Tag Archives: rays

It has taken me to the end of my junior year to realize that not everyone has to be my friend. And not everyone will appreciate me. I try to be kind to everyone, and I would love to be friends with everyone—that’s just my personality. But it is hard to see people respond to kindness in a negative way. I expect kindness to inspire kindness. Click the magazine below to read the rest of “Standing Up” on page 43:

It’s crazy to think I am about to enter the fourth quarter of my junior year of high school. I’m about to go to prom, which I’ve been looking forward to since I was in elementary school. Time is flying by, and in a few months I’ll be a senior. New students will arrive, walk the same halls, use the same lockers, and experience a lot of the same DUMB high school drama I have survived. Although high school can be a drama-filled, stressful, scary time; it can also be an amazing time of learning who you are as a …

I’m halfway through my high school junior year. Crazy! So far, I’ve created countless memories. I’ve gained many friends and lost a few. I’ve had successes along with failures. Most importantly, I’m learning from my mistakes, and (hopefully) growing into a respectable person. As I look back, I see someone who has supported me through my highs and lows. Her name is Natalie. Click the magazine below to read the rest of “Natalie” on page 43:

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN He is someone I look up to, who at times is VERY embarrassing, but who loves me and would do anything for me. I’m talking about my amazing dad. As a boy, my dad lost one of the most important people in his life: his mother. Because of this, he understood from a young age the importance of working together as a family. Every day, he teaches my four brothers and me lessons that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. In high school, Dad was involved in sports; he was the …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I have been thinking about how much I appreciate my mom. I want to take the time to thank her and do some bragging about her. I come from a large family; I have four brothers and two dogs. Admittedly, we can be a lot to handle. Let me just say that things get a little crazy around our house. There is always a kid who is supposed to be somewhere, or a school project to work on, or a dog running away, and somebody under the mistaken …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN I love winter. I love winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing. I love going to the cabin, cuddling up under a blanket next to a fire and reading a good book. But even winter can be a hectic time of year. Recently, my life has been hectic. I have had a hard time keeping balanced—my faith, family, friends, school, and boyfriend (“Hi, Logan”)—and still having time for myself. In the cold of winter, wrapped up in a blanket, I took the time to write myself a few life lessons about loving myself: 1. Don’t get caught …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN The holiday season is my favorite time of year. And I have a special way of enjoying the holidays all year long. All you need to do is make a batch of shrimp bisque. Allow me to explain. My mom is a great cook. Soups are among her specialties. She makes a tasty leek soup. Everyone loves her potato chowder. And thanks to one of her best friends, she has a special recipe for shrimp bisque. Put simply, the bisque is to die for. So, when we go to my grandpa’s house for Christmas Eve, my …