Goodbye... for now!

It looks like my blogging for English 11 has come to a close! Thank you to Mrs. Burman for teaching me so much this year, we will miss you when you head to Southern Wells! Good luck with everything(:

#23~ Ending of the book!

I just really didn't see that coming. It seems like he would never kill him, but in that circumstance I can see why he did. That was true friendship. The other guys would have killed him. It's just so crazy. And then how he imagines Aunt Clara and the rabbits--that was weird. Good book. But it was just so bizarre.

Also, I would definitely say that I enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird much more. That may be because the plot had longer to develop because of the length of the book, though. I'm excited to watch the movie in class!

#22~ Difficult now vs. easy in August

Well, I'd say there are many things that are difficult now that weren't in August. For example, I JUST WANT SUMMER. I'm feeling really sunshine deprived when I look out the windows. It's hard to stay motivated. It's hard to want to come to school. I just want a tan. It's time to be a senior already !!

#21~ TKAM Hero

In my opinion, there are many heroes in To Kill a Mockingbird. The main hero, however, is Atticus. Definitely one of my favorite characters for his integrity and genuine, level headed, and fair personality. He gave all he had to the Robinson case. He did everything he could to defend Tom and teach the town of Macomb that racism is unfair. To me, a hero is someone who makes a difference in the world by being willing to give of oneself.

#17~ Pet zombie

ATTENTION STUDENTS- PET ZOMBIE PRESENT

Most teachers would tell there student to refrain from entering the room if a zombie is present. However, I think we should all barge into the room at once and shower it with love and affection (and hope it doesn't eat us) until it dies. Oh wait--its already dead. Let's just love it until it un-dies (?). Yeah, let'g go with that.

Also,
No feeding, laughing at, telling jokes to, singing in front of, or swimming with the zombie.

Thank you.
Your (highly irresponsible) teacher

#20~ Boo and Tom

In To Kill  Mockingbird, there is not one, but two plot lines. We first learn about Arthur Radley and the fear that he evokes in people all over town. We are then presented with the trial of Tom Robinson. Although they are two very different characters, the similarities in their situations are evident. The following parallels are in the book: they are both falsely accused, they are both judged, and they are both "jailed".

Arthur Radley was falsely accused of stabbing his father; this was a rumor. Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella, which was also not true. Both Robinson and Radley are being judged because of social factors. Radley is judged because he likes to be alone and indoors and Robinson is judged because of the color of his skin. Because of their accusations, they are both sentenced to time in jail.

The two, apparently separate at the beginning of the book, plot lines begin to come together more and more as the storyline of the book evolves. Robinson and Radley's lives compliment each other in terms of making different factors of their lives very evident. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's ingenius writing gives us two very separate, but yet very intertwined plots.

#19~ My Rant

People go through their daily lives basing their value on the thoughts and opinions of others. Even the smallest events must be posted, or did they really happen? WHY do we feel the need to share our life with the world, beyond the realm of close friends and family? Is one not confident enough in their own life so they need to make sure others approve of it? I’m not sure exactly where this twisted mindset erupted from, but it continues to dominate our society every single day. Imagine a world where no one posted, no one tweeted, no one snap chatted. Less people would know you; you would know less people. But is that really true? Is knowing someone defined as being aware that they “had a great night with Caleb and Taylor”? Would you really have fewer friends? One thing is for sure…the lives of those that you would still be aware of would be lives that hold a significant part in your life. I imagine a much quieter world, a much more genuine world. We wouldn’t need Twitter. We wouldn’t need Instagram. We wouldn’t need snap chat. And we wouldn’t need Facebook.

#18~ Prom 2015

Prom 2015 was definitely a night to remember.

I'll just start from Saturday morning. So, I woke up around 9 I ran to CVS to get some last minutes things. Lauren Dent came over at 12:40 and I did her hair. Then Janean came over and we did our hair together. Our group arrived at my house at 4:45. It was: Tyler and I, Janean and Gavin, Caroline and Steven, Kennedy and Taylor, and Collin and Kaitlyn. We took so many pictures which was honestly one of my favorite parts of the day(: 

Then we headed to the Outback for dinner. Janean and Gavin rode with Tyler and me. We were sliiiiightly late to prom, but that was fine because he line to get in was pretty long! I think maybe I sang more than I danced that night because the next morning I could barely talk. We did photo booth pictures (Thanks Bur!) and formal pictures at the school, too. After prom, Ty and I stayed and helped clean up. Then we went to my house to change and headed to after prom. We only stayed there until 1:30 because we were pretty tired. 

The next morning he picked me up for church, and it kind of felt like we did prom all over again because we had to get dressed up again;) The old men and women at church just loved us, haha.

The best part of prom was definitely who I spent it with. (:

#16~ Reading in class vs. Reading on my own

I think I would rather read a novel on my own then in class because I feel like I enjoy it more. However, this is only the case if it's a book that I'm interested in. It is really nice to read in class if it's a book that is hard to understand. We read The Giver in eighth grade and I LOVED it.

#15~ Whitman and Dickinson

NOT DONE

Compare:

1. They both approach death as a main theme.

2. They are both poets from the 19th century.

3. They both observed the world around them and wrote their thoughts on it. 

Contrast:

1. Whitman uses mostly free verse and Dickinson favors slant rhyme.

2. Whitmans poetry is sometimes organized into "catelogs," while Dickinson's is in stanzas. 

3. Whitman didn't follow that normal rules of poetry. His ideas and sentences run together. Dickinson, on the other hand, used proper grammar and writing technique for the time.

#14~ The Fall of the House of a Usher: BOOK VS MOVIE

Wow, that movie was crayyy. I even stayed after class to finish it...

The book and the movie were alike in a couple aspects. First, both Roderick and Madeline were psychologically tormented. Second, the house was alive in both. Thirdly, The way 

Madeline was described after getting out of the coffin was portrayed in exactly the same way in the movie.

They were also very different in a lot of ways, too. One of the first thing I noticed was that Roderick didn't look near as sickly as the book described him. Ugly, yes, but not scary. The major difference that I think anyone would point out is that the book does not include a love story at all. In the movie, the narrator** and Madeline are madly in love. In the book, the narrator doesn't have a name. In the movie, the narrator's name is **. 

**AHH WHAT WAS HIS NAME!?

#13~ FAV TV SHOW

I don't really watch a lot of TV because I am always so busy! But this time of year I always set aside my Monday nights for THE BACHELOR!!! Right now there are only two girls left. I really like both Becca and Whitney. They're both down to earth, sweet girls. I want him to choose Whitney because I feel like she is the most ready to get married, and her and Chris just really click. Their time together seems effortless, and Whitney has a southern accent which really just fits the role for Prince Farming.

#12~ My Favorite Fireside Poet...well not really

I didn't really like any of the fireside poets.... but I really liked Washington Irving! He was definitely the easiest for me to understand and his story was the most exciting. It contained action and humor, which made me want to keep reading. The other authors were more dry and I didn't appeal to their style of writing as well.

#11~ Compare and Contrast

Washington Irving wrote a story called The Devil and Tom Walker while Charlie Daniels wrote a song called "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Analyzing both, I can see how they are connected to each other. After listening to Mrs. Burman point out slight differences, I know recognize them. Several aspects of the story and song are similar and different such as the Devil, the medium of the story, and the authors.

The Devil is present in both. In the short story, the Devil has many names. The main reference to him is Old Scratch. In the song, the Devil is simply called The Devil.

Both examples are literary pieces. However, The Devil and Tom Walker is a short story and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a song.

The short story and the song were both composed by men. The short story was written by Washington Irving and the song was written by Charlie Daniels.

As stated, both literary pieces compare and contrast well with eachother. Although they both are parallel in many aspects, they are not the same.

#10~ If my neighborhood were an an animal....

If my neighborhood were an animal, we would definitely be a panda bear. Reasons? Well, we are quiet and mellow, but happy and kind. All of the people living in my neighborhood live simple, peaceful lives. But, everyone helps each other. Seriously, look how cute this bear is.

#9~ Ten Skills

Ten skills I wish I would've learned in high school:

1. How do work finances and money.
2. How to study for the SAT.
3. How to apply to colleges and when to begin doing so.
4. How to research scholarships and find ones that apply to me.
5. How to check out a book from the library.
6. How to figure out what skills I have that would be a good career choice for me.
7. I wish we had swing choir like Adams Central.
8. I should've been in a play...that would've been so much fun.
9. How to make decisions for myself, and not do things just because other people want me to.
10. I wish I could've taken a psych class.

#8~ DONUT YOU KNOW HOW NUTS I AM ABOUT YOU?!

This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to ask Tyler to prom!!

He was so surprised. Here is the story:

We were on our way to Fort Wayne for Valentine's Day. When we were almost to Ossian, I said to him, "Ty, I almost forgot! I told my mom we would pick up donuts for my dad at Heyerley's!" (My master plan had already been set up.) 

We walked in and I told the ladies that I had a pick up for Baumgartner. They set the box on the counter and Tyler read the top and looked at me and smiled, he seemed pretty confused. I picked it up and opened it so that he could see "Prom" written on the donuts on the inside. *At this point, all the old ladies in Heyerley's were grinning from ear to ear.* He hugged me and said, "YES!"(:

#7~ My Favorite Aphorism

Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge. 

This was my favorite aphorism from Poor Richards Almanac because I completely understand what it means, and I agree with it. It is so important to love people. In my opinion, that is one of the number one things we should be doing in life. And we should always strive to put others first. However, when putting others first and unconditionally loving someone begins to affect our own well-being, that is where we need to draw the line. It is good to give to others, but it is also important to look out for yourself. 

#6~ Dear World,

There are some things you just need to know and realize. Here are some of my favorite quotes, and they should pretty much sum up how I feel.

Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

It might take a year, it might take a day, but what's meant to be will always find its way.

Unless it's mad, passionate, or extraordinary love, it is a a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in life; love shouldn't be one of them.

Let all you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and make the most of the moment you are in now.

If you love a flower, don't pick it . Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation

"I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all, become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot passionate is the only thing to be." -Roald Dahl

Sincerely,
Carly
:)

#5~ A Look Inside of Carly's Mind

What persuades you to do well in school?

I have always been a goal-oriented person, and because of that, I want to do well in school because I am excited for my future. I am excited to finish high school with good grades and an academic honors diploma. I want to get into a great college and have the opportunity to get a degree that feeds my passions. 

What persuades you to show respect?

I show respect to people because I want to be respected as a person. Every person deserves to be treated fairly and equally. 

What persuades you to follow the law?

I follow the law because I believe that laws are set up with the intentions of making society better. Plus, the consequences that are given when a person does not follow the law are not worth it. I don't want to pay a fine or spend a couple years behind bars!

What do you think persuades people in general?

I think that people's motives persuades them. If a person has good motives and wants to live a happy and respected life, they will live their life accordingly. (And vise-versa.)

#4~ Carly: Onondaga Tribe

It isn't every day that I consider what Indian tribe I would be apart of, based on their values. But I am going to think about this today in Mrs. Burman's English 11 class. Between the Onondaga, Modoc, Navajo, and Iriquios tribes, I think I would best fit into the Onondaga tribe. Why? They are kind, welcoming, and hospitable, which are qualities that I  strive to continually display. They also value marriage, and I grew up seeing marriage as a holy matrimony created by God. In the Onondaga myth, the animals risk their own lives in order to help the woman survive. I would like to think in similar, parallel situations, I would do the same.

#3~ New Class

Career Choosing:

This semester long class will prove to be highly beneficial when life outside of high school begins. This course will require you to take several personality and personal Internet tests to see which fields of study you are naturally interested in. Exams will also be given to allow you to see what areas of work you would excel in. Upon discovering your top three career options, you will be given several opportunities to get to experience what it would be life to have a job in that field. Students will be allowed to observe and learn off-campus. For each career, a professional will be assigned. This professional will be your mentor and guide in allowing you to truly see if that profession would be of interest to you. When you feel confident in the career you would like to proceed with post-high school, you will then enter the second half of the class. This part of the course is directed towards taking the next step in pursuing the career by helping you choose the right college for you, and signing you up for as many dual-enrollment classes that are directed towards that career while still in high school. The goal of this course is to give students a fair chance at considering multiple careers, and helping them to feel confident in the area that they choose. 

#2~ Snow Days...Delays...Bliss.

This is the view from my window this morning. CANCELLATION!

This is usually how it happens:

I'm sound asleep, vividly dreaming like I do every night. My deep sleep is interrupted by either SchoolReach calling me or my mom waking me. Either way, I hear the words "delay" or "cancellation", and my whole body breathes a sigh of relief/ pure joy. I get to sleep longer. 

During delays I usually just set my alarm two hours forward, and my day continues as it would have if it had begun at my normal 6:30 (except I am in a much better mood due to the extra sleep).

Cancellations, however, are far from a normal school day. Sometimes cancellations call for a total "lazy day", and other times I get up with the full intention of making every second count. Yesterday I went out to breakfast at Grounds and Grains with my best friend, did donuts in a couple parking lots, had my cousin over for a couple hours (we buried our faces in the world of Netflix the entre time and it was wonderful), then spent the evening teaching my mom about the fascinating game of Trivia Crack. (She begged me to put Candy Crush on her phone, but knowing fully well that she would get addicted, I told her no and that I would never do anything to intentionally harm her.)

So, yeah, that's me and my thoughts on cancellations and delays. I tend to never think about the fact that we will have to make these days up at the end of the year. Frankly, I don't really care. ;)

#1~ English: The Ups and Downs

English was always my worst subject throughout elementary school. I was the worst speller on the planet, and I couldn't use a comma correctly to save my life. My 6th grade year, I had Mr. Lesh for not only science class, but also homeroom. Each day during homeroom we would go over how to correctly punctuate sentences, and how to identify different parts of speech. This was the turning point for me. Today, I enjoy English; in fact, there are parts of it that I actually love. Writing has become one of my favorite hobbies. Reading, however, is still not my favorite cup of tea (although I did thoroughly enjoyed TFiOS and The Hunger Games series). I am very excited for this semester of English because I truly want to improve in several areas and continue with my passion for writing. I am also super pumped about having a blog (that has always secretly been one of my "dreams", but I was always too lazy to figure out how to set one up). I am ready to start my second semester with a BANG!