College Prep Writing Contest 2008, First Place Winner

Congratulations Javas Jackson

First Place Winner

The most painful but rewarding experience in my life

I have a lot of painful but rewarding experiences in my life. The one that sticks out the most is when I got fired from my job at City Furniture without an explanation. The most rewarding experience that came from it was that I became closer to my family. Also I was able to find a great career and go to school to pursue a college degree.

Losing my job at City Furniture really hurt me financially and emotionally. I put my heart in that company and was prepared to spend the rest of my life there. City Furniture was put before my family by me working overnight, every weekend, twelve hours a day and every holiday. Whenever they needed anything from me they got it. I gave one hundred percent on every task with no questions asked. It really hurt the day I got fired because all the people I had worked with for years turned their back on me.

After losing my job I spent a lot of time at home thinking. That's when I realized that I had been missing out of my family's life. I had always thought by making a lot of money everyone would automatically be happy. I was missing out on my kids growing up and being a good husband to my wife. It took me to lose my job to really appreciate my family and how much they mean to me. I love playing, eating dinner and being a great father to my family.

I love my career as a bus operator. I'm a people's person and love to interact and meet different people. With this career it is not demanding as what I had at City Furniture. I make a lot less money, but also a lot less stress. I'll make that trade any day to be able to see my family every morning when they wake up and every night before they go to bed. I see a big future with my career now because its no limit on how far I can advance. Whereas, at City Furniture I had reach the ceiling as a operation manager.

One of my long term goals in my life was getting a college degree. When I started working at City Furniture going back to school started to be less of a goal, especially when I started to move up in the company and get more responsibility. Now I have time to work, be a family man, and go to college. Its kind of fun for me to be doing homework and my son ask me question like he's my father. At the same time it motivates him to want to do his homework. I won't stop until I at least have a master degree.

From experience I learned that money can't buy happiness and to never put anything before my family. Jobs and monetary things come and go, but your family will be there forever. Years I lost can never be regained, but I will appreciate all to come. There are thousand of careers and I just happen to find one that fit in with my family and school. I will always pursue my goals and want let anything side track me from that.

College Prep Writing Contest 2008, Third Place Winner

Congratulations Felicia Terry

Third Place Winner

The most painful but rewarding experience in my life

Some experiences in life can be painful, but also rewarding. In my life, I have encountered several of those acquisitions. However, the experience that I considered the most painful and rewarding in my life was the birth of my child. This has really put things in perspective for me. Some experiences are deliberate and some are unexpected, but whether planned or unplanned the situation can be painful, rewarding, or both.

After the unplanned conception of my child, within months, my life changed and I felt alone and sometimes so disconnected from reality, until I would sleep for days hoping that I would wake up from the reoccurring nightmare. The mere thought of me having to be responsible for someone else life besides my own, sickened me in ways beyond belief. The pain from being neglected from my child father, the thought of disappointing my mother, the feeling of guilt for wishing I was not pregnant, the carelessness for letting my grades slip, and the shame I felt for me even getting pregnant were some of the things that contributed to this painful experience.

From a physical aspect, birthing my son was very painful, but raising him has been even more rewarding. Another thing that made the experience painful was the long grueling hours of labor. It was a process I thought I was physically prepared for, and even looked forward to it. Soon, the excruciating pain that arose from hours upon hours of constant gut-wrenching contractions got the best of me. "Give me the strength is all I can remember me yelling". I somehow forgot the tiny miracle that awaited me and literally thought that death would probably be a relief. Luckily, there were only a few more pushes to me reaping the reward of my life.

In lieu of what could only be described as anything less than sheer torture, raising my son has by far, been the most rewarding experience ever. It has caused me to develop attributes that I have not always possessed. One of the most vital qualities that I have learned from motherhood has been patience. Even though it may take him take 30 minutes to tie his shoe every morning, I sit patiently and watch because not only is he learning to tie his shoes, he is also learning to be independent. Eating every single cheerio and having to drink all the milk even though he is 10 minutes late for school, reminds me of his innocence, because lack of his concept of time. The reward of raising my son allows me to have enough patience to sit and watch him take a bath until he is wrinkled. It does not matter that I have spent all day at work and school, the satisfaction that comes from watching him create a sudsy mustache and splashing water all over the floor that I must clean afterward is astonishing. Nothing in this world can ever take the place of the love I feel as I lift him out the tub into his towel. I feel that he knows he is the most precious gift that has been given to me.

To this end, my appreciation for motherhood could be viewed as nothing more than a true blessing. I believe children are definitely a blessing from GOD. Patience, forgiveness, understanding, unselfishness, and perseverance are qualities that I have learned from having my child. These are some things I did not possess as a young adult and I did not really understand the importance of them. All experiences should be used as a learning tool to grow and learn. Whether the situation starts off negative, let the reward be in the knowledge you obtain. I have learned that raising children is something that a parent mentally or physically cannot be prepared for. I am still learning because motherhood is a day-to-day process. Therefore, if someone asks the question "What is your most painful but rewarding experience", I will tell them childbirth and motherhood and that I would not change it for the world.

The Achievement that Makes Us Immortal by Chris Lam

2007 North Campus

College Prep Writing Contest THIRD PLACE WINNER

What in this world of ours deserves the title of “Greatest Human Achievement?” Where can we even begin to contemplate the thought of our greatest achievement and most positive attribute to the human race? Some would perhaps say the automobile is the greatest human achievement for its way of transportation. Others would say the television or the Internet for helping them to escape their daily boredom. Then some would point to performing and visual arts because they are ways to express the inner creativity that is usually locked away inside. All of these contributions, without a doubt, are positive attributes to our society and fellow human beings, but are they truly the greatest human achievement? How can we judge what is our most positive attribute to our fellow brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers? Well, the answer to this question is really quite simple. Throughout all of time, there has been one key element to our existence. This “mystical virtue” inside all of us has lived throughout the past, and it has withstood and will withstand the test of time. That, which I believe is our greatest human achievement, is the strong and mysterious power inside of us known as Love. Yes, the ability to give, show and accept love, combined with the ability to create love when it is needed, is not only wonderful and amazing, but it is this which, I believe, is truly the greatest human achievement.

Have I lost my mind? Some of you might be thinking that I am a college student who has lost his mind over the legendary and infamous college stress; however, I am not kidding when I say love is our greatest human achievement. For one thing, love is our rock through our toughest storm. For example, we as human beings face a dark hour every once and a while. However, the element of love helps us find our way through our darkest hour. It is our guide. Love is always chipper, cheerful and gladsome. In our darkest hours, to hear, see and know that someone loves you brings a smile to any face. We may feel miserable and alone at times, but the simple fact of knowing that someone, a mother, father, brother, sister, boyfriend, girlfriend or a simple friend, loves you puts a joyous smile on your face and a wonderful warmth in your heart and soul.

The world can be cruel, but we must always remember that we are never alone in this performance called Life. In my own personal belief, a gorgeous angel of eternal love and beauty watches over us in our time of need. We may feel lonely at times, but it’s because of this angel’s eternal touch of grace, love and beauty that helps us make the right choices in life, gives us manners to be polite towards others and allows us to give and receive warm hugs. In life there will be times when the world is shrouded in darkness; however, that darkness is broken when the eternal lights of love given to us from another shine through the depths of despair. Yes, we all feel lost every now and again, but knowing that another human being bathes you in their love lights your path and makes life seem a little more bearable.

Certainly there are those who will say that the Pyramids, the Coliseum, and other monuments are the greatest human achievement. Others will point to cars, phones, trains, television, computers and other electronic devices claiming they deserve the title of the Greatest Human Achievement. Yes, all of these things are glorious and amazing inventions; however, none of these inventions have withstood or will be able to withstand the test of time. Other inventions such as the telephone, television, Internet and other modern day devices have made our lives easier, but like the Pyramids, none of the modern devices will be able to withstand the test of time. Love, however, is the eternal spring that was born in the beginning of time, and as such, will continue to live on long after we are gone. Many things have survived from ancient times; however, some of the greatest artifacts from that time are the tales of burning passionate love. King Tutankhamen and Queen Ankhesenamu of Egypt, Marc Anthony and Cleopatra of Rome, and Princess Kaguya and the Emperor of Japan are just some of the many couple whose tales of passionate love were legendary in the past and still read about in history and fairy tales books alike today.

Love is also infinite. As human beings we can make as much love as we want. Our love does not simply have to end with one person or creature. In our darkest hour, we can always make more love to fill our world with light. We as human beings may feel that in our day and age, love is a source that is slowly fading away, but as long as there is one drop of pure love in our world, it can grow and blossom into a beautiful, youthful and bountiful source of love that can fill this world with the love that it so desperately needs. We may be in the depths of chaos, destruction, death and despair now, but with the element of love on our side, that darkness will soon blossom into light. Love does change things, and when we have faith in its power, the darkness that surrounds our world will blossom into some glorious and beautiful.

This world of ours, run largely by technology, can be a dark place, and many may wonder how the word love even comes to mind in this modern day era. The answer to that question is quite simple being that love itself is our greatest human achievement. We will all face a time of darkness, and this darkness may seem deep and endless, but we must always remember that we are never alone. Even in our darkest hour, the element and beautiful infinite power of love will always guide us to safety. It’s bright and cheerful being makes us all smile in our darkest day. If we didn’t have this rare gift of love, then the world would truly be a dark place and that would be the end of it. Thankfully, we have love. It is this gift of love that makes us who we are, and it is what makes our world a bright and beautiful place to live in and raise our children and future generations to come. We have many contributions to our society, indeed, but it is because of our ability to love and to give love that makes us who we are as human beings. This attribute makes love our greatest human achievement, and it always will be for the beautiful future generations to come after us.

A College Student by Amarilys Reyes

2007 North Campus

College Prep Writing Contest SECOND PLACE WINNER

I never imagined myself taking the steps necessary to become a college student. Growing up in a house where I was always considered the lazy one, it did not offer much hope for me to pursue a college degree. Seven years after graduating high school, I have realized that I have learned a lot of things from finally becoming a college student. Once I became a college student, I learned how to be more responsible, open to criticism, and optimistic.

I learned how to be more responsible because I am the only one who can get things done for myself. If I want a good grade on a test, it’s up to me to study in order to get the good grade. It takes all my willpower to be responsible enough to stay in school and not drop out. In the past, I have attempted returning to school, but I never gave it the fair chance it deserved and I quit before I even started. That was a time in my life, in which, I was not ready to accept the responsibility that going to school would bring. Now that I am ready, I have accepted school and it has taught me to be responsible.

Criticism is an important lesson to learn from school. Every time you enter a classroom, you have to be open to the criticism of your teacher and peers, if you can’t accept criticism, then you might as well not attend school. By taking remedial classes, I have learned that I can be wrong, but don’t take it the wrong way; I listen to the comments that others make and learn how to correct the things that are wrong. Criticism is a step to learning, but before you can begin to learn, you have to learn how to accept criticism.

Last, but not least, optimism is the best lesson I have learned from being a college student. Optimism has taught me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. By continuing my role as a college student, I am optimist to the different job opportunities that I will have for my future. A good future is important to me and optimism will remind me each day of the different possibilities. Optimism is also what helps us follow our goals. Without optimism, our goals would seem impossible and our lack of hope will cause us to drop out. All in all, being a college student has taught me to be responsible, accept criticism, and be optimistic. If I would have not learned those three things, chances are that I would have not continued in school this time around either.

Being an Individual by Stephanie Rodriguez

2007 North Campus
College Prep Writing Contest FIRST PLACE WINNER

Have you ever known anyone who always follows trends to be cool? Do you know someone who acts like someone they are not? In life many people are followers not leaders. Knowing who you are at heart is the most important aspect of life; that is why being an individual is the greatest human achievement.

First and foremost, being an individual can be the hardest achievement a human can ever accomplish. It is well known that fashion has a great influence on society, which has made it difficult for people to remember how important it is to be themselves. For example, teens and young adults want to look as beautiful as the models in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Men’s Health. In desperation to look fabulous; both men and women are going to extreme measures such as shopping uncontrollably at designer name stores, working out excessively, and even developing eating disorders.

Being an individual is a great accomplishment. It has never been an easy task to walk to the beat of your own drum. Individuals have faced many trials and tribulations, and are not always accepted by society. For example, individuals are constantly criticized because of their choice of clothes, religion, music, foods etc. At one point or another college students that just want to be themselves are rejected by their peers. The strong students stick to the beliefs and choices that make them happy, and they do not care what the rest of society will think of them.

The people that are able to wake up every morning without worrying about what society has to say about the way they choice to live their lives are the happiest at heart. Being able to be yourself at all times without doubting yourself is exceptional That is why being an individual is the greatest human achievement.