End of the Year Reflection

The most difficult essay to write was definitely the rhetorical analysis essay. It  was the hardest simply, because the others are so straight forward. this one however forces you to make you identify your own devices.

Argumentation was the easiest essay. That was simply, because I understood it the best. The way you explained it really did help me understand what a true argument was, and how to have one of my own.

My favorite book we read was In Cold Blood .  I find psychopaths really interesting for some reason(yeah I'm that guy) and the way Truman Capote wrote it was just absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed that book, and would hope that future students at Westside get to read it.

My least favorite was the beginning of the year project. I read the Devil In The White City. While I do think it was a good book, it tended to drag a lot. The murderer parts were much more interesting than the architecture parts. I still did enjoy the book though.

I would just like to let you know that you might be my favorite teacher ever. Not trying to brown nose or anything, but I truly loved your class, and really wish you taught AP Lit. You are a great teacher, and you were always able to give us a reason why we are doing something. Your class was such a refreshing course to take. I truly hope you stay at Westside for many years to come. I wish you and your family the best as well.(Still should've chose house two:p)

The Things I Carry

 

Physical Item

 

The most significant thing I carry is my crucifix. I received when I became a catholic, and it always has a symbolic meaning of the new life that I have. Being raised Jewish to leave the faith is sort of seen as something almost dishonorable seeing as you are in a way refusing to accept your ethnic "culture". It has been a different lifestyle ever since for me, and this crucifix helps remind me of the commitment I've made, and how my life has changed.

 

Dreams/Goals

 

Ever since I was a small boy I have wanted to become president of the United States. I want to be able to be the first president that truly cares about everyone, not just for there vote, but for there general welfare. I feel if I am able to make a difference in that way then I will have fulfilled my goals. I want to be able to leave a legacy that republican and democrat alike were able to compromise and work together as one under my guidance(wishful thinking huh?).

 

Relationships

 

 

My role model is Tom DeLonge. You might know him from blink-182,AvA, or Box Car Racer. Besides being an amazing singer he has been able to overcome innumerable odds, and still be willing to give back. He grew up in a house with a father who eventually left, and a mother that had to work pretty much all day. He had every reason to just let society take him, and discard him as useless, but he kept fighting. He today donates to many charity organizations, and is a cancer survivor.

 

Personality

 

When I think of myself I  think of funny, intelligent , and laid back. I think all these things allow me to be able to think thoroughly through a situation, and then decide what to do. I have never been a big fan of raising my voice or getting angry, because this proves nothing except that you cannot have a logical argument.

 

Memories

 The memory that has had the biggest impact on me was when my grand-father died. He was always such a role model to me, and everyone. He was the kind of person when he walked into a room everyone noticed. Being raised as a Jew during Hitler's Germany he knew what hard was, and NEVER complained. He always took each day as a blessing, and was never one to say a mean word about anyone. When he died it affected me, because that man I always knew, and loved was no longer there to inspire. Instead I must go off a memory.

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us.  ~Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest"

 The anti-hero

 

 

The anti hero is a prevalent character in most television dramas these days. It provides a new element of a good guy that isn't necessarily good. These characters are doing things that most of us would call bad, but yet we still like them?? This conundrum is truly unique to American literature, and film. The character I am choosing is Jax Teller from the hit tv show Sons of Anarchy.

 

Jax teller is a man of a normal background, but like any man he falls into temptation and gets a meth junkie pregnant. After the birth Jax makes sure that she will not get to see the baby at any cost. He pretends to be nice to her but he has other motives other then just being a " good guy".  Ichabod does the same thing to Katrina Van Tassal, he is showing her kindness, and I guess you can call it affection as well. He is really not to interested in Katrina he just wants to be liked by the townspeople, and get the money and respect that comes with being associated with the Van Tassal Family.

 

Both of these characters could all benefit from a piece of humble pie. They both think they are good at whatever they do, and do not give a hoot about what anyone else thinks. For example Ichabod thinks that he is an excellent singer, and an accomplished dancer; when in reality he is neither of them. Jax also is quite the prideful one. For example Jax breaks off a long time friendship with another motorcycle gang, because he feels he does not need them anymore. This turns out to nite him in the bite when this gang retaliates.

 

Even though Ichabod seemed to be a mild mannered coward, he surprisingly had a temper. For example he whips his students constantly and rules with an iron fist. He is not afraid to exert his authority on his students its just more of the rest of the world that Ichabod fears. Jax Teller is not a man to mess with, but if you are dumb enough to piss him off you will receive it back ten fold. In one episode Jax`s mom Gemma gets raped, when Jax finds out a Nord(aryan gang) did it he goes on a rampage, which eventually leads to the Nords running with their tails between there legs, and leave charming.