Bullying

Author's Note: I wrote this to show my understandings of a theme. Also to show that I can apply my knowledge of theme to other books.

Picture moving from earth only to live on Venus where there is no sunshine other than the time here it stops raining and the sun comes out for two wondrous hours. In the short story, “All Summer In A Day,” by Ray Bradbury, the main character is constantly bullied and teased by her classmates for being different and knowing what the sun actually looks like.  Then her classmates play a terrible trick on her and lock her in a closet the two hours the sun was supposed to come out and forgot to let her out when the sun came out so she missed it. Bullying is a major theme in this story, as well as other stories, for several reasons.

When Margot moved with her family from Earth to Venus, her classmates bullied her because she was different than they are. When the Author, Ray Bradbury, said, “They hated her pale snow face, her waiting silence, her thinness, and her possible future,”  it really shows how her classmates judged her because she was different than them.  This quote proves how cruel her classmates were to her, only because she’d been lucky enough to remember the sun and that she would soon go back to Earth where she could see it for days and days.

Margot’s classmates didn’t like her because she was different and this led to the constant bullying that Margot received daily. Although all the bullying and teasing that her classmates did to her, there was one instance that really proves how bullying was the main theme. The quote, “They surged about her, caught her up and bore her, protesting, and then pleading, and then crying, back into a tunnel, a room, a closet, where they slammed and locked the door,” describes when her classmates were so horribly cruel to her and locked her up in a closet for the two hours the sun would be out for the next seven years. When they did this it really proved to me how bullying was so significant in this short story.

The book,  What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by  Sonya Sones shares the same theme of bullying as “All Summer in A Day” had as well.  What My Mother Doesn’t Know is your typical beauty and the beast story and consists a popular boy and a bullied and tormented guy, Murphy. The popular girl falls for him and she realizes how much people bully him. So she begins  wonder if she wants to associated with him and bullied the way he is. A quote that bests describes the theme is “When someone at school acts like a dork the other kids say, What a Murphy.” The quote shows how Murphy has just become a joke at school and everyone bullies him. Something that connects these two stories, besides theme is Margot and Robin are both outcasts and are constantly being made fun of and put down because of looks, or where they’re from.

Not only does What My Mother Doesn’t Know share the same theme of bullying as “All summer in a Day,” but the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson has that same theme also.  When everyone gangs up on Melinda and leaves her without a friend or anyone for her to talk to about what really happened to her,  it really proves that the main theme is bullying. “All Summer In A Day,” not only shares the same theme as Speak, but it also shares the same struggles that the main characters go through when they have no friends to talk to about anything. 

It doesn’t matter if you live on Venus or if you live here on earth, bullying can happen anywhere. It takes ignoring people, physically hurting someone and making up your mind about someone before you get to know them to be a bully. Once you learn to recognize the signs of bullying and what it takes to be a bully, you can reduce the amount of bullying that goes on around you. For several meanings a major theme in the short story, “All Summer In A Day,” by Ray Bradbuy and many other books is bullying. 

What Could Happen

Author's Note: I wrote this as a prediction to what I think will happen in the book, The Help, by  Kathryn Stockett. I also defended my reasoning as to why I believe my prediction is accurate and I compared the main point of the story to anther book as well. 

Imagine the pain that black women who worked as the help went through in order to obey commands. If you read the book, The Help, you will find out. The book is about a white woman writing a book about life from the point of view from the help. In the book, I predict that Skeeter will finish writing her book and change the way  things are around Mississippi.

My first reason as to why I believe that my prediction is accurate is, because now a lot of maids are willing to let Skeeter interview them about what it’s like to be the help. The quote, “Five. Six. Seven. I nod back at them, can say nothing but thank you,” really shows how all of a sudden after something terrible happened to a maid and now all the maids want to change things. The quote says that now many maids are realizing how badly they need a change and that they will risk everything to try and make a change, so now Skeeter will have enough maids to interview to write her book. That’s one reason why I believe my prediction that Skeeter will complete and publish the book is correct.

Next, my second reason as to why I think my prediction is correct is, because when people read the book Skeeter is writing it will show a whole new perspective that the rich women in the town have never seen before and they will realize that they are ready for a change. I think that the quote, “I’m glad you’re my friend, Minny Jackson,” is really important in the book. It shows how some white people don’t really understand why things have to be so distant between white women and their maids. That’s the reason why I believe my prediction is correct.

This book deals a lot with social class and judging people like the book, What My Mother Doesn’t Know. There are people who are rude to people because of their race and their money in the book. The quote “So far not one of those ladies has ever called her back but very time that phone rings, he jumps on it like a dog on a coon,” from The Help, really shows how some ladies are ignoring this woman, because she wasn’t born with wealth. A lot like the quote from The Help, the quote “he’s so homely, so downright ugly,” gives a good example of how the book What My Mother Doesn’t Know, has many characters who judge people without ever getting to know them. These quotes really show how similar, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, is to The Help.
Throughout the book there were many key scenes and parts that gave an indication of how things will end, which I used to make a prediction. I made the prediction that Skeeter would finish her book, and change the way people are treating the help in Mississippi. For the reasons, that now many maids are willing to let Skeeter interview them about their jobs, and when people read Skeeter’s writing it will show a whole new point of view, which is why I believe my prediction is accurate. Also the main conflict and point of the story is very similar to that of What My Mother Doesn’t Know. 

Prediction for 3:15

Author's Note: This is my prediction for how I think the story 3:15 will end. 

I predict that Jamie will look into the mirror and see some sort of creature. When she sees this creature it will tell her something about how she stole the jewelry and how she lied. Then it will suck her in. I think this, because it's a horror story so the ending has to be far fetched and really hard to predict.

Evaluation: I was partially correct when I said that predicted the ending. I was right when I said that Jamie would get sucked into the mirror. I was wrong when I said that there would be some sort of creature, but instead the old woman from the story showed up after Jamie was sucked in and took the mirror and the jewelry with her. That's how I was wrong and right about my prediction.

Changes

Author's Note: This essay is talking about how the main character, Sophie, from the book, What My Mother Doesn't Know, changed. It also talks about how Sophie is like another character from a different book.

Imagine going through life, constantly being judged on everything you do and have no friends, because they judged you before they got to know you. Well in Sophie’s high school, your image means everything and people are judged on a daily basis. The main character, Sophie in, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, is afraid that something like that will happen to her. Throughout the book, Sophie goes through many changes.

Sophie started off as a teenager who cares a lot about what people think of her. For example she really likes Robin, a guy from her school who is constantly bullied and made fun of, but she's afraid of what her friends will think. Due to her fear of telling her friends she doesn’t tell them who exactly she’s dating. She just says that she is dating someone from their school. When Sophie says, “I tell them everything except who the heck it is.”This quote really shows how afraid she is that her friends won't like her anymore if they found out she was dating the school freak. Not only that but, how concerned about her image she is and what others say and think about her.

Throughout the book Sophie changes a lot from the beginning to the end of the book. Not only has her perspective on how she sees people and gets her first impression, changed she also has learned to not care what people say and think about her.  The quote “I race over to Robin, sit down across from him and take hold of his hands,” is a big turning point in the book, because it is when Sophie decided not to care what her friends thought of her and showed the school that she is dating Robin. This quote shows that she has changed by not caring what other people think of her, how she looks at people has changed and she has learned to be herself and that she doesn’t have to be popular as long as she’s content with who she is. That’s how Sophie has changed from the beginning to end of the book.

The catalyst of the book, is  Robin. Robin is the boy who Sophie fell for, he is without any friends and is constantly tormented at school. I think Robin is the catalyst because he was the reason that Sophie made the transformation from caring so much about what people think into someone who could fall for a social loser like Robin. The quote, “And somehow when he slips his arm around me it feels right,” shows how Sophie started to change her mind about Robin as she got to know who he really is and not just what horrible things people are saying about him.

Not only did Sophie change into the type of person who isn’t judgmental and doesn’t care what people say about her. Lindy, the main character from Beastly, started off as a timid lonely girl who looked for and saw the good in people. The quote, “I love you too Adrian,” really shows Lindy’s character and how she thinks. This quote describes the part when Lindy realized she loved Adrian and how she learned to love someone as ugly and beast like as him. Something they both have in common is that they both saw the good in someone and didn’t judge them based on their looks and popularity.

Just like any other teenager, Sophie went through many changes throughout the book. Starting off as a teenager trapped in a place where she has to pretend with her own friends. Sophie learns to not care what others think of her. She also learned not to judge people she doesn’t know. Most of all she discovered that she can be herself she doesn’t have to be popular.

Uglies Retelling

Author's Note: This piece is written as a retelling for the book Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld. 

The book, Uglies is about a girl in the future whose friend runs away, and is told that she can't turn pretty until she finds her. While trying to find her friend she learns the truth about what turning pretty is, but accidently gets her friend caught and turned. In the end she must choose between facing the truth of turning pretty and saving her friend, so chooses to accept the consequences of turning pretty and saves her friend from living with the pretty consequences forever.

Patriots Pen

Author's Note: I wrote this essay to show what I would say if I were able to meet the founding fathers. Also I wrote it to show my appreciation of this country. 

If I were lucky enough to meet the Founding Fathers there’d be so much I’d want to say to them. They did a great job starting our country. Personally, I believe that they don’t get enough credit. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been to organize and start an entire country. If I were lucky enough to meet the founding fathers, I would have many things to say to them.

First, I’d thank them for being intelligent, courageous, and generous enough to start a country. I admire the fact that someone cared enough about our country’s future, to start such a hard, time consuming job. With a job so difficult, I know that I would have never been so concerned about the country’s future to start a country. This is why the first thing I’d say to the founding fathers is thank you.

After thanking them, I would tell them all the things I really appreciate about this country. I appreciate, the right to have my own religion. I know this right was created after the first ten amendments were written, but it’s because of them that we have a country to have rights in. Something else I appreciate the right to vote. One reason why I really like that everyone who is eighteen or older can vote is, because the decisions the country makes affects everyone. For that reason, I am thankful that everyone can have their input on what’s best for the country. That’s what I really appreciate about this country.

The next thing I’d do, is ask them a very important question. Something I’ve learned is that it was all old, rich, white men who wrote the first ten amendments. Due to what I’ve learned I would ask, why they thought that only one social class should be able to vote? I’ve thought about this and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to ask someone who was there in that time. If I could, I’d ask why they thought that one social class was better than the other and why they thought like that? That’d be the last thing I’d ask and say.

I’d have so many things to say to the Founding Fathers, if I ever met them. Everyone should be very appreciative of what consideration and time went into forming this magnificent and free country.

Cause and Effect

Author’s Note: I wrote this piece explaining the cause and effect of the book Speak, and what would happen if the main conflict would have never happened.

In the book Speak, a teenage girl has something horrible happen to her at a party. She is bullied and harassed at school, because nobody knows what actually happened. Everyone at her school hates her, because she called the cops after that terrible thing happened to her, and she ends up busting the party. The climax in this book is when the main character, Melinda, gets attacked for the second time by the boy who raped her at the party, but this time she fights back. This is the climax, because after Melinda fights back and wins everyone finds out what happened to her and he is exposed. Therefore there is no changing what people now know.

I believe that the effect of  Melinda fighting back the second time, was that things got much better. When she did this, it exposed who raped her at the party and it made everyone believe her about what happened. Also, because she fought back, she got stronger and found out her strength, and that she is much stronger than she thought she was. She also learned that she has the strength to overcome anything. 

In conclusion, if Melinda had never fought back the person who tried to attack her she would be a very different person. She would still come home and lock herself in her room, and she still wouldn’t talk to her parents at all. Melinda’s life would never go back to the way it was before, if he was never exposed. The event of Melinda fighting back is the climax of the boo and if it didn’t happen, everything would be very different. 

Pewaukee sunset

Author's Note: I wrote this in the writing lab, it's about what I see, smell, taste, hear, and feel while watching a sunset on Pewaukee beach.

I can smell the revolting scent of a disgustingly dirty, and slimy lake, being brought to me by the slight breeze. The lights of the sunset are reflecting off the lake creating a rainbow of shimmering colors in front of me. With the scent so strong I can taste the disgusting, gooey, green lake water. While standing there looking out to the lake I can feel the quiet, with the occasional sound of people walking by on the sidewalk.

Conflict and Resolution

Author’s Note: I did a conflict and resolution writing response to the book, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I talked about the main conflict of the book and if it was resolved by the end of the book.

The book, The Hunger Games, takes place in the future, where there are 12 districts, and every year there are games which are called the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are where one boy and one girl from each district are chosen randomly to complete in a fight to the death where only one survives. The winner is then named the champion. When the main character, Katniss’ sister is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. The main conflict is that Katniss must compete in a fight to the death and survive for her sister.

In the end of the book the main conflict is resolved when Katniss and her other boy tribute, Peeta challenge the gamemakers and win when threatening suicide so there is no victor for the games. They do this for two reasons. The first reason is, because Katniss found a great friend in Peeta and she started to develop feelings for him too. Lastly they did this because she was trying to show the President Snow and the capitol that they don’t own them, that they are people not just a part of their games. When they do this the director of the games quickly yells into the arena, and tells them that they are the two newest victors. This is how the conflict of Katniss trying to survive the Hunger Games is resolved.

Hold On

I was an excited kind of nervous. The kind you get before you go on a big roller coaster, or before a big game. Now me, I wasn’t going on a big scary amusement park ride, or getting ready for an important game. I was waiting to go on a horseback trail. Something I’d been waiting for the entire trip to South Dakota to do. Little did I know that would also be one of the scariest parts of my vacation.

Finally, the horses were being rinsed off and their saddles were being strapped on their backs. The anticipation was growing stronger the longer I was standing in line. First they called my Mom’s name and she hopped in a huge, beautiful, grey horse. Then my sister, and lastly they called my name. I walked up to a big, dark colored horse. Bigger than any horse I’d  ridden before. With my foot in the stirrup, I swung my leg over. I was on, that was something I’d been fearing I’d forget how to do. Luckily I didn’t and I’d made it on without falling off.

Unsteady, I had to wait for at least ten minutes, because we were the first ones to get on our horses we had to wait the longest. I could tell my mom’s horse, Blue Bonnet, was going to be trouble. He would freak the other horses out by getting too close or nudge them. I was terrified that he would do something like that to my horse, Scooter. When he started to inch his way over to me and Scooter, my pulse quickened and I was starting to freak out.

Slowly, Blue Bonnet crept closer. Naturally I began to try to calm Scooter by talking to her. The man who ran the trails said that once Blue Bonnet started to get moving he’d be okay, but I wondered,  if they knew Blue Bonnet hated waiting. Why did they put someone on him first? Putting that question to the back of my mind, I tried to move away from Blue Bonnet. While remaining in line.

Now the scariest part was coming. Blue Bonnet decided to get way to close to me and Scooter and my sister and her horse. This caused a lot of panic from the horses. My sister and her horse backed all the way into a stall behind the line of horses. Scooter and I got the worst of it. Amongst the panic my Mom couldn’t get control over Blue Bonnet and he nipped at Scooter, causing her to kick her hooves into the air.  This made me go grasping as fast as I could to her neck, and the reins. I could feel my body start to panic. With a scream caught in the back of my throat, I squeezed my eyes tightly closed and held on waiting for it to all be over.

I was completely stunned when all four of Scooters legs were back on the ground. In shock, I clutched the reins for at least a minute after it was all over. Breathing heavily. I couldn’t help but wonder, how did I manage to stay on that horse? Maybe I was more afraid to fall than to be in the air. Either way, I was just glad to be on the ground and to have a horse between me and Blue Bonnet when we  went on the trail.

Alone

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I screamed sending echoes crashing through my house. “I am fourteen years old and I can stay home alone for one night,” I said my voice booming with anger. I could feel my parents eyes moving towards each other, the official sign of defeat. Could it be true had I finally talked my parents into leaving me alone for a night. I waited for my parents to utter one word,  one word could make or break this deal. Minutes later, of awkward staring and my parents expressions giving away every thought in their head, my mother sat and explained what I already knew. She’d said that they would be back by seven in the morning and that if I felt scared or unsure at all throughout the night to call my neighbors who’d been informed that I’d be staying home alone all night. Was it too immature to scream and jump up and down, would it make them think I’m not mature enough for this yet? I decided against it. I had been waiting for this moment for so long and I had every part of my night planned out.

After practically shoving my parents out the door, I finally had the house to myself.  I had already completed the first movie in my scary movie marathon, and I’d begun to dance around the house listening to songs too explicit for my parents to stand. I didn’t care how ridiculous and immature I looked, I’d been waiting for this moment for so long, and now that it was here I didn’t want to waste one second. But then suddenly there was a sound, a sound that could only be described as footsteps. Although I knew better, I couldn’t help feeling like someone was in the house, I’d gone around to check the doors and they were all still locked as they had been all evening. So the question still remaining is, what’s making that sound and is there someone in the house with me. Not ready to give up my night of freedom I started to look around the house myself instead of calling my neighbors.  If only I’d known what was in store for me, I would have clung to my parents legs screaming, “don’t leave me in this house with him!”

I’d searched almost every room in the house and found nothing, but still I kept hearing creaking boards and the pitter patter of footsteps always coming from above me. There was only one room left to check and I was dreading it, but I knew I had to suck it up and go to the attic. I slowly stepped up the wooden creaky staircase, getting spooked with every step I took. I finally got to the top and skreeeechh, like nails on a chalk board, my ears ringing and my heart pounding. I look frantically around the room for the source of the sound. My eyes stopped along with my heart, when I saw this dark shadow of a figure standing in the corner of the attic. Hoping that if I don’t scream the figure wouldn’t see me, but to my misfortune the figure’s head slowly turned, it’s milky white eyes connecting with mine. Slowly it started to step out of the shadows of the room  becoming more and more visible. It’s nails long, sharp and jagged, reaching out for me. I could hear it moaning my name, “Emily,” it moaned it’s voice sounding rough and hoarse. Slowly my brain beginning to comprehend what was happening I took a step back, which only seemed to anger it. The figure moved closer to me almost completely backing me into a corner, but with one swift movement I sidestepped out of the corner. It’s reflexes too slow to catch me it reached out with its long nails scratching me as I ran.

The blood oozing from the gash in my arm seeps through my hands leaving a thin trail of blood droplets for the creature to follow. Within seconds I’d gotten most of the way down the stairs, my heart pounding in my ears. With no time to think I raced to the only place I’d ever felt totally safe, my room. Unsure of the amount of protection I’d receive hiding in my room I raced into the darkness of the back of my closet crawling into to fetal position, hoping, praying that somehow the creature from my attic wouldn’t think of finding me here. I heard the steps slowing, which only meant one thing, he was unsure of where I’d gone and had stopped to look for a trail. I thought to myself that I must have done well keeping my bleeding under control, because I heard the footsteps start again heading the opposite direction of me.

It must’ve been at least one in the morning, I was starting to get tired. But I couldn’t sleep, not with that, that, thing walking around in my house. My eye lids felt like weights pulling me closer and closer to sleep, the only thing that kept me from passing out from exhaustion was the feeling that if I fell asleep the creature would find me. I was sweating, my arm was losing a lot of blood and I didn’t know what to do to help it. Then after sitting in gut wrenching silence for so long. I began to sleep.

The morning sun greets me through the window and I see it’s nearly six in the morning, but I fear going back to sleep will bring the monster back. Had it all been a horrible nightmare? Was I safe from that creature in my dream? Ready for my parents to get home, I turned on my light and started to walk around my room and everything was just as it was supposed to be. I laugh reassuringly, but a scream gets caught in my throat as I look down at my arm. The gash is still there. 

What My Mother Doesn't Know

Author’s Note: This is a retelling of the book, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones. I wrote this to show my understanding of a retelling.

A freshman in a high school where your image is everything, meets a mysterious boy in a mask. She later finds out that her masked man is the school freak, so she then has to choose between being with the boy she loves and keeping her popularity standings. Ultimately she chooses to be who she loves, demonstrating the Beauty and The Beast storyline.

Home

Author’s Note: Many people move multiple times in their childhood. Not me. Moving has never really been something my family has ever talked about or considered. Maybe I will move someday, but I am am undecided about my feelings on moving. There are many pros and cons of moving.

I have lived in Pewaukee for my entire life. Many people move two or even more times in their lifetime, but not me. I don’t know if it’s just that we don’t have the money to move or if it’s the fact that my parents really like where we live and our house we live in. Either way I’ve never moved houses or cities.

Sometimes I think to myself that it’s a good thing that I’ve never moved or switched schools, that this way is easier, because I don’t have to meet new friends and leave old friends behind and go to a different school. I think about how much some people wish that they could just stay in one place and how much they would give to be like me.

    Other times I think that I wish I could move just once. Maybe I’d have a different life wherever I would move to. Who knows, I could be the best person on the basketball team or the volleyball team. Without change I feel like I’m tied down to only thinking of how things are now, not comparing life in different places I’ve been.
    Someday I want to travel around the US and find a place where I feel like I fit in. Maybe that will bring me back to Pewaukee or maybe that will take me across the US. I feel like I will never know my options till I try and see what It’s like to live in someplace other than Pewaukee.

Thrill Rides

Author’s Note: Screaming, yelling sometimes even crying are all things that you will hear when you visit the most amazing amusement park in Chicago. This amusement park is called Six Flags Great America. This is one of the most fun Amusement Parks I’ve ever been to.

I remember my first time at Six Flags. The first ride I went on was Demon, it scared me so much that I didn’t go on any scary rides there for the rest of the day. The second time I went to Six Flags was with my friend and the first ride that she wanted to go on was superman. The entire time I was standing in line I was so scared. I kept seeing people zoom by screaming their heads off. While I was on the ride I screamed so much and I kept my eyes squeezed shut for the entire ride. After my friend and I got off the ride I felt like I could ride and do almost anything. So I did. That day we rode as many rides as we could and when we were at the water park on top of a slide we saw a bunch of rides that were broken down. After the water park we went back to ride Superman one last time before we went home. While we were in line Superman broke down but we still went on it and it was a lot of fun. That day was one of the most fun days of my summer.

Mother's Day

Author’s Note: Since mother’s day is near I am writing about my mother’s day plans. Also I am writing about my mom and what she does for me. I wrote the poem about my mom and how much I appreciate her.
Mother’s day is a big day for my family. It’s a time where we spend the entire day with family. We start by going to church with my grandma. Next is when we go to brunch with my dad’s side of the family. I love going for brunch because it’s not just any brunch it’s a brunch buffet. We always eat as much as we can. Once my sister ate so  much she didn’t eat for the next twenty-four hours. After brunch we go to have pizza for dinner at my grandma’s house with my mom’s side of the family. Mother’s day is always a busy day for my family.

She always helps me out
Someone I could never do without

If I have problems that she can see
She will never leave me

\When help is all I need
She’s there for me indeed

Music

Author’s Note: I wrote about a song that I really liked and that gave a strong message comparing movies to reality. I think that this song gives off a really good vibe and it’s something that I think people listen to when they want to think.

The song If This Was A Movie, by Taylor Swift tells a story. The story is talking about thinking back to a relationship that ended badly and she isn’t over it yet. Then she starts talking about how if this was a movie he would come back. She says how if this was a movie he would be outside her door waiting for her in the rain. Then she says that if he would just apologize they could go back to the way things were before they had that fight.The song if this was a movie makes you think about the lyrics and what she was trying to say through the song.

Symbolism

http://www.slideshare.net/martand17/baby1-12802828?from=share_email

Semantic Devices

Alliteration:

Little Lilly Lu licked little lemon lollipops.

Personification:

The grass shimmied through the wind.

Hyperbole:

My homework was up to my knees.

Oxymoron:

I’ll take a cheeseburger no cheese but extra cheese.

Simile:

Her smile is as bright as the sun.

Metaphor:

Her mind is a dictionary.

Puns:

Why is Amanda acting like a guy? Because she’s a man duh.

Irony:

That math problem was easy it only took 3 days.

Volleyball

A friend of mine talked me into writing a poem. I have never written a poem before so I am sorry  if it isn’t that good. I wrote it about something I really like. I know it’s cheesy but bear with me when you read it.

Volleyball,
The place where I can breathe
Where the sounds are drained out by my thoughts
The place where I can think

Volleyball,
The only thing that seems to understand me
Where I can blow off steam
The place where yelling ceases

Volleyball,
The place where I won’t be judged based on my friends or what I wear.
Where you are accepted for who you are
The place where I am judged on what I bring to the court.

Volleyball,
A place where nothing else matters                                                                

Mean

Author’s Note: I feel like music speaks to you so I chose a song that I think has  a lot of meaning behind it. I chose Mean by Taylor Swift. This song tells a story. A story of strength and courage that I think most teenagers can relate to. I wrote what each of the lines made me think that the writer was trying to talk about.

You with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me    

You make fun of me

You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like a nothing   

You have made me feel bad about myself

You with your voice like nails on a chalkboard calling me out when I’m wounded   

You make fun of me when I mess up

You pickin’ on the weaker man     

You pick on the people who can’t stand up for themselves

Well you can take me down with just one single blow   

I am not as strong as you

But you don’t know what you don’t know   

You don’t know what’s coming next

Someday I’ll be living in a big old city    

Someday I will be stronger

And all you’re ever going to be is mean   

You will never change your ways

Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me   

I will be stronger

And all you’re ever going to be is mean   

You will never change