Let's Get Physical!

Author’s Note: This is an essay based off of the following question asked by my Physical Education teacher, “What value does physical activity provide you?”  I chose to use this essay for Language Arts as well, in order to score an advanced level introduction and AB transitions.

Feelings the cool air rush from my head to my toes as I’m extended into the air is the best feeling in the world.  A short girl who’s feet dangle from her chair because they can’t touch the floor gets to feel likes she’s on top of the world.  I look up instead of down because I can only see what’s above me and nothing that’s below.   This is the feeling I get from hitting a single cheer stunt and I wouldn’t be able to experience this fulfillment if I didn’t build up my strength.  In able to properly hit a cheer stunt the flyer (that’s me) has to pull her body weight up through her arms and keep her abs tight.  To be able to pull as much body weight up as possible I have to do tons of push-ups to strengthen my arms and even more sit-ups to strengthen my core.  Even though I may not enjoy doing push-ups and sit-ups, it’s worth it because I get to enjoy cheerleading.  Cheerleading definitely wouldn’t be as fun if I didn’t have the strength to stay up in a stunt and experience the feeling of being on top of the world.

Aside from the my own personal advantage from psychical activity, cheerleading, an advantage everyone can receive from the work of psychical activity is a healthy, long life.  Depending upon what you would like to attain through the works of psychical activity you can usually accomplish anything.  If you want to have stronger arms, push-ups will become your friend.  If you want to have stronger legs, you’ll become familiar to squats and if you want a strong core, crunches will act as if they’re your annoying aunt.  The time it takes to succeed may vary, but your hard work will eventually pay off!   You could also choose to look at it in a life-long way because you could live even longer off of your good health.  I learned once, that your heart has a certain amount of beats, so even running can pay off in the long run.  Although I don’t particularly enjoy running, I like the idea of living a healthy, long life.

As I said, running isn’t exactly enjoyable, in my opinion.  Neither are most psychical activities, once again, in my opinion, but the ending result is usually good, with the exception of a few cuts or bruises (meaning I don’t require myself as, “balanced”).  Which makes me strive to keep participating in physical activities.  In conclusion, I don’t always enjoy physical activities, but I have a motivation, my future self.  I don’t want to be one of those people that will never be able to join a sport with their friends because I’m out of breathe by the time I make it to first base.  I want to be one of those people that gets to encourage their friends or children to join sports to stay fit and active.  If I stay the way I am today, I will get to be that person.  It’s almost as if physical activity is a cheat on a test.

Author's Note: This is a poem that I wrote for a Social Studies assignment.

You see this girl working for money

Money that she doesn’t have

And guess what

It still isn’t enough

And yet you still watch her make a shoe

That she will never be able to wear

Never be able to see on her family

Or friends feet

Never even be able to see in a store

And that doesn’t make you sick

You refuse to pay her

Even two more dollars per day

Not even one

You have more than enough

You flaunt expensive clothes

While you drive in an expensive car

To your expensive home

That you can afford

A Clean, Well-lighted Place

Author's Note: These are questions from a reading response to A Clean Well-lighted Place.  I just found out that we were only supposed to do one, but I did all the questions as homework.

1. Pick out at least three phrases/quotes which you think are especially important to the story (what you might mark on a printed text.) Briefly describe why you chose each.

“Who cut him down?”

“His niece.”

-          I feel that this quote was important to the story because, it was the first mentioning of the poor old man’s depression as well as the first, out of two, reveals that the man didn’t have a wife, or has a late wife, as later explained in the story.

"I want to go home to bed."

"What is an hour?"

"More to me than to him." 

-          I feel that this quote was important to the story because, it was showing the start of an unruly work companionship.

I am not young.”

-          I feel that this quote was important to the story because, these words summoned up the author’s feelings and made it clear that his writing was directed towards younger people.

2.  What is one event, character, or plot element that is similar to a modern text/film? Explain.

I believe that the younger waitress is similar to a character in a modern film, “Safe Haven.”  I think this because the main character, Katie, in “Safe Haven,” has the same mood towards the people that stayed late in the restaurant she worked at because she felt that there was a greater chance that that was when her husband would show up.  Now the character in this short story isn’t a girl and isn’t scared of his wife showing up, in fact, he wants to go home to see her, but they both have an anger towards the customers that stay later then closing times.  Only for different reasons.

3.  Write a brief analysis of the two waiters.  What do they represent about life? What does the café symbolize?

The older waiter I feel is who the author I feels tries to share his wise message through, while the younger waiter is how the author displaces symbolism.  Maybe the author was wise and knew that that was how the world would one day turn out and was trying to steer people away from acting like that, or maybe he used the café to symbolize the olden day vibe that he loved that he never wanted to change.

4. How does Hemingway use light and dark as symbols? How do the shadows fit in?

Hemingway uses light and dark to symbol what I feel are feelings, the old man is depressed, which meant that he was to sit in the shadow of tree leaves, while he explained the rest of the café to be upbeat and fun with its great lighting.

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Author's Note: Today we watched a short film of, A Clean Well-lighted Place, off of Youtube in Language Arts and I was supposed to analyze the the films adaptation.  I also had to evaluate the choices made by the director, including actors, setting, lighting, and music.

Overall I thought that there was only one major change I would've made to the film, if I were the director.  I think that a very important part of the short story was when Hemmingway described the deaf man to be sat outside of the cafe. So I would've positioned the character outside of the cafe instead of inside, but the rest of the film I wouldn't change especially because the dialog was spot on.  As far as actors go I feel that the waiters acted quite well.  Although I loved the actor's acting as the deaf man because he was loud, just as I imagined the character while reading the short story.  He also did an exceptional job on walking away from the cafe, he was unsteady, but yet not clutzy, just as I visioned.

Similar to how I felt towards the choosing of characters in the film, I also thought the setting was quite precise.  The cafe was lighted and sterile both in the short story and on film.  Aside from the lighting in the cafe I would argue that there should've been street lights, so that we could better see the man stumbling his way down the street.  Another alternative to solve that problem would've been to change the color of his jacket, so that in the darkness you could still see him.  All together my favorite part of the film had to be the music.  I physically couldn't think of more perfect music for the setting in the beginning and end.  The music just added to the mood of the movie, like in the beginning, when the music was on a lower key and slow, it prepared the viewers for a sadder film.  In the end when the music was still on a low key yet a little faster, it added to the drama of the film's ending.

A Taste of His Own Medicine

Author’s Note: This is a Text Analysis piece written about the unpublished story, Forever and Always His.  (This book can be found and read on wattpad.com.)

“Riley, please let me explain.”  Everett said, the look in his eyes showing that he was desperate.  “It wasn’t what it looked, I swear.”

This quote, taken directly from the book, is very meaningful to the plot of the story because it creates a strong mood of despair.  This conversation happens after Everett is caught with Riley’s so-called friend, Cassandra.  This means that Riley is going to be unforgiving by not listening to what Everett has to say.

I would say that this was an act of irony because Riley is usually the only one who believes Everett and has a lot of trust in him.  Don’t get me wrong though, I would’ve done the same thing if I were in her shoes or if I were put in the same situation.  I also believe that if others  were put in that situation they would be just as unforgiving, but the people that would stop and think about if they possibly misunderstood are the ones who I feel would’ve done what Riley didn’t.

Aside from the despair the readers feel Riley on the other hand must feel empowered by finally getting to give Everett a taste of his own medicine.  Everett never let Riley explain, never even took a glance in her direction for two years after not listening to what she had to say, now it was Riley’s turn and it must’ve felt amazing to be her in that moment.

Not only did Everett wittiness help Riley decide to take this ironic approach but Cassandra’s betrayal made it even clearer to Riley that it was the perfect solution.  Cassandra acted like her friend only to hurt her later and Riley’s best friend, Max, was played by her as well.  Cassandra made Max fall in love with her.  Riley knew at that moment she was only used and lost all respect for the both of them just as fast as Max fell in love with Cassandra.  Therefore the quote symbolizes that sometimes even the most genuine people want to get a taste of having the last word.

Keep Running

Author’s Note: This is an extra personal narrative I wrote about the time my friends and I ran around my friend, Allison’s neighborhood and played a common game known as, The Hunger Games.

“Let’s head back to the house,” I motioned.  As Macey turned around she shuttered, “Do you see that?”  “Wait,” I squinted, “that’s our other group of alliances.”  We sprinted in their direction, until we knew we had no chance in catching up.  We made our way back to Allison’s house and tiptoed up her front porch and without taking our eyes away from what laid behind us we cautiously closed the front door.  I signaled for Macey to stay quiet as we crept our way towards the staircase.  We peered down into the darkness while we listened for the voices of those who were out to get us.  I held my breath as I took my first step down Allison’s flight of stairs and when I had finally assured myself no one was down there I took another two steps.  I dragged Macey down the flight of stairs only to be met with an empty, motionless basement.  We ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut.  Seconds later a bang echoed through the house.

Macey turned the lights off as I downloaded a flashlight app on my iPod.  I shone the light on my pale faced friend and begged for her to quit breathing so heavily.  My phone started vibrating in my pocket and after I check the caller ID, I answered.  Allison spoke first, “Hello?”  “Hi,” I whispered back.  Allison seemed concerned, “Where are you and Macey  “We’re in your basement hiding in the bathroom from Abby, Savannah, and your little sister, they’re upstairs” I replied shakily.  “They just left, we’re on the porch outside the basement, meet us out here.”  I pushed myself off the bathroom door and Macey opened the door.  I walked to the glass door and took a quick peek upstairs.  “Macey, c’mon,” I said harshly.  Macey scampered across the wood floor and met me at the glass door just as three faces appeared.  Allison waved to me as Macey tried to unlock the door.  It just wasn’t budging and Allison gave up and told us to go through the front door and meet them on her driveway.

Macey and I ran up Allison’s stairs and made it to her driveway just as Katie, Melody, and Allison did.  It didn’t take long and my life was put at jeopardy.  “Alright I’ll do it,” but not without a catch, “as long as you don’t leave me behind.”  “Deal,” everyone agreed.  The plan was to call Savannah and tell her that my alliances left me and when I was trying to catch up with them I twisted my ankle.  There was just one glitch in the plan though, Savannah wanted to know where I was.  I made up a lie and hid behind Allison’s house waiting for Abby, Savannah, and Allison’s little sister to come out her front door and attack.  “We can see you and we knew it was a fake call,” Abby shouted and after that it wasn’t long before Allison, Katie, Macey, Melody, and I were running down the streets from Abby and Savannah, who hurt her ankle a while back and wasn’t allowed to run on it.

“Keep running,” I stammer through heavy breathes.  With each thud of my heart against my chest I fell further behind.  My legs wobbled underneath me and my feet went numb.  I sprinted up to one of my alliances.  “Just a little further,” she heaved.  My lungs gasped for air as I held my breath making my way for a shrub that five others were camouflaged behind.  Needles of ice poked through my thin leggings as I laid motionless behind the shrub.  The footsteps of those whom walked our path pounded through my ears.  Easily our cover could be blown if everyone kept mumbling plans back and forth.  “Quit talking,” I forcefully whispered.  Everyone grew silent.  Minutes passed by before Melody willingly snuck a look to see if Abby and Savannah had passed by the bush without noticing that we were hiding behind it.  Unluckily Abby and Savannah were still staking out in front of the bush, not wanting to make the first move and get caught.  Abby swerved away from Melody, who had started chasing after her, and everyone popped out behind the bush and made a dash to save Melody.

After a few fake killings took place we all decided to finish the game up and walk back to the house.  Allison’s mom greeted us at the front door and took a quick head count telling us that our parents would be here in around a half an hour.  We all sat around the kitchen’s island and hydrated ourselves with bottles of water and also munched on some apples.  My friends and I talked about how we couldn’t believe that even pretending to be in the Hunger Games for under an hour was beyond tough and challenged each and every one of us.  The talents we never knew we had were tested.  The whole concept of the Hunger Games was scary and at the end of the day we all agreed that if our world were to come to, The Hunger Games for entertainment, we would all volunteer as tributes for each other.