Humanities
Spoken Word Project: Standing Ovation By Brooklynn Bucky
The searing lights collide against my frozen face and all is silent. When the shackles of bad days weigh me down and life is like a prison, dance is my only escape. Music pulses through my blood and constantly steals my thoughts. In this moment, nothing else in the world matters, but the raw floor underneath my feet. This is my one shot. The one shot I have, to paint my masterpiece, upon the blank canvas. Music is the first and last thought that echoes through my mind and keeps me alive. Dance is fierce and heavy, yet soft and graceful. It can be constrained like a military drill or flowing like a freestyle rap. Dance is a different language. A language of my own that I truly understand, but better than any words. When I can’t find the right words to say, I can use my movement to tell the truth and my emotions spill out. I crave that standing ovation. Music is God’s special gift that He gave to me and I hope to use it to the fullest. The searing lights collide against my frozen face and I know I am home.
Of Mice and Men Essay: Dreams versus Realities By Brooklynn Bucky
What is the American dream? The American dream can be a number of things: becoming the first woman president or simply getting a high school diploma. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck, illustrates Lennie’s dream of owning his own farm and Curley’s wife’s dream of being famous. However, they are both faced with others interfering with these goals. Lennie has dreams. One of his strongest desires is to own his own farm with his own animals. He especially wants rabbits. Lennie has an extreme obsession with soft things such as mice and hair. Another dream of Lennie’s is to have a puppy. When he finally gets one he proclaims, “He’s brown an’ white just like I wanted” (46). Lennie convinces himself that if he has a farm of his own he will not be forced to work for others and he will live off the fat of the land. He has his mind set on not being like everyone else, a migrant worker. Since his mental state is not stable, his abilities are limited, which means he is only trusted to be a worker. Unfortunately, Lennie has some challenges obtaining his goals, primarily this is due to his limited mental capacity. The most dramatic interference comes when he kills Curley’s wife. However, because Lennie is not aware of his own strength, when he touches Curley’s wife’s hair, he accidentally pulls it out and makes her stop breathing. When she falls she breaks her neck and dies instantly. After George discovers Curley’s wife’s body, he immediately suspects Lennie. Another interference is when he kills his own dog, something that he desires so badly and receives from Slim, with George’s approval. Lennie’s dog symbolizes trust between the two friends. Since George tells Lennie if he is ever in trouble to hide in a bush near the river. When George sees that, he runs to the river to find Lennie. The other members of the bunkhouse are furious with Lennie and they all want him to leave. However, Curley took it to the extreme and wants to kill Lennie since he kills his wife. When George reaches Lennie he tells him that he did not mean to hurt Curley’s wife. George can not take care of Lennie anymore. There are no more options. Lennie needs to die. Since the two men have known each other for so long this would be very tragic to not only watch his best friend die, but to do it himself. George knows that Lennie’s “happy place” is rabbits, “Lennie turns his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabalatians” (64). George wants to kill Lennie happy and fast because if he does not he will have to die a more painful death. Another problem keeping Lennie from achieving his goal is that his guardian George kills him. Curley’s wife has a dream of her own. Her sole goal in life is to be famous. Curley’s wife does not want to just be a house wife taking care of her husband, especially because he does not give her enough attention. She knows that she can be better than just a wife, “I could have made something out of myself” (63). The first issue that comes up was that her mom does not allow her to go to the auditions, “My ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says I was only fifteen” (61). Another road block was that she marries Curley, a man who simply makes her unhappy. Just like Lennie, Curley’s wife has a dream that is not achieved mainly because her life is cut short. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men, all of the characters have a dream that they so badly want to fulfill. This novel does a great job illustrating that some dreams do not come true because of their own actions or at the hands of others. However, those who have diligence and make sacrifices, possibly can achieve their goals and open doors to the future.
Neighborhood Vignette: Scripps Ranch Through a Looking Glass By Brooklynn Bucky
If I were to look at Scripps Ranch through a magnifying glass I would see many smiling faces, beautiful greenery all around and lots of little children playing tag in the middle of the street. All of the children have bright smiles on their innocent faces without a care in the world. One day outside of my house, I am greeted by a group of kids that I babysit from the neighborhood, asking if I want to go on a walk with them and their unusually small pups. I grab a light jacket from my room and race outside to join in on this traditional outing. We head towards the small vacant park and watch as a group of young mothers in their sweat suits, jog by pushing their newborns in large strollers. When I look back at my house I see something that I have never noticed before. Most of the houses on my street look very similar on the outside. All of the two story homes are lined up in an ordered line like a collection of toy soldiers on a shelf. The grass is always green and nicely trimmed, usually by a gardener, and almost every house has a pool regularly serviced by a pool company. The spacious houses are mostly painted in the same shade of tan, looking like an unused piece of sandpaper with burnt red roofs and solar paneling lined on top to heat the pools in the wintertime. Walking along the flawless concrete I am startled by a loud VROOM and turn to see my dad pull up into the driveway with his new silver Mercedes. The small low rider glimmers in the sunlight and everyone holds their hands over their eyes shielding themselves from the bright rays of light. One of my walking friends spots a small navy blue Chargers flag flying from a garage post. It makes a crisp snapping sound as it flies in the cool breeze, delaying our arrival to the park. "Boo Chargers!" my neighbor yells. When I arrive home from an exhausting day at school, the whole neighborhood is already outside waiting for me to come and play tag with them. I really admire the fact that I reside in an extremely youth oriented neighborhood because I have lots of fun hanging out with my friends and family and especially having some freedom. Swaying on the swings, tightly holding on to the rusty chained ropes that hang on the swing pole, I am distracted by a hearty aroma in the air that I almost drop the child grasping onto my arms. Ttssssss! We hear the crackling sound of the barbecue grill. The smell of grilled burgers makes our mouths water and we decide that it is time to start walking back home. On the walk home, we pass two elementary schools that my siblings attend and St. Gregory's Catholic Church. As we arrive back home, safe and sound, with our dinners waiting, we wave goodbye for the night and walk inside. Tomorrow we do this all over again. I am so fortunate that I live in a wonderful community such as Scripps Ranch.
The searing lights collide against my frozen face and all is silent. When the shackles of bad days weigh me down and life is like a prison, dance is my only escape. Music pulses through my blood and constantly steals my thoughts. In this moment, nothing else in the world matters, but the raw floor underneath my feet. This is my one shot. The one shot I have, to paint my masterpiece, upon the blank canvas. Music is the first and last thought that echoes through my mind and keeps me alive. Dance is fierce and heavy, yet soft and graceful. It can be constrained like a military drill or flowing like a freestyle rap. Dance is a different language. A language of my own that I truly understand, but better than any words. When I can’t find the right words to say, I can use my movement to tell the truth and my emotions spill out. I crave that standing ovation. Music is God’s special gift that He gave to me and I hope to use it to the fullest. The searing lights collide against my frozen face and I know I am home.
Of Mice and Men Essay: Dreams versus Realities By Brooklynn Bucky
What is the American dream? The American dream can be a number of things: becoming the first woman president or simply getting a high school diploma. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck, illustrates Lennie’s dream of owning his own farm and Curley’s wife’s dream of being famous. However, they are both faced with others interfering with these goals. Lennie has dreams. One of his strongest desires is to own his own farm with his own animals. He especially wants rabbits. Lennie has an extreme obsession with soft things such as mice and hair. Another dream of Lennie’s is to have a puppy. When he finally gets one he proclaims, “He’s brown an’ white just like I wanted” (46). Lennie convinces himself that if he has a farm of his own he will not be forced to work for others and he will live off the fat of the land. He has his mind set on not being like everyone else, a migrant worker. Since his mental state is not stable, his abilities are limited, which means he is only trusted to be a worker. Unfortunately, Lennie has some challenges obtaining his goals, primarily this is due to his limited mental capacity. The most dramatic interference comes when he kills Curley’s wife. However, because Lennie is not aware of his own strength, when he touches Curley’s wife’s hair, he accidentally pulls it out and makes her stop breathing. When she falls she breaks her neck and dies instantly. After George discovers Curley’s wife’s body, he immediately suspects Lennie. Another interference is when he kills his own dog, something that he desires so badly and receives from Slim, with George’s approval. Lennie’s dog symbolizes trust between the two friends. Since George tells Lennie if he is ever in trouble to hide in a bush near the river. When George sees that, he runs to the river to find Lennie. The other members of the bunkhouse are furious with Lennie and they all want him to leave. However, Curley took it to the extreme and wants to kill Lennie since he kills his wife. When George reaches Lennie he tells him that he did not mean to hurt Curley’s wife. George can not take care of Lennie anymore. There are no more options. Lennie needs to die. Since the two men have known each other for so long this would be very tragic to not only watch his best friend die, but to do it himself. George knows that Lennie’s “happy place” is rabbits, “Lennie turns his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabalatians” (64). George wants to kill Lennie happy and fast because if he does not he will have to die a more painful death. Another problem keeping Lennie from achieving his goal is that his guardian George kills him. Curley’s wife has a dream of her own. Her sole goal in life is to be famous. Curley’s wife does not want to just be a house wife taking care of her husband, especially because he does not give her enough attention. She knows that she can be better than just a wife, “I could have made something out of myself” (63). The first issue that comes up was that her mom does not allow her to go to the auditions, “My ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says I was only fifteen” (61). Another road block was that she marries Curley, a man who simply makes her unhappy. Just like Lennie, Curley’s wife has a dream that is not achieved mainly because her life is cut short. Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men, all of the characters have a dream that they so badly want to fulfill. This novel does a great job illustrating that some dreams do not come true because of their own actions or at the hands of others. However, those who have diligence and make sacrifices, possibly can achieve their goals and open doors to the future.
Neighborhood Vignette: Scripps Ranch Through a Looking Glass By Brooklynn Bucky
If I were to look at Scripps Ranch through a magnifying glass I would see many smiling faces, beautiful greenery all around and lots of little children playing tag in the middle of the street. All of the children have bright smiles on their innocent faces without a care in the world. One day outside of my house, I am greeted by a group of kids that I babysit from the neighborhood, asking if I want to go on a walk with them and their unusually small pups. I grab a light jacket from my room and race outside to join in on this traditional outing. We head towards the small vacant park and watch as a group of young mothers in their sweat suits, jog by pushing their newborns in large strollers. When I look back at my house I see something that I have never noticed before. Most of the houses on my street look very similar on the outside. All of the two story homes are lined up in an ordered line like a collection of toy soldiers on a shelf. The grass is always green and nicely trimmed, usually by a gardener, and almost every house has a pool regularly serviced by a pool company. The spacious houses are mostly painted in the same shade of tan, looking like an unused piece of sandpaper with burnt red roofs and solar paneling lined on top to heat the pools in the wintertime. Walking along the flawless concrete I am startled by a loud VROOM and turn to see my dad pull up into the driveway with his new silver Mercedes. The small low rider glimmers in the sunlight and everyone holds their hands over their eyes shielding themselves from the bright rays of light. One of my walking friends spots a small navy blue Chargers flag flying from a garage post. It makes a crisp snapping sound as it flies in the cool breeze, delaying our arrival to the park. "Boo Chargers!" my neighbor yells. When I arrive home from an exhausting day at school, the whole neighborhood is already outside waiting for me to come and play tag with them. I really admire the fact that I reside in an extremely youth oriented neighborhood because I have lots of fun hanging out with my friends and family and especially having some freedom. Swaying on the swings, tightly holding on to the rusty chained ropes that hang on the swing pole, I am distracted by a hearty aroma in the air that I almost drop the child grasping onto my arms. Ttssssss! We hear the crackling sound of the barbecue grill. The smell of grilled burgers makes our mouths water and we decide that it is time to start walking back home. On the walk home, we pass two elementary schools that my siblings attend and St. Gregory's Catholic Church. As we arrive back home, safe and sound, with our dinners waiting, we wave goodbye for the night and walk inside. Tomorrow we do this all over again. I am so fortunate that I live in a wonderful community such as Scripps Ranch.