Assignment #10: Bullying

I hate seeing people being bullied. I hate how things change in an instant when you switch schools or when you move to a different state. I hate it, also, when things do not change at all. Bullies may follow you to your next grade or the bullies stay behind, but you meet other ones that will tease you for the same thing. There is nothing you can do really when you are in the situation of being bullied. Your reactions just freeze you right in the spot, especially when your bullies threaten you. Trust me, I know this…

           

It started in 2^nd grade, Mary Burns Michael in Ms. Muller’s class. I loved making new friends and I was fooled and blinded by me wanting friends.  I was excited about school. I woke up every morning with my backpack on my back ready to learn, play and have some fun. All my life I have been used by people because of who I am and I guess that is what happened. I let them get to me, but at the same time I kept lying to myself.

“Edna? What kind of name is that? That name belongs to my grandma,” or they would say “hey grandma, need a cane?” or even “Edna Mode” from the Incredibles. I tolerated it. I thought they were my friends, so I figured it was okay. I never believed in the quote “stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That was just a load of dirty laundry to me. I could not believe that everywhere I went those insults sticked to me like gum on the bottom of a shoe. It seemed to me that it would never end.

Sadly, I was right. Actually, the insults never ended; it just wasn’t on the daily like it was in elementary and middle school. High School is a whole different story. I know who my friends are and who aren’t. I know when they are making fun of me and when they are just joking around not meaning it. No one has called me grandma in 4 years, but most of my good friends, the ones that I’ve known for more than 2 years call me Edna mode. It doesn’t pain me when I hear that, it just rubs off of me.

Another time I was bullied because of how my ears would stick out. My ears are kind of abnormal from others. I was teased left and right. My other nickname for my elementary school year was Dumbo. I hated that name, even though I loved that movie. I cried when I was alone in the restroom. I could not go through the hallway by myself for 2 minutes before someone would yell out for “DUMBO!”   That name slowly wore off as years passed.

I never bullied anyone in my life. I hated the way they treated me. I never had the guts to stand up for myself because I was so scared. When I realized that their words were lies and whatever they said about me was not true, their insults did not hurt me. I got the courage to help other children who were bullied too. I stood up for them and I was more like a therapist to them. I always try to make people feel like they are worth more than what other people treat them.

Right now, I’m trying my hardest to have all the patience in the world to help my eight year old cousin. He’s been bullied and beaten. This particular kid in his class named Josh, always kicks him and punches him. As I talk to him, I can feel the pain in his voice. His tears stream down his face, and I start tearing up. He tells me no one likes him, that no one tells him his cool, and loving. It hurts me even more when he told me he doesn’t think I love him. My heart shattered. I was stressing with my homework and I had no idea what I was doing, he smacked me on the side of my head and I got mad. I guess the expression on my face made him feel like all he did right was make mistakes. I recently found out he almost tried to commit suicide… a 3^rd grader… 8 years old…

What does that tell you about bullying?

Assignment #13: Halloween Haiku

Clowns come out to play. Monsters call out to their friends. Ghosts start to pass by.

Witches cast their spells. "Children do not be afraid!" That is what they say.

Dolls do attack you. Halloween night is the day. Scary Haunted House.

Assignment #9: Alien Contact

It’s happening again. My eyes are twitching in astonishment. I'm reliving my 5^th grade year. Geez, I thought I had out grown this. I’m standing in the middle of the hallway, in my house, staring at this deformed dog-like figure. I remember like it was yesterday, my best friend, my buddy. It’s been 6 years, but it can’t be. He wasn’t supposed to come back.

            I close my eyes and open them…no one is there. I must be losing my mind. I’m stressing too much. I have 4 more papers to do plus pre-cal homework and its only 8:22 PM. I yawn. That it explains it too, I’m tired and so sleepy. I can be hallucinating. Yeah that’s it, I’m hallucinating. I head to the kitchen table and start one of my papers. I stumble on the computer keyboard trying to figure out what to write about while my little cousin is doing his homework with my favorite crayons right beside me. I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about my old friend.

            As the time passes by, my eyes slowly start to close. I’m still sitting on the table trying to figure out how I am going to extend this paper. I gave up and my head crashes onto the computer keyboard. I black out. In my dream, my old, blue friend kept walking back and forth in my head. His hands were behind his back like if he was waiting for me or something. Then the lights, in my dream, kept flickering. I had a flashback of when he and I went to go share a piece of cake. Wow, good times. All of a sudden, the scene flushed away like a toilet flush and I woke up.

            I was late to school that morning. I threw on some sweats and a sweatshirt and rushed my way to my first period, U.S history. I tried to stay awake knowing that we were going to have a test on the lecture my teacher was giving out. Sadly, I failed and woke up to the sound of the bell for dismissal. I walked outside the building and just my luck, it was pouring! I dropped my stuff, when the tardy bell rang. I looked up and no one was around. Everyone was inside and in class. As I walked to the front office, I passed someone, but I could not make out who it was. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed this creature following me. I started to run and he started to run after me. I tripped over my stupid shoelace face first. I turned over to lie on my back and this thing started to lick me. Geez, what’s going on???? I’m going insane. This is definitely not my week. I finally, push the sucker off of me and wipe my eyes to see what was on top of me.

            NO WAY!!!

            “Hi friend, I’m Stitch.” That little monster scared the living day lights out of me. I could not believe he came back.

            “Stitch! What are you doing here?” As scared as I was, I was still happy.

            “I missed you. They said I can stay.”

            “That’s great! So were you following all this time?”

            “Jess. I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t know how else to approach you.” Stitch’s head was down like he was ashamed. I grabbed him and hugged him and took him to Starbucks. We shared a marble cake plus a vanilla bean Frappucino. We talked about what we have been up to for the past 6 years. Obviously, things have changed, but I got reunited with my blue, small, dog-like creature alien friend.  

Extra Credit

Swiftly, her feet move across the polished floor
A dress so big and beautiful.
Round and outstanding, her fellow man stares into her eyes.
Smiles, like the moon in a dark sky,
light up the ball room.
Quickly, the beat and the rhythm of the music makes them fly.
They twirl, spin and glide
Slowly as the sweet music comes to a stop,
a kiss is layed onto the fair lady's lips
and he departs off into the night.
Her Prince Charming, where has he gone off too?

Hush An Irish Princess' Tale

       Donna Jo Napoli did a great job in writing this novel. An Irish Princess, Melkorka, was taken abroad in a slave ship by Vikings. She lives a life as a slave without saying one word. 

       I gained the moral of this story on the first couple of chapters. Melkorka looked at slaves different. She really didn't have no respect for them. Then, as she was escaping her arranged marriage, daddy's orders, a viking ship happened to sail by and return, surprisingly and captured her as a slave. However, them still not knowing she was a princess. As they say "what goes around, comes around." Karma hit Melkorka in this novel pretty hard, I mean yeah karma is everywhere, but I felt kind of bad knowing that at the end of the novel she still hasn't seen her family and remained a slave.

       As I read, I kept thinking: Melkorka really hasn't hard and karma isn't backing up yet.

       Then again, after months passed people do get used to their surroundings and things end better than they were when you were first held captive. I, literally, have no idea what it feels like to be captured, beaten, forced to do things I can never imagine, but mentally I have. 

       Things come and go and most of the time we all focus on the bad things that happen to us. I was going through an event in my life that I will never forget. I was held captive by depression against my own will. I remember it like it was just yesterday. Not only was I going through this but so was  my mother and my brother. As a family, its harder to see that when one person falls short, the head, then everyone else, as the body, collapses. It was like we had a storm coming in our lifes for months. Yes, there were times we went out and had our laughs, but it was for a few hours a week. It was like our body was immune to happiness and our flesh penetrated everything that would put a smile on our face.

       Months passed and we became used to the fact that changes happen everyday and just try to make the best of what we have. Maybe sooner or later things can go back, but as of right now, we just have to ride the wind and sail through the waves. Being in captive is not much more as a barrier than life. We just have to hope for the best and figure out the best solution to be rescued.

Assignment #7: Self-Value

Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them. (Jennifer James)

    

     The last person that will always love you is yourself. Without yourself you are nobody. Jennifer James summarizes the whole main idea. Value yourself and look inside your heart. Understand that there is no one else in this world that dresses like you, acts the way you do, shares the same thoughts as you do, finds interest in things that no one else does. You will find things humorous that no one else will think its funny. Jealousy is never the answer. You will never know what that person is going through. Yes, that girl may look skinny or have beautiful hair, but what if her mom is taking drugs or her father is an alcoholic and/or in jail. Would you be jealous then? Do not look for the things you do not have in others, but rather the things that person doesn't have that you do have. I think that is what Jennifer is trying to say when she says "Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within."

I know there are a lot of people who become jealous real easily mainly because the person him or her may like does not like them but rather their best friend. People become envious and resent ever knowing them. I feel bad, but that is when you really start realizing who that person really is the cause of low self-esteem and self-value. When you value yourself, it gives way for more opportunities in life. Loving yourself opens doors to things you never actually dreamed of doing. There are going to be barriers coming across your path, step over them and continue on your way. How can one love someone, when you cannot love yourself?  

I was one of those jealous-type of girls. I did not understand why I was the way I was and the 6^th grade girl sitting next to me in class looked older, more beautiful, and happier than I did. I could not concentrate because my guy classmates would always pull up a chair and talk to her. I sat there and I felt like crying because I never got that attention not even from the nerds in the class. I felt outlawed and unwanted. I slowly began to not give a flip about life and just try to face the fact that we are two different people and I will never come close to becoming her. With that on my mind, I started to forget why I was mad, why I was envious and blinded by this girl. I started to realize that yes, I will never become close to becoming like her because I’m much more valuable and beautiful to be jealous over someone who used people. I started loving myself more when I realized I don’t have to be her to get attention. As a matter a fact, my eyes were opened when I found out that I don’t need attention to feel wonderful.

 Days passed and felt confident about myself. Then one day, the guy that every girl fell for, came up to me and gave me a note. This is what is said:

“Hey…um…I don’t know if you ever noticed me, but I want you to know I always keep an eye on you. I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life. Please give me a call.  J” 

Assignment #8 The Necklace

The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant’s short story, it includes three literary elements that are mainly dominant. Although the author uses all of the elements, he focuses on three of them. I like that he really focuses on using irony in his short story, there are so many examples of it. He actually uses irony in the first paragraph, he says “With no dowry, no prospects, no way of any kind of being met, understood, loved, and married by a man both prosperous and famous, she was finally married to a minor clerk in the Ministry of Education.” I know that when the author uses the words prosperous and famous, the reader would expect the husband to be much more then just a minor clerk.

A main character is Mathilde, from reading this story with my class I've learned that the author intends Mathilde to be cruel and demanding. The girl Mathilde was one of those pretty and charming young girls who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks. When they all receive the invitation to the dance, Mathilde wants everything to look wonderful even though they do not have the money. She even uses the money her husband has been saving for a long time to go hunting with his friends.

I'm not going to re-tell the story or give away what happens but I will continue to mention my favorite parts.
I personally really liked the way the author elaborated on the literary elements. I think that in this short story there was a little bit of karma as well and i know not too many people noticed it. He used irony in the perfect way to surprise the reader at just the right time and i know we brought that up in class.

The author also makes the reader think about their own life and if they are similar to Mathilde. That is why I enjoyed reading The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant so much and I wouldn't mind reading another short story from our books in class. This author is an older author and I like how he can make young people like us think and use or heads to figure out what he has written that is hidden.