California Here I Go, Top Down & The Radio

I look out into the crowd. The light is shining in my face, but I know the room is full of people.  I feel my nerves kick in. Then I hear a voice over the sound system, “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 2009 America’s Homecoming Queen Competition! In just a few minutes we will be seeing the ladies in their evening gowns, please take your seats...” I use this minute to think how I managed to get all the way to Anaheim, California...

                It was a cold, rainy, fall day in October. I was a senior at North County High school and it was Homecoming. I was shocked to hear my name called as the winner of the 2008 Homecoming Queen. The student body roared. This was where I thought my homecoming adventures ended. But I was wrong.

 A few weeks later in the mail I received a packet from a scholarship organization called “America’s Homecoming Queen Inc.” I was given an opportunity to compete in a pageant for a scholarship. I’m no pageant princess, but hey, for a scholarship it might be worth it.

I was chosen to compete for the Maryland title. I met a lot of awesome girls, and to my surprise, at the end of the weekend, I found myself standing in front of the judges with a sash, bouquet and crown. I had won the Maryland’s Homecoming Queen Title. My next stop: California.

 This brings me full circle to this dark room full of people, and back to my nerves which are now feeling more like birds than butterflies. Hailey Vincent, Louisiana’s homecoming queen is walking, which means I’m on next.  All I can think is how far I’ve come in such a small amount of time. It’s only in adventure and risk taking that one can succeed in finding where they belong.

Word count:309

Point: It’s only in adventure and risk taking that one can succeed in finding where they belong.

Education is like a Mountain, Sometimes it's Up , Sometimes it's Down

Best experience:

My senior year in high school I had an educational experience like no other. I took an advanced placement environmental class that took me on a field trip that was unforgettable. This trip taught me many things about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. I learned of the efforts to save the Bay and the animals that live there. This foundation helps extinction rates of multiple fish decrease every year. This stuck out to me because it brought to my attention the Bay’s needs and how serious of an issue pollution really is. I loved that it was so hands on and it has changed me. I know lead a different lifestyle while keeping the Bay in mind.

Word Count: 110

Worst Experience:

In fifth grade I had the worst educational experience. My teacher was terrible. At the time, my father was in rehab and my parent’s marriage was going through a rough time. I was going through so much and it was really difficult for me. I was constantly singled out and she would always put me down because of my home situation. It was really unfair of her to treat me the way I was treated because of something that I wasn’t in control of.  I couldn’t even learn because of the embarrassment that I was put through in front of the class every day.

Word Count: 104

Thou Shall Not Slay Innocent Bugs

                Many are the shrieks heard about the giant, menacing, evil bugs on kitchen, bathroom and bedroom floors.  Countless are the shoes, books and other weapons used against these little pests.  Each day, the plethora of innocent bugs that are annihilated increases. My fellow human beings, if there was one commandment I could share with all of you it would be this: thou shall not slay innocent bugs. This commandment is built on 3 axioms.

Axiom one: We can learn from these tiny life forms. For instance, these little pests could teach us the value of the home and family. Take the ant for example; working tirelessly to make sure everyone is taken care of is their main goal. The ant is a prime example to humans about how to care for others.

Axiom two: You mess with one of them; you mess with all of them. Bees and wasps will attack anyone who causes harm to a member of the colony and family. The bees show a fantastic model about how to protect those who mean the most to us.

                Axiom three: There is never an obstacle too big to climb. For example, spiders never let something that is twenty times larger than them get in their way. Anything we want to accomplish can be done, even climbing the largest mountains or overcoming the biggest challenges.

                Next time you go to stomp a bothersome bug, give it a second thought. Try to learn from the mini nuisances. Set aside your shrieks and fears and take in the model that these innocent species are trying to teach.

Word Count: 277

Generation LOL

The young people of today have evolved into a unique generation. Growing up with constantly changing technology, we have been taught to always be doing something. LOL fits the college-aged kids of today well because the way we communicate has changed because of the advances with technology. We are able to “chat” with friends via our cell phones, computers and other devices. Even spelling out words has now even become old fashioned to us.  To our generation, technology is really important. A lot of young people wouldn’t know what to do without technology and electronics. We are evolving with the knowledge we are gaining.
Word count: 101

Graffiti Falls, Geysers, and Springs, OH MY! [Take Two]

“Manitou” or “spirit” in a Native American language has been a part of Colorado culture for many years.  This historical little town has been around since the late 1800s and has a huge significance in Colorado history.

                Resting at the foot of Pike’s Peak and neighboring the majestic Garden of the Gods, Manitou has several unique aspects that give residents bragging rights about their unique little town.  The natural water coming from underground aquifers contain many minerals that are believed to be the remedies for certain health problems.

                The Cheyenne and Araphoe tribes lived in this town long before Zebulon Pike discovered the mountain bearing his name.  The water was sacred to them than, and remains sacred today.

                As a way to share the love for the unique town, many visit Graffiti Falls, a natural water fall where, for generations people have signed their names and taken a sip of the falls’ water.  Graffiti Falls has become a way for people to share their experiences in Manitou. My first visit to Graffiti Falls was amazing. It made me think of all the different people who had been through completely different challenges in their life, yet stood in this exact spot, sharing the exact same appreciation for this place. Graffiti Falls is at risk of being erased by MECA; this is on-going battle to keep the art that has become Graffiti Falls.

The town is also home to many festivals and celebrations. Home to numerous memories and various historical significances, Manitou Springs, Colorado is a place that matters.

Word Count 254

Shown above is Indian art carved into the rocks

Welcome to Manitou

One of the numerous festivals, a parade of tye dye  with their home made race cars

Graffiti Falls

Drinking from the Shoshone Spring

Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak, Manitou is just to the left of this picture

Graffiti Falls, Geysers, and Springs, OH MY!

 “Manitou” or “spirit” in a Native American language has been a part of Colorado culture for many years.  This historical little town has been around since the late 1800s and has a huge significance in Colorado history.

                Resting at the foot of Pike’s Peak and neighboring the majestic Garden of the Gods, Manitou has several unique aspects that can’t be found anywhere else giving residents bragging rights about their unique little town.  Containing Nine Springs and two geysers, the natural water sources found throughout the town are all different and sought out for different reasons.  The water coming from underground aquifers contain many minerals that are believed to be the remedies for certain health problems.  Spring water isn’t all Manitou is famous for.

                The Cheyenne and Araphoe tribes lived in this town long before Zebulon Pike found the mountain bearing his name.  The Indians believed the carbonation in the water was the Great Spirit’s breath.  It was sacred to them and continues to be sacred today.

                As a way to share the love for the unique town, many visit Graffiti Falls, a natural water fall where, for generations people have signed their names and taken a sip of the falls’ water.  Graffiti Falls has become a way for people to share their experiences in Manitou.

In addition to Graffiti Falls and the springs, the town is home to many festivals and celebrations. There is something for everyone. Home to numerous memories and various historical significances, Manitou Springs, Colorado is a place that matters.
Word Count: 253

Shown above are some of the old Indian art carved into rocks

Welcome to Manitou

One of the numerous festivals, a parade of tyedye for their home made race cars

Graffiti falls

Drinking water from  the Shoshone Spring

Take Two: Long Shorts are Getting Shorter, Short Shorts are Getting Longer

We’ve all had those family get-togethers where old pictures are brought out; we’ve all seen our dad’s in short shorts and our moms that make us laugh. Looking at how fashion for men and women have essentially flip-flopped, many questions arise: Why are men covering up? Why are women letting it all hang out? The evolution of style could be blamed on a constant power struggle between the genders.

            Looking back fashion from the 1960s and 1970s in a yearbook from UMBC, many trends are seen throughout the entire book. Men’s shorts are, well short. The clothing that many women are wearing is modest and professional.  At this point in time women were slowly gaining equality and working their way into society.

            Today, women are supposedly empowered by their bodies and the power it has over the male population.  That is understandable to an extent; however it doesn’t suggest why men’s clothing has become more “modest.”  Male clothing has always been more practical. It is supposed to support a variety of actions. Men traditionally went out and did the work; women generally stayed home. This most likely affected the styles for men and women. As for the reasons fashion has changed, culture has changed, therefore what is in changes.

             The feminist equality movement may have influenced women to change their clothing style. Women started wearing what was traditionally men’s clothing as well as joining the work force. Female trends seem to follow male fashion trends.  Men’s fashion seems to mirror these changes by constantly changing. It could be concluded that in general, the male population feels it a power threat when women dress similarly to them. Reviews on men’s fashion on women (the tomboy look) include words like “empowered” “strong” etc. 

            The changes in clothing over the years will continue to revolve around the power struggle that it seems to be evolving from.  The constant battle of the sexes will affect the change.  Fashion will never stop evolving; the battle between the genders will probably continue to follow the evolution of style.  Long shorts are getting shorter, and short shorts are getting longer.

Words:353

Long Shorts Get Shorter, While Short Shorts Get Longer

We’ve all had those family get-togethers where old pictures are brought out; we’ve all seen our dad’s in short shorts and our moms in clothes that lack…well style in general. Looking at how fashion for men and women have essentially flip-flopped, many questions arise: Why are men covering up? Why are women letting it all hang out? Why are long shorts getting shorter, and short shorts getting longer?

                Looking back fashion from the 1960s and 1970s in a yearbook from UMBC, many trends are seen throughout the entire book. Men’s shorts are, well short. The clothing that many women are wearing is modest and professional.  The fashions from back than to the fashions of today are completely different.  The only question is: Why? Why is there such a vast difference in clothing? It still does the same job, yet looks so different.

                In today’s society, women are supposedly empowered by their bodies and the power it has over the male population.  That is understandable to an extent; however it doesn’t suggest why men’s clothing has become more “modest.”  Male clothing is usually more practical. It is supposed to support a variety of situations. Men traditionally used to go out and do the work; women generally stayed home. This could be the reason they wore what they wore.  As for the reasons fashion has changed, it is still unclear.

                 The feminist equality movement may have influenced women to change their clothing style. Women started wearing what was traditionally men’s clothing as well as joining the work force that was generally a male's job. Female trends seem to follow what the male fashions are.  Men’s fashion seems to mirror these changes as well. It could be concluded that in general, the male population feels it a power threat when women dress similarly to them. Generally reviews on men’s fashion for women include words like “empowered” “strong” etc.  

                The changes in clothing over the years will continue to revolve around the power struggle that it seems to be evolving from.  The style of clothing is constantly changing and becoming new. Long shorts are getting shorter; short shorts are getting longer.

The common 1960s wear, form fitting and femine.

 Men's style: short shorts, athletic

 Present day female empowered with dark clothing that speaks in volumes

Present day mens wear: Variety, not one look, but many, very diverse.

Word count: 346

Caged Bird

I realize I know exactly how that bird feels. I’ve never been able to spread my wings, to go out and be my own person. I merely look out at the world and wish for a chance to experience it. It becomes exhausting after a while. The best escape is the books that take my mind on adventures and the songs  that fill my head. I can live vicariously through the characters in the books I read and experience the emotion a music artist has in his/her music.Even though I am expected to be home at all times; when reading these books, I’m able to leave the four white walls of my room and enter places that Ive never been and extremely fictional places some have never even dreamt of, but for a moment these become real these are  places that only exist in my reader’s mind. The music I hear lets me see what’s going on outside this bland house I’m trapped in. There is a song for nearly every emotion and moment, music is a connection that allows even caged birds to fly. Sometimes I even get inspired and write my own stories and songs, giving me the chance to decide how things should be. Reading and music is my way of experiencing life, even if there are things that stand in my way of doing it in real life. My parents can keep me trapped in this small room but they can’t keep my mind cooped up. I am a caged bird, but I’m still learning ways I can fly.

252 words

Laughing, Adventures, Life is Full of Fun

 My name is Mallory Brooks, I'm 19 years old and I attend UMBC and this is my story.

February 4, 1991, it's the middle of the night and there is a nervous Italian man and a pretty little brunette dream on their way to the hospital, their first child, a baby girl, was on her way. At 1:10 a.m. the little girl arrived, Mallory Lynn was born. For 12 years she lived in the same house in Colorado Springs and went to the same school. The year she turned 13, her parents divorced and she moved across the country to Ohio, where everything changed. Her mom met someone new and that meant yet another move to a different state in the middle of the second semester her freshmen year. Her new school to a while to adjust to, but she did it. November her junior year she lost her father to alcoholism. Once graduated from high school, she started college at UMBC where she is currently enrolled and pursuing an degree in education.

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