AND

Author's Note: In this piece, I really played with the formatting... please comment on how you liked it!

Every.

Time. 

Pushed     d

                                    o

                                                    w       

                                                                    n

l

o

w

e

r

AND

l

o

w

e

r

until I am barely visible anymore.

The cycle repeats itself.

A setting on a washer,

slowly,

moving

                a

d                             r

                                               

n                             o

                u

AND

                a

n                             r

d                             o

                u

until everything inside comes churning

                                                                p

                                                u

AND

                p                                                                            

u

Everything that I am is determined by the ruby apple.

That you    evil  witch try to use against me.

the

s          m
                   o            o            
                                         t           h            
                                                             n           e            
                                                                                s           s

lays undecided,

unworthy,

in my hand.

Pop of Color

Author's Note: As I attended WASC Leadership Camp (level 2) this year, I was voted ambassador for our council (group.) Basically, that means that you are the representative for your group and have to write a speech in 24 hours. All of the ambassadors got together and picked a theme for our essays--music. The tricky part of this project though was that the theme for leadership camp was "Colors of Leadership," so our essay not only had to relate to music, but also had to tie into color. All-in-all, if this essay seems like some pieces don't fit.... well, they probably don't! In this piece, I also tried playing with the basic formatting of an essay. I hope you enjoy!

Imagine your favorite pop song. Play it through your mind… run it through your head; take note of what you see, hear, smell, connect to.

Now think about how many different parts there are to that song. Verses, choruses, bridges—all very similar to leaders.

Every leader has a song in them.

Every leader has a “pop” of color.

Verses in a person can symbolize many things. Seeing as verses change throughout the song, verses represent improvement as a leader. A leader’s verses are constantly changing, and their leadership skills, growing.

Verses can also show a path through leadership as the chorus is followed by the verse.

In my opinion, the chorus is the part of the song resembling the most leadership. Leadership you can rely on, and just like a chorus, it will always come back.

Also, songs tend to be known for their choruses and leaders are known for their organization, or responsibility, or enthusiasm, but above all, their leadership.

Another common part of the average pop song is a bridge. How this is connected to leaders is pretty self-explanatory, but all-in-all, leaders are (hopefully…) able to build a bridge between people, whether it is to repair a negative relationship, or enhance a positive one.

True leaders can see beyond sterotypes, true leaders can be themselves freely, true leaders can break boundaries and build confidence. True leaders can be all of you—just waiting to happen.

White…

A color of purity, innocence, hope, and beauty.

Symbolically, every leader is made of white. White is a part of every color—it makes them who they are. White is also used in art to create softer shades of colors. A fiery red combined with white can create a gentle rouge, or a cheeky pink. Depending on how much white each leader uses on their canvas, a beautiful painting can be made.

Just like all of these part of pop songs combined, the qualities of leaders can create one awesome song. I encourage all of you today to find your song. I encourage all of you today to help others find their song. I encourage you today to enhance your “pop” of color. I encourage all of you today to help others find their color.

And don’t be afraid to make that song truly beautiful with a bridge.

Don’t be afraid to be a leader.

Lines

Author's Note: This piece may be one of the most symbolic pieces I have ever written! Please comment, it would be very much appreciated!

There are lines.

Lines that cover me in mistakes, enclose me in the past.

The lines that make X's over  failures,

Create a life of regret,

Leave me swaying from one side to another.

Lines that shatter my windows, my only outlook to tomorrow.

The lines that demolish any hope ,

Create damage to dreams,

Leave me wishing in the winds of despair.

Lines that weave intricate patterns through the depths of life.

The lines that enhance the meaning of love,

Create confusions in the world they know.

In the world we know.

Lines.

The lines created of demons.

Left in Ruins

Author's Note: This piece is about the cause/effects in the story "Uglies." I worte this to demonstrate my understanding of cause and effect relationships.

Tally is anticipating her 16th birthday-- the day she becomes pretty. Pretty= Perfect hair, stunning eyes, get to live in the party tower with all of the new pretties, including Tally's best friend, Peris. Tally can't wait for the life of never ending parties, but until then, she is stuck in Uglyville with Shay, an ambitious girl with the same birthday as Tally. Shay takes Tally on fun adventures, to hoverboarding at night, to sneaking into one of the parties at Prettytown, to eventually revealing her most secretive plan to Tally; running away from Prettytown. Shay is completely satisfied with her own face, body, flaws and all. She can't undergo surgery that changes everything about you.

The moment Shay leaves, Tally is faced with the phase of loneliness once again. She waits, by herself, for her 16th birthday, for the day she becomes pretty. On the day of her birthday though, Tally is told by "Special Circumstances" (the group of highest authority) that something has gone wrong with her surgery. Special Circumstances explains that the only way for Tally to become pretty is to find "The Ruins." So, Special Circumstances plants a tracker on her and sends her off with some water purifiers, some food packets, a high tech sleeping bag, and her hover board. Once Tally is blackmailed into traveling to "The Ruins," and she agrees to, there is no turning back. This is the main conflict in the story.

The cause of Tally running away is the fact that Shay had run away. Although, another main cause to motivate Tally into escaping is her desire to become pretty. Without such a hatred for her imperfections, maybe Tally would have fought against Special Circumstances, changing the entire conflict of the story. If Tally had seen past her flaws, she would have run away to "The Ruins" with Shay, freely, and there wouldn't be a need for Special Circumstances to consult Tally, therefore, wouldn't be betrayal of "The Ruins." Everyone would live happily ever after...

Once Tally leaves, many things are set into action based on her decisions. First, Tally arrives, and has her eyes set on David-- the one Shay is convinced is her true love. The moment David talks to Tally, tension arises between Tally and Shay. Then, Tally ends up wanting to stay in "The Ruins," with her friends, and she disposes of the tracker the Special Circumstances has given her. Little does she know, that by destroying the tracker actually sets off an alarm which sends planes of Special Circumstances over to "The Ruins," and they leave the community in ashes, the community that Tally so wanted to be a part of. Special Circumstances takes many of Tally's friends hostage and with the impression that Tally has betrayed them. Once again, if Tally hadn't been so obsessed with a flawless body, her friends from the new community wouldn't feel like they have been betrayed, Tally would still be in love with David, and "The Ruins" wouldn't be in, well, ruins when Special Circumstances was done with them.

All of these conflicts then set the stage for book two, "Pretties."

Children in Winter

Author's Note: Our journal prompt in the Writing Lab was "You are standing on Pewaukee Lake Beach watching the sun set. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, or feel?" This is my response to this prompt. Feel free to give suggestions!

As the glowing pink of the sunset reflects off my glasses, the sharp winter air of January claws at my already reddened cheeks, interrupting the beauty. I see my breath dance in front of me the moment I open my mouth in awe. Suddenly, I am very grateful for the soft mittens enclosed around my fingers. Their warmth comforts me like chicken noodle soup when you are sick, or the embrace of your mother's arms when you are sad. The sounds of laughter from the children enjoying the snow insulates my ears, creating a barrier from the cold.

Maybe this sunset will melt the frozen hearts of the world, empty them, like the children in the winter.

For Better, or Worse

     Author's Note: As assigned, this is my Patriot's Pen Essay (rough draft). Don't worry-- this piece is supposed to be humorous rather than the traditional serious essay-- I am NOT turning this in to the contest. :D Please comment!            

                 As America’s Founding Fathers, you are looked up to and greatly appreciated from the 16^th century to the 21^st. You were big figures in the creation of our country and our beloved home. Why can’t you take the time to make your appearances somewhat acceptable?

                Although your attire is fairly decent (considering the fashion statements in the 1600’s were, uh, different than ours today,) the next thing the 21^st century looks at (well, most women at the least,) is the hair. Let’s face it: this area NEEDS improvement! While guys today either go for the piranha or just-got-out-of-bed look, you Founding Fathers are sporting the old-age-greasy-gray hair. People nowadays dye their hair so that it isn’t gray, and you guys are wearing wigs so that it is? Come on! When you signed all of those papers, and “discussed” all of those important issues, didn’t you think at all that you were creating the foundation to our country, and that you would be talked about for centuries to come? That your hair creates a look of disgust on our faces?

                The gray, greasy hair brings us to our next item of business: bathing.  Men in the 16^th century didn’t bathe for weeks, months, even years on end, and honestly, what good did it ever do to you?  I mean, aside from keeping the women far, far away from you, being given the great opportunity to be constantly scratching the dried sweat on your body, and always swatting those pesky flies and gnats away from you, of course. When the first colonists came over from England, they settled inland, sure, but on a river! What a perfect opportunity to take a bath. In the river. You Founding Fathers were given all of the essentials necessary to becoming even more successful, but they were ignored.

                Despite your opinions of your funky hair or your repulsive smell, the one thing that you should for sure be caring about is your smile. Crooked  and yellow teeth aren’t good at representing you when you show happiness.  Founding Fathers—you have very intelligent and creative men on your squad, use them! Have Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison create teeth whiteners, or at the very least, toothpaste! If this is really too much to ask, just find some hay and cut it to short pieces, attach it to a stick, and, what do you know? You have a toothbrush. For those lopsided teeth, get a piece of twine and tie it around your teeth for makeshift braces. Put your thinking cap on, people!

                With all of these new improvements to you, there is absolute certainty that you will feel more confident in the decisions of our country. There is also no doubt about it women today will appreciate your good looks and maybe, just maybe, call you “hot” instead of “old man."

Ever Forgiving

Author's Note: This piece is about the conflict/resolution in the story "What Happened to Goodbye." i wrote this piece to demonstrate my understanding of conflict resolution relationships.

Author's Note: This is my conflict/resolution piece discussing "What Happened to Goodbye." Enjoy!
Once her parents divorce, McLean becomes engaged with her ever changing personalities-- from cheerleader to geek, from New York to Lakeview, McLean is convinced that by inventing identities from place to place, it won't hurt to say goodbye. This 17-year-old is taken on a journey of reality, acceptance, and trust, setting the stage for the book "What Happened to Goodbye" by Sarah Dessen. McLean's main conflict-- she doesn't know who she really is.

McLean's dad forces her to move, yet again, for his restaurant, and McLean decides that she is sick of being someone else all the time-- she wants to be herself. One issue... she doesn't know who that is. This problem is on the road to resolution when McLean first surrounds herself with trusting and understanding friends who are there to support her. With the extra boost of confidence, McLean eventually accepts the fact that, indeed, her parents are divorced and are never getting back together. She is able to confide in her dad, and eventually, forgive her mom.

This relationship between the conflict and resolution is very similar to Psalm 103:8-12 in the Bible where it explains that God  is ever forgiving.
"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."
This verse is so powerful in the text of the bible, especially since it is somewhat understandable by us stupid humans. Basically, this quote tells us to put our life in the hands of the Lord-- he won't be upset or angry with what we have done, we just need to trust him and trust that he will forgive. He won't hold grudges against us if we sin, disobey the righteousness. This text is in perfect unison with the overall moral in "What Happened to Goodbye." If we do something wrong in life, not only will God forgive us, so will our parents, our friends-- most of the time we will be forgiven, if given time.The moment McLean lets go of the past and moves on with her relationship with her mother, there is a sense of peace.
The Lord is ever forgiving.

Parted Worlds

A circular world, this one,

No place to run, no corners to hide,

No matter the circumstance.

I will be there.

Once upon a time,

The pieces all fitted together,

Time fighting itself.

As the pieces drifted apart.

The pieces may have parted,

Puzzle to puzzle,

Me to you.

But remember our forever lasting connection.

Edges may fade,

Sections will be lost,

But the center of gravity is too strong.

For you to fight the connection.

So, even if you avoid me,

Move half-way across the world,

You will still be living in my clutch.

You are just a handprint away.