paigebms’s Blog

 What do you do when you get home from school? Do you grab a quick snack? What about a glass of water? Do you go straight to your homework? Or do you do an after-school activity? Whatever you do consider yourself lucky. Yes, that even means getting a sip of water. Think about it. That water you drink or the snack you had would be a huge privilege in third world countries like those in Africa. Most teens have never even considered this before. Education is even a bigger privilege. While us middle school students whine and moan about “the loads of useless homework” millions of kids in Africa wish they knew how to read or write. Teenagers usually think more about themselves than about what’s going on in underdeveloped nations. Africa is one of the most extreme examples of a nation that faces many dangers.

First, poverty is a major issue in Africa that people should be aware of. In 2003, 166 million people in Africa were considered “slum dwellers” which is a group of individuals living under the same roof that lack one or more of the following conditions: access to safe water; access to sanitation; secure tenure; durability of housing; and sufficient living area. Steve Smith is a co-founder of the charity BrightPoint for Children. They provide basic needs and education to children in poverty. In fourteen months, the organization has helped 1,200 children in Kenya, Uganda, and India. Many teens know about poverty in Africa, but they don’t realize how bad it is.  

 Another extreme factor in Africa is lack of nutrition. In 2006, one-third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa were significantly underweight. Also, 23 kids die every minute due to malnutrition. Teenagers need to be aware of how fortunate they are for a simple PB&J sandwich. Luckily, these shocking statistics are being recognized and attended to. One organization, Food4Africa, is partnered with Paul Mitchell Hair Salon and Products to make sure kids in Africa have at least one meal a day that is vitamin and mineral enriched. They usually serve cooked maize/soya blend which provide 19 vitamins and minerals. Paul Mitchell Hair Salon and Products recently donated $100,000 to help pay for the meals.

The last issue that Africa faces is the spread of AIDS/HIV. 12-14 million children have been orphaned because of this disease. That’s more children than there are in California! Just imagine if suddenly you found out your parents had died. Then imagine if all they left you is a tarp to make a shelter out of, some pans to cook in, a few bucks, and a couple other siblings to care for. This is the scenario thousands teens our age encounter on a daily basis. Some of these children are depended on to care for a family when they’re only 12! It just makes you think twice before you say “But that’s not fair!” when you don’t get what you want.  

In conclusion, the young people of America need to be more conscious of the horrible conditions kids just like them are living in. Even though some kids do think about the environment African children live in, they don’t speak up about it or try to help. A simple donation makes a difference. So, instead of thinking about helping, go out there and do it! And the next time you start to fall asleep in class, think about the millions of kids who would trade places with you in a heartbeat and appreciate what you are given.

“Racism is man’s gravest threat to man – the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason,” Abraham J. Heschel quoted. I agree with this Mr. Heschel to a large extent.

He is saying that certain people hate other people so much just because of something as simple as the color of their skin, their religious beliefs, etc. To me, it matters what kind of morals people have and how they choose to go through life. And even if they are rude or they make bad choices, that still isn’t a good enough reason to hate somebody. You may have heard the saying “Hate is a strong word” and it really is. Even though many people hate other people in a racist way, there are other humans that fight against their negative views of a certain race, religion, background, etc. Among these people are two figures that I believe made the most impact on eliminating racism: Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.     

            First, Abraham Lincoln was a prime figure during the American Civil War that helped abolish slavery, a form of racism against African Americans. One of the greatest things he did as are 16^th president was pass the Emancipation Proclamation. This had two executive orders in it. First, he declared the freedom of all slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America that did not return to Union control by January 1, 1863. Second, he named the specific states where it applied. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued September 22, 1862. By July 1865, 4 million slaves were freed.  The Thirteenth Amendment was then added to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865. This amendment officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. Another one of the unforgettable events during Lincoln’s presidency is the Gettysburg address given on November 10, 1863 at the Soldiers National Cemetery. The speech discussed the principles of human equality and he defined the civil war as “struggle not merely for the Union, but as a new birth of freedom”. The presentation lasted a little over two minutes but it has been one of the most remembered speeches in our country.

            Second, Martin Luther King Jr. was a major leader in the Civil Rights Movement. One primary event he led was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. After Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her bus seat for a white passenger, Mr. King and his followers started a boycott on all Montgomery buses. The boycott lasted 385 days. The boycott ended racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. MLK is also remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech. It was given to a crowd of 250,000 civil rights supporters at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” is one of the key excerpts from this unforgettable speech. This is often considered the best speech in history. Unfortunately, Mr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 by James Earl Ray. While standing on the second floor balcony, a bullet entered his right cheek went down his spinal chord then lodged into his shoulder. MLK died an hour later, perhaps one of the greatest losses of our country.

            In conclusion, two very inspiring people have helped make racism and discrimination disappear. Sadly, these men could not be with us today to see how far our country has come. Now, racial segregation between blacks and whites isn’t a huge problem and slavery is a thing of the past. Hopefully, Mr. Lincoln and Mr. King are looking down on us and appreciating how much our country has changed not only because of them, but because of efforts made by everyday people. Even though racism may always be an issue in this world, that doesn’t mean to stop fighting for what’s right: equality for all.   

“I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn’t. People weren’t meant to be together forever, regardless of what the songs say.” This quote is expressing the way the main character, Remy, feels about love. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen grasps the conflict of how Remy and her friends and family help her to believe that love is possible.

The main character in This Lullaby is Remy Starr. Remy is a stubborn eighteen-year-old that doesn’t believe love exists. Dexter is the one boy that thinks he can prove her wrong, even though he is a musician and very disorganized, which breaks Remy’s dating “rules”. Just like Remy, Dexter is stubborn and he won’t give up on Remy until he can prove to her that love is an attainable thing. One other key character in this story is Remy’s mother. She is a writer that has been married five times. She is the sole reason that Remy doesn’t believe in love.

This Lullaby starts with Remy and her friends starting their summer before they go to college. Remy then meets Dexter. At first she can’t stand him, but his persistence makes her fall for him. Remy tells herself that Dexter is nothing more than a “summer fling” and that once she goes to college that she’ll be rid of him. Unfortunately, Dexter overhears her telling someone this and their relationship ends. For the rest of the summer Remy tries to focus on her job and making the best of her summer. Everything seems to get better when she discovers her mother’s fifth husband has been cheating on her, only a few months after their marriage. This only makes Remy’s disbelief in love stronger. When all hopes seems lost for Remy to find a guy that can make her fall in love, her best friends finally stop being easy with her and tell her that she has made a mistake. They explain to her that she was in love with Dexter and even though she tried to deny it the whole time. In the end, her and Dexter get back together and Remy is finally convinced that love is real.

The theme of this novel is to never give up on someone. Dexter’s commitment to showing Remy love is very strong. Even though they broke up before half the book is finished, he still subtly proves love exists. By the end his efforts pay off. This shows us how if you keep working for something, then it will eventually pay off.

In conclusion, Sarah Dessen’s work of fiction turns out to be a great read. The determination of Dexter keeps you hooked on the book. The plot can be suspenseful in a different way than a mystery or a horror book. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave,” was quoted by Elmer Davis. Davis is saying that freedom isn’t free. It is paid for with the lives of innocent soldiers that come from the heart of our country. Among these soldiers, are strong, heroic, and hardworking man and women that have volunteered their lives to make America “the land of the free”. Veterans are worth being honored because they risked their lives to establish the freedom and reputation of America.

First, veterans should be honored because they have gained America’s great reputation. This country has a huge amount of respect from other countries because of all the soldiers that have fought countless battles to win wars. America also has foreign allies because those countries have admiration for us. Veterans also have founded what America is known for: its strength, its freedom, and how blessed we are.

Next, veterans risked their lives for America. Every time they go to battle, there is a chance of soldiers loosing there lives. This is hard on their loved ones, too. Families sit at home waiting and worrying for their daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and many others to return safely. Some veterans are very lucky and they will return home, but they are scarred not only from but being shot or wounded, but also by seeing the terrors of war.

Lastly, the veterans have helped America achieve the freedom it has now. For example, when this country was just starting out in the 1700’s, the colonies were still part of Britain. Over the course of 10 years in battle, thousands of men-and even women- fought for freedom and won because of their bravery and desire. Veterans are counted on by Americans to protect their freedom and their rights.

In conclusion, veterans are the sole reason of the United State’s independence and dominance. Without them, there would probably be no America. It is their courageousness and dedication to our country that is being celebrated on November 4^th. I defiantly believe that honoring veterans for one day is the least we can do. After all, we are “the land of the free only so long as we are the home of the brave”. 

Paige. Who knew how awesome a one-syllable word could be! Paige comes from the English surname meaning “servant, page”. It is derived from an Old French word meaning “young helper”. Paige is a feminine name. Paige was one of the Top 1000 names beginning in 1952 and has continued to be on that list to this day. At least 110,238 girls have been named Paige since 1880. I absolutely love my name and would never trade it for a different one. One advantage to my name is that it’s very easy for people to remember. Also, it is kind of unique because not many people have that name. There are disadvantages, too. I have gotten teased countless times. The most usual insults are when someone calls me “book” or says “Turn the page!” It gets really annoying. People often spell my name wrong, too, which gets on my nerves. They always spell it Page. How could you forget that “I”!? In the end, I still love my name and I couldn’t ask for any other.   

Every morning when I’m getting dressed, I open my bottom right drawer to pick out a shirt. Out of the corner of my eye I see the gold and black colored sleeve of my Benicia Arsenal jersey. This reminds me every morning of the memories of my first year of competitive soccer. 

I remember my first competitive game like it was yesterday. I was playing outside right defender. As a girl on the other team started dribbling towards me, I got into a low defensive position, preparing to steal the ball from her. She kicked the ball too far ahead of her and it landed right at my feet. So, I started to dribble up the field looking for a teammate to pass to. In my peripheral vision, I saw a defender closing in on me. I did a quick fake and cut the ball past the oncoming player. Just as I was running to get the ball, the girl stuck out her leg, sending me flying through the air. As I started getting closer to the ground, I could see the soft green grass getting nearer and nearer to my face. When I hit the ground, I realized the grass wasn’t as soft as it looked. I drug myself up from the turf, my head started throbbing. I immediately knew what hit the ground. What made it worse was that the weekend before I had gotten a concussion. This is one of my memories behind my Arsenal jersey.

Another memory I will never forget was playing in State Cup on Benicia Arsenal. State Cup is a huge tournament designed to find the best team in California. In the first round, each team entered in State Cup is split into a bracket with three other teams, a total of four teams in a bracket. The goal is to beat all the teams over a two days consisting of three games. If you have the most points in your bracket, then you move onto the next round. Our team had lost the first game and tied our second game. Our goalie ended up hurting her neck very bad in the process. Things weren’t looking so hot for our team. We had no back-up goalie which made matters worse. Our coach told the injured keeper to get some sleep and tell him how she felt in the morning. That night I prayed that she would be okay for Sunday’s game.

I had no problem waking up the next morning for our team’s early game. I pulled my gold and black jersey over my head and thought about Brianna (our goal keeper). As soon as I was ready, I sprinted down the stairs of the hotel we were staying in. I joined the rest of my team in the lobby and then saw Brianna.

“Can you play?” I questioned hopefully.

“No, Paige, I can’t,” she replied. Great, I thought. Now we have virtually no chance at winning today. Whoever Don (our coach) decides to play as goalie had better be good. My team left the lobby moments later and headed to the field. The whole fifteen-minute drive to the field was filled with conversation of who would be the stand-in goal keeper. Nobody had any clue what would happen. All we could do was wait until game time.

It wasn’t until about thirty minutes into warm-up and thirty minutes before game time that our team found out who would be playing goalie.

“Paige, get your goalie gear on,” my coach told me. This turned all my teammate’s heads. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks along with multiple pairs of eyes on me as I slid the padded gloves onto my hands. Millions of questions filled my head as I ran over to my assistant coach to do a special goalie warm up. Why me? Is it just because I’m tall? How bad are we going to loose now that I’m in goal? 6-0? 7-0? Pretty soon it was game time. I sighed as I stepped onto the field. The ref blew the whistle to signal that the game had started. The other team had the ball and started to dribble up the field towards me. They cracked a shot from far away from my goal. The ball was rolling slowly by the time it reached me. I scooped it up with both hands and punted it up the field. The battle has just begun.

“Good job, Arsenal!” the sideline spectators that were hoping for us to win cheered. It was half time. The score was 0-0! I was so proud of myself! I had not let one goal in for a whole thirty minutes! My teammates congratulated me on playing such a good half. This made me feel more inspired to play my best the next half. Even though I hated goalie, all the attention everyone gave me made me like it more, but not to a point where I would want to play it as a full-time position. I jogged onto the field with my team after our coaches had told us what we did well the last half and what to work on the next half. I held my head high and stood up straight as I ran to show how confident I was. The ref blew his whistle to start the second half.

I had continued to do well for the first ten minutes of the second half. I stayed on my goal line as the other team entered the penalty box (the box starts eighteen feet from the goal line and continues until the endline).

“Tweet!” the whistle said.

“That’s a handball in the box. Penalty kick for white (our opponents),” the ref announced. My heart skipped a beat and then sped up. A penalty kick is a free kick awarded for a foul committed by a defensive player in the penalty area and taken by the offensive player who has been fouled. It is taken from a point twelve yards directly in front of the goal. The only person that can stop the ball from going in the goal is the goal which happened to be me. It is incredibly easy to score on a penalty kick. That meant good news for their team and bad news for our team.

“Paige, you got this! You can do it!” my teammates cheered hopefully as the referee lined up the ball in front of my goal. Okay, okay. You can do this, Paige. You have to save this or you will be shunned by all your friends. No pressure, I thought to myself. My eyes locked with the girl taking the kick. I tried to give her the most intimidating look I could, but I’m sure it had a very little effect on her.

“You can take the kick as soon as I blow the whistle,” the ref said to the girl. There were so many people watching me.

“Tweet!” the whistle screamed. The next few seconds seemed to go in slow motion. The girl strode up to the ball and sent the ball hurling at me at about knee-height. I went to my left and I stuck out my leg to stop it. It bounced of my shinguard and…went out of bounds on the endline!!! I had saved a penalty kick!!! My team ran up to me screaming. The crowd roared. A smile spread across my face. It was so big I bet you could have seen it a mile away.

At the end of the game the score was 2-1. Unfortunately, we had lost. I sulked back to my car feeling like the results were my fault. It wasn’t until about half the way home that I realized that even though we had lost, I had done so much for my team by stepping up to the plate and taking the challenge. After all, it was only my second or third time playing that position and I save a penalty kick! I also realized that the two goals the other team scored were just partly my fault. The ball had get through ten other players before it got to me. In the end, this one game taught me a few lessons. It taught me that I have to make sacrifices that I might not want to make for other people. It also taught me that you win as a team and you loss as a team. This game happened almost two years ago and I still remember it so vividly.

As I shut my drawer in the morning, it makes me think of all the hard work and dedication I have put into this one sport that I love. I remember all the good times, bad times, wonderful victories, and painful losses that have happened over the 9 years of my soccer career. I laugh to myself as I imagine all the new memories that will be formed in the years to come.

THE END

Home Away From Home

I see a beat-up metal sign that says PISMO BEACH in white letters. My bare feet touch the first step or the stairs as I begin my descent down the 117 creaky wooden steps that lead to the beach. I feel my heart beating quickly as I reach the bottom of the stairs. The warm California sun beats against my cheeks. I quickly race along the burning hot sand and head straight for the ocean. The sand gets cooler and easier to run on as I get closer. The salty ocean breeze fills my nose and tickles my tongue. I look down and see seashells, sand dollars, dried kelp, small rocks, and sea glass. The foamy edge of the Pacific Ocean covers my toes, as I halt to a stop. The chilly water sends a tingling surge through my body. I stare out at the horizon and see surfers in wetsuits waiting to catch the next best wave. Standing in this spot I feel like I belong here. Like I am home. This is Pismo Beach.

“He’s what?!” I heard my dad say into his cell phone. Even though his jaw had dropped in awe, his voice was calm and contained. I knew from the moment he said that, that something terrible had happened.

            It was a warm August night. My family, consisting of my sister, Erika, (she was eight at the time), my mom, my dad, my dog, and me (I was eleven at the time), was watching the movie Flushed Away. It was about six or seven o’clock so the sun was still out. I was sitting on our white leather couch in our living room with a bowl of popcorn on my lap. I was perfectly happy and it appeared that everyone else was, too. Nothing bad could happen. Or at least that’s what I thought.

            Buzz. Buzz. I felt the vibrations of my dad’s phone as someone on the other line waited for him to pick up.

            “This is Leo,” my dad said holding the phone to his ear. Everyone, even my dog, looked up at my dad as he spoke to my Aunt Danielle. I watched his expression go from happy and interested to painful and shocked. All I could do was wonder what had happened until my dad hung up.

            “Dustin’s dead,” my dad said with a sick look on his face as soon as he got off the phone. “Paige and Erika, you are going to go to Esther’s house while your mom and I go to the hospital.” Esther was a family friend. She lived right up the street and had two daughters, one eight-year-old and one six-year-old. I couldn’t even find my voice to ask any of the million questions that were running through my head about Dustin, my cousin.

            The ride up to Esther’s house was silent.

            “We’ll pick you up when we get home,” my mom told me. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. I didn’t say anything, just slightly nodded my head. When I got inside Esther’s house, I tried to put on a smile, but it didn’t really work out well.

            After being with Esther for a while, I started to talk about Dustin. Esther walked over to me and gave me a hug. Then it hit me: I would never see Dustin again. That’s when the tears started coming. I stood in Esther’s arms, crying, for about ten minutes. I couldn’t cry too much because I wouldn’t want to upset Erika. All I wanted to do is go home and sleep.

            My parents picked my sister and me up at about 9:30 that night. It turns out that Dustin was depressed, so he overdosed on prescription drugs to take his life. Dustin’s death has taught me life lessons. First, he taught me exactly what I shouldn’t do, like do drugs and steal. His death also made me realize how selfish it is to commit suicide. At his funeral, I saw so many people that cared about him there. I can’t remember any face that didn’t have tears rolling down them. Maybe if Dustin could have seen that, he would have realized how many people loved him, which could have changed his mind. But, it was too late. I will never forget you, Dustin.