1. Five key points listeners can expect are that he will not ask for a lot of things for Congress to pass, he will try to sell them on his past and future accomplishments, social media will have pictures and video of the speech, he will try to influence voters into electing a democrat for the next presidency, and two austinites will be among guests during the speech.
2. Sean Penn had a secret meeting with El Chapo, and he ended up being followed and photographed, which revealed the location of El Chapo.
3. Four of his most famous songs are "Space Oddity," :) "Fame," "Heroes," and "Let's Dance."
4. The projected Powerball lottery payout when the numbers are pulled out wednesday is $1.4 billion.
5. I would definitley love to visit the Star Wars Universe to see all the attractions and movie props, but I would not wait in line for two hours to meet the characters.
Short Answer:
I would buy lottery tickets when the Powerball was very large like it is right now, but I would not buy them very often because it could end up costing me a lot. I also read that statistically, you have a better chance of dying on your way to purchase a lottery ticket than actually winning the lottery. My dad bought three tickets for the lottery. He was very excited when the radio announced that someone from the gas station he purchased his ticket won a sum of money. Unfortunately, it wasn't my dad, but it was really fun and nerve wracking to check our numbers. I would buy a few tickets to partcipate in this record drawing, but I would not buy hundreds of tickets like some others have done.
I would love to win the Powerball jackpot. I would start out with the responsible actions of securing my family's financial future for years to come and donating to several charities. I would definitely put money into cancer research. My uncle is currently fighting pancreatic cancer, and I would pay for him to have the best medical care available. Then, I would do some fun stuff. I would buy a giant mansion in L.A., and a vacation home in Nassau, Bahamas. I would also buy a gorgeous lake house on Lake Travis with a fleet of yachts, jet skis, and speed boats. There, I would throw a party to celebrate my money. We would have every food item imaginable and private concerts from Bruno Mars, Dierks Bently, and Panic! At the disco. Finally, I would fund and self publish novels to start my writing career.
If I only won 3 million, I would still focus on doing the responsible stuff. I would buy a bigger home, and take my friends and family on an amazing cruise in the Carribbean. I would still focus on putting money into my writing career. I would stay in school to get my high school diploma, but I am not sure if I would go on to further education.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
Lone Star Dispatch Issue #3
News-Lockdown procedures impact student learning and thoughts
A reverse lockdown was held at Bowie due to extreme weather conditions. The school followed the standard lockdown procedure.
1. Officer Covington, an assistant principal, and Maura Evans
2. "I would be addressing the threat and while I am looking for the threat I also would need to make sure all the students, staff, and the officers I'm with are safe, including me," Covington said.
3. No, the second half of the sentence didn't strongly relate to the story.
4. The conclusion was a cliffhanger that ended in the middle of a sentence.
Commentary-Science Fair is getting too competitive for students
The writer feels that science fair should not be required in the academic curriculum. He thinks students don't need the additional stress and it could conflict with their other classes.
1. No Quotes
2. No Quotes
3. No, when the writer began with "Science fair is cool and all," it made the story seem unprofessional.
4. Statement
Student Life-Pet rescue strikes a cord with a pair of animal lovers
Two juniors at Bowie spend their weekends volunteering. They love animals and volunteer at The Leisure Cat Animal Rescue.
1. Alex Reyes and Fuaad Ajaz
2. "I would tell them about the characteristics of the animal, funny traits, what they like and dislike, the breed, and any questions the adopter has," Reyes said.
3. Yes
4. Quote
Entertainment-Sci-Fi movie excites
Star Wars: The Force Awakens recently came to theaters. Fans were extremely excited for this seventh movie in the series.
1. John Martin and Craig Johnson
2. "I've thought about buying some Jar Jar Binks ears," Martin said. "I think it would be pretty ridiculous."
3. Yes
4. Quote
Athletics-Girls basketball thrives through the seasons challenges
The girls basketball team is almost halfway through a successful season. A lot of the team's success is due to the bond between the players.
1. Vickie Benson, Amber Lotz, and Kianna Ray
2. "If we can stay healthy, we have a really good chance to be playing excellent basketball in January and February," Vickie Benson said.
3. Yes
4. Statement
In-Depth-Bees find a sweet home on campus
A senior at Bowie made it so there are bees and beekeeping classes on campus through the FFA. She has been working towards this goal all four years of her time at Bowie.
1. Lili Benitez, Kiara Gonzales, and Laura Munoz
2. "And they're also just really fascinating creatures and I've always been really interested in beekeeping," Benitez said.
3. Yes
4. Quote
1. My favorite photo is the one from the World War 2 reenactment article. I like it because the subject of the photo is in focus and the rest is slightly blurry. It is a well taken shot, and the black and white makes it seem older.
2. My least favorite photo was with the Trail of Lights article. There were so many beautiful things to photograph in the trail, and the cover photo was the basic image Austinites have seen many times. I would have like to see a more creative photo.
3. I would have to photograph the World War 2 reenactment. There would be a lot of action shots, and the student's passion would show through in the photos.
4. I think the photography was overall really good. The angles and focus showed that there are talented photographers on the staff. I think the paper could do better at finding interesting and more obscure subjects for their photos.
I think it would be interesting to do a story about the debate club. Students in the club spend many weekends and countless hours preparing and attending tournaments. Alison Anagnos would be a great subject for this story.
A reverse lockdown was held at Bowie due to extreme weather conditions. The school followed the standard lockdown procedure.
1. Officer Covington, an assistant principal, and Maura Evans
2. "I would be addressing the threat and while I am looking for the threat I also would need to make sure all the students, staff, and the officers I'm with are safe, including me," Covington said.
3. No, the second half of the sentence didn't strongly relate to the story.
4. The conclusion was a cliffhanger that ended in the middle of a sentence.
Commentary-Science Fair is getting too competitive for students
The writer feels that science fair should not be required in the academic curriculum. He thinks students don't need the additional stress and it could conflict with their other classes.
1. No Quotes
2. No Quotes
3. No, when the writer began with "Science fair is cool and all," it made the story seem unprofessional.
4. Statement
Student Life-Pet rescue strikes a cord with a pair of animal lovers
Two juniors at Bowie spend their weekends volunteering. They love animals and volunteer at The Leisure Cat Animal Rescue.
1. Alex Reyes and Fuaad Ajaz
2. "I would tell them about the characteristics of the animal, funny traits, what they like and dislike, the breed, and any questions the adopter has," Reyes said.
3. Yes
4. Quote
Entertainment-Sci-Fi movie excites
Star Wars: The Force Awakens recently came to theaters. Fans were extremely excited for this seventh movie in the series.
1. John Martin and Craig Johnson
2. "I've thought about buying some Jar Jar Binks ears," Martin said. "I think it would be pretty ridiculous."
3. Yes
4. Quote
Athletics-Girls basketball thrives through the seasons challenges
The girls basketball team is almost halfway through a successful season. A lot of the team's success is due to the bond between the players.
1. Vickie Benson, Amber Lotz, and Kianna Ray
2. "If we can stay healthy, we have a really good chance to be playing excellent basketball in January and February," Vickie Benson said.
3. Yes
4. Statement
In-Depth-Bees find a sweet home on campus
A senior at Bowie made it so there are bees and beekeeping classes on campus through the FFA. She has been working towards this goal all four years of her time at Bowie.
1. Lili Benitez, Kiara Gonzales, and Laura Munoz
2. "And they're also just really fascinating creatures and I've always been really interested in beekeeping," Benitez said.
3. Yes
4. Quote
1. My favorite photo is the one from the World War 2 reenactment article. I like it because the subject of the photo is in focus and the rest is slightly blurry. It is a well taken shot, and the black and white makes it seem older.
2. My least favorite photo was with the Trail of Lights article. There were so many beautiful things to photograph in the trail, and the cover photo was the basic image Austinites have seen many times. I would have like to see a more creative photo.
3. I would have to photograph the World War 2 reenactment. There would be a lot of action shots, and the student's passion would show through in the photos.
4. I think the photography was overall really good. The angles and focus showed that there are talented photographers on the staff. I think the paper could do better at finding interesting and more obscure subjects for their photos.
I think it would be interesting to do a story about the debate club. Students in the club spend many weekends and countless hours preparing and attending tournaments. Alison Anagnos would be a great subject for this story.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
The Year In Photos
I liked this photo because it showed a great amount of detail with varying shades of only two colors. You could feel the woman's emotion without seeing her facial expression. I also like how the photographer didn't include the fire in the photo, and they showed the effect of the fire on the woman.
I really like the contrast of the boldly orange clothes against a green backdrop. The setting is a civilization built by man, but it has been untouched for many years. It combines the beauty of nature and architecture.
Over a million people took part in the protest against terrorism after terrorists claimed the life of 16 people in France. The eyes are from a picture of Charlie Charbonnier, one of the victims. I think it is amazing how many people will stand up for injustice of a few. When you look at this photo, it is like you are looking in to the eyes of each protester and victim.
I think Uptown Funk was the best song of 2015 because it was fun, upbeat, and appealed to a wide range of audiences. It attracted more attention because Bruno Mars is a talented live performer, and the song had a very entertaining music video. It was the most watched video of 2015.
Paper Towns was one of my favorite movies of 2015. It was based on a very popular John Green novel. The dialogue is witty and fun, but the movie incorporates deeper meanings and complex interpersonal relationships between characters. There's an air of mystery as you the audience discovers clues and discovers the truth with Quinn.
Police brutality was a common theme in the 2015 news stream. Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and many others died or were injured as a result of police brutality. Though it has always been a problem, the issue seemed more prevalent in 2015 than any previous year during my lifetime.
Donald Trump was the most noteworthy person of 2015. He was the leading GOP presidential candidate. He said a variety of controversial and headline grabbing things throughout the year, but still managed to lead in the poles.
One of the biggest pop culture stories of 2015 was the long term relationship of Kylie Jenner and musician Tyga. The relationship was very controversial because 25 year old Tyga was dating an underage girl. The story was featured on TMZ and other celebrity following news sites for many months.
1. One fun thing that happened over winter break was that I went to the mall and movies with some friends to see "Daddy's Home."
2. My resolutions for 2016 are to eat healthier and go to Planet Fitness more often than I currently do.
3. I am looking forward to an upcoming debate competition, spending time with friends, and getting my license in 2016.
Friday, December 4, 2015
First Draft
By: Maya Joyner
Period: 7
Tim Joyner
On a sunny day, one might be walking past a little ice cream shop in the southwest of Austin and notice a gray haired man with a kind face. The man's name is Tim Joyner, and he has owned this little ice cream shop for almost ten years. Though Joyner's life may seem average, the story behind his life is anything but normal.
Joyner is a hardworking man, who spent many years persevering to gain the quality of life he enjoys now.
"In my younger years, especially preteen, we moved around a bunch, as my parents struggled to find work," Joyner said. "We were living in different parts of the country, and I was kind of a shy kid. It was traumatic going to new schools over and over again, especially being a poor kid trying to make friends. I didn't have the nice clothes, or the fancy stuff, and I was underachieving academically."
Poverty was a struggle for Joyner throughout his early and teenage years. Even though being poor was an issue for him, in many ways it positively impacted his work ethic.
"We were very poor growing up, me and my two older brothers," Joyner said. "When they were teenagers, we were at our worst. I was a little younger at the time, so it didn't affect me quite as badly, but we continued to be poor into my teenage years. It taught me how to take care of myself, be independent. I got my first job really early, when I was about ten years old, and I've been working ever since."
Joyner is a loving husband. He and his wife Susan Joyner recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
"His strongest characteristics are that he is a very honest person, and he's a very forgiving person. He doesn't stay upset or angry with anyone for too long. He always manages to find the good in people," Susan said.
The struggles Tim endured as a child molded him into the adult he is today.
"Being poor made me be a lot more capable of coping with things. It hardened me in a lot of ways," Tim said. "I feel like I'm pretty tough. It forced me to become a man a lot earlier in life than my peers. I had more responsibilities. It made me be a lot stronger, and I've heard the same from others who were poor. It teaches you to take care of yourself. You learn to be self-sufficient because you rely on yourself."
Tim own's Austin Scoops Ice Cream and Treatery. He enjoys being a business owner because it gives him flexible hours and more time with his family. He is a loving and supportive father to his daughters, Maya and Mandy Joyner. His youngest child, Mandy, tells a story about an event that shows Tim's ethics and honesty.
"One day, me and Maya were in the car with my dad. We were going to school, and we were driving through a neighborhood. As were were driving, he saw something on the road, so he stopped and got out of the car. He had found a wallet, and he couldn't find any sort of identification. He knocked on a few doors until he found the owner. He's honest, and he did the right thing," Mandy said.
Tim spent a portion of his childhood raised by a single mother.
"My mom became single as I was an infant and toddler, so I don't have a great deal of memories from it. I remember the struggle was very, very hard. We were very poor, and I would call it extreme poverty," Tim said. "We lived in a car for a few days. We drove across the country asking different family members for help. I remember seeing my mom cry because we didn't have enough food on the table. We once shared a hotdog as a family of four. I remember living in a trailer in Florida for a while. It was about the size of a bathroom."
Tim is a very considerate person who makes it his mission to help others. While Susan and Tim were dating, he saw a married couple in need of assistance. He insisted on giving them a ride home because they were in a bad situation. Tim insisted on giving a ride home to a married couple in need of assistance.
He came out of the gas station with a crying woman and a baby, and he tells us we're driving them home. She only spoke a very small amount of English, and it turned out she had her husband with her, too. We did end up getting them home safely," Susan said. "When he walked into the gas station, he heard her crying on the phone, and he knows some Spanish. She was pleading with her mom about getting a ride home because their car had broke down and they didn't have any formula for the baby. Tim felt like he just had to help. He just said these people were in a bad situation and he was meant to help them. I think that sums up Tim's personality."
Moving from the city to the country had a remarkable impact on Tim growing up.
"As a child and a young teen, I grew up in a part of Houston that was known for being very rough.
There was gang violence, drugs, transience, homelessness, and a lot of problems in the area. We would walk in large groups of people, just to keep our lunch money going to elementary school," Tim said. "When I moved to the country, it was just the exact opposite. It had lots of woods and lots of things to do. I made lots of friends and learned about animals. I learned to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me."
Period: 7
Tim Joyner
On a sunny day, one might be walking past a little ice cream shop in the southwest of Austin and notice a gray haired man with a kind face. The man's name is Tim Joyner, and he has owned this little ice cream shop for almost ten years. Though Joyner's life may seem average, the story behind his life is anything but normal.
Joyner is a hardworking man, who spent many years persevering to gain the quality of life he enjoys now.
"In my younger years, especially preteen, we moved around a bunch, as my parents struggled to find work," Joyner said. "We were living in different parts of the country, and I was kind of a shy kid. It was traumatic going to new schools over and over again, especially being a poor kid trying to make friends. I didn't have the nice clothes, or the fancy stuff, and I was underachieving academically."
Poverty was a struggle for Joyner throughout his early and teenage years. Even though being poor was an issue for him, in many ways it positively impacted his work ethic.
"We were very poor growing up, me and my two older brothers," Joyner said. "When they were teenagers, we were at our worst. I was a little younger at the time, so it didn't affect me quite as badly, but we continued to be poor into my teenage years. It taught me how to take care of myself, be independent. I got my first job really early, when I was about ten years old, and I've been working ever since."
Joyner is a loving husband. He and his wife Susan Joyner recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
"His strongest characteristics are that he is a very honest person, and he's a very forgiving person. He doesn't stay upset or angry with anyone for too long. He always manages to find the good in people," Susan said.
The struggles Tim endured as a child molded him into the adult he is today.
"Being poor made me be a lot more capable of coping with things. It hardened me in a lot of ways," Tim said. "I feel like I'm pretty tough. It forced me to become a man a lot earlier in life than my peers. I had more responsibilities. It made me be a lot stronger, and I've heard the same from others who were poor. It teaches you to take care of yourself. You learn to be self-sufficient because you rely on yourself."
Tim own's Austin Scoops Ice Cream and Treatery. He enjoys being a business owner because it gives him flexible hours and more time with his family. He is a loving and supportive father to his daughters, Maya and Mandy Joyner. His youngest child, Mandy, tells a story about an event that shows Tim's ethics and honesty.
"One day, me and Maya were in the car with my dad. We were going to school, and we were driving through a neighborhood. As were were driving, he saw something on the road, so he stopped and got out of the car. He had found a wallet, and he couldn't find any sort of identification. He knocked on a few doors until he found the owner. He's honest, and he did the right thing," Mandy said.
Tim spent a portion of his childhood raised by a single mother.
"My mom became single as I was an infant and toddler, so I don't have a great deal of memories from it. I remember the struggle was very, very hard. We were very poor, and I would call it extreme poverty," Tim said. "We lived in a car for a few days. We drove across the country asking different family members for help. I remember seeing my mom cry because we didn't have enough food on the table. We once shared a hotdog as a family of four. I remember living in a trailer in Florida for a while. It was about the size of a bathroom."
Tim is a very considerate person who makes it his mission to help others. While Susan and Tim were dating, he saw a married couple in need of assistance. He insisted on giving them a ride home because they were in a bad situation. Tim insisted on giving a ride home to a married couple in need of assistance.
He came out of the gas station with a crying woman and a baby, and he tells us we're driving them home. She only spoke a very small amount of English, and it turned out she had her husband with her, too. We did end up getting them home safely," Susan said. "When he walked into the gas station, he heard her crying on the phone, and he knows some Spanish. She was pleading with her mom about getting a ride home because their car had broke down and they didn't have any formula for the baby. Tim felt like he just had to help. He just said these people were in a bad situation and he was meant to help them. I think that sums up Tim's personality."
Moving from the city to the country had a remarkable impact on Tim growing up.
"As a child and a young teen, I grew up in a part of Houston that was known for being very rough.
There was gang violence, drugs, transience, homelessness, and a lot of problems in the area. We would walk in large groups of people, just to keep our lunch money going to elementary school," Tim said. "When I moved to the country, it was just the exact opposite. It had lots of woods and lots of things to do. I made lots of friends and learned about animals. I learned to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me."
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Feature Story Notes
Tim Joyner
1. In my younger years, especially preteen, we moved around a bunch, as my parents struggled to find work. We were living in different parts of the country, and I was kind of a shy kid. It was traumatic going to new schools over and over again, especially being a poor kid trying to make friends. I didn't have the nice clothes, or the fancy stuff, and I was underachieving academically.
2. We were very poor growing up, me and my two older brothers. It probably affected my brothers more than me. When they were teenagers, we were at our worst. I was a little younger at the time so it didn't affect me quite as badly, but we continued to be poor into my teenage years. It taught me how to take care of myself, be independent. I got my first job really early, when I was about ten years old, and I've been working ever since. At a fairly young age I was able to get a car, buy my own clothes, and I even got an apartment in my early teens.
3. I was the youngest, so I wound up wearing hand-me-downs from my two older brothers. A lot of my clothes were in pretty bad shape, which was embarrassing as a child. I would wear the same shirt, or pants, or shoes three to four times a week. It was embarrassing for me also as a teen to eat the school lunches that were basically for poor people. If they had fed you breakfast or lunch, everybody knew. I would get made fun of for those things, and it really made me dislike school in general.
4. Being poor made me be a lot more capable of coping with things. It hardened me in a lot of ways. I feel like I'm pretty tough. It forced me to become a man a lot earlier in life than my peers. I had more responsibilities. It made me be a lot stronger, and I've heard that from a lot of people. It teaches you to take care of yourself. You learn to be self-sufficient because you rely on yourself.
5. I knew a lot of kids who had more money than me, and it does stand out in mind as an adult. I'm sure I was very envious of the kids with money, but I did have a couple of friends who I have very fond memories of who were well off. They would share with me, let me borrow their clothes, and let me enjoy the things around them that I didn't have.
6. As a child and a young teen, I grew up in a part of Houston that was known for being very rough.
There was gang violence, drugs, transience, homelessness, and a lot of problems in the area. It was not even safe to walk to school. We would walk in large groups of people, just to keep our lunch money going to elementary school. In fact, there were train tracks right across the street from our house. We would hop the trains because it was a much safer route to get to school. When I moved to the country, it was just the exact opposite. It had lots of woods and lots of things to do. No gangs, no violence, no drugs. I made lots of friends, and learned about horses and animals. I learned to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. It was probably on of the best things that ever happened to me.
7. Looking back on what my parents went through and what they shielded me from, it's almost painful sometimes to think about what we put our parents through. I know now, as a parent, what it must have been like to not be able to put food on the table, and not having the resources to give us a Christmas or birthday present. But we had family, and we had love, and we always got by. We always ate something. We also had family that would try to help us out. It's hard to see some of the sacrifices they went through just to make some basic things happen.
8. My brothers and I got along pretty well in our teen years. As we got older, we drifted apart a little bit. I was rebellious, and they were more responsible than me. I was definitely the one that got in more trouble. All in all we got along pretty well. We all looked after eachother. We all took up for eachother. We still love and help eachother out, so we're still very close today.
9. Moving out to the country was the single best thing that ever happened to me. I was on a dead end path in the situation I was in. It was a major life changing moment from day one. I made many friends and learned many, many things that I still use today.
10. My life motto, I would say, is very plain and simple. Never give up, and never give in. There's always hope. One of my employee's has a tattoo that says "This to shall pass." I firmly believe that you have to just do you're best, and never give up, and things will eventually go your way. I am a srong believer in karma, in doing good things, and having good things happen to you.
11. Like many people, I have many regrets. For bad things I did, or good things I didn't do. Of being afraid to show my true feelings because I was too shy. I wish I had treated my parents much, much better. I often feel myself needing to apologize for being so rebellious as a child.
12. Though I don't consider myself dumb, I did poor in school from very early on. I was very rebellious about school, and the school I was in wasn't very good. By the time I was in second grade, and had already moved schools several times, I was doing very poorly. This just sort of carried on into my teenage years. I didn't really start doing well until I left the public school system and went into a private school situation. There were more changes into my style of learning.
13. How I got into private school is kind of interesting. I was in eighth grade and I was struggling, about to fail. A very wealthy family in our small town was soliciting the school for some oppurtunities to sponsor students in a private Christian academy. Their good deed passed on to me. I didn't really understand the value of it at the time. But it was an oppurtunity for me, and the school brought my name to their attention. I checked out the school, and it seemed like it would be a good fit for me. The public school system had given up on me at that point, and I had given up on myself. While I didn't do amazingly well in the private school environment, I did much better. It was much more suited to my type of learning.
14. My social life was pretty good. I always remember having friends at all of my schools. I would get picked on by the more popular, or more wealthy kids because of the way I dressed. I always managed to have close friends. Whether we were having fun or getting in trouble, my friends were everything to me.
15. My mom became single as I was an infant and toddler, so I don't have a great deal of memories from it. I remember the struggle was very, very hard. We were very poor, and I would call it extreme poverty. We lived in a car for a few days. We drove across the country asking different family members for help. I remember seeing my mom cry because we didn't have enough food on the table. We once shared a hotdog as a family of four. I remember living in a trailer in Florida for a while. It was about the size of a bathroom.
(Only quotes used in story)
Susan
1. While we were dating, Tim and I had got back from a river trip about two hours away from home. We had stopped at a gas station, and he was going to drive my friend and I home. He came out of the gas station with a crying woman and a baby, and he tells us we're driving them home. She only spoke a very small amount of English, and it turned out she had her husband with her too. We put them in the backseat, and my friend and I were very worried because it was almost a hitchhiking scenario. We did end up getting them home safely. For me, the story shows what I was in for in the rest of my life. When he walked into the gas station, he heard her crying on the phone, and he knows some Spanish. She was pleading with her mom about getting a ride home because their car had broke down and they didn't have any formula for the baby. Tim felt like he just had to help. He just said these people were in a bad situation and he had to help them. I think that sums up Tim's personality.
2. His strongest characteristics are that he is a very honest person, and he's a very forgiving person. He doesn't stay upset or angry with anyone for too long. He always manages to find the good in people.
Mandy1. One day, me and Maya were in the car with my dad. We were going to school, and we were driving through a neighborhood. As were were driving, he saw something on the road, so he stopped and got out of the car. He had found a wallet, and he couldn't find any sort of identification. He knocked on a few doors until he found the owner. He's honest, and he did the right thing.
1. In my younger years, especially preteen, we moved around a bunch, as my parents struggled to find work. We were living in different parts of the country, and I was kind of a shy kid. It was traumatic going to new schools over and over again, especially being a poor kid trying to make friends. I didn't have the nice clothes, or the fancy stuff, and I was underachieving academically.
2. We were very poor growing up, me and my two older brothers. It probably affected my brothers more than me. When they were teenagers, we were at our worst. I was a little younger at the time so it didn't affect me quite as badly, but we continued to be poor into my teenage years. It taught me how to take care of myself, be independent. I got my first job really early, when I was about ten years old, and I've been working ever since. At a fairly young age I was able to get a car, buy my own clothes, and I even got an apartment in my early teens.
3. I was the youngest, so I wound up wearing hand-me-downs from my two older brothers. A lot of my clothes were in pretty bad shape, which was embarrassing as a child. I would wear the same shirt, or pants, or shoes three to four times a week. It was embarrassing for me also as a teen to eat the school lunches that were basically for poor people. If they had fed you breakfast or lunch, everybody knew. I would get made fun of for those things, and it really made me dislike school in general.
4. Being poor made me be a lot more capable of coping with things. It hardened me in a lot of ways. I feel like I'm pretty tough. It forced me to become a man a lot earlier in life than my peers. I had more responsibilities. It made me be a lot stronger, and I've heard that from a lot of people. It teaches you to take care of yourself. You learn to be self-sufficient because you rely on yourself.
5. I knew a lot of kids who had more money than me, and it does stand out in mind as an adult. I'm sure I was very envious of the kids with money, but I did have a couple of friends who I have very fond memories of who were well off. They would share with me, let me borrow their clothes, and let me enjoy the things around them that I didn't have.
6. As a child and a young teen, I grew up in a part of Houston that was known for being very rough.
There was gang violence, drugs, transience, homelessness, and a lot of problems in the area. It was not even safe to walk to school. We would walk in large groups of people, just to keep our lunch money going to elementary school. In fact, there were train tracks right across the street from our house. We would hop the trains because it was a much safer route to get to school. When I moved to the country, it was just the exact opposite. It had lots of woods and lots of things to do. No gangs, no violence, no drugs. I made lots of friends, and learned about horses and animals. I learned to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. It was probably on of the best things that ever happened to me.
7. Looking back on what my parents went through and what they shielded me from, it's almost painful sometimes to think about what we put our parents through. I know now, as a parent, what it must have been like to not be able to put food on the table, and not having the resources to give us a Christmas or birthday present. But we had family, and we had love, and we always got by. We always ate something. We also had family that would try to help us out. It's hard to see some of the sacrifices they went through just to make some basic things happen.
8. My brothers and I got along pretty well in our teen years. As we got older, we drifted apart a little bit. I was rebellious, and they were more responsible than me. I was definitely the one that got in more trouble. All in all we got along pretty well. We all looked after eachother. We all took up for eachother. We still love and help eachother out, so we're still very close today.
9. Moving out to the country was the single best thing that ever happened to me. I was on a dead end path in the situation I was in. It was a major life changing moment from day one. I made many friends and learned many, many things that I still use today.
10. My life motto, I would say, is very plain and simple. Never give up, and never give in. There's always hope. One of my employee's has a tattoo that says "This to shall pass." I firmly believe that you have to just do you're best, and never give up, and things will eventually go your way. I am a srong believer in karma, in doing good things, and having good things happen to you.
11. Like many people, I have many regrets. For bad things I did, or good things I didn't do. Of being afraid to show my true feelings because I was too shy. I wish I had treated my parents much, much better. I often feel myself needing to apologize for being so rebellious as a child.
12. Though I don't consider myself dumb, I did poor in school from very early on. I was very rebellious about school, and the school I was in wasn't very good. By the time I was in second grade, and had already moved schools several times, I was doing very poorly. This just sort of carried on into my teenage years. I didn't really start doing well until I left the public school system and went into a private school situation. There were more changes into my style of learning.
13. How I got into private school is kind of interesting. I was in eighth grade and I was struggling, about to fail. A very wealthy family in our small town was soliciting the school for some oppurtunities to sponsor students in a private Christian academy. Their good deed passed on to me. I didn't really understand the value of it at the time. But it was an oppurtunity for me, and the school brought my name to their attention. I checked out the school, and it seemed like it would be a good fit for me. The public school system had given up on me at that point, and I had given up on myself. While I didn't do amazingly well in the private school environment, I did much better. It was much more suited to my type of learning.
14. My social life was pretty good. I always remember having friends at all of my schools. I would get picked on by the more popular, or more wealthy kids because of the way I dressed. I always managed to have close friends. Whether we were having fun or getting in trouble, my friends were everything to me.
15. My mom became single as I was an infant and toddler, so I don't have a great deal of memories from it. I remember the struggle was very, very hard. We were very poor, and I would call it extreme poverty. We lived in a car for a few days. We drove across the country asking different family members for help. I remember seeing my mom cry because we didn't have enough food on the table. We once shared a hotdog as a family of four. I remember living in a trailer in Florida for a while. It was about the size of a bathroom.
(Only quotes used in story)
Susan
1. While we were dating, Tim and I had got back from a river trip about two hours away from home. We had stopped at a gas station, and he was going to drive my friend and I home. He came out of the gas station with a crying woman and a baby, and he tells us we're driving them home. She only spoke a very small amount of English, and it turned out she had her husband with her too. We put them in the backseat, and my friend and I were very worried because it was almost a hitchhiking scenario. We did end up getting them home safely. For me, the story shows what I was in for in the rest of my life. When he walked into the gas station, he heard her crying on the phone, and he knows some Spanish. She was pleading with her mom about getting a ride home because their car had broke down and they didn't have any formula for the baby. Tim felt like he just had to help. He just said these people were in a bad situation and he had to help them. I think that sums up Tim's personality.
2. His strongest characteristics are that he is a very honest person, and he's a very forgiving person. He doesn't stay upset or angry with anyone for too long. He always manages to find the good in people.
Mandy1. One day, me and Maya were in the car with my dad. We were going to school, and we were driving through a neighborhood. As were were driving, he saw something on the road, so he stopped and got out of the car. He had found a wallet, and he couldn't find any sort of identification. He knocked on a few doors until he found the owner. He's honest, and he did the right thing.
CE 3.3
1. Mark Zuckerberg described their goals as “advancing human potential and promoting equality.”
2. The state is adding $130 million in spending for Pre-K on small class sizes, teacher training, and full day schooling.
3. The newest downtown condo project, the Independent, will be 58 stories, and it is significant because it will be the tallest building in Austin.
4. David Price will make $217 million in the next seven years.
5. Yes, I would like to try Texas Trash.
Short Answer:
Homeboy Industries is a company that helps ex gang members and people who have been released from jail to find work and have a second chance in society. I thought the story was interesting and compelling. It made me think about the struggles they must go through to reenter society. They're probably judged a lot harder than any other employees. I think the interns sent by Homeboy would work hard to prove they've earned the opportunity allotted to them. I believe in second chances, and I think it is good that Homeboy helps people who want to change their lives find careers.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Feature Story Brainstorm
1. My main subject is my dad, Tim Joyner.
2. Supporting interviews from my mom, sister, and possibly uncles.
3. The topic would be his childhood experiences and how it made his personality.
4. I'm going to use the personality angle.
5.
1. Describe some of the major events of your childhood.
2. How did being poor effect your childhood?
3. What is one specific memory you have of being embarrassed because of poverty?
4. How did it influence your personality?
5. How did you feel about kids who had more money?
6. How would you describe the neighborhood you lived in?
7. What struggles did your parents go through to raise you and your brothers?
8. Describe your childhood relationship with your brothers?
9. How does it compare to your relationship with them now?
10. What is one distinct memory from your childhood and how it changed you?
11. What is your life motto?
12. Is there anything you regret from your childhood?
13. How would you describe your academic life in school?
14. How would you describe your social life in school?
15. Describe your first job.
16. How did having a single mother for part of your childhood effect that time period?
17. How safe did you feel in your community?
18. What advice would you give to kids in a similar situation as your childhood?
19. What was the best day of your childhood? Describe.
20. If you had to change something about your childhood, what would it be?
21. How did growing up in a small town effect your childhood?
6.
1. How would you describe Tim's personality?
2. How would you describe his childhood?
3. What do you think are his strongest character traits?
4, What is a story about Tim that shows who he is?
5. What makes Tim different from others?
6. What would be Tim's catchphrase?
7. How would you describe interacting with Tim?
7.
1, More than thirty percent of school children struggle with hunger.
2. By the time children reach the age 11, they are spending 33% of their lives with their siblings.
3. Child hunger has a negative effect on academic performance.
4. Poverty affects child brains due to added stress.
5, Youngest children tend to be more carefree, sociable, and make people laugh.
8. Over Thanksgiving Break
9. In my house
10. Writing down and recording
2. Supporting interviews from my mom, sister, and possibly uncles.
3. The topic would be his childhood experiences and how it made his personality.
4. I'm going to use the personality angle.
5.
1. Describe some of the major events of your childhood.
2. How did being poor effect your childhood?
3. What is one specific memory you have of being embarrassed because of poverty?
4. How did it influence your personality?
5. How did you feel about kids who had more money?
6. How would you describe the neighborhood you lived in?
7. What struggles did your parents go through to raise you and your brothers?
8. Describe your childhood relationship with your brothers?
9. How does it compare to your relationship with them now?
10. What is one distinct memory from your childhood and how it changed you?
11. What is your life motto?
12. Is there anything you regret from your childhood?
13. How would you describe your academic life in school?
14. How would you describe your social life in school?
15. Describe your first job.
16. How did having a single mother for part of your childhood effect that time period?
17. How safe did you feel in your community?
18. What advice would you give to kids in a similar situation as your childhood?
19. What was the best day of your childhood? Describe.
20. If you had to change something about your childhood, what would it be?
21. How did growing up in a small town effect your childhood?
6.
1. How would you describe Tim's personality?
2. How would you describe his childhood?
3. What do you think are his strongest character traits?
4, What is a story about Tim that shows who he is?
5. What makes Tim different from others?
6. What would be Tim's catchphrase?
7. How would you describe interacting with Tim?
7.
1, More than thirty percent of school children struggle with hunger.
2. By the time children reach the age 11, they are spending 33% of their lives with their siblings.
3. Child hunger has a negative effect on academic performance.
4. Poverty affects child brains due to added stress.
5, Youngest children tend to be more carefree, sociable, and make people laugh.
8. Over Thanksgiving Break
9. In my house
10. Writing down and recording
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