Personal Narrative: Sister Vivien In High School

I had just turned eleven and received a book, Eleven by Lauren Myracle, from my mother as a birthday gift. As I opened the page and read the first line I immediately had an overwhelmingly bubbly feeling. The sheer coincidences made me feel like that book was written with me in mind. I read on and on non stop for the rest of the day because how could I turn away from a book that was hypothetically written about me. It expressed my pre-teen drama, things only an eleven-year-old would consider drama and it inspired me. It gave me the sudden urge to pour my heart into the little mini books I was known for writing and leaving around the house. Writing was something that I was very passionate as a little girl and is still something I am very passionate about as a young adult. The little things I did in my childhood

I believe that humans and non humans all have a shred of good somewhere inside them. Yes, it may be a microscopic speck hidden deep within them. But it is there. And like a seed, you can nurture it and watch it blossom into something beautiful. However, as I stood at the front doors of Theodosia Pressle High School for Talented Children, I was beginning to have doubts. As I studied my long time peers and friends I can’t help but wonder, what happened?

At first I was excited to find what I thought was my tribe. Like any group, leaders arose in the female arsenal. These women were smart and gregarious, they drew girls in with their impassioned, engaging speeches. It was, in some ways, a seduction. These women got it! This new sisterhood of women (not my own actions) was going to be my strength. I finally found a scape-goat for all the world's injustice, and now I was empowered! The more powerful these leaders got, the more tyrannical they became. Their views could not be questioned and women were shunned after speaking out or criticizing the Top Dogs. Shunned and excluded by, gasp, other women. If you wanted to stay in the club, you had to pledge allegiance. The groups gave birth to a collective

Earlier this month, I attended my sister's graduation at Simon Fraser University. She obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. I am so proud of my baby sis (she's a lot younger than me). Her hard work and dedication finally pays off! Congrats Elaine!!

No matter what sport you take part in, it takes an abundance amount of commitment and time. It is always difficult to put time in academics, not to mention another activity. Everyone has the ability to choose whether or not to engage themselves in sports. Personally, I participate in sports, specifically water polo and swimming, by reason of the opportunity of meeting new individuals, a distraction from academics, and an experience.

In thinking back, this weekend of backpacking for obvious reasons has always stood out in my mind. My twin daughters, Kim and Susan, wanted me to join their Middle School’s Girl Scout troup, which really was a Father/Daughter backpacking group. Having backpacked with my twins many times before, of course I said yes. The first thing I noticed was obvious, where were all the other fathers? With twenty-five young girls, there were only four fathers and no other leaders. Mario is our leader, which he has always been. He designed all of our trips.  Since all of the girls were from the same school they all either knew each other or they were classmates. For some of these girls, it was obvious had never been away from home or had never camped out. We knew this because a couple of them brought along their teddy bears. That was settled easily, their friends teased them about it. We were situated at Blue Jay Campground next to the Chiquito Basin Trail. This was an orientation weekend camp out. Here we taught all the girls how to read trail maps, use a compass, how to set up a tent and stuffing sleeping bags etc. Most of this teaching was by the girls who had

All my life, I was known as “Trevor’s little sister.” Trevor is my brother, the alcoholic and drug addict, the one always in the spotlight of sympathy and help. I understand that he needs help, addictions are rather scary, I know, I have one as well, but not that “harmful.” My brother has been to multiple rehabilitation places, half way houses, and jail. It's affected me both negatively and positively. Many people look at my situation and think that I'm going to grow up just like him, with a drug and alcohol addiction. But knowing this and experiencing this situation first hand, I am trying my best to avoid it. I put all my passion into baking and cooking. I am going to study and work hard in college so I can get to the police academy with a master’s degree in criminal justice. I want to be the

Anon, I didn't realize that Maine towns like Bangor, Skowhegan, Bingham, and Augusta were going to be just another name of a town and the memory of a house that would be soon ripped away from us like a hurricane hitting all at once. Being the happy eight-year-old girl I was, I didn't realize what life was really about. Until I started to understand it wasn't "Normal" for my mom to be gone all the time, and do not know who my dad really was. Moving around as often as I did seem normal, as I got older it didn't feel right anymore. These events in my life made it difficult for me to learn and read like the other students. As I got older and was removed from that living situation and was living with my paternal grandparents, I was able to get the

High school was really fun but in my sophomore year Alyssa had a baby! It finally came true! Brielle was cool for a while but she grew up a little and became a little devil, just like her dad, so when Alyssa and Ryan had their little girl everyone was ecstatic! Alyssa’s little girl’s name is Rosa, after Ryan’s niece who absolutely adores him. Ryan’s niece used to call him almost everyday because he lived in Des Moines in Zack’s house and Rosa missed him. When Alyssa went to the hospital I got pulled out of school, even though I was a sophomore and had a car, we headed straight to Des Moines and didn’t get to come home until three o’clock the next morning! Needless to say I was extremely tired the next day when I went back to school, and did the same thing I did when Brielle was born when I got home from school; I slipped into a temporary coma. I slept until around two A.M, then fell right back asleep. Rosa was healthy as can be and there was nothing to worry about. She was about eight pounds seven ounces and she was twenty-one

It was a warm Friday in September of 2013; the end of the week had finally come. However, this was not going to be just any ordinary Friday because I was going to my friend Davey’s house for a bonfire. I could have never dreamed that this day would end the way it did. But, after a several hour standoff occurring in the white colonial style house just one street down from mine, my exciting day planned ahead of me had ended.