"You Should Read JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" by Cameron H

While currently sitting at a whopping 939 chapters in the main story alone and over, reading all of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure will appear as a monumental task to overcome, it is worth reading. Hirohiko Araki’s masterpiece, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, has been in constant publication since its debut in 1986 and has grown to be as influential and as popular in Japan as the big four of shonen1 manga2, Bleach, Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto, though it has not reached quite the same popularity in the west. This massive popularity has lead to several other spin-off manga that have been written and drawn by Araki himself, several spin-off light novels3 that feature illustrations drawn by Araki, multiple video games, and anime adaptations of the first five parts. Araki is also the only mangaka4 to have his art displayed in the Louvre and to have collaborated with famous high-fashion brands as Gucci and Balenciaga. Because of Jojo’s such wide appeal and success, it is difficult to find a shonen manga that does not have roots in, or is in some way connected to Jojo’s, from the poses and quotes to the over the top fight styles and Stand cries of “ORA ORA ORA” and “MUDA MUDA MUDA” to the ever-present use of the katakana digraph ゴ5.
Araki’s system of “parts” is arguably the best part about Jojo’s because it allows Araki to sometimes entirely change fighting styles and powers, as well as, write different, self-contained stories in different genres, so he doesn’t ever get bored or tired of writing the same kind of story, which can lead to a sharp decline in the story’s quality. The parts system allows a newer reader to skip parts (though this is highly advised against) and not be too lost within the story, though much of the prior lore will be lost. This also means that any reader can find a genre they like amongst the current eight parts of Jojo’s such as Dracula-esque vampire horror, Indiana Jones-esque action-adventure, and whodunit murder mystery.
Part 1: Phantom Blood​ (Chapters 1 - 44)
Phantom Blood is set in 1880s England where the main antagonist, Dio Brando, schemes to steal
the Joestar fortune from the Joestar heir and protagonist, Jonathan Joestar, or Jojo. After worming his way into the Joestar family, Dio finds an Aztec stone mask that Jojo’s father, George Joestar, was studying and discovers that when it is splashed with blood, it turns the wearer into a vampire. After this discovering this newfound power Dio turns himself into a vampire and aims his sights on loftier goals, that being to take over the world. After seeing Dio turn himself into a vampire, Jojo sets out with his companions Robert E. O. Speedwagon and Will A. Zeppeli to learn Hamon, a breathing technique that allows the user to channel the energy of the sun and kill vampires, and put an end to Dio’s reign of terror.
Phantom Blood is the worst and shortest part of Jojo’s when compared to the other parts, which is to be expected as it is Araki’s second major manga series and his first foray into the extensive story that is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure but is still good nonetheless.
Score: Decent 6
Part 2: Battle Tendency​ (Chapters 45 - 113)
Battle Tendency is another sun-breathing, action-packed romp set in 1938, where Speedwagon, recruits Jonathan’s grandson Joseph Joestar to help him destroy all traces of the stone masks. After having
1 ​Shonen manga are manga series that are aimed at teen boys, which are commonly seen in magazines like Shonen Jump.
2 ​Manga are Japanese comics.
3 ​Novels that target teenage readers.
4 ​Manga artist/author.
5 ​The character ​ゴ​ is often used as a comic sound effect to connote a menacing atmosphere or to describe a rumbling sound.

been attacked by a comrade that turned himself into a vampire, Speedwagon gets taken in by the Nazis to help with the investigation of a man trapped in a pillar , who turns out to be one of the creators of the stone mask, who is also a more powerful, higher being than the vampires. The Nazis then research further and discover three more Pillarmen in Italy where Joseph teams up with Will A. Zeppeli’s grandson, Caesar Zeppeli to defeat the Pillarmen before they can obtain the Red Stone of Aja, which would allow the Pillarmen to conquer the sun and become ultimate beings.
Battle Tendency is an improvement upon Phantom Blood in both story and fights, but still comes up somewhat lacking when compared to the other parts. The fights are much more interesting and having recurring villains in the Pillarmen lends the plot more overall structure and helps to build up the Pillarmen as better developed villains.
Score: Strong 7 to Light 8
Part 3: Stardust Crusaders​ (Chapters 114- 265)
Stardust Crusaders is the most popular and widely known part of Jojo’s and is coincidentally the part where Araki finally comes into his own with a new power system and fighting style in the form of “Stands”, which are the manifestation of the user’s fighting spirit that can only be seen by other Stand users. The introduction of Stands allows the fights to be much better written because a seemingly weak Stand can win against a seemingly strong Stand given the correct conditions or set up, which forces the Crusaders6 to think of interesting and clever ways to use their set abilities, unlike many other shonen series that use the ‘power of friendship’ or being angry enough to become more powerful.
Stardust Crusaders begins with DIO7’s coffin being hauled up from the bottom of the ocean and then flashes forward four years to 1987, where Jotaro Kujo, the grandson of Joseph Joestar, has locked himself in prison because he was being haunted by an ‘evil spirit’. Joseph and his friend Avdol go to Japan to convince Jotaro to leave the prison where they learn that Jotaro had developed a Stand, 「Star Platinum」8. Soon after this Noriaki Kayoin, Jean Pierre Polnareff, and Iggy join the group on their journey to Egypt to defeat DIO.
Stardust Crusaders improves greatly upon Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency in story and character writing, but especially in the fights. The era of the punch ghosts9 is the best era of Jojo’s and is one of the best shonen power systems because of its power-scaling and well-defined, limited ability sets because characters are forced to use their powers in clever ways, rather than to become more powerful. Overall the pre-Egypt half of Stardust Crusaders can get somewhat repetitive, but the Nine Glory Gods fights in the Egypt arc are much more interesting and fun to read.
Score: Light to Decent 8
Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable​ (Chapters 266 - 439)
Diamond is Unbreakable brings yet another innovation to the system of Stands, small though it may seem, in the form of the naming scheme. Stardust Crusaders used the major arcana of the tarot and the Nine Glory Gods of Egypt as Stand names, which had small breaks like, 「Tenore Sax」 and the only pun-based character and Stand name combination, Vanilla Ice’s 「Cream」, whereas the Stands of part 4
6 ​Crusaders will be used in all further instances to refer to the main group in part 3, which consists of Jotaro Kujo, Joseph Joestar, Avdol, Kakyoin, Polnareff, and Iggy.
7 ​Dio Brando stylizes his name as DIO after developing a Stand in part 3.
8 ​「」are Japanese quotation marks and well be used to show Stand names in all further mentions.
9 ​Stands are often referred to as “punch ghosts” because almost all of the Joestar Stands are humanoid, close-range, power type Stands whose main abilities consist of superhuman strength coupled with an extra side-ability.

and all further parts take their names from musical artists, albums, or songs like, Josuke’s 「Crazy Diamond」, Koichi’s 「Echoes」, and Rohan’s 「Heaven’s Door」.
Diamond is Unbreakable is a murder mystery set in the small Japanese town of Morioh in the summer of 1999. The story follows the main Jojo of the part, Josuke Higashikata, the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar. At the beginning of the story, Jotaro arrives in Morioh to handle inheritance matters with Josuke when he sees that Josuke is a Stand user. Jotaro then informs him that there is a murderer on the loose that is likely a Stand user. After defeating this Stand using murderer, the Gang learns that the murderer was not the only hidden threat in Morioh.
While Diamond is Unbreakable suffers from a sometimes slow pace because it is the longest part of Jojo’s, it does have some of the series’ best and most interesting Stand abilities and fights, as well as non-combat “fights”, like the “Let’s Go Eat Some Italian Food”, “Yukako Yamagishi Dreams of Cinderella”, and “I Am an Alien” arcs that take the focus away from the hunt for the part’s big bad guy and gives the reader a slice-of-life tinged reprieve. These non-combat arcs help to solidify the characters as well-developed characters rather than one-note fight machines.
Score: Strong 7 to Light 8
Part 5: Vento Aureo​ (Chapters 440 - 594)
Vento Aureo10 is the story of Giorno Giovanna, a half Japanese teen and the son of DIO. The plot of ​Vento Aureo​ is set in Italy in 2000 and follows Giorno as he joins Bruno Buccellati, an officer of the Italian mafia, as he infiltrates the mafia, Passione, to ascend the ranks of the mafia and defeat the boss to eliminate the movement and sale of drugs. Giorno teams up with Bruno Buccellati, Guido Mista, Narancia Ghirga, Leone Abbacchio, and Pannacotta Fugo, to form the part’s main group, as they are given the duty of protecting the boss’s daughter, Trish Una, and thusly pitted against Passione’s assassination squad, La Squadra Esecuzioni, and the boss’s own elite protection force, Unità Speciale on Giorno’s journey to dethrone the boss.
Vento Aureo​ features some of the best Stand abilities and Stand battles, as well as a real sense of power progression and character development, with characters learning to use their set Stand abilities to do new things within the predefined bounds and deeply developed character backgrounds and behaviors. Giorno, unlike Josuke and the Duwang Gang, has a concrete goal from the very beginning, to dethrone the boss of Passione and eliminate the drug trade in Italy, which gives the story a strong, tangible foundation and prevents the plot from wandering or seeming poorly paced at times like Diamond is Unbreakable. ​Vento Aureo a​ lso Araki’s best introduction to the main villain’s Stand, where he intentionally confuses the audience to place them in the shoes of the characters who don’t know what the villain’s ability does either.
Score: Strong 8 to Light 9
Part 6: Stone Ocean​ (Chapters 595 - 752)
Stone Ocean is set in 2011 in Florida, where Jolyne Cujoh, daughter of Jotaro Kujo, is framed for
murder and imprisoned in Green Dolphin Street Prison. Soon after being imprisoned and obtaining her Stand, 「Stone Free」, Jotaro breaks into the prison to help Jolyne escape, where Jotaro’s Stand and memories are turned into discs and stolen by a mysterious Stand. The rest of the part follows Jolyne, Ermes Costello, Foo Fighters, Weather Report, Narciso Anasui, and Emporio Alniño as they search for Jotaro’s memories and Stand, as well as hunt down the Stand user that took the discs.
10 ​Vento Aureo​ is Italian for Golden Wind.

Stone Ocean is often called the worst part in Jojo’s, but while it is odd and has some lackluster story arcs, this is simply not the case. Stone Ocean introduces the concept of Stand and memory discs that can allow almost anyone to wield a Stand and brings back the concept of the evolving stand that hasn’t been seen since part four in 「Echoes」. The part brings more interesting situations, characters, Stand abilities to the table, and like all shonen, takes the stakes even higher than before and does an excellent job of subverting shonen tropes.
Score: Light to Decent 7
Part 7; Steel Ball Run​ (Chapters 753 - 847)
Steel Ball Run begins in San Diego in 1890 with Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli teaming up to compete in the Steel Ball Run Race, a transcontinental horse race for $50 million. Johnny, a paraplegic, ex-star jockey, joins the race after encountering Gyro’s spinning Steel Balls that allowed him to stand for a short time to learn the secret of the Spin. As they continue through the race, Johnny and Gyro learn of nefarious goings-on connected to the mysterious Saint’s Corpse, which allows the holder to develop a Stand. Johnny and Gyro forge onward to find all the corpse parts and stop the unknown evildoer that is searching for the parts.
Overall, Steel Ball Run, with its decreased dependence on Stand’s, which function more as enhancements rather than a weapon, focus on the Spin, the race itself makes for an exciting and interesting part. All of these elements, as well as unique and interesting Stand abilities, combine to form one of the best parts in the series.
Score: Decent to Strong 9 Part 8: Jojolion​ (Chapters 848 - ???)
The only ongoing part and the second part set in the Steel Ball Run timeline, Jojolion is set after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Morioh, Japan. Jojolion follows the part’s protagonist, Josuke Higashikata or Gappy, after he wakes up naked and half-buried in the ground with no memories, as he searches for his true identity with the help of Yasuho Hirose and Rai Mamezuku. There is still much that is unknown, even 91 chapters in, about the plot of Jojolion.
With Araki’s best art to date, character writing, best Stand designs yet, Jojolion is one of the most interesting and mysterious parts in the series. Araki also chooses to include fewer “punch ghost” Stands, which makes for more interesting fights and Stand encounters.
Score So Far: Decent 8 Conclusion
You should read Jojo’ Bizarre Adventure because its an excellent manga series and it has something that everyone can find enjoyable in its more than 30 years of serialization.

: Beep Beep Beep The Last Talk" by Zoe P

     The monitors chirp their monotonous little song for the hundredth time that day. The first couple days I was in the room, every little beep made me jump a mile high, always made my heart race a million miles per hour. But now, I merely glance at them, reading the numbers that I could recite by heart to this day.
     It was February third, twenty nineteen, with a sharp patter of rain banging on the hospital window that showcased the beauty of the hospital garden, but I could not appreciate it then and I can not appreciate it now, months later. Because, as ironic as it was, the life outside was not inside of my crumbling grandfather’s body, where it should have been. I turn away from the window, not knowing how long I had been staring out of it, thinking about what to say. As I look across the cold room, walls painted a blaring white and the coarse blankets a bland mixture of beige and green, I see him for what seems like the first time in forever. My grandfather was no longer the healthy, bike riding, painting handyman that he used to be a month before the chaos began. With each robotic step I take towards him, I feel the weight of the universe on my frail shoulders, a million thoughts racing in my drowsy head. “What do I say? Will this be the last thing I ever say to him? Is this our last moment alone?”
     The numerous machines and tubed hooked up to my grandfather’s body seemed to beep a little quieter as I began to talk to him. My grandpa opened his eyes, and looked at me with his beautiful blue green eyes, full of love, even when he was barely breathing, and that was all it took. I completely broke down, sobbing my heart out while holding his cold, skeletal hand, with

the hospital bracelet three times bigger than his wrist. I wailed that I was sorry for the things I had done, for the times where I didn’t appreciate everything that he had done for me. “I’m so sorry!” I howled, rocking back and forth like a mad woman. “I’m so sorry for every time I thought more about myself than you, or when I took your kindness for granted! I was a terrible granddaughter to you, and I love you so much! But please...” I pleaded with all my heart “Please, don’t leave me.” And as I was sobbing, my grandfather tried to talk to me, but couldn’t form any words as there were numerous tubes in him. But he knew this, and only mouthed the words that I needed to hear so desperately at the time.
     “I love you.” he said, and I took this one like a sword going through my heart. My grandfather was not a man to talk about his emotions much, and when he said these three words, it always meant the world to me. As I calmed down a bit, I began to reminisce on all of our adventures together, from a simple drive to school on a cold day, coffee in both of our hands, to a trip to Canada where we saw the most magnificent cities and forests. My mind racing like a prize winning horse in a derby race, all my recollections and memories flashed before my eyes as I held his hand.
     While I talked with him, I asked him questions- but they were like empty boxes that could never be filled, and will never be answered. My main question was:​ ​“Why,” I wondered, “Of all the people in the world, all the criminals and ill-natured, why did it have to be one of the most selfless, purehearted people I knew?”
     To this day, I’ll never have the answer of how within two months my grandfather was seemingly healthy to being on his deathbed, and I never will. At first, of course, I was blinded by rage and fits of melancholic depression, cursing the world for my problems. But over the course

of time, I’ve learned and grudgingly accepted that some questions will never be answered and that everything happens for a reason, and that some things are better left unsaid. And while I didn’t want my late grandfather to pass, I can say that through his passing, he’s taught me to remain strong for myself and for my family, to pursue my dreams, work hard, and to fight for what you love with every last breath you have.

"Brown Eyed Girl" by Valerie C

     Thud​. I opened my eyes to reveal a bedroom lit by a pale-yellow bulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling. There’s a bed in the left corner of the room, sheets undone, with a pair of shoes lying under the frame. If there’s one thing I know for sure, those aren’t mine. I try to slowly lift myself off the ground to get a better idea of where exactly I’m at, but I’m met by resistance. Looking down, I notice my arms and legs are bound. I feel a sense of panic rush through me, how did I get here? I catch a glimpse of someone in a dirty mirror in the right corner of the room, surrounded by pictures of people I don’t recognize, posters of bands I’ve never listened to, and jewelry I’ve never worn. Why am I here? I try to scream but nothing comes out, my mouth isn’t covered but there’s an overwhelming sense of fear present that refuses to let sound escape my lips. I dart my eyes around the room to make sense of my surroundings, but nothing is familiar and I begin to feel that trouble is looming.
     From behind me, I hear a light thuds approaching the room I’m in. They are so close, but so far away, leaving an empty pit in the middle of my stomach due to the anticipation. I close my eyes and pray silently to wake up from this nightmare, but I know it’s not going to happen because I hear a door swing open behind me. If the air in the room wasn’t cold enough, it’s stone cold now. I lay dead silent, eyes squeezed shut with tears threatening to spill over. I figured that if I play dead, whoever is hovering above me may just go away, but they don’t. I can hear them walk over to the bed and take a seat, because the springs in the mattress give the faintest squeak.My heart is beating a mile a minute, and I’m sure whoever is in here with me knows it too.

     It begins to mumble words I can’t recognize in a chant-like manner. I dare to open my eyes and I’m relieved to see that I'm not met by the face of a demon, but rather by the back of girl. She sits cross legged on the bed, both hands stretched towards the ceiling, appearing to be conducting a ritual of sorts. The tears that threatened to spill over have now begun to run down my cheeks, leaving my face wet and sticky. I try to stay as quiet as possible to avoid confrontation with my tormentor but my effort fails, a low choked sob manages to escape my lips. The girl stops chanting and slowly lowers her arms in an ominous matter. Knowing that I’m sure to meet my end in this room, but still having enough hope that I can prevent my untimely fate I plead with her to not hurt me. Her body begins to contract and contort in ways that I know are not humanly possible, and I realize my cries are no use. I try to inch myself further away from the bed and make a swift exit but the door slams shut behind me. The single bulb in the middle of the room begins to flicker and the girl turns her head slowly. My eyes are fixated on the mirror in the corner of the room, staring into a pair of brown eyes that I don’t recognize to avoid seeing the demon. This is it.
     I can see her looking at me in the corner of my eye, and my face turns a sickly grey color. I’ve stopped crying and my breathing isn’t rushed, but my heart is beating in my ears. A feeling of curiosity rushes over me for the quickest second, and in that moment I’m brave enough to face her. I turn my head and look at her face, her features appear to be familiar but she’s still virtually unrecognizable to me. All the unfamiliarity makes her and the situation more terrifying. She cocks her head to one side as if to question my confusion, and then I notice her eyes.Big brown menacing eyes, the same pair I first looked into when I woke in this strange room and noticed the mirror in the right corner in the room surrounded by pictures I now know where my family and

friends, and bands who made the songs I loved to listen to the most, and jewelry I put on every morning. This is my room, those are my eyes. And when she realizes I’ve made the connection, she flashes a big wide smile with her big brown eyes and my world goes dark.

"How to Build a Computer " by Benjamin S

When I put each component of a computer together, my senses come to life. I smell the stale air as I open each component’s box. I feel the snap of the 24-pin motherboard connector slotting into its respective location. I hear each fan accelerate to 5000 RPM as the computer takes its first breath. I see each LED light up and shine in vivid RGB through the tempered glass panel. And when every part comes together, I taste the success of a completed build.
Most people tend to think of building a computer as examining a complicated circuit board and soldering various connections to points on the circuit board. However, this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Building a computer is similar to putting legos together, every part has a respective slot and clicks right in.
Although it’s simple to put a computer together when you have all the parts, you’re going to need the components if you plan on building a computer. These components are:

• ●  Motherboard: This is what connects every part of your computer together and allows each component to communicate with each other.
  
• ●  CPU (Central Processing Unit): You can think of this as the brain of your computer. It does the basic arithmetic and calculations in your computer.
  
• ●  RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is what stores data in your computer very temporarily, allowing it to run. Has your computer or phone ever lagged when you opened too many tabs? You didn’t have enough RAM.
  

• ●  Storage: You can get storage in two forms, Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). HDDs carry more space for cheaper but are relatively slow. SSDs are more expensive for the storage amount but work very quickly.
  
• ●  GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A GPU is what allows you to see anything on your screen. It calculates how each pixel on your computer should appear and sends a message to your monitor to display images. You can get a dedicated GPU if you are going to do intensive things like gaming or you can rely on the integrated graphics in your CPU which is perfect for watching youtube and doing homework.
  
• ●  Power Supply Unit (PSU): This is the heart of your PC. It takes electricity from your outlet and distributes it to your computer, giving it life.
  
• ●  Case: The case for your computer is what everything is housed in. Every component of your computer should fit cleanly into your case and some cases even have spaces for you to hide wires, making your computer look cleaner.
  
• ●  Operating Software: Buy Windows 10 from Microsoft Some optional components are:
  

• ●  LEDs for a vibrant, colorful computer.
  
• ●  Extra case fans for better cooling in your computer so components don’t overheat.
  
• ●  Sound Card for better audio quality.
  
• ●  Network Card for a better connection to your WiFi.
  
• ●  CPU Fan if your CPU does not come with one.
  
• ●  A monitor if you don’t have one.
  

The first step in building your computer is choosing the price range for your computer. If you want a computer to do homework and watch youtube, I recommend spending $400 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QwrP52​). If you want to do gaming like Fortnite I recommend spending $700 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QvTjHZ​). For AAA games like Battlefield and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I recommend a computer worth at least $1000 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QtnMX7​). The second step is purchasing components. You can calculate prices on ​https://pcpartpicker.com/list/​ or you can use one of the builds I linked earlier. Once you purchase everything, you should be ready to build your computer. WARNING: DO NOT BUILD YOUR COMPUTER ON CARPET. THE STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN FRY COMPONENTS, RENDERING THEM NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Now, onto the building portion of the guide. The first thing you need to do is unbox everything but leave components on top of their respective boxes as placing them directly on the floor can scratch and damage them. Here is an important diagram of a motherboard you may need: https://bit.ly/34aE4Z7​. Take your CPU and match the arrow in the corner of the CPU with the arrow in the corner of the G slot indicated in the diagram. Be sure not to apply pressure to get the CPU slotted, it should slide in without any pressure. Then, attach the CPU fan you have to the motherboard with a screwdriver and the screws that came with the CPU fan. Next, take your RAM stick(s) and line them up with the H slots on your motherboard. When placing two or more sticks in, color coordinate them so you have a RAM stick in both blue slots. This will make the RAM run faster. Now you are ready to place your motherboard in your case. Take the side panel off of your chosen case and lay the case down with the open side up. Lay your motherboard

down very gently inside the case, making sure to line up the screw holes in the motherboard with the standoffs in your case. Screw the motherboard in. This can take some time as lining the motherboard up correctly can be difficult. Once it is sufficiently screwed in, get your GPU, if you have one, and place it in the PCI-E slot indicated by letter A on the diagram. It should click in. Next, you need to put your storage in your case. Most cases will have trays that you can put your Hard Drive or SSD in. Find these in your case (They should be pretty big). Some trays require that you screw in your storage so do that if necessary. Great job! Most of the computer is now built. It is now time to put the heart of the computer inside. Look at the bottom of the back of your case and you should see a rather large rectangular hole. The side of your PSU with the outlet connection is going to face this side. Place your PSU in the case with the outlet connection facing out through the back. Connect each cable from your PSU to the respective connection on your motherboard or GPU. If you’re unsure of where to connect some of the connections, look at the manuals for your motherboard and power supply. Now, take the connections for each case fan and the CPU fan and insert them into the correct spot (Your motherboard will label them “CPU Fan” and “Fan1” “Fan 2” etc. so it should be easy to find). If you can’t find them, look at the motherboard diagram in your motherboard manual. You will also need to connect the power button to your motherboard. This too will be labeled on the motherboard. Once everything is connected in your computer, close up your case and connect the power cable to your PSU and the wall. Then connect your monitor to your PC with an HDMI cable. To install your operating software. Download the windows installer onto a different computer or laptop and transfer the install files onto a USB. Once the files are on the USB, connect the USB to your computer through a USB slot and press the power button of your computer. Your computer should boot up

and load off of your USB which will cause the Windows installer to open up on your computer and once you get everything installed, your computer should work perfectly.
I have built a few computers in my lifetime, all of them throughout high school. This means that not too long ago I learned how to build, and successfully built, a computer for the first time. I too thought that building a computer was some intense task that only the smartest of people could do but I discovered that it was much easier than I had ever expected. By following this guide, you too can learn to build a computer.
Here’s a picture of my personal computer that I built myself by following the listed steps! 

"How to Change Your Brakes " by Kyler L

When experiencing issues with their car, most people tend to resort to paying mechanics to fix their problems. Although this may save a person time and energy, It's going to cost a lot of money in the process. By doing this operation yourself, you can save up to $115! Hers how to do it
(This tutorial may vary depending on the car)

Materials needed
-2 car lifts
-2 Jack stands
-Tire iron
-Assortment of sockets (for variations in size from car model to model) -New brake pads and brake hardware
- Large C-clamp Steps

1. Park your car onto a non-inclined surface, preferably in your garage if available. This is to prevent the car from moving when working on it.
   
2. Place the lift under one side of your car and raise it up, putting the lift on the metal edge instead of directly onto the body. This is so we can remove the tire.
   
3. Lift the car until you can slide a jack stand underneath it. Place the jack stand under and lower the lift until the car sets onto the jack stand. This is for safety precautions
   
4. Take the tire iron and remove the tire by taking off the hubcap, and unscrewing the bolts that hold the tire into place. This is so we can get to the brakes and rotors.
   
5. Once the tire is off, go to the other tire and slightly loosen the bolts, but not entirely. Just enough to where you would be able to unscrew it with your hands. This is to help remove the tire.
   
6. Grab another lift and lift the other side of the car as well
   
7. Repeat step 3
   
8. Repeat step 4
   
9. Now that the tires are off, unscrew the bolts that hold the brakes to the axel with
   a proper socket (not the caliper). This is to remove the brakes from the rotors.
   

10.Remove the brakes from the rotors. Make sure it isn't hanging from the hose it is attached to.

11.Grab a C-clamp. You must now push the brake piston backwards. To do this, use the C-clamp to sandwich the piston by putting it onto the back of the brake housing, and the other end on the edge of the piston. Twist the clamp until the piston is flush with it's housing. This is to give enough room for the new brake to fit.
12.Remove the old brakes from their slots along with the brake holding pins. Place the holding pins to the side to use them again later.
13.Remove the brake hardware that the brakes slot into, and replace them with their corresponding new ones. Make sure when removing the old ones, you pay attention to the orientation and piece that you are removing so you can properly place the new one in a correct position.
14.Once all the new hardware has been replaced in each of the four slots, place the new brakes into the slots where the old ones used to be.
15.Place the brake housing back on with the new brakes in, and bolt it back to how it was before.
16.Now you must remove the caliper (the part that slides). Unscrew the caliper and take it off This is to allow us to see the back of the pads
17. Now that the back of the pads are exposed, place the brake holding pins into their corresponding holes.
18.Once the pins are in place, bolt the caliper back into place.
19. Repeat the process for the other side.
20.Now you must put the tires back on. Place the tires on the bolts over the rotors,
and screw them back into place with your hands. Do not tighten them all the way with the iron because both sides are still lifted, so the wheel will turn when trying to tighten it.
21.Remove the jack stand from one of the sides by using a lift and lower it down to the ground.
22.Tighten the bolts on the tire that is still suspended into the air until it is extremely tight. This is to get the tire back on tight and properly attached
23. Lower the side that was just tightened, and then lift the other side back up (the non tightened one) and tighten the bolts
24.Lower the car back down
25.Congratulations, you have just changed the brakes in your car!

 

This is an image of my car. I recently changed the brakes on my car a few days prior. The brakes are working perfectly and I can now drive my car without the worry of brake damage.
I am knowledgeable on the topic because I am taking an auto elective class here at Etiwanda. My teacher has showed my how to change brakes, and we have practiced doing them ourselves with his supervision. I was also educated by my best friends grandfather, who is a handy man with cars. He helped me walk through the process when I changed my brakes a few days ago.
I hope you are now able to save money on your car expenses, and now have a better understanding as to how cars function and what you can do to fix them. Working with your hands can help you build critical thinking skills, and is an overall rewarding experience. Please take this information into account, and enjoy saving your hard earned money!

"A Scar " by Daniel V

     June 1st 2014 in East Los Angeles, just an everyday Saturday in what people would call the hood. It was a hot and sunny day, the cars driving by the dogs barking. I was 12 at the time living in a 2 bedroom apartment with 6 people, not ideal conditions, yet I couldn’t be happier or more grateful with what I had. My family of 6 plus my cousin who was staying for a couple of days, decided to walk to church to avoid the crazy L.A traffic. It was only 5 blocks away so it wasn’t that bad. We got to church, enjoyed the service and bought some corn in a cup from our favorite street vendor Mr. Juan. Like I said it was just like any other Saturday, until it wasn't. Being that we walked to church that day me and my cousin decided to leave earlier than my family because they were talking to the priest, which meant a 30 minute plus conversation. We ended up taking a shortcut which meant we had to take, what my community called “the ally”. I was constantly getting warned about the ally because of all the gang violence and drug deals that my parents heard happens there but being the stubborn 12 year old I was I decided to ignore what my parents told me and continued on. My thought process was that they wouldn’t hurt me or my cousin we were just kids, so we proceed through the alley. The alley was fairly long, it was about 2 blocks but 2 was better than 5. The alley was empty as we walked so I wasn’t worried, in fact, the thought that anything would happen to me went away by the time we walked our 1st block. The second block was where all that worry came rushing back like blood in your leg after it falls asleep. We were about a quarter of a block away when 2 guys approach me and my cousin, these guys were about 16-17 years old, like 5’10-5’11 and fairly muscular,

which to a 12 year old was terrifying. I tried to walk around them knowing in the back of my head they would never let me by. One of the guys ask me where I’m from, so I tell him “I’m from Cypress Street”. They both laughed and looked at each other as if they were telling each other “ You thinking what I’m thinking”. I waited for what would happen next for what felt like 30 minutes but in reality was 30 seconds. When one of the guys walked behind us and the other pulls out a knife preventing us from running.They ask us to give them everything we had. My cousin didn’t have anything on him but me on the other hand had a Gameboy that my grandma had got me for Christmas. It was so dear to my heart that nothing would get me to give it up, not even a knife, but one of the guys saw it in my pocket and asked me to “run it,now!”. It took every little bit of courage I had in my body to tell him “ NO, NO WAY”. This really got them mad and caused them to charge at us. The guy with the knife swung it in my face to try to scare me, but my cousin pushed him off so we could run but when he pushed him away the knife cut me in the lip. It was a really bad gash, my lip was split in two and started to gush out blood. I was on the floor screaming with a puddle of blood around me. The 2 guys ran so they wouldn’t get caught, and my cousin started yelling out for help. I started to get dizzy and my eyes started fading in and out. The last thing I remember was seeing the flashing lights of the ambulance in front of me and thinking about what my family would think. Several hours later I wake up in the hospital with a weird feeling in my lip. This was from the 12 stitches they used to close my lip. I was so lucky that that's all it was just a couple stitches it could of been so much worse. I turned to my side to see my family there waiting to see me. Once they saw I woke up they rushed in and the first thing my mom tells me is not if I was ok or how I felt, but “ I told you never to walk through that ally” and smacked me in the leg. Out of love, of course, I could tell they were all incredibly worried about me. But If there Is one thing that I learned from this crazy experience it’s to always listen to my parents and that no object is worth your life.

"Action " by Adam S

     How many times have you heard other people say “I’m gonna do [blank]” or “I want to [blank]” or even “I should start [blank]” ? Now, how many times have you said these same actions that you desire to do either to yourself or some other person but just end up forgetting about them or not doing them? Now, how many times have you somehow came back to these lingering desires and yet again, yearned to do them once more but then fail to do so? Don’t worry, everyone experiences this, and not just once, but multiple times every single day.
     According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the definition for “action” is “an act of will”. After pondering on this, I had a small laugh at an ironic statement of one of the largest associations and businesses in the world. Nike’s trademark “Just Do It” has inspired many people over its implication to a crowd of single-minded consumers, but we overlook what it takes to “Just Do It”. In order to do something, we must first form a thought, an idea, or something that we can form a foundation upon. This we must write or jot down on a piece of paper or a notebook or somewhere where it can be read again, and not just lost in our stream of consciousness ready for the next thought to speed in like a jet ski and be gone as fast as it came, leaving only waves and ripples of what could have been, but wasn’t. But once we throw down the anchor of this want or desire, only more thoughts can appear and ride in as small as paper boats or as grand as cargo ships, all contributing to the one thought that started it all. This is called motivation, and the more ideas that are written form greater perspectives almost to the point to where you can picture yourself accomplishing your goals or achieving your wants.
    Last Sunday, I attended a church because my parents are searching for a new one after leaving a previous one. I was then forced to attend a youth service with my two younger sisters. After worship that consisted of many melodious songs, we were then separated into different groups based on gender and grade. Moments later, I associated my being with those similar to these previously stated attributes in which a circular shape formed and a youth leader commenced with his briefing. The service’s lesson concerned itself with what you are going to do now and how it will affect your later. This being the case, much of the service focused on the steps one would need to take to achieve their “later”. At the end of the briefing, the counselor in my group had us write down one goal or desire we wanted to complete that week, and what we would do to get there. Following his instructions, I proceeded to write down “Qualify for CIF Finals this Friday in Cross Country” and wrote down steps consisting of keeping nutrition balanced, stretching and training properly, not getting injured, and to run hard. Later that Friday morning, the top 15 runners out of each heat, or group, qualified for CIF Finals, and even harder, I was in the fastest Division 1 heat. The results? 8th out of 137, which meant I was moving on.
   Now, what almost every person will see from now on is my performance this day and the labeling as follows, but what they did not see was how in order to “Just Qualify”, it took an initial thought, adding more onto it about how it would be carried out, and actually following through no matter how tough it is. No one cannot just do something unless it is “Just Winning the Lottery.” Just like how every day following up to this race I ran and ran, said no to sweets and the wonderful fast food we all love, paid attention to how I felt and most importantly how my legs felt, it takes work and discipline, because once that motivation that lasts for only a short period of time, the only thing that’s gonna keep a person going is discipline, or continuing to do a beneficial thing even when you don’t see immediate results or just plain out don’t want to do it. So, the definition of an action is not only what happens, but the whole process of how it was made to happen: Starting with a thought, jotting it down, adding steps, and executing through

work. Now don’t let the “work” part drive you away, because “an act of will” is a desire, and working towards a desire that you would love to see yourself accomplish in the future, whether it be a week or a year from now, will soon seem nothing like useless effort, but life-changing exertion which is also the definition of passion.


Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/ http://www.finishedresults.com/

"Enlisting in the Marine Corps" by Yishai R

     As a child, I have always wanted to enlist in the military and serve our country. My parents migrated into this country at an early age and I feel that I have an obligation to serve our country. Senior year is a big step in my life that is going to introduce me into the adult world and my future as a United State Marine. Before the enlistment process you need to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station or known as MEPS. On September second after speaking to my recruiter extensively (Staff Sergeant Hitz), I was set head out to MEPS.
      A week later on September ninth I had an anxious feeling followed by impatience would only intensify as the day continued and arriving there was an aweing experience. When you walk through those doors, you can feel intense pressure as if the gravity in the room has doubled or tripled. For most people, including myself, received a wake up call. Hearing Officers from different branches yelling orders to us civilians made almost everyone think “Why in God’s name did I decide to do this”? It was quiet but loud at the same time. One moment it would be dead silent enough to where you can hear Day one was mainly reception and exam taking. The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is the main test that you take at MEPS but due to me taking the test prior to arriving at MEPS, I took the other required tests in order to qualify for enlistment. The other tests were computer and psychological tests to see the individuals cyber knowledge and mental state.
      After the test taking we had to wait for the bus to pick us up to our hotel due to MEPS being a two day process. One important piece of information, phones are not allowed anywhere in the facility. Phones and personal items including wallet are taken into storage until further

notice. We waited for eight hours in a room for the bus to arrive while all of us died of boredom as we twiddle our thumbs for eternity. I made friends with two two other Marines and we luckily had the first bus to drive to our hotel Embassy Suites. We were assigned roommates and were free to do as we please until 10:00 pm our curfew. I was given dinner and I made new friends with people who were enlisting in the Navy and the Army.   We visited a mall that was less than a mile away and enjoyed the peace and quiet. We later went home and I met my roommate that was very kind and polite.
      Day two was the Medical exams and personal background check followed by swearing into the Military. This day started with a blazing alarm at 4:00 am,had breakfast and prepared our things. We loaded into the bus and arrived back to MEPS for medical exams. This day was the longer, more challenging day. This day consisted with a hearing, drug, sight, and medical background test. The difficult part of the day was being practically interrogated by doctors and an officer confirming any answer that I have given previously “You stated that you have never done any illegal drugs, Is that true? You can tell me, it can be wavered if you have off. If you lie, you can face prosecution and up to five years in prison. You are aware of that correct?” etc. Having to hear the same questions over and over again were irritating but I got over that. The moment of truth arrived when I was called to swear in while an offer lead the ceremony. The self accomplishment and excitement I felt while stating the following sentence: “I (_____) do solemnly swear that I will defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign or domestic, that I will obey the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to Regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice so help me so help me God... ” I was officially enlisted in the military. Ship date: June 29, 2020.
      This experience was the beginning of me building up to my dream career and achieving my life goals, this being a major goal in my life. This has changed me as an individual because I

realize that we are all growing up and the adult world is right around the corner. I plan to enjoy every little bit of childhood I can before I ship out to bootcamp.

"Vulnerability" by Meagan G

       Being vulnerable is one of the hardest things to do in our world today. It can be seen as
weak, but it is the complete opposite. It makes us feel brave when communicating with friends or family about what fears and what doubts we have, and we can get the reassurance we need. Vulnerability should be celebrated because that courage to be open with people, bring us together and have a stronger relationship with the ones we care about most. Having this quality can have more of an impact on us, and we can use it to relate to one another and have a bond like no other. This quality also allows us to be more sympathetic to others because we never know how much people are actually going through unless they tell us.
      Personally, this trait has made me closer to my mom and us having to work our differences out by talking without having a screaming match. We try to understand that both of us are under stress, especially in the past couple of months, where it has been more stressful than normal. It puts us into a good place with each other once everything is said and done, and we try to laugh it off and do something that makes us both happy.
      It’s not something everyone wants to do, which is understandable, but proving to yourself that you can do it makes it easier. By sharing those parts of you, it helps you grow into who you are and you develop skills that are essential to living, like compassion and understanding for

people who are going through things just like you are. ​“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.”, this quote by Criss Jami, an American poet, displays exactly that it is okay to show the weakness because then can be proven as a strength. Strength is another reason for people to be vulnerable to others. This is because it shows that you can improve yourself with people guiding you through it. In a way, both that person and yourself learn and reassure each other that the world won’t fall apart, even if it seems like it at the moment.
      It is also something that makes you able to trust others more. By having that person to confide in that time of need, you start to have more trust towards people and the other way around. It is a natural way to share a bond deeper than others, since that person you give that information to already has a level of trust in some sort of way. This can put into perspective how much someone really means to you because of the sensitive information you tell them in order to be vulnerable. These are two keys to growing as a person in this world. Without this trait, people could be without compassion and trust, which are factors to successful relationships. The vulnerable side of a person is what helps people bond and create a new understanding of each other.

October Writers! Yes!

Remember to read all of the selections for this month  (October writers)--   comments are for this latest group only (no last year's submissions)

All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group  (October writers).  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 November 6, on Google Classroom.  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!

"Kindness " by Halie M

     When people think of kindness, most of us often think about maybe sitting next to someone lonely at lunch or helping an elderly woman cross the street. Even though those are perfect examples of showing random acts of kindness, some people view kindness as spending a certain amount of money in order to make someone feel happy. Some may even think that just because they did something nice, they will get something out of it. However, not everyone has the capability of spending tons of money, and the key to kindness is to do something that comes from the heart, which leads me to my more descriptive definition of what the word kindness truly means.
     The original definition of the word kindness is ​the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. In my opinion, kindness is the act of doing something considerate, from the heart, and is what leaves an impact on people’s lives no matter how big or small the act ends up being. ​The whole idea of showing kindness does not mean you have to do something major or spend tons of money on something in order to please someone, rather it means to have a good heart and to demonstrate random acts throughout the day. This could be as simple as giving someone a compliment or saying hi to them. Many of us may not think about it, but the simplest things are what could change a person’s attitude for the rest of the day by sharing some positivity. In the article “6 Science-Backed Ways Being Kind Is Good for Your Health” by Maile

Proctor, she states, “Doing nice things for others ​boosts your serotonin​, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Like exercise, altruism also releases endorphins, a phenomenon known as a ‘helper’s high.’” This comes to show how important spreading kindness is no matter how a person ends up showing it.
     In today’s society, I would say kindness is still around but not as much as it should be due to the fact that people are becoming more self-absorbed. Have you ever encountered a person who was being rude to you? I know I have multiple times and for a brief moment I do not think about kindness, as it fades away in my mind. Usually when someone is being cruel to you, it is human to either show the rudeness back or ignore the person, wanting nothing to do with them. However, people like me need to be reminded that showing kindness is still relevant to those insolent people.      One person that had always showed kindness was a girl named Rachel Joy Scott. “People will never know how far a little kindness can go.” This quote from Scott shows how no matter what random acts of kindness we choose to do, it will still have an impact on someone else’s life. It is also a great demonstration on how kindness can be contagious and start a chain reaction.
In the end, if only everyone were to understand that kindness does not revolve around money or gifts, and if people were a little less self-absorbed, kindness could come from anyone and become an everyday occurrence. Perhaps it could also lessen the amount of hatred in today’s world.

"What Defines Success?" by Andrea H

      Obtaining wealth, gaining fame, living your dream, or acquiring all your desires; Is this
your definition of success? According to the dictionary, success is defined as a favorable or desired outcome or the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. If we base our idea of success in this definition alone, one can assume that a person’s success in life is measured by how much they have accomplished or how many goals they’ve reached throughout their lifetime. However, I think that success cannot only be measured on the things we’ve accomplished because most of the time in the process of achieving success, we encounter obstacles that lead to failure but that doesn’t mean success wasn’t achieved. Success is mental freedom, which means feeling fulfilled in knowing that you did your best effort in trying to reach your goals without always expecting to gain the desired result.
     In life, we cannot avoid failure as it will always find its way to hunt our dreams and goals. So when it comes, it’s up to us on whether we take it as a sign to give up or use it to find our inner peace and try again. Winston Churchill, a British prime minister who once led his country to success in World War II said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm”. It doesn’t matter how many times a person falls from trying, what matters is how they’ll pull themselves back up with the determination to do better and succeed. This highlights the true meaning of success because by getting back up on our feet we allow to build up ourselves as a whole to satisfy and finish what we’ve started instead of crumbling down into ashes.
     Throughout my childhood, I used to always picture success as having a huge house with luxurious cars and a stash of cash and every time I failed to achieve my view of success, for

instance, failing to earn a load of cash. I gave up and shrugged it off. However, as I grew up and became mature, I learned how cruel the world was through my recent discoveries and experiences. So I decided to detach myself from the basic standards and ideals of what it takes to be successful. Instead, I found my peace of mind, which eventually led me to appreciate more of the efforts I made whenever I encountered failures in life. After grasping this mindset, I felt more successful with myself as I felt no pressure or stress to achieve this so-called success; since I started to focus more on contentment and my happiness.
     Success has a deeper connotation to it than just wealth and desires. It has a connection with mental freedom and If the world learned to stray away from their vision that success is about attaining wealth and gaining fame, they’ll discover the true and deeper meaning of success. It took me a slap of reality to determine that success is not based on money, but once I detached myself from the definitions and standards that I had learned growing up, I achieved my inner peace and understood success. So remember not to be blinded by materialistic things and discouraged by failure because you’ll never be able to accomplish the real success in life.
  


Sources:
-“Success.” ​Merriam-Webster,​ Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success​.

-DeMers, Jayson. “51 Quotes to Inspire Success in Your Life and Business.” ​Inc.com​, Inc., 3 Nov. 2014, https://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/51-quotes-to-inspire-success-in-your-life-and-business.html. -​Santana, L. (2019). ​How to Achieve Mental Freedom​. [online] World of Psychology. Available at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-achieve-mental-freedom/ [Accessed 17 Oct. 2019].

"Human Enough to Not Be a Hero" by Tammy P

     I got hurt beyond words — not once but twice.
A tornado of emotions threatened to shake my foundations. A flood of insecurities and doubts attempted to drown my resolve. A series of unfortunate events left me standing in the eye of the hurricane trying to gather the broken pieces and make sense of everything. It all began with that unforgettable day that creeps its way into my nightmares...
     This quiet day in late September 2018 proceeded like any other day. I trudged through my classes in a daze; the events of the first month of school still had me in subconscious shock. I felt physically weak, emotionally drained, and mentally depleted with the sole desire to go home. Then, again, this was how I felt every day for the first few weeks of the first semester. Knowing that I had a full agenda of homework and after school meetings on this average Wednesday, I decided to postpone everything and call it a day.
    I made the mile-long journey from my sixth period classroom in the back of the T-portables to my cerulean blue car named Blu in the student parking lot. Of course, after school traffic presented itself as a nuance as always which is part of the reason why I never leave school early. I quelled my rising tiredness and frustration with the thought of an after school nap as the long line of cars in front of me and behind me began unnecessarily honking at each other.
     After escaping the quagmire of parental and teenage drivers, I drove home. I expected to only be greeted by my younger sister since my parents would be busy at work on a typical Wednesday. As I pulled into the garage, my tiredness reached the point where I wanted to throw my backpack on the marble living room floor and take a nap right on our black leather couch since I did not have the energy to expend on the climb upstairs to my room. However, my plans fell apart when my mom greeted me in our living room.
    The air around me suddenly turned cold and I froze mid-step. My mom would never be home at 3:30 PM on a Wednesday; she would have been too busy managing her small business. I felt the ominous premonition of bad news as though it was palpable in the air. Negative thoughts ran through my mind at mach speed. Is something wrong? Did something happen? What happened? I voiced none of my impertinent questions since I knew my mom had something serious to tell me — something seriously bad. All of these thoughts, questions, and decisions happened instantaneously in my head as I placed my backpack on the living room floor before joining my mom by her side. She took my hands in her hands and asked, “How was your day at school?” Of course, she would ask that question. She asked that question every night at dinner but I knew that this time it was being used to stall the news. I shook my head and softly replied, “I know that you have something to say, Mom. Just give me the news.”
     That was it. That was all it took. My mom broke into tears. She gave the news that no one saw coming because it was kept a secret. A secret that was kept even from loved ones.
     A gasp escaped my lips as I blinked back tears as my mind raced to search for signs. I scoured in vain to retrieve any clues that could have foreshadowed this second loss in the span of a single month. This loss left a void in my extended family. Someone who I grew up with, someone who was a second mom to me, secretly battled cancer for months; we found out too late. My best friend lost her mom that day and I lost a second mother figure. I watched my best friend cry for the first time that day; I watched one of the strongest people I know show their weakness. My heart broke as she tried and failed to hold back her tears even as I tried and

failed to hold back my tears. I dealt with how the pain and loss affected me yet I also empathized with my best friend’s pain and loss. It felt like getting hurt not just once but twice.
    I avoided reliving that day; I avoided thinking about that event in general. Everything happened too fast, too suddenly, and too soon that I did not have time to process everything. I never felt more lost, more unsure, or more insecure. At the same time, so many of my friends were feeling the same way. We were all trying to support each other even as we were all fighting our own battles. Battles that we told no one else about because we thought we were being strong. However, we soon realized that it was all a facade. A cheap act that none of us were buying from each other because we knew each other too well. Through the stories and through the confessions, I became more comfortable with being vulnerable. I stopped pretending that everything was okay because sometimes it is not; that is part of being human. I did not expect what came and did not know what was coming next but I knew that I would not be the only one feeling that way.
The most important people in my life showed me how to be strong even during our most vulnerable times by being honest and being open about our situations and our feelings. Sometimes, we do not always need a hero in our lives. Sometimes, we just need someone to help us feel human, to say that we can feel the way we feel without sugarcoating or diluting our feelings. For the longest time in my life, I felt so lost in a maze of confusion and pain. My remaining loved ones guided me out of that maze. I realized I was strong, strong enough to admit that I was hurting on the inside. I realized that I was human, human enough to not be a hero.

"The Dirt Road" by Breana P

      The car spun out of control, as Henry gripped the steering wheel. His 1990 Chevy Impala
crashed into a nearby tree, and his chest bounced off the steering wheel. Henry sat unconscious for an hour, until his eyes began to open. He sat up straight and felt his head. Henry forgot where he was, until he noticed his cracked windshield and bent hood. He adjusted himself and pushed open his door. Henry stumbled as he got out of his car. He turned and was shocked to still be alive, his car was totaled. Henry looked around to see where he was at, it was pitch black and the only thing he could make out was a dirt road. This is his only option of finding help, so he began walking.
     After about a mile or so Henry came upon a hotel. The red neon lights spelt out ​The Charlotte Hotel​.  He stared at it in awe, and continued walking into it. Though the exterior seemed beautiful, the interior seemed as if no one has stayed at the hotel for years. Chairs and tables were only covered in dust, the carpet was torn, and the paint on the walls were chipping away. Henry gulped as he approached the desk to see if anyone was there. “Excuse me? Is anyone here?” Henry began to ring the bell a few times, yet nothing happened. He decided to head back out until he heard a voice. “May  I help you sir?” Henry spun around and saw a receptionist, he was a young man who was wearing a maroon colored suit with gold buttons

alongside the center. His name tag read Stanley. Henry was taken aback, he could’ve sworn that the lobby was entirely empty. “I’m actually on my way out...” Henry hurriedly walked over to the entrance, but the doors wouldn’t budge. He pushed and kicked the doors, yet nothing happened. Henry saw that Stanley wasn’t there anymore. He looked around trying to find a way out. His eyes met with a pair of green orbs. It was a woman. She was wearing a torn up nightgown, and her hair was tangled. Her face was pale and she pointed behind Henry. Henry moved his head to see what she was looking at and once he turned back around, the woman lunged at Henry. However, she went right through him. He fell back, gasping for air. He immediately bolted to the stairs. He ran and ran up the flights of stairs without realizing he was on the 8th floor. Henry panted as he tried to catch his breath. He tried to think of all the rational explanations for what has occurred to him. None of it made sense. He began walking towards the elevators, he was too exhausted to go back down the flight of stairs. Henry stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button labeled Lobby. The elevator began to move, but it rapidly changed from going down to going up. Henry frantically pressed the Lobby button but the elevator had a mind of its own. It stopped, and he saw that he was on the 13th floor. The hallway was dark, the only source of light was from the elevator which illuminated a bit it. Henry was pressing any button at this point just to get out of the hotel. A sound caught his attention as he peered into the vacant hallway. It was a woman’s scream, and this was enough for Henry, he pressed the Lobby button and the elevator actually worked this time. Henry sprinted towards the entrance and luckily the doors were able to open. He ran a few feet, and when he turned around, the hotel was gone. Henry didn’t have time to reflect on what happened.

     He continued walking, until he saw a police car. Henry ran up to the car, and knocked on the officer’s window. “Excuse me! Excuse me! Officer can you help me?” The officer was still looking straight, not making a move. “Hello? Officer please help me!” Then his radio came on. “Officer Williams there has been an accident off the side of the road. The driver seems to be dead.” The officer readjusted himself. “This is Officer Williams, I’m on my way.” Henry decided to follow the car, he began jogging. As Henry was following the police car, he started realizing that his surroundings looked familiar. He finally caught up to the car, and saw an ambulance with two other police cars. He noticed officers and paramedics surrounding a car. Henry started to slowly walk towards them. As Henry approached the car, he screamed when he saw the dead body. It was him.