My Favorite Piece

Throughout our AP English class, we have read a countless amount of  essays. Every piece was different from one another and my favorite piece of literature so far is "The Ways We Lie" by Stephanie Ericsson. A simple yet interesting piece that the reader can connect to no matter how old they are. "The Ways We Lie" is not one of those ordinary essays that requires a dictionary on the side in order to understand and that is why I enjoyed reading this specific piece. I am sure one may be wondering why I chose this piece because he or she will think that it is just a list of lies, but it is not just a description. "The Ways We Lie" connects with every reader by presenting a subject that every one is familiar with. Everyone lies as they go along with their life. As I read almost all possible lies, I began to trace back all the times I have lied without even realizing. I realized that sometimes it is just unavoidable and necessary. I was actually able to find out the name of the lies I have told before. Personally, I do not enjoy lying nor am I good at it, but after reading Stephanie Ericsson's piece I came to a conclusion that even thought I may not be perfect at lying I still lie without even thinking about it. This piece of literature proves to people who claim that they have never lied, that everyone lies even if it does not fall into their category of "lying." Ericsson explanation of the innocent lies showed that even if people lie they are not necessarily different from others.

"Robert Hohn, Shannon Watterson Kept Boy Locked In Bare Room For Months, Cops Say

    On The Huffington Post, an article called "Robert Hohn, Shannon Watterson Kept Boy Locked In Bare Room For Months, Cops Say", was posted on November 30, 2012. A couple in New York locked up a twelve year old boy in a room for three months. He was kept in a room with nothing but a lamp. The father and step mother only let him out to use the bathroom and eat small meals. The windows were screwed shut and the door knob was put on backwards. The boy ran away to Melissa Ferraro- Walsh's house on Tuesday night. He ate for four hours straight because he was so hungry. He was twenty pounds underweight and he had bruises all over his face and body. The other three children were given normal care. The twelve year old is now kept in a hospital to get his weight up. Robert Hohn and Shannon Watterson were arrested on Wednesday and charged with felony child abuse and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

A Memory of Mine

      Everyone has a memory that teaches them a lesson somehow and that memory could either be good or bad. The memory I have from my eighth grade summer is both good and bad. This memory of mine has taught me a lesson. During my eighth grade summer, my grandparents told my parent that they would like to take my sister and I to Palm Springs for five days along with four of my cousins. My sister and three of my cousins decided to ditch me and my cousin Hasmik, but we were still very excited. We had no idea what was ahead of us. My cousin and I were going to have a separate room which we were very excited for but little did we know that we were going to join a bus full of Armenian grandmas and grandpas, in order to go to “Hot Springs”, yes it was not Palm Springs. Hot springs is a place for old people to relax, not teenagers. The minute we got off the bus, I was ready to run away. It looked like little huts stuck together with warm pools filled with sixty-ninety year olds. As I stepped into our room, I wanted to cry. Due to my luck, the A/C was not working properly. The bed looked dirty, the bathroom was old with mold, and the television had three working channels. I knew it was going to be a long five days. I was dreaming of my clean towels, bed and shower. At night, I would wake up feeling as if there were bugs crawling on me. I would cry myself to sleep the first three nights, but after a while I began to ignore everything around me. My cousin and I made the best out of the trip by distracting ourselves with junk food and having conversations with grandmas. I realized that there will e times when one has to live with what is given. I learned to deal with situations t do not please me, because I did not want to disappoint my grandparents who also had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

Pre Drinking or Pre-Funking Among Alcohol Users

     On The Huffington Post, Monte Morin posted an article called, "Pre Drinking or Pre-Funking common among young alcohol users", on November 8,2012. The article was about people drinking before an event usually with cheap alcohol. A Swiss study concluded that "pre-loaded" drinking most likely lead to unprotected sex, blackouts, injury or drug abuse. Experiments examined more than 250 Swiss students for four weeks via Internet and text messages. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, the swiss students were asked how many drinks they had. The research proved that when students "pre-loaded" before going to a bar or club, they ended up drinking more than they would if they did not pre-load. Studies showed that pre-drinkers were more likely to end up in an unsafe situation than others, Shannon R. Henney said that pre-drinking is more likely in the United States because the legal drinking age is higher, therefore teenagers prefer to drink before attending a public event.
     Pre drinking seems risky due to the effects it may have on people with a low tolerance. people tend to drink before attending an event in order to be "pumped up" without being aware of the consequences.

The Three Virtues

     Attempting to follow Benjamin Franklin’s road to perfection, I chose three virtues; frugality, industry, and tranquility. For three days I tried to contain myself according to these three virtues.

     Frugality means “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.” I chose frugality because I wanted to test my will power when it comes to stopping myself from buying unnecessary objects. I respect my parent’s time and money therefore I pushed myself to spend wisely. I love to shop but I was able to ignore my desire for new shoes and clothing in order to pull through. I spent money on a good case such as the Syrian relief in order to help the innocent but I did not make any expense on something that was unnecessary at the moment. I was able to succeed because I realized that it is important to prevent myself from going to the extreme at all times by controlling myself, especially during a time like this where economy is at its lowest. Soon I will be working and it is important to know money’s worth before it is too late. I kept reminding myself that I am not lacking any necessity; therefore I do not need to purchase something that will not make a difference in my life. 

     The second virtue was industry. The virtue of industry is the idea of getting rid of all distractions ad focusing on being productive throughout the day. I chose industry because I love to on”Instagram” and watch my Armenian soap operas rather than completing an important homework. I was not successful while attempting to follow this beneficial virtue because instead of completing my difficult biology lap report on Friday and Saturday, I decided to watch my Armenian Soap Operas and chat on the phone with Mariam. I am used to all the procrastination and unnecessary distractions therefore I prefer watching television rather than completing a useful task. I failed because I kept reminding myself that it is a weekend and I have Sunday to complete my work.

     Tranquility is the third virtue I chose. Tranquility is the idea of keeping calm during incidents that are bound to occur. The reason I chose tranquility is because I tend to get annoyed quickly which results in losing my temper. I always wanted to try to keep calm even when unwanted events occur, but unfortunately this virtue was hard to complete. On Thursday afternoon, my friends and I visited ever class in order to collect donations for the Syrian relief organization and that was the moment I forgot about holding back from yelling. The students began to make fun of the cause and I have no tolerance for stupidity, therefore I yelled at some of the immature students. I was not successful because I am the type of person who cannot act calmly when extremely bothered. It is not possible for me to act peaceful and calm under certain circumstances.

      

“Felicia Garcia Suicide: 15-Year Old Jumps In Front Of Train After Bullying; Posts Final Tweet”

On The Huffington Post, an article called “Felicia Garcia Suicide: 15-Year Old Jumps In Front Of Train After Bullying; Posts Final Tweet” was told by the New York Daily News. The article was published on October 26, 2012. The article was about a fifteen year old teen that jumped in front of a train in New York City. Felicia Garcia was bullied continuously by students from Tottenville High School. The kids were saying that Garcia had sex with a couple of guys. Garcia was never left alone. She had a tough childhood because her parents had passed away, and the teasing and bullying was the last thing she needed. She felt as if she did not have another choice. Detectives are in contact with two boys that took part in the bullying. Two days before the incident, Garcia tweeted, “I can’t, I’m done, I give up.” Her tweet showed the pain she was going through. Two days later, Felicia Garcia killed herself in front of her classmates at a Staten Island train station. Her final words were, “Finally, it’s here.”

     Bullying is not tolerable and it has become a major issue. People need to understand the power their words have on some people and what it can do to an individual. One can form an opinion about someone else but they do not have the right to bully that person until they have no other choice but to kill themselves. Garcia’s friends should have gotten involved after her tweet, because they could have given her the support she needed. I find it awful that teenagers still do not know what to do when being bullied by immature and dumb kids.

The Scarlet Letter

     The Scarlet Letter was a novel that evoked different emotions, all the way from blaming Hester Prynne for her wrong doing and also feeling bad for her. Hester Prynne was not the only character I felt sympathy towards; Roger Chillingworth was the character I felt bad for because he had to feel pain due to Hester Prynne’s actions.  Chillingworth sent Hester Prynne to Boston promising that they will meet again, but Hester committed adultery with the help of Reverend Dimmesdale. Chillingworth hoped to come back and see his wife waiting for him, but he was welcomed at the gallows while Hester was being punished for her crime.  Roger was on the mission to find out who Hester Prynne cheated on him with, in order to get his revenge for sleeping with his wife.  It did not take long for Chillingworth to realize that Dimmesdale was responsible; therefore he decided to torture Dimmesdale. I do not blame Chillingworth for his decision because the pain and embarrassment he felt once he found out his wife had cheated on him is abominable.  Chillingworth had every right to torture Dimmesdale for his act because Dimmesdale not only caused Roger to feel pain but also he went against God’s will as Reverend. Being cheated on and seeing the outcome of is probably the most terrible situation a person can be found in, therefore I feel most sympathetic towards Roger. I feel sympathy towards Roger Chillingworth because he was forced to experience such sudden betrayal as soon as he arrived to Boston. Roger was not the only cause of Dimmesdale’s death; Dimmesdale’s guilt was also the cause.  If I was in Chillingworth’s situation I would feel that it is right to seek revenge from the ones who caused me pain, because no one should get away with such a crime.

The Scarlet Letter

     " 'Never!' replied Hester Prnee, looking, not at Mr. Wilson, but into the deep and troubled eyes of they younger clergymen. 'It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!' " (47) This quote was said by Hester Prynne. While saying this quote, Hester Prynne was standing in fron of the entire community to serve her punishment for committing adultry. Mr. Wilson had asked Reverend Dimmesdale to convince Hester to say the name of Pearl's father. They told Hester that by giving them that information she may be able to get rid of the scarlet letter "A", but Hester refused because the letter had already been woven into her heart. By giving the name of the father she would be able to share the guilt and consequence with Pearl's father bt Hester refused to do so. As she looked into Reverend Dimmesdale's guilty eyes, she refused to give out any information because she was ready to take the guilt of Pearl's father on herself. This shows Hester Prynne's strength and faithfulness, because she did not give the Reverend's name knowing that she will threaten his dignity in the community as a Reverend. Hester Prynee did not agree on taking off her the scarlet letter as a reward for giving the name of Pearl's father, because she wore it proudly. Hester did not let the scarlet letter "A" become a weapon to open her mouth. Although Hester was in a pressured situation, she managed to keep her mouth closed and take both their punishments.

"Monster Mom Gets 99 Years"

     On The Huffington Post, Noman Merchant posted an article on October 12, 2012. The article was called “Elizabeth Escalona, Texas Mom Who Glued Her Daughter’s Hands To A Wall, Says ‘I’m Not A Monster’.” A mother of five children beat her two year old daughter and glued her hands to a wall. Elizabeth Escalona was sentenced to 99 years in prison. Elizabeth Escalona had beaten her child to the point where the two year old fell into a coma. Elizabeth Escalona had kicked her daughter in the stomach, hit her with a milk jug, and glued her hands to the wall, all because of potty training. The child suffered from bleeding in her brain, multiple bruises, and bite marks. Elizabeth Escalona’s defense attorney said that the sentence was too harsh because Elizabeth had a rough childhood which could have been the reason why she acted in such a way. Why do her innocent children have to live a horrible childhood because their mother went through a hard time. Normal parents who have had a rough childhood go out of their way to prevent such a childhood for their kids. After hearing stories like this one, I feel that a license should be necessary for an individual to be responsible for a child. People are bringing innocent children into this world and providing horrid care. Parents like Elizabeth do not deserve a gift from God such as children. This horrible memory will stay with this innocent child forever, because her mother believed that abusing her daughter will potty train her.  A normal human being does not even want to watch their child feel extreme pain let alone be the cause of that pain. People should learn the difference between discipline and abuse.

"The Scarlet Letter"

     One will never know how “The Scarlet Letter” will end unless they finish reading the book, but I can predict what may happen based on the chapters I have read so far. Since Governor Bellingham held a meeting specifically about Hester Prynne and Pearl, I think that Bellingham is the father of Pearl. After questioning Pearl, he will try to come up with a plan to adopt Pearl by convincing others that Hester is not a good mother. Bellingham and Pearl will form a different yet passionate father-daughter relationship.  Another reason why I assumed that the governor is Pearl's father is, because he was concerned with her and Hester's parenting. As soon as he walked in, Pearl stopped crying which may be based on the connection she felt with her father. The governor will reveal the truth. Revealing the truth will cause Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, to seek revenge from Bellingham, therefore Bellingham will get rid of Roger Chillingworth. Pearl will end up hating her mother who caused the pain Pearl felt during her childhood years, and she will plan on killing her mother.

“Cassidy Goodson to Be Tried as Adult 14- Year- Old Accused of Killing Her Baby Could Get Life in Prison”

     On The Huffington Post, an article called, “Cassidy Goodson to Be Tried as Adult 14- Year- Old Accused of Killing Her Baby Could Get Life in Prison” was posted on October 5, 2012. The article was written by Lakeland Ledger. Cassidy Goodson, a fourteen year-old girl was accused of killing her newborn baby. On September 19, 2012, Goodson gave birth to a boy in a Lakeland bathroom. She strangled her baby to death and her excuse was, “I did not know what to do with it.” She had been trying to hide her pregnancy and as soon as she gave birth to her son in the toilet, she killed him. Although she is only fourteen years old, she will serve as an adult. Goodson will be charged with a first- degree murder.

     Many teenagers engage in acts that lead to teenage pregnancy, and they decide to hide it. Due to their age, they are not aware of the responsibilities they need to undertake while being pregnant. Teenage pregnancy is very common. If parents cannot prevent their teenager from becoming pregnant; they should take responsibility and take care of the child. The newborn has no fault; therefore if the mother of the child cannot take care of the baby they should consider adoption instead of murder.

“Tyler Giuliano, Masked Teen Shot By Father Jeffrey Giuliano, Called A Good Kid.”

     In The Huffington Post, John Christofferson posted an article called, “Tyler Giuliano, Masked Teen Shot By Father Jeffrey Giuliano, Called A Good Kid.” The article was posted on September 29, 2012.

     In New Fairfield, Tyler Giuliano was playing an online game with his friends and shortly after he went outside wearing all black with a mask and weapon in his hand. His aunt was his next door neighbor, and she called her brother, Jeffrey Giuliano, saying that she thinks there is a burglar outside trying to break in. Tyler Giuliano’s dad, Jeffrey Giuliano, went outside with a gun. Jeffrey did not know that the so called burglar was his son. As Tyler walked toward his dad with the knife, Jeffrey Giuliano shot him. When the plice arrived, Tyler was lying dead on the driveway with a knife in his hand. The police informed Jeffrey Giuliano that he had shot his son. No immediate charges were brought against Jeffrey Giuliano. He was a popular fifth-grade teacher. “He was the teacher you requested in the fifth grade. He was a great teacher. All the kids loved him,” said Rosemary Rasile. Tyler Giuliano was a fifteen year old student at New Fairfield High school and a civil Air Patrol Cadet. Some of those who knew him said he had an easy-going personality. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and he was adopted by Giuliano and his wife. State police spokesman, Lt. J. Paul Vance said that Tyler Giuliano was a good kid. He had never been in trouble with the law. His friends and family were surprised because they did not expect Tyler to do what he had done.

   It is scary how a well behaved child decides to such a thing, leaving everyone speechless. No one will know why Tyler Giuliano decided to wear a mask and hold a knife at one in the morning, leaving his father with a guilty feeling. This article shows the dreadful possibilities that can take place when an individual has problems within that need to be taken care of. 

"Missouri Bus Driver Suspended After Making Student Exit Bus And Retrieve Mustard Packets From McDonald’s Next To Highway.”

    In The Huffington Post, KCTV reported an article called, “Missouri Bus Driver Suspended After Making Student Exit Bus And Retrieve Mustard Packets From McDonald’s Next To Highway.” The article was published on September 21, 2012.  A Missouri bus driver asked an eleven year old girl to cross the parking lot and go inside McDonald’s in order to get mustard packets for the bus driver. The bus driver asked for mustard packets because of her blood pressure. There is a policy that students are not allowed to exit the bus unless they have arrived at their destination, but the bus driver did not follow this policy.  The driver is currently placed on a temporary leave. Parents do not feel comfortable with leaving their children in the bus driver’s hands because anything could have happened to the unsupervised eleven year old as she went to get the mustard packets. School bus drivers are given the responsibility to make sure a child arrives at their destination safely, and the bus driver’s act was nothing close to being responsible. If the bus driver was aware of her sudden blood pressure elevations, she should have been prepared. When one is given the responsibility to make sure a group of children are safe, they should not make decisions that only benefit them.

"Speech in the Virginia Convention"

    Patrick Henry wrote the “Speech in the Virginia Convention” in the 1770’s during the Revolution, which was a hard time for the American Colonists. The colonists were doing everything in their power to break free from England, and Patrick Henry wanted to speak out and give his opinion during a time like the Revolution. During the Revolution the British pressured the colonists in various ways and did not grant them their freedom, therefore it was time to speak up once again. The subject of this speech is freedom and independence. During the Revolution, that was all most colonists dreamt of. Gaining independence was the only chance they had to escape the British, that was if they had a chance to gain independence. The British would send their powerful armies against the colonists and they would tax them. Patrick Henry was trying to install the eagerness to speak only independence and freedom in the colonists. The colonists had a cause that was being postponed, and the cause was independence. They were given false hope over and over again, and their hope was crushed. They had tried everything to get their voices heard but nothing had helped. Britain responded to them with violence and rejection. The main purpose was to persuade and inspire. Patrick Henry was trying to persuade the president and the congress members to give the colonists independence. King George III betrayed them many times, and Patrick Henry wanted to persuade the president that the colonists will not give up. Patrick Henry also wrote the speech to inspire the American colonists in order to fight for their independence and not give up. There were Americans that did not fight for their freedom because they wanted to be loyal to England. Patrick Henry stated that if they do not fight as a whole, they will not win the battle. It was their cause and their obligation to fight for it, even if it meant giving up their life.

“Margarita Zaragoza, A Pregnant Woman, Stabs Boyfriend ‘Accidentally’ For Pouring Out Her Alcohol: Cops.”

     In The Huffington Post, an article called, “Margarita Zaragoza, A Pregnant Woman, Stabs Boyfriend ‘Accidentally’ For Pouring Out Her Alcohol: Cops.”  The article was published on September 14, 2012. Thirty-six year old Margarita Zaragoza stabbed her boyfriend’s arm twice with a steak knife on Wednesday, because he was pouring out the alcohol in her cup. Margarita said that she was washing the knife and as she turned around to speak to her boyfriend, she accidentally stabbed him. The victim’s wounds did not click with Margarita’s story.  Margarita was pregnant and her boyfriend emptied her cup because she was not allowed to drink alcohol. Margarita Zaragoza was charged with aggravated assault. Margarita had a history with DUI and drug arrests. Not only did Margarita stab her boyfriend, but she also preferred dangering her unborn child’s health in order to enjoy her booze. One who has been arrested due to drugs and alcohol should not be responsible for a child until she is ready. Carrying a baby for nine months requires responsibility. If one stabs their boyfriend because he was trying to protect an innocent baby, they need to seek help before taking responsibility over another human being.

“Michael And Michelle Freeman, Oregon Couple, Arrested In Child Porn Investigation (Video).”

     In The Huffington Post, Andres Jaunegui wrote an article called, “Michael And Michelle Freeman, Oregon Couple, Arrested In Child Porn Investigation (Video).” The article was published on September 6, 2012. Forty year old Michelle Freeman and her thiry-nine year old husband Michael Serapis Freeman surrendered to police in their hometown of Salem, Ore. Because someone they knew threatened to report them. The Freemans were accused of videotaping themselves while performing sexual acts with children. One of the children in their videos was the Freeman’s nine year-old daughter. Before the Freeman’s gave themselves in, FBI in Colorado found videos of a woman having sexual contact with two girls under the age of ten. The woman in the video was unidentified at the time. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Los Angeles were on the case as soon as they found photos of abused girls. ICE turned to the public, and a photo of the women spread across media. The couple was arrested and they may face fifteen to thirty years of prison.  They have destroyed children’s lives with their horrific acts.  Many parents are cautious about their children’s safety, while other sick minded “parents” are poisoning their own child’s life.

On The Rocky Side

     

      Chocolate ice cream, or shall I say “Rocky Road” is the best ice cream on this planet. Who does not like Rocky Road ice cream? Every time I enter the ice cream isle at a store, I leave with my favorite ice cream, Rocky Road. I do not know anyone who can resist the rich chocolate taste that flows in your mouth as soon as you eat it. Starting from the smooth texture all the way to the crunchy almonds that surprise you at every bite, Rocky Road is irresistible. How can one forget the marshmallows that act like the cherry on top? No matter how frozen the ice cream is, the cloud like marshmallows are always soft. Rocky Road being my favorite childhood ice cream, never fails at walking me down memory lane and leaving me with an unavoidable crave. A special thanks to William Dreyer who brought good to this world by creating Rocky Road in 1929. Rocky Road is alluring, alluring is Rocky Road. As soon as it reaches your taste buds it leaves you wanting one more bucket of the yummy goodness. Rocky Road is not like any other ice cream, because it does not leave you with a guilty feeling afterwards, because you get the daily dosage of chocolate you need in order to function and fresh almonds that do good to your heart. When you are feeling a bit down, Rocky Road will make you feel as balanced as the ice cream itself. It is rich, it is smooth, it is crunchy, it is creamy. The intense chocolate flavor leaves you with an empty bowl. You can never go wrong with Rocky Road.

“Tiffany Nicole Klapheke, Texas Airman’s Wife, Jailed After Toddler’s Horrific Death.”

   In The Huffington Post, Angela K. Brown wrote an article called, “Tiffany Nicole Klapheke, Texas Airman’s Wife, Jailed After Toddler’s Horrific Death.” The article was published on August 30, 2012. Tiffany Klapheke’s husband was in the military overseas and Tiffany Klapheke had three children. Tiffany was very stressed due to her husband’s absence, and she could not take care of her three children. Her 22- month old daughter passed away at the hospital due to dehydration and malnutrition. The toddler was underweight and she has chemical burns because her mother did not “feel” like changing her diaper for days. Tiffany’s two other daughters, three years and six months old were in critical condition because they were not taken care of. They were taken to a children’s hospital in Fort Worth. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services had custody of the two daughters and they contacted relatives in order to find a safe home for the children. Klapheke admit to KTAP-TV that she should have been a good mother and taken care of them but she did not put them first anymore. Klapheke said that she did not have any relatives in Texas and she was alone. Tiffany needed help with taking care of her children but she did not go out of her way to seek help for the benefit of her children. Tiffany acted selfish and heartless towards her children. Instead of paying more attention to her kids at the time, she neglected her own children. She did not treat them as her own. She brought her child to this world and sent her back with her own hands. Countless number of women are dreaming of having children, and a mother of three does not even appreciate the God given blessing.

"The Declaration of Independence" -Soapst

     Thomas Jefferson, the writer of "The Declaration of Independence" had three main purposes. Thomas Jefferson was trying to persuade Kind George III to grant the American colonists freedom. It was written to explain why the colonists had a right to revolt against England. He was trying to prove that the England was unfair towards the colonists. "The Declaration of Independence" was written in order for the Americans to become independent, away from England. Laws were being passed that did not benefit the colonists. The English did not allow representation from the colonists, in order for them to voice their opinion. Colonists had no rights or benefits. Thomas Jefferson wanted to inspire the American colonists to get up and fight for their rights. Their pride and dignity had been taken away. And it was time to do something. The document intended to give support to the colonists in order for them not to be scared; to revolt and gain their independence. Thomas Jefferson tone started off as demanding because hr was speaking to King George III on behalf of all American colonists. He was demanding because all colonists’ voices had been put on mute. Kind George III had been unfair and brutal towards the colonists. They had petitioned and sent letters countless amount of times, but their concerns were ignored and it was time to demand freedom. Thomas Jefferson’s tone shifted as he began to send a message to the colonists. His voice became inspiring and conclusive. He wanted to convince the colonists to fight for the their rights and not do as the English say. He wants to colonists to fight for all that has been taken away, their fortunes, their pride, and their lives. He concludes that the Americans have the right to have their own independent state.

Expect the Unexpected

     In The Los Angeles Times, Rick Rojas posts an article called, “O.C. priest will spend year in jail for molesting boy in 1990s” about a retired Roman Catholic priest in Orange County was arrested and put in jail for a year. The article was published on August 24, 2012. He was mandatory registered as a sex offender, and he was obligated to complete 400 hours of community service. Denis Lyons, a 78 year old retired Roman Catholic priest, admit to sexually assaulting a child under fourteen years old at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Costa Mesa. The molestation took place when the boy was between seven to nine years old, between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1995. The priest molested the boy four times in the church, which is supposed to be a holy room. The victim filed a report in September 2008 and Denis Lyons got arrested in July 2009 while playing cards.” Today is the day I finally have closure. I have spent 16 years living in pain, living in shame. He took away my innocence as a child. This man has ruined my life and many others besides me. He has changed my perception of religion, life, and right and wrong. Him pleading guilty not only gives me closure but gives other victims closure as well. He is a bad person, a bad man." Lyons had been charged in 2003 for molesting another boy during the times of 1978-1981, but the accusations never led to anything because a lot of time had passed between the event and the complaint. It is very upsetting how one can do such an act. This article should send a message to all that think nothing can happen to their child at a “trusted” place. A priest, who preached to others about doing the honorable, molested a child which is one of the most dishonorable sins. Priests expect everyone to attend the holy church and accomplish what they preach, but how can one not lose faith after being sexually assaulted by a priest?

Chief Executive Cheats His Way Through

In The Los Angeles Times, Howard Blume posts an article called "Charter school groups chief blamed for 2010 cheating scandal" about chief executive of charter schools in Crescendo, John Allen. The article was published on August 17, 2012. John Allen had asked Crescendo principals to display the state standardized test to the teachers. He had told all the principals to do as they were told or else they it would leave them jobless. Teachers were given copies of the standardized tests and they had to study them and teach the kids. The Crescendo principals were dragged into cheating and they could not believe that they had agreed on such an act. Reviews state that John Allen sincerely cared about the students and the education. Teachers announced that John Allen was a strict chief executive, and also very competitive. L.A. unified fired him and decided to close all campuses in Crescendo, South Los Angeles. The teachers were fired and 1,400 students had no choice but to find another school. Teachers began to report Allen on May 3, 2010. La Motte, member of the L.A Board of Education protected Allen because he was a friend of hers. La Unified announced that Allen would be suspended for 6 months then return to a low administrative job. Most principals were suspended for 10 days. Two of Crescendo’s schools were renewed. “In October 2011, Allen sued for wrongful dismissal.” Former Crescendo principals established new charter schools in the place of Crescendo’s campuses. This article represents the unprofessional side of the people who are in charge of providing education for children. Competitiveness drove a chief executive to disobey the rules and cheat his way through to have his school be on top. The scores should not matter as much as the amount of information a student has absorbed.

"Graduation" Soapst

      “Graduation” was written by an African American women, Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou aimed her story at high school students. The occasion of this essay is Maya Angelou’s graduation in Stamps, Arkansas, in 1940. Maya Angelou was twelve years old when she graduated high school. “Graduation” is about the feelings Maya Angelou had as she was about to graduate. The subject of “Graduation” is Maya’s pre-graduation and graduation experience. Maya Angelou felt as if she was going to be free as soon as she graduated. The tone of this essay has many shifts. In the beginning Maya Angelou predicts what is going to happen because she has an idea of how seniors act and how the ceremony takes place. Maya gets excited because she is finally going to graduate and this shows that Maya wants to leave school more than anything and start a new life. The tone changes as soon as the graduation ceremony begins. Maya Angelou becomes confused because instead of singing the national anthem, a white man began to speak about the blue collar jobs waiting for the African Americans, as if they had no future. The priest began to talk about people committing crimes, as if he was connecting it to the graduating class. Maya’s confusion turned into anger. Maya’s hopes and dreams were crushed as well as all African American’s dreams. As soon as the class valedictorian sang the National Anthem, Maya’s mood went right back up. This shows how strongly she believed. Maya Angelou’s purpose was to inform the reader and inspire the African American’s that they too can thrive and pursue their dreams regardless of their color. Maya Angelou wanted people to know that African American’s are not only known for their physical abilities but also for their intellectual abilities. Maya Angelou’s epiphany at the end of the essay “Graduation”, provides hope and encouragement to the African Americans in order to go out of their way and prove to themselves that they have the ability to be as productive as everybody else.

My Favorite Book

     Everyone has a favorite book that they cannot stop thinking about after they are done reading it, and my favorite book is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner was written during the time when Russia was bombing Afghanistan. the story takes place in Afghanistan. It is about a young boys experience as a child during those times. Amir was part of a rich family, and he grew up without a mother. Amir did not have a close relationship with his father because his father wanted Amir to be athletic but he was interested in writing, unfortunately his father was not interested in reading. Amir never stood up for himself. Amir and his dad had servants who had lived with them since Amir was born. Hassan was the servants son, who was loved by Amir’s dad because he was the opposite of Amir; he was athletic, and he stood up for himself. Amir was envious of Hassan. He was too embarrassed to play with him in public but yet Hassan was a loyal friend to him. Hassan protected Amir from the town bully. Amir destroyed Hassans and his friendship, by accusing him of stealing in order to get Hassan and his father out of the house. Amir and Hassan ended up being half brothers. In order to gain forgiveness, Amir saved Hassan’s son from the Taliban and adopted him. The Kite Runner is my favorite book because I could not wait to go on to the next chapter, I was drawn into the book. it is a story based on humanity, friendship, evil, good, and sacrifice which are all universal themes that apply to all of us. Kite Runner had me thinking about the importance of friendship when Hassan sacrificed his pride and got raped in order to save Amir’s kite, yet Amir did not even try to protect Hassan as he watched him get raped. Hassan did not say a word when Amir accused him of stealing in order to get rid of Hassan. After all that Amir did, Hassan stayed loyal and sacrificed his life in order to protect Amir’s and his dads home from the Taliban this book made me realize that there are people who are so evil towards someone who does nothing but good to them till the end. There are friends who are willing to ruin their friend’s life out of jealousy and there are friends who are willing to sacrifice their life for a friend. Kite Runner had great suspense. It was a page turner because it contained life and death situations, for example when Amir and his dad were leaving Afghanistan during the war, or when Amir was trying to save Hassan’s son from the Taliban since Hassan was dead. Kite Runner touched the surface of every emotion we humans go through. One could not even predict what was going to happen next, and that is why it was my favorite.