How I Learned That My Family Loves Me

I learn that my family loves me every night. My dad tucks me into bed with the most gossamer of touches. A touch that makes the covers feel like silk. Much softer than they actually are. THen he kisses my forehead and looks me in the eyes and says, " I love you very much, I love you even when your sad. I hope you have sweet dreams a great sleep and I will see you in the morning."

After he says this to me, all feelings of the day rush out of me. And the feelings are exchanged with love. Love for my dad, and love for my family. Whenever this happens, I know that my family loves me back. That's how I know that my family loves me.

My Research For Exhibition 2012

For my Exhibition project, I am doing bullying. Bullying is a growing problem in all communities. There is even a documentary titled Bully. A documentary that I urge you to go see. It's about a child who is bullied at school who takes his own life because of it. Also about the parents of that child who take a stand for bullying. Try and go see it. But for now, I'd like to share some facts about bullying with you.

- About 42% of kids have been bullied online, one fourth being verbally attacked more than once.
- About 77% of kids have admitted to being bullied
- One out of every four kids will be bullied at least once throughout his/her adolescence
-Kids part of a minority group are more likely to be bullied
- Verbal attacks are the most common form of bullying
- Making someone feel bad or unsafe is considered bullying

These are just a few of my many facts on bullying. But I urge you to go and find more information on it yourself. Knowing what to do in a bullying situation could mean life or death for you or someone else.

When I learned Life Isn't Fair

I learned that life isn't fair from the game of baseball. As a child all you want is everything. But as a child who plays baseball, all you want to do is win. But that's not how it works.

I was 6 years old, and was now at the first game of the first season of there actually being score. The age group younger than us didn't have score. So I was nervous. My first at-bat came. I was shaking in my cleats. I knew I was good, but in Pee-wee there are 6 and 7 year olds. So I wasn't as confident. I stepped up to the plate. The Pitcher showed the ball to me. He then stuck it in the machine and in it's cannon like motion, the machine pitched the ball right down the middle. I swung and WAM! I hit a hard ground ball to third base. I tore out of the box and sprinted towards first base. The fielder now with the ball in his hand hurled the ball towards the first baseman. He caught it it. I sprinted through the bag awaiting the call. Right then the umpire said in his assertive voice, "OUT!"

I walked back to the dugout keeping calm. When I entered the fence covered cubical I began to bawl. I was devastated. After the game, my coach gave a speech. I had heard the saying before that life wasn't fair. But I never believed it because I always got whatever I wanted. But it was in that dugout, after that one play, where I realized that life wasn't fair.

This I Believe

I believe in hard work. I have put lots of work into playing baseball to get to where I am today. Which is being recognized as the greatest player in our league. I have heard the saying so many times. "Practice makes perfect". But what I realized after seeing some players on my teams is that practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You can't get anywhere with just showing up. It takes the time and the effort to develop yourself into what you want to be.

I come from a great situation. Good education, good equipment for sports, electronics, etc. My dad compares our situation to other people's who don't get what I have. He compares our two lifestyles using football. He says," It's always easier to score a touchdown on a touchback then to start in the red zone."He says this because in the red zone, the defense tightens up. In real life people stop letting you through easy because you have funding. I and most other kids in our neighborhood are in the red zone. We have a better chance of being successful because we have the funding. The kids who aren't as lucky have an even better chance because they can throw the long ball. The long ball representing effort. If those kids who aren't as lucky put in the time and effort to reach there goals they will. Because you don't need funding to be great. Money doesn't buy success. Perfect practice does. I believe in hard work because I have to work harder to succeed. Theres never no room for improvement.

Who We Are: Exhibition 2012

An inquiry into the nature of the self; belifs and values; personal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health; human relations including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

When I Got My Hershey's Pillow

I remember the day I got my Hershey's pillow like it was yesterday. I was 6 years old, and was on my first of eventually three trips to New York. It was the last day of the trip, and I had just made my first purchase (a hockey jersey) of soon to be two purchases on the trip. But another great purchase was about to be made.

We were in Times Square, and had just come from Tasty-D-Lite (a candy store). This gave us a candy craving because my Mom was the only person who got anything. As everyone should know, the M&M and Hershey's stores are in Times Square. We had already gone to the M&M store earlier in the trip so we decided to go to the Hershey's store.

As a kid, I loved stuffed animals, and still do. I have about 30 of my favorite ones in a pile in my room. (including my three pillow pets).

I was walking in the middle of the store when I saw a HUGE Hershey's chocolate bar! It had to be 7 feet long! (maybe not 7 feet). I asked my dad if he would get it for me but he rejected the idea. But he had then told me to come with him. He brought me to a rack of stuffed animals. Rows of bears, and lions, and tigers. For a 6 year old who loves stuffed animals, this is Heaven on Earth! But what caught my eye was the bottom shelf. I mean of course it did I was a short 6 year old. The shelfs contained a Hershey's pillow and a Reese's pillow. I was torn. Now remember, I was a 6 year old who loved stuffed animals so this is a  pretty big deal.

I remember wanting the Reese's pillow more at one point. But then, an idea hit me like a ton of bricks. I could just get both! I mean I didn't care about extra expenses, I was 6! But my dad once again denied me. Then I realized another thing, I was at the Hershey's store! Why would I get something that wasn't Hershey's related. So I got the Hershey's pillow.

I still sleep with that very same pillow almost every night. And even though it's worn out and old, it's still the softest and best pillow I've ever owned.