Essays/stories
St. Thomas More Essay
For me personally, I do believe that my Catholic education is indeed helping me become closer to God and is leading me to show respect and love my neighbor as deep as St. Thomas More did. Through my Catholic education, my eyes have been opened to what I can do and change just by being a loving person and being dedicated to God. I have noticed over the years that I have been learning about my religion, I have become more loving and closer to God than I was before. I notice this every year, and I realize that each year, I become closer and closer to God and the true meaning of being a Catholic. Like St. Thomas More, I believe in deepening my love for my neighbor. I believe especially that education is leading us to a closer relationship with God, from the Scriptures to the Beatitudes, each word we read is making us be closer to God than we already were.
A person in my life who has directed and guided my Catholic education to help me grow closer to God and deeply love my neighbor the way St. Thomas More had done for his children is my grandma. She is an honorable follower of God and I am glad she still sends me things that help me with my Catholic education. She is one of the people who had taught me to be loving and welcoming to others, even if some people have turned against me. She has taught me that although we may have enemies in our lives, we still must forgive them and show love for them, even if they refuse to return our love and continue to dislike us. I have learned that it is okay for them to do that, as long as you don’t do the same to them. It’s not worth your time. I also appreciate the times where she sends me little prayers in the mail that help me to remind myself to be an inspiring example to those who practice my religion and to those who plan to in the future. Many of these prayers feature sayings of love, returning to God, truly loving your neighbor, and to be faithful. Some of these prayers have pulled me through some of the rough spots of Catholic education, and for those I am grateful, as my grandma and the little things she does to help me become closer to God and excel in my Catholic education has made me see what I can do to be a true believer in God and to be a close companion to those who need one.
A person in my life who has directed and guided my Catholic education to help me grow closer to God and deeply love my neighbor the way St. Thomas More had done for his children is my grandma. She is an honorable follower of God and I am glad she still sends me things that help me with my Catholic education. She is one of the people who had taught me to be loving and welcoming to others, even if some people have turned against me. She has taught me that although we may have enemies in our lives, we still must forgive them and show love for them, even if they refuse to return our love and continue to dislike us. I have learned that it is okay for them to do that, as long as you don’t do the same to them. It’s not worth your time. I also appreciate the times where she sends me little prayers in the mail that help me to remind myself to be an inspiring example to those who practice my religion and to those who plan to in the future. Many of these prayers feature sayings of love, returning to God, truly loving your neighbor, and to be faithful. Some of these prayers have pulled me through some of the rough spots of Catholic education, and for those I am grateful, as my grandma and the little things she does to help me become closer to God and excel in my Catholic education has made me see what I can do to be a true believer in God and to be a close companion to those who need one.
"The Death Cure" By James Dashner summary
The book I am doing my reading summary on is The Death Cure by James Dashner. I had already finished the book a few weeks ago. This book is the final addition to The Maze Runner trilogy, starting in a facility run by a group named W.I.C.K.E.D (World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department) that is set on the idea of putting highly intelligent test subjects, such as the main character Thomas, through two trials in order to study their brain patterns to develop a cure for a detrimental disease known as the Flare. The Flare has wiped out most of humanity, but a couple thousand people survived. In The Death Cure, Thomas and his friends, the Gladers, have escaped the Glade (Trial 1) and the Scorch (Trial 2), but have ended up finding out that W.I.C.K.E.D has been manipulating them with chips that have been implanted in their brains when they were young. Thomas is outraged by this, so he breaks out and tries to find an alliance called The Right Arm whose main goal is to destroy W.I.C.K.E.D for their manipulations and unjustness towards test subjects. The setting changes from the W.I.C.K.E.D facility and mainly revolves around Denver, which has now turned into the last safe haven from the Flare and those infected by it.
The story kept me intrigued and wanting to read it forever because of its detailed scenes and images that it leaves in your head. The descriptions paint a picture of what is going on in the story at the time, giving you a colorful visual that either excites or terrifies you. An example of this is when Thomas is isolated in a lone room that is brightly white, similar to the room of Loki in the movie The Avengers when he was captured and held in a room of few possessions. It describes the lonely atmosphere and the urge Thomas has to break free of the room, but is too weak to be capable to do so. Dashner also includes a load of details about each character’s features and actions. For example, Thomas was escaping the facility whilst dodging electrical stun grenades from Launchers (weapons made by W.I.C.K.E.D). Dashner explains in great detail how Thomas avoids every grenade, as well as every thought he has and every decision he quickly decides while trying to desperately escape. It made the scene more action-packed than the usual action book would. The plot moves at an understandable speed, meaning that it’s not too fast that you don’t think, “Wait, when did they talk about that?!” while reading but also not too slow so it doesn’t seem like the author is just droning on and on and adding unneeded and uninteresting details. Dashner’s tone has a sense of urgency but also a need for trust, as displayed when Thomas is rushing to save as many of the Gladers as he can from the facility with the shaky help from a supposed ‘former’ W.I.C.K.E.D employee who is the only one that Thomas believes he can trust to help him save his friends.
I learned that life contains so many possibilities, but is constantly providing the possibility of revolution and betrayal because of this book. The characters that made me realize that were Thomas and a fellow Glader, Teresa. Thomas has the fire to start a revolt against W.I.C.K.E.D through the whole book, while Teresa was acting like an accomplice of Thomas until she got what she wanted: the truth about her past. After that, she betrays him but under the influence of W.I.C.K.E.D’s manipulation. The theme of the book is that you should find out the truth first before carrying out an act based on the so-called ‘facts’ you were told. The lesson Thomas learned after the main encounter he went through was exactly that. He was fueled on what he was told was the truth, but it turned to be a factor in the manipulation game he was unfortunately pulled in to. I can apply this by making sure I get proof about a statement I’ve heard before I start taking sides. This may help me save myself from being weakened by lies and from being manipulated by those who I may call friends now, as they could turn on me at anytime and start fake accusations, as well as lie about who they were. (But that’s just a possibility. I hope it never happens!)
The story kept me intrigued and wanting to read it forever because of its detailed scenes and images that it leaves in your head. The descriptions paint a picture of what is going on in the story at the time, giving you a colorful visual that either excites or terrifies you. An example of this is when Thomas is isolated in a lone room that is brightly white, similar to the room of Loki in the movie The Avengers when he was captured and held in a room of few possessions. It describes the lonely atmosphere and the urge Thomas has to break free of the room, but is too weak to be capable to do so. Dashner also includes a load of details about each character’s features and actions. For example, Thomas was escaping the facility whilst dodging electrical stun grenades from Launchers (weapons made by W.I.C.K.E.D). Dashner explains in great detail how Thomas avoids every grenade, as well as every thought he has and every decision he quickly decides while trying to desperately escape. It made the scene more action-packed than the usual action book would. The plot moves at an understandable speed, meaning that it’s not too fast that you don’t think, “Wait, when did they talk about that?!” while reading but also not too slow so it doesn’t seem like the author is just droning on and on and adding unneeded and uninteresting details. Dashner’s tone has a sense of urgency but also a need for trust, as displayed when Thomas is rushing to save as many of the Gladers as he can from the facility with the shaky help from a supposed ‘former’ W.I.C.K.E.D employee who is the only one that Thomas believes he can trust to help him save his friends.
I learned that life contains so many possibilities, but is constantly providing the possibility of revolution and betrayal because of this book. The characters that made me realize that were Thomas and a fellow Glader, Teresa. Thomas has the fire to start a revolt against W.I.C.K.E.D through the whole book, while Teresa was acting like an accomplice of Thomas until she got what she wanted: the truth about her past. After that, she betrays him but under the influence of W.I.C.K.E.D’s manipulation. The theme of the book is that you should find out the truth first before carrying out an act based on the so-called ‘facts’ you were told. The lesson Thomas learned after the main encounter he went through was exactly that. He was fueled on what he was told was the truth, but it turned to be a factor in the manipulation game he was unfortunately pulled in to. I can apply this by making sure I get proof about a statement I’ve heard before I start taking sides. This may help me save myself from being weakened by lies and from being manipulated by those who I may call friends now, as they could turn on me at anytime and start fake accusations, as well as lie about who they were. (But that’s just a possibility. I hope it never happens!)
"Maid For Escape" story
Maid for Escape
What would happen if your boss was your worst enemy in school? I bet none of you could answer accurately. Unlike me, the girl who acts all rich while behind the scenes, I’m poor. My name is Ayuni and I love to party, acting all cool around the lockers, walking down the hall like it’s my own personal runway. But outside of school, everything is downhill for me; while people do their homework or study in the library, I work in the big mansion of the most annoying boy in Cherry Hill High: Liam Johnson. I never get to have fun at all. It’s always the same routine every day, probably for the rest my life if my plan doesn’t work. Wash the dishes, cook the steak, fix the beds, dust the shelves, get ready for school. My only best friend was a mop. A mop. Do you know how lonely that makes you? If you didn’t notice, it makes you the loneliest person ever! Yet again, it’s going to be another birthday that’s not as important than the new shoes at Target. But this year, I’m going to make it count.
While everyone was asleep, I was wide awake. I was going to either make it out of this house or get slapped by the mistress. I planned everything I needed: food, clothes, money. Good thing Liam’s family is richer than anyone in Merry Vale. I crept across the floor like a mouse, peeking into the bedrooms just to make sure no one saw me. I stealthily crept into Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s room. How stupid they were to leave their wallets on the nightstand! I took both of their wallets, threw out their I.D.s, credit cards, basically anything that had their name plastered on it. All that was left was dollars of every amount, a coupon for Mister Chang’s Wild Chicken Bonanza Cafe, and a ticket to freedom: a 9 o’clock train to Snowville. Finally, I’m going to leave this death hole of a place! I grabbed Mrs. Johnson’s big backpack. I was lucky it was my taste. After grabbing some food from the luxurious refrigerator (I never actually got a proper meal myself), I grabbed the labeling machine and typed: “Maid for Escape”. The label printed out immediately. I stuck it onto the front of the backpack. The sentence was my motto now, since I’m a soon to be free maid and I was made to escape this trap in a beautiful palace. I left a note on everyone’s door, each with the same witty message: I was maid for escape.
Taking a look back at the house, I lifted my head and looked at the staircase, kitchen and living room. I’m finally free. I opened the door and checked to see if the gate was open. I picked up Mr. Johnson’s car keys, unlocked the car, and was ready to make a break for it. Right before I left, I shouted loud and clear, “I’M FINALLY FREE FROM YOUR HANDS!” Shouting made me feel so much better. I left the door open to slam with a huge crash, which it did. Using my long legs to an advantage, I ran like lightning towards the car. I heard lights in the house switch on and felt my heart beating like a loud drum. I started up the car, and pressed on the pedal. The last thing I heard was, “You’ll come back, wretched maid!” As soon as I was on the freeway, I heard the bell of a church not too far away. It was 12 o’clock, and I was 16 and free.
What would happen if your boss was your worst enemy in school? I bet none of you could answer accurately. Unlike me, the girl who acts all rich while behind the scenes, I’m poor. My name is Ayuni and I love to party, acting all cool around the lockers, walking down the hall like it’s my own personal runway. But outside of school, everything is downhill for me; while people do their homework or study in the library, I work in the big mansion of the most annoying boy in Cherry Hill High: Liam Johnson. I never get to have fun at all. It’s always the same routine every day, probably for the rest my life if my plan doesn’t work. Wash the dishes, cook the steak, fix the beds, dust the shelves, get ready for school. My only best friend was a mop. A mop. Do you know how lonely that makes you? If you didn’t notice, it makes you the loneliest person ever! Yet again, it’s going to be another birthday that’s not as important than the new shoes at Target. But this year, I’m going to make it count.
While everyone was asleep, I was wide awake. I was going to either make it out of this house or get slapped by the mistress. I planned everything I needed: food, clothes, money. Good thing Liam’s family is richer than anyone in Merry Vale. I crept across the floor like a mouse, peeking into the bedrooms just to make sure no one saw me. I stealthily crept into Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s room. How stupid they were to leave their wallets on the nightstand! I took both of their wallets, threw out their I.D.s, credit cards, basically anything that had their name plastered on it. All that was left was dollars of every amount, a coupon for Mister Chang’s Wild Chicken Bonanza Cafe, and a ticket to freedom: a 9 o’clock train to Snowville. Finally, I’m going to leave this death hole of a place! I grabbed Mrs. Johnson’s big backpack. I was lucky it was my taste. After grabbing some food from the luxurious refrigerator (I never actually got a proper meal myself), I grabbed the labeling machine and typed: “Maid for Escape”. The label printed out immediately. I stuck it onto the front of the backpack. The sentence was my motto now, since I’m a soon to be free maid and I was made to escape this trap in a beautiful palace. I left a note on everyone’s door, each with the same witty message: I was maid for escape.
Taking a look back at the house, I lifted my head and looked at the staircase, kitchen and living room. I’m finally free. I opened the door and checked to see if the gate was open. I picked up Mr. Johnson’s car keys, unlocked the car, and was ready to make a break for it. Right before I left, I shouted loud and clear, “I’M FINALLY FREE FROM YOUR HANDS!” Shouting made me feel so much better. I left the door open to slam with a huge crash, which it did. Using my long legs to an advantage, I ran like lightning towards the car. I heard lights in the house switch on and felt my heart beating like a loud drum. I started up the car, and pressed on the pedal. The last thing I heard was, “You’ll come back, wretched maid!” As soon as I was on the freeway, I heard the bell of a church not too far away. It was 12 o’clock, and I was 16 and free.