Final Essay- Poverty

Kari Kukkonen
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, Period: 4
Final Essay
19 May 2011

   In 2010, there were 925 million empty mouths in the world (www.worldhunger.org). There are 25,000 people, generally children, who die everyday because of hunger-related causes (www.poverty.com). Why? Poverty. It is a word that is heard much too often in the world today. It is, more often than not, tied to third world countries in Africa or South America. Poverty, however, has made its way into the lives of people in all corners of the globe, and it can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. Not only does it strike with hunger, but also those living in poor living conditions, with disease, contaminated water, too, live in poverty. Poverty is a problem that can be easily eliminated if people would be willing to do their part in stopping it.
   According to Peter Singer, it is our responsibility as decent human beings to help those who suffer do to poverty. In Singer's hypothetical situation, Bob spared his car on the train tracks by sacrificing the life of a child (Singer). When we decide to spend our money on unnecessary things, we are making the same decision that Bob made, by sacrificing the lives of children, and adults across the globe, rather than aid those who live in poverty. It is also Singer's belief that it is our duty to give to charity as much as we are able. By calculation, it is possible to help one child survive for only 200 dollars (Singer). If everyone in the world who is able sent 200 dollars to a charity such as UNICEF, the countries living in The main point of Singer's argument and idea for the solution to poverty is giving as much as we are able, to charities, rather than spending the excess money on ourselves (Singer). The solution to poverty is as easy as not eating out for a month, but instead, giving it to charity.
   Thomas Pogge, like Singer, is a philosopher that speaks out about the poverty issue. He, unlike Singer, believes that the reason that third world countries deal with poverty is the fault of the rich, and that it cannot be solved. It is Pogge's belief that rich people, and the rich countries keep the poor poor, and the rich rich, similar to an oligarchy. Likewise, he believes that the rich take advantage of countries lacking resources, which is the direct cause of poverty. The bottom 50% of the population holds 1.1% of the global wealth, whereas the top 10% of the population holds 85.1% (Pogge). Singer addressed this issue in his piece when talked about those who turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in underdeveloped countries. He believes that the reason the rich don't donate their money is because they feel that there is no need for them to do so, so long as others will (Singer). Pogge also believes that by inheriting the money from past generations, the rich also bring upon themselves the burden of their sin (Pogge). They do not understand the burden that they now carry, and, as Singer says, are ignorant to the needy and helpless. They are numb to it. They do not understand that the children of poverty are their children. Though Pogge may disagree, there are many who take Singer's stance, and believe that solving the issue of poverty is simple, as long as everyone does their part.
  Both Singer and Pogge make convincing and sound arguments about the now circulating topic of poverty. Singer believes that the only way to end poverty in the world is for everyone to donate to charity. Pogge, on the other hand, believes that there is no solution to poverty, because the rich will always be rich, and the poor will always remain poor. The poverty problem in the world is turning into a crisis, but it is possible to put a stop to it, as long as each person does their part in stopping it. Whether one sides with Pogge or Singer, every able person should do what they can to help make the world a better place, because all it takes is one raindrop to create a wave.

Work Cited

Pogge, Thomas. "Poverty and Human Rights."

Singer, Peter. ""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." UNet  Users' Home Pages. Web. 12 May 2011.
http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/singermag1.html. http://www.poverty.com/ http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/expert/docs/Thomas_Pogge_Summ ary.pdf

Final Essay Rough Draft

Kari Kukkonen
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, Period: 4
Final Essay
12 May 2011

In 2010, there were 925 million empty mouths in the world (www.worldhunger.org). There are 25,000 people, generally children, who die every day because of hunger-related causes (www.poverty.com). Why? Poverty. It is a world that is heard much to often in the world today. It is, more often than not, tied together with third world countries in Africa or South America. Poverty, however, has made its way into the lives of people in all corners of the globe, and it can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. Not only does it strike with hunger, but also those living in poor living conditions, with disease, contaminated water, and yes, lack of food, too live in poverty. Poverty is a problem that can be easily eliminated if people would be willing to do their part in stopping it.

According to Peter Singer, it is our responsibility as descent human beings to help those who suffer do to poverty. In Singer's hypothetical situation, spared his car on the train tracks by sacrificing the life of a child (Singer). When we decide to spend our money on unnecessary things, we are making the same decision that Bob made, by sacrificing the lives of children, and adults across the globe, rather than aid those who live in poverty. It is also Singer's belief that it is our duty to give to charity as much as we are able. By calculation, it is figured that around 200 dollars can help one child survive (Singer). If everyone in the world who is able sent 200 dollars to a charity such as UNICEF, the countries living in The main point of Singer's argument and idea for the solution to poverty is giving as much as we are able to charities, rather than spending the excess money (Singer). The solution to poverty is as easy as not eating out for a month, or not spending extra money on oneself, but rather, giving it to charity.

Thomas Pogge, like Singer, is a philosopher that speaks out about the poverty issue. He, unlike Singer, believes that the reason that third world countries deal with poverty is the fault of the rich, and that it cannot be solved. It is Pogge's belief that rich people, and the rich countries keep the poor poor, and the rich rich, similar to an oligarchy. Likewise, he believes that the rich countries take advantage of the countries lacking resources, which is the direct cause of poverty. The bottom 50% of the population holds 1.1% of the global wealth, whereas the top 10% of the population holds 85.1% (Pogge). Singer addressed this issue in his piece when talked about those who turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in underdeveloped countries. He believes that the reason the rich don't donate their money is because they feel that there is no need for them to do so, so long as others will (Singer). Pogge also believes that by inheriting the money from past generations, the rich also bring upon themselves the burden of their sin (Pogge). They do not understand the burden that they now carry, and, as Singer says, are ignorant to the needy and helpless. They do not understand that the children poverty are their children. Though Pogge may disagree, there are many who take Singer's stance, and believe that solving the issue of poverty is simple, as long as everyone does their part.

Both Singer and Pogge make convincing and sound arguments about the now circulating topic of poverty. Singer believes that the only way to end poverty in the world is for everyone to donate to charity. Pogge, on the other hand, believes that there is no solution to poverty, because the rich will always be rich, and the poor will ever remain poor. The poverty problem in the world is turning into a crisis, but it is possible to put a stop to it, as long as each person does their part in stopping it. Whether one sides with Pogge or Singer, doing what they can to help make the world a better place, because all it takes is one raindrop to create a wave.

Work Cited

http://www.poverty.com/

http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm

Pogge, Thomas. "Poverty and Human Rights."

            http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/expert/docs/Thomas_Pogge_Summary.pdf

Singer, Peter. ""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." UNet       Users' Home Pages. Web. 12 May 2011.     http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/singermag1.html.

Option 3

Kari Kukkonen
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, Period: 4
Secret Essay, Option: 3
6 May 2011

What if one person grew up believing that they were a menace to society, and that everything about them was wrong? What if they could change that with a simple mind switch? The idea of acceptance as a result of one’s thoughts or actions is the most common theme in all Disney movies, especially The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It also relates directly to the teachings found in the Secret lectures. According to both the Secret lectures, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, loving and believing in oneself is one of the key factors in attracting love and happiness. Walt Disney is one of the most influential people in our world today, and the effects of what he started, and what he believed in can be seen everywhere. Not only was he an innovative thinker, inventor, and visionary, he was also a strong believer in the Secret. One of the famous Disney movies is the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It has a plot and a storyline that follows the teachings that we learned. Likewise, the main character, Quasimodo, a deformed man, has an important message that teaches us that as long as we believe in ourselves, and what we want to achieve, it will come to us, as with the Secret. Everything from Quasimodo, to the movie’s is illustrated by the song, “Out There,” which helps us to fully empathize with Quasimodo’s situation, and to realize how much he wants to be with the people in Paris, below him.

Walt Disney was a strong believer of the secret, and his beliefs are evident in all of his movies, as well as the Disney movies that are being created after his death. Walt Disney’s career started when he began to create the Alice Cartoons while living in Kansas City following the war (Brad). He had embarked on his first adventure in cartoons when he started his first company. Shortly after its start, however, it went bankrupt (Brad). He, instead of quitting, went to California to live with his brother, Roy, in Hollywood. It was here that he started to accumulate success, and fans (Brad). As Brad stated in his biography of Walt Disney, “faith in himself took him straight to the top…” (Brad). Because Walt Disney had this faith in himself, and believed that he would become a success once he arrived in Hollywood, he did become a success, as a direct correlation with the beliefs of the Secret. As Walt Disney himself stated, “If you can dream it, you can do it” (Walt Disney Quotes). This quote, also, is a connection to the Secret and his beliefs in it. Walt Disney truly did believe that we can have whatever we want if we just believe it. Walt Disney wanted to be accepted by others, and he wanted his work to be appreciated, and as a result of his positive thinking, and the belief he had in himself, his desire became reality.

In the movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a man is told how horrible and deformed he is every day, and he believes that the people will mistreat him, because that is all he knows to believe. Because he believes that he is going to be mistreated, he is harassed and ridiculed by the people while he is at the Festival of Fools. After being told that he is a monster by his heinous master, Frollo, Quasimodo expresses his desire to live among the people below. He wants to be accepted, and he believes that people will not treat him poorly. At the end of the film, a little girl walks up to him and hugs him, and after that, everyone cheers for him, and he is accepted by all of them. As stated in the Secret lectures, "how can you expect others to enjoy your company if you don't enjoy it?" (Secret lectures). One must love themselves before others will love them. According to the Secret, one simply has to think something, and it will be attracted to them. At first, Quasimodo is thinking negatively, and therefore, he attracts negative attention. Later, though, he begins to see himself in a more positive light, and because of this, everyone else sees him in the same positive light. Because Quasimodo's outlook changed throughout the film, he begins to experience good fortune, and acceptance as a result of his positive thinking.

The main character of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo, is an outcast that is looked down upon because of the way he was born. His thoughts change, however, when he is told by his gargoyle friends, Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, that he is a good man and that he, too, deserves to love and be loved in return. As can be found in the Secret lectures, if one focuses on positive aspects of their life, or situation, then those positive things will increase in number (Secret lectures). In the movie, Quasimodo falls in love with Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy, and as a result of this, he focuses on the fact that she wants to be his friend, and she accepts him for who he is. Likewise, he begins to see her more and more after rescuing her, due to the fact that he believed that she would be with him. His thoughts and beliefs allow them to create a life-long friendship. Later in the movie, Esmeralda is burning at the stake while Quasimodo is chained to the bell tower. While being coaxed by his gargoyle friends to try to help her, Quasimodo says, "what am I supposed to do, swoop down and save her like some great hero..." (Hunchback of Notre Dame). In the end, after watching Esmeralda begin to die, his prophecy that he set for himself came true, just as the secret lectures teach. Quasimodo uses the power of positive thinking, and focuses on the things that he wants most, and as a result of this, he began to be accepted, and he attracted love, and happiness.


To me, the song, "Out There" truly captured the theme of the movie, and set up a perfect parallel with the Secret lectures. At the beginning of the song, Quasimodo is singing with his master about his deformity. Because of this, at the beginning of the movie, he is ridiculed and tortured by the people at the Festival of Fools. At the end of the song, however, he sings about his dream to live among the people in peace and harmony. He expressed his desire in such a way, that he would be willing to give anything just to live with them for, if only, a day. As the movie ends, he is praised as a hero, and everyone accepts him just the way he is. The teachings of the Secret were that we attract what we are thinking, and things came just as Quasimodo thought they would. As he began to believe in himself, and believe that others would accept him, he began to love himself, and others began to believe in him and love him.

The most important factor in attracting love and happiness is believing in oneself and believing that they will find and attract everything that they want will be attracted to them, and that there wishes will come to fruition. Walt Disney was a huge believer in the Secret, and his beliefs and practices of it are what helped him gain the success that he did throughout his life, and after his death. The movie the Hunchback of Notre Dame has many great examples of how the Secret can work on, and with, anyone, no matter how big or small the desire is. Quasimodo, the main character of the movie, uses the power of the Secret to obtain what he wants: To be loved and accepted by the people of Paris, while living among them happily. The film uses the song "Out There" to reinforce the lust that Quasimodo has for living outside of the bell tower. One may think that simply believing that one will find acceptance is impossible but anyone who believes that should try it, to understand how truly possible, and probable, it actually is. Throughout time, too many good people have let their flaws get the best of them. This is too bad, because all it takes is a simple mind switch to change the outcome of one's life.

Work Cited

A., Brad. "Walt Disney: Long Biography." Walt Disney - Just
Hunchback of Notre Dame. Dir. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. Disney, 1996. DVD.
The-Secret-Film│The Secret. The Secret. Web. 04 May 2011
"Walt Disney Quotes - Page 2 - BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. Web. 01 May 2011.
Disney.com - Your Source For Disney. Web. 01 May 2011. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/walt_disney_2.html. http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/biography/long_bio02.html.

Cover Letter

178 Becker Circle
Johnstown, CO 80534



21 April 2011



Weld RE5J School District
Administration Offices
110 South Centennial Dr.
Ste. A Milliken, CO 80543

To whom it may concern:

I am a applying for the position of a history teacher at Roosevelt High School. I took interest in this job after I was informed of a position opening in the history department. Also, being a graduate of Roosevelt High School, class of 2011, I am always interested in what is going on at my old school.

I believe that I am highly qualified for this position, because I do currently hold a Bachelor’s Degree in teaching, with a minor in history that I received at Black Hills State University. I graduated in the top half of my class in both high school, and college, and I have remained and active member in my community all my life. In high school, I was an active member of the community’s 4-H club, Calico ‘n Jeans. In college, I was also active in helping younger students, keeping the campus clean, and organized social and charity events. I also held a part-time job at Old Chicago when I was in high school and numerous part-time jobs throughout college. It has always been my dream to teach and help students to grow as individuals, and I believe that teaching at Roosevelt would make that dream come true, and surpass my expectations, because I would be teaching at the place that taught me.

Thank you for your contributions to Johnstown, and neighboring communities. I enjoyed my time at Roosevelt, and I know that the current students must, as well. The work being done with them, and its sports teams and clubs are admirable. Roosevelt has always been good with character education, teaching students good habits and virtues for the future. I have enclosed my resume, recommendations, and further contact information for your use. If you have any questions about my resume, or you need to contact me, you can call me at (970)-290-0010, or send me an email to karimarie5@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for considering me for this opportunity, and your time and consideration.

Sincerely,



Kari Kukkonen

Scholarship Essay

The Alert Scholarship: Write an essay about a personal encounter you or someone you know has had with drug and/or alcohol abuse.

 The saying, "friends come and go, but family is forever," never used to make much sense to me, but now I am beginning to understand it in a deeper meaning. My cousin, growing up, was my best friend, and we did everything together. We could make fun out of anything, and the best memories that I have are with her. It's only a shame that that's all they will ever be: Memories. She is not the same girl I played in the sandbox with, and she will never be that girl again.
 My cousin was my best friend when we were younger, and we promised to stay that way forever. Never were we to break that promise. I can remember spending every day with her, even holidays. We loved playing with water balloons in my backyard, and making up silly games with them. One summer, we went to the pool every single day, and the next summer when I broke my arm, she stayed out of the water with me, even though she really wanted to swim. My cousin was the first person to wish me a "happy birthday" at 12 o'clock in the morning on August 5, and she was the first person I told all my secrets to as we grew older. She was the first to know when I got my first kiss, got into a fight with my mom, and when I broke up with my boyfriend. That girl was one of the most important parts of my life as a child.
 As we got a little older, she moved to the next town over, but it might as well have been across the country. We didn't talk as much and we rarely saw each other. She started drinking, and drinking turned to smoking marijuana, and smoking marijuana turned into snorting cocaine. Since she moved to the next town, she has been kicked out of her high school because she missed over one hundred days, and now she goes to an alternative high school. She has also been to the emergency room multiple times do to alcohol poisoning, and she is only 17 years old. I would try to talk to her, and patch our lost bond, but it was never the same. On my last birthday, I got a phone call from her that made me cry, because I was shocked that she remembered my birthday. The day my cousin moved, is the day I lost my very best, closest friend.
 In the past year, I have talked to her more than the past four years, and I have gotten a better understanding of her situation. Since her parents got back together, she has quit drinking, and is starting to turn her life around, with baby steps. Her grades are better, and she is on track to graduate on time, which makes me very proud. Though things are different between us, and though they will never be the same, she is still my cousin, but more importantly, she is my best friend. Though we may not see each other every day, I still plan on having her as my maid of honor at my wedding, and she will still be the first person to know my biggest news. Even though we will never have the relationship we used to, we will still have one, and for that, I am grateful.
 Yes, it is true that friends will always come and go, but family is forever. For a while, my cousin was not my friend. In fact, I did not even acknowledge her at all. Even though she was not my friend, however, she was still a part of my family, and that is something that will never change. Also, I know that even when I grow apart from my high school friends, and childhood friends as we all move away and begin our lives, I will always have her, and that is how it will always stay. The memories I have of my best friend make me happy, and even though I lost her forever, I still gained a new friend through this experience. She is the same in a different way, but I still love her.

Scholarship Essay

"Do you believe there's a generation gap? Describe the differences between your generation and others."

The world is a completely different place than it used too, and it has come very far in such a short amount of time. As the world changes, and advances, it means that a rift in generations was inevitable. Technology is incredibly different than it was for the generation prior to this one. Also, the mind-set is very different than it was for the older generations. The dress code is also significantly different. All of these aspects of today's generation cause the gap in generations to take place.
Technology is so different than the way it was in the previous generation. When the parents, and grandparents, of today's youth were young, themselves, there was no such thing as a cell phone, and computers were just becoming popular. Now, however, the youth relies almost completely on our cell phones to go through everyday life. There are even cell phones which have internet on them. Also, one can almost always walk into a home and expect to see at least one computer, and TVs in every room, with a person occupying their time with it. In the past, homes usually only had one TV, and the family was all gathered around, watching "I Love Lucy" or "Gilligan's Island," together. Also, my generation can not go on a road trip without a GPS system in our car, which makes the necessity for a paper map obsolete; other generations relied completely on them. Technology is one of , if not the biggest, contributors to the generation gap.
The mindset of my generation is also differs greatly from that of other generations. We seem to have everything right in front of us for the taking, and we don't need to do much to get it. The generations before us had to work for everything that they wanted. The majority of teenagers in our parents' generation had jobs. Because they worked for what they got, older generations were grateful for what they had, whereas we take it for granted. Lastly, the youth of previous generations were active in politics, and were willing to fight for what they believed to be right. Many people of my generation can not name the vice- president, and rarely know what is going on in the government, today. We are passive, and don't want to cause conflict, even for something we believe in. The mind set of my generation branches so far from the older generations, that it is hard to believe they raised us.
Lastly, the way my generation dresses is different from the way other generations have dressed. Other generations dressed conservatively, but today, we're showing more skin than ever. In my grandmother's generation, it was considered inappropriate to wear a skirt that did not go past the knees. Today, on the other hand, one rarely sees a skirt that does go past the knees. Also, the graphics that are pictured on shirts don't send off positive messages. The older generations were all about peace, and they weren't afraid to advertise that message with their clothing. The way my generation dresses is definitely different from older generations.
There is a generation gap that is clearly evident. It is there in the technological advancements that the world has made, and the bridges that society has crossed. Also, one can tell there is the chasm in generations by the in generations by the mindset of today's youth, and how it differs from older generations. Lastly, the way we dress varies greatly from that of our parents' generation. The changes in society, and the continuing advancements made the gap in generations possible, and it promises that the next generation will be even more different than this one.

Definition of Beauty- Final

Kari Kukkonen
Ms. Boresen
Expository Writing, Period: 4
Definition Essay
24 March 2011
What is Beauty?
It is ever-changing, and can be seen in a variety of ways. It creates a social hierarchy, and it is how we see the world. Beauty is everything, and nothing, for beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is beauty, though? Is it a super model? Perhaps it is a new-born baby. Or maybe, it is in the mountains. Is it superficial and vain, or is it realistic, honest, and pure? Beauty is nature, that when it touches us, breathes into us new life and perspective.
While trying to find the perfect definition for beauty, I realized that there are so many possible ones, and we all have our own personal ones, as well. According to Dictionary.com, beauty is defined as the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations, a meaningful pattern, or something else (Dictionary.com). According to Webster’s New Explorer Dictionary and Thesaurus, beauty means qualities that give pleasure to the senses or exalt the mind (Merriam-Webster, 42). All of the definitions I found, more or less, described a physical beauty. I believe that there is more to beauty than what is on the outside. Beauty is the moments of pure happiness that make life worth living; A sunrise with your best friend, or a trip to Italy. It can be the places we visit, or the people we see. Most of all, beauty is the stories, and personalities that we all have. It is our history, and it is the things that make us who we are.
Beauty can be classified into so many categories. There is natural beauty ; the kind of beauty found all around us. There is the beauty found in the nature around us. The river flowing down the mountain side that never grows weary can be the most beautiful thing in the world. Maybe it is the way the mountains look just as the sun begins to set. The stars in the sky that go on forever are infinite beauty. People are naturally beautiful, too, though, and there is mathematical proof behind it. But for many, beauty is looking the way society perceives it. It is having the right hair color, and looking the way one should in order to obtain “beauty” by today’s standard of beauty. There is also the “beauty pageant” beauty; looking absolutely stunning in a ball gown, hair in an elegant twist, and having makeup to make women look like porcelain dolls. We put so much focus on beauty , though, that it begins to lose its meaning. It is worth so much today that it has become a billion dollar industry, and people are willing to kill for it.
Everything that is beautiful can be defined by a true mathematical equation. Not only do the ancient works of art, such as Michelangelo’s David or the Greek and Roman buildings fit into this equation, but everything else in nature does, as well (Bourne). Trees, plants, and flowers all match up with the equation perfectly. The equation is called Phi, and it is often referred to as the “golden ration.” Beauty’s true mathematic equation is based on of the Fibonacci sequence (Bourne). Like the equation Pi, Phi is an indefinable number and it is never-ending. Similarly to the beauty found in nature, beauty found in humans can be determined by the Phi equation. It takes the proportions of one’s face, and puts them with the numbers to decide if said person is beautiful or not (Bourne). Those who are naturally beautiful, often times, do not notice it. They use products that they don’t need in order to make themselves beautiful in the way that they perceive it. Those who are not naturally beautiful strive for it, and go to extreme lengths in order to obtain it. It is a shame, though, to see such occurrences, because natural beauty cannot be copied. The way glow when we are in love, or the way our eyes shine when we laugh cannot be duplicated with surgery, or faked with makeup.
Beauty touches us in a way that cannot be defined and often times, it is something that is completely subconscious, and something that is known through evolutionary changes, rather than learned. According to a study done, even babies notice beauty. When shown a picture of a beautiful person, and an unattractive person, the babies all favored the person who happened to be a model (Money). As we grow older, beauty has even more value than just who we should look at. Beauty has become more of a necessity today than ever before. The beauty industry is a billion dollar one. In fact, there are $45 to $66 billion businesses (Romolini). In fact, the average woman in the United States will spend $12,000 annually on beauty expenses (Romolini). As we age even more, the desire to find a makeshift fountain of youth with makeup, and surgery. The social hierarchy that beauty has created has also created a certain desperation to be beautiful. It is perfectly acceptable for women to go in for Botox, or get collagen injections into their lips. Dying hair, or highlighting it to look a certain way also is another thing that we do without even blinking an eye. At the same time, though, there are some women and men alike who will go to extraordinary measures to obtain the beauty that they desire. One often hears stories of women going outside the country to have illegal procedures done, such as an eye color change, or have illegal and highly dangerous liposuction done.
The word beauty has truly created a new life for people, from babies, to teens, to adults alike, and it is not necessarily a good thing. A huge thing that exists today is baby beauty pageants. In most cases, women want their babies to look like little princesses or dolls, and they spend hundreds upon thousands of dollars to make their baby girls look perfect. The children in these pageants have spray tans, fake teeth, and bleached hair. The women want to live vicariously through their children, and as a result the girls are forced to grow up too fast, and live the life of a grown up, rather than be a child. Following this, there is teenage plastic surgery. Teens and pre-teens are going through plastic surgery such as breast implants, liposuction, face lifts, or nose jobs, that are, often times, illegal, and done outside of the United States. Though these are only a few of the horrific things that beauty drives us as a society to do, there are many other things we do, such as go on shows like, "Bridal Plasty," or force us to take extreme, illegal measures.
Is focusing on physical beauty really effective, though? The way Hollywood depicts beauty drives us to acts of desperation, but to what extent? It is like Anna Ford said, "... There are no plain women on television" (Forbs.com). I believe that we should look at beauty with a new perspective; the art of beauty. The way Mona Lisa smiles, or the statues in Rome is what we should focus on. We should trust in our own beauty: Our humanity. We should trust that our expressions, physical attributes, and memories give us true beauty that is on the inside, rather than the outside. It is the beauty that is real, and a type of beauty that everyone has, including the bearded lady at the circus, or the plain person in the corner of the room.
Beauty is not defined as the way our hair falls, or the color of our eyes. Beauty is defined as the tears that fall down our cheeks when we are sad, and the laugh lines we receive throughout the years. Our humanity is what gives us beauty. Our personal stories and the journeys we take change us, and make us unique. Beauty is you, it is me, it is that stranger waiting at the bus stop, or the person you see every day. Find the beauty in everyone; ask their story, and learn what true beauty can be. Why do we let the media, and the social hierarchy we've so willingly created determine what our definition of beauty is?

 

Works Cited

"Beauty | Define Beauty at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions. Web. 25 Mar. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Beauty>.

Bourne, M. "The Math Behind the Beauty." Interactive Mathematics - Learn Math While You Play with It! Web. 25 Mar. 2011. <http://www.intmath.com/numbers/math-of-beauty.php>.

Jennifer, Romolini. "How Much Do You Spend Each Year to Look Good? - Fashion Beauty on Shine." Shine: Fashion and Beauty, Healthy Living, Parenting, Sex and Love, Career and Money, Food, and More - Shine on Yahoo! Web. 25 Mar. 2011. <http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/how-much-do-you-spend-each-year-to-look-good-236943>.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2005. Print.

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Definition of Beauty

Kari Kukkonen

Mrs. Boresen

Expository Writing, Period: 4

Definition Essay

4 March 2011

What is Beauty?

It is ever-changing, and can be seen in a variety of ways. It creates a social hierarchy, and it is how we see the world. Beauty is everything, and nothing, for beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is beauty, though? Is it a super model? Perhaps it is a new born baby. Or maybe, it is in the mountains. Is it superficial and vain, or is it realistic, honest, and pure?

While trying to find the perfect definition for beauty, I realized that there are so many possible ones, and we all have our own personal ones, as well. According to Dictionary.com, beauty is defined as the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations, a meaningful pattern, or something else (Dictionary.com). According to Webster’s New Explorer Dictionary and Thesaurus, beauty means qualities that give pleasure to the senses or exalt the mind (Merriam-Webster, 42). All of the definitions I found, more or less, described a physical beauty. I believe that there is more to beauty than what is on the outside. Beauty is the moments of pure happiness that make life worth living; A sunrise with your best friend, or a trip to Italy. It can be the places we visit, or the people we see. Most of all, beauty is the stories, and personalities that we all have. It is our history, and it is the things that make us who we are.

Happiness, sadness, selflessness, and our past all create what gives us all beauty. The way we smile, or when we glow when we are in love, and the way we sound when we laugh are things that cannot be duplicated with makeup, surgery, and cannot be faked. They are the things that make us truly beautiful. Everyone can feel beauty, because everyone is human, with emotions, and a story to tell. One must embrace their past and their personal story in order to truly understand how beautiful they are. We must also do the same for others, for you should not judge a book by its cover. Even the bearded lady at the circus and the plain looking person that always sits in the corner has a story to share that makes them beautiful.

Beauty can be classified into so many categories. For many, beauty is the outer appearance of an individual. It is having the right hair color, and looking the way one should in order to obtain “beauty” by today’s standard of beauty. There is also the “beauty pageant” beauty; looking absolutely stunning in a ball gown, hair in an elegant twist, and having makeup to make women look like porcelain dolls. Beauty is in everything, though. The river flowing down the mountain side that never grows weary can be the most beautiful thing in the world. Maybe it is the way the mountains look just as the sun begins to set. The stars in the sky that go on forever are infinite beauty. Beautiful moments such as those found in nature, however cannot be beautiful, unless one such as you, or I share the beauty, and pass on the story.

Beauty is what I see when I look in the mirror, because I know that my physical attributes tell a story about my past. My expressions tell a story, and give me beauty. Everyone has beauty, and we must all embrace it. Beauty always has, and always will be defined by dressing a certain way, and looking a certain way. Throughout time, women and men alike have gone to extreme lengths to be beautiful. Women were willing to poison themselves for beauty. They would pluck their hairline, wear overly extravagant wigs, or even, use lead makeup, just to keep up the pretense of beauty (The History of Hair, Hairstyles throughout the Ages). Again, the social hierarchy of each culture determined who was beautiful, and who wasn't."Beauty is not one's own, but a reflection of one's culture" (Meera). I feel that this quote truly describes how beauty is viewed today, as well as in the past. Today, our standard of beauty is different from the 17th century, but it still remains, that we will always do our best to make sure we are beautiful .History has also seen true beauty, though. If you look at a beautiful society, there is always one individual at the root of it that possesses true beauty. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Buddha, all influenced society today, and all were beautiful because of their aspirations, and desire to see others in a beautiful light. Today, beauty is long blonde hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. Everyone wants to look like their favorite celebrity, but is this really realistic? As Anna Ford said, “Let’s face it, there are no plain women on television” (Forbs.com). Shouldn’t we aspire to be the kind of beautiful that is real: the beauty that we all have?

Beauty is not defined as the way our hair falls, or the color of our eyes. Beauty is defined as the tears that fall down our cheeks when we are sad, and the laugh lines we receive throughout the years. Our humanity is what gives us beauty. Our personal stories and the journeys we take change us, and make us unique. Beauty is you, it is me, it is that stranger waiting at the bus stop, or the person you see every day. Find the beauty in everyone; ask their story, and learn what true beauty can be. Why do we let the media, and the social hierarchy we've so willingly created determine what our definition of beauty is?

Online Portfolio

LINK: https://sites.google.com/site/karikukkonen5/

Breniniger Letter of recommendation

Kari Kukkonen

178 Becker Circle

Johnstown, CO 80534

10 February 2011

Mr. Steve Breniniger

Math Teacher and Cross Country Coach

616 North Second Street

Johnstown, CO 80534

Dear Mr. Breniniger:

I am applying for the Roosevelt High School Alumni Scholarship, and I am in need of a letter of recommendation. I would be honored if you would write one for me. I have enjoyed running cross country with you as my coach, and I learned quite a bit in your math classes. Also, I was very happy with the letter you wrote me for acceptance into college.

I have enclosed copies of my resume and transcripts for your review, as well as a list of my accomplishments, and extracurricular activities. I hope to graduate with a 3.6 GPA, which is what I currently have. I am also a member of the Cross Country and Track team, as well as a member of FCA, or Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As well as these extracurricular activities, and 4-H, I hold a part time job at Old Chicago in Loveland, where I have gained work experience that I feel will be an asset to me later in life.

Because I have had your class many times, and I have run for you for the past four years, I feel that you know me well enough as both a student, and a person, to write me a letter of recommendation. If you decide to write one, please let me know as soon as you can. I will be able to pick it up from you if you decide to write it.

Whatever your decision, please accept my sincere thanks for your time and consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Kari Kukkonen

Enclosure.

Brechen Santeramo Letter of Recomendation

Kari Kukkonen

178 Becker Circle

Johnstown, CO 80534

9 February 2011

Mrs. Brechen Santeramo

Calico ‘N Jeans 4-H Leader

(Address)

Johnstown, CO 80534

Dear Mrs. Santeramo

I am applying for the Roosevelt High School Alumni Scholarship, which is a fairly competitive scholarship, and I am in need of a letter of recommendation. I would be honored if you would write one for me. I have enjoyed learning a numerous variety of things from 4-H.

I have enclosed copies of my resume and transcripts for your review. I hope to graduate with a 3.6 GPA, which is what I currently have. I am also a member of the Cross Country and Track team, as well as a member of FCA, or Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As well as these extracurricular activities, and 4-H, I hold a part time job at Old Chicago in Loveland, where I have gained work experience that I feel will be an asset to me later in life.

If you feel that you are familiar enough with me as a person to write a recommendation for me. If you decide to write one for me, please contact me by e-mail, at snowbaby487@yahoo.com, or by phone at 587-8847. I will send you a stamped, self-addressed envelope in which to send your recommendation.

Whatever your decision, please accept my sincere thanks for your time and consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Kari Kukkonen

Enclosure.

Mr. Ohlson Letter of Recomendation

Kari Kukkonen

178 Becker Circle

Johnstown, CO 80534

February 8, 2011

Mr. Matt Ohlson

Social Studies Instructor

Roosevelt High School

616 North Second

Johnstown, CO 80534

Dear Mr. Ohlson,

I am applying for a competitive scholarship, and am in need of a letter of recommendation. I would be honored if you would write one for me. Global Issues and World History with you were two of my favorite classes throughout high school.

I have enclosed copies of my resume and transcripts for your review. Also, I have a list of my assets that you are free to look over. I will be graduating with a 3.6 GPA, and am involved in Cross Country, track, FCA, and 4-H. Along with extracurricular activities, I hold a part time job at Old Chicago, and have been able to gain work experience.

If you feel that you are familiar enough with my education and skills to write a recommendation for me, please contact let me know. I believe that you’ve known me long enough, and seen me grow as a person, and you have the ability to write an accurate, and honest letter of recommendation.

Whatever your decision, please accept my sincere thanks for your time and consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Kari Kukkonen

Enclosure

RHS Almuni Scholarship

Ever since a young age, I have been desperate to help others. When I was younger, it was baking cookies my neighbors, friends, and family. Now, it is helping my community to be a better place through 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands, Health). In the future, however, I plan to do even more to help others than I have thus far.

I plan on attending Black Hills State University in the Fall of 2011, and while there, I hope to get my Bachelor's degree in teaching. Not only has teaching been the one thing that I've wanted to do my whole life, it will also provide me with the opportunity to help change the world. I hope to teach History, which is a subject that, not only interests me, but also will provide a basis for teaching students not to let some of history's darkest moments repeat themselves. Throughout my high school career, I've taken many history classes, and a Global Issues class that really inspired me to want to teach history, and act on my desire to help others. I've also been a teacher's aid, which has helped me to get an idea of what a teacher does. I've also worked hard to maintain a good grade point average, and I have taken more challenging classes.

Teaching isn't the only way that I want to try and change the world, though. I may have an opportunity to visit Cambodia this summer with my church, which is something I would love to experience. As soon as I achieve my Bachelor's degree, I intend to join the Peace Corps for a year. I believe that being able to say that I've been in the Peace Corps could inspire another to follow in my footsteps.

I feel that even though I am only one person, I can pass my teachings, and views onto another, and create a trickle down effect. If I could inspire one person, then perhaps they could pass that inspiration on, and eventually, the world will start to become a better place.