Dear Derrike,

I miss you. Every day. 2/10/17 it'll be 2 years since he took you away from everyone. Since he took your life away, over what? I wish you were still here. I miss your laugh, your smile, your hugs, your voice, you... I wish I could just call you and tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me. But now, someone else has your number. Someone else answers the phone, and texts back with "Who's this?" I message you on facebook, but you never read it. I tell you so many important things and I don't even know why I do it. maybe I think you can see it, but I know you're watching me all the time. I still don't know how to wrap my head around the fact that you're gone. I'm so lost without you. What am I supposed to do? There are so many times that I need you...and you're not here because of him. I don't feel like justice has been served because he'll be getting out. He can see his friends and family, and they can see him. We can't see you. We can't hold you or hug you or talk to you. This is just so hard. People told me it'll get easier, but where is the easy? None of this is easy. I have to go through life without you, without someone who meant/means so much to me.

Writing this makes me sick, because even though I've written at least 50 letters to you, it never gets easier. It never doesn't hurt when I have to write everything here, because I can't just come to your house and tell you. I can't fathom the fact i'll never hear your boots on the porch, and i'll never hear you yell my name again, and i'll never see our face again. I'll never smell your cologne on you again. I'll never look into your eyes and say, "I love you." Because you weren't just my friend, you were my family. You were there with me through so much of my life. You were one of the only real people I knew.

I really hope you're proud of me. I got accepted into college, Tommy and I are still together, and my life is finally on track. The only thing missing...is you. I love you Derrike Martin Roppolo. Forever and always. You will forever be a big piece of my life, and giant piece of my heart. You're forever my best friend.

Love,
Skye.

Dear Donald Trump,

I am one of approximately 330 million voices that you claim America will finally hear. Do you hear me? I laugh at the TV every time you come on, do you hear me? I scream at every executive order you sign, do you hear me? I sob at every support page you remove off of the white house website, do you hear me? My heart is bleeding for Syrian refugees, Native Americans, and undocumented citizens, do you feel me? This wall you're putting up is dividing all of us. There are people who became physically sick when you were elected. There are fist fights against protesters. You are turning us against each other instead of bringing us together. You claim to care about all of us, but you've already lied. You only care about what's good for business. Sure, you'r opening 20,000 American jobs by continuing with the pipeline. That's really great, good job, seriously. But...Flint Michigan still has lead water. Where is the money to help them? Oh, and lets talk about Betsy DeVos.

Mrs. Devos wants states to decide on guns in schools....in case of bear attacks. BEAR ATTACKS. Do you know how often a bear breaks into a school? She said this in the case of Wyoming, but is that the best you have Betsy? I believe she is UNQUALIFIED. The only reason you are giving her a spot is because she gave you $200 million for your campaign. Doesn't that seem a little wrong to you? Oh, wait, no it doesn't because you're a business man who got a 'small loan' of a million dollars. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD GIVE ME A MILLION DOLLARS. In your book "The Art of the Deal" you claimed to receive $200,000 right out of college, and when your father passed in 1999 you inherited $40-$200 million. You never knew struggle, or anything. 

So, Mr. Trump, as a person who is very much against you, I somehow hope you see this. To see what you're doing to all of us down here, not in your wealth cloud. I want you to be impeached, because China now say that they don't want to bomb us, but they will if you keep playing your games. So thank you for that, and ruining the lives of many. Have a great day.
Sincerely, 
Skye. 

Graduation!

 

I graduate June 1, 2017. I'm so nervous, yet excited. It's bittersweet. I'm accepted to a college, the dream college I wanna go to. I just have to get my dorm and orientation all squared away. I start late August-early September. I just wanted to make a post to say how I feel about the situation at hand. 

So, as of right now I am 17. I have went to the same school since kindergarten, except for 4th grade when I went into cyber school. (Cyber School was NOT for me.)  I go to a small school and I can name every single person in my grade. I mean, there's only like 70 of us. I love the fact I attended a small school my whole life because I know everyone at least a little bit and can at least say Hi to them on the street. I know all of the teachers. All of my teacher I know their first AND last name. Well probably because it's in their emails but...yeah. Most of us are going to graduate June 2 and it's going to be an emotional day. I know, for sure, I am going to cry. It's like we're all saying goodbye to the school and teachers who helped mold us into the people we are today. I have made many good bonds with my teachers, and I know I can always go to them if I need help. When I graduate, I get to close that chapter of my life and open an all new one. College. 

College. When I start college I will have just turned 18. I will be living with a roommate who I've never met in my life,and going to classes all over a campus that I love. I'm really excited, like I said before, but also scared. It's a scary time. Moving away from my family and living with someone who could literally hate everything about me. I mean, not everyone is gonna like you, but you should probably get along with your roommate in which you're going to live with for a year of college. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds for me, and hope that the future likes me.

The Biggest Impact in the Shortest Amount of Time...

Justin Aion 
August 24, 2016 I returned to school for my senior year of high school. I had heard a couple months prior that we were receiving new teachers, but I didn't think it would affect me.  I mean, it's my senior year. I knew all of the teachers who taught all of my classes. That was, until I got my schedule. Third Period, Int. Math A (just needed the credit), Justin Aion. My first reaction was, "who?". I was also kind of upset because it wasn't the teacher I thought it was going to be, and I had always learned best from that teacher. Walking into the classroom I had no idea what to expect. I looked to the guy standing in front of the room. He doesn't look anything like I expected. He had a whole new way of teaching things. Further and further into the year, I liked his teaching style better and better and just him as a person. I felt he actually cared about us, and didn't just want to pass us along. I felt like he knew what he wanted to accomplish and by George he was gonna do it. We've had some bumps in the road, especially with the greenhouse the class was supposed to build. But, I've learned more life skills from him than most of the teachers in the area. He doesn't just teach us math, he teaches us group skills and he teaches us how to do things by ourselves. He doesn't just give us the answers, he makes us think about them.  “What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.” ― Karl A. Menninger.  Justin Aion is more than just a teacher. He is a mentor, he is a shoulder to cry on, he is a human being and shows it. He admits when he makes mistakes, and is real with what he expects of us.  Justin Aion is not only one of the best teachers i've ever had, but i've only had him for roughly 5 months and he's made such a large impact on my life (a good impact at that). He has taught me so many things, big and small. He taught me how to be a good student, how to be a good teacher, and how to listen instead of hear. He's helped me with my other classes, and never gives up. This is not a post to get my grade up or anything, just to show appreciation for one of the greatest, most truthful, sassy, and cool teachers i've ever known. When I graduate in June, his lessons will still follow with me on the way to college and throughout life. 

An Letter To The Man Who Killed My Best Friend...

Hello.
You don't know me but I know you very well. Through newspaper clippings, the chatter among my friends, and even in the tears that crashed to the floor at the viewings and the funeral. Also through the shaky voices of those who spoke during the funeral, including my own. You took him away from me. Away from his family, and his friends and from his future... All I ever wanted was justice for him, and I will admit I do not feel as though justice was served. Sure, you are behind bars for now but you'll be out in 34 years or so. He can never come back, so why should you be able to? His family will never see him again, so why should yours be able to? You took someones life away, yet you still get to live yours. I do not understand how that is fair.. I try so hard to try to understand you, but all I feel for you is hatred. I just want to know why you did it. Why did you decide you have the gosh damn right to take away another life? Who gave you the right to play god? Thinking about the wide possibilities of your answers to these questions make me sick. I have no idea what you even wanted from those involved. If you had decided to have some common sense and not be a sick monster, I would still have my best friend today. I would be texting him instead of writing this letter.

You took away his time with people he loved, and took away his amazing life. There will never be another person like Derrike Martin Roppolo. All I want to do is hear his voice and hug him and tell him I love him, but I can't. Because of you.

Sincerely,
 Skye.
Derrike's Obituary