Oh, how quickly time has passed since the inception and launch of GVoice. In Fall 2011, Sean Elezra and I were talking after a "Writer's Workshop" in Mrs. Smith's AP Language & Composition class, remarking about our discovery that our peers had such literary potential.  I knew, and Sean agreed, that Green Valley High School students have so much artistic ability and creative capabilities that are often left unrecognized. After a meeting in the Kids' Section of Barnes & Noble, and several meetings with our eventual advisor, Mr. Sherwin Bennes; GVoice was founded to give Green Valley High School students a VOICE!

   When I think about the opportunity that students have to read the published works of their peers, I think of the NBC television show, The Voice; in which talented singers are auditioned in a double-blind process: the judges/coaches do not know the VOICE that is singing as they search for the newest music industry mogul. And the singers do not know who chose them for their team (or not...) until the button is pushed and the oversized swivel chair is rotated back towards the performer. Now what does that have to do with a high school literary publication? Before GVoice, students would have little to no exposure to the creative expression of their peers. I, for one, had no clue that my friend sitting behind me in class is a talented poet; or that the girl that I erroneously stereotyped as the silent shy girl had hundreds of pages of a book, developed and ready for publication. Not only are students unaware of the talents of those around them, but also those talented students had no outlet for their fellow Gator's to showcase their abilities. Because of GVoice, students have had the opportunity to share their work with peers.

   The time has now come to pass along the torch of leadership to two very capable, deserving young women. After a strenuous interview and recommendation process, we have selected 

Aubrey Williams (Class of 2014)

and Renee Tesarek (Class of 2013)

as our next Co-Editors-In-Chief. We know they will help to continue the wonderful legacy of GVoice, and help it to grow and prosper in new and dynamic ways.

In closing, I leave you with the quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword."

For those of you that don't know ancient languages, the GVoice motto, "Calamus Gladio Fortior" means the same thing in Latin. To me it serves to demonstrate the immense power of words.

Always remember, Gators, you have a VOICE. Use it.

With sincere appreciation,

Jordan Orris

GVoice Co-Founder & Co-Editor-in-Chief, 2010-2012

Guest Contributors were asked to give us a VISION:

of either their life in the past

or their life twenty years from now.

Let them enthrall you with their visions.

GVoice May 2012

By Jenna Landman, GVoice Guest Contributor

   I can see myself, twenty years from now, living in Australia and working on an expedition to the Great Barrier Reef. I’m taking samples of the coral, exploring the reef and enjoying my dream job since middle school; being a marine biologist is the life. Ever since I could remember, becoming a marine biologist was a career that I had always longed for. It finally happened, and what could be better than working on the beautiful Great Barrier Reef in Australia? I couldn’t believe I would be here for a week exploring the marine life and enjoying my dream. 

   It was just how I have been imagining Australia, with the clear crystal blue water accompanied by the bright vivid colors of the coral reef, the sun shining so brightly I could feel my face getting that sun-kissed glow. I was talking to my intelligent colleagues as we were sailing through the ocean awaiting our adventures to explore marine life, diving into the lukewarm water and starting our journey. Gliding by was a green sea turtle as well as bright orange and white clown fish. What could be better than exploring this beautiful nature scene with my soon-to-be husband? We met in Maui on another excursion investigating the environmental erosion of the coastline. He, being an environmental scientist and I, a marine biologist, had so much in common. My studies have taken me all over the world and led me to places I would have never imagined visiting. I recently was hired on a project for a refinery to help preserve the sea life. This has given me a great opportunity to work alongside my fiancé.

   I continue working as a marine biologist, and eventually my husband and I settle down in Southern California. This is an ideal place for a marine biologist because the ocean is my backyard. Even though I have a permanent residency in Southern California, I still am able to travel for further research.  But as I grow older, my focus is more on the Southern California aquariums. Since a marine biologist is well respected at the aquariums, I speak there to share my experiences, research, and discoveries. I love to see the faces of the ocean lovers as I tell them about adventures on my excursions. I especially enjoy watching children’s faces light up because I have two kids of my own, and telling my kids of my adventures was the highlight of my life. This is my ideal dream which I hope becomes reality.

By GVoice Guest Contributor, Ariel Higuchi

   Too often, people allow their vision to become blurred by outside forces. Goals are pushed aside and sometimes brushed away because we allow them to be. And too often, people will justify this by saying their goals were forcefully pushed aside by others or outside forces which they could not control. I do recognize that we cannot control everything. We cannot directly control the success of our peers or opponents, nor can we directly control a natural disaster that could occur half way across the world. But individuals can control more than they think. The world and universe are interconnected, and therefore the role each person plays in this universe will affect another being. Prentince Mulford once stated, “there is a supreme power and ruling force which pervades and rules the boundless universe. You are part of this power.” Then years later Alexander Graham Bell stated, “What [exactly] this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists.”
   Life is simple. Life is made up of two kinds of things, positive and negative. Actions others make will affect us; however, the determination of our actions or reactions being positive or negative, is solely up to us. This is crucial when envisioning the near and far future as well as personal goals. For example, you wake up late one morning. You have half the time to get ready for school. You’re upset and then realize you don’t have enough toothpaste left. You angrily squeeze the tube and practically the rest of the toothpaste ends up in the sink or on your shirt. At this point your thoughts are probably clouded with frustration, and now you realize you’ve wasted a good deal of time worrying about your toothpaste so you have to leave any minute. This is not an exaggerated example; in fact, it has probably happened to a good deal of us. But why is this signficant? As Neville Goddard stated, “a change of feeling is a change of destiny.” Had you simply accepted the fact that you woke up late, you probably could’ve easily squeezed out the toothpaste from the tube, and the series of frustrating events following this could’ve been avoided. A simple change in emotion or attitude is powerful.
   When envisioning a future for yourself twenty years from now, this should be remembered. A vision is more than just a frilly princess dream of prince charmings and palaces; it’s rather a strong force which we can make possible if we continue to envision it. Our visions, our thoughts, and our actions are all forces which are sent from our body and mind to affect the wavelength flowing through the universe of all the thougths, dreams and actions of those around us. Although I cannot 100% Clariton Clear see or envision my future and the exactness of it, I do see shades of it. I see smiles. I see my family. I see a world around me to travel and history to indulge myself in. And through it all I remember that I am part of this universe, but just as I am unable to control the success of my peers, neither they nor anyone else can control my success, and with this knowledge I can see my future, in a positive light. 

By JiEun Bae, GVoice Guest Contributor

 “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is the question we’ve all heard and considered ever since we were little. As we grew up, our answers to this question probably changed multiple times. For many of us, our plans for the future start to settle in during our high school years. I know of my friends who have every petty detail planned out for their future—from what age they will get married, to what they will do after retirement. I do not plan like this, but I do have an idea of how I will spend my close future. For instance, I know which classes I will take for the rest of my high school career and have decided on my college major. Whereas these plans are subject to change, I can say with confidence that my ultimate goal in life is fixed on a single point. And everything I do must lead to accomplishing this very goal that I laid out for myself.

   As a sophomore, I have been involved in multiple clubs at school, and one of them in particular stood out the most to me: Key Club International, the largest and the oldest student-led organization in the world that “teaches leadership through service to others.” I appreciated the core values of the organization: leadership, character building, caring, and inclusiveness. They began to shape who I wanted to be in the future: a successful servant-leader. With the goal set, I began to work on self-improvement and character building. In this rigorous process, I was provided the opportunities to learn of the fun and the satisfaction of serving others and to take on challenges to improve myself. Soon enough, I experienced the electrifying taste of successfully achieving seemingly-impossible missions, while the joyful moments of seeing my growth motivated me to be a better person.

   The definition of “success” often depends on one’s mindset. To me, success is neither fame nor wealth, neither happiness nor good health. My idea of success is doing everything within my ability each day to better myself and the world in which I live. Despite the many possible challenges and adversities along the way, I believe that I have been making progress. I learned from my mistakes and built my experience. I kept in mind that failure could be a useful tool, a stepping stone to success.

   Here is thereby my answer to the question regarding my future: I shall grow as a person and, through my own changes and developments in character, will be able to use my best abilities to help others in difficulty; I shall change the world; I shall contribute to making this world a better place for all. A few decades from now, I should be able to tell myself in the mirror: “You’ve made visible progress and successfully helped your home and community.”

   I have seen little changes make huge impacts in many cases and believe that I can achieve this lifetime goal.

By GVoice Guest Contributor, Denise Nadora

   How nice it used to be, to be able to look at the world clearer than anyone else can. A lot of people say that you get wiser as you grow older but now that I look at it, the wiser you get, the more narrow minded you become. I used to look at the world with such optimism, ready to start each day anew. I was also ready to grow up. I wanted to wear the grownup clothes my mom wore. I wanted to wear the colorful face paint my aunt used when we went to work. I was so ready to become an adult! I loved the freedom. I never had to worry about having responsibilities or chores. For me, each day was an adventure.  

   I never had an older brother, but I did have a cousin who acted as an older brother to me. However, instead of being over-protective like most brothers, he seemed to get me in more trouble than I ever thought possible. By the time I was six, I had been sent to the hospital numerous times. I had been electrocuted because we were curious if an old cord still worked and decided to put it in the electric socket. I had burned my chest with an iron because we wanted to see how hot the iron was. I had gotten 20 stitches on my leg after falling off a bike while riding down a hill. But the injuries never stopped us. On the contrary, we kept going. We were insatiable. My parents did get mad, many times in fact, but that never stopped us. I felt like I was on top of the world. There was never a boring day, even with school. These were the times when I thought I would never grow up. I didn’t even think about it. My childish mind was only focused on the now, instead of the later. Once you grow up, you’re forced to think about those things, about consequences. I think I like being a child much better. I never worried about what the future would bring. 

   I never thought I would be where I am right now. I told myself that I would always look at the world with new eyes every time. Now, I don’t know if that makes sense. I guess it was my way of never looking at one thing the same way so that I can see every aspect of something, not just one part of it. But now that I think about it, I had become someone I always dreaded on becoming. I look at the world with a biased mind. I look at the world with expectations. And what was worse, I do not look at each and every day as an adventure. In some ways, I believe that children can be wiser than anyone else. Maybe that’s why I like being a kid so much.

By Kevin Kim, GVoice Guest Contributor

   Ignorance and exposure are the key differenced between my present and past self. Through the past decade, due to multiple schools and experiences, I have gained a new vision of this world. Having been born and raised in the state of Hawaii, I didn't have much knowledge of the outside world. To add to my ignorance, the first school I attended was a private school. For the early half of my life, I was stuck on a island, only being exposed to the curriculum and lifestyle of modern Hawaii. Also, my family was doing relatively successful during this time. With this success, I was able to receive many luxuries that I pleaded for with my parents, like any child does with their own. I suppose this caused me to be a bit spoiled. 

   However, on the summer of my fourth year in school, my family moved away to California. Here I experienced public education, something new for me but common for a majority of children in the education system. While a private school generally was more secluded and controlled, public schools exposed me to different types of people and a different view on certain beliefs. During my life in Hawaii, the idea that education was the only way to go was hammered into my mind by my parents. However, I began to lose interest in school and education and started to do poorly in my studies. Also, as I became more exposed to the Internet, I began to do some research on history, facts, and current events.  I gained more knowledge, however, I also became more cynical, as I became more exposed to reality and out of my protected world.

   Finally, my last move was to Henderson, Nevada, where I currently reside. The biggest change I experienced here was exposure to different career choices. I have to thank high school for bringing this change. Previously to my arrival in Henderson, I had no motivation and no plans for my future except for the fact that I was probably going to attend a college. Now, I know I want to major in computer programming and join the tech industry that is currently changing the world. My family also experienced a financial struggle during the first two years of my arrival in Nevada. This led to an interest in making money, an interest higher in my priority list than education.

   Yesterday, I was a carefree, optimistic child. Today, I am a cynical teenager. Through my loss of ignorance and innocence as a child, I gained knowledge and a new view of the world around me. From the controlled and protected life in Hawaii, to the free and diversified life in California and Nevada, my personality changed for, in my opinion, the better. However, I have to admit that ignorance was a bliss.

By GVoice Guest Contributor, Benjamin Bondoc

   I remember. Then. Free of cares. Running. Jumping. Falling. Crying. Playing. Laughing.  I can remember my childhood as if it were a flash before my eyes. It literally was a flash before my eyes. I remember throwing a ball against a wall.  How simple, yet how complex. You throw it, and you run. That was it. I remember being absolutely care-free.  Oh, the exhilaration of being so small, so naïve. I had no worries. 

   Later. School.  Swim lessons. Friends… Friends? Math. Science. English. The elementary years were the best years of my life.  School just clicked for me. I zoomed through it as though I was the master of the art of education. A after A, tetherball victory after tetherball victory, life was great.   Sometimes…no.. All the time, I remember. I remember.  Ambitions began to grow slowly. 

   "What do you want to be when you grow up?" my currently intense Asian father would ask me.

   "Well… Maybe a doctor?" I'd reply subconsciously.  

   Much Later. School. Much more school.  Ahead. School. Friends..! Piano. Violin. Music. Fun? I remember… I remember my life was rapidly beginning to change. More ambitions began to take place. Pediatrician, Engineer, or Biomedical Engineer. What's a pediatrician anyway?  That was a time that I encountered the gift of music. Music. Something that does and always will define me. Interest hit me with piano and the violin. I had been playing the piano for who knows how long, and I had just begun to play the violin. I had begun to understand its complexity. I had fallen in love…

   Now. School. School. School. Extracurricular activities. Music. School. Friends (thank goodness for them). Ambitions… My ambitions? My parent's ambitions for me? I have now hit reality. I have something to really think about. My future.  Current personal ambitions. Get A's. Do my best. My parent's ambitions. A's. A's. A's. How are your grades? Not good enough.   Here I am, typing an extra-credit passage. Trying to improve. Making me somewhat of a spineless grade-whore. But oh well, I'll live with it. 

   Next.  School. School?  Girlfriend?  Job? An unfortunately bottomless pit of uncertainty. But I'll strive. I really don't know where I am going. Everything should work out though. I have something to look forward to, I suppose.  My life is one big accomplishment, I suppose. I'm here. I'm alive (somewhat). I can do it. Nothing's stopping me. I had a great childhood. It's time to look ahead.

By GVoice Guest Contributor, Yasmeen Kaboud

   I used to know it all. I used to be able to see exactly where my future was going, exactly where I was headed. The road to my future was brightly lit with street lamps on every corner, helping me find my way and making sure that I didn’t get lost.Over the past few years, slowly, one-by-one, those street lights went out until all that was left was the light of God’s moon, and all I could do was hope and pray that it would stay there forever instead of plunging down over the mountains and leaving me completely alone.

   All my life, everyone has told me that I could do whatever I wanted. All I had to do was believe and I could be anything I wanted to. But, with every failed piano lesson and every lost soccer game, I began to doubt that part of the American Dream. No, I haven’t failed at everything, but it feels like my accomplishments are just tiny pebbles in a sea of boulders, imperfections that everyone can see when they look at me. I’m holding out for the best. I trust God enough to know that I will be okay eventually, but I need to know that I’ll be okay in ten years, twenty years, or fifty years. 

   In twenty years, I hope that I will still be recognizable, maybe not so much in my appearance, but in who I am. Things might not have always gone my way, but I’ve always kept true to myself. In twenty years I hope to be the kind of mom my kids would need. In twenty years I hope my kids want the kind of mom they need. I hope I have a house with a little picket fence, with the neighbor girl riding her bike by the house, and us waving at her as she rides away. I want a guy who I’m going to love for a long, long time. I want a guy who makes me want to cook for him without asking me too. I want a guy who will sit with me on the porch after dinner and who will keep sitting there with me for years and years. 

   In twenty years I will be who I am right now; staying true to myself and true to whom I want to be. You’ll see.  

GVoice even asked Barnes & Noble their idea of the future of the digital word: "Barnes & Noble continues to focus on offering the best reading and media experience in the market – we keep doing what we’re doing because it’s working.  Our business model suggests if we continue to scale our user base and content, we’ll have an amazing business [in the electronic book market.]  The growth of our digital and physical sales have been complementary. NOOK has been a big traffic driver into our stores and our booksellers have been a huge factor in our success in digital. Our always free in-store support is a big differentiator for us.  We were thrilled for NOOK to beat all of our wildest expectations.  While we don’t release sales numbers, we can say that we have sold millions of NOOK products and look forward to selling millions more."

Lisa Schroeder, author of The Day Before, answered our question as part of a continuation of the Vegas Valley Book Festival.

Q: What is the future of the written word? [With the advent of e-books, will we still be able to open up a hardcover book? Are Facebook/Twitter/Blog Posts considered published works?]

A: "The landscape is definitely changing as far as reading goes. But I don't believe that the actual book will go away any time soon. There are still too many people who love the look, the feel, the smell of real books. Furthermore, there is nothing like holding a small child on your lap, reading a book together, looking at the illustrations, and sharing in that experience. I'm of the opinion, and so are a lot of parents, that nothing takes the place of that. Both of my boys loved Richard Scarry's Busy Town books, for example. The illustrations were such a big part of that reading experience, and we would scour the pages trying to find Goldbug. Yes, e-readers are becoming more and more popular but I have heard a lot of people say they buy both e-books and regular books. This is what I hope continues - that e-readers will get more people reading, and we will see both kinds of books selling well.I'm optimistic about the future of the written word. Especially when there are so many teens like you who care about it and support it."

Don't forget to check out LIsa Schroeder's latest YA novel, called THE DAY BEFORE, about a girl whose world is about to turn upside down, so she goes to the beach to spend the perfect day, when she meets a boy, and things get even more complicated. You can find it at Barnes and Noble, and can read more about all of her books here: www.lisaschroederbooks.com.

Read contributions from GVoice Contributors and Guests below.

By Ashley Martinez, GVoice Contributor

I stare up at you as you stare down at me.
Your eyes follow the motions of a typewriter.
Even when alone, in the comfort of your serenity, I see your unconscious reactions.
I feel the pain as your tears fall upon my face.
I hear the joy as your laughter vibrates off my pages.
I experience your anger as you thrust me around the room in frustration.
I am found on your hand, in a notebook, on a screen, within the pages of a book.
I am your source of knowledge, entertainment, and documentation.
But now you abandon me.
But now you torture me.
But now you ruin me.
My elegant nature has gone and been replaced by elementary slander.
My blood is now written in ink expended by machine rather than the tip of your pen.
Must I progress and adjust to your future?
Do I not have the right to remain in the past, in the years of my emergence, in the memories of my existence?
I feel as though all are like you; they tear me to pieces and cease to remember my part in their lives.
I have helped to make you who you are and yet you leave me here, in a grave of despair, waiting to disintegrate, to blow away in the wind, and forever be lost.
But you are different, aren’t you?
You have picked up a pen.
You have written words.
You have continued my legacy.

By Zeina Amhaz, GVoice Guest Contributor, Class of 2013

            Martin Heidegger once asked, "What does it mean 'to save'? Usually we think that it means only to seize hold of a thing threatened by ruin, in order to secure it… But the verb 'to save' says more. 'To save' is to fetch something home into its essence, in order to bring essence for the first time into its genuine appearing." To take Heidegger’s words in the most literal sense, many would argue that in contemporary times the printed word must be “saved” and brought back to its physical essence. Since the era of the cavemen, the way words have been presented has been constantly changing and has now evolved into mere pixels on digital screens. When evaluating the transformations the physical appearance of words has undergone, one cannot help but to predict the further increased use of technology to read to what was once printed text.

            Using technology to read and access information has become so exceedingly efficient that the worth, perceived or real, of printed words is steadily diminishing. Some may say that it is important to preserve the scent and feel of books; however, are the scent and feel of books really worth preserving when one can effortlessly store thousands of books in a rectangular device that weighs less than six ounces? Books are becoming easier to access, and readers are undeniably taking advantage. Amazon has been a thriving force, making millions in Kindles and e-books. Yet, with so many consumers supporting e-books, there remain major opponents of this technological revolution. JK Rowling, most notably, refuses to sell her books virtually, claiming that she wants her readers to have the experience of physical books. Nonetheless, as the number of books and independent bookstores decreases and the number of e-books sold increases, the only thing left seen collecting dust in the corner is hope for the printed word.

            With virtual advancements constantly developing, the electronic delivery of words has a significant impact on our generation. While some are attempting to preserve and save the rawness of print, others are embracing the modern changes. Certainly, this digital uprising in text marks the beginning of a new chapter in history as the chapter of the printed word slowly yet surely closes.

By Co-Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief, Jordan Orris, Class of 2012

I have always been a reader
the smell of a new book
the woody scent
invites me along on a new adventure.

The subtle crack of the spine
as the book opens for the first time
excites me even more, as I await
to pore over the author's words.

The digitized glow of an e-book
on my iPhone does not excite me
in the same way, for it does not even feel
as though I am engaging in my favorite activity.

Reading

Borders—a place where I would sit down
on the floor, craning my neck to see
the titles of the books, and copy
them into a notebook: my
Book-it list—closed down.

I hope never to see bookstores and libraries
disappear off the face of the Earth,
nor told that I can only get a certain book
on my Kindle, or Nook, or Kobo, or iBook,
or epub, or pdf, or...

A book is a magnificent thing.
The ink, the page, and rarely
an extra inkblot or two
are charming, endearing, and comfortable.

I don't want to see it end,
a book, the written word,
my favorite friend.

By Co-Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief, Sean Elezra, Class of 2012

The Future of the Written Word
Sean Elezra

 Journalism is dying. Newspapers are becoming obsolete. Magazines are disintegrating and online media is taking control. Welcome to the future. My future. I want to be a journalist.
At least, this is what I am told incessantly by my parents, friends, and teachers after the word “journalist” leaves my mouth. Amidst all of these misconceptions, I still cannot imagine a day where the written article would become obsolete; where reading the New York Times and drinking a tall iced coffee at Starbucks loses its thrill.
My future career choice is one that is based in writing. Although I would like to say that the written word will never become outdated, I believe as time progresses the written word won’t exist, based upon new literary, news, and technological outlets that are constantly being produced. Society is constantly being bombarded with new technologies to view their books, whether it be the Barnes and Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle, or Apple’s iPad. Just this summer we saw the bankruptcy of one of the biggest book distributors in the nation—Borders. What is to say that in the next couple years newspapers and magazines will also disappear? The answer: on one unfortunate day we will see the demise of beloved, tangible writing.
The media will be one of the most important social sectors that will be affected by the written word’s destruction. It will change the face of how the public receives their breaking news, and how constituents can access information and become more knowledgeable. In my opinion, writing leads to social understanding and wellbeing. If the written word disappears, I believe that the public as a whole will become increasingly despondent and lack knowledge in all areas of study, whether it be the world around them or the local communities. Will all information be placed online, or will the Internet fade along with new, more effective technologies?
These new technologies that display the written word have not only affected the media, but it has also affected the classroom. This year, many teachers at Green Valley have updated their curricula to include discussions and quizzes on Turnitin.com. Although this necessarily does not pertain to the destruction of the written word, it displays a change in the landscape of education in modern times. If you look back to twenty, even a hundred years ago, the main form of communication in the classroom was through essay composition and reading literature. I would not be surprised to see that in twenty years, students just listen too books on audio CD and use speech (without writing) as a main form of communication. Forget AP Literature and Composition, it would more like AP Audio CD Literature and Listening.
Whenever the word “journalist” leaves my mouth, I am always given the same response. My parents and friends constantly say that news and magazine print will vanish, along with the written word.  In the end, I am hoping to rid society of the idea that “journalism is dying, newspapers are becoming obsolete, and online media is taking control”. If anything, that means that I will only have to work harder to pursue this goal; it is not only my future, but the future of communication as we know it.  That is why I am a journalist.

By Sean Elezra, Co-Editor-in-Chief

In 1621, the Pilgrims began a holiday tradition that would be passed down for centuries to come. Set in the month of November, Thanksgiving in Plymouth colony was a celebration of the year’s harvest and another successful year of North American colonization. Elementary school students learn this every year as Thanksgiving approaches; yet many adults seem to forget the importance of this favorite American tradition. One thing I always seem to forget as I gobble down the turkey, stuffing, and pecan pie: Thanksgiving is about recognizing those moments and people that have made a difference in my life.

I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving, but primarily I am thankful for the things that I take for granted every day. Most people around the world are not given half of the privileges that American children are given: shelter, food, and all of the other necessities of life. I am grateful to not have to worry about what I will eat for dinner every night, how I will pay for the next bill, or how I will survive the upcoming winter.

I am thankful to be given the right to study and learn more about topics that I usually complain about on a daily basis. Although I yawn at the idea of Calculus homework, I am grateful that I am given the chance to study upper level mathematics. In the days that I grunt when assigned a novel in English, I am always happy after reading the novel because of the lessons it taught me. When I take this notion into account, I am grateful for my future collegiate opportunities that my ancestors were never given. My parents and grandparents were drafted into the Israeli military when they turned eighteen years old and were not given a choice to continue to college after high school. Although the army taught them many life lessons, it is because of their hard work and move to America that I am able to continue to learn and explore the world around me.

And last but not least, I am thankful for GVoice, which has given me a forum to discover and share my opinions with other students. It is through GVoice that I have renewed my love of the written word and creative writing. It has filled the gap that has gone missing with the many tiresome essays that have filled my high school career.

Though most students would pick one person or moment in time to complete this prompt, I chose to assimilate many moments in time that have shaped me into the person I am today. I feel that through this compilation of moments, I am able to accurately reflect the moments I am most grateful for.

By Abby Anderson, Guest Contributor

The last time I saw him, he was sitting in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV right after his fall had taken a turn for the worse. He evidentially was in a lot of pain but he kept his screams of anguish inside. He buried them deep beneath smiles and laughter, which he used as his main medication. His smile was one of complete congeniality and when it was flashed in your direction, you felt like you were the center of his world. People never took a conversation with him for granted because they always left you feeling better about yourself. When we went to visit my great grandpa Harold, you could hear his belly laugh echoing down the hall and you knew you were bound to find a crowd of nurses, anxious to hear his latest joke.  I feel incredibly blessed to have had such an amazing character in my family. I would love to be recognized as an optimist with a sincere smile by the time I reach 97 like he did. He is my role model, and although I know I will never be just like him, I have tried in life to make people feel special, just as Harold did. He showed me that the simplest touch or spark of optimism makes your life better by making the lives of those around you better.

            I have sensed a lack of positive attitudes in my family ever since Harold's death, and  have willingly assumed the optimistic role that he left to be filled. And even as I become involved in new families, that urgent need for a kind smile still exists. The theatre has become my home away from home and I have often found it in need of an optimist. This was made clear as our Advanced Acting class sat in a close knit circle on the dimmed stage. A serious tone had a thick presence as one by one, we made ourselves completely vulnerable, opening the sealed doors of our pasts. My heart ached and my brow drooped as I heard troubling secrets be shared. More dramatic narratives filled the space and I remembered the power of my grandpa's smile. I extended a hand and a smile to a close friend whose painful spilling of struggles went far beyond anything I could fathom.  She returned my hand squeeze and stopped crying as she whispered "Thank you." Moments like these reiterate the simple lessons that Harold taught me and make me want to shine my constant happiness onto those living in hushed shadows, as did my grandpa.

            I have learned the advantages of being an optimist through the behavior of one man. He showed me that through the betterment of myself I can help others on their path to discover happiness and self worth. That in the end, inspires my goal to go through life touching others and leaving behind a legacy of purely smiles...a legacy that would give my grandpa one more thing to smile about.

By Jordan Orris, Co-Editor-in-Chief

A few years ago on Thanksgiving, my family gave my grandmother, MeMe, a digital photo frame filled with pictures of her life. I helped by scanning in photos of my grandmother as a baby, as a second-grader with braided hair, and as a young mother holding baby Uncle Jim. From these pictures of her life, I learned much about my grandmother. I gained a deeper understanding of my grandmother as a woman. The woman who has been an inspiration to me growing up.  She’s touched my life so deeply.

    My grandmother had unusually humble beginnings. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the middle of the Great Depression, “MeMe”, as I call her, did not have much to call her own. Her mother, my Nannie, remarried when MeMe was young. She describes her childhood as, “difficult”. Her parents had little education, so MeMe had to continually push herself to finish school.  Now a vivacious seventy-eight year old, my grandmother leads a wholesome life. One of her principal qualities is an extreme sense of generosity. Her willingness to give to others is remarkable. She has instilled in me the core value of giving and has inspired me in so many other ways.

     MeMe has shown me how to be honest. She tells me to confront my problems and to own up for my mistakes. Friendly - She encourages me to be happy, positive, and to let my light shine for the world. Consdiderate - She reminds me to think of how my words and actions make other people feel.

     From MeMe, I’ve learned stewardship of money. She taught me the value of a dollar, and an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Service to others is another life’s lesson she has taught me.  To serve others is one of the truest forms of fulfillment and allows us to touch the world - one life at a time.

     MeMe is committed to education.  Since my grandmother had to strive so hard to work her way through school; she values education deeply.  She reminds me not to give up, and to never lose sight of my goals. MeMe has taught me how to be a good citizen.  She is exceedingly well-informed and seriously involved in politics, always stressing the importance of voting and having an informed opinion. MeMe has reminded me to break a sweat every day, emphasizing the value of exercise and healthy living. I believe one of the most important values I’ve gained from her mentoring is humility.  I’ve learned from MeMe that I do not have to be the loudest person in the room to make the most impact.

     I’ve gained immensely from her example and strive to emulate the beautiful characteristics and qualities my grandmother possesses. These “Little Pearls of Wisdom”, as she calls them, guide me daily.  Whenever I see MeMe, she tells me, “Keep polishing my pearls”. I am so thankful to have MeMe in my life.  She is my biggest fan, my inspiration, a remarkably gracious woman. My MeMe, I love you and I thank God he placed you in my life.

By Stephanie Salazar, Guest Contributor

He’s been a close friend of mine since my freshman year, but unfortunately he had to graduate two years ago. Now it’s my turn to graduate and we’re already getting ready to dive head first into a closer world together.

Back in high school we were never in sync with one another’s wave lengths. When he liked me, I didn’t like him and when I liked him he didn’t like me. It was like a never ending see saw ride with him. Despite our feelings for one another we would drop them immediately after rejection to keep our friendship stable. We had the type of friendship that was unconditional. If I had somehow hurt his feelings he would still stand next to me supportively. There was always those nights when we would just spill out all our problems to one another and it wouldn’t be burdensome to either of us to give advice or help. Those problems we’re the reason why we could bond together so much night after night.

My phone rang and I picked it up to see that He was calling. He was having problems again and I noticed a heavy breathing. It’s almost like he was uncontrollably sobbing. It kind of scared me because I wasn’t really used to hearing him cry, he’s not the type of guy to start balling out with tears. Even though I tried to calm him down by softly telling him “I’m here, it’s okay.” But it only got worse every time I said it. I had no clue what was wrong, I just knew I needed to calm him down. I tried saying everything I could to help him, but it seemed as if he wasn’t even listening. Then my final solution was to wait for him. Maybe he needed to just cry out whatever was bothering him.

Approximately an hour later he begins to whimper softly and you can barely hear his strong panting. I asked if he was ready to talk about “it” yet. That moment was really awkward for me, usually we would be able to stay comfortable in silence, but that moment, I felt like I could see him on the other side of the phone. My mind was clouded with how blank his face was and how his lips quivered as he attempted to tell me his story. This issue was definitely one that was extremely agonizing for him. Finally a word broke through, “Steph...” I held my phone closer to my ear to listen, “I can’t breathe.” I tried to give reason for it “It’s probably just because you were crying too much,” but the more I tried he became more and more offended. All I could do was wonder what was wrong and tell him “breathe easy, inhale, exhale.” This definitely was one of the stranger problems he had come to me for. What came next was something I really wasn’t prepared for. It was the next thing that broke out through his lips. “I’m dieing..” He spoke in staggeringly because he could not stop panting “because…” word after word it got worse, but then he let it all out in one burst “I have something wrong with my heart.” The minute I heard this my eyes began to water. Tears started flowing from my eyes uncontrollably to the point where I absolutely hated the world. Here is a man with a heart disease who does not deserve it at all. A man who I always considered to have the biggest heart of all, is dieing slowly. What hurt me the most is how neither of us could do anything about it. No one had a car, no one was home, no one could help. I gradually started to yell “call the doctor or your mom, please!” He wouldn’t listen. In fact it seemed like he had gone silent himself and all his crying had been transferred over to me. I’d been so overwhelmed with feeling that I couldn’t even think straight myself. I didn’t know what to say. All I knew is that I still had hope to save him. I held my phone closer to my ear to listen for him, but all I heard was a dog barking in the background. My heart began to hurt itself. These bent up emotions were pouring out of my eyes. Why did such a great person have to be cursed with an early death? Anger built up in me more and more until I was at the point of insanity myself. I looked at the phone in my hand and threw it at a wall. My legs became weak and my body sore from the pain that I’m losing someone over a phone. I couldn’t help blame myself for being useless. Tears and tears flowing I screamed “I couldn’t help, I couldn’t help!” Then across the room I could hear something, it was a slight breathing where you could tell his phone was close to his lips just enough to hear that breath. It was almost as if he knew I was listening for him earlier so he tried to comfort me with his breathing. I didn’t think that just that sound would be something so valuable to me. There’s still hope to save him. I can save him. It was the first night in so many years of atheism that I prayed for something. Even though I felt prayers we’re absolutely useless and would not do anything, I tried everything to get him to stay that extra day with me. That night we stayed on the phone together until morning. How I wish I could have stayed everyday with him until he would leave me, I wanted to be the one to stay by his side when he needed it most. Until that day comes I’m going to make everyday for him the best it can be.

He gave me a purpose in life and a sense of gratitude towards the life I’m given. He didn’t know it back then, but although I would tell him I didn’t like him, in reality I loved him, so much. I was just scared of losing our friendship with one another if we did go out, but now it’s not the friendship I’m afraid of losing, it’s him.