A Week to Remember: Week 2

This week has been pretty great. I'm in Florida for a chess tournament. I ended up finishing 3 out of 7. I'm really excited because I was about to beat a 1700!!!!! But, I dropped a rook. Yeah that sucked. Hopefully from this tournament I finally break a 1000. Fingers crossed. Florida isn't as warm as I would have expected. It has only been reaching around 60 degrees. Now I have to do homework. It's a bummer because after playing chess for three days straight I just want a break. However  I can't get one. So that's my week for ya. This is Kiana signing off. Peace.

TEDx

I chose the Ted Talk " The Danger of a Single Story" by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I picked this talk because it was amazing. I never thought of the idea of a single story, but I do understand it. From the media, I only know Africa as this HIV/ Aids infested, Ebola spreading, and poverty ridden country. But that's only a single story. Chimamanda continues in talking about how these single stories lead to stereotypes. And from this I see where oppression comes from. If you are continuously shown in movies African American females acting and talking ghetto, you'll thinks that's the norm, a representation of the entire race of females, right? That's why I enjoyed this Talk because it encourages you to open your eyes, do you own research, and not settle with the single story. This is Kiana signing out. Peace.

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story#t-1113852

A Week to Remember: Week 1

Overall my week has been fairly enjoyable. Monday and Tuesday were calm days. I didn't receive a crazy amount of homework, but a good deal of it. On Wednesday, I went to chess practice. We are preparing for our tournament that is next week. On Thursday, I procrastinated a lot when it came to doing homework. And today, Friday, I had two quizzes. One in trigonometry and one in driver's education. Also, on my way home I almost got hit by a car. When I approached a corner near my house I was given the right of way from the light, however I yielded to allow cars to make left turns. When all the turns were completed I proceeded crossing through the crosswalk. When more than half way across the street, a car comes out of nowhere and makes a sharp  left turn. The car was heading directly at me and at the last moment the driver turned the wheel to avoid hitting me. I was really scared. I was thinking, did my time come already? This horrible image of what might've happened if he did hit me flashed through my mind. So yeah that was my week in a nutshell. Tune into my blog for my weekly summaries. This is Kiana signing out. Peace.

Goodman Brown

Extra! Extra! Read all about: Goodman Brown finally discovers the bad in us, but can he accept it? In the story "Young Goodman Brown", Goodman Brown is a young man who has been unaware are of the evil that exist in everyone. Goodman witnessed this evil first-hand in a dream where all the pious people of his town worshiped the devil. Although Goodman Brown is innocent in the sense that he has never been exposed to such evil or failed to realize its presence, his reaction to the discovery of the evil inside everyone made him to be profiled as an unsympathetic, unrighteous, unfeeling, and unwilling to accept flawed humanity character. This is also is determined from the fact that he knew what he was walking into, he was just unaware of the severity and close presence of the evil.

            Goodman Brown is considered as an unrighteous character because he went into the evil forest on his own without being pressured into doing so.  Goodman Brown went into the forest knowing that an evil presence was lurking in there. This is seen when the narrator stated, "With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his evil purpose," (Hawthorne, page 237). This exhibits how Goodman Brown knew where his journey would lead, yet he still proceeded with his expedition, which tarnishes the possibility of his innocence being to blame for his actions. He was also warned of this possible evil from Faith when she mentioned of her horrid dreams. This is seen when Faith stated," A lone woman is troubled with such dreams and such thoughts that she's afraid of herself sometimes," (Hawthorne, page 237). Then Faith makes a plead to Goodman Brown to stay with her for the night. Yet he refused, even when given the plead and warning from his wife.

Goodman Brown is also to be considered as an unwilling to accept flawed humanity character because he refused to accept flawed humanity. When Goodman Brown was walking with the man in the forest he noticed a change in the man's walking stick, but he waved it off. In the story it stated, "So curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a serpent.... must have been an ocular deception" (Hawthorne, page 238). Even when evil was directly in Goodman Brown's face, he refused to believe it. This shows his way of not accepting flawed humanity, but rather blocking it out. This is also seen when the stranger spoke of Goodman Brown's father also walking through the forest. Goodman Brown did not want to accept the possibility of his father embarking on such a wicked journey, he was too righteous to do so. Goodman Brown stated in the text," We are a people of prayer, and good works to boot, and abide no such wickedness," (Hawthorne, page 238). To wave away the possibility of wickedness existing, Goodman Brown made the claim of his family being too righteous to commit such an action. This is Goodman Brown's way of not accepting flawed humanity.

Goodman Brown is also an unsympathetic character because of his unsympathetic nature. When Goodman Brown awoke from his dream he was very unsympathetic to the people in his community. In the text it stated,” Then did Goodman turn pale dreading lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his hearers” (Hawthorne, page 244). This narration shows how even though Goodman Brown went to the worshiping of the devil as well, he considers himself as pure. That those who claim to be pious are not. At this moment he is seen as a hypocrite and unsympathetic. He just deemed them all worthy of death because of the evil that exists in all of them except him.

                In conclusion, Goodman Brown does have a right to feel bewildered and/ or scared by the dream he had experienced. However, he chose to go in the forest where the evil that lurks. He decided to look blindly upon the signs that were presented before him. He picked to not to accept flawed humanity. Though this evil is new to him, he is still unsympathetic, unrighteous, unfeeling, and unwilling to accept flawed humanity character.

PTI College Experience

Part Time Indian

For my Part-Time Indian College Cartoon Project, I selected to go down the route where Junior meets a new girl but he does not know what to do since he is still dating Penelope. My first cartoon is a picture of a college named Hope with a mythical creature flying above it. The actually name of the college is not hope. Hope is a symbolic meaning to how Mr. P said in the book,” You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation.” (Page 43). Included in my picture is also a mythical creature because on page 51 Junior states,” But I do know that hope for me is like some mythical creature.”

My next cartoon is a picture of Junior comparing his college self to his high school self. While Junior is in high school a music producer hears his father playing the saxophone and signs him to his record company. From this, Junior’s family has acquired wealth allowing Junior to upgrade his clothing situation.

In the next picture Junior bumps into a girl knocking her books onto the ground. When he catches a glimpse of her face he sees an angel. Junior thinks he is in love. However Junior remembers he still has Penelope back home. Knowing what he has to Junior sees Gordy in his head nodding approvingly at his decision. In the end Junior decides to stick with Penelope.

My cartoon focuses on Junior’s possible reaction to having to decide between Penelope and another girl. In my cartoons Junior’s growth is in the form of independence. Going into college Junior has gained more independence and confidence in his decisions. Junior no longer fears what the people on the Rez thought about his decision to go to Reardan since it led to his enrollment into college. In my comic when Junior is faced with the decision of who to choose he does not rely on Gordy’s advice, which is why he sees Gordy giving him a nod of approval in his head. Gordy is proud of Junior’s growth.

 The authenticity of some of my cartoons are proven earlier in my essay. My cartoon is authenticating in the way how when Junior first fell for Penelope he turned to Gordy for advice. This occurred on page 116 when Junior states,” So I asked Gordy what I should do about Penelope.”  However now since Junior has grown he has more faith in his decisions, which is why Gordy nods approvingly at Junior. To end off my comic I drew a picture of Junior and Penelope walking off into sunset and the new girl crying in the sidelines. I drew this in order to keep the authenticity since Junior is known to be a bit dramatic in his cartoons.

Author Project

http://slideidea.com/slidecast/78153

Dream Project

Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway        www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3vPxKdj6o

Grew up in a small town

And when the rain would fall down

I'd just stare out my window

Dreaming of what could be

And if I'd end up happy

I would pray

Trying hard to reach out

But when I'd try to speak out

Felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here

But something felt so wrong here

So I pray

I could breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky

And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget all the ones that I loved

I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze

Sleep under a palm tree

Feel the rush of the ocean

Get onboard a fast train

Travel on a jet plane, far away

And breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky

And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

I won't forget all the ones that I loved

I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors

Swinging 'round revolving doors

Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but

Gotta keep moving on, moving on

Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget the place I come from

I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change

And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

•                     The Dream Project                                              Period 5

       For my dream project selection I selected the song Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson. I picked this song because it tells the journey of what you have to do to reach your dream. Kelly Clarkson sings about how you must break away in order to achieve your dream. This song gives me inspiration every time I hear it because I have some barriers I have to break through myself in order to accomplish my dreams.

       This song is an example of a dream realized. Kelly Clarkson sings about how when you do realize your dream, you must take a chance and make a change. The journey to reach that dream would not be easy; it’s like learning how to fly. It also demonstrates the pursuit of happiness. Kelly Clarkson relates dreams to happiness. This same philosophy is seen in Raisin in the Sun when Walter thinks his dream is to be rich, when it really is to be a man. The tone of this song is hopeful because it encourages you to continue to thrive to achieve your dreams. This is shown when Kelly Clarkson sings,” I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky”. 

This song relates to Raisin in the Sun in some ways. One way that they relate is how both the song and the play connect happiness and dreams. “Dreaming of what could be, And if I'd end up happy” – Kelly Clarkson. In Raisin in the Sun, Walter thought he would receive happiness and fulfillment from receiving the money from Linder. But he realized he would obtain more happiness and pride in rejecting the money. This is seen when Walter says,” I mean- we are very proud people... We don’t want your money”. A part of the song reads,” Trying hard to reach out, but when I'd try to speak out, felt like no one could hear me”. This compares to how Walter felt when he told Ruth about his aspirations of opening up a liquor store. In the play Walter says,” See- I’m trying to talk to you ‘bout myself and all you can say is eat them eggs”. This also occurs when Walter tries to convince Mama Lena to invest in the liquor store. Walter exclaims, “WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE LISTEN TO ME TODAY!” The play and the song relate and more ways like how the Youngster’s want to belong in their new community. Likewise, the relationship between light and darkness: the new house to the Youngsters is their light and for Kelly Clarkson it’s her attempt to achieve her dreams.

The Rules of Paragraph Indenting

The Rules of Paragraph Indenting lasson
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12BCh3ffRmoJvV9IcOSfbK6SPNJgAVVIOV6N8qXA8jkA/edit

The New Arrival

Here I am, I’ve just arrived at this new house. In this new neighborhood with new neighbors, and I’m uncertain about what to expect. I take a step and survey the area. The building we are moving in is composed of gray stone and house 16 tenants. Lined in front of the building are two vehicles: a blue Blazer and a black Sudan. I notice that we will now live on a main street, which entails a lot of traffic. Cars are coming from this way and that way. There are some cars that are obeying the speed limit and others that are just moving to the speed of light. I look at the ground and see that there is very little trash scattered across the ground. I viewed this as a good sign, since it showed that my new neighbors care enough to keep the building area clean. Even so, my mood took a dip when I noticed that, a few paces away, the sidewalk slowly progressed into messiness.
I continued my survey and observed the surrounding buildings. Straight across from me is another apartment building, a reddish-brown building. It appears to hold about fifteen or more apartment units. My mother informs me that that building use to be the location of a store. Adjacent to it is a family owned restaurant named “Papa Joe’s”. The restaurant has three large windows with black awnings hovering above each window. Next to the restaurant is a lounge. I don’t intend to ever visit that “lounge” place; nonetheless, I do intend to visit that restaurant a lot.  As I continue my survey I notice that next to my house is a parking lot filled with trucks. The trucks are painted orange and white, with Roscoe written on it in yellow letters. The lot belongs to Roscoe Cleaners. Their headquarters is not far from my new home.
Finishing my survey, I enter the building. Upon entering, I am hit by a warm-welcoming feeling radiating off the violet and sky-blue wall paint in the hallway. The floor is carpeted with a green and yellow design. As I stare upward, I realize that I must go to the second floor and that there are about fifteen stairs I must conquer first. With all my strength I was able to power through those stairs, dreading the next few years of me going up and down them. Upon arriving into the apartment, I wonder to the back porch. The backyard is fenced in by a gray barbwire gate. The fence is lined with meticulously planted, colorful flowers. The backyard is kept really clean. I even discovered a sign that said, and I quote,” Do not throw your Cig Butts in the back yard”. From the back porch I can see cars driving on the freeway, people walking down the street, and more Roscoe trucks. I travel down the many steps to the patio. Outside the gate is a green dumpster. There are parking spaces available for three cars, as well.
As nighttime approaches, the night walkers come out. I look out the window and see people of all ages walking on the street. My attention turns to the loud music that is being played across the street. People are assembled on the corner listening to music, talking, dancing, and drinking. Some females were dancing in a matter that I would not deem appropriate. Also, a man, who I believe lives across the street was working on a blue car. Out of nowhere, I picked up the sound of police sirens. The police’s lights flashed blue and red as they soared down the street, followed by a big red fire truck and an ambulance truck. This was a continuous scene throughout the nighttime.
In the morning, I traveled to the closest corner store. On my way to the store I passed a bus stop. The bus stop belongs to the number seven Harrison bus. I also passed the Roscoe Company building that I mentioned of earlier. The building is painted a shade of cream. A silver gate surrounds the company vehicles.  I see workers entering and exiting the company building wearing their uniform. As I continue my walk, I also pass a stone church. Outside of the church are two white flower pots. Each with, what seems to be daffodils in them. I finally arrive at the store and prepare for my shopping adventure, and my new life experience in this new neighborhood.

First impression

My first impression arriving to Whitney Young for my sophomore year was mixed. I was scared thinking, what if I get really mean teachers or what if I don't know anyone in my classes. Yet, amongst the fear, I was anxious and excited about the new school year and what's to come. It turns out that I have pretty awesome teachers and I am still connected to my friends, while having the opportunity to make new ones. I'm looking forward to this school year, but ,still, dreading the homework. Who knows what this sophomore year holds? This is Kiana on her first impression.