My favourite project of English 12

    My favourite project of English this semester was creating the Dystopian graffiti poster. I have a passion for anything that involves creating, colouring, and drawing. To be able to work in groups was very valuable because it allowed me to work on my team work skills which benefits my career goals. There was plentiful of discussing, sharing ideas, and positive feedback which made me feel very proud of everyone in my group for being mature and friendly! Overall, our poster ended up looking very good because it incorporated everyone's artistic abilities and ideas. #TEAMWORK

My thoughts on the poem "Invictus"

  In class, we read a poem called "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley, and I was very inspired by the poem. The verse that especially caught my attention was: 

"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

I was very captivated by this inspirational verse because it got me thinking even more about my senior year and having to decide on what to do while taking in all the opinions of others. It gave me a reality check that at the end of the day, it is I who controls where I go in life and who I want to be. People often waste their lives by being discouraged by the many obstacles and hardships in life. In reality, it is you that drives the car on your highways of life, therefore it is you that decides how you want to live your life.

Invictus Poem read by Morgan Freeman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FozhZHuAcCs

A New Experience in English 12

   

    One new experience I got the chance to have this semester in English 12 was working with an app known as "Book Creator App." We were given the chance to pick our groups and create a digital short story on the famous "To Be or Not to Be..." soliloquy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The objective of the assignment was to recreate the famous soliloquy into a modern language read for the class. Since I am a creative person, I really enjoyed being able to create a short story by recording our voices and adding images to represent the dialogue. It is always great when teachers assign different types of projects to allow students who are not usually strong in one aspect of the curriculum, to be able to show their strength in something else that is different to the "norms." More fun and different projects like creating digital books? YES PLEASE! 

A clip on the Book Creator App: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F4JFCyQ3vc

An interesting article on the success rate of ios apps in this generation: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/05/ios-app-success-is-a-lottery-and-60-of-developers-dont-break-even/

Invictus "Inspirational" poem/song

Lose Yourself by Eminem 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg1v0TpcZPs 


The Verse(s) I was inspired by and related to: 

  "Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted. one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Yo

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to drop bombs,
But he keeps on forgetting what he wrote down,
The whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's choking how, everybody's joking now
The clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah!
Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't give up that
Easy, no
He won't have it, he knows his whole back's to these ropes
It don't matter, he's dope
He knows that but he's broke
He's so stagnant, he knows
When he goes back to his mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again, yo
This whole rhapsody
He better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him

[Hook:]
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo
(You better)"

    The song "Lose Yourself" written and rapped by Marshall Mathers (Eminem) is a song that has stuck with me through difficult times where I am struck by some of life's obstacles. The verses/hook shown above are the parts of the song that I become very inspired by because it goes into how the artist himself is very nervous and is having trouble expressing his true talent and ability because of anxiety. My difficult times have always been presenting in front of the class because I am on the timid side when it comes to classroom activities and when I am required to do a presentation I get very nervous. Part of of my anxiety is that I want to do really good on the project and I prepare to an extent where I am fully aware and confident of what I am presenting but when it comes to actually doing it I often pull myself back from expressing my true ability because I forget parts of my speech due to nervousness. When I listen to "Lose Yourself" it motivates me to do anything and it gives me a boost to do better because a lot of the time in life "you only get one shot" and a truly good "opportunity comes once in a lifetime." Whether I am working out, preparing for a presentation, or lacking motivation in life, the song "Lose Yourself" by Eminem is a one of a kind song that never fails to inspire and encourage me to do the best of my ability in any situation. 

Interesting and beneficial article on "how to find inspiration from within yourself" : 
http://deepexistence.com/how-to-inspire-yourself-in-two-steps/

Found Poems

"Christmas Spirit"


It's that time!

Winter,

Formal parties,

Santa and his elves,

Warm drinks and Christmas spirit.

Celebrate and welcome others,

Invite everyone,

Everyone should be able to feel included,

Acceptance is the best,

Share what you can,

And don't forget to wear red, green, or your holiday sweaters!



A Christmas Video to get more in the spirit!: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzIF4eYRkg

Some good advice on how to create better poems: 
http://writersrelief.com/blog/2009/11/un-think-your-poetry-how-to-write-better-poems/

Hamlet Post Mortem Monologue

  
     To be or not to be that wast the question, but now I has't hath found mine self in the purgatory that I wast curious yet frightened of. What has't I done! Mine mother, mine love Ophelia, that lady father, that lady brother and now mine self, dead and hath lost in death's portal. Polonius, no whither to beest hath found here. That rogue must beest in perdition for all his malefactions. Hath mine requite becometh revenge? So much unnecessary deaths has't occurred while I wast busy going insane by mine thoughts. Who would of bethought that a competitive sport such as fencing would has't turned into the deadliest match. A poke of a sporting sword wast the end to mine fate. It is unfortunate that one man and his actions could be the downfall of everyone else. Though the question is, was it my actions or Polonius' actions that is to blame? What dole this journey has been! I was dejected and hurt by the cruel injustices of my so called "uncle." To beguile his people, his family, his wife, his own brother! I was sickened. Peradventure, I wast wrong at times. Peradventure, I should not has't taken t to extremes with mine loved ones. I regret hurting Ophelia. That lady wast so gentle and loving, yet I undone that lady to bits. hath shown myself as a stranger to mine mother and frightened that lady with mine hallucinations. Those ladies must beest in firmament due to their caring and gentle souls. While I remain in purgatory, reflecting on mine doings and carrying the true pains of life; abhorred treachery, contumely, rogues and the greed of diadem. A long cometh the dirge... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEeeVbqxbQc
(A shakespearean Dirge)

Revenge Response: Hamlet

 

 

     In my opinion, when it comes to revenge, it does not fall directly under "good" or "bad" because of the intentions. It may in fact feel really good if one took revenge for something that happened because it seems that a person that does wrong truly deserves what is coming for them. However, the act of revenging can be damaging to one's self because it usually ends up with a person doing the exact action of the person that made them feel revengeful in the first place. Two wrongs do not make a right and can actually be more emotionally damaging for one who is taking revenge because it results in not only mourning or dealing with  the initial incident but furthermore dealing with the aftermath of the revenge as well.  In other words, "never fight fire with fire" because it actually would create an even bigger fire.

    It is human nature to want to protect, defend, or obtain justice for one's loved ones whether it is physically or verbally. Therefore, in some cases due to emotions, feelings, and the "heat of the moment" revenge can seem justified even though forgiveness is the harmonious approach in dealing with terrible events. Also, if revenge seems justified, it is fruitless. Being the better person is always the most beneficial choice to move on from a terrible event in the most healthiest manner. 

   The difference between revenge and avenge is that revenge is the "bad" way to deal with an injustice event and avenge is the better way to deal with an injustice event. For instance, if someone were to kill a person's loved one and the person decides to pay back by doing the same wrong action such as killing the killer; it would be revenge. On the other hand, avenge would be for the person to obtain justice for their loved one by making sure that the killer gets put in prison. Avenge is when justice is served in the right way by avoiding the increase in emotional damage and complexity of an issue yet making sure the person at true fault (a cold blooded murderer) is given the appropriate punishment that appropriately shows how wrong their action was.

The Psychology of Revenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUB5s1ZKCRI