The end of the year

       I have learned a lot this year and have also grown as an individual. This class has taught me to see thingsfrom other peoples persoectives. And have helped me mature and realize what beeds to be done to achieve my goals. We're aren't just taught a subject, we discuss many different situations and see what others think of it. All the oieces of literature we have read this year have made me realize different things. As old or broad as these topics may be i can still relate to most on different levels. Rather it be young children lying about witch craft for attention or a Billionaire that came from nothing and will stop at nothing to fit in to what he's not.

         At the beggining of the year it was tough. Mostly because i had two of my closest friends Byanka and Saby in my class. We were all big distractions to each other but tried out best to paybattention. Later on Byanka got a schedule change for ither reasons and that left Saby and I. We are still huge distractions to each other but somehow we managed to make it through. Both having good experiences in the classroom.

            Ap english wasn't just a classroom you went to for 55minutes and sat quietly doing paperwork. No we had a great interactive class and managed just fine. We all have seen and heard each others thoughts on different topics. And created new views on others. Rather everyone learned something from this class or not makes no difference to the fact that i have. Mr.Thomas was such a great teacher. Even though we were his first class at Westside we sure won't be his last. He was so understanding about all the problems we had as not just students but young teenagers. And never over worked us which led us to work even harder for him.

          Junior year is finally close to being over and i couldn't have wished for a better ap english class. It's sad to be saying goodbyes but i know i will always have Mr. Thomas as a teacher i could go to for help. I hope to do good next year in Ap lit and have another good year of school. Also being my last i hope it's even better. Thank you for dealing with me Mr. Tmoas. Actually no thank you for dealing with all of us. 

The things i carry

           Being a girl you'd expect me to carry a hairstraightener or make up but in reality those aren't real necesities. People carry what they truly hold dear to themselves. Things that are irrelevant and many don't understand. Even if it is just your favorite hair tie or your favorite book even. Many carry their phone everywhere. A everyday necesity for many almost everyone. Something i carry with me the most is my last christmas gift from my mom. A necklace with two silver chircles engraved with our names and birthdays.

     Something i carry to school everday is a water bottle and an apple. Both something i feel i need to start my day. I dread forgetting my water bottle because of after school practice. And my apple is my snack also the reason i make it to lunch with out eating my own finger. Both things that aren't long lasting and change everyday but rather it be a green applr or red it starts my day.

       We also tend to carry our loved one with us not physically but emotionally and mentally. We keep them on our mind and in our hearts. I for instance forever carry Saby Paez in my heart and on my mind. I can easily call her my sister because a friend would be an understatement. We love each other almost as much as we hate each other. On our bad days we can vent and blow steam off on each other. Something normal friends wouldn't allow. At the end of the day we know we don't mean the things we say in heated arguments. I can truly say my sister makes me a better person. 

       As i started off saying many people need their phone as an everyday thing. I am deffinately one of those people. Most young teenagers need their phone for when we get bored. Social networks keep us entertained when the class gets boring or when the teacher is absent. We also feel the need to text our bff who's in the same class or across the room. It's something we've had the luxury of. I myself don't value my phone much but i do value the contents. Rather it be in my hand or my back pocket i do in fact carry my phone with me.

           

House of usher

     I chose the second prompt where i will talk of our countries fascination with the "dark forces" around us. We have many horror films and unique styles in what we wear and music choices as proof that we are in fact myesterious about the supernaturals that occur. We do in fact have an obsession with the occult and show it in many ways. 

       Many people go through their "gothic phase" where everything we wear is black and everything we listen to is heavy rock. I went through the phase and so did my sister we're both completely different people and both went different directions after that phase but it was almost as if natural to go through the gothic phase. Embarassing pictures are now something as a memory. It's not something uncommon to see a girl with purple hair and 10 facial piercings in all black. Because our country accepts fads like these.

           The Fall of the House of Usher was the first haunted house"story" but surely not the last. Everyone knows atleast one haunted house story from their childhood. We grew up huddles around the campsite trying to tell the scariest story. Goodman Brown just opened up a new logic to us. Making stories like The Fall Of The House Of Usher so intense and leaving us to end the story to our own imagination. Not giving us specifics but leaving us on the edge. Showing us we love the thrill of not knowing what was true or not.

           He also spoke of incest and the damages it really does. Many americans are disgusted by it and don't realize that it was a common thing back in the days in Britain to keep the blood line clean. We have developed our own horror films in America such as American Horror Story that has been recently trending. I being a huge fan as well. The first season was actually about a hanuted house which grabbed everyones attention. Very similar to Goodmans story The House of Usher.

Gatsby and Ichabod

                    I chose Jay Gatsby as my anti hero from the movie and novel The Great Gatsby. He is born into poverty and is ashamed by it. Leaving his home at a young age to try his luck somehwere else. Along the way he comes across an elderly man who has trouble on his sailboat . After helping him out the elderly man offers Gatsby a job on the boat. He later becomes a father figure to him and helps him make his own fortune. Gatsby was well known for his extremely lavish parties that everyone attended. One of them being Daisy a young lady that Gatsby has a past with. But she is now married and has a child. They do indeed have an affair but after being confronted by her husband she leaves Gatsby and ends things.                  Ichabod Crane is the anti hero i am comparing Gatsby with. He is a school teacher and goes by strict policies,including the proverbial "Spare the rod and spoil the child". He also sees himself with wealth and plans to court wealthy Katrina Van Tassel. Just like Gatsby getting money the easiest way possibe. Neither putting real work ethic into it, gaining it with lies. Gatsby making up a whole life story f   or himself so people don't find out the truth. Then Ichabod willing to marry out of love and live a life of lies.               These two anti heros also having much pride in themselves. Gatsby rubs his wealth in everyones face and Ichabod seems to believe he is better than everyone else. Neither having real manners to flaunt but portraying themselves as high society. Everyone seems to buy into it but throughout both novels they are revealed. Gatsby not being born into wealth, Ichobad not actually knowing everything he claims. 
              Both have tempers and are very nasty rude people. Gatsby by thinking his wealth can buy him happiness and Ichobad by thinking he knew everything and no one was superior. Both also murdered out of revenge or hatred. Gatsby having been framed for the mans murder. Ichobad murdered by the headless horseman who is believed to be Katrinas second choice for marriage. So neither have a long successful life because of their greed and want to be better than everyone else.