Reflection Questions: Holocaust Video, Chapter 1

After watching the first chapter of the video of Oprah and Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz, answer the following questions on your own blogs

What details about the Holocaust experience became clearer or more vivid for you because of the video?
Aside from reading about the Holocaust in books or on the internet, I think what really made the Holocaust much more vivid and made it seem so true and real was having Elie Wiesel there to tell his actual story, to say what he saw, what he heard, and what he felt like. Also, I think just seeing the buildings and the places the Jews were killed really opened my mind and made me say 'this is where it all happened'. The graphics included in the video also made the video clearer and much more vivid to me. Such as pictures oh starving Jews crammed onto beds, the gas chambers where they were killed, and the trains where the Jew rode in for days.

Describe the video techniques used to tell this story:
Camera angles: The camera angles work nicely that while they were talking about where things happened like where they stood in lines and where the died with the angles, I was able to see Elie Wiesel talk about a certain place while at the same time see where it all happened.
Graphics: Graphics were so important in this video and topped everything it gave me such a good visual of what the Jews had been through.
Interviewing: The interviewing portion made everything seem more real and because Oprah was there and is such a good speaker many of the questions she had asked answered all my wondering questions.
Excerpts from the book: Taking the excerpts again like what I had said earlier, him just saying them aloud with his own voice reading what I had read made it seem so true and believable. When he read the excerpts from the book on the video it just brought more emotion and meaning to his written words.

What is the "madness" the Oprah and Elie Wiesel speak of at the end of this section?
I think the 'madness' in this video is about how the Germans had treated the Jews, killing them so harshly and so fast, being so determined to get rid of the Jewish race. I think the 'madness' would describe all of the inhumane things the Jews had experienced.

Project Icarus

Topic: Jewelry Making

Passion & Stretch: I love collecting all sorts of earings and bracelets and my all time favorite type are the jewelry hand-made. For example, braided and yarn bracelets and earings made with shells and beads. I feel so inspired to make my own. I would like to find new innovated things to make jewelry out of just as feathers or peacock feathers.

Resources & Research: -Jewelry-makers on the strip of Waikiki
-Ben Franklin's Art Sessions

Process & Product: To get more experience on how to actually complete a bracelet I could visit art sessions at Ben Franklin and sit in with a group to make and see how the process of jewelry making goes. Another option I have is I could go to the strip of Waikiki and visit some of those people who sit on the sidewalk selling their man-made jewelry. I could ask them what special techniques they have when making jewelry.
Hopefully when I get more practice and master the technique or jewelry making and maybe develop my own technique I can start selling my jewelry to my friends.

Quater 3 OR Card

Draft: This I Believe

Brittany Bonilla

The Flame of True Love Will Never Burn Out

The term “I love you” is used every second of the day everywhere, whether it is between a mother and a daughter, father and a son, or even between a couple that feels passionately towards one another. I believe that the love we give someone is never forgotten. When kids my age are in relationships and “claim” they love someone and one second they hate and never speak to them ever again. The love in that relationship never really existed. When you love someone passionately with your heart and care for them deeply it’s difficult for you to forget them and not care for them at all. Actions speak louder than words. In a situation of anger, Its easy to say, “I hate you” to somebody you love and then love them again. Love is confusing. You are being tested with love everyday. People are complaining whether or not somebody loves them where really loves come naturally. Love cannot be forced onto someone who cannot love the person in return.

There is never a day where my parents don’t disagree on something. There was never a day where my mom wouldn’t nag on my dad for something, anything, even the smallest things in the world. And my dad, well my dad, whenever they’re out together there was never a time where my dad wouldn’t complain and grow impatient with my mom. But what I wonder is, why put up with all this dislike and drama and just get a divorce already?

My parents have been married for almost 27 years and these tiny arguments and disagreements are what keep them going. Instead of one of them leaving, they argue to solve the problem, they are willing to fight their peace in order to stay together. They have been together this long and yet nothing has convinced them enough that they don’t love each other. I remember hearing my dad scold my mom over something but before my mom went to sleep that night I recall seeing her make his lunch for tomorrow. No matter what any of them say or do to each other, it doesn’t change whatever made them fall in love with each other from the very beginning of their relationship.

Love has different ways of showing itself. Love never disappears, its simply just been MIA. “I” love you. LOVE doesn’t love, the person does. We make the decision to love someone or not and when we do it never goes away. If there’s one thing you really love about someone, something that makes you love them. It doesn’t make any sense to stop loving them when they still uphold the qualities you loved them in the beginning for. Define “love”. There is no difference from how a mother loves her child and from how a husband loves his wife. The unconditional love a mother gives her child should be as strong, powerful and as meaningful as the love we give our spouse.

I believe in true love and that it is the most powerful, beautiful, and precious gift that we could not give, but share with someone special.

Allusion Final

I am a jolly fellow
nice and mellow,
I know how to lighten ones' day
jokes and silliness is my forte

I know I may not be the brightest tool in the shed
“Gawrsh, well what do you know?” just got an average size head,
My friends and family are what keeps me sane
I wouldn't trade them on any day

What distinguishes me from the rest is that I'm lively, energetic, noisy, and fast
But what strikes people the most is my “Ah hyuck huck” laugh,
Anytime you need to be cheered up or just need to smile,
Hold on for a few seconds, I'll be there in a while.

Allusion Poem: Rough Draft

This poem is being based upon the Disney character Goofy.

I am a jolly fellow
nice and mellow,
I know how to lighten ones' day
jokes and silliness is my forte

I know I may not be the brightest tool in the shed
just got an average size head,
My friends and family are what keeps me sane
I wouldn't trade them on any day

What distinguishes me from the rest is that I'm lively, energetic, noisy, and fast
But what strikes people the most is my blatant laugh,
Anytime you need to be cheered up or just need to smile,
Hold on for a few seconds, I'll be there in a while.

Q2 OR CARD

RB: Pro/Con Critique Blog Draft

High school is a place where teens are most likely to be influenced by different things. It’s a place where kids like to explore different things, be different people. Sex is a big issue here, where students are influenced by other students, who try to fit in or are pressured to do things they don’t want to do. In high school, many teens change their personality, appearance, style, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the worse.

There are about 34% sexually active teens in high schools; meaning thirty four percent of teens are at risk of many consequences when having sex, STDs and unintended pregnancies. There are about 31% of teenage pregnancies yearly. Nearly 19 million new sex infections are found in young adults each year.

Parents should be the main educators of sex because its easier to get your message across when it is your own child. But since parents aren’t always discussing it, high schools should include some classes to inform students and young adults about abstinence. Abstinent-only classes provides facts on the importance of being abstinent. Your virginity is something you can only choose to lose, that’s what makes it so precious. Sex education classes only states consequences of having sex including contraceptives. Abstinence gives us vital information and reasoning to keep our virginity until we get married. It obtains us from having sex while sex-education does only the opposite. Sex-Ed teaches us how to be safe, abstinence does both, how to wait until marriage and when it’s the right time, how to protect yourself. 

Sex is 100% preventable, only you have the power to say no. Temptations are high in this time of your life. Then again, it’s easier to make a decision if you actually know what you’re getting into. Save your virginity for someone special, practice abstinence. It’s like saving your money for something you really desire. No, being abstinent isn’t easy. You always want something now and then but if you spend everything you got you end up with nothing.

Quarter 1 OR CARD

Self Assessment: I give myself a 3.5

My background captures the whole setting of the story, color scheme works, and the font really brings out the personality of the book. My conflict and resolution do give you an idea of what the book is about and my quote successfully sums up the ending of the book. Although, I think I could of added more graphics to give more of a visual of the story.

College Essay Critique Ready

Essay Topic: How would you describe yourself as a human being? What quality do you like best in yourself and what do you like least? What quality would you like to see flourish and which would you like to see wither?

I don’t believe that anyone in this world is perfect not me, my mom, my dad, my friends or whoever. I believe that God made us the way we are because our mistakes and flaws make us who we are and differentiate us from everyone else. I for one is nearly close to perfect. It almost takes me forever to finish one thing because I’m so easily distracted, I enjoy the media more than I enjoy doing my homework, and I over commit sometimes but never really notice until I’m at the point were I’m banging my head against a table pulling my hair out. Aside from this I have the little qualities about my appearance that I’m not fully satisfied with.

Although all these setbacks do bring me down sometimes I am still not afraid to live my life to the fullest without worrying about my future. A lot of people like having me around because I make them laugh or at least that’s what they tell me. That’s one aspect about myself that I cherish the most, sometimes I dream about running away from this stressful life to become a comedian on a show somewhere. I mean if all I do is benefit people by making them happy why not right? Too bad life isn’t this easy, when I grow up I have to consider more than just what makes other people happy but I need to support my kids and family as well as getting a good job. What if not everyone in the world laughs at my jokes or gets every one of my punch lines, and then what? These are little reasons to go to college, to mature and be successful in life. I can still bring people joy as long as I continue with my education.

One thing I would most likely to see improve is my love for school. I would like to love doing my homework and not because I have to. I want to learn to appreciate the fact I’m given an education and opportunity to learn from my teachers who take the time even when I get confused to help me out. I need to stop complaining about the work they give to me even though I don’t realize I need it and its good for me. Somewhere, sometime, somehow whatever they teach me will benefit me in the future.

As a human being, I need to learn what’s good from bad and get my morals straight. I can’t always depend on one person for the rest of life. Coming from parents that grew up with many hardships, I feel as it is my duty to make them proud by bringing them home all what they expect, good grades. I know I don’t always achieve this but I really do hope they know I try. I always tell myself that I have a hard life because I’m always accumulated with homework and my parents ask so much of me and when I tell them we start to argue. I now understand that they don’t understand why it’s hard for me when in fact if they grew up with my life everything would be so much easier for them. When they were my age they weren’t complaining about going to school they wished they could get more out of their education by getting the funds to afford it. The only thing my parents told me they strongly disliked about living in poverty were working for their family each day after school, they had no free time. In fact, my mom sang me the song her and her sisters sang while working in the rice fields “Planting rice is never fun, all the way under the sun, hit and rain…”.  Even though my mother grew up with nothing, now that she has even the littlest to share she’ll give it her family back home in Philippines or to her family living here who need it the most.

I love having fun especially with my friends hoping the day never ends but I really need to get into the habit where I make school another priority. Sure I have doubts sometimes that school is a waste of time but I’m only human, I can make so many mistakes until I finally learn. Whenever I’m in a state where I feel I am uncapable of doing anything I’ll just have to remember why I’m doing this and for what reason. For my parents and to make them proud. 

College Essay Draft

in the process...................

Pro Con Assessment Redo

Photographer accused of sexually assaulting children in court < Her is the link to my article.

Proposition: I do not support the courts rule to persecute or arrest this man because it has been stated in this article that the girl and her story do not match at all and the boy said Mueden was a 'perv' because of what he heard but not by what he has seen, there is no suspicious evidence to fully assume this man is guilty of sexual assualt.

Coming of Age Poster (Draft)

This is just an outline of everything I will be adding on to my poster. Let me know what else I should add if you have any suggestions. :)

Coming of Age (Draft)

“Toothbrush? Check!” now I’ve got to find my outfits I’m going to wear, this was hard. I packed as if I was staying there for a lifetime. “What else do I need?” I wanted to be sure I had everything I needed; a perfect weekend was all I looked forward to. All I thought about was looking good and hanging around my friends, getting closer to them, that’s it. I’ve never expected to feel so emotionally touched. That weekend I got closer to the people I’ve known for 9 years but never did talk or really understood them.

Sitting on the pavement nothing else to do but wait around for the bus to pick us up. Finally, “Where’s Tabitha?” I wanted to sit next to her on our ride there. It was chilly in the bus ride there looking out window all I would see was tall green trees that hovered over us. I could barely see the sky but the gloomy skies peeking through the trees scared me a little. The bus could no longer go down the steep pathway so we ended the ride here. I took my steps down the bus, my skin felt bumpy and I was cold. My class and I started the walk towards the buildings. We were walking on a wide pavement that was surrounded with trees. Although I was accompanied with more than forty students, chaperones, and teachers I felt unsafe. The walk was long and I packed heavy, you could only imagine how sore my shoulder was.

But after all the walking we were brought to this building that held three levels full of rooms. We all met in the living room where couches were set. I sat on the crowded floor listening to directions given to us by the leaders of this retreat. “Girls will stay on the first floor, boys on the second.” We were all assigned individual rooms. As I searched for mine I noticed that I was given a room next to Ms. Narvarte’s, my math teacher. I walked in and my sheets were black. I was given a sink, a closet that wouldn’t close, and mirror that stared right at me. Yeah, I knew for sure I didn’t want to stay here. I wanted to go home. Thank goodness I wasn’t the only one, girls screamed with fright and Ms. Narvarte let us sleep in pairs. As usual I paired up with Tabitha in my room.

We headed to the auditorium and had been put into groups. We were given a nametag with a sticker that would determine what group we would be put into. Well before we were sent back to our rooms we were given a tour to the church where we would go each night. At the cafeteria, we chose our table. We sat in a circle, boy girl boy girl boy girl, boys would serve us dinner. I think it was cute how Leopold gave me each of everything. He was a chubby boy and for desert, I remember him coming back to the table with a tiny desert plate with chicken and gravy on top. I chuckled a little trying not to be noticeable.

Dinner was good and so after we made our ways back to our rooms. Some of us took showers but since we were given a limited amount of time to get ready not many of us could bathe. I was one of them and so I used my time getting settled in my room. We all met in the auditorium where we were surprised to see band set up just like a mini concert with lights and everything. They played worship songs and had a projector set up so we could sing a long. I was really hyped, I didn’t think I’d like these songs so much. “He came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the cross to sky…..” I sang, all the way back to our rooms.

After the concert, I felt so sticky, sweat just stuck to my skin like glue. Showers were still full and a line was formed. So I decided to brush my teeth first. I finally showered and Ms. Narvarte demanded we go to sleep early. One of the chaperones came into our room and told us to be quiet and sleep since we were making a lot of noise. I couldn’t sleep, my pillow an old stench and the bed felt like I was sleeping on a table. I eventually fell asleep excited of what awaits me the next morning.

After breakfast, we all huddled in the auditorium where our retreat leaders prepared special activities for us. We all got to design brown paper bags with our names. Anytime we would like, anyone could make or send you card to put into your bag. We played group games where each and every one of us got involved and socialized with one another. This brought me closer to my group. Everyone got into a large circle where we discussed about God and his love for us. I remember crying during a certain time in retreat. I didn’t cry because of what anyone said but what he or she did. Now I remember, we did a group hug and then girls started to cry, and just seeing them cry made me cry as well. This was a time I would never forget.

Church always reunited me with Jesus and God but then retreat gave me more of an understanding and love for Jesus. Retreat was the only time I really enjoyed going to church and praying. I promised myself at retreat that every Sunday I would dedicate myself to God by going to church and I have. Retreat gave me a reason to pray and worship God rather than doing just because someone told me.

Retreat indeed made me a better person. It was like a home away from home. It was fun and I didn’t want to leave. In only two days I felt like a new and improved me. It made me think though, why only now right before graduation was I getting to know these people I’ve known for nine years.

PRO-CON FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html <---here is the link to my article

Summary:
This article I have chosen is mainly about how the state of Arizona is coming up with this law that any policeman can ask for an immigrant's green card or immigration papers if he or she suspects they are immigrants. If Arizona immigrants do not abide by this lawa itt ca be considered as a state crime or misdemeanor. Said to be one of the strictest laws, it gives a stronger power to the police as they can put them in jail or give out another form of punishment. Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona said she will make sure that the policemen are well trained to carry out this law. Although, they have already killen a man who suspected as a smuggler weeks before the law was made official. There are many who protest against this law including Barrack Obama, who puts in much of his cristism. But because Presidents rarely weigh on in state legislative, states located along the border of Mexico had outbeaten Barrak Obama. The state of Arizona had put aside what Obama and Congress had thought and took the issue nationally.

Proposition: I do not support the new Arizona Immigration law because no matter what type of citizenship they have they are being discriminated and harrassed by police who now have the right to approach anyone who may not be Hispanic but appears to be a Mexican Immigrant to ask for their immigration papers. Not many of this people have their green card or papers on them at all times as a result they can be put in jail for disobeying the law as well as committing a state crime.

Coming of Age

I remember being a little girl just in 2nd grade, missing almost half my teeth and wearing these really tacky colorful big crunchies with disney characters on them. The only things I cared about were new barbies, new crayons, new coloring books, never did I care about how much I'd spend or how I looked. I always had someone to depend on no matter what. Someone to tell me when to take a bath, someone to prepare me my food, and especially someone to tie my shoes. When I grew up, all the things difficult to me then are now the easiest tasks now.
I know I'm just 14 and I still have alot ahead of me to learn but I think I, myself have matured and taken more responsibility since then. I'm no longer being scolded for spilling orange juice on my shirt nor for drawing on the walls. I'm scolded for being home late, not calling my rents when I'm not home, and being on the computer too late. When I was younger all these things seemed so boring, I would always just play outside with my cousins and neighbors. I was much more sociable when I was young, being an older teenage girl I often like to hold a strong image and make sure I look nice and presentable before going out as of when I was young I thought I looked nice with just my pink boots and a yellow polka dot dress.
Every year I looked back at all the goofy things I did and felt a little embarrassed. I learn from my mistakes, trying not to make the same ones over and over again. I set new goals each year for myself and take on more challenging responsibilities. I guess life is kind of like a camera. We only see what the lens see. When we turn the camera at a different angle we see life in a whole new persepctive. I feel like I'm changing angles every year, keeping the tapes as memories. I mean being little was fun while it lasted....I mean being at the age of 14 acting like a 5 year old is just.......weird.

Sci-Fi Essay Draft

Science fiction, whether it is a movie or book always portrays the same meaning or purpose and that is to fill our minds with the many possibilities of the future, most of which have to deal with technology. I say in my own opinion that this is good in a way so that we cannot say “expect the unexpected” just because science fiction gives us that certain vision of what events may happen in the coming of time. Many of the unreal and imaginative concepts seen in movies and read in books have influenced greatly on the new technology we have today thus causing the increase use of it. I think the true genius in science fiction is not the inventor but the storywriter who comes up with the great ideals such as advances in technology shown in movies like Wall-e, 2012, and Xenon.

In a science fiction it is important to have a turning point that doesn’t necessarily have to be good. In the movie Wall-e, the use of technology had not completely benefited humans. They practically took over their lives. Simplest things like brushing their teeth or getting up were done by robots who were operated to fulfill the every need of humans. Humans became so adapted with this type of environment that their laziness caused them to become obese.

A common aspect that should also be found in a science fiction is a good storyline. This is probably the most important of all. Without a good storyline the reader or audience is not capable to understand. It makes it very hard to watch or read something that is very difficult to analyze. Especially for a Sci-Fi, it is definite to pay close attention to the script and make sure that not only you the producer of the script but a partner can understand the message that you are trying to give out. It is important for your story to seem more realistic than imaginative. The breakthrough should be something you can relate to so it has that realistic vibe to it. Thus, leaving the reader or audience with questions such as “What happens next?”.

In conclusion, I think Sci-Fi is here to inspire us to play with our imagination. To see what present minds can come up with and to explore the many possibilities of alternative timelines. Sci-fi is here to educate young minds to look beyond what is there and what is not. Romance and other novels are all the same, same storyline and same acting. Sci-Fi is always coming up with different technology that impacts us better than everything else I have seen or read. Lets face it, the world is too indulged with the new comings of technology which is why Sci-Fi dominates.

Journal #32 Picture Desciption

Verbs: bending, picture taking, receding water
Sensory details:
Hear: rush of water on the sand, the click of the camera as it takes a picture
Smell: the scent of salty beach water
Feel:the gentle touch of the camera's structure as it is being constantly adjusted
Sight: the beautiful scene of the beach, the camera's own view, setting sun, the necessary equipment in the photographers backpack, slow and gentle waves, the dry and wet sand

Poetry Website Invitation

You are invited to check out my own poetry website @ www2.k12.hi.us/~bbonilla/Homepage.html

You are invited to see my evaluations on my poems and song that I have provided for you all to see!
I'm sorry if it doesnt meet your eaxpectations and my layout isnt very nice but enjoy!
I hope you have as much fun as I did making this webpage for you!

Self-Metaphor Poem Draft

I am all content in my own little box where I bottle up my deep feelings and thoughts,
I am full of various opinions both good and bad,
But I tend to express my brighter side rather than my dull and dark,
I enjoy putting smiles on people's faces while I entertain them with my humorous ways,
I can bring out the creativity in people,
Each feeling, each part, everything about me is labeled,
All with a different name,
With me, Imagination is key,
Because I am built with no eraser,
I have no regrets for my past mistakes,
Although I may seem like I am made up with joy and laughter,
If I am used to only your advantage,
I just easily break into pieces,
I am not a beautiful creature,
But an unique object,
Bright as the Sun,
Or dark as the night sky,
I am 'A Box Of Crayons'