Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Jessica

   Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an illness that people can get from different terrible events. People who are or were living through or experiencing a traumatic event would have this. You feel stressed and you don’t want to do anything. People with past traumatic stress disorder may have flashbacks, can’t sleep, feeling alone, have angry outbursts, and have different feelings. You can be any age and have post traumatic stress disorder. They avoid people and other things that might make them remember the event.

   There are three different types of therapy solutions. One way is a behavior therapy which teaches you to relax and how to cope with the event that occurred. The second is a group therapy which gives people the chance to talk to other people that know what it’s like and they know what they are talking about. It helps more people with their problems then any of the other therapies. You can talk with other people that have problems similar to you. The final way is cognitive therapy which helps people to learn how to think positive and not negative thoughts.

   People with PTSD have a hard time getting through life. It's harder for them because it was something terrible that they went through and once it's done you can't take it back. It is also harder for them because it would be hard for them to get along with people because they don't want to remember what happened to them. Finally people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have more difficulties then people that don't have it.

You can find more information at :
http://helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

Jessica's Poem

by Tabitha Houghton-Smith

My world is starting to die.
and I slowly start to cry.
People talking smack,
right behind my back.


The childish games they play
need to end this very day.
I don’t think they realize,
the tears coming out my eyes.


I hate how they get to me,
and how they don’t see,
that my heart is bleeding,
and that my tears have meaning.


They mean I am hurt.
and I want them to stop talking dirt.
They mean that I can’t take it.
and that there’s stuff they just don’t get.


There’s more to me than they know.
I just don’t let it show.
I hide the things inside.
But I wish I could speak my mind.


I wish they knew the real me.
Than they could leave me be.
I’m just so scared of rejection,
that I can’t even stand my own reflection.


People just don’t understand,
I want to show who I really am.
There are so many things I need to say.
but even if I could they won’t give me the time of day


If only I could say it all.
Than I wouldn’t easily fall.
They just don’t comprehend.
That I could be a great friend.


I hate how they view me,
as small and week.
Inside me I am learning to be tough,
I am able to fight through the rough.


I just wish that was who I could be,
on the outside that is I mean.
My world would be so much easier,
if I could be a little happier.


Like I had said,
their childish games need to end.
and they need to realize,
that there is truth beyond these eyes.

Kyra's Poem

I cry myself to sleep at night
Just wishing it would stop
Maybe tomorrow it will cease
Then again, maybe not


You push me and you poke me
You call me hurtful name
To me it's like a prison
To you it's fun and games


Your heart is made of ice
But it doesn't even deserve that
Mine was once a rainbow
But you have moulded it to darkest black


I hate you, I hate everyone
There is no one I can trust
Are you proud of what you've done?
You've turned my soul into dust


If there was a door I could open
A simple path I could tread
I don't want to be stuck here forever
In this endless spiral of dread.

Kristina's Poem

Date Rape by Candy Lemons




She's in a lonely corner
Trying to stand on her feet
But it seems impossible;
The black river of tears running down her powdered cheeks
Deep cracks in her heels
Hair in a tangled mess
Along with the crooked rips in her stunning black dress


She dreamed of this day for so long
But he ruined everything for her
He had to do it tonight
It was supposed to be a once in a lifetime thing
The beautiful view;
Slow, peaceful music;
Bodies swaying together from side to side
But he messed it all up


Raped her of her innocence
And left her with nothing,
But blood dripping from her legs
Her life has been taken from her;
All the smiles and laughs
Stripped from happiness and anger
Emotions are no longer there
Just a blank pained expression


Death is her best friend
And she wants it to overcome her
Love no longer exists within her

Maya Angelou by Jessica Ragan

  Maya Angelou is hailed as a global renaissance woman, poet, novelist, memoirist, educator, dramatist, producer, historian, actress, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928. She was raised in St. Louis and Stamps Arkansas. She experienced the brutality of racial discrimination in Stamps. She also absorbed the unshakable faith and values of traditional African-American families, communities, and culture.
 In 1954 and 1955 she toured Europe with a production called Porgy and Bess. She studied dance with Martha Grahamm, danced with Alvin Ailey on television. Calypso Lady was her first album in 1957. The University of Ghana's School of Music and Drama is where she taught. In 1964 when she lived in Ghana's she met Malcome X. She came with him to help him build the Organization of African American Unity. After she arrived Malcome X was assasinated ant the organization dissolved. After the assination she was asked to serve as the Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then he was assasinated on her birthday in 1968. Maya Angelou was mentioned in Speak because she was an important figure in history. Melinda and Maya Angelou have things in common. They both experienced things that will probably stress them for life. Maya Angelou fought for civil rights. Melinda fought with out speaking. Maya had some problems in life just like Melinda does.
  In conclusion, Maya Angelou helped fight for civil rights. Melinda fought for her civil rights by not speaking. Maya Angelou was mentioned in the book because she was imporant to history and had problems but not as bad as Melinda.Thats why she was mentioned in the book Speak. Also what she has to do with the book.

The Suffragettes by Kyra Mieczkowski

        Back in the day, women did not have as many rights as we do today. One of the rights that we have today is that we can vote. Only men were allowed and in 1897, a group of women wanted to change this. The group of women were called the Suffragettes.
        Millicent Fawcett founded the National of Women's Suffrage. The word "suffrage" means the right to vote. Millicent did not believe in violence and protested with patience and logical arguements. In 1903 the Women's Social and Political Union was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst. They were tired of being patience and started using violence to get what they wanted.
         The Suffragettes thought it was important to speak up about what they thought was right. Melinda needed to speak up about what happened. They fought for what was right and were victorious in the end. At the end of Speak, Melinda fought Andy Evans and spoke up. In that way, Melinda was like the Suffragettes and shows it's important to speak up.

Picasso by Kristina Delikat.

        Picasso was an artist, he was a genius when it came to art. He inspired many others like DaVinci and Michelangelo. The number of Picasso's paintings is very large, not enough time to talk about every one of them. He was unique, everyone should see his work.
        When he met a young girl, named Marie-Therese Walter, she changed his life. He stressed about his divorce with Olga and Marie-Therese was pregnant with his child. He started to change, he expressed his anger in his bull paintings and his famous "tauromachia." His daughter was born, which made his life even more complicated, he then found another lover named Dora Maar.(Vidal) Picasso would be included in Speak because before the party, Melinda had a perfect life, she had great friends and always smiled. After being raped at the party, she had post-traumatic stress disorder. Her life became complicated, she blocked everyone out, never talked and her grades dropped dramatically. In school, she would get picked on, which would make things more complicated. Melinda and Picasso relate because they both had complicated lives, but they expressed it in art. Melinda's only safe haven was in art class with Mr.Freeman, working on her trees.(Laurie Halse Anderson) That stopped her mind from thinking about her past and when Picasso painted, it released his anger.
         In conclusion, Melinda and Picasso have plenty of things in common, they both experienced thing that will probably stress them for life. After getting things off of their chest, with art or talking, they made their lives a little less complicated then the people around them. So, take a look at his art, or read her book. Either way, your life will change a little.