5th Hour 19-20 Language and Composition
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
assingment #26 - yearlong review - Buddy Goodwin
One piece of advice I would have for the future is that whenever the class is discussing essays I would maybe try incorporating a fun random way to chose people to talk so that everyone is "forced" to talk about the essays so that one, cole and emma aren't the only ones talking on each essay and two, it would keep everyone engaged and force those who might have good ideas but are a little shy.
assignment #24 - Summer plans - Buddy Goodwin
Assignment #23 - Perfect Playlist - Buddy Goodwin
Song 1: Levels by Avicii. This legendary song, produced by the late Tim Bergling, is an electrifying song that is perfect in providing extra energy which allows you to get a better workout. While this song only uses like 10 words the beat is amazing and upbeat which makes it a perfect song for this playlist.
Song 2: Hot by Young Thug Featuring. While this is not the most appropriate song it also has a truly electrifying and uptempo beat. It also uniquely uses heavy breathing in the song which is kind of relatable when I am working out
Song 3: Beliver by Imagine dragons. Imagine dragons has so many great songs and this is definitely one of them. The reason I would choose this for a wall ball session is because the lyrics go along well. for example "second things second don't you tell m2e what you think that I can be I the one at my sail I'm the master of my fate"
Song 4: You make me feel by cobra starship. The lyrics to this song is not the best but the beat is great. It was made back in 2011 when pop was at its prime
Song 5: Legend by The Score. This is probably the most appropriate song on this list. It is an electrifying song but the lyrics also go great with a wall ball session. For example "BANG BANG, BANG BANG, BANG BANG wont stop till were legends"
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Assignment #26 -William Webb
One of my favorite things about this class was the speech that we did for our final in first semester. I thought this speech was a great way for us to express ourselves. It gave us an opportunity to talk about something that we found interest in. It also forced people to come out of their shells. Having to stand up in-front of the class and recite a memorized speech was challenging but pushed us in a good way.
Even though we did not end up needing to practice for the multiple choice section of the AP test, I felt that I would not have been prepared for it. During the year I think something we should have done more of was multiple choices practice tests. We focused a lot on writing papers, which was helpful, but splitting up some of the time to practice multiple choice would have made me feel more prepared.
Another thing I would have liked to do more of during the year is more of the small group discussions. When we were in a small group it was easier to get more feedback on the paper. I felt more comfortable talking with a small group of people rather then in large group discussions.
Assignment #24 -William Webb
Assignment #23 -William Webb
I chose this song due to the fact that it is my most favorite song of all time. The hidden meaning within the song speaks on another level to me. It was also my mothers favorite song which leaves even greater meaning behind it.
2. Let's stay together -Al Green
I chose this song because ever sense I could remember it was the only song I had downloaded on my iPod. Forcing me to listen to it on repeat for hours. And still hasn't got old yet.
3. It Was a Good Day -Ice Cube
Although this song differs from the rest it has a certain vibe unmatchable by any other song produced in the history of music.
4. Walking On a Dream -Empire of the Sun
This song is fairly new but has helped me succeed in the weight lifting world. It's a long story but I have made PR's to this song numerous times. It helps me relax and focus on the goal at hand.
5. Don't You -Simple Minds
First time I heard this song was in Breakfast Club and sense then it has remained as one of most favorite songs of all time
Thursday, May 28, 2020
assignment #26 - lily gardner: (and now i find) now i find i've changed my mind, i've opened up the doors
Things I appreciated in class: socratic seminars (reading, discussion); writing many many many blog posts; a feeling of comfort; honesty from my teacher; practicing, a lot; writing a speech; making a movie; assignments that did not feel inherently related by were interesting nonetheless; anytime we read; flouting henry clay’s prescribed grading system; homework? who is she?
Things I didn’t appreciate so much: watching a webinar on leadership skills and development; where are the books? how can we learn to write if we do not read?; grading essays for days on end as an entire class; discovering that there are units? ap classroom videos felt radically different from class
I do not pretend to understand the intricacies of teacher pedagogy or claim to be a superb English teacher, but I think a fundamental component of any language based class should be reading. I’m not calling for a class wide analysis of Anna Karenina in the dead of winter, as I expect no one to read Russian literature at the height of Kentucky’s “great grey,” but perhaps more than a few articles for a socratic seminar would be nice. I just don’t understand how anyone can claim to be a good writer or understand the world and analyze it and think about what Abigail Adams wrote to her son if no one has Amy Tan or Shakespeare or Virginia Woolfe. How can we fully understand Ghandi’s quest for liberation without reading the unsanitized writings of Martin Luther King Jr. in tandem with romanticized depictions of colonization (Out of Africa)? Otherwise, we’re all going to think like Jeanine Cummins and write books about things we can’t understand and shouldn’t propagate. I love that this class is built upon foundations of relationships, and reading is the key to empathy in a world of ignorant white people that is increasingly divided. My schooling thus far has lacked any preparation for interaction with the world or guidance to navigate it or even an opportunity to think critically about what is happening right now, perhaps this is a start. And if we’re all going to be sitting at home next year, the least we can do is pick up a book or read an article.
Assignment 26: help!-Emma Lauritzen
- It would have been cool to have feedback on the first-semester final
- I was still somewhat confused with the scoring guide by the end of the year
- I wished we could have done more inner-outer circle discussions
- Small-group peer reviews could have been cool
- I wished we would have had more feedback on our essays
Assignment 24: chapter three of four- Emma Lauritzen
Assignment #23: Emma Lauritzen- the perfect playlist for a warm summer day in a field
I chose this song because its a style of music I love and its a song that tells story. It reminds me of Tyler Childers. I put it first because it is the longest of the songs on my playlist and is a perfect mix of upbeat and folk and mixes well with the other songs because of this.
2. She's Not There (The Zombies)
I chose this song because it has the same vibes as house of the rising sun, which is my all time favorite song. I really like the vibes in this song and I put it second because its really chill.
3. Mary Janes Last Dance (Tom Petty)
I chose this song because it is my favorite song by Tom Petty, and after he died I started listening to it more. It is third because the color of the song is the same as the color for the number three.
4. House of the Rising Sun (The animals)
This is my favorite song of all time, which is why I put it near the middle of the playlist so that I can look forward to it.
5. Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
This song is another jam, and it puts me in a really good mood no matter the setting. It is the ideal song for laying in a field, and therefore it should be in the middle.
6. Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf)
This is a great song, but not as memorable or exciting as the other songs. It reminds me of Cheech and Chong, therefore it goes sixth
7. I hoped I'm stoned when jesus takes me home (Charli Worsham)
This is literally the perfect song for laying in a field. The vibes of this song are immaculate. I got to see it performed live in a field over the summer at railbird.
8. Buttercup (hippocampus)
This is just a fun song to listen too but is also not as exciting as the other songs and therefore it goes eighth.
9. Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac)
This is the perfect song to finish a show before the encore. Fleetwood Mac makes me feel like I am a hippie, who eats fruit a lot and picks flowers. This song is also perfect for this playlist
10. Take it Easy (The eagels)
This is the perfect encore song and it pulls the whole playlist together nicely. I like this song because I remember listening to it with my dad growing up and it makes me happy.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48oxMZDW7itEHWuOa1GSLv?si=v0_oOcLVRPKo-CcNXFMCFQ <---- This is the link
assignment #23 - lily gardner: sunday dinner scaries
Sunday Dinner, not dinner on a Sunday, is an inherently special thing. It is a final opportunity for freedom, shrouded in the reality of the Sunday scaries and, in my case, impending homework. I have discovered, however, that if I cycle through the many emotions of a Sunday evening through a solitary playlist as I mince garlic and throw it into hot oil, the pain is eased ever so slightly. Here is that playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3EpiIAlnSZe3LyuRMFBBkV?si=TvEDA2tkQHykZ9wdVozGVw.
“El Cuarto de Tula,” Buena Vista Social Club - When I was younger, my mother made cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings as she listened to folk music. On Sundays, I listen to Buena Vista Social Club and pretend I am back in Cuba as I make pancakes, which I understand are not quintessentially Cuban. It is how I survive the winter. It feels only appropriate to begin this playlist with the final feelings of joy that come on a Sunday morning, the only morning I ever wake up feeling truly rested.
“Casio,” Jungle - I like the breeziness of Melissa Young’s voice as she sings about how she doesn’t care that her boyfriend is unhappy during the chorus of this song. Apparently, For Ever (album) is intended to sound like “a post apocalyptic radio station playing break up songs.” I simply like the neo-funk whisperings of this song, and how it lets me down gently from my bolero high. I saw this song live, and I like the remember that day on Sunday evenings when I am anywhere except a bar in Nashville.
“Barefoot in the Park,” James Blake + ROSALIA - I adore ROSALIA and James Blake as individuals, and listen to the former every single day. I have never seen the film of this same name, but my understanding is that it is about a couple in which the mans lacks spontaneity and the woman has an overabundance of it. I like this song. I think about my Monday during it. It is like the time warp in Interstellar and I emerge intellectually cognizant of the fact that Monday is coming yet believing in God enough to think that it won’t arrive quite yet.
“Monday, Monday,” The Mamas and the Papas - As the title suggests, this is a song bemoaning Mondays. I participate in this bemoaning. Then I get over it. Because, “every other day of the week is fine, yeah,” so just have to suck it up. I am conflicted about whether I can continue to listen to The Mamas and the Papas after hearing that John Phillips had a relationship with his daughter.
“Ottoman,” Vampire Weekend - Despite the upbeat tune, this entire song is about the impending failure of a relationship, with sweeping comparisons to famous empires of the past, notably, the Ottoman. Ezra Koenig’s voice brings me joy, so does the memory of this song, which I saw live. Again, a good memory to evoke on a Sunday evening, and one that helps lift me from the Sunday scaries induced by the two previous songs. It was the final song at their concert in Cincinnati, and balloons were tossed into the audience and people were screaming and I cried ten feet away from greatness. Sometimes I pause the playlist here, as I am again crying - of happiness, surprise! Who would have thought on a Sunday?
“Forever,” HAIM - These final songs are not quite so interesting. I don’t often listen to dance pop except when I do Ryan Heffington workouts on the porch of my grandmother’s house at 4 PM on Thursdays. But on Sunday evenings, they’re just the ticket. This song is particularly funky because it has drum beats styled by reggae as three Jewish girls sing. I feel like I’m a part of the family.
“I Wanna Be Your Lover,” Prince - Who doesn’t want to end their cooking listening to Prince? An icon. No explanation necessary.
“All My Friends are Falling in Love,” The Vaccines - Ok, admittedly, this is far from dance pop. But it achieves a very similar purpose, and feels like a good English teen movie in which high school is far from hell and something that can be looked forward to. As you can see, we’ve gotten to a stage of hyped up delusion.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
emanuelle sippy—assignment 26—what's a synonym for "prompts" ?????
emanuelle sippy—assignment 25—whether told through sign language interpreters or in thick-accents
Assignment #26- Sam Chavez- Dang this is the last one?
This is pretty broad now isn’t it- assignment 25- Sam Chavez
Junior year: meh-Assignment #24- Sam Chavez
assignment #26 - here ya go - taylor galavotti
reviewing the benchmarks at the beginning of each timed writing was helpful in working towards what AP was looking for but i think the grading of essays slowly became subjective to the reader. as in "if i liked this essay, it gets a 6," or "this essay was boring because it was so thorough so i'm giving it less points." i'm not quite sure how that can be combatted except using the rubric to back up everything you say in class, especially the grading.
apart from that, i found many activities to be helpful in class, especially the socratic seminars and the Writing with Style book. you should definitely continue those into the next year.
at the risk of sounding like a brown-nosing suck up, thank you again. your class was very helpful for me in developing my style and voice outside of the "norm" of rhetorical analysis essay and the creative outlets you provided were greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
assignment 26 - year in review - cole knight
On the positive side, I genuinely want to say thank you to Mr. Logsdon for making me enjoy writing for the first time since elementary school. It got kind of tiring writing essays every few weeks, but the approach taken to writing in class, which was extremely challenging (not using no-no words), high-stakes (I don't want the class to read my terrible essay), and interesting (finding a new way to twist the prompt into something beyond a 5-point-3). I didn't enter this class liking to write, but I'm leaving with a genuine desire to continue improving my skills, and I think the simple, yet effective approach to this class is the primary reason why.
Finally, I know I was totally insufferable in this class (especially, I hope/think, during first semester), and I want to thank Mr. Logsdon for putting up with my pseudo-intellectual hot takes and not completely losing his mind every time I raised my hand to make some half-baked criticism of a perfectly fine essay.
Assignment #26- Ellis Padgett- Last One
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Blog Post 26: Annie Bohannon "Wrapping it Up"
Blog Post 23: Annie Bohannon "Sleep Playlist"
Blog Post 24: Annie Bohannon "Senior Year!!!"
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Haley Noehren - Assignment #26 - the end
One thing that I do think could be improved on is maybe a more in-depth explanation of rhetorical strategies. I feel like the ones I pick are always basic and don't have a lot of meaning or importance in the analysis so I think it would help to explore that more in-depth. Oh, and I'm still a bit confused about what SPACE CAT is or does or how to use it.
In summary, I think timed writings worked the best. I can definitely see how my writing has improved and hopefully I did well on the AP exam (although I misspelt my authors name in three different ways. whoops.)
Assignment #26- Miller Luhan- Our Class
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Assignment #26 - Irene Kim - Last One :(
assingment #24 - dude i don't know - taylor galavotti
this year was filled with changes in a word. my best friend moved to north carolina. i missed a whole lot of school. college became more imminent than ever. i i started listening to one direction. i made new friends. i kept old ones.
my mom just told me that i look like i'm about to fall asleep and and then i danced around my kitchen to harry styles by myself. that was kind of the entire vibe of junior year. working hard until the last possible second then having the most fun of my entire life. i pulled more all-nighters this year than all of my previous years combined. i went to universal studios with two of my best friends and without my mom. my resume doubled in size and my afternoons were consistently filled with extra-curriculars. i had the time of my life in washington, dc at a model un conference. it's that dichotomy that defined my junior year.
i also learned SO much. like calculus. i now know what a differential equation is. i understand the question that cady was asked at the mathlete tournament. i'm that level of educated now. and physics never seemed like a real class. but now i kind of understand.
junior year has had a lot of ups and downs to sum it up. but i wouldn't trade it for anything.
Assignment #24 - Irene Kim - Future
For the summer, I plan to spend a lot of time with family, trying to find some fun things to do at home, and work on my college applications. I'm really excited to attend GSP this summer--hopefully it doesn't get cancelled! Regarding senior year, I would really like to come back to school in person. Health and safety come first without a doubt, but if it is safe, it would be nice to see friends again and sit in class in person. Coming out of quarantine, I think we'll all learn to be grateful for little things like this that we took for granted before! I'm also super excited to continue HeForShe Club with Hannah, Megan and Araya. Lots of new prospects for the coming year!
Assignments #26- Help for Mr. Logsdon- Benjamin Webster
Assignment #26 - Wes Davis - Feedback
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Assignment 26- Sneha Amrit The End of The Year
I’m honestly having trouble remembering what in person class was like and they kind of concerns me, however there are some major this I remember. While the weekly vocab quizzes didn’t usually go well for me I felt like they really helped me on the reading section of the ACT, so I think that was good. I also think that taking the multiple choice tests were good since otherwise I don’t know if I’d practice, however since the ap tests changed we won’t know how much it helped. The practice of the essays helped me a lot, I think grading the essays in class helped me a lot too because I was able to hear what other people thought about essays and it made me really know the rubric. I liked the Socratic seminars but I didn’t like how they were so close together I feel like it would be better if you did one a month so that it would be more spread out and people would be able to reflect more.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Assignment 24: this made me sad :/ - Hannah Qazi
Assignment 23: For the dancing queens stuck in quarantine - Hannah Qazi
1. Yeah Right - Joji
I'm not gonna lie, I stole this song from my brother because we low-key have the same taste in music despite our nine year age difference, but we'll never admit that to each other. If I had to choose one song, and one song only for this playlist - this would be it because it fits the vibe perfectly. It's kind of depressing and just sad, but it's a good sad..I think? (also sorry for the explicit language)
2. Lost - Frank Ocean (but slowed and reverbed)
I don't think the slowed version is actually on spotify, but if you look it up on youtube you'll find it. The original is more than good enough, but there's something about slowed and reverbed versions of songs that make them hit different - almost as if they're a new song. I'm also beginning to realize that all of these songs are just plain sad, but for some reason they're oddly calming, kind of like this quarantine.
3. Dark Red - Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy's music always makes feel like I'm not cool enough to listen to it, but like it's too good to not. This song definitely isn't as sad as some of the others on this playlist, but it still fits. I'm surprised this still hasn't been used in some A24 film, but it always makes me feel like I'm in one when I listen to it.
4. All For Us - Labyrinth & Zendaya
I haven't even seen Euphoria (I've heard it's really intense so I don't think I'd be into it) but after just watching the trailer for it I became obSessed with this song - like i listened to it for a straight hour. This song is kind of haunting but also makes you feel like you're having a really bad trip.
5. 13 Beaches (slowed and reverbed of course) - Lana Del Rey
Everyone thought I was weird for listening to Lana in like the fourth grade and I'm kind of annoyed of how mainstream she's become, but her music (especially her demos she REFUSES to release) always make me think she's actually a siren. I once heard she was literally drinking a milkshake while performing and people were so entranced they didn't even realize.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Assignment #24- Ezra Mulalic
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Assignment 23- The Bosnian Vibe Song- Ezra Mulalic
A 1980's Bosnian classic that is sure you get you singing and dancing. Even if you don't understand what they are saying the slightest, you can't seem to stop yourself from enjoying it. Whenever I play this song around my parents they always seem to be a little happier. This song is a must have in an Bosnian playlist.
2. "Suada" by Plavi Orkestar
This song is about a girl named Suada, and how she is everything to this man. This is like a love song to her and the artist is expressing the amount of love he has for her. Plavi Orkestar is a pretty famous bang in Bosnia, and this song became a hit there.
3. "Volio BiH" by Dubioza kolektiv
This song is about a band group expressing what they would like to change. Volio means I would like to and some things they say is that they want Ronaldo, a professional soccer play, to play for Bosnia so they can be better at soccer because they aren't the greatest, and how they would like the show Tom and Jerry back in Bosnia. It is a little goofy song and very fun to listen to.
4. "Crni Leptir" by Yu Grupa
Crni Leptir is a really old classic that practically every one in Bosnia knows. The title means black butterfly and it is a slow and almost romantic song. The singer says that he once used to be a butterfly but the light made him lose his wings so he warns the others to go into the night. The song is fantastic and I would recommend it to everyone.
5. "Zivejla Bosna" by Mahir Burekovic
Zivejla Bosna means live Bosnia, and it is a wartime song. It is a patriotic song for Bosnians and it embraces faith and hope. The song is very beautiful and I absolutely love it. I could practically listen to this song all day non stop, and I really wish you listen to it.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
assignment #23 - "i've been doing homework for more than 4 hours and i think my brain is going to leak out of my ears" playlist- taylor galavotti
it's iconic first of all, so it deserves to be at the top of the list. i am physically unable to restrain myself whenever this song comes on. it's the epiphany of headbanger rock anthem that everyone and their pet hamster should listen to. i also use this song as a dance break/exercise to get my mind off of whatever homework i've procrastinated doing for the past 3 and 1/2 hours. it's the perfect song to begin my anti-brain leak sesh.
2. "rat a tat" - fall out boy
first off, don't judge. fall out boy is fantastic. next up on the anti-brain leak playlist for me has to be a song i can scream all the lyrics to so i can get all the excess words out of my brain. it's like induced word vomit. kinda gross but you get the point. this song in particular is fantastic to sing out loud/perform at madison square gardens.
3. "shake it out" - doll skin
as the name implies, this is the best song to shake it out. stresses, anxieties, the impending carpal-tunnel from all the typing. it's a softer cover of the original but still carries the same empowering message that you can do this and it'll be okay no matter what demons may pop up. it suits the very middle of the playlist because it transitions from the harder, edgier vibes to more concentrated, chiller vibes.
4. "redwood tree" - jamie drake
ok first off, this song is beautiful. as soon as it comes on, it feels like you've been transported into that one scene in sleeping beauty when aurora is dancing in the woods with no shoes on. i find the song very soothing and "vibe-y" for lack of a better term. it clears out the last of the word vomit and gently transitions into the last song on my anti-brain leak playlist.
5. "homecoming" - green day
now, you might be asking, "taylor you said this was to stop brain leakage so you could get back to work asap, but you ended your playlist with a song that is 9 MINUTES LONG!?!?" the truth is, dearest reader, this song takes you on one last whirlwind of emotions that clears out your brain one last time before you sit down to begin again. compare it to your last day at the theme park. you're going to eventually leave, you know that, but you want to spend as much time there as you can and experience all the rides one last time. the songs before homecoming are all represented in some way in homecoming. nice little system i've set up here. you've got the thrilling rock energy of kiwi right in the beginning. the scream lyrics energy of rat a tat in the 6th stanza of the song (yes i counted). the empowerment of shake it out in the chorus of the song. and finally the soothing waterfall that is redwood tree in the outro. it's the perfect closing to this anti-brain leak playlist. also it's my all-time favorite song. added bonus.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Assignment #25- Just a hungry, loyal dog- Benjamin Webster
If a dog wants something, it will do its best to get it whether that be a car or its own tail. It applies back to my ambitions and aspirations. I want to get faster in the pool and I do what it takes to accomplish it. My three 110% awards from two different swim teams is proof of it. Dogs are also extremely flexible. I go with the flow and usually have a high degree of adaptability to a new situation. I can be the alpha of the pack or gladly follow another strong leader. This doesn't stop me from being independent. I'm also able to be a lone wolf and take care of myself.
I don't have the urge to bark at other people or slobber or shed everywhere. The personality of a dog is something I think people strive for. Everyone wants to be likable, loyal, persistent, confident, strong and adaptable. Although I'm far from perfect as dogs are, I'll always try to be the best version of myself.
paradox prayer—assignment 24—emanuelle sippy
this year was insane. the best way i can describe it is high highs, low lows, in between in-betweens.
actually, that's not the best way. borrowing this phrase from a friend, but it's been a "paradox prayer."
here are some people shared when she offered that prompt on a zoom recently:
being together // being alone
to be alive at this time is terrifying // to be alive at this time is inspiring
this too shall pass // this will have lasting impacts
we are safe // we are vulnerable
this is a crisis // this is an opportunity
it is ok to be happy // it is ok to be sad
i am terrified // i am hopeful
i am strong // i need help
i am doing // i am still
it is time for vigilance // it is time for ease
it is too much to hold // my heart has infinite capacity
as i am separated from all i am connected to all
of course, this is the perfect prompt for this moment in time vis a vis the pandemic but upon writing this, i'm thinking it's also the perfect prompt for this moment vis a vis an end and a beginning.
this year has been high highs // low lows. this year has been lazy // productive, fun // miserable, tired // energized, absent // running late, missing // turned in, asleep // barely awake. the paradoxes abound. but i wonder too, how the similarities do. in many ways this year wasn't all that different (minus the rona) from sophomore or freshWOmen year. of course, i'm different. of course, my friends are different. of course, my ideas and desires and work are different. but when i think about the year as a whole, it isn't all that different.
i want senior year to be. that's it. that's my goal.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
the strange familiar / the familiar strange—assignment 23—emanuelle sippy
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sco2z8JrdSnSLiOSVnsHb?si=LI813VzGSIeWwPOR-tF-uQ
matanot ktanot—rami kleinstein
the first song i chose for this playlist is one a crazy hebrew teacher introduced me to in fourth grade, after teaching us about an antisemitic attack in france. i think i remember that hour of that day in that classroom so clearly because it was one of the first times someone was so raw with me about a hate crime & the song, called "small gifts," is basically a love story with shabbat, a day of rest and pause and peace—exactly what we all needed in that moment.
everything looks better (in hindsight)—the wild reeds
sweet FA—peach pit
dogs laying around playing—my bubba
habib galbi—A-WA
being so normal—peach pit
knitting—my bubba
shampoo bottles—peach pit
yedid nefesh—nava tehila
Haley Noehren - assignment #25 - pretty sure this is a simulation
Assignment #23 - Wes Davis - POV: You're a hollywood starlet in the 1950s, and this is your story
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland - You're a Hollywood-hopeful with dreams of a place where the grass is greener, or in this case, the carpet is redder. You're young and innocent. You're ready to put your past life behind you and pursue a life on the screen.
9 to 5 by Dolly Parton - Stardom doesn't happen overnight. Thus, you get a job at the local diner to help pay the bills while you get your foot in the industry. You pocket tips and any extra money to pay for headshots and screen tests with some of the biggest names in the industry. They see something in you, but you're nowhere near the top. You have to keep working your job to support yourself and your dream.
Let Me Be Your Star from SMASH- Screen test and audition rooms are your home. Casting directors and powerful people get to watch you shine. They see hundreds of Hollywood hopefuls every day, however, you shine brighter. You've got potential, you've got star power. You give yourself a new name and embody the powerful person Hollywood needs. You continue to get screen tests, and soon your heart is full of not just hope, but drive. You have proof that you have what it takes, and people can see it too.
Diamonds Are Forever by Sabrina Carpenter - You work one of your final days at the diner. While working, a man calls you over. He's blatantly flaunting his money, sporting a crisp suit and a watch worth more than any property in Hollywood. He's an agent in the business, and he wants to make you a star. Your name will be on marquees across the country, but only if you accept his offer. His "love" will make you richer than he will ever be, he tells you. His money will get you to the top. You accept his offer, but it comes at a price.
I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love to Howl from SMASH - You're getting screen tests left and right. You've left your job at the diner and are making enough money to move to a much bigger apartment closer to the heart of the industry. However, your success hasn't come just from talent and a good agent. You've had to pull strings and spend extra nights at the casting couch. While you're not proud of what you've had to do to get here, it's been done. You're quickly becoming a star.
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Marilyn Monroe - A Hollywood-hopeful is no longer. You've made it! You're a hot commodity and spend your days on set. The life you lead isn't as glamorous as you anticipated, but that's okay with you. As long as the money keeps flowing and your movies keep selling, you're content. You fill your aching heart with diamonds and expensive clothing. You have relationship after relationship and the press eats it up. Off screen, you yearn for the life you used to have. Despite this, you keep your spirits up for the screen that you can't seem to escape.
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse - Not everyone can survive the life of a Hollywood bombshell. You've lost the love of your life to the press. The person you love didn't want the life of a star. You promised you would protect them, but it didn't work. The media tears their life apart. Your lover turns to alcohol, and soon enough you lose them. The jewels and expensive clothing and lifestyle can no longer fill the void in your heart. You stop showing up to set, stop learning lines, and stop working. You fall deep into a depression you can't shake. Your reputation is ruined and your career is over. You've watched your dream come to fruition, and now you're watching it fall apart.
"Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, but fifty cents for your soul." -Marilyn Monroe
Assignment #24 - Wes Davis - Whew, girl...
Assignment #25 - Megan Ewing - No One Really Believes.
My sister changed the way I would see myself for my entire life. She told me I was a fat, ugly, idiot who was worthless and undeserving of love and happiness. I never associated her saying these things as being something wrong with her until she stopped when I was about 13. (She has changed and become a much better, more understanding sister.) I always believed these things were simply true, unassailable facts. I still do, for the most part. I believed I could never have any real friends and still do, even though I have the most amazing friends I could ask for. So, since I had no hope of having any sort of social success, I threw myself into schoolwork, since that was an objective measure of me. A high grade means I have some hope of being worth something. That worked, until middle school, when it didn’t and I just sunk deep into my pit of “I’m alone and depressed and nobody believes me.” But this dismal childhood led me to be in the accelerated cluster at Tates Creek Middle School and led me here, to the Academy and it will lead me to a bright future. It’s shown me that I can grow and I can make the best out of 13 years of misery.
My second story is a bit more specific and happened during my year in a private Christian preschool. I started out at the four-year-old preschool when I was three, so some of the other kids seemed to have problems with me. I remember a conversation with the only two kids in the class who would talk to me when they told me that there was one girl, and she was friends with everyone else and she told them all that if they talked to me, she would kick them out and make sure no one else ever talked to them. I think back on that now and I’m baffled by the ruthlessness of those four-year-olds. Was that preschool in 2007 or was I excommunicated from the 16th century Catholic Church? This experience taught me that people can be horrible to you for no real reason and that I can’t trust others. This may have led me to have trust issues, but I haven’t been betrayed by a friend since a petty thing in second grade, so I guess it’s worked.
My last story is really difficult to tell. My parents don’t know about and only a select few of friends do, but it’s one that my brain keeps revolving back to when I’m spiraling into a mental breakdown. I feel simultaneously ashamed that I don’t talk about it and wholly uncomfortable with sharing it, but here we go, I guess. When I was in 8th grade, I went on a trip to Cincinnati with the band. I was having a good time, I was in a room with people I at least considered close acquaintances and one friend, which was much better than the year before. We were on a tour of the Reds stadium, in a crowded elevator and there was a group of five-ish 7th graders behind me. One of them, I’ll never know which, squeezed my ass. It wasn’t just an accidental brush, it was a full-on squeeze. (I only say that since it’s the first question everyone has asked when I talked about it.) That really shook me up. Then, when I told my only friend that I had there, she was entirely unsupportive and just really wanted to keep having fun and not worry about me and my childish problems. From this, I garnered a new viewpoint on female empowerment and the need for the #MeToo movement.
So there’s three stories that hurt in the moment and hurt to tell but have changed me for the better after living through them. I hope you truly believe all these negative things happened to me for a reason. (Don’t try to contradict that. It’s keeping me sane.)
Assignment #24 - Megan Ewing - Well That Was Actually Quite Bad
assignment 24 - junior year - cole knight
Friday, May 8, 2020
Haley Noehren - Assignment #24 - The ups and downs of junior year
When it comes to successes, I finally got my ACT score where I wanted it to be. After much studying and preparation, I managed to not fail AP physics (we'll see about the AP test though). And how could I not mention my only personality trait - running. I would consider XC season a success - we made it to state and I finally ran a 21 min 5K. Track... well that didn't really happen. I did get to run in one indoor meet, which was amazing and awful at the same time, but I really wish I would have been able to have an outdoor season.
Let me tell you, I failed at parking on the hill. The first day I tried, I got there so late that there was only one spot at the very bottom. Then the next day I though I was early, but nope, late again. Oh yeah, I also tried to parallel park on the hill one day cause I was super late and lets just say that didn't end well. And I can't forget the countless apush reading quizzes I failed.
Lesson learned - don't trust leprechauns. That's it.
I spent a good long while trying to think of risks that I took, and I've come to the realization that I don't take many risks. The biggest risk that I could think of was running a half marathon with only 3 weeks training. Some people make impulse purchases, I make impulse running decisions. I just kinda woke up one day and was like, yeah I wanna run 13 miles. Oh and I had it in my mind that I had to run it in under 2 hours. And so it began. After XC ended I gave myself 3 weeks to train, and then I showed up with my dad to run the half. The second I put my foot past the starting line was filled with regret and realization that insanity must be a common trait in my family. To make matters worse, it was raining. And cold. But I did it. 1 hour and 56 minuets later, I crossed the finish line having cried for 7 miles non consecutively (good thing people couldn't tell if it was rain or tears on my face). And now I'm hooked, and will probably do another, this time without crying.
Mistakes made - trusting a leprechaun
So this summer my family was supposed to go to Germany with my dad for a conference, but that obviously got canceled. My summer plans are kinda up in the air right now. I usually am a counselor at my churches summer camp, but that isn't happening anymore. And if UK doesn't open up then my plans of working with my good friend Gerald the glowing mouse won't happen either.
Senior year I want to be amazing. My goal - be happier. Enjoy life, not just getting good grades. And that's about it.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Assignment #24- Junior year- Benjamin Webster
I don't know what summer has in store but one thing is for sure, I'll have to find a job. I life-guarded last summer and if pools are closed, I'm out of work. I will have to find some way I can swim as well so I can improve my technique.
Junior year is a jumping off point for Senior year for me. I hope it will be my best year yet and I can grow to my full potential.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Assignment 26: Help! I need somebody. Help!
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Assignment #24- Miller Luhan- A Recap
As for lesson learned, I would say I learned a lot in terms of relationships (even though I can't recall being in anything official because there are a lot of steps to actually being someone's girlfriend nowadays), but I did learn from my friend's experiences and grow through her mistakes. I can't pinpoint any specific "risks" taken, I mean there are the illegal ones that I dare not say, but I can say that my parents should drive me home after parties. On the other hand though, I think there is an argument that everything you do is a risk. Every time you wake up in the morning and walk out into the real world, there is a risk being taken in terms of health, safety, and wellbeing (highlighted by the virus)- the key thing in my opinion is to approach each of these risks and opportunities with and open heart and mind- and then learn from the unsuccessful attempts.
This summer... oohhhhh this summer... will be a whole lot different than I had originally expected (obviously this will be the same case for a majority of people), but in a way, the seclusion to home will help me stay motivated and complete those college essays and improve my golf game to a decent point. Overall, as I look back on my junior year I see fun and opportunity. For senior year I hope to continue this path and make the most of what we as a class are given because of the circumstances. Cheers to a good summer and and even better senior year!