I was in sixth grade attending Saint Bruno School when I broke the rules. I had a good trusting relationship with not only my mom but my teacher as well. I thought I was so cool that I was in Junior High and was considered as one of the “big” kids. It was now time to attend the junior high school dances, have different teachers for different class subjects, and boys and girls were actually talking to each other rather than running away thinking the other had cooties. It was the end of the second quarter when everything from good became bad.
I had average grades in junior high in certain classes like History or English, but Math was a subject that didn’t come easy to me. I struggled with something in every chapter and constantly had to ask for help. Not only was it my hardest subject but the teacher who taught math was the eighth grade teacher, Ms. Running. She has been the eighth grade teacher for many years now and everyone was scared of her. She has the reputation for embarrassing you in front of the class and can call you out in anything. She was a normal size older lady who always had her hair up in a bun everyday. It was the same style through out the school year. The only thing that changed was the different kind of bow clips that she placed next to the bun. Now that I had her for almost two quarters now, she wasn’t as scary as everyone has told us. She really did care about each student and would keep working with you until you truly learned the material. She was a tough teacher but everyone soon respected her as a person. We all eventually had a close relationship with her. Because I was on ASB Ms. Running and I had a closer relationship than most students. We spent a lot more time with each other gathering fun school activities that we can do through out the school year. The next event that we were going to hold was our Halloween dance. We spent a lot of time together and she respected me as much as I respected her. But I soon was able to loose that respect.
As much as she could help me with my math I still couldn’t understand it. She assigned the date of the test that was going to be on friday. I studied all day thursday and when I took the test it felt as if I didn’t study at all. I eventually turned in the test knowing that I had failed it. The following monday she gave back our scores. And sure enough I had a big fat F on my paper. Ms. Running did her announcement that she does every time after a test. She told us to get our tests signed from one of our parents. Her rule was everyday you don’t have your test signed you had to stay in her classroom rather than going out to recess. I didn’t know what do. My mother and I had made a agreement that if I do well on this test than I can go to the dance. Going home that day I had a big knot in my stomach. I didn’t know how I was going to tell my mom. She was doing to be very disappointed and worst of all not let me go to my first junior high dance. I went through the whole day with out telling her and finally before I went to bed she asked me how I did on the test. Nervously I told her that Ms. Running didn’t have time to grade the tests over the weekend so we haven’t gotten the back yet. She didn’t hesitate to question but said good night and left my room. I felt a lil relieved that she didn’t found out but yet I still didn’t know what I was going to do. I grabbed my test and then decided what I was going to do. I grabbed my black pen and started to forge my mom’s name on my test. After I was finished I put my test in my backpack and went to bed.
The next I turned in my test and thought everything was going to be fine. I went to the dance and had the time of my life. However the following the day was the day I got caught. Now Ms. Running didn’t come to me to tell me I was in trouble. Apparently she saw my mom in the hallway and asked her to come in her classroom. She showed my mom the test and asked if it was her signature. My mom said no and that she was so embarrassed from my actions. I got home that day thinking it was just a normal day, but my mom pulled into her room and asked for me to start explaining myself. I bursted into tears and told her the truth. She explained to me how disappointed she was in me. She wouldn’t have yelled at me for failing a test but instead trying to find a way to get a tutor for me. I felt disgusted with myself and couldn’t believe I did this to her or Ms. Running.
I was grounded for a month, but that didn’t really bother me. I lost my mother trust and Ms. Running. I felt horrible. I went up to Ms. Running and apologized. She accepted it but she told me how much she felt betrayed. She told I am so much better than that and I should’ve known better. From then on I wasn’t going to betray my teachers or my mother like that again. Instead of hiding things from her I will go to her from help. She is there to talk and turn to and I need to take a hold of that. And for my teachers they are there to help and if only asked Ms. Running to tutor me then I would have probably done a lot better on my test then trying to figure it all by myself. People are there to help and I need to learn how to take advantage of that instead of running away and hurting people that are close to me.
Friday, December 3, 2010
A Place I Call Home
Whittier, California is located in Los Angeles County, about 12 miles southeast of the City of Los Angeles. It is a charter law city and was established in 1898. It is the place where I first learned to walk, read, talk, and develop the characteristics that make me the person I am today. I grew up in the 1990’s when the internet was just going public and the teen pop boy band N’Sync was being played through out the world. There are different parts of Whittier and from just going into a certain part of town you can distinguish between the north and south side of Whittier. North Whittier contains of two story modern houses. It also has house where Shia LaBeouf lived in, in his movie “Disturbia.” However I grew up in South Whittier which is less glamorous. South Whittier is the home of many hispanics and caucasian families. And between two major streets, Leffingwell and Santa Gertrudes is where my off white house with aqua blue trims stands.
Green trees and laughing children riding down the street surround my neighborhood. Parents in their neon jackets and brushed out long hair, wave hello as they push their children in the strollers. My single story house was the third house down from the noisy main street, Leffingwell. Where there is a tabacoo bar, two liquor stores, a mexican restaurant, and a cocktail bar. And almost every night you can hear the different rock bands playing their music, along with the drunk men and women singing along. But in the day time my street is where I can be free. We had enough grass in the front yard where my younger cousins and I played soccer every holiday. It also has a long picked white fence that wraps around the house. Not only can everyone recognize my house from the white picked fence, but also by all the different season decoration my mom puts up. Christmas is her favorite holiday and everyone on our street knows that. However, we aren’t that family that has to have all the big christmas lights and decorations surrounding the yard. But instead we have more decoration that are simple, yet bring the christmas joy. And of course we have the right window blind up so that everyone who is passing by can see our magical christmas tree. My house is very simple, but with a touch of my moms love it is a home rather than a house.
My family has many gathering occasions where we eat and enjoy each others company. Although I love each one of my family members my neighbor, who I call Grandpa Sullivan, has touch my heart in many ways. With his boston red sox hat that he wears almost every time I see him and his distinguishing laugh, everyone knows when he is in the room. He has this warm and loving affect on my family. He has been there since I was a little girl and now in college. He shows me a lot of things in this world. From never giving up to how to win a game of poker. And now that my his wife has gone to heaven he stills writes love Grandpa and Grandma Sullivan on every christmas and birthday card. Not only does he gives me presents but every Thanksgiving he makes the best apple pie. The smell of cinnamon and fresh cut apples makes my mouth water. And the sound of the crisp, flakey crust as the fork cuts into it. Lets just say it is a piece of heaven. It is one of a kind and so is my Grandpa Sullivan. I learn something from him everyday and each time I see him he always leaves me smiling. I have been calling him Grandpa since I can remember and he has influenced many characteristic that I hold today.
I believe that the place where you grew up determined on what kind of person you are as an adult. From your neighborhood to the people you live with, influence every part of you. Because I did grow up in well kept neighborhood, I never had to hear any gun shots while at night or have my parents afraid of what can happen to me. Although I didn’t experience any of that my parents still protected me as if anything could happen to me. Even though my parents protected me, they always allowed me to go run around in my neighborhood with my cousins and friends. I have learned how to ride my bike, take a hit from my brother, and learn how to play different sports. My sister and I were the only girls in our family so we learned how to be tough like a boy. I did love my barbie dolls and make-up, but also couldn’t put down a basketball. This kind of environment truly made me into the person I am today. I am a girl who is independent and doesn’t have to have a guy in order to do things. I am able to stand up for what I believe and not let anyone tell me I am not worth it.
I think there is a lot to remember and learned about the place where I grew up. I can look back at the mistakes I made and avoid them in the future. Everyone that I was surrounded with through out my childhood has taught me things that I now hold as morals and values. I am glad that I can remember my childhood as fun and eventful. I can only hope that I can give my children an environment that they feel comfortable and bring happy memories.
Green trees and laughing children riding down the street surround my neighborhood. Parents in their neon jackets and brushed out long hair, wave hello as they push their children in the strollers. My single story house was the third house down from the noisy main street, Leffingwell. Where there is a tabacoo bar, two liquor stores, a mexican restaurant, and a cocktail bar. And almost every night you can hear the different rock bands playing their music, along with the drunk men and women singing along. But in the day time my street is where I can be free. We had enough grass in the front yard where my younger cousins and I played soccer every holiday. It also has a long picked white fence that wraps around the house. Not only can everyone recognize my house from the white picked fence, but also by all the different season decoration my mom puts up. Christmas is her favorite holiday and everyone on our street knows that. However, we aren’t that family that has to have all the big christmas lights and decorations surrounding the yard. But instead we have more decoration that are simple, yet bring the christmas joy. And of course we have the right window blind up so that everyone who is passing by can see our magical christmas tree. My house is very simple, but with a touch of my moms love it is a home rather than a house.
My family has many gathering occasions where we eat and enjoy each others company. Although I love each one of my family members my neighbor, who I call Grandpa Sullivan, has touch my heart in many ways. With his boston red sox hat that he wears almost every time I see him and his distinguishing laugh, everyone knows when he is in the room. He has this warm and loving affect on my family. He has been there since I was a little girl and now in college. He shows me a lot of things in this world. From never giving up to how to win a game of poker. And now that my his wife has gone to heaven he stills writes love Grandpa and Grandma Sullivan on every christmas and birthday card. Not only does he gives me presents but every Thanksgiving he makes the best apple pie. The smell of cinnamon and fresh cut apples makes my mouth water. And the sound of the crisp, flakey crust as the fork cuts into it. Lets just say it is a piece of heaven. It is one of a kind and so is my Grandpa Sullivan. I learn something from him everyday and each time I see him he always leaves me smiling. I have been calling him Grandpa since I can remember and he has influenced many characteristic that I hold today.
I believe that the place where you grew up determined on what kind of person you are as an adult. From your neighborhood to the people you live with, influence every part of you. Because I did grow up in well kept neighborhood, I never had to hear any gun shots while at night or have my parents afraid of what can happen to me. Although I didn’t experience any of that my parents still protected me as if anything could happen to me. Even though my parents protected me, they always allowed me to go run around in my neighborhood with my cousins and friends. I have learned how to ride my bike, take a hit from my brother, and learn how to play different sports. My sister and I were the only girls in our family so we learned how to be tough like a boy. I did love my barbie dolls and make-up, but also couldn’t put down a basketball. This kind of environment truly made me into the person I am today. I am a girl who is independent and doesn’t have to have a guy in order to do things. I am able to stand up for what I believe and not let anyone tell me I am not worth it.
I think there is a lot to remember and learned about the place where I grew up. I can look back at the mistakes I made and avoid them in the future. Everyone that I was surrounded with through out my childhood has taught me things that I now hold as morals and values. I am glad that I can remember my childhood as fun and eventful. I can only hope that I can give my children an environment that they feel comfortable and bring happy memories.
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