Personal Narrative: Montreat, North Carolina

This quiet and quaint town known as Mt. Holly, NJ is where I grew up. Nestled in the outskirts of New Jersey’s capitol, is known for its small town charm and historic roots. Living here was the best years of my life. I grew up in a part of town that once housed the military families from Ft. Dix and McGuire Air Force Base, which is now known as Joint Base.

It was an eerie and foggy time of morning when Mr. Foster began to wake up. He looked over at his TV and saw that there was a flash flood last night. The flood devastated most of Kanawha County and the Metro Valley. Because the flood was so sudden, people on the scene knew there would be casualties. Edward knew this would be mighty well for his business which just happens to be one of the only funeral homes in that area of Kanawha County.

Whenever my mom has company at her house, guests always ask about the plaque that hangs in the living room on the wall. It reads Championship Mvp, 14-0 season, Jonesboro Wildcats. My mom always smiles and says, “Ask Markus about it.” I don’t mind telling people about the championship game. It is after all one of my fondest memories playing sports.

As I peer through the thick smoke, reminding myself why I chose to come in the first place, I see a half dead man on the floor- begging for water. We don’t have enough food or clothes. There are very few of us left to fight against the redcoats. Even though on some days we are cheerful, we are starving and freezing. I am wondering if I should re-enlist or go back home.

What’s the purpose of friendship? Unfortunately, I was forced to learn this the hard way when I attended the ‘Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars’ Summer Academy over the summer of my junior year. The experience at the academy was unlike any other, but the challenge to make new friends was the most intimidating there than anywhere else that I’ve visited, especially at my own school. Yet, my school holds many of the common and well known people, such as teachers, that I could lean on for mental support, while at the academy had everything but Franklin County. What I meant by ‘but Franklin County’, I am actually referring to the wide varieties of different ethnicities and educational backgrounds that imploded into one single summer

Time. 10:19 p.m. South Florida. The traffic light rests at red for an eternity, mocking me with its condescending gaze. I quickly turned my head both directions, not a car in sight for what it seemed to be miles.

no one have said anything for a while then Scott speaks up "where are you in Beacon Hills"when he asks the question he looks me right in the eyes "well like Jasmine told you, i went into a sleep like that before then woke up saying that we need to come here. but i never why or what i saw" when i talk i look at my heads "i saw you and your pack" i continue talking but now looking up at Scott "you were surround by death, i saw all of you dying. and i heard about you, how you had a pack but not alpha and that you had a human and a hunter. i couldn 't just let you die so i thought maybe if i came here i could help"

During my final year of Cross Country around Regionals at Oglethorpe, I ran my final race for my high school career. Banks County was nearly number one in the State, the furthest we had ever ranked in history, and spirit and hopes for State Championship were high. I was nervous, like nobody’s business, I had messed up during my senior night because I was upset for my parents for not showing up and escorting me. And I was scared that I was going to do horribly. But as I ran, I realized that if I let my past mistakes and failures hold me back or get in my way, so I ran, harder and better than I ever had before and apparently even beat a “skinny kid”.

Hearing the sirens of the ambulance and from police cars growing up made me think about how I will continue to be afraid of an ambulance and police car sirens because Wyandotte County has a high crime rate and sometimes I thought about not evening stepping out of my house. Right at the moment that I step outside my house, I wouldn't know if I would come back. No ones life is guaranteed so throughout my high school years I was very strict on myself in regards to hanging out with people and with which people I can rely upon. From school, I went directly to my house because I thought it wouldn't be safe for me to be out especially in a Wyandotte County. I always had to have that in the back of my head because of the area I live in.

Getting down to Nebraska was harsh and the trail was dusty. The children like me had to take care of the animals. Jim, Antonia and myself became really good friends after living next door to each other for a while and we do everything together. When I work, I help my dad to plant and harvest crops and hunt for food. We planted and harvested corn, potatoes, pumpkin, wheat, peas, carrots and tomatoes.

This school had diversity, respect, and a place for all students from kindergarten to eighth grade. After graduation all local feeder schools merged into the high school, Berks Catholic. This was a place to start over or grow into the person you desire to become and to make friends. I was so overwhelmed and could not have been more happy in life once I arrived, but it took less then a school year for me to realize I was unhappy. I was denied from starting my own club to help less fortunate kids in my area, my

When I was a child the world never seemed to stretch beyond my home town Tallahassee Florida. Through my young eyes it was so massive and expansive that I couldn’t fathom the concept of their possibly being areas existing outside of it. Out of all of the areas of Tallahassee I was familiar with, I was familiar with my neighborhood the most. I lived in a reddish-brown brick house that had a dark Oakwood colored roof on it. Up until the mid-2000’s the house was very dark to the presence of dark colored paint on the house and was often covered by spiders.

The “hood” is often what downtown, Elizabeth NJ is labeled as. Children like me are doubted as many people seem to believe we will just become another statistic. My background has motivated to strive for success, proving those with agnosticism wrong. Seeing bodies strung out on the corner or laying on the sidewalk is a part of my everyday life. I’m not ashamed of where I come from as it has made me who I am today.

I'm exploring various areas for retirement, which presently includes Raleigh/Durham, and possibly Asheville, for visits up to six months of the year. Hopefully, I will be lucky to meet acquaintances who are similar in age who are willing to connect without the need for a rushed relationship. I would like to settle down but I am realistic and will admit that I am careful. I am hopeful for a mature commitment in the future. An important aspect is flexibility as my lifestyle involves travel, which is unavoidable.

In the woods, we explored deer trails that made their way to the very back to a beautiful creek that ran through the thicket. There were small waterfalls flowing down and a water hole we would jump in for fun. The only downside were the