The First Non-violent Civil Rights Movement, by Robert

The first non-violent civil rights movement was led by an Indian named Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was a spiritual leader of India. He led the people of India to independence for civil rights and freedom across the world because the British were taking over their country and land of India.

Gandhi’s first civil rights movement begin in the year 1893 in South Africa where Indians were struggling for  independence from the British Emprie and at that time Gandhi was a lawyer. Gandhi believed in non-violence when he was protesting against the British Empire. Whenever a Gandhi follower fought back during the civil rights movement, Gandhi would starve himself to death until his people quit fighting. The reason why he would starve himself is because Gandhi was a Hindu, which is a peace-promoting religion.

When the people were fighting back in the movement they were fighting in his name, but Gandhi didn’t like that at all, so he starved himself. It took at least 52 years for Indians to regain control over their country; it’s all thanks to Gandhi for the peaceful civil right movement that he had made. If wasn’t for Gandhi the British Empire might still control India.

Fairness, by Robert

To me people are people and color or black doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m not sure why people are hateful toward seach other because of their race. I’m respectful to everybody and I judge people based on how well they treat me.

Mexico Vs Corea del Norte, by Omar

I spent the other night over at my friend’s house. They live in Durham. I bought a big bag of hot Cheetos for a snack and some Coca Cola. We got to his house and started playing FIFA on his PS3 and waited for other to arrive.  FIFA is the best soccer game that I’m good at.

At 8:00PM, we changed the channel and started to watch the Mexico and North Korea soccer game. The game started out good because North Korea was pretty good. Mexico made the first goal around 50 minutes into the game.  After the goal player for North Korea noticed the easy goal Mexico made,  his team got a little better.

 The game was lasting too long and I had to go home because I didn’t feel safe driving out my friend’s neighborhood at night. Before I went home, I went to eat some food at McDonald’s with my brother. I got home around 1:00AM. I was very tired and went straight to sleep. I woke up early to see the result of the game. The score was 2 – 1 and Mexico had won! I can’t wait for the Copa Mundial FIFA 2010 in South Africa, especially because the first game will be Mexico vs. Africa on June 11,2010.

Being a NC State Fan, by Seth

 It can be frustrating being an NC State fan, always not knowing what games we should win, could win, or might not win. They can be so unpredictable at all times. There’s no telling what to say at the beginning of the sporting years. This basketball year we did ok (Barley better record then Carolina =D). Speaking of North Carolina, they’re a very young team and next year should be three times better. I’m not looking forward to it that much.

Anyway, State made it to the third round of the ACC Tournament. We ended up losing to Georgia Tech by three points. Javier Gonzales made a lot of bad choices in that game that probably cost us the game at certain points. We had so many opportunities to win that game too. But of course NC State didn’t take advantages of them. We had a last second three point try too, but Javier missed it. We always got next year! (What we always say.)

Rednecks, by Lindsey

 I think people think the wrong thing about rednecks. Not all of us are loud and obnoxious. I hate it when people judge us because of how we dress. With our cowboy boots, our rebel flag t-shirts, and our big belt buckles. I’m not racist, I’m just proud of where I came from. 

 I hate it when people think that the Rebel Flag is racist. I mean it’s history. Just because there’s a few people in the world who use it to mean something else doesn’t mean that everyone does. What’s the difference in other cultures wearing the flags they came from on their shirts and pants and everything else, and rednecks wearing them on their shirt?

Work and Learning Styles, by Dianwen

Do people accomplish more when they are allowed to do things in their own way?

Just like James Watson had concluded, "There is more than one way of doing good science," there is more than one way of doing good jobs. 

Different people fit in different ways, despite their personalities. Some people accomplish more when they are allowed to do things in their own way, while some others don't. Creative people may find things go better without heavy structure. Creative people prefer working freely, because brilliant ideas may catch up to their mind at any time. To them, rules can appear to be the fences of a jail, blocking lights from an illuminating mind, pressing shadows to the imagination. These people are commonly known as artists, writers, musicians, ITs, inventors, architectes, and many other talented discoverers.  James Watson was famous for always"lounging around, arguing about problems instead of doing experiments." Deliberation and liberty contributes to their discovery process. 

To some people, creation may not feed them bread.They are more responsive to rules. Orders may help them get work done.The focus on features and details also helps them to comprehend what to do next, so they can apply themselves into the agenda. For example, accouter, administrator, manager, secretary, reporter, analyst, and others all plan stages more vividly, therefore they remain cool. By this way, things go in order, and so they go well!

In the other hand, works can be divided into two types, each meets a specific purpose. The two types of works correspond with the two types of persons I mentioned. Little skill is needed to identify types of works, but it requires ability to arrange workers well.

One type of work requires plenty of new and smart ideas on a subject for further examination. For example, the widely used "brain-storm", when people activate their mind with short-term, strong self-concentration, feeling smart, and popping creative ideas. This works in fields such as advertising, inventing, and guessing puzzles. Letting people act in their own way may make them more successfully.

The other kind of work are relatively minute and complected, and requires accuracy. People have to maintain an focused, structured mind to avoid error. If there are no clear instructions, it is the last thing in the world I will do according to the high possibility of ending up with things completely messed up. Some of these fields are statistics, analyzing, accounting, administration, and others. These things need more orders and rules in order to work faster and more accurate.

I think this might be a reference to help figure out issues better and faster.

Book Review: Grace After Midnight, by India

In this next section, we learn more about Snoop's childhood. She played with dolls. Shelia was Barbie and Snoop was Ken. They played house, mama and daddy. Snoop said she was the most developed girls at 5 or 6 because she already had a "little booty." Shelia was her first real girlfriend. Thier song was L L Cool J "I Need Love." She said it was kind of funny, her dreaming of being the man of her family as a little girl. She would often go to this girl's house and would have sleep overs. The girl would always pretend to be asleep and in then Snoop would mess with her. Snoop knew the girl wasn't sleep, But she acted as she was. Sex gets people confused, and crazy.


This next chapter is talking about church and how she use to go to church so much. When Snoop was younger, she used to love going to church. But as she got older, she wanted to be outside more and to experiment new things. She would love to go to the corner store and get candy, to just sit outside her mama's stairs at her house. She would go to the beauty parlor, and the liqour store where old winos "spun their stories about back in the day." 


She used to go to her friend Curtis' house across the street where they both liked to watch Knight Riders. One day Snoop had a dream about being a Knight Rider: they couldn't die, they could go through fire, nothing could stop or destroy them. Then one day her friend Curtis called her a "Butch" an she beat him up. She was beating him so bad that random people had to break the fight up. 


Some months later she had surgery on her eye. She had to wear glasses for two years straight. She would always break her glasses and have to get new ones.

Gratitude for You, by Jazmine

You are my inspiration;

You are my push, to do better.

You are someone, I call "Mom."

You are my motivation;

You are the smile on my face.

You give me love that cannot be replaced;

You take up what feels like empty space.

You are who you are.

And I am who I am.

I'm so glad that your around.

"What's the Most Difficult Experience You Faced?" by Jazmine

The most difficult thing that I've experienced is having to attend three different elementary school's. From Elon, to Haw River, to Efland Cheecks, it was always something different. Friends constantly changed, as did teachers and the environment. Moving to different schools, I got the chance to experience a lot, good and bad. But at each school I grew and learned new and different things.

At each school I grew close to lots of people, so when told I was moving, again, it was hard to accept the fact that I would have to start all over. My elementary years are kind of a blur, I don't remember teachers nor friends. But changes work for the best, even though Efland was so country, and I never wanted to move here, I'm sure that I have built some life-long friendships, and I have experienced lots of laughter and great times.

"What would I risk for the people that I love?" by Jazmine

I would risk a lot for the people I love, but only if they loved themselves enough to take their own risk. When it comes to family, friends, and even mentors the people that mean and do so much for me, I'm willing to risk it all. Risking oneself for others is sometimes a big and doubtful situation.

You go back and forth in your head, wondering is it really worth it?

And you often ask yourself, would this person risk themselves for me?

But that's selfish, you should do for others what you would want done to or for you. Taking risk for others and even for yourself comes with life's lesson: You cant always have what you want, sometimes you must risk yourself for others and sometimes even for yourself.

The Big "Why?" by Jazmine

"I have always wondered why..."

Why have you wondered why?

Why have you wondered why I don't seem to care,
well there's a reason but I don't care to share.

Why wonder why, why lie?

Why look me in the eye saying those rude things to make me cry?

But I never lie; I just don't care if you cry or try to make this something more than what it is, but why?

Why continue to do the things you do and wonder why, because it only pleases you, but what about me?'

But I remember now, I'm just something else that you forgot about, something that you never cared about,
but I won't sit and pout nor doubt why you wondered why.

A Tribute to Love, by India

It takes two special people, To make a loving pair. There's a joy just being around you, A feeling we love to share. We send anniversary wishes to you, For years of joy and pleasure. May each year keep getting better, With memories to treasure.

Cool Teacher, by India

Ms. Peterson, I look forward to going to your class,  every morning when I come to school. You're an awesome teacher; I think you're very cool. You're smart and fair and friendly; You're helpful to all of us. And if I got to grade you, From me you'd get A+!

Amazing Best Friend, by India

You know when you are so amazed at how you could ever find that special friend whom shares your every moment? Who reaches for you exactly how you hoped, and always, always, helps make your dreams come true?! That's what my best friend is to me. We are inseparable! I love you Jazzie G!!!

Who Are You? by Jazmine

Who are you to tell me what to do?

Who are you?

Who are you to tell me that I've hurt you?

But you was never there to care for me.

So who are you?

Are you the man I call "dad"?

You're the only man who makes me mad.

I'd sit around waiting for that phone call.

That phone call that never came.

You lied, again.

Left me sitting there crying, wondering when?

When you would change,

But who was to blame?

Me or You? "I'd ask myself"

"What did I do?"

Stick to Itness, by Isabel

You help me when things go wrong,

You sing to me my favorite song.

Everyday you would look out for me, while other people would let me be.

You buy me things that make me excited,

And talk to me in way delighted.

You tried to comfort me when I was mad,

 And when you couldn’t it, made you sad.

When you came over, you’d bring me surprises,

in all different shapes and sizes.

You told me things I never thought could be,

You made me open my eyes and see.

You loved me when I wasn’t sure if I loved you.

You stuck to me like glue.

You thought about me everyday, and took me on vacation by day.

You and me, together as one…you told me, always having fun. <3

Street Lights, Street Signs, by Isabel

I wish there were traffic lights on the roads of the mind.

then they’d be a little more kind.

I wish there were red lights so they could stop and know,

when things move too fast,

when it’s time to go slow.

Yellow lights, to say “Move with care,” – but for them to stop would be rare.

Green lights to show that I’m willing.

A ‘no outlet’ sign and hold it up above to tell you there’s no way out of my love.

I wish I could hold up a ‘no U turn’ to tell you not to turn around,

once your on the road, there is no turning back.

Unless those feelings, you want to give back..

Tears would slowly roll down this street,

The street becomes a stream and my face would no longer beam.

Warm Weather Adventures, by Jonathan

One thing I always look forward to the most, especially after the nippy weather of winter, is summer because everything is better when it’s hot! Summer for me begins amazing and then gradually gets better. It starts off with a bang: School is over and my B-day, on June 19, is the next thing coming my way. Birthday parties were never really my thing, but it’s nice to know that an important person like me is richly celebrated.

 After that the real “Warm Weather Adventures” begin.  I hit up Oak Island beach with my cousins and a couple of friends to live it up and enjoy the intense night life. My cousin’s mom owns a beach house down there so we officially stay there for weeks at a time. If the ocean gets monotonous, then the next lively activity to enjoy is the smaller waters of N.C, the lake.

Ever since I was a little boy the most recent lake trip was always fresh in my head and the need for another was always present in my personality. My lake buds and I always have a chill time up at the freshwater, doing water sports like jamming on the wakeboard and toobin it up. The best part at the end of a long day on the water is gathering up the boys and lighting up a good ol’ fashion brush fire and standing around it roasting weenies and sweet succulent marshmallows, filling thy gut to my hearts content. But it doesn’t end, there is still a grand summer left at home.

Rural Life vs. City Life, by Josh-1

Rural life is different from city life because everything is at a slower pace. Also, in rural areas people treat each other better than in a big city where most people care only about them selves and what pertains directly to them. Most people around here will go out of their way to help you. It’s like that in small rural towns. In large cities there is more gang activity than in small towns. Rural life is a better environment to grow up in.

Family History: Life Back in the Day, by Layne

I talked to my grandma about how life was when she was growing up. She said it was a lot different than how it is today. She talked about the changes in our society and how blacks started to be able to go to school with whites. She told me when she was in high school that there were only four blacks in the whole school. She thought they were very brave to come to that school. Another thing my grandma and I talked about was when she was a child she and all her siblings took the bus a lot, and she was around when blacks where able to sit anywhere on the bus.

Country Life vs. City Life, by Kimber

I think are many differences between country life and city life.  I have never really lived in the city so I am not truly sure that I wouldn’t like it, but I have lived in the country all of my life and I do know that I love that. 

I love everything about it. I love how peaceful it is all the time and I love how I can walk outside on almost any night and get a perfect unobstructed view of the stars.  I love how, depending on where you live, most people who live out in the country know everybody else who lives in the country, and even if they don’t they are always friendly in passing.  

Now I am sure that city life is not that bad but it is all in what you like and what you are used to. Still, I do not think there is anything quite like living in the country.  It is perfect.  I love everything about where I live and I would not change it for anything.

Man, I Feel You, by J.R.

The game was tide in the bottom of the seventh and I came to the plate. I was so tired that my eyes were dripping sweat. Well, the pitcher threw the ball down the heart of the plate and I hit it over the left field fence to win the game! Man, Jeter, I know how it feels to win walking in style.

I Feel Good About Life When, by Tiffany

I feel good about life when I am doing what I have to succeed in life, like going to school and to work on the days I am supposed to be there. I also feel good about life when there are no problems going on. Now, don’t get me wrong. I know everybody has problems but there are some I would want to avoid.

There are many things that make me feel good about life especially when I think about all the things I have done in my life and how far I really am: Jjust one more year left of high school then off to college. It’s not too much longer, and it makes me think of the struggles through school that I have got through. These are the things, that when I think about them, make me feel good about life!

You Are My Forever Love, by Jorden

Your friendship and love,
And all the wonderful things
That they bring into my life,
Are like nothing else
I have ever known.

My heart is complete
With the love we share,
And our love grows more
Beautiful each day.

I love you,
And as long as we are together,
I have everything I need.

You are with me always...
In a smile, a memory, a feeling
Or a moment we share.

You will always be
My Forever Love

A Raisin in the Sun, by Stefon

Well my favorite character in the play is Walter. Walter is my favorite because Walter can sometimes be like me: I get mad sometimes for no reason. When he is mad at something else, he tries to share his dreams and goals with his wife and family but they tell him that he can’t do it because the money belongs to your mother. They also ask why he needs to open up a liquor store anyway as much as he drinks. But, Walter he never gives up on his dreams.  

Beneath is another character I like because she is someone who is determined to do something with her life. She wants to go to college and have an education, which reminds me of myself right now. I am basically trying to do the same thing. I want to graduate high school, go to college, and do something with my life instead of just throwing it all away.

Love Is, by Jorden

Love Is ...

Love is the greatest feeling,

Love is like a play,

Love is what I feel for you,

Each and every day,

Love is like a smile,

Love is like a song,

Love is a great emotion,

That keeps us going strong,

I love you with my heart,

My body and my soul,

I love the way I keep loving,

Like a love I can't control,

So remember when your eyes meet mine,

I love you with all my heart,

And I have poured my entire soul into you,

Right from the very start.

Family Research: Back in the Day, by Tiffany

When I asked my grandma how things were during the Civil Rights movement when she was young, she said many different things. She said that it was sad that blacks and whites weren’t allowed to go to the same school and couldn’t  do anything together. There was people dying and acting crazy everyday . She said there were many different things going on.

It didn’t really bother her that blacks and whites didn’t go to the same school because she never went to school with them,  but she was so young she didn’t really understand what was going on. So she was unsure what was really going on besides what was on the t.v. and news.

She says she remembers when Martin Luther King Jr died it was all over  the t.v. and news. That was all you heard about she didn’t really know what to expect. After all that everything was starting to change: They  were slowly putting blacks and whites in the same school  just to see how each of them would react to each other. It wasn’t a good experience she says. Things got worse. There was no peace in schools and you couldn’t learn anything because there was so much stuff going on in the class.

Black, by Na'Quana

I think Black is a very meaningful color.

Black is Beautiful. Black is creative.

Black is most of all Bold, no smears or signs of fear in Black.

Black is solid.

When I think of “Black” I think of Martin Luther King Jr.

I think its funny how, there was segregation when he was alive, yet when he died they grieved over him. Everybody now struggles to keep King’s Dream alive. He wanted to see that one day Blacks would be equal, and will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. We now have a marked day on the calendar in remembrance of him. But many still believe in racism.

Family History: Back in the Day, by Chris

About things in the past, my grandmother said that when she lived on a farm, there were always black people working in fields.  Some of them owned their own farms.  The African American people went to different schools separate from the white people.  If a black person went in a store, they would have to wait until the white people were served.  Black and white people had there own churches. 

When the black people worked on the farms, some of them were treated well, some were not.  Some of the black people worked in homes as servants.  My great, great grandpa had a black woman that stayed in the house as a servant.  Most of the black servants were real good cooks and, did a lot of baby sitting.  Most older black people were called “aunt” and “uncle” by the white children.  My grandmother lived next door to a black family; they were good neighbors and helped each of the white people in the community.  The black family had some deaths and the white people would go to the funerals and carry food to help the people.  My grandmother said it’s good the white and black people get along today.

Shooting Team, by Lindsey

                Shooting team is one of the only things I have ever cared about. My whole life I’ve always been kind of a tough girl. I’ve liked the outdoors and getting dirty. So my 8^th grade year when I was at Stanford I started the Orange High School Shooting Team. It’s pretty much a guy’s thing but there are a couple of girls that can do it, like me.

                Shooting Team is something that the FFA (Future Farmers of America) do every year. It starts at the end of hunting season and goes all the way to the beginning of April. There are three possible competitions that you can go to. Regional’s are the first stage if competition, State’s are the second, and if your team does excellent in both of these then you might get to go to Nationals.

                This year I made the number three team to go to Regional’s. My team consists of myself and four other people. We will have to shoot Shotgun, Rifle, and Bow’s. Also we have to take a wildlife test and do a Compass Course. This is one of the only reasons that I even try to keep my grades up or come to school.

Dreams, by Kasey

My dream after high school is to go to UNC-Wilmington College. I love sports and always have. I have been playing softball ever since I was five years old. I also have been playing basketball since I was eight years. I played softball, basketball, and volleyball my 7^th grade year of school of middle school. Then I just played softball my 8^th grade year.

Since I started high school I have always played softball on the team here at orange. So with all this being said, I am not really sure what I want to major in when I go to college. But I do know that I want to do something with sports. I have thought about doing sports med, becoming a sports trainer, a gym teacher, or just helping little kids with softball.

I want to move to the beach and start a family. I have always loved the beach so that’s where I find myself living in the next few years. I see myself marrying my best friend Matt and having two awesome kids. I would like for us to have a very nice beach from house. Matt already has a job as a United States Army Soldier. I love this boy to death and don’t know what I would do without him. I can’t picture myself being with anyone else but him. So I can’t wait until we move into together somewhere at the beach and start a family.

Dreams Deferred, by Denise

What happens to a dream deferred?

If you get out of high school and have this great dream to achieve

And something happens really bad, you probably will not to want to do it .

But your dreams are what you are and what you pursue in your life. 

If you let them go you might not be able to get them back. 

Only if you work your hardest and manage your life. 

You could throw away your whole life. 

You only get one chance to show what you are and love.

Paintball, by Nathan

Paintball is one of the world’s  most fun  sports to play.  I started playing paint ball when I was invited to my stepdads friend’s birthday party at a paintball place.  It took awhile for me to catch on to the game and get to the point where I didn’t run out of paint in the first few minutes.  That was back when I was 12. I played for a little bit longer after that mostly at birthday parties and then stopped because it was getting to expensive.

                Then this past year before me and my mom and sister took a trip to New York to see our cousins over the summer.  My two cousins invented me to go up to Jim Thorp, Pennsylvania to play paintball at Skirmish USA at the annual reenactment of the invasion of Normandy.  It was 3 days of almost non-stop paintball. 

                When we got there we set up our tents and food and started getting ready for the next day and the start of the games.  There was close to 3,000 people there.  There were two major teams there, the Allie team which consisted of US, France, and Canada, and the German team.  There were also two mercenary teams for hire. 

                The first day was the longest day and the most fun day I’ve had so far, but the whole weekend was fun!  It started at 12 in the afternoon.  We got a brief description of the rules and regulations and then we took up our passions.  The German team (me, my cousins, and my cousin’s friend, and about 1,000 other people) would defend the beach as long as possible.  The allied team would try and take the beach.  The German team could move out on to the beach to a certain point and couldn’t go farther.   The Germans could also close the boats that the allies were coming out of by killing (taking out) all the people that came out three  times, then they wouldn’t use the boat anymore.

                It was 2 hours before our group ran out of paint and had to go back to get more, but by then we were hungry and wanted to rest.  The Germans held the beach area for 2-3 more hours before being pushed out.  That whole weekend has turned me on to paintball again and has got me going up there again to do it all again!!!  

$H03 W0RLD! by Lorenzo

Shoes are what’s up in the year 2010! Man shoes are like a drug and I am addicted. I like all kinds of shoes, stuff I have never since before. I like to get shoes that nobody has or seen. Nikes, Coogi, Black Label, Levis, Chuck Taylors. My mom likes shoes too. She is like a Hills freak. lol She almost has more shoes than me. Well, actually she does. I think the best shoes in world are too many! That’s how much I like shoes.     

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. Reviewed by Seth

This story is about an African American family from Chicago who receive 10,000 dollars. They have always been working hard to stay strong as a family. Mama is, obviously enough, the head of the house hold, as it’s easy to tell throughout the story. Walter, her son, is the husband of Ruth and the brother of Beneatha. Walter and Ruth have a child named Travis, and they all live together in one apartment. When they all get 10,000 dollars they just don’t know what to do first.

            The family receives the money through the life insurance of Mama’s

late husband, Walter Younger Sr. The family has so many ideas of what to put the money towards. Just about every family member wants to do something different with the money. Walter wants to invest in some liquor stores, Beneatha wants to put some towards school (college), and Mama wants everyone just to be happy and smart with the money. Then there was Mama’s trust in Walter, which she shows by giving Walter 6,500 dollars.

            After putting 3,500 down on a house that Mama has got for the family, she finds Walter at the Kitty Kat (Bar) and gives him 6,500 dollars after a long talk. Walter responds with, “You trust me like that Mama?”, as he couldn’t believe she just did that. It ends up being a mistake on Mama’s part. Walter ends up putting the money into liquor stores with Bobo and Willy. Later on, Bobo addresses Walter in tears telling him, “Willy’s gone! Willy’s gone! He ran off with the money!”. Walter has to break the news to the family now.

            The family, after hearing about it, was in more pain then anger at Walter, I believe. Beneatha has her college dreams crushed, Ruth thinks they can’t move now, and Mama just can’t believe it. I believe that Walter was just trying to do what he thought was best for his family. Walter’s next plan was to accept the deal from Mr. Linder, which was if they stayed out of Clybourne Park (whites only lives there) then he would give him 3,500 back and more. Walter ends up being a strong leader in the end and declines the deal and decides to move, which makes his family really happy.

            I think the Younger’s have been through a lot, but in the end I think they were going be alright. Walter became a strong father figure and leader by declining the deal, Mama still is the head of the house, and Beneatha is still trying to make money for school/college, and Ruth is two-months pregnant. I think this story was great and should be a good choice of material to read.

Love, by Adriana

Why do people want to be in LOVE?

It definitely isn’t to be heartbroken.

Some people stay in LOVE for as long as a lifetime

but other LOVE fades away.

What does LOVE mean to ME?

I really don’t know.

Cora Unashamed, Movie Review, by Carissa

I would definitely recommend the movie Cora Unashamed to anyone. It’s about a strong African American woman named Cora, who throughout most of her life went through many hardships, but never once was ashamed.

This movie is mostly about love. Cora met a white man named Joe, who she fell hard and fast for, but before she knew it he had to leave. He promised her he would come back for her someday. She was completely crushed, but still kept somewhat of an open mind to seeing him again. She would often have dreams about times where they had hung out and how good she felt whenever she was with him. The reason she did hold on to the thought of him for as long as she was because she became pregnant from him. Never once was Cora ashamed of this.

She named her daughter Josephine after the father, Joe. Josephine became everything to Cora. When her daughter turned about seven, she got very sick with the whooping cough. She died shortly after. Cora never thought she could love anyone or anything again, she felt alone and lifeless. She overcame this devastating loss by finding comfort in the Studevant’s daughter Jessie who at one point was very close to Josephine. Cora treated Jessie as if she were her own daughter. She was then once again filled with joy.

But, Mrs. Studevant was a mean rude lady who pushed herself upon people, especially Jessie who could never seem to make her mom proud of her. Mrs. Studevant admitted she was ashamed of how Jessie acted. When Jessie started falling for a boy who she didn’t approve of she did everything in her power to mess it up. When Jessie found out she was pregnant she told her mother and she forced Jessie to get an abortion. Jessie then got very sick and later died from it. Cora felt like once again her heart was being torn from her chest. She told everyone the truth about the real reasons why Jessie died. Cora was never ashamed!

Sports, by Dylan

I like playing sports, I have always liked playing sports ever since I could walk. The most recent sport I got into is lacrosse I used to think that lacrosse was a sport for rich people, but one day I picked up a lacrosse stick and I liked it.

Luckily, I got interested in it before this season started. I had doubts in my mind that I wasn’t going to make the team, but I did. The first scrimmage that we had against JF Web, I was second string start. We were supposed to have our first game Wednesday but it got canceled because of the stupid snow. I was mad that the game got canceled because I was ready for the game. I had it in my mind that we were going to win the game.   

Sports and Grades, by Dylan

Why would sports and clubs have an impact on your grades and school work? Well if you don’t do the work in school, then you don’t get to participate in your club or you don’t get to play in the game. So it all falls back in what you do in the classroom. So if you want to play, you’re going to have to work hard in your class and get your grades up. This will give you eligibility for your sport and club. Also it helps you when you’re in sports to get healthier. When you’re at practice everyday your not sitting on you’re behind watching TV, and eating. You then are up and active during the day.

The Weekend, by Garrett

I plan on writing my blog as a free write because they are the easiest to write and I love to tell stories of my days. I had a very interesting weekend so I figure that I would write about it. This weekend was actually pretty boring honestly. I didn’t do much and I didn’t feel like doing anything at all. Friday night, all I did was go to my girlfriend’s, Stephanie’s, house and fall asleep. We were watching a movie and I just passed out. I gave blood earlier in the day during OHS’s blood drive, and it just made me feel really bad and tired.

Once I woke up, I ate some lasagna that her mother made me that was very good! I left her home around 11:30 and went back to my house and passed out asleep. Saturday I got to actually sleep in for once in a blue moon, but it wasn’t that long. I woke up around 10:30 and figured out I was going to the mall with Stephanie to go watch a movie but once we got there they dumb man told me it was sold out, so I punched him straight in the dome. Just kidding! But really, I wasn’t too happy.

But, we did get the day to walk around the mall for a little while and find her some shoes for prom which we still haven’t decided anything else about yet. Saturday evening, Stephanie came over for a little while and that was my Saturday night. I really don’t have much of a life other than Stephanie. So yeah, it’s very sad, I know.

Sunday, well it wasn’t much better at all so if you want, you can stop reading now. I went to church at New Horizon which I do every Sunday morning now with guess who!?!?!?! STEPHANIE!!! Sunday after church we grabbed some food and I went home and fell asleep again. If you haven’t figured out, I love to sleep. Sunday, a little later, I went to my friend’s house which it actually wasn’t Stephanie so that was something new for my weekend. Later that evening I went back to the crib and that was my fun filled weekend. Thank you for actually reading this and caring a little bit.

My 17th Birthday, by Jordan Williams

So this Saturday is my birthday. I will be 17. I plan on spending the morning with my boyfriend. The plan is for us to go out for breakfast, and then go to the flea market to look around and maybe buy something. Then, we will go back home and go out to eat with my mom, my two cousins, my grandma, friend and maybe my mom’s boyfriend if he’s here.

 Then I plan on doing a little shopping while we are out. That night, I plan on going to the movies with my boyfriend to see Alice and Wonder Land. I hope everything goes right this whole week and weekend, so that my birthday will be great, because you only turn 17 once. lol. I am hoping that I get a lot of money for my birthday instead of clothes and that kind of stuff.

Trip to Tampa, by Dylan

 Last year my trip to Tampa was one of the funniest times I’ve have had in a while. My dad and I went to go see some of our friends that live down there for the weekend. We left on a Thursday morning and drove all the way there. That was a long, long drive, but it was worth it to me. We went to a place called Brandon Ford. They had all types of high performance mustangs and F-150’s.

Car Trip, by Omar

This weekend I spent my time on the interstate and highways. I went to New Burn, NC to pick up my uncle and take him to the airport. On Friday night, I left at 5:00AM from my house with my father. We spent two hours driving there to Kinston to meet them and about 30 minutes to get to their house.  Then, after getting everything packed up we left to go back to my house. 

On the way back, my dad took over the wheel and I got to sleep. We got home and got to eat some posole that my mom made. After the meal we went to sleep, to get ready to wake up early. At 4:00AM we went inside RDU Airport and they got their luggage checked. Their plane departed at 6:00AM. Then I got ready for school and I am still very tired.

The First Civil Rights Movement, by Robert

The very first civil right movement was invented by an Indian named Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was spiritual leader of India. He led the people of India to independence for civil rights and freedom across the world because the British were taking over their country and land of India. Gandhi’s first civil right movement begin in the year 1893 in South Africa where Indians were struggling for independence from the British Empire. At that time Gandhi was a lawyer.

Gandhi believed in non violence when he was protesting against the British Empire. When ever Gandhi follower fought back during the civil right movement, Gandhi would starve himself to death until his people quit fighting. The reason why he would starve himself is because Gandhi was a Hindu, which is a peaceful religion, When the people  were fighting back in the movement,  they were fighting in his name and Gandhi didn’t like that at all so that’s why he starved himself.

It took at least 52 years for Indian to gain control over their country; it’s all thanks to Gandhi for the peaceful civil right movement that he had made. If it wasn’t for Gandhi, the British Empire would still to control India.

The Dream of Sports, By Stephon

Each day as I sit and day dream about my life and how it would be, it almost feels as if the world is in my hands. I have a variety of futures to choose from and to be successful at it. I wonder everyday about if I will ever make it in sports as in being famous, playing on TV and giving back to my community. But then again I realize that it isn’t always about sports it is about what you take care of in the classroom. I just had a wake up call this past year about sports it was the worst thing that ever happened to me in my life.

Last summer I was thinking about playing football for high school for the first time because my friends and family have been telling me I’m really good at it. So as I’ve been going to the practices and everything it was time for the athletic director to see who’s eligible to play. So as I’m in the locker room changing clothes getting ready for practice the coaches call me in their office. They tell me to have a sit and as I’m sitting I’m thinking in my head man am I in trouble, am I going to be able to play what’s going on? Then finally the head coach came to me and told me that I am ineligible to play this year. So I’m sitting listening to him telling me he would look forward to me playing next year and that I did good these past two weeks. just make sure I keep my grades up.

As I’m walking out of the coaches’ office I go back to the locker room and tell all my friends and teammates that I can’t play because of my grades, they all try to cheer me up and tell me it will be alright you can let them know that they have lost someone that really meant something to this team. Now I understand that sports isn’t always everything in life until you have the important thing of all time to fall back on, and that is grades. I have now figured out I have let people down that are important too and including myself. It all was nothing but failure, you just have to always know that failure Is the key to success if you fail then you will learn from your mistake and know what path to take the next time around.

The Duke Carolina Game, by Camaron

Well the big three was huge they had all together 68 points between the three of them. I thought we played really good; I mean the Carolina fans think that they’re going to crush us all the time. I just thought It was funny to see them get there derrieres handed to them. Now they’re living in the past talking about the last four years how they WERE so good. Now look at them! Duke might not have won a championship lately, but at least we have a winning record and aren’t crying about losing to everybody in the nation. We have been making the national tournament, not going to the NIT.

Friends, by Jazmine

Friends:

I love my friends because of who they are.

The advice and the strength they give me helps me get through each day.

My friends have taught me a lesson that no one else could teach me and that's the power and the real meaning of friendship.

All my life I've depended on the wrong people, those who were never there and never cared.

I've experienced so much and without my friendships, it would have been so much harder to get through, thank you.

I.I.M and K.M.H

Learn, by Jazmine

Learn:

I've learned to never depend on anybody but yourself, because you are the only one you can really trust.

Be independent, learn from your mistakes to make you a stronger person.

The more you depend on others, the less you depend on yourself.

You're the only person who's always going to be there for you, so be strong and speak up for yourself.

Last but not least, be yourself!

Orange High School, by Jazmine

High school is a learning experience, from ninth to twelfth grade the changes that have been made have been so dramatic.

During your high school year's, I think everyone finds who they are or what they want to become.

Classes change, friends change, and the surroundings change.

You learn and grow to be more responsible and independent.

But, high school also can be a way to collect bad habits, such as drama, backstabbing, and also making the wrong friends. High school has been a huge stage of development for me, changes that I have seen take place within myself have made me proud. No matter how much I say, "I'm ready to leave this place," it's this place that has taught me life lessons to grow and to become succesful.

Book Review: Grace After Midnight, by India

Well, so far Felicia, aka "Snoop," has been going through some things. For one, she was a crack baby. The state wouldnt let her mom keep her because she was on drugs real bad. They let Snoop visit her mom one day and Snoop begged to stay with her mom. But, they wouldnt let her stay the first day. Then Snoop visuallized what her mom's home looked like: Snoop said, "it had to be pretty and big" because her mom was beautiful. So the next visit, the social worker let Snoop stay with her mom. Snoop thought it was the wrong place because it was an apartment that didnt look too nice. When she got up to the room with her mom, the apartment was smelly and trashed. Snoop didn't want to stay anymore. Then her mom told her to take off all of her clothes. Snoop didn't want to do it, but her mom forced her to. Her mom told her to get in the closet. Snoop was yelling at the top of her lungs, but no one could hear her. Then the social worker came back up there and got her out the closet. For eight years, Snoop was teased about being a crackbaby and about being cross-eyed. Her foster mom an dad always told her she was fine though and that she wasn't ugly. When kids teased her, she wanted to fight them at first,  but she was too small to fight them. Snoop said it her hurt her though to hear people talk about her like that. Then one day she met this man named Bernard. Her pop told her that was her real father. He told her that she was not ugly that she was just as pretty as her mom. Her dad had brought her a baby doll, but she did not want it she said she hated baby dolls. Her dad was talking to her but she did not say one word back. To be continued.

In Praise of Sloppy Joes, by India

Growing up, I loved Sloppy Joes. But what kid doesn't? Sloppy Joes are sweet, tangy, and sometimes, very messy sandwiches. They were a rare treat around our house, so when I did get to eat them, they were all the better. I'm the meal planner these days. I try to make Sloppy Joes all the time. And, since I'm a big fan of searching out simple and highly-rated recipes, whenever I cook, I skip the store-bought stuff and use a from-scratch recipe whenever I get a craving.

New Day, by Jazmine

It's a new day:

Every day is a new day

New beginnings, New feelings

Each day brings a different feeling

Happy or Sad, Glad or Mad

Start each day with a new beginning

Each day is a new blessing

Wake up happy because its a new day

Dont complain if your day goes bad, you're the one to blame.

Each day brings something new, just be glad that you wake up,

Be glad to be you!

Sick, by Jazmine

Sick:

Sick of the drama

Sick of the rules

Sick of being told what I can and cannot do

Sick of doubting myself

Sick of being doubted

Sick of being told that I'm nothing like the rest

Sick of being sick

tick tick tick

I am who I am and that's it!

Roll-a-coaster, by Jazmine

Roll-a-coaster:

Life has been a roll-a-coaster and I'm sure that the ride isn't over.

From people dropping in and out of my life and people who said I could depend on them, never being dependable.

Trust comes hard, Ive been lied to, disappointed, and let down so many times, that its hard to trust anyone.

So I feel that I have to be self-reliant, love, depend, and be honest to myself, because if I don't, no one else will.