Narrative Essay

My PBL project is called Infinity Images. It is a level II or III project which sounds very interesting to me. It requires the student to create a infinite loop of reflecting images using two mirrors. This involves a branch of physics called Optics. I am familiar with this branch of physics as I have thoroughly studied Optics in the past. Optics is a branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it.

My ELA Project option choice is the Narrative Essay. While writing these essays has always been a challenge for me, writing stories and essays have always interested me. I hope to incorporate a provocative and interesting topic into this narrative essay so that both the reader" and myself may benefit from a quality written essay.

Following Arthur

When I was nine or ten years old and going into the 4^th grade, my Dad held a position in the Texas House of Representatives as a Rep. for district 42. My parents had decided that our family move to Austin, Texas and buy a small house there while still retaining our residence in the South Texas city which my Dad represented. I would come to appreciate Austin’s local festivals and avid music enthusiasts, many of whom, started bands that participated in the local but world renown Austin City Limits music festival. One other well known yearly event that took place in Austin was South By South West, which I attended on multiple occasions later during my high school years. I also loved the architecture and rampant culture that emanated from Austin’s streets. The many murals, styled graffiti, public museums, art festivals, and my own sister’s artistic work, influenced my view of the music and art capitol of the world, second only to Nashville. Albeit by now it has certainly surpassed it’s rival artistic sister.

Out of all of the scenery, and wonderful things that Austin has to offer, I found that the most important thing to me became the people who I met. I joined a boy scout troop and rose up the ranks eventually becoming an Eagle Scout after my Freshman year in high school. Throughout the many hours spent on the Colorado River, at Philmont, Big Bend, Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, Camp Mabry, these being notable places we experienced, and for all intensive purposes Severin, Ben, Hanely, and Ben Prince and I became best friends. Maybe scouting was just meant to expose us to other kids so that we might become social and indulge In like activities, so that we might have something to do after school. I suppose that's what it was but the scoutmasters never explicitly said that.

I also played basketball at a youth sports center called WAYA. My sister took part in a gymnastics class held at WAYA where she won some competitions but dropped her classes soon after the school year was over because she lost interest in it. I on the other hand continued to take part in the basketball program at WAYA. During one of the seasons I met a man named A.J. He watched one of my basketball games and apparently decided to help me workout. I met him when he asked my parents if they would like me to take personal fitness lessons once a week each week. So they said yes and it all began from there.

[Aren is waiting for A.J. to come over to his house and start their weekly session. He is a little anxious as he has never worked out before.]

Aren Raymond: [looking out the front window] Mom, I wonder if he's going to be a nice guy, maybe he can help me get better at basketball so I can be as good as Dad and Uncle G.C..

Michelle Raymond: He probably will be nice, when I met him at WAYA he seemed really cheerful and nice[raises a smile as she continues talking] seeing as you have a personal trainer I hope you work very hard so that it turns out to be worth it, but like I said he's a very polite and enthusiastic person it seems...[Aren interrupts]

Aren Raymond: [excited] he's here! [heads for the front door]

Michelle Raymond: Wait till he walks in Aren.

[There is a knock on the door, much like the musical call: "Shave and a haircut" "Two bits." Aren opens the door to find A.J. standing at the doorstep smiling wearing a royal blue shirt, black athletic shorts, and a clean pair of nike basketball shoes.]

Arthur Lawrence: Hey stud, [looks up sniffs the air comically and then looks back at Aren] what's cookin'? [He is invited inside by Michelle.]

Michelle Raymond: [walks towards them] Some mashed potatoes, and steak for the kids' dinner tonight.

Arthur Lawrence: You have siblings! Great maybe they can come along some time. Well we should do the session so that you [looks at Aren] can eat a hearty and delicious dinner afterwards. It'll be perfect for your muscles after the workout. By the way do you have any weights with you?

Aren Raymond: Yes sir, they're in my room, ill go and get them.

Arthur Lawrence: Go ahead and bring them out to the front so you can do some bicep curls after your stretches. Then I can assess where you are physically right now and we'll progress from there. Lets-a go! [he smiles]

A.J. and I had some really fun times together and he was very nice to me and my family. He helped my parents redesign part of the interior of the house we had then , and even picked me up from school when my parents couldn't or when I didn't walk home. He took me and my siblings to Dave & Busters. He even helped me with my homework on multiple occasions. I eventually became stronger and gained some more basketball skills. But then for an unfortunate reason my parents said that we couldn't afford A.J. anymore and terminated his services. We moved back to Laredo and then back again to Austin, when in my 8th grade year they hired him again until the end of my Freshman year, when they fired him. Partially because my parents had begun to dislike him for reasons I won't explain, and also because they said he was to expensive. He continued to act as a true friend of mine and helped me in various fields. I got to know him better during those years and figured out that he was very similar to me in a lot of ways. We both had the same birthdate Oct. 7th, among other things. I miss him and wish him well, but still feel very confused and recognize the controversy which arose between him and my parents. He didn't do anything inappropriate or against the law, he just got on my parent's nerves. Since then I have not talked to him. I might not ever again. But I'll always remember him.