1. Portfolio Table of Contents
Biography
Favorite Piece
Least Favorite Piece
American Dream
Reflection

2. Biography
My full name is Hollie Jo Spickel. I was born on March 22, I have an older sister that is 18, her name is Haley. I have an awesome relationship with my parents. I am currently in summer school to graduate early. I will be completely skipping my junior year. I want to attend James Madison University. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The main things I like to do are go to the beach and hang out with my friends. I love going to concerts; my favorite types of music are country and reggae. I am addicted to the show General Hospital. I have lived and learned a lot of lessons from the things I have done. I like to read when I have time; my favorite book is Water for Elephants. Writing has always been something I loved to do. It is something that can just free the mind. Writing poetry and quotes is something I used to do when I was upset, instead of talking to people I jut wrote it out.

3. Favorite Piece
Not everyone realizes the value of life until there’s or someone close to them may be at risk. We all have problems with the laws until they are at our benefit. Mostly everyone take seatbelts and destruction as a joke, but they are not to be fooled. Your life lies within your own hands. The government is not only out to get you, there is love behind what the put out. You cannot always take advantage of the things thrown at you. Everyone lives saying that something will not happen to them; never learning until it actually does.
Seatbelt restrictions are there for a reason; and that is one rule that should be left unbroken. They could save you or someone close to yours life. Personally I never wore a seatbelt, it was uncomfortable. One day I was out with some friends and in the backseat of the car. A guy from another country did not know the rules about the lights with the arrows on them. He had a red arrow but when the light turned green, he went. Slamming into the car I was in and spinning us off the road, where we stopped by bouncing off a sign. That was the scariest thing I have ever been through. It taught me a lesson though. Since, I have not gone in the car and first thing put my seatbelt on.
You learn through living; I certainly did. The government, the laws, and the rules are there for our protection. Many people think following the rules is lame and breaking them will make you look cool, this is not true. Making the wrong decision does not only put you at risk but the people surrounding you. A seatbelt could be that line between life and death. Getting a fine for this is the least of your worries compared to what could happen. Follow the rules, wear your seatbelt, and save yourself the trouble in the long run.

4. Least Favorite Piece
The paperclip leapt from the table. I am all curled up with no hands and no feet. All day long I sit there and get used, with people taking advantage of me. The only fun I have is when I get thrown back into my container and have all my friends there to talk to. I have thought of an escape plan but have not got very far with it. I know one day my chance will come.
Right now I am on a stack of papers. This guy is just flipping through them, being rough. Finally with one last flip I flew off. I landed under the copy machine and he cannot find me. He gives up. Luckily there is a girl in the room too with her purse on the ground. I slowly run. I jump in the purse and am now just waiting for her to leave the office. I will then take one last leap and be freely out in the world.

5. American Dream
Everyone has something they are afraid of and usually a story behind it. This is not a bad thing; it just makes us who we are. It is part of our American dream; what scares us and our hope to overcome it. I am afraid of being hurt. I have walls built up and do not let anyone in.
It seems like every time I let myself get close to someone I get hurt. I am tired of being let down and left disappointed. I notice when I do finally get close to someone I push them away. An association I have with this is when I am out and I am really happy, I will find myself get really sad when I realize I am smiling. We all have to get over or face our fears and eventually I will just let someone in, and not even realize.

6. Reflection
My favorite piece was the one about the value of our life. Many people take advantage of their life, not realizing its true meaning. When it is put on the line most will realize how important it really is. I figured this out when I got into a car crash; having always taken advantage of my seatbelt. Now I see how important it can be.
My least favorite piece was the story about the paperclip. It is easy being told a topic and to just write. But when you are told to actually put specific things into it becomes more difficult. In this piece we were focusing on transitive verbs. I tried and it is a good piece but it was not my favorite to write.
The piece I choose for the American dream was one about our fears. My fear was of being hurt. This supports the American dream because what we are scared of and our dreams to get over these fears tell a lot about us. It tells who we are.