Being in a gang isn’t something usually kids or whoever chooses. People live in places where there are gangs and they don’t want to but sometimes that's what it comes down to.

First, when kids get in gangs it is very hard to get out ever. People look for people to care for them/love so they join a gang, and then all they want is to get out. They think that it will help with everything going on and how they will care for you, but eventually, they find out the streets don’t love you. Many people trying to make a fast dollar and they have to do bad things which is mainly a gang.

Next, maintaining your life will never be the same, you walk into a gang thinking these people are here for me they are there for themselves/family. Many gangs make you do things like buying things, like tattoos, guns, etc….. There are also gangs in jail if you start that life you will most likely stay there.

Finally, where will you end up if you're in a gang? A man luckily making it out of a gang telling people “no job no life”. He also states “live by the gun, dies by the gun”. This is saying start the gang life end by the gang life. Being in a gang is tough, you as a person right now you may think life is hard but at least you have a roof over your head and people to care for you. That’s all people want so they join a gang, but then they just want to leave but it’s hard. 

In conclusion, being in a gang sucks and it’s hard to leave, maintaining your life will not be easy at all, and “live by the gun die by the gun”. This shows what it is like to live in a gang. (life is rough)

The gang life is tough.  People are normally in one when they are around 10. When you really see your first shooting you know you're really there. 

It's not your fault, you grew up in a gang family.  When you're young you normally are the one who pickpockets and steals. The gangs will cruise down the streets with music blasting looking for other gangs on their turf . 

I remember when I was your age, once when I was 12, I came home for school and a bunch of guys were at my house with guns. When I walked in I looked around and walked right back out. They yelled at me to stop running but I kept running. I went to were I thought it was safe but it wasn't. There was a gang fight. That day scarred me for life. I never went to an ally ever again.

 Life was tough after that, I would have to take the skills from the gang and use them to live. I was determined to get my family back, but it was impossible. They're gone forever, so I thought.

 It's been 5 years since I saw them, but one day when I was walking on the street I saw a glimpse of my brother. For a second I thought I had found them, but I was just seeing things.  When I got further down the street I looked down an ally and saw them, they were different. They were well mannered and dressed nice. I slowly walked to them a little creeped out. They turned around and…    

     Have you ever had a good or bad friend.? Here are some of the things that you might want to look out for.

    When you have a lot of friends, you want to know who is a good friend and who is a bad friend. You want to know who you can trust and tell things to.

    When you have good friend you will notice things. They will always be there for you, they will never ditch you for another friend or to go somewhere else with someone to do something. A real friend will always defend you and stand up for you when you can’t for yourself. They will always want to follow you around and make memories with you.

 But, you also going to know what to see in a bad friend. When having a bad friend, you don’t always see the bad in them because maybe they don’t show it when you talk to them or around them. They won’t respect you for anything. They will always want it to be about them and will treat you different from their other friends. They are selfish and cannot be trusted with certain things. They will tell other people things but they will never tell you because they don’t trust you nor probably like you. When you maybe be going through tuff times, they won’t have your back like a good friend will. They won’t care for you nor help you with anything. If you ask them not to say anything to anyone else about what you did or what you said, they will tell their other friends and then it will turn into a rumor and everyone in school and around town. In certain times, you can’t really trust them at all because you never know what is going to happen.

That’s why I insist staying with the good friends and don’t bother with the bad friends because you don’t want to deal with them when you could be having so much fun with you good friends that you can trust and have fun with.

If you have ever seen a gang it is normally a group of criminals that do bad things together.young people join gangs because Being part of a gang allows the gang member to achieve a level of status he/she feels impossible outside the gang culture. many members join because they live in the gang area and are, therefore, subject to violence by rival gangs. Joining guarantees support in case of attack so they have back up.

To the majority of gang members, the gang functions as an extension of the family and may provide companionship lacking in the gang member’s home environment. Many older brothers and relatives belong, or have belonged to the gang.Some members are forced to join if their membership will contribute to the gang’s criminal activity. Some join to intimidate others in the community not involved in gang activity.Unfortunately, few youths realize the bad things that come with the gang in being associated with a gang. In many cases, parents are unaware of their children’s gang activity and are unable to intervene until it’s too late.

Being a gang member is a dangerous thing. Often, members realize this once they have joined the gang and want to leave. It is never easy to leave a gang because as a member you have information that could be shared with authorities like the police – and as a result, get the gang members in trouble. Gangs don’t want you to leave because there is a fear that you will share what you know with the police or maybe another gang.Never tell the gang that you plan to leave. Don’t leave any written, text, or e-mail notes that they could find. You could place yourself in great danger.BE CAREFUL!!

 Next, my dad found someone new and she was mean and was rude to me my brother and her daughters. But it wasn't only her. The two daughters were just like her the mocked me and they could speak Spanish so they would say bad things in Spanish that I couldn't understand. They would call me mean names. One day they called me fat they said they were joking but I still took it as an insult. They would continue to make fun of me. Until one day my dad and she broke up then a couple of days later they got back together and it continued the mocking and ridiculed didn't stop.

Until, one day when it did stop and they broke up for good. But it didn't take long for my dad to find a new girlfriend. She was way better than the old girlfriend she was nicer not nice but nicer. She also had 3 kids. Two of them were nice. But one was way worse he was the rudest kid I have ever seen. One day I and he got into an argument he was so mad that he punched me 3 times square in the nose. I stood up straight and punched him back he was on the floor crying while I stood on top of him. Let's just say that he learned his lesson to mess with me again. And he would call me names sometimes. He gets mad over the tiniest things but every time he tried to insult me was so used to it that I would insult him back because I was stuck up of being pushed around. It got worse when they got married he was my step brother and now to this day from time to time he would make fun of me.

And now you know that peoples life could change and they could change for the worse. And changes are nothing to laugh at.  

This means that no matter what friends will always be there for you and hold you together. I agree with this quote very much because I have felt this way many times, like I have lost all hope but I have my friends who support me all the way through. This happened to me multiple times but one major time. I first was born in Indiana and I lived there for 5 years, and then I moved into Illinois which was good because all of my family lived there (besides my Mom and Dad of course) and I lived there for 6 months and then I moved into what I thought would be my “Forever home.” I lived in Wilmington for 5 ½ years. I loved it in Wilmington, I met my closest friends there. Alex,Alfredo,Jessi, those where my best friends. And then when I got home from school one day my mom told me the news, we were moving. The immediate thought I had was about my friends and what I would do, how would i tell them, it was all so sudden. So my mom told me I should wait a week before telling anybody. When that time came I told Jessi first because she is my closest friend the news and of course she said that it can’t  be true when I told her, but She supported me and we still talk to this day(don’t worry I also told Alex and Alfredo afterwards) not as often but once in awhile. I still miss them, they still miss me very much. But as the phrase says “Friendship is the only cement that will hold this world together.” 

And my friends keep me from going into the depths of despair.-Ryder

First, the first time judged my brother I felt more like a bully at picking on someone that always looks different on the outside and is like me smart, talk to myself, and other things that would cause people to make fun of. Other people would probably say that they look dumb on the outside, and lots of things that they look on the outside. That’s what most bully’s do and I felt like a bully like that. And when the days went by we learned to forget all the mean things that I said.

Next, if I was the one misjudged I would feel sad because they would just judge by how I look and they would be mean to me everyday. Then they would say “You look stupid” and other things that would be on the outside. Then they would probably pick on other people around the school because of the way they look on the outside. They would every school day and if they met them on breaks or summer, they would still make fun of them anywhere at anytime.

Lastly, with my brother I say sorry then we play with each other toys, games, watch TV, and other things that makes him, and me happy. Then we forget everything mean I said about him. And then we imagine something for minecraft in one our worlds, and I like to read my comic books. I have been no longer mean to my brother and we have been doing a lot of fun things and in summer we do a lot of fun things with our Mimi and Papa (grandma and grandpa). 

This is the definition of “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, who I judged, how my first impression changed, if I was misjudged, and changed my brother's feelings. This my pre - reading activity of Freak the Mighty. 

Jayden K.

 All I remember is the car, the flash of it. But it came back, came back to snatch me away. Why didn’t I die? Why did my leg have to be instead? I don’t understand, the meaning of having this fake limb. The meaning of this metal thing slowing me down in the first place. The thing made only to fit ME, not anyone else. Just me, right now all I want to be is normal. Fitting into everyday life, like other people. Now, I stick out. I know NO ONE who has this thing for their leg, or arm, or anything! People must be really good at hiding or they don’t have it. I picture walking around, black shadows following me, not leaving me. I’m hiding from life, I don’t want to go out to the real world. These shadows are only there to laugh at me and make me feel bad. That’s what everyone says. They want me to stick out, like a green flower in a field full of white. I don’t understand. I follow what they want. But I never seem to find the reality of the world. I’ll walk down the streets, get in a bus, or shop and people will just stop and stare. 

Stare at the thing around my leg, the mixture of metal and cords. If I cut one, my life could end, I wanted my life to end. Cutting the wrong cord on the bomb. It blowing and I leave, finally reaching the point. But the point just laughs at me, staring and me then runs. My leg is still on and I try to run, the limb slows me down and I eventually fall, fall into the world, reality. The shadows are looming around me. They closed in and I screamed. But no sound came out. I was trapped in the world of hatred. That’s what this world is known for. 

On the news, only bad things. Nothing good, barely anything good. Only bad. This what the world was known for! Bad, things that were bad. Just like the color black, you see it and it stays with you. Bounding after you in a race. Trying to beat you, once they beat you, you surrender. You turn to the dark side. That’s what this limb is about. But no matter how hard this will be, for me, this limb is enough to give me punishment. I wish I found that person, and take their leg. Giving me my life back. Normal life of no shadows and hatred. I had to go out. 

I walk on the bus, hoodie up, no one will see me like this. This metal thing on my leg with these cords. Covered by this glass, unbreakable. I never understood. I felt like people looked at me. On the thing on my leg. On my face, trying to see who has been cursed. I skipped to the back, missing open seats. To the corner. It was raining, but I saw a rainbow. Luck. I guess for me that rainbow was black. I was cursed. Off the bus. 

To the store. The rain has stopped. All that’s left are looming deep, never ending shapes of wet. Trying not to step, but feeling the urge to, I get it wet. Stops working. I wanted that, but. I didn’t. People looked at me as I slouched around. I saw, the shadows looming around everyone who stared. Controlling me. Controlling everyone. 

Back on the bus I go! More stares. I couldn’t take it.

 I walk home and sit down. My dog sat next to my chair. The doctor was coming, today. I ripped the thing off, wanting to throw it. I placed it down, hopping. Far away. 

The doctor came. I only mumbled or shook my head. The doctor placed me on pills. Things to make me happy. See the things more better. More “colorful”. The shadow laughed, mockingly as the doctor left. The doctor put the limb back and I was forced to keep it on. The shadow laughing mockingly. Like I was some sort of joke. The shadows, that’s all I could see. The musky black shadows. Laughing about my issue. As soon as I found the car. Got a photo of the licence plate. I would find it. Find the owner. Make them feel how I felt. But I couldn’t. The doctor said I could drive but I haven’t got my license renewed. No buses went to the place. Parents are away. I left them. I wish I never did. The hospital by them couldn't fix it. My teen self owned a house. Getting money from my parents and occasionally a letter. But, I was alone. I had enough money to get a dog. So the breeder stopped by. I saw his shadow to, his shadow was smaller. I was more comfortable. Who would be evil by owning puppies? I got Gabbi, and he left. The shadow was lighter, not so musky. It made me feel good. Happy. Then, I fell asleep.

Avary Shinovich
Dedicated to: John Shinovich (Grandpa, Old Navy,) 

One day, in fifth grade, during recess, I saw girls talking about someone else. Saying that she was ugly and not nice. They were pointing at her and laughing. I could tell the girl was very upset and she was by herself by the swings. I felt terrible for her. I went by the girls who were talking bad about her. I understood why she was so upset, they were saying awful things about her. I told the girls everything that was on my mind. I was so mad and upset for her. Once I told them everything, they stopped. They went by the girl and said I'm sorry. They finally got to know her and liked her way better. She was very nice and they ended up liking her a lot. 

When you may not like somebody, you always have to get to know them. You might end up liking them, but you can't judge somebody on their appearance. Once you get to know people, you can like them, so you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Witnessing animals dangers is very scary. Witnessing a animals danger is a fear of me if its something that like, like a lizard, sharks, or a type of fish. If you witnessed a animals danger would feel the same way and I will you why. 

Witnessing a animals danger is scary imagine you were the animal that was being chased by something bigger than you-you don’t want to be him so it is harsh sometimes the animal doesn’t have a chance to live some eat eggs the animals didn’t even see their parents 

It was not only at school. It was at home. This would kinda lead to good friend VS. bad friend. He said he was my friend, but I don’t think he was. Oh and I almost forgot his friend. He was actually my friend when he moved in. We were best friends. His fake name will be Mellow. and the other one's fake name will be yellow. I introduced mellow to yellow and they became friends. Ok so yellow never wants to do what I want to do. Back then there was no Xbox one, but an Xbox 630. The thing is that I did not have an Xbox 360. Back then Minecraft was very popular, and he was so rude to me and never did what I wanted to do. Wich is playing Minecraft. And sure we played it…When he wanted to play it! Wich barely happened. Yellow was a spoiled rich kid! One of the stupidest things he did is when I had to go to the bathroom, He wouldn't let me! I would have to walk home from his house to my house just to go pee. Ok, my house is not that far away, It is down the block. but what if I really had to go! I don't think I would make it back. Now Mellow. The sidekick or whatever He wanted to do whatever yellow wanted to. Wich led to picking on me.

 

They did more stuff that I said such as cussing, but I am going to talk about school now. The main kid who picked on me’s fake name is going to be Huskie. He always picked on me. I don’t blame him that much because he was new to the school. But it was still annoying to be with him. I don't remember much but At P.E Huskie and his friends Would go for me most of the times. And I wasn't that fast. For the next part, this is going to be a little sexist, But we were 1st graders ok. So there was A boys only table. So anyone that is a boy could come to the table. Except Me. AND I AM A BOY. one time I went to the table, and they said go away, or something like that. And whenever I refused to, they would move And say  “you are not allowed to move. It’s against the school rules’’ And you know about wonder and how people made a cheese touch with Aggie? Well, that happened to me too.

 Overall, first grade was the worst! I will always remember that year. With all of those mean people, I am just glad it was over

You should never judge a person by there cover because if you do they might not forgive you and you might become friends with them if you don't they could be your best friend and they could talk to you all the time and could be your best so you should never judge a  book by its cover.

You should never be mean to people just by there appearance and they might have a good personality and could be just like your and they could have a great personality they could still have a disability but they could still be nice and your friend.

If I was getting picked on I would feel really sad and embraced. It would not be fun if I was getting picked on because I should not be treated this way and everyone is different in a way. 

There was a girl in 5th grade and she has a really difficult time at home with everything that happens. So at school she gets bullied/judged by her appearance because her family doesn’t have a lot of money and can’t afford anything, but she actually has a really great personality.

This girl, let’s call her Sam, gets bullied because she doesn’t wear the newest fashion trends and wears the same clothes over and over. The truth is that Sam’s family can’t afford new clothes and this is out of her control. Unfortunately for these people they will never get to know Sam’s personality. Sam is a nice, smart, athletic, and generous person, but no one would know that because they judged her when they don’t even know her.

Judging someone isn’t something to be proud of because they may turn out to be great successful person on the inside. When you judge someone they will know when you are judging them because it doesn’t make them feel good about themselves at all.
~Jillian Wilmoth