Goodbye to Junior High

Every Sunday night when I sit down to write my blog I dream about the last time I will ever have to brainstorm an idea and write 500 words about a topic. Now that it's here I feel like bawling my eyes out like a baby. Saying goodbye is so much harder than I anticipated. It's crazy to think that these last three months or so I haven't been able to contain my excitement about leaving junior high and going on to big, bad Davis High. I didn't ever really think about saying goodbye to the things I would be leaving behind. I always knew from the beginning of junior high that I would have to say farewell to my fellow Falcons that were going to Layton. It didn't hit me until Friday night when I had some friends over at my house, and a few of them are going to Layton.

While we were having such a good time and bonding together I thought, "Will it ever be the same after we split and say goodbye?" Just thinking about this makes me really nervous. My very best friend since seventh grade is going to Layton and I know we will stay friends because we spend every weekend together. But then there are those who I don't see very often, but I've gotten used to see them in the halls on the way to my classes. I want to keep seeing those people, but who knows if I ever will? Hopefully, I will make an effort to keep in contact with those amazing friends with whom I have shared so many memories.

Now I would like to say goodbye to those people who are in Honors English. I am so happy that I chose to take on the challenge of Honors English. It's turned out to be more of an enjoyable experience than it has a burden to be a part of this class. When I heard that we would have to write 500 words every week, I thought I was going to die. But it looks like I've made it out in one piece without any horrible scars and bruises. I've gotten to know a lot of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise through this class, and I'm so grateful for that opportunity. Thank you everyone who helped me become a better writer from the beginning of the year. So many people helped me stay up with everything and I appreciate it so much.

I loved the books that we were assigned to read throughout this year. I can't even pick a favorite. A Tale of Two Cities was quite a challenge for me, but I made it work by reading 11.5 pages per day. I am so proud that I stuck with them and never gave up even when I wanted to rip my hair out.

I agree with Brigitte about continuing to write our weekly blog entries. I think it will help us stay in touch as we go on to high school and get busier. I also think it's fun to have a place where I can write about anything I want, whenever I want. My writing might gradually go down hill if I quit writing over the summer, so I plan on continuing with my blog entries.

It has been such an honor to be a part of this class, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this great program. I've loved sharing this experience with all of you. And most of all, thank you Mr. Thompson for spending all the time and hard work to make this class a joy and a great learning experience. Good luck to everyone in the future! I am glad to say that Honors English and the whole experience of junior high have "changed me for the better," and I thank you all for that.

To Kill a Mockingbird Review

To Kill a Mockingbird is a young-adult fiction novel, but it is loved by all ages. It is written by Harper Lee and addresses some issues of prejudice that were happening back in the depression era in Georgia. It is a great read for anyone who is willing to open their heart and try to learn from the great messages that the book teaches.

This story is told by a 5-year old girl named scout who lives in Maycomb County, Georgia. She and her brother Jem play all day long and love to tease the man who keeps himself locked up in his house named Boo Radley. Their father named Atticus is chosen to defend an African-American man in a court case where the man has been accused of raping a white woman in town. Scout and Jem learn from their father as he defends this man and teaches them what is truly important in life. Scout's understanding of the world around her and the people in it improves as she experiences different events. The main theme that is developed throughout the book is that we can learn so much as kids about the morals that we need to know later in life. These morals include treating everyone equally and not judging someone before you know them.

This book had so many lines that resonate and make the reader think very deeply about their own life and the way they are living. I felt like I knew Scout and Jem personally after the first few chapters of the book. I would've loved to walk outside and play in the Georgia sun with them. They become so real, and their father Atticus is someone I would want to go and talk to in time of trouble. He teaches his kids so many valuable lessons and the reader gets to learn these same important life lessons. One example is when he tells Scout, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Atticus also tells Scout and Jem, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." He is telling them that they shouldn't harm those things that don't do anything bad to them. They should just leave them alone.

This book reminded me of "Walk Two Moons" because it shares experiences about growing up and what it's like to be a kid. I liked it because it is told from the point of view of a little girl, and it made me feel like I was in her shoes watching the world around her. I also liked the morals that it taught about racism and the judging other people. Another thing I liked was that I learned a lot more about the depression. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something that will make them think and wants to learn some valuable lessons about life.

Obituary

Since it's the end of the year, in our Yearbook class we have started to write stories. We have done many different types of genres, and this week the category was an obituary. It kinda freaked me out, so I used dates that were a long time ago. I also didn't include names of a husband or kids because that was a little creepy. So here is my obituary that I wrote about myself...hope you enjoy.

Kendall Diane Sargent

Birth: April 9, 1897

Death: Setember 23, 1984

Living a long life of 87 years, Kendall Sargent died peacefully in the night with her three children right by her side. She was in her favorite place in the world which was with her family at their cabin in the Uintah Mountains in Utah. She was very healthy as an old woman and didn’t have many medical problems, but died of old age.

Kendall was born to two amazing parents named Kathryn and Steve on September 23, 1984 in Arlington, Virginia. She was brought into a loving family with parents and siblings who cared so much. She was the third oldest in her family of six children. As a child, she listened and danced to music all day long and was full of energy from the moment she was born. Moving back to Utah was a change, but she lived there from when she turned 3. She loved school from the moment she went and attended Burton Elementary, Sam Morgan Elementary, Fairfield, Junior High, Davis High school where she loved getting an education. While in school, she played both volleyball and tennis. Taking third in state in tennis and being a state champion in volleyball, she was quite an athlete. She was always a fun person to be around and loved to organize get togethers with friends.

She found the perfect man at age 23 and fell in love with him. They were married on June 26, 1920. Before they had any kids they were world travelers for about 2 years. They went all over Europe and Asia and even spent a week in Tahiti. She got a Masters degree in U.S. History at Stanford University. She taught her favorite subject of U.S. History at a college on the East Coast. Her kids were raised in Georgia, and their family enjoyed the warm weather together. She had three beautiful children who loved her and cared for her till the moment she passed away. As an older woman, she was the grandmother of 13 grandchildren, and she had 27 great grandchildren before she died. Her family was her greatest joy in life and always brought her happiness.

All throughout her life, she was a very faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There wasn’t a day in her life when she didn’t do some type of service for another person. She was a great mother to her children, and they learned so much just by watching her example of being a good person. Her family was sad to see her go, but they know that they will see her again someday.

A wonderful funeral service was held for her in Salt Lake City, Utah where most of her family lived. So many wonderful memories and stories were shared about the great life lived by Kendall Diane Sargent. She is one who will be missed and was loved by so many.

Thank you for reading.

Singapore

          Imagine being able to retire at the age of 55 and spend the rest of your life in total bliss living on a warm island where the conditions are perfect. The city of Singapore is a model society to the rest of the world. Singapore is an example of a good society because it is very organized and clean, it has a good schooling system, and it has a very strong economy.

          First, Singapore is a model society because it is very orderly about keeping the city in the best conditions possible. The streets are kept perfectly clean with flower beds lining the roads. It is so tidy because if anyone is doing anything that could cause any harm to the environment then they will be fined. There are very high fines that people are required to pay if they do anything out of line. This way, Singapore is kept as clean as possible. The city is a very safe place to be because of the excellent patrolling systems. Singapore keeps its transportation organized with many different ways to get from one place to another. The traffic laws are very strict, so it keeps the city safe. The crime rate on the island is very low because if anyone commits first degree murder, armed robbery, or selling drugs then they will suffer the death penalty. Not only is the island a safe place to live, but the schooling system is one of the best in the world.

          Next, Singapore has very strong educational programs that help them to become a better city. Their schools are patterned after the Japanese model. The system divides the students into different groups depending on how well they perform in class. The smarter kids go to "superschools" where they are trained for professional careers. All students are required to learn English. This makes it easier for everyone on the island to communicate without confusion. Since they all know the same language, Singapore runs very smoothly. This good system of communication helps the city to have a very strong economy.

          Last, Singapore is a model society because it has one of the best economies in Asia. The people have a very high standard of living, and only come in second to Japan in all of Asia. The average income is very close to that of the United States. The unemployment rate in Singapore is under 5%, and most of the people in their society own their homes. They have social security which helps them borrow to buy a home. Their strong economy allows most people to retire at the age of 55. The government of Singapore helps keep up this economy by having a tight hold on most business activity and industries. The government controls wages which makes union strikes very scarce.

          As stated above, the city of Singapore is a model city because it is in good conditions, it has a great education system, and it has a powerful economy. Singapore is a great place to live, and many other countries could learn from the ways they run their society.

Symbolism of Seedfolks

          The garden in Seedfolks, which was once a vacant lot, brings a neighborhood of people together that are all different races, religions, and have different ideas about life. Even though none of them speak the same language, they all learn a universal language that brings them together as one. The garden invites people with its warm welcome that symbolizes hope for a better life.

          The garden symbolizes a few different things, and it changes for each person that tends to it. Overall, the garden represents hope for a better life to all those who plant their seeds. Many of them believe that their lives will grow stronger as their seeds sprout up from the ground. They want to see a change in their life, and their plants help remind them of hope for the future. The garden almost became its own club because it was a place where everyone could be a part of something. Each member of the neighborhood felt like they belonged. Even Maricella, who explains herself as an outcast, tells that she felt that she belonged to something. "She said how it wasn't some disgrace to be part of it. She said it was an honor." (page 57)

          Vegetables aren't the only things that grow in the garden. Friendships begin to grow and develop as the people get to know each other. Seeds are planted, and they become stronger the more time they spend together. Certain people looked down on others before the garden was started. They begin to see that they are all more alike than they thought. Sae Young tells about an experience of the garden, and how it made their friendships stronger, almost like a family. "Next day, thunderstorm. Cans almost full. Little girl there, very proud. Someone bring three old pots to scoop water out of cans. Hard to pour into narrow containers. I put one by each garbage can. That day I see man use my funnel. Then woman. Then many people. Fell very glad inside. Feel part of garden. Almost like family." (page 39)

          The main theme that is developed throughout the novel has to do with people coming together despite their differences. It is shown that people from any race, ethnicity, or culture can come together through the garden that grows in this neighborhood. The people that spent time in the garden became less prejudiced and judgmental as the garden grew in size. They also made many friendships that helped them as individuals. People performed many deeds of kindness through the garden, and they used it to help others. They began to understand each other even though they had different backgrounds, and they didn't speak the same language.

          The end of the book shows the power of the garden, and the promises it held inside its walls. "But the garden was still empty. I was disappointed. I suppose it was still too early to plant. I began to wonder if anyone would come. Maybe no one was interested. Or maybe the city had shut it down, or sold the lot. I was worried. Then one day I passed it--and someone was digging.

          It was a little Oriental girl, with a trowel and a plastic a bag of lima beans. I didn't recognize her. It didn't matter. I felt as happy inside as if I'd just seen the first swallow of spring. Then I looked up. There was the man in the rocker.

          We waved and waved to each other."

         

          This garden that was started by one small Vietnamese girl brought together a whole neighborhood, and it grew much more than fruits and vegetables.

Walk Two Moons Book Review

Walk Two Moons, the winner of the Newberry Medal is a story that takes you through the life of a young girl from Kentucky named Salamanca. It is a fictional novel written by Sharon Creech for young-adult readers. The story shows the ups and downs of being a young teenager and seeing a problem from different points of view. It is a great book that is full of life lessons that all of us need to learn and use in our lives.

Salamanca, called Sal for short, is a thirteen-year old girl that is on a road trip with her Gram and Gramps to the place where her mother was last seen in Idaho. Sal's mother had left a few years earlier, and her father decided to move up to Ohio to ease the pain of the place where his wife had left. While on their trip, Sal tells the story to her grandparents of her friend named Phoebe Winterbottom where she finds her own story hidden underneath. She explains the whole story of her move from Kentucky to Ohio and the changes she had to face. The main theme that is developed throughout the story is that every story has many sides to it, and there is never just one point of view that is right or wrong.

While listening to Sal's story about growing up it makes the reader think about themselves and if they have ever been too quick to judge a situation without any details. The line that shows up again throughout the book is, "don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

Each character had a very different personality which added to the effect of seeing things from different points of view. The main character, Sal, is trying to deal with the disappearance of her mother while she is moving into a new town with many different people. She makes a connection with her best friend, Phoebe, when they start to deal with some of the same problems. Sal's father and his new friend named Margaret add to the story with their personalities and make it more exciting. There are many other characters that give their input on the issues discussed in the book that make it more interesting and give the story different angles.

Walk Two Moons somewhat reminded me of Because of Winn-Dixie. The two stories are told from the perspective of young girls that are trying to deal with similar problems, and they are trying to learn about seeing things from different points of view. It is a fun book to read because while you're reading about the story of Sal and Phoebe you are reminded of similar experiences that you have been through. Many of the problems they face are just a part of growing up and learning about the world.

Some things that I liked about the book were the two different stories going on at the same time. There is the story of Sal traveling with her grandparents, but at the same time she is telling the story of what happened back in Ohio with Phoebe. It was fun to switch back and forth between the two stories being told. I also liked how it explains what has really been happening at the end of the book, so it all makes sense.

I would recommend Walk Two Moons because it shares so many important life lessons that most of us fail to remember because they seem so childish. It is a good reminder to always walk in someone else's shoes before judging a situation. It is a fun story to read about growing up and the many different lessons we learn from our mistakes.

Fahrenheit 451 Book Review

This science-fiction novel takes place in a mysterious future world created by Ray Bradbury. It discusses some very interesting problems about a society and what is wrong with this city that has a different way viewing the world. It is written for teens or young adult readers. The book was written in 1953 and addresses some problems that could possibly happen in the future. The future world that it explains in some ways relate to our current world. It is a book that makes the reader think about what happened in the story after they finish the last page and close the cover.

The main character named Montag is a fireman who doesn't put out fires, but starts them. His job description is to burn books because they are a problem and cause trouble in their society. The people of Montag's city focus more on television rather than literature and things of substance. When Montag meets a 17 year old girl named Clarisse who looks at things a little differently, he realizes that something isn't quite right about the way he is living, and he decides that he wants to see what it's like to live with a purpose. He faces many obstacles throughout the story that changes the way he sees things. Some of the themes are about the importance of literature and books and how they can set our minds racing with good and bad.

It was an intriguing story because it raises so many issues that are applicable in our society today. It makes us wonder if we are forgetting the importance of literature and wasting all of our time watching TV. The main character, Montag, sees this problem, and he tries to find some type of solution. By the end of the book, you feel like you know the characters personally. Montag's wife, Mildred, and his boss, Beatty are both interesting characters, and they see the world in such different ways. A young girl named Clarisse is the voice of sense in this novel because she sees the world for what it really is. An old man named Faber sees what is wrong with the society, but he is too afraid to try and make a change. This book reminded me of the Hunger Games or Uglies because it has a different setting and it takes place in a future world. I liked how it made you ponder if our world is really wandering too far from the world of literature, and we are forgetting how important it really is to us. I also liked the metaphors throughout the book because it created a clearer picture of what was happening. When Bradbury would describe something he would add great detail to give the reader a perfect image.

I would recommend this book because it makes you think about what's really important in our lives, and if we are payng attention to the direction our world is going. Also, it makes you wonder if our society is leaning away from books for the better or for the worse.