When I was thirteen years old, I held in my hand a crisp, new copy of the latest in the magical book series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. My heart pounded, my stomach had butterflies, and I suddenly couldn’t stand still. I was holding in my hand the novel I had been waiting for […]
I was curled up in the middle of my bed, a blanket clutched between clawed fists, sobs wracking my frame with so much force that the headboard clacked against the wall. In my head, a voice kept screaming, over and over, “Why me?” My angry fingers kneaded the unfortunate blanket, as if trying to pull […]
Si se puede, yes it can be done, was the phrase little eight year old me and my six year old sister chanted through my cramped, tiny townhome in the suburbs of Montgomery Village, MD after watching Gotta Kick it Up! on Disney Channel. The smells of rich Peruvian chicken being roasted from the oven […]
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Those words were spoken by the sixth president of the United States of America, John Quincy Adams. He almost perfectly describes leadership. A leader does not have to be rich, smart, or elegant; a leader is […]
“Oh my gosh, Mom! He’s drowning!” I exclaimed as my unshaved, fourteen-year-old legs propelled me toward the churning and bubbling sea. I had spied a lumpy, gray, human-shaped mass battling the water nearly fifty yards off shore. I called out to him, in fear of having his frail body gobbled up in the briny waves. […]
The loose gravel of the hiking path crunched underneath our feet as our group from my paper-flat hometown gradually scaled a tall hill in the Marin Headlands Institute. Led by a camp counselor, we were an odd assortment of tired parents Helping their bedraggled children and bedraggled children Helping their tired parents. Despite the fatigue […]
I’m afraid that, at thetender age of 18, I’ve fallen in love and wish to get married. Oh, positive, myparents object, saying it’s irresponsible, and my buddies assume I’m insane, butI pay no consideration. I’ve discovered my sustenance, my lifelong companion and my bestfriend. Alas, there will be no ceremony, no exchanging of rings, for […]
With a last look at my book lying on the couch I trudge out into the bright, sunlit day. Accompanied by my younger sister and mother, I climb onto our orange tractor. With a roar my mom drives away slowly towards our hay field. The barn in the far corner is filled with bales of […]
I couldn’t wait for summer. Then I found out that my mom and grandparents had planned a thirty-seven day trip to the western states. My excitement escaped me. After I heard the bad news, I heard the worst. I learned that we would live in the camper for one month, one week, and two days […]
The Life of a Spectator I grew. I grew up out of the mud and into the daylight, the air, the land. I sprouted leaves and buds; my roots grew deep. I knew the names of the flowers beside me, and will establish the calls of the birds. I used to be transplanted at some […]