My Short Story

Union Catholic Volleyball was a legacy known to almost any volleyball player in the state of New Jersey. Every year since the program began the team was blessed with phenomenol players and a great coaching staff. As good as the team was they never could clinch the state title that they had been longing for for years. Five years in a row they were in the finals and suffered a terrible loss or a tragedy. Three out of the five years the star players of the team were faced with serious injuries that hindered their participation in the rest of the game. This broke the flow of the team and lead to yet another loss at their chance to become state champions. The seniors of 2006 and I were determined to stop the curse and lead Union Catholic to its first state victory ever.
The 2006 season was looking very promising. All of the girls on the team were friends both on and off the court enhancing the overall chemistry and performance of the team. They engaged in many team bonding activites all having to do with the spirit of the team. There was a full house every game and the fans would go nuts when the Vikings would run into the gym. Young girls from all over the area would come to watch the games in hopes of one day being able to play on the team. There was such an adrenaline rush when we ran out onto the court, and you could just see in all the players eyes that we were in it to win it every game. Things that did not have to do with volleyball went away for those two hours and a victory was the goal that was set in everyone's mind.
As the regular season was coming to an end and county tournament time was approaching practices were becoming ten times harder. You can tell everyone was becoming anxious for the upcoming events which led to chaos and some mixed emotions. This would be the time that would test the players and who was really in it for the long hall. We had the conference title under our belts going into the county tournament, but never really got excited about it. This was not enough we wanted to go all the way and worry about what was ahead of us. Before each game we had a team meditation session and prayer time which I think really helped everyone. It put us in the zone and gave us time to just relax and gather all our thoughts together. The team of 2006 took all the right steps to the path of victory.
County tournament time was now here and the first three games were won without any effort. We found ourselves in the semi-finals literally without breaking a sweat. Some of the girls became very cocky after these victories and it really showed in the semi final game. People were not giving 100% because they figured that this would also be an easy win for the Vikings. To our suprise we found ourselves down two games and in a serious bind. Myself and the other captains of the team were not going to let it all end like this, we were not gonna let our coaches and fans down when they believed in us all along. We came back the third game with a bang and went on to win the next two with hard work. This showed that in the toughest situations we could still pull it together. At this moment I felt like the younger girls really listened to me and pulled through in the clutch. As stressful as being captain was this particular moment made it worth all the stress.
We were now in the county finals against one of the top ten teams in the state. Everybody found it very hard to think positive when our opponent had two players with full scholarships to divison one schools. The seniors on the team looked past that and thought of this as any old game. We went into the final fired up with all of our fans screaming and cheering for us. I have never seen a team play more fabulous then we did on that day. We won the game in three straight sets and went on to gain another title, County champions. Now with two championships under our belt we would be entering this state tournament. This is what all the hard work would come down to and there was absolutely no room for error. There would be three games before the state final against the best of the best. We won each of these games without much effort. We were not the best team overall but we had the most heart which goes a long way. Here we were once again for the sixth year in a row, the state championship.
The game was neck and neck the entire time. Union Catholic one set, Calwell the next, Union Catholic, and Caldwell. We were now on the fifth game which would be the deciding factor for it all. It was still back and forth the whole entire time. The crowd wsa screaming, the adrenaline was pumping, and I was not going to let us walk out of that gym without a state title. My fellow seniors and I made a speech to the younger girls and coaches during the timeout that really put everyone at their A game. We went back in with a score of 11-10 Caldwell. Our best server was at the line and serving exactly where we had said but they were able to send it back ove everytime. The score was no 13-10 and you could just see the disappointed looks on everyone's face. I did not let this affect me one bit and continued to play my heart out. Everyone was all of the sudden terrified and did not want the ball. I told the setter to give it to me and I would take care of it. Three perfect sets later and it was a tie game. Shortly after it was our game point, this was it this was the moment we had all been waiting for. The other team thought they knew exactly what I was going to do and already had their block strategy against me. Little did they know that I left my best move till the end of the game. The ball was up I took my best approached and power tipped the ball to the left where none of the girls were standing. The ball hit the floor, the fans went wild, and we won our first state title. Every girl was crying and this was truly one of the best moments of my life. All the hard work paid off, the title was now ours. Having faith in those around you and working the hardest you possibly can will always lead to success. It took six years which made this victory all the more sweet. The girls volleyball team of 2006 will go down in history as the team with the most heart that led UC to great success.

Growing Up Grooves

Growing up Grooves

Track 1- “Wannabe”- Spice Girls

Track 2- “Ill be missing you”- Faith Evans featuring Puff Daddy

Track 3- “Graduation”- Vitamin C

Track 4- “All my Life”- K-Ci and Jo-Jo

Track 5- “Wide open spaces”- Dixie Chicks

By: Courtney Harris

Growing up Grooves has been in the works since March 29, 1988. This CD gives a wide variety of music genres with a whole lot of meaning. Each song has significance and represents a specific time in my life, and the emotions I felt during these times. Music has been proven to have a great effect on human emotions. We relate events, feelings, and even the simplest things like the weather with specific songs. What makes a party all the more fun? What makes a car ride worth the mileage? What makes that one special event that much more sentimental? The answer of course is MUSIC!

“Wannabe” by the Spice girls brings me back to my childhood. This was my very first CD and I could never get enough of it. I knew each and every word and would sing along with all my girlfriends. The Spice girls were frequent guests at all of our slumber parties. This CD would follow me wherever I went. I remember times where I was outside swimming with some of the kids in my neighborhood and played this specific song on repeat for almost an hour. I would give anything to go back to those days I always find myself saying. Back then things were easy and everyone was carefree. When this song plays my girlfriends and I still have the same reactions and sing at the top of our lungs. The kids in all of us will never die, and this song is my getaway when things are just to difficult to cope with.

Track Two on my CD is “Ill be Missing You” by Faith Evans and Puff Daddy. This song represents two specific times in my life where I experienced a great loss. In seventh grade my grandmother died as a result of lung cancer. This was the first time I had experience a death, and the first time I had ever seen my father cry. As tragic as the event was it brought my immediate family closer with my dad’s side of the family. From then on we all tried to meet at least once a week to catch up or just have a bite to eat. I felt as if my grandmother passed away just as we were getting closer and beginning to truly understand each other. I miss her so much and this song completely sums up my emotions into words. The second tragic event that happened in my life was when my best friend’s father died of a heart attack my sophomore year of high school. This was truly a shock to everyone and opened the eyes of many. It was great to see how many people from my high school attended the wake and funeral. He touched the lives of so many and it really showed during the ceremonies and during the mourning periods. It is really sad because he was the dad who attended all of the volleyball games and brought everyone waters and snacks for after. We dedicated a moment to him before each game that season and put his favorite song on our warm up shortly after. This song also sums up into words the emotions I felt during this time. This two very important people in my life will be truly missed.

Track three, “Graduation” by Vitamin C sums up the end of my grammar school career and my move into high school. This was a very nerve racking time for me because I would be going into an environment that I was unsure of. It was sad to think the people I had spent the last nine years of my life with would not be in classes with me everyday. Graduation, as sad as it was, was a very fun time with a lot of eighth grade activities. This was the first time I attended a semi formal with a date and had my hair done. This was the last song played at our eighth grade dance and reminds me of the good times I had with those friends. This was one of the first times in my life where I realized I was growing up and would soon have to make bigger decisions then what to bring for lunch the next day? I know it is very cliché that the song reminds me of this time in my life, but it truly brings me back to the good old days.

First love is something that can never be forgotten. It is a time in our lives where everything seems to fall into place and all things are all the more greater. You have someone that you feel is your soul-mate that you can share everything with and that will be there for you no matter what. In high school I found this person who made my experience amazing. The first time we said I love you to each other was magical, as corny as it sounds, and the feeling I experienced at this moment was unforgettable. “All my Life” was “our” song being that it was the first slow song we danced to right after we said I love you to each other. Each and every time this song would play it would remind us of each other and the great times we shared. Till this day even though we are not together it brings back those feelings. Not only was this boy my boyfriend, but he was my best friends. We shared different kinds of love and this song hits on all of these aspects.

The transition between high school and college was by far one of the hardest and most nerve racking experiences in my life thus far. I am an only child and leaving my parents was unbearable. Thinking about not seeing them everyday was something that I could not even fathom. I would not see my best friends that I had spent my whole life with for months at a time. With all of these thoughts running through my head I found it almost impossible to leave home and start a new life as an independent. “Wide open Spaces” by the Dixie chicks was put onto my going away CD from my best friend. Immediately when I heard this song I began crying. It was a complete reality check. I would be leaving my home to find my dream and make a future for myself. I would be leaving my comfort zone and moving into wide open spaces with room for error. The risks we take and the boundaries we cross define who we are. This is the absolute perfect song for my journey to maturity.

Growing grooves has given me a chance to put my emotions into lyrical form. When hearing these songs I hope that the audience experiences some of the same reactions I do when hearing these songs, and can understand why I chose each of them for my CD. On the CD cover I put a man and women dancing. I chose this particular picture for a few reasons. The title of the album uses the word groove which is another word for dancing so it coincides with the title. The man and women are in love which applies to track number 4 on my CD dealing with love. Lastly, there is a point in this paper where I talk about the graduation song being played at my eighth grade dance, and dancing to spice girls with my friends and this applies to those tracks as well. Every part of the CD was well thought out. It is from my heart to yours.

My Obituary

Courtney Esperon, a former physical therapist, died of natural causes on August 8^, 2097 at her penthouse apartment in Manhattan, New York. She was a loving mother of two wonderful children, great wife, and successful physical therapist. During her childhood she lived in Fords, a small town in central jersey. This is where she resided for her entire life. She attended St. John Vianney from kindergarten to eighth grade, and Union catholic regional high school from 9^th- 12^th grade. This is where she began her volleyball career. In November 2005 Harris led the UC girls volleyball team to their first state championship. Her athleticism, team work, and all around attitude towards others was something she was looked upon for greatly by her peers. After a great high school experience Harris set of to Clemson University in South Carolina. This is where she spent the next four years of her life. She began college as a Pre-pharmacy major, and then realized her true calling sophomore year and switched to physical therapy. According to her, college was the best four years of her life, and she would have given anything to live those days over again.
Shortly after college Harris went to professional school for physical therapy and received her degree from Northeastern University. No less then two years later she had specialized in child physical therapy, and started her own practice with a close friend from high school. She then became reunited with her old best friend Christopher Esperon, and they fell in love. They were married in 2020 and went strong until the day of her death. I have never seen two people more happy together, said her best friend Joanne Schurtz. They had their first baby in 2023, a beautiful baby girl named Carly, and shortly after in 2025 a boy named Joshua. They all seemed to have a fairytale life together. Up until the day of her death Courtney was smiling, she truly lived everyday like it was her last, and helped many people on her way.

Visual Rhetoric on Clemson Campus

C-L-E-M-S-O-N T-I-G-E-R-S Fight Tigers, Fight Tigers, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! This prominent chant can often be heard bellowing through the streets of Clemson, uniting both the student body and its other proud fans, on their way to Clemson’s stadium. Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium or death valley is a great example of visual rhetoric on Clemson University campus. It is home to the Clemson University Tigers and an absolute site to see on game days. It has a great deal of historical meaning and brings the spirit back into the town of Clemson, South Carolina. It can hold a capacity of 86,000 people, more than most professional football stadiums, portraying its importance and boldness. Literally, when you are looking at the stadium you see a huge structure. This to me signifies that we are a big school that holds a lot of school spirit, athletisim, and love for our student body. The name death valley written on the sign is also a piece of visual rhetoric. It portrays the way our athletic program is and proves to those unfamiliar with the tigers that we do not mess around. With the large amount of seating it can still not withhold all of the tiger fans and their pride. The colors used to decorate the stadium, purple and orange, are in my opinion one of the most important parts of Clemson. During everyday life you can take a walk to class or even downtown and see Clemson students sporting this color. This shows unity, pride, and school spirit. The stadium combined with all of these elements really sum up what Clemson University is all about.