Author: Sophie

PR – Romeo and Juliet: Is Love Destructive?

“Romeo and Juliet” written by Shakespeare, was entirely different from what I frequently choose to read. This may be because of the old English literature, or just the fact that it is a play rather than a book, but I am glad to have explored this literary medium. Each piece of dialogue had importance in the play. The plot was particularly engaging as it progressed. I was slowly able to connect and decipher the meaning behind the words of the prologue as the scenes progressed to enhance my understanding of the plot and predict what was going to occur next. The plot of “Romeo and Juliet” is commonly known: they both die out of love for one another. What I hadn’t acknowledged was the complex themes and depth of the plot that led the protagonists to this moment. There is the theme of happiness with Romeo and Juliet’s pursuit of one another. Shakespeare has highlighted the core motivations of pleasure seeking and pain avoidance in human nature through these complex characters. More prominently, however, is how the play portrays the chaos and passion of being in love. “Romeo and Juliet” raises the argument about whether love can overpower a sense of practicality. The play demonstrated a situation where the emotion of love was romanticized to the extent of how it can become destructive.

Love is a violent, ecstatic, overpowering force that overrides all other values, loyalties, and emotions. Such as how Romeo and Juliet yearned to be with one another even though their family conflicts had taught them the other was their enemy. This powerful theme presented an expected ending. The majority of novels I read have a happy ending, but “Romeo and Juliet” portrays a different approach. Rather, the main theme I took away from both the written and acted play was how love is blinding. Love brings out the best in two people, it gives them a sense of purpose. Life without love is worthless. But what is considered the point where love is dangerous? How can emotions be both creative and destructive? The end of the story came all too soon. I was left with many thoughts on how Romeo and Juliet’s deaths affected the conflict between the families. Did they blame each other for the deaths of their loved ones? Did they come to a point of acceptance and understanding? Ultimately the play only ignited questions and contemplation on whether love is a weakness or a strength.

PW#7 – The Nostalgia of Summer

There was the soothing song of the welcoming breeze caressing an effortless touch of warmth and tenderness on my skin and soul.

There was the intoxicating robust scent of earthy wildflowers encrusted in tenuous fragrances of pineapple and coconut with notes of the sea whispering in the wind.

There was the oozing impression of nauseating sapid saltwater, immersing my tongue with a tingling briny taste that tickled my tongue in an oddly yearning sensation.

There was the alarm of regal dance I saw in the serenity of the wavering pale sky-burst orange twilight glare of the setting sun’s silhouette echoing in the moonlight.

There was the lingering residue of the rich aroma of ardent pine and floral guaiac wood layering the muted night with a fragrant nostalgia of luau woodsmoke.

There was the explosion of colours in the traditional drink, the guava fruit performing an intimate tango with passionfruit in an effervescent dance of finesse.

There was the deafening yet enhancing susurration of the colossal ocean waves striking the sand shore, pulsing rhythmically, and breathing with a tempo of an unyielding passion for violence, causing chaos in the luminous night.

There was the distinguished putrid odour encapsulated within the sails of seaweed billows, releasing the oddly desirable crisp briny whiff from the seashore.

There was the tantalizing orchestra of spirited symphonies performed by diverse tropical bird vocalizations, melodious to the human ear.

There was the effortless leisure of relief by colliding with the dampened gelidly grains of sand against my exposed skin, the diverse, granular textures cascading through my fingertips, illuminating a clandestine collection of unspoken memories.

The nostalgia of summer.

IRJE #6 – What Defines Bravery?

I am finishing another book from the “From Blood and Ash” series titled “A Light in the Flame”. The relationship between Sera and Nyktos, the Primal of Death, is building as they test each other’s trust. The pair discover that Sera holds embers of life inside her soul and must find a way to withdraw them as the power will kill her. In the end, she discovers that the only one who can save her is the one she spent her life planning to kill: Nyktos. This novel explores the concept of the fragile balance of how human emotion can be manipulated but requires companionship to thrive; as depicted in the following quote:

“Needing me or anyone to look out for you doesn’t mean you’re weak, that you can’t defend yourself, or that you’re afraid. We all need someone to watch over us.” (pg.327).

This quote in particular resonated with me as it clearly defines the interconnectedness between bravery and companionship. In the context of the “A Light in the Flame” novel, both protagonists have lived their lives isolated; which develops the problem of only trusting themselves. As these characters begin to understand the importance of love and family, their barriers break. The growth of each character portrayed in a story reveals the truth behind their message: humans are reliant on one another to regulate emotions and give us the support and a purpose to succeed. The quote states the importance of acknowledging when you need help and showcasing that it doesn’t diminish your image of bravery, even if it requires you to admit vulnerability. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit that you need help.

PW#6 – The Passing Of Time

My time is precious, yet I waste it,
I dwell too much on what can not be changed,
But still, I sit and think
While the hands of time move forward in a blink.

Years that seem like minutes
In but a twinkle of an eye.
Enjoy every moment
As the time goes gently by.

Time is no friend.
Never stopping, never caring.
Because there is no amount
of time it takes to heal. Only doubt.

No matter if you live with care,
there is little time to stand and stare.
As weeks and months bleed into one.
Live as though life has just begun.

Embrace the years as they come to you
As if in each one, there lies within a hidden gift.
And you will see that in your puzzle of life
That one piece placed thought not to fit.

The fear of loosing what’s not gone just yet.
There is no time, just fear and regret.
Of life lost not forever, like leaves that are cast,
Running from the present, through future and the past.

As one raises the question and asks,
For we are simply on borrowed time of the past.
What happens to the living when they die?
Death is not understood by death. Nor you, nor I.

IRJE #5 – Truth of Lies

I recently finished the fantasy novel “A Sadow in the Ember” written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This novel in the complex “From Blood and Ash” series offers a different perspective from a character in the past. Similar to the protagonist Poppy in “From Blood and Ash”, Seraphena (Sera) Mierel’s future has never been her own, imprisoned behind a veil. She’s raised in a destructive environment, with many not even acknowledging her as a person, simply a failure. Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until her path crosses with the Primal of Death, whom she begins to trust. This relationship chases away Sera’s darkness, until his true intentions become clear, forcing her to reconsider the agony and consequences behind trust.

“It is far easier to be lied to than to acknowledge that you have been lied to.” (pg. 247).

This quote sparked a sense of sympathy and understanding from me, as it is an unknown concept that can be applied in many ordinary people’s lives. The quote reveals how harmless lying is until its consequences begin to configure. Once you begin to actually acknowledge the hurt and despair of lying as an action and the depth someone’s words can go, you begin to recognize the suffering of the victim. Typically lies are masked, mimicking a mental barrier of invisibility between each person. But as the wall breaks, it’s tempting to explore into that world of deception even if the outcome will only bring more hurt.

Personal Response: “Brave New World” and “Amusing Ourselves to Death”

Author Neil Postman from “Amusing Ourselves to Death” portrayed the conclusion that a “Brave New World” dystopian future was imminent. The dystopian novel “Brave New World”, written by Aldous Huxley, reveals a scary window into the reality of our own world. The novel depicts a world where technological advances have solved all of society’s problems, at the cost of humanity. Once you begin to accept the unnerving connections between this fictional world and our own, it explains our culture’s risk of disintegration. Huxley warns that too much technology while bringing comfort, could obscure beauty and truth. Our society has unconsciously fallen victim to an ideology defined by entertainment technology. Postman’s novel warns society of the dangers of mass media, and passivity, and how even an intelligent nation, like our own, can and will undoubtedly choose dictatorship over freedom. Enough evidence is available in our everyday lives, demonstrating what technology can undo in a culture. Huxley’s predictions are being fulfilled. With our full embrace of television, we’ve unconsciously undertaken an experiment in giving ourselves over to the distractions of technology. Television imposes a way of life in which we find comfort and reassurance. It’s launched a cultural revolution without discussion or resistance. As many probably know, an individual holds an infinite appetite for distractions, as we, similar to the society of “A Brave New World” are people controlled by seeking and inflicting pleasure. In the end, becoming victims of what Huxley feared: what we love will ruin us.

Postman compares modern society to the past, demonstrating that technology is becoming a distraction. Entertainment is arrogating our lives and making them more meaningless as we are provided with the illusion of knowing, but in reality, are facing the deprivation of autonomy, maturity, and history. Entertainment isn’t bad, but a model of life in which individuals have a right to be always entertained doesn’t appear to be a promising one. Postman offers the following perspectives on how to fight against the imprisonment of technology. Firstly, you direct the attack to only the people who are willing to listen to the complexity, but those aren’t the people enslaved by entertainment anyway. Your second option would be to find some way to make entertainment entertaining, in which you have been captured by the very thing you’re fighting against. As these options reveal no immediate escape from entertainment our world is slowly shifting into one mimicking that of “A Brave New World”. Huxley feared that those who would give us so much information, referring to television, would lead to a society reduced to passivity and egoism. The truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance as we became a trivial culture, forced to surrender culture to technology, mimicking the structure of the society in “A Brave New World”. Our modern struggle is to reclaim our individuality and awaken ourselves to the dangers of distraction and apathy.

PW#5 – Sounds of the Sea

The ocean can be gentle currents,
Which frolic against the shore like a handful of serpents.
It encompasses and dances along the land,
Carving pictures amongst each grain of sand.

The ocean can be frightful torrents,
Sprouted from red hot cores of the ocean floor.
Crashing and booming like a gunshot in the distance,
One can’t help but wonder about its damaging persistence.

The ocean can be tiny whispers,
Drowned by the laughing of the passing sisters.
The ocean air settling on the tongue,
A nostalgic sensation portraying the young.

The ocean can be still as if finally freed,
Yet, reality is only entangled in a reef full of seaweed.
Like ancient sunken gold,
That choke in what was foretold.

It is the most faithful companion I have ever earned,
Only dissipating from the fear to be eventually burned.
Undesirable but loyal, always accompanying me,
Away to the outskirts in spite of the irony.

IRJE #4 – What Defines an Artist?

I recently finished the historical fiction ‘A Postmistress from Paris’, written by Meg Waite Clayton. The novel takes inspiration from the remarkable true actions of Chicago heiress Mary Jayne Gold who, along with American journalist Varian Fry, organized an operation to smuggle artists and intellectuals out of France during World War Two. The book is structured around the perspectives of the protagonist Naneé, who meets Eduardo Moss, a Jewish German photographer, and his daughter Loki. A recurring theme throughout the novel is art, which acts as a grounding tool the prisoners embrace to stay alive and bring light into their worlds. Clayton submerses the reader in a haunting story where art is a beacon of hope in a time of terror for these artists. As described in the following quote, voiced by Eduardo Moss, he recalls the importance of what being an artist truly means.

“It was something that was hard to see until you had some measure of success, but it wasn’t success that made one an artist. One was an artist. One was successful or not at selling work, but the sale of art no more made a man an artist than it made him a man. An artist simply was (pg.122)”

This quote portrays the deeper sense of what art was and is. During WWII, artwork became a way to document the atrocities and preserve memories to display the truth to the public, of the events that were being concealed. As this was one of the reasons artists were targeted by the Nazis, in an attempt to control and punish them. The quote expresses the relation to the title of an ‘artist’, not based on whether one is successful or not, but simply doing it out of passion. The novel demonstrates how art breathes new life into each character during harsh thoughts and the inevitable tragedy they were experiencing. By acting as an outlet of expression, the book shares how people can connect through art, no matter their success, relating to others and invoking a sense of confidence in themselves through their pieces. In the context of the novel, Eduardo voices how his photography binds him to another, memorializing his own moments and memories for eternity.

PW#4 – The Christmas Feeling – Haiku

Christmas time is near
Let’s bring the holiday cheer,
The season of joy.

Cold December night,
Moon and stars brighten the sky,
In twinkling lights.

The smell of cookies,
Wafting through the Winter air,
Brings warmth to the house.

Blanketed in white,
It’s a Winter wonderland,
Snowflakes float on down.

The fire crackles,
Warming up the house as the,
cold breeze wails outside.

The Grand Noble Fir,
Lit candles on the branches,
At last, it’s Christmas.

Stockings filled with toys,
Gingerbread and peppermint,
Snowmen and sledding.

Old man dressed in red,
Climbing out of a chimney,
On a peaceful night.

Christmas in the snow,
Reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh,
Jingle bells I hear.

Christmas lights aglow,
The clip-clop of reindeer feet,
Christmas time is here.

IRJE #3 – The Regret of Truth

I recently finished the historical fiction ‘Ashes in the Snow’, written by Oriana Ramunno. This 1943-based novel relays a murder mystery set in an Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp. The criminologist protagonist, Hugo Fischer, not only encounters a complex murder but discovers the truth of the harsh realities of the camp. Hugo himself faces a secret case of multiple sclerosis. As the book progresses he becomes increasingly desperate to keep secret his own debilitating condition, lest he become a target for the Reich. Unlike most WWI novels, ‘Ashes in the Snow’ incorporates a mystery thriller genre. As Hugo investigates the murder, the novel reveals the atrocities inflicted upon the prisoners, and is forced to decide what is most important to him. The following quote was voiced by Hugo when contemplating the mystery of the murder, as well as the unnerving instincts of the camp.

“A dead body is like the snow: sometimes, everything on the surface looks present and correct, perfect and clean. But it’s underneath that the murkiest things are concealed.” (pg. 54).

This quote was quite memorable because it expressed a message related to the murder mystery, and the history of Nazi Germany, but could also be connected to everyday thoughts. The truth, often concepts that are concealed, is a debatable subject. The truth is often more than initially appears but that may be argued as purposeful. The pursuit of truth often becomes obsessive yet can be better left unspoken. This quote demonstrates how something so inhospitable can easily be obscured by simple misconceptions. It teaches the reader how assumptions led to miscommunication, making us believe our story is the truth when in reality it’s falsehood. Don’t get me wrong, it is always important to learn the truth, but when concerned with your emotional morals, in some circumstances some things are better left unsaid. Similarly, in ‘Ashes in the Snow’, Hugo discovers that the Nazi concentration camps are committing inhumane experiments, but for his sake, he regrets learning the truth. As documented in the quote, the pristine white snow conceals the horror, but it pervades, nonetheless.

The Cloud of War – All Quiet on the Western Front Personal Response

I wouldn’t consider myself to be someone internally inflicted by a written historical account. The novel ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, written by German author Erich Maria Remarque, demonstrated otherwise. The novel voices the account of protagonist Paul Baumer’s experiences in battle as a soldier. It was captivating how the novel depicted the disillusionment of the early 1900s while engaging the reader with the reality of the effect of war on young men. The title alone is phrased in a nonchalant terse style, which graphically portrays the horrors of war in a laconic understatement. The word ‘quiet’ is conspicuous, stating the exact opposite of the novel’s depiction of war. Remarque often referenced the term ‘quiet’ to juxtapose the sounds of peacetime and war, associating it with everything the war is not. The word ‘quiet’ sounds alive, rather than ‘silence’, capable of erupting into an endless stream of sound at any moment, representing war, until it becomes a quiet memory.

The novel was repulsive yet indispensable, not clouding the reader’s interpretation with a romanticized version of the war. The overwhelming graphic depictions of war demonstrated the belligerent manipulative influence clouding the soldier’s rationality. Remarque expresses sediments about the contemporary nature of war itself. Throughout the novel, the reader becomes engulfed in Paul’s self-reflection, sharing accounts of atrocities and the ghastly truths about how the war destroyed the young soldiers. Soldiers’ mindsets could be described as hypnotized by patriotic propaganda. Paul describes the trance as becoming wild beasts, turning them into murderers, representing automata. These young boys were compelled by the idea to destroy the enemy, or they would destroy them, facing death, not other men. They were taught to become stolid animals, disregarding one’s moral identity.

As the novel progresses, Paul begins to recognize the reality of the war. “It’s the rulers who want to attack us, not the simple folk. Yet, the word of a command made them our enemies, making me perceive them as the melancholy of life” (Remarque, 1928, pg. 193). Paul acknowledges the inhumane actions of war, realizing the enemy are men just like himself, yet continues to feel obliged to fight, knowing nothing but death and fear. This notation of the segregation between those who declare war and those who fight it is portrayed throughout ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. However, Paul doesn’t entirely accept this concept until he experiences the delusional guilt he receives after witnessing a French soldier slowly die from his hand. This scene introduces a cumulating transition where Paul begins to view the enemy as people rather than faceless targets. This guilt consuming him could be argued as inevitable, allowing Paul, and other soldiers alike, to omit the cloud of the ferocity of war, and recognize the reality.

This transition emphasizes the disconnect in Paul’s experiences. After suffering the guilt of ending one’s life, Paul’s demeanor shifts. He begins to describe the carnage of war in a laconic manner as if attempting to distance himself from the horrors. After accepting the truth about war, he avoids speaking about it, feeling isolated from anyone who isn’t a soldier. He refuses a sense of belonging. A distinctive factor of the novel was its refusal to take an explicit stance on war, acting as an unexpected contrast to the typical patriotic rhetoric accounts. This allowed the reader to perceive the war with logical representation, rather than through a biased account. The novel’s disclaimer insists that the account is not an accusation to any nation or individual involved in the war. Rather, the novel accuses war as an institution of stealing young boys’ lives, regardless of whether they died on the battlefield or survived, with their lives lost to the horrors of war. One can not decide which is worse.

PW#3 – Autumn’s Welcome

Autumn’s Welcome

The autumn breeze caresses my skin,
Reminding me of the memories we’ve had within.
The fading months, one by one,
Announcing that fall has just begun.

The season of family and the celebration of life,
Reminding us all we have everything to suffice.

The festivities of laughter turn to blurs,
Harmonizing with the chatter and symphony of birds.

With pumpkin and spices as the prominent pair,
Nothing can compete with the tart and tangy cider wafting in the air.

Autumn’s promise of crisp wind and chaste leaves,
Scatter in me the seeds, of a thousand saplings.

Withering leaves, turn orange and brown,
dancing in the sky before floating down.
To the glass of dew settled on the ground,
Mimicking the faces of droplets beginning to drown.

The melancholy ending of the harvest stacks,
Is replaced by the cascading sound of raindrops.

The sun still smiles, but weakly now,
As though enchanted by Autumn’s spell.

Under the October twilight sky and the misty fog,
Sits the longing for a cozy fireplace with burning logs.

The pungent odour of burning embers,
With aromas of hickory drifting until late November.
As the smoke dances up, like a murder of crows on the fly.
Yet, it always leaves an echo in the tender char of the morning sky.

– Sophie Wilson

IRJE #2 – Reality of Perception

The book I am currently reading is the detective fiction, Mrs. McGinty’s Death written by Agatha Christie. The book relays the story of a murder convict who is believed to be innocent by well-renounced detective Hercule Poirot. The convict’s immediate acceptance of his fate doesn’t reside well with Poirot, encouraging him to explore the alternate circumstances and uncover the reality of the murder. The following quote is shared between Poirot and a superintendent assisting him on the case.

“In case, I would prefer to say, that some circumstances should strike me in a different light to the one which it struck you. Human reactions vary and so does human experience.” (pg.142).

This quote reveals the peculiar reality of perception. Although the same movement, event, or even object is presented to us, everyone will conjure diverse thoughts and responses. Our brain fills in the absence of context or information provided based on our past experiences, emotions, and identities. Our brain may unconsciously alter our perception to correspond with our desires and expectations. We subconsciously choose different aspects of a message, compared to one another, our attention focusing on what we distinguish as important or familiar. In reference to this particular plot, Poirot is explaining that to properly assess all aspects of crime and unknown circumstances, various people must be involved to account for a variety and perspectives and experiences.

PW#2 – Short Story

The Stranded Dawn – A New Horizon (Continuation)

The wounding reminders puncture my soul like daggers. As if my life had been replaced, the disowning and isolation from my parents felt like annihilation. The tension and rejection build up inside of me, on the verge of eruption. I explode and run, praying for an escape from reality.

My body directs itself until my legs waver with exhaustion, my breath rapidly escaping my chest. I refuse the enervation to control me, adjusting my vision to the unoccupied harbor encompassing my vision. I ascend towards a stranger inclined on a ship, desperate for any source of escape. My wording staggers, fatigued from my run. “Passage, please? For anything.”
“Passage to where exactly?” His cunning smile almost appears as a guise, unable to reach his eyes. His irregular coastal accent attracts my attention, but my mind appears too overwhelmed to acknowledge my instincts. Only a subtle intimation consumes my stomach, sensing a devious and unreliable situation. My desire for escape consumes my naive mind, dominating any wariness I had developed against this individual.
“Anywhere” I reply, anxious to disappear from this situation. Before the stranger forms a response, his attention staggers to a young boy on his ship.
“Hey! Cap, when are you planning to get the show on the road” the boy hollers, impatience ringing through his tone.
“We got ourselves an addition to the crew Alcan.” I recoil as the pressure of the captain’s hand clasps my shoulder, directing me towards the boat.

I compress my body below deck. “New crewmate, how about it?” The brunette boy from earlier prevents my entrance, evaluating me. I avoid his broad figure to approach the sleeping quarters I was instructed to settle. “What’s your story?” The boy persists in his pestering. I counter his irking with a subjective smirk.
“I’m a convicted felon, ran away.” I glance back at him to witness his humor and expression drain from his character, replaced with cold apprehension. Satisfaction reaches my features. My body responds in automata, hypnotizing my body toward the sleeping quarters where I collapse from exhaustion.

IRJE – From Blood and Ash

I am currently reading a fictional fantasy series written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This excerpt was voiced in the first book From Blood and Ash. The two protagonists share this knowledge with one another while independently grieving their own losses and regrets.

“Death is like an old friend who pays a visit, sometimes when it’s least expected and other times when you’re waiting for her. It’s neither the first nor the last time she’ll pay a visit, but that doesn’t make any death less harsh or unforgiving.” (pg.49)

The quote, although extremely profound, was spoken between two characters who recently met. It took me by surprise how this topic was simply and almost unemotionally stated, however, it seemed to strengthen the bond between the characters and ignited a connection of understanding. The raw honesty and reality of the concept of death were revealed and compressed in a single direct and basic line, conjuring the plain horror of the inevitable to the reader. The fear of the unknown and uncontrollable future is defined in the quote, yet also simultaneously sympathizes with the reader through its understanding tone.

PR – Inception

When this assignment was initially introduced, my immediate thought went to the 2010 Sci-fi movie Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan. To provide a brief synopsis, the movie demonstrates the manipulation of the subconsciousness. The protagonist, Cobb, constructs a team with the objection of implementing an idea into someone else’s mind while overcoming his personal subconscious issues.

Although the movie is undeniably impressive; with engaging scenarios, an unpredictable narrative, and depth and maturity in the acting, I never acquired the same passion and enthusiasm that I kept hearing about. It’s the type of movie where you won’t and can’t understand and capture all the meanings and details the first time you watch it. I arguably found the plot of Inception overly complicated and somewhat confusing. This response may simply be because of the complex concept the plot attempted to communicate; however, I could almost say that I was dissatisfied with the ending, feeling as though I was left yearning for answers. As if a primary aspect was left missing. I realized this response was derived from the continuous transition between the settings of limbo and reality.

I imagine that the universal word to describe the concept of a dream is otherworldly. A place where logic, normalcies, and motion are defied and your mind is consumed by unstructured perceptions. I felt this stereotype was almost opposed, with Nolan implementing an entirely altered approach. Their dream world, known as limbo, appeared quite constricted and systematic. Rather than exploring the numerous different ways their dream world could’ve been expressed, it represented a structured and almost identical setting to the real world, other than the defiance of physics and gravity. The concept of limbo wasn’t properly channeled and expanded, almost eliminating the purpose of manipulating this context. The result was almost disappointing, as if minimal imagination and phenomena were included to create a supernatural environment.

Although I felt the subconsciousness concept wasn’t capitalized, it did encourage me to explore an alternative theory. Everything in life begins with an idea. As expressed in the movie, Cobb explains that “once an idea is planted into a person’s mind, it’ll change the person’s reality – forever.” It’s incomprehensible to think that everything in the physical world emerged from an idea and was originally created mentally. Everything must start from ideas in our minds, from the creation of computers to simply a pair of scissors. This brings forth the inquiry: Should humanity pay more attention to mental reality rather than physical reality? Instead of creating boundaries on what we view as doable, we should be more concerned about what we want and their possibilities. The strongest motivation for creation is inspiration, suggesting that to be successful in your physical reality, you must listen and acknowledge your mental reality first.

PW #1 – Short Story

The Stranded Dawn – A New Horizon

A blaring noise overtakes my mind. My eyes crack open, adjusting to the mid-morning light wafting in through my bedroom windows. A groan escapes my lips as my body flips, groping across my nightstand. I fumble with my alarm clock, searching for the snooze button, hopeful the noise went unnoticed. An opening door answers my inquiry. I sense my father’s dismayed glare at my unkempt appearance as he disturbs my slumber.

“Ian, get up, you’ll be late” my father growls at my uncooperating behaviour. Three weeks have passed since the incident, which completely changed my life. Since then, my parents seem to have lost all trust and sympathy towards me over an accident which I was unreasonably framed for. The impatient footsteps of my father departing interrupt the incessant haunting of regret and turmoil. I reluctantly persuade myself to stretch my limbs, rectifying my consciousness to begin my day.

Ringing infuses my head; I stir and groggily drag my head upwards to encounter the scrutiny of Ms. Vanderwall.

“Ian, you cannot continue to sleep during my history classes, this new behaviour is completely unacceptable.” Ms. Vanderwall gazes down at me, half-asleep on my desk. I glance around the isolated classroom. “Ian?”

“Right, sorry. It won’t happen again” I saunter out of the classroom, entering the cramped halls. I cancel out the malicious comments and gibes bouncing between conversations and tentatively walk forward.

“Gun boy! Stashing anything else in your locker yet? Wouldn’t want anything to happen, would we now?” My steps reversed, turning to witness Anthony presenting another speech about the alleged gun that was planted in my locker. I disregard his words and concentrate my mind away from the commotion.

The Life Of Sophie Wilson!

Hi! My name is Sophie Wilson. I’ve grown up in Victoria in the same house in Metchosin for the entirety of my life. My family generally originates from European countries such as England and Ukraine, however, migrated to Winnipeg Manitoba several generations ago, which was the birthplace of both my parents. I’ve attended Brookes for 5 years now which really sounds like a large portion of my life when you put it into perspective. Although my family aren’t avid travelers, only traveling to Winnipeg and Hawaii, it has always been a passion of mine to pursue in the future. I also love just about any sport, except maybe rock climbing, finding myself to always be active, at the beach, or exploring in my free time.

Since I was younger I’ve had a developing passion for reading. I was always encouraged as a young kid to engage and pursue my interests by relating them to both fiction and non-fiction books. Specifically, over the past few years, I have dedicated hours engrossed in fictional novels, simulating my imagination to create my own storylines, become transported to fictional worlds, and develop new knowledge of a variety of perspectives, themes, and cultures. I gravitate towards fantastical mystery, dystopian, and romance series, some of my favourites include Throne of Glass, The Inheritance Games, and From Blood and Ash. I also find it beneficial to share this passion with my sister and friends which allows us to exchange books and recommend titles, demonstrating how reading can impact personal connections as well. This year I would like to expand my reading genres toward a variety of non-fictional topics such as autobiographies and historical accounts.

Writing for me has been somewhat of a complicated passion. I used to love writing creative stories individually and collaboratively. However, although I still love the organization of translating my thoughts and imagination onto a page, occasionally it becomes more difficult to specifically concentrate on each aspect of a story (e.g. individual sentences), my mind tending to wander to the overall outcome of the story. However, my mind does become engulfed with a writing piece if I’m invested in it, always finding myself continuously refining the words. When it comes to academic writing, such as essays or documents, I feel the writing process comes more naturally to me because I have access to evidence to support my explanations and theories giving structure to my writing. However, my mind always tries to throw various words and unneeded sentences into my writing. This challenge has encouraged me to continue working on condensing my ideas to clarify the message to the reader.