home

media type="custom" key="4982273" align="center"



"My First Day as a High School 'Freshy,'" by Abrum
media type="file" key="abrumsarsfield-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20" I had hated the thought of High School for a long time and had dreaded the fact this this day would come. Of course, it came anyhow. I was as nervous as anyone could be as I got out of the car and took my first step onto the pavement of Foothill High. The smell of car and many different things I couldn't quite make out met my nose with a flash, but I was too busy taking in the moments and looking at my map to notice much. Little did I know, this place would soon be another home to me, I surely would learn just about everything about every classroom by the end of my four years, starting as a peasant (a freshmen) and ending as a king (a senior)...

media type="file" key="alexcervantes-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"A Morning to Remember," by Alex
I was woken up by loud mariachi music as I looked over to see that my brother was dancing. I turned down the music and asked why he was dancing to that music. And this is what he said, “Well so you can wake up." I laughed and asked why he wanted me to wake up and he responded,"Cuz my dad bought us a pet." With much excitement I jolted up and ran to the backyard but there appeared to be nothing there, so with sadness I came back to find him on the floor laughing. So I said nothing and I went back to bed, but couldn't go to sleep so I put on my clothes and boots and went outside to feed my goats. When I came back in side my dad told me to get in the truck, so I did. When I got in there I realized that it was pretty cold so I ran back inside and got a jacket and when I opened the truck there was a horse saddle and with a tremendous smile I put my jacket there and waited for my dad inside the truck. When he got in we buckled up and took off. On our way I asked him were and for what we were going there and he said that one of his friends had forgotten it at one of the parties that we had the past weekend. At first I got disappointed because of knowing the fact that the saddle wasn’t mine but at the same time excited to go see some horses..

media type="file" key="arianacohen-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Oregon Trail," by Ariana
Honestly, I have no clue what childhood means. I'd like to think I'm still in it, and will be for quite some time. But so far the best time I ever had in my childhood would have to be the one week 7th-8th grade trip to The Shakespeare Festival in Ashland Oregon...

media type="file" key="bradshaw-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

​" The Seven Letter Word," by Brad
Sailing. That seven letter word that nobody really knows about or really could care about. It can be just looked at and then we can be distracted by something else. Not many kids I know are interested in this sport. And some people wouldn't even consider it a sport at all because it can have no real action. But to me, sailing is a much more important subject and probably even changed my life for the better...

media type="file" key="breannaflinn-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"The Hospital," by Brenna
I was five years old when I first got sick, a mere child in kindergarten. It was in the year 2000 right around the tail end of October and the beginning of November when I became so violently ill that I got to the point where I was vomiting after almost every meal!...

media type="file" key="CamdenMahoney-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Don't Give Up," by Camden
When I showed up for the first day of summer conditioning for wrestling just this past summer, I didn't have any idea what I was in for. It started off on a slightly overcast summer day. I was dropped off in the back parking lot of Ventura High School. My mom had told me that I was supposed to go to the wrestling room, which is above the locker room. Unfortunately I didn't know where the locker room was. So I wandered around for a bit, pulled on some doors, and looked through some windows before timidly asking an older teenager where the wrestling room was. Luckily I got there in time. When I first entered the black and gold clad room I was nervous as hell. I was instructed by an older wrestler to introduce myself to the coach, a big friendly guy. After being asked my name and weight I sat down with some kids who I knew from Cabrillo who were joining wrestling as well. The next two hours were hell on earth...

media type="file" key="DelaraElyse-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" The Mansion House," by Elyse
The house in Denver, Colorado was huge maybe even mansion size. I felt like an ant standing in the shadow of Yao Ming. I stood outside that house for at least 20 minutes before even going in. Inside the house it was even more memorizing that outside of it. The ceilings were high; the wood floors were so shiny you could see yourself in them. While everyone was taking a tour of the house, I snuck out and went into the backyard. The air was hot and crisp, perfect summer weather. I found a seat under a big oak tree and for about a half an hour I watched fish jumping out of the lake and kids trying to catch them. By the time people realized I was gone it was almost night. It was my first night sleeping in the mansion house and I’m not going to lie, I was scared. On the plane trip to Colorado my friend was telling all of these scary stories about the house. So if you were me I think you would be scared out of your socks too...

media type="file" key="destiny-wassell-memory.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Best Friends," by Destiny
I was eight years old starting fourth grade at a new school Elmhurst Elementary School. I went to the cafateria where the classes posted and I told myself "Hmm Mrs. Brill" and a girl standing next to me over heard me talking to myself. It turns out we had Mrs. Brill together...

media type="file" key="Evan-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Baseball," by Evan
When I was little I always wanted to be a baseball player. So I will be talking about my childhood baseball leauges when I was 11, 12 and 13 years old. Back when I was 11 years old I was a 3rd baseman and a 2nd baseman. I wasn't as good then. My batting average was about .215-.240. I am not sure about the exact average but I know I'm close. Also that my fielding was very bad and that I had about 23 errors in that season. So my coach then put me in left-field and I was much better there and I had only made 1 error in the last 4 games. If I was still playing 3rd or 2nd base I would have made at least 1 or 2 errors. But it wasn't all bad. When I went to bat against a bad team I would hit at least a double or single. Also that I had a ton of rbi's. Counting from my statistics sheet I had 11 rbi's and 1 home run. I felt good about myself at that time but now that I look at it it makes me think that I wasn't that good then...

media type="file" key="FoglianiSteven-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"A Miracle," by Steven
It was april eleventh 2008. My mom her boyfriend and I flew into Omaha Nebraska and drove to Sioux City Iowa to visit. It was a long drive but finally we arived at David my moms boyfriends house. I remeber getting there late and going right to bed in the geust bedroom, which was right next to my mom and Davids bed-room...

media type="file" key="galvanmatthew-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Beauty of Cancun," by Matthew
When I entered the plane for the first time to Cancun, Mexico, I felt a weird pain in my stomach. I tried to soothe it with music and sprite. I feel asleep for almost all the ride down there but woke up 4 hours later to find that I had missed the food and the DVD players. The ride down there toke about 5 hours. We finally got there and went to pick up our luggage. My whole family went on this trip(2 sisters, 1 brother, parents and I).I didn't really wont to waist the rest of my summer on a boring family vacation. But I soon learn something very important that I would remember for the rest of my life...

media type="file" key="jackson-tovar-memory.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Cooperstown," Jackson
When people grow up they dream about being a lot of different things. Most want to be a Firefighter, teacher, or a princess. Well, all my life, I grew up wanting to be a baseball player. Ever since I started playing baseball at six years old, I have not stopped playing. I left other sports I played, and joined travel baseball teams like the Ventura Pirates. And one of those travel teams brought me to one of my greatest memories of my life - Cooperstown, New York...

media type="file" key="JessikaValenzuela-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" No Monkey's Jumping on the Bed," by Jessika
I remember feeling blood going down my face and dripping down into my mouth. I was only three years old and my brother and sister were at the ages of 8 and 9. We were up stairs in our room jumping on my sister's bed. My dad would come up the stairs and look your straight into our eyes from distance and tell us to stop jumping on the bed. We would look at him and tell him "ok daddy." When my dad went down the stairs and he was out of sight we would start jumping on the bed again. then a couple of minutes later he would come back up the stairs and tell us again to stop jumping on the bed with his serious face. When my dad went down stairs the second time my brother went down him. Then he would look at me and say's "I’m serious Monkey no jumping on the bed" and of course I would tell him "ok daddy." But again when he want the stairs the second time I started jumping on the bed again.

media type="file" key="jonathanayala-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"The New House," by Jonathan
It all started on a beautiful sunny morning when I heard this word "Vamos a mover", my dad said as we were eating breakfast. All of this started in our little 1 1/2 bedroom house in Western Santa Barbara is when i actually heard that word which means we are going to move. It was a day when it was my birthday when my parents told all my aunts and uncles that were moving. We are the only family members who are going to live in Ventura while some others are moving to Indiana. Our little house was very small and about the size of two Ventura hill house living rooms. While we spent the first Christmas in our old house with my baby sister after all of the present part we packed. Many of my 4 year old toys furniture and beds went into this very big truck and I thought we were going to live in the trunk in Ventura...

media type="file" key="karenu-lotf-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"My Trip to Mexico," by Karen
Close to the end of my 5th grade year my aunt was commenting me that she was going to go visit my Grandma and my Grandpa in Mexico. After going to school my aunt picked me and my cousin up from school. We were walking on the sidewalk and I was trying not to step on the cracks. As we were walking my aunt told me “Do you want to go to Mexico with me? But first you have to tell your mom if you can even go.” I was so eager to tell my mom if I was going to be able to go. This was going to be the very first time going to Mexico to see my uncles, aunts, Grandpa and Grandma. Once we got home my aunt made food for her daughter, son and me. When my cousins were done eating I was barely half done. I was trying to eat as slow as I could so I would waste time until my parents came back from work...

media type="file" key="KelleyMorgan-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Mountain Home," by Morgan
The first trip my family took to the sequoias was when I was about six. I have been there about five times since that, and it is one of my favorite places to visit. I love the smell of the pine trees and the huge trees that go on for miles and miles. The place was we usually go to camp is called Mountain Home. The area that we go to has designated camp sites that you don’t have to make reservations to camp in; it goes by first come first serve. When we camp there we are usually there for about a week and there are many memories that I would love to share.

media type="file" key="kyliemartinez-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Having Trust," by Kylie
My life experience was meeting someone I can trust, someone who liked the same stuff as me, someone I get along with. This happened in eight grade at Cabrillo Middle School. It was a normal year like any other year but I finally met a friend in better terms, a best friend. Her name Ashley Amber Alberts (I call her triple “A” to be short)...

media type="file" key="LindemannRaurie-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" My Latin American Vacation ," by Raurie
Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, right? Well, my cruise to Mexico and Central America was fun and relaxing, but during that week, my life changed. I gained a greater appreciation for my family, friends, and lifestyle...

media type="file" key="malloryw-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"A Long Journey Ahead," by Mallory
October 8th, 2002 at 7:15pm was a very important day and time in my life. It was the day that my role of being the youngest child would end and I would not sleep well for a very long time...

media type="file" key="MontesMartin-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Moving to the U.S," by Martin
My most important moment was when I barely came to the U.S. I was so excited to finally come here I've heard so much about it and it seemed like the perfect place. I was 9 at the time so I guess for me it wasn't much of a change since I was young and stupid. My mother lived here in the U.S so she wanted my sister my brother and I to be with her, so on a very cold Sunday morning, we had to get up at like 5 am. I remember my brother waking up and yelling to us "OK today is the day, come on guys u should be up by now." he sounded really excited. I got up and to everyone's surprise I was already dressed and ready to go, "yeah come on everybody” I said with a laugh, I had to wait for about an hour since my brother and sister had to get ready. My mom’s friend picked us up at about six thirty. I remember thinking to myself "This is the most exiting day of my life I can’t wait until I see my mom." I had seen my mom before but I was barely about 3 years old though so I didn't remember her well. I had talked to her on the phone but it wasn't enough so I was hoping everything went well. It was about 9:00 am when we arrived at the airport. I was so tired from sitting down for so long in the car and my butt hurt a lot...

media type="file" key="RanasingheSenin-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"My Mother and I," by Senin
The beginning of my life wasn’t what I was hoping for. For a young child being born into this crazy world, and month’s later feeling evil breathing down on your neck is horrifying. For a mother to go through this experience e with her child like mine shows characteristics such as love and compassion, this is my story...

"My Dog Daisy," by Alicia
The most important thing I ever had was my dog. We have had her since I was a two year old, and although she is my grandmother's, I still love her deeply. And only one month ago, something truly terrible happened to my dog, Daisy...

media type="file" key="SandovalAdrian-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Snowboarding Adventure," by Adrian
My first time snowboarding trip was an adventure. I’ll show you why in this essay. To start of, my first time snowboarding was my first time ever seeing or even standing in real life snow. This all took place about three or four years ago in Lake Isabella. My friend, and the other seven members in his family, invited me to their cabin on a cold, winter day. When I found out that I was going snowboarding I was super stoked...

"The Dream Park," by Tanner
Cooperstown New York. Everyone in there childhood has a great memory whether it is good or bad. For some people it is snow boarding or sailing or even being bullied. My childhood experience is going to Cooperstown New York. Cooperstown is a dream park that baseball teams come to play at. You stay in barracks for a week with your team and it is awesome. There are even 23 baseball fields and 98 teams play there every week in summer. I went there in the 8th grade when I was twelve years old. This is something I will never forget...

media type="file" key="tejal-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"My Trip to India," by Tejal
was just a little girl ever since I wanted to go to India. My parents and grandparents would always tell me things about India and show me bunch of pictures of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. I would just wait until I finally get to go to India and meet everyone and that time came very soon. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade I was finally was going to India for the first time and I was really excited. Since I was going on a plane for the first time I was a little scared. The thing I hated was the food and also when my ears get plugged. While we were getting off the plane I could just really smell the difference...

"My Neighborhood," by Miguel
As I stepped out of my house with the sun starting to set on a summer evening, I walked across the street to an apartment complex where all my neighborhood friends live. On July 11, 2008 little did I know that night would change my life forever... just kidding, maybe not forever. Anyways everyone who lives over there is pretty cool. Except for one kid. We'll call him "Mario". No one really likes him because he's annoying and tries to show off in front of everybody, but mostly girls. Most girls would not find Mario attractive. He's little pudgy, tries to act gansta, is extremely annoying and looks up to his older brother who looks like Chris Brown. Everyone of my friends who know him thinks he's a douche. He can be cool sometimes, but that's rare...

media type="file" key="VuChandler-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Showing Your True Colors," by Chandler
The excitement and thrill of snowboarding was nearly mine; I had thought on the crib-like chair lift ascending my dad and I up through the foliage of pine and fir trees onto the fearsome looking mountain that I was to conquer. So much adrenaline was coursing through my veins that the fright of heights that was besieging my mind was swept away in the current flowing through me...

media type="file" key="WadaAntonia-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Our Long Journey," by Toni
Travel to Sacramento by Greyhound bus, and then to Reno, Nevada by car, is an exhausting, scary and interesting experience. My cousin and I pleaded our parents to let us travel to Reno to see our favorite aunt Andrea. Our mom's were in no way going to be able to drive us 524 miles to Reno, Nevada and then leave for another 524 miles back. They just wouldn't do it. So, we turned to plan B...riding the Greyhound Bus. I had never done it before so I new it would be a foreign but fun experience...

media type="file" key="DelgadoVictoria-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Buena Cheerleading," by Victoria D.
I was 12 years old with nowhere to go but up. I had a lot of friends and I was a cheerleader a good one I might add I could do all kinds of back flips and I was strong. Even though I was all those things I still had enemies. And every one has enemies I know that but mine was the worst. Her name was Rachel and she absolutely hated me and I did not know why. I’ll have you know I’m not the kind of girl who is mean or who picks fights. I’m the kind of girl who stays out of trouble and who is a sensitive person emotionally and physically. I was one of those girls who you could probably walk all over. Except for the day I finally snapped...

media type="file" key="GarciaVictoria-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Costa Rica," by Victoria G.
I first visited Costa Rica in the year 2000. I was only nine years old. My father and his surf buddies had been going there for years and couldn’t stop talking about it. So, first he took my mom, and the whole time they where there they couldn’t stop thinking about how much my sister and I would love the country. The following year, we decided to go as a family. I was so excited trying to imagine all the things that I had heard from my mom and dad. Stories about the black sand beaches, the way the rainforest came down to the waters edge, the howler monkeys, the 80-degree ocean water and how wonderful the people were...

media type="file" key="MartinMellisa-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Change," by Mellisa
It happened in grade 6th going to 7th. My mom was married to a guy for nick they were together 7 years before they got married. They had a 5 year old named sierra. She is my sister. I come home one morning and they werent talking. It was a couple days before there 3 year aniversery. I wondered to myself why they were talking. But then i thought in my head something must be going wrong. I didnt think it was anything big. That night my mom took me shopping because she was having a picnic for her work and she wanted to buy me something to wear. That night my mom tells me that she's going out with a couple of friend's and to stay home and watch my little sister...

media type="file" key="MooreJessica-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Two Halfs," by Jessica
Today after 10 years, my weekly commute to my “Dad’s” house in Upper Ojai is the same as always, the smell of the vineyards or whatever plant was being grown by our neighbors or my stepmom, and the sight of the blurred trees going by. During this commute I prepare myself for what is to come, a little brother and sister egger to see me and copy every little thing I do, but for me I mostly have to prepare a fake plastered-on smile for this alternate universe that taunts and shoves in my face of what I want but can never have, a picture perfect family. One Dad. One Mom. A Little Girl. And a little boy. Of how I could only have to halves that refuse to come together instead they pull apart...

media type="file" key="OttoTielemans-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" The Mask," by Otto
Most people have an event in their life that causes them to look at life differently. For some, it causes them to look at life in a way that brings happiness and clarity to them. For others, it makes them understand that the world is a cruel and violent place which has no meaning. Unfortunately and luckily for me, I stumbled upon a moment in my life that made me see life through a new set of eyes...

media type="file" key="PatelNikhel-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"You Never Know What You Have Until it's Gone," by Nikhel
I could smell that delicious taste of homemade scrambled eggs, toast, and tater tots from my living room as my brother and I were sitting, waiting, and very hungry. It was a stunning day; the sun was out, the birds were chirping of joy, and it was a very slight by delightful breeze. The television was on, to be exact; we were watching a documentary on Los Angeles Lakers point and shooting guard Sasha Vujacic. For some reason, this was about the first time we got along within a three day period of time and it felt great. About two nights before, my brother had just come out of surgery exhausted and weak not feeling well like a gloomy rainy day...

media type="file" key="SarahWoods-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Washington D.C.," by Sarah
My first trip all alone with my school and it is the farthest place that I have ever gone. Was I nervous? At first I was really nervous to leave my family for a week but once I got to Washington D.C. Once I got onto that plane I didn’t know what to feel? Nervous or excited? One I got there I was so excited had almost forgotten about being nervous or scared. I wanted to scream with excitement when I saw all the sights in D.C. I was shocked to see how big D.C really looked next to the map. It was such an amazing sight...

media type="file" key="ToshRyan-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Santa Cruiz Island," Ryan
Startled and exhausted, I woke from my night's slumber. The damp, icy wind lightly touched my skin and caused chills to run down my body. My alarm, the cause of my startled self, buzzed at an irritating level that only dolphins could hear. Finally the day my camp counselors, co-workers, and I were leaving to visit the prestigious island of Santa Cruz. After a long summer, volunteering for a Ventura City Recreational Camp, my counselors believed gratitude was in order. I flung the four blankets off myself, leapt out of my bed, and dashed throughout the house finding the necessities for this voyage. I ran down the green-carpeted stairs, through the hallway, as the automatic light barley caught my image, and gobbled down my breakfast faster than my dog could. Finally, ready to travel to the Ventura Island Packers, my mom and I bolted into the car, and whizzed off toward our destination...

media type="file" key="AdamsGrayson-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" An Invaluable Lesson," Grayson
When I was little I learned many things, like we all do when we were little. I learned the basic skills of life, grammar, math, history, but during my child hood, I learned much more about life. At this age I was very ignorant of the rules of this world around me. I had many different experiences that showed me these principals, and some of the most major were two of my cat's deaths. They were horrible experiences, ones I will never forget. But this experience has taught me a very invaluable lessen indeed, the value of life...

media type="file" key="AmendolaLauren-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"The Best and Worst Day," by Lauren
July 22nd 3:12pm, the best and worst day of my life. It was the day where I was no longer a single child. It was the day I became a big sister. It was the day where my life would change forever. It was the day when my twin brothers, Gavin and Hayden were born...

media type="file" key="BinkleyKincaid-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

" Bullys Are Such a Drag," by Kincaid
Angry and Exhausted, I stopped pounding at Zacks stomach. Joey Was laughing like always and Zack didn't even flinch, this was probably because I was only 6 and he was 9, same with Joey. Zack pushed me, which lead to more crying, finally the PAL counselor poked her head out from the door and asked what was going on. Zack and Joey gave me a look like they where expecting something from me...

media type="file" key="CervantesMartha-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20" " Hill St. Memories," by Martha
This was one of the most fun and happy days of my life. It was a moment in time that I will never forget. The neighborhood kids would all be outside hanging out. Everybody would be either playing some games like tag, or would just be relaxing and sit on top of somebody’s car and talk about everything that comes to mind...

media type="file" key="HernandezDavid-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"Hospital," by David
What are some of the words that come to mind when you think of the word “Hospital.” Maybe the word nurse, doctor, surgery, x-ray or even the occasional lollipop after a shot. For me the words that come to mind are pain, suffering, praying and even death. Little did I know that on this same day, I would hear the words that would change my view of life forever...

media type="file" key="KingKollin-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

"My First Race," by Kollin
It was the Wednesday before my first race on Saturday at LACR. A track just outside of Palmdale. I had been spent all the money I had earned and trained the whole summer so I could start racing. My, the only person who has helped me through my training put money the money down so I could pay it off and get a new bike. He was also taking me to practice twice a week on at Peru and one at LACR...

media type="file" key="stephenkennedy-memory-0910.mp3" width="240" height="20"

“My Childhood Experience With an Adult Bully,” by Stephen
Bullying seems a common experience in grade school, and most students experience bullying in some form. I am no exception, however its unlikely that many people have faced one of their own teachers as the tyrant. Of course most of my teachers turned out to be exemplary human beings. For instance, in grade seven and eight Gate English and History, I had the privilege of experiencing two remarkable teachers for both years. Although many of my teachers have inspired me and urged me on to greater efforts, one did not...