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I'm Thankful for Quiet



Joined: 11/24/2010
Posts: 51
jasoncaleb
It’s quiet here, in this college library, where I sit and write without interruptions. Peace, quiet, contentment: these three things I cannot take for granted. I say this because I know all too well the chaos, the stress, and the realness of what goes on outside this sanctuary of tranquil solitude. Beyond this building there is a commotion going on with people trying to get to work, there are wars going on in distant places, and there is strife between men. But here, there is peace, there is quiet, and I feel content.

I am a twenty-four year old freshman college student. I’ve had a late start it seems like, yet in a way, I feel that it was necessary for me to put off academia until now, because now I can appreciate it in a better way. For four and a half years I served in the United States Marine Corps. Within that time I went on two seven-month long deployments to Iraq and one deployment to Afghanistan. Between these deployments I trained, tried to have a personal life, succeeded in getting married, and fortunately I survived to see my wife again and to move on with a new life with her.

There are a lot of things I’m thankful for. I’m grateful to have a lovely wife who supports me and makes my life warm and more meaningful. I’m thankful for real food that is cooked in a real kitchen, running water, a real shower, and a comfortable bed at night. These things I used to take for granted because I grew up living in a country where, for the most part, these things are expected. It is hard to imagine a world without these simple pleasures. For most of us we see a lot of these things as necessities. Yet the places I’ve been to in Iraq and Afghanistan, I didn’t always get these things, and I witnessed other people who didn’t have it as good as we do here. The sad truth of our society is, we don’t realize how good it really is, unless we step away from it into a different world.

Although I’m thankful for these things, there is nothing I am more grateful for than the solitude I feel as I write this. Each morning I have the freedom to wake up and drive to this college. Every morning I get here early, so that I can find a quiet spot in the library where I can challenge and expand my mind in ways other than the ways of war. Here I can sit and read such things as literature or philosophy, and I am able to ponder the ideas of the scholars before me. I am no longer expected to be a warrior. And I am not so sure now what exactly I am called to be from now on, but for now I’ll sit here quietly, soaking up the serenity.
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Comment by DarkStar49


Joined: 5/28/2009
Posts: 278
I enjoyed your essay and your personal perspectives. Like they say....better late than never! Everything happens for a reason, and maybe if you had not started college late, your appreciation for every waking day may not have been so present?! Thank you for serving our country and putting your life on the line in the name of freedom!
Posted: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 3:11:32 AM
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Comment by bugcandy


Joined: 11/5/2008
Posts: 167
Congratulations...

Your essay won StageofLife.com's November Student Writing Contest.

There are a few things to send you.

As the winner, you get...
1) Kodak Gallery store credit
2) Stage of Life T-shirt
3) Stage of Life Pen
4) Featured Writer status on the site.

Please use the Contact Us page to get in touch so we can send you the right sized T-Shirt, Kodak Gallery store credit, etc.

Also, we'll be issuing a press release via PR Newswire. Some questions about this...
a) May we name you as the essay winner? What is your full name?
b) What school/college do you attend?
c) How did you find out about the essay contest?
d) Do you have other thoughts to share about why you entered the essay contest?

Congrats, again, and let me know if you have any questions. Great essay!

Eric

--
Eric Thiegs
CEO/Founder
Stage of Life LLC
www.stageoflife.com
Posted: Monday, December 20, 2010 3:45:37 PM
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Comment by 1861-65


Joined: 10/19/2010
Posts: 42
Thank you sir for your service to our nation. I plan on making the military my career and hopefully I'll get into West Point. Go Army! Beat Navy!
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 7:07:47 AM
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Comment by jasoncaleb


Joined: 11/24/2010
Posts: 51
Well i hope the best for you and that you have a good successful endeavor in making it your career.
Posted: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 4:08:52 PM
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Comment by xxDisneyChildxx


Joined: 12/31/2010
Posts: 2
I was moved by your thoughts. Though, I have yet to see much of the world or do anything like you've done, I know of places a lot less unfortunate than what I have. Thank you so much for serving and protecting all of us here in this blessed country. You REALLY have contributed and there are tons of people who you'll never meet that are thankful and greatful to men and women as courageous as you.
Posted: Friday, December 31, 2010 2:08:31 AM
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Comment by Guest


Joined: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,788
Impresisve brain power at work! Great answer!
Posted: Saturday, December 31, 2011 4:47:31 AM
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Comment by Guest


Joined: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,788
An intelligent point of view, well exeprssed! Thanks!
Posted: Saturday, December 31, 2011 5:48:13 AM
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Comment by Guest


Joined: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,788
Aritlces like this are an example of quick, helpful answers.
Posted: Saturday, December 31, 2011 9:47:54 AM
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Comment by Guest


Joined: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,788
Keep these articles coming as they've oneped many new doors for me.
Posted: Saturday, December 31, 2011 1:26:46 PM
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Comment by Guest


Joined: 10/30/2008
Posts: 2,788
Action requires kwonledge, and now I can act!
Posted: Monday, January 02, 2012 4:55:34 AM
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Stage of Life About Us StageofLife.com is a free blogging community for College students and young adults, archiving stories and essays in an online life journal.  Check out the writing contests, discounts and other resources for college students.  Register to start your free profile, share an essay about your life, and help us change the world, one story at a time.

Past Student Writing Contests

 National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month Current Teen Writing Contest: "What do you attribute to the decline of teen pregnancies?"

Details:  According to the latest teen pregnancy statistics from the CDC, U.S. teen birth rates are at an all time low.  But the last report still showed a total of 367,752 babies were born to teen girls aged 15–19.  In honor of May being National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we want to hear from teens and college students about why they think teen pregnancies are dropping.

What's the reason?  What's happening at your school or with your friends or in your community?

 
 High School Writing Contest  

What movie has made the biggest difference in your life?

Details:  In honor of the hottest student movie ticket in town right now, "The Hunger Games" (based off the YA fiction novel of the same title by Suzanne Collins), we wanted to find out what films speak to teens and college students.

Which movies inspire you? 

VIEW SUMMARY REPORT: Movies

Teen Trends: Prom

 
 Poetry Writing Contest

Dedicate a Poem to Someone Who Matters

Details: In preparation for April’s National Poetry Writing Month, we are asking teens and college students to write a poem in dedication to someone who matters in their life.  Whether it is a family member, friend, teacher, celebrity or kind stranger, write an original poem about what that person means to you. 

VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  Teen Poems

Teen Trends: Prom

 
Love Writing Contest 

CURRENT TEEN WRITING CONTEST:  What's Your Definition of Love?

    Writing Contest Details:  Teens and college students find themselves in an on-going dance as they court, woo, avoid, or try to win the romantic affections or attention of someone they like, admire...love.

    Consider these famous quotes about love...

    • "If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else. If you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have" --James M Barrie
    • "All we need is love."  --John Lennon
    • "Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable."  --Henry Ward Beecher
    • "Love is like pi -- natural, irrational, and very important." --Lisa Hoffman
    • "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.   I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."  --Judy Garland
    • "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."  --Albert Einstein
    • "If you can't be with one you love, love the one you're with."  --Stephen Stills

    It goes without saying that love can be either the happiest emotion or most tragic.  Just look at your parents.  Your grandparents.  Romeo and Juliet.  Or Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.  From happy to tragic to absurd, love runs the gamut.  But these platitudes are all relative, because love will always be different for everyone.  How can we pin down a definition of love?

    VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens think of love...

    Teen Trends: Prom

     
    Person to Watch Writing Contest 

    CURRENT TEEN WRITING CONTEST:  Person to Watch in 2012?

      Writing Contest Details:  Last month, TIME magazine named "The Protestor" their Person of the Year for 2011.  That got us thinking...okay, but who is the person to watch in 2012? 

      So, in looking back at the last 12 months and considering the future, who would you nominate as the Person to Watch for 2012, and why? 

      Whether it's a celebrity, an innovator, a politician, a cultural icon, an up-and-coming artist, a rising star or someone more personal in your life, we want to hear, in 500 words or less, who your Person to Watch for 2012 would be.

      VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens chose as the Person to Watch in 2012

      Teen Trends: Prom

       
       High School Writing Contest

      AWARENESS MONTH NOMINATION: What issue or cause should receive its own "awareness" month?

      • "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” -Winston Churchill
      • “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
      • “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mohatma Ghandi

        Details:  We saw NFL players wearing pink throughout October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  We will pay tribute to the role of African-Americans throughout February during Black History month.  Now think about the topics on which you're passionate, and share your thoughts on a single issue or cause that should receive its own awareness month. 

        In your essay, please creatively tell us...

        • Is this a local, regional, national, international or planetary issue?
        • Why is this issue important?
        • Who does the issue impact?
        • How could the message be spread?
        • Are there any organizations, companies or blogs currently trying to make a difference to increase awareness on this issue?

        VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about awareness

        Teen Trends: Prom

         
         High School Writing Contest

        TRUST & SAFETY:  Do you trust our institutions to keep us safe?

          Details: As we look ahead to Halloween, there are scarier things than ghosts and goblins in the lives of today's teenagers and college students. 

          For instance, from a historical perspective, Baby Boomers grew up living under the threat of nuclear Armageddon, complete with classroom drills to hide under their desks in the case of nuclear attack.  However, today's teenagers and college students have been growing up in their own unique time: 

          • The threat of internet predators, cyber-bullying, and other online dangers.
          • The threat of school shootings and lock-downs.
          • The threat of terrorism.

          How do you, as a student, feel about these threats, and do you have trust in your parents, school or government (the major institutions around you) to keep you safe?

          VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about trust and safety

          Teen Trends: Prom

           
           High School Writing Contest

          Teacher Appreciation

            Details:  It's the big back in school month.  You're either loving it, hating it, or experiencing a mixture of both.   In fact, some of you may already be waiting for final bell to ring (even if it's only 9:45am).  However, no matter how this year is starting out (good or bad), we know that there have been certain teachers and classes in the past that stand out in your mind...

            This month, think back to a favorite class or educator (teacher/coach/director/principal).  Whether it was their attitude, the way they taught, or a life lesson you learned from their class/sport/activity, how did this person make a positive impact in your life?

            VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about their teachers.

            Teen Trends: Prom

             
             

            SELF-REFLECTION:  Letter to Me

              Details:  We want you to write a letter to yourself.  Yes, you heard us...a letter to yourself.  Take 15 minutes, alone, and spend some time thinking about the upcoming school year.  Think about the things you want to accomplish.  The things you fear.  Think about where you've been and where you're going.  Think about how your summer has been going.   What are you looking forward to?  What are you dreading about the return to school?  Think about your goals.  Think about if you're looking to make a big change this year...or simply survive? 

              After all of that thinking, now write a "Letter to Me."  This is a letter addressed to yourself.  Tackle some of the topics we've outlined above...or get creative and come up with your own original angle for the letter.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens had to write to themselves in our "Letter Me" writing prompt

              Teen Trends: Prom

               
               

              BULLYING:  Have you ever been bullied, teased, or picked on? If so, about what?

              Teen Trends: Whatever you want to call it, bullying is a problem in many schools and continues to be a hot topic in the national press.  We've know many students experienced some form of bullying during high school.

              Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to share their stories about being bullied or about being the bully. The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

              Were you once a bully who regrets it now?  Share your experiences with us and help prevent students from bullying others.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens shared about being bullied.

              Teen Trends: Prom

               
               Teen Trends - Parent Interview Writing Contest

              PARENTS:  What is one thing you don't know about your Mother or Father?

              Teen Trends:  How well do teens really know their parents?

              Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to interview their parents and ask them to share ONE thing about themselves their son/daughter doesn't already know.  The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

              Did you learn something that shaped the way you think about your parent?  We call this contest the "Parent Paradigm Shift."
               

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens learned about their parents...

              Teen Trends: Prom

               

              OVERCOMING OBSTACLES:  What was the most difficult thing you overcame this school year?

              Teen Trends:  What major obstacles stood in the way this school year?

              From friends to family to graduation to grades to self esteem, teens go through a lot in a school year.  Tell us about one area or experience that caused you the most trouble, but that you were eventually able to overcome.

              Help inspire another high school student to gain some courage to tackle or navigate their problem by sharing your experience.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what challenges teenagers face today...  

              Teen Trends: Prom

               
               Teen Writing Contest about Prom

              PROM:  Is prom a positive or negative teen tradition?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about prom?

              Going to prom is a high school milestone, and prom traditions have been around for decades.  Dresses.  Dinner. DJ's.  Dancing.  For most teenagers, it's about celebrating life with friends and/or a significant other.  However, we've all heard the "negative" aspects often associated with prom too.  Drinking.  Drugs.  DUI's.  Damaged self-esteem.  Date rape.  So we want to know - is prom a positive or negative milestone.  

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about prom...

              Teen Trends: Prom

               
              Teen Trends and the Media

              MEDIA:  What form of media impacts your life the most, and why?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about the media?

              The "media" is an undeniably powerful entity in our daily lives, and even more invasive for teens and college students, a generation growing up with more forms of media choices than any other generation before them.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about the media...

              Teen Trends: Media

               
              Writing Contest for Teens about Marriage

              MARRIAGE:  What is the value of marriage?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about marriage?

              This contest came out in February 2011.  The month of love.  Valentine's Day sits right in the middle of this month and helps (or in some cases forces) all of us to pay homage to the idea of romance...love. We got little controversial this month and asked teens to share their point of view on marriage.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about marriage...

               
              Writing Contest for Teens about Making the World a Better Place

              MAKE A DIFFERENCE:  What organization, company, non-profit or 'cause' will help make the world a better place?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens want to better the world?

              Our mission on StageofLife.com is to help change the world, one story at a time.  What a better way to do that than to ask teens and college students about worthwhile causes we should all know about.  This was an opportunity for teens to shed light and share with us their favorite non-profit, company, organization or 'cause' that could help make the world a better place.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about making the world a better place...

               
              Writing Contest for High School Students about Money

              MONEY:  What is your relationship with money?  How do you spend (or save)...and why?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about money?

              Money....Cash.  Coin.  Greenbacks.  Pesos.  Gravy.  Deniro.  KaChing.  Moola.  So we're curious...how do teens and college students feel about money?  Whether the student knew a homeless teen or has a friend living in the penthouse, we wanted to know about their relationship with the almighty dollar.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about money...

              Teen Trends: Money

               
              Writing Contest for Teenagers

              GIVING THANKS:  What are you most thankful for?

              Teen Trends:  What are teens grateful for?

              This writing contest rolled out in November 2010.  We all get busy during the day-to-day routine of our lives, but it's important to stop once in while and reflect on what matters most, and to give thanks for that.  Keeping that in mind, we wanted to hear from teens about who or what, in their lives right now, should receive public acknowledgment of their thanks.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See for who and what teens are thankful...

              Teen Trends: Thanksgiving

               
              Writing Contest about Stress and Teens

              TEEN STRESS:  What stresses you out, and how do you cope with that stress?

              Teen Trends:  How do students deal with stress?

              From classes to homework to jobs to extra curricular activities to social outings, teens and college students are maintaining hectic schedules.  Add on top of that any current relationship hardships, social issues, e.g. bullying, illnesses or other personal problems and it's not surprising that many young people feel...stressed.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens deal with stress...

              Teens and Stress

              .

               
              Who Is Your Hero?

              HEROES:  Who is your hero?

              Teen Trends:  Who would a teenager name as their hero?

              We wanted to talk about heroes, both big and small, with high school and college students.  We asked teens to name their hero, it could be a family member, someone famous, or an everyday person in their lives who is quietly making a difference, and then write a 500 word essay about that hero.  You'll love these responses.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens nominated as their heroes...

              Teen Heroes

               
              How Would Teens Improve Education?

              EDUCATION:  What suggestion(s) do you have to make a positive change at your school or with the educational system as a whole?

              Teen Trends:  How would teens improve education?

              We wanted to know how students were perceiving their educations, educational environments at their high schools, colleges and universities and the overall trends in education.  We asked the teens for ideas on how to improve the educational environment.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens would improve the educational system...

              Teens and Education

               
               Writing Contest for Teens about Food

              FOOD:  Do we have an obligation to take better care of ourselves by making changes in the way we eat and/or buy and consume food?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition?

              TV shows like NBC's Biggest Loser are big hits and books like Michael Pollan's Food Rules are flying off the shelves.  Even film documentaries like Food, Inc. and Super Size Me have pushed into the mainstream consciousness.  It goes without saying a tipping point is occurring in our society's awareness in regards to people's relationship with food.  Obesity in America is reaching an epidemic...but are people ready or really willing to change?  Is our addiction to unhealthy food too hard to break?

              See how teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

               
               Writing Contest for High School Students about College

              COLLEGE:  What is the most difficult thing (for you) about college?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about college?

              We want to know what's making the college process or college itself difficult and why.  Financial aid?  Application process?  Juggling classes and work? What is making college difficult?  This contest was held in partnership with "Take America to College" initiative.

              See how teens feel about college...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

               
               Writing Contest for Teens about the Environment

              ENVIRONMENT:  What is one behavior you can either change or incorporate into your daily life that will reduce our negative impact on the environment?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about the environment?

              The negative environmental impact and tragedy of lives lost from the BP off-shore oil rig disaster was obvious.  What we wanted from our high school and college students entering this month's writing contest was not their outrage about how this could have happened, but rather, share one solution (big or small) that can help combat man's ever-reaching environmental impact.

              See how teens feel about helping the environment...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

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