Journal # 12

Journal # 12

Free write

My final journal, I cannot believe that this class is already over. This year has gone by so fast. But then again, so did the rest of my life. The last eight teen years have actually gone by so quickly. I have decided to write my last journal as kind of an auto biography, but also a story of my life, and how I got to where I am right now, and the people who have really made me the person I am today.

I was born on June first 1992, in this “beautiful” city that I am still in today, Niagara Falls. Every since the day I was born there was one person who has been watching over me, my older brother Nathan. Since my mother brought me home from the hospital, I was “his baby” and he is still just as protective of me as he was the first time he saw me. He has been one of the biggest inspirations of my life. Everything he did, I wanted to do, and everything that he did that was bad, I tried to learn from. Now that I seem to be doing more than him, I try and push him to work harder, and find a career, and even though I try and do it in the nicest way possible it has started to make us drift apart which makes me upset.

I have had so many different teachers in my life that have made me the person I am today. The first teacher I had that really changed my life, was my second grade teacher Mrs. Paré. She is the teacher that will always be one of my favourites. I can remember when I was in second grade, she was always there when I needed help, and she told me I was going to go far one day. I can remember her saying it, and it has been something that I think back to every time I am working toward something. When I believe I can’t do it, I know that if she were around she would believe in me, and it makes me feel better about myself.

The second teach that I had that really influenced my life, was my 4^th and 5^th grade teacher Mr. Gilmour. Those were two of my most favourite years in elementary school. I learned so much from him, and it is things that helped me all through high school. He taught me how to write my first persuasive essay, he taught me how to study the right way for a test, but the most important things he taught me were two quotes he had up on his wall in his class room. You win or lose by the way you choose, and Respect is a two-way street. These are things that I completely live by in my life now and I will never forget them. It amazed me that someone could live by those two quotes all of the time, and he did it, he would always respect you until you didn’t deserve it, but he would always give you a way to get it back. And you could tell that his choices were winning ones. When I left his class I promised myself that I would always live by those two quotes, and I have tried very hard to maintain that over the last 7 years.

After that the next teacher or, teachers that have taught me stuff came this year, and they are the Martins. I have actually learned so much from both of them, even though most people wouldn’t believe you could learn anything from Mr. Martin. They have both taught me very valuable lessons. First of all, how to be amazing parents! They are an awesome parenting team. They have also taught me to be a good person from all of their amazing coaching. Tyffani has done so much for me in the last three years, I hope that I will be half the person she is one day, she’s beautiful, smart, and so caring. Brad has also taught me to be a good person in many different ways, he is so wise, and has gone through so much that I look up to him so much. He is also one of the reasons I am the way I am at this point in my life. The one class we had, he told us to thank everyone that you love, and tell them you love them as much as possible, and every since he explained why we should do that, I have been trying to do that. He is such a strong spirited man, and it makes me jealous, I wish I could be as mentally strong as he is, and the way he is, it what I inspire to me. I don’t want to care about what anyone else thinks, as long as I have myself and my family I will be okay, he has taught me that.

As you can see, I have been very lucky in my life to have so many inspirational teachers. They have all helped me in their own way, and have all had a part in who I am today. I really thank god that I have had all these amazing people in my life, because without them, I might have been in a very different place than I am.

Journal # 10

The Most Memorable Moments in High School

As teachers, we are often reminded that some of the most valuable lessons students learn in high school aren't the ones we plan for in lessons. A student, for instance, may learn more (in life terms) from a teacher who refuses to accept a late assignment than from one who teaches her how to factor binomials.

What have been some of the most important lessons or skills, both curricular and non-curricular, that you have learned in high school? What are some of the moments from the past 4 or 5 years that you think you will be most likely to remember as an adult? Don't forget to be reflective...

There were so many moments in high school that I have found memorable, and lots of times I know there would be no way for me to pick what was the most memorable. I’d have to say my first day in high school was really memorable for me. I was so afraid walking through those big doors. I figured I would be inside for less than a minute and someone would already beat me up, but this school was so much different than I could have ever imagined. When I got into the school on the first day I was greeted by a few grade ten students that were extremely nice to me. I felt welcomed, and I knew that I would really enjoy the school.

Another really memorable moment I had in high school was the first time I went to nationals for cheerleading. It was probably the most amazing experience of my life. We worked extremely hard on it all year to be able to go, and once we got there we put everything we had into our runs. We spent the night in a hotel and had a lot of team bonding. In the end we came out with 7^th place, but it was still good enough for us, because we knew that for a first year team, that was amazing.

I’m going to have to say though that most memories I have had were from this year. Between being the captain of the cheerleading team, and actually making friends with a lot more people than I ever would have imagined. Our whole grade 12 class bonded a lot this year, and I think that has been my favourite part. I was doing the grad video the other day with kids that I never even talked to when I was in any other grades, and now I consider them some of my best friends. I really love this school and I am going to miss it a lot when I leave next year.

Journal # 11

A piece of Fiction – Chelsea Gomes
I have always found it to be easier to write fiction than reality, but I am the kind of person who has a very large imagination. When I am writing fiction it feels like I can go on forever, because it is all in my mind, and I just have to get it all out before I know exactly what sounds good or right and what isn't so good. I tend to have way too many ideas in the beginning, and I find later that I have to take a lot of them out because they really don't make a ton of sense, but more times than not when I have my finished product my fiction writings are way better than anything I had to research to write.

When I have to write a biography, it is really difficult for me, because you have to use someone else's findings, and you have to go off from what they have said. You do not get to use any creativity, and its very difficult for me to not feel like I am plagiarizing their work because I know that what I am saying isn't actually coming from my mind, its from someone else's. That has always been the number one reason I have never been a big fan of reality writing.

While writing the novel for this class, I have been pretty blessed so far. Ever since I started writing it almost feels like I can't stop writing because there are so many different things going through my head its almost impossible to get them all down and remember them. I tend to have a strange life sometimes so some of my life experiences have helped me while I was writing this chapter. Something really funny or scary or just plain weird will happen to me in the middle of the day, and once I get over the fact that it happened, I think “hey this could be good for my novel” and that is why this has been so extremely easy for me so far. I will be really happy if I can get this whole thing done without ever having writers block, but I never truly know what my day will bring, when I get that I usually just end up putting it off and going back to it later.

I have found though while reading my work over, that I have been too many insignificant facts into my writing that really wouldn't be there in a real novel. I think it might be because I am not starting from the beginning of my novel and I feel like if the reader hasn't read the rest of my story they might not understand very much about my characters or what they are really feeling. I am really enjoying writing this novel, but I have been really bad with deadlines in my experiences with writing. I am the kind of person that starts off and writes so much, but nearing the end of my deadline, I start to panic and I find that it is a lot more difficult for me to write. I really do hope I can get this chapter in on time, because I would love for someone to let me know what they think, but I am starting to stress out a lot, considering the amount of homework I have been getting lately, and the fact that I have no peace and quite at my house to do it.

All in all, I've really liked writing this chapter so far, and I hope it continues that way. I have always felt passionate about writing teen fiction, because it is the kind of things that I read. Since the books I have read have helped me though so many different things, I'm sure that if I finished this book, some girl some day would be like “wow, I have gone through this exactly” and I might just be able to help her out a little bit.

Journal # 9

Journal # 9--On Poetry

Now that you've had a chance to dwell with poetry awhile, reflect on what you feel is its usefulness and relative importance in the grand scheme of the universe. What would life be like without poetry? What arguments could be made for doing more poetry than we do in public school?

Did your experience this time around change your relationship with poetry at all? Which was the easiest poem to write? Which was the most difficult? Are you left with any questions about poetry or poets in general? Have you any desire to read and/or write more poetry independently of this class?




I have always been the kind of person, who liked to read poetry, but have never been one who has really liked to write it. I think that without poetry the world would be a very different place. Poetry shows how different the world used to be, without it we wouldn't understand Shakespeare time. It could be very productive to do more poetry in public schools, because we never know who could be the next Shakespeare.

My experience this time around really hasn’t changed my relationship with poetry at all; in fact, it might have made me dislike it a little more. It’s not that I do not like poetry, or the way you taught it, it’s just that every time I end up writing poetry, I tend to get some of the darkest feelings in me coming out, and those are the things I would rather keep to myself.

I’m not really sure what the easiest poem was for me to write, but out all of them, I think I liked the found poem the most. It was definitely the most fun. The most difficult poem for me to write was the imitation poem, no doubt about it. Every time I tried to do it, I either ended up doing the exact opposite theme of the real poem, or it just ended up sounding really stupid. Thank god, I ended up doing that work for you so I didn’t have to write it in the end, because I am sure it wouldn’t have ended up being very good.

I would like to read more poetry out side of class, but I have always liked to read it. There is something about poetry that makes my heart melt. When you read someone’s poem, and it is the exact same thing you are going through in life at the moment, it makes you feel better, because you know that at least one person in the world understands. That is the real reason I have always enjoyed it.

Journal # 8

Journal # 8 - Decisions Decisions

For a while I have been trying to figure out what to write about for this journal. Only just recently have I figured out what would be good to write about.

Last sunday I went to the University of Guelph for a tour, and it was the most amazing thing ive ever done. I have been stressing out over university for the last 2 years, and now I finally feel like I can relax a little bit. When I first applied to schools, I freaked out, because I got accepted to my second and third choice schools but not to Guelph, and it had started to make me worried. I was never completely sure until this weekend where I was going to end up going, because all three schools are amazing and all three had good reasons to go to them.

The first school I got accept to was McMaster University. It is a great school for psychology, and it was really exciting for me when found out that I was accepted. Before I had been accepted I was starting to freak out because everyone around me had gotten into all of their schools, and I hadn't been accepted to any. When the day came, I was actually in this class, and stated freaking out, because I had never thought that I could be good enough to go to MAC, its just a highly rated school I really couldn't believe it. The day I got accepted my friend who goes there, took me to go see the campus, and I really liked it. But I was still leaning towards Guelph.

Then I had the longest wait in my life, for about a month and a half I waited and waited, checking my hotmail, and my website every single day, to see if I had gotten accepted, it was the worst wait of my life. Then, about a week ago, again while in this class, I checked the Ontario Universities website, and saw that I finally got accepted to Guelph. I honestly thought I was going to pass out, I was so excited, and I felt like I should be jumping up and down, or doing a backflip. When I told my mom later that night she was so happy, it was amazing.

Going to the open house, and tour on Sunday, knowing that I had already been accepted to the school, made it so much better. Going there, and seeing it, it already felt like home to me, it felt like it was where I wanted to be forever. It was also kind of funny to me, seeing all the people there, knowing that some of the people who had there heart set on the school wouldnt be able to go, while others would wait to the last minute to decline their offer, and take the possible spot away from people who dreamed of schools like Guelph.

Yesterday when I came home from school, I had a suprise waiting for me at home. It was my cousin Ashley who had come down a day early for easter break. When I walked in the door and saw her sitting there, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about Guelph all over again. Thats when I really decided, I thought to myself, why am I still kind of debating over schools when I know in the end im going to go to Guelph anyways. So I accepted my offer, and all of the stress this has been giving me for the last two years is pretty much over. Now all I have to do is make it to the end of the year with a 80% average, and it will be smooth sailing. (atleast until I start thinking about how much money i'm losing)

Journal # 7

Journal # 7 "The Myth of Technology"

"The Myth of Technology"In the 1950's, futurists predicted that the invention of labour saving machines such as the household dishwasher and robots in factories meant that the common worker would enjoy a 3 day work week. Ironically, improvements in technology have led to the disappearance of better paying, skilled work and people working harder than ever before. What is your opinion? How much does technology improve your life and the lives of people in general?

Technology is a very difficult thing to understand. We will always think that technology is improving our lifes but are we really sure of that? Most people own computers, and in reality they have made our lives easier in many ways. But in other ways they have made our lives more difficult. I feel like when I used to write on a piece of paper with a pen, I had way less distractions. Now being on a computer that has facebook, and youtube and msn makes doing homework so much more difficult. Now you have to try and be crative while also instant messaging friends, listening to music and probably talking to your friends on the phone. But that is just being a teenager and having to do homework.

In reality technology is around because we all tried to make our lives easier, but now that our lives are easier, there are less jobs, and people have to work harder to make sure that their jobs don't get replaced by some kind of computer that could do it faster.

There are some points of technology that are great, one of those would be emailing. Before emailing, you would have to talk on the phone or fax something to try and get something quickly, but more times than not, people would have to just write a letter and send it in the mail to talk to people. In what takes us 30 seconds now to write up a letter to our friends, and for them to receive it, it used to take people days to get messages that sometimes they needed. Text messaging can also be a really great asset if used correctly. Text messaging could be used for business memos or even emergency messages. They could be very effective if they were not used all the time. But because all cell phones have text messaging now, it is used as a quicker and quieter way to talk to friends and ignore your teacher. (But atleast theres not that good of a chance of your teacher catching the note on the way across the classroom)

One horrible thing that technology has done to us, is made us all spoiled. We ALWAYS want what ever is new and exciting. When computers first came out everyone wanted one, we all thought they were the best thing in the world. Now that there are laptops, we want them because the regular everyday non mobile computers that used to be amazing, are nothing to us anymore. Its the same with cell phones. Before having a cell phone was awesome in the first place, now a company can barely sell one unless it has a camera, video camera, games, and the internet on it, forget calling, people just want toys. Its the same with ipods. Any mp3 player can play the same music an ipod can, and it sounds exactly the same, but instead of buying a $30 mp3 player, we all spend the $250 to get the newest ipod, because thats the newest technology.

In conclusion, technology can be a really good thing, but in reality for the most part all it is doing is making us horribly lazy.

Journal # 6

Journal # 6 An Influential Person

An Influential PersonWrite about a person or people you look up to or have learned from. These could be people who have become famous historically, celebreties or even people you know or are related to. You might admire their accomplishments, their personality traits or their values. How did you learn about this person? What makes him or her remarkable? How does knowing about this person impact who you are as an individual?

I Have written these kind of journals for the last 3 years, so many times that I am sure I could go find one on my computer, and hand that in, but I thought about it and id rather not. Even though I am going to write about the same person I always do, and im really not assamed of that. The person I am about to write about is one of the most loving, and caring people I have ever met, but my goodness if you get on her bad side, she will rip your head off. But I think that is why I love her so much, because she is exactly like me in pretty much every way, except that she is married and has three kids.

Tyffani Martin is the pretty much the most influential person in my life at this time. She is my second mother, and I tell her everything that is going on in my life, even when I know that I shouldn't or when I know she really doesn't want to hear it. She is the one person I know will always be here for me, and I know I will always be there when she needs me. I feel like I am a part of her family because she just brings everyone in and shares what ever she can with anyone that she feels deserves it.

Tyff, and I haven't always got along, which is something that really makes me laugh at this point. When I was in grade 9 and my boyfriend at the time had come to see me compete in a dance competition he had skipped her class, and she just reemed him out the next day, saying I couldn't have possibly been worth missing her class, (but in her defence she hadn't met me yet). At that point I believed that she must have been the craziest teacher in the school, (which I still don't doubt some times). And when I joined cheerleading when I was in grade 10, she used to nit pick every little thing I had ever done wrong, and I couldn't stand her. But now I know how much that really did help me in my cheerleading.

Have Tyff as a coach is one of the best things in the world. She is the kind of coach that will scream at you for doing something wrong, but will be there hugging you in 5 minutes when you get hurt. She is by far the best coach I have ever had for anything in my life. She is the greatest at showing people why they are wrong, its just not always in the nicest way. But in the kind of sport we are into, if you cant handle someone being a bitch, you are the one that needs to leave, because that is pretty much what half of our sport is.

By far the best time ive ever had was with having Tyff as a teacher. I had her as a sociology teacher last semester, and she was the best soc teacher ive ever had, BY FAR! She always knows exactly what you are trying to expalin to her, and she was always there to help anyone in that class with anything. She taught me way more that I had learned in my other two sociology classes, and when I came out of that class, I knew that I had actually learned something instead of where I used to have to read the text book in my other classes to understand anything about the subject. She is the kind of teacher that will teach you something, and try and help you use it in context or will get really excited when you bring it back into a conversation at another point. I thought that was just awesome.

Tyff is one of the most amazing people I have ever met, just everything about her is just awesome. She has the kindest personality in the world, and she is a mother figure to anyone who will ever need it. Ik now that long after I graduate I will stay in touch with her, because I know for a fact that I would not and could not have the marks I have, and could have made it to where I am going without her help and pushing. I love her so much, she is just incrediable.