If I can travel back to when I just started kindergarten. Before crossing over, I will collect all the major events since my birth (especially those related to finance, lottery, college entrance examination, etc.), organize them, and do my best to memorize them. After crossing over, first find many pieces of paper, write them all down with a pen, and secretly hide them in a place that only oneself knows. When buying lottery tickets at home, tell them the winning numbers, which stocks can make money, which team will win the World Cup, and so on. Secondly, the homework for kindergarten after crossing over is as easy as pie for me. Next, I will relearn the knowledge from high school, thoroughly review the various types of questions in the college entrance examination, review the high school competition questions, memorize all the basic knowledge from elementary school, read extensively in my spare time, and enhance my literary skills. Integrate all high school knowledge thoroughly.
PW #2 Random advice from Suzy, Pinterest, my Aunt, and me
Suzy:
1.)”If someone hands you their baby just say, “No thanks, I’m vegetarian.””
2.) “If it hurts, cut it off.”
3.) “It’s a poisonous spider! I wanna go pick it up!”
Me: “SUZY NO!”
Pinterest:
1.)”Try hard and don’t worry if you fail because everyone expected that.”
2.) “Drop it like its your hopes and dreams.”
3.) “Monday hates you too”
4.) “An apple a day keeps anyone away if you throw it hard enough!”
5.) “I don’t trip, I do random gravity checks.”
6.) “Did you just fall?”
“No! I attacked the floor!”
“Backwards?”
“Im flipping talented!”
7.) “I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.”
8.) “Be yourself, no one else wants to.”
My Aunt:
1.) “Your baby looks delicious! Can I have a bite?”
2.) “Your salad is adorable! What’s its name?”
Me:
1.) “NIK NO!”
2.) “SUZY NO!”
3.) “JAX! DO NOT EAT THAT SOCK!”
4.) ” Lookin good or hardly lookin?”
“PW #2”- Tennis in my life
Tennis is one of my favorite things to do. I started playing some time ago, and now I like it even more because I understand the game better. When I play, I feel happy and calm. It helps me forget about school stress or other things going on. I like that tennis is not just about being strong but also about focus, control, and quick thinking.
For my Personal Project, I chose tennis because I really want to get better and learn more about it. I also want to see how players train and stay motivated. Sometimes it’s hard for me to practice a lot because I have many things to do, but I still try my best when I can.
Tennis has taught me to be patient and to not give up when I make mistakes. Every time I play, I learn something new. I also play piano, and I want tennis to be like that for me like something I keep doing my whole life.
For me, tennis is more than a sport. It’s a hobby that makes me feel good, helps me stay active, and reminds me that practice always makes a difference.
IRJE #1 – Sparring Partners
I have been reading this book named sparring partners by john grisham. In this novel, Mack Stafford, a small town lawyer from mississippi ran away with stolen money from clients and vanished a couple years earlier. After realising that he has no money left, divorced and tired of hiding, he decides to risk getting arrested and returns to mississippi. one of his old friend, Jake, gets dragged into the situation and they work together to try and get mack back to avoid the legal problems while the rest of the town are keeping a close eye.
Kathy said,”We got the impression he did something wrong around here, but he never mentioned it. I mean you gotta figure a guy like him, living in some exotic place down there, using an alias, and so on, had a pretty colourful past. But again he didn’t give us much.”
This was said by Jake’s wife, Kathy, who is partially aware of the situation and doesnt think Jake should trust Mack as she knows that he isn’t a good person and he could backstab him, the way he did to his other peers and clients.
IRJE #1 Lyla – The Wicked King
This quotation takes place when the main characters sister is about to take her girlfriend to Faerie which is the magical land where the main character Jude, and her twin sister live. They are going there for a wedding but Judes sisters girlfriend doesn’t know that any of this is real yet so this takes place when they tell her that it is.
Behind me, I can hear Vivi start to explain. “Faerie is real. Magic is real. See? I’m not human, and neither is my brother. And we’re going to take you away to a magic island for the whole week. Don’t be afraid. We’re not the scary ones.”
I picked this quotation because I found the way that she says this very dull and to the point. Which I found funny. This quotation is from page 167 of the book.
IRJE #1
In the novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” written by Stephan Chbosky, Chbosky uses Charlie’s emotions to explore the theme of isolation. Throughout the book, Charlie is mostly trying to understand what’s wrong with him.
I just wish that God or my parents or Sam or my sister or someone would just tell me what’s wrong with me. Just tell me how to be different in a way that makes sense. To make this all go away. And I disappear.”
Chbosky, Part 3
This quotation shows how deep Charlies feelings go, and how much he urges to understand why. By listing all his close friends and family he showed how disconnected he is from them no matter how close they are. He talked in short sentences representing how he fills overwhelmed. Chbosky uses this part of the book for the reader to be aware of mental health struggles, and how it’s full of guilt and confusion. Charlie is basically begging to be seen, which make the quote one of the most vulnerable ones in the novel. This quote also represents the theme of supporting and understanding those around you which is one of the most used themes throughout the entire novel.
IRJE #1 Anna F
I am still reading It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han, and I really liked how emotional and real it felt until now. The story shows Belly trying to deal with grief, friendship, and love after Susannah’s death. The summer that used to be full of happiness now feels strange and sad. What I like most is how Jenny Han shows the confusion of being young and not knowing what you truly want. Belly’s relationship with Conrad and Jeremiah becomes more complicated, and she starts to understand that people change, and sometimes love is not enough. There is one moment in the book that really touched me, when Belly talks about how everything is different now that Susannah is gone:
“He winked at me as he came from behind, lifted Conrad up, and launched him into the pool. Jeremiah jumped in too, and he yelled, ‘Come on, Belly!’ So of course, I had to jump in too” (p. 2).
This quotation is important because it shows Belly’s sadness and how she feels lost without the people and the memories that made summer special. It also shows that growing up means learning to let go, even when it hurts. I think many readers can relate to this feeling of trying to hold on to the past while knowing that life keeps moving forward.
IRJE #1 – Sofia B
Tuesdays with Morrie is a book written by Mitch Albom. This book is about the true story of his visits to his old college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from ALS. The book talks about the life lessons Morrie shares with Mitch during their weekly Tuesday meetings. Each Tuesday visit, they focus on a different topic and different lesson, such as love, work, family, aging, and death. As Morrie gets worse, his lessons gain more impact. Mitch’s life begins to change as he listens to Morrie’s advice. This book is a very emotionally touching story that reminds people of the human connections, kindness, and meanings of living a good life.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and let it come in.” (p.52)
I chose this quote because it shows one of the biggest messages/lessons in this book, that love matters more than anything else. In this part of the book, Morrie is telling Mitch that being able to give and receive love is what makes life better and more worth living. It made me think about how in life, if you do things with love, you do them better, and if you treat people with love and kindness, you should be able to let love in as well.
Independent reading summary
In The Pearl by John Steinbeck we meet this guy, Kino, He’s a poor indigenous fisherman who lives a simple, kinda rough life with his wife, Juana, and their baby, Coyotito Their life isn’t easy, but they’re managing, everything gets totally messed up when a scorpion stings Coyotito, They freak out and rush to the town doctor, but this doctor is the worst. He’s this rich, racist dude who literally refuses to help them because they have no money. It’s so unfair and it makes you so angry right from the start, then, Kino’s luck seems to change when he’s out diving and finds this massive, perfect oyster, inside it is the pearl of the World It’s huge suddenly, all their problems seem solved. Kino starts dreaming big he’s gonna marry Juana in a real church, buy a rifle, and most importantly, send coyotito to school so he can have a better future. It’s all hope and happiness for, like, five minutes,but the pearl turns out to be a curse word gets out, and suddenly everyone is trying to screw them over ,the same doctor who turned them away suddenly shows up pretending to be concerned, just to get a piece of the action. The pearl dealers all try to scam Kino, telling him the pearl is worthless and offering him super low prices because they know he’s desperate. The whole town gets consumed by greed and envy. Even at night, people try to attack Kino and steal the pearl. He ends up killing a man in a fight, which forces him and his family to become fugitives, at this point, Juana, who’s way wiser than Kino, keeps telling him, “this thing is evil, we need to throw it back in the ocean before it destroys us.” But Kino is too far gone. He’s obsessed. He thinks the pearl is their only ticket out of poverty, and he’s willing to risk everything for it, even when it’s obvious it’s bringing them nothing but trouble, so they decide to run away through the mountains and the desert to try and sell the pearl in the capital, but they’re being tracked by these three armed men who want the pearl for themselves. It’s a super intense cat-and-mouse game. The climax is so tragic. While they’re hiding in a cave, the trackers hear Coyotito cry and mistake it for a coyote. One of them shoots toward the sound… and kills the babyit’s completely devastating. With their son dead in their arms, Kino and Juana just walk back to their village, heartbroken and defeated. In the end, in front of everyone, Kino takes the pearl and throws it back into the sea with all his force. All the dreams it represented the education, the future, the hope are gone It cost them everything The book is basically a major downer about how greed and the desire for wealth can corrupt people and destroy what’s truly important. It’s like, the thing you think will save your life can actually be the thing that ruins it. It’s a heavy story.
PW2#
Volunteering in 2025
Volunteering is probably one of my favourite things to do in summer, and this summer, I did four straight weeks of it! Some people may think being a summer camp leader is easy, but it’s in fact, quite the opposite. my third week at camp our group had a little girl go missing, and we searched for her for about 30 panic fueled minutes until we learned that her grandparents had picked her up early from where the kids were because the little girl was bored. the second week, A little boy almost sprained his ankle slipping on the numerous spills of water the children are so prone to making. I also had a lot of situations I needed to deescalate because of kids throwing fits, like the time I was playing candy land with a bunch of kids, and one boy who was playing that wasn’t doing so well, literally threw the board into the air, hitting multiple people with marshmallow and ice cream figurines. the first week I found a wasp nest in the playground where the kids were playing and putting on sunscreen, and one boy, god knows what was going on in his head, was standing directly on the nest! it wasn’t all terrifying and stressful though. I learned how to make paper airplanes and fortune tellers a while ago, and when I started making them for the kids, the demand was very high. I received a lot of really sweet drawings from a bunch of kids, and at week four I was declared one little boys favourite “girl volunteer” which made my day. Our group/camp went to lots of cool places, like the pool, lake, and a ton of playgrounds. My arms were very sore at the end of all four weeks from throwing balls for children that have the stamina of a horse I tell you. setting up games and crafts was a lot of fun too, and I spent many minutes helping kids make light sabres out of pool noodles which consequently, I was brutally attacked with in the pool later. I also made a few friends this summer, which was nice because in previous years it’s been difficult to make friends at camp, so it was cool to connect with fellow volunteers. lastly, I got to help with the pool activities this summer, which involves handling the rope swing, which is very fun. a few leaders knew how to do flips which was very impressive for most of the kids. And that was my summer as a volunteer summer camp leader.
IRJE #1
In Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince, the main character, Jude Duarte, is a mortal girl living in a world of faeries that are often brutal and manipulative. In this book there are many instances where Jude defies a group of faeries—including Prince Cardan, the Prince of Elfhame—multiple times, though she is cautioned not to. The following excerpt from the book is displaying one of the instances where she challenges those faeries.
He’s wrong about me. I am going to make my mayfly life count for something.
I won’t be afraid of him or of Prince Dain’s censure. If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse. (p. 210)
In this quotation, the main character is pivoting off a line reiterated before, in which a faerie called Valerian is telling Jude that she is worth nothing, and that her only purpose is to create more humans before she dies. She remembers what he said earlier while he is trying to choke her to death, which is why she says that she will make her life count for something. She mentions a character named Prince Dain, who she works as a spy for, and how he has been disappointed in her recently. Jude states here that she won’t be afraid of Valerian, who has not stopped threatening and abusing her, and she won’t be afraid of the disappointment that Prince Dain has for her. After this quotation, Jude stabs Valerian in the heart and he dies. I think this works perfectly with the line about becoming worse than others, because he tries to strangle her, and so she stabs him.
There are several quotations similar to this one in The Cruel Prince, where she promises that everyone is underestimating her, and that she will soon be something to fear instead of someone that fears. This is one of the things that makes Jude such an interesting character. Jude constantly recognizes how terrified and powerless she feels, even while she takes steps to be powerful and to terrify others. This quotation feels like a play on the regularly heard saying “if you can’t beat them, join them”, since the meaning behind the words are that since she cannot be better and stronger than the people who abuse her, she will be worse. She will be more manipulative, secretive, and lethal. She will be worse than them.
PW#2 Halloween
For me, every year Halloween has a way of changing the mood of everything. The air gets colder, the streets grow darker, and even familiar places start to feel different. It’s not really about the candy or costumes, it’s about the excitement that comes with the night.
Last year, a few friends and I decided to go trick-or-treating, even though we were probably a little too old for it. None of us had real costumes, so I threw on a black hoodie and cat ears. (very unoriginal of me) The streets were filled with people walking around, leaves were crunching under everyone’s feet, and houses glowed with decorations and carved pumpkins.
We had passed many houses, but my favorite was one that had a fog machine, fake gravestones, and creepy music playing. It was basically a mini haunted house. We went from house to house until our bags were full, then went to my friends house sorting through our candy. I traded away all my licorice for literally anything else, I hate licorice.
After that me and my friends stayed up way to late laughing, talking , and enjoying Halloween night.
Halloween ends fast, but that’s what makes it good, it shows up, makes everything a little weird and fun, and then disappears until next year.
IRJE#1
I recently finished the book ”Flowers for Algernon” written by Daniel Keyes. It is about a man with an low IQ whose biggest dream it is to be smart so that everyone likes him. This might be because his mom treated him bad in his childhood because he was so “dumb” but his sister was always treated good. He becomes part of a project for two scientists who want to increase the intelligence of living beings, so he has brain surgery which makes his IQ increase rapidly. At first, he is so happy about the operation because he mistakes intelligence for something that makes people like you. I think that he thinks that because people always not liked him for being “dumb”. But as he gets smarter he realizes that all his friends were just “fake”. As he reaches his maximum IQ he starts to research his own project and he discovers that it is almost certain that it is going to drop again. As he realizes this you can see how his whole mindset changes, he even expressed suicidal thoughts but as soon as his IQ really lowers he stops to worry and try to make the best out of the situation.
“It’s easy to make frends if you let pepul laff at you.”
This quote is important because it shows how Charly slowly starts to understand things around him. It is about the people from his job who he used to call his best friends because he could always laugh with them and he thought that they liked him but the only thing they did was to make fun of him and use him so that they look better.
IRJE #1
The book I chose is The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This book is about a group of teens recruited by the FBI for their physiological abilities. The teenagers are able to solve cold cases easily and are being trained more for when they are older and can enter the FBI. In this quotation the main character Cassie is learning how to properly solve the cases. She is learning how to make her brain able to analyze the suspects ifferently to a normal person.
Cassie realizes profiling isn’t just about solving puzzles; it’s about stepping into someone else’s mind, even when that mind is broken. To catch the killer, she has to think like them, she has to feel what they feel and that terrifies her more than anything. page 151
In this quotation Cassie is realizing that trying to analyze a person for the FBI she needs to think like them and get into their brain. It scares her that she will have to think like a murderer, see how they feel, and analyze why their every move. it also scares her that she will have be able to go in and out the suspects mind.
“IRJE #1: Campfire Stories”
Adrian F. San Roman
October 14, 2025
Independent Reading
Campfire Stories: From Coast to Coast, by Barbara Smith, is the book I chose of scary and mysterious stories from different parts of Canada. Each story is told as if people were sitting around a campfire, sharing real local legends. One story that I liked a lot is about a haunted hotel in the Yukon, where guests hear voices and footsteps at night. The author uses strong description to make readers feel they are really there, alone in the dark.
“Guests at the hotel often spoke of strange noises echoing through the halls—footsteps when no one was there, doors closing by themselves, and whispers that seemed to come from the walls. Some said it was the ghost of a miner who never left, still looking for his lost gold.” (p. 182)
This quotation shows the kind of mystery that makes this book fun and scary to read. It creates a feeling of suspense and curiosity because the people don’t know what is real or not. I chose this part because it shows how the author mixes history and ghost legends to make readers imagine the stories as true. It also connects to one of the book’s main ideas: that every place has its own secrets and stories that live on through people’s memories.
IRJE#1
Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is about a high school student named Pip who decides to investigate a murder that happened in her town five years ago. Everyone believes that a girl named Andie Bell was killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. But Pip doesn’t believe Sal was guilty. For her school project, she starts looking into the case to prove Sal’s innocence. As she digs deeper, she finds out that a lot of people are hiding things and someone doesn’t want her to find out the truth.
“You need to stop digging,Pippa.Walk away while you still can .” (p191.)
This quote shows that Pip’s investigation is becoming dangerous. Someone is trying to scare her into quitting. But instead of giving up, Pip keeps going because she wants justice for Sal. This moment shows how serious the mystery is and how brave Pip has to be to keep looking for the truth, even when her own safety is at risk.
I picked this quote because it shows that Pip is getting close to something important, and now someone is warning her to stop. It made me feel like the story was getting more intense. I like how Pip doesn’t give up, even when it gets scary. This part made me want to know what happens next and if she’s going to be okay.
IRJE #1 Bernardo
I recently finished the book: Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. The book tells the story about Mitch who is a sports journalist and his reconnection with his old sociology teacher, Morrie Schwartz. In the book, the teacher is dying from ALS, which is a progressive muscle weakness and difficulty with movement and speech, and in his last months of life he teaches Mitch about life. On every Tuesday Mitch went to his house so they could have a talk about life,people,happiness and much more. The thing that I liked the most about the book was how different these books were to other ones I’ve read. This book brings a reflection to life and things that we do and we shouldn’t or we could improve it and that even small things in life and make your day. The end of the book was really sad and it got me thinking, especially the last part where the author talks about his experiences.
“The truth is, Mitch,” he said, “once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
I nodded.
“I’m going to say it again,” he said. “Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” He smiled, and I realized what he was doing. He was making sure I absorbed this point, without embarrassing me by asking. It was part of what made him a good teacher.”
I chose this quote because it shows the perspective of a person that is dying on how life works and it shows how Morrie was trying to teach about what he knew. I already had the experience of being close to someone that was dying and I can tell that his thoughts were really close to this, and that they appreciate even the small things, like a glass of wine.
IRJE#1 – The Song of Achilles
Currently, I’m reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. At this point in the story, Patroclus and Achilles are preparing for the Trojan War, and the tension between their feelings and their roles as warriors is becoming more intense. Currently in this point of the story Patroclus’s perspective makes the story feel very personal, as we see his admiration for Achilles but also his own struggles to find bravery and his own purpose in the war and his life.
“I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” – p. 218 Continue reading “IRJE#1 – The Song of Achilles”
IRJE #1
Girl In Peices by kathleen Glasgow is about a girl Charile (Charlotte) Davis is a 17 year old girl who was admitted to Creely for girls, a mental hospital that specializes in self harm. She stayed in Creely for around 6 weeks before she is told to leave, not beacuse she was ready but beacuse her insurance ran out. She was discharged into the care of her dead beat mom who immediately leaves her again after they got far enough from the hospital. She ends up moving to Arizona where she gets a Job at a coffee shop called True Grit where she works as a dish washer. While worked she meets Riley West who was the lead singer of a band which crashed and burned, after his career went down he became an alcoholic making Charlie go down with him. There relationship is weird and complicated with a weird chemisty that works for the two. Towards the end of the book Chariles friend from Creely (Blue) gets discharged and moves to Arizona to see Charlie but isnt sober, is contantly all over Riley and is genuinly weird in my opinion.
Shes not in the apartment when i get home from work. I find her, instead, in Riley’s front room. I can hear the sound of laughter down the street as I turn down the street as I turn the corner to his house. My stomach curls with apprehension as I make my way up the pourch steps and pause, looking though the screen door at the two of them on the floor, cigarettes in ashtray, drink glasses everywhere, Blue strumming Rileys hummingbird as he gentally corrects her fingers.
This Quote in on the bottom of page 324 and i picked it beacue it shows how weird Blue was being even when she specifically new Charlie and Riley were a thing.
IRJE #1- Emma
In Jane Austen’s novel Emma, Emma Woodhouse is a “handsome, clever and rich” heroine. Emma Woodhouse lives in the village of Highbury and fancies herself a skilled match-maker. Through her meddling, she makes a sense of romantic blunders, particularly when trying to arrange a match for her friend Harriet Smith, only for her to realize her misconceptions about love and social standing. The novel explores themes of love, class, and self-discovery as Emma navigates her own romantic misunderstandings, culminating in her realization that she loves her long-time friend, neighbour and brother-in-law, Mr. George Knightly.
Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken; but it is not by such inaccuracies that a character is lost. (p. 76)
The narrator says this quotation after Emma has just been talking with Mr. Knightley about Mr. Elton’s behaviour. Emma believes Mr. Elton is interested in her friend Harriet Smith because she has been trying to set them up. Knightley, however, suspects that Mr. Elton actually likes Emma, not Harriet. The narrator talks about people rarely telling the complete truth, not necessarily because they intend to lie, but rather because human communication is naturally imperfect. We often disguise, soften, or misunderstand things a little when we speak. However, Jane Austen is saying that these small flaws in honesty don’t define a person’s true character. It’s normal for people to make mistakes or to present things in a slightly distorted way because what truly matters is their overall integrity and intentions, not every exact word they say.
IRJE #1 – A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
A good girl’s guide to murder, by Holly Jackson, popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Sing, who then killed himself. Five years later, senior Pip chooses this case for her final project, to prove Sal’s innocence. But as she digs deeper into Andie’s case, someone doesn’t want the truth to come out, which puts Pip in danger. Pip interviews Emma and Chloe but feels they are hiding something. Pip decides to catfish Emma pretending to be Chloe, which leads her to new information and a new suspect.
“This is not the Andie I expected to find in my investigation, so far removed from that public image of a beautiful blond victim loved by her family, adored by her friends. A victim taken too soon that image is starting to peel away at the edges.” (p.87)
Pip interviews people who were close to Andie, her friends and family, trying to understand who Andie was. Pip discovers that Andie wasn’t the girl Pip imagined to be. She discovers that Andie had secrets and complicated relationships that she didn’t really tell anyone. This new information changes the way Pip sees the case and makes her wonder who Andie truly is.
IRJE#1. No EXCUSES!
No Excuses! is a book made by Brian Tracy who is a Canadian- American motivational speaker, author, and founder of Brian Tracy Internationals. He is known for his work in personal development and business training. He is an author that has made over 80 books with many of them being bestsellers. Some of these books are Eat That Frog! The Psychology of Achievement, and the book I’m reading right now No Excuses! No Excuses is a self-help book that emphasizes the power of self-discipline to achieve success in various aspects of life. The book is divided into 21 different chapiters with each focusing on a different aspect of personal development. Brian provides practical advice and actionable steps to help readers break free from excuses and cultivate the disciple necessary for personal and professional success. The quotation that I chose form this book is in chapter 3 Self Discipline and Responsibility. The quote describes on why blaming is a middles behavior and that it is usually the persons own fault to wat happens.
“By following the path of least resistance, the easiest and most mindless behavior of all is for a person to lash out and blame someone else anytime anything goes wrong, for any reason
people who develop the habit of automatically blaming often become angry at things. Blaming inanimate objects when they do not function as expected is so silly that it almost becomes a mild form of insanity.
People become angry at doors that stick. The swear at tools they are using when they themselves make the mistake. They get mad when their car doesn’t start. Even if it is an inanimate object, if it doesn’t work perfectly, then the thing is to blame. People often kick the car that they are mad at or a box that they trip over.” (Pg. 57)
This quotation explains that it is a common and easy human tendency to blame others or inanimate objects for problems. This behavior is described as the path of least resistance. This path is considered to be a mindless habit. People who often blame others or inanimate objects for their own mistakes are engaged in a form of irrational behavior. This quotation highlights that this habit of blaming can lead to anger and is a way to avoid tacking responsibility. That’s why you should always own up to your own mistake and not blame others for no reason.
IRJE #1 – Archie
Atomic Habits by James Clear
In this part of the book, the author is talking about how small habits can make a big difference over time. He explains that you don’t need to change everything at once because, in reality just getting a little better at things every day adds up over time. This is important and meaningful because a lot of people give up on things because of the difficulties they are facing and because they don’t see drastic progress or change instantly. In reality you are always making progress and becoming better at something, it’s a reminder to stay patient and keep working.
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous.” (Atomic Habits, page: 16)
IRJE #1 – Thinking Fast and Slow
I am currently reading Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, and this book doesn’t really have a plot, but it’s more of a book in psychology. In this book, he explains the different functions and behaviours of the mind. Currently, I am reading about availability in heuristic, which is when people make mental shortcuts to judge the likelihood of a certain event happening based on memories of those events. This can lead to availability bias. I like this book because it has parts where you can interact with the book and experience some of the things that are being explained. There is also always some examples of the topic at the end of a chapter.
“Because of the coincidence of two planes crashing last month, she now prefers to take the train. That’s silly. The risk hasn’t really changed; it is an availability bias.”
“She has been watching too many spy movies recently, so she’s seeing conspiracies everywhere.” (pg. 136)
These are two quotes and examples of availability. This shows us how if certain events are happening a lot, it can lead to a biased judgment in our everyday lives, even though the likelihood hasn’t changed.
IRJE #1 – It Ends With Us
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hover follows Lily Bloom as she tries to build a new life in Boston while dealing with emotions from her past, and navigating the emotions in her present. After moving, she fulfills a long-time dream by opening her own flower shop and soon after, meets Ryle Kincaid. Ryle is a confident and suave neurosurgeon who seems to embody everything she has ever wanted in a man. Their relationship develops quickly, and at first, feels like a healthy and exciting new chapter in her life.
As time passes however, Lily begins to notice a side of Ryle that emulates her father’s abusive behaviour she witnessed growing up. These moments force her to question whether she’s repeating the same patterns she went through with her dad, that she vowed to escape.
“In that moment, I feel something I shouldn’t be feeling for Ryle. Pity. Because deep down, I know he’s not like my father. He’s not a bad person. He’s just not a good enough person for me.” p. 306
This quotation explains how she still loves Ryle, yet she realizes that love alone isn’t enough to justify staying in a harmful situation. This connects to the idea of self-respect in relationships, where caring deeply for someone can make it easy to overlook certain signs, but true strength comes from understanding one’s worth and creating boundaries to protect it.
IRJE 1#
How to make friends and influence people is written by Dale Carnegie, and was published in 1981. I really enjoy reading this book because the lessons it teaches me are things I can apply to my everyday life, such as smiling more, asking people about their day, or just remembering a birthday of a friend. speaking with people confidently and learning socialization is absolutely crucial to thriving in society, making friends, and being a person that people actually like. I also love that instead of just telling you the information, Mr Dale actually tells stories explaining why the methods he teaches work, how they were used, and the results that they gave. (This next part is dale speaking, and on page 78)
“For years I made it a point to find out the birthdays of my friends. How? Although I haven’t the foggiest bit of faith in astrology, I began by asking the other party whether he believed the date of one’s birth has anything to do with character and disposition. I then asked him or her to tell me the month and day of birth. if he or she said November 24, for example, I kept repeating to myself, “November 24, November 24.” The minute my friend’s back was turned I wrote down the name and birthday and later would transfer it to a birthday book. At the beginning of each year, I had these birthday dates scheduled in my calendar pad so that they came to my attention automatically. When the natal day arrived, there was my letter or telegram. What a hit it made! I was frequently the only person on earth who remembered. If we want to make friends, let’s greet people with animation and enthusiasm.”
This shows how much of an effect a simple thing like remembering someones birthday can have on the other person, and how it makes the person stand out when they actually remember things about you, rather than just asking again and again, or forgetting altogether.
IRJE.# 1
Paper towns by John Green is a very good book that I loved reading. It is a teen drama/romance that is very funny intense and interesting all at the same time. The main plot of the story is about a boy Quentin who is crazy over a girl Margo he has spent years trying to be with her and has always seemed to fail up until now he finally has his chance with margo and his dream finally is coming true however he doesn’t know if she is just using him or if she is actually in love with him?.
”The thing about Margo is that really all I could ever do was let her talk and then when she stopped talking encourage her to go on due to the facts that I was incontestably in love with her and she was absolutely unprecedented in every way and she never really asked me questions so the only way to avoid silence was to keep her talking. And so in the parking lot of public she said so right I made you a list if you have any problems call me”.
This block quote shows how Quentin is obsessed over Margo but also how he has a slight feeling in his gut that she is just using him and is not actually interested in him.
IRJE #1 Yoyo The good earth
This novel begins with the wedding of Chinese farmer Wang Long. He had never seen his bride to be before, and that morning he went to a nearby town to pick her up from her mansion where she worked as a servant. After being nervous, he finally appeared in front of the old lady of the Huang family, who introduced his wife Allen to him. They returned to Wang Long’s house and burned incense in front of a temple dedicated to the Earth God on the way. In the following months, Allen worked hard at home and after finishing household chores, he went to the fields to help Wang Long. Wang Long is very satisfied with her. Not long after, Allen became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy son, bringing joy to his family.
“Raise him,” said the old lady gravely to the gateman, “these obeisances are not necessary. Has he come for the woman?”
“Yes, Ancient One,” replied the gateman.
“Why does he not speak for himself?” asked the old lady.
“Because he is a fool, Ancient One,” said the gateman…
This roused Wang Lung and he looked with indignation at the gateman.
“I am only a coarse person, Great and Ancient Lady,” he said. “I do not know what words to use in such a presence.” (form page17）
In this quote, the old lady in this paragraph represents the upper class in traditional society. Her attitude is strict, demanding less formal respect, implying her expectation for sincere communication. This paragraph showcases the interactions and conflicts between different social classes. The stark contrast between the nobility of the old lady and the humility of Wang Long reveals the hierarchical system that existed in society at that time.
Laila IRJE#1 Heartless
I have recently read and finished the novel Heartless illustrated by Elsie Silver. It is a small-town Canadian romance about Willa Grant, who is looking for a job, and she just so happens to find one working as a nanny for Cade Eaton, a single dad with a guarded heart. From the outside, Cade seems rough and unapproachable, but as Willa spends more time with him and his young son Luke, she discovers layers of kindness under the hardness. I found that this story shows how people build walls to protect themselves, but how love and vulnerability can gradually break them down.
“My mother once told me that, sometimes the people who make the biggest mess in your life are the ones who end up making it beautiful again. and I Never understood what it meant until I found my self leaving home just to come back to this ranch.”
In this quotation, Willa remembers what her mom once told her as she leaves the ranch after her nanny job ends. She finally understands the meaning of those words when she realizes that Cade and Luke, who once made her life complicated, are actually the people who made it feel special and beautiful. This moment shows that Willa’s feelings for them have grown so strong that she decides to go back to the ranch and be with them again.
PW #1 – Sofia B
This summer I went to Ontario for 4 weeks with one of my friends and I had so much fun. I met many new people, and I had never been to Ontario, so I saw a lot of new things. It was so hot in Ontario, some of the days it got up to 40 degrees. It was also very humid, which didn’t help the heat. When I got back, I hung out with some more friends, we went to lakes and I went go karting twice. I also went to stay for a bit and my friend’s grandparents beach house in Parksville, it was so nice and sunny when we went. This was towards the end of summer, so the leaves of the trees were falling, and it looked like fall was starting. I also went to the mall quite a few times. I also went on my first on the water waterpark, like one of the inflatable ones. This was back in Ontario, but I had so much fun, I had always seen them in movies and they looked like fun, and it was. Another thing I liked about the waterpark was that even if you fell it wouldn’t really hurt, because it’s just water. I really enjoyed this summer, and maybe next summer I can go back to Ontario and a few other places.
PW #1 – Personal writing
My summer:
This summer I went to a cruise because of my 15 birthday, the destinations were Santorini,Zadar,Athenas,Dubrovnik,Verona,and Venice, my favorite place was Dubrovnik because I think that is one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever been in my life, I think that the only bad thing about all the cruise is that every city that me and my families visited we had the hottest days in the summer, the temperature was about 40 degrees every day, and the worst part of the cruise was Santorini and Athenas I think that they are so overrated literally just for a picture because all Santorini smells like horse and in Athenas is just the Greek culture, there’s nothing else, but after the cruise I went to Spain and I spent 2 months in Gijon Asturias because my dad’s famiLie is from Bilbao and my mom’s famiLie is from Asturias son we stay in our house in Gijon because is close to both places, I go to Spain every year since I was like 7 years old.
PW # 1 – First couple weeks
The first couple weeks back in school have been very fun. We are coming on the 1st complete month mark and I have no complaints so far (Except the amount of homework I have gotten). Its been pretty interesting as well, with the camping trip with all these new people. Its been really easy to settle back in. Although a lot of the people that are close to me are leaving or have already left the school, I am just enjoying the time I have here while I can. I signed up for the football team, and I am going to rejoin the swimming team as well, to stay fit. I have high hopes for this year, and for all the people who aren’t going to stay till the next, Good Luck.
PW#1
Which Season of the Year Do I Like Best?
While every season has its own charm, I find it hard to choose between summer and fall, as both have unique qualities that I love. However, if I had to pick just one, I would say fall is my favorite season, with summer coming in as a close second.
Fall is a season of beautiful transformation. The changing leaves paint the world in warm shades of red, orange, and yellow, making even a simple walk outdoors feel magical. The cooler weather is a welcome break from the heat of summer, making it more comfortable to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking or visiting a pumpkin patch. I also enjoy the cozy atmosphere that fall brings — wearing sweaters, drinking hot drinks, and preparing for the holidays.
On the other hand, summer has its own excitement. School is out, the days are long, and there’s more time for vacations, beach trips, and fun with friends. I love the freedom that summer brings, along with the sunshine and energy in the air.
Even though I enjoy the carefree vibe of summer, fall wins my heart with its calm, cozy, and colorful nature. It feels like a season of reflection and new beginnings, especially as the school year starts. For these reasons, fall is the season I like best.
PW #1
The Color Blue
Blue is my favorite color because it reminds me of the most powerful parts of nature. The endless sky and the profound ocean. Both are so scary yet so beautiful. They’re both full of things we haven’t even discovered which makes it even more interesting, for that they both remind me of freedom and peace.
When I look at the sky I feel like I’m starting into infinity. It goes on forever, it has no limits. In the day when I look up and see that light blue a calm feeling expands through my body. The brightness of it helps illuminate all the positive things in life and forget all the bad things. Meanwhile at night even if its darks its brings me a sense of curiosity of what’s beyond and what have we not discovered.
The ocean on the other side can be calm and chaotic at the same time. On clear days, it’s steady and quiet. That makes me feel peace within, almost like if time had slowed down. However when the sky is dark and loud, the ocean responds to it. It rebells and does things unexpectedly. It can be scary, but its reminds me how the beauty of nature is powerful and can be unpredictable. It’s something we can’t control completely, and we haven’t explored all that there is beneath.
Together they reveal the beauty of the color blue which makes it seem like it’s breathing with us. That’s why for me, blue isn’t just a color; it’s a feeling of peace and curiosity, and a moment where the ocean and the sky meet and the world is full of infinite possibilities.
PW#1 – Camping Trip
Last weekend, I went on a camping trip with my class to East Sooke Park. We began the journey by setting up our tents and cabins. I stayed with my friend Ella in a large tent, complete with a mattress she had brought from home, along with sleeping bags, which made the night a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. In the evening, we roasted marshmallows over the fire and made s’mores. I sat with my friends around the campfire, sharing stories and enjoying the atmosphere. One of the highlights of my trip was a game we played in the dark. The rules were to start at the top of a mountain and make our way through the forest down to the beach without being caught by the guards, who were my classmates holding flashlights. It was really fun, as I had to navigate the trail with my team inugh it eventuall the dark. Althoy got a bit tiring, since I kept falling and ended up ruining my clothes and shoes. Thankfully, my friends helped me along the way. It was overall a very fun experience. We also played trivia games in our teams, which I really enjoyed because it gave me the chance to talk to people I might not usually interact with. Besides the games, we did other outdoor activities such as hiking which I also enjoyed because the trail was easy, and I don’t usually enjoy hiking the views along the way were also beautiful, and I took many photos of the ocean, which we then also got to go in as well as we went paddle boarding, which was both fun and relaxing. The sunny weather, ocean views, and calm water made it one of my favourite activities of the trip as I also paddled with my friend Ella on the same board, which made it a lot of fun. Although I had a great time overall, I would say my least favourite parts were a rooster near the campsite that began crowing at 3 a.m. This made falling asleep really difficult and resulted in my waking up with really puffy eyes and having to wear concealer the entire trip. Overall, the trip was full of memorable moments, and I left feeling closer to a lot of people and having made new friends.
Introductions
I’m Luciana and I was born on June 4, 2010 in Mexico City, but I moved to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon when I was one years old and that’s where I lived since except for when I studied a semester in Houston when I was nine because my dad got to work on a project at Rice University. My family consists of my mom, dad, younger sister, and my Persa cat Simon..
The two main things I like to do right now are going to the gym and shopping but I have done a lot of things in the course of my life like many different types of dance, aerial silks, pilates yoga and intense pilates, singing,drawing, etc. But I currently want to do something more than the gym, and if I could only choose one activity out of all the ASA’S it would definitely be Tennis.
Of course there’s a lot more things I like to do like travelling! And honestly, every single trip I have done with my family has been so so memorable. My favorite trip by far was to Europe. There were some destinations that we took by plane like Spain and London of course, which actually was my dream place to study abroad at, but some of the other destinations I went to we arrived by cruise like Dubrovnik, Croatia which was by favorite, and honestly, I know it’s very fun to go to other ‘’bigger’’ destinations but the experience and the friends that I made at the cruise I would not change for anything. This trip has been the most memorable by far because I had never been so close to my dad before and after that trip I see my dad as that best friend I always wanted to find in my life.
PW #1 – Music
I have been listening to music for a long time, and lately I’ve been reflecting on how music affects me and how much it matters to me. I’ve met people who just casually don’t listen to music very often and it’s just crazy to me because I couldn’t imagine a life without music. Whether it was when I used to listen to random songs of different genres with no real theme or now when I’ve been listening to mainly rap or hip hop music. Music is a way to express yourself, and I feel like music has such a power on your emotions and how you feel and it can change your emotions very quickly. Like i could be having a very good day and be in a good mood and then suddenly a sad song comes on and the whole good day and good mood suddenly disappears. Vice versa as well, you could be having. bad day and not be in a good mood, and suddenly and upbeat classic song that you haven’t heard in a couple years comes on, and your mood completely improves. Like I use music even more than I think I do, when I’m cleaning the kitchen, doing homework, walking my dog, or just everywhere during the school day in general. Then when I talk to some people and they just casually say “yea I don’t listen to music much”, it’s just crazy to me because it is such a big part of my life.
PW #1
How does your family celebrate Christmas?
During Christmas time my family of 4 changes between families every year. So for example, this year i’ll spend christmas with my mother’s side of the family and new year’s with my dad’s side of the family. But how does my family and I celebrate Christmas? Well this year for example, around 4pm I go to my mother’s side of the family aunt’s house (sister of my grandpa) and everyone is there. I have lots of cousins because my grandpa has 6 siblings and all of them have children so imagine how full that house gets. The hanging spots are the garage that is full of delicious food and the living room/ bar. Being inside that house is so incredibly nostalgic because every Christmas the house has that same cozy Christmas smell. Something that also gives me that nostalgic feel is the fact that my grandpa( who’s birthday is December 24) always arrives late so that when he enters everybody gets excited and wishes him a happy birthday. Later around 7pm, my family including my mom’s sister, my 2 cousins and my grandpa leave to my house to celebrate Christmas with my grandma. When we arrive at my house, we unpack dinner and serve potato chips in a bowl for everyone to enjoy. While some of us help with dinner, my dad is always talking with my grandpa. After we have dinner, with Christmas music in the background of course, we all head down to the living room and play some games (which somehow I always end up winning). And at last we all open presents and spend the rest of the night talking all together. And that is how I spend my favorite holiday with my mom’s side of the family.
PW #1 – personal writing
My Trip to Alberta
About three weeks ago, I went to Alberta, and it was one of the best trips of my life. I stayed there for about four days, and it was super fun because I got to see my family. I hadn’t seen my cousins in a very long time, so it was really exciting.
On the first day, I arrived in Edmonton. We went to a couple of my family’s houses, and later, all of my cousins and I went out to eat. We ended up having pizza, which was really good. After we ate, we played video games for a bit. Later that evening, the whole family went for a drive to see downtown Edmonton. It was a cool experience. As soon as we got home, we went to bed because we had a big day planned for tomorrow.
The next day, we went to Banff, which is in Calgary. Banff is one of the most beautiful places in Canada. When I arrived, we went straight to the lake. The water was so beautiful—it had a green and bluish color that looked amazing. We stayed the night in Banff in a big house.
The next day was even more fun! We went to a place with another lake, a grassy field, and a playground. They also had spots where you could play sports like soccer and volleyball. We played for a long time and then made dinner on the barbecue. There were about 50 to 60 people there, and most of the kids were around my age. We all had a great time together.
That night, we went to my cousin’s house. We talked, played some board games, and planned what we were going to do for the next few days. For the rest of the trip, we mostly repeated the fun stuff we had already done—hanging out, playing games, exploring, and eating good food.
That’s how I would describe one of the funniest and most fun trips I’ve ever had in my entire life.
PW#1
I believe that being healthy is more important than being wealthy. Many people think wealth can solve many problems, but even being the richest person in the world cannot guarantee good health. Money can pay for the best hospitals, doctors, and medicine, but it doesn’t always cure illnesses. Health is also connected to time, and time is something that no one can buy. Even if a wealthy person has only a few months left to live, their money cannot give them more time. Just by being healthy you can do more things in life. Without health, sometimes even the simplest activities like eating, and walking can be difficult. In that case being wealthy doesn’t really help. Wealth can provide better things, but it cannot give life. That is why often people say, “Health is wealth,” Health can lead to more success in life than wealth. Between a healthy person who is happy and a wealthy person who is depressed, I would always choose to be healthy. To conclude, while wealth can be useful in life, it is nothing without health. Health is something that gives you your basic daily life. That is why being healthy is more important than being wealthy.
PW #1 – My New Life Abroad
Moving to another country sounded exciting, but at the same time it felt scary. Before coming to Canada I wondered if I could manage everything on my own. Would I find good friends? Would I understand the teachers? Would I feel comfortable in a new place far away from home? All those questions stayed in my mind the first weeks.
Now, after some time here, things look very different. I discovered that I can actually take care of myself better than I thought. I learned how to do laundry without destroying my clothes, and I can prepare easy meals when I don’t feel like eating outside. Sometimes I still eat too many cereals or fast food, but at least I try to balance with fruit and some vegetables.
The best part is the people I have met. I did not expect to connect so fast, but little by little I made friends, and now we usually go for walks, study together, or just talk in English. This helps me improve my language every day. At first it was difficult, but now I can follow the lessons almost without problems.
Of course, I still miss my family. My sister Daniela is in Vancouver, my brother is in Mérida, and I am here in Victoria. But even if we are far apart, we stay in contact and plan to meet in winter here in Canada. I feel proud of myself for adapting and enjoying this new adventure.
Bernardo PW #1
What is the best thing you’ve done this year? Why?
During this year I don’t know what was the best thing, however there are two things that I liked the most. The first one was my ski trip during this winter, because I was supposed to go in the 2024 winter with some really close friends of my family, however my grandpa developed a disease on his cancer and that made him go to ICU and he was given 72 hours of life, fortunately he lived until June. After that we managed to change the date of the trip and marked it to this winter and this time we went with some friends of mine and it was really fun because besides my friend there I could meet some friends of his childhood that were pretty nice and it was my first time skiing and I loved it. The other one was deciding to do the exchange year, because when my mom was 15 she did it and said that she loved, so I decided that I wanted to do, and until now the experience is being really nice, I got to met new people and principally train my english and surprising my spanish as well. For me the only problem of the exchange year is being away from home and from my parents but besides this its really nice
PW #1 – Driving On The PCH
On December 27th 2024, I was driving with a friend on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) heading to Malibu, it was a beautiful sunny day, and the ocean was vibrantly blue. Almost two weeks later the Palisades fire ignited and lasted 24 days, spreading across the Santa Monica Mountains, the Pacific Palisades, and areas of Malibu.
When I returned to Los Angeles in March 2025, the PCH was still closed to all traffic, only allowing residents access. We had to take a detour, and it was my first glimpse of the fire’s impact.
Finally, in July 2025, I drove up the Pacific Coast Highway again. It didn’t feel like the same stretch of land it had always been, instead of the beautiful coastal hills, everything around me looked burnt. We saw many burnt cars, and only the frames of houses remained. My dad even pointed out a burnt Porsche 911, which was surreal to see. While many homes had been destroyed, some survived the flames. Some people were already rebuilding, clearing debris, and restoring their communities. My heart goes out to all the residents who have lost so much, but are still building back up.
PW#1
For me my siblings Marc,Paula and Jan are the most important thing in the world there are many reasons but of them is since the moment I was Born I was with them playing, laughing and all type things so they new literal all about me. We have also have so many experiences . But we also had many fighting´s but we resolved all of them because we really appriciate us and I couldn´t live happy knowing that anything is wrong with us.
I miss theme because Paula and Marc are in Germany living and study so they don´t live with me, my parent´s and my brother Jan .At the beginning it was really hard to get used of it but I had no other chance. I still had my brother Jan but it wasn´t the same because it filled like something was wrong or something was missing but me and Jan knew that this feeling was because Marc and Paula weren´t with us.
But this summer me and my siblings had a vacation to Vienna just us four it was incredible beacause we hadn´t seen us in 1 year. And it felt like the old good times we had together.
PW#1
A month ago I imagined this to be hard. A month ago I imagined that I would sit in my room all day missing my friends. A month ago I imagined calling my parents all the time telling them to buy me an airline ticket. A month ago I imagined myself wearing the same clothes all the time because I only barely know how to wash. A month ago I imagined me only eating much too unhealthy things all the time. A month ago I imagined that I won’t be able to follow the teachers because my English would be too bad.
A month ago I could never have guessed that it would feel like I never want to go home again. A month ago I could never have guessed that I would go out with my new friends every afternoon even if it’s just for a walk. A month ago I could never have guessed that there was laundry day which is the best invention ever. A month ago I was actually right with thinking that the main things I eat would be Fruit Loops, but I sometimes also eat some veggies and things like that. A month ago I was wrong with assuming that I can’t follow the teachers (without Mr. Hernandez). A month ago I could never have guessed that I would consider this as one of the best decisions I have ever made, only after three weeks.
PW #1
If I could go anywhere in the world with one person, I think I would go to Germany with my best friend. we both speak a fair bit of German, and I’ve been learning it for four years now. I would love to visit places like Berlin or cologne. Germany also has so many different types of food I’d love to try and learn about, including Franzbrötchen, which is a small, sweet Viennoiserie baked with butter and cinnamon, similar to a cinnamon roll. I would also look at the castles of Germany, as German architecture is absolutely incredible seen with your own eyes. One architectural wonder, known as the cologne cathedral is quite the sight, a contrast to what most peoples idea of what a cathedral should look like, cologne cathedral uses darker colors, making it appear towering and gloomy. A cool fact about this cathedral is that it took 632 years to build! My best friend and I are also really interested in the Streizelmarkt in Dresden, which is a festive Christmas celebration that usually takes place from late November to December, giving visitors a chance to learn about German Christmas traditions, foods, and customs. Lastly, I think I would take my best friend on a train ride through places like the Rhine valley in Frankfurt, somewhere she really loves.
PW #1 – Story Time
Golden leaves twisted in the wind like falling ash as I stepped onto the old trail behind the farm. The air was cold—sharp enough to bite, but quiet. Too quiet. No birdsong, no rustling animals. Just the sound of my boots crunching through the dead things underfoot. The trees loomed tall and brittle, their limbs like twisted fingers reaching for the sky. Most people don’t come out here after October. They say the forest feels… wrong. They’re not wrong. I like it best in the fall. Everything dying, everything shedding its skin. The ground soft enough to dig if you know where to look. Or where to leave things behind. I paused at the stream, where the water barely moved. Stagnant. Cold. I pulled the little wooden fox from my pocket and turned it slowly in my hand. Grandpa carved it the fall before he died. I used to think it was a gift. Now I know it was a warning. There’s a spot just off the trail—past the split tree, down the slope. That’s where I buried it: the box, the letters, the photos. Everything from before. Not a body. Just memories. Ugly ones. Some things are better left in the dark.
Especially when they still have teeth.
PW #1
For me the people I spend time around leave huge impact on the type of person i can become, Ive had alot of close friends and people who come and go and people who stick around for a little but one person has made a big impact on my life for the last few months would be my best friend Elizabeth. She has made a huge impact on my life since meeting her. Id known Elizabeth a little prior to meeting her face to face through friends but id never think we’d end up getting this close. We offically met on a bus with my other friends Myleigh and Savana who had all known and gone to school with each other, we walked around millstream and westshore talking about everything and from there me and Elizabeth clicked. All through spring and summer break i was with no one else but her, she made everything more fun to do even if it was the most annoying things to do like chasing down a bus that came 7 minuets to early or having to go to plans she made with people i did not want to see, but though summer her family became a second family to me and a second home where i could genuinly rely on them for anything i needed along side my family of course. Elizabeth is one of the mostt important people in my life and is one of the only people who has ever known EXACTLY how ive felt in so many situations and i will be forever greatful for her and her family and everything they have done for me.
PW#1
Who do you admire most in history … and why?
The historian person I admire the most is Wu zetian. She is the only female emperor officially ascended the throne on Chinese history. She has extraordinary wisdom, courage and perseverance. In the era that man are more important, usually rarely female can get this high status. But Wu zetian can break though the obstacle, became the emperor that control the whole country. She is good at utilize people, promote the revolution, improve economic and the expand of culture, she let the Tang dynasty became the most heyday. For example, she changing the Imperial Examination System and Emphasizing Talent. She expanded and reformed the imperial examination system, enabling more people from poverty backgrounds to enter the officialdom through examinations. This is considered a major contribution to breaking the monopoly of the aristocratic families. More impressively, although she is at the pinnacle of power,but she still remain perseverance. In pursuit of power, she shows the wisdom and decisiveness, she knows how to use strategy to maintain her status. The story of Wu zetian teach us, no matter gender, background, if you have firm will and wisdom, you can create your own legend. Her courage encourage people do not retreat when facing problem. She was not only a great emperor, but also a symbol in people’s heart of the courage to break through the box and pursue self-worth. Wu Zetian’s spirit makes people believe that as long as we work hard, any dream can be realized.
PW#1
My first couple of weeks of school have been great. I was so mad about coming back to school because summer was so great this year; however, so far, school has been great. I have made so many new friends and new memories already. It is crazy how many culters I have met and learned about. There have been people from Brazil, Mexico, Japan and China. Something I am looking forward to is are class camp trip, which is coming up in two days. I am so excited for it; every time it is so much fun and one of the best, most fun trips of the year. So you could say things are going pretty well. At first, I was nervous about new classes and teachers, but I’m starting to settle in. Most of my teachers are nice, and the workload is manageable so far. Some classes are more challenging than others, especially math, but I’m trying to stay on top of things. I’m also getting used to waking up early again. Overall, I think this year has the potential to be a good one if I stay focused and organized.