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... Christine Kidd Jessica Drew Kristen Bingler Jake Tuck Page 26  ...

... Christine Kidd Jessica Drew Kristen Bingler Jake Tuck Page 26  ...

... Christine Kidd Jessica Drew Kristen Bingler Jake Tuck Page 26  ...

... Rosemary Harkrader Winner of the QEP Essay Contest Water Pistol It is impossible to comprehend the vitality of the common nightlight until the bulb blows out and you are left in the dark. When the bulb does blow out, you understand instantly. I understood as I lay petrified under the covers trying to decide which would be better: to live in cowardice or die with courage. I didnt ever expect to take that question so seriously, especially at my young age. But, thats what it came down to: life and death. Since light no longer guarded my room, I feared for my life. I feared the ghouls. This fear may not have been reasonable. I had no reason to believe that the absence of light would mark the advent of death. I had no solid proof that the murderous ghouls even existed. I had never seen the greasy skin oozing with venom nor smelled the sharp scent of decaying blood and flesh. I had only seen vague forms and shadows in the darkness, and that did not count as solid proof. Nothing was solid proof until an adult agreed with you. Even though my inner senses screamed Danger, danger! ghouls did not exist because no adult believed that they existed. Even so, I was not about to believe that these horrific monsters were simply non-existent. Adults could take that approach, but kids could not. It was different for us kids. We were vulnerable and ghouls knew it. Ghouls were the sort of nightmare that could smell the scent of terror lingering on you and know that your water gun, your only hope, was too far to reach before they would see you move and destroy you. Under rotting hair, glazed eyes snapped through the night and stared hard at my goose pimpled flesh while I considered the water pistol resting on the nightstand. One blast of water and I would be safe. Then, I wondered if I should even consider resisting the plotting of the dangerous ghouls. It is too risky, my mind instructed me. As soon as you move, your hope and life will be eliminated. Page 24 Water Pistol| Rosemary Harkrader But what virtue is there in cowering before your fears? my heart demanded. Surely there is more nobility in facing the enemy with fear checked by courage than in remaining motionless and afraid. Then, my mind responded with the ultimate question: Which would be better: to live in cowardice or die with courage? I considered it seriously. Quite seriously, for this was a matter of life and death. But, it was also a matter of nobility. Spots swarmed my eyes as I strained to see through the darkness. Ten seconds. Twenty. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins and I focused on the water gun waiting on the nightstand. I tensed, then sprang for the pistol. Page 25  ...

... Tom Myrtle Coroebus in White I peer through the peacocks1 clear, glassy eye, And there see a wondrous sight in pure white Crystal and sparkling steel, as round they fly, Swirling and spinning in circles of light. Then next through the eye, I witness on high, Someone hurdling to the basin below Through the light, airy, azure of the sky, As a gold eagle on the wind does flow. Would that I could be among the grand throng, Whose tumult somersaults down the hills And over the hollows like a heroic song, Their crescendos chilling the spine with thrills. Or that I could fly and twist in the clouds, Then alight softly, to delight these crowds. Coreobus was the first Olympic champion in 776 BCE The peacock is the logo of NBC 1 Page 23  ...

... Value Drawing by Jessica Drew Page 22  ...

... Deborah Poulin QEP Essay Contest recepient of honorable mention PVCC Letter Dear I cant do this, August 28th 2009, I put my purple suede boots through the annex doors at Piedmont, abandoning my past posture of self doubt and I got my college swagger on. If you witnessed that day, you might have assumed you were seeing a confident, youthful woman in her stride, sporting seriously hot boots. Not likely youd have guessed that internally, I was emotional wreckage fighting back a full on panic attack with absolutely no self worth to be had. Truth about me goes something like this. Middle aged single mother of four, works 30 hours a week, sleeps rarely, finding Mr. Coffee and under eye concealer, the only two things I can always depend on. My life is really hard and plus or minus details, I imagine yours is too. For more years than I care to admit, I put off my education. I was scared, abused, trapped and hopeless. My fears, as Id bet yours do, varied from legitimate to downright irrational. What I know now that I didnt know then, is that fear is wholly unimportant, until it is overcome If I denied that my first day wasnt nerve wracking, Id be misrepresenting my experience and doing us a disservice. Okay, the droves of kids in crowded hallways totally freaked me out. That literally lasted for all of five minutes, until I realized I wasnt a sore thumb at all, even with the damn boots. There are enough mature students enrolled at PVCC to create a perfect balance to the youthful. That is truly one of the things I appreciate most about this college, diversity. The kids bring something unique to my experience by keeping me fresh and awake with their boundless energy. I in turn bring them my wisdom, life experience and enthusiastic encouragement. Already I have witnessed real reflection in the eyes of a peer twenty years my junior because of something I have said. My unexpected college bonus, I dare suggest far more rewarding than beer pong. Page 20 Deborah Poulin | PVCC Letter The beneficial surprises thus far at PVCC have me eager to experience next semester. Nine short weeks in ITE-119, and Debbie Wenger has cured my irrational fear of computers. Microsoft word, no longer makes me suicidal. In SDV, Annette Williams has offered positive reinforcement and guidance while seeking my true career path, helping me to realize limitations dont exist. And In Ethics 101, Marietta McCarty taught me, my angry voice is not the only voice deserving recognition. All of this gained already, and in an atmosphere as warm and inviting as my family kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. PVCC is the right place to get your foot in the educational door. Especially, if youre in the phase of life requiring good arch support for your practical, comfortable shoes or like me, in your very hot (but very flat) purple suede boots. If I can do this, you can do this. Proudly, Deborah Poulin P.S. Enroll right now. Page 21  ...

... James Coles Furrows of Time There is a road beyond the black way by the fields Heavily traveled by me in my youth Farmhands labour, working their ancient fingers to the bone Staring listlessly and sadly at me I swore never to be like them, caught in time Working my fingers to the bone. In the metropolis I sought a proper education To secure a future in the city, not in the sun To escape the rustic cycle of my ancestors And to hide from the forlorn glances that penetrated me In my youth on the road beyond the black way by the fields Where farmhands labour, working their fingers to the bone. One summer, the war came to the East Pulled from academia and given a pistol for a pen Katyushas and ski teams were all I knew Taking a life also takes from oneself On the front, I contemplated which was more destructive To work your soul or your fingers to the bone. Peace broke, leaving heroes unemployed and unfulfilled Too affected for school and too young for retirement Time slowed to a crawl...-- in the beat of a heart I was there, along the road beyond the black way In the fields, labouring, staring at a bright-eyed youth Working my ancient fingers to the bone. Page 19  ...

... BLIND CONTOUR: a line drawing - in this case of a still life - sketched without looking at the paper A blind contour by Hannah Grisko A blind contour by Nalani Williams Page 18  ...

... BLIND CONTOUR: a line drawing - in this case of a still life - sketched without looking at the paper A blind contour by Hannah Grisko A blind contour by Nalani Williams Page 18  ...