5 Paragraphs Essays

Why My Teacher Deserves an A+

(This essay won the first prize on the: 
"A+ For Teachers",  a Nationwide Contest - May 2011)

Hold on to your chairs, open your eyes wide because I am about to tell you why my teacher deserves an A+. For starters she is a decent educator. She has her ways to teach us, and we actually learn! She has a funny technique of making us pay attention. Although her funny technique is interesting, let's just start from the beginning, shall we?

Mrs. Román is a person that as an educator has reached into my soul deeply and has grown on my heart little roots that made me the person I am today. Inspiring person, if you ask me. Thanks to her I learned that I can be myself and be proud of who I am with no shame. She gets the best out of you as a student. Her ways of teaching are the most interesting ones, let's take a look.

Once she gave us an assignment called "Poetry Booklet" where we had to use our creativity and the poem techniques she taught us to the test. Oh and the time she had us do a "Cooking Show Video" to test and practice our speech skills. She has such a desirable patience with us. When she is giving her class there is no dry-eyes in the room, she maintains us connected with what she is saying. Now comes the fun part, where I get to tell you the funny technique she uses to get us to pay attention when we get chatty.

When we get all chatty and distracted she simply raises her hand. You might say: "Wait, what?" When she raises her hand she holds three fingers and starts counting from three to zero, very slowly. When she gets to zero, she whistles in a way that even the wind stops blowing. She gets our attention quickly. We always have educated fun at her classroom. I honestly won't change my English teacher for nobody. She is a very special teacher and unique in her own way.

My teacher deserves an A+ simply because as a teacher, you are supposed to inspire, give hope, lift spirits and most important teach; she contains all of those. She deserves an A+ because every day I go to her class I do not leave the same, I learn about speech, grammar and some life lessons that forever are going to stay within me. Mrs. Román is so worthy of that A+ not just because she gets to our hearts and changes them for the better, she also teaches us about the good ways and how to find ourselves in this up-hill road called life. I am finishing I swear! She deserves that A+ because she is one of those teachers you don't see every day. She captivates you with her wisdom and takes you to a place where everything is possible. I believe in her with all my heart. That's why my teacher deserves an A+.  

By:  Michael Stephen Mejías Pagán

on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 1:14am

The Life of My Best Friend Joseph

The life of my best friend Joseph is nice but not perfect because he has many different days’ types. One of them is the happy days. Another are the normal days. He has also the sad days too. Although he like the normal days, he prefer the happy days.

One of the happy days in his life is when he plays with the basketball team the championship game. In this day the game was hard. The score was draw. The time was running out. When there was no hope. He can steal the ball, run to the basket and throw the ball with his only arm. He can score the basket before the time end. His basketball team wins the championship thanks to him. The team celebrates and enjoy with him. This is an important day in his life where he learns to believe in himself. The other day is the normal days but emotionless.

His normal days are when he has not happy or bad days just normal. A normal day is when he go to school and takes classes. He does the work and listen his teachers. Then he goes to the school dinners and eats free food. Earlier he takes classes again. Then he goes to his house and does the homework. Soon he rest in his bedroom. After that to the routine again. Another day is the sad days.

His sad days are happy less and upset. One of his sad days was when he had his high school first day. The people made fun of him because he born without his arm. This day was hard to him he cries and cries. I try to comfort him but I cannot. Early he stops crying and I can talk with him. I said: “Ignore them and demonstrates you can do everything same or best them. You need just believe in you.” These words help him to be stronger. Not just he never cries for that he become my friend and is so far.

I will never forget him. He learned ignore the other people speak and believe in himself. He will always be my limitless best friend.

by: JMA 11-6  -  Jesus M.A.Garcia

My Dance Recital

Have you ever been in a dance recital? I have. First, we went to rehearsal. After that, the show began. Last, the awards. Although the awards were very important, rehearsal was the most challenging.

Rehearsal was a great experience. It was early in the morning. The theater was empty. Practice began and the director was very hard on us. She was demanding, expecting a lot from us. But it was also fun, hanging out with the others dancers. We had to go to the dressing room and get ready. It was like thirty girls putting on their wardrobe and make-up in one room. Rehearsal was fun, but the show was exciting.

The show began, the curtains were up. Adrenaline started rushing through me. The applauses were encouraging all of us. “Everything has to be perfect” I thought. I had to do multiple dances. The audience was amazing. We had to go backstage after our numbers. Everything worked out, because of our teamwork. After the show, they gave the awards.

The awards were the final event. It was the most important of all. They were going to gives us trophies. They awarded us because of all our hard work. The director told funny stories about us. When they called my name, my heart stopped. My mom shouted really loud. It felt awesome to have my trophy finally in my hands.

This event was a great experience. I will never forget it. And I have a trophy to always remember it.

By: Nadya M. Trinidad Negrón, 11-6

My First Day of High School

My first day of high school will be unforgettable. First, I went through the suspense of the morning. Then I had to pass through the fear of the class transitions. And finally, I was relieved by the end of the day. Although I could be relaxed by the end of the day, I will never forget how my morning was.

The morning was probably the time when I was scared the most. I arrived so early that day, as usual. As I was approaching to the school, I felt that little scare that enters through your body when you get nervous. When I got off the car I got officially scared. I felt like everybody was staring right at me. At that moment, I just managed to walk to a hidden corner of that completely new school, so I could wait peacefully for my friend to come. When he arrived, we just walked around the school, until it was finally the time to enter to the classroom. I think we did that mainly to evade senior students from identifying us. I was so nervous that I even got late to my first class. If you think I was scared that morning, you should have seen me during the class transitions.

Class transitions were the toughest time of the day. You will never see a freshman more scared than during these transitions. Even before exiting the classroom, I could hear what was awaiting us. While walking to the other classes I could easily tell who the new students were. I remember that I had to walk through the senior students so many times that day. They were only in search of who they were going to “welcome”, the reason why we were all scared. I think I never left my friend alone, not even my group, as we all walked together to every class. I walked without even looking at someone’s face. I have never lived such suspense like the one caused by the minutes in which we had to change between classes. I have never been happier than when the end of the day finally arrived.

The end of the day was what I desired the most. This was the most relieving time of the whole day for me. When the bell rang for the last time I felt like this huge load got off my shoulders. Even though, I was still worried that senior students were going to be waiting for us at the exit. To my surprise, the school was almost empty at that time. I only saw a few students seating at the stairs, and they were all freshmen. Then I called and rushed my father to pick me up as fast as he could, as I was alone. When he arrived, I jumped rapidly into the car and breathed very deeply, remembering how stressful was my day. Luckily, the seniors never did anything to me, but some of my classmates did not have the same luck that I had.

That day I experienced almost every emotion. It sure was a hard day, but it had its good parts. But thanks to that day, I could make new friends, which have been by my side since then. It sure is a day that I will never forget, my first day in high school.

By: Ángel M. Martínez Aponte, 11-6

Kingdom Kids' Camp

Last summer I did some community service in a summer camp called Kingdom Kids Camp. One thing that was very hard was waking up early every day to go help the kids with their arts and crafts. Also we had games and a field day. Another thing is that we had a fun graduation for the kids at the end of the summer. Although the graduation was the best part, waking up early definitely was not.

Waking up early was a challenge. I had to get up around 5:30am and take a shower. Some mornings it was just so hard to get up. I even tried going to bed early, but I was still tired every morning. Even though it was hard, I got up. After my friend picked me up at my house we went to get some breakfast. We usually went really early to McDonald’s. Then we went to wait for the kids at the church. After all the children got there, we always had like a praise party, just to wake up the kids with some music. After that we gave the children a snack and began with the different age groups doing what they were supposed to do at the right time. Even though waking up was not easy, trying to keep up with children in the games is not any easier. 

When the field day and games came, the children were very enthusiastic and excited. After doing all the usual stuff like arts and crafts and dance class, they enjoyed the field day and games more than anything. Since they are different age groups, the older children enjoyed more the jump ropes, the water balloon fights, tug-a-war and the water guns. The smaller children loved just getting wet with the hose, blowing bubbles, and passing the wet sponges around. Through all of these I and the other camp helpers were in charge of the children. We had to always keep them in sight. Make sure they are not doing anything that they are not supposed to be doing. And also we had to play around with them and make sure they had fun. That was very important. Although the field day was exciting, the graduation was just wonderful.

Graduation night came so quickly. After so much hard work we put into making sure these children had a blessed, safe and fun summer, time was up. The children had planned different kinds of dances and songs to sing along to. The purpose was so they can give their parents a little show. A little something they prepared so their parents could see what they have learned in Kingdom Kids Camp. The older kids prepared a dance which was more up beat to dance to. The smaller children prepared two different songs. These songs reflect how much the children have learned that God is their one and only savior. Their parents were very proud.

This has been a great experience over the summer. I learned a lot about kids and how they interact with games, adults and how to be patient with them. I really hope the children come next summer to see how they have grown and continue helping them, making sure they have a great summer again.

By: Sarah Christine Galarza Loubriel, 11-8

        

The Day I Moved to United States

The day I moved to United States is one of the most exciting days in my life. Something I had to do that day was getting ready for the flight. Saying goodbye to my family, another thing we did that day. By the end of the day we arrived to the United States. Although I liked moving to United States, I loved been in P.R.

Getting ready for the flight was the most exciting and scariest part of all. In the flight I was with my siblings Alejandra, Eyeri, and Nathalia, and my mom, Madhy.  We had to wake up really early to get everything done.  It was during the 2005 summer. The flight was in the evening.  We had been planning leaving to United States for months.  At first we would have to live with my aunt, uncle and cousins.  My mom would have to get a job and then move to an apartment.  The flight was to Boston, Massachusetts. Even when I liked getting ready for the flight, I also enjoyed saying goodbye to my family in Puerto Rico.

Saying goodbye was happy and sad at the same time. We had a really nice party.  Everyone was there my grandfather, grandmother and my uncle.  Almost everybody was crying because, of course, we were leaving.  I got presents. My grandma gave me a journal so I could write about my days in Boston.  My uncle gave me a winter coat. My grandfather gave me a pair of winter boots.  My mom gave me a bracelet with the flag of Puerto Rico so I could remember and think about home. The next part of my day was when we went toward the U.S.

When we arrived in the United States it was supposed to be warm, but for us it was very chilly.  My uncle, aunt and cousins were the ones that picked us up from the airport.  We were really excited because it was a new everything.  They took us for a ride around town.  The houses are really different from the ones in Puerto Rico.  The schools are bigger. They have gymnasiums and lockers.  We were impressed with everything.  Anyways, we knew we were going to miss Puerto Rico eventually.  We were going to miss the beautiful beaches, our family and our friends.

The moving day was scary and exciting. I am never going to forget it.  Eventually we moved back to Puerto Rico.  But thanks to that I learned English and I also learned a lot from another cultures.

By: Honachka Burgos, 11 – 9 

The Best Weekend Ever

            Grab on to a chair and prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you about The Best Weekend Ever. It all started at Adriel’s house on Thursday. The most exciting thing was at night when we all went to sleep. It all ended up on Sunday. Although the story ends on Sunday let me just go back to Thursday and start from the beginning.

            As I was saying, it all started on Thursday, March 25^th, when Adriel and I thought of a sleepover. My parents and his parents agreed and let us have the sleepover. I went to his house at 8:30pm after eating dinner at my house. We had chicken. I love chicken. When I got to his house I settled my stuff on his room. Afterwards I took my laptop and we watch Madea Goes to Jail Movie (a Tyler Perry movie). It is a very funny movie. After the movie we head up to bed. At bed we started talking and talking and talking… Until we realized it was almost 2:00am. We quickly shut up and slept. At morning we woke up really early, I can still remember his Dad saying to us: “Guys wake up is 6:13am”. We got ready and went to school. We are going to spice up the story when I tell you about Friday and Saturday.

            On Friday we went to school, which it as usual. When school was over, it started to rain so we had to stay at school till it stops. When the rain stopped we headed up to Adriel’s house and at noon Sarah calls us and asked if we wanted to go out with her and her Mom. Obviously we said yes. When we were getting ready we thought of a prank, which it was dressing up the same and going like that. We got ready, and then Sarah picked us up, Sarah’s face was priceless. She was astonished and mesmerized of what we did. For our surprise we went to a church. Adriel and I were appalled of what we were going to see there at church. We ended up going to McDonalds. I had a “Special of the Day” they just had Sundaes. At 9:00pm Sarah’s Mother left us at Adriel’s house. Suddenly out of nowhere Adriel and I decided to invite Luis over to the sleepover. So, we did and they gave him and us a green light on this one. Luis was supposed to arrive at Adriel’s house on Saturday at noon. We are almost getting to the fun part of the story, stick around, Saturday and Sunday are the best days of the sleepover.

            On Saturday Luis arrived at 2:00pm, as we planned. Adriel’s Father was fixing some stuff in the car at the garage, we helped him and we washed the car. Washing the car was so much fun. For a surprise, like always, I fell in the soapy wet floor and landed on my butt. Which Adriel and Luis found very funny. They were laughing like for 5 minutes straight. I laughed, but inside I was like: “Ouch! My butt hurts a lot!” Afterwards Andy (Adriel’s Father) ordered up some Pizza which was awesome. We were really stuffed after the third or fourth pizza. We just kept going on and on. At night we went to his patio and started playing Scrabble, which it was a lot of fun because I love that game. We were so scared at the bugs in the patio that we literally jumped every time we saw one. While playing Scrabble we accidentally made a sentence and it said: “Go, God is near.” That freaked us a lot! When it got late Adriel parents send us to bed and we were kind of tired. We wrapped the game and took it inside. After everyone being showered, and clean for bed, we went for it. We were talking for hours and Adriel was playing with Luis PSP (a Portable game device). Here’s the interesting part, we kept talking and talking and Andy got out of he’s room and he was approaching the room and we shut up and staid frozen and faked that we were sleeping. When saw us and said to us: “What? You guys thought I did not know you were awake?” He started laughing while he got a glass of water and a midnight snack. We were frozen and suddenly Luis laughed in a whisper kind of way and I found it so funny then I started laughing like crazy, which it made Adriel laugh too. Out of nowhere we were all laugh like hyenas without no stop. Afterwards we slept. On Sunday we were so tired and our hairstyles were so funny. At noon, Sarah invites all of us to David’s birthday party. Our parents and Adriel’s agreed and we went for it. The night was awesome and we laughed and had a great time, plus hot dogs with chili and cake! What a wrap for a good sleepover!

           

      This weekend was so epic and fun. It had everything: excitement, fun laughter, partying and most important, memories that are going to be unforgettable. I had a blast at Adriel’s house with Luis. I just hope in a future we can share a time like this again. I really appreciate their friendship.

Michael S. Mejías Pagán, 11-6