Rambling Autobiography - 9/29/17
I was born at the Mercy Health Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio; having the same birthday as Angelina Jolie . My parents have always wanted to name me Penelope. I absolutely love the Pad Thai at Mango Tree. I regret some of the decisions I've made. I've only ever loved 3 books in my life. Being an only child can become extremely stressful. I had a bloody nose when I was 11 years old, waking up to the sight of paramedics in my house. I went to France and Spain on a class trip over Spring Break 2017. Drawing and painting has always been a secret passion of mine. Nature always tends to calm down when I am having a difficult day. When I was 10 years old, my uncle died of Stage 4 Lung Cancer. I have been bullied before. I have always been frightened of the dark. My best friend once said to me "I am never going to leave your side," I haven't seen her in 4 years. My dog was hit by a car at a young age, now having three legs and being happier than ever. I am a learner with an imagination and I am an imaginer who loves to learn...
The Hero - 10/2/17
Heroes
Courageous, Brave
Helping, Saving, Fighting
A audacious, noble character
Rescuing, Serving, Protecting
Joyous, Successful
Heroes
Courageous, Brave
Helping, Saving, Fighting
A audacious, noble character
Rescuing, Serving, Protecting
Joyous, Successful
Heroes
My Ithaca. - 11/7/17
As you set out for your journey through high school, embrace every single moment of it.
It can be frightening when you first walk through those doors your freshman year but
it's agonizing walking out those same doors for the last time your senior year. These past
4 years may have caused you to stir up lots of blood, sweat, and tears. But as you get older,
you will soon realize why your teachers have worked you this hard for what moment you
are reaching towards, graduation. I hope you learn how important these next four years
of your life are. Stressing over tests, having your blood injected full with coffee from staying
up extremely late the night before, working on a huge English paper, or dealing with high
school drama. Embrace these moments. These moments may make you the person who you
are today, depending on how you deal with them.
There is going to be a lot that is expected from you in these next four years but having the
right mindset and the right work ethic can get you farther in life; maybe farther than you
ever imagined. Lots of worries come along the way through this odyssey. Teens deal with
trying to fit in, maintain grades and plans for the future. You need to focus on every
opportunity that is given to you. Opportunities are extremely crucial once you get to high
school. You should have no set expectations for high school; this is a mistake that I had made
and it made me have to work even harder than I had to just to achieve the goal I was looking
for. Rewards are such a blessing in high school such as getting a good grade on a test you
thought you failed.
Always keep your first day of high school in the back of your mind. You can always look back
and remember how awkward you were. Now look at you. You're a senior who is graduating.
During this journey, what you need to realize is that graduation, is what you are destined for.
But don't hurry this expedition up; make it last for years upon years. Once you get the full
experience of what high school is like, you will then realize how hard you have worked for
this very moment. I hope high school treats you well and I hope high school gives you
valuable life lessons along the way.
It can be frightening when you first walk through those doors your freshman year but
it's agonizing walking out those same doors for the last time your senior year. These past
4 years may have caused you to stir up lots of blood, sweat, and tears. But as you get older,
you will soon realize why your teachers have worked you this hard for what moment you
are reaching towards, graduation. I hope you learn how important these next four years
of your life are. Stressing over tests, having your blood injected full with coffee from staying
up extremely late the night before, working on a huge English paper, or dealing with high
school drama. Embrace these moments. These moments may make you the person who you
are today, depending on how you deal with them.
There is going to be a lot that is expected from you in these next four years but having the
right mindset and the right work ethic can get you farther in life; maybe farther than you
ever imagined. Lots of worries come along the way through this odyssey. Teens deal with
trying to fit in, maintain grades and plans for the future. You need to focus on every
opportunity that is given to you. Opportunities are extremely crucial once you get to high
school. You should have no set expectations for high school; this is a mistake that I had made
and it made me have to work even harder than I had to just to achieve the goal I was looking
for. Rewards are such a blessing in high school such as getting a good grade on a test you
thought you failed.
Always keep your first day of high school in the back of your mind. You can always look back
and remember how awkward you were. Now look at you. You're a senior who is graduating.
During this journey, what you need to realize is that graduation, is what you are destined for.
But don't hurry this expedition up; make it last for years upon years. Once you get the full
experience of what high school is like, you will then realize how hard you have worked for
this very moment. I hope high school treats you well and I hope high school gives you
valuable life lessons along the way.
Towards The End of May - 12/11/17
Toward the end of May, I begin to dream of freedom, of sand beneath my toes, feeling the hot rays
of sunshine on me, and smelling the aroma of sea salt in the air. With endless summer days and
never ending summer nights. From watching sunsets to lighting fireworks this time until bed.
Towards the end of May, we become frustrated with time slowing down and summer never
approaching. I start to doze off in class while in the back of my mind came the smell of
hot dogs roasting on an open fire, relaxing by the pool for hours, beach balls soaring high
up in the air, and spending time with beloved family and friends. Oh how I wish it was early
June instead of the end of May.
of sunshine on me, and smelling the aroma of sea salt in the air. With endless summer days and
never ending summer nights. From watching sunsets to lighting fireworks this time until bed.
Towards the end of May, we become frustrated with time slowing down and summer never
approaching. I start to doze off in class while in the back of my mind came the smell of
hot dogs roasting on an open fire, relaxing by the pool for hours, beach balls soaring high
up in the air, and spending time with beloved family and friends. Oh how I wish it was early
June instead of the end of May.
When Females Intervene - 12/17/17
"The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." This quotation by Anne Frank exemplifies Homer's deep thinking about the female characters and how they are presented in The Odyssey towards Odysseus. In The Odyssey by Homer, the female characters had played a beneficial role towards Odysseus on his journey home back to Ithaca. The three biggest influential female characters in The Odyssey are Circe, Penelope, and Athena.
Although Circe is seen as one of the least beneficial female characters, she still offered Odysseus crucial pieces of information. Circe was a witch who kept Odysseus and his men hostage for three years. Circe sang to attract men into her desolate palace. She has given Odysseus and his men a poison that makes them turn into farm animals such as pigs. Little did Circe know, Odysseus had been given molly by Hermes, the messenger god, before he stepped into Circes' palace; therefore, Odysseus did not become a pig. Homer then stated, "Circe turns the pigs back into men but puts them all into a trance" (10. 54-55). Circe, to some readers, may be perceived as deceiving and hostile. Although this may be true, Odysseus asks Circe for the way back to Ithaca. She replies he must sail to Hades, the realm of the dead, to speak with the spirit of Tiresias, a blind prophet who will tell him how to get home. As you can see, Circe has given an opportunity to Odysseus to return back home.
Some readers may argue that Penelope is not beneficial to Odysseus' journey. Penelope is Odysseus' beloved, loyal wife. Penelope stayed faithful to Odysseus for twenty years. She shows how she is beneficial towards Odysseus' by being clever to see if this is her husband and not just some god trying to mess with her into believing they are really Odysseus. What Penelope did is that she tested to see if the beggar who claims to be Odysseus is really Odysseus. She does this by asking her handmaid to move her bed. Penelope responded saying: "Make up his bed for him, Eurycleia. Place it outside the bedchamber my lord built" (23, 27-28). Odysseus goes off on her, because he knows that the bed is attached to a tree, and it cannot be moved. Only Odysseus would know this, so she knows that this is truly Odysseus. This shows Odysseus how Penelope had stayed loyal towards him after twenty years and how she did not give in to the gods.
Athena is an accentuate female character towards Odysseus on his journey, In a section of The Odyssey, Odysseus is turned into an old beggar by Athena to make an appearance into his palace to show everyone how he's still alive and he's here to take back what he's been wanting for twenty years: his beloved wife, Penelope as well as his island kingdom of Ithaca. With this in mind, Penelope constituted a challenge to present to the gods to see if they were worthy enough to become the new king of Ithaca. According to Homer, "Athena waits for Odysseus and Telemachus to prove themselves to Penelope" (22. 129-130). One of the suitors, Antinous, tries to string Odysseus' bow; he becomes unsuccessful and fails to become the new king to Ithaca, replacing Odysseus. In addition to this, Athena had saved Odysseus in the war that went on when Odysseus reveals himself by deflecting the arrows from six of the suitors who attempted to attack him, proving how beneficial she is to Odysseus.
In final analysis, Odysseus' journey became smoother along the way with the help of Circe, Penelope, and Athena. Without Athena saving Odysseus from the arrows being shot by the suitors, Penelope staying loyal to Odysseus after all these years, and Circe's guidance to Hades, Odysseus could have a more problematic journey. With these powerful women influencers, we begin to wonder what life may have looked like with just men or just women.
Although Circe is seen as one of the least beneficial female characters, she still offered Odysseus crucial pieces of information. Circe was a witch who kept Odysseus and his men hostage for three years. Circe sang to attract men into her desolate palace. She has given Odysseus and his men a poison that makes them turn into farm animals such as pigs. Little did Circe know, Odysseus had been given molly by Hermes, the messenger god, before he stepped into Circes' palace; therefore, Odysseus did not become a pig. Homer then stated, "Circe turns the pigs back into men but puts them all into a trance" (10. 54-55). Circe, to some readers, may be perceived as deceiving and hostile. Although this may be true, Odysseus asks Circe for the way back to Ithaca. She replies he must sail to Hades, the realm of the dead, to speak with the spirit of Tiresias, a blind prophet who will tell him how to get home. As you can see, Circe has given an opportunity to Odysseus to return back home.
Some readers may argue that Penelope is not beneficial to Odysseus' journey. Penelope is Odysseus' beloved, loyal wife. Penelope stayed faithful to Odysseus for twenty years. She shows how she is beneficial towards Odysseus' by being clever to see if this is her husband and not just some god trying to mess with her into believing they are really Odysseus. What Penelope did is that she tested to see if the beggar who claims to be Odysseus is really Odysseus. She does this by asking her handmaid to move her bed. Penelope responded saying: "Make up his bed for him, Eurycleia. Place it outside the bedchamber my lord built" (23, 27-28). Odysseus goes off on her, because he knows that the bed is attached to a tree, and it cannot be moved. Only Odysseus would know this, so she knows that this is truly Odysseus. This shows Odysseus how Penelope had stayed loyal towards him after twenty years and how she did not give in to the gods.
Athena is an accentuate female character towards Odysseus on his journey, In a section of The Odyssey, Odysseus is turned into an old beggar by Athena to make an appearance into his palace to show everyone how he's still alive and he's here to take back what he's been wanting for twenty years: his beloved wife, Penelope as well as his island kingdom of Ithaca. With this in mind, Penelope constituted a challenge to present to the gods to see if they were worthy enough to become the new king of Ithaca. According to Homer, "Athena waits for Odysseus and Telemachus to prove themselves to Penelope" (22. 129-130). One of the suitors, Antinous, tries to string Odysseus' bow; he becomes unsuccessful and fails to become the new king to Ithaca, replacing Odysseus. In addition to this, Athena had saved Odysseus in the war that went on when Odysseus reveals himself by deflecting the arrows from six of the suitors who attempted to attack him, proving how beneficial she is to Odysseus.
In final analysis, Odysseus' journey became smoother along the way with the help of Circe, Penelope, and Athena. Without Athena saving Odysseus from the arrows being shot by the suitors, Penelope staying loyal to Odysseus after all these years, and Circe's guidance to Hades, Odysseus could have a more problematic journey. With these powerful women influencers, we begin to wonder what life may have looked like with just men or just women.
Juliet as Death Found Poem - 3/13/18
Death.
I am the greatest, Yet most suspected.
Here I stand, both to impeach and purge.
My short date of breath is there, dead.
Tybalts' doomsday Banish'd the new-made bridegroom.
Grief betrothed me.
A sleeping potion; which so took effect,
I wrought on the form of death.
This poem came from the end of the play where Friar Laurence finally confessed his plan all along to the Prince. The Friar begins to explain how he married the two teenagers together and how Friar gave Juliet a potion to make it seem like she was dead so she would not have to marry Paris the next day to stay a faithful wife to Romeo. If you have read Romeo and Juliet, you know that the concept of "death" is prevalent throughout this whole play. The term "death" is overly misused and joked about through everyone in this play; for example, Romeo and Juliet both have soliloquies in this tedious tale of how hurt they have become through the families feud and how they are going to essentially, commit suicide. In this poem, I had taken the concept of death and personified it through Juliet's voice. Juliet is madly in love with Romeo at the beginning, portraying how she is the greatest and how nothing can defeat her love for Romeo. However, as the poem progresses, death becomes the main character and Juliet is becoming belittled, with soon taking on the form of death.
I am the greatest, Yet most suspected.
Here I stand, both to impeach and purge.
My short date of breath is there, dead.
Tybalts' doomsday Banish'd the new-made bridegroom.
Grief betrothed me.
A sleeping potion; which so took effect,
I wrought on the form of death.
This poem came from the end of the play where Friar Laurence finally confessed his plan all along to the Prince. The Friar begins to explain how he married the two teenagers together and how Friar gave Juliet a potion to make it seem like she was dead so she would not have to marry Paris the next day to stay a faithful wife to Romeo. If you have read Romeo and Juliet, you know that the concept of "death" is prevalent throughout this whole play. The term "death" is overly misused and joked about through everyone in this play; for example, Romeo and Juliet both have soliloquies in this tedious tale of how hurt they have become through the families feud and how they are going to essentially, commit suicide. In this poem, I had taken the concept of death and personified it through Juliet's voice. Juliet is madly in love with Romeo at the beginning, portraying how she is the greatest and how nothing can defeat her love for Romeo. However, as the poem progresses, death becomes the main character and Juliet is becoming belittled, with soon taking on the form of death.
A Romeo Nutshell - 5/3/18
The Tragedy Of Romeo and Juliet is a tale of two star-crossed lovers who in their love for each other were willing to sacrifice their lives, written by William Shakespeare. The tale is set in the fourteen-hundreds in magical Verona, Italy. However, there's one thing that makes this city differ from other cities in Italy: The Capulet and Montague feud. Because of the fate of Romeo being a Montague and Juliet being a Capulet, Romeo evolves into a man who is overly emotional and melancholy without the love from his new "true love."
Romeo, at the beginning of the play, is a giant sack of depression. Romeo believes that he has found the person and place “where I am in love” speaking of Rosaline, a girl who he is extremely lovesick over. Meaning, he is in love with Rosaline; however, Rosaline is not in love with him. This results in Romeo's depression. He never wants to do anything with Benvolio or Mercutio anymore. Benvolio even makes fun of Romeo for being lovesick over Rosaline. Romeo tends to take things to the extreme when it comes to love. He portrays himself as being shallow and foolish. He becomes to0 emotional for the story to be enjoyable and he even starts to lose his masculinity. Prior to Romeo and Juliet’s encounter, Romeo is in an infatuation with Rosaline. In Act 1.1, Romeo depicts Rosaline's beauty and says, "She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair." Romeo’s love for Rosaline is only skin deep and faces heart break when she chooses to be celibate. Because Romeo is lovesick over Rosaline, he never wants to go out and meet new women like Benvolio suggests. Personally, this hurts Romeo's personality. If Romeo was not extremely emotional about everything, then this story could take a different turn. Now comes the "love story" between Romeo and Juliet. First of all, Romeo starts the whole tragedy. True, Juliet acts naive, nonetheless Romeo acts hastily by encouraging the relationship. Yet when Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, he forgets all about Rosaline and instantly falls for Juliet. In Act 1.5, Romeo is the first to spot Juliet and immediately feels an attraction to her. In addition, Romeo thinks Juliet is very beautiful and convinces her to kiss him without knowing each other. Then in Act 2.1, Romeo pursues Juliet and goes to her balcony and begins to profess his love for her. When Romeo is swearing that he is in love with Juliet, she stops him and says everything is happening so quickly. Some people may argue that Romeo shows extreme passion for Rosaline and even for Juliet throughout this play. However, he tends to do everything he can just to be with Juliet, no matter the consequences. Is that really passionate? To some people, yes. But to others, Romeo is one hopeless romantic.
As the play progresses, Shakespeare reveals more about Romeo's character. His role as a melancholy lover is present but he represents Juliet's secret lover as well. Romeo begins in a world defined by love rather than a world fractured by the feud. However, Tybalts' and Mercutios' deaths in Act III bring about the clash between the private world of the lovers and the public world of the feud. Now, Romeo becomes reluctant to fighting Tybalt because what he doesn't know is that him and Romeo are now related to the marriage between the star-crossed lovers. In fact, nobody in the city knows about this marriage except for Friar Laurence and Juliet's wet nurse. Tybalt, however, is always up for a fight and he never wants peace to be made between these two families. The fight occurs between Mercutio and Tybalt. As a result, Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt. Why did Romeo do this? Was it out of fury and emotion? Not only after the fight occurs, Romeo once again, becomes melancholy from his banishment. He believes that he is never going to be able to see Juliet again. On the contrary, it is known that Romeo tries to see Juliet again, but it ends in some very fatal consequences.
With Romeo being so emotional and melancholy, it's learned that emotions can overtake a person and can lead to some serious consequences. Romeo is responsible for five deaths in this story, Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Juliet, and himself. Romeo is not only weak and foolish but is responsible for the tragic death of his own and Juliet's. Commencing from the infatuation at the Capulet party to the obsession and hurried decision making at the tomb, it was all too much for Romeo who’s uncompromising attitude inevitably caused this impractical catastrophe to surface.
Romeo, at the beginning of the play, is a giant sack of depression. Romeo believes that he has found the person and place “where I am in love” speaking of Rosaline, a girl who he is extremely lovesick over. Meaning, he is in love with Rosaline; however, Rosaline is not in love with him. This results in Romeo's depression. He never wants to do anything with Benvolio or Mercutio anymore. Benvolio even makes fun of Romeo for being lovesick over Rosaline. Romeo tends to take things to the extreme when it comes to love. He portrays himself as being shallow and foolish. He becomes to0 emotional for the story to be enjoyable and he even starts to lose his masculinity. Prior to Romeo and Juliet’s encounter, Romeo is in an infatuation with Rosaline. In Act 1.1, Romeo depicts Rosaline's beauty and says, "She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair." Romeo’s love for Rosaline is only skin deep and faces heart break when she chooses to be celibate. Because Romeo is lovesick over Rosaline, he never wants to go out and meet new women like Benvolio suggests. Personally, this hurts Romeo's personality. If Romeo was not extremely emotional about everything, then this story could take a different turn. Now comes the "love story" between Romeo and Juliet. First of all, Romeo starts the whole tragedy. True, Juliet acts naive, nonetheless Romeo acts hastily by encouraging the relationship. Yet when Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, he forgets all about Rosaline and instantly falls for Juliet. In Act 1.5, Romeo is the first to spot Juliet and immediately feels an attraction to her. In addition, Romeo thinks Juliet is very beautiful and convinces her to kiss him without knowing each other. Then in Act 2.1, Romeo pursues Juliet and goes to her balcony and begins to profess his love for her. When Romeo is swearing that he is in love with Juliet, she stops him and says everything is happening so quickly. Some people may argue that Romeo shows extreme passion for Rosaline and even for Juliet throughout this play. However, he tends to do everything he can just to be with Juliet, no matter the consequences. Is that really passionate? To some people, yes. But to others, Romeo is one hopeless romantic.
As the play progresses, Shakespeare reveals more about Romeo's character. His role as a melancholy lover is present but he represents Juliet's secret lover as well. Romeo begins in a world defined by love rather than a world fractured by the feud. However, Tybalts' and Mercutios' deaths in Act III bring about the clash between the private world of the lovers and the public world of the feud. Now, Romeo becomes reluctant to fighting Tybalt because what he doesn't know is that him and Romeo are now related to the marriage between the star-crossed lovers. In fact, nobody in the city knows about this marriage except for Friar Laurence and Juliet's wet nurse. Tybalt, however, is always up for a fight and he never wants peace to be made between these two families. The fight occurs between Mercutio and Tybalt. As a result, Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo kills Tybalt. Why did Romeo do this? Was it out of fury and emotion? Not only after the fight occurs, Romeo once again, becomes melancholy from his banishment. He believes that he is never going to be able to see Juliet again. On the contrary, it is known that Romeo tries to see Juliet again, but it ends in some very fatal consequences.
With Romeo being so emotional and melancholy, it's learned that emotions can overtake a person and can lead to some serious consequences. Romeo is responsible for five deaths in this story, Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Juliet, and himself. Romeo is not only weak and foolish but is responsible for the tragic death of his own and Juliet's. Commencing from the infatuation at the Capulet party to the obsession and hurried decision making at the tomb, it was all too much for Romeo who’s uncompromising attitude inevitably caused this impractical catastrophe to surface.
Two Voices Poem - 5/13/18
Ralph Both Jack
I Am Ralph. I Am Jack.
I am brave but frightened. I am hurtful and rude.
I am a leader and a fighter.
I feel regulated by the conch.
I feel the pigs’ blood on my hands.
I hear the cries of the littluns.
I worry that the others will lose it.
I worry about my choir boys falling for Ralph.
I say kids can do just as much as adults.
I say that I will kill the beast.
I hope for forgiveness for my sins.
I am brave but frightened.
I am hurtful and rude.
Anthem Journal Entry - 5/24/18
May 24th, 2018.
Names. Names show the features of the people the name is referring to. Names represent who you are as a person and how you identify with the people around you. The sense of personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives us is at the heart of why names interest us and why they are important to us as individuals and to our society as a whole. In spite of their importance, though, most people know very little about names and about the effects they have on us an on our children in everyday life. In a very real sense, we are consumers of names, and we have a need and right to know about the psychological, magical, legal, religious, and ethnic aspects of our names. Every time we hear a name, we make a number of assumptions about that person or company or brand. A name identifies you, but it does so much more. It’s your public face. It tells people who you are, what you do, and a little about how you do it. We are obsessed with names. We label everything. Why? Partly due to curiosity, but primarily out of a need to know how everything fits into our world. We need to know how we are supposed to interact with it, how it can help us or how it can harm us. We look to a name to indicate these characteristics. Furthermore, the individuality of your name is very critical. My name, for example, comes from Greek heritage. In Greek, Sophia means wisdom;wise. People with this name have a deep inner need for quiet, and a desire to understand and analyze the world they live in, and to learn the deeper truths. People with this name are excited by change, adventure, and excitement. They are dynamic, visionary and versatile, able to make constructive use of freedom. They fight being restricted by rules and conventions. They tend to be optimistic, energetic, intelligent, and to make friends easily. They may be changeable, restless, untidy, and rebellious. Names determine how people view you as an individual and how you present yourself to society. Therefore, names are an immense part of who you are, making names powerful.
Names. Names show the features of the people the name is referring to. Names represent who you are as a person and how you identify with the people around you. The sense of personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives us is at the heart of why names interest us and why they are important to us as individuals and to our society as a whole. In spite of their importance, though, most people know very little about names and about the effects they have on us an on our children in everyday life. In a very real sense, we are consumers of names, and we have a need and right to know about the psychological, magical, legal, religious, and ethnic aspects of our names. Every time we hear a name, we make a number of assumptions about that person or company or brand. A name identifies you, but it does so much more. It’s your public face. It tells people who you are, what you do, and a little about how you do it. We are obsessed with names. We label everything. Why? Partly due to curiosity, but primarily out of a need to know how everything fits into our world. We need to know how we are supposed to interact with it, how it can help us or how it can harm us. We look to a name to indicate these characteristics. Furthermore, the individuality of your name is very critical. My name, for example, comes from Greek heritage. In Greek, Sophia means wisdom;wise. People with this name have a deep inner need for quiet, and a desire to understand and analyze the world they live in, and to learn the deeper truths. People with this name are excited by change, adventure, and excitement. They are dynamic, visionary and versatile, able to make constructive use of freedom. They fight being restricted by rules and conventions. They tend to be optimistic, energetic, intelligent, and to make friends easily. They may be changeable, restless, untidy, and rebellious. Names determine how people view you as an individual and how you present yourself to society. Therefore, names are an immense part of who you are, making names powerful.