First, some holiday humor!
What do you call an elf who is afraid of Santa Claus?
CLAUStrophobic!!!! :) Tee heeeeeee :)
Ok, onward and upward.
So, as we all know, the holiday season is upon us. Theoretically, we know it is a time to bring tidings of great joy and all that, but you don't have to be Scrooge to recognize that Christmas & Hanukkah & holidays in general really, tend to get more commercialized and commerce-driven each year. There is an entire DAY dedicated to the notion of spending money on holiday gifts. Crazy, right?
So, this week, let's do something different and instead of focusing on THINGS we would give to people as holiday gifts, let's instead talk about abstract concepts, feelings or ideas we would like to bestow (look it up) on another person--or, in this case, on two other people in our Lang fam, and one or two of whomever you choose.
Here is the idea: choose any two people across all three sections (both people cannot be from your own class), and talk about what you would like to "theoretically give" them as gifts. I will give you an example of something I thought of earlier:
For Jana I would give the power of healing self-love--both the ability to pass on to others, AND to fully appreciate its remedial nature. I would want her to call upon this power in her darkest of days when she is caring for herself and when she is emotionally recovering from the trauma of caring for herself. Healing self-love would soothe Jana's spirits and allow her the time necessary to build herself back up. Healing self-love would bring the shine back to Jana's eyes, and her smiles would be real again.
You've got some time for this task-today is Wednesday and this blog isn't due until next Wednesday the 28th (it's not real work in the traditonal Lang sense), so naturally that means I expect you will have put some thought into this. By thought I mean supporting details, varied syntax, and impassioned diction. Comprende?
Have fun with it--spread the joy. Who knows? Maybe AP Lang can save Christmas and we'll get a movie made!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Lost in Translation
I must confess that for as long as I can remember, I've felt felt a tinge of loneliness; ok, more than a tinge. It isn't because I don't have tons of friends--I mean, I don't, but I don't need tons. The scant few I've got are all I need because I've never been the type of person who judges herself on popularity. That seems stupid to me, given how fleeting popularity really is.
No, the truth is that I've almost always felt lonely for one reason: the sinking feeling that there are precious few people who view the world and those in it the way I do. For some reason, this matters a great deal to me. And this is the reason that I sometimes feel like I'm miles away even while surrounded by humans.
Often, when I'm feeling alone, I like to keep moving. Specifically, I like to go for walks. Well, first I drive to a place I've either 1) never been OR 2) always go. It's the drive before the walk that allows me to let go of the day and absorb the night. These walks of mine always happen at night. I feel like that's an important detail. Don't ask me why. So this is the state of affairs that brought me to Center City Philly last Friday night. As I roamed Old City, a place I once lived, I found myself replaying some of the interactions with various people I'd had up to that point in the day. When my mind settled on one of the day's conversations--I don't remember which--I distinctly recall feeling a rising tide of frustration. And while I'm sketchy on the details of the conversation which sparked these thoughts, I know precisely what frustrated me that evening, because it's something that consistently frustrates me to no end: the realization that most people seem to have no handle on what it means to be "intelligent." Not that I feel that I have a monopoly on the definition. It's just that I feel that people throw the word around like it's a hacky sack, with little to no thought about how their use of the term speaks volumes about what they value in terms of mental capacity.
So, you guessed it. I'd like you to weigh in on the subject. What does it mean to be "intelligent"? Who's the smartest person you've ever known? What is it that makes them so intelligent in your view? Be specific, cite examples and do your best to arrive at a definition. But DON'T consult a dictionary. If you absolutely can't resist the temptation to chew on someone else's thoughts on the subject, I'd like you to google quotations on intelligence and tell me if you come across one that sums up your views on the topic--or one that doesn't if playing devil's advocate is your thing. Share the quote with us and connect it with your response. Don't rush your thinking. Let it marinate...
No, the truth is that I've almost always felt lonely for one reason: the sinking feeling that there are precious few people who view the world and those in it the way I do. For some reason, this matters a great deal to me. And this is the reason that I sometimes feel like I'm miles away even while surrounded by humans.
Often, when I'm feeling alone, I like to keep moving. Specifically, I like to go for walks. Well, first I drive to a place I've either 1) never been OR 2) always go. It's the drive before the walk that allows me to let go of the day and absorb the night. These walks of mine always happen at night. I feel like that's an important detail. Don't ask me why. So this is the state of affairs that brought me to Center City Philly last Friday night. As I roamed Old City, a place I once lived, I found myself replaying some of the interactions with various people I'd had up to that point in the day. When my mind settled on one of the day's conversations--I don't remember which--I distinctly recall feeling a rising tide of frustration. And while I'm sketchy on the details of the conversation which sparked these thoughts, I know precisely what frustrated me that evening, because it's something that consistently frustrates me to no end: the realization that most people seem to have no handle on what it means to be "intelligent." Not that I feel that I have a monopoly on the definition. It's just that I feel that people throw the word around like it's a hacky sack, with little to no thought about how their use of the term speaks volumes about what they value in terms of mental capacity.
So, you guessed it. I'd like you to weigh in on the subject. What does it mean to be "intelligent"? Who's the smartest person you've ever known? What is it that makes them so intelligent in your view? Be specific, cite examples and do your best to arrive at a definition. But DON'T consult a dictionary. If you absolutely can't resist the temptation to chew on someone else's thoughts on the subject, I'd like you to google quotations on intelligence and tell me if you come across one that sums up your views on the topic--or one that doesn't if playing devil's advocate is your thing. Share the quote with us and connect it with your response. Don't rush your thinking. Let it marinate...
Monday, December 5, 2016
"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." ---Rudyard Kipling
I love words.
Good thing I suppose, given my chosen and hard-fought-for occupation. Every time I sit down at a keyboard or have a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper, I feel overwhelmed with excitement, with possibility, with anticipation. With a few key strokes or swipes of a pen, you can find the right combination of words that can make someone LOVE you.
Conversely, you can break a heart, manipulate a mind or sever an allegiance…all with those same strokes or swipes. Think about that. Legends are immortalized because of words. Nations go to war over words. Couples are united in matrimony with words. Hearts and lives are shattered due to words. The power they wield is, in a word, awesome.
“Every time I come around the corner and see your car in the driveway I get sick to my stomach.”
I sat on the couch during yet another face-off with my mother when she let fly with that condemnation, effectively shattering any sense of comfort and belonging I may have been clinging to at the time. I was 17. I’m 46 now, and I can hear those words in my ear as clear as if they were uttered 10 minutes ago. I can’t say that it was those exact words that led to the eventual, unsurprising demise of my relationship with my mother, but I know it was certainly a huge chunk out of the already crumbling foundation. It stands, to this day, as one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me.
But, as I said, words are powerful. They have healing properties. Let me give you a scenario. I was visiting a friend at what is now, TCNJ (back then it was Trenton State College). My boyfriend of about a year had just broken up with me, quite unceremoniously, at a party the night before. I was feeling kind of blue, just sort of moping around the campus waiting for my friend’s class to end. While aimlessly wandering through the bookstore, I saw an old friend from high school, a guy who graduated a year ahead of me. We got to talking about life after high school and what my plans were and all of that idle small talk, when he looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Cass, the thing is, I hear you’re an excellent writer.”
What followed is not a Cinderella-like ending of fairytale romance (this is me we’re talking about) between Matt Opacity (that was his name--Opcaity. Sounds like something other than a name, but I don't know what) and your Lang teacher. We didn’t fall into each other’s arms and swear undying love—it wasn’t even a romantic moment. He wasn’t trying out a brand-new pick-up line or even trying to soothe my bruised, dumped ego. It was a simple declaration that I am quite sure he would never even remember saying all these years later. But it’s impact on me was and is undeniable. Because of him, when I went back home, the first place I looked for a summer job was at a local newspaper called The Sandpaper. I landed a job as a stringer and at the tender age of 18, got my first ever piece of writing published. I even got paid for it! (It was an article on Tonkinese cats—don’t laugh!) Such is the power and the beauty of words.
So, that is the focus of this week’s blog question. I would like you to think about conversations you have had, arguments in which you’ve been embroiled, moments of bliss you have experienced. They all have one thing in common—WORDS.
The Yin: What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? Why do you think it was the worst thing? How did it make you feel?
And for the Yang (because there always is one): What was the best compliment you have ever received?
Who said it? Why do you think was it was the best compliment?
And finally, perhaps even MOST IMPORTANTLY, reflect on the fact that you highlighted these two particular comments. What do you think your choices of what was the best and worst thing anyone could say about/to you reveal about your personality? Much to think about, I know. Don’t delay!!
Good thing I suppose, given my chosen and hard-fought-for occupation. Every time I sit down at a keyboard or have a pen poised over a blank sheet of paper, I feel overwhelmed with excitement, with possibility, with anticipation. With a few key strokes or swipes of a pen, you can find the right combination of words that can make someone LOVE you.
Conversely, you can break a heart, manipulate a mind or sever an allegiance…all with those same strokes or swipes. Think about that. Legends are immortalized because of words. Nations go to war over words. Couples are united in matrimony with words. Hearts and lives are shattered due to words. The power they wield is, in a word, awesome.
“Every time I come around the corner and see your car in the driveway I get sick to my stomach.”
I sat on the couch during yet another face-off with my mother when she let fly with that condemnation, effectively shattering any sense of comfort and belonging I may have been clinging to at the time. I was 17. I’m 46 now, and I can hear those words in my ear as clear as if they were uttered 10 minutes ago. I can’t say that it was those exact words that led to the eventual, unsurprising demise of my relationship with my mother, but I know it was certainly a huge chunk out of the already crumbling foundation. It stands, to this day, as one of the worst things anyone has ever said to me.
But, as I said, words are powerful. They have healing properties. Let me give you a scenario. I was visiting a friend at what is now, TCNJ (back then it was Trenton State College). My boyfriend of about a year had just broken up with me, quite unceremoniously, at a party the night before. I was feeling kind of blue, just sort of moping around the campus waiting for my friend’s class to end. While aimlessly wandering through the bookstore, I saw an old friend from high school, a guy who graduated a year ahead of me. We got to talking about life after high school and what my plans were and all of that idle small talk, when he looked me right in the eye and said, “Well Cass, the thing is, I hear you’re an excellent writer.”
What followed is not a Cinderella-like ending of fairytale romance (this is me we’re talking about) between Matt Opacity (that was his name--Opcaity. Sounds like something other than a name, but I don't know what) and your Lang teacher. We didn’t fall into each other’s arms and swear undying love—it wasn’t even a romantic moment. He wasn’t trying out a brand-new pick-up line or even trying to soothe my bruised, dumped ego. It was a simple declaration that I am quite sure he would never even remember saying all these years later. But it’s impact on me was and is undeniable. Because of him, when I went back home, the first place I looked for a summer job was at a local newspaper called The Sandpaper. I landed a job as a stringer and at the tender age of 18, got my first ever piece of writing published. I even got paid for it! (It was an article on Tonkinese cats—don’t laugh!) Such is the power and the beauty of words.
So, that is the focus of this week’s blog question. I would like you to think about conversations you have had, arguments in which you’ve been embroiled, moments of bliss you have experienced. They all have one thing in common—WORDS.
The Yin: What is the worst thing anyone has ever said to you? Why do you think it was the worst thing? How did it make you feel?
And for the Yang (because there always is one): What was the best compliment you have ever received?
Who said it? Why do you think was it was the best compliment?
And finally, perhaps even MOST IMPORTANTLY, reflect on the fact that you highlighted these two particular comments. What do you think your choices of what was the best and worst thing anyone could say about/to you reveal about your personality? Much to think about, I know. Don’t delay!!
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Communication Nation
This week, we are getting a bit of a late start--so, the due date for this blog will be Sunday, Dec. 4.
Here are some questions to consider. I will not bog you down with any of my own thoughts on these, so you can just get to the heart of what you want to say.
REMINDER: Blogs matter. Do your best, write professionally but personally, check your work in a Google or Word doc, and post before midnight. Make sure you support what you say with appropriate details, try to work in a lit device or some other demonstration of what you know about communication, like some new vocab or something like that.
Ok, onward and upward.
Question number one: About what do you wish an adult in your life understood or knew about you that they don't already understand or know?
Question number two: At the tender age of either 16, 17 or maybe 18, what, if anything, have you figured out about life? Your life and life in general, that is.
Aaaaaand....GO!
Here are some questions to consider. I will not bog you down with any of my own thoughts on these, so you can just get to the heart of what you want to say.
REMINDER: Blogs matter. Do your best, write professionally but personally, check your work in a Google or Word doc, and post before midnight. Make sure you support what you say with appropriate details, try to work in a lit device or some other demonstration of what you know about communication, like some new vocab or something like that.
Ok, onward and upward.
Question number one: About what do you wish an adult in your life understood or knew about you that they don't already understand or know?
Question number two: At the tender age of either 16, 17 or maybe 18, what, if anything, have you figured out about life? Your life and life in general, that is.
Aaaaaand....GO!
Monday, November 21, 2016
A Grateful Nation...pffft...Yeah, Right
So, this year has not been kind. To any of us. AT all.
And, when things don't go well, when we're sad, when we think the universe is conspiring to ruin our good times, we tend to do a few things. We mope, or we complain, or we point fingers. It's rare that when life hands you lemons, you give thought to the best lemonade recipe you know, even though that's what we try to do and it might even be what we say we do. It just does not always work out like that.
What I want to be able to do, ideally, is look at a situation as an OPPORTUNITY. Even those situatons that are working my nerves--I wish I was able to be THANKFUL that I have a situation that can really test my problem-solving skills.
Wouldn't that be awesome? If I could look at it that way? Imagine how my perspectives would shift about everything. Nothing would be awful because everything would be a lesson in which I had a chance to learn something.
So, bottom line, I wish I was thankful for ALL opportunity, not just the ones that may provide immediate, tangible benefits.
So...your turn.
What do you WISH you could be thankful for? How come you're not? Can you see any way to change your own mind about it?
And, when things don't go well, when we're sad, when we think the universe is conspiring to ruin our good times, we tend to do a few things. We mope, or we complain, or we point fingers. It's rare that when life hands you lemons, you give thought to the best lemonade recipe you know, even though that's what we try to do and it might even be what we say we do. It just does not always work out like that.
What I want to be able to do, ideally, is look at a situation as an OPPORTUNITY. Even those situatons that are working my nerves--I wish I was able to be THANKFUL that I have a situation that can really test my problem-solving skills.
Wouldn't that be awesome? If I could look at it that way? Imagine how my perspectives would shift about everything. Nothing would be awful because everything would be a lesson in which I had a chance to learn something.
So, bottom line, I wish I was thankful for ALL opportunity, not just the ones that may provide immediate, tangible benefits.
So...your turn.
What do you WISH you could be thankful for? How come you're not? Can you see any way to change your own mind about it?
Monday, November 14, 2016
The 7-Point Creed: Setting the Moral Compass
This is something sacred to me. I don't feel that way often, but about this, I do. This, to me, is one of the most important things I will ask of you. To me, this is the key to your success, and you all know that is always my primary goal.
I keep meaning to explain this to you in a very conversational way, but somehow there never seems to be enough time to be able to really just "talk" to you. So, in an effort to make better use of "time," I have relied on the wonders of Wikipedia to be able to explain the 7-point Creed, which is the integral foundation of this week's blog question.
Without further ado--
John Wooden's Seven Point Creed,[1] given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school:
* Be true to yourself.
* Make each day your masterpiece.
* Help others.
* Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
* Make friendship a fine art.
* Build a shelter against a rainy day.
* Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
If you don't know who John Wooden is, LOOK HIM UP HERE--his story is quite remarkable. As a coach, I deeply admired him and the things he accomplished. As a human being, he is amazing in every sense of the word and one of the few people I can honestly say I aspire to emulate. As you know, I don't say that about very many people.
In any case, your task for this week is to come up with your own 7-Point Creed and share it here. I know that I am asking a lot of you. I know that this is not something you can do in two-three days. And this is why I am extending the deadline until Sunday night (the 20th). You will really need to put a lot of thought into this.
Ask yourself these questions to help you along:
What do I value?
What are my morals?
How do I want to be perceived by others?
What do I want my legacy to be?
What have I learned in my life?
What else do I want to learn?
Now, I certainly don't want you to answer those questions and consider that to be your creed. Remember, a creed is a sort of guideline for living, but it is also completely subjective. Look at Wooden's creed again. The statements there are kind of ambiguous and can be open to interpretation, don't you think? So, when you are doing this, try to keep that in mind. However, it is precisely BECAUSE the statements are ambiguous that you will have to explain what you mean by them, what they mean to you and why you chose them. Always the why.
What you are basically doing is creating a blueprint by which you can live your life. YOUR life. Nobody else's.
After all, who is more important than you?
I keep meaning to explain this to you in a very conversational way, but somehow there never seems to be enough time to be able to really just "talk" to you. So, in an effort to make better use of "time," I have relied on the wonders of Wikipedia to be able to explain the 7-point Creed, which is the integral foundation of this week's blog question.
Without further ado--
John Wooden's Seven Point Creed,[1] given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school:
* Be true to yourself.
* Make each day your masterpiece.
* Help others.
* Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
* Make friendship a fine art.
* Build a shelter against a rainy day.
* Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
If you don't know who John Wooden is, LOOK HIM UP HERE--his story is quite remarkable. As a coach, I deeply admired him and the things he accomplished. As a human being, he is amazing in every sense of the word and one of the few people I can honestly say I aspire to emulate. As you know, I don't say that about very many people.
In any case, your task for this week is to come up with your own 7-Point Creed and share it here. I know that I am asking a lot of you. I know that this is not something you can do in two-three days. And this is why I am extending the deadline until Sunday night (the 20th). You will really need to put a lot of thought into this.
Ask yourself these questions to help you along:
What do I value?
What are my morals?
How do I want to be perceived by others?
What do I want my legacy to be?
What have I learned in my life?
What else do I want to learn?
Now, I certainly don't want you to answer those questions and consider that to be your creed. Remember, a creed is a sort of guideline for living, but it is also completely subjective. Look at Wooden's creed again. The statements there are kind of ambiguous and can be open to interpretation, don't you think? So, when you are doing this, try to keep that in mind. However, it is precisely BECAUSE the statements are ambiguous that you will have to explain what you mean by them, what they mean to you and why you chose them. Always the why.
What you are basically doing is creating a blueprint by which you can live your life. YOUR life. Nobody else's.
After all, who is more important than you?
Monday, October 31, 2016
"There's No Place Like Home" so says Dorothy Gale....Pfft..I Never Liked Her Anyway...
To be honest, that whole Wizard of Oz mantra never really made sense to me.
As a kid, I moved around A LOT. It wasn't until I was 15 and a sophomore in high school that I was ever in the same school for more than a year. Because of this--well, because of many things but this is just easier to point a finger at--I have never been able to go back to a place where I lived and say, "This was my home--I belonged here." As a result, I posit that feeling as though we belong somewhere has a tremendous impact on who we are and who we may one day become.
The need to belong is embedded in most people's genetic make-up. Abraham Maslow, a renowned psychologist who conceptualized what is known as an individual's "Hierarchy of Needs,” reasoned that the need to belong is third on the pyramid to a fulfilling life (the first two are pretty basic--physiological and safety needs), and without that feeling, we simply cannot advance, grow or ever fully become the people we are destined to be. Interested in knowing more about my boy Abe? Go here.Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs
So--what do you think? Do you, at the young and impressionable age of 16 or 17, feel the inherent need to belong? I bold that because feeling the need and feeling that you actually DO belong are sometimes two very different things. The most popular people you can imagine, the ones who are in every club, do every sport, go to every party--do you think THEY feel as though they belong?
If you feel like you do belong somewhere--where is it? What makes you feel that way? What does that sense of belonging do for you and your self-esteem?
If you don't feel as though you belong somewhere--why not? What do you feel is missing? Are you misunderstood, undervalued, overlooked? What does NOT feeling like you belong do for you and your self-esteem?
A lot to ponder over--trust me, I know. Give it some thought and tell me about it.
As a kid, I moved around A LOT. It wasn't until I was 15 and a sophomore in high school that I was ever in the same school for more than a year. Because of this--well, because of many things but this is just easier to point a finger at--I have never been able to go back to a place where I lived and say, "This was my home--I belonged here." As a result, I posit that feeling as though we belong somewhere has a tremendous impact on who we are and who we may one day become.
The need to belong is embedded in most people's genetic make-up. Abraham Maslow, a renowned psychologist who conceptualized what is known as an individual's "Hierarchy of Needs,” reasoned that the need to belong is third on the pyramid to a fulfilling life (the first two are pretty basic--physiological and safety needs), and without that feeling, we simply cannot advance, grow or ever fully become the people we are destined to be. Interested in knowing more about my boy Abe? Go here.Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs
So--what do you think? Do you, at the young and impressionable age of 16 or 17, feel the inherent need to belong? I bold that because feeling the need and feeling that you actually DO belong are sometimes two very different things. The most popular people you can imagine, the ones who are in every club, do every sport, go to every party--do you think THEY feel as though they belong?
If you feel like you do belong somewhere--where is it? What makes you feel that way? What does that sense of belonging do for you and your self-esteem?
If you don't feel as though you belong somewhere--why not? What do you feel is missing? Are you misunderstood, undervalued, overlooked? What does NOT feeling like you belong do for you and your self-esteem?
A lot to ponder over--trust me, I know. Give it some thought and tell me about it.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
A Look Behind...
Someone somewhere said hindsight is 20/20.
That often seems to be one of those annoying aphorisms that people throw at you when they know you made a bad decision and now you have to fend off the consequences. If you never heard it before, it pretty much just means that you can see more clearly once you've looked at what you've done, rather than at what you will do. So--why do you think that is?
Let's take it a step further.
What is the worst decision you ever made? You have hindsight now, so you should be able to see it from every angle--the risks, sacrifices, rewards and consequences.
In your heart of hearts, with no false sense of modesty or conceit, was the outcome of the decision worth what you paid for it? In other words, was the benefit worth the cost? Why or why not?
What would you change?
If you're one of those folks who like to say they regret nothing because everything they've done made them who they are now--please don't.
You're too young to say that yet, and I mean that in the purest way possible, with no disdain or contempt for your age. Biologically, your brain is simply not able to rationalize the decisions you make when you're "feelin' yourself" because your pre-frontal cortex (that part of your brain that controls impulse and decision-making) isn't fully formed. So, technically--you aren't who you will be just yet.
Don't believe me--look it up. Here's a link if you're interested: Teenagers Brain Development
Now, let's look ahead to the future. Imagine your future child makes the same bad decision you did. Knowing all the things you don't like about how your parents try to tell you about yourself--how are you going to teach, reprimand, respond to your kid's choice?
That often seems to be one of those annoying aphorisms that people throw at you when they know you made a bad decision and now you have to fend off the consequences. If you never heard it before, it pretty much just means that you can see more clearly once you've looked at what you've done, rather than at what you will do. So--why do you think that is?
Let's take it a step further.
What is the worst decision you ever made? You have hindsight now, so you should be able to see it from every angle--the risks, sacrifices, rewards and consequences.
In your heart of hearts, with no false sense of modesty or conceit, was the outcome of the decision worth what you paid for it? In other words, was the benefit worth the cost? Why or why not?
What would you change?
If you're one of those folks who like to say they regret nothing because everything they've done made them who they are now--please don't.
You're too young to say that yet, and I mean that in the purest way possible, with no disdain or contempt for your age. Biologically, your brain is simply not able to rationalize the decisions you make when you're "feelin' yourself" because your pre-frontal cortex (that part of your brain that controls impulse and decision-making) isn't fully formed. So, technically--you aren't who you will be just yet.
Don't believe me--look it up. Here's a link if you're interested: Teenagers Brain Development
Now, let's look ahead to the future. Imagine your future child makes the same bad decision you did. Knowing all the things you don't like about how your parents try to tell you about yourself--how are you going to teach, reprimand, respond to your kid's choice?
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Identity Crisis
Warning: You cannot respond to this blog in less than 15 minutes. Manage your time wisely, sunshinefaces.
So, I think we have reached that point where we can really start to do some introspective reflection.
Usually it takes a bit longer, but this year has brought with it a curious sense of urgency, and although I would usually like you to wade through a bit more of your own thoughts before we got to this point, I feel confident that you guys are ready to take the plunge into some in-depth blog questions. So, here we go!
Although I cannot make you do this, I would like you to minimize all distractions while you think about this blog. Exercise your right to have "You" time; put away your cell phones or video game remotes and for the sake of all that's holy--close any and all social media apps. Just you, your computer, and your thoughts.
No man is an island, right? Have you ever heard that? John Donne, prolific 16th Century writer, said it. It essentially means that people do not exist in a vacuum, cut off from the world and the people in it; that people need other people if, for nothing else, to figure themselves out. Personally, I'm on the fence about whether or not this is true, but I suspect it probably is. Here's an example.
Every day, you wake up, go through your morning rituals, come to school, do your thing(s), go home, go through your evening rituals and then go to bed.
There are obviously some variations to this routine from time to time, and I am not trying to downplay your life in any way by making it sound mundane. What I am saying is, that through all of this, these daily activities, rituals and routines other people interact with you.
They talk to you, refer to you, question you, yell at you, soothe you, talk about you, defer to you or, in some cases, though hopefully not many, ignore you completely. The point is, they KNOW who you are, at least enough to do one or more of the previous things.
But, when you stop to think about it, do they really know? And, more importantly, do YOU?
Now, here comes the hard part...
Beyond names, job titles or academic accomplishments, beyond labels given to you by yourself or by others, beyond traits and hobbies and virtues... who are you? Who are you inside? If you had to write your name, and then your definition, what would it say?
So, I think we have reached that point where we can really start to do some introspective reflection.
Usually it takes a bit longer, but this year has brought with it a curious sense of urgency, and although I would usually like you to wade through a bit more of your own thoughts before we got to this point, I feel confident that you guys are ready to take the plunge into some in-depth blog questions. So, here we go!
Although I cannot make you do this, I would like you to minimize all distractions while you think about this blog. Exercise your right to have "You" time; put away your cell phones or video game remotes and for the sake of all that's holy--close any and all social media apps. Just you, your computer, and your thoughts.
No man is an island, right? Have you ever heard that? John Donne, prolific 16th Century writer, said it. It essentially means that people do not exist in a vacuum, cut off from the world and the people in it; that people need other people if, for nothing else, to figure themselves out. Personally, I'm on the fence about whether or not this is true, but I suspect it probably is. Here's an example.
Every day, you wake up, go through your morning rituals, come to school, do your thing(s), go home, go through your evening rituals and then go to bed.
There are obviously some variations to this routine from time to time, and I am not trying to downplay your life in any way by making it sound mundane. What I am saying is, that through all of this, these daily activities, rituals and routines other people interact with you.
They talk to you, refer to you, question you, yell at you, soothe you, talk about you, defer to you or, in some cases, though hopefully not many, ignore you completely. The point is, they KNOW who you are, at least enough to do one or more of the previous things.
But, when you stop to think about it, do they really know? And, more importantly, do YOU?
Now, here comes the hard part...
Beyond names, job titles or academic accomplishments, beyond labels given to you by yourself or by others, beyond traits and hobbies and virtues... who are you? Who are you inside? If you had to write your name, and then your definition, what would it say?
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Why we love....and other unanswerable questions...
Most of us have been there at one point; the ones who haven't will get theirs, eventually.
There you are, innocently sitting there eating your Cheerios, or some other tasty snack, when it hits you. That flash of lightning that zips through your brain, jump starts your heart to the point of acrobatics, and sends the corners of your mouth into that half-circle of upward idiocy because that stupid grin won't stop spreading.
An image of your beloved burns itself into your brain like a cheap plasma TV screen. Yup--it's love, and its got you in its grips. Muu ahhhhhahhhh.
If none of this sounds familiar to you--don't worry--you simply have no soul. ;) Just kidding--like I said, you'll get yours and it'll be just as described only maybe with different metaphors. Not ever being privvy to this feeling does not preclude you from this blog question, though; no doubt, you've seen what looks like and that's as much as you need for this assignment.
First, define love. Nbd. Thousands upon thousands of poets, essayists, philosophers and the like have all tried to come up with a working definition--whose to say their version is better than yours? Do your best.
Have you ever been in love, or known someone who has? Did their behavior change? Did yours? Why do you think we are attracted to those we are? What do you look for in potential relationships? What is your idea of a "perfect" relationship? Who taught you about love? What is your earliest memory of "seeing" love? Does that memory affect how you view the idea of love?
And, finally, what will you teach your future sons and daughters about the idea of love and relationships?
There you are, innocently sitting there eating your Cheerios, or some other tasty snack, when it hits you. That flash of lightning that zips through your brain, jump starts your heart to the point of acrobatics, and sends the corners of your mouth into that half-circle of upward idiocy because that stupid grin won't stop spreading.
An image of your beloved burns itself into your brain like a cheap plasma TV screen. Yup--it's love, and its got you in its grips. Muu ahhhhhahhhh.
If none of this sounds familiar to you--don't worry--you simply have no soul. ;) Just kidding--like I said, you'll get yours and it'll be just as described only maybe with different metaphors. Not ever being privvy to this feeling does not preclude you from this blog question, though; no doubt, you've seen what looks like and that's as much as you need for this assignment.
First, define love. Nbd. Thousands upon thousands of poets, essayists, philosophers and the like have all tried to come up with a working definition--whose to say their version is better than yours? Do your best.
Have you ever been in love, or known someone who has? Did their behavior change? Did yours? Why do you think we are attracted to those we are? What do you look for in potential relationships? What is your idea of a "perfect" relationship? Who taught you about love? What is your earliest memory of "seeing" love? Does that memory affect how you view the idea of love?
And, finally, what will you teach your future sons and daughters about the idea of love and relationships?
Sunday, September 25, 2016
"Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do."
The above quote is from one of my favorite coaches of all time, former UCLA basketball coach, ''The Wizard of Westwood" John Wooden. I talk a lot about him throughout the year because he's kind of a hero of mine, even though I claim not to have any.
This quote, one of his more well known ones, got me thinking about the state of the world we live in, and how one day soon, it will be up to all of you to fix it. No pressure. :( But, if you even glance at the TV when the news is on, you know I speak truth.
We're in bad shape, and I am seriously doubting the world's so-called political leaders have a clue how to go about reversing the damage.
But, that's what I think is so great about kids. Your potential is limitless, your perspectives are fresh, and your souls aren't yet weary (I truly hope). All that simply means--if the world is going to change, it will be because you guys changed it.
Let's start with what you think is wrong. Maybe you think it's racism, maybe you think it's a propensity for violence, maybe you think it's ignorance, maybe you think it's sexism or poverty, or the fact that we've had the same 2-party political system for the past 200 years. Talk a little about what you think is truly wrong with the world. Think macro or microcosm (society at large, or Oakcrest society), and really tear into what needs to be changed and what, we, the adults in the room, did wrong. How could you, would you, should you, do it better or simply differently?
What you're doing is more than a blog posts, pumpkins. It's more than an assignment, more than a Genesis entry--this is your world and eventually your lives. Both of those things matter. Show me how much.
<3
This quote, one of his more well known ones, got me thinking about the state of the world we live in, and how one day soon, it will be up to all of you to fix it. No pressure. :( But, if you even glance at the TV when the news is on, you know I speak truth.
We're in bad shape, and I am seriously doubting the world's so-called political leaders have a clue how to go about reversing the damage.
But, that's what I think is so great about kids. Your potential is limitless, your perspectives are fresh, and your souls aren't yet weary (I truly hope). All that simply means--if the world is going to change, it will be because you guys changed it.
Let's start with what you think is wrong. Maybe you think it's racism, maybe you think it's a propensity for violence, maybe you think it's ignorance, maybe you think it's sexism or poverty, or the fact that we've had the same 2-party political system for the past 200 years. Talk a little about what you think is truly wrong with the world. Think macro or microcosm (society at large, or Oakcrest society), and really tear into what needs to be changed and what, we, the adults in the room, did wrong. How could you, would you, should you, do it better or simply differently?
What you're doing is more than a blog posts, pumpkins. It's more than an assignment, more than a Genesis entry--this is your world and eventually your lives. Both of those things matter. Show me how much.
<3
Monday, September 19, 2016
Taking Stock of Your Valuables
Every once in a while,a situation presents itself to you, and in so doing, however unwittingly, that situation tests your resolve, challenges your moral fiber and forces you to examine (or re-examine) your values.
When things like these happen, one of two things may be the result: you will try to ignore the situation until it absolutely HAS to command your attention, or you will rush to a decision so that you don't have to think about it for too long. I have a theory about why these two possible reactions are so prevalent. And here it is:
There are simply not enough moments in a teenager's day to give the appropriate attention to the notion of what he or she values. Not to mention the word itself, values, is such an abstract term that who really has to time to ponder its meaning AND the implications AND live the life of a carefree kid?
So, as a result of my theory, this blog question was born. I would like you to really let the questions I am presenting here have some time to marinate so that you can reach a deeper level of understanding.
What DO you value? Please don't say things such as "friends, family, or iPhone7 in rose gold." Those things are just that--things (yes, even the people). While they have surface value, they are not what I am talking about. Why? Because, in order to get to the deeper understanding of yourself and your actual values, you have to ask yourself WHY you consider those things valuable. We already know the selfish answer to what makes the people in our lives valuable--we need them. That's why I don't want you to list people.
Because, now, you have to ask yourself a two-part, very fundamental question:
1)What makes you so mad you could scream? What fills you with unabashed joy?
and
2)Why do you have those reactions to what you listed?
The sum total of those answers is the amorphous notion of your values.
These are hard questions, and like all hard questions, the answers may take a while to come and you may have to write it as you're thinking about it. Please do so, because I would be willing to bet that all of us could benefit from your thought process as well as your answers.
Buena Suerte.
When things like these happen, one of two things may be the result: you will try to ignore the situation until it absolutely HAS to command your attention, or you will rush to a decision so that you don't have to think about it for too long. I have a theory about why these two possible reactions are so prevalent. And here it is:
There are simply not enough moments in a teenager's day to give the appropriate attention to the notion of what he or she values. Not to mention the word itself, values, is such an abstract term that who really has to time to ponder its meaning AND the implications AND live the life of a carefree kid?
So, as a result of my theory, this blog question was born. I would like you to really let the questions I am presenting here have some time to marinate so that you can reach a deeper level of understanding.
What DO you value? Please don't say things such as "friends, family, or iPhone7 in rose gold." Those things are just that--things (yes, even the people). While they have surface value, they are not what I am talking about. Why? Because, in order to get to the deeper understanding of yourself and your actual values, you have to ask yourself WHY you consider those things valuable. We already know the selfish answer to what makes the people in our lives valuable--we need them. That's why I don't want you to list people.
Because, now, you have to ask yourself a two-part, very fundamental question:
1)What makes you so mad you could scream? What fills you with unabashed joy?
and
2)Why do you have those reactions to what you listed?
The sum total of those answers is the amorphous notion of your values.
These are hard questions, and like all hard questions, the answers may take a while to come and you may have to write it as you're thinking about it. Please do so, because I would be willing to bet that all of us could benefit from your thought process as well as your answers.
Buena Suerte.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Welcome to 204!
I use this same post every year because it is generic and all-encompassing. As the year progresses, the questions you encounter will become much more conceptually dense and will require a great deal of cerebral introspection.
For now, though, we start here.
Welcome to your very first 204 blog post. We will be using this blog frequently, both as a tool and a resource to get the most out of our time, and as a place we can go to share thoughts and valuable information and ideas whenever we need to. Each week, there will be a question posted that you all must respond to in the allotted amount of time.***(Usually, 3 days, but it could be shorter. Plan well.)
These questions may be a jumping off point to class discussions, a support activity to lend insight or knowledge to what we are doing in class, or simply a thought-provoking way to get you to look at the world around you and marvel at your place in it.
These questions will not be simplistic, and they should not be done when you only have 5 or so minutes on the computer; rather, they are questions designed to make you think and your posts should reflect that. You will be graded on your responses by their content, so I would encourage you to try to not leave them for the last minute. Each one will have a word minimum, but don't be discouraged by that. I care much more about the quality of the thought you put into your responses rather than the quantity of the words you use.
Now that the formalities are finished, I would like you to consider the following: You are now entering your junior year. Some people say that this is the toughest, most demanding year of high school for a variety of reasons. What do YOU think? Do you have any expectations about what this year should bring? What are you hoping to get out of your AP Lang class and your junior year in general? What are your fears about this class and/or about 11th grade? Are you where you want to be academically, socially, physically etc? If so, how do you know? If not, why do you think you aren't?
For now, though, we start here.
Welcome to your very first 204 blog post. We will be using this blog frequently, both as a tool and a resource to get the most out of our time, and as a place we can go to share thoughts and valuable information and ideas whenever we need to. Each week, there will be a question posted that you all must respond to in the allotted amount of time.***(Usually, 3 days, but it could be shorter. Plan well.)
These questions may be a jumping off point to class discussions, a support activity to lend insight or knowledge to what we are doing in class, or simply a thought-provoking way to get you to look at the world around you and marvel at your place in it.
These questions will not be simplistic, and they should not be done when you only have 5 or so minutes on the computer; rather, they are questions designed to make you think and your posts should reflect that. You will be graded on your responses by their content, so I would encourage you to try to not leave them for the last minute. Each one will have a word minimum, but don't be discouraged by that. I care much more about the quality of the thought you put into your responses rather than the quantity of the words you use.
Now that the formalities are finished, I would like you to consider the following: You are now entering your junior year. Some people say that this is the toughest, most demanding year of high school for a variety of reasons. What do YOU think? Do you have any expectations about what this year should bring? What are you hoping to get out of your AP Lang class and your junior year in general? What are your fears about this class and/or about 11th grade? Are you where you want to be academically, socially, physically etc? If so, how do you know? If not, why do you think you aren't?
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