Being in Honors English- Claire Riley

If I hadn't done anything, I'd be in CP English. Not that I didn't like that class, it was fine. But how do I explain that I don't feel smart.
How do I explain that when I was there, after fighting a year as a freshman, as the leader of every presentation group, I was still held back?
How do I explain that after getting "outstanding!" written on my paper over and over, I was still held back?
How do I explain that after working harder than I've ever worked in that class only to be labeled as a "try hard," I was STILL held back?

Being in this honors class has meant the world. I know it doesn't seem like much. It's a high school course, and kids including me complain ALL THE TIME about work. But just the idea of getting to sit where others who genuinely care about their grade is awesome. Getting to feel like I'm actually improving in my work and getting a quality education is awesome. Writing has been the only academic I've never stopped enjoying, and I don't plan to stop anytime soon.

Being in this class means that I've earned it. It means that I'm seen as above average at something that I've worked hard on to improve. I feel on top of the world when I sit down in my seat and get asked by peers what I wrote. Why am I the example? Aren't you guys the geniuses? 

Being in this class I've read the most interesting books. What's better? I found people just as interested in reading as me. Mrs. Kopp's recommended books never failed to intrigue me, and I've had so much fun talking about them.

Being in this class makes me feel smart. I feel like I have something colleges can finally look at and say, "oh, so she likes to write huh?"

In my next two years, I hope to go into some AP English classes. English has always been a bigger part of my school life than the rest of my academics, and I'm happy to say I excel at something that I could get a job in later on.

I'm so happy the school board and the English department has let me into this class, even after I almost gave up hope. I'm so grateful that Mrs. Valleau put up with my crap about wanting to go higher, even without the recommendation or the grades. I'm so happy I was able to spend my time in this class this year, have so many valuable lessons, and enjoy my time feeling like the smartest kid in the world...or at least for 45 minutes. :)

Art Appreciation by Claire Riley

In school we slave to do well in science, math, english, and history classes, these being known as the courses above all others. The thing is, what if I can't grasp the concept of history, or science? "You just aren't trying HARD enough," the teachers will say. Maybe i'm not, maybe I need to spend all of my time dedicated to studying these classes in which I know I WON'T be perusing in the future...but what good does that do? See the thing is, I like to spend the time in which I'm supposed to be studying for unpolished academic classes to rather commit myself to the arts. It can sometimes feel like the arts are forgotten, buried under the heavy layers of work and responsibilities given by academic classes. Personally, I intend to pursue acting and singing in my future, in which case I believe I will not need to remember EXACTLY how the phospholipid bi-layer is constructed or how to recite The 10 Amendments. What really irks me though is how the kids who really love the academic fields, and who really dedicate themselves to only those classes are praised high above others. This can leave others with an uncanny feeling of doubt, as if what they wish to practice isn't worth their time. I can easily prove otherwise.

Kids wishing to engulf themselves in other classes such as sculpture, choir, orchestra, band, or even another language are exercising parts of their brain that the 4 core classes can't do! Music classes have been proven to develop thinking skills and improve intellect. Studying other languages actually slows the aging of the brain and raises productivity. Even sports, if you want to call them an art, can activate the brain and provide it with oxygen. The Fine Arts Department of the Katy Independent School District states, "The arts enhance the process of learning. The systems they nourish, which include our integrated sensory, attentional, cognitive, emotional, and motor capacities, are, in fact, the driving forces behind all other learning." The truth is, art really does work on specific parts of our brain, and we need to encounter both core and art classes to truly develop a healthy mind.

So sure, I may not become a rocket scientist. This doesn't mean I'm "not trying hard enough." In this case, why is it that for science-y kids, being "bad" at art and music means "it's just not their niche?" In reality, I don't think everyone has an aptitude for science, math, history, or english, nor do they for the arts. All we can do is learn to know the basics, and continue to persevere in the classes we enjoy the most.

" 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' ... What's the hype about?" By Liz Ukstins

During one of our weekly book chats, Mrs. Kopp began describing a book entitled I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. Immediately, hands shot into the air calling "dibs" on the next copy. Countless students wanted a copy of this book, including myself. But what's the hype about? Why is this book so appealing? What is it about and what makes it special?

I'm Thinking of Ending Things bounces between a fading love story and excerpts from a conversation over a suicide. A man and his girlfriend go on a road trip to a farm after being together for a short period of time. The girlfriend becomes paranoid and starts to question the position she was in. She wonders, "Is there any escape?" "Am I going to die?" The development of this story left me (and other readers) with chills and an inexplicable eerie feeling. Reid took such a unique take on the saying, "I'm thinking of ending things", which is was what appealed to me. The book was so interesting and scary. I had numerous questions about the end. Other readers say that the twist at the end was so unexpected that this book required a second read in order to full understand it.  In order to preserve the masterpiece that this novel is, I cannot say much about it, but what I can say is this:

Read it.

 

Collected Opinions (Other than my own) from http://afterthingsend.com/