Andrew's Fictional Blog

     All have heard it, and all have hated it. The piercing whine of these miniscule vampires travels through the air, assaulting the ears and distracting the senses. A sense of loathing fills the heart as the terrible noise’s source becomes clear. The tiny wings flap over 300 times per second, carrying their lightweight bodies through the air. The takeoff is nearly imperceptible to their prey, with the only indication of their presence being the characteristic whine. After they stealthily complete their mission, the prey is left blissfully unaware of their presence for just a few minutes. Then, the itching and swelling begin, not quick enough to notify of the danger, but soon enough that you realize your mistake before the day is through. The plague of mosquitoes throughout the world is something I could happily live without. As an avid fan of hiking, I know these pests well, and have likely contributed to the birth of many mosquitoes. Even when taking precautions such...

The idea that money can’t buy happiness is a powerful one to many. It is not difficult to find examples where someone who has billions still finds themselves desiring more. If money did buy happiness, then these people should be the happiest in the world. However, if they were truly so happy, why do they only desire more? A proponent of this theory would point to cases such as this, where the rich only desire more wealth, never satiated. Because they have passed the point where money stops being a concern, and are still unhappy, they believe money is the only solution. However, this argument is often applied, not just to the wealthy, but to everyone. When used like this, the argument falls apart. My family is stable now, but it hasn’t always been this way, and we have been in a few very rough spots. When I was a child, around 2012, my dad was working on his PhD, and my mom was home with two children: me and my sister. This time was extremely stressful for them, and while I didn’t notic...

          It’s a miracle anyone even gets to read this essay, considering how much I procrastinated when writing it. Procrastination is a daily struggle for me, impacting many parts of my life. As I try to start my projects, it feels as though I am weighed down, my brain unable to think, and my fingers unable to move. I long for an easier obligation, a shorter task, or an instantly rewarding distraction. I lull myself into a false sense of responsibility, after all, I have a week left for this project. Yet too soon, that week becomes a day, and all I have to show for my time are a few meaningless words. Yet in the past, I have always managed to complete my assignments, so why should I try anything new? This conflict between what I know is responsible and what I feel is reasonable is constant, affecting nearly every decision I make. The motivation is clear: Why spend hours struggling to get past a mental block when distraction is there, ready to take away ...

  Nutmeg the Dog My family has many possessions: cars, toys, food, electronics, and many more. However, we do not think about these on a daily basis unless they cause a problem, and then we think of them only negatively. All these modern luxuries are taken for granted despite how useful and entertaining they are. However, one possession that can’t be taken for granted, and something that brings us all closer together, is our dog, Nutmeg. She requires care every day to feed her, take her on walks, and play with her. This requires a level of attention scarcely present for anything else that we own, and brings our family together in a way not much else can. We got her about 4 years ago, and the whole process was a difficult one. First, there was the long drive to the breeder's house, a trip which we made as a family. Once we brought her home, she was naturally scared of all the new people, and was a pain to do anything with. She wasn’t trained yet, and our house was her bathroom. ...

     My room contains countless trinkets, toys, and oddities, with each one offering a glimpse into a certain phase of my life. Under the bed, you can find my swim team gear, boxes of snap circuits, a toy crane truck, and my first laptop. In my closet, there are model airplanes, Nerf guns, electronics, and Legos. Each of these items sits there, unused, but not forgotten, with each one telling of a different experience. However, amongst the unused are an array of things I find myself using quite often. The Nerf guns hail a time when all I wanted was a motorized blaster, even if my siblings didn’t want to get hit by one. I spent countless hours researching, watching videos online, and looking at Amazon to try to figure out the one that I wanted and what accessories to outfit it with. Despite the lack of potential targets, I was enamored by them.        Another set of objects is from a difficult time for many, yet a nostalgic one for me. The electronics k...