On the Eve of Summer

On the eve of summer,

Sunlight aglow,

I watch the sun set,

And it watches me below.

The first night of summer

Is starting tonight.

I feel like a bird,

Free in flight.

Go hug your friends,

Tell them you'll miss them.

They're a part of our hearts,

They glow and glisten.

Forever and always a part of us.

Summer Plans and Why I'm Doing Them

My biggest plans for the summer are to take a class trip to Italy. I'm so excited and honored to be a part of the trip. I've written essays, I've done research, I've watched many documentaries, and now I have the chance to experience the magic myself. I've never traveled internationally, and now I have the chance.
Another plan I'm very excited about is going to Camp Ernst for three weeks in a row! Before I transferred schools, Camp Ernst was the only thing keeping me going. It'll be my last summer as a camper before I work there, and I want it to be memorable. I believe going three weeks in a row will ensure that.
Hopefully, this summer, I'll be able to hang out with my best friend. She lives 950 miles away, so it's a little hard to just come over to her house whenever I want. We're best friends forever, and we love to hang out all the time. Whenever we are in the same room, we just laugh and talk and it really would mean a lot to me to not do that over Skype or FaceTime, but to actually do hang out in person.
Those are some of my summer plans! Please, please comment below some of the plans you're excited about!!

One Week Left to Live. What Would You Do?

Personally, I believe I wouldn't do anything out of the ordinary. I wouldn't want people to treat me differently, or give me special privileges. I'd continue to go to school, do my homework, and enjoy the time I have with my family and friends. I think I'd spend more time playing fetch with my dogs, and I'd probably invite my best friend to come visit. I'd want to see her one last time before I die. I'd write letters, do my Christmas and birthday shopping early, and most of all, continue life as I normally would. Yes, some things would change, but that doesn't mean I'll stop playing DnD with my friends on Wednesdays, or I'll stop walking/jogging with my dogs every night, or that I'll stop being me. All the actions I do, all the decisions I make, are a part of me and if I only have one week left to live, I'm not ever going to stop being myself. There is nothing more important to me than the true value of one being their self.
So, if you only have one week left to live, or even if you think you're going to live for years and years after this, take the time to evaluate if you're really being yourself. There's nothing more valuable than being yourself and trust me when I say, because if you live your life being somebody else or somebody you're not, when you reach the end of your life, you're going to regret it. Don't let anyone else tell you to be somebody you're not. Be you. As Mr. Rodgers would say in his childrens show, "I like you just the way you are."

Goodbye

As the school year draws to an end, I look back at all the fun memories I share with those around me. I couldn't be more grateful to be at the school I am currently attending. To be with my schoolmates and teachers, people who genuinely respect me for me and don't expect me to be anyone else. I pass through the gym and I remember the seniors vs. teens nerf party. I pass my English classroom and I remember acting with fellow classmates for all the plays the class wrote over this year. I pass my History class and I remember the countless times we would burst into song and dance, laughing as we  learn. I pass my Science classroom and I remember play-fighting with a friend over the same seat every class. I sit by my computer at home and remember the sideshow I put together of photos of my friends and I at school. These are the moments I will remember, will treasure in my heart forever. Run and remember.

Short Story

They entered the creepy fairgrounds, hands trembling as they noticed musty, flickering lights making the lurking shadows worse with each flicker. The two teens, Carol and Helen, stuck close together as they walked along the unpaved, dusty fairgrounds at midnight.
"No one has used this place in years," said Helen, nervously peering around the tents.
"It looks like it was abandoned, left to rot," replied Carol, less nervous than Helen. Clink! Something fell to the ground in the distance.
"What was that?" Helen gasped? "You know what? Never mind. Let's just get out of here, while we can!" She started running out but she was immediately stopped short by a hand grasping her arm.
"How can we leave now? There's something here, we have to find out what it is!" Replied Carol, frustrated that Helen wanted to turn and run away because of every little thing. "Look! Something's moving by that barrel," She whispered.
"Ugh you can go investigate, but there is no way you're getting me over there," Carol said, dignified.
"Fine." Helen cautiously padded over to the barrel. Nothing around the outside of it, so whatever it is, it must be inside the dark abyss of the barrel. "Just do this quick," Helen thought to herself. Carefully peering over the edge, Helen looked inside. "Carol! Get over here!"
"What happened? What's over there?!" Carol shouted as she dashed across the grounds to Helen.
"See for yourself," Helen said calmly to Carol.
"Oh my gosh!" Carol gasped as she too looked inside. "It's a sweet, little puppy!"

A Worldwide Issue: Racism

Something I've always felt strongly about is the issue of racism. I am very vocal about being anti-racist and no matter what any laws say, racism is still an issue boiling at the surface today. I am shocked at how cruel one human can be to another simply because of skin color. Our skin color isn't something we can control. I have to wonder what drives people to be so cold-hearted as to turn their nose up at someone who has a different color of skin. Could it really be that people lord themselves over others and discriminate against another human being who is Just Like Them? I find myself questioning this on a daily basis, finding it almost unbelievable; a nightmare turned into a reality. It is real. It needs to be stopped. Treat another person how you would like to be treated. If you show them disrespect, you yourself will gain disrespect. Everything will work out the way it is supposed to. Don't get caught up in petty issues of racism, conformity, bullying etc. Live your life positively. You have the chance to be a better person. Don't miss the opportunity.