The Day That Changed My Life Forever :: Personal Narrative Essays

Throughout brio we come across many people, some who influence us in negative ways, and those who influence in skilful ways, often changing our complete outlook on life. For me, it took the struggle of one of my best friends to open my eyes. I only wish it wasnt too late to give thanks her.I grew up having more than the average kid. My parents bought me nice clothes, stereos, Nintendo games, mostly everything I needed and wanted. They supported me in everything I did. At that point in my life I was very involved with figure skating. I never cared how much of our money it took, or how much of my parents time it occupied, all I thought about was the shiny new ice skates and frilly outfits I wanted. Along with my involvement in soccer, the two sports took most of my parents time, and a good portion of their money. Growing up with such luxuries I began to take things for granted. I expected things, rather than being appreciative for what I had and disregarded my parents wishes, thin king only of myself. Apparently my parents recognized my behaviour and began limiting my privileges. When I didnt get what I wanted I got upset and mad at my parents somehow blaming them for all my problems. Now dont get me wrong, I wasnt a bad kid, I just didnt know how else to act. I had never been exposed to anything less than what I had and didnt realize how good I had it.Regina Maywack lived just down the bridle-path from me. Before 5th grade I never knew who she was. As the year progressed we got closer and closer. Regina was extremely talented. She was, in my mind, a genius she loved civilize and evermore did well. She was also blessed with athletic ability. Something I respected since most other kids we knew werent involved in sports. No matter what day it was I always went to school knowing that Regina would be there with a smile on her face. It seemed as though she didnt have a care in the world. There were days I would show up mad at something my parents had done, or at something that hadnt gone my way, and she would just look at me with those honest eyes and tell me to be thankful for the good things.

The 1962 Salem Conspiracy Essay -- essays research papers

During the year of 1692, the small town of Salem seems to have been in a state of little terror and confusion. The withstand Witchcraft at Salem, by Chadwick Hansen, is about the witchcraft conspiracies the town has experienced. Hansen goes on to explore the truthfulness of the "possessed" young girls. The reason why Hansen wrote the book is to try to set straight the record of the witchcraft phenomena at Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1692, about which much has been written and much misunderstood. Hansen has a very safe education. He graduated and obtained a Bachelors degree from the much respected Yale University. He went on to continue his education and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Hansen has had more teaching jobs throughout his life. From 1955-60 Hansen was an service professor at Pennsylvania State University. From 1965-70 he was a Professor of English and American studies at the University of Minnesota. His most accomplished teaching job was when he was a professor and Director of American Civilization at the University of Iowa. To help with his teaching he was in many history groups. He was a section of the Modern Language Association, American Studies Association, and American Historical Association. Hansen has written numerous books including, The American Renaissance The History and Literature of an Era, and Modern Fiction Form and intellect in the Contemporary Novel and Short Story. Hansen has many qualifications to write a historical piece during the American Revolution time period.     In the summer of 1692, many strange and out of the ordinary events were taking place in Salem. Several young girls and young women began to have strange fits. They were eventually examined by doctors. "Dr. William Griggs examined Elizabeth Paris and Abigail Williams and came to the destination that the evil hand is upon them." With this analysis he was informing the patients that they were the vic tims of witchcraft. Before the girls were examined many members of the Salem community came to the conclusion that witchcraft was the reason the girls were having the strange fits. Following this was a series of hearings and trials, which resulted in the death of 20 people. This was not an uncommon practice used during that time. Approximately nine hundred witches were burned in the single urban center of Bamberg, a... ...I believe it provided the indorser with a better understanding of the different reasons the girls were acting in the nature they did.      Overall I enjoyed reading Witchcraft at Salem. Hansen brought parvenue ideas while challenging the old ones in a very enthusiastic manner. Many scholars have differing views on what happened at Salem. Some believe that girls were lying, while or so believe that a physical ailment was the cause. This book was great for a reader who wanted to find several opinions on what took place in Salem. If the reader wanted to know just the basic facts of the Salem Witch Trials then I would not recommend this book. Witchcraft at Salem requires a prevalent knowledge of what happened during the witch trials because it goes very in depth. This book might be confusing to someone who slept in high school history or side and knows nothing of what happened at Salem during 1962.Erikson, Kai T. Were some of those witches real? The New York Times. 6 July 1969, BR5.Hansen, Chadwick. Witchcraft at Salem. New York George Braziller, 1969.Marion A. Knight, ed. Chadwick Hansen. Book Review Digest. New York The H. W. Wilson Company, 1927, 273.