Octavian's English Blog

By 2050, the world will probably look pretty crazy with technology everywhere. People will be working from home more, using virtual stuff like to talk to each other like they're in the same room. Cars will be self-driving, and we’ll be using clean energy like wind and solar to help the planet. The environment should be better, but some of the damage from before might still be there.  Today in class, we started working on a project for  A Lesson Before Dying . The project made me think more about the themes in the book, and get a deeper understanding with Grant Wiggins, the characters I chose.

In 10 years, I hope to have lived life to the fullest. I want to travel as much as possible, visit new places, and embrace every opportunity that comes my way. Life is too short to wait around for the "perfect" time, so I want to make the most of each moment. I hope I’ve built experiences that I’ll look back on, knowing I didn’t hold back.  Today in class, we started working on a project for A Lesson Before Dying . The project made me think more about the themes in the book, and get a deeper understanding with Grant Wiggins, the characters I chose.

When I work on a project, I like to take walks to help clear my mind and get my brain to think clearly. It helps me focus and figure out new ideas. One project I'm really proud of was when I coded a robot to move. It was tricky, but after putting in a lot of effort, seeing it work was really rewarding. Today in class, we started working on a project for A Lesson Before Dying. The project made me think more about the themes in the book, like justice and the struggles people face. It's helping me understand the story on a deeper level.

 There was a time when I had to take a break from working out. One day I made a wrong move, and I ended up with a pretty bad injury. Being forced to stop working out was frustrating, especially since it was something I really enjoyed. At first, I felt like I was losing progress, but it gave me time to focus on other things like my recovery and mental strength. In the end, it taught me the importance of patience and listening to my body. Today in class, we did a vocabulary lesson. I learned some new words and practiced how to use them in sentences. It made me realize how much more I can improve my writing and speaking skills. I'll try to use these words more often to sound smarter. My day has been pretty good,

 One time, I overheard a news story about the violence caused by cartels, and it stuck with me in a way I wish it hadn’t. They talked about families being caught in the middle of it all, and the things people go through just to survive. It made me feel powerless and sad to know so much suffering exists, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how unfair it is for innocent people. It’s one of those things that makes you wish the world didn’t have such harsh realities. Today in class, we worked on a semester review. Going over the semester review helped me recall a lot of important concepts we’ve learned. It reminded me of the progress I've made and the areas I need to focus on more.

One time, my friend was having a really hard time dealing with their parents fighting a lot. They felt stuck and didn’t know what to do, so I listened to them and gave some advice about staying calm and finding someone they trust to talk to. I told them things can get better even when it feels really hard. They thanked me later and said it helped them feel less alone, which made me feel like I actually made a difference for them. Today in class, we worked on chapters 23-25 of A Lesson Before Dying by discussing key events and answering questions. I learned more about how the story is building up to its most emotional moments. It helped me think about the strength it takes to face unfair situations, and I feel like it shows how important it is to find dignity even in tough times.

When I’m hiking, I feel the most at peace. Being surrounded by nature, away from the noise and stress of life, helps me clear my mind. The fresh air, the sound of birds, and the peaceful views make me feel calm and grounded. It’s like everything slows down, and I can just enjoy the moment. Hiking reminds me how beautiful the world is and gives me a break from everything else. Today in class, we worked on discussion questions for chapters 20-22 of A Lesson Before Dying. Answering these questions helped me understand the characters struggles and their relationships better. It made me think about how people can find strength even in hard situations.

 One time, I heard Kobe talk about how he played through injuries and how, instead of complaining, he focused on the silver lining like how setbacks can teach you patience and grit. It stuck with me because I complain a lot when things go wrong, but hearing that made me think I should handle problems better. Now I try to look for the good in tough situations, even when it’s hard. Today in class, we worked on chapters 16-19 of A Lesson Before Dying by discussing and analyzing the key events. These chapters showed how people deal with emotional struggles in tough situations. It made me think about how everyone processes things differently, and I’ll try to be more understanding of others.

 A time when I had to rely on someone else was my brother when I needed to ask my dad for a favor, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I asked my brother to talk to him for me, and he did it without hesitation. It felt a little weird to not do it myself, but my brother handled it really well. He knows how to talk to our dad in a way that makes things easier, and it made me realize that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help with things that feel uncomfortable.  Today in class, we worked on a collage and went to the media center to pick our classes for next year. Reflection: Picking classes for next year made me think about my future and what I want to do. The collage was a fun way to connect with the story, and it helped me understand it better.

A time when I had to rely on someone else was my brother when I needed to ask my dad for a favor, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I asked my brother to talk to him for me, and he did it without hesitation. It felt a little weird to not do it myself, but my brother handled it really well. He knows how to talk to our dad in a way that makes things easier, and it made me realize that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help with things that feel uncomfortable.  Today in class, we made a collage for chapters 13-15 of A Lesson Before Dying and answered questions related to them. Creating the collage helped me visualize the events and themes in these chapters. It made me better understand the characters.

 A toy plane my dad gave me holds a lot of sentimental value. He gave it to me when I was little, and it was my favorite toy. Every time I played with it, it felt like I was actually in the air, and it reminded me of the adventures my dad and I took. It’s important because it’s a symbol of how he always encouraged me to dream big. Even though I’m older , I still keep it as a reminder of him and all that we've been through. Today in class, we filled out a STEAL sheet about the character Grant from A Lesson Before Dying. The STEAL sheet helped me break down Grant’s character and understand his thoughts and actions better. It made me realize that even though Grant is struggling, he still has a lot of potential to make a difference.

 A moment when I had to step out of my comfort zone was when I had to drive a car for the first time. I was really nervous because I had never driven on my own before, and I wasn’t sure if I would be good at it. After I started, it wasn’t as scary as I thought, and I got the hang of it. It felt good to know I could do it, and I gained more confidence.  Today in class, we read chapters 10-11 of A Lesson Before Dying and answered questions about them. The chapters helped me understand more about the struggles of the characters, especially how they deal with unfairness. It made me think about how important it is to stay strong in tough situations.

 If I was the President of the USA, I would first ban all assault weapons. I do not want any more mass shootings. Next, I would focus more on the middle class and make businesses and the rich pay more taxes. Since the rich don't pay enough and the middle class is paying all the taxes. After this, I would fix the healthcare system by not letting them deny so many people that need healthcare and make it more affordable. Everyone needs healthcare and no one should be denied, it is also way too overpriced at this current moment in our world that we are living in right now. The fourth thing I would prioritize is the environment, I would stop allowing so many people to litter and trash our environment, use more renewable and sustainable energy, and also maintain national parks and parks in general. I love Earth's beauty so I would not allow this.  The last thing I would do is not allow any homework. Homework should not be assigned in high school and I would let these kids have more ...

I dream of skiing down a large mountain. I was with my family and my brother and I raced down the mountain. At one point I approached a giant bump and I did it and went flying in the air. I did a back flip in mid air and once I was coming towards the finish line I ended up waking up.

 During winter break, my family and I went on vacation. We planned on going hiking at 3 different national parks, the Grand canyon, Zion, and Bryce canyon. They were all beautiful and it was very worth it. After, we went and checked out Las Vegas, and it was very polarizing. When we got back, I spent more time with my brother and played video games 5 Personal Goals: Get a job over the summer - I want money and to be more responsible. Explore the world - I want to hike in many places and see the world more. Get my license - I want to be able to drive to places since I would be able to make my own schedule. Get a good score on the sat/act - I want to get in a good college, preferably UGA. Get more athletic - I want to be faster and more agile as well as stronger.