my best quality

8/8/2019 My Best Quality

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My Best

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A Waterways ProjectPublication

Richard SpiegelBarbara Fisherco-directorsThomas Perry

administrative assistant

Max Mendes, site teacher

Susan Greco, principalNYC Vocational Training Center

Richard Organisciak, SuperintendentAlternative, Adult and Continuing Education,

Schools and Programs

May, 2003

Funded by the Empire State Partnership,NYS Council on the Arts

and Learn and Serve America

My BestQuality


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Celestine PayneOmega

You are the omega of my heart,the foundation of my conception of love.When I think of what a young man should beits you that I first think of.

You will never fully understand

how deeply my heart feels for you.I worry that well grow apartand Ill end up losing you.

You bring me to climax without sex.And you do it all with regal grace.You are my heart in human form,an immortal friend I could never replace.

October 2001

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Celestine PayneAint Nothing Like the Sight of You

Aint nothing like the sight of you.My life is dark, but I see the light in you.I hope my goal of getting you is achievable.Receiving you would be the best thing that could

ever happen, cause when youre close byI feel the magic working its wonders.

You make me hot like Florida summers.This aint no game like Super Mario Bros.My heart was scared by one of my loves

when I was younger, but now Im older,brushing stuff like that off my shoulder.

You got me open. My pose is frozen whenyou move in a sexy motion.

You mace me with your love potion.How Im blinded by one of the finest Shorties

Ive seen in a while.Shorty, love your styleShorty, I love your smile.

written March 2002

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Celestine PaynePrisoners of Fate

As the lines between reality and fantasy relate,as prisoners of life we often contemplate,where do we go after we pass away?Another park paradise of cold and hate?Or another dream of noncontrolling fate?The evil spirits that walk amongst my shadows

can make me envision my own grave.Someone, somewhere, has plotted my death,and even I cant take charge of my last breath.It hurts to be robbed of your soul and pride,knowing that one day you must die.

Im tired of hearing Masons saying God loves us.Or seeing money that says In God we trust.If He is truly perfect then why is death a must?I mourn so deep for my moms heart,but pain and suffering were destined

from the start.

So little time with so much to say.Give me an answer, someone. Why should I

pray?

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Sometimes life isnt fair, cause I cry and theystare.

Teardrops fall with a hard and confusing glare.

Why is it that all good moments must come to anend?

Why is it that enemies were once friends?Why must we say, Amen, to this life

of struggle,

entrapped in a demons body, my angel hasa muzzle.Even though Im confused and crazedI often think about the end of my days.

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Celestine PayneFallen Star

They could never understandwhat you set out to do,instead they chose to ridicule you.When you got weakthey loved the sightof your dimming

and flickering starlight.How could they understand what was so intricate?To be loved by so many, so intimate.They wanted to see your lifeless corpse.This way you could not alter the courseof ignorance that they have setto make my people forgetwhat they have done for much too longto just forget and carry on.I had loved you forever because of who you are.And now I mourn my fallen star.

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Clara ReyesWhy Im In The VTC

The reasons why Im in the VTC program aremany, but I could just write a few down.

In my regular high school I was not doing theright thing. I decided to get away from thatschool.

I could progress on my own. I knew I was

not going to graduate on time, so I decided to gofor a program with job training. So when I fin-ish, I will leave with my diploma and work experi-ence.

Tyree Griffin

Im in the VTC because I was chasingfemales like dogs chase their tails. I used tonever really interest myself in school. This maybe because I thought that school wasnt helping.

But I was wrong. Towards the end of myhigh school career I knew I dug myself a grave.

And its my job to dig myself back out. Thatswhy I am here in the VTC.

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Jennifer Guilbert

Im in the VTC to follow my goals. Im here

to get my GED, but thats not the only reason.Im also here to learn as much as I can.

I want a lot for my life, and this is the start.So those are some of the reasons Im in the

VTC. I hope VTC can help me as much as I needto be helped.

Lisa Rodriguez

Im in the VTC program because I was kickedout of high school. I was kicked out because Inever used to go to class.

My guidance counselor told me about VTC.She told me it would be better for me to get myhigh school diploma with VTC.

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Luis Castillo

Someone who has made a strong impression

on me would be my mother, because she hastaught me everything I know about life. And Iam still learning from her.

She has also made an impression on mebecause

I have learned from her that even though

you are going through hard times you have tokeep on trying because eventually you will bounceback up.

Jason Hayes

The person who has made a big impression onmy is my father. Even though he doesnt livewith my sister or me, he still finds time to spendtime with us.

He has never neglected or forgotten abouthis children like other men do. He gets a lot of

love and respect for that

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Tyra Hedrington

I would do a lot of things as a parent

differently from the way I was brought up.First, I would let my children havea little bit more freedom.I would let themhang with friends,go to parties,

and basically live teenage life.I wouldnt force them into a religionwhen they reach a certain age.I would give them a chanceto grow up with their peers.

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Tyra Hedrington

I think it is very important

to set goals in life.If you dont set goalsthen you wont knowwhat to do in the future.A goal that is very important to meis to pass the GED test.

If I pass this testthen I will be in better shapeto become a pediatrician.

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Tyra Hedrington

The thing I like best about NYC

is being able to get aroundwithout an adult driving you.I also like how there is alwayssomething to do, becausethe city never sleeps.

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Tyra Hedrington

Just this past Saturday

I used self control.Some friends and Iwere at a party.We were walking aroundto see who was there.While we were walking

I accidentally bumped into a girl.Before I could turn around and say sorryher friend swung on me and missed.My first impression was to swing back,but something in my head showed meall the consequences if I did.So I didnt.After the party the girl got jumped.

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Tyra Hedrington

Five years from now I see myself hopefullygraduated from a 4 year college. I see myselfliving independently with a good job in order topay my bills.

I wont have any children, but I may have aboyfriend on the side.

Ill probably be doing a lot of sightseeing,visiting family members and going to plenty ofclubs. Ill be getting ready to go to medicalschool and settle down.

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Tyra Hedrington

A hard time I got through was when my

mother was sick and had to be hospitalized. Thiswas a hard time for me because my father hadto be at work. I had to take my sisters to andfrom school. Afterwards I would have to takethem to my aunts house so that they could eat.

The reason why this was a hard time for me

was because this was a few years ago. I had tobe responsible for my sisters while I was learn-ing to be responsible for myself.

Tyra Hedrington

My dream job is to be a pediatrician. WhenI was young I always had a thing for doctors.Their stethoscopes always interested me and Iloved helping people get well.

I also love working and being around children.So I figured the best way I could fulfill this wasby putting them both together and it came out

to be a pediatrician.I hope that one day I can live my dream and

finally become a pediatrician.

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Jorge Marmol

My inner voice speaks to me in two different

ways depending on what the situation is. When Iam in a good mood and someone tries to argue

or fight with me, my inner voice would calmme down.

For example, two weeks ago, while at work,my boss came screaming at me. So my inner

voice was telling me just keep cool and talk backsoftly in a friendly manner. So when he wasdone I started speaking and excusing myselffrom the problem he brought upon me.

The second way is when I am in a bad moodor having a bad day. When one of these days

happens to come along, my inner voice just tellsme mean things and I always speak with a toughguy attitude.

For instance, just last week a co-worker ofmine tried to act tough with me on one of thosebad days. All I did was tell him off and by thatI mean I told him mean things. But later on I

came back and apologized.

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Jorge Marmol

A time I used self-control was about two

weeks ago while at work. One of my co-workersgot kind of smart with me and started actingextremely out of proportion. What I did wastell him to chill out and walked away.

Throughout the whole ordeal I was prettycalm. I never got out of my place. By this I

mean I never stooped down to his level. I main-tained my cool and did what was best for me andfor my job.

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Jorge Marmol

If someone, if anyone, has made an impres-

sion on me in my young life, it would have to bemy lovely mother. My mother has managed tomake such an impression by leading me and mytwo siblings to a better life. By this I meanhelping and pushing us to continue our education.

With my mothers advice and my own will I

have decided to finish my high school education.Thus, making myself a smarter, brighter youngman and making my beautiful mother happy tohave a son like me.

Everything I am today I owe to my mother.She has been there every step of the way. Shehas been more than a mother to me. By this Imean she also had to take on the role of being afather.

It must be tough to bring up your kids with-out the love of a father, but I really dont thinkit matters as long as you have a mother likemine.

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William Ballard

There was a change in my life. It was hard

because I stopped hanging out with my friends.They were doing things I never experienced.They were smoking, drinking and gambling.

The people I knew for about 7 years I could-nt hang out with. I changed my life around a lot.Ive never smoked or drank. Imagine if I was

still hanging out with them!

William Ballard

My inner voice is calming.Its relaxing and talks gently.Its funny, but its a nice thing to have.My inner voice puts my schedule togetherand gives me different ideas about females.

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William Ballard

A hard time I got through

was when my grandfather passed away.It was in the middle of the school yearwhen I was taking exams.Everyone in my family was sad for a while.It really hurt my mom and it affected me also.Things were difficult for us,

but we took it a step at a time.

William Ballard

Its important to set goals.It puts your mind on paths to success.A goal is something to achievelike the ending line in a race.My goal is to pass the GEDand go to college right afterwards.My goal is set and will be achieved.

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Vanessa Ramirez

There was one time in the eighth grade

when I used self-control.Ive used self-control many times,but this is one situationwhich I could never forget.

It was February 12, 1998,

and I was on my way homefrom taking my graduation pictures.In an area wherethere werent many peopletwo girls bumped me on my shoulderand then another girl cameand punched me in my face.I was so mad I could spit fire.I wanted to kick her in her stomach.But instead I ran to some cops on bikesthat were one block away.

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