i.maginary

Ha, wow. My first blog really says it all.

“Hello.
I'm Mackenzie.

If your reading this, your probably following my blog. At this point I thank you for talking time out of your day to read what I have written. Most likely you will read about half of this, "Introductory to English," get bored and write a comment for a grade, or you may have planned on not reading it at all. Either way, I will not be offended, for how will I know the difference? and that is most likely my plan as well.
Forgetting what I just mentioned, i am traditionally a good English student. I get good grades, communicate with others easily, i like to write, i am able to read, etc. etc. Although, i have trouble believing that these qualities make a good student. These qualities are great at faking a good student but not making one. Oh, i am also a good poet. For me, a good student is someone with the willingness to learn, the need to understand and the drive to be the best they can be at everything., all qualities i have... or do i just have the qualities of a fake able student and this is all an illusion? I guess that’s for me to know and you to find out.

If your still reading, I applaud you. Bravo. You have gotten to know me as a student. I’m sure that’s what you all wanted. I hope to enlighten the on-line world, or the 10 plus people who will even look at what i have written rather, with my honest opinion of the books and literature studies we will be doing this year. You, the reader, will find yourself engulfed in a wave of knowledge and understanding when you read my blog. be prepared for straight fact without any unnecessary embellishments.

Thank you.

Good bye.”

Have you decided the answer to the paradox I posed? Am I truly a good English student? Or have I faked it all? The answers obvious at this point. Or at least I would hope it to be so.

It all has to make you wonder though. I mean, it certainly makes me wonder. I begin to question my self, “Is the answer really all that palpable?”

Palpable, that a pretty good word huh? I could have been redundant and said obvious again, but instead, I said palpable. I think it has a nice ring to it. Maybe I should have used palpable in my ‘Alphabox Poem,’ but I kinda just like it how it was.

When I start writing like this, in a low diction I mean, I feel like Ponyboy (there’s an allusion for ya :) I don’t know, I just thought I would give you a little insight to what goes on in my mind as I write. Sometimes you just gotta wonder what people think as they write. I feel like some people just think, “What’s the best word I could use to make it sound like I know what I’m talking about so I can get a good grade?” Then there are those kids that really care about their writing. Then, of course, there are kids like me…

I really don’t know where I was planning on taking that. It sounded good though huh? I guess I could have taken that somewhere magnificent but that would have defeated the purpose of why I’m writing.

“Purpose?” you ask?

Why yes! Purpose! Such a cool word. I’m really into ‘P’ words today I guess. But see, this one’s different. The other ‘P’ word was fun because if its, wait for it…, denotation! But this ‘P’ word is on a-whole-nother level of awesome. This one deals with the all-mighty connotation.

-I apologize if I’m coming off sarcastic, that is truly not my point-

Anyway, connotation a playful topic. Connotation creates and destroys. It is in the curvature of the letters of a word that make up it’s deeper meaning.

When reading we connect shapes to sounds and sounds to ideas. So really we can skip the middle step and connect shapes to ideas.

I’m sorry, I’m getting sidetracked.

What was I getting at?

Oh right! “Reflect on the meaning and significance of it all.” What does that even mean? We are expected to find a ‘greater meaning’ out of blogs? Kinda a little ridiculous. I mean really… first we over analyze and find a deeper meaning in everything that we have read this year. Including The Importance of Being Ernest, a nice little play meant to be funny, cynical on marriage sure (saying the poor guy was convicted of being gay) but that’s all that play is getting on deeper meaning. But now we have to analyze our own blogs for a total message? But that’s what we do in English class right?

I did say in one of my earlier blogs that my goal for this year was to be able to analyze literature for deeper meanings effectively. Wow! We sure covered that base good and well.

Maybe the message in all or this is that, “everything is not what it seems.” Ha! That was so cheesy. I don’t know if your kids are too young, but that was a line from the theme song of “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Maybe everything we read or write or see or feel can be made and manipulated into something more.

For example, the progression of our writing skills that can be tracked over the course of this year can be interpreted as being a symbol for our progression through life. Each word choice can be sought as a decision in life, leading us and our story in a different direction. Each completion of a project can be viewed as a furthering in our knowledge in life.

I find myself apologizing again. This was pretty long, and all I feel I’ve done is made you sit and read through a criticism of your subject. That was not my original plan. I actually love English and I really enjoy digging through literature for imaginary messages and everything else we’ve done this year. I love looking back and watching my progression and reading old works. Maybe that’s what this is all about…

Again I’m not sure where that was going but I think I finally get it. English is a class of imagination. It’s a class where a leaf is not a photosynthesizing, energy storing, body but a metaphor for days passing by. A class where putting an ‘i’ in front of something doesn’t necessarily make it real, unless of course the ‘something’ is that shape of the word ‘maginary.’

A Reminiscence for Only So an Hour

I have countless good memories that involve poetry. Truthfully, I can’t pick just one so I guess my memory is of my childhood and poetries impact. I have a sort of collage of bits and pieces of memories and stories from when I was little moving up through life, so here it goes…

Music it’s own distinct form of poetry: a combination of multiple art forms; rhyme, rhythm, beat, tune, and vocals- all adding up to a masterpiece. Ever since I was very very young I enjoyed listening to music. My mom has told me that it was one of the 3 ways she could get me to fall asleep, the other two being holding me while vacuuming and going for a car ride. I remember listening to the little kid sing-song music in the car and having every word of every song on multiple tapes memorized. I’m still that way, only now I have every word of every song of 2, almost 3, generations of music memorized. I’m not kidding. Maybe it comes in the genes, my aunt is the same way in remembering music and my grandfather was a Shakespearian actor among other acting careers.

Also starting at a young age (3 or so years old) I began memorizing And Writing poetry. When I was about 4 my mom taught me the poem, “The Owl and the Pussy Cat,” a poem she had learned from her father and the poem that I did for Poetry Out Loud this year.

I continued to memorize and write poetry and then one day I discovered a magical thing called poetry books! It was a whole new world. At the time I really got interested in reading poetry I was reading very complex sophisticated poems from an adult poetry book at home then having to settle for Shell Silverstein at school. At the time his whimsically writing was sufficient for me.

One thing I must confess is that I hate reading, always have. So in 3^rd grade, when we would have SSR (silent sustained reading) I would pull out my teachers, Where the Sidewalk Ends. For some reason, still unknown to me, my teacher strongly discouraged this. In fact, he banned me from reading poetry in his classroom, even on free read days. I began staying in during recess to read my rhyme but soon enough (after the second day) my teacher too didn’t allow me to do this. So, at that point, I couldn’t pick up poetry during SSR, I wasn’t allowed to read what I wanted on the free read days while everyone else could, and I was forced to play either a mindless game of tag or hop scotch or Jenga instead of absorbing myself in the world of poetry.

Good thing I was a stubborn little kid and was only driven to read more poetry and subsequently write my teacher an essay on the benefits of poetry on a developing mind. He decided to change his mindJ

I love poetry, its deep and freeing, it’s a way to escape from my world and travel into someone elses. It’s a way to feel pain and excitement, happiness and sorrow. A way experience things that will overpower your thoughts, but only so an hour.

The Battle to Know the Unknowable

Romeo and Juliet

Us, as human beings and creatures of this universe, all must deal with fortunes hand. For me I find that I don’t so much have an issue with where consequence has lead me, but more with the task of trying to understand and finding a way to cope with not knowing. Fate is but a theory. Perhaps we are all just part of a story that another has had the pleasure or punishment to write. Maybe all of our actions are set in universal ink stained on theoretical paper. Or we may be puppets, being controlled by a greater power but in fact ever changing. But perhaps the most fearful prospect of all is the idea of free will. The thought that we are in control and every action, every choice will change the course of time forever. Every one of these fascinations comes with a set of anxiety but for me, the worst of all, is the unsolvable terror of ignorance.

is entirely based on conflict. The play gathers up all forms of conflict one could face. Shakespeare has scattered these battles throughout, but the overwhelming conflict that was always lingering in the background just waiting to take hold was that of Person vs. Fate. Starting in the prologue, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” all the way through to the end when Romeo has had enough of these grave circumstances and declares that he will change the path of destiny, “Is it e’en so? Then I defy you stars!” (5.1.24) This conflict develops the whole message in the play. It creates the theme that fate is inevitable.

It's Everywhere!

Ok, so I have become hopelessly addicted to Drew Carey’s new show Improvaganza. I was watching it, just tonight actually, and they were doing a sketch where two of them start a scene and at anytime a third person says “freeze” then shouts out to the audience for a specific type of literature, film, time period, etc. and the two actors have to continue the scene in that style. So, Ryan Styles and Chip Esten start this scene where they are supposed to be two hired cooks, when Drew Carey calls, “Freeze!” and shouts out to the audience for a type of literature. Someone in the drunken Vegas audience requests Shakespeare. Ryan and Chip proceed, being the amazing comedians they are, in a shockingly good, fluid, middle English, iambic-pentameter. The first words spoken are from Chip saying, “Do you swing your spoon at me, maam?” and Ryan, immediately picking it up follows, “I do swing my spoon, maam.” This tiff follows to the word then skips to Chip drinking some laundry detergent only to be followed by the grief-stricken Mr. Styles stabbing ‘her’self with a knife and ending the sketch.

I would’ve liked to include a video of this portion of the show, but I couldn’t find one. I assure you though, it was a fantastic representation of Romeo and Juliet and probably a bajillion times funnier than I could aver explain it to be.

Exactly the Same but Totally Different

I think that all teenagers can connect to some aspects of the characters of Romeo and Juliet. Probably some more than others. I know that can connect to Romeo at least through shared experience of liking someone who doesn’t like you back. Pretty much the story of a teenagers life, love triangles and what not. I can connect to Juliet in the way that at the age of 13 or 14 I have not given marriage or sex for that matter much thought. In stark contrast though, I do not have a mother pushing me to do either.

While I am reading at home I get the basic idea of what happened in the scene. I get the main idea of what each character has said and how the story has progressed. Reading in class helps SO much though. In class I am able to pick up the puns, word play and figurative language that Shakespeare so strategically planted. I’m also able to follow the humor which makes the play that much more enjoyable.

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

It was only after I finished the book tht I realised what it was really about. I found that the characters in Great Expectations who dream the most, hope the most, and plan the most are ultimately wounded by their dreams, hopes, and plans. This is taken a step farther when the characters realize their dreams, they do not find the happiness that they had orriginally expected. The overwhelming theme here is that when you only focus on the future, our past and present will deterierate, basically, it is better to live life for today rather than for tomorrow.

Throughout life you begin to realise this message. If you act on it then you may find yourself in a beeter place. I notice that this rings true with both the large and the small things in life.

In gymnastics, I am ultimately looking down the road to being the champion of the highest level. It's great to have dreams, but you cannot let them override you. If all I focussed on when I was six years old in level four was  being better than the best, I would have gotten caught up in this desire and never been able to push forward. Instead I take every season at a time, every week, ever practice, every event, every turn, every skill at a time. Every time I do this it's bringing me closer to my ultimate goal. In Great Expectations, Pip gets tethered by his want for wealth leading to high social stature then to Estella and, in the end, what he thought would be, happiness. In his case, if he were to not get tangled within his want for Estella, class, and money, he would have been happy all along. He would have never been wanting what, in the end, he could never have. His unltimate goal was not Estella, but happiness. If he had worked everyday on happiness, not what he thought would lead him there, he would have continuously lead a joyous life.

Survey

I finally got it to work :)

We Have to Write About it Too?

Let's see here. Great Expectations was an interesting read. The characters and dialogue made for a bit of light hearted humor within a serious and, at times, dull storyline. I found that I couldn't really develop an attatchment to Pip after his character started changing because all I wanted was the old Pip back. This was probably what Dickens had intended which made the ending of the book somewhat satasfying. I did develope an attatchment to Joe and Miss Havisham. I think it would be hard not to become atleast alittle emotionally tied to Joe because he is such an innocent and childlike character. Miss Havisham, however, may seem like an unlikely character to like. To be completely honest I'm not too sure why i liked her so much. Maybe it was because her action, too, seemed rather childlike in the way that her whole reaction to being left on her wedding day was tantrum-like and just silly.

Dickens as a writer is very effective in what I think he was tryng to accomplish. I think his main goal in the book, in the sense of character development, was to start off Pip as a character that you immediately became attatched too that quickly changed and became less likeable as the story progressed. This made you want the old Pip back and, inturn, made the ending better when you, in a sense, got the old Pip back. Dickens, is obviously a very good writer. I dont think anyone can argue that. Even though i found this book tedious and boring for the most part, I did enjoy Dickens' writing style. The language itself was somewhat foriegn only because it was writen about 150 years ago, but once you got used to the general feel and flow of the words and language you could put more of our energy on the story than trying to decipher the language itself.

Even though the writing was good, that didn't make the actual novel enjoyable. Some parts were okay and at times even fun to read but for the most part I had a hard time sitting down and doing much more than looking at the words run down the page. I must confess that there were chapters that I simply could not force mysely to read. There were also those nights that either I was too busy or just not patient enough to bring myself to believe that all of the symbols on the page were actually supposed to mean something. Usually, I caught up the next night or a little bit everyday. I did find that Sparknotes was my savior for this book though. Even if I had read, I found that I might think back and not have the faintest clue as to what had just happened in the novel. So, yes, sparknotes helped me to just refresh and remember "Oh ya, I think I remember reading something about that."

I found that the best time for me to read was at night right around dinner time. This didn't always make my mom too happy but it worked for me. After dinner I was too tired to comprehend the words so I usually did something easy like math homework. Before dinner I was usually soaking wet and freezing, running outside in the wind a rain and at times hail for track. There were days of course that I couldn't bring myelf to read so i found myself at 6:00 AM at Alena's house the next morning frivilously reading and slapping down those annotations before we had to walk out in 35 degree weather to catch the bus. And then, of course, I ,at times, found myself sitting next to Jamison on the bus, both of us with our books and sticky notes out, trying to finish up the last few paragraphs of our assignment before having to trudge into class and spend yet another day discussing the never ending Great Expectations.

Likeness

The picture I have chosen is of a plant sprouting out of ones hands.

In the first two parts of the novel, Pip has grown and developed from a small boy full of potential and life, with an unknown plant ready to bloom,  into a young man whos life is primarily set.

A seed is a capsule of life. Unplanted, it can be moved anywhere until a location is chosen for it. From there it may sprout in to a beautiful orchid or perhaps a rose, beautiful on the outside but leathal upon inspection of its thorns, or maybe a thistle, ugly, dangerous and avoided. Until planted we may not know what will come of this seed. 

Once sprouted the identity begins to unfold.

In the particular picture I chose, the sprout was growing out of ones hands.

In the novel, Pip begins as a young boy, much like a seed, unset life ready to sprout and blossom. When the beginnings of a plant start to form they are dependant and manipulated by the hands in which they are growing. As the plant grows larger, it's roots begin to wind and creep through the fingers of its holder, reaching out and searching for its own ground. The plant grows larger and becomes a heavy weight for the hands to hold and at last is free to grow in its own peice of soil, ready to determine its own life. As the novel progresses, stems turn into branches and a complex tree of life emerges. This tree is the older Pip, forever living with the manipulations of his childhood.

Many times looking back, Pip regrets ever being brought to Miss Havishams, ever being ridiculed by Estella and becoming ashamed of his home. He wishes that he had grown ignorant and became a happy idiot pursay. Happy with being a poor blacksmith. But now his roots are set in riches. These riches however are self consious and ashamed of the seed that was planted orriginally in the soil of commonality.

Great Expectations vs Jane Eyre

Great Expectationas and Jane Eyre may seem very different in some aspects but in others are very similar. For instance, even tho Jane Eyre is much a romance and Great Expectations is not, they are both gothic, mysterious, coming of age stories. Both start by looking at a young child and watching them progress through life. Both resolve partly in that some person reuniting with they're love. Also, both stories display a foundation common in works from the 1800s, a look at social class and differences. Subsequently, although they may be displayed differently, the two books deal with motifs of contrast. In Jane Eyre it is "fire and ice" pursay. In Great Expectaions it is contrast simply between characters, setting, ideas, or experiences. Both novels depict the protagonist's search for the meaning of life and the nature of the world within the context of a defined social order.   In essence, the two novels encompass the all-around self-development of the main characters, by employing similar techniques.   Each tells of a protagonist on their journey that is introduced to some form of loss or discontent which then results in the main character departing their home or family setting.   In both Great Expectations and Jane Eyre the process of maturity is long, tedious, and gradual. Aside from plot and detail, both books are written in the first person, the protagonist writing about themself and they're life which alows the reader to develope a strong idea of the character and develope this idea throughout the novel.

On this specific cover of Jane Eyre, a budding rose is shown. A common symbol in Great Expectations is a comparison between a plant and life. In both cases, the rose is a symbol for coming of age.

Starting Second Stage

In the second stage of Great Expectations Pips character developes through his interactions and experiences in london. He meets many new poeple and sees many new things. He is exposed to a highly 'overrated' city and is dissapointed by the results. Some people he meets are: th whole pocket family and household, Mr. Jaggers's 4 clerks particuarily Wemmick, along with the aged man. The Pocket parents, Ma and Pa, are contrasting much like Joe and Mrs. Joe. Ma seems to have lost hold of reality where as Pa has more of a level head and can tell right from wrong.

These experiences develope Pip's character to become even more stuck up and un-lovable. His character has gone from an adorable innocent child to an exposed annoying young man. Pip is goggled over by Mr. Pocket much like he was by Mr. Pumblechook after discovering Pip's newly found wealth and 'gentlemanly' stature. Wemmick, however, is nice to Pip but does not have any alterior motives so this is probably good for Pip's character.

Seeds and Chains

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

This quote basically says that life is a long chain of links representing days. Iron and thorns represent bad memories and experiences. Gold and flowers are lovely. This analogy goes deeper to say that you are free of this chain and all of life’s experiences until you allow it to tether you and take over due to one experience or link. This experience starts the chain that determines the rest of your life and decides whether you will be draped with gold or entrapped with iron, garnished with flowers or eternally pierced by thorns. In Pip’s case he has become ashamed of Joe and has changed his mind about wanting to learn the blacksmith trade due to the remarks of Miss Havisham and Estella. In chapters 1-9 of the book, Pip had a very close developed relation ship with Joe. It wasn’t until his encounters with Miss Havisham and Estella in chapter 9 that changed his outlook through chapters 10-16 and forthly the rest of the book. He now finds Joe to be common and the trade to be shameful. This takes away Pip’s ignorant innocence that the reader come to love and strains the relationship between Pip and the reader.

When I was young, a seed started forming that soon sprouted into a flower that started and golden chain to the rest of my life. When I was only 2 years old I saw a documentary on gymnastics. Two year olds and documentaries don’t see to mix to well but this one seemed to have an impact. From that day forward I was a gymnast. When my parents realized that this was not just a phase they stuck me in a little kinder class and watched me learn discipline, patience, teamwork and dedication that came with me even when I left the gym and has made me the person I am today. Sometimes I wonder if my parents hadn’t happened to put on that show, if I hadn’t happened to be in the room, if I hadn’t happened to watch, I wonder if that first link would have formed, I wonder if I would be who I am today.

I must also add a hidden aspect to this particular quote. The two annalogies that Dickens deciceded to you happened to be that of chains and plants or seeds. Both, reaccuring motifs and symbols in the book.

What Am I Reading??

Hey everyone, when I was reading the first few chapters of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, I came across this passage on page 48 in chapter five, "My convict looked round him for the first time, and saw me . . . I looked at him eagerly when he looked at me, and slightly moved my hands and shook my head. I had been waiting for him to see me, that I might try to assure him of my innocence. It was not at all expressed to me that he even comprehended my intention, for he gave me a look that I did not understand, and it all passed in a moment. But if he had looked at me for an hour or for a day, I could not have remembered his face ever afterwards as having been more attentive." I had to go back and read through it a few times and still couldn't completely grasp what it meant. I thought that this may be because it was close to midnight and my mind just wasn't working correctly, but going back over it now i still don't know what it means. I don't understand what actually happened in the scene and this whole passage seems to be muddled with parts that don't really seem to go with the rest.

I guess my question would be: What is happening in this scene? Is it literal or metaphoric? and What does the last sentance in particular have to do with the rest?

Please Help!!

Group Essay Collaboration Thing

1. Hey Reagan and Rachel…. If you are reading this I apologize for posting this kinda late. Anyway, I don’t think that I have changed anything in paragraph since I talked to you guys except for I added in my “point to prove” now that we have a solid thesis. I still want to go over transitions to use so that we aren’t repeating each other. Oh ya!! I also added my conclusion that I kept ranting about on Friday.
2. I guess my only questions would be:
                A. What transitions did you guys use?
And
                B. Have you looked over the intro and conclusion and gotten any fantastic ideas??

I Never Tell the Truth and I Always Lie

Dishonesty is a major theme in the play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” It is made humorous; satirical, in respect to social institutions; it also is apparent in the difference between the name “Ernest” and the word “earnest;” you can also find it in the situations involving the pursuit of pleasure. Many times in the novel, it is mentioned and alluded to, that, being honest is bad, unstylish, and/or something to be ashamed of. This is quite contradictory to actuality. Also, throughout the play, Wilde makes fun of dishonesty in the upper class of society. It is clear that honesty is shameful and that people should make themselves to be ignorant and sharp. It is ironic that in the end of the play, Jack turned out to be named Ernest after all and he was Algernon’s brother, so in the end his dishonesty turned out to be the truth and in an exchange between him and Gwendolyn, he asks for her forgiveness of his pure honesty for his whole life and she subsequently agrees.

Wilde is trying to say in the play that dishonesty was expected and respected in the Victorian era, especially in the upper class. The characters often say stuff that indirectly, or quite directly as the case may be, make honesty out to be bad. In the case of Ernest vs. earnest, it is the earnest thing to do if your name is not Ernest but as soon as you change your name to Ernest you loose all earnest qualities. Whether the men were pretending to be Ernest or planning to become Ernest, the were un-earnest. In the end however, Jack turned out to be Ernest making his lies earnest. Tricky stuff. Tricky, tricky stuff.

AFP Evaluations

1. Donna Wilson
2. Video
3. It was nice that the song beasts of England was in her project. How it was filmed was creative and cute. You could see all aspects of the novel being portrayed.

1. Reagan
2. Poem
3. The use of bolding certain letters in the poem was creative and went above just a general poem. The words talked about tyranny in the novel and the bolded letters spelled out “tyranny.”

1. Brooke
2. Song
3. If you didn’t know what was going on then it would be hard to follow. When she explained what was happening while it was playing however, you could see how each kind of music related to the scene in the novel.

1. Leah
2. Comic
3. She showed the hidden message behind stuff that was said in the book. It conveyed the message of the book really well.

1. Will
2. Time line
3. There wasn’t very much information, so it was a little hard to follow what was going on. You could see the changes that happened as the pigs rose to power.

1. Melanie
2. Video
3. This was a unique idea. The slide show described the main characters and the important aspects of the novel.

1. Katie
2. Picture
3. It is easy to tell what’s going on in the picture, Fredrick is giving them the fake money. This was an unusual scene choice, but I like it.

1. Olivia
2. Haiku
3. The haiku was good. She summed up the novel in very few words quite well.

1. Grace, Molly, Sarah and Katie
2. Video
3. This video looked really professional and went above and beyond the requirements. It portrayed the feeling of the novel well and it was really cool that they went to an actual pig farm.

1. Kamron
2. Picture
3. The picture was cute and creative. You could see what was being portrayed fairly easily and when he explained it, it made a lot of sense.

After looking at the projects, I saw that our project was pretty average. We definitely could have done more with it but our main goal was to make it funny which I think we accomplished. We didn’t do as much as we had wanted to due to limitations of the program we were using.

New Years Resolution ExtCrdt

I would say my life is good.

Of course “good” is a relative term but I am happy and I think that’s what matters. Many people are surprised, my life the past little while has been what most people would call stressful and sad at times, but those people don’t know me. The changes in my life that occurred in 2010 were all, in my mind, for the better. I have found that the only things in life that are really important to me are my friends and to always have a reason to laugh. Sure, I care about other things like my family and my grades but overall, if I am able to laugh and I have friends to stick by me, normally those two come hand in hand, everything else falls into place.

For 2011 I have just one wish, request, hope, desire, depends on who your talking to I guess. That is to relieve myself of all stress. This may sound impossible or wishful but currently I have very little stress so to get rid of the last little I have should be quite simple.

Now, I don’t mean good stress or little everyday things I mean the stuff that naws on you, the stuff that causes that felling beneath your heart and under your stomach, that pressure, the stuff that makes you feel guilty for no reason. The main thing for me right now is grades. Everything else is pretty controllable for me. So to start off the new year I want to take care of my grades and anything else that causes me stress.

I’ll consider this a good start.