Writing Portfolio

Invitation:

Dear mom/uncle john,

WELCOME to my portfolio! Here are some questions to answer after you have seen my portfolio.

1. What piece of writing did you like best in my portfolio and why?

2. What did you like about my portfolio and sharing and what would you like to see me improve on?

3. Which of the writing traits (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency) do you feel was most successful for me?

4. Which of the traits of writing would you like me to improve on in the coming semester?

The Postcard Killers

Pro/Con Subtopic Essay- Cyberbullying (Webcaming/Camera Usage)

Pro/Con Subtopic Essay- Cyberbullying

Cyber bullying has become more frequent now days with our society growing more dependent on technology. Bullying use to be thought of as a normal process of growing up, but times have changed and teens are being harassed to a point where it’s leading to suicide. There are different things that teens have access to and use regularly. Video and camera usage are a few of many different types of technology that teens utilize on a daily basis. They make music videos, perform comedy shows, display their talents, and talk about their day or their opinion on a specific topic. Although this may sound innocent, there are people out there who won’t always like or agree with what others have to say. Teens are still naïve and emotionally vulnerable as they attempt to grapple with their haters. Most of the time they cannot handle what other people have to say and they feel like committing suicide. YouTube is one broadcasting site that allows people to upload anything they want. This leads to exposure of sexual content, profane language, and nudity. Teens shouldn’t be exposed to this because they are not aware of the consequences and it can corrupt the way they think the world should be like. Parents/Guardians should monitor their child’s use of broadcasting and video usages at all times and in all areas because kids are still not mature enough to be fully aware of the adult content, hate comments, blackmailing, and sexual predators.

Granted, teens should express themselves through technology because they should be allowed to be creative and display their talents. However, this shouldn’t mean teens should exploit themselves sexually. If kids are perfectly okay with exposing themselves to complete strangers then they should be comfortable with showing their parents. It goes to show that the teens who disagree with this have something they want to hide. Sites like YouTube do not filter out people so anyone can have an account and upload whatever they want. Some kids use this for their advantage in a good way by posting up music videos, short films, and etc. to entertain others and show off their talents. On the other hand, teens also take advantage of these sites in a bad way, such as recording themselves in a provocative way. They don’t understand that there are people out there who don’t always agree with what they say or do. For instance, an 11 year old girl from Florida, known online as ‘Jessi Slaughter’, became the center of a cyber bullying frenzy on July 22, 2010. The young girl - whose real name is Jessica Leonhardt - told Good Morning America Thursday that the escalating bullying began with postings aimed at her, regarding her alleged sexual history. In response, she said she used her webcam merely as a way to vent. This back fired however, because everyone began targeting her due to her profane videos. After these hateful comments, she posted a video of her meltdown. It goes to show that kids are not mature enough to be online unsupervised. If parents were to monitor their kids all the time on these types of websites, they could see that they are doing something productive or they’re just trying to exploit themselves.

Another way that teens can take advantage of camera usage is by blackmailing. “Sexting” is the common name for taking nude pictures of oneself and then sending them through cell phones or uploading it to the internet. Most often done by teenage girls for their boyfriends, they never think about the outcome after the breakup. Many times, these photos spread around the school and it leads to bullying and embarrassment. Several cases have risen over the past year where teenagers have been charged for producing and sending child porn since they are under aged. With light weight cameras or cameras built into phones, almost all teenagers have one. With a click of a button, it is so simple to blackmail another person.

In conclusion, the generation today is overly exposed to a lot of adult content and this is corrupting their minds. Teaching them right from wrong is not enough anymore because they want more proactive involvement rather than prohibitive don’ts from parents. Parents just want their kids to be safe because there are so many dangerous people out there that teens don’t realize. They think it’s harmless but there are pedophiles who take things too seriously.

Bibliography:

-Authoritarian Parenting, Authoritative Parenting and Permissive Parenting - their effects on children:

http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/authoritarian-parenting-authoritative-parenting-and-permissive-parenting-their-effects-on-children-1459885.html

-Online Child Molesters:

http://www.netsmartz.org/news/onlinemolesters.htm

-"Generation IM":

http://www.netsmartz.org/news/apr02-2.htm

-Girl Scout Survey: Sexual Harassment of Teens on Net: http://www.netsmartz.org/news/feb02-1.htm

-11 Facts About Cyber-bullying:

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying

-Facts About Cyber bullying:

http://www.suite101.com/content/truth-about-cyberbullying-a280827

-Cyber bulling Facts:

http://www.preventchildabuseutah.org/cyberbullyingfacts.html

-Cyber Bullying / Sexting

http://www.familysafecomputers.org/bullying.htm

-Cyber-bullying

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullying

-'Defriending' latest form of adolescent cyberbullying

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/105494523.html

-Cyber Bullying – How Webcams Have Changed The Internet

http://webcam-messenger.net/2010/11/08/cyber-bullying-how-webcams-have-changed-the-internet

-Cyberbullying grows bigger and meaner with photos, video

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2008-07-14-cyberbullying_N.htm

-Cyber Bullying in Youtube:

http://hellboundbloggers.com/2009/04/30/cyber-bullying-in-youtube/

-'Jessi Slaughter' YouTube Cyberbully Case: 11-Year-Old Tells GMA She Didn't Want it to Go This Far:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20011349-504083.html

-Overly strict parents:

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/parenting_styleschildren039s_temperaments_match

OR Card: Last Song

Assessment: 4

I think that the design of my OR card is simple and not cluttered giving it a more "professional" look. The graphics that I chose were effective and really gives insight on the overall book. My conflict and solution was straight to the point and the quote I chose shows what the main theme of the book is.

USC College Essay (Rough Draft)

Essay Topic:

USC’s speaker series "What Matters to Me and Why" asks faculty and staff to reflect on their values, beliefs, and motivations. Presenters talk about choices they have made, difficulties encountered, and commitments solidified. Write an essay about an event or experience that helped you learn what is important to you and why it is important.

A Close Call

Another day drifts by and yet it seems like every day is the same old routine. I sit there on my desk trying to keep my heavy eyelids from closing itself. Sadly, the chair has already taken in my form from our multiple encounters. It was still early, the clock beside me read 8pm but I could already feel a rush of exhaustion overwhelm me. My red eyes are slowly drooping down to the words that looked like another form of alien language. Two science test, a math exam, and an english essay was due the next day and I can’t fall asleep knowing what needs to be done.

This is how it is at least every week and the stress that comes with it is like a never ending flu that I have caught. After a long day from school, lectures, work, dance, acting in videos, and meetings for various clubs, I still have come home to a load of homework and a messy house. As I continue to study, I can hear the stairs creek. My mom comes downstairs all dressed up and ready for her second job. I can see her reflection on the computer screen staring at me with a disappointed look on her face. I wasn’t in the mood to get into another argument, so I continued on with my work. I already know in the back of my mind, that she is going to tell me to clean up the house because it’s a wreck. Of course, that’s exactly what happened. To my utter dismay, I sigh and slowly rise from the seat that has turned into a memory foam pillow. I straighten up the house with a grumpy expression on my face and as always, she nags me about my attitude. We get into that argument that I was trying to avoid and we both ended our night on a bad note. She storms out of the house and I continue straightening up. I glanced back at the clock to see it display 10pm which makes me even wearier. I slowly drag my feet to the computer and finish studying.

It was now 1am and I can barely keep my eyes open. The paper in front of my face became a blur and I began to doze off. Only thirty minutes passed by when my nap was disturbed by an unknown phone call. It was my uncle. I can hear grief in his voice as he told me that my mom was in the hospital. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. As I continue listening, I can feel my heart sinking. Tears rimmed my eyes and for a split second I couldn’t breathe. I started to imagine not having my mom around anymore, which made me cry even harder. The last time I saw her, there was so much hatred. She is the person who has been there for me through everything, the one who raised me, and the reason why I even exist. My uncle promised he would call me back as soon as he knows more about the situation. I paced around the room for an hour or so until uncle called again. This time he had great news, because my mom was going to be okay. I was so relieved to hear that I was still going to have her in my life.

I understand that my mom has to work two jobs to support me and my two little sisters. She is a woman that has put up with so many things and has been through so much. I have everything that she never had and she tries her best to put a roof over our head. The most I can do is help out. My mom will always be in the back of my head and one of these days, I will repay her for everything she has done for me. We don’t come from a rich family and have the privileges that some most families have. I was raised with not much and that’s why I work so hard. But when it comes down to it, family is all you’ve got. They are the ones that are going to be there for you through thick or thin, rich or poor, and dumb or smart. I am not saying that nothing else is important but I have come to a point in life where I know that everything else doesn’t matter compared to your family. I will always be committed to my education and strive for the best so one day I can support my family.

Coming of Age Poster (Final)

College

University of Southern California (USC)
Link
Reason:
The reason why I want to attend this school is because it is top in the nation and it provides a nursing program that I am interested in. I am also considering other choices but USC is on top of my list. It has the anesthesia program that takes 24 months to complete. But before I do that, I want to take my first four years to get my bachelors degree in nursing. I don't want to jump from college to college so I would rather stay at USC throughout my 6 year college career. One challenge about USC is that there will be a lot of competition.

Cyberbullying

Article: Jessica Slaughter: Kerligurl13
Page 1
Page 2 Continued.
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There should be more restrictions towards adolescent kids who go on social networking sites because it may deter cyber bullying.

Coming of Age: Poster Draft

Instead of the silhouette of the girl, It will be me and Im debating whether or not to add a bus stop and a sign saying "One Way Street".

A Summer to Remember: Critique Draft

I could feel the scorching sun on my skin as I walked down the sandy sidewalk. Today was July 4^th to be precise and Ala Moana beach was packed with hundreds of people enjoying the cool blue water. The mouthwatering aroma of barbeque filled the air and families were indulging in all the food. Instead of swimming or socializing like everyone else, I continued listening to the sound of my music. I was still angry with my mom about not being able to go out with my friends. It wasn’t fair how little freedom I had compared to all the other juvenile delinquents out there. With that thought I continued to walk by with my music blasted loud enough for the person next to me to hear. I noticed every once in a while strangers greeted me with a friendly smile or a simple hello, but I wasn’t in the mood to react back. Before I knew it I had already circled the entire beach. At that point I started to walk back to the tent where all my family and friends were. As I approached our tent, I recognized a familiar face that I haven’t seen in a while. To my surprise, it was him.

The last time I saw him was the summer of 2009 and after that I’ve never really talked to him. At first, I didn’t think he recognized me but then we started to talk. I took a stroll around the beach again with him and his cousins. We spent most of the day talking about our lives, our friends, and our family. I learned so much about him and saw that we had a lot in common. When I was talking to him, it felt like I knew him my whole life and it just seemed unreal how comfortable I felt towards him. The day was almost ending and I watched as the sun began to set on the horizon. After gazing at the beautiful display of fireworks, everyone began to pack up and go home. As I was leaving, I remembered that I never even had the chance to say goodbye to him. I looked around to realize he had already left. Even though I was not able to say goodbye, I had a feeling that I was going to hear from him pretty soon.

My instincts were right, because the next day I received a text from him. I had completely forgot that I gave his brother my number so that we could still keep in contact. His brother must have given him my number. A day or so passed when he finally confessed that liked me and I was ecstatic to hear that he felt the same way I did. After that, he and I began talking more and more frequently. Everything was going good until we ran into two problems. For one, summer was about to end in a week and two I’m not allowed to date until my junior year. Usually, the dating part was no problem because I would end up doing it anyways. It just becomes difficult hiding it from my mom. In my past relationships, it never really worked out because we wouldn’t be able to go out to places or do anything without getting caught. I had a feeling that if I wanted this time to work out then I would have to tell my mom about him. To me, this was a big step up because I have never opened up to my mom before. He was the only guy that made me realized that if I ever want things to work out then I would need to stop keeping things from my mom.

I was still sour with my mom two weeks prior but I finally built up the nerve to talk to her. My hands were trembling as I stood outside her bedroom door. My stomach felt twisted and I started having second thoughts. I didn’t realize it was going to be this hard. My brain kept yelling at me to stop being such a baby and knock already. So I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and banged my hand on the door. I came in and told her that we needed to talk. As I sat down on the bed, I could feel my heart pounding hard. But to my surprise, she took it quite well. There wasn’t that much arguing like how it normally is. Before, I’ve always had the urge to say some smart remark and that would just make it worst. This time, I actually took my time to listen to her and for once I didn’t feel the need to talk back. She told me about how she had lost her mom when she was very little and how she’d wished that she had a mom to talk to about these kinds of problems. Listening to my mom talk about her struggles as a kid growing up, it made me realize why she is that way she is. It isn’t to ruin my life or keep me from doing things, its to protect me from what she knows might lie ahead. She explained to me why I wasn’t able to do the things that most kids can do and that is because she is teaching me about moral values and how all my privileges must be earned and not taken for granted. It made me more grateful to have a mom to watch after me the way she has for the last 15 years. I didn’t realize how much trouble I’ve caused her with all my lies and secrets until that day. Neither one of us left the room that night without puffy red eyes.

The morning after the conversation with my mom, I called him up to tell him about it. I told him that I made a compromise last night with my mom about the whole dating issue. Everything that my mom and I talked about finally sunk into my head and I have learned from the mistakes I’ve made in the past. I was glad that he forced me into talking to my mom and his assurance helped me through it all. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to empathize my mom or had any clue about why she was so hard on me. Despite not being able to go out with him until next year, I think that was a smart decision to make. After all, summer doesn’t last forever but the memories and experiences are the ones I will definitely remember eternally.

Social Networking: Teens Who Log On Don’t Lag Behind

Do the positive aspects of social networking sites outweigh the negatives?

YES: Online social networks provide new opportunities for developing and maintaining social and work relationships.

NO: Revealing private information on social networking sites is foolish and can be dangerous, especially for young people.

Summary:

Today’s generation has been introduced to many social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Zanga, and so on. Many parents try to keep their child away from these types of sites due to their fears of the online world. Even though there may be some dangers, the good balances things out and shows that the world isn’t as bad as many people imagine it to be. Researchers from USC and UC Berkeley advocate parents to not block their kids from engaging into the digital media world due to their fears. Well-adjusted kids know not to talk to strangers and to be careful about what they put online. In society, electronic devices seem to be the path to how kids find their own identity, are able to work and communicate better, and are able to develop technical skills that they will need later on. Our generation is advancing into technology and these social networking sites help kids prepare for the future.

Article Link:

Social Networking

Proposition:

I agree that it is a lot better for kids to start using technology to improve themselves. These social websites are here for us to communicate more effectively and allow kids to develop their socializing skills. Socializing helps people develop a better understanding of each other. This allows our society to be more considerate of people because now we can relate to each other. Kids should not be restrained from learning how to interact with each other and I think that these sites can help kids enhance their media skills. They can also experiment all the different ways to express themselves and eventually find their identity. Many kids show their media skills such as photography, video making, web designing, graphic designing, and so on through these social networking sites. Overall, I believe we are coming to a new era where technology can allow the youth to be more aware of the things that are going on in their community. With society becoming more knowledgeable everyday, kids shouldn’t wait until they are older to learn about the online world.

Coming of Age: Another Step Into the Real World

As a little kid, all I had to worry about was recess and coloring inside the lines. Now that I have grown older I have come to realize that there are more important things to life. From my experiences, the older I have gotten the more freedom I have gained. With all that freedom also came responsibilities. I can no longer depend on everybody around me such as my parents and my friends. I need to rely on myself and be able to face the challenges that the world has to offer. To me, coming of age means to mature as a person in school, at home, and especially when it comes to money.

Only recently I have "Come of Age", which was the beginning of my high school career. Coming in as a freshman, I didn't know what to expect except that things were going to change. Going from middle school to high school was a big step up for me. There were a lot of exams and projects that helped shape me as a person. It helped me be more responsible for my own learning. Nobody was there to force me to study, instead I had to make my own choices and study by myself. I can't always rely on others to succeed. I was on my own when it came down to taking my exams or applying for the different activities around the school. High school, especially the meneMAC program, has helped me become a more responsible person and be a more independent learner.

Besides school, I have grown more mature at home as well. During the summer, I had a lot of chores that I needed to do. I noticed that I have more harder chores to do compared to when I was in middle school or even elementary school. If I wanted to go out then all my chores had to be done first. This taught me that all my privileges needed to be earned and not just handed out. If I want something, then I have to work hard for it. Life isn't always going to be easy and handed out on a silver platter like how it was in kindergarden. After the summer has ended, I know now that I have to gain my 'freedom'. Freedom meaning things such as my phone privileges to going out with my friends. I should be more grateful for these things rather then thinking its a necessity.

This summer especially, has been a time where I really matured and come to understand my parents more. I have been through a lot, especially with my family. I won't lie, but I've gotten into a lot of trouble in the pass month or so. I've argued with my mom about many things that I thought was unfair. Such as all the freedom that some kids have and that I don't. They weren't even good kids yet they still got to do whatever they wanted. But the more I argued, the more I realized how immature I was being. It wasn't right for me to talk back, especially towards my elders. I learned from my mistakes and am making sure I don't do it again. Once I realized this, I saw myself as a more understanding and a mature person. I should never talk back to someone who is older than me, even if I know I'm right and that they're wrong. Most of the time its pride, and they are really the ones who are right. It just takes some empathy to realize their point of view because sometimes, i don't know that my actions are really hurting me. My elders know what's best for me and that's why they do what they do. It isn't to keep me from doing things, but just to protect me from what they know is coming ahead.

I've always thought that I could get whatever I wanted. As of now, I know that everything I have is due to hard work because money doesn't grow on trees. When I was a little kid, if I wanted the newest toy, my parents were the ones who bought it for me. Back then I thought that it was so easy to get something because all you had to do was buy it at a store. Now, most of the time if I want something then I need buy it with my own money. My parents provide me with all the things that I NEED. They tell me that all the unecessary things that I want, I would have to work for it myself to gain moral value. By that time I didn't know what was coming to me. It isn't easy when I have to pay for things myself. Once I started to work for my money, I saw that the small things that I wanted so badly were not important anymore. Im looking at the bigger picture now and I think that making my own money has helped me "Come of Age".

In the end being more mature is being more understanding of other people's point of view. Not whining about things that you can't always have is all part of being more of an adult. Even though growing up does have its perks, such as more freedom, there are also the responsibilities that come with it. The real world or the reality of things isn't always going to be fair and most of the time it is very competitive. As I have "Come of Age", I learned from my experiences and became a more mature and independent person.

GLO reflection

Hello mom/guardian :D
welcome to my blog! here is the link to my GLO portfolio.
http://www2.k12.hi.us/~mnguyen/GLO.html

Its a portfolio that shows what i've been working on all year long and how it relates to Hawaii's standards. Throughout my MeneMAC experience, I have learned alot and this portfolio will show most of my hard work. I hope you enjoy my presentation!

Questions you must answer while commenting..

1. What did you like best about my portfolio and portfolio conference? What would you like to see me improve on in my portfolio?
   
2. From your point of view, which of my attainments of the 6 general learner outcomes is of most value? Please explain why you feel it is important and what about my documentation of it impresses you.
   
3. Which of the GLOs would you like me to focus on in the coming year(s)?

What makes a good sci-fi?

Journey to a Sci-Fi World

By: Maddie Nguyen

When we watch science fiction (sci-fi) movies like the Matrix, Wall-e, Star Trek, and so forth, get entertained to watch even more. We watch science fiction movies for entertainment and understanding of the possibilities that technology can take us. Screen writers think about what really keeps the audience wanting more. As our society begins to grow upon technology, we ponder about the future. Sci-fi stories educate the minds today, about what can happen to us due to certain scientific breakthroughs, so that we can be cautious about our lives in the future. We cannot ignore the advancing of technology and its possible outcomes, because every single day, we learn more and more about science. What makes an astonishing sci-fi is a story that sheds light on the potential outcome known to science. We continue making stories like these, to make the audiences contemplate and allowing their minds to imagine.

Science fiction must evoke a sense of wonder in the minds of the audience. A suspenseful and dramatic plot adds to the sense of wonder in the unknown future. The emphasis of the scientific breakthrough makes the audience more interested in the story. The main point of science fiction is meant for us to be entertained and informed. For instance, the “Matrix” movie has a great plot that makes the audience wonder what will happen if robots were to take over the world. The intentional effect of the movie was to both to entertain and inform. When screenwriters and authors produce sci-fi stories, they mainly focus on the plot and how it will appeal to the audience. An excellent sci-fi movie includes the climatic consequences and advantages that we can obtain from science. Although the movies are fictional, they include believable things that would make the audience imagine how life would be in the future and it adds to overall effect of a incredible science fiction story. A creative plot provides the forum in which we can prosper with the right knowledge. It allows our brain to escape from reality and into the unknown world of science and where it can take us.

Scientific possibilities for the future shape the entertainment industry today. When we make sci-fi entertainment, the scientific evidence that supports the story is very important. When we base the outcome of the future, we look upon science. Authors make science fiction for us because there is much potential in the future but the entertainment industry allows us to see the major consequences and warn us about what could happen. For instance, in the movie “Matrix”, the message to us was that in the future robots will begin to take over if we rely too much on technology. After watching the movie, I began to imagine our world in the future and the thought of a matrix world. Not only did it frighten me, but it made me more cautious. They capture our attention with fictional stories that can be supported with science. The fact that the stories can be supported with evidence makes us more imaginative and open to all the potential results.

Overall, the main point to an excellent good sci-fi is a enticing storyline and the plot is supported by science. Science fiction is made to entertain and educate us about the different breakthroughs that scientist are discovering. We make all of these sci-fi movies because it is entertaining, allows us to be imaginative, and makes us more cautious about the plausible outcomes that science have to offer.

Picture Analysis

In the Process..

Verbs:

Roasting, crackling, burning, sticking, heating, smoking, toasting, warming, cooking

Sensory Details:

Hear: crackling of the fire, stomachs grumbling,

Smell: the sweet marshmallow roasting, the wood burning,

Taste: the gooey & well toasted marshmallow

See: the blazing fire in the black night, the wood burning, the marshmallow toasting, the stick covered with sweet white residue

Feel: The warmth of the fire, the roughness of the stick, the rumbling in their stomach

Blog Invitation

In Process..
Hi everyone! My name is Maddie and I have been previously working on a poetry website. I invite you to come and enjoy the site and the different poems.

Click on picture>>>



A couple of things that I would like you to notice is the slideshow next to the poem. I felt like the pictures really matched the poems and lyrics. Another thing is that there is a megaphone looking picture and if you click it, it plays the song. I was trying to capture a sad mood and make you reflect. I hope you enjoy my site! After visiting my site please comment on this blog post. thank you.

Metephor Reflection

In process...

During this metaphor assignment, I have learned a lot about myself and I have enhanced my media skills.In the process of making a video, I had to not only act, but direct and edit my own video. I am usually the person that only acts in a video, but I now have produced, directed, and edited my OWN project. I enjoyed filming the many different angles and view points to capture the different perspectives. After a whole day of filming at the beach, I have enhanced my directing skills. That day, I was responsible for finding the best shots to use for my video. I feel as though I have accomplished in doing so. By finding unique angles and shots to express myself, I had use my creative thinking in order to produce my film.

I am happy with the outcome of my video because it wasn't a total failure. I was surprise that it came out so well because it was my first time in charge of an entire video project. Although it was a challenge for me to find the perfect spots, I managed and succeeded with flying colors. I didn't realize that there were so many different things I could do with my metaphor. I found that videography is pretty fun yet challenging.

I have come to learn that poetry is an art of expression. When people write poetry, they usually vent about everything i their life. That's what I did, I expressed and vented about myself. Before writing my poem, I jotted down some notes about myself and some notes about my metaphor. It seemed to me that we had A LOT in common. Which led me to decide my topic. Next, I wrote down some verbs and adjectives that described my metaphor. As I began thinking, my poem was done n flash. It was easy to write my poem because it was all about me and my feelings.

As I began to reflect and think about myself, I have come to discover a lot about myself. This project has forced me to think deep down and find all the different pieces of myself and put them together. I now have a much better understanding of myself and I how I feel or relate to something. Before the project, I didn't realize how much I didn't know about myself. I guess its because I never had the time to personally sit down and think about myself. I enjoyed this project very much and I hope we do another project dealing with videos because it was fun producing my own video.

5 poems

Song 1: IN THE END BY LINCOLN PARK

It starts with
One thing I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time

All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away

It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, but didn't even know
Or wasted it all just to watch you go

I kept everything inside
And even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be
A memory of a time when

I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter

One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme
To remind myself how

I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mocking me
Acting like I was part of your property
Remembering all the times you fought with me
I'm surprised

It got so far
Things aren't the way they were before
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then
But it all comes back to me in the end

You kept everything inside
And even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be
A memory of a time when

I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter

I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
And for all this
There's only one thing you should know

I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
And for all this
There's only one thing you should know

I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter

Song 2: NUMB BY LINCOLN PARK

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes

(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me?
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
?Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you

(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know I may end up failing too
But I know you were just like me
With someone disappointed in you

I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Poem 3: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Poem 4: Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.

Poem 5: Mines:)

Secrets of the Ocean

I flow smoothly,

undulating through life.

Although I may have my high and low tides,

I usually stay mellow.

I am known for fluctuating,

due to my uncertainties.

Around the island,

people come to me.

Whether to hang out, have fun, or reflect upon problems,

I will always be here no matter what.

Many who admire my calm horizon,

come to find that I can be full of life.

There are people who stay ashore and are too afraid to swim deeper.

Those are the ones who will only see shallowness,

and quickly judge my ways.

Occasions of rareness comes around when unique people,

risk their lives sailing pass the shallowness and into the deep unknown.

On a search for the treasure box deep down,

no one can get pass the gaurded sharks.

The secrets that lie beneath are great,

yet no one has the first clue.

I am an ocean.

Journal #27

Brainstorming....
hmmm...
---I could compare myself to the ocean. I have my high tides and my low tides.On bright and sunny days, I am clear as glass but on cloudy days, I am murky. Like an ocean I can be really deep and mellow but only towards people who would do anything for me. For instance, people who want to learn more about the ocean, risk their lives sailing out to the waters, not knowing whether they will come back. I also like to go with the flow, but when that beautiful moon or a 'pretty face' comes out then it controls me. Although the ocean can be really mellow it can also be really unpredictable, just like me. People go to the beach whenever they want to hang out, have fun, or just sit on the sand and reflect upon their life, just like how people come to me to talk about their life, their problems, to hang out, or to just party and have fun. Like an ocean, I am full of life and many people get lost with me. For instance, I would be talking about something and the person that I'm talking to would be so lost. People like to go in and out of the ocean just like how people come in and out of my life. Many only stay on the shallow end of my life because they are to scared to go farther on and discover my deeper side. People have no clue what lies beneath the ocean. Just like how scientist are discovering new things all the way down deep in the ocean. I am full of secrets and although some people think that they have me all figured out, they don't know the half of it.

Journal #25

“My Vocabulary History”

• Assess your own vocabulary. What are your strong points; what are your weak points when it comes to the trait of Word Choice in your writing and reading?
• I do not have many strong points in my vocabulary, but whenever I learn a new word I tend to use it in my writing. I have a lot of weak points in the word choice trait. I do not understand many words, but I intend on building up my vocabulary. I also have grammar problems whenever I try to write a paper.
  
• Describe how you have studied vocabulary in the past. What kinds of class activities and assignments have you experienced to work on your word choice?
• Ever since i was little, my dad would make me read at least once a day and write down any vocabulary words that I do not understand. He would tell me to write down all my vocabulary words in a journal, then he would test me. Since I do not see him as often anymore, I still try my best to keep finding vocabulary words so that i will benifit in the future. Some class activities that I have experienced and has helped me to work on my word choice, is whenever we write essays. Whenever I write an essay, my peers would correct it and tell me to make certain corrections. This helps me to improve on my essays and makes me realize my mistakes for next time.
• Describe how you, personally, learn new words. Give a specific example of how you have learned a new word recently.
• As I have said before, I still write down vocabulary words that I do not comprehend and then once i know what it means, it helps me to build a better understanding of what i am reading. I also try to study my words every once in a while.
  
• What are your specific vocabulary/word choice goals? How many new words would you like to learn this semester? What will be your evidence that you “own them” and can use them in your speaking and writing?
• A specific goal that I would like to achieve is being able to comprehend more words and studying my words more often. I would like to learn as many vocabulary words as possible, maybe 50+ by the end of the semester. My evidence would be improvement in my essays and a journal of vocbulary words that i have learned.

Journal #20- New Years

My friends and family gathered in the heart of Kalihi waiting eagerly for 2010. At 11:57pm multiple fireworks and aerials went off, each one louder than the next. We were all building up to the moment for the New Year. As I glanced down the streets, I noticed that they were being occupied by lots of people and fireworks, making it hard for cars to pass by. If I wanted to see, I had to squint through the thick smoke. Every time I needed to breathe in, I would have to inhale the acrid smell of gunpowder and all I could hear is the crackle of fireworks and the big explosions that rumbled in the night sky. Aerials were being launched from every single house nearby, especially the house I was at. As my uncles were getting ready to launch one, they noticed how much I was admiring the display of fireworks so they told me that I could fire up the aerial. I rushed through the fog with my burning taper in anticipation. Once I lit up the rocket shaped fire cracker, I rushed back to a safe position and watched the rocket shoot up in the air. It made whining screech as it was rising and then a big boom finale. I stared in amazement as the bright, neon lights exploded in the black sky. It was 11:59pm when everyone counted down “…5…4…3…2…1...” I began to have butterflies in my stomach as I anticipated for 2010. When the clock finally stroke midnight, everyone began cheering and screaming “Happy New Years” at the top of their lung, even louder and bigger fireworks were popping nonstop, and all of my family and friends were hugging one another. I was happy that I was surrounded by people who loved me and wouldn’t mind spending another year with me.