Hazel Graze has had lung cancer for 3 years now, and she hasn't really done anything with hr life since then except sleeping and college. However, she didn't have a life until she met Augustus Waters. No boy ever wanted to date a girl who has a tube up her nose, but there he was. The only problem was, he was perfect. The best part was, they both loved to read. However, her more than him. Her favorite novel is a story about a girl named Anna who gets diagnosed with lung cancer. Along the way she organizes a charity and her mom meets the (suspicious) man of her dreams. Anna's story is never finished though because the book ends in the middle of a sentence. A peculiar, yet fascinating finish for such an interresting book. She says she hates cancer books, but Hazel says this isn't like a cancer book because it is her life.

A Child’s Love:

An Essay on A Tale of Two Cities and “Shoulders” by Naomi Shiab Nye

English Class

1/19/12

Exam Essay

Cassie Seidel

           The innocence in a child is so baffling. How could a child be completely oblivious of the world around her/himself? In A Tale of Two Cities, when Lucie Manette was just a small child, she was taken away from her father. Also, in the poem “Shoulders” by Naomi Shihab Nye, she describes a little boy and a father who cares about him. The purity of a child differs from the purity of a grown adult, but what I don’t understand, is why?

           We never find out what happens to the man in the little boy in Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem. However, because the possibilities are endless, I can only state what I know. I know the father’s love for his son is ever enduring, a love that will never fail. The father doesn’t want anything to happen to his son, and we all know the son would do the same for his dad. What’s ironic is even though the boy is asleep on a rainy night while crossing the street, he is dreaming, dreaming a happy dream. The second thing I know is that Naomi Shihab Nye hopes the entire world would learn to live this way. We all know that the entire world doesn’t go around carrying their sons on their shoulders, but we need to learn to care. We need to care about the lady making a random remark at the grocery store because the reason she is talking to you is probably because there is no one she else she can talk to. We need to care about that homeless man on the street that carries a sign because he is less fortunate and needs help. We need to care about our friends and family, who work so hard to make us happy. That is the ultimate goal.

           Although Lucy Manette’s story is different, she still shares the same basic lesson. When Lucy Manette was just a baby, she was taken away from her father, who had been sent to jail. She couldn’t talk and she couldn’t walk, so her only option was to be taken away to an orphanage. Lucy Manette grew up thinking her father didn’t care about her when the truth was, he cared about her more than anything, and he just couldn’t do anything about it. Dr. Manette, we all know now, would do anything for his daughter Lucy. She finds her father not until much later in her life, but when she finds him, her excitement cannot be contained. Now a shoemaker, Dr. Mannette could sustain the family, and show Lucy how much he really did care. Dr. Manette loves Lucy like a father who loves his son. He loves her so, and now we know she loves him back.

           The reason for children’s innocence is love. For an adult, it takes a lot longer to trust someone enough to love them, but a child doesn’t need trust. All they need are people who love them, and they will love back no matter what. As we get older, the love we have fades and our caring grows weak. However, when you are feeling down, think like a child, a child with innocence beyond compare.

A Simple Light:

An Essay about Life and Light

Cassie Seidel

Pine Point School

English Class

Essay 6

12/8/11

    Light is a simple thing, so simple we don’t even realize it is there. We don’t understand how much we would loose if we lost it. Light can be related to almost everything, but in this essay, I will be relating light to my life and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Light is simple, and maybe you can find a light in your own life.

    In this particular paragraph, I will be talking about how light relates to A Tale of Two Cities. In the late 1700’s, where A Tale of Two Cities takes place, instead of flicking a light switch, they would light a lantern. Using lantern light made seeing other people a lot more difficult. Lanterns can easily go out, unlike a flashlight or a light bulb. Also, we find out a few chapters into the book that a light shines through Mr. Lorry’s heart. He is a stubborn old man until he finds his long lost daughter. He goes from a businessman to a loving father. Finally, when Mr. Lorry gets to the bank after a long trip by the mail, he rests by a fire that is comforting, claming, captivating. He comments on how warm it is, and how he wouldn’t live without it. Light is so comforting when we know that is there, and for some reason, it always seems to be around.  

    Light can be so simple, especially when you relate it to the light in your life. There is a light in my room that stays on every night because I am scared of the dark. I absolutely hate the dark-- the thing that frightens me to the point that I can’t go to sleep at night. The night light is comforting, and I am thankful for it. Also, I am thankful for the sun coming up every morning. I don’t know what I would do without that warm sun beating on my face when I wake up every morning. Its the simple things that we don’t think about every day. Finally there is a warm feeling in my heart that occurs when I do something right. When I do something wrong however, I feel cold, like an ice cube that just came out of the refrigerator. However, when I do something right, like doing the dishes or cleaning the car, I feel so much better. I feel like I’m shining from the inside out, with a light I can feel, but I can’t see.

    Plentiful love and simple light. These are two major aspects of life. You can relate it to a book, or you can relate it to your own life, but either way it is simply important. Light was so important in the time that A Tale of Two Cities was written. When you know your light is there, let it shine for the world to see

   

A Simple Light:

An Essay about Life and Light

Cassie Seidel

Pine Point School

English Class

Essay 6

12/8/11

    Light is a simple thing, so simple we don’t even realize it is there. We don’t understand how much we would loose if we lost it. Light can be related to almost everything, but in this essay, I will be relating light to my life and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Light is simple, and maybe you can find a light in your own life.

    In this particular paragraph, I will be talking about how light relates to A Tale of Two Cities. In the late 1700’s, where A Tale of Two Cities takes place, instead of flicking a light switch, they would light a lantern. Using lantern light made seeing other people a lot more difficult. Lanterns can easily go out, unlike a flashlight or a light bulb. Also, we find out a few chapters into the book that a light shines through Mr. Lorry’s heart. He is a stubborn old man until he finds his long lost daughter. He goes from a businessman to a loving father. Finally, when Mr. Lorry gets to the bank after a long trip by the mail, he rests by a fire that is comforting, claming, captivating. He comments on how warm it is, and how he wouldn’t live without it. Light is so comforting when we know that is there, and for some reason, it always seems to be around.  

    Light can be so simple, especially when you relate it to the light in your life. There is a light in my room that stays on every night because I am scared of the dark. I absolutely hate the dark-- the thing that frightens me to the point that I can’t go to sleep at night. The night light is comforting, and I am thankful for it. Also, I am thankful for the sun coming up every morning. I don’t know what I would do without that warm sun beating on my face when I wake up every morning. Its the simple things that we don’t think about every day. Finally there is a warm feeling in my heart that occurs when I do something right. When I do something wrong however, I feel cold, like an ice cube that just came out of the refrigerator. However, when I do something right, like doing the dishes or cleaning the car, I feel so much better. I feel like I’m shining from the inside out, with a light I can feel, but I can’t see.

    Plentiful love and simple light. These are two major aspects of life. You can relate it to a book, or you can relate it to your own life, but either way it is simply important. Light was so important in the time that A Tale of Two Cities was written. When you know your light is there, let it shine for the world to see

   

A Love for the Sun:

An Essay Based on A Tale of Two Cities and “Here Comes the Sun”

11/18/11

Pine Point School

English Class

Cassie Seidel

    Have you ever felt unwanted? I know that I have. Life can be full of doubts -- doubts you can’t turn into trust. However, when you do trust, A person’s life could be like a sun rising in the morning, and lowering at night. A Tale of Two Cities, a famous book by Charles Dickens, can help us understand why we need the sun, and so can “Here Comes the Sun”, a song by The Beatles. We don’t even realize the sun is there sometimes, but where would we be without it? (assonance)

A song written in the late 1960’s can be related to a quote written by a man who lived and died a long time ago in many ways. First, the quote, “there was a season of light.” relates literally to the song, “Here Comes the Sun.” This song talks about the spring coming after a, “long cold lonely winter.” The sun is finally rising in both of these instinces, and these people love to express themselves. Furthermore, the second half of the quote states, “there was a season of darkness.” This could be taken literally because the winter is coming, and it will be much darker. We, however, need to realize that after the winter, comes the spring, and we wont need to worry about darkness then(antithesis). Finally, the entire quote can be related to the hypothetical question, “Where is our economy going?” Most people would say it is going downhill. However, I say that if we work hard enough, we can come out of the darkness, and into the light. Although these two pieces don’t relate by year, they do relate in what counts, and that is life.

I look at the sky, at the sun, and realize that me and the sun are so much alike. There was a time when people would get up early and watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, not many people even attempt to wake up to see it anymore. That is how I feel sometimes, like I am not worth being waited for. Furthermore, the lyrics, “Here comes the sun and I say, its all right,” reminds me that I can be alright even when I am going through the toughest of times. I need to realize that the sun still rose, and I am still okay. Finally, I can not even fathom (F.A.S.T)what life would be without the sun. I am the backbone to so many people’s lives that if I were not here, those people would not have anyone to count on. The same in return to all of those people who I would not be able to live without. A love of the sun, just like my love for others.

I am a person who is counted on. I am counted on to do great things, counted on to be a good leader, counted on to be a friend. I am loved. I am thankful that the sun is here and I can believe, “its all right,” I just need to realize that, “It [is] the best of times, it [is] the worst of times.”

Self Assessment:
1. I am continuing to work on simple errors
2. I see very good, strong sentences in this writing
3. I also see a few confusing sentences
4. B, please

A Imperfect Life:

An Essay about My Life and A Raisin in the Sun

By Cassie Seidel

Engilsh Class

Pine Point School

11/4/11

I, unfortunately, have not had a perfect life. I have had many problems to overcome, but I would rather have pleasures to endure. I need to learn how to walk on, as stated in the song “Walk On” by U2. I also need to learn that my life is not nearly as bad as Beneatha’s in A Raisin in the Sun. Even though I am scared about what will happen tomorrow, I will keep walking on.

    The song, “Walk On”, by U2 relates to the play A Raisin in the Sun in many ways. The end of the song talks about going home, and that is exactly what Mama wants to do. She has never lived in a house she can call her own, and she wants to terribly. She finally, after many years, has the opportunity to have a home, and nothing is stopping her from leaving. The song quotes, “Love is not an easy thing”, and in A Raisin in the Sun, it isn’t. Love is probably one of the most difficult thing to go through in life, but if you fight for it, it always comes back. Love could be considered one of the best things, one of the worst things, and one of the hardest things in life (Anaphora). In the song, it seems to appear like someone is running away. There is so much running in this play, whether it is Walter, or Beneatha, they are always running away. They are both struggling with problems in life, and instead of fighting them, they run away. A Raisin in the Sun and, “Walk On”, relate in these many ways.

    In my life, I have had many days where I wish my life was the song, “Walk On”. In the song, it tells me I can finally go home without worry. Sometimes when I get home I worry about homework or how the next day will be. I need to learn that I can’t dwell on what is right now, we need to look into the future. “Love is not the easy thing,” for me at all. I sometimes feel like love is, was, must be the most difficult thing in life.(Aysndeton) I try to love my family 24/7, but it is hard to love them all of the time. “The only baggage I can bring is what I can’t leave behind,” reminds me that whatever I do, I will be moving out someday. I will be leaving behind my family, and I will be taking a whole new perspective on life. Someday, I will be leaving, and instead of turning back, I walk on.

    Although I am walking on through everyday of my life, I still have troubles. Sometimes I just want to stop at a sign, but I keep going. Beneatha just kept walking on, and her life became a great one. I am, no matter how hard, going to keep pushing and keep living in a great mannor, by walking on.

Desperado:

An Essay about Loneliness

Pine Point School

English Class

10/27/11

Cassie Seidel

Loneliness is a hurtful feeling that comes without knowing. It creeps up on you like a thief in the night. It takes away your friends, and your family, and your life. Loneliness can evolve into something worse, like depression. My loneliness is not quite to the state of depression, but in this essay, I hope to talk about loneliness in my life and my friends life.

The song, “Desperado” by The Eagles tells a story about a lonely life. Although my life isn’t as terribly lonely as Desperado’s, I am still lonesome. Skating is not a team sport, and sometimes being by myself makes me lonely. No matter how many people practice at your rink, once you take the floor, no one is there to help you. If you fall, you have to pick yourself up, because counting on another person to help you up is not even an option. Loneliness can also be affected by my friends who live in different states. A lot of my friends live in Andover, MA, because of C-A-M-P, and I only get to see them once or twice a year. It makes me feel empty inside, like I have no one talk to about my love of dance and theater. Even in school, I feel lonely. During the day, I am a very hyper person, and people laugh at me. Except, when I actually talk seriously, it feels like no one cares. Although I am lonely in these points in life, I can still be loved and cared for, unlike Desperado.

My friend Jess is becoming more of a Desperado every day. Although she has many friends, she seems to fade with the crowd. No matter how hard she tries, she never gets noticed. Also, her mom and dad are divorced, and her mom remarried. Jess went from being an only child to having two other sisters, and one of whom has a health problem. It was so hard for her to adapt to not only having sisters, but sisters who had problems. Finally, her mother has recently gone through surgery. This surgery has really hit Jess over the curb. She doesn’t seem like her normal happy self, but all I can tell her that this is only a phase. I know that even though Jess is going through these hard times, she will go back to her happy self.

The key to defeating loneliness is strength. If you don’t have the strength to pull through hard times, you will stay in long periods of sorrow. Strength is one of the main keys to happiness. The key to happiness can be achieved with the key to love. Without a love of something, weather it is family or a special blanket, happiness can not be found.