Home From College

The good thing about my Thanksgiving break was that my older brother came home from college. I don't think I had seem him since August. Sure I had called him when I needed advice and help on college essays but it wasn't the same as talking to him in person. The day after he got back he threw the football with my younger brother and I and it just felt like we were little kids again. I wish that I didn't have homework over the break so that I could've spent all of my time with my brothers. The day that he was leaving I was frantically trying to ask him last minute questions I had on my homework and I am thankful that he was there to help. When my brother came home my parents seemed to be in a better mood too which I appreciated since I was in trouble basically the whole break. I was sad after he left because now things are back to the way they were.

Marty from Madagascar

Marty is a zebra that is contained in the Central Park Zoo in New York in the movie Madagascar. I like that he is adventurous and doesn't want to stay in his secluded pen. I think it is interesting how he realizes that there is life outside of the zoo and that he believes "the grass is greener somewhere else". Even though his friend Alex the lion is supposed to be the king of the zoo, I like that Marty takes charge and decides what is best for him instead of listening to Alex. In the movie, Marty is faced with reality when Alex tries to eat him because he sees that outside of the zoo, zebras and lions can't be friends because one is a predator and one is prey. I like that Marty is the one who opens his eyes and tries to break through society and find what's right for him.

Agatha Christie

http://www.agathachristie.com/

I chose Agatha Christie for my author study because of how much I enjoyed and was personally drawn into her book "And Then There Were None." She is a very talented mystery book writer and effectively creates unbearable suspense and cliffhangers in her novels.

Jordan, I can't believe this happened to you. You have a smile on your face in every moment that I remember of you. You were always laughing and trying to make people happy. I remember watching you and Jonathan fool around in 7th grade math by pantsing each other. You could always make me smile. I was on the way to morning practice when I got a text from Dylan telling me about your accident. I was in shock and all I could say was "Please, no". I held everything in for the whole day until I got home that evening. I cried for so long Jordan. Why did it have to be you? I had just seen you two weeks ago at the SAT and now you're gone forever. I read the article about you over and over again to make myself realize that this really did happen to you. Jordan, you have touched the lives of so many people. I will never forget you. Rest in peace.

Self Improvement

During my freshman year, two of my friends and I tried to stay healthy by cutting out junk food for a month. It can seem ridiculous how 14 year old girls could worry about losing weight and all but when feeling judged by everyone, this is the plan we resorted to:

1. No candy or chocolate
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables
3. Do 40 crunches a day (if you miss one day try to double up on the next day if you have time)
4. Do not eat deep-fried food (french fries, chicken, okra, shrimp)

5. Drink only water and milk; no soda

6. With pizza, only eat one slice with either cheese, vegetables, or ham.

Although we had good intentions when starting this pact, it fell through about two weeks after we started. I think that once high school classes had kicked in full gear, we stopped caring about what we were eating as long as it was giving us energy. In the end, I think it was worth a shot at trying to be healthier.