Freshman Bad Decisions

Lizbeth Islas Mrs. Rogers Eng 1A February 19, 2013 Essay #1 Freshman Bad Decisions Early hot morning and my brothers are ready to go back to school, except me. Every senior is ready to be done with their last year of high school. In this case, I was a freshman so I was not happy at all to go back to school. The only good thing was that two of my friends were seniors and I could at least have someone to help me locate my classes. However, senior friends can also be a bad influence and make you take the worst decisions on the first day of school. My friends showed me the whole school and also where my classes were going to be held. Passing through the breezeway, you realize that everyone stares at you. They look at what you are wearing, whether you have new shoes, new pants, and new t-shirt. The first day of school everything is about what other people are wearing and who looks different and who does not; it’s about physical appearance and not about school related activities. My first morning classes were all about the same thing: school rules and policies. Also, some teachers talked about the materials we need on a specific class. Everything was boring and some information was new. However, teachers looked at us like fresh, newborn babies that they have to teach us every little, single word on the school rules. After the first class, every class seems longer and boring because teachers were repeating the same information. What teachers don’t realize is that freshman are scared and most of the time we forget what the teachers tell us. After going to all my morning classes, I was exhausted and ready for a break. The good thing is that it was time for a lunch break. One of my senior friends offered us some food that she had at her house. My other friend and I agree to go with her because our house was at the other side of the school and my friend’s house was only about two blocks away. When we got to her house, all her family members had left for work already so the house was empty. My friend offered us a drink, but I said no. However, my other friend accepted. The surprise for me was that the drink was not a soda or water, it was alcohol. I was totally shocked and didn’t know what to do. Both started drinking shots; one after the other. It was time to back to school and they were still drinking. I told them that I was going back to school and they decided that they were going back with me. I refused to back with them because they were all ready tipsy. Then, I told them that I would stay home with them and that we can ditch school. However, they wanted to go back because they didn’t want to miss the first day of class. So there we go back to the school, two senior drunks and a freshman not drunk. On our way back to school, my two drunken friends started to sing romantic songs and then the crying began. While walking on the street, there was many people walking with their dogs and they would just keep staring at us. The passing by other people was a really embarrassing moment. Anyways here we are again back in school. The first thing we see while walking towards the main entrance of the school was the principal. I stood between my two friends so I could hold them. The principal asked us that why we were late so I told her that my friend had some stomach issues. She totally believed me because she looked at my friend and she was still kind of crying. Then she told us to go back to class as fast as we could. I went to take my two friends to their classes, and then I went to my class. For a minute I thought that everything was okay and that teachers were not going to caught us, but I was totally wrong. After being sitting down in class for about ten minutes, a cop and three senior students came to get me out of my class. While walking towards the classroom door, I could hear everyone whispering behind my back “Oh she’s in a huge trouble” or like “What did she do and why are they taking her”. The beginning of a bad decision was going to start some bad action. While walking to the office the cop told me that my friend was throwing up in class and that she was feeling dizzy. My legs started shaking and they felt like if I was walking on a wood bridge. On that moment all Iwas thinking was how my dad was going to react to this situation. I started to see the trees yellowish color like if it was the beginning of autumn season. While walking to towards the office the hallway looked like a bridge without an end. Finally, we walk in to the principal’s office. When we enter the door my two friends were already there. I don’t know why but I felt a great relief. One of them was still sober, but the other one was super drunk. The officer got closer to the drunken one to ask her questions. He didn’t even finish the question when she threw up on his uniform. The principal ran and put a trash can right in front of her so she could throw up there. But it was too late; the officer was all dirty and smelly. The officer was on fire. All I could see was his face getting red as a tomato. On that minute I realize that things were going to get worst. The officer when to his car to get the breathalyzer so check how much alcohol we had in our system. While he was gone, the principal got out the office to call our parents. In that moment my friend grabbed my hand and then she told me “Don’t worry everything is going to be ok”. I didn’t reply back; I was still in shock. My drunkest friend was starting to felt better after throwing up everything. For a minute we all stared at the floor and many things were crossing to our minds. The cop and the principal return back to the office. The cop began testing my drunkest friend. I was so nervous that I didn’t pay attention of how much percentage of alcohol she had. Then, he tested my other friend. I was the last one to be tested. It was my first time blowing in to a breathalyzer. I didn’t had a clue on how to do it, besides I was really nervous so that made the things worst. After like the fourth time I got it right. Obviously my percent of alcohol was zero. When the officer told me that my score was zero, I felt that I was back to life. This happy feeling was gone when I saw my dad walking into the principal’s office. Behind my dad, my friend’s parents were following him. My dad’s eyes were looking straight at me. I knew how my dad was feeling. He was really disappointed that he’s only little girl was drunk the first day of school. The officer explained to my dad that I wasn’t drinking and that I didn’t had alcohol in my system. However, the principal still suspended me for three days of school. My friends were suspended too, but they were for ten days. I knew that my dad was going to almost kill me. While walking towards my dad’s truck, I wanted to tell my dad that I was really sorry, but no words could come out of my mouth. We both remained silence in our way home. After arriving he just told me, “This will be the first and only time you will do this to me”. I just give him as apologizing look and walked to my bedroom. I learned m lesson and till this day I don’t think I’ll ever go and have a drink before class. Bad decisions would always have a bad effect.

My Flight

Mayra Hernandez

February 17, 2013

English 1A

Kristina Rogers

My Flight

“Just great! I do not understand why people tend to be late to the airport.” I told my sister as she looked through the window of the airplane. The flight attendant had just announced that the airplane could not leave yet because they were waiting for another passenger to come aboard. Why don’t we just leave them I thought to myself, people should know that when buying a plane ticket one must be early to the airport.

After 10 more minutes the passenger had finally arrived. She look like she had run a mile I could tell by the way she was breathing. She was heading to the back of the plane where it seem she had her seat. As the lady came down the hallway some of the passengers gave her a mean look, others did not mind. When she got close to me, I shook my head and sigh loud enough for her to hear me. By now the lady had spotted her seat and she did not took her eyes of the seat. This has been the 5^th time that someone was late on the plane I was in.  One knows that we need to be there at least a few hours earlier.

It was a beautiful Sunday spring day, very bright with just a little bit of cool breeze in Long Beach. My sister Jessica and I went to Long Beach because one of our best friends was now engaged and we she wanted my sister and I to help her with some of the wedding plans. It was my last day of the short getaway weekend with my sister. We decided to go to Long Beach down town around 10 am and waste some time since our flight was leaving at 4:45pm. My friend’s fiancé drop the 3 of us at a store. He had to go because he worked, however he said he would be picking us up around 3:00pm to be on time to catch our flight. I did not think that was a good time because I always like to be on time for any flight. He assured me that the Long Beach airport is so small that even if I got there at 4:00pm I would make it perfectly on time. I was not happy about the answer but I decided to trust him.

My sister, my friend Marcy and I decided to go from store to store.  After a while we decided to eat around 1:00pm at the California Pizza Kitchen. My sister got and email from the airline saying that the flight time had change from 4:45pm to 6:30pm. My friend call her fiancé saying that our time flight had change so he did not need to pick us up at 3:00pm. We were happy about it because it gave us more time to enjoy the day. To see the ship Queen Mary was our next plan after lunch. When we got to the Queen Mary it was now 3:00pm. 10 minutes after we got there my sister got another email again from the airline. I ask what it said, but she did not look at me she looked very focused at her phone like as if she did not wanted to misunderstand a single word from it. She looked at me and laughed a little, I believe it was from the nerves. She said “The airline switch back the time again, our plane is leaving at the time it was schedule first.”

 My heart started to pump like crazy, I could not believe they had done this. My friend told me to relax that the airport was not far from where we were and that we would make it on time. She quickly call her fiancé to come and pick us up. We decided to walk closer to the main avenues so when our ride would come it would be faster for him to pick us up. I checked my phone every 20 seconds and it seem time was running faster. Time passed and passed and our ride was nowhere to be seen. I was ready to call a taxi. After 30 minutes our ride got there. I got inside the car as quickly as I could. “You do know I have a plane to catch right? I told my friends boyfriend, “Relax I have been to the airport 20 minutes before my flight was leaving and I was able to take my flight” he told me.  “I do not care, it is not always the same for everyone.” I thought to myself. I wanted to say some other stuff but after all he was my ride and at the moment I could not allow myself to ask for a new driver.

 “Oh NO!” I yelled “We still need to get our bags from your house Marcy.” I felt like vomiting at the time. I would not mind missing the flight and just buy a new airplane ticket if I just had the money. However at this very moment I just could not afford it. “We are going to miss our flight” this thought run through my head 100 times. I needed to be at work early the next day and I had school too.

We finally arrived at Marcy’s house I quickly jump out of the car and went inside the house grab the bags and into the car. It was now 4:10pm and I wanted to believe it was just a joke. It seem there was not traffic but all of a sudden many cars started to appear. It reminded me of when I try to kill ants and it seems like you got the last one when all off a sudden 1,000 more appear out of nowhere.

It was such a relieve for me when I saw the airport however I was not sure if I was going to make it on time. I grab my bag while getting out of the car I yelled “Thanks” to my friends and my sister and I ran inside the airport. Some of the people looked at us weird because we really ran like if a zombie was chasing us. We still had to check in and an employee was walking just in front of us when I grab him arm. “I am very sorry sir but I believe my flight is about to leave and we still need to check in, is there any way we can be in front of the line.” The man was very kind to us, he talk to one of the other employees and allowed us to be helped that very moment.  The employee ask where we were heading to and she grab the phone. “Has the Sacramento flight left yet?” she ask to the person on the other line. “Open back the door, open the door” she repeated “There are two more passengers, open back the door.” My goodness our flight was about to leave and we had not even gone through security. “Please be fast, the plane will be waiting for you girls” the lady told us. “Thank you so much” my sister and I said at the same time, I was about to cry.

To take a plane from Long beach airport we literally have to go outside to where the plane is at. We rush to where security was at and headed outside. We ran like 2 crazy girls with everyone there watching us. At the moment I didn’t not care I was determined to get to that plane. They had open the door once again, I thank God for that. I enter the plane first and it was full. I spotted two empty seats in the back, second to last row. I notice I was breathing heavily, I felt my face red. All of a sudden I notice people rolling their eyes at me, shaking their heads, I even heard someone whisper “Hurry up damn it.” I felt very embarrassed, sick and humiliated. I could not comprehend how I was now the one who was holding the flight. Me out of all the people, me? As I was going towards my seat I did not take my eyes off of it.

 I got to my seat thank God, we made it I thought and took a deep breath of relieve. I suddenly remember all the faces and comments I heard as I came down the hallway. How rude this people are I thought to myself if they only knew. That’s where it struck me, that I too had done that to other people and I promise myself in that airplane that I would not mind anymore if anyone was late to the plane I would be in.

 

Little Things

Eduardo Lievanos Medina
English 1A
February 18, 2013
Essay #1 Final


 It is amazing how one experience made me appreciate my mother more than I expected.  I remember complaining about the simplest things she did like cooking.  I complained when my mother made beans that were salty and the rice being to dry.  I realized the small things my mother did I took for granted, after more than two months of not be able to eat.
I was extremely nervous but at the same time excited when I went to go see the orthodontist.  I had no idea what he was going to happen.  My orthodontist told me that the braces would straighten out my horrible crooked teeth.  When I got my braces, I felt uncomfortable due to the fact it was hard to eat and talk.  I didn’t complain because I thought to myself in the end it would be worth it.  I was hoping that the braces would fix my teeth completely and I would get them off in no time.
After three years of living with wretched metal on my teeth, I was hoping to get the braces off soon.  Early in the morning, I received a surprising phone call from my orthodontist telling me they had some news and needed to see me as soon as possible.  I was in a great mood the day I went to his office.  I was expecting the orthodontist would tell me that he could finally take off the braces. I could not wait to smile in the mirror and admire my perfect teeth.  As I walked in, I saw everyone waiting for me with paperwork to fill out.  Once they called me in it didn’t take more than two minutes for the orthodontist to tell me that the braces have done all that was possible.  If I wanted to fix my bite and make it perfect, I would need double jaw surgery.  Now, I had to decide if I wanted to wait and get surgery or leave my teeth how they were without the braces.
The doctors’ explained the risks of the surgery to me and my mother.  The surgery can have complications such as losing too much blood, the heart being to weak for the anesthesia or even sudden death.  Also, I would not be able to eat for six weeks after surgery due to the fact that my jaw would be wired shut.  Since, those risks came with any other surgery and I was not too worried.  I knew I was in the good hands of the doctors.  On the other hand, my mother wasn’t too excited.  She was already worried before knowing the risks of the surgery, and after hearing the risk she got depressed.  I was horrified by the fact that I would not be able to eat for six weeks after the surgery.  I realized I would not be able to even taste the salty bean and dried rice my mother had cooked for me.  Just the thought of not being able to eat made me miss my mothers cooking already.
After talking with my parents concerning the awful news, I decided the best thing for me to do is to go ahead with the surgery.  My mother worried that something could go wrong during the surgery which made it a difficult decision for me.  My mother did not know anyone in the family who had been through a surgery and she had no idea what could happen.  The doctors had explained all the risks that came with getting the double jaw surgery.  Jaw surgery was more complicated because of the risks during the actual surgery, and the risks after the surgery was over.  I remember my mother trying to convince me not to do the surgery.  She mentioned to me, “If it is not completely necessary, just don’t take the risk.”  I understood why she worried about what can happen to me during surgery, but I knew that in the end it would benefit me in many ways.  With the benefits of the surgery in mind, I told her I would be going through with it and just hope for the best.
The day had come; it was a warm summer morning in September of 2012.  I was surprised I had slept the night before the surgery, and that I did not feel as nervous as I had imagined.  It was about five in the morning when my alarm went off, I got out of bed with so many thoughts scrambling through my head.  If someone had asked me what I was thinking, I would not be able to explain my thoughts.  After getting dressed, I went to the living room to find my mother already waiting for me.  I asked her why she was up so early.  She replied, “I could not sleep at all, I am worried about you.  I thought I should talk to her and make her feel more comfortable, but I knew it was impossible.  The only way for her to feel better was for the surgery to be over. Its amazing how I was the one going through surgery but I was most concerned about was my mother.
We were about to hop on to our car to go to the hospital when suddenly my mother stopped me and asked me if I still wanted to go through with the surgery.  “You still have time to change your mind,” she said.  I looked at her and said, “we are too far into this, we can’t go back now.”  The ride to the hospital felt like the quietest car ride I had ever been in.  The only thing I heard was the wind outside of the window and the low voice from the radio in the background.  Once we arrived at the UC Davis Hospital, I suddenly started to get more nervous.  I expected to walk in and see bright lights, white walls covering the hallways and crowds of people.  All I saw was empty orange colored hallways.  I was so nervous that when I walked to the help desk, it felt like a five k to me.  I waited in the waiting room no longer than ten minutes when the nurse came to get me.  By that time I was shaking in my boots.
I walk into the small room covered with nothing but white curtains.  There was pile of cables on the bed, which I would be hooked up to.  It was only my mother and I now in the room.  I got dressed for the surgery when the surgeon walked in and asks me if I am ready.  I did not know what to say so I just nod my head.  Once I was hooked to all the cables necessary for the surgery, the anesthesiologist walked in and stuck a needle in my arm.  That’s when I started feeling relaxed, I was almost falling to sleep.  As I was about to fall asleep, the bed started to move.  Now they were taking me to the room where the surgery would take place.  The last thing I remember was giving my mom a hug and seeing from a distance a tear running down her cheek.  Before I knew it, I was in the deepest sleep I had ever been in.
Seven hours had passed when suddenly I wake up from my slumber.  As I opened my eyes, I saw a  room crowded with doctors around me. My dad and brother were in front of the bed.  As I turned my head, I found my mother on the other side of me.  My mother was crying and the doctor was telling me to give her a sign that I was fine.  All I did was hold two thumbs up, since I could not talk  .  After the anesthesia wore off, my face was so swollen it looked like a basketball.  I was short of breath and vomiting blood due to the excessive bleeding from the surgery.  I was thinking about how hard it was going to be to get through the next few weeks without eating, but then I looked at my mom and she said, “you made it.”  At that moment, I realized she was there for me and she was going to be there for me until I reached the end of the road to recovery.  My mother quit her job to take care of me during the surgery.  Knowing how much I had taken her for granted, I realized the big things she did for me and the small things like cooking simple meals that I was going to miss.

The Boardwalk

Kristina Lopez

English 1A

18 February 2013

Essay 1

The Boardwalk

            Everyone in their lifetime needs to visit the beach at least once. It’s such a great experience with family, friends, or significant other. I have been to a lot of beaches in my time and the most fun and most exciting beach was the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I went with my mom and boyfriend in the summer of 2012. This was my first trip to Santa Cruz, I was so excited. I have always heard about it, how exciting and eventful it is. There’s just something about being at a beach with your toes in the sand and hearing the waves, which makes you relax and enjoy your life. Then you snap back to reality on the journey home.

            While I was at the boardwalk I walked on the pier and walked on the beach. I loved the feeling of the sand under my toes and the cold ocean water hitting my legs. I was scared walking on the pier because feeling the hollow wood underneath my feet as I walked out into the ocean made me feels like I was going to fall in and get eaten by sharks. While on the boardwalk I had to maneuver around the trash that was thrown on the ground and avoid walking into something spilt. While on the rides I had to hold onto the railings so I wouldn’t fly out, as I thought to myself how many people touch these things a day, and how often do they clean them. The thought made me queasy, not the actual ride. My feet and legs were so sore from walking everywhere all weekend but it was definitely worth it.

            During my trip to Santa Cruz I ate a lot of really good and delicious food but it made me sick because I ate way too much. I had corn dogs with mustard and ketchup, yummy warm pepperoni and cheese pizza while looking out at the beach, very moist and lemony salmon, and of course lots and lots of candy. Every night I felt I was going to throw up because I would eat way too much. There was so much more food I wanted to eat while I was there but I didn’t have enough time. I remember drinking mint chocolate chip ice cream shakes, which were delicious, and sat on the beach with my boyfriend staring of into the beautiful sunset.

            Every morning I got up and opened the window to smell the fresh salty air. I love the smell of the ocean mist on the asphalt in the morning. The delicious smell of all the food from the restaurants along the boardwalk and pier teased my nose the whole weekend. Even though I was full of food I wanted more. The part of the boardwalk where there are rides didn’t smell very good. I can’t explain the smell but it smelt like dirty rides.

            After I got up and got ready every morning, I enjoyed a nice walk on the beach with my boyfriend. I got to hear the waves crashing onto the beach, which is a very peaceful and relaxing sound. The ocean crashing onto the beach was peaceful but the annoying sound of seagulls squawking, waiting for food to be dropped on the ground was dreadful. As the day would go on I got to hear children and their families, laughing and screaming with humor as they ran around and played on the beach. Then as I would walk on the boardwalk I would hear people screaming as the rides whipped them around. The playful sound of all the games along the boardwalk make you feel like a kid again and want to waste your money on all the stupid rigged games. When the day would end and I would be lying in bed in silence, I could still hear the peaceful sound of the waves crashing down on the beach. This lovely sound would put me softly to sleep.

            While playing the fun rigged arcade games I could see myself almost winning every time then at the last second I would lose because the games are always rigged for you to lose. As I watched my money disappear I told myself to stop playing those stupid games. When I lost all my money on the games I walked down the boardwalk I saw children running around dragging their parents behind them to next ride or game. I would laugh and think to myself that they are probably spending more money than I am. After I was done and broke at the boardwalk I sat on the beach and enjoyed watching the families play in the water and build sand castles. Seeing all the happy people would put a smile on my face. At night I sat on the beach with my boyfriend and watched the beautiful sunset. Seeing the sun drop beneath the ocean made me happy that I was there to enjoy a great view.

            The beach is a fun, exciting, and relaxing place to be. From walking, on the beach, to eating on the pier, riding rides and playing games on the boardwalk, to playing in the sand on the beach, there is always something to do at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. My favorite part was watching the beautiful sunset at night with my boyfriend by my side. It definitely made a great memory and I will never forget it.

"Prom Date"

Bobby, Michel

English 1A

2/18/13

Essay #1 Narrative

“Prom date”

            Palms sweaty, heart racing, adrenaline pumping, ten minutes left on the clock, nerves a wreck, all eyes on me! No, this is not another victory story about an egotistic jock scoring the winning touchdown or the pressure felt by an all-star basketball player. But rather a much smaller victory, and quite possibly one of the best last minute decisions I have ever made. I wasn’t a star athlete nor was I the most popular, as far as looks are concerned, I wasn’t signing any modeling contracts with Abercrombie & Fitch any time soon, so the thought of having to ask a girl to prom terrified me. I have dreaded the day where I had to throw myself out of my comfort zone and make myself vulnerable since freshman year, but despite my angst I knew it had to be done.

            I had never met the girl whom I would ask to prom; she was never the center of attention, humble, a wallflower. She was the foreign exchange student from Essen Germany. As a senior at my high school, unless you were an AP student or future protégé, every senior takes the similar core classes; Econ, English, Math. This is how she came into contact with my circle of friends. But still I had only heard of her, but not actually met her let alone seen her. As prom crept closer and closer, my mind was going through every miniscule thread of gossip and trying to recollect every Facebook post trying to decipher who had and had not been asked to prom in order to find a date. Week’s even months went by and still no date. At this point I wanted nothing to do with prom.

 Later that week I get invited to a garage party. I decide to go, as a distraction, to try and escape the stigmas of not having a date yet. As I open the door my senses are bombarded with the stench of sweat, Little Ceasers “hot and ready” pizza and cheap vodka that could have easily passed for rubbing alcohol, this was the place.  I seat myself awkwardly, and ponder to myself “why am I here?” When suddenly I’m sideswiped, not by the appearance of my good friend Paola but rather by who is accompanying her. She had brought someone with her, a tall beautiful girl whom I’ve never met before. Once they have finished making their rounds around the room saying “Hi” and taking an excessive amount of pictures with the people who she just saw last week at school, Paola introduces her friend, Dilara. Dilara just so happens to be the foreign exchange student. I am not the smoothest person when it comes to introductions so I give her the boring and average “Hi, how are you?  “My names Bobby nice to meet you!” I instantly knew that I have found the girl I want to ask to prom! I know nothing about her, but I just had this connection that deep inside, I knew.

            She had the most beautiful golden brown hair, which cascaded ever so faultlessly making every waterfall jealous. She also wore a smile which stretched cheek to cheek, illuminating even the darkest of garage parties, radiating happiness and a sense of contentment. But looks were not the only determining factor in which influenced my decision to ask her to prom. After getting to know her and actually holding a conversation, I noticed that she had a certain finesse and carried herself with such an ease and elegance, to the highest of standards. My decision was set, I knew I would not find anyone like her.

            Sadly, all good things had come to an end, and she had to leave as Paola was her ride home. A couple of hours later the party was over and I too left, on my way home I kept beating myself up for not getting her phone number, although I doubted she would have given it to me. As the weekend wound down and school assignments were due, Monday came around the corner and still no date for prom. I really wanted to go with Dilara, but I never really saw her around campus. It was as if the cosmos didn’t want it to be. So I went on with my life in hopes that maybe we will run into each other in some random event. Or I find another date.

            Just when I though all hope was lost and I was doomed to regret senior year, I decide to get my schedule changed during my second semester. I drop my first period sociology class and pick up another elective. Photo1 intro to photography, in hopes that it would add some well needed variety. If I had to describe the classroom, teacher and overall ambiance in two words they’d have to be “hipsters’ paradise.” There was always some undiscovered or garage band rock playing in the background, the room which had previously been the old AP art room, was decorated with abstract pieces of art that would evoke an inner thought and emotional dismay that anyone ever even knew they even had. The room wreaked of film developer and chai tea and marijuana, not exactly my idea of a good morning. The only positive to having to deal with being stuck in Photo1 for the rest of my senior year you’d never guess, Dilara would also be scheduled in the same class, so now I knew it was more than just chance. The very same cosmos that separated us have felt some sort of repent and made things right once again. I knew that was my opportunity and that I couldn’t let her slip through my fingers once again. So I plotted my exact approach, taking into consideration her likes and dislikes in order to extrapolate the best method of asking her to prom.

 I knew she was a quiet and down to earth girl whom wasn’t yet used to all the attention that “being the new girl” had brought her so an over the top and extravagant proposal would be too overwhelming. But I knew it had to be special because in Germany they do not even have “prom,” so it being senior prom for the both of us I knew it had to be different. I also knew that in Germany they don’t even have cupcakes! Instantly I knew it had to be cupcakes.

            Once the school day has ended, I go home and do my homework, eat a snack and watch TV. Later that vary night I get a text message from my friend Valerie asking me who I was going to go to prom along with other questions that I could really care less about. Until I tell her who I thought about asking. I hear my phone go off with a buzz, and it says “Bobby if you want to ask Dilara u shld do it soon, I think she might go with someone else” that was my moment of realization that I couldn’t wait forever and knew I had to make my move and ask. It was around nine forty five at night and I my dad was asleep already since he works early mornings and I had to make the cupcakes to ask Dilara the very next day. I knew I couldn’t make them in the kitchen because my dad’s room is one wall over, so I took my Oster hand mixer, bowls and all the ingredients needed to the basement! After I made the cupcake mix in record time and filled the cupcake tin with liners and spooned the batter into each individual cup, and flew up the stairs in a mad frenzy to get the cupcakes in the oven. I then had to think of how I was going to frost and decorate the cupcakes. For the frosting I knew it had to be good so, I whipped up some buttercream and added a heaping spoonful of Nutella. Why Nutella? I figured well “they have Nutella in European so she’ll feel at home and hopefully say yes.”  Cupcakes, check! Frosting, check! All that was missing was a way to distinguish these cupcakes from the everyday cupcakes in a supermarket, so I melted some chocolate in a pastry bag and very carefully in cursive made a letters “P,” “R,” “O,”  “M,” and a question mark. Before the chocolate hardened, I quickly grabbed the nonpareils sprinkles and coated the chocolate letters to give them a colorful and beautiful coating. Now all I had to do was to find the five best cupcakes to place the letters on, to later the next day ask Dilara to prom with.

            With the scent of film developer and the clicking of film reels I knew it was time. First period, Photo1, eight ten in the morning was the moment of truth. No turning back now. There I am sitting at my table, waiting anxiously, heart pounding with a tray of cupcakes spelling out “PROM?” waiting for her to walk in and take her seat. The final bell rings and no Dilara five minutes go by, then ten minutes and still no Dilara. Every minute seemed to take years; I was beginning to lose hope. I sat at my table, starting to feel a pit in my stomach as I assumed she didn’t even come to school today and all this was for nothing. With about twenty minutes left in the class I hear the door handle click and in walks in Dilara. A huge wave of relief washes away all my doubts of having to walk around school with a tray of embarrassment. Now more than ever I knew I had to get up and ask her to prom, I couldn’t build up the nerve to physically get up and ask. So as I sat there waiting and putting it off to the last minute, I ran every possible outcome for her reaction, ranging from the very excited yes to the awkward and dreaded no. I finally after internally battling with my mind, heart and the little voices inside my head I got up and proceeded to walk towards her table. I approached her and sat in the seat in front of her and placed the tray in front of her. Within the thirty seconds that it took her to read the cupcakes and formulate her answer I had already prepared my own, somewhere along the lines of the typical nice guy “Oh It’s okay” or the “Its cool, I’ll find someone else to go with” response to rejection. Too bad I didn’t need them because, she said…Yes!

             

Hazy Minded Survival Test

Samantha Meldrum

Kristina Rodgers

English 1A

February 19, 2013

Hazy Minded Survival Test

Starting off a weekend exploring the rocky terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains it never occurred to me that I would be facing my first near death experience at the age of fifteen. Being the self-absorbed teenager I was at the time when I heard about going on a family reunion camping trip I was not concerned about how I would spread my time evenly visiting with long distance relatives. Instead, I was more focused on being able to bring my best friend along for adventures in a foreign area. When I finally got my way, my friend Regan and I instantly started plotting how we could get away with any sort of trouble we could manage bringing along with us in our suitcases. The first day was mellow consisting of staying near the campgrounds in attempt to show that I was not just all about my friend. After everybody was settled in we grabbed my favorite cousins, Jimmy and Brandon, and began our search of our new favorite escape spots for the remainder of the trip.

We soon discovered paths that led through the various mountains and hiked for hours. We found that at the edge of the main mountains cliff, the path leading down to the ground was narrow enough that you could slide down on your butt. Even though there were jagged rocks sticking out of the ground and they felt as though blades were being scraped under our butts we found it was quicker to slide rather than struggle with the steep climb down. Now that we had our hiking routes mapped out we sprinted to the camp grounds to grab our secret weapon of guaranteed fun we had stowed away in our bags. Being young teenagers we thought we were so cool with our pre-rolled joints we brought along. Regan and I had convinced my cousins to tag along with us to enjoy the forbidden plant and we secretively went on another mission to find our new sacred hide away.

The camp grounds seemed as though they were at least a days’ trip away and hidden beneath the dark thick foliage. To us, our spot was hidden from the world and we would never be found. In the middle of smoking our joint we heard the loud roaring of a chopper. Filled immediately with paranoia my friend, cousins, and I started screaming, “It’s a cop copter!” “They’re gonna arrest us” “I can’t go to jail!” We panicked and in fear of arrest we stomped out our half burned joint that was sought to lead us to a relaxing evening and rushed into taking pictures of each other. Trying to act natural we realized that we were nowhere near hidden! Just on the other edge of the mountain ran the freeway where busy traffic filled the coast. We were all equally bewildered at the fact of how brilliant our plan was and how it was so easily shattered. Come to our dismay it was nothing more than what seemed to be a personal helicopter that was in reality so far away that we were most likely as visible as a white cat in a pile of fresh snow. We slid down the sharp points of the mountain to gain rest and a better plan that would guarantee us a day of leisure and care free hiking adventures.

The next morning Regan and I were awoken by the sounds of uncontrollable laughter and wrestling in the tent next to ours. We were not surprised to find that my Sister, Amanda, and her friend, Shayne, had started their partying for the day. They were just barely 21 at the time and to them drinking for the whole trip was there civil duty. We explained to them how our amazing plan was crushed so simply expecting them to cry in rage, agreement, and confusion about why it did not work out. Instead we were returned with wild laughter similar to that of woody the wood pecker’s and mockery followed by smart comments about how young we were and we didn’t know how to get away with anything. Knowing that they were already as drunk as an Irish man on St. Patrick’s Day we turned their snootiness around on them to manipulate them into finding us a good hiding spot. They were quick on the challenge just as expected so we grabbed the necessary tools for our “ideal” day and whatever shoes were closest by. My two boy cousins had been up long before and were wearing sneakers and appropriate cargo pants that would be appropriate for the journey we were about to endure. Regan and I on the other hand were wearing flats, sweats, and big sweatshirts from the night before. Not caring about being ready for a long hike we set off on our mission to smoke our weed and chill out for a large remainder of the day.

The wind was ferociously whipping our hair into our eyes as we hiked to this unimaginable spot Amanda and Shayne boasted about. After trekking up the mountain behind them for a few miles we realized they were simply wandering with no real destination at all. Full of frustration with nowhere to block us from the wind we desperately hid under a bush in attempt to keep our doobie lit. Fighting with the lighter and constantly pulling our sweaters over our heads as though impersonating Cornholio we were able to smoke a good amount of our forbidden freedom and popped up to realize Shayne had wandered off. Now in a foggy daze of misjudgment we once again panicked and frantically started running and screaming to find Shayne. My cousin Brandon split with my Sister and Regan and I found ourselves teamed up with my older cousin Jimmy. We searched for him as though we were dogs after a murderer in the woods. We were dedicated to finding him, in fear that he would be found days later shriveled up dehydrated under small shrubs. We had the feeling that this hunt would never be over searching all over for him when suddenly we encountered the edge of the mountain again. This time we were more aware of what was awaiting on the other edge and when we spotted the sand dunes Shayne was the last thing on our minds. Now we had a new obsession, figure out a way to get to the creamy dunes.

Planning my different routes down to the dunes I first attempted to climb down some bushes on the edge of the cliff and was immediately aware that it would likely lead to the end of my short life. Just as I started to feel the hopelessness of reaching the dunes sink in I heard Regan scream that she found the perfect way! I ran over and spotted her brilliant plan. “How had I over looked it?”, I thought to myself “I must be really blown”, because right in front of me was another slide formed on the edge of the mountain leading straight down to the dunes. I did not mind that the rocks would stab me hard or that I was wearing flimsy flats. I knew that once I got to the dunes I could relax then run across the highway to reach the beach. Regan and I slid down that rocky slide as quick as a sled slides in the snow. We were laughing and shouting with remarks of how easy this was and making fun of jimmy for staying behind and being scared when suddenly the narrow path ended and my feet were hanging off the edge of the cliff!!

Not worried about Shayne or reaching the dunes our brains were instantly wired with survival techniques retained from Man Vs. Wild from the Discovery Channel. Still in my stony haze all I could remember was eating bugs and I screamed to Regan that we were going to die. We were able to grab onto some branches of an ivy bush but our legs dangled off the side of the cliff like ornaments hanging off of a chandelier. Regan and I looked at each other, looked down at the long fall that would land us to a messy splatter on the freeway and started crying. We told each other how much we loved each other and how we know why D.A.R.E. told us weed was bad. I promised her if we survived I would never smoke the stuff again. She looked me in the eyes and said, “Sam, we are not going to live to smoke again”. Then suddenly with my one track hazy mindset I looked down at the ivy and screamed, “poison ivy!” Our focus immediately switched from the fear of death to the fear of having an intense rash cover our arms! We pulled ourselves up that mountain as though we were in a military drill and helped push and pull each other to the top.

Barely believing that we had survived hanging off the cliff we were set on finding our way back to the camp grounds and grabbing my parents so they could help us find the others when my cousins, sister, and Shayne came walking from behind some bushes exclaiming, “Did you see those sand dunes!? Let’s climb down to them!”

Light beauty in Darkness

Alejandra Chavez

Professor K. Rogers

2/19/13

English 1A

Light beauty in Darkness

Have you ever found yourself in a new place you have never been, but surrounding you there is the darkness of the night? It feels like when you need to get up to go to the bathroom at night, you get up and its dark, but instead of you knowing exactly what surrounds you because it is your home and its familiar, this time, it is like your spending the night at your friend’s house for the very first time and it’s so unfamiliar. My experience was just like that when waking up at the crack of dawn, to go with our church family to go up in the hills to pray. Unsure of what new place I was about to encounter and what was going to surround me. Little did I know that what was about to surround me when the sun came up was a beautiful side of the mountain, before then i would only sense the sounds, smells, tastes, touch, of what was only a shadow of what I could see. 

            Completely tired from the night before, only having five hours of sleep, an annoying sound woke me up, it was my boyfriend which “he was not annoying”, it was the phone, he was calling me to tell me to wake up because he was on his way in less than fifteen minutes to pick me up. The house was absolutely quite, my body aching that it was still tired and did not want to get out of bed, but i was determined to go. Hearing how cold it was going to be I dress up in different types of layers; my two layers of pants, three layers of shirts not including my warm jacket, added to my two scarfs and gloves, this warm, big, layered, short girl was ready to go, after looking in the mirror at my crazy hairdo and brushing out the nasty taste of morning breath. Hearing the car engine roar, I ran out to get in the car with the heater high on blast, my boyfriend and I were on our way to church. Feeling the warm air from the heater made me feel cozy, but looking around at 5:15am in the morning, all I could see was the fog which looked like a lot of mist. Once arriving to the church I could see the bright light of the church a block away, entering the parking lot I saw the cars of the brothers and sister from the church in Davis, turning around with smiles and shaking a little from the coldness of the morning they were all excited to see us. Greeting everyone with super cozy warm hugs and kisses. 

            It was 5:40 am and it was time to go to the mountain by Lake Barryessa, with my boyfriend and a brother from the church in the front and me and one of my favorite two ladies in the back. Even though some time went by, it was still very cold but inside the truck it was warm. Looking around I had absolutely no idea where we were heading, I knew it was a mountain, and I saw some pictures of it from the previous time they had gone on Facebook, but I was completely clueless. What surrounded us was darkness with every once in a while passing a yellow looking street light, aside from that, there was just the darkness of the night through the county road. After picking up a couple of people from the Winters gas station we headed for about another fifteen minutes suddenly i saw bright yellow lights that looked big although when I  looked from the truck I started to look at them closer, they looked like little mini light coming from boats that looked like they were on a small river. I could not see much of the river but what I could see was a small glare that something wavy was there. I was a little bit scared of  the truck falling over, I remembered a conversation that I had heard previously that week that if you’re not careful driving you could almost fall off to the sides of the mountain. My bones started shaking a bit but my heart starting beating hard since I am scared of heights. Hector my boyfriend continue to follow the cars in front of us, and as I was looking at front I saw everyone make a right, it look scary, then they turned to the left, I though as they turned both times that surely there is a river and were heading start for it. 

            Looking closely I could finally see something familiar; it was a round trail that i saw from the pictures. As everyone start getting off the cars, it was still pretty dark but I could see a little bit more light. Everyone gather around each other with our blankets and jackets and we begin to pray together, just after we all found places of our own to pray. I was a little hesitant at first because it was dark and it was a side of the mountain, so in my mind I could be next to some bugs or even a snake, specifically spiders, I am not a big fan of THOSE THINGS, and really I had no idea if I could be bumping in to anything because I really could not see because it was dark. I began to concentrate and start to pray, I could feel that cold mist in my face, the smell of the air was so clean, i felt like it was so pure. I could see a bit of the grass and the rock I was standing near, but I could hear the voice of the church family giving thanks to God, praying and telling him how awesome and wonderful he was. It reminded me of when Jesus went to pray alone in the morning, I thought to myself, "this is what it must of felt like," I am sure there must of been some cold mornings. All I could feel was a mixture of the cold on my skin of the mist; there was not a breeze just the cold mist air, with my warm layer including my warm blanket that was covering me. As time passed by when I hardly notice it, it was already shining from the morning sun, walking around and finishing praying I looked up and it was beautiful. My boyfriend was just finishing as well when I saw him from a distance and waved to me to come near, getting there he told me that he wanted to show me his moms favorite place to pray. Getting nearby his mom, there was an edge on the side, Hector told me to look down and what I saw and heard was beautiful, it was a small river with different shapely splendid rocks. 

            After praying together and then going near the river and then once again we wanting to pray  specifically for the Pastor, we  all headed out to finish our prayer journey with laughter and silly childish adventures, by walking through the river. The river was so clear, I wanted to drink from it because I was so astonished of how clear it was, the smell was still the freshness of the cool air, but as I got more curious about the water, and I could not help myself but sticking my hands in the water. Its was so cold nevertheless wonderful, it was only three feet high not even, maybe even two, but, I could see clearly through it all the way to the bottom. Jumping from rock to rock our adventure was starting to end. Driving back down to the valley, I could see a camping site, that near it was a narrow river with boats parked to the side of it. Then I could see clearly the houses in winters by the gas station.

            My journey was wonderful, it show me that even though I could not really see what was in front of me, somehow I could still feel the scenes, the touches, the smells and the sounds, except realizing that beauty was there, even when I could see it. I could say all the beauty quotes or analogies like, never judge a book from its cover and that, in a odd since the beauty held from within. But I can now have an open mind that even not being able to see what was directly in front of me that the beauty was there.