Lessons

Lessons Learned

I have learned a lot of ‘lessons’ in my life, ranging from don’t leave your facebook up when your in middle school and have messages your parents should never even imagine to read, to don’t let your boyfriend drive your moms vehicle downhill on ice freshman year right before you go get your license. I have learned a lot of lessons in my life, some more memorable, humorous, dumb, serious, or even the ones you pretend to have learned but behind your moms’ back you act as though this lesson was never discovered. My most memorable lesson learned is something most high-school kids will learn. It’s one of the stupidest things you could do, but you also make sub-mistakes while making the big mistake of doing it in the first place. Okay, so you’re a sophomore or a junior in high school. Imagine getting ready for a fun night out with your friends, applying just the right amount of eye liner, recurling your hair so it looks ‘just right‘ . One of your friends knows a few people who are having a ‘small’ bonfire and get together, you decide; sure why not? Well once you get there you see a lot of people you’ve never met in your life, all of them 3-4 years older than you are. College parties are a mistake a lot of high school kids make. Unfortunately I was one of them. Many choose to drink, smoke, or make some choices with people they don’t even know to ‘look cool‘ in front of the college kids. Luckily I didn’t make all of these mistakes, although to be honest I did make some mistakes that can’t be taken reversed and are better left unspoken. You make a bad self image for yourself going to college parties as a sophomore and junior in high school, and it sticks with you no matter what you do to try and change it. A lot of my friends got alcohol poisoning last year, or even sent to rehab for being caught. Sophomore year my friend was rushed to the ER to get her stomach flushed because she ‘drank a little to much’ is a memory I will have stuck in my head forever. A few more of my friends were sent to rehab last year for substance abuse and it’s keeping them from getting a job now. I don’t do half the stuff I used to because of the things that happened. It’s really important to control what you do, and even if you choose to go to the parties just control yourself. I still go to the same parties I went to last year, but I now know what to avoid when I go, my friends have taught me a lot through their mistakes and although I wish I would have found these mistakes later in life, I’m glad I can be aware of them now.

Compare/Contrast

Married?Coupled?

When it comes to your life at home can you say you have 1 parent. Or two. If two, are they married? Dating? Is only one of them biological? There are many different options when it comes to ‘family’. Never the less, the way your family is, makes you who you are.

Single parents have the hardest job in the world. The have to provide for their family on their own while having a career. They have more responsibility because they don’t have another parent feature there when they really need the help with disciplinary measures or when it comes to questions onto how to raise their child. Single parents have more one on one time with their child and get more time to get to know them. Unlike couples who have split responsibility and one parent is closer to the child(ren) than the other parent.

Couple parents also have an advantage. They help each other learn from mistakes, are there for each other during stressful times during the child’s life, and they get to split the responsibility. One parent has time to relax and worry about their career, the bills, and other important social matters while the other gets the responsibility and they can switch.

The way a child has grown up has a huge effect on the way the child views his or her future. They could want to raise their own children how they were raised. Whether it be with one parent, or two the way you grow up can effect you but you can choose how you live your life. You can change how your children grow up. You can help make the choice of whether you want them to grow up with one parent, or two.

I grew up with one parent most of my life, now I have three parent figures in my life. It has effected my outlook on life a lot. I want my child or my children, to grow up with two parents. Whether we be divorced, dating, or married. Either way I want my children to have both parents. Joint custody is a great solution so your children can grow up both ways. They have two parents. But only one for each household which makes a way different impact and outlook on the way they see their future and how they want to change their lives or keep them how they are.

So whether you have one parent, or four parent features in your life it can be for the better or for the worse. And you can always change the future for your children keeping their best interest as well as yours in mind for them.

Subjective#2

Elementary school children with cell phones

The way I feel about elementary aged children with phones is about the same as schools' feel about drugs, violence, and cheating. It is completely inappropriate for a child that young to have a cell phone, they have no one to 'text' and they definitely shouldn't have a facebook, twitter, or flickster yet! Giving a young child a phone is just asking for trouble, and giving you as a parent a reason to worry, or give the child the knowledge of knowing they will be able to take advantage of this in the future, letting them know that it is okay for them to get whatever they want without having to work for their awards and achievements. It was show them later in life that they don't have to work to get good greats, a job, or to graduate from high school. It will just come to them. You won't have any control over them and they will become very rebellious towards you, as their parents you should know whats best for your child and you should know that they don't need a phone at such an early age just because their best friend has one or they ask you for one. The should need a phone if they are walking home alone, staying at the other parents house for a few days so they can contact you if there is a problem, or are home alone after school for a little while. But if you have a first or second grader walking home or staying home alone after school, than you are proving you are an unfit parent.

My Life

From 6 to 424, Faster than you’d think.    

            I was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1994. I don’t remember much due to the fact I moved to small-town Anamosa by the time I was 2. I have lived there almost my entire life. I’m almost 17 now and in the middle of July we just up and left. We moved to Cedar Rapids way sooner than I could take it in. There is only 6,000 people living in Anamosa, so moving to a town with over 424,000 is a huge change.

            My mom and my dad split up after they had me. My mom had my younger brother Drew 3 years after I was born but her relationship with his dad went like mine did. A few years later she met Gerald. They ended up having 3 children and got married. A few years later they got divorced, due to me. Everyone says it’s not my fault, but I know it is. I haven’t seen my fathers’ side of my family since I moved to Anamosa, so when my fathers twin sister found me on facebook and the rest of my family(except my father) also added me. We planned a day to have dinner and when I met them at the Shot Tower in Dubuque we took pictures. I saved them in my photo album and my step-father seen them. He got really mad and me ‘disclaimed’ me. He told me he never wanted to see my face or hear my voice again. He wanted to be the only father in my life and though that if I seen part of my family I would see my dad, and that wasn’t something he wanted. So soon after he kicked us out and they got divorced. That was in 2009. We lived with my grandparents after he kicked us out until this July. They gave up everything for us. They gave us their house and moved into the trailer on the property that wasn’t in the best condition. They lived there for a while but later they turned their garage into an apartment for them.

            My mom met Jeremy in January 2011 and he moved in shortly after.  He got a job in Cedar Rapids, and it was costing to much to drive him back and forth everyday. So they started looking for a house. We seen a lot of nice ones but they didn’t work out to well. So one day we seen the one we are currently living in. They called the Landlord and the next day they talked to her. We moved in within a week and I wasn’t ready for it. I had to leave my grandparents, friends, and a lot of family.  I haven’t gotten to see my best friends in forever and its really hard for me. In just a few days we just up and left. I wasn’t expecting.

            I now go to Washington which is really hard for me. I’m not used to this many kids, carefree teachers, or not having people to talk to. I don’t have any friends here except for one who also moved from Anamosa. I really wish I could move back to Anamosa and be with my friends. The entire time we looked for a house they asked if I was okay with the moving idea but I said yes just because everyone else was happy with the idea. Deep down I hated the idea, I didn’t want to move and I still wish we didn’t.

            Although the move was hard, I gained a lot. A step-dad, a new house, a job, and another family. The only thing I wish was different is my family. I wish I could have all my family together all the time. I wish my grandparents, fathers side, and mothers side was always together. I also wish my best friends and I were still as close as we used to be. This move was hard but I wish it would just get easier. Going from 6 to 424 in just 7 days was

really hard, and the sooner it

gets easier. The better.

Descriptive #2

The Day of Love..

Valentines Day is a holiday where you see pink, purple and red flowers in each aisle. Chocolate wrapped in many different colored paper, heart boxes with chocolate inside, candy hearts with cute sayings, hallmark cards, heart cookies, 'i love you' teddy bears, chocolate roses, anything and everything you can imagine that has to do with your heart, and love. Valentines Day became an official holiday on February 14th, before the 1000's. In St. Valentines a couple got married and decided this was the day of 'love.' Now couples get each other many different gifts to show their love, engagement rings, promise rings, candy, flowers, and cards are just a few of the things given. I hate it. Personally I believe if you are going to show your love do it on a day when your partner least expects it. Don't do it on a day it's 'expected.' Don't get me wrong, I love getting small gifts to show you are thinking of me and care about me, but don't do it when your suppose to. Be ordinary, spontaneous, exciting. Show me you care. Show me you're thinking about me.

My sister was born on Valentines Day 7 years ago, she is all I need for Valentines Day, many don't know, but the doctors told my mom it would be best to abort my sister before she was born. Said she would have down syndrome, and my mom didn't need to 'deal' with that. My mom went against the doctors wishes, and did not terminate her pregnancy. It is now 7 years after she was born and my sister is extremely smart for a first grader, yes she has a slight stutter, and she may not be able to keep a conversation set on one subject but she does not have down syndrome. The doctors miss-diagnosed her and I am extremely happy each and every day that my mom didn't get the abortion. My sister is my everything, I get her anything and everything she asks for, play games with her, watch her movies, and help her fall asleep at night. She is all I need for Valentines Day, everything else on this day is an extra add-on. Her beautiful smile you see in her bright blue eyes, and blond hair can make any day better, make you feel warm, and make you happy when your down.

Subjective

Coffee Run

Dan Dewey is a 64 year old man who helps out his community at the St Joseph Mercy Oakland,  Michigan Cancer Institute. It all started when his father went to this hospital as a patient and he offered to get his dad a coffee, but he also asked if he could get coffee for the others and his dad told him "Yea go ahead" which made him start 'Dan's coffee run.' Every Thursday morning Dewey asks the patients what drink they would like to get and writes it down on a notepad, at about 10:30 am Dewey arrives at the Starbucks at Square lake and Woodwork and purchases 14-20 drinks with the money out of his own pocket, usually costing somewhere between  $40 and $75. At the MCI Dan Dewey is considered an official volunteer caregiver. He swears to the patients that he will continue showing his care and support to them until his last breath, and his last dollar. Dan Dewey is a great example to kids who need to learn that it is showing you care by giving is more important than receiving gifts and getting everything in the world without lifting a finger. By buying coffee for the patients at Michigan Cancer institute, he is giving from his own care, using his own money, and sharing happiness and love to the patients who need it most, he is recognized by many as 'The man always in shorts, even in the winter.' The institute cured his father of cancer at the age of 81, but later when his father was slowly dying, his last dying wish was; 'Keep doing the coffee run.' Dan Dewey, who limps into the hospital to get the orders, limps back to his car, into the Starbucks, and returns to the hospital with his coffees, ignoring his own pain, to help others feel loved and cared for. Dewey has donated an aquarium to this institute, and does not plan at anytime to stop bringing coffee to the patients and employees. He has set up a facebook fan page where you can learn about his coffee runs, and you can also donate money to his charge card to help him pay for all the coffee he is delivering to the patients who need the most love.

-MaKayla Marie

Descriptive

Add on those calories

Cheese, sauce, bread, meat, veggies, calories, and don't you dare let me for get grease, oh how the grease just lightens up that deliciously disgusting combination all you need to do is lift it by the crust and you can see it run down the rest of that mouth watering meal. Guess what it is yet? You guessed it, pizza. Absolutely the most disgusting food that I have ever seen. Most people would say snude remarks such as 'Whaaa?', 'That's un-american', among many other rude remarks due to my decisions on what my delicate taste-buds really need. Many Americans these days eat foods that just sound appealing, they don't take into careful consideration that they are packing on calories that they really don't plan to ever loose. Close your eyes, it's a Tuesday night. What are you doing? Maybe sitting in the family living room cuddled up in your favorite pajamas, under your warmest blanket, the one with the pink material, the green fringe, and your name or favorite sport, hobby, or just anything embroided onto it, watching your favorite family friendly movie, eating a pizza you ordered from Paul Reveres, or maybe even Pizza hut, whichever your family decides upon. This is not how you should be spending your Tuesday night if you are going to eat multiple pieces of that calories filled, greasy mess, which will later clog your arteries leading into a heart attack or possibly a stroke. Scaring you yet? Good! Of course many of you will go and say its' not fast food, your lying, it won't do anything. Yes, I agree it isn't fast food, but its still very unhealthy. It is one of the most unhealthy choices Americans make these days. Many children in today's society are obese, and that doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. The choices of food we eat today compared to 50 years ago has changed. Parents don't push their kids to eat their vegetables, their salad, Brussel sprouts, apples, oranges, bananas, milk, or even one of their daily servings of meat. Instead they give their children $10 and tell them to go to Burger King, Wendy's, McDonald's, or Hy-Vee's Chinese, which is loaded with excess sodium, preservatives, and trans fat. This post isn't meant to be one to scare you, although I am hoping it did frigthen you to realize that pizza and all those fast food, eat out places you choose rather than a home cooked meal with fresh vegetables, fruit, salad, milk, and meats, will indeed catch up to you and make you what you refuse to ever see yourself as.

-MaKayla Marie