Rory's English Blog

 Prompt: How do you typically respond when people give you advice? Do you usually accept it, question it, or ignore it? Explain your reasoning. I usually question advice before I accept it. I listen to what the person says and think about whether it fits my situation. Some advice helps because the person has more experience, so I take it seriously. At the same time, I like to think through the decision myself so I understand why I follow the advice. This approach helps me learn from others while still making my own choices. Summary: Today we did vocab and analyzed chapter 12. Reflection: I learned new vocab words and about chapter 12.

 Prompt: The film makes Chris’s choices feel more justified to me. I see the places he travels and the freedom he seeks, which helps me understand why he wants to live that way. The visuals show the beauty of the wilderness and his excitement, so his journey feels meaningful. The book focuses more on Chris’s thoughts and the risks he takes, which makes his actions feel more reckless. Because the film shows emotions and landscapes directly, my perspective shifts and I understand his motivation more clearly. Summary: We watched the Into The Wild movie. Reflection: I learned the difference between the book and movie for Into The Wild.

 Prompt: As I got older, my understanding of my family changed because I started to see them as regular people instead of perfect role models. I began to notice their mistakes and the choices they made, which shifted how I viewed them. This change made me realize that families have complicated histories and problems that are not always talked about. In Chapter 11 of Into the Wild , Chris has a similar realization when he learns the truth about his parents’ past. That discovery makes him feel betrayed and helps explain why he becomes so distant from them. Summary: We read and analyzed Chapter 11 of Into The Wild. Reflection: I learned different family dynamics and how they affect me.

 Prompt:  Chapter 8 stood out to me the most because it shows how Chris McCandless was not the only person who chose a different path. Jon Krakauer compares him to other people who also left society, which made me think more deeply about his choices. This chapter made his story feel less random and more connected to a bigger idea about independence and risk. I found it interesting because it showed both the appeal and the danger of living that way. It was impactful because it made me question whether his actions were brave or too extreme. Summary: Today we took the into the wild test. Reflection: I learned how to effectively take a test. 

 Prompt:  Right now, success means getting strong grades, earning college acceptance, and building future opportunities.  I focus on school performance and activities because they lead to those results.  These ideas come from family expectations, school pressure, and what society values.  At the same time, I see success as feeling proud of my work and making steady progress.  I want my definition of success to balance achievement with real happiness. Summary: Today we read chapter 9-10 of into the wild. Reflection: I learned chapter 9-10 of into the wild

 Prompt:  I chose to handle a big school assignment on my own instead of working with others. I wanted full control over the work and did not want to depend on anyone else. It was more stressful, but I learned how to manage my time and solve problems by myself. I would make the same choice again, but only when I know I can handle the responsibility alone. Summary:Today we read chapter 8. Reflection: Today I learned chapter 8 of into the wild.

Prompt:  Propriety matters to me because it shapes how I act around others and shows respect.  I think about it in school when I choose to stay focused instead of following people who act out.  One time, I stayed respectful during a chaotic class, and it helped me earn trust from the teacher.  This word reminds me that small, respectful choices build my reputation over time. Summary: We learned vocab lesson 10. Reflection: I learned new vocab.

 Prompt: My desired SAT score is 1450. My top 2 colleges is UGA and Georgia Tech. The University of Georgia because of its strong academics, large campus, and school spirit. For Georgia Tech it is because of its reputation for challenging programs and strong career opportunities after graduation. I am also interested in Vanderbilt University because of its high academic ranking and campus environment.

 Prompt: The time change during Daylight Saving Time affects my daily routine and sleep schedule. Losing one hour of sleep makes waking up for school harder during the first few days. I feel more tired in the morning, which lowers my focus and productivity in class. After a few days my body adjusts, and the extra daylight in the evening improves my mood and gives more time for activities after school. Summary: We read into the wild. Reflection: I learned chapter 6 of into the wild.

 Prompt: Music from Jason Aldean influenced the way I think about life and goals. His song My Kinda Party shows people enjoying time with friends after working hard. The message shows the value of balancing responsibility with time spent with others. His music shaped the way I think about success, which includes working hard and appreciating the people and moments in my life. Summary: We read Into The Wild. Reflection: I learned chapter 5 of into the wild.

 Prompt: If I had to simplify my life and keep only a few important possessions, I would keep things that are useful and meaningful to me. One thing I would keep is my phone because it allows me to stay connected with my family and access important information. I would also keep a few personal items like photos or a journal because they hold memories that are important to me. These items would remind me of the people and experiences that shaped my life. The hardest things to leave behind would probably be the rest of my personal belongings and anything connected to my daily routine. Even though possessions can be replaced, the memories and comfort attached to them can be difficult to give up. Summary: I was absent due to baseball. Reflection: I was absent due to baseball.

 Prompt: One time I needed distance from a situation was when I felt overwhelmed with schoolwork and responsibilities. I decided to spend some time alone away from my usual routine so I could think more clearly. Being away from the stress helped me calm down and look at my problems in a more balanced way. I realized that taking breaks and giving myself space can make it easier to handle difficult situations. That experience taught me that stepping back for a while can help me understand my thoughts and manage challenges better. Summary: I was absent due to baseball. Reflection: I was absent due to baseball.

 Prompt: In Chapter 1 of Into the Wild , Christopher McCandless first appears determined, independent, and confident in his decision to travel into the Alaskan wilderness. He refuses extra supplies and advice from Jim Gallien , which shows how strongly he believes in his plan. However, this also suggests that he may have underestimated the danger of the environment. McCandless brought limited gear and clothing, which could be risky in such harsh conditions. Based on Chapter 1 alone, it seems he did not fully understand how dangerous his journey might be. Summary: Today we began reading the book, Into the Wild. Reflection: I learned the beginning to the story of Christopher McCandless.

 Prompt: I was absent and need the vocabulary words to complete this assignment and will do so as early as possible. However, I do believe that creating my own sentences and picking images to represent the words will help me understand the words further and have them stick with me. I will hopefully be able to remember these images and sentences in my mind to help me keep what each word means easier. Summary: I was absent due to baseball. Reflection: I was absent due to baseball.

 Prompt: I was not in class to do or view my classmates posters so I did not learn any new ideas or perspectives. I also did not get any feedback. Summary: I was absent due to baseball. Reflection: I was absent due to baseball. 

 Prompt: The topic that challenged me most focused on personal struggles. Writing about internal problems felt harder than writing about growth or success. I had to think more deeply about moments I usually ignore. Finding clear comparisons took extra time and effort. I worked through this by thinking about real experiences and emotions instead of forcing ideas. Next time, I would plan examples first before writing the figurative language. Summary and Reflection: I was absent due to baseball.

 Prompt: While writing my similes and metaphors, I learned more about how I handle struggle and growth. I noticed I often connect my challenges to effort and persistence. The process forced me to slow down and think about moments that shaped me. I saw how setbacks pushed me to adapt instead of quit. Writing figurative language helped me recognize patterns in how I respond to pressure. I rely on consistency and patience when things feel heavy. This reflection showed me I am more resilient than I usually admit. Summary: We made our own similes and metaphors. Reflection: I learned how to make my own similes and metaphors.

 Prompt: Over the break, I spent most of my time playing baseball. I trained almost every day. I worked on hitting, fielding, and conditioning. Practices and games filled my schedule. I improved my discipline and time management. Baseball kept me focused and motivated. The break helped me reset and return to school ready to work. Summary: Today we found similes and metaphors in a poem.           Reflection: I learned how to find simile and metaphors in poems.