"People who drink, do drugs, have been jailed or do not believe in religion are more likely to be tattooed," said Mom. Most people say it is unprofessional, wrong, a sin against your body; I've been told that animals are the only things that should be marked. Many people often associate these designs with criminal activity and loose morals. These stereotypes are not all true. I get really upset when I hear these negative comments about tattoos. The concept and art of tattooing has existed throughout the centuries, beginning as early as Ancient Egypt around 200 B.C. In ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures, tattoos were a normal way of life. They would paint themselves before battles, and it was also a symbol of a young boy entering into manhood. People say that these savages were animals and uncivilized. I think that it's hard to believe; after all, they did come up with the calendar system, and it's pretty accurate. Not bad for savages. Some tattoos are based on religious beliefs. Others are in memory of those you lost. Most are stories of events that affected your life. Also, friends sharing common bonds by individuals expressing their own uniqueness. Today's society is starting to accept tattoos, but there is still a long road ahead. Keeping in mind that stereotypes are often just that. Think before a judgement is made about an inked person. They are mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers and often live a completely normal life. It's unfair to assume that because one loves art and self expression that they are criminals and drug addicts. Treat them with the same respect anyone should receive and a valuable lesson can be learned. In military forces, they tattoo their bodies in order to identify to their unit or division and in order to identify their bodies in case something happened to them overseas. Even though it is just body artwork, that should only matter to the person that gets it on their body and not to others, it is not allowed in society. It is hard for people that get tattoos-- some jobs won't hire simply because they have tattoos and the only way they will hire you is if your tattoo is not visible and well hidden. The point of getting a tattoo is that you want to show it off and let people know about it. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Academic Academy of Dermatology in 2006, 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed. That averages to be almost one in four Americans with tattoos. So I guess that 24% of Americans are bad people, according to Mom. My Dad
Alex Ahmedov (7th)
My dad was born in Arkhangelsk in 1972. Here in this biography, I will tell you stories of when he was growing up in a small village in Syktivcar to the United States of America. I hope you enjoy. Growing Up In Russia
As you know, my dad was born in Arkhangelsk in 1972. He was premature and had to be taken out early. He moved to a small village shortly after and lived there for quite a while. You might be wondering, "How was it like growing up in Russia?" Well, in one word, interesting. In Russia, they didn't have video games at all. How did they get their entertainment? By entertaining themselves! Here's a story of how my dad kept himself occupied most of his childhood life.
When my dad was living in the city, after they moved out of the village, his mom would have to help patients non-stop. She was a doctor and often was forced to leave my dad at home while she worked. When she was home, however, they would celebrate. One time, they went out to get ice cream at a place called Severianka. It was about a ten minute walk from their apartment buildings, and him and his mom would talk about how their day was. After they got ice cream, they found a small, blonde Bolognese dog out on the street. They thought she would die out there in the crowded city by herself so they took her back to their apartment. They named her Lada and when they got home, Lada immediately ran underneath the couch. She didn't come out for two days except for when she had to go to the bathroom. Since they lived in an apartment, they let her do her business out on the patio. Lada was especially afraid of my dad. It was probably because she was abused by a boy his age and thought he was going to abuse her too. Well, the apartment owner was a strict no-dogs-in-my-apartment-building kind of guy, so my dad's mom asked her friends back in the village if they would take care of her. They agreed and my dad couldn't see her until it was the weekend. Every weekend, my dad would go to the village and see Lada. They had the time of their lives together and my dad couldn't wait to go back to see her. Eventually, it was time, and Lada got hit by a truck. My dad still misses her today, but somehow, he knew that there would be more pets in the future. Teenage Years
After his childhood, my dad was excited to be a teenager. When my dad was 12, during the spring the ice on the Sysola River would melt and form large chunks floating around. Since my dad was bored most of the time, he decided that they would jump from ice chunk to ice chunk. If my dad would have fallen in the water, he would have got hypothermia and died. Thank goodness he didn't. They also did that with logs that were being cut down and used for building things. When my dad was 13, he got his first job. When he got his first job, he was working for his mom at her clinic. He was an assistant and got paid minimum wage. He was working over the summer. In Russia, you are allowed to buy and ride a motorcycle when you are 14. Well, my dad was saving up all his pennies until the day when he finally bought his first motorcycle. A couple days after, he was still new to it, and it was raining. He came to a stop and his motorcycle skidded. He almost got scraped off by the bottom of the car, when somehow he made it out alive. He also was taking his mom for a ride and he was doing sort of a fish-tail swerve thing when a cow was in the middle of the road. My dad swerved and avoided hurting the cow and his mom. My dad was a daring kid when he was a teenager. He had a lot of buddies that went to military training with him. In Russia, all boys who were in eighth grade were required to take military training. This was the time before the Cold War, but they wanted to be safe. My dad was learning to throw hand grenades with real grenades which had all the insides removed so they wouldn't blow up. They were supposed to produce pink smoke when the pin was pulled but when the instructor pulled the pin, white smoke protruded from the grenade. He couldn't throw it out the window because kids were training out there and he couldn't throw it in the classroom for the kids would get hurt. So he held it to his stomach and waited for the explosion. It was a sad day, and it was an unavoidable accident. But we moved on and my dad learned how to get through it. High School
When my dad was in high school, he was working in a furniture warehouse. He was once operating a fork lift and went into a shed where they dried the wood. He went in and picked up his load and was heading out. About one minute later, the roof of the shed collapsed. If my dad were still in that shed, he wouldn't have been around to tell me these stories. In high school, my dad got bullied a lot. There was a certain bully named Nikolai Cherneh who always bullied him. My dad got sick of it, and he chased him with a shovel. He didn't get him or anything, but my dad was really angry. So he started to street fight. There was this time where he was street fighting when he hit a guy right under the chin. The guy was talking to someone and his tongue was hanging out. The guy literally bit his own tongue off. My dad was street fighting for a long time after that until he got into college. College
My dad went to college in Russia but doesn't really want to talk about it. Their first stop on an airplane was Anchorage, Alaska. My dad didn't know how to work the sink faucet and was stuck trying to figure it out. I guess someone told him how, and then they were on their way to their next destination. While he was flying there, him and my mom stopped in San Francisco. It was December of 1993 and a young lady came over and started talking to him in English. My dad didn't know any English since he just got to America and all he could say to the young lady was "Merry Christmas." Eventually, he came to Ogden and started going to Weber State for an English class. There were many other non-English speakers so he fit right in. He was there for about two months and learned most of his English from movies. AMERICA!
When my mom and dad came here, they found an apartment on the corner of 31st and Washington Boulevard. In May of 1994, my big brother, Andrey, was born in McKay Dee Hospital. Then it all changed. My dad had to ride his bike to work everyday. His work was over the viaduct on 24th street over the train yard. They then decided that living in an apartment wouldn't work, so they were house hunting until they found a small house right above Harrison Bouldvard and Tyler Avenue. They thought it would be great for raising a family. Three years later, I was born on May 23, 1997. When I was about two or three, my mom would always play the piano. Me and my big brother would always dance around in a circle and get dizzy. Then we would sit down on the ground and laugh our butts off. When I was about one, my mom's parents came to visit. We went to Las Vegas and then onto San Francisco. We have videos of where we went down the snake road. We also went across the Golden Gate Bridge. I was one at the time, so I don't remember much. I can only relive the past through videos.
My younger brother was born later in May of 1999. He was the third amigo, and he was the last. My mom wanted a girl but ended up having three boys instead. My dad has grown over the years. He has a high English vocabulary and can speak good English. His accent is cool and I still get comments on how cool his accent is from my friends. He has had a smoking problem, but he got over that in the course of three or four years. I too have grown a lot since I was a litle kid. I learned a lot of things from my dad, and it is very cool to learn things that he used to do when he was a little kid. He always has the most interesting stories and so does my mom. I'm proud to say I'm a Russian, and I'm not ashamed of it. My dad is the best dad in the world with the best stories in the world. I believe that any story is better when it's a true one. If you can see how much my dad has had to go through over the years then you would know what it's like if you were growing up in Russia in that time.
My dad has gone through a lot since he was a little kid and I'm just glad that he is still alive to tell me these things. Thank you for taking this ride of a roller coaster through my dad's life with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. His life did have some ups and downs but for now, it all seems to make sense. I would like to thank my dad, my mom, and all of you who made this story possible. I hope you will remember these stories and think about how life would have been growing up in a different country. This was very fun to write and I'm glad to write about you, Dad. I love you!
This I Believe
By Samantha Brennan (12th)
“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” A quote from Stephen Chbosky's book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I believe that life doesn’t stop for anybody, and we just have to adapt. I believe this because no matter what someone goes through in their life, it’s going to continue to happen and the world is going to move on with or without you.
It was in eighth grade when my whole life changed. It wasn’t because it happened to be my second year in a new state. It was because I met someone who came into my world with a different ending then I could ever expect. I had made some friends, sure, but I was young and felt I needed to venture out and find different friends. Somehow leaving the good ones I had already made behind for a little while. It was sixth period and I had P.E. There was a girl who was hardly ever at school, but when she was she spent her time with me. One day as we were circling the track, I decided to ask the question that has been on my mind, “So why are you always gone? Because Chelsee is a good partner, but I’m afraid she’s going to injury me with a racket.” There was a pause. She finally looked at me and said, “Well I’m sick.” Being a kid I wasn’t really understanding and stared at my shoes. She went on to say, “My hair is gonna fall out.” I wasn’t that dumb, so I knew she meant cancer. All I could do was stare at my shoes, I remember them well after staring so long. They were the cool black Etnies that everyone has wanted. But what I said next determined the friendship we would have, because the only thing I wanted to say was, “So that’s why you dye your hair so often?” She laughed and the rest was history, until one morning she spent the night. I was woken up with a phone call at 4 a.m. and I’m not a morning person in any way so I wasn’t fully awake when my friend turned to me and said, “I have to go. My dad’s coming to get me.” I didn’t understand and my brain was foggy but I was able to walk her out and worry enough before I fell back asleep. I received at text at 6 a.m. telling me she’s okay and not just any okay. The fateful okay that I hadn’t known I was waiting for, the okay that said, “The cancer is gone. I’m okay.” All I knew, was my friend had faced death, and the world didn’t stop moving, but we were finally adapting.
Bad things constantly happen whether they are too good or bad people, it doesn’t matter. When my younger cousin died at the age of 15 it wasn’t a shock to anyone. We all knew the day was coming. You see, she was born with a heart problem. She didn’t have the four chambers in her heart like we do. She was never meant to live past her first year, but she triumphed through 15 great ones and proved many doctors wrong. But yet, her passing was still inevitable. When I went back home to Glide, Oregon I thought I had mentally braced myself for what I would walk into, but nobody ever can. She was awake for a little over a week, but in incredible amounts of pain that we tried to sooth with several different medications. Then she became unconscious for the next week and a half where we would talk, sing, and read with her. Her eyes would flutter open for a minute or two but it was as if she never really saw you standing there. She was no longer in control of her body and there was nothing we could do, except watch the process take place. She was a good person. She never lied; she loved her family, and always told the best jokes. She didn’t ask to be born this way but simply had the most courage to face it. Every surgery she had a brave face on and would have to tell us that “it’s okay.” For the last three weeks of her life I was by her side and was numb every day until the coroner carried her away. But my school work didn’t stop. My teachers didn’t stop teaching, my mother didn’t stop working, and my life didn’t stop going. Everything carried on the way it would have any other month of the year, except this month, my cousin died and nothing stopped moving. Because life doesn’t stop for anybody, we just have to adapt.
The Riddle of Life By Anonymous Some people may say that the meaning of life is about living your life to the fullest. Some people think that the meaning of life is 42. You maybe even think it is about finding your true love. But, what would happen if we actually knew wha the meaning of life was? Would we abuse it? Would it destroy our world? Life is like a timid flower blowing in the Summer breeze. It never seems to last too long. Fires destroy these timid flowers like the lava at Pmpeii. Are maybe more suttle as to wither to the hilt and be made as ine with the grass. Winds blow us in different directions like the pressure from our friends. Some of these flowers are red, some bl;ue, some multicolored with different hues. All in all, just taking a glance. Life is a gift with emotions, pains, and colors. Burning your hand on a stove isn't fun, but neither is getting your arm amputated. The only real reason we learn to live is by loving and caring. Not just for family and friends, but your peers. Love everybody! The actual riddl is to live your life and don't worry about what it means.
Listen to What I Say, Instead of Hearing What You Want to Hear Kaime Peterson 12th Rumors hurt, and if you've ever been through high school I bet you can think of a personal story that proves it. The results of a series of lies being spread are almost always drastic- the "he said" "she said" drama of fights between ling-time friends of post-break-up quarrels end in disaster for everyone involved. With the break-ups it gets particularly sticky because her friends are listening to what he says and his friends are listening to her and no matter what you say they can twist it into the most hateful thing possible. I very recently went through exactly yhis, his friends overheard me say something and they misunderstood the context and when it got back to him it had been turned into "he slept with me and then dumped me" or something along those general lines. For weeks I had wondered why he was so mad at me, our break-up had been bad but I didn't feel like it warrented him hating me. After iscovering what he thought I understood and asked if we could talk at lunch, but by the time fourth period came about I had realized that even talking to him wouldn't fix anything, he wanted to validate him being hurt with a tangible reason and his friends had made him one- he wasn't going to listen to what I had to say. Even though it still hurts to see him and think that he honestly believes that I would say that I know that I can rise above it and be stronger because of it. Rumors hurt, but you can't change other people ot the things that happen around you. You can however change the way you deal with them and this I firmly believe. How to Attract a Creep Maddison Morris11th
There was once an episode of Scooby Doo about a "Creeper." He ran around a small farm town and scared teenagers. Real life creepers are not very different than Scooby's version. Attracting them isn't that easy. You don't really have to try, but if you really want a creep around, there is a certain kind of person that you should be. "Why," you ask yourself, "would I ever want or need a creep around?" Well, my friend, the answer is simple. You want a creep around to get rid of another creep. It is an endless cycle. Once you've enticed a creep, there is no leaving the cycle. Consider yourself warned. There are many positive aspects to having a creep under your command. If you're upset of agngerered, they may or may not take care of the problem for you. They are usually much smarter than you and everyone around you. The creep is a creep not due to his mental instability but due more to his outward physical appearance or views of women and dating. Another positive aspect to having a creep around is the obvious slave factor. They are willing to do just about anything for your attention, for they hope that you will give them some affection in the end. They do not realize they are being used. They do not realize that you will not be interested in them romantically. The negative aspects of a creep, however, definitely outweigh the positive. There is, of course, the fact that they will definitely try to touch you inappropriately.They will becoume jealous of your significant other. They will stare, stare, stare at certain parts of a woman's body. They will, again, pretend you aren't noticing. They will memorize your schedule, your address and your phone number if you or someone else give them the information. Now that you know what you're getting into, it's reatively simple to catch a creep. Be nice to people who you generally wouldn't bother with. They don't necessarily have to be of the opposite sex, but it is much easier to entice them and bend them to your will if there is a sexual attraction there. Choose someone who won't be suspicious of you talking to them. Someone you've spoken to before but aren't close with, who doesn't have a girlfriend, is definitely the right choice in your creeper-choosing-desicion-process. Maybe an underclassmen? Choose wisely. Make it someone that you could, in the future, have a fling with. You don't want to be creeped on by someone who is completely unattractive. Also, chances are, if you are in a weakened enough state, the creep will definitely pounce. They will try to take advantage of you. This is a commandment in the creep bible. Constant vilgilance, my dears. Constant vigilance. Once you have chosen a target, begin a conversation with them. After school or during a class with them is definitely optimal. If these things are unavailable, Facebook is always a viable option. Chances are good, if you are friends with the creep, they have already stalked your Facebook profile. Don't bother stalking theirs. The next time you see them in IM, strike up a conversation. If they seldon get online, send them a message. In this day and age, nearly every teenager with Facebook (which is virtually every teengager) has Facebook Mobile. They will get your message; they will be ecstatic. Begin talking to them. Find out if you have anything in common. If not, don't fret. They will pretend to like the things you like. The creep will probably be a little bit of a nerd. Bring up Star Wars or World of Warcraft. These topics usually make the creep putty in your hands. The easy part is over, now comes the much more difficult part of making sure the creep is attracted to you. If they try to touch your body, they are attractted to you. If they are more subtle, and don't let you catch them staring, have a friend on constant guard. This friend will assure you if and when they are staring or talking about you. This friend will wonder why you care, do not, by any means, tell this friend that you are trying to entice a creep. They will think you are a freak and will not do your dirty work of catching the creep for you ever again. This is no good. You will need all of the sane friends you can get once the creep is yours. I suppose I should tell you what to do once you have the creep under your power. Be nice to them, but not too nice. Hang out with them during school. Pretend to make plans with them, but back out at the last second. Never hang out one-on-one with your creep. You will get hurt. Use the creep only as often as you have to. Don't ever take complete advantage of them. They are a human being whether you like to admit it or not. Treat them as such. They have feelings. They deserve respect as much as you do, if not more. They are smart. You are dumb. Never forget that everthing they are doning for you, they are doing for love or lust. Don't mock that.
Things Fall Apart Essay
Katie Byrd
In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe demonstrates the effects of British colonization on the
native Nigerian people and Ibo culture. Achebe does this through the main character Okonkwo, a well-
known fighter in Umuofia who often turns to violence when verbal arguments don’t go in his favor.
Okonkwo begins to question his cultural identity first after being exiled to his motherland and then after
Christian missionaries enter his own village.
After accidentally killing a man when his gun misfires, Okonkwo and his family are exiled for
seven years in his motherland, Mbanta. The exile means that Okonkwo will lose all of the titles and
respect he has worked to gain. Because Okonkwo enters the new village with nothing and is completely
at the mercy of his mother’s people, he fears being viewed as weak and womanly. He initially rejects the
village and even as he returns to Umuofia, he is described as having less of the fiery passion he one
possessed. While Okonkwo was living in Umuofia, a large part of his personal identity was based on his
success in agriculture, tribal government, and wrestling. By leaving, he lost all of the respect he gained
and despite his dismissal of all things “womanly,” it still deeply affected him.
Once Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he is one of the few within the tribe who are against the
missionaries’ presence entirely. While most of the others were suspicious of them initially, many
villagers have since joined them. Mr. Smith, the priest of the village’s church, has frequent discussions
on religion with tribal leaders and many villagers are educated in schools run by the missionaries.
Okonkwo however remains outspoken against the Christian presence. Because his son has already left
Ibo culture for Christianity, this opposition is important to Okonkwo to retain his cultural identity. He
has only recently returned to Umuofia, but if the Christian influence does not end, Okonkwo would have
no chance at regaining his position of authority.
As Okonkwo copes with exile from his village and the new presence of Christian missionaries, he
also must cope with the threat to his personal and cultural identity. He does this by resisting acceptance
of his motherland and the missionaries. He becomes the strongest voice of opposition, causing violent
altercations an ultimately Okonkwo’s death.
Daniel Vargas (12th)
"People who drink, do drugs, have been jailed or do not believe in religion are more likely to be tattooed," said Mom. Most people say it is unprofessional, wrong, a sin against your body; I've been told that animals are the only things that should be marked. Many people often associate these designs with criminal activity and loose morals. These stereotypes are not all true. I get really upset when I hear these negative comments about tattoos. The concept and art of tattooing has existed throughout the centuries, beginning as early as Ancient Egypt around 200 B.C. In ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures, tattoos were a normal way of life. They would paint themselves before battles, and it was also a symbol of a young boy entering into manhood. People say that these savages were animals and uncivilized. I think that it's hard to believe; after all, they did come up with the calendar system, and it's pretty accurate. Not bad for savages. Some tattoos are based on religious beliefs. Others are in memory of those you lost. Most are stories of events that affected your life. Also, friends sharing common bonds by individuals expressing their own uniqueness. Today's society is starting to accept tattoos, but there is still a long road ahead. Keeping in mind that stereotypes are often just that. Think before a judgement is made about an inked person. They are mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers and often live a completely normal life. It's unfair to assume that because one loves art and self expression that they are criminals and drug addicts. Treat them with the same respect anyone should receive and a valuable lesson can be learned. In military forces, they tattoo their bodies in order to identify to their unit or division and in order to identify their bodies in case something happened to them overseas. Even though it is just body artwork, that should only matter to the person that gets it on their body and not to others, it is not allowed in society. It is hard for people that get tattoos-- some jobs won't hire simply because they have tattoos and the only way they will hire you is if your tattoo is not visible and well hidden. The point of getting a tattoo is that you want to show it off and let people know about it. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Academic Academy of Dermatology in 2006, 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed. That averages to be almost one in four Americans with tattoos. So I guess that 24% of Americans are bad people, according to Mom.
My Dad
Alex Ahmedov (7th)
My dad was born in Arkhangelsk in 1972. Here in this biography, I will tell you stories of when he was growing up in a small village in Syktivcar to the United States of America. I hope you enjoy.
Growing Up In Russia
As you know, my dad was born in Arkhangelsk in 1972. He was premature and had to be taken out early. He moved to a small village shortly after and lived there for quite a while. You might be wondering, "How was it like growing up in Russia?" Well, in one word, interesting. In Russia, they didn't have video games at all. How did they get their entertainment? By entertaining themselves! Here's a story of how my dad kept himself occupied most of his childhood life.
When my dad was living in the city, after they moved out of the village, his mom would have to help patients non-stop. She was a doctor and often was forced to leave my dad at home while she worked. When she was home, however, they would celebrate. One time, they went out to get ice cream at a place called Severianka. It was about a ten minute walk from their apartment buildings, and him and his mom would talk about how their day was. After they got ice cream, they found a small, blonde Bolognese dog out on the street. They thought she would die out there in the crowded city by herself so they took her back to their apartment. They named her Lada and when they got home, Lada immediately ran underneath the couch. She didn't come out for two days except for when she had to go to the bathroom. Since they lived in an apartment, they let her do her business out on the patio. Lada was especially afraid of my dad. It was probably because she was abused by a boy his age and thought he was going to abuse her too. Well, the apartment owner was a strict no-dogs-in-my-apartment-building kind of guy, so my dad's mom asked her friends back in the village if they would take care of her. They agreed and my dad couldn't see her until it was the weekend. Every weekend, my dad would go to the village and see Lada. They had the time of their lives together and my dad couldn't wait to go back to see her. Eventually, it was time, and Lada got hit by a truck. My dad still misses her today, but somehow, he knew that there would be more pets in the future.
Teenage Years
After his childhood, my dad was excited to be a teenager. When my dad was 12, during the spring the ice on the Sysola River would melt and form large chunks floating around. Since my dad was bored most of the time, he decided that they would jump from ice chunk to ice chunk. If my dad would have fallen in the water, he would have got hypothermia and died. Thank goodness he didn't. They also did that with logs that were being cut down and used for building things. When my dad was 13, he got his first job. When he got his first job, he was working for his mom at her clinic. He was an assistant and got paid minimum wage. He was working over the summer. In Russia, you are allowed to buy and ride a motorcycle when you are 14. Well, my dad was saving up all his pennies until the day when he finally bought his first motorcycle. A couple days after, he was still new to it, and it was raining. He came to a stop and his motorcycle skidded. He almost got scraped off by the bottom of the car, when somehow he made it out alive. He also was taking his mom for a ride and he was doing sort of a fish-tail swerve thing when a cow was in the middle of the road. My dad swerved and avoided hurting the cow and his mom. My dad was a daring kid when he was a teenager. He had a lot of buddies that went to military training with him. In Russia, all boys who were in eighth grade were required to take military training. This was the time before the Cold War, but they wanted to be safe. My dad was learning to throw hand grenades with real grenades which had all the insides removed so they wouldn't blow up. They were supposed to produce pink smoke when the pin was pulled but when the instructor pulled the pin, white smoke protruded from the grenade. He couldn't throw it out the window because kids were training out there and he couldn't throw it in the classroom for the kids would get hurt. So he held it to his stomach and waited for the explosion. It was a sad day, and it was an unavoidable accident. But we moved on and my dad learned how to get through it.
High School
When my dad was in high school, he was working in a furniture warehouse. He was once operating a fork lift and went into a shed where they dried the wood. He went in and picked up his load and was heading out. About one minute later, the roof of the shed collapsed. If my dad were still in that shed, he wouldn't have been around to tell me these stories. In high school, my dad got bullied a lot. There was a certain bully named Nikolai Cherneh who always bullied him. My dad got sick of it, and he chased him with a shovel. He didn't get him or anything, but my dad was really angry. So he started to street fight. There was this time where he was street fighting when he hit a guy right under the chin. The guy was talking to someone and his tongue was hanging out. The guy literally bit his own tongue off. My dad was street fighting for a long time after that until he got into college.
College
My dad went to college in Russia but doesn't really want to talk about it. Their first stop on an airplane was Anchorage, Alaska. My dad didn't know how to work the sink faucet and was stuck trying to figure it out. I guess someone told him how, and then they were on their way to their next destination. While he was flying there, him and my mom stopped in San Francisco. It was December of 1993 and a young lady came over and started talking to him in English. My dad didn't know any English since he just got to America and all he could say to the young lady was "Merry Christmas." Eventually, he came to Ogden and started going to Weber State for an English class. There were many other non-English speakers so he fit right in. He was there for about two months and learned most of his English from movies.
AMERICA!
When my mom and dad came here, they found an apartment on the corner of 31st and Washington Boulevard. In May of 1994, my big brother, Andrey, was born in McKay Dee Hospital. Then it all changed. My dad had to ride his bike to work everyday. His work was over the viaduct on 24th street over the train yard. They then decided that living in an apartment wouldn't work, so they were house hunting until they found a small house right above Harrison Bouldvard and Tyler Avenue. They thought it would be great for raising a family. Three years later, I was born on May 23, 1997. When I was about two or three, my mom would always play the piano. Me and my big brother would always dance around in a circle and get dizzy. Then we would sit down on the ground and laugh our butts off. When I was about one, my mom's parents came to visit. We went to Las Vegas and then onto San Francisco. We have videos of where we went down the snake road. We also went across the Golden Gate Bridge. I was one at the time, so I don't remember much. I can only relive the past through videos.
My younger brother was born later in May of 1999. He was the third amigo, and he was the last. My mom wanted a girl but ended up having three boys instead. My dad has grown over the years. He has a high English vocabulary and can speak good English. His accent is cool and I still get comments on how cool his accent is from my friends. He has had a smoking problem, but he got over that in the course of three or four years. I too have grown a lot since I was a litle kid. I learned a lot of things from my dad, and it is very cool to learn things that he used to do when he was a little kid. He always has the most interesting stories and so does my mom. I'm proud to say I'm a Russian, and I'm not ashamed of it. My dad is the best dad in the world with the best stories in the world. I believe that any story is better when it's a true one. If you can see how much my dad has had to go through over the years then you would know what it's like if you were growing up in Russia in that time.
My dad has gone through a lot since he was a little kid and I'm just glad that he is still alive to tell me these things. Thank you for taking this ride of a roller coaster through my dad's life with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. His life did have some ups and downs but for now, it all seems to make sense. I would like to thank my dad, my mom, and all of you who made this story possible. I hope you will remember these stories and think about how life would have been growing up in a different country. This was very fun to write and I'm glad to write about you, Dad. I love you!
This I Believe
By Samantha Brennan (12th)
“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” A quote from Stephen Chbosky's book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I believe that life doesn’t stop for anybody, and we just have to adapt. I believe this because no matter what someone goes through in their life, it’s going to continue to happen and the world is going to move on with or without you.
It was in eighth grade when my whole life changed. It wasn’t because it happened to be my second year in a new state. It was because I met someone who came into my world with a different ending then I could ever expect. I had made some friends, sure, but I was young and felt I needed to venture out and find different friends. Somehow leaving the good ones I had already made behind for a little while. It was sixth period and I had P.E. There was a girl who was hardly ever at school, but when she was she spent her time with me. One day as we were circling the track, I decided to ask the question that has been on my mind, “So why are you always gone? Because Chelsee is a good partner, but I’m afraid she’s going to injury me with a racket.” There was a pause. She finally looked at me and said, “Well I’m sick.” Being a kid I wasn’t really understanding and stared at my shoes. She went on to say, “My hair is gonna fall out.” I wasn’t that dumb, so I knew she meant cancer. All I could do was stare at my shoes, I remember them well after staring so long. They were the cool black Etnies that everyone has wanted. But what I said next determined the friendship we would have, because the only thing I wanted to say was, “So that’s why you dye your hair so often?” She laughed and the rest was history, until one morning she spent the night. I was woken up with a phone call at 4 a.m. and I’m not a morning person in any way so I wasn’t fully awake when my friend turned to me and said, “I have to go. My dad’s coming to get me.” I didn’t understand and my brain was foggy but I was able to walk her out and worry enough before I fell back asleep. I received at text at 6 a.m. telling me she’s okay and not just any okay. The fateful okay that I hadn’t known I was waiting for, the okay that said, “The cancer is gone. I’m okay.” All I knew, was my friend had faced death, and the world didn’t stop moving, but we were finally adapting.
Bad things constantly happen whether they are too good or bad people, it doesn’t matter. When my younger cousin died at the age of 15 it wasn’t a shock to anyone. We all knew the day was coming. You see, she was born with a heart problem. She didn’t have the four chambers in her heart like we do. She was never meant to live past her first year, but she triumphed through 15 great ones and proved many doctors wrong. But yet, her passing was still inevitable. When I went back home to Glide, Oregon I thought I had mentally braced myself for what I would walk into, but nobody ever can. She was awake for a little over a week, but in incredible amounts of pain that we tried to sooth with several different medications. Then she became unconscious for the next week and a half where we would talk, sing, and read with her. Her eyes would flutter open for a minute or two but it was as if she never really saw you standing there. She was no longer in control of her body and there was nothing we could do, except watch the process take place. She was a good person. She never lied; she loved her family, and always told the best jokes. She didn’t ask to be born this way but simply had the most courage to face it. Every surgery she had a brave face on and would have to tell us that “it’s okay.” For the last three weeks of her life I was by her side and was numb every day until the coroner carried her away. But my school work didn’t stop. My teachers didn’t stop teaching, my mother didn’t stop working, and my life didn’t stop going. Everything carried on the way it would have any other month of the year, except this month, my cousin died and nothing stopped moving. Because life doesn’t stop for anybody, we just have to adapt.
The Riddle of Life
By Anonymous
Some people may say that the meaning of life is about living your life to the fullest. Some people think that the meaning of life is 42. You maybe even think it is about finding your true love. But, what would happen if we actually knew wha the meaning of life was? Would we abuse it? Would it destroy our world?
Life is like a timid flower blowing in the Summer breeze. It never seems to last too long. Fires destroy these timid flowers like the lava at Pmpeii. Are maybe more suttle as to wither to the hilt and be made as ine with the grass. Winds blow us in different directions like the pressure from our friends.
Some of these flowers are red, some bl;ue, some multicolored with different hues. All in all, just taking a glance. Life is a gift with emotions, pains, and colors. Burning your hand on a stove isn't fun, but neither is getting your arm amputated. The only real reason we learn to live is by loving and caring. Not just for family and friends, but your peers. Love everybody!
The actual riddl is to live your life and don't worry about what it means.
Listen to What I Say, Instead of Hearing What You Want to Hear
Kaime Peterson
12th
Rumors hurt, and if you've ever been through high school I bet you can think of a personal story that proves it. The results of a series of lies being spread are almost always drastic- the "he said" "she said" drama of fights between ling-time friends of post-break-up quarrels end in disaster for everyone involved. With the break-ups it gets particularly sticky because her friends are listening to what he says and his friends are listening to her and no matter what you say they can twist it into the most hateful thing possible.
I very recently went through exactly yhis, his friends overheard me say something and they misunderstood the context and when it got back to him it had been turned into "he slept with me and then dumped me" or something along those general lines. For weeks I had wondered why he was so mad at me, our break-up had been bad but I didn't feel like it warrented him hating me. After iscovering what he thought I understood and asked if we could talk at lunch, but by the time fourth period came about I had realized that even talking to him wouldn't fix anything, he wanted to validate him being hurt with a tangible reason and his friends had made him one- he wasn't going to listen to what I had to say.
Even though it still hurts to see him and think that he honestly believes that I would say that I know that I can rise above it and be stronger because of it. Rumors hurt, but you can't change other people ot the things that happen around you. You can however change the way you deal with them and this I firmly believe.
How to Attract a Creep
Maddison Morris11th
There was once an episode of Scooby Doo about a "Creeper." He ran around a small farm town and scared teenagers. Real life creepers are not very different than Scooby's version. Attracting them isn't that easy. You don't really have to try, but if you really want a creep around, there is a certain kind of person that you should be.
"Why," you ask yourself, "would I ever want or need a creep around?" Well, my friend, the answer is simple. You want a creep around to get rid of another creep. It is an endless cycle. Once you've enticed a creep, there is no leaving the cycle. Consider yourself warned.
There are many positive aspects to having a creep under your command. If you're upset of agngerered, they may or may not take care of the problem for you. They are usually much smarter than you and everyone around you. The creep is a creep not due to his mental instability but due more to his outward physical appearance or views of women and dating. Another positive aspect to having a creep around is the obvious slave factor. They are willing to do just about anything for your attention, for they hope that you will give them some affection in the end. They do not realize they are being used. They do not realize that you will not be interested in them romantically.
The negative aspects of a creep, however, definitely outweigh the positive. There is, of course, the fact that they will definitely try to touch you inappropriately.They will becoume jealous of your significant other. They will stare, stare, stare at certain parts of a woman's body. They will, again, pretend you aren't noticing. They will memorize your schedule, your address and your phone number if you or someone else give them the information.
Now that you know what you're getting into, it's reatively simple to catch a creep. Be nice to people who you generally wouldn't bother with. They don't necessarily have to be of the opposite sex, but it is much easier to entice them and bend them to your will if there is a sexual attraction there. Choose someone who won't be suspicious of you talking to them. Someone you've spoken to before but aren't close with, who doesn't have a girlfriend, is definitely the right choice in your creeper-choosing-desicion-process. Maybe an underclassmen? Choose wisely. Make it someone that you could, in the future, have a fling with. You don't want to be creeped on by someone who is completely unattractive. Also, chances are, if you are in a weakened enough state, the creep will definitely pounce. They will try to take advantage of you. This is a commandment in the creep bible. Constant vilgilance, my dears. Constant vigilance.
Once you have chosen a target, begin a conversation with them. After school or during a class with them is definitely optimal. If these things are unavailable, Facebook is always a viable option. Chances are good, if you are friends with the creep, they have already stalked your Facebook profile. Don't bother stalking theirs. The next time you see them in IM, strike up a conversation. If they seldon get online, send them a message. In this day and age, nearly every teenager with Facebook (which is virtually every teengager) has Facebook Mobile. They will get your message; they will be ecstatic. Begin talking to them. Find out if you have anything in common. If not, don't fret. They will pretend to like the things you like. The creep will probably be a little bit of a nerd. Bring up Star Wars or World of Warcraft. These topics usually make the creep putty in your hands.
The easy part is over, now comes the much more difficult part of making sure the creep is attracted to you. If they try to touch your body, they are attractted to you. If they are more subtle, and don't let you catch them staring, have a friend on constant guard. This friend will assure you if and when they are staring or talking about you. This friend will wonder why you care, do not, by any means, tell this friend that you are trying to entice a creep. They will think you are a freak and will not do your dirty work of catching the creep for you ever again. This is no good. You will need all of the sane friends you can get once the creep is yours.
I suppose I should tell you what to do once you have the creep under your power. Be nice to them, but not too nice. Hang out with them during school. Pretend to make plans with them, but back out at the last second. Never hang out one-on-one with your creep. You will get hurt. Use the creep only as often as you have to. Don't ever take complete advantage of them. They are a human being whether you like to admit it or not. Treat them as such. They have feelings. They deserve respect as much as you do, if not more. They are smart. You are dumb. Never forget that everthing they are doning for you, they are doing for love or lust. Don't mock that.
Things Fall Apart Essay
Katie Byrd
In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe demonstrates the effects of British colonization on the
native Nigerian people and Ibo culture. Achebe does this through the main character Okonkwo, a well-
known fighter in Umuofia who often turns to violence when verbal arguments don’t go in his favor.
Okonkwo begins to question his cultural identity first after being exiled to his motherland and then after
Christian missionaries enter his own village.
After accidentally killing a man when his gun misfires, Okonkwo and his family are exiled for
seven years in his motherland, Mbanta. The exile means that Okonkwo will lose all of the titles and
respect he has worked to gain. Because Okonkwo enters the new village with nothing and is completely
at the mercy of his mother’s people, he fears being viewed as weak and womanly. He initially rejects the
village and even as he returns to Umuofia, he is described as having less of the fiery passion he one
possessed. While Okonkwo was living in Umuofia, a large part of his personal identity was based on his
success in agriculture, tribal government, and wrestling. By leaving, he lost all of the respect he gained
and despite his dismissal of all things “womanly,” it still deeply affected him.
Once Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he is one of the few within the tribe who are against the
missionaries’ presence entirely. While most of the others were suspicious of them initially, many
villagers have since joined them. Mr. Smith, the priest of the village’s church, has frequent discussions
on religion with tribal leaders and many villagers are educated in schools run by the missionaries.
Okonkwo however remains outspoken against the Christian presence. Because his son has already left
Ibo culture for Christianity, this opposition is important to Okonkwo to retain his cultural identity. He
has only recently returned to Umuofia, but if the Christian influence does not end, Okonkwo would have
no chance at regaining his position of authority.
As Okonkwo copes with exile from his village and the new presence of Christian missionaries, he
also must cope with the threat to his personal and cultural identity. He does this by resisting acceptance
of his motherland and the missionaries. He becomes the strongest voice of opposition, causing violent
altercations an ultimately Okonkwo’s death.