rest of my day distinctly apart from all I encounter. The person taking this test is not me, Rosie is not greeting me warmly, and I am certainly not speaking voluntarily in class to contribute to the discussion. This body is not mine. Not the hands that automatically sweep the hair from this face, nor the thoughts that permeate this head, destroying its grip on reality, all demanding immediate attention ranging from due dates to death are able to hold me here.

            Unfortunately, this body misses the bus and has to walk home. Though entirely capable of accomplishing this apparently simple task, it resists with sluggish movements and heavy eyes. I don’t remember the last time I slept, but whether that is a result of denial or delirium I’m not sure. I can’t bring myself to do it. I live in fear of the nightmares that lie in wait. Instead I find ways to distract myself from plummeting back to this body and all that comes with it. But as all addicts know, the high doesn’t last. I look over to the clock that reads 4:37 a.m. I don’t even remember coming home, but I’m in my bed when all at once my head floods with the recognition of abandonment and residual weight of my inner absence. The volume within my head rises almost exponentially with each passing minute. All attempts at silencing it are futile and I hold my breath as I reluctantly accept my fate that I’ve been so desperately avoiding. My lungs scream as my brain tries to over-analyze each piece of information. I feel everything simultaneously and I wonder if this is what it means to be alive. My vision begins to fade as I contemplate the age-old question: “What is the purpose of all this?” As if in a tunnel, I hear my muffled ringtone. It’s Rosie.

            “Hey Lola you seemed off today. Are you okay? I’m worried that you’re not answering.”

            At the last second before passing out I inhale, the pressure releasing from my head and my senses returning. I determine that there is no purpose and everything is fragile, but if you’re observant you’ll find the girl who tells jokes and notice the boy who holds the door and appreciate your Rosie for caring about you, however subtly or clearly this may be shown. You can learn to breathe again.

"A Streetcar Named Graduation (and Other Concerns)" by Jairus P

When I was growing up, I never realized how many of my peers disliked Shakespeare. I mean, even today, I’m very much aware that there are many of you who dislike Shakespeare (notice how I use “dislike” and not “hate” because I have a profound respect for the Bard) and I’m also aware that you might dislike the fact that I’ve taken the initiative to write another piece for this blog, but come on – I get to write and have people comment on my pieces! But I digress – the point is that I like Shakespeare and I kind of learned two major things: 1. I love villains who have some complex that many are unwilling to understand because, in truth, we’re all kind of that villain sometimes, in that, we have that complexity some of our surroundings don’t wish to understand and 2. You can tell a comedic play from a tragic play by the plot ending with a profound wedding and not two hormonal teens who can only express their love for each other by killing themselves (In 2016, they would only express their love by subtweeting each other – killer!).

The thing is, Shakespeare seamlessly places his characters in situations that are a bit unbearable and even unrealistic before the two realize they really are meant for each other and – you guessed it – they get married! But we don’t realize what happens after they get married, we are only exposed to the overly dramatic events that happen before their union and frankly, I like it that way. I mean, I’d rather read a play about a man and a woman telling themselves that they hate each other, only to find one in the hands of the other, than them having kids and watching them play in the park every single day, like the scene you find on a watercolor painting in your dentist’s office. There’s not merit in that.

There is value in the journey before matrimony, though, and I’ve kind of learned to appreciate it, no matter how disagreeable that maybe. Wikipedia defines a “marriage” as a “ritual recognizing the legal contract between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them.” When you actually sit down and think about it, you’re practically married to a variety of things in your life. For example, you’re married to your dream of becoming a [Insert occupation here]; you go through 12+ years of education and constant bickering from your parents, and with a bit of hard work and self-actualization, you become whatever you want to be.

Another example is graduation and getting out of high school. If you’re not getting the idea, think about a person named Graduation and you fall in love with him/her. You proceed to accomplishing every class you need to take and deal with every ignoramus you meet and just get by and before you know it, on graduation day, you marry Graduation with a gown and everything. I can’t break it down any further than that. You really want to marry Graduation, like you really want to get hitched and drive away from this school into the night and never come back – I get it. But like I said, it’s the journey that matters and I think that youngin’ like us should appreciate it more.

In my four years, I’ve learned that the only thing that’s helping me get by to graduate are the people I surround myself with. If you read my last piece waaaaay back in September, you’ll know I went through some self-cleansing and introspective thinking, realizing that the thing that really sustains you is yourself and your recognized growth. I’ve learned that the people you’re friends with now are your friends because it’s convenient. It’s convenient to know that you have someone to go to in a mutual locale and it’s convenient to be in a clique with a few people to feel superior to everyone else because you feel wanted. The truth of the matter is that the only people that help sustain you on the journey to marry your fiancée (Again, the beautiful/handsome Graduation) are the teachers you grow to love and that one best friend who makes you laugh so hard that you realize you two can do standup comedy. By “comedy,” I mean, the inside jokes you two have and little phrases that may not be funny to anyone else except you two, forcing you to go to Improv Ontario Mills and have one friend be on stage and the other in the crowd to laugh at your jokes (I know you smirked).

Yeah, you’re disillusioned and shrouded with this ardent intent to be with your high school friends forever – the “together forever” forever – but what happened to those middle school friends you would be with “together forever” forever? [Insert Raven Baxter “Mhm” tone here] It’s upsetting to know that when people realize this, it’s always too late. I also think it’s upsetting when people deny themselves of the fact that it’s going to happen: the catharsis of it all. You’re going to be sad and I can empathize with you because I know what it’s like, but, as I said before, it’s the journey that matters before the union and “it’s high time” (If you’re reading this Mrs. Arora, I’m stealing that phrase, as well as “Excellent” and “There’s always hope”) to become aware of the growth you have in your character.

I’d also like to add that one thing that highlights some parts of my life is disappointment. Disappointment in not getting a role, disappointment in not being in the relationship with the one person you thought you loved, disappointment in not getting the straight A’s you so rightfully deserve. It’s funny because we continually define ourselves by our disappointments. “Oh, because I didn’t get this role, I’m not a good enough actor.” “Oh, because this person didn’t love me back that means I’m unwanted forever and I should just sow myself a lover, as Frankenstein did.” “Oh, because I didn’t get an A in this AP Chemistry class, I’m automatically a failure, even though I am clearly a contender for the top 10% at this school.” (Let me just say that people like that annoy me; like if you want to brag about your grades, do it in a more fashionably subtle way)

I think we need to realize that we’re not defined by our disappointments or failures – we’re defined by our growth and what we choose to be. You accept this basic truth of disillusionment and convenience, you grow so much and you become more than that cliché character you see in the high school movies, the one who finds out his girlfriend is going to Stanford and just so happens to have a full ride scholarship to UC Berkeley (30.2 miles or so away from each other) so they can be “together forever” forever, even though we have not seen any academic achievement in the arc of his character in the past three films. Do I see the poster child for bad decisions or what? Come on! I loved High School Musical, but I can be cynical at times, get over it.

Anyway, that’s my little spiel. It’s a basic human truth that we grow and to deny yourself of that is kind of dumb. You might hate it like you hate Shakespeare (I just realized I put “hate” – dang flabbit, lexicon in my head), but I’d rather have you be content with this realization than divorce Graduation because you want to be with your high school friends “together forever” forever. It’s the journey and growth that matters before that marriage and you’re in your own Shakespeare piece. Again, get over it.

All the best,

Jairus

“H” by Legend H

 

Describing how my life was changed three years ago I would say it was all because of him. There aren’t any exact words to describe how I feel about him or how much he means to me or even our story together. But as he stood behind that tree on that sunny spring day three years ago, anticipating my answer as I read the words on that white piece of paper, it was like all the emotions flooded into my heart effortlessly. And then one day he just held my hand and I didn’t ever want to let go. As time went on our smiles got brighter and our hearts mended deeper. Everyday I found something new to cherish about him. Our bond was inseparable, our spirits were higher than the clouds, and our hearts were pulled together as one. Then one day, the words “I love you” quietly filled my ears as he looked me in the eyes on that gloomy autumn day. My cheeks filled with a blushing pink and it dawned on me this boy I said yes to six months ago treasured me in a way nobody has ever done before, making me feel like I could accept myself, considering he had already done so. We went on day by day enjoying each others presence, learning and growing with one another. We stood together through heartaches, pain, and our lowest of lows. Months went by and our love for each other only got deeper. Each year we entered, we promised new adventures, endless amount of love and support, and to be there for one another through the worst of times and best of times. He taught me throughout the years how to stand with someone, how to trust and love, and what it is like to be accepted by someone else. He taught me the meaning of dedication and sacrifice and how to put another being before myself. He taught me to love and appreciate the person I am and to always remember I am important. He has taught me thousands of valuable lessons over our years together and I could not be more thankful. One of my most cherished lessons I have learned from him, is if you find that one certain person in your life, falling in love with them will be extraordinary and beautiful, the feeling is indescribable. I do not know when it happened. It just happened, and I'm grateful it did. You cannot predict when something like this will happen. It is too precious to know when it is coming. It was easy. Unpredictable. Natural. But it was perfect. It was perfect because despite my flaws and imperfections he stood with me, and fell for me, as I did for him. I don't know when it happened, but I know how. It was somewhere between him tracing the tiny bumps on my arms with his fingertips, that I have come to love or me feeling the scar above his right eyebrow, or him counting the freckles on my face with his lips. It was somewhere between introducing him to my family and him telling me the dreams he has at night. It was between the first kiss we shared and his laughter when he noticed how clumsy I am. Between our first argument, our walks, our park dates, our long talks, our happiness together, it just happened. It was the simple things that made something so beautiful. 

"ALBÓNDIGAS" by Jazlynn G

There is a variety of different Albóndiga Soup recipes, in Mexico. This recipe that I am sharing
with you has been in my family for five generations. It is a nutritious and delicious soup, perfect
for the cold, rainy season. Although in many Latin homes it is cooked year round because of its
tasty and healthy properties.


Ingredients:
For Sauce
3 large red tomatoes
½ of a medium onion
2 garlic teeth
10 mint leaves
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 cups of water
For Meatballs
1 lb of ground turkey
1 stick of mint (510
leaves)
1 egg
½ cup of rice
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper
1 medium carrot
1 Italian or Mexican squash
1-1½ cup of mixed vegetables (optional)

Step 1: FINELY chop the carrot, the outer green layer of the squash (about ⅛), and the mint
leaves.
Step 2: To make the sauce, take a medium saucepan and boil the tomatoes (cut in quarters),
onion, garlic, salt and pepper in about 2 cups of water.
Step 3: In a blender, blend the cooked ingredients in step two.
Step 4: Heat the olive oil to a large saucepan. Once it is hot, CAREFULLY and QUICKLY add
the sauce into the large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Step 5: While the sauce is heating up, form the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl, add the
ground turkey, rice, salt, pepper, and the chopped carrot, squash, and mint. And mix.
Step 6: With clean hands, scoop up the meat mixture and form a meatball of whatever size you
please. Mold the meatball with your hands into a spherical shape and carefully drop it into the
boiling sauce. Continue forming the meatballs and dropping them in the sauce until you run out
of meat mixture.
Step 7: Meatballs will float to the surface when cooked (approximately 1520
minutes). Add the
mint leaves to the soup. You can add the optional vegetables into the soup after 10 minutes of
cooking the meatballs.
Step 8: Serve into a bowl and enjoy!

"Love" by Rodrick H.

                  Do you really feel that you understand, and grasp the concept of love? In my opinion, I feel that most people have a slight misconception with the terms of love and lust. This misconception leads one partner who feels that they are in love to do the unthinkable for their partner. I’m here to differentiate between both love and lust, and to define what love really means. While writing this paper, I will be listening to Drake to keep my emotions flowing.

                  Loving someone is having a passion for someone else not just for their looks, but for who they are as a person. This is where the confusion with lust comes up, because people take looks over personality all the time, including myself. If one was to see someone they had thought was cute, these cute looks that that person has initiates the bystander to automatically catch some sort of feelings for that person. But not everyone who has good looks has such a great personality, and some people are willing to overlook such a bad personality and social status for a good looking person. One such example of this is the popstar Chris Brown. Despite his abusive past of disrespecting women, a lot of women today adore him in so many ways because he is 6 feet, with tattoos and he has light skin. This is a terrible way to select a soulmate, but people make this mistake many times in their life, which results in heartbreak. There are very few people from my observance who take into consideration someone’s personality before there looks. Personally, I have always gone after girls who have good looks, without concerning their personality because at the moment I could care less about it, which is probably why I haven’t found the right one yet. In order to take a step into the right direction to finding the right person for you, one must find a person with the correct intentions and the right state of mind.

“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses (Landers)”. This type of love is beyond a simple “I love you” you would say to a close friend of yours, but saying “I love you” to someone you have found a fire for is different because you actually have found something in their personality that sits well with you, then loving the qualities that that significant other may have. Without taking into consideration of someone’s looks, finding love would be quite easier, because then you would be looking to get to know the person more and learn more about their past. If you find something about them that is intriguing and interesting, that “thing” would keep you with them for a long time because that trait that they may have could cause you to love them, and feel some type of way for that person.

Through my definition of love, I hope you have gained a more clear understanding on the topic, or have actually began to reevaluate a relationship that you may be involved in, to determine whether it is based upon love or lust. Thank you for your timeJ.

Bibliography

1.     Landers, Ann. "Ann Landers Quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

"How to Make a Chicken and Broccoli Quiche" by Darian H.

To bring in new year, my family has a traditional family cook off, where my dad, aunts and
uncles meet at a chosen house for the year, to try to see who can make the best quiche.
Luckily, the person who makes the best, in my biased opinion, is my dad. The benefit of this for
me, is that that I get to try all the new recipes and help determine which makes the cut and
which one does not make it for the family gathering. With a lot of pleading, he agreed to help me
make a quiche of my own and document it for this post. So with that being said, let us bring in
the new year by breaking our resolutions! Not very inspiring but ultimately delicious.
After asking my friends if making a quiche would be a good idea, they all replied “What is it?”
With the help of the internet, I can tell you that it is an open faced savory custard pie filled with a
combination of delicious cheeses, meats and or vegetables. It can be served hot or cold, but the
best tip I can give you is to enjoy it hot. Disclaimer: All measurements are approximate and
based off the maker's preference, after you make the pie a few times you will find what you like
most or least of, but here is a great start for a perfect pie.
Ingredients
● 1 frozen deep dish pie crust
● 2 cups of shredded swiss cheese
● 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (I used triple cheddar cheese, but you can use any
you like)
● 3 eggs (room temperature)
● 2 tablespoons of sour cream
● 8 tablespoons of whipping cream
● ½ bag of frozen broccoli (cooked)
● 1 ½ cups of shredded baked chicken
● ¼ cup of cilantro (diced)
● ¼ cup of diced onion
● a dash of smoked paprika(optional)
● 2 tablespoons of black pepper (ground is best)
● 2 tablespoons of onion powder
● 2 tablespoons of garlic powder
● 2 tablespoons of seasoned salt (or salt)
● 1 cup of water
Utensils
● large measuring cup (4cup)
● baking pan(or cookie sheet)
● foil
● hand blender or whisk
● cheese grater (optional)

Directions
To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then grab your baking sheet and line it with
foil, and place the pie crust on top of it. It’s best to take the pie crust out at the beginning so
while you are preparing your other ingredients it can thaw. Grab your cheese grater and swiss
and cheddar cheese, and shred your cheeses into a bowl, set aside. Another tip would be to
buy the preshredded
cheese so you won’t have to do such a tedious task. In a pot, prepare the
broccoli to the package instructions and set that to the side as well.
With the hand mixer or whisk combine the eggs, whipping cream, sour cream, pepper,
onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt in the large mixing cup. Making sure these
ingredients are well combined is an essential part to making the quiche. Next, grab everything
you set to the side along with the chicken to start assembling the pie.
Generously coat the bottom of the crust with about half the amount of each cheese.
Follow this up with all of your onions, cilantro, chicken, and broccoli. On top of that add the rest
of your cheeses. This additional layer of cheese is something most quiche makers don’t do, but
it pulls the dish together making it easier to cut neater slices once it's cooked. After the cheese,
distribute the egg mixture evenly through the pie. If some spills over the sides onto the foil that's
perfectly okay.
Sprinkle the paprika on top of the pie and put it in the oven, but before closing it pour
some water onto the pan so if some more spills off while baking the water will catch it and it
won't burn. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted in the center. Let
the quiche cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting so it has time to set. Below I have pictures
that I hope you find helpful if you plan to recreate this dish.
It was a close competition this year for the best quiche, but I’ll never doubt my dad's
abilities. It was clear to everyone after the first bite, that for the third year he had the most
delectable quiche.

"How to Make a Green Smoothie" by Sabrina H

Most of you who first hear “green smoothie” probably cringe at the word; however, what
many of you do not know is how delicious it actually is! This green smoothie recipe
features an assortment of vegetables and fruits that are blended together and tastes
just as good as any other smoothie! You’ll be amazed at how great it tastes! Don’t
believe me? Try it out yourself! Your fear of a green smoothie tasting like a cup of
spinach will disappear, and you’ll soon love the concoction yourself. The steps are
simple and, in under five minutes, you’ll have your very own power juice. (This recipe
yields about two cups.)
Ingredients you will need:
● A handful of kale and a handful of spinach (I usually buy large pack of greens
with a mix of these two vegetables for easier preparation)
● A cup of frozen fruits (I like to use an assortment of mangoes, pineapples,
strawberries, and papayas, but you can use whatever mix suits your likings)
● Half an apple (I use Granny Smith apples, but once again, you can use whatever
you prefer)
● A cup of orange juice (or any juice you have on stock; apple juice would also
work great)
Materials you will need:
● A knife
● A blender with the lid
● A cup
● A chopping board
Step 1) Make sure all materials are cleaned and ingredients washed. If you
want to be healthy, you have to start with being sanitary!
Step 2) Plug in your blender into an outlet. Make sure there is not any clutter
around the smoothie or your working area.
Step 3) Pour in our choice of juice into the blender.
Step 4) On your chopping board, carefully cut your apple into small cubes.
Depending on the strength of your blender, you may need to chop them into finer
pieces. Then, place half of the apple into the blender, and you can save the other
half for other uses.
Step 5) Place both the kale and spinach into the blender.
Step 6) Throw in your frozen fruit on top and replace the lid onto the blender. It
is important that you ensure that the lid is properly placed to avoid spillage and
accidents.
Step 7) If you have a blender with a “smoothie setting” use that, otherwise,
start with a low power and slowly build up to high. Blend for 30 seconds or until
all the ingredients have been blended together into a smooth consistency with no
large chunks.
Step 8) Remove the lid and slowly pour the mixture into your cup.
Step 9) Enjoy your very own green smoothie!
This recipe is not the only green smoothie recipe out there! You can add in your own
flavors and try out different ingredients. The possibilities are endless! Whether you drink
it morning, day, or night you can adjust the smoothie to your preferences and cravings!
You can achieve a more savory and creamy flavor using bananas or a more fresh taste
with mint.
A few good tips are to refrain from mixing creamier fruits like banana with very acidic or
citrus fruits like lemon or orange. Furthermore, you can use fresh fruits instead of frozen
fruits to yield a more juicelike
concoction. If you don’t like spinach or kale, you can
switch for chard or collard greens. Also, don’t be afraid to add seeds like chia seed or
flax seed to give your smoothie an extra power boost! Some great suggestions to use in
your smoothie that you may enjoy are mint, avocado, coconut water or milk, or even
protein powder. Sometimes I like to throw in carrot juice for more health benefits, and it
even adds more sweetness. There are many tips available on the internet, too!
However, whatever you decide to use as your base for your smoothie, the results of
your green smoothie will taste great as long as you follow these simple steps! I, myself,
was a little skeptical of the thought of a green smoothie at first, but once I discovered
the refreshing taste and abundant health benefits I was addicted. These smoothies are
all natural and provides you with a full serving of vegetables as well as fruits. If you add
in seeds or other superfoods you get an extra boost to your drink!
So, don’t be afraid of the thought of vegetables in your drink! There are no excuses with
a simple, beginner, and lowcost
recipe such as this one! Overcome these fears and try
your own homemade green juice. Whether you like vegetables or not, I assure you, you
will soon be hooked on these drinks just like me!

"How To Make Homemade Samoas" by Daveena S

Girl Scout Cookies are always in high demand but it is a seasonal cookie and it is
sometimes difficult to get your hands on them. Instead of having to wait months to enjoy your
favorite cookie, you can make this delicious dessert on your own. I have personally made this
cookie a few times, though it requires quite a few steps and it takes 2 hours, it is worth it in the
end. Below is a detailed stepbystep
process on how to make homemade Samoas.

Ingredients:

Prep :
The first thing you should do is preheat the oven to 350 °F. Then, mix the butter and sugar
together until it is “fluffy” (see the picture below). Mixing the butter and sugar until it is creamy and
fluffy is crucial because it will help the batter rise in the over and create a light texture. In another
bowl, you will whisk the dry ingredients; 2 cups of allpurpose
flour , 4 teaspoon baking powder,
and 2 teaspoon of salt. Once the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, slowly add it into the
butter/sugar mixture. Add the vanilla extract and milk into the mixture while blending until the dough
comes together (you will be using 2 tablespoons of milk and 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract). Then,
separate the dough into two, wrap each in a plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for an
hour.

Cookie Batter:
Once the dough has chilled for an hour, it can be taken out and rolled onto a flat surface. Before
you actually start rolling out the dough, make sure to lightly sprinkle flour onto the surface to
prevent the dough from sticking, this will make it easier and faster to roll out the dough. Then,
cut out as many cookies as you can by using a cookie cutter. You will then use a smaller cookie
cutter to cut another circle to create a donut shape. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and
bake for about 10 minutes or until it turns golden. Set the cookies aside to chill.
Topping:
While you are waiting for the cookies to chill, evenly distribute the coconut flakes onto a baking
sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 °F. Make sure to stir the coconut flakes occasionally to
ensure that they (coconut flakes) will toast evenly and so it won’t burn. Set the coconut flakes
aside when they have been evenly toasted.

Using the doubleboiler method (boil water in a pot and place a bowl over the pot), melt the
caramel with milk and salt. In order to do this, place the caramel into the bowl that is over the
pot, once the caramel starts to melt, slowly add in the milk and salt. The heat should be on
mediumlow,but if the water boils at a fast rate, lower the heat down. Remember to stir until the
caramel until it is completely melted or else the caramel will start to burn and become hard.
Remove the bowl from the heat and mix about of the caramel with the toasted 4 coconut flakes.
Use the remaining melted caramel on the cookie, evenly spread the caramel on each of the
cookie. Then, add the caramel/coconut mixture as an additional topping for the cookies by
patting the caramel/coconut evenly on each cookie. Once this step is done, let the cookies cool
for half an hour.

While the cookies are cooling down, uses the doubleboiler
method (see picture above) once
again, only this time you will melt the dark chocolate instead of the caramel. Again, remember to
keep stirring the chocolate of it’ll burn. Once the cookies have cooled, dip the bottom of the
cookies with the chocolate and set it aside for the next step. Next, you’ll drizzle the top of the
cookies with the dark chocolate. The final step is to let the chocolate chill. Now the homemade
Samoas are complete and you’ll be able to enjoy these tasty treats!

"Fourth Time’s A Charm" by Kimberly C

      Everyone’s failed at something at least once. For me, I had failed at a particular thingthree times. It was a rainy and gloomy day (which is probably not the best time to take an important test); I had just driven to the DMV, in West Covina with my dad. After checking in for my test, I anxiously waited inside the car (where the instructor was going to meet me). This was going to be my third time taking the behindthewheel test and I was scared that I was going to fail once again (because I would have to retake my permit (written test) again. As I waited, I practiced my arm signals and asked my dad questions about the test, in order to reassure myself that I would be okay. The instructor walked up towards my window and greeted me.I greeted her back, and then she proceeded to switch places with my dad, who gave me a thumbsup. So, I did all of the preliminary things to do before driving , such as my arm signals and pointing to various things inside the car. Then, I started my test. As I was driving, I was thinking positive thoughts, such as “I’m going to pass” or “Third time’s a charm.” I backed up alongside a curb, drove in a parking lot, in a business area, and in a neighborhood. I felt great. This was actually the first time that I had finished the components of the test since I was cut off short for my prior tests. When we reached the DMV, I was smiling and was so happy that I was about to get my license. However, to my dismay, the instructor said, “I’m sorry to say this, but you failed.” Immediately, my smile turned into a frown. “Why?” I asked. She then proceeded to say that I had failed because I was going under speed limit. I protested and said, “But, it was raining. ” She just looked at me (for maybe a good five seconds), took my permit and wrote “3XF” in big red letters all over my permit. Then, she left the car and went to another prospective kid that wanted their license. My dad practically skipped to the car in happiness because he thought I passed (most likely due to the fact that my test took longer than five minutes). Once he got in the car, he noticed that I wasn’t smiling and that I didn’t say anything. That was when he knew that I had failed again and made me sit in the passenger’s seat, since I wasn’t allowed to drive because I was very emotional (I wasn’t crying; I just felt a whole mix of emotions hit me). After that day, I reflected and told my parents that I want to do my permit again. So, I redid my permit the week after I failed the behindthewheel test. I realized that it would be much more practical to not rush my next test. Just because a lot of people I knew had their licenses, doesn’t mean that I should force myself to conform. I didn’t need to do something that I wasn’t ready to do. So, I decided to make sure that I really knew everything there is to know about the test. I knew that I barely practiced for the prior tests and decided to practice more often with my parents and even asked my neighbor, who was a retired bus driver, to help me with my driving. Once, I asked my friend to show me a route around the Fontana DMV. From all of this training, I knew that I was ready. I scheduled my fourth test in September, four months after my last test. There was no way that I was going to fail now. After all, I had put in many, many hours to prepare for the test. This time, it was a sunny day and I felt good about myself. I drove up to the Fontana DMV and checked in again. I’m pretty sure the lady at the check in counter knows me by name, since I had taken all of my permits and first two driving tests there. The instructor approached me and introduced himself. My mom, who had came with me because my dad thought he was bad luck to all of my driving tests, left the car and the instructor sat in the passenger’s seat. Slightly nervous, I took a deep breath and then started driving. After about ten minutes, the instructor gave me directions back to the DMV. I started panicking because the test was too short and I thought I had failed. As I drove back to the DMV, I was listing all of the possible things that could’ve gone wrong in the test. When we got back to the parking lot, the instructor said that I passed and with no mistakes either. I looked at him in shock because I thought I failed. I guess miracles do happen. The fourth time’s a charm.

"Clockwork " by Eloy G

         A few months ago I purchased a watch I fancied from a department store. It was a sudden decision, with no previous thought.

         As soon as I saw it on display, I thought I should own it as I would never find an analog like this one. It had a silver bezel with a blue and red band. About 40 dollars later, at night, as I was preparing for bed, I placed it on my desk and decided I would wear it the next day. My mother came into my room and asked if I had applied to any colleges yet. What was my major going to be? What are your going to do with your life? How have you been coping with senior year? Why don't you want to talk? Is that a new watch?

         Eventually, she walked out. I have the custom of opening my window before I go to sleep so that the light floods in in the morning and I'm not accidentally late to school, so I did that.

         Finally, my head hit the pillow. Of course, I began to ponder my life while laying there and examined the events of my day. I replayed the conversations I'd had and decided I should be kinder to that guy who I talked to in one of my classes. Also, what is the meaning of life? Do I have purpose? Where is Qatar? What is time? Speaking of time...

          When I would lay very still at night, I could hear that watch ticking.

I suddenly became very conscious of the passing of time. The ticking was relentless and I was waiting more and more time to make something of my life. With every tick, I was a second closer to dying, and not having made something of myself. Almost every day that I go to school I hear that if I don't go to college then I'm nothing, and that if I don't make money I'm worth even less. And it suddenly dawned on me that I was an idiot.

         I had no idea how to be an adult. I am completely clueless in what I'm doing and everyday I get up and go to school and pretend I know what I'm doing. I talk to kids that have their life planned out down to the last detail and I speak to them as if I'm the same. My own father had informed that my musical abilities were useless, and that I need to look into getting a real job. But how? I don't know how to do anything else well. I suck at everything. I am an idiot. And death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit.

         Yet, the ticking grew louder. It echoed in my empty head and eventually grew to be ruckus. I was surprised that no one else had woken up with such a noise. I sat up and stared at the demonic watch. I reached for it, stumbled over to my window and hurled as far as I could into the empty lot behind my house.

         The ticking grew louder.

It filled the house and I realised that I needed to make something of my life soon, or else I'd lose my mind. I turned my desk light on and made a list of all the things that I still needed to achieve.

         Be more organised. Don't procrastinate. Be kinder. Buy nicer clothes. Turn in that missing assignment. Turn in all the missing assignments. Do every piece of homework. Graduate with honours. Get recommendation letters. Get a scholarship. Apply to college. Get accepted. Go to college. Pay for it. Get a car. Get a job. Find a blind girl to marry me so she can't see how much of an idiot I am. Have kids. Teach them to be good people. Give them manners. Teach them how to a ride a bike. How to tie their shoes. How to use the toilet. How to get good grades. How to get into college. How to make something of themselves. How to make good decisions. Help them move out. Get over the sadness. Retire. Go on vacation. Somehow stay married for dozens of years to the same blind girl. Die.

         Sweat had clouded my eyes by now and had made the paper crinkly. I did every missing assignment and every piece of homework and began to apply for college. I wrote myself a sticky note that said to be kinder to that guy. I reorganised my backpack. I cleaned my closet and my room and began to look for job on the Internet.

         Then I caught sight of my window. It was day.

         A blue bird landed on my window sill with the snow topped mountains in its background. Light flooded into my room and bathed my squinty red swollen face. Trees gently swayed in the breeze. The birds sung. The flowers harmonised.

         The birds do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet they are fed. I saw the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin. They do not grow anxious over what to wear. Yet I've seen no one dress as beautifully as they do. Why do I become anxious? How much more time can I add to my life by becoming anxious?

         The ticking was gone.

Gratitude filled the house instead.

         Now everyday I get up and the light floods my room and I go to school and people treat me kindly and respectfully. I have many friends I am grateful for, and that's not something that everyone has. I have a style of life that not every one has, so instead of lamenting over what I'm not, it's time I take a lesson from the birds and the flowers. It's time I slow down and appreciate that every second of the clock I am in the position I am. Everyday comes with its own problems and joys. Why burden myself with more?

That morning, I scaled the empty lot's fence and pulled my watch from the dirt and the weeds.

And at night, if I lie very still, I can hear it ticking. And time ticks me to sleep.

"The First Big Move" by Noelle M

      May 12, 2007, the 19 hour flight finally ended as the plane landed at JFK International
Airport, New York. Three little girls alongside their parents curiously headed through the jetway
(tube that connects the plane to the airport) to the immigration services, ready to get their
passports examined and confirmed. Outside, they were greeted by a short and jumpy seventy
something years old lady who turned out to be the little girls' grandma(their dad's mom). After
they exchanged their greetings and hugs, they loaded the car and headed off to Bricktown, New
Jersey, where their new lives finally began.
      From outside the house, the little girls heard laughing and screams coming from inside.
When they opened the door they were greeted with a big joyful "WELCOME!" and a bark from
the black and brown miniature pinscher sitting on the couch. The three little girls and their
parents smiled and felt touched that more family came to help celebrate their first day in the
United States.
      The first few days in Jersey was a breeze for the three little girls. Their older cousins took
them out to the park to play baseball, the boardwalk to catch the cool breeze and eat cotton
candy, and even to Six Flags where the youngest of the three sisters rode a roller coaster for the
first time and almost got sick. To the girls, being in America felt like being in paradise. They felt
very well taken care of by their relatives, having new playmates and even sometimes spoiled by
their older cousins. The girls were exposed to a new culture and were given advice on how to
quickly adjust to their new environments. However, after all the fun time they had, reality finally
began to hit. The girls were given bad news that their dad was going back to the Philippines for a
year to finish up work. This hit them hard because after their dad left, the real attitudes of their
cousins and aunt finally showed. This especially affected the youngest of the three girls.
The girls were taught basic skills like washing the dishes, vacuuming, and doing the
laundry. However, they were sometimes their efforts to help out were taken advantage of by their
aunt and cousins. The oldest cousin would order them around, asking them to wash the dishes
even if it's not their turn and to clean around the house while he (the cousin) would go out with
his friends. At the same time, the spoiled little cousin who was only a year younger than the
youngest of the little girl got away with every chore and responsibility he had just because he
"was too young to do anything". Yet, he would still complain about how it wasn't fair that the
three little girls didn't do anything in the house. However, it was very obvious that he was jealous
that they didn't have to go to school yet. As time passed the three little girls were placed under
strict rules. bossed around, and scolded. Life became harder for them and their mom as the time
passed, creating tension between the two families that lived in the same house.
     On top of the tension that built up, one incident with the youngest cousin turned their
lives around. The night the oldest of the three girls and their mom went school shopping, the
other two girls, youngest cousin, and the aunt were left at home. The youngest cousin and
youngest girl were playing house and all of a sudden there was an outburst of tears from the
youngest cousin. What caused his tears? He was pushed by the youngest girl's sister. This wasn't
just for fun however. The cousin started a fight by hitting the little girl on the back and her sister
just came to defend her. But of course his loud scream didn't go unnoticed. His mom came in the
room and started screaming at the girls. It was also a perfect timing because the girls' mom came
back with their oldest sister and heard the commotion from outside. She ran into the room and
calmly asked what was going on only to be answered back with a rude scream from the aunt. It
took awhile for all the arguing to subside, but when it finally did the girls' mom decided to bring
her kids to live with her sister in California. Of course, their dad agreed to this, but it was a hard
decision for him to agree on, considering it meant leaving his mom. After a month or so, the
three girls and their mom left for California hoping to have a better life there.
If you didn't already know, the youngest girl is me. From all the situations I've been
through, the big move to the States was the most difficult for me. However, the months that I
spent with my cousins in Jersey helped me realized how tough life was going to be. It taught me
how to take on responsibilities as simple as cleaning up after myself, which I never did because I
had the luxury of having a nanny back in the Philippines. It also taught me how to be a stronger
individual, being able to tolerate inconsiderable actions being thrown at me. Although things
didn't turn out so great with my family in the east coast, without them I wouldn't be here typing
this blog entry.

"What Can 'Strength' Mean?" by Kelene H

            “Strength isn’t always shown by what you can hold onto, but sometimes it’s shown in what you can let go of.” Universally as well as individually, this quote can be interpreted in numerous ways. It can be seen as a simple inspirational message, meant plainly just to spread positivity and courage, or it can be seen as a sort of vengeance, conveying the message to people who have done you wrong that you’re no longer going to take their demeaning attitude. However whenever I see this quote, I see one of the most important qualities any person could be lucky enough to possess- having the courage to put yourself and your heart first and walk away from anyone who tries to tell you that you’re not worth it. Being a strong, independent, confident person is the most admirable thing anyone could ever hope to be. Strength in this particular matter can come in countless forms. However, it all comes down to deciding when enough is enough, and finally understanding that your own happiness and felicity comes before anything else. Let go of the friends that aren’t there for you when you need them and only acknowledge your existence when they need something. Choosing to finally walk away from the girl who thinks she’s too good for you and won’t give you the world, just as you’ve given her. Or finally leaving the boy who treats you like you’re nothing behind because you realize you deserve more than lies and mascara tear stained pillow cases. Have the courage to know your self value, because in this world, you are all you’ll have in the end. And at the end of the day, don’t ever feel bad for saying you deserve more than what you’re being offered. Do something your future self will thank you for, because choosing to love yourself and live life more openly and freely is the most beautiful choice you could ever make. And lastly, remember to “stay away from people who make you feel like you are hard to love”, because knowing you’re worthy of greater things doesn’t make you a bad person- and neither does walking away from people who aren’t good for you. As a good person, you are worthy of the world, and of all good things that happen to fall into place before you. Good people deserve to have good things and good fortune.

"Plunk!" By Hannah B

Splash! Splash! Boom!

It was another gloomy and rainy day in the small village where Linda Everest lived. It also happened to be the big day when she would be drowning in sadness and puddles of her own tears from taking the SAT for the fifth time already. Linda wasn’t prepared at all, mostly because she gave up from trying to rack her useless and numb brain to try to solve those devilish math problems.

“Ugh. It’s no use. Whatever.” Linda gave up for the last time just a couple of hours before the big test. Instead, she took a nice nap but woke up to the sound of her alarmed mother screaming and hitting saucepans to wake her up before she was too late to attend the test. Linda got up in a flash and bolted out the door with one shoe on, bread in her mouth, and backpack dangling off one shoulder. “I’ll be back! I’ll do my best I promise!” The rain had momentarily taken a break, the sun peeped through the grey clouds, and Linda really thought and hoped that this was her lucky day to finally get a decent score on this test.

“Oh my goodness. I better hurry. Go go go!” Linda was nervous and full of anticipation as she ran full speed to the test center. As she was crossing a bridge that was on the way to the test center, Linda suddenly stopped. It had started pouring again and she had to take shelter somewhere because she refused to get soaked when she didn’t have to. As she found shelter under the porch at a nearby café, Linda went into deep thought. She really didn’t want to take this dumb test and lower her self-esteem, already knowing how unintelligent she was. Full of sadness, frustration, and contrasting feelings about her own self and whether she should take this test or not, she suddenly bolted out from under the porch and ran straightforward. After running towards the opposite direction of the test center, she stopped under the pouring rain and desperately cried out, “I don’t want to do it! I want to leave here!” After crying out her wish, Linda stepped forward into a puddle and sank in it. “Plunk!”

She appeared out of a big fountain with the sun shining brightly down on her. Then in a blur, several hands grabbed her and pulled her out. She was startled and could only see the outlines of the men who had pulled her out. Linda looked around and noticed that the men were strangely dressed, had ferocious facial hair, and mean, savage looking eyes. They spoke old English and it was hard for her to understand them but she figured out that they thought of her as some sort of alien for they started poking and tugging at her modern clothes and watch, making some “oooo”s and “aaaahh”s.  The men blindfolded her and took her to their home. After being stripped of her belongings, they took off the blindfold and Linda could see the ancient place. Based on her observations, she soon figured out that she was in a foreign land, maybe world. Everything was different, but strangely, Linda came to like the land she landed in. She came to befriend the men who captured her and learned their way of life on the alien land; she also taught them the modern English language and some basic math and science that hadn’t yet been discovered. Coming to enjoy the free, simple environment and the never-ending flow of enjoyable time, where she could do as she pleased, never having to stress about school or college-entrance exams, Linda didn’t want to leave, although she knew she had to.

 She suddenly missed her mom, friends, and her warm, familiar room. Earnestly wishing for rainfall, for she knew that was her ticket back, she cried and cried, hoping to fall into her own tears and return back to her land and era. When nightfall came about, Linda fell asleep with swollen eyes. In what seemed like a couple minutes, she awoke to the sound of hearing the ringing of metal right against her ears. Waking up in panic, Linda found herself face to face with her own reflection in a grey colored, hazy mirror that looked worn out and stained. Freaked out she yelled, “AAAHHH!!” Then she looked up and locked eyes with a familiar pair of brown eyes that belonged to her mother. Startled, she realized she was back and that she had a test to take care of. Linda gathered her things and again, ran out into the pouring rain.

"Fallout" by Logan D

      It was the year 2077. There was a big war going on and I just got out of the military. Any day could be an attack with nuclear bombs so they built fallout shelters. As my robot was giving me coffee the doorbell rang. It was a man asking if I wanted to sign up to be in the vault 111. I said yes because of the threats. As he left my wife said “look”. I looked at the tv and there was a news reporter saying that there was confirmed nuclear explosions. We all went to the vault 111. Some people couldn’t get in but since we also had a baby they let us in. As the elevator to the vault was going down there was a big nuke explosion. If we were about 10 seconds later we would all have died. They told us that we were going to decontaminate us so we can go deeper. But what they didn’t tell us was that they were freezing us to try an experiment. After a while I woke up to two guys, and one of them killed my wife trying to take my baby. I got out a while later, and everyone was dead. I went back up to the top and went back to my house that was barely standing, and I met my robot. He said I was gone for 210 yrs. I went around exploring, met some good people and some bad people. There were mutated people, large scorpions, and more. After a while I went to this place called diamond city. There was a lot of people there. There was also traders which where I got my guns. There I also found a detective that was a synth, which is a robot. I worked with him, and went to crazy places. I hunted down and killed the guy who killed my wife, and the info. I got from him was that my baby was in a place called the institute. There was only one way in and out and that was to teleport. I got a piece and went there and it was all white like nothing happened there I found my baby after a long time.