WOW.
I wrote my post title first today (I don't normally do that--with anything. College papers, OP's or anything else that needs a title. I always feel like it pigeonholes my writing). This blog, though, is different than most things I write, and as such, it deserves its own moment of "newness." This is the last blog of the year--and the last blog you will ever do as an AP Langer. While most of you are now doing that fist-pump thing in the air that you do when you're thrilled about something, I am sort of trying to post through a watery screen of unshed tears at this prospect.
My first year, the end of the year was tough--a bunch of kids that were different than any I had known at Central, yet somehow I loved them even more--it was tough to let them go. The next year was my first year taking over AP Lang, and man, that was a tough one too. And now, this year, wow. It may be the toughest one yet. I feel as though we have been through one of the most arduous journeys together, and when I look back at the twists and turns of the road we traveled I am humbled and awed by the experience.
I will save most of my internal musings about this for my final OP (and just get on with your task for this, our final blog together as an AP Lang family.
This week, my pumpkins, I would like you to use your voice and leave your mark here, on this page. You walked into 204 10 months ago not knowing what to expect or what you should think. You will leave with--well, I guess that is the question of the hour. What will you leave with--what have you learned, what have you experienced? What was your favorite day, your favorite lesson, your finest moment that you can recall? Are you different now then you were then? Better? Worse? Indifferent? What did your junior year do for you? What are your hopes for your senior year? Is there anything you want to say to your friends? Yourself? You can say whatever you want--just, please don't end your post with saying "goodbye." Because, it's not really "Goodbye"--it's more like, "See you later."
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This is going to be a sad one. I can feel it.
It doesn't have to be, jordan. I promise. =]
Part ONE of TWO; This Thursday, I will leave 204, and I will leave in a slightly similar way to how I entered; lost. But in the months since my entry I have learned that there is a good sort of lost and a bad sort of lost and I am much closer to being found now. This year I have experienced pain, loss, fear, stress, sadness and love all in a ridiculously more powerful way than ever before, and this year I have exhibited things like hope, faith, pride and true independence for what may be the first time in my life. Trying to determine my favorite day leaves me sadly uninspired, because this year really sort of sucked on a day to day basis. But all of the reasons it sucked are reasons the coming months and year will hopefully be thoroughly more enjoyable.
I am SO different now than I was in September. I came in so so so so so young. I was in love, and torn apart by the loss of the class of ’08. I was dependant and antisocial and spent my life on AIM, waiting. But I wait no longer, because time waits for no one, and I’m just starting to value my time the way I should. Now, I am awake, and whole and independent as I have ever been. In September I was gaunt and sallow and unhappy looking, and although I still have those circles under my eyes, it has become apparent how much ones appearance can change in 9 months. I’ve gained weight, significantly, (a good thing, haha, promise- nobody wants to be able to see their ribs) and I’m healthier and happier looking than I was at the beginning of this year.
But what’s changed most? In September, I only knew all of your names, if that, and like wise was true, I’m sure. Now, I have made some truly valuable friends who, for the first time since leaving Davies, are in my grade and are my age. In my freshman and sophomore years at the Oak, I would sit with the seniors at pep rallies and did nothing affiliated with Oakcrest except drama. This year? You’ll never guess. I went out for dance team. I was IN the pep rallies. And yes, it’s true, I was one of the 18 people who showed up to represent the junior class for field day. And to top it all off? I’m joining cross country. I know, weird, right? Me in a team sport?
The best way I can describe what junior year did for me is to say that it slapped me violently upside the head and shouted “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!” and although I’m still not certain I know the answers, I have made definite progress in deciding what I’m not. I’m not going to be known as just someone’s girlfriend. I’m not someone who will sit on the sidelines. I’m not someone who just waits for things to happen for her, and I’m not someone who can or will hide who she is with pretensions.
Senior year, I hope to be happy. I hope to take everything I’ve learned and done this year and grow with it into someone I can love, someone more me than I’ve ever been before. I hope to keep getting to know all of you, my lovely classmates, and I hope to trust myself enough to make some important decisions. I hope to take everything I learn about me and hope to shout it from rooftops out of pride and social tendencies. I hope to be better.
Now, as for something to say to my friends. Goodness, alright, I’m going to limit myself here and just pick, say four, since it’s my favorite number. I love the rest of you, but recently these have been some of the most influential, positive and supportive influences in my day to day life, so here’s a special thank you for them. Okay, let’s go chronologically then.
Part TWO of TWO; Alison, my dear, I miss you a lot. I love that we’ve been slowly getting back to where we were and we better hang out a lot this summer to keep that up. I know that after Katie left I started, more than ever, to hide in drama and My Boys to keep from going mad, and I know that left you the remainder of our trio and I’m sorry about that, but duos are good too and I can’t wait to chill with you again<3. Hilary Rosenburg, you have been my sanity for months now and I have NO idea what I would do without you. Your nervous upset laugh is the cutest thing in the world, haha, and I can’t wait to see things shape up for you soon. ;] We had also better chill this summer, because I foresee some intense nervous laughter on both of our parts coming up, and I do not know what I’ll do not seeing you for 45 gossip minutes every morning. You have been my rock through so much this year; I only hope I came close to returning the favor. Speaking of Rocking, this next shout out is for none other than Mrs. Emily Rock herself. I know you’ve stopped reading the blog as avidly as you used to, but I hope someone alerts you to the presence of this segment, because you need to know the following. You have known me since freshman year. You’ve seen me change so much, and support me in everything I do. You’ve been my mentor and my councilor and my adviser and my guru in all things, life, love and everything in between. I don’t know what I’m going to do for the first bit of next year, but I suppose if I have to give you up for anything, it better be my godson, haha. I love you and 230 so much. Thank you for everything. Speaking of 230, this brings me to lunch, where I have daily sought the sanctuary of Mrs. Rock’s room full of friends. Janiru- Surprisingly, since we’ve known each other since Davies, this is really the first year we’ve talked much, but it’s been a lot of fun. Without you and Matt (you’re right, that’s five but OH WELL. =P) I would probably be failing lang, as well as be rather bored every day at lunch. I love that I can tell you just about anything and hope we hang out this summer. Haha, we’ll have to- I’ve still got a ton of unanswered questions. =]
<3’s for all of you, I don’t know where’d I be without you.
And that, my friends, is my junior year in a nutshell. I know it was kind of all over the place, but then, so was my junior year. I just want to end this by saying that, unlike Lindsey in her last OP, I was not afraid of this year. I heard people say it would be hard and thought, ‘well I’ve done hard things before.’ I heard people say Lang would kill me and I’ve thought ‘well, then you don’t know me. No English class is going to kill me.’ I wasn’t worried for this year at all, and it turns out I probably had reason to be. Not for the reasons they said, but for the reasons I’ve changed. Everything that’s happened this year has been one mess on top of the other, but I feel like I came out somewhere near the top and would not have had it any other way.
EVERYBODY IN AP LANGUAGE INCLUDING MS. BUNJE AND ROOM 204- Love you guys. See you next year and have fabulous summers all. <3
"Without you and Matt (you’re right, that’s five but OH WELL. =P) I would probably be failing lang, as well as be rather bored every day at lunch."
Fiona, first, this is English, nobody cares if you hit five in stead of four, especially since that extra person is me :). I must say that getting to know you this year and all of the amazing moments during lunch and the occasional period 11 really has had a great impact upon me. You definitely saved me during "exam review" month and a few vocab quizzes, as well. Both you and Jani have helped keep me sane and down to earth during my crazy moments, which pretty much happened every other day. Thanks for everything and including me.
Part one:
This year has flown. I can’t believe in approximately one week we will al be seniors. It seems like only yesterday we were tiny, bottom-of-the-food-chain freshman, scared and nervous. Each year we learned more about ourselves, had wonderful experiences, and made many friends. Freshman year dragged somewhat, sophomore year quicken, and now junior year has come and gone. I have had countless memories and life-changing experiences, many of which happened in this very course, on this very blog! I have discovered some of my deepest fears and strongest desires. I have seen just how far friends are willing to go for each other and the true extent of friendship. There have been many testing times this year, which seems like the general consensus. I have been pushed to the limit, mentally, academically, emotionally, and physically, yet each challenge has left me stronger, more independent, and a better person.
AP Lang has pushed the boundaries of my brain on several occasions, speeches, debates, declamations, and “exam review” month are just a few. And even though I “failed” on more than one occasion, I have learned more than I ever could if I simply passed with flying colors. I now know my limitations and my areas of weakness. But I also learned my strengths: vocab, memorization, RRL’s (for the most part), and Lang terms.
This, despite any shortcomings, has been my favorite class all year, and I’m not saying that just to suck up, either. Through OP’s and other “speaking engagements”, I have learned so much about my classmates, things never imaginable. But it has made us all closer as a result. People I knew nothing about have become some of my closest friends. And friends I have known forever, I now know better. Overall, AP Lang has left thousands of fond memories and will forever hold a special place in my mind.
But which of these 180 days sticks out the most to me? Which one is just a little bit more special?
Well, let’s see. “I have, who has” competition day was definitely was so much fun, but so were some of the speeches. But after thorough consideration my favorite day(s) was (were) when we simply talked. Whether it was about college, or Secret Life of Bees, or “how did you get in trouble this weekend”, each one of these times brings back really funny memories and the true nature of our class. These are the times I will truly treasure and remember.
Picking a favorite lesson is rather hard as I feel the entire class was all one, huge life lesson, as well as an academic one.
My finest moment is oddly enough, not getting an A or even receiving praise. It is, in fact, a moment of self-discovery. The last few years have all been about one thing, being number one, which I am not so proud of. I spent every waking moment trying to get the “A”, studying, consumed by stress and a huge workload. Anything I could do better my standing, extra credit, staying after school, forgoing parties, I was ruthless in my goal. But this year, thanks to you, Bunje, and a few blog posts, I have realized my view was extremely skewed and my values lied (laid??) in the wrong area. So my finest moment was when the realization that grades aren’t everything, in fact they are very little when speaking about your character, hit me like a boulder. I have learned to enjoy life, hang out with friends, and live life like a teenager, instead of a grade-hungry robot. So, Ms. Bunje, thank you for helping find my way in the darkness.
Part two:
As I just mentioned, I definitely think this year has changed me for the better. I have learned so much about myself. I have made friends that may last a lifetime. This has been my best, most stressful year yet, but it was all worth it.
Junior year helped me understand what the high school experience truly is. It has opened the narrow slits that sat where my eyes are. I got a job, have learned to manage my time, and most of all, have fun. It has done wonders for my confidence, which was lacking. I rarely did what I wanted and usually needed the praise and approval of everyone around me to fell sufficient, but I learned I don’t need approval and that sometimes it is okay to do what I want. I have had a roller coaster of a year but, each loop, 90-foot plunge, and slow ride up has shaped who I have become and made me realize just how lucky I am.
Senior year should be the best year so far. It is my last year and I hope to leave my mark. I expect to foster new friendships and bolster old ones. I want to learn more about myself in the coming year. Each event will be filled with a bitter-sweet sadness as it signals our ending of the high school career and the beginning of our college life. But despite this, each one will be the best.
As Caitlin said, we’ll no longer be known as the “fail” class. Our spirit and enthusiasm will shine like a beacon in the night, blinding everyone else. I imagine that next year will be full of stress, but of college applications and recommendation letters rather than grades as senioritis will be sinking in :) But I also feel next year will be the most rewarding. Countless hours of studying and preparing will culminate in a final graduation ceremony, celebrating the fruits of our labor as well as opening a new set of doors and a brand new road for us to blaze our own trail. I see amazing things in store for everyone senior year and beyond.
For my friends…I could write everyone one of you a page and a half, thanking you for all of your help, support, memories, and friendship. Many of you helped me keep my head on straight, get through the days that were more stressful than you could imagine, and give me hope when I was feeling down. But like Fiona, I will limit myself to four friends/groups of friends. First, my gym buddies, Devon, Britt, Sara, and Tarah. You all helped keep me from going crazy in weight room this last marking period and, of course, we had an amazing volleyball team during the other marking periods. We had great times, my fail serves, Em Flu’s fail everything, Tarah’s outstanding, unique serve, and then everyone else’s admirable athletic ability that lead us to victory. Next Jani and Fiona, my lunch buddies/gurus/study helpers. Lunch was one of my favorite periods of the day. We always had a blast and occasional talked about some pretty deep “stuff”. Fiona I only met this year and Jani I got to know better, but it was an amazing experience and you two have become two of my closest friends. We are all so alike and so different but I think that is what drew us together. Next, all Langers, especially 9/10. It was great getting to know each and everyone of you through blogs and OP’s. I met people I would have never known otherwise. You have played a huge part in my life this year and I hope to see everyone of you next, in at least one of my classes. Fourth is my good friend Sergei. Even though we weren’t in many classes together, I had a blast getting to talk to you again, especially since you abandoned Mullica for Mays Landing…Traitor. You were there when ever I need some to talk with or if I just needed a good laugh.
Last, I would like to wish everyone the best of luck next year and in the future. I can see dazzling futures for each one of us and know everyone is destined for greatness.
So thanks everyone, Bunje included, for making this an incredible year and see you all next year for an even better one.
This is just too sad..i can't take it.
Fiona, All that I have to say is that I admire that you are stepping out of your comfort zone and it is that spirit and openness that we need everybody to bring to our Senior year.
Who cares if your record so far hasn't been so spirited or successful?
Let's change it right now and become the biggest rags to riches story EVER. We can do it.
....
......
and it starts right NOW.
WHHHHHHOOOOOoooooooo Class of 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =DD
Holy crap.
Well.
I don't know where to begin.
AP Lang... wow. This year is a couple days from being completed. The long, insanely difficult yet rewarding journey through AP Lang is... over. The first AP Lang day started off like any other English class. Initially, I was worried - do I have everything? Did I do my summer work right? - and excited. I was excited because I remember the previous year in Mr. Sera's class, the AP Lang teacher Ms. Bunje was bad ass and tried to scare the crap out of us. I thought that was great. I was also excited because I love English, and AP Lang is the only class I really tried in this year. I'm pretty ashamed of myself for not trying harder in other classes, knowing that junior year is the most important year in one's high school career. Instead, I poured my heart into this class and sort of forgot about everything else. Oh well. :) The rewards in doing that are greater than learning the derivative of arcsin, the future forms of infinitives, or magnetic forces. I'm sure Karma will come and bite me in the butt, but hey. That's been happening to me all year, so no surprise ha ha. ANYway... I'm getting off track.
The most useful thing I learned in Lang this year was how to explore myself.
I'll have to write more later. My mom is prompting me to leave to go to my softball banquet.
There are so many things I could say here.
What have I learned? Well, I now know what zeugma is. I will never forget zeugma.
But that’s not it, really, is it?
It’s strange, just today I was talking to a friend from Mullica past. We hadn’t talked in forever, not from any arguments or anything. We just never saw each other, and drifted apart. But talking to her was strange. Awkward. Because the second after that first hi, I remembered exactly who I’d been just a few years ago. For a moment, I was Sarah Crane, age 14. And talking to her, I thought, Was I really this awkward? So unsure of what to say? How could I have ever thought like that? Just seeing her made me realize how inferior to the world I felt just two short years ago. It was nothing she said or did, I just had a moment of perfect recall, a rare flash of insight. For that second, when I flashbacked two years, I felt like an alien in my own skin. That awkward, uncomfortable girl? She’s no longer at home inside my own head. She doesn’t belong anymore, and a new Sarah has taken over.
Over the course of this year, I’ve learned something very important; I love me, no matter what. Sure it was all fine and dandy to love myself sophomore year, when my circle of friends was finally expanding and everything was going right. It was something entirely different to love myself this, my junior year, when I cried in front of a classroom of my peers and stumbled over my work and words, and basically everything else (that I don’t want to get into) that tried to undermine the fragile identity I had just started to discover. But I did. And I do. Even when I don’t live up to my own expectations, I love me.
LIFE LESSONS FROM JUNIOR YEAR:
Sarah friggin’ Crane for life.
Olay; love the skin you’re in.
If it’s not a challenge, it’s just not worth it.
Of all the people I really truly love, I really truly hate at least half of them. Funny how the two can go hand in hand, huh?
I do not HAVE to force myself to talk to people. Introverted is not a bad thing. I now talk because I want to, not because I’m worried that if I don’t people will think I’m an antisocial freak.
People will still be friends with me anyway.
If you’re standing in the bus terminal of Washington DC, for God’s sake, do not let your friend wander away from the group. It just means that you’ll have to hunt her down later in a desperate rush against the clock as you fight to get the both of you back on the bus before it pulls out and leaves you stranded with five dollars and your dumb friend.
If I try hard enough, I will ALWAYS make it back to the bus in time (which we totally did--- no thanks to my friend). The same goes for life; if I really set my mind on something, nothing gets in my way. I win. Always.
I have discovered a talent for dodging bullets of ALL kinds (volleyballs, too).
If you need to mull something over, it’s best to do it during a game of Galaxian (you know, that older game where you shoot the huge group of aliens?)
In a related lesson: The aliens WILL go kamikaze on your ass. Out of ammo is not out of options.
“Look how the kids have grown up
We have changed, but we’re still the same
After all that we’ve been through I know we’re cool.”
Yeah, so I thought I’d round it off with a little Gwen Stefani.
Oh, by the way, I never had the guts to admit it before, but I absolutely adore it when people comment on my blog. Seriously, it’s like a drug to me.
Love, Sarah friggin’ Crane
Another life lesson;
I'm woefully unprepared for college. I haven't even taken the SAT's. The only thing I'm certain of is that every day I tell myself, when I go to college, I am not living at home.
Also, I may have a shopping problem, enabled by my recent line-up of babysitting jobs. Just a heads-up in case my problem goes chronic.
Don’t get me wrong, I love high school. I love my friends, my family, the activities, the classes, and my teachers. But then there is the drama, the immature people, the tedious work, and the daily boringness of life that tells me that I am in a dire need to get away. I can’t wait to go to college. Especially now, narrowing down the college choices, talking to coaches, and finally having something to show for what I have worked my ass off for, I get giddy just thinking about it.
One word that I could use to describe this year: MEH. You see, I definitely grew as a person, finding out who I am, and in that, it was easier to connect with my friends and others. But nothing amazing happened, nothing made me say WOW. It was just meh. English has been one of my most enjoyable classes, and at the same time, one that was self-defining. Throughout the many talks and OP’s I found more of myself, at the same time gaining respect for all of my AP classmates. I remember going into the summer class, and Bunje asked us to describe ourselves. I said I was ‘mean.’ And after that day, I regretted saying that, and questioned myself, even to this day. Do I see myself as mean? And finally, I realized, I am mean. But it is a loving mean, because you have to put everyone that you care about in their place, and tell them the reality of every situation. My closest friends have come to love this, and for that I am thankful. Others have a hard time dealing with it, but those are the people that aren’t meant to be in my life. So throughout these ten months, I have found a little bit about myself, which I don’t think I would have without this course.
I had great moments in English. I found my love for debating, I loved the seemingly-about-nothing arguments, I loved Brendan making hilarious back-handing remarks, the love symposium, the declamations, the millions of vocab quizzes; they all made this year amazing. My favorite part of this year was when I read my first occasional paper. It was one that brought me to tears, when I finally let a part of my ten-layered wall down. But it was when I realized that our class is like a family, we have our ups and downs, but we all care for everyone. It was the time that I first found myself and when I first realized that this year I will surely go through a journey in AP Lang where I would find myself.
I can’t wait for senior year. Of course it will be sad, stressful, and overwhelming. But it will be so amazing all at the same time. It really is just so incredible that I could know where I am going to spend the next four years of my life in just seven or so months. Next year, I will finally realize that the three hour practices have paid off, when I get to choose where I want to swim. Next year, I expect to have tons of fun. My school workload wont be as demanding, so I can relax more, and just let loose.
Well, I don’t really want to say anything to my buddies, because I don’t think we are saying goodbye. Hell, we still have a whole year together. But I do love you all, and you have been a huge part in my “gotta-find-molly” journey. <3
I’ll add more, I don’t want to get to sappy.
What I have learned and/or experienced …
I hate excerpts! They are like watching a movie then falling asleep in the middle, which I do sometimes and it gets me very frustrated. Grrrrr!
I can be myself and it’s okay if some people don’t agree with my choices. What I mean is that I was “with” someone that in the end broke up with me because I wouldn’t do this “simple thing” he asked me to do. That “simple thing” would have taken my pride, dignity, and self respect away from me so I said no. No one owns me. As Ms. Swan would say, “ I’m not your bitch!” Anyways, I learned that I will not allow myself to disrespect me in any way just to please them.
I maybe alone but really who isn’t? Without the times of loneliness, humans could never distinguish happiness from any other emotion. Instead of lying around being bored or sulking all day, those times could be spent doing more productive things like reflecting on my life or making goals for my future.
My finest moment …
Reading my first Occasional Paper was pretty cool. I was anxiously shaking on that low stool but no one seemed to mind. All they could think about was, “How on earth could someone write an entire essay about toenails?”. You weren’t alone. I was asking myself the same thing. Anyways, I put some gross imagery into people’s minds. It was interesting and funny to witness the AP Lang Period 12 audience react to my paper.
How am I different? What has junior year done for me?
No I haven’t changed. I’m still only 5’7”! It’s very upsetting to know that I’m not going to grow anymore. Sigh! (Just Kidding)
Surprisingly I’m better than I was in the beginning of the year. I’ve learned more about myself and others. I’ve strengthened old friendships and made new ones. Lastly, I believe more in myself and I know what I want.
Hopes for 2010!!!!!
To Kick @$$ and survive at least to the age of 18.
Friends, Comrades, Amigos….
I don’t want to single anybody out so I’ll just say this…
You are all weirdoes (HaHa), but I really do love you even though I may not show it at times. (Sorry)
Lastly, I’d just like to say…..
See ya later alligator !
Fiona,
Ms. Popular aren't we? Everyone was commenting your blog so I decided to read it. I'm glad that you are doing well. =) I hope you keep on this path. Your blog was beautifully written and I enjoyed every word of it.
Yeah Britt! 10000000 points for the underdogs, haha! WOOOO 2010!
Leonor, thank you. =]I thought it was very scrambled, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Sarah Friggin Crane, you are my hero. For being so comfortable in your own skin and for having the courage to face your public speaking fears and for many many other things, you are my idol, haha. Also, I am similarly addicted to comments. You are SO not alone. =D
This really was the toughest year of all. It was tough and it flew by. THANK GOODNESS GRACIOUS. I don’t really think I can take another week of school. It almost feel likes you love chocolate cake and you see it and eat it so much because your mom makes a chocolate cake every week, but your at the point where too much is just too much and you don’t want it anymore. It’s like that for me. I always liked school, I loved school a lot more in the past. I dislike the close minded people of Oakcrest, but it’s the same concept overall. I’m just sick of being trapped in this dreary, bland town. Anywho. I learned so much. At first, I had no idea what to expect from yet another English class. Your class has taught me so much about myself and others. I feel more connected to my classmates than I ever have before. That’s a huge step for me. I always allow myself to be so distant from people where some people perceive to be a snob. I’m not at all. Through the use of blogs, I was able to learn about the people I stand next to day to day. At times, I felt very let down by some of my classmates and other times very inspired. You take the good with the bad, though. My last OP felt like I broke the ice not only with the people around me but myself. I’ve never read out loud or heard my anger. I’ve realized I have a lot of anger pent up inside of me. I have a lot of buried emotions. I am mentally unstable, which I’m glad I can recognize this because of the adventure in your class of finding ourselves. My favorite lesson was when you allowed us to ask you questions. Even though I didn’t ask any, I feel like it showed that it’s okay to be open with yourself and others. Being open has always been a huge hurdle. Everyday was a great day. The only time I really feared going to class was when we did declamations. My finest moment had to be when I opened up, it was a relief. I am very different. I feel like this year made me really grow up and find out what I want to do. Because of this year, I have a plan. I’m a lot better off. I’m a lot happier. AP Lang has been another knot untied in the long twisted string. I entered junior year being in love, paying for emotional stability, and defying my parents. I’m leaving more confident than ever about myself and with more knowledge on relationships. I’ll never forget Cervi’s relationship tips. I never would expect our class to talk about qualities of a good relationship and why people have children. Senior year I hope I get my college acceptance at Arizona Sate. I hope it goes by quick. I’M READY TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS PLACE. I feel suppressed here.
The only person I really want to say something to is Janiru. We’ve had this discussion before but ever since Davies like 6th or 7th grade, you are the ONLY person that I have not lost even a tiny bit of respect for. You amaze me everyday. I’m so glad we became friends. You were always a true friend to me and you always stayed true to yourself. I love that quality about you. I wish there were more people like you out there. To myself… well I just want to pat myself on the back. I’ve went through so many emotional times this year, I don’t even understand how I got any work accomplished in school. I worked 4-5 days a week getting less than four hours of sleep and always was on the verge of a breakdown. I don’t even know how I got through this year. I’m just glad its over. I hope senior year will be my easiest year.
Molly:
"I said I was ‘mean.’ And after that day, I regretted saying that, and questioned myself, even to this day. Do I see myself as mean? And finally, I realized, I am mean."
- I remember being in your Algebra 2 class in Bryce's class. I always thought you were this timid girl that never ever talked. I never saw you as someone being mean. Being in more of your classes, you seemed that you opened up a lot more. I never would have associated the word "mean" to your name. Mean Molly doesn't fit. Ha.
I'm going to start off by saying that somehow, junior year turned out to be both the best and the worst year of high school thus far. It was hard, extremely hard. Classes were challenging beyond anything I expected. It wasn't so much that the subject material was difficult, more so that there was so much WORK to be done. I was looking back in my tracker from the first week of school. It reads something like this:
HISTORY- Ch 2 assignment (m.c. and essays) due Friday
BIOLOGY- Ch 3 assignment due tomorrow and quiz!
CALCULUS- TB page and study for test thurs
ENGLISH- blog, literary device project due friday, rhetorical mode quiz friday, print out RRL
Okay, and that was just the first week of school. Little did I know that the insanity would continue all year round! The work was intense, and I always felt like I was missing something. That I just couldn't dedicate enough time to each subject. Yet, I learned. So much. I actually felt confident taking my AP tests (except for calculus!)anddd I will carry my knowledge of biology with me through college. History was fun, and Cervi taught me a lot. As for english, well I didn't learn much. Just kidding. I learned the most in english...
I learned how to think better. I always thought that I had a good thought process, but this year I discovered just how much I never stopped to consider. Through blogs and class discussions I have changed my perspective on numerous things. I have become more comfortable in my skin, a feat I feared I would never accomplish. In 204, I am myself. As weird as I may be. For only the third time in my academic career, I have felt 100% comfortable in a classroom (other times- Mrs. Hudson and Mr. Forney). You are all so amazing, and I harbor a deep respect for each and every one of you.
It's sad to think that the year is coming to an end. Because, my god, it flew! But on the same token, I'm extremely excited for summer, and I know that I will be seeing many of you. And then in August we will walk confidently into these halls as seniors!!! YAY! I hope that you all stay true to yourselves and stay amazing.
Remember when....
-Brendan DIDN'T draw a whale on his vocab test? :)
-Maegan wasn't angry at Jordan?
-We talked about chewing gum?
-We were scared to death of speeches and declamations?
-Blogs didn't exceed the word limit? Oh wait..
-Molly wanted to kill Matt during the love symposium, "it's all about sex"
-Kelly read her "future" OP
-IT'S SENIOR CITIZENS DAY!
-Tamari cursed during her declamation and we all died :)
READ THIS: NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE SENIORS. I KNOW THE CLASS OF 2010 LACKS SPIRIT, SO LET'S PLEASE GET SOME! IF WE DON'T STEP UP TO THE PLATE, NOBODY WILL. SO ALL THROUGH THE YEAR LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SENIOR YEAR THE BEST, PLEASE. AND AT FIELD DAY YOU BETTER ALL COME :) MUCH LOVE <33333
DEVON I AGREE 100 PERCENT
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY 2010
.....and yay for summer Devon =)))
(I can see it starting to come out=))
WOOOO DEVON! WOOOO BRITT! WOOOOOO 2010! XD
oh caps lock is soooo my best friend.
Part uno-
I have been putting this blog off for the past few days, not all do to procrastination but mostly due to figuring out what I really wanted to say. I wish I didn’t put it off now though, because today I am genuinely depressed, like reading yearbook passages crying, coming home and eating everything in my sight depressed. Not good, my friends, not good. It will be hard for all of us losing beloved friends that are going to college. All my senior buds are like “we have all summer!” and then what? You leave and I am here to be stuck in Oakcrest another year. Cool. It just keeps like ringing in the back of my head to not get too close to those people because they are leaving and you will cry harder. But they have done the years of school, so it is their time to be beautiful amazing people in the world and I wish them the best of luck! I know that I will miss them terribly everyday when they are not in school with me, but I know that next year will be great with all of my friends that are not graduating quite yet. My hopes for senior year are that it is not too stressful and I get into the college that I truly want to attend (though I am unsure of what that may be yet!) as well as making it the best year ever! I want to have a lot of fun and show the school that class of ’10 is not a fail class, and we know how to have a good time and be spirited. I liked how the class of ’09 was all friends and hung out. I want the underclassmen to look up to us and be like “wow, I want our class to be as cool and spirited as them! I wish we were all friends, just like them! That class is the best!”
Before I came into AP Lang, I was still stuck in the mode from last year (which was easy 99 average Ms. Bryan’s class). I was overwhelmed by the amount of work you urged us to do and the speed by which the class moved. I did my best to keep up, and I think I did the best of my abilities because for some reason I cared about this class a lot. It was one of the only ones I did not slack for and even though some of the assignments were long and torturous (aka TSTD), I did them all on time and spent many hours typing to get them complete. My favorite assignments were blogs and Occasional papers. I liked the idea of being able to just write about whatever I wanted and let the ideas flow freely without worrying about being censored. It was a good stress relief, and the blogs really made me think outside the box. No other English teacher ever gave me an assignment like that and it was definitely a nice change of pace from the usual structured writing. My favorite thing about AP Lang though would have had to been the preparation for the AP test. All of those wonderful tests and quizzes everyday and the hours of studying were just so fantastic. HAH just kidding!!!!! My favorite thing about the class were those days of just talking, and when the whole class would have an open discussion with you, Ms. Bunje, though it was usually about the future and college which scares the hell out of me! Despite what you may have thought those talks did not scare me, you just made me feel more calm though because the way you said things made it seem like I can actually handle the stress, and college searching is not as terrible as it has been made out to seem, and also it made me think about the future instead of just pushing it out of my head like I normally do.
Part Dos-
I know I am better off than I was before I stepped a foot inside the door of room 204. Before my mind thought of English as a structured subject full of rules, 5 paragraph essays, and boring books. From taking AP Lang, I learned not to slack and to do work no matter how hard it may seem because any task is accomplishable. One thing that really made an impression on me was a speech Ms. Bunje gave the first week of school. We were making our stars and you said something like when each one of us walks around in the hallway to never look at the ground because then we only see where we are, but when each of us looks up and forward we can see where we are going and the places we could be, and that those stars will remind us everyday of our future goals that we want to attain. That speech really hit home for me and ever since then I am always looking up because I recognized the importance of reaching for the stars and trying to obtain seemingly hard to reach goals.
There is not anything I really want to say to a specific peer because if I had to say it, it would have been done in the year book, but I would like to wish everyone good luck next year! There are certain people who I know I will remain close with next year and there are others of you who I probably won’t be seeing around as much, but regardless every one of you are great people and I am really honored that I got to meet and talk to you. You will all go places in the future and become great people. Let's all try and become a better class (if i dare say so ) than the class of 09! Let's show the Oak some spirit and shake things up a little. ;)
Ms. Bunje, thank you. Thank you for being the great English teacher that you were. I remember I got really mad at you at one point in the year and talked negatively about you, but I take it all back and did not mean it. It was the anger talking because if I had any other AP Lang teacher I am sure my year would not have been what it was. I know I will be stopping in to see you from time to time whether you like it or not :). You are a wonderful, inspirational woman and beautiful inside and out. Hearing all of your stories, all of your lectures about college and the future has caused me to appreciate and understand the meaning of this quote I found that seemed to be very fitting; “Life is not about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself” and that is what I want to do. You gave me the courage to be able to think that I will be successful with my career of choice. Good luck with your AP langers next year; I hope that they are lucky enough to get everything out of this class that I did. And like you said this is not good bye, but more like a see you later kind of thing!
<3
Part One
Oh-mi-gosh, what, oh what, am I going to say for myself? (what do you have to say for yourself young lady?! lol.)
Perhaps just one thing.
"But no one was chewing gum."
If I am going to comment on any one thing about AP Language class this year, it would have to be about how close I saw the class become over the course of just one school year. Now, growing up in the sticks of Mullica with our horses and buggies and chickens, I never really saw a class bond to a teacher as well as this class did. I mean, sure there are always the exceptions to the rule (like Melanie Rivera and Mr. Driscoll, ha-ha-ha!) but in general, I had always had this impression that there were always this kind of separation between teachers and students, this unwritten rule that stated that neither were to get too involved in the other's life, but that rule never really seemed to apply here. maybe it is because we are in High School and as we get older that line slowly begins to fade, or maybe it's because as we mature it seems like our teachers immature slightly/ go completely bonkers. I don't really know, nor would I claim that I do, but it's what I noticed the most about this year, the feeling that we could say what we wanted how we wanted without really a lot of fear.
I mean, sure- there were plenty of times when Bunje had to tell people to shut their traps because they were too distracting or what they were saying was completely out of left field (eh-hem Brend and Schaef) but it wasn't all that bad. Never before have I been in a class where students could actually argue with the teacher on a semi-regular basis and that debating (informally) would be the norm for the day's activity. I'm used to classes where you come in. sit down, shut up, and try to stay awake- not this creature that this was, this constantly morphing, evolving beast that it was. And I must say, it was a very welcomed change.
But I don't really know what to say for myself at all, what I gained or how I changed or what I've realized about myself. I'm a terrible judge when it comes to marking my own progress and I tend to be blind to any change that I might have gone through. I feel the same, I think the same, I act, walk, and talk the same (well, maybe not 100% the same, after all, I do have 300 new words at my disposal!) So have I really changed?
I know that my relationship with the class hasn't changed much if at all. I'm a closed off person who likes her private space and those walls securely in place around her heart and mind. Those walls have not shifted in the slightest. I am still closed off and probably will be for several more years to come. I don't feel as if I have gotten any closer to any of my classmates; I know them about the same as I did at the beginning of the year. Sure, I've heard them speak during discussions and bare themselves in occasional papers, but I don't feel as if I know them any better. On the contrast though, I have seen how close others have become though (like Reese and Jordan to name a pair! lol) I've seen the class grow to be a single unit of friends, something I didn't expect, and though I may be on the outside of this group, I still feel proud of the class.
Part Two:
And to end this on a lighter note, I'll just list off some of my more favored mems of the class: (these are not in any order)
1) Tamari cursing out the class in her declamation.
2) Ben cursing out the class right after Tamari in his declamation.
3) The mysterious dinosaur that Schaef and Bred saw during our meditation session.
4) "It's over 9,000!"- Ivan
5)"But no one was chewing gum."- Matt C.
6)Fiona besting everyone on the AP practice.
7) Matt C's speech on aliens.
8) Chief Smack'a'ho
9) "Wow, that was rather seductive- not in the sexing way though, the deep way."-Bunje
10)"Who has-" "I have zeugma, stop!" - Devon/Brend
11) COMMENT DELETED BY AUTHOR
12) "You know who don't inspire kids to think on their own? Terrorists!"- Brend
13) "Oh! Don't you get me started on Spanish!" -Reese
14) Dane Cook is not funny.
15) Watching speeches in the library.
16) " 'Ello Poppets!"- Bunje
17) J-Mas missing, like, a bajillion days of school.
18) The Sprinkles Vs. Jimmies debate.
19) What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more!
20)"So I put these up to remind us all to keep reaching towards our dreams and- Brend, what are you doing?" "Nothing, i just realized that it's easier to reach for the stars when you stand up."- Bunje/Brend
21) "Wow, your class is just so angry. You can feel the animosity in the air."-Sarah C. about joining pd. 12
22) "Wait-wait-wait! You gave Myra a Knife?!?"
23) "Love is meant for sex."- Matt C.
24) Matt W. posting every single last one of my blogs! I love you Matty! <3 ^.^
And just to say this, I loved being in a class with you all! Love you lots like tatter tots and even more than pudding shots!
Part 1
While looking back at junior year as a whole, I experience a mixture of sensations. I get a bubbly feeling knowing I’ve done the best I could do in all areas—whether the outcomes were successful or not. Then again, I feel like it was sort of a bad year because it ended right before my eyes. It was as if I was living my routine life like a zombie, missing out on what was really going on.
Regardless, I somehow managed to learn A LOT. It’s almost overwhelming! Besides all the lit terms, vocab words and declamations, I’ve learned how to think and express myself, while connecting with people at the same time. Doing this subconsciously taught me how to relate to people, especially those whom I haven’t really talked to before (via blog). This is what I liked most about AP Lang (with the ‘Bees’ at a close second). I believe the blog is truly great for us; being able to discuss things respectfully and keeping in constant contact was very useful and convenient as well.
I would say that academically, I improved in almost every class since last year, with the foresight that junior year will be significantly important for my future. Socially/emotionally, things were up and down, typical for any normal high school girl. But it didn’t dawn on me so badly that my whole world was turned upside-down completely. And physically, I feel better than ever. I feel really good about myself right now and where my life seems to be heading.
But collectively, I would conclude that it was a fairly successful year for me; my grades were where they should be (for the most part), soccer season was AMAZING and I even made some new close friends that I have added to the bunch (<--mostly thanks to English class!).
Part 2
So for my last few words on the blog, I’d like to say that it has been wonderful. Getting to know each other (and Ms. Bunje) and working together was so enjoyable. I’ve never had a class like this before—one that was so close and open. It was a pleasant change.
(stealing this from Devon and the girls soccer team <33333)
REMEMBER WHEN …..(from MY junior yearrrr)
-Girls soccer made it to the group four FINALS!!!
-Matt knew every Lit Term
-Morgan always txted in class =P
-Goetze and Billy didn’t fight? Oh wait.
-The Bee Keepers kicked butt in their discussion
-Ms. Bunje wasn’t interrupted by the loud speaker… no.
-Tarah , Hayley and I skipped and went to the beach
-We were all slackers and didn’t write our OPs until last minute
-Eva read her awesome last Occasional Paper <3
-Dan, Alice, Harleen, Ivan and Sergei kicked our butts in the mix and match thing
-Mike wasn’t the best writer ever….nope.
-Billy read his Pegasus OP and spoke cave man
-Hilary and Carly read an OP TOGETHER!
-Devon always came into our class
-Jen told us how much she loveddddd animals <3
-Caitlin became the new stuco Historian
-Jmas disappeared
-Vikkie never came to class <3 hehe
-Alison vented about swimming
-Meg Song sang ! & brought in Tai Tea
-Bunje spent $9349147.91 on Sugar Hill for us
…just to name a few… =)
I just wanted to say that I’m here for all of you if you ever need someone to talk to (this goes for period 12 too)! I would be soooooooo happy if we all stayed in touch next year and for many years after.
And last, have fun next year! We’ll all be big bad sen10rs, so let’s not let it go to waste. Work hard, but not too hard... like I said in my OP, any college would be lucky to have each and every one of you. So have and amazing summer, see you soon!
<3
****ATTENTION ALL CERVI STUDENTS****
"Elderly gunman kills guard at Holocaust Museum"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_holocaust_museum_shooting
A 89 year old white supremacist just opened fire at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. You know, the one we went to? Dear God. One gaurd was killed, and the shooter is now in critical condition. Just thought you guys ought to know.
-Morgan <3
"I know I am better off than I was before I stepped a foot inside the door of room 204."
HEHEHEHE that rhymed!!!! <3333
"Let's all try and become a better class (if i dare say so ) than the class of 09! Let's show the Oak some spirit and shake things up a little. ;)"
I completely agree! There is no reason why we should be-- or at least try to be. But in all honesty, I realized most of the '09 'group' that is so close took AP Lang. So i figured that they brought what they created from class into senior year and spread it to almost everyone. I think it's our job to do the same.
And girl you are one that I became really close with this year.. I thank you for always listening to me vent in preFAIL and just being there for me. I hope we hang out a lot this summer and stay close friends <3!
Fiona commented on my blog and I love her.
Myra commented on my blog and I love her.
Seriously, I love all you guys. And no, I'm not just throwing that word around.
Because I'm sick of all my little secrets, I'll let you guys in on one: While posting this blog, I was listening to the Monster Mash on my iPod. Other songs on my iPod? Secret Agent Man, the Safety Dance, and one I'm really ashamed of, Womanizer by Britney Spears. Oh I also have N'Sync and some of Britney's older stuff.
So there.
In fact, screw it. Here's the short playlist that I listened to over and over while writing this blog:
Fairytale- Sarah Bareilles
Book of Love- Peter Gabriel
Monster Mash
Please Please Please (Let me get what I want)- Deftones
Bad Moon Rising- Creedence Clearwater Revival
Show me What I'm looking For- Carolina Liar
Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me)- Blessed Union of Souls
Yeah, so you guys probably didn't want or need to know that. But I feel like now is the blog for over-sharing.
Also Fiona, it's good to know I'm not the only comment addict.
And Myra, it was only that first day that you guys seemed angry. You mellowed out after that. Mostly.
I’m going to be a senior next year…I can’t even say those words seriously. Everything went by so fast! High school feels ridiculously short looking back on it. But I still wouldn’t trade any of my experiences for the world. Next year, I don’t know what I’m going to do without the guidance of my beloved seniors. I’m going to have to be a leader for the underclassmen, even more so than this year; for soccer, for StuCo. Soccer isn’t going to be the same next year without my seniors. I can no longer linger in the shadows and watch the seniors do all the dirty work. It’s our time to step up now. But to top it off, people that I’ve made such incredible bonds with over the past year, are leaving me here in this dreary town. It just hasn’t clicked in my head yet. I still feel like a freshman, taking my first steps into the high school. Where’d the time go?
But anyway, I was warned several times about the hectic year I had ahead of me last summer. I thought I was prepared, but I was in no way shape or form ready for the workload or change that came along this year. Not only did this year provide the heaviest amount of work EVER (and I only had 2 AP classes!), but I realized with a heavy heart, that everyone is changing. As the year continued on, however, I came to accept these changes in everyone. What’s meant to be is meant to be. I also feel I have changed as well. I’ve grown over the past year. I’ve become more independent, and recognized that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to, considering I successfully finished all those arduous assignments, like TS/TD, on time. I’ve also learned so much, from lit terms to SAT vocab every week. I will leave 204 with the feeling that I did the best I could, no matter what the outcome.
It’s too hard for me to pick a favorite day! Every day that we just talked added to my list of favorites. It wasn’t necessarily because we didn’t do any work (he he), but the fact that I gained so much more insight on the world, just by listening to you for 45 minutes. I feel like you have so much good advice to give us all, and you’ve taught me more than I could’ve ever possibly hoped for by taking this class. You’re the only teacher who has actually taken time out of her day to get to know her students, and that in itself marks the quality of a great person and teacher. My favorite part about AP Lang was probably the declamations and the blog. The declamations made me become so much more comfortable in front of everyone, and I feel like our class has become somewhat of a family. The blog I enjoyed because it let me forget about everything I was worrying about and vent about certain issues. Answering blog questions made me realize a lot about myself and my classmates. Now, compared to myself at the beginning of the year, I am more comfortable in my own skin. I am who I am, and I feel that I’ve become a better overall person just by being in this class. I feel as is I’ve found my second home in 204, honestly. Junior year showed me the right path. It separated the good from the bad for me, and now I can finally see through to the good side of life instead of being stuck betwixt both. I was always concentrating on getting all A’s in my classes, but I realized there are more important things in life. I just have to convince my mom of that...
Next year I, like the rest of the class, want to see some more spirit! I want to win field day next year! I want our class to be closer and to get rid of these stupid cliques that have kept us apart for too long. Let’s make the best of our senior year.
So, Tarah, I ask you, how many times do you live? :)
And so, I leave 204 with pride and happiness in my heart, knowing that I will see you all again soon. <3
"I can’t wait for senior year. Of course it will be sad, stressful, and overwhelming. But it will be so amazing all at the same time. It really is just so incredible that I could know where I am going to spend the next four years of my life in just seven or so months."
-Molly!
For real. I can't wait to be a senior (even though it hasn't clicked at all). But next year's going to be an emotional rollercoaster and probably one of the best years we'll ever have. So let's all enjoy it. :) And it's such a scary thought that by this time next year, I'll be preparing to go to college and know exactly where I'm going...!
Whatever I say here is going to be inane, and prosaic. I can’t write on topics that actually mean something to me.
What have I learned? Mostly, I’ve learned just how competent and powerful my classmates are. I had known that they were smart, based on class rank, but up to that point I had never really seen how much they were capable of. In my classes up to that point, our talents and weaknesses could grow unnoticed. Here, everything is in the open. Thus we can give praise where it is due. No one flowers unnoticed.
The lessons, when spread out in print, lack the sort of breathless excitement that pervaded the room as we actually acted them out. The entire “I love you my darling/I’m so happy I could cry” lesson provided a better illustration of the concept of “tone” than any I’ve had before, but it would seem silly and tedious if I wrote it out.
The speeches we wrote and gave were the most glorious part of the class. Every speaker brought up a viewpoint I had never thought of before, and I was left marveling at the class’s skill, and wondering why I had never known any of this before.
I’m not better now than I was then. My junior year taught me to be lazy, taught me to lie. Next year, I have to re-learn the reason to work for school. This class was one of two that I really had to think for, and thus that I actually cared about.
There have been two teachers who I’ll really remember in half a century. Oddly, both taught English. One was Mrs. Hudson from the 5th/6th grade. You were the other one.
Myra:
Your list of favorite memories was hilarious. I read it five times over and left every time. Oh and you're welcome ;)
Sara:
"Matt knew every Lit Term"
Sara, I have known every term, which is partially true, but if memory serves me, you were the one who did Freakin' amazing on every practice quiz. So you derserve much more credit than I do :)
Eva:
I almost forgot about the tone exercise. That was pretty funny, especially with some of the pairings. Anyone remember Cheatham and Bunje's tone word?...I believe it was SPARTAN.
FIONA, CAPS LOCK IS MY NEW BEST FRIEND. TO EVERYONE WHO SAID LET'S GET MORE SPIRIT, I AM WITH A MILLION AND ONE PERCENT. LET'S GO OUT WITH A BANG THAT OAKCREST HAS NEVER SEEN OR WILL EVER SEE AGAIN. OHHHHHHHHHHH YEEEEEEAHHHHHHH CLASS OF '10 (wow, that sounds kinda lame, but who cares,WE ARE THE PERFECT TEN!!!!)
I will probably leave with much more than I am aware of. Apart from the many obvious, I bet I learned some things that I haven’t even noticed yet. I will leave with an improved, confident, well-trained, and better-prepared mind. I’ve learned so many things, I’m not sure which to put down. From little things like not contradicting myself and thinking more deeply about things, to having a more open mind to standing up in front of people to make myself heard. I’ve trudged through actual hard work, and an actual learning experience. I’ve gotten so much out of this class, I won’t hesitate to say it’s the class out of my whole high school career that I’ve learned the most from. I didn’t know one class and one teacher had the potential to change a person, and to improve them so much in so many different ways. Something new was learned every day.
My favorite day, and I think I’ve mentioned this in some previous blog somewhere, was indubitably the day we presented our declamations-the first time. It was interesting to see WHAT everyone picked as well as to see each other recite them. Favorite lesson…I liked them all, even the harder less interesting ones because I always got something out of it. My finest moment that I recall was presenting my first declamation from “Pulp Fiction” and being able to curse in class. I mean, how cool of a teacher can you be to let us do that? It was awesome!!! I don’t think I have to restate the fact that I am different now then I was when I first entered the course. I am definitely more CONFIDENT, which is a great feeling. And all the other things I mentioned earlier. The blogs too, I must put in here somewhere, played a big role in opening up my mind more. Even my weed-smoking free-spirited sister noticed how much more open-minded I am. Reading the blogs allowed me to realize that everyone has different views, some that can completely differ from others, and we have to accept that. I would look at each presented idea from all different angles all of a sudden. And I think all of us got to know each other better through the blogs, which made the whole atmosphere of the room more comfortable and homely. It used to bother me when someone went against what I said, but it does not bother me now whatsoever. I’ve matured significantly throughout this course.
My junior year matured me…well, in some ways because my friends can tell you I’m pretty immature: (I say “that’s what she said” too often.) it put me through real intense work which taught me how to persevere and work harder to reach a goal.
Hopes for senior year…? Only that I do as well as I did this year, and that I don’t slack off like this year and end up sleeping in every other day. What I want to say to my friends? This question makes me want to write a whole paper on just things I’d like to say to my friends because they just do so much for me. But I’ve already said a good deal of things to them while drunk so they know I love them. And to myself? I’d just like to smile at myself: a huge, confident, satisfied smile and that will say everything.
Ms. Bunje, one of the questions should have been, “is there anything you would like to say to ME?” Because really, you ran the show here, that we all got so much out of, and YOU were the one who made it all happen. I’d like to say: THANK YOU. And WOW. You have GOT to be the teacher all other teachers should aspire to be like. I mean, your teaching ideas techniques are just mind-blowing.
wow, that's pretty long
that's what she said!!
Simply put, this was a good year. I’ve accomplished both of the goals I wrote on my star, and I’m a more curious person and redefined person because of it.
Looking back though, I probably could have put a little bit more effort into my classes. Don’t get me wrong, I did pretty damn well for myself, although I know I could have done a lot better. But then again, my disillusionment from school didn’t really help much either. Still, I manage to become a better person, and that’s pretty much all I care about.
Best classes this year? Obviously Lang and History. History since I’m a self-proclaimed fiend and history/ geography fanatic. My score on Geo Challenge is untouchable, if anyone wants to try. Not that I’ll play anymore (they added a fourth section… balls), but that’s like the only thing I’m naturally good at. Please don’t rain on my parade. Lang for giving me a creative output and a place of introspection-which I think is safe to say- lacking in most schools.
My expectations for senior year? For the love of god, please give us one winning season in Football. That’s really all I ask for, nothing else. And for the few of us who collectively screamed “2010! Yes we can,” I salute you all. That was awesome, and we only lost to the stupid sophomores by a measly point. To me, that’s like tearing down the Berlin Wall. Ok, that might have been a bit too anticlimatic and blasphemous, but still.
And I expect the Junioritis I contracted this year will fully advance into "Senioritis simplex B." It’s inevitable, and I feel it happening already. The achiness, lethargy, desire to burn things (I don’t think that’s normal), and my eventual realization at how stupid “gym class archery” really was. Honestly, I really just hope senior year continues my progression for the better.
To the people who kept me sane this year, I thank you. You know who you are, the few who have made my year one hell of a ride. Every single person here contributed my broad perspective, mostly for the good. Thanks to the few people who cared more for the broader picture than the superficiality. Special thanks to Matt(s), Fiona, Toni, Meg, and Jen for keeping me humbled and in line. Thanks to the bros for showing me that there is a place in the world for idiocy (*cough Jordan cough).
To the people I’ll see next year and those I may not, have a great summer (or Hags, for Kelly), and just keep in mind that everyone one us can, and WILL shoot for the stars.
"And if you fail, you'll come crashing down to Earth, you'll incinerate, be pulverized and crushed into bits, and die. Or if you overpass the moon, the extreme gravity will condense us into nothingness, and you will cease to exist..."- Fiona
I'll leave you all with a quote from one of the most amazing people I have ever met;
"Follow your heart."
Wowzers. When everyone said that high school, and especially junior year, flies by, I couldn’t see how it would be possible for time to move into hyper speed right under my nose. But, somehow it now seems that their warning was very true. This year, I have grown more as a person than I ever have in a year’s period. I have tried new things that I never thought I would do in a million years (like being on stage at Mr. Oak DANCING, even if it was just for two minutes). I have gotten closer with some friends and made entirely new ones as well. At the beginning of the year, I had my doubts about how the year would turn out, but in the end, I’m more than happy with the results. I’ve gained so much knowledge from teachers that I didn’t expect to learn anything of importance from. It turns out that school CAN teach you things that are actually applicable to your life (but Dan and Sergei, I will still NEVER EVER be able to apply calculus to real life situations, even though you slaved over that power point today that was supposed to say otherwise :))
AP Lang was full of mixed emotions. It was a heck of a lot of work, but it was worth it. I’ll never be able to look at a book, even for pleasure, without thinking, “OH! Here’s syllogism!” Ok, maybe not.. But I absolutely learned a lot about the different styles and techniques authors use. I know it will improve my writing for years to come. I have also learned a lot ab0ut myself this year in lang. Blogs and OPs made me really look deep and see what I actually care about and how I perceive myself and those around me. They forced me to pay attention to my thoughts and recognize them. I especially liked the declamations which surprised me. I was absolutely horrified when I heard what we would have to do, but in the end it turned out that I could do something that I thought I couldn’t which is always reassuring to find out.
For next year, my work load should ease up, but I know college stresses will fill in for the lack of AP school work (in comparison to this year). I am totally excited to be a senior, even though I will miss everyone that is leaving after this year. I hope our class will pull it together and make the best of it!!! It seems like enough of us want to make a change, so I have hope for the future. We have one more year left to make a mark and change each others lives for the better. I cherish the memories of this year and can’t wait to make more next year! I love you all!!
"Not only did this year provide the heaviest amount of work EVER (and I only had 2 AP classes!), but I realized with a heavy heart, that everyone is changing. As the year continued on, however, I came to accept these changes in everyone. What’s meant to be is meant to be. I also feel I have changed as well."
Hayley,
I couldn't agree with you more. This year can be summed up with one word: changes. We all have developed and transformed since last year and when we were baby freshmen. We all change at a different rate, and I deffinitely struggled and became frustrated as i tried to comprehend that. Now, like you said, what was meant to happen this year has happened, just like it will continue to do next year and the next and the next. Next year will be a big change, but we have each other to lean on. Thinking about that makes me feel better every time. :)
and Hayley,
YOU LIVE ONE TIME!
<3
Alright, after reading everybody's blog, and I mean everyone's, I realized/remembered so many fun/happy/hilarious times that I think should be remembered, some are repeats that are worth repeating. So remember...
1. Billy's Pegasus/Caveman OP...
2. Sara's crazy string of practically perfect practice AP quizzes
3. Brittany's and Billy's amazing relationship...Not!!!
4. Alice always wanting a group hug
5. Devon's random SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY
6. Vocab bingo, and my rather annoying seven bingos in-a-row, for the same round
7. Megan explaining why she had to sneak stickers past her mom
8. Lit Terms Valentine's Day
9. ALL of the FOOD!!!
10. Period 9/10 winning "I have, Who has?"
11. All of the amazing blogs
12. "Wait-wait-wait! You gave Myra a Knife?!?"
13. When Ms. Bunje didn't "bend" rules...the only time that comes to mind is Sweat's Day ;)
14. Plymouth Rock
15. When technology didn't fail when you needed it most...me neither
16. The first TS/TD
17. All of the FOOD!!
18. When Erik went to Field Day and the juniors won...oh wait...
19. Carly and Hilary yelling incoherent nonsense to each other across the room...but it was pretty funny :)
20. Ms. Bunje fighting off pneumonia just so she could be with us and teach
21. The charades during the lockdown...and Megan's Mac and Cheese clues (lol)
22. The calming mediation before the AP test
23. When Maegan Reese like Illegal Immigrants and had to debate for them...hahaha, that was really funny
24. Ms. Bunje tried, and failed, to be mean by screaming, "I HATE YOU ALL!". It was a valiant effort, though.
25. All of the wonderful friends and relationships fostered this year in AP Lang and every other class. The great laughs we shared and how much we learned about each other through OP's and blogs. The silver-foiled stars containing our hopes, dreams, and aspirations, which will soon be coming down, which puts a huge lump in the pit of my stomach. And, in general, all of the positive events and happenings of this year.
Wow, now I'm really sad, but I know have another year and that everyone has amazing futures ahead of them, and that makes it semi-bearable.
Okay, let's just get this out here.
YES I GAVE MYRA A KNIFE.
I gave her a dagger for her birthday. She asked, and she recieved. Besides, the thing only cost five bucks. And it was mostly ornamental. Yes, I'm aware that giving Myra any sort of deadly weapon is a bad idea. But, hey, it made for an interesting birthday party!
She stood with closed eyes, wanting to feel nothing more than the cold ocean holding her feet in their rightful place. The moon and stars watched from above her, dimming their brightness behind increasingly soaking rainclouds. As they moved in, water began to soak the girl from above and below, seeping into her ripped jeans and red jacket. The piano keys of Claire de Lune were then gently touched, regardless of the interfering sounds of a low thunder. The horizon could not been seen, nor the shore. It was just her, alone, with fear no longer being sensible. Opening her eyes, she could see a figure approaching her, the smile of whom could not be mistaken. It was the happiness she had always hoped to find. With open arms, it embraced her as more water streaming from her eyes touched her skin. She stood there, not willing to let go, as flashbacks of outdoor markets, European cathedrals, open deserts, and British green hills filled her vision. A lightening bolt then streamlined out towards the horizon, offering her a path to travel further. While always keeping the happiness in her heart, knowing she had found what she had been looking for, she took slow steps out toward the black horizon. Holding the moon-and-star necklace between her fingers, she took one look back. The wind had brushed pieces of her hair across her face as she acknowledged the land she had acquainted herself with. She moved forward toward a beaconing horizon, divulging herself into yet another new and foreign place she had never been before.
Ashley Schieder; finally, I feel as though these are not just letters anymore, instead, they have meaning. They describe a person who is extremely observant of her surroundings, finds merit in varying perspectives, and wants nothing more than to devote the rest of her life traveling the circumference of the earth to find answers which cannot be provided by any one person. Upon leaving AP Lang, I have been left with a new understanding of my potential, my goals, and myself. I have learned that if you don’t want to give up, you don’t have to; and if you do, you shouldn’t. From this class, I have also learned of the importance of rhetoric and communication. They combine to form a common link between all of us that is expressed in various ways, but allows for the inspiration of our characters, the growth of ideas, and the beginnings of solutions. Over the course of this year, we have read books, been given three hundred new vocabulary words, assigned to perform speeches and debates, told to write different kinds of essays and reading logs/text says/text does, and have been given the privilege to write weekly blogs; all of which deal with the art of rhetoric. It is amazing to witness how each individual is able to manipulate the English language in their own stylistic way in order to portray their point. Whether it be professionals or your own peers, the answer to a single question is never the same. I have never taken a class like this before, but I feel glad to have been given the opportunity to do so.
This comment is for anyone that posted a REMEMBER WHEN: blog. I love them all, and I think I forgot about half the things you guys mentioned, but seeing them again made me laugh hysterically. There were times that I wanted to kill some people in our class and at the same time run up and give them a huge hug. This year has been amazing, and I have come to adore every person in the AP Lang group. LOVE LOVE LOVE period 12.
In this class, I can recall memories of creating literary-deviced valentines, wrapping a star in silver tin foil to protect and encourage our hopes for the future, interpreting song lyrics to reveal hidden literary and rhetorical devices, looking over Obama’s speech and understanding how the rhetorical triangle had been incorporated into his work, understanding the effects of forgiveness and love in The Secret Life of Bees, and, of course, September 10, 2008 as being the first day we were ever given our first blog. My favorite day, however, was actually just last week as we discussed Maegan’s gum-chewing incident. Although I do feel sorry that it was an embarrassing moment for her, she should know that it was finally a chance for the entire class to feel a collective happiness after this whole year. We have been through much together, especially after undergoing ‘Death Month’ or whatever we renamed it. I looked around, and as we all sat in a continuous circle, we were finally taken away with happiness and relief, knowing more about each other than ever before.
I do believe that I am much different than I was in the beginning of the year because I have learned a lot about how to speak more powerfully, and how to improve my writing. Unfortunately, I do feel as though my writing has slowly become worse, but every writer has their ups and downs and perhaps this is just a short phase I have to go through in order to realize what I can do to make it better. This year I have been given the knowledge of how to make it better, and now I can begin to work on that over the summer so that next year can hopefully be better. As for speaking and reading, however, I do feel as though I have improved. Ms. Bunje, thank you for pushing us forward in these areas to help us later on in future occurrences. Overall, I must say that I am better than I was then.
While my junior year did allow me to see that I can conquer four AP courses, which for some is nothing, this year was really not one of my favorites at all. I made a lot of mistakes this year that I could not feel sorry for enough, and cannot seem to get off of my mind. I have learned this year that even when you are offered an opportunity that looks promising, you need to consider the consequences. Otherwise, you’re just not being fair to yourself or others. Yet, at least this year has introduced me to other good memories as well, such as the Inauguration trip, going to the Indianapolis 500, going to Ellis Island, going to college classes with my sister at Georgetown, and going to Stockton to see plays by Shakespeare. My junior year allowed me to be more aware of my beliefs and surroundings, especially through the blogs.
My hopes for senior year include becoming a better writer, not being overly stressed about college matters, hopefully not having too much poetry to write in lit (although I’ve heard there is a lot), getting the best grades I can, getting to travel to Germany and Florida, and having teachers that are passionate about what they teach. This year I did have many teachers that seemed to be happy and very interested in the subject they taught, but I can only hope the same for next year. As for getting good grades on the AP tests, the only thing I can do is try my best. I am taking a lot of math-related courses next year, so I don’t expect to do very well, but hopefully what I learn will help me later on.
Alison, you are one person who I would definitely like to say something to, and that is that I have no idea what I would have done without you. I know I wrote that in your yearbook already, but it’s true. You are that person in my life who I have certainly been in need of. Thanks to you, that social component in my life was not missing this year. I’ve had my share of friends, but unfortunately, they all turned down a much different road than the one I decided to take. Thank you for putting up with my stress and worries, and being the one there beside me during all of the trips we went on this year. It was your goal to make a difference in someone’s life, and I want you to know that you have. If there is anything you need help with next year, make sure to let me know and I will try my best to help you. As for Fiona, I would like to thank you for acknowledging my writing, and saying all of the nice comments you did about my blogs. It really means a lot to me, and you seem to enjoy my writing style which I am very thankful for. And Jani, I must say I am so glad to have met you. You are a truly inspiring person who is bound to change many minds and many perspectives in the future. Devon, Maegan, Molly, and Kelly, you four are by far some of the most powerful and leader-oriented people I have ever met before. Success will surely come easily to you in life, and I wish you nothing but the best. Matt and Jordan, you two have minds like no other, and I do not doubt the fact that your ideas and knowledge will impact the world for the betterment of posterity. Toni, your sympathy and natural ability to see the better side of any situation is truly admirable. I’ve known you for a long time, and I’m glad to see that you have blossomed into the person you are today, someone who will have no problem taking on the world. Brendan and Myra, your unique and strong personalities are like no other, hopefully we can meet each other again sometime far into the future at a class reunion or something because I am sure that your lives will be filled with the happiness you deserve. Sarah, you never fail to bring a smile to my face and I thank you for that, as Sergei once said, “Happiness is the world’s best medicine.” Megan, J-mas, and Abby, I paired you three together because I feel as though you guys are always there to help, something that will surely bring you good karma later in life. Tamari and Deana, I probably know the least about you two, but I’m glad to see that you three made the choice to take this course and reach for new heights, something that I hope has enlightened and inspired you in many ways. Ben, I hope you’ve had a good year, and I’ll see you next year for our last band season. And Jon, well, I hope to see you next year in mock trial because we need lawyers, and no, I am not attempting to become one.
As for myself, way to go Ashley, you made it. High School is not an easy journey, but you made it through one more year. Soon enough, you’ll be traveling the world, and opening your eyes to bigger and better things. Ms. Bunje, thank you for seeing me as no one but myself. You are a woman with admirable views, and a person who has made a huge impact upon my being. I cannot thank you enough for that. Well, AP Lang class of the 2008-2009 school year, I guess I’ll see you later.
In response to Devon P:
I could not agree with you more that this year went by pretty fast, but we learned a lot at the same time. And, yes the beginning weeks were tough. There was one week when I had to use index cards for the week instead of the little boxes they give you to write in. Each of the index cards were completely filled for each day. There were moments when my eyes were so blood-shot from staring at my laptop screen at two in the morning that I couldn’t see what I was typing. I am sure next year will be pretty much the same routine, but I am ready. We will finally be seniors and get to enjoy our last moments. Unfortunately, I still haven’t felt completely comfortable with myself in any class this year, but there is always next year. I admire your spirit and look forward to seeing you next year.
This is just too hard for me to write, a main reason why I have been avoiding this. Like I have mentioned before, I was scared out of my socks the first day I walked into room 204. I didn’t think I was smart enough to last in a room of this caliber. Each and every person sitting in period twelve, and I bet period nine/ ten too is brilliant. I’ve had my mind blown on more than a few occasions. I felt like I had a second family here, people to vent to, to talk to. It brought me closer to people that I didn’t think I would necessarily come to love as much as I do now. My favorite moments, lessons, happenings in room 204 have to be:
1. Saying my leadership speech, when everyone had to get up and do alligator :]!
2. The chewing gum discussion, and the day that followed when Molly and Matt were both absent.
3. Molly’s last OP, and Devon’s madlibs OP <3
4. Getting to read my OP’s every marking period, and writing in the blog ( I love this blog more than anything)
5. Bunje’s huge hug after I won my first election ever!
6. The Lincoln Douglas Debates - Maegan’s kickass rebuttal, and Molly’s deadly “ok-“s
7. Getting to do a debate of my own, and being a questioner.
8. Brendon and Jon going off about pokemon. (Only to be stopped by Bunje)
9. The calming exercise where we see colors and all that fun stuff.
10. Zander talking to us about college.
11. MJay falling asleep on the bean bag :]
12. THE STARS! I can’t wait to open mine tomorrow!
13. The overall rapport with all of my classmates and Bunje.
I am coming out a different person than I was in September. I am better off in many ways now. I had no backbone, no confidence in myself, and I thought I was doomed from the very start. My head was always up in a cloud, I was naiveté and I felt like a little girl. I don’t feel like that little girl anymore. I feel like I’ve been required to think, even if I wasn’t a hundred percent like everyone else it helped me expand. I have a little more confidence in myself because hey I survived. I also have the opportunity now to basically live out one of my biggest high schools dreams. I worked really hard for that, and I am so grateful for my life to be going down this path. I am exactly who I am, and I’m not so scared anymore. I’m learning to relax but not too much. Being close to everyone in this class really helped me this year. I felt like I could go to almost anyone about anything. Everyone in here was a support system. Junior year gave me hope, faith, and the change I so desperately needed.
I am now fully excited for senior year! I am going to miss my current senior friends a lot, but I now feel confident in my friends in my own grade. I love the people in my life, no matter how sometimes I don’t show it. I have made a few mistakes this year, but I hope in a small way the people who I love will find it in their hearts to forgive me. I know next year I have a lot of work cut out for me, but I have never been more excited to wake up and go to school. Like I said I get to live my dream out, how many kids can say that? I want to say a huge thank you to:
Hilary, Carly, Devon, Molly, Morgan, Jen, Maegan and of course Bunje for listening to all my woes throughout the year. Your words of wisdom have helped me through a lot, I feel like I owe some of my strength to you, I couldn’t have done any of this alone. I can only say thank you, because I don’t think any other word would suffice. I LOVE you all, and that is not me throwing the word around.
Not as bad as I had previously thought. Well see you tomorrow period 12. You’re the best group of kids I have ever met, well that goes to all the ApLangers this year.
SARA:
-Goetze and Billy didn’t fight? Oh wait.
-Billy read his Pegasus OP and spoke cave man
HAHA Thx for the shout out Sara. IDk I think my OP was pretty awesome to read but my fav was def fighting with Britney!!
Janiru:
Simply put, this was a good year.
OMg Yea! Well, at least for me, too :] This year was awesome, writing about this is hard cuz im kinda guna miss this year more than any other year. I should stop ranting and actually post my comment
Holy shit, theres like 3 weeks left until i'm a senior. By the beard of zeus that's close! so much to do, so much to say! I'm overwhel.....oh wait, i don't care.. Ha!
As i throw backwards glances over the old shoulder the view is comforting, the familiarity of spitting knwoledge onto the computer screen in the same computer chair i've been sitting in the past three years, the same eye hawking the clock as the due date creeps closer, a procrastinator till the end. However the view isn't a fixed image, certainly not the same one i saw while walking into oakcrest as 103 pounds of freshmen boy. It's tinged, highlighted and accented with hues i was not familiar with in the past, but now 105 pounds of junior man, these tones have become an active ingredient in my pallet. Ah, i've just suprised myself by writing that, when did those colors arise? who let me borrow those colors? did i paint with them?
Like the animated character in the bottom corner of a flip book my transformation was swift and hardly unnoticable until the last page turned and i found myself staring at a foreign visage. It's hard to look back and find those key pages that started shifting my character, however i remember the first page. The page that detailed a barely 5 foot tall white kid standing at his bus stop with a dark blue polo, jeans and black addidas waiting for the bus. Thinking the sky was in his reach, thinking all he had to do was jump off the cliff and his wings would unfurl and lift him to new heights. That jump was taken as my yellow charriot arrived at my stop and black doors rocked open, a gateway to salvation or hell i was not yet sure. where this wind is taking me i'm not sure, i'm no even convinced my wings opened and maybe a shocking thud awaits me as i'm seconds away from smashing into the ground. The asnwer isn't available yet as i haven't flip to te last page. what i'm looking at is a page depicted by a boy who was similar to the first, a little older, a litle worse for wear but still ready to fight. Sure that he is unsure, i think he's ready to face whatever is coming.
Although i may be ready, i know i have no desire to accept that quest just yet (wow reference). contrary to the get me the hell out of here atittudes of devon and molly i couldn't love oakcrest more. The teachers, the questionable food, the laughs, the 110 degree rooms, the moldy locker food, the sports, the arguments, the friends all give off an overpowering aroma of home. Oakcrest is where my home is. and if oakcrest is my home then imlosing a quarter of my family this summer, and mabe even more because i feel like i belong in that class. The best friends i've made hve been in the senior 09 class. Who will teach me to speak black when Aaron Johnson leaves? Who will race through the streets of OC with me if Jose Q isn't arund? who am i goingto mke fun of if Mike Galli leaves? and who am i going to have to compete with if the reverered Mr. Gary Carlson packs his bags for harvard? Honestly there is not a single person in the junior class who can fit these shoes. Not that i don't love you guys but i was just born a year too late. anyway all this to say i'm not ready to leave, which is good because im still a junior, but when the time comes i still don't think i can take another jump.
Eh but thats enough wallowing, i'm not wallowing type person so i'm sorry for that defunct from my character.
I can't begin to breakdown this year to the point where i could realize what it's given me. It seems like just yesterday i was cursing as i cut myself with scissors after trying to recreate the seemless fold that Nyge had on her Bunje star. actually nevermind i do realize what i have. Eh the toughts are coming quick so i apologize for the awkward sentences that might follow this one but i need to get these out. Occassional papers are what did it for me. listening to the hopes, dreams, woes and laughs of my classmates gave me a revelation. I have it good. It seems week after week i heard a new tragic story from a classmate who has so much adversity to face in their life but still excells with everyon else. Bredan even said it yesterday, "we've all got our own problems we could talk about". But that's just it, i don't have any. i can't think of a single problem in my life that could inhibit my progress, not like molly's back, not like deanna's surgery, i don't have any tales of personal or parental strife, nothing to object to. so at first i thought wow i'm lucky to have recieveed this blessing. howveer this fact can only result in the realization that i am incredibly lazy. my piers haveall these hardships but still succeed while i jus float along. theres always the p;ossibility that i am a person who easily handles stress and the like but i think the lazy approach is more fitting. and when i look bac on the year it's easy to see that i am lazy. i threw everything together last minute but mnaged to get by. hell even my debate speeches from last week were written during period 11 the day of the debate. after you get over the anger that statement will cause you bunje you can take heart in this; i have yet to reach my potential. After analyzing all this i also thought that i never felt overwhlmed this year. even during death month i was relaxed and cal as my piers foundered in their inhability to manage th work. so what i have taken from all of this is that i have a much greater potential than i had anticipated so next year i will see what i can accomplish.
No matter how hard i search i cannot indentify a particular moment this year that i liked above all else. Of course there were tons of great lessons in between deabtes, arguments and the marital strife of jordan and mae. But the best class i can recall was amoung the first days in ap lang when i thought at the time i was listening to you preach some bullshit about beng able to accomplish anything in room 204. being an ignorant young junior i didn't believe a word but that phrase turned me around at a cross country practice the following day and i realized that we can do anything we believe in, this year is a tesimony that we did do it. But students are nothing without a teahcer to guide them, and as much as i am against all this touchy feely crap i have to say Bunje that i never saw someone cultivate potential in students the way that you do. with you we were able to reach ourselves before we bloomed and i need to thank you for that.
so here we are guys, three years later. hot damn. i think a lot of us are worried, excited but worried about who we will become and where we will end up in the upcoming year. But after spending one "fantastical" year with you all i know that you have nothing to worry about. i'm guaranteed that we'll be the ones to knock the world flat on its butt in the next few years. but for now don't lose any sleep tonight, i'm sre everything will end up alright and in the end just remember to be yourself is all that you can do.
Toni
"It almost feel likes you love chocolate cake and you see it and eat it so much because your mom makes a chocolate cake every week, but your at the point where too much is just too much and you don’t want it anymore."
You actually tried chocolate cake!?!?! Impossible.
MBD:
"17) J-Mas missing, like, a bajillion days of school."
.... You like it when I'm not there?....*cry*
In response to Janiru:
I'm not going to lie jani you impressed the shit out of me this year. how immutable you have remained since moving here and acting as a moral guide for anyone who found themselves selfish and looking at the neighbor watch website. and even deciding to start working in lang and calc! i mean you tore up that debate and were always on my ass on calc tests. but guess what NO FREAKING HOMO! anyway i'm glad that we've still got another year so i can hangout with yo, Mogli.
It all started so well… For the first time in my high school career, I actually did my summer homework on time. Two days before the start of school, I began, and at about eight thirty the night before, I finished. Enough time to get a shower and get some rest for the tedious day to follow. At that point I should have known something was going to go horribly, horribly wrong. The first week of Lang, I was undoubtedly intimidated by the schedule that sat on my desk starring me down like a boxer before a fight. This fight was going to be a long one, but I was ready to give it my all. It was like two rounds were over. First and second marking periods were in the dust. On to the third! Suddenly, a fan comes up from the crowd and punches me in the face, well, almost. That’s when I really started slowing way down. Wearing that jacket to school everyday, hibernating while awake, I was much like a zombie. Now, I did not crave brains, just sleep.
In many ways I feel like I missed out on many of the things stated by everyone above me. It doesn’t feel like the end of the year for me, I still feel like I have an AP test to study for, but that is long gone. I missed death month, declamations, and final debates. All of these things I can not get back. The bonds of the classes were formed without me. I am not so much in the AP lang family, but I am a really friendly neighbor, who likes to stop around to see how things are going. I don’t believe that I’ve changed. Not for better or worse, but I can say that I appreciate people more. Even the constant banging on the lunch tables brings a slight smile to my face, knowing that I may never hear that annoying sound again. I learned to appreciate Brendon’s slightly off beat comments; well maybe I learned to understand them.
For my senior year I hope to stay in school with little to no sick days. That would please me beyond belief. I also hope to get accepted to a decent college. As for everyone else in the AP Lang class, I hope they find success in all of their endeavors, as well as being happy being the person you have grown into. That is truly the most important thing about high school. If you have drive and ambition, with or without a Harvard or a Yale degree hanging on your wall, you will be successful. Just believe in yourself and support yourself. Do unto others as you would have them unto you, and you will have a spectacular life. Who says dreams won’t come true?
Matty W: I think the form you were going for was "my values lay."
Looking back at the grand scheme of things, AP lang has taught me the most out of any class I’ve ever had. The class wasn’t infatuated with grades or papers or anything of the sort, it was infatuated with us. Never before have I been so open with a class, and by the looks of it, I don’t think I ever will. 204 really is a family, and whether it was through the blog or occasional papers, we’ve all learned a lot about each other and ourselves.
My dear friend Jordan said something a few months back that I think really sums up this class. In a fit of rage about what I think was a very personal blog question he said, “This isn’t AP Jordan it’s AP Lang. If the test at the end of the year was about me I’d get a five, but it’s not.” And in a way, Jordan’s right, less than five percent of the questions on the AP exam were about him. But the AP lang exam is one test. You take it, it’s over. What we learned about ourselves however, will last forever. This class doesn’t just make you smarter; it makes you a better person. I’ve learned loads about myself just by thinking about an answer to a blog question, and actually surprise myself with some of my own answers.
My junior year has been the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life. I honestly do not know how I survived death month. The lang assignments alone were enough, but add four other Ap classes worth of work, each one believing their class was the more important than the next, crew practices until six thirty everyday, starving myself to try and stay lightweight so I could compete, and you get a paradoxical amount of work. I pushed myself harder than ever before and I think I made it out okay. This year has showed me what I’m capable of when I put my mind to it. Plus it’s going to make next year seem like a piece of cake.
As for my senior year, I’m really not worried at all. I’m pretty sure I have senioritis already, and besides getting accepted into college, my number one goal is just to enjoy Oakcrest for all it’s worth and have fun.
I’m going to miss AP lang. It was a class I looked forward to going to, whether it was talking about a blog, an inspirational speech from Bunje, Cheatam’s attempts at talking, cramming for a vocab test with Jen at lunch, or the heartfelt Op’s, lang always had something interesting to give, and I thank you, Ms. Bunje, for having such a kick ass class.
This class has been... An experience. It's really hard to put it into words, and I'm not the best judge of my own growth. But I can tell you now that there is one thing that I'm leaving with that will always be important. It's given me happiness, it's helped me get through when times were tough. It's helped me grow as a person. And while it may change or be worn down, I will treasure what's left of it, and always hold it in my heart. That thing is, of course, the Happy the Dog puppet that I was given by Miss Bunje.
Yes, I know, it's silly, and it's a cop out, but I meant it when I said I wasn't a very good judge of personal growth. Things can seem so obvious once you've really been given a chance to notice them, but until you do, they just camouflage themselves out in the open. A relevant example would be recently while looking in Alexa's yearbook. The pages were flipped through until it got to a picture of me, from the beginning of the year. I hardly recognized myself. I was wearing black like I meant it. My hair was unwashed, uncut, and uncared for. It fell with a greasy sheen over one eye. Although I denied it at the time, the truth was obvious to me. I was emo. And not that scene-subculture emo that you see going into hot topic. I mean the genuine apathetic loser that that entire look is based off of. And look at me now! I'm a changed person. I smile now. I care about people instead of entertaining myself with thoughts of murdering them. Sophomore year threw me through an emotional washing machine, and junior year wrung me out.
And to everyone in this class. It's difficult to explain my feelings, as a person whose natural state is to remain emotionally neutral to everyone but family and people he hates. But I've enjoyed spending the year with all of you. It's been a good ride. I have to tell you all. You are the reason I pick AP level courses. Not the college credit, not the status, not even for the classes, and certainly not for the GPA boost. It's for the people, and yes, the teachers in the classes. It's been great, and I'm hoping to see you all next year.
Also: To Miss Bunje: We never created our own vokis. I was lied to! Lies!
Well... Then again, I'm tech-savvy. I could make my own if I wanted to. But it's just less important when it's not a class project.
…
LIES!
Lots of love,
-Brendan Fionn “The Bear” Armstrongingtonsworth III Esq.
GOODBYE! PYSCH! Lol (I’m a dumb bitch)(this isn’t going to be super long cause
honestly, thinking about some times in class, it can be a little upsetting thinking about us all leaving, because we so many friends were in class and now it won’t be like that :{ )
Nah, it will never really be goodbye with this group of kids. I mean we will be in most of the same classes next year since we are the AP nerds and all take the same classes; but it goes beyond that. It doesn’t take rocket science to realize that we will probably hardly talk to even our best friends after senior year. With that said, we are all united by one factor: the experiences we had in AP Lang. Sometimes, it kind of sucked ding all the work; but that’s O.K. since we learned from it. Some times were really fun, like things we learned or “incidents” (fighting Britney G). Sometimes they were angry, including arguments that would make Meagan Reese proud. Some were sad. I guess I’ll make a list and conform to these other people. Hell, Junior year in general
-Emotional OP’s that made me sad
-My crazy stories of the REAL Pegasus, currently watching YOU
-Declamations that were nuts
-Talking about life and college
-Not doing AP practice test
-Talking cave
-Finally having a class where I could say almost all I wanted out of a sense of literary freedom
-Parties
-Being in Bung’s hood and presence, listening to her talk
-$200 in subs
-Txt Says, Txt Does…not
-Hearing the very deep thoughts that struck the heart
-Blogs!!!!!!!!!
JUNIOR YEAR
-Going everywhere with friends
-Hanging out
-“Social Gatherings”
-Going to Navy
-Meeting new friends
-Awesome sports seasons
-New Cool Girl on the Block (Little)
-Having awesome classes all around, especially the people :]
-License!!!!!!!!
-The “by yi yi”s and “buda bings”s
I’m just so happy this summer is coming around! For me, with all new friends and opportunities and Goals, I just hope it is an awesome experience! Everything should go great! Knock on wood.
Senior year, I can’t even tell what I twill be like! I have so much ahead I’d be ignorant to guess what’s going to happen. I know it will all be great!
How have I changed? Have I learned more than usual? Not really, but I did learn a lot. Was it cool throughout the year? Yea, but every year has been at least all right. Now was it totally awesome and different? Hell yea! I didn’t really know what to think when people said Best years of your life.” Now I know. Have OI changed? I think Yes and No. I mean there’s a lot about me that hasn’t changed, like craziness and never quit attitude. But I feel a little more “open” and free-thinking and secular in my thoughts. I don’t know…Dumb Bitch me!
Basically, I had lots of fun and I’m going to miss it. For than anything, I’m going to miss all that was in it, which includes you guys!
Thanks for a great year, Bung!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#@#%#$%@$@#%@#$$@#%#!@$@#$%
Sarah Crane- I actually have some of those same songs on my ipod, i love fairytale. And this is another post on your blog :] I have to say, blog comments are a high light of my day.
Mike Nanfara-
Your a hundred percent right, it doesn't matter as much about the test. You take it and its gone nothing that can do or change it now, but knowing yourself is a life long process it's important to get a handle on it early. That is never going away, the knowledge we learned about ourselves will last us a lifetime. I needed this class to learn about myself, i think that's more important than any five on any test.
Oh. My. God. I just wrote some long ass thing and it didn't even post when I hit "publish".
It seems like only yesterday…haha just kidding I won’t start off with a cliché, but I do remember walking through the doors of AP lang, before our stars were hanging from the ceiling tiles, before our literary devices were colorfully educating our minds around class, and before I knew Bunje was a huge Springsteen fan like myself! All I knew was that AP Lang was going to be one of the better classes my junior year because I heard it through the grapevineJ Anyway, I must say that although I’ve denied it throughout the year, I contribute the majority of my mood swings and emotional unstableness to period 9/10. However, it is not a bad thing like it seems. The reasons I was feeling emotional and confused was because of the many, almost daily, talks we had about life, college, decisions, and the future that drove me insane. Like I will be explaining in my OP, junior year was definitely fun and exciting, however it was also an emotional roller coaster that I would love to NOT experience again. However, I know next year will be similar if not worse, and I will just have to toughen up and muscle through it.
When I think back to the early months of AP Lang, one of the first things that come to mind is my first OP. I don’t even know what to say about it, besides I wish in a way I never read it. It caused that damn drama with people I wouldn’t want to disagree with and definitely shaped the circle of friends that I experienced junior year with. I love, and I mean LOVE, the people who I shared the worst and best moments of my life with this year but I wish I never shut other good friends out of it back in October and for that I’m very sorry.
On a more positive not I guess, the OP’s have been both a stress and a thrill. I saw it as an opportunity to show my classmates the real Carly Chamberlain, however, at the same time I felt that explaining through a written paper was silly for some reason. So I settled, and still wrote about significant things, but feel like no one still knows who I am, let alone myself.
My favorite day was our first declamation day, because although it wasn’t suppose to resemble acting, everyone brought out a different personality and showed confidence that may have been hard to find throughout the year. For some reason, I can’t pinpoint a favorite lesson because it seems like the all blended together somehow, and I think AP Lang was one whole life lesson in the big scheme of things.
Out of senior year, I can only hope for the best. I’ve decided to take risks and not regret going out, making a decision, or having a good time, because it’s my senior year dammit and I can have fun! Still, I understand that I need to concentrate and all that, because I can’t waste away my last year of high school. My best work has to be shown in the classroom as well as in other aspects of my life. Still, I can’t believe I have one more season of soccer and softball. Softball is a little different because I will be playing In college, but soccer…I’ve been dribbling one of those hexagon printed balls since I was five years old. Even though in high school I wasn’t a star player the three seasons I’ve had so far have been some of the most amazing times of my life. Obviously the finals and everything last year, but in soccer I really learned the true definition of a family and a team. Hearn is one of the most amazing people I have ever met and his passion for the game and all of his players brought out the passion and love I have that I never felt I could illustrate before. The girls too are some of the best people in the entire school. Each one contributes something different from a lending hand, to a shoulder to cry on, and even the brick wall that you can go to when you’re having problems with others on the team. I am going to be hysterical at my last soccer and softball games next year which is why I know I will be playing harder and with more heart than I ever have before. But like Molly said, I can’t wait to commit to a college and see that all my hours of hard work and weekends where I felt that I have lost any social life I had will pay off!!
I agree with dev dev too! SENIOR CLASS SPIRIT FOR CLASS OF 2010!!!!!
Rightfully so, everyone has their own story. The emotions, thoughts, and perspectives from my junior year are all collected into these blogs and they will forever be a part of my story. I am eternally grateful for having the advantage in looking back to read previous posts. Bunje I have learned more this year about myself than I feel I have in my entire life. I will leave with the joy in knowing that I accomplished my goals. I set out to do many things and they were narrowed down to a selected few onto my star that is hung into the ceiling of room 204. I have learned that life is not fair but I am the person that I choose to be. I choose to be a fighter always looking forward and anticipating the brighter things in life. All of my favorite days had to be when people read their occasional papers. The papers were a sneak peak to the ideas and topics people just had to get out. My favorite lessons were the declamations. It took a lot for me to not only memorize another person’s work but to be able to present it in front of my classmates. The lesson helped my fear of public speaking and allowed me to open up a bit more. Overall, my finest moment was reading my first occasional paper. Of course the paper had to be about my leg. The sensitive topic still brings endless tears but I think that the paper gave me a chance to deal with a lot of the emotions I had put on the back burner. It allowed people to understand how much the accident affected my life and continues to affect me.
I know that I am different than I was in the beginning of the year and I can feel it in a way. I am positive that the changes were for the better. Previously, I had let anger fill up my heart and it took over my life. Some personal qualities needed adjustments and fine tuning for me to realize that in the past I was not being myself. Junior year was a year for personal development. This year taught me a lot about myself. I became aware of things that I can handle and things that I can not and sometimes I need to take a breather before I react.
My hopes for senior year consist of making even greater high school memories. I hope to be accepted into my choice of college and embrace every moment of my final year of high school. Adding on to senior year are my expectations for softball. Car, Hil, and Jen what more can I say than next year is our year!
*I just want to thank everyone in period 12 Lang for making this year terrific. You have all made every single day as special as the next.
This year went by surprisingly fast for me and you know what? I am being 100% honest when I say that twelfth period AP lang. was the class I looked forward to the most each day. This was my first AP and I loved it. I loved how close the class was; how no one was hesitant in communicating with anyone in the class. I don’t know much about the small classes at Oakcrest, but I do know this- I’m in forensic chem. and the same nineteen people are together for roughly three periods a day and they’re not even half as amazing as AP lang. is. They are all clicky and actually, some were so mean to me that they made me cry once. If there is one classroom in the whole Oakcrest building that I know can bring people together and make them forget- even for forty five minutes- that they don’t belong, its room 204 with Ms. Bunje.
I didn’t necessarily have a favorite lesson, I just really enjoyed the book/essay discussions we had this year. I don’t know if you noticed but I’m not exactly the most outgoing student so just listening to the class speaks was enough to fascinate me. The discussions were so free and fun because sometimes they would drift to the weirdest topics and crack us all up- and then you would speak really loudly and say “OK.” Good times. It’s not just the funny though, the discussions were so insightful and intellectual- more so than I am used to- and I felt positively awe-struck. I honestly, would look at the clock and say “2:35? We just got to Bunje’s class a minute ago!”
As for me being a changed person from then (September) to now, I think I have changed in quite a few aspects. For one, I’m starting to be a little more comfortable with speaking to a class or even just people who seem intimidating, write a little less arrogantly (well, that is just what I hope at least)- I just mean I’ve been humbled in a good way, and I even have learned a few things about myself from blog reflections. For one, I have really bad “diction skills”; I can’t express my thoughts in words the way I want to. All in all though, this class has done me so much good. I’m going to miss AP lang. more than you think.
Junior year has done a tad for me. Just kidding! It changed my whole perspective on a lot of things. I went from thinking I wanted to be a lawyer, to seeing how bad I would be at that position in a debate, to wanting to be a radiologist, to wanting to be a nutritionist. I went from loving myself a little too much internally to seeing the truth. And while, yes, I still love myself, I’m now a little of a lot more humble. I used to have these faux beliefs that I half heartedly followed, but now am changing to my own, individual opinions that I’m passionate about. I’m a devoted vegan now, I created my own religion, and I’m pretty against illegal immigration and republicans. The most terrible thing that junior year has done, though, is make me a lot lazier for some reason. I used to strive for straight A’s- now look at me! So that’s why my goal for senior year is to get motivated again. Well in conclusion, AP lang. = the best school experience of my life since it was ruined back in ’05. I’ll see you tomorrow! (And maybe I will have Bunje for CP English next year :) )
“My favorite day was our first declamation day, because although it wasn’t suppose to resemble acting, everyone brought out a different personality and showed confidence that may have been hard to find throughout the year.”
Car Car I felt the same way. I was that girl who needed a confidence booster and the declamation helped me a lot. By the way if Monica is not graduating than neither are we! You are right though; our last game next year is going to be unbearable.
I go through the same routine every year: I start off hesitant and skeptical. I don't really like having to get used to new teachers and different classes. Normally by the end of the year I finally get comfortable with everything—but then school ends so I have to go through it all over again. However, this year automatically started off different. I actually liked pretty much all of my teachers right away (with the exception of a certain journalism teacher who, of course, is going to be my AP Lit teacher). I liked all of my classes and how they were set up (of course I had to go through administration to fix my schedule at first because my guidance counselor is incompetent). I liked the people in my classes. I was actually content, and I got really comfortable really quick. This year was by-far my favorite and worst at the same time. Now, having to leave is going to be even harder than usual. I was thinking, next year my English class is going to suck for the first time ever. Thankfully I'll have Cervi again because I'm going to be his EPA, or else I would have cried because this is the first year I've ever enjoyed history. I'll NEVER have Baird as a math teacher... ever again. I don't know if I'm happy or sad about that? All of these changes are happening, I'm dreading them more than ever, but I've got to accept them. And that is the main thing I'm taking from this class, well, I don’t know about the class, but from you, Bunje. I've always known that change is inevitable, but I never wanted to accept it. Finally, after countless hopeless attempts, I have forced myself to allow change in my life. This class, through blogs and OPs and talks, has opened my eyes on a lot of things. I thought I knew who I was before, but now I know that my perception normally isn't correct, and I was able to dig further to find out who I really am.
Telling me to pick a "favorite" something isn't going to work out. So as for my favorite day, lesson, moment, I'll just say everything in general, with the exception of the days we had to actually do work. Honestly, I felt that I learned more through discussions and blogs than by doing RRL's and TS/TDs.
I can't tell if I'm different. I don't have a good perception of time and change in myself, so I never really notice. But I would assume so. I was much more uneasy and worrisome in the beginning of the year, but now I'm more unconcerned and impassive. I kind of went from caring too much, to caring too little.
Junior year brought me my best and worst times. It was great having the chance to be social. I went to my first Oakcrest football game—ever. I got to know people a lot better. I didn't feel so much like an outcast. I had a freaking amazing softball season. But, this was also my most stressful year in many ways. And the year I made the most mistakes and regrets.
For senior year, I just want to remain social, get involved, and stay active. Softball's going to win it all next year, so that's something to look forward to. I don't know, I hate looking into the future, I'd rather not think about it until I need to.
I just wanted to tell Lucy (Jani)- you're an amazing person. I don't know how you could put up with someone as optimistic as me =D I really couldn't have made it this far without you (and your back massages)
Carly—from the creeper girl to the castle, I've probably had some of the best memories ever because of you and the softball team. I admire your butchness, but just remember: don't f*ck with me.
Mike- I'm gonna try REALLY hard not to say anything mean to you... so I'll end this now.
Maegan- I love you girl. When I'm around you, I'm not the angriest person in the world at that moment =p. I'm sorry I probably won't end up working in Sea Isle with you, but I promise we're gonna hang out all the time =D
Bunje- Thank you, for everything. I don't know how you put up with me, but you did. And you completely surpassed my expectations of a teacher and proved to be one of the most caring and real people I've ever known.
And to Dev, Megan, MattW, Hil, and everyone else, Thanks. I never thought it would be possible for me to make friends with people at Oakcrest. I used to think no one could compare to the friends I have and used to have in Mullica, but once I got to know everyone more, I realized that you all are better friends and people than I ever thought.
Myra:
"1) Tamari cursing out the class in her declamation.
2) Ben cursing out the class right after Tamari in his declamation."
i laughed so hard at this..you KNOW i had to comment on it. It felt awesome to say "bust a cap in a motherfucker's ass" in front of the class! and the fact that Ben had the same thing right after me made it even funnier.
THIS YEAR WAS SOOoooo much work, but I think that's part of the reason why it went so fast. But in the end all of the work that we put in, especially in Bunje's class paid off.
Outside of class there was just so much going on. Soccer being one of the main things that was on my mind all of the time. But once that was over I could really focus on what I needed to do.
I guess in the beginning of the year I was kind of quiet...well in class =). But then with OPs and Declamations and Speeches, everybody just opened up and let all of the great minds in 204 in. I kind of feel like it is still January or February and I just don't know how to feel. I don't feel like I'm ready to leave quite yet. I feel like there are so many more things that we can learn from each other and from Mrs. Bunje.
This year, I and a lot of people did a lot of different things that we wouldn't normally have done. I was in the Lip Sync competition with the soccer girls, and even ran for a position in NHS and won and I feel like it is this new attitude that we need to keep alive during the summer and relight next year. After all, it is our last year of high school and oakcrest and everything that we have been accustomed to for the last 12 years of our lives. But we still have one more year. One more year to prove to Oakcrest that we are spirited and we do have a close nit relationship and we will step it up.
We can't be over spirited by Bunje's obnoxious sophmores =)
SO, 204 was funny and fun and funfilled( besides all of the work) and as you can see from all of the Remember when's that we did make a lot of memories, but I'm not really going to talk that much about them bc that is basically my OP that I still didn't read =(
But to answer some of thequestions, I think that my favorite day was when I read my Mean Girls declamation, becausee eI've always wanted to do that =) haah and my favorite lesson was probably was wheh we talked about SLOB (Secret Life of Bees haah) If that is even a lesson. Oh and I liked vocab quizes too!
I WILL MISS 204 but hopefully we will move on to bigger and better things next year and fulfill our dreams and have the most OHS spirit and smarts EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Perfect 10 <3
Meg Lee
I came into AP lang. in September and I had no idea who you were. As the first few weeks of school passed by, I was a little bit thrown off at “who you were”. After you read your first OP to the class, I was pretty sure I understood the kind of person that you were. You were passionate about your sport and your friends You and I are kind of similar after all- I thought.. Junior year has just been a really big year for learning about life and about yourself. You have genuine goals for next year and I hope you achieve them [:.
This might be slightly more concise than it was previously....
Dear Ms. Bunj-
When I first walked into 204 many moons ago, I felt like a big failure because I did the wrong summer assignment and I feared that you would think that I was a bad student. How far I've come since then!
Although I've learned a lot of stuff academically, I think that the things that I've learned about myself is much more valuable. I think that this class is the only one, of all the ones that I've taken, has taught me the most about myself. I've learned to be patient, I've learned to open my mind, I've learned to ask questions rather than attack, I've learned to control my temper, I've learned to articulate myself, I've learned to value the opinions of others, I've learned to respect those around me, and, last but not least, I've learned how to identify literary devices in ancient literature. On any given day, I'd walk out of your class angry, annoyed, sad, excited, happy, nervous... you name it, I've probably felt it as I walked through the door of 204. But, along with those emotions came a lesson- something that I took with me every day and cherished. I've discovered so much about myself and my peers through this year. The biggest lesson I've learned, whether it be through debates, blogs, speeches, and class discussions, is that I'm not as invincible as I thought that I was. Getting completely trashed by Molly was quite embarassing, and it definitely knocked me down a little; deflated my ego, if you will. This, coincidentally, was my least favorite day in AP Lang.
Almost everyone in the class has, at some point, told me that they think that you and I are quite similar, and to me, this is a tremendous compliment. I'm not trying to be a kiss-ass, but I don't think I've ever met anyone (not a teacher, at least) as open hearted and minded, caring, intelligent, and witty as you. You've taught me so much about life, the person I am, and the person I want to be, and you've changed me more than I could ever say. I came into AP Lang as a bitter, sardonic, and cynical girl, and I'm leaving as someone who has hope. The cynicism is still there, to an extent, but I think that it's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. But I've stopped complaining about the world, and started formulating ideas to help fix it, and this change I attribute to both you, Bunj, and the others in this class.
So, thank you so much, for all that you've done for me. I'm sure I can speak for all of us when I say that we're indebted to you, and that you've taught us so much this year. I can only hope that we've helped you as much as you've helped us.
With that, I wish everyone a super duper awesome summer!
Signing out, for the last time,
Mae.
To everyone that mentioned Jordan and I:
>:l
Thanks, guys. (*cough* losers *cough) :D
Oh, and by the way: Carly and Devon and Molly- Adam was on the front cover of Rolling Stones. TAKE THAT, KRIS.
Last thing: My enchiladas are going to be really spicy. I didn't use a recipe and I made the sauce myself so I kinda eyeballed things... I hope that everyone likes them!
Saraaaa<3!
Awwwww girl i know we will be staying close next year and hanging out all the time :) ! i am glad we had classes together so we had the opportunity to become such great friends.
I loved how you did the memories from our times in 204. They made me laugh!!! I forgot about some of them but i don't alwaaaays text in class ;) (sorry Bunj!) ALso I think we will be able to make senior year fantastic!!!!! <3
Hayleyyy:)
"Next year I, like the rest of the class, want to see some more spirit! I want to win field day next year! I want our class to be closer and to get rid of these stupid cliques that have kept us apart for too long. Let’s make the best of our senior year."
Helllll yeahhh! We are going to run things:) Also I am really happy we became such good friends ever since France. You helped make this year as fun as it was!
Carly!!!
"I’ve decided to take risks and not regret going out, making a decision, or having a good time, because it’s my senior year dammit and I can have fun! "
This was going to be my motto for next year, well shortened to "No Regrets". I want to have a blast and do crazy stuff that is worth remembering. i love the people in our class and with a little inspiration I think we can all get a lot closer and more spirited!
Love you alllllll, seniors 2010 :) <3
To Jen,
Your attempts at sarcasm will be missed. I hope I see you enough this summer to keep the annoyance going, and I'm still waiting for a thank you for all those vocab work I helped you memorize...just kidding, I'm not that naive.
The year is ending. Oh my god…THE YEAR IS ENDING! Well, at least I don’t have to stay up doing homework any- wait, summer work? Goddammit!
Well, it was an arduous year. More so than any other year yet. But somehow, I had an easier time getting up, stepping through the doors of Oakcrest. Don’t know why. It was probably just the atmosphere in general. We were learning, yes, but most of my classes seemed more casual. I could actually interact, which works, seeing as I really hate talking in the normal tense classroom atmosphere. I guess I now talk more, not just around friends, but people in general. I even found myself popping a few jokes around complete strangers, which is probably one of the most unexpected things ever now that I look back.
The year was filled with memories. Though I can’t remember any of them, due to the fact that the memory of the class discussion spontaneously combusting into a period long discussion about Pokémon due to Sergei’s occasional paper has been branded onto my mind. I stick to my beliefs though. Pikachu is definitely an electric rat. A cute electric rat, but an electric rat nonetheless.
Of all the things I’ve learned, the idea of actually having a slight freedom in my writing stands supreme. Sure, it’s like art. Learn the standard before deviating from it. But frankly, we’ve learned the standard well enough, though my memory of the terms about it is still relatively blurry. Proof? “Proof?” has a green squiggly line under it in Microsoft Word. I’m not changing it. It also helped with creative writing, seeing as just about all the short stories I wrote were in first-person.
I’d also like to add that Occasional papers and those declamations were pretty fun and helpful. Though I’m still disappointed that I didn’t stick with my original idea for what to say (yell loudly).
Well, senior year will soon come. I can’t say if it’ll be better or worse. I thought Junior year was going to turn my brain into a bloody pulp. It didn’t. I guess it’ll essentially be time for me to make even more progress in changing my habits. I actually plan out my time better know, despite the fact that I started playing World of Warcraft. It won’t be the easy year like everyone else, but oh well. I’ve learned to multitask. Though, ending up in a class where I can coerce my teacher into letting me play on my DS would be quite nice…
Well, anyways. It seems we’re on a crossroads. One that leads 46 different ways, actually. Damn waste of tax dollars. We should've voted for a different king.
Though our paths diverge from this point, they’ll eventually meet. So let’s all just say "Au revoir" and start walking. Let’s see where we are once we find that the roads we're following have diverged once again.
Junior year has easily been the greatest thus far of my high school career. Despite it being the most difficult I learned more in this short year than in both freshman and sophomore year combined. After starting off the year in CP English 3 with the “lovely” Ms. Kopania I knew there was no way I could stay in that class without killing myself. In the two weeks I sat in “college prep” English I was beginning to lose faith in humanity. I was honestly under the impression that our world was doomed. But after waivering into AP Lang I soon realized that the world may not be as bad off as I originally thought. You guys helped me regain my faith in humanity and that is something I am truly thankful for.
Out of the three AP classes I had this year AP land was the most demanding. Not necessarily because of the amount of work but more because of the effort that had to be put into every assignment. AP History was a lot of work but I never had the ambition to put too much effort into my work mostly because I knew that Mr. Cervi hardly graded it anyways. Not until today did I ever open my history text book. AP Chem was almost as hard as Lang, there was by far more work to be done but it did not require as much critical thinking as did AP Lang.
Of all the days I had it AP Lang I never really spoke up much, mostly because that’s not the kind of person I am in school. Not just in this class but in all of my classes. I have never been one to speak up much in class I typically sit in the back and soak in everything that my peers have to say. Out of all the things we had to do in this class my favorite was the debate I was in on Genetic Engineering. That debate truly taught me my abilities to speak in front of an audience and is surely something I will keep with me for the rest of my life. The other debate, the one I failed miserably, is also one I will keep in mind. The debate was on the topic of the legalization of marijuana and I simply could not perform well because there is no way around it, I am a pot-head at heart.
One of the most valuable skills I have learned this year is the ability to think critically. Before this year I was always under the impression that I was a decent critical thinker but after joining the ranks of AP Lang I soon realized that I needed a lot of work. Now that the year is almost over I feel more confident in my critical thinking abilities than ever before. That is one of the greatest things I have learned from Bunje.
As for next year I hope it can be even half as great as this year, though my hopes aren’t too high. Junior year was amazing and one I will surely never forget. But next year will not be as tough because I am only taking AP Psychology and Economics. Yet never the less I hope to take away usable knowledge I do not already have. I cannot believe that this year is already over. It seems like just yesterday I was walking into AP Lang for the first time getting odd looks from everybody who was surprised to find I was going to be taking AP Lang. But as they say, the days drag on as the years fly by.
It's really over isn't it? Junior year has come and gone but the memories will last forever. Unless they get replaced by even crazier, zanier, and wilder memories to come during senior year. I don't know why but ever since the AP tests have been over I've been trying to cling to school more than ever. Even with finals approaching I am still trying to convince myself that there is boatloads of time left to spend with my friends. In reality the clock is quickly ticking away, and before I know it there will be nothing left in the hourglass of high school. We will all be parting and going our separate ways (except for Nanfara and I, who are going to Princeton together) (No homo! take that Jani), and the only time any of us will see each other will be during the brief breaks. Personally, that's why I've been getting so mad at everyone that's been skipping school these last weeks. I just want to spend as much time as I can with you guys while we are in school enjoying the finer points of high school. But like I said the grains are quickly dropping to the other side of the glass.
Now for the reflection of the greatest year of my life so far. I've literally been through the spectrum of highest intellectual moments and the dumbest of the dumb actions this year, but without a doubt I've come out a more intelligent being. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I've learned, but it's almost if I have become incredibly more intelligent by allowing my emotions to meld with my brainpower. Before this class I really didn't do too much self reflection upon anything I did, or its emotional effects upon others and myself. But recently before I do something, I've stopped to consider the entire party involved and their feelings, and then disregard them completely :).
Actually, to be honest I don't even know how to say what I really want to say. I've changed this year and that's a fact. I've become incredibly more self-reliant and my confidence has been boosted to new levels. This class has presented me with some of the most profound idea's I've ever heard of, and for that I am thankful beyond belief. I remember every single day I would sit with Nanfara and company and discuss how much work we had for this class, but in reality I loved it. It was by far one of my favorite class, considering it was one you cannot study for. You cannot be taught how to critically think, and that's exactly what this class forced us to do. Those that couldn't it clearly showed, but for the most part everyone expressed a level of intelligence that has been unseen in Oakcrest since the Megan Kesselman crew. Anything that causes an individual to be forced to ponder is my cup of tea, and that's exactly what this year had me doing. Everyday there would be a new philosophy or idea brewing within my mind. I honestly don't believe that I've ever thought as hard as I have this year.
My sister just made me think of something that was specifically taught, possibly by accident due to the nature of the students in the class (Maegan :) ), but everything is debatable. Consequently, my dumb ass sister doesn't believe that statement but it is what has essentially been taught throughout the year. On an educational level, I've learned how to effectively use words to my advantage. In short, it's the inner workings of the English language that has been presented to me. I guess that's why the course is called AP Lang.
There is an overwhelming need to give credit where credit is due. Bunje I have to say you have been more than just an influential teacher to me this year. It's odd that Devon's occasional paper turned out the way it did because in all honesty, I feel as if I have built a motherly and fatherly relationship towards you and Mr. Seaman. As much as you probably hate that, and as he made the same face you did when I explained what Devon's occasional paper entailed, it's the truth. Both of you have similar teaching techniques in the sense that you are fun and loving towards most student's and you genuinely care about us. Your classes are both all about forcing students to increase their mental capacity, while still staying on course. Anyhoo, I have to say that you have become a great friend in the past year towards me. There was never a problem that occurred this year that I didn't request your assistance in. While my sister showed me anger, resentment, and oppression, you pervaded happiness, confidence, and guidance throughout any of my endeavors. Never, and I mean never, before in my life has any teacher or older figure extended such a hand of friendship. Personally, I believe that is where you excel. You befriend your students which grants us the comfort to open up to you. In time that opening up allows you to understand us and ultimately take our minds to the next level on our own terms. For that I thank you. I thank you for everything Bunje. The knowledge. The care. The guidance. Everything.
I don't know if I am the only one, but I don't want this to be the last blog. I wish there was a way to continue this blog of our own volition, where Bunje posts questions and we answer if we truly want to. I don't know why, but these blogs have been the most mentally invigorating things I think I have ever done. I for one don't want this to end.
-Nanfara
I remember saying that. It was in study hall in like March I think. I also think you're mistaken, because as I remember it was more than 95% of the test was about me. The less than 5% was the one about female rights. That had nothing to do with me
-Nanfara
Btw, thanks for the dear friend. You are a very dear friend bro.
AP Lang. has been the most entertaining class this year. It’s was always filled with intuitive discussion with respect to what everyone said. This class allowed all of us to express our feelings with no restrictions. And it only improved our writing skills with all of the RRLs and TSTDs although they won’t be missed. But the class as the whole and the people in it will be missed. All the discussions and opinions will be missed. I know that I will miss this class a lot, even though it tough and it required dedication and the skill to follow a calendar (which I still can’t do) I enjoyed it a lot.
I have learned a lot in this class. I have learned to how to be a good writer and how to present my opinion in certain occasions. But this class did something that I think no other class could’ve done. This class helped me overcome my greatest fear, my fear of public speaking. I have always been so afraid to speak in front of a large sum of people and this class helped me overcome that. I don’t what use to overcome me but I could never translate my thought into words. It was the hardest most embarrassing thing. And my nerves would take over my entire body and take away my ability to talk. I hated it. But in this class but all the presentations and OPs I have overcome that. Sure I still turn red when I give a speech or say something but I have under control now.
My favorite part of AP was the declamations. I am a person that is amazing at memorizing things. I can’t retain information but I can keep it in my mind for a significant amount of time. I loved declamations because I thought that they were fairly easy. They weren’t our thoughts or personal feelings so they weren’t that hard to say. I enjoyed them a lot and I hope that my teachers in the future will do something like that. But I highly doubt it because my major in college is going to be biology.
I think that junior year has changed me a lot. I met new people and made stronger bonds with people I already knew. I found out that Oakcrest can be acceptable at times but only in three classes: AP Lang. Pre-Clac and Lunch. Can’t leave lunch out. But this year I have become more open with open. I uses to be reserved and quite but this year helped me show myself to the world. It increased my self-esteem and I am not afraid to do things anymore. I think that junior was the best year of high school and I am going to miss it a lot.
I don’t really want to move on. I don’t want to become a senior just yet. I think that I could’ve used a little more time. I don’t know why but I just need it. May be it’s because I am so unsure about my future. I know what I want to major in but I don’t where to follow my dream. My parents want me close to home but I don’t if I want that. Life is really confusing right now. I just need more time but I know that it will never happen and I have to hurry up and make my decision. Because time is not slowing down but it is getting faster and before I know it time will up and I will have to make my decision.
Everyone in Bunje’s class: HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!
Sarah C: I know that the blog is like a drug to you but what will you do about next year? But anyways I will ignore the fact that you left me all alone, and say that I missed you a lot. I missed having you in may class making random jokes like your random blog. And I miss making blonde jokes when you suffer through a typical blonde moment. But I hope to see you next year.
(I was looking through the freshman yearbook and red is not the color for your hair. LOL!)
Hm...Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know if I left this class witn any literary knowledge. Yeah, I know what zeugma is, I know all the different devices for writing a good essay, I even remember the thing we read about how to say nothing in 500 words. Yeah, we did all of this work...crap..stuff, but I know I'm just going to forget all about it once the summer amnesia kicks in approximately two hours after my final Final. But what I will always remember is how much freedom I actually felt with the work we did and most important, all that we did to learn more about ourselves. This class was very interactive, always allowing the individual to do something on their own, their own way. The blogs, even though not all great, did do a lot to force me to dig deep into myself, I can say the same about occasional papers, even though up till now I've just been writing random stuff, but I've seen how much they helped you guys out get some much needed things off your backs.
My favorite day had to be the that one of the first days where Bunje gave us those papers and we had to fill them out. It was like a little survey of our likes and dislikes. I remember actually being happy to complete it. I wanted to make sure that everything I would put on there would be the total and honest truth. I guess I was hoping that even if it is just a bunch of random questions, maybe my new teacher will see something in the jumbled mess that I don't. Favorite lesson...umm, would have to be when we did tone. Yeah, I'll admit that I couldn't really pick out the tones too well and I even messed up my tone, but all in all, it was a pretty fun experience. My finest moments? There are two, and they are definately the thing where we did that group love discussion thingy and the very first debate that we did. Even though I did terrible, I was getting a lot of kudos for what a great job I did in my presentation. My only wish is that the same happened again the second debate. When it came down to it, I just couldn't pull through for my team. If you guys, Hilary, Erik, Alice, and Ivan, are reading this right now, I just wanna tell you guys that I'm sorry. I wish I coulda done better, but I did not.
Hmm...where to go next with this other then the very next set of questions. From day one to day last, I definately became far far worse. My grades began dropping, I've started behaving like a total asshole to many people. I began swearing perfusely just to get every bit of anger out. Not to mention, Ive literally exhausted the hell out of myself. I put myself in a position, where I could not do anything at all anymore. Up till now, I just called it early senioritis, but no, I think it was just exhaustion. When thinking as far as knowledge going, I've learned all that I needed to know from this year. I've figured out what my limitations are, I've figured out how I personally feel about particular people and things, and most importantly, I actually found what are the few things in life that I truly appreciate. Yeah, I did fail a few of my classes, my grades have not been this low since the first half of my third grade, where I could not speak a lick of English, let alone read it. But idk, grades really don't matter, and I'd sooner flip off a college dean of every fancy Ivy league school then sit there and let them tell me just how much I suck because of my GPA.
To end this, guys, all I have to say is that you've all earned this summer break. You all worked your asses off to do your best in this class. Even if we all slacked off once in a while or procrastnated, we were able to hold together and pull through. That is what truly makes us AP kids. Not the good grades, difficult classes, or awards from a fat man in a tux. It is our abillity to push ourselves to our limits and percevere through the toughest times and challenges that we face. You all really do have what it takes to make your goals, dreams, ambitions come true. Just never, ever let anyone, not even yourself, extinguish the fire that's been burning in your soul; thats been pushing you forward this whole time.
PART ONE:
This year was a change.
Most years always end up really bad. Like REALLY bad.
An example would be last year where at the end, everything seemed to be a disatster. Haha, luckily that didn’t happen this year.
I really liked this year.
Every day was a blast and every day brought with it something new, something unexpected. I got reacquainted with my old friends. Friends of last year were closer. Heck, even some of my old enemies became my friends. Hehe, I’m really actually surprised because, as opposed to last year, I haven’t received any hate emails from anyone yet! That in itself is great!
I don’t think I’ve cried about graduating or leaving school since…possibly…third grade? This just tells you that this year was special. I actually CRIED about leaving for the summer… that’s personal! To the extreme!
So now let’s see what about the year I remember most vividly…hm… my favorite day?
My favorite day would have to be the second day in Tennessee when the chess team went away for Nationals. That day was full of fun things, piggy back rides, chicken, and being lost. Never leave me alone in a hotel that contains a jungle, scratch that, TWO jungles with a screwed up map. I got lost…and it turns out I just circled around a certain area three times… three different ways… WOW…
Haha, as for my favorite lesson, I have to say, I don’t seriously remember any that stood out in my mind. I really liked all my lessons. However, I guess Cervi would have to take the cake when he taught us about what makes a good relationship and everything. I know, it’s the most recent, but I really feel that I’ve learned something really important. Plus, it’s funny to hear about his love life a little.
Finest moment? o.o;;; This one is really hard… I find that I remember a lot of things wrong with me more than I remember anything really good. Hm…I guess it’ll have to be today at lunch where I actually cursed a little and pulled the middle finger on someone. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before! I don’t know. Everyone’s face was like O.O;;;!! I loved it.
I have to say, looking back on all the sixteen and a half years of my life, I have changed a lot if I do say so myself. But…I can’t really tell if it’s for better or worse. I just feel that, as you grow, you should be aiming to improve yourself so I feel that I’ve gotten a bit better.
PART TWO:
My junior year showed me many things. Who my friends are, who my enemies are, who I am. For this, I will truly miss Oakcrest. Even though the first words echoes throughout my mind (“Welcome to Hell.”) I really think that if this is Hell, there is nothing more precious to me than Hell then. ^_^
Hopes for Senior Year:
-Join Student Council and see if I can get involved before I have to leave
-Do Lip-Sync! Looked so fun!!
-Do Cabaret Night again! Was so fun!
-Do all I can to dress up for almost all the Spirit Days! (Gonna spend some moolah and have some fun!)
-Try not to be too wild at prom… ehehe?
-Everyone has a great year! ^_^ Believe it!
I just wanted to give a shoutout to some people:
MATT W: You’re awesome! I think you’re a kind and compassionate person! Don’t think you have a devil inside! Plus, don’t overwork yourself!!! We should hang out some!!! PARTAAAAAY!!!
BRENDAN A, DAN P and IVAN D: You guys are awesome!! Haha, you guys are really great! Really, never change!
SERGEI J: Hehe, I know things are a bit rough, but cheer up and smile every once in a while! ^_^ Let’s party together!!! ~Just Dance, wooooot~
EVA B: You are an amazing person, I think you are cool with that unique style you have! XDD H.A.G.S!!!
ALISON C: I’m so glad we became friends this year!! You are so nice and I’m really glad to be your friend. Thank you for everything!!!
HARLEEN K: No going into the bathroom anymore!! (Physics Joke)
SARAH C: Share that darn Coke!! I want some soda!!!
MYRABETH D: Transformers all the way! PEACE!
ASHLEY S: You are really cool and I'm also glad that I got to meet you this year!! XDD You better go to prom next year!! I'm forcing you!!! XPPP
LEONOR N: Mah! You're so cute and awesome and I'm really happy we got to become closer friends thanks to Gym! Hope to see you in Gym again next year, or any of my classes really!
VIKKIE: MAH!!! I’ll miss you! I know we didn’t get to know eachother but I always kinda looked up to you! You’re like a rebel! You go girl! Have fun next year!
MEGAN S: I love your singing!! XD You better continue! I better see you on stage again next year!
SCHAEFFER: I’m watching you.
CAPONE: You better watch it…. XPP
JANIRU: No more rape!!!
BUNJE: You’re an awesome teacher! I really look up to you. I hope one day that I get another teacher like you! Haha, just warning you ahead of time, I’m going to give you a big bear hug on Friday!!! Prepare yourself!!!
Heck, EVERYONE: You guys are all the most nicest and greatest people I’ve ever met in my life!!! I love you all!!! Please have the greatest summer and see you next year!!!
[I can't believe I actually had to cut my blog in half... that never happens!]
I love you all <3
Ashley-
Thank you very much for the compliments, they were truly touching. I want you to know that I admire your hard-working spirit, and I know that it will take you far in life. You have the potential to become anything that you want, and I hope that you do travel!!
Brittay Goats-
First, call Liz Tartaglio if you want to do beach blast :)
Second
".....and yay for summer Devon =)))
(I can see it starting to come out=))"
hahahahhaha I love this. Many people do not know about my ridiculous side, but I'm glad you mentioned it. LOL. I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER DEVON EITHER!!!! Soccer is gonna be a blast, expect some crazinessss!
Can we have an AP lang pool party at my house?
To Sergei:
Number one, I just wanted to say... holy shnipperdoodles... the favorite lesson thing and stuff was supposed to be for English?!?! Shoot!!! >///< Man, I'm a fail...
Ahem, anyways, I really liked your blog. Plus for the debate, no worries, no matter what, you did well! XDD Plus, no worries, it's not like that debate was going to cost us our lives! Haha, even if it did, we'd probably joke about it in the afterlife. idk, I liked it.
I really liked what you wrote at the end:
To end this, guys, all I have to say is that you've all earned this summer break. You all worked your asses off to do your best in this class. Even if we all slacked off once in a while or procrastnated, we were able to hold together and pull through. That is what truly makes us AP kids. Not the good grades, difficult classes, or awards from a fat man in a tux. It is our abillity to push ourselves to our limits and percevere through the toughest times and challenges that we face. You all really do have what it takes to make your goals, dreams, ambitions come true. Just never, ever let anyone, not even yourself, extinguish the fire that's been burning in your soul; thats been pushing you forward this whole time.
That is possibly the greatest definition ever. You really outdid yourself.
Hope you have a great summer, that goes to everyone!!! Like Bunje said, it's not "goodbye" it's "see ya later!"
~~You say goodbye,
And I say hello!
Hello, hello!
Don't know why you say goodbye,
I say hello!!!~~
Devon: haha summer devon is a lot of fun and devon at the midnight hours!
-Also I think everyone in both classes are great and amazing people and I hope I'm in classes with you all next year!!:)
Part 1
My finest moment was my second debate. I was defending genetic research and technology, which included defending cloning. I do not support cloning and frankly genetically modified food scares me. Never would I clone myself or pets, I believe that things happen for a reason and that certain things are not to be left in human hands. I do agree with growing organs and stem cell research, but not the cloning entire humans part; but my assignment was to support it, so I did my research and came in as prepared as I could. I deflected questions and by the end of the debate I thought I had gotten by enough not to embarrass myself. When the class analyzed the debates, the end result was that for the questioner, I won. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm not the most impressive AP student. I procrastinate and wait till the last minute, my study habits are awful, my grades are blah. I know all this, yet i still fall into the same pattern again and again. Being successful at that debate was my shinning moment. I remember thinking, "for once I finally did something right, I didn't screw up."
I will never forget occasional papers. Through them I learned things about my classmates that I would have never in everyday life. Occasional papers created a personal growth within myself. Those papers forced me to focus on myself and what I felt was important. I learned through OP's that I focus on the past and future, but tend to ignore the present . Also the only thing I ever want to talk about is student council, which is something I'm working on changing. On my last occasional paper I talked in depth about our current senior class. Some of the parts where I mentioned the seniors didn't shed the most positive light on them. I said that no one ever misses the previous senior class, but basically that ment no one would miss them. I also stated that they can be "obnoxious." On an average day in AP Lang I know there will usually be a visiting senior or two. But the day I was going it happened to be a particularly busy visiting senior day. I thought about backing out, changing my paper, and coming back tomorrow with a different topic; but i thought about the other students this year who had stood before me and said something difficult. Wether other students agreed, was a factor they didn't let stop them. So that day I stood up in front of the room and read my opinion. At the end to my surprise I wasn't met with an awkward silence or unfriendly scowl from the seniors. One of the non academic lessons I learned from this AP class is that no one should be afraid to be themself. I've seen classmates reach to the bottom of their darkest places and openly reveal things that were obviously difficult for them to say
I'm don't know if I'm better off this year than in previous years past. I've grown up a lot this year, but with I've lost a lot of my old personality. I use to be naive but positive. I always gave people the benefit of the doubt, because I believed every person had good in them. This year, though experiences, I've realized this is not true and that if I want to leave high school, sanity intact, I need to drop that belief. Fast. There are good things. I'm grown to be independent and I stand up for myself more than I use to.
To my friends. I lost touch with some of you this year. I hope the separation isn't permanent. I'd hate to spend summer and senior year without the people I've grown up and spent high school with.
Part 2
I hope senior year will be my best year yet. I spent a long time working towards this year. I'll be historian, which winning was one of my proudest accomplishments to date, and I'll get to take pictures, which i love doing, at every major Stuco event next year. Over the summer I'll be attending LTC, leadership training conference, which is supposed to be amazing and insanely fun. I've picked a good selection of classes. While I'm not looking forward to the application process, I am looking forward to the college acceptance letters. I'm excited for the future. I can't wait to be a big bad senior. I'm hoping our class will get some spirit. Senior year adrenaline should be the antidote for our unspirited class. Honestly I'm tired of being the class other grades make jokes about. I think it would be amazing to have the entire senior class participate in some kind of event, like spirit week, pep rally, or a spirit section. If the whole class came out, then the field day jokes would stop. I admire how this years seniors unified before school even started. They created this super senior class that makes me wish I was a senior graduating this year. The seniors spirit has spread to every grade except the juniors. I know 2012 will look back one day and remember the amazing seniors when they were freshmen. I want next year's freshmen, 2013, to look back during their senior year and say "wow, those seniors were a great class.'
-Class of 2010, see you seniors soon!!!! =)
“Run
Running all the time
Running to the future
With you right by my side...”
AP Lang has been a life altering experience. I have changed a lot from it, I’d be lying if I told you otherwise. I learned how to become more outgoing. I learned how to manage time...well more than before anyhow. I learned how to better speak in public, and how to make better presentations. I learned how to open up more, and show people what I’m made of, and be more of myself. I have experienced every emotion possible in this class from happiness to sadness to anger to peace to hate to love. I don’t know how, but somehow, by the end of the year, it ended beautifully. Everyone at peace with each other, no fights, no miscommunications, just ease and bliss. It all worked out, guys! =]
My favorite day would have to be our last few days. They’ve been great. Everyone has been happy, and we’ve just shared our final OP’s, our last chance to open up and say things that usually would remain unheard. Everyone’s 4th OP’s were brilliant, and very enlightening. I think these, even on our final days in AP Lang, have still kept my learning going onwards.
My favorite lesson. I think that would have had to be learning yoga. It was such a relaxing period. =]
Hahaha, my finest moment. That would have to be during my first debate with that gosh darn orange. Darn that orange...
I am way different from when we started off the year. I was way more reserved, if you can believe it, and just acted differently. However, I also think I’ve matured more, which I’m not sure if I like yet. I remember always thinking as a kid that I’d never grow up, and become a boring old adult. I never wanted to stop having fun, and act the way adults always acted to me. Telling me what to do and what not to do. It’s distressing that I am becoming like this, as much as I’m trying not to. I still act like a kid in many ways though, which sucks because all my other friends seem to be growing up so fast around me. I’m not sure if I can keep up. They are becoming people I’ve never thought they’d become, and doing things I wouldn’t have dreamed of them doing. We are all growing up I think, just a little too fast. I think this summer we should all try to take time, including me, to rewind, and think about the things that used to matter to us, and what we THINK matters to us today. I’m not sure if I like what I’ve become at all, but I guess this is what summer does, gives us time to think.
“Running, running
As fast as we can
Do you think we'll make it?
(Do you think we'll make it?)
We're running
Keep holding my hand
It's so we don't get separated”
Junior year in whole has made me a more well-rounded person. I made a sort of promise to myself last summer to try and rekindle all my old friendships that I had let go out throughout my “maturing” phase. I think I’ve managed to re-friend a lot of my old friends, and made a lot of new ones. I also decided that I don’t care what people think of my friends and who I’m friends with anymore. The only person who I care about is me; as long as I’m happy being friends with a certain person, everyone else’s opinions are insignificant. I’ve met some really great people this year who have changed my perspectives on many things, and made me think in new ways. It’s interesting how different types of people or cliques think, and also how similarly they really do think. I think junior year was also pretty drama filled, but I expected that. I’ve heard from older students that this year was supposed to be the drama year. However, next year is senior year, and I hear that year is the time when all conflicts and troubles are tossed aside, and everyone just comes together and bond during their final year together. Hopefully, this is how it works out.
I just want to say I’ll miss what this class has made me feel, another home away from home, where I could just relax and unravel. I have never felt pressured to be something I’m not here, and that is something that differs from home and any other class. It’s been a great year, and hopefully I see a lot of you guys next year!!! Class of 2010 woooh!!!!!!!!
“Be
Be the one I need
Be the one I trust most
Don't stop inspiring me
Sometimes it's hard to keep on running
We work so much to keep it going
Don't make me want to give up
Running, running
As fast as we can
Do you think we'll make it?
(Do you think we'll make it?)
We're running
Keep holding my hand
It's so we don't get separated.”
No Doubt - Running
-Devon
I second the pool party at your house thingy. But this time no collisions between Cheatham and I. That really hurt.
This is our last summer as ‘high-schoolers’! Don’t get me wrong, we will have next summer, but by then we’ll be college students! In a seemingly great realization, the thought of high school coming to an end brings a very sad aura to my outlook. Junior year, we finally went to prom, got our licenses, and are months away from becoming adults. As the privileges add on and on, it only seems like we’re getting older and older. Now it comes down to the friends we won’t talk to anymore, the teachers we won’t see anymore, and the realities of growing up. It seems as if all the hard work of getting past freshman, sophomore, and junior year was all in vain. Now that were approaching senior year, we only wish we could go back in time and replay all the good times of high school.
At the same time it’s important to remember that just as we look back and only hope that we made the best out of many months gone by, that we would look at our present time now and make the most out of it in hopes that our future selves would be proud. So as I sit here and write about all of the good feelings and times of the past, I would also like to motivate all of us to embrace the present times as well. The events that go by now are things that I’ll look back on in the future. So as of now I choose to motivate myself for this summer, senior year, and most of all: college.
As far as junior year goes, it has taught me a lot about growing up. Absolutely no one on earth wants to grow up. As I get older and older, I look back hoping I would get younger and younger. I mean, when im 30 and married, I know my number one wish would be for me to go back to the simple summer life of a 17 year old. Anyhow, I believe I’ve matured a lot this year. I’ve always been caught between the hold of maturing and growing up. The way I used to look at life was to either be intellectual and a boring stiff about life, or to stay young forever and be forever unstoppable and unaccountable. It somewhat reminds me of the saying ‘ignorance is bliss’ where the less I would know, the better! But your class Ms. Bunje, has taught me otherwise. In your class I have grown up so much. You really taught me how to think to the point where I was able to accept the truths and realities of life while deciphering where they fit into my life. Most of all, you taught me not to take life too seriously. Like I said, I thought the outlook of life was either black or white, but your instruction and the ideas of dozens of other in the class that followed revealed to me a rainbow of outlooks on life. And above all, one of the best things you taught me this year was to find my voice. For years I could write just at par with what criteria I had to meet. If it was persuasive I knew what ideas to say, if it was compare/contrast I knew what format to use. But with your class, and through all the writing assignments we have done, I really learned not only how to write, but how to make the reader receive my ideas. I learned tone, atmosphere, voice, and much more. Underneath it all, behind all of the literary devices and rhetoric, I learned how to speak my mind. We can all write a piece on the fundamentals of language, but it took a guiding and influential person to teach us how to open up to a class about how we felt about our ex-boyfriends, what we feel about our friends, and the feelings we got when we snuck out of the house! All in all I learned how to turn my thoughts into words, and somehow make it all string together. And one last thing! I realized it yesterday and had never realized it before, and that would be the confidence you gave me in public speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m nothing close to Barrack, but reading my occasional yesterday without getting all sweaty and completely out of breathe really showed me a sense of accord in the sharing of thoughts with each other.
Your class, Ms. Bunje, is something I will truthfully miss. I can honestly say that out of my entire junior year schedule, this is one class that I did not skip! It not only comes from the respect that we as a class have for you Bunje, but the talks that we had in there were something that you simply couldn’t miss, and were impossible to recreate. I am definitely better off for having taken this class, and can truly say I am a more mature person. As for my future, and more specifically junior year, I can only hope to mature more. I know I’m not done growing up, and I’m definitely not done with school, so my only hope for the years to come is the peace of mind that comes from maturing and accepting the fact that it isn’t the worst thing to grow up. If anything, we can mix in the best of both worlds by gaining knowledge and still having no responsibilities! As for senior year, I can only pray that my friends and I would be guided in our future paths. Hopefully we would stay on the right path, and most of all not go down the wrong path. The only thing I would say to my friends would be the fact that I will always stand by them. People stretch and time changes things but these things will never change the fact that I will always be there for my friends. Despite all the fights, attitudes, and boys that come across a teenage girl’s life it’s funny in the grand scheme of things to look at it and laugh, knowing that life is bigger than high school. And that’s one thing I hope to always remember: life is bigger than high school. So what if you lost a friend, a boy, a grade. Life and we as human beings add up to a lot more than the classes, people, and things we surround ourselves with. So in closing I would hope that you guys never sell out, never change, never grow up too fast!
Sarah Crane, I love Sara Barilles, and I have some MUCH worse stuff on my zune, lol. <3
Maegan, I absolutely adore spicy food... but do your enchiladas have meat in them? =O
Devon, I vote YES! =D Bunj, of course, being the guest of honor.
Aww piss, I just read so many, and I feel flippin tears coming on. Gahhh! Why do I love everyone in here so much! I couldn't possibly comment on just one blog Bunj, they are all so good, and so heart-felt. You guys really are the greatest in Oak, and I hope next year and every year for the rest of your life is filled with happiness, joy, and beauty. You all deserve it. Plus, I can't read anymoree because it's too sad!
“Run
Running all the time
Running to the future
With you right by my side...”
Megan you would have No Doubt as the soundtrack to this year! Ah i'm gonna cry, it has to be THE saddest song. You and me always do pick the best songs by the way, and were great singers! But on a serious note, it’s so crazy that we've all helped each other reach this far, and the help we've gained now will follow us into the future. UGHHH soo saddddd! Above this you said that your favorite part of AP Lang has been the last few days, and I agree. Things have just gotten real, and in a lot more perspective. The more we start to realize that we have to separate as friends, the closer we grow. Through occasional papers and these last few days together, the connection between us as classmates and the class of 2010 has overwhelmingly grown. I must say that of all Occasional Papers, i'm patiently waiting for Bunje's, as well as a couple tears to follow with it<33
-Meg Song
"You guys really are the greatest in Oak "
Nanfara and I have been saying that since we were ickle freshies
Also, Janiru, that's not quite what i said, AND i was quoting a play that happens to be called Cubicle and happened to win best play at the one acts. =P Explosive Decompression is somewhere in there... I dunno, i'm just being nitpicky and commenting on this blog as much as possible. Who knows when I'll be able to ever again? =[
Sara VP--
I was reading your remember when's and going "aww" when I read "Caitlin became the new stuco Historian." I started to tear up a little, it means a lot that someone would think to put that in their memories, thank you =)
Speaking of student council...
Hayley-
"Next year I, like the rest of the class, want to see some more spirit! I want to win field day next year! I want our class to be closer and to get rid of these stupid cliques that have kept us apart for too long. Let’s make the best of our senior year."
now your sounding like a student council officer. Btw: I can't wait for LTC! It's going to be insane!! Whatever we learn at LTC we have to bring back and use towards creating a super senior class =)
Just one last thing I want to add, based on the amount of "GO 2010!!" I'm seeing, If everyone here who wants 2010 to become a better class, I say we harness all our spirit and put this towards creating our own legendary super class for next year!!! but even if that doesn't work, Quality not Quantity!!!!!!
PART 1
Every day this year felt longer than the last, and at times I honestly thought it was never going to end. But now that we've reached the final week of junior year, it feels like it flew by. I can remember the first day of AP Lang, taking my seat in the back of the room, basically just trying to avoid Bunje's questions. At that time, I was really only taking the class because my mom thought I wasn't being challenged enough in CP. I figured I would last a few weeks, and show my mom that I couldn't cut it, that this class was going to be too much for me. But then, a funny thing happened. I realized that I could cut it. I realized I enjoyed challenging myself with the work, and that I truly began to love the class and all the people in it.All summer, I was dreading the prospect of a class that was nothing but mountains of insignificant homework that was meant to be completed each night and handed into a scrutinizing dictator who would fill the page with the red ink and toss it back in disgust. Never did I think that a class could be so overflowing with intellectual discussions and self-discovery, or that a teacher could care so little about grades and so much about helping her students realize their potential and reach for the stars. Coming in, I wanted to be done with AP Lang as soon as possible. Going out, I wish it never had to end. Not only has this class given me new perspective about life and forced me to dig deep inside to find out things I never knew about myself, it has provided me with unparalleled insight into the thoughts, beliefs, and opinions of my peers. With each new blog post, each OP, my respect for all of you has grown. Forming relationships is one of the most important things we do, and postings of our deepest emotions have drawn us closer. I feel like I have bonded in different ways with all of you, and that I've forged bonds with people I had hardly even known before this year.
I've never been too big on change, of stepping out of my comfort zone into the void of the unknown and uncomfortable. But this year has pushed me over that edge, and it has benefited me more than I thought possible. Before this year, I had never made a speech. I had never done a formal debate. I had never done a declamation. The nights before my presentations, I was worried that I wouldn't be good enough, that I couldn't possibly remember all the words, that i would let my team down in debates. Preparing to go up in the front of the class, I was certain I would make a fool out of myself. But I didn't. I learned that I had more potential than I thought, that I could do these things, and do them well. The blogs helped me bring out things I'd never really talked about, and seeing the words on screen showed me who I am, and what I believe. Looking back at my self in September, I like to think I've grown, but all the questions have actually left me with only more questions, more thoughts, and more introspection. And maybe that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that's the point, to never stop searching, to never stop learning, to never stop dreaming.
Junior year. Nothing happened….all year long. Honestly, this was probably the most uneventful year I’ve had since 4th grade when I managed to stay out of the principal’s office for the whole year (back then it was an accomplishment. My mom thanked her church for their prayers and everything).
Your class managed to remain the only one void of newspaper, chess, and pokémon. Though it wasn’t really a lesson, per say, I’d chalk up the day we had quiescence as a vocab word as my favorite lesson. I just really really love that word. When you place it in the right context, it has that sort of poetic anger that just sits well with me.
Come to think of it, this was a year of quiescence. Maybe that’s why I connect with the word so well. At the beginning of the year, I’d say it was more of a literal quiescence, since I was failing all my classes from not doing any work. As the year went on, I moved on to a mental quiescence. I stopped thinking. I don’t think I lost my imagination. At least, the visual imagination was still in tact, because I felt like I was losing touch with reality. I kept getting out of body experiences while I was completely sober. I was pretty freaked out, to say the least.
My verbal imagination was gone. I couldn’t write. I put the pen to the paper, but it was dry, and the paper already coagulated with the blood and guts of previous failed ideas, or lack thereof. The final blow came when my musical imagination disappeared. I couldn’t write songs anymore.
The one point of the year I’ll always take with me is that time in class when Brendan astounded the class with his brilliant play on words:
”Are you a pacifist? I’m a pacifist. I like to pass my fist through your face.”
Simply amazing.
Hmm. I didn’t really have any steady friends in this class this year except maybe Meg Song and of course Jani and Matt. I’ll be talking to them all summer, though, so I don’t really have anything to say to them.
The one person I’m going to miss the most next year is Lorenzo. I’ve been dreading this day for the past few months, and now it’s here, and it feels terrible. At least I know he’s going to Stockton, so I can still just go pick him up outta Oakcrest and we can chill. Still, I don’t know how I’m going to make it through next year without Lorenzo.
Hahaha - ALright Jordan, you were right. =]
Abby - Nope. It's not the saddest song. I just took a shower after posting this and the first song that came to my head was the Graduation Song. Yeah, that would be when I started tearing! That song is....omgosh. Remember on the bus with Katie, and how she told us to stop because she was crying...now I kinda get her drift. Oh and one more thing, Mike and I were talking on the bus today, and he reminded me of how we would sing Titanic! And we started singing it a little hahah, next year, I don't even care, you, me Britt, and Mike are singing on the bus, one final time. (I just realized that the word "final" is a very sad word.)
I never thought I would write these words down, but I really hope that senior year goes slow. I want to savor every moment, enjoy every experience as much as I can, because I know I will miss Oakcrest and the people that make it the great place it is. I want my senior year - our senior year - to be the best it can be. I want our teams to kick ass, to leave the school with a great reputation, to be remembered as one of the best classes to ever walk these overcrowded hallways and sweat bullets in thousand degree classrooms. Maybe I'll even go to Field Day. Seriously, though, our grade is so much more than people say. We are really like a family. We all know that we can count on each other for help with anything we need, and everyone is willing to go out of their way. Leaving will be hard, because it will feel like losing a part of ourselves. But for now, we've got another 180 days to leave our mark on The OAK, to build relationships, and to grow as people.
To all fellow AP Langers; it's been a privilege to spend this year learning and growing with all of you. I don't really consider myself an "AP Kid", since this is the only AP class I've taken in high school. But anytime someone wants to put me in that category, it's an honor because I know what great people you all are. In a school full of materialism and people conforming to fit in, you are all an island of reality in a sea of fakeness. This group is more selfless and caring than any I have ever known, and those attributes are something to be proud of. I only wish that I had gotten to know you guys earlier, and had more time with you. But the time that I have had has been great, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Bunje: Thank you. I wish I was as good with words as you are, so I could truly express what you've meant to me and this class. I have never had a teacher who cares so much about her students as you do. I have never had a teacher who put so little significance to grades, in favor of the things that really matter. You want us to do our best, and the TS/TD's, RRL's, and vocab tests prove that you still can hand out assignments with the best of 'em. And while I've learned so much about literary terms, verbs, and words that I've never seen before, what you've really taught us can't be quantified by numbers. I'm not even sure that words do it justice. You showed us the door leading to our potential, and even gave us the keys to open it. It's almost like saying, "Poppets, your jar is open." Soon enough, we will fly away, clutching to the ideals and beliefs we've gained thanks to your guidance. You believed in us when many of us had given up on ourselves, and your words in class and on the blogs, whether you realize it or not, helped us reach within and extract the gifts and strength that hid been hiding within us all along. We all love you, Ms Bunje, and we will all miss you, but never forget you, when we finally soar out of our jar. Thank you for everything.
I already read a few blogs and the reason I wrote mine so late is because I wanted to keep reading them more. Every single one of them is making me happy and sad all at the same time. And the dramatic music that’s playing on my computer isn’t really helping…
I remember walking into school the first day and thinking that this was just going to be another school year. I had no expectations or forethought of what was going to come especially from this AP Lang class. I’ve mentioned before that I never really enjoyed English. I always thought of myself as a Math person just like a true Asian would. Yet, Lang has changed my perspective on my intelligence and on myself.
Starting out, I expected my experience in this class to be just like all my experiences in my other classes. With readings logs, blogs, and vocab right off the bat, you showed no mercy Bunje. I didn’t find myself enjoying the class as much as others. However, as the year went on, I’m glad I was proven wrong. And oh boy was I wrong! In my past English classes, I never found myself participating very much. I even remember what Mrs. Rock wrote in my journal for her class on the last day of school. “Next year, try to participate more! :)“ AP Lang has helped me to do just that. Through blogs and OPs, I was able to open up and reveal sides of myself that I never really let anyone see. The fear of being judged by my peers seemed to diminish as we grew into a closer classroom, as we grew into a family. One of my favorite lessons were the speeches. Before Lang, I never fully reached my speaking potential. I never thought that I had stage presence or any presence at all for that matter and I always thought my writing was just mediocre. But after reading my speech, I saw my potential for the very first time after I realized everyone was actually laughing at my silly jokes- the jokes that I thought were only funny to me. I walked out of 204 that day proud and accomplished. It really made my day and it was all because of an assignment that you assigned Bunj.
Part Dos-
Since September, I’ve changed so much and I know I will continue to change and learn from my experiences this year. I used to be a very shy, quiet type of person. Still weird to some close friends, but pretty much restrained. Yet this year, I’ve developed such a new level of confidence and acceptance. I am so grateful for the friendships I have made and the lessons I have learned in this class because it has always been about us. Of course, Lang has helped me educationally with readings, vocabulary, and SATs. But most importantly, we’re taught to think about who we are and who we want to be.
Bunje you have been one of the best teachers I’ve had in a really long time. And you’re probably the only one that has told us you loved us and truly mean it. I’ve had a talk with a few others about the teachers that “do it for the money” and “do it for the kids.” From the very beginning, there was no doubt where your priorities lied. You made it known that it was never about the grades. It was about us. I see it everyday. I’ve noticed it for the very first time today that you start off every class by sitting in the front and asking questions about us. “How was your day?” “What’s wrong?” Never feeling pressured, you’ve made it extremely easy to share our thoughts and troubles with you. This was my favorite class by far and I thank you so much for making it that way.
Like I said in my OP, this year has been filled with a lot of disappointments, but the friends that I’ve made have been worth it. I’ve come to love and adore everyone. I used to feel like the outcast out of the AP group because it never seemed like I was close to anyone there. Plus, I’ve always had friends out of the AP classes. That’s why I am happy to say that the majority of my best memories this year has been with the gang (Jordan, Mike, Matt, Nick, Bennett, Kit, Bobby, the AP Bitties :)). You are one of the most intelligent and fun-loving groups of people that I have been around. I hope that Senior Year will be even better. Everyone is doing their own thing next year and taking their own classes, but I hope dearly that we keep the good times rollingggg. Like many, I also hope that we unite as a class. For my final words, I wish everyone the best senior year possible. Keep your head up and stay true to yourself. With that, everything should be smooth sailing.
204<3
Ah. Junior year. It sure was an interesting one. A year full of chaos. Pleasant and unpleasant at the same time. I'm a way different person than I was at the beginning of the year though. Hopefully changed for the better. Everyone else seems to think so. I can't get them all to go away. Grr... But as far as this class goes, there'll definitely be some good ammo for convincing noob sophomores to take Lang.
A key, and most fun example, being Bunje actually caring about us. 9/10 may remember my nervous breakdown day at symposium time. Whelp, when Bunje found out the root of it all was a girl problem, she offered to beat up the offender. Pretty sure she was serious too. That's actually a fight I'd like to see.
Man, I hate my memory. It's failing me. I can't come up with specific examples other than Pegasus, but I definitely think this is one of, if not the best class I've had. The ideas therein and the gift Bunje has for saying them while never getting too too serious are only barely rivaled by Costal, and I can't judge that properly since I sucked last year.
Which is true. I was an ungrateful, unobservant shit last year. I think it was necessary to build up to the person with actual opinions and instincts I am now, but I was a twit. I was only concerned with being 'cool' and being 'right', whatever the fuck that means. I hurt a lot of good people. But I came into this year looking for, and being given, a fresh start. I think I've, possibly as a reaction to everything around me, I've gotten much more positive. Last year was either my way, or a damn good reason otherwise. Now? I'm don't care. If there's badness, I don't want it to continue. If not, yay! I like it a lot more, if nothing else.
But what does that have to do with this class? Whelp, it's given me at least a few things that will hold through life. A) Non-fiction can be interesting! Found this out on a few of the essays with the book with that name on it. Can't remember now that I've turned it in... Grr... Anyway. 2) A talent for staying up until 3 in the morning doing things most would not consider worthwhile. My friends on Warcraft certainly appreciate the help, Bunje! And most of all) You *can* get sugar hill from an English class. Take every chance to do so. (This is something I've internalized, but it goes for all of you too. -nod nod-)
I think I'll miss 204, especially the hurriedly written OPs, but I'll be back. There's a debate to be had and sophomores to mess with.
And with the embarrasing music admissions going around, I'd like to point out I write half my blogs to musical soundtracks. This one to Rent.
@Ivangrad: A) It was all funded by an anonymous donor actually. He gave us all proverbial hatchets. And B) I've played DS in almost every class at this point. In Baird's during lessons. It's less a matter of the teacher than what they're doing. A lot don't give a crap.
@ Everyone: Don't wait. I've learned my lesson, and I'd like you all not to. Seize every moment, and don't wait for something good. Seek it out, and seize it.
There is no future
there is no past
thank god this moment's not the last
There's only only us
there's only this
forget regret
or life is yours to miss
No other road
no other way
no day but today
There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today
-Dan out. Live Long and Prosper, Ya'll.
Erik “I never thought I would write these words down, but I really hope that senior year goes slow. I want to savor every moment, enjoy every experience as much as I can, because I know I will miss Oakcrest and the people that make it the great place it is.”
Same here! People say senior year goes by so fast but I’m afraid of it going by TOO fast. This school has been a home away from home. Everything about it I’ve come to hate and adore- the warm water fountains, cafeteria food, the rusty lockers, everything!!
Well first off I would like to say that this is the first blog that I completely forgot about until just now – 11:44 pm. Gah! But why end on a bad note? In 204 I have learned to look at things differently, both people and writing. I have experienced a sense of camaraderie that I have not found in any other classroom that makes us in many ways a family. We listen to each other as well as support, argue, discuss, and every other thing a good family does. All in a mere 44 minutes a day five days a week. That is a very short amount of time – only 132 hours or 5.5 days. That is less than one full week. In this short time I have evolved as a person into someone that I am unsure about the specifics of, but also confident that in the ability of this new me to take on any challenge that may face me in my future.
I have no specific moment that comes to mind as ‘the best,’ but rather a great many. From Billy’s OP to the banter around the class room, to apologizing as a class, to numerous other shared events, the feelings are deep and true. My favorite moment was most moments not spent thinking about the AP test or prepping for it, but the moments where we could be who we truly are – ourselves.
I am myself. I have grown (not physically) and shrank in the past year amounting to not much difference to the unobservant eye. My actions have not changed as a whole, but the reasons and beliefs behind my actions have become more concrete and have taken shape. This change for the better may well be attributed to the blog, and for this I thank you Ms. Bunje. It has been a great year.
This junior year did a lot for me, even though two out of three of my fears for junior year (in the first post) did actually come true (we had a rather bad band season and I have yet to resolve the college dilemma…) This year, I have learned a plethora of information about YOU the general population of AP Lang. I have learned about my fellow classmates and no longer feel quite as isolated from you as I once did. For this I am glad because I have learned to work with my fellow classmates and communicate effectively. (Another AP Lang attribute – thanks again!)
Hopes for senior year: 1. It’ll be great! 2. A resolution to the college issue. 3. Staying sane through 5 AP classes. (unrealistic… I know ) These are the hopes that I end my junior year with. Not many, but they are the core of all hopes I have for my senior year. I could say that I hope we win championships, but that would be great… so it is repetitive. I could go on about college this and college that, however that is also repetitive. Seeing a trend?
To my friends, you are all amazing. Thank you for putting up with my bitchy moods at times, I know it is a pain but it is part of the package. You have kept me grounded and sane throughout the year while also creating more stress. I commend you for that achievement. See you next year!
To myself – I talk to myself with nonverbal messages, so they don’t translate well onto paper, but they are something along the lines of, ‘Alright, we’re in for the long haul now!’ This year was great, let’s repeat it next year.
Ali B
Its 12:16 and i'm not tired at all because I'm too caught up wit these blogs!!!
Finona!
Hey I know that you told me to read the blog, and I thought you were talking about last week's.... I feel really stupid... but the good news is that I am going to steal you from your parents this summer and take you... I'm working on where we're going but it'll be cool. I promise.
Well thanks for acknowledging the Katie-Drama thing. It was kind of weird but in the end it was good for me. I learned to make new friends (something I am still not very good at) outside of our little circle of PP sisters... :P
I'm glad you are back. Talk to you soon - promise!
ABC
ABC~
I for real just started crying about that. Granted, it's past mid night and I've spent the last 6 hours slaving over our lang cake and the history final I'm going to fail tomorrow (I really hope every body likes that cake... and that it doesn't sound to stupid...) and I have been prone to crying all day, but I'm just so happy and sad at the same time. I don't want this year to be done yet. I feel like it just started. I feel back. I feel like I left for a long time and wasn't Fiona for a long time and now I am back and certain and awake and I really hope this summer serves to grow my new friendships and aquantainces instead of diminishing them, and also helps to rebuild the bridges I've burned. I love you Ali B, my best friend since when I very first moved here, who's stuck with me through literally everything. See you this summer. Often. =]
<3
"When I think back to the early months of AP Lang, one of the first things that come to mind is my first OP. I don’t even know what to say about it, besides I wish in a way I never read it. It caused that damn drama with people I wouldn’t want to disagree with and definitely shaped the circle of friends that I experienced junior year with. I love, and I mean LOVE, the people who I shared the worst and best moments of my life with this year but I wish I never shut other good friends out of it back in October and for that I’m very sorry."
Looking back on it, we all drifted so far away from each other after that... I love you both dearly, and as much as that OP was hurtful, it was helpful. I honestly didn't look at the situation at all from both of your perspectives. Nor did I even think we were hurting you both. Believe me, I understand now after having gym with all of you and feeling extremely segregated...But for senior year, I say we forget all of this and rekindle our circle! <3
Matt-
it was definitely genius with a little touch of luck ;)
Carly-
I agree with what you said about your first OP. It was very shocking... and hurtful.. that two of my best friends would say stuff like that OUT LOUD-- without approaching me first. So we drifted a little, naturally. I'm sure you meant well..though the outcome was not what I wanted :( But I believe we've recovered a bit, and we will more this summer. I still love you two so much! And I hope we get back to where we were last soccer season :)
Kelly:
lol that AP Bitties!:) haha
Hayley and Sara:
I agree let's "rekindle our circle"!!!!<333
Let's! :) <3333
Ahhhhhhhh. I agree with Carly about that first OP. :( Jesus Lord.
Lindsey commented on my blog and I love her.
Harleen commented about me and I love her.
Ashley commented a little about me and I love her.
Alice will probably never be able to steal my coke but I love her anyway.
And I know this is a little late, but who cares.
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