What I Read That
Mattered
Hopefully when I’m looking back on this letter in the
following years I remember all the “reading” I did in high school. I want to
remember looking back at spark notes for all the reading that I didn’t do, and
all the books that I should have read an I managed not to read at all but make
it by in the class and still get a good grade. I’m sure the teacher reading
this is snarling at this letter trying to think of all the way that they could
eliminate spark notes from the internet and make their classes harder. But in
fact through all the spark notes, I did read some books. I enjoyed the
transition of books that I read from a freshman to a senior, the books not only
got deeper, but they applied more to your life as you grew older and you life’s
decisions began to transition. Freshmen year my favorite book was The
Alchemist, now yes this book was the first book we read going into high
school but it was a nice easy read that portrayed your future to you, at that
point you were young in life and waiting for your future. Sophomore year the
books weren’t all that interesting, but they did get deeper and made you think
more. Junior year, the book that I liked the most was Walden, this book
was a very refreshing book it let you look at the simpler things in life and help
you look at the more important things. And finally senior year, this year Mrs.
Elliott defiantly knew how to pick readings that directly applied to seniors,
they all consisted of a journey that opened up your perspectives to the future
and made you realize that right now you really are at a crossroads in your life
and things are going to be changing a lot. The one for the year would have to
be The Poisonwood Bible that book defiantly symbolized a crossroads in
life and a change in those people’s lives that was defiantly significant, much
like our lives right now. I really enjoyed this transition from year to year
and the transition through them. I guess I will remember my memories with my
English teachers more than the books that I read over the years. Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this subject as well?
I think when you go back and read this section in your senior memoir, your intro will make you laugh and bring back memories of doing homework the night before it's due, and trying to make up answers on tests the day of. I think Sparknotes is a blessing and a curse- if you use it correctly you can learn about things your mind couldn't quite grasp in the book, but it also allows the student to become lazy. And I truly believe Mrs. Elliott's approach to reading senior year was the perfect way to end our high school lives and begin our transition into adulthood and college!
ReplyDelete-A. Pruett
I can relate to this reflection because it seems that since freshman year the books can relate to our transition through the high school life. It is as if teachers plan out our reading books perfectly each year so that it can relate to past books and yet foreshadow what is to come in our future. Each year the books get more in depth with life lessons and try to give us insight of what is to be prepared for or expect. It is now the time where teachers can no longer tell us what to read to help us through our high school life because we are at the point where it is time for us to become independent and make our own path.
ReplyDelete-Amanda A.
Ashely, yes Mrs. Elliott did do a perfect job allowing us to become ourselves in pur readings something that will become a very vital part of college and our fututre. It must be a "reward" of sometype.
ReplyDelete- Kyle Fischer