"Homemade Wild Rice Salad" by Claiborne Beitz

            One of my all time favorite family recipes is my mother’s homemade wild rice salad. It has a unique blend of flavors that combine into one of the best rice dishes I have ever had. The dish itself is very colorful, appetizing, and will feed up to twelve people. Bringing it to a picnic, lunch, or dinner party will be sure to leave the guests amazed. The ingredients that will be needed to prepare this dish include:

●      2 cups of wild rice

●      4 cups of water

●      4 nectarines

●      3 cobs of fresh corn (preferably in season)

●      1 cup of chopped unsalted raw almonds

●      ½ cup of craisons

●      1 bunch of flat Italian parsley

●      1 large finely chopped red onion

The dressing will include

●      1 cup olive oil

●      ⅓ cup of sugar

●      ⅓ apple cider vinegar

●      A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds

             Now that you have all your ingredients bring out a large pot and bring your 4 cups of water to boil. Then add in your 2 cups of wild rice, letting it cook until about half the rice kernels have split. Strain the rice in a strainer and rinse under cool water. Set the rice aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

            The next step is the dressing which should be done ahead of time so it will be able to cool in the fridge. A quick way to prepare dressing is to put all the ingredients into a sealable container and shake until combined. My mother always uses a Mason jar mix it, but a separate bowl and whisk will do just fine. Add in the olive oil, sugar, and apple cider vinegar into the jar or bowl, and begin to combine the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Now mix in the toasted sesame seeds and put into the fridge to cool.

            With a sharp knife start by chopping the 4 nectarines into bite sized pieces and add to the now cool rice bowl. Next you will chop the corn away from the cob and put them in with the rice. Take your bundle of flat Italian parsley and chop it finely,  then add it to the rice. Next remove the peel of the red onion and chop it finely in order to add to the mix.  Now you can add in the 1 cup of pre-chopped raw almonds and ½ cup craisons to bowl. Finally, with all the ingredients incorporated, pour on the cold dressing and stir it all together.

            The dish is really simple to make and tastes amazing. It’s a dish that tastes best cold so making it ahead of time to store in the fridge will help the flavors fuse together. A great thing about this dish is how versatile it can become by adding different fruits or vegetables the taste can be changed to match any bodies cravings. If you want to add more protein cold, cubed chicken makes a great addition too. It can last in the fridge up to a week if you don’t eat it all by then!

           

"The Athlete" by Allysia T

     I picked my month for the blog entry for a specific reason, and that reason was because I made January my goal. Everyone that knows me knows that I play softball, but know one knows what goes on “behind doors”. As you get older it gets harder and harder to fully enjoy your sport or it was for me and two of my closests friends. It becomes a job. We bust our butt trying to sculpt ourselves to be the best athlete we can be in order to get a scholarship and we lose sight of having “fun”, which is the ultimate goal. My parents signed me up for softball when I was four years old and i’ve played it ever sense. When I was 12 years old, that was when I started travel ball, and that's when everything would change. I stopped going to birthday parties, concerts, beach trips, vacations to the river or to the desert and Sunday gatherings that my family and I used to have every Sunday after church. But you get used to it, you get used to the fact that friends and family stop inviting you places because you have practice or a tournament. You start to live and breathe softball. You become a robot doing the same thing almost everyday eat, sleep, school, homework, softball. But like I said before, you become accustomed to it and you enjoy all the friends you meet that become family and that feeling of making a great play or hitting a homerun, you begin to enjoy every minute of it. Until I got on a team where I could not even make friends because the girls are rude and annoying and my coaches were total jerks all the while trying to be at the top of my game not only trying to win a starting spot but also so I can be seen by colleges. Causing me to not be able to find the energy to get out of bed in the morning knowing that I have to surround myself with people that I hate and tons of stress. I began to hate everything about the sport and saw all the negatives, but then a couple months later I got back onto a team who was not as bad. At first I was a little intimidate because the last team I was on all the girls were nasty, so I dipped my toes in the water and before I knew it I was surrounded by a team who is literally my family, and we have just won the championship game to go to Nationals. This team was not all that great but we had chemistry and although that took us to nationals it did not get us through it and we were eliminated early in the tournament. However we were a young team and we were excited because we knew we would be with each other the following year. There was a turn of events just before our next season started, our coach who was like our Dad at this point had gotten fired for something foolish. At first we all stayed since we were like family, but this new coach and his daughter (also a coach) were just awful and cruel. And now we are back to where we started, hating everything about the sport that you can not even find the energy to get up in the morning. The only thing that kept me from quitting  and allowing me to get up in the morning were my two best friends, Jayda and Maddie. We stuck it out but every time I was driving to practice or games I got sick to my stomach and did not want to go. All three of us left and went to another team which ended up being 20x worse. We split up and this year found teams that suit us and that we are able to enjoy. However it is hard to find enjoyment in the sport itself because all of the stress that I have endured throughout my career and I have totally lost sight on why I even play. More recently I was asked this question, knowing that I was on a team that truly cares about each other and getting far in our season and could not say what first came to my mind, which was “to earn a scholarship”. I could not say that because to them and deep down to myself meant way more than that so I said “I play because it is home. In a home there is fights, arguments, and sometimes you can’t even bare to look at the people who live with you and you just want to leave but at the end of the day it's home and you can’t wait to go back.” I am still searching to try and have fun and it is hard because it is still a job. My goal for January was to be committed to a school with a scholarship, but my goal was a month too early for me reach. At the end of this month I am going on 3 visits to colleges and hopefully I will be committed in February and I can finally focus on enjoying my sport and having fun.

"New Years Resolutions" by Tyra R

     New Year’s Resolutions. I have tried to do it and did not succeed. What happens is, every year people around the world make these resolutions in order for them to change their lives. They look forward to the New Year’s because they believe that it is a chance to start over and change for the better.  But, how often to people actually change? Why do they do it if they know they will not stick to it?

     Whenever someone makes a New Year’s Resolution, chances are that they will not stick to it after the first month or so. For example, if you go to the gym during January you would see so many fresh faces there working out, their resolution probably was to lose weight or be healthier. Then go to the gym later on in the year, let’s say September, not many people will be there. This is because many people drifted away from their New Year’s Resolution to lose weight or be healthy. The act of someone drifting away from their New Year’s Resolutions is actually very common and happens for many different reasons, one being that the person had a goal which was way too big for them. They make these huge goals because they are so motivated at the time, but for most that motivation will not stay throughout the year.

     Even though people know that they will not stick to these resolutions, they still make them. One reason they do this is because their lives are so bad that they need these resolutions to get them out of the dumps. These resolutions can be a start for some people, this means that they might not achieve their goal but they did change. They started the process to achieve their goal and that is what they needed, they need a little push to start off the year if they ended the last year badly. Also, some might make resolutions even though they know they will not achieve it because they like the path it takes them on. Take the last reason into account, some might start the process to achieve their resolution but change routes. They might learn something else about themselves and make a new resolution. Everyone is different but if one makes New Year’s Resolutions it is for a reason and all you should do is support them and help them achieve their goal.

     Personally, New Year’s Resolutions do not work for me. I have tried it and I never succeed! It is like the beginning of the school year when you are so motivated and want to try hard and study but the desire slowly dies off. However, throughout the years I have learned that instead of making New Year’s Resolutions, I need to just make little goals throughout the year. For example, each month I tell myself that I am going to either focus on a certain thing or during that month set up a little goal and try to accomplish it. By doing this I do not have a huge goal that is intimidating me and most importantly I am growing as a person.

"Change" by Ashley G

     It was the beginning of seventh grade at a new school I was attending. I left behind all
of my friends who I had known since preschool because we moved to Fontana. At the time it felt
like everything was so different since I was in a new environment. Shortly after the move, school
began and I remember feeling like a bundle of nerves, not ready for any change. The first day, I
woke up extremely early just thinking about how this school would compare to the previous one
I went to. Finally, after about an hour of procrastination, my mom told me it was time to leave
and I hurried to the car. I was fortunate enough to have my cousin also go to Summit
Intermediate, but she was in eighth grade so we only really saw one another before and after
school. When I arrived I remember the bell had rung and someone told me I was late which did
not help out my nervousness. I began to rush trying to find my first class only to realize I had no
idea where I was supposed to go. After about a couple of minutes I found someone to ask where
I needed to be and they happily pointed me in the right direction. Upon entering the class I
immediately noticed the teacher made name cards for every student, so all I had to do was look
around until I found my name. I felt relief that most of the students were either searching for
their seats or talking so my being late wasn't an interruption. Once everyone was seated the usual
first day of school, teacher introductions began and all I remember was looking around in a sea
of unfamiliar faces. As the day droned on, I still did not have a single conversation with anyone
and it didn't help that I was a shy person. When it was time for lunch I remember walking very
slowly because I failed to meet someone who I could hang out with. This was the first time in my
whole life that I felt truly alone. After lunch I continued on with my classes until it was finally
time to go home and I felt happy again, knowing I would be home where I was more comfortable
with things. My mom picked me up and the first thing she asked me was, “how do you like your
new school?” and I gave a vague answer, not wanting to go into details. The days went by and
when Thursday came, around lunchtime this random girl came up to me and asked me, “Would
you like to sit with me and my friends?” Although I didn’t know her, I followed her to the tables
and we quickly became friends. School was no longer something I dreaded, but instead was
something to look forward to. In an instant my situation changed and I realized that all it takes is
one act of kindness from someone to change your attitude. Change is inevitable, but from my
friend I learned that it does not always have to have a negative impact on your life.

"How to Swim Butterfly" by Spencer C

 

Phase 1.  Be a proficient swimmer.

I know this Phase is pretty obvious, but it’s actually critical if you want to do the stroke correctly, since it requires a level of endurance to perform that the other strokes do not.

Phase 2.  Dolphin kick.

In order to do a Dolphin kick you must keep both legs together and kick with them at the same time.1) Lay on your stomach in the water. 2) Dip down with your chest then kick down with your legs. Make sure to start the kick from your hip and flex your abs while you do this.

Phase 3.  Butterfly Stroke.

This in my opinion is the most crucial part of doing the stroke correctly. In order to perform the stroke,

1) Have your hands come together at the top of your head in the shape of a pencil.

2) Separate your hands then pull them down in front of your body through the water to your hips (make sure to keep fingers together as if you were trying to scoop water with them).

3) After the completion of this step lift your arms out of the water (Hands are now above your hips with palms facing the sky), and in one fluid motion spread your arms out to either side of you (Imagine making a cross) and then (move to step 4)

4) move them to the front of your body (fingers are still together with your thumb pointing towards the water) so that your arms make a Y shape.

Now repeat the steps 2-4 of this phase. Now when you are first trying this out do not use Dolphin kick. Use either Breast Stroke kick or Flutter kick, I recommend the latter.

Phase 4.  Swim Butterfly.

Now once you feel comfortable with Phase 2 and 3 its time for Phase 4 in which we combine the two. Now when you start off I recommend pushing off the wall and performing Dolphin kicks while your hands are in the pencil position. This helps set a rhythm since which is necessary to perform the stroke with less difficulty.

1) Push of the wall with your hands in the pencil position and do Dolphin kicks to set a rhythm.

2) Once you reach the surface pull down (Phase 3 step 2) like you would if you were just performing the stroke, but at the same time perform a Dolphin kick(Phase 2).

3) Then once you are in the process of moving your arms to the Y position (Phase 3 steps 3&4) perform another Dolphin kick (Perform this Dolphin kick just after you make the cross with your body).

Repeat steps 2 and 3 of this phase until you get tired or you make it to the wall.

Good luck I hope this was informative.

"Discovering My Passion" by Ryanne N

I grew up with a passion for games. It all started when my dad introduced me to Pac Man and Sonic Adventure on his Sega Dreamcast console to Crazy Taxi and Splashdown on the Xbox. My dad, sister and I would always play together competitively trying to beat each other’s high score and work together to complete a challenge or a mission in any game we were playing. As I started to grow up, my dad would buy me the latest console that would come out. As I got older my sister grew out of playing video games and my dad was still stuck on games that were made in his generation, so I played video games by myself until I found other people to play video games with. After many years of playing videos games on the consoles I had, I became bored of it and took a break. First semester of freshman year, I was eager to play video games again due to new games being released. However, I did not want to play the new games that were being released on a console because it would not keep me entertained for long. So, I researched other platforms that I could play games on and this is when I discovered PC.

            I spent 5 months gathering all the information I needed for a PC. I first did research to learn about all the components a PC has and gained an understanding of how each component works. Then, I started looking at prebuilt PC’s from different companies trying to find a decent price that matches everything in the PC, but all I found was that the prices did not match the components in the prebuilt PC. I looked up how to get a PC that matches its price and a lot of comments from websites and forums persuaded me into building my own PC. Building my own PC would mean that I could have the same parts as I saw on the websites with the prebuilt PC and it would cost half as much and may perform just as well. So, I researched what I wanted in my PC like the type of tower I wanted, the processor, the amount of ram, a motherboard, a well performing GPU, hard drive, a power supply unit that provides the components with electric power and a package of red and white LED fans to light up the inside and outside of the tower. During my winter break freshman year, I started to build my PC. I laid everything down that I ordered on my floor and had my laptop on the side of me that had a YouTube video on how to assemble a PC. I thought building a PC would take all day to build, but it took me about 4 hours to assemble everything and hook it up to my monitor. I was hesitant to press the power button because I was not sure if it would turn on. When I pressed the power button, I saw the LED fans turn on, heard the power supply and saw a loading screen on the monitor.  I was pleased that everything turned out fine and worked properly. I was now able to tryout the new games that were being released and tryout some of the games I used to play on console. Turns out I like PC’s more than consoles. Building my own PC peaked my interest to learning more about the field of computer engineering.

             

"Harsh Reality" by Jerico D

     During the second semester of freshman year, I sat next to this girl in my English class. At first glance, she didn’t particularly stand out. She always seemed like she was in her own world. One day, a project was assigned to the class and I ended up asking her for help. She kindly lent her aid and we conversed frequently ever since. As days pass by, our conversations grew longer. Slowly, her features began to stand out in my eyes. Her brown hair shimmered like stars in the night sky. Her smile gave me butterflies in my stomach. A smile which cast away the miseries that surrounded me. That radiant smile, which shone brightest whenever I had a bad day. I had never experienced these kind of feelings before. Feelings which stemmed from daily conversations as opposed to ones that stem from objectification. Afterwards, confessions occurred and our feelings were reciprocal. However, reality wasn’t so kind to these two naive teenagers. I was under the pretense that feelings were more than enough to overcome the obstacles that reality places in your way but that was nothing but naivety. I was overwhelmed by the reality regarding relationships. I could do nothing but stand in awe of our foolish fairy tale aspirations. Fairy tales provide nothing but false happiness. Sooner or later, reality itself will drag you back from your fantasies. I learned a grave lesson that will forever be etched into this naive mindset. Relationships require much more than just feelings. Factors like effort, communication, and perseverance prove vital to successful relationships. However, knowing is only half the battle. Simply knowing what needs to be done won’t suffice against this harsh reality we are presented with. Possessing the courage to apply that knowledge will definitely aid you in overcoming the obstacles ahead of you. Courage combined with knowledge grants you the ability to overcome your failures. Even to this day, I am still devoid of this courage I speak about. Sooner or later, regrets will come one after another. There will definitely be instances where we regret the choices we made but there is nothing we can do about it. Reality forces us to pick up after ourselves. All that’s left for us to do is move forward and learn from those failures. Dwelling too much in the past can prove fatal to our own conscience however, visiting the roots of our own failures isn’t such a bad experience once in a while. If we learn to conquer our mistakes, the ability to surpass this harsh reality will inevitably present itself. Nevertheless, that radiant smile still lingers deep within the farthest depths of my mind. Not a day passes by without me reminiscing about that smile which brings forth mixed feelings. Our past can be utilized as a source of either strength or sorrow however, the deciding factor will always be yourself.

"1776 New Life, New Love" by Tyler A

     It was 1776, in New York City. General Washington had won us the American
Revolution to gain our independence from Britain. He was setting up to be elected President of
the United States. All of the newly free states were celebrating as they didn’t have anymore
oppressive taxes or british officers in our faces everyday. We were entering into the time to be.
While I was planning a party with all my friends to come live it up with me.
     The Red Coats had been ruining my life ever since I was a kid, and I planned to start the
beginning of our new country right. This would be the greatest party that New York had ever
seen. On July 4th at midnight, it was to be official, we would be free. I started sending the
invites, all of my neighbors and friends, Andrew, Alexander, Marie, Julien, and even the
gorgeous Kay from down the lane. I doubted she’d even think about coming, but I sent it to her
anyway, as well as anyone else I could think to invite to my New Country Eve’s party. It was all
I had thought about for weeks, the party, the venue, the people and the food.
     A few weeks later, it was time, the night of the party was upon us! I had everything
ready, my house spic and span, food laid out, drinks set for people to pour, and places for
everyone to be comfortable. As the day began and the hours passed I only became more anxious
for the night to come and for my guests to arrive.
2:00 … no one yet
5:00 … still no one…?
7:00 … I’m beginning to give up, no one had shown up.
     Until, 7:30, she came, Kay showed up! Standing in front of me, the definition and perfect
image of beauty. I was stunned, I had expected her least of everyone but here she was. I brought
her into my house and explained my situation, but we laughed about it and began to have an
amazing time and we were able to talk seamlessly. Soon enough I hear a group of people outside,
I look out to see that it’s all of my best friend, Andrew, Alexander, Marie and Julien! It had
started to become to night that I had wanted it to be. All of my friends and Kay got along, it was
magnificent. We ate, we drank, we cheered and played games, it was like we were all children
again, ignorant and bliss.
      11:59 We all huddled together, and soon, it was time to count, 10… 9…, 3… 2… 1…
I looked at everyone, I faced Kay, and she quickly swung in and kissed me. I was stunned, then I
kissed her back. Everyone went crazy, and we celebrated. It was the beginning of a new life for
us, and a new love for me.

"The Macaroni Monster" by Dante J

     I fumbled through the door, beat by the California heat. The day had hit a whopping 110
degrees and since my parents work far, I had to walk home from school. I lay on the floor for a
minute, absorbing the cold tile on my pulsing skin, while the sweat continued to pour down my
face and soak my socks. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it all the way to my house without heat
stroke, but I managed with a few bottles of water and a stop at the local park to refill.
After cooling off , I cranked the A/C down and crawled my way to the kitchen to treat
myself with some sweet, sweet pink milk. The cool milk soothed my throat and I could feel it
trail its way all the way down to my empty stomach. Finally relieved, I decided to take a shower
to rid myself of all the sweat that managed to cake itself on my skin. I kept the water cold to
contrast the current heat wave and provide myself with some extra comfort, and slipped into
some basketball shorts and a clean t-shirt.
     Fresh, content, and cool (hallelujah), I made my way back to the kitchen to treat myself
with my all-time favorite meal, the gooey, thick, and creamy macaroni and cheese. The water
began boiling, I readied the ingredients and prepared my mind for the delicious feast that was
about to unfold. I strained the macaroni and returned it to the pot to complete the final step to my
masterpiece. I mixed the butter, milk, and cheese around and as I did, my mind trailed off. I
began thinking about the day I just had. How grateful I was to finally be in some air
conditioning, and how much homework I was procrastinating on.
     Not a minute later, something caught my eye and I saw... IT. The thing from only my
worst of nightmares. Dangling right above my beloved macaroni with it’s eight twitching legs
hung a spider the size of an orange, hairy legs and all. Fear jolted through my body and
everything seemed just out of my control. I flung the mixing spoon in the air, spilling my
macaroni all over the floor. Cowering in the corner, I screamed high enough to break glass. With
the sudden impulse to kill the beast, I searched hastily for a weapon. Before it could enjoy MY
meal, I grabbed the nearest shoe and swatted the imposter with the might of 1000 men. It flew to
the floor and scuttled behind the stove. To this day, I’ve still not run into the spider again, but the
horrific experience haunts my mind. I sure hope I taught that spider a lesson after ruining my
macaroni, although I still feel its presence plotting the next attack.

"Food Above All" by Sydney G

     When I was younger, I hated makeup. It was a waste of time. I would sit on the (closed)
toilet waiting for my mom to be ready. She took what felt like centuries getting ready; choosing
shadows and different shades of lipstick. A little while after, I noticed my sister started doing her
makeup too. She is the kind of person who says she will be ready by 7 and arrives 3 hours later. I
would watch her get ready too. It was dreadful but interesting. I would ask her what all the tubes
were. "Why was everything so similar? Concealer and foundation look exactly the same!!" She
tried explaining it to me for the 34th time.
     As I got older, I understood it more and more. I started watching tutorials on YouTube.
Sitting on my bed for hours watching vlogs or hauls became a daily routine. I critiqued my
sister's makeup saying things like, "your eyeliner is too thick" or "you have to blend this side a
bit more". I would tell my mom what shadows to use, which brand is better, if this waterproof
mascara really worked. I admired the eye shadow palettes. I would walk into Sephora "just cuz".
I fell in love with the art of it all. How much I got interested was just so confusing, it all
happened so fast.
     While I was watching YouTube and complementing people's makeup, my younger sister
started using mascara. She asked me to help her. I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that she
asked the one who is not as experienced. Then she elaborated on how she did not want her
eyelashes looking like spider legs. She wanted those perfect C’s.
     These years passed and I kept asking myself the same question, “When am I going to
start wearing makeup?” The sharp black eyeliner always looked fun to create. The highlight on
some people glowed like no other. Picking a new lip shade everyday, I thought, had to be
interesting. All of these pigments and formulas I am missing out on. Time came and I started
grabbing my older sister's makeup. I tried mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadows and other products.
After hours of applying and reapplying, I could not find an interest strong enough. I remember
thinking, “Some women do this everyday!” It is crazy to think I would wake up 30 minutes
earlier every morning to waste some expensive makeup that will only last some hours. The many
colors and different formulas no longer amused me.
     I am comfortable with my face without makeup for now. Eventually, I will learn how to
apply eyeliner as sharp as a knife and highlighter as bright as your future. I will learn the
difference between concealer and foundation. For now, chapstick is the only product I will be
using on my face. I will be spending my money on strawberries and ice cream because food is
what makes me happy. My biggest passion is food at the moment. Before you know it I will
become a judge in food tasting!

"Those Reminiscent Memories" by Maya A

     When you’ve known someone for so long, it’s hard to just forget them just like that; to
just stop loving the way they laugh, smile, the way they hold their head when focused or the
wrinkles they gather upon their brow when confused. I still remember that day very clearly when
she asked, “Could we talk…” I, of course, unconditionally said yes, because I was already
planning something of my very own that evening. I was on cloud nine the whole day.
We’ve been dating for three years already and I was ready to finally ask her the most life
changing question. I had the perfect restaurant, the perfect band that would play and the perfect
suit that I would wear. We had decided to drive separately to the restaurant, and I didn’t think
anything of it, but the tone of her voice sounded unusual as if she were distressed, or worried
about something. I didn't think too much about it as I hung up the call and started getting
dressed. I called the restaurant to double check the reservation, made sure I had the ring and
headed out the door. When I arrived she was already inside, and it took a lot out of me not to
skip to the table knowing that later tonight, I could finally call her my fiancé. I walked up to the
table calmly and gently kissed her cheek. I felt as though she slightly turned her head but I
figured I was my imagination. I sat across from her and she began to fidget so I started with
some small talk. She replied vaguely which I was thought was very unusual so I figured I would
cheer her up by proposing. I excused myself and asked the waiter for the band to be played in
two minutes. As I sat down in my seat, she said, “Let's talk.”
     I stared into her eyes and realized it was serious. I sat down glancing around the
restaurant for the band to show up any minute now. I grabbed the ring, and as I was bringing it
above the table cloth she said she wanted to speak first. I slightly lowered the ring to my thigh
then turned because I could hear the song I requested playing. I turned to look at her face and she
was flabbergasted, watching the band slowly travel to our table and the other customers of the
restaurant turning our way. I began to get up and she grabbed my arm as if to stop me and
jokingly shook it off and she clenched her hand together and looked down. As I got down on one
knee and opened the box she looked at the ring. I started to form the words “Will you marry
me?” and she said, “I know you wanted to be loved but, I don’t love you; all these years I just
didn’t have the heart to tell you, you weren’t the love of my life.”
     So many things went through my head in that moment. Our future was over; everything
that I worked for was gone. Just like that. I bit my lip trying to hold back the explosion of tears
waiting to happen and clenched the box with the engagement ring. As my eyes stayed fixated on
her big, blue, watery eyes, my legs began to tremble and I slowly rose from the floor, hearing her
say,
     “I’m sorry.”

“Chinese New Years” by Michelle L.

Ever since I was little, I would always look forward to this one holiday known as Chinese New Years. It is a day where children and unmarried adults receive red envelopes from their elderly, containing varying amounts of money.  So to those who have an extremely large family branch, consider yourself lucky. However, it is not a simple holiday to celebrate. Since Chinese New Year is coming up on January 28th this year, our family follows a tradition that we do every year.  Before Chinese New Years, my family cleans up the whole house. They believe that this allows our household to be cleansed of bad spirits that were lingering around throughout the year.  Then on the day of Chinese New Year, our family prepares to go to visit our grandparents and we would then go to a temple together.

            I remember when I was little my mom would always dress me up. She would brush and braid my hair and put me in a red and golden chinese dress.  I would always dread wearing that dress, but I was happy to know that if I wore that dress my mom be happy as well. As we drove towards my grandparent's house, I tried my best not to fight with my siblings but it was difficult trying to keep our hands to ourselves.

When we arrived, my siblings and I would immediately run to the door because we were eager to get our red envelopes. However, before receiving our envelopes we'd have to congratulate our relatives on their successes and give them a few wishes. So as they sat on the living room couch, my siblings and I approached the front of the living room to give them their wishes. At this moment, my hands were shaking, sweating, and my eyes were shifting left to right. I couldn't find the words to speak. My mouth opened, but no words came out, but I noticed my sibling we're nervous as well. As I took a glance my grandparents, my aunts, and my uncles were staring at us with big smiles on their faces. Not wanting to disappoint them, I took in a deep breath and bowed. Following right after, my siblings did the same. We chanted in unison,"Gung hay fat choy! " Along with many other wishes saying how we wished for them to live a strong and healthy life and for many great fortunes to come their way. As they applauded our efforts, they handed us our envelopes.  My siblings and I were extremely ecstatic to receive them. We bowed and said thank you. Running into a room, I slowly opened the envelopes, I peeked inside and noticed I had about $10 to $20 in each envelope.  Afterwards, everyone brought out delicious food that varied in steaming hot noodles and dumplings. Everyone was having a fun time, trying to see what they have been up to.  A few hours have passed and my family decided that it was time to visit the temple.

We rode in the car, driving to a Temple that was placed on a small mountain. I can't recall its name, but I remember hundreds of stairs that led to this glamorous, golden statue of the Buddha with many other gods besides it. The Buddha statues reflected in the sunset beautifully, mixing with the hues of red, orange, and yellow.  Our parents handed us a chinese incense stick, telling my siblings and I to pray for prosperity and success, happiness and health, protection and peace, and for any of our desired wishes to come true. As I did so, I also apologized for all the sins I have done.  And so, as I recall this time, I feel happy and thankful to know that I have a roof over my head and a family who loves me and expects a lot from me.

Some great reading for the holidays!

 What a gift!   Be sure to read them all and comment on a minimum of three entries for the month -  Blog comments will be due January 18th.  Have a great break!

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

Remember:
All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this month (December).  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!

"Friendship" by Abigail R

     Friendship is something that must consist of an endless amount of effort by both people.
When I was in the 6th grade, I learned that not everyone who claims to be your friend, actually
is. At the beginning of 6th grade I was friends with a group of girls that I believed fit the
definition of true friends, but I was horribly mistaken. We were a typical group of friends. We
ate lunch together, we went to the mall together, and we shared all of our secrets with each other.
It all started one day during lunch when I decided to finally tell my friends about the boy I liked.
Let’s call him Billy, obviously that’s not his name but... I had known Billy since the early years
of elementary school and I always had a crush on him. I didn’t want to tell my “friends” I had
liked Billy for a while because I was afraid they were going to tell him. But, when Billy started
dating a girl I didn’t know, I had to get it off my chest. I planned to back off and let Billy and his
girlfriend do their own thing but my friends had other plans. “You have to do something about it
Abby!” That’s all I heard for the next week. I listened to their plans and how we were
supposedly going to break up Billy and his girlfriend but I really didn’t agree with sabotaging
their relationship. The next day at lunch, I was standing in the field and a big group of people
came up to me and they forced Billy to tell me he didn’t like me and didn’t even want to be
friends with me. I ignored it as much as I could but just as I thought it was done and over with, I
showed up to school to find my so called friends talking and giggling with none other than
Billy’s girlfriend! I was extremely confused.
     At the time I didn’t really know what to do but since they were unfortunately my only
friends I hung out with, I had no choice but to walk up to them. “Oh hi Abby. This is…” I knew
who she was. I smiled at her and she smiled back. She seemed nice and she didn’t seem to even
have any idea that I already knew who she was. Time passed and she hung out with us more and
more but I never really got to know her personally like the rest of my friends. I would have,
except for the fact that all my friends told me she didn’t like me. I was confused because I never
gave her a reason not to like me and my friends wouldn’t tell me why either. As we were
preparing to go to 6th grade camp, we were told to pick partners to bunk with and stay with at
camp. Unfortunately, I was left without a partner and they consistently changed the person who
was supposed to be my partner. Billy’s girlfriend and another girl were the only two left to
choose from. My group of friends obviously were trying to leave me by myself so they paired up
Billy’s girlfriend and the other girl together, leaving me out of the picture. I remember feeling so
left out and upset that I went home and as I was explaining the situation to my mom, I started to
cry. I did everything I could to make the best out of the situation. I came to school the next day
to find that Billy’s girlfriend had left our cabin and I now had a partner. I was happy but also
couldn’t help but wonder why she left our group. Camp was fun and the girls acted like nothing
even happened. Until we got home... Shortly after we returned, I was told “Hey Abby, today we
are going to hang out with different people and not with each other.” I thought that sounded
somewhat suspicious but I just went with the flow, as usual. It came time for lunch and I planned
to sit with some old friends instead of them which was fine, until I walked in the MPR to find
them all sitting together. As I was walking up to them, I felt someone grab me by the arm, and
say “Do you want to come sit with me?” To my surprise, it was Billy’s girlfriend.
     That was the start of our friendship and we have been best friends ever since. I ate lunch
with her every day from then on and never once did I look back. Come to find out, the girls were
also telling Billy’s girlfriend that I didn’t like her just like they had told me. Through the
situation, I learned a lot. I learned that people will always come and try to tear you down as they
go. They will use you and walk all over you to try and get to where they want to be. They will
fill your head with lies and do anything to make sure you believe them. I also learned that
communication is an extremely important aspect of friendship. If Billy’s girlfriend and I would
have just talked to each other to begin with, none of that useless drama would have even
happened. Now I know what to look for in my friends and I also know that trust isn’t something
that can be earned in a short period of time. Friendships take time to build but once you have
them, they should be cherished and cared for because some of them are once in a lifetime
chances. Not everyone has good intentions but everyone deserves a chance and that is something
that everyone should remember. So, now that you know my story, I think it’s only fair that I
reveal something to you. I said I wasn’t going to name names, but Billy’s girlfriend is none other
than my best friend of 6 years now, Ashlyn. You might know who she is but you should also
know that she was the first person to show me what true friendship really looks like. And to this
day I try to be the very best friend I can to everyone around me.

"The Hitchhiker" by Gurkirat K

                 

As the crisp cold weather was beginning to settle in late december, every breath was visible. Children went to bed with more anticipation for the morning than any other night of the year. Most people had already retreated to their homes, filled with the spirit of the holiday season. However, some were rushing to the stores to find the perfect gift and some to get a gift for an unexpected relative.

The roads were lonely and dark near the countryside and the corn fields engulfed the land as far as the eye could see, with only a few unsound huts protruding out of the flatness. A car arrived, piercing the silence, drove down the highway with two figures inside of it. The two of them were brothers, determined to reach their aunt Cybil’s house in Vermont before Christmas morning. It was tradition for the family to get together during the holidays, but Hunter and Landon were running late. They both lived in an apartment in New York and were attending New York University. With Landon on the wheel and Hunter on the aux, they drove for a couple hours, listening to Rae Sremmurd, by the endless fields while the sky became darker and the night colder. Suddenly after a few hours of driving, the songs stopped playing and Landon turned his head towards Hunter, only to find out that he was staring right back at him with no emotion on his face. With a jerk, Ariana Grande’s music blasted from the speakers and Hunter started to dance frantically in his seat. Landon looked away with disappointment and Hunter ran his index finger down Landon’s face while singing along with the song. Shoving his hand away, Landon yelled, “What the heck bruh!? Why you always be doing this kinduv stuff, you know I don’t like that junk.” Hunter started to laugh uncontrollably and Landon, with a scowl on his face, focused on the road.

“Dude stop laughing,” said Landon.                                                                                                                         “Why? Are you annoyed of me already bro, we still have a couple hours to go,” replied Hunter, still recovering from the laughter.                                                                                                                                          “There is a man on the side of the road,” explained Landon.                                                                         

   “What is he doing in the middle of nowhere all alone?” Hunter now pointing to the man’s luggage, “Looks like he is trying to get somewhere. Let’s give him a ride. I mean it is Christmas and all. Tis the season of giving dude.”                                                                                                                                                                

 “I don’t know man, what if he is a psycho murderer or something...these hitchhikers always end up killing somebody in the end...,” responded Landon with a hesitation in his voice.                          Rolling his eyes, Hunter replied, “That only happens in the movies and you my friend have been watching way too many movies lately. Just pull up and let’s do a good thing.”                                                         

 Landon pulls up the dusty side road, still unsure of the decision. Hunter rolls down the window and begins to talk to the stranger. “Ayy yo dude! You need a ride?” The man was dressed in a long trench coat with a panama hat on his head. The collars of his trench coat were covering most of his face, which worried Landon and the cold snowy December air rushing through Hunter’s window sent chills down his spine. Hunter with a sparkling and welcoming smile on his face waited for the stranger to respond. As the man started to walk to the window...Hunter yells, “Ahhhh bruh! I see you rocking them fresh Timbs.” Landon shakes his head and face palms himself. The man stops momentarily and looks down at his shoes and then resumes back to walking towards Hunter.   

                                                                                    

“Will you two young lads be kind enough to drop me fifty miles down the road,” asked the man. His face was still not visible due the darkness of the eerie night and the lack of streetlights on the countryside.                            

 “Of course, dude,” replied Hunter almost immediately. The man sat down behind Hunter and placed his luggage on the floor.

One hour later, both brothers shared a terrified look and sweat ran down their foreheads. Landon yanked the steering wheel to the side and the car came to a screeching halt. Both ran out of the car and into the fields.                                                                                                                                                                            

 “Hunter I’m freaking out, I told you that he was going to kill us!,” Landon exclaimed while trying to catch his breath.

“Dude, I thought that only happened in the movies, but this guy is legit turned out to be a murderer,” said Hunter.

“He kept looking inside his coat and laughed to himself like a million times dude. On top of that, I saw a shining blade in his coat,” Landon said trying to fathom the the situation.

“When we went over that speed bump, his suitcase opened and I saw a freaking gun handle dude. When I asked him to let me see his Timbs I saw a swiss army knife attached to the inside of his shoe.” Hunter peered over the crops trying to have a glance at the man in the car. “If that is not a sign that he is planning to kill us, then I don't know what is!”

“I know! We have to do something about it! I mean school makes me want to kill myself and all, but I am still trying to catch that family dinner tho!,” explained Landon.

“You right! I got a bat in the back of the car. I will get the bat while you distract that weirdo and then I smack him on the top of the head and then we can run him over and throw him in the corn field,” Hunter replied. 

Hunter and Landon started to slowly walk towards the car when the man noticed them and shifted towards them. Landon frantically ran towards the trunk and they executed the plan as planned. However, as they were dropping the body into the ditch, a post card fell out of his coat, which had a drawing of a little girl holding her dad’s hand and the skribbles spelled “Hope you make it for christmas on time from the army daddy.”

"Finding Janice" by Cody S

                  It was a brisk Sunday morning, around the same time of the month as it is now. After waiting weeks, it was finally the day. We were on our way to the Pomona Swap-meet, one of the biggest car selling and buying events in California, specifically classic cars and vintage Volkswagens. We were on our way to look for my dream first car: an old Volkswagen beetle. We arrived and once we walked through the gates I was in awe, it was the most Volkswagens I’d ever seen in one place, there were rows and rows, at least 300 cars in total. Once we were in, it was time for the fun part, finding the right car for the right price. We walked through the rows and kept a sharp eye, and about three hours later we had narrowed it down to about 3 cars. A blue 1959, a teal 1968, and a black 1969. We began looking at the ’59, because it was my favorite out of the 3.  At first look, the car was a steal, it was lowered and on rims, and had the original paint job, which really added to the vintage look of the car, and the motor looked to be in good condition. As we began to look closer, we noticed it had the wrong tail lights for that model year, and a few other things led us to believe it most likely wasn’t a 1959, but that didn’t diminish our interest too much.  We looked under the car, and there was the reason this guy was getting rid of the car for so cheap. All throughout the bottom of the car there was holes due to rust, to where you could see into the car. Sadly, this wasn’t the one, it would’ve been too much work to get it safely drivable. So, we moved on to the black ’69, and it was a short look, because the seller was firm on his price, which was out of our price range. Another one was gone, and we were down to one final option, the teal 1968. We looked and everything seemed right. It was newly painted and the interior was recently restored. It was in our price range and the motor ran great. The guy bought the car as a gift for his wife, but she ended up not liking it because of the manual transmission (stick shift). We took the guys number, and decided to take another look around to see if there were any other options, because as the day goes on people get more desperate and prices lower, so we were hoping to get lucky. As we walked down one row, a white beetle had just sold, for half the price that was listed earlier in the day! We had just missed a really good deal, and I started to get discouraged that we wouldn’t find the car of my dreams.  Out of the 3 cars we looked at, only one met all our requirements, the teal car. Now I liked the teal car, but I didn’t love it. The body style of beetles changed in 1967, they got wider and all the lights got bigger and bulkier. I personally didn’t like this, but I really wanted to drive home in a new car, so I told my dad I could settle for this one. Based on my body language, my dad could tell I didn’t really like this one, and so he asked me if I was sure this was the one I wanted. It took everything I had to muster up the two-letter word I responded with, “No.” Sadly we got in our car and drove home with still only one set of keys, not two. Although I didn’t get my car yet, there was still time left in the day, so I hopped on craigslist. I looked for about 30 seconds until I got to an ad for a 1962 beetle, right in my price range, located in chino. I asked my dad if we could go look at it, and he agreed. On our way there, I had a good feeling, like this was the one. We got to the In-N-Out that we had agreed to meet the guy at and he wasn’t there yet. About 20 minutes passed and he still hadn’t shown up, and I started to get really nervous this guy was going to be a no show. Just as I was about to give up, I saw him come around the corner, and I instantly fell in love with the car. It was everything I wanted, new interior, older model, sleeker body, and a good running motor. We went on a test drive and it didn’t take much to sell us on the car, we knew it was the one. It was one of the best moments of my life, literally a dream come true. As soon as I arrived home with my car the first thing I did was name her. I got my inspiration right from the 60s and named her after the famous Janice Joplin, one of my favorite artists from that time.  I guess if I had to take a lesson out of all this, it would definitely be to never settle, because if I would’ve settled I would’ve missed out on the deal of a lifetime.

"Let Me Wear This Fake Smile" by Bridget O

     Let me wear this fake smile, that conceals in me a true sadness. I wonder if anyone else sees it,
the thought of angst consuming my innocent mind. Concealer to brighten my somber skin. Blush
to give my sunken cheeks some false form of radiance. Mascara to open my sleepless eyes.
     Lipstick to make fuller my sullen lips. Draped over my body, another spacious sweater to cover
my concave shoulders. All this, and yet, it will not dispose of the tragedies that lie within my
weak frame. No amount of concealer will cover my somber skin. A heavy hand of blush could
not make fuller this emptiness. Several swatches of mascara can not bring light back into nor
bear coverage of the sadness within my soul. A tinted lip won’t produce joy and laughter. No
article of clothing will raise the hollows of my hope. All this I know, and yet again, I take a step
back to look into the mirror to see how well I have masked my true form. I see no reflection of
life. I have no more will to float around as a ghost just hoping to make it back into the lightless
sheets of my bed. A lifeless vacuity, not contributing to the universe nor adding to the lives of
others. My existence, senseless and long succumbed to the darkness of this prison I call my
mind. In this moment all the power within me that has secured my strings of sanity have now
snapped.
     As if the emotional state of a human can be reproduced onto a small scale of 10 numbers and
faces gradually descending from happiness to complete gloom, the doctors ask that I point to
which number and face reflects the true emotions of my heart. My memory is muddles by the
drugs forced in my body, inadvertently turning me aloof and immobile.
     Glassware shattered, curtains and blinds torn off the wall, furniture out of place. Then restraints
on my body to prevent further destruction, leading me to this very moment. Dressed in a pale
blue, thin, backless dress incoherently deciding which number and face shall represent my
emotional state.
     Something about these hospital walls brings me feelings of comfort and security, for I am now in
fear of what I will do when alone.