Visions Magazine 2017-2018 by Saint Francis University

Visions Saint Francis Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High School Writing Magazine 2017-2018 0

Visions Bright New Insights from Bright Young Minds

Faculty Editor Brennan Thomas

Cover image courtesy of Coby Bernharthorton

SFU High School Writing Contest Results Saint Francis University’s Literature & Languages Department sponsored its second annual writing contest for ninth- through twelfth-grade students attending schools in the counties of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana, Somerset, and Westmoreland. Students from various high schools in these seven counties submitted their short fiction, poetry, essays, and personal narratives for the contest. Each submission was judged and scored by two English faculty members according to these five criteria: (1) creativity, (2) structure, (3) content, (4) style and expression, and (5) grammar, mechanics, and formatting. The judges’ scores were then tabulated to determine the contest winners and honorable mention recipients.

The first-place winner for this year’s contest is Ellie Irwin, for her poem “Just a Glance.” Ellie is a 9th-grade student at Bishop Gilfoyle. The second-place winner is Coby Bernharthorton, for his essay “Cyber Wired.” Coby attends Altoona Area High School and is currently in the 12th grade. The third-place winner is Erin Berzonski, for her poem “Brothers.” Erin is a 12th-grade student at Conemaugh Township Area High School.

Seven honorable mentions were also selected by the faculty judges: • Hannah Bailey, for the short story “The Werewolf of Saint Clarissa” (Grade 12, Ferndale Area High School) • Alex Bambino, for the short story “Big Buck” (Grade 9, Forest Hills Jr./Sr. High School) • Emily Buksa, for the personal narrative “Jedo” (Grade 11, Ferndale Area High School) • Cazen Cowfer, for the short story “For Love” (Grade 10, Bellwood Antis) • Oakley Fox-Kern, for the essay “Metamorphosis” (Grade 11, Hollidaysburg Area High School) • Abby Hagen, for the short story “Ode to the Art of Drowning” (Grade 12, Tyrone Area High School) • Taylor Rae Smith, for the personal narrative “My Darling Sunflower” (Grade 12, Conemaugh Valley High School)

Each winner and honorable mention recipient will receive a monetary prize for his or her selected entry. • • • •

First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $35 Honorable mention: $20

All winning and honorable mention entries have been published in Visions, the university’s magazine for high school writing.

For more information regarding the contest’s rules, deadlines, and prizes, please contact: Dr. Brennan Thomas Department of Literature & Languages Saint Francis University 117 Evergreen Drive P.O. Box 600 Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940 E-mail: bthomas@francis.edu Phone: (814) 471-1111

Special Thanks This writing contest and subsequent publication of Visions would not be possible without the work and dedication of these individuals:

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Contest judges Dr. Roxana Cazan and Ms. Heather Daniels, who carefully reviewed and scored every writing submission;

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Ms. Jacqueline Mazeika, who prepared the certificate and complimentary magazine copies to all contest winners and honorable mention recipients;

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Ms. Kara Ilig, Ms. Marie Young, and the SFU Marketing Team, who published Visions online;

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Ms. Beth Bellock, Mr. Michael Kutchman, and the SFU Print Shop staff, who published Visions in print form;

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Ms. Kelly Aharrah and other staff members of the Office of Admissions, who promoted the contest to local high schools;

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Dr. Timothy Whisler (Dean of the School of Arts & Letters), Ms. Kimberly Beck, Ms. Nicole McCloskey, and the faculty of the Department of Literature & Languages for their continued support of this contest;

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And finally, all high school students who participated in this year’s contest and whose writing our judges immensely enjoyed reading. We thank you for sharing your creativity and your unique artistic visions and expressive styles.

Table of Contents Alex Bambino

Big Buck

Hannah Bailey

The Werewolf of Saint Clarissa

Oakley Fox-Kern

Metamorphosis

Coby Bernharthorton

Cyber Wired (2nd Place Winner)

Ellie Irwin

Just a Glance (1st Place Winner)

Abigail Hagen

Ode to the Art of Drowning

Cazen Cowfer

For Love

Taylor Rae Smith

My Darling Sunflower

Emily Buksa

Jedo

Erin Berzonski

Brothers (3rd Place Winner)

Alex Bambino

Big Buck

A loud shot rang in the crisp morning air. The seven-point buck was lucky to have dodged the first shot. Crack! Another shot struck the buck in its hip. The previous shot slowed the speeding buck to a limping strut. Crack! was the last thing the buck heard before it was killed. After the last shot, the buck dropped quickly in the spot where it took its final breath. Alex and his cousin Drew walked confidently down to the buck as it lay in the tall grass. The two boys reached the buck and took a few pictures to remember the successful hunt. “Wow, that’s a nice buck, Drew!” Alex stated. “Yeah, I seen him comin’ from over there,” Drew replied. “Too bad it took ya’ so many shots to git this guy down,” Alex joked. “At least I shot at it, Alex.” “Ha ha ha ha, that’s true.” After gutting the buck, the boys dragged it to Drew’s truck, tossed it in the back, and took it to his friend Christian’s house to hang it up. Drew still wanted Alex to get a buck so the boys headed back out hunting until dark. The boys came back let down for not seeing anything but were soon cheered up by seeing the buck hanging. For the next hour, Alex, Drew, and Christian skinned the deer, butchered it, and made deer burger and steaks. “Next Saturday will be a good day to go for your buck, Alex,” Drew promised. “I sure hope so.” On the way home, the boys talked about how many doe they had seen and the nice buck that Drew had shot. Drew dropped Alex off at home and told him to be ready for Saturday because he had a good feeling about it. Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m., Alex was up drinking a cup of coffee and relaxing before the long day of hunting ahead of him. In a moment, Drew burst through the door and in a moment had bacon sizzling on the stove. Alex loves bacon, especially when cooked on the stove in a frying pan. After cooking the bacon, Drew fried eggs in the bacon grease and Alex thought it was the best breakfast he’d had in a long time. Then, the boys left for their morning spot. Drew drove his truck to the spot where they had to walk quietly in. “Remember, you are walking with a purpose. You aren’t just takin’ a walk in the woods with a rifle in your hand,” Drew explained. “Okay. Got it,” Alex replied. Quietly the boys strutted into the woods and sat in their spot. A little while later, a doe came sprinting in and stopped in front of Alex. Unfortunately, Alex didn’t have a doe tag and Drew didn’t want his hunting season over yet, so the boys let the doe leave. The day went on for another six hours without seeing another deer. “Better luck next time, Alex,” Drew said. “Thank you.” 6

“Next Saturday is the last day of rifle season.” “It is? I hope we see that nice eight-point buck,” Alex wished. The next Saturday arrived and Drew made breakfast at 6:20 a.m. Alex liked the bacon and eggs once again and was ready for the long hunt ahead of him. The morning was the coldest of the hunting season and Drew brought some hot hands. Alex was amazed by the hot hands and thought that they were awesome. The boys headed out to the place they called “Deer Heaven” and hoped for the big buck to stumble in front of them. “If that big buck comes out, do not hesitate. Pull the gun up, shoot, and that buck better be lyin’ on the ground,” Drew said to Alex with a stern tone. “I’m just hopin’ that that big dumb buck comes out so I can shoot it,” Alex replied. “If that buck is as stupid as all the other ones, then we have a pretty good chance,” said Drew. “It’s a good thing all them deer are stupid.” They made it to their spot and hopped out of the car, put some fluorescent orange on, and headed for their spot. As soon as the boys sat down, there were a few doe that came near their spot. Drew, however, thought they were too small and did not want to shoot one. A big doe came running in and Drew unloaded a clip and hit the doe with one shot and killed it. The boys gutted the doe, dragged it to Drew’s truck and butchered it later that evening. After lunch, the two headed out to their spot and got ready for the afternoon hunt. A few doe and a couple button bucks ran through. With an hour left in the last day of rifle season, Alex was getting mad that he wasn’t able to shoot a buck. After about thirty minutes, a cagey doe walked near the boys’ spot. Instantly, Drew knew that there was a buck following that doe. The boys were more silent than they had been all day. Alex was excited, but also determined to shoot the big buck. The tension in the area grew higher and higher as the boys were anticipating the buck’s arrival. Five minutes, nothing. Ten minutes, the doe came back. Fifteen minutes, nothing. With ten minutes left before dark, Alex and Drew were both on their toes ready for that big buck. A loud crash in the brush startled the boys. Drew motioned to Alex that there was a deer in the brush and to keep still. It was noticeably darker and the boys were watching the deer like a hawk watching its prey. It was ten minutes until the boys had to pack up and go home. “That darn deer is takin’ his good ol’ time! Man, I wish that I could just see if it’s a buck or not,” Alex whispered complainingly. “SHHH!” Drew said. “He’s still there.” Just then, the deer stepped out of the brush and came into perfect vision. It was the big buck! Alex lined up the shot; he breathed steadily and leaned up against a tree. Alex’s heart raced. Drew kept whispering, “Shoot it!” Crack! The shot rolled up the hills and back down again.

Hannah Bailey

The Werewolf of Saint Clarissa

A werewolf is ravaging the town of Saint Clarissa, Oklahoma. Has been for the past few months. Sheriff Tim Torres keeps saying it's just them coyotes, but we know better. I know better. My name’s Lane Monday and I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the werewolf with my own two eyes. It was the Fourth of July, the night of the first attack, at Lake Calabaza, the only large body of water for miles and miles. I remember the full moon reflecting off the water. I remember the beast’s eyes glowing red in the darkness, staring into mine. I know I saw it. I’ll never forget. After that first attack, I start to investigate, trying to find the werewolf. On the nights the beast is likely to appear, I’ll go out into the woods to look for it, armed with my old Boy Scouts pocketknife and my trusty flashlight. And I do not tell my mom. Look, I know it sounds stupid, searching for a monster with such little protection, especially with what had happened to others, but for the first few nights, when it’s still like once a month, nothing bad happens to me. The times when I do see the werewolf, all near Lake Calabaza, he—it—seems to leave me alone. Maybe it doesn't notice me. But it starts appearing more and more, until near the end of September, it shows up every night for a whole week. I don't know why I start my watch early that week, but I do and it's there! The next morning, I notice a tear in my shirt, not big, but y’know, it's a tear nonetheless. And I’ve lost my flashlight. All the way to school, I try, but I can't remember how that tear got there. Did I trip running from the werewolf? Did it try to claw me? On the news, there's another “coyote” victim. No one’s died yet, but people say it’s just a matter of time. At lunch, Mary Sue Torres announces that she’s going to be investigating the werewolf attacks. Oh yeah, Mary Sue Torres is the Sheriff’s daughter and undeniably the most popular girl (or person, for that matter) at Saint Clarissa High. She’s in, like, every club, every sport, and somehow she won Homecoming Queen in ninth grade. Everyone loves Mary Sue. Anyways, the rest of the week, the werewolf keeps showing up, though there aren't any more actual attacks. Every day that week, the tears in my shirts get wider and wider. The last day of September, I wake up in my yard, apparently having not made it inside last night. Two weeks pass without another sighting until one evening I get the strangest feeling that he—it—is going to be out there tonight. The next morning, I find my shirt tattered and myself a half mile from home. I can't explain it. By all rights, I should stop then, but I don't. Every night, I still go out for… I don't know what reason. And every morning is worse than the last. I keep waking up in the middle of the woods. Why do I keep waking up in the middle of the woods? I lose count of the flashlights I have lost and the shirts I have ruined. Some small bruises. A dull pain. But I keep coming back.

Image courtesy of Hannah Bailey

I’m losing sleep and I’m always hungry and I just want this all to be over, but I can't stop searching. It goes on for a whole week and a half, before one day, Mary Sue sits by me at lunch and I can't believe it because, admittedly, I’m a bit of a loser. “I hear you're looking for the werewolf,” she says, round violet eyes inspecting me. “Yeah,” I reply, too tired to say much more except, “Could I have your chips?” “Sure, sure!” She hands them to me with gusto that makes me jealous. “I hear you’ve seen it.” “Yeah,” I sigh. “All the time.” “I was wondering if I could join you on your search one of these nights.” I don't know why I hesitate. “I’ll give you the rest of my lunch?” My stomach growls. “Deal. Thursday.” Wednesday night is the worst I’ve ever known. I remember a scream--mine? And then pain. When I wake up Thursday morning, there’s a slash across my shoulder that stings when I touch it and I’m lost in the woods, my shirt long gone, my pants tattered. I show up to school late, super late, almost at lunch. Mom worked a double shift last night so she didn't see me wandering home covered with blood. Thank God. Walking into 9

school, my stomach growls—no, it roars. I’m wearing an embarrassingly ugly sweater because I’m running out of intact shirts. As I’m stumbling into the cafeteria, slumping into my seat, Mary Sue is bragging about seeing the werewolf last night. And not only that, but she got it! She boasts that she made that monster bleed. Seeing that I’ve entered, she greets me with a “Lane! You won’t believe it!” and firm but friendly shoulder grip. When I wince, Mary Sue looks at me funny. I don’t see her again until that evening when I meet her at her dad Sheriff Torres’s office. She’d texted me that there was something I needed to see. Mary Sue, in crazy cool monster hunting gear, leads me through the halls of the station to the “Evidence Room” (that’s where the thing I need to see is, apparently.) Neither of us says much. We’re going past the hallway of empty cells and I ask, “Hey, you sure we’re supposed to be here?” My voice echoes. Mary Sue replies casually, “You are,” before shoving me through an open door until I’m flat on my back on the cold cell floor. I sputter, “H-hey! What’s going on?!” “I thought something was off with you,” she begins, facing away from me. “But after last night…” “S-something’s off with me?” I shake my head in disbelief. “You don’t throw people in jail for that!” Mary Sue turns. “It’s for everyone’s safety. Like I said, I thought something was off, but last night I knew.” She shoves a tattered shirt through the bars. It’s barely all in one piece but I can still make out the Pink Floyd design. This is my shirt. “What--that’s my--how’d you get it?” “Found it in the woods, right where the tracks start,” she replies, holding up my Boy Scout pocketknife. “This too.” “It—it must’ve attacked me—” Mary Sue interrupts, “Show me your shoulder.” “What?” “Show me!” she snaps and, not having much in the way of other options, I do. Red has soaked through the bandages. Mary Sue Torres looks at me with an emotion I didn’t think she had: fear. “That’s where I got the beast last night… I didn’t want to believe it…” “Believe what?” “You haven’t been hunting the werewolf, Lane,” she says. “You are the werewolf.” “That’s ridiculous, Mary Sue!” I believe what I’m saying, but my voice shakes. “How could I even—I think I would know if I was a werewolf! I mean, I’ve seen the werewolf and it’s not me.” “Where do you see it?” she asks, voice like a knife, like the katana she carries. “Lake Calabaza. Check for yourself!” “By the water or in the water?” Her eyebrow leaps in confidence. “What does that matter?” 10

She crosses her arms. “You’re not seeing the monster. You’re seeing your reflection. And what about how hungry you are all the time? I know you’ve been trying to hide it, but everyone can see you sneaking snacks into every single class.” “I’m 16! I’m a growing boy!” “Growing werewolf!” Mary Sue counters. “I found these hunting cameras out in the woods and they show the wolf getting bigger every time he appears. That’s how you ripped up your shirt!” I shake my head hard enough to rattle my brain. She isn’t making any sense. How could I not know? There was no way! “You’re wrong! And ridiculous! Let me go!” “No way,” she says, “the sun’s setting.” I feel something in my stomach that isn’t hunger. I need to leave. I need to get to the woods. Mary Sue doesn’t listen as I scream to be let out. Then, as the last golden rays retreat, I start to feel sick. “I’m gonna throw up,” I barely manage to mutter, before an awful sensation, one my mind hasn’t been letting me remember, overcomes me. It’s my body being conquered by a monstrous force; it’s everything in me twisting--my bones, my muscles, my heart. I hear the yarn in the ugly sweater being torn apart as something I don’t want to believe is me outgrows it. A red glow of beastly eyes is reflected in Mary Sue Torres’s and as I watch the horrified expression on her face, I’m forced to accept a dreadful realization: I am the monster.

Oakley Fox-Kern

Metamorphosis

While admiring the artwork of my first tattoo, I received a dreadful text from a fellow teammate. It stated, “Everyone please have respect, and just to let you guys know Mik Focht passed away.” Frozen in place, I could not fathom the news. I had just seen her the previous day as she zoomed into the parking lot of the softball field. Our coach had needed to have a talk with us because Mik had accidentally flung rocks at a grumpy man, old and frail, along with his tiny dog. It still feels unreal, not seeing her smiling face or her donkey kick dance moves. I’ve always looked up to Mik and her skills as a softball player. She encouraged me as I pitched my first varsity game and always had my back when I struggled through the count. I felt like I did not earn the position because Mik was a phenomenal pitcher, and I was just mediocre compared to her. Sticky like glue, Mik held our team together like a true captain should. During games, we had ups and downs, but we always relied on Mik to make an out or have an impeccable hit, which always seemed to boost our morale. Without you to lead us, Mik, our team is going to go through a metamorphosis that will be challenging for all. Your death has caused a change within us, and we will always honor you on the field and in our hearts. Similar to the change my team will undergo due to the hole in our hearts without Mik, the characters from Franz Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis change due to Gregor’s metamorphosis into a bug. Many argue that the only character who sustains a metamorphosis is Grete. However, not only Grete but also Gregor and his parents withstand a change due to the physical change of Gregor. Although many debate whether Gregor truly transforms into a bug or if he suffers from a mental illness, Gregor’s metamorphosis causes him to change drastically from the exposition to the falling action. Kafka begins the exposition with, “He lay on his armor-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections” (1). On many accounts, it is apparent that Gregor seems to transition into a vermin. Gregor has adhesive on the tips of his legs, which he uses to climb on the ceilings and hang from the picture on the wall. Humans cannot climb on walls and do not have armor-like backs; therefore, Gregor has gone through a metamorphosis from a human to a vermin. Additionally, Gregor transitions from being content with being a bug to giving up on life and his purpose. During the beginning of Gregor’s transition, he was content with being a bug because he does not try to escape the room after the first encounter with his family. Gregor’s physical body slowly starts to affect his psychology. Gregor enjoys hiding under the dark couch and climbing on the walls like a bug would. He never truly loses all of his humanity because he still wishes he could help his family. Gregor feels like he cannot adapt to his body and help his family, so he decides it would be best if he disappeared forever. Gregor gives up his will to live by not moving after he was struck with the apple and not eating any food given to him. Ultimately, Gregor suffers from the most physical metamorphosis of all the characters.

Image courtesy of Oakley Fox-Kern

Furthermore, Grete suffers from the largest emotional metamorphosis compared to any other character. In the beginning of the novella, Grete is the only character to show pity towards Gregor. Because of the connection between Grete and Gregor, Grete becomes Gregor’s caretaker and his only human contact. Grete brings Gregor food and cleans his room by removing the furniture to allow more space for Gregor to roam. However, Grete’s pity towards Gregor soon diminishes. At first, Grete considers her job as caregiver rewarding, but she quickly regards it as a job she no longer cares for. Additionally, Grete turns into a woman by taking on adult responsibilities such as getting a job to support her family financially. Resenting her role of caretaker, Grete suggests getting rid of Gregor: ‘“We have to try and get rid of it, it’ll be the death of both of you, I can see it coming. We can’t all work as hard as we have to and then come home to be tortured like this, we can’t endure it. I can't endure it anymore”’(Kafka 25). Grete transforms from loving Gregor to resenting him and wishing to be released from the burden. During the resolution, Grete’s parents encourage her transition into adulthood by suggesting for her to marry a man. Overall, Grete has the largest change in character due to her development from being kind and caring into resentful and rude. Along with both their children, the parents undergo a change of character due to Gregor’s metamorphosis into a bug. Gregor’s parents rely on Gregor to be the financial advisor of the family in the introduction of the novella. However, due to Gregor’s physical impairments, he can no longer go to work to support his family. Therefore, his parents must get jobs to keep the family financially afloat. The father constantly lives in his uniform even after he comes home from a long day of serving bank employees their breakfast. The mother also does washings for strangers to bring home an income. The parents transition from relying on Gregor and his job as a salesman to being thrown into the workforce because they no longer can rely on their son for support. Furthermore, the mother’s character changes from being scared of the creature Gregor converts to into showing him pity and having less fear toward Gregor. When Gregor first appears to his family as a vermin, the mother screams and flies from the kitchen table for the safety of her husband’s arms. In the falling action, the mother shows pain and sorrow when Gregor dies by smiling with a pained smile and crying with her family in private. Although they do not permute as much as Grete and Gregor do, the parents succumb to their own metamorphosis. All in all, change is inevitable and cannot be avoided. However, the way one reacts to the change determines one’s outlook on life. Gregor’s family undergoes a metamorphosis like Gregor, but each character changes in his or her own personal way. Similar to the characters in Metamorphosis, the softball team will manage with their own grief but come together as a unit and change for the better of the good without Mik by their side. Both in Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis and in life, one drastic event can cause multiple chain reactions such as change in character or the unifying of a team. Work Cited Kafka, Franz, and Stanley Corngold. The Metamorphosis. Bantam Books, 1981. 14

Coby Bernharthorton

Cyber Wired

(2nd Place Winner) Evolution occurs within every facet of society, allowing not only people and cultures to improve over time, but technology as well. Year after year, new forms of machinery are introduced that revolutionize the way the world functions, a recent development being the Internet of Things (IoT). First developed in 1999, it is a network of interrelated computing devices with the ability to transfer data between sources without human intervention. More simply put, it is a network with the ability to connect and send information to other devices or the internet. It is the marking of everyday objects with identification tags that allow sensors to collect data based on the status of these objects, including anything from washing machines to heart monitors to jet engines. This newfound tool has the ability to profoundly influence the future of the world as we know it, assisting consumers, governments and businesses. While they have likely benefits, there is controversy surrounding accessibility to people's lives and possible dangers. Regardless, the intelligence of the IoT arguably exceeds that of any other technological advancement today and its tremendous possibilities will certainly alter society, one way or another. Technology is generally developed to make life easier. Initially, cars were manufactured in the early twentieth century, enabling people to travel with ease. Computers developed over time to fit into backpacks, easily taken on long bus trips or meetings. Imagine your home computer notifying you when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve run out of milk or that your yogurt is about to expire. Your work computer just told you that your printer ran out of black ink and is now asking for permission to order it online. These ideas are not far-fetched. Daily life would be drastically altered by the introduction of IoTs, allowing people to lead more mindful and efficient lives. Time and money would be saved, giving people the opportunity to use them elsewhere, and citizens given awareness of their surroundings. The Internet of Things offers more information to usersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and, in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society, information is knowledge and knowledge is power. Smoke alarms and air quality monitors would be able to quickly alert people if something was not working properly, IoTs potentially serving as lifesaving devices. This system has the capability to assist every part of society, workers of every collar, truly epitomizing the technology driven life of the 21st century. The Internet of Things provides endless opportunity for every business, factory, and industry in the country. Companies would not have to maintain inventory or restock items, saving time and money. Monitoring the quantity and quality of supplies becomes profoundly easier, as all of the necessary information is highlighted and compiled into one source. Businesses would become more efficient, fewer errors occurring in less time, allowing more money to be spent on development or funneled directly into profit. Organizations like Google and Amazon are already linked to the IoT server, with the list rapidly increasing. 15

Allowing our government to operate more effectively and efficiently, the use of IoTs in the federal system also has begun to rise. Primarily used to replace manual data collection and reduce energy costs, e.g., smart buildings, these systems are estimated to save approximately $15 million dollars annually. There are, however, arguments professing a darker side to these benefits. Many contend that job loss would be too great with the IoT. Many positions would be taken over by computers and machines, causing a rise in unemployment. Controversy also has erupted over issues pertaining to the system’s preservation of privacy and the safety of our nation. With an entity as complex as this one, there is concern that its complexity would make it prone to failure or disruption. If society were to become reliant on this technology, system failure would be devastating, putting the entire country on pause, rather than acting as the more efficient option. Lack of funding and the risk of hijacking have made officials reluctant to use these devices. If enemies were able to hack into the server, they would have access to every plan and bill of our federal system, likely leading to attacks and wars that could destroy our nation. If the server were infiltrated, the nation would be vulnerable. The privacy and safety of citizens would be jeopardized. Those who are ill could be shipped toxic prescriptions. Orders could be rerouted and people could be laid off without anyone knowing of the true cause. The cords that string society together would unravel, starting with the deterioration of our technology, the economy, and over time, the country as a whole. With no perfect system, consequences such as these are hard to ignore. The future of the IoT is uncertain, but it will most likely continue to expand. While the positive outcomes are limitless, the negative realities must also be considered before continuing forward with these cyber wires. The Internet of Things has the potential to be a powerful tool; however, it could also be the beginning of our end. Emerging as a prominent form of technology, the Internet of Things has the ability to assist every person in every capital, county, and country in the world. Its abilities will only grow with time; however, with this burgeoning industry come warning flags and viable concerns. Regardless, the IoT’s power and potential will certainly alter society; the only question is how. Works Cited Castro, Daniel, Joshua New, and Alan McQuinn. “Governing the Internet.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 40, no. 46, 2005, pp. 4789-792. How Is the Federal Government Using the Internet of Things? Center for Data Innovation, 25 July 2016, http://www2.datainnovation.org/2016-federal-iot.pdf. Morgan, Jacob. “A Simple Explanation of the ‘Internet of Things.’” Forbes.com, 13 May 2014, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/05/13/simple-explanation-internet-things-thatanyone-can-understand/#4de315146828. “The Pros and Cons of the Internet of Things.” Phil for Humanity, 2017, http://www.philforhumanity.com/Internet_of_Things.html. Rouse, Margaret. “What Is Internet of Things (IoT)? - Definition from WhatIs.com.” IoT Agenda. TechTarget, http://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT. Accessed 8 Jan. 2017. 16

Ellie Irwin (1st Place Winner)

Just a Glance

Just then, you looked at me and a tsunami of memories flooded my mind. The belly laugh that was like a disease when we were together, the sickness I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen since. The way my stomach felt like computer wires all tangled up in the tech lab when I knew I would see you coming down the halls. And every time you smiled at me, suddenly we were the only two in the world. The universe stopped for us. Then you blinked and turned away.

Image courtesy of Ellie Irwin 17

Abigail Hagen

Ode to the Art of Drowning

The water kisses my toes, As I wander into the ocean. A step taken for every fight we ever had. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5â&#x20AC;Ś The steps continue as I lose count, From being distracted by the horizon. Hands wrap around my knees. Waves stroke your name across my thigh. A splash for every romantic lie, That had slithered through your lips right before my eyes. The ocean leaves bruises on my neck, As my feet struggle to stay connected with the sand. The water is not as cold as your heart, The day you ripped my world apart. Your actions were heartbreaking. These waves are suffocating. Smothering my every being, Much like you used to do. My eyes slowly close as my head goes under. The last breath that escapes my lungs is used to scream your name. And now I know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the lightning to my thunder.

Image courtesy of Abigail Hagen 19

Cazen Cowfer

For Love

I always believed that somebody someday would save me. That person would be the man of my dreams. I thought that maybe we would meet in some urban club underneath the busy streets of London or a tiny record store in New York City. I was an only child with two strict parents who wanted me to be perfect. We lived in Chicago in a nice apartment that didn’t feel like a home at all. I was a sophomore in a big school and was quite popular because of my natural beauty that people envied. My mother decided to out me into modeling just for her sake so she could have more money for herself. I had many offers for many magazines. It was a typical Monday morning. I walked into school with my over-sized 80’s sweater, velvet leggings, yellow high-heeled booties, and signature red lipstick. I went straight to my locker to get my things for first period. “Carmen, you have the weirdest clothes ever, and that’s why I love you.” Standing in front of me was one of my closest friends, Sydney. “Thank you, Syd the Kyd. I love you, too. And I must say, you’re looking sexy as always.” “Do you really think so?” she said with a worried look on her face. Sydney was insecure and hated me deep down for being so beautiful. “Of course, I do! Come on, let’s go to homeroom.” “Can you just go? I want to go see Brandon.” “Okay, I’ll see you later.” I decided to put my things in homeroom and go to the bathroom. The bathroom was really far away, and I had to walk down the junior and senior hallway to get there. I always loved walking down the hallway and looking at all of the other people in my school. And then I saw him. The tall boy looking straight into my eyes. I knew him, but from where? Something told me to go over to him, even though I was scared. “Carmen Diamandis, how lovely you’re looking today.” “I could say the same to you.” “Carmen, I know that you remember who I am, and I couldn’t wait anymore to tell you something very important. I was going to tell you today and you’re here now, so I guess I’ll tell you.” He looked so nervous and scared. “Carmen, when I first saw you all those years ago, it was love at first sight. I,” his voice trailed off, “I just knew that you were going to be a part of my life somehow.” I stood there, my mind blown, thinking the same thing. I always knew, too, but just forgot about it. “Ethan, all I can say is ‘ditto.’” A sigh of relief came out of his mouth. “So, um, do you want to go somewhere Friday?” “I would love to!” “Okay, here’s my number. Oh, and if you want, we can hang out after school today.” 20

“Um, can you help me with math?” “Of course, I can! I’ll meet you in the parking lot right after school.” “Okay, Ethan. Thank you so much. Can’t wait!” I was filled with joy; my mind was racing as I walked back to homeroom. I totally forgot to go to the bathroom. He watched me walk down the hallway. The rest of the day was a drag, and all I could think about was the fact that he was the one for me. He was everything I ever wanted. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, geeky, and taking all AP classes. * * * “You did what?!” My mother was furious. “You know the rule about dating, young lady. I’ve never even met him. He has to ask permission to date my daughter.” “Mom, we just went to the arcade and got ice cream. He’s a really nice boy, and everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m pretty sure he’s my true love.” “How could you say such a thing? You barely know him! I don’t even know what to say right now. I do everything for you, and this is how you treat me? You’re grounded. No Ethan. That’s final. Now go to your room before I kill you.” I quickly and quietly called Ethan to tell him what was happening. My mother was taking him away from me. She was taking away my true love and all of my hopes and dreams. “Carmen, what is it? Are you okay?” “Ethan! We have to make a plan now!” I explained to him what was going on and that this couldn’t happen to us. I knew he would do anything for me. So we made a plan. “Listen, baby doll, I promise everything is going to work out. Just do everything I told you to do. I love you.” “Okay, E. I’ll try my best. I’ll do everything you say. I know it will work. I love you.” I was scared, but we had to do it, for love. We were going to run away and leave everything behind. I hated my family, so that part was easy for me, but Ethan loved his family. We were going to just finish high school online so we could at least have our high school diplomas. We were both going to have a “normal school day” in the morning. We packed all of our things that night and put them in our car. Luckily, Ethan worked so we had lots of money. I also had money from modeling. We were both so scared, but excited. At least my father was working in the morning, so I didn’t have to see him. But I would never see him again. I wrote a letter, though, and left it on my vanity for my mother to find. I tried to avoid her as much as possible in the morning, but she still had to drive me to school. She wouldn’t even look at me. “You better make sure that you tell Ethan what I said. I don’t want you dating him. Do not go moping around the school today.” 21

“Mom, I love you. Never forget that.” I shut the car door and watched her drive away, knowing that she would never see me again. I went straight to the parking lot to Ethan’s car where he was standing leaning on the door. I ran to him. He picked me up while hugging me. This is all I’ve ever wanted. His arms were my home now. “You ready to have the most epic adventure of a lifetime, Carmen?” It took me a couple moments to respond because I just loved looking into his eyes. It made me feel safe. “You bet I am, Ethan!” “Let’s ride!” We got in his car and drove out of the parking lot, all of our stuff bouncing in the trunk. I turned around to look back one last time. I wasn’t sad at all. I looked at my future sitting right beside me. I had everything I ever wanted. Sometimes, you have to give up everything, for love.

Taylor Rae Smith

My Darling Sunflower

I thought once that we were in love. However, I was sadly mistaken. I had always believed in the idea that falling in love with your best friend is like having the best of both worlds. That belief grew intensively stronger as we began to bloom together, though such feelings have been lost.

He was a lone sunflower after an unforeseen frost had taken out the season’s harvest— something truly special. That is how he drew me in. It became apparent to me that while I peered out every day at that many-acre field of sunflowers, I was overwhelmed. When there was only one to catch my eye, though, I realized that for an extended period I had been overlooking the true beauty of an individual. I had seen every other flower, but he was definitely the chosen one. I made the conscious decision to keep him for myself. Still, I would share his beauty with others, but from the safety of a vase on my kitchen table. I believed that I could keep him forever. Every morning after being roused by the sun, his radiance would encompass me with a lavish amount of joy and comfort. Regardless of what my day would entail, I knew religiously that a single glance at him would blanket any upset that had occurred. What I was neglecting to notice, however, were his unfulfilled needs. Once removed from the comfort of his upbringing, he had begun to change. This change was beneficial as well as detrimental. As he learned to live on his own, there was a distinct counter that became apparent. Certain needs could only be provided to him from his native roots. The happiness he had brought to me I no longer could give back. In the beginning, I imagined that picking him would bring us closer, but over time, I found that it drove us further apart. As I took from him for my personal satisfaction, I became ignorant to his suffering and that he had begun to look for nutrition from outside sources. The sun could provide to him what I was no longer able, and so he went to be with her.

My heart finally told me that I could no longer misuse my time trying to save what had already departed. I took from this a valuable lesson to “accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” Also, I have also devoted time for myself and turned towards faith to help guide me. You must have self-love before you can truly love another.

Image courtesy of Taylor Rae Smith

Emily Buksa

Jedo

Every family should have a special tradition with a very special person. Every Sunday, whether it is NASCAR season, football season, or neither, we would always go down to visit my Jedo. Every time we had gone down, he had been fine, except this trip. This trip was different. It happened on Sunday, so naturally we were going down to visit my Nana and Jedo. It was cloudy, foggy, and there was something in the air that might give one idea that something was not right. It looked and felt like a terrible day. Little did my family know that a bit earlier that day my dad had gotten a phone call that my Jedo had just passed out in a store and was being taken to the emergency room. It was out of nowhere. He had been perfectly fine one minute and then the next minute not. We had no idea what was going on. An ambulance came to take him to the emergency room. The doctors also had no idea why he would have passed out. A lot of us thought he was dehydrated because even though it was rainy and foggy, it was still really hot and humid. So logically, they took him back for a brief CAT scan. What they found next broke all of us. The results from the scan came back, and we found out that he had a lump on his left lung. We were not supposed to get all worked up about it. Their reasoning was that he had had a lot of surgeries in his youth, and it could just be tissue on the lung. Deep down inside, I knew it was more than that. I will never forget walking into the house after everything and pretending to be okay. Everyone knew I was a mess, though; they could see it on my face. I was crying outside on the porch, and all I wanted to do was make sure my Jedo was okay. I calmed down two minutes later. I then walked into the house, went over to him, gave him a hug and a kiss, and sat down in the seat in front of him. I guess he knew I was worried because he got up, came over to me and gave me a hug. He told me that everything would be okay; he was not going to go anywhere anytime soon. I had calmed down after that, but I still felt that my world was crashing down. We all waited patiently the next few days to see what the lump was. I was in school when everyone else found out. All I remember is coming home to my dad being unusually quiet and my mom looking sad. When they told me that my Jedo had lung cancer, I couldn’t take it. I just started crying and my dad got up from the couch and came over to me and said, “Please be strong for my dad,” and that is what I did. I stayed strong every time we went down to see him. Every time family came in and they looked like they wanted to cry, I kept strong, even though inside I wanted to just break down and cry. I held it all in because my dad had asked me to and because I knew that Jedo would not have wanted me to cry. We all had made a vow to make Jedo as happy as ever. So we went down a little more often and stayed a little longer. I went down and told him how my day was almost every day. Most of the time my day was not a good one and he would have ice cream and ice cream cones. The ice cream was the best. He would get out Galliker’s Dairy Ice Cream and the Giant Eagle Brand cones and make some for all of us. This did not just happen if I had a bad day. He did it when I had good days as well. 25

The next couple of months were hard. Every Monday for three weeks he would have to get treatment. It was not good for him, and we all knew it. He was only doing it for us. He eventually stopped and went to something slightly better than what he had gotten before. We all still went down every day, and my dad and Uncle Jimmy said they were spending a lot of time with him so that when the time came they would not have any regrets or feelings that they did not spend enough time with him. A few months had gone by, and we knew it was close. We did not want to think it was almost time, but it was. We all had done a lot with him in those few months, but we still wanted more. More is what we never got. On January 24, 2017, my Jedo passed and it broke all of us. We could no longer hug him or kiss him or tell him we loved him. We could no longer hear him say “I love you” back. We can no longer tell him about our day. We can no longer get ice cream when our day is horrible to make us feel better. “Everything will be okay,” everyone said, and I know it will, but I will miss him. As of right now, we are finishing what he wanted done to his house, and we are going to do what he wanted to do with my Nana. We have good memories with my Jedo that will always be in our hearts and we will never forget them and he will always be with us. Always tell your loved ones that you love them. Always spend time with them. You never know what might happen. Never take time for granted. Always make the best of the situation.

Erin Berzonski

Brothers

(3rd Place Winner) Light rain falling,

He’s proud of me, smiling.

it’s the perfect weather.

“Help!” I yell with a grin.

Let’s take a drive,

No blood between us,

the three of us, together.

but nonetheless kin.

My two brothers,

He told everyone,

we pack up the car.

“It was this big! Really!”

Let’s go to the pond,

He was always laughing, singing,

it’s not that far.

always being silly.

“Take it easy,” he says,

The catfish swims;

“Don’t go too fast.”

his hands are cold.

We get there,

All we have left,

the rain has passed.

are the memories to hold.

We jump on the dock,

He smiles in my mind;

“Don’t fall; grab my hand.”

I see him in the water.

The three of us laughing—

Now we remain,

my brothers, our band.

one son, one daughter.

The water is green just like his eyes. I reel in a catfish, massive in size.

Visions Bright New Insights from Bright Young Minds 2017-2018