Final Story

                From softball practices to pep fests, Jenna and Victoria were an inseparable twosome.  They had been best friends since kindergarten, and the friendship stood stronger than ever as their senior year of high school rolled around.  They went out of their way to see each other in the school hallways, and their classmates joked that they were attached at the hip.  The girls spent every weekend together whether they had essays to write or parties to attend, and after school study sessions were common throughout the week. Although the girls were often seen as one entity, they were two very different individuals.  Jenna was tall and lanky, with long brown hair and a shy, timid demeanor-she expected to blend in with her surroundings.  Meanwhile, Victoria was outspoken and opinionated, with a vibrant laugh that radiated from deep inside her.  She stood an entire head shorter than Jenna, and her choppy, platinum blonde hair had a rebellious streak of purple hiding underneath her bangs.  Athletic and aggressive, Victoria could seem intimidating while Jenna seemed apprehensive and coy.  Somehow these conflicting personalities brought the girls closer every day, and their opposite winds created an unstoppable hurricane of friendship that would undoubtedly continue through college and the rest of their lives.

                Jenna found it hard to become close to people, so she felt endlessly blessed to have Victoria in her life.  Every decision Jenna made involved taking Vicki into account, and she truly had an immeasurable amount of love for her best friend.  She had learned so much from Victoria over the years, and she wouldn’t hesitate to catch a bullet for her. She appreciated the steady pattern of day to day life, and change was not easy for her. Jenna was dreading their separation for college in the fall, and needless to say, she fully planned on spending every summer day with her best friend.

                As the year flew by and graduation became a memory instead of a goal, the girls remained faithfully at each other’s side.   The summer before college was crammed with days at the beach and nights on the town.  Afternoon visits to the mall and nighttime road trips to the drive-in were carefree and fun as the girls soaked in their last season together.

                Eight days before both girls planned on boarding separate airplanes to attend separate schools for the first time in their lives, Jenna woke up to the morning sun slipping through her window and her phone ringing endlessly.  Recognizing the number as Vicki’s home phone, Jenna swiftly grabbed her blackberry and brought it up to her ear.

                “Victoria had another seizure,” Vicki’s mom was blunt and direct.  Jenna’s stomach plummeted and the room spun around her as those harsh words set in.  Having her first violent seizure at age four, Victoria was deemed Epileptic before she entered kindergarten.  Now she was 18 and thanks to surgeries, medication, and almost a decade of extensive therapy, it had been five years since even the most minor episode.  She was cleared to get a driver’s license and move out of state for college, and everyone gratefully assumed that she had found a way to keep her disease under control.

                “But she’s okay, right?” Jenna assumed. “Now you should just go back to the doctor and get her medication changed or something before this happens again.”

                “She hit her head on a table, so I called an ambulance.  I haven’t seen her since it happened late last night, but the doctors say she’s at a risk for serious blood loss.” The voice on the phone continued. “She could also have brain damage because of where the table hit her skull.  I think you should come to the hospital.  Vicki would want you here.”

                Lunging out of bed, Jenna didn’t bother to change out of her pajamas before grabbing her keys and flying out her front door.  Sprinting onto the driveway where she had parked her little silver car, Jenna couldn’t even cry; she was too numb.  Had Victoria’s mom insinuated that her daughter was on the verge of death?  Would she be in a coma? 

                Speeding out of her neighborhood, Jenna tried to imagine what life would be like without Victoria.  She could barely see herself surviving the next four years without Vicki by her side, let alone the next 80. Not wanting to waste any time, the trembling brunette forced her gas petal down even further and prayed that everything would be fine.   Clutching the steering wheel, Jenna begged herself to remain composed as the urge to sob grew even stronger.  As she neared the hospital, her heart hammered inside her chest and the tears finally made their appearance.  She was almost at her best friend’s side-the only place in the world she wanted to be.

                It was a 2006 Pick-Up Truck that plowed into the side of Jenna’s car and killed her instantly.  The collision left both vehicles mangled and destroyed, giving the other driver a slim chance at survival as well.  Luckily the ambulance was quick in getting him to the emergency room 2 blocks away.  This solemn and heart-wrenching scene could be viewed from Victoria’s 6^th floor hospital room as she lay unconscious in the pure white bed.  Staring out the window with one hand on the foot of the bed, Vicki’s mom looked on in horror.  Turning her back to the window, she was just in time to greet the smiling doctor who had just entered the room.

                “I have good news.” He said genuinely. “Victoria’s X-rays showed no brain damage at all, and her body was able to replenish her blood supply-she didn’t lose as much as we originally thought.  Your daughter is going to be just fine.”

daily journal class recap 4-7-11

One thing I really liked about this class was how often we actually got to be creative in Creative Writing. The daily journals were really open-ended, and even though I didn't like doing the pictures as daily journals, I still think it was a good way to get thinking and start using our imagination. I also really loved the poetry unit.  I don't usually like poetry but I appreciate that you just gave us the basic format of a certain type of poem, and then let us run with it. It was nice to know that as long as I followed the specific rules for something like a sonnet, I could write about whatever I wanted and make it my own.  I'm also glad you let us work during class and at our own pace, because when kids feel rushed to write something we just focus on getting it done and not being good and creative writers.  If you just threw concrete due dates at us we wouldn't be growing as writers, which is something I think I accomplished this quarter.

Even though I really enjoyed writing poetry, I didn't exactly love writing stories, especially science fiction ones.  It's good to try something different, because I would never write a science fiction story on my own, but at the same time, I didn't think science fiction gave me a lot of room to be creative.  You can be creative by coming up with interesting story lines or plot twists, not just by throwing aliens and time travel into your paper. I also wanted to have more writing time and less lecture time, because once I get 'in the zone' to write, I just want to get all of my ideas down and start working.  If I can't do that write away, I get worried that I'll forget my great ideas and be less interested in writing because there isn't very much time left in class for me to do a lot of work. Overall, I really enjoyed this class and I honestly do think I am just that much closer to being a great writer because of it.

4-6-11

My first real job was at my friend Sammie's family restaurant.  It was a pizza shop, and my job was to answer the phones and place the orders that people wanted.  I didn't mind it at first, because it was simple to take charge of the conversation and to keep the communication flowing so I got the information that I needed.  Also, everyone knows how to order a pizza, so anybody I talked to was able to make the conversation short and easy.  While most of the people I talked to were polite and deliberate, every once in a while I would have to deal with a crazy person.  One busy night, I had someone on hold while I answered the phone and asked what the person wanted to order.  It took them such a long time to respond, and when they did, their words were slurred and I could barely understand what they were saying.  Under the instruction of my boss, who is very no-nonsense about things, I hung up because I didn't have time for someone who didn't know what they were doing or even who they had called.  I continued to answer calls and place orders, when the phone rang again.  It was the same person who had called before, but this time they managed to yell 'YOU HUNG UP ON ME!'.  I don't take crap from anyone, and I knew my boss would not have been okay with someone treating me like that when it was clearly their own fault.  Still, I was shaky from my first angry customer, but I knew I had to remain firm.  "Yeah I did, because I had people on hold who were actually talking to me." I shot back.  I was surprised, but this shut the woman up right away, and she promptly ordered her pizza.  This was definitely a nerve-racking first for me, and I was freaking out at the time.  Looking back though, even though it seemed horrible at the time, I'm glad it happened.  I learned that people will generally respect you when you stand up for yourself and take charge for the situation and ownership for your actions.  I'm sure the psycho lady learned a few things too; 1. have your act together when you try to order a pizza on a friday night and 2. don't call a pizza place when you're drunk and belligerent.

4-5-11

If I opened my own restaurant, it would look like a nightclub inside with curtains and cozy VIP - feeling booths.  It would be very dim inside with music that is more loud than soft, but not too loud.  There would be candles on the tables, and we would have a lovely selection of drinks. The theme colors would be purple, blue, and black with some silver.  Basically, if it looks like a Kardashian would hang out there, thats what I want it to look like.  The people that work at my restaurant would have to be very good looking- NO EXCEPTIONS.  Everyone would have to wear black, and we would make cool nametags so you could identify the employees. We would sell really expensive food that comes in tiny portions so that I could make as much money as possible.  I would also make sure that there was a beautiful open terrace in the summer, with a great view.  There would only be drinks allowed out there, and the music would be much softer.  This is a great idea, and I might just do it so that I can make millions and millions of dollars and live happily ever after. By myself. The end.

science fiction story

                Hot, humid air rushes over my face like little flashes of wind.  I’m slowly becoming more aware of my senses, and I realize that the fast and steady gusts are partnered with a heaviness weighing over my chest.  A strong pounding fills my head as I lift it off of the ground and sleepily open my eyes.  I am met by the friendly gaze of my scruffy little dog sitting on top of me.  Her dark chestnut eyes stare at me expectantly, and her tail wags to the beat of her panting breath. 

                “Get off me, Riley.” I grumble as I sit forward.  Looking around, I realize that I am in a small, deserted alley between two tall buildings.  The red bricks tower over me on both sides as the morning sun fills the alley.  There is no reason I should be waking up on this empty side-street; the last thing I remember is dozing off in my own bed with Riley resting softly in my arms. 

                Looking to the far end of the alley, I see where it meets a bigger road.  Through the small opening between the buildings I notice people meandering down the sidewalk or hurriedly walking across the street.  The throbbing throughout my skull continues as I slowly get to my feet and make my way towards the sea of people.  Riley follows me faithfully as we step out into the crowded city.  Assessing my surroundings once again, I rise up on my tippy-toes as my head swivels left and right.  Quaint little stores line the street on both sides like a scene from an old western movie.  Keeping my eyes moving, the first thing I realize is that everyone is dressed alike.  The women wear their own variation of the simple and solid black skirt and blazer, and the men wear their own black suits.  If the little shops decorating the street didn’t resemble small town America so closely, I would assume I was dropped in the middle of business-oriented New York City.  I have become acutely aware and embarrassed of how under-dressed I must appear; my light brown hair is resting in relaxed waves at my shoulders, as I take note that every woman in sight has her hair neatly secured in a tiny bun.  My white, lacy summer dress hardly touches my knees, and my bare, bronzed legs and navy Keds don’t match the uniform of black tights and high heels.

                This unfamiliar place urges me to ask so many questions.  Where am I?  How did I get here?  Above all, how can I get home?  Deciding to head down the street to search for answers, I quickly kneel down and pick up my puppy.  Carrying her like a football in my right arm, it doesn’t take much muscle for me to swing all 15 pounds of her to my front so I can support her hind legs with my left arm as well.  I turn to my right and begin walking down the sidewalk, weaving my way through a city of strangers.  The women’s eyes scan me from head to toe as I walk past them, and I receive confused glares from the men.  I clutch onto my dog they way everyone else seems to clutch to their briefcases, and it is obvious that I am an outsider.

                I scan the crowd looking for any hints as to where I am, when I unexpectedly see my brother crossing the street about a block ahead of me.  I swiftly put Riley on her feet and begin sprinting.

                “Oh my God, Mike.” I’m out of breath as I approach him and wrap my arms around his tall, skinny frame.  He tenses up as I hug him, and he quickly dodges around me to continue walking.  “Hold on! I have to talk to you!” I shout as I struggle to keep up with him.  He picks up his pace, and I need to take even bigger strides to remain behind my older brother. “I’m serious!  You can’t walk away from me! I just woke up in an alley with Riley, I have no idea what happened!”  Tears are now streaming down my face as the kid who once promised to always protect me is blatantly ignoring me in my time of need.  Just as I consider giving up on chasing him, Michael quickly grabs my wrist and drags me into the nearest empty store. 

                “Okay, one,” he begins once we are inside, “I’m not Mike.  Two, I don’t know who you are, and three,” he pauses to look down at my disheveled sandy-colored pup, “that has got to be the ugliest dog I have ever seen.”

                This is so typical.  Mike is the average big brother who would torment me just to see my reaction, and I am not in the mood right now.  “You’re not funny.” I spit back.

“I’m not trying to be.” He responds matter-of-factly.  As he says this, I notice that his eyes are not their usual deep blue; the same deep blue that mine are.  Instead, they are a shock of electric green that cannot be mistaken.  “My name is Eden.” He says sweetly as he extends his right hand.  Confused, I stare at his hand and notice a small birthmark on top of his wrist that I’m sure I would have seen before.  Suddenly, it occurs to me that although this person is identical to the brother I grew up with for the last 18 years; he isn’t my brother at all.  Amazed, I gaze into his green eyes and introduce myself.  Telling him I’m from Apple Valley and extremely lost, Eden gives me a response I was not expecting.

                “Apple Valley, Minnesota?”  He asks, dumbfounded.  I nod.  “That’s not possible.” Throwing him a confused look, he continues to tell me that the city I fell asleep in last night hasn’t existed for over 90 years.

                “Okay, THAT’S not possible.” I retort. “I know for a fact I fell asleep in Apple Valley last night. So…” my voice trails off, waiting for an explanation.  He sighs.

                “Jessica, can you tell me what year it is?”  Eden massages the bridge of his nose like he is annoyed.  Well it will be my turn to be annoyed when I shoot the correct answer right back at him; I’m not an idiot.

                “Yeah…2011.” I squint my eyes at him, waiting for his embarrassed reaction.

                “It figures.” He sighs again, looking me up and down. “You time traveled. Apple Valley exists in 2011, but not today. It is August 2111.”A rush takes over me, and I am dizzy.  Time Travel? Is he insane? I stare back at him, waiting for Ashton to jump out and surprise me.  I surprise myself first and shove him as the tears begin again.

 “Shut up!” I yell. “I’m serious, I just want to go back home!”  As frustrated as I am, a distinct part of me wishes this strange man really was my big brother Mikey, playing another prank. “Mike this isn’t funny!” Now I’m sobbing, and Riley whimpers on the ground beside me.

“I promise you, I’m not Mike.”  Sympathy floods his voice, and I hate to know he is telling me the truth.

4-4-11

This man clearly just got dumped. and that is clearly his girlfriend underneath the rug.  Things got physical when she told him she wanted to break up, but neither of them thought it would escalate like it did.  they were running around the room when the woman, whose name is Erin, decided to hide underneath the rug.  Her skull was smashed shortly after this photo was taken. The man said oopsies, and the police decided not to take him to jail because she seemed annoying anyways, and he's never really done anything super bad before.  Except for the time he killed his wife.

daily journal 4-1-11

Behind her the noise escalated, and the building exploded.  She walked away like she did nothing wrong, and nobody ever suspected her of anything. She got away with it, and she continued to live a wonderful life. The end.

daily journal 3-29-11

Last week was the end of spring break as I know it, but it was a great finale.  Every year I go to Naples, FL to visit my grandparents.  My mom usually plans a side trip as well, but this year my sister and I insisted on staying at the same resort all week to just relax. We went to the beach almost every day, and I loved feeling the heat of the sun on my body after such a long winter, and hearing the waves of the gulf splash on to the shore.  One of my favorite parts of the trip was probably getting to lay on the front of my grandpa's yacht as he streamed through the Gulf, it was so beautiful.  Another part of going to Florida that I look forward to is just seeing my Grandpa Tom and Grandma Evie, because they are the real reason that we travel that far year after year.  I only see my Grandpa about 3 times a year, so it was awkward to see him when I was younger.  Within the last few years, however, we have gotten so much closer and I think we both have a great understanding of eachother.  My grandpa is probably one of the most generous people I know; he is so giving, and I can't even find the words to express how grateful I am.  Without him, my family would have no reason to travel south for spring break- so I can honestly say I don't think I would have had such amazing and memorable vacations every single year.  Also, I would never have experienced what it's like to be up north at a cabin unless he had invited us every summer.  My two favorite places in the world are Florida and the cabin, and neither of these places would have been possible for me to fall so in love with if my grandpa hadn't been around.  He is also so hilarious and sarcastic.  Half the time he says completely inappropriate things around me and my younger sister, but it is so funny because he doesn't really have a filter and can't understand why it's not really okay to swear in front of us and our younger cousins.  I could go on for days about how much I love my grandpa and enjoyed my spring break, but I can sum it up by saying it was a great end to a family tradition :)

daily journal 3-28-11

It is dark and humid like the rainforest, and the warm water is running over me like a river. The sound of the rushing rain surrounds me, and I feel smooth and clean as it washes the soap off of me and everything around me.  When the rain stops I can feel the air start to dry me immediately, and I can hear the last few rain drops as they slowly drip through the hot air. More dropplets run down me like beads of sweat as I continue to become warm, shiny, and dry. Just as the climate is becoming less dense with water, a rush of cold wind invades the tropical heat I am used to, and the dark is invaded by a growing beam of light that reveals where I have been; a dishwasher.

daily journal 3-18-11

If I could invent one thing to help mankind, it would be something to predict bad earthquakes and tsunamis.  This is so that the situation in Japan would never happen again anywhere else. It is so devistating and saddening, and I think it is the definition of horrific.  I want to make sure that history never repeats itself, so I think this invention would benefit people all over the world.

Daily journal 3-17-11

I once dreamed about Peter Pan coming into my room, and taking me to Never land with him and Tinkerbell.  I must have been about 7, because I was sleeping on the top bunk in my room upstairs. It was without a doubt the most realistic dream I have ever had, and I was so depressed when I woke up to learn that none of it had ever happened.  Peter came into my window with Tink, and invited me to go with them.  I always dreamed about Peter Pan, so I asked him if this was really happening.  He of course responded with a smile, and said yes.  I have always been terrified of heights, especially if I was flying through the sky without anything save me if I started to fall.  But flying with Peter wasn't as hard as I had expected it to be, and I'm pretty sure I picked it up right away.  We took off from my front yard and headed towards the second star to the right.  I also think Wendy, Michael, and John were there too. We had a great adventure in Never Land, and it was just like in the movie.  We met some very nice indians, and sat around the fire.  I requested to see the mermaids, so Wendy and Peter took me to go visit them.  They were also just like in the movie, so beautiful and girly.  I even got to swim with them! I knew what was next, and I was not looking forward to it.  We had done almost everything there is to do in Neverland, except for one thing; it was time to fight Captain Hook.  We left the gorgeous mermaids and flew over the water towards the pirate ship.  Peter landed on the ship first, and immediately started slaying hook.  I wasn't far behind him, and as soon as my feet hit the wood of the boat, I was grabbed by a stout, bald pirate.  A tall, skinny, and even scarier pirate grabbed Wendy, and they tied us both to a pole, back to back.  The bald pirate told me he would let us go if I guessed the number he was thinking of, and he then informed me that the number was between 7 and 9.  When I asked "Is it 8?" I actually said it in real life, and in turn woke myself up from the most memorable and life-like dream I have ever had.

brainstorming

The website I was on said that science fiction is about change, and that every change can have positive and negative effects on the earth.  To be completely honest, if I woke up 100 years from now, the only thing I would want would be to come back home to 2011.  So I would hope they have a time machine invented.

daily journal 3-15-11

I am in no way, shape, or form amused with this picture.  Like seriously, what? I love asians, but this big shoe is way out of proportion and it honestly just creeps me out.  I could make some jokes about the earthquake or the tsunami, but it's way too soon and that would just be really insensitive of me.  I could also assume it isn't in Japan, but some other asian country, like China.  Well...I'm still not amused.  I could make up a story about a little asian man who lives in a shoe, but that STILL isn't entertaining.  This is just a dead end picture..so..I have nothing to write about really?  I don't want to work today.  I am literally working 24 hours this week, and I have homework, cleaning, packing, and resting to do in between school and making money.  Can't forget about walking RIRI either

daily journal 3-14-11

My journey on a pirate ship started when I was water skiing on the gulf of mexico during my spring break in Florida.  I was bounding over the white-capped waves and catching some seriously impressive air.  Before I knew it though, a massive pirate ship coasted next to me out of nowhere.  A hand reached down and grabbed me by my pony-tail.  It yanked me out of my seat and dropped me on the wooden deck of the ship.  Landing on my back, I stared up at the group of pirates towering over me.  I asked who they were, and I recieved a friendly 'Howdy I'm Troy!' out of the only male.  The other two pirates were girls named Erica and Amanda. They all seemed exceptionally nice and gentle as they helped me to my feet, so I assumed I was on a ship of good pirates.  I couldn't have been more wrong-I soon saw the tall, lanky captain standing in front me.  He hobbled over on his wooden leg and looked me up and down. 'You, you, and you.' He pointed to the other three pirates, 'You're all stupid. Go shine the statue of me on the front of the boat.' All of the kind pirates scurried away, and I was left with the scary captain and the parrott he carried on his shoulder.  The intimidating pirate introduced himself as Gabe, and told me his parrott's name was Brittany. "I'm Brittany! I'm Brittany!" The colorful bird squaked. "Yeah, we KNOW." Gabe rolled his eyes.

Daily Writing

The Easter Bunny was found guilty of grand theft auto on Thursday, March 10 2011.  He reportedly broke into an icy blue corvette around sunrise, and continued to drive southwest-planning only to stop once he got to Las Vegas.  The expensive luxury sportscar was reported stolen less than ten minutes after the rabbit hopped off with it, and thankfully it was recovered before he could cross any state borders.  With no damage done to the vehicle, it was returned to its rightful owner before noon.  This picture shows the Easter Bunny being escorted out of the car, just before being searched head to toe.  During the frisking, the police found one carrot, three jelly beans, and a chocolate egg.  With no drugs or other illegal substances on his person (or animal) the Easter Bunny was set free and pointed in the direction from which he came.  Deciding he didn't want to get on the bouncing bunny's bad side, the owner of the vehicle decided not to press charges.  'Besides,' says the owner, who wants to remain anonymous, 'I don't want to send him to jail and ruin easter for all the nice little boys and girls out there.  However, when he gets to MY house on easter, I better get some extra peeps..'

Lyrics

Then lyrics
I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you
You had me mezmorized
And three weeks later, in the front porch light
taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
but I thought I loved you then

Chorus

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

And i remember, taking you back to right where I first met you,
You were so surprised
There were people around, but I didn't care
Got down on one knee right there once again,
I thought I loved you then

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I could just see you, with a baby on the way
And I could just see you, when your hair is turning gray
What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then



Song Title : Then

Artist : Brad Paisley

1. Why did you choose this song? Why is it important to you?
I listened to it pretty much on repeat when I went to my cabin last summer, so it brings me back to the fun and relaxing time that I had.  It is important to me because I had just gotten surgery and I couldn't do very much, so I got really attached to listening to brad paisley when everyone else got to do fun things like water skiing.

2. What is the story in the lyrics?
The story is just about how Brad Paisley met his wife, and how he loves her more and more each day, even though he didn't think that was possible.

3. What is the structure?
Mostly free-verse, with A B A B in part of the chorus, while other parts show AA BB

4. What is the emotional tone or mood?
The emotional mood is really loving and admirable and just overall happy and content with life.

5. What is the message or lesson?
The message is that no matter how in love you are with someone, you can always surprise yourself by falling in love with them even more as time goes on.

6. What is the intention of this piece of music?
The intention of this music is for Brad Paisley to show his wife how he feels about her and how their life together started, and to express what it's like to genuinely be in love.

daily journal 3-4-11

The first image that came into my mind was me and my family on the gulf of mexico.  If I found out I was going to die tomorrow, I would sell all of my belongings and donate the money to an animal shelter. The second thing I would do is rent a huge yacht and lay in the sun all day with my family.  The gulf of mexico is so beautiful, and that is what I would want my family to remember about my last day on earth-the beauty.  I wouldn't just want my immediate family though, if I could do anything I would bring every person that ever touched my life.  I would bring my cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, neighbors, teachers, and friends. I have created really special bonds with so many people, and I would want to spend my last day with all of them just laughing and talking and looking at the sparkling blue water surrounding the boat.  I would obviously want my dog, Riley there too! I love my RiRi. I would want to watch all of the old disney movies that warm my heart to this day, and the Wizard of Oz, too.  I would also want to take some time to laugh until I cry at my old home videos, they are actually priceless. I would also work time in the day to go to Germany and Ireland, two places that I have very strong family history.  Before I die I want to walk to same streets that my ancestors walked, and see the exact same sunsets they saw.  The most important thing though, would be to get as much time in with my family as I could.  They drive me absolutely NUTTY sometimes, but I love everyone in my life so much, that I would want everyone there. Even Dave.

Villanelle

Automatic strides to sprint through the day.
Feeling hopeless and weak.
Running out of options, now it's time to pray.

Looking out the window, the whole world has turned grey.
No different than the scenery, the future looks bleak.
Automatic strides to sprint through the day.

There's a difference between growing up, and losing the urge to play.
Now admitting it's not a phase, not an unusual streak.
Running out of options, now it's time to pray.

So close to touching happiness, if it's summer then I'm May.
I need to be carried back to reality, maybe I do need a slap across the cheek.
Automatic strides to sprint through the day.

Surprising myself with the strength and will to stay.
Hoping the future brings more happiness, what I'd give for just one peek.
Running out of options, now it's time to pray.

Identical to a broken wire, ending with a fray.
A purpose and a genuine smile is really all that I seek.
Automatic strides to sprint through the day.
Running out of options, now it's time to pray.

daily journal 3-3-11

Top ten best/most memorable/funniest moments of my life
1. making LDT
2.dance competitions
3.first varsity lacrosse game
4.laughing until I cried at Ace Ventura
5.getting Riley
6.playing with Michael & Corey
7.the time I took 3 vicodin
8. teaching myself to play the titanic theme song on the piano
9. laughing hysterically with veronica, sammy, and lauren
10.a prairie home companion filming/premiere

Etheree

Girl.
Timid
little girl.
Adoration
for her big brothers.
They love and entertain,
care for, and always protect.
Grown up now, things are different.
Passing through all the stages of life.
Carefree days are gone, memories remain.

Tears well up, but I've learned to hold them back.
Didn't realize what I had back then.
Like a projector on repeat,
the images play for me.
Never laughing harder
than when they were here.
Promise me we
will not change.
Always
young.

Daily Journal 3-2-11

How ridiculous I was as pirate having a sword fight with my sister and cousin. A bunch of silly little kids, we ran around the house with swords in our right hands and hooks as our left hands.  As goofy as we may have looked, we took ourselves very seriously.  Narrowly escaping the giant octopus or evil shark, the biggest insult to a fellow pirate was making them walk the plank.  "But I don't want to get drenched!" Katie would shout at me.  We would forget about it and move back through the house as our fight became more in-depth and technical.  We would stop for a quick twist before our swords clashed together again, or to take a flying leap off the couch to fly like Peter Pan. My hook hand got in the way, but it was only fair because I was oldest. Out through the front door and down the driveway, our epic battles didn't end in death or a truce like in the movies.  They always ended with an 'I'm tired. Can we go have lunch now?'

Acrostic Poetry

Just one word will never sum me up.
Early mornings have always been a problem.
Sensitive sometimes.
Strong always.
If I love you, I make sure you know.
Childhood made me who I am, and will continue to shape me forever.
A constant rush of life.

Memories are held close to my heart.
August 14th, 2003 never should have happened.
Realistic, but composed 100% of faith.
If you mess with the bull, you get the horns, so don't provoke me.
Everything happens for a reason, I have to believe that.

Much of what I have learned, I learned the hard way.
Infinitely grateful for the life God gave me.
Look at how far I have come, and tell me I shouldn't be proud.
Living happily ever after is what I aim for.
Sometimes going through the dark is what makes you appreciate the light.

Daily Journal 3-1-11

If I had my own government, the first thing I would do is make harsher punishments for animal abuse.  Anyone found guilty would be put through what that innocent and defensless animal was put through, and then jailed for the rest of their life.  It is extremely harsh, I know, but so is abusing a poor little animal. I would also clean up the foster care and parentless child situation.  I would do whatever I could to lower the amount of children who don't have a good home, and I would put each foster and adoptive family through extensive testing to make sure they deserved the chance to raise the child.  I also think I would require a certain amount of monetary or time donation to charities from each family per year.  I would also try to eliminate stereotypes.  So many people don't do things that they enjoy because they think they aren't supposed to.  If the kid who is in every single honors class wants to try-out for football, he should be able to.  Regardless of how good he may or may not be, the fact that people might judge him shouldn't keep him from doing something that makes him happy. It isn't fair that we look at someone and label them right off the bat, because no two people are alike.  Someone may dress completely different from me, but we could have identical life goals and morals, and be able to carry on a great conversation.  Isn't that what having friends is all about? It is true that I could know someone who dresses like me and wears their hair the same way I do, but they could be a mean-spirited person and have no personality.  Why would I want a friend like that? Basically, if I were in charge of things I would try to transform the government into a portal for people to use to become the best individuals they can be.

Shape Poem

                                     It keeps          you going
                                 through the        hardest part of  
                              the day. When    the night is the most
                            dark, it helps you remember that the sun
                          will rise again soon.  When the work is the
                          toughest, it tells you that you can rest soon.
                           At the times life seems the most hopeless,
                            it tells you that something worth while is
                              on its way. When you feel utterly lost
                                 it reveals that your destination may
                                   be closer than it seems to be.
                                       As your ship rocks back
                                        and forth in the ocean,
                                         this is what directs
                                           you towards the
                                                dry land.
                                                  Love.

Sonnet

Can I leave for college any time soon?
I want to get out of this boring place.
Take me somewhere much farther than the moon.
Look out from my dorm room in outerspace.
I need to get a new view of the stars.
It is best for my mind if I don't stay.
Won't go somewhere you can get by a car.
I just want to go someplace far away.
Across the world, the country, or the state.
I'll go somewhere pretty to clear my mind.
Just feel like I have too much on my plate.
I'll die if I don't stay one of a kind.
I don't think that I'm wrong, someday you'll see,
Saying goodbye is what is best for me.

Free Writing 2-24-11

If I could invite any three people to dinner, it would be a really hard decision.  Living or dead, there are so many people that I would love to get to know and have a conversation with.  The first person I would definitely want to have dinner with is Miley Cyrus. She is the songbird of our generation. Plus, I think she would bring some salvia.  All joking aside, I think she is a really talented person and would have some good stories to tell. Also, shes my age, so regardless of her fame and fortune I think she is one celebrity that I could get along with and be able to relate to.  My second guest would be Chelsea Handler.  I think she is absolutely hilarious, and she would be hysterical to have over for dinner.  The entire meal would be pure entertainment, but I also feel like she has strong opinions, so the conversation would be good as well.  The last guest I would invite is Charlie Sheen.  Two and a half men is my absolute favorite show, and if I could get Charlie Sheen to adopt me, I would.  He is honestly crazy, but at the same time, his instability would be really fun and interesting to witness in person.  I actually want him to be my dad.  Chelsea Handler would tear him apart before the main course, so not only do I think I chose very interesting individuals, but I also chose a unique group of people that would never allow a dull moment to occur.

Alliteration

excited, exasperated, entertained.
tough, tired, twilight twirls.
peeking, peering, purely pained.
golden, giggly, grinning girls.


resentment, revenge, rarely real.
ridiculous, wrong or right.
stupid, slimy, psycho seal.
Furiously finding faces to fight.

Assonance

Shuffling through the frozen dark, unloading quick, we cannot park.
Excitedly boarding our morning flight, we happily leave the winter white.
In the air prepared to land, only a few more hours until there's sand.
First we say hi to you-know-who, before we see the ocean's blue.
Looking out the window to take in the sights, its been awhile since we've seen this light.
Can't wait to go out and lay in the sun, this week is carefree, relaxing and fun.
It's humid so I won't even try to tame my hair, but it's just me and my family-I really don't care.
Trying to make each second last I grab the camera and make it flash.
So many things to do and see, but take a breath, Katie's turning fifteen.
Working my hardest to maintain my bronze, only to get beat out by that blond.
The trip is almost done and we have one more day. I'm not looking forward to packing my bag.
Heading back to the Minnesota cold, sadly we've put an end to this tropical show.

Scary

The scariest moment of my life was 100% my fault. I had just gotten my license and was driving my dads brand new car around Rosemount with my friend Natalie, her brother Nick, and his friend Andrew. We were carefree and listening to music when I noticed the car in front of me was going at an annoyingly slow and glacial pace. I was rowdy, hyper, and invincible so I started to tailgate them, since it is one of my hidden talents. We pulled up to a stop sign and to the driver in front of me had clearly caught on to what the car full of rambunctious teenagers was doing behind him. At the stop sign he braked for way too long, just to get back at me. Across the intersection though, another car was waiting for him to proceed, so they honked their horn at him. He must have thought it was me, because he pulled ahead and veered to the side of the road and let me pass. Once I was in front of him though, it turned into a vicious war of speeding and tailgating. We tried to lose him for about 10 minutes, but he was relentless. Natalie and I were completely petrified in the front seats, while the boys feasted off the attention and rush of adreniline. Soon he stopped chasing us, but it was still the scariest thing ever.

Onamatopeia Poem

daily journal 2-23

Today in psych we did a whole entire lesson about Freud, and we have barely even begun to cover everything.  Some of his stuff makes sense, and his conclusions I believe, are completely valid.  On the other hand, some of the stuff he came up with is absolutely nuts.  And did you know he was on cocaine for most of his career? Cocaine.  So why are we giving all this credibility to a cracked out psychologist whose experiments often had a sample study of 1? When all of that is taken into account, it's hard to believe even his most rational theories such as how our childhood affects our adulthood.  It also makes it a million times harder to believe the crazy stuff he came up with, like the fact that my dreams have symbolism and deeper meaning, that the washington monument was unconsciously constructed to resemble a penis, and that I see my own mother as competition for my father's affection and attention.  His theories may be popular and hit close to home for some people, but it seems like we're all forgetting that he wrote an entire book on how awesome cocaine is.  Yes, I'm the first person to admit that I wanted to marry my cousin when I was three and that I bite my nails now.  However, I refuse to believe that those two facts are some how related and intertwined in my psychological sub-conscious.  Yes, many girls grow up to marry men exactly like their own fathers. Having said that, I firmly believe that there are just as many girls that go for the losers as their are who go for the winners-regardless of what your own parents were like.  If you surveyed ten girls with great fathers, I'm sure you wouldn't see a huge range between the girls who married honorable men like their dads and those who married complete idiots.  Most men are either very good and mature people, or complete idiots.  The chance that your husband and your father fall into the same category is pretty good, but it doesn't mean that you unconsciously feel incestual emotions toward your family.  Freud was a crack head.

earliest childhood memory

When I was about 2 years old, I went to my aunt and uncle's house while my parents were at work.  My older cousins were 6 and 3, and both boys.  Because I was the youngest one, and a girl, I was spoiled a lot by my aunt Nancy.  While Michael and Corey would play power rangers and watch Space Jam, my aunt would take me into the other room and read to me.  My earliest memories are of me sitting in her lap as we read the rainbow fish and fox and the hound books.  I can also remember her holding me when the sun would go behind the clouds, and she would say 'the sun is playing hide and seek with us!'.  I can recall playing Peter Pan in the boys' room and watching movies on their blue sofa.  I've always adored Michael and Corey, and I have always been the closest with them out of most of my cousins.  Looking back and seeing the all of my earliest memories include them, and realizing that they were basically my big brothers until I was about 3 years old, it makes perfect sense.

Sense of time poem

Friday
Friday is navy blue
The color of midnight
Friday feels like spring time breeze
and sounds like friends singing along to the radio
Friday smells like my most expensive perfume
and tastes like ice cold water slipping down your throat
On a friday night anything can happen and everything is possible

daily journal 2-18-11

"I can't believe I just killed someone." Tim's voice was monotone, but with a cold edge.  His shaking hands were dripping with blood, still warm and fluid.  The long knife he clutched in his right hand was drooling chrimson-the obvious murder weapon.  Tim released the knife and it clanked to the ground as he stared ahead blankly.  For several minutes he didn't blink or speak, and it seemed like he didn't breathe either.  I grabbed his shoulders and started to shake him, staring into his eyes.  Although he stared back deeply into my eyes, he wasn't seeing me.  I shouted his name as I continued to rock his body back and forth, like I was trying to awaken a statue.  I was exhausted, and just as I contemplated giving up, Tim's knees buckled underneath him and he collapsed into my ams.

parts of speech

The girl
timid and shy
scared and crying
lost child

A woman
anxious and confused
growing and planning
mother

daily journal 12-17

One things that is constantly stressing me out in my life is the feelining of having too much to do. I rarely feel as though I am on top of things, or have time to rest.  There is always something else I should be doing, whether it is writing a paper that's due next week or cleaning my room.  It is very overwhelming to feel as though I am hardly ever on top of all the things I should be doing, so I often feel as though I am falling behind in the activities most people have no trouble keeping up with.  When I think I have a million things to do, I get discouraged and give up.  I dismiss finishing my math homework or walking my dog like I should, so that I can finally sit down and rest for a while.  When I do this, however, it eventually starts to pile up and I eventually get even more stressed out than I was originally.  I need to accept that I will almost always have some form of stress in my life, but that as long as I keep up with my jobs and duties, I should be able to keep the anxiety of it all under control.  I would rather have mild stress and have more of a handle on everyday life, than be able to lay around and eventually feel completely and totally overwhelmed.  Either way I have stress and worry, but at least when I attempt to stay on top of things I can keep it under control.  Basically, as long as I do what I can and don't get lazy, the stress doesn't mount up and take over my life. And I've been rambling on and on and on and on about this, and there's only so many ways I can say that I have anxiety...plus I'm pretty sure its been ten minutes so I'm getting stressed out by Krebs walking around the room when I literally have nothing left to write.  He just said two more minutes, but I have actually used up my entire vocabulary already in this massive paragraph and I really just want to be done.  I can't wait to go see Tony later.  It isn't a sure thing yet but I'm telling myself I'm going, so now I'm really excited.  I even took my adderall today so I'm not sure why this is running through my head?  Maybe because I already wrote everything I could on my stressed out life so I'm pulling things out of nowhere to talk about.  This daily journal is like a bad first date where I am forced to keep talking but I don't even care about what is coming out of my mouth.  I don't even know if anyone is going to be reading this? So it's like my date isn't listening to me.  I'm rambling because I have nothing else to do, and my date isn't listening.  What a nightmare.  God, please don't ever let me go on a date like this in real life.

Cinquain

My dog,
little puppy,
that has diabetes
needs to be walked every day.
She's fat.

Change

A
vacation
is
only
a
vacation
unless
you're
away
from
home

Daily Journal

I wake up and try to take a deep breath, but the deeper the breath the more severe the pain. The ground is hard beneath my back, and I feel a dull pain in my arm.  I look around, trying to make sense of where I am.  To my surprise and horror, I am in the middle of an unfamiliar jungle.  The ground begins to shake and rattle as I jerk to a sitting position.  The leaves on the trees slowly sway back and forth even though there is no wind, and my head is on a swivel looking for danger.  Immediately I suspect that I am experiencing an earthquake, until an ear-shattering roar tears through the forest and a massive t-rex emerges from the trees. He trots in my direction but soon picks up speed, and before I know it the ginormous dinosaur is running right at me.  I am in too much pain to move, so I sit calmly as he approaches. Growing in size with every passing second, the t-rex continues to sprint towards me. Just as I was expecting to him to pounce, the dino veered left and didn't even notice me.

Life Metaphor

It is about love, serving, and hanging in there for as long as you can.
You have to approach it with self confidence and a positive attitude.
It's just as easy to fall behind as it is to leap ahead, and a split-second decision can change it all.
You'll need some luck, but more importantly, you'll need to know what's coming next.
It is about learning from your mistakes, and being strong mentally and physically.
It's so simple to wonder 'how did I get myself in this position?' and have doubt reign over you.
Comparing yourself to others gets you nowhere, but learning from them takes you far.
Perfection is desired, and rarely acquired in the games of life and tennis.

Simile

I was as anxious as a cliff diver,
because she was as cunning as a fox.
I saw it coming like a head on crash, yet
I trusted her like a newborn trusts its mother.
Her confession cut in to me like a sword,
And I knew I had been right all along.

Best Friend

The best friend I've ever had was Veronica.  Losing her as a friend was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do-it was like going through withdrawal. I've had a lot of good friends throughout the years, but I've never experienced anything like what I had with Ronnie junior year.  She had the greatest sense of humor, and she truly said some of the most offensive things I have ever heard...but it was SO funny.  The best part about her humor was that her language was sprinkled with profanity that you would never expect to hear coming from a girl who is identical to a barbie doll.  She caught me off guard with every sarcastic comment she made, and she knew how to make me laugh harder than anyone.  We were inseperable for most of the year, and the joke was that we were dating.  If we didn't go hunting for boys every weekend I would say it was pretty close to a relationship.  We were attached at the hip all weekend every weekend, and her mom was honestly a third parent to me.  My parents adored her as well, and when I brought her to family events it was honestly like introducing my new boyfriend...but we didn't care.  I was bored and lonely without her, and we both admitted we didn't know what to do with ourselves when we weren't together. I can honestly say that because we had so much in common, and because I felt like she was a big sister to me, that I loved her with all my heart.  Once the snow melted we played tennis together, and I even joined the lacrosse team because she had suggested it. We were content going to parties together or sitting on the couch watching super troopers on a saturday night.  I felt 100% safe with her, and our worlds revolved around eachother for about ten months.  I loved every second of it but I can see that I took it for granted. I miss her and love her, and I think about the little things all the time.  If I could snap my fingers and make this year just like last year, I would.  I've made other friends, but they don't spoon with me, and the don't punch me if I accidentally touch their feet at night. No one can take Veronica's place, because I truly believe that our connection and friendship was something that doesn't come around every day.  It breaks my heart that things will never be the same, but regardless, nobody will ever take her place.  I learned so much from her carefree attitude and generous heart, that there is no way I could ever regret what took place during those ten months.  I could write for way more than ten minutes on this topic. To sum it up, I can leave you with this quote; "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

10 Years From Now (absent)

10 years from now, I am 28 years old.  I am a succesful lawyer and real estate agent, selling homes and defending people in Florida and Minnesota.  I spend my weekends walking the beach outside my condo in Naples, or spending time with my family in my Edina mansion.  I spend my weekdays flying back and forth across the country, and working hard to make a difference in people's lives.  My family consists of me and my dogs, who obviously go with me wherever I go!

Simile Activity

1. A calendar is like a mirror because it will reflect back to you what you have done with your life.
2. A sandwich is like a first date because if you don't like it, you probably won't give it another chance.
3. An ice cube is like a cookie because most of the time, it's better to only have one in your mouth at a time.
4. A knife is like a whisper because they can both give goosebumps and cut deep.
5. Kissing is like a careful collision because it can take your breath away.
6. Vulnerability feels like a peeled grape.
7. Despair feels like leftover spaghetti.
8. Falling in love sounds like James Marsden because falling in love looks like James Marsden
9. A dentist’s drill feels like a friend's betrayal because they both can echo back to you, even after you try to forget about it.
10. Tomato soup tastes like bleeding hearts because it looks like bleeding hearts...gross.

Out of the dark we came, and into the even darker summer night.  My friend and I had rolls of toilet paper shoved into our big sweatshirt pockets, and we struggled to hold on to the ones that we were carrying.  Dangerous as it was, we made our way down the dark road toward our victim's house.  It was midnight, and we considered ourselves to be extremely crafty.  Excitement grew inside of us, and it was all we could do not to squeal as we approached our target: the huge oak tree.  Silence surrounded us as we began throwing the rolls into the air, and our anxiety built.  We tried to remain as quiet as possible, but with every step we took, we felt like the trumpet's could sound and awaken the entire neighborhood.  When we were done, my friend and I assessed the damage with massive grins and hushed giggles, and then ran the entire way home.  The next day, we reeked of guilt as we made eye contact accompanied by sly grins, but to this day we have kept this dirty little secret of TPing our friend's house to ourselves.

Ode To My Sister

Katie is beautiful, inside and out
Her nickname is Lumpy, but I can't tell you why
She is generous and has always shared with me
She is goofy and always makes me laugh
She's pretty dumb too, so I always look like the smart kid
Physically, we are opposites in every way, but somehow our voices are identical
She's younger than me, and still more mature.
She taught me how to put on make-up when I got to high school
I used to hate her a lot, but I adore her now because she doesn't tattle on me anymore.

Most Embarrasing Moment

One summer my friend Kaitlyn and I went boating together with our dads.  The day itself wasn't extremely hot, but the water was unusually warm for early summer.  Our dads were content with lounging on the speed boat, but Kaitlyn and I had our hearts set on tubing. We anxiously tied knots and connect ropes so that we could get the massive tube in the water.  It wasn't a regular donut shaped intertube though, it was more like a double-wide lawn chair, so we were in a sitting position as we sped across the waters' surface.  We are dare-devils when we're together, so we acted like we could conquer any challenge that arose during our day on the lake.  We repeatedly urged Kaitlyn's dad to press the boat faster and faster, until we were literally zooming across the lake.  Most of the waves we encountered were approached with ease and behind us within a blink of an eye- we were going too fast for the minor bumps in the water to really affect us.  Eventually though, we hit the wake of the boat wrong and literally flew up in the air.  Our legs and arms flailed around in slow motion before we crashed into the water, and by the time we returned to the surface, gasping, the boat was turning around to retrieve us.  The average intertube whipe-out isn't embarrasing at all, but this collision was so over the top I couldn't help but blush!

Bio Poem

Jessica
sensitive, silly, sassy
sister of Katie
sports, surprises, and safe secrets
scared about what the future will bring
smiles and sunshine
sarcasm and sweetness
spiders, snakes, and the open sea
someplace serene
stemming from Apple Valley
Mills

Haiku

He yelled "crack that whip".
I laughed as he chased Haley.
He got in trouble.

Zebra

Then I punched the lion between the eyes so he knew not to mess with me.  He glanced at the zebra, and then back at me before whimpering and running back into the forest.  The zebra was grateful that the lion did not eat him, so he offered me three wishes.  My first wish was that every single packer fan in the world lost their voice for the next week so I don't have to hear their stupid superbowl comments. Second, I asked to be the richest person in the world. Lastly, I wished that Mr. Currie could be my college professor so we could be BFF's for life. The zebra happily granted all my wishes, but before I could thank him, the lion sprang out of the woods and attacked him. I had no desire to get in the middle of an outrageous animal fight, so I counted the hundred dollar bills in my wallet and decided to continue my walk down the street so I could find a place to shop.

Thank You

Dear Herb,

I wanted to thank you so much for being such a great coach over the last few years.  When I tried out for tennis sophomore year I honestly had no clue what I was doing, but you still coached me and treated me like every other player on the team. Truthfully, almost everything I have learned about tennis I have learned from you, and I am so grateful for that!  You put up with all my crap during every season, and somehow you still managed to let me stay on the team.  Seeing you as both a tennis coach and a hockey coach, I can see that you really have a passion for sports and for helping athletes become the best they can be.  That sounds so cheesy, but I mean it!

Memorable Events List

-4 wheeling accident
-Michael and Corey
-mayma babysitting us
-drama camp
-being on LDT
-friendship with veronica
-ending the friendship with veronica
-summer tennis
-collin's death
-getting Riley
-boys...
-Lacrosse
-2003 summer from hell
-Relationship with aunt Chris, Jenna and my Mom
-Being a Daddy's girl
-Vacations (Florida, California, New York, Arizona, Wisconsin dells)
-Colleges

Journal Entry- Best Place

 The most beautiful place I have ever been is without a doubt the Gulf Of Mexico.  I consider it to be so beautiful not only because it is so tropical and relaxing to look at, but because it inspires me unlike any other place.  When I'm on the Gulf I am usually on my Grandpa's yacht.  Being on such an impressive boat just shows me what working hard can accomplish.  My Grandpa started his own company in the 1960's and has earned a great living off of it- knowing that he was able to work and earn something like a 36 foot boat is so impressive to me, and I am inspired to do great things in my future career as well.  I am also inspired by the Gulf because as we travel away from the inland area we slowly cruise past these amazing, gorgeous, multi-million dollar mansions right on the water.  Nothing makes me want to dedicate myself to making a good career for myself like these houses.  Each one has its own unique style, but they are similar in that they are all towering two-story buildings with massive balconies and a pool.  Some of the houses have fountains and statues, and most of them are decorated with speed boats or jet-skis attached to a private dock. I can honestly say that there is nothing that makes me want to pursue my wildest dreams of being rich and succesful like seeing these over-the-top houses.  Another reason I see this place as the most beautiful place in the world is because sometimes, in the bright and sparkly blue water, you can see dolphins playing.  I've always loved dolphins, but what I love the most is how they play in the wake of our boat.  They honestly do tricks and dive in and out of the water as they weave through our wake, and their playful and carefree attitude is a good way to balance out the idea of working until I make millions.  These adorable dolphins are a great reminder that while I should push myself to accomplish great things, I should also stop to smell the flowers.

Free Writing

In creative writing, I really want to expand my vocabulary.  When I write papers and essays for school I usually end up using the same descriptive words, and I think it would be good for me to have a better variety of adjectives to choose from.  That way I'll have an easier time getting my point across when I write essays, and I'll be able to paint a better picture for the reader.  I also want to learn how to write a short story.  I have always been pretty creative, but I wouldn't know how to create a proper short story if I really wanted to write one.  Basically, I just want to become a better writer when it comes to school essays, but also when it comes to leisure writing like poems and stories.