I’ve always loved to write. Anytime I’m feeling a particularly strong emotion I take it to a journal and either make a song or start a story. When I saw Creative Writing was an option for a class I immediately knew I was taking it. Throughout the year I’ve noticed my love for this subject has increased. There is still a lot of improvement for me, but I am working on it. My blog hasn’t been super serious seeing as my latest post is about bread, but I really do take writing serious when I have something specific on my mind.

I love that we have had the ability to make lasting memories from this class. I can look in my journal and cringe at my old writing, and someday look back on this blog and have a laugh. I look forward to third period everyday because it is such a breather and an amazing outlet for me.

I won’t just miss the subject, but the people with it. I won’t forget Ms. Henderson’s crazy movie theater stories, Jelyce and I jamming to music, Olivia mentioning Let It Shine, the three guys who always argue about politics, everyone trying to uncover Fall Taurus (which we still want to know who you are), or the time I talked like Inigo Montoya in front of Dr. Justus. I think it’s safe to say this is one of the best classes I will have experienced in my High School time. Thankyou everyone for being a part of the journey.

 

1. “And I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do”

This quote definitely describes me at the beginning of the year. Little did everyone know I was lost I just pretended like I knew what to do.

 

2. “I. Understand. Nothing”

Yep. A month through and math has already hit the fan, essays are constant, and projects are dealt like candy.

 

3. “I would not miss it for the world. But if something more important came up I would definitely not go”

Parents and teachers pushing us to go to school even though we really don’t want to.

 

4. “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way”

Every essay ever written.

 

5. “I am running away from my responsibilities. And it feels good”

Homework? Never met her. Is she new?

 

6. “I don’t hate it. I just don’t like it at all and its terrible”

When my parents ask me how school is going.

 

7. “Everybody stay calm!”

Teachers every time the principal is coming to take notes on the class.

 

8.“Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information”

English teachers love this, and it is completely reasonable.

 

9. “Don’t ever for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you’ve been, ever for any reason whatsoever”

This quote just really helped me get through this year with motivation.

 

10. “Occasionally I’ll hit someone with my car. So, sue me”

Every sophomore on the road.

 

 

I just want to go

Feel a breeze through my hair

I just want to know

If you’ll be there

 

But no, I got to leave

It hurts but I know it’s best

You and I aren’t meant to be

You still give me a nervous feelin in my chest

 

The day you looked at her

The way you looked at me

Everything became a blur

But I won’t let you see

 

You don’t even know how I feel

We been best friends

That was always the deal

Boy, it makes my heart bend

 

Did you forget?

We talked about when we would be grown

Well, I took you up on that bet

Even though I won’t be home

 

I can’t wait to go

The breeze makes my hair flow

The way you told me you liked it you know

But you aren’t here to see the show

 

I came for a visit to see you

You told me you’d be at your church

When I opened the doors I turned blue

It was you and her

 

I guess I caught your eye

When I ran out before I could hear you say the words

I could not let you see me cry

But “I don’t” is what they heard

 

 

 

 

 

Tennis is not easy, though once you learn the strokes it is so fun.

Forehand: 

The forehand is one of the first shots beginners learn. To start, you need to use the right grip. Hold your racket vertical to you, and take your dominant hand and place it on your racket as though you are shaking hands with it. Once you have done that, you learn how to swing. When the ball comes towards you, position yourself so that you can comfortably swing and get power. When the ball bounces on your side, bend you knees and pull your racket behind you. Swing from below your waist and then bring the racket up and cross over your body.

 

Backhand: 

This is like a backwards forehand. For right-handers, this is when the ball comes on the left side of the court. You have to use a different grip, called an Eastern grip, to hit these shots correctly. Move your right hand over an inch or so. For some, using two hands is more comfortable. For two hands, place your left hand on the racket as if you were hitting a forehand with your left hand.

Volley: 

This is when a player is up at the net. When the ball is high enough to get a nice impact on your racket. Make contact with ball in front of your body, and move your feet so you can get a beautiful swing. Be careful not to swing downwards, because your ball will go into the net often times.

Overhead: 

This is like a volley on drugs. When the ball is really high up, you can hit downwards and slam the other player. Point your racket up, and point to the ball. Time it out to where you can nicely slam down and get the ball over.

Serve:

Everyone serves differently. The basics, however, are to toss the ball up relatively high, and slam down on the ball. Use a backhand grip, and make sure you follow through. Point your shoulder perpendicular to the base line, bring your racket back, toss the ball up, and comethrough.

 

*I play tennis by the way, and I watch these matches.*

This event is not super new, as it occurred September 8, 2018. However, it is still a recent event that is important for people to recognize. While on Instagram, I saw a post that was titled something along the lines of “Serena Williams is a powerful woman and a great example for feminism!” when taking about how she behaved during the US Open. I got to thinking, and I could not have agreed less.

The rundown: Naomi Osaka was against Serena Williams. Umpire Carlos Ramos claimed to see Serena cheating by having coaching on the side, so a point was deducted. A rule in tennis is that a coach cannot make hand signals, gestures, or represent any kind of coaching technique while a game is going on. The hand gestures are common because often a player will forget to toss the ball up high when serving, or they forget a certain grip they should be using. Therefore, making a hand signal reminds the player, but it is highly against the rules. Williams argued she was not cheating, and never has cheated. She got another point taken away when she told the empire he was a thief and stole her point. When the point was taken from her, she screamed at Ramos that “Because I’m a woman, you’re going to take this point away from me!” This lead people to believe that she was such a great example of females having inequality. While I fully believe females deserve equality, she made the wrong move. In fact, Fabio Fognini was thrown out of the US Open for making remarks to a female umpire. John Mcenroe is another example because he received the same penalty for cheating the same way. Also, Serena was literally playing against a female which makes no sense for her to accuse the umpire of sexism. Serena smashed her racket on the ground out of anger, which is very childish and immature.

She did a press conference claiming that she was standing up for women, and that women should have more rights; however, countless times she has been very rude and nasty towards women she played with and ball girls (The people who get all the tennis balls of the court). After the match, Naomi felt BAD for winning, and she was literally booed the entire time. She was not crying happy tears, for she genuinely felt like it was wrong of her to accept the trophy after winning against one of the all time best female tennis players. I cannot imagine how horrible she felt. All because Serena could not accept the fact that she cheated and move on.

IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, her coach literally admitted to giving hand signals. So all of her arguing was absolutely pointless. All of the women’s rights she fought for were meaningless because she acted a fool. I AM FOR EQUALITY OKAY BUT SERENA WAS JUST NOT A GOOD SOURCE FOR THAT.

I hope whoever read this learned something about the difference between sexism and being a sore loser. I have always enjoyed watching Serena, and I have never disliked her, but she needs to get herself together and realize she is not going to win them all.