Final Journal Update

So this year we do journals everyday for the first couple of minutes of class to practice writing skills. They range from questions about life situations or short fictional story write ups. I've been very consistent with these up until this semester when I started doing them on sheets of paper instead of a notebook and placing them in the bin every week. I know it looks like I haven't done any work but you can take my word that they have been done but can't be found. If you look back at all the work done throughout the year, I've gotten my work done, on time, with quality. Sorry for the inconvenience of all the missing journals but I know for a fact that I got them done because there's no way I just sat in class not doing anything all semester because my work can show I'm not that kind of student.

Masterpiece Showcase Essay

It's been a long year but a good learning experience. I've been in this class for two years and it has really changed how I've learned. I took this class for my writing to get better and I feel like it really has made a change for me. I have more of a creative writing process now and my thoughts seem to flow better. It's been a great time learning to collaborate with others and finding what I want to do as a career and I'm not going to be putting that to action after high school.

I feel that the students in this class at first were shy about the whole idea of working together away from a structured class. It took a bit of time but it felt like we all had to honor the idea that we were going to trust that everyone was going to do what they said would be done. Although sometimes that didn't work out, at one point or another we all came through and especially on our master piece projects.

This masterpiece project finally helped me pin point what I wanted to do in life and that was be an athletic engineer. At first it was tough because I wanted to be an electrical engineer but knew so little about it and also wanted to be a physical therapist so I was really in a tough spot. Now I know what I want and I'm ready to pursue it by taking classes in my next steps in school that really start to direct me that way. I'm not sure if my career choice would require me to take design courses to but I will continue my research on that. 

I know some of the funniest moments for me were the exchanges between Preston and the students when it came to a debate. I think the way things were said was just funny to me because it almost seemed like sophisticated smack talking.

The common point I saw in the presentations was that they didn't even seem like careers the was the presenters talked about them but more like hobbies. I'm sure that was the point of this masterpiece but you could here it in a persons voice and their presentation when they really felt it was no work at all. For instance, Ricky Cortez gave his presentation on welding. He seemed like he could go on forever talking about his career and the things he made in his garage just like how Chance Miranda talks about baseball ending for him and how he wants a career in baseball even if it's not as a player. It just goes on on how each presentation made the person happy talking about it like Carlos explaining the life style and determination it takes to be a boxer, and the architecture group wanting to find the most comfortable, fun, relaxing classroom setting possible. Each of these presenters went above and beyond because when they were told time was up, they were upset because they wanted more out of it.

I wouldn't say I'm a hero but I can say I'm proud of myself for digging into my career path deeper then I thought I would in high school. Thanks to Preston, I found what I truly wanted to do. I have still yet to find a mentor in my field so I learned everything on my own but in the future I want to reach out to a professional in my field.

Masterpiece plans

So my masterpiece focuses on technology in the field of sports and other physical activity and how it helps. For my presentation I'm going to get equipment in the world of sports that protect us, heal us, and develop us. With the equipment I plan to explain how the technology was created, what it is used for, and when and where to apply it. These device are going to be things I've used personally and that other athletes will be familiar with as well because they've used them at some point.

Beginnings 2

So I've really liking this creative writing stuff we are doing in class. I feel like these short intros have a burst of unlimited creativity and I think this is what I'm very good at with writing. I feel I need someone or something to spark the idea and from there I can write a full story. Creative writing is more my style versus just facts and pursausive writing.

Masterpiece interviews

Xavier Navarro

1. I am working on making my own street wear clothing brand and getting my ideas out to the world. 

2. I'm doing it because I am really into the street wear culture and I need money to buy everything I like and eventually collaborate and make stuff I like with the brands that I love.

3. My work is significant because people are walking billboards and they will help me get my ideas out there and let other people see what's in my head 

4. The work will help me meet new people and connect with everyone in the world

5. It surprises me how many people like what I like and how many people want to help me get far in this business 

6. To successfully finish my project I will need to have a finished product ready to sell and ready to wear 

7. I've learned to just follow what you like and you can make an impact by just putting stuff out there 

Summer Morgan 

1. Im working on putting all of my research and ideas together into one final masterpiece project 

2. Im working on this because its times to put that work that i have completed over the course of the semester into the actual real masterpiece 

3. The significance of this project in my life/future career is that it has helped me realize what i want to do and what i need to do in order to be successful

4. This work is helping me outside of school because it has helped create a balance in my life

5. Not anything in particular has necessarily surprised me in my work so far

6. I think that i need a more clear idea of how my masterpiece and how i want it to turn out to be successful in my presentation 

7. I have learned that with too much work or too much fun, you will never feel totally content with your life, it requires a balance 

Tiana mcmann

1. I am working on a masterpiece project of traveling, mixed with adventuring, also mixed with "doing cool things". With all this I will create an amazing video full of awesome things I have done.

2. I want to experience as much as a can that life has to offer and really live life to the fullest. 

3. In life, I can take so much from these experiences. Traveling and trying new things is such an enlightening experience that I can carry on forever.

4. Outside of school, I know I will be a much happier person and much more well rounded! I will be able to engage in many conversations and provide input based on my personal encounters.

5. I haven't really been surprised yet, but I will await the day!

6. I need my GoPro camera to come in the mail already so I can start filming all these cool things I do. With that camera filming my awesome times, I will make one amazing video full of highlights to present how I have made my project come alive.

7. I have truly learned that life is short and that we really need to take advantage of life's opportunities. Talk to new people because you never know where that conversation may lead. Mine led me to a trip to Italy, and now to Belgium. 

Design

Our discussion showed me that the possibilities for our project are endless. I've been having a hard time trying to decide how I should go about presenting my idea and after talking to a couple people I think I got a pretty good idea of what to do. I'm planning on bringing in a couple pieces of physical therapy equipment and just giving a run down on what they do, how the design is effective for that purpose, and how it is used.

Resource of the day: What to look for in sprinter spikes

For the last 8 years I've been running track and field as a sprinter and occasionally a jumper. One of the most important aspects of equipment in track is your running spikes. So as a sprinter, I look for certain qualities in each spike because it's important to make sure what ever you're wearing is best suited for you when in a full sprint. There are many different designs and shapes of track spikes that are for different event types, foot shapes, etc. Sprinter spikes all have a very curved plastic plate on the bottom with removable metal spikes that force the sprinter to run on there toes. In the years I've done track I've found Adidas and Asics to be the best fitting brands for me but there are other brands out there like Nike and Puma that have different designs. They are wider fits for me and have some of the lightest spikes out there. In my opinion, the Adidas Sprintstar 4's and the Asics Japan lite-ning 4's are among the best track spikes you can possibly get due to the amazing quality you get for such a low price. If you are new to buying tack spikes here's a good link to get you started on what to look for.

http://www.holabirdsports.com/blog/what-to-look-for-in-track-spikes-field-shoes/

LAQ: The Blindside: Evolution of a Gameby Michael Lewis

1) This story is a true story about an African American teenager named Michael Oher. He struggled in everything in life from his family situation to school. He was finally taken in by a man in the community that saw his athletic ability. After being placed in high school and being taken in by a white family, he began playing football and was quickly noticed by everyone around the country. The story shows that anyone can become successful with support from others.

2) This story was written by Lewis in different ways. Part of it was to tell the amazing story of a teen that was saved by the community, other parts questions if this chance would have happened if Michael wasn't as athletically gifted, and how the way Oher played the offensive line revolutionized the game of football that would later be know as protecting the quarterback's "blindside".

3) Once again, this is another novel that has been produced as a movie as well as a novel. I'm into the sports novels because they are much more appealing to me than anything else and watching the movie made me want to read the book as well. What's appealing is that in a way, it relates to our course. These people saw potential and gave Oher the chance to make something for himself and mentored him along the way.

4) I find this book realistic because you heard of things like this happening all the time where there's a kid that has a hard life but is very talented and all they need is for someone to come help them. I know of two situations where this is true and the kids are very talented athletes and have people helping them out and watching out for them. One of them is someone I watch out for because it became more of a brotherly thing that developed when we became teammates.


1) In this case, it is true that the author does make the characters as he believes fit when he observes the story. Because it wasn't a first had account and if it wasn't first had, that's how stories normally get there own twists to them. What you really do pull from this is the question of what happens for kids like Michael is really fare. It's more in the fact of will people give this chance to someone who isn't gifted in someway? Because the stories of these kids getting support usually happen when people see that they are gifted in some way.

2) There's the main protagonist, Michael Oher, who is considered to be a freak of nature. He is a giant compared to everyone else and is partly the main reason he was noticed for the potential he could become. Coming from a hard life, he doesn't really know much about life other than what he has learned from living on the streets.
Then there's Oher's adoptive mom Leigh Anne Tuohy. She has two children and her family is wealthy. She invests a lot of time into Michael to help him realize his potential. She supports Michael as her own but doesn't just hand things over to help him realize that you need to work for success.

3) Like I said before, the story reminds me of our course we take now. People assume the worst about people and don't give chances because of this. Although everyone saw Michael's potential in football because of his size, people looked past him because he was a homeless African American teen that teachers thought couldn't be taught. It wasn't till one of his teachers realized that Michael learn much better verbally than written. It just goes to show to reach people, there's always a different way to go about it and not to judge people by appearances or stereotypes.

S'wonderful

Well it may sound stupid but the powder puff game is next week and we are so excited for it. Me am other friends from the football team are coaching again and we get really competitive and serious. It's so much fun to just step back from being a player to actually trying to teach someone what to do because you can see the best of both worlds. The coaches and players are having a great time and we plan on beating the juniors pretty badly next Friday night.

Resource of the day: When should you stretch?

So we've all heard that stretching is very important to do before any physical activity to avoid injury, but have you ever felt that stretching doesn't help right away? I've noticed that doing a bike ride or jogging for a little it gets me limber and afterwards, I feel like the stretching I do actually helps me. All people are different so find out what works best for you. Hears a source on when the best time is to stretch.

http://www.fitnessforlife.org/updates/updates/when-is-the-best-time-to-do-stretching-exercises-to-improve-flexibility

Preview of Upcoming Attractions

Well after talking with students in my class, I heard a wide variety on how to present our projects. Each idea works with some but not with everyones. Like hearing people say they would do a photo album or presentation seemed cool for them but I'm not sure thats best for my project.

Resource of the Day: What provides better support for ankle sprains?

In almost every sport, athletes experience side to side movement like in tennis, basketball, soccer, football, etc. To prevent this, the earliest methods of supporting ankles was through taping them very tightly so that it would restrict movement in the ankles. Now we actually have reusable tie on braces that are said to have better support than tape. From experience, I've always like tape better just because its easier to put my cleats on with and its more comfortable but the tape does loosen as the game goes on. Braces are a bit bulkier but they sure do provide a lot of support and they are always adjustable. Some people argue over what is better but studies have show the brace to be superior over tape.
http://www.oaph.com/patient-center/where-it-hurts/ankle-taping-or-ankle-braces-%e2%80%93-which-more-effective-prevention-injurie

Raising Digital Awareness

So I've been using this open source learning now for almost two years and now we are finally seeing something more valuable to it than before. I understand that it was an online binder for the world to see but I didn't feel like anyone really payed attention to my work. Then we started doing these "resources and I didn't really see the value because I felt as if they were just me telling people hey come check out what this guy said. Todays talk was probably the first time this resource stuff actually made sense because now I see that it's not just another assignment or hey look what I know, it's to find people like you with the same ideas that want to work together. So this blog is important for reaching out to those people that are interested in what I want to do. Have I been putting enough resources? No, I don't post them regularly but I see that it is how I'm going to get traffic into what I want to do. These tools like social media are made readily available for everyone and whats the limit to it? We should use these tools to be more productive with what we do but also not rely on them so much as the only means of getting out there. Being on a computer to reach out is good and all but it's always nice to know that person who has the same ideas for real.

My expert

In every athletic trainers room and sports rehab clinics across the country, you will see one piece of technology in common. The stimulus machine is used by athletic trainers and therapist all over to relieve pain in designated areas by this machine which puts an electrical current into the muscles of wherever it's attached. This method of treatment has been around for ages but the man credited with the modern invention of this device is Dr. C Norman Shealy.

Masterpiece test

So I'm on a path of exploring engineering medical equipment for athletes. When I think test, I think common memorization on a multiple choice test. Well that doesn't show much cause what if you guess on like half of your questions and get most of them right? I think a test would be understanding the different equipment out there right now and having a verbal explaination what each item is for. Then use what that equipment is made for in the best senario to show that you know when and where is the time to use it.

Resource of the day: Physical Therapy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3362981/

So at the moment I'm dealing with a hamstring pull that is looking to keep me out of track for the next month. I started looking into different ways I could rehabilitate it so I can hopefully make a speedy recovery without losing much in my legs. This was a good source I found explaining what causes this injury and exercises you can do to recover from the injury.

Status on My Blog

So I know my research hasn't been posted and its not that I haven't done it, it's just that I don't record it to my blog. So I have so catch up to do with that but rest assure, my research will begin to be posted on my blog.

Entrepreneur

a) I would say that my questions are meant for an Entrepreneur. I tried not to ask basic questions but more about what choices they made in life or effects of others that inspired them to chase a dream. Because to me, it's not important where they're at now but what events in there life before then helped them to reach their goal.
b) I wouldn't consider myself an entrepreneur because to me, it still means someone who tries to do something completely new. Then again I want to better the technologies used in the athletic world so maybe that's something but I don't feel like I don't have what most entrepreneurs do.
c) I feel in schooling, no one even mentions entrepreneurship so most kids come into the world without a true drive to chase their passion. Then after highschool we see how entrepreneurs are glorified in society and we wonder what they did to get there when all it took was motivation, hard work, and the risk.

10 Questions

1) What did you do when you were younger that sparked your interest?
2) How did you begin your research?
3) In what ways did you reach out to build your network?
4) What was your drive to pursue your passion?
5) Did college help you develop your passion?
6) How did you ask for help when you needed it?
7) Did you have to overcome others who said you wouldn't succeed?
8) Who were your main supporters?
9) Was there more motivation when some said you couldn't do something or when the said you could?
10) How can I reach my potential?

Super 5

1)   Alan Turning- He is important to my field of engineering because he is the developer of binary architecture in computers (the things you see in computers that go like this 001011000010010)
this important because electrical engineering braches off into different other types of engineering. One of the most important branches being computer engineering.
2)   Nikola Tesla- said to be the greatest electrical engineer of all time for his inventions. ( fluorescent lighting, the Tesla coil, the induction motor, and 3-phase electricity)
3)   Alexander Bell- Invented the practical telephone which revolutionized communication between Americans and the rest of the world.
4)   Tim Berners Lee- the inventor of the world wide web
5)   Steve Jobs- revolutionized personal and portable computer technology.

Benchmarking

     After review of my blog from this semester, I have some catching up I need to do. My project needs some more updating because I don't have all the posts involving my topic. In the eyes of my viewers, my blog is what most would call your "typical" high school students work. My posts lately have gotten lazy and I really need to pick it up. This shouldn't be a problem however because for the most part, I have most of the work done but not up on my blog. I've had a few personal problems outside school that has effected my posting frequency and I know shouldn't be used as an excuse but I am now working on getting back into the daily routine. I have been working on researching two fields at the moment and still am having trouble trying to determine which one is more appealing to me.
      In class recently, it has come to my attention that maybe instead of trying to pick one, I should try to find a way to implement the two together. Somebody in class during discussion actually presented a good idea which will help me to get going in that direction. The idea of engineering products like prosthetic legs and braces of different sorts have been a common link between physical therapy and engineering that I was looking for. So recently, I have no been in the process of researching the technologies that go into making support for the human body and how they actually work. It is quiet interesting to me considering that I have spent plenty of time in different splints and braces through out my years of sports. These supports are vital to active people because with sprained ankle, knee supporters, etc, have provided protection to athletes with injuries that would normally be able to restrict them. My personal experiences using such devices have shown me that these are a major part of sports and I see first hand how they benefit the user.
     I have also been doing one on one research with the fields. After my research with physical therapy, I can see myself going that route. It will keep me in a job where I'm still around something that has been a huge part of my life. Going from athlete to physical therapist I feel would be a great transition because I will better understand the physical and emotional state of each person. It's surprising that the field actually must deal with the emotional states of the people they are rehabilitating can be quiet drastic. Telling someone they are out for the season can cause a lot of stress on that person and more than likely, your going to catch a reaction that may not be pleasant, but being a former athlete who has heard those words before, can relate to that person and help to calm them down and do everything in my power to put them back in action as soon as possible.
     I've looked into engineering very much as well and long than I have for physical therapy. It has been a hobby for me all my life so it was natural for me to go this route. I've come to learn through my research that there's much more to engineering than just building things. It is also understanding how and why these things work and what they are best used for. I've never had any kind of training or education of any type involving engineering so my plan is to try it out once I'm in college. I'm not to sure who I reach out to for this field or who is the best at what they do because I've never really looked into who is the best at their field of engineering.
     As of now, I'm not to sure how I actually turn this research into a presentable project and that's where I've been stuck. I've asked for help but it really doesn't make sense what I'm making out of all this other than finding what career I really want to look at.

Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy

  

 

                                                                              Topic

1) This book is about the life of Tony Dungy, a former NFL coach who had a winning career, It's not just about how his career went but also about how his bringing up got him there. It shows his morals that he follows in life and how his priorities helped him achieve goals that many dream about.
2) Being an autobiography, Dungy wrote about his life to show what he had to do to get to where he was. It was written after Dungy won the superbowl XLI with the Colts people wanted to know how he felt after the long struggle to obtain something that all football players dream to have. It's an inspiration to those that want to reach his level of stature one day.
3) Honestly it's funny how I came across this book. I went to the bathroom one day and it was on the ground and I picked it up. I started skimming through and I got really into the book and started actually reading from the beginning. It's an inspirational story that shows that the most important part of life is the values that you follow.
4) Of course I found this novel interesting because it wasn't just any person writing about their life that I haven't heard of before. This was someone I've heard of and watched on tv coaching his team to victory time and time again. These days you see him as a game commentator where you see his true humbleness. So to read this it brought a deeper connection to his life outside of sports that most people don't see.



                                                                            People

1) Well it's hard to see how the characters in this story would be made up because it is written by the man who lived this life himself. The author does have their perspectives on things but it's pretty hard to make people different when you're the one writing about an experience first hand, especially when it is coming from someone who tells things by how they are and not just what they want to believe. An example of this was an issue that Dungy had a problem with but was taken completely the wrong way. He was upset with a commercial that Terrell Owens had been in involving him missing a game to be with a desperate housewife. People took Dungy's view as him not liking the idea of a white woman with a black man. Dungy's interpretation had been completely altered becomes he was upset over the fact that Owens was advertising that it's ok to leave your priorities for temptation. I have a lot of respect for Dungy because he isn't trying to alter any ones views but try to lead as an example.
2) When Dungy talks about his sons, a more loving tone was used and normally involved deeper talks. An example is when Dungy talks about how his youngest Eric son bonded with the players. After One of these players that his son bond with was traded, he was upset because there was a new player wearing his number. Dungy has to explain to him that nothing can always stay the same so just be open to the new things life presents.
3) Dungy's life is interesting to write about because he doesn't take it as luck or something he truly deserved. He follows his life with god leading him. His religious beliefs, morals, and priorities he lives by helped him get to where he is but he truly believes in gods blessings.

Welcome To My Network

If you are joining my network, welcome. I am an inspiring electrical/physical therapist and I am goibg to be using this blog to give information on the research I find in these two fields.

Masterpiece essay #1

Growing up, we've always thought of the different things we wanted to be when we grew up. An astronaut, vet, race car driver, football player, etc.. As we grow up these things change with the influences around you whether that be someone telling you that your dream is impossible or you change as a person yourself and find a new interest. I can say personally myself that this happened because as I began to grow up, I went from wanting to be a vet to wanting to be an engineer. Even now that is in question because I'm starting to take interest in physical therapy. What I can say is that both have played a huge role in my life and is something I'm split between right now but I have connections to both. 

     Growing up my favorite toys were Legos. Did I ever think this would play a part in me gaining interest in engineering? No way. My imagination ran wild because it became clear to me that just building the models shown based of the instructions wasn't satisfying enough. I began making my own creations but soon went from just being my own models to more gadget like builds. Eventually when I began to get older my building of random Lego gadgets to building things I got off the internet from household items. It was then I began to span more into messing with electrical components. I found this to  be more interesting than actually building so I got very curious when it came to wiring. My very first electrical contraption was a digital clock powered by potatoes. Simple? Yes, but boy did that give me the interest to try to do more. It went on to making red dot sights and Lego cranes with electromagnets in them, but it came to a halt due to trouble.

     Engineering has been something that I'd want to have a career in but that has began to slip to the thought of physical therapy. In the last 7 years of my life, sports have began to play a huge roll in my life. I'm around it all the time and I love to play sports. My days of being a player though are near it's end and I still want to be around the action. So I began to think what's going to keep me around sports and I realized, physical therapy deals with sports athletes. I began to look into it more and it seems to be something I'd really enjoy. I'm still in the research stage but it was perks just like engineering. 

     

Launch

1) I've found that my passion is to build things and see how they are built. I've come to realize that the two fields I am intrested in are more closely related than I thought. Electrical engineering and physical therapy both intrested me because one is showing the study of how electronics are put together and function and another shows how the body is put together and how it functions. I'm still split between the two and really trying to find which one has something that just wins me over.

2) Media can help me a whole lot because in this case I can reach out to people in forums and have them give me their opinions and also just research more into the field and see what perks they have.

3) I feel I should start to reach out to people to make more connections so in the future, I have a head start into whatever I choose to do.

4) I feel to impress others, I should gain alot more background on what is done in the fields and be able to demonstrate that I have taught myself some pointers in the field as well.

5) By just going out and talking to the people that I already know that can help.

6) for physical therapy, I can easily start out by going to righetti's own athletic trainer or the hancock athletic trainer or sims. I know the people in all three areas and are local so they are easy to contact. For engineering, I can reach out to my mom's cousin who is a structural engineer. Although it isn't the same type of engineering I like, he may be able to help me still pursue that path.

My Vocabulary #1

Telecommunications
Conversationalist
Humanities
Endeavors
Accountant
Semiconductor
Proliferation
Wave propagation
Transmission
Sub fields

Prognosis
Gerontology
Inevitable
Chiropodist
Degenerative
Therapeutic
Acute care
Sub acute rehabilitation
Hospice
Incontinence

LAQ: Moneyball by Michael Lewis

1. The story Moneyball is about general manager Billy Beane, a former MLB player who never lived up to the hype scouts had for him. He manages the Oakland A's and on one of the lowest budgets in the league, puts together a team based on statistics rather than the players ability. Beane's revolutionary methods of drafting changed the way players were looked at through out the league after the A's successful season.
2. Michael Lewis chose to write about this topic because this method of using statistics to recruit players was a major turning point on how the MLB looked at players, and it all started with Billy Beane and his assistant Paul Depodesta.
3. I find that the only books that keep me intrested anymore are the ones that have anything to do with sports. I remember watching the beginning of this movie and I found it very intresting. I went to find the movie but found out there was a novel so I picked that up instead.
4. Yes, I found the book realistic because it's not doing anything unrealistic like making games close tie breakers to build drama or anything. And the fact that you can find all these people by looking them up and finding stories about them.

                                                                             People

1. I see how the author can influence how a person thinks about how the character really is. I messed it up for myself because I watched the movie first and now see Billy as a grumpy man who has alot of regrets in his life and when I read the book, I think just a kid who is easily frustrated when he can't do something right. I do see however how an author can influence how the charcater is potraited because if you haven't seen or heard from a character before, your first impressions will always be that way if you see that character anywhere else.
2. Billy Beane- he as seen as a future star in the MLB. He is untouched by any of the other high school atheletes around and has the looks that put him up there. He however deals with anger isues on it comes out when he is not able to do something right.   

         Paul Depodesta- Billy's assisant, a Harvord graduate and statician who begins determining
         players worth by using statistics. Help Billy to recruit a underbudget team that becomes very
         successful.

      3. What makes these people interesting to write about is the fact that they were underdogs. They 
          had the lowest budget to work with to put a team together and somehow managed to put one
          together. With Billy's competativeness and Paul's ideas on how to view baseball, they
          modernized one of america's favorite sports.


                                                                

Hafta/wanna

After highschool, I feel like some things will change and some will stay the same. The will always be the things that you have to do and the things you want to do. For the most kids in highschool, we have to show up, have to listen to teachers, have to get good grades. Same with life after at some point, we have to get a job, have to pay the bills, have to listen to more people but now that person is your boss. Life also it's wants like in highschool we all want that nice car or more time to go out and when we have our own careers, we can get those nice things, we can plan vacations. In a sense, life doesn't change, only your priorities and responsibilities.

Vocab spring #3

Apostate- a person who renounces a religious or political belief

Effusive- expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure in unrestrained manner

Impasse- situation in which no progress is possible

Euphoria- a state of excitement and happiness

Lugubrious- looking or sounding sad or dismal

Bravado- bold manner

Consensus- majority of opinion

Dichotomy- division into two parts

Constrict- compress

Gothic- pertaining to the Middle Ages

Punctilio- fine pint

Metamorphosis- a form resulting from any such change 

Ra conteur- a skilled person who relates stories and anecdotes interestingly

Sine qua non- something essential

Quixotic- impulsive

Vendetta- any bitter feud

Non sequitur- statement containing an illogical conclusion

Mystique- mystery/mystical power surrounding an occupation

Quagmire- a bag or anything soft or flabby

Parlous- perilous

Senior Project/First Draft

So I'm very in to building things especially involving electronics and wires and those things. For my project, I was thinking that I would try to find something neat to build and demonstrate in class using things found around the house. I'm also into sports therapy but I'm not to sure how I would make a project to present that.

Life After High School

After high school, I see myself working and attending a smaller college and still playing a sport. I'm working hard to major in engineering. I don't want to be just the typical engineer, but actually make something that helps people and really matters. I see a few bumps along the way like adjusting to life on my own but it's something most people have to deal with. I just want to work hard at what i do and make a life from doing what I love.

Vocab Spring list #2

Accoutrements- additional items of dress or equipment.

Apogee- the highest point in the development of something.

Apropos- with reference to.

Bicker- argue about petty and trivial matters.

Coalesce- come together and form one mass or whole.

Contretemps- an unexpected and unfortunate occurence.

Convolution- a coil or twist.

Cull- select from a large quantity.

Disparate- essentially different in kind.

Dogmatic- inclined to lay down.

Licentious- promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.

Mete- dispense or allot justice.

Noxious- harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.

Polemic- a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.

Populous- having a large population.

Probity- the quality of having strong moral principles.

Repartee- conversation or speech characterized by quick, whitty comments or replies.

Supervene- occur later than a specified or implied event or action, typically in such a way as to change the situation.

Truncate- something shortened by cutting off the top or the end.

Unimpeachable- not able to be doubted.

Profile in Courage

The video we are watching, we see people that have had their lives changed drastically but injuries and illness. The people are in wheel chairs and most of us would think your life is over. These people however do not let his stop them a show that they are much more than handicap. They show the strength to live life and show that there limits aren't stuck to just a wheelchair.

Visual Storytelling

In the movies, the camera work that we see provides a more in-depth experience. The in class documentary we are watching uses these techniques to help develop the story. There are a lot of close up moments when it seems that the director is trying to give a better view on how that person sees the world or how people view them. It almost seems to bring you a little more up close and personal. Another shot we see in this movie is of shots of things that we see the person wishes that they can do but cant. For instance, we see Robert in the school your watch the kids play a game or the guy who was injured in a motorcycle accident and stares at the bike. This is a dramatic shot because its almost like you see a before and after of how his life changed so fast because one thing he was ale to do, is now gone forever.

The Choice

One of my first big choices was when I was coming into high school. I had two options, Righetti and St. Joseph. Being I had only moved into town two years earlier, I wasn't too familiar with the schools around or even the fact of the rivalry that existed between them. It wasn't until I went to an orientation at St. Joes that I bought into a school. But it was way to easy because I was influenced by the little baubles given out. During this time was when I really started to like football and that began to play a big part in my decision. Both schools had been very good during those years and my friends who played were split between the two. I went to the placement testing at St joes over summer and began getting enrolled but while I was there, there was something about it I didn't like. The vibe I was getting was off and threw me in a neutral zone. Going home from the test I saw all my friends who we're playing freshman football getting out of practice and for some reason the sight of that alone convinced me I want to go to Righetti. Now that I'm here I don't look back and regret that choice because not only have I had some great memories here, I've had the satisfaction of having a winning record against our rivals across the street.

Vocab #1 Performance Review

I am happy with how I did. I aced the test no problem as I should because this is the third time I've seen these words in the last 2 years.

Hacking My Education

This semester, I want to learn to build my ties with people that can help me gain experience in my field of interest. I'm not to sure how to go about this so This is why I look to Dr. Preston for help.

The Choice

1) The choice for Rebecca to take the poison or not on her own.
2) It's not a real choice because either way, Rebecca's parents are going to make sure she takes it.
3) Because it's exactly what they are doing, poisoning there daughters cancer, but also the rest of her healthy cells.
4) She wants to play with the toy because she says she's not going to live to be eight. I agree and disagree because if you agree to let her play with it, your pretty much telling Rebecca "Yeah your right, you're going to die." But if you disagree you are assuring Rebecca that she is going to be fine.
5) I'd want to make sure I spent a lot more time with my family, help others in need in their lives, and go out into the world and try  to experience as much as I can.
6) When you know that your discomfort is benefitting all those around you but not just family but everyone as a whole.
7) Yes because it makes you realizes what you have or had, or it can be a learning experience that you pass on to others.
8) I think it's because nobody can imagine something like this happening to someone close to them and they want to support that person through their suffering.