I just want to say that I am amazed by how talented this class is.  I have enjoyed my time with all of you and am looking forward to seeing where you all go! Thank you Ms. Serensky for all you've taught us, you have really made an impact on all of our lives.  Congrats everyone!

Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

All my time is froze in motion
Can't I stay an hour or two or more
Don't let me let you go
Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well


Here's To the Night by EVE 6


As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
From whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever


Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly


Graduation by Vitamin C


Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on... 


100 Years by Five for Fighting

Singing forever young, singing songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game,
And together at the end of the day.
We all say

When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag

Waving Flag by K'Naan

So give it up, throw your hats in the air
And change just as they land
You’re saying, "We'll get out of here"
Something tells me that you’re too scared to go

Give it Up by the Format

It's a shame how the time goes past 
Movin so fast 
Its like im movin at lightspeed 
Slow down 
You need to slow down 
Every once in a while sometimes 
You'll see how the world goes round 

Lightspeed by Grieves

Farewell Blog

Dear AP English 12,

                It is madness that we only have a few short days left.  Despite all the late nights and tiresome work, the years did, as many warned, fly by.  It is a bittersweet feeling to know all the excitement waiting ahead of us but how this chapter of our lives is forever closing.  Although we have learned a lot of information, I think the most important thing to acknowledge is how it has shaped us as people.  In reality, English, and school in general, is not necessarily about the information.  You will not always remember the audience and purpose of a poetry paper, or the grade you received on an essay, but you will remember the how the work changed you.  Whether it be learning to speak up in a discussion or how to preserve through an in class essay, something will stick with you.  It is hard in the midst of the hectic school year to always keep in perspective what truly matters.  Sometimes we put too much emphasis on the grades we get on assignments rather than appreciating what we accomplished or how we improved.  I think that English has taught us that success comes in more ways than one.  As long as we give everything our best effort, take each challenge one step at a time and to keep working till the bell, we will reach our goals.  This is a class which we will remember years from now and see that all the hard work paid off in ways we cannot imagine now.  Just in two short years we have transformed from naïve, frightened juniors to intelligent, confident seniors.  We have been prepared and have acquired the skills needed to leave Chagrin and succeed, although I would really appreciate a couple more days.

See you in class,

Kathryn

Why AP English?

10. To overcome the fear of a graded discussion.  Sophomore year English classes try it out a couple of times but you will not understand a true graded discussion until you get to AP English.  Frightening at first but you become accustomed to them and learn to actually learn enjoy them.

9.  Eleventh grade final exam.  Reading a choice book and creating a movie about it is extremely enjoyable.  While other classes review and study for a final, you will instead enjoy your time making absurd videos.

8.  Receiving a sticker.  Getting a paper passed back and seeing a sticker on it is one of the best feelings.  You know that you worked one hundred percent for it and deserve it.

7.  The multiple choice game.  A fun and competitive day where your group works together to win extra credit points.  You will develop extreme hatred for some people during it but it only adds to the fun.

6.  Quote sheets.  You will look forward to them at the end of every quarter.  Usually the quotes capture the students’ stupidity but they are hilarious.  

5. Data sheets.  I hate to say it but completing a data sheet is a reason in itself to take AP English.  The feeling of accomplishment when turning them in makes it worth it.  Then when it comes time for the AP test seeing that there is a point to them and all the hard work was worth it.

4.  You enjoy writing essays and shouting out random quotes.

3.   It consumes people’s lives.  People who do not take AP English state that it is like a cult.  We constantly talk about it and think about it all the time.  You do not want to be on the outside of the elite cult. 

2.  You become smarter.  It happens.

1.  Simply, Ms. Serensky

The AP Test

McMurphy-“I’ll be d***** if I ever saw anything so slow” (249).

Jack-“I fear there can be no possible doubt about the matter” (48).

Rodney- “Why is it a problem?  I don’t understand” (132).

McMurphy- “The day’s half gone already” (105).

Jack-“It is a terrible bore” (9)

Rodney-“I don’t understand why it’s important that we talk about what’s going on” (135).

McMurphy- [Looking an answers] “Come on now, what is this crap?” (118).

Jack-“There’s a sensible, intellectual girl!” (18). “You never talk anything but nonsense” (19).

McMurphy-[Pointing out an answer] “Oh, I’m a thinker all right” (107).

Jack-“Your vanity is ridiculous” (30).

Rodney-[Addressing McMurphy] “Actually…I don’t think that’s true at all” (128). 

Jack-[Laughing] “What a…sad, sad blow”(26)

McMurphy-“I’m tired of looking at you bunch of old ladies…I’m gonna nail the door shut behind me.  You guys better stay behind” (122).

Rodney- “I’m also not as stupid as you think” (129)

Jack-“I know nothing” (12).

Clearly the Best

When we read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest I was ecstatic.  I loved the book from the minute we read Vintery, Mintery, Cutery, Corn to the final moments of Bromden running majestically away from the ward.  I felt “a happiness so strong [I] knew [I] was going to pay for it” knowing that I could have another Othello lurking in my future.  But my fear quickly faded with Everything Matters! When I saw the book I naturally did the right thing and judged it by its cover.  The title had an exclamation point in it and the cover included pink and blue, my two favorite colors, what more could I ask for?  Then when I actually started reading it became my favorite book. And let me tell you, “there is love, and there is love” (233). I love this book so much that it is not just my favorite in AP English, but one of my favorite books of all time.  For those who feel otherwise, I “feel pity, for … [I] wish they understood, as I do” (302).  I actually looked forward to the mass amounts of reading each night and would enjoy talking about it outside of class.  That, if nothing else, should prove my love of the book. So some may ask, why is this book such perfection?  Well, first of all, I love all the characters, specifically Rodney and John Senior.  Unlike The Namesake or Amsterdam, each character has a likable personality and deals with real problems, sort of.  They do not stress over petty problems, such as their name or writing a symphony, but work on overcoming addictions, money problems and the end of the world.  The book also covered family relationships and the effects of one’s actions, which can be very applicable in everyday life.  Every chapter was a whirlwind of emotions with realistic highs and lows which always kept me on my feet.  There are too many reasons to like Everything Matters! So as Ms. Serensky would say “be smart” and like it. 

Top 10

10. 10^th Grade Research Project.  My group worked tirelessly on our eating disorder research project and even when turning it in still felt that we did not complete everything.  Somehow we managed to receive an A though and it felt very rewarding.  “I felt like I was flying.  Free” (Kesey 324).

9.  First day of high school.  It is an important beginning.  Sitting in all the freshman classes and wondering aimlessly through the crowds of older kids, I felt nervous and excited.  I started planning out everything I wanted to do and accomplish in my time at Chagrin.  Even though it does not seem like a large accomplishment “It does matter.  All of it” (Currie 268).  

8. Finishing summer reading.  Every summer I do not think I can do it.  I spend the first two thirds of summer reading one book and then struggle to cram in the rest.  Yet, I manage to whip them out in the waning days of summer and feel very accomplished putting the last book down after a 24 hour reading spree.  At times I did not want to stick with it and finish the books but I remembered that “more than half of modern culture depends on what one…reads” (Wilde 4).

7. Shaking Mr. Brownlow’s hand about AP results.  He complimented me on my hard work in APUSH and how he enjoyed having me in class.  Not a generally complimentary man, it meant a lot to me, especially from someone who had been “working on this [his] entire life” (Currie 296).  As one of my favorite teachers, I felt happy to have done well for him.  

6.  Receiving my best score on an in class writing.  I received two stickers on it which added to my excitement.   It made it feel like all the hard work was paying off.  I felt that “I was getting so’s I could see some good in the life around me” (Kesey 256).

5.  Winning the multiple choice game the third quarter.  My talented teammates, Mariel, Kelly and Jillian, won the multiple choice game the third quarter after hearing that the so called “Dream Team” came in third during third period.  It was very satisfying as my team announced this in the hallway to them.   It must have been “very painful…to be forced to speak the truth” that our group was better (Wilde 40).

4.  Finishing extensive tests.  Closing the booklet to the SAT, ACT and AP tests is one of the most fulfilling feelings.  After enduring and suffering through long hours of testing I have to can let go.  I tried my best and cannot change anything. I simply turn in the answer booklet feel a sense of relief.  I take a deep breath and forget about testing for a while, I could sit “silent and relaxed” (Currie 302).

3.  Preserving through the dreaded data sheets.  With an older brother and older cousins I knew the pain of a data sheet.  Even before I entered AP English 12, I feared the data sheets and already built them up into a massive obstacle in my head.  But when it came to actually facing these foes I found I could complete them and do quite well on them.  The length and time commitment still served as difficulty but it also added to the sense of accomplishment when turning them in.  I started to feel that “there’s something bigger in…all this mess” (Kesey 192).

2. Being chosen as Rotary Student of the Month for December.  I have always admired all the talented students who were selected both before and after me so I felt very honored to be chosen as well.  I never thought I would receive it, but it “had always been a girlish dream of mine” (Wilde 33).   

1.  Acceptance to Miami University.  I always loved the school and wanted to go there.  When I received the envelope with the acceptance letter I felt that all my years of hard work were worth it.  I look forward to the exciting times ahead, taking with me the knowledge I have gained throughout high school.  They have taught me that “anything, anything, anything is possible” (Currie 302).

Chester

My favorite poem this year was John Koethe’s “Chester.”  It emphasizes simplicity and displays how the smaller aspects of life matter. I like this poem because it conveys a different perspective then modern society generally prioritizes.  It praises calmness and idleness rather than movement and competition.  This theme has been prevalent in many of the literature we read this year, such as Everything Matters! by Ron Currie Jr.  He has the main character, Junior, assess “Does anything I do matter?” (9). Junior comes to the conclusion at the end of the novel that everything does matters, especially the simple aspects of life.  At one moment Junior looks at his child and realizes “She is…happy, still quick to laugh, and that, more than anything is what matters” (287).  The effortless action of laughing serves much more of purpose and lends to a happier life than frantically attempting to get ahead in society.  The speaker teaches him “Everything is all you’ve got-your wife’s lips, your daughter’s eyes, your brother’s heart” (292).  The speaker conveys that these small, sometimes overlooked aspects of life matter the most.  Junior realizes this, too, in his last moments of life.  He does not think of how far he got in his career, how much money he made or of the superficial materials that surround him, but the people and relationships he formed.  This parallels Koethe’s emphasis on the cat in his poem.  He stresses the importance of living happily and appreciating the life that surrounds people, such as the cat does.  Although I do not think it is realistic to live completely as Koethe preached, living completely like a cat with little movement and motivation, I do think that people should take in a small amount of this lifestyle for it will help them keep things in perspective.

  i do not like cats though.

A Good Day

                I walk in the room.  I calmly sit down at my desk.  I hear some students talking about their data sheets but I do not join in.  I feel fine with mine and I do not feel like stressing over it.  But more importantly, I feel well rested.  Ms. Serensky walks in and tells us to turn our One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest data sheets, I willingly go up to her desk and hand mine in.  I sit back down and feel strange.  Not only did I spend ten times less time on this data sheet, I also feel that I will get a good grade on it.  Yes, I did stay up later than usual the night before to finish it, naturally, but no where close to how late I was up for the first two.  I realize that I “chose to suffer” for the other data sheets. (Currie 292).  I spent too much time stressing over small details and second guessing everything I wrote, rather than believing in what I wrote and getting it done efficiently.   As I sit there it is “painful for me to...speak the truth” that, alarmingly, I did not even mind doing it (Wilde 40).  I liked the book; it is actually one of my favorite books.  Plus I could start to see that “there’s something bigger in making all this mess” (Kesey 192).  I know it will be beneficial in the end for both my grade and the AP test.  I feel a happy knowing how far I have come, even from a few weeks early.  I feel sense of accomplishment and acceptance of English. I coast through the rest of class stress free.  And, let’s be honest, not having homework afterward greatly adds to that happiness.

When Lane Met Reggie

R: You’re late. What am I paying you for?

L: I’m sorry, sir.

R: Whatever.  So I was thinking about “The Social Security building” (108).

L: Oh yes, “I went down twice today” (8).

R: Why did you go down twice?  It better not have made you late.  Well, anyway “I’m-a blow that...up” (109).

L: I don’t “think it polite,” sir (1).

R: Will you help me?

L: “No, sir.  Not even for ready money” (8).

R:  “This ain’t about the money” (108).  Lane, aren’t you sick of serving people? 

L: “Yes, sir” (1).

R: Then it’s settled.  What do you know about explosives?

L: Surprisingly, “I have had very little experience of it myself up to the present” (1).

R: That’s fine.  “I know a guy” (113).

L:  I’m not sure if I should “attribute it to the superior quality of the wine” but I’m looking forward this.

R: “You tellin’ me” (117).

L: Could we arrange for a man named Algernon to be in this building?

R: I’m not sure how we would manage that. Why do you ask?

L: Oh for no reason.  But if I were to organize it would that be alright?

R: I don’t see why not.  But “I don’t see why you getting’ so worked up” all of a sudden (117).

L: Never mind that. Let’s just focus on tomorrow. “I’m gonna get real weird with it.”

Rodney's Worst Day

Oh no.  AP practice multiple choice.  This can not be happening.  I always dread English class due to the daily discussions.  In all honesty, “I don’t understand why it’s important that we talk” (135).  I mean come on; I do not know a deeper meaning in this poem.  It doesn’t even rhyme.  Plus whenever I talk my classmates exchange looks and “they think I can’t tell they’re making fun of me” (128).  But today will be worse.  I begin the test trying to understand the large words.  With the clock constantly ticking and the students around me fidgeting I can’t focus, well can’t focus more then usual.  I want to prove to the class that “I’m…not as stupid as [they] think” (129).  Yet, I can only do so much. Ms. Serensky keeps repeating “everyone keep working, use every second.”  But I can’t do it.  I get lost in my thoughts and look around the classroom, still trying to think through the first question.  Before I know it I hear “pencils down” and my time is up.  I try to finish bubbling in the answer to number two when Ms. Serensky glares at me.  She repeats “pencils down.”  I state “It sure sounds like you’re questioning my honesty” (129).  Ms. Serensky shakes her head and mumbles some large words I don’t understand.  My writing partner, Henry, “the brains of the operation” helps me out explaining “You’re always looking at us funny.” (127). Thankful for his help, I duck my head and hope the class will end soon.  Unfortunately we still need to make groups for the multiple choice game.  With only two questions answered no one wants me on their team.  I sit there silently, ashamed, as the “Dream Team” forms and starts bragging about how they plan to dominate.   To say the least “I want to…leave and never come back” (137).  I sit there silently as the class whirls around me in an excited intellectual world I will never quite understand.   I could not feel worse.  

  

Interview

Interviewer: Tell me, why Junior?

Subject: To answer the question “Does anything I do matter?” (9).

Interviewer:  Yes, I understand, but do you not realize that this information would not be helpful for someone else, say an AP English 11 student?  They could definitely use your privileged help and knowledge.

 Subject:  Well, keep in mind “we in fact know only one thing for certain” (8).

Interviewer: That is true, yet, you continuously guide Junior throughout his life.  You push him in a positive direction and attempt to keep him on track.  Don’t you think an AP English 11 student could use that help?  With the constant stress and worry, they could use some guidance.

Subject: Again, “Although to you we may seem quite knowledgeable, even omniscient, we only know one thing for certain” (8).

Interviewer:  Still, I can say personally, that even with your slight help, although you only know one thing for certain, would still have helped me through my time with Ms. Serensky in eleventh grade.

Subject: “We understand your frustration, but you need to stop worrying about what’s done and start worrying about the current set of circumstances” (281).

Interviewer:  Yes, wise advice, but let’s go back for just one moment, and think of how things could have been with your help, a more carefree and confident life.

Subject:  I disagree, you would “fall short, inevitable, inevitably” (288).

Interviewer:  That’s rude.

Subject:  Just understand “we gave you infinite options…you chose instead to suffer” (292).

Interviewer:  But as I stated, with your help I would not have.  I would not have felt so intimidated by Ms. Serensky if you told me stories to understand her better.  I would not have felt the constant anxiety of going to class if you told me what we were going to do and how it would help me.  I would not have stayed up night after night suffering and stressing if you helped me put things in perspective.

Subject: That’s not my fault “You could have stopped this from happening.  You could have prevented this” (292).  You didn’t have to take AP English 11, you didn’t need to feel that way about it.

Interviewer:  I know that, but I wanted to.  And feeling that way about the class is inevitable, much like your stance towards death, it’s unavoidable, everyone feels the pressure of it.   

Subject:   “You could not be more correct” (268).  The stress is inevitable for an eleventh grader, but it is the knowledge you gain from that that helps you in the future.  And “that matters.  All of it” (268).

Interviewer:  Fair enough.  But still, it would have been nice.

Subject: Well, “we only know one thing for certain” (8).

Interviewer:  Goodbye.

Subject:  “Everything matters”

                             

The Dentist

I have come to the realization that I do not like going to the dentist.  I just went today and due to the absurd amount of homework I have I just wanted to hustle through it as quickly as possible.  But naturally, I waited in the waiting room for a good fifteen minutes, forced to read a two month old Vogue magazine.  It’s time to update the collection people.  I finally got escorted back and sat in the uncomfortable chair, waiting to begin.  I have nothing against the people who work there, they are the nicest people.  The nurse was very kind and outgoing, constantly asking me all about myself.  However, the questions did not end once she started to clean my teeth.  I do not understand how she expected me to answer these questions with her two of her hands shoved down my throat.  I give her the unemotional “uh-huh” and “hmms” at seemingly appropriate times but then I began to feel rude not asking any questions in return.  So as she switched her poking devices I asked her about spring break.  Apparently I have a very short attention span because a second after she began explaining her plans I quickly zoned out.  Above me two bright ceiling lights and another neon operating light mesmerized me, with the combination of the glare from the nurse’s glasses I could slowly feel my eyes going blind.  The quick thinker I am, I attempted to look away from the lights in order to keep some eyesight.  However, on both side of me pictures of decaying teeth and other oral problems loomed dauntingly.  It would not exactly be my first choice of artwork.  I settled on looking out the small window in the corner of the room, watching the rain fall and completely ignoring the nurse. Finally the dentist came in to check me and delivered the good news that I have no cavities again but the bad news that I will eventually have to get my wisdom teeth pulled.  Then I am finished. Usually this would be the time when he would lead me to the famed “treasure chest” to receive a prize for a good check up, but apparently 18 year olds do not receive these privileges.  I may just be bitter because I have three tests to study for, but I really am just not a fan of the dentist.  Especially with no prize at the end, that changes everything.  

The Man

I would like to warn the inhabitants of Chagrin Falls of a shady character.   All should be aware.  I do not scare easily, so do not view this as a exaggeration.  I pride myself on my love of scary movies and shows, such as Criminal Minds, but in all honesty this man frightens me.  He lurks the streets in a threatening fashion.  He may walk daily, but I only see him on weekends because his typical walking time is 12:30.  Who goes for a stroll at 12:30 am? Only this man.  He prowls the streets in all black, not just a jacket, but head to toe black, as if up to some deplorable behavior.  He never makes any effort to get out of the way of cars that drive past him and when the car swerves dangerously around him, he does not even crack a thankful smile or offer a friendly wave.  In his late-twenties, early thirties, I do not know where he lives and never see him out at a normal time.  I do not know his intentions but I question them to say the least.  I generally see him walking on two streets; North Main Street and Falls Road.  I live on Kenton Road, which connects the two.  Although it makes sense for him to walk on my street I never see him on it.  I subconsciously blocked out the possibility of him even walking on it because of the fear it caused me.  But tonight that changed.  As I came home from musical rehearsal I saw something moving near my mailbox and as I got closer I realized it was the man, dressed in black, walking in front of my driveway.  I have never before seen him out at such an early time.  I immediately sped into my driveway once he passed and ran into my house as fast as possible.   Reflecting on it now, I realize I should have driven past the house to throw him off to where I live but the moment has passed.  Do not fear though, I am safe for the time being.  I do not know why he walked so early tonight, or where he may go next, or what he may do, but do not take this lightly.  Prepare yourselves and watch out for this ominous character.  That is all.

To Mustache or Not to Mustache?

Yesterday Tina, Carolyn and Haley taught the class about their poem, If.  In honor of the famed poet of If, Rudyard Kipling, they cut out mustaches similar to his for everyone in the class to wear during the discussion.  This activity made my day to say the least.  I could not get control of myself seeing everyone, including Ms. Serensky, in a mustache.  It peaked my curiosity about mustaches and why some men sport this look.  I discovered that the first mustache dates back to 300 BC in a painting of an Iranian horseman.  The last president to wear a mustache was President Taft.  The longest mustache record was worn by Kaylan Ramii Sain of India at 133.4 inches in length.  It also came to my surprise that there is a group called the American Mustache Institute which vows to “fight the discrimination against the Mustached American race in the United States which has been pervasive since the 1960s.”  It ranks mustaches and promotes the health of them.  Apparently mustaches play a larger role in people’s lives then I origionally thought.  The vast information out in the world about mustaches surprises me.  When I simply begin typing “mustache” into Google the most popular options that scroll down include “are mustaches in style,” “are mustaches cool,” “are mustaches creepy,” “are mustaches attractive,” and “are mustaches coming back.”  I never before realized the large amount of hype surrounding this unusual facial hair.  Honestly, I typically mock mustaches for I find them quite comical and I like to point out the especially funny to my friends.  I often dismiss the intellect of certain individuals upon seeing their mustache as well.  This may display me as superfical and shallow but I cannot help myself.  I now realize that the mustache holds a deep history and causes a significant amount of debate.  But in general, if you are not a famous author, grandfather or in the military, I discourage this look.  Although they bring me great joy, it most likely stems from mockery.

Yes Data Sheets

Favor data sheets, more straightforward /easier

Fear of AP English

AP English tends to frighten students.  They know the large amount of work and the huge time commitment.  Students within the class stress constantly about finishing the reading on time and doing well in the competitive discussions. One time, at a swim meet, a group of us were freaking out about how late we would get home, because of all the reading we needed to do.  A non-AP English student commented that “AP English is a way of life, which I would never want to be a part of.”  Although I think that remark is a bit extreme, AP English does play a large part in our lives, as well as the rest of the school.  My friend, Molly, who takes honors English, texted me Sunday morning telling me about her stress dream/nightmare.  In her dream she woke up and went to school, like a usual Monday morning, but as she walked into Ms. Serensky’s room a wave of fear washed over her, as she realized she did not write a poetry paper.  She proceeded to her desk, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself; however, it was no use.  Ms. Serensky knew she did not write the poetry paper and continued to yell at her in front of the class.  Molly woke up in a panic, which gave way to relief as she realized it was only a nightmare.  After she told me this I began to wonder what scared people of AP English.  There are numerous other AP classes that student’s take, which also consist of a large work load, but for some reason AP English draws the most terror.  It causes such stress that those students who do not even take the class worry about it.  Is it the subject of English?  Is it Ms. Serensky?  Is it the amount of work? Most likely a mixture of all. Luckily, I managed to rid myself of this fear, although occasionally I do relapse when a paper or in class writing comes up.  But for many others, they continue to feel stricken with terror of this class, whether they are in it or not.

Words

This week in yearbook we discovered two extra pages available in the back of the yearbook.  After spending diligent time looking through previous yearbooks we found an idea for the page, a list of commonly used words of our generation.  The yearbook staff began brainstorming words which we casually throw around.  Right away we thought of some regular abbreviations “typ,” “glam,” “totes,” “awk,” “bro” and “nbd.”  We also thought of frequently used words like “perch,” “strut,” “browse” and “sick.” Then our grades favorites “chi11,” the "11" naturally for our graduation year, and “for days,” which we attempted to explain to Ms. Serensky first semester and she seemed to look down upon.  The editor-and-chief, Kelly O’Connor, and I continued onto commons to discuss this fascinating topic with our lunch table.  We easily came up with numerous other words which we use.  As I reflect on these words I realize how much language changes.  Even looking through yearbooks from a couple of years ago, the slang and words they use seem so different and absurd.  In general words continue to get more abbreviated and informal.  What would Shakespeare and older poets think of us today?  It makes me wonder how much more language will change in years to come and how the typical abbreviations will eventually seem ridiculous.  But for now it is nbd, so just keep it chi11.

Not Alone

As we set back out into the blogging world, feeling excited and proud of this trendy project we work on, we must acknowledge that we are not on our own.  We are not even the first Chagrin Falls students to take on such a task.  This week I discovered that my little sister’s third grade class blogs as well.  Their blogs cover various topics including thoughts on the best Christmas present, sleepovers, pets and much more.  My sister gave me a quick tour of the different sites and I became very fascinated.  They do not receive points or a grade from blogging but they post and comment as often as possible, in vivid fonts and coloring.  One post, a short anecdote about catching a frog, received seven comments.  Another post, which discussed their views on monsters in graveyards, received nine comments.  Not only from their peers, but also from their teacher and principal.  My blog has never received more than three comments and I can guarantee that her blog receives triple the amount of page views then mine does.   Feeling a bit intimidated from her blogging status, I showed her my own blog.  Sadly, she exhibited little enthusiasm about it and overall did not appear impressed, only commenting “nice” and “I like the purple.”   I did not let myself get too discouraged noting that they cannot change the background colors, create any sort of theme or most importantly add fish and gadgets.  Yet, at the young age of eight and nine they already blog and write to one another on a daily basis.  If they already have mastered this process I am curious to see what they will do in future.   

Thoughts on the Blog

Overall I think the blogging project was a positive experience.  Today many people blog so this project allowed us to use English in real life.  I found it interesting setting up the webpage and choosing the different aspects of it. The many gadgets and backgrounds made it fun to pick a theme and color scheme.  I also liked to view other student’s pages and see their set up.  The requirement of one comment per blog made me look at basically everyone’s blog which I liked.    My favorite part of the project was Bobbie’s Blog Banter.  Many students made many funny and intelligent posts which I would have missed otherwise and I loved the theme music to the show.  Personally I had some trouble thinking of fascinating topics to discuss on my blog.  The requirement of twice a week and the restriction of it relating to class sometimes made my ideas seem a bit repetitive.  However, overall I enjoyed the project and think it held many benefits.

Disappointed by the Strangers

Spoiler Alert-If you have not seen the movie The Strangers you may not want to read this.           

This weekend I watched the movie The Strangers.  I looked forward to watching it because generally I like scary movies.  However, I was completely disappointed by it.  The movie held no deeper meaning whatsoever.  Basically the movie consisted of a couple, James and Kristen, who spent the weekend in a house in the woods.  As they spent the night there a stranger continuously knocked on the door and then seemingly left.  Only she did not leave, she and two other strangers who wore masks continued to knock on the door aggressively.  They then broke into the house and followed the couple around stealthily.  The couple became very frightened and attempted to run away and get help.  Naturally their attempts failed and the three strangers captured and stabbed them.  When Kristen asked, “Why are you doing this to us?”  One of the strangers replies “because you were home.”  The strangers then left the couple at the house and drove away, never showing their faces.  They then encountered two Christian boys on their bikes down the road giving out pamphlets for sinners.  They stopped the car, took one and drove away.  The boys then went into the couple’s house to discover their bloody bodies.  Kristen, seemingly dead, opened her eyes and grabbed one of the boy’s arms.  The end.  This movie literally did not include any meaning.    After going through a year and a half of AP English it causes me to look at things more closely.  We analyze everything and pull meanings out of every detail of the books we read.  However, after this movie I could not find anything remotely analytical or thought provoking.  Simply a random killing because the killers could, with some added situational irony at the end when the killers pick up a pamphlet for sinners.  I sometimes get frustrated in English when we look at every tiny aspect of a book and sometimes wish the books could be simpler.  But I realized it makes books and movies much more interesting when they include hidden meanings and symbols.  Just like the books we read, it feels more fulfilling to watch a movie like Shutter Island or Inception and think the entire time and put different parts of the story together, then to watch a trivial movie like The Strangers.    

Dreaming of Data Sheets and Ms. Serensky

I wake up late and rush to get to school, nothing out of the ordinary due to my love of the snooze button.  I hustle to my first period class, economics, getting to my desk just before the bell rings.  As I situate myself and look around I surprisingly do not see friendly Mr. Serluco standing in the corner asking the class to stand for the pledge, as he normally does.  So I sit and wait.  For some odd reason the class only consists of me and five other students but I think nothing of it.  We sit and continue to wait.  I conclude that Mr. Serluco must feel sick this morning and the sub must not know which classroom to go to.  However, shortly after this thought crossed my mind none other than Ms. Serensky busts the door open.  She walks into the room and informs us Mr. Serluco will not be joining us this morning or any other mornings from now on.  The students and I look at each other puzzled and perplexed.  What happened to our beloved Mr. Serluco?  Ms. Serensky never clears up the confusion for us.  She proceeds to explain mockingly that she made some changes in his lesson plans.  Grabbing the chalk she writes “data sheet” on the board.  I read the board and begin crying.  I can not believe that I need to complete data sheets in two classes now.  Ms. Serensky looks over, sees me crying and walks over to me.  My face turns red and I anticipate her to yell at me, however, she kindly pats my back and asks me to move my desk next to hers.  I do as she commands.  She makes the rest of the class do a worksheet and then approaches my desk.  She whispers that I need to complete the data sheet and places an apple on my desk.  She then sits down at her desk and grades papers like she resolved everything.  I sit in bewilderment looking at her and then the rest of the class.  As I sit next to her she informs me that she got a locker next to mine and parked her car next to mine this morning.  She even casually asked me to hang out on Friday.  It seemed as if she desperately wanted to become my friend.  The dream abruptly ended during the course of her kindness and I woke up baffled.  I felt stressed about the data sheet and pleasantly surprised about her attempts to become my friend.         

Swimming

This year I joined the swim team.  I like it a lot but for some reason the coach decided to make winter break the hardest practices of the year and even instated two-a-days.  Needless to say this made my liking of swim team go down a bit and even made me think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  Every morning I would roll out of bed, drive to Wembley and try to avoid going in the freezing pool.  Much like Bromden would hid in the closets to avoid EST, I would prolong jumping into the frigid water by taking my time in the locker room and slowly gathering my kickboard and goggles.  Once I took the plunge in I entered into a literal fog from the chlorine and begin the long two hour practice.  I simply do swim team for fun and am not a great swimmer so usually my lane and I get through practices with little notice from the coaches, like how Bromden could seem invisible.  However, over winter break the assistant coach, who reminds me greatly of the black boys, took a liking to my lane.  He would stand behind it and yell at us to swim faster and to watch the clock.  During practice I zone out and go into my own little world, such as Bromden’s fog, not thinking about anything and relaxing.  But somehow over break I became the lane leader and reluctantly needed to pull myself out of this unconscious fog and keep track of the laps we swam.  After the grueling practices we then moved onto the worst part, yoga.  Every Monday and Friday we did an hour of yoga, dripping wet from swimming, on the cold cement near the pool with a professional yoga instructor.  This woman reminds me of the Big Nurse.  She keeps a calm voice and straight face as she calls out the many poses in a soothing voice.  However, every time she breaks this calm exterior, yells at us briefly, then composes herself again.  One day my friend and I decided to not conform to doing it so we sat in the back and chatted but then got yelled at until we did the ridiculous poses.  After these practices I felt exhausted and would just go home and collapse, too tired to care about anything.  These practices made me very annoyed with swim team however I still do like it and look forward to her easing up, hopefully soon.