Whew!! Some new reading for you!!

 At long last, blog entries!!  Go read and enjoy!!

Read all of the selections for this month --   comments are for this month's group only (no earlier months, or last year's submissions)

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All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this month (November).  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.

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"The Little Blue Box" by Samantha Z

I clenched the little blue box. She didn’t know of the small diamond ring that glistened inside. Sundry pastel flowers filled the room and tears rushed to my eyes as I looked at all of the pictures of us together. She looks absolutely stunning in them all, her round hazel eyes, deep-cut dimples, her olive skin glowing with allurement, and her jet-black hair cascaded down her. I never thought that a goofy guy like me would ever be loved by such a tenacious, brilliant, charming, independent, considerate woman but somehow she managed to fall for me too. Love really has no boundaries…

♥   ♥   ♥

            It had been 13 months since my Staff Sergeant left for Afghanistan. I looked forward to our phone calls every night. We would endlessly talk about life on opposite sides of the globe, about how many children we desired, where we would settle down (she always advocated for a beach house while I attested to live in the suburbs), where we would travel given the chance, our aspirations and our trepidations, but, every night we ended the same. A prayer for our safety (especially hers) and something that we loved about the other were the last words we uttered each night.

            On March 13^th, however, it went a little differently. I had a lot on my mind so our call had been particularly long. I spoke to her about the visit I took to her parents’ house:

“Scarlett,” I whispered, “I saw your parents today…”

She eagerly responded, “How are they?! How was it?”

“It started out pleasantly, but it… Never mind, how was your day sweetheart?”

“Uneventful. What happened? What did they say?” She persistently inquired about the exchange I had with her parents.

“It’s not a big deal.” I tried to assure her but my efforts were futile so proceeded I blurt, “Your father thinks I am unfit for you!”

There was silence for a few minutes as she collected her thoughts. “Why do you say that,” she said lowly.

“He thinks lesser of me because I did not join the Marines like you did! I’m sick of him looking down on me because his DAUGHTER joined the military and her boyfriend didn’t! I’m not less of a man because of the profession YOU chose!” I was overcome by anger and I didn’t realize I was howling at her, when she wasn’t the one I was mad at. “I’m sorry Scarlett, I’m not resentful toward you; I’m just hurt that he belittles my choice. I’m truly delighted that you do what you love and that you don’t let anyone hold you back, including me. I hope you can forgive me.”

I heard a muffled sniffle, but she responded calmly, “I understand it is difficult for you, especially with my father, but I felt that our love could withstand the criticism of others.” I then could hear her voice begin to quiver, “I fell in love with you because you are clever, comical, composed, forgiving, because I see my future with you, because you’re YOU!” There was a long pause.

“Scarlett… I am amazed by your constant dauntlessness and compassion. You complete me and I can’t fathom life without you. I apologize from the bottom of my heart; you bring out the best in me and I’m ecstatic for what life has in store for us and for when you come back home in a few months! I love you.”

“I love you too,” she responded. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow Jacob, I have to assist with our next mission. I promise the wait won’t seem long, June is around the corner!”

“Goodbye my love, stay safe! I can’t wait to hear your voice and see your bright face again!” And just like that the call concluded, but little did she know, she would be Staff Sergeant Reese when she returned to work.

When the phone rang, I eagerly jumped up to answer it disregarding the fact that it was much earlier than usual. To my astonishment however, Scarlett wasn’t the person on the phone; it was her mother. She asked me to sit down, which I complied. She was sobbing apprehensively for quite some time and I began to distress. Scarlett’s father proceeded to grab the phone and divulged. I’ll never forget the agony in his voice when he told me Scarlett was coming home early. I knew what this meant and began to lament immediately.  I hung up and my thoughts went directly to our last phone call. I was in a frenzy as I cursed to the heavens; pleading that is was merely disinformation! Later, I helped her parents make all of the arrangements, not for our wedding, but for her funeral.

♥   ♥   ♥

            As I sit and study all the photographs, I wonder about the little blue box in my pocket and her broken promise, I would be waiting eternally… I would give anything to even have a glimpse of her. As they were presenting the flag I stared straight at her casket… When the ceremony concluded, I began to walk to her. Once there, I pulled out the little blue box. I knelt beside her and proclaimed, “Scarlett Elizabeth Martinez, I knew from the moment I met you that you would be the most special woman I would ever meet. We’ve been through many trials, but also shared an abundance of joy. I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone other than you! Will you marry me?” I kissed the box and placed it gently on her casket.

"Untitled" by Regine M

Black spots obscured my vision and my ears rang with an intensity I had never felt before as I
blinked my eyes back into focus. The smoke in the confined area was causing my eyes to tear
and sting. I reached up to rub them only to immediately regret my decision as a white hot pain
overwhelmed me, originating from my left arm. Wary of what I would find, I forced myself
assess the damage and retched at the sight of my mangled limb. I looked away, but the image of
bloody white bone tearing through soft flesh and tissue was permanently seared into my mind. I
could feel my pulse rising, shock and fear erasing rational thought and feeling from my mind as I
continued to sit there, unmoving and dumbfounded. Warm blood dripped from my temple into
my eye, and I reached up automatically to wipe away the sticky fluid before feeling for its
source. The sting of pain I was met with paled in comparison to the fire in my arm, but urged me
to move and seek medical attention. I reached down my body with my right arm to release the
belt cutting into my chest, when I became aware of the rapidly growing heat that met the back of
my neck. Panic washed over me and I ripped the belt from my body upon the realization of my
imminent death if I didn’t move fast enough. As if on cue, my lungs heaved and I coughed and
gagged, the smoke continuing to increase in intensity as I forced myself to move faster. My
trembling fingers felt for the handle of the door, ignoring the hot metal as my fear and heart rate
escalated. I heaved the door open, the warped metal protesting against my adrenaline fueled
strength. I avoided using my left arm and leaned out of my seat, until I finally became aware of
the lack of response in my lower half. My legs had been rendered immobile under the weight of
the crushed front of the car. The pressure was strong enough that I knew there wasn't any
escaping without professional help. Still though, I leaned further out and scrabbled for the
ground, looking for hand holds to pull myself out of the car, ignoring the gravel and shrapnel that
cut into my uninjured hand. I finally gave in to using my left hand, desperation creating a
hysteria in me that allowed me to ignore the agony the broken bone was causing me. I only just
became aware of the sobbing noises that were coming from me, my hands finally coming to a
still as I came to accept my fate, fingertips still bleeding and embedded with rock and glass. But
for all the noise of the crackling and the roaring of the near flames, the wailing sobs I tried little
to control, I could not, and knew I would not hear the blissful wail of nearing sirens.

"Untitled" by Alex S

If you had the chance to save the world would you? If you were presented with the chance to be
a superhero would you take it? I thought so. I’ve always wanted to be a hero. My whole life I
prayed to be presented with an opportunity to showcase my valiance or come to the rescue of a
damsel in distress. I wanted to be recognized for my bravery and be the reason someone in
danger lives to see another day. I waited for the lightning bolt that would give me superspeed or
the super suit that would make me invincible or give me the ability to fly. I waited in vain
because they never came. No. My superpowers were presented to me in a different context but I
rejected them.

I cursed the world for being such a miserable and terrifying place but not giving me the chance to
be Superman and come to the rescue. I was mad that there was so much villainous evil amongst
us and I had no way of restoring justice or bringing about peace. It was so frustrating watching
the world tear itself apart with hate while stood by idly, unable to swing into action and combat
the villainy. The hard truth is this. I rejected my duties as a superhero every single day.

People occupied freeway off-ramps, begging for help. People of all ages were bullied and abused
in so many ways to so many different extents. So many were plagued by depression or
loneliness. There were so many people who needed help but I wanted to change the world and I
didn't think it was possible without superpowers which made me oblivious to the things that
required my attention above all else. Every day, I was given an opportunity to display courage
but I missed it. I missed my chance to come to the aid of the many and do something to make a
change and to help because I didn’t have mask or a letter on my chest.

It took far longer than I’d care to admit for me to realize that my suit would never come because
I never needed it. I became a superhero the day that I opened my eyes and realized that the
villain of my superhero story wasn’t going to create a weapon of mass destruction and bring a
city to it’s knees. Rather, the villain of my story (and everyone else’s at that) is ignoring my
duties to those who need me the most. I came to see that by not sharing my blessings with those
who have less, or by not standing up for those who are constantly ridiculed and put down, or by
not being with those who want nothing but to smile, I was the villain. I was my own impediment
of justice. The evils of the world have not changed but I have. I finally get to come to the rescue
and I now know that I don't have to change whole world to change somebody's world.

"Gone In a Flash" by Angel O

5:45 AM and I wake up to an alarm. As I get out of bed, I check the date on my calendar.
February 4. My eyes get wide and my adrenaline starts pumping through my veins. Today is
going to be a very spectacular day. I am getting ready for my weekly photoshoot. After getting
ready, I pick up a small box from behind my drawer and put it into my satchel. I’m almost ready
to go but I become disoriented. I can’t find my camera. I looked under the bed, in the closet, on
top of the refrigerator, in my drawer, even in my girlfriend’s stuff. But, it’s no-where to be seen.
I’m gonna be late to work, and I can’t even find my camera.

Ten minutes have already gone by. I create a loud ruckus which wakes up my love. Lana
yells at me ,” Why are you making all that noise for?”. Shouting back at her, I tell her I couldn’t
find my camera. She told me that it was in her bag because she wanted to check out the pictures I
have taken. We started getting into a huge argument with each other about how she shouldn’t be
touching my camera without my knowledge of it. She came back at me for how I wrecked the
whole house just for “ a stupid camera “. Right after she said that, I quickly grabbed my camera,
and stormed out the door.

It’s now 2:04 PM. It was time to wrap up the shoot. As I take the last shot, as the flash goes
off, my phone begins to vibrate in my pocket. I answer the phone. At that moment, the blood in
my body was drained from me, and time had just completely stopped. This feeling, it’s as if I just
someone had shot me. Losing grip, my phone had slowly slipped out of hands. And I collapse to
the floor in agonizing pain. Rivers of tears begin to stream down from my eyes. All the people
from the shoot crowd around me wondering what was wrong. At first I didn’t respond when
someone asked me what was wrong. Someone else had asked the same question. It was so
difficult for me to say, because I didn’t want to admit the truth. But it came out anyways. My
voice all shaky, almost inaudible.

“ Lana, my love, my girlfriend had just passed away from a car accident. “
February 14. Visiting her grave. I place her favorite flowers, anthuriums. A red colored flower
having a shape of a heart. Before I leave, I take out a small box from my right jacket pocket.
That same box that I had hidden behind my drawer. With a tear of sorrow and depression, I place
down the small box near the flowers, knowing that I didn’t get the chance to get on my one knee
and gift her a surprise that was meant for her ring finger.

"Saved by a Blessing" by Margarita L

I wasn't always this way, there was a time when I was just an ordinary girl
from a village at the foot of the mountains. Those were peaceful days, filled with
happiness and no worries. Our good king made sure that the kingdom prospered
from the cities to the villages and that we had no invasions to worry about. Our
king hated conflict, war was a last resort unless necessary, yet there was no
better warrior or tactician in the land; we had very few enemies for that matter.
He never lost a battle until one day he fell ill to a terrible curse. Our once good
king is now controlled by a dark wizard, fading his mind into a distant haze. Only
I, a young sorceress of sixteen, can defeat the dark wizard and cure the kingdom
from his evil.


But let me tell you how I came to possess such magic. It all started when I
was a little girl, like about ten years old. I am the middle child of five, two older
brothers and a younger brother and sister. It was winter and a blizzard had just
passed about a week ago when it was safe enough to go out of the house again.
We went out to the lake to skate and play. The water was as solid as a rock, at
least that was how it looked like. As we were skating, well more like sliding, a
strong wind came and blew out the doll of my little sister’s hand. It landed some
feet away from her almost to the middle of the lake. I went to retrieve it for I was
closer to it. I picked it up and as I was about to return the ice began to crack. I
froze. My brothers were calling me as they came closer but I told them to stand
back. I saw how my second brother got the two younger ones off of the lake. The
oldest as trying to get to me and told me to slowly walk towards him. I was very
scared as I saw how the ice cracked beneath our feet. I was still too far away to
jump into my brother’s arms. When suddenly the ice shattered beneath me and I
fell in. All I could hear was my siblings yelling my name. I tried to swim up but the
water was so cold it felt as if it was pulling me down. I was running out of
strength so I let myself sink. Then I saw my sister’s doll floating down towards
me. I felt a wave of determination come over me, I had to be there for her, I had to
give it back. I grabbed the doll and started fighting to get out of the water. Then I
felt a warmth from my heart that spread throughout my body. It gave me
strength as I saw the hole from which I fell get closer. I broke from the water and
gasped for air. As I reached out to hold onto the ice I felt a pair of arms grab me
and pulled me out of the water. Then those arms embraced me ever so strongly.
It was my oldest brother. He had managed to get close to the hole. I embraced
him back and he started crying. When we separated I sneezed and told him that I
was very cold. He only laughed a little and took off his cloak and placed it on me.
We walked back to the shore where the others were waiting. They came and
embraced me all. I knelt down and gave the doll to my sister only for her to
embrace me again. Then I said, “Well, isn’t anyone else cold because I am.” We
laughed and headed home.

That night, I had trouble sleeping as my head beat like a drum sensitive to
the sounds of the world as the wind blew outside. It felt as if all my senses were
enhanced and I could hear voices whispering all around me. Then a melodious
voice of a woman called my name and everything became still. A light appeared
outside my window and when I opened the shutters they resembled blue fireflies.
Not wanting to wake my family, I snuck out the window onto the snow and
flowed the lights into the forest. I came upon a glen where a willow and a woman
with ethereal beauty stood in the center with a myriad of lights glowing all
around. She turned around and bid me to approach her and I recognized her as
the voice who called my name earlier. I asked who she was and she answered
that she is the spirit of the Earth and who shed warmth to me when I fell in the
lake. She admired my determination to live, of not giving up as easily, of
prioritizing someone else's life before my own. Therefore, the only way of saving
my life was to bless me with her magic. She explained that my magic consisted of
manipulating energy and invoking natural spirits to my will, and with it the
responsibility of keeping the balance of the earth. As time passed by, I discovered
the extents of my new power and with the years my magic power only
augmented. It didn't take for the village to discover my power. They were so
awed by my abilities that they agreed to keep it our secret. I have been the
protector of my village since then and now with the king cursed I have risen up to
free our kingdom from the darkness. Accompanied by my siblings, carried by the
prayers of my people, and aided by renegade warriors, I go toward the castle to
fulfill my destiny of being this land’s savior just like she was mine.

"That Day" by Courtney H

 I remember that day so vividly.

It was April 16, 2012 (the day after spring break ended). The sun was beaming through the blinds on my window. I woke up to my alarm clock at 6:45 am, got in the shower, put on my school uniform, and went to sit with my mom for breakfast. I walked out of my room not expecting to see my dad. I asked why he was still here and not have yet left for work. Irritated yet excited he answered, “Your sister has been calling me since 3 am because she thinks she’s in labor, so we’re going to the hospital.” At that moment, I didn’t know if I was more excited to finally meet my nephew or get an extra day of vacation. I quickly changed out of my uniform and into regular clothes and rushed my parents to leave so we can get to the hospital. My eagerness and excitement made the fifteen minute car ride to Kaiser Ontario feel like an hour drive. When we arrived, there were already so many family members and friends to crowd the room. Everyone was expecting the arrival of baby Titan.

After almost five hours of impatiently waiting in the waiting room we were notified that we can meet baby Titan. Thrilled, we rushed through the narrow doorway to go hold him and congratulate the new parents. The baby was passed from family member to family member and the room was filled with joy and contentment. After the initial excitement of the new baby came worry and sadness for Kendra. She was rushed into emergency surgery due to complications during the delivery. Adding to the stress of her heading into surgery, we had to find a way to keep James calm. As any man would be, he was worried about what would happen to his wife. The only thing going through his head was losing the love of his life and having to raise a newborn son on his own. Silent prayers and wishes filled the waiting room. As a family, we comforted one another and spread as much positivity as we could. We hoped and prayed that this moment of euphoria wouldn’t be covered by distress and heartbreak. The excitement in the waiting room a few moments ago turned into quiet stillness. My mom and I walked down to the hospital gift shop to try and distract ourselves from the sadness on the second floor. When we came back to the waiting room there was no change. We waited, and waited, and waited. Eagerness turned into uneasiness. Tears of joy turned into sniffles. Time seemed to be going so slow. Hours went by as we waited hoping the doctor would come out and give us the good news that surgery went well and she would be able to go home in no time. Around 1 am the doctors came in and gave us the news that Kendra’s surgery went well and she should be expected to recover fully. All the negative thoughts that clouded our mind were lifted and a sense of serenity overcame the room.

After almost 15 hours at the hospital, all of my emotions that kept me awake and alert were converted into exhaustion. My parents made the decision to take me home and try to get some rest. The next day we went back to the hospital. In that moment we felt no external worries; we just wanted to be there for each other.

That day, I learned that you can’t always control situations and that things won’t always go as expected. I learned to appreciate life and cherish the ones around me. I am appreciative of my nephews and my family. Four years later, my sister is as healthy as can be and Titan is now a four year old boy that loves to run and play with his little brothers Chase and Noel.

"Untitled" by Emily A

To live free, be happy, and stay positive at this age everything can get to be so overwhelming. Some days, I feel everything.
Other days, nothing at all. Only recently have I begun to approach things differently. Feeling
numb to the world and those who surround us is a dangerous thing because we risk relationships
to those we love, our connection to ourselves and can even cause us to make decisions that may
be detrimental to our future. You must learn to feel, embrace all the emotion has been knocking
on your frozen soul waiting to be let it in and keep living. My intention for writing this is to offer
my readers a different outlook on life. I decided to simply talk to you all and suggest a couple of
thoughts/things you can do to release parts of yourself you never knew you had within. It’s good
to accept change and let our complex souls experience.

I personally believe it is so important to put yourself in situations you feel extremely
uncomfortable in. Don’t avoid situations you find odd, get to know a variety of personalities and
get a feel for all that is out there. I have always been such a timid girl but have recently stopped
letting that trait overpower me because it has cost me far too many opportunities. Meeting new
people is such a breath of fresh air and you may just get lucky and meet some people you’d like
to keep in your life. Take a chance. Explore things on your own, you don't need a companion in
order to do that thing that's been in the back of your mind for quite sometime now. Let people
who will contribute positivity into your life in, but also be comfortable on your own. Don’t fear
new things. Humans are so funny, I can't stop thinking about a situation I was in a few weeks
back when I decided to go to Barnes and Noble alone because I wanted to get some work done in
a different environment. So, I was buying myself a coffee and noticed a small asian man about
5’4, shaved head, dark clothing looking at me from afar. I grabbed my receipt and sat at a table
and I could see that he was hesitant to approach me, I was a little worried because I had no clue
what this man wanted to say to me. He finally came up to me and asked me if I had customized
my pants myself. He liked my pants? I was in the middle of the cafe and there were a good
amount of people so I decided to give the conversation a chance plus I didn't get the urge to
knock his coffee out of his hand and make a run for it, you’d be surprised the amount of times
I've been in situations where that urge seems useful. I ended up talking to him for about three
minutes about how fashion trends come back one way or the other, he never once made me feel
uncomfortable and it seemed he was genuinely interested in pants. He was such a transparent guy
and he left a really good impression on me. As he walked away i realized the man had on the
same pants except mine had a customized cut, it wasn't sure what had really just happened but I
was okay with it and couldn't help but smile. Giving strangers a chance can be risky, I’m not
saying talk to every man who approaches you but we all have that intuition that lets us know
when something feels right. If something feels right to you, do it and be content knowing you
followed your instincts.

Be compassionate and help those around you but don't drain yourself giving all of your
energy to others while receiving nothing in return. Be the best person you can be and do all that
is in your power to find happiness but do not become selfish. Throughout my highschool career I
have learned that happiness is the one thing most important to me. I have no clue what I want to
do with my life but that is okay because I am on a path that offers me opportunities that I may
choose when I am ready. If life begins to overwhelm you, let go for a bit. Grab some speakers,
throw on a cool outfit, turn up some music and dance. Thats a good tip, I always do that when I
am feeling unsettled and need some release. Another, is to take a hot shower, but do it with the
lights off, light a single candle and put on any tunes that relax you the most. Be aware of
yourself. As odd as that might sound, I find it baffling that I sometimes live life like a robot. I try
not to do the same things everyday, just to avoid feeling uncontent or bored. Do not compare
yourself to others or live life doing what is expected of you. It's okay to not have it all together,
be messy and live with it.

Live craving knowledge, bonds, experiences and enjoy the freedom you have to do all
that you wish in this life. You must know what is good for you and have the courage it takes to
pursue anything you want at any moment. Set goals for yourself and find some passions. Try
anything new and if it's not for you, try something else. Let go of self-doubt or hate, it’s toxic.
Find love within yourself and let it consume you. Close your eyes and ask yourself, What must I
do in this moment to feel content? Do whatever is necessary to rid yourself of any conflict. If
that means eating that bag of chips you know is waiting for you on the kitchen table, then go and
grab them. Or maybe you just need need to express yourself. Create something and if it ends up
looking a little funky, just call it an abstraction. Art is art. Maybe even call someone or go to
your parents room and tell them how you are feeling. The first step to change starts with
honestly, simply ask yourself what is it you need, and do what you can to achieve bliss. Don’t
suppress emotion, let it all out and if you are considered a weirdo for expressing yourself then
welcome to the club. Find people who are open and accept you for you. Don’t take things too
seriously and know that things change. It’s up to you to choose positivity.

Overwhelmed? Yeah, me too. So, now that I have finished intentionally bombarding you
with a bunch of tips, I hope that you can take something from this or feel inspired in anyway to
begin a change for the better within anything you do. Let’s connect back to ourselves. You are
not alone, stay you and know that great things will come.

"Future Now" by Lyanna T

The day had come. It was Wednesday, August 17 th , 2016. My friend and I held our
concert tickets in our hands, as if they were our newborn babies. We were heading to Anaheim,
since the concert was going to be held at the Honda Center. As we passed by the Honda Center,
it had finally hit me. I was about to attend my first concert and witness Demi Lovato and Nick
Jonas perform live. I was squealing with excitement as butterflies fluttered throughout my
stomach. I couldn’t believe I was going to see Demi Lovato- THE Demi Lovato! We walked
inside, got our tickets scanned, went through security check, and found our seats, which were at
the top section of the arena. The stadium was massive, with well over fifteen thousand seats. The
opening act, Mike Posner, was playing a few of his songs as more and more people were arriving
and finding their seats. 7 p.m. came, but the concert hadn’t started yet so my friend and I
entertained ourselves with other people who were all the way across the arena, but also at the top
section and eye level to us. They put on their flashlights on their phones and began waving them
back and forth. My friend turned on her flashlight as well began copying them and told me to
follow. The people across the arena waved their phones left and right, and we copied them. They
stacked their lights on top of each other, and so did we. They waved their lights in a clockwise
circle, and we followed. This continued for a while and then, all of a sudden, all of the lights in
the stadium went out.

The concert was about to begin. There was an uproar of people yelling and screaming, in
which my friend and I participated in as well. A timer counting down from thirty seconds
appeared on the large screen on stage and everyone was counting down with it as if it was New
Year's Eve. My heart rate was going through the roof and I was surprised I didn’t hyperventilate.
The clock hit zero, and the tour name, Future Now, showed up on the screen. Music began
playing, the large beams of light were shining bright, and Nick Jonas came out singing one of his
songs! Everyone went wild! Realizing he looked about the size of my pinky from our seat’s
view, I brought out my high quality binoculars that my mom suggested me to bring, in which my
friend and I alternatively used. The girls next to us were whispering and laughing at us for
bringing binoculars and looking silly but we didn’t care because we got to see Nick Jonas clearly
instead of him looking like a tiny bug. After he performed a few of his songs, the stadium lights
went out again. My friend looked at me and told me that Demi Lovato was finally going to come
out. I swear it felt like my heart dropped down to my stomach. It hadn’t processed for me that
my eyes- my own naked eyes- were about to lay upon Demi Lovato.

Before I came to this concert, I thought I would be more than ready to see her, but I was
most certainly wrong. My heart began racing like I had just ran a mile, I felt shaken as all my
emotions were triggered, and the butterflies that were in my stomach before must have
reproduced because it felt as if there were twice as many butterflies at that moment. The
beginning to one of Demi’s song, Confident, started playing as a light beam quickly flashed onto
the pitch black stage, giving the audience a split second to see the silhouette of Demi Lovato,
who was on a platform that was about twelve feet high. My jaw dropped. I was in disbelief that
the artist I had only been able to watch on YouTube was in the same vicinity as me and about to
perform right before my eyes.

The smaller light beams shined bright around Demi while the biggest spotlight was on
her, and the crowd went wild once again. I was screaming “Oh my God!!” over and over again,
jumping up and down like a maniac as my friend recorded me. The second Demi began singing,
my vision turned blurry and tears began rolling down my face. I’m not a very emotional person,
and I rarely cry, but I was indeed crying. My breaths got shorter, my head got lighter, and my
body got number. I put the binoculars to my eyes but could see nothing besides my own tears
overflowing the lens. I kept wiping the continuous tears flowing down my face as my ears were
being blessed by Demi’s angelic voice. Almost everything after that moment was a blur, but I do
remember 2 Chainz coming out of nowhere and getting everyone hyped with a few of his songs.
To this day, that concert was the best night of my entire existence. It was surreal to say the least,
and I am grateful that my friend and I were able to experience every single moment.

"What I Once Had" by Emon R

I still think of you. Even though you're gone, far away from this corruption we once lived
in. I still talk to you… with words that I know will never reach you. I still dream, of that night.
The night you were upset, discontent with me. The night I tried to make it up to you. The night I
lost you.

I took you out, to make you happy and see the beautiful smile on your face. A smile that
any man wo uld die waiting for . The apartment was silent, yet that silence was quickly disrupted
by the sound of your trembling voice. The voice that had but one request. You pleaded me not to
drink. Not to let go of the little control I had left, but my ignorance got the best of me. Soon
enough, you agreed to my groundless reasoning and I took you out. We drove to the bar and at
that time, I thought I was doing it all for you, to make you not hate me, to make you forget the
past. To make amends for what I’ve done. Yet, I was only doing it for myself. I was drinking to
get my mind off the fear of losing you.

It was two in the morning. I had lost all of my control. The bar closed and we were
outside in front of my car and again, your voice quiv ered, with worry, pain, sorrow . The taxi line
down the street was seemingly endless, so I gently reached for the keys in my right pocket. My
vision was now bleared and your admirable appearance was practically gone, I still could only
hear the jitters in your voice. I don’t know if this was a curse or a blessing, but I convinced you
to get in the car so we could get home. To my remembrance, I could hear the sound of the
clinking keys as I started the engine of the car. The aftermath was all faint. But now I know, that
you never made it home. We never made it back to our small apartment outside of town and I
never got to hear your voice again. I’m hospitalized now, and nothing more than a paralyzed
man . My body is lies here, with no function, and all I am left with are my inner thoughts. Yet, I
still choose to think of you, and only you. It’s ironic, how the fear of losing you, made me lose
everything. Now that you’re gone, I realize that I was never the one for you, yet you always
stuck by my side. The curiosity kills me, to understand why you never left. Why you were
always there. Why you would give up everything for me. Your discontent came from the way I
acted, and you stuck with me, thinking I would change back to the same guy you met two years
ago. But I didn’t. And that ended up taking your life. Everyday I tell myself the same story,
hoping you’re listening. And yet, I regret to say that it’s meaningless. Because every time I tell
the story, everytime I scream your name with guilt, and everytime I cry myself to sleep.... it’s
just a reminder of what I once had. What we… once had.

"Using Music as a Tool of Learning" by Joseph C

Like many, since when I was young I’ve developed a love for music, I would sing
and dance to it, for it brings to me joy and happiness. And for years I was the only person in the
family who knew how to play the piano, so I would always be the one responsible for
entertaining my family, but I absolutely loved it. One day I realised that my grandmother, who
was unable to read Chinese at the time, was singing to the song I was playing, I was amazed
because she had a really difficult life when she was young so she never had the privilege to go to
school and learn Chinese, but she was always determined to teach herself how to read that she
would spend hours and hours glued to a book trying to remember a couple of new words.
However, music allowed her to remember words much faster and easier. So in order to
help her to learn how to read, I would practice her favorite songs for hours each day just so she
could sing along with it at her own pace while learning Chinese at the same time. And even
though it was difficult at first to balance school and music, I was determined that I would make
my grandmother’s dream come true.

Now after 10 plus years, my grandmother is now able to read and even write Chinese,
and though she still struggle with the more difficult words, she is able to accomplish daily tasks
that involves reading and/or writing with a breeze. Through this experience, I love music even
more and I’ve developed a passion for it not only to entertain people but to also help others. To
me, music is no longer simply just a form of entertainment, but a new undiscovered tool for
learning. 謝謝奶奶

"Saving the Children" by Kira P

The sound of children screaming and playing outside, the smell of a chicken in the oven
and vegetables on the stove, and the sea green of paint that is overwhelming me is all too
familiar. I’m sitting in my old house, in a thick white chair across from my mother. She sits there
quietly while I take out my No.2 pencil and a bright yellow legal pad. I look at her ask, “Are you
ready to begin?”

Tricia Pegues, is not your average working citizen. Her job requires inner stability and
strength. She is a social worker for a private agency and she also trains other social workers on
how to interview children and adults and how to deal with daily events that come with the job. In
this interview she was asked many broad and difficult questions on what she does and how she
does it. When asked how she came across this job she answered, ‘.....It’s always been a dream
of mine to teach children, however while taking a few sociology classes in college I realized that
it was my dream to protect them not just teach them.” As we furthered into the interview Mrs.
Pegues spoke very lovingly of her job and the children she sees on a daily basis, (although she
could not go into detail about the children’s lives because of certain rules and laws). As we were
talking Tricia became very passionate about the fact that so many people in the U.S. adopt
children from other countries instead of helping the children that live right here in the states. “So
many children could benefit from being adopted right here in the U.S.”, as she puts it, “I just
don’t understand why people are so bent to adopt children outside if the U.S.”. She believes that
if we started “fixing problems right under our noses, then maybe we could help others.”
Towards the closing of my interview with Mrs. Pegues we talked about how valuable her
job is. She believes that she really does have one of the best jobs because she has the chance
to save and protect children everyday. She even gets to know them and follows some all the
way through college.

Even as she gets older and the cases she deals with become more abundant and
time-consuming, Tricia never quits. “If I quit on them, then they will truly never have anybody to
look out for them or understand them. It may be draining but it’s my passion and I wouldn’t
change it for the world.” she said. Her dream to protect children is being well served as a social
worker, activist against child abuse, and chairwoman of a non-profit organization centered on
abused runaway kids.

"The Day that Changed Everything" by Kayla F

As the day was coming closer, the more I dreaded the next sunrise.
It started with boxes appearing in my house that were waiting to be built and taped. which the
whole family helped with. They covered up the entire living room and kept piling up. The next
thing was the disappearance of the items that I had grew accustomed to growing up with, from
the furniture to the silverware. It was suddenly gone, like it had vanished into thin air.
Before I knew it the day came, and reality set in. My eyes began to fill with tears when saying
goodbye and seeing them off. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

This is my story.

I come from a family of six; my mom, dad, and my three older brothers. I am the youngest which
always allowed me to rely on my family members throughout my life. I had grown accustomed
to the big family environment, and I always admired how close my family is and felt extremely
lucky. That is not the case anymore, because at the end of my junior year my dad got a job
opportunity that he couldn’t refuse to move up to Oregon. Our family discussed it, although we
knew it would be hard we didn’t want to take this amazing opportunity away from him.
However, I had the idea of leaving friends, family, and the thought of an epic senior year in my
mind which was the last thing that I wanted. It shattered the end of my junior year, and that was
all I could think about no matter how much I didn’t want to. In the end, I convinced my parents
to let me stay after I made it onto Dance Company, which had been my goal throughout high
school. This gave me a rollercoaster of emotions including being grateful, heartbreak, and guilt. I
was extremely grateful for my parents allowing me to have my dream senior year with my
friends and to have the opportunity to be on the dance team. I cannot be more grateful for my
dance family, because they are always there pushing me to be the best I can be as a dancer and a
person, so thank you if any of you are reading! A contrasting feeling was heartbreak because my
family was going to be split and it would not be the same in the place that I called home, because
of the absence of those personalities in my life would cause my daily activities to change. Guilt
was one of the biggest things I had to accept. This is because I knew how much my mom and
dad wanted me to move up there and I had the worst time telling them I couldn’t be as happy
living with them as I could finishing my senior year at Etiwanda with people that have changed
my life. In the end, my mom, dad, and one of my brothers moved up to Oregon. I have also had
to change who I live with, my grandparents are now moved into my house and are helping take
care of me along with my other two brothers. I have had to adapt to changes and make sacrifices
to stay at Etiwanda, but I also realize that this loss of a part of my family has also altered my
senior year as not being as fantastic as it could've been because of their absence.

My family, although not the same, is adapting and becoming stronger through this struggle. Even
though I chose to stay in Southern California away from my family, I have realized there is
nothing in the world more important than family, and that we should appreciate and cherish
every moment that we are able to spend with them. I cannot wait to continue senior year with my
friends and to stay positive to make it the best I can, but I know a part of it will always be
missing without my family here to experience it with me.

"Paradise" by Victoria H

The sunset the day after rain has fallen is the most precious moment. When I was little I was
extremely close to my great grandmother (NANA is what we called her) who had a lot of health
problems. She use to take me to the park when she was not working which wasn't often but she
made time for me when she could. Her favorite time to go was after it had rained because she
loved to just lay on a blanket on the grass and watch the sun rays coming through the clouds
while the sunset. We would lie there and point to each sunray and say the name of someone we
knew who passed away recently and say “there they go”, “God is taking them to paradise now”.
I was maybe around 8 when I finally asked what paradise was and by that time it was about a
year away from when she was expected to die. She looked at me one day and said “Paradise
mi princesa is where I am going to be going soon” and of course I didn't think much of it then,
there was a huge storm the night she passed away, I remember it because I was at my
grandparents house and they use to have this door that wouldn't lock all the way no matter what
we did and it kept banging and banging. I went to go close it because I couldn't go to sleep and I
tripped and fell on some water by the door and blacked out, I was awoken by music and my
great grandmother happy and dancing to her favorite song in the kitchen. She looked at my and
she said “you want to try some of this princesa, it taste like paradise” and I looked at her and
said “sure”. We stood in the kitchen just talking about weird stuff, which was not anything new
for us, and finally she said it's time for you to go back to sleep come on let's go. She took me to
her room and tucked me in and said “don't cry when you wake up tomorrow because I'm in
paradise”. I woke up to my mom coming to pick me up from my grandparents house crying
telling me my great grandmother died and I just smiled and said “it's okay she's in paradise”.
The day after rain has fallen and the sun rays are flowing through the clouds I always go to the
park with my sister or mother or my boyfriend and we look at the sky and say “there's NANA in
paradise”.

"Untitled" by Gabriella S

Upon entering high school, I was surrounded by people who believed that the only to succeed in life is to get good grades. Most of my friends will push aside friends and family in order to have a better GPA. The result is that they are a mixture of sleepless nights, overbearing stress, and coffee. As a senior, I see these people and don’t understand why they put themselves through so much. Growing up, I was a victim of bullying. I have never had a core group of friends and I have always felt like the outcast. I suffered and persevered though times of conflict and darkness. In these times, I constantly turned away from my family and friends, isolating myself from the real world and was surrounded by my own mental downfall. There were days I would lock myself in my room and focus on homework, wanting to break down because of the problems going on, instead of seeking help from my beloved friends and family. During my sophomore year, there was one specific day that I remember waking up and nothing hurt anymore. I realized that I was worth so much more than all the torture I was putting myself through alone. In all my times of trouble, I could have gone to people who cared for me and could have helped me through my problems. And even though they wouldn’t be able to solve all my problems, I would be surrounded by people who truly care for me. After this turning point, I never saw school work the same. I realized just how much my friends and family meant to me. I created a support system to surround myself with positive influences. Since then, I realized that my happiness and mental health were more important than any work that school could give me. My mentality became that if I was maintaining A’s and B’s, my mental health came before anything else. If my mom wanted to do something together, like go shopping or watch a tv show together, I wasn’t going to say no because I had homework. In times like these, I was aware of how materialistic homework, projects, and school work was. When I am 35, I don’t want to remember spending my time stressing over schoolwork. I would rather remember my younger years spending time with my family and keeping myself in a positive mental state of mind. And I know that not everyone understands my point of view. People wonder how someone my age can have so many issues. Some people think that I am crazy that I don’t focus more on school. People believe that all I should do with my time is study. But for what I have gone through, at this point in my life, I have to say I believe I am very successful. I have gone through difficult times and have come out stronger than ever. I have maintained a positive mental state of mind for the past 2 years, and to me that is a bigger accomplishment than any GPA.  

"Always Expect the Unexpected" by Brook D

It was second semester of junior year and I was at the point where I didn't think life could get any harder. It was the most important year of high school, and my parents always told me to focus on school and do well. They often told me, that the fun and games in life would come later, and the only thing I had to worry about was school. I followed this throughout most of my school years, and in return I forgot to leave time for my family and friends.

It was a Monday afternoon and I just got home from school. Before going off to start my homework I went to greet my family and have a snack. As soon as I stepped into the kitchen

I knew something was wrong. My Mom and brother were both talking in hushed voices with watery eyes, and my dad had yet to come home. I knew my father was going to the doctors that day for a check up, but I didn't realize that check up would turn into a diagnosis that would change my family’s life forever. It was a couple hours later and my dad still hadn't arrived home, we were all worried until we received a phone call from my dad, he didn't have much to say other than they were shipping him a hospital in Hollywood where they were going to do more tests before deciding on a final diagnoses.

Naturally it’s agreed that the human body can develop fatal illnesses. However it's never something you believe will affect your own family. Three days later my dad was back in Fontana, and we were finally allowed to go visit him and speak with his doctors. The whole ride to the hospital, my family prayed and hoped that everything would be okay. After making our way up to his room we were all finally ready to hear the news, and on February 2, 2016 my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer. We never expected to hear such terrible news, before this day my dad was considered healthy. Family members, friends, and the doctors themselves were shocked that this was all happening.

From that moment everything in my life changed. My dad stopped working, trips to the doctor's office became more frequent, family members came around more often, and bad news seemed to come on a regular basis. All we knew at this point is my dad had eight months to live, and the most important thing was to keep him comfortable and spend as much time with him as possible. Days with him were limited, and spending time with him and balancing school work were the most important things to me at this time. After three weeks my family figured out how to accommodate my dad’s illness, we became more comfortable with discussing the topic and finding ways to help my dad live the last eight months of his life as comfortably as possible. We carried on with our lives, but yet again we were hit with the most unexpected news. My dad was admitted into the hospital once again, his kidneys shut down and his cancer had spread, there was nothing left to do. The time I thought I had left with my dad was taken away, the short eight months I expected to have to prepare myself of the loss my family would have to go through turned into a ridiculously shorter amount of time. I could count the number of days left with my dad on my fingers, and that was something I couldn't prepare my family and I to go through. Unfortunately the doctors were right, a week later on March 13, 2016 my dad lost his short battle to cancer. for anything that could have happened. Every illness is different, but the most important thing is to stay positive and expect the unexpected.