A Year in Review

As we move on to the final year of high school (cue the panicked faces), it's time to look back at the journey this past year. Time flies by; at this point, everything seems so fleeting. But I've enjoyed my time in this class immensely, and I've enjoyed writing on this blog. There's something comforting about typing (no more cramped hands!) and free writing that I hope the future students will get to experience.

This year has definitely had its ups and downs, but from that I've grown. I've learned to take responsibility of my studying for my overwhelming classes (to some degree; we can't all be perfect) and to not freak out all the time. This class has also helped improve my writing-- something that's applicable in all subjects from history to even math. And it's used everywhere else: college essays (ugh.), job applications, and even just effective speaking and argument. The books we read in class resonates messages in all forms of life as well. Not just in preparing for the AP/SAT tests, but for better perspective and understanding of the world. As the great Atticus Finch once said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” And how do you climb under his skin? By reading. By trying to understand. That's a skill everyone ought to perfect.

As far as the class goes, the hardest essay for me was the rhetorical analysis. As much as I love trying to understand the meaning behind things, it's never an easy task to find literary devices and explain their purpose, especially without being repetitive for every example or just rephrasing what the author was trying to say. And especially under pressure, searching for the right examples to use in itself is difficult.

My favorite essay was the synthesis essay, although it's hard to tell whether it was because the prompt was not as daunting as I expected or because the essay itself was actually enjoyable.  Practicing the concession structure was also helpful because the time given on the AP test was more than the time given during class. And practicing planning during the last days also helped.

Of all the books we read this year, my favorite was The Great Gatsby. The book is rich with symbolism and the message F. Scott Fitzgerald conveys really resonates, even today. There's something chilling about the Buchanans, and I can't help but fall in love with Gatsby's ambitions and hopes. His constant daydreaming is a reflection of everyone and everything. A desire for everything to be perfect, once and for all.  My least favorite was In Cold Blood. Don't get me wrong; it's excellent writing, but it dragged a lot, and knowing the ending, there was a lack of surprise and rather anticlimactic. 

Overall this class was great. There was never a day when I dreaded coming to class (huge accomplishment) and I'm so glad that this class was the start of my day. 

Cheers to the end of the year, summer, and many more memories!