My Expectations of HS

As I went through elementary and middle school, I didn't think much about my goals and expectations for high school or beyond. The only thing I really expected in myself was to maintain good grades... and in return get at least two days free, called a 'weekend'. :]  But now as I realize there are four years ahead of me that will effect at least the earliest part of my life, I feel I should do more to be prepared. I have new expectations in myself and goals that I'd like to be reached by the time I graduate from high school. And yes, the answer to the question asked so often to people in high school, after I graduate from high school I plan on going to college.

My expectations in high school include getting good grades, doing some extra curricular activities, sports, some art classes, a language class, etc. Pretty basic things in order to graduate, but of course these expectations will change along with my interests in high school. I realize that the things I do in high school have the ability to effect the career path I choose and how qualified I will be for certain things. Along with these expectations, I am thinking about doing the Running Start program, and other ways to earn some extra credits. I hope to do very well in school, and experience great things along with it. 

:]

POETRY OWWWT LOUD

For the upcoming Poetry Out Loud competition, I chose the poem Barter, by Sara Teasdale. As I was scrolling down the list looking for titles that appealed to me, I found a few that sounded interesting... But I wanted something different. I went through the list again and found this poem and then remembered singing it in choir last year. When I read through it, I can't help but sing along because I think it is pretty song, as well as a poem, and also has really nice imagery. (ha!) I  get kind of nervous when speaking in front of the class, (even though I am hardly nervous when I act, which is weird) and so I am getting a little anxious that I won't screw it up. 

To prepare for this competition, I practice a couple minutes a day acting out how I will recite this poem to convey its true meaning (ha). Occasionally, I read it out loud to some of my friends... This poem means a lot to me also which helps practicing and the reciting easier. I think it is a metaphor for all the beautiful things in life and how we kind of take them for granted so we should do all we can to keep things beautiful and admire stuff. I think it teaches a lesson and kind of makes you realize that maybe we shouldn't take all the nice things in life for granted and appreciate them. 

yay :] 

...kbye.

The Road Not Takenn

This week we read poems by Robert Frost, Fire and Ice, Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening and The Road Not Taken, Mrs. Gilman was talking about. Each of these poems are very well written and can relate to anyone. However, The Road Not Taken related to somethings in my life and most likely relate to many other people in everyday life. To me, this poem meant that we have to make important decisions- whether we want to 'follow the crowd', or be independent and 'travel' a different way. Most people like to be in a crowd, but many people like to be unique and not do something they may not want to do but is expected to be done. 

I chose this poem because I thought the metaphor was very good. It was also something that was relative to many things in life, I have mentioned before. "I shall be telling this with  sigh, somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." (Stanza 4) Sometimes when I am at school, there are some decisions I have to make, a choice between whether I should be with my friends, or whether I should be with new people. It really depends on the situation, but everybody makes choices like this. 

The Movie :]

Between the movie and the book of To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many differences and comparisons. The writers of the movie may cut a piece out of the book or alter the original story line to make the film easier to understand but either way, so far, they are both great stories. In the movie, there was specifically one scene that really impressed me. It was the scene where Jem, Scout, and Dill all travel over to the Radley's house and try to get a look inside. I picked this scene because it had things that were same, different, and was also one of my favorite parts in the book. 

The scene and the part in the book were alike because they did sneak up to the house in both stories and after trying to escape from the Radley yard, Jem's pants get caught and he takes them off and runs away. The scene and the book were different because I didn't remember reading about a shadow appearing above Jem making the kids run; I remember Atticus questioning Jem about his pants in the book before he went after them, but that didn't happen in the movie. This scene was different from what I pictured while reading, because I didn't picture them running through a garden to get to the house, which made my 'mental image' different. The background noise and the lighting made the scene... spookier... and the actors did a very good job acting scared at that point.

lol :]

The Book That May... Or May Not Have Changed My Life :]

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee has influenced many people with the skilled writing and intriguing story, but has also personally impacted my life... This book has many lessons, metaphors, and other things that have taught me a lot and will help me in the future. For example, my vocabulary has broadened because of this book; the weekly vocabulary test helps build vocab rather than repeating the same word over, and over, and over... and over. The language in the book is much different than most of the books that are written currently and is interesting.

Another example of a lesson that I have gotten out of this book is, as Atticus mentions many, many times, when Scout quotes him, "One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them." (279) This is a great quote that shows that Atticus's ideas got through to other characters in the book, and I believe it is a great lesson to follow. You shouldn't judge a person, especially when you don't know them. That has made me realize that everyone should be treated equally even if they are mean, etc. and I try to remember that as much as possible. Therefore, this book has DRAMATICALLY changed my life... Even though I was  kidding, I truly think that this book has impacted my life in a good way! The End. =P

...kbye. :]

LiFE LESSONS!

Throughout chapters 22-28, Jem and Scout Finch both learn important life lessons. In chapter 23, Jem is taught by Atticus that racism is wrong. After Jem speaks to his dad about how Mr. Ewell spits in his face and calls him names, Atticus says, "...As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, of how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash." (220) This is a very important lesson that Jem and Scout and everybody should know.

When I was growing up, I learned that I shouldn't discriminate people. That people should be treated equally no matter their skin color, what they look like, how rich they are, how bad they smell, etc. I think it is an important lesson to learn because nobody should be treated below other people based on anything really. Even though there are many cases of discrimination going on, it's best to try to avoid them and treat everyone with respect.

THEEEEEME.

Education and class are major factors that seperate the upper class from the lower class in To Kill A Mockingbird. The Ewell family is an example of a lower class family and small education. Bob Ewell is an irresponsible and reckless father who needs help by the government to support his family. He has clearly had little to no education and is considered lower class in the town of Maycomb. In example, he has let his children skip school. Mr. Ewell's son, Burris, comments by saying, "You ain't sendin' me home, missus. I was on the verger of leavin'- I done done my time for this year." (33) This shows he doesn't have much respect for school like his father.
On the other hand, the Finches are an example of middle to higher class. They are more respected than the Ewells because they can afford more. Atticus owns a car, while Bob spends his wellfare checks on alcohol. I don't think that people who are in a lower class are bad people, but most had bad timing, ran into trouble or they just really had bad luck. But I don't think everybody who is poor are irresponsible and drunk, even though there are people like Bob Ewell. There are some people who can't afford much, but they are highly respected. I don't like the idea of people being catagorized into classes, but class mainly depends on the family's situation. The End. :]

Atticus As A Fathaaahh

Jem and Scout's father, Atticus, treats his kids with respect, he's alert, loving and is an overall good father. He cares a lot for his kids and obviously loves them. "I felt his hand on the back of my head. 'Don't you worry about anything, it's not time to worry.'" (134) As I said, he cares for his kids, but he also cares for everyone around him, setting a great example for his kids. At the part in the story where Jem ruins Mrs. Dubose's flowers, Atticus handles the situation really well by saying, "Son, I have no doubt that you've been annoyed by your comtemporaries about me lawing for n-, as you say, but to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable. I strongly advise you to go down and have a talk with Mrs. Dubose..." (104) He knows how to be serious with the kids but in a friendly way. When Atticus talks to them like that, he doesn't scare them and makes them understand that there are few things he really enforces, but when he does he's serious.
My parents are similar and different to Atticus. They both are similar to him when they talk to me, they are as friendly as possible. If I get in trouble with my mom, she will tell me what she didn't like that I did, and one small pause she starts up a whole different conversation trying not to bring the conversation back to that point. If I get in trouble with my dad, he is extremely suttle about what I did wrong and tries not to make a conflict about it. My parents are different however, because they give me a lot of freedom, but not enough to not know where I am or what I am doing. In the book, Atticus doesn't know every single thing they do or exactly where they are in Maycomb especially in the summer because he is pretty chill about it. The idea of Atticus as a father seems pretty cool, but I would rather have the daddyy I have now. The End. =]

Changing Perceptions of Boo Radley

Boo Raldey is a mysterious character who no one is sure if they should like or dislike yet. There have been a few occurences that have been traced back to him. One of them was a hole in one of the trees on the Radley lot. Another, was something that Boo Radley may or may not have done is when Jem goes back for his pants after they are torn and caught on the fence by the schoolyard and the finds the pants folded and sewn like a child's work on the other side. Because the Radley lot and the schoolyard are adjoined, Jem thought Boo Radley may have sewn his pants. These clues make me think that Boo Radley may be slightly crazy but nice. I think Boo has no contact with Maycomb and is protected by his family. However, sewing Jem's pants helped save Jem from being questioned by Atticus and is one way he has contact outside of his home.
"Arthur Radley just stays in the house, that's all," said Miss Maudie. "Wouldn't you stay in the house if you didn't want to come out?" (p.44) This sentence tells me that Miss Maudie is not telling very much information to Scout and sounds like she is trying to defend Boo Radley. I think that between Atticus and Miss Maudie they both know something more than Jem, Scout, and Dill. The fact that Atticus was upset that the kids were pretending to be the Radleys, shows that if there was something he was keeping from the kids, Atticus sounds like he feels bad for Boo. I think this may mean there is something about Boo Radley people don't know and he's not really a bad person -but just a victim of many bad rumors.

First Impression Of Boo Radley/ Who I Am Most Like

My first impression when I read about Boo Radley was that he was a bit crazy... To me, the rumors about him defecting property and being responsible for mutilating pets are just equally crazy rumors. "When people's azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he breathed on them." (pg. 9) That rumor does not sound logical and sounds obviously constructed into a story. The town of Maycomb may have made up those rumors because they don't know him but automatically judged him based on his appearance and his house's image, and based on his history of being slightly deranged.

Out of the characters Jem, Dill and Scout, I think I may be more like Dill. Dill's personality seems closer to mine more because so far he seems like he started off shyer than Jem and as the story progressed slightly, he seems more outgoing. In a new environment, if I know a few people, I will talk to them but I will be more shy than usual. Then as I get used to the people around me, I become less shy. =]

Something We've Done In English I've Enjoyed

To start off with english this year, we have been reading aloud A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. I personally enjoyed reading this story with my new classmates. Hearing people read out loud meant that they were reading with me. I enjoy doing group work with other people, because I think we work and think more creatively when we are collaborating. Hopefully we will be doing more group activities again in english. Yay.