Quarter 2 Reflections

    Quarter 2 has made me make very great progress in all of my schoolwork. Especially in ELA.
Ever since quarter 2 had started, I began to read way more for the 20 book challenge, I've read about 22 books. I've made the greatest improvements in this class ever. I am on top of everything now. I rarely have homework to do because I actually focus in this class. I accomplished being able to finish a book within a week or so since the new year. I also accomplished getting my IXLs done in 25 minutes or less. The most challenging thing in 2nd quarter for me in ELA would be learning new words for our vocabulary tests. I've learned how to overcome it by reading the dictionary, almost everyday, writing down every word and definition from A to Z (my mom recommended me to).

My research skill somewhat increased. I look up the topic I need information on, and I click on the sites that seem legit. Usually, the ones that are legit are half of the sites, therefore I would have 6 or more tabs open. The blogs have progressed so much from August it's wild. I wasn't a good writer, I was decent. I would only write enough to get the point across, I would get a 2 or 3. Now, if I'm lucky I'd only get 3's, since I put so much information to go above and beyond. I will strive for 4's only next quarter for sure.

I read a lot of books this quarter. I guess my recent favorites would be, A Child Called It and Darkness Before Dawn. A Child Called It, the reason I love it is because it's so emotional and the author's actual life. This actually happened, meaning it can happen to anyone. Anyone can be saved if they were to speak up, that is the message. The victim will never be at fault for being abused in a family or relationship. Darkness Before Dawn, Dena recommended it to me, I finished it in a week. It has a strong message, that just because someone's appearance is clean and neat, doesn't mean that their personality/mentality is also. I would literally recommend that book to everyone in the world. This world needs to read it. Police need to read. Judges need to read it. I only say that because apparently just because someone is white and has a great education means that they made a mistake(murder, rape, etc.) because they're human and that it won't happen again, even though they had done it way before. Anyways, I really enjoyed that book very much. I learned a lot from it. This was the best quarter, hopefully 3rd and 4th will be too.  

  

Book Talk

The nonfiction book I'm currently reading is called, "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer.

The book is about a little boy who grows up in a home where he was loved, cared for, and happy with his family. In a matter of seconds, that all went down the drain when his mother had a change of heart. She abused him. She would starve him. She did all these things to a little boy, who was her own. This all took place in their home, in which it became, HER home.
David is the main character, the author is the main character.
A struggle he had to overcome was everything. He had to overcome anything his mother did, he had to show nothing about what he felt because she wouldn't care. He had to overcome his fear, his starvation, his suffering. This book is saddening - it hurts my heart, I dislike it. I would say the theme of the book is patience that just because you're suffering now doesn't mean you're going to suffer forever - there will be a time where an "angel" will be sent to you and save you. David, he was thrown all these obstacles and he found out things about himself that he never knew he was capable of doing.

Even though this book hurts a my heart, I love this book. It is now in my top 5 favorite books. I like this book due to it being real and having a before/after thing coming up. I would literally recommend this book to anyone who has been abused or anyone that is abusing others. The reason for showing someone who abuses others is for them to look on how it destroys someone emotionally, physically, and mentally. If they still had humanity in them, they would rethink their choices of hurting others. The reason of showing those who have been abused is for them having some hope.

Vulnerable Measures: Sexism

Our society today is provoking something that needs fixing. Sexism is getting out of hand. Feminists of both genders are fighting for equal rights. Feminism is not just for women, it is also for men. It is for anyone that believes that equal rights are for everyone and not just men. Making it clear, feminists aren't women or men that hate men themselves.

Most problems that contain sexism would be in the working industry. Everyone knows so well that women who are working the same job as men, are paid less. Many women aren’t okay with this but, they don't do anything about it because they don't want to lose their job. To back this up, another incident would be that most female roles in the working industry aren't taken seriously. There was a book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists, she talks about her experience and what other people around her experienced. In her book, page 28, she had asked, “Why should a woman's success be a threat to a man?” Now thinking about it, there are facts about how men were once leaders and currently still are - somewhat. They were and still are the physically strongest. Now, it isn't like that anymore. It doesn't matter whether or not you're physically strong, it is based on whether or not you're mentally strong. Any man or woman can be intelligent, creative, and original. Men and women are equal, we are just blind to it because of how it is portrayed.

There are more severe incidents but an incident that isn't really brought up would be when a woman is blamed for her own rape. In 2014, Judge Robin Camp had asked the victim why she couldn't “prevent her rape by skewing her pelvis to avoid penetration.” Basically, what he had asked was why couldn't she just her rapist or not open her legs. Later on during the case, he had apologized. Although, those who thought or think just like Camp, know that in order to prevent a rape is to simply not be born a girl. We can’t control that. In order for rape not to happen is for men to have decency to not take advantage of a woman. Men shouldn't be able to do whatever they please because they think that women are brought into this world to be used for their body. In society, the finger is still being pointed to young girls who get raped due to the way they talk or the way they dress. Our society is making little girls, young girls, women, to be dressed a certain way to fit into society. Everyone now needs something in order to be categorized into a group. Women shouldn't be put down nor should be taken advantage of for what organs we have that are “appealing” to satisfy men's needs.

Last quarter, I had witnessed something referring to sexism in one of my classes. In my social justice class, we were learning about sexism. While we were arguing about some topics that are included within the bigger topic, boys were becoming uncomfortable when us, girls, said, “Periods.” The boys had said, “You don’t need to talk about that” or “That isn't important.” We, girls, responded with, “But, it’s life.” We kept going back and forth. I then included that the boys talk about their personal things but we don’t mind because it’s normal, it’s part of life. I didn't see anything wrong with men/boys talking about what they experience and I never will. Men shouldn't be disgusted when it comes to feminine products and what females produce from their body. Men act like they aren't capable for women products or women in general. Men just aren't normalized in a woman's environment. Another problem that had happened in that same class was that boys and girls always sat opposite sides of the room from each other. We wouldn't collide. We would stay within our gender or “group.” Those two problems that I mentioned are problems that occur everywhere and we think it's okay because the way it is portrayed.

Two quotes by Tyler Blanski, interprets them with the word of God, 'Then God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' So out of the ground God had formed every kind of animal and brought them to the man to see what he would call them.”
This quote gives information about Adam and animals, but it gives an idea on how God chooses to help him. Therefore He made Eve, “Whatever the man called the animals, that was their name. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and took one of his ribs and made it into a woman and brought her to the man.”

This quote is saying that God made Eve for Adam to help him. In society now, men take advantage of the women because they believe that they are only there to please them. They may even think that women are useless but it is more than that. It will always be more than that. We, as a union, must teach one another in order for problems in the future to be mellow.
“God made Eve for Adam, NOT Adam for Eve.” - anonymous

Nonfiction Book Response

The nonfiction book that I'm currently reading is, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, I've only read a small section and it is about having a good marriage. Basically what the section is talking about is how you know you have a good marrriage and when you don't. It also connects with any religion you are in that it will/can help you overcome the thing that is destroying you and your significant other. In the 'Good Marriage' section of the book, it gives a problem and solution type of vibe to it.

A passage that I had seen that was interesting to me would be, "I think people expect too much from marriage today. They expect perfection. Every moment should be bliss. That's TV or movies. But that is not the human experience..-Like Sarah says, twenty good minutes here, forty good minutes there, it adds up to something beautiful. The trick is when things aren't so great, you don't junk the whole thing. It's okay to have an argument, It's okay that the other one nudges you a little, bothers you a little. It's part of being close to someone." The reason I chose this passage is because it is so true. This passage shows part of your life that you will receive soon enough. It is basically saying that just because someone you love annoys you or bothers you, doesn't mean you have to let it all(love, memories, laughter, happiness) go just because of that. We should hold on to someone like that because that's how you know they truly love you. Another passage I saw was, "...the joy you get from the same closeness - when you watch your children, when you wake up and smile at each other - that, as our tradition teaches us, is a blessing. People forget that...- Because the word 'commitment' has lost its meaning. I'm old enough to remember when it used to be a positive. A committed person was someone to be admired. He was loyal and steady. Now a commitment is something you avoid. You don't want to tie yourself down. - It's the same with faith, by the way. We don't want to get stuck having to go to services all the time, or having to follow all the rules. We don't want to commit to God. We'll take Him when we need Him, or when thing are going good. But real commitment? That requires staying power - in faith and in marriage." I chose this passage also to the fact that commitment isn't a scary thing, and that is what the passage is trying to say. Society all around us is stuck trying to be on our own and not be faithful/loyal. Our society now is lost and that is why so many of us believe that we cannot be saved.

After reading my nonfiction book, I know I won't forget most of the things I read within the section and within the entire book. When I was reading the section, 'Good Marriage', it gave a little nudge on marriage with religion. It taught me that our religion shouldn't hold us back from who we love or what we love. In the book, it basically said that our mind changes through the years we experience new things. The things we experience, whether good or bad will always have an effect. The effect then will give us the chance to grow. Being able to go through something so drastic and having the chance to grow is something I will not forget.

I commented on Dena's blog.
I commented on Vanessa's blog.
I commented on America's blog.

Gratitude

The person I'm most thankful for would be my mom. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be alive today. I wouldn't be here today, not because she gave birth to me but because she had taken me out of a place that I've been stuck in for about 4 years. I'm still in that zone but I'm not as bad as I used to be, all because of her. She is the reason I'm living, why I'm healthy, why I actually want to live. I love her. The other people I'm most thankful for would be my brothers. They taught me all sorts of things. They took care of me when I wasn't mentally okay. When they found out what was going on with me, they were supportive. They were there for me. They continue to still be there for me.

I'll never forget what my uncle had done for me and my family about 9 years ago when he was here. He would protect us. He would protect my mom, as a brother would of course. My uncle was a strong man that was also dealing with other things in his own life but he never left us out. He was a giver, he gave me love when I felt alone. He was like a best friend. I'm forever thankful for him. May he rest in peace.

I adore my friends and my boyfriend, I'm so grateful to have them. They are also the reason why I want to live. They bring happiness to my life and that is all I ever want. I know they would do anything for me and I for them. They have absolutely no idea how much they have impacted my life. I love the fact that Dena and I share the same sense of humor. I adore the fact that Shay and I have a bond that no one can break, we're sisters. I love how Andrew is my best friend who loves me for me and only me. My friend, Destiny, has always been there for me and I love her. Others who we may just talk with no labels, it makes me feel good that they feel the need to speak to me. For that, I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for every single person in my life. Even people I don't speak to them anymore or I'm not friends with anymore, I'm still grateful for them. Although we don't speak anymore or aren't friends anymore doesn't mean I have forgotten everything they've done for me. It doesn't mean I have forgotten everything they've taught me. I'm not one to hold hatred. I still have love for those that aren't in my life.

I commented on Christian's blog.

Gallery Walk

I learned so many things during our Gallery Walk today. I learned about Bonneted Bats on how they are endangered due to them being killed when trees are being cut down. They are not even like bats, they are more like bees/squirrels/birds. They like flowers and pollen. They also depend on noise. I learned more about Ebola. I learned how when it spread, it had one mutation. It is more deadly now due to it being transferred by bats. The main cause was because of fruit flies.

In Ohio, some students are finding a way to end bullying. They are trying to see that if they were to tell their experiences, others will want to not make others feel that way anymore. In other cases, Donald Trump and Barack Obama had a meeting. They both had problems with each other in the past but they overcame that when they were talking about how Trump will lead our country. They were grown enough to not be critical to each other or bring up old beef.

Election Blog

Last night was the election for the presidency. Trump won. I honestly have lost hope in our country. I mean, who in the right mind would allow this. Although, we should not worry. He may say he'll build a wall, he'll deport mexicans, etc. He may say all those things but he won't be able to do it. He will certainly try but most likely he won't succeed, hopefully. It is not just him ruling our country. It is Congress and Senate also. Half of America's population is Mexican and/or foreign in some way. He cannot kick all of us out. He is able to take out illegals but not legals. We are a union, with or without a President that gives us respect. Therefore we all have to work together in order to get along together.

Trump winning can do a lot for this country. It can change a lot for us due to his actions before. Although he says he will now accept others, we all don't know that for sure. Most of us are angry at the fact that Clinton didn't get the votes she deserved. Some are still with Bernie. And the rest are voting for someone who isn't even known for something as well as Trump and Clinton. Some even say that Trump is lesser of a problem when it comes to Clinton. But that is not the point anymore, the point is to be able to communicate with each other now that we have Trump.

Who I " voted" for was Bernie Sanders. He may have been old, he may have been small, and he may have not been able to do what he said he will do. But, he had a big mind full of ideas and ways to make it actually happen. He would be better off in Congress, those who voted for him and/or liked him, know that. Now, we have Trump as our next president, and we all are hoping that he doesn't mess it up.