Diabetes Festival Animoto

Vote for Mai as Your Student Senate President

I am Mai Vo and I’m running to be your ninth grade Student Senate President. Since third grade I have been in Student Council three times and I'm hoping to make it four. Student Council gave me the ability to do many service projects, get involved in the community, and learn to lead others. For each year that I was in Student Council, some activities and events differed, but overall, we had the same goal: To be the positive leaders of our schools.

I would appreciate the membership as the ninth grade Student Senate President because I enjoy lending a hand to others, leading the grade to a superior future, and preparing all the exciting events for everybody. Not only do I want to be in Student Senate because of the leadership openings taking place, but it’s also an incredible place to meet new people and work together.

Being a leader in our school teaches me so much. I’ve gotten the opportunity to learn and experience teamwork activities, and go to a couple leadership conferences that taught me to challenge myself to lead others. I really enjoy Student Council because I get so many chances to work with everyone and bring all of us together.

Donald McGannon once said, “Leadership is action, not position.” I think his quote really means that someone can say, “Yeah, I’m in Student Council.” but the question is, Do they really take their time to be a leader in their school, in their community? To be a true leader, someone will need to take action and simply go forth to begin a chain reaction. I am willing to lead and represent our grade and our school.

To put Donald McGannon’s quote in action, I think Student Senate and I could sponsor an event where anyone could come and have an amazing time. If we really work towards it, there can be rides, inflatables, carnival games, concessions, and more. All of the raised money would be donated to a good cause, or multiple causes, such as cancer research, the humane society, or a homeless shelter. Participating in the community doesn’t have to be so grand though; it can be as simple as doing a community clean-up or volunteering at food pantries. We can really show that Pewaukee High School cares and will go above and beyond. Overall, I think any community leadership activity can bring all of us together to work at something great.

I’m grateful for your time to think and read about voting for me as Student Senate President. If I were to become your president I am willing to do my best to lead all of you and represent you in any way I could. Thank you and consider Mai Vo as your ninth grade Student Senate President.

Broken Finger

Purple streaks run across the sky -- along with pink and blue. The glowing orange sun begins to set below the horizon. Sitting on top of these grassy hills gives me the honor of seeing this beautiful scenery. At the bottom of hill there's golden sand that sparkles with reflection of the sun. The ocean breeze feels wonderful against my skin.

Swiftly I get up and begin to walk down to the shore line. My feet are bare and I hold my sandals in my hand. The cool ocean waters tickle my feet, but it's refreshing. I simply walk along the coast with my eyes closed and my mind wide open. Inside my head, my thoughts float around freely. Slowly, I get a little further out into the water -- where it's at my knees.

I find a shell with a crooked side sticking out of the sandy water. Crouching down, I pick it up. After a while, I realize that this is no ordinary shell, there's a little chain on the side. It's someone's lost treasure.

Time seems to fly by as I examine the shell. The winds are turning from an ocean breeze to a brisk draft. Waves profusely come from the horizon. Skies are turning grey and soon my beach fantasy has turned into a storm. My hair wildly whipped around my face. Staring up, I realized I had to go soon.

I galloped out of the water, while at the same time, letting the necklace sink back down. This storm could be strong, destructive. Palm trees and flowers blow around frantically. The beach has been evacuated, except for me. I begin my run back home. The winds nearly disorient me from where I'm going. I feel like I'm running zig-zagged up the hill.

My house is not far. I'm sprinting as fast as I possibly can down the vacant road. Right when I get home, I open the door and dive right into my floor. The door slams shut behind me. My family comes running up, nearly in tears, making sure I'm okay. They thought I was a goner. The storms could hit any second now – destroying everything. And so it came.

Waves knocked at our doors, and then burst them open. Glass exploded to the smash of the winds. Chairs and decks were ripped from the ground and thrown around. Rain began to pour from the clouds. Ocean waves reached the sky before the crashed down on us. Before I knew it, my world became smashed too. 

David's Hearbeat

Author's Note: On Friday we went to see David's Heartbeat. Sydney Kaine and Riah VandeZande worked hard to put the trip together. In this piece, I am responding to the experience of the trip.

Before David's Heartbeat, I had never gone to a ballet. I had wanted to see my friend dance in the Nutcracker, but I never got to go. On the day of David's Heartbeat, I had some excitement built up in me; I just wanted to go see the ballet. As we arrived to the church I was gradually getting more eager, but then we had to wait for what felt like 30 minutes before the show started. When the lights dimmed and the music began to play my eyes were set on the stage.

The dancers looked so graceful and beautiful as they danced across the stage with their dresses flowing behind them. The music, lights, and narration supported the ballet as well. I loved how each scene elegantly and uniquely displayed the story of David.

Throughout the ballet I kept my eye out for Sydney. She seemed so happy to be there, doing something she loves. Though her role was not very big, she performed incredibly which made the difference. When the show concluded, I gave Sydney a hug and told her that she did wonderfully. Hopefully I inferred how much I appreciated her and Riah’s initiative to set up the trip.

David’s Heartbeat was an enjoyable time spent outside of school and with friends. Seeing the ballet was unlike any other trip, but just as fun and entertaining. I had a memorable time and hopefully we can go on other unique field trips like David’s Heartbeat.

Passion

Author's Note: I went to Starbucks yesterday, and I sat by the fire place in the comfy chairs.  Yesterday I just thought of the fire place as warm and beautiful.  Then today I remembered when Mr. Johnson was teaching me about how fire represents people's passions.  This poem is really about everything I love as I live my life.  Please leave feedback.

A blanket of warmth wraps around me,

as I look in the fire.  

The more I gaze,

The more I think,

The more time slips by…

Glowing flames of red and orange,

remind me of campfires, picnics, parties

with family and friends --

Who I will always love.

Crackle of fire and music surrounding me

bring in a peaceful melody.

Like the playing of a piano,

or the strum of a guitar.

Swaying flames move simply,

dancing with innocence.

And growing smaller and smaller…

living life.

Feeling the warmth touch my skin,

as I look in the fire.

The more I gaze,

The more I think,

The more time slips by…

D-oL-Ph--In

Author's Note: Mr. Johnson and I did another poem imitating E.E. Cumming's r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r.  It was very difficult to decipher what the original poem said and then try to do a poem with the same concept.  Please leave me feedback.  Good luck reading.

D-oL-Ph--In

                                                Rs

                                a

                O            

S                                   (through)

t(water)he

    P     a    h   n                    up

s      L     s    I     g                  -

                                             ---

                                            -----       

                                          -------

and                                ----------

                                         --------

                                            -----

                                              ---

                                                -

                                          Down

and

SURFACE

          com(to the)ing

to

                                                                y

                                                a

                                r             

                p            

s

w (in) a t e (the) r

                                                I

A                                                                                             R            

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r by E.E.Cummings

     
   r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r
                      who
  a)s w(e loo)k
  upnowgath
                  PPEGORHRASS
                                        eringint(o-
  aThe):l
             eA
                 !p:
S                                                         a
                          (r
  rIvInG                         .gRrEaPsPhOs)
                                                         to
  rea(be)rran(com)gi(e)ngly
  ,grasshopper;

Washington D.C.

Author's Note: My project on Washington D.C. was not a success, but it wasn't a complete loss. I did get some experience out of it. I'm writing this piece as a narrative for my Washington D.C. project. In this piece, I am working on voice more than anything else.  Please leave me some feedback.

JrNYLC at Lincoln Memorial

Since the spring of 2010 I've been dreaming of getting another chance to go to Washington D.C.  In sixth grade, I received my first.  It was a day similar to any other -- I got up, went to school, came home, got the mail, and so on.  In the mail that day there was a formal-looking envelope addressed To the Parents of Mai Vo, so I waited for my parents to open it with me.  Inside there were different letters and information for my parents and I about the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC).  The letter stated that my teacher nominated me to represent Wisconsin in a week-long leadership conference in Washington D.C.  In addition, I would have visited all the tourist attractions, heard various speakers, met tons of people, and experience a leadership trip of a lifetime.

White House

Unfortunately I wasn't able to go.  It was a mix between time, scheduling, and money -- and being on my own -- that interfered with the trip.  I still have the letter as a keepsake and I enjoy reading it to think of the phenomenal opportunity.  Though I didn’t go, I still got something out of that opportunity.  I got inspiration -- inspiration to relive the leadership trip.  I wanted to study all of the places that I would have visited such as the Lincoln Memorial and the White House.  As I shared my plan with Mr. Johnson he asked me, "Have you thought of planning a trip to Washington D.C. this year?"  I hadn't considered that at all, when I meant "relive" I didn't think I would actually get to go.  In fact I was thinking about a little project to discover more in Washington D.C., but I loved the idea of traveling there.  That turned out to be my second chance.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Right away I began researching and looking into hotels, dates and times, and transportation fare to visit all of the attractions.  I spent lots of time on my computer a lot and rereading my JrNYLC letters and schedule to plan a similar experience.  I wanted to visit all of the places that I would have visited back in 2010. Mr. Johnson assisted me to choose some additional places to go and places to cut from my list.  I ended with a list of thirteen destinations: the American History Museum, Arlington Cemetery, Capitol Hill, Ford Theater, Holocaust Museum, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, Maryland Science Center, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Spy Museum, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the White House.  I couldn't wait to leave for Washington D.C. because this time would be better than the first.

Map

A couple weeks after I started my project it began to tumble down.  I worked hard and put nearly all my time in this project for a little while, but my parents booked our spring vacation during the same time that I was scheduling to go to Washington D.C.  Sure I was upset, but I somewhat saw an interference coming.  I had gotten too excited so go to Washington D.C. that I forgot about everything that could get in the way with arranging a large class trip.

Washington D.C.

In the end, I can't go to Washington D.C. -- again -- but I learned a more about the places that I want to visit and how complicated it is to schedule a comprehensive class trip.  Someday I hope can go to Washington D.C. and have the experience that I’ve been waiting for.  Until then I'll keep on dreaming and trying to make my wish come true.

Darkness

Author's Note: We just started the second book of Life of Pi and he is now in the middle of the ocean just watching days go by.  I thought about that and to me it made a good idea for a poem.  This poem is in the tragedy mode.  I wrote this in an open format and in the point of perspective of Pi.  Please leave some feedback.

I sit here cold and lonely
in darkness.
With nothing before me but
death and blood --
a horrifying stench of blood.
I look away.

I sit here...
and wonder what might be
lurking beneath me.
Waves silent and still,
I'm waiting for them to start to churn
and see what will come out --
and take me.

So wait and wait...
In hope that I'll be found.
Staring out into nothing.
Not even a star in the sky --
Only clouds and darkness.

The Porch

Author's Note: This is another poem that I am working on with Mr. Johnson.  We chose to imitate The Pasture by Robert Frost.  We changed the mode to comedy but we stuck with the same structure.  Please leave me some feedback.

The Pasture by Robert Frost

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan't be gone long.—You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf;
That's standing by the mother. It's so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I shan't be gone long.—You come too.

The Porch by Mai Vo

I'm going out to sit on the swing;
I will peacefully sway from here to there
(And looking at the world for which I care):
I watch the sun rise. -- You come too.

I'm going out to take a nice stroll;
I will feel the wind and sun on my face,
Such a wonderful feeling to embrace.
I watch the sun rise. -- You come too.

Snow

Author's Note: I have been waiting forever for snow.  Today the snow finally stayed on the ground and kept on falling down.  I'm so excited and I felt like doing a open poem on it. I was working on word choice in the poem.  Please leave me feedback!

Peacefully
Falling, swaying, flying
Blissfully flowing in the breeze,
Sitting neatly on branches or rooftops,
Creating fluffy, white blankets on the ground,
Light and gentle, flowing down.