Monday,October12.

DescribeYourFather.
Myfatheristhemostinfluentialpersoninmylife.Heissowittyandisalwaysmakingajoke.Mydadalmost
alwayshasasmileonhisface.PeoplehavesaidsinceIwasbornthatIlookjustlikemydadandnowtodayIact
justlikehim.MymomtoldmethatwhenIwasbornmydadwasscaredtoholdmebecausehedidnotwantto
hurtme.Ithinkthatjustshowshowmuchmydadcares.Myfavoritethingtodoislookatoldpicturesofmydad
andI.ThisonepictureIamabout1or2andIamonmyDadsshouldersatazoo.Ihaveahugesmileonmyface
andmybonnetjustperfectlycoversmyhead.Mydadiswearingraybansandhasasimplesmileonhisface,I
justthinkthatkindofdescribestherelationshipmyfatherandIshare.MydadisamiddlechildandsoamI,so,
sometimesIthinkthathefeelsbadformeandhedoeswhateverIwant.Idonotusethisforanadvantage
though,itisonlyforlittlethings.HeprettymuchhelpsmewithanythingIneedandIalwayslookuptohim.My
dadissuchahardworkerandspendshismoneywiselyandsomedayIhopetobejustlikehim.WhenIwas
applyingformyjobhewasgivingmesampleinterviewsandgivingmeahardtimetellingmethathehasnever
appliedforajobandnevergottenit.IlookuptohimandhopeIcansaythatsomedaytoo.Myfathermeansso
muchtome.

Monday,October19.
Discusssomethingthatmatters.
Somethingthatmatterstomeismycat.IgotmycatinfourthgradeafterIwrotealettertomyparents.I
constructedresearchoncats,toldmyparentsthatIwouldtakecareofitallmyself,andthenwrotealetterto
them.Iwroteitnotreallyexpectingthemtoallowmeto,buttomydismay,theysaidwecouldgetacat.I
rememberresearchingtypesofcatswithmybrotherandsisterandthenchoosingaBirman.Thenextthingwe
didwaspickaname,andmysistercameupwithit,Sugar.Thedaywepickedhimup,wekepthiminour
mudroomsohewouldnotbetooscared.Wealltookturnsindividuallygoingintotheroomandholdinghim.I
wentinlastandhestartedpurringwhenIwasholdinghim.Thefirstnightwekepthimlockedinmyroom,andI
rememberwakingupinthemiddleofthenightandhewassleepingrightbymyfaceitwasthecutestthing
ever.Nowtoday,7yearslater,mycatisalmostmybestfriend.Therankingofwhohelikesthemostinorder:
Me,myMom,Vann,Jenna,myDad(helovesmethemostbecauseIalwaysgivehimattentionhedislikesmy
dadbecauseheisloud,islikeagianttohimandscareshim).WheneverIcomehomefromwork,school,a
friendshouse,orafteralongtime,mycatcomesrunningtomeetme.Hefollowsmearoundthehouse,sitson
myhomework,andsnuggleswithmeatnight.Ilovecominghomefromschoolandjustrelaxingandsnuggling
myfaceagainsthim.WheneverIamsad,heisalwaysthere,andhebrightensmymood.Sugarissoimportantto
meandwithouthimIdonotknowwhatIwoulddo!

Monday,October26.
Howcome?Howotherwise?
ThisquotationfromCalvinos
TheNonexistentKnight
makesmethinkaboutsomethingthatIlivemylifeby.
WheneversomeoneasksmeWhy?IalwaysreplywithWhynot?.ThequestionisusuallyaskedwhenIam
doingsomethingunusualordifferentandmyfriendsorfamilyareconfused.Ijustsaywhynot?becauseit
explainsitself,whynot?IdonotletthequestionsofothersstopmefromdoingsomethingthatIenjoy.My
responsealsomakestheotherpersonquestionthemselvesonwhytheywerequestioningme!Theythenthink
aboutwhatIamdoingthroughmyshoes,andunderstandthateveryonedoesthingsdifferently.Relatingbackto
Calvinosquote,whenRaimbautquestionstheNonexistentKnight,hesimplyrespondswithaquestionmaking
Raimbautthinkharder.ItalsoprovidesasenseofeerinessintheNonexistentKnight.Thisseriesoftwo
questionsmakesthefirstpersonaskingthequestionthinkaboutwhattheyasked.

Monday,November2.
Whyareyouhereandnotsomewhereelse?
WhyamIsittinginthisclassroomrightnow?WelltherealreasonIamhereisbecauseitisthelaw.Iamalso
herebecauseIwantto.Iamalsoherebecausemyparentsexpectmeto.Iamalsoherebecausethereisnot
muchelseIcoulddo.
Igotoschooltolearn,grow,andsucceed
.Althoughallofthesethingsarekeepingmehere
atschool,itistrulyperplexingwhyIamhereinHoward,Wisconsin,intheworld.WhyamIinthiscertaincity?I
feelIwasputonthisearthinaspecificspot,togrowupanddosomethingforothers,butformyselftoo.Iam
heretolearn,getgoodgrades,graduate,attendcollege,graduateanothertime,getacareer,possiblymove,allof
thesethingsaredeterminedbywhatIamdoingrightnow,sitting,learninginschool.

Monday,November9.
Bradamantewrites,Apageisgoodonlywhenweturnitandfindlifeurgingalong,confusingeverypageinthe
book(Calvino140).Makemeaningfromthisquotation.
Tome,thisquoteistellingthereadertobecomesoinvolvedinthebook,thattheyforgetthelifetheyareliving,
andfeelliketheythemselvesareacharacterinthebook.Thereaderissoentrancedintheplotlinethatthey
cannotstopturningthepagesbecausetheywanttofindoutwhatishappening.Theyalsostarttobecome
disorientatedbecausetheyfeelliketheyareinthestory.Theirlifeinthestoryisbecomingcomplicated,and
theyareturningandturningthepagestofindoutwhatisgoingon.Bradamanteistellingthereadertobecome
soenthralledinthebook,thattheyneverbecomebored,butinsteadbecomeapartofthebook,alwayswanting
togetfurtherintothestory.

Monday,November16.
Howhasliteratureinthiscoursesofarshapedyouthinkingofyourunderstandingoflife?
Afterreadingboth
TheMetamorphosis
and
TheNonexistentKnight
,Ithinkofmylifeintermsofexistentialism
muchmore.Ithinkitisinterestingtoseethebreakingpointinbothofthecharacterslives,andhowtheyreact
tothem.IseeGregorreactingwell,andduetothat,helivesonandtransformsattheend.However,IseeAgilulf
notreactingwell,andbecauseofthatwhenhisranksaretakenaway,hedisappearsintotheair.Itreallymakes
mewonderwhenIwillhaveanexistentialcrisis,ifIevenwill.IalsowonderhowIwillreactandhowitwill
impactmylife.ThistopicmakesmethinkaboutmyfutureandwhoIwillbeasanadult.Anotherideathathas
impactedmeisfromtheNonexistentKnight.Afterreadingthisbook,Irealizedthatwearejudgedoffofour
accomplishmentsandachievements,andsolelymatterifwehaveany.Iseethisthroughtheknightswhenthey
weartheirarmorandareputuponapedestal,howeverwhentheytakeofftheirarmor,theyareshrunkendown
tovilehumans.IalsoseethisthroughAgilulf,asheisanamazingknight,andheonlyhasranksandmedalsto
proveit.Nothingaboutthefeelings,ideas,orthoughtsofthepersoninsidemattertodescribewhotheyare.It
disheartensmetothinkthatthatishowmypeersviewme,butevenmoreso,itdisheartensmebecauseIknow
thatIdothattoo.Iwanttochangethatandappreciateandloveeveryoneforwhotheyare,notwhattheyhave
done.Iwanteveryonetobeappreciatedforwhatevertheydo.

Monday,November23.
GratitudeisthesignofnoblesoulsAesopAreyouthankful?
Ibelievethatoneshouldbethankfulyearround,andnotspecificallyjustonThanksgiving,overall,Iamavery
thankfulperson,andwiththehelpofmymom,Iammoreandmoreeachandeveryday.EverydaythatIlive,I
amblessedtobehealthy,haveahouse,andhaveeverythingthatIneedtosurvive.Now,specificallyon
ThanksgivingIamthankfultoo,butsomepeoplejustreservethisonedaytobethankful.Thisisnothowit
shouldbe.EvenifyoudonotbelieveinGodorahigherpower,youshoulddedicatesometimeeachdaytojust
behappythatyouarehere.SometimesitgetshardtobethankfulformewhenIhavemanyconflictsinlife.
School,work,andmyextracurricularscanmakemeextremelystressed,tired,andbusy,butIamstillthankful
forbeingabletodothosethings.ThismakesmethinkofwhenIcomplainofhavingtogetupandgrab

something,andmymomsays,Youshouldbethankfulyouhavelegstowalkwith,althoughthatannoysme,it
reallyputsintoperspectivethatIshouldbeappreciativeofwhatIhave.Somepeopleareparalyzedandcannot
accomplishlifesbasictaskswithouthelpandthenhereIamcomplainingabouthavingtowalkacrosstheroom.
MymomteachesmeeverydaytobethankfulforwhatIhave,anddonothave.

Monday,November30.
Ifyournamewereanacronym,whatwoulditstandforandhowwoulditreflectyourstrengthsandpersonality?
Jada.
Joyful
.Iamjoyfulandhappyallthetime.Itrytosmileandlaughwheneverpossible,andIalwaystryto
cheerpeopleup.Iwouldsayalwaysbeingjoyfulisastrengthandpersonalityofmine.
Apply
.Whateverand
wheneverIamdoingsomething,Itendtoapplymyselftotheprojectinordertodowell.Thisisastrengthof
mine.
Deserver.
IdeservewhateverIreceivebecauseIalwaysworkashardaspossibleforwhatIwant.Idonot
taketheeasywayout,butinsteadtrymybesttoshowwhatIamcapableof.Thisshowsmypersonalityof
alwaysdoingmybest.
Abstract
.Ialwaystendtodothingsdifferentlythanwhatmostpeopledo.Iliketobe
differentinagoodway,toshowIfullyknowwhatIamdoingandamcapable,thisshowsmystrengthof
knowledgeandmypersonality.

Monday,January4.
Chooseonetipfromhistoptenlistandexpanduponitusingyourownobservationsandexperienceswith
writing.
Kingsnorthlessonnumber6explainsthatyoumustkeeptryingandadvancingyourwork.HesaystoBe
patient.ThisisextremelyimportanttowritersandtomyselfbecauseIhavenoticedthisinmyownwork.Back
insixthgrade,Ihadatoughtimewriting;then,throughoutmiddleschooltoo,Ididnotenjoywriting.However,
onceIgotintosophomoreyearandwasfinallyhelpedwithmywriting,Ibecameastrongerwriter,andsawthat
inmyself.Irealizedhowimportantitwasformetobepatientandwaitformyskillstogetbetter,andtobe
recognized(therecognitionIamtalkingaboutisgoodgradesandfeedback,notnecessarilywinningawriting
competition).HealsosaidIfyouredoingitright,youllgetthere.Iknowthataftermanyyearsofattempting
writingandrefiningmyskills,IamslowlygettingtoapointwhereIamagoodwriter.

Monday,January25.
Doeswealthcausecarelessnessorarewealthypeopleusuallygenerousandsensitivetoothers?
Personally,Idonotthinkthatthistopiccanbeansweredwithasolidyesorno.Ononehand,Iknowmany
individualsandcelebritiesthatdonotusetheirmoneyforgooduses.However,ontheotherhand,Iknowpeople
thatsavetheirmoney,spenditwisely,anddonatetocharity.Itdependsontheperson,andtheirbehavior
towardsothers.Iftheyarecaringandsensitive,thentheywillbemoreapttodonatingtoothers.Also,iftheyare
moreknowledgeable,theywillknowthattheyneedtobewisewiththeirmoney,andthestrugglesofthelesser.
Ifsomeoneisirritableandpessimistic,theywillmorelikelykeeptheirmoney,andspenditonitemsthatarenot
needed.Theyunderstandthestrugglesofthepoor,butdonotfeelempathytowardsthem.

Monday,February1.
SoitgoesisarecurringrefraininKurtVonnegutsnovelSlaughterhouseFive.Whatdoesitmeantoyou?
Tome,SoitgoesdescribesthewayIvieweventsinmylife.Whensomethingnegativehappens,Itendto
reflectonit,butthenmoveon.Personally,todwellonthepastispointless.Whatgooddoesitdoforyoutobe
stucktellingyourselfthatwhathappenedwasbad?Byconstantlyworryingaboutwhatwentwrong,youput
yourselfinamotionlesssituation.Thereisnowayyoucanmoveonandlearnifyouarethinkingaboutthebad
orwhatyouwouldchange.Itismuchbettertomoveonandrealizewhathappenedwasbad,buttolearnand
grow.Youmustalsorealizethatithappened,youcannotchange,andyoumustacceptit.Soitgoesexplainsa
badeventhappened,butyoucannotfixorchangeit,andyoumustmoveontobetterthings.

Monday,February8.
Ifyouwereacolor,whichwouldyoubeandwhy?
IfIwasacolor,Iwouldchoosepurple.Purpleismyfavoritecolor,andIfeellikeittrulydescribesme.Atall
timesIcandescribemymoodinpurple.IfIamhappy,cheerful,andlight,Iwouldchoosealilacshadeofpurple.
Tome,thiscolorrepresentshappiness.IfIamfeelingsadorgloomy,Iwouldchooseadarkpurple.Thisdark
purpleshowssadnessanddarkness.AcheerypurpletoshowwhenIamexcitedaboutsomethingwouldbe
fuschia.Ibelievethatthispurpleisenhancedwithabitofpink,showingallthegoodthingshappeninginlife.
RightnowasIwritethisIwouldsayIamamagenta.ThisisbecauseIamsick,andIdonotfeelgoodatall.Itis
alsoagloomydepressedcolor,exhibitingmytiredandmiserableself.NomatterwhatmoodIamin,Icanfinda
shadeofpurpletodescribemyself.

Monday,March7.
Whatssomethingyoudisagreewithaboutthewayyouwereraised?
OnethingIdisagreewithisthewaymyparentshandlethingsthatImessup.Obviouslybeingakid,Iwillmake
mistakes.Andalwaysafterthat,IknowImadeamistake,andIwillfeelbadaboutit.But,theyneverseemto
understandthat,andinsteadwilljustyellatme.IknowthatIneedtomoveonandlearnfrommymistakes,but
whentheyareconstantlyyellingatme,itishardtodothat.Irealizeapunishmentisimportant,butitismost
importanttolearnandmoveon,usingitforthefuture.Mistakesareimportantforfuturedevelopment.When
youmakemistakesandfindouttheoutcome,ithelpsyouinyourfuturebecauseyouhavetheknowledgenotto
doitagain.

Monday,March14.
ReadtheNYTimesarticle

SwedishSchoolsBigLessonBeginsWithDroppingPersonalPronouns
andwrite
yourreactionstoit.
OverallIthinkusingnongenderspecificnamestocalltoachildisalittletoofar.Ibelievethatkidsshouldnotbe
pushedintoacertaindirectionbasedontheirgender,however,theyshouldbecalledgirlorboy.Thegender
ofthechildiswhotheyare,andcallingthemherorshewillnotaffectherlife.Thesamegoesforaboy.Ido
agreewiththisdaycaresviewsonpushingkidstoplaywithcertaintoys.Girlsshouldnotbescoldedforplaying
withlegosorblocks,similarly,boysshouldbeallowedtoplaywithdolls,noquestionsasked.Thearticleclaims
thattheycallthechildbytheirname,orsayComeon,friends!becauseitdoesnotgenderstereotype.However,
Icanrefutethat,sayingcertainnamesaregenderspecificandthesamestereotypestheytalkof,willfollow
alongwiththename.Soduetothat,callingthechildafriendorhen(anongenderspecificpronounthe
daycareuses)willnotpreventthestereotypesfrombeingplacedonthem.Thedaycareisdoingagoodjobof
allowingchildrentogrowupinanongenderspecificenvironment,buttheyshouldrefertothekidsasheor
she.

Monday,April4.
Whatwouldyoudescribetobeyourmostuniqueorspecialskillthatdifferentiatesyoufromeveryoneelse?
MymostspecialskillthatIhaveisIamverytaskoriented.WhenIreceiveataskthatImustcomplete,myfirst
stepissetthedate,andplanoutwhatneedstobedone.IfIknowIwillbebusybeforeitisdue,Iplanouttime
thatIneedtousetocompleteit.Idonotprocrastinate,sowhenIusemytime,Iuseitwisely.ThisskillIhave
helpsmestayorganizedanddowellinschoolduringbusytimesinmylife.DuringthefootballseasonwhenI
wouldhavetowork8hoursonaSaturday,and8hoursonaSunday,thiswouldhelpmetogetthingsdone.

Monday,May2.
Chooseaweatherandrelateittoalifeexperienceoreventthathasoccurredinyourlife.
Astinging,burninghotday.ThiswaseverydaysweatherwhileIwasinMexico.DuringthattripIlearnedone
importantthing:yourconsequencesarereflectedonthechoicesYOUmake,nooneelse.Consideringwewerein
Mexico,andclosertotheequator,andIamaswhiteasasheetofpaper,youwouldthinkIwouldmakethe
decisiontoputonsunscreen.Nope.Wrong.False.EverymorningIwouldwakeupandthinktomyself,Icango

layinthesunforabit,Illbefine.Verywrong.EverynightIwouldsaytomyself,WhydidInotputsunscreen
onmyself,whydidIlayinthesun!?Thispainfulsunhitmeeverydayandbecauseofmychoicenottoputon
sunscreenaffectedme,andhurtme.Finally,onthelastdayIdecidedtoputsunscreenon.Iwassickofbeing
burntandrestlesslytryingtosleepintheclingy,scratchysheetsthatscrapedandstungmyburns.Thatday,I
didnotgetburnt.Isavedmyself.Ifyouthinkmetaphoricallyonthis,thesuncanrepresenttheworldandallthe
badorgoodthingsaboutlife.Thesunscreenisyourchoices.Yourchoicetohurtyourself,ortohelpyourself.
Lastly,theburnrepresentsconsequencesoflife.Ifyoutakethisintoconsideration,thenyouwillrealizethat
yourconsequencesyoureceivearedirectlyrelatedtoyourchoices.Nooneelseplaysaroleinwhathappensto
you,becauseultimatelyyouarethefinaldecisionmakerforyourself,anddeterminerofwhatyouwant(ornot
want)tohappentoyourself.
Monday,May31
.

WhatisthefunctionofLiterature?
Idonotbelievethatliteraturehasaonespecificfunction,ratheramultitude.Forsome,itcansimplybe
thejoyofreading.Toothers,itcaninform,giveideasontypesofbeliefs,connectpeople,givelighttoa
greatergod,ortocreatereflection.Literaturedoesnothaveaspecificfunction,butitdoesdoallofthese
thingsIjustlisted.Foreachnovelyouread,youmustdooneofthefollowingevenifyoudonotknowit.
Youdonotsimplyreadthroughthebookwithoutthinkingaboutonething.Literatureistheretogive
informationtothepeoplereadingit,andtocreatethoughtsinpeople.Itgivesinsightintotheauthor
lives.Forexample,inKafka,Gregorisrejectedbyhisdad.Similarly,inKafkaslife,hisdaddidnot
approveofhiswritingcareer,andlookeddownuponhim.AsIsaidbefore,literaturehasthepowerto
forcethereadertoreflectonhisorherlife,andlearnnewideasabouthisorherself.Whenthetopicof
existentialismwasbroughtup,itmademestarttothinkaboutmyownlife,andwhatwouldhappenifI
hadanexistentialcrisis?ThroughCalvino,itmademequestionmyself,andexistence.WhatdidIbelieve
toexist?HowdidIknowthat?Andfinally,throughSatrapi,IquestionedmyselfonwhatIneededtostay
truetomyself.LikeMarjiandherveilthatkepthertrue,didIhavesomethingthathadthateffectonme?
AndwhatwouldhappenifIlostthat?Amazingly,literaturehasthepowerfuleffecttoconveyemotion,
thought,andideastothereader.ThroughoutthissemesterIwasabletolearntheseuniqueways,andsee
themtakeplaceandaffectmyownlife.