McCandless Project

The social experiment that I chose was to change up my style of clothing/appearance for a day. I wore the types of clothes that I usually would but I decided to wear a tiara, too. I got a wide variety of reactions from the people around me. Every now and then, there would be people who didn't even know me that would give me weird glances in the hallways. Many people that did know me would ask questions like, "Is it your birthday?" or "Why are you wearing a tiara?" (along with having judgmental facial expressions). On rare occasions, people would compliment me saying that they liked my tiara. One time, someone even told me that I looked like a princess, which I assume wasn't supposed to be an insult.

After I received the first negative reaction, I couldn't help but admit that I was wearing the tiara for an English project. Throughout the duration of the experiment, I felt extremely self conscious, sometimes to the point where I would take off the tiara before entering some of my classes. I felt like the only place that I was safe from judgment was in English class, because I knew that everyone would understand why I had a tiara on. The only other place I wasn't as self conscious was in band, because someone else that I was doing the experiment with was in that class. I was moderately surprised by the reactions I got from both myself and the people around me. Before the experiment I did not think about how I would feel during it, but feelings of self consciousness rushed through me the second I placed the tiara on my head. I knew that I would get judged by people who saw me, but I wish I could know what was they felt internally when they saw me, not just how they expressed their reactions outwardly. It didn't come across my mind that people could've felt offended by the fact that I was wearing a tiara, until I had a discussion about the results of my project with my dad. He told me that people might've seen me as someone who thought they were better than everyone else. In no way whatsoever did I intend/expect people to feel that way when they saw me wearing the tiara. I assumed that people would just find me weird and awkward for wearing a tiara.

I believe that we are free to conform from "social norms" as long as we are prepared for negativity or just do not care at all. I thought that I'd be the type to not care how the people around me reacted, but I guess that I had never really placed myself in a situation that would prepare me for the negativity. I am not the type of person who would do something just to be accepted/loved by someone else but I would rather say in my comfort zone when it comes to certain things. Little did I know that something so insignificant like a tiara could change my emotions so much. I guess one reason that I felt so uneasy about wearing the tiara is because it is not "myself" or something that I internally feel the urge to do. If there was something that I really wanted to do that would make me happy, I would still do it even with the risk of being judged. Unfortunately, the world we live in is filled with so many judgmental people (ironic..huh, because that sentence itself was a judgment). In all honesty, I sometimes struggle with being quick to judge people and I know that is one thing that I have to work on. I would never judge someone to the point that they would not want to do what makes them feel happy or content. One thing I will never understand is why people continue to judge others when they are most likely struggling with an insecurity, too. Sadly, some people keep on judging others to the point where they are too afraid of being criticized and they can't be themselves or live how they want to. I believe that it is currently difficult for most people to conform from the "social norm". If everyone were to break away from the social standards that are set, the world would definitely be filled with crazy people, but at least they'd be happy too.

Quote Meaning

" The best view comes after the hardest climb"

1.) I deciding to use this quote to represent me, because it gives me the mindset to do my best and never give up when it comes to obstacles in life.

2.) This quote is a good representative of me, because I am not the type to give up easily and I like the think about the good things that come along with the bad. Along with the figurative meaning of this quote, the literal meaning of this quote connects to my life. I enjoy climbing mountains and if I ever feel like I'm too tired to keep on going up, I continue to remind myself of the positive things that will result from the climb. As my body begins to feel like its getting weaker, I have to remember that it is only getting stronger. Although the process of getting up the mountain may be tiring, in the end, I know that I accomplished something big.

3.) If I were to apply this quote to every second of my life, I would be way more optimistic and it would be a lot easier for me to make it through tough situations. I would most likely never complain about things being difficult and continue to work very hard. I would also achieve many goals and continue to set new ones.

short story draft: The Delayed Reunion

Sophie Magan

Mrs. Belden

Honors English II

6 October 2014

The Delayed Reunion

    The whole military plane is silent, but filled with emotional soldiers who will soon be reunited with their loved ones. Unfortunately, some of my fellow airman do not have any relatives or friends to come home to after being deployed for an extensive amount of time in Afghanistan. I, on the other hand, will be awaited by my beautiful girlfriend Sadie. I will also get to see our growing black lab puppy, Milo. I always feel bad when I see Milo misbehaving in the background, during our monthly video chats. Other than those long-awaited video chats, Sadie and I have been staying in touch through brief phone calls and through the exchangement of cheesy letters. Due to the fact that we haven’t been able to talk much, I hope that Sadie misses me and is excited to see me, too.

    I get off of the military plane and say my farewells to the other soldiers. I soon board the veteran shuttle to take me to the J.F.K. International Airport. I hear the shuttle radio talking about something weather related in the west, but I zone out because I have much more important stuff going on through my mind. After a one hour layover, I am supposed to board the plane to the Denver Airport. One step closer to Denver, means one step closer to seeing Sadie.

**********

    I am planning to head towards the airport in about five hours, along with Milo. I hope Grayson realizes how difficult it’s been trying to train the disobedient four-legged rascal on my own. We bought Milo to raise together, and Grayson soon decides it would be a good time to go to war for a year in Afghanistan, which I think he could’ve timed better. I’m excited to see him again, but I feel like he should’ve been putting more effort into our relationship. Whenever I go to social events, everyone assumes that I’m one of those lonesome single girls, and I  feel the need to continuously explain why I am alone, which is somewhat humiliating. Before Grayson was deployed, I warned him that his choice to leave could affect how strong our relationship would be.

I get dressed up in my favorite outfit in hopes that Grayson will take me on a well-deserved date that I’ve been lacking for a year, after his plane lands. I’ve been tracking Grayson’s flight online and it is expected to be landing in about two hours. I strongly hope that I don’t have to wait even longer for him to arrive, due to the weather that I saw was predicted on the news.

**********

My level of patience is decreasing, for I am surrounded by crying infants and obnoxious tourists, who are overreacting about the slight bumps the plane is experiencing. Fortunately, my experience has caused me to become used to turbulence. The majority of the people around me are most likely on this flight so they can go skiing once we land, but I have more substantial intentions after our arrival in Denver. Once I see Sadie, I plan to pull out the diamond ring that I recently purchased and ask her to marry me. I can just imagine the perfect life we’d have, assuming that she would accept the proposal.

I remember the last Christmas we spent together, two years ago. We sat on our fuzzy rug, with the fireplace on our left and the illuminated tree on our right. We listened to the Christmas music channel on the TV, which played our favorite holiday songs. I also recall Sadie saying that she couldn’t wait to spend every single Christmas together until we grow old. I hope she wasn’t too sad this past Christmas, because we were thousands of miles apart, which we were both totally unaware of, the previous year.

**********

    As I’m heading out the door and into our garage, I suddenly recall the predicted “Christmas-like” weather reports and go back inside to put on my heavy coat. I grab Milo and we proceed towards our four-wheel drive, and shortly pull out of the garage. As soon as we make contact with the outside air, I can not see anything past the windshield. Our heavy-duty windshield wiper begins to work hard in order for me to have any sense of vision to drive safely. Typical Colorado weather. I hear the soft whimpers of Milo as we drive towards the airport in the blizzard. I check my phone to track the flight as we arrive in the airport parking lot, but I no longer have any reception. I decide it would just be best to wait until I get any signal. Grayson is lucky to have a me as a girlfriend who is willing to wait for him in this twenty-degree weather...thank goodness for seat-heaters.

**********

    I soon come to the realization of how perfect my life will be when the plane lands, with Sadie and Milo. I also will not have to worry about war getting in the way; a huge boulder will be lifted off of my shoulders once I arrive in Denver. I cannot wait to create new memories and have a new life with Sadie.

I stare out the fogged up airplane window towards the setting sun. My focus becomes directed towards to the puffy and thick marshmallow-like clouds that separate me from the underlying world where Sadie is waiting. I place my earbuds into my ears and turn on my Christmas music playlist to remind me of Sadie. I drown out the world around me, only allowing the thoughts of my reunion with Sadie flow into my mind. While keeping the relieving fact that I will see her in less than an hour in mind, I begin to doze off into a deep slumber.

**********

It has been over a half an hour, so I build up the courage to walk with Milo through the slippery parking lot to the airport entrance. As I walk in, relieved as the coldness starts to rush out of my body, I stare up at at the departure & arrival sign. My eyes scan across the arrival side of the board and I finally find the correct flight: JFK- DELAYED. Great. I have to wait even longer, as if a year isn’t long enough.

**********

I wake up to the song, “All I Want For Christmas is You”, playing on my phone, but quickly begin to fall back asleep. As I’m drifting off, I hear dramatic ruckus and screaming of the people on the flight, but I try to ignore it. I then feel a sudden jolt, but think nothing of it. Crash!

ATTWN Metacognitive Thinking

1.) One main change I had to make in my first draft, was that I had to change Part II to a third person point of view. I had originally written it in first person without thinking, but it now flows better than it did before.

2.) I believe that the peer review helped me improve my essay the most. I think that it was the most helpful, because the feedback I received was specific to the ATTWN essay, unlike the written feedback. Although some of the written feedback could be applied to the ATTWN essay, a lot of it did not need to be transferred. I did not share my essay with an adult, so I do not have any experience to determine how helpful that support would've been. I believe that reviewing my paper with my peers was the most helpful form of support, because it was edited by someone that I trust to give correct feedback.

3.) One way that could help improve my writing, is if we learn what to look for while editing our own/others' papers. I am not great at editing paragraph organization, but I am pretty good at editing grammar and punctuation. It would really improve my writing this year, if we learn about the different mistakes to look for while revising.

4.) If I were to grow in a specific area as a writer, I would want to learn how to write literature that is well put together but still entertaining. I know that I struggle with my papers having one and not both of those traits.