Thank you for your replies to last week's thought question! Several good points were raised regarding whether students should be taught writing or composition!
For this week, I would like you to discuss our readings from the book or from our Supplemental Reading folder. In David Sedaris' narrative "Ashes," he describes what his family was like. In "The Story of My Life" by Helen Keller, she describes meeting someone important who changed the course of her life.
I would like you to use this space for the week to describe an especially strong memory you have of either a parent, friend, or anyone that your life has touched. Avoid cliches. Be specific. Describe this person. Briefly describe a moment spent with this person. Make it complex. Perhaps you might describe a moment when someone that you admire did something unexpected and not admirable. Maybe describe a moment when someone that you did not like did something likeable. Search for paradox and contrast. I am really looking forward to these posts!
Thanks!
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I have two parts to this blog. Someone made a big impact on my life and i also made a impact on someone else's life. I started dating this guy who I thought at the time was someone other then who he really was. Well, needless to say I dated him for 5 years! ha ya that's what i said. He is the type of person who will do anything to make himself happy at no cost to others. He would not just phsically hurt me but, emotionally hurt me. He never would think before he spoke. When I was with him I never really thought it was wrong because I loved him. I knew it hurt me but, I never would do anything about it besides cry. I was so miserable all the time. I finally asked myself, "Why do I put up with this??" I was living in a different state with this guy and had no family or friends. I took it upon myself to move out on my own. It was the scariest and hardest decision I have ever made. So, In a way I thank him for making me realize I deserve someone else, who will put me on a pedistal. I now know everything I dont look for in a guy. It really made me grow up and stop acting like a child in a high school relationship. Now, Im absolutly in love with this guy who treats me like im his everything. He has told me that if he didn't have me (a positive person) in his life, when he was going through tough times, it would have been alot harder. He says he's so lucky to have me in his life and be there for him. He has never been in love before now. I'm so glad I grew up and that I can make a positive impact on someone else's life..
My sister and I have always been close. Though we're four years apart, she would let me tag along when she went to play basketball, go to a movie, or hang around the mall. She was my role model, the person I went to when anything happened in my life, and the person that would always be there for me.
She went to college and we still stayed semi-close, but she let her boyfriend pull her away from her friends and family. She ended up getting pregnant, followed by the guy leaving her. She came home and had a baby girl, who is now 13 months old. My sister finished her four year degree and is now working on a masters. She is still my role model, but now more than ever. I look up to her drive and determination. And through it all we have become a lot closer.
-Bonnie Mills
"What ever you do Sheyla, never give up", my mother repeated this to me over and over again when I was in the verge of giving up on school and everything else. I was extremely overwhelmed with everything that was going on around me, from just breaking up with my boyfriend, and all these test from school. I just wanted to give up! However, these words of motivation from my mother has gotten me where I am today. My mother is and forever will be my biggest role in my life. She has done spectaular things that leave me speechless at times. She left the country where she grew up all her life Peru, to search for a better life for her kids in the U.S. I belive raising three kids in a country where you don't even speak the native language and on top of that sending all three kids to college is immensely incredible, and not just anyone can do this, but my amazing mom did. All of these things that she had done has drastically impacted my life in a very good sence. Now,I have all of these goals and dreams that I am determined to achieve because of the simple fact that I know I can, all thanks to my incredible mother.~sheyla zegarra
I have lived a life not like that most people have lived. My mother was a teenaged mother of not only one but two. By the time she was 18she had my sister and I. She finished High School on time, and even managed to put herself through college. She has been a Nurse since I was three years old. She just recently got her RN degree. My Mother is still with my biological father. This has impacted my life in so many ways. I know if I put my mind to something I can succeed. I love her very much for showing me this.-Shayla Stephenson
There is one person specifically who has deeply affected my life now, and for as long as I can think. My sister was ten years older than me. When I was only a few years old they found out that she had diabetes. For me she always had it and always handled it very well. She went to ISU and graduated. She got a decent job and then wanted to continue her education. About two and a half years ago my sister and her husband announced to the family that they were going to have a baby! Despite all of the risks, she wanted to do it, my sister wanted to be a mother more than anything. Six months into the pregnancy, due to complications with her diabetes, my sister died. I love and respect her so much. Some things don't happen as we all hope, but my sister accomplished so much while she was alive. I have learned so much from her.
-Becca Peterson
My brother and I have always had a close relationship. Even though he is four years older than me he has always been there for me. Most brother and sisters never want to be around each other, but my brother would always let me go to the gym to play basketball with him and his friends, he would let me tag along with him whenever he went fishing or did other activities. He has taught me to enjoy life and to make the best out of it. I try to be around my brother as much as possible and i know i will always keep in touch with him, we both know that the days are winding down until we have to split up and go our seperate ways.
-Jay Jensen
I going to do mine a little different, because I believe someone who was not around made and even bigger impact on me then some of the people that are around me. My father samuel Turner who died when i was 4 or 5 years old, often comes to my mind when Think of someone impacting my life. I just feel like I could have learned a lot from him. He was a high school football coach and i love the game it's in me. i would be a lot better off if he was around to teach me. I also hear a lot about my personality mirroring his, i just wish i could have seen it for myself.ButI'm Focusing on the negative. what i got from the man that i have never truly meet, is I had to teach myself to be a man, which takes strength, and i know i have to live for my children when i have them, and nothing going to stop that. I still wish i could have gotten to know the man. But still learned quicker a about what lifes real about with him gone. But i wish i could have taken it slower. REGRET.
I think many people help or touch the lives of others. Sometimes I think we do this without knowing it. My aunt Sandy was a huge influence in my life. She was 18 and was living with my family during the summer. My grandpa (my aunt Sandy's dad) had always said (to my mom and grandma) that Sandy was a mistake.
A few days before my aunt Sandy's birthday my mom, my sister, and I took her shopping. My aunt was in a really good mood. She usually is, but she picked on my sister and I a lot. That day she was extra nice and she told me something I've always remembered. No matter what people say about you or say to you, you can choose to take it in and believe it r not. I'm pretty sure she was referring to my grandpa. We went back to our house and Sandy took off to go to her parent's (my grandparent's) house. She left, after fighting with my grandpa, and died in a car accident. Her funeral was on her birtday. I overheard my grandpa say she was a mistake in this world, it is probably best she is not in it now. Then, I told him what she told me that day we went shopping. I have used, what she told me, in other situations and it will always be with me and has helped me!
~Samantha Duryee
Everyone has impacted my life. In one way or another. Everyone homeless person, baby, and moron has given me a thought, a word, or a an idea to think. So I've given you my thought. Here's a quote to end this: "To forget one's purpose is the commonest form of stupidity."
Friedrich Nietzsche
I messed up, the one with the quote is mine.
-Lurvey
Kevin, who is my dad, has had a big impact on my life. During my high school graduation party, my father had told me something that his father had told him near the time of my dad's graduation. He said, "Now that your high school education is done, your real education begins." That is very true. I never really realized how much my father has done for me until after my graduation. My dad has always been a hard worker. He would take the time to spend time with his family, even if he was tired coming home from work. I never seen him use drugs, or get drunk. If something broke down, he would try to fix it himself. That is one quality that I admire him for. He has taught me a lot of things from basic home repair to being a responsible, hard worker. I appreciate all the things he has done for me. It's an honor to have him as my dad.
- Shawn Martin
I would have to say that my mother has made an impact on my life because she has always been there for me, and has always helped me get through situations when life has gotten hard. I have always really trusted her, and that has made our relationship even stronger because she can tell me all her stuff, and I can tell her all of my stuff knowing that were both going to always support each other and help each other no matter what. I can remember a year ago when I was really sad because this guy, and me had broken up I was all sad, I felt really bad for a long time, I actually thought that I wasn’t going to ever meet anyone else again in my life, but my mother helped me get through, and made me realize that I have to be strong and that some people just aren’t meant to be no matter how much it hurts. She made me realize that life is beautiful, and to short. I need to be happy no matter what happens. Now when I think about what happened a year ago I just smile, and thank my mother for being there for me. She has helped me with my personal problems, had helped me go to college, and for that I am very thankful.
Karla Baez
My parents have had the biggest impact on my life because they have always helped me. They are the reason I am in school. They used to ask me what I wanted to do when i grew up. That got me to think, and be ambitious about what i wanted to do with my life.
I have struggled with school because i have a learning disablity, but i just try harder. If things don't go well, I try again.
Although it was difficult going through my parents' divorce, I am extremely content with the way things are now. Since both my mom and dad remarried, I have four loving parents to confide in. My stepdad has become one of my best friends and plays a crucial role in my life. Before he became a part of my family I was very shy and very unsure of myself. Since, he has always been there to bring me up when I'm down and give me the boost of confidence I need. Since I moved away from home and currently starting back at school, I tend to stress out more easily. He reminds me not to "sweat the small stuff" and points out all my blessings when I get upset about something. I don't know where I would be in life without him and I am thankful that he made that strong impact on my life.
-Candace Daiker
When I was in eighth grade, i started taking drum set lessons from Roger Norton. He was the leader of the contemporary band at my church and played the drums. He had never taught drums to anyone before, but he agreed to work with me. I met with him weekly for sixth months when he told me that he wanted me to get the experience of playing in front of people. He told me that I was going to play a couple of songs with the band at church. I have always been a bit shy and hesitant to do anything that would draw attention to me, so the idea was terrifying. Roger insisted that I was ready for this and reassured me that he would be right there to help me if I needed. Over the next few month, I would sit in for one or two songs and Roger would just sing. Roger came to practice one evening with a guitar. He told me he had tought me all that he could and that I was ready to take over his old spot and he was ready to master a new instrument. I have been playing the drums for praise band since then and just started playing the drums for the DMACC pep band. I owe Roger a huge thanks for pushing me to push myself. It has been a great experience that I wouldnever have taken on if it hadn't been for his encouragement. He was a great teacher, mentor, and friend.
-Andrea Harken
Many people have helped shape my life but there are two people that have had the greatest impact: myself and my son. I created all of my own problems, hung out with a bad crowd in high school. I got tangled up in drugs and alcohol shortly after I turned 16. I destroyed the great relationship I had with my parents and my older brother. My younger brother was my shadow, we went everywhere together, so naturally he was also doing all of the bad things that I did. About halfway into my senior year I knew it was time to change. I never knew fighting several addictions at once could be so horrible. I struggled to remain sober and went back and forth for a few years, but that all changed when I found out I was going to be a mom. Once my son was born I knew I could never go back to that old lifestyle again. Here I am today in school, working, and raising my son.
A person who has influenced my life would be my sister. She is more than just a sister, she is my twin sister. Sarah and I have a stronger bond then other siblings do. Sarah is the only person that that I can tell everything too. There has been so many times when I’m feeling sad Sarah is always there to make me feel better. Sarah has always been really good at school, and when I’m stuck she is always there helping me, telling me I can do it. She there to show me I can do whatever I set my mind too. I’m the person I am today because of her.
Jenny Evans
My grandmother is biggest person who impacts my life. When i was child, our city didn;t have daycare center for children. And my parents both work everyday. So my grandmother raised me until highschool. She was not living our house but she came to our house every weekdays. She cooked the food, cleaned house and took care me. She spend hard time because of me. Now she is too old to come to my house. And I'm in America, so i can't see her. But now, i wnat to tell her i love her. And i missed you too much.
-Ho soung -
When I was living in Minnesota, my friend was dating a girl with a 13 year old sister. I was always over at their house with my best friend, and quickly discovered their family did not have the best home situation. Their dad was caught molesting his oldest daughter, my best friend's girlfriend. She told my friend, and he went to her mom, and the three of them went to the police. They took him to court, and the two got a divorce and a restraining order against the rest of the family. This was very hard on the girls. I was over at their house one day, and the 13 year old hand her sleeves rolled up, and I noticed where she had been cutting herself. I asked her sister about it and she told me that she knew about it, and tried to help but she wouldn't listen. I gave the 13 year old my cell phone number and told her that next time she was ever thinking about cutting again, or picking her scabs to call me. Later that night I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. All I heard in the background was crying and I heard her voice tell me that she had enough and wanted to go be in a better world. This got my attention. I discussed what was going on, and I guess her dad called her and tried apologizing and ended up yelling, he said that this would never be over, and he is still her dad. After quite a long conversation, I finally convinced her to throw away her razor and theoretically saved a life. This moment showed me that by showing compassion and giving your heart out to friends, lives can be saved.
My Grandma Betty was a major part of my life she tought me so much stuff. She was an amazing lady, she was always there for you when you needed someone to listen to you of just to talk. There is one memorie that sticks out most in my mind when I think of her. It is the time when she was very sick and could not talk to anyone she would just look at me and smile. She was so sick that she could not feed herself anymore so I had to feed her. Grandma Betty is the major reason that I am going to achieve my life long goal of becoming a nurse. Takeing care of her when she was sick made me want to reach out and help other people who were in the same situation. My Grandma was just so amazing I miss her so much and I wish I could have just had one more day with her knowing that she was not going to be there the next day so I could take my time and say my goodbyes.
~Alysen Sly
He took me out on dates. Everytime we were together, he made me feel special. He always told me he loved me and how beautiful I was, and I could remember these wonderful, fun filled, affirming times from the tender age of three. He is my dad, or "daddy" as I like to call him. To this day he is my number one fan and most ardent cheerleader.
It wasn't until years later when I started working with young people, that I realized how much my fathers love and positive affirmation throughout my life had been the foundational building blocks for my sense of worth, security as the person I am, self esteem, purpose and character.
Because of my fathers love, I've realized that its not only the big and significant thngs that impact our lives, sometimes its the seemingly insignificant, little, routine acts of love and kindness that impacts us most.
Ilsa Evans
I think that my sister is someone who has made a big impact on my life. Since my parents got divorced she as been the one who has always been there with me to deal with things. She has also been the one who has always looked up to me as a role model and that really affects the way I look at things. Like growing up, I did not want to do things that would make her mad at me because she had always been there for me and I thought that it would have been a selfish thing to do to her. Even today, I try not to do things that would make her dislike me because she still looks up to me as a role model and that means a lot to me.
--Jordan Troup--
This guy that I knew his name was Andy Page, and we didn’t really like each other. He would always try, and say something smart and we would end up almost getting in a fight. He always liked to make jokes. Even if he wasn’t making fun of me he would do it to someone else. He always had to make fun of people for no reason. During a football game I hurt my ankle, and I couldn’t even really walk on it. When I was going to the bus he helped me get on to the bus, and helped me to my seat, and asked if I was ok. After that I was sitting down he came back to where I seating, and he had brought me ice for my ankle. After that I still didn’t like it when he made fun of people, but I knew he wasn’t all bad.
Jovan Creighton
Someone who made a big impact on my life was my grandpa. I did everything with him. He taught me a lot of stuff that I know today. I was with him all the time. He was the type of person who didn't really care what others thought and definitely spoke for himself. He taught me to live each day to its fullest, and to not live in the past. He will be missed greatly.
- Bob Harsin
My dad was strong-willed and a very hard worker. In his mid 30's he had a major stroke which caused his whole right side to be temporarily paralized. He could not remember things anymore after this stroke. He couldn't even talk, read, or write. His stroke made a big impact on our family. We all went through emotional stress and he had to go to physical therapy to overcome things that we once took for granted. This day he can walk w/o a cane, talk, write, read, and remember things. If he can acheive that than it makes me believe that I am capable of accomplishing anything I put my heart into.
I believe I have impacted my brothers in a positive way. They are 10 and 8. I have tried to be their mentor and hero. Even though they are almost 10 years younger than me, I try to make them be the best that they could be. I take them with me to the weight room and let them tag along with me when I go hang with my friends. When my parents got divorced, it was especially hard on them. I stuck by them and talked to them about everything. Now my dad is getting married, and they are confused what to think. I know the older they get, the less they will need me to be there for them, but they will always know who to turn to for help.
Cory Van Pelt
A couple years ago, in high school there was always that group of stuck-up, preppy girls. The center of that crowd was a girl called Sara. I hated her the most because she portrayed an image of being shallow and self-centered. Yet once, in the middle of the school year, a new student came to our school. We were a small student and this new student stood out-she was getting picked on for being different and obviously was having a hard time. At lunch, Sara asked this new girl to sit by her because she looked lost and no one was being nice to her. I could tell that it wasn't that fake niceness, but was the general good-hearted kind. I've always remembered and admired that and it made me wonder if there was another side to Sara.
-Caity Mills
For me, in my life. It was my Grandfather. He tought me to do things on my own. He told me to away save my money, no matter if it was a penny. It will pay off in the end. Even though i spent it. But my favorite moment i remember of him, is sitting at the dinner table. Each time you were drinking something or eatting something, he always read the label. Teaching me if it was health to eat. But he always inspired me to be better and do the right thing. I think thats why im always in a good mood. I look at life different then most people. Im not the type that will wake up in a craby mood. Or get pissed at the stupidest thing. Thanks to my grandpa.
Jason Carter
My mom and dad divorced when I was young so I don't remember us ever being a "happy family." My mom got custody of me and brother so I rarely got to see me dad, only every other weekend. It killed me not to see my dad everyday. Everytime I got to see him though, it was always a fun time. No matter how hard the times were, he would always find something to do. So my dad is definitely the person that has touched my life. He tought me to be strong when the times are tough and not to give up. And I thank him for that.
*Nicole Hunter
All through high school I had several friends, and some enemies. And one year, my freshamn year, a fellow student, who happened to be labeled as an "enemy" really surprised me. Earlier in the year I had gotten into a bit of trouble for having a fight with this guy, and we had both been sentenced to suspension. Well it was early spring by the time he surprised me, and we were still by no means friends. I lived a few miles from town, and we had just had the last snowfall of the year, and it was slick! I put my car in the ditch and I could not get out for the life of me. At this point I didn't own a cell phone, and I was in the middle of nowhere. I walked to the highway, which was about a half mile away. I tried to flag some people down, but they spend on by me, and finally a pickup pulled over. Of all people it could have been, it was that "enemy" I spoke of earlier in this story. I just assumed that he would drive on and make fun of me about it at school later in the afternoon, but to my surprise he offer to try to pull me out. His attempts were successful, and I thanked him in the most sincere way. I still fully expected him to tell everyone at school what an idiot I was for putting my car in the ditch. And again, he surprised me, I don't believe that he ever said anything to any of the students and spared me the embarassment. To this day I don't believe that we could call ourselves "friends." But I know that if he were to call me and ask me for a lift, or ask me for a favor, I would be there in a hurry, because he overcame our differences to help me out.
-Aaron Dooley
My mother has inspired me in so many ways. Growing up in a single parent home is hard she often work multiple jobs to make sure i didnt feel differnt from the other kids that had a mom and a dad. She would go above and beyond to make me happy.She really made me the women i am today because she taught me that anything you want in life you have to work.That is a lesson i will take with me forever.-Raynell Burton
I would have to say my brother has impacted my life. My life has had its up and its down. No matter what happens though my brother is one of those people who always has a smile on his face and a good piece of advice. When I was a freshman in high school my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She's still alright but he was the one always there to tell me to keep on going no matter what happens in life. He always told me life will always treat ya bad, but have a good attitude, don't blame yourself and move on. He lives in Alaska now but he calls me from time to time just to say hey and to laugh a little bit.
that last blog was mine
-kenny rugg
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