Michael's English blog

 Prompt: My brother is the one person who truly sees me because we’ve shared the same upbringing and can communicate everything with just a single look. Our bond is just like the one between Chris and Carine in Into the Wild because he’s my ultimate tether to reality and the only person who understands my motivations without me having to explain them. Summary: today in class we read the book and answered questions. Reflection: I learned more about the book.

Prompt: Reflect on an experience where you felt confident in your abilities. How did that confidence  influence your choices or effort? (pg. 118)      When you’re actually good at something, it gives you this huge burst of confidence that makes you want to push yourself way harder because you feel like you can't fail. This is exactly how Chris felt about his outdoor skills in Chapter 11, where his success on earlier trips made him so overconfident that he thought he didn't need a map or high-tech gear to survive Alaska. Summary: I was out due to a concussion. Reflection: I was out due to a concussion.

 Prompt: The movie makes Chris look way more justified because the epic music and scenery make his trip feel like a meaningful soul-searching mission. In the book, though, he seems more reckless because you’re reading all these cold facts and expert opinions about how he was totally unprepared for the actual dangers of Alaska. Summary: I was absent because of a concussion. Reflection: I was absent because of a concussion.

 Prompt: Growing up and realizing your parents actually make mistakes is pretty jarring because it makes you feel like your whole childhood was a bit of a facade. It’s the same thing with Chris in Chapter 11 once he finds out his dad was living a double life, he can't unsee the hypocrisy, and it basically ruins his trust in everything they stand for. Summary: I was out today because of a concussion. Reflection: I was out today because of a concussion.

 Prompt: Chapter 4 really stood out to me because it's when Chris abandons his car and burns his money, showing he was actually serious about leaving his old life behind. It was wild to see him turn into "Alexander Supertramp" and prove that he cared more about being free than having any of the stuff most people think they need to be happy. Summary: Today we took a novel test over chapters 1-10. Reflection: I think I did well on the test.

 Prompt:  I mostly define success by getting good grades and building a solid resume for college because that's what my parents and teachers constantly emphasize as the "right" path. However, I’m starting to realize those goals feel more like external pressure, and I think true success might actually be finding something I’m genuinely passionate about instead of just checking boxes for others. Summary: Today we worked on researching the book and connecting it to our persona life. Reflection: I learned more about the book.

 Prompt: After Chris abandoned his Datsun in the desert, he felt a liberating sense of relief because he was finally free from the material possessions that tied him to his old life. I chose a similar path when I spent a week solo-hiking in the Smokies instead of going on a crowded family vacation, and I’d definitely do it again because the silence helped me actually hear my own thoughts. Summary: Today we reviewed chapters in the book Reflection: I learned more about the book

 Prompt: I think propriety is a word that sounds super fancy, but it basically just means knowing how to act right depending on where you are. Like, I have to use a totally different level of propriety when I'm joking around with my friends in the cafeteria versus when I'm sitting in my AP classes trying to look like I actually did the reading. Summary: Today we did vocab lessons 1 and 3  Reflection: I learned many new vocab words.

 Prompt: Adjusting to the "spring forward" time change is a bit of a struggle for me, as the loss of an hour of sleep makes the first few mornings feel sluggish and creates a temporary "brain fog" that slows my productivity. However, I find that the extra hour of evening sunlight significantly boosts my mood and makes me more active once the workday is over. Overall, while the initial shift is difficult, the long-term benefit of more daylight makes the transition worth the few days of grogginess. Summary: We read the book Reflection: I got better at understanding the text

 Prompt: Instead of the SAT, I am focusing on the ACT and aiming for a composite score of 31+ to be a competitive for very popular collage programs in georgia. My top choices are Georgia Tech and Georgia. Summary: We read the book. Reflection: I leaned more about the story.

 Prompt: Yes, I have been influenced about the way I think about life goals, or the world around me. George Harrisons "All things must pass" album, and "Mood Swings" by Marcus King. Both of these albums have made me really process the lyrics and understand what they are talking about and how it relates to me.  Summary: Today we read chapter 5 and answered questions in canvas. Reflection: I improved my skills of analyzing text. 

 Prompt: If I was to simplify my life down to the essential items not including food, clothing, water, etc. I would want to keep my cellphone, a guitar, a blank notepad. I would keep my phone incase anything went wrong, a guitar as something fun to do, and a notepad to draw and talk about my experiences. The hardest thing to leave behind would be my family and the people who care about me. Summary: Today we read chapter 4 and completed a writable assignment about quotes from this chapter. Reflection: I improved my skills of analyzing quotes and writing in first person.

 Prompt: When I decided to quit the basketball team because it was wearing me out, the break from the constant pressure of coaches helped me have more fun. Having that distance taught me that I don’t have to follow a specific path just to fit in, and I’m actually much happier when I’m doing things for myself. Summary: Today we read our book and took notes Reflection: I learned how to understand the text in the book better.

 Prompt: In Chapter 1, McCandless clearly underestimated Alaska. He ignored Jim Gallien’s warnings and entered the bush with minimal gear, no compass, and only a small bag of rice. His overconfidence suggests he viewed the wilderness as a personal challenge rather than a lethal environment that requires proper preparation. Summary: We read the book and talked about it. Reflection: I learned more about our book.

 Prompt: Using Adobe Express to make these digital cards really helped me visualize our vocabulary words instead of just memorizing them. The word vivid  was the easiest to understand because I could easily match it with bright colors, but ambiguous  was way harder to show visually. By writing a sentence about a confusing movie and picking a foggy image, I finally understood how the word actually works in real life. Summary: Today we worked on vocab words Reflection: I learned many new vocabulary words