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Reading Journal By Siwen Bian 6031006287This journal is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor English reading and writing 1 course of Liberal Arts in English Program, Mae Fah Luang University First semester 2018

God Had to Be FairWe always knew our daughter Kendall was going be a performer of some sort.She entertained people in our small town by putting on shows on our frontporch when she was only three or four. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed, andbeautiful, she sang like a little angel and mesmerized everyone.When Kendall was five, we began to notice that she was blinking a lot andclearing her throat frequently. We had her tested for allergies, but the doctorsaid she wasn't allergic to anything at all. After the problem worsened, wetook her to our local children's hospital where she was diagnosed withTourette's Syndrome.It was pretty devastating because other children constantly made fun of her,and sadly, even a teacher teased her. When the tics were especially bad,Kendall had to wear a neck brace. She only had one or two friends, but thatwas okay because they were -- and continue to be -- real, the kind who stickby her, no matter what. Through all this, Kendall continued to sing andentertain. Remarkably, her tics disappeared when she sang.We took our daughter from doctor to doctor, but all they did was give hermedication that just made it worse, so we decided to go the natural route.Through chiropractic therapy, changes in her diet, and other naturaltreatments, the tics gradually lessened.In 2005 when Kendall was sixteen, we thought she was pretty much out ofthe woods -- or at least heading in that direction. However, as if Tourette'sSyndrome wasn't enough for a beautiful young girl to deal with, a freakaccident happened.At a birthday party, Kendall hopped on a friend for a piggyback ride. He bentlower than she expected, and she jumped higher than he expected. Kendallflew over his back and landed on the cement floor -- on her neck. Anambulance rushed her to the hospital where she spent the next week, Page 2 of 7

paralyzed from the neck down. Ironically, her biggest concern wasn'twhether she would walk again, but whether she would be able to audition forAmerican Idol.Doctors said Kendall had central cord syndrome. The pain was excruciatingand required morphine to control it. Sometimes it was so unbearable she hadto bite down on a toothbrush to take her mind off it. As the days dragged on,feeling returned to her left side, but she was still paralyzed on the right. Wedidn't know for sure how much of her movement would ever come back.I believe Kendall wanted the American Idol audition so much that she willedherself to move again. One of her friends brought a microphone to thehospital and put it on her bed. Every day, Kendall tried hard to pick it up withher right hand. It was more important for her to pick up that mic than aspoon or fork.Sometimes we all cried because of the pain we witnessed. But on the dayKendall walked into the stadium to audition for American Idol -- a mere threemonths after her accident -- we cried tears of joy. And our tears turned intoshouts when she was given a golden ticket to Hollywood.As a parent, you always think your child is the best ever -- that's just whatparents do. But after seeing Kendall perform, I know she's one of the best,even though she didn't make it into the Top 24.Kendall is eighteen now, living every day to its fullest. She's recorded a CDwith some of John Mellencamp's band members. She's also on CMT's MusicCity Madness for an original song and video, and is having some good success.I'm absolutely sure she's going to make it big some day. Kendall just puts it allin God's hands.When she was a little girl trying hard to be strong, she looked up at me, herbig eyes brimming with tears, and asked me why she had to have Tourette's Page 3 of 7

Syndrome. My heart ached to make the world right for my child. But I lookedright back at her and told her the truth as I see it.\"Kendall, God gave you a pure heart, an angelic voice, a strong mind, and abeautiful presence. With all of that, he had to make it fair for everyone else.\" Week 6 Title: God Had to Be Fair (740) Author: Robert Graves Source: http://m.enread.com/?mid=3&aid=106765 Summary This is a miserable story that happened on a family of three people, a couple and their four-year-old daughter. The little heroine of this story is Kendall, who had a pure heart, an angelic voice, a strong mind, and a beautiful presence. She liked to entertain people by giving shows on their front porch. When Kendall was five, she was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. She blinked a lot and cleared her throat frequently. No doctor could give a positive treatment, all they did made the tics worse. Misfortunes seldom come alone. Once at a birthday party, Kendall jumped onto the cement floor on her neck, and got paralyzed from the neck down. The pain of recovering was unbearable, but Kendall’s wish of attending the American Idol audition willed her to move again. Kendall won a golden ticket to Hollywood in that audition, and after that she tried to live every day to its fullest. Kendall has recorded a CD and she is now having some good success. Everyone thinks that she’s going to make it big someday. Kendall just puts it all in God's hands. God has given you what you have in nature, so he has to make it fair to everyone else. Page 4 of 7

My reaction/reflection: This article is difficult for me. I have never read this kind of article.There are many unfamiliar words for me. For example, the wordporch means a covered structure in front of the entrance to abuilding. It is usual to us, but I never knew how to say it in English.The word “mesmerize” means to attract strongly. Now I know anadvanced word for “attract or charm”. I also learned some Englishcommon patterns. For example, when someone is sick, you can saythat he or she is diagnosed with some disease. “The days drag on orthe days wear on” can be a substitution for “the days go slowly”. I don’t think God is fair and I never put all my hope on God blessingme. I think the most important thing of facing a difficulty is ourattitudes. Different attitudes result in different achievements. Apositive attitude really influences a lot. God may put you into troublewithout helping anything. But if you struggle out of the trouble, youmay get a reward. In contrast, a passive attitude may not only cause afailure but also a depression. Sometimes it will even lead to a suicide.When life is happy, I may probably thank the God. But when Iovercome some difficulties, I thank myself at first. I don’t care whatGod gives others. I don’t want to compare with anybody. And also Inever complain about anything. This is my attitude towards my life.Happiness lies in contentment.New words learned: (At least five new words that you have learned) New Words Definitions1. mesmerize (v.) attract strongly, as if with a magnet2. Devastating She sang like a little angel and mesmerized (adj.) everyone. causing severe shock, distress, or grief. It was pretty devastating because other children constantly made fun of her. Page 5 of 7

3. Piggyback (n.) the act of carrying something on the back4. Remarkably At a birthday party, Kendall hopped on a (adv.) friend for a piggyback ride.5. Lessen (v.) used to express surprise at an event or situation. Remarkably, her tics disappeared when she sang. decrease in size, extent, or range The tics gradually lessened.Articles 123451. Summary(4 %)2. Reflection(3%)3. VocabularyLearned (3%) Scores Total scores _______ ÷ 5 = _____ marksCriteria for the above categories1. Rubric for Article SummaryCategory 5-4 3 2 1-0Summarizing Provides a very Provides a clear Provides a clear but Provides a somewhatthe content thorough and clear and concise shallow summary of muddled, unclear and and concise summary of the the article; may be rambling summary of summary of the article context and excessively brief or the article. article context and content. may include some content. extraneous information.Identifying Student recalls Student recalls Student is not able to Student cannot locateDetails several details for details for most locate most of the details with accuracy. each main point. main point. details of the main point. Is characterized by theParaphrasing Is characterized by Is characterized substantial copying of paraphrasing of the by paraphrasing Is characterized by indiscriminately main idea and of the main idea the substantial selected phrases or significant details and significant copying of key sentences. details phrases and minimal paraphrasing Page 6 of 7

Spelling & There are few or no There are some There are serious Serious errors inGrammar errors in usage, errors in usage, errors in usage, mechanics, usage, grammar, grammar, grammar, grammar, or spelling punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, sentence that make the sentence fragments, sentence fragments, or summary difficult to or spelling. fragments, or spelling. understand. spelling.Total ________/20 ÷ 5= 4 %2. Reflection on the Articles (3%)Students who have completely and clearly responded to the guided questions stated in the reading journalform will get 3 marks.3. Vocabulary Learned (3%) ≥ 70% correct = 2 marks 1 ≤ 70% = 1 mark All correct = 3 marks Reading Summary Rubric Page 7 of 7