KC3 Essay Final Draft

   Illegal dumping is defined as "discarding waste in and improper or illegal manner, where it does not belong and/or where environmental is likely because of the improper disposal." There are many reasons why people do it even though they know it is not the right thing to do. Illegal dumping on Oahu is a problem that is harming the environment and the people around it and is not being noticed by many communities.
   There are many reasons why people decide not to dispose their trash properly. "This often occurs because proper disposal is too 'inconvenient', the perpetrator does not want to pay the disposal fee, or does not take the time to prepare the material for proper disposal." It is not very hard to dispose your trash properly so that it won't harm the environment. Less people are willing to give a little effort to dispose their trash properly. There are at least 16 different illegal dumping sites on Oahu. "Illegal dumps are... found in real communities, in sparsely populated areas, and along little traveled roads." Although some places may seem like they are not being used, people still use some of these places. This is affecting the people in the environment around the illegal dumps.
   Illegal dumping causes a problem with animals and insects. "Aracelia Torres... [has] taken these steps in the past, but still has problems with mosquitoes. One factor could be the number of spare tires she sees around her neighborhood." Illegal dumping creates good places for mosquitoes to breed, especially when it rains. If there isn't any trash, there isn't anywhere for mosquitoes to breed. If mosquitoes start to breed in a place where there are people living, it will affect them and how comfortable they are at home. Mosquitoes carry around malaria which is a deadly disease. Illegal dumping also affects the natural habitats of small animals. "Improper dumping pollutes their natural habitats and can lead to death of fish, birds, and small animals." If we are contributing to illegal dumping, we are also contributing to the harming of animal's natural habitats. If the toxins from our trash gets into the animal's systems, it can kill them. Some of these animals are part of our source for food. If they all die out because of our trash, we won't have a lot of meat to eat.
   With all the trash on the roads and sidewalks, there are a lot of people in communities getting hurt. "Broken glass on sidewalks and roads has long been a significant hazard for children... Other ways people can be injured from trash include stepping on nails and cutting yourself in shard, rusty metal." 15% of children under the age of 18 years old that are treated in a hospital emergency room for lacerations were injured by broken glass. Illegal dumping is causing people to get hurt. If everyone learned how to dispose their trash properly, there would be less people getting hurt from little things like glass or rusty metal. Although you may think that dumping your trash in a place where no one lives won't hurt anyone, it can find a way to harm a community. "Illegal dumping poses a threat to a community's drinking water... toxins leach out of the trash through rain water." If the water that leaks out of the trash gets into someone's drinking water, they can get seriously ill. Illegal dumping affects the people in a community a lot.
   Overall, illegal dumping is dangerous and not good for communities, animals, and people. Illegal dumping on Oahu is a problem that needs to be noticed because it is harming the enrichment and the people around it. If illegal dumping continues, there will be an over population of mosquitoes, more and more animals will die, and our oceans and drinking water will be filled with toxins.

  

KC3 Rough Draft

   Illegal dumping is defined as "discarding waste in and improper or illegal manner, where it does not belong and/or where environmental is likely because of the improper disposal." There are many reasons why people do it even though they know it is not the right thing to do. Illegal dumping on Oahu is a problem that is harming the environment and the people around it and is not being noticed by many communities.

   "This often occurs because proper disposal is too 'inconvenient', the perpetrator does not want to pay the disposal fee, or does not take the time to prepare the material for proper disposal." Properly disposing  waste is not a very hard thing to do. All it takes is a little effort. "Illegal dumps are... found in real communities, in sparsely populated areas, and along little traveled roads." Some people may still use these places that you may think are unused. They will notice if there is trash especially since it is usually large pieces of waste.

   "Aracelia Torres... [has] taken these steps in the past, but still has problems with mosquitoes. One factor could be the number of spare tires she sees around her neighborhood." Illegal dumping creates good breeding ground for mosquitoes. If there are a lot of places that mosquitoes can breed, there will be a lot of mosquitoes and they tend to carry around a disease called malaria. Malaria can lead to death. "Improper dumping pollutes their natural habitats and can lead to death of fish, birds, and small animals." By contributing to illegal dumping, we are harming the habitats of animals. Some of these animals are part of our main food source. We are also killing the food that animals need to survive.

   "Broken glass on sidewalks and roads has long been a significant hazard for children... Other ways people can be injured from trash include stepping on nails and cutting yourself in shard, rusty metal." Illegal dumping is just setting people up to hurt themselves. 15% of children under the age of 18 years old that are treated in a hospital emergency room for lacerations were injured by broken glass. We need to learn how to dispose our trash properly so that no one gets hurt. "Illegal dumping poses a threat to a community's drinking water... toxins leach out of the trash through rain water and snow melt." Even if you think dumping your trash somewhere where no one lives or works, the toxins from the trash can reach a place where people live and work. It would be safer to dispose trash properly.

   Overall, illegal dumping is dangerous and not good for communities, animals, and people. Illegal dumping on Oahu is a problem that needs to be noticed because it is harming the enrichment and the people around it. If illegal dumping continues, there will be an over population of mosquitoes, more and more animals will die, and our oceans and drinking water will be filled with toxins.

Querencia Final

   I woke up to the sound of my alarm on my phone. It was 3:30 a.m. My friend Libby and I filled our water bottles and packed a light breakfast for later. Our friend Kristi's grey truck came up my driveway and we hopped in. It was still dark outside. We got to the start of the trail at 4:30 a.m. When we started up the trail, we found that it was really nice. It was quiet and a little cold. It was 5:00 a.m. when we got to the first pillbox. We took out our breakfast and ate while we waited for the sun to come up. It was July 28, 2015 when we hiked up the Lanikai Pillbox trail to see the sunrise.
   When I got to the top, I could see all the way down to the ocean. It was very peaceful. On the top of the first pillbox, it felt like the whole world was on pause. I felt safe even though at any moment, I could have fallen off the pillbox and down the side of the mountain. I wanted to stay there forever. I did not have to worry about school starting, memorizing cello music, or getting down the dance for a performance.
   I knew I would have to go back home soon. The sun was up and the pillbox was more crowded. It was not as peaceful as when I first got up there. We headed back down, Libby, Kristi, Chamberlain, and I, and went back home in Kristi's black truck. I went straight to sleep when I got back home. But I could not stop thinking about how I felt up on that pillbox. I want to go back again. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. is worth it when you go to a place where you do not have to worry about anything.
   Now that school started, I don't have a lot of time to go hiking. I haven't been back to my querencia since the summer but it is still a special place to me. If I could, I would spend all my time there. Pillbox is different from other places. It is peaceful when you are up there. You have a perfect view of the ocean below and you can hear the waves crashing on the shore. When you go to the first pillbox to see the sunrise, there is a beautiful view of two islands in the ocean and the sun rises right between them. You can not get that view or the same peacefulness anywhere else.
   When I am on the pillbox, I can relax and take time get rid of all the stress. It helps me calm down if I am stressed out or scared. Although this is a hike, I don't feel tired when I get to the pillbox. I feel full of energy and ready to take on whatever life throws at me. This helps me when I go back home because going home means chores, homework, and many other things that have to be done. My Querencia might be a public place for anyone to go to but when I get up there, it seems like I am the only one there. I feel safe, relaxed, and stress free.

Picture Frame Paragraphs: Rhysa & Kaylee

   Every year I count down the days till Christmas. The days seem like months as I wait for the day to come. The nights are colder so I make myself a warm hot chocolate. It has whipped cream and marshmallows on top in my favorite mug. When I take my first sip the hot chocolate warms my body as it goes down my throat. The hot chocolate has the right amount of sweetness to it. It's not too sweet and not too watered down. On a chilly winter night it tastes just right. With my hot chocolate in my hand, I snuggle in my blanket and watch Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.
   I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock. It is 6:45 a.m. on Christmas morning. I am ready to open all my presents. Running up the stairs, the excitement builds up as I shout "Wake up!" Everyone makes their way to the bright sparkling Christmas tree in the living room. I walk into the room and instantly smell the scent of pine trees and chocolate chip cookies. As I grab my first present, rip open the nicely wrapped paper. When all the paper is off and scattered on the ground I reached into the box and felt something soft and silky. I pulled out a beautiful dress that I've wanted for years. A wave of happiness washed though me as I hugged my mom. "Merry Christmas," my parents shouted.

Querencia

   I woke up to the sound of my alarm on my phone. It was 3:30 a.m. Libby and I filled our water bottles and packed a light breakfast for later. Kristi's grey truck came up my driveway and we hopped in. It was still dark outside. We got to the start of the trail at 4:30 a.m. When we started up the trail, we found that it was really nice. It was quiet and a little cold. It was 5:00 a.m. when we got to the first pillbox. We took out our breakfast and ate while we waited for the sun to come up. It was July 28, 2015 when we hiked up the Lanikai Pillbox trail to see the sunrise.

   When I got to the top, I could see all the way down to the ocean. It was very peaceful. On the top of the first pillbox, it felt like the whole world was on pause. I felt safe even though at any moment, I could have fallen off the pillbox and down the side of the mountain. I wanted to stay there forever. I did not have to worry about school starting, memorizing cello music, or getting down the dance for a performance.

   I knew I would have to go back home soon. The sun was up and the pillbox was more crowded. It was not as peaceful as when I first got up there. We headed back down, Libby, Kristi, Chamberlain, and I, and went back home in Kristi's black truck. I went straight to sleep when I got back home. But I could not stop thinking about how I felt up on that pillbox. I want to go back again. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. is worth it when you go to a place where you do not have to worry about anything.

   Although I haven't been back to my Querencia since that summer morning the feeling is still fresh in my mind. There is a lot of stress and work now that school started. But if one morning I could go back and not have to worry about school or anything else, I'd come back home ready to take on whatever life throws at me. My Querencia might be a public place for anyone to go to but when I get up there, it seems like I am the only one there. I feel safe, relaxed, and stress free.

Special Place

   When I open the door to a place that is stress free, I walk onto the path of the Lanikai Pillbox hike. It is still dark outside and it is around four in the morning. I am with my friend Amber. We start to walk up the hills and we get to a spot where we can see down to the ocean. There are houses and a few cars are driving on the road. We can see the two islands in the ocean. We walk all the way up to the first pillbox and we sit at the edge. We take out the food that we brought for our breakfast and start to eat. We talk about school and what we should do when we get back down. We talk for another half hour and then we see it. The sun starts to come up behind the horizon. We have to squint our eyes because the sun is in our eyes. We take a few pictures to remember the hike and then we head back down. But when we get back to the start of the trail, it is also the end of my stay at my special place. Then I am back to my house with all the stress, chores, and homework. But this time, I am ready to finish all my homework and finish all my chores.

CNN News (Chunky Paragraph)

  When you are using any electronics, you should look at your posture and the angle of your neck because it may be damaging your body. "A recent study published in Surgical Technology International's 25th edition says texting may be hurting your back. Conducted by New York spine surgeon Kenneth Hansraj, the study found that bending your head to look at your mobile device held in your hands can put up to 60 pounds of pressure on your neck" (paragraph 9). When I am on my phone, I tend to have to stretch out my neck every so often because I am always looking down at my phone. Sometimes I even have to stretch out my whole body because it is aching. Looking down at your phone can stretch the tissue too long and it can get sore and inflamed. Looking down for too long can also move your spine out of alignment (summary of paragraph 13-14). Looking down at my phone for a really long time hurts my neck along with my back. This is probably because I am stretching the tissue for too long. Looking down at your phone or any electronics can damage your body so paying attention to the way you look at your electronics is very important.

Words From the Heart (Final)

   "... and make sure you make yourself useful," my mom said as she drops me off at my friends house. My mom always wants me and my sister to make ourselves useful when we are someones guest. She said that she does not want us to just sit around and let everyone else do all the work. Although this may sound like an ordinary phrase that anyone would say in their house, "Make yourself useful" is an important phrase to me, my mom, and her mom (my grandma). "Make yourself useful" is what my grandma used to tell my mom and her sisters when they were growing up. Being useful shows that you are not rude or lazy by making everyone do all the work for you. Sometimes when my mom thought I was not making myself useful she would say, "Who do you think you are? Cinderella?" Meaning that I am not a princess who has people to do my work for me and I should help her or other people to do what needs to be done.
   This phrase is important to my mom and my grandma because what I do reflects on our family. They both want people to think that we are a helpful family. When I help people with what they need to do, it shows that my parents raised my well. My mom told me that if you were a good and useful guest, they will probably invite you over again. But if you were rude and lazy while you were their guest, they probably won't want you to come back.
   The phrase "Make yourself useful" helped shape me into the person I am today. I think that if I had not grown up all these years hearing the same phrase over and over again, I would be lazy and rude to the people around me. Making myself useful taught me that the world does not revolve around me and that I do not have people to do my work for me. Before, helping other people do their work seemed like a drag and unnecessary. But now, helping other people is something that I enjoy doing because it makes them happy and less stressed.
   This past summer I went on a mission trip with some of my friends to New Mexico. There, I helped people who needed help with yard work, painting, and construction. When my group and I finished helping at the end of the day, I was so happy that they were smiling and that they were very greatful that we came to help them. I felt like I made myself useful by helping them out even if it was little things like washing the windows or pulling out a few weeds here and there. When I thought about this, it reminded me of what my mom tells me all the time. Except this time, I did it without her having to tell me.
   Sometimes hearing the same thing all the time can be a pain. I've heard it so much that now I say, "Yeah okay," whenever my mom tells me to make myself useful. Having been told to make myself useful so many times made being useful something I always do when I go somewhere. Wherever I go, I help with what needs to be done.
   I think that this phrase is a phrase that everyone should hear or know. Being useful can make someone else's life so much easier. I know my mom is a very busy person because she does everything. From driving me to school, dance classes, music lessons, her own job, cooking for us, and so much more. She does a lot for me so the least I can do is make myself useful and help her out sometimes.

Words From the Heart (Draft)

   "... and make sure you make yourself useful," my mom said as she drops me off at my friend's house. My mom always wants me and my sister to be helpful whenever we are someone's guests. She said that she does not want us to just sit around and let everyone do the work. Being useful is important to her because she does not want people to think that our family is rude or lazy. "Make yourself useful" is something her mom (my grandma) told her when she was growing up. Now both my mom and my grandma tell me to make myself useful wherever I go.
   Whether it is at my friend's house, a family get together, a party, or just at home, I am always being told to make myself useful. I help do the dishes, put away the food, clean up what I took out, or help bring things out to the car. Although there are days when I feel too tired to help or I do not want to because everyone else is having more fun, I still help out with whatever needs to be done because I know that it is the right thing to do and it will make my mom and grandma proud.
   Sometimes hearing the same thing all the time can be a pain. I've heard it so much and now I say, "Yeah okay," whenever my mom tells me to make myself useful. Having been told to make myself useful so many times made being useful something I always do when I go somewhere. Wherever I go, I help with what needs to be done.
   I know that being part of my family means that what I do will reflect on the people who raised me. If I do something good, it will make my parents, aunties, uncles, and grandparents look good too. But if I do something terrible, it will make them look terrible too. Making myself useful if something that shows that my family raised me to be good and helpful and not rude and lazy.
   Being useful and helping out can mean a lot to someone and they will appreciate what we did for them. The way I think of it is I put myself in the other person's shoes. If I had a lot of things to do, I would appreciate it if someone would help me. So whenever I am at someone's house and I see that they are trying to get things done, I go over and ask them if they need help.  

Meeting Rhysa Lee

   Hey, I'm Rhysa Lee and my blog is called "Write or Wrong". I called my blog "Write or Wrong" because in life you are always going to be "write" or wrong. I chose the background because I think it shows my girly personality.

   The world I come from is beautiful.  I like to dance. I do ballet, tap, and jazz. I think that dance is a beautiful art form. I am also part of my school's color guard. I love watching all the flags moving together and making a bigger picture. Another beautiful art form is music. I play the cello and I love listening to music when I have the chance. My favorite artists consists of 5 Seconds of Summer, One Direction, Hillsong United, and TobyMac. 

   Sometimes, the world does not seem as beautiful as it could be. I do not like cats because their eyes scare me and when I go by them, I get a rash and my eyes start to water. I do not like running because I do not like sweating and worrying about what I smell like.