ART

Art is defined as the expression and application of ones creativity, typically in the form of
something visual. The definition of art is in the eyes of the beholder. Many dig far too deep
into the ambiguity of the actually definition of art itself that they forget to appreciate the
significance of art in their lives. I think in order to fully understand the definition of art, one
must picture what life would be like without art. Consider the impact of life without your
favorite pictures hanging above your bed; the cute little ceramic cow saltshakers on your
kitchen table; your favorite computer game without graphics; that graffiti on the side of the
bridge that you had grown so fond of; the song that you religiously replay on your iPod. Art is
even proven to galvanize certain parts of our brains to make us giggle, cry, and all emotions
in between.
The arts are an essential part of public education. From dance and music to theater and the
visual arts, these programs give children a means of expression that helps capture their
passions and emotions, allowing them to explore new ideas. The arts touch every aspect of
our lives.
The arts can play a crucial role in improving students academic performance. Studies show
that there is a correlation between art and other achievement. A report by Americans for the
Arts states that young people who participate regularly in the arts (three hours a day on
three days each week through one full year) are four times more likely to be recognized for
academic achievement, to participate in a math and science fair or to win an award for
writing an essay or poem than children who do not participate.
Education of the arts not only enhances students understanding of the world, it also
broadens their perspective on academics. The arts allow us the creativity to express
ourselves while challenging our intellect. Art and musical expression exercises the right side
of the brain - the intuitive portion - unlike most academic classes, which focus on the left
side. According to experts, it is necessary to exercise or use both sides of the brain to
maintain balanced emotions. The arts unite life and learning and are essential in the
development of the whole person.
Creating art allows children to work through feelings and emotions, and referring to a
finished piece of artwork helps a child talk about feelings in a new and meaningful way. Art
also develops a child's creativity. Rather than being told what to do, answers and directions
come from the child. Art is an experience that requires freethinking, experimentation, and
analysis, all part of creativity. Besides, Art also nurtures inventiveness as it engages children
in a process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and
self-motivation. When kids are encouraged to express themselves and take risks in creating
art, they develop a sense of innovation that will be important in their adult lives. The kind
of people society needs to make it move forward are thinking, inventive people who seek
new ways and improvements, not people who can only follow directions, says Kohl. Art is a
way to encourage the process and the experience of thinking and making things better!
From my point of view, the arts are just as important as any other subject. In many high
schools, though, science and math are priorities and the arts are considered less important.
In recent years, there has been discussion about continuing these programs. Some feel that,
because of budget problems, schools should cut music and theater programs to save money.
I strongly disagree. The arts challenge us to work hard, handle disappointment and
encourage us to strive for perfection.

The arts are my life, and through them, I have received many honors. I hope my school and
others realize their importance and how beneficial they are to students, not only for what it
teaches us in these fields, but also what it teaches us about the world and life. Kurt
Vonnegut once said To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your
soul grow. So do it.

DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring
you home again. This quote by Samuel Smiles reminds me of the death of the person that
I love. It was December 4, 2011 when it all started.
A ray of sunlight seeped through the thin layer of curtain and painted itself on my
skin. I could feel the warmth of the morning light spread across my face as my eyelids
fluttered open from a night of restful sleep. It was quiet. I lay in my duvet bed sheets for a
moment taking in the peace and tranquility that had settled itself in the apartment
overnight. "Time for breakfast! Im going to work!" Mom calls me and my sister from
downstairs. I'm sure she's already preparing herself to her new office. Since it was a
weekend I had a few errands with my sister and the first was to shop for groceries. After I
got out of the shower with a towel wrap around I walked to closet and pulled out a simple
floral dress with white cardigan to top it off as my outfit of the day.
As I ready for groceries shopping with my sister, suddenly I heard my mothers cell
phone rang from downstairs, but she already went for work so I guess maybe she left it. I
picked up but the person I was talking to wasnt my mom. The person introduced himself as
a police officer telling me my mom had been in a car accident and she was in the hospital. I
froze, trying to comprehend what he had just said. I can feel my hands were trembling in
fear and I just falling on the ground crying. I couldnt believe it. I couldnt breathe. Then my
sister came, she saw me shaking so she trying to calm me down then I told her what had
happened. We all headed to the hospital, and when we got there, mom was apparently in
pain and there were wires and tubes connected to her. She tried to talk to us but she
couldnt. The nurses and the doctors tried their best to save her life but the impact was too
serious; she passed away after four hours in the hospital. Take care of each other was the
very last words he ever said before she let out her last breath. That was the last day we saw
my mother and the worst day of my life because it was the day that we lost the head of our
family, after our father had left us five years ago. Mom, the person we all loved so dearly. At
that moment we all cried and prayed for her.
I felt as if I was paralyzed, I felt like I was suffocating as if a giant hand was clamped
around my heart. I had a blank look on my face. Afterward, my family and some friends
came for the funeral to be part of this sad moment with us. As we were all gathered, one of
my aunts, Aunty Susan came to me, she asked us to go upstairs with her. When we got there
she told us to stop crying. This is gods job to take whoever he wants and he will take care
of each and every one, she said, then she told us me and my sister need to lives with our
grandparents at Busan, our hometown, because me and my sister still a student and we
need someone to take care of us. Otherwise, soon this house needs to sell because we could
not pay the rent fee anymore.
The next day we woke up early in the morning, Aunty Susan came with two plane
ticket to me and my sister and we all flew to Busan that night. As we sat on the plane to
Busan, we talked about the moments we all spent with our mom. The flight to Busan was
very long, at the moment we reach the airport, my grandparents approach us. We are

deeply sorry to hear about the death of your mom, although no words can really help to
ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thoughts and prayers.
said my grandmother, who I called Granma. They hug us tightly because their losing their
own dearly daughter too. Then they took us straight to their house.
Two month had passed after the death of my mother, I felt like begin a new life,
living in a foreign country which far away from our home, school and friends. Although we
need to bear with all that I was blessed living with my loving grandparents that I cannot
imagine life without. Reminiscing on memories made with each of them is what continues to
make me smile. I remember things like my little sister coloring, reading, and solving puzzles
and word searches with my grandma, playing Chess, or pretending to be a waitress, taking
her dinner order. My grandpa also making us oatmeal and serve us coffee for breakfast
every day before we going to school. The amount of love they show us is not any less.
I woke up Tuesday morning excited for the day I was going to spend with my
grandma. I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking fresh coffee listening to my grandma and
my little sister tease and joke around about how paranoid my little sister on her first day at
school. Our plan was to go to one of sister's classes with her, and then on a tour of UNC and
then we were going to go to dinner and a movie. We were interrupted by a phone call from
my grandpa. My grandma was still joking and in a silly mood when she started talking to my
grandpa. Suddenly the conversation turned from joking to dead silence and she started
crying. She tearfully asked, "Is he ok? Was he alone?" my grandma then ran down stairs to
get ready to go to hospital. I was all by myself now, I just stood there, still paralyzed. I was
standing in the middle of the family room as the words "your grandpa is dying" pierced my
heart like daggers of ice. The realization that I maybe would not be able to see my grandpa
again struck me.
My grandfather had a heart condition. Upon further examination, the doctor
discovered that Grandfather had begun to have a mini stroke. Grandfather's artery had
clogged more than halfway, and sooner or later, it would erupt and cause instant death.
Grandfather was too old to survive an operation that serious. Because of Grandfather's age,
and the condition of his heart the doctor warned him against surgery.
The image of my grandma lying on the bed still haunts me to this day. I was still hoping this
was all a dream. I hoped I would wake up and we would be sitting around laughing and
talking but of course that was not the case. Losing a loved one is always hard. We buried
our lovely and hard working grandpa and I was there to witness when they put him in the
ground. That was the last day I said goodbye to my grandpa. Anytime I remember him, I feel
sad and lonely; I always keep in my mind the compassionate words that he used to say to
my sister and me.

Tea and Toast

I stared blankly into the ceiling walls, looking at the blades of the fan rotating. The
aroma of tea entering my nose and the scent of toast encircling me. A sense of
nostalgia overwhelmed me as past memories of grandfather flashed through my
mind. It has been 5 years, yet I still missed him. Nobody thought much about him
when he was alive but to me, he was the greatest. Nobody bothered much about
him after his death, but I visited him whenever I am free. His smell still lingers
within me, and pictures of him I keep in my drawer. Nobody knew about all this,
because none cared.
10 years ago, when I was still a toddler, only grandfather cared about me. Mother
and Father were usually overseas. Sometimes I would forget their looks and only
photographs refreshed my memory. I had no siblings. Toys were my only playmates.
I lacked parental love, and felt lonely. The sight of happy children with their parents
made me envious. I could not communicate well with other children and they called
me "freak .
However, it was grandfather who brightened up my life. Every morning, he would
put me on his old rickshaw bicycle and bring me to the nearest coffee shop. I
enjoyed the ride, admiring the trees swaying with the wind, taking in the grassy
scent and the flowers bloomed in unison as if welcoming my arrival. The morning
sun blazed down on us as the cool fresh air made me exhilarated. The sleepy
toddler I was would always lie on grandfather's back, trying to take short nap.
However, the bicycle's bell would never fail to keep me awake.
The coffee shop was filled with a sense of nostalgia, the smoke from toasted bread
rushing out from a corner and fragrance of traditional coffee and tea overwhelming
the shop. Grandfather would order two sets of tea and toast everyday and sit down
at a corner nibbling at the toast and sipping the tea. Occasionally, grandfather's
friends would come over and converse in