Personal Narrative: Lauren Bailey

Waking up and realizing that today was the day, my body got packed with nerves, still wondering how my mom even got me on the show and why they wanted me. While I was putting on my clothes, I was trying to look professional, but looking back I would have chosen something different. I was wearing some boot cut jeans, a shirt with a purple cross that had a shawl connected to it, some ugly sneakers, and my hair was straightened. It was dark and chilly December morning, and myself and my parents took the 30 minute drive to the TV station. When my parents and I arrived we had to be checked in by security, as they were told to expect my arrival, for the early morning weather segment. I felt that I was going to pee my pants, but I was also excited. My mom was making me more nervous, “You

One of my best friends, Sydney Lane, is a girl who had lived in Colorado Springs, CO her whole life and when she graduated last spring, she decided to take a gap year. We had discussed our mutual interest in traveling, but we were not sure about how to find the opportunities. However, she took the initiative to become a part of multiple programs and go completely out of her comfort zone. Leading up to the day she left, she was terrified of leaving what she had been accustomed to. She left in September, afraid, and the next thing I heard she was having the best experiences of her life. Sydney blossomed from someone who survived on grilled cheese and hung out with a close group of friends, to a girl enlightened by the world- all within a few

When people hear the word bay they think of the body of water. I think of my cousin. Rebecca Bay. Her tan skin. Her dark skin. All the skids on her knees. When we were nine she started to teach me to skateboard. When we were eleven she started to surf. She acts like her feet are never supposed to touch the ground, just hover close to it.

Lauren and the others in her group are in a new situation; they have to survive out of the walls. Lauren said, "Everyone who's surviving out here knows things that I need to know... I'll watch them, I'll listen to them, and I'll learn from them. If I don't, I'll be killed. And like I said, I intend to survive" (Butler 173). She's always focused on adapting to new situations - but one key to that is learning from others and bringing a group together to support each other.

I have raised my voice for, and will continue to raise my voice for, people less fortunate than myself. More specifically however, I often stand up for and help my autistic older sister, Abby. Ever since I can remember, I have felt obligated to fulfill my duty as a "little-big brother", because she is older than me. Whether it be taking her to school, taking her to baseball games, or playing "Dogoply" with her, I have tried to imprint a positive attitude on her so that she can continue to grow into an even greater person than she already is. One time after a football game junior year, I was hanging out with my classmates when the topic of Abby came up. They all talked about how they were the best of friends with her and how they loved her. Sure, all of

Ariana hasn't been answering any of my messages or any of my calls. I eventually decided to give up and I went and took a shower.

September 9, 2015, a baby is born. With black hair, brown eyes, and the face of an angle, she was wrapped in a two blankets and pajamas. The name on the certificate, Elizabeth, and she is born 5 inches tall, weighs 6 ounces, and has a perfectly round head, she looks like a turtle as she stretches her neck. We call her our little lizard, but to be honest she looks more like turtle than a lizard any day. The hospital I go to, to see little lizard, smells like soap and hand sanitizer, it brings back memories of a moment in time 2 years ago when I walked down the same hospital corridors to see my area 51 baby, Evelynne. As I walk down the same hallway to the same room where I first saw my Evelynne I am reminded of a responsibility, a responsibility

The last week has been pretty rough and crazy. I made one wrong move after another thinking that there were no consequences to my actions; I was wrong. On the fourth of July, I was only trying to help you out, but I see now that all I did was try to control the situation and not be in my place. I thought what I was doing was best, but I learned the hard way that you are a strong and independent girl, and you are capable of anything you set your mind to.

Kelsey is the most creative person I know. My older sister Kelsey is one of the most important people in my life and I’ve always looked up to her. I was actually surprised when Kelsey said I could interview her, she usually tells me to go ask mom whenever I’m asking her something. After interviewing my sister, I learned a lot about her. Before interviewing her I didn’t know how hard it was for her to get through school, I had no idea it was such a big commitment for her to make. I already knew she loved what she does for a living, just didn’t know how much it meant to her.

Since the first day of kindergarten, Lauri Bruning and I quickly became best friends. We hit it off immediately and were inseparable from the very start. Lauri had always been an awkwardly long, gawky child. Pairing that with her blonde hair, I used to call her a banana. She had funny mannerisms, round wire-framed glasses, and a gap between her front teeth. We were both painfully shy and didn’t have many other friends, so Lauri and I often had sleepovers at each other’s houses where we could celebrate in our weirdness together. In the summer, Lauri would came to my house, where we would pretend to be magical mermaids in my parent’s pool. Then when we went to Lauri’s house, we would push each other on her tire swing at the edge of the woods

I have known Bailey for almost 3 years already and we have been inseperable ever since. We met in our 7th grade year and had the same gym class together. At first, I thought she was so lucky to have siblings. I am an only child, the closest thing to a sister I have is Bailey. She has three sisters and a cousin living in her small three bedroom house. Including her parents there are seven people in her house, her grandmother also lives in a trailor on their property. She tells me stories of her family all the time, like how they laugh until they cry and their weekend bonfires. It sounded like a dream to me. Until I realized there was a reason she can never go to the movies with me or to a theme park. Apparently, behind such a loving family is a parent who lost their only

When i was around 10 years old, me and my friend Kelsie were hanging out at our elementary school (Saxvik). We started a game of soccer and a lot of people joined in. But it was my turn to be goalie, so i went into the goal and got ready to catch the ball. A kid kicked the ball and missed but let's just say i didn't miss anything, I ran into the bar and fell down. After a few minutes i got to go and play Striker. As i was running someone passed the ball up to me, and i started dribbling it. Once i got close enough to take the shot i stepped on the ball and fell backwards.

The paper was set on the wooden desk and a pen was poised in her hand. She chewed her lip and flicked the pen, contemplating what to write. How could she sum it up? This was the last thing she'd ever write. Explaining it all would take too long. It had to be something short. Something that would tell her family and friends why.

As I lay awake in the hospital bed I can hear them speaking. I can hear them and I can sense them but I can not see them. My body will not move although I try with all my might. Ever since the accident I haven't been able to open my eyes or move my limbs. The doctors don’t realize that I can hear them, that I know exactly what's going on. Every time they come in the room I listen to their banter. One of them is a man and the other is a woman. THe door always squeaks open and they rush in, immediately wondering what hey should do to me next or where they should move me. Today was no exception as they scurried in fast and began their discussion as usual.

The person that I look up to is Darry. I look up to him because he supports our family and cares about my education. I know that I am sometimes ignorant of his advice but he really does care about Sodapop and I.