Importance of Scholarships

          The importance of scholarships besides paying for college is being able to allow someone to go to college. And being able to go to college is so so important, not just for getting a good job but for yourself. Some people's family have never been to college or have even graduated high school, so just having the opportunity to go to college thanks to scholarships are a big deal. Now on to the job opportunities, this opens up better jobs and better odds in getting a job which can set you up later in life. Which can also take off financial stress, that college debts bring.  

Reflection

The things I have to do left:

• I definitely have to take my SAT as soon as possible
• get the applications along with paying the application fee
• write the essay for the application

I plan on taking my SAT on June 6th and getting the applications in June as well and getting everything sent in as soon as possible that way I don't have to worry about much my senior year.

Academically I am right where I need to be, although I would like to do better than what I am currently that way it looks even better on my application. I surpassed all of my requirements to the colleges that I want to go to or just apply for and a even are trying to take college classes during the summer to get even further ahead.

I really do like the colleges that I am applying for and don't really think that I need to modify my search. The colleges offer what I want to go into as a career and are highly accredited, so I am quite excited.

Is College Worth It?

College is completely worth it. Not having an college education not only frowned upon by society but basically guarantees you a low paying job. Of course there are the exceptions but you are signing up to struggle. Yes college is expensive no matter if you have a scholarship or not and most times put you knee deep in debt but it also sets you up to make that money back plus some vs. working at McDonald's until you are 30. 


This is a tricky question because it really depends on the school you go to. If you are referring to Life School, there are some opportunities but it could be so much better. But if you are referring to a school like Global for instance where you graduate with your associates degree for basically free then I would rate it about a 10. Compared to South Africa I think that it offers opportunities for students but doesn't necessary push students to take them. In South Africa after grade 9 it basically says that you can further your education and get a better job but doesn't enforce it so it gives teens the opportunity to be lazy and not push themselves. In conclusion I would rate South Africa's school system in terms of opportunities it gives its students a 7.

My Spring Break

This spring break wasn't really a break for me at all. Most of my family went to our lake house but I had to stay at home and go to work. I worked Monday thru Friday from 10:00am to 7:00p.m. Although I was able to hang out with my friends the weekend before we came back to school which I was very grateful for.

Dead Poets Society‘s Central Theme

Wednesday:

Dead Poets Society's central theme in my opinion would be "Carpe Diem" or seize the day. Mr. Keating tells them this because he wants them to do something in their life that is extraordinary or different. He wants them to break from the chains that society and their parents have put on them because when they are on their own and are thrown into the ocean which is life they can either break the chains and swim or keep the chains and sink. I think that the author and director both made a big point to get this theme across, and in my opinion they both did a very good job in bringing it to life.

Thursday:

1. I think that Neil would have still committed suicide even if Mr. Keating had never come into his life except it probably would have been a few years down the road. Because even before he even met Mr. Keating his father ran his life and he was miserable. 

2. The bravest would have to be Todd. He really stepped up and finally found his voice. Whereas the person I found to be a coward was Neil. He had many opportunities to stand up to his father and he never did. He always encouraged Todd to stand up for himself but never did it himself.

3. I think Mr. Keating put the book there even though it was frowned upon by the  administration to teach the boys to think for themselves.

Friday:

1. The most influential leader I ever had would have to be Coach Thompson. He really opened my mind and taught me how important it is to gain more perspective. 

2. I think it means that poetry is how we as humans express our emotions and being able to do so is what keeps us alive and separates us and makes us human which I agree.

3. I absolutely love this quote. I agree with it wholeheartedly because I feel as though the greatest gift something can have is perspective. As for a person story, I try and gain as much perspective as I can which is why I constantly try and expose myself to new things and go beyond my comfort zone. 

4. Now this is quite a difficult question to answer and I feel as though to answer this question without fully knowing would be an injustice. Therefore my answer is I don't know yet.

Follow Up Character Questions

1. The character who changed the most in my opinion would have to the teacher that ended up being friends with Mr. Keating. At first he was somewhat against Mr. Keatings unorthodox way of teaching. Then he started to encourage it, and then at the end you see him outside with his students using Mr. Keatings tactic. 
2. Neil does not change in the film because throughout the entire film he doesn't speak up for himself to his father and at the very end when you think he is finally going to do it all he says was "nothing". 
3. I think that Mr. Keating did change and in the future might still teach the way he did but also teach restraint.
4. Todd over came his fear of speaking up both in class and to his friends. As for Neil his fear was standing up to his father and disappointing his mother, I don't think that he overcame his fear. Knox's fear was that he wouldn't end up with Tina. As for Charlie's fear, his fear was people thinking he had one and I don't think that he overcame this because at the end of the movie when he was getting expelled he was scared and you could tell but he refused to admit to it. 

Discussion Questions

Q: Katherine Watson's teachings were labeled as "unorthodox". Explain and cite examples from the movie.
A: The reason Katherine Watson's teachings were labeled as "unorthodox" was because she was trying to teach the girls to think for themselves and not only go to college but get a job and go and do things for themselves and not just for there husbands. Also that their only reason for existence was to get married, bear their children, cook, and clean. Some examples would be when she was telling the girls about Vincent Van Gogh's painting and the paint by numbers box set. Another was when she showed the girls the painting and even though they were saying that it wasn't art because it wasn't typical and they didn't like it she told them to just consider it. 


Q: Betty's marriage to Spencer – do you think she was happy? Note her mother's refusal to let her stay with her. Why?
A: I don't think that she was happy at all. I think that she tried to be and wanted to be but just couldn't. It showed when Spencer had to go "out of town". Her mother refused to let her stay with her because she wanted Betty to fix or more so ignore her problems with Spencer. The reason being is she didn't want what happened later, for her to end up getting a divorce or make it seem like they weren't perfect. Also so that it wouldn't bring a bad look on the family name.

1. Katherine Watson's teachings were labeled as "unorthodox". Explain and cite examples from the movie.

Comparison

I think that when you learn only by the facts, like stated in Charles Dickens' mid-nineteenth century novel Hard Times, it eliminates possibility. Also it is hard to determine what a fact even is. Katherine Watson's way of teaching basically taught the girls to basically embrace that there is more than what it seems. Which lets people think on there own and make their own opinions.

Mona Lisa Smile

My favorite part of the movie was when Bettie finally filed for divorce and stood up to her mother and stopped painting by the numbers. I actually really enjoyed the movie and what it taught. Although the part I didn't like was how Joan didn't go and become a lawyer it was kind of unexpected. That being said I did like how Joan turned it around onto Katherine and kind of made her rethink some things about herself and how she was sort of being hypocritical.

Mona Lisa Smile

I think that Mona Lisa Smile will be about the woman who is played by Julia Roberts empowering the women in her class to be more than just some man's wife. Also to make goals for themselves and to break what is "set" for you. To realize that it is important to set goals for yourself and be your own person. I think that it will end with the girl getting into law school and everyone ending up doing something outside of their marriage.

Exams

I think that high school exams are much easier because teachers tend to remind you to study and basically hold your hand along the way, with the exception of few. Whereas college professors give you a syllabus at the beginning of the semester and hardly remind you of assignments due let alone exams days. How to prepare for these exams would to start studying EARLY! Don't wait until a couple days before and try to cram everything all at once.