My wife responded, "Oh my god. ... Others were running away in fear of their lives. ... "Nobody in their right mind would ever do this," my wife exclaimed as tears started to roll down her face. ... Tears started to fill my eyes as my wife cried and said sorrowfully, "What about all the children whose parents won't be coming home?" ... I turned the television off, and watched my two-year-old son react to the scenes that he had watched. ...

• Word Count: 598
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

All that Dora cares about is how her son responds to her stories of God and of the bible. ... The reasons behind Dora and Frank's discrepancies are because of their marriage. ... Dora's constant preaching of the bible taught Alan to associate worship and passion with secrets, he is trained to believe that there is nothing better in life than God or worship. ... Through all of this Alan has constantly taken his mothers side because of their stronger bond. ... If Alan's parents were to converse more, settle on a way to raise their son and take care of their house, Alan may not...

• Word Count: 1483
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

All we could think to ourselves was, "thank God that is never going to happen to us." ... Then, after it was all over we would come home and they would be lying on the couch watching TV. ... Someone who would touch them the way they needed, or just look into their eyes and really listen to what they were saying. ... My sister and I can support their decisions, but not make them. ... I wasn't going to stay at home for another year or two and keep watching things fall apart. ...

• Word Count: 1285
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The 7th of April faded into the night as I watched the buildings grow smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror. ... My mother beside me, with her eyes shut tight, stopped herself from sobbing as I hugged myself tighter and felt the summer breeze wipe off the ripple of tears at the corner of my eyes. ... My late Lola Berta had wavy hair, dull eyes and creases on her face that showed her age. ... "It's okay, she had her calling from God already and she had lived long enough," said to me by my uncle who reeked of alcohol. ... As we reached the burial place, people started crying...

• Word Count: 1160
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

As I watched the others going down the slide, I got the butterflies in my stomach. ... My eyes were closed and I was so afraid to open them to see the damage because my body and face ached. ... I opened my eyes, touched my lip, and saw there was blood all over my hands so I knew I had busted my lip. ... I will never forget the look on his face as he uttered, "Oh my God.... The way I see it is only God can Judge me, so why let anyone's opinion alter the way I feel about myself?...

• Word Count: 903
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Growing up in Tonga, I didn't think that the Holocaust really affected me until I read a couple of books, watched some movies, and discussed what we read and watched with other students in the class. ... In the Jewish culture, fathers pursue their obligation for their family by doing their utmost daily to keep them in safety and health. ... She said that her mom stayed home and fulfilled all the chores at home such as washing, cooking, cleaning, and watching the kids. ... And although the Jews did not believe Jesus was the Christ, they still believed in God and the right to worship as the...

• Word Count: 1194
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

A couple of weeks later my adoptive parents received a phone call through their adoption agency they went through that they had a baby boy waiting for them to adopt. ... My friend Jacob decided to pop in a movie to watch on the way to the march for life to occupy the time. ... On a personal note, I was horrified to hear that sometimes women abort their child because it has a disability. ... As I marched in the cold snow of D.C., amid the prayers and cheers from other pro-lifers, I felt tears come to my eyes. ... If I pray daily, offer up my sufferings to God, and do all God wants me to do for ...

• Word Count: 1818
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

He gives strong examples of what others have lead him to believe such as " this strange being, a sort of God, they call Daddy". ... This paragraph reveals severe problems between the author and his mother and makes it appear as though they both intended to hurt each other in their actions. ... Why does the author get satisfaction watching his friends when he tell them he has his father address and phone number? ... Perhaps, he thinks it makes him appear strong in their eyes because he does not need is father. ...

• Word Count: 752
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

HEAVEN"S GIFT As Samantha's eyes opened slowly the bright sunlight shined in from her window. ... Samantha's eyes were throbbing, she was in so much pain, and she didn't want to live if her mother couldn't. ... All he could think of was their wedding and how she was so beautiful. He and Samantha held her hand and continually their hearts said a prayer. ... Together they watched God take their precious angel home. ...

• Word Count: 1024
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

She watched me struggle through pain, and all she wanted was to help. ... My whole agreement with God was, if I got better, I would be a better person, a person just like my mom. ... Now I have come to see that people have to listen to one another and their opinions because they might have a better outlook than I. ... I am also less judgmental because I do not assume things about people by their background, name, or race. ... She is a superstar in my eyes and a great mother. ...

• Word Count: 1453
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

A role model should be sincere and not out for their own good but the good of others. ... This was where we had our fresh start; she was going to college and working a part-time job, while my grandma watched over me during the day. ... Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and my fun and outgoing Grandma seemed to deteriorate before our eyes. ... We had long talks, her and me, she helped me realized that everything happens for a reason, and that god only sends hardships to people he knows are strong enough. ...

• Word Count: 1394
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Inevitably, Hally would find his way to Sam's room every day and as a result, he knows how to get there with his eyes closed. ... God I was embarrassed! ... I wish there were hundreds of kids around to watch us" (30). ... Although Sam and Hally have great memories in the Boarding House and with the kite, Hally ruins their close friendship by surrendering to the norm of society and treating Sam as an inferior human. ... However, the grave decision Hally makes while he is mad to demonstrate his white supremacy over Sam, breaking their friendship indefinitely....

• Word Count: 1353
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

I love to watch movies, do homework, and also just rest in this room. ... I have learned from him how to move forward from the past, and focus on the future that God has planned out for me. ... Honestly after a long church day our family tradition is to go out to eat then watch sunday night football. ... Yes, all dogs are special to their owners, but this was different. ... Those deep brown eyes sparkled with a beauty that was hard to walk away from. ...

• Word Count: 2511
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

She spent time with her friends and drank a tea from Dunkin Donut's, her favorite, at the waterfront watching the bay waves go up and down. ... I begged God to bring her back. ... The police are on their way. ... "Oh my God.... Their life could resume back to usual. ...

• Word Count: 2579
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

The event that is being focused on is the loss of the parent(s), whether the parent was known or unknown, and the loss of their childhood and how this affects their behavior. ... How a person reacts to an event and the outcome is based on their different personalities, developmental stages, environmental factors, etc. ... She and her sister basically were raising themselves during difficult time periods in their lives. ... Children who do not develop autonomy may doubt their abilities and their capacity to act on the world and develop feelings of shame (Sroufe, Cooper, & Dehart, 1992). .....

• Word Count: 3938
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School