assignment 24 Daryn Smith

Junior year hasn't been as bad as I was expecting, but some parts were still pretty bad. With some rough patches at the beginning, I had additional stress outside of school which didn't particularly help. My outside of school life has since improved greatly and now the only issue is the actual school! My biggest success is maintaining good grades, but I am beginning to lack motivation to do anything and this has caused me to have an overall harder time with school. The current failure I am dealing with is not knowing how to do any web homework so that's always great.
This summer, I will be coaching my swim team again, which I am very excited for. Working with these kiddos always makes me very happy despite the fact that it takes up all my time. I will also need to begin college apps which I can't say I'm looking forward to. For senior year, my goal is to get all my applications early and hopefully get into some of my top schools. I also want to maintain good grades and try to keep my work ethic up and push through the senioritis.

assignment 23 Daryn Smith

A Perfect Playlist for a Dance Party
I wanna dance with somebody by Whitney Houston
I chose this song because it does a nice job of setting the tone for a dance party as it is all about dancing and it is upbeat enough to jam to. This song adds a good vibe to a dance party as you can also sing along. I put it first on the playlist because it's a nice opener. It works with the other songs by setting up the mood for them.

Crazy in Love by Beyonce featuring Jay Z
I chose this song because it brings a different style of dance to a dance party than the others and therefore works with them to create contrast. This song sets a different tone for a short while and provides a break from other kinds of music. I put it on this playlist to stand out and bring in more participants to the dance party.

Single Ladies by Beyonce
 I chose this song because it does a great job of getting a group of gals going and excited. This song creates a special moment for the single girls at a dance party and is always a nice bonding experience. I put it on the playlist to create a special moment for the single girls there.

Wannabe by the Spice Girls
This song was chosen because it is very groovy and easy to dance to. People can sing and dance to it and really get into the dance party. It works with the other songs because it is upbeat and keeps the energy going.

Gonna make you Sweat by C+C Music Factory
This song was chosen because it is a classic dancing song. The whole song is pretty much about dancing. It keeps the energy going as well and causes people to continue to be excited about the dance party and reminds them why they are there.

My Boo by Ghost Town DJ's
This song is on the playlist just because it is impossible not to dance to. It is a good finale because you can go the hardest during this groovy jam.

Assignment 25 - Caitlin Southworth

Stress is something I really don’t understand, mainly because as far as I can remember, I have never stressed about anything. This is a good thing I guess, and rare among my peers. I like to think it’s because of my carefree, relaxed nature- I’m not sure if it’s a result of it or the reason I am so relaxed. When dealing with things that stress others out, I usually have the concept that if it happens, it happens, just move on. I don’t think this would be a helpful suggestion to those who stress because I believe it’s more of a natural mentality to think like that- it’s honestly part of my personality. But if I did stress, I would probably do some abstract watercolor paintings (it’s super relaxing) or do some sudoku (it’s not so much a relaxer but a mind-filler if you need to get your mind off of the stressing matter). My stressless manner does make me a good person to vent about your stress too because you don’t have to worry about stressing me out too. Stress is something I wish I could understand, but I don’t think I could even a little until I experience it for myself.

Assignment 23- Joonyoung Park

Playlist to chill out to

Runaway- Kanye West: This song is one of my all time favorite songs. The intro is great and the song is just a banger.

Coolin and Booted- Kodak Black: This song is part of the Painting Pictures album, which is a great album overall. It has a really chill vibe to it compared to some of his other songs.

Ophelia- The Lumineers: This is a song that has a slow beginning but speeds up towards the middle. It's a perfect song to just listen to when you're trying to relax or do homework.

Empire State of Mind- Jay Z, Alicia Keys: This song is one that is not only chill but a song that will lift you up. It can be listened to while doing homework, like I am currently, or just to relax.

Assignment 26: Help! I need somebody. Help!

I wanna be better in all things.  It's easy for teachers to get stuck and comfortable in patterns and activities that are completely legitimate but perhaps have become stale and even ineffective.  Throughout the semester I've asked that you work hard to prepare for the AP Language and Composition test.  I taught to the test.  I'm sorta fine with that.  As I've said, I believe that the skills the test assesses are important and some of the most important skills you will develop in your lifetime - the ability to think, process, synthesize, and argue.

To that end I've tried to develop every assignment to focus on one element of the test and hone those skills required for success.  Now that you've taken the test - multiple tests (ACT, PSAT, AP) what suggestions do you have?

I'm not asking for what you "liked" or what was "fun" but rather what was effective.  I know not everything connected with everyone and with 100+ students I will get a plethora of responses.  Though I am asking for honesty I'm not asking for a tongue-lashing nor do I expect "all sunshines and rainbows." I know I'm flawed but I also know that I am effective.  I want to minimize my flaws and increase my effectiveness.  I need your help to do that.




Minimum of 150 words - due on Sunday, May 14th at 11:59 pm

May 14th is the last day to make up blogs 23-26

25 zachary langdon, escapamine

Stress relieving strategies, for me, focus on escape. Escape and dopamine. Stress originates from an overstimulation from reality, so relief of it would be the relief of such stimulus and preventing it from returning through substitution. This takes many forms. I may obsess over the latest gadget news or watch star trek to escape particularly hopeless stimuli (looking at you DC). Frustration often originates audibly, so substitution comes from a nice podcast or predictable, repetitive electronic to support some free association or mindless work. Overseriousness that stress comes from is best combated with humor; I turn to Netflix comedy specials and funny lets players to laugh away an hour. None of these work for conceptual stressors, quandaries of the human condition require audible exorcism, by discussion for insight with parents or a mere rant at them is often quite calming. But these are temporary fixes, the best solution is completion, to remove the stressor by fixing the problem, completing the assignment, doing some future work.  

zachary langdon 22 Coffee, Black

Captain Janeway, USS Voyager. While Picard is a fine Shakespearean diplomat, Janeway is forced into dilemmas while inside the constant grand dilemma of isolation. Despite no oversight and ever-present motivation to take shortcuts, she adheres to proven principles "In a part of space where there are few rules, its more important than ever that we hold fast to our own”, driven by scientific curiosity “We're Starfleet Officers. Weird is part of the job.”, devotion to her crew, and a belief in second chances. She has at her command the vanguard of federation technology, but traverses a barren quadrant without any supporting infrastructure or backup. Despite all this and a civil war divided crew, she manages to conduct a textbook star trek voyage. To pilot such a craft in such circumstances would be the best of adventures. “For I dipt in to the future, far as Human eye could see; Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be...” Alfred Tennyson, NCC 74656 dedication plaque 

Blog 23 safal dumre

I created the perfect playlist to remember. This is a playlist of songs that listened to hundreds of times by now. Some of these songs I have made other people memorize so that it is that much more hype when it comes on. Some of these songs I listened to every morning before coming to school. All in all, these songs hold a lot of memories and hearing them again resurfaces those memories.

6 ft 7 ft- Lil Wayne. This is one of the best to ever do it and this song is just a challenge to try to memorize and sing along to.

Ooooouuu- Young Ma. This was one that I made some people listen to so often they learned the song even though they didn’t want to. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to though, this is the banger of 2016.

Blessings- I like this song because Big Sean, Drake and Kanye are all on it and it just a good song.

Sweatpants- Childish Gambino. This is a fast-paced song which has a lot of little jokes within which I enjoy

Take care- Drake. This is a timeless masterpiece that everyone in the car knows. I had to put this one in there because Drake is GOAT.

Assignment 25- Leighanne

Stress has increasingly become an issue in my life this year. I have recently experienced insomnia, change in appetite, and mood swings. I have never really thought about it before this week (for some reason, spring break has brought about a sharp increase in my stress levels) but I think my biggest stress reliever is dance and family. I love to dance with my team or just choreograph random dances to my favorite songs, alone in a dark studio. This has always been a good stress outlet for me. I also love to do crafts, creating beautiful things helps me appreciate life and feel productive. Another thing I do is goof off with family and friends. Laughter is truly the best medicine in my eyes and I take every opportunity I can to enjoy it.

I bought this stress relief candle at Bath and Body works this weekend because it was on sale for $12.50. I'm not sure if it's helping yet but it smells super good and I lit it last night and started a new book. I'll keep you posted on the success of this trial.

Assignment 24- Leighanne

Junior year has gone by so fast. It has been, by far, the easiest year of highschool and the most fun. For one, I'm only on one dance team this year, as aopposed to two last year and a dance team and cheer team freshman year. For another thing, I finally have some friends who don't always hate me. Freshman and sophomore year I was either just a huge bitch or trying the wrong things because I seriously could not find friends who genuinely liked me most of the time. This year I have Nicole, Grace, and Zach. I have always had Emily and Danielle outside of school, they are my ride-or-dies, but it's SO nice to have some friends at school and in my classes. Luckily, there have been more successes than failures this year. I would say my only failure has been not doing my math homework and obviously not keeping up with blogs. My success are greater. I have successfully taught my first year of dance, placed at multiple debate tournaments, won 1st at multiple dance competitions, been Vice President of Y-Club for school, won outstanding lobbyist at KYA, been invited on an all-expenses aged trip to the universities of my dreams (Wash-U in St.Louis) because I got a 31 on the ACT sophomore year (it's not that high of a score but I'm black so...), and only gotten one B. Pretty sweet. All while having a job as a dance teacher and even worked for Parks and Rec. Not too shabby.

For college, I want to go to Wash U but I don't know if it's possible for me to get in with my GPA which is ruined from Freshman and Sophomore year. I'm gonna try.

Assignment 23- Leighanne

Playlist to get through a long car ride-

That's what I like- Bruno Mars: now this is one you could hear on the radio rightness now but I think it's a good starter because it is upbeat and fun enough to distract you from thinking about what you might have forgotten at home or any other troubling things you are leaving behind for this trip.

Living on a Prayer-  Avon Jovi: this explanation is similar to the last. It's an upbeat song that everyone will robably know and love. It just bring pure happiness and excitement.

Say my name- Destiny's child: alright this is just a classic amazing song. Everyone will jam together but just enough to get a little more settled in than the last songs. Sassy and catchy , perfect. Also serves as foreshadowing for the Beyoncé songs to come.

On the Road Again- Willie Nelson: play this when you have just left the outskirts of your home town. The car trip is all seeming real now and you need a song about adventuring to new places to inspire you and help you forget any fear of leaving familiar territory.

Heartbreaker- Pat Benetar: ok this song just had to be in there because it's great to jam to with friends/ family. Pat is such a bad ass and this song just makes me feel fierce and strong.

Crazy- Gnarls Barkley: this song is super catchy and good to groove to. You don't have to dance much to feel the beat, maybe just move side to side or bob your head, good for car dancing.

Thunder only happens when it's raining- Fleetwood Mac: listen to this if it's warm out and the sun is just starting to set, everyone will be relaxed and peaceful for the coming night.

Assignment 22- Leighanne

If I could be any fictional character, I would be Moana from the newest Disney movie. Ikr, me and every little girl in the world. But seriously, she lives in Hawai'i, she's the chiefs daughter so she holds power, she lives in a time before man crossed the Earth and there was still endless adventuring to be done, resources are plentiful for her, she's friends with the ocean. She seriously lives an ideal life. Maybe she doesn't have modern technology or medicine but she never gets sick and technology isn't even that great compared to beaching all day I'm Hawai'i. You can miss me with that iPad if it means I don't have to worry about global warming and can just run around in paradise all day!

Assignment 21- Leighanne

Right now, somewhere in the universe, a flower is blooming in an otherwise dreary place. Whether it be a long-ago abandoned house or a dry desert, in an area like this, a flower has just bloomed. Against all odds and with out an prompting, a flowering plant or vine has snuck its way into the light, happenened to find enough water to survive, and found something to grapple to. Now there exists a beautiful, untainted, and bright flower within a treacherous landscape. If a person were to come upon this landscape, maybe they would pick the flower. Or maybe they would just admire it, realize how hard it had to work to get there considering it's alone, and leave it be. If an animal or bug were to come upon it, no such considerations would be made. The flower would fulfil its ultimate purpose in fueling the circle of life. Either way, it was there.

Assignment 20- Leighanne

How to be a good friend-

Okay so I'm still mastering this skill myself but I thought I would share what I have so far, as this is one of the most important skills you can ever learn.

1- Listen
 People need social interaction to survive! There is a reason humans were built with the capability of sympathy and compassion. These two things are absolutely critical to survival. No matter who you are, how independent you are or how great your life is, you will eventually need a friend in a time of trouble. You must be able to listen, I mean really listen, to other people. People also need peer- affirmation. This means you must also listen in times of triumph and react.

2- Be there
 Sometimes people don't want to talk or do an activity or be fun but they don't want to be alone. As a friend, I believe it's important to just be there for someone when they don't want to be alone. They may not cry to you or complain but you are helping them. To me, it sucks to be sad, but it sucks way worse to be sad alone. If you can handle the sadness of another with out judgement or explanation, that's invaluable.

3- Love
 I know I always talk about love but, like, it's so important. You just have to let yourself love. One of the most important things to being a good friend is learning to love yourself. Not in a vain way but to the point of acceptance. If you accept yourself, all of your flaws, past, issues, and idiosyncratic behaviors, I believe that this will allow you to truly love others the way you should. Extreme insecurities hold you back and taint the purity of connections. Once you have learned to love yourself (the part I'm still kinda working on), you have to love others. Allow yourself to be susceptible to their actions and words, lower your walls. This will give them the ability to hurt you but it will also give them the ability to help you when you need it. I would have made trust a category but I think it just goes into love so I'll leave it here. To love, you have to trust.

DISCLAIMER-
I'm just a 17 y/o highschool student who over-thinks things too much and likes to think I'm wise so everything above is purely speculation. You very well may disagree with many or all of my points.

Assignment 19- Leighanne

The most important advice anyone has ever given me comes from my mom. She always says "Don't sweat the small stuff." Now, I have to say, I wish I had sweated the small stuff a little bit more in some ways. For example, with my grades. Whenever I get a bad test score or a teacher dislikes me and makes it hard to succeed, my mothers words echo in my head and I feel a bit better. The only problem is that those small things have actually turned out to be a big problem. My highschool cumulative GPA will never reach above a 3.2. It sucks. But at the same time, not sweating the small things has allowed me to look past them to the big things. Instead of crying myself to sleep like many other accelerated students (nothing wrong with that it just isn't my preference) I have always been able to see the bigger picture and realize that life will go on. The other day, on a tour of U.K., I was told by a highly acclaimed professor that many highly achieving students enter college and crash. According to him, this happens because they are not passionate, they get A's to get A's. I can rest easy knowing that will never be me. My mom has never pushed me to get A's just to be an A student. I have learned to push myself to be the best I can be and that often means getting A's (ya know, because I'm smart and all)  Therefore, I have found my drive from within and will carry it with me.
That got a little off topic but the point is that focusing too much on the small things will distract you from the larger picture. Appreciating the small things is good, this will get you through hard times, but worrying about the bad small things will just distract you from the beautiful big picture.

Assignment 18- Leighanne

My top priority on my highschool bucket list is to be prepared mentally, socially and academically for college. During my transition to college, I realize there will be many changes. I will no longer be so attached to my parents and family, I will get the chance to form an entirely new social web and I will be faced with (hopefully) very challenging curriculum. Many of my friends say that I will never survive with out my mother because we are so close but I hope to prove them wrong. I believe my close relationship with my mother will not hinder my growth but expedite it.

My top priority on my college bucket list is to become a master. I have decided that whatever field I decide to go into, I will be one of the best. Through out my entire life, I have always exceled at the activities I commit to: state champion track runner, winning competitive dancer, state-finalist debater, first chair clarinet. I expect the career to which I will dedicate the rest of my life to be no different. This means that in college, I have to learn more, study harder, make more connections than the average student. Being a master of my field has the prerequisite of reaching my goal for my highschool bucket list, I must be a fully functioning adult who is ready for the world. It's people, hardships, surprises.

My top priority in life is love. I put a lot of value in being successful, making money, and being a good person but love trimphs all. When I really think about it, part of the reason I want to be successful is because that will make it easier to love. When I have children, I want to have enough money to provide for them, to show them that I love them and to make sure they love life. I also feel that bettering myself will make it easier for someone to love me enough for marriage. Marriage is very important to me as well. I want to love life, people, the world. That's my goal.

Assignment 17- Leighanne

The director I have chosen is M. Night Shyamalan. His work has fascinated me ever since I was little. It started when I saw Lady In the Water at the age of about eight. In the movie, a strange girl appears in the pool of an apartment complex. The groundskeeper of the complex notices small disruptions at first, like splashes late at night or footprints, and later discovers the girl cowering in a corner. Throughout the movie, there is an air of mystery. Dialogue is brief, lighting is dark. This is one of my favorite aspects of M. Night Shyamalans movies, the mystery. The movies seem to me like they are directed as books if that makes any sense. Like in a book, not everything is described. In movie remakes of books, the directors often take artistic freedom and add in details to fill the screen. Shyamalan allows many details to remain shrouded in mystery. He really gets a bad name from movie-goers who are used to the normal Hollywood experience but I find his work beautiful, especially Lady in the Water and the Village. Two of my all-time favorite movies.

Assignment 25 - STRESS!!

This is a Makeup Blog Post.  If you have a score that is less than a 30/30, this will replace that grade


As high school students, you are becoming more and more involved and in control of your school life as well as your "real" life. You face the many challenges of being a high school student in the Liberal Arts Academy as well as the growing responsibility of independence. Many of you are about to experience the dreadful two weeks of multiple high stakes tests as well as your Final for US History. To get through these two weeks and other weeks like these, how do you manage all that stress? What are your stress relieving activities? Are they effective? 

Inspired by Keanu Gomez
Minimum of 150 words.  Due on April 23rd @ 11:59 pm



May 14th is the last day to make up blogs 23-26