Vignette - Untitled

   It was just outside the window. Mountains raced along the road covered with snow. As they shifted backwards, they blended with the sky. Snow had bloomed on top of tree branches, swaying gently with the morning breeze. Mist was surrounding the mountains, like a silk scarf.
   But they were mountains I couldn't climb, a road I couldn't run on, and a sky I couldn't reach.
   I opened the window. My sigh flowed into the mist. I reached my hand out as far as possible, so that I could at least get the tip of my finger on the mist. But all there was on my palm was a single snowflake, slowly melting down. Tears of the mountains.

I don't have a title for this vignette. Can you help me find one? If it's okay to leave it untitled, let me know.

Argumentative Essay - Students should not wear school uniforms

   In many schools in Korea, students wear uniforms to school. The issue of whether wearing school uniforms is good or bad is still being hotly debated. I, as a student who is directly related to this issue, want to voice out what I think: students should not wear school uniforms. To support this, I bring you two reasons why.

   First of all, school uniforms limit individuality. We are living in a world where it's important to express one's unique individuality. Clothing is a very effective way to show this. For example, if you like playing the guitar, you can show this by wearing a T-shirt with a picture of a guitar printed on it. However, if you wear school uniforms, you have no choice on what to wear, so you can't show individuality. Besides, school rules limit showing individuality in other areas as well, such as hairstyles, shoes, and jackets, thus making it even harder to show individuality. Schools should acknowledge the fact that students want, and should be able, to show their individuality. The first step to making this possible is to abolish school uniforms.

   For another thing, even if students don't wear school uniforms, their studies won't be affected. People who want students to wear school uniforms are worried about children spending too much time and money on clothes and therefore getting their studies distracted. However, they don't have to worry about such things. To begin with, kids might spend a bit more time changing clothes, but this happens only during the morning and right after dismissal. Students don't change clothes while they're studying at school, so there's no reason for their studies to be distracted. Also, about the money, school uniforms are expensive as well. On average, school uniforms cost about \300,000, and expensive ones can cost up to \500,000. So school uniforms aren't cheap at all. Thus, it's a matter of whether you use your money all at once or for several times.

   Back to the main point. Young kids, who are in kindergarten or elementary school, don't know anything about fashion. They just wear what their parents tell them to wear, and study like their teachers tell them to. Older kids, who are in middle school or high school, may not be so obedient, but they know how to control themselves. Hmm, still not convinced yet? According to research done at the University of Alabama, school uniforms had no effect on substance use, behavioral problems, attendance, and academic achievement. Thus, it doesn't mean that you can have a positive influence on studying if you wear school uniforms.

   I've talked about the reasons why students should not wear school uniforms. However, some people who support school uniforms might feel suspicious about my argument. So now I'll provide some explanations on a few points they might argue.

   One point they might argue is that school uniforms can provide a sense of unity, and so can prevent bullying. Well, this is absolutely contradictory. Just look at the situation in Korea. News articles about bullying are popping up almost every day, and a kid commits suicide every three days. As I mentioned before, most schools in Korea wear school uniforms. This means that school uniforms have no actual effect on bullying.
   Another point is that school uniforms help students focus on studying. Whether a student studies hard or not depends on the student's attitude, not what the student is wearing. Students who have a strong will to study hard will study hard no matter what they're wearing, and vice versa. After all, it's proved by research that school uniforms have no positive influence on studying.
   Overall, I've talked about why students shouldn't wear school uniforms. In schools, studying is important, but students should be able to learn other good qualities and to express themselves. To do so, we must start by giving students the freedom of what they want to wear to school.

Response Essay for ‘Brave’

   When I first came to know about the movie, I thought it was just a mere children’s movie. However, this movie had more things within it; there were messages much deeper to convey.
   Fate is a word that was continuously repeated in the movie. Fate, most of us think, is something we can’t change at all. Merida’s fate to marry one of three princes from each surrounding clan seemed so, too, at first. Merida wanted to change her mother’s mind to change her fate, but her mother changed into a bear! She changed this situation again so that her mother turned back into a human and the tradition that bound her got broken. The point is that fates can be changed, but you should be responsible for it. Merida took responsibility for her change of fate, although a prince from a long time ago didn’t and became Mor’du. Fates can be changed depending on what you do.
   Unity is another thing the movie wanted to talk about. In the movie, two relationships were united: one between Merida and her mother, and another between the four clans. This was possible because they cured scars from the past. A bind once torn many years ago came to be united, like the torn tapestry being sewn. Even the worst relationships can be united once again when the scar is healed.
   True bravery is an important message that happens to be related to the title of this movie. Merida is the one who shows this. She stood up against tradition that princesses should be “perfect” and should marry someone no matter what they thought. She also showed great bravery in trying to turn her mother back into a human. Everything she intended to do succeeded. She indeed tells us that with true bravery, there’s nothing you can’t do.
   Some people say that Merida is different from previous characters in Pixar movies. Yes, I agree; she certainly is a princess with a difference.

Diamente Poem

Pencil

Long, Sharp

Poking, Turning, Slashing

Waltzing on the paper

Rubbing, Sliding, Dashing

Blunt, Smooth

Eraser

Response Essay

   What did you do when you were twelve years old? Did you study hard at school? Or did you hang out with your friends? Well, a girl named Adora Svitak went all over the United States to give speeches in front of students and teachers. Hey, she is only twelve years old, you might say. Yes, she is only twelve years old, but her speech is awesome.
   The way she delivered her speech was what caught my mind the most. She had amazing confidence in front of so many people (there seemed to be hundreds of them!). With that confidence, she showed good eye contact and hand gestures. She also moved around the stage to get everyone's attention. Her multimedia presentation was also something that helped to get everyone's attention. The best thing about her presentation, though, was humor. She made people laugh so that people wouldn't get bored and would keep focusing on her speech. I want to learn how to use humor while speaking.
   Now I'll move on to the content of her speech. She talked about how adults should learn from children. Why should it only be the adults that teach children? Can’t children teach adults as well? Adults can learn children’s purity, positive thinking, and creative ideas. They should have open minds to embrace what children think and do. After all, adults aren’t perfect, just like children aren’t. I agree with Adora’s idea.
   Even at such a young age, Adora gave a speech that could be much better than some adults. It’s really right that adults can learn from children. Just look at her. She is such an “Adora”ble girl!

Ode to a Star

Look up at the star
Sparkling in the sky
Lighting my path
At a place so high

Flowing with the Milky Way
Like a soft, gentle breeze
Oh, Star, you’re a one
So delightful to see

When I’m lost in the dark
That continues on and on
Your single ray of light
Becomes my brightest lantern

So light my way, my friend,
Until I reach the end.

About Me!!!

   Hi! My name is Eun Hye. A lot of people find it hard to pronounce my name, so you can call me by my English name, Charlotte. You can call me Charlie if you want, too.
   Right now, I live in Pohang, which is widely known as the “rabbit’s tail” of the Korean Peninsula. But I spent most of my elementary school life in New Delhi, India. I lived there for four years (2005.7-2009.5), and I went to an international school there. The school was what I liked most about India. Not only because there were awesome things (for example, three swimming pools) and wonderful friends and teachers, learning was fun.
   While I lived in India, I travelled to other countries as well, like Malaysia and Singapore. I can’t forget the beach in Malaysia and the tall skyscrapers in Singapore. The clear blue sea of Langkawi Island (in Malaysia) was so beautiful......
   I’ll change the subject a bit at this point. I’ll briefly talk about the music I like before I finish. I don’t have a specific genre or singer I like. If I hear a song and it captures my mind strongly, I’ll hear it over and over for a million times. One thing that’s strange, though, is that most of the songs I like are ones people of my parents’ generation like. This is what my friends think is one of the weirdest things about me.
   This overall covers some, but not all, of the things about me. There will be opportunities to know more about me later. Thanks for reading!