In English we created our essays based on our personal statements we developed and adjusted to make unique. We used our media piece symbol to write our first paragraph. We had to write a descriptive symbol paragraph that connected to our personal statement. Then we had to write our essay using personal examples and stories.

In WebAudio we created a podcast for our essay using Adobe Flash. We learned how to use Keyframes to make photos fade into another. I recorded my essay then cut it into paragraphs to use for the different scences. I created my intro and outro in GarageBand. We created a podcast for our essays because it allows you to hear the author reading their work and you get a visual.

Dry cracked dirt crumbles below my feet. The bare earth is blank and makes me feel alone. Slapping the dusty dirt, my bare feet connect with the ground. A few feet ahead, delicately growing from the dry, hard ground is a colorful, alluring flower. It is my liberator from the empty landscape around me. The petals are splayed out, soaking in the sunlight. Its stem is long, thin, and fragile and it looks as though it could bend and snap with a faint breeze. The stem disappears into the broken earth where the roots are grounded. My hand connects with the flower’s stem, but I stop before uprooting it. I pause and hold it gently, fingers wrapped around the flimsy stem. The petals are unwrinkled, and almost silky under my fingertips. The pink color is soft and lively. The green stem is bold and independent. The flower feels good in my hand, as I connect with it. I leave the flower rooted in my dust, I hope that someone else will come along and share my connection with its beauty. I linger awhile longer hoping for company, hoping to share this moment, hoping to make a connection. Making connections with other people makes me feel genuine.

Connections with other people are important. I remember when I was 12-years-old and I was playing soccer, like I did every year. I had one friend on my team that I already knew and I was excited for the season. The season started off the same as always, however, many people on the team were already friends. My friend had a handful of other friends on the team. She turned to them and everyone else to their friends. I was turned away. I tried to create new friendships because the person I trusted to be there for me never even looked my way. However everyone had their crowd of friends and no one was open to making new connections. I played that season but I was unhappy, and was often in low spirits. I loathed soccer practice. I felt dejected and as though I had done something wrong. I had a miserable experience being disconnected. I realized that connections and friendships are an essential part of life. Without connections we become closed off, tense and insincere. We pretend to be someone we are not to bring about these connections, because we thrive off of other people.

I can not honestly say I have made many deep connections in my life. I have met people: I have become friends with people: and I have connected with people. The connection might have been over common interest or maybe a difference. However a real connection is something honest, and flexible. It doesn’t have to be over anything in particular. I have one friend who I can say I have an honest connection with. I have known her for many years but the strength of our connection is not based on how long we have known each other. Real, honest connections are based on its ability to grow and bend. True connections are also mutual, and both people are honest and benefit from the friendship. I have known Carly for as long as I can remember. We have always connected. Our connection has grown and changed, yet somehow it has remained complete and mutual. We have daily connections over little things, and understand each other. A real connection doesn’t have guidelines or rules, it just blossoms if it is meant to be.

Connections are rare and delicate. To be able to create something as true and wonderful as an honest connection makes me feel accomplished. Connections must grow and flourish before you know if it will really work, because you never know when there will be a drought and there won’t be enough water to feed your connection.