Quality of Life

Reading "Everything Matters!" this year was undoubtedly a life-altering experience for me. I learned many important lessons, which I can use throughout my life. First of all, before even reading the novel, the exercise Ms. Serensky made us write about what we would all do if we knew the world was going to end at age 35. We all wrote our papers with our life dreams and locations of where we would ideally want to spend the rest of our lives. I decided I would move to San Diego after graduating college and train my kids to be bilingual and professional surfers. During our discussion, Ms. Serensky said, "All of these things are possible, so why don't you just do them regardless [of your knowledge of the world's projected date of obliteration]".

Then it hit me. I wondered why I would only "live life to the fullest" if I knew the date of the world's end. I concluded that this novel really emphasizes the importance of "quality" of life over "quantity". I would define "quantity" as years of life wasted by going through the motions and ignoring one's problems rather than facing them. For example, after John Sr. asks Debbie to stop drinking, she says, "Why?"(156). Here, she denies she has a serious problem and refuses to face treatment. This shows that she is living a miserable life, and is incapable of facing reality. Another example of this is when Amy decides to move away from her seemingly ideal life with a husband and dog living in beautiful California. She bitterly mutters, "The only thing I'll miss is the dog"(201). Here, Currie indirectly characterizes her as desirous for positive change in her life which evokes pathos of admiration in the empathetic audience.

Therefore, why not live in California and teach my children to be bilingual and professional surfers? If that is what seems enjoyable and will make me a satisfied, happy individual, I have no objection to that lifestyle. I believe Americans today are too caught up in living the idealistic life with an abundance of money and material possessions, and ignore the simple pleasures in life. They need to realize that "Anything, anything, anything, is possible"as Ron Currie, Jr. emphasizes throughout his award-winning novel.

Yes, this is my future child:

My Top Ten (In no particular order)

1). Seeing Ms. Serensky on the highway during winter break of junior year. I thought, "Have mercy on me!"(Shakespeare, 92). I started freaking out because I thought that maybe I forgot to put my name on my paper and she was literally hunting me down for it, but as soon as I made eye contact with her, she simply burst out laughing.

2). Committing to Colgate University and receiving an athletic scholarship made me finally feel as if I were "in a state resembling happiness"(Currie, 196).

3). Spending two weeks in Cadiz, taking spanish classes and living in Charro Bastrecche's lovely home with the one and only Jilian Ertel in the summer of 2010. We had a few language-barrier mishaps along the way. For example, when attempted to tell her she felt embarrassed but instead said, "estoy embarazada" which means "I am pregnant". We knew we needed to get the dictionary out after seeing Charro's jaw drop to the floor. I'm sure she was thinking, "please stop trying to confuse me"(Currie, 131)

4). Getting an "A" on my Angela's Ashes paper. After all, it "[was] a tedious difficulty, I think"(Shakespeare, 71).

5). Performing the final project and authentic African dance for AP English 11 with Jillian, Lizzie and Jackie. I was very nervous before. " I hate crowds"(Wilde, 37).

6). Receiving all A's in my advanced-level spanish class through the Mundolengua program in Cadiz, Spain. After noting that this grade would not help my high school transcript in any way, my mother still proudly remarked, "[This] matters, too"(Currie, 299).

7). After sitting in a lower-level English class at the University of Richmond during my recruiting trip, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this class seemed compared to AP English 12. I was also somewhat bored by their flat, non-energetic class discussion. I thought sarcastically to myself, "what a lesson!"(Wilde, 26).

8). The day I was forced to speak 24 hours of Spanish. I had a great deal of fun confusing my teachers and classmates all day long, even though at times I thought, "It is impossible to bear it out"(Shakespeare, 30).

9). The day we went to see the Othello play. Although it "is very painful for me to be forced to speak the truth", I was truly pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it very much (Wilde, 40).

10). Switching seats with Jackie in Mr. Ricci's class. He failed to realize this until the bell rang, and our class started laughing and he replied something along the lines of, "I'm always willing to consider the possibility that I'm a fool"(Currie, 145).

So Short, Yet So Enjoyable

Although I do not enjoy poetry at all, the poem "This is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams really caught my attention because it reminds me of something I would do in the face of food temptation. As many of my friends know, I am constantly eating. When I am hungry I get very grouchy and unpleasant, so often times I do not mind stealing from my family's refrigerator even if somebody labeled their name on it. People like my mother think "It is so silly" of me to act this way, but honestly, when I am hungry, I could care less (Wilde, 17). On the other hand, however, when somebody in my family eats the food I have carefully labeled for myself, I become very irritated and "I think it is most ill-natured of [them]"(15). I will scream and yell, "how idiotic you are!"(15). Didn't you see my name labeled clearly on the container? And then they scream back in my face and tell me that I am a huge hypocrite. I just accept it, because personal humility sometimes can usually take a back seat to my ingestion of delicious food. Go ahead and try to verbally rip me apart. I dare you. When I am on a mission to enjoy my favorite foods, I will ignore you until I have eaten the last morsel.

Therefore, I feel like this poem has my name written all over it. The lighthearted and careless tone creates pathos of admiration for the speaker, because he or she has described an instance in a straightforward, yet enjoyable manner, rather than straying from the purpose and giving unnecessary information.

Favorite Day in AP English

A week or so ago...

Today, I woke up and just knew it would be a great day. First of all, my dog (Foster) never pays any attention to me, and usually prefers to play with my other family members. In fact, he has not once slept in my bedroom at night, but takes turns sleeping in Britt's, Stacey's, or Jakie's room. This unkind gesture deeply hurts and offends me, but I will spare the blog world the depressing details of my pathetic feelings. However, this morning, a revelation occurred. I was awakened by Foster, wagging his tail and licking my nose. At first, I was in disbelief, but then I realized, maybe today is just The Day. Driving to school, Jackie and I were laughing with each other, not screaming at each other for a change.

I then arrived to Ms. Serensky's AP English 12 class with a giant grin on my face. Nothing caused this grin, I had it just because I was finally "in a state resembling happiness"(Currie, 196). I sat down in my seat, next to the infamous Thomas Donley, my very own writing partner. He was indeed wearing pastel shorts with sperrys, a pink button-down collared shirt with a few of the top buttons undone. He only saves his savvy glasses for special occasions, so of course he was rockin' them today. Because "my first impressions are never wrong", it dawned on me that he was dressed up for his lacrosse game (Wilde, 34). The cheeky comments from Ms. Serensky just began pouring in and I could not stop laughing. She began her "Dear Journal" impressions which indeed lightened the mood of the stressful enviornment the English room usually has. Thomas then whispered over to me, "Hey Megs, nice sperrys". I looked down at both of our feet, and yes, we had almost identical-looking shoes on. I guess this moment bonded our relationship, because he went on to tell me, "Our love and comforts should increase/Even as our days grow"(Shakespeare, 2.1, 90-91). I know that our days of school are waning and most of us seniors are trying to savor these last high school moments, but never in a million years did I expect Mr. Thomas Donley to say such a thing to me after simply realizing that we have similar taste in shoes.

Oh how I would have loved to read his "Dear Journal" entry for that day.

Reggie's Revelation

Lane: Sir, I just made your bomb for you. It is sitting on the kitchen counter.

Reggie: "That's very kind"(111). Thank you so much.

Lane: "I do my best to give satisfaction, sir"(18).

Reggie: I've been meaning to ask you, Lane, why have you been such a loyal servant to me for all of this time?

Lane: Well, your condition is very depressing. I pity you. Meningitis is a horrid disease. Want to go to the bar and get a drink? I feel as though we need to get out of this house for a change.

Reggie: Why do you want to take me out of the house all of a sudden? Do you want to parade me around because I look like a freakshow? Do you think I'm your "pet ni****" or something? "Buy Reggie a drink and its affirmative action night."
Lane: So this is how you repay me for how nice I have been for all of these years? Treat me as though I have done nothing for you all this time?

Reggie: Yes, in fact I have some other things to tell you. But first, what is your take on marriage?

Lane: "I have only been married once". "And that, was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person". I have not seen her in ages. Sometimes, I wonder of her whereabouts.

Reggie: Well, here goes. I'm gonna get real weird this. Could that misunderstanding be the fact that until now, you did not know that your wife is now in prison for selling me the materials necessary for me to make my bomb?

Lane: "No, sir. It's not a very interesting subject.

Reggie: So, you don't care that your wife is a criminal?

Lane: Well, "I never think of it that way". I believe that she can do as she pleases because it gives me more alone time.

Reggie: In that case, what are we waiting for? Lets get to the bar. I've set us up with some hot chicks.

Even the Poster Lashes Out

Dear Amy,

I write to you even though it has been years since we last talked, but right now you are the only one I feel comfortable expressing my emotions to.
I cannot even begin to describe how miserable my day has been. First off, while walking into school on this couldy day, the pigeon on the poster in Ms.Serensky's room came to life and pooped on my head. "Eat sh** and die", I muttered to this horrible creature (209). First and second period blurred by, and I found myself in Ms. Serensky's 3rd period AP English 12 class once again. As soon as I sat down, Ms. Serensky walked up to me and started cackling. She began to scream in my face and asked how I could POSSIBLY be sitting in the wrong seat when it has been assigned for an entire quarter. I just sunk down into my seat because I was in no mood to argue after staying awake for days, desperately trying to find a cure to my father's cancer. "My insides feel raw and hollow"(179). I need to eat something immediately or else I will pass out. Ms. Serensky then announced that it was time to turn in money for our new books. I handed her a $20 bill and she then asked me, "So the world now revolves around you?" just because I did not have the EXACT change (Ms. Serensky). I just had no energy to reply so I accepted this low-blow. "God help me, I'm actually starting to feel beholden to the son-of-a-bi***(178). Amy, please call me. I need to feel your warm embrace and I know you will somehow be able to put a smile on my face after this wretched day.


Warmly,
Junior

One Moment Can Change your Life Forever

Dear Junior,

It is summer right before my junior year of High School. I am currently sitting at the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center, my place of employment. There are several incoming seniors who have already experienced their AP English 11 journeys and I am asking them what I should expect and what to focus on in my summer reading book. This book, "Lucky" is currently in my hands,waiting to be opened for the first time.

What a coincidence it is that you have the same name as my most pivotal class in High School-my "Junior year" English class, otherwise known as "AP English 11". The voice in your head which informs you of future events in time seems to have a striking similarity to my the words of my wise co-workers' advice. They tell me, "you need to make sure that you annotate your summer reading and take very detailed notes". I respond, already intimidated, by saying, "Please stop trying to confuse me"(213). "I have no idea what "annotate" means. Is this some sort of sick joke? I mean, I always expect the worst"(244). They then go on to tell me that I will be very scared of Ms. Serensky upon my arrival in her classroom the first day. But not to worry, because at first, "she tolerates [everybody], but nothing more"(277). They then advise me to stick with the class, no matter how challenged and confused I may feel, because it will all be worth it in the end, somehow.

As the year progresses, my in-class writing skills remain mediocre. However, as soon as the AP test occurs, the lightbulb in my head finally flips the necessary "on" switch and I realize that "anything, anything, anything is possible"(302). I realize that this has been one of the best decisions I have made in high school thus far. The single moment I decided it was time to challenge myself and take this grueling class significantly changed my educational life for the better.