A last goodbye

In high school nothing seems to last forever

People grow up, and friendships grow apart

I don’t know what I’ll do without him,

But he’ll always be in my heart

A friendship so strong,

No one will ever understand,

The pain I feel inside me

When he’s not there to hold my hand.

My eyes are puffy from the tears,

No one there to feel my fears

Emptiness has been left inside me,

But no one’s there to see my hiding.

Facing the world without him will never be the same

Because to me this was never just a game

A friendship so strong fell before my eyes

Every thought about him consumes my mind

Though he is no longer there,

I still feel him everywhere.

We may not have made it to forever

But at least I know we ended it together.

I guess these are my last words of sophomore year. I lost my best friend, and nothing seems to  be able to fix that. I've cried a lot today when he said he was done, but now I begin to realize my pain has only just begun. There are heartbreaks every day and mine is no different. I just have to hold my head up and be strong, put on a smile and move on. I will never forget every memory we shared. I have learned that letting go is one of the hardest things in life, but it always comes. You decide whether it defines you, or guides you. So, goodbye best friend. I've taken many lessons from you, but our  road together ends here. I hope to find you one day happy, with a life that brings you so much joy. One day we might meet again. We might sit down and talk, or just smile and remember old times. Or we could walk away with hatred in our hearts. Whatever path we take, whatever move we make, I wish you the very best. This may be our last goodbye, but just know you'll be in my heart forever. 

Mud

Mud, squished up between your toes. What a wonderful reminiscence of your childhood. Back when everything was carefree and like mud, easily shaped. Your future was blind to you, but you had faith in yourself, knowing whoever you became was the person you were meant to be. You thought nothing bad of the outside world, and your innocence was still there. Mud is a childhood memory that burns like a fire. As we grow older our flame runs out, and we yearn for the years where our lives were easily shaped, like the mud between our toes, feeling the soft, squishy texture of wet earth beneath our feet. Instead of shaping ourselves, we become shaped by others. We succumb to peer-pressure and slowly lose every ounce of control in our lives that we were given. We once had the power to control our lives.  We once had the power to shape our future. Whereas now, we're stuck in the same routine everyday wishing for it to all go away. Our childhood memories, like mud, are fading. Our lives are quickly shading. We're drowning fast into the great unknown. No one knows what the next step will be, only that we will never see; what is to become of this generation; how will we ever shape the nation? Everyone is depending on us, when we’re still in a rut. We’re clueless on what to do, yet we are expected to act like you. Our childhood memories are quickly fading, no one else see’s the faking. Mud was once such a beautiful thing, never again will we see the light it brings. Our childhood memories are quickly fading. 

*I really don't know if this is what you wanted, but it's late, I'm tired, and this is the best I've got.*

In My Head

If someone could see what was going on in my head, they would be extremely confused. My thoughts are jumbled up pieces of my life that I cannot seem to let go of. For one thing, there's an ex-boyfriend. He's on my mind all the time though I refuse to let anyone know that. I never thought that one person could mean so much to you at such a young age. He's all I cared about, and for the longest time I thought that was for the best. I thought I was all he cared about, but I was wrong.

My friends and their well-being consumes my thoughts as well. I think about Kaitlin, Emily, Maggie, Kelsie, and Harrison. I hope Kaitlin finds happiness. I know that's all she's ever wanted, and she deserves it. I think about Emily and I hope that she will get into NCSSM. I think about my friends because I go through the day seeing them and hearing their thoughts.

The one thing that consumes my mind the most is my future. I think about where I'm going to go to college- if I go to college. Or I should be saying if I get in. What am I going to do with my life? I don't think I'm a good enough writer to pursue a career in being a journalist or writer. I have a loud voice, but what can  I do with that? How will I know what's right for me? Will I take advantage of it when the opportunity arises? Will I ever stop worrying about it? 

One Sentence

If I was to only be able to pass along one sentence to a whole new generation that new nothing of our previous knowledge, I would tell them, "I think, therefore I am." This one sentence has the ability to change the minds and the way people think. We are humans and have the skills to change things if we apply ourselves. I do not think this new population should be able to have all the information about the world given to them, because if they do, they will never use their minds. Besides, if we had start off from scratch, shouldn't they have to as well? How fair would that be, to give them all the knowledge we hold now when our predecessors had nothing to go off of? They did it by sheer determination and ambition. That is why I chose that sentence. It shows that if you use your mind and a little imagination, you can do anything. You can discover, or re-discover, everything that we have now, but it's up to them. I wouldn't let someone have it easy by giving them the clue to some huge scientific discovery. If we had to work for it, so should they.

Biggest Problem-Facing Adolescents

The biggest problem facing adolescents in today's society is their addiction to texting. In today's generation, our thumbs move faster than our minds can think. This may very well be the reason behind "texting without a filter", which means pairing a finger happy teen and their inability to think logically through their actions. Since teenagers are not confronted face-to-face with the person they are texting, it becomes easier to say things that they normally wouldn't, giving teens a "ballsier" attitude. 

According to an article written by Jessica Samakow of the Huffington Post, "Teens between the ages of 12 to 17 send, on average, 60 texts a day." In that same article, it notes that over 77% of teens own a cell phone, with one in four owning a smart phone. 75% say they are actively texting,and 65% say they text every day. However, only 39% tend to make calls daily. 

Texting doesn't just stop at influencing teens at home, they text in school using their phones to cheat or look up the answers on Google or other well known search engines. Teachers, however, are becoming smarter in looking for cellular devices during class. Some teachers even make it mandatory to turn in your phone before taking a test, this way you are not tempted to tweet. It seems as though phones are getting smarter, while the teenage population continues to rely on auto-correct to fix their mistakes. However, auto-correct doesn't save you from getting an F on a test for cheating, nor can it enhance your ability to learn. 

Also, text messaging poses a threat when teens are driving. I do not think I have to say how important it is to NOT text and drive. Not only does one put their life at stake, but others drivers around them as well. 

Texting is one of the biggest issues facing teens today, and if it is not stopped it will soon be too late to control it. I suggest that teens limit themselves to how many texts they send a day, or either set a time for when they cannot text. Plus, teenagers should put down the phone and pick up a book. A lot more knowledge can come from them than they realize. 

Come Alive

When I was little, I had a swing set in my backyard. I loved this swing set, because during the summer when the days were sunny, and the clouds were white like cotton, I would go out and swing. When I got high enough in the air, I would lean my head back and close my eyes and fly backwards. It was like flying only you were still on the ground. I would open my eyes and see everything upside down. The wind from the swing flowing through you tangled hair, as the world just faded away for a while. When I was little, this is what made me feel alive. As I got older, I spent less and less time on that swing set, and finally my dad took it to dump because no one used it anymore. I still remember that feeling even today I get that feeling from writing. When I write, I open my soul to everything around me. I don't feel the world around me, it's just me, my pen, and paper. There is no greater feeling than getting a compliment on my writing, or knowing that I've done a fabulous job. I sometimes miss my swing set, and the magical summer days I spent flying away on them to some far off place, but I remind myself that I have something else to make me feel the same way those swings did.

The Watchmen- English

We chose this voki character (Jesus) to represent the Watchmen because he is pure and had good intentions in telling Creon about Polynecies's body. The Watchmen had nothing to do with the burial of his body, but bravely came to him and told him about it. We chose the background of rain and lightening because of the bad news that he was delivering to Creon. The Watchmen is worried about Creon blaming him for Polynecies's burial. He basically told Creon to "not shoot the messenger" when he delivered the news. The Watchmen told him that if they never found the criminal  then he would not be the one to come back here and deliver the news to him.

Fraction Friends

Jim Rohn once said, "You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Do you think that Rohn is correct?  Why/why not?  Who are the five people you spend the most time with?  What parts, if any, of those people have you  "accepted" as part of your personality?  Does that bother you? Or, do you feel that you have become a better person? 

I don't think I could have said this better myself. Well, I probably could have, but now is not the time to be talking about the diction. I believe Rohn was right, because when I look at myself I see my mother, Emily, Kaitlin, Zoe, and Harrison. I have taken a bit of each of them along the way, mixed in with a bit of my own a originality to be the person I am today. Some parts I have accepted and other parts I'm still debating. Forming your personality with bits and pieces of other people could be compared to lab experiment: you can't put in too little of the person, nor too much of the person. As for me, I think I have the perfect amount of each in me. 

My mother has formed my personality because I am the spitting image of her. I am strong minded because she is, and I've learned to speak my mind from her as well. She guides me through tough decisions and has made it so she is my confidant in life. I have taken from her not to back down when someone makes you feel inferior, for if you stand up for yourself they can never make you feel less than what you are. 

Emily could be compared to twin pillars, without which I could not stand. I have taken from her that words are always your outlet in life. They will take you far if you know how to use them. Also, she has given me my confidence, something I thought I lost a long time ago. Emily is an angel. I am convinced of this because I see her struggle with life every day, but she stands strong and keeps smiling through her pain. She has taught me strong will, and that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. I admire Emily, she is a bright person to a stormy day.

Kaitlin, oh my dear, sweet friend. I can go on and on all day about what this one person has added to my personality, but I think the most important thing she has given me is my ability to smile at anything. When Kaitlin smiles, she gives me reason to smile. She has taught me that love is not a bad thing, and that when you find it you have to hold on to it, because it won't always be there waiting. Kaitlin has given me true friendship that is pure of anything evil, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Zoe is my favorite cousin, and I think she has added something to my personality that no one else ever could. She brings out the little kid in me; the one who laughed at anything and feared nothing. When I am with her, there is nothing I can't do. She gives me wings letting me know I can fly far away whenever I want to. She makes me giggle with excitement and recite movie lines over and over until we're both blue in the face from laughing so hard. 

Last, but certainly not least is Harrison. Harrison has added so much to my personality just by being my friend. I look at everything with a different aspect, including where I will end up in life. He's taught me that there's so much more to the world than just the small town of Roxboro. But most importantly, Harrison has taught me about friendship. He'll be going off to college next year and we've already planned our summer together and when I'll be able to visit him at college. I know our friendship is forever. He has taught me that loving someone is what we feel towards each other every day, and that just because you're leaving someone doesn't mean you're not carrying their love with you. 

I hope this is what Rohn meant when he talked about our personalities being based off of them, because I think I went into some heavy detail. I have accepted each one of these people and what they contribute to my personality. I know that no matter where I am they will always be apart of me, and that all in itself is comfort enough for me. With these people adding to my personality, I feel that I have become a better person in the past year than I have ever been. They make me the bright, shinning, happy, outspoken, loud, and intelligent person that I am today, and I will always love each and every one of them.  

Kaitlin's collage she made!

Emily and I after beating Voyager!

"There could never be a greater you."

My first time ice skating with Harrison!

Cousin Reunion!

Is fear rational?

I fear failure, while other people think failure is just apart of the road to success. What we fear is not rational, but what we fear is real. If you don't fear anything, you walk right out in front of moving traffic. Sometimes fear keeps you safe, but other times fear keeps you from taking chances. So who decides what fear is rational, and what fear is not? Too much of it is a bad thing, yet too little isn't good either. Fear makes you afraid of losing something or someone. It's what keeps you honest, when every fiber of your being is telling you to lie. I think the people who fear clowns or spiders don't know real fear. I think that fear is something that comes when you feel like you have nothing left so you are afraid. A clown isn't scary, but losing someone close to you is. Having your dad in the military stationed somewhere far away from you is something to fear, not going into a haunted house with a group of your friends. Are my fears rational? To me, yes. My fears are what keep me on the right track. They help me to take chances that I normally would talk myself out of. I'm afraid of failure, therefore I don't accept it in any aspect. I fear perfection, because I know no one is ever truly perfect even though I strive to be on a regular basis. I fear that I'll never be good enough or that someone will always be better. Some fear fuels you, and some fear tears you down inside making you feel weak. You decide what you fear, but you also decide whether or not you let it rule your life. I let what I value most deserve my fear. My family, my friends, and my future are all things that hold my fear. I don't think silly things deserve our fear, but I think things that matter most to us do.