bullying article

http://us.reachout.com/real-stories/story/my-bullying-experience

SHADES OF GREY

final poem

Whether I’m jumping around the house

Wandering through unfamiliar places

My actions are unpredictable

creating a mess is my strongest skill

Although some might actually be worse that others

From finger painting blobs of color on a white wall

To taking a big leap into red dye

It’s never the same story

Where I am

You never know

Sometimes I’m hiding behind couches

Swinging on the roof

Or sneaking around the house

I’m usually up to something

In fact, it seems as though curiosity controls me

So I climb

And I take

Then, I find

Listening to conversations is what I do

Invading personal space, I do that too

Everything intrigues me

Yes, I’m not the most responsible

But I’m learning

With my mistakes, I see the wrongs

With the guilts, I find ways to better myself

In the end, I'm still the same

unchangeable and different

But that’s okay

In my eyes, I see things differently

draft

Allusion Poem(draft)----- curious george

wandering
searching
hiding
lurking for new opportunities

I hop out with a plan
devising a new idea
thinking of the next step

Entertaining others
putting permanent smiles on faces
an active child, never able to sit still

Even with unpredictable outcomes
I just go with it
Yah, I know I'm small
but I like doing things big

Trying to be helpful
without having a clue.
making mistakes
but still optimistic

My face shows curiosity as I lurk about
some may find it weird
others find it funny

In the end, I'm still the same
unchangeable and different
even with flaws
I'm still me

angry letter: Daves (draft)

1424 Ala Aolani Street

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96819

November 15, 2012

Dave’s Ice Cream Inc.

98-820 Moanalua Road

Aiea, Hawaii, 96701

Dear Dave’s Ice Cream incorporations,

Everyone I’ve come to know is in love with the various, delicious ice cream flavors served at Dave’s. All residents in Hawaii are bound to know about your famous flavors and deserts that are constantly served at all locations. It’s no question of why it’s such a well-known ice cream parlor in Hawaii.

Of course I am a big fan of Dave’s myself. But from the recent trips I’ve made to this establishment, it was pretty disappointing. Within the past three trips I’ve made to Dave’s Ice Cream, the story was always the same. Before, I’d receive a generous amount of ice cream inside an ordinary cup size. Unfortunately, The amount of ice cream being served has decreased dramatically. It’s understandable that you’re running a business and conserving money, but those large serving sizes is what made Dave’s the Hawaiian hotspot. It’s unsatisfying to see the ice cream servings not even pass the top of the cup, barely reaching it.

Going with these unreasonable sizing proportions, the pricing is way too much for the ice cream sizes to be forgiven. I ordered my ice cream as a size small. Knowing that this particular size cost around four dollars, it was expected that they’d give a decent amount. Slowly scooping the ice cream into my cup, out came a single scoop less than the size of my fist. Then looking towards the customer right next to me, it seemed unfair. A little girl had ordered a keiki sized ice cream and it was practically the same size as my order, it’s just that mines were over a dollar more. This action shocked me, as well as my family, because Dave’s isn’t the same place it was a year ago.

Seeing how Dave’s is under new management as well as having new employees, it was expected that Dave’s would improve itself and not become worse. Obviously, we were wrong. After receiving my unsatisfying ice cream, my mother, being disappointed and angered, confronted the server. She politely told the server that the size of the ice cream with the price made it unreasonable. It became clear that the server didn’t have too much experience and isn’t a people person. All he did was suggest that we’d ordered a different size where we would get more ice cream. This action had no Aloha in it what so ever.

I can see that your business decision changed and you’re looking towards more money and conserving your products. But Dave’s isn’t the Dave’s that Hawaii has come to know and love. The high expectations have changed for this parlor and have been angering many others. All you need to do is give your customers the amount they paid for, then you’ll have all of them coming back.

Sincerely,

Taylor Takahashi

risky business: teen alcohol abuse (draft)

Just about all the teens are drinking nowadays. So it’s probably the cool thing to do. Sure you might consider suicide or even get pregnant but it’s what everyone is doing. That’s what all kids seem to be thinking. They need to understand that alcohol will never fix your problems. Although teens drink alcohol to take away stress, consuming it at a young age will cause extremely poor decision making in life. Teen alcohol prevention is already a well-known topic to most. But what people don’t realize is that the ages of kids drinking alcohol are becoming younger. Roughly 20 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States is done by young people, usually between ages twelve to twenty. Teen alcohol abuse will only cause you to do a poor job in life. Focusing on an important decision making lifestyle when your young is what prepares you for your future. Drinking alcohol will only corrupt your futures success.

            No one wants stress. Stress is what causes your mind and body to be improper. That’s why some kids have started drinking at a young age. In fact, long-term stress can increase risk for physical disorders such as stroke, gastrointestinal problems, high levels of bad cholesterol, and sleep disturbance. Teenagers, feel that by drinking alcohol, stress will be rid of. With stress, your mind won’t be able to focus, sometimes it changes the way you think for things. Having stress causes mood swings, confusion, poor memory, depression anxiety, and anger. Alcohol may seem to be the solution for most people. But, it shouldn’t be.

            Usually, teenagers think that they gain power and popularity when drinking alcohol. But the kids that drink alcohol are more likely to have early sexual behaviors. Teen drinkers are known to have more sexual intercourses. For example, current teen drinkers are more than twice as likely to have had sexual intercourses within the past three months than kids who don’t. One reason why some kids may drink alcohol at young ages is because of attention. They feel that by drinking various alcohols, it may attract attention of others. That’s why having sex is part of the question for most teen drinkers because drinking attracts the wrong crowd. Also, adolescents who drink are more likely to engage in risky sexual activities, like having sex with strangers, or failing to use any protection.  About 45% of teen pregnancy occurred with an alcoholic consumption beforehand. Most teens are doubtful of alcoholic risks, but it comes to their attention only when they’re victimized.

            Furthermore, teen alcohol use interacts with stress and depression. This will usually lead to suicide. Of all the young people who suffer from depression will eventually attempt suicide at least once. Alcohol use contributes to an estimated 300 teen suicides per year. Every year these numbers are rising due to several advertisements insisting that alcohol makes everything better. But obviously they’re wrong. Alcoholism is a factor in about 30% of all completed suicide. High school students who drink are four times as likely to have attempted suicide, as compared to the nondrinkers. I feel that it’s important that not only parents or peers realize this, but it’s what the drinkers themselves need to realize. If they take their time to solve their problems without any improper things, such as hobbies, they can take their mind off of these unnecessary thoughts.

            Everyday teens are faced with poor life decisions. Consuming you first cup of alcohol is just the beginning. Taking alcohol likely is not the way to go. There’s a reason why there’s an age limit for this type of drinking. When you’re young, you have to make decisions that’ll create a better life for you, not one that you regret. At this young age, alcohol shouldn’t even be in the question. Yes, alcohol can take away your stress in most cases. However, in the end it’s you who’s constantly suffering.