Lydia's Post

I used to think I knew exactly who I was. Last year was an amazing year: I got to know people I had never talked to before, I became closer with my existing friends, and had an all-around wonderful year. If you spoke to me then, I would probably tell you I knew exactly who I was. I would say that I was comfortable with myself and my flaws, that I loved my friends and family, and all about my hopes for the future. Looking back, I am still that person, but I am also a thousand other things. When I look at myself, I see someone who is quiet, loud, annoying, calm, outgoing, shy, secretive, friendly, open, short, and so many other things. How can I know who I am if who I think I am keeps changing?

Olivia's Post

I have a pin that says, "So I'm Me", but I really don't know who I am. I only know the small things. For example I know my feelings right now: I'm excited for England, but scared that something bad might happen, I'm happy for my going away party tomorrow, and happy that after I write this I will only have to study for Math. I also know what I'm wearing right now: I'm wearing a black and white pin striped vest, with a bunch of pins that I made out of bottle caps, and my flower pin, my "smile" pin and my So I'm Me pin, over a black shirt with a killer whale that says "What Are You Looking At?", and black and pink bandana, jeans, black and white vans and an Ed Hardy that says "Love Kills Slowly" with a chain. That's all I know about myself right now. If people saw the out-fit I was wearing, some people would think it's weird, or maybe they would like it and say that it shows who I am, which is true in way, but clothes don't make the person. some people would say, I'm weird but in a good way, the way I always have a million different laughs, and facial expressions, and the weird moises I make and the silly little things I do, but they make up who I am. Also a few other things I know are that I'm fiteen years old, four foot eleven inches tall, I have blue eyes, light brown hair and one thing that people might not know is that I have glasses, but I don't wear them that often. I love, music, chocaolate, Lacrosse, snowboarding, my dog, and my very interesting family.

Kyle's Post

I simply can't answer the question "Who are you?" I don't have enough time to figure it out. I know my name, what I like to eat, what makes me laugh, what hobbies interest me, but I have no idea who I am. I am just another kid that goes to school, has friends, plays sports, sleeps, eats, dreams. I am just another someone out of the no ones here on earth and I prefer to keep it that way.

Timmy's Post

When asked the question, "Who are you?", how can I possibly answer without giving a physical or mental description. To say that I like lacrosse or that I am 14 years old are useless if you think about it. They mean something now, but will they in 10 years? 20 years? Your interests change, your personality can change, basically everything can change. Basically, I am what I make myself. I am defined by the memories that I have or am in. Times past will be forever stored somewhere, and only those can make someone who they are. The the answer to my true self is found in my past, my present, and my future, and it can only be accessed through the mind.

Gabe's Post

I have been alive for 14 years and I only have a faint description for this question. Who am I? I am a growing individual. I have changed drastically since I came to Pine Point. I have gone from loving rap music, to loving techno, to loving rock, to loving heavy metal and funk. I have had my hair gratuitously long, unnecessarily short, and just about everything in between. The truth is, I may have an answer for you right now, but in a matter of months it could be drastically different. Right now, I am Gabe; a heavy metal loving energetic sporadic bassplaying goalie/baller from Westerly, Rhode Island, but ask again in a few months and then see what I say. 

Caroline's Post

I have always known who I am, but I do not fully understand who Caroline Burlingham is as a whole. I know my name, date of birth, school, and all the facts, but no one truly know the real me, including myself. I think that it take a lot of time, effort, and work to discover who you really are. As Mr. Salsich has told us, you can ask the same questions year after year and never get an answer. People have to look for answers in life when they don’t reveal themselves. I may never know who I really am, but I will always know who I want to be. This, in my opinion is the real question.

Ceilie's Post

Who am I? What does having the name Cecilia Moore mean? Who do I wake up as and who do I go to sleep being? Who was I in the past and how does that affect who I am now? I am a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I was once a toddler who managed to break an antique chandelier with a candlestick, and then stand in the aftermath of glass without a flaw on my skin. I was a careless kid who came home with bruises on her knees and scraps on her elbows after a long day of playing. I was a young girl who, as any third-born naturally would, grew a love for the stage and all eyes on her as she performed anything from cartwheels to dances. From those past beings I have evolved into who I am today. I have become a girl who couldn't survive without her best friends. A girl who loves the exhilarating feeling of freedom as she darts across the playing field, and can't help but feel pride as she paints a final stroke on a piece of art that she has worked so rigorously on.  I've become a girl who has a terrible habit of laughing at the exact wrong time. A girl who tears up during sad movies and bawls through the credits. A girl that hates talking about any emotion but happiness that she may feel. A girl who loves finding sand in her old beach bag in the middle of winter because of all the memories it brings back. A girl who loves to read but manages to be unbelievably slow at it. A girl who believes in stars and dreams coming true and that we'll all be happy in the end.  That's who you see walking down the hallway between classes and have seen for her past ten years at Pine Point. That is Cecilia Moore. 

Wendell's Post (Flaw post)

I believe that one of greatest flaws is that I am too nosy. Whenever someone is talking to someone and I am nearby or if someone has just finished talking to another person, I will ask one of the people what they were talking about. As you can imagine this is a very irritable flaw. I have had many a people tell me that it doesn't matter but for some reason I still want to know.

Scarlet.

I must say that I disagree with Julie and Eleanor. I know who I am at the moment. So, who is Scarlet? I am an irritating, loud, outgoing, strange girl who chooses to dress as if she is from Hogwarts. Right now, I love Harry Potter, The Beatles, my three best freinds: Ceilie, Anna, Lydia, the fact that there are only 9 days until we leave for England, and my dog Bella. Right now, I hate, that I still have to read the science homework, that I can't watch Across The Universe, that we have 3 months left until the end of school and the fact that I don't personally know President Barack Obama. Some of these things will change and others will remain a fact forever. This is who I am at 7:28 pm Februrary 23, 2009. Hello, I am Scarlet Elizabeth Caruso.

Julie's Post

Honestly, a question such as this one couldn't be harder. I believe that I have not lived long enough to really discover myself and know who I am. Deep down inside a person, we are not just boys and girls who go to Pine Point school, we are people so different from our exterior appearances. But, even so, I don't really know (yet) the contents of the deep ocean inside me. I hope that in a few years, we can all answer this question with a real answer.

Eleanor's Post

Answering who you are seems a fairly simple question. However, even though you may answer, it is near impossible to describe everything about you, your good qualities, your bad ones, what you like to do, where you come from. If someone asked me who I was and I answered optimistic and adventurous, even though they are two qualities,  it doesn't give any description. There are many shades of optimism and for adventurous it could be anything from all the time or just occasionally. Also, it's hard to understand who we really are seeing as everyday we change or refine one specific thing about ourselves. Yes, some points  stay the same, such as a love for lacrosse or where you come from, but from day to day your perspective on different subjects might be different. I don't think I will ever fully understand who I am but that doesn't stop me from making the decisions that suit me best.

Kimo's Flaw

My character flaw in this book of life is my respect: Respect for others, and respect for myself. I just don't know when to stop talking, when I have crossed that line between awkwardness to disgrace. I am far to critical of others, and will often think of someone in disgust for a trait that we both share. I don't like myself. Though I only admit this to myself at the most desperate of times, the truth is, I don't. I , like any other normal teenager, have problems with themselves, be it their personality or appearance. But my flaw lies further than that; I cannot look past my flaws, but instead dwell on them, which in turn leads me to miss opportunities in life, both major and minor. I don't show fair respect to others, and sometimes I do them a disgrace by feigning it. I don't have true respect for many, although there are many that deserve respect, even if I don't. So there. I doubt this is my biggest flaw, but the way I see myself is hopefully not how others see me. For though I may not respect appropriately, I care, and It's the care of others that keep me going.

Ty's post

My greatest flaw, would most likely be my lack of being outgoing. I have been keeping to myself up until this year and now I wish that I was less shy and more outgoing. This left a crack on my life that I am slowly rebuilding and resculpting into a new part of me that I hope to bring to my new school next year.

Zack's Post

A flaw that, I hope at least, people may not notice from day to day but one that torments me constantly is that I am far to critical of everyone around me especially with language and planning. I love language that sounds good and so I pay a lot of attention how different words together and what they really mean. When I then hear a classmate or teacher or parent say or write something that does not sound perfect, prepositions like "on" or "like" are the worst, I cringe and make a mental note that that person made a mistake. This would be okay if I did not hold these mistakes against people for the rest of there lives. I might hold proper planning and processes in even higher regard. Because I have payed so much attention to what my parents and grandparents have done in planning just about anything plannable I find myself thinking in terms of a process with a desired result. So when I see or hear about planning that has any sort of unaccounted pitfalls it takes all my self restraint to not point out every single mistake. These are two things that I find myself using these two things to judge an entire person and it can take me a long time to get past them.

Olivia's post

The two biggest flaws I have are not being confident enough, and complaining. Ever since the sixth grade, my friends have always been saying stop complaining. I would always complain if things didn't go my way, but not in a princess way. I would have too much emotional baggage, and it would weigh down my relationships with people and they would get annoyed. I still complain, but not as much and not about stupid things. Which leads me into my next flaw, self confidence. Every time report cards come around my teachers always say that I'm a good student, but I don't believe in my self. I always think I can't do something or am too afraid to try or ask something. Which isn't true, but once you see someone who has everything, it kind of puts you down, and that's what happened to me. This year I felt like I had new chances to take and it was a clean slate. It turned out to be true. Some of it hasn't gone my way, but I have dealt with it, and just think that maybe someday I will get the chance.

Lydia's Post

Like many people have already said, one of my biggest flaws is that I occasionally speak without thinking. I try to consider what I am going to say before it comes out of my mouth, but sometimes I don't. I end up offending people or saying something I will regret later. I have been trying to think before I speak, but often the words come out anyway. I may think that because I am with my friends, I can say anything because I know they will not judge me, but that is no excuse for saying something cruel or hurtful.

Anna's Post

When I take a look at myself and all of my imperfections, I am overwhelmed. I see a person who takes certain things too seriously and others much too lightly, a person who leaves work until the last minute, and a girl who laughs a little too hard at the wrong times. However, perhaps the most glaring flaw I see in myself is the tendency to speak without thinking. Sometimes I find myself speaking from what feels like a script, in well-rehearsed tones and instinctive words. These empty conversations mean nothing. They are the generic good mornings in the hall or the routine check-in with distant relatives, and though the action is genuine, the words themselves are careless and repetitive. This flaw also leads to hurtful comments. I see myself as a kind and thoughtful person, however there are times when a judgement slips out of my mouth in a moment of carelessness. I see many imperfections when I look at myself, however I know that I will continue to strive for self-improvement. It is not the flaws themselves that contribute to ones personality, but rather the way in which we diminish these negative qualities to let the good shine through.

Kate's

One of my biggest flaws is that sometimes I lack self confident. Because of that I have missed out on some great opportunities. I'm still trying to build my self confidence up and I hope that in the future I will not let an opportunity slip by.

Eleanor's Post

Like Caroline I also am quiet, however I feel that my biggest flaw is how critical I am. When I see something that isn't right in reality, or in my view isn't right, I tend to feel that I need to tell that person or someone that it's wrong or doesn't appear right. Whether it's a homework problem or someone's outfit, every now and then I can't stop myself. I know that sometimes what I say can be mean or downright random, and I'm trying hard to make sure I know what I'm saying before it comes out.

Tristan's Post

"The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation." This quote may seem confusing at first sight, but I feel as if it applies to me and my main flaw. My main flaw is my tendency to be amicable. At first, this may seem to not be a flaw, making it the more dangerous. This flaw is more dangerous because it is a good quality when used in check, in moderation. When this quality is not used in check, it distracts others, myself, and it tends to get me in trouble. I have worse flaws, but they are rarely expressed, and I think my tendency to be amicable is the most applicable for most.

Parker

I have many flaws, one being my obsession on the little things. Some might call it OCD, for example when I lose something, whether it's some game, or whether I lost my lunchbox at school, I obsess over it, and sometimes get very angry. I get angry over the littlest things. "Don't sweat the small stuff!"- my dad always says, which I keep trying to do, but I'm still learning.

Scarlet's Flaws

We, as humans, all have flaws. One of my many flaws is the fact that sometimes I am a little too lazy. When it comes to homework assignments I often look at it while humming and thinking about a sunny, warm beach. Then, three hours later I find myself looking at the same assignment and I have answered only one or two of the twenty questions. I also find myself very lazy on the weekends. Most people take advantage of their weekends by going to the movies, going to a party or having a sleepover. What I find myself doing on the weekends is laying around reading a book when I could really study for the french quiz coming up or hanging out with my friends. Everyone has flaws. One of my flaws? I am just too darn lazy.

Timmy's Post

One flaw of mine is procrastination. When I set my mind to something, I get it done, but it takes me a while to get around to starting things. This flaw sometimes makes it difficult for me to get multiple things done in a short time span. Also, I am very easily distracted. If i am not 100% interested in something that could possibly be done at a later date, I tend to let my mind wander. I end up doing something else instead of my original purpose.

Ceilie's Post

Flaws are what makes one human. I have many of these flaws, from my clumsiness to my overbearing loquaciousness, my faults are what make me me. One of my most infamous flaws is my irritating desire to make everything perfect. As one would usually see that as an ideal quality, it has done nothing but harmed me in the past. It causes me to take the most simple task, such as writing my name, and made me analyze every aspect of my actions, then go back and made it better. Because of this fault I have literally spent long lengths of time fixing the way I have written my name at the top of a handout given to me in class. This flaw of mine does nothing but waste my time because as my mother always told me as a kid, "Nothing is perfect", and this theory is only proven more as I write this short paragraph about my imperfections.

Shad's Post

One of my flaws is my gullibility; I can become fooled to believe even the simplest of fibs or jokes :]. There have also been many times when I have not wanted to do something and have either been tricked or dragged into doing something. One thing I have to do everyday is become more careful with the choices that I make, because I never know if someone is tricking me.

Julie's Post

One of my many flaws is my humor. It may be funny at times but the people that don't understand can become offended. I have learned to think before speaking because it could really hurt a person's feelings. I think I really have to be careful because not everyone understands the humor that keeps me going :)

gabe's post

My flaw is that I can get way too energetic. There have been instances where I have been calm and some one did something humorous to make me laugh. Instantly, I am more alert but at the same time much more distracted and distracting.

Caroline's Post

One of my biggest flaws is my shyness. I am not an outgoing person, and this has held me back on many occations. I have always tried to be outgoing and open, but somthing seems to hold me back. Hopefully, in time, i will overcome this and be who i want to be.

Hannah's Post <3

Flaws are simply like mistakes. You have them and then simply overcome them. A flaw I have would be my competitiveness. When playing sports, it's not about winning for me but knowing that I gave it my all. After playing a game, instead of pointing out the posotive things I did, I critque myself and really try to help myself improve. In a way this can be helpful as an athlete, and it some ways it can just bring your self asteem down. In the future, I am going to start just focussing on the games I love and knowm and do my best.

Sarahs Post=]

In my life, I have many flaws. For example, I can be a very loud person and although I do know when to simmer down, I can easily get on peoples nerves. I've been trying fairly hard this year to try and tone down my voice, but when I get excited, my voice can overpower anything that stands in its way.

Kyle's Post

A major flaw of mine that is brought to my attention time and time again is my level of kindness to others. I love buying things and doing favors for people because I love the feeling I get after doing something for someone. Teachers often warn me about being taken advantage of and even though I know my friends and family wouldn't ever do that to me it doesn't mean that other people won't. Kindness can be as much a weakness as it is a strength and I just need to know that I can't make everyone happy and that I deserve to make myself happy once in a while.

gabe's post

Gabriel Campbell

Mr. Salsich

English B

February 9^th 2009

 

            We all have our own idea of what magic is, whether it is pulling objects out of a hat or making things vanish (FAST word) into thin air. My idea of magic is being alive. When I was six years old, I was hit by a car. I nearly died and was unconscious for several hours. I had also broken my collarbone and pelvis. This may seem like a strange form of magic, but there are some very convincing reasons. I could have never walked again, I could have never had function of my body again, or I could have woken up again (Anaphora).  This to me is magic because car accidents frequently bring disabilities and death, and I had narrowly (FAST word) escaped both. I am a healthy teenager, all my body parts are functioning, and I am alive. This to me is magic. Overall, while my form of magic involves escaping death, after what I’ve encountered that is magical enough for me

Anna's Post

Anna Holt
English 9
Mr. H Salsich
February 10th, 2008

Magic in the Moment:
A Paragraph on Enchantment

There is a fleeting (FAST) and undefined time in each of our lives when magic is undeniably present. For most, this part of life occurs early on. Magic blesses us when we are young, bright-eyed and beautiful as we wrap our minds around the earth and all of its wonders. It is a time of endless possibilities and faraway lands, of Santa Claus and fairy tales. As we grow, magic fades. Intrigue (FAST) begins to die, and we develop boundaries to a once endless world of imagination. In a sense, we trade magic for knowledge, for as we grow older, we learn things that disprove the tooth fairy and Harry Potter. We exchange the magic of the unknown for concrete facts, and perhaps this is what destroys the blissful beliefs that we hold as children. However, there is some magic that remains eternal. It is magical to walk outside on the first day of spring, breathing in sweet warm air after an icy winter. It is magical to laugh with all your might, oblivious to the tears of joy that stream down your face like summer rain. It is magical to fall asleep and enter a dream that is all your own. (Anaphora- "It is magical") I am magical and you are magical. Never let that magic die.

Rashad's Paragraph

Magic is found in many places in my life. My friends, my luck and my skill.(Anaphora) My friends are like magic because they seem to instantly get rid of any of my pain that is ailing me. Whenever I am feeling down in the dirt one of them picks me back up. My luck is another thing that is like magic. While in basketball practice last year I lobbed up a full court shot; extravagantly(FAST) enough the shot made a wonderful swish sound at the other end of the court. This to me seemed like a wonderful burst of magic was swathed(FAST) upon me. The final thing that has shown me magic in my life is skill. Skill is something that comes with practice and computers are something I have had skill in ever since computer class in 2nd grade; with a little bit of magic my practice and interest in computers helped me become the tech expert that I currently am. Magic is something that is unpredictable and can be found in many places. Where will you find magic?

Kate's Post

Kate Scott
February 10, 2009
Mr. Salsich
English 9
Magic in my life:
An Essay on the Role Magic has Played in My Life
In my live magic can be anything. It doesn’t have to be fairies or unicorns it can be as simple as laughter. When your best friend makes a joke and you start laughing, that feeling is magical. It brightens your day and makes you feel wonderful. Another thing that is magical in my life is when I make the perfect banana bread. Waiting for it to come out of the oven and smelling that scrumptious (Fast) smell of banana bread is almost as good as eating it. The satisfaction and feeling I get when taking perfectly cooked banana bread out of the oven is magical. Another thing in my life that is magical is reading. When I sit down with a good book I cant put it down until I have finished reading it. For example, while reading the “ Harry Potter” books by J, K. Rowling I felt like somewhere out there Harry Potter was out fighting wizards and saving the world. Books can put you into a trance (Fast) that feels like magic. In my live I can find magic in anything.

Kimo's Magic

Kimo Gray
2.10.09
English9
Hamilton Salsich

Magic in the Mundane
An Essay on Magic in my Life

Magic is the perseverance of the caterpillar to stretch its new wings. Magic is the captivity of a time-old story. Magic is the inexplicable joy received by the random exclamatory, “Giraffe!” Contrary to tales of wizardry and spells, there is a multitude of magic, of which we ourselves create. Magic is indefinable. There is magic in everything, but sometimes it just takes a closer look. Whenever I am in class and something clicks in my mind, the magic of newfound knowledge seeps through me. Whenever I view one of nature’s many wonders a more human magic envelopes me. Whenever I can put a smile on someone’s face, not only am I feeling the magic of happiness, but so are they. Life can be hard sometimes, and it is times like these when you feel as if the magic has left you. But it is never too far away. Magic has a submissive (SAT) quality to it, as its only purpose is to benefit others, but during those hard times are when you need magic the most, as it has often been known to raise a spirit or two. There is the magic of feats and tricks, but the only true magic is the kind that can be felt in the heart; this is what matters most in the world. It is the magic that inspires a stranger to stand up for a newfound light, the magic that re-establish love in a dying world, and the magic (Anaphora) that makes life so spontaneously (SAT) great. I feel magic every day, the greatest of which the love that I feel from a million beacons, all around me. Though we may depend on those daily occurrences of magic, the best type of magic is the kind you can share with others.

Zack's Paragraph

Zachary Dameron
February 10 2009
Mr. Salsich
Enlgish 9

Beyond The Beyond:
A Paragraph Placing Magic in My Own Life

Magic is everywhere we choose to put it; it is a silent force that we can say does the impossible because we do not believe we can do it. I find the magic in my life at the very edge of and then beyond what I would normally say is within my abilities. The cliffs and boulders where I rock climb are always sewn with magic. From the bottom, I will call an ascent impossible; once I am in the middle, on the rock, every nook and cranny becomes viable, nothing will kill me, and then, at the top, the ascent, again, looks impossible. In that magical middle area, my fingers and the rock seem glued together, and I can hurl myself ever higher, weightless. On the rainy days though, when the rock is too slippery, I might sit alone and scribble small stories or poems on little scraps of paper. I let words float into my head and then I can contort them, twisting and bending, until they drop out of my pencil onto the paper; their meanings become new and fantastic, barely comprehendible, even by me the author. Before I see the words on the paper, I have trouble believe language could be so flexible and powerful, transcending (FAST) the original meaning of the writer. The magic continues in soccer: my foot arriving with precision before I think to move it, in math: my mind working in leaps and bounds to catch some illusive (FAST) answer, and even humor: quips and puns bursting forth from some forgotten cavity of my brain to leave a friend in stitches. These are not normal day to day occurrences but instead, are occasional flashes of true potential carrying me briefly forward only to all too soon vanish and leave me to be my normal self. I know that it is magic causing what I do when it should be impossible, when there is no fear of pain, no fear of failure, no fear of ridicule, only the fear of stopping to feel the magic ebb away. (Anaphora)

Ty's paragraph

Ty LeVarge
Mr. Hamilton Salsich
English 02
February 10, 2009

Magic is everywhere
A paragraph oh the magic that I have experienced in my life

I have seen several types of magic, from disappearances to inspiring moments; I have seen random magic, and I have seen powerful magic, and I have seen physical and mental magic. Random magic can be things such as a bird disappearing into a cat’s mouth. This is random magic that happened with my aunt’s dog and a normal looking cardinal. This may not include a cat but the dog had made the bird disappear out of thin air. Another that has worked its magic is the time when I first came to this school. I knew that Pine Point was the place of where great magic tricks were born such as making great friends that care about you. Pine Point is a site of where magic was born and created for others to spread. The final impact of magic is my friends. My friends generate magic that has physical and abstract properties. They are an essential part of how I am able to remain happy and content with myself. These are not only magic moments and people in my life but also memories that I will treasure for eternity.

lydia's post

Lydia Schulz

Mr. H. Salsich

9 English

February 10, 2009

Do You Believe In Magic?

An Essay on the Magic in My Life

        Everyone defines magic differently. For me, there is little magic in the purchase of your dream car or an expensive, extravagant event. Magic does not come to the rich and greedy, at least not in its true form. You may look at these people and think they have everything, but in reality, they lack the true magic that can make the lives of ordinary people so special. True magic comes to us in the small things that happen. It comes in the blazing colors of a beautiful sunrise, it comes in a secret smile with your best friend, and it comes in all the small surprises that get us through a rough day. We may think that our lives are uninteresting and lack exciting energy, but we may not have looked hard enough to find the real magic in our lives. Still, magic does not always come from something that is seemingly insignificant. Last summer, I was on a trip to Maine with a friend and her family. We were coming back on their boat from a party on a neighboring island and we dropped some friends off on the way. When the boat turned away from the dock, I looked up to see a brilliant sunset reflecting upon the ocean. On a cold winter day, I close my eyes and picture this magical moment and smile.

Olivia's paragraph

Olivia Denison
Mr. Salsich
English 9
10 February 2009

Magic in Life:

A Paragraph About the Role that Magic Has Played in My Life

When I was growing up, my grandmother always used to say to me, “I’ll always be in your heart, even when I’m no longer with you.” During the month of February last year, she died suddenly without any warning. The night she died, her words kept reverberating (FAST) in my mind as I sat in the chair that she always sat in. It hurt to think about it, but it was also soothing to remember the words, even though she wasn’t there in person saying them. Every summer I go to Cuttyhunk Island, and while I’m there, I usually look for sea glass. I love walking on the beaches, finding sea glass, even the tiniest pieces ever found. I always have had a fondness (FAST) for rocks, as well. I like all the different shapes, colors and designs, and I can never resist bringing some home. Last summer, as I was walking along the quiet beach looking for sea glass, I spied a heart shaped rock. I picked it up, and traced the edge with my finger, admiring its beauty. As I gazed at the rock, the words, “I’ll always be in your heart, even when I’m no longer with you”, went through my mind, and I knew at that exact moment my grandmother was somewhere nearby. She wasn’t there in person, though I could see her, I could smell her, I could touch her, I could hear her,(ANAPHORA) and the rock was a symbol that she was there. Now, whenever I pick it up, my thoughts return to that moment and those words, always knowing that I possess a part of her in my hands, and in my heart.

Timmy's Post

Timmy O’Brien
Mr. Salsich
English 9
2/10/09

The Magic in my Life:

A Paragraph About Things that have seemed “Like Magic”

        In my life, there have been many magical things. One of which was my uncanny [FAST] ability to read minds as a child. I couldn’t do it whenever I wanted; it just happened randomly. For example, one time I was driving in the car with my mom, and she was thinking about her mother and how sad it was to lose her. I said something along the lines of, “It’s okay; she loved you.” Upon hearing this, she was amazed because she had not told me about her thoughts was quite surprised at this outburst. Although I have since lost this ability completely, it is an example of literal magic in my life. I have also enjoyed the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. This is a more figurative look at the magical side of my life. Whenever a new edition of her series was released, our family would buy one copy, and my brother would always get to read it first. I would be stuck waiting for a couple of days while everyone around me enjoyed the magic. Although, when I was finally able to read it, the wait was worth it. I was entranced by the words the seemed to put me under a spell to make me keep reading, and I loved reading about a magical world where almost anything was possible. Magic has been around to help me tune into other people’s hardships or triumphs, to help me escape into a far away land, and to help me live a life with dreams [Anaphora].

Hannah's Paragraph

Hannah Staley
English 9
Mr. Salsich
10 February 2009


The Magic of Pine Point:
A paragraph on the magic of Pine Point

Have you ever felt fortuitous? Have you felt like anything is possible? Have you had the experience of feeling that anything is within your reach? (Anaphora) I have. There have been many different scenes in my life which have felt magical, but one really stands out. I can remember the first time I came to visit Pine Point and made the decision that this is where I want to be. When I first stepped into the front doors of this school, I was welcomed with open arms and huge smiles. To me, this was strange since I was coming from a school that had up to 200 kids in the grade. I was simply amazed at the fact that these fourth grade students were ready to show me, a complete stranger, how things work and welcome me into their family. This visit had a sense of magic because I had never seen anything like it. I was impressed by the way Pine Point students engaged me in conversation. In fact, I can remember shyly sitting across from Ceilie and her making the effort to introduce herself with a cheerful “hi I’m Ceilie Moore welcome to the fourth grade!” It was a comment like that that had me sold on the school and really showed her exemplary behavior towards newcomers. Finally, Pine Point was magical for me because I was accepted. I joined these wonderful kids in the fifth grade. That first day was was terrifying but one I will never forget. I thank Ceilie for her enthusiasm and willingness to make me comfortable. So whether it’s coming to a new school, moving to a new place or trying a new food, I can almost guarantee you something magical will happen along the way if you are lucky like me.

Parker's Post

Parker Verhoeff
English 9
Mr. Salsich
2.10.09

The Simplicity of Magic:
A Paragraph on Magic

Magic can be found anywhere. Whether it's with your friends, with your family, or with yourself, magic is always there (Anaphora). With your friends, the simplest things can uncover the most aesthetic (FAST) magic. Family members can also fill your life with magic. For example, I just received a phone call from my little niece, which brightened up my entire day. By yourself magic is just as nonchalant (FAST) as, listening to your "Ipod" and your favorite song comes on. The thing that all of these instances have in common, is simplicity. Magic doesn't have to be as complicated as magicians doing tricks, or fire-breathing dragons. Instead, it can be in the form of a chuckle with a friend, a phone call, or even a song. Anybody can experience magic, and I'm sure everybody already has. Our whole lives are magical; you just have to look beyond the tip of your nose.

Eleanor's Paragraph Post

Eleanor Hilton
Mr. Salsich
English 9
February 10th 2009

Simply Magical
A Paragraph on My Thoughts about Something I Find Magical

When thinking of magic, numerous pictures and thoughts come into my head including the Harry Potter books, many Disney movies and the theme park itself. However I also think of life and our world. Today life is so precious, so evanescent, (SAT) but where did life on Earth come from? Just thinking and conducting experiments about this one question is simply magical by itself. We spend so much time devoted to what we believe or think, I personally think it is one of the most benevolent, (SAT) qualities of man-kind. Aside from that, the subject of evolution is also magical. How come our planet is the one with life, and so far no other has been found? How come we were blessed with beautiful surroundings? How come we were given minds that could grow, think and develop to find answers to amazing questions? (Anaphora) I know that we will probably never find the light in the fog, and yet it’s magical that we still try to escape the darkness.

Wendell's Post

Wendell Frink
Mr. Salsich
English 9
10 February 2009

Magic in My Life
A Paragraph about Magical Events in My Life

In my short and venerable [FAST] life, I have only had a couple of events that were magical to me. I believe the most magical event in my life was when I learned to carve with a snowboard. The curving, arching, turning [Purposeful Repetition] lines created by the board’s edges are something that is magical to me. Whenever I see this event occur, it soothes me to a certain calmness as I remember when I was able to produce those lines. A second thing in my life that is magical to me is the art of sleeping. Sleeping rejuvenates your mind, sleeping fixes your body, and sleeping helps you perform better [Anaphora]. The feeling of laying my head on a cool pillow is magical. The last magical thing that has occurred in my life is when I learned to read. My mom would make me read her several short stories about animals every night. I remember when I finally was able to decipher [FAST] the pages of each book with ease, for it was truly magical. Several memorable magical events have occurred in my lifetime.

Ceilie's Post

Ceilie Moore

Mr. Salsich

English 9

February 10th, 2009

My Lack Of Magic:

A Paragraph On The Magic In My Life

Magic can’t be searched for, it can’t be bought and it can’t be relied on. (Anaphora) It appears where it is needed most, in tragedy, in despair and in agony. You often read of the sick child, slowly meeting their death in their hospital bed and out of nowhere, they are cured. Or you may hear of the poor woman begging on the street, rattling her coffee mug that cost her that week’s paycheck and she suddenly finds a hundred dollars on the ground and uses it to start a million-dollar corporation. Magic is ignited by tragedy and I haven’t enough experience with misfortune to experience this magic. In the short, fourteen years I’ve been alive I have encountered loss, heartbreak and anguish (FAST), but what separates my past situations with the ones that need a miracle, is hope. The moments when I’ve felt sorrow, I’ve never lost the faith in something coming through the clouds and releasing me from my pain. The ill child dying a young age and the old woman scrounging trashcans for survival have been through enough to lose hope. They have lived life so inconsistently and so unfairly that they can’t count on a miracle to make it through the day. Sure, I have suffered, but never enough to have to depend on magic to turn my situation around. Maybe one day I’ll need magic, and maybe back when I lived through hardships I hoped for some, but right now I don’t deserve it as much as those millions of people who are currently fighting to see tomorrow.

Julie's Paragraph

Julie Philippe
Mr. Hamilton Salsich
English 9
February 10th, 2009

Magic:

a paragraph about the role of magic in my life

Like Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, we all have our magic powers. We all have the magic to make a miracle happen, we all have the magic to be better people, but most importantly, we all have the magic to be who we are (Anaphora). To me, my whole life is magical. The chance to live a life in America surrounded by the most generous people is magical. Even the endless acts of kindness of a classmate or the smile of a stranger is magical. The most magical moment of my life was my first birthday party in the United States. As soon as all my new friends walked in the living room singing happy birthday, I felt as though they had finally crossed a line through my differences. After all these lonely months, it was so magical to feel accepted, loved, and wanted. At the end of that party, I felt on top of the world, as if all this discrepancy (FAST) had flown away. The words of hate and the feeling of anger from the other kids had gone away. Magic taught me to value friendship and understand the power of indifference. I believe that magic can change a life, it can change hate, and wipe away all tears into a smile.

Julie

Scarlet's Paragraph

Scarlet Caruso
English 9
Hamilton Salsich
2/10/09

Magic In Life
An essay about the magic in The Tempest and how it is in everday life:

Magic is always around us. It's in the sublime (FAST) blue sky, it's in the large hug you receive from a friend, and it's in the feeling you get when you listen to your favorite song.(ANAPHORA) I often witness small magic things in my life. For example, I was sitting in math class one day and I was extremely restless, legs twitching and brain full of daydreams, I looked out of the window. While looking outside, I thought about how much I despise the winter but then I saw icicles hanging off the walkway. The sun had caught them just right and the water droplets dripping off of them looked like tears of light. There in a regular math class, I experienced magic. Another thing I find quite magical are books. Just the other night I was reading, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling and I found myself petrified (FAST) of a certain character. Lord Voldemort is one of the most terrifying and powerful wizards in the wizarding world and I found myself fearing him as much as the wizards and witches in the book do. That night I slept with the lights on, completely fearful of a certain wizard visiting me in the night. Yet another example of magic, an author creating emotions so powerful that you feel them along with the characters. My final example of magic I have found in friendship. This past summer for two weeks I found myself abandoned from my three very best friends. I understood that they could not stay with me for all of those warm months, so I accepted it. For those two weeks I desperately wished to talk to any of them and then one day I got a call from my friend that was away at camp. To hear her voice and to laugh hysterically yet again was magic. My mood was lifted to a new height and I was very happy for the next few days. I again experienced a tiny bit of magic from an everyday thing. Magic is everywhere, although we may not realize it, magic shows itself to us everyday. All you need to do is look out a window, pick up a book, or call a friend. All of these things can bring you true magic.

Caroline's Post

Caroline Burlingham
Mr. H. Salsich
Honors English
February 10, 2009

My Magic:
A Paragraph on the Magic in My Life

Naturally, when I think of magic, I think of unicorns, dragons, and wizards, but the song “Do You Believe in Magic” by Ali and AJ made me think about whether magic is more than just a fantasy. Later on, I began to think back to one of my first Christmas’s. At the time, this holiday was like magic; not only did I learn that flying reindeer would be landing on my roof and that when I woke up there would be tons of presents under a tree for me, but it was a time that brought all my family and friends together. This anecdote (FAST from the 100 SAT words) was the start of a new and magical tradition. Every Christmas, since I can remember, has been spent laughing, has been spent joyfully, and has been spent with my family (ANAPHORA). Through this tradition, new traditions have been formed, such as sneaking downstairs with my cousins in hopes of seeing Santa Clause. The feeling of waking up on Christmas day is one of the most magical and indescribable feelings in the world. I know for a fact, that in ten years from now, I will still be spending Christmas with my family, laughing, and sharing stories as I do now. The security that a tradition offers is like no other. It, in a way, is pure magic. I now know that magic is not only found in fairytales, but in our lives as well, it’s just a little less obvious.

Kyle's Magic

Kyle Sebastian
Professor H. Salsich
English 9
10 February 2009

People Portray My Magic:

An essay on what is magical in my life.

The people in my life are also the magic in my life. My friends are the people who keep my life interesting and worth exploring. They always keep me on my toes with their crazy personas. Each and everyone one of them has something to contribute to make my days full of magic and wonder. My family are the people that make sure I'm true to myself and that I live my life to the fullest. They don't let me miss opportunities no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. I remember a time when I said "but I don't want to go to a private school" and yet here I am twelve years later with the same friends, the same teachers, in the same school. Even total strangers are people that bring magic to my daily life. Even a wave or a small "hello" from someone I don't know can make my day full of happiness and magic. Even a small act of unaldultered kindness from a stranger can instantly brighten my day. Magic comes from the people that surround me in day to day life and without them I don't know how I would live.

Kates Post

What is happening in Congo right now is horrible. I don believe that the situation will get any better because we are not doing any thing about it. I think we should focus more of are attention on Congo soon. its not going to get any better unless people help out.

Congo --Kimo

To put it quite simply-What Zack said. Earlier this year, on a hot, boring day, I went to cnn.com to see what the headlines were. There, I saw a forest fire, an election update or two, a study on social trends. And in the corner, just a blurb, "Congo Crisis Worsens." Now, a few months later, I am still amazed at how little stride has been made towards something that has been called a crisis. Africa is not just some floating rock. There are real people there, who experience real pain and are being treated with very real and inhumane cruelties. We need to get over ourselves and act.

Ty's post

From what I've heard from others, I think that Congo isn't going to get any better from what we are doing now. We are sending UN peacekeepers, but they will not make the problem disappear. Sometimes a force is required to make something disappear and we need people fighting or pushing the bad guys away. I think that violence isn't always the right answer but for something like this, violence may be needed to stop all of these horrible things from happening instead of sending child soldiers, and peacekeepers.

Zack's Post

It is an interesting perception that just because something is not a part of main stream media nobody knows or cares. Contrary to many of my classmates I already knew about the horrific events in the Congo and about everything that is already being done there. It is hard for me to continue to dredge up the same feelings of horror that I had in me in July but it is no less terrible that such violence is allowed to happen. I feel terrible about the rape and murder but it is just as terrible that we have been able to sit here with our Starbucks and iPhones and designer clothes and ignore the cries of help that have been coming from that God forsaken country for so long so we can sit here and complain about inflation. If we want violence that in the Congo to end we need to bridge the gap between first and third worlds or wrongly assume the right to control of the entire planet and regulate all people for our own ends.

I apologize for sounding cynical.

Parker's Post

What is happening in the DRC is horrific. I don't think we're paying close enough attention to it, mainly since our situation in Afghanistan/Iraq is getting progressively worse, but another reason would be western society just does not care. Since genocide has been going on in Africa for numerous years, we take their lives for granted. They are people, like you and me, that are getting brutally murdered everyday. Also, I'm sure the majority of western society doesn't even know what the DRC is, let alone what's happening at this very second. Africa just isn't as newsworthy as Angelina adopting a new baby, or Jessica Simpson gaining a few pounds.

Olivia's post

No one should be forced to do anything, especially children. Childrens' minds aren't developed enough yet to see that what people are making them do is wrong. It's sad to see someone who has so much potential to be turned into a weapon against others. Children will do anything anybody says, and maybe they will notice something isn't right with the situation, but they are afraid of what will happen to them if they run away. They will most likely grow up to be outcasts of society, and of course some will probably go to therapy, but that will only help some. Some of them will never be helped.

Anna's post

In my opinion, we are absolutely not doing enough to help with the situation in Congo. In a time when jet planes soar across the sky and money is thrown into violence like dirt, it appalls me that America has done nothing drastic to help this growing issue. We have the means, the money, and the knowledge necessary to solve the issue, yet we continue to prioritize wrongly. This issue is more important than the economy. It is more important than war machines and immigrant systems; it is genocide, and everyone deserves a chance to live.

Gabe's Post

I feel much remorse for these children. They are forced to give up their childhood for a worthless war, and are brutally beaten if they disagree. They are slaves for no reason and no cause.

Hannah's Post :)

Like a lot of other kids in the ninth grade I knew only a little bit about the Congo crisis. But after learning all of this information over the last few days, I feel awful. The thought of children being drugged and trained to be solders is unthinkable and it is really disgusting. Obviously this situation is going to get worse before it gets better and I think the United States should help. I believe that we have the power to change some lives and help people in this rough situation.

Scarlet:

I could not agree more with Lydia. I had heard very little about the situation in Congo before this assignment. I definitely think that if we spread the word of the tragedies that are happening everyday in Congo, more people would help. My group's question was, "Are the world leader's doing enough to help the crisis?". As Tristan rightly said, "They are obviously not doing enough because it's still going on." We have the power to fix this situation, it just depends on the world's perseverance to begin helping.

Lydias post

Like many people, I was astounded at how little I knew about the situation in the Congo. I would expect something as horrific and important as this would make its way onto a news station, but I hadn't heard anything about it until we were given our assignment. It makes me wonder if perhaps if this situation was more publicized, we might be doing more to help. No one will donate money or volunteer their time to an organization if they know nothing about it. The action we need to take is to make people more aware of the violence occurring in the DRC, which will then inspire people to help the poor citizens of this war-torn country. 

Eleanor's Post

  Before being asked to research the Congo by Mr. Williams I only knew it as a country in Africa. However everyday hundreds of women and girls are raped, hundreds of small children are sent to war, drugged and beaten to make them stay, and hundreds are dying from violence and raids which is destroying their homes and families. Sarah and I were in charge of searching for NGO's, non-government organizations, and their were literally hundreds. This makes we wonder why there is still all of this pain and suffering happening to those mostly innocent citizens of the Congo. Little did I realize there is a difference. In the dark night of the war a candle is shining through and with a bit more wax this light can shine stronger, and brighter than ever before. 

Tristan's Post!

I researched special cases of assault on women and children in the Congo, and I must say that the information we discovered was downright horrible. I won't go in to detail about what we found, but suffice it to say that soldiers use rape as a military tactic to scare villages into compliance. This research threw a lot of my problems into a different perspective, and now I don't really care as much about my problems, because I know that until someone does something, people will constantly suffer in the DRC. On that note, our conversation with Mr. Nduaka escalated from the concept of helping the Congo, to the concept of global unity to stop suffering. This made me realize if every single person forgets their little problems, than we can fight to live together in a peaceful world.

Ceilie's Post

I was surprised last week when Mr. Williams explained to us that we would be researching the "Crisis in Congo" before the Moral Leadership speaker came to talk to us. I am usually fairly educated on current events due to the eavesdropping I tend to pay on my mother's favorite radio station that is often the soundtrack to her morning, but Congo is a name I hadn't really heard be the basis of any news discussions or even pop up in global updates. Once I learned about what was going on in this country, I was simply horrified. Between the offensive treatment to women to the abuse brought upon the innocent children, it disgusted me. I thought that from past experiences such as the Holocaust and war that people had learned to turn the other cheek when it came to hate and violence targeted at a specific group of people, but I guess it'll take some more progression for the whole of the world to finally make their peace with each other. 

Kyle's Post

It was only recently brought to my attention the events that are happening in the DRC. I was surprised that I didn't know about it earlier because some of the things happening there are horrendous and I would have expected this to be a worldwide catastrophe, much like the Holocaust. I find it sad that people don't want anything to do with Africa simply because its Africa. People are dying and yet we sit here doing nothing. I understand that many countries have their hands full with various things, America especially, but I believe that if everyone made a collective effort than we could all make a difference there and show the peoples of Africa that we do truly care for them. Regardless what plan of action the UN takes to solve this, if they are even going to, we need to do something quickly and efficiently to stop this violence and quest for power.

Julie's Post

As children, we are taught to be nice, to care for others, and to think of others before yourself. In Congo today, adults are killing each other, abusing innocent little children, and instead of teaching their kids to be nice, they're teaching them how to hold guns. How did this happen? Why all this hate? Why did our world suddenly turn around and become a cloud of hatred? Unfortunatly, no one does enough to help and those who care are not too many. We must stop such cruel acts and such horrible violence because it's not going to get us anywhere!

Caroline's Post

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, people die everyday. These people are dying physically, emotionally, and mentally. Everyday, soldiers kill families, and those whom they don’t kill are kidnapped. People can also breakdown emotionally because they have lost hope. Many families have died, and like Ferdinand in The Tempest, people know that all they have ever loved is gone. Lastly, people no longer have a choice. You die, become a soldier, or become a slave. People become confined within, because they are scarred to share what they have to say. I know that I will never understand what these people are going through. I want to help, but I don’t know how. What is currently happening in Congo is devastating. The fact that no one has done anything to end it is even more heartbreaking.

Anna's Confinement Post

In many ways, I agree with Zach. Confinement is everywhere; in our jobs, in our physical capabilities, in our economic state. It surrounds us, and perhaps I feel it most when I am bogged down with work to do. I hate the feeling of pressure of lengthy requirements, eating away at my time. However, on a different note, there are parts of us that are not at all confined. Our minds, our hearts, and our souls are free to do as the please, to wander wherever they like. Perhaps the biggest challenge we face is to transfer this freedom of our inner-selves into our day to day lives. When looked at with the right perspective, there are no limitations in life. If it was what we wanted, truly and deeply, we could look beyond the boundless limits of sky and earth. We could escape confinement.

Sarahs Post=]

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a lot of children and women are being abused and treated poorly. Women are sexually harassed in the dusty streets, children are beaten and drugged, and it truly breaks my heart hearing about these cruel, heartless gestures. If I had the chance to speak to a representative in Congo, I would have a lot to say. I think it's great that someone is finally starting to take charge, but it's far too late. You can't erase the harsh memories that are already tainted into young abused childrens' minds. You can't erase the sexual abuse thats already happened to young girls and boys. You can't erase drugs from a childs mind. All of these harsh things remain in each and every persons life that it happens to. 

Timmy's Post

I tend to feel confined almost all of them time because of my diet. Whenever I see someone eating something wheaty and delicious, I think to myself how great it would be to eat something like that, but I only eat things that are gluten-free (usually) and healthy (generally). Knowing that I can't even choose what I want to eat makes me feel very confined. The annoying thing is that I know that if I do eat something gluten-y, I will pay the consequences, and that is what makes me feel the most confined because now matter what I do, I will either be gluten-deprived or uncomfortable.