Family is Forever

Author's Note: When we were told to write about a theme in a book we've read, I instantly thought of family. My family means a lot to me so this was an easy theme to write about. Pay attention to how I made a connection to another book.

When friends start turning against you, who’s there for you? Your family. When you had a rough day and just want someone to talk to, who’s there for you? Your family. Your family is what gets you through the tough times, what makes every moment memorable. But, what if your family wasn’t there for you anymore?

 The main theme you’ll learn in the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, is family comes first. When this famous saying comes into play, some people are forced to make sacrifices to make sure their family comes first, just like in the Hunger Games. When times get hard, families search desperately for something to hold them together, anything to hold them together.

When Katniss’ dad dies, her mom tunes out forcing Katniss to become the parent like figure for her little sister. As a teenager, Katniss becomes the family’s provider. With so much responsibility Katniss isn’t able to experience the teenage part of life.  But as Katniss knows: family comes first.

As Katniss’ mom tunes out, love is the only thing holding the family together. But as times get harder, even the love is growing taut. With every hardship thrown at the family, everything is thrown out of balance. When everything is thrown out of balance you can’t help but wonder if things would be easier if your family was there for you like they used to be.

Katniss is very similar to Hollis in Pictures of Hollis Woods, because they both realize the importance of family. With each obstacle thrown at them they never fail to show their unending care and love towards their family.If everyone was capable of doing what they do, maybe the world would be a better place.

You can change who you are, who your friends are, who you talk to, even who you admire. But, you can’t change family. Family comes before everyone else because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who won’t leave your side. Who know everything about you and accept you for it. Be grateful for the family you have, and pray for the people that aren’t as lucky as you.

The Treasure

Author's Note: This is an alternate ending for the story read in the Reading Lab. I ended it this way because based on the story it sounded like people weren't very fond of Cody. Hurting Cody to get to his treasure just seemed like something the people would do.  

As the sun set, Cody walked down the street. The only sound was Cody’s breathing. All of a sudden there were footsteps behind him. Turning around, Cody scanned the darkening street. There was no one there. Turning around and starting to walk again, Cody started to be paranoid. It sounded like the footsteps were getting closer but when he turned around there was no one there. Getting frustrated, Cody started to walk faster. All of a sudden there was a sharp pain in the back of his leg. His vision blurred and he started to get dizzy. Crumpling to the ground Cody grabbed the back of his leg and pulled out a dart. He had been shot. As he blacked out, he thought, “What will happen to my treasure now?”.

A Change for the Better

Author's Note: This is a character development about Katniss in the Hunger Games. This just proves that people can change for the better.

In the beginning of the Hunger Games, Katniss is an independent girl who only cares about the safety of her family. As her family’s safety takes a turn for the worst, Katniss volunteers herself as tribute to the Hunger Games. Once distance lies between Katniss and her sister, Katniss separates herself from other people and won’t listen to anyone but herself. As the games get closer, her independence level rises causing other tributes to think of plans to eliminate her first.

During the games, Katniss meets Rue. A little girl who reminds Katniss of her sister. Katniss then realizes that helping Rue survive is her new priority. Like Hollis, in Pictures of Hollis Woods, Katniss overcomes her selfishness and uses her knowledge and skills to help another person. As Katniss protects Rue, her independence dissolves leaving a completely changed girl in its place. The once independent Katniss is now a loving girl who would do anything to protect people that mean a lot to her.  

Founding Fathers

Author's Note: This is my Patriot's Pen piece. Our founding fathers did a lot for us and our country but there are many things people would ask them if they got the chance to. These are the things I would ask.

“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism”, states one founding father. “Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy”, states another. Throughout history, our past leaders all had one goal in mind for this country, be successful. What we are still trying to figure out hundreds of years later, is what successful means. We all have our own ideas in mind, but the true answer is known only by the ones who set the goal themselves, our founding fathers.

As Americans, we’ve all experienced debt, labor and even false patriotism. Hundreds of years ago I doubt our ancestors would’ve predicted this. But since I’m not hundreds of years old, I have no idea whether or not they saw this coming. That’s one of the many things I would ask one of our founding fathers if I ever got the chance to, did the thought of debt and hardships such as above ever cross your mind when you were forming our country?

When you walk into a store and look at everyday items, have you ever noticed that most things aren’t made here? Places like China, Japan, and Mexico are what keep our stores stocked with our everyday needs.  That brings me to my next point, why doesn’t America make more of these everyday things? That’s also something I would ask one of our past leaders, why didn’t more of our funds go to producing these everyday items right here in America? Why do we have so many things imported here?

Have you ever noticed how different all of our presidents have been? Between personal observations and observations made by others, we’ve all noticed that none of our presidents have been quite the same. So, my next question would be, what advice would you as a former leader, give our current president? Is there anything he should be doing but isn’t?

There have been so many rises and falls as this country has shaped into what it is today. Although some things could’ve been differently, without them being done the way they were, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Sure everyone gets frustrated with our government and society, but without them we wouldn’t have the history that we do, or more importantly, the future.

Cause and Effect

Author's Note: Most actions have consequences. Katie from Pants on Fire learned this the hard way. That's what I'll be writing about in this cause and effect piece.

In this book, Katie hides her opinion about everything. She lies about what she thinks, how she feels, the list goes on. Because of her inability to be honest and tell people how she actually feels, Katie hides a huge secret that could separate her from extreme popularity, to major loser.

Because of how long Katie had been hiding her secret, when the truth finally came out, her friends and family were not happy. The result of finally telling the truth, consisted of Katie being grounded for 3 months, being dumped by her boyfriend of 4 years, and the sadness of losing a beauty pageant.Sometimes it's better to be honest and disappoint others than lie and disappoint yourself.

Conflict and Resolution

Author's note: This is a piece of writing based on the book Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot. I talked about one of the main conflicts in this book and how the main character resolved this conflict.

Pants on Fire is a fiction book by Meg Cabot. It’s all about the life of a teenager so there must be conflict, right? Well there is. There are several conflicts in this book. One of the main ones that is mentioned throughout the entire book, is a problem that the main character, Katie is facing. It’s not a regular problem that involves others, but more of a self vs. self problem. Katie doesn’t know how to make herself happy. She’s constantly fighting with herself to decide how to be the happy person that she once was. The question asked during this book, is how can she beat the odds and be happy again?

Finding the answer to this question wasn’t easy for Katie. What it came down to, was Katie just had to reflect on what made her happy in the past. This helped her focus on what would make her happy in the long run. With the help of her heart, Katie made the decision, therefore ending the conflict within herself.

The Ongoing Pain

Author's Note: When it came to choosing a topic for this personal narrative, I was looking for something that I could easily write about. Feelings are easy to write about therefore making this what I chose.

As the tears rolled down my cheeks, the pain intensified. Looking into the eyes of someone I used to know so well, it was hard to breathe. I reached out to touch him but as my fingers made contact with his face, I realized it was just a picture. This realization made the tears come faster because I also realized, this was all I had left of him.

The pain of losing someone is so horrible that there’s no words to describe it. Even though everyone goes through it, people have lacked words to even come close to describing the misery. Just 3 months ago I lost my best friend. The one person I confided in about most things, was suddenly gone from my life. I remember it like it was yesterday. It had been a normal summer day, yet it was one I’ll never forget. I had been driving to a friend’s house when I got the call. The call that changed my life forever. I remember how the shock had left me numb for the rest of the day. The pain didn’t really hit until that night, when I realized I would never get one of his silly text messages again. I would never see his fiery red hair again; I would never be affected by his contagious laugh ever again. That night was by far the worst of my life. That pain was so awful, so terrible. I feel it every time I hear his name, see his pictures. The pain still hurts as if it were new.

For everyone that loses a loved one, some days are better than others. That doesn’t even come close to the reality of it though. There’s so many things I wish I would’ve been able to say. Now all I want to say is I miss you. That’s all there is to it, regrets and sorrow. All I look forward to is the day where I won’t have to miss him anymore. The day where I’ll be with him again, I’ll finally be able to tell him everything I want to, anything I need to. But that thought leaves me wondering, will that day ever come?

As of right now, there’s something missing inside of me. A hole that can’t be filled. With every passing day, I miss him more. They say that every cloud has a silver lining. That’s what I’m hoping for, praying for. Ever since that day, my happiness has been in jeopardy; I’m waiting for this all to make sense. Waiting for the answer to the question I’ve been pondering ever since that day back in July. Why did he have to leave?

Pants on Fire

Author's note: This is a retelling that I wrote about the book Pants on Fire

Katie Ellison has it all. The football star boyfriend, popular best friend, perfect grades and even the perfect job. But as her senior year starts rolling in, she wonders if she’s doing this to make others happy or if she’s actually happy. An old friend comes back into town and makes Katie wonder, is her life going down the right path?

Cheer, A Way of Life

Author’s Note: I’ve been a part of the cheer team here at school since 5^th grade. It’s changed me in ways that are hard to describe. My team is my family, I take cheer very seriously and here’s why. 

Nerves. I had never felt nerves like this before. As the loud speakers crackle and our school is called, I turn to my best friend. “Ready?” she says. “Ready.” I say trying to convince myself more than her. Putting on my biggest smile I run onto the mat screaming as loud as I can. The lights are blinding and I try to focus on something. Anything. Getting into position I look around. Looking at my team I see my nerves reflected in their eyes. We wanted this. I could tell we all wanted this. Hours and hours of practice were about to show in the next two  and a half minutes. The sound of the loud speaker brings me back to the present. “Ladies, your music is on.”

Cheer isn’t just a sport. It’s a way of life. For me, I started in 5^th grade. Way back then, I never knew how much cheer would become a part of my life. From day one, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But that doesn’t even begin to describe it. It takes hours to just master one skill. The basics are easy, how to be stiff, how to project your voice, the list goes on. But as you get older and more advanced, the skills become more complex. For example, more complicated stunts, better jumps, that list goes on too. Skills aside, cheer is something I can’t imagine my life without. Your team is your family. You’re with them constantly, and you have to trust them. Without that trust, your team won’t work. That trust is valuable, it’s needed in stunts, cheers, everything. You have to be there for each other. I can gladly say that my team is my family. Without them, I wouldn’t of been able to make it through these last few years.

When people say cheer isn’t a sport, I take it personally. I’d like to see them do what we do. Condition, jump, stunt. None of which is easy. Cheer needs to be taken seriously, it’s not just girls jumping around in short skirts. There’s more injuries in cheer than in any other sport. I’ve gotten hurt more this cheer season than I have in my entire life. It takes strength and dedication to do what we do. It’s not exactly easy to lift people in the air and keep them there. So don’t go talking bad about cheer when you have no idea what it’s like.

Without cheer, I would be nothing. Ever since that day way back in 5^th grade, I’ve been a part of something amazing. Our team has a bond that nothing can break. We’re all there for each other and as we get older, we will get closer and closer. Because of this amazing bond, we’re able to do what we do and be proud of it. Maybe people are right, cheer isn’t a sport. It’s more than that, it’s a way of life.