An Open Letter

I was a nobody when I entered into IB at the beginning of my junior year. I knew some candidates in the Programme, but was nervous about making friends with new people. Ironically, that cycle continues today with college - as I write this, I plan on attending UNC Chapel Hill, where a ton of Millbrook kids will attend. However, now I have the knowledge that my new friends will impact and improve my life more than I thought was possible, which helps ease my mind. A majority of who I am today is due to my interactions with other people. As such, it would be fitting for my last blog post to be a thank-you some people (mostly guys) who have helped me enormously, either with confidence or with my mindset, throughout the past two years.

Alex - From our shenanigans in sophomore year Civics, to our sarcastic conversations in TOK junior year, to our off campus lunches senior year, there have been a ton of highs (and also some lows (@junior year)). Either way, I knew I always had someone to laugh with or just simply sit and appreciate some company, something that I don't usually do easily. Despite my sarcastic and deprecating attitude towards you, our friendship is amazing and I love you like my brother. I'll seriously miss you at Tulane next year, but hey, I know you're gonna do bigger and greater things each and every year. Love you man.

Carson - When I pulled up to Liz's New Year’s Party, I was so nervous cause I knew all of three people there (all of which were girls). But you rolled up, calm and stoic as ever, and we instantly hit it off and have been best friends ever since. You're one of the people I've been close from the beginning of IB to the end, and that consistency was a nice addition to my life. I know that I can always come to you for help with whatever problems that I have, whether it be physics or relationship advice. You're my brother, and I'll always be down to hang out with you, even at State.

Victor - BRO. So many killer moments with you - prom, Halloween, New Year's, Simpson’s - I’m sad because it’s about to end in a couple months. You’re my hype man, my encourager and the person who gives exactly the right advice at exactly the right moment. I can’t explain how grateful I am for you because I have grown as a person from just being around you. And while we might grow a tad more distant simply because of location, it heartens me that someone at Bridgeport will gain an incredible friend and an honest confidant.

Amy Grace - All I have to say is thank you. You’ve helped me through every major problem, from faith to school to relationships, and I’m incredibly grateful. You are, without a doubt, the most genuine person I’ve ever met, and I am incredibly blessed to have you in my life. You’re the best, and thank you for being my friend for all these years.

Anthony - To think that we met because I picked you up on the way to a volleyball game is crazy. You are, hands-down, the most confident and level-headed person I’ve met and it permeates through every social interaction. I’m delighted you’re going to Chapel Hill as well because it means we can easily keep in touch. Your charisma and attitude is infectious and I have, and always will, admire your character and hard-working mentality.

Tommy - I respect you so much man, simply because of your temperament and personality. You never ever ever give up on anything and are never afraid to ask for help. Coincidentally, those are two areas I really struggle, so I admire you all the more for being able to do both of those things so well. You’re always striving to be successful and be the best person you can be, and it’s great to be around someone like that because it makes you want to keep up with them. That alone has helped me learn so much in and outside the classroom and as a result, I’m exceptionally grateful for our friendship.

Michael - Mannnnn you’re the king of critical thinking and deep thoughts. I’ve never had more existential crises than when I’m talking with you at 2 AM on Friday nights. I learned from you (and Auggie as well) that everything can have a purpose or meaning and it’s up to us to determine how we can use that thing to our advantage. That realization helped me become grateful for the abundance of little things within my life and subsequently allowed me to grow a little bit more each and every time. Thank you for always being willing to talk through anything with me and everyone - your generosity and selflessness goes a long way.

I’m sorry for the shortness and poor diction (😉). This is by no means a comprehensive list, as there are so many more people that I could go on and on for about their impact within my life. It’s really difficult for me to put my thoughts into words, so if you weren’t listed, it’s simply because I’m incapable of expressing all the things that you have done for me the past two years.

Lastly, I want to thank all the teachers who have dedicated their entire lifestyle to us. I have the utmost respect for people who are willing to sacrifice their time to help other people grow and develop. I was blessed to have some of the best teachers at the school, and each and every one of you has made me the person that I am today.

Witty Whitman

Whitman seems to have been very ahead of his time, at least in terms of his beliefs about people and the future. For example, within his journal, he mentions how America was like a stagnant cesspool, who needed a storm to shake itself up. He then describes Lincoln, a presidential candidate, as a captain of a ship, which was his way of saying that Lincoln was to be the leader throughout the country’s time of turmoil. This is significant because Lincoln WAS our leader through slavery until his assassination - this helps show that Whitman had a good sense of what was to come for the United States. Similarly, Whitman also focused on the principles of democracy, and how, if the United States wished to endure, they would need to lean on the foundation on which the country was started. Later in his journal, he mentions that the South’s secession was treacherous for democracy and even treasonous. Afterwards, he would write about the Union’s potential failure, stating the liberty and freedom would outlast the most longstanding republics or governments. During the modern era, these would be viewed as words of encouragement, as democracy and republicanism are the two most accepted practices of government around the world, in terms of treating people fairly and equally.

Whitman also places heavy emphasis on religion within his journal. He brought up the idea of a “four-sided god”, one where Jesus Christ and Satan would be included. This idea comes from how compassion, fighting, and determination all existed during the Civil War as neighbor fought neighbor and brother fought brother. Whitman most likely saw the compassion through the anti-slavery North because he himself hated slavery and wanted it to end. Similarly, once the war had broken out, he saw how resolved both the North and the South were to win the war, and admired the North’s resolve to stand up for the rights of everyone. I think that Whitman felt the need to “invent” a new god because his beliefs didn’t quite fit in with any individual groups’. He was more focused on the life as it was, rather than an idealized version of life, as presented in most religions (specifically Christianity, as that was the dominant religion in the 1860’s). To me, this shows that Whitman wanted to be a part of a strong-willed community, which may be one reason why Leaves of Grass is so focused on the idea of universal brotherhood. Similarly, I think that the motif of mental or spiritual journeying shows up in Leaves of Grass because Whitman himself contemplated the multitude of daily issues and realized that he grew as a person from it - something I think everyone could learn from.

No Such Thing As A Life That's Better Than Yours

1. How would you describe the “American Dream?”

The American Dream is what makes living in the United States so enticing and desirable for people all around the world. It is often a major cause for emigration from a homeland into the US. The standard American dream over the years is that you could work hard and see your status, wealth, and prestige skyrocket - in essence, your hard work would be rewarded. This connects back to our capitalist economy; incentives give people a reason to work harder and subsequently have the potential to better their and others’ lives.

However, the American Dream often manifests itself differently through society’s nuances. For example, in The Great Gatsby, materialism is evidence of the American Dream. One’s success was determined by their material wealth, and as such, people like Gatsby and the Buchanans were highly respected. In contrast, in the mid-1940’s, FDR believed that the American Dream was composed of quality housing, education, healthcare, and a good job. While those four characteristics were undoubtedly coveted in the 1920’s they were demonstrated in a different way.

2. What is your definition of wealth?

My personal definition of wealth is the accumulation of a certain belonging, good, or product that is deemed valuable by society. Wealth typically increases a person’s status (how they’re viewed by others in society) to a large extent; they’re often treated better than those without wealth, leading to social stratification. In modern America, wealth is seen through a variety of mediums. The age of social media has magnified every activity of every individual. We see other people with cooler cars, or more expensive shoes and wish we had the same (an example of social stratification). Common indicators of wealth in America are having an expensive car, a large house, or dressing nicely. These objects are not necessarily the desirable objects themselves, but rather they represent them through symbolism.

3. What are Americans’ attitudes toward wealth and poverty?

I think the stereotypical American Dream affects how everyone above middle class views those below the poverty line. The American motto is essentially “work as hard as you can and you’ll be rewarded”. Similar to most mottos, this is only true for a certain percentage of a specific group. The percentage of society that has good financial habits , a supportive family, and an educational degree will most likely be able to be rewarded for hard work. But those who lack those characteristics, will simply be stuck at the lower rungs of the social ladder. This is evidenced by the documentary “Reversal of Fortune”, which stars Ted Rodrigue, a homeless man who is given $100,000 to turn his life around. Within six months, he had spent all his money on cars, alcohol, and various other luxuries. This is a prime example of how a lack of stability can affect spending habits and lead to poverty. A more abstract example is the typical American middle class office employee for a multi-billion dollar company. Even if he/she works as hard as they can, the probability that they will become CEO or obtain a senior management position and move social classes is unlikely. They are stuck, just as Ted Rodrigue was stuck, because they didn’t have the resources to be successful. However, we view the employee very differently than Ted - we admire their willingness to work hard. In contrast, we may look at Ted as lazy or incompetent, even though both individuals are stuck within their social class. This shows the extent that wealth can have on the perceptions of people within American society.

4. What is your attitude toward wealth and poverty?

I think that it’s difficult to judge a person based off their wealth alone. I’ve met some very down-to-earth people who aren’t the wealthiest people, yet are just as happy as those who have more than enough. Similarly, I’ve also met plenty of great people who are extremely well-off and are grateful for their blessings. I think that wealth is one of the more overrated things in modern society; while it may be nice to have a little extra money, there are plenty of more important things that wealth simply cannot get you. Even so, because I am able to say those words, it shows that I am privileged because I do not have to worry about wealth and how it could negatively impact my life. Wealth is a basic necessity for economic success in our society. However, depending on your definition of success, you may not need wealth at all for favorable outcomes. In essence, I think that wealth or poverty tells you very little about a person because there are a wide variety of other factors that are just as important.

Wise words from Cole: “For what’s money without happiness? Or hard times without the people you love…”

The Decision

After much deliberation, I have decided to use my freebie on this blog post. I want to thank God, my family, and my dog for this opportunity, and I'm ever so grateful for more time to work on my WT2 =').

an exemplar in how to fail the IOC

Disclaimer: My planning skills are very lackluster, and that's one reason why I think I did poorly on this practice. I contradicted and repeated myself a bunch, but I think if I did a better job preparing I would have been just fine. Time to practice practice practice!!


Criterion A (3 marks): There is little direct quotation from the passage itself and the commenter fails to make any deep insights relating to the novel. However, there are a few good connections to context and background, but they are not supported with evidence or examples.
Criterion B (6 marks): The commenter does a solid job using literary devices to connect back to the purpose of the passage. He acknowledges the lack of trust between narrator and reader a variety of times and uses literary devices to establish and support his thesis. However, there isn't an in-depth understanding of the effects on the reader, and that limits potential for higher scoring.
Criterion C (2 marks): There is an attempt for organization and structure, but the recording doesn't flow naturally. He jumps from different segments of the passage with little abandon and frequently backtracks to make a different point. He does do an effective job of organizing by literary device, as the structure is relatively clear, but the focus on organization is minimal at best.
Criterion D (3 marks): Most of the language used is appropriate and functional with regards to the rubric. However, he occasionally uses incorrect grammar or slang, and stutters or sayings like "um" frequently. Overall, it was mostly appropriate for the passage.

Total: 14 marks

Abandoned and Eerieness: starring Kathy and Tommy

Four Cover Analysis:

I’m extremely guilty of judging books by their cover. It’s the main feature that intrigues me as a reader, as well as the synopsis on the back cover of novel. As such, this blog post really speaks to me - both because I love to read and because it’s applicable to my experience as a bookman.

I dove into Never Let Me Go with much enthusiasm because I disliked Jekyll and Hyde (because the cover was really lame). Something I noticed when I was ordering my copy of NLMG was that there were a TON of covers for this book - it seems like each publisher or producer wants to add their own twist. However I did notice commonalities between each one, and the general mood seemed to be synonymous.

Each given cover feels eerie and there’s the sense that something is just wrong. This is no doubt a connection to the novel’s status as a dystopia; it both enhances the text and draws the attention of potential readers. Similarly, all the copies also create a sense of isolation within the onlooker (the secluded girl, the indistinct human, empty boat, and the grey/black background). Each of the aforementioned examples cause the observer to feel either physically or emotionally “small”, which produces the feelings of eeriness and abandonment. Both examples contribute to the novel because the protagonists’ main purpose is to provide organs for their clones, something that is both terrible and odd to our society - a characteristic that is noticeable within the covers. As a result, these covers are successful because they attract the attention of spectators and simultaneously give insight to the type of novel it may be.

Individualized Analysis:

The left cover really appeals to me as a reader. It reminds me of the scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where Harry and Dumbledore are searching for an entrance into the cave by the sea and they eventually find a small boat in the sand. The setting is extremely similar; the boat is on the anchored at shore, surrounded by a huge lake and no signs of civilisation. The huge lake makes the potential reader feel physically small as a result of the enormity of the natural structure. Simultaneously, the remoteness helps create the feeling of isolation because there is no sign of other human life. The color scheme implies either a cloudy day (perhaps indication of a storm) or twilight. Both qualities are historically associated with negativity, instantly signaling the the reader that this story is not for the “faint-hearted” (another HP reference). The text itself displays the author’s name in large, all capitalized font, with the title appearing just below it. The only other words on the cover are a quotation from Time and an award nomination. The minimalistic approach helps enhance the foreground and background’s previously stated purpose. Having read the novel, I can identify this cover as Kathy H’s perspective. She’s grounded ashore, alone, watching the twilight/storm envelop the lake (representative of her voyeuristic mindset). This is a result of her friendship with Ruth and lack of significant other in her life - she always seems to be someone’s second choice, so she just prefers to be alone.

Meanwhile, the right cover takes a different approach. There is no text, with the exception of the author’s name in small, crooked print at the bottom of the page and the seemingly hanging-in-midair title. The font seems to inform the reader that the book is filled with horror stories and mystery. This slightly hyperbolizes the plot points, but from an outsider’s perspective, the events that take place in NLMG are atrocious and wrong. The background is also extremely vague, both in picture quality (insert “was this filmed with a potato joke here”) and in color scheme. This corresponds with Kathy H’s attitude throughout the whole novel. She’s extremely non-committal and passive, enhanced by Ruth’s leadership tendencies, to protect herself from any possible blame for an unknown tragic event. Similarly, the color scheme is a conglomeration of gray and black. These dark colors incite fear of the unknown and eeriness within the reader, which connects to the book, as it is classified as a dystopia. Looking from a protagonist's perspective, this cover represents Tommy’s life at Hailsham. The color scheme is symbolical of his differences, as he is not creative and is therefore different from the majority of Hailsham’s population. Simultaneously, the vague background connects with Tommy because the reader doesn’t learn much about Tommy’s past - it’s kept intentionally unclear to invite questions.

In summary, all of the covers typically are vague and evoke feelings of isolation and mystery. This is Ishiguro’s signature feature and it reflects in the covers; vagueness and ambiguity help create foreshadowing within the text, a theme the reader will certainly recognize from judging the book by its cover.

Limits, like fear, are often an illusion

Link to Ted Talk:

https://www.ted.com/talks/karen_thompson_walker_what_fear_can_teach_us/transcript?language=en

I have always had an odd fascination with fear, as evidenced by my choice of Extended Essay topic (fear’s impact on psychological and physical processes in the body). On one hand, being afraid is arguably the most daunting emotion a human being can experience, especially concerning the unknown. However, fear is also capable of producing extreme levels of hormones that allow human beings to do seemingly supernatural activities (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysterical_strength). It’s the disparity between “freezing up” from a jump scare, to lifting cars to save children that fascinates me so much. Something so potent has the potential both the potential to be monumental for research and for medical practice.

The talk leads off with an enticing hook, an anecdote about the origins of Moby Dick. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a ship crashed that had 20 American sailors onboard. Over the course of the next few months, their actions, thoughts, and mentalities were ruled by fear, something that the speaker is quick to point out. She also mentions that in modern culture fear is something to be buried, discarded, and ignored, a result of human’s natural optimistic traits. Unfortunately, this fear culture has led to a majority of modern culture being unable to properly deal with feeling the emotion, as well as individual fears to become more toxic. Instead of fearing the irrational, she says, we should learn from our rational fears because they provide us a glimpse into our future, and possibly, the truth.

The talker, Ms. Karen Walker, connects logos and pathos to reasoning and artistry respectively through the use of both personal and shared anecdotes. The personal anecdotes, such as her fear of earthquakes and losing her family, make the talk more relatable to the listener and as a result, establishes her credibility as an expert on fear. Simultaneously, the shared anecdotes, like the Moby Dick story, gives the listener background information and knowledge needed to connect with the more intimate parts of the talk. The shared knowledge helps create emotion within the listener, as they imagine the events that happened to the 20 American sailors. Ms. Walker also connects fear to two fundamental areas of human knowledge - imagination and reasoning. She states that most fears are a result of an overly active imagination (explains why children’s fears are so vivid), and feel so potent because modern society represses fear entirely. She specifically uses pathos when describing the process of undergoing a fearful experience to allow the listener to experience empathy for those experiencing fear. Simultaneously, she also uses logos through her explanation of how to experience fear without being frightened. This impacts the text by adding reliableness to her word; we can take it at face value without any attempt at false information or manipulation.

Lastly, Ms. Walker’s purpose is to entertain and to persuade her listener/reader to learn to deal with fear the proper way. She gives an example of the “proper” way, using successful entrepreneurs’ mindset of “productive paranoia”. This mentality acknowledges fear head-on, and the users study their fears, and translate their fears into action. Her talk ends with the claim that, had the sailors switched their mentality to productive paranoia, they may have had a greater chance of survival. The example fulfills both criteria of her purpose, as it keeps the listener entertained while simultaneously persuading them to change their mindset regarding fear.