Assignment 10- Andrew Rogers

Okay. Zombies. Well, I will assume this outbreak happens while I am at school because I spend my entire life there. School is crowded so there is a large chance I just die there. But for this prompt, let's just assume I am amazing and I escape. Step one, find a safe place to go. If I'm at school, I am probably going to go the Island neighborhood. It's down the road to your left when exiting the student parking lot (hence the no outlet sign). It's an isolated area with a large group of people with a lot of resources. That takes care of my food and shelter for at least a little while. I'll then try to contact my family. There is a good chance I never see my family ever again, soooooo... Anyway, that seems to be a pretty good way to survive the onset of the zombie apocalypse. As we progress through the now zombie-ridden world, we can easily protect ourselves, due to the one entrance to the neighborhood. We can access the outside world through boats that are already there and resupply. Eventually, I would try to reach some of my family and friends or I may just live out my days on the Island. Sounds pretty good to me.

Assignment 9- Andrew Rogers

In the grand scheme of things, war has a place in our modern world. Upon the hearing the word, we conjure up horrendous images from films like "Saving Private Ryan" and pictures from civil war and other documentaries. War seems inevitable.  From the beginning of civilization, it seems, war and fighting have always occurred. As a kid in elementary school and even now, I've been fascinated with war history. From the conquests of Genghis Khan to the Battle of Gettysburg, the intricacies of war have fascinated me. But in looking at the overall concept of war, I've never sat down and really considered the need for war. Sure, we should strive for a perfect society is world peace. However, war is necessary. For all the ways war falls short, it solves an awful lot of problems. It seems to be the way for humans to solve their problems, rather than resolving things through peaceful negotiating. It's human nature to take the easier way. Don't get me wrong, war is never inherently easier for a country, especially for those who fight in them. Even though, it is a necessary evil that will always be present as long as human civilization exists.

Assignment 10: Anne Nombe

I'm a paranoid person. A lot of things that might not ever even happen to me make me nervous, like being in a mass shooting or being aboard a plane that's hijacked by terrorists. I have plenty of fears, but my biggest fear isn't death or injury.

In fact, what scares me the most is much, much smaller than you'd think. By that, I mean physically smaller. We live alongside them and see them everyday, but that doesn't put me at any more ease.

Yes, the things that scare the most are bugs. I'm not even sure why. I can't stomach looking at a spider on my wall for more than a second before I have to call my older brother to kill it. It's gotten so bad that my little sister makes fun of me for even avoiding the fly swatter. It's not really what they are that scares me, but how they make me tense up and shiver.

How am I going to deal with this when I'm older and have to be the one who kills the bug in the house? I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Assignment 9: Anne Nombe

If all the world's problems could be solved peacefully, we wouldn't be having this discussion. And as much as I wish we could all join hands, sit around a fire, and sing "Kumbaya," I know that world peace is merely a fantasy. People are too different, or maybe they're too similar. Whatever the case, it prevents us from all seeing eye-to-eye. Such disputes are a natural part of life.

I see war as the most extreme, natural form of dispute in our world. Avoiding it altogether is out of the question because it's simply in our nature to either fight or flee when we feel threatened.

But is war morally right? Is it ethical to harm another human being "for the good of one's country"? Or do we just tell ourselves that--that by fighting our enemies, we're doing our families and communities a service, just to escape the guilt we get from seeing the bloodshed and destruction on the news? I wish I knew the answers to these questions, but I feel that all I can do is speculate.

Assignment 11: Who’s your neignbor?

You are juniors. You are in the Academy. You sit next to each other in Mr. Logsdon's class. You've been here for 11ish weeks and only 7ish to go until the end of the semester.

I think it is safe to say that you know at least a little about each other. Your understanding of each other may include extra curriculars, favorite TV shows, hobbies, but your level of familiarity may also extend into knowing each other's personality. Are they intimidating, carefree, honest?

This week, write about the person you sit next to in English class. What do they do? What are they like? What color would you characterize them as and why? Where do you see them in five years? What type of animal are they like?

I know you're in a seating chart, but you are writing about your peers. Getting to know for the past few months, I have seen you as genuinely nice people and so I expect genuinely nice things in your posts. It doesn't have to be all puppies and ice cream cones, but your entries shouldn't cut anyone down.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, November 5^th at 11:59 pm.

December 3th is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment Nine: Elizabeth Piper

I believe that there are certain reasons that make war a valid and  necessary choice. If a country is deliberately being attacked by another and negotiations aren't making any headway then war would be the choice to go with. Many reasons however thay countries have gone to war for in the past have not been good reasons. Countries are responsible for going to war or at least take steps toward a solution if its citizens are being attacked. It is the job of the country to protect its citizens.
I also believe that countries should not intervene in a war that doesn't have to do with them. War always causes destruction and if it isn't absolutely necessary then it shouldn't happen.
War should never be the first answer. Countries should try to negotiate and take the peaceful route. War should only happen if nothing else works and the citizens of that country are under attack or in danger.

Assignment 10: Boo

ZOMBIES (or White Walkers) HAVE ATTACKED. Detail your survival plan.

OR

Explain what scares you the most and why.

OR

Describe a moment in which you were fraught with peril. Tell it as a ghost story.

OR

In the vein of David Sedaris write an observational humorist piece related to your daily life: school, home, social, etc.  (don't be mean)

Happy Halloween!

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday,

October 29th at 11:59 pm

December 3th is the last day to make up blogs 9-15

Assignment 8 - Rachel Burns

Fears: losing control, sudden/unexpected death, being shot, being raped

Annoyances: people who chew with their mouth open, know-it-alls, when people are chronically late, slow walkers, when people spell my name 'Rachael'

Accomplishments: getting a four year scholarship to KSU, leading Youth worship at church, participating in TASS

Confusions: why other people think it's ok to hurt someone (physically, mentally, or emotionally)

Sorrows: hurting others feelings, not continuing soccer, taking Comp Sci

Dreams: perform at Madison Square Garden, live in New York City, become a social activist

Idiosyncrasies: wearing bracelets my best friend gave me in 4th grade, always wearing hoop earrings and my mom's ring

Risks: skydiving, big roller coasters, walking into the street without looking 

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Barbie dolls (Then). My moms ring, my rope bracelets (now).

Problems: procrastination, time management, self esteem

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK ITS OK TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE?!?!? Look, I’m not a saint. I’ve hurt some people in my life. Everyone has. It’s practically inevitable, whether you mean or not. But when I see things like the Las Vegas shooting happen, or even small things like a rumor being spread around school, it makes me wonder why people find joy in hurting others. Everyone has feelings. You have feelings, I have feelings, my dog has feelings (I think). Why do you find joy in seeing them hurt? Why do you continue to hurt people when you see the damage you’ve caused in someone’s life? I sill beat myself up over something I said that hurt my friend in 7th grade. I still regret it! I still wish I never did that because seeing her hurt for weeks over something I said made me feel like Satan. I never wanted to see her or anyone that hurt bexause of something I did. Has it happened since then? Of course it has, I’m human. But I feel guilty. It doesn’t happen everyday and yet I see people get hurt every day by the same person. Why do people enjoy giving others grief?

Assignent 7 - Rachel Burns

I have absolutely no clue where I'm going to college. I feel like my choice changes everyday. If you asked me this question two years ago, I would've told you that there was absolutely no chance whatsoever that I was staying in Kentucky. But ask me now, and I'll say there is about a 1/10 chance I won't stay in Kentucky. It scares me, honestly, that in less than two years, I will be on my own. Nevertheless, I'm excited to start a new chapter in my life soon.

To be honest, I don't even know what I want to major in. I do, however, know that I want to become an immigration lawyer, so a Pre-Law program at a university would be amazing. I really want to study either Sociology or History, but I still want to also take classes in Spanish and hopefully study abroad in Spain or South America. I want to meet new people in college that have the same interests as me and want to do the same things I want to do.

I just want to receive a good education, wherever at may be. I want to go to a college that will open doors for me, give me new opportunities to go places and meet people. Where hat may be is still a mystery to me. I just want someplace that will support me in my efforts of receiving a quality education.

Assignment Three: Elizabeth Piper

This summer I went to the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs. It was a business and entrepreneur summer camp for three weeks. Going in to the program I was expecting something much like school. You go to class have a project to work on and you have very little freedom. When I got there I was shocked. All of the staff were very trusting and thinks were much more lenient than I had expected. You could do as you please and it was not a situation where you were forced to do anything. Of course the staff encouraged you to try your best but, whatever you decided to put in is what you got out. I had never experienced something like this before. I had so much freedom and I was independent to do what I wanted. Obviously there was some restrictions and rules put in place but nothing to the extent I was thinking. This camp gave me a real glance into what life outside of high school was like and the freedom I could potentially gain during college and beyond. I learned that when it comes to learning you can have freedom and be independent while still learning as much as possible. In fact I found that when I was responsible for learning things myself and I wasn't force-fed anything allowed me to really grasp content and retain things much better. I now look forward to the future when I will get more freedom in my education.

Assignment 8--Eli Wrinn

Like I said in Assignment 4, my worst fear is being fooled or tricked into believing something that benefits another party. This leads me to be cynical and possibly paranoid, but I hold that to lose credibility, I have to be much more so. The area in which this appears the most is corporate advertising. Since I gave some examples before, I'll give some more. Dating services are COMPLETE crap and wastes of money. No algorithm can determine love and interests in common aren't nearly indicative of it. Also, health supplements like protein powder are not usually effective and the FDA does not have as much power to regulate what actually goes into them as you think; sometimes, crushed up rice has been found in some capsules. Finally, glasses only cost so much because a single company, Luxotica, bought all glasses companies out and raised the prices, they really only cost around 10$ to make. As you can tell, I love the TV show Adam Ruins Everything, however it did not make my top five TV shows in assignment 5.

Annoyances: People expecting the world to owe them something.
Accomplishments: Straight A's, Varsity basketball and baseball player
Confusions: What defines consciousness
Sorrows: Not born athletic, divided family.
Dreams: Control of time, normalcy/consistency in life
Idiosyncrasies: Student-athlete (jokingly/ironically)
Risks: Strong ideals, dig my heels in sometimes
Beloved Possessions: Don't really have any, value experiences more
Problems: Don't take things seriously sometimes

Assignment 8: Megan Meadors

• Fears: failing, crowds
• Annoyances: arrogant people, not getting straight answers
• Accomplishments: being Belle in Beauty and the Beast, going on the Deauville Exchange
• Confusions: confidence
• Sorrows: not being good at learning names, stage fright
• Dreams: travel, learning language, helping others
• Idiosyncrasies: indecisive, confident, fearful risk taker
• Risks: performed for large crowds, auditioning
• Beloved Possessions: musical sticker water bottle
• Problems: being on time, forgetfulness

I hate being in front of crowds. Believe it or not I’m a theater kid though. I’ve been a lead in the musical, I like to sing, I like to act, but I’ve always had stage fright. I’m not sure at what point it doesn’t bother people, but it still bothers me. This still confuses me because I haven’t quite figured out how I make it through a show, especially with my past in performing for people, but I did it. And that’s what counts. But I guess it’s because I work really hard to develop my character and I get comfortable. But then again, when I’ve practiced for an audition for weeks and then haven’t been able to perform it well. Why isn’t that the same thing? I guess performing is what terrifies me but I’m not sure. But on to the next audition and then the next performance. Rejection isn’t bad, it’s just how you come back from it.

Assignment 7: Megan Meadors

One of my biggest goals in college is to do a study abroad in France or a francophone country. Even before doing an exchange this summer I have wanted to travel the world and explore a new culture. At my dream college, Berea, there is a program allowing students to go on a study abroad without it costing an arm and a leg, so I hope to be able to participate. As far as for what I want to study, I would like to major in Business Marketing and minor in French. Besides that though, I am excited for the independence college brings. I consider myself fairly self motivated to do well, but I am ready for the other clubs and classes that college will allow me to participate in. All of these should help prepare me for the future, going into business and will hopefully set me up for a good career. Though it is still difficult to find a job in today’s society, a degree in business is very applicable in many fields and I hope I can find something of interest for me.

Assignment 6: Megan Meadors

Though there are so many things I could talk about here. I suppose this topic is something that affects a lot of teenagers, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has ever felt like this, but I hate when adults assume that teenagers incompetent. I’ve worked with a fair share of adults in my life. Between working at a summer camp, volunteering to help run Girl Scout Cookies for troops in our area, planning events, and many other things I have noticed one common trend. Adults look at me like a child. I’m not talking like them recognizing the fact that I’m younger than they are, just when they look at me like I couldn’t possibly know anything because I am not as old as them. One example was at my Girl Scout Camp during a Mom and Me camp, which is when moms and daughters come and they do activities together, which the camp staff run. I was the youngest person on staff and while I was helping to entertain the children, the adults all had a meeting with the camp director and they were told that I was a part of the staff that they would have to listen to, especially when giving directions on safety and other things that were important because I knew as much as the older members of the staff. Even after this, there were still some issues. When I was helping harness people at the rock climbing tower, parents refused to let me help them if they were struggling, insisting that “they were fine” and then going to another member of the staff. This happens to everyone I’m sure, but it’s really annoying to me, but yet it’s something I can’t exactly help. I try to let it go, but it always has annoyed me.

Assignment 5: Megan Meadors

I like TV because it is a way to get a window into another world, like reading, only with less of a time commitment. It’s also a form of entertainment, like music, that can just be on and can serve as background noise that varies more than music does but it doesn’t take your attention away from doing homework or working on other things. But then again it can also be a quality form of entertainment when you just sit down and watch it and invest times into following a character or a storyline. I usually find it difficult to just watch a TV show without doing something else while watching, but I feel like I use it as a way to relax and not have to devote a lot of time or energy into it.

I watch some TV. I normally don’t watch Netflix, but I watch a few TV shows when I have time. My favorites are Big Brother and Survivor. I really enjoy both of these shows because they challenge contestants to compete for their prize through competing for power, forming alliances, and creating strategies. I enjoy watching them interact both with how they are represented in the show and by watching the live feeds of what’s happening. I have several more shows on my list, like Stranger Things and Sherlock, but I haven’t gotten a chance to watch them yet.

Assignment 4: Megan Meadors

I’ve normally believed stereotypes when I hear them. This past summer, during my trip to France I saw a lot of things that I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise. Although there are a lot of stereotypes about Europeans, what I noticed most was stereotypes about Americans. Most that I noticed, were the ones I didn’t fit into and people asked me about. Others were ones that I noticed being portrayed in the media. Some were simple, like that some people I met were surprised that I didn’t wear makeup because that’s how teenage American girls are portrayed in the media. Others were more surprised that I didn’t just eat marshmallow fluff all the time (I actually did get asked this) and there were even some people who were surprised that Americans actually learn other languages. I wasn’t fluent by any means, but they were surprised that I was even making an effort. There were a few people who I met that went as far as to only speak to me in English.  They were really surprised when I told them I spoke a little French and that I was there on an exchange. Sometimes it isn’t the groundbreaking revelations that challenge beliefs, but this definitely will affect how I view other people and their cultures.

Assignment 3: Megan Meadors

Activities I’ve Been Involved In:

• Girl Scouts (Troop, Camp, TLC)
• I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was six years old. I’ve sold thousands of boxes of cookies, gone to camp for 10 years, worked at camp for 2 years, and joined the Girl Scout Teen Leadership Council. Through Girl Scouts, I’ve learned about money management, public speaking, event planning, teamwork, leadership, and much more. This has allowed me to work with many people who I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to know. It’s also allowed me to see how leadership roles for older Girl Scouts can influence younger Scouts, and that has been cool for me to see.
• Voice Lessons
• I have been taking music lessons at the Central Music Academy for 8 years, with 5 years focusing on vocal music. I have gotten to sing many different styles of music in many different languages. This has allowed me to grow as a musician and has helped me to develop my love of musical theater. This is one of the things that’s helped me build up my confidence.
• Theater
• If you asked younger me what I would be doing with my life now, I would definitely not have said theater. Yet here I am. I’ve been in the cast for 3 shows and I’ve stage managed 2 shows. This has helped me develop my leadership skills through stage managing and leading rehearsals. Also with being in multiple casts and a lead of the musical helped me overcome my stage fright
• Lexington Deauville Sister Cities Exchange
• This program allowed me to go to France and stay with my correspondent and his family. It taught me a lot about myself and about my ability to go to another country and be immersed in another culture. I learned about how I view the world, and I found it really cool to see that while I could stay in my comfort zone with what I know, it’s also amazing to put yourself into someone else’s shoes and see how their world differs. It has helped me grow my love for language and has driven me to want to study French in college.

Assignment 2: Megan Meadors

I’m really sad to admit I’ve not had time to read as much as I would like, but I can say the few books I have had time to read were amazing!

The most recent book I have read was Room by Emma Donoghue. This book was written from the perspective of a six year old who was locked in a one room house with his mom for his whole life and how he saw the world. It is probably one of my all time favorite books because how the book captured and described everything from the little boy’s perspective. Other than that, I have tried to reread the Harry Potter series. I didn’t get very far, but I still want to go back and finish rereading the series at some point. Then, of course, the assigned summer reading books: The Teenage Brain, and Writing With Style. But those were assigned readings and I didn’t exactly enjoy them, but I read them.

Assignment 1: Megan Meadors

My name is Megan Meadors. My goal for this school year is to pass all of my AP exams, continue to be involved in the theater, and to audition for GSA. During the summer vacation I went on an exchange to Deauville, France with the Lexington Sister Cities for three weeks. It’s really difficult to choose the most meaningful moment of the exchange, but I would have to say it’s between the day me and my correspondent spent exploring Trouville sur mer (the city where I stayed) and when I was with a bunch of family friends and they asked me to sing for them. On that same note, if I had any superpower, I would want to be able to teleport because I want to travel the world, and being able to teleport I could travel where I want when I want. I really enjoy musical theatre and although I don’t think I’ll be a star on Broadway by any means, I like to listen to Broadway Cast Recordings, so here is a link to the Cast Recording of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STzIIYf3iS0&list=PL8SjdpmZomAqWqlYj-JTTPxuyyyET8FdM. Also, here’s a picture from France that I took at the Louvre and its probably one of my favorite pictures

Assignment 8- Andrew Rogers

Fears: unprotected heights, drowning, disappointing my parents, failing in life

Annoyances: My dad chewing, people not using car signals, 

Accomplishments: good brother, I'm not dead yet

Confusions: Thinking about forever, deep convoluted thoughts 

Sorrows: never played soccer when I was younger, abortions

Dreams: roller coaster designer, a professional soccer player, teaching a class on the Columbian exchange

Idiosyncrasies: excessive knowledge about historical disasters

Risks: Will ride all roller coasters, Skydive, 

Beloved Possessions: Beyblades (then), my closest friends (now)

Problems: Procrastination, Becoming easily distracted when doing homework

Being raised in the Church I've been taught a lot about heaven and God. One thing that both of them have in common is that they last forever. The concept of forever has blown my mind ever since I was young. I've literally never gotten my head around it. As humans, everything we do is bound by the constraints of time, so envisioning something that exists outside the realm of time, kind of breaks our minds. This is one of those ideas that I feel that not many people think about because it seems futile to waste time on something that we feel isn't necessary to think of, due to our existence based on time. But it is interesting to see how our brains try to comprehend concepts that are beyond our own and worthwhile to further our own knowledge. I have sat down on occasions and thought about it, and I encourage that you try it as well, and get lost in the ever-swirling complexity of forever. 

Assignment 7--Eli Wrinn

My aspiration is to become well, schooled in almost every area--a renaissance man if you will. This is partly why I chose the liberal arts academy over the other STEM programs I was accepted into. I'm sure you can see this through my blog posts, I touch politics, philosophy, science, and art. (Mainly because you made me but I'm interested in the stuff as well) I also want to be well schooled in history, because one of my favorite things to do is find continuities between the subjects and history can provide the perspective to do so. I do not require a lot from my college, I have been rather irked by the college process and do not feel that it selects students effectively and objectively, so I am strongly considering attending UK to save time and money. Despite this, my preferred college follows the following criteria, "big school small city or small school big city or even big school small city." I do not want to be in the middle of nowhere, I think being in the middle of an active society would be an important part of the education. Colleges I am looking at like this are Chicago University, Johns Hopkins, and Brown. These schools also provide opportunities to continue my career in either basketball or baseball. If I get a well-rounded education from a place like these, I could take a job in any area while still being able to study and be familiar with other areas for personal work and thought. Keeping my options open is very important to me.   

Assignment Five: Elizabeth Piper

You usually don't find me watching TV. As often as I can you will find me watching a nightly game of Jeopardy. Other than that I do not watch much TV. I think it is because I am often busy doing something else around the house or I am just simply not at home. I would much rather listen to music than watch TV.

I think TV could possibly be a good source of entertainment for some but I find most of the shows especially the reality shows to be inane and a waste of time. I'm sure people have something better to do than watch other people make bad decisions and start drama. I do not find that entertaining in the slightest. However, the news and documentaries of historical shows are great. I feel that TV is absolutely necessary so people can see the news and they can stay informed on current events. I also believe it is a good educational tool in some cases. Even though, there are many advertisements on TV I think that they are necessary so the general population knows what products are out there and it is an effective way of reaching the masses.

I think that there being so much emphasis on the Emmy's compared to the Nobel Prizes are bad. However, I don't think that is ever going to change. Frankly, people just do not care about the next new science concept they want to see people in fancy clothes living the life of luxury. Although that is terrible it is the truth. In today's world it is all about pop culture and celebrities living the lavish lifestyle. In some way I think that many people want to embody these celebrities and live as luxurious as they do. They aspire to this and that's why the Emmy's are so popular. It gives everyone a taste and a glimpse into the "high life".

Assignment Seven: Elizabeth Piper

College. The prospect that I will be attending to college in two years seems impossible. It is even scary. College is often talked about around my family and school. I have started to look into colleges and my dream college would be the University of Pennsylvania. I want to go into a business major and the Wharton School of Business is one of the top business schools in the country. I am very excited to be able to make my own study schedules in college and just go to the campuses library and just sit down and study. I am also excited about all of the diverse clubs and organizations that college offers. There are activities for just about everyone which is a very exciting prospect. You can explore your interests and really find what best fits you. I feel that in college everything you put into it is what you're gonna get out of it. I am thrilled to start the learning process in college and how independent it is. The University of Pennsylvania is the perfect college of me because it is in the heart of Philadelphia which is a beautiful historic city and the opportunities on campus are so diverse. I believe that the education I get there will be one of the best possible educations I could get and it will be well worth going there when it comes time to start looking for a job and finding my career for life.

Assignment 6--Eli Wrinn

As you may learn from my previous blog posts, I like to think on philosophical subjects a lot. I would join Philosophy Club if I didn't have Baseball or Basketball 6 days a week. It has really been difficult to approach this assignment, so I will just list areas I think about a lot.

Politics: My mentality at this point is "Just as a corrupt king cannot be trusted to lead people, an uninformed public cannot be trusted to know its best self-interests." This is not just coming from a bitter HRC supporter, I realize it was inevitable for an unqualified joke to take office. And unlike some people that share my views, I don't now respect "moderate" people of the other party, because "it could be so much worse." The situation we are in now is their doing. Their de-funding of education and creating the muse of "grassroots" character culminated in the previous election. However, I believe that situation was inevitable as well; if large corporations are given any influence to the source of power at all, they will use it to benefit themselves until the government becomes dysfunctional. However, I believe that situation is inevitable as well--there will always be greedy people. I am still thinking of my solution to this dilemma, maybe it is a technocracy. (It isn't a movie where everything goes wrong, it would be well-executed)

Technology: If anyone says they miss the good old days, the good old days had someone who missed the good old days. And this repeats until the dawn of man, and then to the dawn of life. I believe the advancement of technology is only evolution, just in a different form. Just like any evolution, it is effective as well as inevitable. Therefore, we should embrace it and see how far it takes us. If humans are like they are described in The Matrix as "a virus," why don't we spread and overtake whatever left us clueless and alone.

Aliens: I do not believe aliens exist, our story of evolution happened about as fast as possible and the odds seem insurmountable. But I believe they should and will with our help. There are many different life forms that can survive in space and I'm sure they can be made to reproduce on other planets, starting their own process of evolution. Like I said before, let's spread our virus.

Origins: I believe the quantum theory of the Big Bang is the most viable. Under it, it is completely possible for an explosion like such to occur, and we are simply living on the debris of the explosion. I believe, like any explosion, it will die down and all matter will decay in a ridiculous amount of years. 

Assignment 8- Brennan Cegelka

Fears: Family Shame, Baseball
Annoyances: My Brother, Ignorance
Accomplishments: Grades, Happiness
Confusions: Religion
Sorrows: Baseball, Inner Drive
Dreams: Success and Fulfillment
Idiosyncrasies: unknown
Risks: Living in a far unknown place, a month off-grid
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Video Games (Then) My CD collection (Now)
Problems: Organization

 Someone is always working harder. Someone is always more talented. Someone is always going to be better. This is the reality in anything competitive. When I’m sound asleep at 5:30AM, there is someone doing pushups in their room or hitting off the tee in a warehouse. I have to work tirelessly to get my arm velocity to 80 MPH, yet some people can through into the 90’s with little to no effort. I could do all the 6:30 A.M. workouts I want; there’s going to be somebody somewhere working harder. What’s my biggest fear? That someone’s better. All I can do is play to the best of my abilities and work as hard as possible. That’s all any of us are capable of. If I come to grips with these facts of competitiveness, I believe that I will overcome this fear. Until then, you know where to find me at 6:30 A.M.

Assignment 8-

Fears- heights, growing up, losing people close to me
Annoyances- pretentious people, oblivious people
Accomplishments- building computer,
Confusions- religion
Sorrows- appearance, weight, sweatiness
Dreams- moving out
Idiosyncracies- nerd, PC games
Risks- climbing across log (scraped up leg)
Beloved Possessions- Stuffed Winnie the Pooh (then), shelf of trinkets (now)
Problems-Time Management

One of the more recent developments to me has been my extremely sweaty body. I sweat a LOT. I purchase shirts that have darker tint so that when I do sweat, you can't see that I have because of the color of my shirt. It happens all the time. One minute I'll just be sitting at my desk, perfectly normal, the next, I'll be covered in sweat head to toe, my shirt stained from all the sweat. Some days I can literally feel the sweat running down my body in the gap between my shirt and my body. It grosses me out, and definitely embarrasses me. People mention it to me all the time, as if I don't know I'm a sweaty mess. Band helps, since everyone outside gets sweaty with me. But, I still get my shirt drenched a LOT faster than everyone else, which doesn't help my case much. In the long run, I'm sure the issue will resolve itself, but for now, it's making my life a living hell.

Assignment 7- Brennan Cegelka

“Best four years of my life, I mean besides these years.” Wow, thanks Mom and Dad. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I could pay for college debt free right now. I am not making this up, just this morning my dad talked about ANOTHER college story from his time at UCSB. I guess I should be thanking him. After all, my parents met in college, and if not for UCSB I wouldn’t be alive.

 UCSB or University of California Santa Barbra, is a liberal arts college right on the pacific ocean. My mom and dad met in college. So to me, college is this wondrous place where the best years of my life are to be. As a result, I am ecstatic about these next years to come. I enjoy the sciences as well as film. So, I hope to go to a school that provides a good education in both of those fields. One of the schools that provides this is USC or University of Southern California. This school is on the other side of the county which is a daunting thought. However, all of my extended family lives in California so I wouldn’t be too far from family. Not only does this university provide the academic enrichment desired, it also has the athletics. Sports have always been important in my family, and I want to go to a school that values sports the same way I cherish it.

Assignment 6- Brennan Cegelka

I LOVE movies. I could (and have) sit down for hours on end on FX TNT etc. and watch movies all day regardless of the health risks. The directors ability to shoot the most elaborate fight scenes, or to slow down and really capture the scenery of the film. I love every bit of it. The actors ability to convey certain emotions that will get the audience to root for or against you. To cry with an actor or cheer with an actor.

 But Brennan, What is your favorite aspect of a film? I’m glad you asked. Such a difficult question with so many potential answers. My favorite aspect of movies is the music. You see the only thing that rivals my interest in movies is my passion for music. From 70’s Eagles all the way to Lil Pump and everything in between. I even play the guitar a little myself. But I digress. The music of a movie is drastically underrated in creating a certain emotion in an audience. The ability to bring an audience into shock, joy, misery, heavily depends on the right music, the right song. There is such a satisfaction in walking out of a theatre and saying “Wow.” That’s what I want to do. Make an audience say “Wow” after stepping out of a theatre.

Assignment 5- Brennan Cegelka

Wednesday nights. I love Wednesday nights. My family and I gather around the television to see our three shows: The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and Blackish. These nights are my favorite not only because of these three great modern sitcoms, but also because our family together. It is so challenging for us all to find time to be together, with all of us being so busy, but we manage.

 My Mother and I particularly enjoy The Goldbergs. Our family agrees that Beverly Goldberg (The mother of the show) shows strong parallels with my mother. We laugh along for the hour as we skip through commercials because we always start late. It’s a good time to relax in the middle day of the week. And afterward we talk about what we enjoyed and what we took away from each episode. It defiantly is not your typical family dinner, but it is for us every Wednesday night at 8PM eastern/7PM central.

 That’s the beauty of television. It brings people together. I may not have been alive at the time, but the days of M.A.S.H. or Seinfeld where the entire country would, for only a brief moment, be on pause and united.

Assignment 4- Brennan Cegelka

A deeply held belief in my family is that politics in our nation is good and that many politicians are simple trying to do right by their constituents. Oh gosh this one is gonna get political. Why can’t I just stick to sports?

 My dad was a lawyer. Graduated from University of Kentucky Law School and passed the BAR exam on his 1st attempt. (He LOVES to mention that). He practiced law for several years, then moved to California work for Susan Davis as her campaign advisor and advisor once she won her re-election as a congressman. He had a 1st hand experience of working with a congressman to see our democracy at work.

 These idea that our government is fair and comprehensive is a strong belief in my household. However, as the recent election was filled with turmoil and distrust, I found myself having doubts of the greatness of this democracy. How can such a great democracy lead to such an ugly election. Filled with personal attacks and the ideas of corrupted politicians. Was my own father a corrupted politician. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

 My dad wasn’t corrupted, he is just a man trying to make this nation and this city better. I knew deep down that’s all these two presidential candidates wanted too. To make this nation better. My willingness to challenge what was previously believed made it possible for me to see each side. I’m not going to say our nation is perfect, which I know it isn’t. But I’m now sure the majority of our government local, state, and federal level, is filled with people like my father, who wish to see the lives of American’s continue to improve.

Assignment 3- Brennan Cegelka

 Culture Shock.
 This is quite an experience. Culture shock to me is when you enter a new place, new people, and you feel like an Alien who just arrived in another world. That is how I felt when I moved from San Diego California to Lexington Kentucky. “Kentucky?” Where is Kentucky? That was my 1st question to my parents. As a kid in California, (the center of the universe to many) where the only season is Sunny, and the idea of a cold day is 65 degrees, I was filled with wonder when I 1st saw snow. I was no longer in the metropolitan of a 2 million plus city on the border of Mexico. I was in a quaint town that valued horses, Bourbon, and basketball. These strange people said “Y’all” and “Ain’t” in almost every sentence. I felt uncomfortable at times, but thats life: Uncomfortable. Fast forward to being a Junior. I’ve come to love the University of Kentucky and Big Blue Nation. And, I now proudly consider myself a Kentuckian, with John Calipari as our president and Bourbon as our currency.

I learned to be more open to people with different backgrounds and how said backgrounds shape them. I came from what is at times considered the liberal capital of America, to a place where Mich McConnell, the Senate Republican Leader, hails from our great State. I’ve had the pleasure to meet conservatives whose opinions I would’ve never been exposed to or understood in California. One of the strengths of living in California and Kentucky is my ability to see 1st hand, the reasoning behind people’s point of view and how they came to their conclusion based on their upbringing. There is a fair deal of ignorance on both sides of the political spectrum. But my ability to understand each side has enriched my educational environment for the better.

Assignment Six: Elizabeth Piper

Last year for AP Seminar in the first seminar we were tasked with writing an essay using a stimulus packet that everyone was given. The main topic of the stimulus packet was poverty. I have always been interested in current issues facing the world today and I strongly believe in helping the cause to fight off poverty and hunger. I decided to write my research paper about the psychological effects of poverty on the brain. I am also interested in psychology and I figured that this would be a perfect match. I really enjoyed the freedom we got with this assignment. I also like the restrictions we got as well. I am not a fan of being told exactly what to do but I also like have boundaries and parameters. Total freedom and independence is not my cup of tea. Through doing research for this topic I learned many new facts and I was surprised about some of the information I had learned. Through research I learned that the effects of poverty started at a very young age and it can lead into adulthood as well. Before going into this project I knew poverty couldn't be good for the brain but, I couldn't even begin to fathom how deep the effects go. It completely changed my perspective on poverty. Now my want to help diminish the poverty level has deepened. Now I believe we should focus on the children and helping them to get out of poverty. That way we can break the cycle and future generations will flourish.

Assignment 8 Breanna Bradley

My biggest fear is public speaking. The most annoying thing in my life is my three brothers. My accomplishments are beating tomb raider three times, doing well on my AP exams this far in high school, and doing well in school in general. I'm constantly confused by my bothers, because teenage boys often say very stupid things. My uncle is fighting cancer, and Donald Trump is our president. I once had a dream that i had to eat glass, but my dreams for the future are to major in zoology at Michigan State. My idiosyncrasies would be biting my nails, and listening to the same song on repeat for two days straight. My biggest risk was living away from my parents over the summer when i got my job, but i really enjoyed it and it payed off. My most beloved possession is a Ms. Piggy toy from my uncle before he passed away. Most of my problems come from my procrastination (which is why I'm writing this the day it's due). 

The first time I ever spent more than a day or two away from my parents was when I got a job in Michigan, a ten hour drive from my house. I often felt homesick, I wanted to go home, I wanted to quit. Not that my job was hard or I didn't enjoy it. I really liked it and I still work there during the summer. But I was scared to be away from my parents for that long. I learned I could be independent. I learned I could take care of myself. I learned that I still need my parents not necessarily because I need to be taken care of, but for companionship, love, and support. I knew I would always need my parents, but I didn't always have to be with them.

Assignment 2- Brennan Cegelka

These are some of the books I’ve read over the past year.
1. “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum. This book is fantastic. The simplicity of the ideas with the complexities they come with in modern society is fascinating. I love the structure of the book, each chapter a different story. It makes it an easy book to re-read because there are a few passages I particularly like such as “ChickenFried Steak” “Crayolas”
2. “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. Piggy! When I initially read this book in the 8th grade, I had nightmares of being on a plane and crashing on an island. This was one of the 1st books I analyzed in depth. And out of curiosity, I re-read this book to see if I would pick up on more than I did initially. Overall, a great book of the decaying of society.
3. “The Lost Hero” Rich Riordon
4. “The Outsiders” S.E. Hinton. Stay Golden Ponyboy.

Assignment 1- Brennan Cegelka

Hi everyone! I’m William Brennan Cegelka, but my parents have always called me Brennan.
Personally, I spend a lot of time outside. I play baseball here at Henry Clay and I hope to be an integral part in our teams success this year. I play second base for the team and occasionally relief pitch. I love to play baseball and I hope that I continue to play it for long time. I would also like to go camping for the weekend this year. Academically, I would like to continue to improve upon my 3.9 unweighted GPA. I am taking 5 AP classes this year and I hope to balance my personal and academic life outside of school. When I was at HOBY (Hugh O’Bryan Youth Leadership) Kentucky, I was so invigorated by the end of the seminar that I started going out and making a real difference in the community. My family and I now donate toys to the children’s hospital once a month. If I could have any superpower, I would choose the power to teleport. I’m just now being able to drive on my own, but for the longest time I was always running late to places. My parents are constantly driving my brother and I across Lexington, and as a result I always found myself rushed.
 As I touched on earlier, I love sports. Unfortunately for me, my sports teams don’t always love me back. I’m a San Diego sports fan. I lived there for a significant chunk of my life. But, the Padres are terrible every year, and my beloved Chargers have moved to L.A. So, to keep up on my tragic teams, I go to espn.com.

Assignment 5--Eli Wrinn

I enjoy watching television very much. I do not believe that it is a waste of time because more than anything, it is a form of art. (The television featured in the Emmys at least) I am very cautious about making analogies like this, but it is the same as listening to music or reading a book, however it may require less work from the audience to digest. I believe that the only problem with TV watching is the commercials, which I detail more in depth in blog post number 4, but they are malicious in their intent and cause more problems in the society than benefits--paying for TV. My top 5 favorite TV shows are as follows:
5. FAMILY GUY: A great show that I think really pioneered a hilariously original idea: Admittance that the plot is lacking at the expense of funnier jokes. And by funnier I mean gut-busting. A few jokes may cross "the line" of offensiveness, but I believe that the show also makes some strong political points as well. I have been watching this show since my parents would let me.

4. RICK AND MORTY: I wish I could put this higher on my list, but so little has actually come out at the overall story arc of the series hasn't even been revealed. However, in the little that exists, I have found an amazingly high level of entertainment. I love how many philosophical areas it covers it a light way. I love how I think deeply every episode while crying laughing. The idea of Rick Sanchez being the nihilistic god of the multiverse has actually affected my thinking on everyday subjects. I also like how it is similar to Family Guy in that it purposely under develops parts of the plot to focus on what really matters. The show has only gotten better, which is very promising.

3. IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: This one seems odd, however I truly believe it is number 3 on my list. I'm sure you think it is annoying and loud and stupid and not funny, and I don't usually enjoy things like this. First of all, I found it during season 1 when what they were doing was exceptionally reckless and daring. Also, I believe it appeals more to teens because they fear public embarrassment more. I wish those four bums could keep doing it forever.

2. THE OFFICE: I know that everyone would put this high on their list, and that is for a reason, it is an amazing show. I have laughed countless times watching and re-watching it and it is ridiculous how funny Michael Scott is, like it is scary. If you skip to any part of the series, (with him in it) I guarantee you are within three minutes of a belly laugh at his hands. There is a charming plot line to accompany him, but he truly is a genius.

1. COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY WITH NEIL DeGRASSE TYSON: This is a non-fiction series about the field of astrophysics. It spans from the experimental areas such as evolution to the great theoretical areas such as the merging the quantum theory and the theory of relativity. It truly captivated me and fostered my love of that type of science today. Nothing else to say.

Assignment 8: Ben Sanner

Fears: Armed Maniacs, Serial Killers, mediocrity, spiders, torture, onions(allergic)

Annoyances: Slow talkers, ignorant people, large ego'd people, time wasters, taxes, loud eaters,

Accomplishments: not a total failure

Confusions: rain drops vs snow falls, credit card interest rates, Stonehenge

Sorrows:  inactivity due to procrastination

Dreams: Graduate with honors, make family proud

Idiosyncrasies: refusing to speak to any ne of Cowboys fandom

Risks: Bungee Jumping, Flying a Plane

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Then: Legos, Wii, $20, Now: Phone, Car, Drum set, job

Problems: too high of metabolism( I can literally eat 5 bags of chips then go run 2 miles)

            Flying a plane. Most people think it is hard, but it is a lot easier than you think. I first flew a plane when my parents signed me up for a summer camp when I was twelve. The camp consisted of learning the basic ins and outs of flying a Cessna 172. All of the learning led to a flying lesson at the end of the camp. This experience was awesome. Since this time I have gone back and even had flying lessons with an instructor from Western Kentucky University. I have probably logged about 12 hours of flying within the past few years. I do not plan to become a pilot as my main career, but at some point I would like to get my license and own my own personal plane. If my parents had not signed me up for that camp so many years ago I probably would not have found this new passion of mine

Assignment 7- Conner Holt

My ideal college experience would be one that consisted of both ways to keep me at the college and one that provided the education I payed for. I'd like to major in something involving Chemistry, so the school would have to have a decent sciences program, but I'd also still like to play with the band, or in some sort of symphonic orchestra. I would also thoroughly enjoy some sort of extracurricular program involving music making, such as DJing or forming a band.

Assignment Four: Elizabeth Piper

When I was around 10 my sister had a baby. She was my first niece. When I first found out the news I was shocked. My sister wasn't married and she had just begun college. Throughout my life I had always been told that you must be married first before you had kids. That was the traditional and accepted way. However, when my family learned that my sister was pregnant and unmarried they congratulated her and was excited about the baby on the way. I was confused. Why were they so happy when she was clearly not following the traditional path?
I pondered this question for a while and I was still not happy that my sister that I was supposed to look up to made the decision to have a child unmarried. But nine months later we all went to the hospital. I held my niece for the first time and I fell in love. I knew she was a part of the family. From that moment on I knew that no matter what the circumstances if the child will be loved and well taken care of anything is possible and everything will turn out okay.

Assignment 6- Conner Holt

This January, my appendix burst. I was stuck in the hospital for 2 weeks, and missed the entire month of January. This of course, affected my school work, as it began to pile up from not being at school. The entire second semester was a complete mess for me personally, as I was trying to catch up while at the same time learning normally with the rest of my classmates. I only managed to catch up successfully in 4 of my 6 classes, which at the time was a huge accomplishment for me. Looking back, I could have done a better job managing my time and keeping a schedule, but the past is the past, and I'm glad I went through that experience now. It gave me an example of what NOT to do in that type of situation.

Assignment Eight: Elizabeth Piper

Fears: snakes, rejection, getting in trouble
Annoyances: slow walkers, stray marks on paper, stupid questions
Accomplishments: GSE, my organizational skills
Confusion: the meaning life
Sorrows: procrastination
Dreams: graduating college with honors
Idiosyncrasies: I make lists for everything
Risks: whitewater rafting
Beloved possessions: my dog, Pixie
Problems: poverty, orphans

The bell rings. Everyone gathers their things and files out of the classroom. Many are on their way to the class where they will sit for an hour and learn about Polyatomic Ions, John Adam's Presidency or any other various educational topic. While others stop at their locker or stop for a quick bathroom break. Wherever you are going everyone gets exactly five minutes to get to where they need to be. While some people, like me, scurry their way to class as quick as they can, others like to take their sweet time. Now this can be a nuisance for anyone walking in the hallways. Often, groups form and take up the entire expanse of the hallway and just sit there to chat, blocking the way for other people to get by. They sit there and cackle and tell stupid jokes as loud and as obnoxiously as they can. Often, I will try to scoot by them and go unnoticed but, it never fails that someone will step in my path and block me. This can be very annoying for those of us who are just trying to get to class. As annoying as these groups are the worst are the people who are in fact walking to some destination but if they were a racing a snail, the snail would win. They are often too busy talking or on their phone to walk at a reasonable pace. It is very hard to get around them through the crowded and narrow hallways. The slow walker is what I consider to be one of the most annoying things that can ever occur.

assignment 6 Breanna Bradley

Aliens. Outer Space. I love learning, mostly about things "out of this world". I find space interesting mainly because of how little we know about a seemingly endless void. this endless void the the floating rock we live on called earth is fascinating, i would love to learn more about it. there are so many unanswered questions. Where does space end? If it is seemingly endless dis it logical to believe in aliens? How quickly can our technology advance to further learn more? My interest in space would be cool to pursue as a career, but it isn't a passion just an interest.

Assignment 7: Ben Sanner

Having passed my drivers test last Friday I am now starting to grasp how I am quickly am growing up. Next up: College. With college I want to first and foremost get the most out of the education I'm paying for. I want to be in an environment with many clubs to solute my interest, and I would like ample opportunity to meet people and develop relationships. Even in a perfect world these things would be hard to maintain and I realize that. Realistically I want college to be me figuring out the world and having a chance to let the world figure me out too.

assignment 5 Breanna Bradley

People watch TV because life is boring. TV serves as an escape from reality into a funnier, awesomer, world. TV is a break from this boring, mundane world we call home. At least that's why I watch TV. I like The Office, Parks and Recreation, Star Trek, and House. I think TV has many pros and cons, it brings people together, it can make people less social, its a good source of entertainment, it wastes time. it is good entertainment, like I said it's an escape, to a world unlike any other. And obviously TV can be a way for advertisements to make an appearance in our daily lives, but advertisements would still exist without TV. TV is an inane waste of time, but a good one. Everyone needs a break sometime, some people like reading, some people like TV.

Assignment 8- Sam Underwood

I dream to one day be referred to as Dr. Underwood. Ever since I was a little kid, I've been curious about how the body worked. As a little girl I told myself that I wanted to be a nurse. Growing up I realized that my skill set was better fitting to that of a doctor. I have and have always had a love for learning and a love for science. A dream of mine is to be a doctor. I've considered many specialities over the years (all of them are so exciting!!) I'm stuck between forensic pathology (because of my love for true crime) and being an OB/GYN (because who wouldn't want to help bring life into this world??) Now that I’m in high school, I’ve taken Human Anatomy and I’m currently in AP Bio. I’ve found both classes really interesting and satisfying to the curiosity of how the body functions.

Assignment 8 Luke Taylor

Fears: Failure
Annoyances: When things don't go as planned
Accomplishments: I made half  way though high school
Confusions: The opposite sex
Sorrows: The world not getting along
Dreams: success
Idiosyncrasies:eating popcorn and orange juice (is that weird?)
Risks: Track and Field
Beloved Passions: Phone, sketch book, piano
Problems: I have a hard time getting started with work, procrastination/time management

If I had a middle name, it would be procrastination. I have a schedule, I hate when things don't go according to plan, so tell me why do I procrastinate a lot? For example, every time I get a project in school or homework I map out exactly when, where, and how I am going to complete the assignment, but things never go according to plan. I believe part of the reason I don't get stuff done when I'm supposed to is because I get distracted very easily. The clock will read 9:00 and I'll get a text message on my phone, so I'll check it. Then while I'm responding I'll get an instagram notification and go check it out, then the notification will lead me to stalking instagram. I look up at the clock after watching a vine compilation on youtube and the clock reads 10:30 and I've made zero progress on my work which aggravates me so much. So recently I've been turning off my phone, hiding it in the car outside, and then tell my parents not to unlock the car until I've done all my work. So far it's been working and I've only had a break down twice.

assignment 4 Breanna Bradley

My dad is very conservative, I have two older brothers so I have always hear arguing about some of my father's deeply held beliefs. There are many issues that I used to trust my dad about, and believed whatever he did  not because I couldn't think for myself, but because I didn't want to question his reasoning. One issue I no longer agree with my dad is combat units. My dad believes that men and women should be separated in combat or infantry units, I however disagree. my opinion changed due to an argument between one of my older brothers and my dad. My brother made the point separate but equal isn't equal. My brother made many valid points that my dad disagreed with, but I realized I agreed with my brother more than my dad.

Assignment 7 Luke Taylor

I have so many feelings about college. The first that come to mind is that I'm getting older and closer to becoming an adult, that means more responsibility which is kinda upsetting. I love being a kid I know the adult world can be a cruel place once reality sets in. That's why I enjoy being a youth where my dreams have no end. But college is also exciting to me because I can finally narrow my studies into things that interest me. The ideal college for me is one that I can study the career that interests me and I belong in (either architecture, graphic design, or computer science I haven't narrowed yet lol). The right school for me is the one that's not going to put me into a lot of debt to learn, I don't need that stress in my young adult life, but really, the school needs to have a creative atmosphere that I feel like I can strive in.

Assignment 5- Conner Holt

In my opinion, TV does provide a good form of entertainment, as it's one of the "big three" forms of entertainment. Those three being TV, movies, and the internet.

I only watch television for laughs. Crude humor, slapstick comedy, and funny reactions are some of the only reasons I watch TV. I do indulge in the occasional drama, more recently I re-watched Breaking Bad. But, shows like American Dad, Archer, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine will always be some of my favorite shows ever, simply because of the slapstick comedy and life-lessons that come out of these characters.

That's right, I said life lessons. During most episodes of say American Dad, the writers try to draw in some sort of theme from the ridiculous plot. Take for example the Christmas special from 2012(?). In it, Stan somehow manages to piss Santa Claus off, and him and his family must take up arms to defend Stan, as Santa's elves pursue. The idea of unity as a family is explored throughout the episode, as most of it takes place with the family together instead of in their groups that they're in in most of the episodes.

Assignment 3 Breanna Bradley

Over the summer I work on a small island in Michigan. The island is a huge tourist attraction, and people travel from all over the world. i worked in a grocery store stocking shelves, while working there I meet people from all over the world including Jamaica, the Philippines, and Russia. Some of my coworkers told me about their culture. I liked learning how different cultures are and how similar they can be. I also babysit over the summer many children had different cultures, it was interesting to see how cultural ideas are ingrained at such a young age.

Assignment 4- Conner Holt

My family has always been somewhat religious, specifically my mother. I was also aligned with this system of faith for a while, but more recently I have begun to question those beliefs, and more specifically why one believes in a faith.

Religion has always been a touchy subject for me, seeing as I grew up in the church. I've begun to make a name for myself, seeing as I am a part of my youth group's leadership "committee" known as PA. Since Band started, I haven't been attending these meetings, and I haven't gained or lost anything from going. I just don't understand the idea of being put on the earth for a purpose, let alone this life of ours just being an overly complicated test of faith. Maybe I'm a simpleton with no idea of the future, but these things recently just aren't clicking.

I have yet to inform anyone in my family or my church of my "new" beliefs, but seeing as one of them is in this hour I'm sure he'll read this and inform everyone of my ideals.

Assignment 3- Conner Holt

I have two things that have changed my perspective about life, those being driving and Marching Band

Let me start with the latter. Marching Band has changed my life for the better, and taught me a lot of life lessons along the way. I'm a lot better at arriving on time now, seeing as being on time might as well be arriving late. The band starts warming up once the time reaches the set time for rehearsal to start, so arriving at the school at the time listed does more harm than good. 

Driving has re-enforced the idea that repetition does in fact make you better at something. Currently I have around 30 hours logged under my learner's permit, which is half of the required 60 hours necessary to take the driving test. I can feel myself becoming a better driver each time I get behind the wheel, as I become more attentive and aware of my surroundings. Driving around town also gives me an excuse to go do things that normally my parents wouldn't just drive me to go do, like get coffee or go out to eat. 


 

Assignment 2 Breanna Bradley

In the last year I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee (for the third time), and the Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen, and Amy Ellis Nutt. I started the Harry Potter series because Erica, my best friend, loves them and really wanted me to read them, they are great books that i would encourage everyone to read. After the AP Seminar exam we read The Great Gatsby as a class, this is easily one of my favorite books. I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the third time, (once in eighth grade, and once in freshman year are the first two time I read it), this is a classic and also one of my favorite books. the Teenage Brain was assigned to read over the summer, and even though i found it interesting I don't know that I would recommend it.

assignment one Breanna Bradley

My name is Breanna, I have three brothers, three dogs and a cat. My favorite T.V. shows are The Office, Parks and Recreation, Star Trek Enterprise, and House. I like listening to any kind of music. My favorite song is probably Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers. My favorite game is Tomb Raider, I also like Injustice 2 and Battlefield. This year I would like to get straight A's and pass my AP exams, I’m in five AP classes, AP Biology is my AP elective. Over the summer I get a job in Michigan, the most meaningful part of my summer, was my grandfather teaching me to drive, because we are both very busy, but he still made time to help me. If I could have any super power it would be to talk to animals because dogs are amazing. I want to major in zoology at Michigan State.

Assignment 4--Eli Wrinn

This question is one that I have considered for a very long time. In fact, the feeling I probably despise most is feeling as if I have been fed ideas that are predetermined by some other group intending to benefit from it. Now you may think that because of this, I may be some sort of conspiracy theorist cynic who can be really annoying. However, I try to avoid this as well because thinking like a cynic is as inaccurate as an easily fooled, uneducated, mass consumer. Anything of this nature is a spectrum, the middle of which contains the most truthful or enlightening characteristics. However, I find the modern citizen more on the side of the spectrum of the corporate fool than the conspiracy theorist. Therefore, currently, more questions about our notions taken for granted need to be raised than the ones we question to be antagonistic or narcissistic. One area I question greatly is how much corporate advertisements have affected our daily notions, my parents have subscribed to many of these, and sometimes look to me to help clarify the truth. For example, my mom always believed that milk was very important (and still mostly does) until I found that it's health benefits have been mostly fabricated by the dairy industry's advertising through their funding of "studies" showing that it is necessary to one's everyday diet. Also, she subscribed to buying "low-fat" foodstuffs until I enlightened her to the fact that fat is a scapegoat made by the sugar industry to hide the fact that sugar is the real culprit for obesity and other health detriments. These are some food examples, however there are many others. Another is that the government could do our taxes for us except that big companies such as Turbo Tax lobby them to require citizens to do them, and therefore paying the service to do their taxes for them. I urged my mom to stop using Tax Act, however I realized that she alone could not spark a revolution. If I had time to elaborate on all of these misconceptions, I would. I also see a lot of misconceptions similar to these stem from religion, and I try avoid falling victim to these as well. If people try to paint me as a cynic, (mainly my frustrated parents) I restate the point of cynicism being a spectrum made earlier and point out that there is middle ground between being a "sheep" and a jaded skeptic, and I reinforce where she stands on the spectrum. I also point out that she is making a slippery slope argument about my credibility.

Assignment 8: Anne Nombe

Fears: Failure, Humiliation

Annoyances: People with no manners

Accomplishments: Good grades & AP test scores, awards for things

Confusions: Art

Sorrows: Death, poverty, people in unfortunate conditions

Dreams: Creating a clinic for minorities, joining Doctors Without Borders, finding peace in myself

Idiosyncrasies: OCD

Risks: I'm not a rebel sorry

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: Laptop

Problems: Managing stress, getting motivated, sticking with a long-term plan

You ever feel like no matter how many things you get done, there's always something to worry about? Like even if you finish all your assignments on time, there's something looming in the background that's not immediately an issue, but bugs you anyway.

That's how I feel constantly, and I'm not sure if I just love to stress myself out or I'm doing too many things at once. I'll be real - at one time I'm sure I thought I could do everything. I thought I could simultaneously be a writer, a singer, a viola player, a doctor, a dancer, a teacher, and the list goes on and on and on. Right now I'm only managing to be a student and a viola player, but that's hectic in and of itself.

But I want to learn how to deal with it. I need to learn how to get over it. I know I'm not the only person in the world who has stress, and that mine certainly isn't as great as some people's. The thought stops me from complaining as much.

Sometimes, it's better to stop whining and just take things into your own hands.

Assignment 7: Anne Nombe

I'm terrified of college. I know that's not something most high schoolers would say, and especially not Academy students, but I'll go ahead and put it out there. I'm afraid because this is what will shape me into a career I'll do (presumably) for the rest of my life. I understand that "there are other chances" and if I don't choose a major that interests me I can "always switch," but with a family that's pressuring me to go into an occupation I don't feel any passion for, I'm not so sure. 

What I dread is the "you should have listened to us." If I go with what I want to do and end up failing, I've no doubt my parents would explain that they were right and I should've just followed what they said to me before. 

Despite this, I'm excited beyond words to get a taste of independence. What I want in my college experience is to learn how to be my own person. I don't want my parents or anyone else to dictate my life—I want to shape it myself. I want a college environment that makes me proud of my major. I don't care for super fancy ivy leagues (believe me, that dream died a long time ago) but I do want to go to a respectable college that can help me to grow academically and individually. If I can find all of those things in a college, plus some money for tuition, that would be enough.