Epilogue

I’ve learned that I make a lot of grammar mistakes and that my English isn’t all that great. I need to branch out and talk to people more because I felt limited with the words I use. I’ve been honest in most of my post but at the same time there were some personal stuff that I should have avoided. To be honest I never thought I would take this class seriously because I didn’t like to express myself. But during the time I was in Creative Writing, I’ve started being more open about myself and expressing myself during and outside of school. I have the tendency to stop myself in the middle of a sentence because I realize how dumb I sounded. I wish to improve on not being so conservative about myself and have people feel uncomfortable around me. But what I view as not uncomfortable, I seem to make it more uncomfortable for people to talk with me. I feel that it’s best that I kept quiet and avoid making a fool of myself but the more I think that way, the harder it is for me to express myself. These assignments have helped me be more open minded about the things I write because I didn’t feel limited to just writing a subject or making sure that what I was writing was correct. So overall I felt more relaxed and not pressured to write about something that required me to research and double guess myself. This class had helped me discover what I find that is really important to me and what I treasured. I’ve wrote all of my post in hopes that when I’m in my late thirties or forties or how ever old I will be when I decide to check on Blogger again and if it still exist and see what I was like as a kid. The three words that I would use to describe myself are reckless, weird and conservative. I have been reckless with the blogs I’ve written and throughout the school year I slacked off thinking that I could put it off and it will somehow be done somehow in some way. I’ve been both weird and conservative in most of my blog posts because they tell a different story from what I’m like in person. Overall, I gained a lot of important values such as being honest and open about myself and that there are some people who are more different than they seem outside of the blogs.

Gone But Never Forgotten

1. Stressing and loving College Biology in 1st Hour and College Algebra during 4th Hour.
2. Being thankful to Mr. Gardner for not allowing me to drop out of Speech 101 online and
finishing the class with a B and knowing that I won't have to take a speech class in College.
3. Excited to meet my sister Aleson's little baby boy in the weekend of my graduation on May 12 and also being able to see my other sister Cindy during the same weekend.
4. I forgot to mention the month when my sisters got married so here it is: Cindy got married in December with Allen Yang and Aleson got married to Zhong Yang in January.
5. I enjoyed all the bonding time I have with my sister Habison and how we talked about who we liked and disliked.
6. Going to college for Dental Hygiene and getting a bachelor degree as a Dental Hygienist and working in the dental industry until my retirement.
7.  Enjoying Mrs. Fitchpatrick's classes in Child Development and Careers because they gave me a different view of life and how important things were while I was job shadowing for the jobs I wanted.
8. Kissing my mother more often this year on the cheek than I ever had as a child growing up because of my Child Development class for opening up my eyes on how hard and stressful childbirth and raising a baby was like in the real world.
9. Need to note that this year of 2013 the following teachers that I look up to and who I'm thankful to are now moving away from Pierce City because of better job opportunities: Mrs. Witt-Schulte who got married and who is now Mrs. Slagle, Mr. Pham, and Mr. French.
10. This year 2012-2013 I was elected President of Book Club which none of my other sister have ever gotten and a position I never expected and it took me a lot of nerve to get around my shyness to do my duties as President like presenting and holding meetings.
11. Not being able to go to Project Prom at 12 AM to 6 AM because I had no ride to get to the event because no one was home and my sister forgot about it but she made up for it by buying me an IPad.
12. I would like to further my education and become a Dentist depending on financial status.
13. I want to get my own house and have my parents live with me so that would mean I could not get married because of tradition. The tradition is that the wife does not have the choice to allow her parents to live with her and it was only right if the husband's family did.
14. My dwarf hamster, Sasuke, died in December of last year so in the future I want to get another dwarf hamster and name the little guy Sasuke #2 because I really loved that hamster.
15. In the future I want my kids to be able to enjoy their school life and not procrastinate like I did during my high school years.
16. My parents never physically hurt me or deliberately made me sad or mad it was more of the sound of disappointment coming from their voice that I try to be a better person so I want to be like my parents without having to resort to anything physically or mentally damaging to teach my kids a lesson about life.
17. I want my parents to see my kids before they move on to the next life because they're in their late 50's and early 60's that I am unsure if they would be able to make it to their 90's.
18. I want to thank all Mrs. Corbett, the Librarian, for all the things she have done for me.
19. I was Office Aid during my Senior year and Shiela Johnson the secretary of the high school office was one of the nicest people I've met.
20. I had my first Five Guys food at Springfield and it was decent, not all that great though.

Valuable Lesson

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated. I learn and respect most people from this golden rule.

2. Being able to take care of myself by setting short-term goals so I would not be stressed.

3. It is better to be honest rather than being a liar because it was looked down upon in my family if a person doesn’t keep their words.

4. Don’t always depend on others but if life gets too hard I will have to trouble some people to help me with my problems.

5. Don’t expect too much from other people because there a high chance of disappointment and it’s better to keep your expectations at a lower level.

6. Don’t ever slack off in any classes no matter how close the end of the school year.

7. Don’t lie to people that trust me or believes in me because it hurts to know that I have failed their expectations of me.

8. Don’t procrastinate in school work if I want good grades and study for tests.

9. Avoid involving myself with friends who do drugs or smoke because they usually make choices that I don’t usually approve of.

10. Trust people who are honest to you and knowing that they’re treating you like you were someone important to them.

Never Say Goodbye

I don’t think I have had any good-byes where it was hard to say good-bye forever. My grandmother died when I was only two years old so I didn’t know who she was to feel that sad or talk about her death. My grandfather died before I was born so I don’t know what he was like. I guess most of the people that were close to me are still alive and I’ve been to many funerals in which I don’t know how I was related to them but my parents knew them. The only good-bye I could think of was the death of the sister I never met. I’ve only heard of her from my parents and my sister-in-laws about my sister that I never met.

My sister died while my mother gave birth to her and I didn’t know how to feel about it because I was born last. My sister was born around in the 1980’s and I was born in 1995 so I sometimes wonder if my sister had survived what was she like and how different would she be from my  other sisters. There wasn’t much information on my sister but I think I might have loved her. I love all my sisters and brothers no matter how much we annoy each other. I would have to say that I was intrigued by the idea of a sister that I never met being the perfect sister. I know it might be a slight possible chance that she could not be the perfect sister that I’m looking for but she could have been. There are so many possibilities that she may and may not be for me if she had survived. I would want to meet her kids who would be my nephews and nieces.

I already have a lot of nieces and nephews who are all beautiful and handsome girls and boys. It’s hard to say good-bye to a sister that I never met because she was never born and had died by the time my mother gave birth to her. So there wasn’t any kind of grave or a sacred shrine for my dead sister. I can’t say I have personally told her good-bye but after hearing the story of my sister that same day at night I whispered the words “I’m sorry”. I don’t know why I said it but I just felt like it. I know it may sound stupid but she would have been a sister I loved and because she didn’t get the chance to experience a life of her own. I’ve heard people praying for the ones that have passed away to wish those people good luck but for me I did not pray. After that night I kept thinking to myself how lucky I was for being alive. I do enjoy my life and even with its ups and downs I still prefer the life I have now and I think my sister would have also enjoyed this life too.

Creating a List and Checking it Twice

 

People who have influenced me

1. My mom

2. My dad

3. My sisters

4. Dorita

5. Elaine Moua

6. Chumay Xiong

7. Mrs. Witt

 

 Places that make me happy

1. Library

2. Kitchen

3. Bedroom

4. Beach

5. Grocery Store

6. Park

7. Tulsa

Places I would like to go

1. Niagra Falls

2. Maine

3. Minnesota

4. Hong Kong

5. Japan

6. South Korea

7. Australia

 

Things in people that I like

1. Honesty
2. Trust
3. Subtle
4. Hardworking
5. Positivity
6. Intelligence
7. Humor
 

Things in people that I dislike

1. Hypocritical
2. Dishonesty
3. Prejudice
4. Laziness
5. Short temper
6. Inconsiderate
7. Self-centered
 

Things that worry me

1. Work
2. Homework
3. Grades
4. College
5. School
6. Letting people down
7. Car Accidents
 

Things I would like to know how to do

1. Swim
2. Play the flute
3. Sing
4. Play the piano
5. Dance
6. Build a house
7. Garden
 
Things that have moved me
1. Songs
2. Artwork
3.  Words
4. Pets
5. Funerals
6. Graduations
7. Marriage
 

 Ideas that intrigue me

1. Talking animals
2. Teleportation
3. Creating your own virtual world with a person’s own imagination how everything goes
4. The world without violence
5. Going back to the past
6. Losing weight
7. Flying Cars

 

1.  My personal favorites

      1. Romance Books

      2. Manga/Anime

      3. Dwarf Hamsters

      4. Spicy Foods

      5. Sweet Foods

      6. Humor

      7. Intelligence

 

A Fine Line

Best things
1. I'm a fast learner when it's something I'm interested.

2. I'm patient person

3. I like to make and bake desserts.

4. I'm an honest person because if I lie I'll feel depressed for at least a week and end up procrastinating on homework assignments.

5. I'm a good listener and I enjoy helping other people with their problems.

6. I can take care of my pets

7. I enjoy crafting random artworks

8. I am satisfied with most of my test grades

9. I enjoy anything that have artistic values

10. I had straight A's from Freshman year to Junior year in high school

 

Worst things

1. Giving people advice when I don't follow my own.

2. Procrastinating and not f

3. I'm terrible at math because there are too many formulas and math terms/statements that I cannot recall when the test comes around.

4. I don't enjoy Chemistry because of math involved in the course since Math isn't my strongest point.

5. I have the tendency to double guess myself and end up choosing the wrong choice.

6. I don't take racism too lightly although there are other exceptions where it could be funny.

7. I read into things too much deciding whether or not a person is lying or telling the truth.

8. I disapprove a lot of things that involves

9. I try my hardest for the things I enjoy but not the ones that I don't

10. I procrastinated during my Senior year in high school.

In other words

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” - Helen Keller

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” - Abraham Lincoln 
“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.” - Lewis B. Smedes

“Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back.” - Arthur Rubinstein

“She believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them.   When Prince Charming didn't come along, she went over to the palace and got him.” - Walt Disney

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” - George Macdonald

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“To succeed... you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. ”- Tony Dorsett

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure. ”- Emma Goldman 

Synetics

A valentine is like a lie because at the beginning of a relationship a person would buy all sorts of gifts and flowers for their couple. Once they’re married, it’s more of an obligatory thing for each spouse to give a gift to each other or just another normal day for the married couple.

Literature is more trustworthy because history is determined by literature and artifacts. For example history cannot explain the existence of Aristotle or other famous philosophers without the evidence of literature. If literature tells lies then why does history mention it?

Rain is more suspenseful because it can cause a flood. The thought of the ocean or any major bodies of water flooding any cities, near it, is scarier than snow on top of the ground.

A signature has less charm because autographs can be witness in person but a signature is copied and pasted on paper. An autograph is treasured by one person because it was written for that person while a signature is kept by many people.

A dream is more difficult because it may not be a nightmare but it can distort a person’s life. For example a person could have a nightmare running away from something but in a dream it could seem so real that when a person wakes up from the dream they start thinking it’s the truth and get a rude wake up call from reality.

An enemy is more useful because they can tell you what you lack and what some of your other enemies hate about you. A friend is useful for support but an enemy is useful for someone who wants to improve and be better than everyone else.

 

Old is more fearful than new because the old affects the way a person lives in while the new can be improved. An example is making a speech. It depends on a person’s first speech experience in their past that affects how a person does in their speech in the future. If it was good then the chances of that person being scared of speeches are less while if it was bad then the chances of that person being scared is more.

Art is happier than music because you can interpret art in any way you want while music tells you what to feel. The art could be sad but you can make up your own story why the art seems sad in a happier way while music has either words or a melody to make the song sad.

Science is more like a promise because science is a trial and error with a lot of testing to reach one desirable result. Mathematics includes imaginary numbers and new equations and theorems that can result in different answers.

It is easier to teach a question because you can make up your own answers for the question or have other people solve their own questions and have them justify their answer. While with an answer, someone at some point will always ask questions on how and why the answer is different from their own.

Unfinished Sentences

1. I usually worry about if I would pass the ADA (American Dental Association) admission test. I need to take the test an order to be certified to work in a dental office.

2. I feel angry when I can't find something that I need. Most of the time I can't find what I'm looking for during an emergency.

3. I’m moody when someone believes lies from other people. It's the whole misunderstanding and gaining their trust back that makes me moody.

4. I’m happiest when I spend time with my sisters. My sisters help solve my problems with me and they're kind of my stress relievers.

5. I feel confident when I finish an assignment a head of time. I don't have to worry about doing the assignment over the weekends and when it's time to turn  it in.

6. I feel frustrated when I have to explain myself for the actions I've done. There are times I have to justify my actions and I feel pressured that I end up giving them the wrong impressions or ideas.

7. I feel depressed when I don't do something right the first time. I end up regretting for wasting my time and not being able to restart the assignment especially on test.

8. I am comfortable when I'm on the computer. I do most of my work and research on the computer to get a better understanding of my classes except for Algebra classes.

9. I feel nervous when people are looking at me. It's a paranoia that I have because I feel like I'm doing something wrong or there's something with me.

10. I feel sentimental when someone can sing. If the person can sing a song that has a strong feeling to it or have voice control over the high notes in the song, it's a form of artistic talent to me and I find that person to be unique.

Metaphorical Definitions

Beauty is a pure untainted child

Knowledge is a ripe fruit

Shame is a melted ice cream

Grace is a flawless dance

Trust is a tored out heart

Despair is an earthquake

Reality is a tornado

Deceit is a stolen item

Relaxation is a raindrop

Honesty is a brain surgery operation

Courage is a lion’s roar

Fear is an umpire

Loyalty is a reassuring hand

Peace is a slow flowing river

Hope is a feather

Sensory Experiences

See

Warm, sea-green and crystal clear ocean waters

Variety color haired children running and colliding with mini ocean waves

Coral, grainy sand castles surrounded with moats and buckets.

Taste

Salty, chlorine ocean water taste mixed with saliva in the mouth
Sweet, powdery and cinnamon tastes of churro’s and funnels cakes

Glass of cold purified water, sweet lemon iced tea, and perfectly salted crab legs

Hear

Loud annoying squawking sea gulls

Laughing, shouting, and teasing childrens

Cries of sorrow, frustration, and worried voices

Touch/Feel

Blazing, sweltering hot temperature

Cool, refreshing, cold ocean waters

Grainy, blistering, and scorching sand

Smell

Stale salty ocean air

Sweet, fresh, baked and cooked crab legs, funnel cakes, and churros
Mixture of sweat, saltiness, and bliss

Extended Metaphor

If I were an animal, I would be a dolphin because they help others. Dolphins are playful creatures and I'm playful towards kids. They can sometimes be loud and for me I can be loud sometimes depending on the event. Dolphins likes to protect their young ones and I like to protect my little cousins. Dolphins babies are born with their tail first, I was told that when I was born it was a Footling Breech delivery so basically I was born abnormally with my leg out first.

If I were a cartoon or comic character, I would be Eeyore because I feel that I get in everyone’s way. Eeyore is always sad and I feel the same way most times. He has great friends but he doesn't ever get involved with their games and I feel the same way with my friends. Eeyore also stares the ground all the time and I do the same thing. He also seems like he being constantly rude by not making much effort to talk to any other characters in the series but he just doesn't know what to say which is the same with me.

If I were a song, I would be a classical because I don’t like to talk and hope people understand what I’m trying to say with my silence. Classical music sometimes have that really happy musical sound which sometimes gets annoying and I feel and act the same way on some days. Most of the time classical music is calm and peaceful and I act this way most times to relax myself. A lot of old people usually likes listening to classical music and I feel like I act like an old person to people I talk to if I'm trying to hold a conversation that I can relate to. Classical music is a form of art with different kind of instruments or nature sounds and I love playing the piano and listening to nature.

Symbolic Recipe

MICHELLE XIONG’S RECIPE

1 c. Love of books
3/4 tsp. Listening to Parents
1 tsp. Effort before asking questions
1 tbsp. Quietness
1/4 tsp. Baking sweets
3/4 c. Introvertedness
1 tsp. Honesty
3 egg of anxiousness
1 pkg. of encouraging family members
1 c. of responsibilities

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine quietness, listening to parents and introvertedness; set aside. In large bowl combine effort before asking questions, learning by experience, honesty and baking sweets; beat until creamy. Beat in 3 egg of anxiousness. Gradually add love of books. Stir in 1 pkg. of encouraging family members and 1 c. of responsibilities. Pour ingredients into a pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes.

Makes: about 4 dozen

Personal Metaphors

1. If I were an animal, I would be a dolphin because they help others.

2. If I were a car, I would be a Suzuki Kizashi because I like to wait and anticipate the best which is the same meaning of Kizashi “something great is coming”

3. If I were an article of clothing, I would be a jacket because I like to keep myself warm and cover my arms.

4. If I were a day of the week, I would be a Saturday because I would either have a lot of events planned or just sitting at home and resting.

5. If I were a food, I would be a cookie because I love baking.

6. If I were a color, I would be white because I love anything pure and untainted.

7. If I were a movie, I would be an Anime because I like to fantasize and imagine things that could exist in the real or another world.

8. If I were a fragrance, I would be a cherry blossom because I like the smell.

9. If I were a type of building, I would be an igloo because I tend to act cold and close people off.

10. If I were a plant, I would be a dandelion because I would grow in once place but travel to different places.

11. If I were a musical instrument, I would be a piano because I can make beautiful music if I know what I’m doing but I would make awful disconnected music if I don’t know what I’m doing.

12. If I were a geometric shape, I would be a square because I tend to stop at one routine and then continue to another routine and repeat my previous routines once I have done all the routines I can do.

13. If I were a piece of furniture, I would be a bed because my life is filled with bumps and restlessness.

14. If I were a song, I would be a classical because I don’t like to talk and hope people understand what I’m trying to say with my silence.

15. If I were an appliance or machinery I would be an oven because I like to keep my thoughts to myself.

16. If I were a television character I would be a Disney character because everything is always happier in the films.

17. If I were a season of the year, I would be a summer because I treat almost every day as a vacation whenever possible.

18. If I were a natural phenomenon, I would be a flood because I’m always flooded with my own thoughts and what if’s questions.

19. If I were a cartoon or comic character, I would be Eeyore because I feel that I get in everyone’s way.

20. If I were a word, I would be simple because I like things kept simple and to the point without any add-ons or complications.

The Ultimate All-Purpose Excuse

The best excuse I can think of is “I’m applying for a scholarship” when I get into trouble with not wanting to go to events my parents go to or if I forget to do my chores. I spent most of my time recording and just looking at scholarships and deciding whether or not I have time to do them or not. My parents usually make me go to events to help out or to show my respect but since I don’t like interacting with people, I tend to stay home. Since my parents believe that I should be bolder and tell people what I want, I like to just agree with them but avoid doing it to get out of trouble or a lecture. I tend to avoid talking to other people and even after telling my parents, they still insist that I get out more which is why they try to make me go to events with them. Although I appreciate the way they’re trying to make me be more assertive, I prefer to do things slowly and not rush it because I’m not ready to just suddenly change from an introvert person to an extrovert. Sometimes the scholarship excuse works but if I say it all the time my parents would ignore it and make me go. But it’s not all the time that my parents make me go, sometimes I would go on my own to these events if they serve of an importance to me like making someone happy or my own mother happy on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day celebration event.  

The other only BIG trouble I’ll ever get is if my grades are bad. If I get a grade lower than a B my parents would lecture me and take away anything I find fun and make me study and do chores all day. I would usually the excuse that “the teachers didn’t grade all of the papers and have time to put into the grade book yet” Sometimes it works, other times I just have to bear with the chores and extra amount of study time. And the applying for scholarships excuse sometimes works too but rarely relates to why I have a bad grade. This usually last a week until my parents forget about the grades because of other things but if I do something that would remind them of my grades then I’m back to doing chores and no games or fun for another week. Although there are other things that are considered BIG troubles, the most important BIG trouble I tend to be careful with and avoid is if my parents are disappointed in me.

What's in a Name?

My name is Michelle Pajkou Xiong. I didn’t know or bother to ask why my parents named me with my name until my freshman year when one of my sister gave birth to a kid and was deciding how to name their baby which got me curious as to how and why they chose my name. My mother told me my first name was chosen by my sister in law while my middle name was named after my sister in law too. And my last name is my father’s family name. At the time my mother really liked my sister in law and because I was a bit difficult to give birth to that my mother couldn’t think of any other names and decided to let my sister in law name me.

I don’t think my family really thought about the meaning of Michelle other than it’s just a name they liked. Although my parents rarely uses my first name whenever they talk to me or wants me to do something instead they use my middle name. My middle names means “golden flower” in Hmong. I don’t tell a lot of people about it because people pronounce it differently and weird and I feel uncomfortable hearing people say it to me other than my parents. My last name "xiong" has a couple of other meanings like elder brother, chest, heroic, and the term that most people refer it to is bear.

I do believe my name suits me because I can’t think of any other name I would have choosen for myself after having my name for seventeen years. There are times I think I should have been named something else like I want to change my middle name to “hlee” which means moon in Hmong but there a lot of Hmong girls with that middle name so I dismissed that idea.

There were other names that my parents thought about naming me and it was a suggestion from my brother. My brother suggested that my mom name me Catherine but since it was a mouthful for my parents since English isn’t their primary language, they didn’t use it. I like my name although there are a couple of my friends that have the name Michelle as their middle name but I still like it. People don’t have that of a hard time pronouncing my first name but when it comes to my middle and last name it does kind of bother me. From the time I was in elementary to the end of my middle school years I always cringe whenever someone tries to pronounce my middle or last name because I was so used to hearing it in Hmong that when other people tries to say it, I wanted to tell them to stop. But after the end of my freshman years, I got used to it but there were some people that pronounced my middle and last name correctly which made me surprised.

Likes and Dislikes

Likes

1. I like fiction and nonfiction books that involves with historical events but only a few autiobiography ones.
2. I like anime because it has made most of my favorite manga into animation form where the voices for the characters are more than what I had anticipated or imagined.
3. I like reading manga because it lets me create my own voice characters for the main, protagonist, and side characters in the manga.
4. I like buying shoes to wear so in case I randomly misplace one of my shoes, I'll have another pair.
5. I like buying clothes for my sister mostly jackets to show my appreciation.
6. I can depend on computers to finish my assignments faster and finding other opportunities.
7. I like anything that has artistic value and seems like it has a meaning.
8. I like all kinds of mammals especially dolphins.
9. I like the small of oses
10. I just like eating all sorts of chocolate mostly hazlenut chocolate.
11. I like MMORPG(Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game)
 and FPS (First Person Shooter) games.
12. I like playing volleyball with my sisters.
13. I like watching amazing people sing on T.V.
14. I like listening to classical musics when I go to sleep.
15. I like baking desserts especially cinnamon rolls because they taste way better than store-bought ones.
16. I like hamsters because of the show Hamtaro and since they really are cute creatures.

Dislikes

1. I dislike rats because I held one when I was a kid in the fourth grade..and yes it was a rat not a hamster.
2. I dislike watching movies ruining books.
3. I dislike the noise caused by scratching on chalkboards
4. I dislike really short skirts because of the indecency.
5. I dislike the fall because it is either too hot or too cold.
6. I dislike eating deer because I'm not use to it.
7. I dislike playing LoL (League of Legends) because my brother plays it all the times.
8. I dislike starfish because they turn black once they die.
9. I dislike tattoos because I don't find them attractive.
10. I dislike when people say "lol" or "afk" on the phone.
11. I dislike arrogant people because they're narrow minded.
12. I dislike listening to any songs that involves a croaky or scraming voice.
13. I dislike rain because it makes me feel sad.
14. I dislike cheesy movies because they're just not funny or interesting.
15. I dislike people who rush other people when there plenty of time to get ready for an event.
16. I dislike watching videos of people being cruel to other people.

Prologue

My name is Michelle Xiong. This is an assignment on a personal writing portfolio. This assignment was given to us to get to know more about ourselves and other people in our class. I find it hard to express myself freely since I feel uncomfortable telling people about myself so for the most part of this assignment, it might seem boring. Although I will try to keep it entertaining.

My goal for this assignment is to let you know a little bit about myself and things that you may not know about me or already know about me. I like to keep things in a simple and straight to the point which is the reason why I might not be so great in English compare to other subjects because I can’t find a way to express myself in an extended paragraph rather than a simple sentence. But I know English is required because it’s one of the fundamental qualities employers looks for in a person to see whether or not this person has basic knowledge and be able to communicate with others well and not cause any kind of problems. Also because it is one of the first thing employers see before the person comes in for the job to interview for the position.

Well to start things off I’m a senior planning on getting a bachelor degree in dentistry. I have two favorite subjects as of the moment and that’s anything that involves Science and Art but I would have to say I have a hard time adjusting to classes that requires me to interact with other people but at the same time it is fun talking to people and actually getting to know things about them that I never knew. My life involves avoiding interaction with other people, going to school, and staying home. I hope I pass the ADA also known as the America Dental Association and get my certification into the dental hygiene aspect of the dentistry. I have started to get use to talking to people and being more open about myself since the job I want requires me to have some skills at being able to talk to patient and making them feel comfortable during their checkups and appointments. I would hope that along the way, I’ll have people who would support me and have connections with during my time in college. I do value the idea of friendship once I get use to opening up about myself. But in the meantime I am still in high school, one month away from graduating and finally focus and getting myself ready for college life. I would rent an apartment in Springfield and start on what I need for my classes once it starts in the fall. I will have my sister next to me during my college years so I would have at least someone there that would help me.

But that’s about it about myself and I am currently doing scholarships and other things to help myself achieve that goal.

 

Question

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Future Generation

The work to be done for our generation is applying for scholarships, taking part time jobs and continuing a person’s education. The person that just sits down and feels that everything is hopeless have no one to blame but themselves. There might be possibilities that, that person needs encouragement from someone they trust and look up to or that they need to set a goal and force themselves to actually work for it. All of these are what the work of our generation and future generations have to do an order for anyone to reach their goal in life. But what hinders a person from reaching their goals is the financial aspect of it. The rate of unemployment are high for students that dropped out of high school or just finished high school which prevents a student from continuing their education to raise their salary income or how likely they’ll get employed compared to a person with a higher education. Another aspect is when a person has to drive from far away to get their jobs and have to spend most of their paycheck on gas money. Gas prices are not the only factor that impacts a person’s decision; there are also more responsibilities as a person grows older. These responsibilities are optional to some and important or expected from others. Marriage is optional along with the decisions to have kids. The higher the education gets the more responsibilities they have. For example, a doctor requires six and more years of college an order for anyone to get their PhD or doctorate degree. That means no slacking and more studying and once these doctors get their jobs they’re bound to new responsibilities. They cannot take off too much work or a long vacation because of the constant need of patients that depends on these doctors to make them feel better and being filed with lawsuits once a person dies in that doctor’s care. Our generation are scared of taking responsibilities they can’t handle or anyone that threatens to change the way they have been living. Some kids are too sheltered by their parents so by the time their kids graduate from high school, most of them do not know how to take care for themselves and depend on their parents to care for them. For each and every kid a parent should slowly teach their kids the importance of things and being able to take care of themselves instead of just letting their kids do what they want and find it the hard way to live life. Technology of the present world is also affecting kids because it causes a kid to stray away from work. Kids are introduced to games at such a young age that eventually they think it’s normal to be stuck at a computer, a game system or anything doing with technology. Before the IPods and IPads and every other technology, people focused on schoolings, work and money. People worked hard for their life and never had anything that stray them from that path to reach their goal. Our current generation needs to make a goal for themselves and follow through it until the end. No matter how hard it is, they should be able to get help from people and not get strayed away from that goal.

10 Years from now...

Right now I’m a senior in Pierce City High School, two months away from graduating. I would graduate and take some extra college credit classes during the summer and have those credits transferred to OTC and MSU. I would go to OTC in the fall and live with my sister who is currently going to MSU with an apartment she has with a friend. I would get my schedule and mange my time on my workload along with getting a job as a college student. I wouldn’t have to buy a lot of meat because neither me or my sister eat a lot and wouldn’t want the food to go to waste. We would buy healthy food to focus on losing weight and exercising and occasionally some junk food but not a lot to keep our mind sane from our sudden change in eating habits. After my two years in OTC are over I’ll get ready to find a job as a Dental Hygienist or Dental Assistant depending on the demand at the time. I’ll go to MSU for an extra two more years to get fully paid as a Dental Hygienist. Depending on the workload and money, I’ll study for a Dentist. In the meantime I’ll likely stay in my position as a Dental Hygienist with a flexible schedule to make time for my family or start a family of my own. I would work on establishing a family after I own my own house and car and can financially support my kids. I would find a husband that I could rely on and responsible enough to get a job of his own and not depend on me all the time and he cannot do any kind of illegal drugs that might set a bad example for the kids. But that’s what I’ll see myself in ten years and hopefully my parents live to see it as they are already old and failing in health.

Crisis

I would call my parents. I would usually call my sister but most of the time she doesn’t pick up her phone. Although it is a moment of crisis I would have to depend more on my parents to pick up their phone because they always keep their phone with them. I would tell them the situation and ask if they have time or if they could get someone close by to come get me. Most of the time my parents don’t ask me why I was stuck in an area in the first place which makes it easier for me to relax. I’m always ready to answer them and give them my reasons when they ask but they usually don’t ask me which means they’re not mad at me. If the phone call has to do with me being in trouble, I would still have to call my parents first and explain them what I did and why I did it. I would hope they understand why I did what I did and most of the time that is the case. But if they think that the situation was out of hand they would lecture me about it at home and I would usually understand them and keep their words in mind to prevent myself from disappointing them.

Not Alone

It would be narrow-minded to think that we live alone in this world. It’s complicated because there are also the species that humans have denied for years, the aliens. Alright, I know how weird and unreal that sounds but the possibilities of them existing could be possible. An alien doesn’t have to be those weird headed shape grey creatures we see them on T.V. or believed. Alien just means an extraterrestrial being from another planet or another part of the universe. They may and may not look different or be smarter or advanced in technology as us. I don’t tend to believe in aliens but they might exist in this world. Even I don’t believe in aliens being real but they might be and the possibilities are endless. Nevertheless I do not believe that humans are alone in this world. One day we will go to another planet and finally see a colonized alien community. It is a possibility and it may seem crazy but it is possible that aliens exist. I just want people to realize that humans are not alone. The galaxy holds numerous possibilities and it’s a huge world that a human couldn’t possibly be the only beings inhabiting the Earth.

Summertime Fun

I would spend my last summer on visiting other countries. Before I do visit other places, I would buy a couple of private condos around the U.S. to rest in when I come back from my travels. I would visit China first to take a short hike on the Great Wall, stroll in the Forbidden City, and take pictures of the scenery and visit a friend in Hong Kong to take them with me on my trip. Then I would go to Australia and watch one of the plays in the Sydney Opera House before heading out and relaxing in the hotels near the beaches. I would then go to Italy to taste their food but I would only stay there for three days or so and spend some time visiting the museum. I would spend the rest of my summer in Japan and in South Korea. I would attend the summer festivals in Japan and play the games available there along with the food that is being served. Then head to one of the comic cons convention to see how other people dress in costumes and take pictures and anything that’s fun at the convention. I would buy a lot of souvenirs mostly clothes souvenirs like a kimono or a yukata. I would then head to an inn with a hot springs and stay at the place for a week. I would also buy a private vacation house in Japan and invite my favorite performance artists to spend some time in the vacation house. After I had all the fun I could have and bought all the items I wanted from Japan I would visit South Korea for a short time to watch one of the concert and head back to the U.S. I would spend the rest of my time talking and having fun with my friend before taking them back to Hong Kong and getting ready for college.

Education Responsibilities

The responsibility of an educated person is being able to know that a person is able to establish a life for themselves. It shows a person their limits and their interest along with what they want to pursue. Having an education shows other people that the person is someone who is responsible and someone people can depend on to get things done. The higher the education the more responsibilities that person holds over their life and people relying on that person. For example a doctor is one of the highest major occupations that not just anyone can just get as a job. The job requires at least eight to ten years of multiple advanced science classes and a lot of time and money. If a person knows and loves to pursue this career then they’re free to pursue it, but if not then they’ll have to do other things that are within their abilities. But not everyone has to be a doctor. Even if someone ends up being a doctor, it doesn’t mean they’re the smartest people you’ll ever meet. Some doctors may not know how to fix a car, build a house, or even plumbing. Everyone is educated in their own way with different responsibilities. But the more responsibilities a person has the more stress they’ll have in life. Overall, a person may not always be happy with the amount of education they have if there no one else for them to share it with. A person with an education is not always better than others but to other people, they’re people that can be depended on to get the work done without any complaints.

A Voltage Shock

An invention the world could be better off without is an electric chair. The electric chair serves no other purpose but as a slow torture or death penalty device on criminals. It is more immoral to slowly kill a prisoner for a crime they have committed because of their unstable mental state. It’s a sick way to watch the criminal repent his offense by watching him suffer as thousands of voltage shock goes through their body. To get an idea of why this criminal was sentenced to this kind of death penalty is if he had held a child as a hostage and killed the child in front of the child’s parents and shortly after the police arrested him. He goes through a trial and sentenced to a death penalty by an electric chair. What good does it do that the criminal has to suffer the last minutes of his life in an electric chair just so the parents would feel somewhat pleased that the criminal got what he deserved? They might not know how that criminal could commit such crime in the first place or how that criminal lived his life. Every behavior a human does in life is based on how they were raised as a kid growing up. Even if the criminal had died in an electric chair whether or not the parents watched the process, the parents would still feel resentful towards the criminal. There were more moral methods such as lifetime community service or a life sentence in jail would have been more than sufficient enough. That criminal would have to live or suffer to remember all of the things he committed whether or not he felt guilty about them.

Right or Wrong Courage?

Courage is being able to understand what is right and wrong and doing whatever it takes to prove to everyone your standpoint. For example, in the situation of bullying, the idea of it just seems so cruel for a person to even bully someone and it would only be right to defend the person even if it was a complete stranger. It’s great that a person thinks about it but when it really comes down to it and they’re in the real situation, some people tend to ignore the bullying or they’re just too afraid to stand up to the bully to defend the victim. Only a few people would really have the courage to really tell the bully to back off when they’re in the situation. That’s one example of a common courage story. Another example is lawyers. Lawyers debate and argue to win their case. Most of the time, they have to defend the criminal and prove that the criminal is innocent even if evidence shows that the person is guilty. These lawyers know that they’re fighting a losing battle but they’re fighting. For me it may not be their fault that they have to defend the criminal because everyone in the U.S. is subjected to the right of due process. To me I believe these lawyers had to have the courage to be able to defend a criminal and being criticized for their efforts. It may not be right to defend a criminal but it’s their job.

Autobiography: Asking Help

As a kid growing up, I was taught not to give other troubles. I remember my first grade teacher would tell the whole class to have our parents to help us with our homework. I would get home and end up asking for my sister’s help because my parents were gone for work every day. Sometimes my sister would have too much homework of their own and I would end up having to do my homework myself. In my third grade year I moved to Missouri. My fourth grade teacher gave me a hard time on one of the assignments I worked hard on. It was an assignment to draw the human body and what their functions are on the assignment and no adult were to help with the drawings in any way. Long story short I almost got a zero for the assignment because my teacher did not believe that I drew the picture until my friend stood up for me and told her that she had seen me draw in Art class. From freshman to present day I would have to learn and study most of my homework by myself. I would get some help from my sisters who would encourage me to take extra class lessons and jobs to ensure that I reach my goal if my sisters were not there to help me. During my late junior year I started to ask for help again when it’s available from my teachers and in my senior year, it became a time to time routine. I still ask for help when I feel that it doesn’t trouble anyone and if I really do need help.

An important word: Introversion

The single most important word that describes me is “Introverted.” I tend to keep my ideas to myself and do things myself if it’s within my abilities. I avoid troubling others with my problems or talking to people altogether. I like to listen to others and observe their personalities while respecting their secrets. I like to reserve my ideas and watch others work out their own problems by themselves. Being introverted does not mean I’m shy. At times I am shy or rude, especially during social events, but I do try to converse when necessary to avoid any awkward situation or I just don’t have any motivation to talk to a person. I tend to get ignored by people because I take so long to respond but it’s only because I try to differentiate between what doesn’t sound rude and what does to avoid getting into trouble. Most of the time when I’m rushed into giving a person an answer, I tend to stumble on my words or say the wrong things. I am more comfortable having time for myself compare to having to spend it with others and having them depend on me or me depending on them. I enjoy being introverted although it does interfere with the way I interact with others.

Suitcase

1.      Hair Brush- I want to be able to brush my hair knowing it would be tangled if I go days without brushing it. It would keep my hair from getting in the way if I have to go to a place where my hair would get stuck on a tree branch.

2.      Blanket- I want to bring a blanket to keep me warm during the winters. I will be able to hug it when I get scared.

3.      Toothbrush- I would still be able to brush my teeth and not have them rot out even when the toothpaste runs out.

4.      Knife- I would be able to use to skin and kill what I find. I would also use this to carve things out of wood.

5.      Jackets- I’m bringing this for extra warmth if the blanket does not do the job while I’m sleeping during the winters. I would also use the jacket to keep myself warm while I’m gathering wood during the winters.

6.      Scissors- I would be able to cut things into pieces. Cut anything that might be easier to cut instead of using a knife.

7.      Pillow- I want to rest my head on something that wouldn’t give me headaches.  I could also use this to hug when I’m scared.

8.      Clothing- A couple of outfits to change in and out of easily and keep myself warm or cold depending on the season. I don’t want to wear the same clothing for years and not being able to change out of it or if those clothing gets torn.

9.      Salt- I want to bring this to season anything I kill and use it sparingly. I’m bringing this in case I get taken to a place where I have to survive by myself in the wild or something.

10.  Water bottle- Bringing this in case I find drinkable water. I would be able to fill it up with other things if I can’t find water for some time.

Family Get-Togethers

During one of the family get-togethers there was one story that sounds like a horror movie rather than a real story. It had to do with family that lived somewhere in the suburbs encountering a creature that had like three legs and hopped and screamed like a child. It was a normal day but one day their dogs started barking and seemed like they were fighting with something. All of a sudden the dogs started whimpering and after that there was no sound. The family didn’t think it was something to worry about but they started to hear some thumping near their house. One of the guys in the family decided to go out and check out what the noise was thinking it was the dogs. When he got out there he didn’t see anything and went back into the house. It got weirder the next day and when one of the family members was going to go to work he noticed that there were marks on his car. He didn’t think anything of it and looked over to check on the dogs that were sleeping. That night the family started hearing the dogs start barking and fighting with something again. But after the dogs started whimpering they heard a weird noise after the dogs stopped whimpering and it was the sound of a child crying. The girls were getting scared and demanded that the boys to check what was happening. All of the guys in the house went outside and still they didn’t see anything. But the next morning they found out that they’re dogs were dead and it really scared everyone in the house. The boys buried the dogs and it didn’t seem like there were blood spilled anywhere. That night instead of dogs barking they started hearing a child cry. All of the guys went outside to check on the noise and before they went back into the house they saw a small white creature with three legs hopping near the car. One of the guys went back into the house to get the rifle and came back out to scare the creature away. When it hit the creature it started screaming like a child and then it started to scream like a guy. The creature quickly jumped away over the fence and disappeared.

Three People I Look Up To

Mother Teresa is one of the people that I look up to because of her unbelievable selfless compassionate heart. She was a nun that committed most of her life helping other people in need and never did anything for herself. She gave a lot of people the courage to live and made them feel like they were worth something in this world. She was the symbol of a saint in the eyes of everyone she met. She always showed her respect to everyone she met and never made anyone feel like they were inferior to one another. She did not create a charity foundation to get attention from people but she did it so people would realize that there are other people who are in need of kindness. To me I see her as a woman who was more gentle and kind that anyone will ever meet. She encourages other people to help others in need. I want to be like Mother Teresa because she is has one of the most unique and unselfish personality I have ever seen. I want more people to be like her but in this world, the possibilities of a nice person like her would be corrupted by people whose intentions are insidious.

Mila Kunis is a unique actress to me. I loved most of the movies she starred in and I could see that she is a wonderful person. She seems like the type to be real towards other people and not feel that she has to be faked to be liked by other people. She grew up in a family that immigrated from Ukraine and she knows what kind of hardships the people in the acting industry goes through. She still chose to do something she loved even with the high risk of not being employed in a movie and her family knew it too. They wanted her to be happy for what she loved at the same time a job that wouldn’t be so risky for her to live her life. But her family supported her in her dreams of being an actress. To me I see Mila Kunis as a person who has a quirky funny sense of humor in the movies and for me she is a beautiful person, inside and outside. I want to be like her in the sense that she seems real towards other people and not someone forcing themselves to be someone they’re not.

Queen Elizabeth I of England is a powerful queen. She did not depend or married another man to gain access to greater power. She made sure her country was in a better shape and did not force anyone to change their religion to match her own although she did encourage it within the country. Unlike her sister she was more than nice in terms of ruling over a country and not making it live in fear of her power. She had all the power a King in a country could hold over their nation and moreover she stayed as a virgin until her death. To me I loved how she followed her hearts and never depended on a man to do things for her. She was an independent person and although she had a lot of advisors or council that were full of man, she depended on herself to make the decisions and consider theirs and weigh out which ones would be better. I want to be like her by not depending on a man for things and be someone that could follow their heart. I do not think I would want to be alone for the rest of my life and would hope for a family of my own but like Queen Elizabeth I, I want to be an individual who does not need to depend on anyone else if things do not go my way but at the same time have a family of my own.

Picture Stories

True story: It was a celebration for two of my little cousin's birthday in May. It was a hot day and we were at a water park in Tulsa, Okalahoma. By water park, I don't mean the type of park with the water rides but more like a park surrounded by water and geyser-like water holes spraying out of nowhere like water fountains. The people present at the party were all relatives. There were a lot of games to pick from but since it was a hot day most of my relatives were sitting at the tables while the birthday girls and a couple of adults played around the water holes. This picture was taken in the mid afternoon when everyone in the group was bored because we ran out of ideas to talk about.

Ground Hog

Original day

It was during fifth grade at the end of the school year. I did not have a hard time making a friend, in fact; I talked a lot to a couple of friends. There was only one friend that stood out from the rest because she talked to me and played with me more since the first day I moved to the school during my fourth grade year in Pierce City. It was during recess when I heard from someone that my best friend told others that I was a 'loser' and boring to be around and that whole time I was thinking why did she say that? I had a hard time believing what they were saying and it was my very first time hearing someone secretly talk bad about me. What really hurt about all of this was the fact that it came from my only best friend. I was really hurt to the point that I stopped talking to anyone starting from sixth grade and thereafter because I was too scared and at the same time I lost the ability to trust anyone anymore.

How I would change it

I would go back to fifth grade and do what I have always feared but felt that it was necessary and the best way to do, confront her. I want to know the reasons why she said those words and ask her if I could improve on it or could have change in some way so that she did not feel so uncomfortable being around me or how I acted. I would have been able to move on if I had heard her reasons and forgive her and change myself to be a better person. She would still be my friend although it would still be a while to trust her again but she was still my first and best friend and the one person that trusted me with her secrets. Not all friendship is perfect and the best thing about a friendship is being able to talk to that person again who knows all your faults and still stay as your friend.

How it would effected my life today

I would be able to talk normally to people and not have to worry about what I say and be able to trust people with simple things and ask for help when I needed it. I would not have a hard time expressing what I want and be timid on how I sound when I'm answering a question when the teacher picks on me. I would not finish most of my sentence halfway when I realize how boring it sounds to people. I would be able to extend my current vocabulary with other people instead of repeating the same things over and over again. Most importantly, I would be able to make real friends and have friends I could rely on when I feel like the pressure of my family and school is getting too stressful for me. I believe my life would have been a lot easier if I had friends in school and to talk to when things are hard.