Linda Thompson

Professor Mary Louise Hill

ENG 200

23 September 2016

Peace Within

            Since the age of twelve years old, I have never been a great sleeper. I can be the most exhausted I’ve ever been, but the moment my head hits the pillow my mind is racing and my legs are itchy and I’m tossing back and forth and oh my dog is scratching herself it rocks the bed and I wonder if my partner will wake up or maybe my fidgeting will wake him up and one of us will get upset like that argument we had a year ago when we couldn’t sleep and it was late and he slept on the couch and I didn’t sleep at all and I felt terrible for days because insomnia should only affect the person who has it and….

Oh, four in the morning already?

Just breathe.

I believe in breathing. Each breath we are granted is a blessing that should never be forgotten or ignored. My father, a tall man with large knuckly hands and a contagious smile, drew his last breath on October 22^nd, 2015. At this point he had consumed enough poison to deteriorate his brain to shambles, and I became unrecognizable to him because of it. The last time I saw my dad, I had prepared his favorite meal (coincidentally, the same as my own: homemade Shepard’s Pie) and joined him for dinner at the nursing home he resided within. I proceeded to walk out when my frail and dying father mistook me for his girlfriend.

Keep breathing.

Death is a certainty, and should never be taken lightly. How might one convince their body to keep going, when it is inevitably time to let go? It is impossible. How should one persuade their mind to continue trying, when the chance is too far gone? Not so unlikely, yet incredibly difficult and life-altering. By teaching myself how to breathe through the pain I have begun the process of grieving. It is not fair to allow a tragedy, even an expected one, to alter a life negatively or with disdain. To allow life to pass by simply existing in the world as an empty shell is an utter waste. By ascending out of the sadness and coming up for air, I continue to cherish the gift of life and all the lessons my father intended for me to learn.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I have never been an avid sports fan (aside from horseback riding, my true calling) and it never occurred to me to exercise through the pain. Yet one night as anxiety came crashing over my broken soul again, my partner sparked a glimmer of light within me: “just breathe.” Under his constant gaze and steady hand, I listened. Inhale, pause, exhale. Inhale, pause, exhale. Certainly not an immediately life-changing experience, but this moment helped me to fight through the panic and make it to the other side. Because of this, I began to lightly practice the art of yoga and meditation. Particularly when getting ready for bed; just a few minutes of mindfulness helps me to obtain a decent night’s sleep. Stretching the soreness out of my muscles, clearing my mind of any blinding thoughts, and relaxing into the sanctity of my bed has allowed me to catch up on ten years of restless nights. I believe in the power of love. I believe in the power of life and death and how easily they can be given and taken. But more than any mantra or famous quote, I believe in breathing.

Eugene

Professor Mary

ENG 200

16 September 2016

Overcoming the hardship in a shelter

     It was 3 years ago. When I was serving military service, every single day tortured me. The tank battalion I was serving was notorious for its strict, fierce atmosphere and surrounding as well as location just below North Korea. The rank I held in was private, which is the lowest rank in army. I would do all the hard jobs and go through drills without any hesitation or mistake. Superiors and officers expected that from us as well. However, it is common that freshmen make many mistakes and are not used to most of things happening in the army. Whenever something went wrong, I was both physically and verbally abused by seniors. I began to lose confidence in myself, hoping every single day passed without any problems. This continued more than a year until I began contemplating suicide. I changed into a different person who was timid, clumsy and devastated.

     One Saturday, when the bright sunshine poured down, I came across a church and went inside. Inside of the church, rays of sunlight sneaked through the curtain hung on the large hazel colored window. It was comforting, warm, and silent. No one was yelling and torturing me in that place. I just came over to the antique brown wood and sat. When I raised my head, there was a cross standing in the center of the wall. This place was healing me without saying any helpful words and advice. Then I thought that I could overcome all the adversity I faced with this shelter. From then on, every Saturday and any other moment I suffered, I would came by the shelter and sit on the bench letting all my fears go away. Sometimes when I look back at my life in the army I appreciate the shelter I found by accident.

     While people are living in this complicated world that keeps pressuring them, they become easily tired and exhausted. Sometimes they think of committing suicide, drinking too much or even taking drugs. Then, it is the time to look for shelters. Through the experience, I believe, I stayed away from the stuff that breaks me down. Whether it is a quiet church or a breezy beach or a sunny meadow, they will find their own shelter and let them just lie down and take a rest. Do not try to stand against the fierce hardship. It will devour you. Just step back a while and see it going away. There is an old saying which goes like, “This too shall pass.” There is no everlasting suffering, but when you are so torn down and broken that you cannot afford to manage, just keep yourself inside the refuge that will never let the hardships hurt you anymore. This is what I believe.  

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule

            In today’s world when you turn on the TV the radio, or any kind of social media, you see sort of violence, racism, discrimination or just some ridiculous “event” and not just involving people but animals too. I say ridiculous because as human beings we are taught at a young age to treat others the way you want to be treated. I believe in this life lesson very strongly but with a twist. I believe everyone should be treated the way they deserve to be treated, and to help those in need while never judging anyone because of their differences, this includes all living creatures so that they can live a good life they deserve to have.

            In 2007 the news blew up with football star Quarter Back Michael Vick. Vick was accused of fighting dogs and hanging/drowning those that did not perform to his standards. I bring this up to my point that all living creatures also deserve to live a life without harm or fear.

            Michael Vick was sentenced under felony charges and served twenty-one months in prison. After his release it wasn’t easy for him to get back to where he used to be. Vick was hurt financially by the loss of his NFL salary while losing the opportunity to play for the Falcons and later signing with the Eagles in 2009. The sentencing that Vick received was judicially right, that the animals were not receiving the treatment and care they deserved.

            While others deal with issues legally others deal with them personally. Struggling and hardships are a part of life and we all deal with it every day. As I was skimming through Facebook I saw a long post that was fairly old but it still meant something. It exemplified no matter how awful a person might be there can still be good in them. The post went on about a poor college student.

            The student could only afford the rent that gave him a dry place to sleep at night. One night this student came back to his home to find a man standing in the middle of his living room. He asked what he was doing there and his reply was “I came here because I wanted to rob you, but you have nothing.” The student only had a few blankets on the floor where he slept and an old milk crate that he used as a chair. After this man had seen how this student was living, he ended up bringing him some furniture and a TV. He told the student “I’ve got a bed for you as well, but it just may take some time.” This student didn’t throw the guy out or turn down the items he was given but accepted them and made a new friend. Not once did the student ever ask this man where the stuff came from.

            Seeing how today society is now I live by treating those that are in need and treat everything and everyone the way they deserve to be treated. I’ve done my part by becoming an EMT to help the people who could be having the worst days of their lives, and by becoming a Veterinary Technician to help those that can’t speak. 

Poor Thing

Poor Thing

In the narrative "Poor Thing" by Joyce Carol Oates, the narrator presents a heartfelt story many people can relate to. The narrator, whom is also the author grabs the readers attention through descriptive language and a sudden twist in the plot. The closing statement in this narrative really leaves readers with many questions.

Initially, reading the beginning of this narrative I could relate to tending to a sick animal much like the author. Although, it is not exactly stated in the text what animal the author is tending to; it is referred to as a "creature". The struggles the author went through caring for her sick creature is very similar to the struggles I faced with my first and only dog. Much like the author's creature, Pepi, my dog, Buddy also went through a point in time were he was very ill and then his symptoms subsided. This can be very heartbreaking as an owner receiving false hope during a vulnerable time.

I am a huge animal lover so my feelings toward the author significantly changed when I got to the end of the narrative. Towards the end of the narrative the author and her husband, take it upon themselves to take their creature out of his misery. This is after the fact the couple is turned away by veterinarians. I do not agree with such vicious acts of inhumanity the author and her husband preformed. As the reader I went from being very sympathetic to the author's situation to very distraught.

The Power of Hard Work

The Power of Hard Work

I did not recognize the pain on my mother’s face. I didn’t see the stress in her eyes. I didn’t stay up all hours of the night studying day in and day out with her. I know the mother who religiously made breakfast and lunches for me regardless of her exhaustion. I know the mother who went out of her way daily for my sister, myself, and the countless number of people who turned to her. It was not until recently I recognized the struggle and sacrifices my mother faced daily.

I believe in hard work. I believe working hard in your younger years will be much more rewarding than working hard for the rest of your life. My mother, from a very young age, always encouraged me to work hard no matter what adversities are thrown at me. Although I was not raised in a very religious home, my mother did instill a strong moral background.  She would often say “Work hard when you’re young or you can spend the rest of your life working hard.”

Unfortunately, it was in 2008 when my mother lost her job. I was ten years old. It was a very devastating time for my small family. My single mother of two with mouths to feed and a house to uphold was at a standstill. Instead of sulking my mother went back to school to achieve a higher nursing degree. This is when my belief was formed. It was inspiring to see my mother overcome such adversities in those two years. I believe I grew up a lot during this time. My sister and I took on responsibilities to ease the workload on my mother’s part. We learned how to take care of ourselves.

Currently, my mother has obtained positions working in two nursing homes. Throughout the years my mother has obtained several positions in many respected hospitals and care provider organizations.

Working hard ultimately has become a large part of my life. When I started high school knew I wanted a head start at my career. This is when I took on the responsibility of graduating a year early. I did so in hopes of pursuing higher education. During my final year of high school I really pushed my hard working motto to the test. I worked through failure and difficulty. I enjoyed the responsibility. I realized how pleasant and rewarding it became working hard. Now being a sophomore in college I realize the severity of hard work and sacrifice my mother made in the past. So far, my academic career has been successful and I hope to continue achieving success for years to come. I have realized just how important higher education is to reach my many life goals.

Then and now I believe working hard is the basic structure for a happy and fulfilling life.  I believe working hard will allow me to pursue multiple careers and endeavors throughout my lifetime. I believe in working hard in a way that does not hinder other people of their own success. I am not the kind of person who believes in working hard and stepping on other people to get where I want to be. I still carry the many values my mother instilled in me at a young age like working hard and having compassion for others. I hope to make a change in this world. I hope to instill strong work morale in young people universally through education.

Rodney Rodriguez

This faith I have found in myself

            I believe in flexibility, love, and trust. Throughout life I have found that many challenges are brought forward on an everyday basis. Whether it be dealing with depression, loss of a relative, or just waking up late for a class I had the full intention of making a priority for in that moment. Waking daily with these negative challenges would leave me with a sense of being empty, almost as if I was just completely lost. I was drowning just like that infant soul engulfed by their own vomit. There had always seemed as if there was no way out of this whole I had personified. Almost like a mouth it began to swallow me whole.

            One day, I had been woken up by a light. Perhaps it was a fairy light?Pixie dust coating my eyes in new possibilities. Something had changed within me, My heart began to fly. Perhaps it was the lost boys calling me to newer in greater possibilities. One thing I knew is that I had a plethora of new beginnings waiting for me.

            Being led by that lost boy, I found myself in a world of flexibility. I was able to learn from past endeavors, and like a cold winter morning my lungs filled with cool refreshing air. The cob webs cleared and life began to form. My new body regenerated, took on the form of something new. I was still me, but the difference this time was I had a drive, a motivation to continue forward in pursuing my goals. To make that lost boy proud. To make our life lines glimmer.

            Love overflowed within me, a new and developing patience grew stronger. I was able to look at the others, the ones similar to myself but different in every way. The same ones I grew to hate over time. They became beautiful in my eyes, connections flowering like an early spring morning. That hate I once had grew into an overflowing cup of love. That was the point I realized that I had more of purpose to help those, who have also fallen captive to that mouth. The cold, dark, damp mouth that I would wish upon no other woman or man.

            Just like that I found myself in a clover field. The lost boy had shown me this, and with an explosion a light show began to blossom. The pixie that visited me the first night to my hand and with her little finger led me to the center. They began surrounding and I was unsure as to whether I should be scared, begin to run, or to lay and play dead. Something wonderful happened than. They dusted light of silver and gold which fell from the wings began to lay atop my body. Like the first winter snow I began to glimmer, and I fell in love with this diamond dust that showered over me. I learned to trust in that moment, trust in what was to come. Trust in the past for the knowledge of even the deepest of wounds healing with time. Trust in those fairies and that lost boy who gave me flight into my future.

            Especially that lost boy, my dearest nephew for you allowed me guidance, and personified hope in every which way possible. I hope every day that I will see that little light, once again but I know you are still with me. 

I believe in Mermaids

Frances Wolf

Mary Louise Hill                                                                               

English 200

September 18, 2016                                                               

I Believe in Mermaids

As I grew up I followed a quote – “When you feel like you’re drowning in life, don’t worry – your lifeguard walks on water.” This quote means that if you think your falling apart that you shouldn’t worry because you have friends and family that support you. This quote also relates mermaids because it has to do with water. Honestly if I was drowning, I always pictured myself being rescued by a mermaid. Most mermaids live in the water, so that’s why I might make my best decisions in the pool. I always feel relaxed. In the water a mermaid is weightless and that is how mermaids move so fast. People are always happy under the sea along with mermaids.

A mermaid is defined as a mythical half-human sea creature with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail of a fish. When you grow up in a pool like I did, you would understand why I believe I could have fins and gills instead of feet and lungs like mermaids. I believe that humans can become mermaids by just a drop water. When I am in the water I feel weightless, and my worries go away. When most people panic in the water I embrace it. I know I can swim, and I know nothing can bother me in my happy place. Water is where I belong.

I became a lifeguard so I could be in my natural environment. I started taking swim lessons at the age of 4 and by the age of 10, I was on a swim team. I swam for that team for 8 years. My teammates were like mermaids just like I wanted to be. I grew up in a pool and on a swim team. I am always in a swimsuit, and I’m always walking around barefooted. My teammates and I were always in the water. We always believed that we were going to become lifeguards or mermaids one day. I started teaching swim lessons last year, so I can give little girls the same dream that I had growing up of becoming a mermaid.

Mermaids are mystical beings that not many believe in. If I didn’t believe in mermaids, then I would be upset. Without swimming I would have nowhere to escape my worries. I would have no place to release my anger or sorrow. I would always be stressed out and feel like I’m walking with a big weight on my shoulders. Without swimming I would feel like an ostrich with my head in the dirt.

I believe in mermaids. I grew up in a pool and became a lifeguard. I also feel the most relaxed in the water. I am drawn to quotes that relate to water, mermaids and drowning. Three-quarters of the earth are covered in water, so I might as well live in the water and be with the mermaids.