Short Essay Final Draft

“Terrible 22’s, or are they?”

It most likely started with an awesome rated R movie you saw in 6^th grade, as you watched in excitement saying to your friends, “Only 7 more years until that’s us!” Or maybe it began with a “cool” story someone’s unfiltered older sibling told you about how they were up all night partying and boozing and totally skipped classes all week. Wherever you were when you first began to think about college, you were most likely years away from the first time you would physically walk into a dorm and understand what things like easy mac/cup of noodles, hangovers and bad decisions really meant.

Despite what you might have heard from word of mouth, you didn't really know what to expect from the after high school fraction of your life, but think you have some sort of indistinguishable idea and if you’re lucky, you also have a team of friends taking these steps with you and an even larger family encouraging you to keep moving forward! What nobody really explains though, or perhaps they themselves don’t have a grasp on it just yet, is what it feels like at the “end of the road.” Everyone wants to talk about the party but nobody wants to explain what 6 am feels like afterwards. That’s why I’m here, to present the 22 things that Taylor Swift didn't teach you about being 22:

1. You will be tired. So tired, and not from day drinking.

2. Love feels scary, yet comfortable and primal.

3. Most of your friends don’t give a shit about you.

4. Luckily your family does, even if it may be a little too much at times.

5. Feeding yourself becomes more of a burden than you ever thought possible.

6. Errands are a real thing that requires careful planning and dedicated follow through.

7. You will actually use a lot of the random shit that you said you would never use in school.

8. Unfortunately you somehow did not learn enough random shit and will frequently say really dumb shit at work. Out loud, probably in front of your boss.

9. “How’s work?” will be the only question anyone ever asks you.

10. Money. It leaves as quickly as it comes.

11. If you do anything kinda grown up with your boyfriend/girlfriend people will think you’re getting married.

12. Your family will start to get weird about you getting married. THEY NEVER STOP ASKING!

13. Having no rules will be really fucking scary.

14. It’s harder than you think to make friends, especially good ones.

15. People are racist.

16. You will be selfish without knowing you’re being selfish.

17. You will do great things, because you are confident enough to know you can.

18. Ambition can feel suffocating.

19. You will find gray hairs, and if you haven’t yet… just wait… they’re coming.

20. You will drink to survive not to party.

21. Most of this drinking will be at home, on your couch, in your sweat pants.. and you’ll find that you’re surprisingly more than ok with that.

22. Anything really is possible.

Since a young age, I have had two quotes instilled in my head! 1. "Life goes on." and 2. "What's meant to be will happen." So hang there, no matter how confusing  life may get. Cause just when you think being in your 20's is difficult, reality hits that you are only getting older and life is getting tougher! But.. it's definitely getting better!

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF PUBLICATION VENUES

Hippocampus Magazine

http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/

http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/category/creative-nonfiction/flash/

Hippocampus Magazine, was founded by Donna Talarico, who purchased the domain in 2009 while studying at Wilkes University towards her MFA in creative writing. It was not until 2011 that Donna introduced Hippocampus Magazine to the world. Not only did Donna want to create a literary magazine with outstanding essays and memoirs, but she also wanted to create a venue for education and information for the readers and writers of the creative nonfiction world. This site is also home to craft articles, book reviews and interviews. But how, I'm sure you are wondering, did Ms. Talarico decide on the name "Hippocampus Magazine," for her site? The hippocampus is part of the brain where long term memories are formed and saved, therefore, without the hippocampus great memoirs would not be possible. What a great name for a great website. 

I had the privilege of reading three flash creative nonfiction pieces from Hippocampus Magazine. They are, "Burn," by Cheryl Diane Kidder, "When the Light Changes," by Christine Cooper and "October 20," by Margaret Ozmet. Although these are all female authors, Hippocampus Magazine is full of unisex authors throughout their different categories. Back to the flash writing! The stories I read all had a similar tone, the tone of reflection and nostalgia and a firm grip of reality. The subject matters were forced sexual contact, suicidal thoughts and death of loved ones. Unfortunately, these are subjects which many people can relate to, whether it is all subjects or just one/two. Although the subject matter are known to be extreme, the stories were not entirely dark from beginning to end. Each story held on to a form of nostalgia. 

In "Burn," (http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/2013/10/burn-by-cheryl-diane-kidder/) Kidder is faced with a nerve wrecking moment as a man will not allow her out of his car until she agrees to oral sex. She immediately looks away from him, pressing her face against the glass window of the car and instantly remembering the smell of burning leaves from her grandmothers house. The house she would visit with her father as a young girl. Suddenly the man pushes her head down to his lap as he holds a knife at her leg and presses it harder against her skin until she agrees to his despicable actions. The minute it is over she walks away from the car, and as she is unsure she can even trust her legs to get her to her front door, the familiar smell of burning leaves keeps her moving. Next, Cooper, the author of "When the Light Changes," (http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/2013/08/when-the-light-changes-by-christine-cooper/) takes us down memory lane as she describes in detail her past of suicidal thoughts and attempts, while she remembers them herself in a brief moment of almost being the victim of a car accident at an intersection, thinking to herself that this may finally be her "way out." However as she snaps into reality she quickly remembers her son, in the backseat of the her car. She understands that she no longer can have selfish thoughts, as there is another human life she is responsible for. Now she feels foolish for her thoughts a moment ago and she is thankful that her son has saved her, because now she feels she has a purpose and that purpose is to always protect him. Finally, in "October 20," (http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/2013/04/october-20-by-margaret-ozmet/) Margaret Ozmet introduces her story with a collection of thoughts she has a freshmen in high school, all surrounding herself. Such as, "How can she focus?" "Why is it so hot?" "I wonder if Troy Fowler would date a freshman?" And then instantly reality snaps her out of her own thoughts as the principal pulls her from class and she meets her older brother in the hall. As the adults advise Margaret that she will be going to the hospital where her father was taken, she begins rambling about herself, yet again, to her brother who does not respond. Then he snaps, "Jesus Christ Margaret! Shut the hell up! Dad is dead!"

The forms of these stories are varied. "Burn," and "When the Light Changes," seem to be segmented, as the authors share flashbacks and go from past to present very rapidly. Then we have "October 20," that is written in traditional form, following a chronological order. As I stated earlier, I focused primarily on the "Flash Creative Nonfiction" submissions, therefore these are what we in class know as short essays, which we have all submitted to our blog. "Hippocampus Magazine," is an excellent venue for rising writers. They are constantly on the lookout for new memoirs, creative nonfiction anthologies and craft books. 

INTERESTED IN PUBLISHING TO THIS VENUE?

This site does not charge for publications or reading fees. However, they do host a few respectfully placed advertisements and affiliate links in order to support the administrative costs of running the online magazine. Anything else besides the donation comes from their "pocket change." Any support as a reader or writer is greatly appreciated and will fund things such as postage to send review copies to writers, "Most Memorable" prizes, web hosting, email software and photo licensing. 

For the Media and Literary Bloggers:

Interested in speaking with Hippocampus Magazine or one of its writers? You can email your request to info@hippocampusmagazine.com. Your email will be replied to as soon as possible and you will be provided with further contact information.

For Publishers, Publicists and Authors:

If you would like your upcoming/recent book considered for review or for an interview, please email your request and any press materials to hippocampusmagazine@gmail.com.

You may also send printed materials/review copies to:

Hippocampus Magazine
c/o Donna Talarico, Publisher
222 E. Walnut, Suite #2
Lancaster, PA 17602

Short essay 2 draft

Full Time

Juggling full-time school and full-time work means one thing for me, a chaotic life. My to-do list is difficult to keep up with as it expands every week. To make matters worse, it’s hard for me to maintain my concentration on the task at hand. When I’m at work I want to do school stuff, when I’m at school I want to do work stuff, and on weekends I would rather spend my time with family, friends, and most of my bed (oh how I miss my bed!).

It’s hard to stay on top of all the work I need to complete,such as writing papers, posting in a discussion, planning for a team meeting and so on. I’m managing—but not as well as I would like to be. Basically, I’m overwhelmed. It’s difficult for me to ask for help, especially since most times I can't even point what I need help with, so I try to take on everything! This is not necessarily the best route but I’m not sure what else to do. Thankfully, I know that this time won’t last forever and finally it is slowly, very very slowly, coming to an end. 

While some of my classmates have yet to be in the “real world" and struggle to relate to topics we are working on, I have the privilege of thinking about how, for example, I can best use my writing/editing skills to get ahead in my career at the law firm. Similarly, I don’t have to go too far to find a professional setting where I can work on my assignments—I’m there five days a week and I have excellent co-workers who are constantly giving great advice/words of encouragement to keep me moving forward.

I feel that as stressful as it may be to try to stay on top of my many to-do lists, I’m learning more than I ever would be otherwise and I am keeping up with new findings and practices within my field.

Regardless of how much I just want to relax, I know that this experience is benefiting me more than I can comprehend. And just in case my co-workers or instructors are reading this—SORRY! I’m trying to be as productive and timely as possible. There just are not enough sticky notes in the world to make me perfect.