Category Archives: Uncategorized

7th Grade Reflection

When I first arrived in August, I expected school to be much more difficult, but also that it would be more fun that ever, especially now that I would get to play sports for our school. I soon realized that I was right, schoolwork was tougher and the homework had multiplied. West Ridge football was a lot of fun, but the only problem was our team couldn’t win. My team didn’t win a game all year. By October, I realized I needed to study more, especially for math and science.

Over the school year, I have learned a lot of things that have helped me in and out of school. First of all, I have learned a lot about speaking Spanish and maybe someday I will be able to have a conversation. I feel like this could be useful in life, mainly because we are in Texas. Another important one would be how to manage my time after school. Since I always have a bunch of homework and some sort of sport activity after school, it is very important for me to manage my time and getting everything done. Last but not least, the last big thing I have learned all year is how to get to the front of the lunch line. As it may seem ridiculous, it can be very helpful on days where you are stuck at the back of the line and won’t get whatever they are serving that day and won’t have enough time to eat lunch once you finally get your food. Coming straight from choir which is pretty close to the cafeteria, it is fairly easy to get towards the front of the line. The lunch line builds up fast, so you must squeeze into the front of the line fast so that you can get your lunch.

If I had to do it over, I would for sure study more and try to be more organized with all of my schoolwork. Although this year was lots of fun, I look forward to the summer and the start of 8th grade. Next year us 7th graders will rule the school and I think it will feel good. People have told me that 8th grade was actually easier than 7th, making me look forward to it even more. As for now, I am looking forward to finishing this year and having a long, relaxed summer.

What I Do With My Friends

           In my neighborhood, there are a bunch of guys I like to hang out with on the weekends. There are about 8 of us that get together and do whatever we want. We all live so close together we can call or text each other and meet up in a matter of minutes. We always just joke around and have fun. These days are always the highlights of my week. 

          On the snow days, we would all put on a bunch of layers of clothes and play football in the cold. Now that it is heating up, we usually go swimming at the creek or at someone’s house, or play trampoline basketball. Trampoline basketball has to be my favorite and it will never get old. It is slam dunk after slam dunk and there is always laughing. What’s not to like about that?? 

           The best part about these days is just being with your best friends and enjoying the moment. We can all forget about all that homework or the chores we need to do around the house and just enjoy each other. I really hope we can continue to do this throughout the summer. 

Favorite Poem

Sick

by Shel Silverstein

“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay,
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more–that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue–
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke–
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is–what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is—Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”

 

Sick” by Shel Silverstein is a great poem that I really connected to. Right when I read it through the first time I actually started to laugh a little bit. I have felt like this on days I don’t want to go to school. It has never really worked and I end up having to go to school anyways. I have also thought it was a school day before on a Saturday and when you finally figure out it is the weekend, it is one of the best feelings in the world. This is now my new favorite poem and now I know a new excuse for not going to school in the morning!

Challenge Week Five: Media and a Memory

The Sandlot

Countless times on road trips and hundreds of times during the summer, my brother and I would watch The Sandlot. This movie is about a boy who moves into a small town and his mother tells him to go make some friends. He finds a group of baseball players his age at the sandlot. He learns that all they do is play baseball, every single day. He has no idea how to play and has a hard time fitting in. He eventually learns the game of baseball.  When they need to borrow a ball of his, he gives them his Babe Ruth signed baseball, the greatest ball player to ever live. The group runs into some problems getting that baseball back and the meet Goliath, the giant dog at the house behind the baseball diamond.

Every time I watched this movie,  I would imagine I was one of those kids, playing the great game of baseball every single day. I will never forget those days my brother and I laughed on the couch as we watched this amazing movie. These memories will stick with me for the rest of my life.

The Sandlot was a big part of my childhood, as I probably watched the movie about 250 times, and it never once got old. My favorite scene has to be the smack talking between the gang and the Tigers, the high class rich kids in the city. It makes me smile even to this day when I watch this scene.

Every kid should have the opportunity to have this movie, for it is a classic. It is still and always will be my favorite movie.

Challenge Week Two: What to do in the ATX

It is a warm Saturday in November in Austin, Texas and you are looking for something to do. There is no better option than to go to a Texas Longhorn football game.

The first reason you should go to a game at Darrell K. Royal Stadium is the tailgating and pre-game festivities. Barbecue pits are set up everywhere while friends are tossing around the football. Everyone is dressed up in their burnt orange ready for the game. TVs are set up in the beds of trucks to watch even more football. Be sure you get a nice, juicy sausage wrap before the game. As you walk into the stadium, students lead Texas Fight chants and everyone is fired up for some football. The tailgating is one of the best parts about UT football games.

Another reason you should go to a Texas football game is the atmosphere once you are in the stadium. Once you find your seat, you realize how huge the stadium is and how beautiful it is. Soon, the Horns come out of the tunnel and the crowd is going crazy. Once the game starts, you can’t help but cheer for UT, even if you aren’t a fan. Then, Texas scores. Touchdown! The huge cannon fires and the stadium erupts with enthusiasm. I love Texas football games because of the atmosphere.

After reading this, when you come visit Austin, be sure to go to a Texas football game.you will have a great time and see one of the greatest things about the heart of Texas. Hook ’em Horns!!!

The Phantom’s Lair

Dark. Cold. Frightening.

The Phantom takes Christine down into his lair. He takes her down the haunted hallway. A few candles flicker out their last bit of light. Ancient paintings, unwanted masks and a giant organ filled the lair. The organ started playing and the horrid phantom with the mask starts to sing.

Christine was terrified. The room was painted black and crimson, making her think of blood. She realized she shouldn’t be here, and she was in danger. The Phantom was no longer her Angel of Music, just a man no one has ever cared for.

She realized she was in danger and searched for an escape route. The came across a replica dummy of herself, really giving her the chills. The Phantom mocked her with his wicked laugh. She felt her way through the darkness of the place, desperate to escape free. She ran out to the pond behind the lair, crying for help.

As Raoul came to her rescue, she would never forget the scary memory of being trapped in the Phantom’s lair.

war tunnels
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: i k o via Compfight

Why The House of Torment is Scary

“BOO!” yells another wild zombie. This haunted house is easily the scariest I have ever been in. The House of Torment is a very scary place.

One main reason the House of Torment is so spooky is all the ways the monsters scare you. They can come up from behind and scare you half-to-death. The will also do the jump-around-the-corner move and make you scream. The monsters/zombie creatures always find a way to scare me.

Another reason why the House of Torment is scary is the loudness of the place. Sometimes there are wild people with chainsaws running after you. Maybe it is the shrieking scream of the zombie right in front of you. The House of Torment is very loud which makes it even more haunted and a little bit scarier.

The House of Torment is very spooky for many different reasons. The haunted house is dark, bloody, deafeningly loud and there is always a zombie trying to make you scream. The House of Torment is insane.

Super Bowl XLVIII

As I’m sure you know, the 48th Super Bowl is this Sunday in New York/New Jersey. This matchup features the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. These teams are very diverse from the other, but they are both still the two best teams in the NFL.

Denver has the best offense in the league, while Seattle has the best defense in the league. Both teams have great quarterbacks, but Peyton Manning is older and Russell Wilson has looked up to him as he has grown as a QB. Although Denver is favored by 2, many people have mixed predictions on how the game will turn out.

My favorite team in the NFL is Denver, so I will be pulling for them. My dad grew up watching and cheering for the Broncos, so I just followed him. Like most Denver Bronco fans, my favorite player is Peyton Manning, the best QB this year.

I’m very excited to see how this game goes and I’m sure you are too. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!

Where I’m From

I am from SportsCenter

And the constant blabber of the TV

I am from a Saturday full of football

And a life full of sports

I am from an amazing family

And Christmas Casserole

I am from the annual Turkey Bowl

And lawnchair tennis

I am from my little twin bed

And a never clean bedroom

I am from all kinds of Apple products

And any kind of Nike clothing

I am from a fear of heights

And “C’mon, you can do it!”

I am from the old, rusted basketball goal outside

And the best friends ever

Air
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk via Compfight

When My Family Got a Dog

As most people do, I remember the exact moment when my family got a puppy. My parents had looked for dogs to get because they thought it would be good to have a dog and we were old enough to handle one. I remember the night before, when I had hit a grand slam in a baseball game, leading my team to victory. The next day, which was a weekend morning, my parents called my brother and I to come down to the back porch to see a little surprise. I was excited, but I had no idea what it could be. I ran outside to find a black labradoodle, a cute little puppy, wagging her tail on the deck. I was filled with joy and couldn’t believe it. Mom and Dad explained that her name was Juliet, but they thought we could call her Jules. The name stuck and that’s exactly what I call her today. She is a few years old now and still acts like a playful pup at times. I’m so glad to have Jules in our home and she is always someone I can count on to lift my spirits up. What was it like when you got your first dog, or if you don’t have one, do you want a dog?