Another Life of Me

Author's Note: In this piece, I have analyzed the cause and effects of an event that has happened in my life. Please look for the voice in my writing. I hope that you also think back to a time in your life that has been a gift, and has changed you for who you are!

Each event in our lives happen for a reason; because of one cause we have may effects that come out of it. They are all permanently written in our story, some of them are highlights in our lives, while others are ones that we wish could be erased. In my book one event has changed my life drastically, and that is when I moved to Pewaukee, WI. It all started, when my dad got a job transfer when we lived in India. I didn’t know much because of the fact that I was only two years old. I obviously couldn’t say anything about it, and so I went with the flow. Without that one flight to the US, my life would’ve been so different. I look back into the past, and think what if we didn’t move here. What would’ve happened to me? This one event in my life, changed everything that was going to happen in the near future.

After moving to the US, we first went to West Virginia. My mom, my brother, and I stayed there for a year while my dad came to Waukesha. Later, we moved to Pewaukee with him. Each event that happened, had so many effects to it. Because of my move to Pewaukee, I had a privilege of meeting so many great people. I have made so many friends here ! Each day turns out to be better than the last. Without that move, I wouldn’t have this life I stand in. I wouldn’t have these friends, the vacations, I wouldn’t have any of this. Those few words, “We are moving to Pewaukee!” have my life to its absolute best!

If I didn’t move to Pewaukee, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. I would’ve lived the lifestyle of a little Indian girl. I still do today, but in a different way. Each time I go and visit, I wonder, “This could’ve been me.” Living here has been a gift, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Those few words, that one flight, basically that one day, has changed me for who I am. Would I have been different if I lived in India. Would I have ever had the chance to travel the world? I don’t know, but there is something that I do, I have an amazing life. I should be happy with what I have and never be upset with what I don’t. I would’ve been a different Kavitha, if it weren’t for my dad’s job transfer. So thank you, living in Pewaukee is a gift that I shall never forget, no matter what I do and where I go. 

The End of Harry Potter

Author’s Note: In the Reading Lab we learned about conflicts and resolutions in a novel. To show my knowledge on this topic, I chose to analyze the conflict and its resolution in the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Harry Potter, is a boy who was born to two wizards. He has gone through a long journey of six wonderful years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but each year is chances of living are getting smaller by the second. With his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, the three of them battle Lord Voldemort, the evil wizard, and his deathly followers. When Harry was young, Voldemort murdered Harry’s parents and disappeared after his attempt to kill Harry as a baby. At his last year at Hogwarts Harry finds to know that there is a way to kill and defeat Lord Voldemort, to find and destroy all six Horcruxes, which are well hidden and defended by the Lord himself. Harry must find these Horcruxes, that Lord Voldemort created for him to live forever, without him knowing and kill the Lord before time runs out.

Throughout the book, Harry finds these six Horcruxes, the Sword of Gryffindor, the Slytherin locket, the Hufflepuff cup, Marvolo’s ring, Ravenclaw’s diadem, Tom Riddle’s diary, and Nagini. To kill Voldemort, Harry must destroy these objects that Voldemort created. After finding and extinguishing the six Horcruxes, Harry thinks that he has destroyed all of them. But there is a seventh one, Harry himself. In order to kill Voldemort Harry must die, and so he does, but at the end he was not dead, he wakes up and kills Lord Voldemort. There are so many details that are put into this book in order for people to understand all of these different objects that were made for this series. The life of Harry Potter, is different and hard to understand, but it is also very interesting. Harry Potter, is a wizard of full potential is known to all of the world. His story is told from one generation to the other, and each time it is told, it never gets old. 

Past's Present

Author’s Note: This piece I have wrote is a personal narrative. Unlike others, I’ve reflected upon a past event. In my writing, look for the use of similes and metaphors, also look for the voice in this piece. I hope that you are taken back into the future, and recognize the importance of certain aspects in our lives.

"Attention all passengers, there has been a little mishap on the runway. A tire has burst and the arrival at General Mitchell Airport will be delayed for a few moments. I will keep you up to date with more information about what's happening down on the tarmac. Thank you so much for your cooperation."

As I heard the announcement from the pilot over the loudspeakers, so many thoughts were going on in my mind: When will we get there? How long does it take to clean up a burst tire? What happened to the other airplane? I sat there alongside my brother, waiting until the flight safely landed. As every announcement came through the air ducts, it would only bring more fear in myself. You could see the anxiety in my eyes; they panicked as if the world was about to end that second.  At the time, I hid my fear by laughing and joking about it. But, little did I know at that minute was that the few moments, were to become hours. Saturday, August 11 was sure to be engraved in my mind, not for the reason of it being memorable, but for the lessons that would present themselves in this what seemed to be a grim situation.

In life events occur for a reason, you might not know why then, but it will make sense in the future. From each chapter of our story, there is a lesson to be learned. Everything doesn’t come easy for us. When we do struggle, it’s our job to hope for the best. As I sat in that aircraft, there might’ve been bad thoughts in my mind, but there was that little piece of hope, that made me get through it. More than fright, there was faith. I sat there hoping we’d be alright, there was nothing else I could do. I believed that my family and I would be able to get out of this plane, and so what I thought came to life. Our hopes are just dreams, but ones that wake in front of us. No matter where you are, even in the darkest most times, hope is there to shine like a rising sun and lead our way into the next day.  

Hope was something everybody learns about, but to experience it is a whole other world. Nowadays nobody ever thinks about the “what if” factor. What if our plane were to crash right now? What if there wasn’t another safe place to land? What if I don’t come out of this plane? You might ask why I might’ve thought of these extremes, but the wait of the never landing flight isn’t the whole story. I sat there like a statue in a museum, when another announcement had come on. I was too busy worrying about what was going to happen, to pay attention to anything else. I asked my brother what the pilot had said. When the words, “The airplane is running out of fuel” came into my mind, my heart sank. One thing went inside my head, “This is not happening!” And so, I thought everything was over. We kept on circling around Milwaukee, when finally we had permission to land in Madison. The pilot had contact with the main grounds, for us to arrive there. It all turned out fine, but you never know what is coming your way. As a result, I learned that anything can happen, we always know everything’s going to be fine, but what if it’s not? That one question can change up the way you look at this world beyond us. What if?

We all think about the impossible, yet it’ll be possible in our minds, but have we ever thought about what true happiness is? From beginning to end, in this cycle we call life, everyone experiences so many emotions: happiness, love, fear, and much more. In this little incident I mainly encountered the thrill of fear. The exact opposite of fright is happiness, and that is something that I haven’t understood yet until this day. Happiness doesn’t last forever, sometimes it could be that one single moment of joy, on the other hand it could be for a whole day. But everyone is always happy about some event that has occurred in their life. For me it’s not a single event, but many. This memorable ride on an aircraft will be unforgettable, but it makes me happy that I’ve learned from it as well. If somebody asks me what is something you cannot forget from your childhood, it’s probably this flight. Feelings express themselves in a different way, through each person. And each person expresses their feelings in their own way. Though, true happiness doesn’t have a definition, to me happiness is a person, and a person is happiness.

Since that day on, I've recognized the importance of hope, the "what if" factor, and happiness in our lives. Learning about so many aspects towards living a great life will and has helped me. This never ending flight did come to an end, a safe, yet stressful one. We move forward in life, remembering our past and looking forward to the future. For me, an experience of a lifetime was made in a single day. The past is a work of art, free of irrelevancies, and loose ends. As I look back to that day I remember everything so vividly, from the beginning to the end, and everything in between. It shall never be forgotten, and in my book the chapter about the never landing flight will surely put a smile on my face everytime I look back.  

A Novel's Retelling

Author's Note: This is a retelling of the novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I hope you notice the intensity and voice I've tried to convey using the reading skill "retelling". 

In the ashes of what was once North America, lies the nation of Panem. The shining Capitol of the nation is surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year the Capitol forces every district to send one boy and one girl from the ages of twelve to eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games. This brutal and terrifying fight to death is televised live to everyone in the nation. Twenty four tributes enter the arena, and the last person standing is crowned the victor of the Hunger Games. 

Revived from the Ashes

Author’s Note: Every year we remember the tragic events that have happened in the past. We look up to the people who have given their lives to protect and honor our country. Today we stand here as a united nation, only because of what we have gone through. In my piece, please look for the voice and emotions that I have tried to convey through words.

September 11^th, 2001 will always live in the minds of the people who lived through it that day. The imagery of having an aircraft strike at one of the most populated buildings has never left their minds. As the smoke filled the air and lives were ending one by one, the news spread across the country. The emotions and fear of every citizen was unimaginable.  It will always be a devastating moment of history for everyone. The terrorism attack on the World Trade Center and Washington D.C. has been described as an act of war and a tremendous defeat for the United States; a defeat that shall never be repeated and a loss that must be avenged. In my mind, I think the opposite of others. This attack on September 11^th was not a defeat for our country, but a victory. The people of the United States of America certainly did not give up. There were members of the community coming out to help their fellow citizens. Because of this horrific event, our country has only become more unified, more proud, and more devoted to this place we call home.

It was eleven years and three days ago that our country was under attack. The lives of innocent people were taken away. The distress and sorrow in the people who have lost their loved ones, makes our eyes tear every time we hear of it. People from all over the city came to help. Not everybody knew how they could, but they had to. It was almost like it was their duty as a friend, most importantly as a citizen. Many helped but the ones who were on the spot trying to save everyone else as best to their abilities, are truly heroic. They are the heroes of our country. Regular human beings did all they could to save a life of another and by doing their job, they have risen to the top as a hero. From that day onwards everyone was unified as a nation. The same thoughts went inside everyone’s mind, the same emotions, and the same reasons to cry. It was only twenty minutes, that changed the lives of everyone in the United States.

There were many heroes that have come out of this tragedy, but the fact that truly amazes me is how much pride was spread across the country afterwards.  For the weeks to come, all you could see were American flags being held. So many people were proud to say that they were from the United States. It was hard to overcome everything, it took months for people to realize that what has happened, is done for. There is nothing that they could do to go back in time and change what had happened. As days went on the spirit in everyone and the red, white, and blue was spreading across the horizon. Nobody had ever seen us be more of a country since then.  Our flag still swayed proudly in the air before and after the attack. No matter what the cost, the flag and the people were one; a country.

In just twenty minutes, nearly 3,000 people died. For our country to realize the unity and devotion, it took away people’s lives. But, because of 9-11 our country has grown enormously. The people have changed, everyone looks up to the USA as  something larger than themselves. I think that it’s because of how great we have stood together until this day. Everyone has different opinions in everything, but together as a country everybody is the same. We might’ve lost something huge, but we have gained so much from just less than a half hour. Something great has come out of something so tragic. It’s hard to believe, but this is the truth. There will always be a little light, no matter how dark it is.

Year by year, we look back upon this heartbreaking event and remember what has made us grow as a country. To me, I think that this was just fate. We had to get through the climax to get to the end. In everyone’s lives they’ve had to jump over so many hurdles, that’s the same thing that our country had to do.  Not everyone’s graph of life will be a consistent line, there will be some low and high points. We’ve reached the bottom, right now is our time to step back up to the top once again. As the graph of this country continues, so does the memories of each story behind 9-11.

Our victories on the 11^th of September and the days following were more important than mere military victories. The way we have handled this situation reflects upon our spirit, national character, and unity. If we become one as a nation, all of us can achieve anything we possibly dream of. 9-11 was not only a tragic and sorrowful event, but it has given us the strength and will to move forward. Like Francis Scott Key once wrote, “The rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.” That star spangled banner should always be risen high and proud, it shall wave across the nation with triumph and glory protecting the people who live underneath it for all of eternity.

A Passion to Travel

Author's Note: In class we had to write 3 facts and one fiction about ourselves. And then using one of them we had to write a little paragraph. So i chose, I love to travel. Here is what I think about traveling around the world. 

From the Buckingham Palace in London to the Christ of Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, there are so many explicit wonders out there in the world. Don’t forget the city to the countryside, there will always be somewhere to visit. My dream is to travel to them all. Since I was small, I have loved to travel around the world. To see the different cultures, attractions, and to try the different food is unforgettable. There is so much to see and discover around world. There are different people, food, and music. Each country has its own special place to visit and each one is different in its own way. You get to relive the moments of the past at a historical site, and in a museum you get to live what is awaiting you in the future. There are so many exciting things to do in that which that country has to offer. There is so much out there to discover, but life’s too short to keep these things on hold. So get out there, travel the world with your friends, and explore the places around you. Sooner or later, you will also be a person with a passion to travel around the world just like me.

The Arc of Life

Author's Note: In our writing circles we chose the topic: rainbows. At first I didn't know what to write, but when I really thought about it, so many things came to mind. I put it all in this one piece, I hope that it gives you a little bit of inspiration.

As it stops raining and the sun comes out to shine, the bright colors of red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, and violet come upon us in a way like no other. A rainbow we shall call it, with the shades of colors shining through every beam. Every color has its own purpose, some can show strength and courage, while others can show weakness or happiness. After a whole day worth of storm we see a rainbow glimmering in the clear blue sky. A sign of joy and thanks can be spread across the region. It’s almost like a feeling of success and victory. We have gone through the rough parts of life and there will soon be something to be happy about. A rainbow is not just something we see in the air, but its an arc full of emotions and determination. As we see a rainbow, we might think where the end is. Everyone knows there will always be a pot of gold, with the luck of the Irish and the bravery to do it all we can achieve our goals. There are dreams out there of so many kind, but only a few many actually come true. But when you believe you can, you will. The rainbow can not only give emotions of many kinds but now we know it can help us run to finish line. Even when you are in the most awful or dreadful moments, when you see a rainbow it’s like God giving us hope. He wants us to get up and get going, so a rainbow can be a sign of faith. A rainbow can symbolize anything in any which way possible, but for this to become reality we have to put our best foot forward. Without the rain there will be no rainbow, and without you there will be no life. All of us can become stronger, we can dodge the hurdles in track, and most importantly we can be the victor of our lives.

An Unexpected Surprise

Author's Note:  In our writing circles we picked the topic, murder. So i wrote a small paragraph of a scene that I thought of. This piece has tragedy, sorrow, but also a little mystery. I hope you like it!

I saw her that day, she was laying there on the kitchen floor trying to breath while blood dripped down her neck. I saw her suffer from the tragic accident that had happened. All I knew was that when i walked in the door i saw shattered glass and broken plates all over the place. Sarah, she was my best friend, she was like a sister to me. To see her dead now was like someone stabbing me in the heart. There she goes I thought to myself, she’s gone. I bent down and shut her eyes, the sadness was taking over me. I thought about the memories of our past, the great times we had together. From the first day of preschool to yesterday I remember every second. There was sorrow and weakness in my eyes as I tried to take this in. I looked down below me, at Sarah one last time, the only thing that was running through my mind at the time; this wasn’t just any old accident, but the fact that it was a murder...

Hatred

Author's Note: In this piece I decided to write on something that comes over everyone in a point in life; hatred. It's a brief explanation of what I feel this is in our lives. I've talked about how it can break things apart. Please pay attention to the voice and similes in this short, but thoughtful piece about hatred. 

Hatred, a feeling of rage and intensity rising up your throat. With a life full of darkness and a world full of strong opinions, hatred shall never be forgotten. The emotion of hatred comes with a little love at times. Without a little love in life, there can never be hatred, and vice versa. A mind of full of deep thoughts and powerful emotions can overcome people, but that does not mean they should be left alone. This does not only hurt the hated, but at the end it only injures the hater. People just throw the word love around everywhere, but they do this to the word hate too. “I hate...” this phrase is really strong, it should only be used in a place full of thought. The way to use it is still uncertain to people all around, but just remember it will soon cause problems and pain in many people’s lives. Hatred is not just a word that can show your emotions, but it can break things apart. It’s like a world without erasers; after it’s been said or done, then that’s it. There is nothing to erase it or take back. What has been done is done, and that’s final. Love and hate are enemies fighting for justice, but sometimes loves does win. Think about others and learn to not hate things. Like Mr. Luther King Jr. once said “Hatred paralyses life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” So love more and hate less, we can make a difference in our lives, one step at a time.

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