Final Reflections

               Throughout this school year, there have been many things that have taught me to be a better person. Even in this class, I have learned new things that will affect me throughout my whole life. One important thing I have learned is that you should not procrastinate to do your work. I have figured out that if you do this, you are making the work load a lot larger. Another thing I have learned is that you should always use proper manners whenever you are asking something, or just simply talking to someone you know or don't. This is very important because this is something that I can use for my whole entire time on Earth. The last important thing I have learned is that you need to make sure your work is the best it can be. I'll admit that there were times where I could have tried harder, or I could have done the little extra work to push my grade up a little. This will definitely occur when I attend high school and college, and when I decide to apply for a job. These three things are ones that I will use my whole life, and that is my they are very important to me. One thing I will remember from this class is being able to have open and honest discussions between the whole class. I really liked how this class was able to converse freely, and it really was good to hear everyone's opinions. I will also remember the socratic seminars where we learned so many different things from our peers. Those two things were probably the only things I will definitely remember.

              I think one of the nicest things someone has done for me in this class was make me eggless cookies. I never really thought that anyone would go out of their way to make me happy. Even though it was not necessary, this person still did it, and it really meant a lot to me. Another thing was helping me when I was confused or I didn't know what was happening after a day that I missed. Most people in this class have affect the way I act. (In a good way) I may not remember, but I really did appreciate anything that anyone has helped me with. I remember teaching some of my peers something new things from the AOW gallery walks. It was really cool to be able to teach someone something that they knew about, or they had no clue about. When you taught someone something, you also got a lot of knowledge in return, and I am forever grateful for that. It almost felt like being a teacher for a day, well probably not. But it was still a fun experience. Other than that, I do not really remember if I taught anyone anything else, at least about this class.

               I feel like I improved in many places. I think this class has exposed me to more reading and understanding. In the beginning of seventh grade, I did not like reading at all. This class has helped me become more comfortable with reading and enjoying it at the same time. I also think my writing has become more mature and more intelligent. This is a really big thing for me, because I never really knew how to write like an adult, and this is something I am happy to have learned. This class has really helped me become more exposed to high school material. This is good for everyone in this class, and I am very glad all of us will be prepared for things that will be a lot more difficult. I am very happy that I have grown as a student and a person. The most challenging part about this year was coming out of my shell, and allowing myself to grow. Also, it was hard for me to allow changes in my literature skills. I never really knew a lot about reading and writing, but now I feel so much better about those things. I really tried to keep an open mind, and it really helped me.

              I think my strongest piece of work was the To Kill A Mockingbird paper. I really was happy with the way this argumentative paper came out. I never really wrote an essay like that, and I was very surprised with the fact that it wasn't very hard when you got used to it. I also believe that my Blackfish paper was strong as well. I just feel like the argumentative unit was a very easy subject for me near the end, but in the beginning it was something new. Out of the books I have read this year, I think that the Twilight books have to be my favorite. These books were the perfect genre for me, and I really did enjoy reading each word on every page. My other favorite book was The Color Purple because it was a book that moved me personally. As you can see, I have done many blogs about this book, and I really enjoyed the conflicts that went on. These two books have impacted my love for reading because I have never read books that made me want to read on. When I was younger, I got bored of books and I usually did not finish ones that I started. This year, that has totally changed.

               There are many things that you need to be prepared for for these two classes. You really need to make sure that you get all of your work done on time, or else you will not be prepared for the next socratic seminar, discussion, or maybe even a quiz. This causes you to be behind, and that is not what you want. In this class, you do everything in a small period of time, and you need to prioritize. Another thing that you need to know is that this class will not get easier. If you think you can slack off and not pay attention, you will really struggle. Some classes may be fun, but you need to remember that you must stay on top of everything. You may be stronger in a certain subject from the class, but not everything will be a walk in the park. I really enjoyed this class because you got to learn a new thing everyday. This is one thing that you need to keep in your mind throughout your whole year in this class. You must have an open mind when you are going to learn something new. You will be exposed to high school material and it will not be easy to get used to the workload. Just remember: this class is going to benefit you in the future, and it is only preparing you for what is next.

Morrie's Aphorisms

"Love each other or perish."

               With this aphorism, he basically was saying that love is one thing that causes people to stay alive, or be happy. If you don't love anyone, there really isn't a point to your life. That may sound extreme, but do you ever think about all of the people you care about in your life? Imagine if you did not have those feelings or connection towards them, your life would be very different. I have seen many relationships between family members, different genders, and the same genders, and it seems like love is the one thing that keeps them together for a good amount of time. I know, that if you have a really close friend, you have some sort of bond together, and it's hard to let go. Morrie just believes that love is the most important thing that a person needs in their life, and without it, it will not be easy to live. In Morrie's situation, I definitely believe that he has been relying on his love for people to keep him alive.

              That's why most people fight for their love for someone, and they will do anything to stop it from leaving. This really relates to the aphorism because love is one thing that we know we have, it's a secure thing in our life. Money, houses, cars, food, and other things are materials that can leave really easily. There are only a couple things in life that will stay forever, like blood. Your family can, and will, be related to you forever, and it is something that you can not get rid of or lose. All of the other materials can disappear in a blink of an eye. I believe that love is something that you can cherish for a long long time, and it is something that you can hold onto for a long. As most people see in love movies, the guy or the girl will follow each other no matter what happens. If the father doesn't approve, if they are separated. Love seems to be the only thing people will fight for. 

               I somewhat agree with this aphorism because I believe that love is important, but it shouldn't be your number one thing you think about, until you're older. Throughout the whole book, Morrie explains how important love is in someone's life, so this persuades me a little bit more each time he mentions it. In the book he said "I've got so many people who have been involved with me in close, intimate ways. And love is how you stay alive, even after you're gone." This shows that Morrie really does have experience with love and loss, so this really does affect the reasoning I have. Although, I do not believe that you will die if you do not feel love for someone or something. There are times where you can feel alone or abandoned, but I don't think your body would let you die because of a feeling that will only be temporary.

My aphorism: If you ever doubt your feelings towards something, then your feelings towards it aren't fulfilled.

Tuesdays with Morrie Week of: 4/27/15

Prompt: Which 'Tuesday' has inspired you?
Pages Read: 0-144

             My favorite Tuesday will have to be the Fourth, when they talk about death. This Tuesday has inspired me the most because it has taught me that you should expect your death. There is always a time where you will eventually pass away, and instead of grieving, you should embrace it. There is a quote: "Everyone will die, but only some people will live." This means that everyone can live their life to the fullest, or they can be afraid of things. This Tuesday affected me because it really includes everyone with the lessons. Morrie said "Learn how to die, and you'll learn how to live." I think that this is very important for everyone to know because you can either run towards things, or run from things. Death is one thing that people need to learn how to deal with, and it's one of the problems that you will face throughout your life.

             One other Tuesday that inspired me the most was when they talked about feeling sorry for yourself. Morrie has been asked "Do you feel sorry for yourself?" so many times, and it is really something that he can talk about. He has no problem with expressing how he really feels about himself. He said "Mitch, I don't allow myself any more self-pity than that. A little each morning, a few tears, that's all." This shows that he knows how to deal with his illness, and he has gotten used to the questions and feelings. I am very surprised on how Morrie is so open on talking about all of these touchy subjects. At his age, I understand that these things have been normal to him, and he has no problem with it.

               These two Tuesdays have taught me many things. I learned that you will benefit from living your life rather than being afraid to do certain things. Morrie explains how hard his life has been, but he has gone through these things without regrets. He knows that you can not change what has happened, so you should cherish it instead. Throughout this whole book so far, all the lessons are something that Morrie and others have experienced. Talking about regrets, death, family, emotions, feeling sorry for yourself, the world, and yourself.

Four Week of: 4-20-15

Prompt: Explain what has happened in your book so far.
Pages Read: 0-84

               Four is a very different book that is somewhat part of the Divergent series. It comes from the view point of Four, (Tobias) and he tells how about how he first got into the Dauntless faction. He also talks about how his family was before he chose his faction. When he took his test he knew that he was a Divergent really quickly. He took the test and he finished it with all of the factions. He told his father that he got Abnegation, because his father is part of that certain faction. Although, he wanted to hurt his father as much as he could, so he chose Dauntless just to get back at him. His father used to hit him when he was younger, so he really was traumatized from everything. He thought that he should hurt him in a way that would kill him forever. His father told him "The knife will only hurt for a moment. Then your choice will be made, and then it's over." This shows that his father believes that he must choose the faction that he believes is best for him.

               Once he chooses Dauntless, he makes sure that he is ready for what is going to change. He had grown up in a totally different faction, and everything will be very different. As soon as he gets onto the train to the Dauntless faction, he already has to do something that is crazy. They must jump off the train and onto a building, and if you do not jump, you are factionless. Tobias was very worried about jumping but he knew had to do it no matter what. He did not want to be one of those people that are on the streets, and that are always alone. So when he had to run and jump, he knew that there was no other thing that he could do.

Tobias has been getting into many fights lately. He is almost at the top of the faction at this point, and he needs to keep his placing there or he will be kicked out. He has been taking his tests, and his results are beyond spectacular. People are beginning to wonder what is really going on, but Four really knows how to hide it. So far, I feel like something big is going to happen. Something that will affect his whole entire life, and his decisions. Although, I need something to happen to make me want to continue reading. I think that I will be intrigued once I read on.

Life is Beautiful vs. Night

Prompt: 
Based on the Holocaust literature and poetry we have read, what connections can be made between Life is Beautiful and our reading? What events, scenes, or situations are similar or different? What is similar or different about the mood or tone of the pieces?

How is life shown as beautiful throughout the film. Pull out at least two examples from different parts of the film and explain your rationale.

               After watching Life is Beautiful, you are left with the impression of happiness, not fear or disgust, and in Night was a very different story. Throughout the whole movie, there are little specks of love, hope, happiness, and survival. When we compare Night and the film you can see many similarities. Both of the books are put in a setting of concentration camps. The main characters all have to go through severe treatment and labor in order to survive. Also, there are many times in both the book and film, that you need to worry about your family. Guido and Joshua are a perfect example of caring for one another, and not leaving no matter what. In Night you can see the Elie and his father had a stronger connection because all they could do is stick together. Although, closer to the end of the book Elie did not know what to do to make sure his father is kept safe, so all he could do is leave. Another similarity is the fact the Guido, and Elie's father dies close to the end. Guido, took a risk for his family and all he did was take his life to keep them safe. Elie's father died because he knew that he could not handle anything that was happening anymore. In the film and book, someone dies for the better of someone they are close to. Guido died for his family, and Elie's father died and it helped Elie in the long run. There was still hope in both of the pieces no matter what had occurred at the moment. Guido refused to let his son be hindered or scared from all of the things that were going on in the camp. Elie refused to give up his life for a terrible place that should not even exist. 

               There were obvious differences between the book and the film. Night and Life is Beautiful have two different tones and moods. The tone in the film is always happy or humorous, nothing really is so melancholy or terrible. In Night, you can see that there wasn't much happiness or giddiness that was shown in the film. Even though both of these pieces are about the Holocaust, it is clear to see that they both tell a different situation, and the moods are shifted. No matter what happened in the book, Elie still had to stay in the concentration camp, and he was not happy at all. He nothing that kept him living,after his father had died. In the film, you were not really exposed to the gas chambers or any murdering at all. You can tell that people would get killed, but in the book it is a lot more explicitly stated. Elie tells about how people would be killed or taken, or how the people would be chosen to live or to die. In Life is Beautiful things like that are never stated, they are usually just implied. When Guido goes to hide Jonathan, he only does it to make sure he stays alive. When Elie was asked his age, he lied just so he could save himself from being killed. If someone wouldn't have told him about what was going to happen, he wouldn't have written the book. 

               Throughout the film, you are able to see how hope and happiness are carried through at all times. Life is the most beautiful thing about the film, and it creates a very positive feeling. When the family was home, everything was perfect. Even when they went to the concentration camp, the relationships between the people were beautiful Guido and Dora had a very hard time keeping their relationship while being separated, but they still managed to make it work. These types of things had the film staying beautiful. Even if they were in the worst place in the whole entire world, they would still know how to cherish each other no matter what. When Guido saw his son for the last time, he made sure to let his son know that he will be okay. He tried to keep him safe, and it was just astounding how he still managed to keep that love strong. The love and compassion in this movie keep the whole thing beautiful.

Night Week of: 3-30-15

Prompt: How do Elie's experiences during the Holocaust change him as a person?

               During the book Night by Elie Weisel, you can really see the difference in the main character's actions, attitude, and his feelings toward specific things. He is growing up with many instances of pain, family loss, abuse, and cruelty. He is supposed to learn  how to cope with his life in ghettos, concentration camps, and he is forced to see things that no one usually sees every single day. He loses so many things that he once had, family, faith, friends, etc. He was exposed to things that changed him at the moment, and him in the future.

               When you read further into the book, you can really see that his ideas of religion have dramatically changed. He used to be very religious and his beliefs were very strong, but by the end of the book it is obvious that he doesn't believe the same things. He said "Why did I pray?... Why did I live? Why did I breathe?” (pg. 2) This shows that he put praying, living, and breathing on the same level of importance. All three of those things were something that meant so much to him, but by the end he seems to realize that he can not believe in those things, and that he can only worry about himself. He also said "During the day I studied the Talmud, and at night I ran to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the temple.” (pg. 1) This shows that he would think of his religion as the most important thing to him, and he would pretty much do anything to maintain it. Elie was so religious, and all of the concentration camps changed him and his religious mindset. After being in those camps, he didn't know who he was anymore, and he used to rely on God for that. He was exposed to so many inhumane things, and he always asked by God would let that happen to people. He lost faith by the end of the book, and his beliefs were held on the smallest string ever. Between the different sections, he would always bring up his religious beliefs. By the end of the book, that was one of the last things he wanted to talk about at those hard moments. He only wanted to worry about food, his father, and staying alive.

Another way Elie changed was with his inhumanity towards other prisoners and family. There are many instances where he has witnessed, and been apart of inhumane things between other people. Someone once said to him when his father was sick "Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else… Here, there are no fathers, no brothers, no friends. everyone lives and dies for himself alone." This shows that when they were in the camps, it was very hard to worry about other people that were in your life, or that you were once close to. He used to want to only be with him family, but by the end of the book, he seems to only worry about himself. I mean, if you were put into those type of conditions, you will probably start to think about the same things. There was one instance when Elie's father was getting beaten up, and Elie just stood there and watched because he did not want to get hurt either. There were also other parts when Elie saw a boy was attacking his father for the food he had. The man said “Meir. Meir, my boy! Don’t you recognize me? I’m your father… you’re hurting me… you’re killing you father! I’ve got some bread… for you too.. for you too…” This shows that families are starting to turn against each other, and it is almost causing them to kill each other as well. There are many other examples of inhumanity like throwing babies into fire, people getting their names taken and then given numbers, people were hung and no one was bothered by it, and many more.

In each section it is clear to see that these two things have really changed. He has been through so much, and that is what has made him the person he is today.

"Dusk" by Anonymous - Butterfly Project

"Dusk"

The dusk flew in on the wings of evening
From whom do you bring me a greeting?
Will you kiss my lips for him?
How I long for the place where I was born!

Perhaps only you, tranquil dusk,
know of the tears shed in your lap
from eyes that long to see
the shade of palms and olive trees
in the land of Israel.

Perhaps only you will understand
this daughter of Zion,
who weeps for her small city on the Elbe
but is afraid ever to return to it.

Comments: jesus, citlalli, emily

Night Week of: 3/23/15

Prompt: Describe the main characters and setting.
Pages read: 0-43

So far in the book Night, you can tell that there aren't many characters so far. We have been introduced to Elie and his family. We have also been introduced to Moche the Beadle, and he has already had many things happen to him recently. He was deported and then he came back to tell about all of the horrific things that are happening to innocent people. Nobody believed him because they wanted to believe the lies they were being told. So far, we have only been really thoroughly introduced to Elie and his family.

In the book, people have been taken to ghettos. There was one small ghetto that had very terrible conditions, and they weren't fit for a lot of people. They were taken to this ghetto before they were taken the different concentration camps. These camps were not fit for people either, but the rides to those camps were very terrible too. Their were at least 80 people cramped in one spot, and they were not allowed to leave for about 4 days. They barely had any food or water, and they had to be in very desperate situations.

The setting and the main characters are very important for this story to have because it is much easier to understand it if it is in a perspective from someone. You may be able to relate more to that person because they are actually telling the story. The setting is also really important because you are able to feel how the characters are feeling in certain places. If you were in a beautiful hotel, your mood and tone would be very different. If you were stuck in a ditch, you would not be very happy, now would you? I know I wouldn't. I think these two things are very important for any story to have because it helps you understand what is actually going on.