This I Believe - Draft

There are phrases that's known for life, "Life is like a rollercoaster" and "Live life to the fullest because you will never know what will happen the next day". If you really think about it, its true. Life can't just be in a straight line where it's dull and boring. And there are unexpected things that happen to you or someone you know and love. It has its ups and downs which brings out the definition of life. I had my ups and downs and an unexpected thing that happened in my life which was aunty passing away last year January.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and like any other Saturday I would be out cruising with my friends, but instead I went to see my aunty in the hospital. She looked the same in the ICU at the Hawaii Medical Center with the blessed rosary still tied to her bed, her swollen body lying, tubes sticking in her to keep her heart beating, and the monitor showing how fast or slow her heart rate was. We hoped and prayed that she will soon get better but evidently it didn't help. That night I slept over my cousins' house and played the XBox and Wii until we received a call from the hospital saying her condition worsened. The nurse told us we had to go to the hospital right immediately. We rushed to get into the cars; closed all the windows, turned off the lights or whatever was plugged in, and locked the doors and gate. We tried to hurry as fast and safe and quickly as possible. While driving there I could feel fear crawling though my spine telling me to get ready for whatever news they needed to tell us. My cousin finally drove through the entrance scanning the parking lot for an open slot and I realized nothing would be the same if she was gone. I had to stop thinking negatives and more positives.

As I got out and go straight into the elevators, I prayed and prayed and prayed. I stepped out of the elevator with my family and felt a cold breeze of horridness blowing right through me. Every step I took I thought about how my aunty would look like now, every breathe I take I pray my auntie could breathe as normal as can be, and every heart beat I have I hope her heart will be as normal as mine. While waiting for the nurse, I can see the agony and fear in my family's eyes. The nurse finally walked in and we just all looked at her. She said, "We tried the best we could but Ms. Madriaga's heart suddenly stopped.... I am sorry for your loss." I was shocked, speechless, terrified and any other expression there was that could relate to the news I heard through my little ears. We walked into her room where she laid the last time we saw her; tubes still stuck in her and the rosary tied on the rail of the bed. The nurse left us alone for our privacy and we just gushed out crying. I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing her lie on the bed lifeless.

After that night, the tragedy that I have went through made me realize to live life to the fullest because you'll never know what will happen tomorrow or next week or next month. What happened to my aunty was sudden. First thing you know she was okay and next thing she's lying on a bed with tubes and machines to help her get better. I know my aunty is watching over me and wants me to have the best of my life. And this is what I believe.

Journal #16: Risky Business Draft

Topic: Hazing


Thesis: Hazing happens in schools especially to the students. It should be prevented in sports, soririties, and fraternities because of the harm it does to the students.

Hazing has been detected as a humiliating or abusive conduct or method of initiation into any student organization. It has been increasingly problematic for society. Students see hazing as a stronger bond with their brothers, sisters, etc. and a taught lesson about themselves. Hazing doesn't only cause a bond but harm and hurt to the students therefore it should be prevented.

Hazing is generally caused in big groups such as sports and sororities or fraternities. It happens because of the initiation of one in order to be accepted into that organization. Its supporters acclaim the virtues of the practice by focusing on its ability to build character and a strong bond between each other. But behind that initiation the one being hazed has to do deeds that aren't so fun and exciting.

Hazing is any form of subjecting another student to abusive or ridiculous tricks to frighten, scold, beat, or harass him or her or dubject the student to personal embarassment. This is violence directed at specific individuals as part of the initiation process. It is both physical and emotional harassment of prospective members. An example of the most obvious method of hazing is to shave a members hair off.

Overall, hazing instills fear and respect in the hearts of younger members when interacting with their more esteemed and older teammates. Of course its more important to create a bond between teammates and put ahead that fear and awe in opposition. But respect should be earned and not demanded. Also, no one deserves to go through the pain of hazing. It should still be prevented because of the causes it had done to our students and their personalitites.

Journal #10 College Application Essay Draft

There is a time in life when everyone loses someone they love or know. It's either a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, or friend. Having to lose someone brings sadness, grief, sorrow, and weeping, because no one and nothing can bring that person back. When you receive the message that some you love passed away, there's nothing you can do but cry. Cry until the tears streaking down your face no longer fall and have puffy, red eyes afterwards. And the number one question is always "why did this have to happen?" There is no real reason why people die; its just the way of life. But what you do know is that you would need to take more responsibilites of your actions and for other people.
I had been through the stages, especially when my auntie passed away. I still remember the night we got the call from the hospital. The lady told us my auntie's condition worsened and so we had to go to the hospital immediately. At that momoent I didn't want to think anything negative but pray she's going to be all right.
The lady made us wait in the waiting room and at that moment I and the rest of my family know something was seriously wrong. The nurse looked at the ground and looked up afterward. She said they did as much as they could but my auntie's heart just stopped. Her next words she said was the same every other doctor/nurse says, "I'm sorry for your loss."
When we walked into the room where my auntie lied, we didn't know what to do but cry, wonder, and be more responsible. My auntie did a lot for us and since she isn't here to do those things we need to make sure those things will be done. She took care of us, here nieces and nephews, her father, sisters, and brother.
I still can't believe she's gone but what I do know is she's always in my heart. If I could be with here one more time I would. But until then I need to do my job and responsibilities like what my auntie had done.

Journal #6: COA Poster Draft

My coming of age poster relates to my essay and relates to my growing up. My plan was simply basic put a picture of God as a background and just organize it and be creative with pictures in front of it. I decided to put effects and polaroid them to make each picture stand out and represent their own meaning.
In the poster it shows my retreat, my family, and my friends. They help build and learn more about myself inside and out. They came through with me springing into adolescence and they're going to stay with me til the end.