College Essay

My mom always told me that I would never have a car - it was too expensive, too much responsibility. Naturally, being the stubborn girl that I am, I proved her wrong. At the age of 14, going into my first year of high school, I took a job as a receptionist at Dearborn Cardiology. I was the youngest employee by at least 10 years, so I had to prove myself. I had to be more organized, friendlier, more responsible, and harder working than my coworkers. For the first summer, I worked two days a week from 8am-3pm. It was a light work schedule, and when I added up my total earnings, I realized it would not be enough for a car by my Sweet 16. I bumped up my hours to a full week the following summer, working full time from 8am-5pm. It was a long day, and I had to give up a lot of social time, but it was worth it. At sixteen, I was able to buy my $4500, 2001 Hyundai XG 300. I do not think I have ever loved something so much, or been more proud of myself. I set a goal, and I achieved it.

            This experience taught me to be hard working and determined. I stayed focused, and was able to make more than enough money to pay for a car, its gas, and insurance. Yes, the satisfaction of proving my mom wrong felt good, but the responsibility and achievement felt so much better. I learned a lot about myself, including the fact that I like being accountable; busyness and organization are a comfort to me. At MSU, I will use these traits as a student to improve the community and richness of the school. Although MSU has a large community, I will thrive due to my independence and ability to self-serve ultimately benefiting the university. I aspire to be a successful special education teacher, and to further MSU’s reputation as a nationally ranked college for education.

Essay to get out of a speeding ticket. (it worked!)

On Saturday, April 14, 2012 while driving home to Dearborn from Ann Arbor on I-94, I received a ticket. The officer pulled me over at approximately 11:26 pm for going 93 mph on a high way that only permits 70 mph.  He was courteous enough to write the ticket up for only 80 mph, but I will still be getting points on my license. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and realize that what I did was extremely wrong not only for the safety of myself, but for the safety of others driving along side of me. I was speeding to get home in time for curfew, but that is not an excuse. Had I been more responsible and managed my time better, I wouldn’t have been in that situation. I was on such a time-crunch I wasn’t thinking about all of the repercussions speeding could have, and was only thinking about the repercussions that awaited my late arrival at home. That being said, I am asking the court to review my case. I am only 17 years old, and I pay my own insurance. Getting points would significantly raise my insurance, as well as follow me for the next two years. As I said before, I realize how wrong and dangerous what I did really was, and accept full responsibility for the repercussions you find fitting. Since receiving the ticket, I have been following the speed limits. I am hoping that the points not be added to my license, and that I only have to pay the fine.

Thank you so much for reading this letter and reviewing my case.

English Essay: The Lessons of A Divorcee's Child

50%. That’s the statistic of marriages that end in divorce nowadays. Love, supposedly one of the most pure and beautiful things life has to offer, is now being corrupt by selfishness and rash decisions. Most people consider divorce one of the worst things that can happen to a couple, but I wouldn’t know. What I do know is how it affects the kid of the divorcees. Simply, it sucks. It’s full of fights, puffy eyes, and car rides during the holidays from one family’s house to the next. There’s nothing fun about it. There are so many reasons why I should be saying that my parent’s divorce ruined my life – made it so difficult that I wanted to give up – but you’ll never hear me say that. In fact, my parent’s separation is the reason I am who I am today: a strong, independent, mature young-adult. I’ll never say that I’m glad my parents got divorced, but some really great things came out of having a manipulative father and an over-bearing mother who both love me more than I can imagine.

Divorce certainly isn’t easy for a child. I was two when my parents realized it was over. By the age of three I was spending every other weekend with my dad in his town-house. The first few years of my life were normal – to me at least. I didn’t really know that what my parents did was unusual – that a mommy and daddy were supposed to live together. As I got older I started realizing that none of my friends had to spend Thursday after school and every other weekend at their dad’s house; that’s when things got difficult. I was always a smart kid; I picked up on things that seven-year-olds typically don’t realize, but I was special. I didn’t spend much of the summer camps I attended with the other kids; I was always talking with the counselors. I always preferred adult conversation to the infantile play of kids my own age. I was of the divorced group. This meant that I would mature faster than everyone else. I knew things and could feeling things that no child should have to know or feel. But that’s how it was; it’s how I grew up. I was about seven or eight when the regular-fights started. I spent almost every weekend in tears over things I’ll never remember. Mostly because they were insignificant, but also because I learned to let things go. That was my first lesson: to forgive. I quickly learned that holding grudges wouldn’t get you anywhere but alone and disappointed. For me, I think forgiveness is the most crucial part of life. We’re humans. We make mistakes. It’s inevitable. But, if you go around and act like you’re better than everyone else and can’t get over things, you’ll be the unhappiest person alive. To be truly happy, it’s imperative to forgive.

Another thing I learned was to stand up for what I believe in. Now, that is far easier said than done. To begin this lesson, I first had to figure out exactly what I believed in. For me, that will never stop changing because I hear new ideas and theories every day that influence my own, but no matter how I feel that day, I stand by it. Of course, this led to more fights, but that’s okay. They made me stronger, more stubborn, and even wittier. I grew tough skin and learned to hold back my emotions. Standing up for myself was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life. Before I learned this, I had no self-esteem; I felt weak and useless. I don’t know what it was, but one day I woke up and decided I wasn’t going to take the manipulation anymore. After countless more tears and fights, I finally reached my breaking point. On August 6, 2011, I left my dad’s house, and I swore I would never come back. I’ve kept that promise to this day. I don’t regret it either. I love my dad, and I know he loves me, but that doesn’t mean we like each other. We were too different to get along, or maybe to alike – I’ll never figure it out. When people hear the story they can’t believe it. They think that I was too drastic, but I was standing up for myself and what I believed in. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve grown so much as a person, it’s incredible. I am truly proud.

The final lesson of the divorce is to be optimistic. Life is hard, there’s no doubt about it, but if you let yourself think that way it will bring you down. You have to take each day at a time. Things will never be perfect, but you can’t go through life worrying about situations. That’s like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain. It’s completely pointless. This divorce has taught me to treasure the great moments of life and take the bad ones with an open mind. If I could I would avoid every bad situation I’ve ever encountered, but if I had done that, I wouldn’t be writing this paper right now. The bad situations in life give you lessons and teach you to appreciate the good situations. That is the exact reason why I’ll never be upset with my parents for their divorce. If they hadn’t separated, I wouldn’t be me. I wouldn’t be strong or independent or stubborn or facetious or hard-working or cautious or level-headed. As I said before, I’ll never say I’m glad my parents got divorced, but incredible lessons have come out of this horrible situation.

College Essay: How My Positive Outlook Benefits My Community

            Everyday things seem to be getting worse – prices are going up, while jobs are going down. Many families are having difficulty providing enough food or clothing for their children. This era is being labeled the “Second Depression.” Now, more than ever, we need hope.

Many people believe that attitude is everything, and this is certainly the case. If people were to just give up, the United States’ economy would collapse causing a chain reaction. Hundreds of thousands of peoples’ lives would be ruined in America alone, not to mention the people in foreign counties who depend on United States’ trade. For us, giving up is not an option. My generation has a chance to bring back another Golden Era to the United States, and this will begin with the simplest of ingredients: optimism.

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, optimism is defined as “the belief that good ultimately prevails over evil” or “the tendency to take the most hopeful view of matters” (453). In my life, I have scarcely been called an optimist – pessimist or realist are adjectives much more frequently used. Referring back to the first definition provided by Webster, I do believe that I am an optimist. I truly think that by the end of every situation things will work out for the best. If things are not all right, then it is not over.

As I said before, attitude is everything – in sports, in work, and even in relationships. If you go into any situation thinking the worst, you are already beating yourself. But, if you approach things with a confident and hopeful attitude, things will seem to be in your reach.

Smiling is just one way to improve not only your attitude, but others’ attitudes as well. There is nothing better than when a stranger smiles and wishes you a good day. Genuine kindness is something that is hard to come by these days. You never know how someone is feeling and a simple smile could completely change their pessimistic view. I know it sounds insignificant, but smiling is the first step to spreading the “good vibes.” Smiles are infectious; you can affect someone’s attitude for the better by merely flashing them your teeth. Your smile could potentially cause a chain reaction of happiness and optimistic views.

Community service is another way to benefit the community while spreading your optimism. Throughout high school, I have participated in four major community service projects. Two of these projects were soup kitchen field trips. Another project was when a group of students went to a local school for handicapped young adults. The final, and perhaps the most beneficial project, included a trip to a Detroit park.

The soup kitchens were quite an experience. It was one of the first times that I had ever been exposed to poverty. I knew it existed, but I didn’t realize the severity and heartache that was so prevalent along with it. All we did was sort food and then hand it out to anyone who needed it. It was a rather simple task, taking little effort, but the reaction was worth tenfold the effort necessary. The receivers were so courteous and grateful it warmed my heart. The fact that these people are in such difficult situations and are still able to smile is amazing.

When I volunteered to help out at the handicapped school, I didn’t realize what an impact it would have on me. These people are so innocent and sincere. They were put some one of the worst situations possible, and there’s nothing they could do about it, yet they continue to smile and be happy anyways. It may because they don’t know any better, but I think it is one of the most beautiful things in the world. All we did was play games with them, but you could see in their eyes how truly happy it made them. That was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.

The final community service project that I participated in involved planting trees in a Detroit park. It was laborious work, but when we were done, the before and after was a stunning contrast. This trash-plagued lot turned into a family friendly hang out after only a few hours. All it took was a few shovels and a group full of kids wanting to spread the joy.  

There is so much good in the world, but people are too busy to see it. If they could just stop for five minutes they would see how beautiful everything really is. Optimism is a remarkable quality and the key to success.

Comparative Essay: How I Am Stuffed

            In Zora Neale Hurston’s narrative essay, she illustrates an image of the Great Stuffer of Bags. He is the one responsible for making each bag unique and individual (this analogy obviously represents God making people in their own distinct way). She describes the contents of her brown bag as “a first-water diamond, an empty spool, bits of broken glass, lengths of string, a key to a door long since crumbled away, a rusty knife-blade, old shoes saved for a road that never was and never will be, a nail bent under the weight of things too heavy for any nail, [and] a dried flower or two still a little fragrant”. Using Hurston’s reasoning, I think that I am a worn-leather shoulder-bag that has gone through many rough years, but is still here. Inside, one might find the keys to an old 2001 Hyundai, a small, laminated card that gives the practice and tournament times of A2 Volleyball Club, a box of new graphite pencils, an iPod filled with songs by Bon Iver and Mumford and Sons, an old, tattered family picture, a new crisp photo of my three closest friends, and bits of broken glass glued back together. Each one of the objects has a different meaning. The car keys represent both hard work and freedom. The laminated card signifies how much volleyball dominates my life with practice every week and tournaments nearly every weekend. The pencils show my new-found love for drawing. The iPod expresses my admiration and need of music. The family photo exemplifies my rocky family history, but the crisp photo of my friends illustrates the newer, more accepting family I have recently found. Finally, the mended glass represents how I have broken down so many times, but continue to repair myself and the situation. Individually, these objects are worthless, but together they are priceless – making me who I am.

Analyze Artwork: Good Winter

In his analytical essay, E. M. Forster explores the observation of art. Like most people, he only looks at the surface of a picture, and quickly becomes distracted by something else. Throughout his essay, he expresses the importance of looking at art, really looking at it – not just a glance, but absorbing yourself in it and giving it your full attention. By the end of his essay, the reader has an idea of how to truly look at art and appreciate it. Forester ends the essay by saying: “Not looking at art leads to one goal only. Looking at it leads to so many.” Like art work, this declaration seems simple enough on the surface, but one must look deeper – really listen to the words and what Forster is trying to communicate. He is saying that art opens up so many doors, and by ignoring it the future becomes more limited. This is because art has such an impact on the mind. It allows for thinking outside of the box and discovering new ideas. It opens the mind and expresses emotion in ways that television or the internet cannot.

To truly look at art, Forster explains, many factors must be considered including composition, patterns, designs, and color – not individually, of course, but as a whole. They are not merely doing their job, but “doing other work too.” So, for example, when one picks up the new self-titled Bon Iver album, they will probably notice the cover art on the front CD case. Its green setting is perfect for this folk artist, but the listener will surely become distracted by the tantalizing sounds coming from the speakers. When the CD has repeated infinite amount of times, one can finally look at the amazing work of art distributed to every owner of “Bon Iver” without distraction.  Gregory Euclide was chosen specifically to emulate the feeling of “bon iver” meaning “good winter” in French, and he does just this. Although there is no snow on the ground, the bleak colors give a cold impression. The great pine trees are not symmetric, yet are reflected back on certain angles of the image. There is a small loch surrounded by hills and more trees. As one gets closer and closer to the picture, the details become more distinct, yet when the picture is being held at a distance it seems to be a collection of leaves. The overall tone of the work of art is utterly somber, but somehow in a beautiful way. As Forster said, artwork is a whole. Individually, these images mean nothing, but together they impart the feeling bon iver through melancholy beauty.

College Essay: Community Service

As each year passes, technology becomes more and more important in society. Mobile phones, televisions, computers, and iPods are a few of the electronics taking up the majority of free time in young people’s lives. Instead of spending time with family or friends, it is typical for people to isolate themselves with technology. It is already easily seen that this isolation is having a negative effect on society. People are becoming more selfish due to the isolation. Things like community service are suffering because people don’t have the “time” to help out their local soup kitchens anymore. Many teens only complete service hours because their high school or college requires it. While technology is usurping society, we must make sure that community service doesn’t fall to the wayside.

                Community service has so many more benefits than what lies on the surface. Yes, it benefits the community which is a tremendous reward, but it can be more than that if you let it. By helping the less fortunate, you are able to connect with your community in a deeper way than before – you become more emotionally invested. Participating in service helps instill values in the lives of those who partake in it, and is proven to have a positive effect on personalities by becoming more nurturing and patient. Also, it provides many learning experiences that can enrich your life. The best way to learn is by doing, and when you are seeing the worst of life, it shows you how good you really have it. Many people take their lives for granted, but community service teaches people how to be grateful for what they have. The growth and strengthening of relationships is another benefit of community service. It can bring family and friends together or even create new relationships. It helps socially develop people, creating a defense against today’s isolationism. Motivation and engagement are completely necessary when partaking in community service, so they are two qualities that will surely be reinforced.

                When it comes down to it, community service is valuable in so many more ways than what is superficially seen. It creates a connection between you and your community, friends, and family, while instilling important qualities such as nourishment and motivation.    

College Essay: An Inspiration

Growing up as an only child, I wasn’t able to be influenced by any siblings, so naturally I clung to my older cousins. All of the cousins are funny, smart, and compassionate, but Brian and I had a special connection.

            Brian was the stereotypical jock in high school: popular, good looking, funny, outgoing, and not too concerned with grades. After being waitlisted at Michigan State University, he realized how important grades really were. He attended MSU and really buckled down. He worked hard and was able to graduate with a 4.0. After that, he attended MSU’s School of Education, and by continuing to work hard, he graduated at the top of his class and spoke at the graduation ceremony. Brian’s outstanding reputation got him a call from his Alma Mater, and my high school, Divine Child! They asked him to come in for an interview, and wrote up a contract only six days later. Throughout all of this, Brian has been able to maintain strong relationships with his family and friends.

            When I was little, I always wanted to be like Brian – to eat the same food as him, to wear the same colors as him, to be in the same team as him, to like the same WWE wrestlers as him, to listen to the same music as him; the list can go on and on. But that influence has grown so much deeper since what it was when we were kids. Now I want to be like him in the sense of his compassion, leadership, patience, levelheadedness, and brilliance.

            Recently, Brian has been encouraging me to do my best and not waste any opportunities. I really admire how he’s grown as a person and hope that someday I can say the same for myself. Brian has been there for me through it all, whether it’s fights with my parents, boy problems, volleyball struggles, or school issues. He has always encouraged me to follow my heart and do what makes me happy. His sound advice has gotten me through more than I can say. I hope that someday I can influence someone in the way that he has influenced me.

Analysis: good vs evil in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Good people do bad things. It’s just a fact of life. This doesn’t make them evil – or does it? The struggle of good versus evil in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson can be paralleled to the struggles in today’s society. Dr. Jekyll, a good and intelligent man, is in a constant battle with evil. Although there are many endearing qualities about his personality, Dr. Jekyll is still easily tempted by the “dark side”. Society today is no different.

            The first similarity in the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and today is the attempt to isolate the bad from the good. The plot is about a doctor who believes he can separate the good and evil halves of the body. Dr. Jekyll thinks “man is not truly one, but truly two.” (79) We do the best we can in our culture of separating the good and evil: we put convicts (the evil) in jail, and allow the rest of civilization (the good) to go freely about their daily lives.

            Now, everyone knows that temptation is the root of all evil. When one gives in to temptation – just as Dr. Jekyll gave in to transforming himself into Mr. Hyde – problems are bound to occur. This is the point when evil actions begin. Unfortunately good people do evil things; Dr. Jekyll (the epitome of a good person) kills Sir Danvers Carew while he is in the form of Mr. Hyde. Even today we have good, reputable do bad things. Many good people are out of a job and are forced to resort to crime because of the recession. A father could be involved in stealing because he lost his job when he is only trying to provide for his family. Of course this is illegal, but he is trying to do the right thing for his children and be the best father he can. Good people are led astray everyday whether it’s because they are trying to provide for their family or they just got involved with the wrong crowd.

            Throughout the story, the doctor is described as respectable and charitable; he is a prosperous man, and is well established in the community. On the other hand, Mr. Hyde is violent and cruel; other characters in the story find him repulsive because of his primitive features. Analyzing these descriptions can lead one to believe that Dr. Jekyll, who is the socially accepted half, is also the “good” half because he is so much more evolved than Hyde – both physically and socially. Mr. Hyde’s non-human features, almost like a monkey, show that he, the “evil” half, is less evolved than the “good” half. Does this mean evil is a primitive instinct in humans – that we have just outgrown it through evolution? There is no firm answer to these questions, but this story of the two halves certainly makes the mind wonder about the evolution of good and evil.

            Another parallel in this story is the transforming potion to the current recession. When Dr. Jekyll drinks to potion, he turns into his evil half, Mr. Hyde. This potion is Dr. Jekyll’s temptation and the ultimate cause of evil in the book. In society today, life has become very brutal and difficult for many good people because of the economic recession. It has led them to steal and even commit murder. This growing crime rate goes to show that when people are living on the bare necessities (what we would describe as primitive) the evil part of good people will come out, causing them to do things they would never imagine doing. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde suggests that evil is our natural instinct, and this recession is supporting that theme.

            Although today and the period when The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written are completely different, good and evil are two very common and relevant themes in both. Life is still arduous, and good people are still tempted into doing evil things. This will never change, and we can’t ever expect it to. Temptation will always be part of civilization, and life’s struggles will challenge even the good. We simply must learn how to do the right thing with our given situations by making the best decision possible.

Persuasive Essay: Dear Kara, read The Shack.

Dear Kara,

Over the past year, I know that we have both gone through a lot in our lives – sad, as well as happy, times. In August and September I started reading The Shack. My grandma lent it to me because she could tell that I needed a little bit of guidance. I hope that it can do the same for you. It’s a really good book with an equally good and unique message.

The story starts off talking about the “Great Sadness.” Now, I’m not going to tell you what exactly that means, but just make sure you have some tissues ready for a tear-jerking chapter four. Mack, the main character, is at a loss when it comes to believing in God. He has always known that a god existed, but he wasn’t sure what that precisely meant. His wife, Nan, is a true faithful. She is certain that God is with us through our joyous and sorrowful moments. Mack, on the other hand, isn’t quite so convinced. If God is always with us, then where was He during the “Great Sadness;” where was he when his father was beating him? This question, which frequently appears in Mack’s (also known as the narrator) thoughts, is very stimulating. As the story progresses, Mack finds himself looking for God in the last place he ever wanted to be: The Shack – the place where the “Great Sadness” occurred. While he is there, he finds himself face-to-face with the Trinity. God presents himself as a large, rotund black woman full of laughter and love – the ultimate “mother” image, Jesus as a laid-back and loving carpenter, and the Holy Spirit as a petite, almost transparent Asian woman exploding with energy. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but these images – other than Jesus’s – are not common. God as a woman, and an African American, no less?  The Holy Spirit as an Oriental, having a body – not just a tongue of fire or a drop of water? As different as these images may be, I find them comforting. Thinking that God is as punishing and wrathful as the Bible portrays is rather intimidating. The Shack depicts Him as a compassionate and forgiving being. That is the kind of God I want to believe in. This book offers perfect images for the Trinity – ones of kindness and understanding, ones that are reassuring.

This book offers suggestions for the tough questions about faith, like where was God when I needed him?  Well, He was there the whole time. We might not have been able to see Him, but every tear we cried, He cried with us. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this before, but once a man described life as a walk on the beach. He said that during his happy moments there were always two sets of footprints – his and God’s – but when he was going through difficult times, he only found one set of footprints. When the man was faced with God in Heaven, he asked where He had been during his tragedies – why he was always alone? God answered his inquiry by saying, “Those were my footprints, not yours; I carried you through your hard times because you weren’t strong enough to walk.” I think this book really portrays that image of a protecting and loving God. He is always there, especially when we don’t see him.

As you know, I had a really rough summer with my dad. I felt so alone and scared. I was constantly praying that things might get better, but I felt like they never would. I honestly felt abandoned – that God had forgotten about me. When my Grandma gave me this book, it completely changed my perspective. I started looking at things differently and realized that God really is everywhere. He’s like oxygen – you can’t see Him, but you know He’s there because without Him you’d be dead.

So, don’t give up, Kara. Things will get better. Just know that you’re not alone. God will always be there for you, you just have to trust that in the end things will work themselves out the way He intended them.

Tribute: Perfect

When you play sports, I mean really play them, to the point where they consume your life, success is more than something that you want to obtain, more than something that you’re willing to get. It’s something that you will get. You don’t mind the lack of social life, the particular food, the lost sleep, or sore muscles. Truthfully, you enjoy them because you know what they symbolize. You know that the small, insignificant, short struggles are all going to be worth it when you succeed. In fact, those struggles are what make you succeed. No one is perfect. It’s not possible to be flawless. Obstacles are unavoidable; but they separate the strong from the weak, the willing from the unwilling, and those who will succeed, no matter what, from those who say they want to succeed.

Coach Gaines defines Perfect as more than just winning: “Being Perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down because you told them the truth, and that truth is that you did everything you could; there wasn’t one more thing you could’ve done.” He then asks his team, “Can you live in that moment, as best you can, with clear eyes and love in your heart? With joy in your heart?”

Volleyball being a team sport, takes more than one person. Yes, there are superstars who can take over a match, but no one person can beat a team – a strong, solid family. There are times when you come across teams who are genuinely better than you, but that means nothing. Volleyball is a game of chance – anyone can win. All it takes is Perfection. Not Webster’s definition of perfection, “without errors, flaws, or faults,” but Coach Gaines’s definition. Being perfect in volleyball is impossible. Points are scored through errors, whether they’re forced or unforced. Games are not played without errors, flaws, or faults simply because they are played by humans, and humans by nature are not perfect. Games are played with heart and determination. At the end of 25 points, the better team with the “perfect” players does not come out on top. The team with the girls who are willing to fight, to sacrifice all that they have, is the winner. There is nothing more beautiful than a player who can look to their teammate, with love and joy in their heart, knowing they did everything they could.

Win or lose, be perfect.

Flash Fiction: Hate (Her Perspective)

My mood matched his. It always did. Somehow, even though we hated each other, we were always on the same page. But when Erika spoke, it was worse than nails on a chalk board – worse than either of us. We exchanged a look of disgust as that goody-goody presented her speech. Finally, the bell rang, and we didn’t have to agonizingly sit there listening to her talk anymore. I gathered my books and as I walked out of class, I felt his breath on my neck as he said, “How’d ya like that speech?” I giggled and elbowed him in the stomach before walking to my locker. He had abs…I thought, and pictured him with his shirt off. Ew. What was I doing? I closed my locker, turned to walk to my next class, and just as I was passing his locker I met his clear blue eyes. He ran his hand though his brown curly hair, looked me up and down, and said, “Nice sweater. Get it from your grandma?” He smirked and walked away. Ugh! I hate him, I hate him!

Sonnet: The Beathes

As they preach to us about peace and love,
The Beatles give us artwork for the ears.
Insightful words from above,
Almost always lead listeners to tears.
These poets tell us love is all we need,
But in our world today, can it be true?
Are these simple lines as simple to heed,
When they make our hearts and minds askew.
As things couldn't get any worse, here comes the sun.
These hopeful words of wisdom we receive,
Can help us to come together as one.
Depending on you, sways how it is perceived.
In this world of peace and love, let it be.
That's all The Beatles ask for: harmony.

Pantoum: the lonely

you seek & fall

this one’s for the lonely

those who put up a wall

who always feel like the one & only

 

this one’s for the lonely

the experts of the fall

who always feel like the one & only

they’re not alone at all

 

the experts of the fall

common friends are there

they’re not alone at all

someone always cares

 

common friends are there

to believe in you when you cannot

someone always cares

even if you’ve forgot.

Short Story: Reggie and Mom

Ever since Chip died, our family hasn’t been the same. Christmas Eve of 2010, we had to put our 11 year old miniature Collie down. It’s safe to say that it wasn’t a very merry day for the Wrong family. Although Chip, with his soft brown fur and wiggly tale, will never be forgotten, it was time to move on. I yearned for the companionship and loyalty that Chip never failed to provide, so I begged and pleaded and begged some more for a new dog.

“They are too much work and too much money,” was the only response I ever got. It didn’t matter how many times I said I would take complete care of it – feed it, walk it, bathe it, clean up after it, everything! – but it was never enough.

            Being the youngest and the only girl in a family of four boys, I am Daddy’s Little Girl…and you could say I knew how to work that angle.

            It was the week of Midterms, Junior year, and every time I saw my dad I would bring up how great having a dog would be. At first he said, “Come on, Sweetie. You know how your mom feels,” but I could tell he was going to eventually crack…he always does.

            Because he gets out of work earlier than my mom, he is always the one to pick me up from school. So, every day after exams were over, we would drive past the local Humane Society on our way home.

            “Dad, just think: we could save a puppy’s life by adopting it!” He would just smile and shake his head as he drove past the adoption center each day.

            On the very last day of exams, I knew it was now or never. I put on my sweetest voice and said, “Daddy, I’ve worked so hard and now that exams are over it would be a perfect time to get a dog.”

            “Sweetie–” he started.

            “Daddy, please! I miss Chip so much!” I conjured up some teams, and that’s all it took. Before I knew it we were in the Humane Society facing a cage of 7 eager, attentive puppies all looking for a new home. We decided to choose Reggie – the runt. He was small, but he was perfect. I loved him instantly.

            With Reggie in my lap and adoption papers in my hand, we were headed home with the newest member of the Wrong family. But then, the phone buzzed. My dad and I just glanced at one another because we knew exactly who it was.

            Cautiously, he answered saying, “Hi honey…why are we so late?” He looked from Reggie to me to back to Reggie and said, “Well, uh, we, uh, we got a dog.” He waited a few seconds and then set the phone down.

            “What did mom say?” I demanded.

            “‘You had better be kidding’ and then she hung up,” he mumbled.

            We sat in silence for the rest of the ride home. When we walked in the door with Reggie trotting behind us, my mom was waiting in the kitchen to see if what my dad had said was true.

            “Really?” she asked. “You decide to get a dog and you choose the ugliest one?” Poor little Reggie just sat there unknowingly, wagging his sweet little tale.

            A few nights had passed, and my mom still wasn’t talking to my dad or me, so I decided to take Reggie on a walk, but he was nowhere to be found. I looked in the backyard and all over the house until I heard some giggling coming from my mom’s room. I cracked open her door and peered in to find Reggie and my mom rolling around on her bed! I took a step into the room, but they were too consumed with one another to even notice my presence! Although a little bit jealous from all the Reggie-kisses my mom was getting, I was really glad that she finally accepted him. To this day, he still sleeps at her feet.