Sundays seem like they should be a good, enjoyable day of the week. That's wrong. Try as I might to get all of my homework done in study hall, I still always end up with too much homework on the weekends. Fridays are arguably the best day of the week because you know that you can sleep in as late as you want on Saturdays. Saturdays aren't as great because you know you have to get up at a fairly reasonable time on Sundays. And Sundays are kind of the worst because after waking up before eleven and mentally preparing yourself to do all of your homework, Sundays become a cesspool of lost dreams and biology notes.
This Sunday is an example of a better Sunday though it is nothing like those of years past. My family and I used to go to brunch on Sundays and enjoy the weather and such. These days I spend most of the day on various subjects' work and then might go on a walk. If the weather is nice I also enjoy doing my work outside to feel closer to nature. I also have considered doing my homework on Saturday but that's no fun and I'd rather sit around and watch Game of Thrones or go to lunch. Overall, I should probably consider doing my homework on another weekend day, but I suppose we all have to make sacrifices since I'd much rather have fun on Fridays.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Reading Response
This week I read the first 53 pages of Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It's not a novel that I would've chosen myself, but it's also not the worst book I've read for school. It gives me a bit of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid impression, but that's probably just because it's written from a teenage boy's perspective. I suppose it's supposed to be relatable to some of the readers but instead, I just find myself reading because I feel bad for all of these people.
I do find the Indian's situation interesting and pretty upsetting. Growing up I've always been told to do the best I possibly can in school and nothing less was accepted. I'm also expected to go to college and get a good job so I can live a comfortable life. The idea that basically none of the kids on the reservation will go on to do that surprises me and makes me sad for them. To live a life so hopeless and lacking drive seems dull and dreary.
I do find the Indian's situation interesting and pretty upsetting. Growing up I've always been told to do the best I possibly can in school and nothing less was accepted. I'm also expected to go to college and get a good job so I can live a comfortable life. The idea that basically none of the kids on the reservation will go on to do that surprises me and makes me sad for them. To live a life so hopeless and lacking drive seems dull and dreary.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Mary, Queen of Scots
I'd be lying if I said I found Queen Mary of Scots interesting before watching Reign. I don't regret that either because not only was that show really good, but Mary Stuart's life was very interesting. She was born the only living heir of King James V of Scottland and got stuck taking the throne at only a few days old. James thought that a female heir was a bad omen for the country but he died six days after Mary's birth so there wasn't another option. At the age of five, Mary became betrothed to Francis II, the heir to the French throne. She then moved to France and was raised and educated with the French royal children and her and Francis took the throne when they were only teenagers.
After ruling France for only about a year, Francis died and Mary eventually returned to Scotland. After she returned to Scotland, her influence went downhill. She married twice more and after supposedly being involved in the murder of her second husband, she lost all support of her subjects. In fact, her subjects turned against her and had her kidnapped and forced her to give up the throne to her young son. From here she was involved in multiple plots and threatened her cousin, the queen of England, Elizabeth I. Because they were cousins, Mary was a threat to take the crown and Elizabeth only put up with it for so long. That's where I made my research question. I wanted to know what caused Elizabeth to execute Mary after all the years that Mary spent in England and though it seems like a mix of Mary's claim to the throne, losing her own throne, and being involved in assassination plots against Elizabeth. I'd dare to say that the assassination plots were the last straw.
After ruling France for only about a year, Francis died and Mary eventually returned to Scotland. After she returned to Scotland, her influence went downhill. She married twice more and after supposedly being involved in the murder of her second husband, she lost all support of her subjects. In fact, her subjects turned against her and had her kidnapped and forced her to give up the throne to her young son. From here she was involved in multiple plots and threatened her cousin, the queen of England, Elizabeth I. Because they were cousins, Mary was a threat to take the crown and Elizabeth only put up with it for so long. That's where I made my research question. I wanted to know what caused Elizabeth to execute Mary after all the years that Mary spent in England and though it seems like a mix of Mary's claim to the throne, losing her own throne, and being involved in assassination plots against Elizabeth. I'd dare to say that the assassination plots were the last straw.
Reflection of First Semester
In the first semester of high school, I felt a bit lost at times. I was overwhelmed with the idea of my classes and wasn't sure where to put the most of my efforts. I was trying so hard on everything and making myself even more nervous than necessary. I didn't believe in myself or my academic capability. I was sure that I wouldn't adjust to the classes and that high school would be miserable. As the weeks went by and I was still stressed, I realized that I would have to make it work. I knew that I was smart enough to handle my classes, I just needed to accept that they weren't getting easier.
The first Latin test of the year was a big turning point. I studied so hard and when I came out of the test, I thought I had done horribly. All of us thought it was so hard and I didn't know exactly what to do to prepare because that was my first test with Mr. Posey. However, when we got our grades, mine was one of the highest in the class and my confidence was regained. I realized that I could handle this year and I was going to make it one of the best yet. Now as we go into the second semester, I know what classes I need to give extra attention to and I plan to keep studying as hard as I can and completing all of my homework. I take full advantage of easier points and try to keep my quarter grades as high as possible so that exams aren't the deciding factor of my semester grades.
The first Latin test of the year was a big turning point. I studied so hard and when I came out of the test, I thought I had done horribly. All of us thought it was so hard and I didn't know exactly what to do to prepare because that was my first test with Mr. Posey. However, when we got our grades, mine was one of the highest in the class and my confidence was regained. I realized that I could handle this year and I was going to make it one of the best yet. Now as we go into the second semester, I know what classes I need to give extra attention to and I plan to keep studying as hard as I can and completing all of my homework. I take full advantage of easier points and try to keep my quarter grades as high as possible so that exams aren't the deciding factor of my semester grades.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Friday, January 13, 2017
Free Post-Driver's Ed
Over winter break I took driver's ed. Overall I'd give it a two out of ten based on how much I enjoyed it. I didn't realize how much I enjoy school until I went to driver's ed which I hated so much. Though I had a few friends with me, it couldn't cover up how miserable thirty hours of learning common sense was. I felt like each hour of the day went by slower than the last. At least everyone in the class felt the same.
I felt like my whole break was wrecked by driver's education. Get it, wrecked? At least I found humor in this situation. It was four days, from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon. Isn't that longer than a school day? I believe it is. Which made it even worse. Although we were there for so long, we did have a fair amount of breaks so it was bearable. However, I could've thought of many ways to spend my winter break, but it is what it is.
Research Update
This research project has caused me more stress so far than I expected. When I picked the topic of Queen Mary of Scots, I thought she would be interesting and good to write about. Now I still think that her life was interesting but I'm struggling with I'm going to write about. My research question was difficult to develop not because of the question itself but because of the supporting topics. I'm worried that I don't have enough information on each of the topics in my sources.
I do think that Mary's life was very interesting and the interactions between her and Elizabeth I interest me. Finding sources wasn't too difficult but finding them that are different from the others is tough. Almost all of my sources have similar information since there's not much to say about the same parts of Mary's life. Some do focus more on different topics which is helpful. I hope that my sources have enough information on Mary's claim to the throne and her governing of Scotland.
I do think that Mary's life was very interesting and the interactions between her and Elizabeth I interest me. Finding sources wasn't too difficult but finding them that are different from the others is tough. Almost all of my sources have similar information since there's not much to say about the same parts of Mary's life. Some do focus more on different topics which is helpful. I hope that my sources have enough information on Mary's claim to the throne and her governing of Scotland.
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