Scholarship Essay (Second Draft)

In 500 words or less describe your cultural background and how it has shaped the person you are.

Culture is what makes a person who they are. So having my culture be of multiple backgrounds makes me a very colorful person. I have many different sides, and almost live two different lives. Each side of me contrasts yet cooperates with each other. They blend together to make me into the person that I am today.

My dad is half Japanese and half Pacific Islander. He comes from the Micronesian Islands, a small cluster of islands near Japan. Having the island culture part of my background brings the value of family and friends to me. In the culture, everyone takes care of others, even if they are strangers. My dad had helped a lost man find his way home once, and even bought him lunch. The man was so thankful towards my dad and wanted to repay him, but my dad refused and simply took the man’s gratitude as a reward. So, having a huge family, including close relatives and long distance, and friends close and far, makes me value each individual and realize the importance in having people around that care about you. My Micronesian background makes me into a caring, and warm hearted person.

My Asian side, or my Japanese side, has taught me about honor and dedication. This could be stereotyped, but in honesty that is what this culture brings me. Wanting to put a good name to my family and upholding the family honor has taught me responsibility, and respect. I have a goal to get a lot of schooling, from a Bachelor’s Degree, to a Master’s Degree. I have the dedication and motivation to reach that goal thanks to the way I was brought up. My Japanese cultural background has taught me to be integrative to the fullest.

My mom is born and raised in America. This culture has taught me how to be fun and reach my dreams and goals. I have the ambition to finish whatever I start, and I have fun doing it. I can have a blast while being busy. I always get my work done but I know how to make work fun and enjoyable to do.

These cultures of course clash from time to time, and I have to act one way with certain people, and then act the other way with others. Although, having culture clashes makes me realize how flexible I am. I can adapt quickly and adjust to the conditions in which my environment demands.

All these traits and values have shaped me into a kind, respectable, dedicated, fun person. People respect and rely on me and I’m grateful for that. This tells me that my parents succeeded in raising me and that I can make each culture I come from proud. I’m proud to be of a mixed culture, and I make something out of each one, that’s what makes me unique. 

Shot To The Heart (Song Lyrics)

(Verse 1)
I've always been the good type of girl
Staying out of trouble and following all the rules
I didn't know I could fall so hard
I can't stop the beating of my own heart
I'm a love sick girl, isn't that just sad?
Don't you know, you've made a good girl turn bad

(Chorus)
It all started when you looked at me
Boy those eyes and that smile you took my breath away
I never knew that love could be true
Now I know I'm wrong, now I'm here with you
With those eyes you hooked me right from the start
And with thtat smile you shot me right in the heart

(Verse 2)
I walked into the room, didnt' know you'd be there
Looking so fine no one else can compare
My friends were giggling saying how cute you are
Forgetting about their sport team stars
They were twirling their hair, throwing you some signs
But who'd ever wonder, you'd end up being mine?

(Chorus)
It all started when you looked at me
Boy those eyes and that smile you took my breath away
I never knew that love could be true
Now I know I'm wrong, now I'm here with you
With those eyes hooked me right from the start
And with that smile you shot me right in the heart

(Verse 3)
Now I can't picture my life without you
Yes it's ture, I've fallen hard for you
I can't even sleep 'cause I'm thinking of you
If I told you I loved you, would you love me too?
You smile and take my hand
saying babe, I'm with you till the very end

(Chorus)
It all started when you looked at me
Boy those eyes and that smile you took my break away
I never knew that love could be true
Now I know I'm wrong, now I'm here with you
With those eyes you hooked me right from the start
And with that smile you shot me right in the heart

Scholarship Essay (Rough Draft)

In 500 words or less describe your cultural background and how it has shaped the person you are.

Culture is what makes a person who they are. So having my culture be of multiple backgrounds makes me a very colorful person. I have many different sides, and almost live two different lives. Each side of me contrasts yet cooperates with each other. They blend together to make me into the person that I am today.

My dad is half Japanese and half Pacific Islander. He comes from the Micronesian Islands, a small cluster of islands near Japan. Having the island culture part of my background brings the value of family to me. Having a huge family, including close relatives and long distance, makes me value each individual and realize the importance in having people around that care about you. My Micronesian background makes me into a caring, and warm hearted person.

My Asian side, or my Japanese side, has taught me about honor and dedication. This could be stereotyped, but in honesty that is what this culture brings me. Wanting to put a good name to my family and upholding the family honor has taught me responsibility, and respect. My Japanese cultural background has taught me to be integrative to the fullest.

My mom is born and raised in America. This culture has taught me how to be fun and reach my dreams and goals. I have the ambition to finish whatever I start, and I have fun doing it. I can have a blast while being busy. I always get my work done but I know how to make work fun and enjoyable to do.

These cultures of course clash from time to time, and I have to act one way with certain people, and the act the other way with others. Although having culture clashes makes me realize how flexible I am. I can adapt quickly and adjust to the conditions in which my environment demands. All these traits and values have shaped me into a kind, respectable, dedicated, fun person.  

Letter to The Editor

Jeyleen Takakiro

xxxx Highwood Dr.

xxxxx, Utah xxxxx

xxx-xxx-xxxx

Winxclub.fan@hotmail.com

Dear Editor:

Taking the art programs away from our schools is not a very bright move. If the arts programs were to disappear there would mostly likely be more problems created than solved. When the announcement of the district minimizing the art programs at the high schools was heard, most of the students and the staff were not pleased.

If the arts were taken away, so would the positive behavior of the students. The arts help students express themselves in a creative way. Without classes or after school programs to set times for these students to do express themselves can result into juvenile behavior. The dress code will be disregarded, vandalism will arise, and not to mention the anxiety of the teachers will rise.

If you force minors to go to school, then in return offer them something fun for them to do while they are in school. The art programs are needed. 

Profile

Jeyleen Takakiro, born June 10, 1995, is a senior at Kearns high school and a dedicated writer. She has written a few poems, short stories, and a novel, none of these have yet been published. Takakiro created the writing club at her High School her sophomore year, and has been president twice her high school life. Now, Takakiro is involved in with not only the Writing Club, but also a Representative for her senior AVID class. She is Vice President of her youth group at her church as well.

Takakiro hopes to have a successful career in Creative Writing, teaching, and film directing. She hopes to go to Utah Valley University for college after she graduates in 2013.

Journal Entry

I sit and wait...waiting for something to happen, but nothing does. I sit and wait for someone to say something, but no one says anything. So I write. I write my troubles, I write my dreams, I write about all the things that come into my mind.
Some think I'm weird. They might be right. What's a writer without a little crazy? What's a writer without voices in their heads telling them that their works sucks and they must do better? A writer is an artist. A notebook is their canvas. The canvas sits and waits for a writer to paint a beautiful picture with their words, and have them travel through time and space.
Writing is a great journey. Writing takes us places that we long and dream to be. I dream to be in a mystical realm where I can have great power. Fictional writing, fictional dreaming, fictional reading! Reading is the porthole to these worlds. Without reading there is no writing, and without writing there is no reading. The two come hand in hand.
They are like siblings, brother and sister, twins maybe. Without one there isn't the other. Ying and Yang, peace and war. We must live with both or live without either.
Writing is a great passion. Writing is what I do best. Writing is my life obsession. Writing. Writing. Writing.
I just love to write.

Memo

MEET LOCAL AUTHOR

CHRISTY SIEFERT!

Where:     Media Center

When:      Feb. 6, 2013

Time:       2:30p.m. – 3:30p.m.

        Refreshments will be served.

      The following teachers will offer Extra Credit:

……

My Life Line Essay

     

My First Life Line

Many have that moment of inspiration, whether the epiphany is from a film, a book, or even a person. My inspiration came from Cindy through an out of the blue conversation. Cindy is a short Guatemalan girl, who has beautiful black hair and big brown eyes that are hidden behind glasses; her figure is healthy and curvy.

Her personality is what people recognize though.  Her large vocabulary is the first thing that people notice. These words are what set her apart from being normal: “That’s a horrid habit.”, or “Don’t say such disgraceful things.” She is also a huge romantic who expects love to come quickly. This romantic idea of hers comes from all the books she reads; she is also an avid reader. Her reading leads to her imagination getting the best of her at times.

This is why Cindy is my best friend and my inspiration. Cindy and I met in the seventh grade. She didn’t like me at first because she isn’t one to trust people. The more we got to know each other, however, the more we discovered how many things we shared in common. Our fathers were both very protective of the family, and we both have annoying little brothers. Cindy isn’t just my best friend though; she is also my first life line.  She is the muse of my writing; she is the one who got me started. Writing is now practically my life. Creative writing is what inspires imagination and a smile to the world. It gives a great journey for a reader to experience, just through black and white words on a page. Writing creates happiness for most people, which is why I love it.

Cindy is always there when inspiration is in need. When a story needs to be told, she is the one who listens. When a story needs help with an idea, she inspires the idea. Cindy is the one who opened this opportunity for me.

My inspiration started at a long, brown, sticky lunch table. Cindy and I were eating our lunch, like any other day. The lunch food tasted bland, also like any other day, and the place reeked like sweaty kids and burnt burritos. The brick walls were covered in flyers and banners, and lining the top of the walls were country flags. I was eating a piece of pizza while watching as a girl chases a guy for her back pack around were  we sat in the cafeteria, or what we called “The Pit”.

“Hey, I was thinking.” Cindy started the conversation, taking a sip of her chocolate milk. “You know how I finished that one book I was telling you about?” she asked. Taking a bite out of my pizza, I nodded.

“Well, I was thinking.” She repeated. I raised an eyebrow curious as to why she repeated herself instead of telling me what she had been thinking. “What would our lives be like if it were written in a book?” she asked.

I nearly laughed at the very idea of our lives being in a book. When I saw the look on her face though, I knew I shouldn’t. Cindy was being completely serious. How was I supposed to reply to that?

“Wouldn’t it be marvelous?” she asked smiling at me. I just continued to look at her. “Just think of it us in a book.” She laughed. “It would be so fun to read it, but sadly, no one would ever write it.” She picked at her side salad looking a bit annoyed.

I was always one to want to keep a smile on Cindy’s face, so I did what I could to make her happy. If reading a story about our lives in story form was what she wanted, then that is what I would give her.

“I’ll write it, then.” I said. She looks up at me not sure she understood what I had said. I shrug at her, thinking writing would be simple. “How hard can it be?” she smiled at me and clapped excitedly.

“Oh, that would be wonderful! Of course you will need to include everything you and I have gone through...” She then went on about the events we had gone through, and I sat there nodding and agreeing with her.

Since then, I haven’t been able to stop writing and coming up with new story ideas. Cindy inspired the challenge of writing, and began the flow of creativity for my future writing career. Even today, Cindy still helps me out with ideas for stories, and inspires me through my writers block. Because of Cindy, I found my true passion.