Response to Part Two: My plan

Like my sister was at my age I am very confused about what I truely want to be. Deep down I have always wanted to major in english, and become a writer. My opinions have always had a way of flowing out of my mouth uncontrollably, as you may already know. My family suggested I put it all on paper a few years ago and I've been passionate about it ever since. I think that whatever I write could inspire people to follow they're dreams. Of course I'm not saying that I'm perfect at this. Writing is just something that I enjoy, and it's really the only thing that makes sense. Being a writer isn't all about writing fiction stories. I could write about the important things, like what we can do as a nation to help eachother. Ever since I started reading I loved the idea of being able to put something amazing on paper. After reading the article I started thinking about how small ideas can make big changes. Every person in this country should at least attempt to help. They just don't know it yet. Maybe my ideas will create ideas in other people. Every successful person living and breathing has had a dream some what like this. Every great plan begins with a dream, or an idea. All it takes is a little push and something amazing will happen. Writing probably seems really dull to some people, but it's the world to me. If I ever get the chance to help someone make a difficult discision then it will be worth it. Yes, it's going to take a lot of practice, but maybe someday what I write will make a difference. To me a single sentence can inspire millions of people. You never know... That could be my sentence.
If that doesn't work out for me I was thinking about public speaking or something like that. I've always had a problem with argueing and wanting my voice to be heard. Why fight it? I could argue about so many important things that obviously aren't being done. For example when George Bush was in office I used to say "I just want to walk up to the white house and tell him he's old, dumb, and sounds funny!" :) To bad I never got the chance. ANYWAY... If I decide to follow this maybe I'll be able to reach the hearts of people and make them listen. Let's face it americans aren't good listeners.... Just kidding.
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK..... I might study law. I've been thinking about it lately and it sounds interesting. Look at it this way, if we didn't have people inforcing law and order we would be a mess, and that's all we need right now! All of my career ideas are alike in the same ways. It involves helping people, and making a difference. I know that if this is going to be my career I'm going to have to work extra hard, but who knows it might not be. I know that I should be thinking about a single career but hey this is me we're talking about here. Desicion making hurts my brain, but I do take things seriously. Like that article... I know I take things for granted like I said before. I also know that I should have changed my ways a long time ago. I suppose that every kid needs a wake up call. Personally I think have back up plans for my future is great, even though writing is what I'm aiming for. I hope that whatever I decide I will make a difference. Who knows...I could be famous someday. If so I'll send you a postcard.

Response to Part One: Someone to look up to

The assignment we were given was to write about someone who was making a difference. The second I read that I immediately thought of my sister. I know that we were told to write about somebody ALREADY making a difference, but she's GOING to make a difference someday.
For several years now my sister hasn't been able to decide what she wanted to do as a career. She went back and forth with so many different ideas which were all equally great. We called it her personal road block.
When my Grandfather died of cancer Dj over came her road block and decided to become a doctor. I know that in the article it stated doctors were probably one of the things that were being affected by our economy in a way. If people can't pay then docotor's can't help. Well the idea of my sister wanting to be around people who were going to die anyways confused me. I asked her why she chose this and she said, "I want to show people that a simple test is not the final answer. I want to save them because I couldn't save him." She was talking about my grandpa of course. To sum it all up, my sister wants to 'fix' people, and I think that's something to look up to.
To have that kind of goal takes a lot of thought and it isn't going to be easy for. She already knows that of course. Dj is the kind of person that finds problems and fixes them with no questions asked. I look up to her everyday, because everyday she teaches me something new. I know someday I'm going to have to grow up and find a way to help too... I hope that when I do decide she will be there guiding me. She's got the kind of spunk every 17 year old should have, and many of them do. The thing that makes her desicion special is the fact that her career choice is all about making people better, helping them, and succeeding in life. I also know that doctors are needed everywhere.
I have to be honest about the article... It got a little boring towards the end BUT I PAID ATTENTION. I remember it mentioning something about how the only way to fix all of our problems is starting from the bottom and working our way up. Well that screamed DJ to me. She's a senior and not yet starting her studies, I know, but she has a plan. And in that plan she wants to be somebody. If everyone was as driven as my sister then maybe that would be the beginning of fixing whatever problems we have.
I believe that Dj could make an impact on several people. She could show them that just because she comes from a small town she can still accomplish a goal. If you think about it America could do the same thing. Just because we have a bad economy now doesn't mean we can't work hard, set a goal, and get better later. Dj is going to give so many people a second chance at life, and that's worth writing about. I'm not just saying this because she's my sister. I'm writing about this because the whole idea is interesting to me.
I know that a lot of kids at the moment aren't even thinking of college or any kind of future. Mainly because they don't believe in themselves and its to expensive. I agree. It's a problem that needs to be dealt with. My sister mentioned something about President Obama to me today. She said that he had a lot of good ideas to help the U.S., and it also involved younger kids that can't afford medical care to get it all for free.
I'm probably way off base here but I think that what my older sister wants to do is the right thing. Not a lot of kids her age are willing to go that far and make that kind of commitment. Who knows what will happen in the next 4 years. Things could get worse or better. I've always thought that this country walks on thin ice every day. We will just have to see if we make it by a slide or break through the ice. What can anyone expect. America could have fixed this problem years ago, or prevented it from happening. I suppose we're the original procrastinators.

Paragraphs Below

Point Of View Types

1st person: I could feels my knees start to give in as I make my way around the last corner of the track. All I had to do was sprint to the finish line and the first place ribbon would be mine. I let myself imagine the crowd screaming my name, “Emily!” Unfortunately it wasn’t that easy. My legs were beginning to cramp and sweat poured down off my brow, into my eyes. I couldn’t rub the sweat out of my eyes with out losing focus and allowing my competitors to get ahead of me, so I left my eyes to sting and blink uncontrollably. My white jersey stuck to my chest as I struggled to breath. The finish line was less than a foot away… Will I be able to make it?

3rd person: The girls were running quickly, feet pounding on the track. Angie was struggling for first. Next to her the girl in the white, Emily, was breathing heavily. Her struggled breathing could be heard a mile away. Sam's sweat began to make her yellow jersey stick to her skin and she couldn't get it off. All of the runners were very tired by the time they were on they're last lap. They had been fighting eachother for first for forever it seemed.

3rd person omniscient: It was up to the three runners in front. Only one girl could get that blue ribbon and all of the girls wanted it. Angie began to wheeze and her stomach was moving up and down rapidly under her orange jersey. She had never lost a race in her high school career and she knew that this race wasn’t going to be easy. Next to her Emily was struggling to get a lead in the race. Every time she got ahead somebody else would pop up next to her. Tears of pain slid down her cheeks. Meanwhile Sam was running steadily in her yellow uniform trying to make up a plan. How was she going to get ahead? She had been training for this moment for weeks, and she was waiting for the perfect moment to pick up speed. All three girls were waiting for that moment, watching they’re competitors losing energy slowly.

3rd person limited: Angie had never felt so tired. It was her senior year and her last race was so important to her. She glanced towards the bleachers and saw her coach shaking his head. She had to get ahead fast. After all that training she couldn't settle for anything but first. Her throat felt like it had been rubbed with sand paper. She began to breathe in and out slowly. She thought that maybe if she could get enough air she'd be able to sprint that last few feet. She was running out of time to decide. She could sense the other girls wanting to do the same thing. If she was going to win she had to move...NOW!

Journal Response

Journal: 3/5/09

I just finished the book. Yes Prim and Katniss were cool names. After reading awhile i'm guessing the book isn't based in present time but actually future. The hunger games was a really good book though. The Hunger games is all about all of the Districts having to send two kids each to the Capitol to fight to the death. The last child standing is the winner. One girl and one boy are taken from all the districts but they don't have a choice they have to send them to the games. They pick they're names out of kind of a raffle thing. Unfortunately noone wants to be picked. Prim's name gets chosen though! And Katniss volunteers to take her place, which eventually leads to her and her Peeta,who is the boy from her district, to win the Hunger Games!Anyways if i keep going i won't be able to stop :) really good book. But it's in a series so i'm going to try to find Book Two.

Reading Journal Response

Journal: 2/26/09

Book title-The Hunger Game by Suzanne Collins


So far the main character is Katniss and she lives in a small area called District 12. In her country I guess they have districts. She lives there with her little sister Prim and her mother. The main thing that they seem to live for is hunting but the setting is in present time. Their country doesn't seem at all like ours, and they seem to be suffering from poverty. I guess i'll find out more later.

Group Story

Didget
By:
Heidi Thompson
Jacquee Giovo
Micaela Costanzo

It was a normal day for Didget while he walked to school. Most of the teenagers by now had their own cars. Didget didn’t have anything but his walking shoes. Bits of trash were always thrown at him while he walked along the sidewalk. He looked up half heartedly and noticed Bridget and Alana walking ahead of him. This was rather odd considering they never walked to school. Didget began to quicken his pace just to see how close he could get to Bridget. He had always had a crush on Bridget from the start, never quite enjoyed Alana though. Bridget reminded him of one of those olden day movie stars. She was perfect in every way. Her hair was just the right shade of blonde, and the only thing sweeter than her was powdered sugar. Alana was a completely different story. She was beautiful but the only thing that spoiled it was her attitude towards everyone. She loved herself more than anyone else and the only thing that really mattered to her was her popularity, and Bridget. Didget had to admit though she looked like she popped right out of a magazine.
He bowed his head when he realized he wouldn’t be able to catch up. Girls walked surprisingly fast in high heels. He could hear Bridget’s joyful laughter up ahead and for the rest of the walk he imagined her smiling at him.
Hi High School was a pretty nice looking school considering it was public. The only thing that made Didget’s school horrible was the fact that it was divided. It was divided into cliques. Bridget and Alana belonged to the highest one when it came to popularity. Next came of course the regular acting people, then the nerds, then the class pets, then the bugs stuck to your windshield, then there came Didget.
If you hadn’t already noticed he wasn’t exactly the most liked person at his high school. That’s what made liking Bridget so difficult. She was normal… In fact she was above normal, she was perfect. Didget was odd looking, he never had any friends, and his teachers had completely given up on him. They claimed he was crazy so they just pass him to get him out of the way, even if he’s failing. That’s how low he was on the food chain.
Didget walked through the front doors and immediately was shoved into lockers and pushed out of the way. He should have gone through the back doors instead of the front. When you walk into the high school you walk right into the danger zone. At least that’s the way it was for Didget. His locker was the very last one in the back of the school right next to the exit.
Didget looked over his shoulder and saw Bridget and Alana parked right in front of their lockers. They were surrounded by the entire football team. Those jocks were probably the people Bridget wanted to go out with. Didget knew that but it never hurt to use his imagination. Alana suddenly looked up and noticed Didget was still lingering in their hall way.
“WHAT’S HE STILL DOING HERE?!” Alana shouted over all of the noise. Instantly the hall was quiet and everyone was staring down at the short, scrawny form of Didget.
“I was just standing here minding my own business…” Didget mumbled. Of course he knew that the second the words had come out of his mouth he was in deep trouble.
Alana stomped her way over to him.
“Just slap yourself, you don’t belong here in the real world.” Alana scolded. Didget went red with embarrassment. He looked up to defend himself and saw a slender hand on Alana’s shoulder. Beside her, Bridget was speaking in a whisper and frowning. He wondered what she had said that made Alana stop. Alana rolled her eyes and turned to walk away.
“Sorry about my friend here, she’s just having a bad day.” Bridget whispered quickly. Didget just looked at her not knowing how to react. She was actually talking to him… Before he could think of anything to say she turned and glided back to her locker. Didget sighed and moved on down the hallway to his banged up locker on the other side. His finger barely touched his lock when the bell rang, announcing it was time for class.
The day went on like it always did for him. His teachers ignored him as well as all his classmates. The only thing different about his day was the fact that Bridget kept glancing at him with curious eyes. It was almost like she had never quite noticed him before.
Lunch came faster than Didget thought. It was probably the worst part of the day for him and the best part of the day for everyone else. He sat alone at his own little table away from everyone else. Normally Bridget would sit at her regular table with Alana, but today she turned abruptly towards Didget’s table. Alana stared in shock as her best friend took a seat next to the weirdest boy in school.
“Is it alright if I sit here today?” Bridget asked politely. It was sort of an odd question to ask since she had already sat down and began eating her lunch.
Didget smiled and said, “Is that a fat joke?” He couldn’t believe Bridget would even want to sit ten feet away from him let alone ten inches. Bridget raised her eyebrow and laughed a little even though it wasn’t funny. None of Didget’s jokes were very funny, except to him of course.
“I noticed you aren’t in any of my classes.” Bridget said with a sweet smile.
Didget stared at his carrots and said, “Actually I’m in your last hour class. I sit in the back.” Bridget nodded and they sat there for awhile just talking about things that didn’t exactly matter. It felt like the first day of kindergarten for both of them. Neither of them knew each other but it didn’t seem to matter.
Mean while, Alana wasn’t touching her lunch. All she could do was look at Bridget talking to that outcast. She had to do something about this before it was too late. She stood and walked over to them.
“Bridget what on earth are you doing?” Alana asked. She looked Didget up, then down, then up again. His clothes didn’t even match what was she thinking?
“I’m eating actually, want some?” Bridget laughed. She raised her spoon full of applesauce towards Alana’s mouth.
“No thank you…” Alana muttered. Didget looked at her and analyzed what she was wearing just like she had done to him. There was nothing negative about Alana, except the attitude of course. She would never be able to be ‘Bridget perfect’ though.
“You can sit down if you want.” Didget managed to stutter. Alana’s face showed it all. She was absolutely disgusted with him.
The bell rang and lunch ended even though Didget and Bridget weren’t ready to leave. For the rest of the week they ate lunch together and talked about anything that came to mind. Bridget talked the most, probably because she had a bigger mind. Didget just sat and listened. That was ok though, he liked the sound of her voice.
The more they talked the more Alana tried to sabotage them. She would interrupt their conversations, push Didget away, and tell Bridget she was losing her marbles. Nothing seemed to work. It didn’t matter what she did, they spent more and more time together. Secretly they were both feeling the same things. Didget and Bridget liked each other, and there was nothing Alana or any of her friends could do about it.
Before they knew it Bridget and Didget spent every second of the day together. Bridget still talked to her old friends when they actually wanted to have something to do with her. Alana was convinced that once you start dating a freak you become a freak. Bridget wasn’t bothered by it at all. A true friend would understand, and Alana was obviously only concerned about herself.
One day Bridget tried to talk to her friends again but they pretended she didn’t exist. She walked back to Didget and he looked up at her feeling very guilty.
“I’m sorry I ruined your friendship with all of those people.” He sighed. Bridget then did something so strange but so wonderful that it nearly gave Didget a heart attack.
“Aw… That’s ok.” She said as she bent over and kissed his abnormally pointed nose. The spot she had kissed tingled a little. He realized that he could now see her smiling at him. He had wanted her to smile at him like that for so long, and now it was had happened.
Even though Alana wasn't friends with Bridget anymore she still occasionally attempted to ruin their relationship. She still cared about Bridget's former reputation. She would start rumors about Didget doing horrible things. For example, she tried to convince their science teacher that Didget was stealing H2O out of the storage closet. Alana wasn't very smart for her age... They were all hoping she would grow up. Unfortunately the only reaction she got from Bridget and Didget was their laughter. They even laughed in harmony, and it annoyed her. How could two different people from two different worlds have so much in common? It didn't make any sense to her.
One day after school Didget offered to walk Bridget home. Bridget giggled and told him she would just drive HIM home since she had a car. They talked for awhile about school and how everyone was acting so weird.
"I feel like this is my fault." Didget said.
Bridget, hands clutching the steering wheel looked at him and said, "Well I don't see what the big deal is. If we like eachother why should they want to get in the way?"
"Have you looked at me lately?" Didget raised his bushy eyebrows and she roared with laughter.
"Looks have never mattered to me and will never matter to me. I like personality." Bridget said.
"Well personally I think you should have stayed with your friends." He whispered.
"No. My old friends only care about how they look on the outside. You care about different things." She replied.
And so the outcast and the beauty lived happily ever after... Alana lived alone.