Saturday, November 3, 2018

A Second Book for the Shyelle Series? "The Flaming Rebellion"

I'm a writer, it's in my blood. It's like a genetic compulsion or an incessantly bothersome chocolate craving. Once I start writing, I don't stop. Ever.

I've been working on a draft for the second book in the Shyelle Series for quite some time now and oh man has it still got some serious work to be done, but, I'm thinking that releasing the book chapter by chapter may not be such a horrible idea after all.

On the other hand, the first book released last year, Rise of the Dragon Kingdoms, hasn't done as well as I'd hoped it would in regards to getting my name out there. But, the second book is looking promising for being the best thing I've ever written!

I plan to release the second book, The Flaming Rebellion, chapter by chapter in PDF documents that can either be read online or printed off as a personal copy. However, it's still my copyrighted material and I will have to ask for a small fee for the book chapters. I am also thinking about making the first book, Rise of the Dragon Kingdoms, available in the same format. You would get an email update every time a new chapter has been released.

Let me know what you all think in the comments down below :)


Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Kalishia's Wings (Part Three)

 Scene 5 (Review)

"I have never seen a parent so dedicated to ensuring that their kid could recover from paralysis as you, Marvin." The Doctor chuckled. "This is crazy, but it just might work. Though, I won't be able to let you use this until her bones heal. Also, you'll have to show me that it's safe for you to use first too.

"No problem. " Marvin smiled.

Scene 6

Marvin went back to work at his engineering job over the next few weeks and worked late in the garage building the life sized pair of wings. He worked for hours to ensure the safety of the device night after night. Finally, the wings where ready to be officially tested.

Marvin had Marsha help him with the straps on the wings to his torso. He attached the electrodes to the back of his neck to control the wings with thought. As soon as Marvin turned on the device the wings spread out gently.

"Whoa!" Marvin exclaimed, "It works!"

"Let's get you out of the garage with those things, I'm afraid your going to hit something with those wings fully extended." Marsha commented.

"Well, She will need to navigate tight spaces from time to time." Marvin replied.

"Yeah, but I think you should give it some practice first, Marvin." Marsha laughed.

"Alright, let's go." Marvin said, as he folded the wings back in at his sides.

Scene 7

Once they Image result for human sized wingsgot to the park Marvin extended the wings again to full length. He started to flap them slowly and then tilted them a little bit while still in a standing position to generate lift. Marsha watched in awe as Marvin lifted off the ground and hovered with the wings flapping a few feet above the ground.

"This is amazing!" Marvin laughed.

"Can you land?" Marsha asked.

Marvin slowed the flapping speed and gently touched back down on the grass.

"It's good that I got the hover figured out!" Marvin said excitedly.

"Alright, you can hover and land, but can you fly?" Marsha asked as she put the helmet and go pro camera on Marvin's head. "I'm going to really suit you up this time, if you crash I want you protected as possible."

Marsha helped Marvin put on shin guards, knee pads, elbow pads, and some arm braces as well as a torso pad and shoulder pads.

"Are you trying to make me a marshmallow?" Marvin giggled.

"Marvin," Marsha said with a slightly annoyed tone. "you need to avoid hurting yourself."

"It's gonna work." He replied as he leaned in to kiss Marsha.

Marvin slowly took off into a hover again before he adjusted the wings to fly forward in a horizontal position.

"Yeeeha!" Marvin shouted as he zoomed over the park. He gained altitude and climbed a little higher before making a sharp turn at the edge of the park and then gliding back towards Marsha.

"You've got to try this, Marsha. It's incredible!" Marvin shouted as he prepared to land in a standing position again.

"I'm not sure I could actually control that thing." Marsha replied skeptically.

"Come on, You can get up on my shoulders." Marvin smiled.

Marsha jumped up on Marvin's back and hung on with her arms around his neck like a piggy back.

"Ready?" He asked, as he started flapping the wings and took off.

"I'm surprised that the wings can handle this much weight!" Marsha exclaimed as they soared back and forth across the park together.

"Purposely, I wanted Marsha to be able to do this too!" Marvin laughed.

"You are one incredible Dad, Marvin." Marsha complimented him.

Scene 8

Kalishia came home from the hospital the day after Marvin's flight test. While still immobile, her bones had healed and she was given an exoskeleton to allow her to stand. She still however, had no way to walk.

Marvin submitted the flight test footage to the doctor and they waited for a response.

School would start in a few weeks for Marsha as the summer was coming to an end. Marvin wanted Kalishia to be able to use the wings at school. Though she would be a junior in high school this year, Kalishia had a whole new world to start the year with.

After the Doctor responded with the go ahead, Marvin took Kalishia up to the park for her first flight. He wheeled her over to the middle of lawn where Marsha helped him lift the wings onto her and secure the electrodes. The wings themselves where charged with large solar batteries and Marvin had purchased three of them so that there was always a charged battery to last the day.

"Alright, as soon as I turn this on, your thoughts will control the wings. Visualize them as a part of yourself. I showed you the test flight videos, so hopefully, you have a good idea for flight tequinques by now." Marvin told Kalishia as he did up the last buckle around Kalishia's waist and tightened it.

"Dad, it's okay, I'll be careful. These wings are going to give me my life back!" Kalishia replied.

"Ready?" Marvin asked.

"Absolutely!" Kalishia smiled.

Marvin reached over her shoulder and flipped the switch. Kalishia immediately extended the wings with a whoosh before Marvin had even pulled his hand away.

"Careful!" Marvin warned. "You almost hit my arm!"

"Sorry! I got a little excited." Kalishia giggled.

She gently flapped the wings and adjusted to create lift as she increased the flapping speed. Excitedly she lifted off the ground and then hovered for a minute above ground.

"Wow! I'm flying!" Kalishia smiled back down at Marvin.

She landed perfectly again and then Marvin let her go for a forward flight. Kalishia soared across the park, climbing, diving and gliding majestically. Marvin sat down next to Marsha to watch Kalishia fly.

"She is so strong, Marvin." Marsha said as he sat down on the bench next to her.

"It's amazing to see her happy like this." Marvin smiled.

"You gave her a chance for hope!" Marsha replied.

Scene 8

"Kalishia! You're back!" her friend Nadine exclaimed as Kalishia landed at the entrance to the school.

"Yep, I'm back, and I'm a little more bionic. You like it?" Kalisha asked after they hugged with joyful reunion.

"Yeah! I want wings like that!" Nadine replied. "Can I touch them?"

"Sure." Kalishia said as she extended the left wing.  "My Dad built these for me after the accident. They are beautiful with the feathers he added!"

"Amazing, and they are so soft too!" Nadine smiled. "Are you going to fit through the door though?"

"Yeah, no problem. I just kinda flap and hop sideways through doors. The brace doesn't allow me to move my legs, but it gives me stability to stand." Kalisha giggled.

"I'll grab the door for you." Nadine motioned as they went into the school together.

Kalishia hovered down the hall next to Nadine as she put her violin in the orchestra room.

"Apparently, everyone else thinks your wings are pretty cool too." Nadine laughed. "Everyone keeps looking at you in awe."

"It's different, but I like it." Kalishia smiled.

Kalishia's Wings (Part Two)

 Scene 3 (Review)

"You built that?" Marsha gasped with amazement as she picked up Marvin's prototype.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep last night." Marvin apologized.

"This is genius!" Marsha marveled. "Does it work?"

"I think so, I was hoping to come up with something to help Kalishia." Marvin smiled.

"How will she land and take off though?" Marsha asked.

"Good point, I guess I didn't think about that." Marvin sighed.

"That's okay, I think we should show her what you have, it's incredible!" Marsha smiled.

"I guess it is a small ray of hope for now." Marvin replied.

Scene 4

Marvin and Marsha drove back up to the hospital to show Kalishia the prototype around Ten that same morning.

"Do you really think she will be excited about this?" Marvin asked as they drove back to the hospital.

"Well, it's better than the news she received from the doctors yesterday." Marsha shrugged.

"I just hope she doesn't think that the device will attract too much odd attention to her." Marvin commented.

"Anything we do will attract people staring at her, Marvin. It's just a fact of her life we will have to accept now." Marsha sighed heavily.

"Yeah, I guess your right, and a wheel chair isn't very mobile. I think we can give her more mobility than that with these wings." Marvin said excitedly.

Marvin pulled into the hospital parking lot and put the car into park outside the doors to the visitors entrance. Marsha took the box with the prototype in it out from the backseat as Marvin locked the doors of their family SUV.

"I kind of hope we won't have to get a new vehicle." Marsha said as they walked to the entrance. "Kalishia wont be able to get in there with a wheel chair."

"I think that things will work out. It's an adjustment for all of us, honey." Marvin replied with a hint of anxiety creeping into his voice.

Scene 5

"How are you doing, Kalishia?" Marsha asked as they entered her room.

"Not great." Kalishia sighed.

"I brought you something you might really like." Marvin smiled as he opened the box and motioned for Kalishia to look inside. "It took me most of the night to build."

"What is this?" Kalishia asked curiously, as she picked up the winged doll.

"It's a prototype for a mobility device that I hope to build for you. This one is remote controlled, but I hope that when you ware it that I can connect it into your brain waves and that it will become an extension of you." Marvin explained.

"That's amazing! And, to think that you stayed up all night, just for me." Kalishia replied, getting a bit emotional. "I'm so used to helping everyone else that it's strange to have people helping me."

"Want to see me fly it?" Marvin asked.

"Yeah!" Kalishia said, lighting up.

Marvin took the doll and flipped a switch on the back of the wings. He turned on the remote and then set the doll on the table beside Kalishia's bed. Marvin slowly increased the wing flap speed before adjusting the angle of the wings slightly upward as the doll laid on it's stomach. The doll took off from the table and Marvin flew it majestically in circles around the small hospital room.

"Whoa!" Kalishia exclaimed. "You'r going to build me something to let me fly like that?"

"I hope so!" Marvin smiled.

"But, I have to lay on my stomach, won't that be near impossible to do with the palatalization?" Kalishia asked.

"Yeah, you'r Mom pointed that out too. It's not perfect, but it's a good start." Marvin sighed.

"Don't feel bad, Dad. I love it! You'll find a way!" Kalishia smiled.

"Thank you for your positive spirit, Kalishia. I don't know what we would do without you!"

The doctor came into the room just as Marvin was putting the doll back into the box at Kalishia's bedside.

"What's that?" the doctor asked Marvin.

"Oh, this?" He replied, showing the winged doll to the doctor. "It's my idea to give Kalishia mobility eventually."

"Did you build this last night?" the Doctor asked as he examined the doll in his hands.

"Yeah, it took most of the night." Marvin smiled.

"I have never seen a parent so dedicated to ensuring that their kid could recover from paralysis as you, Marvin." The Doctor chuckled. "This is crazy, but it just might work. Though, I won't be able to let you use this until her bones heal. Also, you'll have to show me that it's safe for you to use first too.

"No problem. " Marvin smiled.

To be continued in the next post :) 

Kalishia's Wings, A Short Story

superuco-05.jpg

 

Synopsis:

Kalishia's Wings is a short story about Kalishia's journey as she became paralyzed and how she learns to overcome it and accept a new way of life. Enjoy the adventure as Kalishia and her family face loss, grief, and search for hope!

 

"Kalishia! Wake up!" my sister Allison yelled.

"It's Saturday..." Kalishia moaned with my eyes still shut and droopy with sleep.

"You really are delirious honey." Mom soothed.

Delirious? Kalishia thought. That's an odd way of describing my morning defiance.

"It's gonna be okay, we're all here with you." Dad said with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Kalishia's head ached & throbbed. Her thoughts felt foggy. Startled, she realized that she had no idea where she was. Kalishia's heart threatened to jump from her chest. She tried to wake up. She willed herself to re-enter her reality from the dream world. Finaly, after a long struggle, Kalishia opened her heavy eyes.

"I'm in the hospital!" She exclaimed.

"You where hit by a car." The nurse chuckled.

"This isn't funny!" Kalishia huffed.

"You've been paralyzed." The doctor stated.

The moment the doctor told this to Kalishia, her heart sank. She had loved being on her school track team. It was everything to her. Track was her safe haven where she actually fit in somewhere for once. How could she be a member of the track team now if she couldn't even walk?

"Dad, am I gonna get kicked off the track team?" Kalishia asked.

He turned toward Kalishia with a glum expression. "I don't know, Kalishia. This will change everything about our way of life, but it isn't hopeless."

"It feels hopeless to me." Kalishia replied, her voice crackling.

"Honey, it's going to be alright." Mom said as she grasped my hand and the tears ran down my face.

"How can you say it's going to be alright when I will never walk again?" Kalishia huffed angrily.

"We're going to find a new normal." Mom said softly.

"Normal is the life I will never have again, Mom" Kalishia sobbed.

"I think it's best if we give her some time alone, Marsha." Dad said as he turned to leave the room.

Scene 2:

"Let's go get something to eat in the cafeteria, Marvin." Marsha stated as the family regrouped in the hall.

"I don't want to eat." Josh commented.

Kalishia's brother Josh never wanted to eat when he was feeling sad. It was just his odd way of manifesting his stress.

"You need to eat, Josh. We all do." Marvin replied.

"Fine, have it your way." Josh grumbled.

"You're always grumpy like this." Alison stated to Josh.

The family sat down at a booth with their food in the far corner of the hospital cafeteria.

"What are we going to do about Kalishia needing wheel chair access to the house?" Marvin asked Marsha.

"Maybe we should contact some of our neighbors to see if they can help us build a ramp?" Marsha suggested.

"Yeah, it's just that I hate to make us the needy project family, Marsha." Marvin replied around a bite of his pasta.

"Sometimes, we have to learn to accept help, Marvin." Marsha commented.

"What if Kalishia doesn't want the help?" Josh asked, piping into the conversation.

"Kalishia is going through a lot right now, Josh. She doesn't fully accept that this will be her new way of life." Marsha answered.

"Maybe a wheel chair isn't the right solution for Kalishia." Marvin suggested.

Part Three:

Marvin didn't sleep well that night as Kalishia stayed in the hospital. He kept thinking that there had to be another way to help Kalishia get her life back. Then, out of nowhere, he had a crazy idea. He would build Kalishia a pair of wings. He would give her the gift of flight.

But how? How would he give his daughter such a miraculous gift?

Marvin had studied engineering for years but he had never attempted a project quite like this one. He would need to test the device for himself before it could ever be used by Kalishia. His problem was, Kalishia didn't have time to wait. She needed freedom from the oppression, and she needed it quick before it's too late.

After tossing and turning, Marvin finally stumbled his way out to the work bench in the garage around two in the morning. He started to doodle down some ideas and built a prototype with some odds and ends on his shelves. Marvin managed to create a working folding mechanism in his wooden dowel and plastic trash bag model. However, he still wondered how well his design would handle the counter wait of a miniature person.

He needed a weight to represent the scale of his own body weight. According to his calculation, the wings would need to carry around 10 times their own weight. Marvin took a look at his messy shelf again and pulled out a block of balsa wood. it was light and easy to work with.  Marvin thought it would be good to carve a figure with it and then he'd attach some nuts and bolts inside for weight.

He ended up creating a miniature flying person that was remote controlled by the time Marsha found him asleep at the work bench the next morning.

"Marvin?" She asked as she gently shook him awake.

"Yes" he replied groggily.

"You built that?" Marsha gasped with amazement as she picked up Marvin's prototype.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep last night." Marvin apologized.

"This is genius!" Marsha marveled. "Does it work?"

"I think so, I was hoping to come up with something to help Kalishia." Marvin smiled.

"How will she land and take off though?" Marsha asked.

"Good point, I guess I didn't think about that." Marvin sighed.

"That's okay, I think we should show her what you have, it's incredible!" Marsha smiled.

"I guess it is a small ray of hope for now." Marvin replied.

To be continued in the next blog post :)

 

Monday, September 3, 2018

why are we drawn to do the impossible

 We hate failure, at least most of us do. But, what if I told you that most failure is the greatest teacher mankind has ever had?

Mankind has been chasing after the so called impossible of their time for years but the why behind it all is quite shocking. There is a phycological explanation, when we are told that we will never reach a dream, a deeply desighered passion, it ignights a fire within us to prove wrong our doubters. This drive has incredible and forceful strength.

Take Thomas Edison for example, the great inventor of the lightbulb was told that he wouldn't be able to create an electric lightbulb but he did!

Richard Paul Evans, the best selling author of the Michel Vey series personally lives with turrets syndrome. Yet his books have taught me that disability doesn't have to keep me, a dyslexic writer, from chasing my dreams. Richard Paul Evans taught me that being different is amazing!

Paul Orfala, the creator of Kinkos, now FedEx, was a dyslexic drop out who became a successful entrepreneur! Nobody saw that coming!

J.K. Rowling was rejected by 13 major publishers for Harry Potter. Now, the series inspired 7 movies and an entire theme park attraction!

George Washington, led the American Revolution's army into freedom. Yet, at Vally Forge the entire army nearly starved to death.

My point? All of these people faced hardships in their journey to reach an impossible dream. What is thought impossible today will beacon to the rising generation "I'm possible".

Monday, July 30, 2018

Returning Earlier than Expected from my LDS Mission & How I'm Finding Hope

I wasn't sent home early for any fault of my own. I was hit by a car while out biking to an appointment. I thought I would be able to return to finish the last 16 months of full-time church service, but, that wasn't the case. However, I am proud of the fact that I still came back with honor and I released for medical needs for my ankle and leg injuries that had caused debilitating pain at the time. I was diagnosed with CRPS, Cronic Regional Pain Syndrome about 6 months later.

CRPS is ranked among the topmost painful conditions known in the medical world, and there is no permanent cure for it. It means that my nerves fire constantly, that the pain signals never shut off. I wanted so badly to stay in the field and serve, but, I couldn't get out to ride a bike, I couldn't walk without falling into things because the pain became so intense. There wasn't much of a choice in going home for me, it was more of a mandate. Yeah, I couldn't serve much after the injury, but coming home was and still is difficult.

I never expected to be writing this, but I've been back since June of 2018. It's taken me a long time to be able to write again. I spent fifteen weeks as a full - time volunteer missionary as a representative of Christ. However, the normal duration of service for girls is 18 months.  The experience of becoming an LDS missionary is something that I am so grateful that I had! I found more joy and happiness than I've had in a long time because of my time as a missionary! Even if I knew that my time would be cut short from the beginning, I still would have served!

 What did Becoming a Missionary Teach Me?

As a missionary, I gave up 18 months to fly to Arizona to tell people about finding hope and joy through Jesus Christ and his Atonement. Because of Christ, I find hope to overcome dyslexia, ADHD, Depression and even to forgive those who have deeply hurt me in life. The power of Christ has changed my life and it still continues to do so. I choose to be a "mormon" because I know for myself that it's true. I know it's true because I have asked God himself if this is his true church. I received my own personal answer that was peaceful, calm, and amazing! You can receive an answer too, just as I have.

My experiences as a missionary taught me that my struggles give me an incredible gift for empathy. It's pretty amazing that God trusted me to do his important work for a brief time. I am a far from perfect mortal, and yet, I can tell you that our Heavenly Father's love is strong and individualized for both you and me. I found that his love is amazing, peaceful and perfect!

It's truly incredible to see others find joy and happiness through the gospel and that's why I wanted to be a missionary. I volunteered to go talk to people on the streets of Arizona in 115 degrees because I truly believe that the message is what mattered most! My mission has opened my eyes to the fact that God really is mindful of me and the fact that he blesses my life in little ways every single day!

So, What's next?

Now that I am back, I want to use my blog as a tool to reach people who can benefit from uplifting ideas, stories, and articles. The entire reason that I write to begin with is to help others. I write to share stories and ideas that matter in life! I'm a dyslexic author who made her debut with a published novel, but, I am also a person who wants to give back the gift of reading and learning.

The healing process is looking like it's gonna take a while, so in the meantime, I want to be writing posts again. This time with a new perspective on life! I feel that my blog has been one of the best ways to reach people so, I want to build up the community here! Please leave comments and likes on my posts!

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Free Worksheets for Writers

 Hello everyone! This post is all about where to get free downloads for writing worksheets to help you plan your perfect novel!

Free Worksheets Created by Me (Amanda Evergreen):

Character Profile Worksheat

Free Worksheets out on the Web:

Readership & Your Audience:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-your-readership/?utm_content=buffer4f2cf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Character Thoughts:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-thoughts/

World-Building:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-magic/

Synopsis Writing:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-synopsis-writing/?utm_content=buffer11dab&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Villans:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-villains/

Fight Scenes:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-fighting/

Technology:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-technology/?utm_content=buffer665c6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Fixing Plot Holes:

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-plot-hole-gapping/?utm_content=buffer3a260&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Expressing Emotion

http://www.eadeverell.com/writing-worksheet-wednesday-expressing-emotions/?utm_content=buffer3cc5e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer

If you got something helpful from this post you can buy my New Novel here! http://www.lulu.com/shop/amanda-evergreen/shyelle-rise-of-the-dragon-kingdoms/paperback/product-23296355.html

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Diagnosed with ADHD in Late High School Years, This is my Story

I was 17 when I found out I had ADHD. That diagnosis was the best yet most terrifying thing to happen to me in 2016. It was my Junior Year of High School. Suddenly I felt a great weight upon my chest, yet, it was now a weight with a name.

My mind started racing with worst case situations as I sat on the couch in the phycologists office. What if the kids at school find out I have ADHD? They will think I'm stupid, always with my head in the clouds. What will my friends think? I thought as my palms became sweaty.
For 13 of those 17 years, I had been passed on through school undetected. No one thought of me as ADHD because I wasn't actually hyper. However, I have what's now called inattentive ADHD. When I was first told that I had ADHD I was in total disbelief an denial. Me? ADHD? No way is that possible! I'm not hyperactive! I thought to myself sitting in the phycologists office with my parents.

Then, the anger set in. Why hadn't anyone known that I was ADHD all this time? Why do I have to suffer at the hands of arrogance, neglect, and administration who has given up on me! Why did my school refuse to properly test me for ADHD? I would think. I was angry about my condition, I was mad at God, I was mad at Administration, and I was pretty much mad at the whole world.
My family had to pay thousands just to get me tested for my struggles in school. There where gaps and low test scores that didn't match my effort at all. I was facing mounting frustration, frequent breakdowns, and worst of all I started to believe that I wasn't good enough to be an honor student.
Turns out that being an honor student actually made our principal go "Your an honor student, your not learning disabled at all! You just expect the world to be handed to you because your entitled." I turned away from his office that day struggling to keep the tears back until I reached the privacy of a locked door.

Something, deep within me broke that day. It shattered into a million shards that first week of my senior year. So, there I was sitting on the back of the toilet tank, silently, yet emotionally screaming for justice. I sat alone in the quite bathroom for a good twenty minutes, sobbing.
Our principal had no idea how many sleepless nights, panic attacks, crying spells, stomach aches, and suicidal thoughts I had suffered through. He could not see that school had entirely consumed my life. I couldn't even see my friends on lunch anymore. Every day my smile was more and more of an act.
There wasn't a lot that brought me peace in these dark days. However, I started to tell my teachers my story. When I did, many of them also cried with me, shedding tears as a conformation that they wouldn't let me suffer alone anymore. They began to understand me and my English teachers researched my disability's with greater depth because all of them where also some of my greatest friends.

A particular English teacher changed my life forever! He believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. He was truly everything I needed and beyond. He stepped in for my class in 8th grade (2012-2013) when our teacher fell suddenly and dangerously ill with cancer. Mr. Escamar became more than a teacher to me that year. He became a friend and my advocate. He was my "cheer leader" in a lot of ways. Mr. Escamar remained active in my life for the last 5 years of my schooling in the public school system after accepting the job to teach on his own at my High School my 9th Grade Year. (2013 - 2014) I believe that everyone deserves a mentor like Mr. Escamar.
As I graduated High School and moved on to a Church School for college, everything changed! I am no longer forced to suffer in silence but I am given incredible support! I am encouraged and given MANY tools to help me succeed!

Best of all, I've proved everyone wrong who told me I'd never go to college. I paid my own way to college! I worked long hours in crummy work conditions in fast food! I graduated High School with two Honor Achievement Awards and I'm learning disabled! Getting a diagnosis of a learning challenge like mine is not a death sentence!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

8 Ways to STICK to Your Goals This Year!

  1. Write them Down and Post Them Somewhere You Will See Them Every Day...
Writing down your goals makes a physical connection in your brain that you've made a commitment to yourself. When your goals are written out, you are also much more likely to remember what they where to begin with.

2. Plan out baby steps to achieving your ultimate big goal
This is where you sit down and say okay, I have this great big goal to accomplish, but, how will I realistically get there? Creating smaller goals along the way will help keep you on track and you will feel great as you accomplish steps towards your ultimate goal.

For me, I wanted to publish my novel by the time I left High School. It seemed peaty lofty to most people but I was able to do it because I had set a timeline and deadlines for myself along the way.

3. Make your goals measurable so that you can see and track your progress 
Progress towards your ultimate goal is one of the best motivational tools you have for yourself so make good use of it! If you can see that your goals are worthwhile you are more likely to keep working towards them.

4. Remember that change can be HARD and MESSY
We humans are creatures of habit, we don't like change, we want to naturally stay stuck where we are today. Changing or forming new habits WILL require conscious effort. Set aside time in your day to work on your goals!

5. It's okay if you miss a few days, life happens 
Don't beat yourself up if you miss a few days at your habit-forming, the most important thing as that you get back up and back on track. Keep trying and learn from your failure. Maybe, you need to adjust your daily schedule to help you set aside time to work on your goals.

6. If your religious, use this to your advantage
I am a member of the LDS church also known as the "Mormons". We are faithful Christians in my home and believe that Christ can bring us strength, comfort and peace in our lives. I've grown up learning to rely on higher power than my human self to help me become better than I am today.

7. Reward yourself appropriately
Part of setting goals is also planing a reward for yourself. Maybe, a book you've wanted to read, a night to spend in a hot bath or some time to enjoy a hobby.

8. Let a friend or loved one help you along the way
Let someone else help keep you on track with your goals and actively listen to their advice.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Short Story: School of the Future (Part Two)

Here is Part Two:

Abie was becoming more and more frustrated that her ID card was locking her out of the school's lobby. Why does technology always fail me at the most inopportune time? She thought.

Alexia was approaching from farther down the hallway. Oh, great now here comes embarrassment skipping down the hall. Abie thought. She fiddled with her ID card again.

"What's wrong Abie?" Alexia asked as she reached her.

"My ID card is locking me out again!" Abie grumbled.

"You must have really done it good this time! No one get's locked out of the lobby unless they really broke some major school rules!" Alexia commented.

"That's the thing though, I never break the rules, you of all people would know that, Alexia." Abie sighed.

"So your ID card just randomly malfunctioned, huh?" Alexia said sarcastically. "Yeah, right."

"Um, actually, that's exactly what happened," Abie said softly.

"Yeah, sure." Alexia resounded in a disbelieving tone.

"Well, how do I fix it?" Abie asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I'd scan you through with my own ID but then I would be locked out too." Alexia said before entering through the force field to the lobby.

Abie felt anger bubbling up inside her like a pot about to boil over. How dare she accuse me of getting myself into trouble!  Abie thought.

She headed back down the hall towards the tech support office. Abie hoped that they would fix this soon, she didn't want to face another unpleasant confrontation with any of her friends again. Abie walked into the office and sat down to wait for her turn. This is literally going to waste my ENTIRE day. She thought.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Short Story: School of the Future (Part One)

Abie scanned her ID card at one of the large arched force field entryways to the school. The automated security system said, "Access granted, Welcome to school Abie Eridine." The force field turned green and allowed her to walk through it.

She entered into the school lobby and walked towards the staircase to her right, towards the private study rooms. Abie liked arriving this early for school because the school was still quiet at 7 a.m. She liked being able to get her four hours of required campus time done in the mornings because the lines where much shorter to meet with her teachers this time of morning if she needed to. Besides, if she stayed on campus for extra hours she could save them up and take days off school whenever she wanted to.

She liked that the school gave her three days a year for mental health days now and she got ten days of sick leave without needing a doctor's note, just parental conformation. Even on a day off she could remote in to class and join via video transmission. All the classes where recorded and uploaded to the school's database that could be accessed anywhere with a pass code and an internet connection.
Abie made her way to an open study room and scanned in to the time tracker. The force field granted her access. She logged into the hologram interactive touch walls to work on her biology homework from yesterday. She had to build a virtual cell and label it's parts correctly in the three dimensional simulation. She grabbed the augmented reality goggles and got to work dragging in the pieces to build her animal cell in the middle of the small room. Abie used two controllers that strapped to her hands to manipulate the holograms. She made sure to turn on the automatic file saving function in the program so that she wouldn't lose her work.

She didn't like biology too much but the interactive lessons in the holo space made it a bit more understandable for her visual learning style. Her learning program was designed to target her strengths in visual learning. It was also built to let her move through school at her own pace, at least to a point. Abie was still required to take a minimum of five courses per semester and to complete a chunk of lessons every three weeks due date.

The school was open from 7 a.m to 5 p.m. every day. Though, the teachers only stayed on campus from 7 a.m to 3 p.m. daily. The whole school had a lunch break between noon and 1 p.m. every day too.

Some said that the system was perfect, but, others said that it was giving the students too much freedom. As for Abie she liked the flexibility of the schedule. She was dyslexic and she knew that she was getting a much better experience with school than her parents did who where also dyslexic and graduated back in 2017 from high school.

After finishing her biology lesson, Abie locked the study room and headed down to the lobby for a snack and a ten-minute study break. However, when she got to the entrance of the lobby her ID card wouldn't grant her access.