It was a hot, cloudless day in the middle of summer. I just finished talking to my mom about going to a friend’s house. I rushed to my room to pack my backpack with clothes, a hairbrush, and a toothbrush. I sat down, waiting for a call from my best friend, Morgan. Finally, the phone rang. I picked it up in a heartbeat, I told her that it was okay if I could go to her house. My dad drove me to her house, and I was greeted by her dog, Keziah and her four horses. When she came out, we both sat down on her hammock and thought about what we wanted to do. We decided to go on a ride. The two of us strolled to the horse pasture and led two horses, Onyx and Moochie, to the hitching post to be brushed. We spent the whole morning getting them clean
Before long I spotted my friends a few feet away and I walked in their direction. I found my 3 friends roaring with laughter, and I couldn’t help but laugh as well. A few hours later we were all piled in the car and Ashley’s parents drove home. We sat in a comfortable silence because everyone was exhausted from all the fun that we had. I smiled to myself in the dark, as I thought about what an amazing story my trip to six flags would make in the
After taking what seemed to be forever, but was only a couple of minutes the dog had officially received its collar on its neck and a leash to be led with. “Now”, I said ,”you see the loop at the end of the road i’m going to help you walk this dog all the way down there and back.” What was only maybe a quarter of a mile seemed like from here in Arkansas all the way to the Hoover Dam. Not only did I feel an enormous fear in the pit of my stomach of how this was going to end, but as I glanced over I saw an even more scared straight look in my little sister’s eyes. “Ok” I said it’s not as long as we think
Growing up as an only child I made out pretty well. You almost can’t help but be spoiled by your parents in some way. And I must admit that I enjoyed it; my own room, T.V., computer, stereo, all the material possessions that I had. But there was one event in my life that would change the way that I looked at these things and realized that you can’t take these things for granted and that’s not what life is about.
I am jarred out of a relaxing sleep by a voice yelling my name in a loud whisper, and a light burning through my eyelids. Groggily, I open my eyes to see my father standing in the doorway to my messy room. He tells me that I need to get going, that it is 3:00 a.m., and I'm burning daylight. I find my clothes and get dressed. The whole time I wonder why I get up this early to visit the rugged outdoors. I want to go back to bed, but I know my dad will be back in to make sure I am getting ready, in a little bit. Instead, I put my boots and my wide-brimmed, black cowboy hat on, and walked out to catch the horses. The horses are all excited because it is dark and they are not that cooperative. My dad and I get them saddled and in the trailer, and go back into the house to get our lunch, water, and a cup of coffee. Now, we can head for the high country.
When I was around ten years old, my mom took me to my first week long camp. I packed all my cute clothes, my three favorite stuffed animals, candy, and a book for the car ride. I circled the house two times to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. Clothes check, toothbrush even though I wouldn’t use it check, book check. Everything seemed to be accounted for so I got in the car. Despite the hour long car ride that was ahead of me, which was an eternity for a ten year old, I was thrilled. My best friend, Amy, was coming and there would be horseback riding. We had been friends since the baby program, ECFE, at church. She was homeschooled and I went to public school, however we had many play dates so we saw each other a lot. Our favorite thing
Our eldest dog, Marvel, was still out, my mom went to put her in her kennel when JT, her ex husband, said to let her stay out. He assured her we wouldn’t be gone for too long and grandma would be in the other room resting so she would be fine. My mom hesitated, she reluctantly agreed, but the last words she ever said to Marvel still haunts me, “I’m trusting you”. It was a fun night, we went to dinner then we went to the mall for a little bit. On the car way home as I drifted off to sleep I thought about the fun night we had.
SWISH! I turn my head to the right with a grin and see my mom cheering as I scored my first points of the season. The last game of the season I scored my first points of my middle school basketball “career.” Now sit back and relax as you read the story of how I got my first points in middle school basketball.
One day a little girl who lived in the Lehigh valley her whole life found out some news that was going to change her life forever, I was that little girl. It was the summer of 2011 and I was at Brookside Country Club a place that I spent most of my summer. I was eating dinner with my family after a long day of swimming with my friends. We had just ordered dessert and my dad told my brother and I to go in the parking lot and wait for him because he had something to tell us. At this moment I was scared I thought to myself oh no someone in my family had passed away. My dad came outside smiling so I soon realized it wasn’t something sad. I look at my older brother hoping his facial expression would help me come up with how I should be acting.
When I was younger I was not so smart and would do questionable stuff all the time. I would jump from boulders to other boulders, climb on top of chairs, and even try killing snakes I would find in our yard. One day I learned a lesson from going on one of my self proclaimed adventures with a good friend.
It was my fault, no one else’s, the time where failure hit harder than someone beating a drum. End of spring 2013 I found out that I was repeating the grade all over again, never have I imagined myself being in that position till that year. Leading up to this was beginning of ninth grade year, terrified knowing that I wasn't going to know anybody I was going to be alone. I went through so much emotionally it began to show the first few weeks of high school. Constantly having anxiety attacks where I end up staying the entire day in the office since I kept crying eyes out.
As he ran out of my room, I sat up in my bed trying to process what he was talking about. My sleepy brain took a few seconds to understand what was happening, I then finally realized what was going on; there were three almost four puppies. Adrenaline rushed through my body as I darted out of bed and put on the first shirt I could find in my dark oak dresser. I sprinted down our long hallway, nearly tripped down the carpeted stairs, and ran into just about everything in my way until I got into the garage. Innocent and squeaky yelps filled the dimly lit area as I turned the final corner where my dog would normally sleep.
As I approached the towering wall I was encouraged to try and climb it to behold the magnificent beast who lived on top. Suddenly I was unexpectedly boosted to the top scared for what was yet to come.
I was eight years old in pigtails when my mother began to work out of town. It began as late nights away and progressed into weekends and, later, weeks at a time. My foot would tap impatiently as I sat at the kitchen table or on the stairs for her return; more than often, I was disappointed at the delay in her arrival. I was ten years old with loose, messy braids when I learned of my mother’s affair. It was my mistake to rummage through her car seeking a journal to write my jumbled thoughts in and I found her spiral-bound pink diary instead. Years passed and I refused to speak a word of it; it was as if a zipper were placed on my lips that only she could unzip. As I grew older, and acquired the courage to confront her, the only words she could muster were that she did not love me, nor the rest of my family--not the way she loved this man--and, that I was a failure.
There are many attractions to Cal State Northridge and this online SLP master’s program. First, my husband and I are “Made in the CSU.” My husband and I held student executive officer positions at Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton, respectively. Becoming a Matador and expanding my graduate education to CSUN is a dream come true. Second, is my commitment to the California public education system, which has been fostered by numerous individuals whom I have met through my involvement in campus service at CSUF, as an advocate for public higher education on the California State Student Association, in my classes, and through my sorority. Third, is that I am a mother of two beautiful babies (and trying to adopt a third). Next year, my
I tilted my head up,my eyes turned wide. When I had looked up, I saw all these new faces and My brain was on overload. I suddenly see a face that I recognize. Our eyes locked immediately. Footsteps clack until they reach me. It's an old elementary friend. We walk around trying to figure out where our classes are. I found my first period. She wishes me luck and walked off. I walk in. I could hear my heart racing in my ear.....