Literature Analysis #3-The Pearl

1. Setting: The book takes place in a small town named La Paz, which is located in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula.

Exposition: The story is set of a poor Native American family, couple who have a young a baby. The father is named Kino, the mother named Juana, and the baby boy is named Coyotito. They have almost the same routine every day, however one day everything changes.

Inciting incident: Coyotito is playing in his crib and is stung by a scorpion. Kino tries to prevent it, but is too late. Juana tries to suck the venom out, which is unsuccessful. Kino and Juana try to take Coyotito to the doctor, however during that time the doctor saw the Native Americans, and didn't want to treat them because they didn't have enough money, and they were Native Americans. 

Kino goes back to the ocean shore, and dives in. After awhile he comes back with a marvelous and enormous pearl. The whole village is an awe of Kino's new pearl, and that night the doctor comes back and gives Coyotito medicine, and Kino promises to pay 

him as soon as he gets money for his pearl. 

That night someone tries to take the pearl, but Kino he isn't successful. The next day he tries to sell it, but he's unsuccessful. Then Kino wakes up seeing Juana close to throwing the pearl back into the ocean. He beats her, than kills another man who burned their hut down and tried to take the pearl. Scared, he and his family flee to the capital to sell the pearl, but then discover people following them. After awhile, Kino tells Juana to take care of Coyotito, as Kino approaches the men who were following them. Coyotito cries and the men shoot a rifle in the direction of where they hear the cry. Then Kino attacks them and kills all three of the men, but only returns to see Coyotito dead. The next day Kino and Juana return to their village where Kino throws the pearl back into the ocean. 

2. The main theme of the novel is that your personal greed and pride can lead to your downfall. 

3. The tone of the book is a melancholy one, but is also belligerent. 

"They came to the place where the brush houses stopped and the city of stone and plaster began, the city of harsh outer walls and inner cool gardens where a little water played and the bougainvillea crusted the walls with purple and brick-red and white."

"He struck her in the face with his clients fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side. In the pale light he could see the little waves break over her, and her skirt floated about and clung to her legs as the water receded. Kino looked down at her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake"

"He was an animal for now, for hiding, for attacking, and he lived only to preserve himself and his family." 

4. Symbolism: The pearl symbolizes hope when Kino first discovers it, but then towards the end after all his bad events with the pearl, it symbolizes evil.

Irony: When Kino discovered the pearl, I thought that Coyotito was going to be healed, and that it would bring great fortune to their family, however the exact opposite happened. 

Simile: “And the music of the pearl rose like a chorus of trumpets in his ears.”

Imagery: Steinbeck uses imagery throughout the book, describing the pearl that Kino discovered, and the mountainous regions. 

Personifaction: "The nerves of the town were pulsing and vibrating with the news.”

Foreshadowing: Coyotito being stuck by the scorpion was a sign that his death was eminent. 

Metaphor: "He was an animal now, for hiding, for attacking, and he lived only to preserve himself and his family." 

Allusion: The spirituality used in the story alludes to those used by Native Americans during the time when America was being colonized. 

Characterization: 

1. Direct Characterization: Kino and his family are all described with physical qualities. In the  first few pages it describes them and the house they live in. It is also used to describe the doctor and the people who live in the village. 

Indirect Characterization: Kino's true character is revealed as the story continues. His struggle with the pearl, and willingness to not give it up showed that he was persistent. It also showed that even though it looked like he was putting the pearl before his family, he was only doing it to make money to take care of his family. 

2. When the author is using dialogue, the characters speak in a more direct and simplified dictionary and syntax. However, when Steinbeck is describing places, or describing the scenery, he tends to use more of a figurative language. 

3. The protagonist is dynamic and round. When he discovers his fortune, he is very stingy and greedy. However towards the end when his son dies he changes. He listens to Juana throws the pearl in the ocean. It is just sad that it took the death of his son for him to realize that. 

4. After coming away from the book, I felt like I had met Kino. I admire his ambition and his desire to take care of his family. He was also relentless in the pursuit of trying to sell his pearl. I was saddened of the loss of his son, however I still admired his character throughout the book. 

 

Comparing Poems Essay

I'm comparing our poem "The Place Where We Are Right" to "Out Beyond Ideas". 

Bloodshed, hate, and violence are human beings' worst qualities. War and killing always seems to be the answer. If two countries are continually having problems with each other, most of the time it ends up in war. The way that these two poems are similar, is because they both involve wrong solutions, and the consequences of those solutions. 

The main idea in "The Place Where We Are Right" is how man fights and kills each other, and we build houses over our fallen foes. This is significant, because when immigrants first moved to America and took the land, they killed the Native Americans, and built houses over their dead bodies. The main idea in "Out Beyond Ideas" is that when we meet in the middle of a field of wrongdoing and right doing, ideas, language, and each other don't make sense. Everyone has to make certain decisions everyday that will impact their lives in various ways. Some decisions we regret, while others are some of the best we've made. How we make decisions everyday apply to ourselves and lives and shape them, whether they are right or wrong. 

The question become, how we deal with our  conflicts. While it seems easy to just go to war, it's not always the best decision. Millions and millions of lives have been lost in war, and our mentalilty is that lives goes on. It's time to unite. Humans all desire and want things, but working together is best suited for us. Compromise is key. We can't live in a world where everyone gets everything they want. That's why we need to meet somewhere in the middle, so everyone can be happy. The field beyond wrongdoings and right doing is the field that we need to meet, to stop war, bloodshed, and violence. Instead promote peace and love. 

Hamlet Essay

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't"

Craziness is a quality that many intelligent people possess. Something about that's a little odd, and makes us question them, is what makes them brilliant. For example, everyone thought that Albert Einstein was a bit of an oddball. Nevertheless, he is one of the smartest men to ever live. The point is that there was a method to his madness. Polonius is similar because he is a character, who is a tad odd, and has a different way of analyzing things. He is a fairly smart fellow, but has a different way of going about his life. 

The main tone of the play that applies to this statement, is an indirect one. Two of the themes are patience is a virtue, and perseverance will always prevail. This both compliment Polonius' statement earlier. With an indirect tone, it relates to the story, about Hamlet's decision to orchestrate a play, just to try to prove Claudius guilty of killing his father. Although Polonius, says the quote, it applies to other characters in the play. Patience and perseverance are two main themes because it applies to Hamlet's life, and his struggle to avenge his father's death. Although his methods are quite different and confusing there is a point to it. Polonius is man who is very skilled at manipulating people with his odd actions, and just the way he speaks. That's why he said that there is method in his madness. 

Hamlet Essay
Since the dawn of man-kind, humans have always had a need to seek revenge. When someone does us wrong, we look to find ways to get the back, by any means necessary. An eye for an eye. This is the same feeling that Hamlet is experiencing. His father's ghost is the main person who wants revenge, and is trying to get Hamlet to do the job for him. Obviously because he's dead, he can't do the job, but Hamlet can. Hamlet goes into a state of melancholy and over thinking because taking another man's life isn't the easiest thing to do, and he lives in such a twisted world. I don't think Hamlet's nuts because of his ability to reason, patience, and blank.

Reasoning is what separates us, animals. We are able to use hypothetical situations to weigh the pros and cons of a certain decision. Hamlet does this in his famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy. To be or not to be can have various interpretations, but one of them is for Hamlet to kill or not to kill Claudius. In the rest of the soliloquy he's using reasoning to make a rational decision. A sociopath doesn't have the ability to reason, and the have an urge to kill another person, and just do it. Reasoning is what one thing that separates us from sociopaths.

Patience is another quality that Hamlet possesses that sociopaths don't. The ability to wait for the right time to strike, is a huge difference, because sociopaths don't wait. They seek revenge or something that they want to do, and act upon instinct. When Hamlet first meets his dead father's ghost, and he tells him to kill Claudius, he then vows to kill Claudius without any indecision. If Hamlet was a sociopath then at that moment he would have went to where Claudius was and killed him right then, or soon after. Killing another person, especially when they are the king of Denmark isn't as simple as striking them with a knife. It has to be an elaborate and well thought out plan that takes time and definitely patience. Even in the play Hamlet was going to kill Claudius, but he was praying, and Hamlet didn't want to kill him when he was confessing his sins. It will be interesting to see if his patience will pay off.

Although Hamlet kills Polonius, this doesn't make him insane. He acted upon instinct, and made the wrong choice, which happens to a lot of us. He assumed that it was Claudius behind the curtain, and if he knew that it was Polonius, he wouldn't have killed him. Even though he just killed someone, he still is sane because he is the same character that was just considering a decision a few scenes before. Hamlet is a complicated character who is hard on himself, that is just trying to justify his fathers death. 

Literature Analysis #2

1. The Things They Carried is a collection of different stories told about Tim O'Brien, the author, and his experiences in the Vietnam War. O'Brien was drafted in 1968, and he fled to Canada, in an attempt to escape going to the war. But he soon realized that he needed to serve his country, and he felt guilt, and shame on his family if he didn't leave. He decided to return to Minnesota and head off to Vietnam. Because the story is told in many different sub-stories, there aren't as many literature elements. There is an inciting incident, and that happens with the death of Kiowa, who happens to be one of O'Brien's best friends. O'Brien is affected by that for the rest of the book. The narrative fulfills the authors purpose, because he is able to write about his experiences in the war, and relieve them off his chest.

2. There are a few different themes to the novel. A big one is guilt. O'Brien feels guilt when he tries to avoid going to the war and going to Canada. His guilt is what brings him back to the United States, and causes him to go to the war. In the beginning of the book, when a man named Ted Lavender was shot and killed, another man named Jimmy Cross felt guilty because he was thinking about his college crush. Another theme is fear and it applies to everyone such as the fear of not going home, or the fear of death, or not being able to see the ones they love. 

3. The authors tone in the story was mainly a melancholy one. One example is "The road curved west, where the sun had now dipped low. He figured it was close to five o'clock-twenty after he guessed. The war had taught him to tell time without clocks, and even at night, waking from sleep, he would he usually place it within ten minutes either way." Another example is "He would've explained how during the dry season it was exactly like any other river, nothing special, but how in October the monsoons began and the whole situation changed. For a solid week the rains never stopped, not once, and so after a few days the Song Tra Bong overflowed its banks and the land turned into a deep, thick muck for half a mile on either side." The last example is "How the rain never stopped. How the cold worked into your bones. Sometimes the bravest thing on earth was to sit through the night and feel the cold in your bones. Corichan was not always a matter of yes or no. Sometimes it came in degrees, like the cold; sometimes you were very brave up to a point and then beyond that point you were not so brave. In certain situations you could do incredible things, you could advance toward enemy fire, but in other situations, which were not nearly so bad, you had trouble keeping your eyes open."

4. An example is on page 21 where O'Brien says "They carried all of their the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing-these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight." This is personification because O'Brien says that were carrying emotions. An example of simile is also on page 21 and goes "They died so as not to die of embarrassment." An example of imagery is on page 43 and goes "There was some bounce to it, an elastic up-and-down give, and the trick was to maneuver the gun with your whole body, not lifting with the arms just letting the rubber cord do the work for you. At one end was a trigger; at the muzzle end was a small nozzle and a steel roller brush. As a carcass passed by, you'd lean forward and swing the gun up against the clots and squeeze the trigger, all in one motion." An example of irony is on page 137 "The war was over and there was no place to go." This is ironic because you'd expect them to go home. An example of a metaphor is on page 124 and it says "His other eye was a star-shaped hole" comparing eye with a star shaped hole.

Characterization 

1. The author uses both direct and indirect characterization in this novel. An example of direct characterization is on the first page and it talks about Martha, Jimmy Cross's girlfriend, where it gives a great description of her. It says "she was a virgin, he was almost sure, and that she was an english major at Mount Sebastian." Another example is on page 2 where it talks about Henry Dobbins, Dave Jensen, and Ted Lavender, and what they carried. By knowing what they carried it gave some insight on to what the characters were like.

2. The author's syntax and diction change when he's describing Jimmy Cross's feelings for Martha. He is a lot more sincere and loving tone. It is also a lot more lengthy descriptions about her. However the rest of the book has a similar syntax with a blend of short and long sentences. 

3. The protagonist is a static and flat character. He remains mainly negative towards war, and his perspective never really changes. I talked about him having a melancholy tone, and that's how he feels about his current situation. Any man who's in the war that they don't want to be in, is going to feel that way, and O'Brien's opinion never really changes. 

4. After reading the book I feel like I met Lieutenant Cross. He was constantly thinking about his girlfriend and how much he loved her and missed her, and couldn't seem to get her out of his head. If I was in the same situation, I would be thinking about my girlfriend every day. Being away from her and knowing that I could die at any instant would be hard for me to cope with. I emphasize for Jimmy Cross and would never want to be in his position. 

Hamlet Act I Scene II

Hamlet Scene I Act I

- Fransisco and Bernardo are watchmen of the night, and Bernardo comes at 12, and tells Fransisco to go home. 

- While Fransisco is leaving, Marcellus and Horatio come. 

- When Fransisco leaves Marcellus and Bernardo begin telling Horatio about the ghost they saw the other night.

- Bernardo doesn't believe him, but suddenly the ghost does appear, but leaves suddenly. 

- When he leaves, the three men begin giving background information on the ghost who was named Hamlet, and was the old prince of Denmark.

- Hamlet conquered Norway, and they believe that the youngest Fortinbras wants to take the land back

- Soon again the ghost reappears and this time the three men try everything to talk to him, but he just looks at them, and keeps walking

- The men decide that they have to take Prince Hamlet because they think that he is the only person that the ghost will talk to. 

I was only able to find another class that was studying Hamlet and at the end they did a project on where they were a director of a modern film of Hamlet. They were to select actors and describe the setting, costumes and plot. I don't like this idea because it reminds me of Freshman year when we had to do pretty much the same exact project for Romeo and Juliet and it took forever, and I hated it.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chatham.edu%2Fpti%2Fcurriculum%2Funits%2F2006%2FMathews.pdf&ei=8N49VPKqHKHpiwKak4CADA&usg=AFQjCNEAWNAVWmql6iY0TJ5V5vL9E_WmXg&sig2=D4ikLoVk_3fJ7xX9fcC7yw&bvm=bv.77412846,d.cGE

abase - verb cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
When I didn't get good grades, I abased my family.
abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
In Game of Thrones, Ned Stark abdicated the throne to Prince Joffery when he came of age.
abomination - noun an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence; a person who is loathsome or disgusting; hate coupled with disgust
Some strict Christians think that gay marriage is an abomination.
brusque - adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness
I'm not giving that brusque waiter a tip.
saboteur - noun someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks; a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader
The saboteur man planted the bomb, to prevent a man from killing more people.
debauchery - noun a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
I'm sure in college they know how to throw some good debaucheries.
proliferate - verb cause to grow or increase rapidly; grow rapidly
By watering flowers often, it can lead to the proliferation of weeds.
anachronism - noun an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age; something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
If there was a coke bottle in a movie about Ancient Rome, it would be an example of anachronism.
nomenclature - noun a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
The Periodic Table of Elements are listed in a nomenclature order.
expurgate - verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
The radio expurgates explicit words on songs.
bellicose - adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight
When he made fun of my mom, I had a bellicose temper.
gauche - adj. lacking social polish
The bum we picked up off the street had a gauche vocabulary.
rapacious - adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
I have a rapacious desire for chocolate chip cookies.
paradox - noun (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
My friends mother has seven children, but she says she hates children is a paradox.
conundrum - noun a difficult problem
The crisis in the middle east is a conundrum.
anomaly - noun (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun); a person who is unusual; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
The strict Christian man believed in gay marriage.
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; noun anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
Relationships in junior high were ephemeral.
rancorous - adj. showing deep-seated resentment
I had rancorous feelings for the man who killed my father.
churlish - adj. having a bad disposition; surly; rude and boorish
The dictator had a churlish tone in his speeches.
precipitous - adj. characterized by precipices; extremely steep; done with very great haste and without due deliberation
The slopes of Mount Everest are precipitous.

Vocab

 

Shenanigans: secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering

My friends and I are always up to different shenanigans.

Ricochet: a projectile rebounding of a surface

I shot my beebe gun and ricochet of my wall and hit my chest.

Schism: a split or division between strongly opposed parties
The democrats and republicans have a schism relationship.
Eschew: deliberately avoid using
Strict christians tend to eschew events that aren't religious.
Plethora: A large or excessive amount of something

I have a plethora amount of clothes in closet.

Ebullient: Cheerful and full of energy
I'm the exact opposite of ebullient in the morning.
Garrulous: excessively talkativeMy dad is garrulous when it comes to asking questions.

Harangue: a lengthy and aggressive speech
Hitler was known for his harangues.
Interdependence: the mutual dependence between two things
Basketball and I have an interdependent relationship.
Capricious: given to sudden or unaccountable changes in mood or behaviorWomen are capricious when it's "their time of the month."

Loquacious: talkativeLoquacious and garrulous are synonyms.

Ephemeral: lasting for a very short timeLong distance relationships are often ephemeral.

Inchoate: rudimentary, not fully developed.
My golfing skills are very inchoate.
Juxtapose: to put together for contrasting effect
Good versus evil is often juxtaposed.
Perspicacious: having a ready insight and understanding thingsChief executive officers are very perspicacious when it comes to running businesses.

Codswallop: nonsense
Michael Kelso from "That 70's Show" speaks with codswallop.
Mungo: cloth made from woven material
The striped sweater my mom made me was mungo.
Sesquipedalian: characterized by being long
Mozart's symphony's were sesquipedalian.
Wonky: askewMy tower made out of marshmallows was wonky.

Diphthong: sound formed by two vowels and one syllable
Diphthong words are often learned by young learners.

Phonar Assignment When I was at adidas nations in Los Angeles, on the third day we had a guest speaker by the name of Tracy McGrady. I grew up watching him on tv, and to see him was astounding. He wasn't my favorite player, but he was still someone that I looked up to, and tried to model my game after. I remember watching sportscenter, and watching highlights of him when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds. He talked to us as a group, and I heard every word he said, and admired him. I was so caught up with it being Tracy McGrady,that I didn't even bother taking a picture. I still have a pretty vivid image in my mind about what I saw, but a picture would have been priceless. Seeing Tracy McGrady speak live to us, was a sight for any young basketball player to see. I didn't get the chance to speak with him, but I was able to shake his hand, which was a pleasure. In retrospect, I wish I would have took a picture, but at the time, I was in so much awe, that I totally forgot about it.

THE POINT OF CANTEBURY TALES IS...

Cantebury Tales is a story, made up of many different small stories. It talks about a knight, a squire, a friar, a nun, a merchant, and a cook. The knight is the noblest, and the stories are divided and separated by social class. By separating the stories, the audience is able to get a sense of each character, differentiate their social status, and to separate their roles and functions. 

GREEN EGGS & HAMLET

a) I know that Hamlet was a prince. I also know that his mission is to avenge the death of his father. I also know that he has a famous "To be or not to be" speech, that brother had to memorize that speech when he was a senior. 

b) I know that Shakespeare was an author who wrote many plays. He lived in the 15th century, and my first play I read by him was Romeo and Juliet. I also read Julius Caesar and know he wrote Hamlet and Macbeth.

c) Students involuntarily frown when they hear "Shakespeare" because of the language. When I read Romeo and Juliet freshman year, I hardly understood it. It's hard to understand his writing, which is why they frown. 

d) To make this play an amazing experience we we'll never forget, I think that we should have fun with it, and interpret it our own way. If we go at our own pace, and apply ourselves and do things relating to Hamlet, that we like, than it will be a great experience. 

June 23rd, 2015. Wilbur Hall. 7:30 A.M. It is my first day at Stanford University, as I have just woken up from bed. My first class is an Economics class, that I'm excited for but also nervous about. The reason I ended up here was because I was called to my adventure. It was June 22nd, and the Stanford coach called me and said "Cameron, we need you to come to Stanford and be a member of our basketball team. Last year we made it to the elite eight, but your potential and ability, we can make a final four run, and even a championship." "When you accept this invitation, you will also be attending school, and be able to major in your choice of study, and go to school for free. We want you here by June 23rd." he finished
I was nervous, and didn't know what to say, so I took my call to adventure and said "I'll be there coach!" I began with the few things that I had, and packed it in a bag. I told my parents everything that had happened and the whole heartedly agreed with me and my decision. When I told them I had to leave the next day, they were sad, but happy for me. They both agreed to take me, which was going to be a long drive.
Then I decided to break the news to my closest friends. They were also surprised but also very excited for me. I spent the rest of the night with them, and finished packing my bag. When I woke up, I ate my last home cooked meal for a while, and got in the car.

The trip was fairly long. I remember leaving my house, and staring at it as I left not knowing if I would ever see it again. I also remember intensively looking at all the sights in my city, like the movie theater, in-n-out, and  Boomers, not knowing when the next time I would see those places. After that it was pretty much boring until I hit Nipomo. Then I hit Arroyo Grande, and thought about the high school games I had there. Next was San Luis Obispo, and seeing Cal Poly, and I knew I was in a much better situation. After I passed Paso Robles, it began to get boring again. I don't drive past there often, and during this time, I thought about my friends. I knew I was going to miss them a great amount, because they had always been there for me. I was able to see them everyday and it was going to be hard not seeing them. I knew I was also going to miss my family, but I was going to like the feeling of freedom and my parents not breathing down my neck everyday. I also thought about school, and the workload, and how it was going to be a lot harder than I've ever experienced. I also thought about the basketball journey that I was going to encounter. I was excited to step on the court, and prove that I was going to help Stanford win a national championship. Soon we reached Big Sur, then shortly after Monterey. I then thought about my 7th grade trip to Monterey, which also lead me to think about my childhood memories. After Monterey, we reached Gilroy. At this point we were about an hour away, and I was anxious to get there. After more memories, we reached San Jose, which was only about 30 minutes away. At this moment I realized that the journey I was soon to embark on was real. Then thirty minutes later, I arrived on campus.
When I was signing at Wilbur Hall, I saw another student walk up to me. He said "Hello, my name is J'Dinkalage Morgoone and I'm from Florida. I'm going to be your roommate.
I said "Hi my name is Cameron, and I can't wait to start my journey here, to help take the Stanford men's basketball team to a national championship!"

Cantebury Tales (I)

- It is a story made up of many small stories. 

- The narrator describes each character as they are, and it goes by social class.

- Ex. The knight is first, than his squire, than a nun and a chef.

- the knight is described as a man of honor, who lives up to his name and has fought battles.

- the squire is the Knight's son who is also respectable for being a squire.

- yeoman was bold in attire

- the prioress had manners, and was simple yet delicate, and elegant.

- the monk was ironically overweight, and talked about being active.

- friar was well known, and he helped many people with their confessions.

- merchant was in debt, but was good at hiding it.

- the student was focused on reading books, and getting smarter. 

- the lawyer knew his job and was also quite smart.

- why are people afraid of the chef?

- how do all these little many stories, make up the prologue?

- why is a squire a man of so much honor and praise? 

- I would like to learn more about the knight, and study him if I had to pick a character because he is the most noble.

- why is social class so important?

- how did Chaucer manipulate the narrator into making the prologue better? 

Phonar Notes

-Phonar is short for photography and narrative. 

- It's all about establishing a habit, habits define us.

- We have been conformed by "the system" and the 1% decides what we have to do and we don't know why we're doing it 

- A photograph is bounded by edges, it can be black and white, or in color, and it ages in time. 

- difference between image and photograph: (snapchat) photograph is the memory and experience rather than the actual photo

- Photographers keep their photos keep their pictures online or on social media

- shape?: square, rectangle, circular, we crop them in order to ship around and make it easier

- connected leads to platforms and change you into something greater than a supplier
- learn how to use the craft of something fixed in time because it is valuable and people will pay for it

- what's your story?

Connection to Cantebury Tales

- it's a story that has many other stories incorporated into it 

- the journey is a collaboration of many different scenes and places that are put together to create one main idea.

- it shows us how one moment in time can be special, and much different that other moments in a story

Literature Analysis #1-Invisible Man

1.     The plot consists of the narrator’s progression in establishing his identity. The epilogue of the novel shows his initial state of mind before recounting his life story. The narrator demonstrates his invisibility as a young black man in the late 1920's during the Harlem Renaissance. The plot of the novel expresses his growth in age and wisdom throughout his experience and opportunity over the course of the story. The story serves as a building stone to express the narrator's initial and final mentality of the world based on his distinguished tone of voice from the prologue to the epilogue. The narrative elaborates on the social equality and justice that the world must obtain in order for there to be accurate visibility and perception. Ellison implies this theme by giving the narrator naive characteristics until he finally comes to an understanding of his true identity and capability during the time period set in the novel. His motive simply incorporates the topic of identity and how each person remains invisible until they finally realize and completely understand their purpose in life.                                                                                                                       

2.       As I stated before, the theme of the novel is based on identity. The narrator never fully understands his true identity until he draws into his adolescence and realizes the circumstances during his time period. As a black man in the late 1920's, he is not equal to the superior white man. The narrator does not realize this until the end of the novel, in which he finally comes out of "hibernation" and decides to make a change in the world. This decision leads to his revelation and visibility as a person in society.                                                       

3.     The author's tone changes depending on the character speaking. For example, at the beginning of the novel, the narrator is speaking about his life. He appears to be a mad man who is angry at the world. "Or again, you often doubt if you really exist. You wonder whether you aren't simply a phantom in other people's minds. Say, a figure in a nightmare which the sleeper tries with all his strength to destroy. It's when you feel like this that, out of resentment, you begin to bump people back. And, let me confess, you feel that way most of the time. You ache with the need to convince yourself that you do exist in the real world, that you're a part of all the sound and anguish, and you strike out with your fists, you curse and you swear to make them recognize you. And, alas, it's seldom successful."(Prologue.2) "To Whom It May Concern," I intoned. "Keep This Nigger-Boy Running?" (1.105)                                               

4.     -Allegory (epilogue, prologue): In the epilogue and the prologue the author compares the narrator to a bear in hibernation secluded from society in which he comes out of hibernation in the prologue. Imagery: In chapters sixteen and seventeen Ralph Ellison gives a complete description of Brother Tod Clifton as the ideal black man. -Symbolism: The name of the paint in which the narrator was forced to create was called "Optic White". In order for this color to be created the darker colors had to be covered up which is symbolic to the society of the late 1920's. -Irony: The narrator takes on a job at Liberty Paints. The company goes by the slogan "White is Right", which contradicts the narrator's identity as an African American in need of liberty and equality. -Diction: The author uses the diverse language of Ras the Extorter to exemplify the difference in voice and tone between the characters. -Flashback: The narrator receives dreams of his grandfather which help to come to an understanding of how to overcome the racial inequality during his time. (Chapters 22-24) -Foreshadowing:   

 

Characterization:

     

1. Direct Characterization: "I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed." (Chapter 1) This quotation demonstrates the narrator's identity as an African American.

      Indirect Characterization: I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see         me. (Prologue.1)

 

2. The syntax and diction changes throughout the book, depending on what the author was writing out about.

 

3. The protagonist is a dynamic and round character because he changes throughout the story. Especially from the epilogue and the prologue. As the narrator gets older, he starts to understand society and he begins to realize that he must make changes in order for social equality to take place.

 

4. After reading the novel, I feel like I met a person because I was allowed into his thoughts and actions throughout the story. For example, at the beginning of the novel, I felt his invisibility and I was able to understand it especially because it relates to my history and background. As the narrator came to an understanding of how the world changes, I myself came to that understanding as well despite the difference in circumstances from the late 1920's to now.

Character Study (I)



June 23rd, 2015. Wilbur Hall. 7:30 A.M. It is my first day at Stanford University, as I have just woken up from bed. My first class is an Economics class, that I'm excited for but also nervous about. My whole life has led to this moment. All the hard work in the classroom, the countless hours of sweating on a hard word floor, have finally paid off. I am given the opportunity of a lifetime, with a free education to one of the best universities in the world. I'm very blessed and grateful to be where I am, knowing that people would cut off their right hand to be in the same position as me. During my senior year, I cruised in the classroom, maintaining a 3.5 GPA, compared to all my other three years where I had a 4.0. Knowing that I was already into Stanford, I didn't necessarily try my hardest, knowing I was already accepted. But after all, I thought I deserved that after working my tail off for the prior eleven years. As I ride my bike to class, I begin to replay all the events that led me to be where I am. The first thing that came into my mind, was coming on my first unofficial visit to Stanford, as a Freshman in high school, and meeting Coach Dawkins, and the other staff members. I also remember the whole recruiting process and being wanted by so many colleges and coaches. When I was a sophomore that overwhelmed me, and I wasn't sure to do with my newly acclaimed "fame". At one side I was just an average teenager who played basketball and got good grades, but then the other side was the basketball legend, who had won MVP of his high school league, and had 15 scholarship offers from Division I colleges around the country. Another thing that came to mind was all the immature things that I probably shouldn't have done with my friends. The going to parties, staying out late, egging houses, teepeeing people's lawns, and all the other rash decisions that we regret but at the same time had so much fun. I also thought about my junior and senior years, and how they went by so fast. All the football games, the social gatherings, the late nights, the long school days, all the drama came all to a halt the day we graduated. I was reminiscing on my high school memories, but at the same time, realized that I had started a new chapter in my life, and was excited for it. Lastly I thought about my family and all the sacrifices that they made, to get me to where I had become. All the times they had driven me to Los Angeles for basketball events, all the money they spent on the road trips I made, all the time that they invested in me, and developing me into the young man I had become, was all their creation, and they were the most important piece. I wouldn't have conquered such enormous accolades if it weren't for my family, and all the hard work they put into raising me.

My Dashboard:

On my netvibes profile, I put in my website to my blog first. After that I made certain to do lists that range from cleaning my room, getting up shots, doing my homework, watching Netflix, spending time with my girlfriend, and laying down and going on social media. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up with my netvibes profile, because my phone hasn't been working lately, and I don't always have access to my computer. One terrible habit that I have is being unorganized. My room is constantly a mess, and I struggle with my time management. I think if I have a to do list and constantly write down all the things I need to do, I will stay a lot more organized, and on top of my things. The best thing about to do lists in the very few that I've done, is crossing the task off the list. I need a pen and a notepad and I need to plan out my day, and stay on top of everything which would help out a lot.

Vocabulary #4

Vocabulary #4

obsequious - (adj.) attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner;attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
beatitude - (noun) one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus' (blessed); a state of supreme happiness
bete- noire- a person or thing especially disliked or dreaded
bode - (verb) indicate by signs
dank - (adj.) unpleasantly cool and humid
ecumenical - (adj.) of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
fervid - (adj.) extremely hot;characterized by intense emotion
fetid - (adj.) offensively malodorous
gargantuan - (adj.) of great mass; huge and bulky
heyday - (noun) the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
incubus - (noun) a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women;someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
infrastructure - (noun) the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area;the basic structure or features of a system or organization
inveigle - (verb) influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
kudos - (noun) an expression of approval and commendation
lagniappe - (noun) a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
prolix - (adj.) tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
protege - (noun) a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
prototype - (noun) a standard or typical example
sycophant - (noun) a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
tautology - (noun) useless repetition;(logic) a statement that is necessarily true
truckle - (noun) a low bed to be slid under a higher bed; verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Big Question:
My big question is why do 842 million people not have enough food to eat, worldwide, every year?

accolade - (noun) a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Climbing Mount Everest is a huge accolade.
acerbity - (noun) a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
The sour patch kids I ate were filled with acerbity.
attrition - (noun) the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation; the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice; erosion by friction
Race cars cause attrition to their tires quickly, so they have to get frequent pit stops.
bromide - (noun) any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark
We continually hear that education is the bromide that will solve everything.
chauvinist - (noun) an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Hitler is a prime example of a chauvinist man.
chronic - (adj.)being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
I have chronic knee problems.
expound - (verb) add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
True basketball lovers will use any opportunity to expound on the meaning of the game.
factionalism- existence of factions: the existence of or conflict between groups within a larger group
We see factionalism dividing the three branches of government
immaculate - (adj.) completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
Peyton Manning football game is best described as immaculate.
imprecation - (noun) the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
My German friend whispered imprecations under her breath.
ineluctable - (adj.) impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
Ray Rice's suspension for assaulting his wife was ineluctable.
mercurial - (adj.) relating to or containing or caused by mercury; relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury; relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury; liable to sudden unpredictable change
Billy's personality becomes mercurial when he drinks too much.
palliate - (verb) provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Eating ice cream helps women palliate the pain of break ups.
protocol - (noun) code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
The military is the primary user of protocol.
resplendent - (adj.) having great beauty and splendor
My girlfriend is very resplendent.
stigmatize - (verb) mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
Traitors are often stigmatize, as they were in the French Revolution.
sub - noun a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes; different names are used in different sections of the United States; verb be a substitute
I like the meatball marinara sub.
rosa - (noun) large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
The garden was filled with rosa.
vainglory - (noun) outspoken conceit
Kobe Bryant is a man filled with vainglory.
vestige - (noun) an indication that something has been present
Ancient fossils and discoveries are the vestige that dinosaurs were once present.
volition - (noun) the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Volition is a huge aspect of economics and the study of it.

Beowulf Essay


What are the main traits of a hero? Some of us consider heroes to be brave and macho men who are noble, that have to overcome adversity with glory. Beowulf(underline) is the story of a young warrior who kills two monsters that has been plaguing the kingdom of Heorot. He then returns to his homeland, where he is rewarded, and then inherits the throne when their old king does in a war. During his 50 year reign, he decides to slay a dragon that has been wreaking havoc. After the battle he is left wounded, and dies shortly after. In our modern society, Dexter, from the television series Dexter, has a lot of the same qualities as Beowulf. Dexter is a serial killer, but is considered a hero, because he only kills criminals who have killed innocent people, but were wrongly convicted. Dexter is a psychopath, and his dad gave him a code to abide by, were he only kills bad people. Some people think he's making the world a better place, while other think that he's a mass murderer. Both Beowulf and Dexter show signs of confidence and relentlessness.

Confidence is an important characteristic of any hero. No hero has the ability to overcome an endeavor without self-confidince. When Beowulf arrives to Heorot, he speaks of his past accomplishments, and of his heroic background. He then kills Grendel with his bare hands, just as he said he would. Dexter is talking with his sister, who knows his secret, and she asks him if he ever gets afraid, because one wrong decision could cost Dexter 25 to life. But he answers no, with conviction because he uses the same process he's been using to track criminals wrong, and he is very precise. During the whole series Dexter only makes a few mistakes, but his secret always remains at bay.

The other characteristic of a hero is relentlessness. And this isn't a characteristic that only heroes have, but many other greats. Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan, and Julius Caesar are all examples of relentless people. After Beowulf kills Grendel and his mother, he decides to kill a dragon as a very old man. He still decides to do it, and doesn't give up fighting against it, and even though he was badly wounded, he still defeated the dragon. And in Dexter, during the second season, he was on the hot seat, because people had found dead bodies, and some people were linking it to Dexter. He didn't let those people get to him, and had to go against his code, and kill those people to keep his secret from spreading. Although it was morally wrong, he did whatever he could to remain a free man. Both characters were willing to do whatever they had to, in order to get what they wanted.

Beowulf would be much different if told in a feminist perspective. A hero by definition is a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. The definition by itself is masculine, which attests to how different it would be. With a female writing it, there would be no story of honor or courage, it would be more about love, gracefulness, and romance. There would be a lot less violence and it would be more of a romance, where Beowulf falls in love, instead of his story of nobility.
When we think of a hero, we typically think of males that triumph and not females. We tend to think of females as the sex that is more dramatic, and we don't hero of female heroism. It is much different in the eyes of a male.

I didn't look for any scholarship opportunities or websites because I am fortunate enough to have a full ride scholarship to Stanford, and everything is already payed for.

accoutrements - noun personal clothing, accessories, etc.
His watch was his one of his best accoutrements.
apogee - noun apoapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from the Earth; a final climactic stage
The apogee of the sun rotating the earth happens once a year.
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time

The final note in the article about the need for insulation isapropos.

bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verb argue over petty things

Children tend to bicker when they don't get what they want. 

coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements
A lot of chemists coalesce their test subjects together.
contretemps - noun an awkward clash
John had a contretemps conversation with his father about puberty.
convolution - noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something rotating rapidly
Many factories have a convolution process for many of their products.
cull - noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in quality; verb remove something that has been rejected; look for and gather
Some of my school work can be culled.
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements;fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
My girlfriend and I have disparate qualities.
dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
Many people are dogmatic and refuse to listen to others opinions.
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained
Many teenagers act licentious because of their hormones.
mete - noun a line that indicates a boundary
There mete that separates Texas and Mexico is the rio grande river.
noxious - adj. injurious to physical or mental health
Smog is noxious to our well-beings.
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy; noun a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma); a writer who argues in opposition to others 

Writing during the Civil War was very polemic. 

populous - adj. densely populated
New York is a populous city.
probity - noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
Nelson Mandela was a man who showed great probity.
repartee-noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
Many politicians show repartee in their debates.
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development
Many real estate developments are supervened when the price if houses are low.

truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off; verb make shorter as if by cutting off; approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one; replace a corner by a plane
Some speeches at graduations need to be truncated.
unimpeachable - adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame
President JFK was unimpeachable.

My University
Yesterday in class, we didn't do very much. It was a short day so really I just did my journal. We also hummed/sang the bohemian rhapsody for extra points. Personally, I wanted to do the happy birthday song because I don't know the bohemian rhapsody very well. A person came in to speak about the college boot camp but I wasn't really interested because I don't need to apply to any colleges because of Stanford. I got to work on some of the things that I needed to catch up on, but for the most part I just did the journal, and socialized with my table.

From Legend to History (A.D. 449-1485)
The Conquest of Britain
- The two groups of Celts were Brythons, or Britons and Gaels who settled on Ireland.
- Both of these groups, the Britons and the Gaels strongly hated each other.
Christianity
- When Rome fell to Barbarian tribes in A.D. 476, the Celtic Christian church continued to thrive.
- At this time, missionaries began to spread the word of god.
The Norman conquest
- The normans were descendants of Vikings who had invaded the coast of France.
- William confiscated the lands of the Anglo-Saxons and implemented feudalism.
The Magna Carta
- The king was forced to not tax land without the first meeting of the Magna Carta, which historians believe marked the end of a constitutional government in England.
- England's social classes were changing, and the royal families argued for power.
- When landowners gave the workers cash, after the Black Death, it made them fill free.
Anglo-Saxon Literature
- Anglo-saxon literature was made up of spoken verse and incantations.
- The two main categories were heroic and elegiac poetry.
- Beowulf was known as an epic, or long heroic poem. The story is about a warrior who finds his way filled with bravery, strength, and respect.
Literature of the English Middle Ages
- At this time, dramas were first introduced.
- Dramas started coming out and the Church would sponsor them as religious services.
- In 1454, Johann Gutenberg, perfected the process of printing using a movable type.
- Poet Geoffrey Chaucer was born into the merchant class who made a huge impact on poetry.

Notes from Socratic Seminar/Right to Your Opinion
- Jamie Whyte stated, that although we think we're entitled to our own opinion were really not.
- As Tyler said it best, "Saying you have the right to your own opinion is like saying you have the right to be stupid."
- We don't have any rights
- Saying you have the right to your own opinions in an argument is like throwing in the towel, and giving a last minute weak argument.
- When Whyte used his Jack and Jill reference and Jack says he has the right to his own opinion, he defeats the whole purpose of the argument, and doesn't answer the original question.
- Many people are too stubborn to change their ideas, or point of view, so they just claim their right to their opinion.
- People always talk about freedom of speech, and their ability so speak about whatever they want, but that was made for to satisfy our wants as a society.
- Is it our duty to prevent someone from crossing the street into oncoming traffic?
- I mean they're entitled to their own opinion.
- The truth is, is that we think were in entitled to our own opinion but were really not.

Adumbrate - (verb) give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
Sometimes I use sparknotes to adumbrate the book I was reading.
Apotheosis - (noun) the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
LeBron James has an apotheosis talent at basketball.
Ascetic - (adj.) practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
When you're on a diet, and only an ascetic person can resist chocolate cake.
Bauble - (noun) a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
There were many baubles on the Christmas tree.
Beguile - (verb) attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness
He beguiled me out of my money.
Burgeon - (verb) grow and flourish
The Ancient Rome empire began to burgeon when Caesar came into power.
Complement - (noun) something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to
His black and blue tie complemented his nice suit.
Contumacious - (adj.) willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
People who aren't open to new ideas and opinions are contumacious.
Curmudgeon - (noun) a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
The curmudgeon old man was very rude and unhappy.
Didactic - (adj.) instructive (especially excessively)
It appeared to be didactic in nature.
Disingenuous - (adj.) not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
Many politicians are infamous for being disingenuous.
Exculpate - (verb) pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
The jury found Michael Jackson exculpated of his charges.
Faux pas- (adj.) an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation
When I was in P.E. my pants fell down had a faux pas feeling.
Fulminate - (noun) a salt or ester of fulminic acid; (verb) cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely
The C4 used in the bank robbery fulminated and caused the building to burn down.
Fustian - (noun) a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing
Shakespeare's writing could be described as filled with fustian.
Hauteur - (noun) overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
Hitler was a man filled with a very hauteur behavior.
Inhibit - (verb) limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority
My mom inhibited the harsh punishment that dad gave me, claiming it was too mean.
Jeremiad - (noun) a long and mournful complaint
My neighbors often give me a jeremiad for my dog barking too loud.
Opportunist - (adj.) taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle
Many entrepreneurs are opportunists and they take many risks.
Unconscionable - (adj.) greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience
The serial killer was unconscionable and killed everyone in his way.

Reflections on Week 1

1. There aren't any factors that will affect my participation and experience in this class. I do have extracurricular activities that will slow me down, but I don't think will affect me to much. For example when basketball season starts, it's going to be hard to write an essay, and do my other homework especially on away games. This will make it harder, but I'm used to it because I've been doing it for three years. But besides that, I have all the technology, and accessories to succeed.
2. An awesome learning experience that changed my way of thinking was the museum of tolerance. I first went there when I was in 8th grade, and it made me appreciate and cherish life. It wasn't just about the Holocaust, but the dropping of the two a-bombs, 9 11, and terrorism all over the world. It also taught me how to look differently at things, and that our government, isn't what we think it is. It made me take a different approach to life, and how we live in a world where many people are filled with hate.
3. I'm most excited for Open Source Learning in this class. I like that there isn't a strict guideline of rules, and we learn what we want to. I like that this is different than all my other classes, and were just not doing work out of a textbook. I'm somewhat concerned with the workload, but I know that as we continue along with this class, the homework will decrease. I think it will make a practical difference in my life because I get to experiment with new things, and figure out what I like and do not like, and maybe that will lead me to a career path.

http://youtu.be/43yxFIfEGBg

Cameron Walker

1570 Solomon View Road

Santa Maria, CA, 93455

(805) 266-5299

cameronspencer22@gmail.com

 

Objective:            I plan to attend, and graduate from a four-year university, and major in a business related field that will prepare me to be an entrepreneur/CEO. I also would like to play basketball in college and work toward playing professionally.

 

Academic Status:             

Ernest Righetti School, 941 East Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA, 93455

                              Accumulative GPA: 4.1                   Class Rank: 32/466

 

Student Activities:

 

·        Member of the Varsity Basketball Team 2011-present

·        Member of the APUSH Club 2013

·        Member of the Key Club 2013-present

·        Referee for the Central Coast Officials Association 2011-present

·        Member of the Compton Magic AAU basketball team 2011-present

 

Community Activities and Service:

 

·        Worked the Pac 7 wrestling tournament and numerous sports activities at Righetti

·        Math tutor at FitzGerald Community School

·        Set up decorations, chairs, and tables for parties at the Foxenwood Club

·        Sold various items for numerous fundraisers

 

 

Special Awards:

 

·        Received the Golden Warrior award as a Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Year

·        Scholar athlete (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Year)

·        CIF Runner-Up for Basketball freshman year

·        1^st team all-state Freshman and Sophomore year for Basketball

·        Pac 7 MVP Sophomore year for Basketball/1^st team all-league Junior year

·        Received multiple scholarship offers from various colleges for Basketball

·        Recipient of the Reniassance 4.0 and above Freshman, Sophomore and Junior year

·        Varsity letter recipient in basketball and track

·        Selected to represent the USA in the 2013 and 2014 Adidas Nations Global Basketball Experience

 

 

Employment:

 

·        Referee for the Central Coast Officials Association 2011-present

·        Salesman for multiple concession stands

·        Scorekeeper/Down Place Holder-Righetti High School Football Program