Blog #2

I am a Junior and I'm starting to look at colleges, and to be frank, the process is starting to become overwhelming. All these contemporary colleges require not only the "common app" which is extremely long and excruciating, but now are starting to require a supplement form. Sometimes I wish I grew up in the 80's, because my mom tells me these stories of how most people only applied to one college, two if they were undecided. Do you realize how much less work that it is?!?! In that time instead of writing essays, getting letters of recommendation, and filling out these TWO different forms, I could instead be studying for any tests or quizzes I have in classes that are still important. Actually, to be honest I'd probably be going out with my friends because I'll have my license. In our society, college is what matters, and the acceptance rate is so low, people have begun to go insane. For instance, people now take the SAT's or ACT's 5 or 6 times! Not only do they try to score a 2400 every time but they have become sycophants by more or less stalking the admission officer of their dream school. Nonetheless the pain that I'm going through now is only ephemeral because I know I'll have such a good time at college. I also feel that no matter what degree I get from whatever school I go to, the achievements you make outside of the classroom is a lot more important the diploma you receive. So the moral of this story is that the cachet of graduating from Harvard Law School is trivial unless you do something significant with that knowledge.

Blog #1 Marking period 2

Yesterday was in interesting day. I had heard rumors all day that a freshman bought a gun to school. Living in Hillsdale where most people complain about not getting a car for their birthday (meaning that your life isn't bad), I wondered why someone would even make up such a thing. Little did I know, the rumors were true and a student did bring a gun to school. As hours passed I learned more and more about the situation. I had found out from an anonymous source that people had derided him constantly, but I haven't seem him hector anyone before, I thought he was a rather nice kid. A bunch of other rumors had surfaced but I paid no attention to them because they were simply absurd. Today the student is going to court for bringing a weapon to school. The most recent news that I has come to my attention is that one student in particular is being charged for harassment. A lot of students in the school hope that he will be exonerated when he goes to court as well because it was not solely his fault for the other student bringing a gun to school. A lot of students have been fighting over this issue as to who was to blame. I empathize with students defending both sides of the situation. I believe that for a person to bring a gun to school and try to take his own life, there must of been something seriously wrong with him. I also believe that this person who bullied the student is also to blame because he made the student so depressed and angry that he wanted to result to that severe amount of violence. All in all, the crux of this matter is not whether or not who should be blamed for bringing a gun to school, but to ensure that the safety of students is secured.

Vocab #4

As you all can imagine, when leaves start to fall, Hillsdale's Demarest Farms is packed with customers who are ready to go apple and pumpkin picking. If you drive by the farm, you have to be chary of people who just picked pumpkins and/or apples and are crossing the street to get back to their cars. In addition to the busy hay rides and pumpkin picking, Demarest Farms also has a corn maze. This labyrinth isn't very big, but it sure is confusing. I once went through it when I was very young and I got lost! I started crying and screamed for my mom to save me, which eventually she did (Thank God!). They also have a fun house which, is mainly for younger children, but I think that no matter what age you are you can still have fun. The fun house is capacious and can hold approximately 20 children at once! Lastly, as if I can't tell you more about Demarest Farms, if you haven't tried their hot apple cider you shouldn't call yourself human. Their hot apple cider is delicious and is unlike anything around. They are constantly making more because it is such a big hit. Unlike Dunkin' Donuts whose coffee sits out all day and night, and might not be considered potable for people who order it in the late afternoon or night, Demarest's hot apple cider is always fresh. You might be asking yourself why I know all these facts about Demarest Farms. The answer to this question is that I live about a block away from Demarest and I go there all the time.

Vocab #3

Yesterday I was wrestling with my friends for fun. We all wrestled when we were younger so we thought it would be exciting to see who was the best. We cleared an area in my friends basement and began to wrestle. We set up this complicated "bracket" in which we all wrestled each other at least once. In my first match, I won (how would it be possible for me not to?); however, in the second match my friend Mike wrestled my other friend Bryan, which was where things got ugly. Bryan committed a flagrant flag by throwing Mike into the door. Mike's head started to bleed, and as a result my friends and I exhorted, "Call his mom! Quick! He's bleeding!" After Mike's mom stopped the bleeding, Mike came over to my house where his behavior was very eccentric; he rarely talked and was simply not acting like himself. From then on we had an implicit agreement that if we were to ever wrestle again we would be extra careful and not emulate Bryan by pushing anyone into walls and/or furniture.

Vocab #2

Today I had a history test on the legendary Teddy Roosevelt and progressivism, and it was nothing as I expected it to be. Prior to the test we were assigned to read and take notes on the entire chapter. After doing so and studying all of last night I felt pretty confident about the test. As soon as Mr. Convoy handed me the test and I read the first question I knew it was going to be a rough day. There were probably only four questions that I discussed in my notes. After I finished the test I wondered if I was the only one who had difficulty with it. EVERYONE in the class had trouble with it, which is why it was so enigmatic. Everyone also agreed that their notes were more or less no help to them on the test. The casual and relaxed appearance precluded the students from knowing how difficult this test was. The test was probably good for us because it demonstrates what the AP test is going to be like. One the test today, one topic was how the United States commandeered the Panama Canal. Even though the test today was very difficult Mr. Convoy is a great teacher. He knows an imaginable amount of history that I cannot even compare to. He tells stories of WWI with so much brio that it gives me the chills.

Vocab

I spent time with my best friend, Rachel, this weekend. She is from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, and goes to Pascack Hills High School. She invited her camp friends over for the weekend, who live in New York. My friends and I hung out with Rachel and her camp friends, which angered these other girls my friends and I are friendly with. Rachel is also friends with these other girls, which made the situation more complicated. The drama was exacerbated by deciding to just hang out with "the boys" Friday night, and not the the "normal girls" we hang out with. Rachel's camp-friends, Elena and Allison, are gregarious and fun to be around. The other girls we normally hang out with felt that Elena and Allison are culpable for my group of friends not wanting to see them. This is totally false we like to spend time with them; however, it is nice to see Allison and Elena also. One of the "normal girls" my friends and I friendly with have importuned me to spend time with her and her friends this upcoming weekend. I am not one to cause drama or anything of that sort, so I have assimilated the events that occurred this weekend have decided that it is important to hang out with all my friends, and you can be sure not to see me spend an inordinate amount of time with any one person.

A classic

What makes a novel "a classic"? Discuss

What makes a novel a classic is when it is studied throughout the world.  This would be because it shows a significant importance to a time period, theme etc.  It can also be considered a classic for its usage of detailed vocabulary.  For instance, Romeo and Juliet is considered a classic because of its plot along with Shakespeare's unique writing style.  Another thing that makes a novel a classic is that it must be universal.  When I say universal I mean that it must interest people all over the world.  For instance, a novel about some sport only played in China would not be considered a classic because most people wouldn't find it interesting.  Also, the novel for it to be considered "a classic" must have an influence on people because without an influence no one will be inspired to read it.