Humanities
Personification Short Story: Stop and Take in the View By Brooklynn Bucky
I unwrapped a small green peppermint, popped it into my mouth and prepared myself for sheer boredom. Today I am going to another therapy session with this new guy who has no hair and huge glasses and about as much personality as a rock. He mumbles constantly and it is getting on my nerves. I started to watch the sand timer sitting on his big brown desk that also held his name plaque and scattered papers. He asked if I was paying attention and I said yes. I was lying. I don’t think I can be helped but my parents are forcing me to come to this stupid office twice a week to “check in with my inner self” or something new age like that. The sand timer ticked away slowly and I was completely distracted by its every moving shifts. Wait! What did he just say? He wants me to start keeping a diary? I’m a guy! Who does he think I am? Should I go and put on my pink fuzzy robe and take a hot bubble bath too? Then he started saying something about how “this will help me get all of my emotions out so they are not so bottled up all the time” and so I don't have “tantrums”. Can’t he just prescribe me some medication and we call it a day? Fine. I guess I can think of worse things to do. So, the journal entries begin on December 2nd, 2015. Here goes nothing.
December 2, 2015
I am left here to fight this battle alone. The sun has gone away once again. Like a frightened child, she slipped under a blanket of clouds. Now those same clouds are quickly looming from afar. All I see is darkness. I crave her presence. She made it so I had no worries, I was safe. I so badly want to give up. The clash of thunder is getting closer and my fury at being abandoned is quickly increasing. How could she leave me? Why would she leave me surrounded in darkness with no companion or guide? The stars keep me company, but they are only temporary diversions. Don’t supply my need for her comfort and warmth. I am alone and afraid. Darkness surrounds me and I can’t help but scream out at the sun’s betrayal. The storm seems endless without your guidance. The sun has cheated me, left me, and allowed the dark to penetrate my soul and being. How quickly you have moved on and cared only for your safety. You are selfish and I am a fighter. I can not forgive, will not forgive. I am solo in my quest and brace myself for the impending crash. I will not forget. I am angry.
December 3, 2015
I find myself holding a tight first. My hands are numb and exhausted. I know I need to let this anger pass. My frustration quickly fades into depression. I have hit rock bottom and do not feel stable. I have no sense of hope and begin to let out my emotion. Slowly the tears begin to fall from my eyes, I am taking it out on those below me and feel terrible for being so selfish. This, however, only makes me cry harder. Those left below cover themselves from my pain with brightly colored umbrellas. What is wrong with me? I realize that I have more than a physical problem, it is now a mental problem where I can not go on. I am unwanted anyway. What am I good for without her. I am depressed.
December 4, 2015
I try to overcome this outburst by reminding myself to stay calm. Breathe in and breathe out. Long and slow breaths that seem to howl. I watch as the trees sway from side to side with each of my bursts of air. I am worn out. Tired of my emotions getting the best of me and me reacting so quickly. My anger and sadness have come to a simmer and I am exhausted from the efforts. I know she won’t return. I have accepted it, moved on. I am immune to this heavy feeling. Unmoving, draining, and wearing, unable to see clearly. This pressure causes the fog to roll in at midnight and I fall asleep with a numb feeling running through my veins. I am tired.
December 30, 2015
As I begin to regain consciousness from my deep sleep, I feel an unknown warm presence rapidly approaching. As I peek my eyes open, I am startled by a blinding light. When my eyes adjust I am overcome with bliss. I have been reunited with my other half. The joy of her being with me is unstoppable. Nothing else in the world matters because she is here again. We bring light and peace to everyone below us now that we are a team again. My joy is realized in red, orange, green, blue and purple. We make the best team there is. I am joyful.
December 31, 2015
As I am in this merry state I begin to reflect on my behavior since the sun left about a month ago. I observe that I went from extreme to extreme and I know this is unhealthy. I feel as if my emotions control me and I am powerless in their wake. I ask myself if this is because of the people and things the surround me? Or is it a problem within myself? I am so unstable and what it all comes down to is that I am a mess. I am moody, confused, and simply lost. Something has to change, but where do I begin? I am schizophrenic.
Symbolism in It's Kind Of a Funny Story
It’s Kind of a Funny Story written by Ned Vizzini is a novel based the author’s experience in a psychiatric hospital. The protagonist, Craig Gilner, is a fifteen year old who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide by jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. After a year of continuous studying, Craig was accepted into Executive Pre-Professional, a prestigious high school in Manhattan. The night that his acceptance letter arrived, was the night that his life went downhill. Craig becomes overwhelmed with jealousy, peer pressure, depression and anxiety about his future. During his time at the hospital, he reconnects with himself and his love for art. As a child, Craig loved to draw maps. It was easy and an escape from his everyday life. These drawings are just one of the many symbols used throughout the novel and a way Craig communicates with his therapists in order to get better. Anchor: An anchor is something that keeps Craig’s mind temporarily occupied. Anchors make him feel stable, happy, and safe. An example of some of Craig’s anchors are video games, riding his bike, going to the bathroom, and drawing maps. These are all things that are easy and natural to Craig. Tentacle: A tentacle is something that stops Craig from reaching his goals. He refers to them as evil task invaders and it makes Craigs life very difficult. Some tentacles are school, his friends, and his unknown future. Rope: Before admitting himself to the psychiatric hospital, Craig develops an eating disorder where he believes that there is a man who pulls a rope in his stomach which makes him throw up whatever he eats. Drugs: After Craig gets accepted into Executive Pre-Professional High School, he affiliates himself with the wrong crowd and gets involved with sex, alcohol, and drugs. Craig’s best friend, Aaron, is not supportive of Craig especially by dating Nia, Craig’s love interest since elementary school. Aaron was the one to first introduce Craig to smoking and partying. D.S.M: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is a book that Craig’s therapist, Dr. Minerva, has on her bookshelf. It is a book all about mental disorders and their symptoms which interests Craig. He is also very well-educated on depression. Shift: Craig describes a shift as a motion in his brain from left to right. School: Getting in to the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job is the most important thing to Craig. However, once he attends the right high school, the important thing to this ambitious pressure is overwhelming and Craig becomes the definition of an underachiever. Cycling: Craig always has a lot on his mind. When he lies down to go to sleep at night, many thoughts about his family, friends, and future race through his mind. He calls this thinking process cycling. Bridge: Unfortunately, Craig has been put under a lot of stress and he almost attempts suicide by jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Hospital: After admitting himself to the psychiatric hospital, he rediscovers himself through meeting many people who direct him in the right path. This spot is the most critical place for Craig.
V For Vendetta Essay
Humans are naturally drawn to heroes but many times do not realize their true intentions. In the graphic novel V for Vendetta written and illustrated by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the protagonist V’s methods of trying to influence change within England’s government are skewed by his own hatred and wickedness. He views imprisonment, torture, and violence as necessary and justified. In V for Vendetta, the character V is a hypocrite because he tries to bring about a better society but essentially uses the same oppressive and controlling means as the totalitarian government. As V’s journey begins, he meets Evey, a teenage orphan who prostitutes herself and is arrested by the secret police. V rescues Evey from eventual rape and death at the hands of the police by killing her attackers. V takes her away to his hideout, a place where he keeps Evey locked up. V believes that by imprisoning her, he will be able to open her eyes to the blind devotion that most citizens have for the government. “I didn’t put you in a prison, Evey. I just showed you the bars.” In stating this, V’s hypocrisy is made evident. He is keeping her locked up although it is something that he despises. He himself was once imprisoned at a British military camp and his hatred for this captivity led to his crafting an explosive so he could escape. His “first motive is revenge. He escapes from Larkhill and vows to get even with his tormentors.” Again, his hypocrisy is seen as he does not believe that Evey will resent him in this same way since he believes he is “teaching” her. In reality, V is doing exactly what he doesn’t want the government to do. He is crushing freedom for control and the individual for the whole. He has elevated his way of thinking above everything else but claims that he wants a world without leaders. Another way V shows duplicity is in his torturous treatment of his enemies. While at Larkhill, V was tortured in a way that scarred him emotionally and physically. Part of his revenge is to inflict the same type of torture that he endured, despite the fact that he passionately hates how the government treated him. When he blows up Prothero’s, the Voice of Fate, prized doll collection the reader sees how V is acting just like his attackers. He is virtually no different or better than the authority that he hates so much. As V blows up the priceless memorabilia Prothero screams, “What are you doing with my dolls? No! Not my dolls!” and V watches him suffer in a sinister and sick manner. The parallel between the two is astounding and it is shocking that V, in all his so called enlightened ideas, does not see his own hypocrisy. Lastly, V’s hypocritical ways are seen through his use of extreme violence. After V rescues Evey, he goes to the Old Bailey statue that sits upon the Parliament Law and Order building and has a theatrical conversation with her about his feelings of being betrayed. “[Old Bailey] has taught me that justice is meaningless without freedom. She is honest. She makes no promises and breaks none.” V revolts against the totalitarian government because he does not agree with their controlling methods and, to make his ideas known, V thinks that by blowing up the building it represents him blowing up the power of the oppressive government. In actuality this desperate act only shows that his freedoms are wasted on hurtful acts and that is precisely why a strict government should control. V treats violence as a means to end the control he believes the government enforces when all it truly shows is his need for similar control and power. In V for Vendetta the reader has a front row seat to the emotional rollercoaster that is V. His mind is clouded with revenge and violence at any cost. He idealizes a society with ultimate freedoms and attempts to achieve it. Despite these ideals, his overwhelming desire to control society is really the motivation behind his actions and his undoing. Although V has the courage and the imagination, and while he tries to be a freedom fighting hero, he loses the war and is no greater than the thieves that stole from him. Ultimately, V stands for Villain.
Socratic Dialogue: Socrates versus Maria By Brooklynn Bucky
Thesis: High Tech High Media Arts should not have a dress code.
Setting: It is 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning and Socrates is walking to Maria’s humanities class wearing his everyday toga. On the way to class, Socrates runs into Melissa, the Dean of Students, who tells him that he has to go to her office and change because he does not meet the school’s dress code. Socrates walks to the office with Melissa where he puts on a school approved collared shirt. Socrates returns to Maria’s class a few minutes late and proceeds with his day. After school Socrates has some time to spare before he has to catch the bus and he stops by Maria’s room to visit. They make small talk until Maria brings up why he got dress coded earlier that day...
Socrates: Hey Maria!
Maria: Hello Socrates. How are you?
Socrates: I am doing fine thanks. How are you?
Maria: I’m doing pretty good. Lots of homework to grade today!
Socrates: I’m studying very hard for your Greek history test this Friday. Although I think I might have a slight advantage.
Maria: Ha ha. You should ace that test but if you need some extra help I am available tomorrow afternoon to help you study.
Socrates: That would be very helpful, thank you!
Maria: No problem. Hey, I saw you were dress coded this morning. What were you thinking with that short toga you had on?
Socrates: This school is very strict. Back home everyone wears togas, both long and short. Unfortunately, I did get dress coded. However, I am unclear why my toga is unprofessional. I am curious to know why we have a dress code anyway? What is the point?
Maria: I know you don’t want a dress code but we have one in order to create an academic and professional environment at school. I think this is great and I support it 100%. Also, if you read the school’s handbook, it states that the purpose of our dress code is to "foster a professional, safe and respectful environment” here at our school.
Socrates: So you are meaning to tell me that the way I dress represents my professionalism? That if someone walked past me on the street they would think that I was unprofessional because of my toga? Can’t I show this through my words and actions?
Maria: I understand your point. Your words and actions certainly show an aspect of your professionalism and respect but our dress code reinforces the overall professional environment. Both contribute equally to the culture of our school. Following this dress code shouldn’t be difficult.
Socrates: Maria, I want you to imagine something.
Maria: Okay?
Socrates: I want you to picture a room filled with a small group of people of all ages
Maria: Okay, got it.
Socrates: Now imagine everyone is wearing blindfolds.
Maria: Alright, done.
Socrates: You are interviewing one of the people in the room. Remember all you can do is talk to the other person and hear their responses.
Maria: Okay. Where is this going Socrates?
Socrates: You will see. Now, the interview is over and it went so well that you want to hire this person immediately.
Maria: Okay?
Socrates: You then take off your blindfold and find a young man with a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops on. Does this change the way you feel about him and his responses?
Maria: No, not at all.
Socrates: Then why is my toga not acceptable. Especially if I represent our school in a professional manner and am always on my best behavior.
Maria: Well Socrates, this is a different situation. You are still young and here at High Tech High we believe in starting early to develop a respectful working environment. Many employers also require a dress code and this is just “early education” for the future.
Socrates: You are saying that the students of this school don’t have a hard time abiding by the school dress code? I think this is really difficult to follow.
Maria: Right. I believe most students don’t find the dress code too difficult to follow. It is written very clearly. The dress code is just one of the ways our school is set apart from other schools. We also have this dress code to prepare you for your future workplaces. Most jobs now a days have a similar dress code in place and, think about it, by then you will be very used to it.
Socrates: Then why do you think when I went to get a collared shirt this morning there was a line of my peers in the same situation, unclear of what was in the dress code? Which I might add will later result in a lowered citizenship/professionalism grade.
Maria: I don’t think thats because the dress code is unclear. I think that is because some students are taking liberty with the definitions. As a school, I believe that we have struck a happy medium between personal expression and an academic environment at High Tech High Media Arts. I think there is a lot of space for students to enjoy the fashions of the day, but also maintain the atmosphere of a professional learning environment. There are always going to be rule breakers.
Socrates: I see your perspective and can understand why so many teachers support it as well. However, as a student and trendy teen I would still prefer to not have a dress code. It would be so nice waking up every morning and not worrying if my toga was long enough or if I have my sandals on or not. Additionally, I like to try out the latest fashions and those are often not within the standards.
Maria: I understand that most teenagers want to be fashionable, hip, and rebellious by wearing booty shorts and t-shirts--
Socrates: Booty shorts?? Are you talking about girls or guys?
Maria: Both!
Socrates: Ummm...
Maria: I’m just kidding! I know it can seem unfair and strict at times but I think that our dress code is great and for your own good. We often have visitors coming in and out of our school, taking tours and speaking to students and staff. Imagine if the visitor was greeted by a student that had on a revealing top and a short skirt. The idea that we are a professional school would fly right out the window solely based on a first look.
Socrates: It was suggested that our dress code helps alleviate bullying, teasing and cliques. Do you believe that too?
Maria: I think that teasing and cliques will always be present when you have teenagers, dress code or not. However, in my opinion I think that having a more modest dress code, like ours, does help contribute to reduce some of the bullying. Also it makes those that are less able to buy trendy clothes not feel as alienated.
Socrates: I know that teasing and cliques appear everywhere, you should hear the way Plato talks to me! That said, I don't think that our dress code does anything for or against the bullying. Do you think our dress code teaches children how to deal with others who are different than themselves?
Maria: I believe that our dress code brings the High Tech High community together. I think that you learn how to deal with people who are different than yourself independent of what they are wearing.
Socrates: Thank you for sharing your opinion with me. I still wish we didn't have a dress code though...
Maria: Well Socrates, if you really want to have your voice heard you should put together a school wide survey to get everyone's perspective. Then you can schedule some time to talk with the dean to discuss your findings.
Socrates: That sounds like a great idea! I think a lot of my peers would agree with me and taking a survey is one way to instigate change. Thanks Maria!
Maria: No problem! I wish you the best of luck!
Socrates: I will get started on it right away!
Maria: Also don't forget to come in tomorrow after school to study for the test.
Socrates: I will certainly be there. See you tomorrow!
Maria: Goodbye. Have a great rest of your night!
Catcher in the Rye Test Corrections
Give one example of an allusion in the book and how it contributed to the story of The Catcher in the Rye. One example of an allusion in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield's reference to David Copperfield. He alludes to the fact that he is the polar opposite of the character David Copperfield who tells the story of his miserable and deprived childhood. Holden makes it clear to the reader that he does not want to glamorize such things and wants to be known as a straightforward story teller.
What is one idea borrowed from Buddhism or Plato that you saw in the book? Be specific. One idea borrowed from Buddhism that appears in the book The Catcher in the Rye is that Buddhism believes in the wheel of karma which is a law of results. This is seen when Holden aggressively tells Sally that he wants her to run away with him. This goes against one of his basic principles of others being individual and having free will without influence. The karma, or the result, of this situation is that Sally does not follow through and leaves Holden.
Explain the significance of the following quote. What character says it and how does it help us understand Holden? “For one thing, he’d help you recognize the patterns of your mind.” The quote “For one thing, he’d help you recognize the patterns of your mind” is told to Holden by his old roommate, Carl Luce, whose father is a psychoanalyst. When the two old friends meet up at a local bar in New York, Carl asks Holden if he would consider seeing his father for emotional help. This is the first occurrence of a “weak” Holden where we see his self-doubt and his realization that there might be a potential problem with his way of thinking.
Holden interacts with many settings. What do you think is the most important setting for Holden’s growth? Explain. I believe that the most important setting where Holden showed his personal growth was when he was watching his younger sister, Phoebe Caulfield, riding on the carousel. At this moment, Holden is able to take a step back from his life and appears to be happy watching his innocent sister having fun. He forgets about his depression and this shows that he has matured and needs to stop being so negative and enjoy his life more. It is in this scene when Holden realizes that life goes on and losing your innocence is not such a bad thing after all, it is more about the journey.
Explain the following quote as it applies to a major theme in the book. Use at least three examples from the book to support your ideas.
“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” The major theme represented in the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger is about the lessons learned while growing up. Holden refuses to grow up because he is so obsessed with the idea of an innocent childhood. This theme is highlighted in the quote, “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” When Holden starts to talk about someone close to him he begin to miss them. His maturity is seen as he begins to decide who he wants relationships with and decides how involved they will be. Throughout his journey and this story, Holden watches people and seems to be looking in from the outside but as he begins to communicate more and more, he learns about himself. This is a major part of maturing and growing up. Holden has many obstacles during this time but that, also, is a part of maturing. To Holden, growing up means having sex, doing drugs, and drinking. He doesn't’ want to enter this world of adulthood and he wants to protect other children from falling off this “cliff”. In effect he holds himself back from growing in trying to do so. He remains stuck between two world, one of innocence and one of responsibility. Holden is a broken sixteen year old who is only trying to grasp the concept of growing up but does a decent job navigating the rocky road from a lost teen to a responsible adult.
Contrast Poem: Our Generation By Brooklynn Bucky
They say...
Our music is too loud,
Violent and destructive as a war zone.
We spend too much time on our phones,
Isolate and lack personal connections.
I say...
Music is how I express myself.
A mirror into my soul, dreams, hope, fears.
Technology connects me,
Knits my community and family to the world.
They say...
We disrespect our bodies.
Tattoos, piercings, drugs, alcohol.
We are lazy and spoiled,
Don’t know the value of a hard day’s work.
I say...
My body is a temple.
Clean, healthy despite outward designs.
I am dedicated and responsible,
Working hard to show my value
In a society that rarely recognizes it.
Who are “they” anyway?
“They” have never met me.
I’m individual, a fingerprint, unique.
“They” haven’t read my story,
Start with the title: I Am Brooklynn Bucky
Current Events
World AIDS day occurs every year on December first to create awareness throughout our community and ultimately our world. This day is also for remembrance of the 30 million people who have died worldwide which makes this disease one of the most destructive epidemics recorded in history. Out of this staggering number 300,00 of the victims were children. This current event is very important to a massive majority of people because so many people have relationships with people who have suffered from the disease, loss of a close family member or friend, or is simply a strong advocate for the Red Ribbon foundation. There are many ways that the average human can help. Fundraising, campaigning, and donating are a few ways to get involved to help create awareness. There has also been a Red Run organized to raise money for the cause. I think that this is a very important topic to be discussed since we have lost so many people and I hope to participate in the Red Run and get my friends and family involved to help those who have suffered.
This week for my current event I decided to do research on Hurricane Sandy. Sandy first developed on October 22nd in the Western Caribbean Sea. On October 24th, it was officially declared a hurricane when it landed in Jamaica. This massive hurricane may affect 60 million people living in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Thus far there has been a recording of 127 deaths including 10 from the east coast of the United States. Today, on October 29th, Sandy hit New York City with severe storms, floods, power outages, and mass evacuations. I believe that this is a current event because it is affecting more than 20% of the United States population. Also, due to this “perfect storm”, our oil prices have slightly decreased because of the lowered demand for gas. Overall, Hurricane Sandy is predicted to cost more than 8 billion dollars. Many families on the east coast of The United States must stock up on extra food and supplies to prepare and the aftermath of the storm will require “replacement costs” that force businesses and the government to rebuild after this destructive event.
I unwrapped a small green peppermint, popped it into my mouth and prepared myself for sheer boredom. Today I am going to another therapy session with this new guy who has no hair and huge glasses and about as much personality as a rock. He mumbles constantly and it is getting on my nerves. I started to watch the sand timer sitting on his big brown desk that also held his name plaque and scattered papers. He asked if I was paying attention and I said yes. I was lying. I don’t think I can be helped but my parents are forcing me to come to this stupid office twice a week to “check in with my inner self” or something new age like that. The sand timer ticked away slowly and I was completely distracted by its every moving shifts. Wait! What did he just say? He wants me to start keeping a diary? I’m a guy! Who does he think I am? Should I go and put on my pink fuzzy robe and take a hot bubble bath too? Then he started saying something about how “this will help me get all of my emotions out so they are not so bottled up all the time” and so I don't have “tantrums”. Can’t he just prescribe me some medication and we call it a day? Fine. I guess I can think of worse things to do. So, the journal entries begin on December 2nd, 2015. Here goes nothing.
December 2, 2015
I am left here to fight this battle alone. The sun has gone away once again. Like a frightened child, she slipped under a blanket of clouds. Now those same clouds are quickly looming from afar. All I see is darkness. I crave her presence. She made it so I had no worries, I was safe. I so badly want to give up. The clash of thunder is getting closer and my fury at being abandoned is quickly increasing. How could she leave me? Why would she leave me surrounded in darkness with no companion or guide? The stars keep me company, but they are only temporary diversions. Don’t supply my need for her comfort and warmth. I am alone and afraid. Darkness surrounds me and I can’t help but scream out at the sun’s betrayal. The storm seems endless without your guidance. The sun has cheated me, left me, and allowed the dark to penetrate my soul and being. How quickly you have moved on and cared only for your safety. You are selfish and I am a fighter. I can not forgive, will not forgive. I am solo in my quest and brace myself for the impending crash. I will not forget. I am angry.
December 3, 2015
I find myself holding a tight first. My hands are numb and exhausted. I know I need to let this anger pass. My frustration quickly fades into depression. I have hit rock bottom and do not feel stable. I have no sense of hope and begin to let out my emotion. Slowly the tears begin to fall from my eyes, I am taking it out on those below me and feel terrible for being so selfish. This, however, only makes me cry harder. Those left below cover themselves from my pain with brightly colored umbrellas. What is wrong with me? I realize that I have more than a physical problem, it is now a mental problem where I can not go on. I am unwanted anyway. What am I good for without her. I am depressed.
December 4, 2015
I try to overcome this outburst by reminding myself to stay calm. Breathe in and breathe out. Long and slow breaths that seem to howl. I watch as the trees sway from side to side with each of my bursts of air. I am worn out. Tired of my emotions getting the best of me and me reacting so quickly. My anger and sadness have come to a simmer and I am exhausted from the efforts. I know she won’t return. I have accepted it, moved on. I am immune to this heavy feeling. Unmoving, draining, and wearing, unable to see clearly. This pressure causes the fog to roll in at midnight and I fall asleep with a numb feeling running through my veins. I am tired.
December 30, 2015
As I begin to regain consciousness from my deep sleep, I feel an unknown warm presence rapidly approaching. As I peek my eyes open, I am startled by a blinding light. When my eyes adjust I am overcome with bliss. I have been reunited with my other half. The joy of her being with me is unstoppable. Nothing else in the world matters because she is here again. We bring light and peace to everyone below us now that we are a team again. My joy is realized in red, orange, green, blue and purple. We make the best team there is. I am joyful.
December 31, 2015
As I am in this merry state I begin to reflect on my behavior since the sun left about a month ago. I observe that I went from extreme to extreme and I know this is unhealthy. I feel as if my emotions control me and I am powerless in their wake. I ask myself if this is because of the people and things the surround me? Or is it a problem within myself? I am so unstable and what it all comes down to is that I am a mess. I am moody, confused, and simply lost. Something has to change, but where do I begin? I am schizophrenic.
Symbolism in It's Kind Of a Funny Story
It’s Kind of a Funny Story written by Ned Vizzini is a novel based the author’s experience in a psychiatric hospital. The protagonist, Craig Gilner, is a fifteen year old who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide by jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. After a year of continuous studying, Craig was accepted into Executive Pre-Professional, a prestigious high school in Manhattan. The night that his acceptance letter arrived, was the night that his life went downhill. Craig becomes overwhelmed with jealousy, peer pressure, depression and anxiety about his future. During his time at the hospital, he reconnects with himself and his love for art. As a child, Craig loved to draw maps. It was easy and an escape from his everyday life. These drawings are just one of the many symbols used throughout the novel and a way Craig communicates with his therapists in order to get better. Anchor: An anchor is something that keeps Craig’s mind temporarily occupied. Anchors make him feel stable, happy, and safe. An example of some of Craig’s anchors are video games, riding his bike, going to the bathroom, and drawing maps. These are all things that are easy and natural to Craig. Tentacle: A tentacle is something that stops Craig from reaching his goals. He refers to them as evil task invaders and it makes Craigs life very difficult. Some tentacles are school, his friends, and his unknown future. Rope: Before admitting himself to the psychiatric hospital, Craig develops an eating disorder where he believes that there is a man who pulls a rope in his stomach which makes him throw up whatever he eats. Drugs: After Craig gets accepted into Executive Pre-Professional High School, he affiliates himself with the wrong crowd and gets involved with sex, alcohol, and drugs. Craig’s best friend, Aaron, is not supportive of Craig especially by dating Nia, Craig’s love interest since elementary school. Aaron was the one to first introduce Craig to smoking and partying. D.S.M: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is a book that Craig’s therapist, Dr. Minerva, has on her bookshelf. It is a book all about mental disorders and their symptoms which interests Craig. He is also very well-educated on depression. Shift: Craig describes a shift as a motion in his brain from left to right. School: Getting in to the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job is the most important thing to Craig. However, once he attends the right high school, the important thing to this ambitious pressure is overwhelming and Craig becomes the definition of an underachiever. Cycling: Craig always has a lot on his mind. When he lies down to go to sleep at night, many thoughts about his family, friends, and future race through his mind. He calls this thinking process cycling. Bridge: Unfortunately, Craig has been put under a lot of stress and he almost attempts suicide by jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Hospital: After admitting himself to the psychiatric hospital, he rediscovers himself through meeting many people who direct him in the right path. This spot is the most critical place for Craig.
V For Vendetta Essay
Humans are naturally drawn to heroes but many times do not realize their true intentions. In the graphic novel V for Vendetta written and illustrated by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the protagonist V’s methods of trying to influence change within England’s government are skewed by his own hatred and wickedness. He views imprisonment, torture, and violence as necessary and justified. In V for Vendetta, the character V is a hypocrite because he tries to bring about a better society but essentially uses the same oppressive and controlling means as the totalitarian government. As V’s journey begins, he meets Evey, a teenage orphan who prostitutes herself and is arrested by the secret police. V rescues Evey from eventual rape and death at the hands of the police by killing her attackers. V takes her away to his hideout, a place where he keeps Evey locked up. V believes that by imprisoning her, he will be able to open her eyes to the blind devotion that most citizens have for the government. “I didn’t put you in a prison, Evey. I just showed you the bars.” In stating this, V’s hypocrisy is made evident. He is keeping her locked up although it is something that he despises. He himself was once imprisoned at a British military camp and his hatred for this captivity led to his crafting an explosive so he could escape. His “first motive is revenge. He escapes from Larkhill and vows to get even with his tormentors.” Again, his hypocrisy is seen as he does not believe that Evey will resent him in this same way since he believes he is “teaching” her. In reality, V is doing exactly what he doesn’t want the government to do. He is crushing freedom for control and the individual for the whole. He has elevated his way of thinking above everything else but claims that he wants a world without leaders. Another way V shows duplicity is in his torturous treatment of his enemies. While at Larkhill, V was tortured in a way that scarred him emotionally and physically. Part of his revenge is to inflict the same type of torture that he endured, despite the fact that he passionately hates how the government treated him. When he blows up Prothero’s, the Voice of Fate, prized doll collection the reader sees how V is acting just like his attackers. He is virtually no different or better than the authority that he hates so much. As V blows up the priceless memorabilia Prothero screams, “What are you doing with my dolls? No! Not my dolls!” and V watches him suffer in a sinister and sick manner. The parallel between the two is astounding and it is shocking that V, in all his so called enlightened ideas, does not see his own hypocrisy. Lastly, V’s hypocritical ways are seen through his use of extreme violence. After V rescues Evey, he goes to the Old Bailey statue that sits upon the Parliament Law and Order building and has a theatrical conversation with her about his feelings of being betrayed. “[Old Bailey] has taught me that justice is meaningless without freedom. She is honest. She makes no promises and breaks none.” V revolts against the totalitarian government because he does not agree with their controlling methods and, to make his ideas known, V thinks that by blowing up the building it represents him blowing up the power of the oppressive government. In actuality this desperate act only shows that his freedoms are wasted on hurtful acts and that is precisely why a strict government should control. V treats violence as a means to end the control he believes the government enforces when all it truly shows is his need for similar control and power. In V for Vendetta the reader has a front row seat to the emotional rollercoaster that is V. His mind is clouded with revenge and violence at any cost. He idealizes a society with ultimate freedoms and attempts to achieve it. Despite these ideals, his overwhelming desire to control society is really the motivation behind his actions and his undoing. Although V has the courage and the imagination, and while he tries to be a freedom fighting hero, he loses the war and is no greater than the thieves that stole from him. Ultimately, V stands for Villain.
Socratic Dialogue: Socrates versus Maria By Brooklynn Bucky
Thesis: High Tech High Media Arts should not have a dress code.
Setting: It is 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning and Socrates is walking to Maria’s humanities class wearing his everyday toga. On the way to class, Socrates runs into Melissa, the Dean of Students, who tells him that he has to go to her office and change because he does not meet the school’s dress code. Socrates walks to the office with Melissa where he puts on a school approved collared shirt. Socrates returns to Maria’s class a few minutes late and proceeds with his day. After school Socrates has some time to spare before he has to catch the bus and he stops by Maria’s room to visit. They make small talk until Maria brings up why he got dress coded earlier that day...
Socrates: Hey Maria!
Maria: Hello Socrates. How are you?
Socrates: I am doing fine thanks. How are you?
Maria: I’m doing pretty good. Lots of homework to grade today!
Socrates: I’m studying very hard for your Greek history test this Friday. Although I think I might have a slight advantage.
Maria: Ha ha. You should ace that test but if you need some extra help I am available tomorrow afternoon to help you study.
Socrates: That would be very helpful, thank you!
Maria: No problem. Hey, I saw you were dress coded this morning. What were you thinking with that short toga you had on?
Socrates: This school is very strict. Back home everyone wears togas, both long and short. Unfortunately, I did get dress coded. However, I am unclear why my toga is unprofessional. I am curious to know why we have a dress code anyway? What is the point?
Maria: I know you don’t want a dress code but we have one in order to create an academic and professional environment at school. I think this is great and I support it 100%. Also, if you read the school’s handbook, it states that the purpose of our dress code is to "foster a professional, safe and respectful environment” here at our school.
Socrates: So you are meaning to tell me that the way I dress represents my professionalism? That if someone walked past me on the street they would think that I was unprofessional because of my toga? Can’t I show this through my words and actions?
Maria: I understand your point. Your words and actions certainly show an aspect of your professionalism and respect but our dress code reinforces the overall professional environment. Both contribute equally to the culture of our school. Following this dress code shouldn’t be difficult.
Socrates: Maria, I want you to imagine something.
Maria: Okay?
Socrates: I want you to picture a room filled with a small group of people of all ages
Maria: Okay, got it.
Socrates: Now imagine everyone is wearing blindfolds.
Maria: Alright, done.
Socrates: You are interviewing one of the people in the room. Remember all you can do is talk to the other person and hear their responses.
Maria: Okay. Where is this going Socrates?
Socrates: You will see. Now, the interview is over and it went so well that you want to hire this person immediately.
Maria: Okay?
Socrates: You then take off your blindfold and find a young man with a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops on. Does this change the way you feel about him and his responses?
Maria: No, not at all.
Socrates: Then why is my toga not acceptable. Especially if I represent our school in a professional manner and am always on my best behavior.
Maria: Well Socrates, this is a different situation. You are still young and here at High Tech High we believe in starting early to develop a respectful working environment. Many employers also require a dress code and this is just “early education” for the future.
Socrates: You are saying that the students of this school don’t have a hard time abiding by the school dress code? I think this is really difficult to follow.
Maria: Right. I believe most students don’t find the dress code too difficult to follow. It is written very clearly. The dress code is just one of the ways our school is set apart from other schools. We also have this dress code to prepare you for your future workplaces. Most jobs now a days have a similar dress code in place and, think about it, by then you will be very used to it.
Socrates: Then why do you think when I went to get a collared shirt this morning there was a line of my peers in the same situation, unclear of what was in the dress code? Which I might add will later result in a lowered citizenship/professionalism grade.
Maria: I don’t think thats because the dress code is unclear. I think that is because some students are taking liberty with the definitions. As a school, I believe that we have struck a happy medium between personal expression and an academic environment at High Tech High Media Arts. I think there is a lot of space for students to enjoy the fashions of the day, but also maintain the atmosphere of a professional learning environment. There are always going to be rule breakers.
Socrates: I see your perspective and can understand why so many teachers support it as well. However, as a student and trendy teen I would still prefer to not have a dress code. It would be so nice waking up every morning and not worrying if my toga was long enough or if I have my sandals on or not. Additionally, I like to try out the latest fashions and those are often not within the standards.
Maria: I understand that most teenagers want to be fashionable, hip, and rebellious by wearing booty shorts and t-shirts--
Socrates: Booty shorts?? Are you talking about girls or guys?
Maria: Both!
Socrates: Ummm...
Maria: I’m just kidding! I know it can seem unfair and strict at times but I think that our dress code is great and for your own good. We often have visitors coming in and out of our school, taking tours and speaking to students and staff. Imagine if the visitor was greeted by a student that had on a revealing top and a short skirt. The idea that we are a professional school would fly right out the window solely based on a first look.
Socrates: It was suggested that our dress code helps alleviate bullying, teasing and cliques. Do you believe that too?
Maria: I think that teasing and cliques will always be present when you have teenagers, dress code or not. However, in my opinion I think that having a more modest dress code, like ours, does help contribute to reduce some of the bullying. Also it makes those that are less able to buy trendy clothes not feel as alienated.
Socrates: I know that teasing and cliques appear everywhere, you should hear the way Plato talks to me! That said, I don't think that our dress code does anything for or against the bullying. Do you think our dress code teaches children how to deal with others who are different than themselves?
Maria: I believe that our dress code brings the High Tech High community together. I think that you learn how to deal with people who are different than yourself independent of what they are wearing.
Socrates: Thank you for sharing your opinion with me. I still wish we didn't have a dress code though...
Maria: Well Socrates, if you really want to have your voice heard you should put together a school wide survey to get everyone's perspective. Then you can schedule some time to talk with the dean to discuss your findings.
Socrates: That sounds like a great idea! I think a lot of my peers would agree with me and taking a survey is one way to instigate change. Thanks Maria!
Maria: No problem! I wish you the best of luck!
Socrates: I will get started on it right away!
Maria: Also don't forget to come in tomorrow after school to study for the test.
Socrates: I will certainly be there. See you tomorrow!
Maria: Goodbye. Have a great rest of your night!
Catcher in the Rye Test Corrections
Give one example of an allusion in the book and how it contributed to the story of The Catcher in the Rye. One example of an allusion in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield's reference to David Copperfield. He alludes to the fact that he is the polar opposite of the character David Copperfield who tells the story of his miserable and deprived childhood. Holden makes it clear to the reader that he does not want to glamorize such things and wants to be known as a straightforward story teller.
What is one idea borrowed from Buddhism or Plato that you saw in the book? Be specific. One idea borrowed from Buddhism that appears in the book The Catcher in the Rye is that Buddhism believes in the wheel of karma which is a law of results. This is seen when Holden aggressively tells Sally that he wants her to run away with him. This goes against one of his basic principles of others being individual and having free will without influence. The karma, or the result, of this situation is that Sally does not follow through and leaves Holden.
Explain the significance of the following quote. What character says it and how does it help us understand Holden? “For one thing, he’d help you recognize the patterns of your mind.” The quote “For one thing, he’d help you recognize the patterns of your mind” is told to Holden by his old roommate, Carl Luce, whose father is a psychoanalyst. When the two old friends meet up at a local bar in New York, Carl asks Holden if he would consider seeing his father for emotional help. This is the first occurrence of a “weak” Holden where we see his self-doubt and his realization that there might be a potential problem with his way of thinking.
Holden interacts with many settings. What do you think is the most important setting for Holden’s growth? Explain. I believe that the most important setting where Holden showed his personal growth was when he was watching his younger sister, Phoebe Caulfield, riding on the carousel. At this moment, Holden is able to take a step back from his life and appears to be happy watching his innocent sister having fun. He forgets about his depression and this shows that he has matured and needs to stop being so negative and enjoy his life more. It is in this scene when Holden realizes that life goes on and losing your innocence is not such a bad thing after all, it is more about the journey.
Explain the following quote as it applies to a major theme in the book. Use at least three examples from the book to support your ideas.
“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” The major theme represented in the novel The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger is about the lessons learned while growing up. Holden refuses to grow up because he is so obsessed with the idea of an innocent childhood. This theme is highlighted in the quote, “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” When Holden starts to talk about someone close to him he begin to miss them. His maturity is seen as he begins to decide who he wants relationships with and decides how involved they will be. Throughout his journey and this story, Holden watches people and seems to be looking in from the outside but as he begins to communicate more and more, he learns about himself. This is a major part of maturing and growing up. Holden has many obstacles during this time but that, also, is a part of maturing. To Holden, growing up means having sex, doing drugs, and drinking. He doesn't’ want to enter this world of adulthood and he wants to protect other children from falling off this “cliff”. In effect he holds himself back from growing in trying to do so. He remains stuck between two world, one of innocence and one of responsibility. Holden is a broken sixteen year old who is only trying to grasp the concept of growing up but does a decent job navigating the rocky road from a lost teen to a responsible adult.
Contrast Poem: Our Generation By Brooklynn Bucky
They say...
Our music is too loud,
Violent and destructive as a war zone.
We spend too much time on our phones,
Isolate and lack personal connections.
I say...
Music is how I express myself.
A mirror into my soul, dreams, hope, fears.
Technology connects me,
Knits my community and family to the world.
They say...
We disrespect our bodies.
Tattoos, piercings, drugs, alcohol.
We are lazy and spoiled,
Don’t know the value of a hard day’s work.
I say...
My body is a temple.
Clean, healthy despite outward designs.
I am dedicated and responsible,
Working hard to show my value
In a society that rarely recognizes it.
Who are “they” anyway?
“They” have never met me.
I’m individual, a fingerprint, unique.
“They” haven’t read my story,
Start with the title: I Am Brooklynn Bucky
Current Events
World AIDS day occurs every year on December first to create awareness throughout our community and ultimately our world. This day is also for remembrance of the 30 million people who have died worldwide which makes this disease one of the most destructive epidemics recorded in history. Out of this staggering number 300,00 of the victims were children. This current event is very important to a massive majority of people because so many people have relationships with people who have suffered from the disease, loss of a close family member or friend, or is simply a strong advocate for the Red Ribbon foundation. There are many ways that the average human can help. Fundraising, campaigning, and donating are a few ways to get involved to help create awareness. There has also been a Red Run organized to raise money for the cause. I think that this is a very important topic to be discussed since we have lost so many people and I hope to participate in the Red Run and get my friends and family involved to help those who have suffered.
This week for my current event I decided to do research on Hurricane Sandy. Sandy first developed on October 22nd in the Western Caribbean Sea. On October 24th, it was officially declared a hurricane when it landed in Jamaica. This massive hurricane may affect 60 million people living in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Thus far there has been a recording of 127 deaths including 10 from the east coast of the United States. Today, on October 29th, Sandy hit New York City with severe storms, floods, power outages, and mass evacuations. I believe that this is a current event because it is affecting more than 20% of the United States population. Also, due to this “perfect storm”, our oil prices have slightly decreased because of the lowered demand for gas. Overall, Hurricane Sandy is predicted to cost more than 8 billion dollars. Many families on the east coast of The United States must stock up on extra food and supplies to prepare and the aftermath of the storm will require “replacement costs” that force businesses and the government to rebuild after this destructive event.