Creation Issue3

Creation

AN END AND A BEGINNING

Spring 2014 Issue #2 A

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Scitech Literary Magazine

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a l e n t

ArtAttack is about bringing the opportunity for SciTech students to display their artistic abilities.

Students who are interested in acting, singing, dancing, drawing, writing, film, and even cosmetology are welcome to join ArtAttack. ArtAttack is a club open to all SciTech students who are willing to participate in bringing the arts back to SciTech. After CASA, a local arts program, became a charter school a lot of students lost their chance to be able to partake in the things they loved to so. Seniors Alisa Vazquez and Markisha Peace felt the need to provide their classmates with a club that helps them better and display their artistic abilities. The club holds meetings every Friday and plans on putting together a huge performance for the end of the school year.

The mission for Creation is to have a student-run literary journal at SciTech High that seeks to showcase previously unpublished literary fiction, nonfiction, visual art, performance based art, music and poetry. We are looking for works that capture those unexpected, often abrupt moments in life that jolt us into a new sense of awareness—one that transforms the way in which we see ourselves and others. We are accepting previously unpublished works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, performance based art, music and visual art.

You may submit more than one entry. You may email your submissions to gelo@hbgsd.k12.pa.us.

-Poetry: maximum length of 1500 words -Prose: maximum length of 3000 words -Visual art: high resolution jpeg or png files -Performances: a link to a file where the performance can be viewed Ideally we would like to showcase student work. Knowing how difficult that is, we have invited other people at the building to submit work that shows off their talents. So be it a bit of painting or an excerpt from a novel or a sample of poetry- we asked the teachers and staff to please feel free to share. You may be amazed by the hidden talents of some of your teachers and even discover some connection that you previously didn’t know was there.

...an end and a beginning...

I think that’s a great opportunity, to pick a script where you can build up a good skill.

I think the main thing I look for when I look at scripts is if it’s inspirational. If it’s something that teenagers can relate to. And is it something that the audience is going to get something out of. If not, then it’s really not worth doing.

Don’t limit yourself.

Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.

Creation

by SciTech Campus Principal Mrs. Sieta Achampong

Mosaic: ACelebration of Writing Call for Submissions

CPD Sponspor George Elo

You have a voice that needs to be heard!

Express yourself through the power of writing!

All students and employees of Harrisburg School District are invited to enter a piece of writing that will be published in the Mosaic Literary Journal.

The submission deadline is Friday, April 4, 2014.

Editors Daradano Toun Front Cover Photograph Faridatou Issiako Back Cover Photograph Jane Reed VOLUME 02, ISSUE 01 Copyright 2013 NO part of Creation by SciTech Campus may be reproduce in any form without prior written consent from the publisher. Creations liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction.

Creation Magazine 215 Market St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 T: (717)-703-1904

Categories: Poetry - Fiction - Creative Fiction Criteria: * All entries must be original work. Plagiarized work will be disqualified. * All entries must be less than 800 words. * All entries must be submitted electronically as a Word document to mosaic@hbgsd.k12.pa.us * All entries must use 12-pointTimes New Roman font, double-spaced, standard formatting, no bold type. * All poetry entries may be single-spaced. * All entries must include a Header: * For students: student name, grade, teacher name, school. * For employees: name, position, building.

Questions please email mosaic@hbgsd.k12.pa.us

Le Sablier Seeing the difference in equipment And physical capabilities Despite it all I will not waver I will fight for you With everything I set out to fight The war seemed endless Until I saw you go Shots fired and I was wounded War was over but I continued to fight Shot my last bullet And until my knife eroded in rust Now with only my bare hands I continue to fight I continue to search for you I walk across the plains searching for you I quest into the woods Being scraped and cut but still looking I walk into a desert Seeing only a mirage I wander Sand everywhere I wander Wandering in an unknown direction Suddenly in the midst of a sandstorm I wander Not being able to see I wander I wander Finding myself ankle deep in sand Becoming tireless I fall to my knees Sand now consuming my body I reach out But nothing reaching out to me

Logo Design Project As part of the Graphic Design class the students tried their hand at designing a company logo. Roman Colon chose to design a logo for Ill Kicks, a sneaker consignment shop that he’d like to open in the future. Erika Valladares used her middle name for her Isamar logo. Cammy Kim chose to redesing the Aeropostale logo. Gary Morel created a record label logo for the mix tape that’s going to drop real soon.

Jordan Richardson’s logo is Star Gears.

Faridatou Issiako Photography is a method of keeping memories from running away. It captures the glimpse of something interesting in an ordinary place. It helps see life in a way; the naked eye is not capable of. For me photography is away to show the hidden message beyond what the world is actually telling us, the secret message behind the sun and the hidden treasure underneath the waters.

It first hit me when the sun was setting; a beautiful view it was. Then I wondered if the sun is a mask that hides all of the secrets of the world that wants someone to expose the truth in a way people would find creative, excitement and love. That’s when my interest for photography came into play. I started to capture pictures every chance I got. Taking the camera on road trips, walks around the park and just hanging with friends. Then I started to realize that my biggest focus was on sunsets and sunrise. It takes a lot of imagination to become a good photographer and a lot of looking before you can seize that flawless moment.

Faridatou Issako, Arabia Satterwite and Terryn Brown

These adventurous sophmores took a camera and explored downtown Harrisburg on a dreary, rainy Community Partnership Day. Great photography is about composition, with good photographs the result of finding those unexpected moments of illuminating beauty even in dreary moments. #SciTechCreation.

Imaini Williams, 12th graade (graduated) I cry myself to sleep hoping things will change I watch the change in you each day and I know one day it's going to change l.

Why can't I get through to you?

Why won't you listen?

Why did u change?

Why am I crying right now? Why do I care?

A part of me is searching for the man that was once their The man I fell in love with nd the one that would always care.

Carlos Lugaro, Grade 12

Carlos Lugaro, Grade 12

Carlos Lugaro, Grade 12

Math Art Math is so much more than just calculations, there is beauty for those who know where to look and how to see it.

The students in Mrs. Crawford’s and Miss Worful’s classes took on the challenge of making math beautiful with a math module project. Students were to create a pattern of some sort and then either rotate it, flip it, transform it, or slide it. Part of the assignement was to include the “calculations” that you had to do to prove the pattern. The following examples wehre scored the highest by the teachers to whom they were submitted.

Michael Vo, grade 12 (graduated)

Michael Vo, grade 12 (graduated). Michael’s image really embodies the mathimatical spirit of the project. The second and third images display his calculations as he works out the tescilations.

Aniayla Randolph, 12th grade

Emily Ochea, 12th grade Tamara Fraser, 12th grade

Nekesha Johnson, 12th grade

Tyneisha Perry, 12th grade

Joseline Hernandez, 12th grade (graduated)

Mikaele Joseph, grade 12

Jane Reed, Cafeteria Manager Photographs capture a moment in time and allow the photographer to share a visual experience. Every point of view is unique. Beauty is found in unexpected places.

The colors of a winter sunrise, insects and flowers, earth, water and sky, all reflect the colors of our dreams, vivid, subtle, joyful.

I Remember..

SEIHRAHBI-MICHELLE E. WALKER grade 11 When I Was Oblivious To It All. When Everyday Was A Game, Not A Worry In The World Viewing Life As A Fairytale.

Then One Day, It Just All Changed.

The Joy That Once Fueled My Days Was Replaced With Confusion , Anger And Hurt.

From Not a Worry In The World To Drowning In All Of Them I Never Felt In Place , Like I Belonged.

Being Talked To, Talked About And Talked Down On Being Thrown Around Like A Toy Being Forgot About.

I Remember My Glimmers Of Hope.

Some Came As People Others Where Messages Or Signs They Were Rare And Short Lived But When They Came, It Was Like A Reminder.

A Reminder That No Matter The Darkness Light Will Come.

No Matter The Blows To My Confidence I Need To Stand High For Who I Am. Sometimes I Wish I Could Just Go Back Back To The Joy Back To The Ignorance Of The Cruelty That Surrounded Me Back To Little Girl Who Worried More About Saturday Morning Cartoons

Mikaele Joseph grade 12 Emely Ochoa, grade 12

Kid with no eyes, Let me feel your pain.

Mother without child, Let me have your heart.

Child abandoned, Let me have your tears.

Girl being raped, Let me get revenge.

Cancer patients, Let me have your bravery.

Open minded girl, Let me have your brain.

Kid being bullied, Let me see through your eyes.

Family without a home, Let me give you shelter.

Girl committing suicide, Let me hold your hand.

Earthquake victims, Let me pray for you.

Homeless man with no food, Let me stand by you.

Dying soldiers, Let me carry on your courage.

Abused child, Let me give you strength.

Man with no shame, Let me hug you.

Girl with too many mistakes, Let me remove your guilt.

Emely Ochoa, grade 12

Lonely Girl shedding tears, Let me cry in the rain with you.

Man who beat his wife, Let me give you justice.

Child without a care, Let me be you.

A recap of my story with Moonlight

by Anonymous, 12th grade (graduated) Summer was still young when I saw him. It was June, 2013, and I was coming out of the summer college course I was taking. I walked through the double doors and there he was, happy to finally see me after having waited outside for some time for my arrival. I, all day was wondering about him, “Is he who I think he is? Am I who he thinks I am?” Dumb questions they are, yes, but this was the first time I ever got to hang out with him. We had a class before, but we never spoke with each other there. We officially meet in April, 2013, and we only spoke via email or text messages. I didn’t want to compromise myself with the boy, neither was I allowed to anyway, so I didn’t care to use any other source.

At first, I didn’t know what to say. “Hey”, “hello”, and “how are you?” all overly used words had to be put to place. Clichés, you have to love them in these situations. But as time pass, days went by, our relation got closer, something we knew inside that shouldn’t had ever happened. We knew people were not going to accept our relation, we knew we were going to lose a “friend”, that people would talk crap, that they would come after us and tried to break us from one another. My mother herself explicitly told me that she didn’t wanted us together because she knew that our relation was not right due to his relation with someone from my past. My mother and I that day got into a dispute which resulted in me crying in my bed mourning over what was to happen to our relation. I didn’t want to let him go, not after becoming so closely attached to him, not when thanks to him I no longer knew what it meant to be alone, not when after so long I had finally found something that kept me happy and gave me that will that was revoked from me by that person from my past, the will to live. That same night, my mom found me still awake in my room and request justification for whatever I had been feeling for that boy. I then explained to her that after having suffered in the hands of someone who knew nothing about love, feelings, and that was completely oblivious to my desires to end my own suffering, I found someone who was totally the opposite. I felt safe, I felt complete, and he was able to inoculate me from everything bad. Nothing physical was given and nothing physical was needed. Then, she gave consent to our relation and requested his presence in my little brother’s birthday party. Later on, I found out that she had a conversation that I was not aware of with my brother. Apparently she had been seeking for information that might either reinforce or perturb my relation. My brother only gave her reasons to accept us.

When school started, people weren’t delayed to notice our closeness. They started to gossip about us being together. We neither confirmed nor denied the accusations as for they never came and actually ask until later on. Some of our friends started to fill uneasy until finally one asked. Martin started to bother us; I think he was one of the first to notice our closeness. I don’t know why it was him from all of the others who had to say something, but he did. Some people suspect that he might have had a frustrated crush on me, but is nothing I cared about. At this time, we didn’t care so we answer Martin. Martin and the others didn’t take long to react. A “friend” who had been in denial of the relation refused to accept us. We lost him, he rather forget everything we helped him with, forget every good thing that happened in the past. He dedicated from that day and on to despise me and fill his mouth with venom that he would only spit out with my name to harass me. He rather betray. His situation with us was convoluted.

Is not like there was anything here for him to claim, he had no right to try to separate us, no one does.

But our relation still had other complications, all these pressures where getting to me. I was getting jealous of his female friends and caused arguments with him over them. I was also becoming insecure about the stability of our relation. I couldn’t support it anymore. After multiple arguments I told him that I was tired, I have had enough. I just couldn’t take it. I loved him so but it was becoming too much.

He refused though. I told him it would have been better this way; we could have still been friends. He didn’t want to. He told me that after all we had last, after all the time I had declared my love to and for him, was I going to give it all up? With despair, he told me that he had endured all these stuff for me.

His true happiness lay beside me. He made it clear that he didn’t want to give up. He was not going to let me go. And once more, he tells me that he loves me. I couldn’t hold my tears in. Begging for forgiveness as my tears went down my cheeks, I told him that I loved him too. I was his sunshine, and he was my moonlight. I only want him and I could care less about what the rest and the hypocrite says anymore.

He makes me happy and that is all I care about. Currently, we had been together for almost a year, but we still struggle to find our happily ever after. We still have a few bumps in the road but that only makes the ride even more fun.

Tylor Roberts Grade 11

“…A nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) People are stereotyped and discriminated against in so many ways, but yet skin is the most common criteria by which that judgment is made. Skin comes in all different shades and textures. Sometimes it is smooth; sometimes it is rough. In addition to the grain of our skin, there are immeasurable pigments. While we all possess this feature, we are judged by others because of it. Racism, social superiority, and beyond are the immediate consequences that society has received.

Common terminologies like Black, White, Light-skinned, and Dark-skinned only marginalize our “unity” that much more. The only solution to this problem is for everyone to fathom that skin is not significantly of a factor in life and is merely an illusion created to misconceive the mind into deeming that all people of a particular kind are in fact the same.

My skin has contributed to my bad experiences with stereotypes and prejudice. A prejudicial person may see my skin and immediately think cruel of me or believe that I may have something against them because of their race or the skin that they are in. For instance, while at a local convenience store, I had a woman confront me due to her preconceived notion of a black teen. She naively accused me of stealing a candy bar when I had enough money to pay for three of them (if not more). Contrary to her decision, never did it cross my mind to treat an individual with such blind bitterness. Perhaps she too was sucked into the meager illusion that skin cannot only categorize people, but yet judge their character and actions.

One of my good friends has faced and still continues to deal with people judging her because of her skin color. When speaking with her, she shared some of her experiences with me. Through he childhood and until this day, she receives much ridicule from anonymous individuals because of her Native American heritage. “People used to tease me because of the way that I looked, my hair texture, my skin tone, and so much more. They used to call me names like Savage, Featherhead, and Dirt-Worshipper.” (Anonymous) Hearing such things come out of her mouth made me understand that I am not the only one. In fact, over 10,000 racial slurs are posted on Twitter daily. Those slurs pull our people further apart day in and day out, not to mention what happens in reality.

What is it about skin that people utilize it to critique others so much? It is rather simple-mindedness when people postulate about others because of their skin. How can a human evaluate another’s entire being due to something that they have absolutely no control over? In reality, it is the insides of a person that should be used to evaluate someone. Their personality, dreams, and spirit are just a few of the countless features that play a role in defining a person. People should get to know one another, ask of their name, where they grew up, or anything else that actually matters; forget about skin and ethnicity.

This skin, something that we all have in common is somehow separating us day-to-day. So many blurred lines between societies all around the globe deprived from origin and skin color. If we could all simply overlook these things, we could flourish as a union. A union made of one kind of people. All people. That beautiful, unique skin that you behold should not be an assumption of who you are. Skin is simply the outer layer of our humanity. It is up to us to reach beyond this first layer and deny its existence. In turn, take a firm grasp into the complexities of peoples’ lives, traits, ambitions and so on. Let not skin define you, but you define you.

Mikaele Joseph, grade 12

“Baggage“ By: George Elo My pockets are heavy with other people’ thoughts Einsteinian equations, Torahnical law, Newtonian notions, Christian charity, Cacsarian cleverness, Platonic philosophy, Machiavellian machinations, Lutheran liberty, Emersonian empiricism.

My pockets are heavy with other people’s thoughts, and I have no room for my own.

Mikaele Joseph, grade 12 Ariana Lumpkin, grade 12 Let me Love For God’s sake hold your tongue and let me love.

I’m just like everyone else, no one who is more than or simply above.

I have a life of my own, not through yours.

You had your chance but you went about it wrong.

I’d rather fall so hard than to listen to y’all.

If I don’t go through it, how would I know?

You can’t even give me the chance – Can you let me love the person that I love?

I’m ready to love.

I’m capable of handling all that comes along.

You’ve planted the seed and now I’m the plant.

So, for God’s sake hold your tongue and let me love.

I was the toad that wasn’t ready to leap, But I’m now the frog who isn’t missing a pad.

If you won’t let me love, how do you know if I can’t bring myself from the dark?

For God’s sake hold your tongue and let me love…

Just simply hold your tongue and let me love!

Viet Dang 12th grade I Saw the Best Minds of My Generation Destroyed by Madness Madness I saw Pity those fools Madness they became

Sanity is insanity.

Insanity is sanity.

Which is it?

Which is it?

Make up your mind. Make up your mind.

I can’t go on.

I just can’t go on!

Beeeep…..

Madness swallowed the man

Madness spread

None got away from old Madness

Even GENIUSES!

Old Madness O you

So cruel and clingy

Never let go…

Never let go…

The brightest

The far-stretched

The thinkers

The outsiders

WHY? Just WHY? No compassion?

No mercy?

No empathy?

O old Madness I saw

Pity those fools

Madness they became

Humanity’s loss

So grand

So quiet

Just leave it alone.

Just leave it alone…

A masterpiece will come.

So let it be

In its own pit!

David Feliciano Homicides every day.

With a gap in our legal system needed to be filled And everyone has nothing to say, Sooner than later someone’s bound to be killed.

We live in a society with dirty Feds – Criminals walking around free, Where life is hanging on by threads, And I’m sure everyone would agree.

Wise words are ignored.

Death rates rising.

And citizens taking matters in to their own hands in abhorrence.

And innocence is surprising.

I think everyone is starting to realize, That justice is a blind goddess.

Khylil Matthews, grade 12 Khylil says, “Drawing for me came from my love of cartoons and anime that I would watch when I was younger. My love of them only grew with me while I grew older. For me drawing is something that lets me get my creativity out in a very enjoyable way. To draw I normally need to play music to help me think and help me get relaxed while drawing. “ He also says, “I have to practice different facial espressions and different types of emotions to make sure that they bring enough life to a drawing.” That’s why he choose to include the eye study in his submissions. “Really good artist practice, cartoon or otherwise, so that they can become really good at what it is they do,” he explains. “Nothing is ever really finished, I’m always going back and fixing stuff as I grow in skill.”

Spiritual Concussions

By Allen Por, grade 9 Laying Down Silent Of Voice But My Heat Is Screaming It's Last Beat 1 Or 2 Heart Pounds Breaking Concentration Of Thoughts Sweating Burning On The Inside It's Taking Too Much Heat Tearing Apart Of Mind Straight Point Blank It's Breaking Apart Like The Iceberg That Cut The Titanic To Where It Sank Ima Faint From The Pressure Then Awaking To Lights Of A Phone Started Life with A Crew Now That Time​Is Passing People Disappear Gone Out Of Sight Looking Left To right I'm All Alone...

I Think I Hit My Head Running Away From The Bad Now I'm Laying Down No Blood Anywhere Passed Into The Thoughts Of Life I'm Getting Up Slowly Blind In Sight No Marriage No Wife As I Slowly Fade Away I Lose Breaths Of Life And Hope All Together Cold Floors Chills Run Down MY Body Never Getting Better In Any Weather...

Yasmin Wilson, grade 11, demonstrates with her submission that art isn’t always about perfection, more often than not it is about practice. Artitist practice repeatedly in their sketch books, building up librarys of hair and eye studies.

Another Life

Angela Harris, grade 11 On the arrival of the young boys a mist fell over the city. Thankful that they been rescued confusion and heart break was found on their faces. Due to the fact Simon and most of all Piggy had been murdered Ralph stared out the window thinking about the traumatizing events that occurred on the island. He couldn’t place together what was to come but he remained silent as the bus carried the boys to a place the adults called Nation’s Rim. “Are you okay?” an office with wide shoulders asked a boy with a Mulberry mark on his face.

To his surprise this was the littlun who was thought to be dead in the first forest fire. The boy was unresponsive and his eyes seem to reach way pass what Ralph or the officer could see. When the officer left Ralph moved closer to talk to the littlun.

“Hey you.” Ralph whispered “I thought you were dead.”

To his surprise the littlun seem to fall from his Trans and directly eyed Ralph. This made Ralph so uneasy that he almost forgot what he asked the young boy. With no warning the littlun grabbed Ralph’s arm and with the sharpest tone said “kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her in.” Just then the whole bus was filled with chanting that was meant to be left back on the island. Ralph felt sick once again. Thoughts of death, hunger and isolation from the rest of the world dawned on him. Before the littlun let go of Ralph’s arm he moved closer and whispered something he could barely make out.

“They never died.” The littlun whispered.

With shock and confusion Ralph responded.

“What do you mean?” “Why would you start that savaged chant?” Ralph snapped.

“So they wouldn’t hear what I’m about to tell you. There, on the island; we were not supposed to get off. We were pose to serve and protect the Lord of the Flies forever. But now that we are going home bad things are going to happen very bad things.” The littlun told Ralph with sadness in his voice.

In a rush to calm the boys the officers settled them by turning on the radio. Before Ralph could ask what he means the small boy was not clearly found on the bus. Frightened by what might take place Ralph looked around nervously and his eyes linked with Jack who was still wearing the tribe colors on his face.

Upon the stop to Nation’s Rim the boys and officers stepped off the bus drenched in sweat. The stuffiness of the building filled the hallways. It seem to be lifeless until a group of women; assumed to be nurses rushed down the hall and took each boy to different rooms. When one lady with light hair and a noticeable accent lead Ralph to his room he felt a little embarrassed in the presences of a woman.

“What are you going to do?” he managed to say.

She smiled and walked away closing the door behind her. When she returned she rushed him down on the hard concrete floor; tying him in a rope she pulled from her back pocket. Before he knew it he was pushed in the hallway where all the other biguns and littluns were held with ropes. Some were silent while Jack and the tribe tried to fight back and yelled at the adults.

“Ralph” a faint whispered appeared and instantly he seen a figure he recognized. It was his mother leaning over him. Paired with her was his father dressed in his pressed navy suit.

“Ralph it’s okay. It’s just your father and I.” she said with a voice that soothed him.

“Where am I?” he asked “You’re in a mental hospital baby. You been asleep for a few days. The doctor said you’re getting a little better but you have to stay here for a month or two to make sure everything is okay.

“What do you mean I’m in some bloody hospital? I was just on an island and, and well we got off it. I was hurt but all of us got off. Well almost all of us.”

Confused and weak ralph shifted his weight so that he could get up. Just then a tall, slim man wearing all white walked in the room. As Ralph’s eyes continued to adjust he realized that he was no longer in Nation’s Rim he was in fact in a hospital.

“How are you feeling today Ralph?” the doctor asked.

Ralph puzzled by the normalness of the hospital room sat up out the bed. Before he could speak again he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

“Why am I here?” He throw his feet over the bed and looked at the man in all white.

“I am Dr.Kent. I have worked on a number of patients like you and you are the only one who woke up this fast after a huge mental break down such as the one you had.”

Ralph’s mother stepped a little closer. “Honey you had a break down. The therapist say that the “friends” you have are hallucinations caused by a disease known as schizooo.”

“Schizophrenia.” The doctor interrupted. “We know little about this problem but it is caused in the brain. It triggers the senses such as your sight and touch and tricks you into believing something is there that really never existed.

Tears began to fall down Ralph’s face. He thought and tried to piece everything together. His mother was there along with his father and they both would never lie to him about something of importance.

“It all never happened? No one ever died? But I was there. I felt everything. Mum they killed my friends. That savage of a boy Jack forced them to kill. What about Piggy?”

The thought silenced Ralph and again he remembered the time spent on the island with his pal Piggy. Wishing he would have listened more and took in the things piggy said.

“We were attacked. And well the adults died.” Ralph said.

Clearly the adults didn’t die. His mother was stand right in front of him; hand in hand with his father.

Life as Ralph knew it was no longer the same. He placed his feet back on the bed and heard a lady scream he needs the needle. Ralph fell into the darkest of darkness far more badly than the thicket or matted creepers.

He felt nothing. Only saw black.

Design a Card Pick a theme and design four cards for you deck of playing cards. What can be more simple or more more fun. Kyle Layton, grade 12 chose to use Pokemon for his theme and went hard and created a half dozen cards. Emely Ochoa, grade 12, also designed a series of cards, two of which are here. The Jack of hearts shows off her drawing skills and the Queen of Hearts shows a favorite anime style of Emely called chibi. Chibi is a Japanese slang word meaning “short person” or “small child”. In English-speaking anime and manga fandom, the term chibi has mostly been conflated with the “super deformed” style of drawing characters with oversized heads or it can be used to describe child versions of characters.

Fairy Tales, Atikah Ahmat, grade 12 Do you remember your first fairy tale? When I was six, I remember hearing the story about Cinderella. I always looked forward to the part when the fairy godmother would transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful dress and when she got to dance with a handsome prince. Most importantly, they both lived happily ever after. As a kid, we believe that life is full of magic and happy endings, but as we grow up into adolescents and then into adults, life does not seem like a fairy tale at all. There will always be an obstacle in our path, preventing us from finding our fairy tale ending. I am here to tell you today that it is possible to find your fairy tale ending by overcoming challenges and pursuing your true passion in life.

How does the 4 way test apply? Once upon a time, we were given 4 main questions that revolved around the things we think, say, or do. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? According to History.com, there are 4 main elements that make up a fairy tale; the main character, the conflict, the resolution, and the moral lesson. These elements highlight similar qualities that we see in our everyday lives.

Is it the truth that we are the main character in our story? It is indeed true that we get to decide what we want to do with our lives without letting others force their aspirations on us. According to college admission deans, many colleges require an essay that focuses on your voice and your voice alone without the influence from teachers, parents, and guidance counselors trying to write your essay for the perfect college application. Is it fair that any individual can have their own fairy tale ending? Life is not fair, but that is the more reason why we should work against all odds to achieve our fairy tale ending. From the archives.gov website, every individual in the United States has an equal opportunity for a job and education. Ever since affirmative action was implemented; women, minorities, and the disabled are able to obtain a job where they are most underrepresented.

Will conflict, build goodwill and better friendships? That could go both ways; a conflict could discourage you from finding your fairy tale ending, but in my case it helped me realize my mistakes and help others see their mistakes as well. For example, I had a bad grade on a math test and I realized that I had to change my study plans in order to receive a better grade on the next test. I helped my classmates with the same math problems I had trouble with and we were all left with a sense of determination to do better that day. Will your fairy tale ending be beneficial to all concerned? That depends on you, whether your fairy tale ending is a college acceptance or a job promotion that can help your family through financial crises. You will also be one step closer to finally completing your dream.

Once we follow our true path, get past the conflicts, and find our fairy tale ending. We are left with one more important element that is the center of our life: the moral lesson. The moral lesson is that you might not be satisfied with your fairy tale ending, but it does not have to stop there. As there are many versions of the Cinderella story, you can rewrite your life as many times as you want. Life is not permanent and there is nothing wrong in making so many mistakes in your lifetime. I encourage you to ask yourself, have you found your fairy tale ending? The end.

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