11 - Hailey M; Parenting

 Parenting

Every teen or kid is going to eventually get old enough to the point where they no longer want to stay at home with their parents all the time. Teens especially, would much rather go out with their friends, and get out of the house for a while. Parents choosing to not give their child any freedom isn’t a good choice to make, and will make your child resent being home all the time, and even resent their parents as well. If parents never allow their kids to go out and enjoy themselves, their child will want to get out as soon as possible, like when they graduate. Parents don’t understand that giving your child freedom is how they’ll learn about the outside world, which they are going to have to live in on their own eventually. 

I’m not saying you should just allow your child to go somewhere that you know will be dangerous and harmful to them, but if parents don’t give them at least some freedom, their kid is more likely to act out behind their backs, and get into trouble more often. Parents may think they’re trying to protect their child from the dangers in the world, when they’re really doing the opposite. Having no freedom as a child can affect their adulthood when they grow older. As an adult, they may be confused about a variety of things, since they weren’t able to experience it at a younger age. Giving your children freedom at a reasonable age will help them in the long run.

Word Count: 259

11 - Abhishek Sahota: Mess with the Vision

There is great value in pushing the boundaries and testing ideas even if they have a high chance of failure. This is an attitude I have always held. I like to fully see an idea through before I rule it out. I don’t really rock with people who quickly reject an idea because they aren’t immediately able to see how it will work. I think it’s always worth it to try it out.

One artist that I look up to in many ways is Tyler, The Creator. He echoes this idea in some talks he has done. Over the course of his long career he has been erratic and someone who has been known to have ambitious plans in music, fashion, and many other art forms. He has said countless times that having people around him that are willing to put up with his antics and sometimes the initial “ridiculousness” of his ideas have been of the greatest importance. 

He tells about many times in board meetings when he would suggest an idea and it would immediately be shot down without a second thought. However, there were people who saw his vision and wanted to at least attempt it even if it did not ultimately work.

Creatively, I am much more interested in possibility than certainty. In possibility there lies new discoveries that will make the work more transformative as a whole. I’d prefer to try and create something new that hasn’t been done before and fail than stick to convention and produce something that has been done hundreds of times over.

11 - Zack Rabold - War and Peace

War and Peace The battle for freedom between parents and their kids is one that has been happening for ages. Parents often want to restrict their kids. Although it’s with love to protect their kids from the many dangers the real world offers, a lot of times kids feel that it’s out of a lack of respect and trust. Parents want their kids to be a little less free, and the children want more freedom. The two way street of trust is one that is hard to find a balance between. My parents have always tried to give me my freedom. Whenever I’d leave to go out they wouldn’t tell me what to do or what not to do, instead they would just tell me to, “make smart decisions.” What those decisions were would be up to me, and that was their way of letting me choose what was right and wrong. Of course that didn’t mean I never made the wrong choices, and you bet they’d be there to correct me, to which most of the times I found to be unfair or overexaggerated, just as I’m sure they felt their punishment was reasonable. Freedom has no age limit. It isn’t based on once you turn 16 you can do more. Freedom is based upon maturity I think. It’s a conversation parents need to have with their kids and yes, probably lighten up a little, but at the same time I believe the kids need to understand the reasoning behind their parents. The struggle for freedom will never end between parents and their children, it’s an unstoppable force against an immovable object. A war that will always have two losers. Freedom is something that is subjective, and isn’t guaranteed. It can change for better or for worse. As much as limitless freedom would be nice, it’s not very probable, but by talking with parents it can be easier to set those boundaries for freedom. 322

11- Jacob Penrose- Adolescent Freedoms

Adolescent Freedoms Everything’s an Argument: How much freedom should parents give their children? Children will often strive to achieve complete freedom from their parents, especially when they become teenagers. Because of this, I personally believe that parents should give their children a moderate amount of freedom and act as vessels of guidance as well as enforcers of certain rules in the household without being overly strict on their children. This is because it allows their children to engage more socially with other people and create new relationships. It also would allow their child to develop mentally and control their emotional response to anything that happens to them. However, I also believe that parents shouldn’t let their children be entirely free from their own control since their children could risk getting themselves into situations that could get them arrested or severely injured. They may also get themselves killed in the most extreme of scenarios. Additionally, a child with too much freedom from their parents could expose them to certain individuals who would drag them down a bad path in their lives. Yet, I also believe that parents shouldn’t be overly strict over their own children since it could inhibit the growth of their children socially since they have limited access to other people and are stunted in their ability to establish new relationships. Another effect that this has on a child is that it can inhibit them mentally since they are not exposed to other individuals and would make them respond in an unnatural manner to anything that happens to them or lack the ability to manage their own emotions based on the current situation.

11-Peyton Miller- Hello Sunshine

 Hello Sunshine

Summer. The warmest time of the year. Is, in the most respectful way possible, the best of the four annual seasons and ill tell you why.

In the winter, spring, and fall, you technically cant go swim at the beach or even in a pool reallybecause it is always way to cold to. The summer, tops that though, you can swim everyday and never get bored and even get a tan in the meantime.

Summer is like a win win throughout the whole season. Instead of sitting inside all the time like you would any other season, in summer you can always be outside on a new adventure everyday. That sounds amazing to me as I love to be outside all the time and would choose to be outside everyday if I could over being inside any day. 

From tans, sunshine, and beaches to freckles, sun screen, and hikes, summer gives so so many more opportunities and activities to do. It is an endless adventure of summer. For example, every summer, my cousin from Los Angeles comes down and we do something every single day, COST FREE. another thing to add is that summer can be free if your brave and smart enough. Me and my cousin live right by a lake and we have adventured so far into the backroads that weve found gorgeous places to hangout, have picnics, swim, etc. that no one else would no about because of the adventurous side of us that summer brings out every year. I dont see people doing that in winter or spring. 

Word count: 265

11 - Em Lin - Chinese New Years

 

Red lanterns dot the streets of China during Chinese New Years Eve, and every kids bright eyes light up the night sky. The street vendors roll out their carts and roll up their sleeves, getting ready for a night of work. Although my memory is hazy, I remember sitting atop my grandpa’s shoulders, looking over the many heads in the crowd. The smell of chilis tickle my nose and any time I spotted any candy, I would lightly pat my Grandpa’s light gray hair, while excitedly yelling at him to go in that direction. Tanghulu was always my favorite, I was surprised I didn’t get sick that day, considering how much sweets I ate. The night was still young, but so was I, and I could barely keep my eyes open. The chatter of the crowd became a lullaby, and eventually, there wasn’t a chance that I could hide it from my Grandma’s sharp eyes. I wish I could’ve stayed awake a little longer, considering it was my last time ever experiencing Chinese New Years in China.

I still love that time of year however, because we still celebrate despite being hundreds of miles away. Before the day of, we set up a table outside and another one inside. Food and wine covers the table from corner to corner, and I wait as my mom light some sticks to pray with. I’ve never thought too hard about what to pray for, but I’ve always meant it when I do. I always thought we were praying to Buddha, but we were actually praying to our ancestors. The food and wine act as an offering to them, and after our prayers we begin to burn some fake money. It’s believed that if we burn fake money for our ancestors, they will experience a happy and prosperous after life. I was never able to fully learn and experience my culture, and even the parts I did experience, the memories have become quite hazy. I wish to go back to China, for at least one to two years one day, so that I can travel around and learn more about the land I came from. 

Word count: 361

Eliya A- #11- "Have you ever seen the rain? coming down on a sunny day"

 Have you ever seen the rain? coming down on a sunny day.

living along the coast for most of my middle years (5-7 ish), I have learned a few things. one, i realized that camping in December is unbearable, and two, that I enjoy rainy, and stormy weather. I would say that one of my favorite time of the year is between October and April, when it's supposed to be rainy (except for this year apparently). 

I think the reason that i enjoy this time of year is because of the change from between 100 degree weather to 70-60 degree weather, and you can tell when the temperature drop happens. another reason is the fact that rain sometimes lasts days at a time and never seems to stop. what is even more enjoyable is when the power goes out too, which gives you a reason to read books under candle light, and it makes you actually enjoy the outside more since that is the only thing that you can really hear (for me at least) 

something that i remember from my past that really stuck with me is when i went camping with my dad and brother. we usually camped at our normal place (Navarro) however, we never went during January. i remember how we were debating on if we should put the fly over the tent or not, thankfully we did. that night was one of the worst storms that could have been experienced, hail, thunder, lightning, wind, and worst of all, holes in the tarp. very soon after the tent was soaked, inside and out, and we only got around 4 hours of sleep that night. however, with the horrible storm that we just experienced, we were rewarded with a beautiful day the next morning, and then experienced more rain right after. 

304

Aaron Palma-11: Sunday fun day

 

It was a 2017 Saturday afternoon when I was getting anxious  to go trick or treating the next day for halloween. 

I had bought my whole costume and make up to be a vampire. I had been looking forward to this year, because last year  I had not been able to go out due to family problems and there being no one to take me. 

This year my mom had promised that she would buy me my costume, and she did. I loved the details on my costume and couldn’t wait to show it off the next day.  She had also promised me that we would go trick or treating sunday afternoon after she got off work, but it didn’t happen. 

It was Sunday when I got a call while I was at my dads from my mom and she told me that she had been put to work a double shift. This meant that she was not going to be able to take me trick or treating. 

I  started crying to my dad and felt alone because the one person who could take me couldn’t take me anymore .

It wasn’t until my aunt came from work and offered to take me around the neighborhood to trick or treat that I felt some what happy. 

I quickly put on my costume and my aunt did my makeup snd we went out and trick or treated the whole night.

Although the costume and the day was special, for me thé most memorable snd significant part of my day was going out with my aunt and being able to trick or treat with my costume. 

#11- Yasmin G: The Last Year of Normalcy

 I never knew how much I took for granted until I thought about the night of Halloween in 2019.

      I dressed up as Waldo, but I guess that's not an important detail. At the time, I had just started dating my boyfriend three weeks prior, and he had brought me under his wing and into a new friend group.

       It was awesome.

       We had amazing people around us, and that Halloween was one to remember; from laughing and smiling, to the darkest backgrounds and secrets. We went trick or treating, making so many jokes down the streets and shoving each other into moving cars.

       When we got back to their house, we ate mozzarella sticks like children, and sorted through our candies, trading off the ones we didn't like as much as others.

       I never knew that would be the last normal Halloween I had. My best friends at the time (twin boys), whose house we were all at, sadly informed us that they had to move over summer due to militant parents, and we shortly after lost another person in the group (who I now call my best friend). 

      When the twins moved away, me and my boyfriend were not the same people, not to mention COVID hit only 6 months later than our last normal Halloween. Me and him were basically heartbroken, feeling like we lost the best people we had outside of each other.

      However, we always have that last halloween to look back to; the laughs and the cries, the good jokes and the bad ones. 

11 - Mel B. - A Hot Cheeto Girl Halloween !

 

      

      Every year for Halloween my costumes are all last minute and just random pieces of clothing that was pulled out of my closet. From what I can remember I was a fairy and a robber. There's more but that's all that I can remember that were last minute 

    Halloween 2020 I didn't know what I wanted to be. We were in the midst of the pandemic and everyone was carelessly going out to Halloween parties like my older sister, which was not a good idea because Covid cases went sky rocketting. I was sitting in my living room watching Matilda going through snapchat and I saw that someone posted an edited version of vector with hoops and it clicked to be right there that I should be a hot Cheeto girl. At 8:30pm. Yeah it was that late. 

    I went into my room to see what I could put together and I found dirty "busted" Uggs, ripped skinny jeans and sunglasses. I had everything I needed but the top. I knew Hot Cheeto girls wore red GAP hoodies or Champion ones and just to my luck. WE DON'T WEAR GAP HOODIES! so I had to work with the Champion instead and to be honest I was kinda mad because I thought the GAP would've been perfect. I already had the nails and the gold jewelry. I was just missing the CHIPS. the most important part. lucky my sisters birthday was the next day and I made her a gift basket with hot Cheetos an Takis. she ate the hot Cheetos so I had to work with the Takis. and it still fell under a hot Cheeto girl because they eat Takis here and there. 

    (this is the photo I went off of)

 Once I was dressed and did my hair in a high bun and layed my edges I was good to go. It looked so realistic. It was like I was reliving middle school all over again because I hate to admit it. I too was a hot Cheeto girl. Well not really I would just eat hot Cheetos but didn't have a terrible personality. I was so excited with how I looked I forced my mom out of bed to take pictures of me outside with the usual poses, high angle, facial expressions, etc. I posted it on instagram with typical captions "do it for my bruvas 😈​🔥🥶🦍" and " from the yay area 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪" with my location being Vacaville California. Hot Cheeto girls like to claim their from the Bay Area but are from here and refer to the bay a the yay and I had the songs Anti and Calvin Cambridge by SOB x RBE playing in my story. Everyone was going crazy in my dm's telling me that it was just like old times.

    It was so fun I got to dress up and poke fun at the mean girls while eating Takis and watching Matilda and other movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloween Town. So many people were talking about it the next day at school and its something that I can always look back on and laugh because it was such a fun night.

Word count 522

11- Genecis Z: Cold Mornings

           If it were up to me i’d make winter a yearlong season. Winter is just such a pure time of the year. And although I don’t live somewhere where snow covers the ground in its velvety presence, rain is the next best thing. 

  I would wish to drown in rain, I love the way its raindrops flush my face and leaves my eyelashes silky and wet. I love the way the drops hold onto my hair and trickle down my neck. The air on a rainy winter day, just feels fresh and crisp as if its the only way air should ever feel through my nose and out my through my lips. 

 

There is nothing more I love than the cold. I love the foggy clouds covering the sky. The piercing cold breeze of the morning. The sound of cars driving in the rain. I love it all. 

I wished I lived somewhere where it snowed. The snow is such a beautiful thing, every snowflake being unique is mind blowing for me. The fact that each small snowflakes holds its own pattern is unbelievable. Every single one of then is gorgeous in its own way. 

I would love to see the ground I walk on be pearly white and leave my footprints on sheets of freshly fallen snow, as a remembrance of presence. 

The winter brings so much joy to my life. Even the moon shines so much brighter on a cold winter night.

    Word Count: 250

11 - Cecylia B: The smell of pumpkin pie and nostalgia

I love the fall and I think it's only natural since I was born on the first day of fall. Thanksgiving would have to be my favorite time of the year. All the halloween decorations are on sale and the stores smell of sweet pine cones to decorate your dining table with. It just gives me a sense of nostalgia for the past years. Every year for thanksgiving my grandma invites everyone over to have a big feast. We make tamales, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, egg salad, ham and the list goes on. The house is full of laughter and the savory smells of the kitchen. While my grandma prepares tamales, I help my younger cousins make cookies since everyone loves my cookies and asks for them when they come over. Then it's time to eat, everyone lines up to get a plate even though they are probably full from the copious amounts of audurbs my aunt prepares. We always have some movie playing in the background while we're all eating even though we never watch it. We laugh and gossip while we eat and often get seconds. Then dessert, my favorite time of the night, I serve my cookies I made earlier to everyone and then I get some pumpkin pie for myself and eat till my heart's content. After we’re all stuffed we play games, either poker or dominos it doesn't matter we get competitive no matter what game it is. All the adults are drunk by the end of it and go outside to get fresh air while the kids get ready for bed. The party finally dies down till you can only hear a few murmurs here and there. Sometimes we might get thirds who knows. Everyone ends up staying the night and for some reason likes to get up early the next morning. I always end up being the last to get up at like 10 or 11. Everyone greets me with a “morning sleeping beauty” or “morning lazy bones” but I don’t mind, all I care about is the flautas my grandma’s making with the leftover ham. Swear the sweet smell of them wakes me up in the morning and that's when I know it's time to go downstairs. Everyones drinking mimosas with tired faces while talking amongst each other. It's a nice feeling and it makes me feel at home. Of course I have to always eat pumpkin pie after breakfast, it's my little tradition.

11- Destiny D: The Value of Shapes

 The Value of Shapes 

Most foods have certain details to them that are made to look more appealing. If potato chips were an army green instead of the well known yellowy-brown color they would not be consumed by so many people.

Too many people value how their food looks over how it tastes.  

Pasta itself comes in hundreds of different shapes and sizes, some of which look as though they are just made for fun. From bowties, to long noodles, to pasta wide enough to stuff, the possibilities are endless. 

The diversity of the pasta noodles is a part of the reason why it is such a popular food, as well as the many different flavors you can make. The details in foods are not only important for looks but they can be practical, just like the many different shapes of pasta. 

The different pasta shapes actually aren’t made just to look cool, most of them have a purpose. The variety of pasta shapes like the shell, bowtie, or penne are all made to hold as much sauce as they can.

The more sauce a pasta noodle can hold enhances the flavor, this is why the shorter noodles with holes or the noodles with many curves are so popular. The different shapes are also made so you can feel a different texture in your mouth.

Eating the same noodle over and over can be boring, even if there are so many different shapes. The majority of pasta noodles have a different texture to appeal to those who are growing tired of the same thing. 

The many beautiful shapes and sizes of the beloved pasta noodle keep it popular, and bring joy to those who take the time to cook it. 

Word Count 286