Abdallah Safa, Period 2, 2/26/21, Day A

 

Abdallah Safa, Period 2, 2/26/21, Day A

• What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

Through some readings of fiction that involve the oppression of masses I have been thinking a lot more about the balance of powers within the world as a whole. If we take a step back and look at the numerous cases of oppression within the United States alone you almost get overwhelmed with the amount of problems and seemingly low amount of solutions. You begin to think how has so much time passed, yet some are still fueled by animosity to oppress others. It is hard to ignore the little resistance in the defense against the Capitol Hill Raiders, an armed angry mob with the intent of potentially harming the leaders of our country compared to the gruesome measures taken to stop BLM supporters. This is just a glimpse of the issues regarding oppression within the United States alone, if we zoom out and look at the rest of the globe we do not even compare to the levels of oppression faced in other parts of the world.

One such example I will be taking from the story of Francis Ngannou which he shared on the Joe Rogan Podcast. In Cameron where he was born and raised he witnessed the lack of hospitals and treatment for his dying father, he felt powerless as all he could do is watch and wait. Worried sick that history would repeat itself with his mother he escaped from Cameron and went through a gut wrenching journey and faced more oppression than most could imagine. With Immigration guards holding all the power even if you needed the water and money to cross the Sahara alive they would not care, anything you had was theirs, anything you wanted to keep should be wrapped in plastic swallowed and looked for later.

As I zoom out and look at the rest of the world it is hard to not get overwhelmed by the infinite number of cases of oppression. The problems fought about within the United States begin to look obsolete compared to those struggling in foreign waters. They fight for a chance at what we have here. If we struggle to fix oppression within the United States, how will we help those who are truly oppressed, I would not be surprised if the problems within the United States were the only ones Americans cared about. I would not blame them either but the ignorance angers me because the more we zoom out the worse it gets. If the oppressed became the oppressors would they be the villains or the heroes trying to break the cycle.

• How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Throughout my childhood I was raised in an extremely diverse neighborhood, when I visit family in Ohio I realize how unique my situation is within Brooklyn. To meet and become friends with a variety of different races and cultures seems extremely odd in different parts of the United States. Whether it be Elementary School where I went to a predominantly Asian school where I picked up on Asian culture whether it be the media like manga or Asian snacks at lunch time. My experience of being surrounded by an entirely different culture allowed me to learn that culture and increase my understanding of others. Alongside the little niches within my Arab Culture I have come to learn to never judge from the outside looking in. Things such as manga or aloe vera drinks from Asian culture or certain odd Arab dishes like hummus may seem straight up weird until you try them out.

Thus, my experiences of different cultures starting with Asian culture alongside the realization that my culture may seem odd allow me to perceive others and their cultures with an open mind. My values align with the embodiment of New York as a city; that cultural dishes should be monetized and instead of separation and animosity between unfamiliar races/cultures we should divulge and experience the thousands of years of work needed to form that culture. We possess an immense opportunity where within the United States we can experience foreign treasures in the form of food or media, we should use this power to bring Americans closer together and grow more culturally accepting.

Ayman Rddad, Period 2, 2/26/21, Day A

 Blog #2 - Literacy & Learning

 

Reading the epic poem Beowulf was not a provoking experience per se. Grendel, his mother, and the dragon were reminiscent of the monsters depicted in other myths from around the world, and Beowulf’s extraordinary exploits echoed the heroic actions of other mythical figures. Watching the 2007 film rendition of the epic, however, was an unsettling experience. It seems that my imagination was not especially active while reading the poem, and the movie caught me unaware. When reading the poem, I did not attempt to imagine the horror of a human being devoured by a monster, but the movie forced me to see it. And that horror, in turn, evoked many questions: Why were ancient humans obsessed with monsters? Where did the fear of monsters originate? And how could humans from different cultures imagine the same monster; namely, the dragon?

As I navigated these questions, the monsters featured in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which we visited a few weeks earlier, came to both haunt and inspire me. I came to realize that the monsters in both texts are projections of our worst fears. Beowulf depicts monsters that bear the burden of our worldly fears while the monsters featured in The Book of the Dead incarnate our fear of afterworld retribution for our worldly sins. But why is fear so central to human nature regardless of culture and geographical location?

Physical anthropologists explain our common human fear in evolutionary terms. Accordingly, ancient people’s obsession with monsters, as reflected in their myths, is a residue of the struggle of early humans to survive in a world that abounded in predators. Yet, this residual fear of predators that they inherited from their early ancestors is not the only factor that accounts for the abundance of monsters in so many ancient cultures. Some ancient humans must have come across fossils of dinosaurs, and in the absence of modern scientific tools, they must have considered them the bones of human-devouring monsters. Indeed, dragons, as imagined in different cultures, bear a strong physical resemblance to certain dinosaurs.

Inability to explain natural phenomena is yet another factor that can account for our shared human obsession with monsters. Volcanos, earthquakes, and tsunamis must have bewildered ancient people. No wonder the ancient Japanese would attribute earthquakes, for example, to a giant fish, Namazu, shaking of its tale. In this sense, myths are valuable not only for students of history and other human sciences, but for researchers within other fields, too. Myths can be valuable tools for geologists who study the history of Earth, for example, as they provide hints about the geography and climate of Earth in ancient times. Moreover, major natural phenomena described in myths often reflect actual events; for myths are not realms of only imagination. Oftentimes, myths reflect actual events that are then interpreted in supernatural terms.

The actual scientific worth of myths apart, however, it is the symbolic element of myths that I find most captivating. Beowulf, who may have well been inspired by an actual person, is depicted in the epic poem in such a manner as to incarnate all the virtues that Christianity, a newcomer to the region at the time, was supposed to bestow on humanity. Selfless, altruistic, risking his life to save that of his fellow humans, loved and protected by God, he set out to battle the forces of evil that threatened the stability of human society and that would never aspire to God’s love and protection. The need for an almost “superhuman” human to battle the monstrous forces of evil reflect a deep-seated fear and a masked awareness that humans are very fragile. In fact, religion itself serves to ease that fear and that awareness by reassuring us that God is in charge and protecting us. Hence, Beowulf, like other myths, is best read within the context of the development of religion to answer for human needs in different historical contexts.

Again and again, the texts to which I am exposed in this class teach me that there is a deep-seated common human nature that transcends our cultural differences. The myths we study from different cultures echo similar themes and motifs. Even the monsters to which I paid little attention before are now emerging as a commonality between all of us. The poor imaginary creatures are no more than projections of our worst fears, some we have inherited from our early ancestors, and others we have developed in specific historical contexts. In the present historical context, technology has turned our attention in a different direction, and our monsters have metamorphosed as a result. Fear has now taken the shape of an extraterrestrial creature who might be lurking somewhere in the universe waiting to conquer us all, or a virus that some think is our own creation and others think have emerged from the wilderness. Yet, no matter the projection, fear has united us all as humans throughout history.

Stanley Mui , Period 5, 3/1/21, Day B

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

    Today, there are many issues regarding inequality, oppression, and power in the United States of America. Recently as we all know, we have just transitioned into a new presidential administration. However, this change in power for the presidents did not pass on as smoothly with the storming of the capitol in early January. On January 6th, supporters for the former president stormed the capitol to delay and change the outcome of the election that he lost. Supporters broke into the capitol building damaging federal property and putting our democracy at risk. After the whole aftermath, many white supremacist groups were identified behind the breach of our nation’s capital. This shows the power that these White Americans have that they could storm the capitol with such little resistance from the federal authorities. In addition to all of this, President Trump in an attempt to stop the violence refused to send the national guard and sent a Twitter video telling the people that he loved them. The former president’s support of these groups only further divided America, instead of uniting it as an entire nation. This response is completely different when comparing the black lives matter protests during the summer because of police brutality of African Americans. On Twitter, the former president described the protesters as looters and rioters even though many of them were peaceful. His responses on Twitter show the double standard shown between African Americans and White Americans. The black lives matter protesters were punished by the police, while the people who stormed the capitol took selfies with the police officers. We can address these problems by not judging people by their physical appearance, and we should give people the opportunities to succeed. Giving minority groups fair and equal treatment is one of the first steps to solve the issues of oppression and power. As an entire nation, we should come together instead of dividing amongst ourselves because of political differences. For these reasons, the issues of inequity, oppression, and power in America are a problem that we as Americans need to address.

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

    As I reflect on my own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, I still have a lot to learn and educate myself about how I perceive others. Even though I have made improvements, I still find myself listening to stereotypes and making assumptions about other people. I sometimes judge people on how they look before talking to them which is something that I need to fix. This is something that I have to improve on because as a growing society, we need to be accepting of many groups of people regardless of what their beliefs are. Likewise, as a society, we should be open to listening to different opinions and ideas from multiple people. It is important to listen to multiple sources and opinions because being arrogant and stubborn causes more separation than unification. It is also important to listen to multiple unbiased sources of information because it can influence the beliefs of other people so it is important to hear the entire story. Then again, it is fine for individuals to disagree with each other but, creating violence because of these disagreements should never be the way to resolve a situation. People should come together, listen to what other people have to say, and come up with a resolution together. Educating yourself in any given situation is always better than following what other people are doing. Having the knowledge and educating yourself ensures that you are making the correct choice in how you perceive others. Thus, it is important to listen and educate yourself before judging people because of their gender, race, age, and religious beliefs.

Matthew Muccigrosso, Period 8, 2/9/21, Day C

 Matthew Muccigrosso, Period 8, 02/9/2021, Day C

• What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?
• How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Issues of inequity, oppression, and power have existed in an almost infinite amount of forms since society began. These sorts of issues are still entirely pervasive in today's society, despite numerous claims otherwise (often by those that directly benefit from them). I unquestionably believe in actively progressing towards becoming a more equal society, nation, and world. The modern world, however, has grown more interconnected and complicated than ever before. Issues of inequity and oppression on a large scale are so difficult to overcome because it's impossible to know where to start. It's easy to see something like the $15 minimum wage, a policy that would probably make America a more equal country, as totally ineffectual because of the absurd scale of global poverty. Is it even ethical to pay ourselves more when so much of our wealth is derived from the exploitation of others? I don't mean to sound like a doomer, but are these large scale issues of global inequality and oppression even solvable? After all, essentially everyone with the power to do something like dismantling the military-industrial complex or stopping deforestation or lowering emissions directly or indirectly benefits from the issue at hand. Ape brain (what I call primitive hunter-gatherer survivalist instincts that inform decisions in a modern context) would simply be opposed to giving up unfathomable amounts of money for people they'll never meet to have better lives. It's understandable, honestly. We all choose to forget about the oppression of the third-world workers that produce many of the goods we use on a daily basis in just about the same way as every wealthy person forgets how much they could actually help the world if they stopped hoarding colossal amounts of wealth. 

I don't mean to be dour and depressing. It's just an unavoidable reality that the world can't be "saved." The table's just too stacked against positive difference. Too many people benefit and not enough people care. The thing is, I don't think those who can envision a better world should care about that. I don't think any one of us should give up, even if it's an impossible dream. The saying goes, "shoot for the stars, because even if you miss, you'll be among the stars." Every small increment of progress can have an enormous impact on some people's lives. Eliminating even a small instance of oppression can have immense positive results. Every step counts, no matter how small.

Reflecting critically on my own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences is a hobby of mine. Maybe I'm just a narcissist, but I really do enjoy taking the time to think about why I think or feel a certain way about a certain thing. Sometimes it takes a lot of critical thinking to realize why I think or feel the way I do, and how I should change my behavior accordingly. My go-to strategy for reflection is trying to understand the causes and merits of an opposing point of view.  It's common to feel totally justified in something until you consider why another person might think differently. Especially in interpersonal conflict, it's easy to forget or internally under-emphasize the personal agency and feelings of another until you look back at the issue through their eyes. Someone's reaction to something might seem ridiculous until you consider how you would feel in the same situation. I definitely think the world would be a better place if people could remember empathy like this more commonly, although I guess that's not exactly a hot take. I do try to apply others' perspectives to my consideration of all of my personal beliefs, though. Understanding why someone might disagree with me can help me to either reinforce my own arguments, or even adopt a different position. I always try to stay as open minded as possible, because I'm very aware of my capacity for being plain wrong. 

Skyla Marie Profita, 2/25/21, Day C, Pd. 8

 Skyla Marie Profita

PD 8 Mythology

Date Assigned: 02/22/2021

Dear Readers,

As you all are well aware of, 2020, and even 2021, have been quite the years. Not necessarily good ones, but they’ve been years, that’s for sure. It seems that every aspect of life has been completely turned upside down, as we try to make it through our last years of high school, watching the world burn down around us. That sounded a bit dramatic, but you get the point. Politics, and more importantly, the scary amount of overlap they seem to have with basic human rights issues, have been the center of attention for quite awhile now.

Instead of talking about inequity, oppression, and power in a more obvious sense, I’d like to focus on how issues of oppression and inequality have somehow become synonymous with politics. Frankly, it angers me. I think it was the political compass quizzes that pushed me over the edge, enough so to write an entire blog post about this (thank you Mr. Macula for giving us the assignment: it really inspired me!). Without further ado: let us talk about the inability to see the difference between politics and human rights.

To start off, here are my views on oppression, inequality, and power: no matter how much we try to sugarcoat it, it exists. Under our political system, under our society, we have been brought up in a world where one thinks they are better than their neighbor, because of their gender or the color of their skin. No matter how far we think we have come from a certain historical time period, such as the Civil War or the Holocaust, we haven’t entirely fixed the issues of our society. I’ve experienced the short end of the stick in many situations: as a woman, as a Jewish person, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I, for one, think that the reasons behind oppression and inequality can be put into two categories: either you’re ignorant, or you’re simply a bad person. Either way, I think that anyone who believes they are superior to someone else because of their gender, race, religion, or anything else of that sort needs to take a deep look inside of themselves, and change for the better before they spew hate out of their mouths again.

Back to the political compass quiz. Opening it, you would assume that you would be asked questions about your economic stances, or views on foreign affairs, right? WRONG! Of course, those questions were there, but I was met with far too many questions that resembled the following: “Do you support homosexuality? Do you think your race is superior to others? Do you think your religion is better than others and should influence the entirety of the government?” I wish I could lie and say I was surprised, but I wasn’t. For far too long, people have been mixing up politics with basic human decency. When it comes to issues of inequality, I don’t know what angers me more. Is it the fact that it exists at all? Or is the fact that people all across the country seem to think that equality is a political issue, rather than something any good person should fight for?

Shifting to the next topic: critical reflection of my own views. Growing up in a suburban, mostly white, mostly Christian neighborhood has always challenged me to let my views change and to let myself grow. Now that I’ve been exposed to more diversity, whether it be meeting other kids like me, or through schools, or even through online chats, I’ve always tried to listen totheir stories and use it to evaluate my own views. After any difficult conversation involving politics or social issues, I try to sit back and think about how my views can or should change as a result of hearing the stories of others. My perception of self and others comes along with the ability to reflect critically. I’m not a perfect person by any means, but I know that my ability to change my views is what makes me decent. The same goes for others: you can have different opinions than I do, and you can even blame hatred on your lack of education or your upbringing, but you should be able to change after deep thoughtful conversation. The only way we will be able to overcome issues of inequality and oppression is through being able to criticize not only others, but ourselves as well. Recognizing the difference between politics and human rights is merely the first step of a long road to equality.

Brandon Luo, Period 5, 2/24/21, Day B

Brandon Luo

Period 5

2/24/21

Day B

Modern Myth 2021

• Socio-political Consciousness

• What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

One thing that I didn’t realize before I took this course was how much gender inequality there has been in the world for the past few thousand years. I always knew that some form of gender inequality existed because we have never had a female president and many other notions about patriarchal dominance. However, it was until I took this course that I realized that gender inequality is normal in almost every culture and is deeply ingrained in every culture. From the Greeks to the Norwegians and from the Christians to Egyptians, every story makes it painfully obvious how they treat and view women to the point where even I can’t help but feel bad for them. The most striking story, that is deeply ingrained in my head now, is the story of Europa. Zeus was so brazen as to become a bull, take her across the sea, and mate with her on the island. As always, Zeus takes no responsibility but Europa miraculously avoids the jealousy and wrath of Hera for some reason. Usually, the women that Zeus has an affair with don’t have the best fate.

• How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

By attempting to read and understand the information and culture in these stories, I am able to gain a better picture as to why there are so many woman’s rights and feminist groups today. It also helps me to appreciate that many women are standing up for themselves, and they are not willing to fall into the cultural norm of obedient women and fight for their rights. I also feel more at ease when I realize that women have more power now than ever before, but I believe that more should be done if we wish to make women truly equal to men.

Catherine Prigov, 2/22/21, Period 8, Day C

Catherine Prigov 

Period 8

2/22/2021

Day C

Modern Mythology 2021

1. What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

1. Throughout the past couple of months, we have witnessed an extraordinary amount of political and social turmoil. Over three months ago, I wrote my first blog, highlighting the upcoming election and the controversy surrounding it. We all wondered, “What would happen if Biden wins?” “Will there be accusations of fraud?” To no one’s surprise, after the vote was decided Saturday morning, November 7th, social media and news outlets were flooded with outrage. Former President Trump’s loyal following took to the internet to defend their president, claiming the real vote will be decided mid-December, then January 6th, then January 20th. Now, on February 22nd, a month into Biden’s presidency, we still see constant denouncement of his legitimacy as the Commander in Chief. 

What I think is important to highlight is the huge social polarization that has only increased since 2016. Throughout his four years, Trump paved the way for white supremacists being more confident in spewing their rhetoric, cowering behind the vague umbrella of “free speech.” Inequity, oppression, and abuse of power have only grown amongst privileged groups, and with Trump not being in charge anymore, countless people are refusing to step down from the privileged mindset the former president gave them. However, while there are still faults in the administration we have now, I think it’s helpful to remain hopeful in the next four years, looking towards a better future than the one that was established previously. 

2. How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

1. As someone who is incredibly politically active, constantly staying up to date with current events and political incidents, I know how incredibly important it is to remain open-minded. Growing up in a household full of a variety of perspectives, I’ve always been having conversations concerning recent events and learning about how different ideologies react to them. When the conflict started in Russia and Ukraine, I learned through my Russian mother and Ukrainina father about the value of honoring both opinions. With the 2016 election, my Republican father and Democrat brother constantly shared their views, sparking a deep passion for ideological diversity in me. Thus, I think the most important quality one could have is the ability to accept other opinions, grow from past experiences, and develop new ideas towards an ever-evolving reality

Elizabeth MacDonald, Period 5, 2/11/21, Day B

Elizabeth MacDonald

Period 5

02/11/2021

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting and Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

Because I am now in the second half of senior year, my goals mostly revolve around figuring out where I want to be in the fall and consequentially, what I want my career to be in the future. While I have finished submitting applications already, I have found that it is almost more difficult to sit and wait for college acceptances or rejections and to sort through my options. When I was thinking about which schools to apply to, I decided I would cover all of my bases by applying to a lot of schools, 14 to be exact.  It was difficult filling out all of the applications but I thought it would then be easier for me later because I would definitely have schools that I could go to. But now, I am realizing how difficult it is to make this decision.  The commitment is 4 years but the implications can last a lifetime.  And there is a lot to take into account: finances, location, major, etc.  So, my immediate goal right now is sorting through all of the information and picking the school that is right for me.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I have demonstrated resilience towards my goal by doing research on all of the schools I  have been accepted to, and even the ones I haven’t heard back from yet.  I attended a virtual accepted students event just this past weekend and I have been taking virtual tours of different schools as well.  However, it has been difficult to be motivated to take virtual tours and do virtual events because I am missing the experience of really visiting in person.  The thought that I could commit to a school for the next 4 years of my life without ever being there does scare me.  But this is everyone’s current reality and I need to try to make the best of it and hope that I can find enough information elsewhere to make a good decision.

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The world around me has definitely affected my perception of this goal.  First of all, it is more scary than ever to think of moving away from home.  Having been stuck at home for so long because of the pandemic, I find it hard to imagine being away from my home and family for so long.  But, on the other hand, it also makes me excited to be somewhere new and to gain some independence. Another thing that has changed my perception is all of the innovation in the world.  Whether it is creating vaccines, developing new technology, or exploring space, society has been innovating in a big way.  This makes me think about what it is I want to do in the future. I applied to schools with different majors because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do exactly.  Seeing the innovation in the world around me makes me think that one day I could make an impact as well.  So, the world around me has made my goal of choosing a major feel even more important.

Ryan McMahon, Period 2, 2/10/21, Day A

Blog #2 - Literacy & Learning

Write your thoughts about any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

At the time of the writing of this, we are covering a summarized version of the Old English fiction, Beowulf, in class, and have just read of Beowulf's defeat of Grendel's mother and will next cover the finale of the story. My thoughts towards Beowulf are that: although it does not contain "original" story elements (even at the time, a hero defeating monsters was nothing new), it is relevant to the location of its writing. Grendel, the titular evil monster character, slips into camps and halls in the night and kills even great soldiers, all being powerless to stop him. This could be seen as a representation of the real dangers of society at that time. Wolves, beasts, raiders, and marauders could slip into a village in the night and wreak havoc, taking advantage of the night, only able to be stopped by an overwhelming force. Beowulf as a man could represent that force of reinforcements to a border town or a night watch.

 

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

In this class, we study ancient myths of cultures, including Greek, Egyptian, and the 3 big monotheistic religions. I believe that so far, the greatest lesson I have learned is that, nothing is original. The saying that "all Western writing is just taken from Greek mythology, the Bible, and Shakespeare", I have come to learn, is extremely true, and may even be understated as Shakespeare borrows a lot from the Bible and Greek mythos, and the Bible borrows from Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian stories. This class helped me to realize that all writing is built on the back of other writing, originating from oral stories told about the human experience, and now I cannot help myself from seeing the elements of ancient myths in all media.

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

I don't have any history classes this year, so I cannot really relate the lessons learned in this class to any other classes, but I can apply them to my life and the world around me. The goal of every English class in which stories are read is not only to read them and understand the plot points (what literally happens) but also to understand the philosophical and symbolic meanings of the story and elements of the story. I apply these ancient human lessons to situations in my life and events in the world around me. As a fairly "manly man", I tend to focus on the lessons about bravery, loyalty, and those surrounding conflict and war. These ancient stories have made me question what it means to be loyal, can a soldier be loyal to enemies in respect of life (reporting war crimes and your comrades). If cowardice is preferred over death, does the promise of passing on your genes to the next generation fall short of or surpass the promise of passing your name deeds. Is war always a waste, is the idea of a "warrior's death" just used by those who don't fight to get people to die for ideas that aren't truly worth it?

Amanda Lee, Period 2, 2/2/2021, Day A

1. Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class

    I never thought I would learn so many valuable lessons from pieces of fiction/nonfiction in an English class before. Out of the many valuable lessons learned this year, my favorite so far is the story of Job. I have been a Christian for 8 years, so I have heard of Job at my church and in my family as part of my own personal faith. But to be completely honest, and this is probably considered shameful as a Christian, I never even read the book of Job before this class - I didn't even fully know the story of Job before reading it in mythology class. Job was a man who, despite losing everything in his life, still remained faithful to God. Because of his faithfulness even in suffering, Job was blessed with two times more than he originally had. Everyone suffers in life, some more than others. No matter what hardship someone is trialed with throughout their life, losing a loved one, physical sickness, mental sickness, etc... This story teaches us to keep pushing. You do not have to be religious to grasp a lesson out of this biblical story. We ALL suffer. Though we may not receive two times as much cows or land at the end of our suffering, we can gain insight through loss. The best lessons learned in my life was through losing something. Of course, just like Job, we may not see the reason why bad things happen to us, but there is always a reason behind it. God, the universe, whatever you believe in, has a plan for you. Remain faithful to it even through hardship and you just might gain something more valuable than what you lost. 

2. Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

Studying various religions and beliefs of cultures influences my critical perception greatly. Though many students, including myself, have our own beliefs, it's amazing to study other ones as well! Instead of looking at other religions through the lens of our own, we studied the similarities between various religious beliefs. By looking at life after death in both Christianity and Ancient Egyptian religions, we saw that many philosophies of life overlap each other. Just as in Christianity there is a Judgement Day in front of God, in Ancient Egyptain religions, there is a weighing of the heart to a feather after death. Both forms of judgement are used to determine whether the person (who is dead) deserves happiness in two versions of paradise after death. This example of looking at religions through a philosophical lens portrays how this class has influenced the way I analyze topics. Instead of looking through one focal view, I have begun to compare things previously learned to each other, as well as looking at topics in a philosophical way.

3. How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you

    As I mentioned before, I view all forms of literature/non fiction in a much more philosophical way than I did before. But perhaps the biggest application is the lessons learned from the literature and of course, from the students and Ms. Fusaro. I constantly find connections in absolutely every historical thing I see. One of the biggest lessons we learned this year is that nothing is original. So many stories overlap the same lessons, concepts, and ideas, but in different ways. This is especially true with religion, so in my own readings and studies in other classes, I see that this idea holds true in history. Also, hearing from other students and many different viewpoints has shaped me into a more well-rounded human being. I enjoy actively participating in discussion more than I ever have before.

Amaanah Othman, 2/22/21, PD 8, Day C

Amaanah Othman, Period 8, 2/22, Day C

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or
power?

- Recently Texas was hit with a snowstorm that left many shivering, struggling, and

some even dead. The brutal temperature and harsh weather caused millions to

lose power. Since I am always on social media because I love to learn more about

what's going on around the world, I've come across many people laughing at

those in texas. People were mocking those suffering and saying it is what they

deserved for being a red state. However, many people in texas are low

income/minorities that did not vote red that are going to suffer EXTREMELY

due to the extremities of the storm who will be in the worst conditions after this

storm. Nonetheless, even if you voted red or not, that should not be a

determining factor to whether people freeze to death or not. Texan infrastructure

is not made to withstand such extreme cold harsh weather since it's unusual, so

peoples houses were completely frozen, their ceilings cracking, no insulation, no

electricity, and the water systems were not working. People from texas were all

over social media telling of what is happening and begging for help. What made

me even more upset is when Ted Cruz, a senator for Texas, decided that during

this storm he was going to leave the struggling people of Texas AND his own

poodle behind and take a trip to a nice warm Mexico. This caused an uproar

amongst both Texans and non-Texans, so much that he packed his bags again

and returned. Amidst his journey to Mexico and back, a child in Texas passed

away due to the conditions. This highlights the power inequality and the

inequality of struggles between classes, and between politicians and the average

person. What type of system do we have in place that a politician is so

inconsiderate as to run away to Mexico as the people in his state are hurting and

dying from the storm? What type of system do we have in place that even

ALLOWS a senator to do such a thing? I was so deeply disappointed with Ted

Cruz's actions, though i'm not surprised, and I am very upset at how many people

were just simply left with no help or aid. Something that was also pointed out was

that refugees were left freezing on the border. This absolutely disgusted me. So

Ted Cruz decided to cross the border for the “safety of his family” and for a better

“life” till the storm leaves, however, when those leave war torn or struggling

countries, this excuse is not one taken seriously and is often mocked. The

inequality of classes, ethnicities and races, and politicians compared to the

common people is starting to be exposed a lot more and it should be dealt with

and abolished.

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences,
and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

- I use my beliefs, values, and experience to fight for those struggling against

the system and to educate others to do as well. I have always been one to

tell people that politicians are not our friends and definitely not the type of

people to “stan”, because at the end of the day they are not perfect and

going to disappoint many. This is especially true in my opinion with

american politicians. Texas is a perfect example of how the system in place

allows for the millions who suffered and for Ted Cruz's selfish trip to

Mexico. Forty seven people were reported to be dead, a number that could

have been avoided or at least reduced if the system we have in place

actually cared for the common people. Though America is a country that

loves to brag, we're far from perfect and were definitely not prepared for

most (as you can see with Covid and the extreme change in weather). More

people need to unlearn that America is the “best” with the “best”

politicians. People need to demand change and people need to fight

together against a harmful system.

Nethya Samarakkodige, 2/25/21, PD 8, Day C

Nethya Samarakkodige
Period 8
2/25/21
Day C
Modern Mythology 2021 

Goal Setting and Growth

1. At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

At this point in time, my goals mostly revolve around improving myself in terms of how I spend my time, my mental health, and staying motivated. About a year ago, I was enjoying quarantine by spending most of my time watching movies and killing time however I saw fit, without worrying about myself or being productive. After months in the same situation, I’ve chosen to create new goals for myself and improve aspects of myself that I previously accepted without trying to change. For example, a challenge that I used to disregard was my self-confidence, which was made worse with all of the time I spent on social media. Currently, one of my goals is to pay more attention to my self-care by improving my diet, setting aside time to exercise everyday, and making changes to my daily routine to improve my mental health and self-image. In terms of academic goals, I want to focus more on the upcoming AP Exams and continue putting effort into my school and classwork. As the end of the year comes closer, it is difficult to stay motivated and continue working, especially since college applications have already been submitted which is one of the most difficult parts of senior year. 

2. How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I demonstrate resilience towards achieving my goals by finding ways to stay motivated and reasons to keep improving, both academically and personally. I try to stay resilient by allowing myself to take breaks in order to maintain my positive mindset about improving and prevent myself from burning out. By knowing when to stop and taking mental breaks to do things that help me de-stress, like listen to music, I maintain my motivation and push myself to keep going. I found that one of the most draining aspects of quarantine was that every day followed a very similar routine and it felt like an endless cycle. This routine becomes boring very quickly and it’s difficult to stay productive when it feels repetitive. In order to avoid falling into a boring routine, I try to find different activities to incorporate into my day or plan something that I can look forward to. I also try to plan ahead by creating schedules for each day with time allocated for both productivity and to relax. Most importantly, I try to keep a positive mindset and trust myself to make progress. 

3. How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

In terms of my personal goals relating to my self-confidence and mental health, the world around me has both positive and negative effects. Social media provides a lot of resources to improve mental health and yourself, but there are also a lot of intimidating standards and expectations that are challenging. It is also a huge distraction from school work and is one of the reasons I procrastinate so much. Also, remote learning and staying at home for long periods of time have changed my perception of my goals because I am more optimistic about achieving them. I feel like I have more than enough time and energy to make my goals become a reality, which keeps me motivated and gives me more to look forward to in the future. 

Eve Mooney, Period 2, Submitted 2/18/2021, Due 2/23/2021, Day A, Modern Mythology 2021

Eve Mooney

Period 2

Submitted 2/18/2021, Due 2/23/2021

Day A

Modern Mythology 2021

Goal Setting & Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why

At this point in time, my goals mainly revolve around college and my next steps in life. Since I will have to decide which college I am committing to very soon, as well as what major to pursue within the college, figuring out what I want to do in the future, or at least narrowing it down to a field, is a major goal for me. Other related major goals are trying to further understand myself so that I can understand what college/field would be best for me, and trying to obtain scholarships. In general, I want to focus on trying to understand myself, so that I can understand what would suit me best to pursue later on. My other major goals are staying fit, specifically exercising everyday for at least a half hour, eating healthier, and continuing to do well in classes so that I can keep up my current responsibilities and stay as healthy as possible to set routines I can keep up in college when I will likely be living away from home. Outside of responsibility oriented goals, I would also like to pursue my creative hobbies more often, like crocheting and creative writing, because I feel I have not had much time for them in recent months, due to college applications, college interviews, and my senior SERP project dominating my time since September.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I demonstrate resilience towards achieving my goals by planning for them. I try to complete all of my schoolwork the day it is assigned if possible so I have more time to pursue other things, and for exercise I have a routine that I plan to add to and have been making time for every day. For more college and future related goals, it is more difficult to accomplish them, since the task is very large and intimidating, with no clear answer. I have been trying to schedule a time to work on these goals each day, and making many lists and charts to fill out like what classes each college major offers or what programs are ABET certified for example, to help achieve this goal.

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The world around me affects my perception of these goals greatly. Since we have been at home and completing remote learning for nearly a year now, the idea of living at college away from home and going to in person classes is harder to comprehend, which makes it harder to decide what I want to do and where I want to go. Also, my perception of the college workload is also difficult. Remote school has made it more difficult for me to complete assignments, and I have found myself procrastinating much more often. This is likely partially because most of school is done in my bedroom so there isn’t a clear distinction between school time and rest time, which has also made life more stressful. When we were in school in person, the library was an invaluable resource for me that kept me ahead with my schoolwork. In college, if we are in person, it is hard to understand how difficult the workload will be and how much time I will have to get involved with extracurricular activities like clubs, teams, or organizations, therefore making it harder to plan out what resources of a college I would be able to use and what I should plan for. The world around me also affects my perception of my other goals, as doing remote learning and its effect of blurring the lines between home and school has made it more difficult to complete tasks outside of homework with a due date, therefore affecting my other goals.

Nicholas Lofaso, 2/11/2021, Period 5, Day B

 Nicholas Lofaso

February 11, 2021

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

I’ve really enjoyed Beowulf so far; it might not be written in the most understandable way, but the fact that most of the stories are 5 pages at most means that I can spend more time annotating and trying to find hidden meanings. A good example of this came up today, where I noticed that Grendel’s Mother is one of the first times that God was used as reasoning for a plot point. This led me to believe that the story is less authentic than some of the others—since it was written down by Christian monks, they may have taken some creative liberty with the retelling. I think I enjoyed the original Norse mythology stories more since they focused on more than just one person, but Beowulf is still really interesting. 

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

I mentioned this above, but the realization that Grendel’s Mother was one of the first times God was mentioned/utilized and realizing that it was probably due to the Monks’ personal beliefs really made me think about the impact authors can have on history and the way we perceive it. If this was such an easy and nondescript detail, what else has been changed in other stories that we don’t know about? By understanding the background of a source and the biases that they might have, I can get better at spotting instances of revisionism. This skill is useful in all sorts of scenarios, from reading school texts to trying to find bias in news sources. 

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

While Norse mythology itself might not be directly applicable to most aspects of my life outside of school, the skills that I’m picking up on while reading these historical texts definitely are. The language that they’re written in is very different from language today, and requires me to focus more on what I’m reading to be able to understand them—I’ve gotten much better at deciphering complicated texts, which will help me in both college and practically any field that I go into after. Understanding the history of different cultures also allows me to better understand different cultures today, being able to connect to more people and potentially relate to them. 

Sandra Lu, Period 5, 2/11/21, Day B

Sandra Lu

Period 5

2/11/2021

Day B

Modern Mythology 2021

Socio-political Consciousness

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

These issues thrive with our history of systemic racism, normalizing racism and stereotypes towards people of color in many aspects of our lives. Up until last year I wasn't very aware of any of the issues going on around me. Sometimes in the history textbooks I'll wonder why are we celebrating this person if what they did are considered horrendous in modern day standard. Why are we celebrating Columbus if he initiated the Atlantic slave trade and the American Indian genocide and he wasn't actually the first to discover America. As much as these issues are uncomfortable to talk about, it is very important to start and continue this conversation in order to have a chance at change. During the beginning of the BLM movement, we all remember watching an account of police brutality that took a young mans life because of the color of his skin. I felt very furious that this was happening and there were many more cases like this buried 10 foot deep, we've only seen the tip of an iceberg. None of the cops were held accountable until the media blew up, that really blows my mind that they can and have gotten away with murder. This generation gives all of us hopes that things will and can change. 

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

I come from a first generation immigrant family, my parents have very little knowledge about these ongoing social issues along with the stereotypes and racism they have absorbed. I grew up being fed stereotypes about other ethnic groups, they mostly negatively effect people of color, I don't blame my parents as they are also learning since then. Now I am learning to undo these personal bias along with listening to the voice of others who are deeply impacted by these issues. The Tiktok communities has really helped me in the process of learning about all these issues and ways I can amplify the voices of people who are affected by these issues. 

Theresa Luo, Period 2, 2/10/2021, Day A

Theresa Luo 
Period 2
2/10/2021
Day A
Modern Mythology 2021

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

When we were first introduced to Norse Mythology, I automatically made the association to the Marvel comics and movies. However, besides the obviously strong and confident Thor and the extremely cunning Loki, I had no real understanding of what Norse mythology entailed. Most importantly, I never assumed any type of Norse mythology or lessons within these pieces of literature had any impact on my day to day life. However, once I indulged myself in “Thor’s Journey To The Land of The Giants” and “The Apples of Immortality”, I understood just how prevalent Norse lessons are entrenched in society. One of the largest lessons I learned was the acceptance of failure and the outlook on failure. When Thor ventured to the land of the giants and competed with the giants, he automatically accepted failure. He assumed his inability to lift the cat all the way or drink the entirety of the horn defined his incompetence and weakness. However, it was revealed these were tasks that no man, warrior, and a human being could possibly do, but he did it! This taught me just how important perspective is to your own day to day life. Even if you view failure as a linear function, it never really is. Failure means trial; it entails giving your all even if you don’t succeed at first. These lessons were so personal and impressive to me and I finally understood why such topics are covered in this course. 

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

I recently learned the connection between Beowulf and the Book of Genesis. More specifically, I learned the linkages between Grendel, the all evil monster, to his father Cain. This piece of information definitely surprised me as I would’ve never picked out these underlying influences. However, once I learned the first groups of people who physically turned the previous solely oral stories of Beowulf to pieces of literature were monks, my perspective of the book changed. At first, I read the story without much background information or historical context. I was essentially reading at the “frosting” level. However, understanding the connections between different pieces of literature or through the New Historicism theory, I gained a deeper comprehension of how the story came to be. I finally understood why Grendel is so deeply hated since his murderous intentions have roots in his own father. This essentially hints at how killing is in his blood. Seeking these historical linkages gives reading context. It allows so many people, including myself, to read at a deeper level. These takeaways will forever change my perception of stories. 

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

All these stories are so much more than just stories. They contain life lessons that can aid our personal growth and development. They can change our influence and outlook on other pieces of literature, work, and even everyday life. As mentioned above, reading “Thor’s Journey To The Land of The Giants” and “The Apples of Immortality” changed my perspective on failure and showed me the similarities between humans and gods. From Beowulf and Norse pieces, I understood how important historical context is. There are so many connections to the Book of Genesis, such as the apples of immortality to the apples of Eden. By seeing just how much a reader can take away from simply reading, I’ve learned to take in the world and my other classes with greater appreciation. I will constantly try to see what lessons in class can influence my everyday life and will always examine everything with context. I will no longer jump to conclusions without understanding such context because this will never draw the full story. This goes for other stories and understanding people’s experiences as well. Such lessons from this class will forever shape my perspective on the rest of the world.