College Essay

Patrick Malone

Ryan Gallagher

English CP

10/19/10

All About Me

I am always on my feet carrying a tenor drum weighing forty-two pounds. I am currently a member of the Malden High School fall marching band, winter percussion ensemble and concert band. Some days I am not even aware of the weight placed on me because I am doing something I truly love, and that is to make music and be a part of a team. Being a part of a team to me means being dedicated and committed, and I am both of these.

I was born and raised in Malden, Massachusetts to parents who were also born and raised in Malden. Since I was a young boy, I have always been involved in extracurricular activities in my city. My parents have always encouraged me to become involved in many activities until I found something that I really loved. I joined Malden's All City Tuney Tornado Band in 5th grade and started playing in the percussion section where I had my first experience on the snare drum and then the tenor drum. After two years in the Tuney Tornado's I moved on to the Malden Middle School Band and began to further my talents on the tenor drum. In the 7th grade, although I was not yet of high school age, I was allowed to join the Malden High School fall marching band. I played the tenor drums and performed at band competitions throughout the state of Massachusetts; this made me feel proud to be with older students and feel like an important part of the team.

Also during winter months I was a member of the Malden High School indoor percussion ensemble, which is an indoor marching band that also competed throughout the state. I continued to be a member of the Malden High School Marching Band until I actually entered into Malden High School in the 9th grade, finally becoming an official high school band student. At that time as well, I joined the concert band where we performed at concerts, parades, and performed at many events around the city of Malden to show our support. The other instruments I play in the concert band are the tympanis and crash symbols. The fall and winter marching band practices are three days a week. I am a dedicated and committed individual who has never missed a practice and am always on time. When I commit to something I fulfill my obligation to it, regardless of what it is that I am doing. To me, it is all worth it because I am doing something that I truly love and have a passion for. This year being my senior year in band, I was elected to be the drum line captain during the marching band season, which has been an honor for me as a leader.

Band has always been an important part of my life, I remember the great Middle School band trips such as going to Canobie Lake Park, where I had time to mingle, socialize and go on amusements rides with the rest of my band friends. Other memorable moments in band were going on several band trips to New York City, Virginia, Washingtion, D.C., and Philadelphia where we competed against other bands in the country to compete in the Music In The Parks Festival at the various Six Flags Amusement Parks. I have made many long lasting friendships over the years and I consider the band members to be an extension of my family. While still being an active member of the band and upon entering Malden High School, I joined the outdoor track team for four years. I participated in the distance team in 9th grade where I ran the mile, which is four laps around the track and I later switched to the sprint team in 10th grade where I ran the 100-meter dash and where I will remain for the rest of my high school senior year. I have been told that due to my commitment to the track team I will be chosen as one of the track team captains in the spring where I will end my senior track career as a Malden High School athlete.

Dedication and commitment has been an important quality in my family, over the years I have helped and continue to help other students with academic subjects as well as helping new drum line students learn their parts when they need it. When others need help, I try my very best to answer any questions they have whether it is a subject I have already completed or not, but may know a little about the subject. During my 8th grade year, I was selected as one of five, out of one hundred and twenty five other students for the citizenship award. I was awarded this because of my willingness to help other students in need. I will always continue to help others out wherever and whenever they need it because I know the importance of getting help from others.

Plum Plum Pickers Essay

Patrick Malone

Ryan Gallagher

English CP

10/21/10


In “Plum Plum Pickers”, Raymond Barrio suggests that if people labor hard in poor conditions and work the hardest they can, that it is painful when something is taken away from them. For example, Manuel worked hard for his boss Roberto Morales and Roberto was going to take two cents away from each worker. Then Manuel stood up to Roberto about not taking any money away. Roberto said he won't take it this time and Manuel came through for his fellow workers. Barrio creates this message by showing Manuel being strong for himself and others.
In the first part of this story, Barrio describes what the setting looks like. He writes about how the “apricot trees” are lined up and resemble “the black bars on the jails of hell . . . with no way out” (91). The work of picking apricots continues to pile up. “He picked a mountain of cots automatically”(92). Manuel is being described as a “beast” because of how many apricots he picked. Manuel is sweating heavily because of the heating conditions and he is thirsting for a drink of water. He needed to replenish himself so he poured water on himself to cool his entire body. This shows that Manuel is trying to stay cool and to continue working. This symbolizes Manuel’s strength by working hard in poor conditions and he constantly works hard while trying to stay cool.
In the next chunk through the use of word choice, the author describes Manuel by comparisons. For example, he compares himself to a beast because he endlessly stacked buckets of apricots one after another. Another example is the description of his spirit to a thirsty sponge in water. He is so hot from the heat and he is dehydrated. Also, being tired drained his will and his mind. This shows that Manuel is a hard worker because he stacked a lot of buckets of apricots on a hot day.
In the next chunk through word choice, the author describes Roberto as a "superior man, no one likes him, and he has no morals. “He was a thieving brute and a clever criminal"(92). Roberto was once a worker in the field as well. So, he should know exactly how the workers feel. He made the workers angry for the way he treated them.
In the next chunk through word choice the author show Manuel and Roberto having a conflict. Roberto wants to take 2 cents from every bucket filled and he says sorry to them. Manuel tripped over his bucket of cots and they rolled away in all directions around everyone's feet. Roberto told him to pick them up and then the other workers were about to knock their buckets over as well to side with Manuel in protest of Roberto taking money from them. Roberto told the workers he wouldn't take anything this time, because he was out numbered and didn't want to lose money by losing cots.
In the last chunk through word choice the author describes Manuel's braveness. Manuel never won anything before. He felt a thrill of power by standing up for himself. He had gone up against Roberto and won. Manuel got back the money and got much respect from his fellow workers. Manuel then realized he and others count for something. Men are built to experience a certain sense of honor and pride or else they are dead before they die. Manuel worked hard and for that, he got what he wanted.
In Plum Plum Pickers, Raymond Barrio suggests if people labor hard in poor conditions and work the hardest they can, if someone is going to take something away from others, fight hard for what you believe in, so nothing is taken away. Raymond Barrio shows through Manuel how this becomes possible when he stands up to Roberto and gets what he wants in the end.
In the end after reading Plum Plum Pickers there is one important line from the piece. Men are built to experience a certain sense of honor and pride. Or else they are dead before they die. This line is important because Manuel stuck up for himself and the other workers and he got what he wanted.In the end, the author's purpose through Manuel shows that hard working and sticking up pays off. Also, one big idea of the piece is to have honor and pride. The other big idea of the piece is to believe in what people do.
The narrator Raymond Barrio has an attitude towards his subject. His attitude is that he describes the working conditions as horrible by the words he uses such as being locked and trapped in the rows of trees. They were worked like animals and were treated poorly. the effect of the text shows that conditions were poor and the workers worked hard in the severe heat to pick apricots.
There are objects in the piece that have great meaning such as the apricot tress and how they are lined up, and the bucket of apricots. The effect of the text shows the apricot trees are lined up like jails of hell and the buckets of apricots Manuel kicked over because he was mad about paying.
There is imagery in the piece that the author is trying to convey. They are "maze of trees” (91), “spirit swell like a thirsty sponge in water” (92), and the endlessly unending piling up of bucket upon box upon crate upon rack upon mound upon mountain." The effect of the text is the maze of trees visualizes what the work field looks like. The spirit swell like a thirsty sponge in water shows that he Manuel is exhausted and dehydrated from the heat. Finally, the endlessly piling up of buckets shows how hard Manuel is working and how many apricots he has to pick.
There are figures of speech in the piece that are important. They are "Endless maze of apricot trees just like the blackest bars on the jails of hell"(92). "spirit swells like a thirsty sponge in water"(92), and “worked them like animals and treated them poorly”(92). The effect of the text is the endless maze of apricots is compared to the blackest bars on the jails of hell. A spirit swells is compared to a thirsty sponge in water. Finally, worked them is compared to animals and treating them poorly.

The story of Daedalus and Icarus DJ

Why homesick? - In jail.

Why was he exiled? - Jealously and changing the laws of nature.

Who is Minos? Minos is a king.

Jail on Island - Why?

The sky is open but it doesn't include air.

There is Personification.

Daedalus is making wings for Icarus.

Icarus did not know that he was dealing with his downfall.

Icarus is flying.

Boys do fool around.

There is foreshadowing.

Icarus is Daedalus' son.

Daedalus is telling Icarus to fly. Also, to keep a straight path.

What was done? Daedalus hovered.

Daedalus is giving Icarus directions and orders to follow. He wants Icarus to follow his lead. Flying lesson.

The wings had to go on Icarus' shoulders.

Icarus was in the air and he was flying. It wasn't really a flying lesson.

Daedalus looks back at his son's wings.

What rod? Fishing rod the fisherman drops.

Ploughshare? Front edge of a blad or plow, which cuts through soil.

Arent they angels? No, they are gods.

All these peple are watching Icarus fly.

Icarus left his father and he got lost.

Lacking oarage? Steering? Yes, lacked wings.

Did he really cry or was it the joy? Joy.

There is more personification.

Daedalus called for Icarus.

Icarus didn't listen to his father.

Icarian is a god/angel.

Icarus died? Yes, he body was buried.

There is more personification.

Did Icarus drown? Yes.

Icarus' burial? Yes.

Daedalus is buring his son.

Partridge? Birds of Europe.

Daedalus' sister sent her son to Daedalus as his apprentice? Yes.

Daedalus is going to teach the twelve year old his skills.

Noticed a row of teeth in a strip of iron. Two arms or iron together.

Traversing? To pass across, over, or through.

Daedalus was jealous of the twelve year old for inventing the compass and the saw.

Daedalus kicked his nephew off the cliff because he was jealous of him.

Why did he lie? To keep him in the air.

Who? Kind protectress? Minerva.

Remembers what? Fearful of high places? This does not describe Icarus or does it? It describes Perdix.

New bird form - Perdix.

Who? He took Daedalus in? Yes.

Are Minerva, Warrior - Maid, and Jove gods? Yes. Minerva is the temple.

Argolis is a place.

They begged Daedalus for help? Yes, they did. They got on their knees.

Landscape with the fall of Icarus picture

In the picture, i see a person behind a brown horse holding a stick or a whip and the horse is pulling a cart. They are both walking on a stone and dirt path and they are walking close by the water. It looks like the person is working hard and getting help from the orse. The horse could probably be his workhorse. The people in the picture are not wearing heavy clothing, so the season could be spring, summer or fall. The clothing appears as if it could be from a few hundred years ago. They are walking by some trees and bushes and it lookss like it is getting dark outside and the must mean the sun is going down. Where the person's left foot is, it is a small stone and dirt staircase that must be manmade. There is also another person that is by the water with a herd of pigs or sheep. He has a cane or walking stick t help him get around so he must be an elderly man. Both of these people must be on one of the islands. There are also ships in the water with mast and sails and it looks like they are leaving for a journey into the sunset. The sunset looks very bright and it makes a tremendous reflection on the water. The rocks in the water look like mountains and they form outside of the sunset. On the bottom right of the picture, there is a man getting his feet wet. Or he could also be waving goodbye or hello to the ship that is coming in or leaving. Above him in the water, there is some kind of branch or sharp rock sticking out of the water. It could be and aquatic animal that comes up to the surface. On the top left of the picture, there is an island and also, there is an island on the right side of the boat on the bottom right. It looks like there is a total of three islands in the picture and they look as if they are far away from each other. The island on the upper left looks shinier thatn the other two islands and that is because of the reflection from the sun hitting the water. The island on the bottom of the picture and the island to the right of the ship on the bottom right looks a little darker than the upper left island because it is farther away from the sunset. The mountains inthe upper right corner of the picture are probably very big once up close. The mountains are small from where the people are on the bottom island. The landscape on all of the islands look high up from the water, so they will be safe if the water rises up abouve ground. The sky in the picture looks dark, cloudy, and misty which could be because of the time of day being the beginning of nighttime.

Red Shift by Ted Berrigan

In the poem Red Shift, the author Ted Berrigan suggests that he is angry about a failed relationship he had twenty years ago. He is saying that memories of unhappiness and anger can sometimes linger on in someone's life. Through word choice, this meaning is communicated by using words such as "poison liquid air" and "I heave through it", to show the anger in his soul.

First, Ted is walking in the cold February air down the streets of New York. Ted is drinking and he is smoking. He says the streets look for Allen, Frank, or himself. That Allen is a movie and Frank disappearing in the air. His thoughts are heavy on his mind but, he gets through it.

Then, Ted's thoughts go back twenty years. He is thinking about a woman and saying to himself that twenty years ago he wouldn't believe he would be in the situation he was today. He once had everything but now nothing. He says, "who would have thought that I'd be here, nothing wrapped up, nothing buried, everything love, children, hundreds of them, money, marriage - ethics, a politics of grace." His thoughts continue to anger him.

Now, Ted is remembering 1961 when the woman was nineteen years old and pretty with middle age to come someday. Back then, he couldn't imagine this would have happened. He is angry at the painter who his wife left him for. The painter will forever be in Ted's thoughts which is only human.

Now, Ted at forty three years old, he does not want to dream about the future. He lived a long life with these unhappy thoughts never escaping him. He says, "When will I die? I will never die, I will live to be 110 and I will never go away and you will never escape from me." Ted says these memories will continue to nag and haunt him. He came into his wife's life to change it and did but, his existing feelings will never change.

Now alone and unhappy walking the streets of New York, Ted's fury and anger runs through his body. He says, "Alone and crowded, unhappy fate, nevertheless I slip softly into the air the worlds' furious song "California Dreaming" flows through my costume". His costume is his body.

In conclusion, Ted Burrigan is very emotional. He is angry about a failed relationship he had twenty years ago. His thoughts are very heavy on his mind and he gets through it. The painter will be in his thoughts forever which is only human. His existing feelings will never change. Finally, the world's furious song "California Dreaming" flows through his body.