Seniors: Your Last Writing Assignment (due BEFORE TUESDAY, MAY 27
Dead Poet's Society Testament
This is your last writing assignment. Post OR turn in a paper copy (if you would rather not have your response posted for others to read) before Tuesday, May 27. I will not be in school next Tuesday or Wednesday, so I will not accept any late assignments. This assignment is worth ten points.
Each of the prompts requires at least 250 words of response. All of the prompts are inspired by The Dead Poets Society movie.
I am looking forward to reading the last words of wisdom that you'll impart at Schoolsville.
I cannot grade you on your opinion. You will be graded on your clarity of expression and your ability to support your opinion using specific ideas and examples.
I am looking forward to reading the last words of wisdom that you'll impart at Schoolsville.
I cannot grade you on your opinion. You will be graded on your clarity of expression and your ability to support your opinion using specific ideas and examples.
Choose any ONE lower case "letter" to respond to. NOT one in each part. Just any ONE letter.
Part 1 People Can Change (minimum of 250 words)
Part 1 People Can Change (minimum of 250 words)
a. Give me an example of how your opinion about something or someone changed as a result of changing YOUR point of view.
b. For you, what's the most "different" school or extra-curricular activity in which you've participated during your high school career, one that you would have never imagined yourself doing in a few years ago?
c. What person in the Class of 2014 has undergone the most positive change during his or her four years at St. Mark's? You need NOT mention a name.
Part 2 Institutions Can Change
d. What pages from what text that you had in high school what you like to rip out?
e. What's the most different, yet most powerful/significant high school class (period, activity, etc.) in which you took part?
f. What one thing would you change about St. Mark's to improve the school that would not change the basic educational and philosophical fabric of the school (e.g. in Welton, Charly wanted to admit girls)?
g. How can St. Mark's best discipline its students in order to promote proper behavior?
Part 3 "These are the things we stay alive for "
h. Words ARE important. What are the nicest words that someone ever said to you? Explain. Please, be able to quote, at least partially, these words.
i. What are the last words to live by that you wrote to yourself in a journal or otherwise?
j. How does your favorite song, band, singer etc. affect you (emotionally or rationally or both) in an important way?
b. For you, what's the most "different" school or extra-curricular activity in which you've participated during your high school career, one that you would have never imagined yourself doing in a few years ago?
c. What person in the Class of 2014 has undergone the most positive change during his or her four years at St. Mark's? You need NOT mention a name.
Part 2 Institutions Can Change
d. What pages from what text that you had in high school what you like to rip out?
e. What's the most different, yet most powerful/significant high school class (period, activity, etc.) in which you took part?
f. What one thing would you change about St. Mark's to improve the school that would not change the basic educational and philosophical fabric of the school (e.g. in Welton, Charly wanted to admit girls)?
g. How can St. Mark's best discipline its students in order to promote proper behavior?
Part 3 "These are the things we stay alive for "
h. Words ARE important. What are the nicest words that someone ever said to you? Explain. Please, be able to quote, at least partially, these words.
i. What are the last words to live by that you wrote to yourself in a journal or otherwise?
j. How does your favorite song, band, singer etc. affect you (emotionally or rationally or both) in an important way?
"Bonne chance," as Mr. Keating might say.
posted by JTF @ 9:33 PM
31 comments
31 Comments:
My typical day consists of me waking up, going to school, and then going to the gym. After I finish my workout, I go to my “work,” the home of the three kids I nanny. Then I go home, get ready for school and bed, just to repeat this same routine.
It was just another typical night of mine. I was babysitting and helping this one with his homework, helping that one color, and putting on a movie for the other. In the mix of all this I decided to pull up Schoolsville to see what the blog assignment was. As I was reading down the options, I was thinking of which ones I could do and it was between “what are the last words to live by” and “what's the most ‘different’ school or extra-curricular activity in which you've participated” when I started to wonder about option h. What are the nicest words that someone has ever said to you?
Well, I know I’ve been complimented before, whether it was on my game, my grades, or even the outfit I was wearing, but no compliment really just stood out to me. It was not even five minutes later when my friend called and asked for help with his AP Psychology test coming up. I told him I would love to help because I got a 5 last year but just not at the moment because I was babysitting and still had to study math and write a lit blog. Then he asked, “Why do you do so much work?” and I simply answered, “Cause one day I want to be successful.” After this he paused and asked me another question, “Why are you so inspiring?” When he asked this, I was confused. I truly did not know what to say. The only word I could gather was “what?” He repeated himself. All I could do was question him as to why he would even say that and deny the fact that I am “inspiring.”
He then went on to try and justify his question. “There’s not even a week left of classes for you, why are you still doing your work? Not even are you still doing it all, but you’re babysitting and helping out the kids on top of that.” “…and that makes me inspiring how?” “You work really hard and you do whatever makes you happy, that has to say something about you.”
That statement, along with his inspiring question, made my night. But it wasn’t just another nice compliment; his words meant more to me than that. To have someone notice you are a hard worker is an awesome feeling, but to have someone think you are inspiring is quite unexplainable! That adjective just has so much depth and good connotation that I never would think to describe myself using it. I’ve been told nice things about myself before but no compliment has ever stuck out to me as much as my friend Ethan’s did.
Four years ago, although it seems like much longer, I never would have imagined myself where I am today. Coming in as a freshman I felt alone, anxious, and afraid. As the years went on, these feelings started to settle. My junior and senior years were when I really found where I belong. I never could have fathomed that I, in my senior year of high school, would be proud to be full-fledged “band geek.” Mr. Bookout pushing me to join band was the best thing that could have happened to me in high school. I hadn’t even thought for a second I would be able to join and excel in band. Even after joining, I didn’t imagine making the friendships that I’ve made.
I was surprised in myself when I agreed to join the St. Mark’s Marching Band and Jazz Band my senior year. Even though I never saw it coming in myself, I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Working with my peers on music and working with Mr. Bookout on the vibraphone was a challenging yet rewarding experience.If it hadn’t been for all of these musical activities that Bookout pushed me to join, I don’t think I would have decided to be a music major in college. I don’t think it would have crossed my mind for a second. But seeing the difference that these musical activities and all of my music teachers made for me, I realized that I want to someday be thanked by a student for making that difference in their life.
c. This young man I am classmates with underwent the most positive change during his four years at St. Marks High School. I attended St. John the Beloved grade school with this friend of mine and I would never have predicted that he would turn into the young man he is today. He went from being a quiet, shy boy who seemed sort of afraid to express himself, to a young man who is one of the biggest influential leaders at St. Mark's. I have seen him grow all these years and I am amazed and honored that I have gotten so close with him. He is my friend, my role model, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.
g. I think a great way St. Mark's can promote proper behavior in the school is to award small prizes to those students who follow the rules. Now I know people believe students should follow the rules because they are the rules, but it's much more complicated than that. The way young students think is that if they do something correct they should be rewarded for it. It may not be right, but it's the truth. So if St. Mark's offered dress down days to those students who followed dress code for a whole month, or free A-Line for not eating in the academic wing for a whole quarter, I think that would go a long way. It may be a stretch, but I think the school would see positive results.
i. The words that I live my life by are a quote by the famous Walt Disney; "All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." These words were given to me a few years ago by my father right before I started St. Mark's as a freshman. He told me that if I wanted to achieve my dreams then I would have to work harder than anyone else. I must have the courage and drive to achieve my dreams, because if I do not, then I will fail. I strive to be my best everyday, in everything that I do. I know that I am not perfect, but if I give my full effort at all times, then I will never be a true failure.
B. Around three years ago, my aunt and uncle started doing CrossFit. With calloused hands, bumps and bruises, and horror stories of flipping giant tires, CrossFit sounded like the absolute last thing I ever wanted to do. What type of person is crazy enough to put him or herself through that type of torture? Yeah, my aunt and uncle have always been active and pretty healthy, but doesn’t this seem a little eccentric? It all just seemed crazy to me. I thought to myself, “These CrossFit people are crazy.” And I was 100% right. CrossFit people are crazy, but now I am one of those crazy people. Except the type of “crazy” we are, isn’t the typical “crazy.” We are crazy in the fact that our insanely high levels of motivation, perseverance, and mental toughness push us to do things beyond what is thought to be the limit of human capacity. We push ourselves until we reach our limits, and then proceed to push past that limit as if it was never even there. We aim to better ourselves every day in such a way that affects not only our physical bodies, but our attitudes and the people around us as well. It’s not all about physical strength. Mental toughness is just as important, especially when you think you can’t go on any longer. Just get one more. One at a time. Come on, you can do it! Motivational talking to yourself is great, but what’s even better is a crowd of people cheering you on and encouraging you to finish strong. Having people push me through a workout makes me feel like I’m not doing it all on my own. They are lifting the weight with me. I feel like I can conquer the entire world. It’s euphoric. Through CrossFit, I have developed a second family and strong bonds that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I never would have thought I would be doing this today, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that I can’t picture my life without it. CrossFit isn’t “crazy”, it’s euphoric.
e. The most influential class that I have taken during my high school years is without a doubt Mr. Ingrum’s Death and Dying Course. When I chose to take this course at the end of my junior year I was a little skeptical because I thought it would just be a depressing course that I had to attend every day to talk about death. I was quite wrong. His course changed my outlook on life. We studied chapters such as death, mourning, living wills, cryogenics, etc. I found his course to be extremely interesting. Despite his long intense lectures, I found myself looking forward to his class every day and being ready to give him my full attention. His course did not scare me of death, but rather helped change my outlook. I now know that I have to live life to the fullest so that I don’t have any regrets when my time comes. If you live your life to the fullest, one lifetime is enough. I have strongly recommended his course to all of my underclassmen friends, and I truly hope they will take it.
The last words to live by that I wrote were that even in dark times there is a way to find humor. Whether we realize it or not. I see these as words to live by because they are inspirational. At least to me they are. I see them as inspirational not because I wrote them, but because they are true. I didn’t write then as meaning that dark times themselves can be humorous, but you can lighten the mood if you try. When the chance to make dark times better, we should always try and take it. We should always try to find humor to lighten the mood. Or maybe just do something nice. I already posted about what I said during my grandmothers funeral but there have been other times where humor or irony has made dark times somewhat bearable. For example, there is a road by my grandmothers apartments that she lived in that had been under construction for years. She made a joke saying that she would die before that road was finished. And a week after she died the road was completed. Its not funny that she died but its ironic that she predicted in a joke that was going to happen. On the day of my grandmothers funeral, it rained. She always complained about how it rained on the days we tried to go out so my mom said it was her little joke on us. Only to try and lighten the mood.
B. The Blue Gold Fashion Show we have here at St. Mark’s is as “different” as you can get when it comes to extracurricular and school activities. I have never heard of or witnessed anything like it before and nothing put on by other schools can even compare to the genuine excitement and thrill that it brings. Back when I was a freshman and first heard about the fashion show, I foolishly jumped to the conclusion that it was just a bunch of girls showing off designer clothes. I was so confused as to why anyone in his or her right mind, especially high school students, would want to be a part of or even attend such an event. What was even more bewildering was how this show had anything to do with DFRC and Blue Gold and the buddies. My eyes were opened, however, when I decided to drop a few dollars and watch the show with a couple of my friends junior year to see what all the hype was about. It’s safe to say that it was well worth my money because I was more entertained that night than I ever imagined I could be at a school function. The night was filled with great music, laughs, and the pure joy of seeing the smiles on the buddies’ faces when they hit the stage in their prom attire. Fast forward to tryouts for the fashion show senior year, and although I loved every minute of the show from the previous year, I was hesitant to join because I didn’t really see myself as the type of person to put myself out there like that. But, with the help of my friends never ending harassment and pushing me to do it, I jumped right in. I was in the Macy’s group and although I wasn’t too familiar with all the members, they felt like family by the end of the three months of preparation together. I had some of the best times breaking out my dance moves with them and it all came to a head on the night of the show, which was one of the most memorable nights of my life. When I look back on my four years here at St. Mark’s, I’m almost positive choosing to take part in the fashion show was the best decision I ever made and I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to meet so many great people, share so many great experiences, and learn so many new things about myself that I never knew before, like being able to do a backflip.
When I was a freshman, there was not even a chance that I would think by my senior year I would be able to say that I have been to Italy. Participating in the Italian Exchange has definitely been the most different and most exciting thing I have done at St. Mark’s. Sophomore year, I was approached by Mrs. Joyce, who said I would be good for the exchange. I talked to my parents and they agreed that it would be an amazing opportunity, so we filled out the forms to officially take part in the program (so did my twin brother). Towards the end of sophomore year, all of the exchange students from Italy came to America, and we spent two weeks touring any tourist spot two hours from Delaware. It was the most tiring two weeks I have ever experienced, but all I could think about was when we were going to fly over to Italy. A year went so fast, and before I knew it I was packing my bags for two weeks in Italy. I, along with the other exchange members, was so excited that I could barely sleep on the plane. Over those two weeks, I spent time with an amazing host family and exchange partner, who were so kind and generous in all that they did. They made my favorite meals, purchased everything for me despite me trying to sneak in my own money, and treated me like a daughter and sister. The history we saw while there was breathtaking, and truly unbelievable. I still recall standing in the Coliseum and not being able to believe that Romans walked where we were standing, and watched gladiators fight in the arena. Those two weeks were filled with memories, laughter, and such gratitude for having the opportunity to even go on the exchange. The trip also gave me a bond with five friends who I will share memories with the rest of my life. It has been by far the greatest experience I have been able to be a part of today, and has inspired me to study a language in college so that studying abroad is a necessity.
i. In my life, I have been influenced by the people around me and events that have occurred, but I always have a strong moral or "words to live by". My parents instilled in me at a young age that "whatever you decide to be you be that well". At a young age this was not an easy concept to comprehend but the words always stuck with me. At the time those were just words, but now it has much more meaning and has been engraved in my brain. At this point in my life I have only the slightest idea of where I will be in the future and what my career path will be, but then again who really knows what the future holds. My interests may change and time will pass but what I Know is that wherever I end up I must understand that this is my life and I must make the most of it. "Be that well" has multiple meanings. From putting 100% into sports or my schooling, to being a kind friend or shoulder to cry on, I have learned to be selfless and to live with passion and empathy. These words have been instilled into my being and have helped me learn and grow as a person. I know that whatever I decide to "be" or do in the future I will put my heart into it. I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained in my short life so far and it's comforting to know that there is so much more to learn, and that some of the greatest days of my life haven't happened yet. I hope that I can pass along knowledge with the words I say to others in a positive light, as my parents have done for me.
i. In my life, I have been influenced by the people around me and events that have occurred, but I always have a strong moral or "words to live by". My parents instilled in me at a young age that "whatever you decide to be you be that well". At a young age this was not an easy concept to comprehend but the words always stuck with me. At the time those were just words, but now it has much more meaning and has been engraved in my brain. At this point in my life I have only the slightest idea of where I will be in the future and what my career path will be, but then again who really knows what the future holds. My interests may change and time will pass but what I Know is that wherever I end up I must understand that this is my life and I must make the most of it. "Be that well" has multiple meanings. From putting 100% into sports or my schooling, to being a kind friend or shoulder to cry on, I have learned to be selfless and to live with passion and empathy. These words have been instilled into my being and have helped me learn and grow as a person. I know that whatever I decide to "be" or do in the future I will put my heart into it. I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained in my short life so far and it's comforting to know that there is so much more to learn, and that some of the greatest days of my life haven't happened yet. I hope that I can pass along knowledge with the words I say to others in a positive light, as my parents have done for me
I like to support people, simple as that. I can’t sit idly as my friends rant about their grades or cry over family problems, I have to help them in whatever way I can. Helping myself, however, is not as simple of a task. One night last year I was a mess. Overwhelmed with grades, hurt by friends, upset over a game, you name it. My friend knew I was out of sorts pretty quickly from my texts and immediately called me. As I broke down to him on the phone, telling him how nothing could possibly be okay, he stopped me and told me the nicest thing someone has ever told me. Without hesitation he told me “You know, I used to think the same thing but you would always be the one person who could change my mind.”
He went on to describe various times where he felt everything was hopeless and I was able to turn it around and make him smile. With each example it hit me how much of an impact I had made on each situation unknowingly. I knew I was being supportive, but never knew how much it meant to him. It was that night I realized how important it is to always be there for friends, even if they don’t realize it. Sometimes just sending a quick text or stopping by their house to check in means more to them than I could ever imagine. When my friend told me how I was the only one who could change his mind, convince him that the world wasn’t all “cruel and unbearable” I couldn’t be more touched. Only a few simple words, but they have stuck with me for over a year, and will continue to stick with me for a very long time.
E. What's the most different, yet most powerful/significant high school class (period, activity, etc.) in which you took part?
This might be the easiest blog that I’ve ever had to do. No doubt in my mind that the most different, powerful, you name it; class that I have taken was public speaking. Public speaking was something that everyone has said I’m always good at but I did not believe in myself until this year after taking that elective. I could not have seen myself ever taking that course last year because to be honest giving speeches in front of the class while being filmed for five minutes did not sound too exciting and made me nervous just thinking about it. However, I like to face my fears and knew if I wanted to be confident I would need to take the course. If you were to tell my junior self, last year, that I would read a reading at a school wide mass I would have laughed in your face. But, with Mr. Corrigan’s help I achieved one of my greatest fears. Public speaking made me feel powerful in ways that I had never felt before. That class was different and new to Saint Mark’s and me but I am forever grateful that I chose to take it. My classmates and Mr. Corrigan became like a family to me and I cannot thank them enough for helping me with public speaking and also becoming a better person. I am positive that if you asked this question to any of my friends that took public speaking they would say the same things. Public speaking was different, made me feel powerful and will have a significant part in my high school career. I will always remember that class and I cannot say that for every class.
If by Rudyard Kipling
'If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!'
I have always loved this poem by Rudyard Kipling. The words are so beautiful and gracefully arranged that reading it aloud gives me goosebumps. However, If has become more significant for me in the past month. I am thinking about graduation and prom and getting my dress hemmed (will it fit?!), but underneath all of that lie much more important questions, the “big questions” about life. Graduation is not just about leaving high school behind. When I graduate, I am leaving everything that is normal, everything that makes me feel secure and safe. I will be leaving my friends and my family and moving a few hours journey away from some, a plane ride from others. I will be leaving the comfort of my own room, only bringing what can fit in a tiny dorm room. My book collection, collecting dust on my shelves, yearning to be read when I visit for vacations. But, leaving the normalcy of my life is not as abysmal as it sounds. I will be truly on my own for the first time, making decisions as a respected adult. Every class I take I will choose out of pure interest, without concern for anything or anyone else. I can eat whenever I want to and budget my time around my own schedule. I will have freedom I have never imagined. With this freedom comes responsibility, and for me, these responsibilities, as well as almost every goal I have for my character can be found in Kipling’s If. Graduating does not make me an adult. Only IF I work at these goals every day after graduation, then, and only then will I conquer “the Earth and everything that’s in it” and become who I truly want to be.
d. I once had a textbook that was encrypted with the words, “You can't be courageous if you are afraid.” Every day in class I was so tempted to just throw the book out the window because that quote was the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. I've never met a person who wasn't afraid of something. Fear is a part of being human. It shows that you care. But sure enough open any magazine, and you'll see adjectives describing celebrities as: 'Fearless! Courageous! Bold!' If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's the power of thought, and that if you tell yourself something over and over again, you start to believe it. Confidence is not something you're born with, but rather a habit. You walk like you've already been there. You act unafraid, until one day, you aren't. Until one day, being strong has become who you are. Do you think the President of the United States isn't scared out of his mind that he is going to mess up terribly? Of course he is! He has just learned to put his fear aside for the betterment of those around him. If I were an editor I might have replaced the quote on the cover of my textbook with this one: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear.” I don't think society should be teaching children to be perfect and fearless. It is only natural to be afraid, and it shows that you have compassion. Society should be teaching children to be confident in their abilities, so that whenever they are scarred they have the power to put their fear aside and step up to the plate for those that need them. We all have a personal obligation to believe in ourselves. It is impossible to major in unafraid, but it is possible to have self-confidence in yourself, no matter what the odds are.
B. When I first came to St. Mark’s, I believed that student council members were the stereotypical people of a class: students ranked at the top of the class and extremely outgoing personalities. I believed this concept from watching tv shows and movies, so when I first entered St. Mark’s, I never imagined that I would be a part of something like it. I was nowhere near top of my class and I had more of an introverted personality. I was always afraid to talk in front of peers that I wasn’t close with because of the fear of being judged. So, if my 14 year old self was to look forward to where I am now, I would probably be shocked that I am apart of student council. I don’t have a huge responsibility within student council, just simply a homeroom representative. My job is to deliver information to my homeroom about what is going to be happening over the next month and anything else that was discussed during the meetings. It may not seem to be a big deal but for me it was. I had to talk in front of about 20 people in my homeroom which at first was a little out of my comfort zone, but I am really glad I ended up running to be a homeroom rep. It may sound strange but it has helped my confidence level go up, and makes me feel more comfortable now when speaking in front of a crowd. I may not have seen myself doing student council four years ago, but I can surely see myself doing it now and possibly in the future.
B. Throughout my high school experience I was often known as a quiet kid. I never really went out of my way to talk to people nearly as much as I do now. I often found that if I did not talk to people I could not embarrass myself in any way. My overall demeanor changed the end of my junior year. I stopped caring what other people thought of me and just decided to be myself. This decision I made was one of the best choices I had made in high school. Not only did I enjoy going to school I became more social and had a lot more friends. By senior year I was ready to hang out with new people and try new things. One of my friends came up to me and asked me if I wanted to participate in the blue gold fashion show. This was a tough decision for me because I wasn’t so keen on dancing in front of a lot of people. After some thought I decided to just go with it. To my surprise I enjoyed fashion show. It was so much fun that I actually regretted not doing it all four years. Senior year has taught me that you can’t care what other people think of you. It all comes down to who you want to be as an individual. The quicker you stop conforming to the expectations of our already severely judgmental society the better off your personality and character will be.
I remember getting into fights with my dad the summer before I started high school. After playing the flute for six years, I was done, I wanted nothing to do with band after eighth grade. Four years ago, if someone told me I'd be a proud member of St. Mark's color guard, I wold have laughed. My dad tried to insist I join the marching band, but I refused over and over, so eventually he gave up. I didn't want to join anything in high school, I wanted to dedicate my time to academics and martial arts. The irony was, within a month of starting high school, I had joined the concert band. I still refused to join the marching band, thinking of how difficult it would be to memorize all that music and march in time and keep up with everyone else. But, by the end of freshman year, I somehow got it in my mind to try out for color guard. I was sure I wouldn't make it on the team. I did. Three years later, I'm in concert band, I march with flags, I helped restart the indoor team for color guard, and I've met some fantastic people. I wouldn't know my best friend if I hadn't joined guard. Marching band has provided me with unforgettable experiences. Looking back, I can't believe how ridiculous I was to think marching band was a waste of time. Four years ago, I never thought I'd be able to captain a team of any sort, but guard changed that.Even though I can't be a professional flag spinner, I can take the lessons I've learned about teamwork, leadership, and hard work and apply them to other areas of my life. People might think we're "weird" or "obnoxious" or "nerdy band geeks" but there is no other group I'd rather have dedicated my time to being a part of.
The most powerful class I experienced during my time at Saint Mark’s was Mr. Ingram’s “Death and Dying” class. It was more then just a theology credit for me. Most of Mr. Ingram’s the students dread entering his room and listening to him lecture while he prances around the front of the room waving his hands as he goes. The dread only became more evident every time we had a test or quiz. I, on the other hand, used to look forward to his 43-minute lectures on not just death but life too. “Death and Dying” was a class I looked forward to even before I was placed into the class. I can remember being in middle school and J.R. telling us all about his class “Death and Dying.” He used to go on and on about how hard of a class it was but also how rewarding it was to know how to study for a college-like class. As soon as I had the chance to pick my classes for senior year, I knew what theology class I wanted to take. I never regretted signing up for “Death and Dying” and I am so thankful to Mr. Ingram for everything he has taught me. I can remember walking into Mr. Ingram’s class on the first day of school and how as soon as he placed us in our assigned seats he bestowed me the nickname, “Little Fasy.” I knew immediately that I was going to enjoy not only his class but his jokes too. As the semester went on, I never lost interest in what he was teaching. No matter what the topic of discussion was, I made sure my notes were neat and directly to the point of his lecture. I now know how to organize my notes in a timely manner so I can learn everything from
Freshman year I went to sign up for classes. I was never any good at art so I knew I did not want to be one of those freshmen sitting in Art 1 to fulfill my art credit to graduate. Instead, I decided to sign up for acting I. I did not know what I was getting myself into. As I looked around my class the first day I remember wishing I would have just done Art I. The kids sitting around me just looked weird and Mr. Patch informed me I was going to have to memorize a lot for this class. As we finished doing our first “ice breaker” exercise I slowly began to come out of my shell. Throughout the semester I became so close with the students and also with Mr. Patch. so one day I came in the theater and just yelled “IMPROV DAY!” To my surprise Mr. Patch agreed. I could not even tell you what the scene is we had to act out, but I can tell you I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. I’ll never forget that day, or the people in that class. Sometimes I wish I would have went out for one of the plays because Mr. Patch said I was actually pretty good at acting, but I was too busy with volleyball and softball. I would have never imagined myself to actually like acting, but it was very fun and taught me a lot. It also helped me to get out of my shell when I was just a little, scared freshy.
The most unique and surprising extra-curricular activity that I have gotten involved in is theatre. It may not be the craziest activity but it was certainly a leap that I didn’t see myself taking a few years before I got involved. I had horrible stage fright for most of my teenage years due to a devastating event at a poem recital where I forgot the words to my poem and ran off stage. It was a huge step for me to try out for One Acts sophomore year. When I learned that I got a part which would be onstage for the entirety of the play, I couldn’t believe it. I was excited and anxious at the same time, as it would be my first time on stage professionally since my scarring mistake years before. There were loads of lines to memorize along with all kinds of unique blocking (the actions of the characters) that was always changing, even up to minutes before the first show. I was literally shaking in my chair as I waited for the lights to come up. Then as I started to say my lines perfectly and execute my blocking on cue, I fell into a smooth rhythm where I forgot everything else besides the show. For a half hour I was someone else, and that someone wasn’t afraid of an audience because they didn’t see an audience (well actually, my character did at one point but that didn’t matter). I fell in love with acting from that point forward and I still crave the thrill of being onstage. From that one leap into my biggest fear, I discovered a passion that I will carry with me for the rest of my life
There are three things in this world that absolutely terrify me: public speaking, sharing things I’ve drawn/written, and loneliness. When I arrived for my first day at St. Mark’s, I had shelves of sketchbooks no one had ever seen and stacks of journals no one had ever read—and I was keen to keep it that way. As the youngest of four, I grew up admiring my sisters’ work and sheepishly began to believe mine was not worth admiration. High school hit me like a ton of bricks, a whirlwind of new experiences and revelations, but by my junior year I wasn’t any closer to figuring out who I was. In English class, we were given the assignment to memorize a poem and recite it in front of the class—an idea which, inevitably, sent me on a downward spiral of overdramatic despair. As you’ll recall, fear number one is public speaking. Daunted, yet utterly determined, I scoured the internet for the perfect poem. While I searched, I unwittingly tripped and fell in love with poetry altogether, especially spoken word. I watched performances of spoken word poetry religiously and when it was my turn to recite my poem, I surprised everyone with just how well I could recite. The positive feedback gave me the confidence to sign up to do Poetry Out Loud, a competition specifically for poetry recitation. I came in second and I could not have been happier or more shocked at my ability to keep composure. The confidence I gained from Poetry Out Loud made me outgoing enough to share more with people, especially my art. Senior year, I signed up to do Poetry Out Loud again, but this time, I won. Because I won for the school, I was able to advance to states where I met so many amazing people who had the same affinity for poetry that I did. Fear number three, loneliness, seemed to be crossed off the list just as easily as public speaking (which now gave me a rush of exciting adrenaline). This year, I faced my greatest fear of all: sharing my writing. I’ve read so much classic literature and listened to so many precisely beautiful poems, I never believed my writing was strong enough to move the human heart. But, this year, I was able to read my writing for the whole class and by some twist of fate, people actually liked my words. If you had asked fourteen-year-old me if I would competitively recite poetry for an auditorium full of people or share a poem that I myself had written for my entire English class, I would’ve fainted on the spot. Now, I have faced every fear I have, and I am leaving this school in cap and gown, graduate of the Class of Fearlessness.
I can remember fighting with my parents all summer before my freshman year. I was currently signed up for two schools, St. Marks and Archmere Academy until the beginning of August. I was determined that I was going to Archmere and not St. Marks. I lost the battle with my parents and was enrolled at St. Marks. I am so glad that my parents did what they did. Going into a high school that you know no one in is not easy. I was scared to death, I did not want to make new friends and did not want to accept the fact that I was going to St.Marks in the fall. It took me until I put on my uniform that day that I knew I had to make the best of the situation. I wanted to go in and make friends and try new things. I instantly changed my perspective. I knew right then and there that it was out of my hands. I could either make the next four years miserable for myself or the best four years of my life. I am so glad that I was sent to St.Marks and I can honestly say…it has been the best four years of my life so far.
I can remember fighting with my parents all summer before my freshman year. I was currently signed up for two schools, St. Marks and Archmere Academy until the beginning of August. I was determined that I was going to Archmere and not St. Marks. I lost the battle with my parents and was enrolled at St. Marks. I am so glad that my parents did what they did. Going into a high school that you know no one in is not easy. I was scared to death, I did not want to make new friends and did not want to accept the fact that I was going to St.Marks in the fall. It took me until I put on my uniform that day that I knew I had to make the best of the situation. I wanted to go in and make friends and try new things. I instantly changed my perspective. I knew right then and there that it was out of my hands. I could either make the next four years miserable for myself or the best four years of my life. I am so glad that I was sent to St.Marks and I can honestly say…it has been the best four years of my life so far.
B. The extracurricular activity that I would have never seen myself do is Cross Country. Freshman year my parents forced me to play a fall sport and I did not feel like playing football again and I never played soccer. So I was left with Cross Country. Cross Country got me in great shape but definitely was not the sport for me. I was never really a runner, the reason I play goalie in lacrosse is because I never liked to run and I was a little chubby too. One of the worst parts about running Cross Country are the short shorts. They just are not made for a mans body and the freshman always get the last uniforms. So we get the smallest shorts and biggest jerseys. The worst part of my whole Cross Country career was when I came in dead last against Sallies. That was the only time I have ever thought about quitting. It put me in the worst mood. If I could go back in time and change the fall sport I would have chosen football. I would have made way more friends because most of my friends played football freshman year. If I did learn anything from Cross Country is to never give up and to keep pushing yourself. Even when you are tired you have to keep going. You have the physical toughness to push yourself it is just sometimes you lack in the mental aspect to push yourself past that comfortable point.
Beginning our senior year, all the members of the Saint Mark’s Class of 2014 came in with the same questions. What am I going to do next year? Where am I going to go? What am I going to study? Making such an important decision is very stressful. Especially when this one decision will affect the next four years of your life, and maybe even longer. The complex process of finding the best school for me was made drastically simpler when I visited the University of Pittsburg, and my tour guide gave me just the advice I needed to hear. She told us not to choose a college where we feel comfortable now. As strange as this sounds, it makes perfect sense. A lot of growing up takes place between the time you go in as an 18 year old and leaving as a 22 year old. So instead of choosing a school where you can remain content for the next four years, choose a school where you see you’re ideal self being comfortable. For example, if you were always a shy person but hope to be more outgoing when you’re older, than choose a school that will force you out of you’re comfort zone so that you can become outgoing. My opinions of all the schools on my shortlist changed as I took on the perspective of my future self instead of the person I am today. Due to this quality advice, I have made my final decision and am confident that I will be happy there for the next four years.
As you probably know, I am a huge baseball guy. Coming in as a freshmen I wanted to play baseball. When I went to the baseball meeting freshmen year, I realized that it would require so much to play. Being a realist, I knew that I wasn't the best baseball player and I figured I wouldn't see the field that much. The decision not to play left a void in my life. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be playing tennis, especially at a varsity level in high school. But that's exactly what I did my junior and senior year. It was one of the best parts of my high school career. I loved it. Tennis is an interesting sport. It's a lot different than baseball. It's much more of a individual sport than baseball is. It is completely different, but I love playing it. Although I still live and breathe baseball, I love playing tennis. It is a sport I'll be able to play my whole life and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to play at Saint Mark's.
An extracurricular activity I never saw myself doing is managing. My freshman year, I had no friends. I did not know one person walking into St. Marks. Needless to say, I felt extremely out of place my first few days. My dad told me to get involved in as many things I can, but I do not play sports and I know I would not be successful in a sport where I knew nothing. In the hallway, I heard Hunter O'Connell asking around to see if anyone was playing a spring sport and if not, if they would be interested in managing lacrosse. Without hesitating, I told him to tell Coach Reynolds that I would do it. 4 years later, it was the best decision I ever made. I made countless friends from managing lacrosse and it was the highlight of my day. I finally had something to look forward to. My junior year, Coach Wilson needed a manager for football. I absolutely said yes. Managing football was a whole different world. I have never washed a piece of clothing in my life, and I found myself washing 70 jerseys soaked with sweat and blood. 2 a days in 100 degree weather was brutal for me, even though I wasn't even the one in pads. Through managing lacrosse and football, I became part of two wonderful families between people who truly care about each other. I will never forget sitting on the ground crying when the last buzzer went off in my last football game, or running on the field with my lacrosse team when a winning goal went in in overtime in the playoffs. Without managing, I can truly say St. Mark's would have not been the same for me. I am beyond thankful for everything this apportioning has presented me with. I made lifelong friends and created values within myself that I never knew were there. Mostly, I learned patience - a virtue I would have never learned otherwise. I can not thank my teammates and coaches enough
One of the most influential parts of my high school experience is, in all likelihood, very predictable. But for me, Pottery has been absolutely life changing. My entire life I have been acutely aware that in a family of artists, I was the athlete. My mother the actress, my father the sketch artist, my brother the singer- and Chloe, the swimmer. I felt as if I was part of that Sesame Street song, “One of These Things is not Like the Others”. That all changed last year when I entered into Mrs. Grieco’s Pottery Two class. I entered into her class wide-eyed and hopeful that this, finally, would be the medium I was meant to work with. I sat at the wheel with anticipation in my fingertips, eyeing that ugly, wet piece of clay. Expecting magic, I positioned my hands, set the wheel whirling and… I was horrible. Nothing I did was right. It took me months to make something, anything at all, and when I finally did, it was lopsided. Ugly. Poorly crafted, and homely quite frankly. This frustrated me excessively. Soon I found myself spending every free second in the ceramics room- I was determined to master the wheel, just to spite it. Mrs. Grieco saw this determination and helped me immensely. Gradually, I began to see improvements in my work. Instead of working to spite the wheel, I began to see it as a way to relax. Pottery began to make me immeasurably happy. I learned so much from this period of frustration. I found that details matter, and patience is an incredibly important part of art, and of life, really. Happiness comes from unexpected places, and I can honestly say that I would have never guessed that I would become ‘that pottery girl’.
B. If someone had asked me a few years ago if I was a runner, I would have laughed out loud. I've played soccer all my life but for the most part, running was my least favorite aspect of it. The idea of running "just to go for a run" was absolutely absurd to me. So when my friends started egging me on to join the cross-country team sophomore year I just brushed it off as being a ridiculous notion. But through their persistence I decided to go to the first practice junior year just to shut them up. This sport was completely "different" to me. The activity was something I hated and the races were individual in that your time is your own and no one else can run it for you. I had never done anything like it. The crazy thing was, I actually really liked being on the team. I continued to go to practices and put in the work to get better. I got to the point during the next summer where I would take time away from precious beach days to go run 5 miles, by myself. A younger me wouldn't have done that for a million dollars. I gained a lot from my running experience but one of the most important ideas is to be open to new things and never to count anything out until I try it because the most "different" experiences are the ones that change your life.
(yes Fio, another blog somewhat related to Irish dancing)
I have always been a dancer. The competitive drive to succeed in dancing kicked in when I first started competing. I stood next to my mom at competitions blatantly staring at the much older girls getting ready to walk onstage. They were champions and I watched as a beginner. I imitated their stretches to my best ability and picked out hairpins and bejeweled socks that matched the newest fads I saw all of the older girls sporting. Not once had I thought to myself that ten years later I would be the “older girl.”
My teacher texted me before class one night asking if my sister and I would mind dancing in the 5:30 class instead of our usual 7:30. My immediate reaction was a slight annoyance and a whole lot of dread. The 5:30 class was filled with beginners who hadn't even been dancing a year. Instruction was futile to them and their “practicing” usually turned into tag as soon as the teacher turned her head. I knew I was going to have to dance around the little obstacles. Inevitably, I assumed, much of my practice would be repeating drills over in a corner I knew they wouldn't invade. After my teacher had watched each of the five year olds, she quieted the balls of energy and ordered them to sit along the wall as she called me up to dance. It was surprisingly nerve-wracking standing with my back to a bunch five-year olds, who were shouting in whispered voices. I wanted my routine to be flawless - to be an example to them of practice and hard work. Of course it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either. My teacher asked me to repeat one of my steps after I finished, so i quickly tapped my shoes in my puddle of water to keep me from slipping, and I carried out my step. After I finished, the rest of the class followed the same pattern: they dance, they sit, I dance.
The next week I showed up to my normal class early enough to catch the end of the dreaded 5:30 class. As I stretched myself out, one of the moms came running out of the waiting room, apologizing repeatedly for her daughter spilling her water on the floor and stomping her feet in it. My teacher looked at me and I knew exactly what she was thinking. She had seen me tap my feet in a tiny spot of water to provide traction while I danced, and tried to do the same. After the little class was dismissed, my teacher pulled me aside. The little girl's mother had explained to my teacher that her daughter had watched me the entire class and told her mom that I was the most graceful person she had ever met. While I am sure she was referring strictly to my dancing, I was touched nonetheless. I have always been insecure about being such a graceful dancer. My teachers are constantly reminding me to show some aggression on stage, to be more like my sister. Even if the compliment came from a five year old, it meant more to me than she ever could imagine. Each time I arrive on Tuesday nights, I make sure I say "hi" to the little girl who paid me the best compliment I have ever received. The smile on her face is almost as wide as the smile on my face when I realized the influence I have on others, especially the dreaded 5:30 class. I guess the best part of the story is that her name is Ashlyn, too.
Honestly, if I could rip out any pages of any book in school…it would be the chapter on Logarithms in my math book. Logarithms. What even are they? I know for a fact that in my future career, and in anybody’s future career who won’t be a mathematician, logarithms will not be used. It’s just my personal opinion that the entire Logarithms chapter be ripped out and burned from every math book. I would rather learn about more practical every day math that I will need to use for the rest of my life. When am I going to use that? “Oh, I need to pay my bills. Well let me take the log of the bill then let me take it up the seventh exponent and…” No. That will never happen. Every other chapter in my math book was fine for me, except that entire chapter on logarithms. If I was able to keep my math book after school is over I would rip those pages out without a doubt. Instead of a whole chapter on Logarithms, there could be a chapter on teaching me how to balance out a check book; an actual real life skill that involves math. Well, I still don’t know how to balance out a checkbook. At least I can convert 5_(3^10 ) into logarithmic form, though! That previous sentence was obviously sarcastic, but I’m sure you already knew that. The entire Logarithms chapter should just be ripped out and replaced with something more practical, but that’s just my opinion, I guess.
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