Last blog post

    Wow, as this crazy year comes to and end, I look back and think of how I've grown intellectually especially in this class. I walked in with mediocre writing skills and left as a writing superstar (hopefully the AP graders think so too). This class has helped me view and question many morals that before I blindly followed. For instance, the death penalty, "cookie-cutter" communities, religion, and much more. This questioning helped me mature as a person, and hopefully aid me in making mature decisions as an adult later on down the road.
      But more on the actual school side of the class- this class prepared for the AP test! Although I grew as a writer, I still struggled writing the argumentative essays. For me they were just so similar to the persuasive it was hard to differentiate between the two. Although we did practice these essays, I wish we had practiced more! However, I feel as if the synthesis binder really helped me do great on the synthesis essay! I felt so prepared because we constantly practiced and planned these essays that it was a breeze on the AP test!
     I LOVE reading, but with my very busy schedule I really don't get to do it all that much anymore, so reading in your class was so much fun for me. I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby because I love all the hidden symbolism and the twisted love story in it. Plus it's easy to read and a light read at first read, but when you read between the lines there's so much more to uncover! However, I really didn't like reading the Crucible (but I did like the acting we got to do with it) and In Cold Blood. I found them very boring and very difficult to read.
      Lastly, this class has been my favorite class! I loved how we got a reasonable workload, yet still managed to learn a ton- something most teachers struggle balancing, though you did it perfectly. You're my favorite teacher this year, you've helped me with more than just school! It's easy to see you truly care about teaching and your students, which really means a lot when Westside is filled with teachers who could care less! Thank you so much for all you've done for us this year, Mr.Thomas!

Blog post # 5

                 There are many things I carry in my day to day life: some things physical, like a book, and others intangible, like a fear. A majority of the things I carry are the ladder; I cannot see them, only feel them. The things I can see are like a lifeline, for instance I must always have my phone- I know so teenage girl of me. It’s not even that I use it all the time, I just feel so naked without it especially if I don’t know where it is. Another very important item is two ponytail holders on my right wrist- not the left because that would be just wrong. Those two items I couldn’t be caught dead without.

                The more important things I carry are the intangible items: the fears, worries, anxieties, relationships, and characteristics- these I cannot rid myself of. My fears: getting fat. Simple as that- but really not so simple at all. I’ve struggled with this since the 8^th grade, and right now I’m winning. I’ll never forget the times that I wouldn’t eat a piece of bread because I was afraid of it. Obviously those times have passed and things are better, but that voice in the back of my mind telling me to throw up the dessert I just ate won’t ever shut up. This is what I carry.

                The relationships I have with those that I love never leave me either. My family and friends are always with me even at the worst times. Past relationships and experiences cause me to be the way I am, sometimes cautious, sometimes gracious, sometimes turning the other cheek. Those who have passed away, although not always on my mind, will pop up here and there reminding me to be thankful for those that are around. These relationships I carry.

                The traits that make me who I am, I cannot set free. I am loud and hardworking like my mom, but loving and honest like my dad. Although sometimes I hate to admit it, I am my mother’s daughter- I swear we are exact clones. These are the things I carry, no matter how much I want to set them down and leave them forever. They are what make me Caroline.

Blog Post #4

        Many children in today's society scream for independence. They spend their entire lives fighting their parents, just itching to be their own being. Is that such a good thing though? In some ways yes, but in others no. Shouldn't we celebrate where our ancestors came from? After all if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here today, right? So we must find a mix of the two options...a "third option" where celebration of your past and celebration of your own roots balance perfectly.
       I am 50/50 mixed with Polish and Irish. But I am also from Houston, Texas. But born in Paris, France. These places couldn't be more spread out and different. I admit, I am mostly independent from my parents culture,  but , to be fair, they never really pushed their childhood and roots onto my brother and I. I've never been to Poland, nor have I been to Ireland, yet my blonde hair screams Poland and my last name, Sullivan, practically means Irish men in Kilts. Living in our generation, things are so different from our parents it's nearly impossible to even try to understand the world they lived in.
        Though there are many ways I show my roots, there are some in which I show my parents. In Ireland it is custom to wear a ring called a Clauddagh ring, so ever since I was little I have worn it. My dad got it for me when I was little, and I've had it ever since. We also toast all of our meals in Polish with a Polish proverb that means "Bless us for we are grateful".
       Now that I'm thinking about it I don't celebrate my parent's culture enough. I really have never put that much thought into it, though I really should. From now on I will be prouder of my ancestors roots, and wear them loud.

Blog Post #3

          What a difficult task, my employer has assigned me. I must write a haunted house story! Sounds easy right? WRONG! Writing about ghosts is easy but personifying an entire house to be the haunted thing itself is just plain hard. So what do I do to get through this tedious task? I read poems short stories from my favorite writer, Edgar Allan Poe, to attain inspiration. I look at my favorite, creepiest story, the Fall of the House of Usher and am immediately hit by an urge to write, so on I go.
       Although our stories are different, I took a few ideas and writing techniques from Poe: the most important and blatantly obvious being personification. I mean it's practically impossible to write a haunted house story without giving the house human like tendencies. Secondly I used impeccable imagery just like Poe. By constantly describing settings and feelings the main character saw and felt in the house, the reader was able to pick up on the creepy vibe Poe was sending. It was also much easier to picture the creepy house once Poe described it as "dark", "large", and "lofty".
        Another idea I used from Poe was his great choice in diction. The word choice makes the ready feel as if he/she is really in the time period of the story, and even sitting in the room with the main character. It also aids in imagery. But oh my, without Poe's cliffhanger ending the story wouldn't be the same at all. By leaving room for imagination, the reader is left with questions, aiding in the scary, creepy tone. I was left with many questions: was the Usher real? Did the house ever really exist? Did the main character make all this up in his head? I was not comforted not knowing the answers to the questions, after all the human mind fears the unknown and unexplained. Lastly, I used similies like Poe, for his so accurately conveyed a feeling of horror in the house: "...there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters--and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of the House of Usher.".
         Enough Poe Praising. Let's get to the good part: the things I DIDN'T do. Well to start off I believe the story is a little bit too long and a little bit too descriptive. Yes, the diction and imagery are great, BUT I always seem to zone out while reading because I get bored. It is a short story after all.Secondly, I made the characters a little bit more psycho in my story, Yes, the Usher was crazy but in my opnion he was probably just as crazy as Amanda Bynes today, and she doesn't scare me! Well...maybe a little. Anyways the story will be up soon, hope you enjoyed my little spiel on the beginning to all haunted house stories!

Blog post #1 (late)

   Many of us come in contact with an Ichbod Crane once in our lives. A person who, from the outside, seems to come off caring and courageous, but after taking a closer look, we realize they are only care about themselves. We call this person the anti-hero, and in modern literature, making this the main character is increasingly popular. For example, Ichabod Crane is often described as caring, brave, and a leader by people by don't know him very well. He is a teacher and very loved by those in his community. However things aren't always as they seem.
    Taking a closer look at his actions, Ichabod Crane is greedy, manipulative, and jealous. This explains how he killed the headless horseman who was his lover's second choice. There are many examples of Ichabod Cranes in today's literature; one very obvious example being Jay Gatsby. Gatsby was a boy born into a poor family who turned his life around after being in the military by committing organized crime and selling fake booze in the age of temperance. To the thousands acquaintances of Gatsby, this was not the case.
    Gatsby was known for being a kind, generous man who threw lavish parties at no expense of the guests. He often went out of his way for other's and offered extravagant gifts just because. At first glance one might fall in love with Gatby's ways, but after close examination (that which most receiving gifts didn't do), one would realize he wasn't doing it to be kind. Gatsby was doing all of this just to get the attention of the woman he loved.
   Hearing this, it is heart warming, but keep in mind Gatsby committed a number of crimes and murders to make Daisy, the woman he loved, happy. So many suffered just so Gastby could be happy. Gastby also lied to many about his life just so they wouldn't know he was once poor. He was greedy not only for money, but for everyone's absolute and undivided attention. Comparing Crane and Gatsby, they are extremely similar. Both crave undivided attention from their lovers, both murder, and both are manipulative beyond belief. As deserved, both men die due to their crave for love and attention. Their flaws got the best of them.

Blog Post #2

     Imagine always feeling watched: no matter what you do, good or bad, someone is always there to pick apart your decisions. That's exactly what being a leader must feel like in America, a country known for scrutinizing its leaders. Take Obama, our present leader for example. As soon as he pipes in any opinion, thousands of ignorant Americans are there to argue what he says. Recently, Obama has stated that when he was younger he smoked pot. Not taking into consideration that most other Americans probably have as well, Americans attacked Obama. Before stepping back to realize Obama was not saying everyone should be smoking pot, Americans jumped to faulty conclusions.
    These accusations hurt our nation because we aren't looking at the big picture. No, Obama was not saying everyone should smoke pot. In fact, he wasn't even saying every state should legalize it. He was, however, pointing out that it isn't the worst thing in the world and it won't make people unsuccessful. Obama stated it is a gross habit and not professional, but we should look at the big picture. Should we criminalize those who smoke pot? Obama doesn't think so. Many Americans scrutinize him for these beliefs, though we should take them under consideration.
   Another great American leader that has been scrutinized for his beliefs: Andrew Jackson. He was a fantastic President who stood for the majority of the nation, as a President should. He, however was thought of very poorly because he made decisions for the common man, not the elite white men of the time. This was viewed as a shock because past Presidents had only sided with the elites seeing as they were the elites. Many rich men called him un-American though he was only doing as a President should.
    Although he kept to the common man and did not falter, disagreeing with Jackson only made his presidency harder. What would a President be if he didn't represent the majority of his country? A dictator. And many elites called him just that, though he was really doing the exact opposite. Looking back, many historians see Andrew Jackson as one of the greatest Presidents. Taking that under consideration, Americans should scrutinize our leaders less, for they are only doing they're duty as the President. Who knows historians may look back and view that certain leader as one of the best.