What I Read That Mattered

Something I’ve read that really mattered to me was “The Perks of Being A Wallflower”. I feel as if every person goes into high school more afraid than excited. We’re wondering what’s going to happen, who we’re going to meet, what our teachers will be like, whether or not we will fit in. We strive so hard to be someone we’re not that first year of high school. This book was something I could relate to. Charlie is the main character and it’s about his experience his freshman year of high school and his answers to all the questions we had. He met new friends, experimented with drugs, sex, partying, learned to rely on himself, felt his first heart break; he went through everything just like any other person in high school would.  Reading the book after I had experienced all of that made it even more enjoyable, because I could feel those same emotions right alongside him. I remember what it was like walking onto the campus for the very first time; I got a little teary eyed because I wondered how I was ever going to make friends considering I knew absolutely no one. I had lived in Fontana my first twelve years of my life and after my parents got divorced I moved to Arizona with my mom for two years. I made the best of friends with people out there, people I still communicate and catch up with every time I’m out there. Two weeks before freshman year was about to begin my mom decided she was ready to move back to California, before I knew it I was enrolled in Los Osos High School. Just like Charlie, I was very lonely the first few months of my freshman year and tried so hard to fit in with anyone who would accept me. But just like Charlie did, I met people who have impacted me all throughout high school. I’ve met teachers who have heavily influenced me and I’ve also made friends who I will always cherish. We all have our fair share of decisions we wish we hadn’t made, the things that if we could go back and do them again we wouldn’t. But I believe that’s what made each of us grow up, it was the mistakes that made us fall down and have to get back up, sometimes alone, that made us mature. We learned to grow up and leave the people behind who were holding us down and stick close to those who were bringing us up. A lot can happen in a year, but looking back on the past four years I can gladly say everything I did had a reason and even the moments I made mistakes I would never take them back. I highly recommend this book to anyone in high school regardless of your age or the things you have experienced; every word on every page is worth a read and if you cannot relate to it now I can promise you will be able to relate to it later. The title speaks wonders and there’s nothing more that could better relate to my high school experience than this book.

Favorite Poem Project

I wanted to let you guys read my favorite poem! It's really simple and easy to understand, which makes readers feel at ease. The definition of a photography stated here is definitely what I feel about photographs.

By: James Metcalfe

A photograph is more than just
A gift to bring or send.
And more than just the likeness of
A relative or friend.

It is a kindly greeting and
A memory to hold.
Of happy times and pleasant things.
However new or old.

It is a mirror that reflects
Companionship and cheer.
And now and then the wistfulness
That turns into a tear.

A photograph is something to

Adorn a desk or wall.
Or carry in a pocket and
Display to one and all.

It is a faithful portrait
The smile that friendship shares
To add its sunshine and to show
That someone really cares.

So this is my favorite poem because of its precise definition of a photograph. A photograph definitely serves more than the purpose of just showing someone or sending it to someone. It holds certain past memories within the picture itself. Some of these memories might make us tear, while other memories make us smile and reminisce about the past. The meaning and purpose of a photograph is unlimited. This poem certainly brings out the many different meanings of a photo.

Response to Senior Memoir Project

After completing the senior memoir, I've realized how fast time passes. Remember when we first entered high school? I think the senior memoir project definitely brought out many past memories and the gradual change of ourselves. While looking at other people's senior memoir, I definitely see the physical changes that they have went through. So many memories were created throughout the years of high school, we shared it with our friends, teachers, parents and even people that we don't even know! Your friends, teachers and parents are the people who made you into the person you are today. As we are heading off to college, we must thank our parents, teachers and friends that helped you throughout the years because through this journey, they were always there to encourage and help you both physically and emotionally.

Sestina

I've finally decided to post my Sestina for you guys to read! As high school is coming to an end, college is getting nearer and nearer. Thus I have decided to dedicate this to our Los Osos Seniors! Sestina is actually a really fun way to work your brains, afterall, there are only 6 words to use over and over again. However, each word turns out differently from the way it was used before. Although it was hard, I was still able to accomplish the task.

We are all students
with many friends,
different teachers
and a lot of homework.
As we head off to college,
we will definitely miss high school.

Remember the day we started high school
there were thousands of students.
Everyday, we dream of college
and having fun with our friends,
a place where there is lesser homework
and no naggy teachers.

This place has many teachers
that are different from those of high school.
There is a lesser amount of homework
because teachers have too many students,
either way, some copy from their friends.
Is this what we call college?

Everyday seniors dream about college.
Every year, students get new teachers.
Every week, students make new friends.
Every day, students attend high school.
Every Saturday, is a free day for students.
While every Sunday, students rush their homework.

A year from now, when you're doing your english homework,
in the cafe of college,
with your fellow students,
you realize that the assignments assigned by your college teacher
are extremely different from high school
It is then, that moment when you think of your high school friends.

Remember the things we used to do with our friends?
All those times we spent doing homework
meeting up before entering the high school,
and daydreaming about colleges,
listening to the instructions of your teachers
and walking among the thousands of students.

The past was high school while the future is college
It's time to look forward to new friends, harder homework
new teachers and new fellow students.

Senior Memoir

As I was looking through my senior memoir book it made me realize the things that were most important to me during the years. It also allowed me to see how close graduation is and how things are beginning to get real. Throughout my four years of high school I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m grateful my ups dramatically outweighed my downs. A few key things that made my high school experience great is meeting my best friend, playing basketball, and enjoying the feel of the REAL high school life. Even though in school was a great experience, my experiences outside of school were even greater. In the mist of these years I began to grow as a person and gain knowledge inside and outside of school preparing me for the next level in my life. The senior memoir project is great for the seniors because it gives them the chance to look back and see what have made them become the person they are today. Making my next step to college will be one of those life experiences that I will never forget, and I think we should all be looking forward to grow mentally and physically in life hoping for the best. On that note I wish all my classmates a well and successful journey in life.

How to Survive in The Hunger Games

So I've finally jumped on the bandwagon, and read/watched the Hunger Games.  Funny thing about my experience with it: I got a book from Ms. Visconti that was missing the first two chapters, so I read chapters 3-5. Then on a random impulse one day, I saw it in theatres. The thing about me, is that though I try to avoid doing this, I usually see the movie before reading the books, much to the chagrin of many people when I tell them this. A few days later, I started reading the book, from the VERY beginning. A few MORE days later, and I finished it! The Hunger Games, though a very simple book to read, boasts the same kind of credibility that is comparable to Harry Potter: it is aimed towards children, but nearly everyone can love it. And I do indeed love it.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I'll try to avoid giving spoilers, but I make no promises.
After all, you've been warned ;)

The Joy Luck Club – What I Read That Truly Mattered and Impacted My Life

I LOVED reading the Joy Luck Club, and seeing as how I've got a bit of catching up to do, blog-wise, this is what I'm probably going to talk about for a while :)

I mean, sure, I had to read the Joy Luck Club as an assignment for my independent reading, but as I progressed through the novel, it became more than that. With every story, I found an aspect that I could relate to. I might not be a concubine, but I can understand the feelings and relate in terms of the respect that one of the characters' mothers had to endure. Whilst reading this book, I couldn't remember all the main characters' names quite clearly, after all, they were on the chapter titles. But it didn’t matter. 

What mattered was the story each girl told, either of old world living or a more modernized time. This novel provoked a lot of thought, especially when it came to relationships. Quite often, the focus was not on the individual's relationship itself, but the pressures, respects, and issues that had to do with it. I found myself reflecting on my own life when I was reading it, thinking that even though I am at a quite young age, there are already pressures on me, due solely to the fact that I have a Chinese boyfriend.

But relating to the Chinese culture didn't stop there. The customs I had become so long adapted to were presented before me, something I just did but never understood why. Though my mother is also catholic, she still to this day, practices the way of our ancestors, praying to the many deities they also believed in. Whilst reading this book, despite a slight culture difference being they were primarily Mandarin while I am Cantonese, the relations were impeccable. Long standing traditions that I did not even realize our two very similar, yet also different cultures shared were in there, and sometimes, I even got a little Mandarin lesson along the way, much to the chagrin to my boyfriend, another Mandarin speaker.

This book inspired me, encouraged me to push through it, for it was entirely worth it. It took me longer than I expected, but as I pursued, I was rewarded with a lifelong lesson and understanding that I never dreamed possible, all from reading a book! The characters, entirely relatable to me, seemed almost too real, as if they were singling me out, and talking solely to me. Though I know this not to be true, it also brought another perspective to my attention: how do those without the background that I have, understand the true meaning of the stories these women have to share with us? Surely, people may be able to cope, but I feel that without my previous experience, I'd feel something missing. And that's what I feel like this book was to me: something that was missing. Something that mattered so much that I recommend it to all of my "Asian friends", for I hope that they have the same appreciation that I have had upon reading this enticing and completely mesmerizing novel.