BACON!!!!!!!

It comes from a pig,

It's not very big,

It's juicy,

It's as yummy as sushi,

But it goes straight to your tushi,

It's crispy and crunchy,

It's yummy and munchy,

It is my last name,

It's full of fame,

What is this word?

The Lottery

When hearing the word lottery, you think of glory, money, rich, and tickets. When Ms. Hansen was reading the short story called the "Lottery", only one picture popped into my head and that was a person rolling in money. But page by page the picture in my head started to fade into this dark and gloomy horror story. What I thought was winning and fame, soon turned to darkness and death. To this little town of 300 lottery was that if there was a black dot on the mans card that meant the women of this family would get stoned.

Now if you were actually human,  you would see that why would you kill an innocent person and make some of their best friends throw stones at them.  Humanity means to keep composure, not kill, nor steal. But obviously in this town they are definitely lacking in some serious inhumanity. Also how is it fun for the town to throw stones and why would they kill person by person just because they had a black dot on their card? Overall I didn't like this story because I can't stand the thought of having to throw a stone at your own mom, and obviously this town is very inhuman.

How to Treat A Virus

    Authors Note: This will be a research paper on viruses, how to treat them, and how they affect your body.

          

          Virus’s can be powerful, you have to know how to treat them, and you have to know the effects of them. There are many different kinds of virus’s, including the ones I will be talking about, (Influenza, colds, and chicken pox). Virus’s can be harmful to your body if you do not effectively treat them. Virus’s also spread immediately, and within two days the symptoms will already be harming you. Even though viruses are very harmful to the body, there are many different ways to treat them.

             

         To start off with, Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease that affects birds and mammals. Typically influenza is transmitted through the air through coughs or sneezes creating areoles containing the virus.  Some symptoms include fever, cough, nasal congestion, body aches, fatigue, headache, and irritation in the eye area. Influenza usually spreads through the winter season killing a yearly average of 250,000-500,000 people worldwide. You can prevent this virus by getting a vaccine through a shot or a nasal spray. Another way to prevent this virus Is to not share water bottles and wash hands frequently. If you already do have Influenza, get plenty of rest, take medication to bring your fever down, and drink plenty of liquids to hydrate your body. Influenza is a common virus in the United States that continues to plague thousands of people each year.

        

        Another virus that affects millions of people every year is the common cold. Did you know each year 189 million school days are missed because of the common cold? Did you also know that 126 million work days are missed with either adults having the common cold or adults who need to take care of their children who have the cold.  Colds aren’t nearly as dangerous as the Influenza but they are very destructive to your body. To prevent the harmful cold germs you should always wash your hands frequently, get a lot of sleep, and keep yourself distanced from people who already have the virus. Sadly, if it has already been spread to you, take medication, get lots of sleep, drink a lot of fluids, and drink or eat lots of vitamin c. Imagine if people take these techniques into consideration, picture how many less work and school days that would be missed.

       

          Ever had the chicken pox? If you did you would be extremely itchy, have pain in ears, nausea, fever, or headache. The first sign that you have this virus is a small rash that spreads to the rest of your body. After two days of having the rash, you become extremely contagious and you stay contagious until there are scabs that begin to coat the rash. The virus is spread from sneezes or coughs. You can prevent the pox by getting a Varicella vaccine created by Michiaki Takahashi. If you already have the chicken pox some ways you can treat them is to cut your nails short to prevent secondary infections by itching. Also you should stay home because you do not want to spread the disease, and you should wash your body with warm water because it can clean the bacteria off the rashes. Chicken pox are serious and you need to know how to prevent them because they can hurt your body in the long run. If you already have the chicken pox you need to know how to take care of them because if you don’t, you might never be cured from them.

             

          These three viruses that I talked about are very serious and you need to know how to prevent and treat them. Whether it’s just simple things from washing your hands, to getting vaccinated, or even covering your nose when you sneeze, you can always make a better environment for those around you. Even though viruses are very harmful to the body, there are many different ways to treat or prevent them.

         

                                                                  

A Sense of Freedom

By: Jessie Bacon

Authors Note: This is a poem about a girl who is standing in front of the ocean on vacation and is feeling free.

I firmly stand,

With my petite toes in the sand,

Closely watching the waves come by,

I feel free,

No angry feelings storming up in me,

Just me, the ocean, and I,

I wish time could freeze at this moment,

I feel a strong sense of fulfillment,

I left my life at home,

Wishing for many more memories to come,

At my new life

How Did Johnny Progress?

Authors Note: I recently wrote a character development piece called “Changes”. It is about a boy named Johnny and how he developed into a good person through life experiences. I will be talking about how he developed into a mature young man.

The road downhill all started when Johnny was 7.  It was a relaxed Sunday afternoon with a breeze of excitement traveling through the room. Why, Because Johnny and his parents were watching Sunday Night Football and the Giants just won the superbowl. Johnny and his parents heard this huge boom coming from the level above them. The confused boy frantically hid behind the couch with a blanket on his head while the parents cautiously tip toed up the stairs to see what the disturbance was.  Suddenly, Johnny heard this ear piercing noise that could only mean one thing…a gun shot. From that point on, Johnny’s actions began to slowly go downhill. He started to steal, do drugs, and dropped out of school. But after twenty years of self-destruction, Johnny started dramatically changing his ways. He went to college, got a degree in engineering (he was always a genius), found a beautiful wife named Sally, had three kids and lived happily ever after.  Johnny developed into a great young man through life experiences.

To start off with, Johnny affected the lives around him in numerous ways. One way, in the story Johnny changed the life of his best friend Paul. You see, at Johnny’s fourth foster home he met this boy named Paul. Within the first minute they were like two peas in a pod. Every day their friendship grew stronger, but then bad habits started to occur with the two young teenagers. Paul introduced Johnny to some substances and that became the third wheel to their close friendship. After months of the drug abuse Johnny tried to get Paul and himself clean. The attempt failed, and Paul later died due to an overdose and a stop to the heart. Although Johnny wasn’t able to save Paul’s life, he did try to affect Paul’s life by trying to make him stop.  Unfortunately, Paul didn’t have the correct mindset. Even though Paul’s attempt failed, Johnny managed to get himself clean. This is one of the experiences that developed Johnny into an admirable young man.

Also, Johnny started to speak out about his own life experiences. He would go to schools and inform them about his past, and leave them with the message, “No matter what you have gone through, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel, and hope will always find its way”. If Johnny hadn’t talked about his life experiences, maybe some of those kids might still have gone on the path that Johnny did. But when they heard his fascinating story, they might have realized I don’t want to live this way, I want to get a degree, I want to go to college, I want to get a nice job, and I want to have a family!  Johnny affected the lives around him and this is how he also turned into an inspiring young man.

Finally, Johnny profoundly valued his family, and worked extremely hard to always put them first. Johnny’s loss of both parents deeply affected him and the result was that he always put his family first. At all times he looked up to his dad, and when his dad and mom sacrificed their lives for Johnny, Johnny knew he would do the same for his own family. Johnny also made every single moment matter with his family because you never know what you have until it is gone. By doing this he would prioritize his time with family dinners, taking his kids to the park, and playing games with them. By being a role model for his family, Johnny once again shows how he developed into a mature young man.

In conclusion, these many ways show how he developed into a fine young man by putting his family first, affecting the lives around him, and being a good remodel. Johnny’s life was not always a walk in the park, but he didn’t let life’s difficulties weigh him down. “No matter what you have gone through, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel, and hope will always find its way”.  

Fun or Happy?

Authors Note: We are listening to songs and talking about the mood of the poem.

Big Yellow Taxi: The mood of the poem is very happy exciting, because the music is very upbeat.

Field Below: Sad dreary, because the music is very slow.

Throughout the songs Field Below and Big Yellow Taxi the authors purpose is you don't know what you've got till it is gone. The mood and tone of Big Yellow Taxi The mood is full of celebration but sadness. The tone of the song is the author because she slows down sometimes but then its very upbeat. While in Field below the mood is sad, dreary and regretful. The tone sympathetic and regretful once again. I was suprised about big yellow taxi because the poem seemed very sad while the song was very upbeat... In the field below the poem exactly matched the song because the song was very slow and full of sadness like I kind of expected it to be like.

The Toothpaste Millionaire (Original Conclusion)

                      The Toothpaste Millionaire (Original Conclusion)

                Would you ever have imagined a 12 year old boy becoming a self-millionaire in less than a year? This is what happened to Rufus Mayflower in the book The Toothpaste Millionaire  by Jean Merrill. Rufus shows that no matter how young a person is, he or she can always achieve greatness.

                Rufus Mayflower was a normal 12 year old boy who had a genius idea. His idea was to make toothpaste super cheap. How he did this was to sell toothpaste at a 3 cent price while other toothpaste companies were selling around $2.30. In a little over a year his toothpaste company was putting other big toothpaste companies out of business with his cheap prices. He soon became a multi-millionaire. I have to say that Rufus’s story shows achieving at a very young age.

                Rufus not only helped himself, but helped many other people with his toothpaste company. Rufus’s company helped many kids earn stock options and money by working at his business. They had a lot of fun, made some money, and met new friends. Rufus also helped out Hector who was a jobless man who couldn’t support his family. Rufus made Hector the manager and gave  Hector a good salary to support his family. Helping people in the community showed another act of achieving at a young age.

                Rufus started out as a normal young Ohio boy who turned into a teen who achieved at a very young age. Rufus helped many people find jobs and he was able to run a business at a young age. After reading this book made me realize even though how old you are, you can always achieve anything if you put you’re mind to it. I loved this book and it’s a book I learned from and enjoyed at the same time.

                                                                                                                                                                  

 New Conclusion:  Despite encountering some bumps in the road,  Rufus stayed focus until his idea finally became reality. Rufus helped many people find jobs and he was able to run a business at a unusually young age. After reading this book, I realized that no matter how old or young you are, you can achieve your dreams if you put your mind to it. Each individual can make a difference whether it's helping people in the community, helping people find jobs, or even helping the public to get good toothpaste.

Peeta Forgive me

“This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams

Parody: “Peeta Forgive Me

Jessie Bacon

Authors Note: This is a parody poem, meaning you take a poem and change the words in it. The original poem was "This is just to Say" By William Carlos Williams. But I have Jessiefied it to match the "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins which was my reading group's book.

I have eaten,

The rabbit,

That was in

The cave

And while,

You were unconscious,

Waiting to wake up,

To eat,

The rabbit,

For a snack,

I snatched it,

Forgive me

My tummy couldn’t,

Handle the hunger,

Throughout the games, 

But it was so satisfying,

So flavorful,

I’m so sorry Peeta.

This Poem relates to the Novel because  when Peeta and Katniss are inside the cave, Katniss knocks Peeta out 

from a gift Gaven by the capitol. It also ties in because Katniss and Peeta are both very Hungary and want 

to leave the games. The speaker is Katniss talking to Peeta about how she is sorry about eating his rabbit, and hoping that

she is forgiven. The audience is Peeta taking in the words of a sorry note written by Katniss. The tone of the poem

is very whiney and regretful. The mood is forgivable and sorryful.

Changes

Authors Note: This is a fictional story on how a boy named Johnny, changes into a young man.Through the story this boy will be talking to his therapist about his childhood.THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY!


I never understood that death could take such a toll on someones life, that it could change them forever. I remember when I was 7, crouched under a blanket, wishing that these men would be gone and would leave my family alone. It was a Sunday afternoon, my parents and I were just watching  Football. We heard something shatter upstairs, and my mom whispered closely to my ear, "Go hide". The first place I could think of at that moment was behind our couch with a blanket on top of me. I heard my parents cautiously walk up the stairs, to see what the disruption was. The next sound I heard was screaming, and then two gun shots. By that time I was silently crying, praying to God that they were ok, and that we could get out of this house...alive. I remember hearing the men close the door, and I sprinted upstairs to find my parents. When I got to the top, I found them laying in pools of blood...dead.

Therapist: So how does that make you feel?

Johnny: Sad that my childhood ended at that moment and that my life was never the same.

Therapist: Ok, you can carry on.

Johnny: So by then I was about 15, and I found myself living in my fourth foster home.

Therapist: So did you feel alone?

Johnny: No I remember there was this kid named Paul, he and I got along pretty well, but this kid got into some very bad stuff. There was a time when he and I were goofing around, with some drugs. I felt something suddenly clench my shoulder and then I turned around to see what happened, Paul had passed out. So I rushed him to the hospital, which was a few blocks down. The doctors told me that Paul overdosed on drugs and that his heart had stopped.

Therapist: So how did Paul's death affect you?

Johnny: It was up until then that I really started to feel alone.

Therapist: Continue.

 When Paul died I felt detached like it was the world against myself. That's when my drug addiction sky rocketed, and more then half of the day I was high. I became majorly depressed and I just wanted to be dead. I had no friends, no money, no future, I owed people thousands of dollars, and nearly every night I got beat up by the kids in my foster home.

Therapist: What do you think influenced this act of behavior?

Johnny: Well obviously the death of the three most important people to me changed me. I became majorly depressed and I knew my future was a dead end road.

Therapist: Continue

Johnny: When I was 19 I began robbing places. The only reason why I was doing this was because I  didn't even know when my next meal was or where I was going to sleep. I thought about suicide a COUPLE of times but I never really got the nerve. Looking back I think God was my conscious; he knew I had a future so he didn't let me kill myself.


(Author's Note: Now Johnny is not talking to his therapist; this is a real scene from his real life. He is 22 years old and is robbing a house with his friend Michael.)

Michael: Johnny you've got the gun right?

Johnny: Yea but Michael look there's a kid with his parents watching T.V., Lets hit the other house instead.

Michael: Who Cares? They have a BMW out front we are hitting this house, Johnny.

Johnny: No Michael, I can't do this anymore, I'm leaving.

Authors Note: Johnny is now 29 years old, he earned a degree in engineering and has a job with a successful company. He is happily married and has a child on the way. Johnny's life portrays the idea that one can hit rock bottom but still have hope in a future. George S. Patton once said, "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."

Johnny: That sums up my life.

Therapist: Interesting.

Keep Moving on

Authors Note: This a short response to the poem "Mother To Son" by Langston Hughes, talking about the figurative language shown through out the poem.

During Language Arts today we read the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes. To me the poem is very moving and ambitious.  While I was reading the poem, it reminded me of the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.  Why I say this is because throughout the poem the mom constantly was stating to the son about how her life was very hard, and she had to persevere and always look at the brightside. In the hunger games  Katniss had a very hard life too! Her dad was killed in a mine explosion, and she barely grew up with any money,  but Katniss always looked at the bright side of things.  Some of the figurative language in this story included, Life ain't been no crystal stair saying that she had to work for things and she never gave up. Or Life had tacks in it, meaning she's been hurt and you've just got to keep your head up. The meaning and purpose of the figurative language is talking about her life through metaphors,  and every sentence shows purpose through metaphors. Lastly I believe the mood of the poem was saying That the mom wanted to make a point, and that she was very serious. The tone was that the mother took leadership and was explaining to her son that you can't give up because life will always get better if you work for it.

Peeta

Authors Note: This is a short summarative  piece on Peeta and his role in the Games, from the book the Hunger Games.

Peeta, a 16 year old boy, makes bread for a living and lives with his parents in District, 12. Throughout the book he's as mysterious as an albino squirrel and as stubborn as a nail that won't come out from the wall. From the section in the book about the interview, I found out about how he's comical (the reporter even commented on how funny Peeta was), and he's very outgoing. But we also found out that he's romantic and liked Katniss for as long as he can remember. He's not scrawny, but he's not as buff as gale (the boy who Katniss goes hunting with). Some of the examples show what Peeta looks like inside and out.

Throughout the book Katniss always had feelings for Peeta, but never expresses them until there's a new rule that came up in the games saying how the two last people who are left will live if they are from the same district. Peeta and Katniss soon team up, and Peeta's part include him being Katniss's ally so they can beat Cato (their main rival) from the fight to the death. Throughout the book Peeta shows to not only Katniss but the rest of Panem (The Country), that he's loyal to Katniss and would die for her. I believe this because Peeta teamed up with Cato (before the new rule) to protect Katniss from Cato's violence. When Cato found out he was doing this, Cato tried cutting his leg off. These reasons show what was Peeta's role in the Hunger Games.

Why Does the Capitol Do This?

Authors Note: This is a cause and effect essay on what causes the capitol to do The Hunger games and how it effects the citizens of Panem.

When there's a cause, there's going to be effect. Whether its people themselves, or human nature. The city of Panem is in horrible shape, the capitol has dictation over all of the people by creating the annual "Hunger Games" a.k.a fight to the death. At first I didn't really get why a capitol would try and hurt their own citizens, but then I found out, The capitol wanted to show, "We are in control and you can't do anything about it." The capitol kills 23 citizens of Panem each year for no reason.

Imagine living in a world where you can't feel safe nor always worrying about getting your name picked in that big glass ball for the annual Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen lived through this horror till age 16,until her sister got picked and she stood as tribute (tribute means she's fighting instead of her sister. There she meets her ally Peeta (a.k.a bakers son), and there's a new rule if two tributes from the same district are last  they both can win. Will Peeta and Katniss's little romance live on forever or will Katniss stand alone?

Next, The capitol, evil dictators that think of their citizens of animals and treat them like their worst nightmare.
The hunger games, fight to the death, last man standing gets glory and fame for their district. Cause of the hunger games; capitol wanting more power and making sure the citizens don't get rebelative  by showing at any time your kids can be killed and you can't do anything about it. Hunger Games tears families apart by affecting the horror of seeing their kids die, nervousness for not only the family but the kids too. When you really think about it, these kids are killing other people just like them for the games, for fame. To me it kills me inside to see people like the girl from district 9 getting stabbed in the neck or little Rue dying when she was taking care of all her little siblings, what will her parents due now? The capitol kills citizens to stay  in control.

In conclusion,  the effect of the Hunger Games will live on forever unless someone stands up but most likely they will get killed. Year by year, games by games, kids and kids get killed in the arena. The effect from the hunger games is so dramatic words can't speak by themselves and  kills me that the only reason they have them is that the capitol stays in control. I am hoping on my hands and knees that someone will see what the hunger games are doing to these young citizens that are supposed to be the future of Panem, and stand up for whats right.

What Does Willy think?

Authors Note: I am currently reading a book called, War Comes to Willy Freeman. This essay is my personal view on the perseverance that Willy shows despite extreme hardship.

            Life was not easy for former slaves in our country’s early beginnings in the late 1700s.  They had to endure many hardships and life was not a breeze for them.  Willy, a former slave, experienced many of these hardships. For one, Willy’s dad was shot right before her eyes, and when she went to go tell her mom, she soon found out that her mom was kidnapped by the same people: the Redcoats. In the book, War Comes to Willy Freeman, perseverance is shown in countless ways.

            People will do unexpected things in order to save someone they love.  They will persevere and do whatever it takes to meet their goal.  To begin with, Willy dressed up as a boy to serve in colonial army in order to search for her mom.  She did this because being with her mother was the most important thing to her.  She had to lie and fight to try to get to her mother.  She never wavered in her dedication to this duty, and developed as a character with great perseverance. 

            Another group of people who show perseverance are the British.  When you put yourself in the shoes of the British, you must admit that they invested a lot of time, money and lives to find the new piece of land they claimed as their colonies.  To think that the colonists basically turned their backs on the British who had made all of those investments was not decent.  The British persevered by fighting for their land.  In the end, the British lost, but they gave a very admirable effort in trying to keep the colonies under their rule.

            Perseverance is an admirable trait.  It shows that people will work hard to make a dream a reality.  Sometimes this dream is realized, and other times it is denied. After everything is done you can have the satisfaction knowing that you did your best without giving up.

"Please Just Understand Me"

"Please Just Understand Me"

By: Jessie Bacon

Nonfiction Piece

2/20/12

Authors Note: People everyday around America get  cyber bullied, physically bullied, or mentally bullied. This next essay that I will be writing about, is a comparison of how Melinda gets bullied, to real life bullying.

"Why are they saying this? Why are they assuming this? Why don't they just get this?"

I was shocked to discover, that everyday in America  around 70% high students  get bullied whether it's in school or out of school.  Melinda Sordino from the book Speak is one of them.  Bullying damages and hurts lives, and to me it's sad for not only the victim but the bully too because that displays the lack of self confidence . Melinda, the main character from the book Speak got bullied by people and those "friends" didn't even know the truth, they just assumed.

To start off with, most middle scholars, are ecstatic to go to high school. It's a new chance to make new friends, have a new beginning of what people see you as, or to improve in academics. Melinda was excited to leave middle school behind and start a new chapter . She got invited to a  high school party. There she met senior savior Andy Evans, "the guy" who everyone wants to impress, to make him laugh, to date, or to be best friends with. At the party Melinda had been drinking and wasn't  her normal self. Andy Evans took out his hands and offered to dance. There he said some pick up jokes and brought her alone to his car.  Melinda kept refusing to do it with him but  he kept raping her. Melinda was going crazy and decided to call the cops.  No one knew she got raped they just assumed she busted the party because of the drinking. Through out the school year her classmates bullied her, threw things at her called her names  just because she called the cops.

Bullying,  can kill and damage lives. Because of this misfortunate event  that happened with Melinda, she got bullied so much by older classman and "ex-best friends" . Whether  it's getting lunch trays thrown at you, or being called names or getting Ho-Ho wrappers chucked at you Melinda experienced it all. Melinda can relate to bullying because even if she did call the cops  about the drinking (even though she didn't) no one should be bullied. However,  if Melinda were to tell people about the rape this bullying incident might not have ever happened.  But she might have just been so tramatized  that maybe she thought no one would believe her. Melinda got bullied by people who didn't even know the real truth.

To continue with, Melinda over came this fear of people not believing her and she finally spoke up. This crossed her mind when she was in algebra, thinking "This is not who I want to be, I don't want to hide in the darkness, I want to stand out in the light". Melinda's reaction in this was too take everything out of the storage closet, where she hid most of her year. When she was in there, Andy Evan's came and attempted to brainwash her into thinking you wanted to do it too baby girl, this is not any of our faults, it was nature. Melinda screamed out "No I said No"! He grabbed her and started to attempt again. Melinda screams out "I said No the first time and I'm going to say it again" and she suddenly breaks a shard of glass and slits his throat to where a tiny drop of blood swarms down the base of his neck. Soon after the lacrosse team heard her and got help.  Following  that incident  Melinda became a hometown hero after the students realized what she had been going through.  Melinda overcame her fear by speaking up.

Everyone deserves a second chance whether its developing the new you, or developing a better relationship with anyone. Everybody also needs to learn how to speak up against bullies or else their life could be ruined like Melinda's freshman year. Melinda found her voice and changed her whole entire life around, because a voice against bullies can be that powerful.

Dear Syracuse Newspaper

Authors Note : In the book Speak, Melinda has a hard time speaking up and finding her voice. This essay shows what led up to Melinda finding her voice. Also the format will be in a letter because this will be a letter to the school newspaper from anonymous (Melinda). 
Dear Newspaper,
People just don't get what it feels like to hide behind light, to feel like you don't feel welcome there. Throughout my lifetime I was a happy child, full of life, gleeful, always smiling but, one summer night changed my life, and my voice. Because of that one summer night my life right now is crushed and I don't know how to get it back. But today I just realized something, why do I want to live my life in the shadows? Is that what God wanted me to be? Is that what he sent me on earth to do? The answer  I came up with was no.  That is why I am finding my voice and speaking up.
To start off with, every day I was alone, every night I was alone, I  started to feel like it was the world against me and I know it was not a good feeling. I tried acting strong, I tried being the bigger person but  I needed someone to fall back on to love me, to give me hope that I will no longer be an outcast. But I soon came to the realization that maybe that person was myself, so I became strong and let out my secret.
Next,  I suffered through massive bullying moments. It's humiliating when you get embarrassed in public . Like when a girl pushed my tray up and hit me in the chest and then all that slimy mashed potatoes  slithered down my body I wanted to die. Or that other time when that guy threw his HO HO wrapper at me.  These moments led me to the realization, if I hid behind the curtain I would never set myself free, I would never feel safe in my own skin. Bulllying hurts and I felt like everyone hated me; and I also realized that why bully, why take your anger on someone else?
Lastly, My grades went down. TO get into a good college you really need to have good grades and with the grades I got there was absolutely no chance. Nothing lately mattered to me, like good grades, what I ate, what I did, who my friends were, or how I treated my parents.  Not  caring about anything it hurt, I wanted to snuggle up in a ball and hide from the world making sure no one heard me. By this time I wanted to set my self free and focused on what really mattered getting my self healthy. I was in depression, and being in depression I always felt unhappy and sad.
All these moments that I shared with you were personal and true. It hurts thinking everyond in the world hates you including the ones you once loved.It kills your spirit, your dignity, your passion for everything  you once loved. Take these pointers that I shared with you today. Because through out these things that happened to me I found y voice and instead of avoiding it I spoke up ,and to this day I don’t regret one minute of it. Learn from my story because you don't know when you could be the next victim.

"I Wonder How Long It Would Take For Anyone To Notice If I Just Stopped Talking"

Authors Note: This next essay that I will be writing is how the main character reflects on the quote "I wonder How long for anyone to notice me if I would take if I just stopped talking".

One day can change peoples lives in a snap. Whether It's changing schools,  getting in an accident, or even being a you tube sensation over night. In the book "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson Melinda has a couple of weeks left until she starts a new chapter in her life, high school. But her life changes dramatically  in one night when she lies to her parents about going to a party with her friends when she knows drinking is involved. At the party she got wasted, and a boy took advantage of her. She kept trying to tell him no but he covered her  mouth and raped her. Melinda's last resort was to call the police and they  ended up busting the party but not helping her, because she did not SPEAK up.  Melinda reflects off this quote in numerous ways.

To begin with, Melinda's inability to speak up challenges her through the book.  Why this is a challenge for her is because she just thought she was drunk and that everything was her fault. Melinda states, "I wonder how long it would take for anyone to notice me if I just stopped talking". She said this quote because she was experiencing  deep depression, with a side of guilt thinking the rape was her fault while feeling betrayed by the  people she once loved. This quote signifies that she has feelings of suicide, and she wondered "Would people care that I would be dead?" When she finally gets the courage to speak out to warn a friend who is dating the boy who raped her, she is put down by the friend. This action could have caused to not speak out, but one day she was grabbing her stuff in an old janitors closet; and he tried to rape her again. Melinda speaks out by scream, and by telling him no! Luckily to her rescue the Lacrosse team heard Melinda and came to her  aid. Melinda overcame her fear about speaking out and soon became a well known hero and regained her old life back.

 In conclusion, Teens across the nation have problems speaking out, this causes a various amount of pains like Melinda.  Teens also have to realize not everything is their fault and they still have a chance.  I believe that  all people could learn from her story and realize what you are now, could be better tomorrow, and I love this story because it is very inspiring.

I Predict...

Authors Note: I am writing a prediction on what I think will happen next in the book "Speak".

Speak is a thrilling,, page turning book that I am half way into. It keeps me guessing on what will happen next, and wondering what the character is feeling like. Melinda was once king of the hill but one summer night, right before high school started, all the future "high schoolers" were partying and the party got a tiny bit out of hand with some drinking. Melinda did the right thing and busted the party by calling the cops. Now it's Melinda against the world, and Melinda's "Best friends" are all against Melinda.

 My first prediction is that at the end of the book The people in the school will naturally will realize that Melinda did the right thing. Why I think this is because people get in fights all the time, and then they realize they're meant together and then make up.  "There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will", this quote helped me improved my belief in this prediction, and I just thought I would shared it with you:).

Now life can go two different ways depending on how society depends it on. If  Melinda's friends don't forgive her, Melinda might come out depressed. I realize that Melinda is a very strong independent person but every one has a soft spot, and when that gets violated, everyone becomes someone their not. Why I think this is because everyone needs a good friend to fall back on, or a lover to make you laugh. If everyone still hates Melinda, most likely will become depressed and could possibly kill herself, but only pages can tell.

I realize that these two predictions are well unbelievably different, but it all depends on how Melinda's friends react, good or bad.

Changes

Authors Note: This is a fictional story on how a boy named Johnny, changes into a young man.Through the story this boy will be talking to his therapist about his childhood.THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY!


I never understood that death could take such a toll on someone's life, that it could change them forever. I remember when I was 7, crouched under a blanket, wishing that these men would be gone and would leave my family alone. It was a Sunday afternoon, my parents and I were just watching  Football. We heard something shatter upstairs, and my mom whispered closely to my ear, "Go Hide". The first place I could think of at that moment was behind our couch with a blanket on top of me. I heard my parents cautiously walk up the stairs, to see what the disruption was. The next sound I heard was screaming, and then two gun shots. By that time I was silently crying, praying to god that they were ok, and that we could get out of this house...alive. I remember hearing the men close the door, and I sprinted upstairs to find my parents. When I got to the top, I found them laying in pools of blood...Dead.

Therapist: So how does that make you feel?

Johnny: Sad that my childhood ended at that moment and that my life was never the same.

Therapist: Ok, you can carry on.

Johnny: So by then I was about 15, and I found myself living in my fourth foster home.

Therapist: So did you feel alone?

Johnny: No I remember there was this kid named Paul, he and I got along pretty well, but this kid got into some very bad stuff. There was a time when he and I were goofing around, with some drugs. I felt something suddenly clench my shoulder and then I turned around to see what happened, Paul had passed out. So I rushed him to the hostpital, which was a few blocks down. The doctors told me that Paul overdosed on drugs and that his heart had stopped.

Therapist: So how did Paul's death affect you?

Johnny: It was up until then that I really started to feel alone.

Therapist: Continue.

 When Paul died I felt detached like it was the world against myself. That's when my drug addiction sky rocketed, and more then half of the day I was high. I became majorly depressed and I just wanted to be dead. I had no friends, no money, no future, I owed people thousands of dollars, and every night I got beat up by the kids in my foster home.

Therapist: What do you think influenced this act of behavior?

Johnny: Well obviously the death of the 3 most important people to me and I just became majorly depressed and I just thought to myself this is the final destination.

Therapist: Continue

Johnny: When I was 19 I began robbing places. The only reason why I was doing this was because I  didn't even know when my next meal was or where I was going to sleep. I thought about suicide a COUPLE of times but I never really got the nerve. Looking back I think god was my nerves and he knew I had a future so he didn't let me kill myself.

TO BE CONTINUED

Thank you ma'm

Authors Note: This is my prediction on what the young boy did after he visited the ladies house in the Short Story "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes.

I predict that because of the fact what the woman  did, (give him 10 bucks and a meal), the boy will realize that just because I have no money or food, I can grow into a generous young man. I also think he will become more trustworthy because if people trust him he could get more things.

Adding to that I believe that the boy will try and get out of the ghetto and go to school, get a job, go to college,  and have a family.  I predict this because of what the woman did, he can realize not every one is mean to the world and everyone deserves a second chance. From reading this now II know that I should give people a second chance because if I don't I would just be judging from my life from right and wrong.

Dead Man's Path

Author's Note: I will be writing  a short retelling on the book Dead Man's Path.

Things were came easy for headmaster at Ndume School, Michael Obi. His dream has always simply have been to make the school where he works at young and Hip. He figured every worker in the school will put their heart an soul to make his dream a reality. Did he make it? Fine out in Dead Man's Path.