"Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen" Editorial Practice

      The article, "Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen", was not only insightful and informative but also easy to relate to considering the fact that I am currently a senior who will be attending college in the Fall. 

      Some very valid points were made in the article. Points that people seem to forget or overlook in regards to the reasons why college freshmen are so stressed. One of the points made addressed the fact that the stress starts before students have even entered college, "The share of students who said on the survey that they had been frequently overwhelmed by all they had to do during their senior year of high school rose to 29 percent from 27 percent last year." I could tell you all about that stress! Senior year has been the most stressful year in all my four years of high school mostly due to the fear of the unknown. In a couple of months, I will be leaving the familiarity of my home and the comfort of my family to be with complete strangers in a completely different place, adjusting to a completely different lifestyle while determining what I want my future to look like. 

      Another possible reason addressed in the article was the fact that the economy has been on the decline for some time. I know for a fact that I want to be successful and happy in the future and I used to believe that only way I can ensure that happening is by getting a education. Now that the time is actually here, it is not just about getting an education, it is about getting a GOOD education and getting at least a Masters degree. The author made the statement that "While first-year students’ assessments of their emotional health were declining, their ratings of their own drive to achieve, and academic ability, have been going up, and reached a record high in 2010, with about three-quarters saying they were above average...These days, students worry that even with a college degree they won’t find a job that pays more than minimum wage, so even at 15 or 16 they’re thinking they’ll need to get into an M.B.A. program or Ph.D. program." I have to agree with that statement because I have never felt more driven and determined to be successful in the field that I want to go into not only for me but also because I know that the only way I can get to where I want to be is by beating out others who want to go into the same field.

      Although it is sad that college freshmen are experiencing these high levels of stress so early in their life, I don't see it improving anytime soon. The article did a great job of highlighting these possible stress factors and I have to agree with the points made.      

The Case Against Algebra 2

I completely agree with Mr. Baker! Algebra 2 should not be a REQUIRED course! It is stressful and extremely difficult for some students. While other students grasp the concept quickly, this is not the case for all students. I took algebra 2 as a freshman in high school. I took "honors" because I know that I am a level 1 student. I worked my butt off in that class to receive an 81 for the year. I understand that a B is not the worst grade in the world, but after never receiving anything less than an A, I was terribly disappointed in myself. People tell me "You should have just taken Level 2" But a level 2 class would bring down my GPA and my weighted class rank. If only they had a math class without all those levels and for students who know that they do not want to be in the math field. I have always known that I wanted to do fashion journalism and no math is required to enter that field yet there I was sitting in an honors algebra 2 class struggling. Mr. Baker's idea would eliminate the amount of stress students go through and eliminate the lack of esteem felt by students when they can't do the material.  

A Tale of Two Cities

I found some sarcasm!!!! I was very excited when I stumbled upon this passage and actually laughed aloud which is always good with a book. It took place when Miss Manette goes into shock about the news she is receiving from Mr. Lorry and when "a wild-looking woman, whom even in his agitation, Mr.Lorry observed to be all of a red colour, and to have red hair, and to be dressed in some extraordinary tight-fitting fashion, and to have on her head a most wonderful bonnet like a Grenadier wooden measure, and good measure too, or a great Stilton cheese, came running into the room inadvance of the inn servants, and soon settled the question of his detachment from the poor young lady, by laying a brawny hand upon his chest, and sending him flying back against the nearest wall. ("I really think this must be a man!" was Mr.Lorry's breathless reflection, simultaneously with his coming against the wall.)" Hahahahahahaha!! Even typing the passage again made me laugh. Dicken's description of the woman is already funny and I could tell that she was already crazy looking but then to go on and say he was unsure if the person was a man or a woman made me actually laugh aloud. This was an awesome passage.

A Tale of Two Cities

So far I would not say that I have a favorite character, but I do like Mr.Lorry. He seems like the type of guy to be all tough and scary on the outside but in reality he is a big and soft teddy bear. It's quite clear that he cares about Miss Manette even though he never admitted it (or at least not so far). I think that after I read about him some more I might like him but then again, if he really is a business business man and always puts that first then he could lose some points with me.

A Tale of Two Cities

I am so confused!!!! After reading the opening lines of this book, I knew I was in some trouble. It took me a good fifteen minutes to look up the meaning behind it and after I understood (or at least I think I do) I moved on to only become more and more perplexed. I am not even understaning the plot. The one thing I do understand is that Dicken's is supposed to be extremely sarcastic in this novel yet I am missing it completey. To be honest though, I am only on page 38 and should probably continue reading so that I can understand what is going on. 

Doll House

I really liked this book! The main character, Nora, really irritated me in the beginning of the novel because I thought she was weak and dumb but as the author Henrik Ibsen developed her character, I found her to be fascinating. She was actually strong and independent and although I didn't like the fact that she left her children at the end of the play, she did it for her. She needed to better herself and find out who she really was which was completely understandable.  

The Sun Also Rises

I did not like this book while I was reading it for the simple fact that I did not give myself enough time to read it and had to cram it in in one night for AP Lit BUT after discussing the novel in class, I've come to actually like The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The symbolism in the book is so subtle yet so powerful and I loved that about it. Also, Hemingway's style of writing allowed the reader to come to conclusions on their own and figure things out for themselves like figuring out that Jake's wound from the war is the reason him and Brett are not together. I'm not sure if I liked the characters in the book due to the fact that they were so loose and wild but then again that was the point of the Lost Generation so I could appreciate the character development. Overall, it was a good book that I did enjoy reading.