January Submissions

Check out the January submissions.  You are in for a treat.  Read and Enjoy!!  Make sure you comment on all six pieces.  Remember to give constructive feedback to the writers.  Do not merely say, "Great job" or "Loved it".  Also, don't forget to vote :)

Nia--Selfishness

Selfishness

To whom it may concern or to anyone..... Actually it doesn't matter I only care for myself. Who is the judge of selfishness? Egotistical, inconsiderate, self-obsessed if you may, who can exactly is the Sheriff of this greedy self-interested town? In the history and nature of mankind and even in the animal kingdom it is inevitable that all may do certain things in order to provide for themselves. In definition being selfish is lacking consideration for others, or simply being concerned chiefly with one's personal profit. Does that make their character flawed? What are the characteristics of a selfish human being? Who is to decide what selfish is for another if one person may see it as their personal incentive to do or gain things in order to live a comfortable life? In that sense every human being and creature on Earth is selfish for doing things that they like or accomplishing things that they want. Some of the most successful people of all time were thought of as Selfish, and overly ambitious, but if it were not for the desire and dedication to get to a higher standard of living the world would be deprived of the great things that we have today. I as well as many other people won't apologize for actions taken to better my life and create something for myself. If I cannot accomplish my goals or be able to do things on my own no one else will do it for me, to reiterate, if I am going to do something for the betterment of my life than it is in my personal incentive. If it were up to my brother he'd eat enough food for the whole population of Kansas, but am I "allowed" call him selfish for his choices? I find my self questioning the intentions of people all the time, calling their behavior selfish and rude but I tend to do the same things exactly for my personal benefit . It's never taken into account that the perspective of others is often different than my own or people worldwide. If we cannot place ourselves In every single perspective at a given time we should not judge because we do not have the mindset to do so. Sure that may take away many opinionated voices but if biased opinions are made without perspective and correct understand who are we to say what is right or wrong for another. I'll even throw in the cliché "You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes"  I can't judge my brother's over indulgence in my food or others choices in their life, neither should they judge my life choices. If I want to have my cake and eat it too do I have to share?  I cannot change others ideals especially of it's set in stone, it's hard to change my own. Whatever though after all of this it's still my world you all just live in it.

Michael--Procrastination

Procrastination

         Currently I’m watching the small black cursor on the blank computer screen flashing on and off the screen.  I’m trying my best to put words onto the screen and yet, it remains blank.  My fingers hover over the keyboard, but they never press down on those lettered keys.  They never form the words that need to be written.  I find myself moving the mouse and then the internet is showing up on the screen.  Minutes turns to hours and then I remember why I was on the computer in the first place.  I decide that maybe I should go downstairs and find something to eat and then I will definitely resume on starting this.  The hands on the clock seem to speed up, passing each number like they are racing each other.  Day turns to night and still nothing is on the screen.  Starting the daunting work is the worst part.  Most students in school go through this process when trying to complete something. 

         Procrastination, the word that defines our lives as students.  Specifically, procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something.  We all go through this endless torture of having to write that one paper due at 11:59 and not starting it till ten at night or the failed attempt to finish that one project, which was assigned in the beginning of the semester, and putting it off till the day before it's due.  We even do this with the simpler work we are assigned or the tests we have the next day. We seem to persuade ourselves that the morning of or the period before is enough to finish the assignment or to pass the test.  As teenagers, we always find a way to procrastinate on starting something, whether it be involving ourselves in social network sites, watching television, or playing video games.  We also seem to always have an excuse as to why we weren't able to finish or start the task we were assigned.  Everytime we get the grade back for that assignment, which we waited to do till the last minute, or the poor test score we received, we ask ourselves why we got this score.  Why did I wait till the last minute to finish or why did I not study for this test last night, instead of the period right before?

         As students we are plagued with this, as I call it, an illness of procrastination.  Right now, I am deathly ill with this illness.  I promised to myself I would finish this or at least start it during winter break, but now it is the night of the day it's due.  Throughout typing this, I still find myself minimizing this word document and going to the internet on my computer, all while I'm trying to watch my TV shows.  Even though I know this is going to be due, I still have procrastinated till the last minute to finish this.  After every time I've procrastinated on doing something, I make a promise to myself that next time I will give myself a sufficient amount of time to finish and yet I still procrastinate on doing everything.  What are the reasons I do this to myself?  Why do I wait till the last minute to finish everything?  What is the point of adding on the extra stress of trying to finish something?  I ask myself these questions every time procrastination gets the best of me.

Lexie

A Dream ruined by a Nightmare

“There she was just walkin’ down the street, singin’, ‘do wah diddy, diddy dum diddy do’”, the most popular song of the early 60’s, was stuck in Laurie’s head while she skated herself to work in her new roller blades. She breezed by her neighbors and friends saying a gentle and sweet “Hello” to each person she saw. As she got lost in the song she began to sing aloud down the sidewalk when she ran into her crush. Before she could fall to the ground he caught her in his tan and toned muscular arms. While in the comfort and safety of his arms, the two made eye contact with each other. She starred into his majestic and mysterious green eyes and managed to apologize for running into him with a polite “I’m oh so sorry Landon!” With his charming self he chuckled and answered back with a nonchalant “It’s okay my pretty lady”, she timidly blushed because she had now made a horrible first impression of herself. After Landon swept her off her feet he carefully put Laurie back on her feet. Landon then asked, “Would you like to go for a shake at The Plop?” Laurie replied with “Oh golly Landon! I would be delighted to do so!” It was decided that Landon would pick Laurie up at her house at 7 o’clock in his new 1967 Bonneville.

 Continuing on her way to go to work at The Diner she flew right through the doors with a smile on her face. Her coworker Rhonda immediately skated over to Laurie and asked why she was in such a cheerful mood. Laurie smiled and told Rhonda she had a date with the man of her dreams. It seemed as if her shift went by forever but when the clock finally hit 5:30 Laurie rapidly grabbed her stuff and skated as fast as she could back to her house to get ready for her milkshake date with Landon. She arrived at her house and hurried to her room where she took a shower. After her shower Laurie then put on her makeup so eloquently moving her blush brush so gently and perfectly across her cheeks. She then styled her hair with a headband and some loose curls on her Carmel light brown hair. Laurie put together the most astonishing outfit she could and she looked gorgeous. The clock struck 7 and Laurie anxiously waited for Landon to ring the doorbell. Nevertheless Landon rang the doorbell a few minutes later.

Landon introduced himself to Laurie’s family. Then shortly after Laurie and Landon drove off to go share a milkshake. They walked into the restaurant and sat down. Landon whispered, “Laurie, you sure do look beautiful in that sundress of yours.” Laurie once again blushed and responded with, “Oh why thank you kind Landon.” Their waitress came to their table, giving them a milkshake when suddenly Landon in shocked dropped the milkshake on the floor, recognizing his ex-girlfriend Rhonda was serving them.

Rachel--Eternal Life

Eternal Life

The last thing I remember was being thrust into a dark, bottomless pit. Falling indefinitely into the eternal universe with no sense of who I was or who I had been. I was scared, yet incredibly calm. I had a feeling that everything was going to be okay and I finally accepted my descending fate. Then suddenly my conscious stopped talking to me, I was alone. I opened my eyes and squinted at the light as it pierced my unexpecting retinas. After what seemed like hours of blindness, I looked around and found myself in an old train station full of mahogany benches and beautiful archways that artfully framed the ornate murals on the walls and ceiling. The flawless white marble floors reflected against the infinitely colorful stained glass and created rainbow flurries all across the walls. As I regained my senses, the noises of the hustling and bustling travelers and train engines filled my ears and the smell of old plaster and leather briefcases wafted into my nose. As I stood there in awe, I was joined by a little boy in a pair of knee-length shorts, a button-up shirt and suspenders with a newsboy cap over his messy deep brown hair. He grabbed my hand and looked up at me with eyes as bright as the crown jewels, leading me to a ticket window with rod iron bars secured across and just a gray shadowy figure on the other side. The figure had the stature of a heavy-built, muscular man but when he turned around there was nothing to identify. There was just a blur all across the region that would be his face and the lack of human definition took me by surprise. The faceless attendant moved slowly but with a purpose as he slid a ticket across the granite counter to my sweaty hand. Once again the little stranger boy pulled on me with an unexpected level of strength and force. He led me to a worn bench that was situated in the middle of the room and we sat down together as he pulled the ticket from my free hand and glanced at it. Finally, I found my words and asked him for his name and whether or not he was lost.

"No, I'm not lost. My name is Hansuke! What's your name?"

I told him my name and how old I was and his eyes began to widen.

“Are you happy in your life Hikaru?” he blurted.

“Umm… I guess so. I’ve never really been sure what happiness feels like, to be honest.” I answered truthfully.

"I can’t believe you're so young... do you know why you're here?" he asked me.

"No... What is this place?"

"This is the in-between, Hikaru." he replied, "This is where lost and broken souls come to be reincarnated."

"You mean.... I'm dead...?" I asked with a shaky voice.

"I’m sorry to say, but yes, Hikaru… you committed suicide... but our Creator has chosen to give you a second chance at life! You are going to be alive again!"

I collapsed to the floor before he even finished speaking as I choked on the sobs that escaped my mouth. All of the obvious questions began racing through my scattered brain. I what? When?! How?!? Why?!?! Did I even want to know? I gasped for air after realizing I had forgotten to breathe and once my lungs were no longer collapsed, I looked around through my hazy, tearful eyes. It was all clear now and I realized that all of the "people" in this train station were just shadowy figures, lost souls who were wandering around waiting to be given another chance.

“Did I even want a second chance? If life was so bad the first time, why would I want to go back?” I asked myself as silent tears rolled down my face and splattered on the perfect floor.

 Hansuke hopped down and put his arm across my back as I crouched in a ball, emotionless and raw.

"Please stop crying, it will be alright. I will never leave you Hikaru. I am your guardian, your angel, I suppose. Please, get up. Your train is leaving soon.”

Sarrah

How to: Follow the unwritten rules

Oh yes, there are invisible rules, enforced by courtesy and judgment shaping our everyday actions, possessing power though they be not written down. Allow me to elucidate.

1.       Absorb stupidity in silence.

2.       Wear what is hot and happening.

3.       Speak only when what you have to say is socially acceptable.

4.       Lie.

5.       Cheat.

6.       Steal.

7.       Bully.

8.       Hate.

9.       Be who others want to see.

10.   And last but not least, eat your veggies!

Above are the 10 most commonly followed rules which I needed to write down just in case others had utterly no idea what in the great wide world I am attempting to direct us all on. Now for the how to aspect of the assignment, I will elaborate on each rule and give a scenario of sorts just in case you, the reader attempt to refute my claim.

1.       Ever been in one of those situations where you are utterly blown away by what another is saying. Not due to the, uh how should I say, insight provided but by the utter stupidity reiterated again and again believing the repetition will pound their opinion into our head, shove their beliefs down our throats so we can join them in what is right. How to respond? Bite that tongue friends! Bite that buddy ‘til it bleeds if you have to, but never, ever refute for that may create an altercation which must be avoided at all costs. I know, I know. “But what of my opinion Sarrah?” Please refer to rule number three.

2.       Ever notice how suddenly, everyone is wearing the same thing? High waisted why I saw on those on Jessica, no Rebecca, no Jonathan, oh wait. Everyone. Cool shirt. I think I saw that…on me? Oh yeah, that’s happened. Don’t blame yourself. We don’t mean to follow these rules.

3.       Ever held an opinion of your own? You’re entitled it to it, so I’ve heard, but please. Don’t share. But what do I say when asked? Oh look, the answer resides in rule four.

4.       Lie. “I would never!” Are you sure? You never told a younger sibling that Santa was real? You never told someone their hair was nice when in reality it looked like your dog coughed it up? No one has ever lied in saying, everything will be okay?

5.       “Hey Billy, buddy, what’s number five?” Crack open your eyes, or open your fingers just a little bit to see that piñata, move your pawn forward some, take a little extra money from that monopoly bank, eat that meat you swore off, take one more drink.

6.       Ever loved someone’s ideas or words so much that you stole them? Never give that pencil back? Don’t worry, you didn’t mean it. Warlords, stealing people’s safety and terrorist stealing our peace of mind. Fate stealing our loved ones. They weren’t ours in the first place.

7.       How else do you expect to get what you want? What you deserve? To feel good about yourself?

8.       Look at how he acts, he thinks he is the s h I t. Do you hate that? But that is such a strong word! Obviously not when people use it every day to express their golden thoughts about someone that has never done anything to them. Only logical!

9.       Ever sat alone at lunch. Doesn’t that suck? Conform dumbo, hang out with that cool crowd. You’re the only one to blame.

10.   This one is a given. You can’t grow without them.