​My senior year on SLA's basketball team didn't turn out how I expected it to. In the beginning of the season we had high hopes of being the first version of the schools basketball team to make the playoffs in our 5 year existence. We had a great start to the season winning 3 of our firs 6 games. As we approached a big game against Carroll we we ready to solidify our playoff spot. That was until a snow day came and cancelled our game. We went on to only win one more game during the season and not in the playoffs. I enjoyed my time as a member of the SLA Rockets since my freshman year. There are a lot of memories that are instilled in me and times that I will never forget. I believe that the team is in good hands for the future and that the current players will take this team to where its never been. 

My grand mom has been very instrumental in my life. I was I never was really a mommy or daddy’s boy. Instead I loved to spend time with her. As I was younger my grand mom always brags about how she was the first person that I laid eyes on when I was born. What I love the most about her is when she called me to come stay at her house for a period of time. I loved spending time at her house because being there brought a lot of fun times to my childhood. One time my grand mom had set up her own edition “Fear Factor”. I competed against my cousin and little brother as we ate a mix of foods that she created. We were blind folded so we didn’t even get to see what we were eating until after it was over. My cousin won the competition but I didn’t care. I was just excited to be at my grand mom’s house while having fun. Other than my mom, my grand mom has been the person that has influenced me the most in my life. I never felt scared to come to her about anything because she always was that person who would never judge me about what I’m feeling and we understood each other. She has always kept me on the right track and I will always dedicate my success to her.

Basketball has played a big part in my life as well. Besides going to school and having fun all I did when I was play sports as a kid. I played organized basketball and football. Basketball is more of my sport, and I learned that after one season of playing football. Since I was three, I have always had a passion for basketball and to this day until forever, I always will. The first time I picked up a basketball I couldn’t put it down. When I was four or five year old I would always go to Marshall States Park. My uncle would teach me the basics of how to play the game. As I got older and better I would always play him and my friends one on one. I would never forget the times when I would go to the park with my uncle because he taught me everything I know. He pushed me to become better and he would always rough me up. I think that basketball has taught me how to interact with people. I would always go to the court and make friends. I have built a lot of social skills on the basketball court that will for sure follow me through life.

The best experience of my life so far has been my time at my high school, Science Leadership Academy. The first day of school was a day I will just always remember. Nothing really exciting happened, it was a good day and it was just an opportunity to get acquainted with my teachers and my peers that I would be spending the next four years of my life with. I had never looked forward to a new experience as much as I did this one. I remember the first day of my ninth grade year like it was yesterday. I woke up that morning filled with so much energy and anticipation. I showered and dressed quickly, grooming myself as if it was my wedding day. My bus and train ride to school went relatively smoothly. As I got off the trolley and walked to school, I had found myself already making a new friend. He was a 10^th grader named Jefferson Cauvin. We talked about the school and what I should expect.

When I stepped into the doors of SLA for the first time, my body took on a rush of excitement. Jeff introduced me to some of his friends and I had already felt as though I was apart of the SLA community. I got acquainted with my teachers and I became friends with many people. Little did I know that this day was the start of my legacy as a person and student. My experience at SLA has been like no other. Even though I am about graduate, I am still learning myself. My school has prepared me to succeed under any circumstances. My life story is just at it's beginning and I believe that I have no ceiling in terms of being successful as long as I stay focused and work hard.

May you never know the way, that it feels to be lonely. May you never know one day, when love isn’t real. See this stuff to me is genuine only.

Heart locked? She has the key.

NBA All Star 2011 was one of the best all star weekends in a while. The weekend included Justin Bieber winning the MVP in the celebrity basketball game, the Atlanta Hawks winning the Haier Shooting Stars competition, Stephen Curry won the Skill Competition, James Jones won the Three Point Shootout, and Blake Griffin won the Slam Dunk contest by dunking over a car. The Western All Stars capped off the weekend by beating the Eastern All stars, 148-143, with Kobe Bryant being acknowledged as the game's MVP after scoring 37 points. It will be hard for next years All Star game to top this past weekend's. But like any all star weekend, I can't wait.

Aidan walked into the wood, wielding only his trusty axe and a thermos of coffee and whiskey. He made sure to step on each of the individual crusty brown leaves lying on the forest floor. He was thinking about his cabin, deeply secluded in the mountain several miles away. He couldn't quite remember if he had covered his logs with the tarp. He wondered if his dog, Bruce Springsteen, was still howling at the oven.

"Fucking dogs," Aidan thought.

If only he didn't have to travel this far everyday. If only Montana hadn't recently passed the Land Protection Act, Aidan wouldn't have to travel several miles by foot every day to avoid cutting down trees in an "environmental preservation zone."

"Fucking treehuggers," Aidan thought.

He finally stopped next to a tall tree with ripe red leaves. He looked up, savoring the view of the sun shining through the beautiful red leaves. For a moment, Aidan remembered. He remembered climbing in these trees as a youngster. Sharing a picnic with his family in this very spot. For a moment, Aidan was not Aidan the lumberjack, but Aidan the human being.

He then swung his axe into the tree until it fell heavily to the ground.

"Fucking nature," Aidan thought.

"And don't come back!" she screeched as she threw Chris to the ground. "Ouch," Chris thought, "what a strong woman. She just threw me!"

Chris had just been thrown out of his favourite diner. He had been hitting on the waitress, Carmella, yet again. She told him that he was making her uncomfortable, but he didn't listen. He couldn't. Hard as he tried, he could not manage to stop the steady stream of sexual innuendo and just outright profanity that flowed out of his mouth.

With the help of the handrail against which he fell, Chris pulled himself up, lit a cigarette, and walked away. Like a boss.

Alex ate her macaroni and cheese in silence. This silence was not one born out of upset or anger, however-- no, this silence was forced. In fact, if she could have it her way, Alex would be talking. Yelling. Singing. She could not, however, because Alex was a mute.

She had been a mute for only 1 year, since the accident. The accident that changed her life. The accident... that changed her destiny.

No, but seriously, it was just a car accident. Her destiny is still probably the same. She just can't talk now.

Saturday night I realized that one of the beads on my nose ring popped off. It was late, so I decided to just put it aside and fix it tomorrow. However, the next morning, the entire ring had fallen out, so I kind of panicked. 

I attempted to put the ring back in myself, but I guess it closed up a little and it hurt, so I decided I didn't want to mess with it and went to the place I got it pierced at originally. 

I decided while I was there I might as well get a bigger ring, because I've wanted a bigger one for ages. 

I didn't realize that meant they would have to stretch my piercing, and I guess I wasn't prepared for it. 

The girl put a taper in my nose and started pushing, I was just sitting there thinking ...this hurts... why does this... the piercing itself didn't even hurt... this hurts WOW THIS HURTS 

I started tearing up, and accidentally said "crying is for the weak" out loud. Now everyone there (well my two friends had come with me) witnessed how badass I am and they can't even deny it.