example narrative essay

KaleighLoehmer

English111

January26,2012

UnNuevoMundoAsIplacedthecarintopark,turnedthekeyoffandsteppedintothecrispcold winterair,Ibegintofeelmypulseraise.Witheachstepwetookdrawingusclosertothedoor,Ifelt myheartbeatingfaster.Withaquickturnoftheicecolddoorknob,Ifoundmyselfstandingina wholenewworld.Thefood,themusic,thefaces,thelanguage,everythingwasdifferentthanwhatI knewForthefirsttimeinmylifeIwastheminorityinmysmallhometownofWinamac,Indiana NewYear'sevewasthefirsttimemeetingmyHispanicboyfriend'sfamily,ofcourseIhadtakena fewSpanishclassesbackinhighschool,butnoteventhemostadvancedclasscouldhave...show morecontent

IwashuggingpeopleIcouldn'tevenspeakto,butthatdidn'tmatter.Therewerenolanguage barriersforthesharedsymbolicmeaningofahug!Afterweallweredonehuggingwaswhenthe realpartybegan.Iwasoutonthedancefloortwirlingandswingingallaround,dancingtomusicI couldn'tevenunderstand.Iwashavingsomuchfun,wedidn'tstoptill5a.m..CelebratingtheNew Yearwithpeopleyoudon'tknow,letalonecanbarelycommunicatewithseemsabsurdMostpeople wouldbequicktosaynothankyou,IbelievethatItoowouldhavebeenthatpersontoturndown thisopportunityifitweren'tforitbeingmyboyfriend'sfamily.IamsothankfulandhappythatIdid gettoexperiencethis.Iwasscaredandnervousatfirst,butthisexperiencehasopenedmyeyesto somanymoreopportunities.ThisNewYear'sexperiencewillbeonethatIwillneverforget;ithas intriguedmetolearnmuchmoreabouttheHispanicculture!WhoknowsmaybeatriptoMexico couldbeinmy

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NarrativeEssayWriteatwo(ormore)pageessayinwhichyouwilltellapersonalnarrative(story) inthefirstperson.Youareencouragedtoshareamemoryorstorythatyouwouldbecomfortable sharingwithmyselfandtheentireclass.Remember,youraudienceisyourfellowstudentsorpeers. Althoughnotopicisoff–limitsandnocensorshipisrequired,pleasedonotshareastorythatwould makeyouuncomfortabletoshareEveryonehasstoriestotell,butpleaseperusethroughothershort narrativeaccountstogetasenseofhowtheydevelop.Reader?sDigestisagoodsourceforthis,or personalaccountsfrommagazines,orthe?ThisIBelieve?seriesonNPR.Anarrativeessaydepends onanarrativethatisprofoundandmemorable,life–changingandhopefullyinterestingand/or entertaining.Atriptothegrocerystore,unlesssomething...showmorecontent...

Uniqueandengagingtitle?Introductionwithanattentiongetter?Themeorthesis:usuallythe lessonlearned?Backgroundofthecomplicationorconflict?Complicationorconflict?Engaging andrelatablecharacter(s)?Plotwithevents?Vividdetails?engagethesenses?Resolutionorwrap upofthecomplicationinaclearconclusionIfyoudouseoutsidesources,pleaseciteusingproper MLAdocumentationormakeclearintheessaywhatyoursourceis.However,thesourcemustbe relevanttothenarrativeitself.Aworkscitedpageisnotrequired.Assessment:Yourproposalis worth15%ofyouroverallgradeandworth100points.?Content:Howthoughtfullyandthoroughly youwriteabouteachrequirednarrativesection,withvividdetail.50points.?Organization:How clearlyideasandinformationarearrangedwithinandbetweenparagraphsUseofMLAstyleand properflow.30points.?Style:Howeffectivelyyouusewordchoiceandsentencestoconveyideas. 20points.Duedates:?Outline(onthissheetoryoucanmakeyourown)broughttoclassforan activityonMon

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GrowingupsurroundedbyidealizedAmericanvaluesandmymother'straditionalChinese–Vietnameseprincipleschallengedmyidentityasafirst–generationAsianAmerican.Iexcelledin school.IpushedmyselftojoinprogramssuchasPaideia,anEnglishcourseintegratedwithhistory toattainhigherlevelsofcriticalthinking.Despitebeingacademicallyindependent,mygoodgrades andinterestinEnglishdemonstratedhowwellIunderstoodthelanguageCantonese,thelanguageI usedtocommunicatewithmymom,wasanentirelydifferentstory.Becausemymotherwouldwork nightshiftsandthensleepduringtheday,wecouldbarelyspendanytimetogether,creatingalack ofcommunicationIeventuallylostmyfluencyinCantoneseDuringChristmas, ...Getmorecontent...

AChristmastoRemember

It'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyear.Lightsareshiningbrightly,andthesnowwasawhite blanketoverthebrowngrass.(metaphor)ItwasDecember24thandeveryonewaseagertostarttheir Christmastraditions.IespeciallywasmorethanreadytobeginmyChristmasfestivities.Igrabmy bootsandjacketandheadoutthedoortomyfirstdestinationThetwo–hourdrivetomygrandma andgrandpaswasnopicnic.(metaphor)MyfamilyandIarrivedjustintimetobeginthefirstof manyactivities.Cousins,uncles,aunts,andfamilyfriendsgatherintothewarm,cozyhome. EveryonewasfilledwithcheerandjoyThefirstsightwhenwearrivedwasthebeautiful,dazzling Christmastreethatwaslikeastatueof...showmorecontent...

DrivingfrommyhousetomygrandmasinTomahfeltlikeittookalifetime.(simile)Isprintedfor thedoorandwhippeditopenyelling"MerryChristmasEve!"Everyonesmiledgreetingmewith warmhugs.Thecheerintheroomwasoutofthisworld.(metaphor)Ihaveneverseensomany smiles(Metaphor)Everyonealreadydugintothefood,andeventhoughIalreadyate,itwascalling myname.(personification)IproceededtoenjoyanotherChristmasdinner,butthenightwas slippingawayfast.Wehadtoopenpresentsasfastaslightning.(simile)Oneofmypresentswasa beautifulsantaornamentthatglistenedinthelight.Thesmileonmyfacewasasighttobeseen. (metaphor)Byfar,thisChristmaswasalreadythebestIhaveeverhad.AsmymomandIsaidour goodbyes,myheartdroppedtomystomachknowingChristmasEvewasover,buttherewasstill ChristmasDay.ThedrivehomewaswonderfulwithChristmaslightsshiningasbrightasday. (smilie)Arrivinghomeat1a.m.wastrulytorture.(metaphor)Thisisbecausemakingthechoiceto eithergotobedorstayawakeuntilmorningisthehardestdecisionofalltimeIthoughtitwasa goodideatotakealittlenap.Icurledupinbedaclosedmyeyes.Therewasamillionthingsgoing throughmyhead,(hyperbole)makingithardtofallasleep.Soonmymindbecameblank.Opening myeyesthatmorningwasapieceofcake!Ijumpedoutofbedandrandownstairstomake breakfast.

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PersonalNarrative:IFoundMyself

Itwasalmost3yearsagothatIfoundmyselfinaratherstrangedilemma.Iwasboredwithblogging andallthegimmicksthatyouhadtodoinordertobegoodatit.Thisconceptdidnotworkforme.I wantedsomethingthatinspiredcreativityinmeandinothers.SoIstartedexperimentingwith postingcartoons,popcultureartwork,internetmemes,andvideos.NotonlywasIhavingfun,Iwas learningtocuratecontentAnotherdoorthatwasopenedwaspartneringwithartistswhowere animators,cartoonists,andillustrators.MyfriendTimEngstromcreatedacustomartworkforthe headerandthesidebar.Itwasn'tlongbeforemyclients,friends,andfamilywerereadingtheblog. WhatIlearnedwasthatthisprojectwasmorethaninspiration,

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Everyonehasadream.Whetherit'ssmallorbig...weallhaveone.Wealsogiveuponthem.Weget stuckintheideathatourideasaretoofar–fetchedeitherbecauseofotherpeople'scommentsor becauseofourownself–doubt.Weallowourselvestoforgetaboutthemandmoveontothingswe believearebetterforus.Tothingsthatalthoughdon'tmakeushappy,arewhatsocietytellsusisthe rightwaytoliveIt'shardtohaveadreamandkeepitTheworldweliveintodayissocruelthata lotoftimeswedon'tevenbothertodreamanymore.We'vegottentothepointwheredreamingis justthat.Adream.

Yet,formymom,thatwasn'tthecase

MymotherwasbornonMarch24,1973,inasmallvillageinGuatemala.Shegrewupthere...show morecontent

Shesatmedownandsaidwellwhynotdoboth.IrememberwhenshesaidthatIwassohappy.We begantothinkofhowIcoulddobothandcameupwiththeideaofasinginglawyer.Itwas probablytheworstideawe'veeverhadIdon'teventhinkitwouldhaveworkedoutwelleither,but itwasthefactthatIcouldhavedoneitandmymomwouldbecompletelyokaywithitandmadeit seemperfectlynormalthathelpedmetoneverquitonmydreams.

Herexperiencegrowingupwasn'tatallhowshemademine.Hermotherandstepfathernever encouragedorsupportedher.Growingupmymotherstruggledalot.Shehadtogrowupalotfaster thanmostkidsandhadtodealwiththerealworldwaybeforesheshouldhavehadtoShewasnever pushedtodobetterortoldthatherdreamscouldcometrue.

Sinceshewaslittleshewasalwayshavingtotakecareofherthreesisters.Shewasn'tallowedtogo outalotsoshewasalwayshomestudyingorinherroomShewassorestrictedinherownhome thatevennowIcan'timaginehowterriblethatmusthavefelt.Toconstantlyhavetoworrynotonly aboutyourselfbutforotherpeoplewhenyouhaven'tevenreachedpuberty.

Herstepfatherwastheworstofall.Hewouldalwaysputherdownandwouldtrytomakeherfeel likenothing.Shedidn'tevenhaveprotectionfromherownmother,becausehermomwouldnever sayanythingaboutitShejustletithappen

Mymom

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MyNarrative

Weweregoingtofluidandittakes24hours.Anditwasaboringcarrideandwegotupat7:00and eatbestfistanditwasgoodthanwecamebackat12:00.Andwentintothelakeanditfeltgood. Thanwewenttopoolanditfeltgoodto.Andweretherefor2thanweleve. Momcanwegotodisneyshopandshesaidyessowewentandweeatthereanditwasalotof moneyandthenwecamebackhomeandmybrotherswentdownstairsaplaypoolandthenIwent tosleepandthenwecameupandtheywenttosleepafter.ThenwegoeatMyNarrative Weweregoingtofluidandittakes24hoursAnditwasaboringcarrideandwegotupat7:00and eatbestfistanditwasgoodthanwecamebackat12:00.Andwentintothelakeandit...showmore content

bishfistandthenwenthomeandleftat12:00.togotomichiganitwasfun.thenitwasalongride home24hoursandthenwearehomemymomanddadtosleepandIstayupandplaytheps4and thenitwasFUNthentheygetupat12:00andthenweeatanditwasfunThenmydadcomes outsideandplaysfootballandwetalkanditisfun.ThenIwassickwhenwecamebacksoitwas bad.Andwhenwecamebackwesallsomepeoplewithhorsebuggiesandthatishowtheyget aroundanditlooksweirdforusbutnotforthum.My

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NarrativeEssay

Astimesgoesonyou,realizelifeisn'tallitseemstobe.Youlearnlifelessonsandcertainlife eventsteachyouthingsthatcanleadtoyouimprovingyourselfasaperson.Asyourealizemost thingsinlifeareprovidedtoyou,younevertrulyrealizehowmucheverythingcanmeanAs teenagersmostofusareimmatureanddonotrealizehoweasyitisforustoloseeverythingwe have.Aswecouldloseeverythingandanythinginamatterofsecondsifwearenotcareful.

ItwasanothertypicalMondaymorning,IhadthatsamefeelingIalwaysdowhenIwakeup, dreadlyhavingtogetup,usethebathroom,andbrushmyteethandgetreadyforschool.Itisthe sameprocessthroughoutthewholeweekuntilFriday.showmorecontent

ThenextweekwasabreezeanditcomesdowntothenightbeforeIhadalreadypackedallmystuff thatnightIwastoldofthetripNextmorningIwokeupbrightandearlyatebreakfastandwe headedtotheairport.Thenextfewhoursweremostlyjusttravelingtypicalairplanefood,onlything thatwasinterestingaboutthetravelwasthefactthatduringoneofflightsIwassatbesideadrunk idiotandthengotmovedupafewseatsandgot3seatsalltomyself!Whenwefinallylandedin PakistanitdidnotlookanythingdifferentthaninCanada.Ithought"ohwellmaybeitlooksthe same,andisthesame"becausepersonallyIdidn'tknowmuchaboutthisplaceotherthanthefactI hadfamilyhere.WhenwegotallourstuffandheadedoutinacarInoticednothingdifferentbut thatmighthavebeenduetothefactIwaskindoffatiguedandthefactwewereinabiggercity.On thetraveltomycousinsIfellasleep,anddidn'tgetwokenupuntilwereachedtheirhouseWhenI gotoutofthecarIwastootiredandwaswaytojetlaggedtorealizehowdifferentthingsweresoI wentstraightintothehouseandwentbacktobed.

Imostlysleptforthewholefirstday.AsIwokeupbymyfamily,theyinvitedmetogooutandtry outsomeofthelocalfoodsaseverythingherewasveryfreshdownto

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Afterparagraph:Ihaveasoccergame,Itistheafternoon,"watchout!"IyellTheotherteamis almostatourgoal!Thekidishuge!Heisan8thgraderIthinknamedandrew.Woahhemissed! Peoplealwayssay"thereisnoIinteam."butinmyteamthereisanIinteam!Myteammatesnever passtome.IdonotknowifitisbecausetheythinkIamnotgoodenough,orifitisbecauseIam theonly7thgradeboyonmyteamAbout6/12ofthekidsinmyteamare9thgradersThose6that arein9thgradearealltheotherboysonmyteam.Allthegirlsare7thgraders.Weusuallyareshort ofplayerscausesomeplaytravelleaguesoccer.Noneoftheboyspasstoeachanyoneandthegirls passtoeveryoneWeusuallywinbutthisteamisamazing

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AtthispointinmylifeIfindmyselfinaninterestingpredicamentregardingmyattitudestoward readingandwriting;moresotowardsreading.YearsagoIusedtolovereadingbooksforpleasure butnowadaysIfindmyselfreadingthingsthatlittletonoefforttodigest.Thisincludesthevery basicpostsonfacebookexpressingone'sopiniononsomethingorarticlesandthreadsonreddit discussingtopicsIfindintriguingPerhapsit'stheseveresenioritisthathasovercomemeasIenter mylastsemesteratChapmanUniversity.AsI'vegottenlazierIcanseeitstarttoreflectinmy everydaylife.DeepdownIstilllovetoreadbutIrarelyfindmyselfgettingtrulyinvestedintothe actionunlessitrelatestosomethingIamveryshowmorecontent

Youcanfeedthemindasmuchasyouwantanditwillnevergetfullofreading.Sadly,I'mnotthe samepersonthatIwas.Iguessyoucouldsayit'spartofgrowingup.Itneverreallywasintentional butit'sjustthewayhowitendedup.Ontheotherhandmyattitudestowardwritingarevery different.FirstletmesaythatdeepdownItrulydonotliketowrite.Imyselfdon'tpersonallyliketo writeforleisureorpleasurebutratherIwritebecauseIbelieveitisoneofthemostimportant aspectsofbeingabletocommunicatewiththosearoundyou,bothpersonallyandprofessionally.To putdifferently,myattitudetowardswritingisthatIwritebecauseIneedtowriteandsurviveinthe worldaroundme.IwritebecauseIhaveto,notbecauseIwantto.Hopefullythissomewhatmakes sense.Tobetterexplainletmemakeacomparison.WhenIamassignedawritingassignmentorI amwritingbecausetheactionisbeingforceduponmeIfindmyselfnotenjoyingtheprocessand overalltheendresultissubpar.Theperfectexampleofthiswouldbemyjunioryearinhighschool whenIwasenrolledinAPenglishliterature.Idreadedthemajorityoftheclasssimplybecause therewassomuchwritinginvolvedintheentirecourseandthereforeIwasconstantlywritingjustto getagrade.Beingforcedtowriteinsuchhighvolumeeveryweekforanentireschoolyearwasnot enjoyableformyselfandasaresultthe

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PersonalNarrativeMyLife

Ineverreallythoughtaboutwheremylifewasgoing.IalwaysbelievedlifetookmewhereIwanted togo,IneverthoughtthatIwastheonewhotookmyselfwereIwantedtogo.OnceIenteredhigh schoolIchangedthewayIthoughtThisiswhyIchosetogotocollegeIbelievethatcollegewill givemethekeystounlockthedoorsoflife.ThiswayIcanchooseformyselfwhereIgoinsteadof someonechoosingforme.

IhavechosentogotothelocalcommunitycollegetogetusedtothecollegeexperienceCollege lifecanbeanexcitingtimebutatthesametimeitcanbeachallenge.Ifeelthatstartingoutatthe communitycollegewouldbeabetterchosethan"jumping"intolifeatashowmorecontent IknowthisiswhatIwanttodowithmylife.Iwanttobeapositiveinfluenceinthelivesof children.Iwanttobeabletostandupandshowthechildrenthatitisokaytobeyourselfandstand upforwhatyoubelieveinIamawellroundstudentFornineyearsIwasactivelyinvolvedina girlsorganization.Thisexperiencetaughtmemanythings.Wewereactivelyinvolvedincommunity serviceactivities,forwhichIreceivedtheSilverAward.(Thesecondhighestawardinthe organization.)Ilearnedaboutthevalueoffriendshipandpatientswithothers.Thisorganizationfirst introducedmetomyfuturecareer.Iwasalsoinvolvedforthreeandahalfyearsinastudent governmentcluboncampusInthisclubIlearnedmanylifelessonsOneofwhichwasthevalueof hardwork.IwasoneofthefewpeoplethatorganizedtheJunior/SeniorPromof2000.My responsibilitiesincludedplanningcorranation,buyingandorganizingdecorations,planningthe busingschedule,bookingthephotographers,fundraising,ectThistaughtmeabouthardworkBut thebestpartofitwasgoingtoPromknowingIwasoneoftheonlyreasonsthatithappened.Asfar asschoolgoes,myscheduleisverydiverse.Iamtakingchilddevelopmentlab,whichisaclass wherestudentsfrommyhighschoolcangotothelocalelementaryschoolsandworkoneonone withthestudents.Ihaveworkintheelementaryschoolfortwoandahalfyears.I

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HISTORICALNARRATIVE

Theyearwas1787ElizabethwasgoingtoherjobattheclogmakeronthewayElizabethstarted talkingtothepeopleonthestreettothewayofherjob.Shearrivedatherjobwhereshestolethe clogsandputtheminherbagandactednormalduringherjobsheworkedfor5hoursthenheaded homeandshesleptandthenextmorningshewokeupandshehadthepoliceatherdoorandsaid" You'recomingtocourtElizabeth"Sheleftherhomeandwenttocourtandshewasaccusedof stealingclogsElizabethsaidtoherselfpleasedon'ttakemeawayfrommyfamilyshecamehome andsaidthismightbethelasttimeiseeyouguysthefamilyandElizabethallcriedandElizabeth lefttocourtsheprayedbutluckwasn'tonher

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OnacoldfalleveninginthetownofDankfurt,Alaskawithasmallpopulationof73.Therewasa boynamedDerek.DerekwasjustanordinaryboywhoattendedtheschoolofWinterfieldwhich was10milesaway.Hedidthisbecausehistownhadnoschoolalongwithtwootherfriends.Every morningheandhisfriendswouldwakeupatfive–thirtytowalktoschool.BecauseoftheAlaskan timezonesitwasdarkduringthedayandlightatnightOntheirwalktheywouldpassonehouse andonehouseonlywhichwasintheheartofthewoods.Itwasadarkbrownhousewithwhite curtains.Thehousewasveryoldandlookedtobefallingapart.Theyassumeditwasabandonedand thoughtnothingofitButeverytimeDerekwalkedpassedhewouldgetaminorheadachenoteven recognizing...showmorecontent...

Manyofthefootballplayerswouldhitorchokethemforit.Theboyscoulddonothingtheywere scrawnyandweakexceptforJoehewasfat.Joestooduptothebiggestkidthistimesaying"Buzz ofman."Theyrepliedwith"Inyourdreamstwinkie."Joeattackedhimwith"wellthatiswhythe footballteamsucks!""screwyouman"saidthebullyandwalkedawayAftertheirhellishdaysat schooltheboyswouldheadtothedramaclub.Thisiswheretheyallfitinandthoroughlyenjoyed attendingthemeetings.Theywereatthesemeetingsuntilsix–thirtyorsunriseinAlaskaatthetime. Theboyswouldstrollhomeandgetbackataboutteno'clock.Theywoulddothesamethingevery day.

EarlyonemorningDerek'spowerwentoutandhisalarmclockdidnotgooffTheotherboys waitedforhimbuthedidnotshowupsotheyassumedhewassickandleftwithouthim.Afew hourslaterhewokeupandrealizedhewaslate.Hethrewonhisclothesandboltedoutthedoor. BecauseofAlaska'stimezoneitwaspitchdarkwhenhestartedhisjourneyButhecarriedonhis journeyjustlikeany

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TheRunaway–3,000wordsmax.FIRSTPERSONNNNN

SLAM.Thedoorframesoundstostrugglefromconcavingunderthepressureoftheoveremotional hand.Istand.Dumbandappalledatthesight.HystericallyIseeherfalltoherkneeswithcomplete lackofcontrolashorrificallyearpiercingscreamsprotrudefromdeepwithinherlungsThesceneis dramatic,andIsuddenlyrealisewhythesekindsofscenesaremadeslowinmovies.There'sjustso muchhappeningthatyourbrainliterallyslowstheworlddown,inthemostunattractivelypossessive momentspossible

Yet,unfortunately,thesemomentnsweren'tallentirelynewtome.Infact,ithappenedquite regularly.See,there'sthisguymum'sdating;actually,they'rekinda–sortashowmorecontent Inaninstant,Ifindmyselfdraggingmyselfbackupstairsintomyroom,thedramaticatmosphere likeinamoviesurroundedme.Ipullonmyshoesandfindmyselfthenpackingabag.Iwasn'tsure whatIwasdoingexactly,mybodytookcontrolIemptyoutmyholidaysavingsintothebottomof mybag.Because,agirllikemedoesn'townapurseorahandbag,orwhateveryouwannacallit. No,insteadlookinginthemirror,youcanonlytellI'mfemalebymylonghairtiedupmessilyina taillikeahorse.Curvesaremissingfrommysides,asbaggytracksuitsandjumpersreplaceit.Ipull mybackpackon,haveonemorelookatmyselfandtakeoff.

DownthestairsItravelquietly,Igrabmyearphonesandplaymymusic.Ipullthefrontdoorshut andlocked.Then,Irun.Idon'texactlyknowwhereI'mtogo.ButIknowIwannagofar.

Idon'tknowhowtotakeabus,orwhereitwouldeventakeme,butluckilyenoughabusmakesitto thebusstoponthetopofthehilljustasIarrive.Ijumpontoitandittakesmeafewawkward momentstogetthechangeouttopay,butit'snotlikeanyonewasonthebusinarushanywhere,so itdidn'treallymatter.Surprisinglyenough,thebusdriverwasn'tsobad.Ithoughthe'daskquestions butthenagain,hemustseethiskindathingallthetime

Ileanagainstthewindowandseetheemptystreetsandsilenttreesandlifelesshousespassmeby. Musicstillinmyear,Ifindmyselfplaying[Song

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–1CrystalD.DozierNarrativeEssayNovember13,2007Wordcount:809MyLittleBlessings Childrenhaveatendencytobringouttheverybestinpeople.IcansayIhavebeenfortunateto havefourlittleblessingsofmyown.IconsidereachofthemasablessingandeachdayIam remindedofhowmuchtheymeantome.Mychildrenhavebroughtoutthebestinme––partsthatI neverknewexistedAschildrengrow,sodoparentsIhaveevolvedintoabetterpersonwiththe couragetoovercomeallobstaclesbecauseofthelovethatIhaveformychildren.Attheageof twenty,mylifewasfullofconstantturmoilandinstability.Ihadaplan,andchildrenwerenotapart ofitIneverimaginedthatIwouldeverhavechildrenshowmorecontent

Throughtheloveformyson,Idevelopedtheabilitytoremainpositiveevenduringthemost difficulttimesinlife.AlthoughIgainedtheknowledgetobeamorestableandpositiveindividual, somethingwasstillmissinginmylife.Themissingpiecesoonfellintoplaceuponthebirthofmy twinboys,IrijahandIsaac.Amultiplebirthwasamiraclewithinitself.Itseemedunrealbecauseno oneinmyfamilywaseverblessedwithtwobabiesAlthoughittookalotofadjustment,wemadeit throughthebabyperiod.Thehardpartdidnotcomeuntiltheybecametoddlers.(Duringthistime),I noticedcomplications(inthedevelopment)(ofthetwins).Isoonlearnedthatalthoughtheywere perfectontheoutsidemyboysweresufferingwithautism.IrijahisseverelyautisticwhileIsaac'sis mild.Iknewthatinordertoconquerthisobstacle,changeswouldhavetobemade.Inthebeginning Iwasunawareofwhatneededtobedone,butInevergaveupIcontinuetofightformyboysand struggletokeepmysanity.Thishasbeenthetoughestfightofmylifebecauseitinvolvesaseriesof changes.Thesechangesdealtwithacceptance,transition,andadaptation.Thesewerenecessary stepsbecauseitgivestheboysachancetoleadasomewhatnormallifeThroughtheloveofmy sons,Ihavelearnedtoadapttochangeandhavegainedstrengthandperseverancethatisnecessary inlife.

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WritinghasalwaysbeenmymostdifficultpartofEnglish.Reading,ontheotherhand,issomething Icoulddoallday;however,withwriting,Igrimacejustthinkingaboutit.ItwasnotthatIdidnot haveanythingtosay,becauseIactuallyhavequiteabittosay.Ijustcouldneverfigureouthowto phrasewhatIhadtosayinjustrightwayonthepage.Mymomtaughtmetoreadandwriteata youngageAfterthat,IwoulddevouranybookthatIcouldgetmyhandsonHowever,Ihavehad troublewithwritingsinceitbecamemorethanjustmyalphabetandnumbers.Inelementary,Igot throughassignmentsbymakingmyprojectsreadlikeaboringfactbook.Thiswaywasawesomefor ahighgrade,notsogreatforwritinginterestingshowmorecontent Mullinscommentsandsaid,"Nexttime,youwilljusthavetochangeitupabit."Iaskedherwhat shemeant.Mymomsaid,"Nexttimeyouwillmakeitmorefun,notsomuchlikeatimeline,and morelikeatruestoryaboutyoursubject."Thiswasmyfirstexperienceinwritingforagrade.I learnedalotandIimmediatelyappliedtomyfuturewrittenassignments.Iwasinhighschoolthe firsttimeIhadtowriteanarrativeIwasafreshmanThiswasMsBradley'sfirsttimeteachingat UnionChristianAcademy.Onherfirstday,shegaveusoursyllabusandsaid,"Idonotacceptlate work,especiallyonwritingassignments."We,literally,sattherestunned.Myfreshmanclasshadit veryeasyduringeighthgradeyear.Wewerenotexpectingthis.AsIlookedthroughthesyllabus,I sawthatourfirstassignmentwasdueinaweekanditwasanarrative.Atthistime,Ididnoteven knowwhatanarrativewasMsBradleyexplainedthatanarrativewasanaccountorstoryof events.Itcouldbeeithertrueorfalse.Ournarrativehadtobetrue.Ithadtobeatrueaccountof somethingthathappenedtousoverthesummer.Shewantedtogaugehowarewritingskillswere. OurnarrativehadtobeatleasttwototwoandahalfpageslongIchosetowritemyfirstever narrativeonmytriptoFortWorth,Texas.Onceagain,Iwasplaguedwithwriter'sblock.Ihadthe storyinmyhead,buteverythingI

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Anarrativeessayisastorythatistrueandhasmeaning,whetheritbetoproveapoint,senda message,explainaneventthat'shappened,orentertainthereader.Mostnarrativeessaysarewritten toconveyastoryfromapasttimethatsendsamessagetonotonlythereader,butthewriter themselves.Whenplanninganarrativeessay,thefirststepistoidentifythetopicinwhichthewriter wantstoexplainTherearemultiplewaysinwhichtheyoucancomeupwithatopic,italldepends onthestyleyou'remostcomfortablewith.Thenextstepistowritedownallthemaineventsthat supportsthetopicyouhavechosen.Whatmaineventsleduptothestoryyou'retryingtoapproach?

Whatkeyeventsmadewhatyourtopicisallabout?showmorecontent

Thiseventmadeabigimpactonmylifeasitshowedmethevalueofworkethicbyshowingme thathardworkpaysoff.Italsotaughtmetonevergiveupandfollowyourheart.Andlastly,it taughtmetheimportanceofateamtohelpmethroughthetoughpracticesandmentalbattles.When choosingmytopic,Iwrotedown3maineventsthatwereimportantinmylifethatimpactedmeand shapedmyselfintothepersonIamtodayThe3Ichosewere:breakingthe3200–meterrecordfor myschool,breakingthe4x800recordwithmyteam,andlastly,movingfromPoincianato Kissimmeeandleavingallmyfriendstotakeonanewchapterinmylife.ThetopicIchosetowrite isoneIfeelverypassionateaboutandthesinglememoryIcanrecallthemost.Althoughbreaking the4x800recordwithmyteamwasamemorablemomentandthefirstrecordI'deverbrokenatmy school,nothingcomparedtothefeelingIgotwhenIbrokeanindividualrecordthatwasheldbymy owncoach.Ihadasenseofreliefandhappiness,notjustformyself,butmycoachaswell.Itfeltas ifIdidn'tjustbreaktherecordforthesakeofmepersonally,butforhimtoo.Mayhavetaken21 yearstobebroken,butI'dsayitsurewasworth

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Narrative:Amemorableevent.

Iwoketomybodyjitteringwithanxiety.Itwas7o'clockonaSaturdaymorning,anditwastheday thatIhadbeenawaitingfor.IwasalmostreadywhenmyDadshouted''Yabettagetya'selfmoving Kertesha,we'regonnabelate!''.

Ipaused,andtookonelastlookatmyselfinthemirrorMyhairwasscrapedback,mypolonecked fleecewassuffocatinganditchy,myblackribbedjodhpursweretightaroundmymidriff,butthere wasonethingmissing.Itwasonethingwhichallthegirlsontheinternet,inthemovies,andinall theequestrianmagazineshad–AgiletMinewasapinkAbercrombie&Fitchone,withribbed salmontrimsaroundthewaistbandandcollar;itwasnotarealequestriangilet,...showmore content

Althoughthesmellofthemanurewasstrong,overtimeIbegantoappreciateit,andsoitbecame moreofanaroma,thananodour.ButthisissomethingmyDadneverseemedtogetused,tolet aloneappreciateTheentirestablehadaratheroddsmell;itwasamixtureofhay,cutgrass,dust, manure,andoddly,ahintofleather.ThiswasasmellwhichIsoonbecameveryfondof.

Thereweresixofusinthegroup,wewereallnewtoDulwhichRidingSchoolandfilledwith enthusiasm.Afterbeinghandedourridinghats,wewerealphabeticallypermittedtochooseahorse, andasalways,Iwaslastinthealphabet.Iwasleftwithachoiceoftwo,onewasablueroanfilly. ShewasayoungslatecolouredhorsewhoremindedmeofEeyore(fromWinniethePooh),andwas alsoalotsmallerthantheotherhorses.ThenIsawtheattractivesorrelcolouredgelding,hestood glaringatmewithhisheadpokingoutofthebarngate.Hismanewasdarkandsilky,andhehada strikingwhitebirthmarkonthebridgeofhisnoseIhadaninstantconnectionwithhim,and proclaimedhisnameasCashmere.

AsIleadCashmeretowardstheindoorridingarena,myheartraced.Theinconsistentsoundhoofs trottingalongthecobbledgroundwereintensifying.AsIstrokedCashmere'smuzzleandgavehima mintpolo(he'sfavourites),Ibegantomentallypreparedmyselftomount,andridehim. Cashmerewas

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NarrativeEssayIstepmyfootintopublicschoolforthefirsttimeevermyfreshmanyear,not knowingasinglepersonotherthanmybrother.Priortomyfreshmanyear,Iwashomeschooled. Theschoolfeelsreallybigatthetimeandit'sveryoverwhelming.AsIwalkaroundIseepeople hugging,reuniting,andsaying,"ohmygoshIhavemissedyou!"AllIamworryingaboutiswhat peoplearethinkingofmelike,doesshehaveanyfriends,orshelookslikealonerIamgetting nervousandmorenervouseverysecondthatpasses.IdecideIneedtogostraighttomyclassroom, butIhavenoideawheretogo.Ifinallymakemywaytomyclassroom,thenIsitdown,andthebell rings"Thedayisjustbeginning,"Ithinktomyselfshowmorecontent Iamhalfwaythroughtheday.Afterthislongdayit'sstillnotoveryet,Iamjusthalfwaythrough thedaygoinginto5thperiod.AsIwalkedinIseeagirlIalreadymetandIwantedtorunandgive herahug,IwassoexcitedtoseesomeoneIalreadyknew.Ididn'thavetoworrywhereIwasgoing tositthatperiod,orwhoIwasgoingtotalkto.Iprobablylookedlikethehappiestpersoninthe worldwithabigsmileonmyfaceAsIamsmilingasIsay,"hello,Claireright?"Shesays,"Yes!" Wesittogether,exchangesocialmediausernames,andnumbers.Later,Igoto6thperiod,my scienceclass.Whenwecomeintheteachersaystotalkwithpeopletositinalphabeticalorder.Iam placednexttoakidnamedDominicThomas,andhisbuddyissittingontheothersideofme.They wereactinglikeIdidn'texist,andgettinginmypersonalspace.Later,theteachersays,"Theperson sittingatyourtablewillbeyourlabpartner"That'swhenIfoundoutDominicThomaswillbemy labpartnerforthequarter.Ididnotknowwhatwascomingforme.Finally,7thperiodhereIcome. Nowthisclasswasonecrazyclass,withsomecrazypeople,butitwasallgoodbecauseIgetto leaveafterthisperiodThebellringsandIamoutofthereLeavingschoolIamfeelingmany emotions,Iamhappytoleave,excitedtotellmymomaboutallIexperiencedthatday,

Imagenineresonateswithmebecauseitrepresentswomen"takingaseatatthetable"inbusiness andIbelievemorewomenneedtobeatthetable.Thephotographshowingawomanintheback rowremindsmeofathemefromSherylSandberg'sbook,LeanIn,wheresheurgeswomentotakea seatatthetableversussittingonthesideoftheroom.AftergraduatingfromSmithCollege,whereI wasempoweredbyintellectuallycuriousandambitiouswomen,andthentransitioningtobanking,a male–dominatedindustry,Irecognizedearlyinmycareerhowfewwomentherewereinexecutive roles.AsacareerdrivenwomanIbecameinspiredtochangethestatusquoandpromotethecareer advancementofwomenInmyprofessionalcareer,Ihavetakenseveralshowmorecontent IlearnedthatthebanksponsoredemployeeledgroupsandIwaspassionateaboutcreatingagroup tosupportwomensinceonedidnotexist.Iformedandledafoundingcommitteethatwas successfulinfulfillingthenecessaryrequirementsforapprovalandfunding.Theseresponsibilities includedcreatingacharterandbylaws,demonstratingfirm–wideinterest,andproposingfuture programmingtosupportourmissionAftergainingapprovalandfundingfromhumanresources,our foundingcommitteesecuredSenatorKirstenGillibrandtospeakatthelaunchevent.Thelaunchfor ourgroupwassopopularthatwehadtoafindanewvenuetoaccommodatethe100+employees whowantedtoattend.Next,weobtainedthebank'schieftechnologyofficerasourexecutive sponsor,theonlyfemaleexecutive.Afterthelaunch,Iwentontoleadprogramming,which includedorganizing"LeanIn"circlesforwomenatvaryinglevels,aroundtablechatwithour president&CEO,andlunch&learnswithourchieftechnologyofficer.Withinthefirstyearthe groupgrewtoover100active

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