Thursday, October 25, 2012

What Do You Think?


       Well, there is a variety of different opinions when it comes to reading. Yes, of all things, I said reading. Reading is such a big part of our lives that we do everyday, weather it's reading novels, television ads, text messages, or even this blog post. Using some "Hero's Journey" vocabulary, some people may describe reading as "The Ultimate Boon" or being in "The Belly of the Beast" for their day. Those who find Reading to be the ultimate boon, enjoy reading and find it to be the highlight of their day. For many, it can be a way to escape their busy and sometimes disappointing lives. For the others who find themselves in the belly of the whale either can't find pleasure in reading or just feel like reading is difficult. When they are required to read anything, they tend to get unhappy and feel miserable. If you're someone like me, you might feel like you go in between the two. Sometimes when I get a book that doesn't intrest me, I feel like reading it puts me in the belly of the beast. Then other times, when I really love the book I'm reading, I feel like reading was definitely the ultimate boon or reward of my day. Everyone has their own thoughts when it come to reading. Some people love to read things on social network sites but just can't find entertainment in things like books and novels; while others can't  think of anything better than crawling up with a good book and reading all day. What do you feel like when it comes to reading?






Monday, October 15, 2012

Symbolism in Stories and Life

   
     In a story, a successful hero must be able to interpret symbols along the journey. For example, in the story called Forbidden City, the protagonist named Alex comes across different events, objects, and people who symbolise something that he has to analyze. One of the symbols from the story is a white statue that looks like the Statue of Liberty. This statue uses to hands to hold the torch and sits in the middle of Tian An Men Square facing the big picture of the dictator of China. Alex learns that the statue represents the students and the type of government and freedom the students are all fighting for. He notices, in a way the "Godess of Democracy" is peacefully there looking the government in the face, symbolizing the many students who just wanted democracy.
 




   
      In real life, one symbol that seems to represent my school is a computer or laptop. It symbolizes how we focus on "twenty-first century learning" and how we use the technology and the internet to do a lot of our work. The internet is constantly gaining information and knowledge to share with others just like we, as students, are. An other invented symbol for New Tech is a puzzle. For the puzzle to be completed correctly, all of the little individual pieces have to come together as one. If you lose a piece or put it in the wrong place, the puzzle won't be the best it could be. It's the same when it comes to the students here. We all have to work together to complete our projects and if one person doesn't show up or does the wrong work, we don't produce the best project we possibly can.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Freedom, Rights, and our Country



When you look at this flag, what do you see? We were asked a similar question in class the other day. I was surprised to see that not very many people knew what to say and that they had not really considered that question before. I sat there as tons of different answers popped into my head. The American flag isn't just a piece of fabric that we use for the U.S. in events like the Olympics. There is a much deeper meaning to it. The flag represents hardiness, valor, purity, innocence, vigilance, perseverance, and justice. It means freedom, rights, evolution, and advancement. It shows how our states can put differences aside and come together to unite as one. It demonstrates that we don't forget where we came from or how we started. To many others, it says that we have had good times and bad times; and even though we might not have the best economy and things right now, it could still be even worse. I had never really considered how many people have died just to get to where we are today and how many places still don't give their people the freedom to live their lives in comfort. In China, the people can not talk about certain things, learn about some major horrific events that had once taken place there, and are monitored for everything they do with the outside world. We have to be thankful that we do have the freedom to speak our mind, protest and more without being punished or killed over it like some people. So next time you speak your mind in a protest or sign a petition, you should stop and take into consideration how good we have it as United States citizens.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

So Relatable



While I was reading the story Forbidden City the main character Alex was experiencing so many things on his trip to China. While he is there, he makes friends with a man who is there to assist his dad and his dad's co-worker. Then he discovers that the man is sort of a "spy" that has to report everything they do to the government. Alex feels betrayed and upset at first and I can relate to that. I remember a few times when I felt betrayed by someone that I thought I could trust. In an other situation, Alex gets upset and feels like he can't communicate with anyone in China without Lao Xu there to translate. When I go to Mexico every year, I don't really understand anyone and it gets frustrating not being able to talk to my family without my dad there to translate. Finally, Alex starts to learn a little of the language and is excited that he's learning more and more. I am just now learning Spanish and I get very excited when I do understand what someone says. I like to blend in and not stand out so much like Alex does in the story. There are so many other examples in the book that are relatable to me but I think that is enough for now.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Alex Jackson- Forbidden City

   As most people probably know, I have started reading a book for school called Forbidden City. In the book the main character and narrator, Alexander Jackson, is a seventeen-year-old boy who lives in Toronto, Canada with his father.  He's a history fanatic who is interested by war strategies. In the book, he talks a little about his emotional struggle with his mother who left him when he was seven. In a way, the main character reminds me of my older half brother because of the intrest in history and the emotional problems with their parents. But when I start to think a little more,  Alex and I share some similar character traits. Alex demonstrates in the book that he is very focused and persistant when it comes to doing things that he has an intrest in. I tend to focus well on things and when I enjoy what I'm doing, I am determined to finish it weather it takes a long time or not.


This first picture is the Forbidden City in Beijing that Alex is determined to go see at sometime in the story. These are some sculptures like the ones that Alex spent a lot of time and effort on to make in miniature form from the story.

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Cave


" The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."
                                                          -Joseph Campbell
      When I read that quote, it gets me thinking about how this relates to me. It reminds me of myself and high school. High school was like a huge cave to me and I wasn't too excited to go in. I was having mixed emotions about it in the beginning and I didn't know what to do. I finally decided I would just go head first and see how it worked out. The first week or so wasn't bad at all. It was actually pretty fun meeting new people, making new friends, and being in this whole new, welcoming environment that is very different from Redwood. I knew it would be very beneficial to attend New Tech and I still think it is. This school, in a way, holds many treasures. It is were I get to meet the wonderful people that I call friends. I get the treasure of a great education with the teachers who actually care to make a difference and aren't just here because they get paid the same amount weather we learn or not. So yeah, when I hear or read this quote it reminds me that there is always going to be a cave that you are too scared to go into but it's in your best intrest that you do go in an explore because you might just find the treasure you have been searching for all this time.