Christen's English Blog

 One thing I do to enjoy small moments throughout my day is to conversate with my friends. Even if there isn't a big window to do so, it's always nice to talk to them as they make even the bad days better. Another thing I do, which may be sound simple, is to have a positive mind. Many people don't realize how much of an impact in everyday-life this simple can make. Finally, one more thing I do is listen to music almost constantly, throughout school hours I'm almost always listening to music and I think it's one of the best ways for people to relieve stress. 

 So, of course, I don't remember anything on the day I was born, but I've been told something by my parents. It was a kind of wild day, apparently, my mom went into labor earlier than expected, and everyone was rushing around like crazy. But then I was born, and everything calmed down and everyone was just completely overjoyed and emotional. My parents told that they decided on my name very last minute, perhaps on that same day. Regarding "Infant Joy' and "Infant Sorrow", I don't think I relate to one more than the other, I think it's important to equally take away from both opens.

 Having read "The Tyger", I couldn't help but think about how intense and detailed creation is, and there is one animal that particularly comes to mind for me, which is the butterfly. It's amazing how something that begins as such a small caterpillar can transform entirely into this beautiful, delicate creature that just hovers around in the air. The designs on their wings are so intricate, it's like someone painted them by hand. It's not only how beautiful they appear, it's the entire process of becoming a butterfly that leaves me breathless. It's as if nature's way of telling us that change can be beautiful.

 The holiday I look forward to the most each year would have to be Christmas. It's my favorite probably because it's fun to receive and give gifts. Though I'm not as excited as I used to be about it before, no other holiday could ever top it. What my family usually does is get together and hold a Secret Santa event while eating delicious food. 

 Over the break I didn't do much apart from relaxing at home. While at home I most played video games with my friends or played my electric guitar. One thing I did instead of staying home was going to couple of local music shows. On the day of one of those shows I hung out at Little 5 Points basically all day with a friend. Overall, I just enjoyed myself at home and didn't travel anywhere as opposed to others.

 To get ready for a job that will pay more than minimum wage, I believe the first big step is to figure out what type of job I really want, then find out what education or training it requires. From there, it seems important to work on skills that will be useful for lots of various jobs, such as communication and time management. I can also do some career research on the internet simply so that I have a better idea of what's available and what pays well. Networking might sound scary, but even simply asking teachers, family members, or individuals that I know about their job could turn out to be helpful. For myself personally, the most helpful things that I could do at this point would be skill building and research so that I'm not completely ignorant in the future.

 One movie that I can think of is Coco . Overall, I think it does a fantastic job representing Mexican culture, specifically Día de los Muertos, with all the traditions, the focus on family, and even the way that people talk and act. It was so cool to see something so personal be represented on screen, and it made me proud of my heritage. No film is perfect, but Coco kept away from much of the stereotypes and concentrated on true cultural values. I believe such films like these make people comprehend our customs better and teach them that Mexican culture is not about tacos and mariachi but about family, history, and intimate relationships.

 I've gotten too old for cartoon afternoons now, but I do miss it. I could simply sit back with a bowl of treats and get lost in my favorite cartoons without having to stress about homework or duties. Now I feel I have too much on my plate to sit and watch cartoons all day, but every so often I'll catch an old episode of a show that I used to watch, and it all comes flooding back with the happy memories. It's a reminder of happier and simpler times.

 I used to believe that "popular" high school kids are all about parties, being perfect, and being really social, like they're experts on everything. But when I did get to know some of them, I discovered it's not really like that. Most of the so-called "popular" kids are just regular people who just happen to be outgoing or confident. They are doing nothing differently than anybody else, including school stress or figuring out who they are. Though I do believe many of them hide behind a facade in which it’s noticeable that they don't show their authentic or genuine self.

 I used to believe that all Africans lived in the countryside and had traditional lives, mainly because that is how the media represented the continent. But when I met an Uber driver that had recently moved here from Nigeria, I was shocked at how modern his life was in Nigeria. He lived in a city, had a job in tech, and liked pop culture. It helped me realize how unfair and limiting those stereotypes were. From then on, I tried to get to know other locations and not judge people based on where they come from, which has transformed how I view the world.

 I remember when my friend Hassan, who's Guinean, was at the cafeteria and someone came up and jokingly asked him if she spoke "African." It made him uncomfortable since "African" is not even a language. It reminded me of the way that sometimes people would envision the entire continent as being just one kind of place. That is what's bad about having just one story because it conflates people together and ignores all of the diverse cultures and experiences. To avoid that, we need to ask more questions, not jump to conclusions, and really hear people's personal stories. Each person's story is unique, and the more we know, the less we depend on stereotypes.

Having the right words can make a great deal of difference in everyday conversation and in school. With good vocabulary, you are able to express yourself more clearly, which prevents confusion and ensures your message is conveyed as you mean it. In school, using the right words makes essays, presentations, and classroom discussions better because you come across as more confident and convincing. In addition, it helps one to read and understand difficult texts without getting hung up on difficult words. Texting a friend, class discussion, or writing a paper, using the right words to say makes communication easier and better.

 I would much rather stay in the suburbs of Atlanta. It's a great combination of having room to breathe and close enough to the city. You have the easy-going, tranquil quiet of the suburbs, with lots of room for a yard or just so you have elbow room, yet you're close enough to everything that happens in the city. Atlanta has just so much to offer, no matter if you're into, such as eating out and concerts, you get to enjoy all that without the hassle of traffic or congestion. The suburbs are also safer, and just have a more community-oriented atmosphere to it, where you're never actually in such a hurry. It just feels like the best of both worlds.

 To try to stay out of student loan debt, I will apply for scholarships and grants as much as I can, these are the best ways of obtaining money without ever needing to pay them back. I will also work part-time when I am at school to help cover some of the expenses. I plan on choosing a college that is less expensive and will not get me into too much debt. If I do need to borrow, I will keep the loans as small as possible and ensure that I understand how they will impact me after graduation. I will also try and find an opportunity to attend while living off campus. 

 The word "onus" has stuck with me since high school is basically responsibility upon responsibility. With homework, after-school activities, and just trying to keep up with everything, the onus of being on top of things can be a bit much sometimes. I remember this one time when I just forgot about an essay until the night before it was due. No one was going to do it for me, I was going to have to stay up all night or fail. I stayed up all night, and while it wasn't my best work, I got it done. That moment remained with me because it was one of the first times that I understood completely that responsibility (or the lack of it) has real consequences.

 When I first tried learning the guitar, it was complete and utter disaster. My fingers wouldn't land on the right frets, each chord was out of tune, and I couldn't strum in time to save my life. I honestly thought that I just couldn't do it and came close to giving up. But after several frustrating weeks (and quite a few sore fingers), I realized that flunking was something to be expected. Each mistake, actually, taught me what not to do, and eventually, things started to click. Looking back, those early struggles were what pushed me to practice harder, and now playing the guitar is almost second nature.

 Yes, I certainly have. One time I was stressing so much about a major presentation, and everything felt strange, like I was watching myself from outside of myself. My brain was racing, and I couldn't focus on anything. What brought me back to myself was really just to take a second to breathe deeply, focus on tiny things around me, like the feeling of my feet on the ground or the sound of my pen clicking, I also started counting in my head. Telling myself that I was there and in the present really cleared my head and helped me to chill out.

 The word "maelstrom" literally means a wild and confusing mixture, like being in a perplexing whirlwind. I first heard it while watching a documentary about extreme weather. They talked about a huge ocean whirlpool and called it a "maelstrom", and the word stuck in my head because it sounded so intense. Now I use it whenever I need to describe something that is totally out of control, like one of those days when everything that can go wrong happens at the same time. It's such a good word because it really conveys that sense of being in a messy maelstrom of chaos.

One time I really thought I was losing my mind was finals week last year. I had three massive tests in a row, an essay due at midnight, and still had to act like a normal human being. My brain was burning and no last-minute cramming was going to help me. I have gazed at my laptop screen for so long that the words blurred and intertwined like some strange optical illusion. I even began writing my name as part of my notes without even realizing. By the time I finished, I was fueled by sheer stress and snacks, but I did it, somehow. 

 Though it is slang, my favorite word right now is probably "bro".  It is probably my favorite just because of how much I use it, I basically use it to refer to anyone, and while talking with friends I use it almost ubiquitously. Not only can I use it as part of sentences, but I can also say it as an interjection, allowing more frequent use of the word.