One day in a place far away from south Michigan, a kid named Evan was running in a long race. It was an estimated 26 miles. It was his first race that he has ever participated in. His nerves were racing and his relatives were too. This race was televised to the whole state of Michigan. He didn't practice and is coming into this with no running experience. The only thing that pushed him to do this was that his dad was a four time Olympic gold medalist in running.…
In 2008 I moved to Bluffton to help start a new aluminum remelt facility called Alexin. I was one of three invited to make the move from western Kentucky by the presidents of Alexin because of my knowledge of the industry, my reputation as a hard worker, and my positive attitude. In the past nine years a lot has changed. Even though I know longer work in the aluminum industry, I still pride myself on my knowledge, reputation, and attitude. The job has changed, but what it takes to be successfully in any occupation has not.…
We met in Kelowna - August long weekend of 2009. I wasn't supposed to be there, but that's what faith is for.…
I grew up in Saigon, Vietnam. I lived in a place where it can be considered the borderline between the city and the countryside. We didn’t have a distinct suburban area, just city and not-city basically.…
The city that I come from is not a representation of who I am. Pomona, California is known for it’s high crime rights, and all around gang violence. It is troublesome not to fall through the cracks when the temptation is all around my community. Growing accustom to this environment makes it that much easier to fall a victim into this lifestyle. At the age of 15, for the first time in my life, I experienced a retaliation drive by up the street from where I sleep, the place I call home. That night I heard a total of five gunshots, and was later informed the gun shots left two family friends paralyzed. One is now paralyzed from the neck down, and the other from the waist down. The two victims were sisters, and were not the main target. The shots…
In 1752 I was a seventeen year old destitute living in Scotland, Ireland. I had no real skill-trade or education, but with high ambitions to learn and become a collective dependant I would earn a stable lively-hood in one of the New World colonies. I suffered losses of loved who fell sick and died with only a few remaining that were as impoverished as myself. I feared there would be no prospect of a better life in Scotland and contracted myself as an indentured servant for passage to the New World colonies. Along with many others I boarded a New World merchant ship that specialized in the trade of textiles and clothing. In exchange for travel, food, and decent health, I was sold for profit to proprietors in the New World. The voyage to New…
Before school had start most of my old teacher from high school used to tell me that Montclair State University was a really great school at everything. They had graduated from Montclair State University. They all told me great things about this school that I didn’t believed them until I see it with my own eyes. When I had started school, I was amazed with this school I felt like I was home. Most of the things that I like this school have it.…
I am a Californian. I am a family member. I am a friend. I am a student. I am a book lover. I am a music lover. I am shy. I am a dreamer. I am ambitious. I am smart.…
My long term goal was to from Oklahoma State University with a BS in psychology. I wanted to achieve this goal while also enjoying my college experience by finding a balance between my social life and school work. The short term goals that I was able to accomplish since part I and II of the Goals Assignment were studying, going to sleep earlier (not staying up extremely late), and going home less often.…
On the second day of school during my sophomore year, I realized how much Wahlert meant to me. It had become my home, the place where I felt like I belonged; school almost even seemed like a break from summer. Over the summer, I had become an empty shell and spent my time at the computer wasting the time away; the only interactions I had were with my family, and on rare occasion with my best friends, when we had sleepovers. To see the people I had missed over the summer was great. All of these things felt so true in that moment.…
time for me to begin my 10 minute warming up. I move my head side to side, stretch my legs, and I begin to walk briskly. I drank my water because I need to stay hydrated. When I was ready I sprinted out like a rocket. My brother began to time me. It took me 12 minutes to finish my one mile. Once I felt that my heart was pounding, my stomach started to develop painful cramps, and my My throat was as dry as a bone. I stopped and took deep breaths in and out. I took a five minute break and finished my 3 miles by walking. Once I finished my three miles I felt proud of myself and motivated for the next days to…
American climate scientist, Mark Caine, exclaims, “The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself”. Beginning my high school career, I thought high school would be an easy transition because I was accustomed to getting good grades in grammar school, so I did not put as much of an effort as I could have in my studies. The first biology test arrived, and I thought I was knowledgeable on the subject matter so I briefly looked over the material. Approximately a week later I got my test back and I was not satisfied with my grade. That happened for most of my first tests in each of my classes. I learned I would not be satisfied with my grades if I continued to keep those…
It was a perfectly normal Saturday night, until I sat on the couch. I expected to enjoy a funny movie with my dad, but instead I got a trip to the hospital. I sat on the couch, and then I felt a sting in my elbow. At first, it felt like I got a shot at the doctor, but it slowly got worse, and felt more like a knife slicing into my elbow. I winced and sprung up from the couch. I squinted and my eyes scanned the spot where I just sat down. Aha, I thought. There was a small piece of plastic, and it looked like it broke off from a container.…
My first home for many years. This land comes rarer to me as the day…
Throughout my life I have encountered many circumstances that have shaped me into the person I am today. I was born in Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico. I attended school in Mexico all the way to second grade. In the summer of 2006 I moved to Cumming, Georgia. It was the hardest thing to do because I left everything that I care the most about. We lived in a trailer which was not the nicest place and in the middle of the forest. I started school at the beginning of August. I had always loved school so I was so excited for the first day. I knew it was going to be hard because I would have to conquer so many obstacles on the way. At this time the only English I knew was probably counting from one to ten and some of the colors. My Father knew some…
