Aiden - Holocaust Musuem

So this summer, my family and I decided to take a trip to Washington D.C as a final trip of summer. While there we visited various museums and memorials, for example Arlington National Cemetery, or the Spy Museum. However, the museum that I remember the most would have to be the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Museum was not something that I expected, I understood that it was a serious museum and that a lot of respect was needed, I think that it was expected that anyone attending was mature enough to comprehend everything that was there and all the history. It was a very somber place understandably, but the atmosphere was very serious and everyone there seemed to be caught up in all the exhibits. It wasn't like a normal museum where people were making comments on all the exhibits.

When you first walk in, you are given a card that has the name and description of someone who died during the Holocaust. You then take an elevator up to the first exhibit. Now, the museum is a place to learn a lot, you learn about the history of Germany and what the Holocaust was. You also learn what was happening in America and how little we did to stop it. There was even the Berlin Olympics held during the Holocaust where they refused to let Jewish athletes compete. As soon as you see the first exhibit you really understand that this was a serious thing that happened, I know that we learn about it in history classes but seeing physical evidence of their conditions and videos is a whole different perspective. At one point there was a room full of shoes that was supposed to represent how many children there were at the different camps. It was not a small room, and that was a really strange thing to see. There was also the room where they had survivors of the camps speaking about their experiences, the way they talked about was not what I expected at all. The amount of information that a person gets from that museum is more than anyone will get in a standard history class, and it really gives you a greater understanding of the Holocaust and what happened, I would have to say that the room that had the most impact in the Museum was the memorial at the end, it was a large round room that had names all over the walls. There were too many there to read in the amount of time we were there, probably for an entire day, but it was just terrifying that people could do this to others in that large a number. The whole experience is something that everyone should see at least once in their lives, it gives a new perspective and a lot more respect to the subject.

My Time -Vanessa

I was eleven years old and it was fall time. For some people, fall might be football, or leaves falling, or soccer, or raking piles of leaves and jumping into them, or getting hot coffee with their friends, but fall for me was Nutcracker. The ballet. Auditions were august 27th, and I woke up especially early to get ready. There was one thing I wanted; to be cast as clara. I was finally the right level, had long enough hair, had enough experience, was the right age, and looked the right age. The criteria to be cast as clara was extremely tough, and I was so glad I finally met the expectations. The only problem was that there were four other girls who also met the expectations, and I was slightly too tall. I got ready anyway. I showered, got into my leotard and tights, pulled my hair back into a perfect ponytail, and carefully wrapped the ponytail around into a perfect flat bun. I then put a matching pink bow in my hair for extra luck, and so the auditioners would remember me. We were measured and put in height order. My friends in my level were all numbers 2-6 and I was number 14. The audition began and it was quite simple. Then they called the numbers of who was going to stay for the next round. I was so relieved that 14 was called. We had another round, and I was called to stay again, as well as numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5. These were my best friends, and I was battling against them for the thing I love. My artistic directer told us she knew how close we were and she wanted us to stay that way. “You all know what roll you are up for,” she said “And I know all of you could do it. It’s just about who is right for the part right now.” We proceeded to learn the combinations we would have to perform as solos. I felt so awkward because of how tall I was, and I was convinced that would be the final deciding factor in wether I would be Clara or not. I still remember the last combination we did to this day. I stepped out in front of the audition table and stood in fifth position, where we were supposed to start. The auditioners took down my name and number, and wrote some stuff down about me. I assumed it was about my look, because I had to perfectly resemble a 9 year old girl on Christmas eve. I smiled big and tried to embrace the character, but still maintain the best technique I could and look like I was having fun doing it. I remember finishing and feeling like I had done the best I could, and knew that no matter if I got the role or not, I couldn’t have possible done better. I hugged my friends goodbye, and on my way out of the studio I saw some girls crying because they didn’t get called back for the last audition. I suddenly felt lucky that I even got the chance to audition, and understood that I had a great opportunity wether I got Clara or not. I couldn’t sleep for the next 5 nights knowing that on Saturday morning I would find out the casting. When I walked into the studio, a crowd was waiting for me and cleared a path to the piece of paper with the casting on it. I looked to the top of the list immediately and read Cast A Clara: Juliana Kulak. I felt my heart drop but proceeded to read to the next line. Cast B Clara: Vanessa Meikle. I turned around with a huge smile on my face as my dance teacher snapped a photo of my reaction. I was so grateful, and performing the role of Clara was the best experience of my life.

(this video was at a small library show not the real performance)

This Story is really important to me because the day I found out I got the part was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. No, I wasn’t in a huge ballet company or even a well known school, but for as long as I could remember the only thing I wanted was to be cast as Clara.

Moving Across the World

   Hi! I'm Nicholas Choo and this is a story about my life. I was born and raised in Singapore so when my family moved to Portland, Oregon. Immediately everything that I had known in my life was taken away from me. I was apprehensive, even though I had visited America many times. My school in Singapore had over 4,000 students while my new school in Portland only had 300. Coming in as an 8th grader didn't help either since the majority of people had been going to school together since the 6th grade. I thought the transition would be scary and worried if would make friends like I had in Singapore. However, I was amazed at the seamless ease of my move. 

   Generally speaking, my transition was all made easier for me because I quickly became apart of a supportive community that consisted of: new and caring friends, encouraging teachers and coaches, and my supportive family. All this made the transition much easier for me. Although I had worried about not fitting in, the students at my school were immediately accepting of me, and were even curious about Singapore. I felt accepted and supported. I now had two communities helping me grow: all my friends and family back in Singapore, and all my new friends and family in the United States. My old community helped mold me into the person I am today. Likewise, my new community helped me adapt to new situations and continues to help me grow. 

   I have always been encouraged to do my best in any situation. So, in a new environment, I can learn from the community and know that people that care for me will back me up. Through my move to the United States, I realized that I can be a chameleon; I can change and adapt to a new situation. I don’t need to be afraid. I must look to help make changes easier for others and in turn I will fit in, adapt, and grow. I have learned that we must all learn from each other and support each other in any new environment.

   

   This story played an important role in my life as it relayed the powerful and important message that I have to remain confident and optimistic when facing something new in my life. It has allowed me to succeed in new opportunities that have been given to me, and has changed the way I think in crucial ways. This is why moving from Singapore to America is not just a event that happened in my life, but an experience that has radically changed it.

My Passion

Hi, I am Justin Barron and I am going to be talking to you about football. Ever since I was little I would always want to play football. I would go in the backyard with my dad and play. Even today I am always looking to play the sport.

Football gives me this special feeling that no other sport or activity really gives me. When I step on a football field I feel like I can do anything, I feel invincible. That feeling of invincibility is amazing. I get the chills just thinking about it. That is not the only thing though. The beauty of football is that it creates a brotherhood and a bond between the players and coaches. My team is really my family away from home. I can rely on my teammates to get my back whenever it is needed. I would do anything for my brothers as I know that they would do the same for me.

After one of my games in Mighty Might football I was walking off the field and heading back to my car. I was walking back to my car with my Grandfather and my Mother and little eight year old me says “I was born to play football.” That statement has stuck with me my entire life and I truly believe that I was put on this earth to play football. Football is my passion.

Hi, I'm Winston and my story is about life. My story is a story of courage, love, and faith. My story is my mothers battle with stage 3c ovarian cancer. I was only 11 years old when called into my moms room to greet me with tears in her eyes. Obviously I knew there was an issue but never in a million years could I predict what she would apprise to me at that moment. In an instinct, my eyes filled with tears just like my mothers as she held on to me. I wish that I could tell you that everything from that point on was flawless and we lived happily ever after, but that only happens in the movies. There were many low points where things were rocky. At one point doctors had told her that she might not make it to Christmas. I can still see my mom in her bed asleep for hours on hours from the chemo. Although the cancers harsh treatments took away my moms strength and hair, it didn't take away her happiness and will to survive. Even while things were hard a bald joke from my sister or I could always put a smile on my mothers face. Though that might sound cruel, (which it definitely does now that I'm looking at it on the computer screen) it is real and that's how my family and I have always handled things. So, tonight I'm looking at my mothers beautiful face as she tells me that I'm the reason she had that unconditional will to survive. I suppose that makes the both of us two time ovarian cancer survivors.

Hi I’m Jacqui and a story that is important to me would be the novel Iqbal. This novel is about an adolescent boy named Iqbal masih who worked in a child labor camp. It is told through the eyes of one of his female friends who had accepted her role as a child laborer. This attitude proved the wild spirit of Iqbal and why it was so rare. The poor conditions of the camp are described as well as their workday. The worst thing about these conditions is the how the people who enslaved the children treat Iqbal and the others. The treatment the children receive is filled with deception and fear that is quite simple because these children are very young. One day Iqbal escapes, frees his friends, and spends the rest of his life freeing other child slaves until he was assassinated at age twelve on April 16^th 1955.  It is a tragic and true story that highlights one struggle of the Middle East. This story was important to me because I read it when I was eleven, and just starting to gather a worldly perspective. I had realized that slavery still existed but what I did not realize is that it was not uncommon in the Middle East. Reading about a boy roughly my age being assassinated because he was freeing young children from unpaid labor was the first time I cried when reading a novel, and the beginning of my interest in world affairs. This opened up other issues revolving around oppression such as gender equality, and recently acceptance of sexuality. It gave me perspective on my life and opportunities in a way that made me want to make a positive difference on maybe not specifically child labor, but the violation of human rights of any kind. This book gave me enough perspective to care about the well being of others.

A Self-Titled Album & Serendipity

Serendipity: noun – the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Serendipity is a sweet, special thing.

It’s one of the best of life's pleasant occurences, because of its unexpected, pure nature. It is also fun to say. Try it. Serendipity.

We all obtain our own strokes of serendipity in our lives, some more memorable than others. There is discovering a couple dollars on the street, and there is winning the first game you've ever played in a sport you've never played before. Small things, but each can hold a deeper significance to the person it happens to.

My most memorable moment of serendipity: Deciding for once, instead of ignoring the Youtube list of suggested videos that I was nearly certain my life’s course would never lead me to watch, to heed the suggestion This choice – a very brilliant one, in retrospect – led me to the discovery of the Band That Started It all, The 1975, in the middle of March, 2015.

I have grown up with music being a steady beat in the background of my life. My parents taught me to appreciate it in its many forms. However, prior to that March, I had only cared for a very specific few: Nigerian music, gospel songs so good you could feel the praise hours after the service; the very best that 2000s hip/hop and R&B had to offer, old 80s records practically ordained as family road trip soundtracks (e.g. Tracy Chapman, Rod Stewart, every song Michael Jackson ever made), and the radio-produced, nationally-recognized Pop Top 40.

In March 2015 (a date I remember because of its significance as the catalyst for several other serendipitous moments to come), I listened to the song “Girls” by The 1975. Then I listened to it again. Then I listened to it ten more times. Then I listened to the band’s entire discography. Not one song went unheard. And thus, my personal love for music began.

After The 1975 came Arctic Monkeys, Swim Deep, Tame Impala, The Strokes, Chance the Rapper, Beirut; throngs of emo bands in the same playlist as classical piano, cello, violin. 

Gradually, I began to learn that music was a gift. 

Every new band, new album, new song, or thrumming bass line that you can feel just as much in your ears as your fingertips – every listen felt like something monumental had occurred. Something I’d have rolling around in the back of my brain for a long time.

Music’s importance in my life has manifested in the things it’s inspired – poetry, technicolor dreams, great days, late-night philosophical musings concerning the experiences a lyricist writes about, and its relevance to me and others around me. Several educational opportunities have risen from listening to songs of historical periods I could now better understand as they were expressed in freedoms ballads, spoken words, music videos depicting the world in all its diverse, turbulent, beautiful glory.

Music will forever be one of my most favored art forms. Its simplicity and influence serves as a constant reminder of the beauty of serendipity.

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I am Calvin and my story is about my vacation to Orlando. Over the summer my family and I went to Orlando to visit my uncle. We went to Disney and Universal Studios. My uncle's nephew (my aunts sister's son) is from Honduras and is fluent in English and Spanish. He went with us to Disney. He lives in a pretty horrible neighborhood in Honduras, and is a lot less fortunate as us. He was psyched to go to Disney. I was excited, but it was also my 8th time going, so I was used to it. However, it made my day to see a kid who is a lot less fortunate then me to do something a kid dreams of. He had a smile from ear to ear the whole time, and was overly thankful to my parents. He said how it was a dream come true as we were walking out of Disney. I love this story because it allows me to know how fortunate I am. My parents are providing me the best possible education at an amazing school. This story reminds me to always care for people that are less fortunate as I am. It makes me realize next I want something to think of him. I just imagine how much he wants and how he can't just have it. This story helps me overcome greed. It reminds how important education, family and friend are. This story makes me appreciate everything I have.

Angelina- 9/11 Memorial

9/11 is often an event people don’t understand, nor should they be expected too. Before visiting the memorial and the museum I had never wrapped my head around the whole event and how much was really lost on that day. August 24th of this year my family and I took a trip to New York. When the trip was over my dad decided to surprise us with a trip to the Freedom Tower and museum.  A quote that has stuck out to me from the book The Fault in our Stars and an Imperial Infliction as Hazel says, is “pain demands to be felt.” This is a quote that could be used to represent my trip and experience. Hundreds of people were both at the Freedom Tower and museum, while looking at all these people there was one thing I couldn’t quite figure out. That was, why are they here and what are their stories? You didn’t know if they lost a loved one, paying there respects or even a survivor. All the pain and heart beak they were all feeling I never would have known who was feeling what due to all the brave faces. However something that has stayed with me from that trip is one person in particular. As my family and I were walking by the place where one tower used to stand where all the names are engraved and the waterfall is we saw a man bowing his head with his shoulders going up and down. What I thought to be a man paying his respects was a far cry from what the case really was. As we made are way walking along and I got a closer look, I saw a man in an older police man uniform crying his eyes out hovering over one of the names.  Many people that walked by him just stopped in their tracks unsure of what to do next. As we made our way by him my dad just patted him on the back, so he knew he’s not alone. Of course my father never lost somebody in this tragic event but he could still lend a hand and give a prayer for this man still in grief after many years. As we made our way into the museum we immediately became captivated by everything it had to offer. I don’t think I really understood much until I saw that there was NOTHING left of these people but their glasses or their shoes. All that loved ones had to remember them was a shoe that was now being framed for all of us. Once I had finished looking through the whole place I had to wrap my head around the fact that this was real and happened I was only about 6 months old, I “experienced” this huge tragedy. The message of the day was not to learn more 9/11 facts but the idea that I walked out of those museum doors with a whole new understanding of what the world went through on September 11, 2001. Another lesson this day brought was not to take a day for granted because in this case you never really know what’s going to happen. As well, I realized how good many of us have it. If you have not yet been to see this amazing attraction and piece of American history, my advice would be to go as quickly as possible because not only does it bring more facts about this horrible day,  but opens your eyes up to a much bigger picture.

How a Fake Man on Another Planet Changed my Life

When talking about a story was mentioned in class, I instantly thought of my favourite book I read over the summer, The Martian by Andy Weir. The story is realistic science fiction, but felt different than the typical realistic fiction or sci fi novel. It follows a man named Mark Watney, who in a freak accident, is abandoned on Mars and left with nothing but one year of food and his wits to survive. Some way into the book, NASA sees signs of Watney’s life on Mars, and desperately begins to do everything they can to save him. A few things drew me into this book, but the first thing that really hooked me from page one was Watney’s attitude toward his situation. Ever since he woke up on Mars, impaled with a radio antenna, half buried into sand, he somehow kept it positive, with nerdy jokes and changing attitudes. The book is written like Watney’s diary, where it tells you what SOL(day on mars) Watney entered it on as well. This leads to mood swings or rapid change in attitude, such as one day, all was going great for Watney, and he says “I’m doing great and going to be rescued!”, only to have the very next sentence written to be “I’m fucked and going to die!” This book is one of the few I have actually laughed out loud at, and for good reason.

The second thing that drew me in was the incredibly accurate scientific aspects of the book, and the reasons they were so spot on. While The Martian was being written, Andy Weir posted it on a blog run by retired and on duty NASA employees(mostly engineers). They then edited all of the scientific aspects of the book to be as on par with NASA’s potential future projects, up to and including having an inflatable base of operations, to having space suits that seal themselves using the congealing of blood. This book was the most scientifically accurate fiction novel of the year, and for good reason too.

This book taught me a lot about myself and who I am. As I read, I noticed a few very interesting things about Mark. Firstly, he mostly stayed positive no matter what happened. He knew everything within his limits, but he pushed the boundaries of what was possible at the same time, such as when He grew plants on Mars, but did so as methodically and carefully as possible. All problems that he faced seemed to only be annoyances and setbacks, as the only person he could be angry at was himself for not being attentive or thorough. Everything Mark Watney did taught me that no matter wherever you are, how bleak the situation, focusing on the positives and trusting yourself will give you the ability to succeed.

Troy- Stonebridge Country Club

Mid-June 2016, my family and I traveled to Naples, Florida, where we have a house that we rent to travelers throughout the year.  While we were there on a ten day trip, seven of those days we played golf.  The only times we would not play was if it was a travel day or a rainy day.  One day, we played at Stonebridge Country Club, not a far drive from our house.  I was not shooting very well the past couple of days and was hoping to bounce back and have a good time.  The front 9 was horrible, mostly double bogeys and a couple pars.  However, on the back nine, my luck changed.  One par 4, I hit my drive straight down the fairway, hit on the green and putt for birdie.  I was so thrilled with myself I made my Dad take a picture of me and the flag on that hole. (picture down below) However, I was not too impressed, especially because it wasn't my first birdie, and the hole was not particularly tough.  Thus, I still continued, hoping I could keep my confidence for the rest of the round.  A couple holes later, another par 4, I did it again, a good drive, a close approach shot and a putt that got me another birdie.  This was a great milestone for me because that was the first time I had over one birdie in a round.  I love this story so much because it started my true determination this summer to improve in the sport.  From June to August, I shaved thirty strokes off my score, from shooting 120 to anywhere around eighty-five to one hundred, usually around ninety.  Also, I love this story so much because it demonstrates a true amount of determination in myself.  I have always improved, whether it has been academically, socially, etc.  However, not until that day have I enhanced an ability of mine so much.  This moment in time was my day to shine in a way I had never imagined or thought.

My name is Jenna Blocher. I've been riding and showing horses since I was three years old. I was born into an equestrian family, and horses are, and always have been, a significant part of my life. A few months ago, I was scrolling through Netflix when I saw a documentary about wild horses. Four Texan men adopted sixteen wild horses that were facing euthanasia in government corrals. Their purpose for adopting them was to ride unfinished horses from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. When the men, or real life Cowboys, adopted the horses, they were not trained. Before the horses could make the trip, they had to become acclimated to humans and go through a rigorous training process. This was necessary because they couldn't be ridden otherwise. The Cowboys could have used their personal, trained horses, but they instead chose to save the sixteen mustangs with uncertain futures. They rode the horses through 3,000 miles of extreme environments. The riders faced treacherous mountains, raging rivers, and steep trails. One of the many problems riders faced was that even though the horses were somewhat trained, they lacked the experience of the veteran horses the men were used to. What made this trip even harder is that each man had three horses tethered behind them as pack horses carrying supplies. This trip couldn't have happened without the essence of teamwork between the four friends. Although, the team work wasn't effortless. At times, the men argued over which trail to take or which direction to go. Ultimately, they reached their goal and arrived in Canada.

Seeing this journey gave me a new perspective of horses. I knew, of course, that there were wild horses. It never occurred to me that they could be overpopulated, or that someone needed to manage them. The horses would eat farmers crops and eat grass that cattle needed to eat, leaving less food for the cows. This story moved me for many reasons.  It encouraged me help others become aware of the tragedies that wild mustangs face in America. If the men didn't adopt these horses, they most likely wouldn't have been adopted and probably euthanized. I decided to make a donation to an organization called Return To Freedom. Quoting their homepage, they are “dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity, and habitat of America’s wild horses”. This organization provides a sanctuary for wild horses and burros that could be rounded up and put into government corrals. The volunteers at Return To Freedom also look for ways to manage the population of horses without any euthanasia or abuse. Someday, I would like to adopt wild horses and go on an epic journey with my friends, as these cowboys did.

           

First Blog

 Jack Marshall

                                                                                                            The Stories We Tell

                                                                                                            August 30, 2016

The Rocky series, which details Rocky's journey as a fighter and person throughout his life. It has a big effect on me, and my family. I admire Rocky’s dedication and perseverance in order to become the best possible fighter that he can be. These movies encourages me to have faith in myself, and to become the best person and athlete that I can be.This brings my family together because we all admire how courageous Rocky is and how he becomes the champion against a tough opponent.Though Rocky was a fierce competitor, we see throughout the series how much he values family, loyalty and doing the right thing. Rocky is a very good person which really resonated with me. Rocky worked hard to obtain his goals but never at the expense of the values he believed in. I relate very much to Rocky because I am an athlete so I understand the hard work and sacrifice needed to reach goals. It can get hard sometimes but if these are truly goals of yours then you should not give up. Through adversity Rocky is able to stay strong and reach his goals while remaining true to his values of being a great husband, father, and friend.

My Will to Resist-Ethan Brown

When I was a young boy I was instantly told that driving and alcohol don't mix. To me this is a very important lesson as well as my family. My mom grew up in a family of 6 and she was the youngest of the 4 kids. When her oldest sister was in college, she went to a party like most college students do. In her so called “carpool” there was a designated driver but as most stories these days go, the driver drank. A lot. When they got in the car to ride back to their house or dorm, the other 4 people in the car were not informed that the driver was drunk by any means. They were about halfway to their destination when they got into a horrific crash. The driver, passenger and person sitting in the middle of the backseat were all killed. My aunt Suzy was critically injured as she was sitting on the left in the back seat and was stopped by the seat in front of her. She spent the next 6 months of her life in the hospital as well as her friend who was sitting on the right side of the car. My mother was home alone for almost a month and was affected very much by this. To this day, I am still reminded of this story to teach me and my brother that you should never drink and drive. My aunt still has the glass that was embedded in her arm during the crash, inside of her arm. I think that this story is a great lesson to kids to stay out of trouble because it shows possibly the worst consequence there is to drinking and/or driving. I had set a goal to make it through college completely without trying a single bit of alcohol a while ago and am still planning to stick to it.