My First Job

When I look back on the memories of my very first job, many of them are pleasant. I was fifteen years old and I was ready for a job, at least I thought I was. There was only one problem, most employers were looking for people to hire with experience. Unfortunately, the only experience I had was babysitting and cleaning. After many failed attempts of getting a job, I decided I was going to try one more place, El Sol Mexican Restaurant. A few days later, I had come to the conclusion that I was just not employee material. To my surprise I got a phone call from the manager of El Sol, he wanted to schedule an interview with me! My nerves kept building until I felt like I was going to throw up, then it came time for the interview. Steve, the manger, asked me many odd questions that I was not prepared for. I was sure I had blown my only chance at getting a job. The interview ended and Steve offered me the job right after the interview and he wanted me to start as soon as possible. I couldn't believe it!!

Day one of work I was more nervous then I was for the interview. I walked in all dressed and ready for my first day. I was being trained as a hostess, and then later would be trained as a waitress. I had no idea that people could be so demeaningly rude! With in one day of work I learned that people do not like to wait for food, and when people are hungry they are grumpy and inpatient. Training ended and after a few months I got trained as a waitress. My first day of waitressing consisted of spilling a Diet Coke all over an old man, messing up a few of my orders, and crying all the way home. As I started to get the hang of things, I really liked waitressing. There were some days when I wanted to hang up my apron and walk away, but those were few compared to the good days I had. I felt on top of the world coming home with a bundle of money in my pocket. If I could make this good of money every day then waitressing was worth it.

Word Count: 380 words

My First Kiss

Sitting in the passenger seat, my stomach started churning. I have never felt like this before, my palms were getting sweaty and my heart was racing. How could this be happening? I have never even looked at a guy before, let alone gone on a date with one. What am I doing anyways? I am only fifteen, my parents would be furious if they knew I was here. On the other hand I can't deny how good it feels to have somebody like me, especially somebody so attractive and popular. I am in love, I think.
"Ashlee.. are you okay?" Suddenly I realized that his car was parked and everybody was out of the car but Jess and I. I wanted to get out, I could see some different kind of look in his eye that I had never seen before. Reaching over for the door handle, Jess grabbed my hand. My heart started thumping harder and harder, I looked in his eyes and I started to melt. I liked feeling this way.
"Where did everybody go?" I asked.
"Everyone went inside to get some ice cream, I wanted to be alone with you." he boldly stated.
I was craving ice cream, but not as much as I was craving his attention. How long could we just sit here and stare at each other? I couldn't imagine not too much longer. Then he took the plunge, closed eyes and purged lips, he started coming towards me. My instincts kicked in and I purged my lips and started tilting my head to the right. Our lips met and I started to see fireworks going off!! I never knew kissing could be this enjoyable. I started thinking that I was pretty dang good at this kissing thing. I started to pull away to make sure nobody was watching this once in a lifetime moment. No one was watching, I then knew that this was the guy I was going to marry.
Word Count: 327

Evil In Fiction

Respond to Card's conclusion that literature's moral value is determined by "the character of the person writing it and his skill in writing, and the character of the person reading it and his skill in reading." How does a work reflect, in some way, the character and skill of both the writer and reader?

I agree with Card on this conclusion, I believe that the moral value is determined by the reader and the writer. For example in the book Harry Potter, many readers perceptions of the moral value in this book are different. I have heard many say that the witchcraft and evil wizards is too dark for readers; when others feel that it is an uplifting book of good outweighing evil. J.K. Rowling was very skilled in the way she wrote these series because she did not drowned the book with negative things always happening. I feel that there were many good things going on at the same time. If the reader would look past the dark and realize that relationships are forming and Harry is becoming a better person from the trials he phases. The characters face challenges just as we all face challenges in our lives.

I have noticed that at times when I am down and depressed, I like reading down and depressing books so I can relate them to my life. When I am in a happier mood I like reading more uplifting books. Everybody's perception of good and bad is different, even the writers view of good and bad is different then the readers view. I have been trying to think of how skill is involved in writing and reading and the only thing I can think of is readers need to look for the deeper meaning in the book. I had a really hard time with this, when I read The Hunger Games. There were many times I almost just put the book down because it was too violent for me to read. When I tried to think of the deeper meanings of the book and what the writer was trying to convey, I was able to keep reading. I also thought any writer has to be skilled to write a book to keep everyone interested. I love reading and I enjoy how writers open up on their emotions about different things.

Word Count: 324

English History

I have had a lot of experiences that have molded how I feel about writing. The problem is I am having a hard time remembering them. I do remember when I was in second grade and I just loved to write short stories. I always looked forward to writing workshop because it was something I really enjoyed doing. My thoughts towards writing changed dramatically as I went through grade school. I had a hard time brainstorming things to write about. I hated writing essays and I did not like doing the research for research papers. I took a novel writing class when I was a senior in high school. I don't remember quite how long the novel had to be, I just remember that I had to write like fifteen pages a day, it was pretty intense. I enjoyed not having any restrictions on what to write about. I like everything to be perfect so it was really hard for me to write such a big novel with such little time. I felt like this class was extrememly stressfull.

I have a journal but I do not write in it. I always buy one with the intent of writing in it, but I never do. I don't think that what I write is very interesting. I read my husbands journal and I enjoy reading it because he is entertaining, then I will read something I write and feel like it is boring. I am intimidated to write many things for example, I don't like posting a status on Facebook because I feel like I can't come up with anything clever. I know this is silly but I have a really hard time not comparing my writing with others. The only thing I am comfortable writing is when I text others, but occasionally I will get intimidated by this as well.

I have had quite a few English teachers but the one that stands out the most was my second grade teacher, I felt like she thought I was a creative writer. I have a really hard time not getting down on myself over bad grades. I had a class last semester where we had to write a family application paper and I got a D on it. I took that D to heart and I hated writing even more then I had before.
Word Count:386

About Me

My name is Ashlee Hauber and I am a freshman this year. I have been married for two in a half years and don't have any children at the moment. I guess you could say my child is my dog Chewy. He is a yorkie shitzu mixture and is very cute! My husband and I live in Logan, Utah and are both going to school and working.

This is my second semester at Utah State. I have decided to go in to Family and Child Development but am still contemplating changing my major to a Vet Tech. I love animals and I love children so I am having a hard time deciding what I would like to do. I graduated from high school in 2008. I went to a dental assisting program at Bridgerland and then decided I would like to further my education and get a degree in Family and Child Development. I wish I would have started college right after I graduated, but here I am, 21, starting right from the beginning.

I am taking English 1010 because it is a required course. It has been a while since I have taken any English classes and I have to say, English is not one of my stronger subjects. Hopefully that will change after taking this class. I love to read and I love finding a good book that I just can't put down. I have never felt like I am that great of a writer and have always been a little intimidated when it comes to writing.

I am really excited for this class and hope to be able to learn more about what it takes to be a good writer, and hopefully gain some knowledge in the grammar department. Again, not one of my strengths.

Word Count: 300