Final coming of age independent writing project: extra credit

What is rebellion? Why do so many young people “rebel”? Is rebellion a necessary element of growing up? (prompt 6)

  

  A rebellion is someone having the control of your life on your hand. Basically as you grow up you expect to control your own lives. You don’t want your parents telling you what do, when to sleep, what to eat etc. as you grow up you tend to want to do things on your own. No parents telling you what to do.

   Many young people tend to “rebel” because your parents or someone older than you has control over you. Some people can just move along with it. As for others, it tends to be very annoying. So many stands up for what they should get or what they believe is right.

  A rebellion may or may not be a necessary element of growing up. That is one question only answered by the person. Personally I think a rebellion isn’t a good element most of the time. You need you parent/ guardian by your side. At first you may want to do something on your won. But as things start to get harder you can see that more people with experience can help you through it. But sometimes a rebellion is needed in case something important opens up and you don’t want anyone to hold you back.

Final Coming of Age Independent Writing Project (Prompt 3)

   Throughout my journey in middle school I have changed. My personality has change. I am not the same girl I was in 6^th grade. My feelings have changed, my friends have changed. But now I realize that I am more mature. I realize that I can’t stay a kid anymore and that I have to grow up. But I still don’t exactly know who I am. Everyday I find out something about myself that I never knew. I find out more stuff about myself that tells me who I am and who I am going to be in the future.

                                             Who was I?

I was a girl with many dreams

I wanted to accomplish so many things

I wanted to be in the best school in New York

I still got into on of the best

I wanted to be an artist

But I’m a photographer

But with all of these dreams I had

I went around my dreams

But I still enjoy what I do

I realize that I’m not going to give up

I was a girl who thought I couldn’t do anything

But I know that if I try

I can succeed

But who I was before

Isn’t the same as before?

I have changed

I am different

I’m not who I was?

Who am I?

Who am I?

I am nice

I am kind

I am smart

I am bright

I have changed in ways

I am still in some ways

Days and nights pass by

I try to figure out who am I

I am sensitive

I may be aggressive

I may be weak

 I have many feelings

I am Asma Begum

I love who I am

I wish to never change

I want to stay and be who I am!

Who do I want to be?

I want to be a doctor

I want to help out

I want to be a teacher

Who always makes every moment count

I want to be a photographer

Who captures ever moment

I want to be an artist

 I will always bring out beauty

I am only 13

My future isn’t set

I hope to figure out who I am going to be

And how am I going to help out

But time passes

I get closer and closer

To figuring out

Who do I want to be in the future?

   After I finished writing all of the 3 poems I got into a lot of thinking. I got into a lot of deep thoughts. I got more into finding out have I changed from who I was back then. Am I the same as before? Even though my future isn’t set I can start thinking about it now. As my time passes by, more opportunities will open up. Then that’s when things will get complicated. I have start making more choices and have more responsibilities in my hand. But before that I have to figure out how am I going to beginning and how is my life going to end.

Final Monologue

                                  Moving on With a Hard Life

Intro: I interviewed my mom Mosammat A, begum. My mom is a stay at home mom. Meaning, she cook, cleans and basically does work around the house. She is currently wearing a green dress with black polka dots. I sat down with her for 1 hour asking her question about her life as a child and how life is for her now. As I started to interview she seemed eager to tell me about her life. But it was also the moment where she lets out all of the tough moments she been through. There were lots of tears and lots of laughter but her life in Bangladesh and in New York was tough but she got through it.

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I always wanted to be a teacher at my home country.
I wanted to grow up and teach children the way my teachers taught me.
And if I wanted to accomplish something (pause) education comes first.
But my school was far away.
And I had to walk like 15 miles to get to school/
Now a day we have bus, car... but back then we didn’t.
But I wouldn’t give up.
I had my parents on my side to help me make wise choices in life.
But I miss my parents a lot.
They left me when I was young/ (Tears up)
I guess 21 sounds young to me
But I still talk to them
And even though talking to them isn’t enough
It means a lot to me.
And, well um, I try to go on with my life
But it’s fun having a great family, including more responsibilities (pause)
but a lot of fun.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                     Reflection
    Throughout the process of writing a monologue, I experienced many challenges and successes. Some challenges I faced was putting the monologue together. I had my idea of family and education I just didn’t know which parts of a section if the interview to use. There were some lines that didn’t fit in. And there were some line that made the perfect flow for the monologue. Some successes I had while writing the monologue was I got to know more about my mom. I got to know more about her family and how her life was as a young child. She showed me more of her emotional side that I’ve never seen.

   From this interview I gained and learned a lot of things about my family. We all matter a lot. We all care for each other so much and we have each other on our side all the time. I learned that I should talk to my parents once in a while about their life and how it feels to be and adult and have kids of your own.

   Some lessons I can apply to my coming of age experience is that life can be very hard. You don’t always get what you want. You don’t always have what you need. But you parents are always on your side most of the time. And they give you love and care and that’s what you need.

Bookclub Independent Reading Project and Reflection

    Do you think that your perfect? If thats a no, do you do to try to be like others? If so, your just like Arnold. Arnold is the protagonist of the novel The Absolutely True diary Of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Arnold is not like everyone at his resevation. nad now that he attends a new school at Rearden, he more different then ever. He trys to fit in with others. But he isn't treated the same, until he met Penelope.

   In the beginning of the book, Arnold introdouces us to his tough life. For example, in chapter 1 page 3 he states, "My head was so big hat little Indian skulls orbited around it. Some of the kids called me Orbit. And other kids just called me Globe. The bullie would pick me up, spin me in circles, put their fingers down on my skull and say, "I want to go there." Arnold was bullied for being different then others. He wasn't treated the same as other kids at the reservations. He was picked on for having 10 extra teeth, gor his big head and much more.

   In the middle of the book, Arnold attends a school near his reservation. But as soon as he see's his mothers name in a textbook, he throws its at the teacher. Unfourtanately, Arnod gets suspened from the school. But that give him the idea to transfer to a school in Rearden. He wants to see the experience but his best friend Rowdy doesn't want him to leave. This school is an all white school but he's the only Indian attending. Anyways, Arnolds first week turns out to be okay. He meets a Penelope. For example, on page 59 there is a converstion between Peneople and Arnold. Arnold introduces himself to Peneople and you can tell by his words he was nervous. So he says Junior instead of Arnold. But basically, he finally gets his confidence when he meets Penelope.

   At the end of the book, Arnold and Rowdy solve their problems out. Rowdy can accept Arnold leaving the reservatin. He can see that even though he may be different now, he's still the same in the inside. And now he accepts Arnold being part Indian and part white.

   In conclusion, this is a book that teaches you a very valuable lesson. You should accept who you are. Everyone's is different, but we come together as one. We may have our eart set for one thing which is to be like others. Be those rich,fancy people with all the jewels and clothes but that still won't change the fact that you are who you are and you can't change that.
Reflection:    This book has taught me alot. First of all it got me more excited to read. If i just find the fight genre of book that I enjoy to read and see the world in a different perspective. This taught me that many things about coming of age. 1. We're all different and we should accept who we are. 2. We're going to change in many ways throughout our life. Our feeling, our emotions towards others are going to change. 3. We're going to have many troubles through our lives. Friendship, love... they all can let out tears or let out joy. But we have to face the fact that it was meant to happen in this way. This taught me that we have a whole life ahead of our self and we should worry about the things that really matter and leave the unecessary things aside. I can connect to this in many ways. I have gone through many troubles entering middle school. Especially in the 8th grade. I have gone though many friendship troubles and many troubles with love. But I only worried about the things that do matter to me. Which are my real friends, my family, my education (etc.) And trying to fit in was my first goal but I try every minute along the way just to be who I am.

   There were a couple of positive an dnegative aspects to my book club. Some postitive outcomes were I got to know more about my group members. I mean Lydia has actually let out many of her thoughts threw our discussuions and I can tell by her work that she really understood the book. As for Chique he had the same thing. He was very quite half of the time but thorugh his work I could see a better understanding of what the book meant to him. And there was one negative aspect. Usually when we had the group discussion we talked about the book for about 10-15 minutes, and then we use to do independent work on the book. I feel that even though we had the time to discuss the book, sometimes we discussed the book a little then we wentour own path. But overall, I enjoyed this book club experience.

Transcription for Monologue

I miss my parents a lot.

I mean I was young when they left me. (Tears)

I guess 21 sounds young to me.

Um, but their still with me,

They may be in Bangladesh now/

I still feel as if there with me,

But I still talk to them.

And even though talking to them isn’t enough

It means a lot to me.

But it’s really hard without them.

And, well um, I try to go on with my life.

But I wish my parents were with me.

They got me through many problems like, once I got into a huge fight,

and we didn’t talk to each other for days/

but my mom and dad talked to each one of us and we realized that it’s silly to fight.

And as we grew up we got through many troubles together and now I have my brother with me.

And with him, I still feel as if my family is closer to me than before.

Um, well so I guess there are some ups and downs to not having parents live with you.

Well, I get more privileges. /

But more privileges lead to more responsibility. Having 3 kids puts a lot of stress on me,

but its fun having a great family, and we all care for each other.

But I wish that my mom, dad, and sisters were here too.

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Well, I was scared of a lot of things when I was little.

Cows, goats, dogs, cats etc.

I was scared of one animal,

Um, I just forgot the name

But when I lived in Bangladesh, it was really scary

Let me describe it:

Well one scary animal was, when it comes to the rainy season,

This animal use to get on people and suck out blood like mosquitoes

Well, I didn’t overcome that fear really because we don’t see them often here.

And another animal I’m afraid of is snakes. (A look on face showing the fear of snakes)

I mean snakes are scary and I can’t ever overcome that.

Well, other than snakes and that other animal, I’m not scared of any other animal.

Like I use to be afraid of cows, goats, dogs, cats and many more but now they don’t scare me.

They make up parts of our world and many of us care for the animals.

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Well, I always wanted to be a teacher at my home country.

I wanted to grow up and teach children the way my teachers taught me.

But, even though this didn’t happen, I hope you guys can accomplish your goals and dreams

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Well, I liked that I tried my best.

And if you want to accomplish something, education comes first.

And I had my parents on my side to help me make wise choices in life.

And something’s I dislike was when I didn’t do the right thing and I didn’t learn what’s right.

I mean people make mistakes but I feel as if...lets just move on.

And I also disliked that my school was far away.

And I had to walk like 15 miles to get to school. Now a day we have bus, car... but back then we didn’t.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------       Well, I don’t remember any moments that really scar me.

But I usually have some frightening moments when people who I can’t stand come into my life.

I can tell when something bad or good comes in my way

Interview: Coming of Age Monologue

Interview: Coming of Age Monologue
I interview my mom: Mosammat A, Begum 

Q1: How is like to live without your parents?

A1: “I miss my parents a lot. I mean I was young when they left mw. I guess 21 sounds young to me. Um, but their still with me, they may be in Bangladesh now. I still feel as if there with me, but I still talk to them. And even though talking to them isn’t enough. It means a lot to me. But it’s really hard without them. And, well um, I try to go on with my life. But I wish my parents were with me. They got me through many problems like, once I got into a huge fight, and we didn’t talk to each other for days but my mom and dad talked to each one of us and we realized, that it’s silly to fight. And as we grew up we got through many troubles together and now I have my brother with me. And with him, I still feel as if my family is closer to me than before.”

Follow up question: So, is it fun to live without your parents?

“Um, well so I guess there are some ups and downs to not having parents live with you. Well, I get more privileges. But more privileges lead to more responsibility. Having 3 kids puts a lot of stress on me, but its fun having a great family, and we all care for each other. But I wish that my mom, dad, and sisters were here too.”

Q2: What is something you use to fear and how did you overcome it (if you did)?

A2: “Well, I was scared of a lot of things when I was little. Cows, goats, dogs, cats etc. I was scared of one animal. Um, I just forgot the name. But when I lived in Bangladesh, it was really scary. Let me describe it: Well one scary animal was, when it comes to the rainy season, this animal use to get on people and suck out blood like mosquitoes. Well, I didn’t overcome that fear really because we don’t see them often here.

And another animal I’m afraid of is snakes. I mean snakes are scary and I can’t ever overcome that.”

Follow up question: So are you scared of animals anymore?

“Well, other than snakes and that other animal, I’m not scared of any other animal. Like I use to be afraid of cows, goats, dogs, cats and many more but now they don’t scare me. They make up parts of our world and many of us care for these animals.”

Q3: What did you want to be when you grew up?

A3: “Well, I always wanted to be a teacher at my home country. I wanted to grow up and teach children the way my teachers taught me. But, even though this didn’t happen, I hope you guys can accomplish your goals and dreams.”

Q4:  What did you like and dislike about education?

A4: “Well, I liked that I tried my best. And if you want to accomplish something, education comes first. And I had my parents on my side to help me make wise choices in life. And something’s I dislike was when I didn’t do the right thing and I didn’t learn what’s right. I mean people make mistakes but I feel as if...lets just move on. And I also disliked that my school was far away. And I had to walk like 15 miles to get to school. Now a day we have bus, car... but back then we didn’t.”

Q5: What was a childhood moment that scar you (haunt you)?

A5: “Well, I don’t remember any moments that really scar me. But I usually have some frightening moments when people who I can’t stand come into my life. I can tell when something bad or good comes in my way.”

Revised Romeo and Juliet Essay due 5/17/13

   Love is a special feeling for everyone. Once you find that special person, they will do anything for him/her. Some people are meant to be together, but some love is forbidden. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, two young lovers find ways to be together but because their love is forbidden they put their lives in danger.

   There is one reason that makes their love forbidden, the family grudge. Both Romeo’s family, the Montague’s, don’t like Juliet’s family, the Capulet’s. But Romeo and Juliet don’t care if the families have problems. For example in Romeo and Juliet (book) during the balcony scene Juliet states, “Tis but thy name is the enemy. / Thou art thyself, thou not a Montague. / What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, /nor arm, nor face, [nor any other part]. /Belonging to a man. O, be some other name” (2.2. 41-45). This shows that Montague means nothing. It doesn’t mean Romeo is the enemy, his name is the enemy. She says that he is himself, and not a Montague. And throughout that scene she goes deeper into her feelings about Romeo. And as there love gets stronger they talk about getting married. And even thought she must marry County Paris because her parents want a Capulet to marry Juliet. But she disobeys their rule and has a secret marriage with Romeo. This shows how much Romeo and Juliet care for each other.
  
     Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love leads them through many hurtful scenarios, mostly many deaths. Most tragic death was Romeo and Juliet’s. The starter of Juliet’s death was Lady Capulet. In one scene she states, “Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn / The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, / The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church /Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride” (3.5. 116-120). Juliet responds saying, “Now, by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, / he shall not make me there a joyful bride! … I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear / It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris. These are news indeed!” (3.5. 121-128). These quotes show that Juliet’s mom forces Juliet into marrying Paris. But Juliet refuses and marries Romeo at Saint Peter’s Church. As this all goes on, in act 5 scene 3, this marks the death of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet faked her death so she didn’t have to marry Paris. Not knowing that Juliet was alive, Romeo drank poison and killed himself. But when Juliet wakes up to find that Romeo’s dead, Juliet stabs herself to be with her true love, Romeo. But if the parents of both Romeo and Juliet noticed that even though both families don’t appreciate each other making their love forbidden were making things more badly.  And if the parents allowed them to date or see each other than they wouldn’t have gone through the death of 2 youngsters.

    Romeo and Juliet’s love was forbidden because of family grudges. This was a silly reason that caused the death of two young teens. Now a days, there are many more to why some love is forbidden. For example, religion is a big issue. Some religions you must have an arranged marriage with another person in the same religion. That goes for the religions of Muslim’s, Indian, Asians, Jews and etc. Another reason some love is forbidden is age. During the year Romeo and Juliet was filmed, Juliet was about 13 and at that time you can get married at such a young age. But now a day, you can get married at the age of 16 or 17 with parental agreement (Source: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/4210/). But there are different marriage laws in every state.

    Overall, learning about Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love was interesting.  One simple thing of family grudge brought the death of two young lovers. But this showed me that love is very powerful. Love is special to everyone. If you find that right person you feel as if you will do anything for them. Reading this play taught me that if you are in love, fight for your love which is the message that Romeo and Juliet tells us. Parents are important in your life, but they don’t make your life choices. If you’re in love be with him/her because even if love is forbidden for many reasons, in your heart your love is the strongest element of your life.  And even though Romeo and Juliet tried all of this, it only brought them closer to death.