Story Based on Quote

Prompt: Use any quote and write a 500 word story about it. The quote can be from anywhere, but still needs to be appropriate. (No cursing allowed in the quote!) The short story can be in any point of view and is allowed to go over 500 words.

Due at the end of the period on Friday for Mrs. Ell’s class AND Mr. Kupiec's class.

Example: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives one.” –George R.R. Martin

“I’m sorry Ms. Callaway, but I’m not sure how to tell you this.” The doctor said looking over his clip board. “A valve in your heart has busted and there really is no way of fixing it.” I looked down at the ground shaking slightly, not fully sure how to process this information.

“I’m going to die?” I asked looking back up at my doctor. He looked back down to the clipboard and let out a defeated sigh.

“I’m so sorry Erica, but before I even came in here I made the nurses reevaluate the papers. I tried to even change the results myself but nothing can really change this outcome.”

“And I can’t get surgery for this?” I asked getting angry and a little frantic. “You’re telling me right now that there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop this?”

“No you canno-“

“And why not!” I screamed glaring at Dr. Richards.

“Because if we go in you won’t come out” He spat and then took a breath to relax. “Erica if we go inside to fix this valve there is a 100% chance of it not helping what so ever. It did not only split, but it ripped its self so far apart that to retrieve the other piece we would have to go down to you small intestines. We have no idea how this happened, but going off of a guess your body has become very weak and is starting to break down.”

“I- I can’t believe this. How long do I have?” I asked looking up to my doctor feeling as if it is the last time I’ll ever see him.

“Two weeks. Throughout that time you’ll feel your body getting weaker, but it won’t be severe. How the damage is happening you should just pass without pain.” He said looking at me with sad eyes. “Try to live up these next few days Erica. Do everything you’ve always wanted to do.”

“What else is there left for me to do?” I asked shaking my head. “I’ve already swum with dolphins, explored the Grand Canyon, and went to concerts. I’ve flown all over the world and gone to a different universe. Well actually multiple universes if you want to get technical. I’ve worked for the FBI, and also done some sketchy business. I’ve been a drug dealer and police officer. I have tamed lions and some of the largest beasts you’ll ever imagine. I’ve been treated like royalty and multiple occasions I have become the ruler of nations. I’ve fought in the army and suffered the most deadly of wounds. I’ve been reborn and found out all the secrets that have been hidden from us for years. I’ve had drinks with Caesar, talked about the planets with Galileo, painted out the meaning of life with Michael Angelo, and have danced in the presence of Queen Elizabeth. I have traveled everywhere, including Atlantis. Did you know that mermaids do exist?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I have be-friended mythical creatures, the strongest warriors and villains of all sorts. I say all this to ask. What else can I do?” I finished looking back at Dr. Richards.

He looked at me shell shocked. “I have no idea, but it seems like you’ve lived many lives.” He said still confused

I smiled lightly “Yeah I guess you could say that.”

Dream Job

Prompt guidelines:
I want you to write at least 500 words about your dream job. It can be realistic or not, as long as you explain why this is your dream job, what influenced you to always want to do this, and do you personally think that this is possible for you to pursue as a career.
Example:
Ever since I was little and able to talk, all I ever wanted to do was play sports all of my life. My dream job is to be a professional athlete in either the NBA or MLB. I think the main reason that this is my dream job is because sports are my whole life. Just about everything I do is influenced by sports. Decisions I make, places I go, people I meet, a huge part of all of this is being an athlete. In all honesty, I do not think I would be even close to the person I am today if it were not for sports. I have no idea what I would do with myself; I cannot picture my life without it. Another huge factor to this whole equation is my Dad. He is the one that got me into everything. Although my Mom was a very good athlete in high school as well, I like to think that I got my abilities from him, (just do not tell her that!). Without my father pushing me to be the best I can be in not only sports, but school and life in general, I would be nothing. He pushes me to be better every single day in everything I do. For that, I can never repay him.

I would have to say that my father and my desire to be the best and my hunger for competition are the reasons that I have this dream. A huge part of being an athlete is having the determination and the drive to win, no matter the circumstances. Failure is never an option, because if you see it as one, then you are not a true athlete. You should always strive to be the best. I feel that because my father was not able to pursue his dream due to things that happened to him in terms of his health, that it is almost my responsibility to pursue this dream for both of us, not just myself. I am not saying that this is not 100% my dream as well, but now I am playing for two, and not just one. He fuels my fire and my drive, and without him, I would not be able to do what I do today.

Personally, I feel that this is a realistic career choice for me. However, I have not looked very far into it other than fantasizing about it. I just go off of what other people tell me. Coaches and parents always tell me about the potential I have to play in college and what not. I love to hear people tell me that because I do not like to put those thoughts in my head. Of course I dream about it and wish that I was able to do all of that, but I prefer to stay focused on what is happening now as opposed to the future. Plus, I do not want to sound full of myself to other people. That is not the way I would want people to view me, and I hope they do not. I have my feet on the ground and I am keeping my head small. However, it is never bad to dream once and a while.

innocence

Innocence is viewed differently and can mean different things to different people. To some innocence can be lost at a specific age, and to others it takes a moment to lose innocence. What does it take to lose one’s innocence? Answer this question in any style that you’d like. Make your narrative, poem, etc., at least 400 words.
Here’s an example based on my point of view:
They told us beforehand that we were to have a new student. We waited for her to come in and smiled brightly at her. Lila cried the instance her mom brought her in the class. She was so loud and personally, I would be embarrassed. Her tiny face turned as red as a tomato, tears were streaming down her face, and substances were coming out of her nose. She was crying the whole entire time and the only reason she calmed down was because one of the teacher aids sat her on their laps. Every time she was asked to join the rest of us in an activity, she shook her head and returned to the verge of bawling. “Why does she not enjoy coloring like the rest of us? Why does she not want to play along? She’s a new girl, but hey, we’re all nice here. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I am a really nice person and so is everyone around here. Well, everyone except Marissa…she can be a little feisty.” These are all the things that went through my head because I could not understand why Lila was so upset.
Three years later it was my turn to be the new girl though. There were two of us. I walked in the classroom and everyone seemed to stare at me. I was not happy at all, I missed my mother and I felt a knot building up in my throat. Before I could even think about crying though, memories of Lila crying popped in my mind. It was at that moment that I finally understood why she was so upset; she probably felt the way I was feeling right now. Ever since that day, I make it my personal job to make new students at my school feel as comfortable as they could. Stepping into another’s shoes was the moment that defined the end of my innocence. I no longer expect the world to be the way I want it to be and feel the way I do. Everyone feels different ways about everything, and before judging it’s important to understand why. Once you’re capable of comprehending this and once you’re aware of the varied perspectives society has about everything, you are no longer innocent.
This assignment is due Monday at the end of class.

Independence

Directions: Think back to when you were little, unable to do anything by yourself, always relying on someone else to help you or guide you in the right direction. Now that you are older you are capable of doing more on your own and start to crave independence. Why do you think we want to be on our own? Why do we crave this independence? And when we do finally get that independence, how do we react? Was it what you expected? More or less? Write a paragraph displaying how you feel about independence as a young adult and how it affects today’s society. Must be at least 250 words and have appropriate grammar.
Example:
What usually comes to mind when thinking about independence? Red, White and Blue, is what comes to my mind. Our country, all the lives that were lost for what is now known as freedom. Something that we all tend to crave at least every once in a while. Either its freedom from the law or just simply being free from the rules that your parents have made for their household. Nowadays, teenagers or young adults tend to want this freedom; independence from the nest is what I really mean. We want to be able to do what we want and when we want and how we do it. We want what we can’t have. And when we finally do get it we don’t want it anymore. But tough luck kiddo once you get it, once you’re on your own there are no take-backs. You’re stuck with it. Now it has not always been this way, our country used to not be so strict. There was no age limits to buy/drink alcohol or have tobacco, everyone just kind of did it. But the U.S. has caught on to this and the harmful effects of the use of such things. Teenagers have caught on to this as well and ways to get by without getting caught. But most of them aren’t as lucky as the rest; most of them in fact have to pay the consequences of the laws in which they broke. Now independence isn’t all about the ability to drink and smoke, maybe in a teenagers mind but there also comes a responsibility. A responsibility that even some adults cannot even fulfill. Think. Once you’re eighteen what are you going to do? Drink, party, smoke, stay out all night? No. you will need the basics, food and water because without that you can’t even live. So you will have to first find a job, in which then you will be able to pay for shelter (we all need to have a place to sleep and if there is bad weather coming up you will need to have a roof over your head so you don’t get sick. Because if you get sick then there goes your job as well as your food and water.) Once you get a job you will find that there is really no time to party and drink because you will be expected to be at your job, after all you are “independent” now. The main reason we want to grow up so fast is because we are constantly being told what to do and when to do it, we really have no say in anything either it being the color of your hair or what you do on a Friday night but the thing is, do we even really want to be on our own? Do we want to have to be responsible for every little mistake that we do? Or can we wait a little while and learn how to cope with all of this? Now America, next time you wish that you were older and independent think again because there is a lot more to it than what you think.

Childhood

Assignment: Write 250 words about one of your first childhood memories. Go into detail about where you were when this event happened, talk about every detail that you can remember. This assignment is due at the end of class on Friday.

Example: I can remember the day like it was yesterday. I was in preschool and I was on the playground playing with my friends. I wanted to go on the rocket ship and everyone was on the other playground toys. When I was in the rocket ship I felt something on my arm, it hurt a lot. I started to cry so my teacher came over and told me I had to go inside. Once I got inside my teacher said I got stung by a bee. She got an ice pack and put in on my wound and gave me a lollipop. The lollipop was cherry flavored, I remember. I loved that cherry flavored lollipop, it made me feel better. My teacher called my mom to see if I was allergic to bees. This was the first time I have ever been stung by a bee, so my mom didn’t know. My teacher told me to go lay down in the nurses room. I didn’t feel sick my arm only hurt. A few minutes later my mom came to pick me up. We had to go to the doctors to make sure I wasn’t allergic, because that wouldn’t be good. When we got to the doctor I remember seeing all the animals on the wall, I liked to look at them. After the doctor saw me she said I wasn’t allergic, it would just hurt for a little bit. The nurse let me pick a sticker. I picked a princess sticker it was sparkly and I stuck it on my shirt. The next day at preschool I showed my friends my cool new sticker. They were all jealous.

Addiction

Assignment: Write about someone who has an addiction of some sort. You could be the one with the addiction or you could be witnessing someone with an addiction. The addiction could be one that they are able to stop or can’t break away from. Can be any style of writing you choose. Must be at least 250 words.  This assignment is due at the end of the period.
EXAMPLE:
Sip after sip
Cup after cup
Bottle after bottle
Too much was just never enough for him
I would sit there as I watched him pull his expiration date closer and closer
Why was he doing this?
The outcome wasn’t going to be anything beneficial
Temptation has got him by the tongue
And she wasn’t letting go anytime soon
Not only was he harming himself, it was the people around him, as well
But he would never remember
It was as if these horrific moments never happened
He was a monster
An uncontrollable, terrifying monster
There was just no stopping him
As much as he said he wanted to stop
Something in his mind just wouldn’t let him
Alcohol was what he thrived off of
He wouldn’t let anyone take that away from him
As he’s here racking up on bottles and feeling good
We are racking up in tears and bruises
Aggression came with this monster
Why was it that the one in the wrong is the only one feeling good?
Here my family and I were suffering as he watched and laughed it off with another beer
This just wasn’t right
No matter how mad I would get at him, there was still a soft spot in my heart for him
I knew that this wasn’t him
This was just the monster that came with the alcohol
This just needed to all come to an end
But sadly, the path that it was taking I don’t think would ever stop
Temptation brought out the monster and she wasn’t going to tame him

Bucket List

 




Create a list of all of the things you want to do before you die. No less than 50, but of course there is no maximum number. If you already have a "bucket list," revise it and check off the items you've completed, adding new ones to the list. For each item, try to give a reason. For example: "I want to visit London so that I can experience a Shakespeare play at The Globe."
Due at the end of class tomorrow.