Ribbons

Author's Note: "This is my response to the short story "Ribbons." Enjoy!"

 The shoes represent their culture and tradition and resistance to change. People in China think that if you have really small feet that means that you are beautiful so people used to and still do bind their feet to make themselves appear beautiful. As a result of the binding of the feet the women’s feet would still grow and become deformed from all the binding. The reason that the grandmother got so upset when she saw the girl’s mom handing her the slippers is because she thought that the mother was making the girl bind her feet. All in all to me the shoes symbolize tradition and I think they are also a little misleading.

 In today’s society, especially here in the U.S. beauty is everything. In fact, beauty almost gives you power. Think about it, all our Hollywood star actors and actresses and people in the tabloids are skinny and have what’s known as “the perfect figure”. Very few are an exception to this. Is that really who parents want their kids to look up to? Skinny girls in tight dresses? It almost makes overweight or bigger people seem like outcasts and that they have little importance, or at least that’s what I think. But really, what is beauty these days? Is it true beauty that lies inside or is it superficial and all about what’s on the outside? In the U.S. beauty is everything.

Can You Guess Who?

Author's Note: "My assignment in class was to write as if you were someone famous or well-known and see how many of your classmates could guess who you were. This piece is by Taryn and I. Can you guess who?"

 I live in a prickly fruit. My limbs, although thin, carry my box like body through the deep waters of the ocean. A figure unexplainable. My curves and pores add much dimension to my build. I would consider myself a total catch. I am the definition of perfection. I am giddy, happy, and forever part of the goofy goober club. My hobbies vary with range. I prefer blowing bubbles but I also enjoy jelly fishing.

 My hobbies are fun but they wouldn’t be nearly as gratifying without my best friends. My neighbors/friends differ in contrast; happy, grumpy, strong, and greedy. They are very diverse in color and shape, quite like myself. I also am a proud owner of the oh so wonderfully glorious snail. He is quite loyal and never responds rudely to my commands. Only with a subtle “Meow”.

 Employee of the month every month. A motto used to describe my fry cook ethic. My technique would be nothing without my beloved spatula. Flipping patties is the highlight of my life. Also I take pleasure in working alongside one my closest best friends forever, a squid. My boss on the other hand is very avaricious. He cuts pay often. Most of the time money is short at my residence, but I will never give hope for a better life.

 Any who, my shoes are always squeaky clean and my tie is so darn beautiful I get complements everywhere I go. All in all I am a beautifully wonderful glorious sponge. I am Squarepants, Spongbob Squarepants, and I am proud.

Book and Movie Comparison

Author's Note: "My goal was to write a piece comparing a novel to a movie so I chose one of my favorite books: My Sister's Keeper. I hope you like it... comments are very appreciated!"

 My Sister’s Keeper is known as one of the most heartfelt books of the 21st century. Pulling your heartstrings at every page turn, this book really grabs your attention very quickly on. From the first page to the last you just cannot stop reading or put the book down: you have to know how it ends. In fact the book, written by Jodi Picoult, was so successful that an aspiring director came along and offered a movie deal for the novel. Since then the movie and the book are still beloved by many but some things that are in the book change in the movie, and the lighting and music that are used in the movie create emotion and drama.

 The biggest change from the original novel My Sister’s Keeper was the ending. In the book Anna, the daughter fighting to have rights over her own body, dies tragically in a brutal car accident and is declared as brain dead and her kidney and other organs are donated to her sister Kate. As a result of Anna’s organs being donated to Kate she gets to live a healthy normal life. However the movie doesn’t stay true to the books ending. Instead in the movie version Kate explains to her family that she is ready to die, and after time soaks in a little they accept her decision and ultimately at the end of the book Kate passes away. I feel like the writers and directors of the movie decided to change the original ending because I feel like even though there is still death it’s less sad. I feel like the movie ending is a more appropriate ending for the movie because I feel like it sets off a better message: that is you want something and work for it that one day it can come true. All in all a lot of the movie stays true to the book but one of the most drastic changes from the movie to the novel is the ending.

 Another thing that enhanced the screenplay and made the book differ from the movie was the lighting and music used in the movie. Obviously there was no lighting or music in the book but I feel like when the book became a movie the lighting and music played a big part in adding drama and suspense throughout the story. For example, the lighting in Kate’s hospital room varied, on her good days it was always very bright and made you feel happy but on her bad days the lighting was very dark and glum. I think the director made the decision to do this because then you really get to experience the emotions that the characters feel. Another lighting change I noticed in the movie that I thought was important was that when Kate died it was raining and the lights were dark but during her funeral the sun was shining all throughout the sky. Lastly the music during scenes like Kate’s death, the courtroom scene, and the fights Anna had with her family was all very suspenseful and added a lot of drama. All of these are very relevant observations and examples of how the movie’s lighting and music made the film much more appealing. I feel like the lighting and music in the movie version of My Sister’s Keeper enhanced the entire movie and added a lot more dimension and depth. 

Throughout the movie and book My Sister’s Keeper the music and lighting add much variations and drama and some of the storyline is altered. All in all I think My Sister’s Keeper was both successful on screen and off. The book and the movie both teach life lessons that both kids, teenagers, adults, and seniors can all relate to and learn from.

Privileges Lost

Author's Note: So this morning I was in a creative mood and felt like writing this. I hope you like it, comment what you think!

My name is Noah, and I am blind. "How does it feel,"  you may ask. It feels empty, like something is missing, which it is. I can experience every other emotion or feeling that life has to offer but I cannot see.  I cannot see the leaves change colors and drift off the tall oak trees in the autumn wind, I cannot see the salty ocean water crash into the rocky shore, I cannot even see my own wife anymore. All these things that I just mentioned are privileges, privileges that I do not have, privileges I have lost.  A wise man once said, "You don't realize how vital something is until it is gone."  He speaks the truth, for I know first hand what he is saying, I have lived what he is saying. I may never get my sight back, it may be gone forever, but I will never stop regretting taking the natural beauties of this world for granted. This world is filled with wondrous things, things that I can no longer see or experience. Things that you shouldn't take for granted like I did, things that you should appreciate. Because some day, when you die, you will wish you hadn't taken all those little things for granted. 

Paragraph Homework

The impatient waiter in the story "A Clean and Well-Lighted Place" reminded me of a girl named Violet in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" the movie. Violet reminded me of the impatient waiter because they are both impatient and do not want to wait. In "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Violet got impatient and ate the candy when she wasn’t supposed to and as a result she swelled up like a giant blueberry. Similarly to the girl in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" the impatient waiter closed up the café early because he didn't want to wait. 

Dear Katherine

Author's Note: "My goal was to write a creative piece using correctly formatted dialogue so that is why I wrote this piece."

Dear Katherine,

Today marks my 417^th day away from you. With every passing day I find myself missing you more and more. I miss your smell, your touch, the way you always made me feel safe. I long for the days when we were together, as a family.  The army is a cruel place, filled with hatred and anger.  Every man for themselves. But I know that I will never be alone. I will forever have you and the kids, little Timmy and Jack,  to stand by me and support me throughout life’s hardships. But  I know that I will see you soon, in just a couple of months things will be all back to normal again and it will all be over. All this separation that we’ve had to go through and all the nights I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about you and the boys will be worth it because we will be reunited at last. There is nothing I want more than to see you and the boys, nothing.

 It’s getting late so I know I must go to sleep soon but I will write to you again soon, I promise. Remember I’m doing this for you, and the kids of course, but just remember that no matter how far away we are I’ll always be in your heart. I love you Katherine. See you soon.

Forever Yours,

John

~*~

As I finished writing I put the pencil and extra papers neatly inside my dark green duffel bag and zipped it up tight. Careful not to burn myself, I put out the candle and climbed into my sleeping bag and drifted away.

The fumes of burning bodies and death cause me to awaken from my deep slumber.

“John, wake up,”  yelled one of my platoon members into my ear. I burst to life and was up on my feet within a couple of seconds. I grabbed my sleeping bag and shoved it in my duffel bag as fast as I could. We ran outside of the tent trying not to be seen. Sparks light up the night sky and fire surrounded our campground. I rushed to help one of my fallen platoon members but it was too late, he was gone. I knelt down beside him and said a quick prayer in his honor and for his wife and kids back home.

“John come on,” my platoon leader shouted among all the flames and chaos. I rushed to his side and as we gathered all the other members of our platoon I realized that I had left my letter back in the tent.

“You guys keep going, I’ll meet you there.” I called out to them. I sprinted through the forest and dodged burning trees desperately to get back to the tent. Just as I was 10 yards away the tent exploded and I was flung back into the trees. I took a pretty nasty fall and hit my head severely on a tree trunk. I touched my now throbbing head and realized I was bleeding very badly; I tried calling out to my platoon members but they were much too far away to hear me. My vision began to blur and I felt all my limbs turn numb. A blacked out to the sight of flames burning away everything in it's cold dark path.

~*~

My eyes fluttered open to a very harsh light and as my eyes adjusted I realized I was surrounded by people, people I didn’t know. I tried to touch my head to see if my wound had swollen but my arms and legs were locked down to the table I was laying on. Where am I?, I thought to myself.

“He’s alive sir,” I heard one of the men whisper.

“What are we supposed to do with him?” asked another.

My memories started to come back and as I continued to gain my consciousness I realized that these men that were surrounding me were the enemy. Leaders of the countries that were trying to destroy my troops. 

Effects Of Bullying

Author's Note: "One of Americas leading issues in schools is bullying so I decided to do a little research on the subject. Turns out that there are 3 main types of people involved in bullying: the bystander, the bully, and the victim. Since there were only three main people involved in bullying I did research on each one and how they are effected by bullying. My hope is that by reading this you gain knowledge on why bullying in America needs to stop."

Every school has a bully, every bully has a victim, and every attack has someone watching from the sidelines.  Whether you are just passing by the scene and just witnessing bullying taking place or if you are a part of the actual bullying itself you will be effected.  According to  mychildsafety.net, bullying is one of the top five issues in schools all over America and effects over half of almost every school in the U.S. This paper will inform you on what bullying  the can do to the bully, the victim, and the bystander both short and long term.

Obviously if you are a victim of bullying you will be effected by it. According to stopbullying.gov, a website devoted to trying to put an end to bullying, kids who are bullied have a higher risk of  depression, anxiety, feelings of sadness or loneliness, becoming addicted to drugs, suicidal thoughts, abnormal eating or sleeping patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. Keep in mind that those are only a few things that bullying can do to you, it can also get to a point where kids get depressed and not wanting to study and as a result of that get lower scores on tests and homework and their GPAs can drop. Another source I used informed me that over 160,000 kids skip school everyday because they are afraid of being bullied. Also, according to dosomething.org 1 in 10 students drop out of school because of bullying. Worst of all as a result of being bullied people will attempt to kill themselves. Surveys on bullyingstatistics.org  show that 14% of students have suicidal thoughts and 7% of students have attempted suicide because of bullying.  Also, if you are being bullied always remember that you are not alone, surveys show that one in every six kids gets bullied regularly. The effects bullying can have on you if you are a victim can be extremely traumatizing and can put you on the path that leads to a very bad future.

Although the victim in most cases is effected the most in a bullying attack, a passing bystander can also be effected by just witnessing what is going on. More often than not a bystander in a bullying attack will feel guilty for not stepping in and defending the person being bullied. Likewise bystanders in bullying attacks are more likely to have increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. In most cases people who witness the bullying and do not step in drink and abuse drugs because they feel guilty and want that pain to go away.  Similarly to if you are a victim of bullying a bystander will also be more likely to skip or miss school and have depression and anxiety. According to a4kclub.org,  72% of bystanders during a bullying attack will not speak up in fear that if they do they will be the bully's next victim. People passing by and witnessing someone being bullied are also effected by the experience.

In addition to the victim and the bystander, a bully is effected as well.  In most cases a bully is someone who suffered from some kind of traumatizing event as a child and wasn't given the proper care to recover and so they take their anger and pain out on others. Bullies are at very high risk of abusing drugs and alcohol both through their teenage years and adult years, getting into fights, stealing others possessions, vandalizing property, dropping out of school, engaging in sexual activity early in life, and being abusive to their romantic partners, spouses, and children. Also, according to bullyingpreventionintstitute.org, a website that informs parents and kids on the effects of bullying, bullies are usually convicted of crimes  and given traffic tickets in adulthood. Bullies are effected very much by their own bullying and are already on the path to a very unhappy and dark future.

The bystander, the victim, and the bully are all effected during a outburst. Bullying can put everyone involved down a path that leads to very bad things. Bullying can be prevented though, bullies can be stopped. If you are a witness to a bully attack anonymously report them to your schools guidance counselor or talk to a teacher you trust right away and together we can put an end to bullying. 

Sources Used:

• :. " The Effects of Bullying - Beliefnet.com." Inspiration, Spirituality, Faith – Beliefnet.com - Beliefnet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Parenting/Interviews/The-Effects-of-Bullying.aspx>.
• "Bullying Victims - Bullying Statistics."Bullying Statistics - Teen Violence, Anger, Bullying, Treatment Options. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-victims.html>.
• Dombeck, Mark. "The Long Term Effects of Bullying." American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aaets.org/article204.htm>.
• "Effects of Bullying - Youth "Ambassadors 4 Kids" Club (A4K)." Ambassadors 4 Kids (A4K) Club | Bullying Resources For Kids | Reporting, Stopping & Preventing School Bullying | Cyberbullying Information Organization - Youth "Ambassadors 4 Kids" Club (A4K). N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.a4kclub.org/get-the-facts/effects-of-bullying>.
• standers. "Effects of Bullying | StopBullying.gov." Home | StopBullying.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/>.