Semester Essay # 9

Elementary and secondary schools around the country are beginning to actively address the problem of bullies. In your opinion, is bullying an issue that should be addressed by schools or left to parents? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

          Bullying is an immensely serious subject because it often involves the emotional or physical abuse of one person by another. Alone, bullying in general sounds horrible. Now, imagine this being done to a child no bigger than seven years old by a much older child, say about fifteen years old. If you look at this situation from the younger child’s point of view, it could be one very traumatic experience. Who do you, as the bullied child turn to, your parents of course. Who do your parents turn to, the school of course. For this reason I believe bullying is an issue that should be addressed by both elementary and secondary schools, as well as by parents.

            It is not a secret that children do not like to tell every detail about their lives to their parents. Some children might find it embarrassing to tell their parents that they are being bullied for any number of reasons. Others may simply think they will be ridiculed, even more, by their older siblings if it were to be known that they were being bullied. In cases such as these, there is no one else a child can turn to except the school. And why shouldn’t they? It is the school’s duty to ensure the protection of all students on school grounds during school hours. That being said, administrators or teachers can keep a look out for the suspected bully and establish order once again.

            A bullied child may exhibit the complete opposite behavior. They might not want the school involved at all. Some children may not wish to take it up with the school for fear of being called names and being made fun of by so called friends. Or a bullied child may fear that if he or she complained to the school, the bullying would only get worse. In such a situation, a child may find it more comfortable telling their parents they are having problems at school than telling the school itself. If a child were to come to their parents for help, it would then be up to the parents to address the problem and perhaps have a meeting with the bully’s parents. A bullied child’s parents could also ask one of the older siblings to keep a lookout for their younger brother or sister and intervene when necessary.

            No two children are completely alike. Thus, when it comes to bullying, schools and parents should both be prepared. Worse case scenario, a bullied child may not want to tell they are being bullied to the school or their parents. However, if they know they have two options to go to for help it is more likely that they will reconsider and ask someone, be it the parents or the school. Both should be prepared to address the problem and find a solution at any given time. Whatever the case, bullying only gets worse with time and the faster someone address it the safer a bullied child can feel.

In-Cass Image Description

Color: I see a blend of dark blue and light blue as the sky meets the ocean and a touch of green as the sun's light hits the water,

Sounds: I hear the wind blowing gently, the waves rumbling, and the splash as the dolphins jump in and out of the water.

Mood: The image creates a sense of serenity. It makes me feel peaceful.

Emotion: The image gives me a calming emotion. It leaves me amazed at how the dolphins jump and makes me feel carefree.

Taste: I can taste the saltwater that inevitably ends up in your mouth when you swim in the ocean.

Semester Essay # 8

Carpooling, recycling, and planting trees are all activities that are good for the environment. Write an essay convincing readers to actively participate in one of these activities.

            Everyone with the ability to observe, I presume, should know what recycling is or should have at least heard of it. Recycling should be known because it is in everyone’s household or place of residency. It is the big blue trash can that sits in your driveway, backyard, etc. However, although recycling is right under people’s noses not everyone does it. Recycling has a lot of positive effects which is why I believe more people should participate in it. These positive effects benefit people in general so there is no reason why it shouldn’t be done.

            Recycling helps to minimize the use of earth’s limited natural resources. This is of great importance because it insures that what few natural resources remain will last longer. There will be more natural resources for everyone, everywhere. As one can see, recycling benefits earth’s population as a whole. It does not target one race, one culture, one country, etc. It is to the benefit of all to recycle.

            Apart from reducing the waste of earth’s natural resources, recycling also prevents the build up of waste, or in other words trash. All the trash people throw out gets sent to a landfill and sits there for a long time. When we take the time to recycle, recyclable materials such as plastic bottles and containers do not take up space in the landfill. Instead, they are reused to create another product. Would you rather have more trash sit in landfills or would you rather separate what can be reused and create more goods? To me, the choice is simple. I would much rather recycle, thus lowering the need to constantly build more landfills because of all of the waste. The worst case scenario would be for a landfill to actually end up next to one’s house. Now that would be disgusting. It’s better to never let that happen by just recycling.

            How great would it be to make a difference in the world? I don’t know if it is just me, but I am constantly hearing people say they aspire to make a change and do something special. Why not start with recycling? Believe it or not, recycling is one of the ways you can positively help the environment. We all know our environment is not currently in its best shape. Global warming, the lack of fresh water, the ozone layer, and the polar ice caps melting are all negative issues in the environment. Why add another problem? Let’s keep our environment running as it should and maintain its beauty. Recycling can assist in such a quest.

            It is interesting to consider all the great purposes recycling can serve. There will be more natural resources for future generations, less trash in landfills, and the environment will benefit. All this can be achieved if you just take the time to throw paper, plastic bottles, and all other reusable/recyclable materials away separately. In reality recycling does not ask much of you. Start making a difference today. Recycle!

Young Person In an Old Person

Most of the time when a person becomes old they lose their young spirit, but every one in a while you come across an old person who is still young at heart. My grandpa was definitely an old person who was young at heart. Although at times he was limited in motion and endurance he never failed to smile. My grandpa would constantly try to trip me when I least expected it. Whether he failed or succeeded in his attempt to trip me he always burst out laughing. It was in moments like these that he reminded me of a child who finds joy in the simplest of things. 

            My grandpa's curiosity did not diminish as his age increased. He was always learning new things whether it be from the bible or from nature. He loved to spend time outside working on little projects. He would volunteer to fix up the house every time he came over. My grandpa thought it was a waste of time to sit around the house all day long. Despite his age, the last thing he wanted to do was watch television all day or sleep all day. He wanted to be active and be kept busy.  My grandfather was special to me and his being young at heart was one of his best qualities.

Cats and dogs

Cats and dogs are both domestic animals. Cats and dogs have characteristics that make them both interesting yet very different. Ever heard of the phrase "fight or flight"? Well, dogs are more of the fight part, while cats are the flight part. Cats are extremely skilled in jumping and climbing. It is quite often that I spot a cat climbing a tree or jumping down from the top of a statue. For this reason, whenever they are faced with danger or feel threaten they will resort to their skill and flee. In contrast, dogs are not the best at jumping from high places and can not climb. How many times have you found a dog climbing up a tree or telephone pole? For this reason, dogs are known to stay and face their danger. When challenged, dogs will more likely become aggressive and attack. Dogs are also way more social than cats are. Dogs enjoy the company of other dogs and people. Trained dogs will let random passersby pet them and play with them. The same can not be said for cats. Cats, most of the time, prefer to be the only pet of a household. As for letting random passersby pet them, not even trained cats like this. Most cats, or at least in my case and from those I have witnessed, runaway the moment you look at them or move one step towards them. Another difference is in their hunting skills. Cats are better at picking up quick movements and reacting while dogs are better at using their sense of smell to track. Cats and dogs have to be two of the most popular pets. Both have different personalities but both benefit from great owners and love.

Dressing for a Formal Ocassion vs. Dressing for an Informal Occasion

Dressing for a formal occasion is much different from dressing for an informal occasion. For one, dressing for an informal occasion requires less thought. Informal occasions can be hanging out with your friends or going to the grocery store. In these cases it is always an excellent idea to go with jeans. The top portion of the outfit depends on the weather. If it is hot, a t-shirt is a good way to go. If it is cold, grabbing a hoodie is a better choice. In contrast, you can not just throw something on for a formal occasion. You must first consider the type of formal occasion, for example it could be a job interview or a ball. For a job interview you must be professional. Slacks always work best. Pair slacks with a dressy shirt, vest or coat and you are well on your way to impressing by sight. However, this type of outfit would not be suitable for a ball. When you go to functions such as a ball or a dance, choosing a elegant dress for girls and a tuxedo for guys is appropriate. If you were to show up at a job interview with a long sleek red dress, a big beautiful pearl necklace, and long black gloves, you would look silly because in a sense you would be overdressed. When you dress for an informal occasion you are dressing to suit your comfort zone. In contrast when you are dressing for a formal occasion, you are dressing to impress. One requires less thought but when dressing for both occasions, the weather should affect the final outcome.

Raw Foods vs Cooked Foods

There is a clear difference between raw foods and cooked foods. Raw food have absolutely not been cooked in any way, shape or form. In contrast, as its name suggests, cooked foods have absolutely been cooked. One clear example can be seen in apples. When you eat an apple just the way it is you can in a sense say you are eating the apple raw. However when you eat apples in an apple pie, the same can not be said. Apples in apple pie have to have passed time in an oven. Thus, the apples have been cooked. The difference between raw and cooked foods can also be seen in the texture of the food. Continuing with the example of an apple, when an apple is eaten raw it is crunchy, juicy, and hard. When an apple is eaten cooked it is the complete opposite. Once cooked, an apple is no longer as crunchy or hard. In fact, cooked apples soften up and are of course, warm. It is possible for the apple to maintain its juiciness, but that quality won't be as obvious as it once was. Raw foods also contrast to cooked foods when it comes to added ingredients. When you eat raw foods, such as an apple, most people eat it just the way it is. However, part of the fun of cooking foods is making different combinations. When you cook the apple in an apple pie, it is likely that now the apple has been mixed with cinnamon and other ingredients. The difference between raw apples and cooked apples is just one example. Most of the time it takes raw foods to make cooked foods. Both are equally as satisfying, depending on the nature of your hunger.

Spicy Foods vs. Sweet Foods

Sweet and spicy foods are two completely different types of tastes. Sweet food has the flavor of sugar. Sugar is what makes sweet food sweet. In contrast, spicy food has little to no sugar and if it does then it can not be detected. As its name suggests, spicy food usually has a mixture of spices. When you eat sweet foods you stimulate your taste buds in a different way then when you eat spicy foods. Sweet foods such as chocolate or cake taste sugary  and smooth. It is, no pun intended and for the lack of a better word, a sweet taste. In contrast spicy foods can create that sense where you are dying for water. Spicy foods are the ones that leave you sucking in air to rid yourself of the strangely addicting burn in your mouth. Spicy foods are the ones that leave your tongue tingling. When you compare a lollipop to a jalapeno the difference is pretty clear. One is a ball of sugar and one is a mouth full of hot. The same thing applies to a pie and Spicy gumbo. The pie satisfies the sweet tooth while the spicy gumbo satisfies your need for "pop". Sweet foods are more delicate in taste while spicy food have an added "bam" to it. In both cases, sweet and spicy foods satisfy the hunger of many people and when combined, at times, can create a beautiful neutral dish.

Semester Essay #7

Many people immigrate to the United States because they believe that it is better than their native country. In fact, many people believe that the United States is the best country in the world. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Do you believe that the United States is the best country in the world? I am very spectacle about this. I think the United States is great; however, there are many more negative qualities it pertains. Just because the United States is, the wealthiest nation it does not mean it is perfect. I know there are hundreds of people that believe what I believe about this country.

The United States is a wonderful nation is the opportunity to provide education. Certain states in Mexico, Afghanistan, and Rwanda do not have the opportunity to attend and institute, or school, because of their class status- poor. I believe that we the American citizens are very fortunate to have the chance of obtaining an education easily and free. The second reason why the United States is the best country is the endless amount of job occupations it provides. It can range from babysitting, or childcare, to working for a top millionaire company. There are several kinds of jobs that one can have, but there is always one occupation someone will want to achieve.

I have much reason why the United States is NOT the best in the world. One reason is taxes. Everyone hates taxes. To put it in simpler terms, you lose more money than what you generally need to. Who wants to lose money? No one so why tax people. People are told to believe that it helps our country with establishing new schools and paying for bigger expenses, but doesn’t our government need to provide money for us. They work for us. It is not the other way around. We can overthrow them within an hour if we really had the guts to but we do not. The second reason is the requirement for all males 25 years of age and under to register for the Selective Service. Why force someone to go endanger their life if they do not choose to? This seems to be unconstitutional to our freedom.

However, the government seems to not really listen as much as we want them to even if we are a capitalist nation. The United States can be fair at times but they have more bad choices than it appears to everyone from another country. It is hard to keep live here because of its’ prices on houses, apartments, or condominiums and other expenses like gas. In my future I plan to move somewhere out of California and then out of country.

If I were a doctor

If I were a doctor, I would be  dentist. To be a dentist, I would have to make sure that the patient does not have any cavities, bad hygiene, or any dent teeth. If otherwise, I would have to do a long treatment to fix those issues. If it was a cavity, I would have to numb the tooth and drill the cavity out from the tooth or teeth. If they had bad hygiene, I would have to clean their mouth with special cleaning tools. I will also tell them to floss and brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes.
Being a dentist (doctor) is hard stuff. I will probably be a bit afraid of using the tools because I can hurt someone in accident. And I do not want any of that to happen. You have to be very gentle because teeth are sensitive. I know my teeth sometimes are when I leave the orthodontists office.
At the end of the appointment I would say, "have a good day and don't forget to brush and floss. See you next time!"

How Weather Affects My Mood

The sunny weather makes me want to be outside and awake. However, sometimes when it is extremely hot I feel irritable and wish I could just be in a pool all day. In contrast, cloudy weather is the complete opposite. When it is cloudy, everything looks gray and dark. Because of this I too feel gloomy. I feel like being inside the house and sleeping all day. The nature outside doesn't seem to be awake and thus I end up feeling sleepy. On rainy days the drops of water make a splish splashy sound. Sometimes, not always, this makes me want to go outside and play in the rain. I want to feel the rain on my skin. Other times it makes me want to stay inside and stay warm under a blanket. When the weather forecast is heavy winds I sometimes feel like being outside just to feel the wind move through my hair. Other times, since I see the trees almost in a wrestling battle with the wind, I feel like staying safe inside my house where everything is peaceful and calm. I don't necessarily feel these ways every time the weather changes. 

Friends Birthday

There are many ways to celebrate a birthday. However, birthday celebrations depend on the personality of the persons who's birthday is coming up. I have to think about their personality and what they will like to receive as a gift or what activity they would like to do. I can have an idea of what kind of present to give them if I know how they are. I would go shopping for their present, while shopping you may find something that you like, but you also have to think about if they will like it as well. If you believe they wont, you need to keep looking. Once you think you have found the right present, then you should call them and ask if they could meet you somewhere that afternoon. You would surprise them with the present and after giving them the present you will invite them somewhere. It could be to a party, or out to eat, something you both will enjoy. If my friends birthday was coming up this is something I would do for them. I will probably chose a place that is very exciting and fun. I would not want there birthday to be boring. I will try my best to make their birthday an unforgettable one. I will also try to get their family involved in the celebration.

Decade I will Like To Live In

If I could live during any decade I would like to live during the 80's because this is when alot of new things came about and there were also some tragic things but very historic. In 1980, John Lennon was assassinated. At this time Mount St. Helens also erupted. That toy every kid wanted was consistent of different color cubes called the Rubik's cube. It became very popular among everyone. Even til now I cannot get the pattern. It is very tricky. Ted Turner also established CNN. In 1981 they tried to assassinate both the Pope and U.S. President Ronald Reagan. We had never imagined that Sandra Day O'Connor would ever be appointed to the supreme court and it did happen this year. That was such a good accomplishment for her. That year a new plague had evolved. It was identified as AIDS. Pac-Man also became extremely popular among the kids and adults. IBM introduced personal computers. In entertainment, E.T. was released in theaters and Michael Jackson released Thriller. Cabbage Patch Kids became popular among kids. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. In 1985, the new Coke hit the market. This year as well the wreck of the Titanic was found. I would have liked to live in other decades, but for some reason I found this one very interesting. However, I am glad that I know these things even if i wasn't born yet. My decade is still great though.

Article

There was this new girl  from Mexico that just arrived from Yucatan, Mexico a week ago. I was personally asked to write an article about her since she is new. First of all, the first thing on the article would be that her name, Teresa Vasquez. I would ask her for her information such as the year and date when he was born, her age, and what are some of her interests. I would also ask him what are some of her favorite hobbies, her favorite color, food, beverage, and also how many brothers and sisters he has. I would also like to include what she wants to become when he grows up, the job in which she wants to succeed in. It would also be a great idea to include quotes from her family members telling us what a wonderful person Teresa is. In the article I will also include pictures of her with her family members. These would be the things I would include in the article. The most important questions I will ask Teresa will be what will she like to pursure in the Unites States and why did she decide to emigrate here. This will be a very interesting article.

Master Plan

To make my community a better place, it would be best that we all cooperate with each other. I willnot be able to do make a change all alone. I will need them help from my community. It would be great to establish an organization where anyone can join, if they want. If my community was dirty and there was trash on the streets or other public places, I would  like for us to dedicate one day of the week to go out and clean those places. Maybe we can spend a whole week just to clean up the environment as much as possible.
To keep  children away from violence it would be a good idea to get the kids involved in sports or clubs that will catch their attention. This can also be applied to adults so that way they can be occupied to stay away from violence. Basically it would be fundamental that we all work together and pitch in to make our community a better place to live in. It takes us to make a change together. We all need each other in this world no matter what happens. We can make the change.

Typical Day of My Life

I usually wake up at 6:30 A.M. to get ready for school. I get all my things ready before I head out the door. I do my hair, change clothing, and brush my teeth. At 7:10 A.M. I leave my house. I walk to the school's bus stop, which I have to be there by 7:30 A.M. The worse part of this is that I have to walk in the cold mornings. I do not like that, but this i the only way I can go to school. Then when I arrive to school, I eat breakfast and then go to class. I do all my work and listen to lectures in the classrooms. I also have a good time with my friends during school. After school I go to soccer practice for two hours- 3pm-5pm. It is actually fun going but it is hard work. I run alot and do drills. Once I get picked up by my dad I go home and eat first. Then, I relax for like ten minutes before doing homework. I start homework and usually finish by like 7:30 pm. After, homework I shower, which is the best time because I know I am done with everything. However, sometimes I have to clean or make food. Finally, once everything is done I watch TV or text. This is a typical day of my life, which I do everyday.

My favorite Season

My favorite season is Spring. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, trees are green, and most of all the weather is not too cold or too hot. It is just right. During that time, I like to go bike riding at the park or walk around and see nature in it best. I like when my family gets together from both sides of the family and just have fun and mingle.
This season is perfect for any occasion or just simply lay down without it being too cold or hot. I like to smell the flowers when they bloom. They smell so delicate. I love Spring!
It is a very genuine season that I like. It also comes right after the cold season which is wonderful timing!

I Dislike..

One of the vegetables that i truly dislike are TOMATOES. I cannot have tomatoes in any of my dishes because i will not eat the food. I am very particular about the food that i eat and especially if one of the ingredients in the dish are tomatoes. If the dish does contain  tomatoes I have to be able to see it so I can take it out of the dish. When my mom cooks she knows that I dislike tomatoes and that I cannot eat them if I cannot visually see them. She is kind enough to cut pieces of tomatoes big enough so that I can see them in my dish or she warns me if the dish contains any. I dislike tomatoes because I do not like their taste: its smushy and nasty. They are just not my preference when it comes to eating vegetables. The only time i can eat tomatoes is when I eat Jiva. I can hardly taste the tomatoes so this will be the only exception EVER.

Ending Relationship...

It is very difficult to determinate a relationship. It hurts not only the person you are ending the relationship with, but to you also. Ending a relationship can be one of the most dreadful tasks for many people. For this reason, it is important to end a relationship on a good note. When ending a relationship try to stay as calm and do it as nicely as possible to not hurt the other person even more with your harsh tone. It is important to remember that your soon to be ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend was once someone who meant very much to you and will leave you with some good memories. Nothing will take those memories away no matter what. Timing is also important when ending a relationship, for example do not break up with someone hours before a big final exam or on their big day. That will leave you with guilt. However, do not force yourself to be in a relationship for a long period of time just to keep that  significant other happy. It will lead you to hate your decision because you will only be making that person fall in love with you more.  You must be prepared to explain why you are ending the relationship to your significant other. You can not just say it is over and not explain why. Your significant other deserves to know why you have made the decision. End the relationship no matter what happens, such as begging and pleading. It will not be the smartest choice for your life.

Impulse Buying

Impulse buying is a bad habit. Most of the time we get caught up in an item that we think we must have it. It could be because it is the newest item that just came out to the market or because of the quality it contains. We are so caught up thinking we have to purchase it to look "cool" but who cares what others think. We do not think about the qualities of the item or new benefits it will bring to us. We do not stop to think what will be the best item for us we just go straight for the eye catching items. Impulse buying has consequences.
Emotions and feelings play a decisive role in this purchase because you can feel depressed and to make you feel better you buy things. However, buying artificial items does not take away the scar you have internally. When an impulse purchase is made it could often lead to financial difficulties depending on the item , family disapproval, or feeling guilt or disappointment. Impulse buying is only a desired item, it is not a reasonable purchase and we do not think about the details of buying when we are drawn to the item. I believe impulse buying can ruin one's life because they can become bankrupt and then end up being poor