Valedictorian Speech

This is what I would say...

Friends, family, teachers, and fellow classmates the time has come for the class of 2009 to finally leave Wissahickon High School. It seems like only yesterday that we were "graduating" from middle school but now we are finally going off to college, facing the real world. I have always been scared to move to an unfamiliar setting and to possibly face failure, but we all need to remember that it is completely up to us to decide whether we seek failure or success. We may face many bumps along the road to success but we must keep in mind that our goal is near. Whatever you do, do not lose focus and do not stray away from the goal you have in mind. We have shared many memories together and I hope that all your goals become a reality for you all.

The Pact...

I'm enjoying the book more now than I was in the very beginning. The book is now in the past and talks about the relationships between Melanie & Michael and Gus & James. Gus and James are having problems and so far, Gus came over to Melanie's house and spent a couple of nights with Chris, her son. Chris is Gus and James' son and Emily is Melanie and Michael's daughter. Chris and Melanie are described to be almost inseparable. They play together and have a very loving relationship. So far from what I've read, these two are the main characters in the book and they will both have a very tragic ending.

I really like where the book is going so far. It goes back and forth between the past and the present. It's really interesting to see how Emily and Chris were like in the past and how they grow up and change into different people.

Forgiviness

Amir simply watched his best friend, Hassan getting raped by 3 other boys in the alley. After the incident, Amir acted ignorant and pretended he didn't see what happened. He reacted the opposite of what he should've and became angry with Hassan. Amir was frustrated with Hassan for being too loyal and not being angry with Amir. I think both the boys know that Amir saw what happened. Because of this, Amir feels a big sense of guilt but decides not to do anything about it. However, in the "present" part of the book, he wants to go back and make things right with Hassan.

I'm not sure what to say about the whole concept of atonement because in some cases, I think past mistakes can be forgiven and made "right" but there are others that can't be. I think everyone deserves a second chance at things but I don't know if that fits the definition of "atonement".

The Pact

I haven't really enjoyed the book so far. It's moving really slow and it hasn't really grabbed my attention. So far, all I know is that Chris and Emily are at the hospital. Emily was apparently shot and the detectives think Chris may have been the person who shot her. Emily was pronounced dead but Chris is alive at the hospital. After this "hospital" scene, the book goes back to the past and talks about when Chris's parents moved into the neighborhood. I think this is when they were newly married. They somewhat mention Emily's parents because they were living in the same neighborhood.

I haven't read far so I'm not sure where this is going to take me. But I think the book is going to write about the past, starting with Chris's parents moving into the neighborhood and then Chris meeting Emily and eventually falling in love. I'm wondering what happened with the "shooting" incident.

Tell a story

I was on a mission to go capture the enemy's base when they attacked me from the top of the mountain. I was so shocked and didn't know what to do. I started to panic because nothing like that has ever happened to me. I ran as fast as I could and jumped over the rocks and through the river. My heart was beating so fast and my breathing was so uneasy. I made it back to my base safely but I still have nightmares of the 5 minute run.

Good & Evil

I think the quote is trying to say that for evil to conquer, it only takes "good" people to not do anything. Evil is capable of taking over if people just sit back and watch. I agree with this quote because I believe that people are able to stop evil things from happening all over the world. I think it's the people's job to end evil in the world and prevent it from occurring.

Decisions decisions...

I think people's values and morals affect the decisions they make. People will act upon what they believe in. I make decisions based on what I believe is "right" and on what I believe in. If a decision I make goes against my beliefs, I probably wouldn't decide to make the choice. My friends and family impact me a lot but I think at the end, it all comes down to me. My family has taught me what's "wrong" and "right" but I have my own set of morals and values and I'll make decisions based on those. A lot of times I'm too quick when it comes to making decisions. I don't think I think long-term affects of the choices I make and it backfires in the future. But I think when it comes to "big" choices, I think a lot and I try to think about all the pros and cons of the choice I make. I think decision making is really difficult for everyone. It's scary to me because I know that no one, including myself will know all the consequences of the choices. I don't think there's always the "right" answer to things but I've learned to make the best decision with the help of my friends and family.

Recipe for Afghanistan

1 cup of Middle East
1 cup Persian
3/4 cup of oil
1/2 cup of September 11 attack on the U.S.
1/2 cup of al-Queda

Mix all ingredients well
& you get war between U.S. and Afghanistan.

Too quick to judge

Throughout the book, Holden gives off a very negative vibe. He seems to be a huge pessimist and has a really negative outlook on life. He seems really uneasy and anxious all the time. On page 40-42, Holden wants to go see Jane Gallagher but he only repeats her name multiple times and decides not to go say hello to her. Another thing I noticed about Holden is extremely judgmental about almost everyone and everything. He criticizes his "friends" Ackley and Stradlater and call them slobs. He describes almost everyone he knows as "bastards" and also calls himself "the most terrific liar". On top of all these names, he also describes people as "phony". He labels people who are superficial as being "phony". I believe that people/characters who are always judging others are actually very insecure of themselves, which is why they like to put the attention on others by calling them names. I think Holden has a lot of insecurites which is why he is always criticizing everyone and sadly, himself.

Hat

Holden's red hunting hat is mentioned a few times throughout the book. I think his hat symbolizes his need to be isolated from the society. I think his hat allows him to alienate himself from others. However, I also think his hat symbolizes his desire to be unique and to stick out from the rest. The hat symbolizes his urge to be different from everyone around him. But at the same time, he mentions he is somewhat self-conscious when he is wearing the hat which goes back to his desire to isolate from the society. I think Holden wanted to be left alone but also wanted people to pay attention to him. Holden was a very confused character who really didn't know what he wanted from the world. I think the hat was a symbol of self-protection against the things and people of the world.

Predictions from the past

I was somewhat right with my predictions. It's not too clear where Holden ended up at the very end of the book but he seems really isolated from the world. He is left by himself and is alone. I really think Holden brought this on to himself because he chose to be pessimistic and cynical throughout the book. And also Holden was already isolating himself from the society but I think in the end, he really did end up all by himself. I think Holden's isolation at the end was somewhat a result of what he experienced as a child. I think his brother's (Allie) death played a huge role in his life and impacted him to become the person he was during the book.

Isolated

Throughout the book, Holden seems very isolated and distant from the rest of the society. I think that his red hunting hat is a big part of his way to almost hide himself from the world. I think because Holden is such an unstable character, by him not interacting with others, he can have somewhat of a control of his life by "controlling" who he talks to and how much he decides to interact with others. Holden's "wall" he has up against everyone is a huge barrier for him and the other characters. He doesn't allow him to fully express his emotions and almost make him a very mysterious character. He seems tense all the time and never wants to stick around the same group of people.

... Why?

In chapter 20, Holden wanders around in a park and starts to worry about catching pneumonia. He starts thinking about his own funeral and then goes on to talking about his brother, Allie's funeral. Holden recalls his visits to Allie's grave and mentions that he didn't like going to the grave. He becomes disturbed at the fact that people place flowers at people's graves and questions why people would do such a thing for someone who is dead.

This "scene" doesn't necessarily confuse me but it makes me question Holden as a character. Why is he almost bitter about "putting flowers at people's graves" and why is he so disturbed by it? I'm just really confused at why Holden acts and thinks the way he does. I don't think he thinks rationally which causes him to not act sensibly.

Weird...

In chapter 17, Holden takes Sally to watch a play and then take her to an ice skating rink after. When they take a break, Holden ends up telling Sally about how much he hates his school and the New York society. He calls a bunch of guys "phonies" because they "worry if they get a little scratch on them" (cars) and goes on to talking about other school boys. He goes a little crazy and tells Sally that they should run away together and escape from society. After listening to Holden, Sally tells him that he is crazy for thinking of such ideas. When Holden hears this, he becomes more agitated. This scene was not so much surprising but it convinced me that Holden is not "normal". I think he has a lot of internal struggles and this is why he has such a hard time interacting with people in society. Holden seems a little "off" from society and is a very strange character.

In the future

I've noticed that Holden is a very unstable character. He mentions his brother's death in chapter 5. I think this event has and will affect Holden greatly. His unsteady emotional state seems to impact the way Holden looks at life. I think Holden is going to end up lonely without anyone by his side because he is so pessimistic and unstable. Even the way he interacts with others, I can definitely tell that he's not someone who is happy. I think people he encounters later in the book will find him very uncomfortable to be around because of the way he talks and the way he criticizes everyone.

I like!

I really enjoyed the first chapter of this book. The narrator, Holden is very secretive about his past and does not share anything about his childhood. It kept me interested and made me want to read more to figure out why Holden did not say anything about his past. I wanted to find out why he did not like discussing his childhood. I was somewhat shocked because many of the books I read with the narrator being the main character, he/she always explained about his past and then went on with the story.

Another thing I really like about this book is the way Holden narrated the story. The first time I heard about this book, I thought it would be very dry and boring but I really like the narrator's tone. It almost seems as if he is a friend of mine telling me his life story.

Holden's Voice

I really J.D. Salinger's style and use of language. By having Holden "tell" the story, I can really connect with the book. It almost seems like someone is telling me their life story and the things they are going through every day. I don't feel like I'm reading a book but rather listening to someone telling me stories. I think it's very effective because it holds my attention and makes me want to read more. Holden seems to be a very interesting character. I can imagine how Holden talks, how he looks like, and how he interacts with others. Holden seems like a regular teenage boy in high school telling his friend what his daily life is like.

"Life is a game."

"Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules." (pg 12)

In this chapter, Holden seems very carefree about everything. He doesn't seem to be worried about the fact that he just got kicked out of his school. (Pencey was his fourth school he attended.) Holden seems to be okay with the fact that his parents will probably be upset about him getting kicked out. The quote reminded me of Holden and the way he looks at life in chapter 2. He treats everything as a game but he doesn't necessarily "play according to the rules". He doesn't seem to be worried about his future and what the next step for him is going to be.

Thesis Statement

Although Che wanted to become an icon to the downtrodden masses, his impact on the world was unexceptional.

Che's trip to Peru

Do Now!

Today, I want you to reflect and describe the most significant event that occurred so far in this book.

Label your post Do Now, Che, Peru

As always, you can find an video or an image to make your post come alive!

Che's ambitions

Che was very ambitious and determined to help the lower class people. He wanted to improve the social conditions and eliminate poverty. I think Che always wanted people to remember him and almost be honored for what he did. Che wanted to affect the people all around him and wanted people to see the world the way he did.

Guess the country

Country between Argentina and Pacific Ocean.

America

Too proud to be second place.

Personal Thoughts

I've learned to truly believe that everything that happens in my life or in anyone else's life happens for a reason. And whatever that reason might be, it always seems to be for the better. I believe that when someone comes across a hardship, it only makes the person stronger and in the end, he/she always ends up learning a great deal about him/herself and/or about life. I really believe that "bad things happen to good people". These "bad things" have made me into such a stronger person and I believe that every "bad" experience I had to deal with in the past has shaped me into the person I am today. I think people really need to believe that

I've also come to believe that in order to forgive someone for doing something wrong to me, I need to forgive myself first and then think forgive the other person. It doesn't make sense to forgive someone else when I have trouble letting go of something I did wrong. It would also make sense for me to say that when two people are in a fight, it's not just the ONE person who made a mistake. Both people are always at faults and I think people need to reflect on their actions first before pointing fingers at anyone else.

Carpe Diem. This quote helps me to not take life for granted and just live my life to the fullest everyday. It gets hard at times but I believe in taking chances because like people say, "tomorrow is not promised".

Che and Americans

In both cases, there is a group or a person trying to help out a country by setting up a military group against the country. The Americans are now in Pakistan teaching the people military tactics and helping them fight against the Al Queda and Taliban. Like the Americans, Che helped the revolutionaries fight against the country's military group. Both the Americans and Che secretly trained a group of soldiers fight against the countries. I think the differences are that Americans are trying to prevent the spread of terrorism and Che was working against to help prevent the spread of communism.

Che's voice

“The person ho reorganizes and polishes them, me, is no longer, at least I am not the person I once was. All this wandering around “Our America with a capital A” has changed me more than I thought.” Page 32

Che seems to be someone who is longing for his past and the way his life was before the journey. It surprises me that a person like Che turns into someone who people compare to Hitler. He sounds really calm and almost friendly so far in the book. This excerpt lets the reader know that he has changed over a period of time and he is aware of the changes he went through.

“For me, the sea has always been a confidant, a friend absorbing all it is told and never revealing those secrets; always giving the best advice- is meaningful noises can be interpreted any way you choose.” Page 34

Che sounds very calm and almost relaxed during the journey. He seems to find comfort from the sea and enjoys listening to the noises the sea make.

Che's death

I know from reading that Che was executed. I'm not sure exactly who killed him but reading from various sources I know that he was killed. I think someone from the government ordered to kill him because from what I know, Che was "rebelling" against the government. I'm sure the government didn't agree with his ways and wanted to get rid of him.

There is nothing lonelier than adventure.

The city is empty.
Expression on people's faces are gone.
The streets are filled with nothing but silence.
Thought this would be filled with excitement
But the roads are nothing but emptiness.
I have learned that,
There is nothing lonelier than adventure...

Che's missions

I'm still not sure what exactly his motives were but I think he had good intentions to help people. I think Che had a lot of ideas on how to go about helping others but I don't think he knew how do it in the best way possible. I think he was driven by himself and pushed himself to do what he did. I think Che wanted people to like him and wanted people's approval in some sense. He wanted to be remembered for his works. I think Che had good motives but didn't go about doing it in the best way possible.

Marilyn Monroe

If I could make a documentary on anyone, I would choose Marilyn Monroe. I've always wanted learn more about her and see what type of life she had. She's not someone that I look up to as a role model but someone who I see as a big fashion icon. And I also find what I know about her so far really interesting so I think doing a documentary about Marilyn Monroe would be just as exciting for me. I think it’d be interesting to see how Marilyn Monroe influenced the fashion for women in the 1950s. She’s labeled as one of the greatest female stars of all time. I want to learn more about her acting, modeling and singing career.

Che?

I'm not exactly sure what questions I would ask in a documentary on Che because I still don't know who he is. I would cover the parts of his life that has made him "well known" to people. I don't think it would be hard to find things to cover about Che because I'm sure he is an interesting person with a lot of experiences. I think this documentary we're going to be watching is really going to help me learn what type of a person Che was and what he did in the past.

To where?

I would love to take a "road trip" to Paris. I've always seen really pretty pictures of the city, and it's the one place I really want to see. The other place I would want to visit is Korea. All my family is there and I haven't seen them in almost 10 years. I remember some parts of Korea but my memories of it are starting to fade because it has been so long. I'm not a huge traveler but I also want to visit Boston. I've never been there and I hear amazing things about the city. I would love to walk around the city and just get a sense of what it's like. And I want to take a road trip across the United States and just see what the rest of the country is like. There isn’t a specific city I want to visit in U.S. but I would love to take a road trip and just drive around and across the whole country.

"Don't judge a book by its cover."

I'm not too picky with book covers but usually covers with a lot of colors and interesting designs catch my attention. Then again, I like covers with just the title and the author because it just makes me want to know more about the book. I like book covers with pictures with characters from the book. It helps me to visualize the characters and what is happening while I read it. I don’t think I’ve ever “judged a book by its cover” or decided not to read it just because I didn’t like the cover. I don’t think book covers have a lot of influence on me when it comes to me actually reading the book.

The anti-hero?

Beck has a very negative perspective about Che Guevara. He was comparing Che to Stalin and accuses Che for supporting Fidel Castro. Beck seems to be angry about how Che became "famous" and how history turns "atrocities" to "admiration". He almost seems to be mocking all and any people who look at Che in any other way than a Stalin-like figure. It's clear that he has a very strong opinion about Che and wants people to think about Che the way he does.
I don't think I am in the right position to agree or disagree with what Beck has to say because I don't know a lot about Che. This is actually the first time I've heard of someone talk about Che Guevara. I've seen him pictures of him but I was never familiar with who exactly he was or what he did.
I don't like the way Beck talked during the clip. I don't think he sounded very professional and he wasn't very persuasive. Even though it was obvious what he thought about Che, I can't say that he got me to think about Che the same way he does. I actually thought he sounded really annoying and almost desperate in wanting everyone to think the way he does.

First Blog

First English blog.