Everest English Blog

 Prompt Response: When I wanted to quit wrestling after my sophomore year I first talked to my coach and I'll never forget what I learned that way. In one conversion I learned that when you dedicate yourself to something you just have to follow through sometimes. I had every logical reason to quit but sometimes you have to be illogical for you to get results.  Summary: Today in class we continued to read fences along with complete notes about the characters.  Reflection: Sometimes deciding what you want to do with your time is the hardest part about your day. There are too many things you want to do yet reality will only let you do so many. 

 Prompt Response: As a child I used to believe in Santa Claus. I ended up believing in the tale much longer than most because I liked the message. Although once I reached a certain age I confronted my dad saying "I know Santa isn't real but please keep telling the stories to my sisters".  Summary: In class we read more of Fences and discussed certain character traits among the characters along with their relationships.  Reflection: Childhood tales are always interesting and can influence your adulthood in unknown ways. Though there are some who childhood stories are their jobs and I won't lie I envy them. My parents told us the lies of these childhood spirits but it ended up crafting a hopeful naive childhood. I don't know if I would have it any other way. 

 Prompt Response: She does traditional activities expected of women such as cooking and cleaning the house. Rose is also much kinder than Troy, an example of this was her getting money from Troy to give to Lyons when Troy didn't initially want to give money to Lyons. She is a traditional wife who cares for the family and takes care of traditional chores. Due to this sense of duty she is loyal to Troy to a fault and will put up with him although she still interjects her opinion here and there.  Summary: In class read read Act 1 Scene 2 along with discuss some more words and their connotation and denotation. Plus the negative, positive, and neutral versions of those words.  Reflection: After reading this scene I think Troy is definitively cheating on his wife which makes me feel bad for Rose. But I don't know if she already has an hint he may be unfaithful or not. 

 Prompt Response: I would complain same as him. He should have the chance to try and become a driver just as a white man should too.  Summary: Today in class we had no internet. Instead we wrote notes about denotation and connotation. We also read the 1st second of Act 1 of our play.  Reflection: The book is entertaining and I look forward to grasping more about the character's minds and their motivations. I wonder if Troy's speeches will be a relevant part of the story.   

 Prompt Response: When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes my immediate reaction was to ask if there is a cure. Short story short there is none and that broke my soul at the time. The fact I'd have to live with diabetes for the rest of my life seemed life crushing. That was about 8 years ago. Nowadays I've accepted that this is my life although it took many years to accept.  Summary: In class we started a play within a novel form. Some students and Mr. Reese read aloud in character so it was entertaining to say the least.  Reflection: I'm a realist so I tend to accept what reality gives me and worry about the Brightside later. This viewpoint on life seems to really took hold of my views when I became a type 1 diabetic. That view allowed me to cope with what I had to live with. 

 Prompt Response: I remember when I slept during class a lot in eighth grade my teacher's assumed I was dumb. This was not the case, I was just bored and tired. It was one teacher specifically who thought I was cheating on his tests because I kept getting A's in his class (it was Georgia History). He thought this because I slept during his class. Meanwhile I did the work so I still knew what I was talking about.  Summary: Today in class we worked on the Common Lit assignment about morality.  Reflection: I don't tend to remember times when I've been judged unfairly I suppose unless its petty. I suppose I'm good at letting go of these memories or I'm forgetful. Either way it seems to benefit me. 

 Prompt Response: What parts of their history were taken directly from the Spanish Empire long ago? Do they never think of death as a negative thing in day of the dead?  Summary: I was absent in class today, but I assume it had something to deal with Hispanic or Latino culture.  Reflection: To me one of the most interesting things the Spanish Empire did or a part of Hispanic or Latino culture that I find interesting is Catholicism. Its interesting how it came from Spain yet sat so well with the people of South and Central America.

 Prompt Response: One story that stood out to me was Orion’s story. What I liked was how they developed their relationship with their mother in their teenage years. It was nice to see them grow closer with time and realize they have more in common than they think.  Summary: In class we presented our story map presentations. If you weren’t presenting you were listening to each other’s story maps.  Reflection: It was strange seeing how my relationship with my parents had kinda an opposite growth to my classmates' relationships with their parents. I realized I’d never quite be close with them again as long as we couldn’t see eye to eye. While others grew closer because of their realizations they are more similar than they think plus just growing up. 

 Prompt Response: When I lived with my aunt for a summer in Florida in that apartment complex. I had heard of those who lived in there and assumed it was "where souls went to die". Upon living there I had my expectations up rooted. I saw communities of kids and people all ages living. They were making the most of what they had there playing pick up basketball in the street and playing in the nearby fields. I saw early risers get out of their buildings and get on buses to go to work. I saw old ladies smoking cigarettes counting their days and cats. I realized after that summer there are all kinds of people everywhere, but all of them are people too.  Summary: In class we finished up the CommonLit assignment about The Danger of a Single Story.  Reflection: I like to think I'm an open mind person due to my experiences in life. When I feel I get too comfortable that's when I might become closed minded. Its irrational yes, but I still want to give people the benefit of the...

Prompt Response: What sticks out most to me is when my step dad called me ungrateful. Like the poem we read today I don't remember what happened prior or even after. When he said that it filled me with anger then sadness. The anger was only a flash before the sadness followed. In that moment I felt fundamentally misunderstood which was a horrible feeling.  Summary: In class we read a poem about a boy going to a new city and being called an offensive term. Then we had class discussions surrounding the poem and its themes.  Reflection: I thought I am not affected by offensive words. What I learned was that I can move on from those offensive words to me much quicker so it seems like they don't bother me. 

 Prompt Response: What I love most about the Lakeside community is the select few friends I have made in my time here. Those bonds I will always be grateful for. I show off my school spirit my participating on the wrestling team. I'm not huge on school spirit I'll admit. My favorite Homecoming Tradition is not going to Homecoming and doing something else I enjoy more.  Summary: In class we presented our presentations on Two Kinds Story map.  Reflection: I'm not huge into school spirit. I don't dress up for any of the events really. I have gone to a football game before and it wasn't for me. The traditional school spirit things I suppose I stray away from. I prefer something with a little less attention from people I know.   

 Prompt Response: I do not think gender role expectations excuse her affair with another man although her feelings on her situation where justified. The pressure of being stuck in that situation with a man whom she did not love, must have been terrible and limited her in ways she previously didn't understand. Yes the pressures of her gender in this society were great and not what she wanted it doesn't justify the immoral act of cheating on her husband.  Summary: In class we finished up our missing assignments and completed the new assignment about Edna Pontellier in Common Lit.  Reflection: The passage about Edna Pontellier was something to read. Yes, the act of cheating is immoral, but when you pile up all those reasons the line gets blurry. I cannot relate to Edna but I can sympathize with her situation and if I must judge then I will try to keep a level head. 

 Prompt Response: I enjoy class discussions because I like getting the teacher's opinion on what we are learning or hearing them go over it. I like doing worksheets then hearing the teacher's opinion or reasoning on the paper to add that extra layer of confirmation for the work I did.  Summary: I do not know what we did in class but I finished up the "Why I want a wife", and "I don't want a wife" worksheets and reading passages.  Reflection: I think my ideal way to learn is the way Ms. Silber teachers AP Biology, at least for the moment. She assigns some pages of homework and practice problems afterwards. We watch the videos to get the notes then answer the problems. Then in class she goes over the notes. So far I've retained most everything we did with a clarity I haven't seen before. I wonder how this method will hold up but its annoying yet you can't argue with the results. 

 Prompt Response: My father taught me emotions are harmful when others see them. I burrowed my own emotions so that others around me would not have to be burdened with them. I was taught this habit from a young age. I'll probably never express my emotions as freely as others. Although I have learned from friends and those close to me how to be vulnerable. When I was with an old ex-girlfriend of mine, I didn't know how to express my emotions especially those deemed ugly. Due to this we obviously didn't last among some other reasons.  Summary: I assume in class we finished up our story boards. I do not know because I was absent. Although I did finish up my story board today at home. Reflection: Writing this blog is usually the hardest part of my day. Reflecting on my life and emotions is painful. I hope one day I can live without feeling like a burden to those around me. 

 Prompt Response: I love the city or metro Atlanta. The busy life surrounded by a million things going on. The job opportunities, and all that the city can offer. A city is my gateway into my own life separate from the strings of my family.  Summary: In class we worked on our Two Kinds Comparative story map. We first had to do the paper sheet about all the information we would fit on the story map.  Reflection: Metro Atlanta represents a chance to get away and make my own way. I can leave my family. That would be the best gift anyone could give me. My own life safe from the strings of family. 

 Prompt Response: When I was young my mother thought I was dumb. She put me in slow classes because I didn't excel and thought I couldn't do more. At first as a kid you don't notice but when I grew older into a teenager I did. It made me livid that she thought I was dumb when in reality I was bored. To challenge her notion I changed schools which pretty much set me a grade in front of my usual classes. I skipped Pre-algebra and other similar things and jumped straight into physical science and algebra 1 as a 8th grader. I exceled with straight A's.  Summary: Today in class we finished up our slide shows about our vocab. Next we read/listened to the story Two Kinds by Amy Tan, and had discussions throughout our reading.  Reflection: I don't think of myself as a rebellious kid. If a saw reason in however my parents were enforcing a rule I would oblige with my best effort at minimal resistance. Though there were days were I couldn't wrap my head around their lunacy...

 Prompt Response: I was dismissive at first of Multicultural Literature since I was denied AP Literature. I'm still a little salty about how I won't get to take AP Literature but I'm realizing Multicultural Literature has its value too. I may not be reading what I expected or wanted but this introspective dive into culture has brought up some personal questions about my own identity. Which I doubt I would have willingly dived into unless pushed. The value of this class is its pace which allows you to be more introspective than you otherwise would be.  Summary: In class we went over 15 vocab words and picked 10 to turn into a slide show. In this slide show we must include the word, definition, picture, and explanation of why the picture fits the word.  Reflection: I've had to realize that self reflection may be important from this class. Although I'm not pleased at having to do it, I can still recognize its value.