essay 2, the most stressful one yet. (oops, forgot to put "example essay")

Having a part-time job at a restaurant can be both a rewarding and a challenging experience. One can learn the value of a dollar, of organization, and of an honest day's work. Interacting with employees, managers, and customers instill a people-friendly attitude and underscore the value of working as a team. There are many lessons to be learned in life, and, if you're up for the challenge, getting a job at a young age can give you a head-start in the real world.
I got my first job at the age of 15; I worked as a waitress at a restaurant in the town in which I was raised. The first few days were an interesting obstacle, as I had to become accustomed to being held responsible for the image of my benefactors, as well as maintaining an orderly and punctual schedule. Conflict is inevitable when working with the public and, with practice and patience, I slowly learned to deal with such issues. These are crucial skills for a mature, working environment, and will probably help me for the rest of my life.
There are also a few negative points to consider when determining whether prematurely joining the work force is a choice you'd like to make. Precious hours are consumed by a job, leaving less time to study and participate in other curricular activities. This may have an undesired impact on one's grades, due to smaller periods allowed to study. Additionally, the stresses of work may also take a toll on one's mood, limiting one's ability to work efficiently with professors and fellow students.
The question of “to work, or not to work” is ultimately up to you, and may be influenced by the time at which your classes take place, the number of classes you are taking, how relatively difficult or time-consuming you find your schoolwork, and you are in need for income. Having extra cash to pay for gas and other expenses may be a necessity to most, but if that is not the case, it may not be worth the time taken from one's studies.
Considering all variables and circumstances, I stand by my decision to work alongside my academic career, but it may not be for everyone. I feel that I have acquired invaluable skills and accumulated particularly enlightening experiences in my pursuit of a weekly paycheck, and would recommend a similar path for those able to take up the challenge.

Final Draft Was Due Today!

what was my greatest challenge with writing this essay?
hard to pick. but i am going with choosing a topic. i enjoyed the freedom of choice, but i almost felt like i had too many uninteresting topics to choose from. i tried writing about five other essays before finally stumbling upon one i could work with. it was about 8 p.m. on monday night, and i was at the point where i thought i wasnt going to be able to complete my essay on time. so, i sat down and started watching HGTV. then it came to me- instead of trying to describe an event like the book suggested, i would describe something i liked. and i wanted to talk the reader directly and really get him or her involved, as if the were a part of my paper, which is why i chose to write in 2nd person. i really enjoy 2nd person, so i do hope thats not a problem :)
also, i just wanted to Windex this for anyone who wondered, this essay is fiction. there is not actually an old house at the end of Lite-n-Tie Road- well, not a very welcoming one anyway. so thats why i didnt give an exact location or anything.

i enjoyed reading and commenting on everyone else's posts. it made me feel more confident about my own, and i like to think i helped out a couple of people with a little simple, kind-hearted advice.

first essay for english 1101

A Forgotten Home

If you’re ever driving down Lite-N-Tie Road with a little time on your hands, park your car just around the graveled curve near the end of the road, and walk a little ways into the woods to your left. On the right day, in the right weather, and at the right time, you will see an old house in the near distance. It has been neglected for many years– perhaps several decades– and the majority of the structure is in a state of disrepair. You may notice the way the surrounding forest can play tricks on your eyes, creating the illusion of a looking at a sepia-toned photograph. The soft, evening sunlight of autumn filters through the tall Georgia pines and century old oak trees, casting soft, soothing shadows on the faded blue paint of the house, as the aged shutters creak pitifully in the breeze.
The doorway is like a dusty portal to a time long past, taking you into a foyer of antique paradise. The hardwood is scattered with old treasures, and hanging up on the walls are photographs of unknown people; perhaps they lived here, or perhaps they were merely friends of the people who did live here. One can only wonder. If you keep walking, on past a two filthy bathrooms and three abandoned bedrooms, you’ll find yourself in an ancient kitchen. Small specks of newly unsettled dust float visibly in the few streams of sunlight that have barely made it through the opaque, brown, age-stained windows. Dishes lie where they were left, piled high in a rusty sink invaded by a soft, pale green mold.
Exiting through the kitchen door will take you onto a run-down, screened-in porch. The nearly-rotten boards beneath your feet screech with the stress of this newfound weight, and the wood itself is chipped and splintered in many places. Nails, deep crimson with years of accumulated rust, protrude from the dry-rotted boards, and what may have been paint many years ago is now nothing more than a few pitiful chips scattered randomly beneath your feet. The screens, suspended between pillars of maple, are riddled with punctures, no longer providing any defense against mosquitoes or other pests.
The door of the porch, as old as it is, glides open with surprising ease. Gently taking the now crooked steps carefully, as not to cause any further damage, down one at a time will take you into an overgrown back yard, tangled with tall weeds, vines, and many other invasive types of greenery. A path, just barely distinguishable from this green entanglement, allows safe passage around, back to your waiting car. As you stop and momentarily stare over your shoulder at the structure for one last memory, you can’t help but feel a pang of sadness for how beautiful and livid this forgotten home once must have been.