Describing a person and a moment. COMPULSORY

My cousin Javi is a 26 year old student of Musical Production. He’s tall, thin, he has brown eyes and brown short hair.He has beard and wears glasses.

In that moment, we were in my grandparents’ beach house. I was in a cozy armchair reading and he was in front of me with his computer. He was producing his least single. He wanted it to be perfect so bad that he wasn’t barely blinking. He put all his heart and knowledge in that song. The mouse was being moved really fast, the keyboard was almost on fire and the sound that came from his headphones was like a whisper, but inside his head the song out loud.

He thinks no one understand him and his interest but me, so he showed me the finished track that day. It was so good I wanted to cry. He was looking at me with expectation, his eyes wide open staring at me. When I told him I loved the song he was very happy and showed it to the whole family. 

He has been really focused on this task, but he always helps my grandparents and my parents on anything they need. Our relationship is so close, because we grew up together and he has always been like my brother, even though he’s 8 years older than me. He sometimes acts like a kid but he has a really good heart. 

I wish he keeps on following his dream to became a musician.

-Irene.

P.S.: Javi took part on a music competition, ruled by a famous Spanish DJ, a month ago with that song, and he won. Now he’s having the release of the song in Amazon and iTunes.

Essay: Disadvantages about technology. COMPULSORY

As every young person, I’m really keen on now technologies. I have seen how electronic gadgets have changed the way we think in contrast with our parents and grandparents. Although new technologies help us having a better life, an overuse of those items is not good to young people.

The first disadvantage is, as we all know, the incapacity to leave computers, phones or television apart. The bond that generates between the gadget and the user is so strong that we can barely imagine not having them by our side.  This way, we depend on them. We have almost left the way that years ago meetings, appointments, shopping or even calls were done. With a small item that fits in the pocket with a search engine, we have everything solved. 

However, being constantly attached to technological items wouldn’t be that bad if we use that time to study, search information, or something productive.  But sadly, the reality is that most of the time we spend looking at the phone we are in social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. This creates a need of attention to the user, involves other people to use those and, eventually, we forget we can interact to each other face to face. We can say “Like” when we see our friend walking the dog, we can “Share” experiences and even “Chat” with them. 

In my opinion, people who are constantly talking to a piece of plastic or pressing buttons are kinda lonely and I’m quite sure those actions can cause mental diseases, less self-confidence and introversion, along with ADHD and other diseases.

In a nutshell, technologies make our lives easier in so many ways, but we can’t forget that we are humans and interaction face to face is really important in order to remain a good mental health.

-Irene.

Conclusion: The Benefits of Regular Exercise. COMPULSORY

To sum up, doing regular exercise provides an increase of stamina, it helps to reduce tension and gives a better appearance. All those things also makes you have more self-confidence, control your emotions, improve physical strength, and so on... Creating more Stamina in your body can help you with your endurance against colds and influenza. 
For those reasons, doing sports is quite a good option in order to be healthy. Therefore, our society needs to be more conscious about the benefits of regular exercise; So come on, let's start doing sports!
-By Irene Pelegrín, Marta Urbán and Carlota Solsona.

Love letter. FREEWRITING

Dear beloved,

Do you remember that day? When we stared at each other? With me standing in my prom gown and you wearing your perfect suit? When every beautiful little sparkling star in the sky was shining for us? Like… If they knew this will happen. My hands crossed in the back of your neck, and yours around my hips. Not only because of the cold midnight but also because of you, the skin of my whole body bristled. The moonlight reflected in the surface of the quiet and cold water. You and me. Barefoot. Gooseflesh. Eyes wide open. Soft wind. You and me. 

Do you remember that day? Well, since that day.

—Me. 

Making introductions. COMPULSORY

1. Broad overview.
2. Little more specific.
3. Thesis statement.

-Topic: Violence against women.

1. Violence against women is one of the worst problems of our society. Women have suffered from discrimination from both the society and the legislation for centuries.
2. Everyday, the number of victims increase. Although nowadays the majority of the population rejects those terrible actions, it is, however, getting worse.
3. The government should be more aware about this big problem and make laws against this practice.

-Irene.

Outlining an Essay. COMPULSORY

I. THESIS STATEMENT: Alcohol is one of the worst drugs nowadays and is widely extended            between teenagers, which eventually might cause diseases on consumers.

II. HEALTH DISEASES:

      1. Mental: Lose control easily.

      2. Physical: Kidneys, Liver, Bladder…

III. BAD HABITS.

      3. Dependence.

      4. May involve other drugs.

      5. Poor life choices.

IV. MONEY

      6. Waste of money for consumers.

      7. Benefits for companies.

V. SOCIETY:

      8. Impact on family and friends.

      9. Noise, light and litter pollution.

VI. CONCLUSION.

-Irene.

Problem-Solution Paragraph. Sea Pollution. COMPULSORY

Sea pollution has become one of the most important issues nowadays. It’s clear that the water is being constantly polluted with toxic products and garbage. If this keeps on  and on, not only the nature will suffer but eventually we will develop diseases related to the water. We can’t forget that much of the water we use everyday comes from desalination plants that transform salty water into fresh water. 

One solution that we can do as citizens committed to the environment is not to throw litter on beaches and avoid other people do that, because they will eventually end up in the sea; Ask the council for more trash bins, adverts about the importance of taking care of the beaches, and even paying a company to clean the bottom of the seashore. Finally, I think the government should impose more laws about pollution in order to have our environment clean so we can live longer and better.

Overthinking. FREEWRITING

I used to love the sound of the rain, the cold air coming through the window, the thick blankets covering me while drinking a boiling tea. Then my mind used to fly. I usually though about what I was doing, what I wanted to do, with who, without who, what I liked, what I loved, who I love… 

But that day…

 I couldn’t. 

I jus’t couldn’t. 

What happened a few hours ago was too much for me to handle I could barely breathe properly. My face was sticky because of the salty water that came out of my eyes. My body was as cold as the snow that covered that hill in the horizon. I couldn’t move. Just the thought of standing up frightened me so much, even though my heart didn’t stop telling me to run away and never look back.

 But I couldn’t. 

I just couldn’t.