Table of Contents

Table of Contents Table of Contents My Dear Reader Letter Introduction to How to Learn Kickboxing How to Learn Kickboxing Introduction to Wallace Falls Wallace Falls Introduction to Journal 2: Educated Journal 2: Educated Introduction to Time We Went to Wildwaves Time We Went to Wildwaves Introduction to Journal 10: Skeleton 2 Journal 10: Skeleton 2 Conclusion

My Dear Reader Letter

Dear reader,

Hello! My name is Cynthia. I am currently attending school for the Cosmetology Program and going for my Associate’s Degree. I was a little nervous to come back to school since I haven't been in schoool for 8 years now. I thought it might be a challenge wondering if I would even do well or not. Well I can honestly say, yes it has been. It's not easy going to school full time, being a full time mom, and having to make time to do homework on top of it. By taking this step on choosing to go back to school, I know I will be helping myself to get a better education, and to pursue in whatever direction I decide to go from there. I have a wonderful family with two beautiful girls and a loving fiance. I have a daughter named Emily, which is two years old and Vicky, that is nine months old. They are a handful but I love them so much. I have always been a very outgoing, compassionate, couragous, and a loving person. I have always had the heart to help people as well. I used to be a NAC until it got hard on my back. I sure do miss doing that though. The people you take care of you grow a relationship with them and get to know them as a person. It was such a wonderful experience. I also love to sing karaoke and sing to my children especially. It is such fun and you should try it sometime if you haven't.

I am currently in English 97 and what I like about it is I have always loved to put my time and effort into my writing. I love writing especially when it becomes being creative. I also love writing poems and free writing occasionally, but who has time to do that now with a busy schedule these days. My dislikes about the writing process I would have to say would be looking at a piece I don’t like or reading a book then responding about what I have read in writing. I don’t mind having open discussion but when I have to put it in words, it takes a little more thought and time in it. My educational goals are to get a better degree, a higher education to make something of myself, and to accomplish school to pursue a better career in life. I always wanted to come back to school but never had the time or knew when to take that step. My life has always been involved around my kids mostly. They would take a lot of time due to them needing my attention quite often. Now that I am back in school though, it has made me a better person making me feel more reliable and feel more confident of myself. Even though my life is quite busy with two kids, I know I can accomplish anything as long as I put my mind two it and go forward from there.

Next I will tell you my strength and weaknesses in writing. My strong points when I first started this class would be making sure my work was turned in on time, being organized, and being creative. My weaknesses would be punctuating in the right spot, the grammar part and choosing different word choices. How I would say I have grown during this quarter would be learning new writing techniques on how to format a MWA, to be more descriptive in my writing, and to be more confident on letting others read my work. I never really enjoyed that part, but when I heard my group members give me feedback on my paper, it made me feel good because it wasn’t negative just suggestions they had. By taking English 97 I have learned that writing is something you express, something you share with your reader and something you put your effort into doing. I believe I have done that by writing my three MWA’S showing how much I have improved in my writing skills and ability that I can do it. As long as I follow through with what I have learned in English 97, then I know I will be able to succeed on where ever direction I shall go.

The five pieces I choose to put in my E-Portfolio are my three MWA papers, and two journal pieces. I choose my process essay on "How to Learn Kickboxing," because I love doing kickboxing, its valuable imformation if you want to learn some self-defense and a good work out. Also I choose my discriptive essay on "Wallace Falls," because it is such a beautiful place to just get away for the day. Next I choose my narrative essay on "Time We Went to Wildwaves," because that was a memorable moment that I experienced with my daughter Emily. Then I choose my Journal 2 "Educated," because education is important to me and thats why I am in school today to get a higher education. Finally, I choose my Journal 10 "Skeleton 2," because I wanted to give my readers a different setting with some dilogue and a story plot. So I hope by giving you a feel on why I choose my main pieces for my E-Portfolio hopefully caught your interest on wanting to read on and learn why I decided to pick these pieces.

Introduction to How to Learn Kickboxing

For my main piece I chose "How to Learn Kickboxing." I wrote this paper February 25th, 2010 and this MWA format was on a process essay format. I decided to include this piece in my portfolio because it gives you valuable tips, if you’re interested in learning how to do kickboxing. It breaks it down step by step teaching you the basic things you need to know in kickboxing and how to do it correctly. The strengths I would say it shows is how well I explained things by breaking the process down, separating each part from one another, and how it explains everything on how to do it. This kind of essay format was something I have never done until I came into English 97. I have learned that writing in different formats shows me how many different options I have in life to use and try out. I hope by reading this essay you learned something out of it. I have also included some photos to give you a visual to see what its like from the website Http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/kickboxing.html. Maybe you should try it sometime. It is quite a fun exercise to do and it teaches you some self-defense.

How to Learn Kickboxing

Kickboxing, also known as boxing, has been around since 688 BC. It started in Greece where it was an event in Ancient Olympic Games. Even though kickboxing was going on, the United States didn’t know about it until the 1800’s. Since then Americans have overcome and conquered the sport throughout the years. It just shows that kickboxing is awell known sport
meaning it is very physical and takes technique to get it down. It requires a certain stance, punches, kicking, and it gives you some techniques of self-defense. Kickboxing is a fun workout,
used in the form of aerobics with kickboxing in it. You can also use the bags to just practice You’re kicking and punching techniques as well too. You should try it sometime. Learning kickboxing is fun, and it benefits your health in so many ways in the long run.

First I am going to tell you how to stand in kickboxing, which is known as the stance. Kickboxing has different moves and combination moves used for the basic stance. Just to let you know it never changes. The front and side stance is used for all movement used in kickboxing throughout your workout. While doing your workout after every move you always will come back to the same stance to move forward to the next. Let me tell you how to do it. Keep your elbows bent with your fists in front of your chin. Feet should be shoulder width apart with front foot pointing at angle. Tighten abdominal muscles and lean slightly forward. Rotate to perform a right or left hand-fighting stance. Whichever punch you throw always follows with some foot technique with it. Your rear foot will always point outward and your lead foot will always point forward. Then just stay on the balls of your feet and you would have just done the basic stance for boxing.

Next I want to tell you about what kind of punches are used in kickboxing. You can use a jab, cross, hook, or uppercut for either side depending if you are starting in the right stance or the left. It also depends on if your right-handed or left because that will determine what stance you will be in. To throw a basic punch turn head to slight angle, and lean body to whatever side your attacker is coming from. You will dodge the punch then. Duck head using hands to cover face. When you move your body to left or right from the punch you will have a better defense position. The best way to block a punch or hit from your attacker is to avoid all contact by ducking from he punch. When you do that it will save you from any oncoming damage from the other attacker. Plus it causes the other fighter to get tired faster because he is throwing punches that aren’t hitting you. So it causes more energy to be used and lost. By practicing the techniques used for punches you could get them down in matter of time.

Then there are also a variety of kicks used in boxing. You can use the front kick, back kick, sidekick, round house kick, and front kick back kick. They also use knee jabs and knee blocks as well. The front kick you always use your front leg, which is also known, as your lead. Along with the back kick except you shift your body turning the opposite direction kicking behind you. Side kicks you turn your body to the side, using your front leg again for this kick, lean a little as you kick your opponent. A front kick back kick is where you use your back leg kicking forward using your hips and pelvis to follow through with your kick. A knee block is usually used to blocking your opponent’s attack while the knee jab is the opposite. I believe that the kicks are the easiest to learn because all you do is kick. It can be tricky when you throw in a couple kicks and put them together but when you get them down you feel like you accomplished
something.

Now the benefits you get from it. It improves three parts. Your cardio respiratory, body composition, and your skeletal system. The Cardio respiratory benefits would be increase heart efficiency, circulation, increases high lipoprotein, may lower blood pressure, and slow artersiosolerosis. For your body it reduces body fat, increases muscle mass, and slows the
age related process down. Skeletal benefits would consist of increase joint range, improve Muscular strength, increase bone density, and the flow of synovial fluid to the joints. I think it also challenges your mind and body as it builds your self-esteem up and teaches you self-defense. Also it’s a good stress relief. All you got do is go to the bag and take your frustration out on that with some kicks and punches. It really works.

As you can see, kickboxing has a lot of benefits but it also takes your time and effort to make those benefits benifienary. So when you put your mind to something you really want, keep it up because it can lead to good things. To summarize it all up, now you know the basics on how to stand in boxing, how to punch properly with the proper stance along with all the different punches, how to kick with force using your lower body strength and what the benefits are you out of it. I just hope you enjoyed it and learned something from it as well. Now you have learned and know how to do kickboxing. Maybe you should try it sometime. Who knows you may just find yourself liking it.

Introduction to Wallace Falls

Another paper I wrote was a descriptive essay. It was called "Wallace falls," and it is such a beautiful place. I wrote this paper on January 19th, 2010. It was my first piece I wrote and I was kind a nervous how I was going to do on it because it required detail to it and description as well. The reason I chose this in particular piece was I wanted to give my readers a different view on what this place looked like and to give you a feel on my experience there. If you haven’t been there, I would recommend you to take a trip there to experience it for yourself if you’re an outdoor person. I have also included some photos from the websites Http://www.travel.webshots.com/album/549839515KvTdos and Http://www.travel.webshots.com/album/254244229MEUSW The strengths it shows is how it explains the scenery around you, and gives you the feel what its like when your there. For example, "The white flowing water from the waterfalls comes down with such force over the side of the rock ridge that the rushing water goes into the river below to travel to its next destination." Hopefully, I have given you feel on what it may be like to go to Wallace Falls along as a visual to make you want to experience it yourself.

Wallace Falls

Hiking up the mountain to Wallace Falls in Goldbar, WA, is such a beautiful and peaceful walk. The scenery starts out with a path you follow until you hit the entrance into the trees, leading you on a new adventure. As you enter the path, you get a full glimpse of trees everywhere, the river right beside you, water rushing and the nature that just brings out all its natural scenery. The sound of the rushing water from the river is quiet and relaxing that just puts your mind at ease. The trees are staggering tall as they tower above your head as you look above not being able to see the sky in some parts. The little creek slowly goes down the windy path as they inch towards the river bedding.

The birds fly around gracefully as they make lovely sounds talking to one another so softly that it puts a smile upon your face. You see little squirrels run about as they wander from tree to tree seeing who can find the first nut. Other than that, you don’t see much of any other wildlife roaming around. Throughout the hike, you see three huge, gorgeous waterfalls that just take your breath away. All three waterfalls view is just heartwarming and is such an exquisite sight to see because you’re standing right in front of the waterfall’s nice view watching the water tumble down. The white flowing water from the waterfalls just comes down with such force over the side of the rock ridge that it is kind of exciting to watch as the rushing water goes into the river below to travel to its next destination.

As the water gradually glistens your face and the mist blows from the falling waterfall, it reminds you of a light spring shower. The overall hike is magnificent but seeing the true beauty of what nature and its surroundings bring make it well worth the time taking that long hike up there and that journey back down.

Introduction to Journal 2: Educated

The journal piece I chose was journal 2 "Educated." I wrote this on January 11th, 2010 and the assignment was a journal you write about on a topic given to us for ten minutes. I chose this topic because I like the meaning of what educated means and what it stands for in life to everyone. The strengths it shows in this writing assignment is stating why people go back to school to get a better education, the definition to me what educated means, and to pursue something you are wanting to go for to get a better degree. For example, "If you put your mind to something you want, you will succeed in anything. If you put the time and effort into it then you will beable to accomplish anything." That’s why I went back to school because I want to get a better career opportunity to accomplish something more in my life by making something of myself.I have also included some photos from the website Http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/education.html. So by readingthis piece, I hope you will get some value out of it.

Journal 2: Educated

The definition of educated what it means to me is a person returning back to school to get a better and higher education. People go back to school for many reasons like some return to get their GED to get their completion for not finishing high school. That helps them in the outrun because without that GED or high school diploma these days, there’s not that many jobs out there that will hire you without those qualifications. Others go to get a higher degree to major in a certain field no matter what it takes to succeed that goal. Some go for their Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, a certificate, or more above. Educated or education also says to me that it is something you want to do to accomplish something in life than not do nothing at all. Right now I am in the Cosmetology Program to start out with. I wanted to go to school to become an Animal Technician but there was no close school near by. Plus the commute each day would be too much and leave me very little time for homework.

So I chose my second choice. I know after this program that I would like

to continue forward in school for another major as well. I am kind of

undecided at this point but I have thought about culinary school just because I love to cook. I know if I can accomplish my first task in school, then I know I will be able to pursue in anything I set my mind too. It goes for everyone else going to school if you put your mind to something you want, you will succeed in anything. If you put the time and effort into it, then you will be able to accomplish anything. Look at me. I am a full time mom, thought I would never go back to school but I am doing it. As long as I keep my high standards I set for myself, I know I can go forward with what I am here in school for today to get a better education and better job opportunity in the future that I have always wanted.

Introduction to Time We Went to Wildwaves

The next piece I chose was my Narrative essay. I wrote this paper on February 13th, 2010 and the assignment was on a narrative piece that you have experienced yourself. It was on "Time We Went to Wildwaves," and the reason why I picked this piece was I had so much fun taking my daughter to Wildwaves for her first time. I also included this photo from this website Http://themeparks.about.com/od/waterparksphotogallery/ig/Wild-waves/. The strengths it shows was that it had a strong description and how the paper just flows well with my topic sentence. It tells you the event on how much fun we had experiencing that with our daughter as well. Sharing that first experience, for the first time with our daughter, made it worth the time we shared and spent with one another. I will never forget it.

Time We Went to Wildwaves

The experience I had taking my daughter Emily to Wildwaves last summer was exciting and something I will never forget. Our family drove up there, and the drive was rather peaceful and nice. As Emily would sing songs, and we would acknowledge, she would smile as we sang with her. Her friend Caleb and his mom Amanda came along as well. We left early that morning at 6 AM, and there was hardly any traffic in sight. It looked like a never ending road that just kept on going and going with a car here and there every so often. It made the long commute short, less stressful, and a little relaxing rather dealing with bumper to bumper traffic. We arrived to the park at 9 AM, and parking was not to bad because we were early.

It was the long wait for getting in the park that took the longest. The line was so enormous that it ventured into the parking lot winding off to the side. There had to be at least 100 or more people waiting just to get into the park that day. After 15 minutes of waiting in the line, it gradually started moving forward. As people went through the entryway to the park, people ventured off everywhere heading into all different directions. That’s where the journey began. We followed the path to the rides, walking down a hill and around to go to the kid rides. Emily got to ride on the carousel, the boat ride, a car ride, and slide down a long yellow slide. She rode the carousel first.

As the horse went up and down, it startled her due to the motion of the horse scaring her. So I had to hold her through the remaining of the ride. Then we headed towards the yellow slide. When dad took Emily up to the top so she could go down the slide, our little Emily jumped in excitement. She sat down on dad’s lap, and they took off. As they flew down, I saw laughter, smiles, and she raised her hands way up high. Then we took her to ride the car ride. She chose to ride in the corvette and waited patiently to go. Then she was off. It was so cute watching her pretended to drive because she felt like a girl. When the ride finally ended, Emily got upset. She started to cry and didn’t want the ride to be over. So I said, "Let’s go on the boat ride over here. It should be fun."

As dad put her on, she looked undecided. She sat in a white and green boat called the Miss Scarlet, and right as the ride started to move she wanted out instantly. She stood up tall trying to get out, as she screamed at the top of her lungs for dad and mom. Her face was beet red and tears came tumbling down her face. Dad went in and comforted her, so she really didn’t care that much for that ride. Afterwards, we walked the long path back up the hill from the rides and came to the water area in the kid’s section. Emily enjoyed the water slides and was brave enough to go down them by herself. The excitement on her face when she splashed in the water is what made it so worth it. I had joined her as we splashed one another, and she chased after me. Emily giggled and kept saying, "Come on Mommy. Come on."
At this time Emily was only 18 months old. A few hours past and we were all hungry. Dad said, "Come on Emily, as soon as you eat, you can come back and play."

So we headed to our car to go get something to eat. We pulled up the hatch to our Ford Explorer and pulled out the cooler. We called it our little picnic. We had sandwiches, chips, coleslaw, and potato salad. After we were done eating, Emily eventually fell asleep after a long day of fun. She was exhausted, and I didn’t dare to wake her. So we cleaned up, got the car loaded, and got ready to head back home on that unforgettable drive. That’s what made it so special. Sharing it with one another made it worth the time put into it and the effort to make it happen just to see my daughter Emily’s reaction when we took her to Wildwaves.

Introduction to Journal 10: Skeleton 2

The journal piece I chose was journal 10 call "Skeleton 2." I wrote this journal on February 4th, 2010 and the assignment was to choose from four topics our choice. Once I chose a topic, we just filled in the missing spots that were missing from the story due to some being there already. I like to be creative and make up my own stories every now and then. That’s why I picked this particular piece. It gives a different perspective in my writing. I also added some photos from the websites http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/mountain-views.html,%20Http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/mountain-scenery.html,%20and Http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/people-hiking.html. What strengths it shows are being descriptive, adding a little drama/ action, and tells a story as well. For example, "Kevin and Sasha walked along the path heading up the mountain slowly enjoying the scenery of beauty." That is my lead in to the story as I try to give you, the reader, a feel on what the story is going to be a little about along with a visual.

Journal 10: Skeleton 2

Kevin and Sasha walked along the path heading up the mountain slowly enjoying the scenery of beauty. As the hot sun blares down upon them Kevin says, "Wow, this is so beautiful. I haven’t been up here since I was a kid."

They walked a ways up the long steep trail when Sasha replied, "I know, it’s kind of creepy to me because I haven’t been up here ever since. Never mind."
"Never mind what;" Kevin replied, "are you alright."

Sasha frantically looked around hoping for a way out but looked at him with tears in her eyes and said sadly, "I never told anyone this what I am about to tell you. My father murdered my mother."

As they walked the windy trail she spilled out how her father, her mother, and her once took this hike before about a year ago. It was all there first time going out hiking as a family she recalled. It was a partly sunny day and everything was going great as planned so she thought. Then she blurted out again sobbing; "My father did murder my mother. I saw it with my own eyes and then he covered it up saying it was accidental."

Kevin was so shocked he didn’t know what to say. He just stood there with this blank stare not knowing what to do next. When he finally came around he said to Sasha, "Oh, are you sure he did. How should I no you’re telling me the truth or even lying to me to try to scare me."

All upset, she shoved him knocking him backwards making him lose his foot balance. There he went landing on the ground. When Kevin caught up, he noticed she was sitting on a rock sobbing even harder more. He then felt bad and reached out to hold her near when she jumped up. They ran behind a big bush to hide as she said, "Listen for a minute! I think someone is coming."

They crouched behind the bushes as they heard the cracking of debris from the footsteps drawing near. It was her father with this look in his eye she remembered from before when her mom died. He carried something in his right hand. As he shifted his body you saw full view what he had. It was a wooden axe. Kevin looked at Sasha then said, "It’s not me he is probably after or my problem. I’m out of here."

"Don’t be stupid Kevin. If he knows you have seen him or even thinks you know what happened. Who knows what he can be capable of," said Sasha.

But it was too late. They realized he had spotted them. They both stood up scared and started to run the other way frantically. They ran as fast as they could when her father said, "You’re gonna be sorry if I catch you two."

Kevin and Sasha started screaming for help but it seemed like they were so far away lost in the middle of nowhere. You could hear his footsteps drawing near. They ran faster and faster. They soon lost him but for how long. Sasha stopped cold-blooded staring at this big boulder near the lake. She replied, "That’s where he buried her. It is pretty sad that I still know that. I think we should keep moving just for safety. Let’s get out of here."

Then out of no where her father came grabbing Kevin from behind. They wrestled around in the dirt and before I knew it, Kevin was decapitated. She went to run when he grabbed her hair, pulled her to the ground, and pinned her. She tried to get free but all she did was make herself more tired from getting nowhere. He said, "You’re just like your mother. I should have done you just like I did with her."

She tried to get free herself once more but had no luck. Right when she was about to give up all hope and accept her fate. She heard a load bang as her dad fell over onto the ground. He lied there lifeless as she stared down upon him. A local man ran over, whom shot her father, and asked Sasha if she was ok.She said, "I am now and I can rest at piece knowing my father won’t hurt me anymore."

She then gave him her thanks as they walked back down to go to the ranger’s office. Through the year they became friends and then eventually started dating. They never knew this is how they would meet or start there lives with one another. Two years had past and they eventually got married, had two girls, and lived happily ever after.

Conclusion

I just wanted to thank everyone for taking there time to view my work. It means alot to me to know that others are taking interest in my writing. As you can see, I have added a variety of different pieces in my portfolio to show my readers how much I have grown in my work. I have also uploaded some photos of my children and fiance because family is important to me. I have also included some other photos from websites as well as some other photos from my computer. The website I got this photo from was Http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=conclusion+photos. My kids are what give me my motivation to come to school each day as well as my fiance is very supportive of me. Also I have added the song/video "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus from Youtube. I picked that song due to school being a challenge for me and it can only get better by moving on. So like the song says It's the Climb." I believe my education is the climb to becoming something I want to be, and by taking this on to pursue my dream in what I need to do to do that. Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoyed reading my portfolio.