Sara Hagenbucher

English I-4

You Might Think I’m Just a…

You might think I’m just

a fifteen-year-old girl

with dirty blonde hair

and blue eyes

But I know I am more

way more than that

Not a ball or roll of paper towels

not a backpack or a pair of shoes

A sour-patch  kid

at the beginning I’m a sour piece of candy

when I’m in a bad mood

or feel pressured

when my friends aren’t true

And everything is going wrong

I’m the first part of a sour-patch kid

Due to the sour taste

unhappy faces run all over me

waiting for me to become sweet

And when I am sweet

my sour vanishes

And the refreshing faces return

And throw toothy grins again

I become a sweet piece of candy

I’m kind and loving and sweet

constantly sweet

Until I’m  swallowed

then I become

sweeter

and sweeter

and sweeter

The dirty blonde haired girl

with blue eyes is a

Sour-patch kid.

Sara Hagenbucher

English I-4

April 9,2015

Ways to Avoid Massive College Debt

Lizzy dragged herself after another day at college and started scrounging around for something to eat, but all she could find was Ramen noodles because that’s all she could afford. In our world today, college costs such a massive amount of money that most students are on a Ramen-noodle-every-night-budget. Several ways to avoid massive debt is to get scholarships and to save money.

There are many ways to get scholarships from schools to avoid massive debt. For example, while many of us are just trying to make it through the semester, others are trying to participate in more, so more chances for scholarships arise. Scholarships can be earned in many ways such as sports, band, choir, and so much more.In addition, two-thirds of college students now graduate with loans, and their average college debt is nearly $20,000, an increase of more than 50% since the 90’s. Therefore, college debt is becoming a bigger burden on young people trying to start their life. Scholarships are a great way to decrease debt after college.

Saving money is also a great way to pay for for college. For example, the more money saved, the less loans that would need to be acquired. Any money that is earned, received as a gift, or is donated toward college funds should be kept in a safe place for later use. In addition, there are plenty of ways to save/earn money. You can earn money by: getting a part-time job , babysitting, and saving gift money. Therefore, saving money can cause a better outcome for debt.

As Lizzy cooks her Ramen noodles she thinks of all the opportunities she missed out on. Ways to avoid massive debt after college can be to get scholarships and to save money. Don’t miss the opportunities like Lizzy.

Sara Hagenbucher

English I -4

February 10,2015

Effects of Cell Phone Usage

Ding! Ding! A text from Damon came through on Katherine’s phone while she was driving down highway 80. Cell phone can be a distraction in our everyday life. People’s lives are affected by cell phones because they cause distraction causing danger and because they provide help in emergencies.

Cell phones affect lives every day due to texting and driving. For example, Newsdaily.com states that “Researchers at Cohen children’s medical center in new Hyde park  estimate more than 3000 annual teen deaths nation wide from texting and driving, 300,000 with injuries.” Even if the text may be short, harm to others and yourself can still occur. In addition, Newsdaily.com also stated “Dr.Andrew Adesman and a team of Cohen investigators found that while driving between September 2010 and December 2011 among 8,947 teenagers aged 15-18

nationwide, an estimated 49% of boys admitted to texting while driving compared to a 45% of girls.” In this way boys are more likely to text and drive than girls. Texting and driving doesn’t just hurt the person in the car, it also hurts their family.

If a friend falls and breaks an arm or a leg and you don’t have a cell phone, how will anyone know that you need help or that something has happened? That is why it is always important to have a cell phone. What would happen if a family member or friend falls and is bleeding out? A cell phone would be handy to call 911, and help would be sent. In addition , cell phones were invented to provide a way of communication so help can be delivered in a time or need.Therefore, cell phones have both positive and negative effects on our daily lives. People’s lives are affected by cell phones because they are a distraction causing danger and provide help in emergencies.

Sara Hagenbucher

English I-4

January 7,2015

Difficult Times Essay

“What’s going to happen? How will I make it through? Why does this always happen to me?” During a difficult time, a lot of different questions pop into your head . Difficult times can affect people by causing negative thoughts and by causing worry.

Negative thoughts that lead to self doubt and anxiety can be caused by a difficult time. For example, say you were just served divorce papers you automatically think, “What did I do wrong? Was it my fault?” Thinking only the negative and not the positive seems to be the easiest thoughts that come to mind. In addition, meeting a biological sibling can be a lot of pressure, always wondering “Will she like me? What if she doesn’t want anything to do with me?” Having a biological sibling isn’t easy, finding out that there are people in a human being’s life that they don’t know is a very difficult situation. Negative thoughts seem to be a universal problem in today’s society due to the pressure of difficult times.

During difficult times worry can overtake anyone. For example, when a loved one is in the hospital, all that is going through the families brain is,”Will she be okay? Is she suffering?”. Worry can overtake anyone because their brain is running situations good and bad through their mind and they are trying to figure out the outcome. In addition, when people lose their job and can’t afford their home and food they think, “What am I going to do? How am I going to feed my family?” Not knowing what to do can be very stressful having to live in the unknown is just as bad. Worry is natural to the brain it can help and it can hurt.

” I made it through!” After each difficult situation you tend to feel a heavy load lifted from your shoulders. Difficult times can affect people by causing negative thoughts and by causing worry. Negative thoughts and worry are a part of everyone’s life they become so natural we don’t realize we are doing it.