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.