Mary's blog

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Hey everyone, Thank you all for checking out my blog so far. It's been over a year since I last posted but I've decided to get into the habit of writing again. I hope that in my future posts I will be able to get discussions flowing and engage with you all.   -Sincerely, Mary

Today marks my very last day in high school. No one was kidding when they said my four years in high school were going to fly by, especially senior year. I've made plenty of friends, built strong relationships with many of my teachers, reached many of my goals, and have fulfilled my childhood dream of going to prom. One week from now I will be walking across the stage to receive my diploma.  Although I am ending my time here in high school I have memories I will carry with me for a lifetime. For this is only the beginning. I have picked up some new interests in high school, and have some recommendations I would like to mention. Listen to this: Colors by Halsey Read this: Tricks by Ellen Hopkins Watch this: The Orphanage (2007) movie by Juan Antonio Bayona Play this: Until Dawn (video game) Eat this: Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken Do this: Travel and try foods from different cultures Go here: Disney world, Texas de Brazil (Brazilian Steakhouse & Ch...

Presentation This is a short presentation on my progression as a writer from childhood until now.

Unexplained events happen when you least expect them. Once they've happened, you are often left asking yourself "what if?" and you wonder what you could have done, rather than what you actually did. I can't really say that last month my life had significantly changed, but there was one event in particular that gave me a change of mind. I am left with a memory that will never cease to exist. I was caught off guard with what had happened, and I am still left wondering just what exactly had happened. It was the weekend, and I had no plans for the evening. My friend Tiffanie had asked me if I wanted to meet her at the mall later that day to which I replied with a "yes". My other friend Carson had actually been wanting to see me that same weekend and I figured "why not see them both?" A couple of hours passed by and I had finally left to go to the mall. Our plan was to meet around five. Tiffanie was late, but Carson was actually about 45 minute...

Many of us have given presentations at one point or another. More often than not, people dread giving public presentations and develop nervous habits or anxiety. Some people may stutter or lose track of what they are saying. Others may sway back and forth or keep their hands in their pockets. Whatever the case may be, it is the presenters responsibility to successfully give a speech. The Wedding Ringer: Best man speech  In this scene actor Josh Peck tries giving a best man speech for his fellow groom. His anxiety gets the best of him and the speech becomes a train wreck.  As a presenter you will want to be the "expert" on the subject and not let your nerves interfere so much with your speech. In addition, getting off topic will only make you seem less knowledgeable on the topic.  Shia Labeouf: Just do it  Actor and performance artist Shia Labeouf gives a compelling and motivating speech that focuses on "making your dreams come true"....

A couple of months ago I transitioned from adolescence to adulthood. My plan for the day was to get my nails done, get eyelash extensions, and eventually have dinner at Carraba's Italian Grill. I didn't specifically ask for a birthday gift so my parents decided that I do something special. My first stop was at a nearby hair salon that also had nail services. My first mistake was not booking an appointment because to my surprise the salon was booked for the day. There were other salons nearby, so it wasn't that big of a problem. Since this was my first time getting my nails done I didn't know what to expect. This time I decided to walk into an actual nail salon, and if the prices were reasonable I would stay. I was initially surprised, the area was small and crowded. A sour and overwhelming chemical smell lingered in the air. The set up was a little awkward. There were two long tables set across from each other. All employees were put in the middle, and customers plac...

Last Wednesday my hamster Penelope passed away. Two months before that my hamster Luigi had passed away. Luigi died the day before Thanksgiving. Up until then I hadn't truly known what it felt like to have a pet pass away. I have known what it's like to give a pet away, and that wasn't any easier. There comes a time when we all have to experience death, whether it be ourselves or a loved one. Some people don't believe that animals have feelings. I've never been able to comprehend just why some people think that way. Animals feel the way that we do, sometimes they just cope differently. When Luigi passed away, his brother Carson was somewhat frantic. They had spent their entire lives side by side. They had an inseparable bond that couldn't be explained, but could be seen. They cared for each other just as siblings would. Carson seems to have accepted the loss of his brother, but I'm sure he misses him just as much as I do. Luigi and Penelope had somewhat simi...

About three weeks ago in my rhetoric class I was introduced to a new assignment. The goal was to successfully evaluate an album, a food/drink product, or a restaurant. At first I wasn’t so sure about what I wanted to do, but I eventually chose to review frozen pizzas. The reason why I chose to do this was because I rarely eat frozen foods and figured it might even be fun. I purchased these products at my local Walmart and evaluated the pizza’s appearance, taste, and cost. After trying each brand I had come down to what I thought was the best. Each pizza was rated from one (being the worst) and ten (being the best). Connie’s- In comparison to other frozen pizzas Connie’s appeared to almost look restaurant made. It took about 19 minutes to cook. The recommended cooking time was 16-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The overall taste wasn’t too bad. It had greasy, uncured pepperoni which wasn’t too salty. However, the pork taste in the pepperoni stood out a little more than e...

What actually defines adulthood? Is it age, maturity or a combination of both? There are different views worldwide on what being an adult actually means. In the blog marc & angel , Marc Chernoff successfully sums up 20 characteristics of being a true adult. For the sake of length and time I will only list 10 out of Chernoff's 20 characteristics. 1. Realizing that maturity is an ongoing process, not a state, and continuously striving for self improvement. 3. Has the ability to listen to and evaluate the viewpoints of others. 5. Accepts the fact that you can't always win, and learns from mistakes instead of whining about the outcome. 7. Is able to differentiate between rational decision making and emotional impulse. 9. Capable of managing temper and anger. 10. Keeps others feelings in mind and limits selfishness. 14. Takes ownership and responsibility of personal actions. 16. Able to see the various shades of grey between the extremes of black and white in every sit...

My original essay was a single text analysis for psychologist Carrie Barron’s take on the topic of mental illness. For my remix project I decided to put a different spin on the issue. Due to the media, many feel that mental illness is a root cause of mass shootings in the U.S…. I wanted to represent what mental illness can actually be like. Contrary to the stigma, most individuals with a mental illness are not dangerous or violent.   https://www.wevideo.com/hub#editor/541108523

Essay on food safety and regulation .

My stance on the abolishment of birthright citizenship .

Compare and contrast essay on the migrant crisis in Europe.

This is a single text analysis based off of an article I read.

This is a personal narrative regarding issues my mother and I went through in different points of our lives.

Mass shootings have been a serious threat to the United States recently. This year alone there have been over 350 of these heinous attacks. There is currently an ongoing petition on change.org to create stronger background checks on individuals looking to purchase a gun. The primary goals of this act are to create a safer environment and reduce gun violence.  Anyone looking to purchase a gun must be licensed and will be checked for a history of crime or mental illness. The only downside to the act would be a possibility of discrimination. This particularly regards the mentally ill. It will be difficult to distinguish which of the mentally ill deserves the right to bear arms and who should be prohibited from purchasing a gun. Contrary to popular belief, the mentally ill are actually more likely to become the victim of a crime than to initiate one. With that being said, the act itself might not be the most fair and just. However, if the act can attribute to saving lives and promoting...

Beauty has always existed, and in today's society it appears to have a very mainstream label. From drugstores to high end boutiques, cosmetics can be found lining the shelves. It's no wonder we sometimes have a hard time choosing what to purchase. Sometimes, even the simplest choices appear to be difficult. Picture this... You're in a store and are looking for a new lipstick to purchase, but you can't decide between a regular lipstick or a liquid one. Clearly, it all depends on personal preference, but if you can't decide which is best for you, these facts might help you out. Liquid lipsticks When applied, liquid lipsticks are very glossy but dry up soon after. They give a matte finish once dry. Liquid lipsticks usually last around 8-12 hours with no reapplication. They are highly pigmented so you must be careful in applying them before they dry up. Due to their long lasting power they are perfect for special events or dinner parties. Regular lipsticks ...

Journey's song "Faithfully" is a power ballad that beautifully demonstrates a long distance relationship between two lovers. Though they are driven apart by distance and touring their love is strong enough to withstand the challenge. Thus resulting in a pure and loyal bond between the two. The video's clips all correspond with the song's lyrics. At 2:15 in the video you can see the passion on Steve Perry's face as he sings "Being apart ain't easy on this love affair. Two strangers learn to fall in love again. I get the joy of rediscovering you. Oh girl, you stand by me. I'm forever yours, faithfully". This song was written by Journey's keyboard player Johnathan Cain for his beloved wife. Ironically, the two split a few years after Faithfully's debut. However, "I'm forever yours, faithfully" continues to ring true for many couples no matter the distance.

July 11th, 2014. I had been looking forward to that day since February of that year. My mom had purchased tickets for the Monument tour as a birthday gift. I knew I was finally going to be able to see one of my favorite bands perform live. I was ecstatic; I couldn't believe I was going to see Fall Out Boy, Paramore and New Politics perform at the Amphitheatere in Tinley Park.  I woke up full of energy and was anticipating the event to come. I remember picking my outfit the night before. I'd never been at an actual concert so I wanted to be prepared the next day. No matter what I did that morning the hours just seemed to drag on. I wanted to leave my house and have fun at the concert. Yet I knew I had to wait. My grandparents were going to come over to watch my baby sister. They finally arrived and I was ready to go. My mom and sister came along with me as well as a friend of mine. During that car ride I kept thinking about the concert and wondering what it was going to be l...