The Story of My Life

The First Fifteen Years

A collection of stories, tales, poems and lists that me

Table of Contents

Prologue 2Letter of Introduction 3

What is a Name 4Personal Alphabet 5

Likes/Dislikes 6Sensory Experiences 7

Metaphorical Definitions 8Color Your World 9Room Sweet Room 10

Personal Metaphors 11Extended Metaphors 12

Symbolic Recipe 13The Ultimate All-Purpose Excuse 14

Unfinished Sentences 15Personal Symbol 16

Map of Life 17Telling Tales 18

Flashback 19My own List of Lists 20

A Day in the Life 21Cheer Yourself Up! 22

Metamorphosis 23Picture This 24

One Medium Suitcase 25The Perfect Present 26

Remembering the Child 27Family Influence 28Memorable Event 29

How to… 30Extraordinary Pet 31The Examined Life 32

Epilogue 33

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PrologueIn the following pages you will read all about me. I have called it “The Story of

My Life, The First Fifteen Years”. Although it is not a start at day one kind of Autobiography, by reading the stories, poems, lists and other pieces in this document you are definitely going to understand me and who I am. I hopefully make you laugh in some sections and maybe feel like crying in others. I know for sure by the time you have finished you will have a very good sense of who Makenzie is and why I am how I am. The project has allowed me to explore my life up to this point and think about things I have never thought about before. I feel like the project has helped me find out a little bit about myself and what others think about me. So please read my stories and all of the other items I have provided and enjoy

Thank you,

Makenzie Robichaud

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Hello,

My name is Makenzie Robichaud. I am 14 years old. I have played softball since I was 7 and played for the school in 8th grade. I joined the J.V. middle school color guard in 7th grade. Then in the summer of me going into 8th grade I was asked by Lori Marshall if I wanted to move up to the Mohonasen High School color guard. The people in the color guard have become like a second family to me and I would do anything for them. This was a huge honor for being one of the only two 8th graders who were asked to move up. My two favorite subjects are English and Science. When I graduate from high school I wish to go to Cornell University to get my Veterinary Degree to be in Wolf Rehabilitation. If that doesn’t work out then I would like to become a person that profiles crime scenes. I learn best when I hear the information then write it down. My friends and family are the most important things in my life and always will be. I hope you liked my letter and I hope we have a great year. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Makenzie Robichaud

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My name is Makenzie Mills Robichaud. To me my name is really long when I have to write the whole thing. Almost everyone can’t spell my first name they think it’s spelled like Mac, Mack, or Mk. I have seen people spell my name Makensie. How in the world do you get an s out of my name? Oh well what can you do? I have thought of changing it to make it shorter but at the same time I can’t because my name is like a part of me. My middle name is named after my dad’s grandfather. That’s the story of my name and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Artistic: I love to draw and take pictures. Color guard also allows me to express my creativity.

Basic: I am someone who likes to keep things simple and to the point.

Creative: I like to think of new and interesting ways to arrange my drawings or pictures that I have put together.

Direct: When given the choice of which approach to take, I will most often take the straight forward route.

Enthusiastic: Whatever I set my mind to; I do with energy and to the best of my ability.

Funny: I think that it is important to always find the humor in things.

Graceful: All of my years of dance class really do make me move with ease, even if my nickname is kind of a joke!

Heartfelt: My parents often say I will be a friend to anyone and I mean it sincerely when I say I am a person’s friend.

Intuitive: I like to think that I can figure things out just by looking at them. *Good if you’re trying to figure out a brain teaser, but not so good for Algebra!

Joyful: I think that everything would be just a little bit better if they tried harder to be happy more often.

Keen: When I really put my mind to it, I can figure out most problems.

Latitudinarian: I like to think I am open minded and let everyone have their own opinion.

Magnanimous: I will give anyone a chance, even a second chance if they make a mistake.

Naïve: I tend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt that they are being truthful, but I have found out that I sometimes am a little too trusting.

Obsessive: When I get an idea in my head, I have a hard time thinking of anything else until it’s done.

Participating: I will always give an activity a try, even if I know I am not going to be the best at it. To me, it is always better to join and try, than to never experience new things.

Quizzical: I always ask the question “Why?” As in, “Why do I have to do that?’ or “Why are you doing that?”

Reciprocal: I always consider everyone else before myself.

Symphonic: Whether I am singing in the shower, in the car with my mom, or on stage with choir, I love to sing!

Tolerable: I want to give every situation a chance and be okay with whatever the outcome is.

Unique: I always try to do things in my own special way whenever I can.

Voluntary: I do not like to be forced to do anything. I really like to do things that are my idea and because I want to do it, not because I have to.

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Wealthy: While I may not have more money than other people, I am rich when it comes to friends and family.

Xyloid: Just like a piece of wood, I am strong willed, upstanding and do not bend when I believe I am doing something for the right reasons.

Yielding: I would rather let someone else do what they want than to cause a problem or an argument.

Zingy: My “Zen-like” personality makes me appealing and attractive to many people. Especially my family and friends!

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Likes Dislikes Softball Color Guard Friends Family Dogs Wolves Mac & Cheese Holidays Marching Band Band/Guard Trips Dance

Brussels Sprouts Reading (a lot) Writing essays Shopping for clothes Yelling

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A Winter Guard competition has something for everyone. The variety of music appeals to the tastes of spectators and performers alike. The audience sees the spinning flags and the flying sabres. You hear the sound of the rifles as they cut through the air with deafening speed. The competitors feel the wind from each flag and convey the emotions of the music that each feels with every breath. The smell of the cafeteria and all the great food and drinks everyone can share from macaroni and cheese to the ice cold refreshing water. After all the scores are done, we smell the exhaust of the bus that is ready to take us home.

The concert at the Time Union Center was amazing. The pounding music made everyone happy. You could watch the awesome light show and never know what you were going to see next. It was so great to hear the entire audience sing the songs all night. At the intermission the smell of popcorn brought everyone out to the lobby. I enjoyed cold beverages and the hot dogs tasted really good. The shirt I bought to remember the night had that new shirt smell that I will never forget. When the darkness fell and the show was over, the crowd poured out of the arena. I will never forget the experience.

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Happiness is a well struck softball.

Power is a spinning rifle.

Pain is feeling a flag hit the back of your head.

Sadness is watching your scoop of ice cream fall off the cone.

Excitement is hearing the final bell on the last day of school.

Joy is watching my friend graduate.

Beauty is ten flags flying together in perfect unison.

Fear is taking the field for my first competition.

Love is warm puppy kisses and snuggling with my puppies.

Strength is standing up for what you believe in even if you stand alone.

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“How Purple Was Born”

Once there were two colors that loved each other. Their names were Red Rojo and Blue Azul. They met in junior year of high school and have been now dating for seven years. One night Red took Blue to a fancy restaurant. Halfway through their dinner, Blue’s best friend, Green showed up and wanted to talk to talk to her. They talked about how Green’s boyfriend just broke up with her. After they talked for a little bit Blue went back to Red. Then Red asked the big question “Will you marry me?” Blue started to cry when she was almost done crying she said “YES!” They planned their wedding for March 27th because that’s when both of their parents got married. The months that led up to the wedding were very stressful just like for any couple. After their wedding they went to Paris for their honeymoon, one of the most beautiful places in the world. When they got back they got very good paying jobs to buy a house and to support themselves. After about three years they started to talk about having kids. Then one night while at the doctors Blue found out that that she was pregnant. So they started to plan for a little girl that they were going to have. Nine months later, on July 7th, a new addition was added to their family. They named her Purple. That’s how Purple was born.

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I have a lot of things in my room that mean something special to me. Most important is the picture of my sister, Rylee Nicol. She died right after she was born when I was three years old. Another item is my stuffed dog, Skippy. When my sister died, our neighbors brought him for me to cuddle with and hold so I wouldn’t be scared or sad. I also have the last letter my friend Danielle wrote to me before she moved. She had given it to me in person, now we talk online but it’s not the same. I have the pictures of my dogs that make me feel loved. Two of the pictures are kind of sad to look at. They are of two of my dogs, Taz and Tillie that died. The other pictures make me smile because they are of Navajo (he’s eleven) and my new puppy, Sabre. Other things that mean a lot to me are my softball trophies. I have one for every year starting when I was five! Finally, I have the crystal heart necklace that my guard instructor gave me (along with the rest of the girls) to let us know how special she thinks we are and for the great year we had.

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If I was an animal, I would be a wolf because I love to run and be around other people.

If I was a car, I would be a Lamborghini because I am stylish and awesome.

If I was an article of clothing, I would be a t-shirt because I am very laid back and relaxed.

If I was a day of the week, I would be Saturday because it is the first day you can relax!

If I was a type of food, I would be Mac & Cheese because it’s my favorite and it’s comforting.

If I was a color, I would be light blue because I love the color of the sky when I look up and it’s a calming color.

If I was a movie, I would be “The Lion King” because I’m loyal and I love the story.

If I was a fragrance, I would be vanilla because it’s simple and, who doesn’t like vanilla?

If I was a type of building, I would be a sky scraper because I’m one of the tallest members of my family.

If I was a type of plant, I would be a Lily because there are so many different kinds and colors; you never get bored with them.

If I was a musical instrument, I would be a flute because it sounds so beautiful.

If I was a geometric shape, I would be a diamond because diamonds are strong and unbreakable (and I love diamonds!)

If I was a piece of furniture, I would be a bed because people come to me for comfort and when I think of comfort, I think of my bed.

If I was a song, I would be “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed because if anyone needs me, I’m there with open arms, ready to help them.

If I was a season of the year, I would be summer because I love to be outside.

If I was a television character, I would be Patrick Jane from “The Mentalist” because I love to solve problems.

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If I was a cartoon character, I would be Cat-Dog because I am a one of a kind just like them!

If I was an appliance, I would be an IPod because I am musical and can recall lots of songs and artists.

If I was a natural phenomenon, I would be a typhoon because I always leave my mark and nothing is ever the same after I’ve come through!

If I was a word, it would be “grace” because even under pressure I don’t let anyone see that something is bothering me and I stay composed.

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If I were an animal I would be a wolf. I love to run and wolves spend their whole lives running. The wolf is a very social animal and lives in a family unit called a pack. I think I am very much like this because I am surrounded by my family and have a strong social group of friends. I know that my family and friends will always be there to support me when I need them. I also think that wolves are very loyal and would do anything to protect the pack. I too am very loyal to my friends and I will do anything to protect them and my family. These are just some of the reasons that if I were an animal I would be a wolf.

If I were a song I would be “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed. I am similar to the song because the artist sings about being there for anyone who might need help. Whether someone is a close friend or a stranger, I am willing to help them if they need it without passing judgment. I think this is one of my best qualities. I always welcome everyone I meet with an open mind and am willing to go the extra mile for people if they need it.

If I were a television character I would be Patrick Jane from The Mentalist. I am similar to him because he is very good at solving problems, no matter how difficult or confusing they might be. Mr. Jane works with the police on the show to catch criminals. Although the situations I may face my not involve dangerous criminals, I am also good at finding the answers to difficult problems. Another way that we are similar is that we are both very perceptive and can figure out what other people might be thinking very easily, especially whether or not they may be lying. Just by the way someone is talking or acting shows a lot about what they may really be feeling or thinking. Mr. Jane is very helpful to the police on the show and I am like this because I like to help other people a well.

If I were a natural phenomenon I would be a typhoon. A typhoon is a very powerful storm that leaves its mark wherever it goes. I am like this because wherever I go people will remember that I was there. While the winds of typhoons cause destruction, the mark that I leave is a much more positive one. Even though my parents might say that my bedroom sometimes looks like a typhoon hit it, the real mark that I leave when have been somewhere is different. When I go somewhere people remember how kind and respectful I am. As I get older and move forward with my life I plan to leave my mark where ever I go.

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If I were a word I would be grace. I feel that this is a good word to describe me because I always give the appearance of being calm, cool and collected. Even if something is bothering me or if I am presented with a stressful situation, I stay composed and do not let anyone see it. I think that this works in my favor because I can keep a calm level head at all times. I think I show physical grace during color guard. It takes a lot of concentration to make the moves and throws look beautiful. I am graceful in both my movements on the floor during color guard and my actions as a person. I show grace in not only the way that I behave, but in my actions and attitudes towards others.

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Makenzie Robichaud

½ cup of kindness

2/3 cup caring

1 cup of thoughtfulness

10 oz. confidence

1 pinch of pain in the butt

1 oz. loyalty

¼ teaspoon drive

1 splash of sass

1 gram of grace

Preheat oven to 100 degrees. It needs to not be too hot. In a large bowl, mix together kindness, caring and thoughtfulness until smooth. Add in the loyalty and drive and confidence and let sit. In a separate bowl whip together the pain in the butt and the sass, be careful not to let these ingredients get away from you. Pour into the 1st mixture. While mixing all ingredients together slowly add the grace. This final step should, if done properly, complete the recipe.

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Place in the oven until the temperature is a perfect 98.6 degrees. Do not overcook because the sass will really dominate the final product if it gets too hot.

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Mrs. Fiozzo,

The reason I am late for class today is because I had a color guard competition yesterday and we got back late. The bus trip back from our Norwich competition was a nightmare. First, the bus broke down. This was made even worse because no one had cell service and the bus we were riding in did not have a radio we could use to call for help. Nora, one of our color guard instructors, finally managed to get cell service when she walked four miles to the top of the next hill. She called for help and a mechanic was sent from Mohonasen to fix the bus. It took almost five hours for the bus to be ready to take us back home.

Once we got going, one of the girls in the back of the bus passed out. No one really knows why, but I think it is because of a lack of food and the stress of being stranded for hours in the middle of nowhere. The bus drove two hours to the nearest hospital. We waited in the Emergency Room for her to be seen for another three hours. The doctor checked her out and everything was okay. He just said that she needed to rest. She was not even able to come to school today.

After that, we got back on the road again to make the two and one half hour drive home. We stopped one more time for everyone to eat breakfast because by this time the sun was already up. This went smoothly, but it did take an hour because I tend to be a slow eater. We finally arrived back to the school and I took a quick shower and came right to class. I did not even go home because getting to class was more important. I am sorry I am late, but I could not get to class any sooner.

Sincerely,

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Makenzie Robichaud

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1. I usually worry about my friends and family. I want them to be happy and safe all of the time. I know that I can handle anything that might happen to me, but I don’t want anything to happen to my friends and family.

2. I feel angry when I can’t master a toss for color guard. I take pride in being able to perform all of the tosses I try to do. When I struggle to get one of the tosses right away it makes me a little angry. I take this anger and focus it on practicing harder until I master the skill.

3. I am moody when I don’t get enough sleep. I am just a little grumpy when I don’t get 8-10 hours of sleep a night. You can tell when I don’t get enough sleep because I am not nearly as nice a person as I am when I do get enough sleep.

4. I am happiest when I am at guard. I get to be with my friends for the entire day. I love practicing and performing. I enjoy all of the things I learn. Color guard is a lot of hard work, but it makes me happy to know that it is all worth it when you see the end performance.

5. I feel confident when I study for a test. I have taken tests before without studying enough and it is very hard. I know when I do study long enough that I will do well on the test. I feel much more confident when I have taken enough time to review all of the information for the test rather that just part.

6. I feel frustrated when I can’t solve a math problem. I am normally pretty good at solving the equations, but sometimes no matter what I do I cannot solve the problem. I get very frustrated when I can’t get the answer because I know that there is a solution, but I am not able to figure it out no matter how hard I try.

7. I feel sad when my friends are sad. Whether I am at school or at guard I care about how my friends feel. When my friends are sad I want to do everything in my power to cheer them up.

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8. I am comfortable when I am around my family. I know that I can be myself and not worry about what anyone thinks of me. Even if I am in a bad mood it doesn’t matter. I can be silly if I want as well.

9. I am nervous when I am up to bat during softball. I want to do well and get a hit, but I get nervous that I won’t and I will let my team down. I know that being nervous probably makes a little harder to get a hit, but I still get nervous in this situation.

10. I feel sentimental when it gets close to my sisters birthday. She passed away when she was born and I never got to know her. I was three years old. I think about what it would be like if she were around and it makes me sad. I wonder how my life would be if had her to grow up with.

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This symbol has special meaning to me. It is a symbol that my mom and I came up with to represent me. It is a combination to the astrological sign for Taurus and Virgo. I was born on May eighteenth, which is the sign of Taurus. My sister, Rylee Nicol, passed away when she was born. She was born on August thirty-first, which is the sign of Virgo. I put the two together to show that even though she is not here anymore will always be a part of me. I use this symbol whenever I can. I draw it on things and I even have it engraved on the back of my iPod that I take everywhere. I know it won’t change the fact that Rylee is not here, but it is a little reminder that I do have a sister out there looking over me.

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This is a story my dad tells about an experience he had while growing up out in the country in rural Saratoga County. It really shows how different it can be living in the country than it is living around here where there a lot of houses, cars and people. If I had to give the story a name I would call it “My Monster”.

It was a cool fall day and the sky was overcast. My dad was an adventurous 3-1/2 year old boy doing what he did every day, he was exploring. He had lots of places to explore on his parents 65 acres of land in Stillwater. Even the name of the town makes it sound like it is out in the country. The tree he liked to play by was over the hill from his parent’s house so no one could see him, even though he could see the house and when his mom called for him he could answer he back and she would hear that he was okay.

On this day, my dad was picking apples by himself when he discovered something. He was throwing apples into the woods and against the trees when it happened. Out of the woods wandered a monster. It was so big, and it had horns on the top of its head. It was headed right for the boy. He did not know what to do. He did not know whether to run or to scream, but like he always did, he waited to see what the monster was going to do first. My dad had forgotten about the apple he had picked up to throw, and what probably had attracted the monster in the first place. The monster came closer, so close the boy could feel his breath. Then the monster took the apple, held it in his mouth, and ran away into the woods.

My dad then realized that he was a little bit scared. He ran as fast as he could back to the house. He ran back to my grandma yelling, “My monster, mommy my monster took my apple.” Grandma had an idea of what the monster might be; she got out an encyclopedia, because this was before the invention of the internet, and showed him a picture. It was a picture of an adult male deer. That was the monster and it had eaten the apple right out of my dad’s hand!

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The one day that I would relive if I could would be October 26, 2008. This was the day of the NYS Field Band Championships in Syracuse. This was my first year of Varsity Color Guard and it had already changed my life. I was in 8th grade and part of something big. The day of my first championship is a day I will never forget. I consider it one of the best days of my life. It was my first time ever in the Carrier Dome and everything was so amazing! Our performance was the best of the year and week took first place in New York State, and The Governor’s Cup. We won the State Champions my first year out! It was a day I will never forget. It was the end of a great marching band season. The crowd loved our show as much as the judges did. When I first got out on the field that day I was a little scared, but that goes away and the competitive spirit takes over and you give your best performance. If I stop and think I can still hear the crowd screaming and feel the emotion of that day. The experience of my first year of color guard was amazing and has changed me forever and if I could relive one day from that year it would be the day of Championships. I feel that color guard has changed me forever and this was a great day that I would not want to forget.

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1) Influences: Mom-Kyleen Dad-Steve Lori Marshall Kaylee LeBuis Ashley Zanitto-White Amanda Hess Uncle Ron Krystina DeSousa

2) Where I am Happy Color guardHomeSoftball fieldsAunt Kerri’s houseSchoolMima and Papa’s house

3) Places I’d like to Go Las VegasCornellAustraliaNew ZealandMontrealNiagara Falls

4) What I like in People KindnessFriendlinessIntelligenceSense of humorReliability

5) What I dislike in People Lying cheatingPhoninessFlunkiesNot having ambitionunhappy

6) What I worry About FriendsFamilyColor guardSchoolSoftballDance

7) What I want to Know How to toss a rifleHow to toss a sabreHow to do a hand standHow to do a cartwheelHow to do a splitHow to do a toss-turn-around

8) What moves Me Color guardMusicArtWritingFriendsMy dogs

9) Ideas that intrigue Me Color guardDogsWolvesSchoolDanceSoftball

10) My favorites Color guardSoftballFriendsFamilyChoirEnglish

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Guard Girl knows that it is time to get ready for tomorrows Winter Guard show. She knows to be ready for her show she has to start the night before. First, she has to shower and dry her hair very early because tomorrow will be a very long day and she needs to be in bed as early as possible. Once Guard Girl dries her hair it is time to start the process of curling he long locks. This has to be done the night before because there will not be time the day of the show to get this done. Her mom curls her hair, sometimes using two different kinds of curling irons or a hair straighter. The whole process takes her and her mom about 3 hours. Once it is complete the girl puts a hair net on, so not mess it up overnight and it is off to bed for her to get a few hours sleep.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, the day of the show, Guard Girl gets up around 8 a.m. or earlier, so she can get dressed and go to morning practice. Before she goes, she does the first part of her make-up because there will not be a lot of time later. The girl eats a quick breakfast on her way out the door and it is off to the Middle School for practice.

She gets to practice before everyone else, just like she likes. The girl starts setting up the props and getting out all of the equipment so practice can start on time. Guard Girl and the rest of the guard start warm ups before the guard instructors even get to the practice. Once the coaches are there it is practice for 3-4 hours. The team knows when they are told “one more time” they probably only have 5 or 6 more run through before they are done. They are lucky to get a break during practice. She knows the lunch she has brought won’t be eaten until they are on the bus on the way to the show. The length of practice depends on how long it is going to take the bus to get to the competition. Usually it is a 2 ½ or 3 hour ride to get to the show.

Once practice is over the girl goes with her team mates to touch up her hair and make -up and get everything ready to load the busses. She helps carry all of the equipment and roll all of the props for the show out to the bus. They take two busses to the show, one for all of the passengers and a second bus that carries all of the equipment and props to each competition. Now that the bus is loaded, she has to make one last check to make sure that she and all of her team mates have everything. Guard Girl knows that it would be a complete disaster if anything was left behind. She checks and double checks her bag as well as asking her friends if they are ready and have everything. It is now on to the bus, ten minutes or so she and the team will be off to the show. She eats her lunch and hopes to get a little rest while they travel. Sometimes they rest, but sometimes the nervous energy and anticipation of what comes next makes it hard to sit still. Off to the show, now the fun begins.

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My List of things to do when I’ve Got the Blues

1. Spin Flags.2. Make a list of Disney movies that I own.3. Watch my list of Disney DVD’s from start to finish.4. Try to listen to 1,000 songs on my iPod.5. Toss my rifle 100 times as fast as I can.6. Talk to my friends on facebook for hours.7. Pack away my picture of my sister because it is just too hard to look at when I am down.8. Play with my puppy.9. Try not to get bit by my puppy.10. Sing as loud as I can with the music loud and my door close.11. Draw pictures and create beautiful pictures.12. Play the Wii for as long as I can-Guitar Hero rocks.13. Go for a bike ride.14. Run around the house until I forget while I was down in the first place.15. Make lists of things that make me feel silly.

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I used to be…….. But now I am……

Short TallShy Outspoken

Quiet LoudAfraid FearlessLonely Part of a TeamTimid BoldSlow FastDance Guard

Rug Rats CastleSoftball Coach

Girl Scouts Hang with Friends

What it is to be me!When I was three what was it like to be me?

Quiet, Scared, shy, timid me.

Watching Rugrats or playing softball is what I wanted to do if anything at all.

I was a bit short and I ran kind of slow,

But I was three so what did I know.

Now I am a teen and I know it all.

I am outspoken and fearless and know what I want.

I spin at guard and even coach a team.

I like to hang with my friends and I like to be seen.

I am a lot taller now and could win in a race.

I know I have changed, but I don’t think I’m done.

The best part of my life is still to come.

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This picture is the 2010 Mohonasen Winter Guard. This year’s guard was awesome! It is made up of ten girls from 9th grade to 12th grade. This group practiced and performed together from November 2009-April 2010. I have never been closer to a group of girls than this one. The team had its ups and downs but came through them as a team and was closer because of everything we experienced together.

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If I could fill one medium suitcase to take when I leave home forever, I would have a few things that would have to be included. Here is the list of essentials that I could not exist without and why they would be included:

1. A pair of jeans- it is what I wear most often and I can put anything with them so I can have the one pair that goes with many different outfits.

2. 7 shirts- I need to have one for each day so I am wearing different clothes each day.3. Socks and underwear- enough said.4. 1 light weight sweatshirt- something to keep me warm when it is cool. I plan to move to

a warm climate so a jacket is not necessary.5. A Dressy Outfit- I will need this so I can interview and get a job so I can get an apartment

and support myself. It is very important to make a good first impression.6. Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste- it would be almost impossible to interview and get a job on

my own with bad breath and it does not take up very much space.7. Hair Brush- see #6.8. Cell Phone- this item is essential. It takes care of all my communication needs, my

entertainment needs and my staying in contact with the rest of what is going on in the world.

9. Journal for writing- I want to be able to write down everything that I experience when I leave home.

10. Picture of my mom and dad- I have always had their support in everything I do and carrying a picture of them will remind me that I still have their support and I can do anything I put my mind to.

11) Picture of my sister- even though she is no longer with me, I look to her for inspiration I always feel better when I have her picture to look at.

I think that I will be able to fit all of these items in one suit case and that this would be all I would need to start my new life where ever I was going. I have the basics to get me started and the tools to make it on my own.

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If I were to be given the perfect present I would choose to have the ability to speak to people who have passed away. I believe that this is the perfect gift. It would be a gift that would not only give me insight and intuition into my life but I could speak to people who have experienced life before and they would be able to tell me what and when I am doing something wrong. I would be able to ask history questions to those who lived it, math questions to the people came up with the theory or science questions to the people who made the discoveries themselves. I think that this would help me in school and in life to get a better perspective on my education

Another big reason I would think this is the perfect gift because I would be able to talk to my sister who passed away. I would be able to find out what she would be like and if we would get along. I would be able to tell her how much I miss her and I wished she was with me all of these years. I could get angry at her for leaving me when she was supposed to come home from the hospital. Then we could make up and be friends again like sisters are supposed to do.

If I could have the perfect gift it would be this so I could finally communicate with my baby sister and tell her how much I love and miss her. This is the main reason I would want this give, but the things I listed previously would make it a great give too. This gift would have a huge impact on my life for all of the reasons I have listed above.

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When I was a toddler everyone saw me as a sweet little girl, very polite and respectful, but I was someone who liked to get what she wanted. My mom and dad say that I have always know what I want and would not give up until I got it. This was good in a lot of situations because I would put my mind to something and eventually my hard work would pay off. Whether it was learning to roller blade or learning my ABC’s I wanted to know how to do it so I tried until I was able to do it.

When I interviewed my Dad about me as a toddler he said I was a little stubborn but I tried very hard at everything. He said there were lots and lots of happy memories and stories of me as a toddler. When I was little, my Dad spent a lot of time working nights at his job so he told me that one very happy thing he remembers is sitting with me watching the Sesame Street video “It is Christmas Every day.” I have been told that for about a year and a half this was my favorite video and I did watch it every day, more than once if I could get someone to put it on for me. My Dad says that he loved to watch me sing the songs and be excited when the characters saved Christmas. He even said I would start to get excited before something big was going to happen because I knew it was coming up next.

When interviewing my Dad about this he said that yes the video did get old after just the first 10 or 12 times we saw it together, but he would watch it with me every time because of how happy I was every time I saw it. I guess parents will do just about anything if it makes their children happy, even if that means it has to be Christmas Every Day for almost two years!

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One time when I was around 4 years old, I visited my Mima and Papa at their house in North Carolina. While I was there I had a great time. One day while my Papa working on the lawn using his riding lawnmower. When he was finished I asked him if I could drive the mower. Well, I don’t know what made him think this would be a good idea, but he decided it was, and said yes I could drive. I was so excited. As soon as I got on, the mower took off! I am sure it wasn’t as fast as it seemed, but it was fast. I ran down some of Mima’s flowers and almost ran into a tree. I drove out into the road and just about ran over Papa two times. I had a blast! I could not stop laughing at how much fun it was. I finally figured out how to stop and Papa took me off of the mower. Mima was not very happy with Papa and I was not allowed to ride the lawn mower again without Papa until I was thirteen. Papa and I laugh about this all the time now that I am older.

This is a good example of how good a relationship I have with my Papa. Now that I am fifteen, we have never been closer. My Mima and Papa now live in Pennsylvania but I can talk to Papa when I want to and I sometimes call him on his cell phone. Papa has a certain way that he expects me to behave. He expects me to be respectful and to try my hardest in everything I do. He tells me all of the time how proud of me he is of everything I have accomplished and he comes to my color guard competitions every chance he gets. As I have gotten older my Papa and I have gotten closer and he tells me that in the future he would even teach me how to drive when the time comes. He and I joke around with each other more now than we used to because I understand a lot more now that I am older.

I am looking forward to my future relationship with Papa as I grow older and become an adult. I can’t wait for him to be there when I graduate from High School and College and eventually be there if I ever get married. I want my Papa to be there and go through these experiences with me, just like he has been there for me for my first fifteen years of my life.

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Below is a list of instructions on a good way to get you suspended from 9th Grade at Mohonasen High School:

1. Since he is my Uncle, I have access to some potentially embarrassing stories of Principal Collins. The first step in getting suspended is to get one of these stories.

2. Video tape the story using one of the AV Club cameras.3. Sneak into the High School Office late at night and access the close circuit T.V.

system.4. Play the embarrassing story on a continuous loop throughout the school.5. Make sure I take full credit for getting the story and broadcasting all over the

school by bragging to my friends.6. Continually mock Mr. Collins about the embarrassing story whenever I see him in

the halls.7. Go to the High School Office and wait for Mr. Collins to fairly, but sternly suspend

me from school.

These are just a suggestion and any variation to these instructions may or may not lead to the same results. You may use these seven easy steps or you may be creative and come up with your own method.

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My family use to have a dog named Taz. He was an extraordinary pet. My Mom got him as a Valentine’s Day present from my Dad. Taz was a Brindle colored Pit Bull mix with a white blaze down his chest like someone had splashed paint all over his front. He was about 75 lbs when he was fully grown. When I was born Taz was five months and we were inseparable as we got older.

When I was little Taz took the blame for a lot of mischief he and I got into. He never seemed to mind. Taz was not only my friend, he was a remarkable dog. My Dad often says that if there was a bad behavior that a dog could do, Taz probably did it. He ate socks, rocks, and toys. He chewed things and dug holes. Taz liked to run around the neighborhood and try to get my parents to catch him, but in spite of all of this, when my Mom and Dad starting training him he learned a lot. Taz learned Basic Obedience, Off-leash training, and Agility training. He learned all of these things in three languages. He learned English, German and Sigh Language. Other than the basics I have already covered Taz was so gentle he was a Therapy Dog who used to visit schools and nursing homes to help cheer people up. Taz, believe it or not, was also a Search and Rescue Dog. He was trained to rescue people from the water and he knew how to do tracking, like a blood hound.

With all of the amazing things Taz was able to do the greatest thing he was my friend. He was like a big brother to me. He played with me and protected me from the time he was born to the time he died. He was a big gentle giant that you could do anything to without worrying if Taz was going to get upset. He was my extraordinary pet. Taz died about two years ago and I still miss him very much. I don’t think there will ever be another dog like my Tazer.

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Attributes Faults

Positive StubbornTalented Messy

Smart UnorganizedFocused Too RelaxedCreative NaïveGraceful Strong WilledHelpful Little Too TrustingLoyal

ThoughtfulLikeable

MelodiousTall

Beautiful

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Epilogue

In the preceding pages you have read about my life, me secrets, my likes and dislikes. I am pleased to have provided a glimpse into what makes me who I am. I have experienced a lot of tragedy in my life that I think is evident in my writing. These tragedies have formed my personality and helped make me the person I am today. I have had a tremendous amount of family support. Without this support I would most definitely have become a different person. I have had the pleasure of having my immediate family and a very large extended family around me to experience all of my triumphs and tragedies. I feel like I have already accomplished a lot in my short life and overcome a lot too. I hope the person I am today will form a good foundation for the adult I hope to be. I have goals for my life from here on out and I hope I will never lose who I am when I strive to reach those goals.

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