The True Meaning of Home

Word Count: 294

        My phone rings, it’s my mom; I was greeted with a soft-spoken, solemn voice. She asks what my plans are for the night, not a usual question from my mom. I immediately ask what’s wrong? Anxiously awaiting her response, I stop dead in my tracks to hear her voice cracking with tears saying, "They don’t think grampy is going to make it to the weekend". I collapse to the ground, drop my phone, and burst into tears. I felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. My grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer the previous year, but last I heard he was doing alright. I was confused, lost, and numb. My grampy: the man I idolize, adore, and love with all my heart, being taken away from me with just one phone call.
       After the agonizing 4-hour ride home, we arrived at my grandparent’s house filled with relatives, and then there he was…lying in a hospital bed where his La-Z-boy recliner usually is. He looks frail, gray, and sad; far from the lively smile, caring eyes, and jolly beer belly I am used to seeing. My body was weighed down with pain and anger. I went up to him and held his hand, he looks at me and in his scratchy, broken voice says, "my Ashley nickel…I love you". He then continues to keep saying he wants to go home. It wasn’t until later when we realized what he really meant…he was ready to go home with God. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives, he was a recovered alcoholic and smoked for over 50 years, but God was still there for him, waiting with open arms. I learned how important faith is and how influential it can be in a person’s life.

Point: People make mistakes in their lives, but if you keep your faith close to you, then God will take care of you when it matters most.

The Ups and Downs of My Educational Roller Coaster

     My best educational experience was in college. My freshman year I was a slacker, simply not doing well in school. I failed a class and did mediocre in the rest. When I told my mom the news, the look on her face broke my heart. When next semester came, I studied my butt off and learned to balance social life, softball, and academics. I ended up earning a 4.0 my fall semester and I’ve never felt so accomplished and proud when I told my mom the news and her face told me she felt the same way.
Word Count: 97

     My worst educational experience happened in high school. I was taking an AP Biology class and we had to do an oral presentation on the prehistoric ages. I HATE speaking in front of people, let alone seniors when I was only a junior. I remember getting in front of the class, feeling my face get bright red, becoming really hot, starting to get very sweaty and short of breath…I had my first anxiety attack. I needed to leave the room mid-presentation, only to come back to get points off my grade for refusing to finish.
Word Count: 95