Tuesdays with Morrie Aphorism Project

Tuesdays with Morrie Aphorism Project

It is no secret that the novel Tuesdays with Morrie contains a surplus amount of sentiments that could be considered "inspirational". Whether it is a quote from Morrie, Mitch, or any other character, readers, such as I, can find ourselves fascinated beyond comprehension. However, one subset of quotes exist within the memoir that a majority of us can agree as immensely memorable, and they are Morrie's aphorisms. From “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in" (52) to "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live" (91), there was an abundance of aphorisms that could've been the center of this project, and I had chosen mine, or the aphorism, "Love is the only rational act" (52). In this blog, I plan to cover my thoughts on this aphorism, it's meaning, and how it connects to many other facets of life.

When this aphorism came about, I was curious as to what Morrie had meant by this. Of course, is was before I started to analyze it further, but still, I knew that it had a much deeper meaning than others. I then started to put my mind to work, and discovered it's meaning. "Love is the only rational act" implies that if an act isn't done out of love, compassion, or empathy, then it could be considered irrational. Many others would consider, for example, saving an animal from a fire, or helping a child with their homework rational, but if these acts are done solely out of anything other then a certain sense of empathy/sympathy towards them, then they are anything but rational, no matter who you are. My poster also tries to convey a similar message. Each human in the illustration seems to be at peace with each other while they admire the sentiment, and despite their differences, they are performing a rather rational act.

While analyzing the aphorism, not only was I able to navigate it's meaning, but also a connection to a popular tv show episode of The Simpsons. In this episode, Homer Simpson becomes part of a vigilante justice group in Springfield, which required him to physically harm those "up to no good". At first glance, the acts Homer had done seemed done out of love for his town, but he began to misuse his power, for he would harm anyone at later points just to gain power. This is what makes his acts irrational. He did not assault others out of love for his city, but more so a desire for power, which perfectly relates to this aphorism.

After analyzing the aphorism, I have found myself in close agreement with it. The foremost reason I agree with it is because of my previous thoughts. Because the aphorism implies that only rational acts are done out of love, which got me thinking about what acts I personally considered rational. Unsurprisingly enough, each one could be done out of love. This is what encouraged me to agree with this aphorism.

My aphorism: You learn more from you're immoral acts than your moral acts

Socratic Seminar Blog

Tuesdays with Morrie Seminar Reflections

During the course of reading and analyzing the memoir Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Mitch Albom in 1997, I, as well as my peers, were given a task to gather a plethora of questions, aphorisms, and observations from and pertaining to it, and we did not disappoint. The observations we were able to make were astute, creative, and even above grade level in some cases, but how could we have executed them? Well, a Socratic Seminar would be the answer. In fact, after the completion of the memoir, we were able to complete four seminars as well. In this blog, I will reflect on the Seminars in question, and discuss the strongpoints, weak-points, what could be improved in the future, for both myself and the group as a whole, and how they have contributed to my perception of the novel.

In one regard, the Socratic Seminars have made me realize the intersections between Morrie's aphorisms and where they can be useful in facets of everyday life. In our first Seminar, one of the very many topics discussed was "Why is happiness so hard to find?". Us as students were then given time to think about the answer to this complex question. A discussion about the items we take for granted, and how it can lead to a life of perpetual sadness then ensued. Prior to this, I hadn't been able to make such connections. I just read the aphorisms and applied it to the characters, not my life or current events, but the discussion really shaped the amount of connections I could make in the future.

In another regard, the Seminars were able to enhance my perception of Morrie and his struggle with ALS. While the memoir does cover Morrie's horrific illness quite a bit throughout, little information is given on the disease itself as opposed to how it has affected him. This then lead me into a trail of bemusement and wonder. Then the Socratic Seminars came along. Many of the students had shared more information on ALS with the group, such as its causes, symptoms, etc. This definitely assisted my progression in reading, as I was able to browse the memoir's contents with a newfound understanding of Morrie's suffrage.

When going into the Seminars, I had very high expectations of myself and my potential performance. I hoped to contribute a substantial amount of information to the discussion, while also bringing forth new points of view. I wanted to proceed with a mix of quantity and quality, and I believe that I had not disappointed. I always tried to grasp a moment to speak, (without cutting a peer off of course), and I managed to do this quite a bit over the course of the Seminar. I also believe that my perspective was made abundantly clear, to a point where the students could relate to it. However, I wish I was able to bring more students into the conversation. Despite participation being outstanding for most, others were a bit more timid or hesitant to share, and I did not lessen this issue. My goal for the future is to be more inclusive of my peers, which can lead to a discussion of more substance.

While I do believe my participation was beneficial for the most part, the discussion would have been absolutely empty without the points of view from my peers. In fact, they were the main reason the Seminars were as successful as they were. The students were patient, polite, and they brought a surplus amount of astute observations and questions to the table any chance they got. I particularly found them sharing their personal experiences as a way for us to connect with the book on a greater scale. However, I do believe ideas were shared in an uneven ratio. For example, one student would contribute more ideas than anyone would know what to do with, while another stays as silent as a rock throughout the Seminar. In the future, I hope students who contribute too much can share their ideas briefly, while the ones who contribute too little can become a sensational source of information for the group.

The Perfect Day

My Perfect Day

At around 8:30 a.m, I hope to wake up from a long, soothing sleep. Uninterrupted, and unquestioned. I spring out of my bed, dash down to stairs, and take an enormous leap into the living room to find my two favorite people. My mother, Marisa, and my younger brother, Anthony. They are not the only ones welcoming me with open arms as I approach, for I am also treated to a hardy breakfast of pancakes, oatmeal, and a fruit smoothie made in our kitchen. All three of us sit down on the couch, my brother and I observing individual Seinfeld episodes on the television. We eventually settle on "The Bizarro Jerry". One of my favorite episodes. I proceed to eat and talk with my family as the episode plays for around 20 minutes. The episode eventually ends and my breakfast is now nonexistent, which signals me to go upstairs and get ready for the day.

As soon as I am fully clothed, I run downstairs once again, but this time, I am greeted to my grandfather, Robert Sr, my uncle, Robert Jr, his fiancé, Alison, and my aunt, Victoria. We immediately head to Dave & Buster's in Addison, where we meet the rest of Alison's family. Up until noon, we play some arcade games, laugh, and discuss our lives. My grandfather and I then leave the area to meet my mother for a joint lunch and dinner at The Melting Pot. As fondue trays come in and out of our table, we discuss our lives once again. I feel no guilt as I feast on the trays of food, which would normally be the case.

After this event, I get back in the car with my mother and we go shopping once more. We have little worries about money, as my mother had been saving up for this day. We visit stores as casual as Five Below and Target, to more upperclass ones, such as Bevello and Kate Spade. I do not intend to by copious amounts of items, and neither does my mother, but we still manage to pick out a few items of interest. After this event, we return home to Anthony, who was being babysat by a neighbor.

Around 6:30, I am ready to have a night out at Six Flags with friends from school. Our parents were skeptical about letting us walk around the park on our own, but we convinced them that our phones were fully charged and we would call or text if we were concerned in any way. They agreed to lounge in a restaurant in the park. My friends and I were able to purchase fast passes, for we had saved a surplus amount of money to do so. For the rest of the night, we rode thrill rides that were exciting enough to make our skin develop goosebumps. Once we get to the point where we can hardly run due to exhaustion, our parents and ourselves exited the park, where we would return to our houses and take a good night slumber.

I believe that this day could become a reality if I planned, saved, and negotiated well enough. Days like the one I had stated above are ones that cannot be planned on a whim, so I must contact the people involved and get dates, times, and prices sorted out. The next step is saving. It would be very difficult to have a day such as this one for free, so I must forget about frivolously spending money on low want items and start budgeting. The last step to achieving the perfect day is negotiation. Many of the people involved, including myself, would have to cancel or postpone certain events to make this one a reality, so this would imply that I must negotiate with others about what I can do to make up for the time, if anything at all.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" Inspiration Blog

The Most Inspiring Tuesday

If you have been perpetually reading my blogs for the past few months, it would be no secret that I have reading and analyzing the memoir Tuesdays With Morrie, written by Mitch Albom in 1997. While the book may include interesting anecdotes, including Morrie's developed friendship with television host Ted Koppel and the heartwarming classes taught by him, it became clear to me that the most inspiring aspect of the memoir was the many Tuesdays Mitch and Morrie spent together. Some discussed Morrie's methods of coping with the ALS disease, and others discussed the difficulty of discovering happiness for the majority of people. However, there was one Tuesday that really stood out to me as inspiring. This was the second one, in which they discuss how little Morrie feels sorry for himself, and why it isn't necessary for him to sulk about his misfortunes. In this blog, I will be discussing why this particular topic has caught my interest, and what it entails to me.

One of the very first reasons that this Tuesday stuck out to me was due to it's relation to my struggles with feeling sorry for myself, and how little I seem to refrain from it. After Mitch arrives to Morrie's humble abode, bearing Food as well, he asks Morrie if he ever seems to feel sorry for himself. Morrie then states that "I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me. On the stories I’m going to hear." (57). This quote ties back to my life because it describes how I wish I can approach the sorrow I often feel for myself. Despite the immense privilege I have been granted, I still cannot seem to be satisfied. I may not want to admit this, but it is true. I could be having a completely amazing day, but one mistake or mishap can cause a great deal of stress for me. That's when the self-pity ensues. I ask myself questions such as "Why do I deserve this?" and "Can I please be someone else right now?". This is extremely problematic for, not only my peers, but also myself, and Morrie's approach is exactly what I would like to take. I do not want to completely eliminate sulking, but I do indeed want to keep it to a minimum.

Another reason that I found this Tuesday rather memorable was because of it's demonstration of how Morrie differs from many others struggling with disease or illness. Once Morrie shared his aphorisms with the audience, we were dumbfounded by them. How could such a disadvantaged man be so optimistic? Mitch even appears to be surprised by his words, stating "I thought about all the people I knew who spent many of their waking hours feeling sorry for themselves. How useful it would be to put a daily limit on self-pity. Just a few tearful minutes, then on with the day. And if Morrie could do it, with such a horrible disease ..." (57). Because of this large contrast, the audience is more easily inclined to view Morrie as a unique mentor, rather than a disease-stricken man grieving daily.

The final reason that I found the second Tuesday extremely memorable was because of the release of Morrie's views on his disease. While this could be tied back to the the previous reason, I do feel as if it was significant enough to be mentioned separately. While it's clear to us that Morrie's condition is fatal, this line of thinking does not seem to apply to Morrie. After Morrie states his thoughts on self pity, Mitch asks how it was possible with such a horrible disease. Morrie then replies, stating "It’s only horrible if you see it that way. It’s horrible to watch my body slowly wilt away to nothing. But it’s also wonderful because of all the time I get to say good-bye.” (57). This quote illustrates how little Morrie seems to care about the downsides of his illness, and how he would rather focus on how it has contributed to his life for the better.

 

"Tuesdays With Morrie" Book Blog

Tuesdays with Morrie Initial Reactions

I recently began reading the memoir Tuesdays with Morrie alongside many other students in my Accelerated Language Arts class, and I have paid my upmost attention to it's contents. From the moods/tones the author creates with their language, to the imagery that could be appreciated by even the toughest critic, I have put my full dedication into assuring myself that I understand the reading, and I, not for one word, have been sorry. Tuesdays with Morrie is the book I had been hoping we would eventually read for the longest time. A lighthearted, simple memoir with a good message of enjoying the life you are given. In this blog, I will be sharing my first impressions of the novel and how it has inspired me to cherish my life and the future ahead of me.

One thing that really stood out to me when reading was how simple and nonchalant the author's writing style is. My standards for simplicity may have been lowered, as our class just completed reading the memoir Night, which details a boy's dreadful experience in Auschwitz. I highly doubt this however, as many others who are also reading the novel seem to feel the same. Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, speaks to the audience as if they are an acquaintance, rather than an unknown reader. The second reaction I was able to notice was how entertained I was by Morrie's humor. Before reading the memoir, I had low expectations for humor in the novel, in fact, I imagined the Morrie to be an overall somber person, but I was completely wrong. His sense of humor had me laughing throughout and I always found myself wanting to read more.

Tuesdays with Morrie has not only entertained me for hours, but it has also inspired me to create something. Something that I hope to carve in my mind for life. And that is a Bucket list. A bucket list that not only covers goals I plan to achieve within the next 5-10 years or so, but for my entire life. The following is my complete Bucket List as of age 13:

• Receive a Leading Role in a High School Musical
• Have at least One Honor Roll Report Card under my Belt
• Be Accepted to UNLV
• Study Religion, Philosophy, and Psychology at UNLV
• Graduate College
• Become a Flight Attendant (When Younger)
• Successfully Raise Children as a Single Mother (Through Adoption or Sperm Donor)
• Become a Middle or High School Guidance Counselor
• Go on a Trip to Italy

40BC: Characters Blog

An Abundance of Katherines Characters
In my Accelerated English Language Arts, I am currently reading the novel An Abundance of Katherines, written by John Green, and so far, I am very pleased with the contents of the book. Not only are they plots and subplots relatable to it's demographic and rather realistic, but it also delivers to us a very memorable set of leading characters. These characters include former child prodigy and lover of all girls named "Katherine", Colin Singleton, his brash, tongue and cheek acquaintance Hassan Harbish, and the newly-met tour guide turned friend of theirs, Lindsey Lee Wells. These characters have shaped the novel a great deal, making the overall tone a mixture of comedy, joy, and at times, mystery. In this blog. I will be presenting my observations about the characters mentioned earlier and how they have shaped my overall view of them.

After witnessing the various actions and events involving the characters listed above, I have been able to put thought into a character I would like to have a personal conversation with. This character would be Colin Singleton. I would find a conversation with him particularly interesting due to his past as a child prodigy. Very little people in the world are born with an ability to comprehend complicated mathematics, languages, etc. at an early age, but Colin is a rare exception. In light of this, his upbringing was rather unique. Questions I would ask Colin would include the following:

- When did your family realize your early intelligence and how did they approach it?
- When did you realize your own intelligence?
- How did perform when placed in an environment with kids who possessed average intelligence?
-  How did perform when placed in an environment with kids who possessed your level of intelligence?
- How did your peers react to your early intelligence?


While An Abundance of Katherines may have a pretty innocent set of characters communicating with each other throughout, they still tend to act in certain ways as to where the reader forms a strong like or dislike for them. I am no different. As I flipped through the book page by page, I began to observe how the characters acted, inciting one of two reactions:
- "That was immensely admirable!"
- "Why would they do/say such a thing?"
One character that seemed to constantly invoke the former was Lindsey Lee Wells. Despite her occasional remarks of displeasure towards her mom, such as her sighs of annoyance when asked to close up her shop, that had me rolling my eyes, I overall found Lindsey to be a character who I was in agreement with her words. From approaching Colin and Hassan in a mature, pleasant manner, even when Hassan made rather questionable remarks, to scrapping her former "boring" tour script to a more lighthearted, nonchalant talk, the reader notices her humbleness and likability.

In lieu of this, there was a particular character who never failed to make me wish for their disappearance at times. This character would be, surprisingly, Colin Singleton. While I have stated in the past that I found his upbringing intruiging, I still cannot fathom the annoyance he provokes in me. This is primarily due to his perpetual infatuation with his previous girlfriends. From relating nearly any event to one involving a "Katherine" he had dated, to comparing the looks of those to them, I become mournful of a time where he hadn't spoken of a "Katherine", which became nearly nonexistent.


Despite my subjective views that I have just expressed, I often am able to forget about these feelings and ponder one characteristic in the characters. Importance, and after deep analysis of their actions, I have concluded which character I believe is most important to the plot. This character would have to be Hassan Harbish. While the novel may not revolve around him and his outlook, I still firmly believe that he could shape the events for the better/worse. From his tongue and cheek approach to various situations to his occasional brashness, I have found myself bemused as to his innocence. It is often hard to tell whether Hassan is the potential protagonist or antagonist, and this uncertainty incites the reader to keep a bird's eye on almost all of his dialogue/actions.

Life is Beautiful Reflective Blog

Life is Beautiful

Very recently, I had been granted the  opportunity to view the 1997 film Life is Beautiful, directed and produced by Roberto Benigni, and I was thoroughly amazed by the various attributes of it. From the charismatic nature of our characters, to the atmospheric effects used, I found it difficult to take my eyes off of the screen. But, in spite of my infatuation with the movie, I also put the contents of Life is Beautiful into further analysis, and what I found was intriguing. Not only did the movie exhibit a variety of different examples of humor, Struggle, and most importantly, life's beauty, but it also bared striking similarities to the book Night, written by Holocaust Survivor Elie Wiesel. I managed to gather a surplus amount of demonstrations of these qualities, and I will objectively discuss them in this blog. Not only will I present my findings, but also how they pertain to the theme of Life's Beauty.

One of the very first comparisons I was able to make between Life is Beautiful and Night was the Father-Son bonds established in both pieces of media. In Life is Beautiful, Guido, A Jewish shop-owner, his wife, Dora, and son, Giosue, are sent to a concentration camp by Nazi officers. Despite automatically being separated from Dora, Guido and Giosue manage to stick together all the way to liberation. During this time, the two, despite their already strong relationship, become closer and closer each day. From convincing his son that the Holocaust was simply a game to spare him from fear, to the son following each and every one of his father's instructions to survival, the two seemed to develop a bond that could compare to no other.

Let's look at Night now. In this memoir, 15 year old Elie Wiesel is sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, and much like in Life is Beautiful, he is separated from his mother, but proceeds to join his father in an attempt to survive the horrors of the camp up until liberation. In this excessive period of time, the two become heavily connected to each other, devoting a majority of their heart to helping each other remain sane. From Elie defending his father when he is perceived to be dead, to his dad comforting his son abundantly, it is apparent that the two would not possess the same level of hope if they were separated from the start. The relationship between them also remained during the passing of Elie's father, stating that he could never feel the same now that he was gone.

Judging by the descriptions, these two bonds are heavily correlated with each other. This is because of the strong attachment that the father felt to the son and vice Versace that was prevelant in both pieces of media. The second similarity between the two bonds was the apprehension of death. From Guido to Giosue, from Elie to Elie's father, it is immensely difficult to look past their fear of each other passing. This only increases as time goes by, causing each family to become protective over each other.

The second similarity to take into into account was the hope of unreality of the Camp and/or the Holocaust as a construct. In Life is Beautiful, Guido carries his son through the Concentration Camp, (going through certain procedures in an effort to not be caught of course). While doing this, Giosue expressed his concern about their safety which is quickly followed by Guido responding, stating its all "just a dream". After audiences caught a listen of this line, it was apparent that he was trying his upmost hardest to protect his son from inheriting a negative outlook on the situation. But this was not the only time a similar line was stated in a piece of media pertaining to the Holocaust.

In Night, the main character states almost a direct reiteration of this line. When first arriving the Birkenau, Elie is in absolute shock. He had never been to such a frightening place. In light of this fright, Elie begins to question the events around him. At one point, Elie asks the reader "Was it all just a dream?'. It is abundantly obvious that this line is nearly synonymous with our previous one, and despite perspectives contrasting, both cannot believe the severity of their situations, causing the characters to lose sense of reality.

In Life is Beautiful, the audience can witness a large variety of contrasting characters and atmospheres throughout, which incite different moods and tones. This has become a widely known fact to millions of viewers. From the carefree, upbeat persona carried by father Guido, to the worrisome Dora, the audience senses the chemistry, (or lack there of), between characters whenever they appear on screen. These characters and/or their chemistry can also incite various moods throughout the movie. Guido's humor and positive outlook on life can cause the movie to appear upbeat and comedic, while the frightening conduct of the Nazi Officers at the camp can cause the mood to become more negative and moody.

Another observation one can make about this movie is how true it stays to it's title, Life is Beautiful. Throughout the film, characters display actions and emotions that can incite the reader to conquer with the film's title. One of which is sacrifice. From Dora potentially risking her own life to reunite with her husband and son, to Guido allowing a Nazi officer to take his life in an effort to protect his son from the officers in question, the characters truly make us believe that those who love you will make such tremendous sacrifices to save you from harm's way. Life is also portrayed as beautiful through the positivity maintained by Guido throughout. Despite being just inches away from potential death at every second, Giosue's father cannot let go of the positivity he holds, which incites the audience to believe that they themselves can also due the same, which can make their lives much less stressful and more joyous.

3rd Quarter Reflections

3rd Quarter Reflections

In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts? 

Despite what I wish to say, this Quarter has been rather unsuccessful for me. My productivity and many of my grades have dropped severely, not only in Accelerated Language Arts, but in a variety of classes. In light of this, I cannot place my finger on too many areas that I have significantly improved in, except for one area. Being honest to yourself. While this isn't necessarily pertaining to English Language Arts, it has definitely contributed in what I plan to accomplish in the 4th Quarter. Prior to now, I was in denial. I couldn't come to the reality of my grades dropping. I thought I was infallible, but that was anything but the truth. Sooner or later, I knew I had to come to terms with the sharp decrease in stellar grades, and this is still a lesson I pride on carrying all the way through the rest of the year.

What is something you have accomplished this quarter that you are proud of?

In the 3rd Quarter, one thing I accomplished that I was particularly proud of was becoming comfortable with inquiring and asking questions. In previous years, I have been quite timid, and I feared my peers would perceive me as an idiot for simply asking questions. I feared what the teacher would think as well. But now, after encouragement from family, I have become more open about my inquiries. This newfound comfort has also given me a better understanding of the curriculum.

What has been the most challenging part of 3rd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?

The most challenging aspect of the 3rd Quarter was, like mentioned earlier, coming to terms with the drastic grade drops I experienced. Due to my history with stellar grades, I felt invincible in the past quarter. I believe my streak would persist, and that I could do no wrong. This contributed to me putting significantly less effort into my work, which obviously caused my grades to drop. This became hard for me to accept. A student in Accelerated classes receiving 2s? Impossible. Eventually, as the grades kept piling, I came to terms with this. I plan to improve these grades by being more diligent with work and paying great attention to them.

3/16 Argumentative AoW Reflections

Argumentative AoW Reflections

Today, my peers and I had the oppurtunity to explore each individual student's "Article of the Week". While the articles were abundant in diversity, with articles varying from Education to Health, each one revolved around the same format: argumentative. While some were presented by the same author, and others collaborative efforts, I, as well as many others, were able to extract at least some amount of intriguing information from every argument. This information will be the focus of my blog.

Despite the fascinating nature of each and every argument I visited, I found the "Is College Worth It?" article the most hard-hitting. This article, written by one singular author, presents an argument against paying College Tuition, stating that due to low graduation rates and somewhat low student incomes, College is simply not worth the hefty fines of attending. I found this article to the most crucial due to the urgency of demand there is for it. Every single day, at least one hundred high school Seniors conjure up an idea of what college they would like to attend, or even if they should attend college at all. In light of this, many students have a need for such an article in helping them decide which direction they would like to go in, while other crises, such as GMO utilization and Self-Driving Cars have little to no urgent need.

Another reason this article was very hard-hitting to me was due to it's role that it plays in my life as well. Despite my young age, I have debated college on multiple occasions. Whether it be the location of the college or the method of application, it will waltz into my brain quite often. This article has provided me with a new viewpoint to see from. I can now debate college more productively, as I can factor in the opinions adopted from this article into my analyses, making for wiser future decisions.

Night by Elie Wiesel

Night

It is no secret that the memoir Night, published in 1960, is abundant in themes that the reader can empathize with and even learn from. From Elie struggling to maintain his faith, to his relationship between himself and his father, it is apparent that we as readers are easily able to take into consideration Elie's issues and compare them to ours and potentially improve our current situations that pertain to this. But there is one other person who becomes a new soul after experiencing these situations. Elie. Throughout the memoir, Wiesel expresses ideas in which could be attributed to lessons he has learned. He following is a list of events that have shaped Eliezer for the better.

One event that Eliezer experiences that has shaped him tremendously throughout Night is him realizing how close knit he should remain to his father. There are a variety of different quotes that support this, but one of which I found to be a rather phenomenal example of this. After the passing of his Father, Elie states the extent of how much it affected him, stating that "nothing could touch me anymore" (107).  This quote demonstrates Elie’s emotional change due to his depiction of how terribly he felt towards his Father’s passing, which he had expressed very rarely prior. It can be inferred that because of this, Elie has faced the realization of how crucial their bond was.

This hadn't been the only instance of Eliezer expressing the importance of building tight-knit relationships. Another quote that illustrates this is one found later in the memoir, yet it rings very meaningful to most. Dealing with feelings of fear and hopelessness, Elie grasps for the one person he loves most. His father stating that "I tightened my grip on my father's hand. The old, familiar fear: not to lose him." (104). This quote illustrates Elie’s development due to his clear dependence on his father. In the past, Elie has been shown to be a very strong boy, but due to his close contact with his Father, we can infer that he has strengthened his bond with him due to their horrifying situation.

The second realization that Elie had come to with development is the value of sharing your experiences with others, despite social norms. One quote that exhibits this was one found in a rather early part of the memoir. After Josef Mengele’s selection, the Bockalteste was confronted by someone who disagreed with his words, infuriating him, which is demonstrated by the quote “The Blockalteste vented his anger. Someone refused to take his word?” (73). This quote demonstrates Elie’s objection to Silence due to his immense sarcasm when depicting the Blockalteste’s anger. Because of his attitude, it is apparent that he finds his anger overly exaggerated, and possibly wrong. We can also infer that he finds the prisoner’s lack of silence to be rather endearing.

Much like our last lesson, lack of Silence is not only supported by one sole quote. Our last quote that supports this statement is one that can be found in Chapter 6 of Night.
In this section of the book, Eliezer states that "We could again hear the cannons very close by. But we no longer had the strength or the courage to think that Germans would run out of time, that the Russians would reach us before we could be evacuated.” (95). This quote demonstrates Elie’s lack of silence not towards his fellow prisoners in this situation, but more so his lack of silence towards the reader. Due to Elie sharing such intimate details of the prisoners thoughts and feelings that he would not of shared otherwise, it is apparent that he has developed into a much more courageous and fearless man since this experience.

Wiesel, Elie. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

"On A Sunny Evening" Butterfly Poem

"On A Sunny Evening"

On a purple, sun-shot evening
Under wide-flowering chestnut trees
Upon the threshold full of dust
Yesterday, today, and the days are all like these.

Trees flower forth their beauty,
Lovely, too, their very wood all gnarled and old
That I am half afraid to peer
Into thier crowns of green and gold.

The sun has made a veil of gold
So lovely that my body aches.
Above, the heavens shriek with blue
Convinced, I've smiled by some mistake.
The world's abloom and seems to smile.
I want to fly, but where, how high?
If in barbed wire things can bloom
Why couldn't  I? I will not die!

Anonymous

Blogs I Commented On:
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Holocaust AoW 2/24/17

What I Learned about the Holocaust

On the week of 2/20-24/17, Mrs.Larson's Accelerated Class was given the task of exploring the internet for an article pertaining to the Holocaust, analyzing its contents, and presenting our article and observations to our fellow classmates in the form of a Gallery Walk. Not only was I overwhelmed with joy to share the courage of former prisoners with my peers, but also to gather a larger knowledge of the Holocaust as a construct from them and their research. In this blog, I will be sharing these very findings and what I have been able to derive from them.

One of the very first articles I had learned from was "Twins Meet after 66 Years". This article details the story of two siblings whom were separated by Nazi Officers 66 years ago reuniting through social media. I found this article particularly inspiring due to it's message of never giving up. Despite the immense amount of time the twins spent without each other, they still remained determined to meet each other, which I find rather admirable. The article also promotes persevering during hard times, as the two twins managed to surive the dreadful Holocaust conditions they were forced into.

The last article I found rather intruiging was "The History of Holocaust Remembrance Day". This article details the hesitation to dedicate a day to Holocaust Vitcims from the government, but many activists were persistent, and demanded that the day exist. The world began to listen and Holocaust Rememberance Day became official. What I learned from this article was, much like our previous article, that you must remain determined through hard times, as the remembrance activists did not let negativity deter them from requesting the holiday's existence. The article also promotes remembrance to the reader, as the holiday is meant to honor those whom are no longer with us.

Berlin Wall Reflections

Berlin Wall Activity Reflections

Recently, myself, as well as other classmates, were able to participate in an activity that helped us dig deeper into the strictness and unsympathetic ways of law during the Nazi Regime. In this activity, each student had been given around 3-5 pieces of paper with a decree issued by the Nazis against the Jews printed on them. We later placed these decrees all around the room and analyzed each one and their impact to the fullest.

While this may have been a rather short activity, I still managed to extract immense amounts of information and emotions that the decrees incited from it. In this blog, I will be discussing the inquiries that one may have pertaining to my experience with the activity and how they have impacted me. I will be using the thoughts that ran through my head, as well as facts about these decrees and policies to answer.

What did you learn?

What I had learned during and after the activity was how detailed and abundant these decrees were. Beforehand, I believed that the policies were somewhat broad and regulated, as the Jewish population did very little harm to the Nazis, and taking too much affirmative action would be simply immoral, but after discovering all of the decrees and their excess amounts of detail, my notions were simply incorrect.

Why do you think this monument was built?

I believe the monument was built to demonstrate how these decrees exemplify the true hatred and immorality that the Nazis perpetuated throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s. I feel that this is correct due to the emotion the decrees incite in people who witness them. These decrees were very obviously terrible and a disgrace to victims during the Nazi Regime, and others who have not lived during this time period could even feel the emotions that they provoke. Due to this, it encourages sympathy towards the a Holocaust, which could potentially be why the monument was created.

What did you notice about the number of laws passed in certain years?

What I had noticed about the quantity of laws issued in certain years was how gradually light the loads became as years passed. With the exception of certain years, most people could observe how aaround the time the 1940s arrived, decrees against Jews were becoming much more scarce. This could potentially be attributed to the involvement that other counties took during these time periods, which affected the actions of the Nazis a great deal.

Which restrictions do you think you would have the most trouble dealing with and why?

If I were placed in a scenario in which these policies still had power, then I would find myself having the most trouble with sacrificing certain foods for your life, such as meats and dairy products. I believe this would be hard due to my current reliance on such products. These items consume a  majority of my diet, and simply handing over my dependence on them would be rather difficult.

2nd Quarter Reflections

 2nd Quarter Reflections

Many in this world view the topic of reflection as one where you recall the most positive events that have shaped you for the better, but I view reflection as an unfiltered view into what you have realized about your past, both positive and negative, and that's what I would like this blog to be about. An unfiltered, sincere reflection of what has happened this year, what I have realized about the world and other facets of life, and how these could potentially shape the future. For each inquiry addressed in this blog, I will provide you, the reader, with my upmost most honest answer. This means no sugar-coating, no cherry-picking, etc. Enjoy!

In what area do you think you made your biggest improvements in English Language Arts?

 I do not believe I have made an immense amount of improvement this year, for I am still in the process of becoming aware of my greatest weak-points, but there has been multiple smaller difficulties that I have been able to eradicate. One of note is essay formatting. I am aware that I have listed this as a facet of improvement in past Reflections, but it is indeed facing ongoing improvement. Prior to the 2nd Quarter, I hadn't exhibited expertise in formatting whatsoever. My theses were unorganized, my structure was utterly mismatched, and my attention getters either were depicted as "boring", and/or "perpetual". But now that I have undergone vast improvement with the help of guidance, my formatting is much more clear and organized.


What is something you have accomplished since the new year that you are proud of?

In upmost honesty, I have proudly accomplished only an immensely small modicum of note this school year, let alone the Quarter. Pieces of literature I had believed to be rather well-written had been perceived as mediocre at best by my peers and educators. I would often let cockiness get the best of me, which is one of my greatest regrets. But I digress, if I were to pinpoint one accomplishment, this would be my improvement in formatting while writing, as it has made my writing somewhat better.

What has been the most challenging part of 2nd Quarter for you and what did/can you do to help overcome this?

Despite other insecurities/adversities I have faced, One of the most difficult aspects of the quarter is feeling monumentally inferior to my peers in Mrs. Larson's Accelerated Language Arts Class. Being unintelligent had been something rather difficult to accept this year, and being placed in a class of students whom do possess intelligence had been quite a drain on my self-esteem. I would often leave class distraught, as I witnessed my intelligent peers excel in their work, while I would have had nothing to offer the class. I still struggle with this to this day, which is why I have been devising ways to aviod letting my lack of intelligence deter me from progressing in school.

What have you learned about the world? 

One of the main lessons I have learned about the world is that not everyone is born with conventional intelligence. We will often brand others as being conventionally "unintelligent" or "idiotic", despite the possibility that we could qualify for one of these labels. While a very small percent of the general population would be considered "unintelligent" by conventional standards, people who indentify as belonging to this minority, such as I, will often feel as if we could never succeed, which is simply untrue. Success is measured in your determination, drive, and persistence, and really anyone could possess these qualities.

TKAM Comparative Blog

To Kill A Mockingbird: Movie vs. Novel  

Over the past month, I have been reading the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird", written by Harper Lee, and, I will say, this was no small literature assignment. Not only have I paid the book my full attention and thought, but I have even gone passed the novel's features, for I, as well as many others attending my class, have put the novel into analysis, and utilized the findings in poems, character comparisons, and connections to current world events. This has given me a great deal of understanding about the novel, making it rather simple to compare it to similar works, or in this case, the "To Kill A Mockingbird" film, released in 1962. In this blog, I will note the immensely emphatic differences between the acclaimed movie and the novel I was able to find, and how these differences impact the movie's plot and/or quality.

The biggest contrast I had found was one that comprised of a substantial number of smaller contrasts, and that is, the lack of minor characters in the movie. I was able to draw this observation from the following few absent characters:

1. Mrs Dubose- Mrs. Dubose may have had minimal page space, her impact in "To Kill a Mockingbird" was all but minor. Mrs. Dubose was a representation of Maycomb County's many thoughts on the Finch Family. From heckling Atticus about his newest client's race to degrading Scout's attire in a complacent manner, Mrs. Dubose stated not only her beliefs, but the beliefs that almost all of Maycomb held, making her impact that of note.

 But in lieu of this, Mrs. Dubose was next to absent in the film. We are only shown her heckling the Finch children as they walk down to Atticus, an event that may have happened in the book, but one that was far from one that represented her impact in the novel.

2. Dolphus Raymond- Another character that had a substantial affect on Maycomb's image and eventually the novel was a man by the name of Dolphus Raymond. Raymond was a rich, white man whom was soon to be wed, but his white fiancé had committed suicide, thus causing him to leave her for an African American woman. Maycomb's White Community shunned Raymond, as he had biracial children with this woman, which was seen as "sinful" and "immoral". Scout, Jem, and Dill later encounter Raymond in trial when Dill starts to feel sick from Atticus's Interrogation. It is later revealed that Raymond disguises Coca Cola as beer, for an alleged alcohol addiction would be easier for Maycomb Folk to understand why he made his choices.

Raymond was a living, breathing example of the oppression/discrimination many faced in Maycomb due to race and/or racial associations. His lie also highlighted Maycomb's concern with race, as opposed to other issues many of us deem as much more concerning, such as alcoholism. However, he is nowhere to be found in the film, which validates the observation made earlier.

3. Mr. Link Deas- Link Deas had also felt the need to combat racism in Maycomb, but unlike Raymond, he had taken a much more active role in standing up for African Americans in the community. During the trial, a voice could be heard showing support for Tom Robinson's case. This
 is then confirmed to be Deas. He also had provided Tom Robinson's wife, Helen, with employment when Tom had passed.

Link Deas was a representation of the scarcity of concern for racism in the community, for it is of note that almost every action or statement he had performed/made was met with ridicule. But despite this, he wasn't to make even a slight cameo in the movie, which is one of my final examples as to the absence of minor characters.

In light of these findings, it is safe to say that I believe that the novel had been able to convey the primary message slightly more sufficiently. This is due to the novel's utilization of minor characters, which gave the readers multiple examples of Maycomb Folks, and due to these character's complex storylines and ridicule, (or lack there of in few scenarios), from the general Maycomb population, the readers are more inclined to draw their own, individual conclusions about Maycomb and Racial bias/ prejudice. The film may have been able to get it's message across, but the lack of minor characters doesn't give the audience to come to rather complex, comprehensive conclusions about the city.