"Semester Essay Ten"

     Since the recession, the school has been in dire need of extra money to continue doing exciting learning things such as field trips, books and computers. If an alumnus donated money to our school, I believe that the money should be used to purchase more resources that will help us the students. The faculty could also set up a savings account and deposit a portion of the money donated and use the other money to buy supplies that may be needed for future fundraisers that the school may have. I also believe that the money should be used to make improvements to our school and the surrounding area.
     If any amount of money is donated to our school, I believe that a portion of the money should be uses to purchase new resources. These new resources will help us the students learn up to date information and learn more about what changes are happening in the modern world. It would be in the best interest of the students, if some of the money donated by the alumnus would go to funding a library that would be located on campus. This would give students a quite, peaceful, and calming place where students could go on their free time to check out a book, study, and do their homework. By having books at school, it would save students a significant amount of money and help students who aren't able to purchase books and have to go to multiple libraries to find the book that they are in search of. Underprivileged children may not have access to computers at home, so having computers at school would be helpful for them.
     I would advise that the school officials put some of the money and deposit it into a savings account for later use. We could also make a profit from the money that was donated. The faculty could purchase supplies that we could use to fundraise money. We could also use a small portion of the money that we received to put on a small production at our school to showcase the talent that is at our school. The profit that we make would be able to fund education related activities such as field trips. Field trips are vital to the learning process of students. It helps us students relate what we learned in the classroom outside of the classroom.

"Semester Essay Nine"

     People in America have become so dependant on technology nowadays, they are stuck at home most of the time doing nothing. People are either sitting on the couch watching television or in front of the computer on social network websites. Young people are more focused on who is online on AIM rather than educating themselves with current scientific or social controversies. I feel people are losing their ability to have a conversation that has actual meaning to it. So in a way people are slowly losing their intellectual capacity when they don’t try to use their brain to gain knowledge. Most people sound ignorant with the way they type things out on the internet, on their statuses or on their posts. I think its wonderful to keep in touch with family or friends who are far away from you. It doesn’t cost people a thing and it’s a fast way to talk to them and update them with what is going on in your life. I think its better to be in front of a person, I wouldn’t want to stare at my phone or the screen of the computer when communicating with someone. Its not the same when you try to express yourself through a text on an instant messenger or through an e-mail. If you’re a shy person, it might be easier to talk to someone you get nervous or timid around but in the long run it wont help your social skills improve. You will be used to hiding at home behind the computer, you won’t feel the need to be in person with someone in order to have a close and personal relationship. You might as well call it a cyber relationship.
     When you have someone in front of you, its easier to let them know exactly how you feel, they hear your tone of voice and see your body language. Being able to see the other persons face or even hearing their voice makes the experience more memorable. Hearing their laughter can always make your day better rather than seeing an LOL pop up on the screen. You ability to socialize can be interrupted if you’re the type of person who stay on your phone texting , or instant messaging, you’re not going to spend all your life communicating with people through technology. When you get a job in customer service you have to have your interpersonal skills up to par. Having a physical relationship is much better than having a relationship through the computer. You build a strong connection or bond with people when you take the time out of your day to spend quality time with another person.

"Setting As The World"

       My family was all dressed up, smelling good, and they were wearing a smile on their faces. We were all sitting on the comfortable chairs around the wooden table clothed with a red cover, staring at the delicious plate of food in front of our faces. The hot food smelled so appetizing, the laughter of my father was contagious and a chorus of laughter was followed coming from my older sister, grandmother, mother, and brother. I couldn’t help but feel joy and gratitude for the family God had given me. It was a lovely Thursday the year 2010, it was Thanksgiving Day at my house. The Dining room was warm and you felt the love in the air. There were apple cinnamon candles all around the room giving it a sweet aroma, we went around the table taking turns to say why they were thankful. We were ready to eat and taste the food we had made for this special occasion. I took the first bite of my warm buttery biscuit, I then took a bite of my turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and macaroni and cheese. We were all stuffed and I got up to pick up the heavy dirty plate and place them in the sink. I joined the table once again, I could hear the wind whistling outside, but I continued to converse with my family. I felt so relaxed especially when my mom put slow music on to make the atmosphere more lively. When my mother took out the pie, I felt my mouth water. She sliced the light brown apple pie carefully and put it on a plate for me to eat. The dining room has so many special and valuable memories, I feel safe because it’s a space in which I spend quality time with my family.
　

"Semester Essay Eight"

    I believe that students should be able to get their license at the age of sixteen. There are quite a few teenagers that are very mature and are able to prove that they are responsible. The younger the teenager starts driving, they will have more experience on the road and will be much better drivers than their friends, who may have started at a later age like eighteen for example. It is much easier to teach a teenager, who is sixteen, how to drive than it is a teenager who is eighteen. Another reason why teenagers should be allowed to get their license at the age of sixteen because it becomes an inconvenience for both them and their parents.
Teenagers who start driving at a younger age, will be more safer drivers than those who have waited until they are almost an adult to learn how to drive. Those two years, could be crucial to the development of the way a person drives. The more experience that a sixteen year old gets on the road, the more that it would benefit him or her. By the time they are at the age of eighteen, they will be very experienced drivers and will be the cause of less accidents. At the age of sixteen, they will be able to learn how they like things arranged. For example, the driver's seat, rear view mirrors, and side view mirrors.
    I think that it is much easier to teach a person who is sixteen years old than an eighteen year old how to drive. It is easier to teach a sixteen year old how to drive being that they never experienced it before and are more eager to learn how to do it. The younger a person is, the more open that they will be. An eighteen year old, may have a more difficult time learning how to drive. Their mind is slightly closed off. Another reason why its a more difficult task is because they think that they may know better ways of doing things than their instructor does.
    It is a hassle to try to get a ride from someone. This is what a teenager would have to do, if they aren't able to get their driver's license by the age of sixteen. They would have to ask their parents and/or their siblings if they could drive them to places that they want or have to go. For example, if a teenager wants to go out with a person, they have to have someone to drop them off and pick them up. This may become a bit expensive due to the fact that the designated driver has to make two trips to the same place. If you're a teenager like me, you don't want to be told by someone that you have to stop everything you're doing and go home. Some parents may even forget about their children, and leave them stranded until they go get them. Driving will help teenagers become independent and learn to depend on themselves more than others.
    I believe that the law should remain the same. Teenagers who are of the age of sixteen and older should be allowed to get their license and drive. All teenagers aren't like the ones that you hear about on television that are under the influence of some type of stimulant and causing deadly car accident. It is less of hassle for them to get to and from places when the only person that they have to depend on is themselves. It is easier for a sixteen year old to learn how to drive. Driving a car, will teach a sixteen year old how to be responsible. Letting teenagers get their license at sixteen will allow them to improve and become much better drivers by the time that they are adults.

"Older Person, Younger Person"

　
      A person that has always been there is my wonderful grandmother. I am so thankful for her, and I can’t imagine life without her. So when I do think about her leaving us when her time comes to an end, I cant help but feel sad. So many cherished memories and moments I have built with her since my childhood, for sure, will keep her alive in my heart. There is a special bond between us that words cant explain, a feeling of certainty when I’m with her, her advice keeps me strong. She is my motivation she never gives up on me, I think so highly of her. She is a great, kind, caring grandmother with all of her grandchildren. My younger sister, Janelly, reminds me so much of her. They both have similar characteristics, and they spend a lot of quality time with each other.
      I see a lot of my grandmother in my little sister, she is very sharp and quick, just like my grandmother. She brings so much joy into this family, and in a way has brought us closer since her birth. My grandmother is another person that has brought us together, especially when she cooks like on special occasions. Janelly has very goods ears, she can hear almost anything and everything, I think she inherited that from my lovely grandma. She has my grandmother’s lips, and uses many of the Spanish words my grandma says. My sister loves going over to her house, they both love to eat fried plantains. When im in my room, and my little sister notices that im feeling down she sits next to me and tries to make me feel better. The only other person who does that is my grandmother. So I feel my sister has learned a lot from my grandmother, so I see a lot of similarities. I love them both very much, and I know that when the time comes, my grandmother will live in our hearts.

"Personal Essay"

     There are a number of ways in which I can become disappointed. Majority of the times that I am disappointed, I have been disappointed at myself. My friends or close family members have made me disappointed. I’ve come to realize that if you’re close to me and I expert move out of you, the more disappointed I will be when they don’t do something in the correct manner. If one of my close friends disappointed me, I probably wouldn’t talk to them for a day or two. When I’m disappointed in other people, I have the tendency of getting over it much faster than when I’m disappointed in myself. I put people on different levels. The higher you are, the more that I would expect out of them. These are the people who rarely disappoint me because they know what I don’t like and they don’t do anything that they know is going to get me upset. Sometimes, they may make a mistake and does something that really disappoints me. It may seem that I’m kind of mad at them, but I’m really not. I’m just a bit disappointed. They wouldn’t know that I’m disappointed until after I’ve gotten over the situation. I don’t like to see the people that I care about make mistakes that are going to have a very negative effect on them. I find it easy to become disappointed in myself. I know what I am capable of. When I don’t reach or exceed my expectations. I feel somewhat like a failure to myself and to the people around me. I remain disappointed in myself for a much longer period time I would with other people. The only way to take the disappointment away is when I prove to myself that I could do much better and exceed my expectations. It was this one time in tenth grade where I didn’t understand this concept in chemistry and became so disappointed in myself. I was pushing myself so hard to grasp it, but I couldn’t. I studied more and the teacher explained it thoroughly, so I thought that I had it, when it come down to the test, I literally forget how to solve everything that was on the test. I gave up on myself. I turned the test into the teacher and left the classroom. I began to cry because I expected so much more out of myself. I went over everything that was on the test. Then I took it over and got them all correct. I exceed my expectations.

"Memoir"

    People often judge people before they even get a chance to know who the person really is. Seeing a person around and knowing them are very different. Once you begin to get to know a person, all the negative thoughts that you had about them will be forgotten and replaced with positive things. I believe that people shouldn't have these negative perceptions about people because it prevents that person from creating new friendships and bonds. I have been a person who in the past, judged people by their apperance and not their personality. I learned that it is wrong to judge a book by it's cover when I met my brother's girlfriend.
When I met my brother's new girlfriend, I immediately told myself that I didn't like her being that she looked like she had an attitude. Another reason why I made a judgement so quickly was because I had grown close to his previous girlfriend and I thought I shouldn't like the new one. Everytime I saw her around the house, I wouldn't try to start up a coversation with her. The only two things that I would say to her were hi and bye.   My brother saw how I was acting towards his girlfriend and he somewhat confronted me about the situation.
My brother made me realize that I should give her a chance and I might like her. I started to talk to her more and learn more about her. I started to enjoy the time that I spent with her. We started to go out to Pinkberry, the mall, and to restaurants. We began to open up to each other about some of the problems that we were going through at that moment in time. I knew that she could be someone that i go to whenever I may need something. I began to understand he personality and why she seemed as though she had an attitude.
Listening to her problems made me feel bad about being rude towards her when I first met her. I learned that she was a troubled girl, who was in search of who she was.