Cover Letter

As an inquiring and adventurous person, I have many interests. I am well known for my musical abilities including playing piano, guitar, singing and songwriting. Along with writing songs, I enjoy writing stories and book reviews. Books are portals that take you away from reality and not only do they entertain us, but they also teach us valuable lessons. As much as I revel in escaping to the realm of literature, exploring nature is just as thrilling. Whether it’s a hike through the wilderness or a road trip across the country, there is always something new to discover.

I have accomplished many things in my life and I have no intentions on slowing down any time soon. Academically, I have achieved honour roll and effort roll every year I've been in school. I have also learnt how to speak both Spanish and French. Over the past year I have taught myself how to play guitar which goes along with my ability to write music. With the number of songs I have written, I am now working to record an album. Some of my strengths include being punctual, hard-working and organized. With my self motivation and determination, I am able to achieve whatever I put my mind to.

One of my lifetime goals is to see the world and learning more about all the different cultures. Becoming a travelling author is something I have strongly considered pursuing. I love reading and one day I would like to attain a career that deals with books all day long. After high school I plan to go to university and study abroad in Europe. Another one of my goals is to live a long, healthy life. I wish to run a marathon, complete a triathalon and become a yoga master. I want to do my part in making the world a better place so throughout my life I plan to do all kinds of charity work to help those in need.

Letter of Concern

Sydney Donkin
555 Wiltse Dr.
Penticton, BC
V2A 9A6

December 16, 2013

Jane Watchingu
123 Main St.
Penticton, BC
V2A 3W8


Dear Ms. Watchingu,

My name is Sydney Donkin. I am an employee for your company "Student Pro Painters" and I would like to express some concerns I have regarding my co-worker, Joe Talksalot. My intentions are to bring Joe's working habits to your attention.

Joe is usually late for work. Of course it's understandable that he may have other obligations but it is unfair to the rest of us, who arrive on time, that his actions are being left unquestioned. Also, Joe often smokes, not only on his breaks, but during his shift as well. This leaves the rest of us to do his work for him while he is smoking. Near the end of the day when we are still working hard, Joe frequently leaves early. We don't know if Joe has other commitments outside of work but perhaps speaking to him about it would improve the situation.

Another one of my concerns is that Joe rarely helps with cleaning up. He leaves his brushes full of paint and his area untidy. When Joe is asked to do something, he often responds in an aggressive manner and we would not like to see the company lose business due to his lack of cooperation. Again, if you could consider speaking to him about these concerns, perhaps we could find a solution that works for all of us.

I would like to thank you for reading and considering my letter. Hopefully having a conversation with Joe will resolve these problems and your company's reputation will be improved further.

Sincerely,
Sydney Donkin

College Application Letter

            I am the one who wrote the dictionary. I am the mastermind behind Newton’s laws of motion. I am the real Slim Shady. On Mondays, I perform lifesaving surgeries. On Wednesdays, I write award winning novels. On Fridays, I build houses for children in Africa. And on Saturdays, I do my homework.

My parents did not raise me, I raised my parents. My teachers did not educate me, I educated my teachers. And I do not fear the Reaper, the Reaper fears me. When there is something strange in the neighborhood, I am the one the Ghostbusters call. Beyoncé comes to me for vocal lessons. I showed Miley Cyrus how to twerk. I taught Cali Swag District how to dougie.

Teachers adore me. My peers worship me. If I punched someone in the face, they would thank me. I have won a cook off against Gordon Ramsay. I have won a 400-meter race against Usain Bolt. I have won a game of scrabble against my mom.

I know the alphabet in twenty languages. I can recite the Bible from cover to cover. I have memorized every song by Taylor Swift. I know Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. Russell Peters laughs at me. Bruce Lee begs me for mercy. I have won eight Olympic gold medals.

I have set foot on all seven continents and swam the seven seas. I have climbed to the top of Mount Everest. Twice. And I have solved a rubric cube in less than ten seconds. But I have not yet gone to college.

 

 

The Wait

             The sour smell of disinfectant fills my lungs and my stomach clenches in protest as I wait impatiently for answers. It’s been well over an hour since I arrived in panic and almost just as long since someone has given me any sort of information. I received the call that my father was in the hospital shortly after arriving home from spending the night at a friend’s house. On my way here, it seemed that every stoplight was on a mission to slow me down, turning red just seconds before I reached the intersection. When I finally arrived, a nurse explained to me that my father had collapsed and was in surgery. She led me to the hard, plastic chair I’ve been sitting on ever since while reassuring me over and over that “everything would be okay.” I sure hoped she was right. Every few minutes I glance up as doctors and nurses walk into the waiting room, hoping they’re here to tell me my father has made it through surgery, but each time the news is for someone else. I watch as a young, pregnant woman is given the word that her husband’s brain damage was irreparable and he didn’t make it through the surgery. Her eyes, shining with hope only minutes ago, went dull. It was only a matter of seconds before she burst into hysterical tears. Another woman waiting for her son was informed that he began hemorrhaging during the surgery and he couldn’t be saved. She sat in silence and did not cry. Maybe she knew if she started to cry, there would be no end to it. Soon enough, I’m sitting in the room by myself. The only thing I can hear is the steady whirr of ventilators seeping down the halls. I think back to last night. My father and I had yet another fight about my continuous dropping grades and my future. We both said things we didn’t mean, leading to me leaving for the rest of the night. He can’t just die now. We haven’t made up. We have to make up. I realize as my mouth begins to pool with bitter, metallic blood how hard I’ve been biting my lip. But it’s as habitual as tapping your foot to the beat of a catchy song. Finally, an old looking doctor, with grey, thinning hair, calls my name as if I’m not the only one in the room. I rub my clammy hands down my thighs and stand up to face the results I’ve been waiting all day for. After a long explanation of complications throughout the surgery, I am relieved to hear that my father with live to see another day.

Coming of Age- The Beginning of Maturity

            When asked what marks the beginning of maturity in people, some might say graduating high school, moving out on your own and getting a job. But if this is the case, why don’t we all mature at the same time? The truth is there are no set points in life that indicate the beginning of maturity. Everyone goes through certain experiences that establish when they become mature. What makes someone mature is what they have been through that has changed their perspective of life. There are many literary topics that illuminate this idea including the death of a family member, sexual assault and living with cancer.

          The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a novel written by Stephen Chbosky, explores the life of a ninth grade boy named Charlie who has gone through many poor experiences. When he was younger, his troubled aunt had molested him, but because Charlie trusted his aunt and shared a strong connection with her, he wasn’t aware of how bad this was. Later on in the story, we learn that his aunt was killed in a car accident while going to get Charlie’s birthday present. Undoubtedly, Charlie felt as though her death was his fault and struggled with this for years. Because he was so close to his aunt, her death marked the beginning of Charlie’s maturity. After her death, Charlie saw the world differently and had to adapt to a life without her.  

            The novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is about a ninth grade girl, Melinda, who was raped at a party by a twelfth grader. Melinda called the police, which led to the party being shut down and everyone seeing her as the girl who ruined the night for no reason. Even her best friend, Rachel, had stopped talking to her. Melinda shut herself out from everyone around her, and never told anyone about what really happened that night. But once she found out Rachel had started spending time with the same guy, Melinda decided to finally speak up and tell the truth. At first, Rachel was infuriated at her for being unsupportive and making up lies. It wasn’t until Rachel caught him trying to make another move on Melinda that she believed her. The beginning of Melinda’s maturity was marked by her virginity being taken unwillingly. Because of this she saw how everyone assumed she ruined the party for no apparent reason and judging her for it, forcing her to shut herself out and to have no one to turn to.

The Fault in our Stars, by John Green, explains how getting cancer changed the life of seventeen year old Hazel Grace. Her life now revolved around university level courses, support group and America’s Next Top Model marathons. Being diagnosed with cancer was the beginning of Hazel Grace’s maturity because now her life was more difficult than ever. Her friends looked at her with pity, and were too afraid to make jokes around her. But when she met a cancer survivor named Augustus, she found there was more to life than sitting around all day waiting to die. After meeting Augustus, a daring guy with a lovable soul, she found that having cancer isn’t the end, until it is really the end.

 

Certain events in people’s lives mark the beginning of maturity because these experiences change the way the person views the world, and therefore, they learn and they grow. Many books today explore such happenings including the loss of a family member, sexual assault and being diagnosed with cancer, and how it affects people’s lives.

Spoken Word Poetry Analysis

"You work very, very hord on a paper for English clash, and still get a very glow rade on it like a 'D' or a 'D=' and all because you are the liverworst spoiler in the whale wide word." Taylor Mali intelligently mocks the spelling errors people often make while writing a paper in his poem "The The Impotence of Proofreading." Mali captures the audience with his use of risque dark humour and clever misuse of words. Proofreading your work is essential because spell check alone is not trustworthy because "[it] may end up just using a word that you had absolutely no detention of using." I enjoyed this poem because it was extremely humorous and entertaining.

The poem "I'm Just Saying" by Michael Anthony is about how girls should respect themselves and that not all guys go for girls who wear "low cut shirts... or short skirts where she's practically bare" but rather girls who are smart and confident. Anthony explains how he looks for a girl who is conservative and has manners. This poem is blunt and honest which is why I like it personally. Some people couldn't care less about the money, texting or making out in public. Instead they are looking for someone who finds more meaning in "love" than what society has dulled it down to.

"They never prepare us for the biggest test, which is survival." Suli Break's "I Will Not Let An Exam Result Define Me" is a powerful and thought provoking poem. I highly enjoyed this poem because it shows how society defines us on our grades rather than who we are and what we're good at when in reality, society isn't half as perfect as it expects us all to be. "We all have different abilities, thought processes, experiences and genes. So why is a class full of individuals tested by the same means?" This line explains that we are all unique and are all good at something. While that one thing may not be math or science, it is unfair to define someone on how they do in those classes. In the end, half the things students learn in school will not help them later on in life, so why not find a more diverse way of teaching them things they are good at and stop judging them by their weakest links.

 

O Captain, My Captain

Sydney Donkin
853 Punctuation Dr.
Penticton BC
V2A7C9

October 1, 2013

Captain Van Camp
Commander
HMS Princess Margaret

O Captain, My Captain:

At the end of the day, the decision is yours, but hey, now's your chance to finally get rid of those pesky students who have been driving all of us out of our minds since September 3rd. I deserve to live because I am strong, hardworking and highly intelligent.  Unlike most girls who whine and complain about everything, I can pull my own weight along with many others. I know how to handle difficult situations unlike Jaimie Hark. Jaimie is the type to panic when things go wrong. Captain Van Camp, sir, people like her will only waste our remaining oxygen! We need to conserve the most oxygen as possible. Trust me, you do not want save her; she is delirious! I, on the other hand, am extremely calm, cool and collected.
As a smart, hard working student who aspires to be a doctor someday, I have a lot to live for. If you decide not to spare my life, just remember if you ever need surgery, it could have been me operating on you rather than the squirming, nervous doctor who messes up and kills you.
You may be having a hard time deciding whether the girls or the boys are more important. Honestly, girls are much more necessary than boys! First, we mature way faster than boys... do you really want to save someone who only talks about videogames all day? If not, I suggest Brandon Carson and Matt Finlayson are first on your list. Girls are also important for population purposes. Maybe a nuclear bomb went off while we're stuck down here and majority of the world's population has been executed! The more females the better!
Please put into deep consideration that not only am I well suited to go far in life, I'm wonderful at baking. Really, I am.

Sincerely,



Sydney Donkin