BE GRATEFUL

Why is it that ever time I look at what people do the word grateful pops into my head? And I'm not saying that they are grateful it is the fact that they aren't grateful. People always look at what they don't have but, why don't they look at what they do have. I am usually grateful for things I have and most of the itme you won't see me saying "I wish I had that" or "I want that" because I like what i have. The fact is that everyone doesn't even have and would love to have it. All of my possesions could be gone at anytime but they are still here which is good so if I started wanting more and more things without an end what would that mean about me. I don't mean to be a hypocrite because I need to say "thank you" more than I do but, why do people think that would they have is garanteed? I do things for people and sometimes they don't thank me. So what do I do? I stop doing it for them to see how they feel. The only way for me to deal with someone who isn't thankful is to stop providing for them. I don't have to do anything that I don't want to but people won't see it until I don't provide for them. Maybe that's what should happen to them just to show and prove that they should be grateful or they will have nothing. Everyday isn't garanteed for anyone so why aren't people even thankful for that. They might say they are but, I beat that some those Christians out there don't thank God for everyday that he gives them. People need to change and for the better of them or misfortunes may happen to them. When I do something for someone and may want something in return that isn't that serious, why do they take it that way? Do they not know how it feels to really owe someone something? In the end being grateful will definently make life better.

MISTAKES

Whenever I look back at the past I realize that I have made so many mistakes that it doesn't make sense. Then I ask myself "Why did I do that"? I don't know why I did some of the things that I have. Plus they end up hurting me which causes me even more confusion. If i ever had the chance to go into the past and chose what and what not to do I would definently take the oppurtunity because life would surely be different without mistakes. Relationships and other things could be better, and I could have things in my possesion that I wouldn't have had before. Sometimes I get upset just thinking about all of that because I didn't have to do those things but I chose to. And some of my choices were very stupid ones. Ones that could have changed alot to make things better but, instead made things alot worst for me. I've said the wrong things to girls and friends in general. Some people that I know I should have never met because all they do is cause trouble for you. If it was ever possible to see the outcome of everything life would be so much easier. I wouldn't have to worry about people being mad at me or me being mad at people. Things that I have had would still be here and i may have even gained something from not making any mistake. Life can be so hard on you because of the fact that you must carry the burden of your mistakes all your life. It isn't easy at all. i wish my mistakes would all go away but, the fact is that it won't so I need to try my hardest to forget about my mistakes and move on. maybe mistakes aren't that serious and I'm taking it in the wrong way. Either way life goes on and i need to realize the mistakes are a part of life and will continue to happen to me for as long as I live. I'm not perfect so whatever happens just happens and theer isn't anything i can do about the past so the only thing i should be focused on is the future and the present.

CLINOPHOBIA

Clinophobia-fear of going to bed

Little 5 year old Charlie was a good child. he always made his parents and the rest of his family happy. Whatever they wanted him to do it was done but, whenever it was time to go to bed he always started pouting and crying and yelling "I don't want to go to bed" at his parents. They were always puzzled about why he didn't want to go to bed. Everytime they asked him he would never tell them and just stare at them with a look of fear in his bright blue eyes. One dark stormy night Charlie and his parents were all in the family room watching tv when they noticed it was Charlie's bedtime. He had already taken a bath so he was going straight to bed. As Charlie's mom reached for him he began crying. "Mommy don't make me go" said Charlie with tears shooting out of his eyes. "If you don't go to bed right now msiter I'm going to beat you" yelled Charlie's mom. His mom took him to his room and tucked him into bed after both of them said their prays. "I love you dear and goodnight" the mom said as she left the room. Charlie's heart started pounding as he watched his mother take every single footstep out of his room. Once his mother was out of sight he pulled the cover over his head. Charlie could have sworn something rubbed his foot at the bottom of his bed. So he raised his feet up to his chest shaking with fear. That's when he though he heard the words "CHARLIE" coming from his closet. Something was trying to get him. Something evil wanted poor little Charlie. "MOM" yelled Charlie. After a few moments the room light was turned on and his father and mother stood at his door. "What's wrong Charlie" asked his parents. "Something called my name" said Charlie crying again. "Look son you have to face your fears no matter how scared you are sometimes. Otherwise it will always affect you" Charlie's father said as he sat beside Charlie on his bed. "Now go to bed and just concentrat on going to sleep" After saying that Charlie's parents left the room after telling him goodnight and giving him a hug. The lights went off and the cover went up and over Charlie's head once again. "CHARLIE I SEE YOU" said a voice coming from the closet. That's when Charlie's father's voice popped back into his head and he decided to face his fears. So Charlie hopped out of bed and walked towards his closet. "I'm not afraid of you" Charlie said with bravery. Charlie took another step towards the closet before being snatched in. Charlie's parents were never going to see him again.

MATURE & IMMATURE

There are two strong adejectives that seperate teenagers from other teenagers in high school. Those two adjectives are mature and immature. Whenever teenagers compare themselves to other teenagers they usually look at the fact about being one of the two. If you look at teengers as a whole in my opinion immature counts for way more people than mature. I can go to school everyday and find someone immature. Why are people immature anyway? Should we blame it on their parents or do they act immature for their own reasons? Some people don't mind immaturity but I can't stand it. Immature people only make you mad and annoyed with their childishness. Even though I can't stand immaturity I have to put up with it everyday because some people around me act immature. I guess I can stand it from some people but with others it is uncalled for. Relationships would be alot easier if people were mature. You wouldn't have to worry about them doing something only a kid would do. I can admit there are some mature people around me at school but sometimes it's just like they switch from mature to immature then back again. It's like they go through a cycle. There are maybe a few people that I know that remain mature constantly, or maybe I just haven't seen them act immature yet. if I'm in a romantic relationship with a girl and she a started acting immature with me that would turn me off. You can't expect people to like you for acting immature. And if they say that I should like them as they are then I'll just simply tell them I don't like who they are. I only put out with immaturity to a certain extent. Sometimes I lash out on people and they seem to not understand why I lashed out. That shows that some people don't realize they are immature so that's why it's good to tell them. I can sometimes be immature but I try my hardest to maintain a state of maturity so I can look good and not childish in the eyes of others.

MY LIFE

Today was the scariest day of my life. I found myself shaking nervously and even crying after an incident right in front of the Virginia War Memorial. This is how it all started from my point of view. After being told that all students that weren't interviewing people had to leave I made my way to the bus stop with my upperclassmen friends. Everything was going fine. We were playing around and laughing with each other. That's when I had realized that i needed a bus ticket, which if I was going to get I would need to walk all the way back to the school. Instead of me going, my friend Dominique decided that he was going to run back to the school just to get me a bus ticket. So while he was doing that I was just hanging out on the small walls right in front of the Virginia War Memorial while the other people at the bus stop were a little ways behind talking to each other. Then all of a sudden I turn my head to my left only to see a car flipping in mid-air. Glass rained as the car windows broke. And not only that but, right afterwards the steel pole right there at the bus stop fell on top of the car. Through out the whole time i was watching I didn't know what to do. I just stared and watched while slowly backing up in shock. I had never seen any car accident before but today that changed. Since I'm a Christian I believe that if it wasn't for my strong belief in God i would probably have died or been seriously hurt because that pole didn't land on the car on its own. It was God that did that for me. Once the pole had hit it was a quick second before anyone responded. Then i saw Megan and Jordan walked by me walking towards the messed up car. It was a Caucasin woman in the vehicle that Jordan helped out. After seeing Jordan do that i have like the upmost respect for that guy because i don't think i really would have helped as quick as he did if at all because of how shoken up I was. After the woman got out of the car and sat down I walked over to her and asked her was she okay. The first time I asked her she just looked at me. I could see the fear in her eyes. Once I asked her the second time she finally responded "Yeah but I don't know what happened". After a little way help finally came and they taped off the area. For a while I just stayed at the bus trying to get myself together. That's when i finally gave the situation some real though. What if the car flew at me? What if the pole hit me? I was the only person right who was the closest to the accident which really put me in jeopardy. If I had died right then and there in front of all my friends my life would have been all for nothing. I haven't accomplished anything really major since I'm not an adult yet so if I die all things i have done,all the people I've met, all the things I've said would have all been for nothing. My dad has always told me that I'm not grateful but after that I can see what he meant. So now I am grateful. I am grateful for every little thing that happens to me. I am a tough guy and all but after witnessing something like that then realizing that I should be more grateful made me cry. It made me think about the fact that I could have died but, I didn't. I even started crying more when I though about my family because today could have been the day I never saw them again. While i tried to collect myself my friends were there by my side trying to comfort me. i really appreciated that because it showed me that I chose the right people as friends. After staying at that bus stop for a while I walked to the other one with Dominique planning on catching the 71 K-mart. I wanted to get home as soon as I could but I wasn't able to get myself together. The thing that kept coming into my head was that i could have died but I'm still here. I'm still alive. Then tears came down my face once again. That's when my junior friend Jessica came to me and gave me comfort. After noticing that I was still sad and crying a bit Dominique decided to call my mom and tell her to pick me up at school. When we got back to school we waited in front of it until my mom came. Once she picked me up and told her what happened and she took me home. When i got home my mom told me to get some rest so while i did that I decided to think about my life and all the mistakes I've made. After being in this incident my father won't have to worry about me not being grateful anymore because I will and that's a promise. ....

THE NEW GIRL

The new girl at school walked by heading to her nice o'clock english class as Jason and Andrew stared at her. She was brown skin with medium lenght hair, red cherry lip stick, body like a goddess and a walk like a model. Shawty was a TEN. Jason and Andrew pratically feel in love with the girl. She was the sexiest girl they had ever seen. It was the second semester at Oakfield High and the year was almost over and they were still single."You know what Andrew I bet you I'll get her number before you. And you have to get it before the end of today" said Jason. For some reason Jason was always trying to compete with Andrew over everything but Andrew was never the type to back down so he took the bet. After the bell rung Jason and Andrew made their way into the class to find out that the new girl was also in their class. She was sitting in the corner by the air conditoner right beside Jason's assigned seat. As the guys took their seats Jason and the new girl met eyes right before he sat down. " I'm pretty sure she is finding me quite attractive" Jason said to himself. Once jason sat down he spook to her."Hey you're the new girl, what's your name boo" said Jason. "Hi I'm Keosha Brown, what's your name" said the girl looking Jason smiling. " I'm Jason""So I know you haven't been here long but how are you liking the school so far" Jason asked. Keosha was about to answer but was interrupted as the teacher started teaching the class. For the rest of the class period the two ddin't say a word as they paid attention to the teacher but, that didn't mean they ddin't take a look at eachother every now and then. After the end of class Jason and Andrew started talking to eachother in the hallway but the new girl. "I saw you trying to spit the game to her" said Andrew. Jason responded "Her name is Keosha and she seemed pretty cool". "Well you keep on thinking you're going to get her number but next class period I'm going to talk to her and I bet you she wil like me over you" said Andrew. They made their way to their ten o'clock geometry class. To their luck Keosha made her seat right in front of the desk they sat in which made her easy acess to talk to. "I guess it's my turn to talk to her" said Andrew. "Yeah whatever Mr.Playa go do your thing" responded Jason. Over the course of that period Andrew got even closer to Keosha than Jason did.  "What is he saying to her that I'm not" Jason asked himself as he watched Andrew and Keosha talk as they did their class work. Over the next 5 minute break Andrew and Jason met up in the hall way once again. "After I get her number i want you to call me Mister Andrew for now on" said Andrew. "Andrew you must be crazy telling me to call you that" Jason shot back. Shortly after, all students walked to their eleven o'clock class. Jason and Andrew were in Spanish class but, unluckily Keosha wasn't in the class with them. Instead she was in a French class. The guys spoke to each other as they did their Spanish classwork. "Well i guess it's my turn" said Andrew showing Jason a smile to get him upset. "No it isn't because who ever said we were even taking turns talking to her?Not me." said Jason. "Oh so you're trying to be like that. Well fine i guess we won't be taking turns so don't expect me to let you get alot of time in with here" responded Andrew. "Fine the same thing goes for you then" Jason said back with a anger face.

TO BE CONTINUED.......

SIBLINGS

If you have a younger brother or sister haven't you ever gotten to the point where you said no more? Haven't you just gotten so sick and tired of them that you wish they never existed? I have two little sisters and they drive me crazy most of the time. No matter how much I don't want to I find myself argueing with at least one of them everyday. I don't like to argue, especially with little kids but they aways end up pushing me to the limit with their constant childishness. Why can't they act more like me. Why can't they stop being so annoying? I don't know if they realize how anger they make me but they should because sometimes I wish they weren't even here. Besides the fact about how mad my sisters make me they still are good siblings. Sometimes when I'm down they are there to cheer me up. Plus my sisters always show how much they care for me. They aren't the best siblings but I still love them for who they are. It is good they are who they are because I won't have to see them acting up most of the time and they don't go around doing things they shouldn't be doing. I wouldn't be the same person without my sisters. They have really put forth the work into shaping who I am today from their annoyingness to their sweetness. I love my sisters and I never want to lose them.

ANGER MANAGEMENT

It was one o'clock in the afternoon at Rookridge High and a teenager named Matt Anderson was on lunch break and needed to turn in some homework. The problem was Matt forgot to do his homework the day before because of staying up talking to a very close friend on the phone. He had forgotten that the homework assignment was a report that needed to be turned in on time or else his grade for the class wouldn't be good. Matt only had an hour to do a whole report on genetic engineering. So he didn't go to the cafeteria that day but, insted he went to the computer lab to do his report. When he reached the computer lab to his surprise the teacher Mr.Gallwell wasn't in there. "The guy must be somewhere else for lunch today" Matt said to himself. So he wouldn't be able to use the lab. "Oh well I'll have to try another class." Matt walked to the Math classroom to see if he could print the report. Matt was in luck the teacher in there named Ms.Elizabeth granteed him acess to the computer. While Matt was typing up his report Ms.Elizabeth had to leave for lunch so she told him to close the door when he was done if she didn't come back in time. After Matt typed his report he clicked save then click print after turning on the computer. Once Matt sat there for a moment he realized the icon on the printed was flashing because it needed more paper."OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Matt to himself pulling his hair. "Well maybe she has some paper in her desk somewhere." matt searched and searched the teacher's desk but didn't find any paper for the printer. "You know what forget printing the project I'll just ask Mr.Cobb(the teacher who gave him the assignment) to come take a look at it." Later that evening after lunch break was over Matt made his way to class bumping into friends along the way. He walked inside the room and took his seat followed by the rest of the students. "Take out your reports!" said Mr.Cobb to the class. That's when Matt raised his hand and told Mr.Cobb that he couldn't print his report because Ms.Elizabeth ran out of paper. "Well Mr.Anderson that's no excuse because you could have went down to the office and got some from the secretary.So just for that you get a zero and your grade for this class will most likely be an D or an F" said Mr.Cobb. Matt was fueled with rage after hearing those words. He got up out of his chair and said "LOOK YOU IDIOT I DID MY REPORT AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A ZERO THEN IM GOING TO GIVE YOU A BLACK EYE!!!!" right before running up the tall elderly man. What happened after that would change Matt Anderson's life for ever.

It Finally Snowed

It has been a long time since we have gotten a real good amount of snow. I looked outside the window Sunday night and saw that there was a lot of snow. I was glad because I have wanted snow for a while so it could get me out of school. And to my luck that's exactly what it did. We didn't have to go to school for three days which mad the week pass by really fast. Over the days that we had out of school I have been outside having fun with my family. We have had a lot of snowball fights with each other. We had planned to build a snowman but we never did. I didn't even want to really because I didn't know how. if we had got any more snow then i probably would have had even more fun than i did and I wouldn't have had to go to school. the rest of my family seemed to enjoy the snow as much as I did. They didn't even want to go back to school. if we could ever get snow like this again it would be great because everyone could go have even more fun than what they did over this short break.