My Memoir

Nicole Brouwer

            There have been many happy times in my life, but I can’t really think of any that have been very life-changing.  I believe that the best way to become stronger is by enduring hard times.  The reason behind this is because I have indeed gone through many tough challenges.  I am certain that there are far worse trials that a person can go through than the things I have experienced, but for me the most challenging two years that I have faced were probably the best two years for most people.

            In 2009, Natalie and I entered seventh grade.  We finally graduated to a new building, our own lockers and the freedom of running in the halls.  It seemed like such a big leap from one grade to the next, but that didn’t matter; I was in junior high and I was ecstatic!

            On the very first day of school, one of my teachers said that some of us might have less homework than we did in sixth grade, but some, however, would have more.  I hoped, of course, that junior high would be less stressful with the amount of homework and that things would get better for me.  But before I knew it, I was sitting in a small room upstairs trying to think of ways to solve all my problems in front of a counselor.  His name was Wendell Vuerink and I will never forget him.  “I procrastinate too…” he always said.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t my problem; I just wasn’t able to finish school projects on time.  Even though we were never able to solve anything, we still had a lot of great conversations.  I can still remember the feeling of the awkward silence between questions and the moments where each and every breath taken was heard.

            That also brings me back to a prior event that will be present in my memory forever.  When my mom brought me to the doctor, it was the same type of atmosphere that I experienced in school.  This time, my mom was in the room with me and the discussion was more serious.  Throughout the whole year of seventh grade, I started to think hard about what Heaven would be like and how it would feel to live forever and ever.  I also started to ponder how short my life on this earth is and just how short time is until all of my relatives will pass away.  “When I get to Heaven, what will I remember of this life?” I asked.  Thoughts like this raced through my mind, and made me very sad.  With most of these questions, I have found answers, but others I still think about.  Unfortunately, back then, these things made me feel very sad and hopeless.

            That was a huge part of seventh grade and to my distress, it continued through eighth grade.  Though my problems were not as extreme, I still struggled with my homework.  Surprisingly, it was not the difficulty level, it was simply the amount.  Every night, I was at war.  I could barely get my homework done on time.

            Sports that year were also somewhat challenging.  I didn’t feel like I was good enough at anything; basketball or volleyball.  Sometimes I asked myself why I even went out for sports, but most of the time I was stuck wondering, “Why me?  Why do all these things have to happen to me?”

            Not a whole lot got better after that and the homework situation stayed the same as in the beginning of the year.  So at the end of junior high, I could only look back and realize how right my sixth grade teacher had been when she told us how seventh and eighth grade were the worst two years of her life.  For me, seventh and eighth grade were indeed the toughest and most challenging two years of my life.

            It is hard for me to explain two years in only two pages.  They have been the longest two years I have ever experienced.  Though I have gone through a lot, I have watched loved ones go through a lot.  I think that along with experiencing hard times has also made me stronger.  Through all of this, I have learned how to deal with tough times if a road block ever does cross my path.     

Compare & Contrast Essay

 Twin A vs. Twin B
Nicole Brouwer

    Many people think that twins see eye-to-eye on probably everything, especially when it comes to personalities and interests.  However, I am going to explain to you that this is not the case in all twins.   Though Natalie and I are very similar, there are many different areas that spark each of our interests. 
    Natalie and I have many different likes; some things are more specific than others.  For example, we both enjoy certain foods.  Natalie likes salads, but I rarely find leafy greens very tasty.  She also doesn’t like foods that are abundant in sugar.  I, on the other hand, love sugary foods and the sweetness that they bring.  These are just a few minor things that we differ on.
    Now, here are some of the bigger differences.  Our personalities vary somewhat when it comes to the music that we listen to and the clothes that we wear.  Natalie loves country and doesn’t usually want to listen to anything else.  She would also prefer to strut in cowboy boots all day. I enjoy pop music and like to wear outfits that consist of skinny jeans and fancy shirts.  I do like cowboy boots, but I think Natalie would agree that overall, I have a wider variety of clothes. 
    Something that we very much differ on, is our interest in certain men.  I recently asked Natalie about her opinions, and I found that some of them were quite specific.  She told me this: “I have dreams of someday getting married to a very handsome, buff, and simply a good-looking man.  Along with being a Christian, it would be great if he met these certain qualifications: First of all, I would like him to be a farmer/cowboy/somewhat of a redneck.  Ok...maybe not that extreme, but I don’t want him to have to wear a suit everyday to work.  He has to have short hair (preferably no longer than an inch).  His personality is important too.  He has to be funny, nice, and sensitive, but not wussy.  He also has to love hugs.  To put it in a nutshell, I don't want someone I can live with, I want someone that I can't live without.”   
    I have a different opinion on this subject, however.  I tend to be attracted to city guys. Sometimes this includes guys who wear skinny jeans and beanies.  Some of the things that I want in a man do match Natalie’s specifications, such as being strong, good-looking, and having an interesting job.  Though I do like the cowboy look, I think I have a wider range of interests than Natalie does, and I’m just more into the city style. 
    The last big thing that Natalie and I are different on is plainly the way we do things.  Natalie likes to get things done right away, but do them well at the same time.  I like to take my time on things, and focus on details.  Unfortunately, sometimes I am not happy until every single thing is perfect. 
    Those are the general things that make us different.  We are similar in which we are both quiet, enjoy playing volleyball, and are big contributors to our school band.  Art is our passion and we both put a lot of time into each project we create. 
    Some twins dress the same; some twins act the same.  Other twins are completely different.  Natalie and I are a little in-between.  We act the same, but like different things.  One last thing that is the same with both of us is that we do everything and go everywhere together.     

   
 
   

Any Topic Essay

Tim McGraw

Nicole Brouwer

                When you hear the name Tim McGraw, you probably think of country music, black cowboy hats, and tight, white tank-tops.  But do you know how he became involved in the music industry, or even the story of his childhood?  Well, I am going to tell you about all of that because it’s not something that a person experiences every day.

            Tim McGraw was born on May 1, 1967, to Betty Smith (now Betty Trimble) and Tug McGraw.  He was raised thinking that Horace Smith, Betty’s husband at the time, was his father.  They divorced when Tim was nine and he and his mother were forced to move around frequently from then on.  After moving to one place two years later, Tim found his birth certificate with his father’s name scratched out, but his occupation listed as “baseball player.”  Betty finally admitted that she was involved in a short love affair with the minor league pitcher during one summer.  Tug hastily left her and she married Horace Smith when Tim was seven months old. 

            Tug McGraw later became very popular in the 1970’s and was soon the highest-paid pitcher in professional baseball.  Tim did meet him at a baseball game in Texas, but Tug didn’t show much excitement in keeping a close relationship.  As anyone would be, Tim was originally angry with his dad for not wanting to be closer, but he eventually forgave him.  Coincidentally, Tim had a baseball card of his dad beforehand, not knowing that he was his biological father.  

            As Tim grew up, his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, like his dad, eventually faded.  He went to school at Monroe Christian High School in Louisiana and graduated as the salutatorian in 1985.  After he graduated, Tug agreed to help pay for Tim’s college education.  He decided to go to Northeast Louisiana State University and took pre-law courses.  He discovered his true passion for music when he found more enjoyment at parties than studying.  Tim quit college and hit the road for Nashville. From there, his singing career sky-rocketed. 

            In 1996, country singer Faith Hill was the opening act on his Spontaneous Combustion tour. By the end of the tour, Tim had fallen in love with Faith and he asked her to marry him.  They got married in the fall of 1996. 

            Tim McGraw has had a very successful career in music, production and management companies, and in movies.  Even with all his success, the place that he loves to be most is at home with his family.  He once told People magazine that he loves his wife more than anything in the world.  In my opinion, that will always be his greatest success. 

           

             

Celebration Essay

Kate

Nicole Brouwer

            Since we were little, fairytales of princes and princesses have always lightened our spirits and taken hold of our hearts.  As young girls, we dreamed of becoming a princess, and being swept off our feet by Prince Charming.  These make-believe characters were our motivation, but I am going to tell you about a person that I greatly admire, who truly is married to a handsome prince.  Her name is Princess Kate.

            Catherine Middleton is without a doubt a real-life Cinderella.  She was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, London to Michael and Carole Middleton.  After Kate was born, her mother started her own company with dreams of sending her children to private schools.  Surprisingly, the business was a success and made the Middleton’s multi-millionaires.  So Kate, along with her brother and sister, attended private schools.  However, she left an exclusive all-girl boarding school when she was 13 after being bullied by other students.  Though she still had trouble with mean kids at a co-ed school as well, she excelled in her studies. 

            When Kate got to college, she was assigned the same dormitory as Prince William.  They had several classes together and soon became friends.  At the same time, however, Kate was dating a senior and William was dealing with the pressure that the press put on him.  After Kate’s boyfriend graduated, they parted ways.  When Kate started her junior year, she and William got together again and started dating. 

            For several years, William and Kate were able to keep their relationship private, since William didn’t trust the press.  In 2003, Kate graduated without ever having to deal with publicists.  One year later, however, the paparazzi caught Kate on a royal family trip.  For the next few years, the couple was constantly under close surveillance.  This made things difficult for Kate, including finding a job.  After landing a job as an assistant clothes buyer, she eventually left to study portrait photography.

            In 2007, William’s family pressured him to either propose to Kate or let her move on with her life.  So he chose to end their five-year relationship.  Three years later, Kate and her brother, James, made plans to begin their own bakery business.  During the same year, William and Kate did finally get engaged.

            Now, the press would start speculating about every detail of the wedding.  All was finally revealed on April 29, 2011.  I woke up at 4:00 in the morning to watch the wedding myself.  I am proud to say that I, along with the rest of the world, got to watch the events just as they happened, including the unforgettable moment when Kate’s dress was presented.  What really impressed me was Kate’s grace and poise through the whole event.  I don’t think that I will ever watch a more beautiful wedding.

            The reason I admire Princess Kate so much is that she didn’t have to be the most popular or famous person to capture the heart of a prince, like in most fairytales.  Her personality seems to be similar to mine and she doesn’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be noticed.  Her love for Prince William appears genuine; something that every young girl hopes to have. 

For the Greater Good

            In the recent past, a controversy has begun about whether or not parents should vaccinate their children at a young age.  Some parents believe that if they vaccinate their children, they will develop autism, or other handicaps.  But the majority of parents argue that vaccinating their children is, without a doubt, the way to go.  Despite the risks of vaccinating children at a young age, the risks of not vaccinating children when they’re young are even greater.

            There have been many instances when harmful diseases were stopped or slowed when a vaccine was given to young children.  For example, before vaccines were invented, diseases such as whooping cough and measles caused many deaths among people of all ages.  In another situation, from the late 1940’s to the early 1950’s, a disease called polio struck over 35,000 people a year.  Thanks to vaccines and parents who continued to vaccinate their children, polio has ceased to be a threat in the U.S. for over 30 years.

            When vaccines are injected, the ability to fight off infectious or harmful diseases is increased.  Vaccines are composed of the disease that is trying to be fought off; the disease is either milder, no longer living, or made up of similar components.  Once the small dose of the disease is in the body, the immune system begins to produce antibodies that learn to fight off the disease.  Therefore, if the patient catches the actual disease, their body knows how to react to it.  Different vaccines act in different ways; some take longer to be recognized than others.  Some vaccines have to be taken multiple times while others last a lifetime.  As a result, by not vaccinating a child, they may be exposed to a germ or disease that they aren’t strong enough to fight off.

            Vaccinating a child also helps protect the health of our surroundings, especially others who have not been vaccinated.  Also, those who already have a low immunity, due to some other illness (for example, cancer), are put in harm’s way when exposed to unvaccinated children.

            The bottom line is this: Parents who don’t vaccinate their children are not considering the danger that they put other people in.  Vaccines were developed to protect the population from diseases that were once deadly.  For some parents, too much time had passed, that they don’t realize the devastation or the fear that was in families when illnesses such as polio hit.  There was nothing those parents could do to prevent it from coming into their family.  They hoped and prayed that it wouldn’t affect their family.  Parents today can do something, yet some are choosing not to.  As the old saying goes, “If you don’t learn from history, it’s bound to repeat itself.”

My Book Review

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Nicole Brouwer

How would you feel if you couldn’t remember one second of being in the presence of you parents?  Well, if you can’t, you are probably feeling the same way that Harry Potter has felt.    But what if you knew the person that took away your parents and you know that they are still out there? Then, you would probably be having the same feeling of revenge that Harry Potter feels…right about now…in the sixth book of the Harry Potter series. 

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the battle between good and evil continues. Lord Voldemort is becoming stronger, and his murder rampage is starting to impact non-wizard communities. The newspaper is bursting with warnings of dangerous people on the loose, and the Ministry of Magic is arresting members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Despite the war, life must go on. Fred and George Weasley’s joke shop is a huge hit in the wizarding community. At this point in Harry’s life, kids begin to fall in love, and learn how to perform more advanced magic. Classes at school always bring something new and exciting each day. Even his least favorite class is no longer dreadful when he receives much guidance from a mysterious book that contains revised, handwritten instructions from the Half-Blood Prince, on how to make each potion perfect. But the real mystery is: Who is the Half-Blood Prince? 

This year at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore shares a number of his memories with Harry that reveal the unknown past of Lord Voldemort. Harry finds out just who Lord Voldemort really is, and by learning this, unveils the secret of how to destroy the most powerful force of evil that has ever lived.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. J.K. Rowling, the author, does a very good job of bringing the you along with Harry on his journey through the book. The plot and pace are also very well done. After reading each chapter, all you will want to do is keep reading. 

  I would recommend this book to those who have read the previous installments, because if you take this book off a shelf without reading the five that come before it, you will be very confused. But if you know what is already going on in the series, read this book! This suspenseful and romantic novel always makes you wonder what will happen next, and it will bring you one gigantic step closer to the conclusion of Harry Potter’s life. You will also discover, along with Harry, things that you never would have imagined happening on the journey to Voldemort’s success. 

The Guardian

Nicole Brouwer

“We, the jury, find the defendant, Julianne Warner, guilty of the offense of murder in the second degree.” The whole side of the room let out a sigh of grief and disgust. “Thank you,” declared the judge. “This court is now adjourned.” As the people dismissed, I looked out the courtroom window. The sun was rising and the waves tumbled along the shore under a blue, cloudless sky. Tears ran down my face and my heart filled with sadness as I looked away from the ocean. I grew up here. I have felt, tasted, and seen blue water my whole life. But from now on, the only things I would be feeling, tasting, and seeing were stone cold floors, the same, old food day after day, and thin, metal bars for the next 20 years.

Mom and Dad named my twin brother Raymond for a reason. Raymond means “wise guardian,” which was to resemble what he would be. He was supposed to be my guardian and protector. I was his other half, and he was mine. From the day we were born, it was our job to look after each other. We were two perfect mixtures of our parents. My mom always told me, “When God creates a face he really likes, He makes two of them.”

For most of my childhood, wherever Raymond went, I went, and most of the time, that’s how it had to be. I couldn’t help it that I was always with my brother. Sometimes, I just felt stuck like glue to him, everywhere I went. And as any twin would say, when you’re with someone that much, you learn to love them no matter what they do or how bad you argued with them the night before. Pretty soon, it becomes hard to do things and go places by yourself. Raymond and I grew extremely close.

As Raymond and I grew up and entered school, we made friends of our own. Throughout the years, Raymond became really close friends with a guy named Lawrence Taylor. They were the exact definition of best buds. Lawrence was such a nice person to my brother, and he was also very good to me. This friendship has continued on through today. School was very normal for us and just seemed to roll on by. Neither of us really got into any trouble, but we weren’t nerds either. We were just average teenagers.

It was towards the end of our junior year in high school, however, when Raymond developed some bad habits – habits that no one wants to see their sibling go through: drugs. I first became suspicious of his behavior one night after my parents went to bed, and I saw him sneak into a car with a person I didn’t know. The next morning, I found him on the couch downstairs, looking very tired and sick. He was clearly hung over. When I asked him where he had been the night before, he admitted that he had driven off with a black man that he happened to meet after school. Well, this black man, supposedly named Maurice, started to sell him alcohol. The last thing he remembered was feeling really light-headed and then passing out.

I was confused and didn’t know what to think.  That wasn’t who my brother was. It didn’t really sink in until things got worse. Raymond kept getting more and more sick, and pretty soon, he couldn’t go to school anymore. He became so immune to liquor that it started to take over his life. Finally, I told myself that I had to do something – I wanted my brother back. So I took him to the local rehab center, and he was going to stay there for thirty days. The process was tough, but so was Raymond.

On the third Sunday after he started his therapy, I took him to church. We were raised going to church every Sunday, but his recent addiction had pulled him away from all of that. For some strange reason, I remembered what that day’s sermon was about. It was about Psalm 23. The one that says, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ I remember the preacher saying that with God, we have everything. Like David describes in verses two, three, and four, He is always with us no matter how hard life seems to be. God is the only person we can look to for true comfort. But, maybe I just remembered the sermon because Raymond was there with me.

Even though Raymond seemed to be away for eternity, he eventually came back home. I was so happy that he could enjoy a family dinner once again, but I was even more excited that he was completely sober. He was no longer dependant on those drinks that could have killed him.  Finally, he could come back to school. Despite having to catch up on piles of homework, life was back to normal.

            It was exactly 12 days after Raymond got back from rehab, when I was sound asleep in bed, and was awakened to hear him arguing with someone downstairs in the kitchen. “That’s weird,” I thought. “Who would he be talking to at this time of night?” So, I slowly made my way down the steps, still not used to the bright light. When I turned the corner, I felt the color drain out of my face. My heart suddenly started to race, as if it had just been brought to life. There Raymond stood, up against the counter, face-to-face with the black man, Maurice.

            “Maurice…please, I can’t do this anymore…” Raymond begged, sounding terrified. Then I heard that harsh voice, the voice of a very heavy smoker, utter, “It’s over.” And with terror in his eyes, Raymond started to shake his head, but it was too late. Maurice drew out a knife and thrust it into my brother’s chest. Raymond tumbled to the ground with a yelp of pain.

“NO!” I screamed. Maurice spun around, just noticing that I was there. “No,” I said again, rushing over to him. I held Raymond’s head up against my chest, as he was gasping for breath. With the only strength that he had left in him, his right hand started to reach for his belt. He pulled out a gun, and started to raise it.

“Julianne…” he croaked, still trying to breathe. I turned around and saw Maurice starting to advance towards us. I put my free hand over my brother’s and helped him point it in the right direction. I shut my eyes, and with the sound of the trigger being pulled, I heard the black man fall to the floor with a loud clump. He was dead. I let go of the gun and looked back at Raymond. Though his head was cradled in my arms, he was still alive and breathing.

My eyes filled with tears as he was dying with every second. I sat there, crying, not believing what I had just witnessed. Then, miraculously, I heard my brother’s voice. With his very last ounce of life, he whispered slowly “You prepare a table before me..in the presence of my enemies…You anoint my head with oil,” he gasped. “My cup...runs over. Surely..goodness and mercy..shall follow me..all the days of my life…and I will dwell….in the house of the Lord…forever.” And with that, he breathed his last breath…

Free verse poem

I  am

alone with God

       on a far off island.

I sleep and tan in the sizzling sun. 

I

      draw

               pictures

      in

          the

sand

            and sing silly songs

to myself.

I swim along the shore. 

I eat fish

every day. 

Nicole Brouwer

English 9 Poems

Christmas

Have you ever tasted Christmas?

-Hot apple cider burning your tongue...

Have you ever felt Christmas?

-The warmth of the fireplace with family all around you...

Have you ever seen Christmas?

-Big, fluffy snowflakes that change the color of the ground to a pure, sinless white...

Have you ever heard Christmas?

-The sound of wrapping paper being torn as a long-awaited present is being opened...

Have you ever smelled Christmas?

-Chocolaty snicker doodles baking in the oven, and neatly cut ham that’s being prepared for  dinner...

Nicole Brouwer