My name is Morgan Martino and I am a freshman at Florida State University. I am spending my first year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I plan on majoring Fashion Merchandising and possibly double major in marketing. I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina with my parents and my brother named Tyler who is a freshman in college as well. I have one dog named Bella an she is arguably my favorite thing on this planet. I love to go on adventures and travel to places I’ve never been.

About Me was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

My first essay called “BELLA” is about the time I got my dog. When we were given the topic of writing about a memory I had no idea what I wanted to write about. My first thought was to write about something sad because for some reason the sad events are always the best to read. I started to think about some of the things that happened in my life that weren’t the best and realized that no one was forcing me write about something sad. I did not really want to write about something sad either. So I decided to write about one of the happiest moments of my life, when I got a puppy, instead. This was a major moment in the timeline of my life. I can clearly remember how I was before I got Bella and how I was after I got Bella. I had a lot of fun writing this essay and the words came so easily to me as I relived this part of my life. I hope whoever reads this essay can feel the amount of joy and love I have in my heart for this memory.

The next assignment was a group project and we were to create a magazine about anything we wanted. The magazine was to contain research articles pertaining to what you chose your magazine to be about. My group decided to do a world travel magazine. We each decided to choose a country and focus on food, culture, and fashion. I chose Italy and wrote two articles, one on fashion, and one on food. I am a fashion merchandising major so clothes, shoes, and accessories are one of my favorite things to talk about. My fashion article is a guide for any young woman traveling to Italy and looking for what she should wear. I wanted to give a little bit of history of how Italy became such a huge fashion capital in the world before I got into what you should wear while traveling. In the early stages of this article I realized I couldn’t just give one general type of outfit to wear so I split it up into Spring/Summer seasons and Fall/Winter seasons. Within each of these sections I discussed day and night outfits along with what accessories you should wear. My next article is about Italian food and was actually a bit of a struggle for me. It was not a lack of information that was the issue, I was super excited to write it at first because I love food and had so many ideas. I think the reason I struggled so much was because I had way to many ideas. I tried to get them all down on paper and it turned into a hot mess. I tried to fix it but I was so displeased with it I basically started over from scratch and rewrote it for my portfolio. In the article I go through each meal of the day talk about what is usually done for that meal. I am now pleased with the final product.

Poetry is not my strongest form of writing but I don’t mind it and I think it can be really beautiful. My poem “Waves” is about a fairly traumatic time of when I got stung by a jellyfish. I wanted to to have the poem start off really calm and soothing but then turn into something you would not expect. Once I had gotten to the part of where I got stung I was brainstorming ways to end my poem. At that point I had not thought of the title yet. When I came up with “Waves” I thought it might be cool if I ended the poem like I started it in a calm way and focus on the waves that crash against the shore. I wanted this poem to be descriptive and I wanted it to trigger the readers senses.

My next poem was to be written about an object. I was trying to think of something complicated that might be hard to catch onto. Something that may or may not seem deeper and have more meaning than it actually does. I could not come up with anything that I felt that strong about so I decided to simplify what I wanted to do and tried thinking of something I use everyday. That is when I came up with “My Bed”. My bed is something I use every single day. My bed back home is much more comfortable than my one here so I wrote it about that one. I wanted this poem to be fun and easy to read so I made a series of couplets.

The first poem we were asked to write about anything we wanted. Sometimes when we are given opportunities like this I can’t pick something because there are so many things I could write about and I can’t focus my thoughts. I was walking to school and thinking about what I should write about and then it him me, let me write about my walk to school. I have been living in Florence for three months and it is such a unique experience. My walk to school is extremely different from any of my friends back home. In “Walks to School” I simply describe the normal things I see everyday, in what I now call home, on my way to school.

My last poem is called “Distorted Dancers”. I chose to write about this pice of art because I saw it in the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice. I remember being captivated by this painting when I saw it in real life so when we were asked to write about a piece of art I thought of this one immediately. A lot of people will just look at this painting and just see it as abstract art. They wont stop to look at it because its not a painting of anything. The longer you look at the painting the more things you start to see. More things start to emerge out of this painting that you would not see if you just took a quick glance at it. This is where I came up with the At first glance.. At second glance.. pattern.

Reflection was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

At first glance,

It seems to make no sense.

At second glance,

It makes all the sense in the world.

At first glance,

It looks busy.

At second glance,

You start to see a story.

At first glance,

It is just abstract brush strokes.

At second glance,

Maybe those strokes are figures.

At first glance,

Strange random splotches.

At second glance,

It could possibly be faces.

At first glance,

I just looks like circles.

At second glance,

They look eyes staring back at me.

At first glance,

Its just swirling lines.

At second glance,

They start to look like arms.

At first glance,

Distorted brush strokes.

At second glance,

The figures are dancing.

At first glance,

Dancing for who?

At second glance,

Dancing and performing for you.

Distorted Dancers was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I swing open the door and step outside,

A light breeze brushes my skin.

I start walking down the cobblestone streets,

It is narrow, crowded, and noisy.

I pass the concrete beach that leads up to a palace,

Watch the pigeons attack crumbs on the ground and get to close as they fly by.

Shaded once again by the tall buildings,

I have a near death experience with a bicycle.

Up and over, weaving in and out of the tour groups,

Did I go over a bridge? Maybe?

I pass the men who relentlessly try to sell me selfie sticks,

Or umbrellas if it is raining.

I pass the leather market,

I can hear the sound of a bargain being made.

Still maneuvering my way through the dirty, yet beautiful streets,

I come upon an enormous opening in the towering buildings,

Where musicians draw crowds and children play on the carousel .

The architectural masterpiece that is the Duomo is straight ahead,

But I turn right, and pass the homeless women on the corner I see everyday.

Everyday I pass these things,

These things make up my home.

Home is the magical city of Florence.

Walks to School was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Italian breakfast is very different from American breakfast. You won’t see breakfast sandwiches with sausage, egg, and cheese and you won’t find any bagels. Many Italians have a quick bite and coffee and a bar. A “bar” in Italy is what we would call a “cafe” in America. So when your walking down the streets and see signs for bars everywhere don’t think all Italians are alcoholics, they might just be addicted to coffee. When you walk into the bar don’t expect it to be like your local Starbucks, here are some tips of how to make like and Italian and get breakfast. Most Italians stand up and drink their coffee at the bar, this is the cheapest and fastest way to get served. When you sit down you will most likely be charged with a service fee. In most bars it is best to go to the cash register first to order and pay then keep your receipt because that is what you will hand to the server, to get served. Not every bar enforces this rule but it is good to keep in the back of your mind. Before you order your coffee it is good to educate yourself of what it is because it can get confusing. For example if you go in and ask for a latte you will probably be served warm milk. Here are some types of coffee:

- Cappuccino: This is simply espresso topped with hot, foamed milk

- Caffè: This translates to “coffee” but Italians consider this a shot of espresso. For example my dad was visiting me and ordered a coffee and was given a espresso shot, not what he wanted or thought he ordered.

- Caffè macchiato: This translates to “spotted” or “stained” coffee, so it is mostly coffee with milk

- Latte Macchiato: This translates to “spotted milk”, so it is mostly milk with coffee

- Caffè Americano: This does not really exist in Italy so if you order it you will most likely get a shot of espresso with hot water

- Caffè Lungo: This translates to a “long” coffee, so with more water but is different from the americano because the espresso machine slows down the process and twice as much water is involved.

When ordering your coffee know that if it is after noon and you order a cappuccino you might get a strange look. This is just not done in Italy, some say it might be because a Cappuccino contains milk and could be used as a replacement for a meal. While you are standing at the bar drinking your coffee pair it with a warm croissant or any pastry that the bar has to offer.

Lunch:

Lunch in Italy is normally the main meal of the day in which the family will return to the house to eat together. Students normally have an hour or so off from school to go eat lunch and some stores such as pharmacies close around one for a couple hours for a lunch break. The first course, “primo”, is most likely a pasta that can be cooked in various ways and using different sauces. You could also have a risotto as an alternative to pasta. The second course or main course, “secondo”, usually consists of a meat or a fish. The meat or fish is usually served with vegetables or salad. For dessert, “dolce”, you could have anything from cake to ice cream but most commonly will be fresh seasonal fruit. Traditionally Italians will drink wine with their meals and is though to be beneficial and needed in the Mediterranean diet. Italy is home to some of the best vineyards in the world and wine is a large part of the Italian culture. Red wine is preferred over white and then sometimes a sweeter dessert wine will be drunk. If you are out and about during the day and don’t have time to sit down for a full course meal I suggest stopping and getting a quick panini to go.

Dinner:

Traditionally diner is not the main meal of the day so after having a big lunch diner is a much lighter meal. Things like soups, salad, cold meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fruit would be served. Or Italians will have either il primo or il secondo but not both. Another thing Italians might do if they do not feel like making something is to go out to a pizzeria or get carry out from a restaurant. In larger cities it is sometimes harder for the family to get back home for lunch so they will have a lighter lunch and make dinner the main meal of the day. At the table the family will discuss the days events and how everyone is doing much like family dinners back in America. In the more rural areas and outside of the cities Italians will still follow the more traditional path a treat lunch as the main meal of the day. It is still customary to drink wine with dinner within moderation because of its many beneficial properties.

Dessert:

Italy is home to a wide variety of decadent desserts, or in Italian “dolce”. From biscotti to tiramisu to gelato, Italians defiantly have a sweet tooth. Tiramisu which translates to “pick me up” is an espresso-spiked treat. You can find it almost anywhere and it is fairly simple to make if you are feeling up to it. Tiramisu is made from ladyfingers dipped in coffee, then layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, and often topped with cocoa. This is a perfect desert to have after dinner. Mascarpone is an Italian cheese that is cream based and used in many desserts such as tiramisu and mascarpone and dark chocolate cream. Biscotti is also an Italian made dessert. They are almond biscuit cookies that originate form the city of Prato. They are twice-baked and very crunch, it is common to dip the biscotti into a dessert wine. Gelato is an Italian phenomenon and is eaten by just about everyone. Wether you are a tourist or a local, old or young, everyone enjoys a nice cup or cone of the creamy, rich, refreshing desert that is gelato. There is probably a Gelateria on just about every corner so it will never be hard to find. The hard part is finding the best gelato wherever you are staying in Italy. Usually the best gelato is not in the touristy areas or the places with the foot-tall mounds of gelato in the display case. The best gelato is usually down a smaller side street and its display is understated. The really touristy areas will also charge you 5 euro for a small when it should really only be 1,50 or 2 euro. Gelato is like ice cream but has a much smother texture. There are many flavor of gelato that range from rich, dark chocolate to fruity, refreshing lemon.

Where ever you are in Italy chances are you will not have trouble finding amazing, mouth watering food. I have lived here for three months and have yet to have a terrible meal. While you are traveling around Italy leave your worries about how many calories and carbs you are eating at home because chances are you will walk them all off anyways. Buon Appetito!

Works Cited:

“How to Drink Coffee… Like An Italian.” Walksofitaly.com. N.p., 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

“Eating the Italian Way.” studyinitaly.it. Cineca, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.

Defilippo, Anna. “Why Italians Prefer Drinking Wine: In Vino Salus!” Lifeinitaly.com. N.p., 20 Jan. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.

Burgess, Helen. “Eating in Italy.” Just Landed. N.p., Oct. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

How to Eat Like an Italian was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I open the door,

And see where I have slept before.

Looking perfectly made,

I know I’m about to raid.

Sitting nicely in the corner is my bed,

It is where I rest my head.

Laying there is my dog,

When I lay with her, my mind begins to fog.

Covered in the softest sheets,

I don’t even have to count sheep.

With pillows like clouds,

My dreams start to overcrowd.

I go a new place every night,

Sometimes it can be such a fright.

I feel like I’m flying through the sky,

Crazy how fast it seems the time goes by.

In my bed I wrap myself up in blankets,

And dream about visitings all the planets.

All sunuggled up deep inside,

My bed is where I shut my eyes.

My Bed was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The warm sand between my toes,

The salty breeze flows through my hair.

The sound of crashing waves on the shore.

I can hear the sound of the wind blowing through the palm trees.

I get up and put my feet into the water,

I stand there and watch them sink deeper and deeper into the sand.

I fully immerse myself into the water,

Feeling weightless I let the waves take me.

I see a good wave out in the distance,

Waiting patiently for the perfect moment to catch it.

I feel the water pulling me back,

I lunge forward and become part of the wave.

My body is like a board,

My hands reached out in front of me,

My muscles are tense from my fingers to my toes.

I feel the water surge past my body.

ZAP!

An electrocuting pain shoots through my body.

Overwhelmed by shock and gasping for air,

I break thorough the surface of the ocean,

I see the translucent body of a jellyfish floats through the water.

I am lying on the shore,

The salty water sings as it rushes up agains my leg.

I can hear the soft waves as they crash,

Over and over again.

Waves was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Italy has produced some of the major names in the fashion world such as Gucci, Versace, Prada, Pucci, Ferragamo and many more. Italy’s prominence in the fashion industry came in to play after World War II because of their textile industry. The war brought a major toal on the Italian economy along with every other country. The Italian government came up with an idea to spread Italian fashion because they wanted to use it to enhance their economy after the war had ended. In 1951, Florence started hosting fashion shows in particular that would promote Italian culture and heritage hoping it would attract the attention of american buyers and journalist. They succeeded in this endeavor and department store buyers and journalist would take a train down from the Paris fashion shows to see the ones that Florence was hosting. Italy soon was known to have an “Italian Look” that attracted the attention of many others. The essentials of this look included capri pants, sandals, gold jewelry, and chic sunglasses.

Today in Italy, Italian men and women take pride in getting dressed for the day and their overall outwards appearance. This means Italians are well groomed from head to toe and expect you to be too. Fashion changes days to day and Italians always seem to know what trends are right around the corner. In a place where the police uniforms are designed by Giorgio Armani, it can be overwhelming to think about what you should wear. Don’t think that just because Italy is home to many highly acclaimed designers that you have to spend your entire life savings to look like a trendy Italian. Today the essentials of the “Italian Look” don’t even come from Italian brands. The basic day to day outfit that young Italian women would wear are sneakers such as Converse or Adidas, a pair of jeans, and a nice t-shirt. As much as Italian fashion pertains to what you wear it also has to do with confidence and and the way you carry yourself as well. In order to emit this level of confidence you need to walk down the cobblestone streets as if you own them. As much as you are going to want to look at the uneven ground while your walking, try not to. Hold your head up high and look like you know where your going and walk like you have a purpose even if you don’t. Fake it until you make it. With this confidence people could easily mistake you for a true Italian. It is one of the best feelings when someone stops you on your way asking for directions because then you know you’re doing something right.

If your are planning to travel to Italy one of the first things that pops into your mind is what am I going to wear, or at least it is in mine. Don’t instantly stress because you think you are going to have to spend a lot of money buying new outfits to fit in with Italians because you don’t. A lot of what you need can be found in your closet at home. Also do not pack your suit case all the way because you are going to want to take advantage of the shopping you can do here in Italy. The first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and look at the weather so you can dress accordingly.

For Spring/Summer:

The Spring and Summer months in Italy are fairly warm, especially in the Summer. In Italy you will not see true Italians wearing flip-flops, crop tops, and short shorts. These are some of the major DONTS. I would also stay away from wearing athletic shorts and t-shirts around as well. Italians are never as casually dressed as americans even if they are just going out to the store or some quick errands. This does not mean you have to be dressed to the nines every day. The latest trends for this years Spring and Summer seasons are loose, comfortable dresses, short and long skirts, one-shoulder tops, and high-waist pants. The casual day to day Italian Spring/Summer look would be strappy sandals, either a dress or skirt, and light cardigan on colder spring days. For accessories, there are a lot of options like a floppy hat, stacked bracelets, or a chunky statement necklaces, but a must is a pair of chic sunglasses. A tip for when you are planning out your outfits to pack is that Italians are a little more conservative than Americans so the don’t show as much skin even when it might be scorching hot outside. They do, ironically, however like to show off their assets. So if you do decide to wear a more revealing top even it out with longer pants. The same goes for if you decide to wear tighter more form fitting bottoms wear a looser shirt. While you are staying it Italy I am sure you will want to go out a night or two and experience Italian night life. For a night time look I would go for a more form fitting dress or skirt. Italians love their high heals but let’s be honest, not everyone can gracefully walk down the cobblestone streets in them so switch out your strappy sandals for a pair of chunkier heals or wedges.

For Fall/Winter:

Early in the Fall season you can get by without needing a heavy jacket but once it hits late Fall and Winter its time to whip out your warmest jackets and boots. So if you are planning travel in the Fall and Winter months you are going to want to pack a little heavier. Note that in the early to mid months of fall, so September, October, November, it is more of a rainy season so pack an umbrella. The casual day to day outfit in the Fall and Winter months can range from various things. Neutral colors are very big in the colder months. For shoes I suggest leather or suede boots or booties. For pants I recommend a pair of jeans that fit perfectly. For jackets I would say any slim fit long jacket, a leather jacket, or a military style type jacket. Since it will be cooler layers are the way to go so pack some warm scarfs. For accessories, sunglasses are always a must no matter what the season is. To keep you ears warm as you strut down the streets of Italy throw on a hat or beanie. A beautiful leather bag is the last component to finish off your look. Remember that Italy is known for their leather markets so if you don’t have one and/or are wanting to get one while you are here you can do so. You can also get good deals on leather shoes and jackets while you are in Italy as well. For a night time outfit, keep in mind that it will be colder. For bottoms, I suggest wearing colored pants, such as black, grey, or darker neutral colors, opposed to jeans because they are considered more casual. For tops you have a lot of options, currently fur is very in so you could wear a basic top with a cute fur vest. Don’t think you have to invest in a real fur vest, you can go to H&M or Zara and get one for 30 euro. For shoes, I would go for boots, ones with chunky heals and/or knee high are even better. When you are at the club looking amazing, dancing, and having a good time, don’t be afraid to tell those Italian men to keep their hands where they belong.

Works Cited:

Ghosh, Damyanti. “Italian Fashion and Beauty.” Lifeinitaly.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

Katty. “Women Fashion Spring-Summer 2015.” Lifeinitaly.com. N.p., 25 May 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

Ciprietti, Elena. “How to Dress Like an Italian: Fall and Winter Edition.” Walksofitaly.com. N.p., 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

Steele, Valerie, and Gillion Carrara. “Italian Fashion and Beauty.” Fashion- history.loveoknow.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

How to Dress Like and Italian was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

It was a Saturday afternoon my parents told my brother and me that we were going to a museum in Columbia, South Carolina. I was not excited to drive two hours in a cramped car to visit a museum in South Carolina but my parents insisted. We finally got close to where the “museum” was but instead of continuing we turned into a neighborhood. I was so confused and started asking question after question; “Why are we pulling into a neighborhood?”, “What type of museum is this?”, “Are we close to the museum?”, “Are we even going to a museum?”. My parents were trying to divert the conversation to anything else. My dad eventually said we were picking up his friend and then going to the “museum”. Then I was like great, “I have to make conversation with someone I don’t know and go to a museum I don’t want to go to”. We turn into a driveway and get out of the car but before we go into the house my parents stop us. As a brisk January breeze blew against my skin I felt cold and annoyed. My dad then said, “We’re not here to go to a museum, we’re here to get your new dog”! My head shot up faster than a rocket and excitement filled my body. I couldn’t believe it, I sprinted to the door, nearly tripping up the steps.

We walked into the stuffy house and although it smelled like pee, there were eight little puppies running around. Cute, fluffy, small, clumsy, and adorable. My mind was racing and I was overwhelmed by the amount of thoughts running through it. Things like: ‘Is this real life?’, ‘Has the day actually come?’, ‘OH MY GOD!’, ‘Wait, what are we going to name it?’, ‘Wait, can we take them all home?’. My heart melted as I immediately dropped to the floor to play with them. My dad had told me that they were French Brittany Spaniels. They had a beautiful mix of snow white and auburn fur. There was also a little black one sitting in the corner chowing down on some food. They are bread to be hunting dogs but also make perfect, loyal pets. Baby puppies are like little drunk balls of fur stumbling all over the place. I thought I was dreaming the entire time.

My eyes were instantly drawn to the runt of the litter, originally named Daydream, who was trying to nudge others out of the way so she could get to the food bowl. Of course I went over to help her out because she looked like she was struggling. The moment I picked her up I became overwhelmed with love for this four week old puppy. Her fur felt like a cloud and she had auburn coloring on her face that looked like she had only half a mustache. Captivated by this newborn ball of joy I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life.

After playing with the puppies for an hour, which only felt like a minute, they were tired and passed out in the strangest yet adorable positions I have ever seen. I couldn’t imagine just taking one home but we all unanimously decided on Daydream, the smallest and cutest of them all. We wanted to take her home that day but the dogs were still only four weeks old so we wouldn’t be able to take her home for another four more weeks. Not being able to take our new puppy home that day was so upsetting.

My family and I went to Cracker Barrel afterwords to think of a name for the new member of our family. We sat down and the aroma of maple syrup encompassed us as we ordered and played the peg jump game. Still on a high of excitement we start brainstorming names for our puppy. From Snickers to Dolce to Bailey to Cappuccino to Buttercup to Cookie to Luna to Noodles to Muffin. Why most of the names we came up with were food, I’m not sure. Maybe it was because we were so hungry. About 100 names later I say “What about Bella?” and all at once my family’s eyes light up, we knew that was the perfect name.

The next four weeks were unbearable and like the next four years. There was not a moment when the thought of my new puppy was not on my mind; even in my dreams I was thinking of her. I would fall asleep and immediately be taken to a big open green field where Bella and I would play all day. In the next few weeks we had gone to the pet store a handful of times to get everything we needed. My favorite part was walking up and down the aisles picking out her dog bed, collar, leash, and toys. I wanted to buy everything in the store, including all the dog outfits they had. They had cute pink sweaters, little dog booties, rain jackets, t-shirts, and even some hats. Its a good thing my mom was there to reason with me or I would have gotten it all.

The day had come, February 14, which I thought was very fitting considering the amount of love I had for this puppy. Four weeks had passed and we were on our way back down to Colombia, South Carolina. This time around I was ecstatic about the two hour car ride and my heart would not stop racing. With Bella’s new dog tag and collar in hand, we arrived at the house once again. Just like before, I sprint up to the door being extra careful about the steps this time. As the door opened I spot Bella instantly. She’s already so much bigger just in four weeks. I slipped on her new collar, which was still way too big for her, and she was officially mine.

The car ride back home was the best car ride of my life. Even though Bella slept the entire time, I was perfectly content just watching her and stroking her tiny head. I couldn’t wait to show Bella her new home. Although I knew she would be overwhelmed with seeing her new environment, I wanted to introduce her to all her new toys and our backyard. I figured as she experienced her new surroundings she would soon love it.

I remember not being able to go to sleep at night because I would just want to play with her. The next morning I would jump out of bed just to see her cute, half mustached face. Day after day I would have the same routine, get up and play with Bella, go to school, come home and play with Bella, maybe do some homework, play with Bella again, then go to bed and repeat. Bella was just a puppy and so new to the world she was learning how to do things too. I remember she would always try to scratch her ear and run at the same time but it never worked out. I taught her how to sit, stay, lay down, roll over, and shake, but the coolest trick I taught her was how to play dead. I annoyed my family because I kept saying “BAM, BAM, BAM” over and over again until she got it. Now when I ask her to do tricks she does all of them at once but she still gets a treat because she’s cute.

I’ve had Bella for seven years now, she always makes my days so much better. If I am ever feeling sad I just have to look at her and she has the biggest smile on her face with her tongue hanging out to the side. Bella has been one of the biggest influences in my life and has taught me so many different lessons. She has taught me responsibly, how to love unconditionally, and honestly, she has also taught me how to just go with the flow, relax, and be happy. Dogs are one of the happiest creatures I have seen on this planet. There are a lot of things that a dog needs to have a good life, so I have learned how to think of others, and not just about myself. I’ve also learned to love and accept others for who they are. Bella has taught me this because dogs don’t care what you look like or how you dress all they want is someone to love them and play with them. Bella has impacted everyones life in my family for the better. Everyone in my family says Bella is their favorite, and it is true.

BELLA was originally published in Final Portfolio on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.