Essay 13

Asia Carter

Hamilton Salsich

Grade 9

January 27, 2009

My Beautiful White Horse:

An Essay About What Relaxes Me.

1)If I receive a bad grade, when a friend and I argue, when my parents yell at me, if my dog chews on a pair of my favorite shoes,  I get angry. 2)When I am filled with anger, and I am frustrated beyond belief, and I feel like there is no hope for a situation, when I need a way to get rid of that anger, I sing.

TS) What relieves your stress? SD) William Saroyan in "The Summer of the beautiful white horse" relieves his anger by riding a horse. CM) Saroyan is poor and he can escape the work that he has to face everyday when he rides that horse. CM) He knows that riding the stolen horse could result in others frowning upon his family name. SD) When Saroyan rides the horse it not only releases despair within him but it sets free anger within the horse also. CM) They both had a chance to stop thinking about situations at home, and just let their mind flow with the wind, and escape the actual situation. CM) Leaving "the horse [...] stronger than ever." SD) The relief both Saroyan and the horse felt  helped them work better with others. CM) Saroyan was not short tempered with his cousin who acted like he knew everything. CM) And the horse was "better tempered". CS) William Saroyan and the beautiful horse worked together to relieve their anger.

 TS) When I sing, I feel as if peace flows throughout my veins. SD) It doesn't matter where, when, what, or why, but I find that singing releases anger for me no matter what the situation. CM) When frustrated about a problem I start humming because it's my way to cope with my problems CM) During a game, riding a four wheeler, skiing, snowmobiling, I sing and it feels like the stress is floating far away. SD) Like, when William Saroyan rides that horse,when I sing it brings me to a different place, and I feel as if I am no longer on the ground but I'm soaring high in the air. CM)  I've noticed that if I listen to music and hum along as I fall asleep or study, while I'm on my way to school, or  writing my own song, it helps me to stay on task. CM) Doctors might say it is a way of coping with my ADHD, but it's more about me working through my stress. CS) When I am about to cry, I sing, and it's almost as if the tear that was about to fall down my cheek dries immediately.

1)I am human, with faults and differences, with uncontrollable emotions. 2) I sing to let my emotions free, and without singing I have no idea where I would be.

1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on: My polishing skills, I need to work on taking a closer look at my essays before I call them 'done'.


2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing: I think that I have unity through out the essay.


3. One possible weak point I see: I may be to vague on some parts.

Asia Carter

Hamilton Salsich

Grade 9

January 20, 2010

Any Questions:
An Inclass Essay About Questions.
1)Sometimes I wonder why certain things happen. 2) Like why did my dog die? 3) Why did my dad develop diabetes? 4) Some say I should search for the reason, but Rainer Maria Rilke in Letters to a Young Poet says live in the question and not care about the answer.   

TS) It is not bad to question the obstacles you run into in life. SD) Rainer Maria Rilke says that you should “have patience with everything unresolved in your heart”. CM) James Baldwin in Notes of a Native Son talks about how much he hated his father when his father was alive but now he regrets not knowing his father now that he is deceased. CM) If Rilke could have talked to Baldwin while Baldwin was growing up, he would explain that Baldwins father was just trying to protect him and build him into a strong man. SD) William Manchester would also benefit from Rilkes advice. CM) Manchester wrote in Okinawa:Bloodiest Battle of All that the war he fought in was one of the worst wars of all.  CM) Manchester wondered why such horrible things existed and Rilke would have answered “Dont search for the answers, which could not be given to you now”, meaning that somethings just don’t have an explanation. SD) Zora Neale Hurston in How it Feels to Be Colored Me would agree with Rilke when he says “Live the questions now.Perhaps [...] you will [...] live your way into the answer” CM) Mrs.Hurston talks about how she will not dwell on herself because she is colored but she will only see it as an opportunity to prove that there is more to a colored person then their skin. CM) They both feel that asking questions will only get you part way there but if you delve for the answers in your life then you will succeed. CS) Baldwin, Manchester, Hurston, and Rilke all have unanswered questions but Rilke says that is something that you should cherish because some of the answers are painful. 

1) “I would like to beg you” to understand the point of view that Rilke is coming from. 2) Life itself is an unanswered question. 3) Why look for the answers that will only hurt you? 4) Just stop, and think about what is happening now, not about why something else isn’t happening.

Free Style Essay 11

Asia Carter
Hamilton Salsich
Grade 9, English
January 13, 2010

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Proud Native American:
An Essay about What Is Important to Me.


Around 400 years ago, a conflict started between my ancestors, members of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, and the English. Blood was shed, homes torn to the ground, lives and land taken away. It all started when the Narragansets killed Captain John Stone on Block Island. The English were outraged and wanted to get even immediately. When the Narraganset were confronted, they blamed my ancestors. The English attacked, and killed all the warriors on the island and took around  200 woman and children as prisoners. This caused tension in Mystic and eventually evolved into the Pequot War (Some people called it a war, Pequots called it a massacre.). Either way, if it was up to the English, especially John Mason, who killed most of the warriors, there would not be Mashantuckets around today.
    The tribe and my culture are vital to me. Since I was six months old, my elders have been surrounding me with information about my culture. One of the most important things for me is passing along my culture. The children of my tribe don't know that most of our culture is not written in a book. It is up to us to keep our culture going. On the reservation we think of everyone as close family, and my family is the most important thing in my life. My ancestors fought for me and gave there lives for me. The last thing I am going todo is watch my culture slowly fade away. Last week there was an inauguration on the reservation. The inauguration welcomed my 1st cousin Crystal Whipple and my 1st cousin Steven Thomas into tribal council. At the inauguration, like every other tribal gathering, the “flag song” was sung.(see video above) Almost every tribal member knows that song. They may not know the exact translation, but they know the meaning. They know it represents our freedom and what it took to get our freedom. While singing along with the drums I look around, I see 5 year olds, 17 year olds, and even 65 year olds singing, not because the are forced to or because it's polite, because it's important to them. Not only do I love my tribe, but I love helping my tribe because I feel that it is very important to give back to something that has given me so many opportunities. My tribe was supposed to be wiped off the face of the earth but my ancestors fought and fought to keep our culture alive. Nothing stopped us then, and nothing will stop us now, and I will make sure of it.

Shylia ran down the dirt road, her hair flowing with the wind, her boots sloshing in the slush, her cheeks red from the cold, her pants torn from a branch, the leaves crinkling with each step, the animals hidding as she ran by, the trees swaying from side to side, the nature around her responding to every move she made.

Asia Carter

English 9

Hamilton Salsich

December 9, 2009


Life On The Road:
An Essay About My Busy Life.




I need a break. I love living on the run but it would be nice if I had time to stop, breathe, and seize the moment. Rushing to make every appointment, game, and social event on time really takes a toll on a person. My schedule is so full I barley have enough time to just think. This is called in E. M. Forster's mind is called living on the road. 


TS)  Whats side of the hedge are you on? SD)In E. M. Forster's "The Other Side of the Hedge," he lives on the road, always moving never stopping to take a breath or help somebody. CM) The people on his side only care about themselves. CM)They never lend a helping hand, they just shame on him for taking a break. SD) He was longing to see what was on the other side was like. CM) At first when he got to the other side, which was a painful journey, he looked around and saw no one in a hurry. CM) He soon figured out that the other side had no rush or competition, so everyone worked together. CS) Now that he knew how significant the other side of the hedge is he had a better understanding of life.


TS) Its a tough life always living on the road. SD) I am on the road 24/7. CM) Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Teal, Homework, my social life, and work can at times become overwhelming.  CM) Although its less overwhelming during the summer, I never really get a break. SD) Every now and then I realize that my life on the road is catching up to me. CM) Sometimes I realise this to late and I crash. SD) I do wish that I could live on the otherside of the hedge, but I have way to many things that I am capable of doing to not live on the road. CM) I love every activity I do but at times its imposible for me to have a social life out side of school hourse because of homework. CM) The main reason why I crash is because I try and fit in a social life where there is absolutely no room. CS) As for now, I live on the road, hopefully someday I can live on the other side of the hedge.


Although living on the road is difficult, it is a challenge that can be met. Living on the road can be a strength building experience. Living on the other side of the hedge helps you gain balance in your life. Which one is more important to you?