Autobiography

Courtney Stewart grew up in a couple of smaller towns until she finally settled down in Springfield, Missouri. She had always loved going to movies with friends, spending hours just sitting in her room and drawing up a new idea, playing tennis on occasion and listening to her friends stories; trying to help them through the hard times. Although she enjoyed spending time with friends, it was moments spent in a warm bed, reading next to a lamp with incense next to her that Courtney loved the most. Her favorite authors include: Julie Anne Peters, Ellen Hopkins, and Stephanie Meyers. Overall, Courtney prefers any book aside from the sci-fi category. She is still in high school, at a junior level but plans to graduate next year with a set mind towards college not long after. She might not be very close to her family, but her twin sister means the world to her. She used to spend most of her time wrapped in tennis events, but now she finds herself locked away in her room, drawing, singing and being herself, or spending time with her friends. Her future is set towards college and being the best she can be for herself and her loved ones.

Blast to the Past: Music!

What music or songs reminds you of your childhood?
Moran: New Kids on the Block (NKOTB)
Goddard: Any 80s..grew up in that time.
Who is your favorite singer or group or song and why?
Mr. Schmidt: Chicago, Bonjovi..(Unlike my Son)
Mr. Clark: John Mayer; style and a musician himself
What music reminds you of someone you love? Your child? Spouse? Parents?
Presson: The songs at my wedding; my spouse (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Goddard: Kenny Chesney and Dixieland Delight; a girl I dated in high school
Do you go to concerts? Which concerts are memorable to you? Why?
Mr. Schmidt: Contemporary Christian concert and Huey Lewis; for fun.
What radio stations do you normally listen to in your car? Do you sing along?
Moran: 96.5, the wolf...yes, I sing along.
Highfill: Christmas music right now, or normally country...of course I sing along. My friend told me I sing like an angel..a dying angel.
Which music or artist was "controversial" or "offensive" to some when you were growing up? Is any music offensive to you now?
Goddard: NWA (I'm not really sure of this group)
Highfill: rap or hip hop
Which music or artist do you really dislike or refuse to listen to?
Presson: rap

Music, Music, Music!

~Have you ever wished for an endless night?
dream of liars
It's me, I'm a freak
Sleep with one eye open
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself why?
Will it ever get better than tonight?
The hourglass on the table
I wouldn't even try
enter night
There you are sitting in the garden
told ya from the start.
But I think you could save my life~

Memorable Passage

The most touching and meaningful book to me is something that I would recommend to anyone. Not only is the story and emotion behind each situation something that everyone should at least realize as reality, but it leaves the reader with a sense of understanding towards love that has been pushed aside; rejected in cases. My favorite selection from this book would have to be:

I shook my head at her. She didn't get it. She didn't understand at all. I love Hannah. Faith, too.I'd be happy for them to have that money, have anything of mine.
I closed the door behind me, feeling sad for my mother. Sorry for her. Yeah, I'd made sacrifices; I'd experienced loss. But she had no idea what this was costing her. Because she was losing me.

The reason I love this book so much is because of the truth, the reality and the emotion contained within the story. I asked my mother to read this, to maybe help her see what it was like..how hard it is to go through everything, everyone seems to want to put on the "wrong" type of love. Love is love, no matter the color, gender or size of the other person. All that matters is the true connection you have with the person, and you knowing and feeling truly in love with this other person. This story helped me feel comfortable with myself, and to overcome the struggles that gays/lesbians/transgenders/questioning inviduals must go through.

Food Memory

A memory of a dish I had in my childhood is no bake cookies. When I was younger, my mom would get all of the girls together and we would spend the day in the kitchen, baking and cooking whatever we had in mind. Cooking has always been something that helped my connection stay strong with my mom. When I would get upset at my mom for some silly reason, she would get the exasperated look she normally wears when I tend to bug her too much, and she would hold out the offer to cook something. This always took my mind off of things, so I jumped at the offer. Although we were used to baking things, she asked if we would like to make no bake cookies. I had never made them so you can only imagine who wonderful the first experience was. After we gathered all of the ingredients needed to make the chocolate discs of heaven, we started the process of mixing everything together. When you're young, don't expect the kitchen to look any less than extremely messy. The whole time spent together, waiting for the cookies to harden, was something I'll never forget. While waiting for the cookies to harden, we would sing all of these old church songs together...my moms' favorite was harmonizing to Amazing Grace. Singing has always been a big part of my life, although I don't see myself singing in large crowds or for just anyone in general. Singing with my mom while baking with her was what really touched me. I love my mom more than anything and I'm lucky she's so willing to spend time with me like that.

FOOD: teacher questionnaire

What food(s) reminds you of your childhood?

Mrs. Campbell: "Spaghetti, macaroni and cheese."

Mrs. Clark: "Three musketeer bars and lemon mirange pie."

What is your specialty or dish you're known for among your family/friends?

Mr. Loudis: "I really like teppan-yaki style steak and frozen rasberries with fudge brown ice cream."

What food(s) remind you of someone you love? Your child? Spouse? Parents?

Mrs. Clark: (love) "Tacos remind me of one of my boyfriends. Ice cream reminds me of my daughter..I swear she would rather eat ice cream for every meal than normal food."

(family) "Fried chicken, home made bread and butter sandwiches."

How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go?

Ms. Self: "Maybe once a week, and anywhere around the Nixa area."

Where do you go out to eat on special occasions?

Mrs. Campbell: "The Metropolitan Grill."

What is the strangest or weirdest food you've tried or would like to try?

Mrs. Bernhard: "Squid chili."

Which foods do you really dislike or refuse to eat?

Mr. Freeman: "Anything from Mcdonalds. I like Subway more."

What foods did you refuse to eat as a child?

-Salmon Patties

Who is the best cook in your family? What foods do you connect to that person?

-My mom: anything baked, or anything overall.

If you could have only one meal every day of your life, what would it be?

-Mexican food!

If something is more expensive, does it make that item more special?

No, it does not. In my mind, it's easy to relate the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover.", by twisting it around to fit the price into the final standing of that saying. Putting a price on something does not allow someone to see just how much quality is in the object (using that word lightly).

The Future

In one year I would like to still be at Kickapoo High School. Although most people have negative things to say about being here, I wouldn't want to attend any other high school. In one year I will be a senior, struggling through the busy work and trying my hardest to do everything I can to be prepared for the future.

In five years I would like to see myself in a college, where I am sure that my future will work out well for me both financially and emotionally. I don't know what college I will attend but I know for sure that I will want to set myself up with something, knowing that my future will be well paid for.

In ten years I see myself in a home with Ashley, happier than ever. As of now, I have no idea where my future leads..except that I will eventually be with the woman I could never live without. I hope to be the best I can be, to do the best I can do and to achieve what I hope to achieve.

In fifty years I see myself planning for retirement, sitting at home or in my office and relaxing at the fact that I have completed my dream of having a steady income and an amazing life with who I love more than anything.

Dream Prompts/Sentences Post

They all had their heads replaced with those of monsters

I tried to close my eyes; in hope of erasing the truth

I look again to smiles, lined with hatred and grim

Feel the fingers tighten on my wrist; his knuckles go white

Hear his heart begin to skip a beat; even he can't win

From day one to my final breath, he's been there' now it's my fight

My surroundings begin to blur, there I stand in remorse

You think hell is bad? I'm just starting it's downhill course

They turned away from me and started walking out of the house

When I tried to grab Zach's hand, he turns to me with a sad look on his face and leaves

Writers as Readers

1. When I read, I need just a simple environment in order to be comfortable. I love to read in my room because it's set up exactly the way I want. My room is always organized, clean, and the aroma of vanilla or coconut fills the air; due to my incense burner. I love having a bag of sunflower seeds on my nightstand, so I can easily pop a handful of seeds into my mouth as I read on my bed. I never have my main room light on, but rather my lamp lighting up my room with a calming feel to the amount of light, and the relaxed feel of a soft bed beneath me. The sounds around me either have to be soft, melodic sounds or none at all, so I can easily focus on my book.
9. -When I finished reading Identical, I was upset because of the relations between the father with his daughter. This book, written by Ellen Hopkins, was not just a well written book, but also very well thought out in order to clearly explain exactly what the character was going through and how emotions affected not only that individual but the family as a whole.
-When I finished reading The Last Song, I was sad because of the way things took a turn from such a great beginning, to a more meaningful and unexpected ending. Throughout the story, the connection of emotions I developed with Steve, the dad, was so strong that whatever happened to him was easily experienced through my emotions and mood.
-When I finished reading Keeping You a Secret, I was happy because it clearly described and portrayed the struggles of being who you are, no matter who accepts you or how they decide to treat you. Not only was the story well written, but the emotions put behind each individual character really pulled me in; causing me to not want to have to put down the book until I finished it.
8. My favorite book is Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters. This is my favorite book because just simply reading something that I could relate to helped me become a stronger person, someone who doesn't let others opinions completely affect who I am or tear me down, and it helped me become more confident with the fact that I am who I am, whether I am accepted or not I will always be just as good as everyone else... in my own way.
13. I think I would write a book someday, depending on the amount of work I have already piled on my to-do list. I have an idea of what I would like for it to be about, but things always change and I'm not someone who ignores that fact. Judging by things now and the inspirations all around me, I would more than likely write about my life and the struggles, achievement and events I have overcome. How would I want to be described on the "About the Author" as the front of the book? I can only answer that question with: However people see me. I don't want to be described as something I'm not, just to make myself seem like a better person than who I might be. Who I am is who I have been, am now and hope to improve for the future.
7. The first book I remember reading is Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. This book stands out in my memory because of the way my mom read it to me; teaching me the words until the very last word of the book, finishing up with a long hug. The story of the little nutbrown hare with his loving parent was my true first book and most meaningful book to me.

Writer's Dreaming

3.Does talking about bad dreams, bad news and bad things just feed their energy; allowing them to consume more power? I don't have one view towards this question. If you talk about anything, no matter how horrible it might be, I believe it feeds the topic in any form. Can't you agree that talking about something either gives it a positive view, a negative view, or even both? We wouldn't have debates or controversies if this wasn't true. In a way I believe that talking about something bad will just increase the negativity behind it, but it could also spark something new; something positive. The more negative outcomes always show up in schools, no matter how hard schools or people try to prevent them. Drama, rumors, and gossip are all centered around what seems like a bad story gone worse, and I believe it to be the outcome of talking about a bad situation; thus feeding the bad situation in the beginning. That's one side to a many sided question.
5. After going through some trauma, Maya Angelou went into a stage where she avoided speaking for five years. Could I go through something like this? The answer to this would be NO. I have the responsibility of helping those who are in need of help, cheering up others with my sarcasm or truth and I enjoy letting myself out through my words. Personally, I think I don't talk too much or too little. Depending on my mood, the situation I might be in or my emotions that day, I talk just enough to let others know how things might be going for me. If i listened more and spoke less then I think I would learn to understand things better, see the other side of things before making a judgement and cooperation skills would be more apparent. By speaking more, I would grow more fond of speaking my mind, I would feel more comfortable with public speaking and I would mature faster I think because I would have to be able to stand up for myself and for my points made.
7. Angelou has the ability to "totally recall" events in her life. Am I like her in that field? I would have to lean more towards the answer of 'no' more than 'yes'. Why is this? I have a hard time remembering certain things, but I easily recall what meant a lot to me at the time and through the years of growing up. I am more of someone who remembers less than more when it comes to less important things, but I remember most things when the event made quite an impact on my life. I think it is better to be someone who remembers most things, because it allows you to look back on those memories whether they were important or not. The periods in my life that are clearest to me would have to be the periods in which I struggled the most. The fuzziest memories would have to be the ones in which little happened. I have better recall of the time I consider more depressing, worrisome or a bit of a struggle.

I am...Courtney Joann Stewart

unfinished art, waiting for that final step to be completed

a daughter, enjoying the memories of spending time with my father on the weekends, running around in the yard with a string in my hands and a kite soaring high above my head, in hope of somehow reaching the grey, puffy clouds passing by

a twin, filled with the fact that not only am I my own person, but I am unique, with a reflection, walking side by side with me, every step of the way until it's time to part and make it on our own

a girlfriend, my world and my everything, a woman who knows me better than anyone, who puts a smile on my face no matter how down I may feel beforehand and who gives me something to look forward to as I pass through each day

a sister, there for my siblings when they need help getting through the day, one who takes the blame for the mistake at hand if it gets them out of trouble, and who uses sarcasm in order to brighten their day

a mind full of ideas just waiting to be released into the world

always putting myself close to last, no matter the situation, in order to help others and to make things better for them

coffee being brewed early in the morning and late at night, keeping you awake for hours upon hours, allowing for imagination to envelop your being

a high school girl, living the condition of an average life, with higher expectations and a longing to be set free of boundaries and silly rules

the beginning of a song, full of lyrics and meaning, yet willing to be broken down and looked upon on a deeper level, filling in the questions and wonder one might have

held back, as if waiting for the right person to be able to figure me out without leaving once they find out something they don't seem to approve of, or find too absurd to work around

a friend who opens her ears to the one talking, the one who offers her shoulders when the tears wont stop, the one who knows when something is wrong without anything being said

the light at the end of the tunnel when things seem to be going wrong, who helps you see past the bad times, and gives you a more positive outlook in any situation

an idea that's been kept bottled up until something or someone rare comes along and allows me to be open with myself

a dream that's sometimes forgotten, leaving you relinquishing the memories it set for you

not perfect in any way, shape or form, but always strives to make the better of things and enjoys the feeling of staying calm, rather than losing to the temptations of staying locked in anger