After careful revision of my first draft I realized that I had too many details in my introductory paragraph—they sounded better in a paragraph on their own. I also eliminated the deadwood from my first draft. Finally I fixed some spelling errors and decided the second draft was perfect. 

Ernest Hemmingway and A Farewell to Arms 

            Ernest Hemmingway was born in 1899 in the town of Chicago, to a musician and a doctor. He grew up attending the neighborhood high school where he picked up the love of boxing. His boxing passion didn’t last long though. He soon became infatuated with writing.

             àHis high school newspaper, “The Tapula” publicized many of his early writings. After high school, Hemingway moved to Kansas where he became a reporter for the local newspaper, “The Kansas Star”. Shortly after, he and his friend headed off to Italy to join in the war. This life changing experience became the basis for his novel, A Farewell to Arms (AFTA). ß

            While in Italy, Hemmingway drove ambulances on the front, just as Henry does in AFTA. On the front, Hemmingway was brutally injured by a shell that exploded just feet in front of him. Despite his injured leg, Hemmingway picked up his fellow solider and carried him to the nearest dug-out, shelter. This act of bravery earned him two medals in the Italian army. In AFTA, Henry endures this exact same experience.

             Due to his injury, Hemmingway was transported to the hospital where he met and fell in love with an American nurse. During his stay there, she visited him often and they would occasionally take trips together and sometimes even venture off to the races. When Henry, in AFTA, is in the hospital he meets Catherine and the two form a relationship. Eventually Henry learns that Catherine is expecting a child which he is the father of. Henry, however, must return to the front once his leg is healed—this will be the test of his and Catherine’s relationship. Hemmingway left Italy, unlike Henry, and returned to the states where he received a terrifying letter from Agnes which told how she had fallen in love with an Italian officer—she and Hemmingway’s relationship was over. 

            From my personal viewpoint, based on where I am in the novel, I believe that Hemmingway wrote AFTA based on his personal experience in Italy and how he hoped it would end. I believe he wanted to be with Agnes and the two would start a life together. He based this hope for a new life with his first love in his novel through Henry and Catherine. Catherine is expecting a child and claims to love Henry and to always be with him. I believe this is how Hemingway wanted his relationship with Agnes to end up, but sadly it didn’t.             Through this knowledge that I have gained from watching the biography on Hemmingway I now believe there is a different ending to AFTA. An ending closer to what really happened between Hemmingway and Agnes is what I now expect. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

Ernest Hemmingway and A Farewell to Arms 

            Ernest Hemmingway was born in 1899 in the town of Chicago, to a musician and a doctor. He grew up attending the neighborhood high school where he picked up the love of boxing. The school newspaper, “The Tapula” publicized many of his early writings. After high school, Hemingway moved to Kansas where he became a reporter for the local newspaper, “The Kansas Star”. Shortly after, he and his friend headed off to Italy to join in the war. This life changing experience became the basis for his novel, A Farewell to Arms (AFTA).

             While in Italy, Hemmingway drove ambulances on the front, just as Henry does in AFTA. On the front, Hemmingway was brutally injured by a shell that exploded just feet in front of him. Despite his injured leg, Hemmingway picked up his fellow solider and carried him to the nearest dug-out, shelter. This act of bravery earned him two medals in the Italian army. In AFTA, Henry endures this exact same experience.

             Due to his injury, Hemmingway was transported to the hospital where he met and fell in love with an American nurse. During his stay there, she visited him often and they would occasionally take trips together and sometimes even venture off to the races. When Henry, in AFTA, is in the hospital he meets Catherine and the two form a relationship. Eventually Henry learns that Catherine is expecting a child which he is the father of. Henry, however, must return to the front once his leg is healed—this will be the test of his and Catherine’s relationship. Hemmingway left Italy, unlike Henry, and returned to the states where he received a terrifying letter from Agnes which told how she had fallen in love with an Italian officer—she and Hemmingway’s relationship was over. 

            From my personal viewpoint, based on where I am in the novel, I believe that Hemmingway wrote AFTA based on his personal experience in Italy and how he hoped it would end. I believe he wanted to be with Agnes and the two would start a life together. He based this hope for a new life with his first love in his novel through Henry and Catherine. Catherine is expecting a child and claims to love Henry and to always be with him. I believe this is how Hemingway wanted his relationship with Agnes to end up, but sadly it didn’t.            

           Through this knowledge that I have gained from watching the biography on Hemmingway I now believe there is a different ending to AFTA. An ending closer to what really happened between Hemmingway and Agnes is what I now expect. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

Personification

 The idea behind this journal entry was to personify—or give human qualities to—a non-human object. I chose words since a lot of times words tend to act like humans and have an everlasting impact on people.  

11-09-07    

     The words on the paper reached out to grab me. They pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. They called to my eyes and focused my attention on them. As I followed these words across the page, they sparkled in my imagination. “Love, hate, fly, live, green, jump!” they shouted. The story unfolded before my eyes and the words kept a steady grasp on my attention. I read, and read, and read, until suddenly the words grew silent. The story was over; the words were dead.

This journal entry was an experiment to try write to down simply what we were thinking about in our minds. We had to depict what we were imagining by writing a description in our journal. This journal was appealing to me because I was able to express myself freely without descrimination from others. I could use my imagination and release my emotions.

Journal 11-7-07         

     I’m leaving school, walking outside without a care in the world about my grades. I am free to do as I please and be myself. No punishment from my parents on my bad test grades. Who really cares? It’s just a number. Life is like a blank page in front of me. I can choose what I want to make of myself; perhaps a kindergarten teacher. It’s always been a dream. I’m going to go to college and be successful; my grades in high school aren’t going to weigh me down. So I’m not the smartest kid in school. So I don’t always make A’s. I’m not perfect. Perfection is boring. I have my talents and my faults, but I am me, simple and free to be who I want to be. Life is waiting and I’m going to make the best of it. I learned from a wise friend of mine to live every day to the fullest. That is my only goal.

“Learn from yesterday.

Live for today.

Hope for tomorow.”

-Anonymous

  My Declaration

Sept. 21^st 2007 

     When, in course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of students to assume among the people of the school, a position different from that which they have occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and the laws of God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of their peers and the authority, which requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

     We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all students are created equal; that they are endowed by creator, respected by their authority, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the freedom of no homework, tests, or quizzes; that to secure these rights, student governments are instituted, deriving their powers from the consent of the student body.

     Having deprived students from sleep, the teachers, thereby leaving us with more work than time in the day, have oppressed us in all classes.

     And for the support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our homework, and our sacred grades. 

Signed,

Sara K Cranford

A Quiet Sunset

 This journal entry was our practice of visual and auditory imagery.Close your eyes and imagine what is going on inside your head. No one else is around you; you mind is open—let your imagination soar.

         The waves rolled on to the silky smooth sand of the Emerald Isle beach. She could hear children’s footsteps in the distance, as they splashed through the water. Giggles seemed contagious as the children ran by her; then slowly they faded away. She sat down with her feet barely touching the water and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet ocean mist. All was quiet. Not a voice could be heard. In the stillness of it all she heard two feet tip-toeing towards her, as though they were trying not to crunch the shells that blanketed over the sand. Then they stopped. Her boyfriend sat down beside her and the two watched the pink sun fall behind the ocean and the scent of night approaching filled the air.

                      Light Shines Down on the Disease That Kills           

          Sparkling streams of transparent thread flow back and forth from leaf to leaf glowing in the sunlight and in the middle lays a black and yellow body with eight legs extending across the radiant lattice. Next to it, a twisted ball tangled in the web is shaking violently, trying to break free. The quivering ball began to calm. Slowly the shaking became a subtle twitch. The black and yellow creature crept forward, drawing itself closer and closer to the shimmering object. Suddenly it threw itself on top of the frightened mass and injected it with venom causing it to stop moving and lay helplessly, floating with the streams of thread in the wind. As I watched I became fascinated, fascinated with how this bizarre experience reminded me of a friend stricken with disease that gradually sucked away his life.  

         It was the fall of 2007. It has been a year since my friend was diagnosed with leukemia. The moment his family received the terrifying news their lives changed forever. After the first months of chemo and multiple surgeries, they thought the cancer was gone, but it wasn’t. One morning he woke up with no sight in one eye; it was a sudden nightmare coming to life. His mom rushed him to the hospital where they admitted him and ran several tests. After days of testing and hours of waiting, they received news that no one ever expected to hear. His leukemia had returned.  His second fight for life was about to begin and “whoever said winning isn’t everything, never had to fight cancer.” Each day was a struggle, doctor’s visits, riding back and forth to Chapel Hill, and the strenuous side effects of the chemo, but if there was any kid out there that would take this challenge with a smile it was Michael. Even in his darkest, most painful hours he had that contagious grin on his face. It was the biggest, wide-eyed smile you could ever imagine and you couldn’t help but look at him and smile back. There wasn’t a person out there that knew him and didn’t like him.           As I sat on my porch, thinking about Michael, I watched the black creature crawl about in the luminous streams. I closed my eyes attempting to soak in the warm sunlight but a tiny, irritating mosquito began to fly around me. It was an annoying little thing, buzzing in my ear, trying to get a taste of my skin. I waved my hand back and forth trying to kill it or simply strike it away from me. I watched it fly towards the transparent maze, and then it stopped. It became the spider’s next victim, tangled in the sticky strings between the leaves.  This time I moved closer, hoping to get a better look at the spider and its vicious attack.  It wrapped the mosquito with its shiny strings, as if it were trying to suffocate it. I couldn’t understand why it would want to harm such a little innocent creature, but then it hit me that I tried to do the same. All along I thought this spider was a bully, harming blameless creatures, but it was simply trying to help me. Amazed at what I had realized, I stepped back and stared into my back yard. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air. Enormous pine trees covered with sap were scattered about.  Birds, perched on their branches, sang sweet songs as if they were trying to comfort me, and even a fuzzy squirrel sat in awe of the gorgeous surroundings. I thought to myself, “How could I ever have thought so horribly of the spider? I wonder what other little things I have simply overlooked. How beautiful our yard looks, so full of life and color.” It’s amazing how one little creature can change your perspective of life itself.  Life is a beautiful thing that should never be taken for granted. There are a few that we might think are unlucky, like Michael and the mosquito, to have a life stricken with disease and suffering, but they are truly the lucky ones. They appreciate each day that God gives them on this earth and smile knowing that life itself is a blessing.  

        I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and pondered on life’s little blessings. As I opened my eyes and looked up into the pure blue sky, I couldn’t help but wonder what Michael might be doing. Then, as the sun cast down its vibrant rays upon my face, warming my heart, I began to laugh because I knew exactly what Michael was doing. He was sitting there cracking jokes with God and smiling down on us, because he could see that he touched the life of every person he met.  

“I remember the last time I saw you.
You held your head up proud.
I laughed inside when I saw how you wereStanding out in the crowd.

When I tried to make sense of it in my mind,

The only conclusion that I could come to,Is heaven was needing a hero,

Like you.” 

 –Jo Dee Messina

A Terrifying Knock at the Door: How Does Death Affect Teenagers?

            Loosing a close friend or loved one is one of the most difficult obstacles we cross in our journey through life.  Death comes knocking on our friend’s door and so unexpectedly takes their life away.  When this tragic event occurs, teenagers seem to be the ones hit the hardest.  Coping with the loss of a friend can often change our lives forever.  Positive life lessons are learned and we move on to become better people.  However, it does not always work quickly like that, and there isn’t always a positive outcome.  Teens often blame themselves, “if I had only known, I would have…”, and sometimes they are confronted with the thought of suicide.  The funeral and viewing play a large roll in this struggle to cope with loss.  Seeing that body, lying motionless, lifeless, can bring pain and sorrow to the survivors.  Saying good-bye for the last time is often the hardest step in letting go.  Death knocks at the door of a loved one and in a moment teenagers lives are forever changed.  The loss of a loved one affects teenagers drastically, both physically and mentally and each of us is affected differently. “Just as people feel grief in many different ways, they handle it differently, too. Some people reach out for support from others and find comfort in good memories. Others become very busy to take their minds off the loss.  Some people become depressed and withdraw from their peers or go out of the way to avoid the places or situations that remind them of the person who has died.”  – Lyness Coping with the loss of a loved one or close friend is a difficult, slow and painful process.  We were so used to life with them, and now we must adjust to life without them.  Who to turn to is one of the most important aspects of coping with death.  When surveyed, the majority of teenagers responded that they turn to their parents and close friends for comfort.  Talking about death can be difficult to handle, but it is easier on teenagers if they know the person they are talking to can relate and understand.  They need to confide in them in their quest for comfort.  Close friends are often most helpful due to many factors.  First of all, it’s easier to deal with something so tragic when someone else is too.  Age also makes a difference in the choice of who to turn to.  Teenagers tend to feel more comfortable discussing the issue with someone their own age rather than an adult.  Adults have a higher experience level with grief and death, which makes it more difficult for them to relate to someone who isn’t as familiar with the issue.  Teenagers are more likely to turn to close friends who can relate to their grief on the same level. Marin E. Marty, a divinity scholar at the University of Chicago said, “Loss is so terrible, whatever instrument people choose that is good for them, I will start by applauding.”  The most common method of coping with grief among teenagers is bringing to mind all the good memories and talking about them.  Keeping your feelings bottled up can be harmful and bring out negative effects.  Talking about the deceased can bring relief and help to speed up the grieving process.  Prayer is another route that many teenagers chose when searching for comfort in the loss of a friend or loved one.  Whether it’s for help, guidance, thanksgiving, comfort or forgiveness, forty percent of teenagers make the daily choice to pray.  When a loved one has passed away, this number increases rapidly.  In times of desperate need, even teenagers that don’t pray on a daily or regular basis find themselves turning to God for help. When a loved one passes on, positive life lessons are often obtained.  When surveyed teenagers responded that they learned, “laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.  Take chances, give everything, and have no regrets.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.”  Letting go of a loved one can be difficult but searching for the good in something can bring relief.  Through experiencing this type of loss, we learn not to take anything for granted.  Nothing, not even tomorrow, is promised.  We must live each day to its fullest.  We often grow stronger and wiser through the negative downsides of life.  When teenagers experience loss they tend to help one another find comfort.  Sometimes, when comforting others, we find strength in ourselves.  Strength we never knew we had.  We are able to push back the hard, painful part, and help someone else pull through. This strength is another positive effect that we obtain through the loss of a loved one.  In some cases teenagers believe that the strength which the find inside them is from the loved one who has passed.  We feel like they are pushing us to see the good in life and not be sad because they are gone.  They are in a better place so we should be happy for them. There isn’t always a happy ending to everything in life though.  Some teenagers choose to blame themselves for the death of a friend or relative.  They feel like they could have made that life changing difference.  “If I had only been there…”, “If I had only known…I would have” are thoughts that teenagers procure when trying to solve the unanswerable question of “why them”?  Teenagers may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them forget about their troubles, or take the edge off the pain.  This mistake can often lead to life changing events for the worse such as: trouble with the police, loss or friends, and causing family problems.  This type of “coping” will only lead to more trouble.  Some teenagers even have thoughts of suicide or self inflicted injuries due to this drastic loss.  When it is a close family member that passes away, blaming one’s self is usually the first instinct; however, with much thought and contemplation teenagers soon come to realize there was nothing they could do.The question of whether seeing the body in an open casket is good for the survivors is one that will remain forever.  When a person dies, their appearance often changes dramatically-sometimes to the point where they are unrecognizable.  This can be difficult to bear for the family and friends that remain.  Some families choose to keep the casket closed and this brings controversy with the survivors.  They believe this is a time for us to say our goodbyes and seeing the estranged body shouldn’t distract us from knowing the person is in a better place.When a loved one has died, the funeral often seems to be the most difficult part.  It is the last time we will see the body of the person we once knew and loved; it’s truly time to say goodbye.  The funeral, however, can give a feeling of relief to the ones left behind.  When surveyed, teenagers responded that being at the funeral made them realize that their loved one was in a better place; they were no longer suffering.  A funeral is a way for us to confront death and release our emotions.  In relation to the letting go process Thomas Lynch says, “Right between the inhale and the exhale of the bone-wracking sob such hurts to produce, some frightened and well-meaning ignoramus is bound to give out with: ‘It’s okay, that’s not her, it’s just a shell.’”  This acknowledgement of the body, which we see lying motionless in the casket as a shell, not the real person, lets out a feeling of relief.  It comforts us and confirms our belief that our loved one is now at peace. Burying the dead is often a comfort factor of laying the soul to rest.  This ceremony brings ease to those left behind.  Teenagers responded that witnessing this ritual was difficult, yet soothing; because, they knew their friend was at now ease.  Martin Marty also states, “To me, the worst pastors in the world are those who know why bad things happen or believe words can compensate for a life.”  Words said at a burial, as we say goodbye to our love one, can never make up for the loss, which we suffer.  They comfort us and bring relief, but they can never fully reimburse a life.

MortalityNumber of deaths for adolescents 15-19 years of age: 13,812Deaths per 100,000 population for adolescents 15-19 years of age: 67.8Number of deaths for leading causes of deaths among adolescents 15-19 years of age:Accidents (unintentional injuries): 7,137Homicide: 1,892Suicide: 1,513 

 It takes time to adjust to our loved ones not being with us all the time.  Recently a student at our school that battled cancer for two years passes away.  Everyone who knew him was touched by his short life.  He inspired more people than he will ever know.  I interviewed his closest friends and they told me, if there was one thing they learned from Michael, it was to always be happy.  You should never go to sleep feeling remorse for something you have done.  Life is too short to have regrets.  Always apologize.  Be the better person.  Treat people how you want them to treat you; because, you never know when that knock will be heard at the door.  When a life is taken away, teenagers are forced to deal with the unfortunate matter.  It is then that we realize friends and family are the most important part of a teenager’s life.  Make smart choices when you have to deal with something so unfortunate.  Coping can be difficult, but your true friends and family will be there for you when you need them the most.  Dance, sing, write, run, pray, do whatever it takes to gain happiness and know that life is a gift-make yours worth it.