Short Story

“The Baby Brother”

It was a long sunny day in the stunning city of Boston, Massachusetts. Thirteen year old Paul was in high spirits as he can ever be riding his brand new, shiny bike outside his house that his parents bought him. Paul was accustomed to getting everything he wanted since he was the only child.  Paul was joyful with the life he had. He had his entire parent’s attention and everything in the house belonged to him since he was the only child. However Paul knew this might all change to some extent with the arrival of his new baby born brother.

            Paul was in his room playing his new video games and he hears his parents knocking on his door. “Come on in!” Paul screams. His parents enter with his baby brother, Adrian. “Look Paul it’s your brother, say hi.” His mom says. “Wow I don’t care about him mom,” Paul replies. His mother angrily scolds Paul for showing no importance for his baby brother and they ground Paul the whole day and make him stay locked up in his room.

            The next day Paul wakes up and he has a bad feeling about something, so he goes down to the kitchen table. Amazed, his parents are with his baby brother eating breakfast, smiling, laughing and feeding him while showing Adrian love and affection. Paul feels lonely and rejected by his mom and dad. He feels like if he isn’t part of the family and he hates the fact he has lost his parent’s attention. He then starts getting jealous of his baby brother for taking his attention away and feels that Adrian has ruined his perfect life.

            That same day, Paul’s parents put Adrian in his room. Paul then starts quarrelling with his parents that it’s his room and he does not want to share. “Mom, dad, this isn’t fair! This room belongs to me only and I don’t want to share with Adrian! I want him gone!” “Honey, you have to understand that Adrian is your brothers so were going to leave him in here regardless what you say.” His parents don’t listen and Paul is furious at his little brother and feels his life will never be the same.

            One day Paul’s parents left to the grocery store to buy food and made Paul babysit Adrian. Paul didn’t care and was minding his business but he heard his brother cry, he was hesitant to go check on him but he didn’t like to hear his brother crying. He went to him and made him laugh and stop crying. At that moment Paul was cheerful to have a baby brother like Adrian, he started feeling love and compassion for Adrian. At that moment, deep inside of Paul, he knew his baby brother was a good thing that happened to him. All the hardships were elapsed.

            Later that day his parents came and Paul seemed blissful. His parents were proud in his change of attitude. They were glad to see Paul appreciate his brother and his materials with him. It was a lesson learned by Paul the hard way. Now he will never forget to be thankful for what he has.

Point of View—the main character’s/narrator’s POV.

·         Paul love the attention he got from his parents but when the parents have another baby he gets jealous of all the attention his brother gets. He doesn't like the fact that he has a baby brother.

Character Analysis—identify each character (i.e. gender, strengths, weaknesses, purpose etc.)

·         Paul, boy, loves being an only child, gets jealous easily over something that should be appreciated and not hated. 

·         Adrian, baby boy, brother of Paul, gets more attention than Paul since he is a baby, he can't defend himself from Paul. 

·         Mom and Dad - both love their children but have a hard time paying attention to both but care for both brothers.

Plot/Central Conflict—what is the central conflict/issue of the story?

·         Paul loves all the attention he gets from his parents but when they have a baby boy, Paul gets angry and jealous that his brother gets all the attention instead of him making him feel rejected and lonely.

Setting—where/when does the story take place?

·         The setting is in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.

End/Resolution—how is the conflict resolved?

·         Paul, after being left to babysit his brother, finally sees the good in having a baby brother and appreciates the fact that he is a brother and realizes that he cares for his brother.

Autobiography Essay

Me

As I was born my parents named me Maria Del Carmen Larios - Estrella. I am currently seventeen years old. I was born March 15, 1993 in Los Angeles to my parents Luz Estrella-Larios and Rolando Larios. I have two little twin brothers. My two brothers name is Rolando Larios and Joaquin Larios and there both sixteen years old. There is another member of my family that is important to me which is our dog Mickey Mouse. He was given to me as a gift because I graduated from the Explores Academy in December 12, 2009.

Not only am I a great student, am I a lady who loves to look classy. Ever since I was little I have loved to wear dresses. My family taught me that dresses were fancy and should be used on special occasions. Now I’m the type of girl who likes to wear dresses for the fun of it. I like them a lot and I feel they represent me as the person I am and they show my emotions to others and the world. I am a young lady that’s special and has a lot of unique qualities.

In my life there has been a group of special people that I consider huge influences. That group of people are my 7^th and 8^th grade English teacher Shannon Muhammad, and my closet friend Diego Castro, and of course my parents. I consider them all my role models. I have learned from their mistakes and they gave given me advice on a lot of subjects, some of the most important things they have told me are about their experiences in high school and college and they have given me advice on what to do and not to do in high school and college. I have a major respect for them and admire all for all them. Now all of them are pursuing their dreams and in their careers and their future careers. There is so much I could say about all four of them but it would take up many pages. I think they are some of the coolest people on the planet and I am very proud to be there friend.

I am a person that dreams high and settles for nothing less than what I want. My role models have influenced my future goals, especially in the decision of going to college. My future goal is to go to a Pepperdine or LMU university, preferably in the southern California. I plan to specialize in criminal justice, but first graduate as a psychologist. I plan to do that because when I get older I want to become a detective and help people.  I know that it’s a hard job, but I believe that I am physically tough as well as mentally tough to be a detective. So afterwards I graduate from college and have a career I would like to own my own house somewhere in Laguna Beach, California and possibly start a family.

My 11^th grade high school has really helped me to define who I am. Also to finished strong with good grades. I’m the type of student that will fight and use my creativity to get any class work and schoolwork done no matter what the case. That’s what separates me from the rest of the students. I really enjoyed this year of high school and I hope that 11^th grade is just as good as this or even better. I think my ultimate goal for the rest of my life is to be successful and most important to me of all to be happy with my life to its fullest. There is still so much left for me to see and to experience so I know my future will be incredible. I know that my future relies on me and how I want my future to end up as. I control my life and right now, and I am proud of all the decisions. I am happy with my life so far, it can’t go backwards, and all it can do is get even more wonderful.



Semster Essay 10

Prompt #21: Many cities suffer from serious air and noise pollution-as well as endless traffic jams- because of too many cars. Some people feel that cities with extensive public transportation systems should ban passenger cars and force people to walk, bike, or use public transportation. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?

            Everyone knows that popular, busy cities like Los Angeles suffer from serious air and noise pollution as well as endless traffic jams on a daily basis because of the fact that there are too many cars. Many people say this problem can be solved by banning cars and forcing people to walk, bike or use public transportation. I say that this is a huge problem that definitely must be taken into deep consideration but not solved with these suggestions but with other resolutions. This is definitely not a good idea because the alternative ways of transportation are already dangerous, it takes up too much time of one’s life, and those forms of transportations are not always available outside of your house at any time of the day.

            In busy cities, there may be many forms of transportation but most of these transportations are dangerous in the way that many things can happen. Whether it may be walking, biking, or public transportation, you just never know what can happen. Suppose Los Angeles bans cars and forces everyone to walk, bike, or use the bus. If there are already a lot of cases of rape, murder, kidnaps and assaults, today (with the privilege to utilize cars), and the chances of getting ran over and of all the previous are as high as they can be. If there were no cars, the cases of rape, murder, assault, kidnapping  and the chances of all these horrifying things would most definitely go up by a huge percentage. Some people utilize cars for their protection while transporting from one place to another because of personal experiences that they’ve encountered before. 

Many people utilize their cars to save themselves a bit of time. There is only 24 hours in a day, and everyone tries to make the most out of those 24 hours. About majority of the drivers have many priorities that they have to get through in a day, and that requires them to transport from one place to another. Those drivers rely on their car to transport themselves, without their car they would lose a lot of time because they would need to walk to the bus stop, which takes longer than driving. They would need to wait for the bus until it arrives, then wait patiently throughout the ride over to their destination (including all the stops it makes). If people chose to bike, it would be much faster than walking but you still risk your life because of the possibilities getting ran over. Many people would not be able to walk because of the percentage of assaults, kidnapping, and rape there are.

Besides the fact that walking, biking, and public transportation is not safe, time consuming, it is also slow and not available outside in your parking at any time for whatever reason you need it.  Everyone is used to going outside their house onto the streets, straight to their car and without the existence of cars in the city, they would not be able to go out for emergencies and make it in time. Cars make it much safer for one because if you chose to bike or walk in the rain, you risk the chance of getting ran over, murdered, raped, assaulted and the worse. 

Although busy cities suffer from serious air and noise pollution, not to mention endless traffic jams on a daily basis because of cars I think that banning cars in the city and using the alternative ways of transportation is not the way to go because of all the horrifying things that can happen. The alternative forms of transportation are already dangerous and life risking as they are and banning cars in the city would only increase all these horrifying situations. The problem must be taken into consideration, but not by using this strategy. I would suggest for everyone to use eco-friendly cars rather than petrol cars because eco-friendly cars do not pollute the environment as much as petrol cars do.

Semester Essay #9

   Prompt: Many people volunteer their time to help others, either through non-profit organizations, churches, or other charitable venues. Write an essay convincing reader to find charity and volunteers their time.

Many of us have so much free time that we just let it go to waste! I don’t think should be doing that. In my opinion we should all help our society to make it a better place. For example don’t you ever get that pleasant, warm funny feeling in you when you do something kind for someone else? If you answered yes then volunteering is certainly something to look into. This is not the only way to help others but, also a way to better progress your own life. Volunteering for any type of charity or foundations presents many benefits.

Volunteering is a great way to discover your career options. Some of the best recommendation I can give is to volunteer for something you are fascinated in. If you are interested in being an educator then volunteer to be a tutor, if you are interested in the law enforcement then volunteer at a police station, if  you interested in a day care than volunteer in a charity that deals with children. The list goes on and on. Maybe doing some type of volunteering can help you find out what you want to be the rest of your life. Who knows you might even get the chance to find the passion for a specific area and if you have the chance to work in something you have a passion for then you have hit the jackpot.

A good reason for volunteering can be summed up in one word, recompense. Sometimes when you decide to volunteer for others at times you can make change in people lives. It is a means of making a difference. When that is achieved a sense of achievement surrounds you. Your confidence is elevated. If you ever have the ability to help others out, then why not do it? As a volunteer for the program Explores I can vouch on behalf of the previous statements. Quickly summarized, explorers is a volunteer program that helps teenagers that the world isn’t a game and it can take in too many different roads if you don’t do good in you school, with family and other important things. The Explore program serves as a Jr. Cop and having mentors or advisors to guide to what right and wrong. Spending time with my mentors or advisors gives me a sense of fulfillment. A sense of “it’s worth it” accompanies the act of volunteering.

If you can imagine yourself in the future then you are most likely to be making money in your future more than likely you also see yourself working. Volunteering is a great way to get work experience. When you decide to volunteer for a charity you agree to make a commitment and to give it your dedication. The same will apply for any job you take; you must commit and you must make the time.  Volunteering will teach you responsibility and time management; two very important examples for doing well the rest of your life.

You can pretty much there is organization or charity programs for almost everything. You should have the option to choose one you like and start volunteering. It is as easy as that. If you have the ability to volunteer take the opportunity and don’t deny all those in need of your skills. Volunteering is a great way to do something with your life and teach yourself lessons. Volunteering is above all a very gratifying experience that I believe everyone should have the advantage of encountering. Be positive and volunteer at a charity at any second of time today!

The Image I Chose

The image I choose is a Hawaiian flower- Hibiscus. The reason I chose this flower is because I love these types of flowers it catches my attention when I see them. Seeing these flowers make me dream of me going to an island where everything is very tropical and calm. A hibiscus is a beautiful flower that I mainly see in Hawaii. They are amazing flowers that you just can’t find in one color you can find it many colors. The good thing is that they are very simple and you can either wear a imitation of it or the real flower in your hear or as a necklace or a bracelet. With these flowers you can make just about any creation you can even draw it out. I just find it so amazing that Mother Nature has made a unique flower like the Hibiscus.

My Comparison Of the “Out of Our Father’s House” and “For Colored Girls”

Our Father’s House” and “For Colored Girls” was very interesting to watch because they were two different cultures, but at the same time they were similar.  These two films had to do with women who as they are growing they are experiencing bad situations from their young child hood. In both films they express very different in language and also dress very different. As they are speaking in the films the women are talking about how they over come there bad moments.

“For colored Girls they are talking about how they had all fallen in love and had experience a bad relationship with men and how they would be on their own with their family. In “Out of Our Father’s House the women in this movie are completely different in their way of expression and how they don’t have right as men an d how they would be mistreated by men. The characters that come out in both films are completely different in “For Colored Girls” are African American women and, the characters in “Out of Our Father’s House are white women. The settings of these two films are completely different in year and in age. “For Colored Girls,” it takes place in the modern days in the city where women were free and where everything was developing more and society was becoming more noticeable with all type of races. In Out of Our Father’s House this movie took part in the more of the old days in the Southern.

            Having to seen these two films it made me realize of how we all make mistakes and fall in love sometimes with the wrong person without even knowing there not right for us. I learn that this film has a message it has the message of watching out for your surrounding and to not make mistake repeat because it affects you sooner or later in life. The theme of this movie was that women always have a harder life than men, just because we are women. Even this happen we learn to become stronger and smart about our actions. I’m glad I watch this film made me realize that we women are very valuable and we shall all learn love ourselves no more the past. I know I will take this in consideration because part of this is part of daily life.

Semester Essay #8

 Prompt:22 Carpooling, recycling, and planting trees are all activities that are good for the environment. Write an essay convincing readers to actively participate in one of these activities.

Carpooling is an arrangement in which a group of people commute together by car according to Webster Dictionary. Carpooling not only helps the environment in several ways but also helps you in many ways as well. Carpooling helps decrease the amount of pollution, saves you time and money, reduces the risks of car accidents, and more. Carpooling can also be fun depending on who you carpool with. Carpooling overall is a generous act to our environment.

Did you know carpooling saves you time and money? If you did not know that, the answer is yes it does save you time and money. Everyone knows that time and money is two very important factors in one’s life. Time allows you to accomplish your daily goals which most likely includes work or going to school depending on which you do. Money is another thing that carpooling would help you conserve because you would pay half of the amount of gas as you normally would if you drove by yourself, or took the bus.

Carpooling helps reduce the pollution that is created daily by motor vehicles. Carpooling helps decrease the pollution in our atmosphere because petrol cars produce two different kinds of pollution: exhaust emissions, and evaporative emissions. Exhaust emission is when petrol cars release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates into the air. Evaporative emissions are when vapors of fuel are released into the atmosphere, without being burnt. By carpooling you help the atmosphere because you are not created twice as pollution but half and if people carpooled the amount of pollution would definitely decrease in a great amount of pollution.

Carpooling can be fun depending on who you carpool with and reduces the amount of cars on the streets which equals to less car accidents. If you carpool with a close friend, you will definitely get to know them way better than before and even get closer as friends because you will interact with them throughout the ride. Carpooling will definitely decrease a great number of car accidents because the less cars there are out on the streets the less chances there are that there will be car accidents. That’s why in traffic even if traffic is slow, there are always small car accidents that many or may not be fatal.

Carpooling is beneficial for everyone, because everyone wins. Carpooling is a generous act to our environment because it decreases the amount of pollution in our atmosphere. Carpooling also is very generous to our pockets, and by pocket’s I mean as in carpooling saves us money by at least half of the transportation money that would be used if you did not carpool. Carpooling can be interesting and fun depending on who you carpool with. Carpooling is very generous to everyone in general because fewer cars equal fewer accidents on the streets.