1. Visit a park, choose a bench, explain your choice, and describe your bench.

I spent many days in search of a bench that stood out to me. When I was returning home from my daily morning job at Inter River Park, I spotted a bench and something about it drew me towards it. Perhaps, it was the fact that it was hidden behind vivid patches of flowers that were slowly beginning to wither away, due to the cold weather; however the bench looked beautiful surrounded by a variety of flowers. There were numerous hills and pathways that surrounded the bench. I stood in front of the bench making sure my eyes scanned every detail of it. My bench was rather old looking and it didn't look very stable; however this bench seemed like it held the secrets and stories of many people’s lives. Delicate vines beautifully coiled around the metal framing of my bench. Crisp leaves had fallen all over it from the majestic maple leaf tree that swayed above it. I slowly moved my fingers across the rusting metal, which was cold to touch. The wooden side pieces on my bench had green moss and mold building up on it, causing my bench to rot away. I could see the trickles of rain streaming down my bench, which gave it a glistening shine. With my finger I traced couples names that were carved into the wood of my bench. I chose this bench because it was located in a unique spot and it almost seemed hidden from the rest of the world. It was surrounded by picturesque beauty everywhere I glanced. When I looked at the bench it reminded me of myself. It stood strong and looked beautiful, regardless of it being old and falling apart.

2. From the bench, describe what you see, what you feel, what you think, and what you want.

When I first approached my bench it looked like it was old and it had been through a lot. The wooden side pieces were slowly breaking apart and rotting away. You could see the dew drops trickling down the metal detailing of it, which gave it a lustrous shine. I moved my hand across the rough surface of the seat feeling the engravings of letters that represented couples names. I caught myself reminiscing about the times I would carve my name into the wooden framing of benches when I was little. The names engraved into the wood reminded me of certain loved ones that had carved their names into my heart forever. As I took a seat on the bench, I observed the world around me. People were rushing to get to work, kids were scurrying to get to school on time, and business men were walking with a coffee in one hand and a briefcase in the other. They all had somewhere to go, but not me. On this warm day, I was pondering at the thought of how all these people live their lives without taking the time to really relax and see the beauty that surrounds them. It put me in a melancholy mood seeing that no one had the time to even stop and take a minute to look around them. The surrounding environment made me feel serene and tranquil. I closed my eyes wanting to feel at ease and only focus on childhood memories. I wanted to remember the times I was a little girl and how easy life was. I didn’t have to worry about a single thing in life. I was so happy back then. I remembered jumping in puddles, dancing in the rain, and taking naps at school. Life has slowly sneaked up on me and aged me into an adult. I think about all the never ending responsibilities I have. It seems like there isn’t a day that goes by without me doing work. I’m surrounded by trees that sway back and forth, as the wind picks up. Leaves and twigs rustle around me. I close my eyes getting lost in my own world. Absent-mindedly I bury my cold hands deep into my pockets to keep them from freezing. I rest my neck on the back of the bench and peer into the sky. The sun is peeking through the fluffy clouds. I feel it shine on my face slowly making my cheeks feel rosy red. I taste the freshness of the crisp air. As people pass by me, from a distance I see an old man. He is strumming the strings on a guitar. His guitar case is placed on the ground waiting to eat up any spare change people throw at him. I thought about what this man’s story to his life was that made him resort to begging for money. His hands were frail and shaking from the cold; however he had a huge grin on his face. Although this man had nothing in this world, he had hope for himself. I sat there and listened to him play his music. I allowed the sweet sounds mash together in my head and create a beautiful symphony that I found myself nodding my head to. I looked at the man and he gave me a wink. I smiled back and dropped the spare change that clinked in my pockets. He nodded at me and I walked away.

3. If a bench were dedicated to you, where would you like the bench, and what would you like the inscription to say?

If someone was going to dedicate a bench to me, in the future, I would like the inscription plate to say:

"Don't wake up one day wishing you'd tried"— Edwin McCain

The reason I would want this to be the inscription on my plate is because the simplistic words hold a strong meaning to me. These words made me the person who I am today. When I was in grade eight I was always afraid of what other people thought about me. I was that girl who was scared to raise her hand in class because she was afraid of sounding stupid. I always sat in class wishing I could build up the courage to raise my hand and share my thoughts with my peers; however I could never bring myself to do it. Every time I tried to raise my hand, I quickly shot it down. I would have butterflies forming in my stomach waiting to be set free. One day when I was in class I was flipping through a book filled with quotes. My eyes swam across the page and they drifted to this one particular quote. When I first read the words "don't wake up one day wishing you tried “I felt like the book was talking to me. This is exactly what I was doing every day in class. I would want to try and answer questions, but I always failed to do so because I was insecure. Later on that day, I went home with this quote on my mind. I felt like it held a strong message. I thought about how people regret their decisions in life every day. For example, sometimes in life we are faced with the unexpected death of a family member or friend. Often, after we lose a person in our life we wish we would have said many things that were left unspoken. When I realized that the quote suggested that sometimes in life we may not get a second chance to do or say things we wanted, I realized I had to break free from my insecurities. If I didn't stop worrying about what other people thought about me then I would have never grown to be the strong woman I am today on the exterior and interior. I think if this was the inscription on my plate it would truly change at least one person's outlook on life and make them realize life may not always allow us to have the same opportunities twice. That is why it's important to not live with any regrets.


Everyone has a secret place where they go to escape all the worries of life. For me, that place is Cates Park. I would want my bench to be located overlooking the ocean at Cate's Parks. I used to spend quality time here with my family and friends. It was the one special spot that made all my troubles disappear. This place once made me the happiest person. I remember how I would walk along the beach feeling the tiny grains of sand in between my toes. I used to close my eyes and dance around in circles, allowing the scorching sun to shine down on my skin. The rhythmic clashes of the waves used to comfort me. I remember looking into the cotton candy like sky seeing the geese fly by. I used to imagine myself being able to spread my wings and soar into the sky. I remember how excited I would get when my parents told me I was allowed to take a dip in the ocean. I would send my shoes flying into the air and before they would hit the ground I was already running towards the ocean. I would run away from the waves as they picked up angrily trying to knock me down. My family and I splashed each other when we least expected it and I would always end up choking on a mouth full of saltwater, which wasn't pleasant at all. When night time tiptoed up on us my parents told me it was time to head home. I remember how upset I would get that we were leaving the one place that felt like home. I think that this is the best place for my bench to be located. It holds a lot of memories that I hold near and dear to my heart.

4. If you dedicated a bench, where would you like the bench and what would the inscription say?

If I dedicated a bench to someone, it would have to be a person that has significantly changed my perspective on life. Overall, the person would have to be someone who touched not only my life, but many other people’s lives. The person I would dedicate a bench to would be my grandmother, Parkash Manhas. At the age of thirteen I was experiencing the most difficult time of my life. I found out my grandma, who was my best friend, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. She was that rock I could hold and count on to be there for me no matter what. I spent the next six months at the hospital visiting my grandma. She stayed strong and never gave up hope, regardless of the doctors putting a time limit on her life. When I would cry she held me in her arms and wiped away my tears.

Feeling, seeing, and hearing the process of her death made me realize how short each day was getting. The day my grandma passed away was unbelievable. I remember looking at her lifeless body and just thinking about how much of an inspiration she was to me. Although she knew her time was coming to an end, she never lost hope. She inspired me to never give up on myself. One thing I took away from this experience was that life can unexpectedly creep up on you at any time and although times get hard you can't give up. She was a devoted and hard-working wife, mother, and grandmother. She passes away on September 7th, 2007, due to a heart attack.

The inscription on the bench that I would dedicate to my grandmother would say this:

"Grandmother-More than just a three syllable word, but a strong woman that has supported me throughout my life. You were like a rock we could hold onto when times got tough. The day you were taken away from us will never be forgotten. We know your dancing in the skies watching over us. Love always, Jasreen"

The reason I would like the inscription plate to say this is because each and every one of these words are the feelings that I saved in my diary the day my grandmother passed away. Each and every word wasn't just a worthless definition. These powerful words held a lot of meaning to them and they told a story. Since my grandmother passed away, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about her. I would love to dedicate a bench in her loving memory. I’ll always keep her close to my heart and she will never be forgotten.

The place where I'd dedicate my bench to my grandmother would be down by Bridgeman Park, which is a ten minute walk away from my house. This park was special to both my grandmother and I. When I was a little girl she would always take me to this park. I remember playing hide and seek with her behind the tall trees, which are now beginning to wither away. Often, we had picnics at this park. I used to tell my grandmother how she had packed the whole fridge into one little basket and she would always get a laugh out of it. I know this is the perfect spot for her bench because she it was her favorite place to come to. There are many memories that we created in this park. Every time I go back to this park I get flash backs of all the wonderful moments we shared together.

5. Write a journal response about your trip to the park.

My favorite thing to do before I start my day is taking a jog at the local park. The park offers a comforting environment that makes my body feel at ease. This particular morning, the weather was conveying my anticipation of how I hoped the day would turn out. The rays from the sun made everything glisten sending reflections of light everywhere. As I entered the park, the pathway was nothing more than a dusty path scattered with tiny pebble like rocks. I could feel the moist ground, from the rainfall from the night before, making it harder for me to lift my feet. I could hear the crows crying away as they tried to steal crumbs of food from the garbage can. I saw some children flapping their arms trying to chase them away and it made me laugh. I sat on the grass, leaning my head back, and I caught a glimpse of a star right before it disappeared behind a fluffy cotton like cloud. I glanced around the park observing the natural beauty it had to offer. Everything I looked at was so simplistically artistic. Being at the park was like being in a different world. I got to experience many different aspects of nature. I continued to walk along the pavement and I saw the cold breeze rustling the leaves on the trees. A couple had slowly flown off into the sky creating an explosion of colors. The trip to the park reminded me of my childhood. It made me nostalgic about the days that I would run around chasing after leaves trying to catch every single one, thinking it was a wondrous game. I turned the trail making my way past the bushes and saw the lonely playground. There was no child in sight. The blue and yellow jungle gym sat there in silence, waiting for some company. I climbed onto it and sat down. I placed my hand on the cold metal and the blue paint chipped off of it. The swing set creaked as the wind swayed it back and forth, sending shivers down my spine. It reminded me of those scary movies where the cold blooded killer would pop out of nowhere and attack you. The tunnels echo the lost laughs of children who have dared to enter them. The slide is still parked like a car, waiting for someone to take a ride down it. It was getting dark that night and I decided it was best to head home. As I left the park I saw an old couple sitting down on a bench. They weren't talking, or even looking at one another. They were just holding hands staring out into the never ending sky. It was such a beautiful sight and it made my heart fill up with warm fuzzy tingles. They sat there looking so perfect for each other. I left the park that day with so many memories of the past. I wonder what my next trip to the park will hold for me.

6. Choose a poem that suits your bench, and explain your choice. Include a copy of the poem.The poem that suits my bench is called "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

The poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost best reflected my bench. When I first went searching for a bench I couldn't find one anywhere. I spend my time traveling different paths and parks hoping that I would find that one perfect bench. Although there could have been many different parks that I could have visited, or any other bench I could have chosen I took one path that lead me to the bench I discovered. My situation on choosing my bench was similarly portrayed in the "The Road Not Taken." In this poem, the speaker stands in the woods "where two roads diverged into a yellow wood" meaning that there were two unpredictable paths that he could take and he was encountering a dilemma on which path to take because "he could not travel both." The speaker is facing a strong decision to make in his life because one path may lead to something wonderful in life; however the other path could lead him to something horrific. Either way, he'll always think about the path that he didn't take and ponder upon the opportunities it may have held for him. This is how I felt in search of my bench. It was over whelming for me because I didn't want to just pick any bench and quickly get this assignment over with. I wanted a bench that would mean something to me and make me see the beauty in things I had never given a second look to before. The trail I took lead me to this one particular bench, which I found beauty in; however I still think of all the other paths or trails I could have taken and what bench they would have lead me to.


7. Explain how your poem connects to your personal philosophy of life.

Carpe diem, Latin for "seize the day," is my personal philosophy of life. Carpe diem is a philosophy that focuses on seizing any opportunities that may come one's way to make life more profitable, or livable. Following this philosophy makes me feel self-motivated to work hard, in order to achieve success. Often, we may have to take risks to bring new opportunities our way, which is portrayed through the poem "The Road Not Taken." The speaker mentioned in the poem has been taking a stroll in the woods and has crossed "two roads that diverged in a yellow wood." He describes how both are equally worn out; however he knows he cannot take both roads. He is faced with the challenge of deciding which of the two roads is the better one to pick. He describes how he "looked down as far as [he] could," examining where the road would take him; however the future prevented him from seeing where it lead.The speaker picks the road that appears to be "less worn" and "less traveled," which may symbolically represent the more difficult path in life that people often avoid. The speaker seems to be self-motivated and wishes to take the road that "wanted wear," perhaps meaning it was a road waiting for some brave individual to a risk and take.The speaker of the poem says that he'll take this road and save the one he didn't take for "another day." However, he feels as if he will never have an opportunity to take the other road. He describes how he may regret his decision and years later ponder on whether he made the right choice or not. The poem metaphorically suggests how the path ones takes in life can make all the difference in life. One can take the easy way out, or lead astray from the crowd taking the more difficult path. Often, the easier way doesn't get one as far as the more challenging path that requires more hard worked does.

8. What is the purpose of a park? What are your thoughts about parks?

When I was a child I thought the park was simply just a playground; however it's much more than that. A park is a place where many people can come to relax and get away from their stressful lives. I think parks can bring families closer together. Often, my parents were busy working so we never got to spend a lot of time together; however on the days we went to the park where we all able to spend time bonding with one another. At parks new friendships or relationships can be created. I remember making many new friends each time I went to the park. I still keep contact with some of these friends! Some parks have playgrounds, in order for children to play on. Parks can be special places for many people. They can draw many of us back to momentous times in our life. For example, my dad purposed to my mom in a park back in India where they first met. This park holds a special and significant meaning to them. It was where they fell in love with each other. Personally, I adore National Parks. National Parks are areas of public land set aside for native animals, plans and the areas in which they set their habitat. National Parks protect places that have natural occurring beauty or anything of historical importance. I haven't been to any National Parks, but I have seen many pictures of them around some around the world. Their natural beauty amazes me and leaves me speechless. Parks give people opportunities to spend the day outside, due to numerous activities that you can enjoy. You can walk around with your significant other, watch your child take his first step, or just simply sit down and observe the scenic view. It's always nice to sit down and enjoy the peacefulness from the birds chirping sweet melodic tunes to feeding crumbs of bread to the birds. Sometimes people demolish parks, in order to replace them with large commercial buildings. I don't think demolishing a park is a good idea. Many people have created milestones of their life in parks and some people have sentimental attachments to certain parks. I don't think it's fair to tear down someone happiness in the blink of an eye. I know I've had special memories at Bridgeman Park. My grandparents, who have now passed away, took me there when I was little. That park is the last little piece I have of them to hold onto. If it was ever demolished, I would be left devastated and upset. I never fully used to understand why people had petitions to save parks; however when I placed myself in their shoes I could understand their reasons. Overall, I enjoy going to the park. I don't think anyone can be too old to pay a visit to the park.

9) Write a poem reflecting upon your impending high school graduation.

Moment for Life- Jasreen Janjua

Graduation time is almost near
I wonder where I'll be next year?
the time surpassed me by so fast
I'm so glad I've almost finished the race and i'm not close to placing last
It's time to put old memories in the past
and create new ones, it'll be a blast!
No more hands to hold this chapter is done
it's time to move forward and shine like the sun
I'll explode into the world like a ticking bomb
"I'm so proud of you" says my mom
with tender tears of happiness in her eyes
I look out the school window and see grey skies
I'm starting to feel my body consume me like a disease
all of a sudden I don't feel at ease
I can feel my heart beating out of my chest
there's knots forming in my stomach, i think i need to rest
dwelling with nervousness and fear inside
will the road to my future be a bumpy ride?
This moment I've longed for so long bring me mixed emotions
when I look at the world it's like one big blue ocean
I'm a tiny fish struggling to swim with devotion
the clashes of the waves bring me down
but i get back up and take hold of my crown
I'll miss my young teenage self but it's time for me to move forward from here
I can shine on my own, I just need bits of me to still be there
be there like air
have a presence but I don't know it, to be the silent foundation of my life
support me, like a post
invisible to those around me but still real
real cause i can feel me
I just wanna know i can count on myself
add the old me like math to the equation of my new life
be the quotient
be the sum of my parts
beat with my heart
be in sync with me
co-write the story of my life as if the past were inked with me
when I take hold of that diploma and walk across the stage
I'll be flipping another page in my life
so many questions i have left unanswered
they have piled up like tax papers from previous years before
How does ones heart ache feeling so lost only to find hope again?
How can a single road pave the path to who someone becomes?
Before I leave Sutherland Seconday School
I wish I could fly to the tip top of the mountains
So I could see my future from above
hoping I can set my wings free and fly like a delicate dove