Blog Post 3

Group assignments. Even the casual mentioning of them make my fingers clench in apprehension. It just seems that so often group projects never seem to work out- you either get a group where everyone is incredibly headstrong and not willing to compromise or you get stuck doing all the work. Neither situation is a fun one and a lot of times all it does is lead to me being more mad about school and projects in general. However, when a group is just right it can be a great experience!
While I was reading the folk tales one story that I felt particularly taken to was "The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China". Despite the magical qualities to it, I felt some similarities to me and the main character Chen, which can be translated into traits I have in groups. Chen was incredibly devoted to his mother, and went through horrible conditions for her without complaint in order to return her brocade she worked so hard on so that she wouldn't die from the loss of it. Similarly, when I'm in a group I am always super invested into the fate of the group and try to keep it from, for lack of a better word, dying. I also always try to help out the group and even though I share my opinions I also try to incorporate other's into what I'm trying to say, and so a lot of times my ideas are squashed out, and a lot of times I handle that without complaint- making me the elaborator/clarifier of the group.
I also connected a lot with Princess Savitri. I found her wit endearing and found similarities in the way we think. She is a problem solver and determined- which are two ways I like to describe myself. She uses her wit in order to achieve what she wants from Yama and gets away with it. This is something I do from time to time- which probably isn't the best thing, but hey, it works when you absolutely need it. Savirtri is an initiator- she proposes a witty solution to her problem and it works. I'm an initiator as well and in a group setting I propose many ideas and I also like bring back old ideas others have said and incorporate them with mine.

Blog Post 2:

Believe it or not, I was actually kind of impressed with myself and my results in the practice AP test we took today. I was expecting something around a 40-50%-I know, I set super high standards for myself. But somehow, maybe through some sort of witchcraft, I managed to score a 65%. I was pretty darn excited about it. Yes, I was excited about a solid D. But it was more than a D to me. That D was a symbol- A symbol for how far I have to come this trimester, and I'm pumped to do it.

After reading through the first chapter of our Literature textbook, I was able to recognize some strengths and weaknesses I have in analyzing literature. I think one of my greatest strengths during reading is my ability to find and point out literary tools like metaphors, similes, irony, and paradoxes. Sometimes whilst I'm reading, not even a book for school, I'll write down a creative literary tool that the author has used. So, I think I have the experiencing the novel part down. I also, once I figure out the symbolism and analytical parts of texts, I think I am good at interpreting and making real world relations- that is one of the big reasons I enjoy reading.

I think that one of my weaknesses in analyzing literature is that a lot of times I get so emotionally invested into the story I tend to miss big things- like symbolism. This is something that I've actually been trying to overcome. I love understanding things while reading and I get a kick out of that "A-ha" moment when things make sense in what you're reading. I'm also kind of judgmental of things I read- if it doesn't interest me within the first five chapters I basically like to call it quits, so I would like to become more patient and subjective whilst reading.

Three Goals I would like to set for myself throughout this trimester and the next are 1.) I want to be able to pinpoint symbolism within a text quicker and easier. 2.) I am hoping with all of my heart to score at least a four in the AP test- but I honestly, truly, am going to strive for a 5 by the end of this trimester. And 3.) I have set the goal to myself to allow this class to shape me into a better worker- basically I'm tired of being "Procrastination Girl". It's time for me to step up and prepare for college and I sincerely believe this class can do that for me!

Blog Post 1: My Design

I have enjoyed creating a blog for this class thus far because I think it's not only incredibly helpful to have a professional blog, but it's also fun to create something that represents you in a formal manner. Careful thought and consideration has been used in the template, color and other special features of my blog in order to ensure that what I'm presenting is a good representation of me.

While searching through the templates offered for the blog, I was immediately captured by the one called "Ethereal" because of the birds bordering the sides. Even though I might be terrified of birds whenever I see them in real life, the theoretical idea of them has always fascinated me. I think that they're amazing in the sense that they can just spread their wings and bring them anywhere they want in the world. I like to think that I can do that too- that if I have enough determination I could land anywhere it is that I want myself to be.

I do not have a favorite color, a fact that makes many who know me mad. I think that all colors have the potential to be beautiful and wonderful- you just have to be open to it. I do, however, think that warm, light colors are representative of the kind of person I am. Pink, yellow, and the gentle blue that I use on my blog are all colors that make me happy when I see them, and so by sharing them on my blog I hope that it affects others in the same way.