The Endless Power of Friends

How working together can make the difference 



“No one has every been poor by giving.”

-Anne Frank 

       Working  together with a friend can be wonderful. I have had one of these experiences in my life. This experience was when me and a friend went to an arcade, and worked towards an common goal. This goal was a toy pool table prize for 10,000 tickets.

        My friend and I were going to an arcade on a weekend in the summer. We were both bored out of our minds from nothing for weeks, so we decided to do a get together,We were both really excited. When we first walked into the arcade, we saw the prize we wanted. It was a big (toy) pool table. We decided that we would work together on obtaining it.

The Gift of the Magi

A Literary Reflection

“Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.”

-O. Henry

        Challenges are always the roadblock on the path to success. The Gift of the Magi enforced this idea in my head. Reading The Gift of the Magi challenged me to comprehend more of the story then normal.

        It made me look at every fine detail, and read to every period. Sometimes reading comprehension is hard for me. This story really requires one to analyze every character. If they don’t, they would be very confused, and very challenged.

        When I first opened up the short story, I was curious. After reading The Most Dangerous Game and liking it, I was intrigued that Fitz would give us another great short story. I was still worried that the words and story would be a very challenging read. As I started to read, I realized that I was enjoying it. Some words I had never seen, but I looked them up, and learned them. Highlighting and finding words and phrases slowed down my reading flow, but I managed. I found that the most efficient way of highlighting was to read an entire page, then looking for words. I realized overtime that reading and analyzing literature wasn’t so bad. The challenge of actually getting into the story I had passed.

        From The Gift of the Magi, I learned that sometimes things you love require sacrifice. The couple both buy each other luxurious gifts. To gather enough money for these gifts, they both sacrifice their prized possessions, which in turn renders each-other’s gift’s useless. This also shows me that the couple are very much in love for them to both sacrifice their prized possessions.

        This story really made me feel pitiful. I feel that if there was more communication between them, they could of prevented this mishap. This story was a challenge to read. Many words I had never seen before, which made me look them up. The old English of the story is quite confusing. After a while I had gotten used to it, but definitely not fully. So far, this story has been the most challenging yet.

         This story may be challenging at first, but after you pass that hurdle, it is a great and wonderful read. Some may not be worth it, but this challenge sure is.

The Power of Place


How one place can change your world

“The most important places on a map are the places we haven't been yet” 

- Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar


        Some places just relax the soul. I have one of these places. The big blue recliner in my family’s living room is my place. My family bought a massive chair back when our house was built. They wanted a nice place for the family to relax. This was back in 2002. When I mean massive, I mean it. My 6’ 5” dad has extra space on it. The chair has a place for the legs when you recline. We put a small table next to it for putting drinks or books. It is is the corner of our living room, and has a lamp above it for reading at night. I think it ties our living room together. This place is really powerful for me. This chair is so special for me, because when I sit in it, I feel connected to my family and house. It might sound crazy, but this chair grounds me. I get to think and relax when I sit on it. I can listen to the birds because of the window behind me. The sunlight is carrying through the window, reflecting of the hardwood. The blue fabric is soft to the touch. This place shows me how much I care about my family, and how much they care about me. I hope when I grow up and someday have a family, I will have a place in my house where my kids can feel connected to me. Sometimes a little relaxation is all you need.

The Power of Family

How family can help you through tough times

“Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family.” -Paul Persall

        Family is the one thing that pushes you through hard times. My family has always been there through thick and thin. A small example of this was when I was playing billiards in the National 9-ball tournament, and my family came. It was in this July. My family had been planning to go for a while. The tournament was in Las Vegas, in a hotel called “South Point”. I had been only playing pool for around 2 years at that time, which is not long at all for pool. I felt I was good enough to go to the tournament, so we came. My parents also came too, and were really excited. They were already so proud that I made it to nationals. The day of the tournament, I was really nervous. Eventually, my match came. I was playing a player who was ten times better than me. My spirt was crushed. I thought there was no chance I could beat him. My parents saw me moping, and stepped in. They reassured me. They told me that it is not over until I decide it is. I took this well. I knew that if I hung in there, I would have of a chance to beat this kid. I started getting really lucky. My chance of winning was rising. I started to get more hope and fire in my soul. I was winning! I did it! I won! The first thing after I won was hug my parents. They were so proud of me. This experience really showed me the power of family. It showed me that even when times are tough, family can dig you out of that place. After this experience, I never give up hope even when things seem impossible. My family showed me how to be resilient. If all things go awry, family can always ground a person.