If you have ever been to a big city before, you will probably know what I mean when I say, they are crowded. That can seem pretty obvious, of course cities are going to be crowded, common sense right? But to me, no. I didn’t realize how populous a city really is, until this fall. I live in the MidWest, in a town of a little over 5,000 people. We don’t have huge buildings, busy crosswalks, or impatient cars watching your every move. Instead, DeWitt Iowa has small, family owned businesses and children playing in front yards. Being a Freshman at Central DeWitt High School, has brought me many learning opportunities, such as joining FFA. The DeWitt Central FFA Chapter is our school’s chapter. FFA is the largest student organization in the nation! Through FFA the opportunities are endless, it also provides the chance to develop leadership skills, learn about hundreds of potential careers, and meet people from all over the country. This October I had the chance to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 89th National FFA Convention and Expo, and I took it! Indianapolis is very different from what I thought it was going to be. There’s lots of background noise, diverse people, and rain! We had to travel by car to almost everywhere we went and it downpoured every time! But, being in a suburban for long periods of the trip, …show more content…
can lead to boredom which can lead to look out the window. In certain occasions, when I looked outside, I would see homeless citizens. This was a new sight to see and a sad one. It made me feel thankful for the things I have and family and friends I am in contact with. Each day during the trip we would listen to motivational speakers, go to fun workshops, and meet new friends. I absorbed so much walking through the career fair and learning about different businesses and states. My personal favorite, was the FFA shop. The FFA shop is a very big store that, you guessed it, sells FFA products, such as shirts, belts, cups, etc. It is very easy to get lost in this building, and we could never stroll alone. On my last day of the trip a couple of my friends and I went to a workshop. A workshop is an activity session, FFA leaders will plan fun games and lessons, this is also the best time to meet new people. This workshop taught us about how our strengths can over power our weaknesses. We also talked to other FFA members from North Carolina. At the end of the workshop, I was so caught up with the fun activities and hilarious friends that I forgot my bag. I had walked several blocks, to a completely different area before I realized, while going through security, that I had forgotten it. One of my fellow FFA members, from my Chapter, offered to escort me through the city, and we immediately started back tracking the way we had come. I didn’t know this boy very well, but I would say we were friends. He was average height, had short, natural rusty red hair and was very blunt and outgoing. As we were speed walking I started to distract myself from the horrible thoughts running through my mind about my lost bag, and started to pay attention to the details around me. Hundreds of FFA members were crowded around me. I read the back of their jackets: Ohio...Illinois...Wisconsin. A homeless man was sleeping on the ground. All of a sudden a crosswalk switched red and cars began to zoom past us. I turned to my friend and he was counting aloud. I wasn’t sure what he was adding up, and I ignored him. The stop light eventually turned green and on we went. When we got to the building we raced to the exact room the workshop was held. I dashed in and wasn’t surprised that it was filled with hundreds more FFA members. This room was huge, with high ceilings, and an abundance of round tables. Not to mention rock music was blaring from the stereo. I found the blue sling bag right away sitting on top of the bare table we had been sitting at. I breathed an enormous sigh of relief, seized it and off we went, again. Now returning back to other building, I was relaxed and happy.
I smiled as we walked quickly out the door. My legs felt numb. I turned to look at my friend and came to a sudden halt, he wasn’t near me at all. Hundreds of people were walking around me, not even acknowledging I was there. I turned my head violently in every direction. Finally I saw the red hair and realized he was only a few short feet away. I sprinted up beside him, he was in the middle of a conversation with an older lady. She was average size, with a pointed face, she wore glasses and had tall high heels. When he noticed me he finished up his conversation and we continued on our
way. I am very shy and felt out of place walking with such a frank person. We stopped at another cross walk and he began to count again. This time I asked him, “Why are you counting?” “What, you don’t know how to count stop lights?” He replied. I shook my head. He then explained to me about how he used to live in a city in Ohio while also learning many city hacks. I was shocked, not only because he works on a farm but also since he uses “country slang.” When we were crossing the street, a girl looking about his age had waved to him from a distance, he later told me, that was one of his old friends from Ohio. Going to the National FFA Convention and Expo not only broaden my knowledge on myself and the world. It also connected me closer to my local FFA chapter friends. Not to mention making even more friends from across the country. Being put in the situations I was put in, helped with my patience, sense of direction, and taught me how to be more aware and safe. The most important thing I learned while being in a city was self responsibility. I truly was taught better time management while being able to handle my money appropriately. The city not only widened my eyes to my future, but also helped me stand up for myself!
Small towns, quaint and charming, ideally picturesque for a small family to grow up in with a white picket fence paired up with the mother, father and the 2.5 children. What happens when that serene local town, exuberantly bustling with business, progressively loses the aspects that kept it alive? The youth, boisterous and effervescent, grew up surrounded by the local businesses, schools and practices, but as the years wear on, living in that small town years down the road slowly grew to be less appealing. In The Heartland and the Rural Youth Exodus by Patrick J. Carr and Maria Kefalas equally argue that “small towns play an unwitting part in their own decline (Carr and Kefalas 33) when they forget to remember the “untapped resource of the
complain. In conclusion, it seems to be that one of the most populated cities in America is
People will be more willing and capable of living in denser, more efficient environments only when the underlying culture that sustains sprawl is altered. The sense of the American community needs to be re-established if there is to be any real progress in the battle against sprawl. The REAL problem here then, is that changing the culture of a state, of a nation, is a very long and difficult undertaking…
When I was 13, my family bought a farm in Monkey's Elbow, Kentucky. I had been use to the fast pace of the city I had lived in , Frankfort. I had thought transitioning from a city to more of a rural area wouldn’t have a big affect on me, but it did, a major one. In the late summer of 2012 my family bought the farm i now live on located along highway 146. The trips between our houses were unbearable. Lasting around three hours each from the farm to Frankfort several times a day.
My FFA journey all started in seventh grade when my mother was pressing me to join some type of club or organization. Initially, the thought of joining a club seemed humdrum, but the meeting ended up being the exact opposite. During that meeting we engaged in intriguing activities revolved around nature and science. Those meetings were led by Redding Middle School’s astonishing Chapter Advisor, Mrs. Kirk. She also showed us pictures of her previous members, who have excelled to high heights in the program. My admiration for nature and science reassured me that FFA was the club for me.
This state is full of more cities besides just Los Angeles and San Francisco, for example, my city Richmond, California. I wasn’t born there, but I have lived there most of my life, and there is a certain appeal is there, but its not the stereotypical beauty you see in any infomercial. This city isn’t celebrated nor is it world recognized for its accomplishments, but it is a small city with hidden treasure. The hidden treasure are the success stories that the community does not expect, and that can create a sense of empowerment for everyone around us. That empowerment is something that should be seen nationally, especially since Richmond is not the only impoverished city in
It was a beautiful night. It was perfect for a walk. As I strolled further into the park a figure approached me. It was as dark as pitch so I couldn’t make out who it was. It was late; you wouldn’t usually see anyone at this time. My heart was beating faster and faster. The strange thing was I wasn’t frightened; it was just my heart beating rapidly. As the masculine figure approached, I began to walk slower. That was when I heard the voice.
A new melody started up and like the wave at a baseball game the “ooohhs” and “aaahhs” from the crowd started on one side and ended on the other. From around the corner I could see the very top of a balding head. After they came around the corner of the crowd, I could see the wonderful sight of my stunning new bride accompanied by her father, a tall rugged man who is slightly balding. They walked towards me one step at a time slowly, but surely. It felt like time had slowed to a crawl as I waited for her to reach me.
I let out a withered sigh, which caused me to choke in the middle of yet another sob. I had had enough. I weakly pulled myself out of the pool and walked to my towel. I grabbed the huge, orange and white stripped thing and wrapped it around my shivering body, hoping to find some warmth and comfort; but even my monstrous beach towel could not cut the chill I felt inside. I started to walk to the changing room past the hundred faces I knew nothing of, but by now were familiar. I had searched each face a hundred times hoping to see someone I knew. Finally, I realized that I knew none of them, and the person I was looking for just wasn't coming.
Imagine having to choose to reside in one place for the rest of your life. Which would you opt for? Some people would argue that the hyperactive lifestyle that a big city has to offer has more benefits than living in the country. However, others would contend that the calm and peaceful environment of the countryside is much more rewarding. Several people move from the city to a farm to get away from the hustle and bustle. Likewise, some farmers have traded in their tractors and animals to live a fast paced city life. Of course, not all large cities are the same nor are all of the places in the country identical. Realizing this, ten years ago, I decided to hang up the city life in Indiana to pursue a more laid back approach to life in rural Tennessee. Certainly, city life and life in the country have their benefits, but they also have distinguishable differences.
Sitting here all alone where I was placed for good, watching all the different types of cars enter the parking lot, wondering if they have noticed me on the dirt surrounded by all the colorful and different types of wildlife. Scattered patches of green grass mixed with some unhealthy brown ones are pushing its way out from the ground. I have only one friend, but no family that I know of, I can't talk to my friend, but the reason why I call him a friend is because he is in the same situation as I am despite the fact he has a total different shape and design than me, having the letter P on top while the two Cs? underneath connecting each other and is standing on one tall skinny leg they have given him. Not much excitement ever happens around here except I am always afraid one day a tree which surrounds the area where I live fall on me due to strong wind. At some point of the day, a bird lands on me as it chirps to his friends- calling them to play. After the little get-together they have, the birds? kindly leave a little white spot on my brown polished smooth coating. However, I do not mind their little droppings they leave on me only to give me extra color on my boring brown, chipped up skin. It is almost the fall season and already I am covered in dead, dried up, and crackling leaves, hence, reminding me of the good old days. At random on a cheerful sunny day, a creature who presented himself as a human being approached me. Had his right hand to his ear talking into a black brick, for some reason why- he probably had no one to talk to- he then was holding it, pointing the strange looking black brick straight at me saying ?you?re going to be my homework for today? then added ?COMMUNITY COLLEGE? as he put back the black brick into his ear and started again with the talking, leaving large foot steps as he walked away. Yet, those words, ?COMMUNITY COLLEGE? kept echoing in my ears with his voice, realizing what was carved with a lighter and brighter brown color into my body after being chopped down and cut into a rectangular shape with smooth edges and two stiff legs.
I pulled into the driveway and staggered into the loud, large and mysterious place. I was surprised at how many people were there. It could have been about twenty or so. I would not know because I am not highly educated. My education actually collapsed after being involved with you. I put all my attention and focus towards you. I can’t count the amount of times I missed class or skipped school. Whilst thinking of this, a young girl came strolling over. She had dark, long hair, brown eyes and a slim figure nearly identical to my own appearance. She wore a white garment matched with pure, silk shoes. Her glamour attracted people from all directions. She looked about twenty five years old.
Where I live is one of the greatest neighborhoods in the city to live in; however, it does have its drawbacks. Importantly, it has nearly everything a resident might want, beautiful picturesque scenery, proximity to shopping, and many of the cultural centers. Nevertheless, the roads can be some of the most congested in town, and the streets are not safe to walk late at night. Fortunately, I wake every morning to the most beautiful sun-lit house. I sit on my porch sipping coffee, while I drink in an atmosphere that steals my breath away.
As I was having my breakfast, suddenly the phone rang. It was my friend, Kelly. She asked me to go to shopping centre. Without any delay, I asked permission from my parents and promised to go and meet her in the bus stop nearby our house. After an hours, I reached the bus stop and I waited patiently for Kelly’s arrival. Time seemed to crawl. After what seemed like an eternity, Kelly walked briskly towards
When I got home I quickly got ready, I ironed my cap and gown, did my make-up and hair, and made my last phone call to Andrew. I called him right before I left and asked him if he was sure he did not want a ride. Again he responded politely and on my way I went. When I got to the high school everyone was taking pictures, laughing, and talking about how they were g...