Friends come and go, you grow, specifically you grow apart, and you move on. It’s difficult to see someone you thought was your best friend suddenly become someone new, and all of sudden you need to learn this new person’s favourite colour and food, and if the new pieces of them don’t match up with yours the way they used to, the puzzle doesn’t work anymore. Best friends have a comfort you can’t find in the arms of parents. You can tell them anything and you know they wouldn’t put you down for it or look at you differently. I believe that’s why growing apart affects you an incredible amount. Because here’s this stranger that knows everything there was to know about you, and you now walk by them like you have forgotten their middle name, no hello or goodbye, you just keep walking. I believe that everything happens for a reason, people change so that you can let go, things go wrong so you appreciate when they go right, and good things fall apart so eventually better things will fall together. It’s been a year since I last saw him, I woke up to my phone spammed with what I thought was pointless messages, which turned out to be the reason I wish I just stopped sometimes. He had passed away this morning. To think just yesterday I almost stopped in to see him when passing his house, just to see how he is and maybe just give him a hug once again. I’m not sure what stopped me. Maybe I was scared he wouldn’t jump to me the way I would to him, or maybe I was just scared he was doing bad, and I wanted to leave it in a grey area of assumption. I wish I just stopped to smell the roses.
Author: Jordyn
PR to ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’ As well as Experience Memorizing and Reciting
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was an eye-catching read with many things to say about this Ballard, the main thing on my mind is that no matter how hard you struggled and fought to pronounce and recite the tricky old-time English words, you always had a drive to read the next line, and to find the rhyme within the stanzas’. Something I will always remember from this book was the Albatross, and how it hung around the Ancient Mariners neck as a symbol of sin.
— The selfsame moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.” (Page 8 Stanza 7)
I had many questions about this stanza, I felt a significant change in the way I viewed the Ancient Mariner. Not only did he forgive the world around him, but it was just that, that released the sin weighted on his neck. Memorizing the 5 stanzas’ was not difficult considering it’s already in Rime, one thing would rhyme with the next which made the words easier to compare and contrast between the stanzas’. I think it was unrealistic to have such high expectations for a class of students, the most of whom were born and/or raised in non-English speaking nations. Applying the grading system incorrectly in this instance, with the bulk of the class receiving a 5 or lower, due to a small number of students exceeding expectations, is the reason for this.
PR – The Strange case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson
We have unfortunately come to terms with the evil that is committed in The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. While alcohol is considered a sin because it pulls a person further and further from consciousness, Henry Jekyll seems to have the same effect with this rather say “drug.” Many actual-life occurrences can be associated to this book to explain Henry Jekyll’s experience, yet Dr. Jekyll is a man who was encouraged to do evil by his “concoction.” As I comprehended it, Mr. Hyde embodied the damaging impact of illicit substances on human beings; given his “detestable” appearance and inhuman characteristics, we can see that he is the contradiction of Dr. Jekyll and, therefore, the result of stealing someone’s identity as well as a well-known case in the Victorian Era; Manic Depressive Psychosis, which is known for its delusional and hallucinative patients. Henry Jekyll, was the other side of which was enslaved to this drug in order to escape his “unhappy” lifestyle.
“Man is not truly one, but truly two.” (Pg 67)
Despite being a brief quotation, this captures the logic of the narrative in its entirety. In order to separate the two within him, Dr. Jekyll need the support of the potion. Though, from my viewpoint, Henry ultimately regretted the drug abuse he had committed on his body, hence the end where he gives up fighting to be his best self. The numerous “Imaginary elements” aim to blur the lines of the story’s true meaning, causing it to be an exercise in deception. If you didn’t appreciate Stevenson’s writing, it’s highly possible that you wouldn’t succeed in identifying the true elements. Stevenson himself experienced duality from an early age; his medical and mental illnesses prevented him from ever being a child. It is reported that in 1886, he was taking medicinal cocaine when he wrote this narrative, which gave rise to its two central characters, Jekyll and Hyde, who had originated from a recurring nightmere. Though the story is focused around its supernatural abilities and story-line, it’s a cover up for its true meaning.
PW#6 Something
I almost feel as though my soul chose his. And that’s a difficult thing for a soul to forget. As if his personality of roses and poetry wrapped a blanket around mine when it was cold and cracking. I try to forget everything, but two souls don’t find each-other simply by accident. I can’t seem to forget him or the looks he gave me, or the way his eyes glow in the shade versus the light. A different comfort than what I find in the arms of parents. I’ve always been told to never give up on something that you cant go a day without thinking about and I think its beautiful to have something that makes it so difficult to go without, to the point functioning is simply out of the question. seeing him walk by will always make my stomach twist and twirl head spin and flip, but I can live with the feeling that pushes the butterflies in my stomach up and out.
PW#5
Since I’m in Portugal until early February, as everyone knows, there has been a lot of discussion regarding our family history. It was during this discussion that I discovered the “Mund/Mundt family tree,” which shows the family tree all the way down to the Hack family name. None of these struck me as particularly as the pronunciation section, though. This entire book, in German/Deutsche, is devoted only to my grandfather’s side. My great aunt told me that my name is pronounced [Y-ad-een]. However, I’ve since learned that the Js in Deutsche are primarily pronounced as Ys. Consequently, my name is pronounced as [Y-ad-een] but is actually spelled “Jordyn.” I have relinquished my childhood moniker, Jan, which I now know is pronounced [Y-awn]. With this newly discovered part of my family history, I was inspired to re-learn Deutsche so that I could read my grandfather’s old stories and books written by the best authors of the past. Therefore at the moment my grandmother who lives in Luz (Where I am at the moment) has been teaching me everything there is to know about our family here in Luz and has been re-teaching me German.
PR to “The Story of Joseph.”
Joseph’s early years are vividly described in The Story of Joseph, giving us a comprehensive account of his brief life. As everyone knows, it starts when he is 17 years old and we learn why his brothers don’t think highly of our main character, Joseph. It turns out that Joseph is very wise, has far bigger goals than most boys can dream of, and has dominance over the other boys. This obviously sparks another “War” between the little boys, and they decide to “see what will become of his dreams” by abandoning him in a pit for a wild animal to eat. (L20, page 6) Later in the narrative, his lone brother proposes to spare Josephs life and to rather use him to make money by selling him into the slave trade, where he is ultimately imprisoned. However, he ascends to the position of second in command in Egypt and saves the country during a famine after accurately deciphering Pharaoh’s visions. In order to escape the famine, Jacob’s family journeys to Egypt, and it is via him that they are granted permission to live in the Land of Goshen (the eastern portion of the Nile Delta.) therefore, no this is not necessarily a story I can say I enjoyed, and I will not be passing it down to future generations.
IRJE #4 to “the Catcher of the Rye”
In the Catcher of in the Rye chapter 16 The main character, who is going to Central Park to find his sister Phoebe, whom he loves very much, says a famous remark explaining what he does to help himself feel less depressed. He follows her to the mall in the park since that’s where she usually goes when she’s in the town center.
“It made you depressed, and every once in a while, for no reason, you got goose flesh while you walked. It didn’t seem at all like Christmas was coming soon. It didn’t seem like anything was coming” (Pg 128).
At this time, Christmas was approaching, and it seemed like the core town was not prepared for Santa to arrive. It seems to me that he is persevering in this quote for his sister. To get to his sister, he has stroll through the depressing town that lacks Christmas decorations and cheer. Given that Holden is a helpless young man who only persists for his sister because she is his “Hope,” I think there is a deeper significance to all of this that goes right to the core of the character’s ideas and traits. You can tell by the way he describes how the landscape makes him feel as though he has lost hope for his current situation and is unable to discover the positive aspects of his life.
An Enemy of the People
This book offered fresh perspectives and new insights into the workings of small towns. I was certain that Peter Stockmann was the “enemy” of the people, and I’m sure many agree, though that was only because we knew the information; the residents of the town were not made aware that there was a real issue and were instead led to believe that this was all nonsense. Before the meeting between Dr. Stockmann and the town’s residents, they had already formed an impression of him after learning through the people’s messenger that Dr. Stockmann’s report was full of nonsense. When the conference came to a conclusion, he was seen as an “enemy of the people” since he was unable to persuade them that it was for their benefit rather than to destroy the town. The entire book is filled with chaotic situations, and with so many switches turning on and off at the same time that everything seems to be going well, it was challenging to keep track of everything, but that’s exactly what made the play entertaining—making you want to flip to the next page as soon as you finish the previous one.
PW#4
For you I wish I could.
For you I wish I could write you a book, or sing your favourite song. For you I wish I was a better swimmer or that I could walk in a straight line because I know that annoyed you. For you I wish I could fix my own imperfections, not even for myself. For you I wish I was everything you needed to stay, to feel at home or just “Ok.” I cant express how I could before and I cant run as fast as I wished to as a kid, but always know for you I wish I could. Even if we are just under the same stars, for you I still would.
IRJE#3
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Now in chapter 9 nick is explains the events that took around the Great Gatsby’s death 2 months later.
But all this part of it seemed remote and unessential. I found myself on Gatsby’s side, and alone. as he lay in his house and didn’t move or breathe or speak, hour upon hour, it grew upon me that I was responsible, because no one else was interested-interested, I mean, with that intense personal interest to which every one has some vague right at the end. (pg. 135)
here I noticed nicks judge of character change where he’s speaking about the realization you kinda feel sorrow for his position and guilt that he feels responsible. I have finished the book now and over all id say it’s not something id recommend to people whose 1st language is not English. but very good suspense book.
IRJE#3 The Great Gatsby
The book i’m reading ‘The Great Gatsby’ By F.Scott Fitzgerald. I am currently on chapter 8 where the main subject is Gatsby’s love for Daisy being confirmed by himself. He told the story about how she promised to wait for him till be was back from war, but she found her way to a man her parents approved of, and married him.
Perhaps Gatsby no longer cared. If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream.
I believe that means more than what he’s just saying about Gatsby fail to win Daisy, is that he lost more of himself than he did her. Meaning the single dream was to have her and that what he was living off of, which is now broken.
PW#3
In a month and a bit I go to Portugal for 2 and a half months. I have to start packing up my room in the next week for the trip out. Im excited to spend time with my family and see my Gigi. I have to visit my favourite cafe BaixaCafe It has the most delicious food and coffee there nothing compares. I can’t wait to be out there. Sadly there’s a lot of storms and rain during the months ill be there but much warmer there than it is here. Im excited!
Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Right now at the beginning of Chapter 3 Nick is describing his neighbour Great Gatsbys house ragger where the guests get louder and rowdier the more they drink. Now, it’s not only about the party. Majority of this chapter explains that Gatsby has an odd out vibe to him, Nick and Jordan try to dig around for more information
“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited they went there. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission.” (Pg.41)
I believe that this quote shows more than just what it says. It shows a sense of entitlement from Nick about being one of the few who actually was invited. He felt interconnected.
Master And Man “To Change or Not to Change.”
Master and Man, by Leo Tolstoy.
This story of the two characters, Master; Vasili, and Man; Nikita. In this story it’s a tale between these two characters that slowly over time become more than just Master and Man. At the beginning you find that Nikita is a character with one weak trait that slowly contains who he is as a person, and you begin to lose sympathy points for his ways of being. Vasili is a very uptight character who cares about himself, and money. My first impression of the book was that Master was Vasili and Man was Nikita but near the end Vasili changes his ways of being and cares for another being, which makes you rethink his actions before where you find that his traits weren’t as bad, he just had nothing to really care for. Nikita was a character who never cared for himself and too much for the unimportant. Vasili always cared deeply for those around it just was never portrayed in his character. At the end when Vasili risks himself for Nikita and prays to god for the chance of saving Nikita and for forgiveness of the wrongs he’s done within his life, the title “Master and Man” loses meaning from what it once was and becomes Master meaning; God Himself, and Vasili being “Man.” When Vasili changes his ways and saves Nikita you almost lose all meaning of the whole story, you think; “Thats not Vasili. What’s the catch?” And you look back and realize he was never a horrible human he just wanted to have it all, which deep down is the most humane trait in society, is to be the “Master.” Which makes me feel more for Vasili in the whole story compared to Nikita. Nikita was so selfless, you lose all sympathy for him and his character. The ending of the story made me have hope for the worst in people, even in real life I believe in change. This story just goes to show that the character you root for in the beginning you won’t always root for, and the character you had hoped to be removed, you wish had stayed. I do not believe that the story is too realistic but, the characters and the incidents of alcohol and abuse is very real. The way the characters are represent life as a whole and they just went all in with who they were and how they wanted to be seen by the reader. Over all I would recommend this story to someone who can hold out till the end.
PW#2
This weekend when I was on my way back from work I found a paper from when I went to West-Mont. It was a poetry paper contest based on heart break which of course follows to many other categories; animal lost, family, break ups, etc. And I went along with a bittersweet memory, and a saying goodbye. The only reason I bring this up compared to many other stories I have to tell is because everything I wrote I never finished. So, I finished it off over the weekend, and I think it pulled together quite well. If you know me well you’d know I have interest in being a Journalist or a Writer, so of course I put my heart and soul into it. It was fun to reconnect with grade 8 me and finish a piece I never had the chance to. If anyone is interested in Writing and/or Journalism please let me know, I have had the interest for years and love meeting others much alike.
The Great Gatsby – IRJE #1
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott-Fitzgerald, is a book based off the time of the Jazz era of New York. It’s’ based off the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, A Self-made millionaire who is in love with the young woman Daisy Buchanan. The story is narrated by a man named Nick Caraway; and how he sees the story of these people.
There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams – not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart. (Pg.2)
I chose this quote from the book because it shows the character Daisy’s husband Tom Buchanan is, and how he can care-less if she is within his plans or not. He could change his mind again and again and she would find her way to avoid them changing her plans, and I think that shows a strong empowerment to her character and a weaker quality to his. In this quote he’s sharing that Tom is more self centred “I plan to have it all.” Type of man and Daisy is shown to be a; “I plan to be realistic.” Thing going for her. She day dreams but in the realistic limit where she knows her current limits in the world and shows she knows who she is whereas tom does not.
PW#1
My Avo has been sending me videos of her home in Manitoba, She lives in North Carolina and Portugal as well. Her houses are right on the ocean everywhere. Her favourite town is Carolina because of the easy weather. I plan to visit her in a few months. We have already bought the there tickets but not returning yet. She’s been teaching me Portuguese over text and we have been doing many calls over the past few months.
Jordyns’ introduction.
Hello! I’m Jordyn. Im from the island and have been attending Brookes Westshore for the past day. I’m a sports fan (mostly soccer and baseball.) Yet, fluent in most. I’m passionate with many sports, my dad has taught me almost all the sports in the book. I work at Tim Hortons and have been there for the last 2 months. I can say i’ve learnt a lot of public speaking, and have had many human interactions, and experiences throughout the months. I’m very passionate about working and keeping busy in the days. I’m known for my reading. I enjoy non-fiction books more than fiction, and currently reading The Great Gatsby. I read almost every-night, or chance I get. Most of my reading encourages my writing, and persuades the way I see the world around me. I’ve read all the way from the hunger games to Romeo and Juliet. I can say i’m for sure not limited to categories. I’m a huge fan of writing, it’s a daily occurrence for my nightly routines, sometimes mornings. I’m very passionate about writing and plan to pursue it as my future career as a journalist. In my last school I entered in almost every writing challenge to my age group, and excelled in my grades.