Ms. Hill's 5/6 Period

I believe in tennis I believe in tennis because it is not like any other sport where you might fit into a category of too short, too slow, or too weak. Everyone in tennis is treated as an equal, no matter their race, skill level, or physical qualities. The only thing in tennis that limits you is you and not what other people think of you. I believe tennis has taught me not to judge my opponents skill level, years of experience, or even the appearance. In tennis many kids have judged me based on the fact that they have twice the number of years than I, yet they don’t realize the amount of hours I have poured my soul into the game. Since then the lessons of others arrogance taught me to not judge anyone by their race, looks, or their experience, because you don’t truly know what that person has gone through to get to the position they are at. I believe tennis has taught me to use the skills that I have learned in tennis outside of the courts and in our everyday life. Something as...

I believe in the power of music. It is a language everyone can speak and a voice everyone can hear, but above all connects people together. Yesterday, I witnessed how powerful the sound of music truly is. I walked into the Girls International Cup opening ceremony, to be welcomed by the sight thousands of other girls, just like me. Everyone talking and singing together as the music blasted throughout the room. Looking around the room seeing smiles on everyone’s face as they sang their hearts out, bonded together by music. No matter what country they are from, or what language they spoke everyone came together to have a great time. It was a magical experience to be able to see teams from South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Norway and many other countries together, all having the chance to go on stage and perform dances from their native countries. As the room lit up from the variety of culture, I got the chance first hand to talk to them and truly see how this musical environment made th...

The classroom was shaking with whispers, laughter, running and only one person was quietly sitting alone like a lone wolf across everyone, waiting; It was me. I waited and waited as my life was about to get crazier by the seconds. We all were about to take a test. Tests. Tests meant nightmares. I always knew to work fast use all my shortcuts just like I do in math. Although I knew I was not as skilled at writing nor math because I knew my grade didn’t show so. Texas was weird and that was one thing I knew. We took a test for 4 whole hours. Chicago didn’t have that. Had my mind known that the "STAAR test" was a test that could impact me forever. I stared at the capitalized  words of STAAR during the beginning of the test. I can still remember the first page. The page was a Texas flag with a STAAR written on the top of the Texas flag and on the bottom the full form of the STAAR. I had millions of questions; I didn't know what to do and I didn't know why this test ...

I believe no one will ever truly be gone. Even if someone leaves you, through death or just leaving, they will always be a part of you. No matter how hard you try to forget about them and move on their memory will always be kept in the back of your mind. I realized this about four years ago when my grandmother died from cancer. My entire family was devastated at the loss and we mourned for what felt like forever, we couldn’t believe she was really gone. I remember feeling as though I didn’t really get to say goodbye because my aunt and uncle were taking care of her when she died. After her funeral everyone was still in shock that she was truly gone, once we finally got home my brother said “I remember when she took [my brother, my sister, and I] out late on a school night to go get ice cream and she told us to finish it fast or she would get in trouble from [our parents]”. We all laughed at the memory and then cried again because we would never be able to share any funny moments li...

I believe that one’s belief controls their capabilities. I think that most of the things we do, that we might not be “capable of” or “good enough” at, and think that there are other people that are better and somehow stopping you, is a wrong idea, and is a misconception. There will always be people that are better than you and are a big competition to you. But that does not mean that they are more capable than you are, it just means that you are not allowing yourself to completely accept your mistakes or obstacles that will always be there with you. I think when people start thinking that just because they failed at something one time, there is no point in trying. When people start believing things like “there is no point of trying” or “there is nothing to lose”, they start giving up and actually failing things. I started understanding and believing this after I had a dream. This particular dream, was the weirdest and the shortest dream that I’ve ever had. In this dream, I was in a sma...

I have slowly become more and more apathetic over the years. I am naturally a very hyper, bouncy and curious person. My parents love to tell me about all the funny stories of my childhood. Although my instincts are to explore and be active, over the years I have become more and more reserved, anxious and quiet. I have always kept most of my thoughts to myself. I´ve always had irrational thoughts but each day that part of me grows; the other slowly fades away. I used to have everything thought out, my favorite animal, icecream flavor, color, etc, but nowadays nothing makes sense to me. The worst part of it all is that I don't do anything about it. I have very little care for myself, but I live a fairly easy life. I believe that it is easier to be apathetic. One day after I had finished dinner with my family, I was talking with my parents. I was talking about the maladies of my life and questioning why it had to be that way. I was asking and I noticed a pattern their answer...

  I want more ; everyone wants more. I believe that ambition can sometimes lead to greed. Ambition is what makes people want something more, something better. It causes discoveries and breakthroughs and many other things and, it does not halt people from being just fine with what we have it makes us work to make something better or try to improve any little thing as possible towards something that we are very passionate about. Although ambition is a great thing with many different positive effects on people it also might bring out what is called greed in a person. When it does come out, it just slowly takes over ambition and turns it into greed and the more determined we are towards something the faster it turns into greed. In my own life, there have been situations where my statement about ambition has been proven. A couple of years ago me and my friend tried out for a soccer team and it was a very famous soccer team. I remember that I would have done anything to get...

I believe in unity. The sense of togetherness instead of a wide variety of seperate groups. Unlike most people I’ve thankfully experienced at least a small part of a growing picture. The Summer of 2016 completely changed my life. My father, his wife, and I were on hour number 2 as I dreaded the visit to my stepmothers childhood home. I had already done my research on this relatively small town named Wichita Falls and prepared for the worst. The worst being that this mostly white town would throw my dad and I out before we could even begin to form a sentence. As we arrived to the front of the seemingly large house, things took a strange turn. There was a man and woman standing in the doorway with huge smiles on their faces. Her parents. “Why were they smiling? Didn’t they know who was getting out of the car?” I thought as I reluctantly stepped out of the vehicle. That’s when it happened, both of them made straight shot towards me. As they simultaneously wrapped their long arms around me...

I believe in people.    When I was growing up I longed to know who I was, I felt incomplete, a puzzle piece missing. A child so young feeling lost, helpless and I didn't believe in anyone. I wanted my real mom. I kept telling myself it was for the good, she left me for a better cause, I lied. Even though I knew what they were doing. If my so-called “dream” came true I would have a different purpose.     To escape. To escape the abuse, neglection, to escape the hunger brought to me when my parents chose to spend our food money on drugs instead of giving me a meal.    Am I forgotten?    I realized I've been trying to escape the entire time, escape the fact that there are people that love me, that I believe in now, I'm their family and their mine. But I still struggle to learn to be apart of my family, at times I find myself looking at other perfect families contemplating how that's their kid, how they look alik...

As a perfectionist, I want everything to go the way it’s supposed to. Nothing should change, everything needs to be perfect.  One thing that needs to be perfect is my grades. 90% or above average in each class and nothing less. Sometimes my grade will drop to an 80, but I manage to bring it up before the marking period ends. My grades are mostly 90’s, with exception of one or two 80’s sometimes, and I planned on keeping it that way throughout all my years of school. Till I had Spanish.  The first few months of Spanish were easy, I was doing well on all the tests and my averages were 90’s. Then things started to go downhill. Spanish was getting harder and harder, I wasn’t doing as well on my tests and my average was in the 80’s, but I was ok with it. It happened once, so it’s fine as long as it never happens again. Then it happened again. It kept happening constantly, my average in Spanish was below a 90 and that’s not acceptable. I was so disappointed in myself and even th...

I believe that confidence is the key to success. Many people think that in order to win or be the best at something you have to have some special talent, but not necessarily. I never thought in a million years that I would receive the opportunity of a lifetime. It was just an ordinary day until something unusual ended up on my doorstep, curiosity ran through my head. The unexpected was sitting at my doorstep giving me tension I have never felt before. Staring up at me, as I’m staring down at it. The day after I could not believe this miracle that was brought upon me. Now it was time for me to take action. Practice, practice, practice for the big day coming for me. July 6, 2012 the big day came, it came. I was more nervous than ever but I knew that confidence was all that l I needed in this journey. And the winner is...Chloe Schrader. I can’t stay still, this all doesn’t seem real to me. Am I dreaming? I’m holding the glorious trophy in my hands and tears are streaming from my eyes. I ...

One thing I have noticed while living my teenage years is that people like to feel they fit in. No one wants to be alone or looked upon as unpopular. Everyone likes to have a place where they belong, even if they have to change themselves to fit in. In most schools and in my school their is a group of kids looked upon as “popular”. They aren’t always nice and they don’t allow just anyone to join their group. You must be like them to be apart of them. Recently, a new student came to our school. She appeared to be feeling lost and alone, so the popular kids brought her to them. I’m sure she felt like she had found friends and finally belonged. What I don’t think she realizes is that she is changing. She was kind before, now she’s judgemental. She has changed because the popular kids won’t accept you if you don’t “fit”. I believe you shouldn’t change your identity. I believe that even if you’re just pretending to be rude so you can be accepted, if you keep that up too long you will...

    Music; vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.      I believe in the power of music.   The most common things people say about music is that it’s calming , or it makes them happy. But for me it feels as if music enters my brain and puts my mind on autopilot taking full control of my body. Music holds a bond that connects people in different ways, for example the way music affects me might affect someone else differently. This makes me wonder, how do people interpret music? do they only hearing music? Most people hear music on the radio while driving, cleaning, or working. They only accept music as an item to distract their mind. However, what they don’t understand is the actual depth of the message in music that singers try to share.In other words, there’s more to music than what people hear, if people can slow down for a few seconds to process the words, melody, and...

                                                                                                                  Consequences I believe in consequences. Some believe consequences means that it’s the end of the world, but it helps us learn from the mistakes. In life, everyone has been scolded because of bad behaviors. Well, bad behaviors can go non-stop without consequences, and that has almost happened to me before.  I ...

Fear I believe in fear, not like believe fear is out there, I believe fear is a vital part of our lives. Without fear, we cannot achieve important tasks, there is no risk. Without fear, tasks could seem less important, like riding your bike for the first time, with no training wheels. The loss of fear would result in everyone just taking the risk, stupid or smart. There would be no thrill or self-esteem boosts. The world would be bland. Personally, I had a fear of planes, the flying death contraptions. To think that at any moment during the flight we could just crash, is what scared me. The turbulence just further backed my statement, plus all that security just to get on a plane. I was always being pessimistic about planes. I never thought I would get over my fear of flight, in fact during,the beginning and the end of my vacation was always the hardest for me. Just stepping on that plane scared me to death. I always thought that every flight was going to be my last. Yet, the more I w...

I believe that we don't cherish something until it is going or gone. We as a people tend to care the most about someone when they have past. I think we should make the most of every moment we have with a loved one. For example, when I was in Kindergarten my dog started dying. Me being the 6 year old I was, I couldn't believe it that the dog I had lived with my entire life was going to be gone forever. For me it was almost instinct to spend every last moment with her. Including walks and staying by her bedside. Then I began to realize. Why hadn't I been doing this from the beginning? From then on I began to make every moment with my family a great one. I started giving a hand to my family in chores around the house. I also tried to lighten up the mood the best I could especially after an argument. It wasn't easy, but I knew when the time would come I wouldn't regret it. From time to time I reflect on that experience and I feel that it was one of the most dark ti...

    I remember that day like it was yesterday, February 26, 2013. Happiness was never the same. My siblings and I were walking to the car, just like we did everyday from school. Same mood, same attitude, same feeling, but not after the unexpected. Sleepy, shocked, distracted, my parents were different. I ask what happened, and waited, till my mom said to wait until we get home. A million possibilities running through my head, going insane in the inside, but calm on the outside. We arrived home. The feeling of happiness left my body as I enter the house. I see relatives. Something is definitely wrong. Worry. Tension, I sit down. She´s gone they say. Tears run down my face without realization. I shake. I’m terrified. Terrified is the  one word I would use if i were to describe that day. Memories. They rush through my head as I shed a tear about every one of them. The time we made brownies and sat to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. The time we went to Hobby ...

I believe that kindness is returned. Catching up half a year’s school work can be draining and discouraging. My best friend in India had joined the school a semester late. Seeing her struggle, I sat with her during lunches and helped her out; without having any selfish motive. I did not expect any reward for it; our friendship was enough. Life went on as usual, until I moved to Singapore. Now, it was my turn to do all the catch-up work. I kept my eye on the end of year exam as a deadline. Not to mention, I maintained focus and did not expect help from anybody. However, this one classmate of mine, selflessly came to my aid. She sacrificed her lunch time to sit with me and succoured with my work. Her assistance did not make me feel like a stranger in the school. At first, I found it to be a mere coincidence that I was receiving the help I had once given, in the same way. But after pondering on the similarity of the situation, this belief came into light… I believe that no act of kindn...

You shouldn't get too nervous about anything. It was my first day in middle school and I felt very scared. The second my friends and I landed in the school campus we all were feeling that we were lost in New York city and everybody else were very busy to even notice us. I could feel my heart beat going at 100 mph! The 7th and 8th graders were going to their classes in the building; only the 6th graders were puzzled and we didn't know what class to go to. I was very stressed because I couldn't even open my locker without anyone's help. Lucky the vice principal showed us which direction to go to and gave us a map of the school showing us each and every classroom info. The school gym was double the size compared to my old elementary school. The coach was very mean and made us run two miles on the track on the first day of school we also got another locker especially for gym clothes. I was very rue that we didn't get any recess and we can get homework on the we...

If you care too much you're going to end up getting hurt. Growing up I have always been dependent on others to help me get far and succeed in life. Whether it was homework or playing sports, I have always wanted support from the people surrounding me. But this changed very quick. In the summer of seventh grade when I was heading into eighth grade, some of my closest friend started drifting away from me because apparently they had found others that shared their interests more than I did. At that point I was desperate for attention and lots of friends. When they left, it hurt because I cared too much about them. But then I realized something. People are not always going to be there for and with you all the time; people move on and so should you. It wasn’t easy, I mean, I really wanted to depend on others because I was not ready for the responsibility of being independent, but eventually I realized working alone was the only way I was going to accomplish my plans for my future....