christina's english blog

 If I had to write a poem about my life right now i'd write it about how I'm feeling about life. Right now, I am reflecting on my life and preparing for my future, particularly going to college. I have to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life, and that is a big decision to make. I'm also doing a lot of self-reflection while brainstorming topics for my college essays, which has caused deep and confusin g thoughts to arise. I would use these mixed emotions that I am feeling to write my poem about the future, both about how exciting and scary it can be.

When I'm in a mood that I do not like, some strategies I use to change my mood are to relax and grab a snack. I usually like to scroll on TikTok or Instagram to distract my mind. I also like to take a shower and wash off all the bad feelings I may be having, then I go to sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Today in class, we completed a Newela article on why Ice is so slippery. 

 My personal approach to creativity is being colorful and coming up with different designs. When given a project, I prefer poster and handwritten projects. I love to design posters with different symbols and fonts. My favorite project I recently worked on was the final exam poster I completed for Mr. Reases's class. I made a poster diving into the aspects of an Emily Dickinson poem. I enjoyed designing the poster and picking the perfect components to complete my project. 

 Why is hypophora my favorite rhetorical device? It's my favorite because it allows a speaker to raise a doubt and then crush it with a solid answer. This keeps the audience from getting distracted by their own questions and makes the speaker appear to be strong and firm in their beliefs. It’s the best way to stay in charge of the conversation while making the listener feel understood.

 I’ve always felt a deep connection to the word sonder because it hits me every time I’m sitting in a crowded coffee shop or staring out a car window. It’s that wild realization that every single person walking by has a life just as messy, exciting, and intense as mine, full of their own secret heartbreaks and late-night thoughts. Thinking about it makes the world feel so much bigger and reminds me that I’m never truly alone in my own head.

 A time when I didn't feel like myself was when I got my wisdom teeth taken out. I didn't realize how serious it was, and it would take weeks to recover from it. I had to go under anesthesia, and I was so scared, but I didn't really have much of an aftereffect on me. I thought I would say something crazy or accidentally share a secret, but after I woke up, I felt pretty conscious. But while recovering from the surgery, I couldn't eat any solid foods, and I was so hungry and also tired due to all the meds I was taking. After the recovery stage was over, I felt like I could recognize myself again because my face went back to normal.  

The place where I feel most at peace is my bedroom. My room is where I feel most at peace because it is the one place where I am completely free from the pressure to do anything or be anyone else.  It is where I can truly recharge, knowing that everything I love is within reach and the outside world can wait. Today in class, we learned new rhetorical devices. 

 I remember a time when I had to ask a friend for help with a huge project I couldn't finish on my own. At first, it felt a little awkward and frustrating because I usually like to handle everything myself. However, once we started working together, it was such a relief to have that extra support and a fresh perspective. It taught me that relying on others isn't a sign of weakness, but actually a great way to get things done faster. Now, I feel much more comfortable reaching out when things get overwhelming.

 In high school, I learned how to manage  my time and handle and budget my money , which will really help when I'm paying my own bills and keeping up with a busy schedule. I also learned how to speak up for myself and solve my own problems, which is huge for being an adult. To me, being smart with money is the most important skill because it helps you stay on your feet and stay organized.

 After moving during my freshman year, I stepped away from track to focus on the transition, which led to a significant regression in my physical conditioning. Returning for the next season was a humbling experience as I found myself clocking times far slower than my previous personal bests. This gap in training forced me to rebuild my foundation from scratch, teaching me the discipline required to reclaim lost ground.

 Today in class, we learned about 3 rhetorical devices. The devices we learned were hyperbole, understatement, and litotes. Hyperbole: Today's lesson was so revolutionary, my brain doubled in size! Understatement: We spent a few minutes looking at words today.  Litotes: Learning about rhetorical devices today wasn't exactly a waste of time.

 Over the holiday break, I took some time to rest, relax, and spend time with family. I also went to work and started planning my goals for 2026.  The first goal I have this year is to increase my SAT score by 300 or more points . This goal is important to me because a high SAT score will help me stand out on college applications and potentially help me earn scholarships. I will achieve this goal by taking a significant amount of time to study. I want to dedicate about 2 hours each day to SAT prep. Then on the weekends I will take a practice exam. If I keep up my study plan, by March, I will have increased my SAT score by 300 points. The second goal I have is to earn my driver's licence. This goal is important to me because I want to get around easier to my jobs and school. I will achieve this goal by doing 30 minutes of the Joshua's Law course each day and driving with my parents on the weekend. By my birthday in May, I will have my driver's license. My third goal is to t...