End-of-Year “Project” for English 12: “My Highschool Years in English”

High school has not been an easy feat. It’s been full of up’s and down’s all over the place. People you thought you could trust turn out to be untrustworthy and people you never even imagined you’d be friends with end up being some of the most important people now. You win some, you lose some. The most important part is how you get up and brush things off. We can’t let these obstacles get in the way of how we take care of situations in these years. While some people beg to differ, high school can be some of the best years of your life. You gain so much experience, from social to academic situations, you meet amazing people, you finally start letting loose and start going out with friends and school dances. For me, it was amazing and although I wish I could change some things from throughout the years, I wouldn’t want it any other way because the order of events lead me to be the person I am now and I couldn’t be happier with how my high school experience ended.

Gothic Stories

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c2q-7fE21Y6S5Lxfhw8xzbHa6xST3idR/view?usp=drivesdk

Reading and Writing Task #13: NPR News Article on Shooting in Dadeville, Alabama

I have been trained, ever since I was a kid, on how to handle a firearm. I had gotten my first one at the ripe age of 9 years old to manage, use, and protect myself with a gun. So I think I of all people can understand the dangers of guns and how actually powerful they are. And for this reason, my heart aches every time I hear about another shooting in the United States. As a society, we have turned guns from a source of protection, to a demonized source of all evil. This is all because of the people who own them and think they can do whatever they want with them. As a gun user, who had to go through an entire process to obtain her license that took about 4 months, the United States needs to make more thorough background checks to people who decide to purchase firearms. Although yes, it is a right that the American people have, a gun is still a gun. It still has the ability to injure people if it ends up in the wrong hands.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/16/1170295326/at-least-4-people-were-killed-in-a-shooting-at-teens-birthday-party-in-alabama

Special Assessment: “Lessons from Silent Spring for Controlling Disease” (video)

Diseases are no laughing matter. The entire world knows the impact of none other than Covid-19 and how it affected everyone. While many scientists tried to come forward with facts on how to protect ourselves, many did not want to listen. These people would silence experts and everything they knew instead of listening to them. And so we are reminded of Rachel Carson, a marine biologist who had a plan to fight off the deadly disease malaria.

DDT was a type of insecticide used to fight off mosquitoes with the malaria virus. It was “promoted” by Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist. Although many agree that DDT did in fact help fight off malaria, some called her a “mass murderer”. John Stossel, a former reporter on Fox News said that she was a mass murderer for pushing such a drug on people. This caused her and her book “Silent Springs” to be banned or silenced. Time Magazine even referred to the book as “the first shot in the war over the environment”. DDT is considered harmful for its effects on the human nervous and reproductive system, as well as the liver.

Humans are a very stubborn species. When we don’t want to believe something, we will make up any sort of lie that fits our beliefs. Instead of listening and trying to find new ways to fight off harmful things, we refuse to do anything about it. This is just another classic trait of human nature. Although it is natural and instinct, it is not safe and is something that needs to change if we want to continue on this planet for more years to come.

https://sistematv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/amex29rc-sci-silentspringlessons/lessons-from-silent-spring-for-controlling-disease-rachel-carson-american-experience/?student=true

Spring Break

Honestly, I have no memory of any past spring breaks. They were usually spent at home, doing nothing and just resting. This year, I dont’t think I have many plans either. My parents both work so even if my friends asked me out, they couldn’t take me! However, I’m excited to be able to concentrate and focus on myself for a whole week. My family is not religious, so we do not plan on going to church, but I do think on really centering myself with the universe and myself!

Reading and Writing Task #12: “Pro and Con: Banned Books”

I’m going to be completely honest; I don’t read much. Let me explain! If I read something, it needs to be very graphic of its content, or else I will easily lose interest! This is why I love Edgar Allan Poe books, his writing and style is my favorite! However, when I told my friends and family about this interest in gothic and explicit literature, they were mostly weirded out. Why do I like graphically written books about murder or sickness? That seems to be the thought process and logic of many parents.

As the article stated, nowadays, parents seem to want to control everything their children see and witness, including art and school. This can be tolerated, to an extent. Of course, a child shouldn’t read extremely graphic literature. However, to fire a principal from a school for teaching about David’s statue in an art class? Let’s be honest; this has been going too far for too long. I understand that as a parent, you might not want your child to see things before a certain age, but how restrictive can you be? David’s statue is not the only example of this, because we’ve gone as far as banning books! Why would anyone want to ban the pinnacle of knowledge? Even if it’s just entertaining books; parents and adults constantly complain about their children using technology too often and never resorting to books, then try to take them away when they want to read because they “shouldn’t be reading those things”. Well then, what do you want, a world where kids are constantly being shunned and prohibited from learning?