Kids Standard May's Issue by Kids Standard

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I S S U E 22 | M A Y2 017

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Stories that Matter

Motivate. Activate. Celebrate.

F E AT U R E

Stories that Matter

Index: Feature..................................................2 Editorial Calendar...............................3 Fiction...................................................4 Poems....................................................8 Art........................................................11 History................................................12 Books...................................................13 Ecosystem...........................................15 Experiences........................................16 People..................................................20 People we admire..............................22 Reflections..........................................23 Society.................................................26 Penpal.................................................28 Parent’s Corner..................................31 Volunteer opportunity is available for students and adults. Contact us info@kidsstandard.com Let us know if your school wants to partner with us. Follow us on twitter http://twiter.com/kidsstandard Like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/kidsstandard 248-410-3976 © Copyright Kids Standard Publication Inc, Michigan. All Rights Reserved

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s human beings, we are wired to like stories. According to Jennifer Aakers, Stanford Marketing Professor, “stories are 22 times more memorable than facts and figures alone.” Since the beginning of times, stories have been one way that human beings used to pass their knowledge to next generations. Stories motivate, advocate, and inspire action through meaningful connections that people almost immediately feel when they hear stories. I would claim that the main reason for remembering stories is that good stories appeal to emotion. Our ‘self’ is reflected in how we perceive and filter the world through our emotion. Stories teach a lesson - a result of an experience. Since children do learn best through experience, stories come as close as it could be to providing this experience without an actual experience. In order, however, for a story to be effective, it has to have a meaning – something that both a writer and a reader would find relevant and

Arina Bokas

Kids’ Standard Editor & Author of Building Powerful Learning Environments: From Schools to Communities

important. What stories do children find important? Many answers are in our May issue - “Stories That Matter!” Happy reading!

Source: Aakers, Jennifer. “Harnessing the Power of Stories.” Women’s Leadership. Stanford University. N.d. Web May 2017

Disclaimer: All editorial and advertising material submitted to Kids Standard becomes the property of Kids Standard to be reproduced as seen fit. It will not be returned unless by prior arrangement. Submitted material includes advertising artwork and editorial content (including but not limited to: articles and images, art work and creative writing). All the designs remain the copyright of Kids Standard. Kids Standard welcomes comments and suggestions, as well as information about errors that call for corrections. Kids Standard is committed to presenting information fairly and accurately. Feedback: info@kidsstandard.org

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E D I TO R I A L C A L E N DA R

2016-2017 Editorial Calendar Summer 2017

Family Magic Our families are important to us. Tell us about relationships in your family, connections between kids and parents, and meaningful experiences that you had with your family. What makes spending time with your family important to you? What do you learn from your family members? How do you learn together as a family?

Kids Standard’s Summer Camp Writing through Learning & Learning through Writing

(Clarkston, Lake Orion, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Pontiac)

Duration: 5 days Dates: June 19th- June 23rd Cost: $225 ($45/day) Age: students entering 3 -8 grades Limit: 20

o find and tell your own story takes much more than just sitting behind a computer. It takes slowing down, thinking, noticing, questioning, and exploring. We will get up and go! This five-day camp will provide participants with an opportunity embark on a first-hand investigation of their hometown. During the first two days, children will do preliminary research and, guided by thinking maps, explore

the downtown, record observations, conduct interviews, and collect information for their stories. Days 3-4 will be dedicated to collaboration and writing. On Friday, all families will be invited to attend the last hour of the camp to walk

through a gallery of stories and find our more about each story by talking to the writers. All stories will be presented to places featured in these stories and published in Kids’ Standard’s Camp electronic issue, shared with families and participants. The best stories will appear in Kids’ Standard’s September issue. Young journalists will need to bring their own lunch and snack. Bottled water, a notebook, pen, and small backpack will be provided. Please note that this camp will involve a walking trip downtown. Students will be divided in groups of four and have a high school mentor assigned to each group. For more information contact Maggie@kidsstandard.org or call

248-410-3976

Students Name: ...................................................... Grade (going to): ................................. School Attending: ........................................... Guardian: .............................................................................. (relation)............................ Contact telephone number:................................. Person will be picking up the child (If it’s different from the above person): ......................................................................................... Please drop off your child at 8:30 am and pick up your child at 4:30 pm. If there is any challenge with time please talk to the attending teachers. Cost: $225 ($45/day) please make the payment online at http://kidsstandard.org/services or Check written to Kids Standard Publication AND mail to PO BOX 1442, Clarkston, MI 48347 For more information, contact Maggie@kidsstandard.org or call 248-410-3976 MAY 2017

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FICTION

I Can By: Adilane Vernagus, 3rd grade, Orion Oaks Elementary, Lake Orion

aren was a songwriter. She wasn’t famous; it was sort of a hobby. At least that’s what she

claimed. It was a rainy, stormy day, so she was inside writing a song. She sat there for 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes until she exploded with anger. She scribbled feverishly on about three pages, but then realized she was going crazy. She blushed a little, even though nobody was watching. So then she tried again. 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10

The Way Life Works

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minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes passed. “Uuuuhhhhhggg,” Maren groaned. “COME ON!” She flopped on her bed and laid there for a while thinking about nothing but “I can’t, I can’t”. But then she started thinking of stories about her childhood that made her laugh. Finally, she sat up, grabbed her pencil and notebook, and started writing. 1 minute, 2 minutes, done! “Yes, I can!” thought Maren laughing to herself.

By: Ian Lau, Deerfield Elementary, Rochester Hills

ike most stories, this one starts with a main character, an eleven year old boy named James. James had one brother named Jack. James was a person who was always alone, and not too many people paid attention to him. Even his brother Jack was not nice to him most of the time. So James taught himself to be emotionally strong. He was unstoppable at video games. He could easily withstand pain. One day he decided to do some research on the way life works. His conclusion was that life ran on luck, karma, and power. He gained some skills that made him better at everything, but he always tried to base his personality on other people. He didn’t really know who he was. He got two nicknames - Copycat and the Blame. The Blame came from him being an easy target to take the blame. This story has a moral that makes it a “story that matters.” I think you can guess what this moral is. www.KidsStandard.org

FICTION

IN-BETWEEN By: Evelyn Urbanowski, 7th grade, Scripps Middle School, Lake Orion

lay sinking into the quicksand that was my mattress, my rhythmic breath slowly sucking away the oxygen from under the blanket dome above me. I would stay there forever. The musical pattern of my breath would keep me sane. Never mind. I could not stay there forever; I was running out of oxygen. I gasped and ripped up the sheet from over my head, demolishing my singsong breathing patterns. What a shame. “Lydia?” My mother pounded on the door. “Lydia! Open. The. Door!” “Can’t, mom.” “What on earth is keeping you?” “I’m busy contemplating life.” “Lydia, stop. Pizza’s here. Get...”

“Aaaaaand I’m up!” I trudged over to the door, opening it with a sharp click! to find my mother standing on the other side, arms akimbo. With a sigh, I pushed past her before she could make any more remarks. The only thing motivating me to actually move my legs was the fact that there was pizza downstairs and I could smell it all the way from the stairs. My mouth watered. *** And there I lay again, sinking slowly into my mattress; this time in the dark of night. The blank ceiling began to depict images in my mind, slowly carrying my thoughts further and further away from my worries. But they never disappeared. A singsong chime sounded by my ear. I recognized it as my phone notifications, and this realization sent a chill down my spine- it was such a chore to deal with bullies. Why do people find any moment they can to make fun of other people? Reluctantly, I picked up my phone and was faced with a message that drained all color from my face. Mylie, a former MAY 2017

friend of mine, had left a comment on social media about me. “She should stop trying. When she tries, she messes everything up!” it read. Uneasily, I typed in my password and opened up my account. And, alas, there it was; a photo of my leaked text messages with Allen. In those messages, I had told him my true feelings for him, and Allen posted it online. “She’s so desperate, it makes me want to barf!” “Hopeless romantic” “She’s pathetic, Allen would never like her!” I read through all fifteen of those dreaded comments. The lump in my throat swelled as hot tears ran like rivers down my cheeks. I was hopeless. Nobody was going to let me forget it. Shutting off my phone, I whimpered as I tossed it carelessly off the side of my bed. It was as if Niagra Falls was now rushing on my face, and it slowly drifted me closer and closer to peaceful sleep. “I wish I could erase the past,”I whimpered. *** The air around me felt suspiciously dense as I stretched out my now featherlight arms. I couldn’t shake away the feeling that something was different, but my brain was clouded with sleep and couldn’t solve this mystery just yet. I glanced to the plastic blue alarm clock

perched atop my adorable antique nightstand to find it flashing random numbers, letters, and irrational shapes and patterns. Now this odd sight woke my brain up. It was as if I woke up in a parallel universe. Flicking off my bed sheets, I delicately attempted to touch the ground with my big toe. But I could still only feel the air around me. I shifted all of my weight into my feet as I attempted to stand up, but I was suddenly blown up into the air like a feather over an air vent! My body flailed as I was pushed higher and higher, until I finally smacked into my seemingly infinitely high ceiling. Thump! The little oxygen that was left in my lungs forced itself out, and I began to pant and wheeze. “Am I...”I croaked. “Am I a ghost? Did I die?” “Of course not, silly!” I whipped my head to the side, searching frantically for the source of the sound. The only thing that I accomplished was hitting my noggin against the ceiling. “Don’t hurt yourself, now,” the same melodic voice sung. “Where...where are you? Show yourself!” “Down here, silly!” I glanced downwards and, alas, floating there was a beautiful young girl. Her shining caramel hair reached all the way down to her hips, and it flowed all around her as if she were a mermaid. Her icy blue eyes were framed by thick black glasses, which sat gigantically on her small complexion, dotted with freckles. The short lavender dress she bore complimented her form and matched the small bow on the side of her hair. I could not take my eyes off her. “Hello,” she smiled sweetly, extended her dainty hand out to me. I took it, and she pulled me down gently so that we could talk at eye level. “My name is Julia. Welcome to the In-Between.” “The what now?” “The In-Between,” she replied with the patience of a saint. “We are a small group of spirits who help out people like you. So to answer your previous question, I am dead. However, you are not. When people die, some few

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FICTION younger spirits are chosen to come to the In-Between, and we assist the living.” She took my hands in hers. “I am here to help you. I understand that you have been bullied and want to change the past. ls that not true?” I nodded. “Yes. I mean, no. I mean... Wait, I’m confused now,” I hummed in consideration, and then simply answered, “Yes, that is true.” “I can lend you that power. Follow me.” We drifted in silence over to a golden floating doorway. “This is the door to the past. Would you like to enter?” I nodded. “Step inside.” I followed her instruction. I walked through the doorway and found myself in a room similar to that of an elevator. Julia followed. “It is simple to use. But keep in mind that even though you will be a figure in

Loss By: Euna Tulda, 3rd grade, Auburn Elementary, Auburn Hills

ne bright, beautiful, sunny day, Alexia and her friend Kate were playing outside in Kate’s backyard. Then Alexia became bored. “Let’s go somewhere. I am getting bored.” She said. “We should ask my parents first, ” Kate answered. “No, they won’t know. My parents are at work, and they will pick me up at 7:25. Look at the time. It is 4:00. We have lots of time to go somewhere.” “Ugh, fine,” Kate agreed histantly. They hopped on their bikes and rode to the park. They were having so much fun that they lost the track of time. When Kate looked at her watch , it was 7:24! “Alexia! Alexia, it is 7:25! Come on! Hurry up! We can’t get in trouble!” she yelled.

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the past, how long you are gone transfers to real time. Would you still like to continue?” I gawked. “My parents will be worried sick!” “They already are,” she offered. “When you are stuck so much on the past regretting things that have already happened, you miss everything in front of you. You don’t get to move forward in life. Just like what is happening now. Would you still like to continue?” I thought about it for a moment. What was I doing for so long? Do I need to change my past or should I learn from it and move on? She nodded as if replying to my thoughts. “The past has already happened. You cannot change it, but you can honor it. Past experiences will make you a better person. You have made the right choice, to move on. Will you carry this

They both hopped on their bikes and peddled as fast as possible. Once they got home, it was too late: Alexia’s and Kate’s parents were already there. They were sitting at the kitchen table with a phone in Alexia’s mother’s hand. Once they saw their kids, Kate’s mother ran up to Kate. “Where were you guys? We were so worried about you!” “We were at the park just to have some fun,” Kate answered. “And whose idea was this?” “It was Alexia’s idea,” Kate replied quietly. Then Alexia’s mother said, ”Alexia, why would you go to the park without asking? Because you didn’t ask, you are grounded for a month! Get in the car!” As Alexia got in the car, she thought, “Why don’t I move to Kate’s house?” At home, Alexia packed up her favorite things, climbed out the window, hopped onto the tree, and went down. She walked to Kate’s house and rang the doorbell. Kate’s mother was at the door. “Oh hi, Alexia,” Kate’s mother said.

forward in life?” I nodded slowly, tears fogging my vision. “Never let bullies and negativity ruin your now. It is never your fault that you are being bullied; that is somebody else’s poor choice. Do you understand?” “I do.” I whispered. “I understand.” Julia smiled. “My work here is done.” She held open the magical door and I stepped out. As if she were just mere air, she began to slowly become transparent, disappearing into nothing. “Good luck, Lydia. There will always be someone who’s there for you!” I smiled. “Thank you, Julia. Thank you.” She smiled back, waved her hand over my head, and my world slowly enveloped back into dreamland. Peace welcomed me with open arms as I slept through the rest of the dark night, back into my own bed, my own reality. My new, guilt-free, beautiful reality.

“Hi. Do you mind if I sleep over tonight?” “Ok. We have plenty of space,” said Kate’s mother not realizing what was happening. After they ate dinner, the girls brushed their teeth, changed their clothes, and went to bed. Just then, they heard fire truck sirens. Alexia looked out the window and saw that the fire was in her house. She got down and ran to her house. Her dad was outside, but where was her mom? “Where is mom?” Alexia cried. “She is still inside the house looking for you!” Alexia tried to run into the house. “I have to save mom!” she thought. It was too late. The house fell down. Alexia cried and cried. Many year passed since that day, but Alexia has never forgotten what can happen when we don’t think how much our parents love and worry about us. And never again did she go somewhere without telling her Dad. The lesson of this story is to always ask your parents before you go somewhere.

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Come half a day or an entire day. Half day options: 8:30am-12pm or 1:00pm-4:30pm. Full day option: 8:30am-4:30pm. Only $5 each

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POEMS Losing my, best friend blanket pillow and seatbelt. Knowing this was the last night to have my best friend by my side his gold and gray fur,

BUDDY By: Angelena Perry, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

I crept out of the car, Knowing something was off. The walk to the garage to put away my dusty bat bag after practice felt sour. That’s when I was sure something was coming. My mom hiding behind a smile, But her cracked voice held back the tears. I sat down in a kitchen chair It creaked as I heard the words, “It’s Buddy’s last night.” Shivers went down my spine, The fear raced inside my heart, I could feel it breaking in pieces right then and there.

Future

Be gone. As I jumped down from the chair I buried myself in his fur. Wrapping my arms as tightly as I could against him Thinking I never want to let you go Before I knew there was a patch of his fur soaked in my Tears Taking a glimpse at my mom above me. I said to myself He will be okay I will be okay He won’t suffer anymore He will be peaceful and we will See each other again someday.

or a coopalalork, What kind of shoes will I wear,

By: Keira Tolmie,

will they put me in mid air,

6th grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston

Now those all could be dreams,

What could it hold many stories not yet told, What could we find, in this new state of mind,

Knowing the daily slobbery kisses would

or as real as it seems, The future is a secret, with a lock and a key, What will it hold,

Will there be flying cars,

will never be told,

will we take a trip to mars,

You just have to believe,

Will I eat with a fork,

in the Future!!!

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POEMS Sadness By Jack Vitous,

Scratches on the Couch

My father’s old black truck rolled up the steep sloping driveway.

By: Caitlyn Pittman,

Glancing through the front window I watched him sit quiet,

5th Grade, Bailey Lake Elementary, Clarkston

8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

Sadness is a pain

My mom wasn’t sitting on the couch

Without a nerve Sadness strikes when

my sister wasn’t playing with the cat on the rug and my dad was nowhere to be seen-

looking ahead, a hand still on the wheel, waiting in the still silence. He pulled out the key and opened his car door,

You least expect it

Neither was the big black dog.

the all too familiar red collar in his hand.

Sadness affects

Clyde was his name,

I don’t remember what it felt like to realize why the quiet was so loud,

Each one of us

White chest,

Sadness eats away

And a belly that held everything from whole pizzas to drywall.

At what you love.

brown paws,

He didn’t mind hyper little girls or macho boxers, definitely not old yellow cats. He was a pillow and a jungle gym, the under-the-table-garbagedisposal at dinner. But he had disappeared.

or how the garage door filled the house with the first noise I had heard in what I swore was hours. Sitting on the couch tracing the scratches in the leather with my finger as my father spoke“He’s in a better place. He had a good long life.” All I could think about was that there would be no new scratches from those big black claws.

Stories

Sharing thoughts help you see different perspectives

By: Sophia Tadavich and Elise Wilhelm,

Taking part in stories bring you thoughts farther

7th Grade, Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston

Taking part in stories can further your education Taking part in stories allows you to access your imagination Taking part in stories shares your memories

Stories open you up to the world, they take you back generations Stories bring joy to all and, spread laughter everywhere Stories hold knowledge and guide you to success Stories fill you with happiness and help your creativity grow Sharing thoughts allows you to share your emotions Sharing thoughts connects you to others and relate to them Sharing thoughts can generate new ideas, and vast your learning

MAY 2017

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Discover with a Naturalist Oakland County Parks Nature Centers Year-Round Programs • • • • •

Family Nature Programs Scout Badge Days “Wild” Birthday Parties Starlab (portable planetarium) Field Trips for all ages - including pre-school and home-schoolers

Visit the Nature Centers or let us bring the programs to you.

Clarkston : 248-625-6473

Madison Heights : 248-585-0100

Program event dates available at OaklandCountyParks.com

Let us cater your next party!

Come see our fresh

weekly specials Come see what we’re all about! 7121 Dixie Hwy. Clarkston, MI 48346 | 248-625-6460

A RT

By: Lily Sorensen, 8th grade, Hart Middle School, Rochester

School night AT THE FORT 3 story play structure CafeĂŠ and dinner specials Arcades and ride-ons Call for school schedule

7127 Dixie Hwy at White Lake Rd , Clarkston 248-297-5453 www.fortclarkston.com

School night AT THE FORT

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H I S TO R Y

The Trojan Horse By: Paulin Vich, 5th grade, Bailey Lake Elementary, Clarkston

ncient Greece was the birthplace of Western Civilization, which started 2500 years ago. The stories of ancient Greeks have been told and retold for centuries, because of the enormous effect Greece had on the world. The inventions of the ancient Greeks were numerous: government, art, science, and philosophy - some of which we still use now. City-states were composed of a city and surrounding villages and farmland. The most powerful city-states were Athens and Sparta. The Greeks called themselves the Hellenes and their land Hellas. The story of ancient Greece was captured in many ways, but Greek Mythology is the most well-known. It tells about events and happening that took place almost two thousands years ago in ways that are interesting and useful to us even now. One of this stories is about the Trojan horse.. The Greek army laid siege to Troy for 10 years, but the Greeks could not break through the walls of Troy by force. So Odysseus, one of the heroes, developed a plan to take Troy by stealth and cunning. He ordered the Greeks to build a gigantic wooden horse, but make it hollow inside so Greek soldiers could hide there. One night, the Greeks withdrew their ships from the coastline of Troy, leaving behind only the horse. They pretended to have abandoned the war, but hid their ships at a nearby island. In the morning, the Trojans discovered the horse,

THE STORY OF LIFE By: Jacob Boddy, Orion Oaks Elementary, Lake Orion

t all started when mankind was created; a woman and a man started the nation of humans. We spreaded all over the world and now populate

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accompanied by a man named Sinon, outside the city gates. Sinon told the Trojans that goddess Athena was angry with the Greeks, so they decided to leave Troy after having built the horse as an offering to the goddess. Sinon claimed that Troy would defeat the Greeks if the Trojans were to bring the statue inside the city walls. Not seeing any threat, the Trojans pulled the wooden horse through the city gates and celebrated their victory all day. When they fell asleep that night, Greek soldiers crept out of the horse and opened the city gates. The Greek army entered the city, killing almost all of the Trojans and burning Troy. This story teaches a good lesson. To this day, we use the expression a Trojan horse when we describe something that seems harmless or good, but will eventually proves to be bad - a deception. *Source: www.worldbook.com

every continent and most islands. Mankind has been around for a very long time, so now we have many stories. Humans have passed down stories as knowledge for others for many generations. The first stories were written on cave walls with berry juice and mashed berries. The first paper was made in Egypt from rolled out sugar cane; quills were then made from feathers and ink.

From then on, we kept perfecting the tools that allow us to tell our stories. Stories are important. They teach us lessons and help us move forward as human kind. www.KidsStandard.org

BOOKS

Write Your Own Story

By: Chelsea Howe, 4th grade, Auburn Elementary, , Auburn Hills

ou are the person you are, and you should never change it. Many books tell stories that teach this lesson. In the book “Elmer” by David McKee, the main character, the elephant, didn’t like the way she looked and decided to put berry juice on her skin so she would look different. In “Catching the Moon” by Crystal Hubbard, the girl’s parents didn’t want her to like baseball. In “The Old Willis Place” by Mary Downing Hahn, Dania tried to dress differently to impress her friend. No matter the plot or characters’ situations, all these books tell the same story - you should never change who you are, but only become the best you can be. Only you can write your own story. Make it the best it can be and always be who you are.

Reading By: Bella Schwarz,

2nd grade, Orion Oaks Elementary, Lake Orion

chool is a great place to learn. Some schools teach different things, but all of the schools are great. One thing that all schools have is reading. Reading can help us learn about important stories of our world and people. That is why school can help us a lot to understand our planet, wildlife, cultures, and beliefs. Authors spend a long time writing books, so it is good to read books: they help us learn. Stories can matter in a lot of ways, like all the learning we get from books, and how much smarter we get. Stories are the best things to have in our world.

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ECOSYSTEM

Only One Earth By: Audrey DeKoninck, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

he story of our planet Earth might have a rather sad ending. From what scientists have discovered so far, Earth is the only planet that has life. Yes, there are recently discovered exoplanets that have features like Earth and could support life, but nothing is confirmed. We currently have only one planet to live, and we have been destroying it. Our cars and factories pollute the air and waters; our garbage covers the ground and kills wildlife. The oil spills in our water killing plants and animals. People in some big cities have to wear masks to combat the pollution in the air. As the factories, causing the pollution, continue to grow and grow, the trash piles get bigger and bigger. Our planet is going downhill, and some scientists predict that within a hundred years or so, we will not be able to live here. Any other planet that could support life is light years away, and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet have the technology to reach them. As our Earth is turning into a wasteland, we are not doing enough about it. So why havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t countries and governments done more to help the Earth?

Endangered animals By: Varun Achanta, 3rd grade, Auburn Elementary, Auburn Hills

andas are close to being extinct. But lots of animals are like this. A frog named Toughie is the last of its kind. After it dies, the story of its kind will end. A bird called a Dodo bird is MAY 2017

One reason is that industry, which contributes to pollution most, is owned by very rich people, and the factories make their profits. They put their own well-being over our only planet and our health. Then there are the rest of us, human beings. What do we, people of the Earth, do? Our focus needs to be on what each one of us can do to preserve our current planet. There are small things that can help, like picking up any trash you see outside, or using more energy efficient appliances and lights, or driving less and walking and riding bikes to get places more often.

But bigger things also need to happen. If a regulation could be put on the amount of carbon dioxide that companies are allowed to release in a year, it could impact the atmosphere is a very big way after a few years. For logging companies, make it so that whenever they cut down a tree, they need to plant one as well. Put a limit on the amount of oil that companies are allowed to take, making an oil spill less likely. We all write a story of our planet, and it is up to us whether it will continue or end. This story is about our lives and lives of our children. What other story could matter more?

extinct because people ate them and fed them to their animals. There is one great animal called a Tasmanian Tiger. It is extinct because people were afraid of these tigers and killed them to protect their animals or themselves. Tasmanian Tigers are incredible species. They could open their mouths a foot wide and walk like human. They could also run very fast. People killed them for no good reason.

These tigers did eat meat, but not of our animals or humans. They only eat kangaroo meat. We should learn a lot about our world and its life to keep the environment safe. We need to protect animals. People should stop killing animals for their skin, horns, and many other things. We should bring awareness to animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stories to protect animals and planet Earth. 15

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EXPERIENCES

Riding a Camel

By: Ireland McCulloch, 2nd grade, Orion Oaks Elementary,

Lake Orion

his true story of riding a camel is important to me because it was a great experience that taught me not to be afraid. The camel that I rode was so high up that I had to climb up the stairs to reach its back. I felt like I had a thousand butterflies in my tummy! When I got on the camel, my brother Keegan went in front and, of course, I was stuck in the back where I could have been sprayed! This didn’t make me feel any calmer. We were sitting in a big, red saddle that went around the camel’s hump, and there was a chain around it. The chain pinched me a bit because I was wearing shorts. It was a short ride - we went around in a tiny circle. When we had to get off, the camel pulled up to the big platform. I was scared that I was going to fall off. The guy yanked us of the camel, and soon I was safely on the ground. I was scared to ride a camel, but it also was very exciting. I tried something new and learned that things are not as scary as they might seem.

Sleepover Fun By: Lilyan Owen, 3rd grade, Orion Oaks Elementary, Lake Orion

was so excited for my sleepover with my cousin Elisabeth. We had to pick her up from the gas station. “Hi,” Elisabeth said when she hopped into the car. “Hi,” I said. “Are you ready for the sleepover?!” “Yeah! It’s going to be so fun!” she said. Before we could go home, we had to get my brother Maxson’s shin guards and soccer cleats for his first day of soccer. “Ok guys, let’s stop here,” my mom said as we approached a store. So we stopped in, but we didn’t find either cleats or shin guards.

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“ I have an idea. I’ll call Meijer to see if they have them. Please be quiet; the phone is voice activated,” my mom said. “Ok,” we said. We tried to be quiet, but we were cracking up because Maxson was doing a lot of funny things. It was so hard not to laugh out loud. Meijer had cleats and shin guards, so we got them and finally went home. Elisabeth went to my bedroom and unpacked E’s bags. Soon my mom called us to go to Maxson’s soccer practice. During his practice, we worked on the Cinderella 2 play that we were making up. The prince’s name was Bob, and Bob’s pants felt down and ripped in our story. Needless to say, we laughed the entire time! When we went out for dinner, when we got on our pajamas, and when we watched School of Rock. We played in my room, and finally went to bed. Next morning, I had to say goodbye to Elisabeth. This story matters because it teaches us to make room in our lives for our family and simple connections. My cousin, as most of my family, lives only an hour away, but I almost never see her. www.KidsStandard.org

EXPERIENCES

The Black Wave By: Emily Valencia, 5th grade, Bailey Lake Elementary, Clarkston

iguel Antonio is the only pretty beach around: white sand warming up your toes; shells and stones buried in the sand; the air is clear, not gray from smoke, with the sounds of seagulls and people talking. And last, but not least, the ocean. Although it looks inviting and cool, it can be extremely dangerous. It’s salty, blue, seaweedy, and wet. No words can fully describe the sea. “Miguel Antonio,” I said, standing in the white sand, breathing in the fresh salty air. “Wow, look at the rock!” Sofi, my 13-yearold cousin, shouted. As I looked at it, I squinted my eyes to make sure I was seeing the rock correctly. It was a strange neon orange. “I call it!” I reached my hand out to take it from the sand. Before I could reach the rock, however, Pablo, my 11-year-old cousin, grabbed it from the warm sand and started running away with it. “Give it back, Pablo!” I yelled after him, beginning to chase him. My other 13-yearold cousin, Daniel, tackled Pablo, took the orange rock, and returned it to me. “Thanks, Daniel,” I said and hugged him.

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“You are welcome,” he said hugging me back. We began to walk towards the ocean, watching Isabella, my little sister, chasing after seagulls. “Ah!” Isabella squealed as the cool water below her tiny toes surprised her. We all got in the water and played. Soon, my aunts, uncles, and Sofi got bored and left, while my dad, Pablo, Daniel, and I stayed in the cool water to play some more. The water felt good around my hips. WOOSH! Suddenly, I felt a strong force hit my back knocking me off my feet. I had no control over my body. A giant black wave crushed and pounded us down, taking us farther into the ocean. I tried to stick my feet to the sandy bottom of the ocean, but I couldn’t find it. It was too deep! “We are going to die!” I heard Pablo shout over the roar of water. Then I remembered! This same thing happened to me when I was 3 years old, here, at this same beach. Images started flooding my mind. I saw Pablo as a little kid. I saw mom, dad, and aunt Patri. I felt the same wave from long ago wash over my body. I remembered my mom hugging me right after it was over. Then, for the first time in forever, I started to cry. “Be brave, just be brave!” I commanded myself.

My uncle Marvin spotted us and threw himself into the ocean. He got a hold of Daniel and ushered him to safety. “Come on, guys, you can do it!” I heard my dad’s voice. WOOSH! Another wave took me even farther from shore. “Keep calm, keep calm,” I repeated over and over again. Then, in the midst of dark water, I saw something bright green and yellow coming toward us. As it got closer, I could see a surfer in a black suit. We were saved! Daniel was sitting by the shore, staring at Pablo and me with a look of an idea on his face. His idea was to build a mermaid out of the white sand and some pebbles. “Let’s do it!” I shouted excitingly. We worked on it for quite a while, making white sand take the shape we wanted. It looked really good, and people were staring at it. “Time to go,” mom said as she came over to us, looking at the mermaid. “And don’t you scare me like that again.” “I won’t,” I whispered softly, as I hugged her. “I never want to return here ever again.” “Let’s get back to the hotel,” she said. So we walked away, and the Miguel Antonio beach disappeared from sight. From that day there I learned that the ocean can be extremely dangerous.

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PEOPLE

Choosing His Own Weather By: Kiera West, 4th grade, Orion Oaks Elementary, Lake Orion

ne drowsy and gray morning, my mom and I were driving down the streets of our home town in Michigan. The weather was so depressing that I felt sad without any reason. “BEEP, BEEP.” It had just gotten worse traffic! “We have to rename this day to drowsy, sad, and ‘trafficy’ great, just great!” I thought. We stopped at a grocery store. We walked straight in so no one could tell we were there. Swoosh! The sliding doors opened for us; they opened very slowly. The fast wind from the day pushed against my cheek like when I was alone sitting in the park. Then, for a slight

second I put my head up and saw a man. He was looking at me and smiling. I turned behind me to see if he was smiling at someone else, but no one was there. That meant that the man was looking at me! I pushed my lips in a slip little smile. And all of a sudden, I felt like the gloominess of that day disappeared. It was still rainy and cold, but that smile made me happy. It made me happy for the rest of the day. It still makes me happy when I remember this man. What was in this simple smile to affect me so greatly? I think that this one man in the world chose his own weather. On that drowsy, sad, and trafficy great day, he chose to be happy! This taught me a very good lesson that I am in charge of how I feel. That is why I will always remember this story.

Everyone Has a Story By: Bre’niya French, 5th Grade, Alcott Elementary, Pontiac

very person on this planet has a story. Every person comes from some place and is here for a reason. And no two people have the same story. I’m half Puerto Rican and half black, with a dash of Indian. My skin color is caramel, and that makes me unique. People should be proud of their heritage and their stories no matter what race they are. If someone speaks a different language, it is unique because he or she can share this language with other people. In my class I have a friend who only speaks Spanish. I think it is awesome that another friend, who knows both English 20

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and Spanish, can translate for me. Whatever we do, we should never judge people for their culture or looks. Judging others is very hurtful and disrespectful. I know this because people have judged me based on the way I look. They didn’t know my story, but they had an opinion about it. Living in Pontiac is unique. In my school, there is a lot of diversity. People can speak different languages and I can learn from my friends. I can learn what kind of food they eat and what holidays their family celebrates. I love to hear their stories and I love who I am and where my family comes from. Each story should matter because it is unique.

What's your story? www.KidsStandard.org

PEOPLE

Connecting Our Stories

By: Aidan Gallagher, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

ost of “who I am” lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere, along with the alpacas that live there, too. I like playing and watching basketball. I like playing baseball, but not watching it. My family’s origin is German, and I believe, a bit of Irish is there as well. We live in Clarkston right now, but we used to live in Waterford. My mom’s parents live in South Lyon, Michigan, while my dad’s parents live in New Hampshire. All these factors come together to make me who I am today. My story matters because I will use my education to give back to the world. This may not be in the form of a fundraiser

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or extremely high paying job, but one that fits me and will make people’s lives easier and possibly the better world. My job may not matter more than a job of a guy next to me, but every piece of the puzzle has to be there; it matters. I want my mark on the world to be big. A new giant invention or a NBA legend would be cool, but I don’t see that happening. My mark on the world will be inserted to every piece of work I do and will only be recognized by me and close family and friends. My help to other people will likely come in the form of a product or a small community service provider that one day I hope helps them and makes their day. They will not know I exist or possibly contribute to something in their life. But my story will touch theirs and help them write a better one.

My Mission Statement By: Grayson Coe, Independence Elementary, Clarkston

Be nice, helpful, honest, and faithful. Make smart choices that aren’t rushed. Spread kindness by being bright and happy every day. Believe in yourself. TRY YOUR BEST!!!!!!! This is my story.

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PEOPLE WE ADMIRE

Foster Loyer By: Owen Pliska,

4th Grade, Independence Elementary, Clarkston

oster Loyer plays on the boy’s Varsity basketball team for my school district at the Clarkston High School. I love to go to the games to watch Foster Loyer play. My favorite game was the senior night, even though Foster was not a senior. The main reason that was my favorite because Foster made one of his famous shots. Even the ESPN person commented, “What a shot by Clarkston’s PG Foster Loyer!” The shot was like this: Foster faked a shot and fooled a tall player on the other team, Rochester Adams. The player jumped up to block the shot, but fell on Foster. Right before that happened, Foster released a shot causing a foul. The ball rolled around the rim and then went in the hoop. After the game, I went to get autographs. When I got to Foster Loyer, he gave me a fistbump and asked me if I was coming to the Clarkston basketball camp. I am excited for Foster Loyer to go to MSU, because I am a fan of MSU and I get to see one of my favorite basketball players play on a team that I like. I admire Foster because he is a great basketball player and he always will be.

Mr. Mickens By: Raven Lofton,

5th grade, Herrington Elementary, Pontiac

y story is about my fifth grade teacher Mr. Mickens. He made me a better person and discovered my hidden academic talents. Last year, when I was in fourth grade, I was a “drama queen. “ I was a girl who thrived on drama and loved it. Over summer break, I felt tense because I had a feeling that I was going to get Mr. Mickens for my fifth grade teacher. Sure enough, I was in his class. I had always thought of him as being mean, and I was scared! However, after entering his

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classroom, I was no longer scared and realized that he was not mean; he just had high expectations for us. His famous word is “expectation.” And his expectation for me was well above my own.

As the school year progressed, Mr. Mickens asked me to write papers for our school “wow” - wall of writing. He inspired me a lot! And without me even knowing it, he nominated me for a “Student of the Month” two times. Because of Mr. Mickens I learned that people can inspire us in many ways. Our parents and friends can inspire us. We should never give up on believing in ourselves and always allow others, who see our potential, help us strive to be the best we can be. We all have individual and special talents. However, it takes just one person, like Mr. Mickens for me, to inspire and encourage us to reach our highest potential and be our very best. Thank you, Mr. Mickens, for recognizing my ability to write and encouraging me to write more and often. This story of my 5h grade year will always matter to me.

www.KidsStandard.org

REFLECTIONS

Life is Short By: Caitlyn Pittman, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

ife, as many will tell you, is short. Those three simple words - ‘life is short’ - have held their ground over the years as the saying above all sayings, the catchphrase above all catchphrases. And for a dog, that couldn’t be more true; most of them get ten- twelve years to make their imprint on the world and souls of their people. Any pet owner would know that in those ten years a dog gives unconditional love and companionship: chewing up shoes, snuggling on the couch, playing fetch in the backyard. In the few years dogs are given, they make memories and mistakes. The difference between dogs and people is that people get several more years to do that. But even with several years to live their lives, people still know that their lives are short. ‘Stepping outside of the box’ is another big saying, right up there with ‘life is short,’ and it’s equally important. It means that you should go outside of your comfort zone to take chances and make changes. The two sayings go hand in hand: one of them says you don’t have all of the time in the world, while the other urges you to use the time you have to take chances. Without stepping outside of the box, life would be dull, boring, and grey. There would be no way to make mistakes and memories, and certainly, no way to leave an imprint on the world. Take a dog looking out of a window of the moving car; as if the landscape rushing by isn’t strange enough, the dog sticks its head outside of the window. Anything could happen, but by looking outside, the dog gets the rush of wind in its face and a first-hand look at the world flying by. By taking a chance at the unknown and looking out of the window, the dog is stepping outside of the box. We, humans, have to take every opportunity to step outside of our comfort box, discover our world, and see what happens. No matter where the opportunities take us - to triumph or errors - in the end, we learn something new. So it may be true- life may be short- but whether you are young or old, a boy or a girl, a dog or a person, there will always be windows of opportunity to step outside of the box and make mistakes, and memories, and imprints. And no matter how long or short the story of our life is, it wouldn’t be life without this.

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REFLECTIONS

Unexpected Reasons

By: Ashleigh Strong, 8th grade, Clarkston Junior High School

ometimes people are faced with unexpected illnesses or diseases that just pop up out of the blue. We often call them coincidences because they seem to happen without purpose and meaning. Some illnesses you can never leave behind - just the luck you have in your genes to be diagnosed with a terrible disease with no cure. But could it all be part of some plan, some purpose? When one person suffers from a disease, it might teach another person to value life more and not to take everything for granted. Everything happens for a reason, and this is my story. It was the summer before my 5th grade when my Mom started to get sick every night. She would vomit over and over again in the toilet. I was always so horrified to watch her go through the process, that most times I wouldn’t. I would pick up one of my favorite books and shut my bedroom door, or I would turn on the T.V. just loud enough to drown out the sound. Although she never told me, I knew that she was always exhausted. I could see it in her eyes when she looked at me, or I could hear it in her voice 24

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when she talked to me. She visited so many doctors that I couldn’t keep track anymore. And each doctor would say the same thing: “ I don’t know.” So each time she would be on her way to a new doctor, I would whisper a little prayer in my head; a plea to God to let this be the one. “Please, please, please, please, please, please, don’t let her fight this battle alone.” But no matter how many times I said please, she would always come home with a sorrowful look on her face that made my heart sink. And dad would always guide her up to their bedroom and shut the door. We always would want to see her, my brother and I, but Dad would say “tomorrow.” This went on for about two months. When we thought that it really couldn’t get any worse, it did. When I arrived home from school one day, my mom had a surprise trip to the urgent care. So my grandparents had come to watch us. I knew it couldn’t possibly be good when I noticed the tears in my grandpa’s eyes. It was the first time that I had ever seen him cry. So we waited at home, patiently, for news that she was okay and alive. We were all sitting around the kitchen table. My grandpa’s and brother’s eyes were glued to their electronics;

my grandma was eyeing her silver watch nervously, and I was trying to read my book. Suddenly, my grandpa’s phone rang, and time seemed to freeze. She needed a blood transfusion! That was all we needed to hear to send my brother crying, my heart sinking, and my grandparent’s faces darkening with sorrow. The next morning, I found myself awake from a dream-free sleep, and I had almost forgotten about last night’s events until I went to check my parents’ room and found that the bed was empty. I could hear people moving about downstairs as I went down the steps. “Is she okay?” My grandma jumped at the sound of my voice; she hadn’t noticed I was downstairs. I could feel my heart pumping in my chest, getting ready to burst. “She’s great Ashleigh! They figured out what was wrong with her, finally! She has Celiac disease.” The feeling of sadness seemed to vanish as I smiled ear to ear. I knew exactly what that was. She was allergic to gluten. Gluten was making her sick, and all of the doctors couldn’t figure that out! About a month later, my mom was doing great. She was back to her old self and no longer was getting sick. She was a brand new person that I smiled at daily. She had made some changes in her diet, but she was healthy and that’s all that mattered. We had to start shopping at Whole Foods to aid her Celiac disease. To help her go through her food changes, we started to eat gluten free diet, too. The meaning of my mom’s suffering became clear shortly, when my aunt Liz, my mom’s baby sister, and then my grandmother started showing the same symptoms. They, too, had Celiac disease. My mom figured out what was wrong with her just in time to help my aunt and my grandma. And it only happened a month apart. How could that be a coincidence? How could my mom go through something like that only to have it happen to my aunt and grandma 4 weeks later? This is a story that has now forever changed me. Although it was a struggle, it happened for a reason. Everything happens for a reason; this I believe.

www.KidsStandard.org

REFLECTIONS

Spring Break By: Gabby Smith, 2nd grade, Orion Oaks Elementary,

Lake Orion

was on Spring Break. We drove to the dock, where all of the boats were, to spend some time on a boat. When we got there, we waited for what felt like forever for the person to tell us how to maneuver a boat. It was a big pontoon boat! It seemed like a hard boat to operate. Still, when after two hours on a

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lake my grandpa asked me if I wanted to drive the boat, I was thrilled and said “Yes!” I got on my grandpa’s lap, and he told me to go starboard, which means left. Then we went port, which means right. After a little while, I wanted to bring it back to the dock. When we were about to go in, my grandpa told me to go sit back down so he could park the boat. “Humph” I wanted to park the boat! After the ride, we went up the hill for what felt like ten miles! When we finally reached Grandma and Grandpa’s truck, we hopped in and drove off to a fish feeding place, which was like an Aquarium but with fish only. We

looked at the fake fish inside and went outside with fish food to feed the trout. My favorite fish were the beautiful white fish, but they didn’t look very hungry. We went up another hill, and it felt again like another ten miles, to grandpa’s truck. He drove us back to our hotel before going back to their campsite. When my grandparents left, we went swimming in the jumbo pool that was very clean, unlike many other pools on this vacation. The story of this day was special to me because it is a story that I will always remember. Stories like this are always important because they spread the word of our experiences and lessons. That is why stories matter.

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SOCIETY

Story of Poverty

By: Kaden Kelco, 8th grade, Junior High School, Clarkston

n issue that affects too many people in the world today is poverty. Poverty in its worst is in third world countries. In these countries governments are less stable, resources are limited, and climates are intense. Yet, people’s stories matter, and we need to help them live a better quality of life. Think about all of the food we have: three meals a day along with snacks. Imagine not getting that anymore, going days without food and seeing your bones stick out of your skin because you have nothing there. One in every nine kids doesn’t have enough food to eat. That’s 795 million people (“Know Your World: Facts About World Hunger & Poverty”). All of these kids are not getting what they need to develop right. Think about trying to drive a car with no fuel. That’s what it’s like to not have enough food. 22,000 children die each day because of starvation (“Know Your

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World: Facts About World Hunger & Poverty”). We may say “we’re starving” sometimes, but we do not know what it’s really like to be “starving”. 896 million people in developing countries live on less than $1.90 a day. That’s less than it costs to buy a school lunch (“Know Your World: Facts About World Hunger & Poverty”). Have you ever gone to the doctor because you were sick? You probably got some medicine and were healed in a few days. People in developing countries don’t have that luxury. There are many diseases in developing countries such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Diarrhea (Johnson, Taylor). The people can’t get the help they need. There are some diseases that weaken you and others that kill you. Many of these diseases are easily treatable but the resources that are needed are not there. Think about never going to the doctor and getting your medicine and feeling better, just having that virus break you down until it finally kills you. Diarrhea kills 760,000 children each year. A child dies every

minute because of Malaria. 1.1 million children under 5 die each year from Pneumonia. 1.3 million people die from Tuberculosis (Lily Tyson). Parents have to watch their children suffer, and they can’t do anything to help them. Kids grow up without their mom and dad who have been killed by disease. Pollution is taking the lives of ¨more than 8.4 million people each year, a new analysis shows. That’s almost three times the deaths caused by malaria and fourteen times those caused by HIV/AIDS¨. However, pollution receives a fraction of the interest from the global community (Leahy, Stephen). Pollution puts disease in the air for these people to breathe. It puts the toxic waste into the little water there is to drink. The ¨GAHP analysis integrates new data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others to determine that 7.4 million deaths were due to pollution sources from air, water, sanitation and hygiene. An additional one million deaths were due to toxic chemical and industrial wastes flowing into air, water, soil and food¨ (Leahy,

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SOCIETY Stephen). The people in these countries are dying rapidly. All countries around the world have problems. Although developing countries are likely to have more problems, developed countries have their fair share of problems and feel they have enough issues of their own. America is facing a lot of problems with illegal immigrants, for example. They are coming in and taking over the country. More than ¨10 million undocumented aliens currently reside in the U.S., and that population is growing by 700,000 per year¨. Lots of illegal immigrants come to America

Investing By: Eric Gohl, 8th Grade, Clarkston junior High School

o matter your financial situation or age, you should invest. People can double their income if they are talented. If you consider yourself wealthy, you would benefit more, because the more you put in the more you get back. But it does not matter if you come from a lower income household; it would still be beneficial for you to invest. First off, remember to do your research. You need a company that will receive a large cash. This way you can buy stock low and then sell when it goes up. There is a lot of information available online that helps us learn about economy. When I was researching a coal company to see why it took a dip in 2013, I was able to find a corporate report detailing exactly that. The company gave a lot of disproportionately large charitable donations to its community. One of the biggest parts of investing is researching the driving forces of that stock. With such a multitude of information at your fingertips, it is easy to make an educated, informed

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looking for better jobs and a better life but what they don’t know is that they are ruining the lives of Americans. The jobs that belong to Americans are being taken away because the illegal immigrants are taking them. Leaving Americans with no jobs (Johnson, Kirk). Although developed countries like America have a lot of their own problems to solve, they still have resources to be given to those around the world that need them. When I was in Jamaica I saw many houses that were half built. I asked about it, and our guide explained that many of the people only have enough money to

investment. A valuable piece of information that I have learned is that the smaller company you invest in the more risky it can be. Also, I would strongly recommend to stay away from penny stocks - stocks that are usually priced below $5. While they can pay out intensely, oftentimes one ends up losing money in the long run. Practicing is very important. I download apps on my iPhone that use fake money but utilize real statistics from the stock market. I have learned a lot from them, and now I am able to make investments that make money nearly 80% of the time. Not only does investing assist you financially, but also intellectually. A lot of things I have learned from investing I can apply to general

start building. Then they go to America, work in the summer, and build a little more in winter. It takes a lot for a country to run successfully, and developing countries don’t have what they need to run. How does a car run with no gas? We need to help them, because if we don’t, people will just keep on dying. Next time you open the door to your house, or go to the grocery store, think about the people in developing countries and what they are going through. All we have to do to help is give a little, and we can forever change their stories.

finance, too. I am trading quite rapidly, just so I can learn as much as I can. One smart thing to do is to invest in a stably growing stock and forget about it; that is a safe way to make a worthwhile amount of money. If you have a lot of money to invest, this tactic is very effective and easy. Some people don’t trust the stock market, and that’s understandable, but if one makes very educated investments, the chances of losing money are much lower. There is no such thing as “luck;” only probability. Anyone can be successful investing. I would recommend you start investing as soon as you can. So why should this story matter to you? I have made money this way, and you can do it, too!

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Your Stories Matter!

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our stories matter, because they teach others. As uniquely different as everyone in the world is, we all share similarities. Through storytelling you may discover human characteristics that you appreciate and want to emulate. Other traits may either intrigue you or warn you away. Stories connect people to each other, and they create understanding. They inspire, motivate and entertain. They also pave the road for us if we are walking on an unfamiliar path. We have learned many of our stories through conceptual writing, art, poetry, movies and books. As I visited the Louvre museum this past weekend, I noticed that many ancient peoples told their stories through narrative drawings and writings on walls. This was their way of communicating with future generations about their lifestyle and what mattered most to them. Our ancestors understood that stories were how people learned best. Shared experiences led to greater understanding and empathy. Since the early storytellers first drew on the cave walls at Lascaux, science has studied storytelling’s impact on the brain. It turns out that our human brains are wired to connect with narratives that evoke emotion. The brain produces oxytocin, which in turn compels us to trust and collaborate with others. When we watch movies such The Pianist or The Life of Pi, we recognize struggle, learn how it can be overcome and recognize

hope’s existence. Film makers did a great job showing the stories of African Americans in compelling films such as Roots and Hidden Figures. Even from Disney fiction we have learned about heroes and kindness in Beauty and the Beast. Beautiful Mind allowed a glimpse into the world of mental illness. The best stories open our eyes and deepen our thinking. Some people find immense joy in storytelling because it inspires the writer as well as the reader. For instance, I am currently writing a book on how to overcome adversity. I’ve discovered that telling my stories has helped me to understand myself better while influencing others to become more resilient! Part of my story includes Kids Standard. I started Kids Standard magazine because my own children were getting more in to thinking, analyzing, reading and researching and writing. This, in turn, led me to create this masterpiece, and now I look at every child as my own. I also seek out other parents who could join us creating thinkers, readers, researchers and writers! Storytelling is at the core of everything we do. I find that I enjoy telling people my stories, and I enjoy hearing yours even more. • Where you are right now and what is happening in your life? • Why you are telling the story? • What matters most to you? We all have stories to tell. What’s yours? In the meantime, enjoy our issue on Stories that Matter!

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