I'm a Procrastinator

Procrastination is definitely something that has been made me struggle these past years. It’s been a habit for me to constantly forget a few assignments from time to time and turn them in for late credit. Then there are some days when I forget that there’s a test next class and don’t have much time to study. All of these habits are not going to get me through college. If I continue doing things like this, I will fail my courses and not be eligible to major in sports business let alone graduate from college. I will lose my scholarships and end up taking out student loans and I know I don’t want to graduate from college with a lot of debt to pay off.

With the help of my mom, I have some techniques that will help keep me on task with my school work and stay organized. That way, I finish my work first and then play later. I’ve upload some procrastination apps on my phone since I’m always on it. I’ll also remember to write things down in my planner and constantly check to see if any assignments are due. College is not as easy as high school and since I won’t have my parents with me, I need to start taking some responsibility for myself. If I’m struggling, then I need to get some help as soon as possible instead of waiting until the last minute. I have faith in myself that I can do better than what I’ve done in high school. 

School is almost over

We have three more weeks of school and next week is AP testing. I am one of the very few people in my class taking this test. The only reason I’m taking this test is because my mom is making me take it. She doesn’t want me to miss an opportunity of earning college credit. I understand that, but I am not the best test taker. I’ve taken AP tests since my sophomore year and I never passed them. I’m pretty sure this one will not be any different, especially since it’s English.

I have to admit though; this class was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I mean, I didn’t love it, but there were some times that I enjoyed being in the class. I think I improved a lot while taking this class, especially when it comes to writing essays. When I started this class, my essays were absolutely horrible. I’m not saying that my essays are perfect now, but I will say that they have definitely improved. I still have to work on my test taking though. My vocabulary tests helped me maintain a B in this class. These skills are very crucial in order for me to do well in school this fall. 

Music and Poetry (Blog 13 late)

I love poetry for several reasons. One of those reasons is that poetry can from any type of inspiration  from a first crush to getting ready for college. They tell stories that you really have to think about because sometimes they can be hidden. I've written a few poems a couple years ago. The things that inspired me during that time were volleyball, heartbreak and being proud of the skin I’m in. Those were probably the most important things in my life at the time. I could write poems about those things forever. But as I grew older, my interest in writing faded away.

Another reason I like poetry is that most poems can actually be songs (and vice versa). Now I know that most of the songs we here on the radio would probably not be considered poetry because they talking straight nonsense, but those songs that actually have a message behind them are definitely considered poetry. Most people say that songs are music with lyrics attached and that is somewhat true. I also believe that songs are poetry spoken with music. It sounds a lot better to me. I am absolutely obsessed with music, so I can understand why I like poetry so much. 

Poetry/AP Exam

Well, after we present our poetry projects, we will finally be finished with our poetry section. I think this was probably the easiest units for me. I mean, I still had a difficulty understanding things from time to time, but I think I’ve learned enough to receive a decent grade on my poetry exam. It didn’t seem as hard as I thought it would be (except for the last ten questions). I do plan on trying to make a sestina poem for extra credit because I really need the points, especially if it will increase my test grade percentage.

What I’m really worried about is the AP exam in May. I take it every year but I never pass it. I think it’s because I am not the best test taker. It’s obvious by my test scores in class. I need to work on my study skills a lot because that is going to be very useful when I go off to college in the fall. Of course, English has never really been my best subject. I’ve struggled with it throughout my high school career, but I’m going to continue to work on it in order to be able to graduate.

A Dream Deffered (Late)

Out of all the poems we read in this unit, my favorite on would have to be A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes. It’s a simple poem but still has a powerful meaning. It makes think about what happens when a dream is not reached and we’re not just talking about the dreams you have while sleeping, but also dreams that are described as goals. Everyone has some kind of goal that they want to accomplish in life. Sometimes it doesn’t go the way they want it.

So if a dream is not achieved does not go your way, what happens to it? The poem continuously asks it will eat you inside or if it will just rot in your head. You might hold it in for so long that you’ll eventually burst out something at the wrong time. It’s not good to hold anything in, especially goals that you wanted to accomplish but never had the ability to. I have goals that I plan to achieve. Some of them did not go my way but I’m not going to let them affect the rest of my life. If one goal goes wrong, the think of another one and you might be able to achieve. Anything is possible

Poetry

This poetry unit is pretty good. Seriously, I am really enjoying it. Some of the poems that we have to read for class really mess with my head, but the other one really catch my interest. One of my favorite poems of all time is actually not in the book. It’s Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. Every time I read that poem, I just think about how blessed I am to be able to accomplish so many things. I try not to settle for less and I want to make something out of myself. Basically, I just want to be successful.

I think my favorite part about this poetry unit is doing the poetry responses. At first, I was regretting them because I thought I was going to be a lot of unnecessary work, but then I realized that it will be much easier for me to complete the assignment if I did on poems that I actually. Right now, I like all of the poems that I chose from the packet. A lot of the poems relate to me in some kind of way.

Now all I need to do is try and make sure that I fully understand the poems because just reading them will not help me very much.

Family Over Everything

After reading this article, there was an old saying that came to mind: “The family that prays together stays together.” Families that don’t take the time to actually talk and bond with each other tend to drift apart. Not only that, but it’s more difficult to gain respect from your family members. One thing that stood out to me in this article was when Feiler said that the military has trendsetting programs that help teams function better. I agree with this because my mother was an army veteran and all the techniques she learned from there, she brought back home to build a stronger relationship with our family. Unlike most parents, my mom makes sure that my sister and I are always on our best behavior. We want to make good impressions on anyone who happens to come and visit us. We never text or goof around at the table if we are in public because it’s rude. This is where the saying, “Mama didn't raise no fool,” comes in. My family enjoys each other company because we know that we will not be together our entire lives. I know a lot about my parents: where and how they met, why they aren't together now, and much more. My parents only want the best for me and that’s why there always in my business.

Bullying is Dumb :/

What do we know about bullying? There are many different types of bullying going on. There is verbal bullying, physical bullying, and cyber bullying (cyber bullying is probably the most common type of bullying in today’s society. Even though we have an understanding as to what bullying, but has the term “bullying” become overused now? Honestly, I think it has. Most bullying has become really serious; so serious that it can take away an innocent life. People are threatening each other, bringing weapons to school, and even causing kids to commit suicide. THIS IS BULLYING? No, this is far from bullying. Bullying used to be name calling and picking on little kids. It was less severe, but as the years went by, kids started getting new bullying ideas from the media (television, movies, music, etc.). Bullying today is like another form of violence.

After reading the second article, I was a little bit confused. The editor was saying that it’s either considered to be bullying or just “bad” behavior. First of all, I believe bullying is not the right at all. Second, bad behavior is not even the word that comes to mind when I think about these violent actions. “Bullying” should be taken seriously because it can lead to death or serious injuries.

 

Senior Year (Time Goes By Fast)

I cannot believe that we have over a couple months left of senior year. It seems like yesterday we stepped foot in this school as wide-eyed and innocent freshman. We were able to accomplish many things to get to where we are now. I know I have! If it wasn’t already obvious, English has never been a relatively easy subject for me. I always struggle with the reading, writing, and everything in between. Sometimes it got so bad that I was on the edge of failing. Although I struggled, I always found a way to bring it up to grade I need (a B or higher). With the help of my mom and some tutors, I make sure that I can do the best I came.

One thing I need to know is that my mom cannot help me with homework forever, especially when I leave for college this fall. I need to do things on my own and stay organized, which is what I’m doing now. I try to write all my assignments in my phone because I use my phone more than anything else. I set reminders on my phone and I use the Infinite Campus app to stay up-to-date with my grades. I am more confident that I will be successful at staying on top of my grades when I go to Eastern Kentucky University in the fall. I plan on taking simple class so I know what I’m doing and I’m sure everything will turn out fine.

 

An Open Letter to Pretty Girls that are EXTREMELY Conceited :/

Dear Pretty Girls that are EXTREMELY Conceited,

Yes, we get it. You’re pretty and you are very photogenic, but that doesn’t mean you have to upload 500 pictures of yourself each day. It’s obvious that you know how pretty you are. A little TOO obvious. I log onto Instagram and I see that almost every other picture is of you and if that’s not enough, you go on and call yourself a “bad b*tch” and what not. Some of your pictures are literally just to show off your body and let guys drool all over you. That doesn’t make you gorgeous. All you’re doing is letting guys know that they can have their way with you. It makes you look like a slut. I mean, it’s one thing if you’re wearing a swimsuit or something, but it’s not okay if you’re just sitting in your room doing absolutely NOTHING!

Also, just because you’re pretty, doesn’t mean you are above anybody. You do not have the right to judge anybody or treat them like dirt. A pretty face is nothing if you have an ugly attitude to go with it. Most pretty people think that they are just better than everyone else and they can do whatever they want. That is not true. You have to treat others the same way that you want to be treated. If you get called a b*tch, it’s not because they are jealous of your “beauty” and want to be you. It’s probably because of your behavior and how you present yourself.

There’s not really anything else that I need to say, but I do want you to think about this: Your beauty might make you popular now, but how is that going to work out when you are trying to find a job, attend a university, or start a family? Being pretty is not everything. It’s more like a gift that must used wisely and I don’t think you’re using it wisely. Stop being so conceited because it’s not a good look. I’m just saying.

Sincerely,

Joia Pollard

Safety on Campus

I can’t believe that we are actually graduating in a few months. It seemed like yesterday we just started as little freshman. So I read the article about guns on campus and whether or not it is safer to prohibit them. I for one am not a fan of weapons, like most people. If I had the choice, guns would not be allowed on campus at all. Guns just cause unnecessary problems. For example, I have a best friend that goes to the University of Louisville. During the first semester, he posted some news reports about people getting robbed around or outside of the campus. There weren’t any shooting but they did hold up a gun. It was happening multiple times.

But according to the article, schools are actually the safest place to be because there is no easy access to guns. In fact, shootings and other crimes usually happen outside of campus instead of inside. To be honest, I don’t think I’d have to worry about situations like this at the school that I’m going to. I think that I will be pretty safe on campus. But, hey, you never know what’s going to happen? You just have to be prepared for whatever. 

My Guilt

The Guilt Trip is REAL!! I'm sure the we all took a journey on it once in our life. I know I have. Tat article made me realize how often I feel guilty. I mean, I already knew about the guilt trip, but I realize that there are so many things that I have done that I have felt guilty about, but I never admitted to them. I haven't done anything wrong that would make me build up so much guilt that I would just explode. My guilt is never that serious. There was only one time that I had so much guilt inside of me that I broke down into tears and that was when my sister made my mother cry. It wasn't even my fault but I still felt terrible because she is my mother. I mean, who wants to see their mother cry. Nobody!!
Speaking of mothers, my mother is one of the only people who can find out if I'm hiding something by just looking at me. If I'm not looking her right in the eye, then she knew that something wasn't right and she was not going to leave me alone until I told her what was wrong. I think of it as one those motherly instincts because she is like the only one who does it the best. It's not just when she looks at my face. But the tone in my voice can give hints as well.
Guilt is something that all humans experience. It shouldn't be new to anybody because nobody is perfect. We are human and we all make mistakes.

Not Without Laughter

My second independent reading book in entitled Not Without Laughter by African American poet, Langston Hughes. This was Hughes' first and only novel. It is about young boy named Sandy Rodgers who lives with his mother and grandmother. Sandy's father is constantly moving around looking for employment. When his mother decides to leave town and join her husband, Sandy has no choice but to live with his aunt and uncle because his grandmother passed away. Sandy does not enjoy living with them, but has to stay with them until he is old enough to live on his own.
While reading this book, I hope to learn about the struggles that a young African American boy would go through while living in a time period where money, success, and happiness was not earn very easily. African Americans did not have the best jobs in the twentieth century. They would work in fields that required little or no education at all. In the book, Sandy's mother is a housekeeper for a wealthy white family, his grandmother does laundry, and his father is currently unemployed. Sometimes, I think about how grateful I am to be able to have a opportunity to earn a college degree and be able to achieve my goal on becoming an Athletic coach.

Outside Reading

Well, I’m not sure if we will have school tomorrow or not, but I thought I’d share my opinion about my first outside reading book. I read Anyone Can Dream: From Mud Hut In Kenya to Ranch House on San Francisco Bay by Philip M. Makau. Honestly, this book was not what I expected at all. I think it was trying way too hard to help the reader create an image of what is going on in that specific chapter. It was so descriptive. It didn't take that long for me to lose interest in it. For example, I’m pretty sure it took about two pages just to explain what kind of clothes he wears every day. To top it off, the book isn't even that long. It’s only 195 pages.

This was not the best novel that I have read. But the good news is that I got it over with. Now I’m excited to read my second book: Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes. I’m a fan of his poetry, so I was really glad that I chose the topic of racial inequality because I get to his first and only novel. I am certain that I will enjoy this book as well as my third book better than my first one.

The B-Word :(

So I’m going to talk about the word “bitch” and how I feel about it. After reading the article that was given to us as a topic, I couldn’t help but think to myself that this article was 100 percent true. In the past, it was an insult for a woman to be called a bitch. Then as the years went by, it developed another meaning: someone who is strong, independent, and speaks her mind. I have a feeling that I know where it came from. A few years ago, hip-hop icon Trina was one of the best female rappers out there. As her career grew, she began to develop an image. She started referring to herself as a “bad bitch” and everyone else just hopped on the bandwagon. Soon, girls all over the country started acting hard and tough because they’re supposedly “bad bitches,” but when a guy uses the word as an insult, they start getting upset and defensive. Why? What makes it right to call yourself a bitch instead of others? It’s the same word with the same meaning, but girls act like the word “bitch” is separated into two completely different categories. Well, it’s not!! I do not refer to myself as a bitch. It doesn’t even belong in my dictionary. If someone used that word one on me, I am not going to leave without letting that person know how I feel. No woman should ever refer to herself as a bitch; whether it’s a compliment or not.

The Road/Poetry Section

Well, we are almost to the end of The Road and I have to say that I’m enjoying the book a little bit more. I don’t exactly love it, but at least I don’t hate it. The assignment that we just did today in class was very helpful for me to understand Cormac McCarthy’s writing style. Honestly, McCarthy’s writing style was my least favorite part about this book. Almost everything he did in the book was wrong in my eyes because I was taught differently, along with all my other classmates. It just didn’t seem right when he typed it on paper. It was very annoying.

I’m really glad that we’re almost done with the book. Even though I didn’t hate, I don’t see myself reading it again in the future. It’s not a typical book that I read. It’s like an emotional rollercoaster, but it has way more depressing moments. In fact, almost the entire novel is depressing. If anyone knows me, they know that I’m not too fond of things that seem depressing to me.

This has nothing to do with the book, but I am extremely excited about the poetry section. I’ve had a small interest in poetry since sophomore year. It’s best part about English to me. J

Inquiry Project

For my inquiry project, my topic will be about racial inequality because I love learning about African American history. It’s a part of what makes me... ME!! If it wasn’t for those historical events, I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I have now. Life would still be segregated.

This first book I’m reading right now is Anyone Can Dream: From Mud Hut In Kenya to Ranch House on San Francisco Bay. I was unsure whether or not this book was answering my inquiry questions because I didn’t know if it took place during segregation. Once I started reading it, I realized that it did fit with my topic. It just took place in a different location. The story starts off in Kenya but I’m pretty sure that it ends up in the United States.

The book is about a young African boy who is trying to make his parents proud by reaching his professional goals. The problem is that he has to face the racism of his home to accomplish them. I am really interested in this book. Almost every page I read makes me realize how good my life is right now. It may not be perfect, but it’s definitely better than nothing.