Christen's English Blog

 It's important to me that I have my cultural foods saved because it's a tie to my heritage and family. Wherever I am, certain foods just are home, such as; holiday tamales, my grandma's chile rellenos, and a good carne asada with fresh tortillas. It's not just food; it's tradition, comfort, and identity. A pozole on a chilly day or some tacos al pastor on a nice evening is more than a meal, it is a reminder of where I come from. I don't even know how I would live without them, my culture's food is simply a part of me.

If somebody invaded my privacy on the internet or on my phone, I would feel totally violated, like someone rummaging through my diary or listening to a private conversation. It is creepy to think that private messages, photos, or even internet browsing would be shared without permission. Privacy is not a want; it's a basic right that guards our thoughts, our decisions, and our identities. In this age of the internet, in which we're existing more and more online, privacy certainly needs to be counted among the fundamental civil rights. Without it, we're not only ceding control of our information, but we're also losing a part of our freedom.

 During my winter break, I did pretty much nothing but relax. During that time I no longer had to follow an immutable school schedule. I remember talking to my brother and him telling me about his ignoble methods for completing schoolwork. One thing that was imminent during the break, was my desire to play video games, which is an impediment in my day-to-day life. It was imperative that I spent time outside and so I did and hung out with a couple of friends throughout our time off. Once we had gotten back to school I realized my handwriting had become impaired. 

 My perfect day with that special someone whom I adore would start with our selecting a good number of favorite tunes and then making a playlist to listen to while we head to a place that is just cool. We would have a breakfast break in a restaurant where there is acoustic music, both enjoying the soothing ambiance and delicious food. Then we'd head to a park and have a small jam session, carrying a guitar or ukulele with us, just playing and singing whatever comes to mind. In the afternoon, we'd head to a music club or festival to watch a band or artist we love. To finish off the day, we’d find a cozy spot to watch the sunset, with our playlist on repeat, just relaxing and letting the music set the mood.

 In 10th grade, I almost failed my science class, and I was completely stumped. No matter how hard I labored over it, the numbers simply didn't add up. I wanted to give up, but I knew I had to push through. So I stayed late at school for tutoring, studied YouTube videos, and practiced every night, even when I was angry. It wasn't simple, but slowly one by one, things were clicking. On my last test at the end of the year, I made a B. Since then, I understood that sometimes in order to perform better, we must persevere even when it's not simple.

 There was this one instance when I completely forgot about a huge science project that was due the next day. I had nothing—no poster, no research, nothing but a knot in my stomach. I exploded into my mother, frantic, and rather than screaming at me, she breathed deeply and said, "Alright, let's get this together." She mind-mapped with me, drove me to the store to get materials, and even stayed up late as I put everything together. I still had to put in the work, but the fact that she was there to support me meant all the world. I got a B+, but honestly, the win was knowing that my mom is always there for me.

Throughout high school, I learned many of the life skills I will need in order to get by on my own. Among these was how to manage time effectively: with school, sports, and friends, it would be hard not to learn to organize oneself to get things done. I learned to cook somewhat and know basic ways to care for myself and budget money so I wouldn't have to just live off ramen. These include communication skills, for instance, writing emails and speaking confidently, which will help in college and at work. The major and most important skills to have after high school are responsibility, wise money management, and motivation. Life after high school gets tough; however, I think with these skills, I will be ready.

 My favorite part about big events like the Super Bowl is the halftime show. It's always packed with energy and surprises, and it's a chance to see some of the biggest music stars perform live. You never really know what's going to happen, maybe a surprise guest or a crazy performance. It's like having a mini whole concert in the middle of it, and just something I forward to every year. Plus, it's something fun to be talking about amongst friends and observing everyone's reaction to the performance!

 The most challenging part of writing an essay for me is the brainstorming. I struggle to actually start the writing process as I often don't have much of an idea to go off. To work on this, I will use various brainstorming methods to help with my creativity. One of the methods I will use is the cluster diagram, which we learned how to use and incorporate in class. Another method I will use to brainstorm will be mind mapping, and with these couple of methods I will improve my brainstorming skills in preparation for this upcoming essay. 

If I had to write a poem about my life right now, it would be about how I'm constantly learning new things, even when I don't expect to. Some days, it seems like all I do is go through the motions: school, homework, chores; then, something will come along, and I'll learn something new-a neat fact or a way to solve a problem-and it makes everything just a little more interesting. My poem would be about those "aha!" moments when everything clicks, and you realize you're growing, even in small ways. It would be about the process of figuring things out, making mistakes, and knowing that with each day, something new can be learned.

 Once, I had to make a presentation in front of my class, and I was super nervous because I do not like being at the center of attention. My heart was beating fast, and my palms were sweating. I kept thinking that I would mess up or just forget what to say. But I took a deep breath and sought to focus on talking to just the people in the room, like they were my friends. I also remembered that everyone was probably just as nervous as I was. My advice for people who suffer from stage fright is to practice a lot beforehand, take deep breaths, and don't be too concerned about mistakes; people are usually very understanding and won't judge you.