Sentence Fixes

Link to revised sentences

Research Paper - Sources

Topic: Stem Cell Research

Controversy: Stem Cell Research has the potential to be the cure to many life threatening diseases. However, many of the stem cells are taken from aborted fetuses. The argument is, does it make sense to kill a life to save one? Should humans be messing with what is natural? Is it ethical?

Sources:

"Adult Stem Cells Are Already Curing Diseases." Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Greenhaven Press, n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. This source explains the benefits in using adult stem cells. It also provides evidence of two people that benefitted largely from stem cells.

Belval, Brian. Critical Perspectives on Stem Cell Research. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2006. Print. This book discusses both sides of the argument, in favor of and against stem cell research from a religious, moral, and scientific standpoint.
Brown, Eryn. "Stem Cell Transplant Boosts Function Slightly in Parkinson's Monkeys." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Dec. 2012. This source discusses the potential of pluripotent stem cells to cure Parkinson's disease in humans. These findings are based off of an experiment done on macaque monkeys.

Forman, Lillian. Stem Cell Research. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub., 2008. Print. This book covers everything from facts about embryonic stem cells to the arguments of religious opponents and supporters.

"Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Is More Ethical than Embryonic Stem Cell Research." Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Greenhaven Press, n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. This source explains the difference between pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells. It discusses how pluripotent stem cells could cure diseases without the ethical dilemmas.

Panno, Joseph. Stem Cell Research: Medical Applications and Ethical Controversy. New York, NY: Facts On File, 2005. Print. This source includes a lot of information on all aspects of stem cell research. It discusses where stem cells are obtained, and how they have been used in medicine.

"Understanding Mature Tissue or Organ Stem Cells and Their Clinical Application." Adult Stem Cells. Stanford School of Medicine, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. This site explains where stem cells are taken from and discusses the various regenerative therapies that can come from it.

Weiss, Rick. "The Power to Divide." National Geographic July 2005: 3-27. Web.

Winters, (editor) Paul A. Cloning: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, Ca.: Greenhaven, 1998. Print.

Complaint Post

Why am I even here? I've been sitting by this phone the past hour and it hasn't even rung once. My hospital volunteer shift is over at 3 o'clock, but what will I do to entertain myself for the next hour? I've already read just about every flier and pamphlet within the area at least twice today. I really wouldn't mind this boredom if I could be on my phone, but even though there is no one in here, I feel bad taking out my phone while on "the job." I guess I'll just sit here in my closed toed shoes, long khaki pants, and ugly green polyester smock twiddling my thumbs, watching the clock as each minute inches by...

I suppose I could ask if there is anything I could do, but everyone is so busy, rushed, and stressed. And the last thing I want is a nurse to blow up and lose her temper over my lowly question. I'd really hate to bother anyone, and plus I'm sure there is nothing for me to do besides sit here by the door and watch the phone. Oddly enough, I find myself wanting someone to assign me a chore. Normally, I would hide from anything like this. But right now, I just want something, anything that will help pass the time. Even filing or stacking folders with fliers about healthy mothers and infants would trump the current excitement of staring at the walls. I am begging (internally of course) for a task, however menial it is.

After sitting here, nearly falling asleep, I realize that what I really should do, and desperately want to do, is exit the building and go home. I find myself fantasizing about it, but realize I would never leave before 3 o'clock in fear that there would be no one to fulfill my very important duties (manning the desk and standing guard to answer the phone that never rings). I convince myself that it would be irresponsible and unprofessional to leave without warning the staff. What would be most tactful in this situation would be to ask a nurse if there is anything for me to do and then notify them of my departure if not needed. I get up to search for a staff member, but no one is in sight. A part of me is relieved: phew, confrontation avoided! The rest of me, is incredibly bummed that I still face the same problem: boredom at its height, with no solution on the horizon.

Finally 3 o'clock rolls around and I'm free to go. At this point I realize that the nurses would have done just fine without me and would have been okay letting me leave early (I am just a volunteer after all) but instead to avoid any conversation that revealed my annoyance and discontent, I bottled it up and "suffered in silence" for those two dreadfully long hours.

Definition Essay

Bad Driver (link)

Senior Project Update

       Since I completed my project during the summer as I spent a week in the Dominican Republic with Somos Amigos Medical Missions, translating (and recording data from each patient visit) in a medical clinic for a pediatrician, I have not done a whole lot for my senior project in the last few weeks. In the next week I will need to get in touch with my mentor (the Executive Director and Founder of Somos Amigos) to complete the mentor contract. Keeping in touch with my mentor may be a bit tricky - everything will need to be done over the internet since my mentor lives in Seattle. 
       This week I will also need to conduct the interview. Although I verbally asked him many questions about the organization and when/how it was founded, back in June, I will ask him questions that pertain more to my project. This will include questions regarding the average age of the patients we saw throughout the week in June and their illnesses (since formal data was recorded), and I will inquire about the amount of surgeries that Somos Amigos provides for children (specifically those that I translated for). I will also ask him some more basic information about the start of the organization, and what his inspiration was for founding the clinic.
        I will also begin to compile research about health in the Dominican Republic, with an emphasis on health in rural areas for my research paper. I plan on including details about the cost, availability, and overall level of their healthcare system. 

Drugs by Gore Vidal - writing #3

        I agree with Vidal's statement that "each man has the right to do what he wants with his own life as long as he does not interfere with his neighbors pursuit of happiness" (par 3). However, if his actions are illegal, he must accept the legal consequences if caught. Although many may think that it is the government's job to enforce the laws and make people abide by them, people will still become drug addicts. No law will stop them from acquiring the illegal material.
        I have examined Vidal's assumption that those with drugs are not threats to their neighbors, and I partially agree with this statement. Personally, I would not feel comfortable living across the street from someone that has easy access to drugs. Most likely, dangerous and not mentally stable people would visit their home to buy the drugs. However, a recent article on CBS news about a teenager in Ohio that sold $20,000 worth of marijuana, states that his neighbors were not aware of his actions. It was not until authorities went into his home and confiscated the drugs that his neighbors were informed. To address my worry about dangerous people roaming around the neighborhood, one neighbor was interviewed and said, "We just thought he has a lot of friends." Clearly, the neighbors lives were not negatively affected by the teenagers actions.

Response to Banneker

link

Politics and the English Language

I enjoyed reading Politics and the English Language by George Orwell and I agree with his harsh critique of language in the present day, especially when it pertains to political speeches.

The structure of the essay began by outlining his argument and viewpoint and then included several sub-headings, Dying Metaphors, Operators or Verbal False Limbs, PRetentious Diction, and Meaningless Words. Although the piece is known to use many examples, these sub-headings divide the types of “bad writing” and classify them as being part of one of the 4 types. The category that rang most true for me was “pretentious diction.” Many times, I have tried to improve my writing by inserting “flowery” words, and I agree with Orwell in that this use of diction usually just makes the writing vague. Shorter, more concise diction is more effective in pinpointing my exact thought or purpose.

  Throughout the essay, Orwell includes many examples of passages he considers to be “bad language.” The most effective example is the verse from Ecclesiastes. Orwell includes a translation of this verse into modern or “bad” language. The modern passage includes big and sophisticated words (“pretentious diction”) but it seems to have no relation to the verse it is translating due to its vagueness. Here, Orwell shows the effectiveness of clear, concise language.

A rhetorical device that Orwell mentions is metaphor. Simply put, metaphors often times serve to create more confusion. Instead of directly addressing an object or abstract idea, it is described using other words that draw the reader’s attention to something completely different, clearly contributing to the vagueness of a phrase. 

Another main aspect of this essay is Orwell’s comments about how such bad language affects politics. He states that politicians become machines as they deliver their boring, vague speeches. They lack fresh and vivid language and to the audience it is as if they are watching “some kind of dummy.” Orwell’s comments about speech givers can be paralleled quite well to church-goers who utter the prayers and responses “almost unconsciously” without thinking about the meaning. As a church goer myself, I know that this is very true and I have caught myself doing this on numerous occasions. 

It is interesting that he comments on how political speeches are a way of covering up the truth. It is very common for politicians to cover up events of war and destruction. But are they to blame when every normal citizen does this on a daily basis? As a society, we have become very concerned with others’ sensitivity; for example, we often choose to say “pass away” as a euphemism for death. A person does not pass away, a person dies, but society chooses to use the sugar-coated version.

The Hairpin

     The blog I have chosen to focus on is The Hairpin. Within are numerous subtopics, such as fun experiments, culture, politics, youth, pets, and beauty. Although they could be relatable to both genders, it seems that most of the articles are aimed at capturing the attention of females (the name of the blog also hints at this). Within each subtopic, there are many articles that comment on common issues, questions, and concerns that women have. One article in the beauty section, is a question and answer titled, "Mystifying Dress Codes and the Great Bra Hunt." The title itself is humerous and the article contains information about everything from hair dyeing to bra sizes to popular stores such as Forever 21. Within each article, there are many links, such as a link to the "best salons" that are helpful and informative.
     The Hairpin contains funny, cute projects such as How to Make Albino Black Widow Spider Deviled Eggs, and generally strays from serious controversial topics. This makes it light and fun to go on. While scrolling through, many article titles caught my eye. I began clicking on each title that I saw, and then realized I had spent too much time just aimlessly reading. Although many of the articles are somewhat "useless" on an intellectual level, they are fun and interesting. If a female needs a light read, or some advice on what to wear or how to do her hair, this is the blog to go to.

Research Paper Topic Post

Topic: Stem Cell Research

Controversy: Stem Cell Research has the potential to be the cure to many life threatening diseases. However, many of the stem cells are taken from aborted fetuses. The argument is, does it make sense to kill a life to save one? And, should humans be messing with what is natural?

Resources: I will use print sources and those on the internet. My dad knows someone who has conducted research on stem cells, so hopefully I would be able to come in contact with him and ask about his work.

Emotional investment: I am very interested in science and medicine, so this would be a good opportunity for me to learn more about cells and the human body. Perhaps I will conduct research of my own in the future.

Popularity: I am sure this topic has been done before. If I can come in contact with someone who actually is involved with stem cell research, I would bring a purely scientific and firsthand account of an advancement in science.

Is all the aforementioned okay? Should I narrow it somehow?

Personal Chocie Blog - Compare and Contrast

        

SAT vs. ACT?

        Everyone who intends to go to a four year institution knows that the SAT is a key component of an application. However, many are not familiar with the ACT, another standardized test very similar to the SAT. Colleges accept either test, but each test has some stark differences. Certain qualities about the SAT and ACT may be favorable to one student, but detrimental to another.
        One of the main differences is in the scoring. The ACT is scored out of 36, while the SAT is out of 2400. In terms of the subjects within the tests, both include math, reading, and writing, but the ACT also has a science section. Is previous knowledge required to do well on this section? The answer is no; most of the questions involve analyzing a graph or the results of a scientific experiment. The SAT and ACT also differ in the structural breakdown of the sections. On the SAT, there are 3 math sections, 3 reading, and 3 writing, plus an essay, that are numbered in a random order with most sections lasting 25 minutes. In the ACT however, there is one section for each subject; therefore, each section ranges from 35 to 60 minutes.      
        Before taking both the SAT and the ACT, the proctor goes through instructions that last for roughly 30 minutes. This includes, "no phones, no writing after time is called, or else..." Both are extremely strict; students cannot even reenter the room after a bathroom break without showing their admission ticket and ID. It seems a bit over the top, but in the past their have been numerous cheating scandals in which older students (college level) have been paid by high schoolers to take the SAT for them. This can be attributed to the very high stress level that the SAT and ACT imposes on students. Both tests are a crucial part of the college application process, and can often times make or break a student's acceptance into a college. 

         After finishing this five hour test, some students feel relieved and confident, while others find themselves with an even lower self esteem and more stress.

Let's face it, both of these tests are difficult; but a lot of studying and practice tests can result in high test scores and eliminate some of the stress.  It's a drag, but it just might be worth it when you get an acceptance letter from a great university.

Just don't write in pen...



Teenager (Girl imitation essay)

Teenager (in the style of Girl by Jamaica Kincaid)

I Want a Husband

My own mother is a wife and a house-maker. She had a job in the past, but now she gets to enjoy her time leisurely, cleaning and cooking. She has a husband, and is therefore supported financially, and does not have to worry about how to pay the bills. Upon seeing the huge benefits to having a supportive male counterpart, I decided that I want a husband. 

I want a husband who will fix anything and everything that needs fixing. I want a husband who will fix the television when static comes on the screen. I want a husband who will fix the computer when the screen dies. I want a husband who will take out the trash before it begins to stink up the entire kitchen. I want a husband who will mow the lawn. I want a husband who loves to play catch outside with my son for hours to get the children out of the house. 

I want a husband who will always act out of his own interests before thinking of mine. I want a husband who will throw his dirty clothes and shoes on the perfectly vacuumed floor. I want a husband who will always leave the toilet seat up after urinating. I want a husband who does not bother to wipe remains of urine off of the toilet seat. I want a husband who constantly forgets to flush the toilet. I want a husband who will come home from work exhausted, and then lie on the couch for hours to watch football. I want a husband who cannot cook nor do laundry. I want a husband who believes that I will make him a sandwich whenever he pleases. I want a husband who belches and performs other bodily functions after a meal. I want a husband who cringes at the thought of changing my baby’s diaper. I want a husband who snores loudly to ensure that I do not fall asleep. 

I want a husband who will support me financially. I want a husband who makes enough money so that I do not have to work. I want a husband who buys me gifts like diamond earrings and necklaces to buy my happiness. I want a husband who wastes an entire year’s salary on a sports car that he does not need. I want a husband who spends his bonus on a new motorcycle. 

With all the benefits a husband brings to the household and to the family, I cannot imagine why anyone wouldn’t want a husband. 

Process Analysis Essay

Swing Dancing 

Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain

Suggestions for writing #1

Although embalming is a very invasive, somewhat disgusting process I would argue for this restoration. The practice has been used throughout history beginning I believe in Ancient Egypt. Overall it does provide grieving families with a dishonest portrayal of the deceased, but families want to remember their loved ones as physically beautiful. After numerous cuts, fluid replacement, and makeup, the body does appear physically perfect. Despite the beautifying effect it has on the body, I do believe that embalming a body should require consent from the family or the deceased person’s will, just as people give consent to be an organ donor before they die and have no control over the situation. And yes the process is rather disgusting, but is it really that much different to what a surgeon would do with the body of an organ donor?

The process of embalming is horrifically gruesome, “It is jabbed into the abdomen, poked around the entrails and chest cavity, the contents of which are pumped out and replaced with “cavity fluid.”  Mr. J. Sheridan states that the restoration is aimed at presenting the body “in the semblance of normality . . . unmarred by the ravage of illness, disease, or mutilation.” Although the finished appearance of the body is very fake, it does lend a visually pleasing result. Clearly, the whole embalming process is meant to make the deceased appear how they did in their prime - physically strong, healthy, and attractive. 

The restoration is invasive but once the funeral comes, those who work in the funeral industry must work to please the family members of the deceased. The family members will be deeply saddened by the death of their loved one, so they will not want to have a reminder of the illness or accident that killed them. Their last vision of the body will want to remind them of the positive aspects of the person. For example, it is more pleasing to see the person’s mouth formed into a smile, than a frown. People may argue that the method to achieve this curvature of the lips, “needle directed upward between the upper lip and gum and brought out through the left nostril,” but the affect is has on mourners leaves them sufficiently satisfied with a “Beautiful Memory Picture” of their loved one.

According to Jessica Mitford, people pay millions of dollars to morticians for an embalmment without knowing how the beautiful sight is achieved. She also states that books and information on the subject are very hard to find. I assume this favors the morticians greatly and keeps them in business. However, do we, as a society, really want to know how our deceased become beautiful for an open casket ceremony? I would think that most do not. In this case, ignorance is bliss. Grieving family members have enough to mourn; knowing the gruesome process would only add to their burden. Embalming should be continued since it leaves families with a positive image of their loved one. 

Two Sports

Individuality vs. Teamwork 

additional writing topic essay

here's the link

Illiteracy post - structural element

Jonathan Kozol begins The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society with general information about illiteracy, including a few statistics, giving some background on the subject. He states some heavy claims about our failure as a society to truly be democratic. As I read I thought, “he better back this claim up really well.” And of course, he makes for a strong argument with numerous devices, but most importantly through the use of parallel structure. 

Kozol begins the bulk of his argument with the phrase, “Illiterates cannot read the menu in a restaurant.” Similarly, the next two paragraphs begin with the same two words, “Illiterates cannot,” and then continues to explain what it is they cannot do. A bit later in the essay, more paragraphs begin the same way. This parallelism gives a rather mundane voice to the piece. However, it does serve a greater purpose. The repetition of the words “illiterates cannot” portrays the idea that the list of things that illiterate people cannot do is very lengthy, almost as if it is un-ending. 

In between paragraphs beginning with “illiterates cannot” there is one that begins “illiterates do not.” This is striking because it disrupts the flow that we were used to (“illiterates cannot”). Since it contrasts the commonly occurring parallelism, the phrase, “do not” is very powerful and implies that they are inherently barred from this action. In this case, it is not that they are lacking the ability, they simply do not, no questions asked. 

The repetition of the term “illiterates” also contributes to the overall theme or message of the essay. When I think of the word “illiterate” I think of someone who is very poor and lacking any type of intelligence. Basically, it has a very negative connotation. The author chooses to repeat the word, instead of calling them “people who cannot read” or “nonreader” or “the unread” or “analphabetic.” Perhaps he is commenting on the way the rich and educated view the illiterate. They are grouped together into one, and can be paralleled to the untouchables in the Indian caste system. Maybe that’s a bit severe, but they are somewhat related; both do not truly have a voice in the government (due to lack of knowledge in the illiterates case), and cannot provide for their families with a stable income. Both are looked down upon by other members of society. 

Although the parallelism of the opening phrase of many paragraphs is not found throughout the entire essay, it provides the framework for the author’s evidence of his belief that America is not truly a democracy due to the large population of people who are illiterate. It is also striking that he never invokes a shift in the tone; the essay is consistently using phrases such as “illiterates cannot” and “they do not.” This further shows his disappointment in the failure of society to do something to solve the problem of illiteracy. 

Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay emulating Indian Education

College (it's boring but fitting)

Some of us seniors are beyond excited for college, while others wish that senior year would never end. But all of us seem to be dreading the application process, myself included. The common application has made it somewhat easier on us, but almost all schools still include multiple supplement essays. Let’s face it, it’s a drag. The entire application is just searching to find out who you are, and personally, I find it difficult to write about myself. To make it even harder on us, the essays can be no more than 500 words. That is not long enough to lay out my life story or express the depths of my soul, but that’s what they want. 

Now let’s talk about expectations. The top colleges expect each of us to be superheroes. We have to save the world (by age 17), get straight A’s while being a top-notch athlete, and have a 2400 SAT score. And it helps a whole lot if you’ve had a major challenge such as a deceased family member or a debilitating disease, and don’t forget about race - minorities win. What are we supposed to do if we’re “normal?” Most of us, kill ourselves with numerous AP classes, tons of community service, along with sports practices and competitions. What do we do in our free time? Oh wait, we don’t have any. 

The problem is that everyone knows how high the expectations are, so everyone is looking to do the next best/most impressive thing. Many of us have fed the homeless or built houses in places ravaged by natural disasters. But even with an impressive community service project and stellar grades, how are we supposed to compete with those kids who go to prep schools and win national science contests or take AP Calculus in 5th grade? To a certain extent, we can’t. We have to be crafty with our applications. I personally know two “normal” people who have gotten into IVY league schools, one Harvard, the other Princeton. Both were good academically, but nothing outstanding in the eyes of an IVY admissions officer. When asked, both students said that they believed it was their essay that got them into the university. So I think here is the key, the essay. 

An article by the New York Times reported that in 2008 Harvard received a record number of applicants: 27,278. That’s a lot of fierce competitors we have to face. So if our academic achievements don’t set us apart from the average applicant, our essay has to if we’re gonna have a chance at acceptance. The essay is a place where admissions can see and understand our character and the things that matter to us. But it is also a place for us to showcase our accomplishments and brag about our very successful selves. Hopefully, our application essay will make just one person in admissions look twice and think “wow he/she is very unique, we need to have him/her on our campus!” With a strong resume, good test scores, a killer essay, and a some luck, maybe we’ll have a chance at receiving that acceptance letter. Good luck to us all!

Greasy Lake post

Upon finishing Greasy Lake by T.C. Boyle, I was pleasantly surprised and amused. The narrative begins with a humorous opening where the boys are described as “bad” yet hints that they are actually the opposite and quite loserish. A few paragraphs later the author describes the first three nights of their summer, where they go around trying to find something “cool and bad” to do, with no success, so they decide to grab some gin and go up to Greasy Lake. Clearly they had nothing better to do.

In the second paragraph of the narrative, Greasy Lake is described ominously as “fetid and murky” with “broken glass [and] beer cans” foreshadowing the “bad” actions that will follow. The night starts off bad with an innocent prank proposed by Digby. They turned their brights on, honking and laughing hysterically hoping that they would embarrass their friend Tony while he was with a girl. Typical teenage boys. But their prank failed; it wasn’t Tony’s car they were messing with.

Almost immediately, the fight was on. It is told by the narrator in a very humorous way, showing the boys’ lack of bravado and strength. For example, he says that the man’s steel-toed boot “chipped [his] favorite tooth.” It seems that he was more worried about the sentimental value of the tooth, then the actual physical damage.Surprisingly enough the author narrates the fight as if it was entirely one sided. One man seemed to injure three others, with little effort. This is surprising since the first paragraph of the narrative is trying to show that the boys are “bad.”

Then out of nowhere, they find a tire iron and end the fight. Immediately they are scared of being caught for their act. But quickly their attention is turned to a girl the man was with, “the fox.” For some reason, out of all the body parts that could have attracted them, her flashy toenails captivate their attention. Before they could do anything, they are caught like deer in headlights. They run quickly into the woods, just like the brave men they make themselves out to be. Then they find out that the guy they beat up with the tire iron was alive; ah relief. The guy who seemingly came back to life was lucky, Al not so much.

They then return to their car to find that the windshield and the headlights had been completely wrecked. Two girls in a mustang come up to them, drank and out of balance. They ask about Al, but the boys deny knowing anything about him, so as to not explain to these girls that he was the dead man. Lucky for them, they leave the scene without any major tragedies. They also leave just as foolish as they came.

Description Essay

Description Essay

The Fire Hydrant

The Fire Hydrant 

Box Man debrief

1. New thing I learned:
I missed the reference to the grandmother. I read it over and thought that it was an insignificant detail, and did not stop to reflect on the comparison to the box man. Yet now I see how his content and solitude can be paralleled to that of a grandmother.

2. I wished we had talked more about the women and their unchosen solitude, in contrast to the box man's chosen solitude. Although I see the obvious difference (chosen vs. unchosen solitude), I am sure that we could have dug deeper into their loneliness.

3. I wished I had brought up the contrast between the diction used to describe the box man and then the women that serves to show how willing and content the box man is, as opposed to the women who are unhappy in their solitude. For example, his "good fortune," and the way he "unselfconsciously" stood is very different to the description of the lonely woman as she breaks her crackers into "salty splinters" and carries herself with a "vacancy of expression."

I am a ...

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6uYnT6FIDnSaFRybWdINnFTMUU/edit

Nickel and Dimed Long Form (LINK)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6uYnT6FIDnSYzNsQUlnUXlhRFk/edit

Senior Project

Before I chose my senior project, I knew that I wanted to do something service oriented. I also wanted it to relate to my future career goal of becoming a medical doctor. A service trip to the Dominican Republic where I would be interpreting for a doctor fit all of the criteria. 

For my senior project, I volunteered at the Somos Amigos Medical Missions clinic in Naranjito, Dominican Republic for one week in June 2012. Somos Amigos is a non-profit organization whose volunteers travel to the Dominican Republic three times a year to treat the people of Naranjito and others of the surrounding mountain regions. Because the community is so isolated from a major city, medical and dental care is not available. However, with a small clinic and several caring volunteers from the United States, those of Naranjito can receive medical and dental attention including medications, for free. 

Last year, I went on this trip as an interpreter for a cardiologist. This past summer, I translated for a pediatrician which was very different. It was a great opportunity for me, because I had considered going into pediatrics in the future. Also, it was very helpful to my spanish; since I was the only one in the room who could communicate with the patient, my spanish improved tremendously. However, there was a lot of pressure on me to comfort the patient, and at times this was very stressful. After working with a pediatrician for one week and seeing patients, I realized that this path was not in my future. The work was very rewarding, but it was very difficult to see small children that were very sick, especially since I had no way of helping them. 

Apart from the trip itself, I plan on continuing to operate as the president of the Somos Amigos Club I started last year at Napa High. I hope to raise at least $1,000 for the organization. In June, I saw that many children needed surgeries, but Somos Amigos could only refer a small portion of patients to other hospitals. I hope to make a difference in more children’s lives by restoring them back to health through a monetary donation.  

For the research paper component of my senior project, I will focus on the topic of health in the Dominican Republic. I expect to find numerous statistics about health issues such as low life expectancies and serious illnesses due to poor nutrition and sanitation, as witnessed by my own experience. 

My service trip gave me a huge appreciation for my own living condition and my access to health care, something that I constantly take for granted. I look forward to raising my awareness of the health conditions in the Dominican Republic, but most importantly, I am excited to make a difference and improve someone’s life. 

-Danielle 

Hi everyone, I’m Danielle. I’ve been dreading all this summer homework for quite some time now, but who isn’t? 

So, let me start with this summer - I believe it gives a pretty good summary of who I am. I started off by going to SLS, a leadership seminar at West Point, aka boot camp with a few classes mixed in. Let’s just say that after the 4:30 and 5:00 AM wake up times, I am certain that West Point is not the college for me, but it was a good experience nonetheless. Next I went to the Dominican Republic where I volunteered at the Somos Amigos medical and dental clinic (http://somosamigos.org/). I went on this same trip last June and fell in love with the community of Naranjito which we served. It was especially interesting because I hope to become a physician in the future, and it gave me a small taste of clinical work when I interpreted for a cardiologist last year, and then a pediatrician this past June. Here are some pictures: 

    

(btw, I started a club at school for this organization last year, so join it and help us raise money for these people who without us, would not have medical or dental care!)

The rest of my summer was devoted to tennis and work, which are pretty much one in the same. Each day I would be at the courts from 9 to 5 - coaching little kids in the morning, and playing in the afternoon. Most of my weekends were spent at tennis tournaments, as I tried to improve my ranking to better my chances of playing collegiate tennis. I have been playing since I was seven years old, but somehow there is ALWAYS something that needs some work or could use a small adjustment. But recently I have found great joy in playing, and I know that tennis will be a sport I will play and enjoy for the rest of my life. Just a side note, my favorite tennis player is Roger Federer, the best man on tour in my opinion. Just check out this video, seriously amazing (even for non tennis people)...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzNCN3WGGJg. 

I have also begun to volunteer at CARE, which is an equitherapy (horse therapy) ranch for children with mental and physical disabilities. I love horses, but I don’t ride anymore, because high school and other things have gotten in the way.

Most recently, I’ve been finishing up all my AP summer homework, which leads me into a very big part of my life: school. I have always been very dedicated and very much a perfectionist when it comes to my school work. My high school schedules have been challenging since freshman year, but I enjoy working hard (most of the time). My biggest hope, is that all my hard work pays off (the greatest reward would have to be an acceptance letter from Stanford - fingers crossed) http://www.stanford.edu/. In college (wherever I go) I would like to major in either biology, chemistry, or biochem. I consider myself a very logical person (English and Art are not my fortes).

I also hope that my future profession will allow me to use my spanish to help those who are not familiar with English. My mom is from Chile, making me bilingual - something I tremendously appreciate. My dad is from Slovakia, but unfortunately that language did not get passed down. Maybe someday I’ll learn it. 

My family loves to travel, so I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Chile, Italy, Greece, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. I believe that all cultures are beautiful and must be appreciated, even those that are far different from our own. 

Lastly, I like ice cream, laughing, sudoku, and I dislike drama, debating, and pushups.  

--Danielle Mirda