I was...

I was a nervous, little freshman on my first day of high school.  I remember having only a small group of friends who I only saw sometimes on the weekend.  Over my years here at Millbrook I have grown so much as a person.  I was presented with many opportunities from the range of classes I could take, to the amount of extra curricular activities that I could get involved in.  While I still consider myself shy (until you get to know me), my personality has become exactly what is supposed to be.

As high school comes to end, I would like to thank it for everything that it has taught and given to me.  Yes, high school teaches you who your real friends are, but didn't you really know that all along?  I am definitely grateful for meeting some of my super close friends here, but the biggest thing that I am grateful for is learning what I want to do with my future.  If not for the endless number of science, math, and other core classes I wouldn't know that none of those are what I want to pursue in my life.  If not for the art and sculpture classes that I took, I wouldn't know that I have a really big creative side, and that I am actually some what good at it.  While I do think I found baking on my own, Millbrook made sure it was what I wanted to do.

Even though just a few of my classes interested me, I loved and learned so much from the most amazing teachers there.  My favorite part of any class is when the teacher would get off task and start telling stories or life lessons from when they were in high school.  Those few moments when that happened, I learned more than I ever did in the whole class.  I have met teachers who have given me endless amount of support, and have made me believe that I could and will accomplish my dreams if I work hard enough.

High school also brought me closer to my parents, through the tough times and the not so tough times.  You here stories of high school usually making kids distance from their parents, but for me that was definitely not the case.  As I went through my ups and downs I learned that my parents love me no matter what, and therefore I went to talk to them more and more about everything that was going on.  It turns out my parents went through high school and could relate to a lot of what I was telling them.

While the list of what high school has taught me could go on and on, I would like to give a huge final thanks to Millbrook High School for helping shape me over the last four years.  I can wait to see what the next four years (and beyond) hold for me and everyone that I have met along the way.

Interpreting Walt Whitman's Crappy Hand Writing

Hi, I am Walt Whitman and I have
 hand writing that is very hard to read!

While most of Whitman's journal is hard to read and I can only make out a few words here or there, there is one line where I can make out most of the sentence and it reads, "Let the waves (why?) now I shall see what the old ship is made of, as God can sail while before..." This is from page seven of the journal and I can't read the rest, but I think I am getting the message he is telling. His message is saying to let the waves fall where they are planned to go.  There is no point in trying to redirect them as a higher power is in control, and this power will only test you for the better not for the worse.  This meaning that you will come out stronger due to where the waves fell aka what happens and your decisions because of them.  One must accept where they land and adjust accordingly.  I don't exactly know if I agree as I don't believe in fate, but I do believe everything happens for a reason.

What Walt Whitman actually wrote was this:

Welcome the storm – welcome the trial – let the wavesWhy now I shall see what the old ship is made ofAny body can sail with a fair wind, or a smooth sea

Reading what he actually wrote I was a little off, but I think the message still remains almost the same.  He is not saying that a higher power is in control, but yes will fall where they are planned to fall.  We should be happy for this challenge because ultimately it will make you a better person with more character in the end.  The second line is saying that you will be testing what you are made thus far in your life, what your values and characteristics are. He is saying that you want to differentiate yourself in life, why would anyone want to sail a smooth sea?  That last line is saying why fit in with everyone else when you were born to stand out?  

The American Dream

The "American Dream" is what almost everyone comes to America for.  So many people request citizenship in the US, and even risk their lives trying to cross the border all in hopes of becoming free and having this "dream."  So what exactly is this "American Dream?"  I would describe this dream as an opportunity.  Not everyone will succeed, but everyone is given the opportunity to try and fulfill what their passions are, and what they want to do in life.  This is the American Dream because not every country offers or can provide these opportunities that America can.

Many people think that with the American Dream comes wealth.  This is not necessarily true.  Most people don't set out to become wealthy, they set out to do what they love and the wealth is a nice bonus.  When you were a little kid and some would ask you what to do you want to be when you grow up, the answer was never, "Rich!"  Wealth to some would mean having lots of money.  Wealth to others means how rich they spent their life: How many lives they touched, how many relationships they made with friends, how many places they traveled, their wealth is measured in memories. That is the definition of wealth that I choose to go by, because at the end of the day money doesn't matter, it is who you surround yourself with.

A majority of the people in America would be classified in a middle-class living range. Neither wealthy nor poor.  It's sad to say that I think a lot of the poverty that goes on around us is ignored, or even looked down upon.  In high school it is all about keeping up appearances to make sure you fit in with the "cool kids."  If you're poor you don't want to show that side to any one.  People think about poverty being in third world countries and other places far away, when really it could be right down the street.  I think America and everyone else need to do a better job at fixing this and making people more aware.  All it takes is a simple donation of your old clothes that you'll never wear again, or giving some on the side of the road some crackers and water. 

The "American Dream" is very possible, especially when in America.  People need not to think that it is going to be easy after they get here to achieve this dream.  The "American Dream" is just an opportunity, you as an individual still need to work hard in order to succeed. 

Blog Post 12

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

Using the word "awoke" makes it sound as if he has just woken up on his own and wasn't startled.  The sentence doesn't flow from "uneasy dreams" into "he found himself..." it needs an and in there or some other word to make it sound better.

#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

The word "bug" is not as formal as the word insect so the connotations associated with it are more gross and broad.  One would say bug if they found it in the house or outside, and use insect when studying them.  Also when the word "changed" isn't as dramatic as some of its synonyms, it sounds gradual. 
#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

This sentence makes me think that Gregor was having nightmares and all of a sudden woke up.  The word "enormous" makes me think that the bug he has changed into is as big as he was.

#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

This sentence contains the most grammar and has a lot of breaks in it.  It makes the sentence long and exaggerated.  Saying "monstrous vermin" also confuses me as it is not as direct as saying bug or insect.  The way it is described, by saying "monstrous" makes me picture something scary, and as if the rest of the book will be scary as well.

How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning? Is one more effective than another? Why? What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence?  

     At first glance, a comma here or a comma there, or using this word instead of that one might not mean much to someone.  When looked at more in depth, it can actually change the whole meaning of the sentence.  Word choice affects what the reader is going to picture about that particular scene.  Almost every word has multiple other words that mean the same thing by its definition.  What the translator has to look out for when picking the correct word to use is its connotation.  This is the feelings that are associated with each word.  For example,  the word carpet versus rug.  The word carpet is more formal and implies it is nicer and maybe more expensive.  The word rug sounds worn out and implies it may be older and rugged looking.  Picking these words influences not only the message the author is trying to get across, but also what the reader interprets it as.  

     There are definitely translations that are more effective than others, but only the original author can tell you which is right and which is wrong.  When translations are done, I think there are two things that need to be in place in order to get the most accurate translation as possible.  The translator needs to be more than fluent in each language.  He or she needs to know the culture and the way they live, not just what you can find out from a text book.  The second thing is that the author needs to be present when the translation is occurring.  This way if the translator is unsure if the word he or she picked is accurate the author will be right there to clarify.    

Freebie

I really wanted to do this post I just had way too many other things that are due this week.

Never Let Me Go?

 

I purposely choose two covers of Never Let Me Go that were very different from each other.  The first cover of a girl in a meadow and it seems peaceful.  The first words that come to mind are: calm, wandering, and serenity.  The girl, who I am assuming is the main character Kathy, looks as though she is contemplating her life or what her next move is going to be.  To a reader that has never read this book before, they might think the cover looks inviting.  That the book is going to be enjoyable and maybe even an easy read since the cover is some what simplistic.  Even though the cover is simple, there is an air of mystery that surrounds her.  What is this girl doing in a field, and why is she all by herself?  Also, while she is sitting in a field or meadow it doesn't look recognizable.  It is not the first image that comes to mind when one thinks about a universal meadow.  The environment she is sitting in has giant ferns and really tall grass behind her.  This could be presenting Kathy in an outsider way, that she doesn't fit into the society that way everyone wants her too.  The people that would make this book are the ones trying to send a message out to society of what could happen to us.  While they say don't judge a book by its cover, the cover can really make or break a book.  A book with the first cover would attract a younger audience and most likely more girls than boys.

The second is much more dark.  The first words that come to mind are: organs, cruelty, and death.  The cover itself is very dark with only colors of gray and black.  It does have a faint image of trees or bushes in the background.  There is barb wire in the shape of a body and organs straight in the center.  Having this image straight in the center tell the audience who hasn't read the book yet, that it is going to be a central point in the story. The viewpoint seems to be from an outsider.  As an outsider, you don't really know what is going on.  All you are getting is a cliff hanger right from the beginning.  There is not much to infer as the image is straight forward.  It seems that the place is dangerous, or that something dangerous happens here.  Knowing what does happen it the book the cover is a little misleading.  While what happens in the book is cruel, the cover makes it seem a lot worse.  The cover is almost preparing the audience for what they are about to read. The audience of this book I would presume is more boys than girls because of the twisty and darkness of the cover. 

  

The only thing that the covers have in common is that they leave the audience look at them very confused with a lot of questions about the mysterious images.  They are also misleading as the first seems to cute and the second seems to cruel.  If I was a person walking around in a book store, either of these covers would attract me to at least read the back of the book. 

If I should have a daughter... By Sarah Kay

Sarah Kay

This inspiring TED Talk, If I should have a daughter, by Sarah Kay is a moving video.  She starts off her talk with spoken word poetry.  This introduces us to what she has a passion for right at the beginning and sets the mood for the rest of the talk.  She comes off as knowledgeable by sharing her success and failures.  She doesn't claim to know everything there is about poetry, but shares with us her personal knowledge.  Her intention is to inform the audience of her path to spoken word poetry, and to tell the audience that anyone can do it too if they put some effort into it.  Due to this, the audience could be anyone from young to old.

In her talk she discusses story telling, and that all stories have a beginning, middle, and end, but they don't have to be in that order.  Also that everyone has a story, and it can start by making a simple list.  She is able to explain how to find your story without making it seem complicated.  She appeals to the audience because she portrays herself as an ordinary person which makes her very connectable.  She doesn't say that she is better than everyone else, or that only a few can preform spoken word poetry. Her story first starts in the middle when she dives right off the back into a poem.  It is not until later on that she tells her story of how she came to be.  Talking in this pattern kept the audience interested in every word that Kay had to say.  This was her intention, as well as to inspired and she is very successful.  Although I didn't want to write spoken word poetry myself, it inspired me to be more and do more.

Her strongest argument is when she uses ethos to credit one of her toughest students.  She tells the story that one of her students thought she wasn't interesting, and therefore, had nothing to write about.  As a teacher Kay gave her topics to write about and finally one clicked. She tells this story in a way that makes the audience laugh.  Telling this story credits her as a good teacher and that she knows what she is talking about, but also shows the audience that everyone has a story to tell.

I watched this video on a recommendation, and now recommend everyone else to watch it to if need some motivation and inspiration.