Week 13; the end

This semester, I have gained many insights into poetry and short fiction. I have realized that they are both composed of formal and stylistic elements that aid in getting the author's point across to their reader. The most interesting parts of the course would have to be the spoken word poetry, authors like Dave Chappelle, grabbed my attention and got me listening from the beginning. However, I hated the sign language poetry because I didn't have any interest in trying to learn what they were trying to do. 

Some insights I have gained into essay writing is how to write an effective thesis, and also how to grab the reader's attention from the very beginning. As a writer, this course has taught me how to be more effective in my writing, and how to get my point across to my audience. Also, I feel that the essay writing workshops were very effective in helping us improve as writers. I thought that the blogging component of the course was a very fun way to help us be creative, and also a good way to help us boost our marks. All in all, the course was a good class to have, and it helped a lot in my development as a writer. I really enjoyed this course and would take it again.

Week Twelve ; How to do well on finals

Step One:
Think about what you have to study, and what exams you have to write. This doesn't matter if you have one exam, or six, you will still have to know what to study.

Step Two:
Make study guides for yourself. Chances are, you will not be given something that tells you exactly what will be on your exam, so think of all that you have done during the semester and start studying.

Step Three:
I would recommend starting at the end of the semester and working to the beginning. This way, all new material is fresh in your memory, while you can work towards remembering what you did at the beginning.

Step Four:
Turn off all electronics, and anything else that could distract you. You need to put full attention on any material you're studying. Distractions will cause you to lose focus and not do as well as you'd hoped

Step Five:
Sit down and actually study. Then go write the exam and hope for the best.

Week 11; Memes!

Week 10: Quotations

1. "Just keep going, you'll make it one day" -Forrest Gump

 To me, this quote is quite relatable. There are times in everyone's life where they would probably just like to give up on what they're doing whether it be difficult or perhaps they just feel like the task at hand isn't worth it. However, if there's ever a time where something is too difficult, as this quote says, if you just keep going, or keep trying, than you'll get to where you want to be. This quote also seems to be very encouraging, and gives me some hope in talking about my goals and ambitions.

2. "You don't need to hide yourself because you're afraid of what others think of you. You have the choice to live your own life" - Albus Dumbeldore, Harry Potter

This quote is another that has a great impact on my life. I have chosen this one because I believe that you should always be your own person no matter what, and love who you are. This quote relays the message that you should love who you are, and that you should live the way you want. No matter what you do or say, people are going to disagree or just plain not like what you're doing, however that doesn't matter. Your own opinion is the most important when it comes to what you do with your life, and that is the only one that matters. Clearly there are always people that love you and appreciate you the way you are, so there's no reason to change who you are, as you are perfect just being you!

3. "I remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind" -Edgar Allan Poe

I have chosen this quote because of the message that lies behind it. I agree with Poe in what he is saying, if you overthink things and bundle it all up you truly will go crazy. From spending too much time with your own thoughts you also develop your own way of thinking and opinions, which while that is good, you always have to take into account the way others take things as well. What Poe is saying I feel, is that he ended up spending too much time alone and realized that he had been driven mad by loneliness, and that one would always need companionship from another person to prevent this from happening.

Week 9! Flash Fiction

The hardest time of her life

It was January 2013, on a stormy winter's night. A young girl sitting on her couch had began to worry, as her parents were gone to visit her sick grandfather in the hospital. "Shouldn't they be home by now?" she thought, looking at the clock, wondering what could be taking them so long. 7:03pm the clock read. Thoughts of potential disasters that could've happened on their way home began to float through her head, as she thought of all the possible reasons why they weren't back yet. Then, at around 9:30 the sound of keys turning in the lock echoed through the house.

"They're home!" she thought excitedly, as her parents walked through the door. Knowing they were okay gave her a piece of mind, as she knows they had gotten home safely. However, that excitement quickly faded as she saw the painful look on her mother's face..

"He's gone...." her mother choked out, as she began to cry"

She knew what that one phrase had meant, and there it was. The true reason why her parents had taken so long to get home that night. The one person who had meant the most to her had been taken away, due to a terrible illness that couldn't be helped. Her world had come crashing down around her in an instant, as she realized her life would be forever changed. 

Questions of why, and how ran through her mind, as she ran to her room to spend her time alone. She could hear the sobbing from the kitchen, as her mother mourned the loss of a very special man. Oddly enough, she didn't shed a tear, due to her anger at the world she bottled it all up inside and sat in the darkness for hours. 

The following few days, as one would imagine would be the hardest days that this 16 year old girl would face up until that point. As she had to deal with strangers, and people she had only seen a handful of times in her life, coming up to her offering their condolences. Nothing helped, and she sure as hell did not want to deal with the hoards of people putting in their two cents worth about the situation. On the final day, as everyone gathered around the casket to say their final goodbyes as the casket was lowered, a sense of sadness flooded through her, and that's when the first tears she cried had fell. From that moment on she knew she would never see her grandfather again, and that she would never feel his loving hugs, or hear his sweet voice. From that moment on, she would be the withdrawn, incredibly unenthusiastic girl she is today. If you haven't already guessed it, that girl is me, and that had been the hardest time of my life

Week 8; Letter

Dear Man Who Cut Me Off Tonight,

Gee, thank you ever so kindly for not using your signal light and then cutting me off. I'm sure it was really hard for you while talking on your phone, to just let everyone know that you planned on switching lanes. It was also really great that when you cut me off in this terrible weather that water went everywhere, that really made it all the better. Thank you for also giving me that one-finger signal that every person knows as you cut me off, I wasn't aware that it was my fault you drive like a baboon. It is truly a mystery to me how you got your license, but I'm sure you're quite proud of yourself for having it, and you really get some sick enjoyment out of causing other people misery as you drive. Also, I really do hope one day you cut off some psychotic road-rage induced person, and they choose to handle the situation not nearly as polite as I did. You and your little toyota prius really managed to make me crooked,  I hope your happy, and that you know that I would've loved to run you over.

                                          Sincerely,        

                                                                                                             the teenage girl in the gmc sierra

Week 6; Breaking News! Massive turtles found in the sewers of St.John's! Are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles becoming reality?

On Friday, October 10th, 2014 a major discovery had been made in the city of St.John's! Massive turtles were found in the sewers, as construction was being done around the city. Somehow, when authorities went back to look for the said turtles, they had disappeared! Mayor, Dennis O'Splinter was said that the discovery had come as a shock, and that he can only give scarce details at this time. A conspiracy theory is running around town at this time, asking whether or not Mayor O'Splinter had already known about the turtles in the city, and if he was somehow involved with them.

                                  

A police sketch artist has created this drawing depicting what these turtles may look like, and the public is asked to come forward if they have any knowledge on the whereabouts of these creatures, or any information relating to where they had last been seen. Citizens can contact crime stoppers, the RCMP or even animal control on whereabouts of these creatures. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Week 5: The Flower

Week Four: Apple iPhone 5 Review

As everyone knows, Apple Inc launched the iPhone 5 in Canada on September 21st, 2012.  The iPhone 5 had accumulated a lot of talk, as it had so many design changes from the previous, iPhone 4. It had been equipped with a larger screen, it was thinner and lighter, and also had an aluminum based body. This phone comes in two basic colours, white/silver and black/slate. Aside from physical differences, the iPhone 5 is also said to have a better camera quality and longer lasting battery life.

Personally, I got my iPhone 5 approximately a month after it's launch, and I have to say, it is a decent phone overall. It had been previously equipped with the operating system iOS 6 when i had first received this product, however then apple had launched their new operating system, iOS 7 which had truly messed up my phone to no end. It had made it so that my battery life had decreased significantly, and also my phone had become much slower when doing basic actions. Therefore, my opinion is that the phone has a couple of flaws.

However, the iPhone 5 I currently have right now has been functioning for close to two years, which is more than i can say for some other cellular phones on the market today. The screen has not shattered as easily as people may think, and it has been capable of doing most of what I would expect from a cell phone. Although it has been discontinued as of September 2013, due to the release of the iPhone(s) 5s/5c, one can still get all they can out of their apple care plans and apps, if they have this model.

Overall, I would have to say that this product has been okay as far as cell phones go. It has lasted a couple of years and completed basic tasks, therefore I would give this model of the iPhone a 7.5/10 and would more than likely recommend it to someone if they were on the market for a new cell phone, and of course if these models of the iPhone were still being produced.

Week Three; Photos

Photo 1:

This is a photo, taken in summer of 2013 in Vieux Quebec. From where this photo is taken, you can see all of the souvenir shops and clubs around the area. This is a place where I had spent most of my time during the summer of 2013, as I had spent five weeks doing a french exchange in Quebec City. This place means so much more to me than just a vacation area, it was where some of the best memories of my life had been made. I think of this place, and look at this photo quite often, and that's when I realize that I had grown up a lot since going here, and without this experience I don't know where I would be, or who I would be today.

Photo 2:

This is a photo, taken just a week ago at the Trinity Conception Relay for Life. The Canadian Cancer Society has this event every year, in aid of cancer research. I for one, walk for my family members and loved ones who have passed on due to this awful disease. As one can see from this photo, me and my team members all have our own reasons for doing the relay, and we have all lost or known someone with cancer. Without these people, the $40 000+ that we have raised in the last five years for cancer research wouldn't even be possible. To me, this photo represents a group of teenagers that want to make a difference in the world and would do anything to find the cure for cancer. 

Week Two: Song

                                                           "Kryptonite"

"I took a walk around the world
To ease my troubled mind
I left my body lying somewhere
In the sands of time
But I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon

I feel there is nothing I can do, yeah

I watched the world float
To the dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be
Something to do with you
I really don’t mind what happens now and then
As long as you’ll be my friend at the end

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I’m alive and well, will you be
There a-holding my hand
I’ll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite

You called me strong, you called me weak,
But still your secrets I will keep
You took for granted all the times
I never let you down
You stumbled in and bumped your head,
If not for me then you'd be dead
I picked you up and put you back on solid ground

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I’m alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand
I’ll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I’m alive and well, will you be there
Holding my hand
I’ll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite
Yeah!!

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well,
Will you be there a-holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite

Oh, whoa, whoa
Oh, whoa, whoa
Oh, whoa, whoa"

(Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/3doorsdown/kryptonite.html)

The song above, "Kryptonite" by the band Three Doors Down, has it's own very unique structure. It has nine stanzas, in which the refrain can be found in stanzas 4,6,7 and 8! The meter of each refrain is 9-5-6-9-6-7-3, and within this song there is no real set rhyme scheme as you can see in the above lyrics. Like many other songs, this song has a certain way of being laid out where it is a verse followed by a refrain, or chorus for the most part. 

The speaker in this song would be someone who used to be a really good person, like a superhero, but now are losing their grip on their old self, and feel as they are turning into someone new. The tone seems to be quite regretful, as they feel that they are slipping away from the person they once were. I feel that they are trying to get the point across that although they are changing, they still want to be thought of as the same person they always were, which is a common feeling in today's society. In this song, one can find examples of language such as metaphor, symbol, and allusion. Metaphor can be found in line 7 of stanza 4, when it says "I picked you up, and put you back on solid ground". This could be referring to when perhaps his partner had been going through a hard time but he had helped them. Symbol is used throughout the whole song when the speaker says "Will you still call me Superman?". Superman is being used as a symbol of the ideal person, and therefore the speaker uses this symbol to say that they still want to be the person that they once were. "Will you still call me Superman" is finally, an example of allusion. This is an allusion since they are referring to themselves as a good person, such as the well-known character, Superman.

Personally, I think this song is extremely catchy. To me, it has a message that life won't always be easy, and that there are times that you must truly try your hardest to see the best in people no matter what the situation. I like this song because unlike most songs today, it has a powerful message, and it honestly gives you some insight into how the speaker really feels. This song shows us how life can sometimes be difficult, but there is always someone you may be able to turn to, therefore this song can have quite the impact on an individual.

Introduction

Hi,
      
     My name is Kelsey Gillingham, I'm 18 years old and a first year MUN student! I'm originally from Marysvale, and I've lived there all my life. Due to the fact that I'm from an extremely small town, it's safe to say that coming to St.John's for school was an easy decision! As much as I love living where I do, there's much more out there for me than staying in a place like that for the rest of my life. I have no siblings, but I do have a dog, and she's honestly my favourite thing in the world, I really can't imagine not having her! I'm currently a business student, but my mind tends to change a fair bit so who knows what the future holds!.

     I'm the type of person who loves learning new things and taking on new challenges, which explains why one of my favourite things to do is read. Nothing makes me happier than finding a good book and not being able to put it down. Also, I'm a pretty friendly and outgoing person, so don't be afraid to approach me, I love meeting new people! I really like going out with friends, and spending time playing the violin, I guess you could say my interests say a lot about me. I really look forward to  everything this course has to offer, and hopefully getting to know all of you a little better! Oh yeah, and thanks for checking out my blog!