Happy Thanksgiving to Ev'ryone alive
This is the time of year for happiness
The happiness is where you find the jive
In each household, there will be much kindness

There will be much to eat for days to come
Imagine all the turkey you could eat
That big and juicy Butterball turk-"scum"
That "scum" will be delicious as fresh meat

The pumpkin pie is the best dessert there
I could eat all of it in just one day
I eat the cheesecake without breaks for air
Between the two, cheesecake takes it away

We are thankful to have loving fam'ly
They care so much; with them I live happ'ly

No fear

This is ridiculous. Am I the only one that seems to see the right thing to do in this situation? I feel as though no one is on my side. My own sister tells me I should just follow the law and remain hidden. I HAVE MY OWN BELIEFS. I don't want to be like Ismene, my sister, and just sit in the kitchen making food, cleaning, and patching my clothing. Her exact words were, “…we are women; it is not for us” (128). What could she mean it is not meant for us? I am just as good as any one and not one person can tell me what to do. If you want to know, my brother, Polynices was killed trying to gain his kingship to the city of Thebes. The king, Creon, refuses to let anyone bury my brother; he can rot in the sun and the animals can eat his wasting body. Can you believe that? My brother, who technically had a right to the throne, is killed and then his body cannot be buried as his punishment? The gods specify burying the bodies! Without burial, Polynices will not receive peace in his death. That is MY BROTHER. He will receive a proper burial because he was a good man and he deserves what is right. However the decree the king put out is prohibiting anyone to bury Polynices or they will be executed. So my sister and I got into an argument about whether or not we should bury him. Ismene seems determined that the role of the woman is to just remain in the houses and not cause a disturbance. I am certain that the will of the gods should be held to the highest standard. I definitely will not let my brother rot in the sun and be pecked at by the birds. But my sister does not seem to want to stand up for her loved ones! How? Her own brother and she will not bury him. Does she want him to have peace in death? Apparently not and I find that sad and appalling. Since she believes that I should not put my life at risk to bury our brother, she told me, “At least be secret. Do not breathe a word. I’ll not betray your secret” (129). I told her, “Publish it [to] all the world!” (129). From my stand, this is my brother and if she isn’t willing to give her life for those who truly loved her, then I hate her.

            Right now, I am extremely irritated. I just gave you all these points that are making me irate. First of all, my sister is continuing to remain ignorant about burying Polynices. She will not give her life for her brother. I am willing to fight for my family, no matter what the cost. And then she brings out how we as women should not create anything. Does she really believe that women belong only in a house? Women are depicted as weak and she is continuing that view. But truthfully, I just want my brother to be buried. I don’t care if I am a woman or not; Polynices is still getting his proper burial. So now, I am going to me immured for getting caught. However, I know inside that my brother will appreciate my love for him. I know he will also appreciate how I defended him and our family. Furthermore, Ismene tried to tell me that she will help me bury the body. I told her, “You would not lend a hand [and] I refused your help in what I did” (141). She does not need to die. When she chose life, I chose death.

            In the end, the noble Creon is who I will blame. He gave this decree to separate my family. But my family is strong. We will stick together through life and death. I am not afraid to give my life for my brother. I am not afraid.

Cassidy Stobart
AP English, Period 2
Mrs. Myers
10/18/13

She wanted to leave. All of these people surrounding her, laughing with their friends, excited about receiving an A on the math test, and pumped for the upcoming break for Thanksgiving. The holiday where everyone shoved their faces with delicious food and the holiday in which everyone got to see their loved ones, significant others, and friends. However, she continued to wander through the hallways, her head down, and her heart beating slowly and painfully. She felt like a chuck of her heart had disappeared. This chunk was away at school and now, refused to speak to her. She was supposed to see him in less than a week. The day before, she had realized that she would never get the opportunity to see him again, let alone BE his again. She continued walking to her class and sat there while the teacher cracked jokes and discussed novels. But she just sat there, drowning in misery that only her best friends recognized. Her eyes were drooping; after crying her eyes out the night before, she fell asleep with tears still streaming down her face, and probably only slept about three hours maximum. She wanted this pain to end and she just wished that he was still with her, still her "significant other". Each day dragged on, she continued to try to text him, he would not respond. When he did, he kept saying they were over and it just was just not working out for him. Each night was filled with tears and disbelief that he was technically gone from her life...

Finally, it was a Sunday afternoon, about 2 weeks after the breakup. She had been talking to someone that had been her best friend for almost 6 years. However, she was afraid to commit to any kind of relationship, even a friendship, again. She knew she could trust her best friend, with all the support he was giving her during this hard time. But she felt hopeless, scared. She had an oppressive fear gripping her from ever wanting to try anything again. She noticed that heartache was way too much for her to handle. But along with this emotional terror she was experiencing, she gained a fear much greater than the fear of being emotionally hurt. Her new found fear was in physical pain. The wrenching feeling in her gut and her heart scared her and she felt like she had been punched and kicked repeatedly. She feared life and all of the pain it had brought her. She became scared of getting hurt; car crashes, heart attacks, everything seemed to scare her and made her feel like she could not go on.

She was driving to the barn where her horse was stabled. She planned on riding but she was terrified that she might get thrown off or severely injured. However, she got out of the car and walked to the barn. Her horse nickered at her and she felt the warmth of the barn surround her, the first warmth she had felt in a long time. Wapo made her laugh constantly as he tried to push his nose into her coat to find any kind of treat she had for him. She smiled as she gave him a peppermint and he crunched happily away on his success in finding a yummy treat. After brushing and tacking up her horse, she led Wapo out to the arena and slowly tightened her girth. Her stomach was filled with knots. She remembered all the times that he came to watch her ride, and he always told her how excellent of a rider she was. It made her feel confident and on top of the world. But now, his presence was gone, probably forever. It was dark, so she flipped on the arena lights and carefully got on. She slid her headphones into her ears and turned on Pandora Radio. As she started working Wapo, she noticed that she was singing along to a song that was playing. Then it hit her. The songs that were playing were making her angry and stronger. She was listening to Taylor Swift "We are never getting back together". Each song that was playing was in some way, matching her situation. They were talking about revenge, getting over those that have hurt you, and being strong. She yelled each word in lyrics, wishing he could hear the pain turning into anger. She also wished he could know she was over him and over what he put her through. As she continued to sing, she started jumping and doing everything she loved about riding. When she had finally finished, she started to realize something. Something that still affects her, even to this day. She realized that she has an immense fear of being hurt emotionally and being "left behind". But she did not fear the possibility of physical pain. She could sense the power, strength and freedom that she had while she was on her horse. She was stronger than this depressed, broken girl. As her life lesson, she remembers that every time she breaks, her horses will save her. She still experiences this same problem everyday; the emotional difficulties and stress get to her easily, and that will always be her weakness. But physically, she is strong enough to control an animal who can be unpredictable. But that's where her strength comes in: she is fearless and craves the adrenaline rush that makes her feel on top of the world.

Cassidy Stobart

Mrs. Myers

AP English

4 October 2013

Personal Statement

            A deep slumber is indubitably the greatest way to spend your night and early morning. Each and every one of us needs relaxation and calm, quality rest. However, one morning can be entirely different from the rest; this morning can change everything, your whole world, in just a matter of mere hours. One very early morning, around 5 a.m., my father rushed into my room, panting hard, his eyes were fearful and nervous. He quickly woke me and proceeded to tell me that one of my oldest horses, Rhumba, was very sick and he was not sure how much longer she was going to make it.

            Not one person on this planet ever wants to hear the news of any kind of tragedy. My instinct and impulsion caused me to jump out of bed and find the nearest possible set of sweatpants. I was hurrying; the grave tone of my father’s voice had my stomach tied up in millions of knots, knots that even a boy scout would not know how to undo. Rushing out of the house, I felt the cold frost of the  morning smack me on my bare face. I shivered despite my many warm clothes, and I sprinted down to the barn, and to Rhumba’s pasture. When I arrived, I saw her. My poor baby girl was panting heavily, and sweating excessively; the sweat was running down her body and was creating puddles beneath her. She looked stressed, pained, and it was easy to tell how difficult it was for her to breathe. She had white foam pouring out of her nostrils, which was abundant liquid coming straight from her lungs. I felt my throat tighten as I carefully made my way over to her. She flicked her ears in my direction, as despite her painful breathing, she watched me come towards her. Her whole body shook with each struggling breath. Watching her, I felt my own heart begin to beat heavily; I was standing in front of a horse that I had known all my life. I wrapped my arms around her sweat soaked neck. As I held her, every memory of her and I, and my life involving horses, came flooding back into my head. I remembered my first time ever getting on a horse, which was Rhumba, and I was only 2 years old. I recalled Rhumba’s grouchy attitude when someone tried to mess with her while she was eating; that mare loved her grain and hay and was always on her guard to defend her food. However, she always had energy, even in her old age. Rhumba may be old, but if she was in human form, she would be one of the most independent and strong willed woman I have ever come across. Each memory was golden and it frightened me to think that this very morning might be my last with her.

            I immediately asked where the vet was and my parents responded with, “He is on his way right now. Thank God. We need him more than ever”. While waiting, I leaned down next to Rhumba’s nostrils and started wiping the foam away with a paper towel. I breathed next to her, hoping to bring her a calming sense that she was going to be alright. The entire time, she watched each of us: my mom, my dad, and I. All three of us had tears in our eyes. But Rhumba was completely alert; she heard every sound and saw everything that was happening around her. At that very moment my vet arrived and rushed over to aid in whatever way he could. I saw the grave look that settled over his face; however, he told us that he was going to get a few shots. As he got them, he expressed his concern to my mother that he was not sure he could save her but he would try his very best. Taking the shots of lifesaving medication, he injected Rhumba with many different kinds. He told us to wait; we were now playing a game against time. Rhumba continued to breathe heavily, and we all discussed putting her out of her misery. Looking at Rhumba, I was sure it was not her time to leave this earth. We all waited, and just when it deemed our time to say our goodbyes, a miracle occurred. The shots Dr. Jeff had given Rhumba had started to take their effect. Slowly, the foam stopped and although her breathing was heavy, she looked much more relaxed and less scared. I stared in astonishment and my vet smiled with gratitude.

 I still remember this day as if it was yesterday. There are many jobs in the world I could chose to be. However, I have come to have a deep love for science and medicine. Going through high school, I always appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the bodies of animals and humans. With passion and devotion, I studied excessively to educate myself with knowledge to be a veterinarian. My heart grows when it comes to helping animals live a better life. I have owned horses since I was a baby and have dealt with many kinds of accidents, many of which needed a veterinarian instantly. After watching the miracle my vet was able to perform, my entire being yearns to become a vet just like him. He saved my horse’s life, and without him, she still would not be here today. As I look at my journey ahead, I can see all of the hurdles of working with animals. I understand some animals cannot be helped, and they must go for the better. On that fateful day for Rhumba, the saving grace was in my veterinarian’s hands. He acted so calm and knowledgeable. My dream, and my heart soars when I imagine it, is to perform in a career as a vet, saving the lives of animals so that they may live a longer and prosperous life. With this vision embedded within my brain, I cannot wait to begin on the road to knowledge and the power to save. My dream is to be able to accomplish the miracles and overcome what seems impossible, just as my vet saved the life of an animal so dear to me. Now I want to contribute the same back to my society.

MYERS-BRIGGS Test

ESFJ

Extravert(33%)  Sensing(12%)  Feeling(25%)  Judging(56%)

• You have moderate preference of Extraversion over Introversion (33%)
• You have slight preference of Sensing over Intuition (12%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (25%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (56%)

Similar Characteristics

• Generous entertainers
• They enjoy and joyfully observe traditions
• Easily wounded;  And when wounded, their emotions will not be contained
• Caretakers
• Have the ability to express warmth, rage, and a range of other emotions
• They serve excellently as protectors, outstanding in fields such as medical care
• Capable of discerning patterns and philosophies
• Lack the variety and complexity of connections that more complex systems require
• All of these are quite true. I have always wanted to have a career in the medical field so that explains why I want to serve as a protector. Also, I have noticed that I do anything to try to protect or entertain people. If someone isn't happy, then my mood turns sour. I love discerning patterns and trying to analyze ideas that surround philosophy. I love traditions. My family always celebrates holidays with certain traditions that5 will probably continue through the generations into my kids. One example would be that the adults hid a pickle ornament in the Christmas Tree, and the kids have to try to find it. I always win. (;  There are some things that I cannot wrap my head around, thus showing that complex connections and complex systems sometimes confuse me. Also, my emotions usually always show. I let myself get hurt easily; but I usually don't get sad or start crying when I or someone close to me gets hurt. I usually react in anger.

Characteristics that don't follow me

• Reflect the "black and white" view of reality
• I actually tend to view society in all colors and with many other ideas floating around in my mind.
• Viewing everything from a plain standpoint isn't any fun. Have some kind of creativity!

AFFIRMATION SOLICITATION:
Lance Crawford; Boyfriend

1. Determination
2. Adaptability
3. Creativity
4. Maturity
5. Dependability

Cassidy's hard work and determination are going to help her excel in her academic career, which is going to bring her to an amazing career that she will have worked hard to achieve.

"For a many good people imagine that forgiving your enemies means making out that they are really not such bad fellows after all, when it is quite plain they are. Go a step further. In my most clear-sighted moments not only do I not think of myself as a nice man, but I know that I am a very nasty one... Now that I come to think of it, I remember Christian teachers telling me long ago that I must hate a bad man's actions, but not hate the bad man; or, as they would say, hate the sin but not the sinner..." (117). 

I believe this is an extremely had aspect to grasp. Think about it. We all have those people that we cannot stand. They make us angry, or they have even done wrong to us. A little anecdote that came to mind while reading this section was back about 4 years ago. The story does not involve me yet it is definitely a story where it was hard to forgive the other party involved. My friend, Taylor, used to own a little pony. This pony was very special to her, as it was her "first horse" and the first horse she had ever ridden. As she grew up, this horse needed a new little girl to ride him and keep him going in his old age. This little girl got the pony and not too long later, the pony threw her off and I believe she broke her arm. In his rage, her father beat the pony and starved it; no food or water for a very long time. When the girl was well again, she continued riding the pony. The next time she got thrown off, the father had had enough and actually shot the horse and killed it. This is a very sad, depressing story. However it brings up this exact situation. How in the world is Taylor supposed to forgive this horrible man and what crime he has committed against her pony? I know that when we were discussing it with her, I was enraged. How could someone have such a little heart and love for a poor, defenseless creature? This pony did nothing wrong, the girl wasn't even badly injured. I have had the same things happen to me, yet I don't go abusing my horse and committing animal cruelty. But that brings up a major question. How do you forgive the sin in this situation? Not to mention, how would you forgive the sinner? This kind of hostility is ridiculous and disgusting to see in a grown man. This man should know how to control his temper and realize that it wasn't the animals fault. And just as C.S. Lewis said, he wouldn't think of himself as nice at all towards people who have done him wrong. He says so himself, "I know that I am a very nasty one" (117). And in cases like this, I am left to wonder, how can I forgive this wretched man? C.S. Lewis goes a little more in depth of how to overcome this hatred and anger. Not all cases are as severe as mine, however, the same concept would still come into play. C.S. Lewis says that it is definitely not easy, it never will be easy. But you must realize that sin is omnipresent in this world. The hatred and anger has to be let go. That is much easier said than done, of course. However, holding onto something makes you just as bad as the person who committed the crime. You are holding that sin within your heart and most of the time, all you can think about is revenge. God says that our heart fills with the fire of revenge and it will make us worse than the sinner of the crime. As you come to terms with the pain and suffering, just remember that you don't hate the man, but you hate what he did. The killer of the pony may not be "bad", but his actions are. It is a hard realm to entirely explain, but it makes sense as you realize that the only reason you hate someone is because their actions showed you something to dislike. You say you dislike the queen-bee of the school, but what do you really hate about her? Her actions; her gossip, her high and mighty attitude, and her way of almost bullying you around to make you feel unworthy. But what did I mention? I mentioned all of the actions that she does. Just as Jesus hated the sin, he always sat with the sinners. He knew it was their actions that were bad, not the men themselves. "Hate the sin, but not the sinner." ~C.S. Lewis

As I look to my right, I see my comfortable, relaxing bed, filled with sheets and pillows and a good nights sleep. However, you can sleep when you are dead. This is the life and you only live it once. Thus, I look towards the left, and I don't see, but I hear the sound of a horse breathing softly. One's heart beats to the rhythmic sound of classical, country, or pop music. Yet whenever I hop onto my horse, my heart beats with his movement. My horses deserve the care of any human being.  As a baby needs its mother for support, my horses wait for me to feed them and make sure they have the cleanest of all water to drink. I see my horses as fellow humans. They can be irritated, hungry, thirsty, and content. But either way, I live for them as they live for me.

A horseback rider speaks a language built of silence. The silence is golden as no one can understand the feeling of speaking with your body, and the feeling of your touch changing the atmosphere. 

This language horseback riders speak is phenomenal. I can use just my heels and my horse can move sideways across the whole arena. How I position myself in the saddle, the horse can sense it; they can sense the tension, the nerves, and the pride. 

However, life is like a box of chocolates. My chocolates are my horses, but each day brings something new. I never know what I am going to get when I get on that horse. As they say, horse back riding is one of the most dangerous sport in the world. It is one of the only sports that involves man having to put his trust into an animal with a mind of its own. Everyday, I put myself into risk of death, risk of permanent injury. 

Days in this life can be as sweet as chocolate, however, they can blow like a grenade in mere seconds. Therefore, never take life for granted. You will reach these times of frustration and anger. With my horses, I must remember that my punishment is unknown to them. They don't have the brain to understand the things done wrong. So therefore, continue to love even when you want to blow up. Because you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get." -Stewie Griffin, Family Guy

Litany Introduction

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine...
-Jacques Crickillon

 You are the knowledge and the stress,
  the future and the death.
You are the ink on the paper
and the reason I get up early.
You are the dress codes,
and you make everyone want to leave.

However, you aren't the worst thing in the world,
the fresh scent or freedom,
or the epitome of happiness.
And you are certainly not the place I want to be
There is just no way i would want to be with you.

It is possible that you have made me sick, multiple times,
maybe even out me on the brink of tears,
and you are not even close
to being anything beautiful

And a quick look in the windows will show,
that I shouldnt go inside
and that you are just like a jail cell.

It might interest you to know,
people only go to you because they have to, they want a job sometime,
but we would rather be skipping through the grass,
not dragging ourselves around on your tile floors.

I also happen to play sports,
and have dreams of leaving you for good,
yet I have to stay up until the crack of dawn because of you.

You stress me out, thank you very much,
and I wish I didnt have to spend so much time with you during endless weeks...
But don't worry, I graduate soon.
You are still the knowledge and the stress,
You will ALWAYS be the knowledge and the stress,
not to mention the future and-- of course-- the death.