Project Reflection
“Food.” That word used to mean almost nothing to me. It’s just something that humans eat to keep living. But know it is a whole spider web of truths and lies the food industry is telling us, from GMO’s to pesticides. For this specific project, the idea was to write a formal and large piece about a subject that has something to do with food. What I chose didn’t have anything to do with food, but the lack of food. I did my paper and art piece on eating disorders. My main point that I was learning about was who and what are behind teenagers getting eating disorders. What I found out was that it was family influences, low self-esteem and the media who is behind it.
For this project, I didn’t really connect with anything. I could relate with the local farmers and the industrial food industry. But nothing fully flipped my switch. My thinking has changed from the beginning of this project to now. Now I am looking at the food labels and attempting to pronounce many of the ingredients. I had always known what slaughter houses were, but I never knew about CATO’s and all the dieses in feedlots. I was nauseated just by the thought that I was eating an animal that was standing in not just its own filth, but its friends too. I haven’t stopped eating meat, that would be almost impossible for me, but I have started to look more closely at the ingredients in my food, and more organic meat. This project wasn’t very difficult at the beginning, but as we slowly started the writing process and figuring out what topic we wanted to investigate, it got more difficult. The most challenging part for me was after the critique from Jessica, and I had needed to change a lot. I had been contemplating just to start the entire thing over, about three days to exhibition. I didn’t do that, but I did change the body paragraphs. The hardest thing about researching was that you needed to keep the URL’s that you used and could also get different information from different sites. There might be one that says that 10% of girls have eating disorders, then another site says that 25% of teens have an eating disorder. It confusing after sometime, but I figured out how to get the proper information. The way I figured out what was a correct source was to look at other sites. It make the research process very long and time taking. This had been one of my very first big writing pieces and it was an interesting writing process. I learn that I tend to procrastinate if I have any free time or optional research time. I can have off-days where I just don’t want to work and feel like I’m just shooting a dead horse. What I would do differently is maybe on each day, research a different subject so I have a different information intake. How I will make any future writing projects easier is to stay organized, but to also take breaks a few times to just clear my mind. It’s sounds dangerous for someone who gets distracted easily, but it takes will-power to succeed. Now that the food project is over with, I need to think about the essential question: How does one navigate their own personal omnivore’s dilemma in a world of abundant eating choices? The truth is, is that it is all up to this specific person. If they need to find their way through, then they can do it themselves. There isn’t a way that you could map out an omnivores dilemma to try to help everyone. We can’t just change the world by just thinking about changing the way you eat, but to actually do it. |
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MacBeth
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ReflectionWhen Jessica told us that we would be doing a shadow puppet version of one of Shakespeare’s plays, I thought of the usual plays; Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night Dream. But I’m glad that Jessica saw how psycho our class really was, and chose “MacBeth.” Back to business, we also did a few live-acting scenes. I was witch #2, and we acted most of our scenes live. That was probably the most fun I ever had.
Looking back at the night of the puppet show, I remember it being super hot, nerve-racking and stressful. But I also remember how much fun it was. The thing that I really connected with was the set designing. I enjoyed planning out how each room and scene would look. The part that I really enjoyed was the live acting. I was one of the witches and they start the play off. The witches were creepy, and the dry ice was fun to play with. The best part was probably the final bow. It meant that we were finished with Shakespeare, finished with the play and just done. All I felt was relief and joy. In the end, the puppet show was a total blast. After talking about the great times I had, I should mention some of the bad times. The time that was most difficult for me was probably had to listen to everyone’s ideas and to somehow twist it into the puppets. I had a challenge with starting the puppets, and finding the silhouettes for the people. Finally, I had to persevere through missing puppets, accessories and sets. On the day of the show, we were doing the run-through, and couldn’t find a few daggers and Ross. To conclude, it wasn’t the worst time, but not the best time. |
During the month and a half that we worked on the puppet show, I learned something’s about me. One thing, as a leader, I had to learn how to keep a calm, cool head when faced with issues. Whenever I’m having a bad day and then people come up to tell me more information that I won’t remember in 5 minutes, it bothers me. So it is hard not to snap at people. But as an actress, I realized that I needed to speak louder and annunciate my words. I have always thought that I had a loud voice, but it isn’t. Who would of thought? This puppet show has changed me, in good ways and bad.
The English-speaking world does seem to gravitate to Shakespeare’s work, even after 400 years. Why? Because he is famous. He is still used as a muse for directors. They keep making more movies off of him, such as; “Young Shakespeare” and “Gnomeo and Juliet.” That last one is one of my favorites, its sweet. People tend to know who you are talking about when you say “Shakespeare.” They mainly know him as the author of “Romeo and Juliet” and “To be or not to be, that is the question.” He also changed writing/play history. He wasn’t afraid to make fun of famous people back then, and he also created over 200 words. To “rap” this up, we still celebrate Shakespeare because he is the bee’s knees and will be immortal for years to come. |
I Promise Not to Hurt YouIn this short story, a mother buys her daughter a beautiful present. But the little girls dream turns into a nightmare.
**** Click here to view full story |
December 4th, 2012
Right now, in Humanities, we are writing short stories. Before we even started writing, Jessica had us read and analyze each one. Now that we have finished, well most of us have, she made us analyse our own story. |
December 17th, 2016
We have two days before our POL's, and I am just practicing. I have turned in my short story and just need a break. |