Growth, building blocks or becoming a man

Abecedarian

A.J., that’s his name,

But what does his name mean? It means to

Create an Identity based off many virtues.

Dignity, Pride, Integrity, are all characteristics of him.

Everything he does may not seem perfect, but

For the most part he tries to do what seems right.

Going through adversity is something we all face, and he has people to help him get through it.

Having a strong foundation of parents are what makes his name, and they’ll prepare him

in any situation he faces. His middle name is a biblical name, and it is

John. It shows how his religion is played, and what is expected out of him. As a

Kid he was always taught to treat other how he would want to be treated, even if he didn’t

Like the person. If he did this, he would become a better person and would gain

many people’s respect. Now A.J. is respected by his friends and family because he did

not ignore his parent’s wise words. A.J. tends to keep this pattern and pass it down to

other friends and family members because he wants change. A.J. has a last name and it’s

Pleasant. His last name has a valued meaning behind it and is something he shouldn’t ignore.

Quickly assuming his last name means to always be pleasant is false advertisement. Because in

Reality not everything is pleasant. A.J. asks himself why there are

Some people in this world that don’t try to make the most of their day with their own virtues.

To A.J., trust is an important quality. Trust is a valuable virtue because one can’t let a person

Unworthy hold such a precious responsibility. It has to be held with care, because it is such a

Valuable virtue. He knows it must be earned, and is something he continues to pursues

Week after week. A.J. deals with his stress and ups and downs one day at a time, like a

Xylophone and its different sound patterns. A.J. wants his name to be remembered,

Yet only time will tell when that day will be, but time itself

Zooms by as A.J. continues to grow.

I am About

Is About

A.J. Pleasant

           

            Family is about spending time with the ones you care most about. It’s about cherishing the moments that occur everyday. Whether it’s getting in the dumbest arguments with my brother Joe, or deciding who has the PS4 for the day. Times like these make life a beauty to remember.

            Friends are about being competitive and having fun in everything you do. 2 on 2 basketball games with Karrington, Darien, and Joe always get the best of us. Going outside in the summer is always a joy and when we get tired we’ll normally go inside and play Fifa or NBA 2K17.

Basketball is a 24/7 job in my life. Most of my hobbies come from basketball and if I’m not doing that I’m either spending time with my friends and family. Playing basketball can hopefully get me a scholarship somewhere to a school like Duke.

School is about bringing out a lot of memories, especially in high school. One of my greatest memories from school basketball was the two game winning free throws I made against Bishop Miege. It was one to remember. A favorite class of mine that I am starting to like is U.S. History because it talks a lot about the past.

            Past memories I miss are mainly in North Carolina in our old house. Fishing at the lake with a beautiful view is always a sight to see. Building forts with my friends, playing on the lake and even swimming in the pool with the perfect weather was always a treat in our favor.

            The weather in North Carolina is amazing. Not too hot, not too cold, a cool breeze and the sun peaks out over the sheets of the clouds. Another place that has a view that is just breathtaking is Florida. Family vacations down there are always the best.

            In my family I really look up to my dad as a role model. My dad is about giving me daily advice that can really impact my life in a positive way. The inspiration he has for me is unbelievable and I won’t ever take it for granted. A hero I look up to is former NBA champion Stephen Curry. The way he plays really puts a drive in my spirit to mirror the things that he does on the court.

            Someone that I am trying to mirror is God. My family and I are Christians and being a Christian is about following his footsteps, not trying to follow your own for your own selfish desires and needs. Going to church is something my family and I try to do every Sunday, unless an event comes up like a basketball tournament.

           

            Normally to get pumped for basketball games I will often listen to music. It motivates me and gets me focused and determined for my next opponent on the court. To relax I will often take naps before games to mentally rest and prepare 

Loosening Up

To get things off my mind sometimes I would write poems about my life. Here is a little about my life, up until the age of 18.

On Turning 18

Thinking about this number makes

me question a lot about life, do numbers

define us? At age 10 one begins to realize

all of ones favorite idols like the tooth fairy, Santa, and the 

Easter bunny is all a fairytale and one needs to 

wake up into the real world.

 At age 13 I was taught in order for a caterpillar to 

transform into a butterfly it needed nutrients, and the nutrients

would make the butterfly as healthy as it could be, and

if the nutrients were to be ignored, then it would only

mean the potential of the butterfly has been weakened.

At age 16 I was taught how to be a man. That I would

be going down a road only I could control within life itself.

I am driving a car with no brake, and this car will continue to

drive with no brake until life begins to slow down.

I don’t think it will ever slow down. It makes me

begin to value my values and love my loved ones,

knowing I don’t need to take stuff for granted or I will crash and die.

At age 17 the car seems to be going even faster, adult life begins

take over as my conscience begins to consume my thoughts, making

 me believe I can do everything with no ones assistance or guidance.

 My brain tries to convince me I can do things I wasn’t able 

to do before, and that part is true. I see things, feel things, think things I never 

knew I could. Maybe I should have never turned 17 because of the things

I see, feel, and think aren’t what I expected out of this age.

At age 18, I hope the car will begin to slow down, so I can see the things

out the window. So I can take it all in and be thankful for all I have passed.

I hope I understand all the events that lead up to this point, and the adversity 

that has been faced is worth as much as a lottery ticket. Because if not, then 

somewhere during that car ride was a road bump, causing me to get off road

and into the wrong path. I can only hope the nutrients given to me is sufficient,

and my conscience and actions stay in sync as I continue drive the car.


I have also tried inspirational poems as well.

Slam Style 

You see we’re all just a kid somewhere, all got dreams, aspirations, and goals

But you wouldn’t understand the everyday process a man can go through

Everyday is a struggle for some of us, 

where it’s like we are choking from our own air

And it’s funny how many bodies you count that notice, zero

You see you don’t want them to find out 

because you want to be that person slept on, 

that person nobody thought could do it

Do what you might ask? The impossible. 

The Iron mile some would say

You see many people are going to judge what you make out of ordinary things, 

but wouldn’t you find it more interesting if a zebra had no stripes? 

A jaguar didn’t have its spots? A hummingbird unable to hum?

You see the unordinary is a craving only a few possess

This obsession runs in me,

coursing through the veins of anomalies, yes anomalies

A rose without its petals is nothing but a plant, withering frail and weak,

more plants than roses in the world, don’t you think?

Don’t lose your petals, or you’ll be something beautiful forgotten

Losing my petals is not an option, it’s what keeps me going

You see my past is based off my failures and disastrous attempts,

 one would say to stop, but why stop? Why stop when there are people out there

going for your same goals, hunting you down how a cheetah stalks its prey!

Don’t think you want to be hunted pal, because the hunter becomes hunted 

When a sneak confrontation occurs,

I’m that confrontation, I’m being hunted but not for long, because

you never know when exactly the sun is going to rise, 

and when it does it is something someone can’t take an eye off of

because it is such a beautiful sight to not take for granted