Thank You Ma'am Alternate Ending

Authors Note: In class we read the story "Thank You Ma'am." We then were told to write an alternate ending to the story. This is my take on how I think the story should end. Look for sympathy from Roger to Mrs. Jones.

He barely managed to say “Thank you” before she shut the door. Walking down to steps from her stoop, he thought, “Man, I could do a lot with this money.” He continued to walk down the steps and kept walking until he hit the stop sign at the end of the block.

Knowing that he had no one to go home to, he went to the nearest gas station so go find a cardboard box in the dumpster behind the building. Roger knows lots of tricks and tips, in order to manage himself. Digging through the garbage, he found a large refrigerator box, some year old candy, and a old paper bag with some old outfits in it. He took the stuff and went to the nearest park. Since Roger felt kind of bad, he hoped not to run into Mrs. Jones at the park, since that would be kind of awkward. Later that day, when he finally reached the park, he parked him and his stuff near a big oak tree. Roger sat in the box, and laid down to sleep. He put the money  in the bad with the old clothes, and dreamt about how he should be more thankful.

The next morning when Roger woke up he started to talk to himself, “I feel so bad. I knew I should’ve been more kind. I will feel sorry until I die.” He kept babbling to himself. Roger felt so upset and miserable, that he vowed to himself, that he would take the money back to Mrs. Jones and return it. And with that said, he surely did.

Just a Letter to Our Founding Fathers!

Authors Note: In this letter essay, you find that I am writing an essay to the Founding Fathers. You will see how I explain how the U.S. Constitution has helped us in many ways, in today's world. This is my essay for the Patriots Pen.

Dear Founding Fathers,

Over the past 200 years, there has been many changes in the government since you created the  US Constitution. Even with our strengths through technology, the Constitution has helped our nation immensely, just like teachers help kids learn. Knowing that so many changes in the government have occurred over these decades,  the Constitution has helped citizens by leading us in many astounding ways.

Today’s government has been grown upon what you initially wrote in the US Constitution in many  helpful ways . During the years that government  has evolved, one thing that has changed is the way we communicate. Communicating face to face is the way it used to be; now use email. Computers are like a new form for writing documents, because 200 years ago, you would have to write documents and do work by hand.  This  new form of writing is very useful for the government, because when making laws, they are able to easily type what want to get approved from the branches.  Already stated, our communication has changed a lot from over 200 years ago.

Our government is  based lots of our decisions and laws based off the Constitution.  The Constitution has helped us in many ways, because without the Constitution, there probably wouldn’t even be laws.  Setting up the Constitution the way you did really affected the way our nation is now, because it impacted the way things are in our life.  With that said, I am very grateful for what you have put in our hands, because what you have given me as a citizen of the U.S.   You gave me the freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion, just to name a few. Without the freedom of speech and religion, I know I wouldn’t be who I am because of you. I am able to go to school, and believe in what I want to believe in. I am not forced to do stuff that is unfair and not right; I know that I am glad where I am today.

Thanks to you, I am able to be respected with care, and have freedoms I wouldn’t have in other countries. To think that is all because of the  US Constitution that you wrote, I know that I am one lucky citizen, as with the rest of the citizens in the U.S.!

Sincerely,
Liana J.

Confidence is Key!

Authors Note: In this piece I worked on cause and effect. You should be able to see something interesting or descriptive, and see how it effects the rest of the story. This piece is based off a true story that happened to my volleyball team. Also, you should be able to see it in the view of me!

One event that happened to me in real life is that during a volleyball match, we were lost majorly. My team and I were doing good at practice and we thought we were all prepared. We had our set up right, our passes were great, and we had a great server. My team and I were on a great streak of getting our sets over and our serves over, until we were in serve-receive. The other team who had a really strong server, and a great blocker/tipper. All of a sudden we were doing horrible. We were losing majorly because they had such strong serves, we couldn’t return them. Also, when we went to block a ball, they tipped it right back over. Then we couldn’t regain our confidence to come to come back.

Since their serves and blockers were so strong, this effected our team, because it caused us to become weak. We weren’t able to pass the ball back on serve-receive, or even pop the ball up high enough to get a good set up, when there was a tip. After not being able to return the ball back, time after time, we didn’t have enough confidence in ourselves. This effected us majorly because when your team and yourself doesn’t have enough confidence, it knocks you right down. Losing during a game, caused us to lose the whole match.

If we changed the way we looked at things, and wouldn’t have been so down on ourselves, I know that we would have been able to win. Knowing what I know, we could have shut them down, and one the whole entire match. When you give your team good feedback on good things you did, you will be able to continue it, and gain our confidence back.  I know that we would have definitely won, if we wouldn’t have been so ashamed in ourselves because we could have got one good pass over, and we could have gotten the chance to regain ourselves.  I know that good feedback, energy, and confidence, is definitely a key in winning a volleyball match.

Perfect

Authors Note: I wrote this essay on the main conflict in the book Perfect. I explain how the conflict was resolve in the book, as well as connecting to a person I hold dear to my heart!

In the book Perfect, there are countless conflicts. The main conflict in this book, is how Isabelle can't bear to realize that her father is gone, she has a hard time, and changes her eating habits dramatically. The main conflict in this novel is person vs. self, although at the ends, Isabelle is able to move on over her loss, and is able to overcome her bulimia.

In the beginning of the book, it is very easy to pick out that she was very close to her father. Isabelle looked up to her father in every possible way, as a role model.  When her father passed, Isabelle just couldn’t help but eat mounds of junk food, and drink tons of soda and juice. She then realizes that she thinks she's eaten so much, that she takes in another way of comforting herself, but still being skinny. She continues this, until her sister catches her throwing up in the bathroom. Her mother puts her in a group of kids with the same issue, with a therapy teacher guiding her through this rough time.

The conflict was finally resolved in the book when figuring out that a popular girl at her school has the same disease as her. She became close friends, with someone she never thought she would even talk to.  They talked to each other to help one another get through their rough times, and even though, "the popular" didn't over come her disease as easily, Isabelle knew she had to one way or another. Every time she ate dinner, she told herself not to make herself purposely puke. She told herself no, no matter how much she wanted to, and in the end, she over came her disease.

The main conflict is a lot like Jimmy is to my family, because he is becoming very ill, and may become even more sick, and everyone in my family is trying to help him. Even though Jimmy is not doing so well, I know he is teaching my family, by showing us that everyone can't help him in every single way, and he can over come his battle on his own. Jimmy is a role model to everyone in my family and will be forever!

Experiencing the Moments of Freedom!

Authors Note: In this piece I am conveying a personal narrative. You will find lots of emotions, and feelings of what I got to experience in Costa Rica! I will always remember these moments in time, and I have learned a valuable lesson as well!

As you zip across the jungle, you hear and see the sounds of trembling water. Landing on the plank, and jumping off of the end of the line, surrounding you is nothing but natural beauty.This exhilarating place is Costa Rica, the Central  American country known for its magnificent zip lining across the treetops. Costa Rica gave me nothing but the most exciting and pleasurable experience of a lifetime: to be zip lining over nothing but  natural rainforest beauty!

Many people have a bucket list, with many different things things on it they want to do before they die. They may have going to State Fair, holding a duck, swimming in a lake, or climb a tree to the tippy top. On mine there was zip lining in Costa Rica, now, it’s crossed off. I got the amazing opportunity to go to Costa Rica with my family, and I am glad that I did so that I can say that my major thing to do  on my bucket list is crossed off. Zip lining in Costa Rica was one of the most amazing and memorable things I have experienced in my life.

When my family and I arrived at the destination, where we started the adventure, we had to sign a whole bunch of papers explaining that would could not sue them for any reason. Momentarily after that, we went to go get geared up and and put helmets on. The people here speak Spanish, so I was one of the only ones who could understand their accent. They told us to put all the equipment on, and we’d head up to the starting plank. At the top of the mountain that we climbed up to learn the safety information, we met a family from San Diego. Much later we finally got to start. Willingly, I had said that I didn’t want to go first, so my mom did. Toward the front of the line, I knew it was my turn next, and that’s when my heart started racing.

Standing among the beauty of the rainforest, and taking it all in, the guy told me it was my turn to go. Although I was scared, I knew I needed to do this for the experience. I closed my eyes and zoomed across. During the middle of the line I decided to open my eyes really quickly, instead, I ended up keeping them open. The freshness of the wind whipping my hair back, eyes fluttering in shock, and listening to the sounds of nature, made me realize that right then and there, was a moment of a lifetime. Descending, I knew that I shouldn’t be upset because there was more lines to go. Reaching for them to grab me, I recall them asking how it was. All I remember saying was “Wow, it was amazing!” Beyond the expectation I had for it, it was a great turn-on. I now realize how many people are fearful of it, but wouldn’t you be glad to say you did? Now, we are walking to the next plank. Much climbing and a lot of hiking, it was so much fun to be able to just let free and not hold back. After continuous lines of enjoyment and thrilling rides, it was the last one. This had to be the longest and the highest. I jumped onto the line and I went from there. Off into the rainforest where no one could see you because the treetops were in the way, it was just me and nature for the last time in the air. In between mixed feelings, this one had to be the greatest. When you are in the air, trust me, you won’t think you will die, it’s going to be the most amazing time of your life! This is sometime I will never forget, and something I want to do again.

With many words said, this had to be the trip with the most emotions running through my body. I am very grateful for the time I got to spend with my family. Now I know everyday, not to take things in my life for granted, but to take it as a privilege. Each and every day, I learn something just because of this experience. If I wouldn’t have done this, I wouldn’t be where I stand now. All I have left to say, be free and don’t let go!

He's With Me

When Lexi goes to school she never would have guessed that it could change the way she looked at love, that one day in school she meets a boy that is now her love of her life.  This gets her into a love story that has her lying and telling secrets, every step of the story.

A Little Piece of History!

Authors Note: Imagine yourself overlooking a peaceful place somewhere in Honolulu, Hawaii. Think about how wonderful it sounds, ocean waves crashing, birds chirping, and leis floating in the water. Now imagine this- Loud booming noises, kids and parents screaming, dead bodies laying on the sand and floating in the water, bombs going off everywhere, and people searching for family. Now, also think about this being the same exact place. This is Pearl Harbor. 

As I walk up the walkway to the submarine, I stand atop the ocean world. It's beautiful out here in Honolulu, Hawaii! I can see many things, from ocean life, to leis floating in the water. It's just then when look a little further out towards the horizon, and I can see the pieces left over from the attack just a couple feet from the Arizona. Pieces from the war that is. Not just any little pieces of litter, here there is no litter in the ocean. The water is crystal blue, I am talking about the pieces left over from the attack of World War 2. These pieces are huge, giant pieces of tanks and submarines, that are rusted to the brownish reddish you can't even describe. Yes this is it, Pearl Harbor, and boy am I dazed in shock that I am even standing here.

It is now that I realize that the war was this horribly bad. I am sitting in the movie room, located on Pearl Harbor, watching real footage from World War 2. This short film is scaring, yet informative. Loud booming noises and crashes, make echos in the movie room. People make their noises, some are crying, some are scared, and some are shocked. Me, I am one of the scared ones,  covering my eyes half the time. My family is sitting next to me, their eyes are glued to the screen watching every action at every second. At this moment in time, the film is showing gory and bloody parts. This is not what I came here to do. I came here to see the monument and pray to god that all these people are at rest, and happy in heaven. At this moment, I see battlers carrying their friends in clothes all wrapped up, piling them in a pile. How scaring is this? I can tell that the movie is wrapping up. It is now at the point where the woman in the movie starts saying, "This is Pearl Harbors’ History!". 

As we exit the building, we start forming a line onto the boat. This mystical boat gives my nerves some tension. I am getting tense because I am afraid that war is going to start right now on this boat. I tell my dad, and he makes me feel safe again. Looking out the side of the boat, I glare at the luminous water that's sparkling. It always catches my eye here in Hawaii. We finally arrive at the Arizona. Bystanders wait in the isle waiting to get off. When I step on the platform, it kind of jiggles and it frightens me. My mom starts to take the lead and my family starts to follow. When we enter the standing piece of glory, we start to make our way in. All over the walls, there are inscribed names of the people who served in the navy. Glancing at the wall I look at the "J's" to see if I can find the last name Jackson. Whoa-la, I certainly do!  We re-trace our steps going the way we came in but on the opposite side of the wall. On the table, there is a bucket with a bunch of flowers that you would normally see on leis. Taking a moment for it to sink in, I realize that we are supposed to throw some in, in memory of the ones who served. It really started to sink in, that below the water there are pieces of metal rusted to the point of no way to recover it back to its original condition. Plus, the pieces are in the middle of the ocean. I also look down and realize that there are dead bodies, decayed and drowned at the bottom. It worries me, but I realize, that I wouldn't be here without them. Each and every one of the battlers that helped our country will always be a hero!

On the way back to the main land, where the cars are parked and where everything else is, I sit next to my mom on the boat. It never came across to me that I would ever get the chance to see a piece of history. It amazes me. On the boat every passenger sits quietly, not one peep. All you can hear is the sounds of the motor running the boat. As you swish across the crystal blue ocean, you eventually come to a stop. You get off and you then can leave. Our family hopped in the car on the way back home, but I still wonder, "Could this happen again?". All I know, is that I have gotten the chance to see a part of US history, and yes it was Pearl Harbor.