Signed, Midwestern Redhead

While going through my personal google drive, I found a poem that I wrote in 8th grade as one of my options to choose for the school-wide poetry slam. While I didn't pick it to present, I think that it's one of the best things I've ever written. South Dakota is a beautiful state With rolling plains that never end While the edges of the cities Big or small, face the broad sunrise of daylight We may not have glowing lights Like LA, Miami, or New York But we have the character of midwest people Kind, welcoming, and friendly Sioux Falls welcomes people with open arms Ready to accept people The city might not be big as some But the energy is as lively as New York city South Dakota is lonely and forgotten A state only know for the monument When there is so much more Beyond the rocky, badland hills The tiny towns that comfort me with their old fashioned streets That make the 1950s seem like just about a week ago With small homes that ...

I have a lot of hobbies I like to do in my life and there are multiple things I need to do everyday. To balance things out with what I want and need to do in my life, I write and read whenever I can. Most students at my school would think of "better things" to do. To this day, I still don't know what those activities are. Reading and writing have been in my life since I read Bob Schieffer's name on TV at the age of 2. Books and writing have always been enjoyable and never a struggle. I will explain the scientific benefits of reading and then why I personally enjoy writing. LifeHack.org has an article I read the other day about the benefits of reading. Stress is reduced when you read about a life that isn't your own (and as a high school sophomore, I need all the stress relief I can get). It can reduce your progression of Alzheimer's and dementia according to multiple studies. Every time you read, new information is added to your brain and you can relate that...