Why I Write

     I write because my written words are more powerful than what I say. Verbally, I am loud and funny. Quietly with the clicks of the keyboard, I am intelligent and sassy. Writing is way beyond that three page essay in MLA format. It can be whether you jot down a cute note-to-self, writing poems, blogging, or even putting up statuses on social networking sites. Those words you "tweet" in 140 characters or less is writing. Whether you are complaining about finals, asking what the rotation is, hash-tagging a current event---you are putting your thoughts down in a writing form that most likely will never go away.
     It is so amazing how we can take something that comes to our mind, which is something that others cannot know what you are thinking about, and put that into writing so others from all over the world can read it. Many people find a comfort in writing rather than talking. I find it easier to type than to speak because I always find the right words to say when I type, but when I talk it is embarrassing what comes out of my mouth half the time.
     I write because I find comfort in letting my thoughts spill out. You can backspace that thought away, but once you say it there is no going back. Maybe that is why they say "the pen is more powerful than any weapon." Anyone can take away your limbs, but no one can take away how you think about things.

Reading Response 4: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

This is a make-up reading response.

Lucy is finishing up a charcoal still life of a lemon, notebook, and a glass of water. The bell rings and Ms. Daniels asks for Lucy to come over to where she is to see the artwork. I loved the author's word choice and descriptive language she used for this scene. The author used a detail that the teacher did which might not seem important, but shows the kind of personality Ms. Daniels has by saying

"She flipped open a tube, tested the paint on the back of her hand, then returned it to the shelf before taking my drawing from me."

The quote can be taken as a deeper meaning; showing that Ms. Daniels will look have hope for 'one' based on their physical appearance, but after opening up and seeing/trying what is on the outside, then she determined whether she wanted that 'one' in her life at the moment or not.

Ms Daniels complimented Lucy's artwork by saying

"I love how diaphanous the curtains are."

I did not know what diaphanous meant so I had to look it up and it means "light, delicate, translucent." It is such an interesting choice of vocabulary to use but the story continued with Lucy saying

"I wanted the fabric to seem material but weightless."

So the word diaphanous is used in a proper way and I am glad to have gained a new word.


The Theme Song of this Reading Response is:
Darwin Deez - (800) Human

Reading Response 7: Dave Barry on College

First of all, this is my favorite article I have read so far. It has so much voice and humor that it made me feel like I was talking to one of my friends.
This wonderful article starts out with

"Basically, you learn two kinds of things in college:
1. Things you will need to know in later life (two hours).
2. Things you will not need to know in later life (1,998 hours). These are the things you learn in classes whose names end in -ology, -osophy, -istry, -ics, and so on. The idea is, you memorize these things, then write them down in little exam books, then forget them. If you fail to forget them, you become a professor and have to stay in college for the rest of your life."

This is the perfect description of our education system today. It is more about memorizing and knowing instead of understanding. It is hard to enjoy these classes because it is more with defining and memorizing terms instead of hands-on work. But, I did like the shade he threw about becoming a professor forever if you fail.

Later on in the article, Dave Barry gave the breakdown of some majors. With English, I loved how he described the use of not doing what everyone else is doing by stating the obvious.

"Moby-Dick is a big white whale, since the characters in the book refer to it as a big white whale roughly eleven thousand times. So in your paper, you say Moby-Dick is actually the Republic of Ireland."

This quote will stick with me and I will try to use this method. Being original will not only make it more enjoyable for the reader, but for the writer as well because their creativity will be put to the test.

Intellectual Integrity: How Pervasive Is Cheating? Response

This article honestly shocked me. I had no idea students in college plagiarized that badly. But, a student mentioned in the article said that sources they used

"...did not need to be credited since they counted, essentially, as common knowledge."

This is a tough call to make because we all have common knowledge, we just reread a quick page somewhere online to assure that our statements are correct. I have done this before and did not cite those sources. It is like using a calculator to do simple addition; we know the answer, but we second guess ourselves causing us to seek unneeded help. This is a major issue in today's society---second guessing ourselves.

But, it is pretty obvious that people do not second guess themselves when plagiarizing, or perhaps they do, especially when they cheat. I feel like we have all cheated before, whether realizing it or not. Personally, I try not to cheat anymore because I realize that I would not understand the lesson. Which is why I turn in homework assignments in late. I would rather take in the knowledge instead of getting the full credit points. But, I do sometimes let students copy my work. I do not know what they go through at home/outside of school to cause them to not do their work, so if I can help them out, I will. I understand the feeling of going home and having a lot of awful things happen causing me to disregard my assignments, and then coming to school in a stressed/anxious mood the next day only causes me to feel the need to get the assignment done in a quick manner. Which caused me to "borrow" the student's work. It is not right, but we all have to find ways to make it through the day.

I think teachers should focus more on teaching younger children about actually attaining the knowledge instead of worrying about credit. Being raised in a 'points are all that matters' education has caused more stress than anything. It would be nice to understand what is being taught and to apply it rather than to worry about getting a 'good grade' for it.

The article I am refrencing this response to is this one.

Reading Response 6: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

Lucy stays after school to work on an art project with Sam and she tries to make small talk with him. She tries to talk about art with him because they are both knowledgeable about this subject.

Sam created a painting of a lone table "they have at Starbucks, and on the table there's a coffee cup, a crumpled napkin, some change, and a half-eaten doughnut....you can feel the grains of sugar spilled on the table's surface and the sticky icing on the doughnut." If I were that good at detailed painting, I would have no problems in life because I could just paint out my stress.

Lucy basically had a monologue talking about how great and realistic the painting was. After going on for two hours, he put on his thick, black-rimmed glasses and said "Thanks." But Lucy did not like the way he said thanks. She described the way he said it as,

"Could you possibly crawl back into whatever hole you crawled out of and stop bothering me?"

I can relate to the way Lucy is treated because that happens to me sometimes when I try to complement strangers. I am sure Lucy is feeling unwanted by a lot of people, from school and home. But knowing Lucy's character, she would not let that bother her.

The Theme Song of this Reading Response is:
Smallpools - No Story Time

G&C Project: Academic Argument Proposal

My topic will be about dealing with someone who has Autism. My brother has severe Autism and I can understand the struggle of how hard it is to deal with someone with this case.

Help is not equal for everyone with Autism, but there are many options out there for them.

I will discuss personal experiences and stories of dealing with Autism as well as how hard it is to maintain a good relationship with your family being a sibling of the autistic. There are jealousy issues, less attention, but more pressure to be the best because I am the only other child my parents have and I am their only hope of being "normal."
As well as talking about what options are there for people with Autism like getting case-workers, therapy, and job options.

Reading Response 5: Article 2

"Compared with the stereotype of the East Asian model -- long hours of exhaustive cramming and rote memorization -- Finland's success is especially intriguing because Finnish schools assign less homework and engage children in more creative play."

This quote shows that the "Asians are automatically smart" stereotype is not that all true. It is believed that Asians' parents enforce them to always study and work hard and that is the only way their test scores get so high. Finnish schools prove that that is not the only way to teach students.

For one thing, Finnish schools give out less homework and focus on hands-on activities for the children. From personal experience, I remember lessons done in class 'labs', while I do appreciate getting the extra practice and review at home from homework, some homework assignments drone on with repeating problems. Second thing, there are no private schools in Finland. Their education is public and free, "whether for pre-K or a Ph.D.". While in America, there are even high schools that cost thousands of dollars each year and most of these organizations are running for profit. Which a nicer way of saying that they only care about money, and not the student's overall well-being in the education system.

Thirdly, in Finland they give out no standardized tests. Also known as my dream come true. Standardized tests do not usually show a student's work ethic or comprehension of what they have learned. This is basically a test showing whether or not a student is a good test taker. They do not prove much of what a student is capable of and I cannot stand how colleges in America base some of their acceptance to their school just on a student's ACT/SAT score. It should be focused on what that student can do in individual class settings; how hard they work, how much they balance doing extracurricular activities, and so on.

"Finland's dream was that we want to have a good public education for every child regardless of where they go to school or what kind of families they come from, and many even in Finland said it couldn't be done."

This is an excellent dream to have and I agree with this statement 100%, no questions asked. Every student should be given the opportunity for an excellent education regardless of their backgrounds. Many teachers today give up on the student because of their harsh/rough background. Every thing that happens at home should stay at home and let the student escape that through their education. Especially coming from a low-income family where no one has gone to college before, I work hard to ensure that my background would not define my future.

Basically, I would love to live in a country such as Finland where education is about equal opportunities for everyone, (not to mention the beautiful sites there).

Article Response #1: Is Google Making Us Stupid?

"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski."

Can I just start out with saying how much I love this quote. It is the perfect metaphorical description of how I feel. Learning styles have changed over the decades as the younger we are, the more dependent of technology we are. Most young adults today could not understand how one could function in this society without a cellphone. Literally everything one could possibly would want to know is within our fingertips and the answer can be found in under a minute. People take this for granted.

The more dependent we are on technology, the less we use our common knowledge. If you had a calculator in your hand and were asked what 7 + 14 was, you'd most likely enter it into that tiny mathematical device without thinking about it. But this problem can be answered just as easily if we remembered we could use our brain. I agree with what the author of the article was mentioning on how the more he was using the internet, the less intrigued and focused he was in reading a book. Society today is based on a short summary instead of full-length details. Instead of reading the full chapter in the textbook, we look at the headlines and words in bold. I do not blame society for being like this because life is getting more busier and the faster we can learn whatever it is we need to know, the quicker life moves on.

I am a slow reader because I have to take the time to reread each sentence 3-5 times so I can comprehend and remember what I have just read. The more I use the internet to get quick summaries or a different wording of what I have read, the less time I use to actually pick up the book. I cannot say whether I like this or not. I would love to be able to use my brain and knowledge to help guide me to the answers instead of relying on an amoral being (computers, phones, internet, etc.). But, I am still thankful that I have the access to these amazing technologies to help get my life in order.

Always remember that you cannot trust everything on the internet, it is always best to go with your brain's instinct.

Reading Response 3: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

Today, Lucy first talks about the beginning of second semester when she signed up to take an art class taught by an amazing teacher, Ms. Daniels. She described the art teacher by saying

"Unlike the rest of the Glen Lake faculty...A) She really knows her stuff, B) is not deaf, dumb, blind, and/or clinically insane, and C) does not dress as if we were still living under President Washington."

Honestly, I feel like those teachers would look quite dapper. But, I can see where she comes from because we have all dealt with teachers like that. Lucy made a point on how she enjoyed that Ms. Daniels is "not afraid to give serious assignments...and to grade them hard." I myself, appreciate that too. My main objective of classes is to learn something and have it be challenging to make me think and figure out a solution. As much as I hate getting bad grades, it is always a wake-up call for me to study harder and learn from those mistakes.
Lucy brings up that the other kids in her class are not as artistic nor do they appreciate art as much as she does. Except for one guy, Sam Wolff. He is a junior who is "the best artist in the whole school." His paintings are hung all over the school and when Ms. Daniels called his name for attendance on the first day, Lucy was stoked and thought she could try to befriend him. I really hope she can be friends with him because they could appreciate art together like no other.

The Theme Song of this Reading Response is:
Vampire Weekend - Finger Back

Face to Face: My Reaction

Honestly, none of this surprises me.

Coming from a Muslim/Arab background in my family, my family and I went through this same experience. My mother feared for her life to come outside in public after 9/11. She did not take one step outside of our small apartment for overr six months. I have dealt with the same prejudice racism and still do sometimes.

I used to be afraid for many years to tell anyone that I was an Arab until the summer before I started high school. I found a guy on youtube whoe is a Muslim and an Arab and he was such a good influence on me. I learned to not care about what others thought of me and that I should be confident and proud of where I came from. It was only a group of idiots that caused 9/11, not the entire group of people who follow the religion. It is just like saying all white Americans are serial killers if we just see an American white man who killed many innocent civilians.

I am waiting for the day when Arabs can walk around America without being in fear of getting hurt just because they are the race and the way they belief is who they are.

My Inspirtations: Music

I have many inspirations to choose from, so I will just start with music.
My favorite band is Mumford & Sons. Their lyrics are very meaningful and touching. They are kind of a religious band, calling themselves "The Gentlemen of the Lord." I, myself, am not very religious but I still enjoy learning and observing how religion can overtake someone's life and giving them happiness. Mumford & Sons used to have depressing lyrics, but that was before Marcus Mumford, the lead vocalist, got married to Carey Mulligan (who was in the recent movie of The Great Gatsby). After the marriage, their lyrics were more about falling in love and staying strong. One of Marcus Mumford's most known lyric is "I have never spent a year better spent in love." Mumford & Sons helps me cope with my emotions and feel better. I stay strong because of them.
My next inspirational musician is Darwin Deez. Darwin is such an odd man, he's tall, awkward, and lanky but I still love him to bits. His lyrics describe me spot-on. His song Alice is my favorite song. Two lyrics that stand out to me are

You put your hair back into that, magic black elastic.

I used to always put my hair up in a ponytail because I was insecure about letting my hair down. I can not exactly remember the reason of why I was insecure, but I do remember how awkward and self-conscious I was when I did leave it down. Another one of his lyric's that describe me is

So evacuate my heart, 'cause inside is total chaos.

I feel like we all have felt that way. We push away the ones that care and love us because we are a mess on the inside and we do not want them to be dragged into it. This lyric will always stick with me for the rest of my life. I have to show I am stronger than I feel like I am.

It is pretty funny how music has had such an impact on my life, but I would not want to trade it for anything in the world.

Reading Response 2: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

Lucy talks about Connor Pearson, the star of the basketball team and the president of the student council. He was also vote "Best Looking" by the senior class. If it was not emphasized enough on how attractive Connor is, Lucy said that

"In the fall, to raise money, the cheerleaders raffled off a kiss with Connor Pearson and two hundred girls bought tickets....(plus yours truly.)"

Lucy sat at the end of his lunch table while all of the popular seniors would eat McDonald's french fries out of each other's bags. Sadly, Connor was seated next to the girl he apparently only has eyes for, Kathryn Ford, who was Homecoming Queen. This was pretty cliche. In every other underdog love story, the girl falls in love with the popular, super-star athlete who is in love with Miss. Popular Homecoming Queen. But, the author does a good job in using a metaphor to explain how high and mighty Kathryn Ford thinks she is by saying

"...she acts as though ignoring underclassmen is a varsity sport."

I just loved how that comparison was used because it is true.

Later on, Lucy is sitting in her room which is a basement, staring at paintings. Lucy's mother passed away for a reason that I have not found out yet, but she was a very good artist. Her mother's paintings hung all over Europe, and MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art each owned one. Lucy wanted to hang her mom's paintings in her room, but her father said that it might hurt Mara's (the stepmother) feelings. Everything is about Mara's feelings because it is always in danger of being hurt or are being hurt. This is not fair at all because no one considers how Lucy feels. I personally would hang up my mother's paintings. The stepmother can get over it.

The chapter ends off with

"Because if I have a wicked stepmother and two evil stepsisters, aren't I supposed to get a prince?"

Which is the icing on the cake. I adore when authors use references from the title of the book within their story.

The Theme Song of this Reading Response is:
Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend

Reading Respone 1: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

The story starts out as the first person main character, Lucy, comparing herself to Cinderella. They both have dead mothers, wicked stepmothers, two evil stepsisters, and possibly “friendless.” Lucy was debating whether or not Cinderella was indeed friendless. She did have her animals but Lucy realized

“But do they count as friends? It’s not as if a blue jay can meet you at Starbucks for an after-school latte.”

I really like Lucy so far because she is realistic and I can tell she will have some snide, sassy comments coming up again.


Even though Cinderella’s father was dead, Lucy’s father was not “technically” dead; he is not as present in Lucy’s life. Her father is working on a case that should have been finished months ago in San Francisco Monday through Friday while the rest of the family is living in New York. I can relate to this because my father is working in New Orleans, Louisiana while my family is still here in Springfield, Missouri. I have not seen my father for weeks and I have no idea when I get to see him again.

I guess when a father is not present in a girl’s life, she becomes extra sassy. This happened to me and this is what is happening to Lucy. Lucy’s stepsisters are ridiculing Lucy’s appearance, especially Lucy’s chest size.

“Neither one of my stepsisters seemed at all bothered by the fact that compared to them, I’m Pamela Anderson.”

I thought that was a really good burn and this made me realize, people will ridicule others’ appearance when they are not that good looking either.

Lucy puts herself as a loner, having to sit by herself at lunch, not talking to anyone and so on. She changed schools freshman year and just as she started to make friends there, she had to move to New York with her wicked family. I am a Lucy in the way that she describes wanting friends and knowing how to get them easily, but pulling back and not talking to them. She said

“…and I know all I need to do if I want to talk to them is talk. Just say something. Anything. And it’s not like I don’t want to talk to some of them. It’s not their fault I was dragged kicking and screaming across the continental United States.”

This is along the lines of what I tell myself when I want to befriend someone I have never talked to before. I know I could be great friends with them easily, I just have to get the guts to actually approach them.

I predict Lucy will be able to meet someone and they become instantly close. Hopefully her father will come back to realize how awful Mara, the wicked stepmother, is.

The Theme Song of this Reading Response is:
Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone

10 Things About Me~

1) I get my name mispronounced everyday.
2) I have to listen to atleast 2 hours of music every day.
3) Every Darwin Deez song describes me.
4) Mumford & Sons helps me cope with the sturggles I deal with in my life.
5) I love Real Madrid and Soccer more than anything in the world.
6) French fries are my favorite food.
7) Seven is my favorite number.
8) I want to learn a lot of different languages.
9) I love being in theatre, no matter how stressful it is.
10) I usually take a nap instead of doing my homework.

Song Titles About Me

8/22/13

Born in New York moving to Springfield, MO
To meet All Those Friendly People to only realize
You’re just trying to Bloom into your own person
Not going to deal with the Bankrupt! or wear their Broken Crown
From Now On you’ll be accepting your Flaws
No matter how Awkward you may be


You need to start Learning to Love yourself.
“If I Ever Feel Better about myself” you refer, physically and emotionally
You’ll stop being Quiet and say out loud that you have Pretty Brown Eyes
And this is What Makes You Beautiful.


Sigh No More you Sleepyhead
I know you’re Restless with all this stress
And wanting to be one of the Runaways
Saying “I Wanna Go to Rome and Settle Down”
But for now you will be yelling S.O.S. In Bel Air.


Just get over this Small Bump in life.
Life is a Two Way Street.
Forget that you couldn’t say Sorry to your father before he moved…
You think about this Every Night and there is Nothing Left To Say.
Quit saying this is all “My Fault” and just let it go you Classy Girl
Take your Stubborn Love and go Step by step.
Don’t skip a meal or two today because you think you’re fat;
Just eat a Quesadilla, stop feeling like you are a Waste in this world.


Even if you Sleep Alone in that empty Bed Space, you’re not alone.
I know Something Good Can Work out for you.
Building up all your emotions inside is all Sweet Nothing.
I Will Wait for the day you realize
You’re telling this to yourself in your Mirror.
I’ll Catch You On My Way Out until you Don’t Feed Your Fears anymore.