November 16

Camp Vibes

photoThe last weekend of summer was spent with my cousins an hour or so outside of town. We entered the gravel roads of the campground as the last of the summer sun was setting below the evergreen trees behind us, casting a bright glare on the water’s edge. We quickly set up camp, I carefully backed the old tent trailer into the camp site and unpacked the vehicle, stuffed to the roof with sleeping bags, food, towels, and fire wood. Just the essentials. We rushed to jack up the trailer and set up the awning in case of torrential down pours which seemed to be a seasonal tradition for this trip. I wanted to get some quick fishing in before sun down, just to try out my new reel.

My cousins and I set out with my small tackle box towards the river, only a hundred yards from the camp ground. We never had high expectations for catching anything in the murky water below the bank. I was there for the company, both of the nature and my family. The water was unusually shallow and cold for this time of year. Only going up to my knees, just so I could throw my line a little farther. A cool breeze bounced off the water onto my face and I was again reminded of my love for summer. Carefully I swung the rod back hoping not to grab a tree with the hook or blind one of my cousins. I threw my line in with the red devil spoon that always seemed to bring at least a small catch. The commotion of my cousin reeling in an umbrella must have scared all the fish away, as I was pulling in nothing but weeds and sticks. The coolness of the night was setting in and so were the mosquitoes, it was time to head back.

The dark dirt trail only lit by my dim dying flashlight was an easy walk as I knew it all by memory. Stepping over each root pushing its way through the tough earth. It has been a year since I’ve been here, but it still feels like home. With my name still carved into the bench sitting on the river’s edge slowly being swallowed by the loose soil around it. I made my way back to camp and was invited with the crackle and smell of the campfire with my family sitting around it. It’s the most calming and inviting sounds to here, the pop of the wood burning fire and the mumble of my dad and his terrible jokes. I stood around the warm flames as an aid to warm up my chilled legs from the cold water, feeling my skin tighten as it warmed.

As I walked towards the tent trailer my shoes kicking gravel on the mat, I let out a smile knowing this has been a successful day of peace and pure enjoyment of my surroundings. Being surrounded by my father and little brother in a small stuffy tent trailer isn’t easy as bodily functions seemed to happen more often for them than others, but it was interesting none the less. I slipped into my sleeping bag with fresh warm clothes, a necessity for a restful sleep in the crisp refreshing air and a sense of pleasure knowing I can do it all the next day.

Category: Rachel, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 16

Life Narrative: You Don’t Know “Bad” Unless You Experience It

            “I’m not even sure if I regret doing what I did. Actually, I don’t even know why I’m thinking back to it. It’s all water under the bridge, right? Look to the future, not the past, yes?” I am such a genius with my pounding headache and the feeling of dying.

This happened on the day where, in the afternoon, I was seated on the couch in my cousin’s newly-purchased house in Panorama Hills. He was having a house-warming party and I was the first to be invited. It didn’t seem like a bad idea, despite my parents being too busy to go there and I’m the only one from the family to arrive for the party.

Companions of my cousins’ and his fiancé’s were invited too. They were quite friendly, according my observations. I, like I always am, stayed the quiet, little, stalker-like person in the corner. Snacks and beverages were sprawled around on the kitchen counter and tables, just waiting to be snatched up and devoured. I was never a party person nor am I an engaging person, so I just ate snacks and drank water.

It wasn’t until later in the day when curiosity got the better of me. There were glass bottles that looked like alcohol. Correction; it WAS alcohol. However, only 5% of the entire bottle was alcohol; as most of the drink was cranberry juice. I wanted to experience something new, and honestly, how much harm can a mostly-juice, alcoholic drink do? I was not peer-pressured into trying this refreshment; therefore it was my own decision to try drinking. So, without further hesitation, I grabbed a small class cup and poured in a tiny amount of the fluid. After finding a vacant, solitary spot to rest in the living room, I gulped down the liquid.

Fortunately, I received no symptoms. Or so I thought. It was between one to four hours later when I started feeling nausea and unusual in my head. Originally, I thought it was just me being exhausted. When it was about 9:30 p.m., I requested to return home. After I was dropped off home by my female cousin, I rushed into my bathroom, brushed my teeth, and rushed straight to bed. I had never, I repeat, NEVER, had this much issues going to sleep. I’m mind-boggled, and my head was rumbling like there was a construction worker jack-hammering my brain apart. Everything literally felt like it was spinning around me. The tiny bit of alcohol I tried was only 5% of the entire bottle, and the bottle was really small! How can that meager amount of ingested booze affect me this badly!? I stayed in bed and tried to fall into a deep sleep so that I can quickly get over this hangover thing. I have had no experience with liquor before. But I felt like I’m dying right then. My poor head.

In the following morning, I was able to get out of my comfy nest, feeling better, and not dying from my migraine. Honestly, I don’t know if I regret what I did. At least now I know that I do not have high alcohol-tolerance levels. But who knows? I may or may not try to drink a little bit again in my adult life. Life is short, so why not give something new a shot once in a while?

Category: Mackey | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 6

Embarrassing Moment… -.-’

I'm a big dog!

Photo Credit: wotthe7734 via Compfight

I don’t know about the most embarrassing moment though I’m mostly shameless when I do certain things. It usually ends up with a perfectly good scolding from someone when something like this happens………

There was this one, maybe couple of times, when I accidentally barged into one of the bathrooms at home when they are occupied by someone. This was one of the times……

“Finally I’m finished!” I exclaimed as I ran out of my grandfather’s office when I just passed his weekly mini Chinese test. I hopped on to the bed in the next room with my phone in my hands, rolled on to my back and opened a game app. After a while, this unbearable feeling begins to creep up as I continue to play on my phone. I managed to ignore it for a little bit after the first hit. When it came again, I tried to hold it down but I unsuccessfully did it this time. I blindly rushed to the closest bathroom though it was locked as soon as I turned the knob. Then I hastily rushed to the second closest bathroom on the floor, which was in my grandparent’s room, while I narrowly avoided my grandmother on the way there. I hurried around the corner, passed the fish tank and darted into the bedroom as if I’m fire. As I reach for the door, I unknowingly didn’t notice the faint light that borders between the door and the frame. I then desperately swing the door open when I noticed that it wasn’t locked. After that, I froze up, panicked and saw the most unpleasant sight right in front of my eyes like the jump scares during the game over from 5 Nights at Freddy’s. It took a few moments of awkwardness and shock before I realized what I just did; I walked into the bathroom with one of my relatives in the middle of their very private moment.

Worst of all, it was someone of the opposite gender which added on the level of awkwardness and embarrassment for me. I quickly closed the door and walked away as fast as I could from the scene of the incident as I discarded the idea of going to the bathroom at all. I entered my room and flopped on to my bed to try and figure out what went wrong during the whole incident and forget what I have saw during that very moment like when Tamaki is in his dark corner cultivating mushrooms gloomily after another rejection from his friend. It felt like time was against me during this entire ordeal from the beginning to the end. As I continue to contemplate on what happened, I didn’t realize it at the time but most of us are known to only close the door to the bathroom but not lock it properly as we rarely have any guests visiting our home. I anticipated about the next couple of hours, while hoping for the best despite the incident, but I decided to avoid the person as much as possible though it near impossible to do so in this household and resume to playing on my phone to clear my mind for the next couple of hours as damage control for my mentally scarred mind. After having my time alone, I eventually returned to my usual place in the other bedroom and apologized to the person on my way there.

As I thought back to this and two similar tragedies that happened just after a month after the previous, I was trying to be more cautious than the last but I also realized that nobody in my family, including myself, have really learned their lesson from the events as most of us can truly pass it off as if nothing has really happened and it was magically erased from the reality.

Category: Sammi, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 2

Cherish every moment.

I’ve lost everything. Everything I value in my life. Have you ever experienced such a devastating moment in your life, where you just feel completely empty? Well I have been in that path for a while now. My name is Aliyah Johnson; I lived small farm near the Mississippi river. I lived in a loving, enthusiastic and playful family of six. My father worked in his own woodshop across the street and my mother stayed at home, providing us with anything we needed. My mother was one of the most helpful women in Mississippi. One thing that she always use to say to me was to be a strong brave independent woman. Because of her strong comforting advice I wouldn’t be here today.

I was quite knowledgeable for a young girl; I always had the highest marks in all my classes. Everyone use to say that I was too smart for my age. Within a spit of a second time flied by and I’ve graduated high school and got my degree. During this time, education was the most important thing to have in my family. Because of my parents not being to educated, they wanted us kids not to repeat the mistakes they have made in the past. Journalism was my passion. I enjoyed writing stories about individuals that may be struggling in life and give advice to them or even if an individual that is truly blessed with what they have.

Every Sunday mother and father would take my siblings and I to the church that was a walking distance away from where we lived. My family was extremely religious, which I truly honored. My family was all I ever needed; they helped me through ups and downs, lead me to successful in my career life, and supported me through every decision I made in my life. They largely influenced me, and I am thankful for that.

We had our moments where we laughed and loved each other so much and the other moments where we cant take one another. Years passed by rapidly, and our family started to drift apart. My father was diagnosed with blood cancer, which spread through his old anemic body instantaneously. All three of my older sisters got married and moved into the city to start their new lives with their new families. However, my mother was getting old and weak so I just had to let her go. Who could even picture a family so loving and always together like ours, to end up like this?

It is hard. Hard to even think that, my family is gone forever. Everything I valued the most, vanished. I ended up selling the house and moving into a much smaller apartment, where there was only me living in. My mother was right, I did become a strong brave independent women. Even though it hurts to think about my family not being here with me, I still visit the old cabin and sit on the couch my father use to sit in and look out the window. I pictured the moments we cherished when we were still together. All the laugher, the childish pranks we played on each other and everything else that made us closer and closer each day, could have been happening till this day.

After all, this is life, we are suppose to have moments where we hit rock bottom and we have to work your way back up. Even though you’ve lost everything like myself. I try to move on and continue with my life but my family and the times we had together will forever be in my heart.

Category: Sandeep, Uncategorized | 2 Comments on Cherish every moment.
October 19

Miracle In The Baloch Family

My parents were pretty disappointed and frustrated about my lack of development.     Especially considering that all the kids in my neighborhood were ahead of me in terms      of growth. My parents started to worry if I’m ever going to able to walk ever in my life. Then one day a miracle happen in the Baloch family…

                They say whatever in your childhood stays with u forever. It was evening of a day in June  when we decided that our whole family along with few family friends were going to go to the park like we always do every evening. I was only two years old at the time and didn’t know the point of going to the park every single day, but I got dressed and ready to go anyways because it I had no choice. I remembered our neighbor’s puppy named Cookie, whom I always hated. Now that I think about it, I don’t really know why I hated him so much. I hated Cookie before the incident so I don’t think the incident was the cause for it .

So there I was going to the park with my family pissed off because I was being forced to do so. There was little that I knew of how the world revolve around me, but that is understandable because I was very young at the time. At the time I was kind of excited to go to the park for once because, I knew for a fact that the neighborhood dog “Cookie” the little monster was not going to be there with us. Unfortunately, the little I knew, their he was just chilling with rest of our neighborhood dogs. He was all fluffy and cuddly looking and giving me looks, like he kind of knew that I                was terrified and shocked to see him there. Now that I look back on this event, Cookie was actually a cute little puppy that at that time I was pretty sure that he was a son of a devil. I had nightmares about him until I was 6 years old, That’s when we moved away from the neighborhood.

Now the chase wasn’t your normal cops and robber chase although, I imagine that it was. The only difference was that I hadn’t done anything wrong like a normal robber would have. I would more describe this unfortunate event as a bully picking on a helpless kid, as the dog was a bully and I was more like the helpless kid. So like as bullies do, the dog waited until I was alone and I decided to go on a adventure to explore everything that the park had to offer on my own, which was not a very smart idea since I could barely walk on my own. Now you know that this was going to happen like everyone expected, I got lost on my “little adventure”

So the dog took full advantage of the fact that I was alone and began approaching me. I had absolutely no clue what to do and also did not know why he was coming this way as I did not try to intimidate him or something. After he kept on coming closer and closer to me, I knew that I had to think of something quickly . So my first reaction was to run as fast as I could. obliviously at the time, I did not know that dogs are not really son of devils and that they are not really trying to eat u alive. Dogs are just trying to have fun and play with you that’s all.

The chase itself was not very exciting because eventually  I would have to jump in a pool for life from the vicious beast, but it definitely plays a big role in my life because although I did not realize it back then I was taking my first “official” steps and running for the first time as well. I did not look at my parents faces as I was a little busy, but I’m sure that they almost couldn’t believe what they were witnessing, my family tells me when we are reflecting back on this moment that my mom was crying because all of those prayers had finally been answered. Even to this day, I’m scared of dogs, and I think that the “park incident” is a big reason for it.

Category: Arshad, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on Miracle In The Baloch Family
October 19

Built Ford Tough

All I could see through the shattered windshield was the ditch filled with overgrown grass and dust that occupied not only the cab, but our eyes and mouths too. We were upside down in my little Ford Ranger with but a month on a fresh top-end motor rebuild. I sent one hand to the roof and the other to the seatbelt buckle; I pushed down but did not exert enough force to lift me away from the ground to create some slack in the seatbelt. As I repositioned my hand for more leverage, I heard Adam fall and begin to crawl out while Sam reprimanded him for the accidental kick to the face during his decent, so I gave myself a good push upward and unlatched the buckle only to find my controlled fall was not as graceful as planned. I dropped to the roof and immediately crawled out the side window cavity to stand up. I dropped back to my knees when I remembered the ignition; I reached back inside to see Mickey Mouse still right side up hanging on my key chain with a massive grin on his face and I killed the power to the already stalled motor. As I stood back up, I ran to the other side of the truck to meet Adam to find when I rounded the corner, Sam was crawling out the passenger side window cavity with a typical “Sam” look on his face. Adam and I like typical teenagers, were pumped and yelling and high fiving at the fact that nobody was hurt and after all it was our first rollover. After Sam stood up I don’t think he was amused very much by our excitement.

“What the Hell are you guys doing? Why are you celebrating?” And so we filled him and he too ‘halfassly’ joined which was no surprise to us.

Shortly after our relief, panic struck as we realized we had to flip it back over; we were in the middle of nowhere and had no way of getting home not to mention the lack of cell service. All of a sudden my second worry hit, how was I getting to work the next day, and although it was not my main priority, it stressed me beyond belief. But back to the fact that our only choice was to flip the truck back wheels down, thank evolution for adrenalin.

Sam, Adam, and I spread out along the truck and to our surprise with a little persuasion and force, it wasn’t very hard rocking it from its roof onto the driver’s side. After we got it onto its side, a car approached and it was occupied by a lady with a small child in the back offering to get us some help by phoning for a tow truck or somebody of assistance . We politely declined the offer and thanked her for her generosity. Shortly following this, we had a few more vehicles fly past us spitting rocks and raising dust not caring to stop and check if anybody was injured or needed a hand. This gave me a disgusted feeling for what if they were passing somebody that were in dire need of help?

But then of course we were still tasked with flipping the truck from the driver’s side back upright and this turned out to be a big pain in the ass. We were in the middle of the ditch with a steep incline towards the road and another hill upward on the other side, “God damn ,” we had to push this truck not only up and over the wheels, but we had to push it up against a god damn hill to do so. So once again we spread out and we rocked the shit out of this thing and this went on for several minutes while we took breaks in between our efforts when all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye is saw the back end of the truck slip a smidge towards the road making it easier to push. After a brief mention, all three of us started reefing on the back end pulling it as close as we could to road and we moved it probably about a foot and half; and that was all we needed. The three of us rocked, pushed, and strained twice as hard than before and we dropped her back on her wheels and erupted with satisfaction.

I opened the door,  popped the hood latch and propped the hood open; the only thing visibly wrong was power steering fluid everywhere, but the main concern was whether or not oil had leaked into the cylinders which would result in bending connecting rods when I turned the motor over. We collected everything that had fallen out the truck and tossed it back in while we let it sit for couple minutes. In the mean time, I admired the 18 degree weather and the country around us, we were surrounded by heavily treed hills with the last hour of sun poking over the top of the hill to the west. I checked the oil, and it read the same as I remembered it before and that’s when I got nervous. Although the oil looked the same, who knows if there was a cylinder with just enough oil in it to bend a rod and leave us stranded. I had Adam and Sam steer clear of the truck in case it did actually start in which I could grab a gear and pin her out of the ditch. I hopped in and closed the door that no longer closed, everybody was silent in anticipation and I was almost praying the she would start. I turned the key and what do you know, that stubborn bitch fired right up.

Quickly I threw her into first and dumped the clutch with some rpm and we climbed out of the ditch digging ruts in the dirt on our way out. We got out and she turned herself sideways blocking the road thankfully with no traffic so none of us really gave a damn. Almost instantly, Adam and Sam booked it over and threw themselves and belongings back in the cab. I found my sister’s sunglasses to throw on to keep the sun out of my eyes along with the wind as my head hung out the window to see. We were still spitting dust but I threw my baby back in gear and drove her home with a big grin on Mickey’s face and I could still not believe I rolled my little Ford Ranger.

 

Category: Stephen, Uncategorized | 2 Comments on Built Ford Tough
October 19

Narrative

One strange Graduation

On the day of the grade 8 graduation it was a very beautiful day. The grad ceremony had just ended and everyone was starting to help clean up the aftermath of the graduation party. After that mess was done and chairs pack up I was in the hallway when the intercom turns on and a lady announces that she received a bomb threat. At first I thought it was very odd and unfortunate that it interrupted the graduation. Immediately after hearing this news I rushed to the nearest classroom which out of all possibilities was a grade 6 room. I could still hear the footsteps of other students run by but couldn’t get in for our teacher locked the door once she thought she had the max capacity of students. At first everyone was very loud but the teacher told us that it’s rare for something dangerous to happen.

While inside the room I decided to chose a nice perfect spot in the corner where I could somewhat hide how scared and in shock I felt. The worst part is that  I was in fear of getting killed by an intruder or the bomb even though the teacher assured us that we will be safe. After I felt a little bit safe I calmed down and just waited for it all to be over. In that moment of waiting, anything could happen within a single second. I created a solution in which  my idea was to block out everything and just wait it out this really horrifying time frame. Eventually two whole long boring hours of  creepy silence has passed. I hear the intercom lady tell everyone that it is safe to get out of lock down and that an email will be sent to all our parents of what has happened. Hearing this made me feel strong and powerful for if I could withstand being in a very serious threat and that I could be strong enough to overcome anything. Although I wasn’t held hostage in like a bank or mall, I believe I have learned a valuable lesson in which it won’t be forgotten.

I slowly got up and stretched for it was very uncomfortable sitting on the cold hard ground, left the grade 6 classroom while others ran out like they were released from captive. I walked peacefully down the hallway, with the feeling of freedom, to my real classroom in which we were all told to pack up and go home for the grad is over. I then proceeded to my locker to get all my belongings and headed out the door. Immediately as I stepped out of the school I saw my parent’s car and they picked me up then proceeded to ask me a ton of questions in which I was too tired to comprehend and reply. Finally got home and just as I walked into the door I went directly to my room and fell asleep just as my head touched the pillow for it was a really scary and tiring day.

Category: Josh H, Uncategorized | 3 Comments on Narrative
October 19

Keys to success

As I reminisce about the various times that I have been in need of help, but have not taken it one particular story comes to mind for me. It was the beginning of grade 11 that I faced one of the biggest academic challenges of my life to date. I began Math 20-1, class not expecting too much from the class, as I sat there waiting for class to begin. It hit me like a ton of bricks. From the first day in that class I was lost, later that day at home I sat there questioning myself. Am I ready for this year? Will I be able to succeed with my work ethic? Turns out this would be one of the many times where I needed help, but decided not to take it.

Although I did not ask for help in math, a lot of circumstances came into effect that ultimately led to not passing math 20-1. Unlike some people in my class I chose to take notes during class, and pay attention because I knew it would help better my learning. There would be classes though where my eyes would just be hooked on the clock, as it went tick-tock. I would dread the thought of doing math at home; I just could not convince myself to do it. In time I would see how much of a regret it would turn out to be.

On the other hand, to some degree I got myself together and pushed for a passing grade. Near the end of the semester I managed to get my mark to a 48, 2 percent off from passing. The final exam was looming over my head the thought of studying for such a class made me despondent to the goal of passing the class. Again I never asked for help when I really needed it. I got my report card; I had failed the class, now I knew the task was to be completed in summer school.

By the nearing of summer I knew I had to take math 20-1 again in order to gain the 5 credits needed, and to go on in math 30. Although my hate for the class had never been greater, I had a new focused attitude towards it. I knew I had to pass, so in class I paid a great amount of attention as usual taking notes. The real change came outside of the class, as I began being more proactive towards the class. I had now hired a tutor for the class, so I could get the help I needed when I was not in class. As the final exam was approaching in summer I felt more confident. My work ethic had changed, I was asking more questions. The final exam day came, I finished very quick and was eager to hand in my exam. I got my results back, and I had pulled off a 77% and passed math 20-1 quite easily. This example just shows how asking for a bit of help can benefit you greatly in the long run.

Category: Garry, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on Keys to success
October 15

Hockey

Hockey is a game of pure skill, so complicated in its nature, with hundreds of plays and despite this, there is only two outcomes; win or lose. It’s an all or nothing sport, your reputation doesn’t win games, the ability to prove yourself every game to your team, is what makes a great hockey player. Individuals don’t win games, as soon as a team realizes that, their chemistry becomes unbreakable, and we understood that from day one. We have grown as a team, for the past couple of years we have played together. This was our last game, the most important, that the outcome would lead us our separate ways, inevitably. Knowing that this was my last chance to perform for and with my team, I put it all on the line, I was willing to do anything to get this win.

6:30 PM, the sound of my alarm awakens me from a light sleep. Power naps are essential to my performance on ice, it allows me to clear my head and focus on what is important, while maintaining a well rested mind, mentally preparing, before stepping out on that sheet of ice. Upon arriving at the arena, I was greeted by my d-partner. For the first 15 minutes, we all sit on the benches in the dressing room, with a puck placed in the middle. Silence envelopes over us all, everyone focusing on the puck, no movement. A general thought comes to our minds; what is it going to take to win this game. These thought evoke concentration in us all, we fill the room with our thoughts, completely shutting out the world, and this is the only thing that matters. Then, we hear an all too familiar sound; the heavy feet of our coach. He enters in the same fashion every time, head tilted up, back straight, he stands there and says “this is preparation”, as if the atmosphere we created swallows him up, enlightening his very own thoughts. After his pregame speech, we are ready to go to war, keeping our composure, we stand and file out.

The arena opens in front of us, revealing screaming friends and family, the lights blind us momentarily and we hit the ice hard for warm-up. In an attempt to intimidate my team, the opposing team lines up on the centre line and start to stretch. Leading my team, I stop right in front of their captain, one of the only players in the league who can out skate me. We stare each other in the eye, my emotions start revealing themselves; nervousness, sweeps over my body, knowing this game is a do or die. With my teammate’s right by my side, they give me power, a synergy of strength, to stare down one of the best players in the league. Billy, our starting leftwing, snows some of the team, which results in a line brawl, nothing to serious. In conclusion, Billy gets kicked out, now down a player, plus Newbs, our starting centre men, who got kicked out the game previous, for socking their goalie in the face. This is when a good team is separated from the rest, and becomes great. A team who can face adversity, and perform above expectations will win any game, and that was our challenge.

Every time I was on the ice, and the opposing team had a rush, it usually left me with a slash or cross check. Getting under my skin, trying to get a reaction out of me, it was the guy that was staring at me when we were lined up stretching. Knowing that he had skill and lot of it, I had to perform that much more. Conflict started unraveling, built up from the previous games with a hint of tension. Emotions get the better of me, I start pacing on the bench, telling my whole team I am going to crush that kid, while cussing. The next shift I spot my target, and he has the puck, he starts to skate up the ice. My teammate provides some pressure, causing my opponent to carry the puck along the boards. I get in position, lining myself up with him, and skate toward him as fast as I can. My legs burning from the pressure I exert on them, adrenaline kicks in and everything goes numb. Closer now, I can just imagine myself towering over him after throwing him to the ground. At this point he is sandwiched between my teammate and the boards. We come into contact. An unmovable wall against an unstoppable force. The collision occurs right in front of my bench, in front of my whole team. The hit changes the motion of the opposing player in an instant, from forwards motion to none at all. Our helmets mesh together, denting both of our masks. He is thrown to the ground, smashing his head on the ice, sure to have a concussion and one from our helmets consuming each other. After the snow clears, I stand above him, as if finally grown and proving to my team that there all that matters, sacrificing my body. On my way to the bench, I stumble and fall, unable to see properly. Our trainer comes over and helps me, unable to speak; he tries to get a word out of me.

Throwing up in the dressing room, everything is a blurb. Our trainer tells me that I have a concussion, a serious one. Not able to comprehend anything he is saying, I just nod my head, trying to get him to stop talking to ease the pain. My team rushes in, celebrating because we got the win. Giving me high fives, because they were saying I won the game for them, telling me that there captain had to be carried out on a stretcher, I knocked him out. So excited I stand up, cheering with my team, hugging the coaches, tears start to build up, and for a second, I feel great. Then, I throw up again, my whole team laughs and they hand me a medal. I did it; I put it all on the line, sacrificing my body for the greater good of the team. Hockey is more than just a sport; it provides you with a sense of belonging, a sense of hard work paying off. I proved to my team and everyone out there watching, that were a family, unbreakable in will. One of the best days of my life, was sharing that moment with each and every one of them, knowing it was my last time I would ever see most of my family again.

Category: Connor, Uncategorized | 7 Comments on Hockey
October 15

A Change of Life

In the fall of 2007, my life had changed. I had left the streets that raised me, left the school where I made my first friends, left behind my first experiences, left behind my first teachers. I was in complete and utter distress.

New situations give me anxiety, and starting a new school was no exception. I attended public school for my entire life where the teachers were very lenient and easy-going, but that did not matter anymore because my dad had forcefully enrolled me at a dreadful school called FFCA, also known as Foundations for the Future Charter Academy. FFCA enforced uniforms and something awful called ready-position. Although, I did not know much about the school that I would be attending in the fall, I did know that it would change a lot of things about me. I was nervous to start going to a new school, but I was also eager to begin a new journey and make new experiences.

After changing into my uniform on the first day of school, I made my way to my bus stop where I stood timidly waiting for my bus to arrive. The bus arrived after a couple of minutes and two mustard yellow doors swooshed open to allow me in. I took a seat and a kid introduced himself to me. Although he was older than I was, he was very friendly and helped me ease into the experience of starting a new school.

When I arrived at the mimicking building that belonged to FFCA, I was shocked because it did not seem to be even one bit public like. Everything about FFCA was new to me. The school I attended before FFCA only had one small rickety bus that seven kids went on, at FFCA there were over 20 busses that almost the entire school went on; however, I recalled my days at my previous school.
Being a child who attended public school had many benefits. It was cheaper, easier to get in, but my favorite advantage was the fact that you were free to wear any piece of clothing that you chose, but at FFCA there was only one red and grey uniform that stood out which was expected to be kept neat and worn everyday of the month with the exception of the last Friday of the month. This was something completely new to me and after seeing this, I was in sorrow over the fact that this was going to be my school.

Upon arriving at my new school I was welcomed with students huddled together in their grey and red uniforms. This was something that was new to me. At my old school the kids were scattered throughout the entire length of the freshly cut, crisp green grass, however, at FFCA the majority of the children were standing in lines, after seeing this I was beginning to believe the rumors about military school. Although I was starting to worry about my future, I saw a glimmer of hope when I met my principal.

The principal had helped me find my classroom and showed me my way around the school. I had seen some familiar faces and identified a few friends when I walked into my classroom and even though I was new to this school, I had felt as if I had been attending FFCA for years. I felt a sense of belonging. Being surrounded by all my schoolmates now made me feel more at ease and more comfortable at school. I was no longer nervous about attending FFCA and was excited to start going to my new classes and meeting my new classmates.

Despite the fact that I was forced to move on from my previous friends, teachers, and school, I have entered a new environment which not only makes up for it, but makes me feel at home. Moving schools was something that I did not want to do, but I have made many experiences at FFCA and am thankful to my dad that he forced me into what was once my nightmare.

Category: Abhibk, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on A Change of Life