Last Journal Entry By Matt Piechoski

To me clothing can tell you alot about a person character. But then again, u cant judge a book by its cover. But for the most part u can tell bits and piece about a person. If you see a person always in gym clothes and he looks physically fit, then u might guess he is an athelete or works out alot. A person wearing dirty worn out clothing and is very tan and broad, he may work construction or somthing along those lines. FOR me what Im wearing that day i try to be as comfortable as possible. Most of the time I wear a Famouse Stars and Straps shirt, it fits the genre i feel I am apart of. During the summer i wear clothing made form light materials, its hot and i sweat easily. Im thw winter, i wear a lot of jeans, hoodies, and flannel shirts. I usually always wear a hat with the brim bent up. My style i try to fit into is a punk/prep look. Historiean 500 years form now will probably think the what we wear is weird and strang. If u look at the history of closthing we went from naked, to being fully cover head to toe, and now were slowly moving back to being naked again.

Journal Entry for Third Week By: Matt Piechoski

Im sure that all families have secrest that they keep from other members, or eachother. Everybody hides details about their life. Family secrets may be necessary, like your father isn't your real father, or you tell other family members that timmy didnt make the team because he dosnt want to play, when he really got cut, somthing to cover it up. There has to be familes out there that hide much bigger secrets then normal families, things that may destory the family, or the public. My family carries little sectrts, and may leave out details of a story, or water the facts down a bit to protect someones feelings or stature. The idea of hiding some details for someone my be for all the better, other times certain details are better left untold.

Journal Entry for First Week By: Matt Piechoski

I am not an avid reader/writer i dont think. I read the headline stories of the news paper, read magazines that intrest me, and whatever i read while surfing the net is pretty much the extent fo what i read. I never really get into the feel of reading a book, i get one or two chapters in and forget about the book, or lose interest fast. Im better at public speakin, im more confident talking in person rather then through phone, e-mail, or anyother means. Technologies allow us to stay incontact with anyone anywhere we go. We now have wifi computers who use satalites and can access online information anywhere. In combination with cell phones that now can write and send e-mails, u can access information anywhere. Technologie like these forse us to become better readers and writers, having to know the words being spelled or think ahead of what thepoint of the message is. Same as writting papers, it makes us plan, and write out what we want to say, and have to pick the best words to describe what we want to say. I tend to compose, edit and revise all at the computer.

July 26 assign.

All of Music energizes and moves me. Some songs make me feel hopeful like i can conquer the world and anything else that comes my way. It's more than just instruments to me, it tells how I feel about something. Songs explain what I can't. I have some songs that are like memoirs to me. Papa Roach Last resort, "Cut my life into piece this is my last resort.Suffocation no breathing.... "I know the verse is a little crazy but the guitar riffs are sick. This song gets me going. "Grant my last request and just let me hold you don't shrug your shoulders, lay down beside me." This song is recent I don't know who sings it but it makes me vulnerable and I think about my boyfriend. These songs mean a lot to me, music in general means a lot to me. I mean I would die with out it.I mean it was close to God, He was in love with it why wouldn't I.

wed July 11

I deeply believe in God. I grew up Muslim and Christian. I was pretty confused as a young girl but I was never stupid, caught up on nonsense from both religion. Like fingering or knocking over pews. It was a feeling a higher power guided me with. My parents after while started following me and so did the rest of the family. I choose Christianity and soon they all started coming to church. every church I went to they came to.It's Ironic how the oldest of the family becomes the matriarch or patriarch of t he family. My beliefs and love for Christianity and discipline from Islam has brought me a long way. I thank God for that.

Monday Jul 9th assign.

My uncle is a drug dealer. No matter how many times he gets caught or put on probation he still sells. I'm pretty sure he doesn't use it though. I just think that selling is the drug for him. I'm still not allowed to say anything to him about it. Men handle men problems and women , women problems. You will never find a woman in my family giving advice to a man even if he is her son. We just don't do that. It's improper. We don't want our boys growing up. . . homosexual. The govt. response to drug abuse and gang violence should be nothing drastic, no law to crazy. I believe they have something to do with it's great circulation in our country, may be that's just me.

Myself as a reader. Amina Uqdah

When i describe myself as a reader, I am impatient and overly excited; if that's a word.I will only pay attention to things in the material if they relate to me. I don't read for pleasure.I'm what you call a needy reader, I only read when commanded or necessary. Focusing on me as a writer. . . I write how I talk and that's why I get so many points taken off on my assignments.I rather write than talk because it's less pressure. I have time to sort my thoughts and make sure they make sense.I rather type on a computer than write something out. I have horrible hand writing. The only danger in that is that I short hand everything because I'm a text messenger.LOL
Composing at the keyboard is easier for me it has a flow that you cant get when you are writing. And I like the sound of the keys.

By Amina Uqdah

Creative Story by Bryn Finucane

Characters:
Ka- Art Teacher
Rebecca's Children- students

It was 7:30am. The school was quiet, the only noises she heard were those coming from the janitors mop 100yds away. Ka had just recieved her first full-time teaching job at Penn London Elementary School. Being the punctual individual that she is, she arrived to school an hour early to set up her classroom and the activities for her students today.
At 8:15am, she began to hear the stampering and giggles of the children getting off the school bus. Soon, she knew her classroom would be filled with happy children eager to meet their new teacher and create their very first master piece.
Ka was slightly wrong. Instead of well-behaved happy children, 25 children hopped up on Cocoa Pops and Lucky Charms rushed in to room to try to find the table with the best set of water colored paints. After a couple minutes of witnessing this chaos, the room seemed to fill with the smell of rotten eggs and bad italian hoagies. The smell was coming from two of the "more behaved" children who were minding their own business while the others began scribbling on ever piece of paper they saw.
Ka could tell that these children were poorer than the rest. They were wearing torn clothes that were too small for their even smaller bodies. Ka could tell from that point on, that her job had just gotten a little more difficult. Now, she wasn't just an art teacher, she was someone who had a direct effect on these children's lives and even after seeing them for only 5 minutes, she was already emotionally involved.

My Theme Music by Billy Reed

I would say that R&B is my favorite genre of music, but I don't know if there is one song that I would consider to be my "theme" music. I think it really depends what mood I am in as well as which songs are on my iPod at that time. If I had to pick a group that I listen to often I would have to say that it is TLC and a number of their songs would be my theme music. A large part of that is because I have been listening to their music since I was a kid. I have always listened to their music and so if pressed to pick my theme music I would have to say that their songs are it, but it is different songs for different moods.

Clothing By Brian Tyrrell

I guess my style is a mix between Dead Sexy and Millionaire Baller. My huge run DMC gold chains that I sport everyday, just screams that I got some steez and Im a baller. All my gold and money green suits must give off the impression that I have style and grace, and can’t be stopped. Unless I’m just wearing a nice fresh pressed shirt with the gators and cane, that’s how I roll glitter and gold. Surely everyone can tell that I must be a trend setter with all my style. The Diamonds in my teeth insinuate that I’m Ballin , I got the dopest style on the the block Boy!
Fictional

Dirty Laundry By Brian Tyrrell

I feel that everyone has some dirty laundry; I believe that people do not want to disclose every little detail to everyone else. All families have some skeletons in their closets, that they believe is better kept within the family. Sometimes I believe it is better to keep it in because you don’t want your family to hold you back.
I don’t feel that my family hides any thing from the world, other than unimportant things. I sure some people do and some people don’t, hide enough from the world. Sure my family has kept some things quiet, but we are pretty open within our family. There have been times when my min has aired some of my dirty laundry that I wish she would have just kept her mouth shut. But everyone loves some gossip.
I

Geo of home Marina - Brian Tyrrell

What Aurelia means is that she was worried that death would come up to get Marina. “A name I prayed would keep you floating above harm.” Marina meaning ocean, Aurelia felt that this name would protect her. She even called her daughter different names until she was three.
There is no real story behind my name Brian that I know of. I think that mu parents just liked the name. My father always used to joke ( I think he was joking) that they were going to name me Zucchini. But they did call me Bonzo, Because I always would hop around and squirm like a monkey when they would be trying to put me to bed. I personally like my name, I’ve never had another so I don’t know how I would feel to be a bill or a Joe or Rick or Alliwishish. I do get called my last name a lot though, Tyrrell

Drug problems - by Brian Tyrrell

I feel that this day and age everyone has experienced some one with a gang or drug problem. I have seen friends and family be over taken by the power of drugs. It can take hold of some ones life and, it can be real hard for them to get out of the life style. People fall into a crowd where it is all right to be fucked up all the time, and they drop their real friends who do not. They push away the people who really care.
I’ve seen people with drawl from the people they need in their lives, to hang out with low lives, because they need to get high. It is hard to help someone like this because they get defensive and if you try to help. But it is what you have to do if you what to help them.
I feel that the government is to quick to toss people in jail with a drug problem. The jails are overcrowded with non-violent drug offenders and it costing us lots of money. They should put more effort into rehab programs instead of just hiding the problem away where they may only get worse in jail and become a real problem

My Generation By Matt Piechoski

I feel, like most generations, that my generation is the means of tomorrow. Born in the 80's, raised in the 90's and educated in the new millenium, i feel that we have had the best oppertunities to learn. We were the first generation to grow up with the internet, and now, all other sorts of technologies. With these technoligies, we can solve to problems of tomorrow. We also make pop culture what it is. We have the power to say whats in, and whos hot. I think our generation has some of the toughest problems to face, the war on terror, global warming, and many other conflicts around the world and here at home. But it is us who is going to controll what we do about them and how was stand on issues.

My theme music - Megan Christner

I would say that alternative rock is my favorite genre of music. Bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, REM, Incubus, and most important to me, the Dave Matthews Band, are just some of the bands that I would say represent this genre today. I fell in love with the band one day when I went searching through my dad's CD collection (he is the king of music, in my opinion) to find something new to listen to. I found two DMB CDs and decided to give them a listen. I've loved them ever since. I've been to 5 concerts (Concerts are essential to life, they help you feel young and alive "for life is short but sweet for certain.") It's hard for me to choose one song that I call my theme song, I have one that makes me happy called "Two Step" which is where the quoted lyric comes from. It just talks about living life to the fullest and not caring that you'll die one day. My other favorite song is called "Warehouse." Quite honestly, I have no idea what it's really about but I feel like it's about someone dealing with an inner demon. But the lyrics are awesome and the violins make it dramatic. To see it live is a great experience... I absolutely love it.

My generation today, Rachel Goldenberg

My generation today seemed to change a lot since my parents and grandparents generation and they tell me this very frequently. My generation seems to more involved in technology such as always being on the internet and watching television too much. I also feel that our generation has to go to college in order to get a good job in the future. Our generation is always on a rush and everyone always has to be doing something all the time. When my parents and grandparents were growing up life was more relaxing and I people were spent more time with their families. Today not a lot of people are as close with their families and parents are getting divorced more. I think that our generation has become smarter and are more determined to get a good job where they can make a lot of money.

Creative Writing: By Ryan Schofield

Piri and the Dew Breaker are just leaving forth period and meet up in “F” hall right before they were to head to gym class. Piri is telling the Dew Breaker how he really needs a fix and that he hasn’t had the money to score heroine in almost two days. The Dew Breaker also tells Piri how he is really short on cash and needs to come up with some quick. So as they start walking to gym one in “J” hall they are trying to think of someway they can get some quick cash. They enter the locker room to get changed and the Dew Breaker quickly walks up to this skinny white boy and holds a knife to his neck. Not really sure what was going on and as a natural reaction he turns around quickly to see who is behind him. When he did this blood started going everywhere, the boy accidently slit his own throat. Piri and the Dew Breaker were standing in the puddle of the blood and quickly took all the money out of the boy’s wallet and ran. They decided to head towards the woods. They knew the quickest way to get there from their current location was to head out the doors by the cafeteria. The doors burst open and they ran through heading to the woods behind the school. That was the last time they set foot in the high school and also the last time their friends and families have ever seen them.

My Theme Song by Emily Haskell

I can't pick a specific genre to define me personally. I have a mercuric and fickle personality so it suffices to say that my mood changes from rock to classical to alternative to new age to electronica to whatever it is that my ear wants to hear. My soundtrack varies by the day, by the month, etc. However, there is one song that I never get tired of and that's REM's "The Great Beyond." It pulls me in and reminds of that quest for the Truth that waits somewhere in that Great Beyond. I can also see myself in choruses, facing an immsense struggle, throwing myself back up and keeping flowers in fulll bloom, while all the while searching...
"I'm pushign an elephant up the stairs, I'm tossing up punchlines that were never there, Over my should a piano falls, crashing to the ground.
"I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons, I'm keeping flowers in full bloom, I'm looking for answers from the Great Beyond."

My Genre of Music, By Lauren Fagan

If I had to I do not think that I would be able to pick one specific type of music to define myself. I am a person with a whole lot of personality and bunch of different moods; therefore, each type of music represents each feeling I have. I love all music; rap, rock, metal, pop, jazz, classical, and music from the 50’s, music like Frank Sinatra. I think if I had to pick one song that most represents me it would have to be Frank Sinatra’s song “That’s Life”. I love this song and everything about it, it is so true and it is the way I feel about life. He is basically saying that life is going to knock you down a lot, but you can not let it get you down, you have to get back up brush yourself off and keep going. I love that message, and whenever I am feeling down or bad about something that has happened I listen to that song and stop throwing myself a pity party and move on with my life.
The message the song is conveying is not the only thing I love about the song, I also love the time period in which Frank Sinatra lived. I loved everything about that time period especially the music. I feel like when I hear the music it transports me back to that time. I would have loved to live then it seemed like life was so much simpler.

Piri and the Dew Breaker by Mitchell Book

Piri Thomas needed some time to think away from his block. He felt the need to be alone. After walking for a while he found himself in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. It was quite different from the area he grew up in, but he was digging the scene. People were hanging out on their stoops and shooting the breeze with each other. The way he saw them made life seem simple, but he knew that this was only an illusion. There was an inner struggle, that he knew only too well, a struggle to rise above the limitations that the societal structure has placed so heavily on them.
As Piri continued to walk he came upon a hair cuttery with what looked like the owner standing out front. He was a man that looked like he had lived a longer live that his age suggested. Piri sensed that this man was holding onto a lot of pain. For some reason Piri immediately felt the urge to approach him. As he got closer Piri noticed a big scar that went all the way down the left side of his face. The man said, "Can I help you?" Piri replied, "Are you still open for hair cuts?"
"Yeah, You'll be the last for the day."

Creative Writing by Ryan Ford

I wonder how Piri would have done in the Dew Breaker's prison - I get the impression his pride wouldn't let him be tortured for long. I see Piri doing something like the preacher did to the Dew Breaker as soon as he got the chance. I'd like to think that the Dew Breaker would have Piri brought into his office to play one of his sadistic games, taunting him with freedom or just a longer life in prison if Piri won the game. When the chance came, Piri would flip the table and come after the Dew Breaker. I'm sure Piri could win a fist fight, but, like the preacher, I think Piri would end up with bullets in his chest. I hope Piri would win but don't really care...they were both pretty rotten characters.

Names, Rachel Goldenberg

My name is Rachel and my parents gave me this name because they really liked it. I was also named after my grandmother's mother's name Rose, and my great-grandfather's mother's name who was also named Rachel. I like my name because it represents me and I have never had a problem with it before. My last name symbolizes a big part of my life. My family use to own Goldenberg's Peant Chews, and my dad was the fourth generation of the family business. Being part of a huge family business really makes me appreciate my last name because it helps me remember other family members such as my great-great-grandfather who started the business. Some nicknames that my friends and family call me would just be Rach, Rachie, or Goldenberg.

Name by Andrew Hutt

My last name is Hutt which comes from Germany in the Middle Ages. My middle name is William which is my fathers first name. My first name is Andrew, I was named after Andrew Hutt, the first of 3 brothers to come to America. I enjoy playing a lot of PC games and I go by many different names, but I don't have any secret names.

Home by Andrew Hutt

Home is a place where you feel safe. Home is also a place where you live with your family. It is also a place where you choose to reside. I never have felt alienated at or around my house. There aren't many people my age living there but it's not too bad. When I'm away from home I miss how normal and familiar everything is. A few years ago I live in a house in Morgantown, West Virginia. It was on a slope down an alleyway, the ceilings were little over my head and the stairs were barely wide enough for me. This is a place i lived but it was not home. I also miss the smells, sounds, atmosphere, and space that I'm used to.

Family Secrets, By Lauren Fagan

I feel that all families hide secrets from the out side world. Every family wants to display a certain image and most families have something wrong with them. Or a secret that might bruise the family image. So in order to keep that image up they hide things from other people. That is human nature thought, isn’t it? I believe that you never truly know a person , what they are thinking or capable of, families are the same way. There is always something wrong some kind of drama, and most people try to cover it up, because who wants to be the person with the messed up family? The answer would be no one. After all our society is based on the perfect image.
Now for the thought, do I feel family secrets are a good thing? Well it all depends on the secret. I feel that the whole world does not have a right to be in my business all the time or anyone else’s. I do feel though that if a person is in harms way, such as Rebecca, then other people should know about it and take an active role in trying to help that person. I do not feel that Rebecca’s parents were quick enough in taking an active role in getting away from Pasion. Even though Rebecca did continually go back to him, and she did not want her parents involved, people can not always see what is best for them.
I think that when it comes to secrets like Rebecca and Pasion, people do hide more than they should. No one wants the whole world to know that their husband or wife is being abusive, or the children are being abused. But in cases like this people should know, or the authorities. They should know because it is a dangerous situation and people in this situation need help before they get seriously hurt or in really bad situations get killed.
Overall I feel that some secrets that are not life threatening are fine to keep hidden because not everyone should know everyone else’s business. In the cases of danger though, then the family secrets should be told in order to protect anyone who might get hurt.

Meaning of a Name by Bryn Finucane

I'm not really sure why Aurelia would not call her daughter by her real name expect for the fact that she if very superstitious. She did not want death to find her daughter, she called her something else. She obviously believes in what she did, because her daughter did not die.
As for my name, I am not quite sure of it's full meaning anymore, although I used to know it. However, I do know that my name is very Irish. Bryn Aleen Finucane. Bryn comes from the Irish name Bryan which means "the strong" and Aleen, again very Irish, which means "the fair and good-looking." Although my last name is not well known as an Irish name in the United States, in Ireland it is very popular. My mom and dad decided to name me Bryn because they wanted very unique and different names for their daughters. Although the mispronunciation of my name has always been an issue, I LOVE my name. I rarely meet anyone else who is named Bryn, so I always knew when I was being addressed. I also have a nickname, but its more a term of endearment... Brynnie.

Names by Megan Christner

For Aurelia, it feels like the third time's a charm for her feelings towards Marina's life. When she was pregnant, she almost had two miscarriages, and after the second, Marina lived. Being the superstitious woman that Aurelia is, perhaps she waited for the third time around to name Marina, and also for age 3 to officially give her her name. Marina, a reference to the sea, is an appropriate name because it seems like Marina needs to keep floating to keep going, that she needs a force upon her to keep her alive.
My name means "little pearl" in Welsh. My parents named me Megan because they thought it was unique; however so did everyone else having baby girls in the 1980s. Ashley, my middle name, means "ash wood" and has an English origin. My mother chose that middle name for me because she watched a soap opera everyday while she was pregnant with me, and her favorite character was named Ashley. My first name is okay. Sometimes I wish I could have a less common name. I always wanted to be called Ashley when I was younger because there never seemed to be any in my classes, unlike with Megan, there seems to be at least one other one everywhere I go. I don't have a secret name, but my favorite nickname is Megs. My dad has called me that since I was little and most of my close friends call me that. It's a name that makes me smile.

Names. By Ryan Schofield

I believe the reason Aurelia does not call Marina by her name proper name is because she is very superstitious. She believes if she does this she will inform death where her daughter is. If this happens Aurelia is scared that death will try and take Marina once again. We all know that there is no person known as “death” but this is her lifestyle and the way she was raised. Aurelia’s culture is much different from many of ours.
I have been told the name “Ryan” is Irish and means “little King”. As far as the reason my parents gave me that name is a fairly simple one, it the only name they could agree on. My mother is Lithuanian and my father is Welsh and some other things that I am not a hundred percent sure of. Family history is a very interesting topic that I suggest everyone should look into at some point in their life.

Family Secrets by Billy Reed

I think that all families have screts. There are always going to be things that are ok to say around family and friends that should not be said to everyone else. These secrets are necessary because they help with keeping a family's honor or pride. People don't want everyone to know everything that is going on in their lives. People will always hold back information that is going to make themselves look bad.
I'm sure there are families that hide more from the rest of the world then they should. In my family family secrets play a role in keeping the peace at times. For example when the whole family is together my sister has to cover up her tattoo so that neither of my grandmoms see it.

Names - By Meghan Weik

Aurelia is a very superstious woman with many different beliefs. I feel that she had the talk with Marina while she was in the coma because the meaning behind water in their family is very powerful and she wanted to give Marina stregnth to come out of the coma and get better. In terms of the story, I feel she didn't call Marina her name until she was older and strong to shield her from death. She didn't want to name Marina and allow death to have a name to attach itself from and take Marina from her. After understanding Aurelia's character in this book, it makes perfect sense for her to do something like this and have the thoughts she has. She felt as thought death wanted to take Marina from her, and she was doing a motherly thing in concordance with her beliefs to protect her kin. I think many people would do something similar to this to protect their children or family. I've never used an alternative name. Also, I've never attached any real meaning to my name nor do I know what my name truely means. I've also never used a secret powerful name in situtions.

Names by Ryan Ford

Aurelia is very superstitious and believes in evil spirits. It comes from her Dominican beliefs. Because of the two near miscarriages she had with Mariana, she believed evil spirits were after her daughter. Thats why she called Mariana ugly names until she was three. My name doesn't have much history. My mother was a flight attendant and so she came back from a flight she had to Egypt and wanted to name me Ramses. After another trip she wanted to name me Percival. Needless to say my father was quick to talk her out of both and am very thankful I ended up with Ryan. I don't mind it and I think it fits me. I'm not sure but I think it means kingly. Anyways, I don't have a secret name nor have I ever used an alternate name. I've had more nicknames than I can remember over the years. My favorite/strangest nickname was probably the one I had in high school. My football coach would always yelling at someone. Whenever he yelled at me he would always say "Damnit Ford move faster, Damnit Ford move your feet..." Damnit Ford this and Damnit Ford that. I wasn't the greatest football player so I get yelled at a lot and eventually he just dropped my last name from it...I knew he was talking to me. After a while we started joking that Coach Vaughn probably forgot what my real name was and the rest of the team started calling me Damnit. It spread to the hallways and around school and by the end of the year some teachers even called me Damnit.

Naming - B. Mitchell Book

I think Aurelia was ultimately hoping to encourage her daughter by attempting to infuse some strength into her. This passage is showing how Aurelia believed there was a spiritual battle going on when Marina was born. Aurelia was trying to assure both Marina and herself that she had done everything she could have in attempts to shield her from the evil one.
I go by my middle name Mitchell which is my grandfathers last name. My first name is Bryan and I can think of only one or two close friends that have occasionally called me by this name, unless telemarketers count. My parents called me Bryan for the first couple years of my life. Then when I was about 3 years old my mother's father died of lung cancer, and he never had a son. So in honor of him my parents decided to switch from calling me Bryan to Mitchell. I am sure this was pretty confusing for me during this transitional period, even though I have no recollection of my name being changed.
I have always been glad that I was called Mitchell instead of Bryan. I like the fact that Mitchell is much more unique than Bryan is. I have always felt honored to carry on my grandfathers name, since I have always heard such great things about the man he was. I have liked the name so much that I have even thought about passing the name on to my son some day.

Names by Emily Haskell

In the passage Aurelia says that she wards off death by calling Marina ugly names. More than likely, knowing her child would be born a girl, Marina was probably the name Aurelia had called her through the pregnancy including the two times she almost miscarried. Because of death's familiarity with that name she holds off calling her daugher by that name for fear that death would hear it and come for her a final time. Marina's name refers to the sea and Aurelia hopes tht such a name might protect her.
My name--Emily Irene-- derives from Latin and Greek. Emily comes from the Latin "Amaelius," which means "industrious." Irene derives from the name of the Greek goddess of peace Eirene, meaning literally "peace." My last name derives from Welsh and Irish, meaning "a great hall" and "from the moors." My first name comes from my mother whose middle name is Emily and from my materal great-grandmother Sarah Emily. My middle name comes from my paternal grandmother. My last name was actually a German name but my paternal grandfather changed it to sound more English.
I like my name, especially my middle name, though when I was little I went through a period of wishing to change it. One of my alternate names is Emilia el Mirasol. I don't have a secret name.

What "home" means to me, Rachel Goldenberg

"Home" to me means is a place where you feel the most comfortable with the one's you love the most in life. In order to make something your home, you have to be able to be who you are and everyone around you has to be accepting of who you are and knowing where you fit in. I have called many places my home in my life such as my real home back in Jenkintown where I grew up and where my parents live, my overnight camp, and West Chester have all became my one of many homes. All these places make me feel so comfortable because I am with my family and friends who care about me, and when I am away from them I miss them so much. I think that when you truly miss a place that has everything in it that makes you feel comfortable and surrounds you with the people you love then that becomes your home.

HOME - Mitchell Book

Home for me right now it the house that my wife and I bought in December. Even though the area I am living in is different from where I am from, it is becoming more like home everyday. I have found that when you buy a house, there is a real sense of ownership that occurs. This feeling continues to grow as you customize it to your liking. I have already but many hours of work into our house and know that I will have many more in the future. The work I have invested has been what has given me a real pride in what I currently consider home.
As far as where I am from, I believe I will always feel that this is McLean, VA. This is a town right on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. Every time I go back to this area I am flooded by memories and feelings of what used to be home. I lived in Northern Virginia from 4th grade through the end of college, when my family decided to move to California.
Towards the end of high school for me my parents ended up getting divorced. After the divorce my Dad rented a place in McLean for the next 6 years or so, while my mom continued to move from one residence to the next. Throughout this time I personally felt that my dad's place felt more like home, because it was more consistent and I spend more time with my dad. There was one house that my mom bought that started feeling somewhat like home because she stayed there the longest.

Religion in my life by Megan Christner

While growing up, my family never really belonged to a church. I went with friends occasionally, but that was usually when I spent the night at their house on a Saturday night. However, I always felt it in me that a God does exist. I'm still working on a reason for why but I think it has a lot to do with my belief that "everything happens for a reason." And as humans, we think we're this supreme being, but how do we know that? How do we know that there aren't other universes or a force upon us that is just too above our comprehension to see?
My parents grew up in Protestant Christian families. Like I said, not having grown up in a church, I was taught the basics: the 10 Commandments, the Golden Rule, The Lord's Prayer, etc. When I was a junior in high school, I finally started going to church on my own. My best friends were in a youth group, FISH, (Fellowship in Senior High) at the local Presbyterian church. After going to the group and services for almost a year, I decided to join the church. I felt at home with the congregation and that my beliefs were already very similar to theirs. I'm glad that I didn't grow up being forced to attend my parent's church, because, although I ultimately remained Protestant like them, I feel my religion means more to me because I chose it for myself.

What "Home" Means To Me. By Ryan Schofield

Home to me right now at this point of my life is back at my parents’ house in Levittown. It is where I was raised but also more importantly it is where my friends and family are. I have many friends here in West Chester but it is just different with your friends who you grew up with your whole life. I have never felt alienated when I am at home, I just pick up where I left off the last time I was at home. Everything is always how I expect it to be, sure some things have changed but for the most part it is the same. I miss a lot of different things when I am away at school, but most of all I miss the town in general. There is something comforting about just knowing your “home”. Everything just seems to fall in place, that is why I miss home so much.

What HOME means to me by Bryn Finucane

HOME to me is a place where I feel like I belong. A place where I know what's going on. My original HOME is is New London, PA. A very small town where the gas station is the local hang out. Nothing exciting really happens in New London, except that all my friends from HOME still flock there whenever someone says that they are having a party. HOME is a place where everyone knows each other. Even though many times that is not the case, it feels like it because you have been there for so long. My "new" HOME is here in West Chester. Many times I find myself in West Chester more than New London. My new friends are here, my job is here, and my temporary house is here. eEven though the house isn't mine, and my apartment isn't going to be ready for another month, it feels like HOME because it's safe and comfortable. I feel like I belong.
As I said before, I find myself in West Chester more than any other place, so inevitably, there are going to be some things that I miss. First, and most importantly, I miss my family. I miss the family dinners of us all sitting around and telling different stories that may have gone on the past couple days. I miss the food terribly! My mom's homemade cooking is nothing to be compared to Lawrence Cafeteria. And lastly, I miss the way we socialize and party. Back "home", our parties are held deep in the woods with bonfires and beer. No one worries about the cops showing up, because no one really knows we exist. Here in West Chester, people are either hanging out in a crowded basement or apartment, terrified that a cop is either going to hear the music and bust the party, or that they are going to get busted walking home intoxicated. Don't get me wrong, its still fun but it's just a little more stressful than New London.

Meaning of "HOME" by Emily Haskell

"HOME" means a safe haven where you can go to feel comfortable and the pets/people who make it so. Home is not necessarily where you grew up nor where you live now. It could be anywhere you have felt the most welcome. A home is what we make for ourselves with mortar of memories and bricks of people who've lived them with us. I have never felt alienated from my home, just the urge to leave it every once and a while as I am now ready to start my own "home." When I'm away I miss my mother cooking in the kitchen, my father relaxing to music in the living room, my brother locked in his room while computer blips burst like small firecrackers from under his door, my dog Sable sleeping under the crabapple tree and our horses grazing in the open pastures. I miss the smell of the house, my bed that knows the curve of my body, climbing the steps upstairs, my hide-and-seek haunts, the invisible footsteps I've left all through the house and the mud tracked inside on rainy days.

What Home Means To Me, By Lauren Fagan

Home for me means when I am around the people in my life that I truly love. At this point in my life I do not really have a "home" as in the sense of a building because I have lived with my father for the past five years and he has just recently moved down to North Carolina. I do not feel as though the house down in North Carolina is my home because whenever I do go down there I feel as though I am a visitor and I do not have any friends in the area nor do I really know my way around. So North Carolina all though my father has a house down here and lives with my family down here I do not feel as though it is my home.
My father does live in North Carolina, but my mother lives up here in Pennsylvania. I have just recently started talking to my mother again, though, so her house really does not feel like home either. So I have come to define the word home as an area in which I can be surrounded by the people that I love. Home is not a building or place, but rather a feeling to me.

My experiences with drug by Billy Reed

I know some people that have done drugs or still do, however in all of those cases it has never gotten to a point where it took over their life. I’ve never seen someone use drugs to the point where they can’t do anything else and I’m not sure how I would react if a family member or good friend got like that. I think that the government should focus more on rehabilitation rather then sending these people to jail. This would be more helpful overall in the person quitting drugs.

Home by Ryan Ford

I grew up in a split family so I've always had two homes. My mother remarried when I was almost ten. My step-father was very religious and very strict. By the time I was a teenager we were butting heads on a regular basis. My real father was much more moderate and relaxed and had standards that were realistic. He was always the voice of reason while I was growing up. So even though Mom's house was where I lived, went to school, and had all my friends, my Dad's was always my escape. I could really relax and get away from all the stress of my step-dad there. When I graduated I spent months and years away from home while I was in the Army. The only time I felt alienated was when I'd miss family events. I missed the weddings of three of my sisters, the birth of my first three nephews and niece, and however many family BBQ's, graduations and birthday parties. I'd be home for a week or two from the Army and it would seem like I was just passing through again. I'd have to catch up on all I missed and be off to somewhere else. Now that I live in West Chester I try to go home to either Dad's or Mom's one afternoon every weekend. However, for the last year, the studio apartment I share with my girlfriend, Heidi, and our psychotic cat, Maggie, has become another home to me. I miss them and the life and friends I have here in WC when I'm away too long. I miss my Moms home cooking and working/hanging out with my Dad.

What does "Home" mean to me? --by Meghan Weik

Home to me means safety, understanding, and love. Home to me is where I can be and just enjoy living with my family. I have three homes. I have my home in my hometown which is my mother's house, I have my home here at school with my best friends, and I also consider my Nannie and Pop Pop's house a home. Home to me means family. My friends here at school have created a family of our own that I cherish each time I walk through the doors of my house. I've never felt alienated in my house. Sometimes when I visit my dad I feel very ambivalent about the atmosphere but I don't consider that house a home, thus it doesn't really affect me. My homes provide me with emotional support and constant guidance, safety, and love. Though I have developed quite a fun and loving home here in West Chester, there are a lot of things I miss about my Mom's house. I miss talking to my mom and my sisters about everything. When I lived at home we would all sit outside on the deck and talk for hours and it always felt so good knowing how close of relationship we had and we still do have. I also miss the food from home, nothing here at school is as good as anything my mom could ever cook. I can't believe I ever complained about what was for dinner.

If I Could Switch Places....By Ryan Schofield

If I could switch places with anyone it would not be a specific person but and individual in a certain career field. When I graduate I hope to become a toxicological chemist. There are many days when I wonder what my life is going to be like in five years or so. So if I switched places with one of them maybe a lot of my questions would be answered and I could see how my life may turn out in at least one aspect. However, I like being myself and would not want to be them for to long, just long enough to get a sense of what exactly their day to day routine is. I feel that making this switch for however long it maybe will hopefully provide me with a sense of comfort and allow me to relax a little more and not stress out about life after college.

My encounters with Drugs and Gang Members By Matt Piechoski

I have had many experiences with people involved with drugs and gangs. My father grew up in different parts of Philly, and has family scattered all over the city. After my father returned from the Army, he decied that it was not the best place for him to be to get a fresh start in life. Most of his brothers and sisters did the same when they were able, but most of his cousins still reside in Philly and their childern have grown up in the streets. Two of his cousins have died of drug overdoes, one did not start taking drugs untill his son was killed in gang by another gang, another second cousin in jail for drug trafficing. My father moved away so his children would have to grow up around those situations. Now we live in a wealthy area, and in high school, i knew many kids who did coke and exctacy. One kid died the summer after graduation after taking coke mixed with another substance. If one of my friends were to become involved with drugs or gangs, i would try to help them deal with any problems or issues, but if they refused herlp or continuied in their actions, i would try to put distance in our relationship. As for the governments envolvment, i believe that for those caught for selling should be punished to the full extent, and those victum of drug abuse made aware of what is going to happen to them if countinued use, by any means, and help them to become clean

Change Positions By Andrew Hutt

If I could change positions with anyone in the world I would want to be an Amish Farmer. I would want to see what being Amish is really about. The Amish have an extremely conservative way of life that revolves around religion and family. They do without modern technologies and do a lot of physical labor. If I was an Amish Farmer I would be stripped of technology and other things that have defined most of my life. Living the way they do and being so close to their family and community would be a challenge for me because of my background.

Myself as a Writer by Tim Curek

I usually don't like to write much outside of class with the exception of email, aim, etc.I usually don't like to write much outside of class with the exception of email, aim, etc. I don’t write that much I do read a lot when I get the chance. My favorite types of books to read are those about different types of governments, for example Brave New World. Since I am a Computer Science major I am often around computers working on documents. On my free time I go on facebook and communicate through them. My favorite form of communication would have to be speaking, I is something that feels more natural, I suppose since I have to communicate that way each day. When I begin a paper I usually start by writing down some ideas on a notebook paper. After I finish listing ideas I select the ideas I like and type up a rough draft, which eventually will become my final copy after revisions.

If I could change positions with anyone in the world... (Rachel Goldenberg)

If I could change positions with anyone in the world it would be a mixture of people. I would want to switch positions with my grandmother because she has the most interesting background of anyone I know, and she has so much ambition and confidence. I would also want to change positions with Sasha Cohen because I am a figure skater, and she is one of my favorite professional figure skaters because her grace, flexibility, and the way she skates is so lively. My grandmother grew up in Brooklyn and then moved to Minnesota when she was very young. She was the youngest of 3 children, and her family grew up on a farm. The reason why I would want to change positions with her is because growing up in Minnesota at the time was hard because it was during the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was going on. Another reason why I would want to switch positions with my grandmother would be how smart she was. In Minnesota, she went to school with only 10 children in it and they were all of different ages. When she finished her textbooks for 2nd grade she would end up reading the textbooks for the 3rd grade. All of her ambition and confidence really makes me want to be like her when I am older because she still has so much ambition and energy today. I would want to be Sasha Cohen because I love watching her skate on the ice. When she skates she just lets go of everything going on around her and puts so much determination in her skating. I would love to have her flexibility, grace, and determination like she has when she skates. Sasha Cohen and my grandmother are the two people that I would love to change places with.

Who I would be...by Chris Bernardi

If I could switch places with anyone in the world it would not necessarily be anyone in particular. I just would like to switch with someone who knew what they wanted to do in life, and/or is already settled and happy with what they became. I am at the point right before graduating and just seem very lost with knowing that I can go anywhere and do almost anything I want to. And that just scares me right now in my life.

Myself as a Reader and a Writer by Bryn Finucane

I would describe myself as a reader who only reads the required material. I used to love to read, but as I have gotten older, reading has become more of chore than anything else. To me, it has become much more difficult. When a book is interesting and enjoyable then I don't mind reading it. But often times I cannot find the right book for me. As a writer, I would say that my skills have definitely improved over the years. However I continue to struggle with the very common "writer's block". For me, speaking is the easiest. When I write, what I am trying to say and what I actually end up saying are two completely different ideas. Now, Facebook is an addiction that I just can't quit. It is beneficial in the way that it allows me to keep in touch with close friends but it has done nothing to help improve my writing. Facebook and AIM have taught us that improper punctuation and slang terms are acceptable and standard. And because of the amount of time that I spend on a computer, I don't even bother writing anything on paper anymore.

Who I would change lives with if I had the chance, By Lauren Fagan

First off, if I had the chance to switch lives with anyone I do not think that I would because I am very content with my life and the way it is. However, if I had to change places with someone I would have to say I would want to change places with Erin Gruwell, the teacher who had a movie made about her and her classes called, Freedom Writers. After watching the movie and finding a little more out about her and what she did with her students from the ghetto, I found her to be very inspiring and amazing. Not only was she a young first time teacher working in the ghetto, she was also a women. Gruwell who came from a fairly easier background than most of her students had a very hard time trying to connect with and teach her students. Even though she came up against many obstacles teaching, in the end she always found a way to make everything work out.

Gruwell is a true inspiration to me and what I would like to do with my future. I would love to be able to take a group of students and show them the wonders of education and that being the cool kid in school is not always the best thing. Also get the students to want to learn and have them become interested in history. I can only dream and wait patiently for the first day in my own classroom trying to teach and learn along with my students.

That is why if I had the chance to change lives with any person I would choose Erin Gruwell. Not only is she a woman to respect but she is also one of my heroes and idols. I can only wish and hope to become a teacher like her someday.

If I could change lives with anyone -- by Meghan Weik

If I could change positions with anyone in the world I think I would like to be a combination of different people. I'd like to have the drive and ambition of someone like Oprah Winfrey but I'd also like to have the pacience and compassion of my Nannie (my grandmother). I'd like to have the strong will of my father and the carefree heart of my best friend Laura. I'd also like to have the "helping ability" of many celebrities because I feel that with the proper resources you are able to do anything you wish. I'd like to put many of my ideas into actions and have the resources to support them. I chose these people because I admire their unique character traits and strive to live my life to the fullest, like them. This would make my life different because with each of those characteristics gained, and assortment of experiences that developed those characteristics would come into me. I'd also probably have different, and more selfless goals in life. All these people would better me.

I would change positions with a hustler,Italian mobster,Mother Tereasa, Tonya/friend, and a homeless person. Each person has something that the other one needs to be a solid good person. That's what I would want to be. This is the person that I have created out of people that some wouldn't recognize as being good or posse sing good positive qua lites. My life would change because it would become everything I want it to be. I would be able to do all that I desire and accept all the territory that comes with it, whether good or bad. Being homeless you realize that your family,friends money etc., does not make you exempt from life. A hustler knows life and chance happens to us all, so you either work life or you let it work you. Italian mobsters realize it is hard to make decisions, but it has to be done, even if it means changing your inner circle for the good of the business or family. It will hurt but it has to be done. Mother Teresa realized if her passion and dream in life s to not see a single child hungry, her life no longer mattered. Tonya, if you don't think you have anything in life to work, work your confidence,it's attractive and it will take you places.
Amina Uqdah
Trading spaces

If I could change places... by Emily Haskell (for some reason I couldn't use the title box)

If I could change positions with someone I would choose the exact opposite of myself. I would choose that person to gain a better understanding of who I am, where I am coming from and why I think the way I do because I would be on the opposite end of the spectrum of myself. My entire life, way of thinking and system of beliefs would be completely different from who I am now. I would in fact be the worst version of myself but would see things from an entirely new point of view. I would be a conservative, hypo-religious person with little care about my level of education, married with kids but I would be too caught up in myself to deal with them. I would be docile and gullible. I wouldn't have a job because I would be a Stepford housewife with no goals or amibitions. And I would smoke and watch soap operas all the time.

Who I Would Switch Places With and Why - By Ryan Ford

As boring as it seems, I honestly can't think of many people who I would switch places with. I'm fairly content with my own life. However, if I had to pick one person, I think I would trade places with a good friend of mine named Dan Thompson. I would really only want his job and lifestyle though.

Dan is the chief editor and a writer for Connections Magazine which is published for the U.S. military members stationed in Europe. So Dan gets to live in Frankfurt, Germany, and takes long weekend trips all around Europe, Northern Africa, and even Asia to report on his experiences and if he recommends vacationing there or not. He writes his own ticket, and usually takes his fiancee, Nora, with him. His latest trips have been to Turkey, Morocco, and Nepal. I spent several months living in Germany and traveling around Europe but still want to go back; especially if I wouldn't have to pay for it and could take my girlfriend with me if I had Dan's job.

In all reality I couldn't be happier for Dan, and realize he's a self made man. He's always had a knack for writing, and already has a book published. I'm most impressed he's accomplished so much without a college education. He's had his share of raw deals and definitely deserves the break he got. Even so - I still want his job!

My reading and writing preferences by Megan Christner

When I was little, the Scholastic Book Fairs were always my favorite time of the school year. I loved to go and see what new book I could dig up. As I got older, my love of reading didn’t change, just the time that I had allotted to read for fun. I’m a cell and molecular biology major with a minor in chemistry, so the majority of the reading that I do is dry, scientific textbooks. Since that type of reading takes a lot of comprehension and active reading (like highlighting and note-taking) I’m a slower reader than most. If I don’t read slowly, it’s likely that I’ll miss something important.
I feel like I’m definitely a better writer than a reader. The technical side of writing, like grammar and spelling, came easy to me, probably due to the amount of reading that I did as a child. Out of reading, writing, and speaking, writing is the easiest and most comfortable way of expression for me. I’ve always been somewhat shy so speaking in front of groups still intimidates me. I feel like I can express myself more eloquently through writing. Growing up in the computer age, computers have influenced my writing significantly. I constantly IM and e-mail my friends and family. It’s a little sad, but if I had to choose e-mail or the phone, I will almost always choose to communicate electronically. I think that’s more for convenience than anything though. When it comes to school and writing papers, I’m a computer composer. I never seem to get anywhere just sitting with paper and pen trying to get a draft out. It’s so much easier to be able to get research while typing a paper at the same time.

What kind of writer I am by Bill Reed

I would say that speaking us the easiest for me because I dont really have to have anything prepared and can go off of whatever I am thinking about at the time. With writing it takes more time for me to gather my thoughts and find the best way to express them.
Computers play a huge role in my writing, I do all of my work on the computer from my first draft to the finished project. Outside of school work the majority of my writing is done through emails and ims.

Self Review by: B. Mitchell Book

I believe that I am a better reader than I am writer. This is probably because I read at least something everyday, whereas with writing I only write when I have to. I enjoy reading, but I feel like I read slower especially when I am reading for comprehension. Although I do feel the my reading speed has increased drastically over the past couple of years. When I am reading I really enjoy getting to know the characters and then comparing them to either myself or other people that I know.
I do not extremely dislike writing but I get annoyed at the amount of time and effort that it takes me. Maybe this is because I can be a perfectionist in certain things and therefore can be fairly picky about how my writing is structured. I do feel that I can create a pretty good finished product if I am able to put the time into it though.
When comparing the different forms of communicating, I believe that speaking is the easiest for me of the three. I think one of the main reasons that I have continued to grow in my ability to communicate through speech is the fact that I am married. I have experienced much growth in my ability to verbally express myself through my marriage. I have also found that good communication is vital to having a good marriage, and really any other good friendship or relationship.

Course Description

This course is a comparative study of literature by African Diasporic writers who reside in the United States, and the relationship of those works to the struggles for positive representation, equality, and human rights. By employing an interdisciplinary approach, including literary, cultural, and historical methods of inquiry, we will be able to gain a better understanding of the multifaceted issues facing Afro-descendents. The analysis and critique of literature from the African Diaspora in the form of novels, essays, and short stories, provides ideal locations to interrogate the historical and contemporary formations of Black politics of identity and culture, while also illustrating internal contradictions of race, ethnicity, gender, class, color, sexuality, culture, nationalism, and immigration.