Friday, October 31, 2008

REReReRevised College Essay..

The separation of my parents couldn’t have come at a worse time for me, the summer before my freshman year of high school and has continued to affect me for four years. The first year I adjusted to my new life; living with just one parent and having more freedom. Sophomore year came and brought new beginnings. My brother and I had lived in the same house without saying anything to each other for over a year. We were both so angry with our situation. The silence was broken driving home from school when I had a bad day and broke down crying. My brother soothed my tears and my worries about many things, including our parents’ divorce. By the time he left for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007, I felt stronger because of him and the bond between us remains strong. My junior year was definitely the year that brought me to who I am now. I resolved to replace the void my brother’s absence left with school activities and found something amazing: a seriously upsetting experience had given me the skills to handle many new tasks. I became involved and fully revealed the power I had to lead, plan, and achieve through the many responsibilities moderators and teachers trusted in me. I was confident enough with my newly harnessed characteristics and decided to run for Senior Class President, and won. I also took on another big responsibility that year and was picked to plan my school’s annual Freshmen Retreat. Both of these duties require someone who is strong, sensitive to others needs, and knows what the majority wants and how to give it to them. Freshmen Retreat was a huge undertaking and difficult to plan because I had to balance being accommodating to freshmen parents and the senior leaders. I gave up much of my summer to arrange all the ins and outs, thinking of every possible problem that could happen and the solution. As Senior Class President I also have to think of dilemmas within my class or school that I feel should be changed and how I can achieve those developments. I endlessly work hard to make this year completely unforgettable for my entire class. My grade has already begun a new indelible tradition for our school called Silent Day. One night during Homecoming week the senior class spends the night and decorates the whole school. The next day is silent in order to prepare for our Homecoming football game. My class came together, made this new tradition happen, and made me proud. I take on big tasks and am able to handle them because I am a determined, hard working, dedicated, and unfaltering person. I’ve learned to deal with a double amount of stress, from home problems and school issues, which is a very important skill to have in the position I hold. I’m stronger and more able to handle things due to my parents’ separation than I would have been without the event.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

All the King's Men Dramatic Monologue

Who does he think he is?
I've made him who he is.
I've helped him to this point.
Do you think he'd be Govenor
if not for me?

From the beginning I've had control.
Since the time he was used
to cut that MacMurfee vote.
I've had control.
Since he was a shoeless, passed out drunk.

But I'd be just fine without him.
Just fine.
And I don't need any shrink.
I know what my dreams mean.
I don't need some crazy doc's opinion.

Really, who cares about him?
If he wants to run around on his wife
with ice skating sluts?
Or with me?
Who cares?

Well I suppose his wife.
But he doesn't need her.
He doesn't want her.
He needs me.
And if he thinks otherwise...

Sunday, October 26, 2008

All the King's Men Allusion Paragraph

Robert Penn Warren utilizes Greek mythology allusions to display significant parts of Jack Burden's life and development. The period where Jack becomes engulfed in the history of Cass Mastern is a vital section of Jack's growth as a character. Warren alludes to the Greek myth of Cassandra in this section. Cassandra and Cass share not only similar names, but also a similar gift. Cassandra was given the power to fortell the future by the Greek god of the Sun, Apollo. She then rejected Apollo's love causing Apollo to curse her; she may be able to tell the future but no one believes her. Similarly the story of Cass should warn Jack, but he pays no attention. Mastern speaks of horrible events when he says "...the death of my friend, the betrayal of Phebe, the suffering and rage and great change of the woman I had loved-all had come from my single act of sin...". These words should have cautioned Jack as events of equal magnitude happen to him: Willie and Adam, true friends of his, both die, he betrays Judge Irwin, and Anne suffers from the death of her brother and her lover. Jack later realizes "the world is like an enormous spider web", meaning one action causes another. Cass Mastern's actions effect Jack's. Jack become wrapped up in the history of Cass, he didn't realize how his own story was being changed because of his ancestor's. Warren channels another Greek myth when showing the blind eye Jack has to who is his real father. The Greek myth of Telemachus tells of a son who could not recognize his own father. This too happens to Jack numerous times. Signs are evident, but he never notices. Judge Irwin constantly refers to Jack as a "son". Irwin says "You got to lead a duck, son." and later wonders "You aren't in trouble, are you son?". Irwin acts fatherly towards Jack in both instances. He expresses his concern and acts lovingly towards Jack many times throughout the novel. Robert Penn Warren successfully shows the growth and understanding Jack gains of his own story through the history of his ancestors and father. Through these allusions, Warren effects the reader and their understanding of the world connected as a whole and the meaningfulness of each action.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

ReReRevised College Essay

The day my parents announced their divorce in 2005, I didn’t shed a tear. I felt strong enough to handle it. But I hadn’t truly learned how to be strong. Though my parents haven’t actually divorced yet, their separation still hit hard and has continued to affect my life for four years. The schism of my parents couldn’t have come at a worse time for me personally, the summer before my freshman year of high school. The first year I adjusted to my new life; living with just one parent and having more freedom. Sophomore year rolled around and brought new beginnings. My brother and I successfully had lived in the same house without saying anything to each other for over a year. We were both so angry with our situation. The silence was broken driving home from school when I had a bad day and broke down crying. My brother soothed my tears and my worries that day about many things, including school problems and our parents’ divorce. By the time he left for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007, I felt stronger because of him but miserably back at freshman year, even though the bond between us remains strong. My junior year was definitely the year that brought me to who I am now. I resolved to replace the void my brother’s absence left with school activities and found something amazing: a seriously upsetting experience had given me the skills to handle many new tasks. I became involved and fully revealed the power I had to lead, plan, and achieve through the many responsibilities moderators and teachers trusted in me. I was confident enough with my newly harnessed characteristics and decided to run for Senior Class President, and won. I also took on another big responsibility that year and was picked to plan my school’s annual Freshmen Retreat. Both of these duties require someone who is strong, sensitive to others needs, and knows what the majority wants and how to give it to them. Freshmen Retreat was a huge undertaking and difficult to plan because I had to balance being accommodating to freshmen parents and the senior leaders. I gave up much of my summer to arrange all the ins and outs, thinking of every possible problem that could happen and the solution. As Senior Class President I also have to think of dilemmas within my class or school that I feel should be changed and how I can achieve those developments. I endlessly work hard to make this year completely unforgettable for my entire class. I take on big tasks and am able to handle them because I am a determined, hard working, dedicated, and unfaltering person. I’ve learned to deal with a double amount of stress, from home problems and school issues, which is a very important skill to have in the position I hold. I’m stronger and more able to handle things due to my parents’ separation than I would have been without the event.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

rerevised college essay

The day my parents announced their divorce in 2005, I didn’t shed a tear. I felt strong enough to handle it. But I hadn’t learned how to truly be strong. Though my parents haven’t actually divorced yet, their separation in that year still hit hard and has continued to affect my life for four years. The schism of my parents couldn’t have come at a worse time for me personally, the summer before my freshman year of high school. My first year was the year I adjusted to my new life; living with just one parent, the less disciplined one, and having more freedom. Sophomore year rolled around and brought new beginnings. My brother, who is 19 years old, and I successfully had lived in the same house without saying anything to each other for over a year. We were both so angry with our situation. But this was to be his last year living with me and our parents’ divorce had gotten much worse by this time. The silence was broken one day driving home from school when I had a bad day and broke down crying. My brother soothed my tears and my worries that day about many things, including school problems and our parents’ divorce. By the time he left for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007, I felt stronger because of him but miserably back at freshman year, even though the bond between me and my brother remains strong. My junior year was definitely the year that brought me to who I am now. I resolved to replace the void my brother’s absence left with school activities and found something amazing: a seriously upsetting experience had given me the skills to handle many new tasks. I became involved and fully revealed the power I had to lead, plan, and achieve through the many tasks moderators and teachers trusted in me. I was confident enough with my newly harnessed characteristics and decided to run for Senior Class President, and won. I also took on another big responsibility and was picked to plan my school’s annual Freshmen Retreat. Both of these duties require someone who is strong, sensitive to others needs, and knows what the majority wants and how to give it to them. Freshmen Retreat was a huge undertaking and difficult to plan because I had to balance being accommodating to freshmen parents and the senior leaders. As Senior Class President I work hard to make this year unforgettable for my entire class. I take on big tasks and able to handle them because I am a strong, hard working, dedicated, and unfaltering person. I’ve learned to deal with a double amount of stress, from home problems and school issues, which is a very important skill to have in the position I hold. My confidence has risen because of my ability to overcome hurdles. I’m stronger and more able to handle things due to my parents’ separation than I would have been without the event.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Found Poem

No need to worry.
St. Christopher was on the job,
quiet and easy and coming slow,
in the forms of grace and softness.
The meaning of moments
passing like the breeze.
Something was swelling and growing painfully,
the beginnings of pain and insufficieny,
though it didn't seem to demand any repsone,
but oozing a few painful drops of moisture,
not thinking about anything.
It seems like forever but
Life is Motion toward Knowledge,
total and magnificent emptiness.