Electronics vs. Life by Melissa B.

Everyone has a different idea of what value and wealth are. Some people think value is if you have everything expensive and everything you want. Others think it is the things and necessities that people really need in life and love. Wealth? It is how much money you have, the number of things that you have, the amount of money that you’ve spent on things that aren’t needed in life? I don’t think so. What I think is that we need the people in the world to realize that wealth and value aren’t always about money but it can be about the wealth that you have in a loving family and all the friends that you have. That is just important if not even more than money wealth.

*****

I give my dad the money in exchange for his credit card. I punch in the numbers on my keyboard and type in my address for it to be delivered to. It’s complete. 7-8 business days it will finally be here. I give my dad back his card with a big happy grin on my face as he asked me “are you sure you want to buy something this expensive?” Without hesitation I say “yes.” It’s the fifth day and I can’t wait any longer. The Fed-Ex truck starts rumbling down the street. He gets closer and closer every second that I watch it. Finally it slows down and rolls to a stop. The man starts walking up my driveway and before he could get to the door I run out and take the package from him. It is addressed to Melissa Bak. I get a pare of scissors and start to cut the tape off. I open the box and look inside. I see it… all white and shiny and new with my name engraved on the back. The headphones in a wrapper and no fingers have touched them until now. I took it out and lifted it to eye level. It was my ipod.

I’ve had my ipod forever now. Almost 3 years. I use it almost everyday whether I’m in the car listening to it or it is in my IHome and I’m listening to it in the shower. I download the latest from Itunes and add it to my 200 something song collection. Taylor Swift, Soulja Boy, Carrie Underwood, Akon, Lifehouse, The Jonas Brothers, Plain White T’s and Daughtry are just a few examples of some artists that are on my ipod.

Some ways that I use my ipod would be going on runs with it, relaxing with it, focusing with it, and sometimes getting pumped up for my games or swim meets with it. Sometimes at practice we take long runs or sometimes at home I’ll go out for a run so I will take my ipod out push the headphones in my ears and concentrate on the music rather than how long I have to run since running isn’t my favorite thing in the world. I relax with some songs on my ipod sometimes if it is really later and I can’t get to sleep because I’d be really excited about something I’ll put my ipod on to some calmer music and try to get to sleep. I focus sometimes with my ipod while I’m doing my homework or to clear my head if I’ve been doing homework for a long time. Getting pumped for games and swim meets is important because you need to be ready to give it your all and win. So before the games/swim meets I will listen to music to get me pumped. Sometimes I simply listen to music in the car because there is nothing else to do. My ipod had been dropped, stepped on, lost and licked by my dog but no matter what is always looks, sounds and turns out okay.

*****

Where on our way as we pass two state lines as we get more excited ever mile we get closer. Finally we get off the exit and see street lights again. We take a right, then a left and round three bends. We roll down our windows and stick out our heads to get a strong whiff of the salty beach. Finally a house that looks familiar. The one I’ve been in ever since I was born. We run inside to find our cousins already in their bathing suits and beach toys by there sides. They look at us and say “Let’s Go!” and once I watch them all run out the door down the street I then know I’m finally here, in Moody Beach, Maine.

Moody beach, Maine is where my entire family all go for a week in the summer ever since I was born. My cousins, Alison, Alexandra, Harry and Caroline, my Auntie Diane and Auntie Kimmy, my Uncle Tom and Uncle Ed, my Grampie and my Mom, Dad, and brother Brian. Most of the time that we are there we go to the beach and jump the waves with our boogie board. We also go to the Kittery Trading Post (a great shopping place), Perkins Cove, Kennebunk Port, the penny candy store and many more places. Ever year we do the same exact things. Which may sound boring but it is so fun!

The beach is my favorite place to go in Maine. At the beach my cousins and I go in the ocean and jump the waves, make huge castles and forts to sit in, listen to our ipods and tan. I love being with my family because they always make me happy. Also one of the kids’ favorites is to ride the trolley. I know that me and my cousins are getting older and older every year but I think no matter what age we are we will always go to Moody Beach Maine and spend a week with the entire family. Yea, the house is getting a little small every year for all 13 of us but we’ll manage. Going to Maine every year is something no one can take away from me because it has no value… it is priceless.

*****

Everyone values things differently whether they have a value or a memory. Things that are priceless seem more needed and makes me happier than things with a money value. My ipod is one of many things that I value very much. Someone would have the ability to take it away from me but not my priceless times. Going to Maine is something that I will always do, remember, treasure and never forget all the great times that I’ve spent with my family.

Soccer in the Sunset by Melanie D.

Every possession a person owns has a special value. Possessions don’t include just the things you buy; they also include memories, and holiday traditions, a special time of day, or anything else that is important to you in particular, but these possessions are the priceless ones. A person may think that a cell phone is more valuable than spending Christmas Eve with your family, whereas another person will think the opposite. What qualities honestly make something valuable?

***

The radio is blaring; the brakes are screeching, people talking, making so much noise in such a small space. When I go to Swampscott for the weekend, it’s a very loud, rambunctious car ride. My favorite part about the trip is when I can get out of the car and be free from noise. My special way of letting everything go, is by walking slowly down to the beach, with the wind blowing lightly in my face, and the salty smell in the air.

I slowly glide down the street, just as the day is winding down, and take some time to collect my thoughts. Sometimes I will bring my dog, Chelsea, to enjoy the beach with me, but other times I will go by myself. I dig my toes in the warm sand, as I walk along the water’s edge. Silently, I admire the beauty of the natural world; waves crashing against sea worn rocks, birds gliding through snow white clouds, and the bright blue ocean of wonders sitting at my feet.

After I walk along the shore, I will find a comfortable rock to sit on, take my journal out and begin to write. I keep special journals that I can pour my thoughts into. I will write about anything that is on my mind; if I am angry, writing it out will make me calm again. Writing about the beach and its beauty is my secret medicine to cleanse my soul. Though, the best part of the experience is about to come.

I look up, and see that the show is about to start, the sky is ablaze with color, it looks like it has been kissed by heaven. I am blinded by the miraculous beauty of the sunset, no other image can compare to the sun as it soars across the sky, whispering goodnight to the ocean and all of its inhabitants. There is an amazing mixture of purples and reds, pinks with blue, yellow and orange. It would be simply impossible to recapture that one moment, where time stands still, and the sky takes over.

My gathering of peace is complete now that I have seen the sun fall asleep. I start on my ten minute walk home as dusk is approaching, so I will not have to walk home in the dark. It is now time to go back and face the world of reality, but I am ready, because I have regained my state of happiness.

***

Sprinting up to the net, a white and black blur racing in front of you, that one shot of adrenaline taking over your body, you kick the ball straight past the goalie, and the whistle is blown. This feeling, this sensation of accomplishment, is my own special miracle. Scoring a goal is the one feeling that can make you ecstatic at the same time as being sweaty and exhausted, but the only way to score is with a ball. My soccer ball is extremely important to me because it is the price value of the game that makes my life complete.

Soccer is a sport, which makes it priceless, but there are many other aspects of the sport that cost money-and a lot of it. There are many little things you need to buy to play soccer; socks, shin guards, cleats, shorts, a net, and a user fee. Though, the one thing that is most important to play the game is the ball.

I use a soccer ball everyday for practice with the team, and for practice at home. There are so many things you can do with a soccer ball; there are tricks you can learn and different ways you can kick, pass and shoot it. I love to learn new things with my soccer ball and discover a new trick everyday.

Soccer is a major part of my life and it is my passion to become an outstanding soccer player. I need to persevere through the hard times, and push myself to do things that I didn’t think I could. If I aspire achievement, then I must create goals for myself, and make sure that I accomplish them. My current goals for soccer are to juggle a soccer ball 30 times without stopping, and to do a perfect rainbow.

I have two soccer balls, one of them is blue and gray, and this is the one that bought with my own money. This is my lucky ball because I trained for try-outs all summer long with it and then made Junior Varsity. I also have another soccer ball, which my coach gave to me, and this one is special because I have to take care of it and be careful not to lose it. There are other people who had this ball before me, and it has all different colors and shapes colored on it with markers. I like this ball because I was allowed to color it and show my personality with it.

***

How can watching the sunset on the beach and a soccer ball possibly be similar? Well, to me they are very similar, yet very different at the same time. Watching the sunset on the beach is an incredible memory to cherish, and I appreciate the entire experience, which proves that this is something that I value greatly. A soccer ball brings the sport that I love to life and makes it possible to play, which is why I also greatly value a soccer ball.

You can’t put a price on my peaceful walk to the beach, because that is not something anyone can buy in a store, or capture by a camera. It is the memory and passion that holds its true value. Therefore, even though it is possible to buy a soccer ball in a store, it also holds the priceless values of memories and passion. When you buy a soccer ball it comes with a satisfaction guarantee, but what the sales representative doesn’t know is that for a girl who is in love with the sport, a soccer ball also comes with a guarantee of the pleasure to be able to play soccer.

I realize now that everything I value most has a single idea in common: to let me explore something new, to dive into a world filled with wonders that is just waiting to be discovered. My soccer ball brings me to a world of soccer, athleticism, perseverance, and stalwart; a world which amazes me greatly. However, my beach walks carry me into world of new wonders and beauty, a place where I can go to relax and settle into an endless ocean of calmness and peace of mind. In the end, the real reason I value these things is that they both make me purely happy and content.

Life vs. Electronics by Julia M.

Everyday our lives are changing. What you used to think was important, no longer is. Teenagers possession’s in the 21^st Century consist of many electronics, outfits, and expensive sports equipment. To survive you need lots of cash and the right friends. You might surprise yourself at times by wondering, what happened to those priceless moments you shared with your family? Or, what happened to quality over quantity? It’s easy to forget the importance of those priceless life lessons and memories you’ve created, and get caught up in the materialistic part of this world.

A♥J

A burst of light shines through the screen as my Ipod returns to life. With the speakers in my ears, my thumb slowly makes the circles around and around the control turning the volume up little by little. Once its reached full capacity with the beat traveling through my body, I fell energized and awake. The feeling starts with my head and soon I can feel it in my toes. I’m ready to accomplish anything and I know it’s going to be a great day.

I could say music is my life, but that would be an understatement. My mood relies on my music genre, whether its rap, hip hop, or even country. Whenever I find myself in a stressful situation and need a time out, I turn to my silver, four gigabyte, Ipod nano. The music soothes my senses and my whole body is relaxed once again. My Ipod helps me out in many different situations. It was well worth the $200 my mom paid to get it for my birthday last year. I can’t imagine choosing anything over my Ipod. Like I said before, music is my life.

A♥J

I’m in a world full of shouts, signaling a variety of plays. A world where we’re all in sync. We’re the hardest working volleyball team in our league. Everyday we show up on time for practice and put our hearts into the practice. We keep our attitudes positive and pick each other up in a game. We respect each other and our coaches, and we know that all the laps, the suicides, and the drills will improve our game. My team has patience and tolerance.

My volleyball team is more then a team, it’s a family. The bond started to form within the first few days of tryouts, with all the ‘good jobs’ or ‘nice try’s’. From there it went to the practices, where we encouraged each other to finish the suicides and stay in our ready positions. We know our teammates well enough to know how to phrase a pointer so as not to hurt their feelings. “Scoot back a little” or “put a little more power into your serve,” we call from the bench. We sweat together, laugh together, and win together. Outside of practices or games, we have team dinners or sleepovers. We’ve formed an unbreakable bond that is everlasting. I love my volleyball team; I can count on them more than anything.

A♥J

My Ipod and volleyball team are two completely different things, yet I value both of them incredibly. So how do you decide, which one is more valuable? How do you choose a favorite over these two completely different things? Think, what makes your truly happy? For me, I believe the memories you make will be precious than any materialistic object you can buy. With any money oriented object, you risk the chance of it breaking, or getting lost. With the reminiscences you gather throughout life, the only thing you have to worry about losing is your memory itself, and that, is a part of life which I also think is costly. It’s up to you to decide which one you cherish more. In a world full of many electronics, outfits, and expensive sport equipment, remember that you can’t buy happiness.

Moments vs. Objects by Chloe S.

What is wealth? What is value? Million dollar houses and diamond jewelry; spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on things that you don’t necessarily need? Is that what being wealthy is really all about? Well that is what most people in our country believe, because that is what advertising and filthy rich celebrities tell us to believe. They say, that in life, you will be happier if you have money, and if you spend money. But is this true? What should really be important to us?

* * *

As I flip open the phone and dial the number, the buttons glow and the screen shines brightly. A notice pops up saying I have a missed call from earlier this afternoon. I decide to text my friends and ask if they want to hang out later. It’s amazing how much you can do with a cell phone these days. Take pictures, instant message people, listen to music, text, play a variety of games, even go on the internet. A number of years ago I never would have imagined owning a cell phone, I wouldn’t have wanted one. They were large and awkward looking, a pain to carry around. They barely had screens; they looked like oversized calculators with antennas.

Today, cell phones have become a huge part of our society. I remember the day I got my first cell phone, it was Christmas morning, and I was in 6th grade. When I opened the wrapped box and saw the picture of the small gray phone, I was really excited. I have since gotten a new one, a Motorola Razr, about a year after my first phone. All my friends have phones too, and it is our number one way of talking to each other outside of school. Everyone is starting to have one, whether it is for a practical use, like making important calls, or just to show off all the flashy accessories of your phone. Either way, they serve one main purpose, being able to communicate.

* * *

I look over in the stands at the side of the field. Its seems like everyone in town is here. My parents, friends, and other various classmates and people I know. I look back at the batter as she gets into her ready stance. There are two outs, bases loaded, it’s the last inning, and if we get this out we win the game. Our pitcher winds up and the ball shoots toward home plate. The batter swings. Bam! There is a thud of softball hitting aluminum as the ball cracks off the bat and heads toward first, where I am playing. It is a low line drive, which will kill us if I miss it, and it is far to my right. But I dive, and yes! I get it, and make the play at first. We win the game! Everyone is happy and we leave the field in high spirits.

There is nothing like making a great play in softball. Knowing that you just did something excellent, that everyone was counting on you and you came through for them, is the best feeling in the world. I love softball, it is my favorite sport. I can’t even describe how much fun it is to be caught up in a moment like that. But I don’t need the feeling of success or winning to be happy in softball. It is awesome to just be a part of the team, and to be able to play. I would rather be on the team and lose every day than not be on the team at all. Because moments like those, when you are in the game and you just realize that you are having the time of your life, are the most amazing moments in the world.

* * *

I care about my cell phone and softball very much, but for very different reasons. My cell phone is practical and I am able to make calls with it, but it also has fun accessories and is nice-looking. I try to keep it scratch-free and clean. Softball is all about just playing the game with teammates. My cell phone can be replaced. That’s basically the difference. If it gets lost, broken, or if I just get sick of it, I can get a new one. Nothing can take the place of softball. While a cell phone and playing softball are two extremely different things, they also have something in common. My cell phone is a way for me to stay connected to things outside my house. If I am lonely and want to invite my friends over, or if I just want to talk to someone, I use my phone. Softball is also a way for me to stay connected; to my teammates, my school, and a sense of belonging. Softball keeps me from getting bored, and so does my phone. So, answering the question from before, wealth is what you want it to be, it depends on whether you value objects, or moments. It depends on what is important to you. And I value both softball and my cell phone. But I would rather be a cell-phone-less softball player than a softball-less cell- phoner any day.

Does Anyone Care? By Jessica R.

“Hey! Paris! Let’s go buy a mansion for your dog!”

“Like, OK Brittany. Then we can go buy a mall or something.”

“Like, sweet. I love buying malls. Wanna buy a panda later and name it Cupcake? I’ve always wanted an endangered animal.”

“Oh my God, totally Brit! Then I can buy a polar bear and name it Sprinkles. They’ll be like twins! You can buy your panda with your kid’s college fund.”

Five weeks later, Paris’ polar bear suffers from starvation and Brittany’s panda runs away, but is caught by animal control and then put in a zoo that doesn’t have enough money to take care of it. They both die and neither girl cares. They leave in their limo wearing their deceased pet’s fur to go buy the mall that they wanted.

♥ ♥ ♥

Does anyone care about anyone else anymore? It doesn’t seem so. We walk around only thinking of ourselves and all caught up in our own lives that we don’t even notice people that need help. Most of us miss the small, enjoyable things in life and don’t care much. But I care, and I try to see the small things and not miss out on them. Not only do I cherish my financial items that I own, like my CD collection, but I also appreciate priceless moments that I can share with other people, like Halloween.

♥ ♥ ♥

I get off the bus and walk half a mile home from the bus stop. Fifteen minutes later, I unlock the front door to my house and climb the stairs to my room. I plop on the bed and turn my CD player on. Gradually, I start to open my backpack and do my homework as I sing the lyrics to the song I’m listening to.

I have over sixty store bought CD’s and I’ve burned over twenty, so I always have something to listen to. Avril Lavigne is my favorite singer and I listen to her music everyday. I have all three of her albums. I f someone was to take a look at my CD collection, they would think that I have way too much time on my hands to listen to all of them, and must have spent a lot of money collecting them. If they take a closer look, they would be able to tell what kind of person I am. They would know that I like many genres of music, including rock, pop, and some country. My personality would show greatly and they would know my personality. For example, they would see that I like trying new things and like to have fun.

I listen to music loud. I sing sometimes when nobody’s home and I dress up like a rock star and scream the lyrics loud enough to hear myself over the actual singer. As I stated before, I like to have fun. Nothing’s more fun than rocking out to my favorite song or band.

♥ ♥ ♥

Halloween is my favorite holiday. It’s exciting and I love the thrill of watching other people scream in sheer terror. It’s the most powerful day of the year for witches like me. Just thinking about Halloween makes me feel so alive inside. I’m always amused by creepy things, and anything cursed or possessed.

Carving pumpkins is great. I use the knife to saw open the top and then pull it off and get that first smell of its insides. I have to wash the orange pumpkin stain out of my nails and off of my skin. The feeling of the stringy goop and seeds squishing between my fingers as I dig it out to make it hallow is incomparable. And then I can be creative about the actual design I’m going to carve into it or paint on it.

Halloween is a great time to have a party with my friends. I dress up as anyone or thing I want to be and nobody can judge me on my choice. It’s also an excellent excuse for me to put on too much eyeliner or makeup and then pour fake blood all over myself and not look like a freak. Eating candy until I puke isn’t such a good feeling, but it is fun to do. I get myself sugar-high a lot, making the party exciting and interesting.

Another reason Halloween is my favorite holiday is because I watch scary movies all night in the dark. I laugh at them like they’re comedy movies because it’s funny when someone gets their head chopped off. Even though none of my friends will watch horror movies with me, I still enjoy it.
♥ ♥ ♥

My CDs and Halloween are important to me and I need them in my life. Without music, I’d go mentally insane and probably start singing to myself in public. Without Halloween, I’d have no way to express my creativity and strangeness. I need them because they make me who I am and everyone should respect that.

♥ ♥ ♥

So, what are your values about life? I know that mine are to be who I want to be and enjoy the little things in life that everyone else misses. I care about my friends, but if they came between me and my future, I may have to ignore them for awhile. Not only are objects vital to us, but moments, experiences and relationships should be too.

Soccer, My Life by Jessica G.

For me some things are valued slightly more than others. Some people value everything. Some people value their item because of the price tag. Some people even value their item because what every one else likes it, or when their friends think it is cool. This doesn’t apply to me though. I value my item because it is what makes me happy and it gets me in a good mood.

***

The crowd is cheering for me as I run down the field, ball at my feet. There is no one around me, I have passed every one. There is only seconds left and the game is tied 0-0. I set up my shot and watch it fly through the air and go into the back of the net. Just then the referee blows his whistle. The game is over. I scored, and it was the game-winning goal. Then all of a sudden my mom is standing by my side shaking my shoulder lightly, but enough to be noticed. I blink my eyes and I am not on the soccer field, but in the comforts of my own bedroom. It was all a dream. I wake up being in a good mood. I was dreaming about what I love to do. Play soccer. It is a Saturday morning so there is no need to get up and rush around. I get up and leisurely walk to the kitchen to get a bite to eat. There is a wonderful breakfast of large pancakes, bacon, and a cup of orange juice waiting for me. While I am eating I am thinking about when I am next going to touch a soccer ball. I decide I am going to play later in the afternoon. Maybe invite a friend over to play with me. Then I remember I have another day of double session tryouts. This is my last one and I have to be on the field in 45 minutes. I find out what team I am going to be playing for. JV or V? I keep asking myself this question until I step foot on the field. Then I feel that I don’t really care what team I get put on.

As the coaches are calling off the names, one by one I see new friends that I have made going up to varsity. I also see new friends going down to JV. Some with happy faces and others disappointed that they didn’t make varsity. Finally, close to last, the coaches call my name. They say, “You have made JV, congrats.” I get up and walk over to where my new team is sitting. They are all so happy that I am on a team with them. We start practice with a game of rugby. This is to get to know every ones names, like we don’t know them already, my coaches think. We end up playing this game for the rest of the practice. Beating up each other, tackling, and rolling around on the ground fighting for the ball. We end practice saying a cheer.

***

Now it is a little more then a month into the season. Practices are every day we don’t have a game. During practices we do a lot of conditioning. Monster laps, after monster laps. Running with the ball up and down the field. Doing the MOD (move of the day) in a 12:12 box with 20 other girls. Being told by one coach to do one thing and by the other something opposite. Then when making the decision to listen to the head coach, getting yelled at by the other. At the end not being able to leave until you do, depending on the mood of the coaches, a cool down lap(s).

Games. Winning and losing . Having a record of the same number of wins as looses. Getting a yellow card in there by slide tackling a girl from behind. Starting, playing center halfback. Always getting close to scoring a goal but never being successful. Having one coach just recently saying her work was too much for her right now and not being able to coach us anymore.

Soccer is my life. I love having the ball at my feet and being in control, even if it is just for the moment. I love having my team backing me up all the way, not matter what the ending result is. I love having the parents cheering for me. I love the way my coach is proud of me even when I do mess up a little. I love soccer.

iDog by Erika D.

Some things are valued more or less for certain people. Some may value absolutely nothing, and have everything, while some can have nothing and value everything. “Priceless” may have a different definition to each person, and all that matters is what value means to you. We all are different individuals, and I am one person who values the things that life gives you.

***

The music pounds through my ears in time with my footsteps. One lap to go, and the third song ends. A faster song, and my pace quickens. Good, I can end hard. As I finish, I pull my headphones off, breathing heavy with the effort of running. Still in my hand, the music plays to the air itself, allowing only parts of the song to be caught.

My iPod is something that I use every day, and I would not survive without it. Music helps me to focus when I am running, doing homework, or reading. I can use it to block out the world around me, and to only hear the music, helping my concentration. When I’m running, I like to use my iPod because it gives me a focus point other than my heavy breathing. When doing homework, studying, or reading, I use my iPod to block out the distracting sounds of my family around me. This way, I do not focus on the conversations they are having, and can easily complete the work that I need to.

Music is also something that I use to relax. When I’m in my room, I can’t stand the room to be so quiet. I automatically go over to my radio and turn on my iPod so the music fills the room.

When I’m in a bad mood, I go to my room and blast the music, and it usually helps to calm me down. By focusing on the music instead of what it is that’s bothering me, I can easily forget why I was so upset, and relax. Or just being able to shut myself off from the world by turning it up so loud that I can’t hear much of anything else always helps with a bit. This gives me time on my own so that my mood will not worsen.

My iPod is of such value that I would not willingly give it up. It is a fairly pricey item, and it was an expensive gift for me to receive. The usage it gets has worn it down, but in a better way. It is different nearly every week, with new songs being added, different songs getting overplayed, and still others that are forgotten. I enjoy listening to my music, and I find it soothing and relaxing.

***

I walk in the door and my dog immediately runs to me. I bend down and she jumps up and begins to lick my face. I laugh and push her down. Her tail wagging, she runs a circle around me and jumps back into my lap. Still going crazy, she does not sit still, and she speeds off in another direction as I try to pet her. Grabbing her toy and standing up catches her attention, and she races back to me, silently begging for me to throw the toy and begin a game. I toss it down the hall and watch her nearly trip over herself in the attempt to get to it.

My dog’s name is Sophie, and we just got her in August. She loves us, and we love her. Spending time with her is priceless to me. I love to see her perky little ears go up at the sight of me, and her excitement when I play with her.

She has a lot of energy for such a small creature, and she loves it when I take the time to play, and help her release some of that energy. Finally she has learned that playing fetch involves bringing back the ball, and that is her favorite game. I love it when she thinks she is so tough and decides to growl or bark at her toys. These times I can do nothing but laugh, and to continue with her silly ideas of games.

Her little tail never stops, nor does her curiosity. Getting into trouble is a favorite pastime of hers. I’m usually the one who has to get her out of that trouble, but I never have the heart to yell at her. She’s just too cut to yell at, and just by preoccupying her, she usually forgets about whatever it was that was getting her into trouble. She can always make me smile, and the times I spend with her are priceless.

***

My iPod and my dog. Two very different things, which normally I would never classify together. Besides the fact that my dog enjoys chewing my headphones, they interact in no way. And yet, I know that I think of them both as items of importance in my life.

Value has many different meanings, but it is all about what value means to you. To me, value is what you enjoy, and what you feel that you could not live without. I could never live without my dog, and I would be devastated if I ever lost my iPod. Together, they are only a fraction of what I value in life, but that is enough for me.

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I saw in my mind…….
Your writing made me think that we should…….
I wish I understood why…….
This is important because…….
I think you write this to show…
I can relate to this…….
This makes me think of…….
I discovered…….
You seem to be saying that…
I was reminded that…….
I found myself wondering…….

Please read the specific comment instructions for the assignment you are responding to. Thank you!

Value Essay Comment Instructions

I would like your Value Essay comments to answer the following four questions:

I - What does the author seem to be saying about what is valuable, and what he or she most strongly values?

II - Which of the two objects/priceless moments described in this essay did you find were most vividly and clearly described? Reference one specific part, anecdote, scene, or description that you thought was particularly well done.

III - In general, what is one of this essay's overall strengths? It could be its organization, word choice, writing style, introduction, conclusion, etc.

IV - What is one piece of advice that the author might consider for future writing assignments? This should be phrased constructively (try doing ------- next time, consider --------) or inquisitively (what do you think would happen if you -------------?)

Comments should be about two paragraphs (6 to 10 well-written, informative sentences). Your comments should appear below the story you are responding to. When asked to choose an identity, click "other," then sign your comment with your first name and last initial. Comments not posted according to these instructions will be deleted.

I would like you to respond to a minimum of two essays per class (6 total). The essays will be up by the end of school on Monday, Oct. 15th.

* Please bring a printed copy of your comments to class on Tuesday, Oct. 16th, as I will check them then. Your classmates and I thank you for your valuable feedback.

Six comments = a "check"

Nine comments = a "check plus"

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