Don't Fear, the End is Near

Outside Reading Blog #10

Before I  Die

By: Jenny Downham

Since Tessa is slowly dying now, she tries to think about the things that make Zoey happy. She likes talking about the flat because it always somehow cheers her up. The council has agreed to give her a grant. She'll be able to sway vouchers for paint and wallpaper, she tells Tessa. Zoey gets quite excited and animated describing the mural she plans for her bedroom the tropical fish tiles she wants in her bathroom. Since Zoey had been like a sister to her, it was important that before she left, she made sure that she was happy because that's what she had always done for her. Ever since Tessa become diagnosed with Cancer, Zoey had been there helping her though every step even though she had so many problems of her own to face. I believe that a friend like this is a true friend. I feel that now a days friends, if this was to happen to a good friend of someone, they would just forget them and it's really unfair because people have become so materialistic and forgot all about the humans, feelings and emotions that really matter, because money cannot buy you back the memories you never made. I think that the bond between Tessa and Zoey throughout the whole entire book has represented a friendship that I personally only share with only a few of my friends.

Stuck Under the Blankets

Outside Reading Blog #9

Before I Die

By:Jenny Downhan

Teen cancer units are rare in hospitals, if Tessa and her dad could even think about awareness. The red light outside the studio flips to green and Tessa tells the world of the radio who is listening, all about the awareness the should have about teen cancer. They sound like a dinner party, I guess, as if they went to a ball. But Richard Green is no prince. As he half squats about his chair and puts out a fat hand for them to shake, Cal and Tessa slowly but surely do so. His hand is sweaty, like it needs squeezing out. His lungs wheeze as he sits back down. He stinks of cigarettes which is kinda contradicted by the fact that Tessa is suffering from cancer, because smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer. Since Richard is the talk show host, I think this is really disrespectful on his part because as he allows Tessa to spread the awareness of teen cancer, Richard seems to be causing it even more. Or even so promoting it. But definitley not preventing it, which is what he should be doing. After he tells them to take a seat Tessa begins on the air, recieveing callers from all over of all ages, as Mr. Green continues reeking of the cancer stick he smoked before he came into the studio. I believe this happens too much and too often in our society and it needs to be recgoinzed more, because girls who end up like Tessa, know this very well.

The List Goes On

Outside Reading Blog #8

Before I Die

By:Jenny Downham

As Tessa goes on with her list, she begins to face many problems, such as the fact that many things on the list are going to be very hard to accomplish. While her dad picks up the apple and holds it up to the morning. There are swirls of cream and brown in there that look like the core of a real apple; an impression on pips, blown in by the glassmaker. He spins it slowly in his hand. I've looked at the world through that green glass many times- it looks small and calm. I don't think he should be touching my things though. I think he should be dealing with Cal, who's upstairs yelling up about the aerial coming out of the back of the TV. I also think he should go down and tell Mum that the only reason he's asked her round is because he wants her back. Getting involved in matters of discipline goes against all her principals, so he's hardly looking for advice in that area. He puts down the apple and goes to the bookshelf, runs a finger around the spine of my books, like they're piano keys and he's expecting a tune. He twists his head to look up at the CD rack, picks one out, reads the cover, then puts it back. I really evaluate the way Tessa's dad is invading her space as something that she can't help and something that she has put on her list- to finally stand up for herself. 

Before I Die

Outside Reading Blog #7

Before I Die

By: Jenny Downham

(p.1-55)

Now that I have finished my old book, I have started a new one called Before I Die, which is about a girl named Tessa who has just been diagnosed with cancer. She knows that she is going to die, and she knows there is nothing she can do about it, so she makes a list of 10 things that she wants to do before she dies. So far, Tessa has only accomplished the first thing on her list, which is sex. After that she kind of gave up, but her sister

The Time to Live Life

Outside Reading Blog #6

It's Kind Of a Funny Story

By:Ned Vizzini

(p. 382-444)

As the end part of the book approaches, Craig has the biggest shift. He is discharged from Six North and into the real world. He has decided to switch from Executive Pre Professional because he decided that ever since he had started there, he had been faced with so much stress that he was depressed. He is now going to go to an arts school so that he can thrive to become a professional artist and show the whole world his Brain Maps. His parents and his sister, Sarah, come to take him out of the mental ward and he says goodbye to everyone, makes them their own personal Brain Map, and even gets some of their numbers. Most of them are going off to an adult housing center when they get out and Craig believes that he will eventually run into them out in Manhattan. His roommate, Muqtata finally leaves the room and that is when Craig decides that some day he wants to come back and visit everyone, even try and help them like the guitarist. There is a quote that is the last sentence in the book that states; "So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live". The quote really sums up that to live for real, you have to have a real shift in your life, Craig had been though so many fake shifts in his life until when he left Six North, he experienced the real shift. This book was overall a wonderful book and can teach a lot about the way you can express yourself in diversity and truly live your live, no matter what you have been though. 

Help Through Expression

Outside Reading Blog #5

It's Kind of a Funny Story

By: Ned Vizzini

(p. 304-381)

In Six North, Craig spends his last few days with a routine of participating in activities. At first, Craig has no idea what to participate in, but then the ward gets a visitor. The visitor is a guitarist who allows everyone in Six North to pick an instrument and participate in a song that he is going to sing. During the song, the guitarist points out that Craig is really on beat and that he really seems like a musical and artsy person. This really triggers something for him. Craig decides to draw in his free time. As a young child, Craig always drew maps of Manhattan and then drew pictures of his own cities, places where everything was according to him, this is another Anchor for Craig. When he beings to draw, Ebony walks over and asks him if he's drawing a brain, when really it is a map. He decides to put a head around it and call his new drawing a "Brain Map". He really finds him becoming really expressive through this artistic activity. Overtime, the Brain Maps being to look really professional and Craig finds that this is really a way he can help with his depression by holding himself together with these drawings. This part of the book is really important because it explains the cover of the book. The cover is a bald outline of a head with a map inside of it. This head is Johnny's head, one of the adults in Six North. He draws the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where Johnny spent his time screwing up his life to end up in the ward. He draws Central Park and marks an X on the spot where Johnny would live, in a apartment that would cost probably around $20 million, Bobby's Pad. 

A Big Book of Psych Disorders

Outside Reading Blog #4

It's Kind of a Funny Story

By: Ned Vizzini

(p.228-303)

As Craig begins to warm up more to Six North, he finds that many people here are in for so many different reasons. The diversity really surprises him, but there is one person who sticks out to him. Noelle is a girl who is really attractive but became so sick of people liking her for that reason only that she got rid of her attractiveness by cutting her face repeatedly with scissors. Her and Craig become really close and he learns to see past her looks and actually really likes who she truly is. They have a really awkward communication at first, Noelle would leave him notes to meet her in certain places. Eventually, the meet in "the lower left of the H" every night at 6:55. Noelle had been in Six North for 21 days while Craig for only 4. They are both released on the same day, Thursday and they plan to get to know each other very well up until then. This situation is really east to relate to, because through all the diversity, a person always picks someone out who they see in a different way that everyone else sees them in. I believe that Craig and Noelle really have something going for them. Though most the people in Six North don't see each other after they are discharged, Noelle and Craig click so quickly and create a bond that will be seen even after the mental ward. They become each others Anchors and I look forward to continuing the book and seeing the bond between them flourish even more. 

Phone Calls

Outside Reading Blog #3

It's Kind of a Funny Story

By: Ned Vizzini

(p.155-227)

Now Craig gets into Six North, the mental ward. This is a psychatric ward for both adolescents and adults because the other ward is having construction. The first thing Craig does at the phone is call his voicemail since he doesn't have his cell phone, he has messages from his science teacher, one from Nia and one from Aaron. He decides to only call Nia back, but Aaron is with her anyways. After Craig tells Nia where he is, she tells Aaron and he makes fun of him, which makes Craig extremely mad and he hangs up the phone. As he does, the whole ward is looking at him. Though this was bad for Craig, it triggered many conversations with other people. Ebony, an older woman, introduces herself to Craig and tells her that she's in because she's a teacher who is deemed with the most stress ever. In Six North, Craig makes a lot of friends. A girl who has scarred her face with a pair of scissors, Noelle. Self-elected President Armelio. Bobby and Jimmy who were huge druggies back in the day. And Muqtata, his roommate who still has not introduced himself or gotten out of bed for the 2 days Craig has been there. I think the phone calls that Craig make are really important to being in Six North because he then realizes that no matter what he is still going to face the outside world at some point. As Craig begins to dig himself into the world of Six North, the book gets better and better and harder to put down. 

Checking In

Outside Reading Blog #2

It's Kind of a Funny Story

By: Ned Vizzini

(p.75-151)

During this part of the book, Craig goes through the toughest time so far. After drinking and smoking at one of Aaron's party him and Aaron walk over to the Brooklyn Bridge which is the midway point between their houses. There Craig really plans to come back that night and commit suicide by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, he finds himself worthless. As he gets home he sleeps with his mom in her bed and says goodnight to his whole family, thinking that it will be the last goodbye, but as Craig is walking out the door he sees one of his moms therapy books. He opens it up and flips to the anxiety management section and calls the suicide hotline. Instead of going to the Brooklyn Bridge he finds himself checking himself into Argenon Hospital, only a few blocks away. He arrives and is relived to be alive, calls his mom and then finds out that the hospital is checking him into a mental ward. Craig's therapist comes to see him and Craig assures her that this is the decision he wants to make, he wants to get better. The part when Craig is standing at the Brooklyn Bridge portrays the life of a lot of depressed teens. Craig didn't tell Aaron that he was depressed, neither his plan, so there was nothing that Aaron could to do help him. The fact that many young adults keep this to themselves is really universal now. Craig is now being submitted into the world of a mental ward, for 5 days. I am really excited to read this part of the book and see how this shift is going to help him.

Getting In

Outside Reading Blog #1

It's Kind of a Funny Story

By: Ned Vizzini

(p.1-74)

In the book It's Kind of a Funny Story, Craig is first introduced as the main character. At first he is spending all him time preparing to get into the perfect school (Executive Pre Professional in Manhattan) to go to the perfect school to have the perfect job and a perfect life. Craig finally makes it in and thinks that now that he finally go in, there will be no more stress. But he is wrong, very wrong. With all the pressure that Craig has staying caught up in school, he becomes depressed. Instead of doing all the work he is suppose to be doing to he goes to his friend Aaron's house to "chill" with him and Nia, Aarons girlfriend who Craig secretly has a crush on. He can't eat without throwing up, he can't sleep, he can't focus. The thing's he goes through he calls the "Cycling". The pressure to have a perfect life and be perfect in school is really relatable to as a teenager. Craig faces the challenges that many teens face this generation and deals with in in a way that some teens do too. So far this book is really a real life book and I am looking forward to seeing where Craig goes with all this chaos.

The "Online Flings"

In Anatomy of a Boyfriend, the main character Dominique and the boy she has a crush on, Wes, have been sending many emails back and forth now. Wes invited Dom to a New Years party that his friend is hosting and Dom gladly accepts the invitation. Up until this Amy, Dom's best friend, had been hinting at her that she and Wes could totally have a thing and that Amy knows Wes is single since they run on the same track team and Amy scopes out his relationship status a lot. Dom and Wes barley talk at the party but afterwards have tons of e-mail and IM conversations. I can really relate to this because in out generation most communication is online, and not only that but Dom also gets really excited when her and Wes have these online conversations. Many teenagers these days socialize a lot with people online and can even have exciting conversations that turn into the highlights of their days. The same thing that happens with Dominique and Wes, is a really typical high school fling communication and I really enjoy reading about it.

A Fresh Start

I recently finished the book that I last blogged about (Lime Ricky), so I will do my further blogs on a book I just began this weekend. The book Anatomy of a Boyfriend is a really good book so far and is a great teen read. The author, Daria Snadowsky, introduces us to Dominique who is a high scholar that loves to study the anatomy in a scientific way, but finds herself exploring things physically that she'd read about only in her Grey's Anatomy book. She meets the track star, Wes who falls in love with Dom, and together they have many firsts and experience the typical high school drama, relationship, and good and bad times. In the beginning Dominique replays back to her childhood "The truth is, I've wanted to be a doctor ever since I played my first game of Operation when I was six, and I'm constantly amazed by how strong and complex our bodies are, especially considering we all start off as single cells and are composed of mostly water" (Snadowsky 11).

Hallie and Codi

Hallie and Codi not only differ in many character traits, but also compare and have ever since they were little girls. Both girls are very sympathetic, but in different ways. Hallie shows sympathy by not only helping the less fortunate since she could contribute, but also going to Nicaragua to help the families in need. Although Codi also travels to someone in need, her reasoning is much different from Hallie's. She comes back to Grace to take care of her father who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. They are both also very intelligent and grow to become smarter and smarter. Codi went to medical school and almost pursued her dreams of becoming a successful doctor. On the other hand,  Hallie knows a lot about gardening and about whats going on in the world. Unlike Hallie, Codi is very lost and somewhat confused about where she stands in her life as an adult. She finds certain different places to try and call home, instead of carrying her spirit of home with her wherever she goes. Hallie is very selfless as well. All the good deeds she does allow her to appeal as a god to Codi. Her life is very balanced as well, unlike all the uncertainty Codi carries in her life.  Hallie and Codi clearly illustrate how different two sisters, and best friends, can have so many things alike, but in the end be so different from each other in they're paths they follow throughout life. 

My Recent Reading

I am recently reading the book Lime Ricky by Jill Winters. I really like this book so far, it really keeps me constantly reading and it's so hard to put down. This book is about two stangers who meet in a bad situation, expecting to never meet again but eventually fall in love and commit the perfect crime. Gretchen, the main character, at first thinks she will never see Ricky again, but then finds out his brother has a cooking show on she same network as her. Ever since the fire in Gretchen's apartment that Ricky saved her from, their random meetings had been very rocky. Though as they grow closer they find out that Ricky's brother is getting death threats and they join together undercover to identify the villain, but still enjoy romance with each other. Where I am in the book, Rick is beginning to doubt that Gretchen actually is in love with him as much as she claims, but is actually using him to get to his famous brother. I love this book, so far it's one of my favorites and I really look forward to finishing it and revealing the breath taking end of the plot.

Becoming Balanced (Adjective Paragraph)

As one door shuts you may find that many more open, and the choice to become balanced in which doors you decide to walk through is a tough decision. I am proud to say I have wisely chosen the doors to walk through and the activities I participate in. Being balanced doesn’t consist of having a variety of just academic activities, but having interest in activities outside of the school too. Through the school I am on the debate team and hip hop dance club. Both things are very different from each other so I create variety for myself, giving my mind different things to toy with each day. Outside of school I teach a gymnastics class, am involved with my church, run, and take yoga. Since I have such a wide selection of things I do each week, it all balances me out. If I was involved in activities that were all roughly the same, nothing would keep me on my feet. Some personality qualities I have also balance me as a person, kind of like ying and yang. At times I am very loud and outgoing, letting all my thoughts go, but I also become very focused and quiet, holding back my feelings. Mixing it up every once in a while is great because if everyone was the same, it would be a bore. All in all, I believe you can’t have the good without the bad, the exciting without the boring and the loud without the quiet to find an inner balance.

Quotes

1. "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln. I believe this quote is really something that could be said and interpreted by Santiago. He says that though he is old, he is still striving to reach his goal to catch this fish. His determination puts a lot of life in all the years he lived. I think Santiago believes that no matter how old you are, you can still have so much life. Though he is old, he thinks that young people can still put at LEAST the same amount of life he has, for example the little boy he takes fishing with him. Age and how much you act and live your age are 2 very different things and Santiago strives to live by putting as much life into his long lived life as he can.

2. One night I dreamed a dream: I walked along the beach with Jesus.
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life, and in each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:one belonging to myself, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and noticed that at times, along the path of life, there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that the single set of prints happened at my lowest times in life.
So, I questioned the Lord:
Jesus, when I chose to belief in you, you promised to walk beside me. But I noticed that during my most trying times, there is only one set of footprints in the sand. Why would you leave me, when I needed you most?
The Lord replied:
"My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During those times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints in the sand, those were the times . . . I carried you." This is a long, yet really effecting quote I live by every day but mostly when I am down in the dumps. For example, in the hardest times in my life I always believe that if I loose strength that God will still be there carrying me through life. It's so true to me in so many ways and I believe in this quote. I think everyone should have a little faith in their life and this is one way to look at it.

Thematic Ideas

1. Originality is a concept from our A-Z chart that i personally value. I have to come to value this concept because being original is really important to me in my everyday life. Whenever I do something i always base the decision on what I want to do instead of of other's people opinions and thoughts. For example, when I make a cake or cookies i rarely follow the direct recipe and add things I like or leave out things I don't like, therefore making them original and my own. Sometimes when i feel really unoriginal i so something that has never been done before and no one can repeat in all of history, and then I feel original again!

2. Two thematic ideas that I've seen developing in The Old Man and The Sea are journey and conflict. Journey has been presented to me because Santiago has a mission and a goal to complete and he is on a journey to do so. He is really determined and makes no exception while on this journey in the middle of the ocean. Santiago also faces a lot of problems, causing conflict. Without this conflict there would be no plot and no thrive for adventure. Both these ideas are very essential in this book and are presented very clearly.

Greatness

1. Something I am great at is gymnastics. I've become great at it because I have been taking classes for the past 4 years at Thompson Academy of Gymnastics and I am really engaged in it. Every time I go to tumbling class I give myself a new goal and I don't give up until i achieve it.

2. I really enjoy doing gymnastics because I like being active and engaging in my tumbling classes gets me on my feet a lot. It adds to my life because my instructor asked me to become a beginners class allowing me with a job for this summer. I love my job too because when i work and spot the little kids they look up to me as a role model and it really makes me feel good about myself in addition to helping them make their dreams of doing gymnastic come true.

3. I have been most proud of my self when I landed my round-off back hand spring with no spotting. I had been preparing for this since the day I started gymnastics and I always wanted to land it with all the precision that I could, and when i finally did I was really proud myself. I was proud of myself because I had finally ac hived my goal that I had been striving for for years.