Can't believe we already got our first report cards.. Blows my mind.
Crime & Punishment: Part 1
I really like the parallelism Dostoevsky uses in the contrast between the city Raskolnikov lives in and his mind itself. Having the similarity makes it easier to understand Raskolvikov's actions, and almost justifies them. It's not the easiest novel I've ever read, but it challenges my thought process and gets me thinking as I'm reading it. I'm interested in where the books going to go from the murder, since usually a big action such as a murder happens at the end of a story. I like that the climax is so early in the book.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Week 9, June 19th, 2010
Alexander. Uracco. Nightly DEVO time. La Union. Brayan. Evan. Zona Guerra. Edwin. Chicken and rice and corn tortillas. Every night. "Desayuno tipico." Every morning. The daily rain shower. Alvin and Josue. Cristian. Honduras.
I can still remember the feeling in my stomach of anxiety, nerves, and excitement as we got on the bus and headed to the airport. I can remember the growing feeling of chaos as we got on our first, second, third, and fourth planes and crept closer and closer to the unknown. I remember seeing the blue water and palm trees of the touristy Roatan, and how it was quickly replaced with poverty- small, beat up houses, children playing barefoot in the streets, and women walking along dirt roads gathering food. I can remember the love I saw in the kids' eyes when we pulled up to the first church and began setting up our medical clinics. I can remember the frustration of not being able to understand the children who spoke too fast, and that one kid in each village who understood my frustration and slowly pointed out what they were saying. I remember the joy on the boys faces when they learned the rules to ultimate, the light shining in the girls eyes when we pulled out bracelets, and the excitement in the toddlers smiles when we began making balloon animals. I can remember it all so clearly, but memory isn't enough. Memory doesn't satisfy your desires to be back once again, and it sure as heck doesn't satisfy His call for you to be there. My youth pastor told me the meeting for this years trip will be next month, and my stomach lurched with that same feeling- anxiety, nerves, excitement. He will call, and I will answer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
I can still remember the feeling in my stomach of anxiety, nerves, and excitement as we got on the bus and headed to the airport. I can remember the growing feeling of chaos as we got on our first, second, third, and fourth planes and crept closer and closer to the unknown. I remember seeing the blue water and palm trees of the touristy Roatan, and how it was quickly replaced with poverty- small, beat up houses, children playing barefoot in the streets, and women walking along dirt roads gathering food. I can remember the love I saw in the kids' eyes when we pulled up to the first church and began setting up our medical clinics. I can remember the frustration of not being able to understand the children who spoke too fast, and that one kid in each village who understood my frustration and slowly pointed out what they were saying. I remember the joy on the boys faces when they learned the rules to ultimate, the light shining in the girls eyes when we pulled out bracelets, and the excitement in the toddlers smiles when we began making balloon animals. I can remember it all so clearly, but memory isn't enough. Memory doesn't satisfy your desires to be back once again, and it sure as heck doesn't satisfy His call for you to be there. My youth pastor told me the meeting for this years trip will be next month, and my stomach lurched with that same feeling- anxiety, nerves, excitement. He will call, and I will answer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Week 8, Can you believe it?
With being off Monday and not going to any classes today, I don't really have much English to sit and blog about for the week. But already ordering caps, gowns, and graduation announcements? GRADUATION?! I can't believe it. Each week seems to be crawling by, but as a whole the year is going by quite rapidly. We're already nearing the end of the first nine weeks! This is all too surreal. I don't think I've quite accepted it yet, but I'm slowly starting to realize how fast it's passing, and what each day means. I wish every day would slow down so I could look around me and see all the little things I've never noticed before; the way the halls look, all the faces around me, how many teachers I actually don't know. It's just crazy.
How is everybody's outside reading coming along?
How is everybody's outside reading coming along?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Week 7, For as much of a pain as they are...
For as much of a pain as they are, I really think the practice tests and all the practice essays are really going to help when it comes time for the AP test. I definitely thought the essay with the open ended question was a lot easier than the two having to do with certain excerpts. I know Mrs. Ramirez said her students said the AP Lit test was easier than the AP Language, but the practice tests seem pretty difficult. I'm glad we're starting them this early in the year.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Week 6; Autism Speaks
I wrote this as a part of one of my college essays, so I thought I'd share!
Today, an estimated one out of every three hundred children is diagnosed with Autism. Autism is becoming more common than childhood cancer, and researches still do not know what causes it. Though there are some theories, scientists have not come up with a set cause, making it difficult to treat. The bigger problem, however, is the Autism awareness in today's society. People are uneducated on the disorder and do not know what symptoms to look for in Autistic kids. Teachers, peers, parents; I believe if more people knew how to react to these children, both the lives on the children and the parents would be less lonely, stressful, and frustrating.
I've seen many people not know how to react to Autistic children; if more of society understood Autism and how it affects the children diagnosed with it, a person walking through the grocery store would see a child throwing a fit on the ground and not automatically assume it was a bad discipline job on the
parent's side. If more people understood, an adult might actually walk up to a kid with Autism and be able to attempt to communicate with them, instead of walking away because they were afraid or didn't know how to act. People need to understand these kids are affectionate and loving beyond imagination, but they can't communicate it. They struggle with instigating conversation, building relationships, and responding appropriately to the outside world. This causes them to become very internal, and they get uncomfortable outside of their "bubble." The problem is, Autistic children's biggest problem is figuring out how to socialize, but people are so afraid to communicate with them that socializing is the one thing they don't receive enough of.
I've coached gymnastics for almost five years now, and my boss has her PhD in special education. I've seen more autistic kids come through our gym than I could possibly imagine, and each one of them brightens my life a little more. Their affection and compassion is beyond explanation, and their smiles could light up a room. Seeing other's inability to communicate and love these kids drives me up the walls, and I love spreading Autism awareness. There's so many places to begin, and so many different directions to go from there. It's easy to ignore; but why would you want to? Autistic children are such blessings. They're a challenge, but the most rewarding challenge I've ever come across.
Today, an estimated one out of every three hundred children is diagnosed with Autism. Autism is becoming more common than childhood cancer, and researches still do not know what causes it. Though there are some theories, scientists have not come up with a set cause, making it difficult to treat. The bigger problem, however, is the Autism awareness in today's society. People are uneducated on the disorder and do not know what symptoms to look for in Autistic kids. Teachers, peers, parents; I believe if more people knew how to react to these children, both the lives on the children and the parents would be less lonely, stressful, and frustrating.
I've seen many people not know how to react to Autistic children; if more of society understood Autism and how it affects the children diagnosed with it, a person walking through the grocery store would see a child throwing a fit on the ground and not automatically assume it was a bad discipline job on the
parent's side. If more people understood, an adult might actually walk up to a kid with Autism and be able to attempt to communicate with them, instead of walking away because they were afraid or didn't know how to act. People need to understand these kids are affectionate and loving beyond imagination, but they can't communicate it. They struggle with instigating conversation, building relationships, and responding appropriately to the outside world. This causes them to become very internal, and they get uncomfortable outside of their "bubble." The problem is, Autistic children's biggest problem is figuring out how to socialize, but people are so afraid to communicate with them that socializing is the one thing they don't receive enough of.
I've coached gymnastics for almost five years now, and my boss has her PhD in special education. I've seen more autistic kids come through our gym than I could possibly imagine, and each one of them brightens my life a little more. Their affection and compassion is beyond explanation, and their smiles could light up a room. Seeing other's inability to communicate and love these kids drives me up the walls, and I love spreading Autism awareness. There's so many places to begin, and so many different directions to go from there. It's easy to ignore; but why would you want to? Autistic children are such blessings. They're a challenge, but the most rewarding challenge I've ever come across.
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