HEY AP LANG

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Definition

After the holiday season, slumping into the post-holiday blues is completely natural. There simply is nothing to look forward to in winter except slushy roads, bundling up for warmth, and twenty degree weather. After the holidays, winter is a depressing state everyone wants to move on out of. However, soon around March, the weather catches you by surprise. Birds chirping in the morning makes waking up ten times more bearable. The sun peeking through the clouds brightens everyone's mood up and the temperature rising is the only thing that matters. Slowly but surly, the sun melts all of winter's nasty qualities and the weather shifts to spring. The fresh, crisp air will leave one defenseless to spring fever, and generally life becomes happier. Long-sleeved shirts turn into tank tops, jeans to skirts, and boots to flip-flops. Life returns to the usual mopey faces around school. Colors shift from dark grays, blacks, and browns to bright pinks, greens, and yellows. The trees that lost their leaves several months ago start budding and flowers start blooming. Butterflies and ladybugs return and nature is more alive. Every time one walk's outside, they are bombarded with the smell of freshly  cut grass. Blue, cloudless skies give the entire world an optimistic feeling, and life becomes one thousand times better. Spring rescues us from the winter and makes us one step closer to summer. 

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Exemplification: Lyndsey Schultz

Lyndsey Schultz is a wonderful human being, and I am blessed to be in her presence on a day-to-day basis. I am so grateful to know such an amazing, funny person. Lyndsey and I have always been friends, but we never have been as close as we are now. If it weren't for AP Lang, Alex, and Kalean, I never would have gotten to know this girl so well.

 Lyndsey Schultz is HILARIOUS (let's not forget the ketchup incident). I cannot count the amount of times she has made me laugh. For example, everyday, I receive a voxer on my phone...always from Lyndsey. Most people send me a, "Hey, what's up?" or say my name, or just continue on with the previous conversation. But, Lyndsey never sends me anything like this. Unpleasant, confusing, and uncomfortable noises are her specialty. I won't even reply to them, just listen and laugh, and there usually will be another voxer there in the morning.

Lyndsey also send me pictures...strange pictures. Randomly at night I will be doing my homework and I'll get a new text message. Picking up my phone, I will have the most weird, random, sometimes disturbing photo from Lyndsey (one night she sent me a picture of her mom laughing). It's always funny though, and never fails to make me laugh. 

In addition to being absolutely hilarious, Lyndsey is one of the sweetest girls I know. If I don't have a smile on my face, she will make sure I have smiled by the end of the day. Lyndsey gives the greatest hugs, best compliments, and will make you feel like a million bucks by the end of the day. Lyndsey is SO MUCH fun to be around, whenever we are together we have so much fun. For instance, the other night we had a little Panera date to get some work done. Of course, we spent the entire time talking about laughing, and didn't get much accomplished. But, it was the most fun I had all week.

Lyndsey Schultz is one of the best people I have ever met. She is funny, sweet, beautiful, and has the funniest personality in the world. She is so random and so strange (for example, the improv skits) but that is what makes her Lyndsey. She is the greatest person, and I am so glad to have such a great friend in my life.

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How To Approach an Attractive Person (Please don't actually do this)

There are many attractive people in this world. Some appeal more to others, and everyone has a certain taste. One of life's greatest challenges is getting the courage to approach this person. It is absolutely crucial that you approach this person with the utmost care if you want to ensure a friendship or romantic relationship with this individual. If this is what you seek, follow the directions below exactly. 

1. Pick out an individual. Find the most attractive person you can, the person that you think will be perfect for you.

2. Next, learn the name of this individual. Knowing their first, middle, and last name is crucial in getting to know them.

3. Friend them on facebook and follow them on twitter. Now that you know their name, locating them on the internet should be very easy.

4. Find out where the individual lives. Find the exact address of your chosen attractive person. You can do this by using the internet, yellow pages, or the school directory.

5. Plant tracking device in individual's cellular device while they are sleeping. Now that you know their address, this should not be a difficult task.

6. Keep corresponding GPS system with you at all times, this way you know where they are at all times.

7. Learn and study their daily routine and schedule. Find out which paths they take in school, their classes, and what activities they participate in after school. 

8. Follow this person throughout their day, find out their interests and try to adopt similar ones.

9. It is time to get their attention. Casually "bump" into this person. Perhaps, drop your books in front of them and they will lend a helping hand. Or, throw something at them. Do whatever needs to be done to attain their gaze. (Note: on this day look presentable)

10. When they look over, say "Hi," smile.

11. Now, try to engage in natural conversation. DO NOT let them know you know everything about their life.

12. Pretend to like whatever they like, this will build unreal compatibility in their head.

13. Text that person RIGHT away after you leave. This way they know you are interested and have your cell phone number.

14. Initiate a get-together once they reply.

15. Tweet to them, so the world knows you are friends.

16. Message them on facebook later that night.

17. Try to Facetime/OOVOO/Skype after the facebook message.

18. While engaged over some type of social network, initiate a get together.

19. If denied, ask again the next day.

20. Repeat until successful. 

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Cause and Effect: Coffee

Every morning is the same. The piercing ring of my alarm wakes me up with chills from my deep sleep. Every morning, I hit 'snooze' one time more than the last. Getting up seems like the world's hardest task, "Just five more minutes." Dragging myself downstairs, I yearn for one thing I know will make me feel better: caffeine. I slump over to my coffee machine in my slippers and pj's and hit the "brew now" button. Waiting for what seems like an eternity, my coffee brews and finally is ready. After fixing it up with what I like best, I take one sniff, and my senses already start waking up. The hot liquid spills on my tongue and I down the cup in ten minutes. Already, my heart starts beating faster and I am more awake.  I instantly transform from a torpid, sluggish person into the regular Jess. Without coffee and caffeine, waking up in the morning would be impossible.

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Compare/Contrst: Pens Vs. Pencils

In life there are two kind of people, pen people and pencil people. I for one, am definitely a pen person. There is nothing worse than my math teacher, Ms. Kean, telling me that she won’t grade my math test if I use pen one more time. Science and math are absolutely tortuous, never being able to use pencil. Pens come in all different sizes, colors, and patterns. I feel like every pen writes differently. You have your classic BIC pens, company pens (TD Bank for instance), and then those fancy twisty pens. To me, there is nothing better than a good pen. Pens are powerful- sharp and pointy they can never be erased. A pen’s writing can stand strong and outlast any flimsy lead marking. Pencils are meek and easily broken. They can be snapped with just a tiny flick of the wrist. My pencils are always lost, have bite marks on them, and get eaten by every pencil sharpener I use. Pens are long-lasting and easier to keep track of. Pencils aren’t called Number Two for no reason. 

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Perkins At It’s Finest (Don’t Let My Employers See This)

Working at Perkins for six months, I have met a plethora of different people. The customers are all very different...and very strange. Some are great, others, not so much. Working Sunday mornings, you get more of a variety of people coming in. Obviously, being a breakfast restaurant, we are busiest in the mornings. Every morning there is at least one father with four kids, no wife. This usually means Mom is out of town and Dad needs to find some way to feed his kids. I love these tables. The kids’ screams about how hungry they are radiate throughout the restaurant. My favorite is when all four kids order the same “Perky Bear Cakes”: pancakes topped with either sprinkles or chocolate chips and whipped cream. The father, unaware of the sugary breakfast his kids just asked for, allows them to have it every time. It never fails, every time whipped cream ends up on the faces of all four children. Melted chocolate chips cover faces, hands, plates, tables, and the salt and pepper shakers. Sprinkles are in between the seats, under the table, and in Dad’s eggs. “I’m so sorry,” Dad says repeatedly to me, while on the phone with work or his wife. The kids get up, wander around the restaurant aimlessly. Dad doesn’t even realize. Before they leave, they again give another apology. This table usually results in a $10 tip.

The best is when someone you know, but not that well, comes in. You don’t say hi to them on a day-to-day basis, but you know exactly who they are. Awkward. The absolute BEST is when you put their order in wrong. I will never forget one time this senior I met a party came in once with his parents. Awkwardly I took their orders, only to have almost every one of them come out wrong. His omelet was supposed to have bacon, not ham. The mom ordered wheat toast, not rye. And dad wanted diet coke, not regular. This kind of tables usually results in a $2 tip.

Old couples are very frequent- and definitely the cutest. I once had one old woman show me pictures of her from when she was my age. Sometimes brothers and sisters ages 65-75 come in, sometimes they’re married, sometimes they’ve been best friends for years. These people always have the best stories and are super nice. Saying thank you after everything I bring them, they always put a smile on my face. These tables are usually a $5 tip.

The worst tables are the ones with attitude. I love walking up to a table and saying, “Good morning, Sir! How are you doing today?” and getting the reply of, “Coffee and an ice water.” Awkwardly turn away, as if taking a drink order was the answer to my question. Throughout the meal they have some kind of complaint: “The bread isn’t toasted enough”, “There is too much ice in my drink”, “I asked for baked potato, not mashed potatoes.” During their meal, I’ll walk up to their table, “Do you need anything, Sir?”

“Yeah can you get me an extra napkin, please?” After I bring the extra napkin, they ask for more ketchup. After I bring the ketchup, they ask for tabasco sauce. Then they ask for more sugars. Then, the check. You would think that because these people seemed annoyed, they would tip poorly. However, these tables usually result in a $6-$7 tip. 

Whenever we are really busy, it never fails I have a table like this. Frantically, I’m running around: I have a thousand things to do. I have seven tables right now. Each one needs drinks, extra napkins, their to-go-order, their check, etc. And THEN I get sat AGAIN with another table. Eight tables. Okay. I walk over as fast as I can to take their orders. “Hello, how are we doing today?!” 

“Good, good. How are you?”

“Great, I’m Jess, what can I get for you today?” I say as fast as I can, I need to get to my other tables.

“I’ll get the....uhmmmm.... the eggs-over...wait...no....how does this come...this right here?...wait no I don’t want that. Hmmmm, wait maybe I want dinner food. Uhmmm, wait are these fresh?” I try answering the questions best I could.

“PICK SOMETHING,” I want to scream but just smile through my teeth anxiously. Sweating, I realize how many things need to be done. When they FINALLY order, I don’t go back there until they need their check. 

While working at Perkins, many different people come in. I appreciate a nice table so much because they are so rare. People rarely are friendly- so next time, you’re at a restaurant, be nice to your waitress. 

[mollyjandro]

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Description

My entire life I have always been a summer girl. However, the one thing that keeps me going through the winter months is the Christmas season. During December, there is a joy in the air everywhere you go. People are happier and constantly in a giving mood. It is the happiest season, seeing the first houses with twinkling Christmas lights always puts me in a good mood. Buying the Christmas tree and picking out the perfect one, while the smell of pine fills up our house. Baking 20, 30 cookies a day and then eating them after dinner every night. Gingerbread and cinnamon leave a lasting smell on my clothes everyday when I leave my house. The first snow right around Christmas lifts my heart, seeing a white blanket covering my yard when I wake up in the morning before school.  Carrying boxes filled up with Christmas decorations from the dusty basement always is fun, and then decorating the tree with gold, silver, red, and green ornaments. Strips and pieces of shiny tinsel cover every floor in my house. Inside every store you walk into, jovial Christmas music is silently humming in the background. Every radio station playing joyful, triumphant music about our King being born. Lighting the advent candles every Sunday in church, and eating the chocolate out of my advent calendar every night at home. Bells and bows, wrapping paper and tape, scissors and presents. There is nothing harder than trying to get to sleep the night before Christmas. Dreaming in anticipation of what will be under the tree, and of the exciting day ahead of you. Finally, 7 a.m. you must wake up mom and dad. Jumping on their beds, making sure they’re up and ready for presents. Impatiently unwrapping every gift, and sitting so happy and thankful for everything in front of you. My favorite part of Christmas is going to see my entire family. The Browns are so much fun and everyone is so happy. Spending the day with them: opening gifts, eating food, playing Bingo, and laughing. There is not happier time than Christmas time. 

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Argumentation Essay: Actions Speak Louder than Words

Some may argue that the Right to Bear Arms is not an important amendment. However, I personally believe it is one of the most important. The Right to Bear Arms and own weapons is extremely important, especially when dealing with a dictatorship. In some instances, owning weapons is the only way a group can rebel against a dictatorship. One can infer that dictators are aware of this because one of the first rights taken away is usually the Right to Bear Arms. This way, the people cannot retaliate. For example, the first right Hitler took away was the Right to Bear Arms. One may argue that the power of Freedom of Speech can be used peacefully. In some instances, this works. For example, Ghandi’s and Martin Luther King Jr’s peaceful rebellions. However, when dealing with a dictatorship, Freedom of Speech usually is not granted. The right to owning a weapon gives the people Freedom of Speech- anything can be said with a weapon in hand. Using that weapon to stand up for what you believe in is your Freedom of Speech. Additionally, the United States of America gained independence because they had weapons to defend against the British. The Founding Fathers obviously thought Right to Bear Arms was extremely important if they made it the second amendment. In China, protesters were using freedom of speech to protest at Tiananmen Square. This peaceful protest only led to a Massacre, where innocent people were killed by the government. Personally, I would prefer to have both Freedom of Speech and the Right to Bear Arms. However, if I had to chose one I would chose the Right to Bear Arms to ensure safety. Actions speak louder than words.

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Magic of VIM

            According to the dictionary, the proper definition of “family” is “a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not, is the traditional family.” However, I disagree with this definition. I have two families, one consisting of my blood relatives, and another. My other family includes my team members from VIM: Volunteers in Mission. Every summer my church and I drive all the way up to North Newportland, Maine, and we volunteer helping those less fortunate than ourselves. None of us have much in common: our ages range from our teens to our sixties and we all come from different family backgrounds. However, for that one week, there is an unexplainable closeness between myself and the other fifty-seven team members living together. For one week, we come together, forget about the problems in our lives and our worries. It is the happiest place, where our hearts are as big our smiles. The love we share for each other is one of the most passionate feelings I have experienced. My two best friends, Michelle and Rachel and I share this experience together, and there is nothing else like it.

            I find it so difficult to explain the power of VIM. Over the trip fifty-eight people are in the same living quarters with only three bathrooms and three showers. Stinky cars and buses are our means of transportation. All day we work on job sites: repairing roofs, replacing toilets, fixing leaky sinks, painting houses, rewiring electricity circuits, anything. There is more laughing than complaining. Chores need to be done and if someone needs help, a stampede of volunteers are waiting. Waking up, you have no idea what is in store for the day, what adventure you will be on, or what people you will meet.

            I had the privilege of meeting the sweetest woman in the world: Mable. My team and I consisted of Rachel, Michelle, and our leaders. Our job was to paint Mable’s house, however, it’s safe to say we got more paint on each other. We climb the shaky scaffolding, trying not to fall off. “Do you think it’s safe?” I’d ask. Rach fearlessly jumps on the rotting plank and nods. Definitely not safe. But we don’t care. Jamming out to Bob Marley and Blink 182, we scrape and we paint. We shed off our sweatshirts as the sun starts to peak from under the clouds. We all work together, determined to get each job done. Everyday Mable would prepare us something different, whether it was cakes, donuts, pizza, or just a glass of lemonade. She told us stories about her life: falling in love at age eighteen, getting married, only to have her husband leave for fifteen years in the military. She told us about her kids, and where each one of them was today. She showed us pictures of herself, her house before it needed fixing up. Obviously, we were doing a great thing for her. She did not have the ability nor the money to have someone else fix up her home, but we were also giving her company. She was the most grateful woman, and to help someone who is so deserving felt the amazing. When it’s time to go, we pack up the van, say goodbye to Mable with a round of hugs, then pile into the back of a pickup truck. The air would fly through my blonde hair, and the setting sun winked on my tan skin. Laughing, we would see who could stand up in the back of the pick-up truck without falling over while going fifty down the highway.

            VIM nights are always the best. Since most of us don’t bother showering, there is always a trip to the lake. Flagstaff lake, the most beautiful place I have ever been. The perfect post card shot, the glassy lake reflects the perfect pink, blue, and orange sunset sky. Thick green trees surround the perimeter, with moose hidden in the bushy foliage. Brilliant blue mountains reaching heaven tower in the distance.The sky is a mixture of colors: clouds, sun, and swirls of sherbert pink and bright orange. Music is played, we sing, we dance, and we swim. Peeling off our clothes we run into the freezing cold water, but soon get used to it. Suds of biodegradable soap surround us and cover our hair and bodies.

            Back at camp, every night includes a volleyball tournament, but since I’m always the first one out I find other things to do. Helping Mama Phipps and Mama Jans prepare the most delicious meals for dinner is always fun. Sometimes we play poker, apples-to-apples, or go on walks. The sound of Mr. Bill Reed’s horn to call everyone in for dinner can be heard miles away. A short prayer or song is shared, and then we all pile the food onto our plates. Eating more than we can hold, everyone is full within fifteen minutes. There is no other food better than VIM food: ten pounds will be gained by the end of the week.

             When it gets dark, the sky shines with sparkles of diamonds. The stars in Maine are like no other, we see at least a shooting star a night. We all grab blankets, cuddle up on the wet grass, and look up for hours. We talk about life, our plans for the future, make up our own constellations, and laugh at our countless jokes. Someone always needs to bring the bug spray- the misquotes eat you alive.

            VIM is a place where time stops. Nothing else matters in the wilderness but the people around you. Technology doesn’t exist. Problems that lie back in New Jersey disappear. Jobs and work don’t interfere. We care about each other, getting our jobs done, and satisfying the people we do them for. The gratitude shown towards the VIM team is immense. The feeling that swells your heart is bigger. I love these people enough to call them my family: the result of the magic of VIM.