Last but not Least

"Be curious, not judgemental." -Walt Whitman

This past year, I feel like I learned a lot but applied the knowledge I have learned over the past year more. English has always been easy for me but this year I was put to the test. It was not easy for me to earn a B in English since I have always gotten an A, but sometimes you have to be okay with it and not worry about all the other people that will judge you. Those are just two of the biggest lessons that I had the opportunity of earning this year. Having the chance to have my own Blog where I can explain my thoughts and understand things or ideas my way made English the best. Besides having a teacher that always took the extra mile to help everyone understand what we were talking about. I did indeed learn that it is VERY important to read the books that we are told to read because even if you used SparkNotes or looked up summaries on the books, Mrs.G still would know that you hadn't read. I think that being in IB English has given me the outlook on English in a different way. I was taught how to appreciate books and the authors because everyone has a story and whether that be written in a series of poems like Walt Whitman or in a movie like The Great Gatsby. There is always an overarching theme or take away from everything we read in English. We dove deeper into topics that "outsiders" (the people not in IB) don't have the chance to do. If I was able to take this class my freshman year and build upon the material we used this year, I am sure that I would be more confident in what I do now. I am a better writer, thinker, and learner. 

I am very thankful for being in IB because I have had the privilege of being exposed to a rigorous, collaborative and cross-curricular environment. This class has helped broaden my view on finding myself and figuring out what I want to do in life. English has offered me to challenge myself in all areas in preparation for college. All of the collaborative assignments we did in class has done nothing but helped me and that is what I have valued the most in English. I have become closer with people in this class. For instance, with Grace, we talked last year but this year because we had to talk more and interact more, I feel as though we have become closer. With Kate, I never really talked to her last year, but our little corner was the quite and giggly corner but we also bounced ideas off of each other to understand what we were learning. Even Olivia, with her jokes to make us laugh but they really weren't funny she still had important things to say about the books we read and a different perspective on books. Lastly, with Jackson, I wasn't fond of him because I never talked to him. I always knew him as the guy that didn't do his work and turned it in late. But through English, I found how smart and how fast his mind roles with ideas that make sense. I can understand him and what he has to say. 

Overall, the top five things I can say that I enjoyed having the chance to have is:

1. Read the books that Mrs.G tells you to.

2. Cherish what she says because somehow and in some way what she says will come back up during your senior year and make sense.

3. Ask questions because it sparks ideas and other topics that make you think outside the box. 

4. Make friendships because they will last a lifetime because they can have conversations with you way past class but help you as the year goes by. 

5. APPRECIATE what you learn because you become aware of the things that are going on around you like hard topics to talk about, diversity, inclusion and develop a standpoint on issues on a global and local level.

Thank you Mrs.G for allowing me to think outside the box, become a different thinker and for FINALLY hanging up my Whitman Poetry on the wall as it is the first piece of work I have that is on the wall!!

Also, 

this is a baby picture of me!!