As I focus on readying the reusable bags for the onslaught of groceries making their way down the conveyor belt, I hear a voice from beside me, “Why don’t you wear your hair curly?” I look up to see my customer, a man around twenty with spiked up, half blonde-half pink hair, and assume him to be a hairdresser. I suppress a laugh at his boldness and reply with a shrug, “I think it looks better when it’s straight.”..
Running has become one of the most effective ways for me to process my ideas. When I run, I have one hundred percent focus. If I start to panic about a project or an assignment, running becomes my source of inspiration and allows me to sort through my thoughts, calm my nerves, and come to terms with my stress...
Torn flesh and blood splattered throughout the room. Bullet casings scattered across the pockmarked cement floor. Moments ago, several Kalashnikov-wielding gunmen infiltrated our compound in XXX, a village in XXX. Mr. XXX (name changed) was shot at point-blank range. In fear for his family’s lives, Mr. XXX complied with the gunmen’s demands—access to the thousands of dollars locked up in his safe. Miraculously, Mr. XXX survived the incident...
To my dismay, Joon throws the violin onto the hard ground. The hollow bang of wood reverberates throughout the room. “NO. NO. NO,” cries a little boy. From across the room I see Joon’s mom try to intervene and the flustered volunteer. I walk over, open my INSTRUMENT case, and Bach’s arpeggios waft through the air. To the surprise of all parties involved, Joon is now quiet and listening intently. This was a magical moment...
Its teeth were vicious and thirsty for blood. Not trying to pick a fight, I sneak by the beast under an air of invisibility, narrowly escaping sudden death, this time at least. Just another day in Vana’Diel. The online video game Final Fantasy XI truly captivated me with its allure and sense of accomplishment from a very young age. Since the 4th grade, I could log on and lose myself in adventure as Final Fantasy XI swept me away from the stresses of reality- whatever stresses a 4th grader could possibly have...
One month ago, I was transferred to a new shift at the Chrysler Plant in Detroit. There, I had the opportunity to meet a coworker named Anthony. He is a twenty-five year old Detroit resident. He is a kind, respectful, young man, with a zest for life, as it appeared. We did not speak much, mostly just a casual “Good morning” daily...
“If a Bad Thing happens, part of you is seared into place, and trapped forever at that time. The rest of you moves onward, dealing with all the todays and tomorrows, but something, some part of you, is left behind. That part blocks the light, colours the rest of your life, but worse than that, it's alive. Trapped for ever at that moment, and alone in the dark, that part of you is still alive.” I appreciate very much this excerpt from Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith, a literary work in which the story’s protagonist is forced to confront the nightmare and reality of his past...
Over the past decade, climate change has unquestionably become an issue of supreme international importance. The worldwide call for action on climate change grows louder, and the consequences of ignoring the problem become more and more apparent as new scientific evidence of global warming is discovered...
Back