I'm Thankful for Auguste :)

Every year at my family's Thanksgiving dinner, we go around the table and say what we are thankful for. I've always said the routine things: my family, my friends, my house, etc. When I got this assignment it surprised me because I've never really thought about the individual people I'm thankful for, and because of that I don't think I've really said thanks for everything important to me before.

One of the wonderful friends I am blessed with at Whitney Young is Auguste. We sit next to each other in English class, our birthdays are only a day apart, and we've known each other since sixth grade so I think it's safe to say that I owe a lot of smiles and good moments to her.

One of my favorite things about Auguste is that she's always smiling and laughing. No matter how I feel I know I can always smile, giggle, and make another inside joke when I'm with Auguste. Also, she is very friendly and talkative, which I am thankful for because it means that she can always have a long and funny conversation, even with shy and not-so-talkative people like me. I am very thankful for this because little moments like those can make even your worst day a lot better.

Another awesome thing about Auguste is that she is very creative. She makes beautiful drawings like this one, and even the doodles in the sides of her notebook are always beautiful. Auguste always draws very creative and "luscious" (as she would say) and I am very thankful to know creative and talented people like her. 

Auguste also has a very creative vocabulary and likes to use words like "luscious" and "totes" (or more accurately t0t3s) and I like this because it is very funny and creative and shows that she's not afraid to have fun with her words in a way that's different from everyone else. 

Also on a side note Auguste is one of my favorite people of mine to read my writing because she's also a good writer (we've written a few hilarious stories together lol) and she always makes me feel so happy inside while also giving me good constructive criticism and I'm very thankful for this because I love writing and it makes it all the better when you have great people to share it with. 

All in all, I am very thankful for Auguste and the many moments of laughter and positivity that she has brightened up my life with. Also, she has been a great friend ever since I've known her and our friendship has gone through a lot of changes but it means a lot to me that we are still friends today. I am thankful for her and for this assignment because it made me think about the importance of individuals and small things, and it made me really appreciate all the great people like Auguste that I am so lucky to be around every day. 

I Celebrate Myself

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

I open my mind that you may see with my searching eyes,

Immerse yourself in my being, think only as one with me.

I dip my feet in the weeping river, lapping at my feet;

Oh, laughing, dancing water from whence have you come?

That you may share the very essence of my being,

That the stuff of my frolicking laugh flows in your ripples,

And my smiles in the sunlight that glints off your brooks and streams.

Run, swift feet, to the end of the stream, show me the rock from whence it came,

The core of all souls that births emotion,

From the smiling, laughing waterfall, to the blackened weeping pond.

Oh, core-strengthened rock of fiercely protective love and steadfast standing belief,

Lend me a rough ledge on which to place my feet,

So that I may commence the journey of human success.

Give me a ledge of courage, and strength to push myself up,

But do not deny me the cuts and scrapes, the everyday problems of unsolvable fate,

For their scars will form and give me strength,

The iron core of human soul.

Cling, my travel-worn feet, to the rough bark of that everlasting tree,

The green pine which sprouts life through its extending branches,

Glimmers of soul in every passionate needle,

Waiting to pierce even the stoniest heart.

Bear me, oh life-giving branches,

Become one with the fiber of shared being,

The emotion of mutual nature,

In the purest state of life.

Lead me, oh thoughtful compass, to the north star of my righteous deeds,

To the dark cave of my innermost soul.

I shall not lose myself in its soft moss fabric of darkness,

For I am guided by the torch lit force of my blazing curiosity.

I reach my hands into the red heart of that wild inferno,

And my fingers do not feel pain.

For, though, truth may yet burn,

The rushing waters, tsunamis of newfound being shall fuse with the flame,

As all becomes one on the eternal scale.

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is a very important figure in American literature, and is famous for his gothic and sometimes disturbing stories. Much of his inspiration from stories of this kind may have come from his childhood and his life in general, where he experienced many traumatic events, such as the death of his parents, foster mother, and other family members.

After Poe's parents died he was adopted by the Allans, who were a wealthier family. After Mrs. Allan died, however, Mr. Allan did not have the best relationship with Poe. He sent Poe to university without enough money, and even left Poe out of his will when he died. These experiences, as well as Poe's poverty later in life may have influenced him to follow the romantic literary trend of rebelling against the aristocracy and traditions and aspects connected to it.

Poe spent a lot of time alone during his life, and also a lot of time in bad living conditions because he was very poor. This may have influenced his writing by influencing the settings and the moods of some of his pieces.

Poe witnessed a lot of deaths in his lifetime, which also may have influenced the morbid nature of his stories. In addition to the deaths of his mother and other family members, Poe also experienced the death of his very dear wife, Virginia Clemm. He also experienced other less-than-satisfactory marriages, which may contribute to the overall dismal mood of his writing.

What is an American?

Around the world, there is a common stereotype of Americans as fat, lazy, stupid and uncultured. Sometimes it may make us ashamed of our country, especially when people say and do things that reinforce the stereotype. But in a country where we have fought against stereotypes for so long, why let our nation be confined by just that? In the spirit of American liberty and opportunity, I prefer to discuss the positive aspects of our nation instead.

Take American culture, for one. Among all of the world's rich and beautiful cultures, American culture is arguably the most beautiful, because it takes all different kinds of people and cultures and combines them into one. Simply by driving through Chicago, you could see a Chinese dim sum restaurant, an Indian sari shop, a Greek orthodox church, and a mexican mural all in the same area. America has always been a thriving center of immigration, and though we may take it for granted, it is more than you can say for most other countries.

I think what it means to be American is largely interpretive because of the many different types of people that are considered to be part of our culture. Each person who lives in our country re-defines the term "American," and becomes another star in the swirling galaxy of our ever-changing culture.

The Modern Puritan

            The Puritans as a religious or societal group are not in existence anymore, but some of their ideas still live on in our society. One example is how the Puritans did not have much chance for redemption from sin. Likewise, in our society, once a person breaks the law, or some other strong social code, the reputation of that can stay with them for a very long time. For instance, the popular expression “once a cheater, always a cheater” implies that people like Hester, who break their promises in a relationship, especially marriage, are sure to do it again, and can never change.

            The values of the Puritans are also present in our society in the form of the Ten Commandments. Many of these commandments have become social codes in our society. A few examples are adultery, which, though not a law, is a huge social taboo, stealing and murdering, which are against the law, and honoring your parents, which is a convention in our society. Though our society is now made up of many different religions, many values from Christianity are still very much present in it.

            Another value of the Puritans that is present in our society today is the value of good works. The Puritans believed that doing good works for others could help you gain salvation. Likewise, we view people in our society who help others as very good, honorable, and respectable people. We also require people to do service sometimes, like the requirement and the encouragement of service learning hours in high schools.

            Although Puritanism as a religion has disappeared, many of their values still live on in our society today. I think that this is because they were some of the founders of our society, and therefore some of their beliefs continued to be passed to others, even after the Puritans themselves had disappeared.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

            After reading Act IV of the Crucible the reader learns a lot about John Proctor’s character. Once a well-respected farmer, Proctor is pulled into a large tangle of witchcraft accusations, which puts his honesty through one of the greatest tests a man can undergo; death. Proctor is faced with a choice of lying or death, which is one of the greatest tests a Puritan can go through.

            I believe that John Proctor is a hero because he sacrifices his life for what he believes is right. He dies because he refuses to have a statement nailed to the door of his church, informing the town of his confession to dealing with the devil. He does this because he knows that this confession is a lie, and that it will damn his soul and the souls of others like Martha and Rebecca in the eyes of the people.

            In the text, on page 1357, he says, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” In this context, he has essentially sold his soul to the devil and accusers by lying in his confessions, and also for his sin against Elizabeth. This leaves him with only his name for salvation, and when he realizes that that will be taken away from him as well, he decides that it would be better to die a good man, than to live as a damned one. He weakens, to the point where he actually signs the confession, but in the end, he decides that he can’t confess to a lie, and he rips up the piece of paper that he signed, therefore condemning himself to death. He goes to hang with Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, who also die because they would not confess to a lie. I think this makes them all extraordinarily strong people because they will all face even the end of their lives, so that they can do what they know is right.

There Goes The Neighborhood

There Goes The Neighborhood

            I take a deep breath. The wrought iron gate creaks on its hinges, and I step onto the stone path. My heart beats faster as I walk up the blue painted steps to the front porch, and it’s practically in my mouth when I ring the front doorbell—on the bottom, because that’s the only way it works.

            The door opens, and I’m greeted by blonde hair, blue eyes, and shimmering smile.

            “Hi,” she says politely, “Can I help you?”

            “H-hi,” I stammer. My heart races and my brain struggles, trying desperately to remember the speech I’d practiced a thousand times. “Hi. Um…I used to live here—like…until last week when, um, you bought it, and I… I was wondering…if you wouldn’t mind if I could just come in. Just to say goodbye?”

            Her face softens, and she nods. “Yeah. Sure. I’m sure mom won’t mind.”

            I let the dark-haired girl in through the front door, feeling a bit guilty. She looks sad.

            “They don’t like us,” I can hear my mom saying, “They think we’re taking their neighborhood. Gentrifying it. “

            She always says it with a toss of her head, a dismissive scoff. I always feel dismissive too. It’s not my fault they can’t afford it, so why should they blame me? But now I feel bad for feeling that way. Because if I was in their position, I would hate me too.

            I watch her walk up the carpeted stairs, and I tiptoe behind her. As she runs her finger along my bedpost, I realize that this isn’t really my room. It’s been hers for so long, and I feel like it still should be.

             I feel like a thief.

            I run my finger along the bedpost. The walls around me are a bright shade of pink, and it scares me. They used to be blue, a dark, soft, comfortable blue. But that was when they were mine.

            Everything in this house is different now. The walls, the rugs, the furniture. I look around me and I feel scared, because I feel like my childhood memories will vanish, along with this house. This house that isn’t mine anymore.

           

            I step out the front door again, and take one long, last, sad look. I walk down the steps, down the path, and to the gate. As I close the gate behind me, I turn, forcing myself to face away.

            “Goodbye,” I whisper.

            There goes the neighborhood.

About Me

My name is Cristina Cass, and I am 14 years old. I am a freshman, and I'm also a frackie. I love reading and writing, and I spend a lot of my free time writing fiction stories or poetry. I also like to write screenplays, and I am very interested in movies and the process that goes into making them. My favorite genres of books/movies to read and write are science fiction and fantasy because I love the concept of creating a new world and bringing your readers into it. One of the things I like most about books and movies are the new characters and worlds that they bring to life and the new things they let you experience without actually doing them. I love music as well, and I play piano and guitar. I love to travel and I have been to many places with my family like Greece, Nicaragua, and China. I'm on the tennis team at Whitney Young and I enjoy doing that as well as other sports like cycling, skiing, rock climbing, rollerblading, and running.