Diligence

As my life becomes more and more active, filled with all of my dance classes, plays and homework, I have less and less time to myself. The time I have to relax and rest is slowlying drifting away because so much demands my attention. I am almost forced to become more diligent, to give more persistence and effort than I ever have.

Up until almost 2 years ago, my life was, well, boring and tedious. I wasn't involved. My main activities were doing my homework and wasting time in front of televisions and computers. This school year has been my toughest because some of that "old me" lingers still.

I must be diligent for all areas of my life. My dance skills need to be honed. My flexibility could be better; muscles stronger. My grades could use some improvement. In general, I need to be more persistent.

Assertion/Claim (Topic Sentence) = Main Idea

• The legal driving age should be increased from 16 to 18.

Evidence -Concrete Detail:

• Novice drivers haven't mastered basic motor skills that take time and training to develop than what can be taught and learned in a matter of just two years.
  • Commentary 1: Teenagers or more likely to get into traffic violations like speeding, tailgating, running red lights, etc.
  • Commentary 2:
• Teenagers are less aware of the distractions and risks around the driving environment such as cell phones that might ring, the radio being too loud, what the passengers are doing.
  • Commentary 1: When a teenager transports passengers, the fatality risk of the teens increase by 360%. This goes for passengers who are peers of the teen driver because they might encourage taking more risks.
  • Commentary 2: Teenagers wear safety belts less often.

They say:

• By increasing the driving limit, you take aways rights that have been given to teens for years.
• Some teens have job they desperately need or their parents rely on them to drive themselves and siblings to and from school.

I say:

• Over 50% of all sixteen year olds get some variation of a traffic accident or violation within three months of getting their license. If the limit is increased, it allows two more years of practice to ensure the safety of other drivers, the teens and the teen's parents' pocketbook.
• In the case that teenagers must drive to a job or take sibilings to school, he/she my apply for a hardship license that will allow them to drive under the age of 18 only when it envolves one of the two duties stated above.

My Paragraph:

The legal driving age should be increased from 16 to 18. Novice drivers haven't mastered basic motor skills that take time and training to develop than what can be taught and learned in a matter of just two years. Teenagers or more likely to get into traffic violations like speeding, tailgating, running red lights, etc. They are less aware of the distractions and risks around the driving environment such as cell phones that might ring, the radio being too loud, what the passengers are doing. When a teenager transports passengers, the fatality risk of the teens increase by 360%. This goes for passengers who are peers of the teen driver because they might encourage taking more risks. Teenagers wear safety belts less often than older drivers.

Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project is to support and provide aid to the veterans wounded in battle. The warriors protecting us go through more hardships than any of us ever will. They at least deserve to have their heroism remembered.

Our warriors are constantly dying and being maimed. Many lose body parts. Others have to endure psychiatric problems from the battles they've been through.

• Yet another example of how great we have it right now. Always remember that there's someone who's gone threw far worse than us.

The military operatives' injuries can actually reverberate into their civilian lives, making them suffer post traumatic stress and breaks down their lives.

• Now, I don't know about you, but if I had the job to give money to get thm therapy, I certainly would donate.

Our warriors go through extensive trials and pain. As they go through them, their families are hurt also. Don't they deserve to at least be commended for it, if not compensated?

Remembering 9/11

Thinking back on that day, ten years ago on September 11th, America still gets melancholy over all of those people that died. Many people lost someone close to them. But the sun still shined after that dark day America still found happiness in people's hearts, especially the children's.

Such harsh feelings are shot at the terrorists. That hatred is more deadly than the missiles the military are hurling into the Middle East. I've actually just let go of that hatred because even though that day was so dark, so history turning, so deadly, so anguishing, so tearing, so heartbreaking, it's not healthy for me to hold dark hatred against anyone, even those who committed this horrendous act.

"Run!": Henry vs. Forest

For those not in my English class, this an analysis for Henry Fleming, the main protagonist in the book Red Badge of Courage, and Forest Gump (yes, the movie!) to draw inferences on what happens in intense situations.

My Inference about Running:

Intense situations causes an instinctual reaction in him/her in order for self-preservation by either fighting or fleeing.

"[Henry] threw down his gun and fled. He ran like a rabbit. He ran like a blind man."

• Henry ran without even thinking. His commanding officer never gave an order for retreat.

In the clip from Forest Gump, Forest wanted to stay and fight when the regiment was attacked.

• The only reason Forest actually ran was because everyone told him to. He was trained to fight when the time came.

Our most basic instincts are to survive and these instincts outweigh everything. People will act in a way they'd never say they will because of that drive they get to survive.

War is...

War is destruction, razing entire cities
War is young men dying,
War is old men talking,
War is fought for greed, power, and selfish reasons
War is suffering to all, fighting those who aren't fighting
War is expensive, bringing poverty to many
War is killing men who wish not to fight
War is Murder
War is Hatred
War is not Kind

The Champion

His movements are like water
His arms are two striking snakes
His eyes enflamed with excitement
The swordsman lunged
At the enemy
In the fray
On the plains
From the stars
To the grave