REFLECTION: Letter to a Friend

LONG TERM GOAL: Be a college graduate with a B.A. degree
MID-TERM GOAL: Pass all classes with B's or better
SHORT TERM GOAL: Study and work daily

October 30, 2016

Dear Leslie,

       I havn't heard from you in a while, but I guess things do start to get busy after college. I can't believe we both FINALLY got our B.A.'s and this isn't even our culminating time yet. We really did work hard and earned those degrees with all of those hours doing homework. Oh and remember quizing each other with those flash cards for that vocabulary final which was imperative to pass? I still recall all those late night study sessions, we were practically sweating coffee! All that freaking out and stressing really paid off in the old grade book. Not many people could say that they got all A's and B's throughout college, we should be really proud of that. Do you remember that surly professor with that hubris personality? Ugh he was aweful, so detrimental to our grades! It was hard work and a lot of time in the library, but we kept our ebullience, did great in working past him, and passed with a B-. College definitly wasn't the easiest years I've had, but I do feel successful in completing it. Hope to hear from you soon!
                                                                                         
                                                                                                ~ Samantha Armenta

TO DO LIST

MUST DO:
1) Full essay draft for English class
2) Set up an interview
3)Start reading for English

SHOULD DO:
1) Work on Ted Talk project
2) Finish Reflection post
3) Do my comments

COULD DO:
1) Clean my room
2) Help my mom grade papers
3) Do some dishes

TO DO LIST

MUST DO:
1) Read This I Believe 2
2) Study for in class essay!
3) Finish Content Area Project

SHOULD DO:
1) Finish reading The Things They Carried
2) Finish reading This I Believe 2
3) Blog Entry #3

COULD DO:
1) Help my mom with her play at the school she teaches at
2) Wash my dog
3) Clean my room
4) Help with dinner

STORY THAT MADE AN IMPACT

            There have been many little stories that have made me rethink things, but no story has effected me more than one that my grandfather told me. My freshman year in high school my grades were not exactly up to par. Now my grandfather has never exactly been one to for stirring up a conversation, unless it was about baseball, but one night he actually sat down and had a talk with me. He began telling me a story that would make me respect him a whole lot more. He told me that he was the oldest boy out of his ten siblings. To help support his mother he dropped out of school in the fifth grade to go pick vegetables in a field. He had worked not for himself but for his family. Even after he had moved away and started his own family he had to continue to work hard. The lack of education he had growing up made it difficult for him to get a good job. He had to get a job driving around across states as a truck driver, not being able to spend much time with his family. He told me on how if he did get a good education that his life would be so much easier. The difference was that he didn’t have a choice in furthering his education and I do. I have such an easy life, so there is no excuse for me not to do well. My grandfather’s story made me try so much harder and he is proud of me for going to college, which is an opportunity that he had not had. I’m sure I will hear other touching stories, but nothing will ever impact me as much as my grandfather’s story.

VOCABULARY 2

Serenity

Source Sentence:

"and the immense serenity flashes against your eyeball - the whole world gets rearranged and even though you're pinned down by war you never felt more at peace."

Context Clue Explanation-

I used the word peace as an example of serenity.

Original Sentence:

The gardens are designed to allow guests to reflect on the tranquil beauty of nature and to instill serenity.

Bewilderment

Source Sentence:
"The emotions went from outrage to terror to bewilderment to guilt to sorrow and then back again to outrage."

Context Clue Explanation:
Because of the wide range of emotions I felt that it expressed confusion.

Original Sentence:
The girl felt a sense of bewilderment when nobody was answering her phone calls.

Intrigue

Source Sentence:
"The war intrigued her. The land, too, and the mystery."

Context Clue Explanation:
I used the word mystery as an example of the word intrigue.

Original Sentence:
The kids were very intrigued by what was in the Christmas presents.

TO DO LIST

MUST DO:
1) 1 1/2 page rough draft for english
2) Study for quiz on presentation
3) Read pgs. 65-88 “How to Tell a True War Story” and “The Dentist”

SHOULD DO:
1) Complete the Guided Reading Questions for Chapter 7 and Ch. 8.
2) Complete Exercises 4.1-4.6 on Main Ideas –write answers on a separate piece of paper.
3) Blog entry #2

COULD DO:
1) Study vocabulary
2) Do laundry
3) Clean room

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