Perla's english blog

 After viewing my classmates work I learned that if a "poster" is more visually appealing people are more likely to read it and be interested. In contrast if it's plain it'll most likely be less likely to be appealing. I think a new idea I gained was changing the layout to make it easier for readers to read. Classmate's posters exemplified how to speak more personally. Including more details to get the reader's attention. During the creative process I learned to change the sizing however fits my needs. I kept the poster and put everything stuffed together but when seeing others I realized I could've changed it to make it easier for me.  Today during class we viewed each other's similes and metaphors and commented on each one. We gave feedback about what we liked or what we think the student could grow in. This helped everyone receive helpful feedback.

 The topic that most challenged me was writing similes and metaphors about what other people said about us. When the worksheet asked what was a label that had been put on us or what was a time someone doubted us. I feel as though this was the harder part because you have to think negatively about yourself and it may bring you down thinking of negative things of yourself. To work through it I just took a moment to pause and think about how negatively doesn't really matter much, as long as you're positive you should be fine ( I believe ).  Today in class we started using Adobe to make a visual of our similes and metaphors. Including a title and our metaphors/similes and visual images that add onto our interpretation. 

Today while writing similes and metaphors I realized that I was having a hard time thinking of situations, and I realized just because it's not a struggle for me today doesn't mean it wasn't at one point. For example when I was younger I never bothered to learn how to ride a bike and when I got into middle school my brother's friends would all go outside on their bikes and it made me realize I needed to learn. It helped me learn about perseverance and it showed that I shouldn't wait til last minute to learn something but I should instead take things into my own hands and plan ahead for my future.  Today in class we wrote 6 similes and 6 metaphors about our personal experiences and connected them to our personal life, struggles. 

 Over the break I focused on working. Mainly starting a new job which was kind of hard since I only had a bit of experience from a previous job. What made it difficult was trying to move fast while not being sure of what you're doing. My favorite moment was getting a chance to re-read my favorite book series, the Hunger Games. The break really helped me relax a bit, since everything seems to move quick, it was a chance to slow down and breathe.  Today in class we went over a poem to celebrate Black History Month. 

 If I had to describe how I show my love using only 3 objects it would be  1. Candy  2. Crochet  3. Playlists  The reason It would be these 3 is because I tend to show I care through material objects, mainly because I like buying things and I have a problem at times, (not all the time, because sometimes I don't like to spend money at all), where I tend to go overspending , but also because sometimes I'll look at something and It will remind me of a certain person. For example for of my friends I bought her a notebook for Valentine's day because I remembered how she said she wanted to start journaling again, and I think it's something really intimate to be reminded of someone when you see something. The 2nd would be crochet, although I don't crochet as much anymore I did gift a lot of crochet last year, ( A Marshmallow, A Capybara with hats, a Spider man, flowers,etc.) It definitely takes a lot more time than buying things but its nice to see their faces when it'...

I present on Wednesday, I present with Amelia, Naitxy and Rosario. However during the first presentation I was taking notes but in taking notes I would get caught up writing and not listen, so today when Antonin's group presented I didn't take notes I only listened and I found it helped me understand information more, especially when Antonin started calling on people randomly although he caught me off guard for a minute I was prepared.  Today in class we played a booklet over chapter 11. In this chapter we learn about how Cheryl compared her grief to others ( Lu ). 

 My perfect day spent with someone is going to the park and having a picnic. It's fun to be able to talk through a picnic and eat something they might've prepared or brought because it exemplifies a part of them. In a way it shows something fun about them, like maybe they bring something totally unexpected or they might remember your favorite food or it might just be something new to try, It's also fun getting up and being able to walk around the park where there are birds and squirrels hopping about. At the same time it might also not be fun during summer with the mosquitoes which tend to target me.    Today in class we completed the first discussion. The first discussion was on chapter 10, where we learn a bit more about Cheryl's step dad and his role in Cheryl's life before and after the death of her mother. 

 The best piece of advice that my mom has given me is to "not count your eggs before they hatch", although she says it in a meaner sounding way. She says not to make plans if you're not fully committed to something. For example when me and my friend's were planning to do a gift exchange I said I would participate knowing I would get my paycheck a few days prior to the exchange. My mom got mad and said I should've waited until I actually received my paycheck to say I would participate, because you never know what could go wrong, if maybe they decide to just not pay me or if the check doesn't go through,etc. There are many things that can go wrong which is why my mom always says be 100% sure and don't make plans for things you don't know yet.  Today in Class we read the poem where a mother is giving advice to her son about how life is hard and tough. There is no easy way to climb up, no hack, but what there is, is your strength which pushes you to move f...

 The most challenging part of working in a group is when a group member does not want to contribute ideas, and you're unsure what to do. Freshmen year I had a group project but I had been absent due to me getting sick, so the next day I showed up I had to get into another group. The group was all the people who were absent frequently. When I tried to ask for ideas no one answered, one just went to sleep, making it more difficult for us to move forward. So I made up an idea and started planning subtopics, and I assigned it to them. It wasn't hard just adding images to slides or adding random details about information I had collected. However no one did anything, one girl kept texting her boyfriend the entire time but when the teacher came around she would pretend to be productive, which the teacher fell for. Once I finished the project we had to present and they were all absent, so I received a 0 for the presentation. This assignment taught me that attendance is important to not...

 The most challenging part of writing an essay for me is writing a strong thesis. Once I have my thesis I find it easy to go in and find supporting evidence and subtopics, but having to make a claim or a thesis isn't. It is more challenging to me because I have to stand on one argument. I plan to overcome this challenge by attempting to write several thesis until I find one that I like or know I can support strongly.  Today In class we went over the 5 different stages of writing and worked through the different steps together as a class. Filling out a draft for a essay with the topic of how to get a job. 

 A moment in my life that felt like the start of a powerful story was moving to Nevada. I grew up in Georgia, specifically the Chamblee area, so I had been used to knowing where everything was, the weather,etc. However when we moved to Vegas it was so different. In Nevada I couldn't even go outside during the summer, it was always at 90s or higher, compared to Georgia where there is trees to block out the sun. It felt like a huge turning point in my life because it changed my perspective on a lot of things. I learned not to complain about the heat now that I'm back because as bad as it is, it isn't burning at 90s and 100s. 

  If I had to write a poem about my life right now it would be about how I despise my job. It is not something that I enjoy doing however I do it anyways because I like spending money. Working makes you realize that at times people lack common skills. You may ask something over and over, minimum 3 times and at the end they will say something completely different  In class we watched the presentations of themes throughout the book. The most interesting to me was Amelia´s group due to the theme that they explained thoroughly. 

 When I am in a mood I don´t like a strategy I do is to stay quiet. Similar to the saying ¨if you don´t have anything nice to say, don´t say anything¨. If you´re mad you might say something you might later regret because you may say it but not mean it. Staying quiet gives you a chance to think about what made you mad, and why you´re mad about it.  When Cheryl gets into the bathtub she is in her own world, after properly cleaning herself and just laying in the water she describes it as being in another world.  Today in class we read chapter 8 of Cheryl Strayed´s memoir, she gets to reno nevada with barely any money left and has to figure out how to make it last until her next stop 

 Something I´ve outgrown but I miss is when I was younger and my dad would sit me in the front seat so I could move the steering wheel while he pretended to hit the brakes/gas. I miss it because technically If i were to do it now we would not both fit in the front seat. I also know how to drive so joking around with it would be kind of pointless at this point but it was fun being able to joke around at the time.  Today in class we read about Cheryl reaching Kennedy Meadows and her desperation to get there quickly.