Naima's English Blog

Something I believed as a child was that the world used to be black and white. When I was younger I din;t fully understand the concept of cameras not always being how they are now, so when I would see videos in black and white, I genuinely believed that's how the world used to look like. I used to wonder how the world gained color and why the world was only black and white at one point. Of course, I learned later on that that wasn't the case and it was just cameras not having color then. Summary: We read a poem in class about a boy getting called the n-word and how it impacted his vacation. Reflection: I learned about the different words that my classmates' find offensive to them.

This conversation made me think about how unfair life still is for black people. We have to work twice as hard, but still don't get the opportunities others are offered or given. If I was in Troy's position, I would be complaining about how messed up this is. I would try to get something to hopefully change about that. I would talk to others and see if they agree with me and go from there. Summary: Checked out Reflection: Checked out

 (This prompt is the same as Sept. 23rd) The character that stood out to me the most was definitely Rose. This is because I didn't expect her to stand up for herself and and express her own feelings in the beginning of the book. I figured she was just going to be like any other traditional housewife.  The project helped me understand more about Troy and why he might do and say certain things. It also helped me understand a lot of the metaphors he uses. Summary: We worked on our project Reflection: I learned a lot more about Troy and why he might be the way he is

The character that stood out to me the most was definitely Rose. This is because I didn't expect her to stand up for herself and and express her own feelings in the beginning of the book. I figured she was just going to be like any other traditional housewife.  The project helped me understand more about Troy and why he might do and say certain things. It also helped me understand a lot of the metaphors he uses. Summary: We worked on our project Reflection: I learned a lot more about Troy and why he might be the way he is

No, I don't think so. You can definitely forgive someone, but not forget what they did because that feeling will always stay with you. Remembering how someone hurts you, in my opinion, will allow you to hold them accountable in the future. There was one my dad had said something very very hurtful to me, and I confronted him about it a year later. He said he didn't remember saying that, but he still apologized to me and promised to be more careful with what he said. I forgave him, but I will never forget what he said and how it made me feel. Summary: We finished reading "Fences" Reflection: I learned that forgiveness can take a long time.

One character that appeared differently to me was Rose. I think I just didn't imagine her tone and cadence to be the way it was in the book as it was in the movie. Also the cheating scene, the emotion and intensity in that scene came nowhere close to how it was in the movie, I couldn't have guessed it was that intense. The adaption showed how intense and truly upsetting that scene was and I'm really glad to have seen it because it helped me see how it was supposed to be. Summary: We read more of "Fences" and watch two clips from the movie. Reflection: I learned that my own interpretation for the characters through the book doesn't fully come close to how they're shown in the movie.

I believe all those things are a part of a parents responsibilities too. When you have your children, you should be prepared to give them your unconditional love and support. Giving your child these things will help them thrive and learn how to be a good person, as well as how to treat other people. Maybe friendship can wait until they're an adult, but I believe you should like your child enough to be willing to spend time with them outside of your parenting duties, and vice versa with the child. If you don't give your child these things, they won't understand how love is meant to actually be expressed and given.  Summary: We read Act 1 Scene 4 of "Fences". Reflection: I learned about Troy's backstory and relationship with his father.

Once a year in December I have to choose between spending my Saturday at home or going on a field trip for JROTC to pick down wreaths on veterans tombstones in the freezing cold. Every time I choose to prioritize JROTC because when I joined the program, I was making an obligation to the unit to show up and represent JROTC. I went because I enjoy showing my dedication to the program and to gain community service for the program as well. I am always satisfied with my decision. Summary: In class, we explored different characters in the play "Fences" and analysed different things about them. Reflection: I learned more about Rose, and the type of person she is.

The difference between liking and loving someone is that liking is someone is actually enjoying being around that person. You actually go out of your way to be around and hang out them. Loving someone is something that never goes away but is something that can be done from a distance. No, I don't really agree with Troy's parenting. I believe you don't necessarily have to like your child to do what's best for them, but it certainly increases the chances of that being the case. if I actually like and enjoy being around your child you're more likely to have empathy for them and their struggles than just doing what you think is best for them without listening to how they feel. Summary: We read scenes 2 & 3 from act one of "Fences". Reflection: I learned more about the characters and how they feel.

A few years ago, I subconsciously made a "fence" to keep my grandma and great grandma on my dads side out. However, the fence around my grandma is a lot more sturdy than the one for my great grandma. I built it because my sister and I used to go over their house when we were younger, and we both didn't have the best experiences over there. My great grandma would often make comments on our bodies in inappropriate or hurtful ways and didn't care how weird it sounded. My grandma was barely ever there when we came over, she was always out somewhere. When she was around, she took me with her to some random person's house with a bunch of other people there and left me on the couch while I was under the impression I was finally gonna be able to spend time with her, but I was wrong. It just seemed like they both didn't care about how my sister or I felt when things like this happened. I do think the fence helped me because it made me realize all the things they did to...

 I believe the only time it is reasonable to ask your parents for money as an adult is if an extremely unexpected emergency comes up and you don't have enough money to pay for it. The only thing is that you should intend to pay them back. That should be the only time you should ask your parents for money. Summary: We read "Fences" Act One today. Reflection: I learned about STEAL, which is used to help understand a character based on certain things about them.

One time I truly felt like I belonged was when, 2 years ago, I joined a Twitter community for people that like Kpop. Over a few months I made some friends, and I felt like I could communicate and joke with them without fear of judgement. We even had many interests outside of the kpop groups we liked. I think that fact that you have to go out of your way to talk to people if I wanna make friends, and that they can't judge you based on how you look or sound, like how some people do in real life, was what made me feel like I belonged. They like you for your personality, and almost everyone feels the same way you do about certain things so you also feel understood as well. I'm always thankful my experience was only positive there. Summary: Absent Reflection: Absent

A slight fear I overcame was being alone. When I was younger I used to not like being alone all the time because I was stuck with my own thoughts and I hated it. As of now, though, I actually enjoy being alone because it gives me time to decompress from being social for a period of time. I just do my own thing when I'm alone and I'm happy with that. Summary: We wrote our reflections on our cultural masks. Reflection: I reflected on how I am and my interests and how it relates to my cultural identity.

The presentations taught me that there's so much to learn about people than what you can see on the surface level. You never truly know someone until you get to know and understand them. Summary: We presented our identity masks. Reflection: I learned a lot about my classmates' identities and cultures.